Patents Examined by Yogesh Aggarwal
  • Solid-state imaging apparatus and camera
    Patent number: 9554068
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus is provided. The apparatus may include a plurality of pixels each including a first photoelectric conversion element and a second photoelectric conversion element, a processing circuit configured to perform a first process for generating a first signal corresponding to a charge generated by the first photoelectric conversion element, and a second process for generating a second signal corresponding to a sum of the charge generated by the first photoelectric conversion element and a charge generated by the second photoelectric conversion element, and a current source configured to supply a first driving current to the processing circuit when the processing circuit performs the first process, and supply a second driving current higher than the first driving current to the processing circuit when the processing circuit performs the second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuki Ohshitanai
  • Electronic device and method in an electronic device for processing image data
    Patent number: 9552627
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic device for performing imaging, including a camera for creating image data (ID) from an imaging target (IT), the imaging target (IT) including at least one primary image object (I1) and at least one secondary image object (I2), an image-processing chain arranged in connection with the camera, for processing the image data created from the imaging target, and a focussing unit for focussing the camera on at least the primary image object. In addition, a blurring unit is arranged in the image-processing chain, to blur at least some of the said secondary image objects in the image data, and arranged to use the information produced by the focussing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Petri Ahonen, Simo Rossi
  • Image-taking apparatus, information processing apparatus, and image-taking system
    Patent number: 9538089
    Abstract: There is provided an image-taking system including an information processing apparatus and an image-taking apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a detector configured to detect brightness of an object image, and to output external brightness information, a determining unit configured to determine if an external image-taking apparatus exists or not, and an output unit configured to output the external brightness information to the image-taking apparatus if the image-taking apparatus exists. The image-taking apparatus includes a detector configured to detect brightness of an object image, and to output internal brightness information, and a controller configured to control exposure based on an exposure value, the exposure value being based on the internal brightness information detected by the detector and external brightness information received from an external apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryogo Ito, Kazuma Akamatsu, Shunsuke Katsumata
  • Operation apparatus
    Patent number: 9538063
    Abstract: Provided is an operation apparatus including a main body section including an operation section including a first operation section for performing a record operation of an image pickup device and a display section that displays an image transmitted from the image pickup device, and a fixation section that fixes the main body section to an attachment object. The first operation section and the display section are both located on a first face of the main body section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Rui Morisawa
  • Methods and apparatus to generate wide dynamic range images
    Patent number: 9538092
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to generate wide dynamic range images are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a first processing block having first input, second input to receive input data from an image sensor, and first output; a second processing block having third input, fourth input to receive input data from the image sensor, and second output, at least one of the first and second outputs to output a WDR image based on at least two of the first, second, third and fourth inputs; an architecture recognizer having fifth input and third output, the third output to convey an architecture type of the image sensor; a function selector having fourth output to identify at least one of the first and second processing blocks based on the third output; and a sensor adapter having seventh input coupled to the fourth output and having fifth output coupled to the first and third inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Mihir Narendra Mody, Niraj Nandan, Hetul Sanghavi, Rajsekhar Allu
  • Image pickup apparatus including a plurality of image pickup units and method of controlling the same
    Patent number: 9538097
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that performs control according to an azimuth detected during photographing, such that a user can enjoy excellent viewing of the synthesized image. A digital camera includes a main camera for obtaining a first image, and an in-camera for obtaining a second image when the first image is obtained. An azimuth sensor and a system controller generate first azimuth information by detecting a photographing direction of the main camera, and generate second azimuth information by detecting a photographing direction of the in-camera. The system controller records the first azimuth information in association with the first image, and the second azimuth information in association with the second image, in a recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuki Tsuihiji
  • RGBC color filter array patterns to minimize color aliasing
    Patent number: 9521381
