Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110182474 | EFFICIENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACE TRACKING - A method of scanning a scene using an image sensor includes (a) dividing the scene into multiple first portions; and scanning a first portion for presence of objects in an object class. The method further includes continuing the scanning of the multiple first portions for presence of other objects in the scene. The method also selects a second portion of the scene, in response to detecting an object in the first portion; and then tracking the object in the selected second portion. The second portion of the scene is selected based on estimating motion of the object detected in the first portion, so that it may still be located in the second portion. | 07-28-2011 |
20120274627 | SELF CALIBRATING STEREO CAMERA - A self calibrating stereo camera includes first and second spatial transform engines for directly receiving first and second images, respectively, of an object. The first and second spatial transform engines are coupled to a stereo display for displaying a fused object in stereo. A calibration module is coupled to the first and second spatial transform engines for aligning the first and second images, prior to display to a viewer. The first and second point extracting modules, respectively, receive the first and second images for extracting interest points from each image. A matching points module is coupled to the first and second point extracting modules for matching the interest points extracted by the first and second point extracting modules. The calibration module determines alignment error between the first and second images, in response to the interest point matches calculated by the matching points module. | 11-01-2012 |
20120275725 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EFFICIENT STORAGE OF IMAGE TRANSFORMATIONS - Systems and methods for generating efficient transformed input image address sets for producing a multi-pane output image from an input image are disclosed. The input address sets may be generated by applying a first transformation corresponding to one pane of the output image to output pixel addresses to create first transformed input addresses, applying a second transformation corresponding to another pane to the output image pixel addresses to create second transformed input addresses, and storing, for one output pixel address, a first transformed image pixel address and a second transformed input pixel address and, for another output pixel address, including a first transformed input pixel address, but no second transformed address. | 11-01-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090021632 | LENS CORRECTION LOGIC FOR IMAGE SENSORS - Methods of calibrating a pixel correction function for compensating for vignetting in an optical device include exposing an optical device to a reference object in order to generate pixel data of at least part of an image of the reference object. A pixel correction function is provided including a first number of unknown constant values. Pixel data of a second number of sample points is provided from the pixel data of the at least part of the image. The second number is equal to the first number or the first number plus one. The constant values are determined using the pixel data of the second number of sample points. The method allows a pixel correction function to be calibrated with a small number of sample points, thereby simplifying calibration processes for individual optical devices, and thus reducing the manufacturing costs. | 01-22-2009 |
20100014770 | Method and apparatus providing perspective correction and/or image dewarping - Methods and apparatuses for providing dewarping and/or perspective correction of an input image are disclosed. Described embodiments include processing that provides dewarping and/or perspective correction by associating pixel values identified by input pixel addresses corresponding to an input image with output pixel addresses corresponding to an output image. An image processor having a storage circuit and an address mapping unit for determining a corresponding input pixel address from an output pixel address is also disclosed. | 01-21-2010 |
20100073491 | DUAL BUFFER SYSTEM FOR IMAGE PROCESSING - A processing system has a backlog of data caused by a difference between an input rate for receiving pixel data and a conversion rate for converting the pixel data to new pixel data. A dual buffer system associated with the processing system stores a minimum amount of unprocessed pixel data, required to perform an associated processing operation, in a first memory device and stores a backlog of the processed pixel data, after performing the associated processing operation, in a second memory device. The combined size of the first and second memory devices is less than the size that would otherwise be required to store the minimum amount of pixel data and the backlog of pixel data as unprocessed pixel data. | 03-25-2010 |
20100073535 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR VARIABLE RATE PIXEL DATA TRANSFER AND STORAGE - A variable rate image sensor outputs pixel data at a variable rate using lookup tables to selectively read out particular rows at particular times. The readout rate is not constant, allowing for a smaller image buffer in the overall system. | 03-25-2010 |
20100315523 | OBJECT DETECTION USING AN IN-SENSOR DETECTOR - Systems and methods are provided for detecting an object of object class, such as faces, in an image sensor. In some embodiments, the image sensor can provide a scan sequence that scans a scene over multiple time intervals. The image sensor can scan, in succession, portions of a scene, where each of the portions covers a different amount or location of the scene. This way, the scanned portions can be saved in an image buffer that is sized significantly smaller than an entire frame. In some embodiments, when the image sensor detects the presence of an object of the object class, the image sensor can store positional information (e.g., location and size of the object) in a region of interest buffer. The image sensor can output the positional information to aid an electronic device, such as a camera, perform various functions, such as automatic exposure and color balancing. | 12-16-2010 |
20100316254 | USE OF Z-ORDER DATA IN AN IMAGE SENSOR - Systems and methods are provided for detecting objects of an object class, such as faces, in an image sensor. In some embodiments, the image sensor can include a detector with an image buffer. The image buffer can store image data in raster order. The detector can read the data out in Z order to perform object detection. The image data can then compute feature responses using the Z-ordered image data and determine whether any objects of the object class are present based on the feature responses. In some embodiments, the detector can downscale the image data while the object detection is performed and use the downscaled image data to continue the detection process. In some embodiments, the image data can perform detection even if the image is rotated. | 12-16-2010 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090190006 | Methods, systems and apparatuses for pixel signal correction using elliptical hyperbolic cosines - Methods, systems and apparatuses for correcting the sensitivity of pixel signals, the pixel signal correction values being determined based on an elliptical hyperbolic cosine function. The function may further be a rotated elliptical hyperbolic cosine function or a polynomial derived from the rotated elliptical hyperbolic cosine function. Using these functions to represent the correction values in memory allows for on-chip storage of the means to determine the correction values. | 07-30-2009 |
