Patents Examined by Dennis Hogue
-
Patent number: 9609226Abstract: A system for improved camera focusing systems using subject location tags. More particularly, the disclosed subject matter relates to providing a system comprising camera accessories and in-lens technologies that allows for the continuous, automated focus of a subject by measuring the distance between the camera and a subject that has been “tagged” with a locator beacon.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2014Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Free Focus SystemsInventors: Douglas R Kennedy, Stephen A Kennedy, Phillip B Kennedy
-
Patent number: 9584746Abstract: An image processing apparatus that comprises a plurality of read out rows in an imaging unit of the apparatus. The imaging region comprises of a plurality of pixels which are equipped with color filters of the red, blue and green type. The apparatus comprises a controller configured to set a frame rate for a first row scanning unit and a second frame rate for a second row scanning unit. The apparatus is further configured to perform image interpolation and perform the auto focus, auto exposure, auto black white or the like functions and display an image with a high resolution on a display unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2013Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications Inc.Inventor: Kenji Omori
-
Patent number: 9578221Abstract: Camera field of view visualizers differentially illuminate objects visible within and without a camera lens focal area, and also supporting surfaces located outside of but relative to the focal area wherein objects located thereon are visible within the focal area, relative to different supporting surfaces that are also located outside of the focal area but relative to the focal area wherein objects located thereon are not visible within the focal area. At an end of an illumination time period an amount or type of illumination that is visible within image information acquired from objects illuminated thereby within the focal area is reduced or revised for an image data acquisition time period so that it is not visible within image information acquired by an image data receiving means, and image information is captured via the image data receiving means from objects that are located within the focal area.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2016Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Michael S. Brown, James D. Cleaver
-
Patent number: 9578200Abstract: A mobile device may have a rear facing camera and a depth sensor to capture a portion of a document or a book in an environment. A processor may identify the document or the book based on the captured portion, a captured first part of the environment, a captured second part of the environment, and information received via a network adapter.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2015Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: HJ Laboratories, LLCInventors: Harry Vartanian, Jaron Jurikson-Rhodes
-
Patent number: 9565380Abstract: A plurality of pieces of first input data are input to a first decision circuit in an order based on a first rule. The memory has a plurality of first memory areas that respectively store a plurality of pieces of first data that match at least part of the plurality of pieces of first input data. The first decision circuit compares the first data read from the memory with the first input data to be input. When they do not match each other, The first decision circuit compares the first data with the first input data to be input next. When they match, The first decision circuit compares the first data read next from the memory on the basis of the first read pointer incremented with the first input data to be input next.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2015Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: MegaChips CorporationInventor: Manabu Kotani
-
Patent number: 9565354Abstract: A mobile terminal having a display unit, a camera configured to capture an image, the captured image being re-focusable and a controller configured to perform refocusing of the captured image by changing a focal depth of the captured image is provided. When a transmission request of the captured image is received by the controller, the controller is configured to transmit the captured image after changing the focal depth of the captured image based on an identified recipient of the captured image.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2014Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Jonghwan Kim, Hyungjin Kim, Woochan Seo, Kyungjin Min
-
Patent number: 9558553Abstract: A reference image of one or more objects is displayed on the display of a mobile device in a manner that allows a user of the mobile device to simultaneously view the reference image and a preview image of the one or more objects currently in a field of view of a camera of the mobile device. An indication is provided to the user of the mobile device whether the camera of the mobile device is currently located within a specified amount of a distance at which the reference image was acquired. In response to a user request, the camera acquires a second image of the one or more objects and optionally a distance between the camera and the one or more objects at the time the second image was acquired is recorded. An image management application provides various functionalities for accessing and managing image sequences.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2014Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Jayasimha Nuggehalli, James Woo
-
