Plural Photosensitive Image Detecting Element Arrays Patents (Class 250/208.1)
  • Patent number: 11404455
    Abstract: There is provided an imaging apparatus including a first imaging element and a second imaging element configured to perform imaging in the same direction. The second imaging element is different in pixel arrangement between a central part and a non-central part, such that the pixels in the non-central part are more sensitive than the pixels in the central part. Image signals from the non-central part of the second imaging element are used to correct for shading (vignetting) in image signals from the first imaging element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Nakata
  • Patent number: 11397484
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a display panel including at least one pixel region located in a display area, each pixel region includes: at least one first pixel including at least one display light-emitting sub-pixel and at least one near-infrared light-emitting sub-pixel, wherein the near-infrared light-emitting sub-pixel is configured to emit near-infrared light; and at least one second pixel including at least one display light-emitting sub-pixel and at least one near-infrared receiving sub-pixel, wherein the near-infrared receiving sub-pixel is configured to receive near-infrared light reflected from an external object and generate a measurement signal responsive to the external object. The present disclosure also provides a display device including the display panel, and a method for determining the position of an external object by the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignees: ORDOS YUANSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shicheng Sun, Shuang Hu, Peirong Huo, Jianfei Tian, Zhiqiang Wang
  • Patent number: 11398512
    Abstract: A photo-sensing device includes a semiconductor substrate, a photosensitive device, a dielectric layer and a light pipe. The photosensitive device is in the semiconductor substrate. The dielectric layer is over the semiconductor substrate. The light pipe is over the photosensitive device and embedded in the dielectric layer. The light pipe includes a curved and convex light-incident surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Chia-Chan Chen
  • Patent number: 11393865
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to optical receiver systems. An example system includes a plurality of substrates disposed in an edge-to-edge array along a primary axis. Each respective substrate of the plurality of substrates includes a plurality of detector elements. Each detector element of the plurality of detector elements generates a respective detector signal in response to light received by the detector element. The plurality of detector elements is arranged with a detector pitch between adjacent detector elements of the plurality of detector elements. Each respective substrate of the plurality of substrates also includes a signal receiver circuit configured to receive the detector signals generated by the plurality of detector elements. The respective substrates of the plurality of substrates are disposed such that the detector pitch is maintained between adjacent detector elements on their respective substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Caner Onal, Pierre-Yves Droz, William McCann, Laila Mattos
  • Patent number: 11393855
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a first semiconductor region of a first conductivity type at a first depth from a first surface, a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type disposed at a second depth deeper than the first depth from the first surface so as to be in contact with the first semiconductor region, and a third semiconductor region of the second conductivity type extending from the first surface to a third depth shallower than the second depth and being in contact with the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region. The third semiconductor region has a higher impurity concentration than the second semiconductor region. A second electric potential lower than the first electric potential for a carrier of the first conductivity type is applied to the third semiconductor region. The second semiconductor region has an impurity concentration of 1×1012 [atom/cm3] or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hajime Ikeda, Yusuke Onuki
  • Patent number: 11391433
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for controlling light distribution using steering information, the apparatus including a steering information detector configured to detect an amount of change of steering information sensed through a steering sensor that senses the steering information, a determiner configured to determine whether the amount of change of the steering information detected through the steering information detector is greater than or equal to a predetermined critical value and determine a direction in which the steering information is changed, and a controller configured to increase or decrease a margin of a shadow zone of a headlamp according to the amount of change of the steering information when the amount of change of the steering information is determined by the determiner to be greater than or equal to the predetermined critical value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOBIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Young Sung
  • Patent number: 11394915
    Abstract: Disclosed are an image sensing device and an operating method thereof, and the image sensing device may include a charge sensing element suitable for generating first charges, which correspond to incident light, based on a photo control signal; a reset element suitable for resetting the charge sensing element based on a reset signal; a floating diffusion node suitable for accumulating the first charges; a compensation element suitable for selectively supplying a compensation current to the floating diffusion node based on a compensation control signal; and a selection element suitable for outputting a pixel signal, which corresponds to a voltage on the floating diffusion node, to a readout line based on a selection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Jin Park, Nam Ryeol Kim, Kang Bong Seo, Sung Uk Seo, Jung Soon Shin
  • Patent number: 11394912
