Patents Examined by Fayez A Bhuiyan
  • Patent number: 11310451
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an image sensor having a plurality of pixels that form regions of interest (ROIs), analog-to-digital converter (ADC) banks, and multiplexers. Each respective multiplexer is electrically connected to (i) a corresponding ADC bank and (ii) a corresponding subset of the ROIs. The apparatus also includes control circuitry configured to obtain a full-resolution image of an environment by electrically connecting, by way of the multiplexers, each respective ADC bank to the associated respective ROI. The control circuitry is also configured to select a particular ROI based on the full-resolution image and obtain a plurality of ROI images of the particular ROI by (i) electrically connecting, to the particular ROI, a first ADC bank associated with the particular ROI and a second ADC bank associated with another ROI and (ii) digitizing pixels of the particular ROI by way of parallel operation of the first and second ADC banks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Lucian Ion, Nirav Dharia, Vlad Cardei
  • Patent number: 11310436
    Abstract: Systems and methods for moving image capture from video displays that use pulse width modulation (PWM) control are disclosed. In particular, systems and methods for synchronizing display and camera timing so as to reduce or eliminate artifacts appearing in the captured moving images due to unsynchronized interaction between camera shutter/exposure timing and the timing of the display PWM control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: H2V4 Holdco, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Hochman, Christopher S. Byrne
  • Patent number: 11303869
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus has: a WB processing circuit that performs a plurality of kinds of WB processing for an input image that is undeveloped and captured by an image capturing element in which pixels of a plurality of colors are arranged in a mosaic pattern under a predetermined rule; filter circuits that perform color interpolation processing by referring to the input image and a signal subjected to WB processing and generate images of respective color signals whose color ratio is equivalent to that of the input image; and resizing circuits that resize the generated images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kaori Tajima
  • Patent number: 11297259
    Abstract: A finder apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an optical finder for observing an optical image of a subject using an eyepiece portion, a display device that displays information, a half mirror that is arranged on an optical path of the optical finder, an electronically variable ND filter that is inserted on a subject side from the half mirror on the optical path of the optical finder, a brightness information acquisition unit that acquires brightness information of external light, a brightness measurement unit that measures brightness of the incident external light, and a transmittance calculation unit that calculates transmittance of the electronically variable ND filter in real time based on the measured brightness and the acquired brightness information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuki Ishida
  • Patent number: 11290657
    Abstract: A finder apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an optical finder for observing an optical image of a subject using an eyepiece portion, a display device that displays information, a half mirror that is arranged on an optical path of the optical finder, an electronically variable ND filter that is inserted on a subject side from the half mirror on the optical path of the optical finder and is divided into a plurality of regions, a brightness information acquisition unit that acquires brightness information of external light, a brightness measurement unit that measures brightness of incident light for each of the plurality of regions, and a transmittance calculation unit that calculates transmittance of the electronically variable ND filter for each of the plurality of regions based on the measured brightness and the acquired brightness information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuki Ishida
  • Patent number: 11284024
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device, a driving method, and an electronic device that are able to enhance a gray scale of a combined pixel value obtained from a pixel including a plurality of photoelectric conversion units having different light receiving sensitivities. In a pixel array unit, a pixel including a plurality of photoelectric conversion units having different light receiving sensitivities is disposed. An analog to digital (AD) conversion unit that compares an electric signal corresponding to a charge of the photoelectric conversion unit having a low light receiving sensitivity among the plurality of photoelectric conversion units included in the pixel of the pixel array unit with a nonlinear reference signal that changes nonlinearly to perform AD conversion on the electric signal. The present technology is able to be applied to, for example, a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Kawazu, Atsushi Suzuki, Takumi Oka
  • Patent number: 11265503
    Abstract: A differential amplifier circuit amplifies a difference between an input analog signal and a ramp signal which changes over time and outputs a difference signal. An amplifying element amplifies the difference signal and outputs the same as an amplified signal. A time measuring unit measures a length of a conversion period until a level of the analog signal substantially coincides with a level of the ramp signal on the basis of a level of the amplified signal and outputs the same as a digital signal obtained by converting the analog signal. One end of a capacitor is connected to one of an input terminal and a predetermined connection terminal of the amplifying element. A switch connects the other end of the capacitor to the other of the input terminal or the predetermined connection terminal in the conversion period, and disconnects the other end outside the conversion period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihito Nagawa
  • Patent number: 11252335
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus of the present invention for processing image data obtained by an image capturing apparatus comprises one or more processors and/or circuitry which functions as: an output unit that outputs the image data obtained by the image capturing apparatus and maximum luminance information which is information for indicating a maximum luminance of the image data to an external device; an acquisition unit that acquires a maximum luminance that the image capturing apparatus is capable of handling; and a control unit that controls the output unit to output the maximum luminance acquired by the acquisition unit as the maximum luminance information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryosuke Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11245857
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to generate a high-dynamic-range image with fewer pseudo-contours. An apparatus of the present invention generates a high-dynamic-range image and includes a setting unit for setting an imaging condition for each region that constitutes an image. The apparatus includes a setting unit configured to set an exposure condition for the region and a correcting unit configured to correct the set exposure condition so that a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value out of the set exposure condition is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11233942
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises a first shake detection unit configured to detect a translation component of a shake in a first axial direction; a second shake detection unit configured to detect a rotational component of a shake about a second axis; a third shake detection unit configured to detect a rotational component of a shake about a third axis; a first acquisition unit configured to acquire a first shake correction amount from an output signals of the first and second shake detection units, and acquire a second shake correction amount from an output signals of the first and third shake detection units; and a second acquisition unit configured to calculate a translational shake amount in the first axial direction using the first shake correction amount and the second shake correction amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomomi Uesugi
