03rd week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 23 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090015641 | PRINTER ARRANGEMENT INCORPORATING A PRINTHEAD MAINTENANCE STATION - Provided is a printer arrangement having a printhead cartridge with a molding assembly and a printhead. An ink cartridge supplies the printhead with ink via the molding assembly. The arrangement also includes a valve assembly for arranging the ink cartridge in fluid communication with the molding assembly, as well as a printhead maintenance station for maintaining the printhead. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015642 | Liquid Storage Container and Liquid Filling Method and Liquid Refilling Method Using the Same - A liquid storage container includes a liquid containing body that is formed of a flexible film and contains liquid therein; a liquid lead-out member connected to the liquid containing body; and a spacer member disposed in the liquid containing body. The liquid containing body deforms in a direction in which inner wall surfaces of the flexible film facing each other are brought into contact with each other at the time of reduction in the remaining amount of the liquid as the inside liquid is taken out through the liquid lead-out member, and the spacer member regulates contact between parts of the inner wall surfaces of the flexible film facing each other at the time of reduction in the remaining amount of the liquid to thereby form a remaining liquid space where liquid remains. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015643 | FLUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A fluid ejecting apparatus that ejects a fluid includes a storage portion that stores a fluid, a head, and a head capping device. The head discharges fluid supplied from the storage portion from a plurality of nozzles and includes a fluid discharging passage through which other fluid is discharged from the storage portion. The head capping device contacts the head and receives the fluid discharged from the plurality of nozzles and the fluid discharged through the fluid discharging passage. The head and the head capping device respectively include a head side flow passage and a head capping device side flow passage, which cooperatively form a circulation flow passage, through which the fluid that flows from the storage portion through the nozzles and the fluid discharged through the fluid discharging passage are returned back to the storage portion, in a state where the head capping device contacts the head. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015644 | LIQUID INJECTING METHOD AND LIQUID CONTAINER - A method of injecting a liquid into a liquid container detachably mounted on a liquid consuming apparatus, the liquid container including a liquid containing portion, a liquid supply portion connectable to a liquid ejecting portion of the liquid consuming apparatus, a liquid guide passage for guiding the liquid stored in the liquid containing portion to the liquid supply portion, an air communicating passage communicating the liquid containing chamber with air, a liquid detection unit provided in the liquid guide passage and for outputting different signals between in a case where the liquid guide passage is filled with the liquid and in a case where the liquid guide passage includes air entered thereinto, and a bubble trapping passage provided in the liquid guide passage between a detection position of the liquid detection unit and the liquid containing portion to trap bubbles in the liquid, the method includes: forming an injection port communicating with the liquid containing portion in the air communicating passage; injecting a predetermined amount of the liquid through the injection port; and sealing the injection port after injecting the liquid. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015645 | System for controlling engagement of a transfix roller with an image receiving member in a printer - A hydraulic system controls engagement of a transfix roller with an image receiving member in a printer. The system includes a motor having an output shaft, a translational member having a first end and a second end, one of the first and the second ends being mechanically coupled to the output shaft of the motor so the motor output shaft moves the translational member in a linear path, a hydraulic translator coupled to the other end of the translational member so movement of the translational member in the linear path displaces hydraulic fluid within the hydraulic translator to move a pair of links in a linear direction, a transfix roller having a first end and a second end, the first and the second ends of the transfix roller being mechanically coupled to the pair of links so the displacement of the hydraulic fluid within the hydraulic translator moves the transfix roller in the linear direction for movement towards and away from an image receiving member, and a controller electrically coupled to the motor to send a motor control signal to the motor for controlling direction and speed of the motor output shaft. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015646 | KICKING UNIT AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit to move in a crossing direction to cross a printing medium feeding direction and to form an image on the printing medium, and a kicker to move together with a movement of the image forming unit and to feed the printing medium. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015647 | TWO-SIDE THERMAL PRINTER - Methods of, and apparatus for, two-sided thermal printing comprising direct and/or thermal transfer print means are provided. In one embodiment, a combined direct thermal and thermal transfer printer and related media are disclosed wherein direct thermal printing is provided for on a first media side, and thermal transfer printing is provided on a second media side. In other embodiments, various two-sided thermal transfer printers and media are disclosed wherein thermal transfer printing is provided for on first and second media sides through use of, inter alia, a one- and/or a two-sided thermal transfer ribbon. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015648 | DISK LABEL PRINTER - Disclosed is a disk label printer that includes a slot-in type optical disk driving mechanism and a printing mechanism integrated with each other, has a small size, and smoothly transfers optical disks. The disclosed disk label printer includes: a case that has a slot through which an optical disk is inserted or ejected formed therein; an optical disk driving mechanism that is provided in the case and writes and/or reads signals to and/or from the optical disk mounted to a disk mounting portion; and a printing mechanism that is provided in the case and includes a thermal head which prints a desired image on a label surface of the optical disk. The printing mechanism is provided on a transfer path of the optical disk toward the optical disk driving mechanism between the slot and the optical disk driving mechanism. The thermal head and a platen roller come into pressure contact with each other with the optical disk interposed therebetween on the transfer path, only when the optical disk is transferred during the driving of the printing mechanism. The thermal head and the platen roller are withdrawn from the transfer path so as to be separated from each other, when the optical disk is transferred during operations other than the driving of the printing mechanism. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015649 | SELECTIVE DIRECT THERMAL AND THERMAL TRANSFER PRINTING - Thermal printers and methods of operating thereof are provided. In one embodiment, a thermal printer comprising a thermal print head, thermal media including a direct thermal thermally sensitive coating on at least a first side thereof, and a thermal transfer ribbon installed between the thermal print head and the first side of the thermal media is provided, wherein the thermal print head is adapted to apply heat at a first temperature to image the direct thermal thermally sensitive coating without transferring a thermal transfer coating associated with the thermal transfer ribbon and a second temperature to image the direct thermal thermally sensitive coating and transfer the thermal transfer coating associated with the thermal transfer ribbon. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015650 | OPTICAL SCANNING APPARATUS AND IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an optical scanning apparatus which includes a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser including a plurality of light-emitting portions that are spaced from each other in at least a sub-scanning direction, a first optical system including a light-condensing element that converts each of light beams from the laser into a light beam in another state; a deflector that reflects and deflects the light beams from the first optical system, and a second optical system that focuses the light beams deflected by the deflecting member on a surface to be scanned, where the second optical system includes at least an imaging optical element having an optical surface with a non-arc shape in a sub-scanning cross section. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015651 | Voice Communication Device, Voice Communication Method, and Voice Communication Program - Provided is a voice communication device for carrying out voice communication among a plurality of locations, including: a sound source direction identification block for identifying a direction of a sound source; a voice sender block for sending the collected voice to a different location; a voice receiver block for receiving a voice from a different location; a player block for playing the received voice; a playing information setting block for setting playing information for the voice being played; a speaker volume storage block for acquiring the direction of the sound source for which the playing information is set from the sound source direction identification block and storing the direction of the sound source in association with the playing information; and a voice manipulating block for acquiring the playing information corresponding to the direction of the sound source of the voice and manipulating the voice based on the playing information. