Surface Texture Or Roughness Measuring Patents (Class 382/108)
  • Publication number: 20140118397
    Abstract: A planar surface within a physical environment is detected enabling presentation of a graphical user interface overlaying the planar surface. Detection of planar surfaces may be performed, in one example, by obtaining a collection of three-dimensional surface points of a physical environment imaged via an optical sensor subsystem. A plurality of polygon sets of points are sampled within the collection. Each polygon set of points includes three or more localized points of the collection that defines a polygon. Each polygon is classified into one or more groups of polygons having a shared planar characteristic with each other polygon of that group. One or more planar surfaces within the collection are identified such that each planar surface is at least partially defined by a group of polygons containing at least a threshold number of polygons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Inventors: Kyungsuk David Lee, Alexandru Balan, Jeffrey N. Margolis
  • Patent number: 8712144
    Abstract: A system and method for creating 3-dimensional agricultural field scene maps are disclosed comprising producing a pair of images using a stereo camera and creating a disparity images based on the pair of images, the disparity image being a 3-dimensional representation of the stereo images. Coordinate arrays can be produced from the disparity image and the coordinate arrays can be used to render a 3-dimensional local map of the agricultural field scene. Global maps can also be made by using geographic location information associated with various local maps to fuse together multiple local maps into a 3-dimensional global representation of the field scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignees: Deere & Company, University of Illinois Grant and Contrect Administration
    Inventors: Francisco Rovira Mas, Qin Zhang, John Franklin Reid
  • Publication number: 20140112548
    Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed for performing image inpainting. One embodiment is a method for editing a digital image in an image editing device. The method comprises obtaining a restoration region in the digital image and determining texture information corresponding to the restoration region. Based on the texture information, a texture strength map is generated corresponding to the restoration region. Based on the texture strength map, an inpainting operation is applied to pixels in the restoration region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: CYBERLINK CORP.
    Inventors: Po-Yu Huang, Chia-Chen Kuo, Ho-Chao Huang
  • Patent number: 8705804
    Abstract: A method of interpreting specific dipping surfaces in earth formations, namely, fracture and fault planes from borehole images. The method is applicable to borehole images obtained from any borehole imaging tool, regardless of tool physics or acquisition type. The interpretation method provides for detailed description of feature s in order to provide a robust framework for subsequent interpretation work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Fronterra Integrated Geosciences, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew R. Duncan, Jens Klaus Hustedt, Hermann Josef Homann, Jarret Borell, Ramiro Gabriel Lopez
  • Patent number: 8670592
    Abstract: A method for detecting a clear path of travel for a vehicle by segmenting an image generated by a camera device located upon the vehicle includes monitoring the image, analyzing the image with a plurality of analysis methods to segment a region of the image that cannot represent the clear path of travel from a region of the image that can represent the clear path of travel, defining the clear path of travel based upon the analyzing, and utilizing the clear path of travel to navigate the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventor: Wende Zhang
  • Publication number: 20140055600
    Abstract: A method for in-line cosmetic inspection of at least a portion of a surface of a product includes identifying if at least one blemish exists on the portion of the surface, disturbing the portion of the surface based on the identifying, and determining if the at least one blemish is immobile based on the disturbing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Brett C. ONG, Daniel O. Karraker, Joseph C. Rubin
  • Patent number: 8659668
    Abstract: A method is described comprising: applying a random pattern to specified regions of an object; tracking the movement of the random pattern during a motion capture session; and generating motion data representing the movement of the object using the tracked movement of the random pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Rearden, LLC
    Inventors: Tim S. Cotter, Stephen G. Perlman, John Speck, Roger Van der Laan, Kenneth A. Pearce, Greg LaSalle
  • Patent number: 8649567
    Abstract: In various embodiments, old flood maps may be compared to new flood maps to determine which areas of the flood map have changed. These changed areas may be correlated against geographic area descriptions that are within changed areas of the flood map. The changed areas may also be analyzed to determine whether each area has had a change in status (e.g., from a high risk flood zone to a non-high risk flood zone or vice versa) or a change in zone within a status (e.g., from one flood zone to another flood zone). The information on type of change (or no change) may be used to populate a database that includes geographic area description identifiers. In some embodiments, detection of certain types of changes may initiate a manual comparison of the old and new flood maps to verify the change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Corelogic Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: David R. Maltby, II
