Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080291217 | VIEWING AND NAVIGATING WITHIN PANORAMIC IMAGES, AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF - A panorama viewer is disclosed which facilitates navigation from within the panorama of a larger, structured system such as a map. The panorama viewer presents a viewport on a portion of a panoramic image, the viewport including a three-dimensional overlay rendered with the panoramic image. As the orientation of the viewport within the panoramic image changes, the three-dimensional overlay's orientation in three-dimensional space also changes as it is rendered with the panoramic image in a manner that matches the change in orientation of the viewport. | 11-27-2008 |
20090179895 | Three-Dimensional Annotations for Street View Data - The present invention relates to annotating images. In an embodiment, the present invention enables users to create annotations corresponding to three-dimensional objects while viewing two-dimensional images. In one embodiment, this is achieved by projecting a selecting object onto a three-dimensional model created from a plurality of two-dimensional images. The selecting object is input by a user while viewing a first image corresponding to a portion of the three-dimensional model. A location corresponding to the projection on the three-dimensional model is determined, and content entered by the user while viewing the first image is associated with the location. The content is stored together with the location information to form an annotation. The annotation can be retrieved and displayed together with other images corresponding to the location. | 07-16-2009 |
20090213112 | Using Image Content to Facilitate Navigation in Panoramic Image Data - The present invention relates to using image content to facilitate navigation in panoramic image data. In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method for navigating in panoramic image data includes: (1) determining an intersection of a ray and a virtual model, wherein the ray extends from a camera viewport of an image and the virtual model comprises a plurality of facade planes; (2) retrieving a panoramic image; (3) orienting the panoramic image to the intersection; and (4) displaying the oriented panoramic image. | 08-27-2009 |
20100220173 | Estimation of Panoramic Camera Orientation Relative to a Vehicle Coordinate Frame - A system and method are presented for estimating the orientation of a panoramic camera mounted on a vehicle relative to the vehicle coordinate frame. An initial pose estimate of the vehicle is determined based on global positioning system data, inertial measurement unit data, and wheel odometry data of the vehicle. Image data from images captured by the camera is processed to obtain one or more tracks, each track including a sequence of matched feature points stemming from a same three-dimensional location. A correction parameter determined from the initial pose estimate and tracks can then be used to correct the orientations of the images captured by the camera. The correction parameter can be optimized by deriving a correction parameter for each of a multitude of distinct subsequences of one or more runs. Statistical analysis can be performed on the determined correction parameters to produce robust estimates. | 09-02-2010 |
20110254915 | Three-Dimensional Overlays Within Navigable Panoramic Images, and Applications Thereof - A panorama viewer is disclosed which facilitates navigation from within the panorama of a larger, structured system such as a map. The panorama viewer presents a viewport on a portion of a panoramic image, the viewport including a three-dimensional overlay rendered with the panoramic image. As the orientation of the viewport within the panoramic image changes, the three-dimensional overlay's orientation in three-dimensional space also changes as it is rendered with the panoramic image in a manner that matches the change in orientation of the viewport. | 10-20-2011 |
20120038638 | Three-Dimensional Annotations For Street View Data - The present invention relates to annotating images. In an embodiment, the present invention enables users to create annotations corresponding to three-dimensional objects while viewing two-dimensional images. In one embodiment, this is achieved by projecting a selecting object onto a three-dimensional model created from a plurality of two-dimensional images. The selecting object is input by a user while viewing a first image corresponding to a portion of the three-dimensional model. A location corresponding to the projection on the three-dimensional model is determined, and content entered by the user while viewing the first image is associated with the location. The content is stored together with the location information to form an annotation. The annotation can be retrieved and displayed together with other images corresponding to the location. | 02-16-2012 |
20120327184 | USING IMAGE CONTENT TO FACILITATE NAVIGATION IN PANORAMIC IMAGE DATA - The present invention relates to using image content to facilitate navigation in panoramic image data. In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method for navigating in panoramic image data includes: (1) determining an intersection of a ray and a virtual model, wherein the ray extends from a camera viewport of an image and the virtual model comprises a plurality of facade planes; (2) retrieving a panoramic image; (3) orienting the panoramic image to the intersection; and (4) displaying the oriented panoramic image. | 12-27-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130321461 | Method and System for Navigation to Interior View Imagery from Street Level Imagery - Systems and methods for navigating and displaying imagery in a geographic information system for displaying interactive panoramic imagery are provided. According to aspects of the present disclosure, tools are provided for navigating from an exterior view to an interior view of a geographic object depicted in the interactive panoramic imagery. A preview image associated with the interior of the geographic object can be provided to the user to help the user decide whether to navigate to the interior of the geographic object. For instance, a preview image of the interior of the geographic object can be presented overlaying or within a selecting object in the viewport when the user positions the selecting object proximate a geographic location that has associated interior view imagery. | 12-05-2013 |