    Abstract: Implementations of a color filter array comprising a plurality of tiled minimal repeating units. Each minimal repeating unit includes at least a first set of filters comprising three or more color filters, the first set including at least one color filter with a first spectral photoresponse, at least one color filter with a second spectral photoresponse, and at least one color filter with a third spectral photoresponse; and a second set of filters comprising one or more broadband filters positioned among the color filters of the first set, wherein each of the one or more broadband filters has a fourth spectral photoresponse with a broader spectrum than any of the first, second, and third spectral photoresponses, and wherein the individual filters of the second set have a smaller area than any of the individual filters in the first set. Other implementations are disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Wu, Jizhang Shan, Chin Poh Pang
  • Mobile terminal and control method for the mobile terminal
    Patent number: 9521328
    Abstract: An image display device including a body configured to be wearable on a specific portion of a human body; a camera coupled to the body and configured to capture a video; a display unit coupled to the body and configured to display a preview screen for capturing the video; and a controller configured to receive a first input for setting a first region on the preview screen, display a first graphic object indicating the set first region on the display unit, capture the video for the first region according to a capture signal, and when a viewing angle of the preview screen including the set first region deviates more than a predetermined reference range, suspend capturing the video and display a second graphic object indicating an extent of the deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Doohwan Kim, Byungju Kim, Raon Jeon
  • Image processing apparatus, image capturing apparatus, and image processing method
    Patent number: 9521339
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus. A first correction unit sets each of a plurality of pixels included in an image as a target pixel in sequence, determines whether or not the target pixel is a defective pixel, and corrects the defective target pixel using peripheral pixels. The first correction unit does not use, in the correction of the target pixel, a defective pixel in the peripheral pixels that is known. A second correction corrects each corrected pixel that has been corrected by the first correction unit using a defective pixel which was unknown at the time of the correction, using the peripheral pixels used by the first correction unit. The second correction unit uses, for the defective pixel in the peripheral pixels used by the first correction unit, a corrected pixel by the first correction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hayato Takahashi
  • Image capturing apparatus
    Patent number: 9521334
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an interval shooting section (51) that performs an interval shooting process, a lighten compositing section (54) that performs a lighten compositing process using images captured one by one by the interval shooting process, and a composite-image-in-progress displaying section (55) that, when a first operation is performed, causes a composite image in a first memory area, which is used as a compositing buffer for the lighten compositing process, to be displayed on an LCD monitor without causing the interval shooting process to be stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuya Yamamoto
  • Display processing apparatus and method
    Patent number: 9516216
    Abstract: A display processing apparatus for displaying, on a display unit, an image captured by an image capture apparatus capable of changing an image capture direction performs first display processing in which an image captured by the image capture apparatus is displayed in a first region of the display unit while the image capture direction is changed, and performs second display processing in which, in a second region indicating a range in which the image capture apparatus can perform image capture by changing the image capture direction, display according to the image capture direction in which the received image was captured is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Onsen
  • Image sensors, methods of operating the same, and image processing systems including the same
    Patent number: 9509932
    Abstract: An image sensor may include a comparator including a first input terminal configured to receive a reset signal, a second input terminal configured to receive an image signal, a third input terminal configured to receive a ramp signal configured to ramp in one direction, and an output terminal. The comparator may further include a switch circuit including a plurality of switches. The comparator may be configured to compare the reset signal with the ramp signal and output a first comparison signal through the output terminal according to a first arrangement of the switches in a reset phase and the comparator may be configured to compare the image signal with the ramp signal and output a second comparison signal through the output terminal according to a second arrangement of the switches in an image phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Dongguk University Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Jae Jung Park, Dae Yun Kim, Jae Young Bae, Min Kyu Song
  • User programmable image capturing and processing device
    Patent number: 9509904
    Abstract: The present description provides a user programmable image capturing and processing apparatus which allows the user to load and run its own custom processing algorithms into the camera or device apparatus, does not limit the client to a specific set of factory preloaded image processing algorithms, and can utilize a wide range of image capturing means such as Ultrasound, X-ray, RF frequency, or other means of converting signals or waves to image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Imperx, Inc.
