Patents Issued in March 20, 2018
  • Patent number: 9922416
    Abstract: A solution including a noncontact electronic measurement device is provided. The measurement device includes one or more imaging devices configured to acquire image data of a surface of an object located in a measurement region relative to the measurement device and one or more projected pattern generators configured to generate divergent pattern(s) of structured light, which impact the surface of the object within a field of view of the imaging device when the object is located in the measurement region. Using image data acquired by the imaging device(s), a computer system can measure a set of attributes of the surface of the object and/or automatically determine whether the measurement device is within the measurement region. An embodiment is configured to be held by a human user during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: International Electronic Machines Corp.
    Inventors: Zahid F. Mian, Ryk E. Spoor, Ronald W. Gamache
  • Patent number: 9922417
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for producing an evolvable tissue model of a patient and, using this model, modelling physical transformations of the tissue (e.g. deformation) of the tissue model by interacting the tissue model with influence models which model interactions with the tissue such as surgical instruments, pressure, swelling, temperature changes etc. The model is produced from a set of input data of the tissue which includes directional information of the tissue. The directional information is used to produce an oriented tissue map. A tissue model is then produced from the oriented tissue map such that the tissue model reflects the directionality of the tissue component. When the tissue model is subjected to an influence that causes tissue deformation over a period of time, the tissue model directionally deforms over the period of time in a manner which reflects a trajectory of the influence interacting with the directionality of the tissue component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: SYNAPTIVE MEDICAL (BARBADOS) INC.
    Inventors: Gal Sela, Simon Alexander, Cameron Piron, Joshua Richmond, Michael Wood, Murugathas Yuwaraj, David Gallop, Wes Hodges, Monroe M. Thomas
  • Patent number: 9922418
    Abstract: An image processing method provides a step of detecting the pedicle region of vertebral arch detects the region having the higher pixel value compared to the periphery thereof is detected by classifying three classes ABC (detection of the pedicle of vertebral arch) of the step S2. Then, in the case of a failure to detect the intervertebral region, e.g., when the intervertebral region is crushed, the boundary, contacting to the cervical vertebra side of the pedicle of vertebral arch detected by the step of classifying three classes ABC (detecting the pedicle of vertebral arch) described above is drawn by classifying ABC three classes (drawing the boundary) of the step S2. Accordingly, even when the intervertebral region is crushed or when the intervertebral region is undetectable, the boundary between the vertebral bodies can be detected accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: SHIMADZU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro Nakaya, Kazuyoshi Nishino
  • Patent number: 9922419
    Abstract: A row of V-shaped grooves is formed in the bottom of each of imaging trays which temporarily hold a dose of drug. After drugs are inserted into the imaging tray, the imaging tray is vibrated to remove the overlap between the drugs corresponding to a dose and to correct the posture of the drugs using a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface of the V-shaped groove. Two cameras are provided so as to face the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface of the V-shaped groove, respectively, and capture the images of the drugs which have stable postures that have been corrected on the V-shaped grooves, in two directions. The first and second images of the drugs captured in two directions are processed to accurately acquire drug information including at least outward appearance information of the drugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Ippei Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9922420
    Abstract: A blood pressure measuring method and system. The method includes: obtaining at least one video that captures a first body area and a second body area of a testee; extracting multiple gray scale values for corresponding images that capture the first body area and multiple gray scale values for corresponding images that capture the second body area; drawing a pulse-wave waveform of the first body area based on the multiple gray scale values of the first body area, and drawing a pulse-wave waveform of the second body area based on the multiple gray scale values of the second body area; determining a pulse-wave propagation time based on the pulse-wave waveform of the first body area and the pulse-wave waveform of the second body area; and obtaining a blood pressure value of the testee based on a corresponding relation between the pulse-wave propagation time and blood pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xin Wang, Xuelin Han, Xiaoli Jin
  • Patent number: 9922421
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and devices for generating novel diffusion ellipsoid maps from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) scan data. One example method includes: (i) generating, from DTI scan data, for each voxel in a plurality of voxels in one or more slabs of a target tissue, a respective diffusion tensor; (ii) generating, for each voxel, eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the respective diffusion tensor and a respective set of diffusion parameters; (iii) partitioning the voxels into two groups, wherein voxels, whose respective set of diffusion parameters is such that each element in the set is smaller than a corresponding element in a set of thresholds, are substantially all in a first group of the two groups; and (iv) providing a graphical representation of a diffusion ellipsoid map of at least one of the one or more slabs, wherein ellipsoids, associated with voxels in the first group, are displayed differently to the other ellipsoids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventor: Hadassa Degani
  • Patent number: 9922422
