Staggered Or Irregular Elements Patents (Class 348/275)
  • Patent number: 11258936
    Abstract: A remote selfie system is disclosed. A control mobile computing system is communicatively coupled to an imaging mobile computing system having a digital imaging functionality. Commands are exchanged to allow the control mobile computing system to remotely control the digital imaging functionality of the imaging mobile computing system. The control mobile computing system receives a digital image to be captured by the digital imaging functionality of the imaging mobile computing system. The control mobile computing system send commands to the imaging mobile computing system to capture a digital image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventor: Katherine Barnett
  • Patent number: 11172142
    Abstract: An image sensor device has a first number of first pixels disposed in a substrate and a second number of second pixels disposed in the substrate. The first number is substantially equal to the second number. A light-blocking structure disposed over the first pixels and the second pixels. The light-blocking structure defines a plurality of first openings and second openings through which light can pass. The first openings are disposed over the first pixels. The second openings are disposed over the second pixels. The second openings are smaller than the first openings. A microcontroller is configured to turn on different ones of the second pixels at different points in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yun-Wei Cheng, Chun-Hao Chou, Kuo-Cheng Lee, Hsin-Chi Chen
  • Patent number: 10764521
    Abstract: An image sensor is provided which includes a first group of pixels including a first color filter passing light having a first wavelength range, a second group of pixels including a second color filter passing light having a second wavelength range, and a third group of pixels including a third color filter passing light having a third wavelength range. The first wavelength range is longer than the second wavelength range, and the second wavelength range is longer than the third wavelength range. A second pixel in the second group of pixels or a third pixel in the third group of pixels includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices, and a first pixel of the first group of pixels includes a single photoelectric conversion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Takafumi Usui, Makoto Takamiya, Shuichi Shimokawa
  • Patent number: 10580816
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device capable of preventing defects in the appearance thereof, a camera module, and an electronic apparatus. The solid-state imaging device to be provided includes: a semiconductor substrate having pixels formed therein, the pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element; and on-chip lenses formed above the semiconductor substrate, the on-chip lenses corresponding to the pixels. The area in which the on-chip lenses are formed is extended to a peripheral area outside an imaging area formed with the pixels. The present technology can be applied to solid-state imaging devices, such as CMOS image sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kosuke Hareyama
  • Patent number: 10434944
    Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes a color camera that captures image data, which is processed using an in-line dithering algorithm. The in-line dithering algorithm determines most significant bits and least significant bits of first color data captured by a first photosensing element of a row or column, and the least significant bits of the first color data are added to second color data captured by a second photosensing element of the row or column to generate second adjusted color data. The in-line dithering algorithm determines most significant bits and least significant bits of the second color data, and the least significant bits of the second color data are added to third color data captured by a third photosensing element of the row or column to generate third adjusted color data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Goerg Pflug
  • Patent number: 10171723
    Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate to determining peak distances between an origin, point in the frequency domain and peak points of a discrete Fourier transform magnitude of an image of a periodic or quasi-periodic target. In some implementations, a range distance between the target and the imaging lens is determined based on the peak distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Ulichney, Matthew D Gaubatz, Stephen Pollard
  • Patent number: 10148919
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a sensing layer for sensing a light beam and a number of pixel groups. Each of the pixel groups includes a yellow filter unit allowing a green light component and a red light component of the light beam to pass through, a green filter unit allowing the green light component of the light beam to pass through, and a blue filter unit allowing a blue light component of the light beam to pass through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: VISERA TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Chin-Chuan Hsieh, Wu-Cheng Kuo, Wei-Ko Wang
  • Patent number: 10070086
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device capable of receiving light entering a gap between pixel regions of imaging units by the pixel region when a plurality of imaging units is arranged, a method of manufacturing the same, and an electronic device. A CMOS image sensor includes a pixel region formed of a plurality of pixels. A convex lens is provided for each of a plurality of CMOS image sensors. A plurality of CMOS image sensors is arranged on a supporting substrate. The present disclosure is applicable to a solid-state imaging device and the like in which a plurality of CMOS image sensors is arranged on the supporting substrate, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Oinoue
  • Patent number: 9812512
