Including Transparent Elements Patents (Class 348/276)
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Patent number: 11689830Abstract: An apparatus configured to acquire a plurality of spectral images of an object includes at least one processor configured to execute a plurality of tasks including a selection task configured to select a recording wavelength band according to an input by a user, and a control task configured to store in a memory information on a spectral image corresponding to the recording wavelength band. The apparatus acquires the plurality of spectral images by imaging the object through a plurality of lens units each configured to form an image of the object, and a plurality of filters each of which is disposed on a corresponding one of optical axes of the plurality of lens units.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Chiaki Inoue
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Patent number: 11495632Abstract: A semiconductor image sensor includes a substrate having a first side and a second side that is opposite the first side. An interconnect structure is disposed over the first side of the substrate. A plurality of radiation-sensing regions is located in the substrate. The radiation-sensing regions are configured to sense radiation that enters the substrate from the second side. A plurality of isolation structures are each disposed between two respective radiation-sensing regions. The isolation structures protrude out of the second side of the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2020Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Kuo-Cheng Lee, Yun-Wei Cheng, Yung-Lung Hsu, Hsin-Chi Chen
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Patent number: 11452453Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a storage unit, a cutting-out unit, and a display controller. The storage unit is configured to store an image of fluorescence emitted from an observation target area of a living body in a recording medium as a fluorescence image of the observation target area, the image of fluorescence being captured with a first definition, the image of fluorescence being obtained by applying excitation light to the observation target area to which a fluorescent reagent is added in advance. The cutting-out unit is configured to cause a user to select at least a partial area of the fluorescence image and to cut out the selected area as a fluorescence image of a ROI area. The display controller is configured to cause a display unit to display the fluorescence image of a ROI area with a second definition that is lower than the first definition.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2018Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventor: Koichiro Kishima
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Patent number: 11258992Abstract: The disclosure relates to a filter array and to a method for processing image data in a camera. The camera is configured to receive light and generate image data using an image sensor having an associated filter array. The image sensor includes an array of pixels, each of which corresponds to a filter element in the filter array, so that each pixel has a spectral response at least partly defined by a corresponding filter element. The filter array includes a pattern of wideband filter elements and at least two types of narrowband filter elements. The method includes the step of generating a luminance image comprising a wideband filter element value that is calculated for each pixel of the image sensor.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2019Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: Blackmagic Design Pty LtdInventor: Carsten Buettner
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Patent number: 11076081Abstract: A device of acquisition of a 2D image and of a depth image, including: a first sensor including a front surface and a rear surface, the first sensor being formed inside and on top of a first semiconductor substrate and including a plurality of 2D image pixels and a plurality of transmissive windows; and a second sensor including a front surface placed against the rear surface of the first sensor and a rear surface opposite to the first sensor, the second sensor being formed inside and on top of a second semiconductor substrate and comprising a plurality of depth pixels arranged opposite the windows of the first sensor.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2018Date of Patent: July 27, 2021Assignee: Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies AlternativesInventors: Jérôme Vaillant, Yvon Cazaux, Alexis Rochas
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Patent number: 11037978Abstract: A device includes two BSI image sensor elements and a third element. The third element is bonded in between the two BSI image sensor elements using element level stacking methods. Each of the BSI image sensor elements includes a substrate and a metal stack disposed over a first side of the substrate. The substrate of the BSI image sensor element includes a photodiode region for accumulating an image charge in response to radiation incident upon a second side of the substrate. The third element also includes a substrate and a metal stack disposed over a first side of the substrate. The metal stacks of the two BSI image sensor elements and the third element are electrically coupled.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.Inventors: Ping-Yin Liu, Yeur-Luen Tu, Chia-Shiung Tsai, Xiaomeng Chen, Pin-Nan Tseng
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Patent number: 10614753Abstract: The present disclosure provides a display panel and an electronic device including the display panel. The display panel includes a plurality of sub-pixels and a plurality of pixel units. The plurality of sub-pixels includes at least a first color sub-pixel and at least a second color sub-pixel. The plurality of sub-pixels and the plurality of pixel units are arranged in a one-to-one correspondence manner. The display panel provided by the present disclosure can greatly reduce the difficulty of the preparation process while remaining a high aperture ratio, thereby improving the production yield of the display panel, significantly reducing the preparation cost of the display panel, greatly improving the display performance of the display panel, providing a comfortable user experience.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: SHANGHAI TIANMA AM-OLED CO., LTD.Inventors: Wanwan Xia, Xian Chen, Lijing Han, Yu Xin
