Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100212219 | Method for Purifying Biodiesel Fuel - A method for purifying a biodiesel fuel includes the use of subjecting a biodiesel fuel to an electric field. The electric field forms a precipitate in the fuel that removes the impurities of excess catalysts and soap that are byproducts of the reaction that forms the biodiesel. This electric field assisted washing process can be applied to a biodiesel fuel in a batch process or, alternatively, in a continuous process. | 08-26-2010 |
20110046430 | METAL REMEDIATION USING A MESOPOROUS NANOCOMPOSITE - A novel method for remediating metals includes treating the metals with a mesoporous nanocomposite such as HMS, MCM-41 or MCM-48. The metal is preferably lead but can be at least one metal selected from Pb, Hg, Cd, Zn, Sn, As, Sb, In, Se, Ga, Te, Bi, Ni, Cu, Mo, Ni, Cu, Sr, Ba or Co. The treating is preferably performed at a pH of about 4 to about 12. In the invention, the treating can also include desorbing the metal from the mesoporous nanocomposite at a pH of about 2 or less. | 02-24-2011 |
20110168955 | Templated Growth of Carbon Nanotubes - A method of growing carbon nanotubes uses a synthesized mesoporous silica template with approximately cylindrical pores being formed therein. The surfaces of the pores are coated with a carbon nanotube precursor, and the template with the surfaces of the pores so-coated is then heated until the carbon nanotube precursor in each pore is converted to a carbon nanotube. | 07-14-2011 |
20120034410 | MULTIPLE WALLED NESTED COAXIAL NANOSTRUCTURES - Multiple walled nested coaxial nanostructures, methods for making multiple walled nested coaxial nanostructures, and devices incorporating the coaxial nanostructures are disclosed. The coaxial nanostructures include an inner nanostructure, a first outer nanotube disposed around the inner nanostructure, and a first annular channel between the inner nanostructure and the first outer nanotube. The coaxial nanostructures have extremely high aspect ratios, ranging from about 5 to about 1,200, or about 300 to about 1200. | 02-09-2012 |
20120080313 | ELECTROOSMOTIC DEVICES - Electroosmotic (EO) devices are provided which are not subject to mechanical wear and tear and with no moving parts, and having improved flow rates and electrical properties. Atomic layer deposition can be used to prepare three electrical terminal active zeta potential modulated EO devices from porous membranes. First, second, and further thin layers of materials can be formed with the pores. Thus, embedded electrodes can be formed along the length of the pores. The zeta potential in the pores can be modified by use of a voltage potential applied the embedded electrode, thereby achieving active control of surface zeta potential within the pores and active control of flow through the pores. | 04-05-2012 |
20150136733 | MULTIPLE WALLED NESTED COAXIAL NANOSTRUCTURES - Multiple walled nested coaxial nanostructures, methods for making multiple walled nested coaxial nanostructures, and devices incorporating the coaxial nanostructures are disclosed. The coaxial nanostructures include an inner nanostructure, a first outer nanotube disposed around the inner nanostructure, and a first annular channel between the inner nanostructure and the first outer nanotube. The coaxial nanostructures have extremely high aspect ratios, ranging from about 5 to about 1,200, or about 300 to about 1200. | 05-21-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100121960 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING MOBILITY MANAGEMENT IN NETWORK - A method implemented by a gateway device which handles sessions over a network to which the gateway device is connected and which also enforces conditions of service provided to those network sessions, the method involving: receiving from a policy server a policy rules package, wherein the policy rules package specifies a set of rules that are to be applied to certain sessions handled by the gateway device and a set of criteria for identifying among a plurality of subscribers a group of all subscribers to which the rules are to be applied by the gateway device; based on set of criteria in the policy rules package identifying all subscribers with currently active sessions to whom the policy rules are to be applied; and applying the set of rules to the sessions of the identified subscribers. | 05-13-2010 |
20110165901 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR POLICY CHARGING AND RULES FUNCTION (PCRF) NODE SELECTION - The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for PCRF node selection. According to one aspect, a system for PCRF node selection is provided. The system includes a first PCRF selection node for receiving a first request message for which PCRF node selection is required. The first PCRF selection node determines whether to select the PCRF or to delegate selection of the PCRF. In response to a determination to delegate the selection of the PCRF, the first PCRF selection node generates and sends a second request message related to the first request message. The system further includes a second PCRF node for, in response to receiving the second request message from the first PCRF selection node, determining whether to select the PCRF or to delegate selection of the PCRF. In response to determining to select the PCRF, the second PCRF selection node selects the PCRF. | 07-07-2011 |
20110225280 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR COMMUNICATING POLICY INFORMATION BETWEEN A POLICY CHARGING AND RULES FUNCTION AND A SERVICE NODE - According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a method for communicating policy information. The method includes steps occurring at a policy charging and rules function (PCRF) node. The method also includes receiving, from a service node, a message requesting a policy rule, wherein the message includes an Internet protocol (IP) address associated with a subscriber. The method further includes determining a network access identifier (NAI) for the subscriber based on the IP address. The method further includes selecting a policy rule for the subscriber based on the NAI. The method further includes communicating the policy rule to the service node. | 09-15-2011 |