    Abstract: The pixel structure includes a plurality of pixel units each including a first sub-pixel with a first color, having a first adjoining edge of a first length and a second adjoining edge of a second length; a second sub-pixel with a second color, having a first adjoining edge of the first length and a second adjoining edge of a third length; and a third sub-pixel with a third color, having a first adjoining edge of the second length and a second adjoining edge of the third length. In each pixel unit, the first adjoining edge of the first sub-pixel is adjoined to the first adjoining edge of the second sub-pixel, the second adjoining edge of the first sub-pixel is adjoined to the first adjoining edge of the third sub-pixel, and the second adjoining edge of the second sub-pixel is adjoined to the second adjoining edge of the third sub-pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shang Wang
  • Patent number: 9791380
    Abstract: An imaging device includes multiple sensor pixels that are arranged in a predetermined direction, each sensor pixel having multiple sensor pixel borders defining an outer edge part of the sensor pixel, among which at least one of a pair of sensor pixel borders that are opposed in the arrangement direction is oblique to a passage direction of a defect image that is vertical to the predetermined direction. This can provide an inspection tool enabling high sensitivity inspection and/or having improved detection reproducibility of a defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: HITACTHI HIGH-TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Jingu
  • Patent number: 9772541
    Abstract: An adjusting seat includes a base, an adjustment unit and a worm gear. The adjusting seat has two supporting portions. The adjustment unit includes an assembly portion, two extending portions and a teeth portion. The assembly portion includes a first surface and a second surface. The two extension portions protrude from the first surface of the assembly portion so as to form an accommodation space with the assembly portion. The two extension portions are pivoted on the two support portions, respectively. The teeth portion is located on the second surface. The worm gear is pivoted on the base and meshed with the teeth portion, when the worm gear is rotated relative to the base. The teeth portion is rotated according to a rotation of the worm gear so as to drive the adjustment unit to simultaneously rotate relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: VIVOTEK INC.
    Inventor: Shang-Yu Huang
  • Patent number: 9751465
    Abstract: A vision system for a vehicle includes a camera disposed at the vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The camera includes an RGB photosensor array having multiple rows of photosensing elements and multiple columns of photosensing elements. An in-line dithering algorithm is applied to individual lines of photosensing elements of the photosensor array in order to reduce at least one of color data transmission and color data processing. The in-line dithering algorithm includes at least one of an in-row dithering algorithm that is applied to individual rows of photosensing elements of the photosensor array and an in-column dithering algorithm that is applied to individual columns of photosensing elements of the photosensor array. The in-line dithering algorithm may be operable to determine most significant bits and least significant bits of color data of photosensing elements of the photosensor array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Goerg Pflug
  • Patent number: 9685111
    Abstract: Provided is a display device, including: a display unit including a plurality of pixels that emit light according to a plurality of data signals supplied through a plurality of data lines; a power voltage supplier configured to supply a power voltage to the plurality of pixels; a current detector configured to detect a total current flowing in the plurality of pixels; and a controller configured to receive image information of one frame unit and generate a reference voltage signal corresponding to the image information of one frame unit. The current detector compares the total current and the reference voltage signal and controls driving of the power voltage supplier according to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hak-Ki Choi
  • Patent number: 9373654
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes pixels respectively having photoelectric conversion units and arranged in matrix in basic pattern units, and an optical member arranged on the incidence side of incident light than the pixels and having constituent elements respectively corresponding to the pixels. The pixels include first, second and third wavelength range light pixels. Each basic pattern is comprised of a combined arrangement pattern of the wavelength range light pixels. Misregistration constituent elements with the occurrence of misregistration exist in the constituent elements. The misregistration increases toward the misregistration constituent elements separated from a center position of a pixel array of the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Momono, Nobuo Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 9282302
    Abstract: A stripe noise correction method of a captured image includes: storing a value calculated by rounding off a portion below the decimal point of a stripe noise value into a memory as correction data of an integer part that corrects a stripe noise for each color; and storing the magnitude of a quantization error calculated by rounding off for each color and for each pixel column or each pixel row into the memory as correction data of a fractional part; and correcting captured image signals of the image captured by a image sensor with the correction data of the integer part and the fractional part read from the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Masanobu Uchihara
  • Patent number: 9036061
