Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090260658 | TOILET BOWL CLEANING APPARATUS AND METHODS - A toilet bowl cleaning unit disposed to intercept an intermittent flow of water from each flush of the water from a water line to a toilet bowl comprising a mounting device for installation in the flow of water, and a water-soluble compound positioned on the mounting device to intercept a substantial portion of the water as it is flushed from the water line to the toilet bowl, said water-soluble compound thereby being released into the toiled bowl with the water from each flush to inhibit formation of mineral deposits on the surfaces of the toilet bowl and/or drainage pipes. A method for cleaning a toilet bowl, comprising providing an intermittent flow of water from a water line to a toilet bowl with each flush of the toilet bowl, and providing a water-soluble compound to intercept a substantial portion of the flow of water, said water-soluble compound thereby being released into the toilet bowl with the water from each flush to inhibit formation of mineral deposits on the surfaces of the toilet bowl and/or drainage pipes. | 10-22-2009 |
20100226818 | MULTIPLE-FUNCTION DEODORANT DISPENSER APPARATUS AND METHODS - A multiple-purpose deodorant dispenser unit is provided, comprising: (a) first apparatus adapted for alternatively receiving (i) an aerosol spray deodorant container, (ii) an open deodorant container having gel, liquid or solid deodorant therein, or (iii) a wick cylinder having deodorant therein; (b) second apparatus adjacent to the first apparatus adapted for alternatively containing (i) a spray actuating head device for activating a nozzle in the aerosol spray deodorant container to emit a spray of vaporized deodorant, or (ii) a fan head device for directing a movement of air in the vicinity of either the open container or the wick cylinder; and (c) a third apparatus having electrical means for alternatively operating the spray actuating head device or the fan head device. | 09-09-2010 |
20130059598 | INTERACTIVE COMPUTER SOFTWARE PROCESSES AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING, TRACKING, REPORTING, PROVIDING FEEDBACK AND TASKING - A process is provided for carrying out a task, such as enabling a customer to submit a report, feedback or other comments electronically to an online computer program, then providing a prompt on-site response to those comments. The process may be enabled by a system that includes the online computer program, which is accessible from a mobile electronic device, as well as a detectable code unique to a location from which comments are to be provided, and to which the comments may pertain. The detectable code may be scanned or otherwise sensed with the mobile electronic device, which may then communicate with the program (e.g., by way of application software on the mobile electronic device) to provide data regarding the location to the program. The program may then initiate an appropriate response to the data, or task, which may be promptly, or even immediately, carried out at the location. | 03-07-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100061457 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VLC ENCODING IN A VIDEO ENCODING SYSTEM - Method and apparatus for variable length code (VLC) encoding is described. In some examples, a symbol of frequency transform values having a run and a level is VLC encoded. An address is generated, at a processor, for a lookup table (LUT) in a memory based on the run and the level, the LUT storing VLC entries for all possible combinations of run values ranging from minimum to maximum runs and level values ranging from minimum to maximum levels, each of the VLC entries including a flag indicative of an escape mode. A VLC entry is read from the LUT using the address. A VLC code and bit length are obtained from the VLC entry if the flag in the VLC entry is a first value. A fixed length VLC code is generated from an escape code, the run, and the level if the flag in the VLC entry is a second value. | 03-11-2010 |
20110050930 | FAST ITERATIVE MOTION ESTIMATION METHOD ON GRADUALLY CHANGING IMAGES - A fast iterative motion estimation method enables motion estimation to take place with fewer computations. The motion estimation and error determination steps are combined, each position in the search area is monitored to determine whether error value reaches the minimum over iterations by keeping track of convergence status, a refinement search is applied (thus, a smaller search area than a conventional process), and the difference of the error value and the minimum error value is used for each position in the search area to decide whether to further calculate the error value for that position. Each of these modifications helps minimize the number of computations used in motion estimation. | 03-03-2011 |
20110249173 | FOUR-DIMENSIONAL POLYNOMIAL MODEL FOR DEPTH ESTIMATION BASED ON TWO-PICTURE MATCHING - Camera depth estimation is performed in response to picture matching based on blur difference computed between images captured at different focal positions. A blur difference model is stored in the camera based on characterization of the camera with a series of matching curves in which blur difference varies depending on the focal length, aperture, subject distance, and lens focus position. A four-dimensional polynomial model is created to fit the matching curves for use in estimating subject distance. During operation, images are captured for use in estimating subject distance. Motion compensation is applied and blur difference is determined. Blur difference is utilized in the polynomial model to estimate subject distance. Subject distance estimates can be output or utilized within an auto focus process to provide accurate focus adjustments. | 10-13-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120195492 | Method and apparatus for generating a dense depth map using an adaptive joint bilateral filter - A method and apparatus for generating a dense depth map. In one embodiment, the method includes applying a joint bilateral filter to a first depth map to generate a second depth map, where at least one filter weight of the joint bilateral filter is adapted based upon content of an image represented by the first depth map, and the second depth map has a higher resolution than the first depth map. | 08-02-2012 |