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a comparator, an AD converter, a solid-state imaging device, an electronic apparatus, and a comparator control method that can reduce power consumption while increasing the determination speed of the comparator. The comparator includes a comparison unit, a positive feedback circuit, and a current limiting unit. The comparison unit compares the voltage of an input signal and the voltage of a reference signal, and outputs a comparison result signal. The positive feedback circuit increases the transition speed at the time when the comparison result signal is inverted. The current limiting unit limits the current flowing in the comparison unit after the inversion of the comparison result signal. The present disclosure can be applied to comparators, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaki Sakakibara, Kenichi Aoyagi, Seiji Yamada
  • Patent number: 11387268
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first transfer gate formed over a substrate, and including a first projection; a second transfer gate formed over the substrate, neighboring the first transfer gate, and including a second projection; and a floating diffusion formed in the substrate, and partially overlapping with the first transfer gate and the second transfer gate, wherein the first projection and the second projection face each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Sung-Kun Park, Hye-Won Mun
  • Patent number: 11386635
    Abstract: A smart chip assembly capable of communicating with each other and variable array in packaging contains at least two intelligent single-chip, which can be easily formed into a smart chip assembly by cutting after packaging. Each intelligent single-chip has a camera lens module, and each lens module is arranged in a different position and angle to separately obtain images of different angles or depths of field of the object to be recognized, and provide each intelligent single-chip to independently process the image and judge by itself. The result of each judgment based on the obtained images of different angles or depths of field can also be used as one of the options for reference judgment. Then through the mutual communication between the intelligent single-chips, they calculate and analyze different image and image dynamics, and make comprehensive judgments to obtain the best interpretation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Neuronbasic Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond Wu
  • Patent number: 11385387
    Abstract: A diffractive optical element having, on a surface of a transparent substrate, a plurality of types of regions which provide different phase modulation to an incident light, wherein each of the regions has a microstructure formed with concave and convex portions of which sizes are smaller than the wavelength of the incident light, and wherein in the microstructure, a ratio of the width of the convex portion and the width of the concave portion in the concave and convex portions and the depth of the concave portion are different for each type of region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 11388361
    Abstract: An imaging device, image sensor and method are provided. A first scanning operation is performed on a pixel array in a first direction by a first selection circuit to generate first frame data by first readout circuit. A second scanning operation is performed on the pixel array in a second direction different from the first direction to generate second frame data by a second selection circuit. The first and second frame data are merged into single frame data by an image signal processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seol Namgung, Seungnam Choi, Jeongseok Kim, Junseok Kim, Jongwoo Bong, Yunjae Suh
  • Patent number: 11378659
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a light reception device and a distance measurement module. The light reception device includes an on-chip lens, a wiring layer, and a semiconductor layer between the on-chip lens and the wiring layer. The semiconductor layer includes a first tap to which a first voltage is applied and a first charge detection portion, and a second tap to which a second voltage different from the first voltage is applied and a second charge detection portion. The position of the on-chip lens differs depending upon an in-plane position of a pixel array section, so that an optical path length or a DC contrast of a chief ray from an object is uniform at in-plane pixels of the pixel array section. The present technology can be applied, for example, to a light reception device that generates distance information, for example, by a ToF method, and so forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Isogai, Tsutomu Imoto, Takuya Maruyama, Takuro Murase, Ryota Watanabe, Toshifumi Wakano
  • Patent number: 11381773
    Abstract: Imaging devices are disclosed. In one example, an imaging device has pixels circuits including an imaging pixel circuit and a dummy pixel circuit. Each of the pixel circuits includes an accumulation section that accumulates electric charge, a first transistor, and an output section. The first transistor includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The second terminal is coupled to the accumulation section. The output section outputs a voltage corresponding to electric charge accumulated in the accumulation section. The first terminal of the first transistor in the imaging pixel circuit is coupled to a first light receiving element, and connected to the second terminal when the first transistor is in an ON state. The first and second terminals of the first transistor in the dummy pixel circuit are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohiro Matsuura, Naoki Kawazu
  • Patent number: 11378382
    Abstract: A plurality of pixels are arranged two-dimensionally in a matrix and individually include a first photosensitive portion and a second photosensitive portion. A plurality of first wirings connect a plurality of first photosensitive portions to each other for every row. A plurality of second wirings connect a plurality of second photosensitive portions to each other for every column. A first reading unit is arranged to read signal data through at least some of the plurality of first wirings. A second reading unit is arranged to read signal data through at least some of the plurality of second wirings. The first reading unit has a reading pixel setting unit arranged to set, based on signal data read in the first frame, a pixel group for reading signal data in a second frame subsequent to a first frame from the plurality of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Matsui, Yukinobu Sugiyama, Munenori Takumi, Haruyoshi Toyoda, Kazutaka Suzuki, Kazuhiro Nakamura, Keisuke Uchida
