Focus Control Patents (Class 348/345)
  • Patent number: 11863893
    Abstract: An image sensor including: a pixel array including first and second pixel groups, each of the first and second pixel groups includes of pixels arranged in rows and columns; and a row driver configured to provide transmission control signals to the pixel array, the first pixel group includes a first auto-focus (AF) pixel including photodiodes arranged in a first direction, the pixels of the first pixel group output a pixel signal through a first column line, and the second pixel group includes a second AF pixel including photodiodes arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the pixels of the second pixel group output a pixel signal through a second column line, and the first AF pixel of the first pixel group and the second AF pixel of the second pixel group receive same transmission control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jungwook Lim, Jihun Kim
  • Patent number: 11825185
    Abstract: In a learning device (10), an optical conversion unit (11) receives light from a learning target and uses the received light to output light according to a configuration value of a parameter. A sensing unit (13) senses the light output from the optical conversion unit (11). An estimation unit (15A) forms an estimation result for an answer to a configuration problem based on the light sensed by the sensing unit (13). An update unit (15B) calculates an update value of the parameter of the optical conversion unit (11) based on the estimation result by the estimation unit (15A), and updates the configuration value of the parameter of the optical conversion unit (11) with the calculated update value. The optical conversion unit (11) includes a plurality of optical devices in which the configuration value of the parameter is set independently of each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Toizumi, Ryuichi Akashi, Yuka Ogino
  • Patent number: 11808925
    Abstract: Compact folded camera modules having auto-focus (AF) and optical image stabilization (OIS) capabilities and multi-aperture cameras including such modules. In an embodiment, a folded camera module includes an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding light from a first optical path with a first optical axis to a second optical path with a second optical axis perpendicular to the first optical axis, an image sensor and a lens module carrying a lens with a symmetry axis parallel to the second optical axis. The lens module can be actuated to move in first and second orthogonal directions in a plane perpendicular to the first optical axis, the movement in the first direction being for auto-focus and the movement in the second direction being for OIS. The OPFE can be actuated to tilt for OIS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Ephraim Goldenberg, Gal Shabtay, Gal Avivi, Michael Dror, Gil Bachar, Itay Jerby, Itay Yedid
  • Patent number: 11805312
    Abstract: An apparatus including means for: identifying audio-focus attenuation of a sound source; determining a correspondence between the sound source that is subject to audio focus attenuation and a corresponding visual object; and modifying capturing of an image to at least partially exclude and/or modify the visual object corresponding to the sound source subject to audio focus attenuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Jussi Artturi Leppanen, Lasse Juhani Laaksonen, Miikka Tapani Vilermo, Arto Juhani Lehtiniemi
  • Patent number: 11782325
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus including a processor. The processor is configured to: reconstruct, by employing an image set acquired by means of an endoscope, three-dimensional information of an imaging subject; estimate, by means of an estimator, imaging-subject distances from the image set by employing a learning parameter; calculate, on the basis of the estimated imaging-subject distances and the imaging-subject distances in the three-dimensional information, a scale coefficient; convert relative dimensions of the three-dimensional information to absolute dimensions by employing the scale coefficient; and output the three-dimensional information containing the absolute dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS MEDICAL SYSTEMS CORP.
