Patents Examined by Trung Diep
-
Patent number: 9843745Abstract: An image sensor may include pixel having nested photosensitive regions. A pixel with nested photosensitive regions may include an inner photosensitive region that has a rectangular light collecting area. The inner photosensitive region may be formed in a substrate and may be surrounded by an outer photosensitive region. The pixel with nested photosensitive regions may include trunk circuitry and transistor circuitry. Trunk circuitry may include a voltage supply source, a charge storage node, and readout transistors. Trunk circuitry may be located in close proximity to both the inner and outer photosensitive regions. Transistor circuitry may couple the inner photosensitive region, the outer photosensitive region, and trunk circuitry to one another. Microlenses may be formed over the nested photosensitive groups. Hybrid color filters having a single color filter region over the inner photosensitive region and a portion of the outer photosensitive region may also be used.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2016Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventor: Tomas Geurts
-
Patent number: 9838604Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for stabilizing frames, the method comprising: receiving a frame sequence comprising three or more frames, including a current frame; determining salient feature points within the frames; matching the salient feature points between the frames; dropping salient feature points associated with advancing objects; dropping salient feature points associated with objects moving in shaking movements; computing a transformation between pairs of consecutive frames from amongst the at least three frames, based upon non-dropped salient feature points, thereby obtaining a multiplicity of transformations; determining a center position for the frames based upon the multiplicity of transformations; determining a stabilizing transformation from a current frame to the center position; and applying the stabilizing transformation to the current frame to obtain a stabilized frame.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2015Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: AG INTERNATIONAL GMBHInventors: Markus Schlattmann, Rohit Mande
-
Patent number: 9838628Abstract: Capturing an image including: receiving an exposure time for an image sensor; measuring time to saturation for each sensel of a plurality of sensels of the image sensor; and calculating a number of electrons that would have been collected by each sensel with unlimited storage capacity using the time to saturation, the exposure time, and an electron collection capacity of a storage unit of each sensel. Key words include sensor saturation and high-dynamic range.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2016Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT INC.Inventor: Kazunori Tanaka
-
Patent number: 9838607Abstract: A digital camera includes an optical assembly and image sensor for capturing still and/or video images and displaying the images on a rear display screen. The camera includes a magnifying viewfinder that is coupled to the housing and is movable between a stowed position out of the way of the display screen and an active position for viewing a subset of display screen pixels with magnification.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2016Date of Patent: December 5, 2017Assignee: mPerpetuo, Inc.Inventors: Eugene Feinberg, Ashwini Choudhary, Eran Steinberg
-
Patent number: 9832363Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a reading unit, a display unit, and a control unit. The reading unit reads pixel signals from imaging pixels and focus detection pixels. The display unit displays an image. When both exposure/reading of the imaging pixels and the focus detection pixels are achievable within time corresponding to a display frame rate of the display unit, the control unit controls to alternate the exposure/reading of the imaging pixels and the exposure/reading of the focus detection pixels. When both the exposure/reading of imaging pixels and the focus detection pixels are not achievable within the time, the control unit controls to perform the exposure of the imaging pixels and the focus detection pixels at the same time and read the pixel signals of the imaging pixels and the focus detection pixels after the end of the exposure of the imaging pixels and the focus detection pixels.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2016Date of Patent: November 28, 2017Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventor: Tetsuo Kikuchi
-
Patent number: 9826128Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a video monitoring device with one or more video cameras mounted to a pole that extends from a concrete base. The concrete base rests on a ground surface at a monitored site rather than being cast into the site as a permanent fixture. The surface of the concrete base that rests on the ground surface has one or more indentions that extend though a sidewall, which allows a forklift's forks to be positioned under the concrete base without moving the base. A housing mounted to the pole for the placement of electronic components is also disclosed, as well as electric components for the device when 120 Volt AC power is available at a monitored site. Further, specialized brackets to facilitate mounting the housing to the pole are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2016Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Inventor: Steven J. Ballard
-
Patent number: 9826163Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a setting unit configured to set, in a first range encompassing an area of a captured image acquired by an imaging unit, a first analysis graphic or a first line on a display screen displaying the first analysis range, and set, in the first setting range, a display range of the captured image to be displayed on a display unit, and a determination unit configured, when the display range is such that the first graphic or the first line set in the first range is partially located outside the display range, to determine a second analysis graphic having a number of vertexes equal to or smaller than a number of vertexes of the first analysis graphic, and contained within the display range or a second line contained within the display range.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2014Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoichi Kamei
