Patents Examined by Antoinette T Spinks
  • Patent number: 11487187
    Abstract: A camera lens support system distributes the weight of a lens in a camera rig. The camera lens support system provides multiple degrees of freedom and adjustment to support a large number of lens and camera body combinations. The camera lens support system includes a locking mechanism that can simultaneously restrict translational and rotational adjustments of the camera lens support system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: TILTA INC.
    Inventors: Wenping Zeng, Kefeng Zhou
  • Patent number: 11475594
    Abstract: Optical element(s) of an image capture device may be changed. Characteristic(s) of the optical element(s) may be determined based on shading map corresponding to an image captured by the image capture device and the lighting condition during the capture of the image. The image capture device may be operated in accordance with the determined characteristic(s) of the optical element(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Derbanne, Guillaume Matthieu Guérin, Adrien Cariou
  • Patent number: 11463642
    Abstract: An image sensor and a mobile terminal are provided. The image sensor includes a pixel array, where the pixel array includes a preset quantity of pixel units arranged in a predetermined manner. The pixel unit includes a first pixel and a second pixel. The first pixel includes a red sub-pixel, a green sub-pixel, and a blue sub-pixel, and the second pixel includes a green sub-pixel, a preset sub-pixel, and at least one of a red sub-pixel and a blue sub-pixel. Both the first pixel and the second pixel are full-pixel dual-core focusing pixels, and each of the first pixel and the second pixel includes four full-pixel dual-core focusing sub-pixels. The preset sub-pixel receives an infrared band and one of a red band, a green band, and a blue band, or the preset sub-pixel receives an infrared band, a red band, a green band, and a blue band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: VIVO MOBILE COMMUNICATION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Danmei Wang, Huazhao Zhou, Panpan Zhu
  • Patent number: 11448941
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera with a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. The VCM actuator assembly is configured to move an image sensor of the camera in three dimensions (e.g. X, Y, and Z) to provide the AF and/or OIS movements. The VCM actuator assembly is asymmetrical and includes an at least partially open side that allows an optical assembly of the camera to pass through the open side of the VCM actuator. In some embodiments, the optical assembly is part of a folded optics arrangement of the camera that includes one or more prisms/and or lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Shashank Sharma
  • Patent number: 11451730
    Abstract: An image sensor includes pixels each including: a first transistor and a first switch that are connected in series between a first node configured to receive a first potential and an internal node of the pixel, a gate of the first transistor being coupled with a floating diffusion node of the pixel; a capacitive element, a first terminal of which is connected to the floating diffusion node of the pixel; and several assemblies each including a capacitance connected in series with a second switch coupling the capacitance to the internal node. The sensor also includes a control circuit configured to control, each time a voltage is stored in one of the assemblies of a pixel, an increase of a determined value of a difference in potential between the floating diffusion node and the internal node of the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS, STMicroelectronics (Crolles2) SAS
    Inventors: Pierre Malinge, Frederic Lalanne, Laurent Simony
  • Patent number: 11438573
    Abstract: An image sensor may include an array of imaging pixels and verification circuitry. Row control circuitry including row drivers may provide control signals to the pixels in the array of imaging pixels. The verification circuitry may test proper operation of the row drivers. The verification circuitry be configured to pre-charge the first and second storage capacitors to a first bias voltage, intentionally discharge the first and second storage capacitors to a second bias voltage, reset only the first storage capacitor back to the first bias voltage, and use a first sample from the first storage capacitor and a second sample from the second storage capacitor to test operation of the row driver. If the row driver is operating correctly, a voltage swing will be detected between the two samples. If the row driver is stuck high or stuck low, the first and second samples may be the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Anirudh Oberoi, Gurvinder Singh
  • Patent number: 11431925
    Abstract: Techniques are described for controlling operation of a pixel conversion ADC in a manner that enforces strict timing and synchronization of ramp and clock signaling. Synchronizing techniques can be applied to generate a corrected ramp start signal based on synchronizing a received ramp start signal to an input clocking signal, and to generate a controller clock signal based on synchronizing an input clocking signal to the corrected ramp start signal. The corrected ramp start signal and the controller clock signal can be used to control generation of a ramp enable signal for controlling timing of pixel ramp voltage generation digital pixel conversion counting, and to control generation of an output clocking signal used by the digital pixel conversion counting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Shenzhen Goodix Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mohamed Elsayed, Mohit Kumar
