23rd week of 2013 patent applcation highlights part 23 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20130141490 | LIQUID EJECTION HEAD, AND RECORDING METHOD AND SUCTION METHOD USING THE LIQUID EJECTION HEAD - Provided is a liquid ejection head, including: a substrate; a pressure chamber; a first common liquid chamber; a filter for inhibiting inflow of foreign matter in liquid supplied to the pressure chamber; a second common liquid chamber; a first supply opening and a second supply opening, the first supply opening communicating to the first common liquid chamber, the second supply opening communicating to the second common liquid chamber; and a liquid receiving portion formed in the second surface of the substrate in which the second common liquid chamber, the pressure chamber, and the first common liquid chamber are arranged in this order in a first direction from an end of the substrate to a center of the substrate; and the first common liquid chamber communicates to the pressure chamber via the filter, and the second common liquid chamber communicates to the pressure chamber not via the filter. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141491 | PRINTING SYSTEM WITH SELF-PURGE, SEDIMENT PREVENTION AND FUMES REMOVAL ARRANGEMENTS - A printing head assembly with integrated purge mechanism is disclosed. The printing head assembly comprises: (a) a liquid dispensing head comprising one or more dispensing nozzles enclosed in a nozzle plate, driven by at least first and second pressures, and (b) a shielding mask including an opening in front of the one or more nozzles, wherein the opening being configured such that when printing liquid is dispensed from the head driven by the first pressure, the liquid being dispensed in pulses through the opening in the shielding mask, and (ii) when purge printing liquid is dispensed from the head driven by the second pressure the liquid being drawn to a capillary gap formed between the shielding mask and the nozzle plate thereby removing the purge printing liquid from the nearby nozzles. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141492 | Ink Jet Printing - A continuous ink jet printer has a line ( | 2013-06-06 |
20130141493 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a recording head, a waste liquid receiving member, a waste liquid tank, a needle member that is connected to the waste liquid receiving member and includes a needle part that is detachably inserted into the waste liquid tank, and a fastening member that detachably fastens the needle member. The fastening member includes a lock part that locks the needle member; the needle member includes a lock lever part that locks with the lock part of the fastening member; the needle member and the fastening member include fitting parts that fit together when the needle member is rotated; and by rotating the needle member, the lock lever is locked with the lock part, the fitting parts of the needle member and the fastening member are fit together, and the needle member is fastened to the fastening member. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141494 | LIQUID DISCHARGE HEAD AND LIQUID DISCHARGE DEVICE - A liquid discharge head, contains: an energy generating element which generates thermal energy and contains a heat generation resistant layer and a pair of electrode layers whose end surfaces are separated from each other; an insulating layer covering the pair of electrode layers and the heat generation resistant layer and containing an insulating material; a protective layer provided above the insulating layer at least at a position corresponding to the energy generating element and containing a metal material containing iridium or ruthenium; and a covering layer provided at a position covering at least portions of the protective layer corresponding to the end surfaces of the pair of electrode layers in such a manner that a part of the protective layer is exposed and containing a metal material containing tantalum or niobium. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141495 | LIQUID EJECTING HEAD, LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS, AND PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT - An electrode is provided with a lanthanum nickelate film which is formed through a chemical solution deposition method using a lanthanum nickelate film forming composition which is obtained by heating a mixed solution obtained by mixing at least lanthanum acetate, nickel acetate, acetic acid, and water, a piezoelectric layer is provided on the lanthanum nickelate film and is formed of a complex oxide having a perovskite structure which contains at least Pb, Ti, and Zr, and a half-width (θ) of a peak derived from a (100) plane and/or a peak derived from a (001) plane measured using an X-ray rocking curve method is 6.0 degrees or less. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141496 | LIQUID EJECTING HEAD, LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS, AND PIEZOELECTRIC ELEMENT - A liquid ejecting head which discharges a liquid from nozzle openings includes: a piezoelectric element which is provided with a piezoelectric layer and an electrode provided on the piezoelectric layer, and the piezoelectric layer is formed of a complex oxide having a perovskite structure which contains bismuth, iron, barium, titanium, and at least one selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel, and zinc. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141497 | FLUID CONTAINER HAVING PLURALITY OF CHAMBERS, VALVES, AND AIR BAG ASSEMBLY - A fluid container includes a housing unit including a free-fluid chamber, a regulated chamber, and a plurality of valves. The free-fluid chamber is configured to store fluid. The regulated chamber includes an air bag assembly, an outlet, and a plurality of states. The air bag assembly is configured to regulate respective fluid therein and includes at least one air bag including an internal chamber having a volume capacity. The outlet is configured to transport the respective fluid from the regulated chamber. At least one of the plurality of valves is configured to selectively stop fluid communication between the regulated chamber and the free-fluid chamber based on the respective state of the regulated chamber. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141498 | INK JET INK, INK CARTRIDGE, INK JET RECORDING METHOD AND POLYMER PARTICLE - An ink jet ink containing a coloring material and a polymer particle, wherein the polymer particle has a core portion and a shell portion, the shell portion contains a copolymer A having a unit derived from a compound (a1) represented by a general formula (1) of R | 2013-06-06 |
20130141499 | CARTRIDGES AND RECORDING APPARATUSES - A cartridge includes a substrate and an engagement portion. The first surface faces a first direction and has a first surface on which an electrical terminal is disposed. The engagement portion includes a second surface disposed upstream from the substrate in the first direction and a third surface. The second surface faces a second direction, which forms an obtuse angle with the first direction. The third surface faces a third direction, which forms an acute angle with the first direction. The third surface does not overlap with the substrate in the first direction and the third surface is disposed downstream from the second surface in the first direction, | 2013-06-06 |
20130141500 | FIXER COMPOSITION - A fixer composition is disclosed herein. An example of the fixer composition includes from about 5 wt % to about 25 wt % of a co-solvent, from about 1 wt % to about 20 wt % of a calcium salt, from about 0.01 wt % to about 0.6 wt % of a sulfonated chelating agent, and a balance of water. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141501 | NON-AQUEOUS CLEANING LIQUID AND CLEANING METHOD - A non-aqueous cleaning liquid which is used for cleaning an ink flow path, through which a non-aqueous ink is circulated, in an ink jet recording apparatus including the ink flow path and with which a container composed of polyolefin is filled, includes a pigment and an organic solvent. In the non-aqueous cleaning liquid, a content of the pigment is 0.001% by mass to 0.5% by mass and an average particle size (d50) of the pigment is 10 nm to 500 nm. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141502 | Liquid Ejecting Head - Disclosed herein is a liquid ejecting head in which a liquid introducing portion includes a liquid introducing flow passage which introduces a liquid from a liquid storage member having the liquid stored therein, a bubble chamber which accommodates a bubble entrained into the liquid introducing flow passage and a filter that is provided at a bottom of the bubble chamber, and a liquid ejecting head main body which introduces the liquid from the liquid introducing portion to a pressure chamber through a liquid flow passage and is able to discharge the liquid in the pressure chamber from nozzles as liquid droplets, wherein a lyophobic region having a lyophobic property is provided on a surface of the filter facing the bubble chamber side. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141503 | IMAGE RECORDING METHOD, AND SET OF INK JET INK AND LIQUID COMPOSITION - An image recording method including applying an ink containing a coloring material and a polymer particle to a recording medium from a recording head of an ink jet system and applying a liquid composition which destabilizes a dispersed state of the polymer particle in the ink to at least a part of a region of the recording medium where the ink is applied, wherein the polymer particle in the ink has core and shell portions, the shell portion contains a copolymer A having a unit (50-90% mass) derived from a compound (a1) represented by a general formula (1) or (2) and a unit (10-50% mass) derived from an α,β-unsaturated hydrophobic compound (a2), and the core portion contains a polymer of an α,β-unsaturated hydrophobic compound (b). | 2013-06-06 |
