International Business Machines Corporation

Image Trends Inc.

Visual Content Ip, LLC

Applied Science Fiction, Inc.

Astral Images Corporation

Image Trends Ip, LLC

Darryl Ray Polk

Albert Durr Edgar

Martin Potucek

Michael Charles Wilder

Michael David Wilkes

Sheppard Parker

Myron Dale Flickner

James Michael Stafford

John Saunders Corbin, Jr

Errol R Williams

Ciro Neal Ramirez

Gregory E Beers

Michael J Koval

Lauren Lee Post

David P Watson

Terry L Wilmoth

Francis W Bogaczyk

Henry E Wattenbarger

John J Hughes

Joel R Anstrom

Robert W Kulterman

Gilbert B Nebgen

Michael A Rubsam

William L Kelly-Mahaffey

Christopher Alan Hajdu

Richard A Southworth

Robert A Amos

Clifford M Wood

A system for digitizing an image from an optical substrate having at least a first defect comprises a digital image capture device, a first light source positioned at a first position relative to the digital image capture device, and a second light source positioned at a second position relative to the digital image capture device. The second position is offset with respect to the first position. Light emitted from the first and second light sources are combined at a light receiving portion of the digital image capture device for causing the first defect to be nullified from a composite digital representation of the image that is generated using information outputted from the digital image capture device.

System and method for processing an image carried by an optical substrate and computer readable medium made using same

An image capture unit and computer readable medium used in combination therewith includes an image capturing sensor, a visual display, an instance of the computer readable medium, and circuitry for integrating functionalities thereof. The computer readable medium causes sensor data received from the image capturing sensor to be processed. The sensor data includes a plurality of image tiles and position indicating data defining a respective relative position of each one of each image tiles. Each one of each image tiles includes data representing a discrete portion of visual content. The computer readable medium causes a feedback image be displayed on the visual display. Displaying the feedback image includes correlate the relative position of each one of each image tiles with at least one other image tile that has been previously generated and displayed.

Image capture unit and computer readable medium used in combination with same

An image capture unit and computer readable medium used in combination therewith is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the image capture unit includes an image capturing sensor, a visual display, an instance of the computer readable medium, and circuitry for integrating functionalities thereof. The computer readable medium causes sensor data received from the image capturing sensor to be processed. The sensor data includes a plurality of image tiles and position indicating data defining a respective relative position of each one of each image tiles. Each one of each image tiles includes data representing a discrete portion of visual content. The computer readable medium causes a feedback image be displayed on the visual display. Displaying the feedback image includes correlate the relative position of each one of each image tiles with at least one other image tile that has been previously generated and displayed.

An image capture unit and computer readable medium used in combination therewith is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the image capture unit includes an image capturing sensor, a visual display, an instance of the computer readable medium, and circuitry for integrating functionalities thereof. The computer readable medium causes sensor data received from the image capturing sensor to be processed. The sensor data includes a plurality of image tiles and position indicating data defining a respective relative position of each one of each image tiles. Each one of each image tiles includes data representing a discrete portion of visual content. The computer readable medium causes a feedback image be displayed on the visual display. Displaying the feedback image includes correlate the relative position of each one of each image tiles with at least one other image tile that has previously generated and displayed.

A handheld scanner system and method is disclosed. The depicted embodiment is a mouse scanner system operable to scan a document. In this embodiment, the mouse scanner system includes a scanner built into a computer mouse and a scanner software application operating on a computer. The scanner includes a positioning system operable to output position indicating data and an imaging system operable to output captured image data. The data is sent to the scanner software application where a feedback image is constructed and displayed on a display in real-time or near real-time to allow the user to view what areas have been scanned. The scanner software application also constructs an output image that can be printed, saved or communicated.

Handheld scanner and system comprising same

An image processing system and method is disclosed. The image processing system can be configured for use with a mouse scanner system operable to scan a document. The mouse scanner system includes a scanner built into a computer mouse and the image processing system includes a scanner software application operating on a computer. The scanner includes a positioning system operable to output position indicating data and an imaging system operable to output captured image data. The data is sent to the scanner software application where a feedback image is constructed and displayed on a display in real, or near real, time to allow the user to view what areas have been scanned. The scanner software application also constructs an output image that can be printed, saved or communicated.