    Abstract: Mobile platforms are used to capture an area using a variety of sensors (e.g., cameras and laser scanners) while traveling through the area, in order to create a representation (e.g., a navigable set of panoramic images, or a three-dimensional reconstruction). However, such sensors are often precisely calibrated in a controlled setting, and miscalibration during travel (e.g., due to a physical jolt) may result in a corruption of data and/or a recalibration that leaves the platform out of service for an extended duration. Presented herein are techniques for verifying sensor calibration during travel. Such techniques involve the identification of a sensor path for each sensor over time (e.g., a laser scanner path, a camera path, and a location sensor path) and a comparison of the paths, optionally after registration with a static coordinate system, to verify that the continued calibration of the sensors during the mobile operation of the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Arnold Irschara, Gerald Schweighofer, Konrad Karner, Richard Ladstädter, Martin Ponticelli
  • Patent number: 9922423
    Abstract: An image angle variation detection means 81 detects an image angle variation of a imaging device from videos shot by the imaging device based on fixed point information including the position of a fixed point specified by an image angle of the imaging device and the features indicating the characteristics of the fixed point, and a situation determination means 82 determines that the image angle of the imaging device is varied when a change in the image angle variation is stable for a certain period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ryoma Oami
  • Patent number: 9922424
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for determining a centerline of a three-dimensional tubular structure is described. The method includes providing an edge-detected data set of voxels that characterize a boundary of the tubular structure according to a three-dimensional voxel data set for the tubular structure. A gradient field of a distance transformation is computed for the edge-detected dataset. A voxel data set corresponding to a centerline of the tubular structure is computed according to derivative of gradient field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation
    Inventors: Vikash R. Goel, Donald P. Greenberg, Roy K. Greenberg
  • Patent number: 9922425
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of classifying visual elements in a region of a video as either foreground or background. The method classifies each visual element in the region as either foreground or background using a first classifier, and expands spatially at least one of the visual elements classified as foreground to form a spatially expanded area. The method then classifies the visual elements in the spatially expanded area as either foreground or background using a second classifier that is more sensitive to foreground than the first classifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ashley John Partis, Amit Kumar Gupta, David Kenji See
  • Patent number: 9922426
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for reducing latency in transmitting and presenting map user interfaces. In one aspect, a method includes receiving, from a client device, a request for presentation of an interactive map user interface that depicts (i) a region and (ii) data related to an account for sub-regions of the region. One or more servers render a map of the region. The server(s) generate an image file representing an image of the rendered map. A different visual characteristic is assigned to each different sub-region. The server(s) configure a user interface of the client device to present (i) the image with each of the different sub-regions being presented according to the different visual characteristics and (ii) account data related to a sub-region when the client device detects a user interaction with the sub-region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Nikhil Bakshi, Oliver Michael King, Zev Nettleton Youra
  • Patent number: 9922427
    Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) camera system includes a radiation source, a radiation detector, a location sensor system and a processor. The radiation source is configured to generate and emit a radiation that strikes a target object. The radiation detector is configured to detect the radiation reflected from the target object and generate a sample set comprising at least two raw samples detected in succession at different times based on the reflected radiation. The location sensor system is configured to detect movements of the TOF camera during the detection and generate a movement signal having portions thereof uniquely corresponding to each of the raw samples of the sample set based on the movements of the TOF camera, wherein a portion of the movement signal is detected at a same time of generating the corresponding raw sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Markus Dielacher, Josef Prainsack, Martin Flatscher, Michael Mark
  • Patent number: 9922428
    Abstract: A shaker test apparatus is provided along with a method of collecting and processing images, wherein a shaker table is driving the device under test by a vibration controller at a known vibration frequency and period, wherein a device under test obtains a steady-state vibration characteristic of that excitation frequency when mounted on the shaker table. While the device under test is being excited, a trigger signal controller triggers a camera to capture a series of still image frames at a regular sampling frequency that is less than the vibration frequency (under-sampling), and a timer associated with the camera records a timestamp of an image capture time for each image frame. A computer processor uses the timestamps to remap the order of the image frames, shifting each frame's capture time backwards by a specified multiple of vibration periods in order to correctly represent a single vibration period beginning with an earliest captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: CRYSTAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yihao Liu, Hongjian Gao, James Zhuge, Weijie Zhao
  • Patent number: 9922429
    Abstract: The apparati, methods, and computer program products disclosed herein can be used to nondestructively detect undissolved particles, such as glass flakes and/or protein aggregates, in a fluid in a vessel, such as, but not limited to, a fluid that contains a drug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: AMGEN INC.
