Patents Examined by Chriss S. Yoder, III
  • Patent number: 11641522
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: an image sensor that includes an image capturing area where an image of a subject is captured; a setting unit that sets image capturing conditions to be applied to the image-capturing area; a selection unit that selects pixels to be used for interpolation from pixels present in the image-capturing area; and a generation unit that generates an image of the subject captured in the image-capturing area with signals generated through interpolation executed by using signals output from the pixels selected by the selection unit, wherein: the selection unit makes a change in selection of at least some of the pixels to be selected depending upon the image-capturing conditions set by the setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Shionoya, Toshiyuki Kanbara, Naoki Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 11636620
    Abstract: A spot sub-pixel center positioning method based on pixel movement and cutting, the method includes driving the CCD image plane to move along the x direction and the y direction through a displacement platform, selecting target pixels to move and cut the spot, and recording the gray value change of the target pixels, constructing the mapping relationship between gray value and displacement, performing differential transformation on the gray value and displacement curve, and finally performing interpolation fitting to obtain the sub-pixel coordinate value of the center point of the light spot. The measurement accuracy can be maintained within ½ of the single-step displacement of cutting. The method is not only suitable for strong and weak distribution of light spots, but also for fully saturated light spots, and also for asymmetrically distributed and blurred edges. It also has a good measurement effect and can handle a variety of spot scenes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: MLOptic Corp.
    Inventors: Xinyu Peng, Wei Zhou
  • Patent number: 11631711
    Abstract: An image sensor comprises an upper chip including pixels; and a lower chip placed below the upper chip, wherein a pixel of the pixels includes an optical conversion element configured that light is incident on the optical conversion element, a first storage gate or a first storage node which is electrically connected to the optical conversion element and configured to store electric charge transferred from the optical conversion element during a first time interval, and a second storage gate or a second storage node which is electrically connected to the optical conversion element and configured to store the electric charge transferred from the optical conversion element during a second time interval different from the first time interval, the pixel is configured to generate a first pixel signal on the basis of the electric charge stored in the first storage gate, the lower chip includes a frame buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dae Shik Kim, Young Gu Jin
  • Patent number: 11632512
    Abstract: An arithmetic logic unit (ALU) includes a front end latch stage coupled to latch Gray code (GC) outputs of a GC generator in response to a comparator output. A signal latch stage is coupled to latch outputs of the front end latch stage. A GC to binary stage is coupled to generate a binary representation of the GC outputs latched in the signal latch stage. First inputs of an adder stage are coupled to receive outputs of the GC to binary stage. Outputs of the adder stage are generated in response to the first inputs and second inputs of the adder stage. A pre-latch stage is coupled to latch outputs of the adder stage. A feedback latch stage is coupled to latch outputs of the pre-latch stage. The second inputs of the adder stage are coupled to receive outputs of the feedback latch stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lihang Fan, Min Qu, Chao-Fang Tsai, Chun-Hsiang Chang
  • Patent number: 11622076
    Abstract: A video may be captured by an image capture device in motion. A stabilized view of the video may be generated by providing a punchout of the video. The punchout of the video may compensate for rotation of the image capture device during capture of the video. The size of the punchout of the video may be changed based on different rotational positions of to provide a view that includes different extents of the captured visual content. The changes in the size of the punchout may simulate changes in zoom of the visual content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Daryl Stimm, Kyler William Schwartz, Peter Tran
  • Patent number: 11616921
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a pixel array including a plurality of pixels divided into a plurality of binning areas; a readout circuit configured to, from the plurality of binning areas, receive a plurality of pixel signals including a first sensing signal of first pixels and a second sensing signal of second pixels during a single frame period and output a first pixel value corresponding to the first pixels and a second pixel value corresponding to the second pixels based on the plurality of pixel signals; and an image signal processor configured to generate first image data based on a plurality of first pixel values corresponding to the plurality of binning areas, generate second image data based on a plurality of second pixel values corresponding to the plurality of binning areas, and generate output image data by merging the first image data with the second image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jaejin Jung, Sinhwan Lim, Kwisung Yoo