    Abstract: A single-plate color imaging element where the color filter array includes a basic array pattern with first filters corresponding to a first color and second filters corresponding to a second color with contribution ratios for obtaining luminance signals lower than the first color, the basic array pattern is repeatedly arranged in a diagonal grid shape, one or more first filters are arranged in horizontal, vertical, upper right, and lower right directions of the color filter array, one or more second filters corresponding to each color of the second color are arranged in the upper right and lower right directions of the color filter array in the basic array pattern, and a proportion of the number of pixels of the first color corresponding to the first filters is greater than a proportion of the number of pixels of each color of the second color corresponding to the second filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kenkichi Hayashi, Seiji Tanaka, Tomoyuki Kawai
  • Patent number: 8970748
    Abstract: Correction processing load is reduced even when employing a color filter with a basic array pattern that is large in size. An imaging apparatus divides image data output from an image pickup device into line image data running along a predetermined direction for each line, and when a basic array pattern configuring a color filter has been divided into pattern lines running along the predetermined direction, line correction data that corresponds to the divided line image data is read, the line correction data being configured by plural correction data corresponding to each filter on the pattern line. The read line correction data is used to correct the line image data for each pattern line of the basic array pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kenkichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8922683
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, the first filters, which correspond to the two or more first colors that contribute to obtaining a brightness signal more than the second colors, are disposed within each pixel line in first direction to the fourth direction of the color filter arrangement, and it is configured so that the ratio of the number of pixels of the first colors corresponding to the first filters is larger than the ratio of the number of pixels of each color of the second colors corresponding to the second filters of two or more colors other than the first colors. Accordingly, the degree of reproducibility of the synchronization processing in a high-frequency wave area can be increased and the aliasing can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kenkichi Hayashi, Seiji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8896732
    Abstract: Disclosed are a pixel, a pixel array, a method for manufacturing the pixel array, and an image sensor including the pixel array. The pixel includes a first color filter layer to transmit a visible light and an IR, and a second color filter layer to transmit a light, in which the visible light is blocked, at one side of the first color filter layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung Hoon Sa, Jung Chan Kyoung, Dong Gyu Lee, Jong Min You, Hyun Jong Ji, Jung Wan Jeong
  • Patent number: 8872091
    Abstract: The solid-state imaging device includes light collecting elements each of which includes a first light-transmissive film group and a second light transmissive film group adjacent to each other. The first light-transmissive film group and the second light transmissive film group have mutually different effective refractive index distributions for guiding at least two types of incident light rays to the light receiving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeru Saitou, Kazutoshi Onozawa
  • Patent number: 8817141
    Abstract: A method for image processing according to one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter includes: a step of acquiring an image taken by an imaging device including an image sensor having pixel configuration with repeating cycles of M×N (M, N: integers of 2 or more) pixels; (a) a step of setting a target pixel in the acquired image and extracting K×L (K, L: integers of M<K and N<L) pixels based on the target pixel; (b) a step of calculating a pixel value of the target pixel with an operation with use of a filter which has a K×L filter size and which has specified filter coefficients arrayed therein; and a step of repeatedly executing the step (a) and the step (b) while moving the target pixel one pixel at a time with respect to the acquired image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8792029
    Abstract: Provided is a pixel array having a wide dynamic range, good color reproduction, and good resolution and an image sensor using the pixel array. The pixel array includes a plurality of first type photodiodes, a plurality of second type photodiodes, and a plurality of image signal conversion circuits. A plurality of the second type photodiodes are disposed between the first type photodiodes which are two-dimensionally arrayed. A plurality of the image signal conversion circuits are disposed between the first type photodiodes and the second type photodiodes to process image signals detected by the first type photodiodes and the second type photodiodes. An area of the first type photodiodes is wider than an area of the second type photodiodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Siliconfile Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Do-Young Lee
  • Patent number: 8780257
    Abstract: An imager device including: an imager integrated circuit comprising a matrix of pixels, several first, second and third focusing means such that each focusing means is provided facing a group of four associated pixels forming a 2×2 matrix, and is capable of focusing light rays to the group of associated pixels, and perform focusing which are different and equivalent to an arrangement of groups of associated pixels at three distances which are different toward the inlet face for light rays in the imager device, fourth means capable of passing, with respect to each group of pixels, the light rays directed toward said group and passing through the focusing means associated with said group, and capable of blocking the light rays directed toward said group and passing through the other focusing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'énergie atmoque et aux énergies alternatives
    Inventor: Pierre Gidon
  • Patent number: 8754967
