Patents Examined by Hung H. Lam
  • Patent number: 11979654
    Abstract: A portable information device includes: an image sensor; a position information acquisition portion that outputs position information; an orientation sensor; and a display that displays an image of an object output from the image sensor and displays relevant information on the object, the relevant information on the object being obtained based on at least measurement data from the position information acquisition portion and the orientation sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideya Inoue, Toru Iwaoka, Michiko Noborisaka, Masayuki Hatori, Tomohide Hamada
  • Patent number: 11979671
    Abstract: A wearable apparatus including a camera and a method of controlling the same is provided. The method includes determining a vision processing process to be performed on each of image frames obtained at a first frame rate, determining a dummy image frame on which the vision processing process is not to be performed, applying, to a camera, a camera setting corresponding to a vision processing process to be performed on a current image frame, obtaining the current image frame according to the applied camera setting, outputting the obtained current image frame from the camera, and setting an exposure time of the camera setting to be less than or equal to an threshold value or changing the first frame rate to a second frame rate in response to the current image frame being the dummy image frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jina Jeon, Doukyoung Song, Joonyoung Song
  • Patent number: 11979650
    Abstract: An image acquisition device according to an embodiment includes: a body; a seat part provided on a lower part of the body; a substrate disposed on the seat part inside the body and having a plurality of light sources; and a light source angle forming part disposed on the substrate inside the body. The substrate may be provided on the seat part in the form of a planar plate, and an outer peripheral portion of the substrate may be bent so that the light sources are directed toward one focal point by the seat part and the light source angle forming part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: MEDIVEL BIO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bo Sun Kwon, Jun Hwan Lee
  • Patent number: 11967048
    Abstract: Provided are methods, performed by an electronic device, for processing an image. The method includes obtaining a first image by photographing a subject. The method further includes obtaining a depth image including information related to a distance from the electronic device to the subject. The method further includes determining whether light reflection exists in the first image. The method further includes obtaining depth information indicating the distance from the electronic device to the subject. The method further includes obtaining a second image by photographing the subject in an activated state of a flash. The method further includes performing pre-processing for matching the first image, the second image, and the depth image. The method further includes obtaining the image from which the light reflection has been removed using at least one of the pre-processed first image, the pre-processed second image, or the pre-processed depth image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sakib Reza, Arup Kumar Sarker, Redwanul Haque Sourave
  • Patent number: 11953755
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include techniques for maintaining multiple cameras in focus on same objects and/or at same distances. In some examples, a subordinate camera may be configured to focus based on the focus of a primary camera. For instance, a focus relationship between the primary camera and the subordinate camera may be determined. The focus relationship may characterize the trajectory of the lens position of the subordinate camera with respect to the lens position of the primary camera. In various examples, the focus relationship may be updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Baer, Andrew David Fernandez, Santiago Alban
  • Patent number: 11954866
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a movement estimation unit that estimates, on the basis of a first timestamp provided to an image captured by synchronous scanning, an event signal generated corresponding to an intensity change of light at one or a plurality of pixels of the image, and a second timestamp that is provided to the event signal and is in synchronism with the first timestamp, a movement of an imaging target in the image, an inverse filter generation unit that generates an inverse filter on the basis of the movement, and a filter application unit that applies the inverse filter to the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Hiromasa Naganuma, Masakazu Hayashi, Yosuke Kurihara
  • Patent number: 11956556
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging element including an imaging surface on which light from a subject is incident; an imaging unit that supports the imaging element in a state where the imaging surface faces forward; a casing including a through hole in a front surface and accommodating the imaging unit in a state where a front side portion of the imaging unit passes through the through hole so as to protrude from the front surface; and an actuator that is provided in the casing and displaces the imaging unit in a direction intersecting a normal direction of the imaging surface. The imaging unit includes a flange portion extending outward from the front side portion of the imaging unit so as to cover at lease part pf a gap between the through hole of the casing and the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kuroki
