Patents Examined by Mekonnen D Dagnew
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Patent number: 11750941Abstract: An imaging circuit includes plural pixel circuits which are arranged in a pixel array. Each of the plural pixel circuits includes an image sensing device which is configured to sense a normal imaging light shedding on the imaging circuit with a predetermined frame rate. At least a portion of the plural pixel circuits are first type pixel circuits. Each of the first type pixel circuit further includes a flicker sensing device. Plural flicker sensing devices in the pixel array are coupled in parallel to sense a flickering light shedding on the imaging circuit to generate a flicker indicating signal.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INCORPORATIONInventors: Wooi-Kip Lim, Shan-Chong Tan
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Patent number: 11736657Abstract: An image capturing device in the present embodiment has a configuration that is provided with an image splitting unit 21 and an edge extracting unit 22 that acquire the edge component for each block image that has been divided from an image captured by an image sensor 10, a resolution controlling unit 23 that writes each block image into a frame memory 30 with a resolution in accordance with the amount of its edge component, an image enlarging unit 24 that reads out at least one block image that corresponds to a selected region from the frame memory 30 and enlarges the block image with a magnification in accordance with the size of the selected region, and an enlarged output unit 45 that outputs the enlarged block image that corresponds to the selected region that is supplied from the image enlarging unit 24.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2020Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.Inventor: Takuhiro Shibuya
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Patent number: 11733589Abstract: A camera structure includes a support frame, a camera, a camera switch and a latch mechanism. The camera is supported by the support frame. The camera switch is spatially separated from the camera. The camera switch is configured to enable and disable the camera. The latch mechanism includes a slidable latch body and a cover and a connecting rod linking the latch body. The latch body is configured to move between a first position and a second position. When the latch body is at the first position, the camera is exposed from a first opening of the cover and the connecting rod interferes with the camera switch to enable the camera. When the latch body is at the second position, the cover shields the camera and the connecting rod moves away from the camera switch to enable the camera.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2022Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignees: Inventec (Pudong) Technology Corporation, INVENTEC CORPORATIONInventors: Kuo-Yang Cheng, Yun-Chien Yen, Kuang Luo, Nien-Yu Pang
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Patent number: 11736799Abstract: A zoom control method is provided, including: determining a midpoint of a connecting line of touch points located on both sides of an object to be close-up; determining a pixel vector formed from the midpoint of the connecting line to a center point of a screen; converting the pixel vector into an angle vector based on a conversion relationship between a diagonal angle of view of a current focal length range and a diagonal pixel of an image sensor of a camera system; and controlling the object to be close-up being moved to the center point of the screen based on the angle vector.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2021Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.Inventors: Chihyi Cheng, Liangming Zhang
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Patent number: 11729518Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for rendering a combined image. In use, two or more source images including at least one strobe image and at least one ambient image are loaded. A pixel-level correction is estimated for at least one of the two or more source images based on a pixel level correction function. At least one pixel of the two or more source images is color-corrected based on the pixel-level correction. A first blend weight associated with the two or more source images is initialized, and a first combined image from the two or more source images is rendered based on the color-correction and the first blend weight. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also presented.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: DUELIGHT LLCInventors: William Guie Rivard, Adam Barry Feder, Brian J. Kindle
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Patent number: 11729513Abstract: An electronic device and a high dynamic range (HDR) image generation method therefore are provided. The electronic device includes an image sensor and a processor, wherein the processor can be configured to adjust the exposure of the image sensor so as to acquire a first image having a first brightness and a plurality of second images having a second brightness, perform, on the first image, brightness conversion and noise attenuation of at least a first intensity so as to provide a third image having the second brightness, and generate a second HDR image on the basis of the first image and the third image, and generate a second HDR image on the basis of the first HDR image and the plurality of second images.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Sanghyeon Lim, Junhyeon Kim, Dongyoung Choi, Dongo Kim, Youngmin Kim, Junki Cho, Jiyoon Park, Kihuk Lee
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Patent number: 11722783Abstract: An image capturing apparatus generates an image of a high dynamic range that takes into account gain in addition to a range of change of storage capacitance. The image capturing apparatus having an image capturing device of a structure in which blocks each configured by a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged, includes a first control circuit, a second control circuit, and a generating circuit. The first control circuit is configured to control sensitivity in units of the blocks. The second control circuit is configured to control a gain of a signal for each block obtained by the image capturing device. The generating circuit is configured to, by mapping image data of blocks obtained under the control of the second control circuit to a region that accords with sensitivity set for the blocks in a preset high dynamic range, generate image data of the high dynamic range.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2022Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shogo Yamasaki
