Patents Examined by Chia-Wei A Chen
  • Patent number: 10742859
    Abstract: A camera module, a molded circuit board assembly, a molded photosensitive assembly and manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The camera module includes a molded base which is integrally formed with a circuit board through a molding process, wherein a photosensitive element may be electrically connected on the circuit board and at least a portion of a non-photosensitive area portion of the photosensitive element is also connected by the molded base through the molding process. A light window is formed in a central portion of the molded base to provide a light path for the photosensitive element, wherein a cross section of the light window is configured to have a trapezoidal or multi-step trapezoidal shape which has a size increasing from bottom to top to facilitate demoulding and avoiding stray lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ningbo Sunny Opotech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mingzhu Wang, Zhenyu Chen, Nan Guo, Takehiko Tanaka, Bojie Zhao, Zhong Deng
  • Patent number: 10447931
    Abstract: A camera module is provided, including a frame, a holder, an image sensor, a plate, an electromagnetic driving assembly, and an elastic element. The frame connects the holder with the plate. The holder is configured to sustain an optical lens, and the image sensor is disposed on the plate. The elastic element connects the frame with the plate. The electromagnetic driving assembly is disposed on the frame and the plate, and is configured to drive the plate and the image sensor to move with respect to the frame and the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chao-Chang Hu, Fu-Yuan Wu, Kuo-Chun Kao
  • Patent number: 10440247
    Abstract: A camera module includes a circuit board, an optical lens, an insulating member, a photosensitive sensor, and an integral encapsulating support structure. The insulating member is disposed on the periphery of a photosensitive area of the photosensitive sensor to prevent the photosensitive sensor from contacting to and being damaged by the formation mold during the forming process of the integral encapsulating support structure and to prevent the fluid material from flowing to the photosensitive area of the photosensitive sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Ningbo Sunny Opotech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mingzhu Wang, Bojie Zhao, Takehiko Tanaka, Zhen Huang, Nan Guo
  • Patent number: 10432847
    Abstract: A signal processing apparatus of one embodiment of the disclosure includes a composition unit that generates first composite imaging data, by adding together a low-frequency component of first imaging data, a high-frequency component of the first imaging data, and a high-frequency component of second imaging data. The first imaging data is imaging data of a relatively wide angle of view, out of two pieces of imaging data that differ in angle of view from each other. The second imaging data is imaging data of a relatively narrow angle of view, out of the two pieces of the imaging data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yamajo, Masayuki Tachi
  • Patent number: 10432867
    Abstract: A display controller includes circuitry configured to cause a display device to display self-portrait photographing information in response to receiving an indication that the display device and an imaging unit are in a predetermined positional relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yamaguchi, Yoshiro Furukawa
  • Patent number: 10431623
    Abstract: A method applied to a BJT pixel of an image sensor apparatus includes: obtaining at least one of a surface quality signal of a first image sensed by the BJT pixel and a shutter turn-on time corresponding to the first image; and adaptively adjusting a pre-flash time of the BJT pixel for sensing of a second image according to the at least one of the surface quality signal of the first image and the shutter turn-on time corresponding to the first image; wherein the second image follows the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventor: Wooi Kip Lim
  • Patent number: 10423569
    Abstract: Examples of a system, method, and machine-readable non-transitory storage medium including instructions executable by a processor are disclosed herein. An example of the machine-readable non-transitory storage medium includes instructions executable by a processor to allow selection of a capture mode of a sensor module to record still images and/or a video mode of the sensor module to record video, retrieve default calibrated sensor module settings from a persistent memory, allow creation of at least one user defined sensor module setting that differs from one of the default calibrated sensor module settings, and utilize the at least one user defined sensor module setting along with the remaining default calibrated sensor module settings with the selected sensor module mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jinman Kang, Amit A Marathe
  • Patent number: 10412295
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: a focus detection unit configured to detect a focus state of an imaging optical system; a reliability determination unit configured to determine reliability of the focus detection; and a control unit configured to control an opening of an aperture of the imaging optical system, wherein the control unit, if the reliability determination unit determines that reliability of the focus detection performed in a state in which the opening of the aperture is controlled to a first aperture opening state is less than a threshold value, changes the aperture to a second aperture opening state in which the opening of the aperture is reduced relative to the first aperture opening state, and wherein the control unit does not change the aperture to the second aperture opening state if a predetermined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideyuki Hamano, Koichi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 10404934
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital signal processing method applied for an image sensor includes: providing a global analog-to-digital converter (ADC) capable of converting analog signals of all pixels of a pixel array into digital signals; providing a column-parallel ADC capable of respectively converting a plurality of analog signals of a plurality of pixels on different columns of the pixel array into a plurality of digital signals by using a plurality of ADC circuits; and, dynamically selecting and switching to enable one of the global ADC and column-parallel ADC to perform analog-to-digital conversion for analog data/signals of pixels on the pixel array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng-Seng Hsu, Jui-Te Chiu
  • Patent number: 10404921
    Abstract: A method comprising receiving first camera information from a first camera module that is configured to face in a first camera direction, causing display of at least part of the first camera information, receiving information indicative of a zoom input that corresponds with a zoom direction that signifies zooming out of the first camera information, determining that the zoom input is indicative of zooming beyond a zoom out threshold associated with the first camera information, receiving second camera information from a second camera module that is configured to face in a second camera direction based, at least in part, on the determination that the zoom input is indicative of zooming beyond the zoom out threshold, and causing display of at least part of the second camera information is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Toni Makinen, Mikko Tammi, Miikka Vilermo
  • Patent number: 10391952
