Patents Examined by Quang V Le
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Patent number: 8189038Abstract: An apparatus and method for stereoscopic 3D image projection and viewing using a single projection source, polarization modulation, and passive eyewear. This approach is applicable to frame sequential video created using existing 3D graphics APIs, as well as other video signal formats, and is compatible with existing digital light processor (DLP) technology for both front and rear projection systems. An alternating polarizer is used to modulate the projected image, and an electronic control circuit is described which can stabilize the alternating polarizer in both frequency and phase lock with a DLP visual signal (as an alternate embodiment, a frequency lock with a fixed phase offset may be employed). A preferred embodiment enables an existing DLP projection system to be enhanced with 3D capability, while an alternate embodiment allows this capability to be integrated into the design of new DLP based projection systems.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2005Date of Patent: May 29, 2012Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Casimer M. DeCusatis, Timothy M. Trifilo
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Patent number: 8089540Abstract: A method for reading data from a holographic storage medium is described. An image sensor is used for acquiring data. The holographic storage medium, which contains binary information in the form of at least one two-dimensional data page, is illuminated by means of a laser beam bundle and the retrieved data page is read out by means of the image sensor, for which purpose the latter is provided with an activatable area having a multiplicity of pixels. It achieves the object of configuring a method of this type in such a way that the read-out of the information is accelerated with a number of pixels remaining the same. For this purpose, the activatable area of the image sensor is subdivided into different regions which are in each case assigned to a region having a specific intensity of the light beam. In this case, a longer exposure time and/or a higher sensitivity are/is determined for regions assigned to regions having lower intensity than for regions assigned to regions having a higher intensity.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2006Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Christof Ballweg, Joachim Knittel
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Patent number: 8045012Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus includes: an image-pickup device for converting light into an electric signal and outputting a first image data; a transmitting unit for successively transmitting the first image data to an apparatus in the exterior of the image-pickup apparatus; and a storage unit for storing a second image data extracted from the first image data per frame unit under a predetermined condition.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2007Date of Patent: October 25, 2011Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventor: Makoto Miyanohara
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Patent number: 8013928Abstract: An image pickup device includes a signal processing unit which processes a signal generated by separating a luminous signal into wavelength components of two or more colors by use of a sensor unit including two-dimensionally arranged pixels to which a wavelength separating unit for separating light wavelengths is arranged at a front face of a photoelectric converting element which converts the luminous signal condensed by an optical lens unit into electric signals, wherein the optical lens unit includes at least one optical lens having different focusing positions in accordance with the wavelengths of the luminous signal, and the signal processing unit includes an outline signal generating unit which extracts an outline signal from an output signal of the sensor unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2008Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Yoshitaka Egawa
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Patent number: 8009201Abstract: An image capture device includes an image pickup unit including a plurality of pixels and photoelectrically converting an object image by the plurality of pixels; a white balance control unit for performing a white balance correction processing on pixel signals from the image pickup unit; and a sensitivity changing unit for changing the sensitivity of photographing, wherein the white balance control unit performs the white balance correction processing such that, as the sensitivity increases, a response to the light source is suppressed.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2007Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masahiro Takayama
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Patent number: 8004579Abstract: A CCD Device of the type for providing charge gain by impact ionisation has a multiplication register. Gain provided by a subset of the elements of the multiplication register are independently controllable from other elements in the register. This enables the register to be used in one setting with the same gain applied to all elements and a different setting with a subset of elements arranged to provide a different gain. By comparing the two signals, the gain provided by each element and the register as a whole may be derived.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2006Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: E2V Technologies (UK) LimitedInventor: Mark Stanford Robbins
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Patent number: 7995114Abstract: A method for providing image illumination calibration includes: generating a plurality of images of a calibration target at a plurality of exposure levels, each image of the plurality of images being represented by a total pixel area; identifying a plurality of zones of the total pixel area, each zone of the plurality of zones corresponding to a particular image of the plurality of images at a particular exposure level of the plurality of exposure levels, with each zone representing a pixel sub-area that excludes saturated pixels; combining the plurality of zones for the plurality of images of the calibration target to generate a final calibration image; and generating a shading table to correct the final calibration image to obtain a uniform image of the calibration target over the total pixel area, the shading table including gain and offset values associated with each pixel of the total pixel area.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2007Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Michael King, Mark Eric Miller
