Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080208948 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR USING BOOLEAN DERIVATIVES TO PROCESS DATA - Method and apparatus for generating an Nth order Boolean derivative from r bit-array Qth order partial derivatives combined using fusion. Exemplary applications include multimedia, e.g., signal, image and video, processing systems; security systems; edge detection, compression, filtering, multimedia data, e.g., signal, image, video, interpolation and resizing systems; biometrics and recognition systems; networking and communication systems; static hazard free circuit design, simplifying gates in circuits; circuit testing, fault detection, and analysis systems. | 08-28-2008 |
20090245689 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR VISUAL SUB-BAND DECOMPOSITION OF SIGNALS - Methods and apparatus for image processing include performing visual sub-band decomposition of an image using human visual system characteristics to generate a plurality of sub-band decomposed images, independently processing the plurality of sub-band decomposed images with at least one application, and fusing the independently processed sub-band decomposed images to reconstruct an output image. | 10-01-2009 |
20090274386 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IMAGE RESTORATION - Methods and apparatus for restoration of a digital image. In one embodiment, a method for repairing a defect in a digital image to provide a restored image comprises determining a plurality of pixel locations to form a neighborhood relating to the defect and whether or not the neighborhood has a well-defined, dark border along its edge. Should the neighborhood not have dark border, one embodiment of the method entails processing the neighborhood to bring the neighborhood approximately to uniform darkness, processing the neighborhood to match surroundings in the digital image, copying an edge of a neighborhood in the digital image into the processed neighborhood, processing pixels of the edge to repair the copied edge pixels, and outputting the restored image for display to a user. Should the neighborhood have a dark, well-defined border, one embodiment of the method entails processing the neighborhood as to locally enhance the neighborhood and match its surroundings in the digital image; processing the neighborhood's edge such that the edge also matches its surroundings in both the defect and the digital image; processing the neighborhood to invert its pixel values and then perform the last two steps once again; processing the neighborhood to increase its contrast and then perform the last three steps once again; processing the neighborhood to bring the neighborhood to a more uniform darkness; processing the uniform darkness neighborhood to match surroundings in the digital image; and outputting the restored image for display to a user. | 11-05-2009 |
20140341481 | Methods and Apparatus for Image Processing and Analysis - Methods and apparatus to providing image fusion using a number of image processing approaches. In one embodiment, a single image is processed and image fusion is performed. In exemplary embodiments of the invention, image enhancement, denoising, edge detection, etc., can be provided. | 11-20-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090114140 | SUBSEA OPERATIONS SUPPORT SYSTEM - An underwater operations support system facilitates underwater exploration, monitoring, maintenance and construction operations associated with development of natural resources. The operations support system may include energy generation subsystems, energy accumulation subsystems, communication subsystems, docking stations, repair and maintenance robots, housings for divers, and video subsystems. Supported equipment includes ROVs, HROVs, AUVs, and other autonomous and semi-autonomous mobile robots which move materials, perform manual tasks, and survey the environment. Operational efficiency is enhanced by recharging, repairing and reconfiguring vehicles, and transferring data and commands between vehicles and a control station, without moving the vehicle to and from the surface, and without need for a surface ship to remain on site for the duration of operations. | 05-07-2009 |
20100059221 | SUBSEA FLUID SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS - Subsea apparatus and a method for sampling and analysing fluid from a subsea fluid flowline proximate a subsea well is provided, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one housing located in close proximity to said subsea fluid flowline; at least one fluid sampling device located in the housing in fluid communication with a said subsea fluid flowline for obtaining a sample of fluid from the subsea fluid flowline; at least one fluid processing apparatus located in the housing in fluid communication with said subsea fluid flowline for receiving and processing a portion of the fluid flowing through said fluid flowline or in fluid communication with the fluid sampling device, for processing the sample of fluid obtained from the subsea fluid flowline for analysis, while keeping the sample of fluid at subsea conditions; a fluid analysis device located in the housing, the fluid analysis device being in fluid communication with the fluid processing device and/or with the fluid sampling device, the fluid analysis device being used for analysing said sample of fluid or the processed sample of fluid to generate data relating to a plurality of properties of said sample of fluid and communicating said data to a surface data processor or to at least one other subsea apparatus; and conveying means included in the housing for conveying the housing means from one subsea fluid flowline to another subsea fluid flowline or for conveying the housing to the surface. | 03-11-2010 |
20100139926 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING INTERVENTION OPERATIONS WITH A COMPLIANT GUIDE - A technique for subsea intervention operations incorporates use of a compliant guide that extends between a surface location and a subsea installation. The technique facilitates deployment of tool strings into a subsea well. For example, a portion of the compliant guide can be used as a subsea lubricator during pressure deployment of tool strings. In some applications, a tool entry guide can be connected into the subsea installation to facilitate deployment of tool strings into the subsea well. | 06-10-2010 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100264158 | AUTOMATED DISPENSARY APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING PILLS - A pill dispensing apparatus has a pill delivery station, a pill receiving station, and a pill singulator. The singulator receives and supports pills delivered from the delivery station and is spun to drive pills supported on the tray around the tray axis. A wiper guide guides the driven pills towards the pill receiving station and at the same time singulates the pills by establish spacing between them. The singulated pills are then deflected to a pill drop zone where they drop into a container. | 10-21-2010 |
20110036856 | RACK ARRANGEMENT FOR KIOSK DISPENSER - A rack assembly of storage bins has a back wall, series of vertical slots in the back wall, partition members having tongues for fixing the partition member to the back wall. Extending between the partition members are bin floors, the edges of the floor members located in slots in the partition members. The spacing of the slots in the back wall and of the slots in the partition members is selected to permit a range of spacings of horizontally adjacent partition members and a range of spacings of vertically adjacent floor members. By suitable selection of the spacings, a large variety of bin sizes can be obtained. | 02-17-2011 |
