Image Enhancement Or Restoration Patents (Class 382/254)
  • Patent number: 9147126
    Abstract: Provided are examples of a detecting engine for identifying detections in compressed scene pixels. For a given compressed scene pixel having a set of M basis vector coefficients, set of N basis vectors, and code linking the M basis vector coefficients to the N basis vectors, the detecting engine reduces a spectral reference (S) to an N-dimensional spectral reference (SN) based on the set of N basis vectors. The detecting engine computes an N-dimensional spectral reference detection filter (SN*) from SN and the inverse of an N-dimensional scene covariance (CN). The detecting engine forms an M-dimensional spectral reference detection filter (SM*) from SN* based on the compression code and computes a detection filter score based on SM*. The detecting engine compares the score to a threshold and determines, based on the comparison, whether the material of interest is present in the given compressed scene pixel and is a detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Ian S. Robinson, Bradley Flanders, Anthony Sommese
  • Patent number: 9147123
    Abstract: A system and method of processing an image is disclosed. A particular method of determining whether a particular pixel of an image is a feature includes receiving data corresponding to a plurality of pixels (from the image) surrounding the particular pixel. The method further includes determining a set of comparison results, each corresponding to one of the plurality of pixels and indicating a result of comparing an attribute value corresponding to one of the plurality of pixels to a comparison value (based on a particular attribute value of the particular pixel and a threshold value). The method further includes performing a processor-executable instruction that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to identify a subset of the set of comparison results that indicate the particular pixel is the feature. The identified subset may be a consecutive order of pixels of the plurality of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Mao Zeng, Erich James Plondke, Lucian Codrescu
  • Patent number: 9143657
    Abstract: A method for enhancing the color of an image to be displayed includes receiving an input image having a plurality of pixels where each of the pixels has a plurality of color components. The input image is filtered using a spatial filter in such a manner that the lower frequency content of the input image is enhanced in such a manner that the dynamic range of the lower frequency content is increased. The filtered image is modified such that the higher frequency content of the input image is used to modify the filtered image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Hao Pan
  • Patent number: 9137503
    Abstract: A camera system includes lens units such that each lens unit is assigned to a single-color color filter unit. The lens and color filter assembly may be combined with pixel units such that a plurality of monochromatic, low-resolution images can be obtained, and the monochromatic images refer to shifted versions of the same image object. By a super-resolution technique that includes shift-compensation a mosaicked image is obtained, which is then demosaiced. In the resultant image, only few artifacts appear. Simple color filter arrays allow a simplified fabrication process and provide less chromatic aberrations at less computational effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: SONY Corporation
    Inventors: Malik Waqas, Muhammad Siddiqui, Markus Kamm, Manfred Manz
  • Patent number: 9135690
    Abstract: A method is provided for automatically providing a digital image rating of photo retouching. The method includes the step of receiving at a computer, including a processor, a first set of pixel data of an original image and a second set of pixel data of a retouched image. The method also includes using the processor to determine a plurality of geometric statistics and a plurality of photometric statistics from the first and second sets of pixel data. The method further includes the step of using the processor to quantify a rating of the retouched image based upon the geometric statistics and photometric statistics to indicate deviation of the retouched image from the original image. A system is also provided to perform the steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: The Trustees of Dartmouth College
    Inventors: Hany Farid, Eric Kee
  • Patent number: 9137441
    Abstract: The spatial resolution of captured plenoptic images is enhanced. In one aspect, the plenoptic imaging process is modeled by a pupil image function (PIF), and a PIF inversion process is applied to the captured plenoptic image to produce a better resolution estimate of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sapna A. Shroff, Kathrin Berkner, Lingfei Meng
  • Patent number: 9131182
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus discriminates between a first region, which is a consecutive region existing on a region exceeding a predetermined area in an input image, and a second region, which is other than the first region, performs smoothing processing of differing strengths on the first region and the second region, and performs image transformation processing on the image on which smoothing processing was performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tetsurou Kitashou
  • Patent number: 9122919
