Patents Issued in December 20, 2007
  • Publication number: 20070291096
    Abstract: An inkjet recording apparatus includes a platen holding a recording medium at a position opposed to a recording head, a suction generating member for suctioning the recording medium to the platen, a first recessed portion provided at a region on the platen and connected with the suction generating member, where the region faces a scanning area of the recording head, and a second recessed portion provided at a position on the platen and connected with the suction generating member, where the second recessed portion is provided on the downstream side of a region opposed to the scanning area and provided at a position corresponding to an end portion of the recording medium to be conveyed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinji Toyoshima
  • Publication number: 20070291097
    Abstract: The turbulence of the air moved through an inkjet print head enclosure is reduced before reaching the printing region between the print head and a print medium by positioning a HEPA filtration system between an air inlet opening in the enclosure and the print head. Turbulence is removed from air moved through the air path by HEPA filtration of the air being drawn into the print head enclosure before reaching the printing region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Brian G. Morris, Robert J. Simon
  • Publication number: 20070291098
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a thermal head, a head support portion, a platen roller, a pressing mechanism and a positioning portion. The thermal head prints in a printing direction. The head support portion rotatably supports the thermal head. The head support portion is supported at locations away from an imaginary line along the printing direction passing between the thermal head and the platen roller. The platen roller is disposed across from the thermal head. The pressing mechanism presses the thermal head against the platen roller during printing. The positioning portion comes into contact with the thermal head from the printing direction when the pressing mechanism presses the thermal head against the platen roller. The positioning portion positions the thermal head with respect to the platen roller along the printing direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunio SAWAI
  • Publication number: 20070291099
    Abstract: A fixing apparatus of the invention includes a heating roller, a fixing roller, a fixing belt that is wound around the heating roller and the fixing roller and circulates between the heating roller and the fixing roller, a pressing roller to press the fixing roller through the fixing belt, a first heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a center part of the heating roller, a second heater that is included in the heating roller and mainly heats a peripheral part of the heating roller, and a temperature control unit to control a temperature of the heating roller by an on/off control of the first heater and the second heater, and the temperature control unit performs the on/off control in which when one of the first heater and the second heater is turned on, the other is turned off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Noboru Furuyama
  • Publication number: 20070291100
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a thermal print head part; a supporting arm coupled to the thermal print head part to support the thermal print head part to be capable of moving between a printing position and a waiting position; a driving cam to be rotatably driven together with a cam profile thereof; and a cam lever having an operating lever to move along the cam profile according to a rotation of the driving cam, and a main pressurizing part to apply pressure to the thermal print head part so that the thermal print head part can move to the printing position. The main pressurizing part may be in contact with a thermal print head of the thermal print head part and may be used to apply adequate pressure to the thermal print head to permit the thermal print head to reciprocate between the printing position and the waiting position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung-pyo Kang, Hideaki Kawada
  • Publication number: 20070291101
    Abstract: One scanning interval of a laser beam is divided into a plurality of blocks, correction data, which corresponds to optical characteristics of an optical unit placed between a laser element and a photosensitive drum, is stored in memory in association with each block, the correction data corresponding to a block being scanned by the laser beam is read out of the memory, and the laser is driven upon correcting the laser drive signal based upon the correction data read out and correction data corresponding to a block adjacent to the block being scanned by the laser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigeo Hata, Katsuhide Koga
  • Publication number: 20070291102
    Abstract: An engraving processing apparatus includes a laser engraving unit configured to perform engraving processing for forming a recessed portion on a sheet by irradiating a laser beam onto the sheet, and a controller configured to control an engraving processing operation of the laser engraving unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideaki Kosasa, Masahiko Yokota, Wataru Kawata, Toshiro Tomono, Ryuichi Kojima, Akihiro Shimizu, Shoji Takeda
  • Publication number: 20070291103