    Inventor: Petko Dimitrov Dinev
  • Signal processing circuit with multiple power modes
    Patent number: 9497381
    Abstract: A signal processing circuit, for example, an image signal processor, is operated in two modes including a first mode for providing output optimized for human perception and a second mode providing output optimized for feature detection where the image signal processor in the second mode provides a degraded output with respect to human perception that nevertheless saves power and provides reliable feature detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventor: Nam Sung Kim
  • Electronic device and mehod for controlling operation of cooking equipment
    Patent number: 9497378
    Abstract: In a method for controlling the operation of cooking equipment, executed by at least one processor of an electronic device, the electronic device communicate with cooking equipment and a camera device that creates height value. The method including setting the camera device to detect an area of a container positioned on the cooking equipment, a liquid concentration of liquid in the container is set, height values between the camera device and a surface of the liquid, in a Z axis direction corresponding to a direction that is parallel to a direction between the camera device and the surface, from the camera device is acquired, a height difference between a maximum height value and a minimum height value is calculated, and when the height value difference is more than a preset standard value, a heat reduction unit of the cooking equipment is controlled to change a working state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hou-Hsien Lee, Chang-Jung Lee, Chih-Ping Lo
  • Photodetector comprising a pinned photodiode that is formed by an optically sensitive layer and a silicon diode
    Patent number: 9491388
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a photodetector includes a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of pixel regions. Each of the plurality of pixel regions comprises an optically sensitive layer over the semiconductor substrate. A pixel circuit is formed for each of the plurality of pixel regions. Each pixel circuit includes a pinned photodiode, a charge store, and a read out circuit for each of the plurality pixel regions. The optically sensitive layer is in electrical communication with a portion of a silicon diode to form the pinned photodiode. A potential difference between two electrodes in communication with the optically sensitive layer associated with a pixel region exhibits a time-dependent bias; a biasing during a first film reset period being different from a biasing during a second integration period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: InVisage Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Hartley Sargent, Rajsapan Jain, Igor Constantin Ivanov, Michael R. Malone, Michael Charles Brading, Hui Tian, Pierre Henri Rene Della Nave, Jess Jan Young Lee
  • Electronic device and image composition method thereof
    Patent number: 9491366
    Abstract: An electronic device and an image composition method thereof are provided. The electronic device selects a plurality of key images from a plurality of images corresponding to a scene according to a first image characteristic, and selects at least two portions from the plurality of key images according to a second image characteristic. Each of the at least two portions corresponds to different regions of the scene. Then, the electronic device generates a composite image corresponding to the scene by combining the at least two portions and provide the composite image and at least two of the key images from which the at least two portions are selected to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: HTC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiang Huang, Tzu-Hao Kuo, Liang-Kang Huang
  • Image capturing apparatus and method for controlling the same
    Patent number: 9485431
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of a subject to generate image data; a detachable display unit configured to display the image data generated by the image capturing unit; a wireless communication unit configured to connect with a second device including the display unit via wireless communication; a detection unit configured to detect attachment/detachment of the display unit; and a control unit configured to control the wireless communication unit in order that connection to one of the display unit and the second device is given priority depending on the attachment/detachment of the display unit detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Ohshima
  • Mobile terminal and a method of controlling the mobile terminal
    Patent number: 9483501
    Abstract: Provided is a mobile terminal including: a camera; and a controller that captures a moving image using the camera, in which wherein in response to a control command that is applied in a state where the moving image is captured using the camera, the controller captures a static image, and after the capturing of the static image is completed, the controller performs processing that associates at least one portion of the captured moving image with the static image in such a manner that information on the at least one portion of the captured moving image is provided along with the captured static image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jeonghyun Lee, Jaemoo Lee, Kyungmin Cho, Minah Song, Jongkyeong Park
  • Apparatus and method for supporting zoom microphone functional in mobile terminal
    Patent number: 9479704
    Abstract: A method and apparatus support a zoom microphone function in mobile terminal. The apparatus includes a plurality of microphones, a camera, and a controller. Each of the plurality of microphones has a different directional characteristic. The camera captures an image. And the controller determines a zoom level of the camera, and adjusts gains of the plurality of microphones based on a zoom range to which the zoom level belongs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seok-Weon Seo