| 18th week of 2011 patent applcation highlights part 40 |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
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| 20110103577 | SESSION INITIATION PROTOCOL(SIP)-BASED MICROPHONE - This invention describes a microphone that is specifically used for a multiparty conferencing system or an event recording system where people are in the same room or may be spread between separate geographical locations. The unique aspect of this directional microphone is that it can operate using network based protocols including TCP/IP, UDP, VoIP, and SIP and can enhance an event recording system by allowing the system to scale up to easily with reduced cost when compared to traditional audio microphone input channels. The microphone would fit ideally with conference recording systems as described in Poirier's U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,047,192, and 7,603,273. Poirier teaches in these patents an event recording system that separates each person's spoken statements into separate audio and/or text events based on when events start and stop. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103578 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EFFICIENTLY CREATING DIGESTS OF DIGITAL DATA - Systems and methods efficiently process digests, hashes or other results by performing multiplicative functions in parallel with each other. In various embodiments, successive processing stages are provided, with each stage performing parallel multiplicative functions and also combining input terms to reduce the total number of terms that remain to be processed. By progressively combining the active terms into a smaller number of terms for subsequent processing, the time needed to process a result can be significantly reduced. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103579 | FORMAT PRESERVING ENCRYPTION SYSTEMS FOR DATA STRINGS WITH CONSTRAINTS - Format preserving encryption (FPE) cryptographic engines are provided for performing encryption and decryption on strings. A plaintext string may be converted to ciphertext by repeated application of a format preserving encryption cryptographic algorithm. Following each application of the format preserving cryptographic algorithm, the resulting version of the string may be analyzed to determine whether desired string constraints have been satisfied. If the string constraints have not been satisfied, further applications of the format preserving cryptographic algorithm may be performed. If the string constraints have been satisfied, the current version of the string may be used as an output for the cryptographic engine. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103580 | COMPRESSING ENCRYPTED DATA WITHOUT THE ENCRYPTION KEY - A method, system and computer program product are disclosed for compressing encrypted data, wherein the data is encrypted by using a block encryption algorithm in a chained mode of operation, and the encrypted data is comprised of a set of N encrypted blocks, C | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103581 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING NON-INTERACTIVE KEY AND METHOD FOR COMMUNICATION SECURITY USING THE SAME - A method and apparatus for generating a non-interactive key, and a method for communication security using the same. A event is detected, and keys are generated based on the detected event. Thus, keys are generated using a small number of calculating operations with a simple interface and thus a user may easily generate the keys, and the performance of an apparatus using the keys is improved. In addition, the keys are generated without wireless interaction between nodes, thereby improving communication security. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103582 | System for securing access to data streams - A method and an apparatus for protecting digital content, in which an output format for received compressed encrypted digital content is determined based, at least in part, on a rule determining whether clear compressed output format is allowed. When the clear compressed output format is not allowed, the content is received in a form in which it has been encrypted by at least two different encryption methods, and processing of the content comprises a combination of decrypting in accordance with one of the encryption methods and decompression in an atomic operation. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103583 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRESERVING SECURITY OF SENSOR DATA AND RECORDING MEDIUM USING THEREOF - A method and a system for preserving sensor data based on a time key, and a recording medium thereof are provided. The time key based sensor data security preserving method includes encrypting the sensor data with an encryption key obtained using a time key based polynomial derived using random numbers and a secret key which is shared by a sensor node and an application system; and decrypting the encrypted sensor data with a decryption key obtained by deriving the same polynomial as the time key based polynomial using the random numbers and the secret key. Thus, integrity and confidentiality of the sensor data can be preserved. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103584 | PROTECTION OF A CIPHERING KEY - A method for protecting a key used, by an electronic circuit, in a symmetrical algorithm for ciphering or deciphering a message, including the steps of complementing to one the key and the message; executing the algorithm twice, respectively with the key and the message and with the key and the message complemented to one, the selection between that of the executions which processes the key and the message and that which processes the key and the message complemented to one being random; and checking the consistency between the two executions. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103585 | Mobile Content Magnet - Methods and apparatus for a Mobile Content Magnet are disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention is a miniature electronic device, which functions as a fully-powered personal computer, which stores digital files and content, and which communicates wirelessly with external input and output devices and a network such as the Internet. In one embodiment, the present invention may be carried in a pocket or purse, clipped on a belt or incorporated into a pair of glasses. In another embodiment, the Mobile Content Magnet is configured to receive an automatic stream of digital content over a wireless connection from a remote server which functions as a content aggregator. The content which is automatically pushed to the user is either directly chosen by the user, or may be suggested by software running on the remote server that seeks and identifies additional content using keyword or relevance searches. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103586 | System, Method and Device To Authenticate Relationships By Electronic Means - The present invention is in the Information Technology field, specifically in the authentication of systems' users by using wireless remote communication technologies and refers to a system, a method, and a device capable of authenticating users and providers of centralized services, safely and reciprocally. More specifically, the invention's field of application is that of methods of management of people authenticating processes, in their relationships through digital electronic means. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103587 | DATA CONCEALING APPARATUS, DATA DECRYPTION APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS HAVING DATA ENCRYPTING FUNCTION - Disclosed is a data concealing apparatus, which makes it possible to heighten the strength of the encryption processing that employs such the data cryptography method in which the encryption of compressed image data is achieved by destroying a part of the compressed image data concerned. The data concealing apparatus includes: an establishing section to establish a data size of a portion of compressed data in a changeable manner; a cryptography key extracting section to extract the portion of compressed data from the compressed data as the cryptography key data, while making a data size of the cryptography key data coincide with the data size established by the establishing section; and an encrypting section to encrypt the compressed data by replacing the portion of compressed data, extracted as the cryptography key data by the cryptography key extracting section, with certain data being different from the cryptography key data. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103588 | Key Agreement and Re-keying over a Bidirectional Communication Path - A key agreement method is carried out by a first system in conjunction with a second system over a bidirectional communication path, including generating a first key pair having a first public key and a first private key, sending the first public key to the second system, receiving a second public key generated by the second system, and calculating a master key based upon the first private key, the second public key, a long-term private key, and a long-term public key. The long-term private key was generated by the first system during a previous key-agreement method as part of a long-term key pair. The long-term public key was generated by the second system and received during the previous key-agreement method. The previous key-agreement method required a secret to be known to the first system and the second system, thus conferring authentication based on the secret to the long-term public key. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103589 | KEY DISTRIBUTING METHOD, PUBLIC KEY OF KEY DISTRIBUTION CENTRE ONLINE UPDATING METHOD AND DEVICE - A key distributing method, a public key of key distribution centre online updating method, a key distribution centre, a communication entity and a key management system. The system includes: communication entities, a carrying device, a key distribution centre and a database, wherein the carrying device carries or transports the information during the key distributing course and the public key online updating course, the database stores whether each communication entity registered secret service; the database connects with the key distribution centre, the key distribution centre connects with the carrying device, and the carrying device connects with each communication entity. Using the cipher technology of public key, a key distribution system is provided based on principle of three-element peer authentication (TePA). The system safely distributes the communication key to each pair entities to enable keys have PFS attribute, reduces the key management complexity of the system, and realizes online updating of the public key of the trusted third party i.e. key distribution centre. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103590 | AUDIO SYSTEM PHASE EQUALIZATION - A method is provided for optimizing acoustic localization at one or more listening positions in a listening environment such as, but not limited to, a vehicle passenger compartment. The method includes generating a sound field with a group of loudspeakers assigned to at least one of the listening positions, the group of loudspeakers including first and second loudspeakers, where each loudspeaker is connected to a respective audio channel; calculating filter coefficients for a phase equalization filter; configuring a phase response for the phase equalization filter such that binaural phase difference (Δφ | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103591 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING SPATIAL CUE INFORMATION OF A MULTICHANNEL AUDIO SIGNAL - An apparatus for enhancing a multichannel audio signal comprising at least two channels configured to: estimate a value representing a direction of arrival associated with a first audio signal from at least a first channel and a second audio signal from at least a second channel of at least two channels of a multichannel audio signal; determine a scaling factor dependent on the direction of arrival associated with the first audio signal and the second audio signal; and apply the scaling factor to a parameter associated with a difference in audio signal levels between the first audio signal and the second audio sign. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103592 | Apparatus and method encoding/decoding with phase information and residual information - Provided is an apparatus and method of encoding and decoding multiple channel signals based upon phase information and one or more residual signals. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103593 | Method and System For a Pipelined Dual Audio Path Processing Audio Codec - Methods and systems for a pipelined dual audio path processing audio CODEC are disclosed and may comprise centrally generating multiplexer (MUX) select signals for clock domains in an audio CODEC including a plurality of audio inputs and audio processing paths. The MUX select signals may be generated in a single clock domain. Each of the audio processing paths may traverse a plurality of clock domains and may include infinite impulse response (IIR) and cascaded integrator comb (CIC) filters. One or more adders may be shared in the CIC filters, and one or more multipliers and one or more adders may be shared in the IIR filters. The clock domains may be synchronized utilizing the centrally generated enable signals. An output signal of the IIR filters may be buffered in each of the audio paths utilizing a first-in-first-out buffer. The MUX select signals may be generated utilizing a finite state machine. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103594 | STEREO MICROPHONE UNIT AND STEREO MICROPHONE - A stereo capacitor microphone unit includes: two unidirectional microphone units integrally formed with respective fixed electrodes of the unidirectional microphone units facing each other; and an insulating spacer that is interposed between the fixed electrodes and provided with a gap formed at a portion of an outer periphery towards radial direction. The gap communicates fixed electrode rear spaces of the respective unidirectional microphone units with an external space to serve as a common rear acoustic terminal for the unidirectional microphone units. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103595 | METHODS AND APPARATUS TO MONITOR MEDIA EXPOSURE IN VEHICLES - Methods and apparatus to monitor media exposure in vehicles are disclosed. An example implementation includes collecting audience measurement data with a media monitoring device fixed in a vehicle and transmitting the audience measurement data from the media monitoring device to a shuttle located within the vehicle, the shuttle being incapable of collecting audience measurement data independent of the media monitoring device. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103596 | STORAGE MEDIUM HAVING BREATH DETECTION PROGRAM STORED THEREIN AND BREATH DETECTION APPARATUS - Sound data acquisition means acquires, from a sound input device, sound data representing a sound signal. First evaluation means evaluates the sound signal represented by the sound data, by using a first criterion for detecting whether or not the sound inputted into the sound input device is a breath. Second evaluation means evaluates the sound signal represented by the sound data, by using a second criterion which is different from the first criterion. Breath detection means detects that a breath is inputted into the sound input device at least when the first evaluation means makes an affirmative evaluation, in a first period in which whether or not a breath is started to be blown into the sound input device is determined, and detects that a breath is inputted into the sound input device when at least one of the first evaluation means and the second evaluation means make an affirmative evaluation, in a second period in which whether or not a breath continues to be blown into the sound input device is determined. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103597 | Medic voice data system - A medical voice data system includes a hand-held recording device, an electronic information carrier (EIC), and a host station. The hand-held device records medical information from a user that is examining a person in an extreme environment such as battlefield or disaster area. EICs are stored within a housing interior and can be dispensed therefrom by the user. Recording electronics within the housing interior are operably connected to at least one of the EICs. A microphone is operably connected to the recording electronics to record on a EIC medical information about the injured person. The EIC is configured to be attached to and travel with the person as they are evacuated so that the recorded medical information is immediately available to medical personnel at a care center via the host station. The medical voice data system may also employ a wireless EIC. A host station is used to receive and process the recorded information and convert it to text-based medical record. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103598 | RADIO COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OCCURRENCE - A radio communication apparatus including: a sound notification unit that to provide sound-based notification of an occurrence of an event related to the at least one application; a non-sound notification unit to provide non-sound-based notification of an occurrence of an event related to the at least one application; a memory to store a notification sound volume associated with an application, the notification sound volume being a volume of a notification sound produced by the sound notification unit to provide notification of an occurrence of an event related to the application; a sound collecting unit to collect ambient sound; and a processor to select a notification method on the basis of whether an ambient sound volume is greater than the notification sound volume stored in the memory, the ambient sound volume being a volume of the ambient sound collected by the sound collecting unit. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103599 | AUDIO OUTPUT APPARATUS AND COMPENSATION METHOD THEREOF - An audio output apparatus including a digital operation unit, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a left channel unit, a right channel unit and a common unit is provided. During an initial setting, the digital operation unit detects a cross talk voltage on a left channel earphone unit in the left channel unit or a right channel earphone unit in the right channel unit, calculates a first ratio and a second ratio, and then performs an arithmetic operation on a left and a right channel signals according to the first and the second ratios, so as to obtain a compensated left channel signal and a compensated right channel signal respectively for eliminating a cross talk phenomenon. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103600 | TUNER DEVICE - A pitch detection device in which a frequency can be lowered after having maintained both a pitch error accuracy and a response time at practical values to reduce current consumption. Because a number of times of cumulative addition is changed in response to a pitch of a measured signal, a cumulative addition time sum equals or exceeds a constant T_SUM_MIN. Accordingly, a pitch error accuracy of the measured signal achieves a required error accuracy. Furthermore, a frequency of the clock signal is decided using a numerical formula (6) and a numerical formula (7) so that the constant T_SUM_MIN does not exceed a required response time. Accordingly, a response time is within the required response time regardless of whether the frequency of the measured signal is lowered. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103601 | ACOUSTIC MEASUREMENT DEVICE - Provided is an acoustic measurement device capable of reducing the number of microphones while solving a problem of the dependency of interval between microphones on the frequency. The acoustic measurement device comprises a sound reception section ( | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103602 | ACOUSTICAL MEASURING/ESTIMATION DEVICE - A device to measure or to estimate the acoustical output of the loudspeaker of a earphone, earplug, headphone or ear muff, and to measure the ambient environmental sounds where appropriate. The loudspeaker is connected to an electronic audio device. The acoustical output of the loudspeaker may be measured by means of a microphone placed in close proximity to the loudspeaker; or estimated by means of measuring the output of the audio amplifier (in the electronic audio device) and using the output/input transfer function that relates the acoustical output of the loudspeaker to the output of the audio amplifier; or estimated by means of the output the digital signal processor (in the electronic audio device) and using the output/input transfer function that relates the acoustical output of the loudspeaker to the output of the digital signal processor. The measurement or estimation of the acoustical output of the loudspeaker (and measurement of the ambient environmental noise, if appropriate) may be used to realize a noise dosimeter or as a means to determine the maximum allowable output limit of the electronic audio device. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103603 | Noise Reduction System and Noise Reduction Method - A noise reduction system and a noise reduction method are provided. The noise reduction system comprises a uni-directional microphone, an omni-directional microphone and a signal processing module. The signal processing module comprises an adaptive noise control (ANC) unit, a main noise reduction unit and an optimizing unit. The uni-directional microphone senses a first audio source to output a first audio signal, and the omni-directional microphone senses a second audio source to output a second audio signal. The ANC unit executes an adaptive noise control to output an estimated signal according to the first audio signal and the second audio signal. The main noise reduction unit executes a main noise reduction process to output a de-noise speech signal according to the estimated signal and the second audio signal. The optimizing unit executes an optimizing process to output an optimized speech signal according to the de-noise speech signal. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103604 | GENERIC ELECTROMAGNETICALLY-COUNTERING PROCESSES - The present invention relates to an electromagnetically-countered system including at least one wave source irradiating harmful electromagnetic waves and at least one counter unit emitting counter electromagnetic waves for countering the harmful waves by such counter waves. More particularly, the present invention relates to generic counter units of electromagnetically-countered systems and to various mechanisms for countering the harmful waves by the counter units such as, e.g., by matching configurations of the counter units with those of the wave sources, matching shapes of such counter waves with shapes of the harmful waves, and the like. The present invention also relates to various methods of countering the harmful waves with the counter waves by such source matching or wave matching and various methods of providing the counter units as well as counter waves. The present invention further relates to various processes for providing such systems, such counter units thereof, and the like. The present invention relates to various electric and/or magnetic shields which may be used alone or in conjunction with such counter units to minimize irradiation of the harmful waves from the system. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103605 | ELECTRONIC EARPLUG - Electronic earplugs, methods of enhancing and/or attenuating sound using electronic earplugs, and kits including electronic earplugs are provided. Certain electronic earplugs provided can deliver sound to a user's ear canal at levels below, equal to, and/or above ambient sound levels for specified ambient sound level ranges. Certain electronic earplugs provided can be switched between first and second settings with different sound level delivery settings. Certain electronic earplugs provided can be coupled with or integrated into two-way communication devices. Certain of such two-way communication devices can use induction to receive and transmit audio signals. Certain electronic earplugs provided can include a receive coil configured to allow remote radio signals to be received. Certain electronic earplugs provided can block at least about 35 dB of ambient sound when fully inserted into a user's ear canal. Kits that include electronic earplugs and accessories for use with electronic earplugs are also provided. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103606 | MODULAR HEADPHONE SYSTEM - A modular headphone system includes an ear-mountable speaker, an audio signal-carrying line coupled to the ear-mountable speaker, and an electrical connector coupled to the audio signal-carrying line. The electrical connector is configured for electrically coupling to a plurality of different types of audio signal-carrying devices. The electrical connector may include a quick disconnect feature configured for securing the electrical connector to the audio signal-carrying device. A modular audio system includes a headphone system and an audio signal-carrying device coupled to the headphone system. The audio signal-carrying device may be disconnected from the headphone system, and another audio signal-carrying device of a different type may be coupled to the headphone system. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103607 | LUMINESCENT HEADPHONES WITHOUT BATTERY PACKS - Audio apparatus, including an audio player, housed within a casing, for producing audio output, a port on a surface of the casing for inserting a headphone connector therein, a light emitting source, a power source, housed within the casing, for supplying power to the audio player and to the light emitting source, and a headphone for listening to audio output produced by the audio player, including a connector for insertion into the port, and a light pipe for transmitting light generated by the light emitting source | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103608 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE, ELECTRONIC SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING SIGNALS FROM AN AUDIO ACCESSORY THEREOF - An electronic device includes an audio jack, a power supply unit, a determining circuit, and an executing circuit. The audio jack may be arranged for transmitting an audio input signal, and the electronic device may be configured to connect with an audio accessory via the audio jack. When the audio accessory may be connected to the electronic device, the power supply unit provides a first voltage to the audio jack and a second voltage. The determining circuit determines whether to trigger an interrupt request according to the second voltage and a third voltage, wherein the third voltage may be coupled to the audio jack and may be generated according to the first voltage. The executing circuit may be coupled to the determining circuit, for determining whether to execute a corresponding function according to the third voltage when the interrupt request may be received. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103609 | WIRELESS EARPHONE THAT TRANSITIONS BETWEEN WIRELESS NETWORKS - A wireless earphone that comprises a transceiver circuit for receiving streaming audio from a data source over a local ad hoc wireless network. When the data source and the earphone are out of range, they transition automatically to an infrastructure wireless network. If there is no common infrastructure wireless network for both the data source and the speakerphone set, the earphone connects to a host server via an available wireless network. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103610 | EARPHONE SYSTEM AND USE OF AN EARPHONE SYSTEM - There is provided an earphone system comprising an earphone and at least two acoustic dampers ( | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103611 | HEARING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SUPPRESSING FEEDBACK WITH A DIRECTIONAL MICROPHONE - A hearing device and an associated method use an adaptive directional microphone for suppressing feedback. The hearing device includes an adaptation unit which sets the directional microphone so that a sound signal fed back from an earpiece of the hearing device to the directional microphone is attenuated. Acoustic feedback is advantageously attenuated or suppressed simply in an artifact-free manner. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103612 | Indoor Sound Receiving System and Indoor Sound Receiving Method - An indoor sound receiving system and an indoor sound receiving method are provided. The indoor sound receiving system comprises a microphone array, a path function database, a sound tracking unit, a path function selecting unit and a signal processing unit. The microphone array senses at least one primary sound source to output a plurality of microphones sensing signals. The path function database stores a plurality of sets of path functions. The sound tracking unit locates a primary sound source region according to a plurality of microphones sensing signals. The path function selecting unit selects a set of path functions corresponding to the primary sound source region as a set of primary sound source path functions from the path function database. The signal processing unit executes an audio enhancement process to output an enhanced speech signal according to the set of primary sound source path functions and the microphone sensing signals. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103613 | AUDIO SYSTEM WITH FEEDBACK CANCELLATION - An audio system includes a signal processor for processing an audio signal, and a feedback suppressor circuit configured for modelling a feedback signal path of the audio system by provision of a feedback compensation signal based on sets of feedback model parameters for the feedback signal path that are stored in a repository. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103614 | Hybrid audio delivery system and method therefor - Methods and systems to produce audio output signals from audio input signals. In one embodiment, a first portion of the audio input signals can be pre-processed, with the output used to modulate ultrasonic carrier signals, thereby producing modulated ultrasonic signals. The modulated ultrasonic signals can be transformed into a first portion of the audio output signals, which is directional. Based on a second portion of the audio input signals, a standard audio speaker can output a second portion of the audio output signals. Another embodiment further produces distortion compensated signals based on the pre-processed signals. The distortion compensated signals can be subtracted from the second portion of the audio input signals to generate inputs for the standard audio speaker to output the second portion of the audio output signals. In yet another embodiment, noise can be added during pre-processing of the first portion of the audio input signals. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103615 | Wind Noise Suppression - A method of suppressing wind noise in a voice signal determines an upper frequency limit that lies within the frequency spectrum of the voice signal, and for each of a plurality of frequency bands below the upper frequency limit, compares the average power of signal components in a first portion of the signal to the average power of signal components in a second portion of the signal, where the second portion is successive to the first portion. Signal components are identified in at least one of the plurality of frequency bands as containing impulsive wind noise in dependence on the comparison, and the identified signal components are attenuated. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103616 | TUNING SOUND FEED-BACK DEVICE - Disclosed is a tuning sound (TS) feedback apparatus. The tuning sound (TS) feedback apparatus includes: a TS pick-up casing which is disposed and fixed inside or near the hearing organ of a sound engineer who manages tuning operations for sound output from a sound output terminal of a sound device having an equalizer; a sound/electric conversion element which is included in the TS pick-up casing, picks up the TS output from the sound output terminal of the sound device, and converts the picked-up TS into an electrical signal; and a TS output module which is included in the TS pick-up casing, converts the TS converted into the electrical signal by the sound/electric conversion element into wired or wireless communication data to be used for external communication, and transmits the data to the sound device. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103617 | SOUND SOURCE RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD ADAPTABLE TO OPERATING ENVIRONMENT - Disclosed herein is a sound source recording apparatus and method adaptable to an operating environment, which can record a target sound source at a predetermined level without being affected by characteristics of the sound source or ambient noise. A target sound source is separated from a sound source signal received through an array of microphones and a recording sound pressure level and a gain are estimated using a reference sound pressure level and a reference distance for the target sound source, thereby controlling or adjusting the gain of the microphones. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103618 | AUDIO SWITCH FOR PERFORMING AUDIO SIGNAL SWITCHING - An audio switch for audio signal switching includes input ports for obtaining digitized audio input signals, output ports for outputting a number of analog audio output signals, and a digital matrix first stage for switching a digitized audio input signal derived from one or more of the input ports, to any one of a plurality of digital stage output ports according to a specified configuration, so as to give a number of digital stage output signals. The audio switch further includes digital-to-analog converters connected to the digital stage output ports for performing digital-to-analog conversion on a number of the digital stage output signals to obtain a number of analog audio signals and to an analog second stage for switching a number of the analog audio signals to one or more of the analog audio output ports according to a specified configuration. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103619 | AMPLIFIER CIRCUIT AND METHODS OF OPERATION THEREOF - A signal amplifying circuit and associated methods and apparatuses, the circuit comprising: a signal path extending from an input terminal to an output terminal, a gain controller arranged to control the gain applied along the signal path in response to a control signal; an output stage within the signal path for generating the output signal, the output stage having a gain that is substantially independent of its supply voltage, and a variable voltage power supply comprising a charge pump for providing positive and negative output voltages, the charge pump comprising a network of switches that is operable in a number of different states and a controller for operating the switches in a sequence of the states so as to generate positive and negative output voltages together spanning a voltage approximately equal to the input voltage. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103620 | Apparatus and Method for Generating Filter Characteristics - An apparatus for generating filter characteristics for filters connectible to at least three loudspeakers at defined locations with respect to a sound reproduction zone includes an impulse response reverser for time-reversing impulse responses associated to the loudspeakers to obtain time-reversed impulse responses. The apparatus furthermore includes an impulse response modifier for modifying the impulse responses or the time-reversed impulse responses such that impulse response portions occurring before a maximum of a time-reversed impulse response are reduced in amplitude to obtain the filter characteristics for the filters. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103621 | THERMO-ACOUSTIC LOUDSPEAKER - A thermo-acoustic loudspeaker has a heating sheet and a plurality of support bars supporting the heating sheet away from a substrate. The heating sheet has at least one opening adjacent to each cavity. During manufacture, the opening or openings are used to etch away the material of the layer under the heating sheet. The layer under the heating sheet may be a sacrificial layer for example of photoresist or silicon dioxide. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103622 | Support Apparatus for Microphone Diaphragm - A microphone includes a diaphragm assembly supported by a substrate. The diaphragm assembly includes at least one carrier, a diaphragm, and at least one spring coupling the diaphragm to the at least one carrier such that the diaphragm is spaced from the at least one carrier. An insulator (or separate insulators) between the substrate and the at least one carrier electrically isolates the diaphragm and the substrate. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103623 | GENERIC ELECTROMAGNETICALLY-COUNTERED METHODS - The present invention relates to an electromagnetically-countered system including at least one wave source irradiating harmful electromagnetic waves and at least one counter unit emitting counter electromagnetic waves for countering the harmful waves by such counter waves. More particularly, the present invention relates to generic counter units of electromagnetically-countered systems and to various mechanisms for countering the harmful waves by the counter units such as, e.g., by matching configurations of the counter units with those of the wave sources, matching shapes of such counter waves with shapes of the harmful waves, and the like. The present invention also relates to various methods of countering the harmful waves with the counter waves by such source matching or wave matching and various methods of providing the counter units as well as counter waves. The present invention further relates to various processes for providing such systems, such counter units thereof, and the like. The present invention relates to various electric and/or magnetic shields which may be used alone or in conjunction with such counter units to minimize irradiation of the harmful waves from the system. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103624 | Systems and Methods for Providing Directional Audio in a Video Teleconference Meeting - Systems and methods are provided for providing directional audio in a video teleconference meeting. In one embodiment, a system is provided for providing directional audio in a video teleconference meeting. The system comprises a display formed of an acoustically transparent imaging surface and a plurality of speakers positioned about the display. The system further comprises a teleconference processor configured to receive video images of remote participants and audio data associated with sounds of the remote participants over a communication medium, display each participant about the display and provide audio data associated with a given participant to one or more speakers located close to or coincident with the displayed image of the respective remote participant. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103625 | AUDIO PROCESSING - An audio processing arrangement ( | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103626 | Hearing Instrument with Adaptive Directional Signal Processing - A hearing instrument includes a signal processor, and at least two microphones for reception of sound and conversion of the received sound into corresponding electrical sound signals that are input to the signal processor, wherein the signal processor is configured to process the electrical sound signals into a combined signal with a directivity pattern with at least one adaptive null direction θ, and wherein the signal processor is further configured to prevent the at least one null direction θ from entering a prohibited range of directions, wherein the prohibited range is a function of a parameter of the electrical sound signals. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103627 | SOUND PROCESSORS AND IMPLANTABLE COCHLEAR STIMULATION SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE SAME - Sound processors and systems including sound processors are disclosed. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103628 | HEARING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME - The invention refers to hearing devices ( | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103629 | WAX RESISTANT EARPIECE TIP - A wax-resistant earpiece tip has one or more sound openings and a torturous path to inhibit wax from reaching a receiver mountable therein. The tip may further include a folded acoustical horn. A chamber may be formed in the tip to collect debris. The tip may include a stop bar to prevent the tip from collapsing against a receiver sound port. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103630 | METHODS FOR INLET AND OUTLET MODELLING OF VENT AS LARGE AS POSSIBLE FOR HEARING AID DEVICES - A method of modeling an opening of a hearing aid vent includes defining a trimming surface through a tip of the vent as one of a planar surface or a non-planar surface, and trimming the shell along the trimming surface to the expose the interior of the shell to create the vent opening. The tip includes an endpoint of the vent and the hearing aid shell fits inside an ear of a patient. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103631 | SHAPE-ADAPTABLE SURFACE FOR AN AUDIO PORT - A method and apparatus for providing a shape-adaptable surface for an audio port of a device includes an audio port, a shape-adaptable surface having a plurality of portions, a plurality of sensors coupled to the shape-adaptable surface, wherein the plurality of sensors are operative to sense a plurality of distances between the object and the shape-adaptable surface, and a processor operatively coupled to the shape-adaptable surface and the plurality of sensors, said processor configured to control some of the plurality of portions of the shape-adaptable surface to adjust the plurality of distances and to provide a channel between a sound receiver of the object and the audio port. An improved audio coupling is formed by adjusting the distances between the shape-adaptable surface and the object, thereby transmitting sounds directly from the audio port of the device to a sound receiver of the object. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103632 | INTEGRATED ACOUSTIC HORN AND LEAD FRAME - A device for manipulating acoustic signals includes a transducer die and a horn. The transducer die is attached to a lead frame and configured to convert between electrical energy and the acoustic signals, the transducer die having a transducer membrane. The horn is integrally connected with the lead frame, the horn extending from the lead frame and having a throat positioned adjacent to the transducer membrane and a mouth opening at an opposite end of the horn from the throat. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103633 | CAPACITOR MICROPHONE UNIT AND CAPACITOR MICROPHONE - Electro-acoustic converters each include a diaphragm, and a fixed electrode apart from the diaphragm for a certain distance and facing the diaphragm. The electro-acoustic converters are anteroposteriorly disposed on the same axis in a single casing, and are electrically connected in series. The front and rear converters each include impedance converters, and are serially connected with each other together with the impedance converters. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103634 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MECHANICALLY REDUCING UNWANTED WIND NOISE IN AN ELECTRONICS DEVICE - A system and method for mechanically reducing unwanted wind, audio, and other noise in a telecommunications or other electronic device. In accordance with an embodiment, a telecommunications or other electronic device, such as a mobile telephone, computer, personal digital assistant, geographical positioning system (gps) device, camera, video camera and the like, comprises a housing which includes one or more openings or ports for use with one or more microphones. A portion of the housing which contains the ports is overlaid with a combination of one or more metal or plastic grills, and a sound-reducing felt or other material. Used separately or with other features, this provides for mechanical noise reduction, particularly of wind noise. In accordance with different embodiments, the noise reducing combination can be overlaid over the microphone and over the housing, as an add-on module; or can be overlaid over the microphone and beneath the housing, as a manufactured or OEM-supplied feature. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103635 | HEADPHONE - There are provided headphone which can provide a relatively small storage space when being carried around and which can prevent an unexpected breakage of the headphone. A headphone | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103636 | ADJUSTABLE, DUAL SPEAKER ELEMENT IN-EAR PHONE - An adjustable, dual speaker element earphone. One of the speaker elements is sized to fit into the cavum concha of the listener's ear and the other element (is not. A hinged joint may allow the larger speaker element may be rotated about a vertical axis of the hinged joint so that the larger speaker element can be rotated towards or away from the listener's ear. The speaker elements may be connected such that sounds produced by both speaker elements emanate from different respective sound openings defined in a surface of the smaller speaker element. Also, one or both of the speaker elements may be operably connected to a hanger bar that is sized and configured to rest on an upper portion of the listener's ear. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103637 | Earphone with a Movable Push Rod Structure - This invention relates to an earphone with a movable push rod structure, which comprising a housing, a sound-emitting unit assembled inside of the housing, and a sound duct connected to the sound-emitting unit for sound transmission, and an earplug connected to the sound duct, with an air duct assembled on the housing for the flow of air inside and outside the earphone, as well as a movable push rod assembled inside the housing and connected with the housing for adjusting air flow condition of the air duct. A completely sealed earphone can be achieved when the push rod is pushed to ii block the air duct, or an open earphone can be achieved when the push rod is separated from the air duct. This invention has advantages of convenient and flexible regulation of sound modes of the earphones, which can be applied to users who have different requirements for sounds, and also a broader range of applications. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103638 | VOICE COIL SUPPORT FOR A COIL TRANSDUCER MOTOR STRUCTURE - The invention relates to a voice coil support ( | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103639 | OPTIMIZATION METHODS FOR THE INSERTION, PROTECTION, AND DETECTION OF DIGITAL WATERMARKS IN DIGITIZED DATA - The implementations of digital watermarks can be optimally suited to particular transmission, distribution and storage mediums given the nature of digitally-sampled audio, video and other multimedia works. Watermark application parameters can be adapted to the individual characteristics of a given digital sample stream. Watermark information can be either carried in individual samples or in relationships between multiple samples, such as in a waveform shape. More optimal models may be obtained to design watermark systems that are tamper-resistant given the number and breadth of existent digitized sample options with different frequency and time components. The highest quality of a given content signal may be maintained as it is mastered, with the watermark suitably hidden, taking into account usage of digital filters and error correction. The quality of the underlying content signals can be used to identify and highlight advantageous locations for the insertion of digital watermarks. The watermark is integrated as closely as possible to the content signal, at a maximum level to force degradation of the content signal when attempts are made to remove the watermarks. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103640 | Image processing apparatus, image data output processing apparatus and image processing method - An image processing apparatus of the present invention includes: a self-similar image storing section | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103641 | VIDEO-BASED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FIRE DETECTION - A video recognition system detects the presence of fire based on video data provided by one or more video detectors, but suppresses the triggering of an alarm in situations based on the selection of acceptable regions and application of rules associated with each acceptable region. A user defines acceptable regions within the field of view of the video detector and associates with each acceptable region a rule. During processing of video data associated with the field of view, video metrics are calculated and analyzed to detect the presence of fire (e.g., flame or smoke). Prior to triggering an alarm, regions identified as indicative of fire are compared with the user-defined acceptable regions. If there is overlap between the two regions, the rule associated with the acceptable region is applied to determine whether the alarm should be suppressed or triggered. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103642 | Multipass Data Integration For Automatic Detection And Classification Of Objects - Classification of a potential target is accomplished by receiving image information, detecting a potential target within the image information and determining a plurality of features forming a feature set associated with the potential target. The location of the potential target is compared with a detection database to determine if it is close to an element in the detection database. If not, a single-pass classifier receives a potential target's feature set, classifies the potential target, and transmits the location, feature set and classification to the detection database. If it is close, a fused multi-pass feature determiner determines fused multi-pass features of the potential target and a multi-pass classifier receives the potential target's feature set and fused multi-pass features, classifies the potential target, and transmits its location, feature set, fused multi-pass features and classification to the detection database. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103643 | IMAGING SYSTEM WITH INTEGRATED IMAGE PREPROCESSING CAPABILITIES - An electronic device may have a camera module. The camera module may include a camera sensor and associated image preprocessing circuitry. The image preprocessing circuitry may analyze images from the camera module to perform motion detection, facial recognition, and other operations. The image preprocessing circuitry may generate signals that indicate the presence of a user and that indicate the identity of the user. The electronic device may receive the signals from the camera module and may use the signals in implementing power saving functions. The electronic device may enter a power conserving mode when the signals do not indicate the presence of a user, but may keep the camera module powered in the power conserving mode. When the camera module detects that a user is present, the signals from the camera module may activate the electronic device and direct the electronic device to enter an active operating mode. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103644 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMAGE DETECTION WITH UNDESIRED OBJECT REMOVAL - A method and image detection device are provided for removal of undesired objects from image data. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting image data for a first frame, detecting image data for a second frame, and detecting motion of an undesired object based, at least in part, on image data for the first and second frames. Image data of the first frame may be replaced with image data of the second frame to generate corrected image data, wherein the undesired object is removed from the corrected image data. The corrected image data may be stored. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103645 | Motion Detecting Apparatus - A motion detecting includes a fetcher which repeatedly fetches an object scene image having a designated resolution. An assigner assigns a plurality of areas each of which has a representative point to the object scene image in a manner to have an overlapping amount different depending on a size of the designated resolution. A divider divides each of a plurality of images respectively corresponding to the plurality of areas assigned by the assigner, into a plurality of partial images, by using the representative points as a base point. A detector detects a difference in brightness between a pixel corresponding to the representative point and surrounding pixels, from each of the plurality of partial images divided by the divider. A creator creates motion information indicating a motion of the object scene image fetched by the fetcher, based on a detection result of the detector. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103646 | PROCEDE POUR GENERER UNE IMAGE DE DENSITE D'UNE ZONE D'OBSERVATION - A method for generating a density image of an observation zone over a given time interval, in which method a plurality of images of the observation zone is acquired, for each image acquired the following steps are carried out: a) detection of zones of pixels standing out from the fixed background of the image, b) detection of individuals, c) for each individual detected, determination of the elementary surface areas occupied by this individual, and d) incrementation of a level of intensity of the elementary surface areas thus determined in the density image. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103647 | Device and Method for Classifying Vehicles - Device for classifying objects, in particular vehicles, on a roadway, with a sensor, which operates according to the light-section procedure and is directed onto the roadway to detect the surface contour of an object, and an evaluation unit connected to the sensor that classifies the object on the basis of the detected surface contour. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103648 | Method and apparatus for automatic object identification - A method and system for processing image data to identify objects in an image. A gradient vector image is generated from the image, the gradient vector image identifying a gradient magnitude value and a gradient direction for each pixel of the image. Lines are identified in the gradient vector image. It is determined whether the identified lines are perpendicular, whether more than a predetermined number of pixels on each of the lines identified as perpendicular have a gradient magnitude greater than a predetermined threshold, and whether the individual lines which are identified as perpendicular are within a predetermined distance of each other. A portion of the image is identified as an object if the identified lines are perpendicular, more than the predetermined number of pixels on each of the lines have a gradient magnitude greater than the predetermined threshold, and are within a predetermined distance of each other. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103649 | Complex Wavelet Tracker - The present invention relates to a video tracker which allows automatic tracking of a selected area over video frames. Motion of the selected area is defined by a parametric motion model. In addition to simple displacement of the area it can also detect motions such as rotation, scaling and shear depending on the motion model. The invention realizes the tracking of the selected area by estimating the parameters of this motion model in the complex discrete wavelet domain. The invention can achieve the result in a non-iterative direct way. Estimation carried out in the complex discrete wavelet domain provides a robust tracking opportunity without being effected by noise and illumination changes in the video as opposed to the intensity-based methods. The invention can easily be adapted to many fields in addition to video tracking. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103650 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASSISTING DRIVER - A method and system for assisting driver are provided in the present disclosure, in which images captured by a single image sensing device is processed by a controller having capability of image processing and identification and distance estimation in image space for providing a complete assisting image-information while the carrier is moving forward or backward. By means of the method and system of the presented disclosure, it can identify the image characteristic to be a basis for lane departure assistance/alarm while the carrier is moving forwardly as well as generate assisting track and change view angle or issue an alarm according to the distance estimation while the carrier is moving backwardly. The present disclosure may be utilized and applied in different kinds of carrier type to solve the problem of guiding of carrier maneuvering, and assist carrier lane changing, parking assistance and blind spot detection. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103651 | COMPUTER ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING NAVIGATION DATA IN 3D - A computer arrangement includes a processor and memory accessible for the processor. In at least one embodiment, the memory includes a computer program including data and instructions arranged to allow the processor to: a) obtain navigation information, b) obtain an image corresponding to the navigation information, c) display the image and at least part of the navigation information, whereby the at least part of the navigation information is superimposed upon the image. The processor is further allowed to b1) obtain depth information corresponding to the image and use the depth information to perform action c). | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103652 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - A feature amount cluster holding unit extracts respective feature amounts from N images sensed under N respective types of image sensing conditions, and manages the feature amounts extracted from each sensed image as a feature amount cluster in association with corresponding one of the image sensing conditions. A feature space distance calculation unit specifies the second feature amount cluster containing a feature amount similar to the feature amount of interest in the first feature amount cluster. An image sensing condition setting unit specifies sets of feature amounts associated with the N respective types of image sensing conditions from the first and second feature amount clusters. The image sensing condition setting unit specifies a set having a largest distance between feature amounts in the set among the specified sets. An image sensing condition associated with the specified set is output as an image sensing condition for discriminating the feature amount clusters. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103653 | COUPON COPY PROTECTION - A data distribution system which includes business groups, a client system and a main database system is described. Coupons and coupon data may be exchanged between the business groups, the client system and the main database system. Each coupon being exchanged may include one or more fraud protection features that can neither be altered nor tampered by users, consumers or retailers. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103654 | BONE IMAGERY SEGMENTATION METHOD AND APPARATUS - There is described an apparatus and method for recovering a contour of a bone from an input image of the bone with its surrounding tissues. The method comprises receiving the input image; applying in parallel at least three image processing functions to the input image to obtain at least three resulting images indicative of respective features of the input image, at least one of the at least three image processing functions pertaining to a spatial domain, and at least another one of the at least three image processing functions pertaining to a frequency domain; combining the at least three resulting images together to form a compounded image, the compounded image identifying at least two regions based on the respective features; identifying the contour of the bone based on the at least two regions of the compounded image; and outputting an output image for display, the output image comprising the contour identified. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103655 | FUNDUS INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND FUNDUS INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - The present inventions relates to a fundus imaging device integrated with a computer processing to comprise a fundus information processing apparatus and method for executing the same in order to produce a panoramic fundus image and to obtain blood vessel information of the fundus. The apparatus and method processes a first fundus image and a second fundus image acquired with a fundus imaging device. The fundus information processing apparatus and method extracts blood vessel shapes from the first and second fundus images, and identifies branching points of the blood vessel of the blood vessel shape through image processing. Further, a plurality of line segments are obtained by interconnecting two predetermined branching points and thereafter identification of two common line segments of the first and second fundus images. The apparatus and method determines relative positional relationship between the branching points constituting at least two of the line segments and thereafter performs comparison operation followed by an alignment operation. By the alignment a panoramic image of the plurality of fundus images is produced along with blood vessel information of the fundus. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103656 | Quantification of Plaques in Neuroimages - A system and method for determining the location and density of plaques in a neuroimage is disclosed according to one embodiment of the invention. In some embodiments, catchment basins are identified as potential plaque areas (candidate regions) in the neuroimage. The Laplacian of each element within the catchment basins can be calculated and the highest Laplacian in the catchment basin identified as a candidate feature. The local contrast can be computed as the ratio between the local minimum of the catchment basin and the average (or some other statistic like the maximum or minimum) intensity of the neighboring watersheds can be used as another candidate feature. In some embodiments, a classifier can be used to discriminate the candidates into plaques or non-plaques, since plaques tend to have a larger Laplacian and larger local contrast than other brain structures. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103657 | METHODS OF OBTAINING GEOMETRY FROM IMAGES - In one aspect, a method of detecting at least on feature associated with a blood vessel in at least one image of at least one blood vessel using a matched filter adapted to respond to the at least one feature is provided. The method comprises applying a scale detection filter to selected voxels in the at least one image to determine a scale for the matched filter at each of the selected voxels, determining an orientation for the matched filter at each of the selected voxels, wherein determining the orientation is assisted by using the scale determined at each of the selected voxels, applying the matched filter at each of the selected voxels at the scale and the orientation determined at each of the selected voxels to obtain a filter response at each of the selected voxels, and analyzing the filter response at each of the selected voxels to determine if the respective voxel corresponds to the at least one feature. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103658 | ENHANCED IMAGING FOR OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY - An imaging device to obtain images, comprising: an optical source; an x-y scanner receiving light from the optical source and directing it onto a sample; a detector receiving reflected light from the scanner; and a computer receiving a signal from the detector and providing a 3D data set containing voxels with a given voxel resolution of a sample, the computer further executing instructions for finding values other than a single axes sum to represent a set of voxels; composing a 2D image using the values. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103659 | MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM AND DATA TRANSMISSION METHOD - A medical diagnostic system and a data transmission system are disclosed. The medical diagnostic system includes a medical examination apparatus generating and providing two and three-dimensional image data as a result of diagnosing a target, at least one user terminal, and an image storage-transmission system storing the two and three-dimensional image data provided by the medical examination apparatus and providing the two and three-dimensional image data to the user terminal. The image storage-transmission system provides, in response to a search query about a certain lesion input through the at least one user terminal, at least one thumbnail corresponding to two or three-dimensional image data related to the search query to the user terminal and then provides, in response to selection of a certain thumbnail through the at least one user terminal, two or three-dimensional image data corresponding to the selected certain thumbnail to the user terminal. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103660 | SHOWING SKIN LESION INFORMATION - Among other things, on a two-dimensional electronic display, a representation is shown of a scanned image of a lesion on the skin of a real human. On the two-dimensional electronic display, a recommendation is indicated of a next diagnostic or treatment step to be taken, based on a computer-implemented analysis of the scanned image. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103661 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SEGMENTING MEDICAL IMAGE DATA - The present invention relates to a method and device for automatical segmentation of medical images of a non-planar surface of an object, in particular of a heart valve, including detecting a surface boundary which delimits the non-planar surface of the object, creating a model surface, which is spanned between the surface boundary, correcting the model surface by means of distance information containing information about the distance between the model surface and the non-planar surface of the object, until a corrected model surface is generated, and depicting the corrected model surface, where the correction of the model surface is preferably carried out by means of three- or four-dimensional image data sets, by orienting the three-dimensional volume-rendering of the object essentially perpendicular to the model surface, so that the information about the distance between the model surface and the non-planar surface of the object can be evaluated, until the corrected model surface has been produced. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103662 | METHOD FOR CIRCULAR SCAN RECONSTRUCTION IN COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC DEVICE - A method of computed-tomography and a computed-tomography apparatus where the portion of the field of view of a subject were full scan data is available is reconstructed using a full-scan algorithm. In the areas where full scan data is not available, half-scanning is used. Data is also extrapolated from the full scan data. The extrapolated data overlaps a portion of the half-scanning data. The extrapolated data and the overlapped portion of the half-scanning data are feathered. The image is reconstructed using the full-scan, half-scan and feathered data. Corner regions in an image are exposed and reconstructed to produce more uniform z-coverage of the reconstruction field of view. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103663 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUMS FOR DETECTING A REGION OF INTEREST IN A MEDICAL IMAGE - A method is provided that includes receiving a digital image, and detecting a region of interest of the digital image. Detecting a region of interest includes thresholding the digital image to create a corresponding binary image, and identifying one or more connected components in the binary image. The binary image includes a plurality of pixels each of which is one of only two possible colors, and each of the connected component(s) comprising a set of pixels of the first color such that any two pixels in the set are joined by a continuous path of pixels of the first color. Detecting a region of interest also includes identifying a largest connected component from the connected component(s), and determining, as the region of interest of the digital image, coordinates of an area of the digital image defining a smallest predetermined shape that contains the largest connected component. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103664 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPENSATING FOR MOTION IN AN IMAGED OBJECT - A method and apparatus for compensating for motion in an imaged object are provided. The method includes obtaining nuclear medicine (NM) image data for an object acquired from an NM imaging system, wherein the NM image data includes single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) image data. The method further includes performing resolution recovery on the NM image data. The method also includes reconstructing the resolution recovered NM image data into a plurality of subsets and morphing the reconstructed NM image data in at least one of the plurality of subsets. The method additionally includes normalizing the NM image data based on a magnitude of the morphing and summing the NM image data to generate an NM image compensated for motion of the object. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103665 | GENERATION OF MOVING VASCULAR MODELS AND BLOOD FLOW ANALYSIS FROM MOVING VASCULAR MODELS AND PHASE CONTRAST MRI - A method of deriving blood flow parameters from a moving three-dimensional (3D) model of a blood vessel includes determining a reference vascular cross-sectional plane through a location of a lumen in a moving 3D model of the blood vessel at one time within the model, determining a plurality of target vascular cross-sectional planes at multiple times via temporal tracking of the reference plane based on a displacement field, determining a plurality of contours based on an intersection of the target vascular cross-sectional planes with the moving 3D vessel model at multiple times within the model, and determining a blood flow parameter of the vessel from intersections of each contour of a given one of the times with a phase contrast magnetic resonance (PC-MRI) image of the blood vessel from the corresponding time. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103666 | X-RAY IMAGING APPARATUS - In an X-ray imaging apparatus according to an embodiment, a three-dimensional blood-vessel image collecting unit collects a three-dimensional blood vessel image. An X-ray image collecting unit collects an X-ray image. A composite-image creating unit then creates a three-dimensional projection image projected based on a state of the X-ray imaging apparatus from the collected three-dimensional blood vessel image, and creates a composite image of the created three-dimensional projection image and the X-ray image. A displacement determining unit then determines a displacement between an aneurysm on the three-dimensional projection image and the aneurysm on the X-ray image. Subsequently, a registration unit registers the composite image by using the determined displacement, and displays the registered composite image onto a display unit. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103667 | METHOD FOR HIGHLIGHTING LOCAL CHARACTERISTICS IN ANATOMICAL VOLUME RENDERINGS OF VESSEL STRUCTURES AND COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR CARRYING OUT THIS METHOD - A method is disclosed for highlighting local characteristics in anatomical volume renderings of vessel structures and a computer system is disclosed for carrying out this method. In at least one embodiment of the method, the method includes determining or receiving a volume of interest; generating or receiving at least one first tomographic volume data record in the volume of interest, having a rendered display of a vessel structure; generating or receiving at least one second volume data record, which is used as a mask for the first volume data record and has at least one characteristic vector with a minimum data width of 2 bit for each voxel; accepting at least one characteristic definition for at least one predefined position or predefined region of the mask or the first volume data record, which is at the same position, and encoding the at least one characteristic definition in at least one characteristic vector of the mask; and combined rendering of the first volume data record and the mask, wherein the mask translucently marks a defined surrounding area of the predefined position as a function of the characteristic vectors present there. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103668 | MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING APPARATUS - In an MRI apparatus according to the present embodiments, the collecting unit collects magnetic resonance signal data received individually by multiple element coils, for each channel assigned to each element coil at a positioning image taking time, and enters the collected magnetic resonance signal data for each channel into the storage unit. The reconstructing unit reconstructs an image from the magnetic resonance signal data stored in the storage unit, by referring the storage unit regarding the channel selected at the positioning image taking time. The display unit displays the image reconstructed by the reconstructing unit. The receiving unit receives channel selection change. When the receiving unit receives the change, the correcting unit corrects the image reconstructed by the reconstructing unit by use of the magnetic resonance signal data stored in the storage unit, by referring to the storage unit regarding the changed channel. The after-change display unit displays information regarding the image corrected by the correcting unit. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103669 | Completion of Truncated Attenuation Maps Using MLAA - The present invention is a method of generating a best estimate of an image attenuation map derived from a truncated image attenuation map and PET emissions data for the object being imaged by a morphological imaging modality. The method involves a plurality of steps beginning with the recordation and processing of PET emissions data. Next, the morphological imaging modality records image data which is processed to determine an attenuation map. The attenuation map, for image modalities such as CT and MR scanning systems integrated with PET, is truncated, resulting in a truncated attenuation map image. Pixels for which attenuation data needs to be determined are identified and attenuation coefficients for these pixels are estimated and combined with the truncated attenuation map to generate a full initial attenuation map for the image, which is iteratively processed together with the PET emission data until the improvement change in the emission image reaches a defined threshold improvement level. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103670 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING BLURRING ARTIFACTS IN MULTI-SPECTRAL MR IMAGING NEAR METAL - A system and method for reducing blurring artifacts in multi-spectral MR imaging near metal include an MRI system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet and an RF transceiver system and an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly to acquire MR images. A computer is also included and programmed to acquire a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) MR data sets, each 3D MR data set acquired using a central transmit frequency and a central receive frequency set to an offset frequency value that is distinct for each 3D MR data set. The computer is also programmed to reconstruct a subimage for each of the plurality of 3D data sets, apply a de-blurring correction to each of the subimages, and generate a composite image based on the plurality of 3D MR data sets. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103671 | PERFUSION IMAGING - A method includes determining a plausibility of one or more perfusion parameter maps generated based on perfusion image data and correcting at least one of the perfusion parameter maps when the plausibility for the at least one perfusion parameter map does not satisfy pre-set perfusion parameter plausibility criteria. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103672 | ADVANCED COST FUNCTIONS FOR IMAGE REGISTRATION FOR AUTOMATED IMAGE ANALYSIS: MULTI-CHANNEL, HYPERTEMPLATE AND ATLAS WITH BUILT-IN VARIABILITY - A non-invasive imaging system, comprising: an imaging scanner; a signal processing system in communication with the imaging scanner to receive an imaging signal from the imaging scanner; and a data storage unit in communication with the signal processing system, wherein the data storage unit stores template data corresponding to a tissue region of a subject under observation, wherein the signal processing system is adapted to compute, using the imaging signal and the template data, refined template data corresponding to the tissue region, and wherein the refined template data incorporates subpopulation variability information associated with the tissue region such that the signal processing system provides an image of the tissue region in which a substructure is automatically identified taking into account the subpopulation variability information. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103673 | SYSTEMS, COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIA, METHODS, AND MEDICAL IMAGING APPARATUS FOR THE AUTOMATED DETECTION OF SUSPICIOUS REGIONS OF INTEREST IN NOISE NORMALIZED X-RAY MEDICAL IMAGERY - Systems, computer-readable media, methods, and a medical imaging apparatus for improving the automated detection of suspicious regions of interest in x-ray images of anatomical organs under study are disclosed. Noise effects in x-ray images are suppressed to predetermined levels by filtering the original x-ray images and then combining the original images with the filtered images in such a way that the predetermined noise value is met. The resulting modified x-ray images then may be analyzed to automatically detect suspected breast microcalcifications or other suspicious regions of interest. In addition, three-dimensional digital images of anatomical organs may be computed from a plurality of such modified x-ray images of an anatomical organ taken from different angles, as in CT imaging, and the three-dimensional digital images may be processed to automatically detect suspicious regions of interest. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103674 | MARKER DETECTION IN X-RAY IMAGES - A method for detecting markers within X-ray images includes applying directional filters to a sequence of X-ray image frames. Marker candidate pixels are determined based on the output of the directional filters. Candidate pixels are grouped into clusters and distances between each possible pair of clusters is determined and the most frequently occurring distance is considered an estimated distance between markers. A first marker is detected at the cluster that most closely resembles a marker based on certain criteria and a second marker is then detected at a cluster that is the estimated distance from the first marker. The pair of first and second marker detections is scored to determine detection quality. If the detected marker pair has an acceptable score then the detected marker pair is used. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103675 | Integrating Auxiliary Detection And Voting Algorithms Into Clinical CAD Workflow - Methods, systems, and related computer program products for computer-aided detection (CAD) of anatomical abnormalities in medical images are described. A preexisting CAD environment includes a review workstation and a primary CAD processor programmed with a primary CAD algorithm. Installed into the preexisting CAD environment is an auxiliary processing system programmed to receive a first CAD report from the primary CAD processor, apply an auxiliary CAD algorithm that is independent of the primary CAD algorithm to the underlying medical image, apply a voting algorithm to the primary and auxiliary CAD findings, and generate a second CAD report that includes the voting results. The second CAD report is configured to result in a rendering by the review workstation that is highly similar to a rendering that would result from the first CAD report except that the voted CAD findings are substituted in place of the primary CAD findings. | 2011-05-05 |
| 20110103676 | METHOD FOR USING A FIXATOR DEVICE - A method for determining the proper configuration of a fixator or other medical device to correct a given deformity by solving the simultaneous equations representing the kinematic chain for the device. One skilled in the art would appreciate that x-rays, clinical evaluations, or a combination of both may be used to determine the distal and proximal mounting characteristics, including the use of digital x-rays with images from an imaging device to reduce or eliminate the needs for a physician to take measurements. The technique can be expanded to other medical evaluations. Additionally, one skilled in the art would appreciate that the method of the present invention could be written as one or more sets of instructions stored on a computer-readable medium that could be executed by a computer. | 2011-05-05 |
