Plural Photosensitive Image Detecting Element Arrays Patents (Class 250/208.1)
  • Patent number: 11128786
    Abstract: An image sensor device includes a substrate, a die, and an adhesive layer positioned between the substrate and the die. The substrate includes a first side having a curved surface. The die includes an image sensor component attached to the curved surface of the substrate. At least a portion of the die comprising the image sensor component has a curved surface. The adhesive layer positioned between the curved surface of the substrate and the die provides a fixed attachment between the die and the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Howell John Chua Toc, Prakash Venkatesappa, Annabelle Q. Yang, Melvin C. Cabonegro
  • Patent number: 11128831
    Abstract: An imaging system has an imager comprising a plurality of jots. A readout circuit is in electrical communication with the imager. The readout circuit can be configured to facilitate the formation of an image by defining neighborhoods of the jots, wherein a local density of exposed jots within a neighborhood is used to generate a digital value for a pixel of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventor: Eric R. Fossum
  • Patent number: 11128816
    Abstract: Disclosed is a radiographic imaging system including: radiation detecting elements that is two-dimensionally arrayed; and an image acquiring circuit that acquires an image by causing the radiation detecting elements to accumulate and release charges and reading the released charges, wherein the radiographic imaging system comprises a hardware processor that: controls the image acquiring circuit to successively acquire radiographs while changing at least a binning number; controls the image acquiring circuit to acquire offset images respectively for the radiographs in which a binning number in resetting the radiation detecting elements before acquiring the offset images and binning numbers in acquiring the offset images are equal respectively to a binning number in resetting the radiation detecting elements before acquiring the radiographs and binning numbers in acquiring the radiographs; and performs an offset correction on the radiographs by using the offset images respectively for the radiographs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Keisuke Koeda
  • Patent number: 11126152
    Abstract: A smart curtain system and a method of adjusting opening of curtain dynamically are provided. The system has a sensing apparatus, a control apparatus and a curtain apparatus. The sensing apparatus retrieves an environmental sensing parameter set. The control apparatus determines a parameter of insolation reaching indoor, a parameter of air-condition loading and a parameter of outputted illumination according to the environmental sensing parameter set, and generates a curtain control signal according to the parameter of insolation reaching indoor, the parameter of air-condition loading and the parameter of outputted illumination. The curtain apparatus adjusts a current opening of a curtain according to the curtain control signal for adjusting an area of obscured sunshine. The present disclosed example can effectively save energy, provide better indoor comfort, and improve user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: CHICONY POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tse-Wen Chang, Wen-Yen Cheng, Shen-Min Yang
  • Patent number: 11127770
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a plurality of pixels, a signal holding unit, first and second control electrodes. Each of the plurality of pixels includes a photoelectric conversion unit, and an amplification element to amplify signals based on signal charges generated by the photoelectric conversion unit, in which the plurality of pixels output signals for performing a phase contrast detection type of focal point detection. The signal holding unit is in an electrical pathway between an output node of the photoelectric conversion unit and an input node of the amplification element, in which signals for performing the phase contrast detection type of focal point detection are held. The first control electrode is configured to transfer a signal of the photoelectric conversion unit to the signal holding unit. The second control electrode is configured to transfer a signal for performing the phase difference detection type of focal point detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichiro Yamashita, Masahiro Kobayashi, Itsutaku Sano, Takeshi Kojima
  • Patent number: 11118982
    Abstract: A semiconductor material emitting device is positioned such that its output flux impinges on a substrate at a non-perpendicular angle, so as to grow a first epilayer which is linearly graded in the direction perpendicular to the growth direction. The linear grading can be arranged such that, for example, each row of pixels has a different cutoff wavelength, thereby making it possible to provide a spectroscopic FPA without the use of filters. The non-perpendicular angle and/or the flux intensity can be adjusted to achieve a desired compositional grading. A spectral ellipsometer may be used to monitor the composition of the epilayer during the fabrication process, and to control the intensity of the flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: TELEDYNE SCIENTIFIC & IMAGING, LLC
    Inventor: Majid Zandian
  • Patent number: 11120534
