Patents Issued in March 20, 2003
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Publication number: 20030053686Abstract: Disclosed is a method for detecting subject matter regions in a digital color image having pixels of (red, green, blue) values, comprising the steps of: assigning to each pixel a belief value as belonging to the subject matter region based on color and texture features; forming spatially contiguous candidate subject matter regions by thresholding the belief values; analyzing the spatially contiguous regions based on one or more unique characteristics of the subject matter to determine the probability that a region belongs to the subject matter; and generating a map of detected subject matter regions and associated probability that the regions belongs to the subject matter.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Jiebo Luo, Amit Singhal
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Publication number: 20030053687Abstract: Off-grid interpolation in image processing. The present invention provides for a more perceptually pleasing resultant image when compared to conventional image processing systems that employ on-grid interpolation. In one embodiment, the present invention is operable on a digital image generated using a mask having a Bayer pattern distribution. Off-grid RGB triplets are generated using the raw data received from the Bayer pattern mask. The undesirable mosaic-type images as well as the bright and dark discontinuities within the image that are often generated using conventional on-grid interpolation to generate RGB triplet are avoided when using the present invention. The undesirable cross talk effects that are practically unavoidable to some degree within all digital image masks are also substantially minimized. Bi-linear interpolation and cubic linear interpolation are employed to achieve a digital image having a high visually perceptual quality.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventors: Yiliang Bao, Maged Bishay, Joshua I. Pine
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Publication number: 20030053688Abstract: A method for providing partial color constancy of a stimulus represented by an array of picture elements each represented by a color spectrum. The method comprising: (a) assigning to each picture element in the array, for each color, a color value, thereby to provide a plurality of pre-processed single color images each respectively arranged as a series of pre-processed color values one at each picture element; (b) for each picture element, defining at least two regions of picture elements; (c) at each picture element, adapting each one of the pre-processed color values using pre-processed color values from at least one of the two regions of picture elements, thereby to form, at each picture element, a set of center response values; and (d) at each picture element, transforming the set of center response values into a set of center corrected color values, using response values from the two regions of picture elements to provide a plurality of processed single color images having partial color constancy.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: Ramot University Authority For Applied Research And Industrial Development Ltd.Inventor: Hedva Spitzer
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Publication number: 20030053689Abstract: This invention provides a novel image correcting technique for automatically carrying out a suitable image correction. An image processing program of the invention includes a correction front-end unit for carrying out a color balance correction, a range correction, a main portion estimation processing, and a tone correction, a statistical information calculation unit for generating a color saturation reference value and a contour reference value as data expressing the preference of an operator by using an output of the correction front-end unit and a manually corrected image, and a correction back-end unit for carrying out a color saturation correction processing using the color saturation reference value stored in a reference value DB and a contour emphasis processing using the contour reference value. A processing result of the correction back-end unit is stored as an output image into an image storage DB.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Masahiro Watanabe, Koichi Fujimura
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Publication number: 20030053690Abstract: A method of automatic contrast correction comprises providing digital image data, representing the data in the form of a brightness histogram, determining a measure of central tendency for said histogram, adding a shift value to the measure of central tendency to provide an adjusted measure of central tendency, using the both the determined and adjusted measures of central tendency to determine the exponent of a tone reproduction curve, and applying the tone reproduction curve to the brightness values of the image. Additionally, the method may provide further correction by applying to the brightness values of the image an S-shaped tone reproduction curve that does not change a measure of central tendency of the brightness histogram.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: JASC Software, Inc.Inventors: Mikhail Ivanovich Trifonov, Olga Vadimovna Sharonova, Krzystof Antoni Zaklika
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Publication number: 20030053691Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamic thresholding of grayscale images to delineate image attributes is disclosed. The system includes a picker assembly, an imager disposed on picker assembly, illumination sources disposed at the picker assembly and a processor, coupled to the imager and illumination sources, for processing image data obtained from the imager and for controlling the illumination sources, wherein the processor applies dynamic image thresholding to the image to select an optimum gray scale level of the image, the image expected to include a desired physical feature.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Lyle Joseph Chamberlain