  • Patent number: 8620033
    Abstract: A surface measurement method includes inspecting a plurality of samples of a first irregular workpiece surface in two dimensions, determining, based on the inspections of the samples, a total number of surface peaks on each of the plurality of samples, and deriving a control limit from a statistical variation of the total number of surface peaks on each of the samples. The control limit specifies an out-of-tolerance condition for the total number of surface peaks on a second irregular workpiece surface. The method further includes inspecting a portion of the second irregular workpiece surface in two dimensions, determining, based on the inspection of the portion of the second irregular workpiece surface, a total number of surface peaks on the portion, and comparing the total number of surface peaks on the portion to the control limit to determine whether the second irregular workpiece surface is in the out-of-tolerance condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Wheelabrator Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Bitzel, Jr., Johnathan Jones
  • Publication number: 20130336540
    Abstract: To achieve space correlation of pixel decomposition results and reduce noise problem caused by isolation, there is provided a decomposition apparatus and method for refining composition of mixed pixels in remote sensing images, including: a preprocessing step for temporarily determining the provability value of the composition ratio of the different land cover types of each pixel in the image, based on a received remote sensing image and spectral information, to obtain first material composition information; and a neighborhood correlation calculation step for analyzing the correlation between a main pixel and the neighboring areas by using the first material composition information of each of the pixels present in the neighboring areas within a predetermined range in which the pixels are adjacent to each other, and optimizing the first material composition information of the main pixel by the result of the correlation analysis, to obtain second material composition information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Dai ZHANG, Xue ZHANG
  • Patent number: 8605333
    Abstract: Apparatus for depositing a texture on a receiver includes a data source that provides multilevel input tint data values. A lossy compressor produces compressed multilevel tint data values from the multilevel input tint data values. A decompressor produces multilevel decompressed tint data values from the compressed multilevel tint data values. A texture memory receives those values from the decompressor and provides corresponding multilevel texture pixel data values. A print engine deposits at each of a plurality of pixel sites on the receiver an amount of texture-forming material corresponding to the respective multilevel texture pixel data value. A loader loads into the texture memory a texture set including multilevel texture pixel data values for each of a plurality of textures, and each texture in the texture set corresponds to a respective selected range of multilevel decompressed tint data value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Chung-Hui Kuo, Hwai-Tzuu Tai, John T Hartman
  • Patent number: 8600147
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for measuring full field deformation characteristics of a deformable body. The method includes determining optical setup design parameters for measuring displacement and strain fields, and generating and applying a dot pattern on a planar side of a deformable body. A sequence of images of the dot pattern is acquired before and after deformation of the body. Irregular objects are eliminated from the images based on dot light intensity threshold and the object area or another geometrical cutoff criterion. The characteristic points of the dots are determined, and the characteristic points are matched between two or more of the sequential images. The displacement vector of the characteristic points is found, and mesh free or other techniques are used to estimate the full field displacement based on the displacement vector of the characteristic points. Strain tensor or other displacement-derived quantities can also be estimated using mesh-free or other analysis techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secreatary of the Navy
    Inventors: Athanasions Iliopoulos, John G. Michopoulos, Nikos Andrianopoulos
  • Publication number: 20130308830
    Abstract: A computationally efficient image segmentation method is provided that processes a grayscale digital image to more clearly show textures in the underlying object shown in the digital image. A grayscale digital image is converted to an intensity matrix based on the brightness of the pixels in the image, where each matrix element represents a pixel in the digital image and has a value corresponding to the intensity, i.e., the brightness, of that pixel. The value of each matrix element is compared to the value of its nearest neighbor matrix element, and the pixel represented by the matrix element is categorized as being “dark” or “bright” based on its value, and is categorized as being “smooth” or “rough” based on the values of the nearest neighbor matrix elements. As each pixel is categorized, it is assigned a shading level corresponding to the brightness/texture matrix element value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as epresented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Frank W. Bentrem