    Abstract: A method for generating a color image. The method comprises collecting a color image of a scene, the color image comprising three color slice images, each one comprising color image pixels, and collecting an achromatic image of the scene, the achromatic image comprising achromatic image pixels. The achromatic image having a higher resolution than the color image. The achromatic image is presented on a first screen comprising a white phosphor. The color slice images are processed to reduce noise, to increase a signal-to-noise ratio, to increase contrast, and/or to normalize the pixel intensity values in each color slice. The color image is presented on a semi-transparent screen or display. The semi-transparent screen is situated between an observer and the achromatic image on the first screen. An optical component is used to view an image on the first screen through the semi-transparent second screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Inventor: Richard H. Vollmerhausen
  • Patent number: 11122216
    Abstract: A first pixel circuit has a plurality of photodiodes of different sizes. A second pixel circuit is connected to the first pixel circuit, and has a holding portion that holds a first optical signal and a second optical signal. The peripheral circuit drives and controls the second pixel circuit, and determines whether a voltage value of the first optical signal is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. When it is determined that the voltage value of the first optical signal is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, a signal obtained by adding the second optical signal to the first optical signal is set as an output signal. When it is determined that the voltage value of the first optical signal is less than the predetermined value, the first optical signal is set as an output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masaki Funaki
  • Patent number: 11121160
    Abstract: Photoelectric conversion apparatus includes semiconductor layer having photoelectric converters in light-receiving region and photoelectric converters in light-shielded region, light-shielding part arranged above the semiconductor layer in the light-receiving region to surround light paths of the photoelectric converters in the light-receiving region, and light-shielding film arranged above the semiconductor layer in the light-shielded region to cover the photoelectric converters in the light-shielded region. The light-shielding part includes lower and upper ends. The light-shielding film includes lower and upper surfaces. Distance between the upper end and the semiconductor layer is larger than that between the upper surface and the semiconductor layer. Distance between the lower end and the semiconductor layer is smaller than that between the upper surface and the semiconductor layer and is larger than that between the lower surface and the semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sho Suzuki, Takehito Okabe, Mitsuhiro Yomori, Takuya Hara, Keita Torii, Yukinobu Suzuki, Tomoyuki Tezuka, Norihiko Nakata, Daichi Seto, Kenji Togo
  • Patent number: 11115608
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, column circuits operate selectively in a first drive mode to output a comparison signal or a second drive mode to acquire a correction value of a first reference signal and a second reference signal, and a selector circuit of a second column circuit selects the same reference signal out of the first reference signal and the second reference signal in the first drive mode and the second drive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Seiichirou Sakai, Hiroaki Kameyama, Kazuo Yamazaki, Koichiro Iwata, Kohichi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11115549
    Abstract: For an image sensor that is elongated in a main scanning direction, an image sensor mounting bracket is obtained that suppresses a warp of the image sensor due to the weight thereof. The image sensor mounting bracket includes a fastening element to be fastened to a lateral surface of the image sensor and a fastening element to be fastened to an attachment target object, the fastening element intersecting the image sensor-side fastening element. The fastening element has an image sensor fastening surface abutting the image sensor and having positioning pins, and the attachment target object fastening element has an attachment target object fastening surface abutting the attachment target object and having elongated through holes that elongate in a sub-scanning direction and are arranged in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Sawabe, Kosaku Yamagata
  • Patent number: 11115614
    Abstract: The present invention provides a semiconductor device having an integration type A/D converter capable of speeding up. The semiconductor device includes a Johnson counter 18 for transmitting a lower bit counter signal JC<3:0>, a lower bit latch circuit 11 for outputting a lower bit latch result signal by a lower bit counter signal JC<3:0> and a lower bit latch signal 14, a determination circuit 12 for outputting an upper bit latch signal 15 by a lower bit latch signal 14, a binary gray converter circuit 20 for transmitting an upper bit counter signal GR<n:3>, and an upper bit latch circuit 13 for outputting an upper bit latch result signal by an upper bit counter signal GR<n:3> and an upper bit latch signal 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoichi Iizuka, Fukashi Morishita
  • Patent number: 11112238
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for scanning surfaces of a three-dimensional object employ a first sensor to acquire first data points and a second sensor to acquire second data points. The first sensor has a relatively lower accuracy and faster data point acquisition rate than the second sensor, and the second data points are assigned a higher weighting than the first data points. A three-dimensional coordinate point cloud is generated based on the both the first and second data points and their respective weighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: QUALITY VISION INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Edward Tarry Polidor, Jeffrey Blood, Daniel C. Abbas