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Patent number: 10539272Abstract: Described herein is a light array for luminaires which comprises a plurality of coloured light-emitting diode (LED) elements that are arranged within the array to provide better uniformity of illumination. The light array may be rectangular and include equal numbers of colored LED elements of four colors. The red LED elements are grouped towards the center of the light array with the other colors dispersed throughout the array. Two or more light arrays can be placed adjacent one another to increase the illumination produced whilst maintaining the benefit of better uniformity of illumination.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2017Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: SCHREDERInventor: Gianluca Deregibus
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Patent number: 10491791Abstract: To increase the space efficiency of an imaging apparatus which deals with a speckle pattern. An imaging apparatus includes a first image sensor and a second image sensor. The first image sensor images light entering the first image sensor from an object through an optical system to generate image data of the object. The second image sensor images a speckle pattern formed by scattering of light striking the object to generate image data of the speckle pattern, the speckle pattern entering the second image sensor through the optical system. In the imaging apparatus, the first image sensor and the second image sensor are placed side by side in an optical axis direction of the optical system.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2015Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventor: Shunsuke Maruyama
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Patent number: 10198872Abstract: Methods and systems for three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of endoscopic data in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described. In one embodiment, a method for processing a plurality of images captured by an endoscope includes preprocessing a plurality of images captured by an endoscope and including at least a portion of an organ. In many embodiments of the invention, the preprocessing includes estimating variations in light intensity within scenes captured by the plurality of images, and generating a set of color-adjusted images based on those variations. The method according to some embodiments of the invention may include generating a 3D point cloud representing points on a surface of the organ based on the set of color-adjusted images, defining a mesh representing the surface of the organ based on the 3D point cloud, and generating a texture of the surface of the organ based on the set of color-adjusted images.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2016Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior UniversityInventors: Kristen L. Lurie, Dimitar V. Zlatev, Joseph Chihping Liao, Audrey K. Bowden, Roland Angst
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Patent number: 10200664Abstract: There are provided an apparatus and a method which generate an RGB image having less color noise and fewer false colors by inputting an RGBW image. The apparatus has an image sensor having an RGBW array, and an image processing unit which performs image processing by inputting a sensor image formed of an RGBW pixel signal output from the image sensor. The image sensor has a periodic array of a unit composition formed of each RGBW pixel, and has an array in which composition ratios of each RGB pixel within the unit composition are adapted to be the same as each other. The image processing unit converts a pixel array of the sensor image formed of the RGBW pixel signal, and performs at least either array conversion processing for generating an RGB array image or signal processing for generating each RGB image signal in which all RGB pixel values are set for each pixel position of the sensor image.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2017Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Shun Kaizu
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Patent number: 10199426Abstract: Various optoelectronic modules are described that include an optoelectronic device (e.g., a light emitting or light detecting element) and a transparent cover. Non-transparent material is provided on the sidewalls of the transparent cover, which, in some implementations, can help reduce light leakage from the sides of the transparent cover or can help prevent stray light from entering the module. Fabrication techniques for making the modules also are described.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2017Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Hartmut Rudmann, Simon Gubser, Susanne Westenhöfer, Stephan Heimgartner, Jens Geiger, Sonja Hanselmann, Christoph Friese, Xu Yi, Thng Chong Kim, John A. Vidallon, Ji Wang, Qi Chuan Yu, Kam Wah Leong
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Patent number: 9779643Abstract: In embodiments of imaging structure emitter configurations, an imaging structure includes a silicon backplane with a driver pad array. The embedded light sources are formed on the driver pad array in an emitter material layer, and the embedded light sources can be individually controlled at the driver pad array to generate and emit light. The embedded light sources are configured in multiple rows for scanning by an imaging unit to generate a scanned image for display.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2012Date of Patent: October 3, 2017Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCInventors: David D. Bohn, Rod G. Fleck
