757 results about "Darkness" patented technology

The method and device help avoid traffic accidents and violations through significant enhancing safety and convenience of driving by providing a far better rear and side observation including in darkness, and reliably prevent, if an accident / violation occurs, from misjudging, owing to an unbeatable legal evidence through recording the objective pattern of the accident / violation . It is accomplished by positioning into a vehicle an onboard digital camera having at least one lens with a photo-receiver, shooting permanently the surroundings at an predetermined frequency, showing images captured on at least one onboard screen, and making the running sequence of images through digital memory so that a latest image captured is recorded and stored in digital memory expelling an oldest one and the overall amount of the images and, hence, duration of time recorded does not change. When responding to an accident / violation, at the instant of occurrence plus a predetermined delay, shooting stops (either automatically by an impact of a collision, or manually), and digital memory retains the congealed sequence of images just before, during, and shortly after the event.

A person-portable object tracking system for identifying a location of a tracked person-portable object such as a security tracking bag, money pack or other container by a location identifier powered by a portable power source, the location transmitted to a central processor by a communicator. The location identifier preferably uses the global positioning satellite system or a radio frequency identification tag. An event detector sends a signal by way of the communicator to the central processor, the signal indicating the occurrence of a predetermined event such as a change from darkness to light, movement of a handle or the like and / or opening of an enclosure, cutting, motion and / or exceeding a distance from a desired location. Using plural event detectors in logical AND combination prevents unwanted event indications. The central processor archives a history of locations of the tracked person-portable object. An embodiment further includes a wireless local network with a cluster of tracked person-portable objects and a local communicator.

A system and device for insuring the integrity of an automatic garage door has a sensor to determine the status of the door with respect to a predetermined position and a programable actuator which provides a positive signal for automatically activating a warning or alert system when the door is in predetermined position when the programmable actuator is activated and the sensor indicates that the door is at other than the predetermined position. Preferably the programmable actuator is a timer and the predetermined position is closed. The timer can be remotely programmable. The actuator can also be triggered by a sensor of an event such as darkness. Remote means are provided for manually activating the door to return to the desired position by an RF frequency transmitter.

An apparatus carries out measurements of blood glucose in a repeatable, non-invasive manner by measurement of the rate of regeneration of retinal visual pigments, such as cone visual pigments. The rate of regeneration of visual pigments is dependent upon the blood glucose concentration, and by measuring the visual pigment regeneration rate, blood glucose concentration can be accurately determined. This apparatus exposes the retina to light of selected wavelengths in selected distributions and subsequently analyzes the reflection (as color or darkness) from a selected portion of the exposed region of the retina, preferably from the fovea.

A time-controlled security lighting system records the length of nighttime and is capable of automatically adjusting for seasonal nighttime hours. The time duration between the initial nighttime darkness and the light of dawn, as sensed from the prior day by a photocell, is measured and recorded in memory. As the surrounding area becomes dark, the lighting system is activated to provide the illumination for the area. The duration of illumination is determined based on a predetermined fraction of the recorded length of nighttime from the previous night. The control system can adjust the duration of illumination according the recorded nighttime durations from the previous night. The control system can also adjust the level of illumination based on the signals from a motion detector, where the lights are set at a higher brightness for a predetermined amount of time upon detection of motion.

A dual LED and incandescent security lighting system uses a hybrid approach to LED illumination. It combines an ambient LED illuminator with a standard incandescent lamp on a motion control sensor. The LED illuminator will activate with the onset of darkness (daylight control) and typically remain on during the course of the night (“always on”). The LED illumination, typically amber, is sufficient to provide low to moderate level lighting coverage to the wall and ground area adjacent to and under the fixture. The incandescent lamp is integrated with a motion control circuit and sensor. When movement in the field of view is detected (after darkness), the incandescent lamp is switched on, providing an increased level of illumination to the area. Instead of an “always on” LED illuminator, the LEDs may also be switched off when the incandescent lamp is switched on.

An illumination system is set forth that includes motion detector, an acoustic detector or noise amplifier, a time delay system, an illumination device such as an LED or incandescent bulb and an AC input device. The purpose is to allow children, elderly and others to sleep without a nightlight that is illuminated constantly. The device provides light only when needed by the occupant of the space or a person entering the space and is triggered by a specified level of noise or motion. Studies have shown that nearsightedness can be caused by not allowing the eyes to be in total darkness for long periods such as overnight. Current nightlights stay on all night, whereas this device turns on and off automatically allowing for long periods of darkness.

