Patents Examined by Roberto Velez
  • Patent number: 9854217
    Abstract: A mobile terminal configured to process images, the mobile terminal comprising: a camera configured to capture images; an image sensor configured to acquire an image signal of an object in an image captured via the camera; an infrared sensor configured to detect an infrared signal reflected from the object; a controller configured to utilize the image sensor to: determine whether flicker is generated; and detect information related to a light source contributing to the generated flicker based on the detected infrared signal; and an image processor configured to perform white balance of the acquired image, the white balance performed based on the detected information if flicker is generated, and provides an effective white balancing method according to types of peripheral light sources through flicker analysis based on the image sensor and the infrared sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kyunghee Kang, Jinsool Lee, Seonyung Kim
  • Patent number: 9848120
    Abstract: A system and method for recording video that combines video capture, touch-screen and voice-control technologies into an integrated system that produces cleanly edited, short-duration, compliant video files that exactly capture a moment after it has actually occurred The present invention maintains the device in a ready state that is always ready to capture video up to N seconds or minutes in the past (where N depends on available system memory). This enables the user to run the system indefinitely without having to worry about running out of storage. Touch gestures and voice commands actually initiate captures without having to actually monitor the system itself thereby allowing for complete focus on the live action itself. When the user sees something happen, he or she can use an appropriate voice or touch command to cause the system to create a video media file based on time points derived from the user's commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Fast Model Technology LLC
    Inventors: Albert Tsai, David Yip
  • Patent number: 9848125
    Abstract: A device with a front facing camera having two discrete focus positions is provided. The device comprises: a chassis comprising a front side; a display and a camera each at least partially located on the front side; the camera adjacent the display, the camera facing in a same direction as the display, the camera configured to: acquire video in a video mode; acquire an image in a camera mode; and, discretely step between a first and second focus position, the first position comprising a depth of field (“DOF”) at a hyperfocal distance and the second position comprising a DOF in a range of about 20 cm to about 1 meter; and, a processor configured to: when the camera is in the camera mode, automatically control the camera to the first position; and, when the camera is in the video mode, automatically control the camera to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yun Seok Choi, Sui Tong Tang, Thomas Guillaume Grandin, Arnett Ryan Weber
  • Patent number: 9843714
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire information indicating a speed at which an imaging apparatus changes an imaging range thereof, an input unit configured to input a first instruction for changing display of an image displayed on a display unit, a display control unit configured to, if the input unit has input the first instruction, change display of the image at a speed corresponding to the information acquired by the acquisition unit, and a transmission unit configured to transmit, to the imaging apparatus, a second instruction for changing the imaging range according to the display of the image being changed by the display control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Adachi
  • Patent number: 9843738
    Abstract: An imaging system may include an image sensor having an array of dual gain pixels. Each pixel may be operated using a two read method such that all signals are read in a high gain configuration in order to improve the speed or to reduce the power consumption of imaging operations. Each pixel may be operated using a two read, two analog-to-digital conversion method in which two sets of calibration data are stored. A high dynamic range (HDR) image signal may be produced for each pixel based on signals read from the pixel and on light conditions. The HDR image may be produced based on a combination of high and low gain signals and one or both of the two sets of calibration data. A system of equations may be used for generating the HDR image. The system of equations may include functions of light intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bart Cremers, Manuel H. Innocent
  • Patent number: 9843751
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor including a pixel array portion formed from a two-dimensional array of ordinary imaging pixels each having a photoelectric conversion unit and configured to output an electric signal obtained through photoelectric conversion as a pixel signal, and focus detection pixels for detecting focus. The focus detection pixels include at least a first focus detection pixel and a second focus detection pixel each having a photoelectric conversion unit and configured to transfer and output an electric signal obtained through photoelectric conversion to an output node. The first focus detection pixel and the second focus detection pixel share the output node. The first focus detection pixel includes a first photoelectric conversion unit, and a first transfer gate for reading out an electron generated through photoelectric conversion in the first photoelectric conversion unit to the shared output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9838558
    Abstract: A digital video camera, including a heat management system, which includes at least one inlet and at least one outlet in the housing to enable air to flow through the housing. The heat management system also includes a first heat sink thermally connected to an image sensor(s), and a second heat sink thermally connected to a data processing unit(s), and a centrifugal fan. The centrifugal fan is configured to draw air into the front of the fan in an axial direction and push air radially out in a sideways direction, whereby air travels through the inlet(s) over the first heat sink and then over the second heat sink to the outlet(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Blackmagic Design Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Grant Petty, Simon Kidd, John Vanzella, Michael Cornish, Shannon Smith, Suan Heng Yeo, Nathan Lee
  • Patent number: 9832376
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire an image file that includes reconstructable image data that includes information corresponding to a light field, a display unit configured to display the image data included in the image file acquired by the acquisition unit as an image, and a control unit configured to control the display unit so as to display an image and perform display for informing a user that the image file corresponding to the image is a reconstructable image file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitomi Ueda
  • Patent number: 9832366
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for focusing an imaging device on a liquid sample flowing through a field of view of the imaging device. Objects are segmented in the captured frames and used to account for the fact that the sample is flowing. Object velocities are calculated and used in selecting an appropriate focus value. The calculation of a focus measure takes account of the number of objects in captured frames in order to ensure a consistent calculation of the focus measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Biosurfit, S.A.
