Patents Issued in March 10, 2015
  • Patent number: 8976192
    Abstract: A contrast control device is provided. The device of the invention includes a detecting unit, a judging unit, a backlight control unit, a gain generating unit and a contrast gain processing unit. The detecting unit calculates an average value and detects a maximum value of a current image. The judging unit generates a gain index and a brightness index according to the average value. The backlight control unit generates a backlight control signal according to the brightness index. The gain generating unit generates a first contrast gain value and a soft-clamping gain value according to the gain index, the average value and the maximum value and then selects one from the first contrast gain value and the soft-clamping gain value for output as a second contrast gain value according to an input pixel value of the current image. The contrast gain processing unit generates an output pixel value according to the second contrast gain value and the input pixel value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Pei-Chen Huang, Yu-Chung Lee, Shih-Yu Hsu, Po-Yang Wu
  • Patent number: 8976193
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus that executes information display processing is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a display unit that executes information display; and a data processing unit that executes a control of the information display of the display unit and data processing based on a user input. The data processing unit displays an image browsing screen, which corresponds to image data stored in a storage unit, on the display unit and executes display of a map at the position, which corresponds to position information included in attribute information of a selected image, on the basis of a user's input of image selection information and map display request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Takakura, Shiro Miyagi, Yoshihiro Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 8976194
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for cropping one or more files in freeform using transparent or non-transparent layers. Specifically, the invention allows a user to crop a file with irregular/freeform boundaries while using a plurality of transparent or non-transparent layers that overlay the original file. The transparent layers overlap the image data for cropping, so that the finalized cropped image may be copied, pasted, or imported into another document while leaving the original file unaltered. The cropped portion of the image may also be sent or emailed by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Vispi Burjor Mistry
  • Patent number: 8976195
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for generating a batch clip state stored in clip state machine (CSM) associated with a batch of vertices. Per-vertex clip state is generated for each vertex in the batch of vertices based on the position of each vertex relative to each clip plane. For a given vertex, per-vertex clip state indicates whether the vertex is inside or outside each of the one or more clip planes. The per-vertex clip states of all the vertices in the batch of vertices are coalesced into a batch clip state by determining whether each vertex in the batch of vertices is inside every clip plane, each vertex is outside at least one clip plane or neither. The batch clip state is stored in the CSM associated with the thread group that processes the batch of vertices that can be accessed by further stages of the graphics pipeline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: John Erik Lindholm, Ziyad S. Hakura
  • Patent number: 8976196
    Abstract: Novel and non-trivial system, device, and method for generating and presenting different images to separate viewers of a dual-view aircraft display unit are disclosed. An image generator is configured to receive first and second sets of image data, generate third image data from both sets, and provide the third image data to a dual-view aircraft display unit configured to present a left image to a left viewer and a right image to a right viewer. The first and second sets of image data are representative of first and second images, respectively, and comprised of first and second pixel columns, respectively. The third image data is representative of a left image and a right image and, if the images are not shared, comprised of first pixel columns interleaved with second pixel columns. The left or right viewer may change his or her own image without affecting the other's image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Bassel Habboub
  • Patent number: 8976197
    Abstract: Solution generating devices and methods are provided herein. Exemplary devices may execute logic via one or more processors, which are programmed to capture a view with an image capturing device, evaluate the view to determine a task within the view, generate a solution for the task, and display the solution via a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hurricane Electric LLC
    Inventor: Mike Leber
  • Patent number: 8976198
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for creating shape collages are provided. The method includes receiving a shape specification signal which specifies at least one desired shape having an area. The method further includes receiving image data which represents a plurality of images. The method still further includes processing the shape specification signal and the image data to obtain a shape collage of the images at least partially covering the area of the at least one desired shape. The step of processing may include the steps of at least partially covering the at least one desired shape with at least one shape primitive and placing at least one image over the at least one shape primitive to at least partially fill the at least one shape primitive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Collage.com, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin R. Borders, Joseph M. Golden
  • Patent number: 8976199