    Inventors: Graham F. Milne, Erwin Freund, Ryan L. Smith
  • Patent number: 9922430
    Abstract: Optimal resilience to errors in packetized streaming 3-D wireframe animation is achieved by partitioning the stream into layers and applying unequal error correction coding to each layer independently to maintain the same overall bitrate. The unequal error protection scheme for each of the layers combined with error concealment at the receiver achieves graceful degradation of streamed animation at higher packet loss rates than approaches that do not account for subjective parameters such as visual smoothness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
    Inventors: Joern Ostermann, Sokratis Varakliotis
  • Patent number: 9922431
    Abstract: Approaches are described for rendering augmented reality overlays on an interface displaying the active field of view of a camera. The interface can display to a user an image or video, for example, and the overlay can be rendered over, near, or otherwise positioned with respect to any text or other such elements represented in the image. The overlay can have associated therewith at least one function or information, and when an input associated with the overlay is selected, the function can be performed (or caused to be performed) by the portable computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: A9.com, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas R. Gray, Arnab S. Dhua, Yu Lou, Sunil Ramesh
  • Patent number: 9922432
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing convolutional neural network based image synthesis using localized loss functions is disclosed. A first image including desired content and a second image including a desired style are received. The images are analyzed to determine a local loss function. The first and second images are merged using the local loss function to generate an image that includes the desired content presented in the desired style. Similar processes can also be utilized to generate image hybrids and to perform on-model texture synthesis. In a number of embodiments, Condensed Feature Extraction Networks are also generated using a convolutional neural network previously trained to perform image classification, where the Condensed Feature Extraction Networks approximates intermediate neural activations of the convolutional neural network utilized during training.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Artomatix Ltd.
    Inventor: Eric Andrew Risser
  • Patent number: 9922433
    Abstract: A method of forming a probability map is disclosed. According to one embodiment, a method may include: (1) obtaining multiple measures of multiple imaging parameters for every stop of a moving window on an image, wherein two neighboring ones of the stops of the moving window are partially overlapped with each other; (2) obtaining first probabilities of an event for the stops of the moving window by matching the measures of the imaging parameters to a classifier; and (3) obtaining second probabilities of the event for multiple voxels of a probability map based on information associated with the first probabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventors: Moira F. Schieke, Erica Lin
  • Patent number: 9922434
    Abstract: A method for presenting data and device thereof related to the field of information technology are provided, to improve a presenting efficiency for data and reduce operational complexity for a user. The method includes: firstly obtaining data to be presented; then allocating corresponding initialization playing parameters for the data; formatting, after a playing trigger instruction for the data is received, data corresponding to each frame based on the data formatting function, to generate visualization data corresponding to each frame; finally continuously playing the visualization data corresponding to each frame in sequence from the playing start frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Haiyang Zhu, Jiang Li
  • Patent number: 9922435
    Abstract: A display system includes at least a display device. The display device includes a processor configured to execute a process including: identifying a processing period and a waiting period of a first device and a processing period and a waiting period of a second device based on log information of processing in the first device and log information of processing in the second device that performs processing subsequent to the first device; arranging the processing period and the waiting period of the first device identified on a first time axis that indicates changes of the processing period and the waiting period in the first device; calculating a distance between the first time axis and a second time axis; and displaying a graph in which transitions of the processing period and the waiting period are expressed with different band stripes based on the distance calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Takehiko Nishimura, Kazuhiko Sunagawa, Ryota Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 9922436
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to data management. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to visualizing data and/or navigating visualized data. In one aspect, a computer-implemented method for dynamically presenting graphical and textual information in a graphical user interface is configured to: display graphical user interface elements visually representing a data set stored in memory along at least one dimension of a graphical user interface; receive activation signals generated by user input devices and corresponding to at least one dimension of the displayed graphical user interface; and, upon receiving an activation signal, display at least a portion of the data set based on the position at which the activation signal was received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
    Inventors: Philip Iannaccone, Walter Michael Pitio, James Brown
  • Patent number: 9922437
