Patents Examined by Christopher K Peterson
  • Patent number: 11258939
    Abstract: System, Method and Apparatus for generating a collection of images, the technique including providing at least two mobile devices with a data processing unit, a storage memory and a camera integrated therein or connected thereto; providing a master system with a data processing unit and a storage memory or configuring of one of the mobile devices as master system and configuring of the other or of all mobile devices as slave systems; setting a recording criterion in the master system; transmitting the recording criterion to the slave systems; setting a series ending criterion in the master system; transmitting the series ending criterion to the slave systems; respectively performing a process for recording an image on each slave system as long as the series ending criterion is not fulfilled comprising the steps of recording at least one image with the camera of one of the slave systems whenever the recording criterion is fulfilled, and sending the image from the slave system to the master system together with
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventor: Volker Kren
  • Patent number: 11245832
    Abstract: A video recording method is disclosed. The method includes receiving video recording instructions; monitoring an object distance between an object to-be-recorded and a lens of a camera; if the object distance between the object to-be-recorded and the lens is within a first range, controlling a first camera to focus based on the object distance, wherein different object distances within the first range correspond to different focus points; and if the object distance between the object to-be-recorded and the lens is within a second range, controlling a second camera to focus at a hyperfocal length, wherein different object distances within the second range correspond to a same focus point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: LENOVO (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xing Zhang, Cong Li
  • Patent number: 11245828
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera module, the module including: a PCB; an image sensor mounted on the PCB and formed with an image pickup device; a base mounted on the PCB and including a plated portion formed at a lower center with an opening mounted with an IR filter; a lower spring plate formed with a conductive material; a spacer arranged on an upper surface of the lower spring plate and forming a staircase structure by a rib wrapping a periphery of the lower spring plate to supportively apply a pressure to the lower spring plate; a lens actuator including a bobbin, and a yoke; an upper spring plate coupled to an upper surface of the lens actuator; and a cover attached to an upper surface of the upper spring plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jungsik Lee
  • Patent number: 11240423
    Abstract: A display control apparatus comprising a display control unit configured to perform control to display a display item indicating a degree of focus; a first obtainment unit configured to obtain size information of an image to be recorded; a second obtainment unit configured to obtain a defocus amount for a focus detection region; a determination unit configured to determine the degree of focus based on the defocus amount and the size information of the image to be recorded; and a change unit configured to change a display style of the display item based on the degree of focus determined by the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11233931
    Abstract: An image processing device includes a first acquisition unit configured to acquire an image, a second acquisition unit configured to acquire distribution information of an evaluated value corresponding to the image, an output unit configured to output the image or the distribution information of the evaluated value, a first operation unit that is an automatic reset type switch instructing switching of content that is output from the output unit; and a control unit configured to perform output control for switching the output unit between an output of the image and an output of the distribution information of the evaluated value according to switching of the first operation unit between activation and deactivation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 11228723
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for image processing, the method comprising obtaining input image data comprising a plurality of pixel intensity values representing a respective plurality of pixel locations, obtaining pixel location data identifying one or more pixel locations represented by compromised pixel intensity values, generating interpolated image data comprising improved pixel intensity values, storing improved image data comprising at least the interpolated image data, and detecting one or more further compromised pixel intensity values based on the improved image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Apical Limited
    Inventors: David Hanwell, Nerhun Yildiz
  • Patent number: 11223767
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology may provide methods and apparatus for optical image stabilization. A system may include an actuator control circuit responsive to a sensor and a feedback signal from an actuator. The actuator control circuit may be configured to calibrate a gain applied to a drive signal based on a measured difference value of the feedback signal generated by the actuator control circuit and a predetermined difference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Tabuchi, Tomofumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11223772
