Patents Issued in July 6, 2004
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Patent number: 6760453Abstract: A level of a voice inputted from a microphone 1 is detected in a level detecting section 2. An instantaneous voice level which is sampled every a predetermined time is subjected to an average processing in a processing section 4, and it is outputted as an average voice level. At this time, the first average voice level immediately after starting a telephone conversation is stored in a memory section 6 as a reference amplitude level. During the telephone conversation, a voice level inputted to the microphone 1 is compared with the reference amplitude level in a comparing section 5 every a predetermine time. When the voice level inputted to the microphone 1 is higher than the reference amplitude level, a controlling section 7 increases a voice volume outputted from a speaker 11. On the other hand, the voice level inputted to the microphone 1 is lower than the reference amplitude level, the controlling section 7 decreases the voice volume outputted from the speaker 11.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 1999Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: NEC CorporationInventor: Satoshi Banno
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Patent number: 6760454Abstract: A voice-activated microphone and transceiver system includes an interrogator unit for transmitting a signal, receiving a modulated signal, and demodulating the modulated signal such that the difference between the transmitted signal and the modulated signal correspond to a unique sound wave signal. An acoustically driven microphone unit is also included for receiving the signal from the interrogator unit, modulating the signal with the sound wave signal, wherein the sound wave signal contains instructions for controlling an electronic device, and transmitting the modulated signal back to the interrogator unit for analysis by a signal processor.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: TRW Inc.Inventors: Gregory A. Shreve, Robert B. Stokes, Marshall Y. Huang, Barry R. Allen
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Patent number: 6760455Abstract: An electrostatic loudspeaker includes a high resistivity stator with electrode conductivity per square that is constant and/or decreases with distance from the connection point. A contact area of predetermined size is related to the highest frequency of interest. The constant or decreasing surface resistivity of the stators, interacting with the capacitive load of the stator to stator gap, operates as a distributed network such that the active acoustic output is attenuated in a predetermined manner with increased frequency at all points equidistant on the stator from the connection area. The apparent acoustic source size is reduced as the frequency increases to maintain enhanced dispersion across the operating range of the loudspeaker system.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2001Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: American Technology CorporationInventors: James J. Croft, III, Robert C. Williamson
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Patent number: 6760456Abstract: A portable computer system with planar speakers. The planar speakers are fabricated with a coplanar array of small, low cost, durable, electromagnetic speaker elements mounted on a panel. The planar speakers can be attached to the lid of the computer system. The planar speakers can slide into a compartment in the lid of the computer system when not in use and slide out of the compartment for use with greater physical separation than that of built-in speakers. Alternatively, the planar speakers are attached to the lid via a hinge and folded against the lid when not in use. The planar speakers are folded outward extending the planar speakers beyond the lid for use with greater physical separation than that of built-in speakers. The planar speakers can be detachable from the remainder of the computer system for greater spacing and variable positioning of the planar speakers for improved stereo sound reproduction.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company L.P.Inventor: Marco Annaratone
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Patent number: 6760457Abstract: A hearing aid is provided with a switch that automatically switches the hearing aid input from a microphone input to a voice coil input in the presence of a magnetic field. The magnetic field can be generated by a magnet in a telephone handset.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Micro Ear Technology, Inc.Inventors: Mark A. Bren, Timothy S. Peterson
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Patent number: 6760458Abstract: A headset and a method of manufacturing headsets are disclosed where a single transceiver form-factor design is utilized with a number of styles of housings. By utilizing the same transceiver with the different styles of housings, manufacturing costs are reduced while at the same time providing a wider variety of choices to the consumer.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: GN Netcom, Inc.Inventors: Tom Bogeskov-Jensen, Jan Larsen
