Patents Issued in March 31, 2015
  • Patent number: 8994687
    Abstract: A mutual-capacitance touch sensing device including a touch panel, a plurality of driving electrodes and a plurality of sensing electrodes is provided. The touch panel is substantially parallel to a reference plane. The driving and sensing electrodes are arranged to from a matrix including a plurality of sensing units. Each of the sensing units is associated with at least one driving electrode and at least one sensing electrode. A gap is formed between the at least one driving electrode and the at least one sensing electrodes. A projection length of the gap on the reference plane is longer than a total length of two diagonal lines in each of the sensing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc
    Inventors: Ting-Hao Yeh, Fu-Sheng Chang
  • Patent number: 8994688
    Abstract: There are disclosed display devices with integral touch screens and methods for operating display panels. A display panel may include a plurality of pixels, each pixel controlled by a corresponding one of a plurality of column electrodes and a corresponding one of a plurality of row electrodes. Each column electrode may be coupled to a respective column driver circuit and at least some of the column electrodes may be coupled to respective column sensing circuits adapted to sense capacitive coupling between the respective column electrodes and a probe adjacent to an external surface of the display panel. Each row electrode may be coupled to a respective row driver circuit and at least some of the row electrodes may be coupled to respective row sensing circuits adapted to sense capacitive coupling between the respective row electrodes and a probe adjacent to an external surface of the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Edwin Joseph Selker
  • Patent number: 8994689
    Abstract: A capacitive switch assembly for controlling power windows of an automotive vehicle has a plurality of window select capacitive sensors with a respective window select capacitive sensor for selecting a respective power window to be opened or closed. The capacitive switch assembly also includes a capacitive actuator including gesture responsive capacitive sensors responsive to an open gesture and a close gesture made by a user with a finger on a gesture pad of the capacitive actuator. The gesture responsive capacitive sensors are located at locations on the gesture pad so that the open and close gestures mimic the way in which a user moves an actuator of a mechanical switch to open and close a window. The capacitive switch assembly may include a hot button that enables and disables the power windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventors: Karamjit K Pandher, Mark Grimes
  • Patent number: 8994690
    Abstract: The present invention describes a transparent fingerprint imaging apparatus wherein said apparatus comprises, a plurality of column lines, a plurality of scan lines, a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of fingerprint capacitance sensing cells wherein a fingerprint capacitance sensing cell further comprises, a fingerprint capacitor comprising a transparent capacitance detecting electrode and a transparent capacitance-detecting dielectric layer, a transparent reference capacitor coupled with said fingerprint capacitor with one electrode connecting to the fingerprint capacitor, and an amplification transparent TFT (thin-film transistor) wherein the gate electrode of the amplification transparent TFT connects to the transparent capacitance detecting electrode, one terminal of said amplification transparent TFT connects to a data line and the other terminal connects to a scan line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventors: Weidong Shi, Yang Lu
  • Patent number: 8994691
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the invention, an in-cell capacitive contact panel and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The in-cell capacitive touch panel comprises an array substrate. The array substrate comprises a display pixel structure and a touch circuit, and the touch circuit comprises a sensing unit and an amplifying unit connected with each other. The sensing unit is connected to a gate line in the display pixel structure. A switch-on voltage is provided by the gate line in the display pixel structure to the sensing unit, a voltage is generated in the sensing unit after the sensing unit is switched on, the voltage generated in the sensing unit is changed by a touch operation, the amplifying unit amplifies the voltage change in the sensing unit and outputs the amplified voltage change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Beijing Boe Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Li, Dong Chen
  • Patent number: 8994692
    Abstract: Provided is a touch panel system capable of reliably removing a wide variety of noises. The touch panel system (1p) includes a subtracting section (41a) which receives output signals from the sense lines (33) and finds differences between the capacitances in a direction in which each of drive lines (35) extends, as the differences in signal between the respective pairs of the sense lines (33) adjacent to each other. The subtracting section (41a) obtains a difference signal value between the sense lines adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Manabu Yumoto, Hiroshi Hamada
  • Patent number: 8994693
    Abstract: A locating method for an optical touch device to calculate a position of a light blocking object is provided. The optical touch device includes a number of image detecting components. Each of the image detecting components includes a number of pixels arranged in a straight line. In the locating method, the pixels of each of the image detecting components are at least divided into a first group and a second group. When the first group detects a dark point caused by the light blocking object, the position of the dark point is calculated using a first calculating method. When the second group detects the dark point, the position of the dark point is calculated using a second calculating method. The locating method can determine the position of the light blocking object accurately. An optical touch device that is suitable for using the locating method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Pixart Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Ming-Tsan Kao, Hsin-Chi Cheng, Teng-Wei Hsu
  • Patent number: 8994694