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a customized cosmetic formulation. In one method, a user is guided to capture an image of a skin region with known lighting and color characteristics, and the image is processed to provide calibrated skin color information. A customized cosmetic formulation is automatically determined for the user based on the calibrated skin color information. In another method, a user is interactively guided through capture of one or more skin region images using a device having an image sensor. The skin region images are processed to provide calibrated skin color information, which is compared to a ground truth data set to identify a set of closest known values in the ground truth data set. A customized cosmetic formulation is automatically determined for the user based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Skin Republic, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Howell, David B. Gross, Leslie Y. Harvill
  • Patent number: 9122918
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining a customized cosmetic formulation. In one method, a user is guided to capture an image of a skin region with known lighting and color characteristics, and the image is processed to provide calibrated skin color information. A customized cosmetic formulation is automatically determined for the user based on the calibrated skin color information. In another method, a user is interactively guided through capture of one or more skin region images using a device having an image sensor. The skin region images are processed to provide calibrated skin color information, which is compared to a ground truth data set to identify a set of closest known values in the ground truth data set. A customized cosmetic formulation is automatically determined for the user based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Skin Republic, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Howell, Leslie Y. Harvill
  • Patent number: 9117267
    Abstract: Methods and systems for image marking and generation of a three-dimensional (3D) image of an object are described. In an example, a computing device may be configured to receive a first set of images of an object that capture details of the object. The computing device may also be configured to receive a second set of images that include markings projected on the object and that are indexed to correspond to images of the first set of images. The computing device may be configured to spatially align images of the second set of images based on the markings projected on the object and determine respective images of the first set of images corresponding to spatially aligned images of the second set of images. The computing device may then generate a 3D image of the object from the respective images of the first set of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Gerald Francis, Jr., Thor Lewis
  • Patent number: 9113119
    Abstract: A method of adjusting the color of images captured by a plurality of cameras comprises the steps of receiving a first image captured by a first camera from the plurality of cameras, analyzing the first image to separate the pixels in the first image into background pixels and foreground pixels, selecting pixels from the background pixels that have a color that is a shade of gray, determining the amount to adjust the colors of the selected pixels to move their colors towards true gray, and providing information for use in adjusting the color components of images from the plurality of cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Pelco, Inc.
    Inventors: Lei Wang, Greg Millar, Farzin Aghdasi
  • Patent number: 9105121
    Abstract: A non-transitory machine readable medium that has a computer program for adjusting color values of an image represented in a color space. The image includes several pixels. Each pixel includes a set of color values. The computer program receives a selection of a location on the image. The computer program determines a type of content that is associated with the selected location on the image. From several different image editing operations, the computer program selects a set of image editing operations based on the determined type of content. The computer program displays a set of user interface controls that is associated with the selected set of image editing operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Randy Ubillos, Timothy D. Cherna, Garrett M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9106906
    Abstract: An image generation system includes an object space setting section that sets an object space in which a plurality of objects are disposed, and an image generation section that generates a first-viewpoint image viewed from a first viewpoint in the object space, and a second-viewpoint image viewed from a second viewpoint in the object space, the first viewpoint and the second viewpoint implementing stereovision. The image generation section performs a drawing process to generate the first-viewpoint image and the second-viewpoint image, the drawing process changing a display state of an object in a direction from an inner drawing area toward an area outside the inner drawing area, the inner drawing area being positioned within a common area of a first-viewpoint view volume corresponding to the first viewpoint and a second-viewpoint view volume corresponding to the second viewpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: BANDAI NAMCO GAMES INC.
