Abstract: Disclosed is a class D amplifier comprising a modulation stage having a first input for receiving an input signal and an output for producing a modulated version of the input signal; a plurality of power stages, each power stage being responsive to said modulation stage and comprising a first switch and a second switch coupled in series between a first voltage source and a second voltage source, each power stage comprising an output node between the first switch and the second switch; and a power stage control circuit for measuring the input signal level and enabling a selected number of the power stages as a function of the measured input signal level. A method for controlling such a class D amplifier is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of controlling driving of the pop-up tweeter speaker which includes (a) determining whether or not an opening of the tweeter speaker is normally completed and popping-down the tweeter speaker if it is determined that the opening is not normally completed, while popping-up the tweeter speaker based on a speaker control condition under an ON condition of an accessory (ACC) condition, (b) determining whether or not a close of the tweeter speaker is normally completed and popping-up the tweeter speaker if it is determined that the close is not normally completed, while popping-down the tweeter speaker based on an OFF condition of one of the speaker control condition and the ACC condition, and (c) maintaining a position state of the tweeter speaker until the speaker control condition or the ACC condition becomes an OFF condition when popping-down the tweeter speaker in (a) or popping-up the tweeter speaker in (b).

Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods to reduce power use of an accessory detection device. The accessory detection device can be configured to be coupled to a mobile device having an audio jack configured to be coupled to a mobile device accessory having a send/end key. In an example, the accessory detection device can include a comparator and a switch. The comparator can be configured to receive mobile device accessory information from the mobile device accessory and to determine activation of the send/end key using the received mobile device accessory information. The switch can be configured to receive connection information indicative of mobile device accessory connection to the audio jack and to isolate a reference input of the comparator from a supply voltage using the connection information, for example, to reduce leakage current.

Abstract: A portable information processing terminal is provided which can display an application execution-enabled time period. A download section 122 stores, in an application storage section 103, an application obtained from an outside. An application management table 500 has registered therein a power consumption, per unit time, for the application stored in the application storage section 103. A power measurement section 110 measures the power consumption per unit time for the application which is being executed. An application status management section 100 manages the application management table 500, and calculates the execution-enabled time period for the application, based on the power consumption for the application per unit time, and a remaining battery power in a battery section 15. A display section 11 displays the execution-enabled time period for the application.

Abstract: A cover unit that is provided to an electronic device as a waterproof cover, the cover unit covering one or more openings formed in a housing of the electronic device with respect to a plurality of speakers, and comprising a frame member having a plurality of windows disposed therein, the windows facing the speakers in one-to-one correspondence, and a waterproof film covering the windows. Having such a structure, the cover unit covers the one or more openings formed in the housing, and has an advantageous effect of suppressing at least one of (i) an increase in parts composing an electronic device and (ii) an increase in distortion of sound. Additionally, since a vibration unit faces a corresponding one of the speakers, the unnecessary vibration of the vibration unit is inhibited, which leads to a reduction in the distortion of sound.

Abstract: A television mount incorporating an integrated audio system. The mount attaches the television to a wall or a pedestal. The mount includes an electronics/subwoofer enclosure. This enclosure house an audio amplifier and a low-range speaker. One or more external speaker supports are included in the mount—preferably by attaching the supports to the electronics/subwoofer enclosure. The speaker supports are preferably made adjustable so that the degree of extension from the mount may be adjusted by the user.

Abstract: An in-ear hearing aid device that provides users with a customizable ear piece to fit the ear canal of any user. More specifically, the present invention can comprises of a hard case to hold all the electronics of the device with a hearing device jacket that envelops the device. An ear mould is connected to the jacket and allows the user to insert the device into the ear canal to enhance the user's hearing.

Abstract: A system for hearing assistance devices to assist hearing aid fitting applied to individual differences in hearing impairment. The system is also usable for assisting fitting and use of hearing assistance devices for listeners of music. The method uses a subjective space approach to reduce the dimensionality of the fitting problem and a non-linear regression technology to interpolate among hearing aid parameter settings. This listener-driven method provides not only a technique for preferred aid fitting, but also information on individual differences and the effects of gain compensation on different musical styles.

