Michael S Black

US Patent:

6526156, Feb 25, 2003

Filed:

Sep 3, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/923436

Inventors:

Michael J. Black - Menlo Park CA
Allan D. Jepson - Oakville, CA

Assignee:

Xerox Corporation - Stamford CT

International Classification:

G06K 900

US Classification:

382103, 382115

Abstract:

A system tracks and identifies view-based representations of an object through a sequence of images. As the view of the object changes due to its motion or the motion of its recording device, the object is identified by matching an image region containing the object with a set of basis images represented by an eigenspace. The eigenspace is generated from a training set of images which records different views of the object. The system identifies the object in the image region by simultaneously computing a transformation that aligns the image region with the eigenspace, and computing coefficients of a combination of linear eigenvectors that reconstruct the image region. This identification and tracking system operates when views of the object in the image are deformed under some transformation with respect to the eigenspace. Matching between the image region and the eigenspace is performed using a robust regression formulation that uses a coarse to fine strategy with incremental refinement. As the incremental refinement registers the image region with the eigenspace, the identification of a match between the object in an image region and the eigenspace improves.

US Patent:

6560281, May 6, 2003

Filed:

Feb 24, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/028548

Inventors:

Michael J. Black - Menlo Park CA
Xuan Ju - Toronto, CA
Scott Minneman - San Francisco CA
Donald G. Kimber - Mountain VIew CA

Assignee:

Xerox Corporation - Stamford CT

International Classification:

H04B 166

US Classification:

375240, 386106, 386 96, 386 97, 345775, 345158, 382103

Abstract:

A method and apparatus analyzes and annotates a technical talk typically illustrated with overhead slides, wherein the slides are recorded in a video sequence. The video sequence is condensed and digested into key video frames adaptable for annotation to time and audio sequence. The system comprises a recorder for recording a technical talk as a sequential set of video image frames. A stabilizing processor segregates the video image frames into a plurality of associated subsets each corresponding to a distinct slide displayed at the talk and for median filtering of the subsets for generating a key frame representative of each of the subsets. A comparator compares the key frame with the associated subsets to identify differences between the key frame and the associates subset which comprise nuisances and affordances. A gesture recognizer locates, tracks and recognizes gestures occurring in the subset as gesture affordances and identifies a gesture video frame representative of the gesture affordance. An integrator compiles the key frames and gesture video frames as a digest of the video image frames which can also be annotated with the time and audio sequence.

US Patent:

6869397, Mar 22, 2005

Filed:

May 31, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/159976

Inventors:

Michael D. Black - Palo Alto CA, US
Purna Prasad - Santa Clara CA, US
Terry E. Robinson - Stanford CA, US

Assignee:

The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

A61B001/04
A61B001/06

US Classification:

600168, 600112, 600181, 600178

Abstract:

An endoscope to perform non-tethered macroscopy and microscopy at the same time is provided. An electromagnetic source is used to deliver electromagnetic energy through a first optical pathway to a tissue inside a body. An image detector is used to detect the reflected electromagnetic energy from the tissue through a second optical pathway as real-time images. A macro-to-micro lens set is used to change the magnification of the reflected electromagnetic energy before it reaches the image detector with two or more different magnification levels. A filter set is used to filter the reflected electromagnetic energy before it reaches the image detector. Furthermore, the endoscope includes a flexible shaft. The distal end of the shaft includes a spread and spot means to spread and spot the electromagnetic energy at the tissue. A processing means is also included for processing the detected images.

US Patent:

6945777, Sep 20, 2005

Filed:

Sep 9, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/659527

Inventors:

Michael Black - Foster City CA, US

Assignee:

Oralum, LLC - Foster City CA

International Classification:

A61C003/00

US Classification:

433 29, 132321, 606 15

Abstract:

A device for the application of light treatment at a body structure is provided. The device could also be referred to as (dental) floss and be used for body structures in an oral cavity. The device distinguishes a container and a filament. The container hosts one or more light sources each capable of delivering a light beam with a unique light treatment. A user could select between the different light sources and/or parameters. The filament is a strand or fiber of a material transparent to the light beam. The filament is optically connected to a light source (or selected light source) such that the light beam could radiate through the filament at a body structure. The filament could be used in direct or not in direct contact with a body surface as long as the light treatment can be applied to the body structure.

