Patents Issued in August 1, 2017
  • Patent number: 9721339
    Abstract: A microprocessor is operably coupled to a camera from which patient vital signs are determined and a digital infrared sensor. A temporal variation of images from the camera is generated and amplified from which the patient vital signs, such as heart rate or respiratory rate, can be determined and displayed or stored and temperature is determined from digital infrared sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Arc Devices, LTD
    Inventors: Mark Khachaturian, Michael G. Smith
  • Patent number: 9721340
    Abstract: An example method for analyzing quantitative information obtained from radiological images includes identifying a ROI or a VOI in a radiological image, segmenting the ROI or the VOI from the radiological image and extracting quantitative features that describe the ROI or the VOI. The method also includes creating a radiological image record including the quantitative features, imaging parameters of the radiological image and clinical parameters and storing the radiological image record in a data structure containing a plurality of radiological image records. In addition, the method includes receiving a request with the patient's radiological image or information related thereto, analyzing the data structure to determine a statistical relationship between the request and the radiological image records and generating a patient report with a diagnosis, a prognosis or a recommended treatment regimen for the patient's disease based on a result of analyzing the data structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Gillies, Steven A. Eschrich, Robert A. Gatenby, Philippe Lambin, Andreas L. A. J. Dekker, Sandy A. Napel, Sylvia K. Plevritis, Daniel L. Rubin
  • Patent number: 9721341
    Abstract: In one aspect, a method of detecting at least on feature associated with a blood vessel in at least one image of at least one blood vessel using a matched filter adapted to respond to the at least one feature is provided. The method comprises applying a scale detection filter to selected voxels in the at least one image to determine a scale for the matched filter at each of the selected voxels, determining an orientation for the matched filter at each of the selected voxels, wherein determining the orientation is assisted by using the scale determined at each of the selected voxels, applying the matched filter at each of the selected voxels at the scale and the orientation determined at each of the selected voxels to obtain a filter response at each of the selected voxels, and analyzing the filter response at each of the selected voxels to determine if the respective voxel corresponds to the at least one feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Bio-Tree Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Kongbin Kang, Raul A. Brauner, Yanchun Wu, Joao Cruz
  • Patent number: 9721342
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for monitoring waste. Example methods may include monitoring a waste compartment of a waste container, the waste compartment configured to receive waste items, and determining a waste level of waste items in the waste compartment. Methods may include identifying a waste haul threshold indicative of a predetermined waste level at which a waste haul notification is triggered, determining that the waste level meets the waste haul threshold, and triggering the waste haul notification indicating that the waste container is to be emptied based at least in part on the waste level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: COX ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventor: Keith A. Mask
  • Patent number: 9721343
    Abstract: A method and system provide light to project to an operation space so that a received image from the operation space will include, if an object is in the operation space, a bright region due to the reflection of light by the object, and identify a gesture according to the variation of a barycenter position, an average brightness, or an area of the bright region in successive images, for generating a corresponding command. Only simple operation and calculation is required to detect the motion of an object moving in the X, Y, or Z axis of an image, for identifying a gesture represented by the motion of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Hao Huang, En-Feng Hsu
  • Patent number: 9721344
    Abstract: The present disclosure overcomes the limitations of the prior art by using partial blur kernels, rather than using full blur kernels. For example, single-sided blur kernels may be used in order to accommodate different edge orientations. In one aspect, the single-sided blur kernels may be used in order to accommodate edges caused by occlusions, where the two sides of the edge are at different depths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Dual Aperture International Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrew Wajs
  • Patent number: 9721345
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for generating at least one virtual image of a measurement object, in which a virtual position and/or a virtual orientation of the measurement object is determined and a virtual position and/or virtual orientation of at least one imaging or image recording device of a coordinate measuring machine is determined. The virtual image is generated on the basis of geometric data of the measurement object and on the basis of optical properties of the measurement object and the virtual image is additionally generated on the basis of imaging parameters of the imaging or image recording device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Industrielle Messtechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Engel, Stephan Rieger
  • Patent number: 9721346
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image assessment device capable of accurately and promptly assessing an image pair used for 3D measurement from plural captured images. An image assessment device according to the invention includes first captured image selection device, first captured image information acquisition device, object distance to-be-measured acquisition device, object position to-be-measured calculation device, second captured image selection device, second captured image information acquisition device, imaging range calculation device, and assessment device that determines whether or not a calculated object position to be measured is within a calculated imaging range, and assesses that a first captured image and a second captured image are of an image pair if determining that the calculated object position to be measured is within the calculated imaging range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tomonori Masuda
  • Patent number: 9721347
