Patents Examined by Timothy J. Henn
  • Patent number: 11643014
    Abstract: Fabrication processing is executed in a chip of an image sensor. An image capturing device includes an image capturing unit (11) mounted on a vehicle and configured to generate image data by performing image capturing of a peripheral region of the vehicle, a scene recognition unit (214) configured to recognize a scene of the peripheral region based on the image data, and a drive control unit (12) configured to control drive of the image capturing unit based on the scene recognized by the scene recognition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Ryoji Eki
  • Patent number: 11634087
    Abstract: A housing apparatus configured to be attached to an external housing of a vehicle mounted optical device is described. The housing apparatus is configured to direct an airflow at a lens of the optical device in order to prevent or remove obstructions, such as rain, dirt, pollen, insects, and other items. In one embodiment, among others, an apparatus comprises a tunnel structure that has a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, and a top side. The first end of the tunnel structure has an entry opening for capturing air flow while the vehicle is in motion. The second end of the tunnel structure has an exit opening for directing the air flow to a lens of the optical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mike MacGregor, Ian Beck Jordan
  • Patent number: 11627263
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus that captures a multispectral image of four bands or more. An imaging apparatus (1) includes an imaging optical system (10), an image sensor (100), and a signal processing unit (200). The imaging optical system (10) includes a bandpass filter unit (16) of which at least one of aperture regions transmits light beams of a plurality of wavelength ranges, and a polarization filter unit (18) that polarizes the light beams transmitted through the bandpass filter unit (16) in a plurality of directions, in a vicinity of a pupil thereof. The image sensor (100) receives light beams transmitted through a plurality of types of spectral filter elements and a plurality of types of polarization filter elements. The signal processing unit (200) processes signals output from the image sensor (100) to generate a plurality of image signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunobu Kishine, Shuji Ono, Kazuyoshi Okada
  • Patent number: 11627388
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method performed by a first monitoring camera (101) for handling startup. The first monitoring camera (101) detects that a power supply state of has changed from off to on. The first monitoring camera (101) initiates startup of a first part (103a) when the power supply state is on. When the startup is complete, the first monitoring camera (101) determines if its first startup priority is higher than, lower than or the same as a second startup priority of a second monitoring camera (110). The first monitoring camera (101) initiates startup of its second part (105a) if the first startup priority is higher or the same as the second startup priority. If the first startup priority is lower than the second startup priority, the first monitoring camera (101) delays startup of its second part (105a) until startup instructions have been received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: AXIS AB
    Inventors: Shiva-Prasad Kagganti, Madhavi Kagganti
  • Patent number: 11625948
    Abstract: An imaging control apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect, from a captured image, subjects belonging to a plurality of types including a first type and a second type a switching unit configured to switch a type, a selection unit configured to select any subject from among a plurality of subjects belonging to the second type, and a control unit configured to perform control so as to display a first subject belonging to the first type in a first display manner and display a second subject belonging to the second type in a second display manner in a case where the type for which the predetermined processing is the first type, and display the second subject in the first display manner in response to switching to the second type by the switching unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabashiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Genjiro Shibagami
  • Patent number: 11622033
    Abstract: A camera module includes a lens module including lenses and a reflecting module disposed in front of the lens module. The reflecting module is configured to change a path of light to direct the light toward the lens module. The reflecting module includes a holder in which a reflecting member configured to change the path of the light is mounted and a first housing supporting the holder. The holder is configured to slide with respect to the first housing to enable rotation of the reflecting member with respect to a first axis and a second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Bok Yoon, Nam Ki Park, Bong Won Jeong, Sang Ho Seo, Jae Kyung Kim
  • Patent number: 11616902
    Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one memory configured to store instructions, and at least one processor in communication with the at least one memory and configured to execute the instructions to detect a feature amount from each of a plurality of images different in in-focus position in an optical axis direction, and align the plurality of images by using the feature amount. The at least one processor further executes instructions to detect the feature amount by preferentially using a focusing area of each of the plurality of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takao Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11611710