  • Patent number: 11381769
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a first substrate and a second substrate stacked thereon. The first substrate includes: a photoelectric converter that converts incident light into a signal charge; a first transistor that outputs a signal corresponding to the signal charge, a gate of the first transistor being connected to the photoelectric converter; and a second transistor, one of a source and a drain thereof being connected to the photoelectric converter, the other of the source and the drain thereof being connected to a source or a drain of the first transistor. The second substrate includes: a constant current source circuit that is connected to one of the source and the drain of the first transistor; and a bias circuit that is connected to the other of the source and the drain of the first transistor and that generates a first voltage and a second voltage different therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sanshiro Shishido
  • Patent number: 11375145
    Abstract: In a solid-state imaging device 10, a signal retaining part 212 is provided with a first sampling part 2122 and a second sampling part 2123, each of which is formed by one sampling transistor (1T) and one sampling capacitor (1C). The coupling node between the two sampling parts is a retaining node ND23, which is used as a bidirectional port. With such a configuration, the solid-state imaging device 10 is configured as a solid-state imaging element having a global shutter function that achieves substantially the same signal amplitude as in the differential reading scheme with four transistors. Thus, the solid-state imaging device 10 can achieve the reduced increase in number of transistors, prevent the occurrence of signal amplitude loss in the sampling parts, maintain high pixel sensitivity and reduce input conversion noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: BRILLNICS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: Toshinori Otaka
  • Patent number: 11375143
    Abstract: Optical systems that provide non-uniformity correction devices that are capable of providing low radiance level sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Wavefront Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 11369335
    Abstract: Provided is a radiation image detection device used in a radiation image photographing system including the radiation image detection device that is portable and acquires radiation image data based on irradiated radiation, and a plurality of control terminals that are connected to the radiation image detection device and acquire the radiation image data acquired by the radiation image detection device, the radiation image detection device includes a hardware processor that: transmits and receives communication information to and from each of the control terminals; determines whether an IP address to be used for data communication by a connected one of the control terminals is a dynamic IP address or a static IP address, based on initial information received from each of the control terminals before data communication is established; and acquires an IP address, in accordance with a determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Nakano, Naoki Hayashi
  • Patent number: 11363230
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image sensor module which includes a pixel array including a plurality of sub-pixels arranged along a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, an analog to digital converter connected to the pixel array through a plurality of data lines and converting signals output from the plurality of sub-pixels into digital signals, a row decoder connected to the pixel array through a plurality of selection lines, a plurality of transfer lines, and a plurality of reset lines, and a control logic circuit controlling the analog to digital converter and the row decoder to allow a plurality of sub-frames to be sequentially outputted from the plurality of sub-pixels, wherein each of the plurality of sub-frames is generated based on signals output from different sub-pixels among the plurality of sub-pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yohwan Noh, Chaesung Kim
  • Patent number: 11363227
    Abstract: An image sensor may include an image sensor pixel array, row control circuitry, and column readout circuitry. The column readout circuitry may include analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuitry. The ADC circuitry may have a first portion that selectively converts pixel signals associated with a low light or high conversion gain operating environment and a second portion that converts any pixel signals. As an example, the first portion may be a ramp ADC and the second portion may be a successive approximation register (SAR) ADC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Brian Young
  • Patent number: 11363282
    Abstract: A method and system for minimizing image compression processing, transmission latency and bandwidth use by efficiently coordinating one or more distributed producers or consumers of images, sub images, macro images and their corresponding relevant data. By generalizing and coordinating distributed device compression, many disparate elements of the formerly unidirectional image compression pipeline may share additional information that allows each and every element to seek and implement improved compression and compositional optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Quantum Radius Corporation
    Inventor: Frank Christian Christofferson
  • Patent number: 11363222
    Abstract: An image sensing device includes a first sub-pixel array including a plurality of unit pixels having a first color arranged adjacent to each other, a second sub-pixel array including a plurality of unit pixels having a second color arranged adjacent to the first sub-pixel array in a first direction, a third sub-pixel array including a plurality of unit pixels having a third color arranged adjacent to the second sub-pixel array in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a fourth sub-pixel array including a plurality of unit pixels having the second color arranged adjacent to the first sub-pixel array and the second sub-pixel array in the second direction. The fourth sub-pixel array includes a plurality of phase detection pixels for detecting a phase difference in at least the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventor: Kyoung In Lee