    Abstract: A liquid crystal optical device (liquid crystal lens) is located along the optical axis of one of two laser beams emitted by an optical pickup. The two laser beams, which are respectively modulated using a recording pulse and a drawing pulse, are coaxially emitted through the objective lens of the optical pickup, while the focal points are shifted in the light axial direction. A drawing layer and a data recording layer are laminated on an optical disk, and by controlling voltages applied to the liquid crystal optical device, the distance between the focal positions of the two beams is adjusted so that the distance equals the distance between the two layers. While this adjusted state is maintained, one of the laser beams is focused on one of the layers by a focusing actuator, and data recording and drawing are simultaneously performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Seiya Yamada, Tatsuo Fushiki, Hisanori Itoga
  • Publication number: 20070291104
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system of capturing zoom-in images of an object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Barry Lee Petersen, Li Shen Chan, Hui Ping Huang, Chia Ching Chu, Hou Hsien Lee, Tsai Te Wang, Chang Jou Li
  • Publication number: 20070291105
    Abstract: A method of remotely presenting and selling visual media to a customer comprises steps of participating in a remote oral communication session with the customer and altering at least a portion of what the customer is able to view on a visual display device during the oral communication session. The visual media preferably comprises images of persons or pets that are familiar to the customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Renato Cataldo
  • Publication number: 20070291106
    Abstract: A method of offering video ringback services includes providing a multimedia ringback media stream in a first system component and receiving a call at an MSC from an originating terminal. The call is directed to a VRBT server. The method also includes establishing a session between the VRBT server and the originating terminal and providing the multimedia ringback media stream to the originating terminal. The method further includes thereafter, receiving a message from a terminating terminal indicating that the terminating terminal has answered, transmitting a message from the VRBT server to a second system component that indicates an initiation of a chargeable session, and providing a communication path between the originating terminal and the terminating terminal with reduced involvement of the VRBT server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: Dilithium Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Brody Kenrick, Marwan Jabri
  • Publication number: 20070291107
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for sending/receiving a text message during a video call in a mobile terminal are provided. The method for sending the text message during the video call in the mobile terminal includes detecting a key input for a text message to be sent to at least one other party during the video call; creating a video call control message containing key input data of the text message; and sending the video call control message to the at least one other party. Because the text message is sent and received over a communication channel that has been already connected during the video call, the mobile terminal can provide a real-time text message service and can also provide a video call service even in a situation where a user cannot hear the at least one other party's voice.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Min-Cheol KANG
  • Publication number: 20070291108
    Abstract: A teleconferencing system includes a network. The system includes a plurality of nodes in communication with each other to form a conference. Each node having a video display with a display layout, at least one of the nodes individually controlling at least partially the display layout of each node in the conference with a specific format able to be unique for each node. A method for providing a teleconference including the steps of forming a conference with a plurality of nodes in communication with each other through a network. Each node having a video display with a display layout. There is the step of controlling individually with at least one of the nodes at least partially the display layout of each node in the conference with a specific format able to be unique for each node. A teleconferencing node. A teleconferencing system includes a network. The system includes a plurality of nodes in communication with each other through the network to form a conference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Richard E. Huber, Arun Punj
  • Publication number: 20070291109
    Abstract: A remote controlled robot system that includes a mobile robot and a remote control station. The mobile robot and remote control station include cameras, monitors, speakers and microphones that allow for two-way videoconferencing between the robot and station. The mobile robot includes an auxiliary video port that can be coupled to one or more external video devices. The video devices can capture video that is transmitted to the remote control station and displayed by the station monitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Yulun Wang, Charles S. Jordan, Marco Pinter, Michael C. Chan
  • Publication number: 20070291110