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Patent number: 9763566Abstract: Embodiments of a hybrid imaging sensor that optimizes a pixel array area on a substrate using a stacking scheme for placement of related circuitry with minimal vertical interconnects between stacked substrates and associated features are disclosed. Embodiments of maximized pixel array size/die size (area optimization) are disclosed, and an optimized imaging sensor providing improved image quality, improved functionality, and improved form factors for specific applications common to the industry of digital imaging are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2015Date of Patent: September 19, 2017Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.Inventor: Laurent Blanquart
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Patent number: 9699429Abstract: There are provided an apparatus and a method which generate an RGB image having less color noise and fewer false colors by inputting an RGBW image. The apparatus has an image sensor having an RGBW array, and an image processing unit which performs image processing by inputting a sensor image formed of an RGBW pixel signal output from the image sensor. The image sensor has a periodic array of a unit composition formed of each RGBW pixel, and has an array in which composition ratios of each RGB pixel within the unit composition are adapted to be the same as each other. The image processing unit converts a pixel array of the sensor image formed of the RGBW pixel signal, and performs at least either array conversion processing for generating an RGB array image or signal processing for generating each RGB image signal in which all RGB pixel values are set for each pixel position of the sensor image.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2012Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Shun Kaizu
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Patent number: 9484375Abstract: Disclosed is an image sensor with a 3D stack structure, in which pixels of a top plate are realized as image pixels and pixels of a bottom plate are realized as pixels for realizing a phase difference AF, so that the phase difference AF is realized without loss of resolution. In the image sensor with a 3D stack structure, a problem of the reduction of resolution, which is a disadvantage of an existing imaging surface phase difference AF device, is solved, so that a fast phase difference AF is realized while maintaining high resolution without a separate phase difference AF module.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: SiliconFile Technologies Inc.Inventor: Kyung Su Byun
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Patent number: 9479666Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit that reads a plurality of colors in a document, a relative movement unit that causes the reading unit and the document to make a relative movement in a first scanning direction, and an output unit that outputs color information at an interval, the color information indicating whether the document read by the reading unit is chromatic, the interval being longer in the first scanning direction than a length in the first scanning direction of a color misregistration, the color misregistration being expected to occur in an image if a speed of the relative movement fluctuates owing to a unique performance characteristic of the relative movement unit, the image being obtained as a result of reading by the reading unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2015Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.Inventors: Risa Kojima, Kosuke Shimizu
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Patent number: 9461081Abstract: An imaging device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, a plurality of color filter components having a first color filter component and a second color filter component; a light shielding portion, at least a part of which is disposed between the first and second color filter components in a cross-section view; and a transparent film, at least a first part of which is disposed between the first color filter component and the light shielding portion in the cross-section view. A surface of the transparent film facing to the first and second color filter components is nonplanar, and a thickness of the transparent film is less than a thickness of the light shielding portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2015Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tomoharu Ogita, Atsushi Yamamoto, Keiji Tatani, Yoichi Ootsuka, Kiyotaka Tabuchi
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Patent number: 9455291Abstract: A back side illuminated image sensor includes a semiconductor material having a front side and a back side. The semiconductor material is disposed between image sensor circuitry and a light filter array. The image sensor circuitry is disposed on the front side, and the light filter array is disposed proximate to the back side. The image sensor includes a first pixel with a first doped region that extends from the image sensor circuitry into the semiconductor material a first depth. The first pixel also includes a second doped region that is disposed between the back side of the semiconductor material and the first doped region. The second doped region is electrically isolated from the first doped region. A second pixel with a third doped region is also included in the image sensor. The third doped region extends from the image sensor circuitry into the semiconductor material a second depth.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2015Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gang Chen, Duli Mao, Yuanwei Zheng, Chih-Wei Hsiung, Arvind Kumar, Dyson H. Tai