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Patent number: 6760459Abstract: A headset is described for use in connection with either mobile telephones, conventional landline telephones or personal computers. When used with wireless applications, the headset is housed in a generally elongated casing having an ear bud, having a speaker therein, and a battery pack extending therefrom which are used in conjunction with one another to secure the headset against a user's ear. The battery pack includes a lip that is designed to cradle the helix of a user's ear against the casing and is positioned distal of the ear bud such that the battery pack is located behind a user's ear when the headset is in its operating position. The battery pack and the ear bud are further positioned on the casing to counterbalance the end of the casing opposite the ear bud and to equally distribute the weight of the headset about the ear bud and prevent unnecessary movement of the headset about ear during operation.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Youngbo Engineering, Inc.Inventor: Hyon S. Bae
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Patent number: 6760460Abstract: Speaker system for a display including a cover frame integrated type speaker 1 having a cover frame 101 with screw holes 106 for assembly with a rear cover 2 at top and bottom thereof and a speaker 100 for emitting sound integrated with the cover frame 101, a rear cover 2 fastened to a rear of the cover frame integrated type speaker 1 having a vibration attenuation member mounting unit 200 provided on top and bottom thereof, and vibration attenuation means disposed between the cover frame integrated type speaker 1 and the cabinet for attenuating a system vibration to prevent transmission of the system vibration to the cabinet 4, whereby saving cost, improving a productivity, preventing a pressure loss of a sound directed forward caused by a leaked sound directed backward, and attenuating a system vibration from the speaker so as not to reach to the cabinet, to provide a speaker of a high sound quality and a low howling.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1999Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Chang Wook Jeon
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Patent number: 6760461Abstract: A vehicle windscreen accessory comprising a body member, an adjustable support structure for the body member whereby the position of the body member can be adjusted, the body member comprising a mirror member and a loudspeaker having a bending wave panel-form acoustic member, the mirror member and panel-form member being integral. The accessory can be in the form of, e.g., a sun visor or a rear view mirror.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2001Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: New Transducers LimitedInventors: Henry Azima, Neil Simon Owen, Charles Bream, Christien Ellis
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Planar diaphragm loudspeakers with non-uniform air resistive loading for low frequency modal control
Patent number: 6760462Abstract: A loudspeaker, and particularly, a woofer, including a flat diaphragm transducer having at least one stator plate for carrying magnetic elements in close proximity to a low stiffness diaphragm wherein a piston-like motion of the diaphragm is achieved by creating pressure zones adjacent the diaphragm to improve an acoustic coupling and increase acoustic output for a given size of diaphragm by the provision of non-uniformly spaced openings in the at least one stator plate which are selectively spaced to control low frequency diaphragm resonance modes.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2003Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Eminent Technology IncorporatedInventor: F. Bruce Thigpen -
Patent number: 6760463Abstract: Audio and image (including video) content data is watermarked by processes that take into account human perception attributes of the content. Some methods assess the input content data to discern inherent biases, and tailor the watermarking to exploit such data characteristics. Other methods make use of a trial-encoding process to determine how the watermark survives corruption—such as compression—and tailor the watermarking accordingly. A great variety of other techniques are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2001Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventor: Geoffrey B. Rhoads
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Patent number: 6760464Abstract: Methods embed a digital watermark into a halftone image. One method derives halftone thresholds from a watermark image, and then uses these thresholds to convert target images into watermarked halftone images. A method for measuring digital watermark strength is used for a variety of applications, such as distinguishing original printed documents from copies. In this method, a watermarked signal is processed to extract estimates of error correction encoded bits embedded into the watermarked signal. Then, the error correction encoded bits are decoded to compute a message payload. The message payload is re-encoded to compute error correction encoded bits. A measure of watermark strength is computed from the error correction encoded bits and the estimates of error correction encoded bits.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2001Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Digimarc CorporationInventor: Hugh L. Brunk
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Patent number: 6760465Abstract: An automated object tracking system for tracking a colored object through a series of frames of data. The system has a first image source device to provide a data array of pixels of a digital image. A second image source device provides a binary image of the data array. The system utilizes an analysis system to create a first histogram for columns of the binary image and a second histogram for rows of the binary image. Each histogram is thresholded, and after being thresholding, is utilized to estimate the center of a tracked object in the binary image.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2001Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Jeffrey S McVeigh, Matthew E Frazer