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Patent number: 7995099Abstract: A blur correction mechanism includes: a first guide shaft extending in a first direction, the direction being a predetermined direction orthogonal to the optical axis of the lens groups; a base frame supporting the first guide shaft; a first correcting moving frame supported by the base frame so as to be movable in the first direction via the first guide shaft; a second guide shaft extending in a second direction orthogonal to both the optical axis and the first direction, and being supported by the first correcting moving frame; and a second correcting moving frame supported by the first correcting moving frame so as to be movable in the second direction via the second guide shaft, and holding the lens groups therein. The first guide shaft and the second guide shaft are positioned so as to be substantially coplanar in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2007Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Yutaka Maeda
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Patent number: 7995110Abstract: A scan conversion device includes a first buffer unit, a pixel packing unit, a second buffer unit, and a scan output unit. The first buffer unit stores therein pixel signals of the input image on every line in a main scanning direction thereof. The pixel packing unit groups N (N?2) pixel signals on each line into pixel signal packs according to a predetermined pixel combination rule, and outputs them sequentially. The second buffer unit stores therein the pixel signal packs and aligns them in a second main scanning direction different from the main scanning direction. The scan output unit sequentially outputs the pixel signal packs aligned in the second main scanning direction. According to this configuration, a scan pattern of the input image is changed into a scan pattern of outputting every N output lines in the second main scanning direction.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2009Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Akihiko Morishita
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Patent number: 7982776Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for eliminating image tearing effects and other visual artifacts perceived when scanning moving subject matter with a scanned beam imaging device. The system, method and apparatus uses a motion detection means in conjunction with an image processor to alter the native image to one without image tearing or other visual artifacts. The image processor monitors the motion detection means and reduces the image resolution or translates portions of the imaged subject matter in response to the detected motion.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2007Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Dunki-Jacobs, Michael P. Weir
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Patent number: 7978225Abstract: An image recording/playback control apparatus includes a moving image capturing section capturing a moving image and generating moving image data; a still image capturing section capturing a still image and generating still image data; a still image information generation section generating still image information in which the moving image data and the still image data are associated with each other by an image-capturing time; moving and still image coding sections coding the moving and still image data, respectively; a recording section recording the coded moving and still image data; a separation section separating the coded moving and still image data; moving and still image decoding sections decoding the coded moving and still image data, respectively; a still image information indication section indicating the moving or still image data; a selection section selecting the moving and still image data; and a display control displaying the moving or still image data.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2006Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tatsuhito Tabuchi, Yuji Saitou, Takeshi Harada, Masahiro Takahashi, Mitsuo Okumura
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Patent number: 7978220Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a rectangular optical member provided on an optical axis, a supporting member configured to support the optical member, and a rectangular vibrating device stuck to the optical member close to and in parallel with one of four sides of the optical member and configured to vibrate the optical member in a wave fashion having a predetermined wavelength to have a plurality of nodes parallel with the one side. A support position at which the optical member is supported by the supporting member at a side opposite the one side of the optical member is located inward from the opposite side by ¼ the predetermined wavelength.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2008Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Toshifumi Urakami, Shoji Kaihara
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Patent number: 7969462Abstract: A user portable viewing device includes a plurality of non-coaxially aligned sensors for sensing a scene. A processing element combines electronic images into a single electronic image. A display displaying the combined electronic image is adaptable for mounting in an optical axis including an eye of the user and an input end of the first sensor for direct view. In a second embodiment, a system for fusing images comprises sensors for generating sets of image data. An information processor receives and samples the sets of image data to generate sample data for computing a fused image array. A display receives the fused image array and displays a fused colorized image generated from the fused image array.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2006Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: L-3 Communications CorporationInventors: Timothy E. Ostromek, Joseph P. Estrera, Jeffrey C. Short, Lee S. May, Jr., Bruce V. Hoodswain, Timothy B. Hogan