  • Patent number: 11362121
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a substrate having a plurality of small photodiodes and a plurality of large photodiodes surrounding the small photodiodes. The substrate further includes a plurality of deep trench isolation structures in regions of the substrate between ones of the small photodiodes and the large photodiodes. Each of large photodiodes having a full well capacity larger than each of the small photodiodes. The image sensor further includes an array of color filters disposed over the substrate, a first and second buffer layer disposed between the substrate and the array of color filters, metal grid structures disposed between the color filters and above the first buffer layer, and an attenuation layer portion above a region of the substrate between ones of the large and small photodiodes, the attenuation layer portion is between the first and second buffer layers and normal to an upper surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hui Zang, Yuanliang Liu
  • Patent number: 11363252
    Abstract: A method of operating an image sensing device includes applying control voltages to a pixel array in accordance with a test mode and performing an analog-to-digital conversion of a column line voltage to obtain one or more digital codes. The one or more digital codes are evaluated to detect an operating error associated with the column line and/or corresponding analog to digital converter. In response to an operating error, pixel values may be replaced or averaged with nearby pixel outputs not affected by the operating error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ji Hun Shin, Se-Jun Kim, Bu Yong Um, Young Tae Jang
  • Patent number: 11356629
    Abstract: To divide an image capture region into multiple regions for which different image capture conditions are set and to generate multiple moving images corresponding to the multiple regions. An electronic apparatus includes an image sensor that captures first and second moving images in first and second regions of an image capture region on different image capture conditions, the second region differing from the first region, and a moving image generation unit that generates the first and second moving images captured in the first and second regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoshi Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 11347120
    Abstract: A display device includes a substrate, conductive pads arranged on the substrate over a plurality of rows, and a drive circuit chip including bumps arranged over a plurality of rows to be electrically connected with the conductive pads, and the conductive pads arranged in a same row are arranged in parallel, and the bumps arranged in a same row are arranged in a zigzag form so as to be partially shifted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han Ho Park, Dae Geun Lee, Su Jeong Kim, Sang Won Yeo, Kyung Mok Lee, Wu Hyen Jung
  • Patent number: 11350021
    Abstract: A camera module according to one embodiment comprises: a housing including a through hole and a lens assembly disposed in the through hole toward a first surface on which light is incident; an infrared filter attached to a second surface of the housing, positioned on the opposite side of the first surface to shield inflow of infrared rays from the incident light; and an image sensor for recognizing the light passing through the infrared filter, wherein the infrared filter comprises: an effective filtering region for transmitting visible light; an attachment region attached by an adhesive applied to the second surface of the housing, for forming the exterior of the infrared filter; and a masking region formed between the attachment region and the effective filtering region, wherein the effective filtering region is formed to protrude from a vertex region and overlaps with a region in which the image sensor is positioned and the attachment region is formed as an area capable of securing adhesion with the second
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: The Anh Mai, Bongjin Chu
  • Patent number: 11350044
    Abstract: A pixel PXL includes a first photodiode PDSL and a second photodiode PSLS having different well capacities and responsivities, transfer transistors TGSL-Tr, TGLS-Tr for transferring the charges stored in the photodiodes to a floating diffusion FD, and a capacitance changing part 80 for changing the capacitance of the floating diffusion depending on a capacitance changing signal. The first well capacity of the first photodiode PDSL is smaller than the second well capacity of the second photodiode PDLS, and the first responsivity of the first photodiode PDSL is larger than the second responsivity of the second photodiode PDLS. With these configurations, it becomes possible to realize a widened dynamic range, prevent the read-out noise from affecting the performance, and eventually achieve improved image quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: BRILLNICS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuya Mori, Isao Takayanagi, Shunsuke Tanaka, Toshinori Otaka, Naoto Yasuda
  • Patent number: 11347327
    Abstract: A computer peripheral device (e.g., a computer mouse) includes an optical sensor configured to generate optical data corresponding to a surface that the computer peripheral device is placed upon and a processor(s) configured to determine, based on the optical data, a relative displacement of the computer peripheral device along the surface, identify one or more characteristics of the surface based on the optical data; compare the one or more characteristics with one or more corresponding baseline characteristics stored in memory; classify, based on the comparing of the one or more characteristics with one or more corresponding baseline characteristics, a type of the surface; and adjust, based on the classified type of the surface, an aspect of the determination of the relative displacement of the peripheral device or an operation of the optical sensor that alters the generating of the optical data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Logitech Europe S.A.