A visible and infrared light powered retinal implant is disclosed that is implanted into the subretinal space for electrically inducing formed vision in the eye. The retinal implant includes a stacked microphotodetector arrangement having an image sensing pixel layer and a voltage and current gain adjustment layer for providing variable voltage and current gain to the implant so as to obtain better low light implant performance than the prior art, and to compensate for high retinal stimulation thresholds present in some retinal diseases. A first light filter is positioned on one of the microphotodetectors in each of the image sensing pixels of the implant, and a second light filter is positioned on the other of the microphotodetectors in the image sensing pixel of the implant, each of the microphotodetectors of the pixel to respond to a different wavelength of light to produce a sensation of darkness utilizing the first wavelength, and a sensation of light using the second wavelength, and a third light filter is positioned on a portion of the voltage and current gain adjustment layer that is exposed to light, to allow adjustment of the implant voltage and current gain of the device by use of a third wavelength of light.

The present invention is a method and apparatus that provides detection, characterization, and intuitive dissemination of targets. This disclosure combines improvements to ultra-wideband (UWB) sensing and machine target characterization with a means to convey data in a format that is quickly and readily understood by practitioners of the technology. The invention is well suited for Situational Awareness (SA) support in areas that are occluded by rain, fog, dust, darkness, distance, foliage, building walls, and any material that can be penetrated by ultra-wideband RF signals. Sense Through The Wall (STTW) performance parameters including target range, stand-off distance, and probability of detection are improved herein by combining a dynamically positioned sliding windowing function with orthogonal feature vectors that include but are not limited to time amplitude decay, spectral composition, and propagation time position in the return signal data. This invention is particularly useful for STTW and SA applications including urban combat, law enforcement, fire protection, transportation security, and homeland security. The invention can also be used to detect objects that are concealed by clothing, debris, and other non-metallic materials.

A method and system for contrast enhancement of an input image that utilizes luminance values of pixels of the input image to derive transforms. The method down-samples and partitions an image into sub-images whereby transforms are generated for selected sub-images. The selected sub-image transforms are used to generate an output transform which is applied to the input image for local contrast enhancement of the image. Furthermore, a decision method as to whether or not the input image is to receive local contrast enhancement wherein darkness features of the input image are compared to threshold values and combined into an expression which results in the determination.

The deterioration (darkness) of image quality due to a reduction in the brightness of a single color as a result of the conversion from RGB pixels to RGBW pixels is prevented and a reduction in the power is achieved. A processing portion for conversion from RGB to RGBW 106 is formed of a W generating circuit 201, which is the same as in the prior art, a sub-pixel rendering circuit 202, a W intensity calculating portion 203 which transmits a W intensity setting value 205 to a W generating circuit 201, and a low power backlight control circuit 204 which expands data on the basis of the RGBW pixels generated by the sub-pixel rendering portion 202 and lowers the backlight in accordance with the amount by which the data is expanded. The inputted RGB data is used as the RGBW data with the W intensity calculated by the W intensity calculating portion 203. A backlight control signal is generated in accordance with the amount of data expansion in the sub-pixel rendering portion 202.

The invention discloses an automatic exposure method and a device thereof. When detecting that a moving object occurs in an image, the camera of the invention can adjust the exposure control fundamental parameters according to brightness information of the region where the moving object locates and expose the whole image according to the adjusted exposure control fundamental parameters, thus ensuring suitable brightness of the moving object region in the image, increasing the contrast and signal-to-noise ratio of the moving object region, avoiding over-darkness or over-exposure of the moving object region; simultaneously, ensuring acceptable brightness of the whole image region. Particularly, in conditions of over-weak or over-bright light, the moving object region in the image obtained by the automatic exposure method of the invention has suitable brightness, thus increasing the contrast and signal-to-noise ratio of the moving region and ensuring latter processes, such as movement tracking and moving object identification.

A method is described to increase the efficiency of the removal of defects from document images by reorienting the conceptual framework within which an image is filtered. Rather than arbitrarily applying a filter to an entire landscape of a document image, the disclosure describes a methodology by which a document image is separated into regions of darkness and regions of light, or viewed alternatively, regions of darkness and regions of lack of darkness. Filtering is then adaptively applied to each region to remove defects.

A method and system for contrast enhancement of an input image that utilizes luminance values of pixels of the input image to derive transforms. The method down-samples and partitions an image into sub-images whereby transforms are generated for selected sub-images. The selected sub-image transforms are used to generate an output transform which is applied to the input image for local contrast enhancement of the image. Furthermore, a decision method as to whether or not the input image is to receive local contrast enhancement wherein darkness features of the input image are compared to threshold values and combined into an expression which results in the determination.