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a process and method running on a computer for creating an augmented image. According to an embodiment, a graphical user interface gathers data that is programmatically analyzed to obtain photographic properties from a first image. Photographic properties are provided to a user for obtaining a second image containing a fiducial mark. The second image is programmatically analyzed to obtain photographic properties. The first image and the second image are programmatically analyzed and processed to produce an augmented image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventors: William S. Baron, Sandra F. Baron
  • Patent number: 9922438
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for switching a real-time image in instant messaging are provided, where the method includes: providing a camera installed in the terminal; receiving a real-time image turn-on instruction inside an instant messaging window indicated on the terminal, and turning on the camera according to the real-time image turn-on instruction; receiving a real-time image acquired by the camera; and switching a background of the instant messaging window to the real-time image, the real-time image being placed behind a text of the instant messaging window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Tencent Technology (Shenzhen) Company Limited
    Inventors: Chongzhe Yang, Maoqing Fu, Yecheng Xian, Mengshi Liu, Guang Yang
  • Patent number: 9922439
    Abstract: A method for of playing an animation image, the method including: obtaining a plurality of images; displaying a first image of the plurality of images; detecting a first event as a trigger to play the animation image for a first object of the first image; and playing the animation image for the first object using the plurality of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pavan Sudheendra, Sarvesh, Yogesh Manav, Adappa M Gourannavar, Rahul Varna, Sumanta Baruah
  • Patent number: 9922440
    Abstract: A moving position correcting section is provided which determines a seeming moving direction of an animation from positional relationships between positions before movement of a plurality of images composing the animation and moving positions of the plurality of images calculated by a moving position calculation section, and if the seeming moving direction disagrees with the moving direction determined by the moving position calculation section, the moving position correcting section corrects the moving positions of the plurality of images in such a manner that the seeming moving direction agrees with the moving direction determined by the moving position calculation section. An image display displays the plurality of images at the moving positions corrected by the moving position correcting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Yokosuka, Kyoichi Masutomi
  • Patent number: 9922441
    Abstract: An image processing device with a configuration enabling generating of images from a new viewpoint by simple signal processing is provided. Input image signals for the right eye, and input image signals for the left eye to be applied to image display are input, and a right image converting unit generates a converted image where the input image signals for the right eye have been subjected to phase change in the right direction or the left direction, in accordance with features of the image. In the same way, a left image converting unit generates a converted image where the input image signals for the left eye have been subjected to phase change in the left direction or the right direction, in accordance with features of the image. The generated image of the right image converting unit and the generated image of the left image converting unit are output as multiple new viewpoint images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC
    Inventors: Seiji Kobayashi, Toshio Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9922442
    Abstract: A graphics processing unit having a shader execution unit for executing a plurality of shader routines in order to perform a predetermined sequence of shader operations. The shader operations include a tessellation operation which receives as inputs tessellation control data and an input list of input data for M input vertices, and generates at least output data for P output vertices. For each output vertex, the controller allocates a tessellation shader routine from the set of shader routines, and the shader execution unit is configured, each time the tessellation shader routine is executed for an associated output vertex: (i) to compute, in dependence on the tessellation control data and the associated output vertex, tessellation coordinate data; and (ii) to compute from the input data for the M input vertices, and the tessellation coordinate data generated in step (i), the output data for the associated output vertex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: ARM Limited
    Inventor: David Robert Shreiner
  • Patent number: 9922443
    Abstract: The disclosure describes systems and methods of selecting colors to points in a digital three-dimensional (3D) model representing a scanned object, based on points and color images associated with the 3D model. Certain embodiments involve selecting from the images a patch for each point in the 3D model, and determining a quality of the patches. The selected patches are analyzed to determine an overall score, representing aggregated quality of the patches and an aggregated smoothness indicating variation between patches selected for neighboring points. In some examples, multiple sets of selected patches are analyzed and scored, and the scores are compared to determine a representative patch set that optimizes the quality and the smoothness. Colors are assigned to the points of the digital model based on the representative set of patches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Duygu Ceylan, Nathan Carr
  • Patent number: 9922444
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a memory configured to store a data structure in which gather rays generated by performing gather ray tracing from a rendering viewpoint are clustered hierarchically, the gather rays including a first gather ray and a second gather ray associated with the first gather ray in the data structure, and a processor configured to merge a photon gathering result associated with the second gather ray with a photon gathering result associated with the first gather ray in response to the photon gathering result associated with the first gather ray not satisfying a first condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Aarhus Universitet