    Inventors: Motonaga Ishii, Takashi Imagire
  • Patent number: 9098916
    Abstract: Creation of a Bit-accurate film grain pattern for blending in an image block occurs by first establishing a set of bit-accurate transformed coefficients. The set of bit-accurate transformed coefficients undergo frequency filtering and a subsequent bit-accurate inverse transformation to yield the film grain pattern. The film grain pattern can then undergo blending with an image block to restore the look of film to the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Joan Llach, Cristina Gomila, Jeffrey Allen Cooper
  • Patent number: 9100581
    Abstract: Samples of a scene are acquired in synchronization with finely interleaved varying conditions such as lighting, aperture, focal length, and so forth. A time-varying sample at each pixel for each condition is reconstructed. Time multiplexed interleaving allows for real-time, live applications, while handling motion blur naturally. Effects such as real-time video relighting of a scene is possible. Time interleaved exposures also allow segmentation of a scene, and allows for constrained special effects such as triangulation matting using a multi-color interleaved chroma key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Bennett S. Wilburn, Moshe Benezra
  • Patent number: 9084555
    Abstract: A method for determining a vascularity of an object located in a body is proposed. A multidimensional volume image of a target area of the body including the object is acquired. The object is segmented in the volume image. An expanded volume of the object is calculated by expanding structure edges of a volume of the object in the volume image with a predetermined size. The volume of the object is subtracted from the expanded volume of the object for determining an immediate vicinity of the object. A further object in the volume image having a determined minimum volume in the immediate vicinity of the object is segmented. A number of voxels of the further object is compared with a total number of voxels in the immediate vicinity of the object for determining the vascularity of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Stefan Lautenschläger
  • Patent number: 9082166
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying platelets within a whole blood sample. The method includes the steps of: a) adding at least one colorant to the whole blood sample, which colorant is operable to tag platelets; b) disposing the blood sample into a chamber defined by at least one transparent panel; c) imaging at least a portion of the sample quiescently residing within the chamber to create one or more images; and d) identifying one or more platelets within the sample using an analyzer adapted to identify the platelets based on quantitatively determinable features within the image using a analyzer, which quantitatively determinable features include intensity differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Abbott Point of Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Changhua Yu, Min Xie, Yiming Wu
  • Patent number: 9083935
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a unified method for combining images such as high dynamic range images, flash-no-flash image pairs, and/or other images. Weight masks are defined for each of the plurality of images by calculating coefficients for each of the weight masks. Calculating the coefficients includes, at least, performing histogram alignment between a reference image and each of the other input images and by applying a mismatch bias to the coefficients as a function of the histogram alignment. After applying the weight masks to the corresponding images, the images are combined to produce a final image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Denis Demandolx, Douglas Alan Ricard, Thomas Lund Dideriksen, Kevin Geeyoung Chiu
  • Patent number: 9076218
    Abstract: An image dynamic range compression with local contrast enhancement method for an image processing device is provided. The method includes the following steps. A plurality of input pixels of an image including a first input pixel are received, and an input luminance pixel value of each of the input pixels as well as a darkness intensity level of the image are obtained. A filter result of the first input pixel is obtained according to filter computation on the input luminance pixel values; an image-related parameter is obtained according to image-related computation on the darkness intensity level. The image-related parameter, the filter result of the first input pixel, and the input luminance pixel value of the first input pixel are transformed into an output luminance pixel value of the first input pixel according to a non-linear intensity transfer function and a dynamic range compression with local contrast enhancement algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: TAMKANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Chi-Yi Tsai, Chih-Hung Huang
  • Patent number: 9064323
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for estimation of interframe motion fields operating on a stream of video frames, and more particularly for accelerating video output in multiframe super-resolution thus improving the efficiency of the multiframe integration. Relative motion field estimation is used between neighboring or close images instead of with respect to a reference image, for at least some of the frames within an integration window (TOI). The integration window is slid along the time axis each time by one (or two or a few) frames so that the current integration window preferably covers the majority of the frames in the previous integration window. Using relative motion estimation and then (tracking and) summing up the related motion fields enables, in each recursion, the absolute motion fields in a new integration window to be obtained without re-computing all the motion fields of earlier frames in the new integration window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Sanbao Xu, Harald Gustafsson, Per Thorell
  • Patent number: 9050021
    Abstract: The present method describes a new method for the measurement of dark adaptation. The dark adaptation status of subjects may then be used to identify those subjects who are at risk of developing and/or who are currently suffering from a variety of disease states having their clinical manifestations in impaired dark adaptation. The disease states include, but are not limited to, age related macular degeneration, vitamin A deficiency, Sorsby's Fundus Dystrophy, late autosomal dominant retinal degeneration, retinal impairment related to diabetes and diabetic retinopathy. An apparatus for administering the test method described is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: The UAB Research Foundation
    Inventors: Gregory R. Jackson, Cynthia A. Owsley
  • Patent number: 9053524
    Abstract: Sub-regions within one or more face images are identified within a digital image, and enhanced by applying an artificial glint symmetrically and/or synchronously to image data corresponding to sub-regions of eyes within the face image. An enhanced face image is generated including an enhanced version of the face that includes certain original pixels in combination with pixels corresponding to the one or more eye regions of the face with the artificial glint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: FOTONATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Corneliu Florea, Cosmin Nicolae Stan, Mihai Ciuc, Adrian Capata
  • Patent number: 9049334
    Abstract: A method for chroma denoising a digital image created in a digital camera includes decomposing the digital image into a plurality of spatial frequency bands. A separate modified color correction matrix is calculated from a color correction matrix associated with the camera for each of the plurality of spatial frequency bands. Each modified color correction matrix is applied to data in its corresponding spatial frequency band to produce color-corrected data in the plurality of spatial frequency bands. The color-corrected data in plurality of spatial frequency bands is combined to produce an output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Foveon, Inc.