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Patent number: 9425229Abstract: This solid-state image sensor includes a photosensitive cell array including first through fourth photosensitive cells 2a to 2d, a dispersing element array including first and second dispersing elements 1a and 1b arranged to face the first and third photosensitive cells 2a and 2c, respectively, and a microlens array including first and second microlenses 4a and 4b. The first dispersing element 1a makes parts of incoming light that have come through the first microlens 4a and that have first and second color components incident on the first and second photosensitive cells 2a and 2b, respectively. The second dispersing element 1b makes parts of incoming light that have come through the second microlens 4b and that have third and fourth color components incident on the third and fourth photosensitive cells 2c and 2d, respectively. In addition, light that has not passed through the first and second microlenses 4a and 4b is also incident on the second and fourth photosensitive cells 2b and 2d.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of AmericaInventors: Masao Hiramoto, Seiji Nishiwaki, Toshiya Fujii, Tatsuya Nakamura
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Patent number: 9293500Abstract: A method of operating an image sensor. Charge accumulated in a photodiode during a first sub-exposure may be selectively stored in a storage node responsive to a first control signal. Charge accumulated in the photodiode during a first reset period may be selectively discarded responsive to a second control signal. Charge accumulated in the photodiode during a second sub-exposure may be selectively stored responsive to the first control signal. Charge stored in the storage node from the first and second sub-exposures may be transferred to a floating diffusion node responsive to a third control signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Anup K. Sharma, Xiaofeng Fan, Xiangli Li, Chung Chun Wan, Chiajen Lee, Terry L. Gilton
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Patent number: 9280768Abstract: A transaction system including at least two transaction communicators, at least one of which is a mobile communicator, at least one of the at least two transaction communicators having sequential visually sensible indicia generation functionality operative to generate a time sequence of indicia which provides at least transaction data and at least one of the at least two transaction communicators having sequential visually sensible indicia receiving functionality and transaction data extraction functionality capable of extracting at least the transaction data from the time sequence of particular indicia, whereby a time sequence of indicia which provides at least transaction data is transmitted from one of the at least two transaction communicators to another of the at least two transaction communicators.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2011Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: VERIFONE, INC.Inventors: Robert Dykes, Dan Loomis
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Patent number: 9224782Abstract: Imaging devices may include processing circuitry, a lens, and an array of image sensor pixels and reference pixels. The array may receive direct image light and stray light from the lens. The image sensor pixels may include clear color filter elements and the reference pixels may include opaque color filter elements. The opaque color filter elements may block direct image light from being captured by the reference pixels. The image sensor pixels may generate pixel values in response to the direct image light and the stray light whereas the reference pixels may generate reference pixel values in response to the stray light. The processing circuitry may mitigate stray light effects such as local flare and veiling glare within the imaging system by adjusting the pixel values based on the reference pixel values. The imaging system may be calibrated in a calibration system for generating stray light calibration data.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2013Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLCInventor: Brian Keelan
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Patent number: 9185375Abstract: The color imaging element and the imaging device according to the present invention can improve reproduction precision of demosaicing processing in a high frequency region and suppress aliasing. Further, the color imaging element can achieve high resolution by reducing occurrence of color moire (false color). Furthermore, the color imaging element and the imaging device can perform pixel demosaicing processing with high precision. Still furthermore, a basic array pattern including a square pattern and a grating filter line is repeated in a first direction and a second direction, and thus a color filter array can perform signal processing in a subsequent stage according to a repeating pattern of the square pattern and the grating filter line, and can simplify the processing in a subsequent stage more than a conventional random array.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2015Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Seiji Tanaka, Kenkichi Hayashi, Noriko Kawamura
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Patent number: 9185377Abstract: A color processing system includes a color interpolation unit coupled to receive color and white (W) signals and accordingly generate interpolated white signals and difference signals; a color correction unit configured to correct the difference signals, thereby resulting in corrected color signals; and a sensitivity control unit configured to generate adjusted color signals according to the corrected color signals, the interpolated white signals, and surrounding illumination.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2014Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Himax Imaging LimitedInventors: Yuan-Chih Peng, Dong-Long Lin, Po-Chang Chen