Abstract: A system and method for selectively enhancing an audio signal to make sounds, particularly speech sounds, more distinguishable. The system and method are designed to divide an input auditory signal into a plurality of spectral channels having associated unenhanced signals and perform enhancement processing on a first subset of the spectral channels and not perform enhancement processing on a second subset of the spectral channels. The enhancement processing is performed by determining an output gain for at least the first subset of spectral channels based on a time-varying history of energy of the unenhanced signals associated with each channel in the first subset of the spectral channels and applying the output gain for each of the first subset of the spectral channels to the unenhanced signals to form enhanced signals associated with each of the first subset of the spectral channels.

Abstract: A television mount incorporating an integrated audio system. The mount attaches the television to a wall or a pedestal. The mount includes an electronics/subwoofer enclosure. This enclosure house an audio amplifier and a low-range speaker. One or more external speakers are attached to a speaker assembly which is connected to the mount—preferably by attaching the supports to the electronics/subwoofer enclosure. The speaker supports is preferably made adjustable so that the degree of extension from the mount may be adjusted by the user.

Abstract: Electrical signals corresponding to sound are received at a wire, and sound is generated at a speaker connected to the wire. The sound is resonated in a cavity of a shell housing the speaker, and then passed along a transmission tube toward a pinna of a user's ear without directing the sound directly toward the user's ear canal.

Abstract: An audio interface used for mating with an earphone plug having an electronic conductor is disclosed. The audio interface comprises a socket body; and an insulation wrap protruding from the socket body, the insulation wrap defining a receptacle, the electronic conductor inserted in the receptacle and wholly wrapped by the insulation wrap.

Abstract: Provided is a tweeter (e.g., a pop-up tweeter) which includes a speaker 120 provided at the top of a cylindrical casing 100. A driving unit 110 is inserted into the casing 100 and configured to move the speaker 120 upward and downward. Additionally, a cover unit 121 is provided at the top end of the speaker 120 and configured to have an illumination unit 122 formed therein to emit light from the tweeter. The pop-up tweeter is configured to have the opening and closing structure within a vehicle, thereby improving user convenience. Furthermore, an external design of the pop-up tweeter can be improved through the emission of illumination.

Abstract: An approach that detects locations of hazardous conditions within an infrastructure is provided. This approach uses satellite imagery, GIS data, automatic image processing, and predictive modeling to determine the location of the hazards automatically, thus optimizing infrastructure management. Specifically, a hazard detection tool provides this capability. The hazard detection tool comprises a detection component configured to: receive visual media containing asset location data about a set of physical assets, and hazard location data about potential hazards within a vicinity of each of the set of physical assets. The detection component further receives graphical information system (GIS) data containing asset location data about each of the set of physical assets.

Abstract: This patent application is generally related to watermarking and steganography. One claim recites a method of transmarking an audio or video signal previously embedded with a first digital watermark using a first digital watermark embedding method. The method includes: utilizing a programmed electronic processor, decoding the first digital watermark from the audio or video signal; converting the audio or video signal into a different form; and utilizing a programmed electronic processor, embedding decoded message information from the first digital watermark into a second digital watermark in the different form such that the second digital watermark is adapted to robustness or perceptibility parameters associated with the different form. Of course, other combinations and claims are provided as well.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying of a watermark to a video using a computer coupled to a network. Unreferenced frames in the video are identified. The video is parsed into paired sequential segments each having a long-compressed segment usually about 2 minutes long and a short-uncompressed segment usually about 2-10 seconds long and having at least one of the unreferenced frames. When the computer accepts a request to download the video, it generates a watermark comprising a randomly-generated alphanumeric string that is associated with the request. The computer then makes a watermarked-short-uncompressed segment for each paired sequential segment by insertion of the watermark into the unreferenced frame in such segment and then compresses it to create a watermarked-short-compressed segment corresponding to each long-compressed segment.

Abstract: A method traces the origin of a (illegally) distributed video material. It fingerprints a data object A having a nominal stream format F to provide a fingerprinted data object B including a pre-fingerprinting forensic luring process.

Abstract: Pseudo dual-energy material identification systems and methods with under-sampling are disclosed. The system comprises a ray generating device, a mechanic rotation control section, a data collecting subsystem comprising a first tier of detectors and a second tier of detectors, and a master control and data processing computer. The system utilizes a CT-imaging-based material identification method with under-sampled dual-energy projection data, in which only a few detectors at the second tier are used to perform dual-energy projection data sampling, and optimization is made on the procedure of solving an equation system.