    Abstract: Particular embodiments display a series of objects across a screen of an electronic device, the objects being arranged side by side; display a boundary of each object in the series, the boundary of an object near the center of the series slightly overlapping a portion of each of two objects next to the object nearer the center of the series; and display a shadow around the object near the center of the series, the shadow overlapping a portion of each of the two objects next to the object near the center of the series to simulate an visual effect that the object near the center of the series is above the other objects in the series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Matas, Kimon Tsinteris, Austin Sarner, Charles Melcher
  • Patent number: 8976200
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a display controller comprises control logic that rotates a frame image by two-dimensional blocks of pixels when the frame image is rotated from an original orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Anitha Kona, Susan Lin
  • Patent number: 8976201
    Abstract: A method for rendering one or more user interface elements on a display screen of a device is disclosed. The method includes receiving a request for rendering a first user interface element without an orientation preference, and identifying a type of the device. The method also includes, in accordance with a determination that the type of the device is a first device type corresponding to television devices and the first user interface element corresponds to a first user interface element type, rendering the first user interface element as a vertical user interface element in a first display region of the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Bayer, Pierre-Yves Laligand, Leo Baghdassarian
  • Patent number: 8976202
    Abstract: The present document describes a method for controlling an output presented on a visual display of a portable computing device having an orientation, the portable computing device comprising a memory on which is stored visual content comprising at least one of graphics data, photo data and video data, and text content substantially comprising text data, the text content further comprising a visual content indicator indicative of the existence of the visual content, the method comprising: detecting the orientation of the portable computing device as corresponding to one of a first display mode and a second display mode; in the orientation corresponding to the first display mode, presenting the text content on the visual display in the first display mode; in the presence of the visual content indicator, detecting a change of the orientation corresponding to the first display mode to the orientation corresponding to the second display mode; and in the orientation corresponding to the second display mode, present
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Dave Caissy
  • Patent number: 8976203
    Abstract: A wavelength conversion device includes an excitation light source that generates excitation light, a laser medium that generates fundamental light by means of the excitation light, two resonator mirrors that are disposed with the laser medium being interposed therebetween and resonate the fundamental light, a wavelength conversion element that is disposed between the two resonator mirrors and wavelength-converts the fundamental light to harmonic light, and a drive unit that generates a pulse modulation signal to pulse-drive the excitation light source. The laser medium is formed of a material having a thermo-optical effect and a positive thermo-optical constant. The pulse modulation signal generated by the drive unit has an initial interval including a rising edge of a pulse and a remaining interval subsequent to the initial interval. An average signal intensity during the initial interval is higher than an average signal intensity during the remaining interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Nakayama, Tetsuro Mizushima, Tatsuo Itoh, Hiroyuki Furuya
  • Patent number: 8976204
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal display device (1) provided with a backlight part (3) that has a light-emitting diode (light source), and a liquid crystal panel (display part) (2) that includes a plurality of pixels (P) and displays information using illumination light from the backlight part (3). A video generating device (control part) (9) decides, in a frame in which a gray-scale transition occurs, at least a length of either an OFF period of the light-emitting diode in a first half of the frame or an ON period of the light-emitting diode in a latter half of the frame, based on the time information from the time information generating part (26), and outputs an instruction signal to a light source driving part (14) in accordance with the decided OFF or ON period for driving the light-emitting diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hirofumi Murakami, Kohji Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8976205
    Abstract: A method of displaying a three-dimensional (ā€œ3Dā€) stereoscopic image includes providing a first 3D data signal to a first display area portion of a display panel; and selectively providing a second 3D data signal or a black data signal to a second display area portion of the display panel when the first 3D data signal is being provided to the first display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong-Hwan Shin, Baek-Kyun Jeon
  • Patent number: 8976206
    Abstract: A display device is disclosed. The device includes: a timing controller configured to derive data signals for a display panel from external signals; a date driver configured to derive data voltages from the data signals and apply the data voltage to data lines on the display panel; a gamma IC (integrated circuit) chip configured to apply gamma voltages to the data driver; a power supply IC chip configured to apply a most significant voltage to the data driver; a DAC (digital-to-analog converter) configured to receive the gamma voltages and the most significant voltage from the gamma IC chip and the power supply IC chip and generate the data voltages opposite to the data signals; and a power supply unit configured to convert the gamma voltages and the most significant voltage using the data signals and apply the converted voltages to the DAC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae Gung Kim, Kyoung Don Woo, Moo Kyoung Hong