-
Patent number: 9826160Abstract: A camera is configured with multiple microphones to reduce wind noise in audio data collected by the camera. The camera receives motion data, which may comprise data indicating acceleration of the camera, a plurality of video frames received by the camera, or a background level of noise associated with one or more microphones configured on the camera. The camera determines a motion vector from the motion data. The motion vector is parallel to the direction of motion of the camera. The camera selects a subset of one or more microphones in the direction of the motion vector. By recording audio data using the one or more selected microphones, the camera reduces wind noise in the audio data.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2017Date of Patent: November 21, 2017Assignee: GoPro, Inc.Inventors: Erich Tisch, Fabrice Barbier, Scott Patrick Campbell
-
Patent number: 9819886Abstract: An imaging apparatus including a pixel, a current source, and a signal processing circuit. The pixel outputs signal charge, obtained by imaging, as a pixel signal. The current source is connected to a transmission path for the pixel signal and has a variable current. The signal processing circuit performs signal processing on a signal depending on an output signal to the transmission path and performs control so that a current of the current source is changed in accordance with the result of signal processing.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2016Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Hiroki Sato
-
Patent number: 9819843Abstract: Systems and methods for providing assessment of a local scene to a remote location are provided herein. The systems and methods facilitate collection, storage and transmission of data from the local scene to the remote location without limiting the mobility, dexterity, adaptability and interactive capability of an on-scene technician. For example, a head-mounted device according to an implementation discussed herein can include: a head-mounted frame that is configured to hold a transparent visor; an image capturing device attachable to at least one of the head-mounted frame and the transparent visor; and a micro-optic display system attachable to at least one of the head-mounted frame and the transparent visor. The micro-optic display system can be configured to render a heads up image on the transparent visor. In addition, the heads up image can define an outline of a field of view of the image capturing device.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2013Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Zeriscope Inc.Inventor: Robert J. Adams
-
Patent number: 9792672Abstract: Embodiments provide a video camera that can be configured to highly compress video data in a visually lossless manner. The camera can be configured to transform blue and red image data in a manner that enhances the compressibility of the data. The data can then be compressed and stored in this form. This allows a user to reconstruct the red and blue data to obtain the original raw data for a modified version of the original raw data that is visually lossless when demosaiced. Additionally, the data can be processed in a manner in which the green image elements are demosaiced first and then the red and blue elements are reconstructed based on values of the demosaiced green image elements.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2016Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: RED.COM, LLCInventors: James H. Jannard, Thomas Nattress
-
Patent number: 9794428Abstract: Systems and apparatus for sensing and video capture include at least one camera with an optical sensor that captures video image data of a first sampling rate. An auxiliary sensor captures auxiliary data at a second sample rate. A processor is communicatively connected to the optical sensor and auxiliary sensor. The processor transmits video image data captured at the first sample rate auxiliary sensor data captured at the second sampling rate across a data connection to a centralized computer that receives the video image data and the auxiliary sensor data and operate to present the video image data and the auxiliary sensor data on a graphical display.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2017Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: Verint Americas Inc.Inventor: Roderick Matheson
-
Patent number: 9787878Abstract: Embodiments provide a video camera configured to capture, compress, and store video image data in a memory of the video camera at a rate of at least about twenty three frames per second. The video image data can be mosaiced image data, and the compressed, mosaiced image data may remain substantially visually lossless upon decompression and demosaicing.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2015Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: RED.COM, LLCInventors: James H. Jannard, Thomas Graeme Nattress
-
Patent number: 9787902Abstract: Techniques to improve a digital image capture device's ability to stabilize a video stream—while enforcing desired stabilization constraints on particular images in the video stream—are presented that utilize an overscan region and a look-ahead technique enabled by buffering a number of video input frames before generating a first stabilized video output frame. More particularly, techniques are disclosed for buffering an initial number of input frames so that a “current” frame can use motion data from both “past” and “future” frames to adjust the value of a stabilization strength parameter and/or the weighted contribution of particular frames from the buffer in the determination of stabilization motion values for the current frame. Such techniques keep the current frame within its overscan and ensure that the stabilization constraints are enforced, while maintaining desired smoothness in the video stream. In some embodiments, the stabilization constraint may comprise a maximum allowed frame displacement.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2016Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Sebastien X. Beysserie, Jianping Zhou, Stephane S. Ben Soussan