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015652 | VIDEOPHONE SYSTEM FOR SCRUTINY MONITORING WITH COMPUTER CONTROL - In conjunction with the dial-up public telephone system, voice quality lines carry videophone signals for monitoring a multitude of locations from at least one central station for use in a variety of applications, such as for security, surveillance, quality control and inspection, regulation of food and/or other standards in food-related and other facilities, market research, remote monitoring of deposit and withdrawal of funds at bank vaults, grocery chains, convenience stores, and the like. At the central station, telephonic interface apparatus is actuated by a control unit to selectively accomplish a telephonic connection with a remote location. Displays include the scene at the remote location and related graphic data. During routine operation, remote locations are displayed in sequence to at least one operator. Such operation may be interrupted either from a remote location or central station in the event of an urgency. In such an event, the concerned scrutiny location is displayed for further communication involving status, camera selection, camera configuration, audio, video and so on. Incoming calls from scrutiny stations imply an urgent situation for immediate display. The called number, by dialed number identification system (DNIS) may indicate the status while the calling number identifies the location by automatic number identification (ANI) signals. Alternative signaling and code techniques afford flexible operation as with respect to various graphic and status indications available for displays. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015653 | MOBILE TERMINAL AND METHOD OF CREATING MULTIMEDIA CONTENTS THEREIN - A mobile terminal including a camera configured to capture a first video image of a user using the mobile terminal, a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one other terminal, an audio output module configured to output currently played music, a display configured to display at least one of the first image of the user using the mobile terminal and a second video image of a user using said at least one other terminal during a video communication call operation between the mobile terminal and the at least one other terminal, a user input unit configured to input a key signal requesting a music video be created, and a controller configured to create a music video file including at least one of the first video image and the second video image together with the currently played music if the key signal requesting the music video be created is input during the video communication call operation. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015654 | OPERATION LIMITING TECHNIQUE FOR A CAMERA-EQUIPPED MOBILE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL - A camera-equipped mobile communication terminal allows its own camera functions to be selectively inhibited according to camera-function inhibition flags included in a camera-function limiting signal broadcast by a radio station or based on GPS-measured location and camera-function inhibition flags for each operation-limited area. Appropriate function limitations on the camera-equipped mobile communication terminal and necessary function permissions can be made depending on situations or occasions. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015655 | TRANSMITTING APPARATUS AND TRANSMITTING/RECEIVING APPARATUS - A transmitter | 2009-01-15 |
20090015656 | DEVICE FOR VIEWING IMAGES, SUCH AS FOR VIDEOCONFERENCE FACILITIES, RELATED SYSTEM, NETWORK AND METHOD OF USE - A device for viewing images, for example, for videoconference facilities, has a substantially continuous viewing surface having a plurality of directions of frontal observation distributed in continuous fashion in an angular field of observation. Preferably, the angular field of observation is no smaller than 180°, and in particularly preferred fashion, it is substantially equal to 360°. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015657 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ADAPTING VIDEO ACCORDING TO ASSOCIATED AUDIO - The disclosed systems and methods relate to adapting video signals that may be suitable for video conference calling applications. Aspects of the present invention may improve visual perception at the client side with no change to the transmission side. Other aspects of the present invention may also minimize required transmission bandwidth while improving visual perception at the client side. Bandwidth may be saved by adapting the video coding techniques applied to video feeds from two or more callers. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015658 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC CAMERA CONTROL - A method for automatically determining an orientation and zoom of an image pickup device associated with a video conferencing system, wherein the method includes the steps of: generating, at the image pickup device, an image signal representative of an image framed by the image pickup device; processing the image signal to identify objects plural users of the video conferencing system in the image; steering the image pickup device to an initial orientation; determining a location of all the identified objects relative to a reference point and determining respective sizes of the identified objects; defining an area of interest in the image, wherein the area of interest includes all the identified objects; and steering the image pickup device to frame the defined area of interest including all the identified objects where a center of the frame substantially coincides with a center of all the identified objects. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015659 | Method and System for Moderating Multiparty Video/Audio Conference - A method and a system are provided for moderating multiparty video/audio conferencing. The method includes the controlled initiation and termination of the video/audio stream from each participant. The method further includes the communication between the moderators and participants and between the multi-point control unit and endpoints. The moderator decides which request among requests from multiple participants should be approved to be broadcast to all participants. Video/audio streams are captured from the approved participant's computer and broadcast to all other participants' computers. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015660 | Virtual TV room service with interactive capabilities signaling - A virtual TV room service configured with a virtual TV room session responsive to a unique session set-up protocol between participants in the virtual TV room session and a conference server unit hosting the virtual TV room service wherein the conference server unit is defined by a unique Session Initiation Protocol Uniform Resource Identifier formed by concatenating the public portion of the Session Initiation Protocol Uniform Resource Identifier signaled in the electronic server/program guide for the mobile TV channel and the private portion of the Session Initiation Protocol Uniform Resource Identifier unique to the virtual TV room community and arranged such that each of the participants in the virtual TV room session is watching the same mobile TV channel. The capabilities of media control that are available to the participants in the virtual TV room session are specified in an XML file configured for communication during the setting up of the virtual TV room session. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015661 | Virtual Multiway Scaler Compensation - In various embodiments, a multipoint control unit (MCU) may arrange incoming video images into a composite video image and define their respective coordinate information including the size of the original composite video image. The MCU may subsequently scale the composite video image. The coordinate information for the scaled composite video image may be reformatted for the resized video images. When the endpoint receives the scaled composite video image, the endpoint may detect the actual size of the scaled composite video image and may determine the new coordinates of the video images in the scaled composite video image using a ratio of the size of the original composite video image to the actual size detected by the endpoint. These new coordinates may then be used to separate the images in the scaled composite video image to use in compositing a new composite video image. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015662 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENCODING AND DECODING STEREOSCOPIC IMAGE FORMAT INCLUDING BOTH INFORMATION OF BASE VIEW IMAGE AND INFORMATION OF ADDITIONAL VIEW IMAGE - Provided are a method and apparatus for encoding and decoding a stereoscopic image format. The method includes generating a combined image by combining a base view image and an additional view image, generating a depth map between the base view image and the additional view image, generating a first YUV format using the combined image, and generating a second YUV format using the depth map. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015663 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONFIGURING A MONITORING DEVICE FOR MONITORING A SPATIAL AREA - A monitoring device for monitoring a spatial area comprises at least one image recording unit. A three-dimensional image of the spatial area is recorded and displayed in order to configure. the monitoring device. A configuration plane is defined using a plurality of spatial points which have been determined within the three-dimensional image. Subsequently, at least one variable geometry element is defined relative to the configuration plane. A data record which represents a transformation of the geometry element into the spatial area is generated and transferred to the monitoring device. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015664 | Method And Interface For Operating A VDOV Endoscope - A method and system are provided for configuring a variable direction of view endoscope, generally comprising a video display screen and an endoscope having a view controlling device for moving the view vector between predefined, discrete view vector positions. The video display screen displays a set of these view vector positions, and the view vector is moved from one of these positions directly to another in response to a command from a user via the video display screen. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015665 | Medical diagnostic ultrasound video timing control - Video signals are controlled in an ultrasound imaging. The line synchronization and/or frame rate may be set for any desired purpose, such as to match an acoustic scan rate. The pixel clock rate is set based on the line synchronization or frame rate. Since the line synchronization timing may not be an integer multiple of the pixel clock rate, the pixel clock may be controlled to maintain a state for additional system clocks. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015666 | AUTOMATED PROTEIN CRYSTALLIZATION IMAGING - An apparatus that automatically captures, stores and analyzes images of crystallization experiments contained in a number of crystallization plates. The apparatus includes a plate nest capable of accommodating protein crystallization plates of a plurality of different types, image acquisition optics, including an objective lens and an image capturing device, for focusing an image of a crystallization well, a light source including a bright field illumination device and a dark field illumination device, a nest positioning controller for moving the position of the plate nest with respect to the image acquisition optics to align various selected wells with said objective lens for imaging of the content of the wells. A database stores experiment information associated with each of the crystallization plates, the experiment information including identification of specific crystal forming parameter values, each of the crystallization plates is identified in said database by a unique identification code. A crystallization imaging controller controls crystallization imaging by retrieving the experiment information for each crystallization plate inserted into the apparatus, and controlling the nest positioning controller and the image acquisition optics in accordance with the retrieved experiment information. The apparatus captures multiple images of each crystal site using different light source and polarization conditions, and processes the multiple images to form extended fused images of each crystal site. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015667 | In-Cylinder Imaging Apparatus and Method - An in-cylinder imaging apparatus is provided for an internal combustion engine defining a combustion chamber. The in-cylinder imaging apparatus includes a high-speed imaging device such as a high-speed digital camera. A borescope is provided in communication with the combustion chamber and is operable to communicate images of the combustion chamber to the high-speed imaging device. A high intensity light source, for example, a xenon light source, is operable to substantially illuminate the combustion chamber. The high-speed imaging device and borescope are in axial alignment with respect to each other and are mounted with respect to the internal combustion engine. A method of imaging the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine during engine operation employing the disclosed in-cylinder imaging apparatus is also provided. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015668 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODEL DATA CONFIRMING METHOD, AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODEL DATA CONFIRMING APPARATUS - The present invention relates to an apparatus for confirming three-dimensional model data or the like, capable of confirming easily, efficiently, and precisely whether three-dimensional model data including an attached object attached to a machine tool and at least a part of the machine tool good are accurate. An apparatus | 2009-01-15 |
20090015669 | Method for controlling the movement of a mobile part of an x-ray recording system, and an x-ray recording system coupled to video cameras - With an x-ray imaging system with a moveable part, obstacles can stand in the way of the movement of the moveable part. In accordance with the invention, video cameras capture the occupation of the space by objects using volume elements. It is possible to determine at a target movement of the moveable part which volume elements are passed through during this. If one of these volume elements proves to be a volume element occupied by an object, the movement of the moveable part is prevented, otherwise it is enabled or actively implemented. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015670 | PRIVACY ZONE ALGORITHM FOR PTZ DOME CAMERAS - The present invention advantageously provides a means by which the privacy zone on a PTZ camera can be maintained so that an object in the camera's sight is always masked or covered. An algorithm which remembers the defined privacy zones as an area in space marked by four rays touching the four corners of the marked zone and having absolute Pan, Tilt angular coordinates is presented. The privacy zone is initially defined by a rectangle on the screen with known pixel co-ordinates which are translated into angular coordinates. Then, when the camera moves and prepares to display a new screen, the privacy zone is superimposed on the object to be masked. Locating the object and displaying its privacy zone is done by translating the absolute angular coordinates of the original privacy zone into pixel coordinates. Additionally, multiple privacy zones can be displayed on one camera screen. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015671 | FEATURES IN VIDEO ANALYTICS - A video analytics function is disclosed for use in a video monitoring applications to control and monitor streaming video from a video source arranged to monitor a field of view (FOV) and providing for end-user input to identify and modify a compression level of at least one object or area field encompassing the field of view (FOV) based on a monitoring priority of the at least one object. The inventive operation realizes reduced bandwidth and processing requirements for monitoring the FOV because of a reduction in streaming video data based on the compression level, which includes a fully-masked compression level. The novel function provides for reconstructing the FOV for viewing at an end-user interface, e.g.’ a remote workstation, and inputting end-user commands at the end-user interface to create an object field encompassing the at least one object or area field within the FOV. The compression level is defined based on a monitoring priority for the at least one object, or object field area. The bandwidth needed to transfer video comprising the FOV and compressed object fields, and the processing required to process the FOV and object fields is reduced in accord with the user-defined compression level of the object field data. The FOV is then monitored. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015672 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GEOGRAPHIC VIDEO INTERFACE AND COLLABORATION - One embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for facilitating a geographic video data interface and interactive collaboration system. The method includes displaying representations of stored video data sets on an interactive geographic interface to facilitate collaboration among users. The interactive geographic interface includes a visual representation which may be manipulated including pan, zoom level, content, filtering, map type, elevation, etc. Video data sets are received from the video owner including at least video data/sequences and associated characteristic data. The received video data sets are correlated with a geographic location at which the video data was captured. The correlated geographic location is aggregated with the video data set. The video data set is displayed on the interactive geographic interface by a visual representation at the correlated location. Collaboration data about the video data set is received from users or clients other than the video owner. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015673 | MONITORING CAMERA DEVICE, DEHUMIDIFYING DEVICE, DEHUMIDIFYING METHOD, AND DEHUMIDIFYING PROGRAM - A surveillance camera ( | 2009-01-15 |