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Patent number: 6760466Abstract: An automatic image replacement and rebuilding system and method thereof which can replace and rebuild the image automatically. The system includes an input module; a processing module; a storage module; and an output module. The input module inputs external image data into the system. The processing module is coupled to the input module to receive the image data, then analyzes the shading value and the direction of the sample object in the image data, and outputs an access signal and an output signal. The storage module coupled to the processing module to receive the access signal, and is stored or read out on a replaced image, and the output module coupled to the processing module to receive the output signal, and outputs the image data.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2001Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Institue of Information IndustryInventors: Ta-Chun Wang, Wen-Jen Ho
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Patent number: 6760467Abstract: The present invention relates to a technique for checking if the reflected image of a light emitting diode for lighting is detected in the image of an iris and determining whether the iris is a living one in order to prevent an illegal intrusion using a simulacrum such as a photograph or dynamic image.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventors: Seung Gi Min, Jang Jin Chae
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Patent number: 6760468Abstract: A method and system improve the detection of abnormalities, such as lung nodules, in radiological images using digital image processing and artificial neural network techniques. The detection method and system use a nodule phantom for matching in order to enhance the efficiency in detection. The detection method and system use spherical parameters to characterize true nodules, thus enabling detection of the nodules in the mediastinum. The detection method and system use a multi-layer back-propagation neural network architecture not only for the classification of lung nodules but also for the integration of detection results from different classifiers. In addition, this method and system improve the detection efficiency by recommending the ranking of true nodules and several false positive nodules prior to the training of the neural network classifier. The method and system use image segmentation to remove regions outside the chest in order to reduce the false positives outside the chest region.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Deus Technologies, LLCInventors: Hwa-Young Michael Yeh, Yuan-Ming Fleming Lure, Jyh-Shyan Lin
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Patent number: 6760469Abstract: A radiographic imaging system (100) comprises an X-ray tube (110), a sensor plate (120), and a graphics engine (130). The tube (110) and the sensor plate (120) rotate synchronously about a patient (150) and expose a stereoscopic pair of images which are transmitted to the graphics engine (130). The graphics engine (130) determines (312) the geometry of the system (100). If (314) the pair of images are toed-in relative to each other, the graphics engine (130) converts (316) the images into a parallel geometry. Likewise, the graphics engine (130) also processes (320) the images for keystone distortion, if necessary. Simply flipping the images in the stereo pair distorts the depth of objects in the stereoscopic image. Instead of simply flipping the images, it is desirable to “go behind” the screen (412A) and look at the image from the back.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Alexander Berestov, Harry T. Garland, Roger D. Melen
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Patent number: 6760470Abstract: A computer-implemented method is disclosed for extracting a user's bank account information from information entered by the user from the face of a check. The extracted information may be used to electronically transfer funds to or from the user's bank account. The method may be embodied within a web site system, a telephone-based voice prompting system, or another type of interactive computer system of a business entity, and provides an alternative to requiring the user to mail a voided check. The method involves receiving from the user a magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) line, and identifying a contiguous string of characters within the MICR line that satisfies a checksum test. The resulting string is stored as the bank routing number for the user. A check number and an account number may also be received from the user, in which case a test is performed to verify that the check number, the account number, and the bank routing number all coexist within the MICR line.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Amazon.Com, Inc.Inventors: Matthew T. Bogosian, Nicholas K. Peddy, FuMing Young
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Patent number: 6760471Abstract: A system and method for compensating pixel values in an inspection machine for inspecting printed circuit boards includes an image acquisition system for providing pixel values from a digitized image to a compensation circuit. The compensation circuit applies one or more compensation values to the digitized pixel values to provide compensated digitized pixel values for storage in a memory. The compensated digitized pixel values are then available for use by an image processor which implements inspection techniques during a printed circuit board manufacturing process. With this technique, the system corrects the errors on a pixel by pixel basis as the pixel values representing an image of a printed circuit board are transferred from the image acquisition system to the memory.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Teradyne, Inc.Inventor: Douglas W. Raymond
