Patents by Inventor Yingjun Bai

Yingjun Bai has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11663806
    Abstract: Various methods for utilizing a saliency heatmaps are described. The methods include obtaining image data corresponding to an image of a scene, obtaining a saliency heatmap for the image of the scene based on a saliency network, wherein the saliency heatmap indicates a likelihood of saliency for a corresponding portion of the scene, and manipulating the image data based on the saliency heatmap. In embodiments, the saliency heatmap may be produced using a trained machine learning model. The saliency heatmap may be used for various image processing tasks, such as determining which portion(s) of a scene to base an image capture device's autofocus, auto exposure, and/or white balance operations upon. According to some embodiments, one or more bounding boxes may be generated based on the saliency heatmap, e.g., using an optimization operation, which bounding box(es) may be used to assist or enhance the performance of various image processing tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vignesh Jagadeesh, Yingjun Bai, Guillaume Tartavel, Gregory Guyomarc'h
  • Publication number: 20220237887
    Abstract: Various methods for utilizing a saliency heatmaps are described. The methods include obtaining image data corresponding to an image of a scene, obtaining a saliency heatmap for the image of the scene based on a saliency network, wherein the saliency heatmap indicates a likelihood of saliency for a corresponding portion of the scene, and manipulating the image data based on the saliency heatmap. In embodiments, the saliency heatmap may be produced using a trained machine learning model. The saliency heatmap may be used for various image processing tasks, such as determining which portion(s) of a scene to base an image capture device's autofocus, auto exposure, and/or white balance operations upon. According to some embodiments, one or more bounding boxes may be generated based on the saliency heatmap, e.g., using an optimization operation, which bounding box(es) may be used to assist or enhance the performance of various image processing tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Vignesh Jagadeesh, Yingjun Bai, Guillaume Tartavel, Gregory Guyomarc'h
  • Patent number: 11308345
    Abstract: Various methods for utilizing a saliency heatmaps are described. The methods include obtaining image data corresponding to an image of a scene, obtaining a saliency heatmap for the image of the scene based on a saliency network, wherein the saliency heatmap indicates a likelihood of saliency for a corresponding portion of the scene, and manipulating the image data based on the saliency heatmap. In embodiments, the saliency heatmap may be produced using a trained machine learning model. The saliency heatmap may be used for various image processing tasks, such as determining which portion(s) of a scene to base an image capture device's autofocus, auto exposure, and/or white balance operations upon. According to some embodiments, one or more bounding boxes may be generated based on the saliency heatmap, e.g., using an optimization operation, which bounding box(es) may be used to assist or enhance the performance of various image processing tasks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Vignesh Jagadeesh, Yingjun Bai, Guillaume Tartavel, Gregory Guyomarc'h
  • Patent number: 11195247
    Abstract: An electronic image capture device captures a first image of a scene at a first time. A first local tone mapping operator for a first portion of the first image is determined. The electronic image capture device further captures a second image of the scene at a second time. A motion of the electronic device between the first time and the second time is determined. A second local tone mapping operator for a second portion of the second image is determined. The second portion is determined to correspond to the first portion based, at least in part, on the determined motion of the electronic device. The second local tone mapping operator is determined based, at least in part, on the first local tone mapping operator. At least the second local tone mapping operator is applied to the second portion of the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Henryk K. Blasinski, Xuemei Zhang, Yingjun Bai
  • Patent number: 11082606
    Abstract: Determining a focus setting includes determining a plurality of regions of interest in a view of a scene, and, for each of the plurality of regions of interest, obtaining a set of image data for each of multiple focal positions, and then applying focus filters to the set of image data for each of the plurality of focal positions for each of the regions of interest to obtain a set of focus scores, i.e., a focus score for each focus filter applied to the set of image data for each of the focal positions. Further, determining a confidence value associated with each of the sets of focus scores, selecting a subset of the sets of focus scores based on the confidence values associated with each of the sets of focus scores, and determining a focus setting for the scene based on the selected subset of the focus scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Mark N. Gamadia, Yingjun Bai, Muge Wang
  • Publication number: 20200380289
    Abstract: Various methods for utilizing a saliency heatmaps are described. The methods include obtaining image data corresponding to an image of a scene, obtaining a saliency heatmap for the image of the scene based on a saliency network, wherein the saliency heatmap indicates a likelihood of saliency for a corresponding portion of the scene, and manipulating the image data based on the saliency heatmap. In embodiments, the saliency heatmap may be produced using a trained machine learning model. The saliency heatmap may be used for various image processing tasks, such as determining which portion(s) of a scene to base an image capture device's autofocus, auto exposure, and/or white balance operations upon. According to some embodiments, one or more bounding boxes may be generated based on the saliency heatmap, e.g., using an optimization operation, which bounding box(es) may be used to assist or enhance the performance of various image processing tasks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Vignesh Jagadeesh, Yingjun Bai, Guillaume Tartavel, Gregory Guyomarc'h