  • Patent number: 11106887
    Abstract: An electronic circuit adapted to drive a display panel including a plurality of fingerprint sensing lines is provided. The electronic circuit includes a fingerprint sensing circuit. The fingerprint sensing circuit is configured to receive a fingerprint sensing signal corresponding to a fingerprint image from the fingerprint sensing lines. The fingerprint sensing signal includes a plurality of fingerprint image segments. The fingerprint sensing circuit rearranges the fingerprint image segments to generate the fingerprint image according to an order of the fingerprint sensing lines. In addition, a method for generating a fingerprint image is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Huan-Teng Cheng, Yuan Heng Lu
  • Patent number: 11107848
    Abstract: The semiconductor device for detection of radiation comprises a semiconductor substrate (1) with a main surface (11), a dielectric layer (6) comprising at least one compound of a semiconductor material, an integrated circuit (2) including at least one component sensitive to radiation (3), a wiring (4) of the integrated circuit embedded in an intermetal layer (8) of the dielectric layer (6), an electrically conductive through-substrate via (5) contacting the wiring, and an optical filter element (7) arranged immediately on the dielectric layer above the component sensitive to radiation. The dielectric layer comprises a passivation layer (9) at least above the through-substrate via, the passivation layer comprises a dielectric material that is different from the intermetal layer (8), and the wiring is arranged between the main surface and the passivation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: AMS AG
    Inventors: Hubert Enichlmair, Franz Schrank, Joerg Siegert
  • Patent number: 11108983
    Abstract: An imaging device supplies a first constant potential and a second constant potential to a photodiode through a first line and a second line to put the photodiode in a reverse-bias state. The imaging device reads a signal corresponding to the potential at the other end of the photodiode changed by light incident on the photodiode in the reverse-bias state. The imaging device supplies a potential that changes with time to a capacitive element through a control line so that a forward current flows through the photodiode disposed between the capacitive element and the first line after reading the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: TIANMA JAPAN, LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sekine
  • Patent number: 11107852
    Abstract: A light receiving element includes a silicon substrate, a photodiode, an amplifier circuit adapted to amplify an output signal from the photodiode, and a light blocking section adapted to cover at least a part of the amplifier circuit to block light, and the photodiode, the amplifier circuit and the light blocking section are provided to the silicon substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsukasa Kosuda, Atsushi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 11103115
    Abstract: A sensor module and a robot cleaner including the sensor module may provide accurate sensing of an obstacle and prevent an erroneous sensing of an obstacle. The robot cleaner may include a body including a cleaning unit to remove foreign substances from a surface of a floor, a cover to cover an upper portion of the body, a sensor module including an obstacle sensor mounted to sense an obstacle, and a sensor window provided at one side of the sensor module. The sensor module may include a light emitting device to emit light through the sensor window, a light receiving reflector on which light reflected from the obstacle is incident, and a light shielding portion interposed between the light emitting device and the light receiving reflector to block the light emitted from the light emitting device from being incident upon the light receiving reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Byung Chan Kim, Sang Sik Yoon, Kyong Su Kim, Dong Won Kim, Jea Yun So, Yeon Kyu Jeong
  • Patent number: 11102467
    Abstract: A depth camera assembly (DCA) captures data describing depth information in a local area. The DCA includes an array detector, a controller, and an illumination source. The array detector includes a detector that is overlaid with a lens array. The detector includes a plurality of pixels, the plurality of pixels are divided into a plurality of different pixel groups. The lens array includes a plurality of lens stacks and each lens stack overlays a different pixel group. The array detector captures one or more composite images of the local area illuminated with the light from the illumination source. The controller determines depth information for objects in the local area using the one or more composite images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Daniel Trail, Renzo De Nardi, Richard Andrew Newcombe
  • Patent number: 11095278