20140160119 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL OVERLAYS WITHIN NAVIGABLE PANORAMIC IMAGES, AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF - A panorama viewer is disclosed which facilitates navigation from within the panorama of a larger, structured system such as a map. The panorama viewer presents a viewport on a portion of a panoramic image, the viewport including a three-dimensional overlay rendered with the panoramic image. As the orientation of the viewport within the panoramic image changes, the three-dimensional overlay's orientation in three-dimensional space also changes as it is rendered with the panoramic image in a manner that matches the change in orientation of the viewport. | 06-12-2014 |
20140192145 | ESTIMATION OF PANORAMIC CAMERA ORIENTATION RELATIVE TO A VEHICLE COORDINATE FRAME - A system and method are presented for estimating the orientation of a panoramic camera mounted on a vehicle relative to the vehicle coordinate frame. An initial pose estimate of the vehicle is determined based on global positioning system data, inertial measurement unit data, and wheel odometry data of the vehicle. Image data from images captured by the camera is processed to obtain one or more tracks, each track including a sequence of matched feature points stemming from a same three-dimensional location. A correction parameter determined from the initial pose estimate and tracks can then be used to correct the orientations of the images captured by the camera. The correction parameter can be optimized by deriving a correction parameter for each of a multitude of distinct subsequences of one or more runs. Statistical analysis can be performed on the determined correction parameters to produce robust estimates. | 07-10-2014 |
20140210817 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL ANNOTATIONS FOR STREET VIEW DATA - The present invention relates to annotating images. In an embodiment, the present invention enables users to create annotations corresponding to three-dimensional objects while viewing two-dimensional images. In one embodiment, this is achieved by projecting a selecting object onto a three-dimensional model created from a plurality of two-dimensional images. The selecting object is input by a user while viewing a first image corresponding to a portion of the three-dimensional model. A location corresponding to the projection on the three-dimensional model is determined, and content entered by the user while viewing the first image is associated with the location. The content is stored together with the location information to form an annotation. The annotation can be retrieved and displayed together with other images corresponding to the location. | 07-31-2014 |
20150116326 | USING IMAGE CONTENT TO FACILITATE NAVIGATION IN PANORAMIC IMAGE DATA - The present invention relates to using image content to facilitate navigation in panoramic image data. In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method for navigating in panoramic image data includes: (1) determining an intersection of a ray and a virtual model, wherein the ray extends from a camera viewport of an image and the virtual model comprises a plurality of facade planes; (2) retrieving a panoramic image; (3) orienting the panoramic image to the intersection; and (4) displaying the oriented panoramic image. | 04-30-2015 |
20150156416 | Systems and Methods for Updating Panoramic Images - Embodiments include a computer-implemented method that includes receiving, from a mobile user device configured to acquire images, a request to update a panoramic image, identifying a location associated with a panoramic image, guiding a user to the location associated with the panoramic image, receiving, from the mobile user device, an image acquired at or near the location associated with the panoramic image, updating the panoramic image to include the image acquired at or near the location associated with the panoramic image to generate an updated panoramic image, and storing the updated panoramic image in association with the location. | 06-04-2015 |
20150161820 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL OVERLAYS WITHIN NAVIGABLE PANORAMIC IMAGES, AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF - A panorama viewer is disclosed which facilitates navigation from within the panorama of a larger, structured system such as a map. The panorama viewer presents a viewport on a portion of a panoramic image, the viewport including a three-dimensional overlay rendered with the panoramic image. As the orientation of the viewport within the panoramic image changes, the three-dimensional overlay's orientation in three-dimensional space also changes as it is rendered with the panoramic image in a manner that matches the change in orientation of the viewport. | 06-11-2015 |
20150213577 | ZOOM IMAGES WITH PANORAMIC IMAGE CAPTURE - In one aspect, one or more computing devices may capture a panoramic image. Panoramic images may refer to images having a field of view which is greater than that of the human eye, e.g., 180 degrees or greater. Some panoramic images may provide a 360-degree view of a location. In response to capturing the panoramic image, the one or more computing devices may provide for display a request for a non-panoramic, for example, a zoomed-in image. A zoomed-in image may be captured. An area of the panoramic image that corresponds to the zoomed-in image is determined by the one or more computing devices. The zoomed-in image is associated with the area by the one or more computing devices. In this regard, the panoramic image and the zoomed-in image may be taken close in time such that the images have the same or similar lighting conditions, scenes, etc. | 07-30-2015 |
20150215585 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING LIVE IMAGERY ASSOCIATED WITH MAP LOCATIONS - Near real-time imagery of a given location may be provided to user upon request. Most popularly viewed geographic locations are determined, and a 360 degree image capture device is positioned at one or more of the determined locations. The image capture device may continually provide image information, which is processed, for example, to remove personal information and filter spam. Such image information may then be provided to users upon request. The image capture device continually captures multiple views of the given location, and the requesting user can select which perspective to view. | 07-30-2015 |