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Patent number: 9160935Abstract: A digital color imager providing an extended luminance range, an improved color implementation and enabling a method for an easy transformation into another color space having luminance as a component has been achieved. Key of the invention is the addition of white pixels to red, green and blue pixels. These white pixels have either an extended dynamic range as described by (U.S. Pat. No. 6,441,852 to Levine et al.) or have a larger size than the red, green, or blue pixels used. The output of said white pixels can be directly used for the luminance values Y of the destination color space. Therefore only the color values and have to be calculated from the RGB values, leading to an easier and faster calculation. As an example chosen by the inventor the conversion to YCbCr color space has been shown in detail.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2014Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Youliza, Gehts B.V. Limited Liability CompanyInventors: Detlef Schweng, Taner Dosluoglu, Horst Knoedgen
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Patent number: 9147236Abstract: A method of generation, by a digital processing device, of a first high dynamic range digital image from second and third digital images of a same scene, including, for at least one point of the first image: determining a brightness index; comparing this index with at least one of first, second, third, and fourth decreasing thresholds stored in a memory; and determining the value of the point by taking into account the value of the index.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2014Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SASInventors: Gregory Roffet, Pascal Mellot
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Patent number: 9143747Abstract: In the color imaging element and the imaging device according to an aspect of the present invention, a basic array pattern is repeatedly placed in a first direction and in a second direction, the basic array pattern includes four or more rectangular patterns each corresponding to 3×2 pixels each composed of a first filter, a color filter array includes therein grating filter lines surrounding the four directions of the rectangular pattern, the color filter array includes therein the first filters each disposed in each line in the first direction, in the second direction, in a third direction, and in a fourth direction, and the basic array pattern includes therein one or more second filters of each color, each disposed in each line in the first direction in the second direction.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2015Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Seiji Tanaka, Kenkichi Hayashi, Noriko Kawamura
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Patent number: 9106850Abstract: A digital imaging sensor includes an array of pixels. A subset of the pixels in the array has reduced photosensitivity in comparison to other pixels in said array. A controller operates to control an integration time of the array of pixels such that a first integration time of the subset of pixels is longer than a second integration time of the other pixels in the array. Such an image sensor is particularly useful for sensing light sources that are not illuminated continuously.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) LimitedInventor: John Kevin Moore
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Patent number: 9077943Abstract: Systems and methods for generating local image statistics are provided. In one example, an image signal processing system may include a statistics pipeline with image processing logic and local image statistics collection logic. The image processing logic may receive and process pixels of raw image data. The local image statistics collection logic may generate a local histogram associated with a luminance of the pixels of a first block of pixels of the raw image data or a thumbnail in which a pixel of the thumbnail represents a downscaled version of the luminance of the pixels of the first block of the pixel. The raw image data may include many other blocks of pixels of the same size as the first block of pixels.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2012Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: APPLE INC.Inventors: Suk Hwan Lim, D. Amnon Silverstein, Guy Cote, Steven David Hordley, Graham Finlayson, Weichun Ku, Joseph P. Bratt
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Patent number: 8976279Abstract: According to one embodiment, a light receiver includes a light reception module, a multi-exposure area selector, a multi-exposure controller, and a readout module. The light reception module includes N lines, each of the N lines having a plurality of light receiving elements. The multi-exposure area selector is configured to select one or a plurality of single-exposure lines and one or a plurality of multi-exposure lines. The multi-exposure controller is configured to, per the unit time, perform an exposure on the single-exposure lines one time for a first exposure time; and a first exposure and a second exposure on the multi-exposure lines. The readout module is configured to read exposure amounts of the lines line by line. The multi-exposure controller is configured to start the second exposure on the multi-exposure lines before reading of the exposure amounts of all the single-exposure lines is completed.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2013Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Yukiyasu Tatsuzawa, Kazuhiro Hiwada, Tatsuji Ashitani, Jun Deguchi, Hideaki Majima, Motohiro Morisaki
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Patent number: 8970748Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 24, 2013Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Kenkichi Hayashi
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Patent number: 8946611Abstract: A color filter is formed using a simple manufacturing method, and bias application to a pixel separating electrode allows sensitivity in low illumination intensity to be improved. In a solid-state imaging element, in which a plurality of unit pixel sections are disposed two dimensionally on a side closer to a front surface of a semiconductor substrate or a semiconductor layer, each unit pixel section having a light receiving section for generating a signal charge by light irradiation, an adjoining unit pixel section is formed in the same color to allow for lesser alignment accuracy of the color filter. A pixel separating electrode is formed in the adjoining unit pixel section, and a signal charge is shared by bias application during low illumination intensity, thereby improving an effective photodiode area.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2009Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hiroshi Iwata