    Inventors: Takashi Miyoshi, Takuya Matsunaga, Kazuhito Horiuchi, Munenori Fukunishi
  • Patent number: 11763538
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an area setter configured to set a target area in a first image among a plurality of captured images acquired by imaging at different time from each other, an area detector configured to detect a corresponding area relevant to the target area in a plurality of second images among the plurality of captured images, a focus state acquirer configured to acquire focus states of the target area and the corresponding area, and a classification processor configured to perform classification processing that classifies the plurality of captured images into a plurality of groups according to the focus states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideyuki Hamano
  • Patent number: 11754833
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes one or more processors, and a memory storing instructions which, when the instructions are executed by the one or more processors, cause the image processing apparatus to function as an acquisition unit configured to acquire image signals from an image capturing element in which a plurality of pixels that receive rays of light having passed through different pupil areas of an image forming optical system is arrayed, a combining unit configured to, based on the image signals acquired by the acquisition unit, combine virtual objects with the respective image signals corresponding to the different pupil areas to generate a pair of mixed reality images, and a focus adjustment unit configured to adjust a lens position of the image forming optical system based on an image defocus amount between the pair of mixed reality images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Shoda
  • Patent number: 11750939
    Abstract: In order to provide a tilt control device capable of performing tilt control optimal at a high speed by controlling both a focus position and a tilt angle even when a scene changes such as in a case in which a subject changes, there is provided an imaging apparatus including a tilt control unit that performs tilt control by driving at least one of an imaging device and an imaging optical system, a focus lens driving unit that drives a focus lens, and a control unit that has a plurality of control modes for performing focus correction using at least one of the tilt control unit and the focus lens driving unit and selects one of the plurality of control modes in accordance with the number of subject areas displayed on an image screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunsuke Chino, Ryo Kawasaki, Natsuko Sato, Naoki Maruyama
  • Patent number: 11710257
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first evaluator configured to evaluate under a first evaluation condition a focus state of each of a plurality of image data acquired by consecutive capturing, a second evaluator configured to evaluate the focus state of each of the plurality of image data under a second evaluation condition different from the first evaluation condition, and a recorder configured to record first evaluation information indicating an evaluation result under the first evaluation condition and second evaluation information indicating an evaluation result under the second evaluation condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiro Kawarada
  • Patent number: 11703740
    Abstract: When filming a scene, the focal distance of the video camera is often controlled remotely, and can be switched between manual and autofocus modes. To overcome sudden movements in the lens upon reverting to manual mode, and to avoid disrupting a user's grip on the manual control during autofocus, the traditional distance ring indicator is split into separate controller and indicator components. The controller permits manual input, while the indicator tracks the desired distance. In manual mode, the controller and indicator move in unison. In autofocus mode, the indicator tracks a rangefinder input but the controller is not moved. In a hybrid mode, the controller offsets the rangefinder input. In all cases, the position of the lens moves with the indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Inventors: Jonathan Duncan Ritchie, Laird Alexander Pierce
  • Patent number: 11682131
    Abstract: A distance information generation apparatus includes a generation unit configured to generate distance information using first and second image signals captured from different viewpoints, a detection unit configured to detect a known-shape subject using the image signals, an extraction unit configured to extract, from the distance information generated by the generation unit, distance information corresponding to the subject, a calculation unit configured to calculate, based on the distance information and the shape of the subject detected by the detection unit, a correction parameter for correcting the distance information extracted by extraction unit, and a correction unit configured to correct, using the correction parameter calculated by the calculation unit, the distance information generated by the generation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shin Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11678072
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a tilt driving unit configured to perform tilt driving, a focus driving unit, a control unit configured to control the focus driving unit and the tilt driving unit for focusing on at least a first area and a second area in a plurality of areas in an image, and a first determination unit configured to determine a control method of the control unit based on whether or not a difference between a position of at least one of the first area and the second area and a position corresponding to a tilt axis in the image is smaller than a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Natsuko Sato, Ryo Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 11671706