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Publication number: 20030053692Abstract: In order to segment a pixellated image having foreground and background regions, a uniform visual characteristic, such as color, of the background is determined and, from this, a non-occluded background image is generated (55). The generated background image 60 and the image to be segmented 61 are compared, for example using a two-shot segmentation technique 62, and the pixels of the image are allocated as foreground or background pixels.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventors: Qi He Hong, Toshio Nomura
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Publication number: 20030053693Abstract: An image recognition process (15) applied to a photograph is preceded by a pre-processing step which identifies parts of the image which are in focus. The recognition process is then limited to those parts. The pre-processing typically operates by creating (10-12) a measure of high spatial frequency activity and applying a threshold to them (13, 14).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventors: David J Chatting, David G Morrison
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Publication number: 20030053694Abstract: A method and apparatus using dual bounding boxes as dynamic templates for cartridge rack identification and tracking is disclosed. An imaging tape cartridge picker system includes a picker assembly, illumination sources disposed at the front of the picker assembly for illuminating an object, an imager disposed on the front of the picker assembly for gathering image data of the object and a processor, coupled to the imager and illumination sources, for thresholding the image data obtained from the imager and for controlling the illumination sources, wherein the processor uses bounding boxes to identify the location of a desired physical feature in the thresholded image.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Lyle Joseph Chamberlain
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Publication number: 20030053695Abstract: A method or apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention allows for entry of multi-stroke characters via a natural drawing interface and without requiring an expensive stylus-drawing surface combination.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventor: Jason B. Kenagy
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Publication number: 20030053696Abstract: A system and method for performing a curve fit on a plurality of data points. In an initial phase, a subset Pmax of the plurality of points which represents an optimal curve is determined. This phase is based on a statistical model which dictates that after trying at most Nmin random curves, each connecting a randomly selected two or more points from the input set, one of the curves will pass within a specified radius of the subset Pmax of the input points. The subset Pmax may then be used in the second phase of the method, where a refined curve fit is made by iteratively culling outliers from the subset Pmax with respect to a succession of optimal curves fit to the modified subset Pmax at each iteration. The refined curve fit generates a refined curve, which may be output along with a final culled subset Kfinal of Pmax.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventors: Darren Schmidt, Ram Rajagopal, Lothar Wenzel, Dinesh Nair
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Publication number: 20030053697Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for processing tubular objects in multi-dimensional images. The processing includes generating representations of tubular objects which enable subsequent analysis. Systems and methods for processing tubular objects in a multi-dimensional image include establishing a seed points in a multi-dimensional image, searching for an extremum point corresponding to a tubular object having a central curve of intensity extrema, and extracting a one-dimensional central track corresponding to the tubular object and extents corresponding to a plurality of cross-sections along the tubular object. A number of embodiments are presented which apply the systems and methods to a variety of imaging applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventors: Stephen R. Aylward, Elizabeth Bullitt, Stephen M. Pizer, Daniel Fritsch
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Publication number: 20030053698Abstract: Temporal processing for realtime human vision system behavioral modeling is added at the input of a spatial realtime human vision system behavioral modeling algorithm. The temporal processing includes a linear and a non-linear temporal filter in series in each of a reference channel and a test channel, the input to the reference channel being a reference image signal and the input to the test channel being a test image signal that is an impaired version of the reference image signal. The non-linear temporal filter emulates a process with neural attack and decay to compensate for a shift in peak sensitivity and for frequency doubling in a spatio-temporal sensitivity function. The linear temporal filter accounts for the remaining subtleties in the spatio-temporal sensitivity function.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventor: Kevin M. Ferguson
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Publication number: 20030053699Abstract: In a method for identifying individual objects in a digital image (I), a device is used that comprises a thresholding unit (20) and a threshold calculation unit (21). The threshold calculation unit (21) is designed to divide a reference image which corresponds to the digital image (I) into a plurality of subareas, to calculate at least one threshold value (Ti) for each subarea on the basis of the contrast in the associated subarea and to create a threshold matrix (T) from these threshold values (Ti). The thresholding unit (20) is designed to receive the digital image (I) and to compare the luminance values of the digital image with the threshold values (Ti) of the threshold matrix (T), in order to create a binary image on the basis of the comparison. The device and the method permit quick and memory-efficient identification of the individual objects, even if the digital image (I) contains variations in luminance and/or sharpness.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventor: Andreas Olsson