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Patent number: 8922683Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 27, 2012Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Kenkichi Hayashi, Seiji Tanaka
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Publication number: 20140300785Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes pixels each having a photoelectric conversion element for converting incident light to an electric signal, color filters associated with the pixels and having a plurality of color filter components, microlenses converging the incident light through the color filters to the photoelectric conversion elements, a light shielding film disposed between the color filter components of the color filters, and a nonplanarized adhesive film provided between the color filters and the light shielding film.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2014Publication date: October 9, 2014Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Tomoharu Ogita, Atsushi Yamamoto, Keiji Tatani, Yoichi Ootsuka, Kiyotaka Tabuchi
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Patent number: 8848073Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: an R pixel provided with an R filter for transmitting red-color light; a B pixel provided with a B filter for transmitting blue-color light; an S1 pixel which is provided with an S1 filter with a visible light transmittance independent of wavelengths in a visible light region and has a sensitivity higher than that of the R pixel; and an S2 pixel which is provided with an S2 filter with a visible light transmittance independent of wavelengths in the visible light region and lower than the visible light transmittance of the S1 filter and has a sensitivity lower than the sensitivity of the S1 pixel.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2010Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Taichi Natori
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Publication number: 20140285691Abstract: A solid state imaging device according to an embodiment includes: a pixel array including a plurality of pixel blocks on a first surface of a semiconductor substrate, each pixel block having a first to third pixels each having a photoelectric conversion element, the first pixel having a first filter with a higher transmission to a light in a first wavelength range, the second pixel having a second filter with a higher transmission to a light in a second wavelength range having a complementary color to a color of the light in the first wavelength range, and the third pixel having a third filter transmitting lights in a wavelength range including the first and second wavelength ranges; a readout circuit reading signal charges from the first to the third pixels; and a signal processing circuit processing the signal charges.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2014Publication date: September 25, 2014Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Hiroto HONDA, Yoshitaka EGAWA, Ikuo FUJIWARA
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Publication number: 20140267847Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel that has a photoelectric conversion section which converts incident light into an electric signal; a color filter which is formed corresponding to the pixel; a micro lens which focuses the incident light to the photoelectric conversion section via the color filter; and an in-layer lens which is formed between the color filter and the micro lens and has a refractive index smaller than that of the micro lens.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: Sony CorporationInventors: Yoshinori Toumiya, Yoichi Ootsuka
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Patent number: 8786741Abstract: A digital camera system having at least two independent digital cameras, which capture image signals in different narrow-band spectral ranges, wherein each of the at least two independent digital cameras comprises at least one separate two-dimensional digital image sensor, preferably a CCD sensor or a CMOS sensor, and at least one filter element corresponding to the particular narrow-band spectral range connected upstream of the at least one two-dimensional digital image sensor and having at least one filter region. The at least one color filter element additionally comprises at least one neutral region, which is translucent in a spectral range that includes at least the different narrow-band spectral ranges of the at least two independent digital cameras, in particular in a panchromatic spectral range, and which is assigned to at least one specific neutral, in particular unused, pixel region of the associated at least one two-dimensional digital image sensor.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2011Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Leica Geosystems AGInventors: Martin Timm, Martin Welzenbach
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Patent number: 8754968Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 19, 2011Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Kyoko Izuha, Kouichi Harada
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Patent number: 8723995Abstract: A digital color imager providing an extended luminance range, an improved color implementation and enabling a method for an easy transformation into another color space having luminance as a component has been achieved. Key of the invention is the addition of white pixels to red, green and blue pixels. These white pixels have either an extended dynamic rang as described by U.S. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,441,852 to Levine et al.) or have a larger size than the red, green, or blue pixels used. The output of said white pixels can be directly used for the luminance values Y of the destination color space. Therefore only the color values and have to be calculated from the RGB values, leading to an easier and faster calculation. As an example chosen by the inventor the conversion to YCbCr color space has been shown in detail.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2004Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Youliza, Gehts B.V. Limited Liability CompanyInventors: Detlef Schweng, Taner Dosluoglu, Horst Knoedgen