20130141504 | LIGHT-CURABLE INK COMPOSITION FOR INK JET RECORDING AND INK JET RECORDING METHOD USING THE SAME - A light-curable ink composition for ink jet recording contains a coloring material, a polymerizable compound, and a photopolymerization initiator. The coloring material contains at least C.I. Pigment Yellow 155, and the polymerizable compound contains at least a vinyl-ether-containing (meth)acrylate represented by general formula (I) below: | 2013-06-06 |
20130141505 | ACTINIC ENERGY RADIATION CURABLE INKJET INK AND ACTINIC ENERGY RADIATION CURABLE INKJET RECORDING METHOD - Provided are an actinic energy radiation curable ink, which can achieve a high fineness and natural glossiness when recording is carried out onto a non-absorptive recording medium such as a film or a laminated paper or a slightly absorptive recording medium such as a coated paper; and an actinic energy radiation curable inkjet recording method. This actinic energy radiation curable ink, which is to be used in inkjet recording, is characterized by: said actinic energy radiation curable ink undergoing reversible sol/gel phase transition depending on temperature; said actinic energy radiation curable ink containing from 1% or more by mass to less than 10% by mass of a gelling agent; and, at temperature Tm (° C.) that is separately defined, the storage elastic modulus (G′) of the actinic energy radiation curable ink being from 0.1 or more Pa to less than 1000 Pa and the storage elastic modulus (G′) being smaller than the loss elastic modulus (G″) thereof. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141506 | LIGHT SCANNING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - A light scanning includes an adjusting unit that displaces the optical member to adjust the optical axis of the laser beam. The adjusting unit includes a shaft portion, a shaft supporting portion, a turning portion, a driving portion, and a turning damping unit. The shaft portion is configured to bidirectionally move in a first direction and in a second direction while turning. The first direction is a direction where the shaft portion approaches the optical member. The second direction is a direction where the shaft portion moves away from the optical member. The shaft supporting portion supports the shaft portion, and moves the shaft portion in accordance with turning of the shaft portion. The turning portion turns the shaft portion. The driving portion turns the turning portion. The turning damping unit damps a turning force applied to the shaft portion by an external force. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141507 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THERMAL HEAD, AND THERMAL PRINTER - A method of manufacturing a thermal head, comprising the steps of: bonding a support substrate and an upper substrate, which have a flat shape, together in a laminated state, the support substrate and the upper substrate having opposed surfaces, at least one of which includes a concave portion; thinning the upper substrate bonded onto the support substrate; a measurement step of measuring a thickness of the thinned upper substrate; determining a target resistance value of a heating resistor from the following expression based on the measured thickness of the upper substrate; and forming the heating resistor having the target resistance value at a position opposed to the concave portion, Rh=R | 2013-06-06 |
20130141508 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THERMAL HEAD, AND THERMAL PRINTER AND METHOD OF DRIVING THE SAME - A method of manufacturing a thermal head, comprising the steps of: bonding a support substrate and an upper substrate, which have a flat shape, together in a laminated state, the support substrate and the upper substrate having opposed surfaces, at least one of which includes a heat-insulating concave portion; thinning the upper substrate bonded onto the support substrate in the bonding step; measuring a thickness of the upper substrate thinned in the thinning step; forming an identifying resistor having a resistance value varied in accordance with the thickness of the upper substrate measured in the measurement step, the identifying resistor including one end grounded; and forming a heating resistor on a surface of the upper substrate thinned in the thinning step at a position opposed to the heat-insulating concave portion. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141509 | LASER SCANNING UNIT AND COLOR IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A laser scanning unit and a color image forming apparatus using the laser scanning unit. The laser scanning unit includes a deflector that is rotatable to deflect a plurality of light beams that are incident on the deflector from a plurality of light sources at an angle with respect to a sub-scanning direction; at least one optical path changing member to change an optical path of each of the light beams deflected by the deflector; and a first f-θ lens to focus the light beam that passes through the optical path changing member onto a corresponding scanning target surface. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141510 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING POLYGON MIRROR FORMED WITH A PLURALITY OF REFLECTION SURFACES - An image forming apparatus includes: a polygon mirror formed with a plurality of reflection surfaces, and a generating device configured to generate a pulse signal required to modulate a laser beam based on image data. The generating device is further configured to generate a pulse signal by inserting or deleting a pulse signal having a width smaller than a width of a pulse signal corresponding to one pixel of the image data into or from a pulse signal corresponding to the image data based on information associated with deviation amounts between lengths of scanning lines formed by the plurality of reflection surfaces and a reference value, so as to adjust the lengths of the scanning lines formed by the plurality of reflection surfaces to be closer to the reference value. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141511 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging unit configured to charge the photosensitive member, an exposure unit configured to expose the charged photosensitive member with first laser power to generate a non-image portion potential in a non-image portion of the photosensitive member and with second laser power different from the first laser power to generate an image portion potential in an image portion of the photosensitive member, a development unit configured to form a developer image by applying a developer to a portion of the image portion potential, a control unit configured to control the laser power of the exposure unit, and a storage unit configured to store information about the photosensitive member obtained when the photosensitive member is brand-new. The control unit changes an output of the first laser power according to the information about the photosensitive member stored in the storage unit. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141512 | LASER REWRITING APPARATUS - A laser rewriting apparatus positioned on one side or the other side of a conveyance path through which a to-be-conveyed object on which a thermoreversible recording medium is affixed is conveyed in a predetermined conveyance direction. The laser rewriting apparatus emits laser light to the thermoreversible recording medium and rewrites an image. The laser writing apparatus includes an image erasing apparatus that emits laser light to the thermoreversible recording medium and erases the image from the thermoreversible recording medium; and an image recording apparatus positioned on the predetermined conveyance direction downstream side of the image erasing apparatus and records a new image by emitting laser light to the thermoreversible recording medium. The image erasing apparatus and the image recording apparatus have the respective laser light emitting parts from which the laser light is emitted at ends on the same side with respect to the predetermined conveyance direction. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141513 | VIDEO MESSAGING - A method for video messaging includes recording a video message, at a device, for a recipient; and selecting a contact as a recipient of the video message, at the device, without requiring typing at the device. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141514 | METHOD FOR SWITCHING VIDEO CALLS BETWEEN DEVICES - A method for switching a call with video or at least one image between a first communication device and a display device is disclosed. The method includes the first communication device determining whether the display device is within a predetermined distance from the first communication device; if the display device is within the predetermined distance from the first communication device, the first communication device obtaining functional information from the display device; the first communication device transmitting communication information corresponding to a second communication device to the display device; and the display device launching network communication software and making a first call to the second communication device according to the communication information. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141515 | AUGMENTING A VIDEO CONFERENCE - A computer-implemented method for augmenting a video conference between a first device and a second device. The method includes: receiving a selection of a selectable animation, via a selection of a selectable animation representation, at the first device, wherein the selectable animation is configured for augmenting the video conference; and incorporating the selection of the selectable animation into the video conference. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141516 | IN-CALL COMMAND CONTROL - Systems and methods are described that provide both a network-based, e.g., cloud-based, and apparatus based in-call command control for dynamically performing user commands such as voice commands or gesture commands. The result allows for hands free operation of a calling system including one where the user is located separate from a base station. The systems and methods provide for recognizing both voice and gestural commands. The systems and methods further provide for dynamically filtering commands so that commands are not perceived by those participating in the call. Further, the systems and methods provide for notifying the user, who has given the command, regarding the performance of the requested command. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141517 | COLLABORATION SYSTEM & METHOD - A network apparatus in a collaboration system with a plurality of participants, the apparatus comprising: a processing structure; and a memory including computer program code, wherein the memory and the computer program code are configured, with the processing structure, to cause the network apparatus to at least: present content on a display coupled to the processing structure; select a portion of the display for sharing, the portion having the shared content; simultaneously send said shared content to said display and to an encoder for encoding; automatically discover a network server configured to distribute the shared content with the plurality of participants; couple the apparatus to the network server and transmit the shared content to the network server for distribution to at least one of the plurality of participants, such that the shared content is encoded and decoded, and displayed in real-time. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141518 | VIDEO BANDWIDTH OPTIMIZATION - In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at a network device, video from a first endpoint, analyzing the video received from the first endpoint, processing video received from a second endpoint based on the analyzed video to optimize bandwidth between the network device and the first endpoint, and transmitting the processed video to the first endpoint. An apparatus is also disclosed. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141519 | TELEPRESENCE APPARATUS FOR IMMERSION OF A HUMAN IMAGE IN A PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT - A telepresence device allows a remote meeting participant to establish a telepresence at a remote meeting location. The telepresence device provides a video image of the remote meeting participant on a video display screen at a meeting location To enhance the visual sensation that the remote person is present at the meeting location, the telepresence device may display the silhouette image of the remote meeting participant without the image of the background scene of the remote participant's location (e.g., office, home or home office). Further, the telepresence device may be equipped with a rear-facing camera that captures a video image of the background scene behind the telepresence device at the meeting location. The silhouette image of the remote meeting participant may be superimposed on the video image of the background scene at the meeting location, which is captured by the rear-facing camera. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141520 | LANE TRACKING SYSTEM - A lane tracking system for a motor vehicle includes a camera and a lane tracking processor. The camera is configured to receive image of a road from a wide-angle field of view and generate a corresponding digital representation of the image. The lane tracking processor is configured to receive the digital representation of the image from the camera and to: detect one or more lane boundaries, each lane boundary including a plurality of lane boundary points; convert the plurality of lane boundary points into a Cartesian vehicle coordinate system; and fit a reliability-weighted model lane line to the plurality of points. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141521 | IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An image processing system comprises a still camera arranged at a first width of viewing angle, and operable to capture a still image, a video camera having a lower resolution than the still camera, and arranged at a second width of viewing angle narrower than that of the still camera, and operable to capture a video image, a shutter release control unit for initiating capture of a still image by the still camera, a reference signal source operable to transmit a reference signal for controlling the timing of video image capture by the video camera, and an image capture and processing unit operable to receive images captured by the still camera and the video camera, with the still camera and the video camera being arranged in a pair having a pre-set physical relation to each other; and upon receipt of a triggering input, the shutter release control unit is operable to release a shutter of the still camera responsive to the next reference signal from the reference signal source, and the image capture and processing unit is operable to associate a same time code with a still image and a video image generated responsive to the same reference signal. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141522 | HIGH-RESOLUTION, VARIABLE DEPTH OF FIELD IMAGE DEVICE - A high-resolution image device that is used to receive images in a variable depth of field environment may include a color image sensor, a panchromatic image sensor, and a measuring device. The color image sensor may be configured to receive a color image of an object. Similarly, a synchronous panchromatic image may be received by the panchromatic image sensor. The image device may be configured to replace a luminance component from the original color image with a luminance component from the panchromatic image. The measuring device may be configured to measure a distance between the image sensors and the object, such that the image device may be configured to use the distance to account for the effect of parallax. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141523 | Apparatus and Method for Panoramic Video Hosting - A server includes an input node to receive video streams forming a panoramic video. A module forms a suggested field of view in the panoramic video. An output node sends the suggested field of view to a client device. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141524 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CAPTURING A PANORAMIC IMAGE - A method and apparatus for facilitating the capturing of panoramic images with a portable device. Such panoramic images are typically formed of multiple image portions taking as the camera is scanned through a range of motion, and the image portions are digitally “stitched” together to form a panoramic image. A user interface is provided to guide a user in positioning and/or moving of the portable device in a manner that will enable capture of a plurality of images suited for forming the intended panoramic image. In many examples, parameters of the panoramic image capturing operation, such as movement and/or positioning of the camera during the operation will be monitored in real time, and the monitored parameters will be used to provide feedback to the user as to any adjustments that may improve the image capture process. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141525 | IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD - An image processing system comprises a first video camera arranged to have a first width of field of view, and operable to capture a first image, a second video camera arranged to have a second width of field of view narrower than that of the first video camera, and operable to capture a second image substantially at the same time that the first camera captures the first image, and an image processing unit operable to access scene geometry for a known scene, with the first video camera and the second video camera being arranged in a pre-set positional relation to each other; the image processing unit is arranged in operation to map scene geometry onto the first image captured by the first video camera, and the image processing unit is arranged in operation to map onto the second image captured by the second video camera at least part of the scene geometry mapped onto the first image, in dependence upon the pre-set positional relation of the first and second video cameras and their respective widths of field of view. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141526 | Apparatus and Method for Video Image Stitching - A method includes collecting a first image from a first video camera of a test pattern and a second image from a second video camera of the test pattern. The first image and the second image have an overlap region. The overlap region is evaluated to generate calibration parameters that accommodate for any vertical, horizontal or rotational misalignment between the first image and the second image. Calibration parameters are applied to video streams from the first video camera and the second video camera. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141527 | Video Display Device, Head-Mounted Display and Head-up Display - A video display device is provided with a light source, a display element, and an eyepiece optical system ( | 2013-06-06 |