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Patent number: 11711604Abstract: The present application provides a camera module array, comprising at least two camera modules, wherein at least one of the camera modules has a free-form lens sheet, and the free-form lens sheet performs active alignment according to an actual imaging result received by a photosensitive chip, so that a difference between an actual reference direction of the free-form lens sheet and a reference direction determined by an optical design is not greater than 0.05 degrees. The present application further provides a corresponding assembly method for camera module array. In the present application, a TTL of the camera modules can be reduced by means of the free-form lens sheet so as to, for example, make a TTL of a wide-angle module equal or approximately equal to a TTL of a telephoto module, so that a dual-camera module composed of the wide-angle module and the telephoto module is easily mounted in a terminal device such as a mobile phone.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2022Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: NINGBO SUNNY OPOTECH CO., LTD.Inventors: Takehiko Tanaka, Yinli Fang
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Patent number: 11703742Abstract: An image capturing device including a casing, an image capturing module disposed in the casing, a positioning member slidably disposed in the casing, a memory alloy spring disposed in the casing, a restoring spring disposed in the casing, a shielding member corresponding to the image capturing module and slidably disposed in the casing, and a switch slidably disposed on the casing and connected to the shielding member is provided. Two ends of the memory alloy spring are respectively connected to the positioning member and the casing. Two ends of the restoring spring are respectively connected to the positioning member and the casing, and the memory alloy spring and the restoring spring are respectively located at two opposite sides of the positioning member. The shielding member is connected to the positioning member and is configured to block or unblock a light path of the image capturing device.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2022Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Acer IncorporatedInventors: Chun-Hung Wen, Chun-Hsien Chen, Hui-Ping Sun, Yen-Chou Chueh
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Patent number: 11703668Abstract: Zoom digital cameras comprising a Wide sub-camera and a folded fixed Tele sub-camera. The folded Tele sub-camera may be auto-focused by moving either its lens or a reflecting element inserted in an optical path between its lens and a respective image sensor. The folded Tele sub-camera is configured to have a low profile to enable its integration within a portable electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2022Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg, Gal Avivi, Gil Bachar
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Patent number: 11700454Abstract: There is provided with an image capturing control apparatus. A setting unit is configured to set an arrangement of a plurality of image capturing units. The setting unit performs a first setting operation of deciding a relative arrangement of the plurality of image capturing units in accordance with a setting selected from a plurality of settings respectively defining the relative arrangement between the plurality of image capturing units and a second setting operation of deciding the arrangement of the plurality of image capturing units by rotating the plurality of image capturing units while maintaining the relative arrangement between the plurality of image capturing units decided by the first setting operation. A control unit is configured to control the arrangement of the plurality of image capturing units in accordance with a setting.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2022Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tomohiko Takayama
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Patent number: 11700442Abstract: A camera module includes a first assembly including a first optical path conversion unit and a lens module, a second assembly including a second optical path conversion unit configured to refract or reflect light emitted from the lens module in a direction intersecting an optical axis of the lens module, the second assembly being configured to be coupled to the first assembly, and a third assembly including an image sensor configured to convert light incident through the second optical path conversion unit into an electrical signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2021Date of Patent: July 11, 2023Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Ga Yeon Ju
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Patent number: 11693289Abstract: An electrokinetic device is configured as a dynamic lens cover and/or filter for an imaging assembly, e.g., of a mobile device, to selectively allow electromagnetic radiation to pass through a lens of the imaging assembly when the dynamic lens cover is in a first operating state or to prevent electromagnetic radiation from reaching the lens of the imaging assembly when the dynamic lens cover is in a second operating state. The electrokinetic device includes transparent first and second substrates, and a compaction trench surrounding the lens of the imaging assembly. The compaction trench stores pigment when the dynamic lens cover is in the first operating state. In the second operating state pigment is dispersed within a carrier fluid between the first and second substrates.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2022Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Inventors: James E. Abbott, Timothy Koch, Cassady Roop, Palitha Wickramanayake