    Abstract: A comparator includes: a first amplifying unit that includes a differential pair configured with a pair of transistors which are first and second transistors, and amplifies a difference of signals input to each of the gate electrodes of the first and second transistors, to output; a second amplifying unit that amplifies the signal output from the first amplifying unit; a third transistor that connects the first transistor to a power source voltage; a fourth transistor that connects the second transistor to the power source voltage; a fifth transistor that connects a connection point of gate electrodes of the third transistor and the fourth transistor to a drain of the third transistor; and a sixth transistor that connects a connection point of gate electrodes of the third transistor and the fourth transistor to a drain of the fourth transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Tanaka, Shizunori Matsumoto, Haruhisa Naganokawa, Yuuichi Kaji
  • Patent number: 11094052
    Abstract: A method of counting sheet materials applied to a pile of sheet materials, comprising the steps of: receiving an image of the pile of sheet materials; obtaining a grayscale value of a plurality of pixels along a first image axis direction of the image to form an one dimensional first array; performing binarization of the first elements of the first array with a first threshold value to form an one dimensional second array; obtaining the number of the second elements of a first value appearing between two second elements of a second value in the second array to form a third array; dividing the elements of the third array into a first cluster and a second cluster with a second threshold value; counting the number of the third elements belonging to the first cluster and defining said number as the number of the first sheet materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: GLOBALWAFERS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wei-Cheng Chang, Chia-Yeh Lee, Han-Zong Wu
  • Patent number: 11092625
    Abstract: Techniques are provided to facilitate current sensing recovery for imaging systems and methods. In one example, a device includes a detector configured to detect electromagnetic radiation and generate a detection signal based on the detected electromagnetic radiation. The device further includes a current sensing circuit configured to provide, based on the detection signal, a first signal. The device further includes a signal generator configured to provide a second signal to adjust a bandwidth associated with the current sensing circuit. The device further includes an imaging integration circuit configured to generate an image of at least a portion of a scene based at least in part on the first signal. Related methods and systems are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: FLIR COMMERCIAL SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: John D. Schlesselmann, Brian B. Simolon
  • Patent number: 11092820
    Abstract: There are several types of plenoptic devices having their proprietary file format. At present there is no standard supporting the acquisition and transmission of multidimensional information for an exhaustive over-view of the different parameters upon which a light-field depends. As such acquired light-field data for different cameras have a diversity of formats. The notion of pixel beam, which represents a volume occupied by a set of rays of light in an object space of an optical system of a camera is thus introduced. The method according to the invention enables to provide data representative of a collection of pixel beams describing a first optical system that is agnostic since these data are obtained by imaging the collection of pixel beams through a second optical system. Such data representative of a collection of pixel beams enable the generation of parametrized output images from which post-processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: INTERDIGITAL CE PATENT HOLDINGS
    Inventors: Laurent Blonde, Arno Schubert, Guillaume Boisson, Didier Doyen, Paul Kerbiriou, Olivier Bureller, Valter Drazic
  • Patent number: 11086450
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a touch circuit, a touch device, and a touch method. The touch circuit includes: at least one photodetection circuit, and a first capacitor electrically connected to the at least one photodetection circuit. Each photodetection circuit is configured to detect modulated light reflected by a touch object, generate a modulation signal according to the modulated light, and output the modulation signal through the first capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaoliang Ding, Xue Dong, Haisheng Wang, Yingming Liu, Xueyou Cao, Wei Liu
  • Patent number: 11087498
    Abstract: An image processing system according to an aspect of the invention includes: an optical sensor including: an optical member configured to refract light from a subject, the optical member including a plurality of transmissive units that have different optical properties, thus forming different refraction patterns of light that passes therethrough; and a plurality of image sensors configured to receive light that has passed through the transmissive units and to form captured images in which the subject appears; and an information processing apparatus configured to calculate attribute information representing an attribute of the subject by inputting the captured images obtained by the image sensors to a learning device that has learned the attribute of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Tanichi Ando
  • Patent number: 11086009