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Patent number: 6760472Abstract: A semiconductor substrate has a peculiar crystal defect. Crystal defects in a fixed area of a substrate can be treated as data acquired by coding the distribution of the crystal defects. The coded data is utilized for certificate data of an IC card by identifying a semiconductor substrate itself.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 1999Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.Inventors: Kazuo Takeda, Aritoshi Sugimoto, Takanori Ninomiya
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Patent number: 6760473Abstract: An OPC feature measurement technique accurately measures serif area of OPC features, feature separation and line symmetry, and is especially useful for measuring dimensions which are less than about the wavelength of the examining radiation. The relative area of serifs present on a line end is measured by first defining a region of interest around the line end and then an intensity profile is created. The differences between data points on the profile and a constant value are summed in order to calculate a flux value. The flux value is divided by the intensity range to determine an area. The separation distance between a line end and another feature is determined by first defining a region of interest that spans the separation distance between the two features. Next, an intensity profile is created. The differences between data points on the profile and a constant value are summed to calculate a flux value. The separation distance between the features is calculated from the flux value.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: KLA-Tencor Technologies CorporationInventor: Peter J. Fiekowsky
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Patent number: 6760474Abstract: Frequency information is selectively removed from a video signal in order to decrease the number of color values required for video compression. Removal of the frequency information includes both periodic raking out of narrow frequency bands, and rounding of frequency values. The frequency information removal is carried out selectively in those portions of the visible light spectrum in which the human eye's color response is strongest, thus allowing increases in video compression ratios without visible degradation of image quality.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 1999Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Pixelon.com, Inc.Inventor: Adam Michael Fenne
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Patent number: 6760475Abstract: The present invention provides for an imaging system that obtains, as well as a method for obtaining, the colorimetric value of a plurality of points in a scene when the scene is lit by a source of illumination. The system comprises an imaging detector, imaging optics that receive light from the scene and direct it to the detector, a tunable filter responsive to applied electrical signals that filters the spectrum of light passing therethrough, and a control circuit for acquiring and storing a plurality of images from the detector while the tunable filter expresses a plurality of predetermined filter response functions in response to applied electrical signals, and for determining the colorimetric values from the stored images, wherein each of the filter response functions has substantial transmission at a plurality of wavelengths.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Cambridge Research & Instrumentation Inc.Inventor: Peter J. Miller
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Patent number: 6760476Abstract: The invention allows a purchaser of lottery tickets to scan multiple lottery tickets at once, send the resulting image to a web site, where the web site will indicate to the purchaser whether any of the tickets are winners and also highlight on the image for the purchaser the location of a winning ticket in the image and also highlight where on the ticket the winning number is. The method for checking lottery tickets comprises the steps of digitizing at least one lottery ticket comprising lottery numbers to form an image, performing optical character recognition on the image to obtain the lottery numbers, comparing the lottery ticket lottery numbers to at least one winning lottery number and reporting the winning status of the at least one lottery ticket.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2001Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Inventor: Martin G. Meder
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Patent number: 6760477Abstract: Described are methods for entering and editing data strings that are inputted into cellular telephones having a screen. In one method, all basic Hangul consonants and some of the compound Hangul consonants are included in a candidate consonant list and all basic Hangul vowels and some of the compound vowels are included in a candidate vowel list. The candidate consonant and vowel lists are alternatively displayed on a component display region (906) located on the screen. For form a Korean character, a user can select consonant(s) and vowel from the candidate consonant and vowel lists. To form a compound Hangul component that is not included in either the candidate consonant list or the candidate vowel list, the user selects a basic Hangul component as a first part of the compound Hangul component from either the candidate consonant list or the candidate vowel list.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2001Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronics Inc.Inventor: Soon Ko