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Publication number: 20030053700Abstract: A signal decoding system performs variable length decoding and inverse quantization at high speed. From a bit stream temporarily held in a bit string buffer, the bit string is parsed as a table address for a lookup table in a table looking-up unit and a table selecting unit. By looking up the table address in the lookup table, variable length decoding is performed simultaneously for a maximum of two codewords. Furthermore, the decoded data is inversely quantized in parallel by using inverse quantizers. The results of inverse quantization are stored at appropriate positions in the block by the block storage unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventor: Daiji Ishii
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Publication number: 20030053701Abstract: An image data compression apparatus which compresses code data obtained by compressing image data by a fixed length encoding method so as to reduce a scale of hardware and reduce a development cost of software for an image data compression. a binary image data processing part processes binary image data in accordance with a run length encoding method, the binary image data processing part including an encoding part which encodes run lengths of the binary image data by an encoding part. A multiple value image data processing part processes multiple value image data in accordance with a prediction encoding method. The encoding part of the binary image data processing part is commonly used by the multiple image data processing part so that the encoding part compresses both the binary image data and the multiple value image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Naoto Shiraishi
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Publication number: 20030053702Abstract: A method of compressing digital representations of images stores the images in multiple subsampling quality scales in a progressive manner such that a higher quality scale contains only data incremental to the data in an adjacent lower quality scale. The data in each quality scale is transformed, quantized, and entropy encoded. A discrete wavelet cosine transformation combining frequency transformation features of a discrete cosine transformation and spatial transformation features of a wavelet transformation is provided. Sequences of subsampling quality scales are provided for multi-scale representations of images. A novel context selection method is used which treats color components and coefficients of different positions differently. An image compressed in a given quality scale can be transmitted or decompressed progressively allowing progressive downloading or transmission over the Internet.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventor: Xiaoping Hu
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Publication number: 20030053703Abstract: An image compression and decompression apparatus comprises a identification section, a conversion section, a characteristics correction section, an image compression section, and a decompression section. The identification section identifies given color image information and outputs an identification signal. The conversion section converts color image information to block-based color image information having a specified length. The characteristics correction section corrects block-based color image information with respect to characteristics thereof in units of the blocks based on an identification signal output from the identification section. The image compression section compresses a corrected image in units of blocks and stores the compressed image in a storage area. The decompression section decompresses a compressed image in units of blocks.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventors: Sunao Tabata, Naofumi Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20030053704Abstract: A video encoding apparatus is provided with a resolution converting section, an encoding section, and a transmitting section. The resolution converting section enlarges or reduces a binary picture which represents the shape of an object. The encoding section encodes a binary picture reduced by the resolution converting section. The reduction ratio used by the resolution converting section is encoded, and the transmitting section transmits this encoded reduction ratio along with encoded data on the binary picture. The amount of encoded data produced from the encoding section is controlled by changing the enlargement/reduction ratio used by the resolution converting section.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventors: Noboru Yamaguchi, Toshiaki Watanabe, Takashi Ida, Takaaki Kuratate
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Publication number: 20030053705Abstract: A transformation unit 102 transforms an entered image to multi-resolution space. A quantizer 105 performs vector quantization on a local pattern of an image of a multi-resolution representation. A perspective-order calculating unit 107 extracts a plurality of code words, positions corresponding thereto and/or angle of rotation and/or scale, and the perspective-order relationship of a plurality of these representative vectors, from the quantized image. An algebraic encoder 108 encodes the input image based upon the extracted information. As a result, there are provided an image processing apparatus and method for asymmetric encoding without motion in three dimensions and extraction of a three-dimensional structure. Further, a transformation unit 1103 transforms an entered image to vector field, and a singularity detector 1104 detects a singularity in the transformed image.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 1999Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventor: TERUYOSHI WASHIZAWA
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Publication number: 20030053706Abstract: An image processing system including an image encoder and image decoding system is provided. The image encoder system includes an image decomposer, a block encoder, and an encoded image composer. The image decomposer decomposes the image into blocks. The block encoder which includes a selection module, a codeword generation module and a construction module, processes the blocks. Specifically, the selection module computes a set of parameters from image data values of a set of image elements in the image block. The codeword generation module generates codewords which the construction module uses to derive a set of quantized image data values. The construction module then maps each of the image element's original image data values to an index to one of the derived image data values. The image decoding system reverses this process to reorder decompressed image blocks in an output data file.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventors: Zhou Hong, Konstantine I Iourcha, Krishna S. Nayak
