Nonlinear (e.g., Median, Etc.) Patents (Class 708/304)
  • Patent number: 11756175
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media for efficiently, quickly, and flexibly applying median filters to digital image utilizing a separable sorting network approach for computation sharing. For example, the disclosed systems generate a modified digital image by determining pixel values for a number of output tiles in applying a median filter. To generate output tiles, in some implementations, the disclosed systems utilize different forms of separability to precompute sorted columns of pixels to reduce the size of per-pixel tasks required to generate output pixels and to share computations among nearby pixels of an input tile captured from a digital image in generating output tiles. In some implementations, the disclosed systems utilize an interpreter to generate and apply a median filter to a digital image at runtime based on a user-selected filter size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Adobe Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Adams
  • Patent number: 11468002
    Abstract: A computing device includes an array of processing elements mutually connected to perform single instruction multiple data (SIMD) operations, memory cells connected to each processing element to store data related to the SIMD operations, and a cache connected to each processing element to cache data related to the SIMD operations. Caches of adjacent processing elements are connected. The same or another computing device includes rows of mutually connected processing elements to share data. The computing device further includes a row arithmetic logic unit (ALU) at each row of processing elements. The row ALU of a respective row is configured to perform an operation with processing elements of the respective row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: UNTETHER AI CORPORATION
    Inventors: William Martin Snelgrove, Jonathan Scobbie
  • Patent number: 10574593
    Abstract: Techniques are provided for sorting input data values using a sorting circuit. The sorting circuit includes a single stage of comparators coupled to a bank of registers. Multiplexors and a sequencer are used to route the comparator outputs back to the comparator inputs such that the comparators may be re-used over multiple sorting phases so as to order an input sequence of data values into a partially-sorted sequence or into a completely-sorted sequence that is monotonically increasing or decreasing. By re-using the comparators, the hardware required for such sorting is significantly reduced relative to conventional techniques. Also described are techniques for median filtering, which use a sorted sequence as output by the sorting circuit described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Pantelis Sarais, Peter Singerl
  • Patent number: 10298209
    Abstract: Provided is a digital filter device including data rearrangement means for executing rearrangement of input data and outputting rearranged data, intermediate data calculation means for processing the rearranged data input at a specific time and generating intermediate data, filter output first calculation means for calculating a first output value at the specific time by use of the intermediate data, delay means for delaying the rearranged data by processing time taken in the intermediate data calculation means and the file output first calculation means, and filter output second calculation means for inputting output values from the delay means and the filter output first calculation means, calculating a second output value at a time other than the specific time, and outputting a filter output value obtained by adding up the first and second output values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kohei Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 10203898
    Abstract: A median filter device is provided with a reordered circuit, a comparison circuit and a data refresh circuit on the basis of the conventional data buffer circuit and data register circuit. The reorder circuit re-sorts the signal data stored in the data buffer circuit in a preceding clock cycle according to their numerical values. The comparison circuit compares the new signal datum entered in the current clock cycle with the signal data already stored to generate a median. The data refresh circuit updates the signal codes stored in the data register circuit with the signal codes corresponding to the new signal data, for calculation of the median in a following clock cycle. The length of the data buffer circuit and data register circuit can be reduced from N signal data to N?1 signal data, which achieves less data storage capacity, smaller circuit area, easier data processing and higher operation efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignees: SHANGHAI IC R&D CENTER CO., LTD, CHENGDU IMAGE DESIGN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Dongmei Lei
  • Patent number: 9152379
    Abstract: Various embodiments sort data. In one embodiment, a matrix D including a set of data values is received. A matrix Q is received, and includes a set of columns and a set of rows. The matrix Q further includes a sorting of each column of the matrix D. Each of these rows corresponds to a sorting. Each of a set of values in each of the set of columns in the matrix Q identifies a row in the matrix D. At least one sub-matrix D? of the matrix D is identified. A set of columns of the sub-matrix D? is restricted to one or more columns of the matrix D. A processor sorts the sub-matrix D? by rows based on the sorting of the set of columns of the matrix D as given in the matrix Q, and based on the set of data values in the matrix D.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: David Haws, Laxmi P. Parida
