Including Flicker Detection (e.g., Fluorescent) Patents (Class 348/226.1)
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Patent number: 11946800Abstract: There is provided an optical sensor including a photodiode, a wave converter, a pixel array and a processor. The photodiode detects ambient light flicker to generate sine waves. The wave converter converts the sine waves to square waves. The processor uses a sampling frequency to count the square waves, and identifies whether the ambient light flicker is well detected according to a counting value of each square wave and a counting value variation of multiple square waves within a count period to accordingly determine whether to recognize a frequency of ambient light flicker and adjust an acquiring phase of the image frame.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2022Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.Inventor: Zi-Hao Tan
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Patent number: 11902672Abstract: A flicker measurement device includes a first processing unit that performs a first process of calculating respective flicker values of a plurality of measurement regions set on a measurement object based on a photometric quantity of the measurement object obtained from the measurement object under a measurement condition of a flicker for each of the plurality of measurement conditions stored in advance in a measurement condition storage unit, a second processing unit that performs a second process of generating linked data in which data composed of the respective flicker values of the plurality of measurement regions calculated by the first processing unit and the measurement conditions are linked for each of the plurality of measurement conditions, and a third processing unit that performs a third process of storing the linked data generated by the second processing unit in a linked data storage unit for each of the plurality of measurement conditions.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2019Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.Inventor: Katsuki Imai
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Patent number: 11877071Abstract: Disclosed herein are cameras and image sensors, and electronic devices containing them, having pixel arrays operable both for obtaining images and detecting flicker in ambient light. For flicker detection, such as prior to image capture, light-generated current from a set of pixels of the pixel array is received at a transimpedance amplifier (TIA) that is formed in a common semiconductor substrate with the pixel array. An output signal of the TIA is digitized and signal processed to detect the flicker in the ambient light. Also disclosed are image sensors having pixel arrays with an embedded modulated light source. The modulated light source may be used for proximity detection, either by time-of-flight or intensity variation of reflected light.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2022Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: John L. Orlowski, Ritu Raj Singh, Oray O. Cellek
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Patent number: 11863877Abstract: Provided is a method for removing flicker in a video by an electronic device, the method including obtaining a plurality of red-green-blue (RGB) video frames of a scene in a field of preview of a camera included in the electronic device, obtaining a position of at least one light source in the plurality of video frames, obtaining a brightness of the at least one light source based on the position of the light source, obtaining a de-flickering factor for each pixel in the plurality of video frames based on the position of the at least one light source and the brightness of the at least one light source, and applying the de-flickering factor to each of the plurality of video frames to remove the flicker.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2022Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Vidushi Chaudhary, Rishi Kaushik, Fateh Singh
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Patent number: 11776238Abstract: A method of extracting high-frequency temporal information from images or video recorded with a rolling shutter-based imager includes the steps of acquiring image data using the rolling shutter-based imager; and extracting time-domain frequency information from the image data based on two or more lines of pixels in the image data.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2021Date of Patent: October 3, 2023Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: David Huber, Lena Franklin, Jake Griffiths, William Scharpf
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Patent number: 11722785Abstract: A detection apparatus detects whether there is flicker attributed to a light source. The apparatus obtains a plurality of captured images related to a subject by performing image capture continuously with use of an image sensor; determines whether a capturing field angle has changed due to an operation of an image stabilizing mechanism during the image capture for the plurality of captured images; and detects whether flicker of a predetermined level has occurred based on the plurality of captured images. In a case where the apparatus has determined that the capturing field angle has changed due to the operation of the image stabilizing mechanism during the image capture for the plurality of captured images, the apparatus restricts regions in the plurality of captured images used for detecting whether the flicker of the predetermined level has occurred.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2021Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Hinako Nakamura
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Patent number: 11678062Abstract: An apparatus comprises a sensor configured to capture a subject; and a control unit configured to perform exposure control for when capturing a subject using the sensor by adjusting at least an accumulation period, a diameter of an aperture of a diaphragm, and an image capturing sensitivity, wherein the control unit, in a case of capturing a subject to obtain an image for detection, which is an image for detecting a flicker by using the sensor, performs exposure control by prioritizing increasing an image capturing sensitivity and opening the aperture of the diaphragm rather than increasing an accumulation period of the sensor.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2022Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Atsushi Sugawara