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Publication number: 20030053707Abstract: Techniques for removing from scanned film regions of “missing data” which may include date regions, or may be the result of spots, scratches or folds on the film. Such techniques are particularly designed to handle larger regions of missing data, such as “thick” scratches. The techniques of the present invention segment missing data regions (which may include characters in a date field) and perform component filtering which involves determining the area/perimeter ratio of each segmented missing data region. Only those regions whose area/perimeter ratio is less than a certain threshold are kept for closest-to-radial-based-function (CRBF) filtering to estimate colors from neighboring pixels to fill in the missing data regions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventor: Anoop K. Bhattacharjya
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Publication number: 20030053708Abstract: A method of reducing artifacts in an image previously processed by block transform encoding may comprise the steps of:Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: JASC SoftwareInventors: Sergei Nikolaevich Kryukov, Tatyana Olegovna Semenkova, Krzysztof Antoni Zaklika
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Publication number: 20030053709Abstract: The invention provides a method of and a device for coding (10*) an image sequence (g(i,j,k)). The device (10*) has a noise filter (12) for noise filtering (12) the image sequence (g(i,j,k)), and means (12) for regarding the noise filtering (12) as a rate-distortion optimization problem in order to adapt the response of the noise filter (12). In particular, a filter parameter set (C) is determined to adapt the response of the filter (12) in that the image sequence (g(i,j,k)) is encoded using an optimal bit-budget, which is the bit-budget used for compressing a noise-free image sequence, and the distortion for the given bit-budget is minimized.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.Inventor: Stefano Olivieri
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Publication number: 20030053710Abstract: The present invention is to provide a device and a method of sample rate conversion for digital image. With the present invention, the alias effect caused by shrinking the image and the blurred effect caused by enlarging the image will be eliminated. The device of the present invention comprises a ratio-adjustable expander used to receive image signal, increase the sample rate of the image M times based on the adjusting ratio for the image to generate a expanding signal; a low pass filter (LPF) used to receive the expanding signal from the expander, filter out the high rate and output the filtered signal; and a fix ratio decimator used to receive the filtered signal, low down the sample rate by N times and generate the output signal. The value of M will be changed with the adjusting ratio while the value of the N is fixed. The LPF includes the factor 1+z−1+ . . . +z−(N−1) and the factor 1+z−1+ . . . +z−(M−1).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventors: Shih-Yu Ku, Wen-Chang Cheng
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Publication number: 20030053711Abstract: A technique to reduce blocking and ringing artifacts in low bit-rate block-based video coding is applied to each reconstructed frame output from the decoder. For each pixel block of a reconstructed frame, its DC value and DC values of the surrounding eight neighbor blocks are exploited to predict AC coefficients which might be lost in the quantization stage in the encoding process. The predicted AC coefficients are used to classify each reconstructed block as either a low-activity or a high-activity block. Low-pass filtering is then adaptively applied according to the classification of the block. Strong low-pass filtering is applied in low-activity blocks where the blocking artifacts are most noticeable, whereas weak low-pass filtering is applied in high-activity blocks where ringing noise as well as blocking artifacts may exist. The adaptive filtering reduces ringing noise as well as blocking artifacts without introducing undesired blur.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventor: Changick Kim
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Publication number: 20030053712Abstract: The present invention is directed toward correcting a corrupted image of an object to remove the effects of smearing or misdirected flux in the image, wherein the image comprises one or more dimensions and has a plurality of image elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventor: Peter Allan Jansson
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Publication number: 20030053713Abstract: A system for taking a sequence of images and converting them to a single composite image that contains the combined visual information of the defects found in the source images. The source images are aligned and manipulated, if necessary, such that they can be superimposed together. Optional image processing steps are applied to further enhance the defects. Both the number of input images and the algorithm used to combine these images can be adjusted to allow an observer to see a persistent display of the defects found in the images. Status, diagnostic and defect information, consisting of graphics and textual messages, are then applied to the composite image for display.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventors: Philip B. Romanik, Amy H. Muntz