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a color filter array based on a checkered pattern array and in which two pixels adjacent to each other in at least one of upper/lower and right/left directions have the same color. The color filter array is a color filter array in which a spatial sampling point (x, y) is approximately arranged in at least one of (x=3*(2n?1+oe)+1±2 and y=3m?2 (n and m are an integer, oe has a value of 0 when m is an odd number and 1 when m is an even number)) and (x=3*(2n?1+oe)+1 and y=3m?2±2 (n and m denote an integer, and oe has a value of 0 when m is an odd number and 1 when m is an even number)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Hirota
  • Patent number: 8754968
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a semiconductor substrate having a light receiving surface sectioned for red, green, blue, and white pixels arranged in a matrix with photodiodes formed thereon; color filters formed on the semiconductor substrate in light incident paths to the photodiodes of the respective formation regions of the red, green, and blue pixels and respectively transmitting lights in red, green, and blue wavelength regions; and photochromic films formed on the semiconductor substrate in the light incident path to the photodiodes in the formation regions of at least some of the white pixels, and containing a photochromic material having light transmittance varying in response to incident light intensity in a predetermined wavelength region, wherein a half period of the light transmittance of the photochromic films is shorter than one frame as a period in which pixel signals obtained in the pixels are read out with respect to all pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kyoko Izuha, Kouichi Harada
  • Patent number: 8723994
    Abstract: A color pixel array includes a plurality of micropixels. Each micropixel includes a photosensitive element and a filter element optically aligned with the photosensitive element such that incident light passes through the filter element prior to reaching the photosensitive element. The micropixels are organized into triangular macropixels that each includes multiple micropixels. A perimeter shape of each of the triangular macropixels forms a triangle. The triangular macropixels have a repeating pattern across the color pixel array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dominic Massetti
  • Patent number: 8675093
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus performs RGB three-band image capturing. Additional band pixels BG and OG having a spectral sensitivity peak wavelength between the B and G bands and between the R and G bands, respectively, are disposed on an image sensor consisting of RGB pixels. A feature quantity in the spectral characteristics of light incident on the sensor is obtained based on pixel values in the additional bands and pixel values in the RGB bands detected by the image sensor, and is applied to image processing of a captured object image. In order to maintain the image capturing resolution, in the image sensor, the number of additional band pixels is smaller than the number of R pixels, the number of G pixels, and the number of B pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Nagata
  • Patent number: 8659698
    Abstract: A structured light 3D scanner consisting of a specially designed fixed pattern projector and a camera with a specially designed image sensor is disclosed. A fixed pattern projector has a single fixed pattern mask of sine-like modulated transparency and three infrared LEDs behind the pattern mask; switching between the LEDs shifts the projected patterns. An image sensor has pixels sensitive in the visual band, for acquisition of conventional image and the pixels sensitive in the infrared band, for the depth acquisition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Inventors: Ilya Blayvas, Ron Kimmel
  • Patent number: 8654224
    Abstract: A composite imaging element is provided that includes a first imaging element and a second imaging element. The first imaging element has a plurality of first opto-electrical conversion parts, a first light receiving surface, and a first circuit part. The first opto-electrical conversion parts are configured to receive light with a first basic color and a second basic color different from the first basic color. The first opto-electrical conversion parts are also configured to convert light received by the first opto-electrical conversion parts into a first electrical signal. The first light receiving surface is formed by the first opto-electrical conversion parts. The first circuit part transmits the first electrical signal. The second imaging element has a plurality of second opto-electrical conversion parts and a second circuit part. The second opto-electrical conversion parts receive light emitted from the first opto-electrical conversion parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Dai Shintani
  • Patent number: 8654217
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting dust (18) on an image sensor (20) from a single captured image (14) of an actual scene (12) includes a control system (22) that evaluates at least one of a hue channel (466), a value channel (470), and a saturation channel (468) of the captured image (14) to determine if there is dust (18) on the image sensor (20). For example, the control system (22) can evaluate the hue channel (466) and the value channel (470) of the captured image (14) to determine if there is dust (18) on the image sensor (20). With information from the hue channel (466) and the value channel (470), the control system (22) can compute a computed probability (572) of dust (18) for a plurality of pixels (362) of the captured image (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hany Farid
  • Patent number: 8648948
    Abstract: Imaging arrays comprising at least two different imaging pixel types are described. The different imaging pixel types may differ in their light sensitivities and/or light saturation levels. Methods of processing the output signals of the imaging arrays are also described, and may produce images having a greater dynamic range than would result from an imaging array comprising only one of the at least two different imaging pixel types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Infrared Newco, Inc.