A system for measuring and controlling blast furnace level based on an industrial phased array radar relates to the industrial phased array radar used in the fields of metallurgy, chemical engineering, cement building materials. The system includes an industrial phased array radar body, a radar electromagnetic shield and an interlock cloth control system; wherein the industrial phased array radar body is in charge of obtaining level information; the electromagnetic shield is in charge of protecting the industrial phased array radar body in a high-temperature and high-pressure dust atmosphere; and the interlock cloth control system is in charge of carrying out analysis and judgment and charging task according to the level height data transmitted by the interlock cloth control system to control the final level shape to be in a predetermined shape. The inventive system can be applied in severe atmosphere of darkness, high temperature and dustiness to precisely describe the height information of each solid level point and obtain the kind and time of charging at different moments by the interlock with PLC or DCS; so that the shapes of a plurality of level layers and 3D images of solid levels are obtained.

Systematic use of infrared imaging characterizes marks made on items and identifies the particular marking tool with better accuracy than use of visual imaging. Infrared imaging performed in total darkness eliminates shadows, glint, and other lighting variations and artifacts associated with visible imaging. Although normally used to obtain temperature measurements, details in IR imagery result from emissivity variations as well as thermal variations. Disturbing an item's surface texture creates an emissivity difference producing local changes in the infrared image. Identification is most accurate when IR images of unknown marks are compared to IR images of marks made by known tools. However, infrared analysis offers improvements even when only visual reference images are available. Comparing simultaneous infrared and visual images of an unknown item, such as bullet or shell casing, can detect illumination-induced artifacts in the visual image prior to searching the visual database, thereby reducing potential erroneous matches. Computer numerically controlled positioning of the toolmark relative to imaging sensors which use fixed focus optics with shallow depth of focus, varying focus distance and orientation systematically to construct a sequence of images, maximizes reliability of resulting images and their comparisons.

A light emitting safety wrap or sleeve worn by people and / or pets engaged in activities, or attached to objects during periods of limited visibility with flashing or blinking lights so as to be visible in darkness; powered by direct current; having three optional capabilities: (1) remote on-off switch and / or (2) digital voice / sound message and / or (3) Infared (IR) signaling lights.

Systematic use of infrared imaging characterizes marks made on items and identifies the particular marking tool with better accuracy than use of visual imaging. Infrared imaging performed in total darkness eliminates shadows, glint, and other lighting variations and artifacts associated with visible imaging. Although normally used to obtain temperature measurements, details in IR imagery result from emissivity variations as well as thermal variations. Disturbing an item's surface texture creates an emissivity difference producing local changes in the infrared image. Identification is most accurate when IR images of unknown marks are compared to IR images of marks made by known tools. However, infrared analysis offers improvements even when only visual reference images are available. Comparing simultaneous infrared and visual images of an unknown item, such as bullet or shell casing, can detect illumination-induced artifacts in the visual image prior to searching the visual database, thereby reducing potential erroneous matches.

An reimageable medium composed of: a substrate; and a photochromic material, wherein the medium is capable of exhibiting a color contrast and an absence of the color contrast, wherein the medium has a characteristic that when the medium exhibits the absence of the color contrast and is then exposed to an imaging light corresponding to a predetermined image to result in an exposed region and a non-exposed region, the color contrast is present between the exposed region and the non-exposed region to form a temporary image corresponding to the predetermined image that is visible for a visible time, wherein the medium has a characteristic that when the temporary image is exposed to an indoor ambient condition for an image erasing time, the color contrast changes to the absence of the color contrast to erase the temporary image in all of the following: (i) when the indoor ambient condition includes darkness at ambient temperature, (ii) when the indoor ambient condition includes indoor ambient light at ambient temperature, and (iii) when the indoor ambient condition includes both the darkness at ambient temperature and the indoor ambient light at ambient temperature, and wherein the medium is capable of undergoing multiple cycles of temporary image formation and temporary image erasure.

The method comprises: reading out a digital image; saving the color and gray values of each pixel into an allocated memory; dividing the inputted image into a light illumination image and a reflection image; respectively making the treatment for both images; after treatment, said two images are combined into one image that is outputted to the output device. By the invention, the digital photos can get a high dynamical range (from the most brightness to the most darkness) according to the partial image information obtained at different light condition.

A color management system for image reproduction and rendering. Images are rendered to appear perceptually accurate, rather than merely calorimetrically accurate. For example, an image reproduced by a color printer will be perceived as an accurate reproduction of the same image displayed on a computer screen, or that an image displayed on a computer screen is perceived as an accurate reproduction of the same scanned image or photographed image, even though the reproductions may be constrained by other factors, such as paper or substrate darkness, or a limited color gamut of the reproduction process.