-
Patent number: 9781335Abstract: A single user input element in an image capture device is used for both photo and video capture. Based on a first user interface activity, a timing reference is engaged at a first reference time. In a first case, photo capture is performed. In the first case, a second reference time is based on a second user interface activity, and the timing reference indicates a passage of time between the two reference times is shorter than a particular time interval. In a second case, video capture is performed. In the second case, the timing reference indicates a passage of time since the first reference time is equal to or longer than the particular time interval. Video capture is stopped based on a subsequent user interface activity. The user interface activities may comprise detecting actions based on the same type of physical manipulation of the single user input.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2016Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: SNAP INC.Inventors: Richard E. Marlin, Michael J. Mathias, Kristian D. Diakov
-
Patent number: 9773833Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a charge accumulation region of a first conductivity type, a first semiconductor region of a second conductivity type, a second semiconductor region of the second conductivity type, and an element isolation. The first semiconductor region is arranged so as to extend downward from a portion between the charge accumulation region and the element isolation, and the second semiconductor region includes a portion arranged below the charge accumulation region, and impurity concentration distributions of the charge accumulation region, the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region in a depth direction respectively have peaks at depth Rp1, Rp2, and Rp3, and Rp1<Rp2<Rp3 is satisfied. Impurity concentration C1 of the first semiconductor region at Rp2 is higher than impurity concentration C2 of the second semiconductor region at Rp3.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2016Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Katsunori Hirota
-
Patent number: 9769375Abstract: An auto focus camera module includes a camera module housing defining an aperture and an internal cavity to accommodate camera module components, an image sensor coupled to or within the housing, a lens barrel within the housing that contains an optical train including at least one movable lens disposed relative to the aperture and image sensor to focus images of scenes onto the image sensor along an optical path, and a fast focus MEMS actuator coupled to one or more lenses of the optical train including the at least one movable lens and configured to rapidly move said at least one movable lens relative to the image sensor to provide autofocus for the camera module in each frame of a preview or video sequence or both.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2016Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMSInventors: Petronel Bigioi, Peter Corcoran, Takanori Miki
-
Patent number: 9769406Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element that generates charges according to a light quantity of incident light and accumulates the charges in the inside thereof, a transfer transistor (TRG) that transfers the charges accumulated by the photoelectric conversion element, a first charge voltage conversion section that converts the charges transferred by the transfer transistor (TRG) into a voltage, and a substrate electrode of a MOS capacitor (a region of a second charge voltage conversion section facing a gate electrode) that connects the first charge voltage conversion section via a connection transistor (FDG). The gate electrode of the MOS capacitor is applied with a voltage that is different in a read period of the voltage signal converted by the first charge voltage conversion section and in a period other than the read period. The present disclosure can also be applied to a CMOS image sensor or the like.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2014Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Yorito Sakano
-
Patent number: 9769335Abstract: An embodiment of this invention is directed to an information processing apparatus capable of performing high-speed processing and preventing memory shortage even when executing a hybrid application. According to the embodiment, an information processing apparatus that executes a program including a first program layer with an instruction set to be interpreted and executed by a processor and a second program layer with an instruction set interpreted in advance by a unit other than the processor includes the following arrangement. That is, the processor includes a plurality of interpretation units configured to interpret the first program layer. A first interpretation unit is provided in an operating system that operates in the processor, and a second interpretation unit is provided in the second program layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2015Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Kiyoshi Umeda, Naoki Sumi, Tomohiro Suzuki
-
Patent number: 9756241Abstract: An image capturing apparatus including an image capturing unit that captures an image, a focus control unit that controls a focus of the image capturing unit, an object selection reception unit that receives a selection operation of an object, and an image processing unit that performs image processing of an image that is captured by the image capturing unit, in which the image capturing unit captures plural images in which the focus is changed by the focus control unit, at least one of the plural images is captured based on a focal position of a selected object that is received by the object selection reception unit, and the image processing unit generates an image in which a depth of field is expanded compared to the one captured image from the plural images.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2014Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Keisuke Omori, Kei Tokui