Patents Examined by Gary C. Vieaux
  • Patent number: 11402726
    Abstract: A camera has a lens mount and an image sensor for sensing images. A holder of the camera can captively hold the image sensor such that the image sensor is moveable relative to the lens mount when the image sensor is not attached to the holder. The holder is further operable to fixedly hold the image sensor such that the image sensor is unmoveable relative to the lens mount at an aligned position of the image sensor when the image sensor is attached to the holder. The image sensor may be attached to a printed circuit board. The holder may include first and second rails comprising first and second printed circuit boards, respectively. The holder is then operable to fixedly hold the image sensor by the printed circuit board being soldered to at least one of the first and second printed circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Lucid Vision Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Bull, Alexander Rybolov, Roderick A. Barman, Masahiro Takada
  • Patent number: 11394860
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to an apparatus including multiple image sensors sharing one or more optical paths for imaging. An example method includes identifying whether a device including a first aperture, a first image sensor, a second image sensor, and an optical element is to be in a first device mode or a second device mode. The method also includes controlling the optical element based on the identified device mode. The optical element directs light from the first aperture to the first image sensor in a first optical element mode. Light from the first aperture is directed to the second image sensor when the optical element is in the second optical element mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael Kramer, Seyfullah Halit Oguz
  • Patent number: 11381734
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an electronic device having a collecting device and a display device. The collecting device includes a light sensing surface having a first shape to convert external light into an original image. The display device having a display area displaying a portion of the original image in a second shape. The first and second shapes are different shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: LENOVO (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ling Huang, Baotong Fang
  • Patent number: 11378866
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an imaging apparatus and an imaging method that permit capture of a bright image without using an expensive large-diameter lens. A mirror surface having an opening portion larger in area than an imaging element is formed at a former stage of the imaging element. The mirror surface concentrates light from a subject surface. The imaging apparatus captures an image formed by light that directly enters the imaging element and light that is reflected by the mirror surface and reconstructs a final image from the captured image. The present disclosure is applicable to an imaging apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ilya Reshetouski, Atsushi Ito, Hideki Oyaizu
  • Patent number: 11368626
    Abstract: A display control apparatus, in which a user can easily recognize “taste of bokeh” of a captured image before the image is recorded, is disclosed. The display control apparatus controls so as to display, together with a first item that indicates either one of a setting value of an F-number or a T-number, a second item that indicates information that relates to an F-number and an amount of variance of a T-number that correspond to a current setting value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taiki Mashimo, Takashi Kobayashi, Takashi Seki
  • Patent number: 11363176
    Abstract: A reflection module includes: a holder; and a reflective member mounted on the holder and including an incident surface, a reflective surface, and an emitting surface. The holder includes a cover portion covering a portion of the emitting surface. An area of the cover portion covering the emitting surface increases in a direction toward a lower portion of the emitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yeun Ho Jung, So Mi Yang, Jung Woo Kim, Jae Sun Lee
  • Patent number: 11356601
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods related to a Deep Learning Accelerator and memory are described. For example, a digital camera may be configured to execute instructions with matrix operands and configured with: a housing; a lens; an image sensor positioned behind the lens to generate image data of a field of view of the digital camera; random access memory to store instructions executable by the Deep Learning Accelerator and store matrices of an Artificial Neural Network; a transceiver; and a controller configured to generate, and communicate using the transceiver to a separate computer, a description of an item or event in the field of view captured in the image data, based on an output of the Artificial Neural Network receiving the image data as an input. The separate computer may selectively request a portion of image data from the digital camera based on the processing of the description.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Poorna Kale
  • Patent number: 11350021
    Abstract: A camera module according to one embodiment comprises: a housing including a through hole and a lens assembly disposed in the through hole toward a first surface on which light is incident; an infrared filter attached to a second surface of the housing, positioned on the opposite side of the first surface to shield inflow of infrared rays from the incident light; and an image sensor for recognizing the light passing through the infrared filter, wherein the infrared filter comprises: an effective filtering region for transmitting visible light; an attachment region attached by an adhesive applied to the second surface of the housing, for forming the exterior of the infrared filter; and a masking region formed between the attachment region and the effective filtering region, wherein the effective filtering region is formed to protrude from a vertex region and overlaps with a region in which the image sensor is positioned and the attachment region is formed as an area capable of securing adhesion with the second