  • Patent number: 10602111
    Abstract: Techniques for auto white balancing of captured images based on detection of flicker in ambient light is described. When flicker is detected in ambient light during an image capture event, and the flicker is unchanging during the image capture event, a white point of image data may be estimated according to a first technique. When flicker is detected in ambient light during an image capture event, and the flicker is changing during the image capture event, a white point of image data may be estimated according to a second technique. When flicker is not detected, a white point of image data may be estimated according to a third technique. Image data may be color corrected based on the estimated white point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yonghui Zhao, Xuemei Zhang, Yingjun Bai, Gregory Guyomarc'h, Kosta Dabov
  • Publication number: 20190370942
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for correcting red-eye artifacts in a target image of a subject. Images, captured by a camera, including a raw image, are used to generate the target image. An eye region of the target image is modulated to correct for the red-eye artifacts, wherein correction is carried out based on information extracted from at least one of the raw image and the target image. Modulation comprises detecting landmarks associated with the eye region; estimating spectral response of the red eye artifacts; segmenting an image region of the eye based on the estimated spectral response of the red eye artifacts and the detected landmarks, forming a repair mask; and modifying an image region associated with the repair mask.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Alexis GATT, David HAYWARD, Emmanuel PIUZE-PHANEUF, Mark ZIMMER, Yingjun BAI, Zhigang FAN
  • Publication number: 20190082138
    Abstract: Techniques for adjusting formats of images and video are presented, for example where an SDR source is presented on an HDR display, or vice versa. Techniques include deriving a conversion profile for image data where the conversion profile is responsive to parameters describing characteristics of a domain of source image data and characteristics of a domain of a target rendering environment. Some techniques include creating a tone curve from weighted basis functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Hao Pan, Munehiro Nakazato, Qiang Wang, Vaidyanath Mani, Xiaohua Yang, Xin Wang, Xuemei Zhang, Yingjun Bai
  • Patent number: 10205967
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a wide gamut encoder capable of receiving a wide gamut color image in accordance with a wide gamut standard. The encoder can encode one or more wide gamut color image pixel values into portions of narrow gamut encoding elements for transmission to a video encoder. The encoder can implement an advanced extended YCC format that is backward compatible with a P3 color gamut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Hao Pan, Yingjun Bai, Xuemei Zhang, Haitao Guo, Munehiro Nakazato, Xiaohua Yang
  • Patent number: 10171786
    Abstract: This disclosure pertains to systems, methods, and computer readable media for performing lens shading correction (LSC) operations that modulate gains based on scene lux level and lens focus distance. These gains compensate for both color lens shading (i.e., the deviation between R, G, and B channels) and vignetting (i.e., the drop off in pixel intensity around the edges of an image). As scene illuminance increases, the sensor captures more signal from the actual scene, and the lens shading effects begin to appear. To deal with the situation, the lens shading gains are configured to adaptively ‘scale down’ when scene lux approaches zero and ‘scale up’ when scene lux changes from near zero to become larger. The lens shading gain may also be modulated based on the focus distance. For optical systems without zoom, the inventors have discovered that the amount of lens shading fall off changes as focus distance changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yingjun Bai, Michael Chin, Touraj Tajbakhsh
  • Patent number: 10043484
    Abstract: Displaying wide-gamut images as intended on color-managed wide-gamut display systems while rendering a visually consistent image when rendered on targeted narrow-gamut display systems (regardless of whether the narrow-gamut displays are color-managed). Images represented in accordance with this disclosure are referred to as a dual-target images (DTI): one target being the image's original wide-gamut color space, the other target being a specified narrow-gamut color space. The novel representational scheme retains narrow-gamut rendering for those colors in a wide-gamut image that are within the targeted narrow-gamut color space, transitioning to wide-gamut rendering for those colors in the wide-gamut image that are outside the targeted narrow-gamut color space. This approach minimizes pixel clipping when rendering a wide-gamut image for a narrow-gamut display, while allowing the original wide-gamut pixel values to be recovered when rendering for a wide-gamut display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: D. Amnon Silverstein, Xuemei Zhang, Yingjun Bai, Brandon J. Corey, Yonghui Zhao
  • Patent number: 10032810
    Abstract: An image system with a dual layer photodiode structure is provided for processing color images. In particular, the image system can include an image sensor that can include photodiodes with a dual layer photodiode structure. In some embodiments, the dual layer photodiode can include a first layer of photodiodes (e.g., a bottom layer), an insulation layer disposed on the first layer of photodiodes, and a second layer of photodiodes (e.g., a top layer) disposed on the insulation layer. The first layer of photodiodes can include one or more suitable pixels (e.g., green, blue, clear, luminance, and/or infrared pixels). Likewise, the second layer of photodiodes can include one or more suitable pixels (e.g., green, red, clear, luminance, and/or infrared pixels). An image sensor incorporating dual layer photodiodes can gain light sensitivity with additional clear pixels and maintain luminance information with green pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yingjun Bai, Qun Sun