    Abstract: An exemplary method includes prompting a user to capture video data at a location. The location is associated with navigation directions for the user. Information representing visual orientation and positioning information associated with the captured video data is received by one or more computing devices, and a stored data model representing a 3D geometry depicting objects associated with the location is accessed. Between corresponding images from the captured video data and projections of the 3D geometry, one or more candidate change regions are detected. Each candidate change region indicates an area of visual difference between the captured video data and projections. When it is detected that a count of the one or more candidate change regions is below a threshold, the stored model data is updated with at least part of the captured video data based on the visual orientation and positioning information associated with the captured video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Lookingbill, Steven Maxwell Seitz
  • Patent number: 9721348
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and method for calculating a raw-cost necessary for combining images into one image by matching of stereo images. The raw-cost calculation apparatus includes an image acquirer, a window generator, a window mask generator, a window masker, and a raw-cost calculator. In the raw-cost calculation apparatus and method, a raw cost may be calculated by using an adaptive window mask so that accurate 3D information may be obtained on the boundary of thin structures even when stereo images are matched and combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Jae Chan Jeong, Ji Ho Chang, Seung Min Choi
  • Patent number: 9721349
    Abstract: A periphery band is around an excluded region. For automatically counting physical objects within the periphery band and the excluded region, an imaging sensor captures: a first image of the periphery band and the excluded region; and a second image of the periphery band and the excluded region. In response to the first image, a first number is counted of physical objects within the periphery band and the excluded region. Relevant motion is automatically detected within the periphery band, while ignoring motion within the excluded region. In response to the second image, a second number is counted of physical objects within the periphery band and the excluded region. In response to determining that a discrepancy exists between the detected relevant motion and the second number, the discrepancy is handled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Sriram Narayanan, Russell Rosenquist, Srinath Ramaswamy
  • Patent number: 9721350
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, circuits, devices, systems and associated executable code for multi factor image feature registration and tracking, wherein utilized factors include both static and dynamic parameters within a video feed. Assessed factors may originate from a heterogeneous set of sensors including both video and audio sensors. Acoustically acquired scene information may supplement optically acquired information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: GETALERT LTD.
    Inventors: Dor Givon, Yoram Elichai
  • Patent number: 9721351
    Abstract: A method of blink detection in a laser eye surgical system includes providing a topography measurement structure having a geometric marker. The method includes bringing the topography measurement structure into a position proximal to an eye such that light traveling from the geometric marker is capable of reflecting off a refractive structure of the eye of the patient, and also detecting the light reflected from the structure of the eye for a predetermined time period while the topography measurement structure is at the proximal position. The method further includes converting the light reflected from the surface of the eye into image data and analyzing the image data to determine whether light reflected from the geometric marker is present is in the reflected light, wherein if the geometric marker is determined not to be present, the patient is identified as having blinked during the predetermined time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Optimedica Corporation
    Inventor: Javier G. Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 9721352
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to quantify the pitching and yawing motion of a projectile during ballistic flight using two camera/tracker video systems. Image processing tools are used to segment the shape of the projectile in each frame of a launch video, which allows the location and observed pitch angle to be calculated with sub-pixel accuracy. Subsequent automated analysis uses the history of the projectile location and the pitching behavior to calculate estimates for the epicyclic motion, as well as other ballistic parameters such as aeroballistic coefficients. Using two cameras located at different orthographic views of the line-of-fire (LOF) allows the pitching and yawing motion history of the projectile to be calculated in three dimensions (3D). In addition, input of the camera locations, cannon trunnion location, and the cannon pointing direction allows for automatic correction for camera misalignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Oleg A. Yakimenko, Mathias N. Kolsch, Ryan J. Decker
  • Patent number: 9721353
    Abstract: An optical positional information detection apparatus for detecting a position indicated by a pointer on a display surface. The optical positional information detection apparatus includes an imaging unit that captures an image of one or more pointers situated within a predetermined distance from the display surface; an image obtaining unit that obtains a first image captured by the imaging unit and a second image captured by the imaging unit; a movement distance calculation unit that uses a first feature amount based on the first image in which first pointers are captured and a second feature amount based on the second image in which second pointers are captured so that the movement distance calculation unit calculates a movement distance from the first pointers to the second pointers; and an association unit that associates the second pointers with the first pointers based on a limitation on the movement distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Ono
  • Patent number: 9721354
    Abstract: A waveform monitor includes a brightness measuring system to generate brightness values that are then converted to stop equivalents. The conversion may be performed using a Look Up Table. The output is generated as a stop vs. time waveform. Methods of generating the stop vs. time waveform are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TEKTRONIX, INC.