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: The Anh Mai, Bongjin Chu
  • Patent number: 11343444
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus including at least one or more imaging units, and more particularly, to an imaging apparatus including at least one or more imaging units which includes at least one or more modules to perform modularization so that a time-slice imaging device may be installed, performs a light weight of the imaging units to solve difficulty in a process of connecting multiple heavy digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras to each other in order to realize a time-sliced image at a certain moment, achieves assembly simplicity and storage convenience through a structure that may be stored by separating the modules and a support, and achieves popularization of an imaging apparatus capable of capturing a time slice image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: LEEPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Doyub Lee
  • Patent number: 11336827
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens apparatus attachable to an imaging apparatus configured to move an image sensor in an image stabilization includes an imaging optical system, a storage unit configured to store image circle information including a relationship between an imaging condition and position information of an image circle of the imaging optical system, and a transmission unit configured to transmit at least part of the image circle information to the imaging apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigenobu Sugita, Kenji Saitsu, Masakazu Kodaira
  • Patent number: 11330161
    Abstract: A device includes a multi-aperture imaging device having an image sensor; an array of adjacently arranged optical channels, and a beam deflector for deflecting a beam path of the optical channels, wherein a relative position of the beam deflector is switchable between first and second positions so that in the first and second positions, the beam path is deflected towards first and second total fields of view, respectively. The device further includes controller adapted to control the beam deflector to move to the first and second positions to obtain imaging information of the first and second total fields of view, respectively, from the image sensor; and to insert a portion of the first imaging information into the second imaging information so as to obtain accumulated image information that in parts represents the first total field of view and in parts represents the second total field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Frank Wippermann, Andreas Brückner, Jacques Duparré
  • Patent number: 11330218
    Abstract: First and second readout circuits, each having a respective floating diffusion node, are coupled to a photodetection element within a pixel of an integrated-circuit image sensor. Following an exposure interval in which photocharge is accumulated within the photodetection element, a first portion of the accumulated photocharge is transferred from the photodetection element to the first floating diffusion node to enable generation of a first output signal within the first readout circuit, and a second portion of the accumulated photocharge is transferred from the photodetection element to the second floating diffusion node to enable generation of a second output signal within the second readout circuit. A digital pixel value is generated based on the first and second output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Gigajot Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiaju Ma, Saleh Masoodian
  • Patent number: 11310434
    Abstract: An image sensor, a camera module, and an electronic device are provided. The image sensor includes a pixel array and a control circuit. The pixel array includes a light sensing area and an imaging area. The light sensing area is configured to detect an illumination intensity, and the imaging area is configured to acquire an image. The control circuit is configured to receive a first instruction to control the light sensing area to detect an illumination intensity, and to receive a second instruction to control the imaging area to acquire an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Yibao Zhou, Jiao Cheng, Haiping Zhang
  • Patent number: 11310405
    Abstract: Multi-cameras and in particular dual-cameras comprising a Wide camera comprising a Wide lens and a Wide image sensor, the Wide lens having a Wide effective focal length EFLW and a folded or non-folded Tele camera comprising a Tele lens with a first optical axis, a Tele image sensor and an OPFE, wherein the Tele lens includes, from an object side to an image side, a first lens element group G1, a second lens element group G2 and a third lens element group G3, wherein at least two of the lens element groups are movable relative to the image sensor along the first optical axis to bring the Tele lens to a Macro state or to two zoom states, wherein an effective focal length (EFL) of the Tele lens is changed from EFLT,min in one zoom state to EFLT,max in the other zoom state, wherein EFLTmin>1.5×EFLW and wherein EFLTmax>1.5×EFLTmin. In the Macro state, the lens with EFLT,min allows for focusing on objects with short object-camera distances such as 5 cm. Actuators for enabling the movements are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg, Emil Bronstein, Itay Yedid, Roy Rudnick, Michael Dror, Gil Bachar, Yiftah Kowal