  • Patent number: 8976207
    Abstract: To suppress deterioration of quality of a still image displayed with a reduced refresh rate. A liquid crystal display device includes a display portion that is controlled by a driver circuit and includes normally white mode (or normally black mode) liquid crystals, and a timing controller for controlling the driver circuit. The timing controller is supplied with an image signal for displaying a moving image and an image signal for displaying a still image. The absolute value of a voltage applied to the liquid crystals in order to express black (or white) in an image corresponding to the image signal for displaying the still image is larger than that of a voltage applied to the liquid crystals in order to express black (or white) in an image corresponding to the image signal for displaying the moving image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Umezaki, Hiroyuki Miyake
  • Patent number: 8976208
    Abstract: A display device which includes pixels, a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines, a gate driver configured to drive the plurality of gate lines, a data driver configured to drive the plurality of data lines, and a timing controller configured to control the gate driver and the data driver. The timing controller receives a first image signal and outputs a second image signal to the data driver. The timing controller sequentially outputs a boosting signal and the first image signal as the second image signal. The boosting signal is based on the first image signal and the previous first image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jinpil Kim, Jai-Hyun Koh, Se Ah Kwon, Heendol Kim, Kuk-Hwan Ahn, Iksoo Lee, Namjae Lim
  • Patent number: 8976209
    Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid crystal panel including a scan signal line (16x), a data signal line (15x), and a transistor (12a) that is connected to the scan signal line (16x) and the data signal line (15x). A pixel (101) is provided with pixel electrodes (17a and 17b). The pixel electrode (17a) is connected to the data signal line (15x) through the transistor (12a). The liquid crystal panel further includes capacitance electrodes (37a and 38a) that are formed in the same layer as the scan signal line (16x). The capacitance electrodes (37a and 38a) are electrically connected to the pixel electrode (17a), and form a capacitance with the pixel electrode (17b). Consequently, the yield of a capacitance coupling type pixel division system active matrix substrate can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihide Tsubata
  • Patent number: 8976210
    Abstract: A remote access application queries the client device for its display properties. Using the display properties of the client device and optionally the size of the fingertip of the user, a connection resolution for a remote desktop connection is determined. A remote desktop session is retrieved at the connection resolution and remote pixels are mapped to client pixels at a non-1:1 ratio. Remote desktop is then optionally resized to full screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ericom Software Ltd.
    Inventors: Eran Heyman, Dan Shappir
  • Patent number: 8976211
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a medium includes an image forming material erasable by heat, a storage medium having stored therein information concerning temperature for heating the image forming material, and a controller configured to control an image forming operation on the basis of the information concerning the temperature stored in the storage medium. The information concerning the temperature includes forming temperature, which is temperature for heating the image forming material during image formation, and erasing temperature, which is temperature for heating the image forming material during image erasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshifumi Mimura
  • Patent number: 8976212
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a printer, specifically an edge justified printer, having a housing. The printer further comprises a mounting assembly that holds printable media and a printhead assembly. The printhead assembly of the present invention has a printhead cantilevered to a mounting member by a bracket. The printer further comprises a plurality of adjusting devices wherein each of the adjustive devices includes an adjusting member. The adjusting member(s) allows for pressure to be applied at the end or edge of the printhead and less pressure at the other end or edge of the printhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: Jan Watson, Thomas P. Keller
  • Patent number: 8976213
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises an accommodation unit which accommodates a continuous printing sheet; a conveyance unit which conveys the printing sheet; a printing unit which performs image forming processing on the conveyed printing sheet; a cutting unit which cuts the printing sheet after completion of the image forming processing; and a processing unit which executes, when a printing sheet remaining on a conveyance path is detected, processing for removing the remaining printing sheet, the processing unit controls the conveyance unit to convey the printing sheet to detect a leading end, compares a first distance from the leading end to a portion located at a curl correction unit with a second distance from the leading end, which distance is required for image forming processing set, and sets a larger distance as a cutting position of the remaining printing sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsuya Otoshi
  • Patent number: 8976214
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for marking and/or scanning an object comprising a head, in particular a marking head or a scanning head, having a plurality of regular operating elements for marking and/or scanning the object, and comprising a driving mechanism for providing a relative movement of the object relative to the head in an advance direction during a working operation, at least a part of the regular operating elements being arranged in a rectangular pattern of rows and columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Alltec Angewandte Laserlicht Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Joerg Kueckendahl, Daniel Joseph Ryan