  • Patent number: 8582824
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention determine the surface profile of certain classes of work surface. More specifically, embodiments of the invention measure the three-dimensional locus of points that define the “virtual” continuous surface fitted to the ends of the walls of a cellular core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Twin Coast Metrology
    Inventor: Jason Remillard
  • Patent number: 8577130
    Abstract: Described herein is a technology for facilitating deformable model-based segmentation of image data. In one implementation, the technology includes receiving training image data (202) and automatically constructing a hierarchical structure (204) based on the training image data. At least one spatially adaptive boundary detector is learned based on a node of the hierarchical structure (206).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Medical Solutions USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Maneesh Dewan, Yiqiang Zhan, Xiang Sean Zhou, Zhao Yi
  • Publication number: 20130287263
    Abstract: The present invention relates to anti-counterfeiting field, and more particularly, to an anti-counterfeiting method, device and system based on textures of an object to be tested. The method includes: providing a light source based on a pre-determined anti-counterfeiting test model, projecting light emitted by the light source on a pre-determined test area, obtaining a pre-determined number of pictures of the pre-determined test area by means of a pre-determined optical sensor, acquiring texture characteristics of the pre-determined test area from the pictures, computing similarity between the texture characteristics and pre-stored texture characteristics and outputting a test result based on the similarity. The present invention implements anti-counterfeiting function by using the texture characteristics of the object itself and improves the anti-counterfeiting level greatly without increasing complexity of the production of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Kaiyan WEI, Lanping YUAN, Chun QIAO
  • Patent number: 8571267
    Abstract: A method for characterizing a fibrous material having a plurality of fibers is provided. The method includes accessing an image of the fibrous material with the plurality of fibers and identifying each of the plurality of fibers based upon a magnitude and a direction of an intensity gradient of the image. The method also includes tracking each of the identified fibers based upon at least one of a diameter of the fiber, a fiber alignment angle and a vector orientation angle of the fiber and estimating a plurality of structural parameters for each of the tracked fibers of the fibrous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
    Inventors: Dhirendra S. Katti, Anupam Pal, Shaunak G. Pandya
  • Patent number: 8559678
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes capturing an image of a piece of a printed circuit board (PCB) that includes at least one inner layer having a metal foil portion. The piece of the PCB includes a cross-section of the inner layer having the metal foil portion. The method also includes determining a surface roughness of the metal foil portion, wherein determining the surface roughness of the metal foil portion includes processing the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott T. Hinaga, Soumya De, Davie Senk
  • Patent number: 8532340
    Abstract: Camera-based texture extraction in Augmented Reality (AR) systems is enhanced by manipulating projected patterns. One or more fine line patterns are projected onto a textured surface, a Moiré interference pattern measured, and different properties of the projected pattern(s) adjusted until the Moiré interference pattern measurements indicate that a similar texture pattern to that of the three dimensional target is being projected. Thereby, the target texture may be more closely matched even as sub-pixel resolutions, variable lighting conditions, and/or complicated geometries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development, LLC
    Inventor: Ezekiel Kruglick
  • Patent number: 8527115
    Abstract: An airborne reconnaissance system comprising: (1) Gimbals having at least two degrees of freedom; (2) At least one array of light sensors positioned on the gimbals, for being directed by the same within at least two degrees of freedom; (3) Map storage means for storing at least one Digital Elevation Map of an area of interest, divided into portions; (4) Inertial Navigation System for real-time providing to a gimbals control unit navigation and orientation data of the aircraft with respect to a predefined global axes system; (5) Portion selection unit for selecting, one at a time, another area portion from the area of interest; and (6) servo means for directing the gimbals. The system uses data from the inertial navigation system and from the digital elevation map for real-time calculating direction to selected area portions, and for maintaining the direction during integration of light from the terrain, and for producing corresponding images of area portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Rafael Armament Development Authority Ltd.