20150244930 | SYNTHETIC CAMERA LENSES - A method and system is disclosed for simulating different types of camera lens on a device by guiding a user through a set of images to be captured in connection with one or more desired lens effects. In one aspect, a wide-angle lens may be simulated by taking a plurality of images that have been taken at a particular location over a set of camera orientations that are determined based on the selection of the wide-angle lens. The mobile device may provide prompts to the user indicating the camera orientations for which images should be captured in order to generate the simulated camera lens effect. | 08-27-2015 |
20150254694 | System and Method for Providing Redeemable Commercial Objects in Conjunction with Geographic Imagery - Systems and methods for displaying content in association with geographic imagery, such as street level imagery are provided. More particularly, digital representations of redeemable commercial objects, such as coupons, promotional offers, discounts, vouchers, gift certificates, etc., can be displayed in conjunction with the geographic imagery. The commercial objects are redeemable at entities depicted in the geographic imagery, such as businesses, restaurants, retail outlets, coffee shops, bars, music venues, etc., depicted in the geographic imagery. For example, a digital representation of a commercial object can be displayed in the geographic image overlaying an entity where the commercial object can be redeemed. As a result, users can browse and/or collect commercial objects redeemable entities depicted in the geographic imagery as the users navigate the geographic imagery. | 09-10-2015 |
20150310596 | Automatically Generating Panorama Tours - In one aspect, a request to generate an automated tour based on a set of panoramic images is received. Each particular panoramic image is associated with geographic location information and linking information linking the particular panoramic image with one or more other panoramic images in the set. A starting panoramic image and a second panoramic image are determined based at least in part on the starting panoramic image and the linking information associated with the starting and second panoramic images. A first transition between the starting panoramic image and the second panoramic image is also determined based at least in part on the linking information for these panoramic images. Additional panoramic images as well as a second transition for between the additional panoramic images are also determined. The determined panoramic images and transitions are added to the tour according to an order of the tour. | 10-29-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120074801 | Magnetic Rotor Having Inset Bridges To Promote Cooling - A rotor arrangement with decreased fluid flow impedance and improved rotary motor cooling is mountable on a shaft for rotation relative to the stator of a rotary motor arrangement The rotor arrangement has a plurality of laminations joined together to form a multilayer laminated rotor with a plurality of magnet receptacles. Each of the laminations has a solid central section surrounding an opening within which the shaft is receivable, spokes extending substantially radially outwardly from said solid central section, ribs interposed between adjacent spokes, and bridges interconnecting the spokes and ribs. At least some of the bridges are inset from an outer diameter of the lamination toward the solid central section to decrease fluid flow impedance and improve rotary motor cooling. | 03-29-2012 |
20120194030 | Force Balanced Multivoltage Winding Configuration - A stator arrangement for a balanced multiple voltage device operable as an electric motor, a generator, or a motor-generator includes a plurality of arc sectors configured so as to surround a rotor of the device. Each of the arc sectors includes a set of stator windings with at least one winding in each set. Those windings in pairs of the arc sectors located at diametrically opposed locations of the stator arrangement are concurrently energized and deenergized in order to eliminate load imbalance on the device. | 08-02-2012 |
20120267970 | Coolant Flow Channel Arrangement for a Fluid Cooled Electric Motor - An improved fluid cooling arrangement for an electric machine, such as an electric motor, a generator, or a motor/generator assembly, is provided. In its most general sense, the fluid-cooled electric machine includes a rotor disposed on a motor shaft, a stator surrounding the rotor, and a motor housing surrounding the stator, with the stator formed of a laminated stack of stator plates that is plated at its outer surface. | 10-25-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130249342 | Cantilevered Rotor Magnet Support - A multilayer laminated rotor mountable on a shaft for rotation relative to a stator of a rotary electric machine arrangement has a plurality of laminas joined together to form the rotor and voids for receiving magnets. The rotor has an annular section, extending between a shaft opening for receiving the shaft and a radially outer circumferential rotor surface, which includes an undulating series of the voids in void groups extending from the radially outer circumferential rotor surface inwardly toward the shaft opening and then back toward the radially outer circumferential rotor surface. A pair of distal voids in each void group, together with distal voids of adjacent void groups, define gaps separating adjacent arc sections of the radially outer circumferential rotor surface. Such an arrangement forces the structural support to be cantilevered, improving rotor integrity, and, due to a reduction in magnetic leakage pathways, provides improved electrical performance. | 09-26-2013 |
20130313937 | Rotor Lamination Stress Relief - A multilayer laminated rotor is mountable on a shaft for rotation relative to a stator of a rotary electric machine arrangement. The rotor has a plurality of laminas, joined together, and voids for receiving magnets. An annular rotor section, which surrounds a shaft opening within which the shaft is receivable, extends between the shaft opening and a radially outer circumferential rotor surface. The annular section mentioned includes an undulating series of the voids in void groups extending from the radially outer circumferential rotor surface inwardly toward the shaft opening and then back toward the radially outer circumferential rotor surface, as well as a solid radially interior portion without any of the voids. Distal voids in the void groups include curved, arcuate, or recurved stress relieving features extending inwardly from radially innermost corner locations of the distal voids. | 11-28-2013 |