    Inventors: Conor S. Rafferty, Clifford A. King, Michael Philip Decelle, Jason Y. Sproul, Bryan D. Ackland
  • Patent number: 8638378
    Abstract: An image-capturing apparatus includes a pixel array including pixels. Each of the pixels includes a transducer for generating signal charge according to the intensity of an incident light beam. The image-capturing apparatus further includes an output circuit for outputting a pixel signal outside the pixel array at a frame rate depending on the pixel position in the pixel array, based on the signal charge; and an output-controlling unit for controlling the operation of the output circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Toshinobu Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8598508
    Abstract: An imaging device including an electronic shutter and a pixel array with color pixels with different characteristics of spectral sensitivity arranged. The pixel array part has at least one clear pixel, the plurality of color pixels including (i) a first color filter pixel having a peak of spectral sensitivity characteristics for red, (ii) a second color filter pixel having a peak for blue, and (iii) a third color filter pixel having a peak for green. The clear pixel has a high transmittance arranged in an oblique pixel array system at a given position of a given row and a given column with respect to the first color filter pixel, the second color filter pixel, and the third color filter pixel. An electronic shutter is separately driven for the at least one clear pixel and for the plurality of color filter pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Kanai, Nobuo Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8582007
    Abstract: The image sensor includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels arranged in a non-red-green-blue (RGB) Bayer pattern, an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert an analog pixel signal output from each of the pixels into a digital pixel signal, and an RGB converter configured to convert the digital pixel signal into an RGB Bayer signal. Accordingly, the image sensor is compatible with a universal image signal processor (ISP), which receives and processes RGB Bayer signals, without an additional compatible device or module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bum Suk Kim, Jung Chak Ahn, Tae Sub Jung
  • Patent number: 8576312
    Abstract: In a solid-state image pickup device according to this invention, because a photodiode 2 has a side close to a transfer transistor 3 is longer than an opposite side of the photodiode 2, the transfer transistor 3 can be increased in width. Therefore, it is possible to miniaturize the size of a pixel without causing deterioration in reading property. As a result, this invention can provide the solid-state image pickup device that achieves further miniaturization of pixels by applying an efficient layout of the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Rosnes Corporation
    Inventor: Sougo Ohta
  • Patent number: 8564699
    Abstract: The invention aims to solve the problem of eliminating the trade-off between the complexity of the digital image capture device and captured image reconstruction and the quality of the image. For this purpose, the invention provides a digital image capture sensor (18) including an array (16) of color filters, which array comprises a plurality of identical basic patterns (70) which are replicated with no overlap, each basic pattern being formed by color filters (72, 82, 84) which are pseudo-randomly arranged, such that each basic pattern (70) contains a variable pitch between two consecutive same-type color filters in the horizontal and/or vertical directions of the basic pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique—CNRS, Universite Joseph Fourier
    Inventors: David Alleysson, Brice Chaix De Lavarene, Jeanny Herault
  • Patent number: 8547458
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes a pixel array having a plurality of photodiodes that are disposed in a matrix, electric charge transfer gates, and a floating diffusion (FD), and further includes a reset transistor and an amplifier transistor each shared by the four adjacent photodiodes. In the solid-state image pickup device, the photodiodes include first to fourth photodiodes. In a state where the amplifier transistor is activated, electric charge transfer gates connected respectively to the first to fourth photodiodes are sequentially turned ON and electric charges accumulated in the photodiodes are sequentially read out through the FD. Accordingly, a readout blanking period can be minimized to and signal charges can be read out at high speed. Moreover, readout signal lines need only to be provided for every two columns of the photodiodes, so that openings of the photodiodes can be increased in size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Rosnes Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Iwasawa
  • Patent number: 8537256