20110150346 | Method and Apparatus for Identifying Embossed Characters - In a method and apparatus for identifying an embossed character, light of one color is directed in one direction across the embossed character to illuminate certain character parts and light of another color is directed in another direction across the embossed character to illuminate other character parts. Image data for the two colors are captured and are subjected to separate image processing to detect edges highlighted by the directed light. The processed images are combined and supplemented with OCR analysis before being compared with predicted characters. Based on the comparison, a determination is made as to the probable identity of the character. | 06-23-2011 |
20110192893 | Method and Apparatus for Handling Packages in an Automated Dispensary - In a method and apparatus for handling a package in an automated dispensary, a package is positioned in an inspection station of the dispensary. Images are captured of the package and are read to identify data on labels or on the package itself. The data is encoded as source data in an identifying label which is applied to the package and is used subsequently in handling the package for dispensing and other inventory management procedures. | 08-11-2011 |
20110229296 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STORAGE AND DISPENSING OF ITEMS - A method and apparatus for picking items from a stack of items stored in one of a number of bins in a kiosk dispensary. Each bin has a bin identifier identifying its position in the rack and each bin accommodates one or more items with multiple items in a bin arranged in a stack. Each item in the stack has an order identifier corresponding to its position in the stack. An item to be picked is identified by its bin identifier and order identifier. Items between the item to be picked and an access position of the stack are removed from the stack and parked until the item to be picked is in the access position whereupon it is removed from the bin and an index of order identifiers and bin identifiers is updated to match the repositioning of the items. | 09-22-2011 |
20110231010 | Pill counting and control system for a pill transport apparatus - The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dispensing varying quantities of pills quickly, conveniently, securely, accurately operable to incorporate one or more sensors and at least two data sets for the purpose of monitoring the activity of transferring pills from a pill singulation to a bottle. For example, a counting means may be operable, in real-time or near-real time, to count the pills transferred to a bottle. A sensor array data-acquisition means may be utilized to facilitate the collection and monitoring of data relating to transfer of pills to a bottle. The counting means and sensor array data-acquisition means may be applied in a cooperative manner so as to facilitate examinations for the purpose of identifying pill events, such as overlapping pill dispensing, that have the potential to invalidate the counting means results. | 09-22-2011 |
20120061338 | Method of configuring rack storage and a rack assembly so configured - A method of configuring storage in a dispensing kiosk and an assembly of rack modules forming a rack, the assembly selected using the configuration method. The selection uses one or more rack modules from a set of rack modules, each having an array of bins having a range of bin sizes and a range of quantities of bins of each size, so as to present a predetermined bin size distribution. The bin size distribution of one rack module of the set differs from the bin size distribution of the other rack modules of the set so that different combinations of members of the set can be assembled to maximize efficiency of stocking of items in the rack. A target inventory of items for stocking the dispensing kiosk is picked, the inventory having a range of item sizes and a range of quantities of each item size. Combinations of the rack modules are then investigated as candidates for mounting to form the rack, and the rack module combination is selected that, according to stocking rules, will maximize efficiency of stocking of the target inventory in the rack. | 03-15-2012 |
20130140257 | RACK ARRANGEMENT FOR KIOSK DISPENSER - A rack assembly of storage bins has a back wall, series of vertical slots in the back wall, partition members having tongues for fixing the partition member to the back wall. Extending between the partition members are bin floors, the edges of the floor members located in slots in the partition members. The spacing of the slots in the back wall and of the slots in the partition members is selected to permit a range of spacings of horizontally adjacent partition members and a range of spacings of vertically adjacent floor members. By suitable selection of the spacings, a large variety of bin sizes can be obtained. | 06-06-2013 |
20130204432 | PILL COUNTING AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A PILL TRANSPORT APPARATUS - The present invention provides a method and apparatus for dispensing varying quantities of pills quickly, conveniently, securely, accurately operable to incorporate one or more sensors and at least two data sets for the purpose of monitoring the activity of transferring pills from a pill singulation to a bottle. For example, a counting means may be operable, in real-time or near-real time, to count the pills transferred to a bottle. A sensor array data-acquisition means may be utilized to facilitate the collection and monitoring of data relating to transfer of pills to a bottle. The counting means and sensor array data-acquisition means may be applied in a cooperative manner so as to facilitate examinations for the purpose of identifying pill events, such as overlapping pill dispensing, that have the potential to invalidate the counting means results. | 08-08-2013 |
20130251479 | Method and Apparatus for Handling Packages - A vending machine, In a method and apparatus for handling a package in an automated dispensary, a package is positioned in an inspection station of the dispensary. Images are captured of the package and are read to identify data on labels or on the package itself. The data is encoded as source data in an identifying label which is applied to the package and is used subsequently in handling the package for dispensing and other inventory management procedures. | 09-26-2013 |
20140185917 | DISPENSARY EMBOSSED CHARACTER CONTAINER LABELING - In a method and apparatus for identifying an embossed character, light of one color is directed in one direction across the embossed character to illuminate certain character parts and light of another color is directed in another direction across the embossed character to illuminate other character parts. Image data for the two colors are captured and are subjected to separate image processing to detect edges highlighted by the directed light. The processed images are combined and supplemented with OCR analysis before being compared with predicted characters. Based on the comparison, a determination is made as to the probable identity of the character. | 07-03-2014 |