Patents Examined by Gevell V Selby
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Patent number: 11641519Abstract: A focus detection device includes: an imaging unit having a first and second pixel each of which receives light transmitted through an optical system and outputs signal used for focus detection, and a third pixel which receives light transmitted through the optical system and outputs signal used for image generation; an input unit to which information regarding the optical system is input; a selection unit that selects one of the first and second pixel based on the information to the input unit; a readout unit that reads out the signal from one of the first and second pixel based on a selection result at a timing different from reading out the signal from the third pixel to be read out; and a focus detection unit that performs the focus detection based on at least one of the signals of the first and second pixel read out by the readout unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2019Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: NIKON CORPORATIONInventors: Sinsuke Sambongi, Akira Kinoshita, Yuki Kita
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Patent number: 11641527Abstract: An image sensor having a shield including, for example, a metal, is above an electrical charge storage element in a pixel region to block light incident toward the electrical charge storage element, thereby making it possible to reduce or prevent reading a charge value including leakage charge introduced to the electrical charge storage element, and thus adversely affecting an image result.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2020Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: DB HiTek, Co., Ltd.Inventors: Woo-Sung Choi, Man-Lyun Ha, Ju-Il Lee
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Patent number: 11637975Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid state image sensor and electronic equipment that enable degradation in image quality of a captured image to be suppressed even if any pixel in a pixel array is configured as a functional pixel for obtaining desired information in order to obtain information different from a normal image. In a plurality of pixels constituting subblocks provided in an RGB Bayer array constituting a block which is a set of color units, normal pixels that capture a normal image are arranged longitudinally and laterally symmetrically within the subblock, and functional pixels for obtaining desired information other than capturing an image are arranged at the remaining positions. The present disclosure can be applied to a solid state image sensor.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2022Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATIONInventor: Daisuke Miyakoshi
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Patent number: 11637983Abstract: An image sensor includes a CIS (CMOS image sensor) pixel, a DVS (dynamic vision sensor) pixel, and an image signal processor. The CIS pixel includes a photoelectric conversion device generating charges corresponding to an incident light and a readout circuit generating an output voltage corresponding to the generated charges. The DVS pixel detects a change in an intensity of the incident light based on the generated charges to output an event signal and does not include a separate photoelectric conversion device. The image signal processor allows the photoelectric conversion device to be connected to the readout circuit or the DVS pixel.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Yunjae Suh, Junseok Kim, Hyunsurk Ryu, Keun Joo Park, Masamichi Ito
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Patent number: 11631712Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device including an effective pixel region including a plurality of effective pixels and a peripheral region provided outside the effective pixel region, the photoelectric conversion device comprising: a wiring layer; an upper electrode; and a photoelectric conversion film provided extensively over the effective pixel region and the peripheral region, wherein each of the plurality of effective pixels includes a pixel electrode disposed between the wiring layer and the photoelectric conversion film in a depth direction, the peripheral region includes a conductive layer disposed between the wiring layer and the photoelectric conversion film in the depth direction, and the upper electrode and the conductive layer are at a same potential.Type: GrantFiled: February 10, 2021Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tatsuhito Goden
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Patent number: 11626431Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus comprises a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type arranged between a first surface and a second surface, a second semiconductor region of the first conductivity type arranged between the first surface and the second surface and configured to accumulate a signal charge generated by incident light, a third semiconductor region of the first conductivity type arranged between the first surface and the second surface, a fourth semiconductor region of the first conductivity type arranged between the first surface and the second surface and in contact with the third semiconductor region, a first transfer electrode arranged on the first surface, a semiconductor region of the second conductivity type arranged between the third semiconductor region and the second surface, and a semiconductor region of the second conductivity type arranged between the fourth semiconductor region and the second surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2021Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Mahito Shinohara, Hiroshi Sekine
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Patent number: 11627271Abstract: Disclosed is an image adjustment apparatus including a receiver which is configured to receive a first input image of an object which is time-synchronously captured and a second input image in which a motion event of the object is sensed time-asynchronously, and an adjuster which is configured to adjust the first input image and the second input image.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2021Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Keun Joo Park, Hyun Surk Ryu, Tae Chan Kim, Jun Haeng Lee
