11th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 34 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090067687 | FINGER SENSING APPARATUS USING IMAGE WATERMARKING AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A finger sensing device may include an integrated circuit (IC) substrate, an array of finger sensing elements on the IC substrate, and image watermark circuitry on the IC substrate and cooperating with the array of finger sensing elements for generating finger image data with an image watermark embedded therein. The finger sensing apparatus may also include match circuitry on the IC substrate for performing finger matching based at least upon the image watermark. The array of finger sensing elements may include an array of finger sensing pixels. The image watermark circuitry may distort values from the array of finger sensing pixels to generate the finger image data with the image watermark embedded therein. The watermark circuitry may distort position values from the array of finger sensing pixels. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067688 | FINGER SENSING APPARATUS WITH CREDENTIAL RELEASE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A finger sensing apparatus may include an integrated circuit (IC) substrate, an array of finger sensing elements on the IC substrate, match circuitry on the IC substrate for performing finger matching, and credential release circuitry on the IC substrate. The credential release circuitry may cooperate with the match circuitry for releasing at least one user credential based upon finger matching for enabling another device to perform at least one protected operation. Accordingly, the user may use a single finger match to securely have one or more protected operations performed. The at least one user credential may include at least one of a user password, passphrase, username, certificate, and key data, for example. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067689 | FINGER SENSING APPARATUS PERFORMING SECURE SOFTWARE UPDATE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A finger sensing apparatus may include a finger sensor having an integrated circuit (IC) substrate, an array of finger sensing elements on the IC substrate, and secure software update circuitry on the IC substrate. In addition, the finger sensing apparatus may include a host platform external from the finger sensor and hosting software associated with the finger sensor. The host platform may cooperate with the secure software update circuitry to authorize an attempted software update. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067690 | Fingerprint Sensor with Bump Packaging - A biometric sensing device includes a sensor manufacture for sensing a biometric stimulus. The sensor manufacture includes a transitional segment between a side wall and an upper plateau. The transitional segment reduces deformation of a swiped finger, providing a tolerance in the positioning of the sensor device relative to a swiping platform. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067691 | AUTHENTICATION APPARATUS, REGISTRATION METHOD, COLLATION METHOD, AND PROGRAM - An authentication apparatus and authentication method which can improve the authentication accuracy are provided. The authentication apparatus consecutively picks up a biological authentication object of a predetermined biological part from different directions in series, and maps a plurality of images which are obtained as the consecutive image pickup result in series to a body of a figuration corresponding to the biological part with a point on the biological authentication object in the images being the criteria, and registers the respective images mapped to the body in a storage medium as information for collation with an image to be collated which is obtained by picking up an image from an arbitrary direction. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067692 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REGISTRATION OF MEDICAL IMAGES - The present invention relates to a system ( | 2009-03-12 |
20090067693 | Automatic Calibration of Computer Aided Diagnosis Based on Retrospective Examination - A method for automatic detection of lesions within a medical image include acquiring medical image data. Regions of suspicion are automatically identified within the medical image data. It is automatically determined whether each identified region of suspicion is of a benign state, is of a suspicious state that requires a biopsy, or is of an indeterminate state that requires subsequent imaging after a particular length of time. When an identified region of suspicion is determined to be of an indeterminate state, the determination is automatically reconsidered in light of a calibration factor that biases the automatic determination towards either a benign state or a suspicious state. The calibration factor may be based on data collected from follow-up examinations that reveal whether a lesion previously characterized as indeterminate was actually a benign or malignant lesion or on additional diagnostic information including prior image data or non-image data. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067694 | Efficient Features for Shape Analysis of Lesions in Breast MR - A method for analyzing a shape of a region of interest in a medical image of a body part, including: finding a region of interest in the medical image; calculating a Reeb graph of the region of interest, and determining whether the region of interest is a malignant lesion candidate based on a shape characteristic of the Reeb graph. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067695 | IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM WHICH CALCULATES AND DISPLAYS COLOR GRADE DATA AND DISPLAY IMAGE DATA - An image processing system is used for dentistry. Upon creating a false tooth of a patient ( | 2009-03-12 |
20090067696 | AUTOMATED ROBUST LEARNING OF GEOMETRIES FOR MR-EXAMINATIONS - The present invention relates to a geometry planning software product for magnetic resonance system, comprising a database manager arranged to process an anatomical landmark set and a planning geometry of a current geometry planning session by forming a combination of both, and to add said combination to a database. The invention enables the learning of relevance of different anatomical structures for a specific planning geometry from user input. It also enables fully automated outlier detection. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067697 | SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR RECEIVING MAGNETIC RESONANCE (MR) SIGNALS FROM AN IMAGING SUBJECT - An apparatus for receiving magnetic resonance (MR) signals emitted by an imaging subject includes a receiver coil configured to detect the MR signals and a frequency translating preamplifier coupled to the receiver coil. The frequency translating preamplifier is configured to amplify the MR signals and to convert a frequency of the MR signals to an intermediate frequency. The frequency translating preamplifier may include an amplifier having a predefined gain, a frequency filter configured to filter at least one predetermined frequency and a mixer configured to convert the frequency of the MR signals to the intermediate frequency. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067698 | Robust Segmentation of Breast and Muscle in MRI - A method for segmenting an anatomical structure within medical image data includes acquiring medical image data. The medical image data is transformed from an original image space into a projective dual image space. A boundary of an anatomical structure is identified within the transformed medical image data based on a set of preexisting training data. An inverse transform is performed on the transformed medical image data and the identified boundary to convert the transformed medical image data and the identified boundary into the original image space. The inverse transformed identified boundary of the anatomical structure is used to segment the anatomical structure within the acquired medical image data. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067699 | OPTIMIZATION OF VELOCITY SCALE FOR COLOR TISSUE DOPPLER IMAGING - An ultrasonic diagnostic imaging system is operable to produce tissue Doppler images and data for diagnostic use. The system includes a visual or audible alert which alerts a user to the possibility of aliasing in the tissue Doppler image data and the need to reset the velocity scale of the color map. The visual alert may be a light on the display screen or control panel or contrasting colors to the colors of the color map in an area of the image where aliasing may be occurring. The visual alert may be a histogram displayed in alignment with the color bar of the tissue Doppler image. The indication by the histogram of image values at a velocity limit of the color bar indicates a need to adjust the color velocity scaling. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067700 | Presentation of computer-aided detection/diagnosis (CAD) results - A user may be provided with identified regions of interest superimposed on a larger image, which may permit the user to individually examine the regions of interest. The regions of interest may be independently windowed and/or leveled and/or magnified according to parameters associated with the region of interest, which parameters may be generated by a computer-aided detection algorithm. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067701 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING BLEMISHES ON SURFACE OF OBJECT - A system for detecting blemishes on a surface of an object includes at least an image capturing apparatus, at least a light source assembly, and a data processing device. The image capturing apparatus is configured for an image of a surface of an object and acquiring a brightness value of each of pixels of the image. The light source assembly is configured for light the surface. The data processing device is electrically connected to the image capturing apparatus and configured for calculating sum of all of the brightness value to obtain a mean value of the brightness values, comparing the brightness value of each pixel with the mean value and marking the pixels as a blemish whose brightness value is greater than the mean value. The system and method avoid errors that may otherwise occur due to the interference of noise, and avoid the subjective factors of viewers. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067702 | METHODS, DEVICES, AND SYSTEMS RELATED TO PIXEL ARRAYS - Methods, devices, and systems for an image sensor device are disclosed. An image sensor device comprises an array of image pixels wherein each pixel is configured for sensing light incident on the pixel. An image sensor device may further comprise a ground contact shared between at least two image pixels of the plurality. The ground contacts may be provided in an even pattern, a random pattern, or a repeating random pattern across the array. The image sensor device may further include an array of shared pixel structures comprising a plurality of pixels, wherein a ground contact may be evenly or randomly placed within each pixel structure across the array of pixel structures. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067703 | Memory cell and page break inspection - A method of inspecting an array having memory blocks with page breaks disposed between them. The memory array is imaged with a sensor at a magnification such that the memory cell size is a whole integer pixel multiple within the sensor. This creates an array image that is divided into sections. Those sections that include at least a portion of the memory blocks are selected into a candidate image. Pixels of the image within a boundary distance of a horizontal single line of pixels are inspected to determine horizontal edges of the memory blocks to an accuracy of a single pixel. Pixels of the image within a boundary distance of a vertical single line of pixels are inspected to determine vertical edges of the memory blocks to an accuracy of a single pixel. An image of a first memory block is compared on a pixel by pixel basis to an image of a second memory block to determine differences between pixel values in the first and second memory blocks, where the images are created at the same magnification using the imaging sensor. The differences are flagged as potential memory block defects. Images of the page breaks are compared to determine differences between pixel values of the images of the page breaks, and the differences are flagged as potential page break defects. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067704 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASUREMENT OF A CUTTING TOOL - A method for measurement of a cutting tool is provided. The method comprises positioning the cutting tool on a moveable stage, performing a first rotary scan of a first section of the cutting tool to generate a first scanning point cloud, segmenting the first scanning point cloud, performing a second rotary scan of the first section based on the segmentation of the first scanning point cloud, and extracting the parameters of the first section based on the second rotary scan of the first section. A system for extracting parameters of a cutting tool is also presented. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067705 | Method and Apparatus to Facilitate Processing a Stereoscopic Image Using First and Second Images to Facilitate Computing a Depth/Disparity Image - The processing of a stereoscopic image using first and second images to facilitate computing a corresponding depth/disparity image can be facilitated by providing ( | 2009-03-12 |
20090067706 | System and Method for Multiframe Surface Measurement of the Shape of Objects - A system and method are provided for the multiframe surface measurement of the shape of material objects. The system and method include capturing a plurality of images of portions of the surface of the object being measured and merging the captured images together in a common reference system. The shape and/or texture of a complex-shaped object can be measured using a 3D scanner by capturing multiple images from different perspectives and subsequently merging the images in a common coordinate system to align the merged images together. Alignment is achieved by capturing images of both a portion of the surface of the object and also of a reference object having known characteristics (e.g., shape and/or texture). This allows the position and orientation of the object scanner to be determined in the coordinate system of the reference object. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067707 | Apparatus and method for matching 2D color image and depth image - Provided are an apparatus and method for matching a 2D color image and a depth image to obtain 3D information. The method includes matching resolution of the 2D color image and resolution of a light intensity image, wherein the 2D color image and the light intensity image are separately obtained, detecting at least one edge from the matched 2D color image and the matched light intensity image, and matching overlapping pixels of the matched 2D color image and a depth image, which corresponds to the matched light intensity image, with each other in case that the matched 2D color image and the depth image are overlapped as much as the matched 2D color image and the matched light intensity image are overlapped so that the detected edges of the matched 2D color image and the detected edges of the matched light intensity image are maximally overlapped with each other. Accordingly, the 2D color image and the depth image can be accurately matched so that reliable 3D image information can be quickly obtained. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067708 | COLOR TRANSFORMING METHOD - A method for modifying original display device pixel values for a display device to maintain colorfulness, the method comprises the steps of obtaining original display device pixel values of an image; measuring white luminance from a viewing surface; and maintaining the colorfulness by calculating new pixel values based on the original display device pixel values, the measured luminance and a standard white luminance. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067709 | PERCEPTUALLY LOSSLESS COLOR COMPRESSION - A system and method of color data compression may perform variations of MRC compression including taking into consideration means and/or variances within k×k cells of an image, background texture, background smoothed color, and gradient components for determination of which parts of an image belong to the background and foreground MRC layers, for calculating thresholds values for such determinations, and determining correctness of determined thresholds and polarity, and may determine the background and foreground layer colors based on the variances, the gradient components, and neighboring pixels of non-color-assigned pixels of the background and foreground layers. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067710 | Apparatus and method of restoring an image - A method and apparatus for restoring an image. The method includes extracting predetermined channels from image data including a plurality of channels; and restoring the extracted channels using a first filter. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067711 | COLOR PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREOF - Color processing is performed for an image such that more preferable color representation can be obtained under viewing environments having different viewing conditions. Hence, a setting unit inputs a plurality of viewing conditions of the output side of an image. A calculation unit sets a viewing condition used to calculate an ambient light parameter, based on the plurality of viewing conditions, and calculates an ambient light parameter based on the set viewing condition. A conversion unit performs inverse conversion of a color appearance model to color data by using the ambient light parameter. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067712 | Image processing apparatus, image forming apparatus, and image processing method - An image processing apparatus includes an input control unit that receives an input of image data and a first image-processing unit that performs first image processing on image data received from an image reading unit thereby obtaining first-processed image data. A first output control unit selectively-outputs the first-processed image data to any of the input control unit and an external storage unit. A second image-processing unit receives the first-processed image data from the input control unit and performs second image processing on the first-processed image data thereby obtaining second-processed image data, and a second output control unit outputs the second-processed image data. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067713 | CONTENT-ADAPTIVE CONTRAST IMPROVING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIGITAL IMAGE - The present invention is directed to a digital image content-adaptive contrast improving method. The method includes forming a piecewise linear tone remapping function for a digital image according to the histogram thereof. The piecewise linear tone remapping function is formed by repeatedly performing a first and a second step. The first step determines a starting linear tone mapping function for a specific range of luminance values. The second step generates a new tone mapping function for the specific range of luminance values based on the starting linear tone mapping function and the histogram. An apparatus for implementing the method is also provided. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067714 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMAGE FOG SCENE DETECTION - The subject application is directed to a system and method for image fog scene detection. Electronic image data is first received and divided into image regions, with each region consisting of a plurality of pixels. Next, a comparison matrix is generated corresponding to each image region based upon a comparison of minimum intensity values associated with corresponding pixels to a threshold value. An entry of at least one of the comparison matrices is then tested for a preselected value. The received electronic image data is then identified as inclusive of a fog scene based upon the output of the test on the entry of the comparison matrix. Based upon the identification, fog scene detection data representing an identified fog scene is then generated. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067715 | ELECTRONIC VISION AID AND ELECTRONIC VISION AID METHOD - An electronic visual aid is provided that includes an evaluating unit, which is supplied with a recording of an information carrier on which information standing out visibly from the background is displayed. The evaluating unit determines a brightness distribution of the recording and derives from the brightness distribution a brightness threshold value lying in the transition zone between a zone of the brightness distribution associated with the background and a zone of the brightness distribution associated with the information. The visual aid also includes an image processing unit which generates from the recording a binary image having only two different, predetermined brightness values, by respectively assigning to the pixels of the binary image the first of the two brightness values when the brightness of the corresponding pixel of the recording is below the brightness threshold value, and otherwise assigning the second brightness value. Also included is a display unit which displays the binary image and is provided as an HMD device. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067716 | Robust and efficient foreground analysis for real-time video surveillance - Systems and methods for foreground analysis in real-time video include background subtraction and foreground detection, shadow removal, quick lighting change adaptation, static foreground region detection, foreground fragment reduction, and frame level change detection. Processes include background image extraction and foreground detection, integrating texture information of the background image and a current frame to remove false positive foreground areas resulting from lighting changes, integrating pixel intensity information by determining a cross-correlation of intensities between a current frame and the background image for each pixel in a foreground mask to remove image shadows. Static foreground region detection and fragment reduction are also included. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067717 | DOCUMENT-IMAGE-DATA PROVIDING SYSTEM, DOCUMENT-IMAGE-DATA PROVIDING DEVICE, INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, DOCUMENT-IMAGE-DATA PROVIDING METHOD, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, DOCUMENT-IMAGE-DATA PROVIDING PROGRAM, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING PROGRAM - In a document-image-data providing device, a document image inputting unit is configured to input document image data. An area recognition unit is configured to recognize respective areas of document image elements which constitute the document image data. An element data extracting unit is configured to extract, when a document image element of the document image data is selected in an information processing device, element data of the selected document image element from the document image data, based on a corresponding one of the recognized areas. An element data providing unit is configured to provide the extracted element data to the information processing device. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067718 | Designation of Image Area - An image processing device includes an image display unit that displays an image; an area designation receiving unit that receives designation of a first area in a display image by a user; a transformation processing unit that transforms an image corresponding to the first area in a predetermined transformation area in order to transform an image of a specific kind of photographic subject; and a reference display unit that shows a predetermined reference display in the display image in order to allow the user to designate an area, which includes a second area corresponding to the transformation area in the display image, as the first area. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067719 | System and method for automatic segmentation of ASR transcripts - Text segmentation based on topic boundary detection has been an industry problem in automating information dissemination to targeted users. A system for automatic segmentation of ASR output text involves boundary identification based on “topic” changes. The proposed approach is based on building a weighted graph to determine dependency in input sentences based on bi-directional analysis of the input sentences. Furthermore, the input sentences are segmented based on the notion of segment cohesiveness and the segmented sentences are merged based on preamble and postamble analyses. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067720 | COLOR CODED LETTER GUIDE - A writing sheet assembly including a sheet-like body portion and a guide portion on the body portion. The guide portion includes at least three generally parallel spaced apart lines defining first and second portions therebetween such that a user can write on the portions while using the spaced lines to guide the writing thereof. The first portion is of a first color and the second portion is of a second color different from the first color, and the first portion is positioned on top of the second portion. The first color is blue or green and the second color is green or brown. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067721 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD AND A COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM HAVING COMPUTER EXECUTABLE INSTRUCTIONS STORED THEREON FOR PERFORMING THE METHOD - Image processing apparatus and methods perform effective labeling of objects in an image while advantageously requiring only a small memory. The apparatus and methods practicably and effectively implement various applications, in particular, a detection technique for determination of a detection target. The apparatus comprises a detection unit for detecting values of pixels adjacent to a target pixel within a transformation matrix area of a binary image. The apparatus also includes a labeling unit for assigning a label value to the target pixel. The assigned label value is either a new value or the value existing in the pixels adjacent the target pixel, depending on the value of the adjacent pixels' label. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067722 | Memory cell and page break inspection - A method of inspecting an array having memory blocks with page breaks disposed between them. The memory array is imaged with a sensor at a magnification such that the memory block size is a whole integer pixel multiple within the sensor. This creates an array image that is divided into sections. Those sections that include at least a portion of the memory blocks are selected into a candidate image. Pixels of the image within a boundary distance of a horizontal single line of pixels are inspected to determine horizontal edges of the memory blocks to an accuracy of a single pixel. Pixels of the image within a boundary distance of a vertical single line of pixels are inspected to determine vertical edges of the memory blocks to an accuracy of a single pixel. An image of a first memory block is compared on a pixel by pixel basis to an image of a second memory block to determine differences between pixel values in the first and second memory blocks, where the images are created at the same magnification using the imaging sensor. The differences are flagged as potential memory block defects. Images of the page breaks are compared to determine differences between pixel values of the images of the page breaks, and the differences are flagged as potential page break defects. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067723 | VIDEO IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND VIDEO IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, a video image processing apparatus includes specification module which is configured to allow specification of a object from a displayed video image, a detection module which is configured to detect whether the object exists in the displayed video image, and control module which is configured to cut out, in the case where the detection module has detected that the object exists, a predetermined area including the object from the displayed video image for display. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067724 | IMAGE MATCHING APPARATUS, IMAGE MATCHING METHOD, AND IMAGE DATA OUTPUT PROCESSING APPARATUS - In an image matching apparatus of the present invention, when a document type discrimination section that discriminates a document type determines that a target document is an N-up document on which plural document images are laid out, a resolution conversion section that converts a resolution of image data into a default resolution before features are extracted from the image data converts a resolution of image data of the target document into not the default resolution but a resolution which varies depending on the number of document images laid out on the target document and a document size of the target document. This makes it possible to determine a similarity to a reference document with high accuracy even in a case where each document image included in the target document to be matched is reduced in size from its original document image, i.e., in a case of an N-up document. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067725 | Building Shape Change Detecting Method, And Building Shape Change Detecting System - There is provided a system for detecting a shape change of a building based upon an aerial photograph taken by an airplane. The system can process the aerial photograph without waiting for the airplane to land. On the airplane ( | 2009-03-12 |