  • Patent number: 8976215
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of photosensitive media, a light source unit which comprises a plurality of light sources, a polygon mirror which deflects a plurality of beams output from the plurality of light sources into the plurality of photosensitive media using a plurality of reflective surfaces, a beam detector which receives beams reflected from the polygon mirror during a rotating process of the polygon mirror, and outputs a beam detection signal, and a horizontal sync signal generator which receives the beam detection signal and counts beam reflecting times during which the beams are reflected from the plurality of reflective surfaces, and compares the plurality of counted beam reflecting times with the compensation values calculated for the reflective surfaces, respectively, generates a horizontal sync signal for a corresponding reflective surface, and provides the horizontal sync signal to the light source unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Si-joong Jang
  • Patent number: 8976216
    Abstract: A light source unit includes a surface-emitting laser array including light emitting units; and an apertured member provided on a light path of light beams emitted from the surface-emitting laser array, the apertured member including an aperture. In at least one direction, an intensity distribution of interference patterns caused by the light beams passing through the aperture includes an equal number of crests and troughs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ohba, Satoru Sugawara, Toshihiro Ishii
  • Patent number: 8976217
    Abstract: A wireless network and videoconference includes a circuit board, a wireless local area network (WLAN) interface, a videoconference interface, and a transmission interface. The WALN interface is placed on the circuit board and electrically connected thereto. The videoconference interface is placed on the circuit board and electrically connected thereto. The transmission interface is electrically connected to the WLAN interface, the videoconference interface, and a mother board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Nai-Chien Chang
  • Patent number: 8976218
    Abstract: An electronic device is communicatively coupled to at least one video camera during a video conference, and also includes a touchscreen display having video conference participant representations displayed on the touchscreen display. A haptics feedback system is integrated into the touchscreen display and is responsive to a user touching the video conference participant representations displayed on the touchscreen display. A speech-to-text controller converts video conference participant's speech into text and creates an identification tag for each video conference participant. In addition, an ongoing commentary controller provides feedback on non-verbal cues about the video conference participants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Dean E. Thorson, William P. Alberth
  • Patent number: 8976219
    Abstract: Studio, studio system, studio configuration and calibration method for life-size videoconferencing include local conferee space and local transceiver for life-size videoconferencing. The transceiver includes optical input unit and optical output unit providing continuous duplex image transfer via a duplexer area of a screen configured to simultaneously transmit to local conferee space the image of remote conferee space including a remote studio, and reflect the image of local conferee space to the optical input unit, enabling visualizing to scale without aberrations image of the entire local conferee space to the remote conferee space; enabling a local party conferee to establish eye contact and register body movements of a remote party conferee. Images of physically separated conferee spaces are concatenated to an operational conference setting, enabling a remote conferee located anywhere in the remote space to establish eye contact with a conferee visible in the image of the second remote space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Mebe Viewcom AB
    Inventor: Erik Eskilsson
  • Patent number: 8976220
    Abstract: A video call host module comprising a processor configured to decode video data corresponding to videos from endpoints and rank the videos based on motion indicators corresponding to each of the endpoints. The motion indicators are calculated from motion vectors corresponding to each of the videos. A predetermined number of highest-ranking videos are selected for display. A method of hosting a video call includes receiving encoded video data including motion vectors. Videos are ranked based on a motion indicator calculated from the motion vectors for each of the videos. Encoded video data is converted to decoded video data, and decoded video data corresponding to a predetermined number of the highest ranking videos is combined to create a single video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Sorenson Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Conrad Arlo Maxwell
  • Patent number: 8976221
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for detecting when a video stream embedded within a region of another video stream contains copyrighted material. In one implementation, a computer system receives a first video stream and determines that the first video stream comprises a second video stream within a region of the first video stream, using metadata that identifies a set of geometric properties of the region. The computer system obtains the second video stream from the first video stream based on the set of geometric properties of the region, and determines whether the second video stream contains copyrighted material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Johan Georg Granstrƶm, Stephane Zermatten, Tristan Schmelcher, Gang Ji
  • Patent number: 8976222