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging device (1) comprising: a first microwave sensor or set of microwave sensors (2), preferably radiometric sensors, each microwave sensor (2) being configured to pick up electromagnetic radiation emitted or reflected by bodies or objects situated in a detection zone of said microwave sensor (2); and reflector means (6) configured to reflect the electromagnetic radiation that can be picked up by the first microwave sensor or the set of microwave sensors (2). In particular, the reflector means (6) are mounted to move in the detection zone of each microwave sensor (2) in such a manner as to move said detection zone by moving the reflector means (6). The invention also provides a corresponding microwave imaging method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Microwave Characterization Center
    Inventors: Florent Clemence, Nicolas Thouvenin, Matthieu Werquin, Sylvain Jonniau, Nicolas Vellas
  • Patent number: 11089256
    Abstract: An image sensor comprising one or more processors and/or circuitry which functions as: a plurality of pixels each of which detects photons incident during a predetermined exposure period, counts a number of the photons, and outputs a first count value; a calculator that calculates a second count value per unit time based on the exposure period and the first count value; and a corrector that acquires a correction coefficient based on the second count value and corrects a detection error of the first count value using the correction coefficient, wherein the corrector acquires a larger value as the correction coefficient in a case where the second count value is a first value than in a case where the second count value is a second value which is smaller than the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideki Ikedo
  • Patent number: 11089250
    Abstract: A photosensitive sensor includes multiple elementary sensors butted together, each elementary sensor comprising a pixel matrix organized in rows, the pixels of each row being connected to conductors of multiple types, column conductors of which are connected to read circuits of the sensor. The sensor moreover comprises, connected to each of the column conductors, a group of components that is separate from the conductor under consideration, the group of components forming a matching impedance of the conductor under consideration. The impedances in each elementary sensor have the same value and the impedances for different elementary sensors have different impedance values so as to balance the link impedances between the various read circuits and the corresponding column conductors for the various elementary sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: TRIXELL
    Inventors: Martin Siaud, Bruno Bosset
  • Patent number: 11080970
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for data entry device security are provided. Aspects include receiving an indication of a user presence at a data entry device, wherein the data entry device includes a surface with apertures, and wherein the apertures include a material with a reflection coefficient. A presence of a fraud device is determined by emitting, from beneath the surface, security light from a set of one or more emitters, wherein the security light has a security light luminous power. A reflection of the security light off the material is collected by a first set of one or more sensors, wherein the reflection has a reflection luminous power. A luminous power range is determined based on the security light luminous power and the reflection coefficient and based on the reflection luminous power being outside the luminous power range, security measures are engaged at the data entry device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tara Astigarraga, Christopher V. DeRobertis, Louie A. Dickens, Donald G. Grice, Jose R. Mosqueda Mejia, Daniel J. Winarski
  • Patent number: 11082644
    Abstract: An image sensor including: a pixel array including a plurality of pixels connected to a plurality of row lines and a plurality of column lines, each of the plurality of pixels including a photodiode for generating an electric charge in response to light, and a pixel circuit having a floating diffusion for storing the electric charge; and a controller configured to adjust a capacitance of the floating diffusion to a first value and obtain a first pixel signal from the pixel circuit during a first time period, adjust the capacitance of the floating diffusion to a second value greater than the first value and obtain a second pixel signal from the pixel circuit during a second time period subsequent to the first time period, and generate a result image using the first pixel signal and the second pixel signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Eun Sub Shim
  • Patent number: 11081515
    Abstract: A first conductive pattern and a third conductive pattern are joined to each other in a junction plane, and a second conductive pattern and a fourth conductive pattern are joined to each other in the junction plane, and an insulation layer is arranged at least in one of spaces between the first conductive pattern and the second conductive pattern and between the third conductive pattern and the fourth conductive pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takehiko Soda, Kazutoshi Torashima, Yasushi Nakata
  • Patent number: 11081514
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a substrate including a light-receiving region and a light-shielding region, a device isolation pattern in the substrate of the light-receiving region to define active pixels, and a device isolation region in the substrate of the light-shielding region to define reference pixels. An isolation technique of the device isolation pattern is different from that of the device isolation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yun Ki Lee
  • Patent number: 11079271