  • Patent number: 11950005
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a photoelectric conversion element that is disposed on a semiconductor substrate and generates signal charges by photoelectric conversion; a first diffusion layer that holds signal charges transferred from the photoelectric conversion element; a capacitive element that holds signal charges overflowing from the photoelectric conversion element; an amplifier transistor that outputs a signal according to the signal charges in the first diffusion layer; a first contact that is connected to the first diffusion layer; a second contact that is connected to a gate of the amplifier transistor; and a first wire that connects the first contact and the second contact. A shortest distance between the semiconductor substrate and the first wire is less than a shortest distance between the semiconductor substrate and the capacitive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION JAPAN
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Amikawa, Makoto Ikuma, Kazutoshi Onozawa
  • Patent number: 11943557
    Abstract: An image sensor module includes an image sensor configured to generate image data and memory including at least a memory bank storing the image data and a processor-in-memory (PIM) circuit, the PIM circuit including a plurality of processing elements. The memory is configured to read the image data from the memory bank; generate optical flow data and pattern density data using the plurality of processing elements, the optical flow data indicating time-sequential motion of at least one object included in the image data, and the pattern density data indicating a density of a pattern of the image data; and output the image data, the optical flow data, and the pattern density data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byeoungsu Kim, Sangsoo Ko, Kyoungyoung Kim, Sanghyuck Ha
  • Patent number: 11924561
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods of rendering content based on a control point of a camera device are disclosed. In an example, a marker is attached to the camera device and its pose is tracked over time. Based on a camera model of the camera device, an offset between the marker and the control point is determined. The tracked pose of the marker can be translated and/or rotated according to the offset to estimate a pose of the control point. The rendering of the content is adjusted over time based on the estimated poses of the control point. Upon presentation of the content in a real-world space (e.g., on a display assembly located therein), the camera device can capture the content along with other objects of the real-world space and generate a video stream thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignees: Nant Holdings, LLC, NantStudios, LLC
    Inventors: Liudmila A. Beziaeva, Gary Marshall, Adolfo Sanchez, Juan Alfredo Nader Delgado
  • Patent number: 11917286
    Abstract: Systems, methods, devices and non-transitory, computer-readable storage mediums are disclosed for a wearable multimedia device and cloud computing platform with an application ecosystem for processing data captured by the wearable multimedia device. In an embodiment, operations performed by the wearable multimedia device or cloud computing platform include obtaining an image captured using a camera coupled to a wearable multimedia device; comparing the image to one or more known images; identifying one or more target features in the image; generating a new image comprising a portion of the image that includes the one or more target features; and providing the new image to the wearable multimedia device for presentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Humane, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Luke Kocienda, Imran A. Chaudhri
  • Patent number: 11917279
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes: a plurality of lens portions that forms respective images of an object; a plurality of filters disposed on respective optical axes of the plurality of lens portions; and a holding member holding the plurality of lens portions and the plurality of filters, in which the plurality of filters includes a first filter and a second filter mutually different in transmission characteristic, and in which the holding member includes a first mount portion and is detachably mountable to an imaging apparatus via the first mount portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tsubasa Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11910117
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging element and an electronic apparatus that can achieve a higher image quality. The imaging element includes a pixel having a global drive portion in which all rows are driven at a same timing and a rolling drive portion in which each row is driven at a corresponding timing, a pixel array region in which a plurality of the pixels is placed in an array, a global drive circuit configured to supply a drive signal to the global drive portion, and a rolling drive circuit configured to supply a drive signal to the rolling drive portion. Further, the global drive circuit is placed on each of at least three or more sides of four sides surrounding the pixel array region. The present technology is applicable to a stacked CMOS image sensor, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusaku Sugimori
  • Patent number: 11910118
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a first opening to an electric charge, a second photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a second opening which is smaller than the first opening to an electric charge, and a signal output wiring that outputs a first signal generated by the electric charge converted by the first photoelectric conversion unit and a second signal generated by the electric charge converted by the second photoelectric conversion unit. The second photoelectric conversion unit is disposed between the second opening and the signal output wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata
  • Patent number: 11902638
    Abstract: Imaging systems and methods that enable multiple detectors to be used to capture multiple component images that can be fused to create a composite image of a scene, without introducing gaps in that composite image in areas corresponding to the boundaries of the detectors, are provided. The system includes imaging optics, such as a telescope, that at least in part define an optical path extending between an exit pupil and a focal plane. Field segmentation optics are located within the optical path, to create multiple, partially overlapping component images. At least one detector is provided to produce an image signal representing each of the component images. A composite image is then formed by registering and fusing the component images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Joshua Eskin
  • Patent number: 11871108
    Abstract: A method and system for continuously supplying power to an image capture device during an image capture session are disclosed. The image capture device includes an integrated internal battery located internal to the image capture device and a removable battery connected to the image capture device. Power is provided to the image capture device from the removable battery. When the removable battery is disconnected from the image capture device, power is provided to the image capture device from the integrated internal battery. When a new removable battery is connected to the image capture device, power is provided to the image capture device from the new removable battery. Power is continuously supplied to the image capture device from the integrated internal battery while the removable battery is disconnected and replaced with the new removable battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Shiva Kumar Belavadi Mallegowda, Naveen Chinya Krishnamurthy, Kevin Hinge, Rajesh Madhur, Joseph Tucker
  • Patent number: 11871126
    Abstract: The various embodiments illustrated herein disclose a method for operating an imaging device. the method includes activating a first image sensor at a first duty cycle within a first time period. The method further includes activating a second image sensor at a second duty cycle within the first time period. Additionally, the method includes modifying at least one of the first duty cycle or the second duty cycle based on at least a workflow associated an operator of the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Anthony Giordano, David M. Wilz, Jeffrey Dean Harper, Ka Man Au, Benjamin Hejl
  • Patent number: 11863857
    Abstract: A method includes: determining a target object in a photographed image to track the target object; determining, based on shooting information of a photographing device carried by a movable object, a location of the target object to continuously record the location of the target object; and in response to a disappearance of the target object in the photographed image, controlling, according to the recorded location of the target object prior to the disappearance of the target object, an attitude of the photographing device such that the photographing device continues to photograph in a direction from the photographing device to the location of the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jie Qian, Haonan Li, Cong Zhao
  • Patent number: 11863880
    Abstract: Methods, systems, apparatuses, and computer-readable storage mediums described herein are configured to fuse image frames captured by a camera to generate an image frame having high dynamic range and reduced amount of noise. For instance, after a shutter button of the camera is activated, one or more history image frames captured during a preview mode of the camera (e.g., before the shutter button is activated) are compared to a highlight recovery frame captured after the shutter button is activated to determine a level of similarity therebetween. The history image frame(s) may be captured with a first exposure value, and the highlight recovery frame may be captured with a second exposure value that is different than the first exposure value. History image frame(s) that are determined to be relatively similar to the highlight recovery frame are combined with the highlight recovery frame to generate the image frame having high dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Tomi Marko Juhani Sokeila, Ari Väinö Johannes Partinen
  • Patent number: 11863881
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, apparatus, methods, and computer-readable media that support multi-frame depth-of-field (MF-DOF) for deblurring background regions of interest (ROIs), such as background faces, that may be blurred due to a large aperture size or other characteristics of the camera used to capture the image frame. The processing may include the use of two image frames obtained at two different focus points corresponding to the multiple ROIs in the image frame. The corrected image frame may be determined by deblurring one or more ROIs of the first image frame using an AI-based model and/or local gradient information. The MF-DOF may allow selectively increasing a depth-of-field (DOF) of an image to provide focused capture of multiple regions of interest, without causing a reduction in aperture (and subsequently an amount of light available for photography) or background blur that may be desired for photography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Wen-Chun Feng, Yu-Ren Lai, Hsin Yueh Chang