Visual Language Model Adaptation for Precise Object Localization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Visual language models (VLMs) struggle with accurately localizing objects within images, as they can identify objects but fail to provide precise coordinates, limiting their effectiveness in object detection tasks.

Innovation Solution

Adapting pretrained VLMs using latent feature adaptation with synthetic data, incorporating sinusoidal functions and trainable matrices to enhance spatial awareness, allowing the model to predict bounding box coordinates for objects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a visual language model is used for object detection, then object recognition capability is improved, but localization precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveobject recognition capabilityVSAvoidlocalization precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces sinusoidal position embeddings as an intermediary component that bridges the visual encoder and language model. These embeddings encode spatial position information into the feature vectors, allowing the VLM to understand object locations without sacrificing its recognition capabilities. The sinusoidal functions serve as a mediator that translates spatial coordinates into a format the language model can process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the parameter representation by adding positional encoding parameters to the existing visual features. Instead of changing the fundamental architecture, it enriches the feature vectors with additional positional information through sinusoidal parameter transformations, enabling the model to output precise coordinates while maintaining its object recognition strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If a VLM is adapted to perform object detection, then localization capability is improved, but computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocalization capabilityVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by only modifying specific parts of the VLM architecture necessary for localization. Instead of retraining the entire model or adding comprehensive detection components, it selectively adds sinusoidal position embeddings to the feature extraction pipeline, achieving localization capability with minimal computational overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The sinusoidal position embedding mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides positional information for localization, maintains compatibility with the existing VLM architecture, and enables the model to handle various object detection scenarios without requiring separate specialized components for each task.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If extensive retraining is performed to enable localization, then localization accuracy is improved, but training time and resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocalization accuracyVSAvoidtraining time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-computing sinusoidal position embeddings based on known object locations during data preparation. This allows the model to learn localization from enriched features without requiring extensive iterative retraining, as the positional information is already encoded in the input features before training begins.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The approach copies the successful sinusoidal position embedding technique from transformer language models and adapts it for visual feature processing. Rather than developing a new training methodology from scratch, it replicates and adapts an existing proven technique, significantly reducing the training time and computational resources required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS12525008B2Object detection using visual language models via latent feature adaptation with synthetic data
Publication Date: 2026.01.13 QUALCOMM TECHNOLOGIES INC
  • US12525008B2 patent drawing
  • US12525008B2 patent drawing
  • US12525008B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and techniques are described herein for adapting a pretrained machine learning model. For instance, a process can include encoding a training image into a first feature vector, the training image including a first object located at a first location; generating a second feature vector based on a set of sinusoidal functions using a set of weights; combining the first feature vector with a second feature vector to generate a combined feature vector; processing the combined feature vector using a visual language model to obtain a second location for the first object; and adjusting the set of weights based on a comparison between the first location and the second location.