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Patent number: 11681429Abstract: An image editing user interface, displayed by a computer system, for editing a sequence of images (e.g., an enhanced digital image), includes an affordance for turning on, or off, animated playback of the sequence of images, while retaining the sequence of images. While animated playback is turned off, a representative image from the sequence of images is displayed.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Graham R. Clarke, Behkish J. Manzari, Henrique D. Penha, Charles A. Mezak, Daniel E. Gobera Rubalcava, Justin S. Titi, Brendan J. Langoulant, Britt S. Miura
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Patent number: 11680786Abstract: An apparatus includes a lens assembly that includes at least one lens that defines an optical axis. The apparatus also includes a substrate, an image sensor disposed on the substrate, and an actuator coupled to the substrate and configured to adjust a position of the substrate relative to the lens assembly to move the image sensor along the optical axis. The apparatus additionally includes a capacitive position sensor that includes a first capacitive plate coupled to the substrate and a second capacitive plate coupled to the lens assembly. The capacitive position sensor may be configured to generate a capacitance measurement indicative of the position of the substrate relative to the lens assembly. The apparatus further includes circuitry configured to control the actuator based on (i) the capacitance measurement and (ii) a target position of the image sensor relative to the lens assembly.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Waymo LLCInventors: Shashank Sharma, Matthew Last, Prasanna Kalkura, Paul Schaefer
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Patent number: 11683581Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image displaying apparatus. The image displaying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first camera configured to acquire an image; a display; and a controller, wherein the controller checks a camera registered as a use target, outputs a screen including the acquired image through the display, when the first camera is registered as the use target, and outputs a screen indicating that a use of the first camera is impossible due to security through the display, when a second camera, which is a virtual device corresponding to the first camera, is registered as the use target. Further, various embodiments are possible.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2022Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventor: Yousok Bang
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Patent number: 11671571Abstract: Disclosed is an image sensing device including a first module suitable for generating a plurality of interpolated images separated for each color channel, based on a raw image and a plurality of first convolution layers, a second module suitable for generating a plurality of refined images separated for each color channel, based on the plurality of interpolated images and a plurality of second convolution layers, and a third module suitable for generating at least one output image corresponding to the raw image, based on the plurality of refined images and a plurality of third convolution layers.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: SK hynix Inc.Inventor: Jin Su Kim
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Patent number: 11671713Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a variable neutral density filter that has a variable transmittance; an imaging device on which object light via the variable neutral density filter forms an image; variable transmittance drive circuitry that changes the transmittance of the variable neutral density filter in accordance with a transmittance control value; a hardware input device that can be in a first state or in a second state depending on a change in form; and transmittance designation circuitry. Further, when the hardware input device is in the first state, the transmittance designation sets the transmittance control value in accordance with an operation amount of the hardware input device and notifies the variable transmittance drive circuitry of the transmittance control value.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2020Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Sony Group CorporationInventor: Junki Yoshimuta
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Patent number: 11665330Abstract: Spatial image data captured at plural camera modules is fused into rectangular prism coordinates to support rapid processing and efficient network communication. The rectangular prism spatial imaging data is remapped to a truncated pyramid at render time to align with a spatial volume encompassed by a superset of imaging devices. A presentation of a reconstructed field of view is provide with near and far field image capture from the plural imaging devices.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2021Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Dell Products L.P.Inventors: Maxwell S. Andrews, Rocco Ancona
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Patent number: 11659293Abstract: An image sensing device including optical filters adjacent to each other is disclosed. The image sensing device includes a substrate including first and second photoelectric conversion elements configured to generate photocharges corresponding to an intensity of incident light corresponding to a first color; a first pixel including a first optical filter disposed over the first photoelectric conversion element to selectively transmit the light corresponding to the first color; a second pixel including a second optical filter disposed over the second photoelectric conversion element to selectively transmit the light corresponding to the first color; and a first air layer disposed between the first optical filter and the first photoelectric conversion element to reflect light from the first optical filter.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2021Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: SK hynix Inc.Inventor: Young Woong Do