    Abstract: Provided is a position detection sensor. In a first pixel part, as an incident position is closer to a first end of a first pixel pair group in a second direction, an intensity of a first electric signal decreases. In a second pixel part, as the incident position is closer to the first end, an intensity of a second electric signal increases. In a third pixel part, as the incident position is closer to a second end of a second pixel pair group in a first direction, an intensity of a third electric signal decreases. In a fourth pixel part, as the incident position is closer to the second end, an intensity of a fourth electric signal increases. A calculation unit calculates a second position on the basis of the first and second electric signals, and calculates a first position on the basis of the third and fourth electric signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Munenori Takumi, Haruyoshi Toyoda, Yoshinori Matsui, Kazutaka Suzuki, Kazuhiro Nakamura, Keisuke Uchida
  • Patent number: 11082630
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes an optical device disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle, with the camera having an imager that senses light incident thereat. An adaptive masking element is disposed in an optical path of the camera. Responsive to processing, via an image processor of a control, of image data captured by the camera, the control determines presence of a bright or intense light source in the field of view of the camera. The adaptive masking element, responsive to determination of a location where light emanating from the bright light source impinges the adaptive masking element, generates a light attenuating mask at that location to attenuate the light emanating from that bright light source so that the imager does not fully sense the light emanating from that bright light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Johannes Staab, Martin Solar
  • Patent number: 11079270
    Abstract: An optical sensor includes pixels. Each pixel has a photodetector and a semiconductor guard ring around the photodetector. The photodetector and the semiconductor guard ring are dimensioned so that a fill factor of the pixel is less than or equal to 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited, STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Raynor, Sophie Taupin, Jean-Jacques Rouger, Pascal Mellot
  • Patent number: 11072343
    Abstract: The driving assistance device acquires, from an autonomous driving controller that determines an action of a vehicle during autonomous driving of the vehicle, action information indicating a first action that the vehicle is caused to execute. The driving assistance device acquires, from a detector that detects a surrounding situation and a travel state of the vehicle, detection information indicating a detection result. The driving assistance device determines a second action which is executable in place of the first action, based on the detection information. The driving assistance device generates a first image representing the first action and a second image representing the second action. The driving assistance device outputs the first image and the second image to a notification device such that the first image and the second image are displayed within a fixed field of view of a driver of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Emura, Masanaga Tsuji, Toshiya Mori, Wataru Nakai
  • Patent number: 11074719
    Abstract: A vision system capable of performing run-time 3D calibration includes a mount configured to hold an object, the mount including a 3D calibration structure; a camera; a motion stage coupled with the mount or the camera; and a computing device configured to perform operations including: acquiring images from the camera when the mount is in respective predetermined orientations relative to the camera, each of the acquired images including a representation of at least a portion of the object and at least a portion of the 3D calibration structure that are concurrently in a field of view of the camera; performing at least an adjustment of a 3D calibration for each of the acquired images based on information relating to the 3D calibration structure as imaged in the acquired images; and determining 3D positions, dimensions or both of one or more features of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: John McGarry, Lowell Jacobson, Lei Wang, Gang Liu
  • Patent number: 11067437
    Abstract: A method comprising optically detecting optical output states of a plurality of light sources of an optical device over a test interval; for each light source, optically detecting that the output state of the light source has changed from a first optical condition to a second optical condition; for each light source, optically detecting that the output state of the light source has changed from the second optical condition to a third optical condition; for each light source, determining a first time interval representative of the first optical condition; for each light source, determining a second time interval representative of the second optical condition; for each light source, determining a third time interval representative of the third optical condition; determining a test result for the device based on a comparison of the first, second and third time intervals with pre-stored time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: FEASA ENTERPRISES UMSTED
    Inventors: Eamonn O'Toole, Timothy Davern, Michael Crowley
  • Patent number: 11070761