Abstract: Described herein are a system and a method for abnormal behavior detection using automatic classification of multiple features. Features from various sources, including those extracted from camera input through digital image analysis, are used as input to machine learning algorithms. These algorithms group the features and produce models of normal and abnormal behaviors. Outlying behaviors, such as those identified by their lower frequency, are deemed abnormal. Human supervision may optionally be employed to ensure the accuracy of the models. Once created, these models can be used to automatically classify features as normal or abnormal. This invention is suitable for use in the automatic detection of abnormal traffic behavior such as running of red lights, driving in the wrong lane, or driving against traffic regulations.

Abstract: A temporal thermal survey method to locate at a given area whether or not there is a subsurface object or void site. The method uses thermal inertia change detection. It locates temporal heat flows from naturally heated subsurface objects or faulty structures such as corrosion damage. The added value over earlier methods is the use of empirical methods to specify the optimum times for locating subsurface objects or voids amidst clutter and undisturbed host materials. Thermal inertia, or thermal effusivity, is the bulk material resistance to temperature change. Surface temperature highs and lows are shifted in time at the subsurface object or void site relative to the undisturbed host material sites. The Dual-band Infra-Red Effusivity Computed Tomography (DIRECT) method verifies the optimum two times to detect thermal inertia outliers at the subsurface object or void border with undisturbed host materials.

Abstract: A method for performing security surveillance using a control computer sends an image obtaining request from the control computer to a preset channel of a network video recorder (NVR) or a digital video recorder (DVR), and receives captured images from the preset channel of the NVR or the DVR. The method further detects a specified object in the captured images, and stores/outputs an image area of the specified object in a storage device of the control computer or a terminal device.

Abstract: An apparatus for a video object detection algorithm of a camera includes a video object detection training module and a video object detection application module. The video object detection training module is configured to generate an optimum correspondence between quantified values of environmental variables and parameters of a video object detection algorithm according to a stream of training video signals and a video object detection reference result. The video object detection application module is configured to perform video object detection on a stream of training video signals based on the optimum correspondence between the quantified values of the environmental variables and the parameters of the video object detection algorithm.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a depth image obtaining unit configured to obtain a depth image including information on distances from an image-capturing position to a subject in a two-dimensional image to be captured; a local tip portion detection unit configured to detect a portion of the subject at a depth and a position close from the image-capturing position as a local tip portion; a projecting portion detection unit configured to detect, in a case where, when each of the blocks is set as a block of interest, the local tip portion of the block of interest in an area formed of the plurality of blocks adjacent to the block of interest, becomes a local tip portion closest from the image-capturing position, the local tip portion as a projecting portion; and a tracking unit configured to continuously track the position of the projecting portion.

Abstract: A system and method for extracting 3D coordinates, the method includes obtaining, by a stereoscopic image photographing unit, two images of a target object, and obtaining 3D coordinates of the object on the basis of coordinates of each pixel of the two images, measuring, by a Time of Flight (TOF) sensor unit, a value of a distance to the object, and obtaining 3D coordinates of the object on the basis of the measured distance value, mapping pixel coordinates of each image to the 3D coordinates obtained through the TOF sensor unit, and calibrating the mapped result, determining whether each set of pixel coordinates and the distance value to the object measured through the TOF sensor unit are present, calculating a disparity value on the basis of the distance value or the pixel coordinates, and calculating 3D coordinates of the object on the basis of the calculated disparity value.

Abstract: An object tracking device capable of accurately tracking an object as a tracking target. The device receives an image signal having a plurality of frame images and tracks a specific object in the image signal. The device sets a predetermined number of small areas in a reference area indicative of an area where an image of the object is formed in the preceding frame image. The object tracking device detects a motion vector of the object in each of the small areas, and determines a change of the object according to the motion vector to thereby obtain shape change information. The device corrects the location and size of the reference area according to the shape change information to thereby correct the reference area to a corrected reference area, and tracks the object using the corrected reference area.