20120282955 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR PROVIDING A USER RECORD DELETION NOTIFICATION - Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing a user record deletion notification are disclosed. In one example, the method comprises determining, at a subscriber data management (SDM) node, that a service subscription to an access network is to be terminated, wherein the service subscription is associated with a subscriber user, generating, at the SDM node, a notification message that includes a deletion notification attribute, and sending the Diameter notification message to an application server associated with the access network. The method further includes terminating, at the application server, a communication service connection established between the subscriber user and the access network in response to detecting the deletion notification attribute in the notification message and deleting, in the SDM node, a user record associated with the service subscription after receiving notification of the connection termination. | 11-08-2012 |
20130021933 | RAN Analytics, Control And Tuning Via Multi-Protocol, Multi-Domain, And Multi-RAT Analysis - The present invention identifies methods and procedures for correlating control plane and user plane data, consolidating and abstracting the learned and correlated data in a form convenient for minimizing and exporting to other network devices, such as those in the Core Network and the Access Network, or the origin server, CDN devices or client device. These correlation methods may use Control Plane information from a plurality of interfaces in the RAN, and User plane information from other interfaces in the RAN or CN. IF the device is deployed as an inline proxy, this information may be exported using in-band communication, such as HTTP extension headers in HTTP Request or Response packets, or another protocol header, such as the IP or GTP-U header field. Alternatively, this information can be exported out-of-band using a separate protocol between the RAN Transit Network Device (RTND) and the receiving device. | 01-24-2013 |
20130258865 | Distributed RAN Information Collection, Consolidation And RAN-Analytics - Control Plane and User plane packet data are collected within the Radio Access Network using a plurality of network devices. Consolidation and summarization of this information is then performed to present a unified picture of RAN through abstract APIs to management and analytics applications. The invention identifies methods of retaining the collected network data, such as control and application protocol headers at the collection points, and consolidation and exporting this network data to management/reporting/analytics application using application driven rules for consolidation and summarization. Real-time statistical analysis tools, which may be used to predict failure and degradation trends and proactively control the underlying causes, are also disclosed. | 10-03-2013 |
20140233368 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR DETECTING ORPHAN SY OR RX SESSIONS USING AUDIT MESSAGES WITH FAKE PARAMETER VALUES - A policy and charging rules function (PCRF), generates a Diameter audit message concerning an application level Diameter session for which local resources are maintained by the PCRF. The PCRF includes, in the audit message, a fake parameter value. The PCRF sends the audit message with the fake parameter value to the OCS or the AF over an Sy or Rx interface. The PCRF receives a response to the audit message from the OCS or AF. The PCRF determines, based on the response, whether the application level session comprises and orphan session. The PCRF, in response to determining that the application level Diameter session comprises an orphan session frees the local resources maintained by the PCRF for the orphan session. | 08-21-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120011181 | DECIMAL FLOATING-POINT FUSED MULTIPLY-ADD UNIT - A decimal floating-point Fused-Multiply-Add (FMA) unit that performs the operation of ±(A×B)±C on decimal floating-point operands. The decimal floating-point FMA unit executes the multiplication and addition operations compliant with the IEEE 754-2008 standard. Specifically, the decimal floating-point FMA includes a parallel multiplier and injects the addend after required alignment as an additional partial product in the reduction tree used in the parallel multiplier. The decimal floating-point FMA unit may be configured to perform addition-subtraction operations or multiplication operations as standalone operations. | 01-12-2012 |
20120011182 | DECIMAL FLOATING-POINT SQUARE-ROOT UNIT USING NEWTON-RAPHSON ITERATIONS - A system including: an input processing unit configured to: extract a significant and a bias exponent from the decimal floating-point radicand; and calculate a normalized significand; a square root unit configured to: calculate, using a FMA unit, a refined reciprocal square-root of the normalized significand; calculate an unrounded square-root of the normalized significand by multiplying the refined reciprocal square-root by the normalized significand; and generate a rounded square-root based on a first difference between the normalized significand and a square of the unrounded square-root; a master control unit operatively connected to the input processing hardware unit and the square-root hardware unit and configured to calculate an exponent for the unrounded square-root based on the number of leading zeros and a precision of the decimal floating-point radicand; and an output formulation unit configured to output a decimal floating-point square-root of the radicand based on the rounded square-root and the exponent. | 01-12-2012 |
20120011185 | ROUNDING UNIT FOR DECIMAL FLOATING-POINT DIVISION - A method for performing a decimal floating-point division, including: receiving, by a decimal floating-point divider, a decimal floating-point dividend and a decimal floating-point divisor; obtaining, by the decimal floating-point divider, a preliminary quotient having a first precision level, where the preliminary quotient is calculated from the decimal floating-point dividend and the decimal-floating point divisor; receiving, by the decimal floating-point divider, a rounding mode; selecting a rounding action based on the preliminary quotient and the rounding mode; and obtaining a rounded quotient having a second precision level by rounding the preliminary quotient according to the rounding action, where the first precision level is at least one digit greater than the second precision level. | 01-12-2012 |