20120183228 | MATCHING INTEREST POINTS - Interest points are markers anchored to a specific position in a digital image of an object. They are mathematically extracted in such a way that, in another image of the object, they will appear in the same position on the object, even though the object may be presented at a different position in the image, a different orientation, a different distance or under different lighting conditions. The goal is to match interest points in one image with corresponding interest points in another image. Typically, this involves the construction of a descriptor, which is both computationally expensive and resource-intensive. Methods and devices are described that match interest points without the construction of conventional descriptors and that permit the use of spatial coherency information to increase the accuracy of the match. | 07-19-2012 |
20130070137 | IMAGING SYSTEMS WITH CONFORMAL IMAGE BUFFERS - Imaging systems may be provided with image sensors for capturing images. An image sensor may include storage and processing circuitry having a conformal image buffer to be used in performing various types of image transformations on captured input images. The storage and processing circuitry may perform the image transformations, in part, by storing a portion of a captured input image in the conformal image buffer. A conformal image buffer may include a buffer for storing input image pixel values specific to various types of image transformations and memory for storing a pixel buffer lookup table. The pixel buffer lookup table may be used by the storage and processing circuitry to determine which input image pixel values should be stored in the conformal image buffer for each type of image transformation and to provide random read access to the stored input image pixel values in the conformal image buffer. | 03-21-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110302231 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING NUMERICAL CALCULATIONS - There is provided a method of processing an iterative computation on a computing device comprising at least one processor. Embodiments of the method comprises performing, on a processor, an iterative calculation on data in a fixed point numerical format having a scaling factor, wherein the scaling factor is selectively variable for different steps of said calculation in order to prevent overflow and to minimise underflow. By providing such a method, the reliability, precision and flexibility of floating point operations can be achieved whilst using fixed point processing logic. The errors which fixed-point units are usually prone to generate if the range limits are exceeded can be mitigated, whilst still providing the advantage of a significantly reduced logic area to perform the calculations in fixed point. | 12-08-2011 |
20120216019 | METHOD OF, AND APPARATUS FOR, STREAM SCHEDULING IN PARALLEL PIPELINED HARDWARE - There is provided embodiment of methods of generating a hardware design for a pipelined parallel stream processor. An embodiment of the method comprises defining, on a computing device, a processing operation designating processes to be implemented in hardware as part of said pipelined parallel stream processor; defining, on a computing device, a graph representing said processing operation as a parallel structure in the time domain as a function of clock cycles, said graph comprising at least one data path to be implemented as a hardware design for said pipelined parallel stream processor and comprising a plurality of branches configured to enable data values to be streamed therethrough, the branches of the or each data path being represented as comprising at least one input, at least one output, at least one discrete object corresponding directly to a hardware element to be implemented in hardware as part of said pipelined parallel stream processor, the or each discrete object being operable to execute a function for one or more clock cycles and having a predefined latency associated therewith, said predefined latency representing the time required for said hardware element to execute said function; said data values propagating through said data path from the at least one input to the at least one output as a function of increasing clock cycle; defining, on a computing device, the at least one data path and associated latencies of said graph as a set of algebraic linear inequalities; solving, on a computing device, said set of linear inequalities; optimising, on a computing device, the at least one data path in said graph using said solved linear inequalities to produce an optimised graph; and utilising, on a computing device, said optimised graph to define an optimised hardware design for implementation in hardware as said pipelined parallel stream processor. | 08-23-2012 |
20120330638 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DESIGNING AND GENERATING A STREAM PROCESSOR - Embodiments of the invention provide a method and apparatus for generating programmable logic for a hardware accelerator, the method comprising: generating a graph of nodes representing the programmable logic to be implemented in hardware; identifying nodes within the graph that affect external flow control of the programmable logic; retaining the identified nodes and removing or replacing all nodes which do not affect external flow control of the programmable logic in a modified graph; and simulating the modified graph or building a corresponding circuit of the retained nodes. | 12-27-2012 |
20130173890 | METHOD OF, AND APPARATUS FOR, STREAM SCHEDULING IN PARALLEL PIPELINED HARDWARE - A method of generating a hardware design for a stream processor. The method includes defining a graph representing a processing operation designating processes to be implemented in hardware as part of the stream processor. The graph represents the processing operation in the time domain as a function of clock cycles and includes at least one data path. At least one stream offset object is provided located at a particular point in the data path. The stream offset object is operable to access, for a particular clock cycle and for the particular point in the data path, data values from a clock cycle different from the particular clock cycle | 07-04-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130101655 | CONTROL OF ARTHROPODS IN ANIMAL ENVIRONMENTS - A composite particle comprises i) an hydrophobic particle that adheres to the cuticle of one or more species of animal infesting arthropod; and ii) at least one organic chemical compound admixed therewith, wherein the said organic chemical is capable of controlling the population of at least one animal infesting arthropod species. Experiments proved the efficacy of the particle, for example in powder form, in relation to a variety of arthropods, for example red poultry mites. | 04-25-2013 |
20130149382 | LIQUID COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING A SUSTAINED RELEASE SYSTEM FOR INSECTICIDES - Liquid formulations for controlling arthropod infestation that comprise particles carrying chemical agents that have activity against arthropods, the particles being suspended within the liquid formulation, uses therefor, and methods of producing such liquid formulations. | 06-13-2013 |
20130224275 | DELIVERY OF COMPOSITIONS TO ARTHROPODS - A method of delivering a biologically active chemical agent to an arthropod pest of a bee, comprising exposing a surface of the said bee to carnauba wax particles having a volume mean diameter of at least 10 μm comprising at least one biologically active chemical agent, wherein the bee delivers the biologically active chemical agent to the arthropod pest, characterized in that the carnauba wax particles consist essentially of 89.5-99.4% by weight of carnauba wax; ≦10% by weight of biologically active chemical agent; and 0.5% by weight of flow agent. | 08-29-2013 |