Patents by Inventor Terence N. Tam
Terence N. Tam has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240098368Abstract: Devices, methods, and non-transitory program storage devices are disclosed herein to perform predictive image sensor cropping operations to improve the performance of video image stabilization operations, especially for high resolution image sensors. According to some embodiments, the techniques include, for each of one or more respective images of a first plurality of images: obtaining image information corresponding to one or more images in the first plurality of images captured prior to the respective image; predicting, for the respective image, an image sensor cropping region to be read out from the first image sensor; and then reading out, into a memory, a first cropped version of the respective image comprising only the predicted image sensor cropping region for the respective image. Then, a first video may be produced based, at least in part, on the first cropped versions of the one or more respective images of the first plurality of images.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2022Publication date: March 21, 2024Inventors: Patrick A. Carroll, Ajay Ramesh, Ashwini Dwarakanath, David A. Silverstein, David R. Pope, Michael W. Tao, Terence N. Tam, Vitanshu Sharma
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Patent number: 9179055Abstract: This application relates primarily to various apparatus and method for securing and protecting a camera module within a device housing. The securing and protecting elements are configured to take up minimal space within the device housing so that available space for the camera module is maximized. In some embodiments the securing elements can also include grounding features.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2014Date of Patent: November 3, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Lee E. Hooton, Douglas S. Brodie, Matthew D. Hill, Nicholas G. Merz, Scott A. Myers, Terence N. Tam
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Patent number: 9077878Abstract: A camera module has an image sensor and a lens assembly that includes a lens barrel having a first cylindrical portion that includes an externally threaded portion and a second cylindrical portion that has a larger diameter than the externally threaded portion. A lens moving mechanism includes a movable sleeve having internal threads that receive the externally threaded portion of the lens assembly. The lens moving mechanism is coupled to the image sensor such that the second cylindrical portion of the lens assembly is closest to the image sensor. The camera module is assembled by inserting the lens assembly into the lens moving mechanism from the side closest to the image sensor. An installation tool engages the second cylindrical portion to rotate the lens assembly and engage the externally threaded portion of the lens assembly with an internally threaded portion of a movable sleeve in the lens moving mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2012Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Douglas Stuart Brodie, Terence N. Tam
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Publication number: 20150062419Abstract: This application relates primarily to various apparatus and method for securing and protecting a camera module within a device housing. The securing and protecting elements are configured to take up minimal space within the device housing so that available space for the camera module is maximized. In some embodiments the securing elements can also include grounding features.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2014Publication date: March 5, 2015Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Lee E. Hooton, Douglas S. Brodie, Matthew D. Hill, Nicholas G. Merz, Scott A. Myers, Terence N. Tam
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Patent number: 8932895Abstract: An image sensor assembly includes an image sensor die attached adjacent to a cavity and a lower surface in a preformed package having substantially vertical surfaces extending from the lower surface to an upper surface of the package. The image sensor die provides the light receiving surface for capturing the image. A light absorbing layer is applied to a cover such that the light absorbing layer prevents light from falling on the substantially vertical surfaces of the preformed package without preventing the passage of light that falls on the light receiving surface of the image sensor die. The light absorbing layer includes openings that provide a line-of-sight view of two opposing corners of at least one of the light receiving surface and the image sensor die to facilitate placing the cover over the upper surface of the package in registry with the image sensor die.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2013Date of Patent: January 13, 2015Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Terence N. Tam, Jeffrey N. Gleason
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Patent number: 8902352Abstract: A camera module has an image sensor and a lens assembly that includes a lens barrel having a first cylindrical portion that includes an externally threaded portion and a second cylindrical portion that has a larger diameter than the externally threaded portion. A lens moving mechanism includes a movable sleeve having internal threads that receive the externally threaded portion of the lens assembly. The lens moving mechanism is coupled to the image sensor such that the second cylindrical portion of the lens assembly is closest to the image sensor. The camera module is assembled by inserting the lens assembly into the lens moving mechanism from the side closest to the image sensor. An installation tool may engage the second cylindrical portion to rotate the lens assembly and engage the threaded portions. Features may be provided to retain the lens assembly in the lens moving mechanism before joining the threaded portions.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2012Date of Patent: December 2, 2014Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Douglas Stuart Brodie, Steven Webster, Terence N. Tam