    Abstract: A user input device for an electronic device includes an illumination source and image sensor module. A translucent layer is disposed above the illumination source and the image sensor module. The translucent layer includes at least a first set of patterns disposed thereon. A deformable layer is disposed above the translucent layer. The deformable layer includes at least a second set of patterns. The illumination source is configured to illuminate at least the portion of the translucent layer. The image sensor module includes a field of view that corresponds to at least a portion of the translucent layer. The image sensor module being configured to detect a third set of patterns when the first set of patterns and the second set of patterns are displaced with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Hsin Chin Lee, Antanas Matthew Broga, ZhongMing Ma
  • Patent number: 8994695
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide for a touch sensitive display, in which a transparent layer is disposed over a display layer; light is directed to propagate into and/or through the transparent layer; scattered light is measured in response to an object touching a surface the transparent layer and disturbing the propagation of the light therethrough; and one or more positions at which the object touches the transparent layer are computed based on signals obtained by the step of measuring the scattered light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffrey Stapleton King, Mathieu Charbonneau-Lefort, Timothy James Orsley, William Richard Trutna
  • Patent number: 8994696
    Abstract: An acoustic touch apparatus (100) that utilizes the transfer of surface acoustic waves from one surface (115), through the touch substrate (105), to another surface (110) and a grid of sensitivity zones (Z) formed on one of the surfaces (115) to enable multi-touch capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Elo Touch Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Damien Berget, Joel Kent
  • Patent number: 8994697
    Abstract: A method for determining a displacement of a touch point is applied to a touch panel to reduce noise interfering with determination of the displacement. The method includes obtaining a displacement according to a movement of a touch point on the touch panel; checking whether the displacement is within a predetermined range; and determining that the movement is valid when the displacement is within the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsung-Fu Lin, Chao-Cheng Wen
  • Patent number: 8994698
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for simulation of an erodible tip. A brush tool representing an erodible media is modeled as a height map. Information is collected about a user manipulation of a stylus representing a stroke made on a virtual canvas with the brush tool. A mark to be made on the virtual canvas is determined dependent on the brush tool model and the collected information. The determined mark is rendered. A change in the height map of the brush tool due to the stroke is determined dependent on the brush tool model and the collected information. One or more subsequent marks are rendered in response to manipulation of the brush tool dependent on the determined change in the height map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen J. DiVerdi, Aravind Krishnaswamy
  • Patent number: 8994699
    Abstract: A touch input device comprises: a body made of a conductive material; a brush formed at one end of the body for external extraction, and which is made of a conductive material for touching a capacitive touch panel; and a unit for generating a clicking sensation which is installed within the body to generate a clicking sensation when the touch panel is touched by the brush, thereby enabling a user to sense a click when touching the touch panel, thus improving user convenience, enabling dragging to be smoothly performed, enabling pictures to be easily drawn, minimizing damage such as scratches or the like on the surface of the touch panel, and enabling the surface of the touch panel to be cleaned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Young Woo Jung
  • Patent number: 8994700
    Abstract: A method, system and computer program product for driving a display device by a display system is provided. The display system includes a processor, a first display controller, a second display controller and the display device. The first display controller receives display frames that are sent by the processor. The first display controller drives the display device when the processor sends new display frames. When the same display frames are continually sent by the processor, the control of the display device is switched to the second display controller, which is optimized for low-power operation. The control of the display device is switched in proximity to an input vertical synchronization (V-sync) pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Mark J. Foster
  • Patent number: 8994701
    Abstract: A backlight unit has a Light Emitting Diode (LED). The backlight unit includes a base member, and a light source unit provided on the base member and including p light source blocks, where p is a natural number equal to or greater than 2. The light source blocks are sequentially arranged to emit light, and each of the light source blocks includes at least one LED package. The LED package includes an LED configured to generate light in response to a driving voltage applied from the outside. A main lead is connected to the LED and configured to apply the driving voltage to the LED. At least one sub lead is separated from the main lead and configured to provide the driving voltage to an adjacent light source block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Moonshik Kang
  • Patent number: 8994702
    Abstract: A display system capable of being coupled to a host includes: a display controller; a display port (DP), including a main link, an auxiliary channel and a signal detection end; a DP engine, coupled to the DP via the main link, the auxiliary channel and the signal detection end, for outputting an image signal to the display controller; and a detection circuit, coupled to the DP via the auxiliary channel, for selectively outputting an indication signal to the DP engine in response to a communication signal in the auxiliary signal pair in the auxiliary channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: MStar Semiconductor, Inc.