    Abstract: One object is to provide a solid-state imaging device, a method for driving a solid-state imaging device, and an electronic apparatus capable of removing a noise gap at a connection point between the low conversion gain data and the high conversion gain data, suppressing increase of power consumption and circuit areas, providing a wide dynamic range, and thus achieving high image quality. An amplifying part for amplifying a plurality of pixel signals read out from a pixel includes an amplifier. The amplifier includes an inverting input terminal and a non-inverting input terminal. The inverting input terminal includes a first inverting input channel and a second inverting input channel. The first inverting input channel is connected to a second node, and the second inverting input channel is connected to a third node. A capacitance of a second sampling capacitor is 8C, and a capacitance of a first sampling capacitor is C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: BRILLNICS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: Shunsuke Okura
  • Patent number: 11070759
    Abstract: An image sensing device includes a pixel suitable for outputting a pixel signal through a read-out line during a read-out section and a precharge block suitable for precharging the read-out line to a voltage level corresponding to an initial voltage level of the pixel signal during a row non-selection section adjacent to the read-out section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Min-Seok Shin
  • Patent number: 11067706
    Abstract: A radiation image sensing apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises an image sensing area where conversion elements are arranged and used in an image sensing operation of acquiring a radiation image, a detection element configured to detect a radiation dose of radiation entering the image sensing area, a readout unit and a controller. The controller corrects a detection signal read out from the detection element by the readout unit during incidence of radiation in a second image sensing operation performed next to a first image sensing operation, based on a correction amount acquired based on a correction signal read out from the detection element by the readout unit after an end of the incidence of the radiation in the first image sensing operation, and detects a dose of incident radiation in the second image sensing operation based on the corrected detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuya Furumoto, Minoru Watanabe, Kentaro Fujiyoshi
  • Patent number: 11069402
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cell that integrates a pixel and a three-terminal non-volatile memory device. The cell can be selectively operated in write, read and functional computing modes. In the write mode, a first data value is stored in the memory device. In the read mode, it is read from the memory device. In the functional computing mode, the pixel captures a second data value and a sensed change in an electrical parameter (e.g., voltage or current) on a bitline connected to the cell is a function of both the first and second data value. Also disclosed is an IC structure that includes an array of the cells and, when multiple cells in a given column are concurrently operated in the functional computing mode, the sensed total change in the electrical parameter on the bitline for the column is indicative of a result of a dot product computation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES U.S. Inc.
    Inventors: Akhilesh Jaiswal, Ajey Poovannummoottil Jacob
  • Patent number: 11062161
    Abstract: An apparatus may include an anti-color filter array proximate an array of optical sensor pixels. The anti-color filter array may include first anti-color filters. Each of the first anti-color filters may be located near a corresponding instance (or group of instances) of a first plurality of optical sensor pixels and may be configured to at least partially suppress transmission of light in a first optical wavelength range. In some examples, the first optical wavelength range may correspond to a first color. The anti-color filter array may include second anti-color filter regions, each of which may be located near a corresponding instance of a second plurality of optical sensor pixels. In some such examples, each of the second anti-color filter regions may be configured to at least partially suppress transmission of light in a second optical wavelength range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Edwin Chongwoo Park
  • Patent number: 11064146
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus that comprises a pixel region in which a plurality of pixels for performing photoelectric conversion are arranged in a matrix, and column circuits plurally arranged for each column of the pixel region and to which signals of the pixel region are outputted, the apparatus comprising: a correction unit configured to correct image data outputted from the pixel region based on a difference in a characteristic of the plurality of column circuits; and a control unit configured to control so as to output the image data using a first column circuit of the plurality of column circuits and to output correction data for correction value generation by the correction unit using a second column circuit different from the first column circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideaki Sambonsugi
  • Patent number: 11061222