    Abstract: An optical device is provided that comprises a multi-order diffractive Fresnel lens (MOD-DFL) and an achromatizing compensation mechanism that reduces refractive dispersion created by the MOD-DFL, thereby reducing the focal range of the MOD-DFL. A method is also provided of using the optical device in an image processing system to obtain images of an object and processing the images to perform image enhancement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
    Inventors: Thomas D. Milster, Lee C. Johnson, Daniel Apai
  • Patent number: 11650661
    Abstract: An electronic device includes: a gaze detecting unit configured to detect a position of gaze input on an image displayed on a display unit; a subject detecting unit configured to detect from the image a subject of a specific type and a region included in the subject of the specific type; and a control unit configured to execute control so that, in a case where a position selected prior to a user operation on an operating member is not on the subject in the position of gaze input, a region corresponding to the user operation, which is included in the subject in the position of gaze input, is selected in response to the user operation, regardless of the position selected prior to the user operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Funatsu
  • Patent number: 11647225
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a prediction-based technique for encoding light field data by removing redundant information of light field data, reducing a number of bits by employing a prediction of a pixel value in all four dimensions of the light field. Using this technique to represent light field data, allows it to be transferred through a limited-bandwidth medium and/or to significantly reduce the required storage capacity for this purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELETRÔNICA DA AMAZÔNIA LTDA., UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO DE JANEIRO
    Inventors: Eduardo Antânio Barros Da Silva, Murilo Bresciani De Carvalho, Carla Liberal Pagliari, Marcio Pinto Pereira, Gustavo De Oliveira E Alves, Fernando Manuel Bernardo Pereira, Carla Florentino Schueler, Vanessa Testoni, Ismael Seidel, Pedro Garcia Freitas
  • Patent number: 11632511
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a first opening to an electric charge, a second photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a second opening which is smaller than the first opening to an electric charge, and a signal output wiring that outputs a first signal generated by the electric charge converted by the first photoelectric conversion unit and a second signal generated by the electric charge converted by the second photoelectric conversion unit. The second photoelectric conversion unit is disposed between the second opening and the signal output wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata
  • Patent number: 11568521
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a reference coordinate selection unit configured to select reference coordinates of two points from a focus frame area set by a setting unit, and determines arrangement intervals of focus frames based on coordinates on image data before correction corresponding to the coordinates selected by the reference coordinate selection unit and a number of focus frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirokazu Ishii
  • Patent number: 11536931
    Abstract: One embodiment of a camera module can comprise: a housing having a first electrode pattern and a first recessed part, which are formed on the upper surface thereof; an auto-focusing unit mounted in the first recessed part and electrically connected to the first electrode pattern; a lens barrel accommodated inside the housing; a first holder which is disposed at the lower part of the housing and to which the lens barrel is coupled; and a printed circuit board disposed at the lower part of the first holder and electrically connected to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Youn Baek Jeong
  • Patent number: 11528404
    Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one processor programmed to perform operations of the following units: a focus detection unit configured to detect a defocus amount; and a control unit configured to control a focus lens to move based on the defocus amount, wherein the control unit includes three speed control patterns of acceleration control, constant speed control, and deceleration control, and the speed control patterns are changed based on at least two or more parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hideyasu Hongu, Makoto Yokozeki, Kazunori Ishii, Atsushi Kato
  • Patent number: 11522473
    Abstract: A vibration wave motor includes an element configured to be displaced by application of voltage, and an annular elastic body having a bottom surface coming into contact with the element and a drive surface having a groove, configured to drive a moving element by a vibration wave produced on the drive surface by displacement of the element. The element has a density of 4.2 to 6.0×103 kg/m3. A value of [(T/B)÷W] is in a range of 0.84 to 1.94, where T represents a depth of the groove, B represents a distance from a bottom part of the groove to the bottom surface, and W represents a radial width of the elastic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takatoshi Ashizawa
  • Patent number: 11513315
    Abstract: A focus driving control unit 34 of a control unit 30 performs speed priority driving control in which a focus lens is driven to a focusing position in a driving pattern selected in advance by a user, for example, in a case in which a defocus amount of a ranging area is greater than a driving control determination threshold set in advance. In addition, the focus driving control unit 34 performs subject priority driving control in which a focus lens movement amount by which the focus lens is located at the focusing position in accordance with the defocus amount of the ranging area is set and the focus lens is driven in a case in which the defocus amount is equal to or less than the driving control determination threshold. The focus lens is driven to the focusing position in the driving pattern selected by the user. Thereafter, a focusing state can be maintained. Accordingly, it is possible to easily perform an auto-focus operation with the high degree of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Seiichi Inomata, Takahiro Kosugi
