Yalin Xiong

Title: The Innovations of Yalin Xiong: Transforming Virtual Reality

Introduction: Yalin Xiong, a prominent inventor based in Montrose, California, has made significant contributions to the field of virtual reality through his innovative patents. With a total of five patents to his name, his work has focused on enhancing the quality and efficiency of virtual reality panoramas, showcasing his prowess in image processing technology.

Latest Patents: One of Yalin Xiong's latest patents is titled "Aligning Rectilinear Images in 3D through Projective Registration and Calibration." This invention presents an improved apparatus and method for creating high-quality virtual reality panoramas, achieving dramatic enhancements during the authoring and projecting cycles. His system boasts speeds that are several orders of magnitude faster than prior technologies.

The preferred embodiment of this patent utilizes a series of rectilinear images taken from multiple rows, which are pairwise registered and locally optimized. By employing a pairwise objective function, the invention minimizes specific parameters in a projective transformation through an innovative iterative procedure. The values from these pairwise registrations are then used to build a quadratic surface that approximates a global optimization function. This approach cleverly uses the chain rule to circumvent the direct evaluation of the global objective function, thus streamlining computation.

Additionally, the patent addresses the blending aspect of the technology, incorporating an improved procedure that relies on Laplacian and Gaussian pyramids. A blend mask, defined by the grassfire transform, is utilized to enhance the blending process at various levels of the pyramid, ensuring low-frequency image components are blended over wider areas while high-frequency components are focused narrowly. Furthermore, human interaction is integrated into the system, allowing for manual projective registration, initial calibration, and feedback during photo selection and system convergence.

Career Highlights: Yalin Xiong has a formidable background, having worked at renowned companies such as Apple Inc. and Apple Computers Inc. His innovative spirit and technical expertise have contributed greatly to the advancements in virtual reality technologies, marking a notable chapter in his career.

Collaborations: Throughout his professional journey, Yalin has had the opportunity to collaborate with distinguished colleagues, including Ken Turkowski. These collaborations have further enriched his perspective and innovative capacity, leading to groundbreaking developments in his field.

Conclusion: Yalin Xiong is a visionary inventor whose work is at the frontier of virtual reality technology. His five patents reflect a commitment to innovation and a deep understanding of complex image processing challenges. Through his contributions, Yalin continues to influence the landscape of virtual reality, paving the way for future advancements in the industry.