Focus Control Patents (Class 348/345)
  • Patent number: 10321058
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a detection unit which detects motion vectors between a plurality of captured images, a first setting unit which sets positions of a plurality of image regions used for motion vector detection by the detection unit, and a second setting unit which sets a target position of focus control. A result of detection by the detection unit is used for image blur correction. When the image pickup apparatus is in a first image blur correction mode, the first setting unit sets the positions of the plurality of image regions to be denser than when in a second image blur correction mode. When the image pickup apparatus is in the first image blur correction mode, the first setting unit sets the positions of the plurality of image regions according to the target position set by the second setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoshi Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 10302901
    Abstract: In a focus adjustment method for an imaging apparatus, that, in order to focus on a single or a plurality of point light sources, acquires plurality of image data while moving a focus lens in an optical axis direction and carries out focus adjustment based on the image data, brightness values of pixels within a given evaluation region are detected based on the image data, high brightness evaluation values are calculated based on the brightness values, symmetry of the high brightness evaluation values are calculated for movement of the focus lens, and focus adjustment is carried out based on an extreme value calculated based on the symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Koh Mohri
  • Patent number: 10268030
    Abstract: The zoom lens consisting of, in order from an object side: a first lens group that has a positive refractive power; a second lens group that has a negative refractive power; a third lens group that has a negative refractive power; an intermediate part; and a final lens group that has a positive refractive power. The first lens group consists of three lenses, and has a cemented lens which is formed by cementing at least one positive lens and at least one negative lens. The second lens group consists of, in order from the object side, a negative meniscus lens, a biconcave lens, and a biconvex lens. The third lens group consists of one lens. The final lens group has a lens, which is convex toward an image side, at a position closest to the image side. Each lens group moves in a predetermined direction during zooming, and only the third lens group moves in the direction of the optical axis during focusing, and predetermined conditional expressions are satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Shunsuke Miyagishima, Tetsuya Ori
  • Patent number: 10270990
    Abstract: An imaging element for acquiring signals from a plurality of pixel units to perform a plurality of types of signal processing on the signals is provided that includes a setting unit configured to set signal output conditions for first and second photoelectric conversion units provided in each of first and second pixel units; and a signal processing unit configured to perform first signal processing using signals of the first and second photoelectric conversion units set with first to third output conditions by the setting unit and second signal processing for processing the signals of the first and second photoelectric conversion units set with any one of the first to third output conditions by the setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Norio Negishi
  • Patent number: 10271038
    Abstract: An image capture device includes a lens that receives light. Further, the image capture device includes an optical beam splitter that receives the light from the lens. In addition, the image capture device includes an image sensor that receives a first portion of the light from the optical beam splitter. The image capture device also includes a plenoptic lens that receives a second portion of the light from the optical beam splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Disney Enterprise, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Lukk
  • Patent number: 10251537
    Abstract: A large incident angle of an off-axis principal ray is ensured while a stroke of a moving lens group is kept long, and a size is reduced while a focusing operation in magnification is easy. A magnifying endoscope optical system provided with a negative single lens cemented to an image pickup device and a moving lens group, capable of switching at least between a normal observation state and a proximity magnifying state can be made by moving the moving lens groups; and the following conditional expression (1) is satisfied: ?65<fr/fw<?2??(1) where reference character fr denotes a focal distance of the negative lens cemented to the image pickup device, and reference character fw denotes a focal distance of the entire system in the normal observation state (wide angle end).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinya Sato
  • Patent number: 10250808
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided that includes a camera body on which a lens device is detachably mounted; a shake detection unit configured to be inside the camera body; and a control unit configured to determine an exposure time at a time of panning, wherein the control unit determines the exposure time at the time of panning based on a shake detection signal outputted by the shake detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoshi Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 10244160
    Abstract: In a focus adjustment device that images a subject that has been subjected to pupil division to generate image data, and carries out a focus adjustment operation based on the image data, a focus adjustment operation is carried out based on a first phase difference amount in the event that it has been determined that the first phase difference amount is larger than a first threshold value, and then by executing focus detection after the focus adjustment operation, in the event that it has been determined that reliability of both the first phase difference amount and the second phase difference amount is high, and that a difference between the two is smaller than a second threshold value, and that it has been determined that the first phase difference amount is smaller than the first threshold value, a focus adjustment operation is carried out based on a second phase difference amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yukie Yamazaki, Kazumasa Kunugi, Tetsuo Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 10244156