    Inventors: Florin Cutzu, Sumit Chawla
  • Publication number: 20150146994
    Abstract: A method of determining a depth value of a fine structure pixel in a first image of a scene using a second image of the scene is disclosed. A gradient orientation for each of a plurality of fine structure pixels in the first image is determined. Difference images are generated from the second image and a series of blurred images formed from the first image, each difference image corresponding to one of a plurality of depth values. Each of the difference images is smoothed, in accordance with the determined gradient orientations, to generate smoothed difference images having increased coherency of fine structure. For each of a plurality of fine structure pixels in the first image, one of the smoothed difference images is selected. The depth value of the fine structure pixel corresponding to the selected smoothed difference image is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Matthew Raphael ARNISON, ERNEST YIU CHEONG WAN
  • Patent number: 9041954
    Abstract: A method of implementing consistent behavior across different resolutions of images comprises retrieving a list of image enhancement operations applied to an available image, creating, based on image resolution and use case, from the available image, a pre-processed image that simulates the image enhancement operations intended for the available image, performing an image analysis operation on the pre-processed image to obtain a list of artifacts, creating a modified list of artifacts that are mapped to the coordinate system of the available image, applying the modified list of artifacts and retrieved list of image enhancement operations to the available image to obtain a corrected image, and outputting the corrected image to an output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Daniel Stuart Rogers, Matthew Donald Gaubatz, Stephen Laurence Laszlo
  • Patent number: 9041508
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining an inventory condition of objects based on captured images are described. An exemplary inventory control system or method utilizes a highly efficient and economical approach to apply suitable imaging parameters for capturing images of a storage drawer being accessed by a user, or for manipulating the captured images of the drawer. An inventory condition of the drawer is determined based on the captured images or manipulated images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: SNAP-ON INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Stephen L. Glickman, David A. Jackson, Matthew J. Lipsey, Preston Phillips, David C. Fly, Jason L. Weeks
  • Publication number: 20150139543
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for enhancing an image utilizing a hyper-clarity transform. In use, an image is identified. Additionally, the identified image is enhanced, utilizing a hyper-clarity transform. Further, the enhanced image is returned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Edwin Stewart
  • Patent number: 9035236
    Abstract: A method is proposed herein to detect high atomic number materials, such as Special Nuclear Materials, within a container based on muon tomography. The container is modeled as a plurality of volume elements. Information related to an initial trajectory and a final trajectory of each muon passing through the container is received. Additionally, a set of initial outer prong vectors and a set of final outer prong vectors are created. Then, a plurality of vector combinations are created from a selected initial vector and a selected final vector. A metric is determined and associated with each vector combination. A subset of the plurality of vector combinations is associated with each volume element and an estimated scattering density is determined and assigned to the volume element. Based on the estimated scattering density assigned to the volume elements, a three dimensional image of the container may be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Atomic Energy of Canada Limited
    Inventors: Vinicius Anghel, Guy Jonkmans, Cybele Jewett, Martin Thompson
  • Patent number: 9036884
    Abstract: A magnetic resonance system includes a magnetic resonance scanner having a multi-channel transmit coil or coil system and a magnetic resonance receive element; and a digital processor configured to perform an imaging process. The image process includes shimming the multi-channel transmit coil or coil system, acquiring a coil sensitivity map for the magnetic resonance receive element using the multi-channel transmit coil or coil system, acquiring a magnetic resonance image using the magnetic resonance receive element and the shimmed multi-channel transmit coil or coil system, and performing an intensity level correction on the acquired magnetic resonance image using the coil sensitivity map to generate a corrected magnetic resonance image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Paul R. Harvey, Thomas H. Rozijn, Gerrit H. Ijperen, Willem M. Prins, Wilhelmus R. M. Mens, Franciscus J. M. Benschop