Image processing handheld scanner system, method, and computer readable medium

A method and apparatus for synchronizing a data stream that contains video data in which the video data includes frames. As frames are being processed, a number of frames processed is identified along with a number of frames dropped during processing. A synchronization speed is identified using the number of frames processed and the number of frames dropped. A frame is selectively dropped from the data stream based on the synchronization speed.

Method and apparatus for processing digital data

The present invention provides a system for image-capturing devices, such as scanners, to accurately identify defects in objects. The objects can be the physical images to be captured or elements of the image-capturing devices such as the platen and mirrors. The image-capturing devices can then use this defect information to remove defects from captured images. The invention teaches an advantageous arrangement of illumination and sensor elements to record defect data at an angle roughly equal to the angle at which light is directed to an object, i.e. where the angle of reflection roughly equals the angle of incidence. Light reflected from surface defects has a wider diffusion and thus a lower amplitude than light reflected from the surface of the object itself. Accordingly, this characteristic can be utilized to identify defect information. Image-capturing devices can use this defect information in software applications with mathematical algorithms to enhance captured images by removing the information that corresponds to defects.

Apparatus and methods for capturing defect data

This invention generally relates to improvements in digital audio processing and more particularly to digitally filtering stereo data in parallel to increase the quality of the audio information in an efficient manner.

Parallel recursive digital filters

A method and apparatus utilizing one or two cameras are described for visually inspecting a polygonal component located at the end of the robotic end effector for determining presence, position and orientation of component leads prior to placement. Image processing improvements are provided for decreasing computational complexity by representing two dimensional image areas of interest, and each containing leads along one side of a component, by one dimensional summation profiles.

Automated visual inspection of electronic component leads prior to

The apparatus of the present invention may be utilized for the automated bonding of electronic components to a circuit board. A placement and bonding head is attached to a manipulatable robotic arm and is utilized to select an electronic component having a plurality of conductive leads from a supply of such components and position that component adjacent a plurality of contact pads on a circuit board. While retaining the electronic component within the placement and bonding head, the component is then thermally bonded to the contact pads. In one embodiment of the present invention, an electronic component may be optically inspected while being retained within the placement and bonding head. In another embodiment, thermal bonding is accomplished utilizing a plurality of thermally activatable blades which each include a thermocouple mounted adjacent thereto. Selective low current control signals are then coupled to the placement and bonding head where transformers are utilized to amplify the current prior to coupling the control signal to individually thermally activatable blades. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the placement and bonding head includes a plenum for supplying inert gas to the bonding site so that the use of flux is not necessary.

System for automated mounting of electronic components to circuit boards

A method and apparatus for minimizing escapement positioning error by matching the move sequence of a print carrier to the mechanical system dynamic characteristics without the use of a feedback sensor are described. A plurality of constant velocity signals are provided for driving the print carrier to the next print position. The sequential velocity signals comprise an acceleration velocity signal and a deceleration velocity signal, the duration of which are dependent upon the damped natural frequency of the print system. For long escapement moves, a slew velocity command is provided between the acceleration and deceleration velocity commands so as to maintain the velocity of the print carrier at the amplitude it had attained at the conclusion of the acceleration velocity signal. The relative amplitudes of the acceleration, slew and deceleration velocity signals are a function of the damping ratio of the printer system.

Method and apparatus for controlling escapement

A servomotor drive system for a printer escapement is provided which minimizes power supply requirements. The drive system has means for accelerating and decelerating the printhead escapement having a fixed current source applied to a servomotor which drives the escapement. In order to minimize power requirements, the system includes means for controlling the current in the motor which comprise means for sensing the actual motor current and feeding back the sensed current to a comparing means. A preselected varying current profile is applied to the comparing means which compares this profile to the actual motor current. Means are then provided responsive to these comparing means for altering the actual motor current to conform with this preselected varying motor current profile.

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Darryl Ray Polk