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing device including a light sensor and a processor. The light sensor is used to detect light and output an image frame. The processor identifies intensity of ambient light according to an image parameter associated with the image frame. When the ambient light is identified to be strong enough, the processor performs an object identification directly using the image frame. When the ambient light is identified to be not enough, the processor firstly converts the image frame to a converted image using a machine learning model, and then performs the object identification using the converted image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventor: Guo-Zhen Wang
  • Patent number: 11609482
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus has: an imaging optical system; an imaging element configured to receive light transmitted through the imaging optical system to generate an electric signal; a main body; a display device provided on a back face of the main body and capable of displaying an image generated on the basis of the electric signal generated by the imaging element; and an electronic viewfinder provided inside the main body and capable of displaying the image generated on the basis of the electric signal generated by the imaging element, wherein an eyepiece part of the electronic viewfinder is provided to a transmissive region of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Shimizu, Hiroshi Shimizu, Ryuji Nishimura
  • Patent number: 11611693
    Abstract: A camera system lens or image sensor is moved to change the distance between the image sensor the lens in order for the image sensor to capture an-focus of an object. The camera system includes one or more calibration values indicating distances between the lens and the image sensor for different distances to objects, such as a macro calibration value and an infinity calibration value. These one or more calibration values are used by the camera system when manually focusing the camera system (e.g., a user manually sets the camera system to a macro setting or an infinity setting) or when automatically focusing the camera system on an object. These one or more calibration values are dynamically updated during use of the camera system, allowing the camera system to adapt to various factors such as changes in environment, pressure applied to the camera system, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Cole P. Sheldon, Zetong Gu, Corey Wood
  • Patent number: 11606496
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are achieved in which guide information for enabling a high-quality composite image to be captured is output. Included are a composite image generation unit that performs a process of combining a color image and a black-and-white image captured from different viewpoints, to generate a composite image, and a display information control unit that performs control such that auxiliary information regarding the composite image is displayed on a display unit. In a case where a subject is too close or in a case where a high-quality composite image cannot be generated due to an obstacle, the display information control unit outputs a proximity alert or an obstacle alert as warning information, and also displays a composite image adaptation level. Moreover, a composite image, a color image, and the like are displayed in parallel so that a user can select an image to be recorded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Goshi Watanabe, Hirotaka Goto
  • Patent number: 11601578
    Abstract: An IR illuminator for providing infrared light for a digital camera having a camera lens with a camera field of view, including at least two mounting substrates arranged adjacent to the digital camera, at least one LED mounted to each of the mounting substrates for radiating the infrared light, and a free form cover lens positioned to cover the at least one LED. The shape of the free form cover lens is such that an emission pattern of light radiation is emitted without entering into the camera lens. Two IR illuminators adjacent to the camera are tilted at an angle from the camera optical direction. The shape of the free form cover lens may be elliptical or toric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Valeo North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Brant Potter, John Orisich, Fred Roth, Kostadin Beev
  • Patent number: 11595560
    Abstract: Systems and methods for transferring data between a server and a system of cameras. One embodiment provides a low-power radio frequency (“RF”) network for a system of cameras. The network comprises a server configured to access information related to the system of cameras, wherein the server receives a signal indicating a user input, and a first camera of the system of camera. The first camera is configured to receive a status report from a second camera of the system of cameras, update a cache of the first camera based on the status report from the second camera of the system of cameras, and transmit the updated cache of the first camera to the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: NON TYPICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Mark J. Cuddeback, Jared Momose
  • Patent number: 11579516
    Abstract: A camera includes an image sensor, a heat diffuser, and a heat spreader. The heat spreader includes a heat source coupled to the image sensor, an arm coupled to the heat source and the heat diffuser, and a heat exchange coupled with the heat source and the arm. A system includes a camera and a heat spreader coupled with the camera. The system includes a stabilizer coupled with the heat spreader and an electronics assembly coupled with the stabilizer. A heat controller for an imaging device that includes a flexible arm and a heat source coupled to the flexible arm that absorbs heat from the imaging device. The heat controller includes a heat exchange coupled to the flexible arm that transfers the heat away from the imaging device via the flexible arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventor: Ihab A. Ali