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Patent number: 11676405Abstract: Embodiments are generally directed to identification of objects for three-dimensional depth imaging. An embodiment of an apparatus includes one or more processors to process image data and control operation of the apparatus; an image sensor to collect image data; and a receiver and transmitter for communication of data, wherein the apparatus is to receive a notification of a first device entering a physical space, transmit a request to the device for a light signal to identify the device, detect the light signal from the device, determine a location of the device, and store an identification for the first device and the determined location of the first device in a database.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2021Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Intel CorporationInventor: Edward R. Harrison
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Patent number: 11671713Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a variable neutral density filter that has a variable transmittance; an imaging device on which object light via the variable neutral density filter forms an image; variable transmittance drive circuitry that changes the transmittance of the variable neutral density filter in accordance with a transmittance control value; a hardware input device that can be in a first state or in a second state depending on a change in form; and transmittance designation circuitry. Further, when the hardware input device is in the first state, the transmittance designation sets the transmittance control value in accordance with an operation amount of the hardware input device and notifies the variable transmittance drive circuitry of the transmittance control value.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2020Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: Sony Group CorporationInventor: Junki Yoshimuta
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Patent number: 11653102Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an image flicker detection method that includes the steps outlined below. An image retrieving is performed to retrieve a current image. A current variation ratio between first rows of pixels of the current image and second rows of pixels in a previous image is calculated. When both the current variation ratio and a previous variation ratio are determined to be larger than a ratio threshold, a detected flicker number is incremented. When the detected flicker number is determined to be larger than a flicker number threshold, a flicker condition is determined to occur. When the detected flicker number is determined to be not larger than the flicker number threshold, the current image becomes the previous image and the current variation ratio becomes the previous variation ratio such that a next image becomes the current image to repeat the above steps.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2021Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATIONInventors: Xiao-Yu Chen, Dong-Yu He, Yang Lu, Gang Shen
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Patent number: 11627261Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a driving control unit configured to control driving of an image sensor, and a flicker detection unit configured to detect flicker, which is a periodic change in a light amount of an object, based on a signal output from the image sensor, wherein the driving control unit is configured to, if the image sensor outputs a flicker detection signal to be used in detecting the flicker, control the driving of the image sensor at n different frame rates, n being a natural number greater than or equal to 3, wherein a least common multiple of the n frame rates used in detecting the flicker is not same as any of the n frame rates, and wherein the flicker detection unit is configured to detect the flicker based on the flicker detection signal obtained at each of the n frame rates.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2022Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Takashi Kobayashi, Takuya Shintani
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Patent number: 11616915Abstract: An apparatus comprises: a sensor that shoots a subject and outputs an image; a shift unit that shifts a position on the sensor of an image of the subject incident on the sensor; and a detection unit that detects flicker based on partial images in a same partial region of a plurality of images consecutively obtained from the sensor. In a case where the sensor shoots the plurality of images while the shift unit is shifting the position of the image of the subject, the detection unit selects the partial region so that a change of the image of the subject in the partial region caused by the shift becomes small between the plurality of images.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2021Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Takuya Shintani
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Patent number: 11582401Abstract: This invention enables one to check flicker of a HFR image signal. A display image signal of a first frame rate for flicker check is obtained on the basis of an image signal of a second frame rate. For example, the display image signal of the first frame rate is generated from the image signal of the second frame rate by a frame thinning process. In this case, a frame to be thinned is determined from a relationship between the second frame rate and a light source frequency. For example, the number of frames to be a flicker period is obtained from the second frame rate and the light source frequency, and the frame to be thinned is determined so that continuous frames of the number of frames to be the flicker period are present.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATIONInventor: Sohhei Okada