  • Patent number: 8903879
    Abstract: A method and system for processing Kalman Filter. The system includes: an Unscented Kalman Filter; and a processor device configured to: non-uniform a phase duration of a signal outputted from a plant; inputting the signal to the Unscented Kalman Filter; and restore non-uniformed phase duration of an estimated value calculated in the Unscented Kalman Filter to the phase duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Junya Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20140195577
    Abstract: The present invention relates to nonlinear signal processing, and, in particular, to adaptive nonlinear filtering of real-, complex-, and vector-valued signals utilizing analog Nonlinear Differential Limiters (NDLs), and to adaptive real-time signal conditioning, processing, analysis, quantification, comparison, and control. More generally, this invention relates to methods, processes and apparatus for real-time measuring and analysis of variables, and to generic measurement systems and processes. This invention also relates to methods and corresponding apparatus for measuring which extend to different applications and provide results other than instantaneous values of variables. The invention further relates to post-processing analysis of measured variables and to statistical analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Avatekh, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexei V. Nikitin
  • Patent number: 8713082
    Abstract: A rank order filter and instantiation thereof in programmable logic is described. A maximum filter core frequency is determined for an input sampling frequency, a filter window height, and a number of input samples. The maximum filter core frequency is greater than the sampling frequency. The maximum filter core frequency may be insufficient for a word serial instantiation of the rank order filter in the programmable logic. The size of a fully parallel instantiation of the rank order filter may be excessive in programmable logic. Thus, a partially parallel filter core is instantiated for the rank order filter with overclocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Szanto, Gabor Szedo, Bela Feher, Wilson C. Chung
  • Patent number: 8645445
    Abstract: The invention may provide a method and filter block for compensating droop in a frequency response of a signal. The filter block may include a decimator, which decimates a high frequency input signal to a set frequency output signal. The set frequency can be, for example, the Nyquist frequency for the input signal. Further, the filter block may include a droop compensator that compensates the droop in the frequency response of the output signal from the decimator. The droop compensator may be made using recursive filters, as opposed to large tap FIR filters, which may result in less memory consumption and decreased power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: ST-Ericsson SA
    Inventors: Ankur Bal, Anupam Jain
  • Patent number: 8639443
    Abstract: A microseismic monitoring system includes a seismic sensor positioned proximate to a wellbore traversing a formation; an orientation source producing an orientation shot; a hydraulic apparatus operationally connected with the formation to produce a fracture in the formation; a computer control system operationally connected with a database of known spectral attributes for event categories; and a computer readable medium that carries instructions executable by the computer control system that, when executed: receive data from the seismic sensor; select an event of interest from the data received; determine a spectral estimate of the selected event of interest; compare the determined spectral estimate of the selected event of interest to the known spectral estimates; and select from the data received by the seismic source the orientation shot for orientation of the seismic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Joel Herve Le Calvez, Stewart Thomas Taylor
  • Publication number: 20130132454
    Abstract: Methods for estimating a conditional probability distribution for signal states of a non-linear random dynamic process. The filter is based on multiple particles, each defined by a state space model similar to the dynamic process. Each particle is updated on the basis of a control input derived by proportional gain feedback on an innovation process. The innovation process is the difference between an increment in an observed quantity measured by one or more sensors and an average of a function of the particles. The particle filter of the invention may also be applied to filtering problems with data association uncertainty where multiple measurements are obtained, of which at most one originates from a specified target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventor: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinoi
  • Patent number: 8428113
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods mitigate a problem of equalizing communications signals that have been distorted by severe non-linearities such as clipping or harsh compression. For example, severe non-linearity occurs when signal compression or signal clipping occurs at rates above 20% of the data transmission interval. Severe non-linearities may significantly reduce system performance. Disclosed techniques selectively apply DSP equalization based on the detection of non-linearity for a present sample or one or more samples prior to the present sample. These techniques can be implemented in relatively low-cost high-speed SerDes designs to improve eye openings and reduce sensitivity to InterSymbol Interference (ISI) and to improve bit error rate (BER).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: PMC-Sierra, Inc.