  • Patent number: 11610925
    Abstract: An imaging system and a method of creating composite images are provided. The imaging system includes one or more lens assemblies coupled to a sensor. When reflected light from an object enters the imaging system, incident light on the metalens filter systems creates filtered light, which is turned into composite images by the corresponding sensors. Each metalens filter system focuses the light into a specific wavelength, creating the metalens images. The metalens images are sent to the processor, wherein the processor combines the metalens images into one or more composite images. The metalens images are combined into a composite image, and the composite image has reduced chromatic aberrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinxin Fu, Yongan Xu, Ludovic Godet, Naamah Argaman, Robert Jan Visser
  • Patent number: 11606521
    Abstract: An image sensor may include a pixel array having pixels arranged in rows and columns, column readout circuitry, and control circuitry. Column readout circuitry may include corresponding readout circuits each coupled to a corresponding column path for a respective column of pixels. The readout circuits may each include signal processing circuits such as correlated double sampling circuitry and analog-to-digital converter circuitry. To reduce peak-to-average power ratio, during the signal processing operations for each pixel row, the control circuitry may control the signal processing circuits to perform time-domain multiplexing across the pixel columns to activate the signal processing circuits at varied times within the row time. If desired, the pattern of time-domain multiplexing may be varied across the signal processing operations for different pixel rows and/or for different image frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Paul Cowley, Andrew David Talbot
  • Patent number: 11601612
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an image sensing circuitry configured to receive image signals from pixels, to convert the received image signals into image data, and to output the image data. The imaging device includes a digital processing circuitry configured to process image data in synchronization with a digital clock. The digital processing circuitry includes a digital clock generator configured to generate the digital clock. The digital clock generator is configured to scatter the digital clock, in response to the image sensing circuitry converting the image signals into the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Youngwoong Kim
  • Patent number: 11598863
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a light source configured to operate by a light control signal having a first duty ratio; a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are disposed, each of the plurality of pixels including a photodiode for generating electrical charges in response to a light reception signal output by the light source and reflected from a subject, and a pixel circuit for outputting a pixel signal corresponding to electrical charges of the photodiode; and a logic circuit configured to generate raw data for generating a depth image using the pixel signal, wherein the logic circuit inputs a photo control signal having a second duty ratio to the pixel circuit connected to the photodiode in each of the plurality of pixels, and wherein the first duty ratio is not an integer multiple of the second duty ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Myeonggyun Kye, Seungchul Shin, Minsun Keel
  • Patent number: 11600651
    Abstract: An imaging element according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a first substrate, a second substrate, and a third substrate that are stacked in this order. The first substrate including a sensor pixel that performs photoelectric conversion and the second substrate including a readout circuit are electrically coupled to each other by a first through wiring line provided in an interlayer insulating film. The second substrate and the third substrate including a logic circuit are electrically coupled to each other by a junction between pad electrodes or a second through wiring line penetrating through a semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichi Nakazawa, Yoshiaki Kitano, Hirofumi Yamashita, Minoru Ishida
  • Patent number: 11595600
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are described providing a high dynamic range pixel. An integration period has multiple sub-integration periods during which charges are accumulated in a photosensor and repeatedly transferred to a storage node, where the charges are accumulated for later transfer to another storage node for output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Parker Altice
  • Patent number: 11588988
    Abstract: The binning method of an image sensor includes reading out a plurality of pixel signals from at least two rows of each of a plurality of areas of a pixel array at a time, each of the plurality of areas including a plurality of pixels arranged in a 2n×2n matrix, where n is an integer equal to or greater than 2; generating first image data by performing analog-to-digital conversion on the plurality of pixel signals; generating, based on the first image data, a first summation value of each of a plurality of binning areas based on two pixel values corresponding to a same color in each of the plurality of binning areas, the plurality of binning areas corresponding to the plurality of areas of the pixel array; and generating a second summation value of each of two binning areas based on two first summation values corresponding to a same color in the two binning areas, the two binning areas being adjacent to each other in a column direction among the plurality of binning areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chanyoung Jang, Hee Kang, Wooseok Choi