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Patent number: 11539902Abstract: A flicker detection circuit is provided. The flicker detection circuit may include a flicker detection correlated double sampling (FD CDS) circuit including first to sixth switches turned on or off based on a control signal, and first to fourth capacitors, the FD CDS circuit being configured to receive a flicker pixel signal output from at least one pixel, summate with an output offset signal, and amplify the summation based on a gain to form a flicker detection signal; and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to quantize the flicker detection signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2020Date of Patent: December 27, 2022Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Sangpil Nam, Kyunghoon Lee, Jungho Lee, Youngjae Cho, Michael Choi
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Patent number: 11528466Abstract: A method operable by circuitry including an image processor, an image sensor, and another clock-dependent device, including measuring a flicker using the image sensor, adjusting a clock rate of the circuitry according to the measured flicker, and operating the clock-dependent device using the adjusted clock rate.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2021Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: EMZA VISUAL SENSE LTD.Inventors: Zeev Smilansky, Tomer Kimhi
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Patent number: 11516409Abstract: A device includes a charge variation sensor having at one or more electrodes. The charge variation sensor, in operation, generates a charge variation signal indicative of changes in an electric or electrostatic charge induced on the one or more electrodes by an alternating current power source. Processing circuitry, coupled to the charge variation sensor, generates a frequency spectrum signal based on the charge variation signal and identifies a frequency of operation associated with the alternating current power source based on the generated frequency spectrum signal. A control signal is generated based on the identified frequency of operation. An image acquisition device sets an image acquisition frequency based on the control signal.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2021Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.r.l.Inventors: Federico Rizzardini, Lorenzo Bracco, Roberto Mura, Stefano Paolo Rivolta
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Patent number: 11516408Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor, a drive control unit for the image sensor, and a detection unit configured to calculate an evaluation value based on second images and detect flicker based on the evaluation value. The drive control unit controls to perform, during a live view cycle of a display device, a first operation for reading out a first image to be displayed, and a second operation for reading out the second images at a second cycle which is shorter than the time taken to read out the first image at timings different from a timing of reading out the first image. Upon calculating the evaluation value based on the second images, the detection unit detects flicker by using different pairs of images from among the second images for calculation of the evaluation value according to the first cycle.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2021Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Atsushi Sugawara, Hinako Nakamura
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Patent number: 11508145Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method, apparatus, medium, and electronic device for evaluating environmental noise of device. The method comprises obtaining original image data to be displayed; determining at least part of the original image data to be displayed as source data; obtaining comparison data according to the source data; obtaining a difference value according to the comparison data and the source data; and evaluating environmental noise of device according to the difference value.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2019Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignees: BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Lin Lin, Jian Sun, Ziqiang Guo
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Patent number: 11496688Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing unit configured to change a charge accumulation time for each area, a histogram calculation unit configured to calculate a histogram of a pixel value for the each area, an area increase/decrease unit configured to increase or decrease the number of divisions of the area based on the histogram calculated by the histogram calculation unit, and a determination unit configured to determine a charge accumulation time of the each area of which number has been increased or decreased by the area increase/decrease unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2020Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Satoshi Okamoto
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Patent number: 11470264Abstract: There is provided an image sensor for exposing a plurality of pixel rows within a frame period using a rolling shutter. The image sensor includes a processor for calculating bright-dark distribution patterns of image frames. The processor further adjusts the frame period to be substantially identical to a predetermined period by changing a total number of exposed line times within the frame period when a difference between the bright-dark distribution patterns of two image frames is larger than a predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2021Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.Inventor: Wen-Han Yao
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Patent number: 11431913Abstract: An apparatus that moves a focus lens, performs a scan operation of sequentially acquiring a focus signal, acquires a focus position of the focus lens based on the focus signal, and includes: a determination unit configured to determine whether an object is blinking at a predetermined period, and a processing unit configured to perform a filtering process in a time axis direction on the acquired focus signal where the object is blinking at the predetermined period.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2020Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Hiroaki Kurisu, Naoki Iwasaki