    Inventors: Israel Greenfeld, Zvi Yavin, Bernd Uhl
  • Patent number: 8526754
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a digital image sensor for capturing an image and may have storage and processing circuitry for processing the image to produce a corresponding enhanced depth-of-field image. Multiple image areas, within a given image may be processed. As each image area is processed, a signal-to-noise ratio may be computed. A kernel parameter characteristic curve may be used to select values to be used for kernel parameters for each image area based on the computed signal-to-noise ratio for that image area. Kernels may be generated for each image area and the generated kernels may be convolved with their respective image areas to modify the image areas. This allows each image area to be selectively sharpened or smoothed based on its signal-to-noise ratio. Image areas with low and high signal-to-noise ratios may be sharpened less those with moderate signal-to-noise ratios to enhance depth of field in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Keelan, Dan Lelescu
  • Publication number: 20130208951
    Abstract: The identification and quantification of microtextured regions in orientation datasets is provided through the use of microstructure informatics based on n-point correlation functions, dimensionality reduction techniques, and a computer algebra system. Orientation information is extracted for materials and processing is performed on the orientation information along with other ancillary data that accompanies each piece of orientation information and a hybrid descriptor of orientation is formed. Representative descriptors are identified such that regions of microtexture are classified. This classification is mapped back onto the real space of the sample and a local clustering is done to identify continuous regions of microtexture. These labeled continuous regions of microtexture then provide a method for segmentation of the orientation data into their respective macrozones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: MRL MATERIALS RESOURCES LLC
    Inventor: MRL MATERIALS RESOURCES LLC
  • Publication number: 20130201324
    Abstract: A method for idling vehicle detection comprises shining a light source on an exterior surface of a vehicle with an illumination module, collecting light reflected from the exterior surface of the vehicle with a capture module, and processing the collected light reflected from the exterior surface of the vehicle surface with a processing module wherein the processing model determines if the vehicle's engine is running or if the vehicle's engine is not running.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: George Cunha Cardoso, Edgar A. Bernal, Graham Pennington
  • Publication number: 20130188841
    Abstract: Image data obtained from an image sampling of a physical surface is integrated with position data obtained from a three-dimensional surface sampling of the same physical surface by combining data from the images with the measured surface points from the surface sampling to create additional “implied” surface points between the measured surface points. Thus, the originally obtained point cloud of measured surface points is densified by adding the implied surface points. Moreover, the image data can be used to apply colors to both the implied data points and the measured data points, resulting in a colored three-dimensional representation of the physical surface that is of higher resolution than a representation obtained from only the measured surface points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventor: Richard James Pollock
  • Patent number: 8483444
    Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting and measuring an object to be measured includes: a distance measurement device having a light projector that projects a two-dimensional optical pattern onto a measurement target of the measurement object, imaging devices disposed in a stereoscopic arrangement that image the measurement object, and a driving device that rotates a posture of at least one of the imaging devices to control a parallax angle between the imaging devices; a working distance control device that controls the driving device and adjusts a position at which optical axes of the imaging devices intersect; and a distance calculation device having a correspondence position calculation device that determines a correspondence position at which the same region is imaged among images of the imaging devices, and a distance calculation devices that calculates a distance to the measurement target of the measurement object based on a calculation result of the calculation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tetsuro Aikawa, Yoshinori Satoh, Tatsuya Oodake, Naruhiko Mukai, Hisashi Hozumi, Yasuhiro Yuguchi
  • Patent number: 8482736
    Abstract: A method of detecting the condition of a turf grass is described. According to one aspect of the invention, the method comprises steps of attaching an active sensor to a mower; traversing a section of turf grass; and processing the output of the sensor. A device for detecting the condition of turf grass is also disclosed. The device comprises an array of illuminating devices generating a pattern of illuminating light; a detecting device receiving a pattern of reflected light which is coincident with the pattern of illuminating light; a detecting device adapted to detect stray light from the array of illuminating devices; and a feedback loop controlling the array of illuminating devices. A system employing the device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventors: David Franzen, John Rada, Kevin Ediger, Greg Biggs, Jonathan M. Welles, Tanvir Demetriades-Shah