    Inventor: Meng-Che Tsai
  • Patent number: 8994703
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes: a substrate having a display area and anon-display area; a display device formed on the display area; a bending embodiment unit formed on the non-display area and including bimetal elements; and a control unit for controlling bending of each of the bimetal elements so as to improve convenience to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tae-Eun Kim
  • Patent number: 8994704
    Abstract: A latch circuit includes an input transistor, a retention capacitor connected between an electrode of the input transistor and a first latch control line, a first transistor having an electrode connected to the first latch control line and a gate connected to the electrode of the input transistor, a second transistor having a gate connected to another electrode of the first transistor and an electrode is connected to the second latch control line, a third transistor having a gate connected to the another electrode of the first transistor and an electrode connected to another electrode of the second transistor and another electrode connected to an output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshio Miyazawa, Mitsuhide Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 8994705
    Abstract: The performance of electro-wetting displays can be improved by: (a) providing a concealment member (112) which conceals the moving fluid (108) when that fluid (108) is confined to a small area; (b) using the moving fluid to cover one or more sections of a filter or reflector having differently-colored sections; (c) moving the moving fluid between the rear surface and a side surface of a microcell; (d) using as a substrate for a moving fluid a substrate resistant to wetting by the fluid but pierced by multiple conductive vias capped with a material wetted by the fluid; and (e) coloring the moving fluid with pigments or nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph M. Jacobson, Thomas Henry Whitesides, Michael D. McCreary, Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Richard M. Webber
  • Patent number: 8994706
    Abstract: A display panel includes a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels including a main sub-pixel and a secondary sub-pixel; a plurality of first scan lines, each of the first scan lines being coupled to main and secondary sub-pixels of a row of pixels; a plurality of second scan lines, each of the second scan lines being coupled to secondary sub-pixels of a row of pixels; a plurality of first data lines, each of the first data lines being coupled to main and secondary sub-pixels of (N+1)th and (N+2)th rows of pixels; a plurality of second data lines, each of the second data lines being coupled to main and secondary sub-pixels of (N+3)th and (N+4)th rows of pixels; a scan driver for turning on the main and secondary sub-pixels of the pixels; and a data driver for outputting data signals; wherein N is a multiple of 4, and N?0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Ming-Chi Hung, Yung-Jen Chen
  • Patent number: 8994707
    Abstract: Discussed are a display device and a method for controlling the same, which are capable of achieving a reduction in power consumption, through selective application of a charge share mode or a pre-charge mode in accordance with the swing width of a data voltage. The disclosed method includes the steps of determining a positive or negative polarity of input image data on the basis of reference data and outputting a pre-charge enable signal when two successive image data have the same polarity; supplying a pre-charge voltage to a corresponding output channel in response to the pre-enable signal; and converting the image data into a data voltage, supplying the converted data voltage to a corresponding data line through the corresponding output channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Hyoung Kim, Seung-Tae Kim, Ho-Min Lim
  • Patent number: 8994708
    Abstract: A driver circuit for dot inversion of liquid crystals includes a positive source supplying a first positive signal and a second positive signal; a negative source supplying a first negative signal and a second negative signal; a first selector unit connected with the sources to receive the first positive signal and the first negative signal; a second selector unit connected with the sources to receive the second positive signal and the second negative signal; a first source connected with the selection unit to alternatively output a first positive voltage and a first negative voltage; a second source connected with the selection unit to alternatively output a second positive voltage and a second negative voltage. When the first source outputs the first positive voltage, the second source outputs the second negative voltage. When the first source outputs the first negative voltage, the second source outputs the second positive voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sitronix Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Tsun-Sen Lin, Cheng-Chung Yeh
  • Patent number: 8994709