  • Patent number: 11582391
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a first camera, a second camera, a display, a memory, and a processor. The processor collects a first image obtained by the first camera with respect to an external object and a second image obtained by the second camera with respect to the external object, generates a third image with respect to the external object using a first area of the first image and a second area of the second image, which corresponds to the first area, identifies an input associated with the third image displayed through the display, and displays an image generated using at least one of the first image, the second image, or depth information in response to the input. The generating operation of the third image includes generating the depth information with respect to the third image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chi Sun Kim, Chang Hyun Chun, Dong Hyun Yeom
  • Patent number: 11575847
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device that can improve imaging quality by reducing variation in the voltage of a charge retention unit, a method of driving the solid-state imaging device, and an electronic apparatus. A first photoelectric conversion unit generates and accumulates signal charge by receiving light that has entered a pixel, and photoelectrically converting the light. A first charge retention unit retains the generated signal charge. A first output transistor outputs the signal charge in the first charge retention unit as a pixel signal, when the pixel is selected by the first select transistor. A first voltage control transistor controls the voltage of the output end of the first output transistor. The present technology can be applied to pixels in solid-state imaging devices, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Fumihiko Koga
  • Patent number: 11574781
    Abstract: A system includes a frame and a camera coupled to the frame. The camera includes a switch having an on position and an off position. The switch coupled to the frame wherein when the switch is in an off position a portion of the switch covers the lens and the camera is disable and when the switch is in an on position the portion of switch does not cover the lens and the camera is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Purism
    Inventor: Todd Weaver
  • Patent number: 11575842
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus, comprising: a signal processing unit reads pixel signals from a plurality of pixel circuits during a predetermined time, and stores at least first image data corresponding to a first frame which corresponds to a first exposure time, second image data corresponding to a second frame which corresponds to a second exposure time that is different from the first exposure time, and third image data corresponding to a third frame which corresponds to a third exposure time that is different from the second exposure time, a computing unit generates a first image using the image data corresponding to the first frame and third frame, and generates a second image using the image data corresponding to the second frame, wherein the exposure for the second frame is performed between the exposure for the first frame and the exposure for the third frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11570333
    Abstract: An image pickup device includes first and second cameras, and first and second image signal processors (ISP). The first camera obtains a first image of an object. The second camera obtains a second image of the object. The first ISP performs a first auto focusing (AF), a first auto white balancing (AWB) and a first auto exposing (AE) for the first camera based on a first region-of-interest (ROI) in the first image, and obtains a first distance between the object and the first camera based on a result of the first AF. The second ISP calculates first disparity information associated with the first and second images based on the first distance, moves a second ROI in the second image based on the first disparity information, and performs a second AF, a second AWB and a second AE for the second camera based on the moved second ROI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Duck-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 11570371
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an imaging apparatus, an imaging method, and a program that perform appropriate exposure control, to thereby enable a desired object to be appropriately imaged. The present technology includes: an imaging unit including a plurality of pixels having different spectral characteristics; and an exposure control unit setting information associated with exposure control on the plurality of pixels depending on specification information for specifying a kind of a measurement target. Alternatively, the present technology includes: an imaging unit including a plurality of pixels having different spectral characteristics; and an exposure control unit setting information associated with exposure control on the plurality of pixels on the basis of a predicted output value of each of the plurality of pixels based on a spectral characteristic related to a measurement target. The present technology is applicable to an imaging apparatus which senses vegetation, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventor: Masatoshi Takashima