    Inventors: Ognjen Katic, Paul V. Yee, William D. Warner
  • Publication number: 20130080492
    Abstract: A method and system for processing Kalman Filter. The system includes: an Unscented Kalman Filter; and a processor device configured to: non-uniform a phase duration of a signal outputted from a plant; inputting the signal to the Unscented Kalman Filter; and restore non-uniformed phase duration of an estimated value calculated in the Unscented Kalman Filter to the phase duration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: International Business Machines Coporation
  • Publication number: 20130007082
    Abstract: A digital radio signal is processed by converting an analog signal to a digital signal, decimating the digital signal using a CIC filter and supplying the decimated digital signal directly to an asynchronous sample rate converter (ASRC). The decimated signal is resampled in the ASRC and the ASRC output is supplied directly to a droop compensation filter to compensate the output of the ASRC. By carefully choosing the response of the CIC filter and the resample rate of the ASRC, aliased artifacts in the pass band can be kept below a threshold magnitude without the need for a channelization filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventor: Javier Elenes
  • Patent number: 8321490
    Abstract: An instruction-based parallel median filtering processor and method sorts in parallel each combination of pairs of inputs into greater and lesser values; determines from that sorting the minimum, maximum and median filter values of the inputs; processes one of those values and provides the processed value as an input; and applies an instruction for providing one of the values to the processing step, and at least one other instruction for enabling indication of at least one of the maximum, minimum, median filter values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: James Wilson, Joshua A. Kablotsky, Yosef Stein, Gregory M. Yukna
  • Patent number: 8204713
    Abstract: A results reporting system can generate test results at one or more laboratory sites. Each of the generated test results can be in a conventional unit of measurement. The results reporting system can then convert each of the testing results to a normalized decimal equivalent unit system of measurement. The normalized decimal equivalent unit of measurement can be a unit of measurement that is normalized to an associated reference range of the test result. Once converted to normalized decimal equivalent unit, the test results can be stored in a mass storage device for later reporting. A triggering event (e.g., a request from a reviewing entity) can then trigger the reporting system to generate a results report using the stored test results. The results report can convey the test results to a reviewing entity using the normalized decimal equivalent unit of measurement in graphs, tables or other methods of conveying data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Blick
  • Patent number: 8171069
    Abstract: A method of filtering streaming digital data in real time. The method including: (a) initializing and storing a set of m data elements and an associated set of m pointer data from 1 to m in sequence, m an integer greater than 2; (b) receiving in real time a first or next data element of a digital data stream of sequential data elements; (c) simultaneously with (b), replacing a stored data element associated with the pointer datum m with the received data element, changing the pointer datum of m to 1, and incrementing the value of all other pointer data by 1; (d) simultaneously with (b) sorting in order from a low to high all stored data elements; (e) simultaneously with (b), maintaining the association of pointer datum and data elements; (f) simultaneously with (b), filtering all stored data elements; and (g) repeating (b) through (f) multiple times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy M. Platt, Richard Jean-Luc St-Pierre
  • Patent number: 8051120
    Abstract: A circuit and design structure for a streaming digital data filter embodied in a machine readable medium, the design structure including: a data processing unit and a pointer processing unit, the data processing unit and the pointer unit connected to a control logic; the pointer processing unit consisting of n serially connected pointer processing stages from a first to a last pointer processing stage, each pointer processing stage except for the first and last processing stages of the pointer processing unit including a pointer register and a multiplexer, wherein n is a positive integer greater than 2; the data processing unit consisting of n serially connected data processing stages from a first data processing stage to a last data processing stage, each data processing stage including a multiplexer, a data register and a comparator; and one or more filter output stages connected to the data processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy M. Platt, Richard Jean-Luc St-Pierre
  • Patent number: 8015225
    Abstract: A non-linear processing device (1) is presented, in which fractional-delay filtering (20)—fractional as compared with a sample rate used in the processing steps—is used between successive processing steps (10). A corresponding method is also presented. The fractional delay (20) exposes the signal in-between the original samples to the non-linear processing (30, 40). A lower sample rate or a higher signal quality can thus be achieved. The so-called fractional sample delays are preferably chosen differently for different systems depending on bandwidths, number of channels, number of non-linear processing steps (10) and other varying factors. The multi-step non-linear processing (10) concept of the invention is preferably used within a cascade of non-linear modifications and/or filtering steps (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
    Inventor: Lars Richard Birger Hellberg
  • Patent number: 8005881
