2222results about How to "Reduce resolution" patented technology

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.

Systems and methods for delivering digital content to a mobile device from a digital content provider are disclosed. Digital content is selected using a selection interface on the mobile device. The selected content is then transferred to a computing device by the digital content provider and subsequently transferred to the mobile device by the computing device. In some embodiments, the digital content is reformatted before being transferred to the mobile device. The digital content may be streamed from the computer system to the mobile device. A service provider of a network through which the mobile device connects to the digital content provider may bill a user of the mobile device on behalf of the digital content provider. The digital content provider may bill the user of the mobile device using a Premium SMS service.

A markerless method is described for tracking the motion of subjects in a three dimensional environment using a model based on linked kinematic chains. The invention is suitable for tracking robotic, animal or human subjects in real-time using a single computer with inexpensive video equipment, and does not require the use of markers or specialized clothing. A simple model of rigid linked segments is constructed of the subject and tracked using three dimensional volumetric data collected by a multiple camera video imaging system. A physics based method is then used to compute forces to align the model with subsequent volumetric data sets in real-time. The method is able to handle occlusion of segments and accommodates joint limits, velocity constraints, and collision constraints and provides for error recovery. The method further provides for elimination of singularities in Jacobian based calculations, which has been problematic in alternative methods.

A fully digital camera system provides high-resolution still image and streaming video signals via a network to a centralized, server supported security and surveillance system. The digital camera for collects an image from one or more image transducers, compressing the image and sending the compressed digital image signal to a receiving station over a digital network. A plurality of image transducers or sensors may be included in a single camera unit, providing array imaging such as full 360 degree panoramic imaging, universal or spherical imaging and field imaging by stacking or arranging the sensors in an array. The multiple images are then compressed and merged at the camera in the desired format to permit transmission of the least amount of data to accomplish the desired image transmission. The camera also employs, or connects to, a variety of sensors other than the traditional image sensor. Sensors for fire, smoke, sound, glass breakage, motion, panic buttons, and the like, may be embedded in or connected to the camera. Data captured by these sensors may be digitized, compressed, and networked to detect notable conditions. An internal microphone and associated signal processing system may be equipped with suitable signal processing algorithms for the purpose of detecting suitable acoustic events and their location. In addition, the camera is equipped with a pair of externally accessible terminals where an external sensor may be connected. In addition, the camera may be equipped with a short-range receiver that may detect the activation of a wireless ‘panic button’ carried by facility personnel. This ‘panic button’ may employ infrared, radio frequency (RF), ultrasonic, or other suitable methods to activate the camera's receiver.

Methods and apparatus for light-field imaging. Light-field camera designs are described that produce higher spatial resolution than conventional plenoptic camera designs, while trading-off the light-field's angular sampling density. This lower angular resolution may be compensated for by a light-field image processing method that inserts data synthesized by view interpolation of the measured light-field. In one embodiment, a light-field image processing method that performs three-view morphing may be used to interpolate the missing angular samples of radiance. The light-field camera designs may be implemented in hand-held light-field cameras that may capture a light-field with a single exposure. Some of the light-field camera designs are internal to the camera, while others are external to the camera. One light-field camera design includes a single, relatively large lens and an array of negative lenses that are placed in front of (external to) the main lens of a conventional camera.

A coordinated surveillance system uses a larger number of fixed low resolution detection smart camera devices and a smaller number of pan / tilt / zoom controllable high resolution tracking smart camera devices. The set of detection cameras provide overall continuous coverage of the surveillance region, while the tracking cameras provide localized high resolution on demand. Each monitor camera device performs initial detection and determines approximate GPS location of a moving target in its field of view. A control system coordinates detection and tracking camera operation. A selected tracking camera is controlled to focus in on, confirm detection, and track a target. Based on a verified detection, a guard station is alerted and compressed camera video is forwarded to the guard station from the camera(s). The guard station can direct a patrol guard to the target using GPS coordinates and a site map. Redundancy is provided by using multiple control units, each able to handle the full load in the event of failure. Camera devices vote on the status of the control units. A failed detection camera device can be temporarily replaced by a tracking camera device in a back-up mode of operation thus maintaining full overall basic coverage of the surveillance region.