    Abstract: The present invention aims to generate a stereoscopic image that appears natural when viewed by a viewer, without reduction in quality of the image. In an apparatus for generating a stereoscopic image according to the present invention, a pixel value (G) for each of pixels (Pix) comprising an original image (IMG0) is stored in a RAM (23). A CPU (10) calculates a depth value (Z) for each of the pixels (Pix) included in the original image based on a comparison between the pixel value (G) of a target pixel Pix and a pixel value (G) of an adjacent pixel lying in the same line of the target pixel (Pix), so as to generate a stereoscopic image based on the calculated depth values (Z).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Kazunari Era
  • Publication number: 20070291111
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided which allow the rapid collection of image data in situations where ancillary equipment must be controlled and co-ordinated as part of an image formation process, such as confocal microscopy for example. The apparatus includes control means (20?) for co-ordinating the operation of the apparatus, and operable to receive a first trigger signal (33, 33?, 37) indicating the completion of an operation from one component and transmit a second trigger signal (27, 27?) to start an operation by another component in response to the first trigger signal. Such a configuration is operate to reduce delays encountered in operation of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Shab Ladha
  • Publication number: 20070291112
    Abstract: A remote control device includes a plurality of magnetic sensors that enable the remote control to determine its orientation in three dimensions, and to determine a change in orientation over time, wherein a user can move the remote control in a first motion relative to a first access to thereby cause a function of the remote control to be actuated, and wherein a user can move the remote control in a second motion relative to a second axis to thereby enable a second function to be actuated, and wherein a user can move the remote control in a third motion relative to a third axis to thereby enable a third function to be actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Joseph Harris
  • Publication number: 20070291113
    Abstract: A night vision device for motor vehicles, having a display unit for depicting the vehicle surroundings imaged with at least one night vision sensor, has a control unit for ascertaining, from the current driving situation, a value for the risk potential as a result of the night vision device, which value is influenced at least by the vehicle speed; and switching off the night vision device if the risk potential value exceeds a defined limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2005
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Karsten Haug
  • Publication number: 20070291114
    Abstract: The image pickup apparatus (1) of the present invention includes: a shaking motion detecting section (101a and 101b) for detecting a shaking motion of the image pickup apparatus (1) and for outputting a shaking motion detection signal indicating the shaking motion of the image pickup apparatus (1); an image forming section (2, 2a, and 2b) for forming an optical image by focusing light incident to the image pickup apparatus (1); an image pickup section (5) for converting the optical image formed by the image forming section (2, 2a, and 2b) into electric video information; and a locus calculating section (91) for obtaining locus information indicating a locus of the shaking motion of the image pickup apparatus (1) based on at least the shaking motion detection signal output from the shaking motion detecting section (101a and 101b).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2004
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsuaki Oshima
  • Publication number: 20070291115
    Abstract: A video surveillance system includes at least one camera module electrically coupled to at least one Mini Intrusion Detection System® (MIDS). Additionally, a base station is electrically coupled to the at least one camera module to provide surveillance, monitoring, observation and confirmation of an item detected by the MIDS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: PAUL W. BACHELDER, ANDREW MOYER, ANDREW C. CERUTTI, RICKY E. BOWERS
  • Publication number: 20070291116
    Abstract: A traffic monitoring device for vehicles, comprising first and second mini-cameras, mounted behind the windshield and the rear window of the vehicle to view the traffic to the front of the vehicle and to the rear of the vehicle, respectively, a recorder-player within the vehicle and connected to the mini-cameras and the vehicle battery, and switches, when activated, causing each recorder-player to record any incidents which occur in the view of the mini-camera while the vehicle is in motion. The recorder-player preferably has a split viewing screen capable off displaying the images from the first and second mini-cameras simultaneously and/or sequentially.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Luis CREUS SOLA
  • Publication number: 20070291117
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring events includes defining alert events based on primitive event types in an environment monitored by monitoring devices. Alert parameters are set for each alert event, and alert events are combined to create a composite alert event based on a plurality of alert events. A plurality of engines is monitored to determine if multiple events comprising the composite alert event have occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Senem Velipasalar, Lisa Marie Brown, Arun Hampapur, Chiao-Fe Shu
  • Publication number: 20070291118