  • Patent number: 11513316
    Abstract: A fixed focal length imaging optical system includes a first lens group having positive power, a second lens group having positive power, and a third lens group having negative power in order from an object side toward an image side. Upon focusing, the second lens group moves along an optical axis, and the first lens group and the third lens group do not move. The present disclosure provides the fixed focal length imaging optical system capable of favorably correcting various aberrations such as spherical aberration, astigmatism, and distortion, and an imaging device and a camera system each of which includes the fixed focal length imaging optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Kai, Yasunori Touchi
  • Patent number: 11467385
    Abstract: In an optical system according to each exemplary embodiment, an interval between adjacent lens units changes in focusing from an infinite-distance object to a close-distance object, and a first in-focus state in which ?=?1.2 is obtained can be caused, where ? is a lateral magnification of an entire system. The optical system according to each exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of focus lens units, and out of a focus lens unit having a largest absolute value of a focus sensitivity and a focus lens unit having a second largest absolute value of a focus sensitivity in a state in which focus is put on an infinite-distance object, a focus lens unit disposed on an object side is a lens unit LA, and a focus lens unit disposed on an image side is a lens unit LB. A partial optical system LC including all lenses disposed on the image side of the lens unit LB has negative refractive power. The partial optical system LC satisfies a predetermined conditional expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11467367
    Abstract: An imaging device stores a focal length and a position of a focus lens in a storage unit in a case in which a focal state is determined to be a focus state in which a subject is in focus and at least one of the imaging device or the subject is determined to be stationary; generates tracking data for changing the position of the focus lens according to a change in focal length, using a plurality of stored focal lengths and a plurality of stored positions of the focus lens; and performs a zoom tracking control using the generated tracking data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichiro Fujiki, Akihiro Uchida, Koichi Tanaka, Kenkichi Hayashi, Seiichi Izawa
  • Patent number: 11463613
    Abstract: A detection device, comprising an image sensor provided with a plurality of pixels having a plurality of light receiving sections corresponding to a micro lens, capable of adding output signals of the plurality of light receiving sections in accordance with phase difference detection direction and outputting an added signal, and a processor for performing focus detection or depth detection using phase difference detection, based on the added signal of the image sensor, whereby the image sensor makes height of a potential barrier between the light receiving sections different in accordance with the plurality of phase difference detection directions, and the processor sets charge storage determination level differently in accordance with the phase difference detection direction, and controls charge storage operation of the image sensor based on the added signal and the charge storage determination level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuo Kikuchi, Ryo Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 11463568
    Abstract: Disclosed are a camera module and an electronic device. The camera module comprises at least two cameras. Two cameras of the at least two cameras are disposed in parallel; incident optical axes of the two cameras are parallel to each other; each camera includes a reflecting element, an optical lens assembly and a photosensitive element; and reflecting optical axes of the two cameras are consistent or parallel to each other. The incident light is reflected by the reflecting element and passes through the optical lens assembly and is then imaged on the photosensitive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Biao Chen
  • Patent number: 11454789
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group, a positive fourth lens group, and a fifth lens group in order from an object side. In a case of zooming, an interval with an adjacent lens group is changed. The third lens group includes two positive lenses consecutively arranged in order from a side closest to the object side to an image side. The fifth lens group consists of a negative meniscus lens having a concave surface toward the object side and a positive lens having a convex surface toward the object side in order from the object side to the image side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Taiga Noda, Michio Cho
  • Patent number: 11448853
    Abstract: SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated
    Inventors: Mark A. Miller, Nathaniel K. Behning, Dean E. Myers, Michael W. Davis, Ryan N. Ruzicka
  • Patent number: 11451691
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a driving mechanism, a camera module and an electronic device. The driving mechanism includes: a driving component, a movable assembly, and a fixed assembly, wherein the driving component includes an elastic conductor element, a closed circuit, and a magnetic element; wherein the closed circuit is located in a magnetic field generated by the magnetic element, and is configured to communicate with the elastic conductor element to generate an electromagnetic force for overcoming an elastic force of the elastic conductor element; and wherein the elastic conductor element is fixedly connected with the fixed assembly, and is abutted against the movable assembly; and the elastic conductor element is configured to drive the movable assembly to move relative to the fixed assembly during a focusing function in response to determining that the electromagnetic force is greater than the elastic force of the elastic conductor element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hui Wang, Zhidong Yin, Yan Zheng, Zongbao Yang
