Patents Examined by Euel Cowan
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Patent number: 9918020Abstract: A user portable device includes a device chassis comprising at least one opening at a surface of the device chassis and a sensor assembly aligned with the at least one opening. The sensor assembly includes a mounting structure and a plurality of sensors mounted to the mounting structure. The sensors include at least two sensors utilized by the user portable device based on a specified geometric configuration between the at least two sensors. The user portable device further includes a mounting fastener that mounts the sensor assembly to the device chassis so as to isolate the sensor assembly from deformation of the surface of the device chassis along one or more axes during user handling, and thus aid in preventing alteration of a baseline geometric configuration of one or more sensors of the sensor assembly due to the chassis deformation.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2015Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Renzo De Nardi, Johnny Lee, Alan Beltran, Ashish Shah
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Patent number: 9878678Abstract: A camera module for automobiles is disclosed. The camera module includes a lens unit, a housing, in front of which the lens unit is disposed, and a plurality of printed circuit boards disposed in the housing so as to be opposite the lens unit, wherein the housing is provided at the inner wall thereof with a plurality of steps, the steps being provided between the respective printed circuit boards so as to be spaced apart from each other for setting the distance between the respective printed circuit boards.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2016Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.Inventor: Sung Ki Jung
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Patent number: 9838602Abstract: A method for controlling a camera mode is executed at a camera including a controller, a sensor array, an IR filter, and a lens assembly. The camera is operated in a night mode. While in the night mode the IR filter is not interposed between the lens assembly and the sensor array, the camera receives at the sensor array ambient light that is not filtered by the IR filter, determines whether the received ambient light is due to a light source other than an IR light source, and detects a light level of the received ambient light. The camera switches the operation of the camera from the night mode to a day mode when it is determined the received ambient light is due to a light source other than an IR light source and that the light level of the received ambient light exceeds a first threshold.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2017Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: GOOGLE INC.Inventors: Bill Duran, Adrian Mircea Proca
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Patent number: 9838630Abstract: An image sensor having photosites forming an array (K×L) of K rows and L columns, including a first set of integrator circuits, with a first regulation by analog weighting in blocks of n×n? photosites, said photosites belonging to n adjacent columns and to n? adjacent rows, and a second set of integrator circuits, with a second regulation by analog weighting in blocks of m×m? photosites, said photosites belonging to m adjacent columns and to m? adjacent rows, n adjacent columns of a first set of columns of the array being connected to n×n? integrator circuits of the first set, m adjacent columns of a second set of columns of the array being connected to m×m? integrator circuits of the second set, n columns of the first set alternating with m columns of the second set to form the array of photosites.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2014Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE-CNRS-Inventors: David Alleysson, Gilles Sicard
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Patent number: 9813632Abstract: A method for adjusting predetermined ISO-dependent image processing parameters for images captured by a digital camera includes measuring the exposure deviation in exposure units from an optimal exposure as determined by the camera during an image capture process, deriving an estimated camera sensitivity from the exposure deviation, and adjusting the ISO-dependent image processing parameters for images captured by the camera as a function of the derived estimated camera sensitivity.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2012Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Foveon, Inc.Inventor: Rastislav Lukac
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Patent number: 9813651Abstract: A solid-state imaging device according to the present disclosure includes pixels arranged two-dimensionally, each of the pixels including: a metal electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer that is on the metal electrode and converts light into an electrical signal; a transparent electrode on the photoelectric conversion layer; an electric charge accumulation region that is electrically connected to the metal electrode and accumulates electric charges from the photoelectric conversion layer; an amplifier transistor that applies a signal voltage according to an amount of the electric charges in the electric charge accumulation region; and a reset transistor that resets electrical potential of the electric charge accumulation region, in which the reset transistor includes a gate oxide film thicker than a gate oxide film of the amplifier transistor.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2014Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Mori, Hirohisa Ohtsuki, Yoshiyuki Ohmori, Yoshihiro Sato, Ryohei Miyagawa
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Patent number: 9800856Abstract: Systems and methods are described for generating restricted depth of field depth maps. In one embodiment, an image processing pipeline application configures a processor to: determine a desired focal plane distance and a range of distances corresponding to a restricted depth of field for an image rendered from a reference viewpoint; generate a restricted depth of field depth map from the reference viewpoint using the set of images captured from different viewpoints, where depth estimation precision is higher for pixels with depth estimates within the range of distances corresponding to the restricted depth of field and lower for pixels with depth estimates outside of the range of distances corresponding to the restricted depth of field; and render a restricted depth of field image from the reference viewpoint using the set of images captured from different viewpoints and the restricted depth of field depth map.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2016Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: FotoNation Cayman LimitedInventors: Kartik Venkataraman, Semyon Nisenzon, Priyam Chatterjee, Gabriel Molina