    Inventors: Nicolas Chauvin, François Morier
  • Patent number: 11343451
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array unit in which a plurality of imaging pixels configured to generate an image, and a plurality of phase difference detection pixels configured to perform phase difference detection are arranged, each of the plurality of phase difference detection pixels including a plurality of photoelectric conversion units, a plurality of floating diffusions configured to convert charges stored in the plurality of photoelectric conversion units into voltage, and a plurality of amplification transistors configured to amplify the converted voltage in the plurality of floating diffusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ishiwata, Hideo Kido, Norihiro Kubo, Tetsuya Uchida
  • Patent number: 11343417
    Abstract: An image pickup unit includes an image sensor in which a sensor chip is mounted on a first substrate surface of a substrate having a long side and a short side, and electronic components are mounted on a second substrate surface opposite to the first substrate surface, and a holder having an opening and configured to hold the image sensor. The opening has an inner surface parallel to the short side of the substrate, and the image sensor is fixed to the holder with an adhesive that contacts the inner surface and an adhesion area on the second substrate surface of the substrate that is outside the electronic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshifumi Urakami
  • Patent number: 11343449
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image sensor that includes a pixel array including first pixels sharing a first floating diffusion region and second pixels sharing a second floating diffusion region, a first analog-to-digital converter, a second analog-to-digital converter, and a switch circuit. In a first mode, the first analog-to-digital converter processes the first pixels, and the second analog-to-digital converter processes the second pixels. In the second mode, the first analog-to-digital converter processes a first image component of a pixel signal of the first pixels, and the second analog-to-digital converter processes a second image component of the pixel signal of the first pixels. An HDR image is implemented based on processing results of the first analog-to-digital converter and the second analog-to-digital converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daehwa Paik, Seung Hyun Lim, Jaehong Kim, Keunyung Byun, Jinwoo Kim, Sanghyun Cho
  • Patent number: 11333955
    Abstract: Folded cameras and dual folded-upright cameras that reduce a mobile electronic device and specifically a smartphone bump footprint and height. In some examples, the bump footprint is reduced by reducing the height of a back focal plane section of the folded camera. In some examples, the bump footprint is reduced by reducing the height of a back focal plane section and a lens subsection of the folded camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg, Itay Yedid, Gil Bachar, Noy Cohen
  • Patent number: 11336871
    Abstract: An image device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keun Yung Byun, Chae Sung Kim
  • Patent number: 11333980
    Abstract: The overall mechanism for creating the exposure may comprise a table having an outer frame 1110 that holds a transparent (e.g. glass) inner portion 1112. The upper 1120 and lower 1122 linear radiation sources (e.g. banks of LED point sources, optionally mounted inside a reflective housing) are mounted on a gantry system or carriage 1130. The radiation sources are connected to a power source, such as an electrical power cord having sufficient slack to extend the full range of motion of the carriage. Tracks (not shown) disposed on the outer frame portion provide a defined path for the gantry system or carriage to traverse. The carriage may be moved on the tracks by any drive mechanism known in the art (also coupled to the power supply and the controller), including a chain drive, a spindle drive, gear drive, or the like. The drive mechanism for the carriage may comprise one or more components mounted within the carriage, one or more components fixed to the table, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Esko-Graphics Imaging GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Wolterink, Thomas Hänsel, Wolfgang Sievers
  • Patent number: 11330158
    Abstract: Pixel formation in an imaging element configured to detect image plane phase difference is simplified. The imaging element includes an on-chip lens, a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions, and a plurality of waveguides. The on-chip lens concentrates incident light on a pixel and is placed on each pixel so as to be shifted from a center of the pixel according to an incident angle of the incident light. The plurality of photoelectric conversion portions is arranged in the pixel and performs photoelectric conversion according to the incident light. The plurality of waveguides is arranged for the plurality of respective photoelectric conversion portion in the pixel. The plurality of waveguides guide the incident light concentrated so that the incident light enters each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion portion, and are formed into shapes dissimilar to each other based on the shift of the on-chip lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiki Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 11330134