  • Patent number: 8478073
    Abstract: A method for determining a position of an area of an object within the complete object, wherein the image of the area of the object is contained within a field of view of a microscope. The method comprises acquiring high magnification image data representing an image of the field of view of the microscope, typically from a digital camera attached to the microscope; processing the high magnification image data to reduce the resolution thereof; comparing the processed high magnification image data with portions of the low magnification image data, and determining said position based on the results of said comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventor: John R. Maddison
  • Patent number: 8462990
    Abstract: The IR camera (10) takes an IR thermal image of a surface of the structure (40). In the IR thermal image, temperature gradient is superposed besides temperature difference between non-defective and defective regions of the structure. The image processing unit (21) of the analysis unit (20) produces an image indicating distribution of a temperature variation other than a temperature gradient by extracting the distribution of the temperature variation from the IR thermal image. The image display unit (30) displays the image produced by the image processing unit (21). Since the distribution of the temperature variation other than the temperature gradient is extracted from the IR thermal image, a temperature difference between defective and non-defective regions in the structure (40) can be clearly displayed. Therefore, even if there exists a temperature gradient on the structure surface, the defect location in the structure can be easily determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: West Nippon Expressway Engineering Shikoku Company Limited
    Inventors: Yukio Akashi, Kazuaki Hashimoto, Shogo Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8458329
    Abstract: A user interface (UI) is accessible on a display to depict and control a plurality of smart racks in a data center is disclosed. The UI includes first, second and third graphical displays. The first graphical display depicts smart racks in the data center so as to mimic a physical arrangement of the smart racks. The second graphical display depicts a plurality of blade hosts in a smart rack in the plurality of smart racks, so as to mimic a physical arrangement of the plurality of blade hosts. The first and second graphical display may include visual indicators to depict error and warning conditions. The third graphical display depicts blade information about a blade host in the plurality of blade hosts. The blade information includes system information, a list of virtual machines hosted on the blade host, and a physical location of the blade host in the data center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: VMware, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Trevor Kolin, Eric Marshall Rider
  • Publication number: 20130122265
    Abstract: According to the invention, an image of the end surface Z, which is imaged by a laser microscope 14, is processed with white and black binarization to identify a recess present in the end surface and a mirror surface of the end surface as a white image and a black image, respectively, and then the properties and state of the end surface of the glass substrate are evaluated on the basis of a ratio of an area of the white image with respect to an area of the black image. According to this evaluation method, compared to an evaluation method in which reliability of a degree of precision greatly depends on the size of the recess that is present in the end surface Z, the properties and state of the end surface Z of the glass substrate G may be evaluated in a relatively accurate manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
  • Publication number: 20130108118
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes capturing an image of a piece of a printed circuit board (PCB) that includes at least one inner layer having a metal foil portion. The piece of the PCB includes a cross-section of the inner layer having the metal foil portion. The method also includes determining a surface roughness of the metal foil portion, wherein determining the surface roughness of the metal foil portion includes processing the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott T. Hinaga, Soumya De, David Senk
  • Patent number: 8433102