  • Patent number: 9036043
    Abstract: A teleprompter system and method include use of a touch-screen interface positioned intermediate to the user and a camera such that the camera captures the user's image through a transparency of the touch-screen interface. The touch screen interface is coupled to a computer and is operably connected so as to enable user control and manipulation of interactive media content generated by the computer. A video mixing component integrates images captured by the camera with interactive media content generated by the computer, as may be manipulated by the user via the touch-screen interface, to generate a coordinated presentation. The coordinated presentation can be received by one or more remote devices. The remote devices can further interact with at least the interactive media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: TOUCHCAST LLC
    Inventor: Edo Segal
  • Patent number: 9035968
    Abstract: A method for creating a distance dependent display that comprises providing an image separating mask having a plurality precision slits arranged in a pattern, generating an interlaced image from a plurality of images according to the pattern, and combining the interlaced image and the image separating mask to allow an observer to view substantially separately each the image from a respective of a plurality of different distances from the image separating mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: HumanEyes Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Assaf Zomet
  • Patent number: 9031344
    Abstract: A mobile device and method for measuring image quality parameters, the device including a digital camera configured to capture one or a plurality of images, a processor configured to select one or a plurality of pairs of points from each image of the one or plurality of images, each pair of points connectable by a line, the processor further configured to compute one or a plurality of image quality parameters from at least one of the lines, and the processor further configured to compute a representative image quality parameter from the image quality parameters, and an output unit configured to communicate one or a plurality of representative image quality parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Industrial Printing Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoav Bresler
  • Patent number: 9031345
    Abstract: In embodiments of optical flow accounting for image haze, digital images may include objects that are at least partially obscured by a haze that is visible in the digital images, and an estimate of light that is contributed by the haze in the digital images can be determined. The haze can be cleared from the digital images based on the estimate of the light that is contributed by the haze, and clearer digital images can be generated. An optical flow between the clearer digital images can then be computed, and the clearer digital images refined based on the optical flow to further clear the haze from the images in an iterative process to improve visibility of the objects in the digital images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Hailin Jin, Zhuoyuan Chen, Zhe Lin, Scott D. Cohen
  • Patent number: 9031291
    Abstract: A ridge flow based fingerprint image quality determination can be achieved independent of image resolution, can be processed in real-time and includes segmentation, such as fingertip segmentation, therefore providing image quality assessment for individual fingertips within a four finger flat, dual thumb, or whole hand image. A fingerprint quality module receives from one or more scan devices ridge-flow—containing imagery which can then be assessed for one or more of quality, handedness, historical information analysis and the assignment of bounding boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Aware, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Maurer, L. Scott Hills
  • Patent number: 9031346
    Abstract: In a method and device for improving image rendition by contrast and/or sharpness enhancement the sharpness enhancement is made dependent on the local average luminance value. A mix is made of spatially enhanced image signals is used, wherein for various signal differing spatial frequencies are boosted. The mixing factors for mixing of the boosted signals are dependent on a local average luminance value such that the distribution over frequency bands shifts to higher frequencies and sharper enhancement as the luminance value increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: TP Vision Holding B.V.
