Xin Chen

US Patent:

7166550, Jan 23, 2007

Filed:

Jan 7, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/031475

Inventors:

Xin Chen - Deer Park IL, US

International Classification:

C04B 35/577
C04B 35/5833

US Classification:

501 90, 501 92, 501 964

Abstract:

A ceramic composite body comprising sintered silicon carbide as major phase, dispersed boron nitride/carbon granules as minor phase, and the boron nitride/carbon granules comprise hexagonal phase boron nitride powders bonded together by glassy carbon. The composite body contains at least 3 weight percent of boron nitride, the average size of the boron nitride granules is greater than 10 micrometers, and the shape of majority of the granules is irregular. The composite body of high boron nitride loading can be further processed to improve mechanical and thermal properties by filling the porosity with glassy carbon, obtained from carbonizing glassy carbon precursor. The composite material exhibits superior thermal and tribological characteristics than monolithic silicon carbide.

US Patent:

8086071, Dec 27, 2011

Filed:

Oct 30, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/980033

Inventors:

Xin Chen - Evanston IL, US
William Gale - Oak Park IL, US

Assignee:

NAVTEQ North America, LLC - Chicago IL

International Classification:

G06K 9/36
G06K 9/00
G06T 15/40
G06G 5/13

US Classification:

382284, 382154, 382103, 345629, 345421

Abstract:

Disclosed are a system and method for identifying objects in an image dataset that occlude other objects and for transforming the image dataset to reveal the occluded objects. In some cases, occluding objects are identified by processing the image dataset to determine the relative positions of visual objects. Occluded objects are then revealed by removing the occluding objects from the image dataset or by otherwise de-emphasizing the occluding objects so that the occluded objects are seen behind it. A visual object may be removed simply because it occludes another object, because of privacy concerns, or because it is transient. When an object is removed or de-emphasized, the objects that were behind it may need to be “cleaned up” so that they show up well. To do this, information from multiple images can be processed using interpolation techniques. The image dataset can be further transformed by adding objects to the images.

US Patent:

20100217529, Aug 26, 2010

Filed:

Feb 20, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/389553

Inventors:

Matei Nicolai Stroila - Chicago IL, US
Xin Chen - Evanston IL, US
Mahsa Kamali Moghaddam - Champaign IL, US
Victor Lu - Urbana IL, US
Bradley Dean Kohlmeyer - Lisle IL, US

International Classification:

G06F 19/00
G01S 1/00
G01C 3/06

US Classification:

702 5, 34235706, 356 401

Abstract:

Systems, devices, features, and methods for determining geographic features corresponding to a travel path to develop a map database, such as a navigation database, are disclosed. For example, one method comprises emitting light from a light source, such as a LIDAR device, while on the travel path. Returning light is received based on the emitted light. The returning light is used to generate data points representing an area about the travel path. The data points are filtered as a function of a return intensity value to identify a feature associated with the travel path, in which the feature is treated with a retroreflective substance.

US Patent:

20100321489, Dec 23, 2010

Filed:

Jun 23, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/489737

Inventors:

Xin Chen - Evanston IL, US
Xiangheng Yang - Glenview IL, US
Roger B. Hui - Northbrook IL, US
Narayanan Alwar - South Barrington IL, US

International Classification:

H04N 7/18

US Classification:

348116, 348E07085

Abstract:

Systems, devices, features, and methods for determining geographic position information from an image are disclosed. For example, one method for determining the geographic position information is used to develop a navigation database. The method comprises capturing a plurality of images of geographic features by a camera mounted on a vehicle or a pedestrian. A single image from the plurality of images is identified or selected. A real-world ground distance between a reference ground point in the single image and a ground point corresponding to an object in the single image is determined based on determined calibration values corresponding to the camera. Real-world geographic position information, such as a latitude coordinate and a longitude coordinate, of the ground point corresponding to the object in the single image is determined based on the determined real-world ground distance.

US Patent:

20100321490, Dec 23, 2010

Filed:

Jun 23, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/489697

Inventors:

Xin Chen - Evanston IL, US
Roger B. Hui - Northbrook IL, US
Narayanan Alwar - South Barrington IL, US

International Classification:

H04N 7/18

US Classification:

348118, 348E07085

Abstract:

Systems, devices, features, and methods for determining a geometric parameter from an image are disclosed. For example, one method for determining the geometric parameter is used to develop a navigation database. The method comprises determining calibration values corresponding to a camera mounted on a vehicle or a pedestrian. A plurality of images of geographic features are captured by the camera. A single image from the plurality of images is identified or selected. A geometric parameter of a region in the single image is determined based on the determined calibration values. For example, the geometric parameter is a real-world distance, such as a real-world length or width.

US Patent:

20100328462, Dec 30, 2010

Filed:

Jun 24, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/490575

Inventors:

Xin Chen - Evanston IL, US

International Classification:

H04N 7/18
G06K 9/00
G06F 17/30

US Classification:

348148, 382104, 348E07085, 707802, 707803

Abstract:

Systems, devices, features, and methods for detecting common geographic features in images, such as, for example, to develop a navigation database are disclosed. For example, a method of detecting a common text pattern, such as for a road or path sign, from collected images includes collecting a plurality of images of geographic areas along a road or path. An image of the plurality of images is selected. Components that correspond to an object about the road or path in the selected image are determined. In one embodiment, the determined components are independent or invariant to scale of the object. The determined components are compared to reference components in a data library. If the determined components substantially match the reference components, the object in the selected image is identified to be a common pattern, such as for a standard road or path sign, corresponding to the reference components in the data library.

US Patent:

20100329504, Dec 30, 2010

Filed:

Jun 24, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/490555

Inventors:

Xin Chen - Evanston IL, US

International Classification:

G06K 9/00
G06F 17/27

US Classification:

382100, 704 9

Abstract:

Systems, devices, features, and methods for detecting geographic features in images, such as, for example, to develop a navigation database are disclosed. For example, a method of detecting text from collected images includes collecting a plurality of images of geographic areas along a road or path. An image of the plurality of images is selected. Components that represent a feature about the road or path in the selected image are determined. In one embodiment, the components are independent or invariant to scale of the feature. The determined components are compared to reference components in a data library. If the determined components substantially match with the reference components, the feature in the selected image is identified to be a text character (e.g., of a road sign) corresponding to at least some of the reference components in the data library.

US Patent:

20100329508, Dec 30, 2010

Filed:

Jun 24, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/490538

Inventors:

Xin Chen - Evanston IL, US
Xiangheng Yang - Glenview IL, US

International Classification:

G06K 9/00
G06F 17/30

US Classification:

382103, 707802, 707803, 707715

Abstract:

Systems, devices, features, and methods for detecting geographic features in images, such as, for example, to develop a navigation database are disclosed. For example, a method of detecting a path marking from collected images includes collecting a plurality of images of geographic areas along a path. An image of the plurality of images is selected. Components that represent an object on the path in the selected image are determined. In one embodiment, the determined components are independent or invariant to scale of the object. The determined components are compared to reference components in a data library. If the determined components substantially meet a matching threshold with the reference components, the object in the selected image is identified to be a path marking corresponding to the reference components in the data library.