    Inventor: Daniel G. Baker
  • Patent number: 9721355
    Abstract: An ultrasound imaging system provides for defining a VOI in an ultrasound imaging space. The system defines an initial frame of the VOI in the ultrasound imaging space, receives a selection of at least one reference point at an arbitrary location in the ultrasound imaging space, creates at least one curved surface using at least one element of the initial frame and the at least one reference point, and then creates VOI based on the curved surface in the ultrasound imaging space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SHENZHEN MINDRAY BIO-MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Tian, Bin Yao
  • Patent number: 9721356
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for processing a graphical artifact. In one embodiment, a method includes: receiving, by a processor, a graphical artifact having at least one unknown graphical element; determining, by the processor, graphical features of the unknown graphical element; computing, by the processor, a plurality of similarity scores based on the features of the unknown graphical element and features of a plurality of known graphical elements; and storing data associated with the unknown graphical element with data associated with a known graphical element based on the plurality of similarity scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Jeff vanderZweep, Tim Felke, David Mikulka, Charles Zhao
  • Patent number: 9721357
    Abstract: The present disclosure overcomes the limitations of the prior art by using blurring of edges. For example, a first image may contain an edge and a second image may contain the same edge as the first image. The two images may be captured by imaging systems with blur characteristics that vary differently as a function of object depth. For example, a dual-aperture system may simultaneously capture a faster f-number visible image and a slower f-number infrared image. Depth information may be generated by comparing blurring of the same edge in the two images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Dual Aperture International Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrew Wajs
  • Patent number: 9721358
    Abstract: A method and a system for localizing at least one circular object in a video frame captured by an image capture unit are disclosed. The method includes the steps of: A. performing edge detection to obtain a plurality of image edge points in the video frame; B. extracting a contour set of image contours by linking neighboring edge points; C. generating a plurality of circle samples from the extracted contour set by a structural sampling process; and D. localizing the at least one circular object from the generated circle samples by calculating a respective fitness score for each of the circle samples to measure the supporting evidence of the image edge points on a neighborhood of each of the circle samples, and by choosing the circle sample(s) whose fitness score(s) is/are greater than a threshold value as the circular object(s) found in the video frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignees: Excelsius Medical Co., Ltd., Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Horng-Horng Lin, Kuo-Chih Chiu
  • Patent number: 9721359
    Abstract: Provided is a decompression apparatus and method thereof for decompressing rendering data. The decompression apparatus includes a data parsing unit configured to acquire a control component and a texture component from compressed input data including rendering information of an object, a decompression controller configured to allocate the control component to a control unit, wherein the control unit extracts a control command from the control component, and a logic calculation unit configured to, based on the control command, restore texture data of the object from the texture component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sunmin Kwon, Jeongae Park, Hoyoung Kim, Heejun Shim, Seonghoon Jeong
  • Patent number: 9721360
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing automatic 3D image segmentation and reconstruction of organ structures, which is particularly well-suited for use on cortical surfaces is presented. A brain extraction process removes non-brain image elements, then classifies brain tissue as to type in preparation for a cerebrum segmentation process that determines which portions of the image information belong to specific physiological structures. Ventricle filling is performed on the image data based on information from a ventricle extraction process. A reconstruction process follows in which specific surfaces, such as white matter (WM) and grey matter (GM), are reconstructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ming-Chang Liu, Bi Song
  • Patent number: 9721361