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a surface roughness inspection system enabling suitable inspection even when the surface of the object being inspected is curved. [Means for Solution] A system having an imaging unit 20 having a line sensor 22 and scanning the surface of an object being inspected 101 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of extension of the line sensor 22 and outputting a density signal for each pixel from the line sensor 22 and a processing unit 50 processing the density signal from the line sensor 22 of the imaging unit 20, the processing unit 50 having a means for acquiring a pixel density value based on a density signal from the line sensor 22 (S2) and a density state generating means for generating a density state information Pf showing the density state in the scan direction of the object surface based on all of the pixel density values acquired for the object surface 101 being inspected (S7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Shibaura Mechatronics Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Hayashi, Hideki Mori
  • Publication number: 20130101179
    Abstract: A method for identifying the connectivity of texture types represented in a digital image comprising pixels, each pixel having a texture value which is representative of texture at a respective position, the method comprising: partitioning the texture values into local neighbourhoods of texture values; determining a directionality for each neighbourhood; using the directionality of the neighbourhoods to determine their nearest neighbourhood or neighbourhoods; connecting the neighbourhoods with their nearest neighbourhood or neighbourhoods; and determining the connectivity of the texture types of the digital image based on the connections formed between neighbourhoods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2010
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Reyer Zwiggelaar, Harry Strange
  • Patent number: 8422743
    Abstract: The present invention provides a surface-reading apparatus that includes a subject-flexing mechanism and a surface-reading component. The subject-flexing mechanism causes a subject to flex in one of a convex form and a concave form. The surface-reading component reads a characteristic of a surface condition of the subject that has been flexed by the subject-flexing mechanism. The surface-reading component can includes an optical reading component that optically reads the characteristic of the surface condition of the subject. The optical reading component may be a reflected light-reading component that reads the characteristic of the surface condition of the subject with reflected light or may be a transmitted light-reading component that reads the characteristic of the surface condition of the subject with transmitted light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Shimizu, Tetsuya Kimura, Kensuke Ito
  • Patent number: 8411327
    Abstract: There is provided a data processing device that includes an obtaining unit that obtains a first image data set, a second image data set generated by reading an image formed using the first image data set, and a property data set indicating the properties of a recording medium on which the image is to be reproduced. The data processing device also includes a specifying unit that determines a threshold for a density difference between the first image data set and the second image data set, wherein the threshold depends on the property data set. The specifying unit also determines an error area where the density difference between images expressed by the first and second image data sets is equal to or greater than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigekazu Yamagishi, Hirofumi Ishii, Tohru Yamano, Yosuke Takebe, Hiroshi Yoshihara
  • Patent number: 8401271
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for evaluating and sorting seeds based on characteristics of the seeds. One system includes an imaging and analysis subsystem that collects image data from the seeds and analyzes the collected image data for characteristics of the seeds. This subsystem can include an imaging theater having mirrors that reflect image data from the seeds to an imaging device for collection. The system can also include an off-loading and sorting subsystem configured to sort the seeds based on their characteristics. And, one method includes illuminating the seeds and collecting image data from the seeds for determining their characteristics. The image data can be collected from at least three portions of the seeds at each of a plurality of sequentially changing spectral wavelengths. In addition (or alternatively), the image data can be collected from top and bottom portions of the seeds using a single imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Monsanto Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kevin L. Deppermann, James Crain, Sam R. Eathington, Mike Graham, Steven H. Modiano
  • Patent number: 8396255
    Abstract: A computer arrangement is disclosed, including a processor that can communicate with a memory. The memory stores a computer program that can be run by the processor, and stores a set of laser scan samples including a sub-set of laser scan samples relating to a façade of a building and stores location data as to each laser scan sample. The memory also stores a picture of the same façade including location data as to pixels of the picture. The picture includes data as to a wall of the façade and data as to texture elements in the wall. In at least one embodiment, the processor automatically identifies the wall and the texture elements in the picture while using the laser scan samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Tomtom Global Content B.V.