  • Patent number: 11445103
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an apparatus for performing control to, move, in a case where a detected defocus amount is within a range of a second in-focus management width, a focusing lens and then terminate a focusing adjustment operation without performing focus detection processing again, and move, in a case where the defocus amount is out of the range of the second in-focus management width, the focusing lens to perform the focus detection processing again. In a case where a subject to be subjected to the focus detection processing is a saturated subject, at least one of the range of the second in-focus management width and the focus detection operation is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Noa Sumida
  • Patent number: 11438498
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprising a first detection unit configured to detect a first area in an image of an image signal output from an image pickup element, a second detection unit configured to detect one or more second areas each corresponding to an eye included in the first area in the image, a specification unit configured to receive an area specification instruction by a user operation and to specify one area in the image, and a setting unit configured to set an object corresponding to the area specified by the specification unit to be focused on, wherein, in a case where the first area is detected by the first detection unit, the specification unit receives specification of the eye in an area based on the first area regardless of a detection result of the second areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takumi Ishii
  • Patent number: 11428949
    Abstract: An optical element driving mechanism is provided, including: a fixed portion; a movable portion movably connected to the fixed portion and includes a frame and a holder, wherein an optical element having an optical axis is connected to the movable portion; a first driving assembly disposed in the fixed portion to move the movable portion relative to the fixed portion; and a resilient element, including: an outer resilient element, including: a first segment having a strip-shaped structure; a second segment having a strip-shaped structure; and a first bending segment, wherein the first segment connects to the second segment through the first bending segment, and the frame is movably connected to the fixed portion through the outer resilient element; and an inner resilient element, wherein the holder is movably connected to the frame through the inner resilient element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chao-Chang Hu, Cheng-Kai Yu
  • Patent number: 11418714
    Abstract: An information processing system configured to perform predetermined processing based on out-of-focus information corresponding to a first area of an image, the out-of-focus information corresponding to a difference in focus between the first area of the image and a second area of the image that is different from the first area of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiki Ono, Ryuji Shibata
  • Patent number: 11394874
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprises: an imager that captures an image of a subject to generate image data; a first detector that detects a face region corresponding to a face of the subject in the image data; a second detector that detects a subject region corresponding to at least a part of the subject in the image data; and a controller that controls exposure based on metering for the image data, wherein the controller performs, when the face region is detected by the first detector, exposure compensation according to metering in the detected face region, and continues the exposure compensation according to the metering in the detected face region, when the detected face region is lost by the first detector and the subject region corresponding to the subject of the detected face region is detected by the second detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Hashigami, Koji Shibuno, Takaaki Yamasaki, Kyosuke Osuka
  • Patent number: 11378789
    Abstract: A variable magnification optical system comprising, in order from an object side, a first lens group having positive refractive power, a second lens group having negative refractive power, a third lens group having positive refractive power, and a rear lens group; upon varying magnification, the first lens group being fixed with respect to the image plane and each distance between the neighboring lens groups being varied; the rear lens group comprising a focusing lens group which is moved upon carrying out focusing; and the predetermined conditional expressions being satisfied, whereby it is possible to suppress superbly variations in aberrations upon varying the magnification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoki Ito
  • Patent number: 11381746
    Abstract: An image stabilization apparatus comprises a setting unit that sets a correction axis to be used in image stabilization among correction axes of a first image stabilization unit based on a shooting state of an image capturing apparatus; and a calculation unit that obtains a driving amount of the first image stabilization unit for correcting a shake with respect to the set correction axis based on an amount of shake of the image capturing apparatus. The setting unit sets the correction axis so that a different correction axis is set in a case where the image capturing apparatus is in a moving image shooting state and in a case where the image capturing apparatus is in a still image shooting state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shunichiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11381722