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image processing command input section to receive image processing commands for image data written into a memory by units of one line, a line number deriving section to derive a number of lines of the image data required to execute image processing operations based on the image processing commands received by the image processing command input section, a line number indicating section to output a numerical value indicating the number of lines of the image data derived by the line number deriving section, a read timing controlling section to control read timing from the memory in response to the numerical value output from the line number indicating section, a parameter indicating section to output parameters used for the image processing operations, and an image processing section to execute the image processing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yohsuke Kawamura, Kohji Oshikiri
  • Patent number: 8976223
    Abstract: A method, computer program product, and computer system for sending, by a first computing device, a video feed with a pre-determined quality level to a second computing device. The first computing device determines that a volume level associated with the video feed reaches a threshold. The first computing device sends the video feed with a higher quality level to the second computing device based upon, at least in part, determining that the volume level associated with the video feed reaches the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Matthew John Leske
  • Patent number: 8976224
    Abstract: A controlled three-dimensional (3D) communication endpoint system and method for simulating an in-person communication between participants in an online meeting or conference and providing easy scaling of a virtual environment when additional participants join. This gives the participants the illusion that the other participants are in the same room and sitting around the same table with the viewer. The controlled communication endpoint includes a plurality of camera pods that capture video of a participant from 360 degrees around the participant. The controlled communication endpoint also includes a display device configuration containing display devices placed at least 180 degrees around the participant and display the virtual environment containing geometric proxies of the other participants. Placing the participants at a round virtual table and increasing the diameter of the virtual table as additional participants are added easily achieves scalability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Yancey Christopher Smith, Eric G. Lang, Christian F. Huitema, Zhengyou Zhang
  • Patent number: 8976225
    Abstract: A method for managing media streams including at least video data and audio data in a multi-party video conference involving one or more groups of one or more nodes respectively receiving a media stream from each of a plurality of associated endpoints is provided. In each of the one or more nodes of each of the one or more groups, the loudest audio of the media streams received from the respective plurality of associated endpoints is determined. An indication of the volume of the determined loudest audio and an identification of the node is transmitted to a decision maker. The highest received volume and the associated identification is determined. The node of the identification is instructed to transmit the received media stream of the endpoint to one of: all nodes in the one or more groups and to a proxy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Pexip AS
    Inventors: Giles Russell Chamberlin, Hani Mustafa Elsayed Abdelkader Hashim, Nicolas Jean Michel Cormier, John-Mark Bell, Eoin Stuart McLeod, Benjamin John Hockley
  • Patent number: 8976226
    Abstract: A system and method for generating an animation based at least in part on video content associated with a multi-party video communication session are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system includes a video receiver module, a video sampler module, a conversion module, a request receiver module and an animation display module. The video receiver module receives video content of a multi-party video communication session including video content of each of one or more participating devices. The video sampler module generates a plurality of video frames based on the video content. The conversion module generates a plurality of images each image based on one of the plurality of video frames and generates an animation file based on the plurality of images. The request receiver module receives a request from a user. The animation display module, based on the request, provides for display textual content, the animation file, and a connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Frances Bordwell Haugen, Alexander Ketner Unger
  • Patent number: 8976227
    Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a system and method for initiating a video phone call using a standard phone device. For instance, in one embodiment, a method for initiating a video phone call from a first party to a second party is disclosed. The method includes receiving a call from the first party. The call is initiated using a standard phone device. The method determines whether the call is a voice call or a call request to initiate a video call. In response to a determination that the call is a call request to initiate a video call, the method terminates the call, initiates a call to a video phone device of the first party and also a communication device of the second party. The method establishes a communication session between the video phone device of the first party and the communication device of the second party.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Rich Cerami, John M. Verbil
  • Patent number: 8976228
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a positive first lens unit, a negative second lens unit, a positive third lens unit, and a positive fourth lens unit. During zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens unit moves with a locus convex toward the image side, and the third lens unit moves toward the object side. The first lens unit includes, in order from the object side to the image side, a negative first lens, a positive second lens, and a positive third lens. A distance (d12) between the first lens and the second lens, a focal length (fw) of the entire zoom lens at the wide-angle end, and a refractive index (Np) of a positive lens having the lowest refractive index among the refractive indices of materials of all positive lenses included in the first lens unit are appropriately set based on predetermined mathematical conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Saruwatari
