Patents Examined by Ngoc-Yen Vu
  • Patent number: 9736380
    Abstract: A display control apparatus determines determine whether or not light field information with which an image whose focus state has been changed can be generated is associated with a second image in a second focus state that is different from a first image in a first focus state corresponding to the light field information. If it is determined that the light field information is associated with the second image, the display control apparatus displays a first display item that notifies that the second image is present on a display device together with the first image. In response to receiving an input of an instruction on the first display item, the display control apparatus displays the second image associated with the light field information on the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshitaka Aiba
  • Patent number: 9729814
    Abstract: There is provided a signal processing device including a signal generation unit that generates a control signal for controlling an imaging device connected via one cable, a signal superimposition unit that superimposes the control signal generated by the signal generation unit on a video signal received from the imaging device via the cable without an influence on display of a video corresponding to the video signal, and a transmission unit that transmits the signals superimposed by the signal superimposition unit to the imaging device via the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hitoshi Tomiyama
  • Patent number: 9720148
    Abstract: A vehicle camera system includes a camera that includes an image sensor, a filter mask, and a control and evaluation device, to which the image sensor outputs an image signal with frames that correspond to different exposure times. The image sensor includes an arrangement of sensor pixels outputting pixel signals, and the filter mask includes an arrangement of filter pixels situated in front of respective ones of the sensor pixels, where different filter pixels have different transmission behavior. The control and evaluation device compares to each other pixel signals (a) contained in the frames of different exposure times, and (b) output by sensor pixels which record light filtered differently by the filter pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Ruhnau, Axel Vogler
  • Patent number: 9723184
    Abstract: The exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a camera module including a rear-opened front body, a rear body coupled to a rear side of the front body to form an inner space, a lens part coupled to the front body, an image sensor accommodated at the inner space to convert a light having passed the lens part to an electrical signal, a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) accommodated at the inner space and mounted with the image sensor, and a closed curve-shaped packing member interposed between the front body and the rear body, wherein the packing member includes a support part extensively formed from the packing member to an inner side, and the front body or the rear body includes a support part accommodation groove having a shape corresponding to that of the support part, whereby adhesionability during assembly of packing member can be maximized to thereby minimize an installation defect, a depressed or stamped phenomenon of a packing member that may occur during assembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Wook Ahn, Je Kyung Park, Sun Min Hwang
  • Patent number: 9720306
    Abstract: A plate provides clearance between a camera and a quick-release receiver securing the camera to a support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Really Right Stuff, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph M. Johnson, Matthew L. Burk
  • Patent number: 9706074
    Abstract: A method is provided including: capturing a first set of images, wherein each one of the first set of images is captured in accordance with a different value of a camera setting; generating a second set of reduced images, wherein each of the second set of reduced images is a reduced version of a respective one of the first set of images; generating, by an electronic device, a third set of composite images, wherein each one of the third set of composite images is generated by HDR-compositing the second set of reduced images in accordance with a different weight-ratio; receiving a selection of a first composite image, the first composite image being part of the third set of composite images; and storing a second composite image, the second composite image being generated by HDR-compositing the first set of images in accordance with a weight ratio associated with the first composite image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jaemyung Baek, Dongyoul Park, Soonkyoung Choi, Sabari Raju Shanmugam, Minyoung Chang
  • Patent number: 9706110
    Abstract: The present technology includes: a recording unit that records a plurality of image data to be displayed, the plurality of image data imaged and obtained by the imaging apparatus; first image data for detecting foreign body information, the first image data acquired before imaging the plurality of image data to be displayed; second image data for detecting foreign body information, the second image data acquired after imaging the plurality of image data to be displayed; and a controller configured to read the plurality of image data to be displayed recorded in the recording unit, and to detect information relating to the foreign body from the plurality of image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hisakazu Hitomi, Yasuhiro Kuwahara, Hiromichi Ono
  • Patent number: 9699362
    Abstract: A filter device for a camera which has an optical path, comprises at least one filter unit which has an actuation device and at least one first filter element and one second filter element. The actuation device has a holding device which can be magnetically coupled to the first and to the second filter element and which can be displaced linearly to bring the filter elements selectively into the optical path of the camera or to move them out of the optical path of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: ARNOLD & RICHTER CINE TECHNIK GMBH & CO. BETRIEBS KG
    Inventor: Timo Sperber
  • Patent number: 9699428
    Abstract: This disclosure pertains to systems, methods, and computer readable media for performing lens shading correction (LSC) operations that modulate gains based on scene lux level and lens focus distance. These gains compensate for both color lens shading (i.e., the deviation between R, G, and B channels) and vignetting (i.e., the drop off in pixel intensity around the edges of an image). As scene illuminance increases, the sensor captures more signal from the actual scene, and the lens shading effects begin to appear. To deal with the situation, the lens shading gains are configured to adaptively ‘scale down’ when scene lux approaches zero and ‘scale up’ when scene lux changes from near zero to become larger. The lens shading gain may also be modulated based on the focus distance. For optical systems without zoom, the inventors have discovered that the amount of lens shading fall off changes as focus distance changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yingjun Bai, Michael Chin, Touraj Tajbakhsh
  • Patent number: 9686474
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a system for and method of frequency prefiltering comprising a camera shutter capable of continuously variable illumination during a single exposure of the sensor. The shutter comprises a continuously variable exposure effector which in disposed in an image path, either in front of a lens or between a lens and a sensor. The system for frequency prefiltering further comprises a synchronization cable that synchronizes a drive system with a sensor or with film. The shutter further comprises a postfilter. The postfilter comprises a digital finite impulse response convolutional filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: RED.COM, INC.