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging section having a focusing function, the imaging section being configured to generate a shooting image based on a subject and to output the generated shooting image; a calculation section configured to calculate a variation amount of focus level of the shooting image generated by the imaging section; and a display control section configured to allow a shooting image screen based on the shooting image and to allow information in accordance with the variation amount of the focus level calculated by the calculation section to be displayed on a display section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshimitsu Takagi
  • Patent number: 10235773
    Abstract: An image capture device and a calibration method of phase detection autofocus thereof are provided. A contrast-based autofocus procedure is executed to move a lens to multiple lens positions, and a statistical distribution of focus values is obtained based on the contrast-based autofocus procedure. Whether the phase linear relationship for a phase detection autofocus procedure is calibrated is determined according to the statistical distribution of the focus values. If yes, then a first phase difference detected when the lens is located at one of the lens positions is obtained, and a second phase difference detected when the lens is located at another one of the lens positions is obtained. The phase linear relationship of the phase detection autofocus procedure is calibrated according to the one of the lens positions, the first phase difference, the other one of the lens positions, and the second phase difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Altek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Yun-Chin Li, Chia-Chun Tseng, Wen-Yan Chang
  • Patent number: 10231611
    Abstract: The invention discloses an oral endoscope detection system and a detection method thereof. The oral endoscope detection system comprises an insertion portion, a camera unit arranged in the insertion portion, a displacement information acquisition module, an operation mode setting module, a signal transmission module, an operation unit connected with the insertion portion, an image control processing module and a display device. An image displayed on the display device is a positive visual image of a subject part by using the invention, so that the operator can better operate a subject oral cavity to avoid the situation that the operator cannot make correct judgment because detection images taken by oral endoscopes in the prior art are upside down or skew.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Inventor: Xiang Li
  • Patent number: 10237468
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for enabling precise focusing are provided. The method includes obtaining an operation time of the photographing device in real time by a processor, searching a relationship table of preset times and focus range based on the obtained operation time to obtain a focus range corresponding to the obtained operation time; sending the obtained focus range to a driver by the processor, adjusting the distance between a lens and an image sensor based on the focus range by the driver, so that the lens may be located in the focus range, and to adjust the focus range in real time and improve the accuracy of focusing between the lens and the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: JRD COMMUNICATION (SHENZHEN) LTD
    Inventors: Jia Wang, Ling Ma
  • Patent number: 10237471
    Abstract: An auto-focusing method capable of varying focal length of a lens of an camera device according to time variation is applied to the camera device with the lens. The auto-focusing method includes dividing a capturing period of the camera device into a plurality of time intervals, generating a plurality of sampling values within each time interval by several focusing process, utilizing the plurality of sampling values to calculate an estimation value relative to the each time interval, and driving the camera device to adjust the focal length of the lens of an camera device in accordance with capturing time of the camera device and the estimation values of the plurality of time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: VIVOTEK INC.
    Inventors: Chung-Cheng Cheng, Kuo-Yeh Hsieh
  • Patent number: 10237535
    Abstract: A method for generating a depth map of at least one selected region (210) of a capturing region (200) of a camera (100), wherein the camera (100) is aimed at a plurality of mutually different partial regions (220, 221, 222) of the at least one selected region (210), wherein for each of the partial regions (220, 221, 222) a depth information item is ascertained from the respective partial region (220, 221, 222) by varying a focus setting of the camera (100), and wherein the depth map (400) is generated taking into account the depth information of the partial regions (220, 221, 222), and to such a camera (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Karl Warzelhan, Merlin Goettlinger
  • Patent number: 10237466
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an image processing device and method, and a program for enabling easier recognition of the degree of focus of an image after photographing. A focus area determining unit calculates focus scores based on a photographed image, the focus scores indicating the degrees of focus of the respective areas in the photographed image. A warning control unit determines the degree of focus of a predetermined area in the photographed image in accordance with the focus scores for the respective areas, and issues a warning instruction in accordance with a result of the determination. The warning is issued by displaying the warning, outputting a warning sound, vibrating, or emitting light, for example. As the degree of focus is determined in accordance with the focus scores, neither blurring nor defocusing is caused, and the user can be prompted to check the degree of focus. The present technology can be applied to digital still cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaya Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 10228537