    Abstract: An organic light emitting display and a method of manufacturing the organic light emitting display are provided. The organic light emitting display includes a display unit including pixels coupled to scan lines, data lines, emission control lines, and power lines, a scan driver on a side of the display unit and coupled to the scan lines, an emission control driver on another side of the display unit and coupled to the emission control lines, a first power pad on a side of one of the scan driver or the emission control driver for receiving power, a second power pad on another side of the one of the scan driver or the emission control driver, the second power pad coupled to the power lines, and power buses coupling the first power pad and the second power pad to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sam-Il Han
  • Patent number: 8994710
    Abstract: We describe power control techniques for an document reader with an electrophoretic display. In embodiments the document reader comprises a main processor to display information and at least one secondary processor to detect, say, a user input gesture; a battery to provide power to both processors; and a controllable switch coupled between said battery and said main processor and having a control line coupled to said secondary processor, to switch power from said battery to said main processor while said secondary processor is powered. In embodiments a power consumption measured in months is desired so that rather than put the main processor into a standby mode power to the main processor is switched off entirely but the system is arranged to be able to start-up quickly from this configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Flexenable Limited
    Inventors: Duncan Barclay, Steven Farmer
  • Patent number: 8994711
    Abstract: An EL display having high operating performance and reliability is provided. LDD regions 15a through 15d of a switching TFT 201 formed in a pixel are formed such that they do not overlap gate electrodes 19a and 19b to provide a structure which is primarily intended for the reduction of an off-current. An LDD region 22 of a current control TFT 202 is formed such that it partially overlaps a gate electrode 35 to provide a structure which is primarily intended for the prevention of hot carrier injection and the reduction of an off-current. Appropriate TFT structures are thus provided depending on required functions to improve operational performance and reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Yamauchi, Takeshi Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 8994712
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display has touch a sensing layer disposed above an image forming part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung-Ho Park, Hye-Rim Han
  • Patent number: 8994713
    Abstract: A computational device that determines, based on a sensed electronic storage device (ESD) parameter, to reduce energy usage by first display elements, but not by second display elements and apply different sets of display parameters to the first and second display elements, whereby a first level of energy/unit area used by the first display elements is less than a second level of energy/unit area used by the second display elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Z124
    Inventors: Sanjiv Sirpal, Martin Gimpl, John S. Visosky
  • Patent number: 8994714
    Abstract: In a class of embodiments, a method and system for calibrating a display using feedback indicative of measurements of light, emitted from the display (typically during display of a test pattern), by a camera device whose camera has a sensitivity function that is unknown a priori but which is operable to measure light emitted by a display in a manner emulating at least one measurement by a reference camera having a known sensitivity function. Typically, the camera device is a handheld camera device including an inexpensive, uncalibrated camera. In another class of embodiments, a system including a display (to be recalibrated), a video preprocessor coupled to the display, and a feedback subsystem including a camera device operable to measure light emitted by the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Gopal Erinjippurath, Glenn N. Dickins
  • Patent number: 8994715
    Abstract: A 3D image display apparatus is provided. The 3D image display apparatus includes a light emission unit including one or more cells, the cells being configured to respectively adjust a direction in which light is emitted, an active prism array on the light emission unit, the active prism array including one or more prism units corresponding to the cells, the active prism array being configured to adjust an inclination of a refracting surface of each of the prism units according to an electric signal to change an optical path, and a display panel configured to modulate light that passes through the active prism array according to an image signal to form an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hoon Song, Yoon-sun Choi, Hong-seok Lee, Jung-mok Bae, Kyu-hwan Choi
  • Patent number: 8994716
    Abstract: A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a set top box having a controller to receive two-dimensional image content comprising a plurality of images, identify an object in a first image of the plurality of images, identify the object in a second image of the plurality of images, determine a perspective angle difference between the first and second images, generate a third image using the first and second images when the perspective angle difference satisfies a three-dimensional angle threshold, generate three-dimensional image content using the first image and the third image, and provide the three-dimensional image content to a display device operably coupled with the set top box. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