  • Patent number: 11418748
    Abstract: An image sensor for stably generating pulses of a precharge signal is disclosed. The image sensor includes a divider configured to generate a plurality of divided clock signals by dividing one or ore input clock signal, a precharge pulse generator configured to generate a first pulse signal by selecting any one of the plurality of divided clock signals in response to decoding signals of a first group, and generate a second pulse signal by selecting any one of the plurality of divided clock signals in response to decoding signals of a second group, and a precharge signal generator configured to generate a precharge signal by combining the first pulse signal and the second pulse signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Hoe Sam Jeong
  • Patent number: 11414027
    Abstract: A mount for mounting an accessory, the mount comprising: an attachment member to attach the mount to a support structure; and a mount coupling member configured to have a profile complementary to a corresponding accessory coupling member of an accessory to be coupled to the mount. The mount coupling member comprises a first material operative to couple to a second material of an accessory coupling member through an attractive force between the first material and second material; and wherein the attractive force is of a magnitude to permit slidable movement of the mount coupling member relative to an accessory coupling member while maintaining mechanical contact between the mount and an accessory. The first material comprises a complementary configuration with a second material of an accessory coupling member to permit a greater magnitude of the slidable movement in a first direction compared to a second direction transverse to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Inventors: Robert George Grant, Graham Keith Lambert, Ceri Hill
  • Patent number: 11418740
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes at least one processor electrically connected with an image sensor and a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Inventors: Juhee Park, Kyongtae Park, Hongseob Shin, Jeongwon Lee
  • Patent number: 11412191
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses systems and methods for content enhancement using QCFA sensors of an electronic device. Embodiments herein include previewing contents in a field of view (FOV) of a first QCFA sensor, wherein the first QCFA sensor is operating in a first mode. Embodiments herein include detecting whether a zoom level of the contents previewed meets a first zoom-level criteria, and whether a light condition of the contents previewed meets a light criteria. Further, the first QCFA sensor may be configured to switch from a first mode to a second mode in order to enhance a resolution of the contents being previewed in the FOV of the first QCFA sensor in response to detecting that the zoom level of the contents previewed meets the first zoom-level criteria, and that the light condition of the contents previewed meets the light criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ashish Kumar Yadav, Divyanshu Kumar, Abhijit Dey, Manjunatha Chandrashekhar Achar, Rajib Basu, Kiran Nataraju
  • Patent number: 11391917
    Abstract: Disclosed is a camera module. The camera module includes: a lens barrel disposed in a housing to receive a lens assembly; an elastic member in at least one of the housing and the lens barrel; a driving unit moving the lens barrel relative to the housing; and a sensor unit fixed to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: In Jae Yeo
  • Patent number: 11376920
    Abstract: There is provided with a moving body control apparatus. An image capturing unit captures a periphery of a moving body through a transmitting portion. A heater is capable of heating the transmitting portion. An air-conditioning unit switches an air-conditioning state in the moving body between an inside air circulation state and an outside air introduction state. A control unit controls the heater. An ambient temperature detection unit detects an ambient temperature. The control unit starts the operation of the heater when the ambient temperature is not more than a predetermined temperature threshold. The predetermined temperature threshold of the case in which the air-conditioning state is set to the inside air circulation state is higher than the predetermined temperature threshold in the case in which the air-conditioning state is set to the outside air introduction state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji Kudo, Masaki Nakajima
  • Patent number: 11372147
    Abstract: Image-sensing devices include odd-symmetry gratings that cast interference patterns over a photodetector array. Grating features offer considerable insensitivity to the wavelength of incident light, and to the manufactured distance between the grating and the photodetector array. Photographs and other image information can be extracted from interference patterns captured by the photodetector array. Images can be captured without a lens, and cameras can be made smaller than those that are reliant on lenses and ray-optical focusing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Gill, David G. Stork