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Patent number: 6760478Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing two-pass real time video compression is provided. Tactical decisions such as encoding and quantization values are determined in software, whereas functional execution steps are performed in hardware. By appropriately apportioning the tasks between software and hardware, the benefits of each type of processing are exploited, while minimizing both hardware complexity and data transfer requirements. One key concept that allows the compression unit to operate in real time is that the architecture and pipelining both allow for B frames to be executed out of order. By buffering B frames, two-pass motion estimation techniques can be performed to tailor bit usage to the requirements of the frame, and therefore provide a more appealing output image.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Matthew James Adiletta, King-Wai Chow, Samuel William Ho, Robert Clint Rose, William Ralph Wheeler, Duane E. Galbi
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Patent number: 6760479Abstract: A method of compressing a digital image including the steps of dividing the image into a plurality of blocks, at least some of which blocks may be partially superimposed with other blocks, generating uncorrelated coefficient or coefficient error vectors, preferably using a minimum mean squared error (MMSE) predictive-transform (PT) coding methodology, quantizing each coefficient or coefficient error vector using scalar quantizers, preferably linear scalar quantizers, storing a coefficient or coefficient error matrix consisting of the quantized coefficient error vectors, decomposing the stored quantized coefficient or coefficient error matrix into a plurality of uncorrelated groups of quantized coefficient errors and zero-run symbols, or into uncorrelated groups of quantized coefficient errors as well as a zero-run amplitude dependent group and zero-run length dependent group, and losslessly encoding each of the uncorrelated groups of symbols, for example, using a fixed or adaptive Huffman or Artihmetic coder.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Research Foundation of the City University of New YorkInventor: Erlan H. Feria
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Patent number: 6760480Abstract: A decoder decodes encoded binary image data on each block in order to recover a target block of the binary image. The image decoder includes motion compensated blocking which obtains a reference block from a reference binary image by applying motion compensation using motion information. A selector selects a statistical model from among a plurality of statistical models, based on states of pixels surrounding a reference pixel in the reference block, in which the reference pixel also corresponds to a target pixel in the target block. An arithmetic decoder recovers the target block by decoding the encoded data using the selected statistical model. In one embodiment, the pixels surrounding the reference pixel in the reference block are pixels positioned within one pixel distance from the reference pixel.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koichi Hata, Minoru Etoh, Takeshi Ankei
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Patent number: 6760481Abstract: The invention relates generally to the processing of image data. Especially the invention applies to the coding and decoding of still images for compression and transfer in a mobile telecommunications system. The objects of the invention are fulfilled by providing an image processing procedure, which is based on wavelet transform (202), successive approximation quantization (204, 208) and guadtree coding (206). The quadtree coding preferably comprises the step of coding the significance with two symbols. The solution does not require large data processing or memory capacity. Still it offers a high image quality for a given bit rate compared to the prior art solutions. The solution according to the invention also satisfies the requirements of progressivity in quality and resolution.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd.Inventors: Fehmi Chebil, Kai Willner, Jani Lainema
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Patent number: 6760482Abstract: A method for lossy compression of images reduces visual distortion for a given compressed bit-rate or, equivalently, requires a lower bit-rate for a given level of visual distortion. An image is decomposed using a space-frequency transform and frequency bands are then partitioned into small blocks. The blocks are independently quantized and coded using an embedded block coder, so that each block bit-stream contains a large number of finely spaced truncation points. A visual distortion measure is computed for each block at each truncation point, where the metric is sensitive to masking properties of the Human Visual System. The distortion values and bit-stream lengths corresponding to each block's truncation point are used to optimise overall visual distortion at one or more target bit-rates or to minimise the bit-rate corresponding to one or more target visual distortion levels.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Unisearch LimitedInventor: David Scott Taubman