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Patent number: 11418726Abstract: An image pickup system in which a plurality of image pickup apparatuses capable of performing continuous image pickup cooperate. At least one image pickup apparatus is set as a measurement apparatus for periodically detecting changes in brightness, caused by a light source, with respect to a subject of which an image is to be picked up, to generate light source flicker information during continuous image pickup. At least one image pickup apparatus is set as a reception apparatus for receiving the light source flicker information periodically transmitted from the measurement apparatus and executes each image pickup operation during continuous image pickup at a timing determined based on the light source flicker information received from the measurement apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2019Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Toshifumi Osawa
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Patent number: 11381796Abstract: Provided herein is an image-sensing device and a method for auto white balance. An image signal processor is used to perform the method. In the method, an RGBIr photo sensor receives an image with data over red, green and blue channels. The image data over the red, green and blue channel is firstly restored. A series of weights are calculated according to the image data over an infrared channel. The weights are allocated to the image data so as to adjust the infrared ratios over the red, green and blue channels for reducing infrared effect on auto white balance. After that, an infrared weighting calculation is performed for adjusting the infrared values over the red, green and blue channels of the image. A set of white balance gains are obtained. An auto white balance is performed for obtaining a new image with infrared crosstalk compensation.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2020Date of Patent: July 5, 2022Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORP.Inventors: Ching-Ju Hsiao, Wen-Tsung Huang
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Patent number: 11284023Abstract: In an imaging apparatus as an embodiment, a drive unit drives pixels so that a photoelectric conversion unit alternately performs accumulation of charges in a first exposure period and accumulation of charges in a second exposure period having different length from the first exposure period. A control unit performs a first exposure in a first cycle and performs a second exposure in second cycle when a result of detection indicates that a subject is not blinking. Further, the control unit performs a first exposure in a cycle different from the first cycle when the result of detection indicates that the subject is blinking.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2020Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shinji Yamanaka, Hisashi Takado
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Patent number: 11212459Abstract: Systems and methods for imaging scenes illuminated by light sources that are powered by alternating current. Data concerning these light sources are extracted from the imagery. Systems comprising a rolling shutter imaging sensor and configured to de-flicker images with spatial flicker are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2018Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignees: TECHNION RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION LIMITED, THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTOInventors: Mark Sheinin, Yoav Schechner, Kiriakos Neoklis Kutulakos, Yoash Levron
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Patent number: 11176868Abstract: Disclosed is a method for driving a display. The method includes calculating differences between digital codes corresponding to grayscale voltages each provided to pixels connected to the same data line and gate lines which are sequentially driven, summing digital code differences of a threshold value or more, generating a compensation code corresponding to the summation result, and providing grayscale voltages compensated with the compensation code to pixels of which digital codes have a difference of less than the threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2020Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: Anapass Inc.Inventors: Joon Bae Park, Jun Young Jang, Hyun Seung Lee, Dong Joon Lee
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Patent number: 11172143Abstract: This invention enables one to check flicker of a HFR image signal. A display image signal of a first frame rate for flicker check is obtained on the basis of an image signal of a second frame rate. For example, the display image signal of the first frame rate is generated from the image signal of the second frame rate by a frame thinning process. In this case, a frame to be thinned is determined from a relationship between the second frame rate and a light source frequency. For example, the number of frames to be a flicker period is obtained from the second frame rate and the light source frequency, and the frame to be thinned is determined so that continuous frames of the number of frames to be the flicker period are present.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2017Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventor: Sohhei Okada
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Patent number: 11172151Abstract: An image capture apparatus comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having a light-receiving circuit that outputs a pulse signal in response to incidence of a photon and a counting circuit configured to count the pulse signal, is disclosed. The image capture apparatus further comprises a detection circuit that detects whether or not a flickering light source is present in a field of view, based on an output frequency of the pulse signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Satoshi Suzuki, Nobuhiro Takeda