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Patent number: 11621285Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device and a driving method thereof, and an electronic apparatus that make it possible to improve the precision of phase difference detection while suppressing deterioration of resolution in a solid-state imaging device having a global shutter function and a phase difference AF function. Provided is a solid-state imaging device including: a pixel array unit including, as pixels including an on-chip lens, a photoelectric conversion unit, and a charge accumulation unit, imaging pixels for generating a captured image and phase difference detection pixels for performing phase difference detection arrayed therein; and a driving control unit configured to control driving of the pixels. The imaging pixel is formed with the charge accumulation unit shielded from light.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2021Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Jun Okuno, Kazuyoshi Yamashita
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Patent number: 11616917Abstract: Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure can help to automatically generate images displaying activity-based information and distribute such images to other users, such as members of a social network. The image may be modified based on activity data associated with other users and/or from other activity sensors.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2019Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: Snap Inc.Inventors: Sirong Chen, Xiaobin He, Youming Li, Zhimin Wang
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Patent number: 11617024Abstract: A method of determining a region of interest may include with a first image capturing device, determining a region of interest within a field of view common between the first image capturing device and a second image capturing device, the first image capturing device capturing an image at a lower resolution than the second image capturing device; determining a corner defining the region of interest; and upscaling the determined corner to match a corner within a field of view of an image captured by the second image capturing device.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2018Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Vijaykumar Nayak, Yun David Tang
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Patent number: 11606523Abstract: An image sensor, including a pixel array including a plurality of pixels connected to row lines extending in a first direction and column lines extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction; a ramp voltage generator configured to output a ramp voltage; a sampling circuit including a plurality of comparators, each comparator of the plurality of comparators having a first input terminal connected to a column of the column lines and a second input terminal configured to receive the ramp voltage; and an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert an output of the plurality of comparators to a digital signal, wherein the plurality of comparators include a first comparator connected to a first column line, and a second comparator connected to a second column line adjacent to the first column line in the first direction, wherein each of the first comparator and the second comparator includes a first transistor and a second transistor disposed sequentially in the second direction, and whereinType: GrantFiled: June 2, 2020Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Sunyool Kang, Yongjun Cho, Yunhwan Jung, Heesung Chae, Kyungmin Kim, Haesick Sul, Sukki Yoon
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Patent number: 11604330Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging element that captures an image for detecting a phase difference in a predetermined direction on an image surface in order to detect a focal state of an image formed by an image formation lens, an imaging element driving unit configured to be able to drive the imaging element in a parallel movement direction and a rotation direction within a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the image formation lens, and a focus detection unit configured to detect a focus by rotating the imaging element using the imaging element driving unit in accordance with a result of an image captured by the imaging element.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2021Date of Patent: March 14, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Sho Nagatsu, Haruhisa Ueda, Hitoshi Mizoguchi, Kazuaki Yamana, Jun Kamiya, Keisuke Fukuyo
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Patent number: 11600071Abstract: A visible light sensor may be configured to sense environmental characteristics of a space using an image of the space. The visible light sensor may be controlled in one or more modes, including a daylight glare sensor mode, a daylighting sensor mode, a color sensor mode, and/or an occupancy/vacancy sensor mode. In the daylight glare sensor mode, the visible light sensor may be configured to decrease or eliminate glare within a space. In the daylighting sensor mode and the color sensor mode, the visible light sensor may be configured to provide a preferred amount of light and color temperature, respectively, within the space. In the occupancy/vacancy sensor mode, the visible light sensor may be configured to detect an occupancy/vacancy condition within the space and adjust one or more control devices according to the occupation or vacancy of the space. The visible light sensor may be configured to protect the privacy of users within the space via software, a removable module, and/or a special sensor.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2017Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Craig Alan Casey, James P. Steiner
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Patent number: 11595741Abstract: A camera for detecting an object in a detection zone is provided that has an image sensor for recording image data, a reception optics having a focus adjustment unit for setting a focal position, a distance sensor for measuring a distance value from the object, and a control and evaluation unit connected to the distance sensor and the focus adjustment unit to set a focal position in dependence on the distance value, and to determine a distance value with the distance sensor via a variable measurement duration that is predefined in dependence on a provisional distance value such that a measurement error of the distance value and thus, on a recording of image data of the object, a focus deviation of the set focal position from an ideal focal position remains small enough for a required image sharpness of the image data.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: SICK AGInventors: Romain Müller, Tobias Pontiggia