    Inventors: José Pedro Santos Manso Côrte-Real, Francisco Correia De Matos Nolasco Lamas
  • Patent number: 9829673
    Abstract: A lens driving device is provided, the lens driving device comprising: a housing comprising a through hole; a bobbin accommodated at the through hole; a magnet disposed on the housing; a first coil disposed on the bobbin and facing the magnet: a first support member coupled to the housing and the bobbin, and movably supporting the bobbin in a direction of an optical axis; a protrusion part outwardly protruded from an outer lateral surface of the bobbin; and a groove part on the housing at a position corresponding with the protrusion part and accommodating at least a portion of the protrusion part, wherein an outer lateral surface of the protrusion part comprises a first surface, a second surface and a third surface disposed between the first surface and the second surface, wherein each of the first surface, the second surface and the third surface is parallel with an inner lateral surface of the groove part, and wherein an angle between the first surface and the third surface, and an angle between the second
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seung Taek Shin, Jin Suk Han
  • Patent number: 9819846
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, a method for manufacturing the same, and an electronic apparatus capable of improving sensitivity while suppressing degradation of color mixture. The solid-state imaging device includes an anti-reflection portion having a moth-eye structure provided on a boundary surface on a light-receiving surface side of a photoelectric conversion region of each pixel arranged two-dimensionally, and an inter-pixel light-blocking portion provided below the boundary surface of the anti-reflection portion to block incident light. In addition, the photoelectric conversion region is a semiconductor region, and the inter-pixel light-blocking portion has a trench structure obtained by digging the semiconductor region in a depth direction at a pixel boundary. The techniques according to the present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a solid-state imaging device of a rear surface irradiation type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Masuda, Yuki Miyanami, Hideshi Abe, Tomoyuki Hirano, Masanari Yamaguchi, Yoshiki Ebiko, Kazufumi Watanabe, Tomoharu Ogita
  • Patent number: 9811748
    Abstract: The quality at which camera data (e.g., images, video, and/or audio captured by a camera device) is transmitted and/or stored may be adjusted based on the application of analytic techniques. For example, a camera processing device may receive camera data and receive information relating to conditions external to the capturing of the camera data. The camera processing device may control the resolution associated with the camera data based on the information relating to the conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Momin Mirza
  • Patent number: 9813625
    Abstract: A digital camera includes a rotary switch, a switching unit, and a switching unit. The switching unit switches between two states independently of a function other than functions assigned to the respective states of the rotary switch, the two states including a restricted state where rotation of the rotary switch is restricted with a clicking feel and a function of at least one of a shutter speed and an aperture as a function with discrete output values is related to the rotating operation of the rotary switch and a non-restricted state where rotation of the rotary switch is not restricted and a function of at least one of focusing, and a zoom magnification of a lens, and similar function as a function with continuous output values is related to the rotating operation of the rotary switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventor: Hidehiko Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9807316
    Abstract: An image segment method is provided in this disclosure. The method is suitable for an electronic apparatus including a first camera and a motion sensor. The method includes steps of: providing at least one pre-defined model mask; fetching pose data from the motion sensor, the pose data being related to an orientation or a position of the first camera; adjusting one of the at least one pre-defined model mask into an adaptive model mask according to the pose data; and, extracting an object from an image captured by the first camera according to the adaptive model mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Lung Jen, Pol-Lin Tai, Jing-Lung Wu, Hsin-Ti Chueh
  • Patent number: 9794465
    Abstract: A network camera includes a pan driving unit and a tilt driving unit for changing a shooting direction of an imaging unit. A detection unit detects rotation angles of movable units to be driven by the pan driving unit and the tilt driving unit. A pan/tilt control unit corrects a target position of the movable unit according to a correction value according to the detected rotation angle and controls each of the driving units using a value after the correction. In addition, when masked image drawing for processing an image is performed so that a partial image of a predetermined position is not visible in the image captured by an imaging unit, an image processing unit performs a process of correcting a rotation angle detected by the detection unit according to the correction value and drawing a masked image at a mask drawing position after the correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Ashitani