A fully digital camera system provides high-resolution still image and streaming video signals via a network to a centralized, server supported security and surveillance system. The digital camera for collects an image from one or more image transducers, compressing the image and sending the compressed digital image signal to a receiving station over a digital network. A plurality of image transducers or sensors may be included in a single camera unit, providing array imaging such as full 360 degree panoramic imaging, universal or spherical imaging and field imaging by stacking or arranging the sensors in an array. The multiple images are then compressed and merged at the camera in the desired format to permit transmission of the least amount of data to accomplish the desired image transmission. The camera also employs, or connects to, a variety of sensors other than the traditional image sensor. Sensors for fire, smoke, sound, glass breakage, motion, panic buttons, and the like, may be embedded in or connected to the camera. Data captured by these sensors may be digitized, compressed, and networked to detect notable conditions. An internal microphone and associated signal processing system may be equipped with suitable signal processing algorithms for the purpose of detecting suitable acoustic events and their location. In addition, the camera is equipped with a pair of externally accessible terminals where an external sensor may be connected. In addition, the camera may be equipped with a short-range receiver that may detect the activation of a wireless ‘panic button’ carried by facility personnel. This ‘panic button’ may employ infrared, radio frequency (RF), ultrasonic, or other suitable methods to activate the camera's receiver.

Methods and apparatus for reducing plenoptic camera artifacts. A first method is based on careful design of the optical system of the focused plenoptic camera to reduce artifacts that result in differences in depth in the microimages. A second method is computational; a focused plenoptic camera rendering algorithm is provided that corrects for artifacts resulting from differences in depth in the microimages. While both the artifact-reducing focused plenoptic camera design and the artifact-reducing rendering algorithm work by themselves to reduce artifacts, the two approaches may be combined.

In the systems and methods of the present invention a multifocal multiphoton imaging system has a signal to noise ratio (SNR) that is reduced by over an order of magnitude at imaging depth equal to twice the mean free path scattering length of the specimen. An MMM system based on an area detector such as a multianode photomultiplier tube (MAPMT) that is optimized for high-speed tissue imaging. The specimen is raster-scanned with an array of excitation light beams. The emission photons from the array of excitation foci are collected simultaneously by a MAPMT and the signals from each anode are detected using high sensitivity, low noise single photon counting circuits. An image is formed by the temporal encoding of the integrated signal with a raster scanning pattern. A deconvolution procedure taking account of the spatial distribution and the raster temporal encoding of collected photons can be used to improve decay coefficient. We demonstrate MAPMT-based MMM can provide significantly better contrast than CCD-based existing systems.

A BT receiver RF front end receives RF energy in a sequence of BT scan windows. Throughout a scan window, the front end is tuned to one hop frequency. Before and after the window the front end is in a disabled state. A WLAN energy detector processes an output of the front end during the window and determines whether more than a predetermined amount of RF energy was received onto the front end during the window. A BT baseband processor attempts to demodulate the output of the front end. If the WLAN energy detector determines that the predetermined amount of RF energy was received and if a BT signal could not be demodulated, then a WLAN wake-up signal is asserted, thereby causing a WLAN transceiver to be powered up to receive WLAN signals. BT scan intervals are varied in duration to facilitate a BT scan window overlapping a WLAN beacon.

A head mounted display system with at least one retinal display unit having a curved reflector positioned in front of one eye or both eyes of a wearer. The unit includes a first set of three modulated visible-light lasers co-aligned and adapted to provide a laser beam with selectable color and a first scanner unit providing both horizontal and vertical scanning of the laser beam across a portion of the curved reflector in directions so as to produce a reflection of the color laser beam through the pupil of the eye onto a portion of the retina large enough to encompass the fovea. The unit also includes a second set three modulated visible-light lasers plus an infrared laser, all lasers being co-aligned and adapted to provide a color and infrared peripheral view laser beam, and a second scanner unit providing both horizontal and vertical scanning of the visible light and infrared laser beams across a portion of the curved reflector in directions so as to produce a reflection of the scanned color and infrared laser beams through the pupil of the eye onto a portion of retina corresponding to a field of view of at least 30 degrees×30 degrees.

A method of controlling video signals in a multi-participant video conference involves assessing the level of video signal required from each participant to mix the desired broadcast video signals, and using the result of this assessment to dynamically control the video output from the endpoints of the conference participants. The assessment of the required level of video signal preferably utilizes an audio mixing algorithm, such that the video outputs of those participants whose audio signals are currently being discarded in the audio mixing process are switched off at the endpoints, or are transmitted in a lower bandwidth format, thereby reducing the overall bandwidth requirements of the conference and reducing processor resources to mix the broadcast video signals.