    Inventor: Dale Malik
  • Patent number: 8994717
    Abstract: Method for modelling an individual dental prosthesis, which includes an abutment, wherein a first geometry is ascertained by a detection device, wherein an auxiliary element is affixed to at least one manipulation implant/implant, and a first data set is determined therefrom. A second data set describing a geometry having at least one manipulation implant/implant without an auxiliary element is ascertained. Using the second data set, which includes no data from auxiliary elements, or using the first and second data sets, a direction of insertion is determined by which a dental prosthesis part is to be pushed onto the abutment. A production method and a system for modelling an individual dental prosthesis and a computer-readable medium having instructions, which, when loaded into a computer, execute the methods A further method is provided for automatically determining a direction of insertion for a dental prosthesis part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Straumann Holding AG
    Inventors: Stephan Holzner, Gerhard Weber
  • Patent number: 8994718
    Abstract: A virtual skeleton includes a plurality of joints and provides a machine readable representation of a human target observed with a three-dimensional depth camera. A relative position of a hand joint of the virtual skeleton is translated as a gestured control, and a three-dimensional virtual world is controlled responsive to the gestured control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Latta, Darren Bennett, Kevin Geisner, Relja Markovic
  • Patent number: 8994719
    Abstract: An apparatus determines a matching viewpoint for a geographical area displayed in two-dimensional geographical image and a corresponding three-dimensional geographical image. The apparatus may include a memory operative to store a two-dimensional geographical image and a three-dimensional geographical image. The memory may further store a transformation extension operative to interact with a host application to determine three-dimensional geographical image parameters for generating the three-dimensional geographical image from two-dimensional geographical image parameters for generating the two-dimensional geographical image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Mihai Mudure, Po-Feng Paul Yang
  • Patent number: 8994720
    Abstract: Providing a diagnosis assisting apparatus that allows, in a diagnostic screen of a tubular tissue, easy understanding of the positional relationship between a curved cutting surface represented by a CPR image and the tubular tissue. Extracting a tubular tissue region representing a tubular tissue from volume data obtained by imaging and setting a core line to the tubular tissue, generating a CPR image which includes the core line and a longitudinal section of the tubular tissue region, obtaining the longitudinal section from the CPR image generation means, generating a pseudo three-dimensional image that includes a mark representing the obtained longitudinal section, as well as the tubular tissue in the extracted tubular tissue region based on the volume data, and displaying the pseudo three-dimensional image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Masumoto
  • Patent number: 8994721
    Abstract: A configuration is realized which enables data not displayed on a display section to be always observed as a virtual object. A configuration is realized with which, in various kinds of display apparatus such as a PC and a portable telephone having a display section, non-displayed data that extends off the area of the display section is displayed as a virtual object at a position contiguous to the display data of the display section. This configuration allows the user to always observe and view not only data displayed on a limited display area of a PC or the like but also data that has gone off the display section, thereby enhancing data processing efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kouichi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 8994722
    Abstract: An image for a virtual view of a scene is generated based on a set of texture images and a corresponding set of depth images acquired of the scene. A set of candidate depths associated with each pixel of a selected image is determined. For each candidate depth, a cost that estimates a synthesis quality of the virtual image is determined. The candidate depth with a least cost is selected to produce an optimal depth for the pixel. Then, the virtual image is synthesized based on the optimal depth of each pixel and the texture images. The method also applies first and second depth enhancement before, and during view synthesis to correct errors or suppress noise due to the estimation or acquisition of the dense depth images and sparse depth features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Tian, Yongzhe Wang, Anthony Vetro
  • Patent number: 8994723
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for recognizing instances of a 3D object in 3D scene data and scene intensity data and for determining the 3D poses of said instances comprising the following steps: (a) providing 3D object data and obtaining object intensity data; (b) providing 3D scene data and scene intensity data; (c) extracting scene feature points from the intensity data; (d) selecting at least one reference point from the 3D scene data; (e) computing, for each selected reference point, pose candidates for the 3D object under the assumption that said reference point is part of the 3D object by maximizing the number of extracted scene feature points that are consistent with the 3D object under the given pose candidate; (f) computing a set of filtered poses from the pose candidates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: MVTec Software GmbH
