Patents Examined by Dennis Hogue
  • Patent number: 9762834
    Abstract: Techniques describe apparatus and method for generating computed results based on sensor readings for detecting features, such as edges, corners etc. The sensor apparatus may include a sensor element array that includes a plurality of sensor elements. The sensor elements may be arranged in a 2-dimensional array, such as columns and rows. The sensor elements may be capable of generating sensor reading based on environmental conditions. The sensor apparatus may include a dedicated computer vision (CV) computation hardware in in-pixel circuitry, peripheral circuitry or dedicated microprocessor coupled to the sensor element array and configured to receive output from one or more of sensor elements. The dedicated CV computation hardware may include configurable blocks for detecting features using CV operations, wherein the configurable blocks may be configured to switch between multiple CV operations, such as linear binary pattern (LBP) and/or histogram of signed gradient (HSG) computer vision operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Alok Govil, Evgeni Petrovich Gousev, Soo Youn Kim
  • Patent number: 9746691
    Abstract: An optoelectronic apparatus (10) having a light transmitter (22) and/or a light receiver (16) and an optics (24, 14) arranged in front of the light transmitter (22) and/or the light receiver (16) is provided that has an adaptive lens (26) with variable tilt. In this respect an alignment unit (18) is provided which is configured to tilt the adaptive lens (26) in such a way that manufacturing tolerances and/or assembly tolerances are compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Dirk Strohmeier, Florian Schneider, Denise Bertz
  • Patent number: 9742981
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus authenticates whether the same person as a person as a destination of transmission is photographed in light field data as an object, and when the person is photographed as the object, sets a focal distance of an object image of the person as the destination of transmission as a focal distance to be used for refocusing the light field data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Chisato Ishida
  • Patent number: 9736365
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting zoom operations using a plurality of optical chain modules, e.g., camera modules, are described. Switching between use of groups of optical chains with different focal lengths is used to support zoom operations. Digital zoom is used in some cases to support zoom levels corresponding to levels between the zoom levels of different optical chain groups or discrete focal lengths to which optical chains may be switched. In some embodiments optical chains have adjustable focal lengths and are switched between different focal lengths. In other embodiments optical chains have fixed focal lengths with different optical chain groups corresponding to different fixed focal lengths. Composite images are generate from images captured by multiple optical chains of the same group and/or different groups. Composite image is in accordance with a user zoom control setting. Individual composite images may be generated and/or a video sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Light Labs Inc.
    Inventor: Rajiv Laroia
  • Patent number: 9736410
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element including a plurality of pixels corresponding to a plurality of respective micro lenses and the first photoelectric conversion portion and the second photoelectric conversion portion that are included in each of the pixels and share a corresponding one of the micro lenses, and a signal processing unit configured to correct an addition signal of outputs from the first photoelectric conversion portion and the second photoelectric conversion portion included in each of the pixels and a first signal generated from a plurality of signals of the first photoelectric conversion portions corresponding to the micro lenses, and the signal processing unit corrects the addition signal for each of the pixels and corrects the first signal for the first photoelectric conversion portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Mineo Uchida
  • Patent number: 9733548
    Abstract: The focal-plane shutter includes a blade drive member, an acceleration member providing a driving force to the drive member, and a lock member reducing bounce of the drive member after blade movement completion and being movable between a first position where a stopper portion thereof enters a movable area of a contact portion of the drive member and a second position where the stopper portion is located outside the movable area. During the blade movement, the contact portion pushes the lock member to move it from the first to second position. Before the blade movement completion, the contact portion is away from the lock member and thereby the lock member is moved from the second to first position by a biasing force. After the completion, the acceleration member pushes the lock member to move it from the first to second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rentaro Imai, Toru Kawashima
  • Patent number: 9716827
    Abstract: Aspects provide for location and time aware photographic scene matching and recommendations by identifying a location of a target scene displayed within a field of view of an electronic display screen of a camera device. A repository is searched for picture(s) related to the identified location and indicated in a social network as attractive. Recommendation information is generated from picture(s) retrieved from the repository search as related to the identified location and indicated in the social network as attractive. Thus, the camera device electronic display screen is driven to present the recommendation information within the field of view of the target scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Bostick, John M. Ganci, Jr., Sarbajit K. Rakshit, Craig M. Trim
  • Patent number: 9716867
    Abstract: A color filter array includes a plurality of first pixels transmitting light having visible wavelengths, a plurality of second pixels transmitting light having a first range of wavelengths in the visible spectrum, a plurality of third pixels transmitting light having a second range of wavelengths in the visible spectrum, and a plurality of crosstalk detection pixels each including a first half pixel and a second half pixel, wherein the first half pixel transmits light having first wavelengths in a part of the first range, and wherein the second half pixel partially transmits light having second wavelengths in a part of the second range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Su-Ram Cha, Jong-Suk Lee
  • Patent number: 9706126
    Abstract: A mobile terminal includes a main body; a front camera disposed at a front side of the main body; a display disposed at the front side of the main body; and a controller configured to control the display such that the display displays a preview image within a first portion of the display, wherein the preview image is obtained via the front camera; displays the preview image within a second portion of the display in response to an input, wherein the first portion includes the second portion and further includes a remaining portion; and displays a second image within the remaining portion of the first portion in response to the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kyungmin Cho, Chansoo Kim, Seoyong Park, Donggu Shin, Jihye Lim
  • Patent number: 9706112
