Patents Examined by Xi Wang
  • Patent number: 11438522
    Abstract: Provided is an image pickup apparatus that can determine a step-out with a high approximation accuracy and then return a lens position to an initial position. The image pickup apparatus includes: an optical element that is movable with respect to a predetermined initial position; acceleration detection means that detects a shock applied to a body of the apparatus and outputs a vector of the shock; and control means that adds up an optical axis direction component of the optical element in the vector of the shock each time the shock is detected and, when a cumulative shock that is a result of adding up exceeds a predetermined threshold, determines that the optical element has stepped out and returns the optical element to the initial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: JVCKENWOOD CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hidehiro Kato, Takahiro Furukawa, Yuzuru Kanazawa
  • Patent number: 11431269
    Abstract: A camera module includes a lens, a first magnet and a second magnet mounted on a mobile body including the lens, a coil portion arranged near the first magnet and configured to move the first magnet in a first direction, and the magnetic sensor arranged near the second magnet and configured to detect the position of the second magnet in the first direction as a detection direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro I, Arata Kasamatsu
  • Patent number: 11415867
    Abstract: An apparatus having a housing, an arm, a motor, and a camera mount. The housing may be connected to a ceiling of a room. The arm may have (i) a pivot portion connected to the housing and (ii) a portion extending from the pivot portion in a first direction. The motor may be connected to the pivot portion of the arm to move the arm in response to a control signal. The camera mount may be connected to an end of the portion of the arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Arc Eye LLC
    Inventors: James Cicerone, Christian Cicerone
  • Patent number: 11405572
    Abstract: A solid state imaging element (100) includes: a successive approximation type analog-digital conversion circuit (140) converting an analog pixel signal received from a pixel of a pixel array portion (110) to a digital code; and a first noise detection circuit (130-1) connected to a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) output node inside the successive approximation type analog-digital conversion circuit (140) and detecting power noise supplied to the pixel of the pixel array portion (110) to output a detection result to the DAC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Nakagawa, Shinichirou Etou
  • Patent number: 11399147
    Abstract: To extend drive time in an imaging apparatus driven by a battery. The imaging apparatus includes a remaining battery level detection unit, a solid-state imaging element, and a control unit. In the imaging apparatus, the remaining battery level detection unit detects a remaining battery level of the battery. Furthermore, in the imaging apparatus, the solid-state imaging element captures image data. Moreover, in the imaging apparatus, the control unit controls the solid-state imaging element to capture image data so that the lower the remaining battery level measured by a remaining battery level measurement unit, the smaller the data amount of the image data to be captured in synchronization with a predetermined synchronization signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Koizumi
  • Patent number: 11385432
    Abstract: A camera lens module includes an image sensor and a lens assembly. The image sensor includes a photosensitive chip defining a photosensitive path, wherein the lens assembly is coupled to the image sensor along the photosensitive path of the photosensitive chip. The lens assembly includes at least one optical lens module and an aperture member coupled at the optical lens module, wherein the optical lens module includes a lens barrel and at least an optical lens supported within the lens barrel. A relative position of the lens assembly with respect to the image sensor is adjustable for calibration and the relative position of the optical lens module is permanently fixed after calibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: NINGBO SUNNY OPOTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mingzhu Wang, Heng Jiang, Feifan Chen, Chunmei Liu, Bojie Zhao, Nan Guo, Liang Ding
  • Patent number: 11375087
    Abstract: A camera system for mounting to a scope can include a camera portion and a mounting system rotationally coupled to the camera portion. The mounting system can include a first securing portion having a first securing member, where the first securing member is configured to abut against a first portion of an eyepiece of the scope. The mounting system can also include a second securing portion having a second securing member, where the second securing member is configured to abut against a second portion of the eyepiece of the scope. The mounting system can further include an adjustment mechanism that simultaneously moves the first securing portion and the second securing portion in opposing directions relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Targetvision LLC
    Inventors: Richard Charles Rhoden, Richard Clayton Rhoden, James Braden Hoffman
  • Patent number: 11363191
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an acquisition unit capable of acquiring an image captured through optical system, wherein a subject image passing through the optical system has characteristic blurring based on a function of spherical aberration of the optical system or a function of an apodization filter of the optical system; and a control unit that performs control to display, together with the captured image, a guidance related to the characteristic blurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomohiro Ota, Ayumi Sato
  • Patent number: 11356625
    Abstract: An image sensor semiconductor device includes a first photodiode disposed in a semiconductor substrate and configured to generate charges in response to radiation, a first transistor disposed adjacent to the first photodiode, a floating diffusion region configured to store the generated charges, a reset transistor configured to reset the floating diffusion region, and a second transistor disposed over the substrate between the first photodiode and the reset transistor. The first transistor and the second transistor are configured to generate a first electric field and a second electric field, respectively, to move the charges generated by the first photodiode to the floating diffusion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji Takahashi, Jhy-Jyi Sze
  • Patent number: 11356582
    Abstract: A camera module includes a substrate, an image sensor disposed on the substrate, a housing to accommodate the image sensor, a filter configured to block an infrared wavelength of light incident on the image sensor and disposed on the housing, a gap maintaining member to maintain a gap between the substrate and the bottom housing, and a sealing member to connect the substrate to the housing and to surround the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jang Hun Kim, Kyoung Soo Son, Jung Eun Bae, Jin Gook Kim
  • Patent number: 11343427
    Abstract: An imaging device according to the present disclosure includes: an imaging unit configured to perform an imaging operation; a data generator configured to generate first power supply voltage data corresponding to a first power supply voltage; and a flag generation section configured to generate a flag signal for the first power supply voltage by comparing the first power supply voltage data and first reference data. The first power supply voltage is supplied to the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Kawazu, Keita Sasaki, Takumi Oka, Yuichi Motohashi, Atsushi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11330180