  • Patent number: 11367465
    Abstract: The present technology is a video recording system and method of recording a video while applying special effects in real time prior to and/or while recording. The system includes a processing unit in communication with a camera and a memory unit. The processor receives a raw video data at a native speed rate from the camera or remote video stream, and an input from an interface. The system determines if the native speed rate of the raw video data is to be changed, and if so then modifies at least one frame in the raw video data to create a modified video data at a modified speed rate that is different to the native speed rate. The system then generates an output video recording data and writes it to memory. This allows for the continuous recording of video from the camera or video feed at different speed rates without altering camera operations or settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Inventors: Henry M. Pena, Thomas F. Bryant, III
  • Patent number: 11350037
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a connector configured to connect an expansion unit for expanding a function of the information processing apparatus, a detector configured to detect a connection position of the connected expansion unit with respect to the information processing apparatus, a display configured to display a graphical user interface (GUI) for performing a setting related to a function expanded by the connected expansion unit, and a controller configured to control display contents of the GUI to be displayed on the display based on the connection position of the connected expansion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koichi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11317033
    Abstract: An adaptive filter system and a method for controlling the adaptive filter system are described herein. The system can includes one or more filters to attenuate incoming light. The one or more filters can be moved by one or more actuators. The method can capture image data from an imaging device through the one or more filters. Information can be determined from the captured image data. The one or more filters can be moved to a position for capturing image data based on the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventors: Kai Chen, Jun Peng, Tiancheng Lou, Xiang Yu, Zhuo Zhang, Hao Song, Sinan Xiao, Yiming Liu, Tianyi Li
  • Patent number: 11310444
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state image pickup element that includes a pixel, a light-receiving-surface-sided trench, and a light-receiving-surface-sided shielding member. A plurality of protrusions is formed on the light-receiving surface of the pixel in the solid-state image pickup element. In addition, the light-receiving-surface-sided trench is formed around the pixel having the plurality of protrusions formed, at the light-receiving surface in the solid-state image pickup element. In addition, the light-receiving-surface-sided member is buried in the light-receiving-surface-sided trench formed around the pixel having the plurality of protrusions formed on the light-receiving surface in the solid-state image pickup element. In addition, the photoelectric conversion region of a near-infrared-light pixel expands to the surface side opposed to the light-receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion region of a visible-light pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harumi Tanaka, Itaru Oshiyama, Sozo Yokogawa
  • Patent number: 11303834
    Abstract: Imaging devices and electronic apparatuses incorporating imaging devices are provided. An imaging device as disclosed can include a first pixel of a first pixel and a second pixel of a second pixel. The first and second pixels each have a first electrode, a portion of a photoelectric conversion film, and a portion of a second electrode, where the photoelectric conversion film is between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode of the first pixel has a first area, while the first electrode of the second pixel has a second area that is smaller than the first area. The first pixel can include a light shielding film. Alternatively or in addition, the first pixel can be divided into first and second portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Hatano, Ryosuke Nakamura, Yuji Uesugi, Fumihiko Koga, Tetsuji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11303804
    Abstract: For processing a signal from an event-based sensor having an array of sensing elements facing a scene, the method comprises: receiving the signal including, for each sensing element, successive events originating from said sensing element depending on variations of incident light from the scene; analyzing the signal to detect a frequency pattern in a light profile sensed by at least one sensing element; and extracting information from the scene in response to detection of the frequency pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: PROPHESEE
    Inventors: Amos Sironi, Marc Rousseau, Christoph Posch, Xavier Lagorce