    Inventor: Chris Damkat
  • Patent number: 9031356
    Abstract: Perceptually correct noises simulating a variety of noise patterns or textures may be applied to stereo image pairs each of which comprises a left eye (LE) image and a right eye (RE) image that represent a 3D image. LE and RE images may or may not be noise removed. Depth information of pixels in the LE and RE images may be computed from, or received with, the LE and RE images. Desired noise patterns are modulated onto the 3D image or scene so that the desired noise patterns are perceived to be part of 3D objects or image details, taking into account where the 3D objects or image details are on a z-axis perpendicular to an image rendering screen on which the LE and RE images are rendered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Timo Kunkel, Tao Chen, Chun Chi Wan
  • Patent number: 9025902
    Abstract: A method of applying a post-render motion blur to an object may include receiving a first image of the object. The first image need not be motion blurred, and the first image may include a first pixel and rendered color information for the first pixel. The method may also include receiving a second image of the object. The second image may be motion blurred, and the second image may include a second pixel and a location of the second pixel before the second image was motion blurred. The method may additionally include locating the first pixel in the first image using the location of the second pixel before the second image was motion blurred. The method may further include coloring the second pixel using the rendered color information for the first pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Victor Schutz, Patrick Conran
  • Patent number: 9025038
    Abstract: This invention provides an image free from camera shake by using a plurality of images captured by a camera array image capturing apparatus. A determination unit determines whether to execute a camera shake correction processing. A memory unit temporarily stores only a group of images determined by a determination unit to be camera shake corrected. A camera shake correcting unit synthesizes images to correct blurs in the images. A matching point searching unit determines matching pixels by checking pixel value similarity between images. A moving amount calculating unit, based on the result acquired by the matching point searching unit, calculates a moving amount of each pixel between images. A position correcting unit, based on the moving amount of each pixel calculated by the moving amount calculating unit, corrects the positions of the images. An image synthesizing unit synthesizes a group of images that are position-corrected by the position correcting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shohei Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 9025676
    Abstract: A method, system and device are provided for pre-filtering device for filtering a video signal prior to digitally encoding. The method includes receiving at least one input picture and at least one reconstructed picture from an encoding process and performing an in-loop temporal filtering process using at least one input picture and at least one reconstructed picture from an encoding process to output a pre-filtered video signal for use in an encoding process. The result is enabling an encoding process to produce an output with increased temporal correlation between adjacent pictures regardless of the coding type, since the artifacts introduced by the encoding process are also considered by the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: GEO Semiconductor Inc.
    Inventors: José Roberto Alvarez, Lulin Chen, Alexandros Michael Tourapis
  • Patent number: 9025848
    Abstract: In order to generate an X-ray CT image with optimal quality for each part and each region of an object when scanning the object across a plurality of parts using a plane detector, there is provided an X-ray CT apparatus including smoothing means 230 and filtering means 250 for generating a convolution filter on the basis of feature amounts of projection data output from the X-ray detector 12 and superimposing the convolution filter on the projection data, reconstruction means 200 for generating an X-ray CT image of the object by performing a reconstruction operation on the projection data on which the convolution filter is superimposed, and image display means 280 for displaying the image generated by the reconstruction means 200.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventor: Masakazu Okabe
  • Patent number: 9025903
    Abstract: An image processing device includes: a first edge strength calculation part that calculates a first edge strength for a focus pixel based on pixel values in a first region that includes the focus pixel in an input image; a second edge strength calculation part that calculates a second edge strength for the focus pixel based on pixel values in a second region that is smaller than the first region and that includes the focus pixel; and a filter processing part that determines a filter coefficient such that a first smoothing strength is higher than a second smoothing strength and that filters the input image using the filter coefficient. The first smoothing strength is obtained where the first edge strength is higher than a first reference value and where the second edge strength is lower than a second reference value, and the second smoothing strength is obtained in other cases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yasuaki Wada, Yasunori Taguchi
  • Patent number: 9025870
    Abstract: An image processing device includes a processor and a memory. The memory stores computer-readable instructions therein. The computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the image processing device to perform: acquiring image data indicative of an image including an object image and a background image adjacent to the object image, the object image and the background image defining a border region in a border of the object image and the background image; acquiring at least two of a first characteristic value, a second characteristic value, and a brightness of the border region, the first characteristic value relating to a color of the object image, the second characteristic value relating to a color of the background image; and correcting a color of the border region by using the at least two of the first characteristic value, the second characteristic value, and the brightness of the border region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryohei Ozawa