    Abstract: An electromagnetic wave detection apparatus (10) includes a first propagation unit (16), second propagation unit (17), first detector (19), and second detector (20). The first propagation unit (16) propagates electromagnetic waves incident on a reference surface (ss) in a particular direction at each pixel (px). The second propagation unit (17) includes first through sixth surfaces (s1 to s6). The second surface (s2) separates electromagnetic waves propagated in a second direction (d2) and propagates the electromagnetic waves in a third direction (d3) and fourth direction (d4). The fourth surface (s4) emits electromagnetic waves propagated in the fourth direction (d4) towards the reference surface (ss) and propagates electromagnetic waves incident again from the reference surface (ss) in a fifth direction (d5). The first detector (19) detects electromagnetic waves emitted from the third surface (s3). The second detector (20) detects electromagnetic waves emitted from the sixth surface (s6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Eri Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 11375123
    Abstract: A control unit provided in a digital camera acquires an image and a focus map serving as distribution information of an evaluation value corresponding to the image, and outputs the acquired image or the acquired focus map. When an operation that providing instructions for the magnification of magnification display of the image or the focus map is performed, the control unit executes output control to coordinate the display of the image and the display of the focus map with each other, in response to the above operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 11353690
    Abstract: Provided is a zoom lens, which includes lens units, in which an interval between each pair of adjacent lens units is changed during zooming, the zoom lens including, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens unit having a negative refractive power; a first lens subunit having a positive refractive power; and a second lens subunit having a negative refractive power. During focusing from infinity to minimum object distance, the first lens subunit is moved toward the object side, and the second lens subunit is moved toward the image side. Further, a movement amount of the first lens subunit during focusing from infinity to minimum object distance at a telephoto end, a movement amount of the second lens subunit during focusing from infinity to minimum object distance at the telephoto end, and a focal length at the telephoto end are appropriately set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shohei Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 11353557
    Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a receiver that includes a photodetector array configured to detect light and generate electrical signals based on the detected light; and a spatial light modulator having an array reflective elements, including a plurality of columns. Each column includes a plurality of reflective elements configured to switchably direct the light towards the photodetector array, where the spatial light modulator is configured to receive the light from objects in a field of view corresponding to ambient light reflected therefrom. The LIDAR system includes a controller configured to sequentially activate the plurality of columns of the spatial light modulator such that the plurality of reflective elements of an activated column directs the light towards the photodetector array; and at least one processor configured to receive the electrical signals from the photodetector array and generate a two-dimensional image that represents an ambient light picture of the field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Inventor: Boris Kirillov
  • Patent number: 11347016
    Abstract: Digital cameras, optical lens modules for such digital cameras and methods for assembling lens elements in such lens modules. In various embodiments, the digital cameras comprise an optical lens module including N?3 lens elements Li, each lens element comprising a respective front surface S2i?1 and a respective rear surface S2i. In various embodiments the first lens element toward the object side, L1 and its respective front surfaces S1 have optical and/or mechanical properties, such as a clear aperture, a clear height and a mechanical height that are larger than respective properties of following lens elements and surfaces. This is done to achieve a camera with large aperture stop, given a lens and/or camera height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg, Michael Dror, Itay Yedid, Gil Bachar
  • Patent number: 11348206
    Abstract: Provided herein is a system and method that acquires data and determines a driving action based on the data. The system comprises a sensor, one or more processors, and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the system to perform, determining data of interest comprising an object, feature, or region of interest, determining whether a sharpness of the data of interest exceeds a threshold, in response to determining that the sharpness does not exceed a threshold, operating the sensor to increase the sharpness of the data of interest until the sharpness exceeds the threshold, in response to the sharpness exceeding the threshold, determining a driving action of a vehicle based on the data of interest, and performing the driving action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventors: Peter G. Diehl, Robert Dingli, Cyrus Abari, Yui-Hong Matthias Tan
  • Patent number: 11347034
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes, from the object side, a positive first lens unit not moving for zooming, a negative second lens unit moving for zooming, and a positive third lens unit moving for zooming. The second lens unit includes a negative lens closest to the object side, the third lens unit consists of a 3-1 sub-lens unit and a 3-2 sub-lens unit from the object side. Conditional expressions ?18.0<f1/f2<?3.0, 0.2<f21/f2<3.6, ?0.95<f21/r2<?0.25, 7.0<?2t/?2w<125.0, and 0.3<f31/f32<2.5, are satisfied where f1, f2, and f21 are the focal lengths of the first lens unit, the second lens unit, and the negative lens, r2 is an image-side radius of curvature of the negative lens, ?2w and ?2t are the lateral magnifications of the second lens unit at the wide angle end and the telephoto end, and f31 and f32 are the focal lengths of the 3-1 sub-lens unit and the 3-2 sub-lens unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masao Hori, Kazuya Shimomura, Naotoshi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11350081