    Abstract: A rank order filter and instantiation thereof in programmable logic is described. A maximum filter core frequency is determined for an input sampling frequency, a filter window height, and a number of input samples. The maximum filter core frequency is greater than the sampling frequency. The maximum filter core frequency may be insufficient for a word serial instantiation of the rank order filter in the programmable logic. The size of a fully parallel instantiation of the rank order filter may be excessive in programmable logic. Thus, a partially parallel filter core is instantiated for the rank order filter with overclocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Szántó, Gabor Szedo, Béla Fehér, Wilson C. Chung
  • Patent number: 7925019
    Abstract: A data converting apparatus includes a segmenting unit for setting a predetermined access unit, as an access unit to be processed, out of input data containing at least one access unit containing a plurality of data components per pixel, and for segmenting the access unit to be processed into at least one block; an analyzing unit for generating a basis for converting an expression format of each of the plurality of data components by respectively setting, as at least one analysis block, at least one segmented block and for performing a main component analysis on the plurality of data components; and a converting unit for converting the expression format of each of the plurality of data components per pixel forming the block to be processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Yasuoka, Tetsujiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 7908103
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of signal processing is provided. The method includes generating one or more masking signals based upon a computed Fourier transform of a received signal. The method further includes determining one or more intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) of the received signal by performing a masking-signal-based empirical mode decomposition (EMD) using the at least one masking signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Inventors: Nilanjan Senroy, Siddharth Suryanarayanan
  • Patent number: 7869550
    Abstract: A digital signal processor (DSP) comprises an input terminal configured to receive an input, an adaptive nonlinear phase filter coupled to the input terminal, the adaptive nonlinear phase filter having a time-varying phase response, and an adaptive nonlinear amplitude filter coupled to the input terminal, the adaptive nonlinear amplitude filter having a time-varying amplitude response. A method of processing a signal comprises receiving the signal, sending the signal to an adaptive nonlinear phase filter, the adaptive nonlinear phase filter having a time-varying phase response, and sending the signal to an adaptive nonlinear amplitude filter, the adaptive nonlinear amplitude filter having a time-varying amplitude response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Optichron, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy G. Batruni
  • Publication number: 20100250638
    Abstract: Provided is a signal processing apparatus for compensating for a non-linear distortion of a digital signal, including: an analysis signal generating section that converts the digital signal into a analysis signal of a complex number, using a digital filter; and a compensation section that compensates for the analysis signal, using a compensation coefficient of a complex number corresponding to the non-linear distortion, where the digital filter divides data of the digital signal into “n” data sequences, assigns (n*L+k)th data of the digital signal to a k-th data sequence, performs filtering on each of the data sequences using a same filter coefficient, and combines each of the data sequences after the filtering, thereby generating an imaginary number portion of the analysis signal, where “n” is an integer equal to or greater than 2, L=0, 1, . . . , and k=1, 2, . . . , n.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: ADVANTEST CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji ASAMI
  • Patent number: 7613759
    Abstract: Processing an input signal that includes an input variable is disclosed. The input variable is compared to a set of ordered constants, the relative location of the input variable within a range of possible inputs is determined and a filter coefficient of a nonlinear filter is determined using the relative location of the input variable. A configurable filter includes an interface configured to receive an input signal that includes an input variable, a nonlinear filter coupled to the interface, configured to process the input signal, and a processor coupled to the nonlinear filter, configured to determine the relative location of the input variable within a range of possible inputs and to determine a filter coefficient of the nonlinear filter using the relative location of the input variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Optichron, Inc.
    Inventor: Roy G. Batruni
  • Patent number: 7596472
    Abstract: The device determines the weighting coefficients to be applied to N digital source signals to form a composite signal. The first- to third-order moments of the composite signal must respectively present mean value, variance and skewness characteristics predefined by a user. The device introduces an additional variable, in the form of a weighting matrix W. The vector w being the vector of the weighting coefficients and wT the transpose of the vector w, the difference W?wwT is a positive semidefinite matrix. Moreover, the device performs linearization, around a vector wref of reference weighting coefficients, of the skewness constraint on the third-order moments using a matrix A = [ W w w T 1 ] as further intermediate variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Prax Value
    Inventor: Francois Oustry
  • Publication number: 20090216723
    Abstract: This disclosure relates in general to the field of directory information systems and/or services. In a method embodiment, a method of arranging objects in a directory information system includes providing a plurality of objects to a computer-readable medium having a directory information structure. Each object may have one or more characteristics and each object may be stored, for example, in the computer-readable medium according to the directory information structure. Storing the objects may further include performing a mathematic operation on at least one of the characteristic(s) of the object, and arranging the object in the directory information structure based at least in part on a result of the mathematical operation performed on at least one of the characteristic(s) of the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Computer Associates Think, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Harvey, Justin J. McDonald, Ronald W. Ramsay