    Inventors: Anthony Wayne Davis, John Rodrigue Kouns
  • Patent number: 9681042
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus (10) capable of generating a plurality of output images having different focus positions by reconstructing an input image, the image pickup apparatus includes an input image obtaining unit (100) configured to obtain the input image, an image processing unit (105) configured to generate a display image from the input image, and a display unit (106) configured to display the display image, and the image processing unit (105) obtains a focus control range in which a focus position is controllable, and generates the display image including information on the focus control range by using at least a part of the input image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Norihito Hiasa, Koshi Hatakeyama, Kaoru Eguchi
  • Patent number: 9674429
    Abstract: A camera system captures an image in a source aspect ratio and applies a transformation to the input image to scale and warp the image to generate an output image having a target aspect ratio different than the source aspect ratio. The output image has the same field of view as the input image, maintains image resolution, and limits distortion to levels that do not substantially affect the viewing experience. In one embodiment, the output image is non-linearly warped relative to the input image such that a distortion in the output image relative to the input image is greater in a corner region of the output image than a center region of the output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Woodman, Sumit Chawla, Loic Segapelli, Scott Patrick Campbell
  • Patent number: 9673258
    Abstract: Provided is an organic pixel, which includes a semiconductor substrate including a pixel circuit, an interconnection layer having a first contact and a first electrode formed on a semiconductor substrate, and an organic photo-diode formed on the interconnection layer. For example, the organic photo-diode includes an insulation layer formed on the first electrode, a second electrode and a photo-electric conversion region formed between the first contact, the insulation layer and the second electrode. The photo-electric conversion region includes an electron donating organic material and an electron accepting organic material. The organic photo-diode may further include a second contact electrically connected to the first contact. The horizontal distance between the second contacts and the insulation layer may be less than or equal to a few micrometers, for example, 10 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics
    Inventors: Kyo Jin Choo, Hirosige Goto, Kyu Sik Kim, Yun Kyung Kim, Kyung Bae Park, Jin Ho Seo, Sang Chul Sul, Kyung Ho Lee, Kwang-hee Lee
  • Patent number: 9661229
    Abstract: A method for capturing a picture in a portable terminal is provided, in which a capturing position is set on a preview screen in a capturing mode, it is determined whether an object is inside the capturing position, then a user is notified when the object is inside and of the picture is taken when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chae-Kyu Lim, Hye-Jung Kim
  • Patent number: 9654750
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a first acquiring unit that acquires a first pattern image including a prespecified pattern for being displayed on a display medium by a display unit; a second acquiring unit that acquires, as a second pattern image, a captured image obtained by capturing an image obtained by displaying the first pattern image on the display medium from a desired position except the front of the display medium; and an image processing unit that compares the first pattern image with the second pattern image, and deforms a target image according to a result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Takayuki Kunieda, Fumihiro Hasegawa, Miyuki Oda, Yukinaka Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 9654705
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an image capturing unit configured to capture an optical image of a corresponding one of pixels included in a screen, and the image capturing unit of part of the pixels in the screen includes an adjustment unit which contains an electric field responsive material and is configured to adjust a transmittance of light by the electric field responsive material, and a light-receiving unit configured to receive the light for which the transmittance has been adjusted by the adjustment unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Qi Song
  • Patent number: 9645290
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a color filter array includes a plurality of color filters of multiple colors. The color filters are arranged so that each of the color filter of each color corresponds to any one of a plurality of microlenses included in a microlens array. Each microlens is configured to irradiate a plurality of pixels with light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Kobayashi, Risako Ueno, Kazuhiro Suzuki, Hiroto Honda, Honam Kwon, Hideyuki Funaki
  • Patent number: 9641760
    Abstract: A method of taking an image of a scene that includes an item of interest, includes providing a digital imaging device having an imaging lens and a viewing screen and electronically providing an alignment feature on the viewing screen. The alignment feature is configured to allow a viewer to see both the alignment feature and an image of the item of interest on the viewing screen. The method includes adjusting at least one parameter from the group consisting of angular position of the digital imaging device with respect to the item of interest and angular orientation of the digital imaging device to achieve alignment of the image of the item of interest on the viewing screen with the alignment feature wherein the alignment feature has a structure so that the adjusting to achieve alignment restricts to exclusively one angular position of the digital imaging device with respect to the item of interest and exclusively one angular orientation of the digital imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Dealer Dot Com, Inc.
    Inventors: James LaScolea, Jesse Stein, Michael McKennedy
  • Patent number: 9641759
    Abstract: A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which a sharp and clear photo can be composed using a plurality of photos taken by burst shooting. The present invention includes a camera, a sensing unit configured to detect a surrounding brightness, a user input unit configured to receive a photographing command, and a controller, if the photographing command is received, taking a first number of photos by burst shooting, the controller outputting a shaking eliminated photo based on a second number of photo(s) selected from the first number of the taken photos, wherein the second number is determined based on the detected surrounding brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jisaeng Kim, Chaehee Lim, Kwanghee Choi, Junhwan Kim, Namsu Lee
  • Patent number: 9615035
    Abstract: A specialized multi-smartphone rig is configured to simultaneously hold and operate multiple camera-equipped smartphones to enable capture of the same image by each camera under identical conditions using a single shutter release button on the rig. Because smartphones typically vary in how much time they use to process user input, custom native applications (“apps”) are installed on each smartphone to enable the cameras to operate in a synchronized manner. When the button is actuated, a signal is received at a microcontroller which hosts a server. The shutter release signal is passed to the server which, in turn, sends individual control signals to the custom native apps according to a timing model. When the custom native apps receive their respective control signals, they trigger their respective smartphone cameras to operate so that all the photos are captured in parallel across the rig at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Peter Ocampo, Stacey Terrien, Priscila Palatini, Noel Franus, Dheyvi Velagapudi, Ryan Nikolaidis, Kevin Mullen, Scott Potter, Filip Wouters