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Patent number: 11144762Abstract: There is provided with an image processing apparatus. A target image including an object, for a predetermined imaging range, is obtained. A background image, which is obtained from a selected image selected from a captured image for the predetermined imaging range based on brightness of the target image, is obtained. A region of the object in the target image based on the background image is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2018Date of Patent: October 12, 2021Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tomoyori Iwao
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Patent number: 11102423Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device that picks up a subject by driving by a rolling shutter method, a memory that stores a set of instructions and at least one processor that executes the instructions to divide, when driving the image pickup device at a second frame rate lower than a first frame rate, a plurality pieces of image data successively acquired by the image pickup device at the second frame rate into predetermined areas to acquire data of divided areas, and perform flicker detection using a predetermined number of pieces of the data of the divided areas successive for a plurality of frames.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2019Date of Patent: August 24, 2021Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Kohei Ota
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Patent number: 11039081Abstract: There is provided an image sensor for exposing a plurality of pixel rows within a frame period using a rolling shutter. The image sensor includes a processor for calculating bright-dark distribution patterns of image frames. The processor further adjusts the frame period to be substantially identical to a predetermined period by changing a total number of exposed line times within the frame period when a difference between the bright-dark distribution patterns of two image frames is larger than a predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.Inventor: Wen-Han Yao
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Patent number: 11032486Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses are described for reducing a flicker effect of multiple light sources in an image captured with an imaging device. A lighting frequency associated with each of the multiple light sources is detected and prioritized relative to a flicker effect upon the image to identify at least a first-prioritized lighting frequency and a second-prioritized lighting frequency. A first exposure-time factorization set is determined for the first-prioritized lighting frequency, and a second exposure-time factorization set is determined for the second-prioritized lighting frequency. An exposure time of the imaging device is adjusted to an exposure time identified in the first exposure-time factorization set that matches, or aligns near-to-matching, an exposure time identified in the second exposure-time factorization set.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2020Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: Google LLCInventors: Gang Sun, Jinglun Gao, Ruben Manuel Velarde, Szepo Robert Hung
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Patent number: 10972677Abstract: An imaging control apparatus includes: a flicker detecting section configured to detect a flicker component of a light source, the flicker component being included in an image; and a controlling section configured to control timing of imaging according to a detection result by the flicker detecting section, in which the controlling section controls the timing of the imaging according to timing of a peak or a bottom of the flicker component detected.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2017Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Yutaro Honda, Satoko Suzuki
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Patent number: 10944912Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for reducing flickering artifacts in imaged light sources. Example methods may include receiving images corresponding to a scene captured by a camera; determining a light source in the scene using at least one artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithm; determining, using an event-based camera, data representing flickering of the light source, the flickering having a frequency; determining, based on the data, that a time duration of overlap between an on state of the light source and an exposure time of the camera is below a threshold; and delaying the exposure time of the camera by a delay time to increase the time duration of overlap.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2019Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventor: David Michael Herman
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Patent number: 10911644Abstract: This application provides an image processing method and an image collection device. A haze intensity of a first image is calculated. When the haze intensity of the first image is greater than a first threshold, control information is sent, where the control information is used to control a haze penetration optical component to move into a lens. Because the haze penetration optical component can improve quality of optical imaging, the lens into which the haze penetration optical component is moved has a function of optical haze penetration. It can be learned that, when the haze intensity of the first image is greater than the first threshold, the function of the optical haze penetration is enabled, so as to improve quality of an image obtained in a haze environment.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2019Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.Inventors: Liyu Zhu, Peng Xu, Binbin Zhou
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Patent number: 10848684Abstract: Provided is an imaging control device including a control unit and a flickering correction unit. The control unit adjusts a parameter of a correction signal for correcting a flickering component included in a captured image before imaging of the captured image starts. The flickering correction unit corrects the flickering component included in the captured image based on the parameter of the correction signal after adjustment.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2017Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventor: Keisuke Nakajima