    Abstract: An optical image capturing system includes, along the optical axis in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, and a fifth lens. At least one lens among the first to the fifth lenses has positive refractive power. The fifth lens can have negative refractive power, wherein both surfaces thereof are aspheric, and at least one surface thereof has an inflection point. The lenses in the optical image capturing system which have refractive power include the first to the fifth lenses. The optical image capturing system can increase aperture value and improve the imaging quality for use in compact cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: ABILITY OPTO-ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Chien-Hsun Lai, Yao-Wei Liu, Yeong-Ming Chang
  • Patent number: 10228768
    Abstract: In an example, a system for detecting an object in an area over a screen of a mobile device may comprise a light source and a photodetector tilted toward the screen. Since a field of view of the photodetector and a radiation field of the light source may be directed toward the screen, the system may detect that a user performed a non-contacting gesture in the area over the screen. In another example, a system for detecting multiple modes of finger gestures may detect at least one of a signature gesture, a thumb joystick mode, or a thumb mouse mode. The system can execute a calendar application upon detecting that a user gestured in the shape of a letter “C”. When detecting a thumb gesture, the system may utilize a sensor having a reduced range relative to the range needed for hand gestures and, thereby, reduce power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2019
    Assignee: ANALOG DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Young Han Kim
  • Patent number: 10223793
    Abstract: A method for distance measurement is proposed in which two or more laser light emitters emitting converging collimated laser beams, an image sensor, and an image processor are positioned on a baseplate. The output of the laser light emitters from light points on surfaces substantially opposite the baseplate. The image sensor captures images of the projected light points. The area of the polygon or the length of the line resulting from connecting the light points is extracted by the image processor and compared to values in a preconfigured table relating polygon areas or line lengths to distances from the baseplate to surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Al Incorporated
    Inventors: Ali Ebrahimi Afrouzi, Soroush Mehrnia
  • Patent number: 10225479
    Abstract: A dual-aperture zoom digital camera operable in both still and video modes. The camera includes Wide and Tele imaging sections with respective lens/sensor combinations and image signal processors and a camera controller operatively coupled to the Wide and Tele imaging sections. The Wide and Tele imaging sections provide respective image data. The controller is configured to combine in still mode at least some of the Wide and Tele image data to provide a fused output image from a particular point of view, and to provide without fusion continuous zoom video mode output images, each output image having a given output resolution, wherein the video mode output images are provided with a smooth transition when switching between a lower zoom factor (ZF) value and a higher ZF value or vice versa, and wherein at the lower ZF the output resolution is determined by the Wide sensor while at the higher ZF value the output resolution is determined by the Tele sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg, Oded Gigushinski, Noy Cohen
  • Patent number: 10225537
    Abstract: The image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention corrects a color blur of a refocus image due to light field data. The image processing apparatus includes a generation unit configured to generate a refocus image for each channel at a virtual refocus position based on light field data including a plurality of channels whose wavelengths are different and optical characteristics for each channel of an optical system used to obtain the light field data. Further, the image processing apparatus includes a derivation unit configured to derive spatial frequency characteristics for each channel from the optical characteristics for each channel and the virtual refocus position and a correction unit configured to correct the refocus image for each channel so as to make sharpness uniform based on the spatial frequency characteristics for each channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tatsuro Koizumi
  • Patent number: 10225450
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus (1) includes a first image capturer (100) including a first image capturing optical system (101) and a first image sensor (102), and a second image capturer (110) including a second image capturing optical system (111a) and a third image capturing optical system (111b) with different viewpoints from each other and a second image sensor (112), an angle of field of each of the second image capturing optical system and the third image capturing optical system is larger than an angle of field of the first image capturing optical system, each of the second image capturing optical system and the third image capturing optical system includes at least two reflection members (P1a, P2a; P1b, P2b) that introduces light from an object to the second image sensor, and a predetermined conditional expression is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ko Ichihara, Chiaki Inoue
  • Patent number: 10215960
    Abstract: An optical image capturing system includes, along the optical axis in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, a fourth lens, and a fifth lens. At least one lens among the first to the fifth lenses has positive refractive force. The fifth lens can have negative refractive force, wherein both surfaces thereof are aspheric, and at least one surface thereof has an inflection point. The lenses in the optical image capturing system which have refractive power include the first to the fifth lenses. The optical image capturing system can increase aperture value and improve the imaging quality for use in compact cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: ABILITY OPTO-ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Chien-Hsun Lai, Nai-Yuan Tang, Yeong-Ming Chang
  • Patent number: 10212331