Patent number: 9557628Abstract: An actuator driving device drives an actuator connected to an output terminal. The control unit of the actuator driving device includes a PWM delay time setting unit, a first duty ratio setting unit, and a second duty ratio setting unit. The PWM delay time setting unit sets a delay time of pulse width modulation control for a driving voltage to be applied to the output terminal and outputs setting information to the first and second duty ratio setting units. The first duty ratio setting unit sets the first duty ratio for a first PWM output unit, and the second duty ratio setting unit sets the second duty ratio for a second PWM output unit. When positive and negative energization is performed, the control unit controls to reduce the amount of change in current in the current peak of a PWM waveform by providing a short-circuit period in response to the energization amount.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2014Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hiroyo Kobuna
-
Patent number: 9531934Abstract: A photographing device includes a main body, a first video capturing unit, a second video capturing unit and a rotatable electrical connection portion. The first video capturing unit is disposed on the main body, a center of a first video capturing range of the first video capturing unit is located on a first axis. The second video capturing unit is rotatable about the first axis to be pivoted on the main body, the second video capturing unit and the first axis are separated by a distance. A second video capturing range of the second video capturing unit overlaps the first axis. The rotatable electrical connection portion includes a first and a second connection component pivoted and connected to each other. The second video capturing unit is disposed on and connected to the first connection component. The second connection component is disposed on and connected to the main body.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2016Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: VIVOTEK INC.Inventors: Shyh-Yih Ma, Jen-Chih Wu, ChaoTan Huang
-
Patent number: 9497372Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging unit configured to generate plural pieces of image data, a storing unit, a first communication control unit configured to sequentially transmit a newest one of the plural pieces of image data and identification information for identifying the newest one of the plural pieces of image data to plural communication devices and receive the identification information received by an operated communication device and elapsed time information from the operated communication device, and an image selection unit configured to select reproduction priority candidate image data, which is obtainable and reproducible by the operated communication device, from among the plural pieces of image data stored in the storing unit based on the elapsed time information and the identification information received.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2014Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventor: Koichi Shintani
-
Patent number: 9479719Abstract: An image sensing device includes a first read unit suitable for generating a first read signal by reading a first pixel signal, a first input line suitable for transmitting the first pixel signal, a first feedback line suitable for feeding back the first read signal, a second read unit disposed adjacent to the first read unit in a same row and suitable for generating a second read signal by reading a second pixel signal, a second input line suitable for transmitting the second pixel signal, and a second feedback line suitable for feeding back the second read signal wherein the first input line and the first feedback line are disposed symmetrically to the second input line and the second feedback line.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2014Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.Inventor: Si-Wook Yoo
-
Patent number: 9473700Abstract: Camera systems and methods for gigapixel computational imaging are provided. In some embodiments, the camera system comprises: a ball lens, an array of image sensors disposed at a distance from the ball lens, the array of image sensors configured to acquire images from light that passes through the ball lens; and a processor configured to deblur and stitch the images captured by the array of image sensors to generate a gigapixel image.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2011Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New YorkInventors: Oliver S. Cossairt, Daniel Miau, Shree K. Nayar
-
Patent number: 9473682Abstract: An electronic video camera has a camera body which comprises an inner carrier structure and at least one outer cover element which is arranged at the carrier structure and which bounds an interior space of the camera body. In this respect, the camera structure forms a central cooling passage which divides the interior space of the camera body into a ventilation space within the cooling passage and into at least one component space outside the cooling passage. The ventilation space is open toward the environment of the video camera. The component space is sealingly closed with respect to the ventilation space and the environment of the video camera. The video camera has electronic components which are received in the component space and are thermally conductively coupled to the ventilation space via at least one side wall of the cooling passage. The cover element furthermore forms a side cover which is releasable to expose the electronic components arranged in the component space for servicing purposes.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2014Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Arnold & Richter Cine Technik GmbH & Co. Betriebs KGInventors: Michael Koppetz, Timo Sperber