20090015674 | OPTICAL IMAGING SYSTEM FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE - An optical imaging system and associated methods for capturing images from an aircraft, such as a UAV. A camera unit on-board the aircraft is remotely controlled from an image control station. The image control station receives image data from the camera unit, and also delivers control signals for determining a viewing mode of the image. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015675 | Driving Support System And Vehicle - A driving support system includes a camera fitted to a moving body to photograph the surrounding thereof, obtains from the camera a plurality of chronologically ordered camera images, and outputs a display image generated from the camera images to a display device. The driving support system has: a movement vector deriving part that extracts a characteristic point from a reference camera image included in the plurality of camera images and that also detects the position of the characteristic point on each of the camera images through tracing processing to thereby derive the movement vector of the characteristic point between the different camera images; and an estimation part that estimates, based on the movement vector, the movement speed of the moving body and the rotation angle in the movement of the moving body. Based on the camera images and the estimated movement speed and the estimated rotation angle, the display image is generated. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015676 | Recognition and Tracking Using Invisible Junctions - The present invention uses invisible junctions which are a set of local features unique to every page of the electronic document to match the captured image to a part of an electronic document. The present invention includes: an image capture device, a feature extraction and recognition system and database. When an electronic document is printed, the feature extraction and recognition system captures an image of the document page. The features in the captured image are then extracted, indexed and stored in the database. Given a query image, usually a small patch of some document page captured by a low resolution image capture device, the features in the query image are extracted and compared against those stored in the database to identify the query image. The present invention also includes methods for recognizing and tracking the viewing region and look at point corresponding to the input query image. This information is combined with a rendering of the original input document to generate a new graphical user interface to the user. This user interface can be displayed on a conventional browser or even on the display of an image capture device. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015677 | Beyond Field-of-View Tracked Object Positional Indicators for Television Event Directors and Camera Operators - A system and method for implementing beyond field-of-view tracked object positional indicators for television event directors and camera operators. The present invention includes a camera having a field-of-view. The camera tracks an off-screen object. A coordinate manager blends an on-screen indication of distance that the object is away from said field-of-view. The camera is positioned to avoid the object in the field-of-view. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015678 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC POSE AND TRAJECTORY TRACKING IN VIDEO - A system and method, the method including stabilizing a video sequence captured by an image capturing system, extracting a subject of interest in the stabilized video sequence to isolate the subject from other objects in the video sequence, determining a trajectory associated with the subject, tracking the trajectory of the subject over a period of time; extracting data associated with the trajectory of the subject based on the tracking; and presenting the extracted data in a user-understandable format. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015679 | Storage medium having image processing program stored thereon and image processing apparatus - The game apparatus generates an image of a virtual space viewed from a virtual camera as a reference image. The game apparatus then calculates a blurring value indicative of a blurring degree of the image. The blurring value is calculated so as to become greater than a reference value in the case where a movement amount of the virtual camera is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount, and to become smaller than the reference value in the case where the movement amount of the virtual camera is smaller than the predetermine amount. The game apparatus blurs an image outside a predetermined area of the reference image such that the blurring degree increases in accordance with an increase of the blurring value. The predetermined area is determined, from among an image area of the reference image, so as to include a position of a focus point of the virtual camera. Accordingly, a blurred image is displayed on a display apparatus. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015680 | Device, System and Method for Aligning Images - An imaging alignment device, system and method. A sensor unit is provided that mounts to an imaging device and transmits orientation and perspective data to a base unit. The base unit provides information to facilitate placement of the imaging devices. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015681 | MULTIPOINT AUTOFOCUS FOR ADJUSTING DEPTH OF FIELD - A device may include logic to capture an image, logic to detect a plurality of faces in the image, logic to calculate a distance associated with each face, logic to calculate a depth of field based on the distance associated with each face, and logic to calculate focus and exposure settings to capture the image based on the depth of field associated with the plurality of faces. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015682 | Anti-glare device, method and accessory, and imaging system with increased brightness dynamics - The invention relates to an anti-glare device comprising a camera, a visualisation means for reproducing a processed image, and an adaptable filter comprising a filtering image controlled by the camera, said image containing masking regions which obscure the dazzling regions. The inventive device is characterised in that it comprises a single camera provided with an output connected to an electronic circuit which controls the filter for the alternate display of an acquisition image and a filtration image calculated according to the image transmitted by the camera during the previous acquisition phase. The invention also relates to the method implemented by one such device, and to an accessory for a photographing device. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015683 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, METHOD AND PROGRAM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, method and program, and a recording medium configured to be able to clearly display an image captured by a high dynamic range imaging device. A reference region extractor extracts data corresponding to an image of a reference region in the image captured by image pickup unit, and calculates an average value of the luminance of the pixels of the reference region. A clip processing unit allocates the average value of the luminance of the pixels of the reference region to a specified tone in a range of tones capable of being displayed on a display unit, and clips the luminance range corresponding to the range of tones capable of being displayed on the display unit. A tone conversion unit converts image data supplied from the image pickup unit to image data corresponding to the range of tones capable of being displayed on the display unit based on the clipped luminance range, and outputs this image data. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015684 | Information Recording System, Information Recording Device, Information Recording Method, and Information Collecting Program - An accident judgment device ( | 2009-01-15 |
20090015685 | Navigation and Inspection System - A method of detecting a changed condition within a geographical space from a moving vehicle. Images of that geographic space are memorialized in conjunction with GPS coordinates together with its GPS coordinates. The same geographic space is traversed from the moving vehicle while accessing the route's GPS coordinates. The memorialized images are played back by coordinating the GPS data on a memorialized images with that of the traversed geographic space such that the memorialized images are viewed simultaneously with the geographic space being traversed. An observer traveling within the moving vehicle can compare the memorialized images with those being traversed in order to identify changed conditions. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015686 | Hyperspectral Chemical and Property Imaging - An apparatus for displaying chemical projects a chemical image of an object back onto that object. At region ( | 2009-01-15 |
20090015687 | IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGING METHOD, AND IMAGE SIGNAL PROCESSING PROGRAM - Disclosed herein is an imaging apparatus for performing predetermined image signal processing on an image signal picked up by an image pickup device in order to convert the image signal for recording and display purposes, the imaging apparatus including, a parameter storage section, a parameter setting section, a gamma correction processing section, and a display-ready signal conversion section. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015688 | MULTIFUNCTION LENS - An image capture apparatus and a method of image processing. The apparatus includes an image sensor array which receives light that has been reflected by a scene, a luminance photodetector which receives light from a luminance channel, a multifunction lens, and a processor. The multifunction lens includes an imaging lens portion and the luminance channel. The imaging lens portion directs the light that has been reflected in a first direction onto the image sensor array. The luminance channel includes an optical element which directs the light from the luminance channel in a second direction different from the first direction onto the luminance photodetector. The image sensor array and the luminance photodetector each convert the light they receive to image data electrical signals and luminance data electrical signals, respectively. The processor processes the image data electrical signals to form an image of the scene using the luminance data electrical signals. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015689 | MULTI-EYE IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND ADJUSTING METHOD - A stereoscopic camera includes a master camera for photoelectric conversion of object light to generate a first image signal with three color components G, R and B. A slave camera generates a second image signal. In an adjusting method, a first gain Dmr, Dmg and Dmb of the color components is determined according to the first image signal to correct a brightness level and white balance of the master camera, to adjust the first image signal by use thereof. A second gain Dsr, Dsg and Dsb of the color components is determined according to the first gain and color calibration information predetermined according to color sensitivity of the master and slave cameras in relation to the color components. The second image signal is adjusted by use thereof, for color matching between the first and second image signals to set equal the brightness level and the white balance. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015690 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING METHOD - The object is to determine an appropriate light exposure condition thereby to generate an appropriate synthesized image signal for an imaging scene for which an appropriate light exposure condition cannot be obtained by conventional techniques. There is provided an imaging apparatus including: a light exposure condition determining unit for determining a plurality of light exposure conditions based on a histogram of the luminance distribution of an imaging scene; an imaging unit for imaging, at plural times, the imaging scene under the plurality of light exposure conditions determined, and generating a first raw image signal and a second raw image signal; and an image synthesizing unit for synthesizing the first raw image signal and the second raw image signal using, as a boundary, a reference value in the first raw image signal to generate a synthesized image signal, wherein the light exposure condition determining unit determines at least one light exposure condition of the plurality of light exposure conditions so that the reference value in the first raw image signal corresponds to the luminance value at the bottom of a ravine of the histogram of the luminance distribution of the imaging scene. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015691 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image pickup apparatus for applying high-speed dark shading correction and reducing random noise in a black image is provided. The image pickup apparatus has an image pickup element capable of reading image signals corresponding to one frame, which are obtained by photoelectric conversion, on a field-by-field basis. With the image pickup element exposed to light, first image signals corresponding to one frame are read. Then, with the image pickup element shielded from light, second image signals are read from fields that are fewer than fields constituting one frame. Each of third image signals is generated by averaging the second image signals for each of blocks obtained by dividing the image pickup element and converting the average image signal for each block to a resolution of the first image signals. The third image signals are subtracted from the first image signals. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015692 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND DEVICES FOR OFFSET COMPENSATION IN CMOS IMAGERS - Methods, devices, and systems for offset compensation in an amplifier are disclosed, wherein the amplifier inputs may be exposed to large loads from an array of pixel columns coupled in parallel. During a sampling phase, an amplifier offset may be sampled by selectively coupling a first amplifier output to a first amplifier input and a second amplifier output to a second amplifier input. During a portion of the sampling phase, the first amplifier output may be buffered to a first storage element. During a different portion of the sampling phase, the second amplifier output may be buffered to a second storage element. To sense the pixel columns during an amplification phase, the first storage element and the second storage element are coupled to the first and second amplifier inputs, respectively, with the result that the amplifier offset is canceled from the amplifier output. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015693 | SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - A signal processing apparatus includes a synchronization processing unit for processing image pickup signals including three kinds of signals and luminance signals output from an image pickup device. The synchronization processing unit is used to interpolate other color signals than the above-mentioned respective color signals at pixel positions where the three kinds of signals respectively exist. This processing includes a luminance use estimating processing which estimates color signals to be interpolated at the above-mentioned pixel positions using not only the same kinds of color signals as the above-mentioned color signals to be interpolated but also the above-mentioned luminance signals respectively existing around the above-mentioned pixel positions. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015694 | IMAGE-PICKUP APPARATUS AND LENS - An image-pickup apparatus includes an image-pickup element that photoelectrically converts an optical image formed by an image-pickup optical system having a zoom function, and a correcting part that performs correction processing for a distortion component in image data generated based on an output from the image-pickup element, the distortion component corresponding to a distortion of the image-pickup optical system. The image-pickup optical system provides a first zoom range in which a distortion amount at a certain image height is larger than a predetermined value and a second zoom range in which a distortion amount at the certain image height is smaller than the predetermined value. The correcting part performs the correction processing so that the distortion component remains in a first corrected image data in the first zoom range is larger than the distortion component remaining in a second corrected image data in the second zoom range. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015695 | SBI MOTION ARTIFACT REMOVAL APPARATUS AND METHOD - A system, method and apparatus for eliminating image tearing effects and other visual artifacts perceived when scanning moving subject matter with a scanned beam imaging device. The system, method and apparatus uses a motion detection means in conjunction with an image processor to alter the native image to one without image tearing or other visual artifacts. The image processor monitors the motion detection means and reduces the image resolution or translates portions of the imaged subject matter in response to the detected motion. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015696 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND ITS CONTROL METHOD - An imaging apparatus includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units configured to output an image signal obtained by executing photoelectric conversion and a noise signal; a clipping unit configured to clip the noise signal to a clipping level when the noise signal exceeds a preset clipping level; a control unit configured to calculate the clipping level based on a signal read from the plurality of photoelectric conversion units and set the calculated clipping level to the clipping unit as the preset clipping level; and a differential unit configured to execute differential processing of subtracting a noise signal read from the photoelectric conversion unit and clipped by the clipping unit, from an image signal read from the plurality of the photoelectric conversion units. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015697 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SCENE CHANGE TRIGGERING - A triggering system and process for a form reader is shown using a histogram of the optical scene. The form reader is open on three sides with a camera facing a platen on to which a form is placed. The camera converts the light rays reflected from the platen into a video stream that is sent to a processor. A change in content of a first light intensity level contrasted to the content of a second light intensity level is used to determine when the form enters the scene. Illustratively, the first light intensity level represents black levels and the second light intensity levels represent white levels. A threshold is pre-determined that isolates the first light intensity content, and when the first light intensity content remains constant (after the presence of a form) the form is deemed to be still wherein the system may then read the information on the form. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015698 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPENSATING SIGNAL DISTORTION CAUSED BY NOISE - Provided are an apparatus and a method for compensating signal distortion caused by noise. The apparatus comprises a noise reduction unit which reduces noise of an input signal including non-zero mean random noise, and a signal compensator which compensates the output signal of the noise reduction unit so that a signal distortion due to the non-zero mean random noise is removed from the output signal of the noise reduction unit. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015699 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS DRIVING METHOD, IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE SENSING SYSTEM - Since pixel signals are not only added in the row direction but also averaged in the column direction, it is possible to sufficiently increase the frame rate even when the number of pixels increases. Additionally, since the spatial centers of gravity of the added or averaged signals are arranged at equal intervals in a Bayer array, it is possible to reduce false color (moiré) generation and suppress the decrease in the spatial resolution. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015700 | Apparatus and method for eliminating artifacts in active pixel sensor (APS) imagers - An active pixel sensor (APS) that includes circuitry to eliminate artifacts in digital images. The APS includes a comparator for comparing a signal level from a pixel to an adjusted saturation voltage to determine if the pixel is saturated. If the pixel is saturated, the signal output from the pixel is replaced with an analog voltage having a maximum value corresponding to a brightest pixel in the image. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015701 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND DEVICE - An image processing method and a device thereof are disclosed. In an image signal processor of the present invention, a process clock rate or an output clock rate for a preview mode is applied differently from a process clock rate or an output clock rate for a capture mode. When performing the capture mode, however, the process clock rate can be controlled to be the same as or larger than the output clock rate. With the present invention, the lagging can be reduced during the image processing. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015702 | ENHANCED IMAGE CAPTURING FUNCTIONALITY - The present invention may be directed to a method, image capturing device and computer program product for providing image capturing functionality as well as to a method, image capturing device and computer program product for enabling the provision of image capturing functionality. An image capturing device that may enable the provision of functionality may capture an image detects its own position and store the image as an image capturing template and position data regarding the position as associated template data to be used for the capturing of further images. An image capturing device providing such functionality may receive a user selection of a stored image for use as an image capturing template, and may present the template in a view finder of the image capturing device. The template may be presented in a semi-transparent version for allowing the template and a scene to be captured to be viewed via the view-finder. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015703 | PORTABLE TERMINAL HAVING TOUCH SENSING BASED IMAGE CAPTURE FUNCTION AND IMAGE CAPTURE METHOD THEREFOR - Disclosed is a portable terminal having a touch sensing based image capture function and image capture method therefore, the method including: displaying a preview image of an object to be captured on a touch screen; recognizing (sensing) a touch input for the preview image; setting an image capture function based on the recognized touch input; and automatically performing an image capture operation according to the set capture function. The image capture function includes setting and change for a focus area, exposure, illumination, lightness, zoom-in/zoom-out and color change. Therefore, the present invention can enable the user to freely set the focus area and to perform a single or continuous image capture operation with a simple touch, thereby being utilized in all portable devices employing the touch screen. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015704 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS - An image sensing apparatus has an image sensing element which accumulates received light as a charge, a mechanical shutter which travels to shield the image sensing element, and a scan unit which makes a scan for starting charge accumulation. The image sensing apparatus executes the scan for starting charge accumulation prior to traveling of the mechanical shutter and controls the scan for starting charge accumulation and traveling of the shutter to serve as a front curtain and a rear curtain of a shutter Note that a scan pattern setting unit ( | 2009-01-15 |
20090015705 | DRIVING DEVICE FOR REMOVING FOREIGN SUBSTANCE SUCH AS DUST AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - A driving device and an image pickup apparatus including the driving device capable of reliably detecting a vibration state of a vibrated member even when a piezoelectric element including as a control circuit an H-bridge circuit which contributes miniaturization of the circuit is employed are provided. In this driving device, a single piezoelectric member including a first driving electrode and a vibration detection electrode on a first side and a second driving electrode and a ground electrode on a second side is attached to an optical low-pass filter serving as the vibrated member so as to vibrate the optical low-pass filter. Furthermore, the vibration detection electrode is used to detect the vibration status of the optical low-pass filter. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015706 | Auto focus/zoom modules using wafer level optics - A disclosed example camera module includes a substrate, an integrated circuit image capture device (ICD) mounted on the substrate, the image capture device having an array of light sensors on its top surface, a first lens unit rigidly fixed to the top surface of the image capture device, a second lens unit, and a lens actuator mounted on the substrate. The lens actuator adjustably supports the second lens unit over the first lens unit. The first lens unit includes a stacked plurality of lenses. Optionally, the second lens unit also includes a stacked plurality of lenses. Movement of the second lens unit with respect to the first lens unit provides a focus and/or zoom function. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015707 | Method of exposure control and image pickup apparatus - A method of exposure control in an image pickup apparatus includes determining whether a zoom lens has been moved, determining whether an F value obtained from information about focal position of a focus lens linked to movement of the zoom lens has changed, estimating a variation in the focus luminance before and after a change in the F value from the F values before and after the change when the F value has been changed, changing the shutter speed determined according to a focus luminance before the change to a shutter speed determined according to the focus luminance after the change, based on the estimated variation in the focus luminance, and changing a frame rate determined according to the focus luminance before the change to a frame rate determined according to a focus luminance after the change according to the changed shutter speed. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015708 | Housing structure of a web cam - The housing of a web cam includes a main housing member and a corresponding cover for accommodating a web cam module. The rear portion of the main housing member has a space and a plurality of extensions or projections along the periphery of the space, and the cover has a fixed portion and a plurality of recesses corresponding to each of the extensions or projections of the rear portion. The main housing member further has a fixing portion at the front of the main housing member for securing to a fixing portion of the cover. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015709 | Camera and direction indicating switch - A camera includes a direction indicating switch to specify an arbitrary indicating direction which is attached to a case member. The direction indicating switch has a switch base having a contact point which is capable of abutting intermittently; an operating section held by the switch base to be capable of tilting for tilting for intermittently abutting of the contact point; and a tilt controlling section which controls a tilt of the operating section. The operating section is capable of tilting in a radial direction from a reference position where the contact point is in a nonconductive state. When the operating section is tilted over a predetermined angle from the reference position, the contact point is in a conductive state. The tilt controlling section allows the operating section to tilt over the predetermined angle in a predetermined indicating direction from the reference position and prevents the operating section from tilting over the predetermined angle in a direction different from the predetermined indicating direction from the reference position. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015710 | Method and Apparatus Converting moving Image, Method and Apparatus for Reproducing Moving Image, and Computer Program - A down-sampling operation is performed on moving image data to reduce a sample count of the data to 1/M times the original sample count. In the down-sampling operation, a band-limitation operation is performed on the moving image data using a low-pass filter. The low-pass filter has a stop band frequency that prevents a harmonic component having a K-th order or higher, of harmonic components generated in the down-sampling operation, from overlapping an original signal component. The down-sampling operation is then performed on the band-limited moving image data, thereby compressing the moving image data. Aliasing distortion caused by a harmonic component of a high order is controlled. The resulting compressed image is free from a substantial loss of a high-frequency component of the original signal. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015711 | RELAY APPARATUS AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM - A home gateway is an apparatus that transmits information, which is received from an intercom slave unit, to a plurality of appliances each having a communication function. The home gateway includes a demultiplexing circuit, a wireless communication circuit, a memory, a video codec circuit, and a CPU. The demultiplexing circuit receives information from the intercom slave unit. The wireless communication circuit communicates with the plurality of appliances. The memory stores profiles and levels. The video codec circuit converts image information received from the intercom slave unit according to a profile and a level. The CPU controls the wireless communication circuit and the video codec circuit. Thereby, various data can be transmitted regardless of structures and performance capabilities of the appliances. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015712 | FRAME INTERPOLATING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A motion vector is searched for each block of the current video frame by using a previous average motion vector within a screen as a reference motion vector, and whether or not interpolation is effective is determined by using the obtained motion vector. If the interpolation is determined to be effective, an interpolation frame is generated between the current video frame and a preceding video frame by using the obtained motion vector. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015713 | Arrangement and method for processing image data - A method includes capturing an image and providing video frame data representative of the image in a first format. The video frame data in the first format includes a plurality of pixel data, the pixel data of each pixel containing single color data. The method also includes generating pixel data of a detection block representative of a subset of the video frame data using a homographic association of pixels of the detection block to the pixel data containing single color data, wherein the pixel data of each pixel of the detection block contains multiple color data. The method further contains providing the detection block to an image detection algorithm. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015714 | System and method of demodulating audio signals - A system and method for demodulating signals are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the method includes receiving a signal at an input and determining a first noise estimate of the signal. The method also includes providing a first output indicating a second noise estimate of the signal at a primary carrier frequency and providing a second output indicating a third noise estimate of the signal at a secondary carrier frequency. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015715 | DISPLAY APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A display apparatus, includes: a display unit; a signal receiving unit which receives a video signal; a signal processing unit which processes the video signal received by the signal receiving unit to be displayed; an input unit through which a frame rate demonstration function is selectable; and a control unit which controls the signal processing unit so that the video signal is processed into an inherent frame rate of the video signal and at least one corrected frame rate which is different from the inherent frame rate to be displayed in different areas of the display unit if the frame rate demonstration function is selected through the input unit. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015716 | Method and System For Rendering Content From Two Programs Simultaneously - Methods, systems and computer readable media are disclosed that combine media content. A user is allowed to select one source for primary media content and a second source for secondary media content and combine them into one combined media content. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015717 | IMAGE RESIZER AND RESIZING METHOD - An apparatus embodiment is operative to scale video and includes an input buffer coupled to a real time source of video data and configured to hold a number of lines of video, a horizontal resizer coupled to the input buffer to resize lines of image data, outputting horizontally scaled line(s) to an intermediate buffer configured to store a number of lines. The apparatus has a vertical resizer coupled to the intermediate buffer configured to output vertically and horizontally resized lines of image data. At any given time, some of the lines in the input buffer are scheduled using the DMA controller for replacement via DMA by lines generated by the source of video data, and some or all of the remaining lines in the input buffer are available for processing by the horizontal resizer. A sufficient number of lines are available in the intermediate buffer, such that in operation, the intermediate buffer need not introduce latency. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015718 | Video processing method - A video processing apparatus obtains information describing the amount of displacement of images in multiple predetermined units (such as video durations) imaged by an imaging apparatus from an image at steady state, which is a reference, and displays the images in the multiple predetermined units in decreasing order of amounts of displacement based on the obtained information describing the amounts of displacement. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015719 | Reducing motion blur from an image - A method for reducing blur from an image is described. The method includes accessing a blurred image, wherein the blurred image has a width and a length that can be different. The method further includes converting the blurred image into a frequency domain representation of the blurred image and determining an angle of blur from the frequency domain of the blurred image. The method further includes rotating the frequency domain representation of the blurred image by the angle of blur and determining a size of the blur from the rotated frequency domain representation of the blurred image. The method further includes determining a blur kernel associated with the blur, the blur kernel comprising the angle of blur and the size of said blur and de-convoluting the blurred image according to the blur kernel to reduce the blur. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015720 | Image display control device - An image display control device is capable of performing video image correction in real time. An effective pixel evaluation area Z | 2009-01-15 |
20090015721 | METHODS AND APPARATUS USING SHARED STORAGE FOR CANNEL ERROR CORRECTION AND MULTIMEDIA DECODING AND PROCESSING IN A DIGITAL TV SYSTEM - An OFDM receiver is provided that comprises a channel decoder; a source decoder; and a memory controller coupled to the channel decoder and source decoder to control the channel decoder, the source decoder and a memory separate from the apparatus such that the memory is shared by both the channel decoder and the source decoder. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015722 | SIGNAL RECEIVING CIRCUIT ADAPTED FOR MULTIPLE DIGITAL VIDEO/AUDIO TRANSMISSION INTERFACE STANDARDS - The invention provides a signal receiving circuit applied to multiple digital video/audio transmission interface standards. The signal receiving circuit includes at least an input interface for receiving an input signal, and at least an interface circuit. The input interface includes a set of shared input terminals, a set of first separate input terminals for receiving an input signal corresponding to a first transmission specification with the set of shared input terminals, and a set of second separate input terminals for receiving an input signal corresponding to a second transmission specification with the set of shared input terminals. The interface circuit includes a control circuit coupled to the input interface for supplying a control signal, and a processing module coupled to the input interface and the control circuit for processing the input signal according to the control signal to generate an output signal. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015723 | MEDIA SWITCHING DEVICE - A High Definition Multi-media Interface (HDMI) switch emulating a Consumer Electronic Control (CEC) source device. A source device may be coupled to the HDMI switch, wherein the source device is incompatible with CEC protocol. Configuration information, e.g., a logical address corresponding to a port which couples the source device to the HDMI switch, may be determined and the result may be stored. In response to a user selection of a source device, the sink device may send a CEC message to the source device. The HDMI switch interprets the CEC message on behalf of the source device, e.g., by using the logical address. The switch then creates a logical connection between the selected source and the sink device. In this way, source devices connected to the switch are transparently visible and selectable from the sink device's menu and therefore provide the same usability as CEC devices. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015724 | BROADCASTING PROCESSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A broadcasting processing apparatus, includes: a receiver which receives an image signal; a storage unit; a decoder which decodes the image signal; a channel selection unit which is provided to select a channel; and a controller which determines whether sequence header information exists in the image signal received through the receiver and stores the sequence header information in the storage unit if the sequence header information exists in the image signal, and controls the decoder to decode the image signal by using sequence header information of the selected channel prestored in the storage unit if the sequence header information does not exist, if a selection signal to select the channel is inputted through the channel selection unit. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015725 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OUTPUTTING VIDEO FRAMES WHILE CHANGING CHANNELS WITH DIGITAL BROADCAST RECEIVER - A method and apparatus for outputting video frames while changing channels using a digital broadcast receiver are provided. The method includes sequentially tuning to a plurality of channels and receiving a plurality of digital broadcast signals from the respective channels; extracting a plurality of video frames from the respective digital broadcast signals and storing the video frames; receiving a digital broadcast signal from a desired channel to be tuned upon receiving a channel-change command; and outputting at least one of the stored video frames before a digital broadcast signal of the desired channel is output. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015726 | RECEIVER AND RECEIVING SYSTEM PROVIDED THEREWITH - In a receiving system including an analog TV | 2009-01-15 |