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Publication number: 20130328148Abstract: An image sensor assembly includes an image sensor die attached adjacent to a cavity and a lower surface in a preformed package having substantially vertical surfaces extending from the lower surface to an upper surface of the package. The image sensor die provides the light receiving surface for capturing the image. A light absorbing layer is applied to a cover such that the light absorbing layer prevents light from falling on the substantially vertical surfaces of the preformed package without preventing the passage of light that falls on the light receiving surface of the image sensor die. The light absorbing layer includes openings that provide a line-of-sight view of two opposing corners of at least one of the light receiving surface and the image sensor die to facilitate placing the cover over the upper surface of the package in registry with the image sensor die.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2013Publication date: December 12, 2013Applicant: Apple Inc.Inventors: Terence N. Tam, Jeffrey N. Gleason
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Publication number: 20130329126Abstract: A camera module has an image sensor and a lens assembly that includes a lens barrel having a first cylindrical portion that includes an externally threaded portion and a second cylindrical portion that has a larger diameter than the externally threaded portion. A lens moving mechanism includes a movable sleeve having internal threads that receive the externally threaded portion of the lens assembly. The lens moving mechanism is coupled to the image sensor such that the second cylindrical portion of the lens assembly is closest to the image sensor. The camera module is assembled by inserting the lens assembly into the lens moving mechanism from the side closest to the image sensor. An installation tool may engage the second cylindrical portion to rotate the lens assembly and engage the threaded portions. Features may be provided to retain the lens assembly in the lens moving mechanism before joining the threaded portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2012Publication date: December 12, 2013Inventors: Douglas Stuart Brodie, Steven Webster, Terence N. Tam
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Publication number: 20130271648Abstract: A camera module has an image sensor and a lens assembly that includes a lens barrel having a first cylindrical portion that includes an externally threaded portion and a second cylindrical portion that has a larger diameter than the externally threaded portion. A lens moving mechanism includes a movable sleeve having internal threads that receive the externally threaded portion of the lens assembly. The lens moving mechanism is coupled to the image sensor such that the second cylindrical portion of the lens assembly is closest to the image sensor. The camera module is assembled by inserting the lens assembly into the lens moving mechanism from the side closest to the image sensor. An installation tool engages the second cylindrical portion to rotate the lens assembly and engage the externally threaded portion of the lens assembly with an internally threaded portion of a movable sleeve in the lens moving mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2012Publication date: October 17, 2013Inventors: Douglas Stuart Brodie, Terence N. Tam
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Publication number: 20130260823Abstract: Improved approaches to providing a sealed acoustic chamber (e.g., a back volume) for an acoustic component (e.g., speaker) resident in a compact portable electronic device are disclosed. In one embodiment, a compact portable electronic device includes an internal module (or housing), such as an optical camera module that includes optical components, which contains a module volume. The module volume can be provided with a port (e.g., opening) but is otherwise a substantially enclosed (e.g., at least substantially sealed) volume. By acoustically coupling the acoustic component to the port, the module volume can be used as some or all of the back volume for the acoustic component. Advantageously, a compact portable electronic can provide quality acoustic audio output while requiring only a limited amount of dedicated space.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2012Publication date: October 3, 2013Inventors: Ashutosh Y. Shukla, David A. Pakula, Mathew D. Hill, Richard Hung Minh Dinh, Sawyer I. Cohen, Terence N. Tam
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Patent number: 8513757Abstract: An image sensor assembly includes an image sensor die attached adjacent to a cavity and a lower surface in a preformed package having substantially vertical surfaces extending from the lower surface to an upper surface of the package. The image sensor die provides the light receiving surface for capturing the image. A light absorbing layer is applied to a cover such that the light absorbing layer prevents light from falling on the substantially vertical surfaces of the preformed package without preventing the passage of light that falls on the light receiving surface of the image sensor die. The light absorbing layer includes openings that provide a line-of-sight view of two opposing corners of at least one of the light receiving surface and the image sensor die to facilitate placing the cover over the upper surface of the package in registry with the image sensor die.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2012Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Terence N. Tam, Jeffrey N. Gleason