    Abstract: The solid-state image sensor of this invention includes an array of pixels and light-transmitting portions 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d. The array is divided into unit pixel blocks, each of which is made up of N pixels (where N is an integer that is equal to or greater than two). The light-transmitting portions are arranged so that each light-transmitting portion faces an associated one of the pixels. Each of the light-transmitting portions is divided into M striped areas (where M is an integer that is equal to or greater than two). The respective areas have had their optical transmittances set independently of each other. The arrangement pattern of the optical transmittances of the light-transmitting portions 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d vary from one block to another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Hiramoto, Masayuki Misaki, Teruyuki Takizawa, Masaaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8520103
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device including a plurality of pixels and a color array filter. The color array filter is provided with filters over the plurality of pixels. The color array filter has a spatial sampling point (x, y) is approximately arranged in at least one of (x=3*(2n?1+oe)+1±2 and y=3m?2)and (x=3*(2n?1+oe)+1 and y=3m?2±2) is satisfied, where n and m are integers, and oe has a value of 0 when m is an odd number and 1 when m is an even number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Hirota
  • Patent number: 8520077
    Abstract: A color-unevenness inspection apparatus includes: an image pickup section picking up an image of an inspection target for a color-unevenness inspection; an image generation section generating an uneven-color image by determining one or more uneven-color regions existing in the picked-up image of the inspection target obtained by the image pickup section, and by classifying unit regions included in each of the uneven-color regions into a plurality of color groups; a calculation section calculating, on the uneven-color regions in the uneven-color image, an evaluation parameter to be used in the color-unevenness inspection; a correction section making a correction to the calculated evaluation parameter in consideration of a difference of color-unevenness visibility between the color groups; and an inspection section performing the color-unevenness inspection, based on a resultant evaluation parameter obtained by the correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kunihiko Nagamine, Satoshi Tomioka
  • Patent number: 8520919
    Abstract: In a method for controlling a multi-color output of an image of a medical object for assisting medical personnel, the medical object is illuminated with light with an illumination spectrum. By means of an image sensor, image data are acquired for a group of one or more color channels. Image information concerning an additional color channel, which is not among the group of one or more color channels, is generated depending on the acquired image data. An image output device for multi-color output of the image is controlled depending on the acquired image data and the acquired image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Herbert Stepp, Hilmar Schachenmayr
  • Patent number: 8471936
    Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging device that generates, for each of a red color, a green color, and a blue color, an image signal having pixels arranged adjacent to each other in a two-dimensional array, including a red color imaging element that senses incident light to output a red color signal (20R) having pixels arranged in a check pattern, a green color imaging element that senses the incident light to output a green color signal (20G) having pixels arranged in a check pattern, a blue color imaging element that senses the incident light to output a blue color signal (20B) having pixels arranged in a check pattern, interpolation means for interpolating a blank pixel using neighboring pixels, and correlation means for determining a correlation of the neighboring pixels of the blank pixel, wherein the correlation means determines a correlation for each of the red color signal, the green color signal, and the blue color signal on the basis of at least one color signal of the red color signal, the gr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Li Ming, Ryota Kosakai, Akira Matsui
  • Patent number: 8466998
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor executing photoelectric conversion for a subject image includes: a plurality of pixels disposed in a two-dimensional pattern and each equipped with a photoelectric conversion unit that generates and stores an electrical charge, wherein: the plurality of pixels are each one of a first pixel and a second pixel; the plurality of pixels are divided into a plurality of pixel blocks; the pixel blocks each include m×n pixels with m pixels and n pixels among the plurality of pixels set respectively along a columnar direction and along a row direction; at least one of the pixels in each pixel block is the first pixel; color filters assuming a single color are disposed at first pixels belonging to a common pixel block; and at least one pixel in at least one pixel block among the plurality of pixel blocks is the second pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8456553