20090015727 | ADAPTER AND CONSUMER ELECTRONIC DEVICE FUNCTIONAL UNIT - A functional unit of a video display, a main body and a connector associated with the main body for receiving an external electrical signal that is transmitted to the video display. The main body provides a first service to connect the video display to the host, a second service to support the functional unit on a generally horizontal surface, and a communication function in addition to the function provided by the video display. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015728 | VIDEO DISPLAY DEVICE AND LUMINANCE RANGE CORRECTION METHOD - In a video display device of the present invention, a main control unit is equipped with a user interface for varying correction values set to a range correction unit and controls a range correction unit by acquiring the corresponding correction values from a storage unit in accordance with correction level information input by the user interface. The storage unit stores range correction values for the video display unit in correspondence with each piece of the correction level information input by the user interface. Thus, it is possible to correct luminance ranges to suit the user's preference without causing a large luminance reduction. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015729 | Interface Computer for a Stage Lighting System - A stage lighting system with a digital and analog part. The digital part is used to form the image, which can be, for example, a full brightness image. The analog part is used to dim the image, and to carry out failsafe operation. If an error occurs in the digital part, then the analog part prevents the image from being shown. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015730 | IMAGE PROJECTING METHOD AND PROJECTOR - A projector sets a projection range defined as the range occupied by the projection image on a screen (projected surface) and displaces the projection range in the screen coordinate system (projected surface coordinate system) in the case that an instruction on displacing the projection image is accepted. Furthermore, the projector converts the coordinates of the projection range after the displacement in the screen coordinate system into the coordinates in the panel coordinate system, thereby obtaining the location of the range on the image forming panel corresponding to the projection range on the screen. The projector deforms the image so that the original projection image is fitted in the range corresponding to the projection range, forms a panel image containing the deformed image using the image forming panel, and projects the projection image. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015731 | Monitor Opening and Closing Mechanism - A monitor opening and closing mechanism according to the present invention includes a first guide means guiding a monitor to rotate from home position to a first opened position, and a second guide means guiding the monitor to rotate from the first opened position to a second opened position where the monitor is further opened, wherein the center of rotation about which the second guide means guides the monitor to rotate is disposed more nearly to the side of the home position than the center of rotation about which the first guide means guides the monitor to rotate is disposed. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015732 | DISPLAY APPARATUS - On the display surface side of a DV display apparatus which performs image separation via a parallax barrier, a normally-white TN liquid crystal section is arranged such that a viewing angle direction heads toward the passenger seat. In a case where display is performed for both the driver's seat and the passenger seat, a drive voltage of the TN liquid crystal section is switched off. In a case where display for the driver's seat is set to non-display and an image is displayed only for the passenger seat, a halftone voltage is applied as the drive voltage of the TN liquid crystal section. In the case where display for at least one display direction is set to non-display in a display apparatus which can display different images in plural display directions by using a common display screen, it is possible to prevent image light for other directions from leaking to the non-display direction. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015733 | Retardation Film and Projection Display Apparatus - A retardation film includes a substrate, concave-and-convex regions formed on the substrate and arranged at a pitch smaller than a wavelength of visible light, each of the concave-and-convex regions having a concave portion and a convex portion, and an inorganic film formed on the concave-and-convex regions by depositing an inorganic material on the concave-and-convex regions in a direction oblique to a surface of the substrate. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015734 | PROJECTION SYSTEM WITH POLARIZATION DIRECTION ROTATING MEMBER - An exemplary projection system includes a light source unit, a polarization direction rotating member, a polarization direction restoration polarizer, an LCD panel, and a projection lens. The light source unit is configured for emitting polarized light with a first polarization direction along an axis. The polarization direction rotating member includes a solid body and a through hole defined in the solid body. The polarized light has a first portion incident on the solid body and a second portion passing through the through hole. The polarization direction rotating member is configured for rotating the first polarization direction of the first portion to a second polarization direction and allowing the second portion to pass the through hole with the first polarization direction kept unchanged. The polarization direction restoration polarizer is configured for changing the second polarization direction of the first portion to the first polarization direction. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015735 | Display source - A helmet mounted display | 2009-01-15 |
20090015736 | INTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY WITH DISPLAY - A video mirror system for a vehicle comprising an interior rearview mirror assembly having a transflective electro-optic reflective element that transmits at least about ten percent of visible light incident thereon and reflects at least about sixty percent of visible light incident thereon. A display module is disposed at a rear of the transflective electro-optic reflective element and comprises a plurality of individual light sources. A thermally conductive element may be in substantial thermal contact with the display module and is exposed at a rear casing portion of the mirror assembly so as to draw heat generated by the display module away from the display module and to the exterior of the interior rearview mirror assembly. The exposure of the thermally conductive element at the rear casing portion may be substantially not discernible to a viewer viewing the rear casing portion of the interior rearview mirror assembly. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015737 | ELECTRICALLY-DRIVEN LIQUID CRYSTAL LENS AND STEREOSCOPIC DISPLAY DEVICE USING THE SAME - An electrically-driven liquid crystal lens, and a stereoscopic display device using the same, including first and second substrates arranged opposite each other and including an active region having a plurality of lens regions and a pad region defined at an outer rim of the active region, a plurality of first electrodes formed on the first substrate to correspond to the respective lens regions and spaced apart from one another, a second electrode formed on the entire surface of the second substrate, a voltage source to apply different voltages to the plurality of first electrodes, respectively, and to apply a ground voltage to the second electrode, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015738 | Electrically-driven liquid crystal lens and stereoscopic display device using the same - An liquid crystal lens for improving a viewing angle and reducing crosstalk caused at the center of an electrode in a multi-view stereoscopic display fashion using an increased number of views per a viewing zone, and a stereoscopic display device using the same are disclosed. The display device includes a display panel having a plurality of sub-pixels in a matrix pattern to emit a 2-dimensional image signal, and an electrically-driven liquid crystal lens located at an upper surface of the display panel and including lens regions having a crosswise width equal to “m”, a multiple of a crosswise width of a single sub-pixel and a lengthwise width equal to “n”, a multiple of a lengthwise width of the sub-pixel, the lens regions of one line being shifted more than the lens regions of a following line by a distance “a” when viewed from a column direction. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015739 | Electrically-driven liquid crystal lens and display device using the same - An electrically-driven liquid crystal lens, which can reduce crosstalk caused at the center of an electrode, and a display device using the same are disclosed. The electrically-driven liquid crystal lens includes first and second substrates arranged opposite each other and defined, respectively, with a plurality of lens regions corresponding to each other, first electrodes formed on the first substrate between centers of the respective neighboring left and right lens regions on the first substrate, a black matrix layer formed on the first substrate to correspond to edges of the respective lens regions, the black matrix layer having a first width, second electrodes formed on the first substrate to correspond to the edges of the respective lens regions, the second electrodes having a second width smaller than the first width, a third electrode formed throughout the second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. | 2009-01-15 |
20090015740 | WINDOW DARKENING SYSTEM - A window darkening system that includes glass panels. Glass panels can be provided in the form of at least one side window, a windshield, and rear window. Glass panels include electrically activated liquid crystals embedded therein. A control module includes access to a power source, and a user interface provided to manipulate liquid crystals embedded within the glass panels. The liquid crystals are sandwiched between a pair of electrodes which are electrically connected to the power source via the control panel via at least one switch means. The crystals become activated and darken the windowpane when they are electrically connected to a power source via activation their activation at user interface. | 2009-01-15 |