20120249816 | FOCUS DIRECTION DETECTION CONFIDENCE SYSTEM AND METHOD - An apparatus and method for determining confidence in focus direction detection, including the steps of capturing a plurality of images, calculating sets of matching errors and blur difference estimations relating to the images, capturing a plurality of object images; calculating sets of matching errors and blur difference estimations relating to the images, calculating a confidence indicator as a function of either the matching errors or blur difference estimations, and automatically adjusting a focus control element in response to said confidence indicator exceeding a threshold value. | 10-04-2012 |
20120250999 | DETECTION OF LOW CONTRAST FOR IMAGE PROCESSING - There are many applications that conduct both generation of contrast or complexity level and motion estimation for video processing. The applications often use a block matching technique. An embedded system such as a personal digital camera is an example of such an application. Additionally, comparison of error differences around the location of minimum error in a motion estimation error table is able to be used to determine low contrast in a scene. | 10-04-2012 |
20130141537 | Methodology For Performing Depth Estimation With Defocused Images Under Extreme Lighting Conditions - A methodology for performing a depth estimation procedure with defocused images under extreme lighting conditions includes a camera device with a sensor for capturing blur images of a photographic target under extreme lighting conditions. The extreme lighting conditions may include over-exposed conditions and/or under-exposed conditions. The camera device also includes a depth generator that performs the depth estimation procedure by utilizing the captured blur images. The depth estimation procedure includes a clipped-pixel substitution procedure to compensate for the extreme lighting conditions. | 06-06-2013 |
20130141615 | System And Method For Utilizing Scene Detection In A Depth Estimation Procedure - A system and method for performing a depth estimation procedure includes a camera device with a sensor device for capturing blur images of a photographic target. Each of the captured blur images has a corresponding scene type that includes either a Gaussian scene type or a pillbox scene type. A depth generator performs a scene recognition procedure to identify the appropriate scene type for the respective blur images. The depth generator then selects an effective depth estimation procedure depending upon the detected scene type. | 06-06-2013 |
20130142386 | System And Method For Evaluating Focus Direction Under Various Lighting Conditions - A system and method for generating a direction confidence measure includes a camera sensor device that captures blur images of a photographic target. A depth estimator calculates matching errors for the blur images. The depth estimator then generates the direction confidence measure by utilizing the matching errors and a dynamic optimization constant that is selected depending upon image characteristics of the blur images. | 06-06-2013 |
20130142394 | System And Method For Performing Depth Estimation Utilizing Defocused Pillbox Images - A system and method for performing a depth estimation procedure utilizing defocused pillbox images includes a camera device with a sensor device for capturing pillbox blur images of a photographic target. The camera utilizes a depth estimator for performing a Gaussianization procedure that transforms the pillbox blur images into corresponding Gaussian blur images. The Gaussianization procedure is performed by convolving the pillbox blur images with a Gaussianization kernel to generate the corresponding Gaussian blur images. The depth estimator then utilizes the Gaussian blur images for effectively performing the depth estimation procedure. | 06-06-2013 |
20140064552 | System And Method For Utilizing Enhanced Scene Detection In A Depth Estimation Procedure - A system for performing an enhanced scene detection procedure including a sensor device for capturing blur images of a photographic target. The blur images each correspond to a scene type that is detected from a first scene type which is typically a pillbox blur scene, and a second scene type which is typically a Gaussian scene type. A scene detector performs an initial scene detection procedure to identify a candidate scene type for the blur images. The scene detector then performs the enhanced scene detection procedure to identify a final scene type for the blur images. | 03-06-2014 |
20140132822 | MULTI-RESOLUTION DEPTH-FROM-DEFOCUS-BASED AUTOFOCUS - A hierarchical method of achieving auto focus using depth from defocus is described herein. The depth from defocus technique is performed hierarchically in the resolution that is determined to be optimal at each step. Where higher resolution gives the better accuracy but requires more computational costs, the optimal resolution is estimated based on the target accuracy and the possible max blur amount at each step, which determines the amount of the computation and the number of pixels in the focus area. The proposed multi-resolution depth-from-defocus-based autofocus enables the reduction in the required resource, which is beneficial in the system where resource is limited. | 05-15-2014 |