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Patent number: 10805548Abstract: The present technology relates to a signal processing apparatus, an imaging apparatus, and a signal processing method capable of reliably imaging a blinking imaging target in a scene having a very large difference in brightness. By detecting a difference between a plurality of images captured with different exposure times, calculating a combination coefficient indicating a combination ratio between the plurality of images on the basis of the difference, and combining the plurality of images on the basis of the combination coefficient, it is possible to reliably image a blinking imaging target in a scene having a very large difference in brightness. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a camera unit that captures an image.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2017Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions CorporationInventors: Makoto Koizumi, Masakatsu Fujimoto, Ikko Okamoto, Daiki Yamazaki, Yasushi Shibata
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Patent number: 10798298Abstract: In one embodiment, a computing system receives one or more signals indicative of light intensities captured by one or more cameras. These signals are captured in a plurality of frames at a first frame rate. The computing system calculates light intensity metrics for each frame of the plurality of frames based on the one or more signals captured in the respective frames. The computing system detects one or more peaks based on the light intensity metrics associated with one or more frames of the plurality of frames. The one or more frames were captured in a predetermined time period. The computing system determines a likelihood of perceptible flicker based on the detected one or more peaks. The computing system causes the one or more cameras to capture frames at a second frame rate in response to a determination that the likelihood of perceptible flicker exceeds a predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2019Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLCInventor: Mariano Jos Jaimez Tarifa
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Patent number: 10771713Abstract: An imaging control device including: a control unit configured to perform control such that an exposure timing is synchronized with a timing of a peak of a detected flickering component on a basis of a period of the flickering component and the timing of the peak of the flickering component.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2017Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Satoko Suzuki, Yutaro Honda, Syouei Hirasawa, Osamu Izuta, Daisuke Kasai
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Patent number: 10755429Abstract: Methods and apparatuses in which a plurality of images are recorded at different illumination angles are provided. The plurality of images are combined in order to produce a results image with an increased depth of field.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2016Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbHInventors: Lars Stoppe, Lars Omlor
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Patent number: 10735669Abstract: A method for reducing artefacts caused by the presence of flicker during image capture. The method comprises performing image capture to produce image capture data corresponding to an image capture scene, the image capture data including a first image having a first exposure and a second image having a second exposure. The image capture data is processed to: (a) detect a discrepancy in the second image with respect to the first image; and (b) determine flicker indication data indicative of a presence of flicker in the second image. The discrepancy is corrected in dependence upon the flicker indication to produce a flicker-reduced version of the second image.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2018Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: Apical Ltd.Inventors: Andrew Dewhurst, David Hanwell
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Patent number: 10721416Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging unit, a sensor, and a controller. The imaging unit sequentially outputs a digital image by capturing a subject. The sensor includes a photoelectric element for receiving a part of luminous flux from the subject incident on the imaging unit. The sensor detects an AC current component of the luminous flux from the luminous flux received by the photoelectric element. The controller detects a flicker cycle in the luminous flux from the AC current component.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2019Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Keiji Kunishige, Masashi Takahashi
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Patent number: 10708515Abstract: An imaging apparatus has a first mode in which a detection unit detects a light amount change characteristic from an object between first and second exposures of an imaging unit during a continuous shooting and a determination unit determines an exposure timing of the second exposure based on the detected light amount change characteristic.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2017Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Naoyuki Nakagawara
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Patent number: 10609300Abstract: An image sensor comprises an image sensing array on a semiconductor substrate for image sensing. The image sensor comprises a plurality of first light sensing units arranged in an array. A light sensor, disposed on the semiconductor substrates for sensing ambient light and converting the ambient light into a first electrical signal comprises a plurality of second light sensing units arranged in an array. A processing module may be connected to one or more light sensing units and may be configured to determine the intensity of the ambient light based on the first electrical signal and control the operation of the image sensor based on the determined intensity.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2018Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: HUAIAN IMAGING DEVICE MANUFACTURER CORPORATIONInventors: Xinhe Feng, Shaw-Tzeng Hsia, Jianguang Chang, Yonggang Wang