    Abstract: An external scene image captured by an external scene imaging electronic camera attached to a head mounted display (HMD) is projected and displayed onto an image display screen arranged in front of the eyes of the user as a virtual image with a suitable viewing distance corresponding to the visual acuity of the user. At this time, for each object image presented in the virtual image of the external scene image, the virtual image is processed and formatted to add a predetermined degree of binocular disparity and image blur to the virtual image projected and displayed on the right and the left image display screen on the basis of a predetermined converted distance calculated from the real distance of each object. Thus, the user is given a sense of a realistic perspective for the virtual image of the external scene, free of the discomfort or unease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventor: Kunikazu Oonishi
  • Patent number: 11343422
    Abstract: A focusing control device includes: a sensor that has a focus detection area in which a plurality of first signal detection sections which receives one of a pair of luminous fluxes passing through different portions arranged in one direction of a pupil region of an imaging optical system including a focus lens and detects signals and a plurality of second signal detection sections which receives other one of the pair of luminous fluxes and detects signals are formed; and a processor, configured to obtain correlation values, obtain an accumulative value of the correlation values included in each of a plurality of division areas obtained by dividing a graph of the correlation values in which shift amounts are represented on a first axis in a direction of the first axis, and perform focusing control by controlling the focus lens based on the accumulative value obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Sakurabu
  • Patent number: 11330178
    Abstract: A mode selection assembly includes a gear ring coupled to a lens barrel of an imaging device having two or more gear positions, a selecting ring coupled to the lens barrel, and two or more photoelectric sensors. The gear ring is configured to be a sleeve of the lens barrel. The selecting ring is configured to adjust an imaging mode of the imaging device by turning the selecting ring. The selecting ring includes a first circular section having a plurality of recesses configured to engage with a first number of bulges of the gear ring. The two or more photoelectric sensors are attached to the first circular ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jidong Wei
  • Patent number: 11312029
    Abstract: A three-dimensional measuring apparatus includes a projection unit that projects a first pattern light and a second pattern light by a laser beam on a region containing an object, an imaging unit that images a captured image of the region, a vibration information receiving part that receives vibration information on a vibration of the projection unit or the imaging unit, and a measuring unit that measures a three-dimensional shape of the object based on the captured image, wherein the region on which the first pattern light having a first period is projected is imaged by the imaging unit when the vibration information is equal to or smaller than a first threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shuichi Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 11315268
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image processing method, an image processing apparatus, and an electronic device. The method includes projecting structured light to a current user based on a preset rule; capturing a structured-light image modulated by the current user each time; and superposing the structured-light images to acquire a target image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Anping Wu
  • Patent number: 11313968
    Abstract: In described examples, a LIDAR system includes a laser transmitter, a receiver, and first and second light directing elements. The laser transmitter is configured to scan a field of view with a laser beam. The receiver is configured to receive light from the field of view, and to focus a first portion of the received light, corresponding to a region of interest, on a first light directing element. The receiver is also configured to focus a second portion of the received light, corresponding to the field of view except for the region of interest, on multiple second light directing elements. The first light directing element is configured to direct the first portion of the received light towards a first photon detector, and the second light directing elements are configured to direct the second portion of the received light towards a second photon detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Jeffrey Scott Farris
  • Patent number: 11307400
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes: a master lens including in order from an object side: a positive first lens unit configured not to move for zooming; a negative second lens unit configured to move for zooming; at least one lens unit configured to move for zooming; and a positive relay lens unit arranged closest to the image side; and an extender lens unit configured to change a focal length range of the zoom lens by one of: being inserted in place of a lens unit arranged adjacent to the relay lens unit on the object side; and being inserted into a space adjacent to the positive relay lens unit on the object side, wherein the extender lens unit includes a positive lens Gp, and an Abbe number and a partial dispersion ratio of the positive lens Gp are suitably set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shoichi Takemoto, Tomoya Yamada