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Patent number: 11595558Abstract: A crack measuring apparatus includes distance-measuring units, an image pickup unit having pixels the positions of which are identified on an imaging device, an infrared image pickup unit having pixels the positions of which are identified on an imaging device and having sensitivity to infrared rays, driving units, angle-measuring units, and an arithmetic control unit, the arithmetic control unit searches for a cracked portion from a temperature difference in an infrared image by turning the infrared image pickup unit, captures an image of the cracked portion by the image pickup unit and identifies a position of the cracked portion from a density difference in the captured image, measures the position of the cracked portion by the distance-measuring units and the angle-measuring units, and acquires three-dimensional absolute coordinates of the cracked portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2020Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: TOPCON CORPORATIONInventors: Takashi Tanaka, Takeshi Kikuchi
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Patent number: 11595561Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus for an infrared and visible imaging system. In some implementations, Image data from a visible-light camera is obtained. A position of a device is determined based at least in part on the image data from the visible-light camera. An infrared camera is positioned so that the device is in a field of view of the infrared camera, with the field of view of the infrared camera being narrower than the field of view of the visible-light camera. Infrared image data from the infrared camera that includes regions representing the device is obtained. Infrared image data from the infrared camera that represents the device is recorded. Position data is also recorded that indicates the location and pose of the infrared camera when the infrared image data is acquired by the infrared camera.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: X Development LLCInventors: Leo Francis Casey, Peter Light, Joel Fraser Atwater, Crystal Elayna Winston, Mehrdad Roosta, Siyuan Xin, Chetan Mahadeswaraswamy
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Patent number: 11586007Abstract: A camera module comprises: a movable lens including a first movable lens movably arranged in an optical axis direction, and a second movable lens arranged under the first movable lens; a fixed lens arranged under the movable lens; a driving unit including a body unit arranged on one side of the movable lens so as to move the movable lens in the optical axis direction; and a sensing unit for detecting the position of the movable lens, wherein the sensing unit respectively comprises: an upper sensing unit arranged on an upper end portion in the optical axis direction of the body unit; and a lower sensing unit arranged on a lower end portion in the optical axis direction of the body unit.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2019Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.Inventor: Chul Kim
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Patent number: 11588994Abstract: An imaging system has a imaging array on a semiconductor chip which also includes circuit the elements NPU and SRAM to rapidly identify target objects in the imaging data and output their high level representations with low power consumption.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2021Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: SmartSens Technology (HK) Co., LtdInventors: Xiaoyong Wang, Jin He
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Patent number: 11575859Abstract: An image sensor includes a Bayer pattern-type pixel array including a plurality of Bayer pattern-type extended blocks each having first to fourth pixel blocks, each of the first to fourth pixel blocks including first to fourth pixels, the first and fourth pixels of the first and fourth pixel blocks being configured to sense green light, the first and fourth pixels of the second and third pixel blocks being configured to sense red light and blue light, respectively, and the second and third pixels of the first to fourth pixel blocks being configured to sense white light, and a signal processing unit merging Bayer pattern color information generated from the first and fourth pixels of the first to fourth pixel blocks, and the Bayer pattern illuminance information generated from the second and third pixels of the first to fourth pixel blocks.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2021Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Heeryung Park, Juhyun Ko, Jinwoo Kim, Joonyoung Park, Jongmin You
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Patent number: 11570374Abstract: Devices, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed, describing an adaptive, subject-aware approach for image bracket selection and fusion, e.g., to generate high quality images in a wide variety of capturing conditions, including low light conditions. An incoming image stream may be obtained from an image capture device, comprising images captured using differing default exposure values, e.g., according to a predetermined pattern. When a capture request is received, it may be detected whether one or more human or animal subjects are present in the incoming image stream. If a subject is detected, an exposure time of one or more images selected from the incoming image stream may be reduced relative to its default exposure time. Prior to the fusion operation, one of the selected images may be designated a reference image for the fusion operation based, at least in part, on a sharpness score and/or a blink score of the image.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2021Date of Patent: January 31, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Hao Sun, Farhan A. Baqai, Giancarlo Todone, Gijesh Varghese, Morten Poulsen, Richard D. Seely, Richard J. Shields, Srivani Pinneli, Wu Cheng