    Abstract: An image-reading apparatus includes a housing having a rectangular-shaped opening on a side of a reading target, a lens portion retained or housed within the housing, and a sensor element to receive light condensed by the lens portion, the light being from the reading target. Long sides of the opening include a first layer that is flat and is disposed on the side of the reading target and a second layer that is continuous with the first layer. The long sides of the opening of the housing of the image-reading apparatus has a flat surface on the side of the reading target and an interface between the first layer and the second layer that is curved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Okada, Toru Shiraki, Daisuke Ohama, Homare Takeda, Masahiko Takashina, Yuki Okuhigashi
  • Patent number: 11330207
    Abstract: A pixel structure and a method of reading charges generated by a radiation sensing element upon exposure thereof to radiation is presented. The pixel structure comprises at least two capacitors configured for integrating charge from a radiation sensing element, where an overflow transistor sets a predetermined threshold level by a static voltage on its control electrode. This allows charges generated in the radiation sensing element to be integrated in either the first capacitor for a level of charge generated by the radiation sensing element, while the level remains under a predetermined threshold level, or in the at least one further capacitor for a level of charge generated by the radiation sensing element when said level surpasses said predetermined threshold level. At least one merge switch is used for merging the charges of the first capacitor with the charges of the at least one further capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: CAELESTE CVBA
    Inventor: Bart Dierickx
  • Patent number: 11325526
    Abstract: A headlamp control device configured to control a headlamp which illuminates forward of a vehicle, is provided. The device includes a visibility detector configured to detect visibility of a road state forward of the vehicle, and a headlamp controlling module configured to control brightness of the headlamp. The headlamp controlling module is able to adjust light emitted from the headlamp so that a brightness gradient that is a difference of brightness of a part distant from the vehicle and brightness of a part closer to the vehicle is changed. When a deterioration in the visibility is detected, the headlamp controlling module executes a brightness adjusting control in which the brightness gradient is increased by making the brightness of the part closer to the vehicle higher than the brightness of the part distant from the vehicle, as compared with the brightness gradient when the deterioration in the visibility is not detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Shimpei Kusumoto, Kumiko Takenouchi
  • Patent number: 11329079
    Abstract: An imaging device including a semiconductor substrate; a photoelectric converter stacked on the semiconductor substrate, the photoelectric converter being configured to generate a signal through photoelectric conversion of incident light; a multilayer wiring structure located between the semiconductor substrate and the photoelectric converter; and circuitry located in the multilayer wiring structure and the semiconductor substrate, the circuitry being configured to detect the signal. The circuitry includes a first capacitance element and a second capacitance element; and a first transistor including a first source and a first drain in the semiconductor substrate and a first gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masashi Murakami, Kazuko Nishimura, Yutaka Abe, Yoshiyuki Matsunaga, Yoshihiro Sato, Junji Hirase
  • Patent number: 11330203
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an imaging device and an electronic device which enable image capturing based on the global shutter system, without reducing the amount of saturated signal charge. Pixels each including a photoelectric conversion unit that converts light received thereon into electric charge, and a holding unit that holds the electric charge transferred from the photoelectric conversion unit, a floating diffusion that is shared among a plurality of the pixels, and that holds the electric charge transferred from the holding unit, and a boost line through which the floating diffusion is boosted are included. The present technology is applicable, for example, to an imaging device to capture images on the basis of a global shutter system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshimichi Kumagai, Takashi Abe, Ryoto Yoshita, Ryo Fukui
  • Patent number: 11322535
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device which includes a plurality of pixels in an arrangement, each of the pixels including a photoelectric conversion element, pixel transistors including a transfer transistor, and a floating diffusion region, in which the channel width of transfer gate of the transfer transistor is formed to be larger on a side of the floating diffusion region than on a side of the photoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Kudoh
  • Patent number: 11323640