Abstract: Provided are an observation apparatus and an observation method that allow a state change of an observation target to be observed after image-acquisition is started. An observation apparatus 1 is employed which includes an optical microscope observation unit 20 that acquires images of a sample A, a cell-state determination section 43 that determines a state change of the sample A by comparing a plurality of the images acquired at time intervals by the optical microscope observation unit 20, an area extraction section 44 that extracts an area in which a state change is detected by the cell-state determination section 43, and a scanning microscope observation unit 30 that acquires an image of the area extracted by the area extraction section 44 at higher resolution than that acquired by the optical microscope observation unit 20.

Abstract: An apparatus for creating a surveillance image with event-related information includes an event detection unit configured to detect an event in the surveillance image, an encoding unit configured to encode the surveillance image into a bit stream of the surveillance image, an event information creation unit configured to create event-related information based on the detected event, and a parsing unit configured to parse the encoded surveillance image and insert the event-related information into the bit stream of the encoded surveillance image.

Abstract: An object tracking device that is capable of detecting that an intruding object has entered an image frame of image data where a tracking target object is being tracked. A plurality of sub areas are set in a preceding or current frame target area indicative of a position of the tracking target object in a preceding or current frame of moving image data, and a feature value of each sub area is determined. If the feature value exceeds a first threshold value in at least one of the sub areas and at the same time the number of the at least one of the sub areas does not reach a reference value, it is determined that an intruding object different from the tracking target object has entered an area in which the tracking target object is positioned in the current frame.

Abstract: A technique for calculating a second aerial image associated with a photo-mask that can be used to determine whether or not the photo-mask (which may include defects) is acceptable for use in a photolithographic process is described. In particular, using a first aerial image produced by the photo-mask when illuminated using a source pattern and an inspection image of the photo-mask, a mask pattern corresponding to the photo-mask is determined. For example, the first aerial image may be obtained using an aerial image measurement system, and the inspection image may be a critical-dimension scanning-electron-microscope image of the photo-mask. This image, which has a higher resolution than the first aerial image, may indicate spatial-variations of a magnitude of the transmittance of the photo-mask. Then, the second aerial image may be calculated based on the determined mask pattern using a different source pattern than the source pattern.

Abstract: A method to determine the propensity of an image-sequence to induce motion sickness in a viewer includes using a processor to analyze the image-sequence information to extract salient static and dynamic visual features in the image sequence information, evaluating distribution of the salient static and dynamic features in the saliency map to estimate a probability of the image sequence causing the viewer to make eye and head movements and, using the estimated probability to determine the propensity that the image-sequence would induce motion sickness in a user as a consequence of the eye and head movements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a volume-of-interest segmentation system for use with molecular imaging quantization, which includes: a set of template for segmentation of organ/anatomical region-of-interest, an animal size/weight/location calculator, an animal spine position calculator, and a texture analyzer. It can be used for saving time and reducing cost for segmentation of interested regions and increasing the precision of molecular image quantization.

Abstract: An automatically sending digital image method for a portable communication apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus has multiple contact person data. Each contact person data corresponds to a contact person and includes a face photograph and an E-mail address. The method comprises the steps of gathering a digital image; recognizing a face picture of the digital image; comparing the face picture of the digital image with the face photograph of each contact person; setting the contact person as a picture contact person when the face picture of the digital image matches the face photograph of the contact person; selecting multiple communication contact persons from the contact persons based on the picture contact persons according to a sending mode; attaching the digital image to an E-mail; and sending the E-mail to the E-mail addresses of the communication contact persons.

Abstract: A method for identifying a pair of genuine red eye artifacts in a captured image includes the steps of determining the presence of a face in the captured image, substantially encompassing the face within a shape, and determining the presence of three or more candidate red eye artifacts within the shape. The method continues with measuring the distance from an edge of the shape to each of the three or more candidate red eye artifacts and identifying, as genuine red eye artifacts, two candidate red eye artifacts of the three or more candidate red eye artifacts that are within a predetermined vertical distance from the edge of the shape.