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for generating an image using an electronic device having a color camera, comprising: activating the color camera and a camera application on the electronic device; displaying, through the camera application, a preview image generated by the color camera; determining, automatically, whether the preview image includes an image of a first object; displaying, through the camera application in response to a determination that the preview image includes the image of the first object, a first image generated by the color camera, the first image including a color region corresponding to the first object and a gray scale region corresponding to objects that are not the first object; and displaying, through the camera application in response to a determine that the preview image does not include any image of the first object, a second image generated by the color camera, the second image is a grayscale image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuanyou Li, Bin Hu, Yongxing Yang, Wei Luo
  • Patent number: 11218622
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an electronic viewfinder unit that can shift between a retracted state where the electronic viewfinder unit is retracted in a main body portion of the image capturing apparatus and an extended state where the electronic viewfinder unit is extended from the main body portion. The electronic viewfinder unit includes a holding cover that holds a pivoting unit where the pivoting unit can be rotated centering on a pivot shaft, and a pivot latch member that latches in a pivoting unit pivoting operation. The pivoting unit includes an electronic display unit, an eyepiece portion, an eyepiece window to cover the eyepiece portion, and a lens holder to hold a finder lens that guides light emitted from the electronic display unit to the eyepiece portion. When the pivoting unit is being rotated, the pivot latch member regulates shifting of the electronic viewfinder unit to the retracted state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kei, Keita Iwai, Shingo Iwatani, Ryoji Okuno
  • Patent number: 11212446
    Abstract: A tracking device, comprising a first image stabilization actuator that moves the image stabilization lens, a second image stabilization actuator that moves an image sensor, and a processor that has a calculation section, a determination section and a tracking control section, wherein the determination section determines whether or not a subject image exists at a specified position within an effective imaging region of the image sensor, the calculation section calculates movement direction and movement velocity for moving the subject image with respect to the image sensor, and the tracking control section performs drive control for at least one of the first image stabilization actuator and the second image stabilization actuator based on the movement direction and movement velocity that have been calculated by the calculation section, to perform tracking such that the subject image is always positioned at a specified position within the effective imaging region of the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hirotoshi Nomura
  • Patent number: 11206357
    Abstract: A shooting control apparatus obtains image data from an imaging unit that obtains the image data based on light from an imaging optical system and then detects an object and an orientation of the detected object from the image data. The apparatus controls a shooting direction of the imaging unit by controlling rotational driving of the imaging unit so that a position of the object in a field of view of the imaging unit changes based on the orientation of the object. The apparatus controls the shooting direction, in a case where the object faces in a first direction, so that a distance between an edge of the field of view on a first direction side and the object to be greater than a distance therebetween in a case where the object faces forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sosuke Kagaya, Nobushige Wakamatsu
  • Patent number: 11204956
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward systems and methods for ranking media effects. For example, systems and methods described herein enable a user to select and apply one or more media effects to a media communication such as a digital photograph or video. Systems and methods described herein identify and rank media effects based on characteristics associated with the user and the user's client-computing device. Furthermore, systems and methods described herein automatically present the top-ranked media effects to the user such that the user can easily select and apply one or more media effects that are tailored specifically to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: FACEBOOK, INC.
    Inventors: Laura Ling Javier, Sachin Monga, Kristina Varshavskaya, Daniil Burdakov, Ittai Sean Barzilay, Volodymyr Giginiak, Harshdeep Singh, Connor C Hayes
  • Patent number: 11200271
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed toward systems and methods for ranking media effects. For example, systems and methods described herein enable a user to select and apply one or more media effects to a media communication such as a digital photograph or video. Systems and methods described herein identify and rank media effects based on characteristics associated with the user and the user's client-computing device. Furthermore, systems and methods described herein automatically present the top-ranked media effects to the user such that the user can easily select and apply one or more media effects that are tailored specifically to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: FACEBOOK, INC.