  • Patent number: 7570833
    Abstract: Disclosed are an image processing method capable of effectively removing noise contained in an image photographed in a low light environment by using statistical information, and a system thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Nextchip Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seong-Won Lee
  • Publication number: 20090094304
    Abstract: An adaptive nonlinear filtering system includes an adaptive filter module that is configured to generate relative location information pertaining to a relative location of an input signal within an input range; determine an input dependent filter parameter based at least in part on the relative location information; generate an output signal based at least in part on the input dependent filter parameter; and feed back a feedback signal that is generated based at least in part on the output signal and a target signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventor: Roy G. Batruni
  • Patent number: 7461112
    Abstract: A digital signal value is divided to a plurality of zones along a route. A median is computed based on a difference between a digital signal value and a sum of squares of each component of a filter output value for the digital signal values for each zone. A weighting factor for digital signals in each zone is computed and updated based the median for the zone. A filter output value for the digital signal value is obtained by executing filtration using the computed weighting factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Soichi Kadowaki, Tomonori Goto
  • Patent number: 7444365
    Abstract: Input values are non-linearly digitally filtered to produce as an output value the Rth-largest value among the K input values, wherein the Rth-largest value may be the median value with R=(K+1)/2. The input values are provided in any binary fixed point number representation. A respective selected bit of all the input values is evaluated to determine the Rth-largest bit value of this bit among the K input values, and this gives the value of the corresponding bit of the output value. In the input values of which the selected bit does not correspond to the determined Rth-largest bit value, all of the subsequent less-significant bits are set as dummy bits equal to the selected bit, which excludes these input values from being the Rth-largest value in the subsequent evaluation of the successive less-significant bits. Then these steps are repeated for the next selected less-significant bit, and so forth, thereby respectively determining the successive bits of the output value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: A.D.C. Automotive Distance Control Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Wintermantel
  • Patent number: 7403666
    Abstract: A filtering apparatus calculates a median of image data that includes nine pixel values arranged in a window of 3*3. First, an input circuit receives as an input the image data, divides the data into groups each having three pixels, and outputs. The pixel values of each group are sorted in accordance with magnitude order, by a plurality of sorters. After sorting, the maximum values among the pixel values of the groups are determined by a plurality of shifters and a plurality of maximum value determiners, and the determined pixel values are removed from the corresponding groups. As a result, four largest pixel values are removed from the three groups. A last sorter extracts and outputs the maximum pixel value (median) from the remaining five pixel values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsumi Arata
  • Patent number: 7373367
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for designing low-order linear-phase IIR filters is disclosed. Given an FIR filter, the method utilizes a new Krylov subspace projection method, called the rational Arnoldi method with adaptive orders, to synthesize an approximated IIR filter with small orders. The method is efficient in terms of computational complexity. The synthesized IIR filter can truly reflect essential dynamical features of the original FIR filter and indeed satisfies the design specifications. In particular, the linear-phase property is stilled remained in the passband.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Chang Gung University
    Inventors: Herng-Jer Lee, Chia-Chi Chu, Wu-Shiung Feng
  • Patent number: 7260593
    Abstract: A rank-determining device determines the rank of a particular sample value from a set of digital sample values by utilizing two different thresholders that are implemented by comparators. The rank of the sample value is decomposed by thresholding the sample value with all of the sample values in the set of digital sample values, and in this manner eliminates the necessity of a sorting operation. This decomposition of the rank will is referred to as self-threshold decomposition. A plurality of these rank-determining devices can be combined to form a rank determining apparatus in order to find the rank of each one of the digital samples in the set of digital samples. Because the rank-determining apparatus implements self-threshold decomposition, rank- and order-statistic based filters, such as the median filter, can be realized in a feasible manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yeong-Taeg Kim
  • Patent number: 7151796
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for implementing an equalizer which (1) combines the benefits of a decision feedback equalizer (DFE) with a maximum-a-posterori (MAP) equalizer (or a maximum likelihood sequence estimator, MLSE) (2) performs equalization in a time-forward or time-reversed manner based on the channel being minimum-phase or maximum-phase to provide an equalization device with significantly lower complexity than a full-state MAP device, but which still provides improved performance over a conventional DFE. The equalizer architecture includes two DFE-like structures, followed by a MAP equalizer. The first DFE forms tentative symbol decisions. The second DFE is used thereafter to truncate the channel response to a desired memory of L1 symbols, which is less than the total delay spread of L symbols of the channel. The MAP equalizer operates over a channel with memory of L1 symbols (where L1<=L), and therefore the overall complexity of the equalizer is significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Steve A. Allpress, Quinn Li