    Abstract: An optical fiber scanning apparatus includes an optical fiber whose fixed end is fixed and a free end for emitting illumination light of which vibrates in a first direction (X-axis direction) and a second direction (Y-axis direction), a ferrule including a through hole through which the optical fiber is inserted and including a pair of first fixing sections and a pair of second fixing sections which respectively fix the fixed end of the optical fiber, and piezoelectric elements or a magnet configured to vibrate the optical fiber, in which the optical fiber is sandwiched between the pair of first fixing sections and fixed in the first direction, and is sandwiched between the pair of second fixing sections and fixed in the second direction, and the pair of first fixing sections and the pair of second fixing sections differ in a shape of an abutment portion abutting on the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masanori Ogata
  • Patent number: 11062472
    Abstract: A server includes: a memory storing calibration data; and a processor connected with the memory, the processor configured to: obtain a point cloud depicting a capture volume containing a transporter having a body and a holder carrying an object to be dimensioned; obtain a set of positions associated with the transporter; based on the set of positions and the calibration data: generate side cutting planes corresponding to sides of the body of the transporter; generate a front cutting plane corresponding to a forward surface of a mast of the holder; and discard points between the side cutting planes and the front cutting plane to obtain a first portion of the point cloud; based on the calibration data, select a second portion of the point cloud from the first portion, excluding a base of the holder; and dimension the object based on the second portion of the point cloud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Zebra Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Burton Swope, Stanko Jelavic, Bassam S. Arshad, Paul Seiter, Chinmay Nanda
  • Patent number: 11059458
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method, a system, and a non-transitory computer readable medium for cleaning obstructions for the sensors of the autonomous vehicle. The method includes: detecting, via a sensor, obstructions that block the field of views for the sensors; retrieving real-time weather data outside the autonomous vehicle; estimating, based on the real-time weather data, the features of the obstructions; proposing, based on the estimation of the features of the obstructions and, one or more cleaning plans; querying, via a user interface, a selection by a user regarding the proposed cleaning plans; and executing, via a cleaning system for the sensors of the autonomous vehicle, the proposed cleaning plan selected by the user. User interaction may be vehicle-driven or user-driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Scott L. Frederick, Scott P. Robison
  • Patent number: 11064138
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel structure which pair-wise vertically shares at least one read node, and further comprises a memory node for storing charges. A vertical transfer control line commands charge transfer from the photodiode to the memory node of a given column. The vertical transfer control rows apply two different exposure times, a first to the even columns and a second to the odd columns. The pixels and the read circuit perform one read operation per vertical pair of pixels over the exposure time associated with the column of the pair. A processing block is configured to calculate, for each vertical pair of pixels, an interpolated digital value. A periodic pattern of colored filters creates an HDR-mode color image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: TELEDYNE E2V SEMICONDUCTORS SAS
    Inventors: Bruno Diasparra, Vincent Richard
  • Patent number: 11054655
    Abstract: An eyepiece for use in front of an eye of a viewer includes a waveguide configured to propagate light therein, and a diffractive optical element optically coupled to the waveguide. The diffractive optical element includes a plurality of first ridges protruding from a surface of the waveguide. Each of the plurality of first ridges has a first height and a first width. The diffractive optical element further includes a plurality of second ridges. Each of the plurality of second ridges protrudes from a respective first ridge and has a second height greater than the first height and a second width less than the first width. The diffractive optical element is configured to diffract a portion of a light beam incident on the diffractive optical element toward the eye as a first order transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Tekolste, Victor K. Liu
  • Patent number: 11056530
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure is provided and includes: a substrate, containing first doping ions and including a photosensitive region and a floating diffusion region; a deeply doped region, in the photosensitive region of the substrate and containing second doping ions; a floating diffusion area, in the floating diffusion region of the substrate and containing third doping ions; a gate structure on the substrate at a junction of the photosensitive region and the floating diffusion region; a sidewall spacer on the photosensitive region of the substrate, and on sidewalls and top of the gate structure in the photosensitive region; a first doped region located in the floating diffusion area and having fourth doping ions; a metal connection layer on the first doped region; an interlayer dielectric layer on the substrate exposed by the gate structure; and a contact plug, in the interlayer dielectric layer and electrically connected to the metal connection layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignees: Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Shanghai) Corporation, Semiconductor Manufacturing International (Beijing) Corporation
    Inventor: De Kui Qi