    Abstract: A camera module, which is mounted on an inside of a front windshield of a vehicle and configured to image an external environment of the vehicle, includes multiple lens units on which an optical image of the external environment is incident, individually, and an imaging system to generate an outside image of the external environment by imaging through each of the lens units, individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sho Okuda, Takeshi Kazama, Yasuki Furutake, Nobuhisa Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10389941
    Abstract: An optical unit with a shake correction function may include a swing body which holds an optical element; a swing support mechanism structured to swingably support the swing body between a reference posture, where an axial line previously set and an optical axis are coincided with each other, and a tilted posture, where the optical axis is tilted with respect to the axial line; and a support body which supports the swing body through the swing support mechanism; and a weight which is used so that a swing center of the swing body and a gravity center of the swing body are coincided with each other in a direction of the axial line. The swing body may include a fixed region to which the weight is fixed. A fixed position of the weight may be changeable in the fixed region in a direction of the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: NIDEC SANKYO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinji Minamisawa, Takeshi Sue
  • Patent number: 10382683
    Abstract: A target image captured from a fisheye lens or other lens with known distortion parameters may be transformed to align it to a reference image. Corresponding features may be detected in the target image and the reference image. The features may be transformed to a spherical coordinate space. In the spherical space, images may be re-pointed or rotated in three dimensions to align all or a subset of the features of the target image to the corresponding features of the reference image. For example, in a sequence of images, background features of the target image in the spherical image space may be aligned to background features of the reference image in the spherical image space to compensate for camera motion while preserving foreground motion. An inverse transformation may then be applied to bring the images back into the original image space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Lustig, Balineedu Chowdary Adsumilli
  • Patent number: 10375290
    Abstract: A control handle extends at least partially around a hub. Multiple arms extend in respective different directions between the hub and the control handle. Sensors sense an effect of an input force applied to the control device and acting on each of the arms relative to multiple directions. A controller interface is coupled to the sensors, to enable communication with a controller of the video equipment. Such a control device could be implemented in conjunction with a video equipment pedestal that also includes a base and an equipment support. The control device could be used to drive motion of the video equipment pedestal based on readings by the sensors. A user input device could be provided to control one or more of virtual mass, virtual friction, enabling and disabling of driving motion, and/or enabling and disabling of motion relative to any one or more of multiple axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Ross Video Limited
    Inventors: Neil Webster, Daniel M McInnis, Jean E. Frojo
  • Patent number: 10362235
    Abstract: A processing apparatus includes a photographed image obtainer configured to obtain a plurality of photographed images of an object, the images being photographed by sequentially irradiating light onto the object from a plurality of different light source positions, a first shadow map generator configured to generate a first shadow map by determining a shadow area in the plurality of photographed images, a second shadow map generator configured to generate a second shadow map based on the first shadow map, and a normal information obtainer configured to obtain normal information of the object calculated based on the second shadow map and the plurality of photographed images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Kusumi, Chiaki Inoue, Yoshiaki Ida
  • Patent number: 10362248
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device and a camera system are provided. The solid-state imaging device capable of performing an intermittent operation includes a pixel unit and a pixel signal readout unit for reading out a pixel signal from the pixel unit in units of a plurality of pixels for each column. The pixel signal readout circuit includes a plurality of comparators and a plurality of counters whose operations are controlled by outputs of the comparators. Each of the comparators includes an initializing switch for determining an operating point for each column at a start of row operation, and is configured so that an initialization signal to be applied to the initializing switch is controlled independently in parallel only a basic unit of the initialization signal used for a horizontal intermittent operation, and the initializing switch is held in an off-state at a start of non-operating row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10362250
    Abstract: A global shutter image sensor of a back-illuminated type includes a semiconductor substrate and pixels. Each pixel includes a photosensitive area, a storage area, a readout area and areas for transferring charges between these different areas. The image sensor includes, for each pixel, a protector extending at least partly into the substrate from the back of the substrate to ensure that the storage area is protected against back illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Crolles 2) SAS
    Inventors: Francois Guyader, Francois Roy
  • Patent number: 10356345
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device, an electronic apparatus, and an AD converter that are capable of suppressing the occurrence of an error in AD conversion results. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel section having a plurality of pixels, a comparator for comparing a pixel signal outputted from the pixels with a reference signal, and a counter for counting the time of comparison made by the comparator. The comparator includes a first amplifier for comparing the pixel signal with the reference signal, a second amplifier that has a first transistor and amplifies an output signal of the first amplifier, and a second transistor having the same polarity as the first transistor. A gate of the second transistor is connected to an output end of the first amplifier, and a source and a drain of the second transistor are connected to the same fixed potential as a source of the first transistor. The present technology is applicable, for example, to a CMOS image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Hanzawa, Shizunori Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10356308
    Abstract: A focusing state prompting method and a shooting device are described. The method includes detecting whether there is a clear picture region in a preview interface using an edge detection algorithm; and if so, prompting that focusing is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Nubia Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yunze Zhao, Lei Miao, Xiaohui Cui
  • Patent number: 10356294
    Abstract: A photographing device attachable to a moving body includes: a first control section configured to predict and obtain a change in physical quantity based on an alteration in a photographing state; and a communication control section configured to transmit information related to the change in the physical quantity. The photographing device improves stability in the moving body and stability of photographing. Information related to influence on the moving body based on a change in an outer shape and a change in a position of the center of gravity of the photographing device mounted on the moving body is shared by the moving body to improve the stability in the moving body and the stability of photographing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoji Osanai, Tsutomu Igarashi, Taichiro Kouchi, Osamu Nonaka