-
Patent number: 9465279Abstract: An image pickup apparatus where a grip mounting portion to detachably mount a grip is formed, the image pickup apparatus includes a locking member configured to move between a locking position where the grip attached to the grip mounting portion is locked and a release position where locking to the grip is released, and a holding member partially arranged in a projection surface of the grip mounting portion and configured to engage with the locking member so as to hold the locking member at the release position. Mounting the grip to the grip mounting portion releases engagement between the holding member and the locking member so that the locking member moves from the release position to the locking position.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2014Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yuya Fujiwara, Hiroshi Shibata
-
Patent number: 9456154Abstract: An imaging apparatus including: a solid-state imaging device including pixels arranged in rows and columns, the device including: an OB pixel unit including rows of light-shielding pixels among the pixels; and a valid pixel unit including pixels allowing light from the subject to enter among the pixels; an exposure control unit which exposes the second pixel unit; a read line selecting unit which sequentially selects one or more pixel rows of the OB pixel unit, at different timings during exposure of the valid pixel unit, and causes each of pixels of the one or more pixel rows to output a pixel signal; and a dark charge measuring unit which measures the quantity of dark charge due to dark current of the device using current ones of pixel signals, each time pixel signals are output from the OB pixel unit through the selection by the read line selecting unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2014Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventor: Yusuke Okada
-
Patent number: 9456162Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 23, 2016Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Kenichi Tanaka
-
Patent number: 9451170Abstract: A reference image of one or more objects is displayed on the display of a mobile device in a manner that allows a user of the mobile device to simultaneously view the reference image and a preview image of the one or more objects currently in a field of view of a camera of the mobile device. An indication is provided to the user of the mobile device whether the camera of the mobile device is currently located within a specified amount of a distance at which the reference image was acquired. In response to a user request, the camera acquires a second image of the one or more objects and optionally a distance between the camera and the one or more objects at the time the second image was acquired is recorded. An image management application provides various functionalities for accessing and managing image sequences.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2014Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Jayasimha Nuggehalli, James Woo
-
Patent number: 9451145Abstract: An image capturing apparatus that uses an image sensor having pixels for capturing an image and pixels for detecting a phase difference. If, in the case where it is determined that it is necessary to restart focus detection during recording of a moving image, an opening diameter of an aperture is not an opening diameter at which phase-difference detection type AF using the pixels for detecting a phase difference can be performed, the aperture is changed to an opening diameter at which phase-difference detection type AF can be performed during focus detection. Thus, even if a photographic lens that does not support driving within a minute range is mounted, a focus detection operation suitable for shooting a moving image can be performed.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2011Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kan Takaiwa
-
Patent number: 9444978Abstract: A turbulence-free CCD camera system with nonclassical imaging resolution, for applications in long- distance imaging, such as satellite and aircraft-to-ground based distant imaging, utilizing an intensity- fluctuation correlation measurement of thermal light. The proposed camera system has the following advantages over classic imaging technology: (1) it is turbulence-free; (2) its spatial resolution is mainly determined by the angular diameter of the light source. For example, using sun as the light source, this camera may achieve a spatial resolution of 200 micrometer for any object on Earth. 200-micrometer resolution is insignificant for short distance imaging, however, taking a picture of a target at 10-kilometer, a classic camera must have a lens of 90-meter diameter in order to achieve 200-micrometer resolution.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2014Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: The University of Maryland, Baltimore CountyInventors: Yanhua Shih, Hui Chen, Tao Peng
-
Patent number: 9438836Abstract: A solid-state image sensor has a plurality of pixels including at least a first pixel configured to detect light in a first wavelength range and a second pixel configured to detect light in a second wavelength range, the second wavelength range including a wavelength range on a longer-wavelength side than the first wavelength range. The sensor includes a control portion configured to supply a control signal to the first and second pixels such that a charge accumulation period of the first pixel is different from a charge accumulation period of the second pixel.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2014Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kazuaki Tashiro, Katsuhisa Ogawa