    Inventors: Bertram Drost, Markus Ulrich
  • Patent number: 8994724
    Abstract: Methods and systems for generating surface data from polygonal data are disclosed. The methods and systems receive polygonal data which describe discrete points on an object. The methods and systems analyze and use the data to calculate and define a continuous BREP object which accurately represents the original polygonal object. In some embodiments, the generated BREP is G2 continuous at substantially all points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: IntegrityWare, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Arnold Crocker
  • Patent number: 8994725
    Abstract: System and methods for generating a model of an environment are provided. In some aspects, a system includes a layer module configured to identify one or more layers of the environment based on a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) points mapping the environment. The system also includes a layout module configured to generate a layout for each layer. Each layout includes a two-dimensional (2D) model of the environment. The system also includes a construction module configured to generate a 3D model of the environment based on the 2D model of each layout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Furukawa, Steven Maxwell Seitz, Jianxiong Xiao, Carlos Hernandez Esteban, David Robert Gallup
  • Patent number: 8994726
    Abstract: System and methods for preparing a model of an environment for display are provided. In some aspects, a system includes a transformation module configured to modify a three-dimensional (3D) model of an environment such that a target wall portion of the 3D model is more visible from a viewing direction after the modification than prior to the modification. The modification of the 3D model is based on constructive solid geometry and comprises at least one of i) a removal of at least one ceiling wall portion of the 3D model, ii) a thickening of at least one lateral wall portion of the 3D model, and iii) a removal of an obstructing wall portion. The obstructing wall portion blocks at least a partial view of the target wall portion from the viewing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Furukawa, Jianxiong Xiao
  • Patent number: 8994727
    Abstract: A symbol cache checking part for checking to see whether or not an image of a symbol of the same type as a symbol to be drawn is written in a texture. When the symbol cache checking part determines that an image of a symbol of the same type as the symbol to be drawn is written in a texture, a texture coordinate setting part sets the write position of the above-mentioned symbol in the texture to the vertices of a 3D polygon generated by a polygon generating part as texture coordinates, and a polygon drawing unit 40 draws this 3D polygon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Tomaru
  • Patent number: 8994728
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are shown that select a focus depth for digital light field image data that represents a scene having a plurality of objects at different focus depths, the selected focus depth corresponding to a layer of the digital light field image data at the selected focus depth, and display the layer of the digital light field image data by utilizing at least one spatial light modulator to present the layer of the digital light field image data at a focal length corresponding to the selected focus depth. A server is shown that communicates with at least one apparatus to facilitate performance of the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Inventor: Francis J. Maguire, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8994729
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a simulation unit which performs a simulation of operation of an object and a display unit which generates based on a result of the simulation an image in which a virtual object is operating and displays the image. The apparatus further comprises a calculating unit which calculates a position and orientation of a predetermined part of an observer who observes the virtual object being displayed, and a generating unit which generates a parameter for use in the simulation based on the position and orientation of the predetermined part of the observer and the position and orientation of the virtual object. This structure makes it possible to set parameters of simulation in a virtual-reality or mixed-reality space through manipulation performed by the observer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naohito Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8994730