  • Patent number: 8976229
    Abstract: An image analysis apparatus for processing a 3D video signal comprising successive pairs of images representing different respective views of a scene to generate an image depth indicator comprises a correlator configured to correlate image areas in one of the pair of images with image areas in the other of the pair of images so as to detect displacements of corresponding image areas between the two images; a graphics generator configured to generate a graphical representation of the distribution of the displacements, with respect to a range of possible displacement values, across the pair of images; and a display generator for generating for display the graphical representation in respect of a current pair of images and in respect of a plurality of preceding pairs of images, so as to provide a time-based representation of variations in the distribution of the displacements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Sarah Elizabeth Witt, Richard Jared Cooper
  • Patent number: 8976230
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computer-implemented image capture and processing, and more particularly, to user interfaces, systems, computer-readable media, and methods for approximating torso dimensions of a subject in an image to, for example, simulate appearance of the subject in various states of dress and/or generate imagery including different simulated layers of clothing for the subject of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Vlad Vendrow
  • Patent number: 8976231
    Abstract: A device for measuring three dimensional shape includes a first irradiation unit, a first grating control unit, a second irradiation unit, a second grating control unit, an imaging unit, and an image processing unit. After performance of a first imaging operation as imaging processing of a single operation among a multiplicity of imaging operations performed by irradiation of said first light pattern of multiply varied phases, a second imaging operation is performed as imaging processing of a single operation among a multiplicity of imaging operations performed by irradiation of said second light pattern of multiply varied phases. After completion of the first imaging operation and the second imaging operation, shifting or switching operation of the first grating and the second grating is performed simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: CKD Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Ishigaki
  • Patent number: 8976232
    Abstract: A distance determining section increases a convergence point distance by a distance proportionate to an operation of an up key. The distance determining section reduces the convergence point distance by a distance proportionate to an operation of a down key. A target convergence point distance is incremented by 1 m per pressing operation of the up key. The target convergence point distance is decremented by 1 m per pressing operation of the down key. A shift amount setting section converts the target convergence point distance into a shift amount that corresponds to the target convergence point distance. The shift amount is set to an image shifting section. The image shifting section shifts each cut out region by the shift amount from a reference position and cuts out viewpoint images with the cut out regions from original left and right viewpoint images. Thus, the parallax-adjusted viewpoint images are produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Mizuta
  • Patent number: 8976233
    Abstract: A three-dimensional image processing method and a three-dimensional image processing circuit using the above method are provided. The method is configured for processing N source images, and N is a natural number and is larger than or equal to two. Each of the source images corresponds to a visual angle, and each of the source images comprises image data with three primary colors. The image data of each of the source images are arranged in an array according to a predetermined color sequence. In the method, six parameters are provided firstly, wherein each of the six parameters is configured for defining a basic data-arrangement variation. Then, the image data with three primary colors of the N source image are obtained according to the six parameters, so as to form a three-dimensional image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Shen-Sian Syu, Hung-Wei Tseng, Chun-Huai Li
  • Patent number: 8976234
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling display of a stereoscopic image, includes: a display control portion which cuts out a stereoscopic image in a to-be-displayed area which is an area corresponding to a part of a stereoscopic image consisting of a plurality of images with a parallax, and displays the cut-out stereoscopic image on a display portion; a parallax change amount calculation portion which calculates a change amount between a parallax amount in a stereoscopic image within the to-be-displayed area before the to-be-displayed area is moved and a parallax amount in a stereoscopic image within the to-be-displayed area after the to-be-displayed area is moved by a first moving distance when an instruction to move the to-be-displayed area is issued; and a to-be-displayed area movement control portion which moves the to-be-displayed area by a moving distance in accordance with the change amount calculated by the parallax change amount calculation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Akiyoshi Tsuchita
  • Patent number: 8976235
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a controller which generates a control signal based on at least one of a two-dimensional image and a three-dimensional stereoscopic image inputted from an outside, a panel including a plurality of pixels, where the plurality of pixels is arranged along a first direction and along a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and displays the three-dimensional stereoscopic image having a plurality of viewpoints different from each other in each frame, a lens part including a plurality of lens units, where the plurality of lens units is disposed over the panel overlapping the pixels along the first direction and having a plurality of focal points which shifts in each frame, and a light source which supplies light to the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hae-Young Yun, Il-Yong Yoon, Il-Joo Kim