    Abstract: Systems and methods of capturing imagery are provided. In particular, an imaging platform can be configured to capture imagery using a dual-axis steering mirror and one or more image capture devices. The line of sight angle of the imaging platform can be controlled by controlling the motion of the steering mirror in accordance with a motion profile. In example embodiments, the motion profile can correspond to a sawtooth wave. The imaging platform can further include one or more position sensors used to determine a position and/or orientation of the imaging platform along a path on which the imaging platform travels. The motion of the steering mirror can then be controlled to rotate about a first axis and a second axis to compensate for line of sight errors based at least in part on the determined position and/or orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Planet Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: M. Dirk Robinson, Jonathan Dyer, Joshua Levine, Brendan Hermalyn, Ronny Votel, Matt William Messana
  • Patent number: 11330140
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus, comprises a recording control unit configured to perform control to, when extracting a frame from a RAW file in which RAW data of a plurality of frames is recorded and recording the extracted frame as a RAW still image file, record RAW data of the extracted frame and information indicating that predetermined image processing has been applied to the RAW data into the RAW still image file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuma Mikawa
  • Patent number: 11317048
    Abstract: An image sensing device is provided to comprise: an image sensing region including a first pixel and a second pixel that produce a first pixel signal and a second pixel signal, respectively, in response to reception of light incident on the image sensing region; and a signal processing circuit electrically coupled to the image sensing region and operable to convert the first pixel signal and the second pixel signal to a first digital output and a second digital output, respectively, the signal processing circuit including a first node configured to receive the first pixel signal and the second pixel signal and a second node configured to receive ramp signals used for conversion of the first pixel signal and the second pixel signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Hyeon-June Kim
  • Patent number: 11317010
    Abstract: The present invention relates to Optical device (1), comprising: a transparent and elastically expandable membrane (10), an optical element (20) facing the membrane (10), a wall member (300), wherein the optical element (20) and the membrane (10) are connected to the wall member (300) such that a container (2) with a volume (V) is formed, a fluid (F) residing in said volume (V), and a lens shaping part (11) that is in contact with the membrane (10) for defining a curvature adjustable area (10c) of the membrane (10), which area (10c) faces said optical element (20), and a circumferential lens barrel (50) that surrounds an opening (50c) in which at least one rigid lens (51) is arranged that is held by the lens barrel (50), and an actuator means (40) that is designed to move the optical element (20) in an axial direction (A) with respect to the lens shaping part (11), which axial direction (A) is oriented perpendicular to a plane along which the lens shaping part (11) extends, or to move the lens shaping part (1
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: OPTOTUNE CONSUMER AG
    Inventors: Manuel Aschwanden, Markus Geissner
  • Patent number: 11310430
    Abstract: A method of providing a video in a portable terminal according to the present invention may include: monitoring whether an execution request event for a multi-camera mode of a portable terminal is generated; when the execution request event is generated, executing a virtual multi-preview menu including a plurality of pre-view regions, which is divided into independent separate regions and displays a plurality of different contents, respectively, and when the virtual multi-preview menu is executed, photographing a multi-preview image, so that different contents are displayed on the plurality of preview regions, respectively, with a virtual camera implemented in the portable terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: UBIFUNSTUDIO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Hwan Park, Ji Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 11310428
    Abstract: A camera shooting method and a mobile terminal are provided. The mobile terminal includes a dual camera module and a motion sensor connected with the dual camera module, the motion sensor is configured to detect an angular velocity and/or acceleration, two cameras in the dual camera module constitutes respective anti-shaking components along with the motion sensor, so as to use the same motion sensor to collect shaking information of the mobile terminal. Thus, the dual camera module of the mobile terminal may collect the shaking information of the mobile terminal by using the same motion sensor, so that each camera of the dual camera module has an anti-shaking function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: VIVO MOBILE COMMUNICATION CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kaiwei Zhang, Conghua Fu
  • Patent number: 11310446
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an optical system, a plurality of imaging elements, an imaging unit, a comparison unit, and a correction unit. The optical system is configured to disperse light of a subject image. The imaging elements are configured to capture subject images dispersed by the optical system using a rolling shutter method. The imaging unit is configured to shift a slit range, which is between a front curtain and a rear curtain of the rolling shutter method, by at least one line in a sub-scanning direction between the plurality of imaging elements. The comparison unit is configured to calculate a level difference in units of lines between image signals output by the plurality of imaging elements by comparing signal levels of the image signals, and the correction unit configured to correct influence of a flash band on the image signals on the basis of the level difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventor: Takuhiro Shibuya
  • Patent number: 11310442
    Abstract: A display control apparatus displays an image on a display unit in such a manner that, in a second shooting, the image to be displayed on the display unit is reduced to a smaller size in a case where a frame display setting is ON than in a case where the frame display setting is OFF, and, in a first shooting, the image to be displayed on the display unit in the case where the frame display setting is ON is not reduced to a size smaller than that of the image to be displayed on the display unit in the case where the frame display setting is OFF, the frame display setting being a display setting for information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshimichi Ise
  • Patent number: 11297251
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes a photoelectric conversion unit, an acquisition unit, a first amplification unit, a second amplification unit, and an amplification factor control unit. The photoelectric conversion unit is configured to convert an optical image into an image signal. The acquisition unit is configured to acquire a value related to a correct exposure on a basis of the image signal converted from the optical image by the photoelectric conversion unit. The first amplification unit is configured to amplify the image signal with a first amplification factor. The second amplification unit is configured to amplify the image signal with a second amplification factor. The amplification factor control unit is configured to change the first amplification factor or the second amplification factor based on the value related to the correct exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Itoh