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Patent number: 6760483Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for analyzing and processing images by identification of characteristic lines and corresponding parameters. More particularly, the method and apparatus transforms an image into mathematical models derived from the characteristic lines and parameters, based on repetitive image patterns. The parameters include central lines, signatures, cross-sections, characteristic strips, margins, end areas, fitting transformations and fitting sequences. Each of the parameters associated with the identified characteristic lines are representable by mathematical models, which accurately approximate the geometric and brightness (or color) attributes of the respective characteristic lines.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Vimatix (BVI) Ltd.Inventors: Yoram Elichai, Yosef Yomdin
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Patent number: 6760484Abstract: A method of local contrast mapping that changes the dynamic range of an original image to more closely match the dynamic range of the medium used for the reproduction. The method compresses large contrast differences between different areas of an image while preserving small contrast differences between different areas of an image.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: Robert E Sobol
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Patent number: 6760485Abstract: A method for correcting for exposure in a digital image, captured by an image capture device, including rendering such captured digital image suitable for display and displaying such captured digital image as a first displayed digital image; and using an adjustable exposure setting to nonlinearly modify the rendered captured digital image to effect an exposure change and displaying the exposure modified rendered captured digital image as a second digital image simultaneous with the first displayed digital image.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1999Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Paul B. Gilman, Kenneth A. Parulski, Kevin E. Spaulding, Robert P. Collette, John F. Hamilton
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Patent number: 6760486Abstract: Flash artifacts in ultrasound flow images are suppressed to achieve enhanced flow discrimination. Flash artifacts typically occur as regions of elevated signal strength (brightness or equivalent color) within an image. A flash suppression algorithm includes the steps of estimating the flash within an image and then suppressing the estimated flash. The mechanism for flash suppression is spatial filtering. An extension of this basic method uses information from adjacent frames to estimate the flash and/or to smooth the resulting image sequence. Temporal information from adjacent frames is used as an adjunct to improve performance.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Richard Yung Chiao, Gregory Ray Bashford, Mark Peter Feilen, Cynthia Andrews Owen
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Patent number: 6760487Abstract: The invention presents The Estimated Spectrum Adaptive Postfilter (ESAP) and the Iterative Prepost Filter (IPF) algorithms. These algorithms model a number of image-adaptive post-filtering and pre-post filtering methods. They are designed to minimize Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) blocking distortion caused when images are highly compressed with the Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG) standard. The ESAP and the IPF techniques of the present invention minimize the mean square error (MSE) to improve the objective and subjective quality of low-bit-rate JPEG gray-scale images while simultaneously enhancing perceptual visual quality with respect to baseline JPEG images.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventor: Irving Linares
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Patent number: 6760488Abstract: A system for generating a three-dimensional model of an object from a two-dimensional image sequence. According to one embodiment, the system includes an image sensor for capturing a sequence of two-dimensional images of a scene, the scene including the object, a two-dimensional motion filter module in communication with the image sensor for determining from the sequence of images a plurality of two-dimensional motion parameters for the object, and a three-dimensional structure recovery module in communication with the two-dimensional motion filter module for estimating a set of three-dimensional shape parameters and a set of three-dimensional motion parameters from the set of two-dimensional motion parameters using a rank 1 factorization of a matrix.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Carnegie Mellon UniversityInventors: Jose' M. F. Moura, Pedro M. Q. Aguiar
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Patent number: 6760489Abstract: An image data interpolation apparatus includes an image data obtaining unit for obtaining image data representing an image as dot-matrix picture elements, a picture element interpolating unit capable of selectively executing one of a plurality of interpolating processes when the image data is interpolated so that the number of constituent picture elements thereof is increased, a feature amount obtaining unit for obtaining a feature amount concerning the image data with respect to the selected interpolating process, and an interpolating process selecting unit for selecting one of the interpolating processes capable of obtaining an optimum result of interpolation according to the feature amount obtained by the feature amount obtaining unit and causing the picture element interpolating unit to execute the selected interpolating process.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1999Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Naoki Kuwata