    Inventors: Marcin Michal Kmiecik, Rafal Jan Gliszczynski
  • Patent number: 8391561
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tension monitoring system comprising: —at least one camera for acquiring at least one image of at least one pattern located on an object of interest, wherein the pattern comprises a plurality of points and where each point is arranged on the object in such as way as to follow the movement of the object; —a computational device; wherein the computational device is arranged to analyze the acquired image for detecting the position of each pattern point using an image analysis algorithm arranged to determine the geometrical center of a point using a contrast detection method, determining the distance between at least two pattern portions, and calculating the tension induced in the object using a reference value of distance between the two pattern portions when the object is mechanically relaxed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: G-coder Systems AB
    Inventors: Olle Takman, Jonas Nilsagård
  • Patent number: 8384911
    Abstract: A measurement device includes a pattern light characteristic setting unit configured to set illumination light having a pattern light characteristic to be projected onto a measurement object, a reflected light measurement unit configured to measure reflected light when the measurement object is irradiated with the illumination light on, an image feature extraction unit configured to extract from the measured reflected light an image feature based on a physical characteristic of the measurement object, a feature distribution calculation unit configured to calculate a distribution characteristic for each local region of the image feature, and a pattern light control unit configured to control the pattern light characteristic of the illumination light, which includes a pattern light characteristic for distance measurement and a pattern light characteristic for image feature extraction, based on the calculated distribution characteristic for each local region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Nomura, Masakazu Matsugu
  • Patent number: 8363904
    Abstract: An offset amount calibrating method that obtains the offset amount between a contact-type detector and an image probe is provided. The method includes: setting on a stage a calibration chart that includes not less than two non-parallel linewidth patterns being disposed relative to a reference position of the calibration chart and each having a known width and a level difference; capturing an image of the linewidth patterns of the calibration chart by an image probe to obtain the reference position of the calibration chart; measuring at least two of the linewidth patterns of the calibration chart by a contact-type detector to obtain the reference position of the calibration chart; and calculating a difference between the reference position obtained by using the image probe and the reference position obtained by using the contact-type detector to obtain the offset amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: Tomotaka Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8363903
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the topography or optical properties of a moving surface of a subject are disclosed. Taking images of the moving surface at different moment in time by aiming different illuminations at the subject. Taking images of a reference area located near the moving surface synchronously with the images of the moving surface, in such a way that, in each image of the reference area, illumination of substantially the same type is aimed at the reference area, wherein the images created of the reference area are used to position image areas corresponding to the same area of the subject in the images of the moving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Valtion Teknillinen Tutkimuskeskus
    Inventor: Heimo Keranen
  • Patent number: 8355541
    Abstract: A device for modeling a texture is described. An example device may include a plurality of image sensors, a data storage, and a processor operatively associated with the data storage and adapted to execute computer implemented instructions to capture a set of images of a surface with one or more of the plurality of image sensors, analyze the set of captured images to determine one or more surface variables, and convert the analyzed set of captured images into a surface texture type based on the one or more surface variables. A method for modeling a surface texture using a hand-held device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Wolfe, Thomas Martin Conte
  • Patent number: 8345333
    Abstract: Provided are a displacement/distortion measuring method and a displacement/distortion measuring apparatus for easily and highly accurately measuring displacement or distortion of an object. An image of the surface of the measuring object is picked up by a line scanner apparatus adhered or brought close to the surface of the measuring object. The image is taken, displacement or distortion is measured by image analysis of the image of the measuring object surface prior to time lapse and that after time lapse, and displacement or distortion measuring results are outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Smart Structures LLC
    Inventors: Hiroshi Matsuda, Masakazu Uchino, Yukihiro Ito, Kousuke Yoshimaru, Chikara Yamazaki, Shuichi Yamazaki, Kousuke Uchida