  • Patent number: 9961238
    Abstract: A gamut size metric is used in all phases of color image processing (e.g., capture, transmission, and display). In general, the gamut size metric is a single-valued metric that changes as image content changes. More particularly, a gamut boundary histogram is determined and used to estimate a gamut size metric. A gamut size metric identifies a minimum size gamut needed to encompass each pixel in an image, where the gamut size is limited at one end by a first device independent gamut (S1), and at another end by a second device independent color space (S2), where S1 is wholly enclosed within S2. The gamut size metric may be based on strict pixel color value differences. In other embodiments the gamut size metric may take into effect perceptual color differences and significance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yingjun Bai, Xuemei Zhang
  • Publication number: 20180070068
    Abstract: Techniques for auto white balancing of captured images based on detection of flicker in ambient light is described. When flicker is detected in ambient light during an image capture event, and the flicker is unchanging during the image capture event, a white point of image data may be estimated according to a first technique. When flicker is detected in ambient light during an image capture event, and the flicker is changing during the image capture event, a white point of image data may be estimated according to a second technique. When flicker is not detected, a white point of image data may be estimated according to a third technique. Image data may be color corrected based on the estimated white point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventors: Yonghui Zhao, Xuemei Zhang, Yingjun Bai, Gregory Guyomarc'h, Kosta Dabov
  • Patent number: 9892494
    Abstract: Methods, devices and computer readable instructions to generate region-of-interest (ROI) tone curves are disclosed. One method includes obtaining a statistic for an entire image such as, for example, a luminance statistic. The same statistic may then be found for a specified ROI of the image. A weighted combination of the statistic of the entire image and the statistic of the ROI yields a combined statistic which may then be converted to a ROI-biased tone curve. The weight used to combine the two statistics may be selected to emphasize or de-emphasize the role of the ROI's statistic in the final tone curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yingjun Bai, Xuemei Zhang
  • Publication number: 20170289512
    Abstract: This disclosure pertains to systems, methods, and computer readable media for performing lens shading correction (LSC) operations that modulate gains based on scene lux level and lens focus distance. These gains compensate for both color lens shading (i.e., the deviation between R, G, and B channels) and vignetting (i.e., the drop off in pixel intensity around the edges of an image). As scene illuminance increases, the sensor captures more signal from the actual scene, and the lens shading effects begin to appear. To deal with the situation, the lens shading gains are configured to adaptively ‘scale down’ when scene lux approaches zero and ‘scale up’ when scene lux changes from near zero to become larger. The lens shading gain may also be modulated based on the focus distance. For optical systems without zoom, the inventors have discovered that the amount of lens shading fall off changes as focus distance changes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Inventors: Yingjun Bai, Michael Chin, Touraj Tajbakhsh
  • Publication number: 20170272780
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a wide gamut encoder capable of receiving a wide gamut color image in accordance with a wide gamut standard. The encoder can encode one or more wide gamut color image pixel values into portions of narrow gamut encoding elements for transmission to a video encoder. The encoder can implement an advanced extended YCC format that is backward compatible with a P3 color gamut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Hao Pan, Yingjun Bai, Xuemei Zhang, Haitao Guo, Munehiro Nakazato, Xiaohua Yang
  • Patent number: 9699428
    Abstract: This disclosure pertains to systems, methods, and computer readable media for performing lens shading correction (LSC) operations that modulate gains based on scene lux level and lens focus distance. These gains compensate for both color lens shading (i.e., the deviation between R, G, and B channels) and vignetting (i.e., the drop off in pixel intensity around the edges of an image). As scene illuminance increases, the sensor captures more signal from the actual scene, and the lens shading effects begin to appear. To deal with the situation, the lens shading gains are configured to adaptively ‘scale down’ when scene lux approaches zero and ‘scale up’ when scene lux changes from near zero to become larger. The lens shading gain may also be modulated based on the focus distance. For optical systems without zoom, the inventors have discovered that the amount of lens shading fall off changes as focus distance changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yingjun Bai, Michael Chin, Touraj Tajbakhsh
  • Publication number: 20170098428
    Abstract: In general, techniques are disclosed for displaying wide-gamut images as intended on color-managed wide-gamut display systems while rendering a visually consistent image when rendered on targeted narrow-gamut display systems (regardless of whether the narrow-gamut displays are color-managed). For this reason, an image represented in accordance with this disclosure is referred to as a dual-target image (DTI): one target being the image's original wide-gamut color space, the other target being a specified narrow-gamut color space. The novel representational scheme described herein retains narrow-gamut rendering for those colors in a wide-gamut image that are within the targeted narrow-gamut color space, transitioning to wide-gamut rendering for those colors in the wide-gamut image that are outside the targeted narrow-gamut color space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: D. Amnon Silverstein, Xuemei Zhang, Yingjun Bai, Brandon J. Corey, Yonghui Zhao