    Abstract: A surveillance system and method includes a plurality of sensors configured to monitor an environment. A plurality of analytic engines is associated with each of the plurality of sensors. The plurality of analytic engines employs different technologies and is configured to analyze input from the sensors to determine whether an event has occurred in a respective technology. A unifying data model is configured to cross correlate detected events from the different technologies to gain integrated situation awareness across the different technologies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Chiao-Fe Shu, Arun Hampapur, Zuoxuan Lu, Ying-Li Tian, Lisa Marie Brown, Andrew William Senior
  • Publication number: 20070291119
    Abstract: An image compilation production system and method, for use in a setting attended by multiple visitors. The system comprises multiple identification devices, multiple digital image capturing devices, and a reader device associated with each of the image capturing devices. Each identification device includes an electronic data storage device having identification data stored therein. One of the identification devices is carried by at least one of the visitors to the setting. The reader device activates the digital image capturing device to capture the image of the visitor when the identification data stored in the electronic data storage device of the identification device is carried within the detection range of the associated reader device by the visitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Mark Steven Amico, Michael John Martin
  • Publication number: 20070291120
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for identifying uniformly colored regions in a digital image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Richard John Campbell, Toyohisa Matsuda, Lawrence Shao-hsien Chen
  • Publication number: 20070291121
    Abstract: A computer executable image quality detection system is provided, which comprises: a scaling symmetry testing unit, for testing the image scaling symmetry of an image signal; a luminance/chroma testing unit, for testing the separation of luminance and chroma of the image signal; a de-interlace testing unit, for testing the dynamic movement of the image signal; a color bar testing unit, for testing the color purity distinction of the image signal; a luminance compensation testing unit, for testing the Gamma compensation of the image signal; and a high/low frequency testing unit, for testing the high frequency and low frequency signal presentation of the image signal. By simultaneously executing the respective testing units, the producers' procedure and time for developing and testing are simplified and shortened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Shu-Wen Chuang, Sheng-Fu Lan
  • Publication number: 20070291122
    Abstract: A terminal sharing arrangement allows output terminals of an apparatus such as a television signal receiver or other device to be used for both outputting signals such as audio signals, and providing a diagnostic function. According to an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a first terminal operative to output a first output signal during a first mode, and to receive a first diagnostic signal during a second mode. A second terminal is operative to output a second output signal during the first mode, and to output a second diagnostic signal during the second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: THOMSON LICESING
    Inventors: Robert Schmidt, Matthew Lamb
  • Publication number: 20070291123
    Abstract: A remote surveillance system used for monitoring movements and sounds comprising: a power system, a video system, an audio system, a CPU, a communications system, and a housing; the power system comprising at least one solar collector and at least one battery, the solar collector is in communication with a battery, the video system comprises at least one camera; the communications system comprises a cell transmitter, a cell receiver, the communications system is in communication with the audio and video systems; the audio system comprises at least one microphone, the microphone(s) are located on top of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Monty Cole
  • Publication number: 20070291124
    Abstract: Systems and methods of event management for camera systems are disclosed. In an exemplary implementation, a method may comprise publishing a plurality of event notifications identifying available frame data. The method may also comprise subscribing a program code module to at least one of the event notifications. The method may also comprise executing a process at the program code module corresponding to the subscribed event notification after the subscribed event notification is published.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: David Staudacher, Daniel G. Franke
  • Publication number: 20070291125
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the automatic calibration of a stereovision system which is intended to be disposed on board a motor vehicle. The inventive method comprises the following steps consisting in: acquiring (610) a left image and a right image of the same scene comprising at least one traffic lane for the vehicle, using a first and second acquisition device; searching (620) the left image and right image for at least two vanishing lines corresponding to two essentially-parallel straight lines of the lane; upon detection of said at least two vanishing lines, determining (640) the co-ordinates of the point of intersection of said at least two respectively-detected vanishing lines for the left image and the right image; and determining (650) the pitch error and the yaw error in the form of the intercamera difference in terms of pitch angle and yaw angle from the co-ordinates of the points of intersection determined for the left image and the right image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Jerome Marquet