20120011187 | PARALLEL REDUNDANT DECIMAL FUSED-MULTIPLY-ADD CIRCUIT - A circuit for performing a floating-point fused-multiply-add (FMA) calculation of a×b±c. The circuit includes (i) a partial product generation module having (a) a multiples generator unit configured to generate multiples of a multiplicand has m digit binary coded decimal (BCD) format, (b) a recoding unit configured to generate n+1 signed digits (SD) sets from a sum vector and a carry vector of a multiplier, and (c) a multiples selection unit configured to generate partial product vectors from the multiples of the multiplicand based on the n+1 SD sets and the sign of FMA calculation, and (ii) a carry save adder (CSA) tree configured to add the partial product vectors and an addend to generate a result sum vector and a result carry vector in a m+n digit BCD format. | 01-12-2012 |
20130117341 | DECIMAL ELEMENTARY FUNCTIONS COMPUTATION - A method for executing a decimal elementary function (DEF) computation from multiple decimal floating-point operands, including: extracting mantissae and exponents from the operands; generating normalized mantissae by shifting the mantissae based on the number of leading zeros; calculating a plurality of approximations for a logarithm of the first normalized mantissa; calculating, using the plurality of approximations for the logarithm, a plurality of approximations for a product of the second normalized mantissa and a sum based on the logarithm of the first normalized mantissa and an exponent; generating a plurality of shifted values by shifting the plurality of approximations for the product; generating a plurality of fraction components from the plurality of shifted values; calculating an antilog based on the plurality of fraction components; and outputting a decimal floating-point result of the DEF computation comprising a resultant mantissa based on the antilog and a resultant biased exponent. | 05-09-2013 |
20130159682 | DECIMAL FLOATING-POINT PROCESSOR - A method for operating a decimal-floating point (DFP) processor. The method includes identifying a first op-code requiring read access to a first plurality of DFP operands in a vector register of the DFP processor; granting read access from a first port of the vector register to a first execution unit of the DFP processor selected to execute the first op-code; initializing a read pointer of the first port; reading out, from the first port and based on the read pointer, a first DFP operand of the plurality of DFP operands in response to a read request from the first execution unit; and adjusting the read pointer of the first port in response to reading out the first DFP operand. | 06-20-2013 |
20140101215 | DPD/BCD TO BID CONVERTERS - A method and system for binary coded decimal (BCD) to binary conversion. The conversion includes obtaining a BCD significand corresponding to multiple decimal digits; generating, by a BCD/binary hardware converter and based on the BCD significand, multiple binary vectors corresponding to the multiple decimal digits; and calculating, by the BCD/binary hardware converter, a binary output by summing the multiple binary vectors. | 04-10-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120057779 | Method and Apparatus for Confusion Learning - A method and apparatus for processing image data is provided. The method includes the steps of employing a main processing network for classifying one or more features of the image data, employing a monitor processing network for determining one or more confusing classifications of the image data, and spawning a specialist processing network to process image data associated with the one or more confusing classifications. | 03-08-2012 |
20120162378 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VISION-BASED INTERACTION IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT - Method, computer program and system for tracking movement of a subject. The method includes receiving data from a plurality of fixed position sensors comprising a distributed network of time of flight camera sensors to generate a volumetric three-dimensional representation of the subject, identifying a plurality of clusters within the volumetric three-dimensional representation that correspond to features indicative of motion of the subject relative to the fixed position sensors and one or more other portions of the subject, and presenting one or more objects on one or more three dimensional display screens. The plurality of fixed position sensors are used to track motion of the features of the subject to manipulate the volumetric three-dimensional representation to determine interaction of one or more of the features of the subject and one or more of the one or more objects on one or more of the one or more three dimensional display screens. | 06-28-2012 |
20120194422 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VISION-BASED INTERACTION IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT - Method, computer program and system for tracking movement of a subject. The method includes receiving data from a distributed network of camera sensors employing one or more emitted light sources associated with one or more of the one or more camera sensors to generate a volumetric three-dimensional representation of the subject, identifying a plurality of clusters within the volumetric three-dimensional representation that correspond to motion features indicative of movement of the motion features of the subject, presenting one or more objects on one or more three dimensional display screens, and using the plurality of fixed position sensors to track motion of the motion features of the subject and track manipulation of the motion features of the volumetric three-dimensional representation to determine interaction of one or more of the motion features of the subject and one or more of the one or more objects on the three dimensional display. | 08-02-2012 |
20120196660 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VISION-BASED INTERACTION IN A VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT - Method, computer program and system for tracking movement of a subject within a video game. The method includes receiving data from a plurality of fixed position sensors comprising a distributed network of time of flight camera sensors to generate a volumetric three-dimensional representation of the subject, identifying a plurality of clusters within the volumetric three-dimensional representation that correspond to features indicative of movement of the subject relative to the fixed position sensors and the subject, presenting one or more objects as the subject of a video game on one or more three dimensional display screens, and using the plurality of fixed position sensors to track motion of the features of the subject to determine interaction of one or more of the features of the subject and one or more of the one or more objects on one or more of the one or more the three dimensional display screens. | 08-02-2012 |