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Patent number: 10607575Abstract: A novel display system is provided. The display system includes a display portion and a control portion. The control portion includes a controller and a memory device. The display portion has a function of displaying an image. The controller has a function of outputting a signal for controlling a refresh rate of the image. The memory device has a function of storing data including data indicating a recognition state of the image and data on whether a flicker is recognized in the recognition state by a user or not. The controller has a function of changing the refresh rate of the image with reference to the data stored in the memory device when data on whether a flicker is recognized or not is input by the user.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2017Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yuji Iwaki, Hideaki Okamoto
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Patent number: 10587817Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic device including an image sensor including a lens, a pixel array configured to convert light collected through the lens into an electric signal and to output the electric signal, a readout circuit configured to convert electric signals sequentially received for each row of the pixel array into pixel data and to output the pixel data, a memory, and a controller configured to control the pixel array, the readout circuit and the memory, and a processor electrically connected to the image sensor. The controller is configured to generate a frame by integrating the pixel data sequentially received from the readout circuit, generate a profile regarding flickering of the collected light using the generated frame and another frame generated prior to the generated frame, and store the generated profile in the memory, obtain a profile set including profiles corresponding to a plurality of frames from the memory, and transfer the generated frame and the obtained profile set to the processor.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2018Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., LtdInventors: Dongsoo Kim, Hwayong Kang, Eunsoo Chang, Minkyu Park, Minyoung Park, Youngkwon Yoon, Hyeoncheol Jo, Jonghoon Won
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Patent number: 10547794Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a pixel unit (1) configured to perform imaging of a plurality of frames by a photoelectric conversion; an exposure amount calculating unit (9) configured to calculate exposure amounts of the plurality of frames imaged in a flicker cycle of a light source; and a control unit (12) configured to control the exposure amount of each of the frames imaged by the pixel unit based on the exposure amounts of the plurality of frames calculated by the exposure amount calculating unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2017Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Shintaro Takenaka, Kazuhiro Sonoda
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Patent number: 10496864Abstract: A fingerprint sensor includes a pixel array, an analog-to-digital converter, and a reference signal generator. The pixel array includes a plurality of unit pixels arranged in rows and columns, and each of the plurality of unit pixels generates an analog signal by detecting a fingerprint of a user. The analog-to-digital converter performs an analog-to-digital conversion operation on the analog signal to generate a digital signal. The analog-to-digital converter is configured to perform the analog-to-digital conversion based on a reference signal. The reference signal generator generates the reference signal such that the reference signal decreases at a first rate from a start voltage, and adjusts a magnitude of the start voltage based on the digital signal.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2017Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jin-Uk Jeon, Sun-Kwon Kim, Seung-Hoon Lee
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Patent number: 10432875Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a row integration ratio calculation unit that divides a first row integration value by a second row integration value for each row, to calculate a row integration ratio; a reference value generation unit that generates a reference value for each row; a reference value integration unit that multiplies the integration ratio by the reference value for each row and integrates multiplication results corresponding to all rows, to calculate a sum of the multiplication results of the integration ratios and the reference values; a flicker parameter estimation unit that estimates a flicker parameter of flicker generated in the first exposure image on the basis of the sum; and a flicker correction unit that corrects the flicker generated in the first exposure image on the basis of the estimated flicker parameter. The present disclosure can be applied to an image sensor.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2015Date of Patent: October 1, 2019Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Shigeki Nakamura, Shun Kaizu
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Patent number: 10425583Abstract: An imaging device captures an object. The imaging device includes: an imaging unit that captures the object and outputs video data; a memory unit that stores therein the video data from the imaging unit; a video signal processing unit that reads the video data from the memory unit at a frame rate lower than a frame rate at which the video data are written into the memory unit and performs signal processing on the video data; an output interface unit that outputs to an external device the video data; and a control unit that outputs to the imaging unit an instruction to capture the specific number of frames and to write video data into the memory unit as an exposure period signal, instructs the video signal processing unit to output the video data from the memory unit, and outputs to the external device an imaging period signal.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2017Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.Inventor: Tomoya Ohsawa