    Abstract: A photographic system and an associated image tuning method are provided. The image tuning method includes the steps of: capturing an image by an image sensor of the photographic system; analyzing an image content of the captured image to obtain a plurality of candidate images using a preference search strategy; providing the plurality of candidate images for selection by a user of the photographic system; determining an output image based on one of the candidate images selected by the user; and adjusting the preference search strategy by using the user's selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Yu-Sheng Chen, Mu-Hsing Wu
  • Patent number: 9699387
    Abstract: The image processing device includes an imaging unit configured to capture a plurality of pupil-divided images obtained from light fluxes passing through different pupil regions of an imaging optical system, and a control unit configured to select images to be used for image processing from the pupil-divided images captured by the imaging unit, according to the position of the imaging area in the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 9699390
    Abstract: A controlling method, suitable for a first camera unit and a second camera unit, is disclosed herein. The controlling method include following steps. The first camera unit is triggered to generate a first media data by shooting a first image or recording a first video. In response to the first media data is generated, the second camera unit is automatically triggered to generate a second media data by shooting a second image or recording a second video. The first media data and the second media data are configured to be integrated into a third media data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Ting-Chia Kuo, Hui-Ping Chen, Nicole Pauline Sangco, Sung-Hao Lin
  • Patent number: 9681048
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing unit, a control unit, and a notification unit. The control unit controls the image capturing unit so that a first shooting operation and a second shooting operation are sequentially performed at an interval not smaller than a predetermined time period. The notification unit issues a notification constantly during the predetermined time period of the interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Sudo
  • Patent number: 9667869
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a camera apparatus for automatically maintaining horizontality and a method for maintaining the horizontality of a camera module and an image sensor. Particularly, the method for maintaining the horizontality of the camera module and the image sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention include: a step in which a horizontal sensor senses the horizontal state of the image sensor; a step in which a horizontal control signal generation unit generates a horizontal control signal based on a result of comparing the horizontal state with a reference state; and a step in which a horizontal control device rotates any one of the camera module and the image sensor to attain horizontality based on the horizontal control signal and controls any one of the camera module and the image sensor to stay horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Young-Sic Jeong
  • Patent number: 9659984
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate having a photoelectric conversion element converting incident light into a charge and a charge retaining section temporarily retaining the charge photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion element and a light shielding section having an embedded section extending in at least a region between the photoelectric conversion element and the charge retaining section of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ohkubo, Suzunori Endo
  • Patent number: 9635325
    Abstract: An imaging system may include an image sensor having an array of image pixels with a photosensitive region that generates image signals in response to light. The array may include photoluminescent material that absorbs light of a first range of wavelengths and emits light of a second range of wavelengths onto the photosensitive region. The first range of wavelengths may correspond to ultraviolet light, and the second range of wavelengths may correspond to visible light. The photoluminescent material may be formed over some or all of the image pixels. The array may include color filter elements that transmit light of a given color to the photosensitive region. The photoluminescent material may be adjusted to have a peak emission intensity at a color of light that corresponds to the given color of light transmitted by a given color filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Swarnal Borthakur
  • Patent number: 9628695
    Abstract: A system, article, and method of lens shift correction for a camera array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Gowri Somanath, Oscar Nestares, Kalpana Seshadrinathan, Yi Wu
  • Patent number: 9628725
    Abstract: A pixel array to which a high dynamic range and a white pixel are applied, and an image sensor including the same are provided. The pixel array of the image sensor includes: a plurality of pixel groups, each pixel group including one or more long exposure pixels and one or more short exposure pixels, wherein each pixel group includes a first pixel, among the one or more long exposure pixels and the one or more short exposure pixels, having a white component and second to fourth pixels, among the one or more long exposure pixels and the one or more short exposure pixels, having first to third color components, the first pixel belonging to a first pixel group is a long exposure pixel, and the first pixel belonging to a second pixel group that is adjacent to the first pixel group is a short exposure pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young-hun Roh, Min-kyu Kim, Hye-mi Park, Ji-yeon Woo
  • Patent number: 9628734
    Abstract: A stacked image sensor includes a substrate including a first photoelectric conversion device, a second photoelectric conversion device and a first color signal storing device disposed between the first photoelectric conversion device and the second photoelectric conversion device. A second color filter and a third color filter are disposed at positions corresponding to the first photoelectric conversion device and the second photoelectric conversion device on the substrate. A conductive connecting member is disposed between the second color filter and the third color filter. A first color sensing photoelectric conversion device is disposed on the second color filter, the third color filter, and the conductive connecting member. The cross-sectional area of conductive connecting member is at least greater than the cross-sectional area of the first color signal storing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyung Bae Park, Gae Hwang Lee, Kwang Hee Lee, Yong Wan Jin, Chul Joon Heo
  • Patent number: 9609743
    Abstract: There are provided an electronic device mounting substrate and an electronic apparatus which are capable of miniaturization. An electronic device mounting substrate includes: an insulating base including a frame section; an electrode pad disposed on an upper surface of the frame section; and a first conductor disposed on a side surface of the frame section, the first conductor being electrically connected to the electrode pad, the electrode pad extending over a side surface of the first conductor from the upper surface of the frame section. By suppressing separation of the first conductor from the insulating base by means of the electrode pad, disconnection at the first conductor can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihiko Funahashi, Kanae Horiuchi, Yousuke Moriyama