  • Patent number: 9794457
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, a method for manufacturing the same, and an electronic apparatus capable of improving sensitivity while suppressing degradation of color mixture. The solid-state imaging device includes an anti-reflection portion having a moth-eye structure provided on a boundary surface on a light-receiving surface side of a photoelectric conversion region of each pixel arranged two-dimensionally, and an inter-pixel light-blocking portion provided below the boundary surface of the anti-reflection portion to block incident light. In addition, the photoelectric conversion region is a semiconductor region, and the inter-pixel light-blocking portion has a trench structure obtained by digging the semiconductor region in a depth direction at a pixel boundary. The techniques according to the present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a solid-state imaging device of a rear surface irradiation type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Masuda, Yuki Miyanami, Hideshi Abe, Tomoyuki Hirano, Masanari Yamaguchi, Yoshiki Ebiko, Kazufumi Watanabe, Tomoharu Ogita
  • Patent number: 9794472
    Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging device and a focusing control method capable of enhancing accuracy of a focusing control regardless of subjects even when levels of detection signals of phase difference detection pixels are low. A phase difference AF processing unit (19) generates a defocus amount (Df1) from a result of a correlation operation performed with respect to detection signals obtained by adding up detection signals of plural phase difference detection pixels (52A, 52B) in a pair line (PL1) present in a selected AF area (53) and detection signals of phase difference detection pixels (52A, 52B) in pair lines (PL2, PL3) present in a selected direction among plural directions which are crossing directions crossing an X direction with respect to each of the plural phase difference detection pixels (52A, 52B) in the pair line (PL1). A system control unit (11) performs a focusing control based on the defocus amount (Df1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Aoki, Yasuo Ohtsuki
  • Patent number: 9794499
    Abstract: A large area, gapless, detection system comprises at least one sensor; an interposer operably connected to the at least one sensor; and at least one application specific integrated circuit operably connected to the sensor via the interposer wherein the detection system provides high dynamic range while maintaining small pixel area and low power dissipation. Thereby the invention provides methods and systems for a wafer-scale gapless and seamless detector systems with small pixels, which have both high dynamic range and low power dissipation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Fermi Research Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Farah Fahim, Grzegorz Deptuch, Tom Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 9794475
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may allow for dynamic image capture based on biometric data. An example device may include an image-capture device and a control system configured to: cause the image-capture device to capture video data; receive biometric data, which may be generated synchronously with the video data, from one or more sensors; while the image-capture device is capturing video data, control at least one image-capture setting of the image capture device based, at least in part, on the biometric data. The at least one image-capture setting affects the captured video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Basheer Tome, Hayes Solos Raffle
  • Patent number: 9794455
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a housing, circuitry within the housing, and a connector coupled to the circuitry and extending from the housing for electrical and mechanical connection with a personal electronic device. The connector can be secured to the housing using a connector support that is resilient and flexible. The connector can be electrically coupled to a main printed circuit board assembly using a flexible circuit. The resilient connector support can be configured to allow movement of the connector relative to the housing. The flexible circuit is configured to maintain electrical connection to the main printed circuit board assembly when the connector moves relative to the housing. The imaging system can be a thermal imaging system and may include an infrared camera core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Seek Thermal, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph G. Finegold, Blake Henry, Scott Dayton