  • Patent number: 8976236
    Abstract: A system for illuminating and recording an image of an operative field during a medical procedure is presented. The system includes a first light source assembly, a second light source assembly, and a controller. The first and second light source assemblies include a light source operable to illuminate the operative field, a camera operable to record the image of the operative field, and a sensor operable to detect motion from the light source assemblies. The controller is in communication with the first and second light source assemblies. The controller is configured to send operational commands to the light source assemblies based on feedback from the sensors. One of the operational commands is a recording command. The controller is configured to send the recording command to either the camera in the first or second light source assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Mary Maitland DeLand
  • Patent number: 8976237
    Abstract: A surveillance system is provided that includes at least one sensor disposed in a security area of a surveillance region to sense an occurrence of a potential security breach event; a plurality of cameras is disposed in the surveillance region; at least one camera thereof has a view of the security area and can be configured to automatically gather biometric information concerning at least one subject person in the vicinity of the security area in response to the sensing of a potential security breach event; one or more other of the plurality of cameras can be configured to search for the at least one subject person; a processing system is programmed to produce a dossier corresponding to the at least one subject person to match biometric information of one or more persons captured by one or more of the other cameras with corresponding biometric information in the dossier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Proximex Corporation
    Inventors: Ken P. Cheng, Edward Y. Chang, Yuan-Fang Wang
  • Patent number: 8976238
    Abstract: An optical observation apparatus has an optical image channel for viewing optical field-of-view images, a processing unit to generate a first electronic insertion image via a first electronic image channel, and a data insertion image projector for generating an optical insertion image from the first electronic insertion image and inserting that image into the optical field-of-view image. An acquisition device acquires the optical field-of-view image without the optical insertion image inserted by the data insertion image projector. A second electronic image channel has a superimposition module, that superimposes the electronic field-of-view image with an electronic insertion image and provides the superimposed images via the second electronic image channel. The processing unit generates a second electronic insertion image, provides available display data elements, and makes it possible to assemble the electronic insertion images and assign them to different electronic image channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Stefan Ernsperger, Gerhard Gaida
  • Patent number: 8976239
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a system and method for calibration and adjustment of the pixel color values represented within a digital image of a sample by a transmission microscope. Furthermore the present invention is directed to providing sufficient color information in order to generate a color mapping matrix that allows for the creation of a synthetic image to depict the sample under a desired illumination. The system and method provides a solution that generates a destination-device independent image that is configurable to any calibrated display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Datacolor Holding AG
    Inventors: Hong Wei, Michael H. Brill
  • Patent number: 8976240
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with producing spatially varying spectral response calibration data are described. One example method includes controlling a digital camera to capture characteristic data arrays from light sensors in the digital camera in response to the digital camera being exposed to light stimuli from a multi-spectral reference display. The data arrays will be acquired multiple times at multiple locations in multiple stimuli provided from the multi-spectral reference display. The method also includes controlling a calibration logic to manipulate characteristic data arrays to produce spatially varying spectral response calibration data as a function of using characteristic data arrays and known wavelengths of the light in light stimuli. The method may also include providing the spatially varying spectral response calibration data to a downstream consumer (e.g., correction process, quality control process), displaying the data, or storing the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin Matherson, Yu-Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 8976241
    Abstract: A device is provided with integrated hardware and software components for measuring and monitoring abnormalities on animal and human tissue and other surfaces. The device includes a display panel and a control panel secured to the upper surface of a housing and a plurality of sensor arrays attached to the lower surface on two scanner belts. A processor receives input from the sensor arrays to create data objects which are stored in an image object database. A retrieval component retrieves the image objects and identifies attributes to display image and quantitative values on a the display panel. A hardware processing component runs at least one algorithm to determine the area of a surface abnormality. Another hardware processing component is provided to receive user input to update images and to select a deformation region for area calculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Nathan Johnnie, Francis J O'Brien, Jr., Susan E Maloney, Joseph W Robicheau