20130141528 | STEREOSCOPIC VIDEO TEMPORAL FRAME OFFSET MEASUREMENT - A stereoscopic video temporal frame offset measurement system uses an improved signature curve generator to generate a robust signature curve for each of the left and right image sequences of a stereo video signal. The resulting signature curves are cross-correlated over a specified correlation range to generate cross-correlation coefficients. The cross-correlation coefficients are compared to a high threshold, and a temporal frame offset is generated and displayed for each cross-correlation coefficient that exceeds the high threshold. Each new temporal frame offset result is highlighted when displayed, otherwise the last result is displayed in a background fashion. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141529 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING MULTI-CHANNEL VIDEO - An approach is provided for generating multi-channel video. A media platform segments a plurality of media items into one or more media segments based on a plurality of viewpoints of at least one event. The media platform then generates a plurality of media channels for respective one or more plurality of viewpoints. The plurality of media channels compiles the one or more media segments that depict the respective one or more of the plurality of viewpoints. The media platform then compiles the plurality of media channels into a multi-channel media item. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141530 | System and Method to Digitally Replace Objects in Images or Video - A method includes receiving video data and identifying a second object in at least one video frame of the video data. The method also includes determining whether to replace the second object in the at least one video frame with a first object based on at least one object matching rule. In response to determining that the second object is to be replaced with the first object, the method includes manipulating the three-dimensional model of the first object to generate a representation of the first object that matches at least one visual property of the second object and replacing the second object with the representation of the first object in the at least one video frame. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141531 | COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT, COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM, COMPRESSION METHOD AND APPARATUS OF DEPTH MAP IN 3D VIDEO - A compression method and apparatus of depth map in a 3D video are provided. The compression apparatus includes an edge detection module, a homogenizing module, and a compression encoding module. An edge detection is performed on a depth map of a frame in the 3D video. When at least one macroblock in the frame with no object edge passing through is found, a homogenizing processing is performed on the at least one macroblock. And then the depth map is encoded. Therefore, data quantity might be decreased when the depth map is compressed and encoded according to the present disclosure. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141532 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus and an image processing method are provided to improve the degree of definition of an image when the image includes a 3D image. The image processing apparatus includes: an image receiver which receives an image signal; an image format detector which detects a format of the received image signal; an image processor which improves a degree of definition of the received image signal; and a controller which controls the image processor to improve the degree of definition of a left eye image and a right eye image according to the detected format of the image signal if the detected format of the image signal includes a 3D image in which the left eye image and the right eye image are displayed together in a single screen. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141533 | DIGITAL BROADCASTING RECEPTION METHOD CAPABLE OF DISPLAYING STEREOSCOPIC IMAGE, AND DIGITAL BROADCASTING RECEPTION APPARATUS USING SAME - A digital broadcast receiving apparatus for displaying a stereoscopic image includes a demultiplexing unit configured to demultiplex a received digital broadcast signal; a PSIP or PSI/SI processor configured to extract extension view video information from the demultiplexed digital broadcast signal; a decoder configured to decode an extension view video stream and a base view video stream from the demultiplexed digital broadcast signal; and an output formatting unit configured to format the extension view video stream and the base view video stream based on the extension view video information. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141534 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND METHOD - A mode determining unit of a reproducing device determines a compatible mode indicating compatibility with an image data format by referring to the format of 3D image data to be used for generating a multi-view image. A 3D information generating unit generates compatibility information indicating the determined compatible mode as 3D information. A communication unit transmits the 3D image data and the 3D information to a display device. A communication unit of the display device receives the transmitted 3D image data, and receives the compatibility information as the 3D information. A mode determining unit determines the compatible mode of the 3D image data from the 3D information. Based on the determined compatible mode, a synchronization control unit controls synchronization of processing of the 3D image data. The technique can be applied to image processing devices, for example, to transmit image data to generate multi-view images. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141535 | ENCODING DEVICE, ENCODING METHOD, DECODING DEVICE, AND DECODING METHOD - The present technology relates to an encoding device, an encoding method, a decoding device, and a decoding method capable of suppressing the amount of information without degrading the image quality of an image of a viewpoint that is used when the compatibility is secured in a case where a multi-viewpoint image is encoded. A compatible encoder generates a compatible stream by encoding an image A | 2013-06-06 |
20130141536 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RECEIVING DIGITAL BROADCASTING SIGNAL - The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for receiving a digital broadcasting signal including a three-dimensional image and displaying a two-dimensional image. The apparatus for receiving the digital broadcasting signal according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a tuner for receiving the digital broadcasting signal including a video stream for forming the three-dimensional image and signaling data; a signaling data processor for decoding the digital broadcasting signal including a 2D display window table, which includes information for a partial area of a video image according to the video stream; and a display unit for displaying the video image of the video stream as the two-dimensional image using the information for the partial area. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141537 | Methodology For Performing Depth Estimation With Defocused Images Under Extreme Lighting Conditions - A methodology for performing a depth estimation procedure with defocused images under extreme lighting conditions includes a camera device with a sensor for capturing blur images of a photographic target under extreme lighting conditions. The extreme lighting conditions may include over-exposed conditions and/or under-exposed conditions. The camera device also includes a depth generator that performs the depth estimation procedure by utilizing the captured blur images. The depth estimation procedure includes a clipped-pixel substitution procedure to compensate for the extreme lighting conditions. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141538 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DEPTH FROM DEFOCUS IMAGING - An imaging system includes a positionable device configured to axially shift an image plane, wherein the image plane is generated from photons emanating from an object and passing through a lens, a detector plane positioned to receive the photons of the object that pass through the lens, and a computer programmed to characterize the lens as a mathematical function, acquire two or more elemental images of the object with the image plane of each elemental image at different axial positions with respect to the detector plane, determine a focused distance of the object from the lens, based on the characterization of the lens and based on the two or more elemental images acquired, and generate a depth map of the object based on the determined distance. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141539 | MONOCULAR STEREOSCOPIC IMAGING DEVICE - The monocular stereoscopic imaging device according to one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter includes: an imaging optical system including a zoom lens and a diaphragm; a pupil dividing unit configured to divide a light flux having passed through a imaging optical system into multiple light fluxes; an imaging unit configured to receive the multiple light fluxes, so as to continuously acquire a left-eye image and a right-eye image; and a controlling unit configured to control a zoom lens driving unit to move the zoom lens in accordance with an instruction of changing the focus distance, and configured to control the diaphragm driving unit to maintain at a substantially constant level a stereoscopic effect of the left-eye image and the right-eye image three-dimensionally displayed on a display unit before and after the zoom lens is moved. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141540 | TARGET LOCATING METHOD AND A TARGET LOCATING SYSTEM - A target locating method and a target locating system. Images of a target area are recorded utilizing recording devices carried by a vehicle. The recorded images of the target area are matched with a corresponding three dimensional area of a three dimensional map including transferring a target indicator from the recorded images of the target area to the three dimensional map of the corresponding target area. The coordinates of the target indicator position are read in the three dimensional map. The read coordinates of the target indicator position are made available for position requiring equipment. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141541 | COMPACT CAMERA ACTUATOR AND COMPACT STEREO-SCOPIC IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHING DEVICE - The purpose of the present invention is to provide a compact three-dimensional image photographing device capable of adjusting the first angle of view on an object being picked up on the image sensor by adjusting the space between two lenses by moving the two lenses horizontally, left and right. The compact three-dimensional image photographing device of the present invention comprises a case; a first holder and a second holder mounted spaced apart from each other on the left and right sides in the case so that the holders can move in the left and right directions, each of the holders having a compact camera actuator therein; a guide shaft, passing through the first and second holders and thus mounted on the case, for guiding the left and right movements of the first holder and the second holder; and left and right driving portions, mounted respectively on the first holder and the second holder, for moving the first holder and the second holder left and right. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141542 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECT DETECTION DEVICE AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECT DETECTION METHOD - A three-dimensional object detection device | 2013-06-06 |