20120206458 | Near-Touch Interaction with a Stereo Camera Grid Structured Tessellations - A near-touch interface is provided that utilizes stereo cameras and a series of targeted structured light tessellations, emanating from the screen as a light source and incident on objects in the field-of-view. After radial distortion from a series of wide-angle lenses is mitigated, a surface-based spatio-temporal stereo algorithm is utilized to estimate initial depth values. Once these values are calculated, a subsequent refinement step may be applied in which light source tessellations are used to flash a structure onto targeted components of the scene, where initial near-interaction disparity values have been calculated. The combination of a spherical stereo algorithm, and smoothing with structured light source tessellations, provides for a very reliable and fast near-field depth engine, and resolves issues that are associated with depth estimates for embedded solutions of this approach. | 08-16-2012 |
20120206573 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING DISPARITY OF TEXTURE - A method and system to determine the disparity associated with one or more textured regions of a plurality of images is presented. The method comprises the steps of breaking up the texture into its color primitives, further segmenting the textured object into any number of objects comprising such primitives, and then calculating a disparity of these objects. The textured objects emerge in the disparity domain, after having their disparity calculated. Accordingly, the method is further comprised of defining one or more textured regions in a first of a plurality of images, determining a corresponding one or more textured regions in a second of the plurality of images, segmenting the textured regions into their color primitives, and calculating a disparity between the first and second of the plurality of images in accordance with the segmented color primitives. | 08-16-2012 |
20120207383 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING SEGMENTATION OF AN IMAGE - A method and system for segmenting a plurality of images. The method comprises the steps of segmenting the image through a novel clustering technique that is, generating a composite depth map including temporally stable segments of the image as well as segments in subsequent images that have changed. These changes may be determined by determining one or more differences between the temporally stable depth map and segments included in one or more subsequent frames. Thereafter, the portions of the one or more subsequent frames that include segments including changes from their corresponding segments in the temporally stable depth map are processed and are combined with the segments from the temporally stable depth map to compute their associated disparities in one or more subsequent frames. The images may include a pair of stereo images acquired through a stereo camera system at a substantially similar time. | 08-16-2012 |
20120207388 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPARITY COMPUTATION IN STEREO IMAGES - A method and system for generating a disparity map. The method comprises the steps of generating a first disparity map based upon a first image and a second image acquired at a first time, acquiring at least a third image and a fourth image at a second time, and determining one or more portions comprising a difference between one of the first and second images and a corresponding one of the third and fourth images. A disparity map update is generated for the one or more determined portions, and a disparity map is generated based upon the third image and the fourth image by combining the disparity map update and the first disparity map. | 08-16-2012 |
20120293412 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRACKING OF A SUBJECT - Method, computer program and system for tracking movement of a subject. The method includes receiving data from a distributed network of camera sensors employing one or more emitted light sources associated with one or more of the one or more camera sensors to generate a volumetric three-dimensional representation of the subject, identifying a plurality of clusters within the volumetric three-dimensional representation that correspond to motion features indicative of movement of the motion features of the subject, presenting one or more objects on one or more three dimensional display screens, and using the plurality of fixed position sensors to track motion of the motion features of the subject and track manipulation of the motion features of the volumetric three-dimensional representation to determine interaction of one or more of the motion features of the subject and one or more of the one or more objects on the three dimensional display. | 11-22-2012 |
20120306795 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL VIRTUAL-TOUCH INTERFACE - A three-dimensional virtual-touch human-machine interface system ( | 12-06-2012 |
20120319946 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THREE DIMENSIONAL INTERACTION OF A SUBJECT - Method, computer program and system for tracking movement of a subject. The method includes receiving data from a distributed network of camera sensors employing one or more emitted light sources associated with one or more of the one or more camera sensors to generate a volumetric three-dimensional representation of the subject, identifying a plurality of clusters within the volumetric three-dimensional representation that correspond to motion features indicative of movement of the motion features of the subject, presenting one or more objects on one or more three dimensional display screens, and using the plurality of fixed position sensors to track motion of the motion features of the subject and track manipulation of the motion features of the volumetric three-dimensional representation to determine interaction of one or more of the motion features of the subject and one or more of the one or more objects on the three dimensional display. | 12-20-2012 |