    Abstract: A method for iteratively reconstructing an image is provided. The method includes acquiring, with a detector, computed tomography (CT) imaging information. The method also includes generating, with at least one processor, sinogram information from the CT imaging information. Further, the method includes generating, with the at least one processor, image domain information from the CT imaging information. Also, the method includes updating the image using the sinogram information. The method further includes updating the image using the image domain information. Updating the image using the sinogram information and updating the image using the image domain information are performed separately and alternately in an iterative fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignees: General Electric Company, The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Debashish Pal, Evgeny Drapkin, Jean-Baptiste Thibault, Somesh Srivastava, Ryan Thome, Madison G. McGaffin, Jeffrey A. Fessler, Donghwan Kim
  • Patent number: 9721362
    Abstract: Auto-completion of an input partial line pattern. Upon detecting that the user has input the partial line pattern, the scope of the input partial line pattern is matched against corresponding line patterns from a collection of line pattern representations to form a scoped match set of line pattern representations. For one or more of the line pattern representations in the scoped match set, a visualization of completion options is then provided. For example, the corresponding line pattern representation might be displayed in a distinct portion of the display as compared to the input partial line pattern, or perhaps in the same portion in which case, in which case the remaining portion of the line pattern representation might extend off of the input partial line pattern representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Adam Smolinski, Michael John Ebstyne
  • Patent number: 9721363
    Abstract: An indexed list of vertices is generated to represent a polygon. The indexed list is ordered so as to define one or more boundaries of a polygon, where each element in the indexed list of vertices specifies respective coordinates in an at least two-dimensional space. A description of several component shapes that make up the polygon is generated, where the description includes indices into the indexed list of vertices. The indexed list of vertices and the description of the component shapes are provided to a computing device for rendering the polygon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Brian Williams, Harlan Hile, Hannah Tang, Andrew Miller, David Sunderland
  • Patent number: 9721364
    Abstract: Polygons can be simplified from an original, higher resolution to a simplified, lower resolution such that the simplified versions of the polygons do not introduce errors and also do not render boundaries shared with other polygons invalid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventors: Gerrit Simon Kazmaier, Hinnerk Gildhoff, Lars Volker, Tim Grouisborn
  • Patent number: 9721365
    Abstract: This disclosure generally provides an input device that includes a by-pass path for improving latency between a touch controller and a display driver. In one embodiment, the by-pass path directly connects the touch controller and display driver, thereby by-passing a host processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or graphic processing unit (GPU)) in the input device. By doing so, the input device can detect user input and update a display to reflect the user input faster than if the display driver had to wait until updated display frames are sent from the host processor. For example, the host processor may transmit touch data received from the touch controller to an application that uses the touch data to change the display. In some input devices, this process can take hundreds of milliseconds, which may be enough time for the user to notice a delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: SYNAPTICS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Patrick Worfolk
  • Patent number: 9721366
    Abstract: In an approach to displaying data, one or more computer processors receive a plurality of coordinates of an overlay on a graphical data display, such that the plurality of coordinates indicate a position and a size of the overlay. The one or more computer processors retrieve one or more data points from the graphical data display. The one or more computer processors de-emphasize at least a portion of the one or more retrieved data points. The one or more computer processors display, in the overlay, one or more retrieved data points of the graphical data display that reside within the plurality of coordinates of the overlay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Deanne S. Goard, Anthony E. Martinez, Hersh Sahai
  • Patent number: 9721367