  • Patent number: 9025905
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus including a first image processing unit and a second image processing unit. The first image processing unit is configured to calculate a parameter for image processing based on a first image, but not based on a second image, and execute the image processing on the first image using the parameter. The second image processing unit is configured to execute the image processing on the second image using the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: NK Works Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Kita, Yukiko Murata, Takahiro Miyamoto, Yumiko Nakagawa, Tomoo Nakano
  • Publication number: 20150117792
    Abstract: An image-processing system including an image processor and a correction processor is provided. The imaging processor obtains a captured image. The correction processor produces a corrected image by correcting an aberration that emerges in the captured image. The correction processor produces: at least one or more processed images obtained by applying different processes to the captured image; a masking image by applying a predetermined process to one of the captured images or the at least one or more processed images; a composite image by synthesizing the masking image and either of the captured image or the at least one or more processed images, which are not used when producing the masking image; and the corrected image by synthesizing the composite image and the captured image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shusei ITAGAKI, Masakazu TERAUCHI, Masashi MIYATA
  • Patent number: 9020292
    Abstract: A method for correcting a rolling shutter effect is provided. The method includes: obtaining feature point pairs in images, wherein each of the feature point pairs corresponds to a motion vector; obtaining sampling points between two consecutive images in time; setting a moving velocity and an angular velocity of an image capturing unit at each of the sampling points as variables; obtaining estimating motion vectors according to the variables, a focal length of the image capturing unit, and row locations where the feature point pairs are located; executing an optimization algorithm according to a difference between the motion vectors and the estimating motion vectors, to calculate the moving velocity and the angular velocity corresponding to the variables; varying locations of pixels in an image according to the moving velocity and the angular velocity, to generate a first corrected image. Thereby, the rolling shutter effect in an image is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignees: Novatek Microelectronics Corp., National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Yen-Hao Chiao, Shang-Hong Lai, Ming-Feng Chiang
  • Patent number: 9020243
    Abstract: Techniques are disclosed relating to automatically adjusting images. In one embodiment, an image may be automatically adjusted based on a regression model trained with a database of raw and adjusted images. In one embodiment, an image may be automatically adjusted based on a model trained by both a database of raw and adjusted images and a small set of images adjusted by a different user. In one embodiment, an image may be automatically adjusted based on a model trained by a database of raw and adjusted images and predicted differences between a user's adjustment to a small set of images and a predicted adjustment based on the database of raw and adjusted images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Sylvain P. Paris, Frederic P. Durand, Vladimir L. Bychkovsky, Eric Chan
  • Patent number: 9020269
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing device including a synthesis processing portion configured to perform a synthesis process of performing addition on pixels including a region of a subject included in an input image and terminate the synthesis process on the basis of a detection result of a subject detection portion which detects the subject of the input image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yuta Nakao
  • Patent number: 9020202
    Abstract: A method for determining a position using digital pixel data includes receiving pixel data from a position sensor device at a controller, sorting the received pixel data into pixel banks using the controller, identifying a maximum bank, a close bank, and a far bank using the controller, calculating a close to max ratio using a first equation and a max to far ratio using a second equation using the controller, and determining a position based on said close to max ratio and said far to max ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Masco Canada Limited
    Inventor: Jeffrey John Belz
  • Publication number: 20150110414
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing an image are provided in which an image including a hole region may be downscaled, prior to restoration of a hole pixel. The downscaled hole region may be restored, and a scale of the restored hole region may be converted to an original scale thereof, by upscaling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD
    Inventor: Yang Ho CHO
  • Publication number: 20150110413
    Abstract: A method comprising receiving a visual media item, determining an identity of at least one intended viewer of the visual media item, identifying a visual representation of an object that is comprised by the visual media item, determining a relevance of the object based, at least in part, on the identity, and generating a modified visual media item such that the modified visual media item differs from the visual media item, at least, by visual emphasis of the visual representation of the object is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Antti Johannes Eronen, Jussi Artturi Leppanen, Arto Juhani Lehtiniemi, Mattila Ville-Veikko