    Inventors: Inwoo Ha, Minsu Ahn, Hyong Euk Lee, Jacob Toft Pedersen, Hachisuka Toshiya
  • Patent number: 9922445
    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 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: PURE DEPTH LIMITED
    Inventors: Gareth Paul Bell, Gabriel Damon Engel
  • Patent number: 9922446
    Abstract: A method for representing virtual information in a view of a real environment is provided that includes: providing a system setup including at least one display device, wherein the system setup is adapted for blending in virtual information on the display device in at least part of the view, determining a position and orientation of a viewing point relative to at least one component of the real environment, providing a geometry model of the real environment, providing at least one item of virtual information and a position of the at least one item of virtual information, determining whether the position of the item of virtual information is inside a 2D or 3D geometrical shape, determining a criterion which is indicative of whether the built-in real object is at least partially visible or non-visible in the view of the real environment, and blending in the at least one item of virtual information on the display device in at least part of the view of the real environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Lejing Wang, Peter Meier, Stefan Misslinger
  • Patent number: 9922447
    Abstract: A technique for 3D registration of three or more 3D models using parallel computing. The technique treats the pairwise 3D registration problem as an atomic sub-problem, and solves in parallel a plurality of pairwise 3D registration. The initial guess for the pairwise 3D registration is calculated based on the, possibly incomplete, information available at the moment the calculation is made. At each point the available pairwise transformations are examined based on current available information. Transformations that are identified as outliers or as inaccurate are marked for repeated pairwise 3D registration when additional information relevant for the calculation of the initial guess becomes available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: MANTIS VISION LTD.
    Inventors: Vadim Kosoy, Dani Daniel, Yotam Livny
  • Patent number: 9922448
    Abstract: Systems and methods for navigating a three-dimensional (3D) media guidance application are provided. A first selectable media guidance object may be displayed on a screen that when viewed through the stereoscopic optical device may appear in a first plane. A second selectable media guidance object may be displayed on the screen that when viewed through the stereoscopic optical device may appear in a second plane. The first and second planes may be perceived to intersect an axis normal to the display in different locations. A user selection of at least one of the first and second selectable media guidance objects may be received. An action of moving a cursor in 3D space or selecting one of the selectable media guidance objects displayed in the 3D space may be performed based on the user selection. The user selection may be performed with an input device having as accelerometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: ROVI Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter Richard Klappert, Thomas Steven Woods, Henry C. Chilvers
  • Patent number: 9922449
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for dynamic polygon or primitive sorting for improved culling. For example, one embodiment of an apparatus comprises: a rasterization unit to receive a plurality of polygons to be rasterized in an original ordering; and depth test evaluation logic to determine whether a current polygon is fully visible, partially visible or occluded; and reordering logic to incrementally alter the original ordering by swapping each occluded polygon with another polygon positioned relatively lower in the original ordering and by swapping each fully visible polygon with another polygon positioned relatively higher in the original ordering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jim K. Nilsson, Tomas G. Akenine-Moller, Magnus Andersson
  • Patent number: 9922450
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for generating 3-dimensional computer graphic images. The image is first sub-divided into a plurality of rectangular areas. A display list memory is loaded with object data for each rectangular area. The image and shading data for each picture element of each rectangular area are derived from the object data in the image synthesis processor and a texturizing and shading processor. A depth range generator derives a depth range for each rectangular area from the object data as the imaging and shading data is derived. This is compared with the depth of each new object to be provided to the image synthesis processor and the object may be prevented from being provided to the image synthesis processor independence on the result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Imagination Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Stephen Morphet
  • Patent number: 9922451
    Abstract: A three-dimensional image processing apparatus includes: an obtainment unit that obtains range image data from each of a plurality of range image generation devices and obtains visible light image data from each of a plurality of visible light image generation devices; a model generation unit that generates three-dimensional model data expressing a target contained in a scene based on a plurality of pieces of the range image data; a setting unit that sets a point of view for the scene; and a rendering unit that selects one of the pieces of the visible light image data in accordance with the set point of view and renders a region corresponding to the surface of the target based on the selected visible light image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ivo Moravec, Michael Joseph Mannion
  • Patent number: 9922452