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for editing symbol images can convert characters of various languages or numerals to symbol images, or can output the characters or numerals by analyzing the symbol images. The symbol images may symbolically represent the Korean characters, and at least one of symbolized objects may be arranged in a part of divided spaces by dividing the space so as to separate initial consonants, medial consonants, and final consonants of the character in the predetermined divided spaces for expressing at least one character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Jungha Ryu
  • Patent number: 9721368
    Abstract: A method for eliminating an artifact of a computed tomography image is provided. The method includes eliminating a machine artifact from a cross-sectional computed tomography scans of the brain; setting boundary points positioned on a horizontal axis and a vertical axis in the computed tomography image, from which the machine artifact has been eliminated; resetting a boundary point positioned at a boundary between the skull of the brain and the brain tissue based on the boundary points; detecting a position of a fracture of the brain in the computed tomography image, in which the boundary point has been reset, and overlaying a fracture region with a skull pixel; and eliminating an artifact from the computed tomography image, which has been overlaid with the skull pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Dong-Joo Kim
  • Patent number: 9721369
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can acquire a request for a map of a particular region. A first set of one or more map portions for representing a first portion of the particular region can be identified based on the particular region. The first set can be associated with a first map data source. A second set of one or more map portions for representing a second portion of the particular region can be identified based on the particular region. The second set can be associated with a second map data source. The map of the particular region can be generated based on a combination of the first set and the second set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomasz Zawada, Jason Michael Carreiro, Saurav Mohapatra, Kunal Bhalla, Kuan-Yu Tseng
  • Patent number: 9721370
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium are disclosed for memorizing a configuration sequence comprising: capturing an image of a device to be configured; recording a configuration sequence of physical movements performed by a user when configuring the device to provide a recorded configuration sequence; overlaying the sequence of physical movements with the image of the device to provide an overlaid image of the configuration sequence; and, storing the sequence of physical movements and the overlaid image of the configuration sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: John F. Behnken, Rhonda L. Childress, David B. Kumhyr, Michael J. Spisak
  • Patent number: 9721371
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a first image and a plurality of other images of a planar surface of a specimen. The method also includes identifying first scale-invariant features in the first image. The first scale-invariant features are based on a scale-invariant feature transform of the first image. The method includes storing the first scale-invariant features in a grouping. The method includes, for each respective image of the plurality of other images, identifying scale-invariant features based on a scale-invariant feature transform of the respective image; matching the scale-invariant features to the grouping; based on the matching, determining a planar homography of the respective image with respect to the grouping; and adding the scale-invariant features of the respective image to the grouping. The method also includes stitching the first image and the plurality of other images into a composite image based on the planar homographies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Sam Martin
  • Patent number: 9721372
    Abstract: A computer receives user preferences. The computer receives a document, wherein the document includes an image. The computer determines that the image contains embedded text. The computer determines that the embedded text does not satisfy the received user preferences. The computer modifies the embedded text to satisfy user preferences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lisa Seacat DeLuca, Dana L. Price, Shelbee D. Smith-Eigenbrode
  • Patent number: 9721373