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Patent number: 6760490Abstract: A method for data key-in includes receiving images of documents containing characters and receiving character codes entered by one or more key-in operators, the codes corresponding respectively to the characters in the documents. For at least some of the character codes, respective areas of the images that contain the corresponding characters are identified, such that each of the areas contains one of the characters. A group of the areas of the images is displayed together responsive to the corresponding character codes, so as to facilitate verification of the codes by a verifying operator.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Aviad Zlotnick
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Patent number: 6760491Abstract: By scanning both sides of a photographic print, data from the back of the print may be associated with the image. If the backside data includes text, optical character recognition (OCR) techniques optionally may be used to convert the image of the back of the photo into text that may be included in a database or other data structure allowing the text to be associated with the photographic image. This allows the user to quickly and easily search a large database of images for either a specific image or a group of images according to some set of search criteria.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Peter J Lange, David W Boyd
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Patent number: 6760492Abstract: The invention provides an optical switch for operation by an incident light. The optical switch has a linear grating portion having an average linear refractive index and a nonlinear grating portion, meeting at an interface. The nonlinear grating portion includes a plurality of periodically alternating layers of nonlinear materials having different refractive indices. The linear grating portion and the nonlinear grating portion are positioned to form a continuous sequence of alternating high and low refractive indices at low intensities. The incident light is substantially reflected at low intensities. At high intensities, a continuous sequence of alternating high and low refractive indices is formed, interrupted by a discontinuity at the interface, and the nonlinear grating portion has a second average nonlinear refractive index which is substantially equivalent to the average linear refractive index. Light having a narrow band of frequencies is substantially transmitted at high intensities.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Inventors: John Lit, Hossam Zoweil
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Patent number: 6760493Abstract: A coplanar integrated optical waveguide electro-optical modulator comprises a substrate (1) of an electro-optic material, at least two optical waveguides (41, 42) integrated in the substrate in correspondence of a surface (71) thereof, and an electrode system (80, 90, 100; 80, 90, 900; 12-15; 120, 130, 140, 150, 160, 170) arranged on the surface for applying a modulating electric field to the waveguides suitable for causing a modulation of a refractive index of the two waveguides in a device modulation region (50). The waveguides are formed, for at least a section thereof (411, 421) in the device modulation region, in respective substrate regions (61, 62) which have electro-optic coefficients of opposite sign along an axis transversal to the waveguide sections, so that a modulating electric field of same direction and orientation in the waveguide sections causes refractive index modulations of opposite sign in the waveguide sections.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Avanex CorporationInventors: Valerio Pruneri, Antonino Nespola
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Patent number: 6760494Abstract: The disclosure provides the fiber optic polarizer that is a conveniently packaged fiber/polarization beamsplitter combination for free space beam and integrated optics application. It eliminates the need for separate the fiber and polarizer, and takes the advantage of easy fabrication and low cost. The fiber optics polarizer is fabricated by fixing the single mode fiber and the polarization maintaining fiber on V-groove chuck. The polarization beamsplitter is fixed on a wafer. The V-groove chuck and the wafer are packaged in the hermetic sealing box with single mode fiber and the polarization maintaining fiber exposed at two opposite lengthwise ends of the box.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2001Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.Inventors: Xinghua Han, Yi-Ting Yao, Chalres Leu, Ga-Lane Chen
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Patent number: 6760495Abstract: An all-fiber optical depolarizer is provided in which polarized light is controllably injected into a polarization beam splitter at a 45° angle. The beam splitter is combined with a loop made of standard non-birefringent fiber through which one of the polarizations split by the beam splitter circulates. The loop has a length greater than the coherence length of the light source. The interaction of the beam splitter and the loop produces incoherent depolarized light at the output transmission port of the beam splitter.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignees: ITF Technologies Optiques Inc., ITF Optical Technologies Inc.Inventors: François Gonthier, Bruno Y. Dion, Nicolas Godbout, Alain Villeneuve
