Christopher O Mills

US Patent:

20070189390, Aug 16, 2007

Filed:

Dec 8, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/636104

Inventors:

Derek Pappas - Palo Alto CA, US
Atul Garg - Sunnyvale CA, US
Shankar Moni - Bangalore, IN
Harikrishna M. Reddy - San Jose CA, US
Matthew R. Longnecker - Sunnyvale CA, US
Christopher L. Mills - Saratoga CA, US
Ignatius B. Tjandrasuwita - Atherton CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 11/02
H04N 11/04

US Classification:

37524016, 37524024

Abstract:

Described are methods and systems for processing data. A motion estimator uses a block of an input frame of video data and a block of a reference frame of video data to generate motion vectors according to a first encoding scheme. A motion compensator produces half pel motion vectors from the motion vectors according to a second encoding scheme that is different from the first encoding scheme.

US Patent:

20090157963, Jun 18, 2009

Filed:

Dec 17, 2007

Appl. No.:

12/002641

Inventors:

Michael J.M. Toksvig - Palo Alto CA, US
Justin Michael Mahan - Fremont CA, US
Christopher L. Mills - Saratoga CA, US

International Classification:

G06F 12/16
G06F 12/00
G06F 12/08

US Classification:

711118, 711161, 711211, 711E12001, 711E12103, 711E12017

Abstract:

Data for data elements (e.g., pixels) can be stored in an addressable storage unit that can store a number of bits that is not a whole number multiple of the number of bits of data per data element. Similarly, a number of the data elements can be transferred per unit of time over a bus, where the width of the bus is not a whole number multiple of the number of bits of data per data element. Data for none of the data elements is stored in more than one of the storage units or transferred in more than one unit of time. Also, data for multiple data elements is packaged contiguously in the storage unit or across the width of the bus.

US Patent:

20130229395, Sep 5, 2013

Filed:

Mar 1, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/409957

Inventors:

Christopher L. Mills - Saratoga CA, US
David Amnon Silverstein - Palo Alto CA, US

Assignee:

APPLE INC. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

H04N 9/64
G09G 5/00

US Classification:

345207, 348246, 348E05078

Abstract:

The present disclosure relates generally systems and methods for image data processing. In certain embodiments, a method for transferring the image data may include processing the image data in an image sensor by correcting one or more defective pixels in the image data based on a one-dimensional defective pixel correction algorithm; horizontally demosaicing the image data based on a one-dimensional horizontal demosaic algorithm; or a combination thereof. After processing the image data, the method may include horizontally downscaling the processed image data in the image sensor and vertically downscaling the horizontally downscaled image data in an image signal processor to be displayed for viewing on a display device.

US Patent:

20130329066, Dec 12, 2013

Filed:

Aug 15, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/586031

Inventors:

Jianping Zhou - Fremont CA, US
Christopher L. Mills - Saratoga CA, US

Assignee:

APPLE INC. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

G09G 5/36
H04N 5/225

US Classification:

34820899, 345547, 348E05024

Abstract:

The video stabilization method can generate output data for an output frame from input data of an input frame according to a perspective transform of a transform matrix. The input data used for the perspective transform can be obtained from a buffer of a predetermined depth. The transform matrix can be altered when the input data required for the transform exceeds the depth of the buffer.

US Patent:

20130329098, Dec 12, 2013

Filed:

Dec 21, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/724574

Inventors:

Christopher L. Mills - Saratoga CA, US
Sheng Lin - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

APPLE INC. - Cupertino CA

International Classification:

H04N 9/64

US Classification:

348246, 348607

Abstract:

The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for image data processing. In certain embodiments, an image processing pipeline may detect and correct a defective pixel of image data acquired using an image sensor. The image processing pipeline may receive an input pixel of the image data acquired using the image sensor. The image processing pipeline may then identify a set of neighboring pixels having the same color component as the input pixel and remove two neighboring pixels from the set of neighboring pixels thereby generating a modified set of neighboring pixels. Here, the two neighboring pixels correspond to a maximum pixel value and a minimum pixel value of the set of neighboring pixels. The image processing pipeline may then determine a gradient for each neighboring pixel in the modified set of neighboring pixels and determine whether the input pixel includes a dynamic defect or a speckle based at least in part on the gradient for each neighboring pixel in the modified set of neighboring pixels.

US Patent:

20140028876, Jan 30, 2014

Filed:

Jul 24, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/557109

Inventors:

Christopher L. Mills - Saratoga CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 5/76

US Classification:

34823199, 348E05024

Abstract:

An image signal processor of a device, apparatus, or computing system that includes a camera capable of capturing video clips may be configured to apply non-warping and warping transformations (including image stabilization transformations) to image data received from the camera's image sensor. The transformations may be applied piecewise to pixels of the image data gathered into multiple line buffers. The line buffers may be divided into vertical slices, each of which may be processed in parallel by a respective portion of the image signal processor circuitry (or circuitry of an output rescaling unit thereof). The image signal processor may not write the received image data to system memory until after the transformations have been performed. By leveraging existing filters and scalers of the image signal processor, rather than a CPU or GPU, image stabilization may be provided that consumes half of the bandwidth and power consumed by existing techniques.

US Patent:

57908427, Aug 4, 1998

Filed:

Oct 11, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/728678

Inventors:

Gordon A. Charles - Palo Alto CA
Christopher Mills - Santa Clara CA

Assignee:

Divicom, Inc. - Milpitas CA

International Classification:

G06F 104

US Classification:

395559

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for use in a set top box processing system to permit simultaneous utilization of two system clocks in applications in which certain processing system elements utilize one system clock operating at a non-integer multiple of another system clock used by other processing system elements. A synchronous phase detector is used to generate a clock enable signal suitable for use in a pipeline structure to facilitate data transfer between the different elements of the processing system. The clock enable signal includes phase information extracted from the first and second clock signals, and is suitable for use in driving one or more multiplexers in a pipeline structure or other state-based logic device to thereby allow data transfer between an element of the processing system operating at the first clock rate and an element operating at the second clock rate.

US Patent:

57934274, Aug 11, 1998

Filed:

Oct 11, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/731218

Inventors:

Christopher Mills - Santa Clara CA
Thomas R. Ayers - San Jose CA
Michael P. Lenihan - Sunnyvale CA

Assignee:

Divicom Inc. - Milpitas CA

International Classification:

H04N 1102

US Classification:

348391

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for differential video data encoding which utilizes a reduced number of bits per pixel to encode chroma and luma components of a video data stream. A 4-bit absolute code is determined for a given 8-bit luma or chroma component in the data stream. The determined absolute code is indicative of a particular one of a plurality of ranges into which the given component falls. The given component is encoded using the determined absolute code if the absolute code produces a lower encoding error than a 4-bit delta code which encodes the component as a difference relative to a previously-encoded component. If the delta code produces a lower encoding error than the determined absolute code, the given component is encoded using the delta code. In a situation in which the given component is the first component of its type on a line of video, an absolute code may be used regardless of whether or not the absolute code produces a higher encoding error than the delta code.