  • Patent number: 11233947
    Abstract: Provided are an imaging apparatus capable of ensuring favorable visibility of display in a finder from when power is applied, a finder display control method of the imaging apparatus, and a finder display control program of the imaging apparatus. A viewfinder (30), which superimposes a display of a finder LCD (36) on an optical image of a subject observed through an observation optical system (32), includes a variable ND filter (40) that adjusts the light amount of the optical image of the subject. While power of the digital camera is turned off, information about the time is acquired, and the target transmittance of the variable ND filter (40) is updated on the basis of the information about the transmittance determined for each time zone. In a case where the target transmittance is updated, the variable ND filter (40) is driven to change the transmittance of the variable ND filter (40) to the target transmittance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kosuke Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11233949
    Abstract: A CPU performs an amount-of-exposure control process to thereby function as a first control unit that controls the exposure time of pixels to control the amount of exposure of the pixels for each of a plurality of division regions obtained by dividing a captured image and as a second control unit that controls the light transmittance of an ND filter to adjust the difference in amount of exposure between the plurality of division regions for each of which the amount of exposure is controlled by controlling the exposure time. On a touch panel display, the captured image obtained with the amount of exposure controlled by the CPU in accordance with a combination of the exposure time and the light transmittance of the ND filter is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Fujikawa, Mototada Otsuru
  • Patent number: 11228716
    Abstract: A camera system includes a camera, a processor, and a memory. In response to a first commissioning signal, the camera system records a first image comprising a token in a first position. In response to a second commissioning signal, the camera system records a second image comprising the token in a second position. In response to a third commissioning signal, the camera system records a third image comprising the token in a third position. The camera system computes a field of interest boundary for a visual field of the camera system based on the first position, the second position, and the third position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: SIGNIFY HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Brian J. Soderholm
  • Patent number: 11201998
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprises an imaging element configured to have a plurality of photoelectric conversion units for each of a plurality of pixels arranged in a row direction and a column direction; at least one processor and memory holding a program which makes the processor function as: an acquisition unit configured to acquire an imaging signal based on a light beam that has passed through the entire pupil region of an imaging optical system and a first image signal based on a light beam that has passed through a part of the pupil region of the imaging optical system from the pixels; and a calculation unit configured to calculate a phase difference by using the imaging signal and the first image signal, wherein the calculation unit calculates the phase difference based on the first image signal and the imaging signal in the row that is the same as the first image signal or a neighboring row of the first image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Shoda, Hideyuki Hamano
  • Patent number: 11201997
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device, a driving method, and an electronic apparatus that can suppress a decrease in signal reading speed of the solid-state imaging device. A solid-state imaging device according to a first aspect of the present technology includes a pixel array unit in which a plurality of pixels is arrayed, a signal processing unit configured to perform a signal process including at least A/D conversion on a noise signal and a data signal read from the pixel, and a memory unit configured to retain a signal obtained in the signal process, in which the signal processing unit records the noise signal obtained from a predetermined frame in the memory unit, and performs the signal process of the data signal obtained from a frame after the predetermined frame by using the noise signal recorded in the memory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Norihiro Ichimaru, Masao Zen
  • Patent number: 11196978
    Abstract: A digital camera system includes an optical assembly to gather light from a desired scene, a modular imaging subsystem aligned with the optical assembly, and an image processing, recording and display subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Silicon Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Ari M. Presler
  • Patent number: 11190683
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus comprises an image sensor and an adjustment circuit that adjusts a drive timing of the image sensor. The adjustment circuit, in a case where a second drive time period, which is a drive time period of the image sensor for still image shooting, overlaps with a first drive time period, which is a drive time period of the image sensor for moving image shooting, changes a start timing of the second drive time period to a timing that is based on a movement direction and a movement amount of a main subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryosuke Tanaka, Yuya Ebata
  • Patent number: 11184539
    Abstract: An intelligent dual-lens photographing device and a photographing method is provided. The photographing device includes a first photographing module, a second photographing module, a shutter, a first driving mechanism, a second driving mechanism, a third driving mechanism, and a controller. The shutter is connected to the second photographing module. The first photographing module and the second photographing module are driven by the first driving mechanism to horizontally rotate synchronously. The first photographing module and the second photographing module are driven by the second driving mechanism to rotate around horizontal axis synchronously. The second photographing module is driven by the third driving mechanism to horizontally move and/or pitching independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventor: Jiazhi Chen
  • Patent number: 11178327
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a first operation member provided on a first surface; a second operation member provided on a second surface; a first display provided on the first surface; a second display provided on the second surface; and a memory and at least one processor and/or at least one circuit to perform the operations of: a control unit configured to control so as to, in response to a display instruction of a guide display indicating functions assigned to operation members, cause the first display to perform display indicating at least a function assigned to the first operation member, and cause the second display to perform display indicating a function assigned to the second operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryosuke Shoda
  • Patent number: 11165838
    Abstract: A curation system may be used by a number of collaborative users in order to capture and manage audio and video content. Content is captured by a capture device and streamed in near real-time to a storage and management server. The management server is configured to provide interfaces to remote collaborative users via computers and other devices to allow content to be viewed as it is captured, or after it is captured. Collaborative users may also modify content by submitting metadata to be associated with content in order to add comments, keywords, clips, notes, and other organizational and classifying information to sections of the content. The server is also configured to transcribe audio and video content, and associate transcription metadata with the content to allow it to be further captioned, searched, and organized. Shared interfaces allow users to collaboratively edit and publish content while minimizing wasted effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Curator Video, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Schrantz, Michael Ball, Gus Valen