A superresolution electro-optic imaging system operates in a manner that takes into account the different subsystems. For example, rather than designing the optical subsystem to be diffraction-limited, the optical subsystem can be designed in a manner that is better suited for subsequent superresolution processing and / or that reduces aliasing effects.

The laser range finding system includes a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensor unit (SU) and a LIDAR processor unit (PU). The LIDAR SU is for transmitting light pulses and receiving resulting input light signals reflected from objects within the field of view of the SU. The LIDAR SU includes a flash LIDAR illuminating laser source for transmitting light pulses. The LIDAR illuminating laser source includes an illuminating laser and zoom optics operatively associated with the laser. A LIDAR receiver receives resulting input light signals reflected from the objects. The LIDAR receiver includes a sensor; and, a flash readout integrated circuit (IC). The flash readout IC measures the transit time of the light pulses. The LIDAR processor unit (PU) is operatively associated with the LIDAR SU and it utilizes flash LIDAR ranging. A power source is operatively coupled to the LIDAR PU. Zooming of the transmitted light pulses results in the received resulting input light signals illuminating a relatively reduced area of the frame. Thus, a flash LIDAR image of relatively reduced resolution but enhanced range is provided by utilization of the transit time measurements.

Methods and systems for processing computer game videos for virtual reality replay are disclosed. The method, when executed by a processor, comprises first receiving a video recorded using a virtual camera array during a game play of a source computer game. Next, upscaling the received video to a higher resolution, and interpolating neighboring video frames of the upscaled video for insertion into the upscaled video at a server. Finally, generating a spherical video from the interpolated video for replay in a virtual reality environment. The virtual camera array includes multiple virtual cameras each facing a different direction, and the video is recorded at a frame rate and a resolution lower than those of the source computer game. The spherical videos are provided on a video sharing platform. The present invention solves the chicken-and-egg problem of mass adoption of virtual reality technology by easily generating VR content from existing computer games.

A method for transmitting a stream of multi-media content from provider server to a user device includes transmitting multi-media content from the provider server to the user device via a communication network and outputting the multi-media content from the user device to a user via an output on the user device such that the multi-media content is delivered from the provider server to the user in real-time. A degree of attention that the user directs to the output of the user device is continuously determined during the transmission and a parameter adjusting module at the provider server adjusts a parameter of the multi-media content in response to the degree of attention.

A configurator platform and a corresponding configurator environment, according to an embodiment of the invention enable a user to navigate a displayed virtual representation of a building configuration. The user is also enabled to customize the building configuration. The customization is based on a set of physical product specifications from which the user may make selections. A building configuration may be stored as a plurality of tags indicative of physical product specifications included in the building configuration. The building configuration may be sent to an engineering system where it is translated into an engineering model of the building. The configuration platform may further provide interaction with a geographic information system to provide environmental, geologic, and regulatory information as well as other location-based data associated with the geographic location of the building.

An optical code reading system having an auto-exposure system for use with a variable resolution imaging sensor in which very low resolution images are used to determine exposure parameters is presented. The very low resolution images can be transferred much faster than high resolution images which results in a very fast auto-exposure system. The optical code reading system further includes an optical zoom system for zooming in and out of a target without the use of any moveable components. The optical zoom system makes use of a binning and / or subsampling feature of the imaging sensor for zooming in and out of the target. High-speed decoding methodologies are also presented for the optical code reading system. One decoding methodology utilizes low resolution images for performing high-speed decoding. Other methodologies utilize low resolution images and higher resolution images, if the optical code imaged by the low resolution images is not decoded successfully.

A method for forming a final digital color image includes capturing an image using an image sensor having panchromatic pixels and color pixels corresponding to at least two color photoresponses; providing from the captured image a digital panchromatic image and an intermediate digital color image; and using the digital panchromatic image and the intermediate digital color image to provide the final digital color image.

A method for detecting the lane departure of a vehicle includes an image recognition process and a deviation estimation process. The image recognition process includes the following steps: an image capturing step for capturing image frame data by using an image capturing unit; and a lane line recognition for analyzing the image frame data for determining the lane lines. By using a quadratic curve fitting equation, a plurality of lane line being detected so as to establish a road geometry estimation model. The road geometry estimation model is inputted into the deviation estimation process to detect the lane departure of the vehicle so as to alert the driver. Furthermore, an apparatus for detecting the deviation of the vehicle, comprising: an image capturing unit, a processing unit and a signal output unit.