20090067726 | COMPUTATION OF A RECOGNIZABILITY SCORE (QUALITY PREDICTOR) FOR IMAGE RETRIEVAL - A MMR system for newspaper publishing comprises a plurality of mobile devices, an MMR gateway, an MMR matching unit and an MMR publisher. The MMR matching unit receives an image query from the MMR gateway and sends it to one or more of the recognition units to identify a result including a document, the page and the location on the page. The MMR system also includes a quality predictor as a plug-in installed on the mobile device to filter images before they are included as part of a retrieval request or as part of the MMR matching unit. The quality predictor comprises an input for receiving recognition algorithm information, a vector calculator, a score generator and a scoring module. The quality predictor receives as inputs an image query, context information and device parameters, and generates an outputs a recognizability score. The present invention also includes a method for generating robustness features. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067727 | IMAGE MATCHING APPARATUS, IMAGE MATCHING METHOD, AND IMAGE DATA OUTPUT PROCESSING APPARATUS - In an image matching apparatus of the present invention, only a connected region in which the number of pixels included therein exceeds a threshold value, among connected regions that are specified by a labeling process section, is sent to a centroid calculation process section from a threshold value processing section, and a centroid (feature point) of the connected region is calculated. When it is determined that a target document to be matched is an N-up document, the threshold value processing section uses, instead of a default threshold value, a variant threshold value that varies depending on the number of images laid out on the N-up document and a document size that are found and detected by an N-up document determination section and a document size detection section. This makes it possible to determine a similarity to a reference document with high accuracy even in a case of an N-up document, i.e., a case where each target image to be matched is reduced in size from an original image. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067728 | Image matching method and image interpolation method using the same - An image matching method includes setting first and second lattices to first and second images respectively, computing potential force to each second lattice point of the second lattice by a gradient of an image correlation potential energy based on a position of each first lattice point and pixel thereof and a position of the second lattice point and pixel thereof, computing elasticity force to the second lattice point from elasticity energy between the second and adjacent lattice points, computing frictional force occurring at the second lattice point, performing a numerical analysis of an equation of motion regarding the second lattice point and based on the potential force, elasticity force and frictional force to obtain a convergence state of the second lattice points, and adding a new lattice point between an adjacent lattice point pair of second lattice points according to a distance between the adjacent lattice point pair. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067729 | AUTOMATIC DOCUMENT CLASSIFICATION USING LEXICAL AND PHYSICAL FEATURES - An automatic document classification system is described that uses lexical and physical features to assign a class c | 2009-03-12 |
20090067730 | Object Recognizer and Detector for Two-Dimensional Images Using Bayesian Network Based Classifier - A system and method for determining a classifier to discriminate between two classes—object or non-object. The classifier may be used by an object detection program to detect presence of a 3D object in a 2D image (e.g., a photograph or an X-ray image). The overall classifier is constructed of a sequence of classifiers (or “sub-classifiers”), where each such classifier is based on a ratio of two graphical probability models (e.g., Bayesian networks). A discrete-valued variable representation at each node in a Bayesian network by a two-stage process of tree-structured vector quantization is discussed. The overall classifier may be part of an object detector program that is trained to automatically detect many different types of 3D objects (e.g., human faces, airplanes, ears, etc.). Computationally efficient statistical methods to evaluate overall classifiers are disclosed. The Bayesian network-based classifier may also be used to determine if two observations (e.g., two images) belong to the same category. For example, in case of face recognition, the classifier may determine whether two photographs are of the same person. A method to provide lighting correction or adjustment to compensate for differences in various lighting conditions of input images is disclosed as well. As per the rules governing abstracts, the content of this abstract should not be used to construe the claims in this application. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067731 | COMPENSATED VIRTUAL SCAN LINES - Disclosed are embodiments of methods, systems, and apparatus for providing virtual scan lines in an imaging system that compensate for the optical distortion associated with the system. In some embodiments, the virtual scan lines may be curved or angled according to their position in the Field of View (FOV) of the imaging system to compensate for the distortion. Some embodiments may provide for virtual scan lines that are preconfigured to compensate for a typical or pre-selected level and type of optical distortion. Other embodiments may be configured to measure or otherwise ascertain the actual distortion of the optical lens and/or other components of the system and generate a virtual scan line pattern that compensates for the measured distortion. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067732 | SEQUENTIAL DECODING OF PROGRESSIVE CODED JPEGS - Progressive scan encoded JPEGS are decoded sequentially on a Minimum Coded Unit (MCU) basis and then the JPEG image is output one row at a time to a frame buffer. Since the entire image does not need to be decoded at once, a huge JPEG buffer is generally not required. The present invention reconstructs each MCU one scan at a time to produce complete lines of image data and thus provides an output using the image data on a line-by-line basis. This technique may require that each MCU be reconstructed scan-by-scan. This technique provides a modified entropy (Huffman) decoder in which data for different scans of an MCU of the progressively scanned JPEG image may be stored in a buffer, and a parsing and scan table element creates pointers to the memory buffer corresponding to the start of each scan level. Scan tables are also extracted for each level of scan or points to the same tables if some scan levels use the same table. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067733 | Byte Representation for Enhanced Image Compression - Various aspects can be implemented to enhance image compression by using a byte representation to reduce the color values and increase redundancy in the color information. In general, one aspect can be a method for enhancing compression of a digital image having a plurality of pixels, each pixel including at least one color component, the method includes obtaining an original number of bits for representing a color value associated with the at least one color component. The method also includes assigning a first reduced number of bits for representing a plurality of case attributes. The method further includes assigning a second reduced number of bits for representing a new color value, wherein the sum of the first reduced number of bits and the second reduced number of bits equals the original number of bits. Other implementations of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067734 | Methods and apparatuses for encoding and decoding an image - A method as well as a system, a device, an encoding apparatus, a decoding apparatus, a module and a computer software product for image processing is disclosed. The image comprises a pixel matrix, in which the pixels comprise a first number of bits. The pixel matrix is divided to two or more blocks of pixels. The pixels are processed on a block-by-block basis to form encoded pixel values including a certain second number of bits. Bit strings are formed on the basis of the encoded pixels. When decoding the image the bit strings are examined to find out the encoding method used in encoding the pixel, and decoding is performed on a block-by-block basis to retrieve pixel values of the image. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067735 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS FOR A MULTI-RESOLUTION STORAGE SCHEME FOR HISTORICAL DATA - A method, system, and computer program product for a multi-resolution storage scheme for historical data are provided. The method includes dividing the historical data into a plurality of time frames and determining an amount of compression for each of the time frames, where at least two of the time frames have a different amount of compression. The method further includes applying the amount of compression to each of the time frames, resulting in multi-resolution historical data, and storing the multi-resolution historical data. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067736 | Enhanced Image Compression Utilizing Hilbert Curve Scanning of Quantized Discrete Cosine Transform Coefficients - A method for compressing images, the method including the steps of partitioning image information for an image into partitioned information, transforming the partitioned information into transformed information using a discrete cosine transform (“DCT”), and quantizing the transformed information into quantized information. The method further includes the steps of sequencing the quantized information into sequenced information using a Hilbert curve scan, encoding the sequenced information into encoded information, and storing the encoded information. The DCT is a JPEG DCT. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067737 | CODING APPARATUS, CODING METHOD, DECODING APPARATUS, DECODING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A coding apparatus includes a blocking unit configured to divide an image into blocks, a reference value acquiring unit configured to acquire two reference values not smaller and not greater than a pixel value of a focused pixel, a reference value difference calculation unit configured to calculate a reference value difference, a pixel value difference calculation unit configured to calculate a pixel value difference between the value of the focused pixel and the reference value, a quantization unit configured to quantize the pixel value difference based on the reference value difference, an operation parameter calculation unit configured to determine an operation parameter that is used in a predetermined operation and minimizes a difference between the pixel value of the focused pixel and the reference value, and an output unit configured to output a quantization result and the operation parameter as a coded result of an image. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067738 | IMAGE CODING APPARATUS AND IMAGE CODING METHOD - An image coding apparatus for coding image data. The image coding apparatus includes: a first coding mechanism predicting a quantization parameter and a quantization matrix to be used for calculating a target amount of code for the image data by coding the image data; a second coding mechanism correcting the quantization parameter predicted by the first coding means from an error between an amount of generated code produced by coding using the quantization parameter and the quantization matrix predicted by the first coding mechanism and the target amount of code; and a third coding mechanism coding the image data using the quantization parameter corrected by the second coding mechanism. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067739 | COLOR PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A color processing apparatus for converting input spectral color data into output color component data corresponding to an output device is provided. A first conversion unit converts the input spectral color data into color component data, and converts the converted color component data into first output color component data corresponding to the output device. A second conversion unit converts the input spectral color data into second output color component data using a calculation unit which calculates spectral color data from output color component data. An evaluation unit evaluates the first output color component data converted by the first conversion unit. A control unit controls to output one of the first and second output color component data in accordance with the evaluation result of the evaluation unit. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067740 | Spatial diffusion in images - The invention is related to spatial diffusion in images. Spatial diffusion helps blurring small discontinuities. Edges become sharper by spatial diffusion as well. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067741 | ADAPTIVE IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND METHOD THEREOF - An adaptive image processing device is provided. The adaptive image processing device includes an image processing unit, a control unit, and a selection unit. The image processing unit receives an image data, for simultaneously execute a plurality of image processing processes to the image data, so as to obtain a plurality of output values. The control unit is coupled to the image processing unit, for executing at least one image analysis to the image data, and obtaining at least one selection signal. The selection unit receives the output values and selects one from the output values to output according to the selection signal. As such, the adaptive image processing device is adapted for discriminatively processing different pixels according to a result of analyzing image data of the image. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067742 | Image restoration apparatus and method - Provided is an image restoration method and apparatus, in which an image is restored by estimating the blur level of the image. The image restoration apparatus includes a block generation module which generates a plurality of overlapping blocks for an input image; a blur estimation module which generates a plurality of unit step responses for a current overlapping block from the overlapping blocks; a feature-map generation module which generates a feature map for the current overlapping block based on the unit step responses of the current overlapping block; and a filter application module which deblurs the current overlapping block by using a deconvolution filter to filter the feature map of the current overlapping block. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067743 | PREPROCESSING FOR INFORMATION PATTERN ANALYSIS - Pre-processing techniques for processing an image to improve the distinctiveness of an information pattern captured in the image before the information pattern is analyzed in a decoding process. The brightness of an image first is normalized by dividing the image into blocks of areas, such as pixels. A brightness distribution value then is determined for each area of the image by fitting the brightness of its surrounding blocks using bilinear interpolation and extrapolation, and a normalized brightness value for each area can then be obtained by dividing the original brightness value by the brightness distribution value. Next, masks are created to distinguish the information pattern from content captured in the image. The masks may be generated based upon contrast differences between the brightness of pixels representing the information pattern, the brightness of pixels representing content, and the brightness of pixels representing the background of the writing medium. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067744 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD, RECORDING MEDIUM, AND PROGRAM - For each pixel read from an imaging device, a horizontal counter value and a vertical counter value corresponding to the pixel are supplied from a signal generator to a distance computation section via an optical-axis-center coordinate setting section and an up-and-down and right-and-left weighting section. In the distance computation section, the distance to the optical-axis center is computed, and correction coefficients for the zoom wide end and for the zoom tele end, which correspond to the distance, are obtained by look-up tables. The two obtained correction coefficients are blended at a mixture ratio determined by a blend ratio setting section. The blended shading correction coefficients are gain adjusted by a gain adjustment section, after which they are supplied to a correction section. As a result, a correction corresponding to the distance to the optical-axis-center position is performed on the signal of each pixel supplied from an imaging section. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067745 | CORRECTION OF IMAGE DISTORTION - An image sensor captures an image of a scene. This captured image has a pincushion distortion relative to an undistorted image of the scene. The distortion is corrected based on an approximation of the distortion D which satisfies the following equation for a given pixel in the captured image: D=(R−R′)/R=Da*(y | 2009-03-12 |
20090067746 | METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING IMAGES UNDER DISTORTION VIA NOISE CHARACTERIZATION AND BREGMAN OPTIMAL MATRIX APPROXIMATIONS - An image digest based search approach allows images within an image repository related to a query image to be located despite cropping, rotating, localized changes in image content, compression formats and/or an unlimited variety of other distortions. In particular, the approach allows potential distortion types to be characterized and to be fitted to an exponential family of equations matched to a Bregman distance. Image digests matched to the identified distortion types may then be generated for stored images using the matched Bregman distances, thereby allowing searches to be conducted of the image repository that explicitly account for the statistical nature of distortions on the image. Processing, associated with characterizing image noise, generating matched Bregman distances, and generating image digests for images within an image repository based on a wide range of distortion types and processing parameters may be performed offline and stored for later use, thereby improving search response times. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067747 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING IMAGE DISPLAY DATA - An apparatus generates display data on a display unit. An image constructing unit constructs an image of an image list including a plurality of images each corresponding to an image data file. A data output unit outputs first display data of the image list, and then, when a switching command is received from a user, outputs second display data of the image list in response to the switching command. A confirmation calculating unit calculates a degree of confirmation indicating whether a user confirmation is performed for each of the images in the image list. An image modifying unit modifies the images in the image list based on the degree of confirmation. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067748 | Estimating Orientation Angle And Translation Values Of A Scanned Image - Exemplary methods for estimating an orientation angle and a translation values for scanned images are disclosed. The methods described herein may be embodied as logic instructions on a computer-readable medium. In one exemplary implementation meaningful image information is removed from a scanned image, resulting in a transformed image that comprises alternating, parallel lines disposed at an orientation angle relative to an orthogonal axis. The orientation angle may be determined using geometric techniques or statistical correlation techniques, and statistical correlation techniques may be implemented to determine translation values. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067749 | Calibration Method and Calibration System for Projection Apparatus - The invention relates to a calibration method and a calibration system for at least one projection apparatus for projecting images onto at least one projection area, where the geometric data from the at least one projection area has been or are stored in advance in a computer unit, wherein a) the at least one projection apparatus projects previously known calibration patterns onto at least one portion of the projection area, with the calibration patterns having at least one overlap region among one another, b) the calibration patterns are recorded by at least one camera apparatus as a calibration image and the data from the calibration image are transmitted to the computer unit, where c) the computer unit is used to automatically ascertain the difference between the recorded real calibration image and an ideal depiction result from the previously known calibration pattern on the projection area as a reference pattern, and where subsequently the difference between the real calibration image and the reference pattern is used to ascertain a correction transform, so that the link between the correction transform and a real projection of images by the at least one projection apparatus corresponds to the reference pattern particularly in an overlap region apart from a small, particularly a minimum, difference. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067750 | CHART DISPLAY DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING CHART - Methods and apparatuses perform image processing for blending image and/or data layers. The method according to one embodiment accesses data representing a first layer and data representing a second layer; and generates a blended layer by adjusting a transparency of said first layer relatively to said second layer based on data associated with said first or second layer. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067751 | Alignment of Fat-Sat and Non-Fat-Sat T1 Weighted Images in MRI Applications - A method for aligning medical images, including: generating a learned joint distribution of intensities of corresponding voxels of images acquired by a first modality and a second modality, wherein the first and second modalities are different from each other; acquiring a first image of a patient using the first modality; acquiring a second image of the patient using the second modality; and aligning the first and second images based on the learned joint distribution. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067752 | Image-registration method, medium, and apparatus - An image-registration method, medium, and apparatus obtaining first and second images, generating first and second image pyramids based on the first and second images, respectively, by performing sub-sampling which reduces the length and width of each of the first and second images by half, and determining one of five directions as an optimal movement direction for a current level of the first and second image pyramids based on two images belonging to a corresponding level, updating a motion vector for the current level based on the optimal movement direction for the current level and updating a first image belonging to a level directly below the current level based on the updated motion vector for the current level, wherein the updating comprises updating a motion vector for each of a plurality of levels of the first and second image pyramids in an order from an uppermost level to a lowermost level. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067753 | DYNAMIC SIZING AND POSITIONING OF MULTIPLE IMAGES - A method of arranging images provides for automated scaling, positioning and organizing of a plurality of images on an image display, which may be transferred to a printed or electronic product design. A plurality of images are analyzed to produce image data. Display parameters determine permissible arrangement of the images. Based on the image data and the display parameters, an arrangement on the image display for each of the plurality of images is defined. The arrangement may be further defined to maximize at least one dimension of the images. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067754 | BLACK WHITE IMAGE COMPRESSION HAVING PRINT DENSITY CONTROL - A scaling system for compressing a bitonal image that has print density control. A system is disclosed that comprises: a pixel reduction system that generates a scaled image by reducing pixel pairs down to single scaled pixel based on a set of scaling rules; and a line density control system that allows the scaled image to be made lighter, normal or darker by changing the scaling rules. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067755 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GEODESIC IMAGE MATCHING USING EDGE POINTS INTERPOLATION - A method for deformable registration of 2 digital images includes providing a pair of digital images, including a fixed image and a moving image, extracting a set of edge images from each image of the pair of images, each edge set being extracted at a different resolution, selecting a pair of edge images with a lowest resolution, determining a mapping from edge points of the fixed image to edge points of moving image using a geodesic thin plate spline interpolation, applying the mapping to a next higher resolution edge point image of the moving image, selecting a pair of edge images at a next higher resolution, where a moving edge image is the moving edge image to which the mapping has been applied, repeating the steps at a next higher resolution for all edge images in the set of edge images, and applying the mapping to an entire moving image. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067756 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VERIFICATION OF UNCERTAINLY RECOGNIZED WORDS IN AN OCR SYSTEM - The present invention provides a method and system for confirming uncertainly recognized words as reported by an Optical Character Recognition process by using spelling alternatives as search arguments for an Internet search engine. The measured number of hits for each spelling alternative is used to provide a confirmation measure for the most probable spelling alternative. Whenever the confirmation measure is inconclusive, a plurality of search strategies are used to reach a measured result comprising zero hits except for one spelling alternative that is used as the correct alternative. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067757 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING IMAGE - A method of forming an image includes displaying a list of one or more editing items to be used in editing the image; selecting at least one editing item from the displayed list; and converting the image t using the at least one selected editing item and processing the image. An apparatus for forming an image includes a display unit that displays a list of one or more editing items to be used in editing the image; an input panel unit that receives a selection of at least one editing item from the displayed list of editing items; and a control unit that converts the image using the at least one selected editing item. The editing items may be stored in the apparatus for forming an image or may be registered to a server. Therefore, the editing items having an image editing function can be shared between users and thus an image desired by a user can be easily and conveniently obtained. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067758 | EDGE DETECTING DEVICE, ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT, AND EDGE DETECTING METHOD USING THE SAME - An edge detecting device for detecting a position of an edge of an object includes a measuring circuit for emitting an inspection light to a linear inspecting area including the object, and measuring first light quantity of a reflected light of the inspection light reflected from the inspecting area in a first state and second light quantity of a reflected light of the inspection light reflected from the inspecting area in a second state, a calculation circuit for calculating a difference of the first light quantity and the second light quantity measured by the measuring circuit for each pixel with a first predetermined length, calculating first total differences of reflected lights from pixels with a second predetermined length located adjacent to an objective dot in one direction by totalizing differences between the first and the second light quantity reflected from each of the pixels, and calculating second total differences of reflected lights from the other pixels with the second predetermined length located adjacent to the objective dot in the other direction by totalizing differences between the first and the second light quantity reflected from each of the other pixels and a judgment circuit for judging the objective dot with the largest variation between the first total differences and the second total differences to be a position of the edge. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067759 | Temperature controlled fluid bath food holding apparatus - A method is provided for storing a cooked food in a flexible-walled container having an opening. The method includes placing a quantity of food in a flexible-walled container and submerging at least a portion of the container in a liquid with the opening being located so that liquid does not enter the opening. At least the lower portion of the container is maintained in the liquid and the food is maintained in the container below the surface of the liquid. The liquid collapses the container to seal the container. The temperature of the liquid may be maintained at a non-ambient temperature to heat or cool the food as it is stored. The method may also include storing the food adjacent a work surface, or at a remote main vat and transporting the rack to the work surface at which a serving that includes the food is prepared. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067760 | BAGS HAVING ODOR MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES - Bags or liners having incorporated therein an effective amount of odor management agents including a counteractant agent, a neutralizing agent and optionally, a masking agent, whereby the odor management agent imparts no perceptible scent to the bags or liners, such that the bags or liners are substantially free of fragrance while the odor management agent reduces malodor emanating from products disposed within the bag. Further, the invention is drawn to web materials for use in forming the bags or liners having odor management agents. The odor management agent is disposed within the bag or dispersed substantially uniformly throughout the web. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067761 | High burst closure assembly for large packages - The present disclosure relates to a high burst closure which allows for bottom filling of packages, such as large bags, and further provides increased resistance to damage from the dropping or shock loading of the filled package. This is achieved by providing profiles that combine an upper portion of one profile and its related flange, so as to form a juncture above a peel seal joining one profile to the other, so that external forces on a package or bag from bottom filling or shock loading are directed toward the juncture thereby causing a shear force against the peel seal or other frangible connection, thereby increasing the resistance of the package to external forces. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067762 | Retaining plug for retaining needle roller bearings in the centers of gears - The retaining plus is used for assembling or retaining an array of needle roller bearings in the center of a gear. The plug applies a spring force through a push ball and a wire retainer clip which separates a pair of the needle roller bearings and force the array of bearings together and against the inside diameter of the gear. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067763 | Engaging device of linear sliding rail - An engaging device of a linear sliding rail includes a sliding rail and a sliding block. The sliding block comprises a sliding base body, a supporting body and two connecting bodies. The front and rear ends of the sliding base body have a positioning plate respectively. The two locking pieces each comprises hooks. The hook locks the two connecting bodies at the front and rear ends of the sliding base body. The hook abuts against one end of the abutting piece. The other end of the abutting piece abuts against front and rear end faces of the supporting body respectively. Via this arrangement, when the locking piece locks the two connecting bodies at both ends of the sliding base body, it also generating a pre-pressure to press the supporting body, thereby assembling the supporting body and the two connecting bodies on the sliding base body tightly and firmly. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067764 | FLUID BEARING STRUCTURE AND ASSEMBLY METHOD FOR FLUID BEARING STRUCTURE - Materials with different thermal expansion coefficients are selected individually for a bearing guide and a slider that constitute a fluid bearing. The guide and the slider are combined in close contact with each other (i.e., with a zero bearing clearance between the two) in a temperature environment different from a temperature at which the fluid bearing is actually used. In consequence, the bearing clearance at the operating temperature can be adjusted based on a difference from the temperature for the fluid bearing assembly. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067765 | Spindle motor having hydrodynamic bearing - Provided is a spindle motor having a hydrodynamic bearing with an improved structure to prevent oil leakage due to a centrifugal force generated when the motor is rotating. In the spindle motor, an oil gap is formed between a rotor and a fixing body to form the hydrodynamic bearing to rotate the rotor, and an oil groove is formed in a surface of the rotor or the fixing body, which faces the oil gap. Also, a taper seal is formed in an area that extends from the oil gap and contacts the air, between the rotor and the fixing body, and the rotor constituting the taper seal is placed of the rotation center of the fixing body. Thus, thus the amount of oil in the taper seal is minimized and oil leakage can be stably prevented. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067766 | Sliding Bearing - A sliding bearing comprises a shaft hole for rotatably supporting a shaft that is inserted thereinto, an inner circumferential surface on which the shaft slides, and plural linearly oblique grooves. The grooves extend in a direction crossing a circumferential direction of the sliding bearing and are formed on the inner circumferential surface at intervals, and the grooves are provided with a lubricant. The oblique grooves have an oblique angle in a range of 10° to 60° with respect to a direction perpendicular to the circumferential direction and have a width B in a range of 0.5 to 5 mm in the circumferential direction. The adjacent grooves have a land with a surface as a sliding surface therebetween, and the sliding surface has a width A in a range of 1 to 7 mm in the circumferential direction. A ratio A/B of the width A of the sliding surface of the land to the width B of the groove is in a range of 0.5 to 5.0. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067767 | Radially compliant bearing hanger for rotating shafts - A bearing hanger assembly for supporting a shaft is disclosed which includes a support plate having front and rear surfaces and a shaft aperture, a damper plate having front and rear surfaces and a shaft aperture, and a damper element disposed between the front surface of the support plate and the rear surface of the damper plate. The damper element has a bearing aperture axially aligned with the shaft apertures of the support plate and damper plate, and is adapted to translate relative to the damper plate and support plate to accommodate radial movement of a shaft supported in the bearing aperture. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067768 | Rolling Bearing and Supercharger Using Same - There are provided an inner ring having a first raceway at an outer periphery thereof, an outer ring having a second raceway at an inner periphery thereof, an intermediate ring which is interposed between these, and has a third raceway at an inner periphery thereof and also has a fourth raceway at an outer periphery thereof, first rolling elements interposed between the first raceway and the third raceway, and second rolling elements interposed between the fourth raceway and the second raceway. The intermediate ring includes a larger-diameter ring portion, and a smaller-diameter ring portion formed on the larger-diameter ring portion through an inclined ring portion. The third raceway is formed at a boundary portion between the larger-diameter ring portion and the inclined ring portion, and the fourth raceway is formed at a boundary portion between the smaller-diameter ring portion and the inclined ring portion. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067769 | Cage for a Bearing Assembly | 2009-03-12 |
20090067770 | LITHIUM NIOBATE OPTICAL MODULATOR - An optical modulator comprises a Z-cut lithium niobate substrate on which is formed a Mach-Zehnder interferometer having two generally parallel waveguides lying beneath a buffer layer of dielectric material. First and second ground electrodes and a hot electrode are disposed on the buffer layer, the first and second ground electrodes being spaced either side of the hot electrode, the hot electrode and the first ground electrode being proximate to at least apart of the respective waveguides. The electrode structure is unsymmetrical in that (a) the hot electrode and the first ground electrode each have a width substantially less than that of the second ground electrode and or (b) the spacing between the first ground and hot electrodes is different from the spacing between the second ground and hot electrodes. whereby a range of chirp values can be obtained. When the spacing between the first ground and hot electrodes is smaller than the spacing between the second ground and hot electrodes, and preferably the hot and first ground electrodes have a width not exceeding 15 .μm, the modulator is capable of operation at frequencies above 10 GHz, possibly up to around 40 GHz. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067771 | High Efficient Silicon-on-Lithium Niobate Modulator - A modulator includes an electro-optical substrate and a first and second waveguide formed of a doped semiconductor material positioned on a surface of an electro-optical substrate forming a slot therebetween. A doping level of the semiconductor material being chosen to make the first and second waveguide conductive. A dielectric material is positioned in the slot which increases confinement of both an optical field and an electrical field inside the slot. A refractive index of the semiconductor material and a refractive index of the dielectric material positioned in the slot being chosen to reduce the Vπ·L product of the modulator. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067772 | MICROWAVE PHOTONIC DELAY LINE WITH SEPARATE TUNING OF OPTICAL CARRIER - This invention provides a tunable delay of an optical signal having a carrier with an angular frequency ω | 2009-03-12 |