20130150159 | Method and Apparatus for Tracking of a Subject in a Video Game - Method, computer program and system for tracking movement of a subject. The method includes receiving data from a distributed network of camera sensors employing one or more emitted light sources associated with one or more of the one or more camera sensors to generate a volumetric three-dimensional representation of the subject, identifying a plurality of clusters within the volumetric three-dimensional representation that correspond to motion features indicative of movement of the motion features of the subject, presenting one or more objects on one or more three dimensional display screens, and using the plurality of fixed position sensors to track motion of the motion features of the subject and track manipulation of the motion features of the volumetric three-dimensional representation to determine interaction of one or more of the motion features of the subject and one or more of the one or more objects on the three dimensional display. | 06-13-2013 |
20130150160 | Method and Apparatus for Tracking of a Plurality of Subjects in a Video Game - Method, computer program and system for tracking movement of a subject. The method includes receiving data from a distributed network of camera sensors employing one or more emitted light sources associated with one or more of the one or more camera sensors to generate a volumetric three-dimensional representation of the subject, identifying a plurality of clusters within the volumetric three-dimensional representation that correspond to motion features indicative of movement of the motion features of the subject, presenting one or more objects on one or more three dimensional display screens, and using the plurality of fixed position sensors to track motion of the motion features of the subject and track manipulation of the motion features of the volumetric three-dimensional representation to determine interaction of one or more of the motion features of the subject and one or more of the one or more objects on the three dimensional display. | 06-13-2013 |
20130156296 | Three Dimensional Gesture Recognition in Vehicles - A method and system for performing gesture recognition of a vehicle occupant employing a time of flight (TOF) sensor and a computing system in a vehicle. An embodiment of the method of the invention includes the steps of receiving one or more raw frames from the TOF sensor, performing clustering to locate one or more body part clusters of the vehicle occupant, calculating the location of the tip of the hand of the vehicle occupant, determining whether the hand has performed a dynamic or a static gesture, retrieving a command corresponding to one of the determined static or dynamic gestures, and executing the command. | 06-20-2013 |
20130241826 | Three-Dimensional Interface System and Method - A three-dimensional virtual-touch human-machine interface system ( | 09-19-2013 |
20130259311 | Method and Apparatus for Spawning Specialist Belief Propagation Networks - A method and apparatus for processing image data is provided. The method includes the steps of employing a main processing network for classifying one or more features of the image data, employing a monitor processing network for determining one or more confusing classifications of the image data, and spawning a specialist processing network to process image data associated with the one or more confusing classifications. | 10-03-2013 |
20130339027 | DEPTH BASED CONTEXT IDENTIFICATION - A method or system for selecting or pruning applicable verbal commands associated with speech recognition based on a user's motions detected from a depth camera. Depending on the depth of the user's hand or arm, the context of the verbal command is determined and verbal commands corresponding to the determined context are selected. Speech recognition is then performed on an audio signal using the selected verbal commands. By using an appropriate set of verbal commands, the accuracy of the speech recognition is increased. | 12-19-2013 |
20140037192 | Apparatus and Method for Disparity Map Generation - A method and system for generating a disparity map. The method comprises the steps of generating a first disparity map based upon a first image and a second image acquired at a first time, acquiring at least a third image and a fourth image at a second time, and determining one or more portions comprising a difference between one of the first and second images and a corresponding one of the third and fourth images. A disparity map update is generated for the one or more determined portions, and a disparity map is generated based upon the third image and the fourth image by combining the disparity map update and the first disparity map. | 02-06-2014 |
20140037193 | Apparatus and Method for Performing Segment-Based Disparity Decomposition - A method and system for generating a disparity map. The method comprises the steps of generating a first disparity map based upon a first image and a second image acquired at a first time, acquiring at least a third image and a fourth image at a second time, and determining one or more portions comprising a difference between one of the first and second images and a corresponding one of the third and fourth images. A disparity map update is generated for the one or more determined portions, and a disparity map is generated based upon the third image and the fourth image by combining the disparity map update and the first disparity map. | 02-06-2014 |
20140099019 | Gesture Recognition in Vehicles - A method and system for performing gesture recognition of a vehicle occupant employing a time of flight (TOF) sensor and a computing system in a vehicle. An embodiment of the method of the invention includes the steps of receiving one or more raw frames from the TOF sensor, performing clustering to locate one or more body part clusters of the vehicle occupant, calculating the location of the tip of the hand of the vehicle occupant, determining whether the hand has performed a dynamic or a static gesture, retrieving a command corresponding to one of the determined static or dynamic gestures, and executing the command. | 04-10-2014 |
20140112528 | OBJECT RECOGNITION IN LOW-LUX AND HIGH-LUX CONDITIONS - A system for capturing image data for gestures from a passenger or a driver in a vehicle with a dynamic illumination level comprises a low-lux sensor equipped to capture image data in an environment with an illumination level below an illumination threshold, a high-lux sensor equipped to capture image data in the environment with the illumination level above the illumination threshold, and an object recognition module for activating the sensors. The object recognition module determines the illumination level of the environment and activates the low-lux sensor if the illumination level is below the illumination threshold. If the illumination level is above the threshold, the object recognition module activates the high-lux sensor. | 04-24-2014 |