  • Patent number: 11310404
    Abstract: An imaging device, an imaging control method, an electronic apparatus, and a readable medium. The imaging device comprises: an image sensing assembly; a liquid crystal lens assembly provided with light control components corresponding to an image sensing component, wherein each of the light control components comprises a first liquid crystal component and a second liquid crystal component, which are arranged opposite each other, and the orientation of liquid crystal molecules in the first liquid crystal component is perpendicular to the orientation of liquid crystal molecules in the second liquid crystal component; and a processing assembly, wherein the processing assembly is respectively electrically connected to the image sensing assembly and the liquid crystal lens assembly, and is configured to adjust, according to a light receiving amount measured by the image sensing assembly, the voltage applied to the light control component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignees: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd., University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
    Inventors: Xuehui Zhu, Xiaoxi Chen, Junrui Zhang, Mao Ye, Lijia Zhou, Zhidong Wang, Shuang Du
  • Patent number: 11310414
    Abstract: An image capture system provides automated prompts for aiding a user in capturing images for use in 3D model creation. While a user is preparing to capture an image, the system provides visual indications that indicate whether a quality-based condition is satisfied. Based on the visual indications, a user can determine whether an image, if captured, would likely be suitable for use in creating a 3D model. Determining if the quality-based condition is satisfied may include monitoring output generated by one or more sensors and comparing the output against a threshold value. Additionally, the system may analyze the visual content or metadata associated with an image to determine if the quality-based condition is satisfied and request user input to further identify certain image features that were identified by the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Hover Inc.
    Inventors: Manish Upendran, William Castillo, Derek Halliday
  • Patent number: 11303857
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a pixel array including pixels including a first pixel and a second pixel, each of the pixels including a photoelectric converter that converts light into charge, the photoelectric converter including a first electrode, a second electrode facing the first electrode, and a photoelectric conversion layer between the first electrode and the second electrode; and an addition circuit that adds together a signal generated in the first pixel and a signal generated in the second pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sanshiro Shishido
  • Patent number: 11290639
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques that provide a “best” picture taken within a few seconds of the moment when a capture command is received (e.g., when the “shutter” button is pressed). In some situations, several still images are automatically (that is, without the user's input) captured. These images are compared to find a “best” image that is presented to the photographer for consideration. Video is also captured automatically and analyzed to see if there is an action scene or other motion content around the time of the capture command. If the analysis reveals anything interesting, then the video clip is presented to the photographer. The video clip may be cropped to match the still-capture scene and to remove transitory parts. Higher-precision horizon detection may be provided based on motion analysis and on pixel-data analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Doina I. Petrescu, Thomas T. Lay, Steven R. Petrie, Bill Ryan, Snigdha Sinha, Jeffrey S. Vanhoof
  • Patent number: 11290642
    Abstract: Provided an imaging system, an imaging apparatus and an image processing apparatus constituting the imaging system, an image processing method used in the image processing apparatus, and a non-transitory recording medium for causing a computer to implement the image processing method. According to the imaging apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention, an image of high image quality can be acquired (reconstructed) in the imaging system configured to include the imaging apparatus by acquiring first and second projected images using Fresnel zone plates having different phases of local spatial frequencies. In addition, the design parameters (pitches and the areas of the Fresnel zone plates, the number of pixels of image sensors, a distance between the Fresnel zone plates and the image sensors, and the like) can be selected without considering an effect of a noise component, and the number of restrictions on the design parameters is small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Naruse, Yasunobu Kishine
  • Patent number: 11283998
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that does not disturb an image pickup operation irrespective of an image pickup posture and is capable of reducing generation of image blur. The image pickup apparatus including a main body, a frame part, and at least one operating member. The main body has an image pickup lens. The frame part forms an opening together with a part of the main body and has an opening/closing member that opens/closes the opening. The operating member is used to enter a predetermined pickup instruction and is arranged in at least one of a first surface at an object side and a second surface opposite to the first surface that are parallel to an opening plane of the opening in the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Haruhisa Ueda, Nobuyuki Furukawa