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Patent number: 6760496Abstract: An exemplary optical isolator, which may use a magnetic-composite material made of a ferromagnetic-composite, and method for making the same are provided. The optical isolator may include a core, a cladding, and a magnetic-composite material. The core is operable to allow a light wave incident a first end to propagate to a second end to define a positive propagation direction, and to allow a light wave incident the second end to propagate to the first end to define a negative propagation direction. The cladding is positioned relative the core and includes a thinned segment of the cladding with a cladding thickness operable to allow an optical field penetration through the thinned segment of the cladding by a light wave that propagates either in the positive or negative propagation direction. The thinned segment has a length that extends relative to a portion of the core.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2003Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Photodigm, Inc.Inventor: Jacob M. Hammer
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Patent number: 6760497Abstract: The invention relates to a printed circuit board (30) which has at least one electrical conduction level (EL) for relaying electrical signals and/or currents and at least one optical conduction level (OL) for relaying optical signals. Said conduction levels (EL, OL) are placed on top of each other in a stack inside the printed circuit board (30) and are interconnected. The aim of the invention is to provide a particularly flexible and simple construction and a simplified production method. To this end, the optical conduction level (OL) comprises at least one thin glass layer (11) as a conductor element.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: PPC Electronic AGInventor: Peter Leo Straub
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Patent number: 6760498Abstract: An arrayed waveguide grating deposited on a wafer that includes an upper semiconductor layer comprising a first port, a plurality of second ports, a gate oxide layer, a polysilicon layer, and a plurality of arrayed waveguides. The gate oxide layer is deposited above the upper semiconductor layer. The polysilicon layer is deposited above the gate oxide layer. The plurality of arrayed waveguides extend between the first port and each one of the plurality of second ports. Each one of the plurality of arrayed waveguides are at least partially formed by the upper semiconductor layer, the polysilicon layer, and the gate oxide layer. Each one of the arrayed waveguides is associated with a portion of the polysilicon layer. Each portion of the polysilicon layer has a different cross-sectional area, wherein each of the arrayed waveguides has a different effective mode index.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: SiOptical, Inc.Inventor: Shrenik Delwala
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Patent number: 6760499Abstract: A planar waveguide Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZ) has improved performance as a variable optical attenuator as well as a thermo-optic switch (TOS) with reduced polarization dependent loss (PDL) in high attenuation states. The PDL was reduced by correcting for the increased birefringence that occurs on heating one waveguide arm by making the two waveguides inherently asymmetric, such that when one of the waveguides is heated, the differential birefringence of the two arms becomes zero. This asymmetry can be realized simply by changing the width of one of the waveguides. The modified device allows for very small PDL in the high attenuation state of a VOA and for theoretically perfect contrast in a TOS in the off state, with only a small penalty in PDL of the on state.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: JDS Uniphase CorporationInventors: Bardia Pezeshki, Mark Missey, Anca L. Sala, Craig D. Liddle, Barthelemy Fondeur
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Patent number: 6760500Abstract: An optical wiring device providing characteristics of optical connection leads while having substantially the same mountability as that of electrical wiring devices. According to the present invention, an optical axis of a photoelectric conversion element is made consistent with an optical axis of an optical terminal having a spherical shape through a tapered hole provided in a package substrate. An optical wiring substrate includes a concave portion attached to the package substrate with the optical terminal at the position of the concave portion. The optical terminal serves as a fitting part between the package substrate and the optical wiring substrate. By putting the focal point of the optical terminal within the optical wiring substrate, an optical wiring is not exposed to the external atmosphere.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Hideto Furuyama
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Patent number: 6760501Abstract: An optical beam path directing system has a field-flattening optically transmissive wedge installed in spatially dispersed beam paths upstream of the planar surface of a micro electro-mechanical switch (MEMS) or liquid crystal array. The parameters of the field-flattening wedge and its location in the diffracted beam paths are defined such that the wedge effectively rotates a ‘best fit’ planar surface approximation of the curvilinear focal plane of a concave reflector into coplanar coincidence with the optical signal-receiving surface of the MEMS. As a result, loss variation is essentially flat and minimized across the optical signal transmission band.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: JDS Uniphase Inc.Inventors: Rajiv Iyer, Jacques Bismuth
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Patent number: 6760502Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring optical power or insertion loss within an optical cross-connect system utilizing a plurality of parallel light beams sampled at switch fabric input and output portions via imaging devices.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2001Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.Inventors: Ronald J. Capik, Byung H. Lee