20140112577 | Method and Apparatus for Spawning Specialist Belief Propagation Networks - A method and apparatus for processing image data is provided. The method includes the steps of employing a main processing network for classifying one or more features of the image data, employing a monitor processing network for determining one or more confusing classifications of the image data, and spawning a specialist processing network to process image data associated with the one or more confusing classifications. | 04-24-2014 |
20140132732 | Apparatus and Method for Determining Disparity of Tetured Regions - A method and system to determine the disparity associated with one or more textured regions of a plurality of images is presented. The method comprises the steps of breaking up the texture into its color primitives, further segmenting the textured object into any number of objects comprising such primitives, and then calculating a disparity of these objects. The textured objects emerge in the disparity domain, after having their disparity calculated. Accordingly, the method is further comprised of defining one or more textured regions in a first of a plurality of images, determining a corresponding one or more textured regions in a second of the plurality of images, segmenting the textured regions into their color primitives, and calculating a disparity between the first and second of the plurality of images in accordance with the segmented color primitives. | 05-15-2014 |
20140205183 | Method and Apparatus for Enhancing Stereo Vision Through Image Segmentation - A method and apparatus for segmenting an image are provided. The method may include the steps of clustering pixels from one of a plurality of images into one or more segments, determining one or more unstable segments changing by more than a predetermined threshold from a prior of the plurality of images, determining one or more segments transitioning from an unstable to a stable segment, determining depth for one or more of the one or more segments that have changed by more than the predetermined threshold, determining depth for one or more of the one or more transitioning segments, and combining the determined depth for the one or more unstable segments and the one or more transitioning segments with a predetermined depth of all segments changing less than the predetermined threshold from the prior of the plurality of images. | 07-24-2014 |
20140219559 | Apparatus and Method for Segmenting an Image - A method and system for segmenting a plurality of images. The method comprises the steps of segmenting the image through a novel clustering technique that is, generating a composite depth map including temporally stable segments of the image as well as segments in subsequent images that have changed. These changes may be determined by determining one or more differences between the temporally stable depth map and segments included in one or more subsequent frames. Thereafter, the portions of the one or more subsequent frames that include segments including changes from their corresponding segments in the temporally stable depth map are processed and are combined with the segments from the temporally stable depth map to compute their associated disparities in one or more subsequent frames. The images may include a pair of stereo images acquired through a stereo camera system at a substantially similar time. | 08-07-2014 |
20140244072 | System And Method For Incorporating Gesture And Voice Recognition Into A Single System - A system and method for combining two separate types of human machine interfaces, e.g., a voice signal and a gesture signal, performing voice recognition to a voice signal and gesture recognition to the gesture signal. Based on a confidence determination using the voice recognition result and the gesture recognition result the system can, for example, immediately perform the command/request, request confirmation of the command/request or determine that the command/request was not identified. | 08-28-2014 |
20140267612 | Method and Apparatus for Adaptive Exposure Bracketing, Segmentation and Scene Organization - A method, system and computer program are provided that present a real-time approach to Chromaticity maximization to be used in image segmentation. The ambient illuminant in a scene may be first approximated. The input image may then be preprocessed to remove the impact of the illuminant, and approximate an ambient white light source instead. The resultant image is then choma-maximized. The result is an adaptive Chromaticity maximization algorithm capable of adapting to a wide dynamic range of illuminations. A segmentation algorithm is put in place as well that takes advantage of such an approach. This approach also has applications in HDR photography and real-time HDR video. | 09-18-2014 |
20140285664 | Object Recognition in Low-Lux and High-Lux Conditions - A system for capturing image data for gestures from a passenger or a driver in a vehicle with a dynamic illumination level comprises a low-lux sensor equipped to capture image data in an environment with an illumination level below an illumination threshold, a high-lux sensor equipped to capture image data in the environment with the illumination level above the illumination threshold, and an object recognition module for activating the sensors. The object recognition module determines the illumination level of the environment and activates the low-lux sensor if the illumination level is below the illumination threshold. If the illumination level is above the threshold, the object recognition module activates the high-lux sensor. | 09-25-2014 |
20140371955 | System And Method For Incorporating Gesture And Voice Recognition Into A Single System - A system and method for combining two separate types of human machine interfaces, e.g., a voice signal and a gesture signal, performing voice recognition to a voice signal and gesture recognition to the gesture signal. Based on a confidence determination using the voice recognition result and the gesture recognition result the system can, for example, immediately perform the command/request, request confirmation of the command/request or determine that the command/request was not identified. | 12-18-2014 |
20150020031 | Three-Dimensional Interface - A three-dimensional virtual-touch human-machine interface system ( | 01-15-2015 |
20150036922 | Method and Apparatus for Spawning Specialist Belief Propagation Networks For Adjusting Exposure Settings - A method and apparatus for processing image data is provided. The method includes the steps of employing a main processing network for classifying one or more features of the image data, employing a monitor processing network for determining one or more confusing classifications of the image data, and spawning a specialist processing network to process image data associated with the one or more confusing classifications. | 02-05-2015 |