  • Publication number: 20070291126
    Abstract: There is provided an interchangeable lens type camera which is so safe as to prevent spread of fire when dust strays into the interior of the camera to cause heating and/or electrical leakage of the electric circuitry and invite ignition. The camera includes a case having a mount section for mounting a detachable lens; electric circuitry provided within the case; and a member covering at least a portion of the electric circuitry to prevent the electric circuitry from being exposed to the exterior when the lens is detached from the mount section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiki MORISHITA, Masahiro NAKADA, Tetsuya MORI, Junko HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20070291127
    Abstract: A motion stabilization system including a filter bank and motion stabilization logic. The filter bank receives a video signal and provides at least one high frequency sub-band signal which includes edge information of the video signal. The motion stabilization logic receives the high frequency sub-band signal, a reference image, and the video signal and provides a stabilized image. The reference image is generated from image stabilization information developed during motion processing. The motion stabilization system may include an edge detector which receives and binarizes the high frequency sub-band signal. Binarization significantly reduces the amount of information to be processes by the motion stabilization logic. The motion stabilization system may further include a tile buffer which stores a portion of the video signal and which provides a video signal portion to the filter bank. The filter bank may be implemented as a discrete wavelet transformation filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventors: Yolanda Prieto, Zhongli He
  • Publication number: 20070291128
    Abstract: A remote controlled robot system that includes a mobile robot and a remote control station. The mobile robot includes a camera that captures an image. The remote control station may include a monitor that displays the image captured by the robot camera. A projector is coupled to the remote control station to project the image. The system allows for the projection of the image captured by the robot to a relatively large viewing audience. The audience can thus view images provided by a moving robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Yulun Wang, Charles S. Jordan, Marco Pinter
  • Publication number: 20070291129
    Abstract: When capturing video imagery at night a camera must be more sensitive to incoming light sources. When the light source for the image capture is strobe-like, and the surface of the object to be captured is highly reflective, captured imagery is obscured by light clutter. This invention is a method and process for capturing clear video imagery of an object despite significant light reflection from a strobe-like light source. Light clutter is minimized through de-synchronization of the light source and the image data capture rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Vladimir Goupenko
  • Publication number: 20070291130
    Abstract: A system includes a vehicle management system, and at least a first, a second, and a third video camera in communication with the vehicle management system. The vehicle management system is configured to receive input from a combination of at least two cameras selected from among the first, second, and third video cameras based on an event associated with a vehicle to provide at least a first, a second, and a third visual depth of field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Alberto Broggi, Gary Schmiedel, Christopher K. Yakes
  • Publication number: 20070291131
    Abstract: As result of the diversified structure of a terminal device, the demand for data format is also diversified and there is a need to adjust a terminal to such a demand. An image coding apparatus according to the present invention uses a method complied with MPEG, as a method by which to code images, and particularly uses intra-frame coding and inter-frame coding. As an inter-frame coding method, a first mode which is a reference mode using bidirectional coding and a second mode which is a reference mode not using the bidirectional coding can be selectively set. In the case of the first mode, the bidirectional coding is not used, so that B pictures are not generated and the images are coded with I pictures and P pictures only.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Mitsuru Suzuki, Shigeyuki Okada, Shinichiro Okada
  • Publication number: 20070291132
    Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes: a synchronizing signal generation portion (6); an imaging portion (1) that is operated based on a synchronizing signal to pick up an image and generate image data; a trigger input portion (18) operable to input a trigger signal for commanding a start of a photographing operation; and a control portion (5) that controls the operation of the imaging portion based on the synchronizing signal and the trigger signal. The control portion controls synchronous processing that is performed in synchronization with the synchronizing signal to pickup a moving image. When the trigger signal is input, the control portion immediately stops the generation of the synchronizing signal by the synchronizing signal generation portion when the synchronous processing is not being performed, while the control portion initializes the synchronous processing and then stops the generation of the synchronizing signal when the synchronous processing is being performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Shigeta, Yasutoshi Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20070291133