    Abstract: An imaging device, and a method for automatic focus in said imaging device is disclosed. The imaging device comprises a first imaging system with a first lens system, a second imaging system with a second lens system, and an autofocus controller. The imaging device and the method are respectively able to perform a step by step autofocus search with the first lens system and the second lens system on the basis of a search parameter. Thereby, the autofocus controller obtains a result of an objective function for each of the first lens system and the second lens system after each autofocus search step, and updates the search parameter depending on the obtained results of the objective function for each of the first lens system and the second lens system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Onay Urfalioglu, Giovanni Cordara
  • Patent number: 10212323
    Abstract: A camera module includes a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) installed with an image sensor, a base mounted on the PCB, and a bobbin reciprocatingly mounted above the base. A bottom elastic member is fixed to the base to support the bobbin, and a terminal is installed at the base, one end of which is conductively connected to the PCB and the other end of which is conductively connected to the bottom elastic member at a solder part. A solder cut-off part is formed at the base to cut off movement of overflowing solder from the solder part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Ok Park, Seong Min Lee, Jun Taek Lee, Byung Wook Son
  • Patent number: 10212353
    Abstract: An image pickup element performs photoelectric conversion on an optical image formed by an interchangeable lens. A ranging unit measures a distance to each object from signals for detecting a phase difference from the image pickup element. A body microcomputer calculates a de-focusing amount of each object, generates a focus guide for each object with a size or a (detailed or simple) content according to the de-focusing amount, and displays the focus guide on a display unit in a superimposed manner on an image captured by the image pickup element. A user adjusts the focus of the interchangeable lens using a focus ring by referring to the screen of the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidetaka Uemura
  • Patent number: 10205858
    Abstract: A method of assembling a vehicular camera includes providing a front housing and a rear housing and accommodating a lens assembly at the front housing. The rear housing includes first structure and second structure at an interior portion thereof. The rear housing includes electrically connecting elements established at and between the first structure and the second structure via molded interconnect device (MID) technology. A first printed circuit board has first circuitry that electrically connects to electrical contacts at the first structure. A second printed circuit board has second circuitry that includes an imager and that is in electrical connection with the electrical contacts at the second structure. An electrical connector at the rear housing electrically connects to circuitry of at least one of the first and second printed circuit boards. The front housing is mated with the rear housing to house the first and second printed circuit boards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Michael Biemer
  • Patent number: 10203476
    Abstract: Examples of the disclosure enable a mobile device to generate high quality images. In some examples, the mobile device includes a lens assembly that includes a first lens configured to provide positive optical power, and a telephoto stage including a second lens configured to provide negative optical power, and a third lens configured to perform one or more of increasing a sharpness and decreasing a distortion of an image associated with light transmitted through the lens assembly. The lens assembly has a track length that is less than or equal to approximately 6.0 mm and a focal length that is greater than or equal to approximately 7.3 mm. Aspects enable a lens assembly to be used in a mobile device environment, such that a mobile device including and/or associated with the lens assembly is configured to take high quality images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventor: Chengwu Cui
  • Patent number: 10203479
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to an image pickup lens including a first lens having both convex surfaces, a second lens in the form of a positive meniscus lens and a third lens in the form of a negative meniscus lens, the first lens to the third lens being arranged in sequence from an object side to an image side. The first lens to the third lens are formed of the same material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin Young Kim, Duk Keun Kwon
  • Patent number: 10200595
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus, comprises an image sensor; a focus detection unit; a continuous shooting unit; an estimation unit that estimates an in-focus position of an object based on a result of the focus detection and information relating to an accumulation timing; and a focus adjustment unit that performs focus adjustment, wherein, the image sensor performs accumulation of the focus detection signal in a time period in which a storage unit cannot store the image signal for recording, the focus detection unit performs the focus detection, and the estimation unit estimates the in-focus position at the time of acquiring the image signal that is acquired after the end of the time period, based on the focus detection result and the information relating to the accumulation timing of the focus detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Kimoto
  • Patent number: 10196005
    Abstract: A camera and production technique for an ADAS. The camera lens and image sensor are positioned along multiple axes using a target located at a first distance from the lens to establish a first relative position between the lens and the image sensor. The first relative position between the lens and the image sensor is modified by a predetermined amount for an object located a second distance from the lens. The second distance is larger than the first distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Mobileye Vision Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ori Eytan, Avi Eyal, Gideon Stein
  • Patent number: 10200588