20150089436 | Gesture Enabled Keyboard - A gesture-enabled keyboard and method are defined. The gesture-enabled keyboard includes a keyboard housing including one or more keyboard keys for typing and a pair of stereo camera sensors mounted within the keyboard housing, a field of view of the pair of stereo camera sensors projecting substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the keyboard housing. A background of the field of view is updated when one or more alternative input devices are in use. A gesture region including a plurality of interaction zones and a virtual membrane defining a region of transition from one of the plurality of interaction zones to another of the plurality of interaction zones is defined within the field of view of the pair of stereo camera sensors. Gesture interaction is enabled when one or more gesture objects are positioned within the gesture region, and when one or more alternative input devices are not in use. | 03-26-2015 |
20150130803 | Near Touch Interaction with Structured Light - A near-touch interface is provided that utilizes stereo cameras and a series of targeted structured light tessellations, emanating from the screen as a light source and incident on objects in the field-of-view. After radial distortion from a series of wide-angle lenses is mitigated, a surface-based spatio-temporal stereo algorithm is utilized to estimate initial depth values. Once these values are calculated, a subsequent refinement step may be applied in which light source tessellations are used to flash a structure onto targeted components of the scene, where initial near-interaction disparity values have been calculated. The combination of a spherical stereo algorithm, and smoothing with structured light source tessellations, provides for a very reliable and fast near-field depth engine, and resolves issues that are associated with depth estimates for embedded solutions of this approach. | 05-14-2015 |
20150332474 | Orthogonal and Collaborative Disparity Decomposition - A novel disparity computation technique is presented which comprises multiple orthogonal disparity maps, generated from approximately orthogonal decomposition feature spaces, collaboratively generating a composite disparity map. Using an approximately orthogonal feature set extracted from such feature spaces produces an approximately orthogonal set of disparity maps that can be composited together to produce a final disparity map. Various methods for dimensioning scenes and are presented. One approach extracts the top and bottom vertices of a cuboid, along with the set of lines, whose intersections define such points. It then defines a unique box from these two intersections as well as the associated lines. Orthographic projection is then attempted, to recenter the box perspective. This is followed by the extraction of the three-dimensional information that is associated with the box, and finally, the dimensions of the box are computed. The same concepts can apply to hallways, rooms, and any other object. | 11-19-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090037497 | SYSTEM AND ARTICLE OF MANFUACTURE FOR MAINTAINING DATA IN A DISTRIBUTED COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT FOR PROCESSING TRANSACTION REQUESTS - Provided are a system and article of manufacture for maintaining data in a distributed computing environment. Data is stored at a primary storage site. A data structure is processed indicating an association of data sets in the stored data, secondary storage sites, and update frequencies. In response to processing the data structure, a determination is made of one of a plurality of secondary storage sites and a determination is made of at least one data set to transmit to the determined secondary storage site at an update frequency. The determined data set is transmitted to the determined secondary storage site according to the update frequency. | 02-05-2009 |
20090205695 | Energy Conversion Device - An improved design for maintaining nanometer separation between electrodes in tunneling, thermo-tunneling, diode, thermionic, thermoelectric, thermo-photovoltaic and other devices is disclosed. At least one electrode is of a curved shape. All embodiments reduce the thermal conduction between the two electrodes when compared to the prior art. Some embodiments provide a large tunneling area surrounding a small contact area. Other embodiments remove the contact area completely. The end result is an electronic device that maintains two closely spaced parallel electrodes in stable equilibrium with a nanometer gap there-between over a large area in a simple configuration for simplified manufacturability and use to convert heat to electricity or electricity to cooling. | 08-20-2009 |
20090322221 | Closely Spaced Electrodes with a Uniform Gap - An improved design for maintaining separation between electrodes in tunneling, resonant tunneling, diode, thermionic, thermo-photovoltaic and other devices is disclosed. At least one electrode | 12-31-2009 |
20110226299 | DEVICE FOR ENERGY CONVERSION, ELECTRICAL SWITCHING, AND THERMAL SWITCHING - An improved design for maintaining nanometer separation between electrodes in tunneling, thermo-tunneling, diode, thermionic, thermoelectric, thermo-photovoltaic, current limiting, reset-able fusing, relay, circuit breaker and other devices is disclosed. At least one electrode is of a curved shape whose curvature is altered by temperature. Some embodiments use the nanometer separation to limit or stop current flow. Other embodiments reduce the thermal conduction between the two electrodes when compared to the prior art. The end result is an electronic device that maintains two closely spaced parallel electrodes in stable equilibrium with a nanometer gap there-between over a large area in a simple configuration for simplified manufacturability and use to convert heat to electricity or electricity to cooling, or limit current flow, or interrupt current flow. | 09-22-2011 |
20120060882 | CLOSELY SPACED ELECTRODES WITH A UNIFORM GAP - A device employing a consistent gap between two facing surfaces, the device comprising: a first electrode facing a second electrode, wherein an attracting force distribution attracts the first electrode to the second electrode; a power source coupled to at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode; and a magnetic field source integral or proximal to at least one of the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to generate an electric current distribution when power is supplied from the power source, such that the current in the presence of a magnetic field counters the attracting force distribution to establish an equilibrium separation between the first electrode and the second electrode. | 03-15-2012 |