    Abstract: Output information such as a moving picture, still image or audio that will cause a person who is the subject of photography to laugh is stored in a digital still camera beforehand. If the output information is selected and a shutter-release button is pressed, the selected information is presented (as by being displayed or output from a speaker) to the person who is the subject. The subject is imaged and the image of the subject is obtained. Image data representing the image of the subject is recorded on a recording medium. The expression on the image of the subject is recognized and stored probabilities that output information will induce laughter are updated depending upon whether or not the subject is laughing. Output information having a high probability of inducing laughter can be presented to the subject.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsutoshi Izawa
  • Publication number: 20070291134
    Abstract: Provided is an image editing apparatus and method. The image editing apparatus includes a containing region determination unit determining a plurality of containing regions from a frame image transmitted from a contents providing device based on first mapping information that maps the containing regions corresponding to a contents genre, a storage unit storing the containing regions determined by the containing region determination unit, and a containing region composition unit reading a main containing region and a sub containing region that are selected from among the containing regions determined by the containing region determination unit from the storage unit, composing the read main containing region and sub containing region, and providing an edited frame image resulting from the composition result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
    Inventors: Eui-hyeon Hwang, Jin-guk Jeong
  • Publication number: 20070291135
    Abstract: An image sensor communicates with a microcontroller. A capture timing circuit provides feedback from the microcontroller to the image sensor. The microcontroller bidirectionally communicates with a memory subsystem and a communication interface. A “background learning” technique is applied to the captured images to determine when motion activity has occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Richard L. Baer, Aman Kansal
  • Publication number: 20070291136
    Abstract: An electronic camera comprises an image-capturing element; a recording device that records image data constituted of image capturing signals output from the image-capturing element into a data recording medium; a frame number calculating device that calculates a number of frames of image data that have been recorded or can be recorded into the data recording medium; a display device at which the number of frames is displayed; and a control device that controls the display device so as to display at least the number of frames when a main switch is in an OFF state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tsutomu Wakabayashi
  • Publication number: 20070291137
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an imaging unit outputting two kinds of imaging signals, that is, a first imaging signal and a second imaging signal. A first calculating unit selectively processes the two kinds of imaging signals to generate an AE evaluation value. A second calculating unit selectively processes the two kinds of imaging signals to generate a luminance signal, and generates an AF evaluation value from the generated luminance signal. An image processor executes image processing with respect to the two kinds of imaging signals to obtain an image data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Takashi Yanada, Yoshinobu Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20070291138
    Abstract: A system and method for zooming an image. In the illustrative embodiment, the system includes a memory for receiving first and second frames of image data; a motion detector for detecting motion in said first or said second frame of image data; and an intelligent zoom system for zooming said first or said second image using a first or a second zoom method based on a detection of motion by said motion detector on a pixel by pixel basis. In the illustrative embodiment, the invention is scene-based, it works on a pixel by pixel bases to determine if a pixel is in motion. It performs motion related zoom for pixels that are affected by motion and conducts cross-field zoom for steady pixels to reduce motion artifacts in zoom mode. Motion may be determined by comparing frame-to-frame pixel value variations to fixed motion threshold(s) or by other algorithms. Independent-field zoom refers to using information from one input field to form a zoomed picture in one associated output field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Frank N. G. Cheung, Richard Chin, Hector Q. Gonzalez
  • Publication number: 20070291139