    Abstract: Programs for creating a set of behaviors for lip sync movements and nonverbal communication may include analyzing a character's speaking behavior through the use of acoustic, syntactic, semantic, pragmatic, and rhetorical analyses of the utterance. For example, a non-transitory, tangible, computer-readable storage medium may contain a program of instructions that cause a computer system running the program of instructions to: receive a text specifying words to be spoken by a virtual character; extract metaphoric elements, discourse elements, or both from the text; generate one or more mental state indicators based on the metaphoric elements, the discourse elements, or both; map each of the one or more mental state indicators to a behavior that the virtual character should display with nonverbal movements that convey the mental state indicators; and generate a set of instructions for the nonverbal movements based on the behaviors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
    Inventor: Stacy Marsella
  • Patent number: 9721374
    Abstract: Chart animation control may be provided. Upon receiving a change to a displayed visualization comprising a plurality of data elements, a determination may be made as to whether to animate an update of the visualization according to the change to the displayed visualization. In response to determining to animate the update of the visualization according to the change to the data value, an animation of the update may be constructed and rendered and the updated visualization may be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Fan, Damien Berger, Peter Hufnagel, Bide Hu, Justin Dallal, Monica Poinescu
  • Patent number: 9721375
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for displaying representative images within one or more subpanels of a user interface is disclosed. The method comprises configuring, by a processor unit, an adjacent relationship between a visible subpanel of the one or more subpanels and at least one not-visible subpanel of the one or more subpanels. Next, a second relationship is configured between each of two or more representative images and an associated subpanel of the one or more subpanels, wherein the second relationship defines a location on the associated subpanel where each of the two or more representative images is displayed. Additionally, a notification is received indicating a new orientation for at least one of the one or more subpanels. In response to the new orientation, an in-place rotation animation is generated for the two or more representative images based on the adjacent relationship and the second relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Duelight LLC
    Inventors: William Guie Rivard, Brian J. Kindle, Adam Barry Feder
  • Patent number: 9721376
    Abstract: Fragment merging is performed on a draw call basis. One application is for quad merging. Primitives of the same draw call have many common attributes, such as a graphics state, which facilitates merging of quad fragments. Partially covered quad fragments of the same draw call are considered for possible merging and at least one merge test performed. The merge test may include error tests such as a level of detail error test, interpolated depth, and an interpolation error test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Derek J. Lentz, Sang Oak Woo
  • Patent number: 9721377
    Abstract: Methods of characterizing the topography of a surface of a creped material, devices for characterizing surface topography of a creped material, computer systems for characterizing surface topography of a creped material, and the like, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: KEMIRA OYJ
    Inventors: Jukka-Pekka Raunio, Mikko Makinen, Henry Skoog
  • Patent number: 9721378
    Abstract: A visual display unit creating a three-dimensional volumetric space. The display includes a first screen in a first focal plane, wherein the first screen displays a first image. The display includes a second screen in a second focal plane distinct from the first focal plane, wherein the second screen displays a second image, and wherein the second screen at least partially overlaps the first screen. The display includes a physical object located between the first screen and said second screen, wherein at least one of the first and second images is displayed in response to a placement of the physical object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: PURE DEPTH LIMITED
    Inventors: Gareth Paul Bell, Gabriel Damon Engel
  • Patent number: 9721379
    Abstract: A method includes registering a first coordinate system of a fluoroscopic imaging system and a second coordinate system of a magnetic position tracking system. A three-dimensional (3D) map of an organ of a patient is computed using the magnetic position tracking system. A field-of-view (FOV) of the fluoroscopic imaging system in the second coordinate system is calculated using the registered first and second coordinate systems. Based on the 3D map and the calculated FOV, a two-dimensional (2D) image that simulates a fluoroscopic image that would be generated by the fluoroscopic imaging system is created, and the 2D image that simulates the fluoroscopic image is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd.