  • Patent number: 7079574
    Abstract: A method for a carrier phase recovery apparatus in a multiple-link hopping radio system includes hopping among a plurality of radio links to receive bursts of radio signals on the plurality of radio links and determining channel information for each radio link from a received burst on the radio link. Further, the method includes storing the determined channel information and using the determined channel information for the radio link to reliably recover the carrier phase of a next received burst on the radio link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Radiant Networks PLC
    Inventors: Manouchehr S. Rafie, Tushar Shah, Syang-Myau Hwang, Jun Lu
  • Patent number: 7072928
    Abstract: A rank-determining device determines the rank of a particular sample value from a set of digital sample values by utilizing two different thresholders that are implemented by comparators. The rank of the sample value is decomposed by thresholding the sample value with all of the sample values in the set of digital sample values, and in this manner eliminates the necessity of a sorting operation. This decomposition of the rank will is referred to as self-threshold decomposition. A plurality of these rank-determining devices can be combined to form a rank determining apparatus in order to find the rank of each one of the digital samples in the set of digital samples. Because the rank-determining apparatus implements self-threshold decomposition, rank- and order-statistic based filters, such as the median filter, can be realized in a feasible manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yeong-Taeg Kim
  • Patent number: 7050647
    Abstract: A median filter using an M×N window sorts M×N pixel data along each column in descending order to generate N data strings, each having M sorted pixel data. The N data strings are sequentially stored in a shift register. Data strings in different stages of the shift register are merged with one another in descending order to generate a new sorted data string. Such sorted data strings are again merged with each other to generate a data string having M×(N?1) sorted data. M+1 data surrounding the median value of the data string are merged with a data string having M sorted data in descending order to generate a data string having 2M+1 sorted data. The data value at the median rank of the 2M+1 sorted data is output as the median value of the M×N image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsuhiko Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 6959167
    Abstract: An improved echo control system has an adaptive controlled echo canceling filter arrangement in which a background filter updates the filter coefficients of an echo shaping filter responsive to a normalized least mean square (NLMS) algorithm. An adaptive control module determines a weighted reference signal for the background filter in which the weight is proportional to a far signal reference and an estimate of the norm of an echo canceller error vector, and inversely proportional to en estimate of a residue of the echo canceller. And a non-linear normalized convergence term is used in the NLMS algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: ScanSoft, Inc.
    Inventor: Wouter Dehandschutter
  • Patent number: 6944352
    Abstract: Hardware circuit for median calculation in an active pixel sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Orly Yadid-Pecht, Barmak Mansoorian, Bedabrata Pain
  • Patent number: 6941332
    Abstract: A method for fast median filtering in an implantable medical device is disclosed that provides rapid filtering using computational mechanisms with following elements. A new sample value is received into a buffer. An oldest sample value location is identified in a MIN-heap and a MAX-heap. A new sample value location is identified in either the MIN-heap or the MAX-heap by comparing the new sample value to a median value. The new sample value is placed into the oldest sample value location, if the MIN-heap or MAX-heap identified for the new sample value location is the same as the MIN-heap or MAX-heap identified for the oldest sample value location. A MIN-heap top or MAX-heap top is moved from the heap not containing the oldest value into the location of the oldest sample and the new sample is placed into the location of the MIN-heap top or MAX-heap top moved from the heap not containing the oldest value, if the heap identified for the new sample is not the same as the heap identified for the oldest sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven L. Jensen
  • Patent number: 6901355
    Abstract: A method for correcting non-linearities of an output signal of an electrical component with the aid of a characteristics map that is defined by discrete interpolation points. In this context, the adjacent interpolation points of the characteristics map are ascertained as a function of at least one signal influencing the non-linearities of the output signal. Interpolation is carried out between these interpolation points, and a corresponding correction signal is ascertained as a function of the or each signal by an interpolation. The output signal of the electrical component is corrected as a function of the correction signal. To improve the correction of non-linear transfer characteristics and/or temperature responses of the electrical component, it is proposed that the or each signal for addressing the characteristics map be high-pass filtered, and the correction signal be ascertained as a function of the or each signal by the interpolation and a subsequent low-pass filtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Opitz, Thomas Wieja
  • Patent number: 6771835