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Publication number: 20030053714Abstract: Method and apparatus for searching for a fiducial mark, by processing image data indicative of images of the fiducial mark and an area surrounding the fiducial mark, which images are taken by an imaging device, wherein the image data are processed by an image-data processing device, which includes: a reference-line data storing portion operable perform a step of storing at least one reference line each of which corresponds to at least one portion of a profile of the fiducial mark and the number of which is sufficient to specify the fiducial mark; a profile-data obtaining portion operable to perform a step of obtaining profile data indicative of profiles of the images taken by the imaging device, each of the profiles of the images consisting of a group of points at which an optical characteristic of the corresponding image abruptly changes; and a searching portion operable to perform a step of searching for the fiducial mark, on the basis of the profiles represented by the obtained profile data and the storedType: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: FUJI MACHINE MFG. CO., LTD.Inventors: Hirotake Esaki, Baksa Chi
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Publication number: 20030053715Abstract: An image based bar-code reading and robotic registration apparatus and method for use in automated tape library systems is disclosed. An imager is positioned on a picker assembly with its own illumination source and appropriate optics to filter out ambient light. The imager connects to a microprocessor in its immediate vicinity. All image acquisition and processing are done by these components. To ensure operation independent of illumination variations, the image processing code developed for this invention automatically adapts to dynamic lighting situations. The tape cartridge cells are used as fiducials to allow tape cartridge registration without fiducial markings. The use of the tape cartridge cells as fiducials maximizes storage capability.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Lyle Joseph Chamberlain
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Publication number: 20030053716Abstract: A circuit for transforming a raster image at least partially stored within an image buffer includes memory storing micro-code; a multiplier; an accumulator; and a sequential logic circuit. The multiplier is in communication with the image buffer and the memory and is operable to form a weighted pixel value as a product of a given pixel value from the buffer and an associated weighting factor within the micro-code. The sequential logic circuit is in communication with the memory and the buffer. It steps through the pixels and the memory to present pixels in the buffer and associated weighting factors from the micro-code, to the multiplier. The accumulator sums weighted pixel values calculated by the multiplier. Conveniently, the memory may be loaded with coefficients of linear equations to scale a raster image.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: ViXS SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Jason Chan, Tom Longo
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Publication number: 20030053717Abstract: Methods and systems for image and video enhancement and data-loss recovery using wavelet transforms are disclosed. A wavelet transformed image is defined as multiple sections, where one section is the original image, and coefficients are estimated for each other section using information obtained from that section. An inverse wavelet transform on the wavelet transformed image obtains an enlarged image. For obtaining a high resolution video frame, one section is the original video frame, and coefficients are estimated for each other section using information from a lower level wavelet transform of a corresponding section of a past or future frame of the video sequence. For recovery of data lost from transmitted original data, the locality of the lost data is determined in lower and higher levels of a wavelet transform tree, and information at the locality in the lower and higher levels is used to estimate the lost data.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventors: Mehmet Bilgay Akhan, Alptekin Temizel, Anil Aksay
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Publication number: 20030053718Abstract: A plurality of image data are stored in a hard disk drive in one-to-one correspondence with the image feature amounts of the image data. A CPU calculates the image feature amount of an input image on the basis of each color component value in a predetermined color space of each of regions obtained by segmenting the input image by a predetermined segmentation pattern. Image data similar to the input image is searched for on the basis of the calculated image feature amounts and the image feature amounts of the image data stored in the hard disk drive.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventor: Kunihiro Yamamoto
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Publication number: 20030053719Abstract: The image information processing system includes at least one image information processing apparatus, and at least one identification information registration specialized apparatus having no image confirmation function, at least one image information reading apparatus and means for establishing network-connection among these apparatuses.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: FUJI PHOTO FILM CO., LTD.Inventor: Yukiko Katakura
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Publication number: 20030053720Abstract: A continuous strip of individually severable plastic bag includes a flattened, hollow, tubular structure of a thin plastic material formed with a plurality of longitudinally-spaced transverse bond lines to define closed bottoms of plastic bags when individually severed from the continuous strip, with a transverse severance line on one side of each transverse bond line to permit severance of an individual plastic bag, and with a pair of finger tabs adjacent each transverse severance line to facilitate opening a plastic bag when severed from the continuous strip. Several preferred embodiments are described wherein the finger tabs are integrally formed with the continuous strip, and wherein they are formed as separate elements bonded to the continuous strip.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventors: Sol Smith, Benjamin J. Barish