  • Publication number: 20120321140
    Abstract: Various methods for local binary pattern based facial feature localization. One example method includes determining an eye state classification of an input image. The example method may also include selecting a texture model for a global shape and an associated mean shape based on eye center positions and the eye state classification, and adjusting locations of feature points defined by the mean shape based on the texture model for the global shape and an associated global shape model. Similar and related example methods and example apparatuses are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: NOKIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tao Xiong, Kongqiao Wang, Lei Xu, Jiangwei Li
  • Patent number: 8335443
    Abstract: There is provided a recording medium imaging device capable of properly selecting pixels used for determining the kind of the recording medium from the captured surface image to remove pixels from which the surface property of the recording medium cannot be properly determined because the pixels extremely high in light quantity are affected by some sort of dirt or scratches in determining the kind of a recording medium. This allows the determination of kind of the recording medium based on the normally captured surface image to reduce the decrease in accuracy in determining the kind of the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoichi Koyama, Tsutomu Ishida, Shun-ichi Ebihara, Norio Matsui
  • Patent number: 8315464
    Abstract: The a surface of an object is illuminated in sequence with a number of light beams, each of which is nearly tangential to the surface. Images of the surface are recorded for each light beam, and the images are analyzed to identify features such as depressions in the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Coherix
    Inventor: Claron Swonger
  • Patent number: 8311777
    Abstract: An oven wall three-dimensional profile data (701) representing concave and convex amounts on all over oven walls (14R, 14L) at a right side and left side of a coking chamber (11) is generated by using image signals obtained by a wall surface observation apparatus (200). A resistance index “k” in which a resistance received by pushed coke (15) resulting from a rising gradient existing on the oven wall (14) is indexed is asked by using the oven wall three-dimensional profile data (701). It can be verified that there is a correlation between this resistance index “k” and a pushing load. Accordingly, it is possible to quantitatively evaluate a state of the oven wall (14) affecting on the pushing load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Masato Sugiura, Michitaka Sakaida, Koichi Fukuda, Tomoyuki Nakagawa, Akihide Sano, Yoshifumi Morizane, Keisuke Irie
  • Patent number: 8311771
    Abstract: An inspection method of an SOI wafer in which profiles P1 and P2 are calculated in the SOI wafer to be inspected and in an SOI wafer having a film thickness of the SOI layer thicker or thinner than that of the SOI wafer to be inspected, respectively; a profile P3 of a difference between P1 and P2, or a profile P4 of a change ratio of P1 and P2 is calculated; light having the wavelength band selected on the basis of a maximum peak wavelength within the calculated profiles P3 or P4 is irradiated to the surface of the SOI wafer to be inspected, to detect the reflected-light from the SOI wafer; and a place of a peak generated by an increase in reflection intensity of the detected reflected-light is found, as the defect caused by the change in the film thickness of the SOI layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Handotai Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Susumu Kuwabara
  • Patent number: 8306760
    Abstract: A computing system includes an interferometer and a processor. The interferometer is configured to generate at least two phase shifted images of an optical fiber specimen. The processor is configured to acquire the at least two phase shifted images from the interferometer, generate a first intermediate data set based on the at least two acquired phase shifted images and perform two-dimensional defect detection on the first intermediate data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Promet International, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter D. Koudelka, Eric K. Lindmark, Alan J. Blair
  • Patent number: 8285055
    Abstract: Determining correspondence between image regions includes identifying first and second regions of visual content including pixels in a computer system. The first region includes a first patch of pixels having a first mapping to a second patch of pixels in the second region. Iterative evaluations of the first and second regions are performed, each including at least (i) a first evaluation phase selecting a best mapping for the first patch, according to a distance metric, the best mapping selected from among the first mapping and a second mapping obtained from mappings of nearby pixels, and (ii) a second evaluation phase selecting one of the best mapping and a third mapping obtained by perturbing the second mapping. A result of the iterative evaluations is recorded in the computer system that indicates a third patch of pixels in the second region identified in the iterative evaluations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Connelly Barnes, Dan Goldman, Elya Shechtman