A method and apparatus for scalable coding of a motion vector generated during motion estimation, in which a generated motion vector field is separated into a base layer and an enhancement layer according to pixel accuracies to obtain a layered structure for a motion vector. In addition, the motion vector field has a layered structure including a base layer composed of motion vectors of blocks larger than or equal to a predetermined size and at least one enhancement layer composed of motion vectors of blocks smaller than a predetermined size.

An optical device includes a light guide plate, and first and second reflective volume hologram diffraction grating members. The first member has interference fringes extending from therewithin towards surfaces thereof and arranged at an equal pitch. Each interference fringe and each surface of the first member form an inclination angle therebetween. The first member has the following conditions. (a) In an outer region positioned farther away from the second member than a minimum inclination angle region having a minimum inclination angle, the inclination angles of the interference fringes increase with increasing distance from the minimum inclination angle region. (b) In an inner region positioned closer to the second member than the minimum inclination angle region, the inclination angles of the interference fringes include a maximum inclination angle in an inner area disposed adjacent to the minimum inclination angle region and decrease with increasing distance from the minimum inclination angle region.

A mobile personal communication device, such as a mobile telephone (cellular, satellite, or the like), that is capable of determining its geographic location, through an on-board GPS unit or other geographic locating mechanism, has a function that is disabled, enabled, modified or otherwise controlled when the personal communication device is determined to be within a defined area. The function controlled based on geographic region may include: the transmission of a data stream, such as a video or audio data stream, from or to the personal communication device; the disamblement or modification of ringers or other mechanism for audible notification of an event, for example, an incoming call or message from an external caller; the disablement or modification of an on-board camera or other on-board recording mechanism; and / or the disablement or modification of screen savers, disabling or modification of display lighting or backlighting or other functions of the personal communication device.

A focus detection device includes an image sensor and a plurality of lenslets. Each of the plurality of lenslets has a distinct conjugate length and is associated with a distinct portion of the image sensor.

A method of reducing shutter-lag in a camera image sensor may include maintaining a sensor output image to have a low resolution in a preview mode of a camera image sensor; changing a resolution of the sensor output image from a low resolution to a high resolution in response to a capture preparation signal to change an operation mode of the camera image sensor from a preview mode to a capture preparation mode, the low resolution being a resolution equal to or below a reference resolution, the high resolution being a resolution above the reference resolution; and capturing the sensor output image in response to a capture signal in the capture preparation mode of the camera image sensor.

A transcoder is provided for transcoding data comprising a group of macroblocks representing a frame of data, where the frame of data can include a plurality of sample lines each having a plurality of samples. The transcoder includes a decoder capable of decoding input data to thereby generate prediction error and decoded image data in the spatial domain. The transcoder also includes a downsampler capable of downsampling the prediction error or the decoded image data in a first (e.g., horizontal) direction and / or a second (e.g., vertical) direction different than the first direction to generate a downsampled macroblock in the spatial domain. In addition, the transcoder includes an encoder. The encoder, then, is capable of encoding the downsampled macroblock into output data.

A solid-state imaging device includes a color filter unit disposed on a pixel array unit including pixels two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix and a conversion processing unit disposed on a substrate having the pixel array unit thereon. The color filter unit has a color arrangement in which a color serving as a primary component of a luminance signal is arranged in a checkerboard pattern and a plurality of colors serving as color information components are arranged in the other area of the checkerboard pattern. The conversion processing unit converts signals that are output from the pixels of the pixel array unit and that correspond to the color arrangement of the color filter unit into signals that correspond to a Bayer arrangement and outputs the converted signals.

A coordinated surveillance system uses a larger number of fixed low resolution detection smart camera devices and a smaller number of pan / tilt / zoom controllable high resolution tracking smart camera devices. The set of detection cameras provide overall continuous coverage of the surveillance region, while the tracking cameras provide localized high resolution on demand. Each monitor camera device performs initial detection and determines approximate GPS location of a moving target in its field of view. A control system coordinates detection and tracking camera operation. A selected tracking camera is controlled to focus in on, confirm detection, and track a target. Based on a verified detection, a guard station is alerted and compressed camera video is forwarded to the guard station from the camera(s). The guard station can direct a patrol guard to the target using GPS coordinates and a site map. Redundancy is provided by using multiple control units, each able to handle the full load in the event of failure. Camera devices vote on the status of the control units. A failed detection camera device can be temporarily replaced by a tracking camera device in a back-up mode of operation thus maintaining full overall basic coverage of the surveillance region.