    Abstract: A method of adjusting a brightness of an image includes matching an object model to an object based on one or more feature points of the object extracted from an input image including the object; mapping a surface normal map in a two-dimensional (2D) image form to the input image based on the matched object model; and generating shadow information for the input image based on the mapped surface normal map and a virtual light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minjung Son, Heesae Lee, Donghoon Sagong, KeeChang Lee, Hyong Euk Lee
  • Patent number: 9922453
    Abstract: A system and method for generating a shrink wrap around a model. The method includes detecting non-manifold edges in an octree generated shrink wrap by counting a number of faces adjacent to each edge, removing the non-manifold edges by cloning the edges or vertices shared by the non-manifold edge, and generating a first projection for the wrapper by moving each wrapper vertex towards a nearest location on the model. The method includes determining a set of wrapper vertices for reprojection based on the computation of a projection angle and a rotational angle and generating a second projection for the set the wrapper vertices using a seed-based closest point method or the center of the adjacent wrapper vertices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: MSC.Software Corporation
    Inventors: Kunaseelan Kanthasamy, Xiangrong Li
  • Patent number: 9922454
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for designing a dental appliance for a facial skeleton including dental crowns and the roots corresponding thereto, said method including the following steps: producing a volumetric image of the facial skeleton, in the form an initial digital file, using medical imaging; modifying said volumetric image by means of the computer processing of said initial digital file, and obtaining a modified digital file, said modification including at least one tooth movement with a view to implementing a desired correction of the dentition; designing said dental appliance using said initial digital file and said modified digital file, and producing a file capable of being used by digitally controlled machines capable of manufacturing a dental appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: MODJAW
    Inventor: Maxime Jaisson
  • Patent number: 9922455
    Abstract: A room planning system, generally at 10, comprises a host site 12 and a local site 14, two-way communication between which is represented by arrows A. On the host site is a host processor 16, which is connected to a database 18. On the local site is a local processor 20 that is connected to user input apparatus, in the form of a keyboard 24 and mouse 26, and to a graphical user interface, in the form of a display 28. The database 18 contains data of a plurality of types of product that are available for the design of a room space. In the example of a kitchen room space, the database contains product details of items such as room fixtures, floor units, wall units, worktops, handles, cornices, plinths, pelmets, sinks, taps, appliances and accessories. The host processor 16 is in communication with one or more local processors 20 via a communications network represented by arrows A, which could be a wide area network, such as the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: The West Retail Group Limited
    Inventor: Mark Pullan
  • Patent number: 9922456
    Abstract: Aspects of the technology include method of selecting an object from a videogame for 3D printing. The method involves periodically rendering a virtual environment of a videogame for display at a succession of points in time. Information is periodically recorded that enables visual reconstruction of at least part of the virtual environment at a succession of points in time. A predetermined set of values is periodically recorded responsive to the state of the rendered virtual environment at a succession of points in time. The predetermined set of values enables a model of a selected part of the rendered virtual environment to be generated that is configured for 3D printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Richard James Forster, Andrew James Bigos, Joseph Charles Boulter, Neil Jonathan Brown, Masakazu Suzuoki, Masakazu Hayashi, Norihiro Nagai
  • Patent number: 9922457
    Abstract: A system and method for performing tessellation of three-dimensional surface patches performs some tessellation operations using programmable processing units and other tessellation operations using fixed function units with limited precision. (u,v) parameter coordinates for each vertex are computed using fixed function units to offload programmable processing engines. The (u,v) computation is a symmetric operation and is based on integer coordinates of the vertex, tessellation level of detail values, and a spacing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: NVIDIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Justin S. Legakis, Emmett M. Kilgariff, Michael C. Shebanow
  • Patent number: 9922458
    Abstract: A method for generating a polycube segmentation of an input object comprises: providing an input mesh of the object comprising a plurality of surface faces; generating an initial polycube labeling for the faces by assigning, to each face, a label which is one of six directions (±X,±Y,±Z) aligned with a set of Cartesian axes, the initial polycube labeling defining a plurality of charts, and generating the initial polycube labeling comprising effecting a tradeoff between competing objectives of: making the initial polycube labeling relatively compact; and making the initial polycube labeling relatively faithful to the input object. The method further comprises generating an updated polycube segmentation by changing the label assigned to each of one or more surface faces and thereby modifying one or more of the charts to provide the charts with monotonic boundaries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Alla Sheffer, Nicholas Vining, James Gregson, Marco Livesu
  • Patent number: 9922459