    Inventors: Eliahu Zino, Gil Zigelman, Liav Moshe Adi
  • Patent number: 9721380
    Abstract: An environment includes different objects that are each made up of one or more 3-dimensional volumes. These volumes can overlap one another, resulting in situations in which a particular volume that is overlapped is redundant and can be removed from the set of volumes describing the environment. A two-phase approach is applied in determining whether a particular volume is redundant. In the first phase, a candidate list of source volumes is quickly generated with a small amount of computational effort. In the second phase, the source volumes on the candidate list are analyzed to determine whether the particular volume is fully overlapped by one or a combination of the source volumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Michael John Schoenberg, Michael Jason Gourlay
  • Patent number: 9721381
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for discarding pixel samples. The method includes the steps of completing shading operations for a pixel set including one or more pixels to generate per-sample shaded attributes according to a shader program executed by a processing pipeline. Discard information for the pixel set is evaluated and one or more per-sample shaded attributes for at least one pixel in the pixel set are discarded based on the evaluated discard information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Christian Jean Rouet, Manan Maheshkumar Patel, Shirish Gadre, Daniel Paul Wilde
  • Patent number: 9721382
    Abstract: Portable globes may be provided for viewing regions of interest in a Geographical Information System (GIS). A method for providing a portable globe for a GIS may include determining one or more selected regions corresponding to a geographical region of a master globe. The method may further include organizing geospatial data from the master globe based on the selected region and creating the portable globe based on the geospatial data. The portable globe may be smaller in data size than the master globe. The method may include transmitting the portable globe to a local device that may render the selected region at a higher resolution than the remainder of the portable globe in the GIS. A system for providing a portable globe may include a selection module, a fusion module and a transmitter. A system for updating a portable globe may include a packet bundler and a globe cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Manas Ranjan Jagadev, Eli Dylan Lorimer, Bret Peterson, Vijay Raman, Mark Wheeler
  • Patent number: 9721383
    Abstract: Free space machine interface and control can be facilitated by predictive entities useful in interpreting a control object's position and/or motion (including objects having one or more articulating members, i.e., humans and/or animals and/or machines). Predictive entities can be driven using motion information captured using image information or the equivalents. Predictive information can be improved applying techniques for correlating with information from observations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Leap Motion, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin A Horowitz, David S Holz
  • Patent number: 9721384
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for best fitting a subject to a one of a plurality of object variations by capturing images of a user anatomical portion and a reference object from a plurality of angles using a mobile camera; creating a model of the user anatomical portion from the images with dimensions based on dimensions of the reference object; and selecting a best-fit physical object from the plurality of object variations based on the model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: Bao Tran
  • Patent number: 9721385
    Abstract: A method for generating stereoscopic images includes obtaining image data comprising a plurality of sample points. A direction, a color value, and a depth value are associated with each sample point. The directions and depth values are relative to a common origin. A mesh is generated by displacing the sample points from the origin. The sample points are displaced in the associated directions by distances representative of the corresponding depth values. The image data is mapped to the mesh such that the color values associated with the sample points are mapped to the mesh at the corresponding directions. A first image of the mesh is generated from a first perspective, and a second image of the mesh is generated from a second perspective. The first and second images of the mesh may be caused to be displayed to provide an illusion of depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: DreamWorks Animation LLC
    Inventor: Brad Kenneth Herman
  • Patent number: 9721386
    Abstract: Augmented reality environments allow users in their physical environment to interact with virtual objects and information. Augmented reality applications are developed and configured to utilize local as well as cloud resources. Application management allows control over distribution of applications to select groups or all users. An application programming interface allows simplified control and distribution of tasks between local and cloud resources during development and post-development operation. This integration between local and cloud resources along with the control afforded by application management allows rapid development, testing, deployment, and updating of augmented reality applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: William Spencer Worley, III, Jonathan Betts-LaCroix, Edward Dietz Crump
  • Patent number: 9721387
    Abstract: A method implemented in a video playback system is described for incorporating augmented reality (AR) into a video stream. The method comprises determining a target pattern, determining an inner pattern in the target pattern, determining a relationship between the target pattern and the inner pattern, and receiving, by the video playback system, frames of the video stream. For each frame within the frame sequence, binarization is performed according to a predetermined threshold. Based on whether a location of the target pattern can be determined, a location of the inner pattern is determined. Based on the location of the inner pattern on received frames and the determined relationship between the target pattern and the inner pattern, a location of the target pattern is determined. The method further comprises displaying a virtual object with the target pattern on an output device based on the location of the target pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: CYBERLINK CORP.
    Inventor: Chen-Wei Chou
  • Patent number: 9721388
    Abstract: A terminal device retains a character image of an own terminal user and a character image of a second terminal user acquired from an AR database server (or second terminal devices) as a character definition in an AR control unit. The terminal device can acquire the position of the second terminal device and a direction in which a camera unit is oriented. The terminal device of a photographer determines whether the user of the second terminal device which is being searched for is present in the acquired direction by causing image recognition unit to identify a face image of a specific user of the second terminal device. When the specific user of the second terminal device is present, the character image of the specific user of the second terminal device is combined in the vicinity of a face image region of the image obtained by the camera unit and is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Shin Mikuni