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Patent number: 9794467Abstract: A focus adjustment apparatus includes an imaging unit, a first detection unit, a second detection unit, and a control unit. The imaging unit receives and photoelectrically converts a light flux passed through a photographing optical system including a focus lens. The first detection unit detects a phase difference between a pair of image signals output from the imaging unit. The second detection unit detects contrast information from a signal output from the imaging unit. The control unit controls driving of the focus lens based on a detection result of at least one of the first detection unit and the second detection unit. If the detection result of the first detection unit satisfies a first condition, the control unit controls driving of the focus lens by using the detection result of the first detection unit, and changes the first condition according to the contrast information detected by the second detection unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2014Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideyasu Hongu, Makoto Yokozeki, Kazunori Ishii
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Patent number: 9794452Abstract: Noise is sufficiently reduced in a moving image. A determination section determines, each time an input image is input, whether a change amount of a pixel value distribution in the input image and an output image that is output is smaller than a predetermined threshold value. A mixing ratio supply section supplies a value that becomes larger as the number of times the change amount is sequentially determined to be smaller than the predetermined threshold value becomes larger, the value serving as a mixing ratio of the output image in mixing of the input image and the output image. A mixing section mixes, each time the input image is input, the input image and the output image based on the supplied mixing ratio and outputs the input image and the output image to serve as a new output image.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2014Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventor: Hirosuke Nagano
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Patent number: 9774765Abstract: An image acquisition system is operated to provide an image that is relatively free of the effect of longitudinal chromatic aberration. The system includes a variable focal length lens (e.g., a tunable acoustic gradient index of refraction lens) that is operated to periodically modulate a focus position. First, second, third, etc., wavelength image exposure contributions are provided by operating an illumination system to provide instances of strobed illumination of first, second, third, etc., wavelengths (e.g., green, blue, red, etc.) timed to correspond with respective phase timings of the periodically modulated focus position which focus the respective wavelength image exposure contributions at the same focus plane. The respective phase timings of the periodically modulated focus position compensate for longitudinal chromatic aberration of at least the variable focal length lens.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2015Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: Mitutoyo CorporationInventors: Robert Kamil Bryll, Mark Lawrence Delaney
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Patent number: 9772229Abstract: A spectral camera for producing a spectral output is disclosed. The spectral camera has an objective lens for producing an image, an optical duplicator, an array of filters, and a sensor array arranged to detect the filtered image copies simultaneously on different parts of the sensor array. Further, a field stop defines an outline of the image copies projected on the sensor array. The filters are integrated on the sensor array, which has a planar structure without perpendicular physical barriers for preventing cross talk between each of the adjacent optical channels. The field stop enables adjacent image copies to fit together without gaps for such barriers. The integrated filters mean there is no parasitic cavity causing crosstalk between the adjacent image copies. This means there is no longer a need for barriers between adjacent projected image copies, and thus sensor area can be better utilized.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2014Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: IMECInventors: Bert Geelen, Andy Lambrechts, Klaas Tack
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Patent number: 9766380Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention actively align a lens stack array with an array of focal planes to construct an array camera module. In one embodiment, a method for actively aligning a lens stack array with a sensor that has a focal plane array includes: aligning the lens stack array relative to the sensor in an initial position; varying the spatial relationship between the lens stack array and the sensor; capturing images of a known target that has a region of interest using a plurality of active focal planes at different spatial relationships; scoring the images based on the extent to which the region of interest is focused in the images; selecting a spatial relationship between the lens stack array and the sensor based on a comparison of the scores; and forming an array camera subassembly based on the selected spatial relationship.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2016Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: FotoNation Cayman LimitedInventors: Jacques Duparre, Andrew Kenneth John McMahon, Dan Lelescu
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Patent number: 9769382Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes at least one image sensor, and a processor for generating a plurality of images having different noise characteristics through the at least one image sensor, and combining the plurality of images.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2015Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Dong-Soo Kim, Hwa-Yong Kang, Young-Kwon Yoon, Jian Chang