    Abstract: A dental CAD/CAM application generates a 3D model representing a patient's dental anatomy. This model may be a 3D surface. The surface may also be textured with either a monochrome or color image superimposed. The display routine that is used to display the 3D model is enhanced to adjust the contrast in the region of a displayed mouse pointer (or other input device) as a user explores the display image. When this feature is activated and the mouse pointer positioned, preferably the texturing on the 3D model is recomputed in that local area and redisplayed showing greater contrast and detail. Preferably, the contrast is increased from a center to an edge of the area of contrast. Having the texturing of the model being improved and highlighted around the margin is desirable, as it allows the user to see more easily where the margin is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: D4D Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Justin Graham, Diego Escala, Mark S. Quadling
  • Patent number: 9922460
    Abstract: A welding-type system includes a helmet having a first image capture device configured to capture a first set of images of a work area from a first perspective and a second image capture device configured to capture a second set of images of the work area from a second perspective. The helmet also includes an electronic display configured to display the first and second sets of images substantially simultaneously to cause a stereoscopic appearance of the work area via the electronic display. Moreover, the helmet includes an audible command translation unit configured to receive audible commands configured to adjust operation of a power supply configured to supply power for the welding-type system. Furthermore, the welding-type system includes a processing system communicatively coupled to the audible command translation unit and configured to adjust at least one parameter of the power supply based at least in part on the received audible commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Marc Lee Denis
  • Patent number: 9922461
    Abstract: A reality augmenting method, a client device and a server are provided. The reality augmenting method includes: obtaining information related to an object to be identified, in which the information includes image information of the object; sending the information to a server, receiving augmented information of the object and display position information of the augmented information returned from the server according to the information; and displaying the augmented information and the image information simultaneously according to the display position information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Baidu Online Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chunyong Yang, Zhouzhou He, Zhengchao Fu, Xin Sui
  • Patent number: 9922462
    Abstract: An augmented reality display system comprises a passable world model data comprises a set of map points corresponding to one or more objects of the real world. The augmented reality system also comprises a processor to communicate with one or more individual augmented reality display systems to pass a portion of the passable world model data to the one or more individual augmented reality display systems, wherein the piece of the passable world model data is passed based at least in part on respective locations corresponding to the one or more individual augmented reality display systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: MAGIC LEAP, INC.
    Inventor: Samuel A. Miller
  • Patent number: 9922463
    Abstract: The techniques describe herein use sensor(s) to scan a real-world environment and obtain data associated with geometry of the real-world environment that affects how energy propagates (e.g., locations of spatial objects in a room). The sensor(s) also detect energy (e.g., sound) in the real-world environment, from which a location of a source of the energy can be determined. The techniques combine the geometry data and the energy data to determine how the detected energy propagates from the location of the source through the real-world environment. The techniques can then cause a representation of the propagating energy to be displayed, to a user, as virtual content via a mixed reality device. Accordingly, a user is able to see energy that is otherwise invisible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Jaron Lanier, Kishore Rathinavel, Nikunj Raghuvanshi
  • Patent number: 9922464
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein include an augmented reality (AR) optical system, and associated method and computer program product, defining a field of view relative to an optical reference point. The optical system comprises an imagery display configured to display images using a received first display signal, and a beam-splitter disposed within the field of view and configured to cause the displayed images to appear in a first focal plane within the field of view. The optical system further comprises an occluding display disposed within the field of view and configured to display, based on the first display signal, occluding images in a second focal plane nearer to the beam-splitter than the first focal plane, thereby reducing environmental light at the optical reference point for at least a portion of the displayed images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Haseltine, Quinn Yorklun Jen Smithwick
  • Patent number: 9922465
    Abstract: A perceived speed of motion associated with a user may be changed by determining a speed and a direction of the motion associated with the user within a reference frame. Augmented reality content may be determined for presentation on a display. A direction and a speed of motion associated with the augmented reality content within the reference frame may be determined. The direction of motion associated with the augmented reality content may oppose the direction of motion associated with the user. The speed of motion associated with the augmented reality content may increase as the speed of motion associated with the user increases. The augmented reality content may be presented such that the augmented reality content appears to move toward and past a position associated with the user at the perceived speed that is faster than the speed of motion associated with the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Goslin