    Inventors: Laura Ling Javier, Sachin Monga, Kristina Varshavskaya, Daniil Burdakov, Ittai Sean Barzilay, Volodymyr Giginiak, Harshdeep Singh, Connor C Hayes
  • Patent number: 11196905
    Abstract: An image-capturing apparatus comprises a fixed portion configured to fix an image-capturing lens, the fixed portion having an opening portion on its side surface, and a holding base configured to be inserted through the opening portion in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis of the image-capturing lens, wherein the holding base holds, slidably with respect to an orthogonal plane which is orthogonal to the optical axis, an optical element holding frame which holds an optical element, the fixed portion includes a first sliding portion in an inside of the fixed portion formed through the opening portion, and the optical element holding frame includes a second sliding portion which slidably contacts the first sliding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomoya Onaka, Daisuke Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 11196913
    Abstract: This invention provides a control apparatus that controls a pan-head including a drive unit for driving an image capturing device, the control apparatus comprising a control unit that controls the drive unit according to a request received via a communication unit; a determination unit that, in a case in which a connection request is received from a terminal, determines whether a first application program for configuration setting relating to the pan-head or a second application program for remote control of the pan-head is being executed in the terminal; a management unit that manages a terminal authorized for connection; and a decision unit that, in a case in which a new connection request is received, decides whether connection is possible or impossible on the basis of the determination by the determination unit and information managed by the management unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoki Kuroda
  • Patent number: 11165961
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing digital video includes displaying a preview of a field of view of the imaging device in a user interface of the imaging device. A sequence of images is captured. A main subject and a background in the sequence of images is determined, wherein the main subject is different than the background. A sequence of modified images for use in a final video is obtained, wherein each modified image is obtained by combining two or more images of the sequence of images such that the main subject in the modified image is blur free and the background is blurred. The sequence of modified images is combined to obtain the final video, which is stored in a memory of the imaging device, and displayed in the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: CLEAR IMAGING RESEARCH, LLC
    Inventor: Fatih M. Ozluturk
  • Patent number: 11165934
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus that increases time over which a moving image can be photographed by reducing the influence of heat generated in the apparatus. An image processing circuit performs predetermined processing on a moving image captured by an image capturing device. A plurality of recording media are arranged inside a grip portion for gripping an apparatus body. An internal casing ensures strength of the apparatus, and a system control circuit controls the apparatus. When moving image data formed by the image processing circuit using the captured moving image in a plurality of recording modes are recorded in the plurality of recording media, the system control circuit causes image data having a large volume to be recorded in a recording medium close to the internal casing and image data having a small volume to be recorded in a recording medium far from the internal casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Momoe Katsumata
  • Patent number: 11159721
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a camera including a plurality of lenses, a display, and a processor, in which the processor is configured to display a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of lenses, based on first position information in a first photographing mode, and upon selection of a first icon by a first gesture from the plurality of icons in the first photographing mode, switch to a second photographing mode and display a zoom control region including a plurality of zoom levels having a first zoom level of a first lens corresponding to the first icon as a reference zoom level and the plurality of icons rearranged based on second position information corresponding to the plurality of zoom levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jaehan Lee, Jiyeon Kim, Woojin Jung, Nari Choi
  • Patent number: 11138701
    Abstract: An image processing method includes acquiring an image in a chrominance-luminance separation color mode; performing scene recognition of the image to determine a scene of the image; traversing luminance components of respective pixel points in the image, and generating a luminance distribution of the image according to a traversing result of the luminance components; generating a luminance mapping relation based on a standard luminance distribution corresponding to the scene of the image and the luminance distribution of the image; and adjusting the luminance components of the respective pixel points in the image according to the luminance mapping relation to generate a first processed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Huichao Wang
  • Patent number: 11140347
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an imaging element, an imaging element control method, an imaging apparatus, and an electronic device adapted to suppress the drop in yield of the imaging element with an ever-higher density of circuitry. Multiple transfer paths are configured to transfer, bit by bit, a time code of a predetermined number of bits for use in converting into a digital signal a pixel signal reflecting the intensity of light received by a pixel. The transfer paths are provided with a relief transfer path that is switched for use in the case where an error has occurred on the multiple transfer paths. This disclosure may be applied to the imaging element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsumi Honda