    Abstract: A vertical zooming unit vertically resizes image data by a tap number m. A horizontal zooming unit horizontally resizes the vertically-resized image data outputted from the vertical zooming unit by a tap number n. A tap coefficient setting unit arbitrarily sets respective tap coefficients when the vertical zooming unit or the horizontal zooming unit is operated. A memory stores the image data therein. A memory controller controls input and output of the image data among the memory, the vertical zooming unit and the horizontal zooming unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Minakata, Toshinobu Hatano
  • Publication number: 20070291140
    Abstract: A system using an in-vehicle camera mounted on a vehicle for an image pickup object of the face of the driver, for: continuously taking an image of the image pickup object; performing manipulation, such as enlargement of an area including the image pickup object with a reference point being the center, for a second image based on image pickup after a first image, on the basis of the range of the image pickup object detected from the first image, the width of the facial contour of the driver, for example, and also a reference point such as the center of the face to be decided based on the location of the eyes and nose of the driver; and performing image processing, such as detection of the range of the image pickup object and decision of the reference point, for the manipulated second image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Kozo Baba, Hisao Ito, Akiyoshi Tafuku, Tomonobu Takashima, Masatoshi Tohno, Taku Katagiri
  • Publication number: 20070291141
    Abstract: Digital image and/or video data is processed wherein a frame of the data comprises a plurality of rows and columns of pixels with data for each pixel including a luminance value and a chrominance value. Chrominance values and luminance values may be received for a current pixel and at least one adjacent pixel, and the chrominance values of the current pixel and the at least one adjacent pixel may be compared. The luminance value of the current pixel may be filtered wherein a strength of filtering the luminance value is based on the comparison of the chrominance values of the current and at least one adjacent pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventor: Per Thorell
  • Publication number: 20070291142
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a method and an apparatus for processing a dead pixel, more specifically to a method and an apparatus thereof for detecting and compensating a dead pixel that can maintain a good image quality by reducing image distortion and deterioration. With the present invention, the distortion of an image, caused by erroneously classifying a normal pixel of an inputted image as a dead pixel, is significantly reduced, thereby improving the quality of a processed image. Moreover, based on the characteristics of the inputted image, the algorithm and accuracy of detecting a dead pixel can be adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: MTEKVISION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yo Hwan Noh, Wang-Hyun Kim
  • Publication number: 20070291143
    Abstract: System for the production of images the system comprising one or more cameras (2,3,4,2a,3a,4a) for providing overlapping images on a base (1), the system comprising a merger (5) for merging one or more overlapping images supplied by one or more of the cameras into a composite image (6). The merging process takes into account that the base is rotating with a rotational speed ?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2005
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V.
    Inventors: Mauro Barbieri, Piotr Wilinski
  • Publication number: 20070291144
    Abstract: A color solid state imaging device as defined herein, which includes an output signal processing section including: signal memory means provided for respective columns of the unit pixels, for holding signals read-cut from the pixels of the same color of the same unit pixel row, respectively; and row-direction scanning control means for switching between an all pixels reading operation in which the signals held by the respective signal memory means are read out individually and output to the outside and a sum reading operation in which among the signals held by the respective signal memory means signals held by signal memory means corresponding to adjoining unit pixels are read out simultaneously and output to the outside.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuo SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20070291145
    Abstract: An image sensor includes an array of pixels on a semiconductor device for sensing light incident on the pixel array and a plurality of anomaly registers comprising a plurality of nonvolatile elements. Each anomaly register identifies an anomalous pixel cluster and includes a location indicator with a row and column address and a size indicator with a horizontal and vertical range. In other embodiments, each anomaly register includes a first address, second address, first direction flag, and second direction flag. The first and second direction flags use a first state to indicate a row address or a second state to indicate a column address. The first and second direction flags combine to define an anomalous pixel cluster, a pair of anomalous pixel rows, or a pair of anomalous pixel columns. Some embodiments may include an anomaly type indicator and some embodiments may include a shape indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: C. Patrick Doherty, Vinesh Sukumar, Shaheen Amanullah, Sachin Datar, Nathan Walter