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Publication number: 20030053721Abstract: A novel organizer for remote control units is provided. The organizer is made up of a series of segments which have pockets for storage of the remote control units. Each pocket is created through coupling of the support member with a cover member. In a preferred embodiment, the cover member is transparent and flexible thus allowing a user to operated the remote control units while they are stored within the organizer. The organizer also has a capability to be stacked-up or rolled-up in a convenient and space saving configuration suitable for storage.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventor: Edward B. Goldman
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Publication number: 20030053722Abstract: The present invention relates to a bag having closure profiles combined with a slider (20), characterized in that an end weld (3) made between the closure profiles is shaped according to a geometry which is the complement of the slider (20).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: S2F FLEXICOInventor: Philippe Eggermont
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Publication number: 20030053723Abstract: A stand up bag has an indented, cup-shaped bottom wall that allows the bag to stand up. A lower rim is formed between the bottom wall and the sidewall. Portions of the rim are welded so that the bottom wall is held in its indented position. The invention provides numerous different weld patterns for the lower rim.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventors: Larry L. Lanham, William E. Post
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Publication number: 20030053724Abstract: A linear motion guide unit is disclosed in which a joint tube connects between a turnaround and a return passage of a sleeve made of sintered resinous material to ensure smooth turnabout of rolling elements and further in which lubricant can be supplied to the rolling elements for a prolonged period, thereby refining the durability. A slider is comprised of a sleeve for a return passage held with clearance fit in a through-hole of a carriage in a way lining major area of the through-hole with only forward and aft ends of the through-hole being left naked, a spacer with a lug having a radially inside curved half for a turnaround and an inside part for a joint tube to make up for any one end of the return passage joining with the radially inside curved half, and an end cap having a radially outside half for the turnaround and an outside part for the joint tube to make up for any one end of the return passage joining with the radially outside curved half.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTDInventors: Takeshi Matsui, Shigemasa Itabashi, Toyohisa Ishihara
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Publication number: 20030053725Abstract: The invention relates to a crankshaft bearing for a motor vehicle, in which a crankshaft 1 produced from ADI (austempered ductile iron, DIN EN 1564) is supported on an engine block 2 produced from aluminum without the interposition of other components. There is very little difference between the thermal expansion coefficients between ADI and aluminum materials, ensuring that the bearing operates reliably even when there are fluctuations in temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventor: Kai Martin Mayer
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Publication number: 20030053726Abstract: To provide a magnetic encoder in which an air gap between it and a magnetic sensor can be increased and the magnetic force generated thereby can be easily quality-controlled, and a wheel bearing assembly having the magnetic encoder, the magnetic encoder 20 includes a core metal 11 and an elastic member 14 integrated with the core metal 11 in a ring-shaped configuration. The elastic member 14 is made from an elastic material mixed with a powder of magnetic material and has a plurality of different magnetic poles alternating in a direction circumferentially thereof. The elastic member 14 also has a Shore hardness of not lower than Hs 90. A wheel bearing assembly is also provided, which makes use of the magnetic encoder 20 as a component part of a sealing unit 5.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: NTN CORPORATIONInventor: Takayuki Norimatsu
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Publication number: 20030053727Abstract: A roller bearing cage having load capacity large enough to bear severe conditions imposed by high-speed engines, with even lighter in weight. In the roller bearing cage, the cage bars are each made up of axially opposite thick ends and a slim mid-area lying midway the thick ends to define a recess between them. The cage bar has radially outside projections on an outside periphery thereof while radially inside projections on an inside periphery thereof to keep the rollers against escape out of the cage. The radially inside projections extend circumferentially of the cage, especially, at just a circular edge of the thick end, which lies nearby or neighboring or closer to the recess. The radially inside projections are made by forcing material at the edge to move circumferentially by plastic flow into the projections that extend circumferentially towards pockets on a radially inside circular surface of the thick end.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: NIPPON THOMPSON CO., LTDInventor: Yasunori Yokota
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Publication number: 20030053728Abstract: A method of modulating an optical signal is provided comprising the steps of providing a first electric field in a first optical signal path, providing a second electric field in a second optical signal path, transmitting an optical signal along the first optical signal path and the second optical signal path, amplitude modulating the optical signal via the first electric field and the second electric field, and phase modulating the optical signal via the first electric field and the second electric field. A clock source and a data source are ANDed to provide a data modulated RF signal on an offset waveguide electrode for generating the first and second electric fields. The magnitude of the electric field of the first electric field in the first optical signal path is greater than the magnitude of the electric field of the second electric field in the second optical signal path.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: Dorsal Networks, Inc.Inventor: Guangning Yang