20090067773 | RAPIDLY TUNABLE WAVELENGTH SELECTIVE RING RESONATOR - A system and method are disclosed for a rapidly tunable wavelength selective ring resonator. An embodiment of a voltage-tunable wavelength selective ring resonator includes a ring-shaped waveguide formed on a semiconductor substrate, an electro-optic cladding layer formed over the ring-shaped waveguide, and voltage applying means for applying a voltage across the electro-optic cladding layer. The ring-shaped waveguide is configured to propagate optical signals having predetermined resonant wavelengths, the electro-optic cladding layer has a voltage-controlled variable refractive index, and the means for applying is configured to apply a wavelength-specific control voltage to the electro-optic cladding layer. The wavelength-specific control voltage will shift or tune the predetermined resonant wavelengths for the ring-shaped waveguide. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067774 | Tunable resonant leaky-mode N/MEMS elements and uses in optical devices - Mechanically tunable electromagnetic and photonic devices featuring enhanced spectral tunability with minimal mechanical movement are provided. These nano/micro-electromechanically (N/MEMS) tunable elements, including filters and pixels, rely on leaky-mode resonance effects in subwavelength photonic lattices that constitute periodic wavelengths. Such elements can operate in reflection (bandstop) or transmission (bandpass) modes, and can be arranged in one-dimensional or two-dimensional arrays, or operated as single units, and their spectral regions are controlled by the element design. Input electromagnetic radiation illuminates the element and is then filtered, modulated, analyzed or tuned by the element. Mechanical motion alters the structural symmetry, and therefore, the tuning properties, of the nanostructured subwavelength resonance elements. Further, incorporating metals and dielectrics to generate coexisting plasmonic and leaky-mode resonance effects adds to the versatility of the potential applications. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067775 | FIBER OPTIC CHEMICAL SENSOR - Optical systems for sensing chemicals. An example system includes a light source, a light sensor, a processing device in signal communication with the light source and the light sensor, and a fiber optic cable that receives light from the light source and delivers light to the light sensor. The fiber optic cable includes a cladding material that is permeable to a predefined substance and an optical fiber core surrounded by the cladding material. The optical fiber core is a single mode optical fiber having a diameter greater than 30 μm. The optical fiber core includes a hollow center having a diameter between 1-50 μm. The optical fiber core includes a plurality of lengthwise holes positioned to provide single mode light propagation properties. The plurality of lengthwise holes have a diameter between 0.2-4 μm. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067776 | OPTICAL FIBERS - One or more silica optical fibers ( | 2009-03-12 |
20090067777 | Pipeline security system - The present invention provides a security system for a pipeline, such as an oil, gas or water pipeline, or other tubular, elongated or other structures used to convey various other liquid, gaseous or fluent materials. The invention is also useful in protecting a tunnel such as a vehicular tunnel. A flexible and wrappable sensor sheet is provided having an optical fiber or electrical wire disposed therein in a zigzag or other pattern which covers substantially the entire area of the sheet. The sensor sheet containing the fiber or wire is wrapped around the outer surface of a pipeline or other structure, and provides a covering of substantially the entire outer surface of a predetermined length of the pipeline. Similar sheets can be employed on adjacent pipeline sections to provide protection of any intended length of the pipeline, which may include the entire effective pipeline length. The individual sensor sheets can be interconnected to provide one continuous optical or electrical path through the adjacent sensor sections for the entire pipeline length or any part thereof. A light or current source is provided at one end of the continuous path to introduce light or current into the path. A light or current detector is coupled to the other end of the path to sense light or electrical current from the path. Alternatively each sensor section can have its own light or current source and its own light or current detector for sensing a signal from the respective paths. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067778 | HYBRID INTEGRATED STRUCTURE OF ONE OR MORE OPTICAL ACTIVE DEVICES AND PLC DEVICE USING OPTICAL FIBER ARRAY - A hybrid integrated structure of an optical active device and a Planar Lightwave Circuit (PLC) device using an optical fiber array is provided, in which one or more photodiodes are integrated on an upper cladding layer above one or more planar optical waveguides. A section located on a boundary surface between output optical waveguides, that is, an end of the PLC device in the direction of propagation of light, and the input end of an output optical fiber array is ground to be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to an optical axis. Further, one or more optical fibers and one or more reflection mirrors are alternately arranged, inserted, and disposed in a plurality of V-shaped trenches formed in the output optical fiber array. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067779 | FLEXIBLE OPTOELECTRIC INTERCONNECT AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME - A flexible optoelectric interconnect includes: an optoelectric film, a driving IC, an optical semiconductor device, a heat dissipation plate and a thermally conductive material. The optoelectric film has an electrical interconnect layer made of a single layer and an optical interconnect layer including an optical waveguide core and an optical waveguide clad. The optoelectric film has a through hole extending from a major surface thereof to a rear surface opposite to the major surface. The driving IC is provided on the major surface of the optoelectric film and electrically connected to the electrical interconnect layer, and provided above the through hole in the optoelectric film. The optical semiconductor device is provided on the major surface of the optoelectric film and driven by the driving IC. The heat dissipation plate is provided on the rear surface of the optoelectric film and covering the through hole such that a part of the through hole is protruded from an outer edge of the driving IC in a view perpendicular to the major surface. The thermally conductive material is provided in the through hole and in contact with the driving IC and the heat dissipation plate. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067780 | WAVELENGTH SELECTIVE SWITCH - In a wavelength selective switch according to the present invention, an isolator is disposed between a lens array and a first lens. The isolator includes an isolator element and a transmitting means. The isolator is disposed so that the isolator element is on light paths of input lights and that the transmitting element is on a light path of an output light. The isolator element is shared among the light paths of the plurality of input lights. The isolator element intercepts lights propagating in an opposite direction to the input lights and prevents coupling of the lights to input ports. The transmitting element transmits the output light and couples it to an output port. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067781 | OPTICAL SWITCH - The present invention discloses an optical switch having an optical switching function as well as an add/drop function. The optical switch includes two add optical fibers and two drop optical fibers. In addition to the optical switching function of the optical switch achieved by four movable mirrors, the optical switch also has the add/drop function when the four movable mirrors are moved out of the optical path. Therefore, the optical switch of the invention concurrently provides the optical switching function as well as the add/drop functions. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067782 | SEMICONDUCTOR OPTICAL SWITCH - A semiconductor optical switch may include an optical waveguide, a first electrode, and a first reflector. The optical waveguide may include a branching point, a first incoming path and first and second outgoing paths. The first electrode is provided at the branching point to give carrier injection into the branching point to allow that the branching point reflects an optical signal that is propagating through the first incoming path so that the reflected optical signal propagates through the second outgoing path. The first electrode may give no carrier injection into the branching point to allow that the branching point allows the optical signal to transmit through the branching point and propagate through the first outgoing path. The first reflector is provided on the first outgoing path. The first reflector reflects a leakage of light that has propagated from the branching point. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067783 | METHOD OF TUNING AN ADJUSTABLE DISPERSION COMPENSATOR - In the present invention, a method of controlling a tuneable optical dispersion compensating device to act on an optical signal by automatically controlling a plurality of dispersion control settings of the device in a systematic way using feedback, thereby to adapt freely the optical group delay for the optical signal within a predetermined wavelength range including that of the optical signal. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067784 | COMPACT OPTICS FOR CONCENTRATION, AGGREGATION AND ILLUMINATION OF LIGHT ENERGY - A solar concentrator having a concentrator element for collecting input light, a redirecting component with a plurality of incremental steps for receiving the light and also for redirecting the light, and a waveguide including a plurality of incremental portions enabling collection and concentration of the light onto a receiver. Other systems replace the receiver by a light source so system optics can provide illumination. | 2009-03-12 |
20090067785 | Optical device comprising an apodized bragg grating and method to apodize a bragg grating - An optical device, i.e., a wavelength selective filter, includes a grating having a finite length and is capable of filtering a given first wavelength within an operating wavelength region, said grating including a plurality of consecutive sections, each section including two sub-sections: a first sub-section having a first period Λ and a second sub-section having a second period Λ | 2009-03-12 |
20090067786 | OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE DEVICE AND LIGHT OUTPUTTING MODULE - An optical waveguide device includes: a waveguide core that guides light; a mirror surface that deflects light coming from the waveguide core by 90°; a main waveguide core that guides light deflected at the mirror surface; a waveguide core for monitoring that branches the light deflected at the mirror surface off from the main waveguide core, and guides the light in a different direction, the mirror surface being disposed at a branching portion of the waveguide core for monitoring; and a clad portion that surrounds the waveguide core, the main waveguide core and the waveguide core for monitoring. | 2009-03-12 |