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Patent number: 7969482Abstract: In an image pickup apparatus, image data obtained by an image pickup unit is subjected to predetermined image processing, and an image is displayed on an electronic viewfinder screen based on the image data that has undergone the image processing. A specified color is determined based on color information included in a predetermined region of an image that is currently being displayed on the electronic viewfinder screen, and image processing parameters are produced so that color conversion is carried out on the image while eliminating color components of colors other than the determined specified color.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2009Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Kenji Takahashi
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Patent number: 7961234Abstract: The invention relates to electronic equipment. The equipment includes camera means for forming data from an object located in the imaging direction, in which case the said camera means include at least two camera units (CAM1, CAM2) and data-processing means, which are arranged to process the data formed using the camera means, in a manner corresponding to the currently selected imaging mode, to form image information. In the equipment, the mutual position of the camera units (CAM1, CAM2) relative to each other is arranged to be altered to correspond to the current imaging mode.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2005Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Nokia CorporationInventors: Jarkko Viinikanoja, Marko Eromäki
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Patent number: 7956917Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor apparatus having a structure capable of obtaining digital values of signal components with a high accuracy using an A/D conversing circuit with the outputted digital value thereof having a small number of expressive bits. In the sensor apparatus, a voltage value corresponding to the amount of incident light to a photodiode is held by a holding circuit through an integrating circuit and a CDS circuit. Meanwhile, a voltage value corresponding to the amount of incident light to an adjacent photodiode is held by another holding circuit through an integrating circuit and a CDS circuit. The voltage values held by the respective different holding circuits are inputted to a subtracting circuit through different paths. The subtracting circuit outputs a voltage value corresponding to the difference between the two inputted voltage values. In an A/D converting section, the difference voltage outputted from the subtracting circuit is converted into a digital value.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2010Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.Inventors: Seiichiro Mizuno, Haruhiro Funakoshi
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Patent number: 7952632Abstract: A camera device for recording an image comprises an image sensor having a plurality of light-sensitive image cells. The image cells can be selectively addressed in order to read their image signal values. The device also has a plurality of memory cells for storing identification codes, with an identification code being assigned to each image cell. The image cells and the memory cells are coupled to one another such that, when an image signal value is read from an image cell, the assigned identification code can also be read.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2009Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: Pilz GmbH & Co. KGInventor: Martin Schnaithmann
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Patent number: 7948531Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided for reducing noise which is derived from random noise contained in a correction signal used for correcting an image data and is newly generated on correction of the image data. The imaging apparatus drives vertical transfer registers with no signal charge from photoelectric transducers read out to the vertical transfer registers to obtain and store a correction signal into a field memory. The apparatus subtracts the correction signal from the image data by a subtractor.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2005Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Yukihiro Tanizoe, Yasutoshi Yamamoto, Yoshimasa Okabe, Hiromasa Funakoshi
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Patent number: 7944473Abstract: A method of operating a handheld camera comprises sensing an image via an image sensor, controlling the sensing of the image via a camera manager, receiving predetermined data in the form of a card image, the card image read from a card by a card reader, rotating the card image in accordance with a skew of the card with respect to the card reader, manipulating the image via an image processing manager, and controlling printing of the manipulated image via a print manager.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2008Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty LtdInventors: Kia Silverbrook, Paul Lapstun, Simon Robert Walmsley
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Patent number: 7929031Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a feedback unit configured to perform first nonlinear conversion of a signal obtained by subtracting a value of a subtraction image signal from that of a current-frame image signal, and to obtain the next subtraction signal by subtracting a signal obtained by performing the first nonlinearly conversion from the current-frame image signal, and a noise reduction unit configured to perform second nonlinear conversion of a signal obtained by subtracting a value of the subtraction image signal from that of the current-frame image signal, and to obtain an output image signal by subtracting a signal obtained by performing the second nonlinear from the current-frame image signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2008Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tadayoshi Nakayama