Abstract: A method of authenticating whether a capture image is a real face of a driver in a vehicle includes first capturing an image of a driver's face with a light being turned on in a first image and with a light being turned off in a second image, respectively. Subsequent, a difference image is extracted between the first image data captured with the light being turned on and a second image data captured with the light being turned off. Then a boundary line is extracted from the difference image and a determination is made whether the boundary line is a curve or not. If the boundary line is determined to be a curve, the captured image is determined by a control unit to be the real face of the driver.

Abstract: Methods and arrangements involving portable devices are disclosed. One arrangement enables a content creator to select software with which that content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another arrangement utilizes the camera of a smartphone to identify nearby subjects, and take actions based thereon. Others rely on near field chip (RFID) identification of objects, or on identification of audio streams (e.g., music, voice). Some of the detailed technologies concern improvements to the user interfaces associated with such devices. Others involve use of these devices in connection with shopping, text entry, sign language interpretation, and vision-based discovery. Still other improvements are architectural in nature, e.g., relating to evidence-based state machines, and blackboard systems. Yet other technologies concern use of linked data in portable devices—some of which exploit GPU capabilities. Still other technologies concern computational photography.

Abstract: An novel sensor is provided having a plurality of substantially parallel drive lines configured to transmit a signal into a surface of a proximally located object, and also a plurality of substantially parallel pickup lines oriented proximate the drive lines and electrically separated from the pickup lines to form intrinsic electrode pairs that are impedance sensitive at each of the drive and pickup proximal locations.

Abstract: A method of analyzing a structure-of-interest (SOI) in a patient. The method includes obtaining a first medical image of a patient. The first medical image includes an identified structure-of-interest (SOI). The identified SOI has a corresponding local measurement. The method also includes receiving a second medical image of the patient and selecting an SOI in the second medical image. The selected SOI has a corresponding local measurement. The method also includes automatically determining that the selected SOI is the identified SOI based on corresponding location data of the identified and selected SOIs, respectively, and linking the local measurements of the selected and identified SOI.

Abstract: A method of processing an image, the image having pixel data with a bit range not capable of being encoded in a selected encoding format, the method comprising: splitting the pixel data into a base channel and at least one delta channel, at least one of the base channel and the at least one delta channel capable of being encoded in the selected encoding format; encoding at least one of the base channel and the at least one delta channel; transmitting the base channel and the at least one delta channel to a client; decoding the base channel and the at least one delta channel at the client; and recombining the base channel and the at least one delta channel at the client to form the pixel data. In some embodiments, the method further comprises: applying a window level to the pixel data formed from said recombining; and displaying the window level on a display.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate to a method for checking a segmentation of a structure in image data, where the segmentation to be checked provides a segmentation region that approximates the structure imaged in the image data and that is delimited by a segmentation contour. The method includes spatially resolved automatic determination of characteristic values that are suitable for serving as an indicator of the accuracy of the segmentation of the structure on the basis of the image data, the segmentation contour to be checked, or a segmentation method applied during the performance of the segmentation to be checked. The method also includes spatially resolved automatic determination of confidence values for a plurality of positions on the segmentation contour using the characteristic values determined for the corresponding positions. The confidence values may indicate the reliability of the segmentation to be checked at the corresponding positions.

Abstract: A method that includes generating a contrast feature curve for a medical image sequence including a plurality of frames, where the contrast feature curve represents contrast feature values of the frames. The method further includes detecting a peak in the contrast feature curve, and determining whether the peak corresponds to at least one of contrast injection in an aortic root, contrast injection in a balloon, and a non-contrast injected region.

Abstract: In a medical image processing and retrieval system or method, an image processing system is configured to obtain a set of medical image data and to process the medical image data using at least one interpretation tool. A database is configured to store interpretation information generated in processing the medical image data using the interpretation tool. A viewing server is configured in response to a user interface instruction to retrieve from the database the interpretation information generated in processing the medical image data and to identity the at least one interpretation tool to the user interface.

Abstract: In an apparatus configured to generate a report based on diagnosis target images, image characteristic conditions to identify a plurality of diagnosis target images specified by a user as a group are derived, search conditions of images similar to the diagnosis target images by using the obtained image characteristic conditions are determined, a database is searched for one or more similar images satisfying the search conditions; and image findings satisfying predetermined conditions is extracted from image findings attached to one or more obtained similar images.