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for a tetracell image sensor that performs diamond binning to process image data. An image sensor includes a pixel array and a converting circuit, where the pixel array includes pixel sets arranged in a row direction and a column direction, outputs a first signal generated from a first pixel set of the pixel sets, and outputs a second signal generated from a second pixel set of the pixel sets. The converting circuit performs binning based on the first signal and the second signal to generate a first binning signal. Each of the first pixel set and the second pixel set includes pixel sensors adjacent to each other, and the first pixel set and the second pixel set are located at different rows and different columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Moo Young Kim, Minho Kwon, Dongki Min, Seonghye Park, Eunjik Yi
  • Patent number: 11323648
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid-state image sensor including a pixel array section including a plurality of unit pixels each having a photoelectric conversion unit, the plurality of unit pixels being arranged in a matrix, a sample-and-hold unit configured to sample and hold a pixel signal output from the unit pixel through a vertical signal line provided in association with column arrangement of the pixel array section, and an analog-to-digital conversion unit configured to convert a pixel signal output from the sample-and-hold unit into a digital signal. Then, the sample-and-hold unit has two sample-and-hold circuits in parallel for one vertical signal line, and at least one of the two sample-and-hold circuits has at least two sampling capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Kouji Matsuura
  • Patent number: 11322245
    Abstract: A medical image processing apparatus includes: a superimposed image generation unit configured to generate a superimposed image by superimposing a subject image and a fluorescent image in areas corresponding to each other; a determination unit configured to determine whether or not at least one of a subject and an observation device moves from timing before timing at which one of the subject image and the fluorescent image is captured to the timing; and a superimposition controller configured to cause the superimposition image generation unit to prohibit a superimposition in an area of at least a part of the subject image and the fluorescent image when the determination unit determines that at least one of the subject and the observation device moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Taihei Michihata
  • Patent number: 11323646
    Abstract: An imaging device according to the present disclosure includes: an imaging unit; a connector; and a converter. The imaging unit includes a first signal line, a first pixel, a second signal line, and a second pixel. The first pixel is configured to output a first pixel voltage to the first signal line. The first pixel voltage corresponds to an amount of received light. The second pixel is configured to output a second pixel voltage to the second signal line. The second pixel voltage corresponds to the amount of received light. The connector includes a connection line, a first connection switch, a first control circuit, a second connection switch, and a second control circuit. The first connection switch is configured to couple the first signal line to the connection line by being turned on. The first control circuit is configured to control an operation of the first connection switch on the basis of a voltage in the first signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keita Ito
  • 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: 11314328
    Abstract: A mobile device comprises a display panel configured to display a plurality of graphic user interfaces including one or more first type graphic user interfaces and/or one or more second type graphic user interfaces; one or more sensors configured to detect a position of a user; and one or more processors configured to: calculate a relative inclination of the display panel with respect to the position of the user based on the position of the user detected by the sensor, and change sizes of the first type graphic user interfaces among the plurality of graphic user interfaces based on the relative inclination of the display panel. The first type graphic user interfaces are pre-designated among the plurality of graphic user interfaces and stored in memory, and the processors are configured to magnify the sizes of the first type graphic user interfaces according to the relative inclination of the display panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: NHN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Dong Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 11314069
    Abstract: A microscope includes an illumination system configured to illuminate a sample chamber with laser pulses. The illumination system includes a control device with stored, modifiable illumination parameters, with trigger outputs, to which at least one externally triggerable laser system is connectable in each case, and with a trigger generator configured to produce temporally successive trigger signals for triggering the at least one laser system. The microscope is configured such that an assignment of the trigger signals to the trigger outputs and/or a time interval between successive ones of the trigger signals depends on the illumination parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS CMS GMBH
    Inventors: Patric Mrawek, Thorsten Koester