    Abstract: A 2-dimensional non-linear interpolation system and method based on edge information includes an edge detector, an edge direction modifier, a near-edge coefficient generator, a filter coefficient generator and a non-linear interpolation unit. The edge detector detects edge information among pixels from a video signal applied through an input terminal. The edge direction modifier converts the edge information detected by the edge detector on the basis of a center point among peripheral pixels of an interpolation position and outputs modified edge information. The near-edge coefficient generator converts the coordinates of the interpolation position based on the modified edge information to generate a converted interpolation position, generates edge patterns corresponding to the converted interpolation position, and generates a plurality of 2-dimensional interpolation coefficients in response to predetermined one-dimensional non-linear interpolation filter coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yong In Han, Hweihn Chung
  • Patent number: 6754684
    Abstract: The invention provides improved methods and systems for rapidly performing a median filter calculation for a value at a predetermined position in a matrix of values representing a neighborhood about the predetermined position. The method includes ordering the values in each column of the matrix to create an ordered matrix having rows; determining a maximum value for a row of the ordered matrix having the lowest values; determining a median value for a row of the ordered matrix having middle values; and determining a minimum value for a row of the ordered matrix having the highest values. Based on these determinations, the median filter value for the neighborhood can be calculated as a second median value of the maximum value for a row of the ordered matrix having the lowest values, median value for a row of the ordered matrix having middle values, and minimum value for a row of the ordered matrix having the highest values. The calculated median filter value can then be output as necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Mercury Computer Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Valeri Kotlov
  • Patent number: 6731820
    Abstract: An image filter circuit which realizes a large-scale median filter as a digital circuit which has not been conventionally constructed without difficulty. The filter circuit has a histogram A update unit 102 which generates a histogram A with upper-bit data of pixels within a matrix, a cumulative adder A104 which searches for a class including a pixel value corresponding to a predetermined rank in ascending order as a target class based on the histogram A, a histogram B update unit 106 which generates a histogram B with lower-bit data of pixels included in the target class, and a cumulative adder B108 which searches for a pixel value of the predetermined rank in ascending order in the matrix. The filter circuit having these constituent elements outputs a median pixel value of the matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsumi Otsuka
  • Patent number: 6687413
    Abstract: A system to minimize the number of comparison and rearrangement operations and increase the processing speed with a small circuit scale utilizing a median filter in the form of hardware. A signal processing apparatus for performing, when a region to be subjected to signal processing has shifted, signal processing of pixel signals in a region to be subjected to signal processing after shifting the region, by utilizing old pixel signals already subjected to signal processing before the shift of the region. The apparatus includes a new-data-order determination circuit for determining an order of magnitude of pixel signals newly added to a region to be subjected signal processing after the shift of the region. A new-data selection circuit rearranges the new pixel signals based on the determined order. An all-data-order determination circuit determines the order of magnitude of all signals by comparing the rearranged new pixel signals with the old pixel signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiko Yushiya
  • Publication number: 20030200242
    Abstract: A method for fast median filtering in an implantable medical device is disclosed that provides rapid filtering using computational mechanisms with following elements. A new sample value is received into a buffer. An oldest sample value location is identified in a MIN-heap and a MAX-heap. A new sample value location is identified in either the MIN-heap or the MAX-heap by comparing the new sample value to a median value. The new sample value is placed into the oldest sample value location, if the MIN-heap or MAX-heap identified for the new sample value location is the same as the MIN-heap or MAX-heap identified for the oldest sample value location. A MIN-heap top or MAX-heap top is moved from the heap not containing the oldest value into the location of the oldest sample and the new sample is placed into the location of the MIN-heap top or MAX-heap top moved from the heap not containing the oldest value, if the heap identified for the new sample is not the same as the heap identified for the oldest sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventor: Steven L. Jensen
  • Patent number: 6628707
    Abstract: A method for an adaptive equalization apparatus in a multiple-link hopping radio system includes hopping among a plurality of radio links to receive variable-length bursts of radio signals on the plurality of radio links and equalizing amplitude and phase variations of a slow channel for each radio link from a received burst on the radio link. Further, the method includes storing the estimated tap coefficients pertinent to each radio link and using the tap weights of the current burst of the radio link to reliably pre-compensate the channel amplitude and phase distortion of a next received burst on the radio link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Radiant Networks PLC
    Inventors: Manouchehr S. Rafie, Jun Lu, Dengwei Fu, Tushar Shah
  • Patent number: 6546148
    Abstract: Hardware circuit for median calculation in an active pixel sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Orly Yadid-Pecht, Barmak Mansoorian, Bedabrata Pain