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Patent number: 9756265Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an image obtaining unit configured to obtain an input image, an extraction unit configured to extract from the input image one or more regions corresponding to one or more objects included in a foreground of the operation surface in accordance with the reflected positional information and positional information of the operation surface in the space, a region specifying unit configured to specify an isolation region, which is not in contact with a boundary line which defines a predetermined closed region in the input image, from among the one or more regions extracted by the extraction unit, and a recognition unit configured to recognize an adjacency state of a predetermined instruction object relative to the operation surface in accordance with the positional information reflected from the portion corresponding to the isolation region as specified by the region specifying unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hideo Kuboyama
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Patent number: 9733451Abstract: A dome camera includes a camera body rotatable and including a lens system and an imaging device, a correction optical system having a curved shape, and a dome cover covering the camera body and the correction optical system. The correction optical system performs at least any one of tilt, decenter, and rotation in accordance with a rotation angle of the camera body.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2016Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventor: Takuya Imaoka
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Patent number: 9729769Abstract: The present invention provides the following camera. A first camera-side contact pin is a pin corresponding to detection of a signal change caused by coupling of a camera accessory. A second camera-side contact pin is a pin corresponding to supply of power for communication with the coupled camera accessory. A third camera-side contact pin is a pin corresponding to supply of a driving force to an actuator of the camera accessory. The first, second, and third camera-side contact pins are disposed in such a manner that, when a camera-side mount shifts from a first state to a second state, the third camera-side contact pin contacts first and second accessory-side contact surfaces, the second camera-side contact pin contacts the first accessory-side contact surface, and the first camera-side contact pin does not contact the second and third accessory-side contact surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2013Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tatsuyuki Tokunaga, Takashi Hasegawa, Tetsuya Nishio, Yoshihiko Konno, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Azusa Sugawara
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Patent number: 9712738Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, machine, device, manufacture, circuit, composition of matter, and/or user interface adapted for and/or resulting from, and/or a method and/or machine-readable medium comprising machine-implementable instructions for, activities that can comprise and/or relate to, via a device comprising an electro-active lens, automatically acquiring at least two images of a scene.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2013Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: e-Vision Smart Optics, Inc.Inventor: Anthony Van Heugten
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Patent number: 9706089Abstract: Techniques of shifting the lens stack from an image capture sensor within a smart device and/or mobile device are disclosed. The shifting of the center of the lens stack from the center of the sensor allows the Field of View (FOV) of such a camera assembly to have an angle from the normal and/or perpendicular direction from the surface of the device. Such an angle allows the FOV to be substantially horizontal and/or parallel to a surface when the device is held (e.g. by a kickstand) at a similar angle from the vertical direction. When the front of the lens stack is substantially at a front surface of the device and the sensor is attached to a back surface of the device, then the Total Track Length (TTL) is substantially the depth of the device.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2013Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: Douglas Beck, Todd Schoepflin, Chun Beng Goh, Hakon Strande, Raymond Cheng Hui Xue
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Patent number: 9703114Abstract: An image stabilizer includes a support member, a movable member holding a correcting member and rotatable relative to the support member around a first rotating axis, which intersects with an optical axis, or a second rotating axis, which intersects with both the optical axis and the first rotating axis, and a restricting member which rotatably holds the movable member around the first rotating axis and restricts rotation of the movable member around the second rotating axis. The support member rotatably holds the restricting member around the second rotating axis along with the movable member and restricts rotation of the restricting member relative to the support member around the first rotating axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2015Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiromu Yasuda
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Patent number: 9704250Abstract: A plurality of depth planes corresponding to a scene within a field of view of a camera of a computing device can be computed based on stereographic techniques, infrared transceivers, ultrasonic transceivers, among other approaches. The depth planes can be utilized to independently meter subject matter of interest (e.g., person, object, region, etc.) corresponding to each depth plane to obtain image statistics for each depth plane. The image statistics can be analyzed to determine optimal settings (e.g., focus, exposure, white balance, etc.) for each depth plane, and a camera can be configured to acquire image data according to the optimal settings for one or more of the depth planes. Further, the image statistics can be leveraged for processing portions of the image data that are not optimized during capture. Thus, a final image can reflect optimizations for multiple subject matter of interest located at various distances from a computing device.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2014Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Vivek Shah, Robert James Hanson, Nicholas Ryan Gilmour