20120060885 | DISTRIBUTED THERMOELECTRIC STRING AND INSULATING PANEL - Inexpensive, lightweight, flexible heating and cooling panels with highly distributed thermoelectric elements are provided. A thermoelectric “string” is described that may be woven or assembled into a variety of insulating panels such as seat cushions, mattresses, pillows, blankets, ceiling tiles, office partitions, under-desk panels, electronic enclosures, building walls, refrigerator walls, and heat conversion panels. The string contains spaced thermoelectric elements which are thermally and electrically connected to lengths of braided, meshed, stranded, foamed, or otherwise expandable and compressible conductor. The elements and a portion of compacted conductor are mounted within the insulating panel On the outsides of the panel, the conductor is expanded to provide a very large surface area of contact with air or other medium for heat absorption on the cold side and for heat dissipation on the hot side. | 03-15-2012 |
20120146455 | CLOSELY SPACED ELECTRODES WITH A UNIFORM GAP - A device has a pair of facing electrodes or electrode assemblies wherein an attracting force distribution within the electrodes or electrode assemblies and an equal but opposite repelling force distributions act simultaneously to establish a stable equilibrium separation of the two electrodes across all or part of their facing surfaces. At least one of the electrode faces has a curved shape. The curved shape is selected to achieve a small contact area at a center point and a larger area surrounding the center point for electron tunneling or photon tunneling or phonon blocking or any combination of these. | 06-14-2012 |
20120198616 | DISTRIBUTED THERMOELECTRIC STRING AND INSULATING PANEL AND APPLICATIONS FOR LOCAL HEATING, LOCAL COOLING, AND POWER GENERATION FROM HEAT - Inexpensive, lightweight, flexible heating and cooling panels with highly distributed thermoelectric elements are provided. A thermoelectric “string” is described that may be woven or assembled into a variety of insulating panels such as seat cushions, mattresses, pillows, blankets, ceiling tiles, office partitions, under-desk panels, electronic enclosures, building walls, refrigerator walls, and heat conversion panels. The string contains spaced thermoelectric elements which are thermally and electrically connected to lengths of braided, meshed, stranded, foamed, or otherwise expandable and compressible conductor. The elements and a portion of compacted conductor are mounted within the insulating panel. On the outsides of the panel, the conductor is expanded to provide a very large surface area of contact with air or other medium for heat absorption on the cold side and for heat dissipation on the hot side. | 08-09-2012 |
20130008181 | INTEGRATION OF DISTRIBUTED THERMOELECTRIC HEATING AND COOLING - A thermoelectric device comprising an elongated panel, formed of a thermally insulating material, and having a plurality of thermoelectric elements comprising compacted conductors inside the insulating material and expanded conductors outside the insulating material wherein the thermoelectric elements run substantially parallel to or at an acute angle relative to the long dimension of the panel. The thermoelectric device may be integrated into a variety of surfaces or enclosures needing heating or cooling with controls and configurations to optimize the application. | 01-10-2013 |
20130180563 | THERMALLY SWITCHED THERMOELECTRIC POWER GENERATION - The Seebeck effect is the generation of a voltage between two junctions of dissimilar materials, and this effect is used to convert heat to electricity using thermoelectric modules containing a plurality of junctions. The efficiency of power generation using these modules is typically very low and much lower than rotating machines such as gas turbines and steam turbines combined with rotating electrical generators. This disclosure presents a method for increasing the efficiency of these thermoelectric modules significantly by thermally switching the heat source to the thermoelectric elements. | 07-18-2013 |
20140041396 | MEDICAL, TOPPER, PET WIRELESS, AND AUTOMATED MANUFACTURING OF DISTRIBUTED THERMOELECTRIC HEATING AND COOLING - A thermoelectric device comprising an elongated panel, formed of a thermally insulating material, and having a plurality of thermoelectric elements comprising compacted conductors inside the insulating material and expanded conductors outside the insulating material is combined with other layers for leakage current interception, bodily fluid absorption, and pillars that preserve pressure re-distribution. The thermoelectric device may be integrated into a variety of surfaces or enclosures needing heating or cooling and manufactured using pre-existing automated equipment. | 02-13-2014 |
20150121901 | THERMOELECTRIC STRING, PANEL, AND COVERS FOR FUNCTION AND DURABILITY - A thermoelectric device comprising an elongated panel of two foam layers, and having an inserted thermoelectric string is incorporated into a seat cushion, planting pot, and battery thermal manager. Several enhancements to the string and the panel improve its durability, visual appeal, and tactile appeal over the prior art. | 05-07-2015 |
20150219368 | DISTRIBUTED THERMOELECTRIC STRING AND INSULATING PANEL - Inexpensive, lightweight, flexible heating and cooling panels with highly distributed thermoelectric elements are provided. A thermoelectric “string” is described that may be woven or assembled into a variety of insulating panels such as seat cushions, mattresses, pillows, blankets, ceiling tiles, office partitions, under-desk panels, electronic enclosures, building walls, refrigerator walls, and heat conversion panels. The string contains spaced thermoelectric elements which are thermally and electrically connected to lengths of braided, meshed, stranded, foamed, or otherwise expandable and compressible conductor. The elements and a portion of compacted conductor are mounted within the insulating panel On the outsides of the panel, the conductor is expanded to provide a very large surface area of contact with air or other medium for heat absorption on the cold side and for heat dissipation on the hot side. | 08-06-2015 |