    Abstract: A color imaging element including color filters arranged on pixels, wherein the color filter array includes a basic array pattern including first filters corresponding to a first color that most contributes to obtaining luminance signals and second filters corresponding to two or more second colors other than the first color, the basic array pattern repeatedly arranged in the horizontal and vertical directions, one or more first filters are arranged in each line in horizontal, vertical, and oblique directions of the color filter array, one or more second filters are arranged in each line in the horizontal and vertical directions of the color filter array in the basic array pattern, and a proportion of the number of pixels of the first color corresponding to the first filters is greater than proportions of the numbers of pixels of each color of the second colors corresponding to the second filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kenkichi Hayashi, Seiji Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8446494
    Abstract: Candidate redeye areas (24) are determined in an input image (20). In this process, a respective set of one or more redeye metric values (28) is associated with each of the candidate redeye areas (24). Candidate face areas (30) are ascertained in the input image (20). In this process, a respective set of one or more face metric values (34) is associated with each of the candidate face areas (30). A respective joint metric vector (78) is assigned to each of the candidate redeye areas (24). The joint metric vector (78) includes metric values that are derived from the respective set of redeye metric values (28) and the set of face metric values (34) associated with a selected one of the candidate face areas (30). Each of one or more of the candidate redeye areas (24) is classified as either a redeye artifact or a non-redeye artifact based on the respective joint metric vector (78) assigned to the candidate redeye area (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Gaubatz, Robert Alan Ulichney
  • Patent number: 8441562
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for determining a phase alignment of a Bayer color filter array is provided. A quincunx lattice of the color filter array corresponding to a first color component is determined from an input frame of image data. Elements of the color filter array corresponding to first and second rectangular lattices of the color filter array are selected. Second and third color components corresponding to elements of the first and second rectangular lattices are determined from the sample values in an input frame of image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabor Szedo, Jose R. Alvarez
  • Patent number: 8379121
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: a first image sensor equipped with first and second image-capturing pixels and first focus detection pixels, each of which receives one of light fluxes formed by splitting subject light having passed through an optical system, the first and the second image-capturing pixels generating first and second color signals respectively and the first focus detection pixels outputting focus detection signals indicating a state of focus detection pertaining to the optical system; and a second image sensor equipped with third image-capturing pixels and second focus detection pixels, each of which receives another light flux, the third image-capturing pixels generating third color signals and the second focus detection pixels outputting focus detection signals, wherein: when n represents a quantity of the first image-capturing pixels, quantities of the second and the third image-capturing pixels, and the first and the second focus detection pixels are n, 2n, 2n and 2n respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata
  • Patent number: 8314866
    Abstract: A color pixel array includes a plurality of micropixels. Each micropixel includes a photosensitive element and a color filter optically aligned with the photosensitive element to filter incident light prior to reaching the photosensitive element. The micropixels are organized into a repeating pattern of triangular macropixels each having a triangular shape within the color pixel array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Dominic Massetti
  • Patent number: 8310573
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a color filter array based on a checkered pattern array and in which two pixels adjacent to each other in at least one of upper/lower and right/left directions have the same color. The color filter array is a color filter array in which a spatial sampling point (x, y) is approximately arranged in at least one of (x=3*(2n?1+oe)+1±2 and y=3m?2 (n and m are an integer, oe has a value of 0 when m is an odd number and 1 when m is an even number)) and (x=3*(2n?1+oe)+1 and y=3m?2±2 (n and m denote an integer, and oe has a value of 0 when m is an odd number and 1 when m is an even number)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Hirota
  • Patent number: 8310567
    Abstract: A method is for processing a Bayer domain signal of an image sensor to model an integrated noise in the image sensor. The method includes receiving the Bayer domain signal of the image signal, setting a plurality of noise models using the Bayer domain signal, and determining an integrated noise level in the image sensor based on the plurality of noise models. The noise models include a dark-current noise model, a shot noise model and a fixed-pattern noise model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyoung Joon Kim, Whoi Yul Kim, Jin Aeon Lee, Yeul Min Baek