    Abstract: A candidate graph crossing point counter can be initialized. Level pairs can be sorted in descending order according to a number of connections between the level pairs. Evaluation of the candidate graph can progress according to the order of the level pairs so that those pairs likely to have the greatest number of connections are processed first. While the candidate graph crossing point counter is at an intermediate value and before a crossing point total is calculated for the candidate graph, it can be determined that the intermediate value is at least as great as a crossing point total of a best current graph for the directional graph. Calculation of the candidate graph crossing point total can be halted at the intermediate value. The candidate graph can be discarded from a possibility of being a minimized graph during a determination of a graph drawing for the directional graph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Breeds, Philip R. Taunton
  • Patent number: 8994731
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for capturing and organizing information spatio-temporally utilizes a standardized time reference and geographical locations to associate a time and a place to each event that is captured. These events are placed in a coordinate system according to the associated times and places. The apparatus and method may use a meridial clock. A series of related events forms an event path that progresses chronologically. Plural event paths are illustrated in a coordinate system based image of a user interface. Events from different event paths are synchronized so that events that occur in a particular moment are placed in the same time plane. As time progresses, the events emit from the plane into a region representing the past, and a relationship of events with their times and places is illustrated. A map in the plane of the image may facilitate visualization of places and times with events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Temporal LLC
    Inventor: David C. Nevins
  • Patent number: 8994732
    Abstract: Architecture that integrates the benefits of natural user interaction such as freeform sketch with computer-aided charting. The architecture integrates natural user interaction utilizing multiple modalities (e.g., sketch, multi-touch, etc.) with computer supported data analysis that allows users to explore data by drawing charts using simple strokes. Natural user interactions can be utilized to change chart types by drawing symbols, transform data by applying functions, filter data by drawing strikethrough on legends, etc. Additionally, the architecture makes an inference of visualizations the user intended from user-drawn strokes, such as the axes of a graph, the words of a label, etc. When appropriate, the architecture automatically completes visualizations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Bongshin Lee, Nathalie Riche, Sheelagh Carpendale, Tim Sherwood, Jeffrey Browne
  • Patent number: 8994733
    Abstract: A system intuitively displays medical data of a patient. The system includes a display and one or more processors. The processors are programmed to receive medical data for the patient. The medical data includes one or more medical values for one or more parameters affecting the health or wellbeing of the patient. The processors are further programmed to display a clock-like face on the display and display the medical values on the display overlaid on the clock-like face. Time for a medical value is represented as a position around a center of the clock-like face, and magnitude for a medical value is represented as deviation from the center of the clock-like face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Baastian Feddes
  • Patent number: 8994734
    Abstract: A method and system for defining a package uses a graph representation of the package to create and implement a package generation rule set. The graph representation uses links and nodes to represent the relationships between various facet, edges and functional elements of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen C. Morgana, Reiner Eschbach
  • Patent number: 8994735
    Abstract: A system for defining a radio scene to be emulated includes a display device configured to display a graphical user interface having a grid and at least one waveform block, representing at least a portion of a waveform, included in the grid in response to selection of a type of the waveform, at least one specification of the waveform, and a time pattern of the waveform. The grid has a frequency axis and a time axis, and the at least one waveform block extends along the time axis of the grid according to the time pattern of the waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Keysight Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Duplicy, Tandur Deepaknath
  • Patent number: 8994736
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for interactive curve-based freeform deformation of three-dimensional (3-D) models may provide a user interface that allows a user to interactively deform 3-D models based on simple and intuitive manipulations of a curve drawn on the model (i.e., freeform deformation). The user may apply freeform deformations using touch and/or multitouch gestures to specify and manipulate a deformation curve. The deformations may be applied by deforming the space around a curve/sweep path and deforming the 3-D model accordingly. The freeform deformation methods are not dependent on manipulation of a fixed set of parameters to perform deformations, and may provide for both local and global deformation. One or more weights and user interface elements for controlling those weights may be provided that allow the user to control the extent (region of influence) of the freeform deformations along the curve and/or perpendicular to the curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Nathan A. Carr, Pushkar P. Joshi, Fatemeh Abbasinejad