US Patent:

6953341, Oct 11, 2005

Filed:

Aug 20, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/645674

Inventors:

Michael Black - Foster City CA, US

Assignee:

Oralum, LLC - Foster City CA

International Classification:

A61C003/00
A61C013/00

US Classification:

433 29, 132321

Abstract:

A toothpick for the application of light treatment at a body structure is provided. The toothpick distinguishes a handle and an element. The handle hosts one or more light sources each capable of delivering a light beam with a unique light treatment. The element is optically connected to the light source(s) such that the light beam(s) could radiate through the surface of the element at a body structure. This radiation is not limited to radiation through the tip of the element, but would radiate in multiple directions. The element of the toothpick could be used in direct or not in direct contact with a body surface as long as the light treatment can be applied to the body structure. In case the element is in contact with a body structure, then the element could add a massaging effect to the body structure.

US Patent:

6954544, Oct 11, 2005

Filed:

May 23, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/155815

Inventors:

Allan D. Jepson - Oakville, CA
David J. Fleet - Menlo Park CA, US
Michael J. Black - Menlo Park CA, US

Assignee:

Xerox Corporation - Stamford CT

International Classification:

G06K009/00

US Classification:

382107, 348155

Abstract:

A visual motion analysis method that uses multiple layered global motion models to both detect and reliably track an arbitrary number of moving objects appearing in image sequences. Each global model includes a background layer and one or more foreground “polybones”, each foreground polybone including a parametric shape model, an appearance model, and a motion model describing an associated moving object. Each polybone includes an exclusive spatial support region and a probabilistic boundary region, and is assigned an explicit depth ordering. Multiple global models having different numbers of layers, depth orderings, motions, etc. , corresponding to detected objects are generated, refined using, for example, an EM algorithm, and then ranked/compared. Initial guesses for the model parameters are drawn from a proposal distribution over the set of potential (likely) models. Bayesian model selection is used to compare/rank the different models, and models having relatively high posterior probability are retained for subsequent analysis.

US Patent:

6989023, Jan 24, 2006

Filed:

Jul 8, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/616367

Inventors:

Michael Black - Foster City CA, US

Assignee:

Oralum, LLC - Foster City CA

International Classification:

A61N 5/01

US Classification:

607 90, 607 88

Abstract:

Multiple hygienic effects are concurrently applied to body structures. This is established by two or more light source sources each capable of delivering a light beam to the body structures using an optical means whereby each light beam provides a unique hygienic effect to the body structures. The device could be a handheld device with detachable components. The device could also be a brush or a comb. The device could include a massaging means and/or a vibrating means. An agent could be used to the body structures to assist in the hygienic treatment plan. A cradle could be included to store the device, reload the power supply of the device, as well as a means to communicate with a hygienic service provider. The cradle could also host a displaying means and a selecting means.

US Patent:

7056318, Jun 6, 2006

Filed:

Apr 12, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/121236

Inventors:

Michael Black - Foster City CA, US

Assignee:

Reliant Technologies, Inc. - Mountain View CA

International Classification:

A61B 18/18

US Classification:

606 9, 606 17, 607 88, 607 89

Abstract:

A heating device and method are provided that control a temperature in a selected area of a body part to obtain a temperature effect within the selected area for therapeutic or medical purposes. It includes temperature generating means to generate a temperature in the selected area. It also includes temperature detecting means to detect the generated temperature from the selected area. It further includes temperature controlling means to control the temperature generating means to maintain the generated temperature within a range of a desired temperature. The device and method prevent irreversibly damaging or overheating the selected area or the tissue surrounding the selected area. It is advantageous to applications where there is a need to accurately control the temperature in a selected area in a biological body, for instance, to activate or evaporate a temperature sensitive agent in the selected area.