20130141543 | INTELLIGENT IMAGE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM USING NETWORK CAMERA AND METHOD THEREFOR - An intelligent control system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a plurality of network cameras to photograph a surveillance area; an image gate unit to perform image processing of image data, which is input from the plurality of network cameras, according to a specification that is requested by a user; a smart image providing unit to convert a plurality of image streams, which are image processed by the image gate unit, to a single image stream; and an image display unit to generate a three-dimensional (3D) image by segmenting, into a plurality of images, the single image stream that is input from the smart image providing unit and by disposing the segmented images on corresponding positions on a 3D modeling. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141544 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An information processing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit configured to output a maximum tone value for each tone point at which exposure exceeds a saturation light amount; a calculation unit configured to calculate individual tone intersections by interpolating tone distributions of a first and second luminance pattern lights that were output by the image capturing unit; and a light quantity adjustment unit configured to adjust the quantity of light that enters the image sensor such that the tone values of tone points that are adjacent to the tone intersections and are used in calculation of the individual tone intersections are lower than the maximum tone value, and the tone value of at least one tone point other than the adjacent tone points is equal to the maximum tone value. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141545 | METHOD FOR CALIBRATING A MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD - The invention relates to a method for calibrating a measurement system having at least one image recording apparatus ( | 2013-06-06 |
20130141546 | ENVIRONMENT RECOGNITION APPARATUS - An apparatus capable of improving the estimation accuracy of information on a subject including a distance up to the subject is provided. According to an environment recognition apparatus | 2013-06-06 |
20130141547 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - An image processing apparatus acquires camera images captured by cameras mounted in a vehicle, specifies a position of each pixel of an image lower than a horizontal line among the acquired camera images on a bottom surface of a virtual projection plane that is a hemisphere of an infinite circle with a planar bottom surface, specifies a position of each pixel of an image higher than the horizontal line on a hemisphere surface of the virtual projection plane, specifies a position of a pixel of each camera images specified on the virtual projection plane on a stereoscopic projection plane, specifies each position on an image frame corresponding to the position of the pixel of each camera images specified on the stereoscopic projection plane based on a predetermined point of view position and renders a value of a pixel of a corresponding camera images at each specified position. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141548 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ESTABLISHING 3D OBJECT - A method for establishing a 3D object includes the following steps. Multiple featured patches, with different textured features, on the surface of an object are captured and stored. An image capture unit is utilized to detect the featured patches on the surface of the object. A processing unit is utilized to build a spatial relationship matrix corresponding to the featured patches according to detected space information of the featured patches. The processing unit is utilized to trace and describe the object according to the spatial relationship matrix. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141549 | Method for Producing a Digital Photo Wherein at Least Some of the Pixels Comprise Position Information, and Such a Digital Photo - Method for producing a digital photo comprising pixels, wherein at least some of the pixels comprise position information, the method comprising of: taking a photo with a known geometry of the optical system with which the photo is taken; recording the position from which the photo has been taken; recording the direction in which the photo has been taken; providing a three-dimensional model comprising points which are comprised by at least an outer surface of an object in the field of view of the position where the photo has been taken, wherein the points comprise position information; relating a pixel on the one hand and a corresponding point in the three-dimensional model on the other; and recording, in a manner associated with the pixel, the position information of the corresponding pixel. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141550 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR SELECTING A STEREOSCOPIC IMAGING VIEWPOINT PAIR | 2013-06-06 |
20130141551 | MOBILE TERMINAL AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A mobile terminal which reproduces a video including image data and audio data and a control method thereof are provided. The mobile terminal which reproduces a video including image data and audio data includes a display unit configured to display an image corresponding to the image data based on a reproduction command with respect to the video, a subtitle processing unit configured to output subtitles related to the video along with the image to the display unit, and a controller configured to control the subtitle processing unit to change a display format of the subtitles according to sound characteristics of the audio data related to the image. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141552 | POLARIZED GLASSES TYPE STEREOSCOPIC IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE AND FABRICATION METHOD THEREOF - According to a polarized glasses type stereoscopic image display device and a fabrication method thereof in accordance with the present invention, a light blocking pattern may be formed on a rear surface of the color filter substrate to enhance vertical viewing angle and aperture ratio. Moreover a light blocking pattern may be formed of a metal having a large hardness instead of resin BM and a step height from the rear surface ITO may be removed to prevent a scratch due to an abrasive belt. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141553 | LIGHT SOURCE MODULE FOR STEREOSCOPIC DISPLAY, IMAGING DEVICE FOR STEREOSCOPIC DISPLAY AND STEREOSCOPIC DISPLAY SYSTEM - A light source module for stereoscopic display includes multi-primary color lasers which output the light with the same polarization direction. Respective lasers are divided into two groups according to the wavelengths of the output light. A light combiner is provided in the output light path of each laser group and is used for combining the output light of all lasers in the group into one output light path. The light source module further includes a polarization conversion rotary member, and the polarization direction of the two output light is periodically and alternately rotated by | 2013-06-06 |
20130141554 | INDEPENDENT BEACON BASED LIGHT POSITION SYSTEM - Systems an methods are provided that disclose providing a positioning service for devices based on light received from one or more light sources. This light based positioning service uses light information transmitted by each light source to determine the position of the device. The positioning information can include three dimension position information in a building that can then be used to deliver services and information to a mobile device. The content delivered to a mobile device can include multimedia, text, audio, and/or pictorial information. The positioning information along with other location or positioning information can be used in providing augmented reality or location aware services. The light sources can be independent beacons that broadcast information in visible light at a rate that is undetectable by the human eye. Content can be retrieved from a server over a communications connection. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141555 | CONTENT DELIVERY BASED ON A LIGHT POSITIONING SYSTEM - Systems an methods are provided that disclose providing a positioning service for devices based on light received from one or more light sources. This light based positioning service uses light information transmitted by each light source to determine the position of the device. The positioning information can include three dimension position information in a building that can then be used to deliver services and information to a mobile device. The content delivered to a mobile device can include multimedia, text, audio, and/or pictorial information. The positioning information along with other location or positioning information can be used in providing augmented reality or location aware services. The light sources can be independent beacons that broadcast information in visible light at a rate that is undetectable by the human eye. Content can be retrieved from a server over a communications connection. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141556 | VIEWING AID WITH TRACKING SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF USE - A viewing aid includes a camera, a viewing surface within a field of view of the camera, a memory, a display, and software programmed to track a tracking element within the field of view. Viewing material is placed on the viewing surface. The camera, viewing surface, and material all remain substantially stationary. The camera captures and stores an initial image of the material in the memory. The software then tracks the location of a tracking element within the field of view then maps the location to a portion of the initial image in memory using an X-Y coordinate system, and/or identifies character elements of the material adjacent the tracking element then maps the character elements to corresponding character elements of the initial image in memory. An enhanced image is then displayed on the display corresponding to the mapped portion of the initial image. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141557 | Adapter for endoscope, processor for endoscope and endoscope system - An adapter for endoscope includes: an image pickup device driving signal generation circuit; an image signal output circuit; an endoscope identification information reception circuit receiving endoscope ID information; a ROM storing adapter ID information about the adapter; a flash memory storing parameters for adjustment; and a control section performing control to store the parameters for adjustment into the flash memory according to a command from a processor to write the parameters for adjustment, and read the parameters for adjustment stored in the flash memory and output the parameters for adjustment stored in the flash memory to the processor according to a command from the processor to read the parameters for adjustment. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141558 | HANDPIECE WITH INTEGRATED OPTICAL SYSTEM FOR PHOTOTHERMAL RADIOMETRY AND LUMINESCENCE MEASUREMENTS - An apparatus is provided for performing photothermal measurements on a object. The apparatus, which may be provided as a handpiece, houses optical components including a laser, an infrared detector, a dichroic beamsplitter, and focusing and beam directing optics for the delivery of a laser beam to, and the collection of photothermal radiation from, a measured object. Some of the optical components may be provided on an optical bench that is directly attached to a thermally conductive tip portion for the passive heat sinking of internal optical components. The apparatus may further include a sampling optical element and a photodetector for the detection of luminescence, and a camera for obtaining an image of the object during a diagnostic procedure. The apparatus may be employed for the scanning of a tooth to determine an oral health status of the tooth. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141559 | ADAPTIVE MULTI-MODAL INTEGRATED BIOMETRIC IDENTIFICATION DETECTION AND SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS - A surveillance system is provided that includes at least one sensor disposed in a security area of a surveillance region to sense an occurrence of a potential security breach event; a plurality of cameras is disposed in the surveillance region; at least one camera thereof has a view of the security area and can be configured to automatically gather biometric information concerning at least one subject person in the vicinity of the security area in response to the sensing of a potential security breach event; one or more other of the plurality of cameras can be configured to search for the at least one subject person; a processing system is programmed to produce a dossier corresponding to the at least one subject person to match biometric information of one or more persons captured by one or more of the other cameras with corresponding biometric information in the dossier. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141560 | MULTIMODAL OCULAR BIOMETRIC SYSTEM - A multimodal biometric identification system captures and processes images of both the iris and the retina for biometric identification. Another multimodal ocular system captures and processes images of the iris and/or the from both eyes of a subject. Biometrics based on data provided by these systems are more accurate and robust than using biometrics that include data from only the iris or only the retina from a single eye. An exemplary embodiment emits photons to the iris and the retina of both eyes, an iris image sensor that captures an image of the iris when the iris reflects the emitted light, a retina image sensor that captures an image of the retina when the retina reflects the emitted light, and a controller that controls the iris and the retina illumination sources, where the captured image of the iris and the captured image of the retina contain biometric data. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141561 | METHOD OF ANALYZING LINEARITY OF SHOT IMAGE, IMAGE OBTAINING METHOD, AND IMAGE OBTAINING APPARATUS - Provided is a method of analyzing a linearity of a shot image, including: irradiating a biological sample having a fluorescent label with an excitation light, the excitation light exciting the fluorescent label, and exposing an image sensor to light while moving a focus position of an optical system including an objective lens in an optical-axis direction and in a direction orthogonal to the optical-axis direction; and analyzing a gamma value for an imaging environment based on a brightness distribution of one bright-point image in a real-shot-image obtained by the image sensor. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141562 | MICROSCOPE - A microscope according to the present invention includes an imaging unit including a first illuminating unit, an imaging element, and a projection optical system, the first illuminating unit including a light source that illuminates a first object, the imaging element performing imaging of the first object, the projection optical system projecting an image of the first object onto the imaging element; a measuring unit configured to measure a second object for setting an imaging condition used when performing imaging of the second object at the imaging unit; and a controller configured to concurrently perform the imaging of the first object at the imaging unit and the measurement of the second object at the measuring unit. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141563 | IMAGE FORMING DEVICE AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - The purpose of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and a computer program such that extraction of information about distortion in a charged particle beam scan area can be implemented. An embodiment for achieving the purpose proposes: an image forming apparatus that integrates image data obtained by a charged particle beam apparatus and that calculates, from a plurality of images with different scan directions of the charged particle beam apparatus, first information about the amount of change in a feature quantity in accordance with the time of irradiation of the charged particle beam, second information about the amount of change in the feature quantity before and after a change in beam scan direction, and/or third information about a position error of a pattern on the image before and after the change in beam scan direction; and a computer program for causing a computing apparatus to perform the above process. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141564 | PIEZOELECTRIC MOTOR, DRIVING DEVICE, ELECTRONIC COMPONENT INSPECTION DEVICE, ELECTRONIC COMPONENT CONVEYING DEVICE, PRINTING DEVICE, ROBOT HAND, AND ROBOT - A vibrating body which is formed of a piezoelectric material and has a convex portion in an end surface is accommodated in a vibrating body case, the convex portion of the vibrating body is pressed against an object along with the vibrating body case, and the vibrating body vibrates to drive the object. An end surface of a front-side pressure spring which presses the vibrating body case against a slide portion of a base is fitted into the vibrating body case such that the vibrating body case does not escape due to a reaction force during driving. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141565 | Method and System for Location Determination and Navigation using Structural Visual Information - Methods and systems for location determination using structural visual information may comprise receiving global navigation satellite system (GNSS) signals in a wireless device (WD) for determining a first position of the WD. One ore more images of a structure or structures near the WD may be captured and a position may be determined based on a comparison of the structures in the images to structures in a stored database. The database may be pre-stored based on a known future location of a user of the WD. The database may be downloaded and stored when insufficient GNSS signals are present. The database may comprise a plurality of images or may comprise video of structures. A distance from the structures may be determined based on known optical properties of a camera in the WD, and may be used to determine an accurate location based on the images. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141566 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MACHINE VISION COUNTING AND ANNOTATION - A method of processing graphical image data representing optically scanned medication-related units may include receiving image data generated responsive to an application of light to a tray disposed a distance from an image acquisition component. The application of light may distinguish a background field from a plurality of the units disposed on the tray. The method may further include processing the image data to identify objects that correspond to respective ones of the units from the background field, counting the objects identified as corresponding to respective ones of the units, and generating an annotated image including at least a sequential number associated each one of the objects identified as corresponding to respective ones of the units. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141567 | MOBILE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE PROVIDING GUIDE DIRECTION INDICATOR FOR NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION (NFC) INITIATION AND RELATED METHODS - A mobile device may include a display, an optical sensor having a field of view, a movement sensor, a first near-field communication (NFC) device, and a controller. The controller may be configured to display the field of view of the optical sensor on the display, locate a second NFC device within the field of view, and display a direction indicator(s) on the display to indicate a guide direction of movement to align the first NFC device with the second NFC device. When the second NFC device falls outside the field of view, the controller may be configured to display the guide direction indicator(s) on the display to relocate the second NFC device within the field of view based upon the movement sensor. The controller may also be configured to cause the first NFC device to communicate with the second NFC device based upon proximity to the second NFC device. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141568 | System and Method for Image Selection of Bundled Objects - A bundled object image selection system includes an array of sensors configured to at least partially surround a bundle of objects, wherein the sensors are lasers adapted to obtain physical dimensional data about the bundle. The system also includes at least one camera configured to obtain a plurality of images of the bundle, a processor for executing computer-executable instructions, and a memory for storing computer executable instructions. When the instructions are executed, the processor implements a limit module that processes the physical dimensional data to determine a limit of the bundle and a selection module that selects at least one image from the plurality of images corresponding to the limit. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141569 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD OF INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An information processing apparatus comprises a data generation unit configured to sequentially generate projection patterns; a projection unit configured to project a projection pattern onto a target object every frame; a trigger signal generation unit configured to generate a trigger signal in a case where the projection pattern of the current frame to be projected onto the target object is different from the projection pattern of the previous frame; and an imaging unit configured to image the target object onto which the projection pattern is projected, according to the trigger signal. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141570 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - A probability at which a target object takes a target object state is acquired for each of target object states that the target object is allowed to take, and a distribution of the probabilities is acquired. A success rate is acquired, for each relative target object state being determined in advance for a position and orientation of an image capturing device, at which the target object is successfully identified from a captured image obtained by capturing the target object having the relative target object state, and a distribution of the success rates is acquired. A position and orientation that the device is to take is determined based on the distribution of the success rates acquired for each of a plurality of positions and orientations that the image capturing apparatus is allowed to take, and the distribution of the probabilities. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141571 | AIRTIGHTNESS INSPECTION METHOD AND AIRTIGHTNESS INSPECTION APPARATUS FOR SEALED BATTERY - A soft packaged sealed battery is contained in an airtight container. The airtight container is decompressed and images of the surface shape of the sealed battery in the airtight container before and after decompression are captured by a CCD camera or the like. Whether or not airtightness of the sealed battery is maintained is determined based on a change in the captured images, e.g. a change in the surface shape appearing as luminance differences of pixels. By this determination method, highly accurate airtightness determination is realized by eliminating the influence of invisible fine creases on a sealed battery surface. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141572 | VEHICLE MONITORING SYSTEM FOR USE WITH A VEHICLE - Vehicle monitoring systems for use with a vehicle are disclosed. Vehicles have cargo and non-cargo regions, the non-cargo regions including an engine compartment and an undercarriage. Embodiments of vehicle monitoring systems may include cameras configured in the non-cargo regions to capture images of the non-cargo regions. A data processing system may be mounted to the vehicle. The data processing system may be operatively connected to the cameras. The data processing system may include at least one processor, at least one memory, and at least one transmitter operatively connected together for: receiving captured images from the cameras; recording the captured images in non-volatile memory configured in the vehicle; and transmitting the captured images to remote storage away from the vehicle. Other vehicle monitoring systems may incorporate and synchronize performance metrics with the captured images. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141573 | Spatial Bookmarking - Methods, apparatuses and computer-readable media for creating a spatial bookmark are provided. A method includes performing an action at a near location which causes a spatial bearing parameter corresponding to a real-time video image captured by a video-camera platform at a remote location to be stored in a computer-readable memory, wherein the video-camera platform has a controllable LOS. Performing an action at the near location that designates to a computer an image displayed on a screen, wherein the image is representative of the real-time video image, thereby causing the computer to retrieve the spatial bearing parameter from the computer-readable memory, and performing an action causing the computer to aim the video-camera platform along a LOS, wherein the video-camera platform captures a real-time video image that is received at a screen for display at the near location. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141574 | VEHICLE OCCUPANCY DETECTION VIA SINGLE BAND INFRARED IMAGING - What is disclosed is a method for vehicle occupancy detection using a single band infrared imaging system. First, an infrared image of a vehicle intended to be processed for human occupancy detection is captured using a single band infrared camera set to a predefined wavelength band. A candidate sub-image is identified within the captured image. A cumulative histogram is formed using the reflectance values of each pixel in the candidate region. A threshold reflectance value is then determined from the cumulative histogram using a pre-defined cumulative occurrence fraction value which corresponds to a value equivalent to an average sized human face. Embodiments for setting the threshold reflectance value are disclosed. Thereafter, human occupants can be distinguished in the image from the vehicle's interior by comparing pixel reflectances in the sub-image against the threshold reflectance value. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141575 | DRIVING ASSISTANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD - An exemplary driving assistance method includes obtaining images captured by a plurality of cameras, each of the images comprising a distance information indicating a distance between one camera and objects captured by the camera. Next, the method extracts the distance information from the obtained images. The method further includes detecting whether a road surface or a road width is abnormal according to the extracted distance information and the captured image. Lastly, the method generates a prompt message to warn a driver when the road surface or the road width is abnormal. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141576 | DETERMINING THREATS BASED ON INFORMATION FROM ROAD-BASED DEVICES IN A TRANSPORTATION-RELATED CONTEXT - Techniques for ability enhancement are described. Some embodiments provide an ability enhancement facilitator system (“AEFS”) configured to enhance a user's ability to operate or function in a transportation-related context as a pedestrian or a vehicle operator. In one embodiment, the AEFS is configured to perform vehicular threat detection based on information received at a road-based device, such as a sensor or processor that is deployed at the side of a road. An example AEFS receives, at a road-based device, information about a first vehicle that is proximate to the road-based device. The AEFS analyzes the received information to determine threat information, such as that the vehicle may collide with the user. The AEFS then informs the user of the determined threat information, such as by transmitting a warning to a wearable device configured to present the warning to the user. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141577 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING ROAD SURFACE PROPERTIES - Disclosed is a technique for detecting a road surface property. More specifically, the technique includes a reflectivity table that stores a degree of reflectivity of a rainy road relative to a reference reflectivity and a degree of reflectivity of a snowy road relative to the reference reflectivity. A reflection measurement unit measures a reflection which is the amount of a laser beam that is emitted through a light emitting unit of a laser sensor, reflected from the road surface, and received by a light receiving unit, and a reflectivity calculation unit calculates a degree of reflectivity for the road in front of the vehicle via a ratio of the measured reflection and the reference reflectivity. A road surface property determination unit then detects the corresponding road surface property based on the reflectivity table. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141578 | VEHICLE VISION SYSTEM WITH ENHANCED FUNCTIONALITY - A vehicle vision system includes at least one camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle, and includes a control having an image processor for processing image data captured by the at least one camera. The control, responsive at least in part to image processing of captured image data by the image processor, is operable to carry out one or more actions based on the detection of selected elements in the image data captured by the at least one camera. The control may control the operation of an additional component in the vehicle aside from the camera. The vision system may include a forward facing camera, a rearward facing camera and/or a sideward facing camera. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141579 | ACCESSORY MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE - An accessory mounting system for a vehicle includes an attachment element attached at an in-cabin surface of a vehicle windshield of a vehicle. The attachment element has a mirror mounting button. At least one attachment member is attached at the in-cabin surface of the vehicle windshield local to the attachment element. An interior rearview minor assembly has a mirror head and a minor support. The mirror head includes a minor reflective element and a mirror casing. The minor support includes a minor mount that is configured to mount the interior rearview mirror assembly to the minor mounting button of the attachment element. A structure is configured for mounting to the attachment member and is configured to receive and be supported by the attachment member. The structure is configured to accommodate a forward facing camera having a field of view through the vehicle windshield. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141580 | ROAD VERTICAL CONTOUR DETECTION - The driver assistance system includes a camera operatively connectable to a processor. The driver assistance system is operable while the host vehicle is moving to detect a deviation in vertical contour of a road. A first image frame and a second image frame are captured in the field of view of the camera. Image motion is processed between respective images of the road derived from the first image frame and the second image frame. The vertical contour of the road is estimated using a road surface model of the road and the deviation in the vertical contour is computed from the road surface model. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141581 | WORK VEHICLE PERIPHERY MONITORING APPARATUS - A periphery monitoring apparatus for a work vehicle includes a plurality of obstacle detection sensors, a warning region setting section and a warning section. The obstacle detection sensors are mounted on the work vehicle, and each of the obstacle detection sensors is configured to determine a relative position of an obstacle with regard to the work vehicle by detecting the obstacle in the surroundings of the work vehicle. The warning region setting section is configured to set a warning region, where it is necessary to warn a driver of a presence of the obstacle, according to a movement state of the work vehicle. The warning section is configured to warn a driver that the relative position of the obstacle is positioned in the warning region. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141582 | UPGRADE SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND METHOD FOR ASSISTING A DRIVER IN DRIVING A MOTOR VEHICLE - The field of use of a portable communication appliance ( | 2013-06-06 |
20130141583 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING, MONITORING AND/OR CONTROLLING RACING VEHICLES - A device and a method for detecting, monitoring and/or controlling racing vehicles on a racetrack, having a camera for monitoring when a predetermined track section is crossed, a recording device for recording the images provided by the camera, a recording control device for automatically recording the images provided by the camera only during a specific time window within which the crossing of the track section, and a sensor device for detecting the crossing of the track section. A marking device generates a marking for a recorded image as a function of a sensor signal of the sensor device and the occurrence thereof in the specific time window. The marking is stored in an event list. An image of interest can be simply selected on the basis of the associated marking, without the images which are provided by the camera having to be evaluated themselves for this purpose. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141584 | APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF TRIGGERING ELECTRO-OPTICAL READING ONLY WHEN A TARGET TO BE READ IS IN A SELECTED ZONE IN A POINT-OF-TRANSACTION WORKSTATION - Products associated with targets to be read by image capture are processed in a workstation having a window, a solid-state imager looking at a field of view extending through the window to a target to be imaged, and an illumination system for illuminating the field of view. A proximity system detects a product associated with the target in a selected zone outside the window. The proximity system has an infrared (IR) emitter for emitting IR light into an IR emission field, and an IR sensor for sensing return IR light within an IR detection field that intersects the IR emission field in the selected zone. A controller energizes the illumination system in response to the detection of the product in the selected zone, and processes return illumination light captured in the field of view by the imager. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141585 | CHECKOUT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING CHECKOUT SYSTEM - A checkout system of an embodiment of the present disclosure has an image pickup unit, a computing unit, a display control unit, a receiving unit, and a registering unit. The image pickup unit takes pictures of a commodity at a prescribed frame rate. The computing unit computes a similarity coefficient between standard images of each commodity and the acquired image to identify possible matches to the acquired image. The display control unit displays information corresponding to the candidate matches with a high similarity coefficient on a display unit. The similarity coefficient is determined on the basis of a comparison between images of the object acquired by the image pickup unit and a standard image. The receiving unit receives selection of the commodity information on the display unit. The registering unit executes a registration treatment according to the selected information. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141586 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSOCIATING AN ORDER WITH AN OBJECT IN A MULTIPLE LANE ENVIRONMENT - Images with respect to an object at an ordering, payment, and delivery locations can be captured utilizing an image capturing system. Capture can be after detecting the presence of the object at each location utilizing an object presence sensor. The captured image can be processed to associate it with a signature and can also be processed in order to extract a small region of interest (e.g., license plate) and can be reduced to a unique signature. Signature can be stored into a database together with the corresponding order and images. Signatures can be matched. The order associated with the object matched by the system together with at least one of the images captured at the delivery point and the order point can be displayed at a user interface located at the payment/delivery point to ensure that the right order is delivered to the right customer asscoiated with the object. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141587 | Use of a Two- or Three-Dimensional Barcode as a Diagnostic Device and a Security Device - A building security system includes means for detecting human motion. An imaging device scans for a visible code in response to the detection of human motion by the detecting means. A security device deciphers the scanned code, determines an authorization level associated with the deciphered code, and provides the human with a level of access to the building commensurate with the authorization level. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141588 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING SUBJECT WITH STILL OR VIDEO CAMERA - An apparatus, method, and system for controlling camera aiming and operation through a convenient and intuitive interface using correlative touch and feel, which allows a camera operator to primarily pay attention to a game or event, while simultaneously controlling a still or video camera in three control dimensions, with a high degree of accuracy or quality. | 2013-06-06 |
20130141589 | MONITORING SYSTEM AND IMAGE RECONSTRUCTION METHOD FOR PLANTING BED - An image reconstruction method adapted to use with a planting bed is provided. The planting bed is constituted by a work platform disposed on a work plane and for supporting a plurality of plants thereon. The image reconstruction method includes steps of: capturing a plurality of images of the work platform from different positions on a monitoring plane to obtain a plurality of image data, wherein the monitoring plane is opposite to the work plane, the monitoring and work planes are parallel to each other in a visible range and have a predetermined distance therebetween; and performing an image stitching algorithm to stitch the image data into a two-dimensional image of the planting bed. A monitoring system of a planting bed is also provided. | 2013-06-06 |