Abstract: An image processing device includes: an evaluation area setting unit that sets an evaluation area whose category is to be identified in an in-vivo image; a texture component acquiring unit that acquires texture components from the evaluation area in the in-vivo image; an evaluation value calculating unit that calculates an evaluation value indicating homogeneity of the texture components; and an identifying unit that identifies the category of the evaluation area on the basis of the evaluation value.

Abstract: In a method or apparatus for identifying a region of interest in a medical image of a subject, at least one local maximum region of the image is determined for which a value of a given variable is a local maximum value. A user-selection of an initial voxel in the image is registered. As the region of interest, a connected set of voxels for which values of the given variable are greater than a threshold is selected, the selected set of voxels comprising a first local maximum region at a distance from the user-selected voxel, and the threshold being a given fraction of the local maximum value of the first local maximum region in the set.

Abstract: Method for enabling a teeth whitening simulator that is designed to help a user understand how the color of their teeth affects the look of their smile. The method executed by a computer, a mobile electronic device, an application on a smart phone, or equivalent machine. Selecting a Profile or uploading a photo or image. Detecting and determining the number and location of faces in a photo or image and the faces' associated teeth. Whitening is performed on the selected teeth and face. After whitening, a feathering feature may be used to more accurately simulate a more realistic image where the desired whitening level is blended around the borders of the teeth to the surrounding facial elements to provide a more natural looking simulation. Finally, to see how different shades of whitening might affect their image, a movable slider is provided to see the smile with different whitening values.

Abstract: The particle analysis apparatus includes means that perform processes upon image processing of images (110) acquired in a measurement of the sample, simultaneously with a normal image processing for classifying target particles. The means included are: image processing means (110a) for calculating information of RGB density distributions of each whole image; abnormal state determination processing means (110c) for determining whether or not the acquired images are in an abnormal state according to tendencies of the RGB density distributions; and an abnormality judgment process means for making final determination of the existence of an abnormality by calculating an appearance frequency of abnormal images after all measurements for the one sample is completed. These means allow diagnosis of abnormalities to be conducted simultaneously with normal analysis without changing the configuration of the conventional apparatus.

Abstract: A machine-implemented display method that, with respect to a volume dataset being rendered, enables a user to navigate to any position in space and look in any direction. Preferably, the volume dataset is derived from a computer tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (RMI) scan. With the described approach, the user can see details within the dataset that are not available using conventional visualization approaches. The freedom-of-motion capability allows the user to go to places (positions) within the volume rendering that are not otherwise possible using conventional “orbit” and “zoom” display techniques. Thus, for example, using the described approach, the display image enables a user to travel inside physical structures (e.g., a patient's heart, brain, arteries, and the like).

Abstract: Methods and systems for correlated noise suppression are presented. The present correlated noise suppression technique estimates a correlation direction between noise values in a first and a second MD image corresponding to a first and a second basis material, respectively. The two MD images are diffused using the estimated correlation direction to generate a first and a second diffused image. Further, first and second noise masks are generated by subtracting the diffused image from the corresponding MD image. Edges in the first and the second MD images are processed with the first and second noise masks, respectively to generate a final first noise mask and a final second noise mask. The first MD image is then processed with the final second noise mask to generate a final first MD image and the second MD image is processed with the final first noise mask to generate a final second MD image.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate to a method for registering medical image data. The method includes providing a registration parameter set for each of a plurality of different application cases, each of the plurality of different application cases being defined by at least one feature. Each registration parameter set contains registration parameters predefined for the associated application case. The method also includes providing first image data and second image data, which are to be registered onto one another. In response to the specification of an application case for the first image data and the second image data to be registered, a registration parameter set is automatically selected from the provided registration parameter sets in accordance with the specified application case. The method includes automatically performing a registration of the first image data onto the second image data using the selected registration parameter set.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which processes a plurality of tomograms obtained by acquiring, along a direction crossing at a right angle a section along the thickness direction of a retina, a plurality of tomograms each including the section, detects a layer structure in the retina from image information of respective lines of the tomograms along the thickness direction, and appends structure information to the respective lines based on the layer structures detected for the respective lines. The image processing apparatus maps the structure information of the respective lines of the plurality of tomograms onto a plane crossing the thickness direction at a right angle, thereby generating a two-dimensional image based on the structure information.