The invention provides a method and a device for improving an effect of a camera shooting in dark. The method comprises the following steps of: setting a maximum limit value of light sensitivity of a sensor of the camera; setting a lower limit threshold value of image brightness of a picture; judging whether the brightness of a viewed image is less than the lower limit threshold value of the image brightness; if not, entering into a normal photo mode; and if yes, entering into a darkness photo mode. According to the technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the invention, the ambient brightness is judged through the brightness of the viewed image, and if the ambient brightness is judged to be at a low light state, the light sensitivity of the sensor is adjusted to be the maximum limit value, an exposure time is adjusted, and the brightness of the photo can meet the required brightness, so that the effect of shooting in dark is improved, and the photo with higher brightness is obtained under the condition without changing the sensor of the camera.

This invention provides a system and method for employing GUI-based non-numeric slide buttons and bar meters to setup and monitor operating parameters of a vision system (the term “vision system” as used herein including the above-described vision detector). Such parameters can include, but are not limited to the threshold at which a feature is activated in viewing an image. Operating parameters also include the under-lying range of contrast values and levels of brightness intensities (or by input inversion, the level of darkness) recognized and acted upon by the vision system. Graphical representations of operating parameters are displayed in a parameter box on the GUI with moving bars that are shaded, patterned or colored so as to provide a relative level between two extremes on a scale of the given operating parameter. The endpoints of the scale can be established by analyzing the relevant extremes on a subject image view. The current level of the given parameter is displayed as a bar that extends a distance along the scale that is proportional to the current level of the parameter along the scale. Input of operating parameter settings with respect to the scale is made by moving a setting slider along the scale between the extremes. The position of the slider establishes the user-input setting relative to the scale. In an illustrative embodiment, scales, level bars and setting sliders can also be displayed on the image view itself, adjacent to a given image view feature, which is the subject of the scale.

The invention relates to an automatic adjusting color temperature illumination system based on a visual perception of human eyes. The system comprises: a mode selection circuit, a digital power supply circuit, a microcontroller, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a brightness sensor, a timer circuit, an artificial scene geography information selection and color temperature brightness setting circuit, a light source driving circuit and an RGB three primary color light source. The temperature sensor, the brightness sensor and the timer circuit are all connected with the microcontroller. External environment signals are sent to the microcontroller. The microcontroller controls the light source driving circuit through processing the signals so as to control the color temperature and light and darkness of the RGB three primary color light source. The invention has the following advantage: combining influences of the light source color temperature on human physiology and mentality to control the color temperature and the brightness of the light source so that human comfort can be satisfied maximally by the light source and indoor illumination can become more humanized.

An edge-lit panel features extractor patterns that produce uniform illumination. The effective density of extractor pattern pixels is adjusted to achieve uniform illumination. A method of adjusting the effective pixel density of extractor pattern pixels to achieve uniform illumination entails adjusting areas of darkness of a grayscale image, then producing a binary image by dithering the grayscale image, and applying an extractor pattern corresponding to the binary image to a surface of the panel. The extractor pixels correspond to pixels of the binary image derived from a dithered grayscale image, with the darkness of the grayscale image increasing with distance from the light source. Effective pixel density is increased to compensate for attenuated output in dim areas. By adjusting gray shading darkness of a grayscale image, pixel density can be adjusted to achieve uniform light emission. The extractor pixels may be applied using a radiation curable ink, which can be used in high speed inkjet printers that can achieve production speeds. The resulting print is waterproof, embossed and vibrant.

Motor vehicle windshields and safety glazing material, suitable for use as motor vehicle windshields and safety glazing material for automobiles, trucks, buses, motorcycles, locomotives. sport utility vehicles, all terrain vehicles, and vans. The motor vehicle windshields and safety glazing material contains Neodymium Oxide, a rare earth compound. The Neodymium Oxide filters out the yellow portion of the spectrum, reducing glare. Incorporation of yellow light in the spectrum desaturates colors and reduces contrast. Improvement in contrast and a reduction in glare permits, for example, a motor vehicle driver to better discriminate the contrast of objects when there is no daylight and the only illumination is artificial. For drivers, in particular, elimination of the yellow light lessens eye strain currently resulting from light emitted by the conventional headlights of oncoming vehicles during hours of darkness. Neodymium Oxide can also be added to safety glazing materials for use in bullet resistant shields.

Two embodiments of a connector that can be mated without regard for its orientation are disclosed. One embodiment is mated and demated autonomously as part of a system for recovering, docking with, recharging and re-launching unmanned aerial vehicles. Another embodiment is employed on the decks of vessels to facilitate mating and demating of various equipment providing different functions to reconfigure the vessel. Because both embodiments are configured for connection irrespective of angular orientation over 360°, they are especially suited for harsh environments including autonomous operation, rough seas, darkness and the like.

A back light device realizing improvement in hotspots and bright line in the region of light incidence and of darkness arising in between light sources is provided by forming the reflective surface of the reflector as a structured face comprising an iteration of prism elements of trapezoidal section.