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Publication number: 20030053729Abstract: The present invention provides an optoelectronic device, a method of manufacture therefore, or an optical communications system including the optoelectronic device. The optoelectronic device may include a substrate and a waveguide located within the substrate. Additionally, the waveguide may include a first portion having a width, depth, and refractive index, and a second portion having a different width, depth and refractive index.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventor: Yongqiang Shi
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Publication number: 20030053730Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for modulating light emitted by a laser, including an optical substrate that has an electro-optical effect, at least one optical waveguide formed near a front face of the optical substrate, a first electrode that is formed with a conductive transparent film so that a part of the optical waveguide may be covered and is used for applying an electric field to the optical waveguide, a second electrode that is paired with the first electrode and is used for applying an electric field to the optical waveguide, and a third electrode that is formed with a metal film in a position that is shifted from a position just above the optical waveguide and is electrically connected with the first electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventor: Minoru Seino
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Publication number: 20030053731Abstract: A switching device includes an optical cavity and a phase modulator disposed within the optical cavity. An optical signal is propagated into the cavity. The phase modulator can selectively introduce a phase shift between portions of the optical signals, which are then recombined and propagated out of the optical cavity. The optical cavity confines the optical signal to allow phase shifts to accumulate so that a relatively small drive power to the phase modulator can be used to achieve a relatively large phase shift.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventor: Achintya K. Bhowmik
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Publication number: 20030053732Abstract: A method for making an apodized Bragg grating in a photosensitive, planar, linear waveguide. A photosensitive, planar, linear waveguide is provided on a surface of a substrate. A patterned phase mask is placed between the waveguide and a laser beam. The waveguide is exposed through the phase mask to the laser beam wherein either the laser beam is moving at a substantially constant velocity with respect to the substrate and phase mask, or the substrate and phase mask are moving at a substantially constant velocity with respect to the laser beam. The beam has a smoothly varying intensity profile, and the exposure is conducted at an angle of more than 0° and less than 90° to the longitudinal axis of the waveguide under conditions sufficient to induce a modulation in the index of refraction of the waveguide and impart an apodized Bragg grating in the waveguide corresponding to the phase mask pattern.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventor: Louay Eldada
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Publication number: 20030053733Abstract: A process (400) to construct single- and multi-dimensional optical gratings (100, 800) of interlayers (110, 230, 310, 808) of differing refractive index, either in or atop a non-fiber substrate material (104, 202, 302). The optical gratings (100, 800) may particularly be Bragg type gratings, and thus suitable for receiving a laser beam (102, 240, 802) and forming there from one or more reflected beam portions (118, 248, 810) having one or more narrow wavelengths and a passed beam portion (120, 250, 812) of other wavelengths.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2001Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventors: David W. Wang, John C. Tsai
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Publication number: 20030053734Abstract: A frequency processing system (1000, 1100, 1200, 1300) for detecting, tuning, or stabilizing light frequency or wavelength in a light beam (1012, 1112, 1212, 1312) produced by a light source (1010, 1110, 1210, 1310). A grating block (1014, 1114, 1214, 1314) receives the light beam (1012, 1112, 1212, 1312) and may produce diffracted beams (1018, 1118, 1218, 1318a-b) and a passed beam (1016, 1116, 1216, 1316). The diffracted beams (1018, 1118, 1218, 1318a-b) are received by respective detectors (1020, 1120, 1220, 1320a-b) which produce measurement signals (1022, 1122, 1322a-b) that are communicated to a processor (1024, 1124, 1224, 1324). The processor (1024, 1124, 1224, 1324) then produces control signals (1026, 1126, 1226, 1326a-b) that are communicated to the light source (1010, 1110, 1210, 1310) where they are usable for detecting, tuning, or stabilizing the light frequency or wavelength.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventors: David W. Wang, John C. Tsai
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Publication number: 20030053735Abstract: A fiber-optic-taper loop probe includes first and second fiber segments, first and second tapering segments, and a center taper segment. In a preferred embodiment, first and second fiber segments are about 125 &mgr;m in diameter, and the center taper segment has a substantially constant diameter of about 2-5 &mgr;m. The fiber-optic taper forms a loop, the center taper segment remaining substantially straight and opposite the crossing point of the loop. The loop is secured to a support structure to maintain its shape and facilitate positioning relative to an optical component to be tested. The fiber segments may be connected to an optical characterization system including one or more light sources, lasers, detectors, spectrometers, etc. The geometry of the loop enables transverse-optical-coupling of the loop probe with an optical component without undesirable contact between other portions of the loop probe and other portions of the optical component and/or substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Inventor: David W. Vernooy