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Publication number: 20140125849Abstract: Fabricating optical devices can include mounting a plurality of singulated lens systems over a substrate, adjusting a thickness of the substrate below at least some of the lens systems to provide respective focal length corrections for the lens systems, and subsequently separating the substrate into a plurality of optical modules, each of which includes one of the lens systems mounted over a portion of the substrate. Adjusting a thickness of the substrate can include, for example, micro-machining the substrate to form respective holes below at least some of the lens systems or adding one or more layers below at least some of the lens systems so as to correct for variations in the focal lengths of the lens systems.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 28, 2013Publication date: May 8, 2014Applicant: Heptagon Micro Optics Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Stephan Heimgartner, Ville Kettunen, Nicola Spring, Alexander Bietsch, Mario Cesana, Hartmut Rudmann, Jukka Alasirnio, Robert Lenart
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Patent number: 8648948Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 30, 2009Date of Patent: February 11, 2014Assignee: Infrared Newco, Inc.Inventors: Conor S. Rafferty, Clifford A. King, Michael Philip Decelle, Jason Y. Sproul, Bryan D. Ackland
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Patent number: 8638378Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 14, 2009Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Toshinobu Sugiyama
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Patent number: 8610808Abstract: A color imaging device comprises: one or more arrays (10, RA, GA, BA) of color selective photodetectors (R, G, B) configured to acquire a color image of a subject; a set of avalanche photodiode photodetectors (APD) arranged to acquire a luminance image of the subject; and digital image processing circuitry (30) configured to process the acquired color image and the acquired luminance image to generate an output image of the subject. In some embodiments the avalanche photodiode photodetectors are configured to perform photon counting. In some embodiments, the one or more arrays comprise an imaging array (10) including the color-selective photodetectors (R, G, B) distributed across the imaging array with the set of avalanche photodiode photodetectors (APD) interspersed amongst the color-selective photodetectors.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2009Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.Inventors: Gordian Prescher, Carsten Degenhardt, Rob Ballizany, Anja Schmitz, Thomas Frach
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Patent number: 8598508Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 14, 2012Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Junichi Kanai, Nobuo Nakamura
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Patent number: 8576313Abstract: Color filter arrays or mosaics are provided for imaging a scene with diffraction limited optics. A distribution of color types in a color filter array is biased toward smaller wavelengths to avoid or reduce loss of spatial resolution information at higher wavelengths due to a larger extent of diffraction at the higher wavelengths. Demosaicing methods for reconstructing a partial or full color image from raw image data involve applying correction factors to account for diffraction. The correction factors are based on pixel size and/or a measure of the extent of diffraction (e.g., an Airy disk diameter) for each wavelength in the color filter array.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2012Date of Patent: November 5, 2013Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLCInventor: Nathan P. Myhrvold
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Patent number: 8520126Abstract: The solid-state image sensor 10 includes an array of photosensitive cells and an array 100 of dispersing elements. The photosensitive cell array is comprised of unit blocks 40, each including four photosensitive cells 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2011Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Masao Hiramoto, Yusuke Monobe, Yoshiaki Sugitani, Masaaki Suzuki
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Patent number: 8520077Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 18, 2010Date of Patent: August 27, 2013Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Kunihiko Nagamine, Satoshi Tomioka
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Patent number: 8514322Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for obtaining adaptive exposure control and dynamic range extension of image sensors. In some embodiments, an image sensor of an image system can include a pixel array with one or more clear pixels. The image system can separately control the amount of time that pixels in different lines of the pixel array are exposed to light. As a result, the image system can adjust the exposure times to prevent over-saturation of the clear pixels, while also allowing color pixels of the pixel array to be exposed to light for a longer period of time. In some embodiments, the dynamic range of the image system can be extended through a reconstruction and interpolation process. For example, a signal reconstruction module can extend the dynamic range of one or more green pixels by combining signals associated with green pixels in different lines of the pixel array.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2010Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Aptina Imaging CorporationInventors: Yingjun Bai, Xiangli Li