  • Patent number: 11582406
    Abstract: To reduce a circuit scale in a solid-state image sensor that detects an address event. The solid-state image sensor includes a pixel array unit and a drive circuit. In the solid-state image sensor, in the pixel array unit, a logarithmic response pixel that outputs an analog signal proportional to a logarithmic value of an incident light amount and a detection pixel that detects whether or not a change amount of the incident light amount has exceeded a predetermined threshold and outputs a detection signal indicating a detection result are arrayed. Furthermore, in the solid-state image sensor, the drive circuit drives the logarithmic response pixel and the detection pixel to output the analog signal and the detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hongbo Zhu, Masaki Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 11582411
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are described providing a high dynamic range pixel. An integration period has multiple sub-integration periods during which charges are accumulated in a photosensor and repeatedly transferred to a storage node, where the charges are accumulated for later transfer to another storage node for output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Parker Altice
  • Patent number: 11575852
    Abstract: An imaging device according to the present disclosure includes an imaging unit, a connector, and a converter. The imaging unit includes a first signal line, a first pixel, a second signal line, and a second pixel. The first pixel outputs a first pixel voltage to the first signal line. The first pixel voltage corresponds to an amount of received light. The second pixel outputs a second pixel voltage to the second signal line. The second pixel voltage corresponds to the amount of received light. The connector includes a connection line, a first connection switch, a first control circuit, a second connection switch, and a second control circuit. The converter is coupled to the first signal line and the second signal line. The converter performs AD conversion on the basis of each of the first pixel voltage and the second pixel voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keita Ito
  • Patent number: 11563910
    Abstract: An image capture device is described. The image capture device includes an array of pixels. Each pixel includes a 2×2 array of photodetectors. The image capture device also includes an array of 1×2 on chip lenses (OCLs) disposed over the array of pixels. For each pixel in the array of pixels, a respective pair of adjacent 1×2 OCLs is disposed over a pixel, with each respective pair of adjacent 1×2 OCLs including a respective first 1×2 OCL disposed over a first photodetector and a respective second photodetector in the 2×2 array of photodetectors for the pixel, and a second 1×2 OCL disposed over a third photodetector and a fourth photodetector in the 2×2 array of photodetectors for the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Xiangli Li
  • Patent number: 11558565
    Abstract: Time deviation between event detection and gradation acquisition is reduced. A solid-state imaging apparatus according to an embodiment includes: a pixel array unit (300) including a plurality of pixel blocks (310) arrayed in a matrix; and a drive circuit (211) that generates a pixel signal in a first pixel block in which firing of an address event has been detected among the plurality of pixel blocks, each of the plurality of pixel blocks including a first photoelectric conversion element (331) that generates an electric charge according to an amount of incident light, a detection unit (400) that detects the firing of the address event based on the electric charge generated in the first photoelectric conversion element, a second photoelectric conversion element (321) that generates an electric charge according to an amount of incident light, and a pixel circuit (322, 323, 324, 325, 326) that generates a pixel signal based on the electric charge generated in the second photoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsumi Niwa, Motonari Honda
  • Patent number: 11546532
    Abstract: A method of reading a pixel value from an image sensor housed with a set of components includes determining a current state of the set of components; adjusting, at least partly responsive to the current state of the set of components, a correlated double sampling (CDS) time; and performing, in accordance with the adjusted CDS time, a CDS readout of at least one pixel in a pixel array of the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ashirwad Bahukhandi, Timothy J. Bales
  • Patent number: 11536936
    Abstract: A folded camera that includes two light folding elements such as prisms and an independent lens system, located between the two prisms, which includes an aperture stop and a lens stack. The lens system may be moved on one or more axes independently of the prisms to provide autofocus and/or optical image stabilization for the camera. The shapes, materials, and arrangements of the refractive lens elements in the lens stack may be selected to capture high resolution, high quality images while providing a sufficiently long back focal length to accommodate the second prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhong Yao, Miodrag Scepanovic