    Abstract: The imaging apparatus of the present technique is provided with an imaging unit configured to generate an image signal from a subject; and an evaluation value calculator configured to calculate an evaluation value that indicates a degree of focusing on the subject from the image signal obtained by the imaging unit for each block, and to output the evaluation value. The imaging apparatus is further provided with a combining unit configured to generate a focus assist video image based on the focus evaluation value, output from the evaluation value calculator, of each block, to combine the generated assist video image with the image signal, and to output the assist video image combined with the image signal; and a display unit configured to display an image in which the assist video image combined by the combining unit is combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuki Kishida
  • Patent number: 10200589
    Abstract: An autofocus apparatus includes a control unit configured to set an offset amount based on information relating to a shape of a first high-frequency component of an image signal obtained by photoelectrically converting an object image formed by an image pickup optical system that includes a focus lens while driving the focus lens, and to move the focus lens to a position that shifts from a first position of the focus position by a sum of the offset amount and a predetermined amount that is determined by characteristic information of the image pickup optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10197763
    Abstract: There are provided an actuator driving apparatus, a camera module, and an electronic apparatus to selectively use a position and current control method and a current control method. The actuator driving apparatus includes a position controller and a current driver. The position controller is configured to receive a control input signal and output the control input signal or a position control signal, which is generated based on the control input signal, according to a mode signal. The current driver is configured to generate a current to drive an actuator according to the control input signal or the position control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Young Cheong, Hoon Heo, Ho Jun Yoo
  • Patent number: 10191260
    Abstract: A zoom image pickup apparatus includes a mount portion, a zoom lens which forms an image of light incident from the mount portion, and an image pickup element which is disposed at an image forming position, wherein the zoom lens includes in order from an object side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a fifth lens unit having a positive refractive power, and the fourth lens unit is a focusing lens unit, and at the time of zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, only the second lens unit and the fourth lens unit move, and the following conditional expression (1) is satisfied: ?L1<?3GL1??(1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keisuke Takada
  • Patent number: 10194062
    Abstract: A camera module may include a lens barrel supporting a lens, a frame in which the lens barrel is provided, and a housing accommodating the frame. The frame may be pressed toward one surface of the housing to thereby be relatively aligned in the housing so that an optical axis of the lens is positioned perpendicularly with respect to an image formation surface of an image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sung Hoon Kim, Po Chul Kim, Jung Seok Lee, Jae Ho Baik
  • Patent number: 10191191
    Abstract: Methods, systems and devices for diffractive waveplate lens and mirror systems allowing electronically focusing light at different focal planes. The system can be incorporated into a variety of optical schemes for providing electrical control of transmission. In another embodiment, the system comprises diffractive waveplate of different functionality to provide a system for controlling not only focusing but other propagation properties of light including direction, phase profile, and intensity distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignees: Beam Engineering for Advanced Measurements Co., The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Nelson V. Tabirian, Svetlana V. Serak, Olena Uskova, David E. Roberts, Anna Tabirian, Diane M. Steeves, Brian R. Kimball
  • Patent number: 10187563
    Abstract: At least one image of a moving object is acquired using an image acquisition device equipped with an automatic focussing system. A distance between the object and the device when the effective acquisition of the image occurs is estimated based on the estimated speed and on the period of time separating a time of actuation triggering the process for acquiring the at least one image from the time of acquisition of the said effective acquisition, and the taking into account of the said distance by the automatic focussing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (GRENOBLE 2) SAS
    Inventor: Arnaud Deleule
  • Patent number: 10168512
    Abstract: Composing, in order from an object side: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lens group having negative refractive power; and a third lens group having positive refractive power; upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group, a distance between the second lens group and the third lens group and a distance between the third lens group and an image plane being varied; on the most image side, a fixed lens group being fixed in a position upon zooming from the wide-angle end state to the telephoto end state; and the third lens group being moved in the direction of the optical axis upon focusing from an infinite distance object to a near distance object, thereby providing a small-size variable magnification optical system having a high zoom ratio and an excellent optical performance upon focusing from an infinite distance object to a near distance object, an optical apparatus, and a method for manufactur
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Obama, Tomoyuki Sashima
  • Patent number: 10171722
    Abstract: A lens unit and a rear-side focus adjustment system for infrared cameras capable of performing rear-side focus adjustments even when the position of the detection surface of an infrared sensor is unknown in an infrared camera. The lens unit is detachably mounted on a camera body that detects infrared light with an infrared sensor and converts the infrared light to an image signal, the lens unit including a focus adjustment lens and controller. The controller calculates a rear-side focus adjustment amount for causing a rear-side focus position to correspond to the detection surface based on an error between an actually measured focused position of the focus adjustment lens relative to an object at a particular object distance and a theoretically focused position of the focus adjustment lens calculated based on the object distance and controls the position of the focus adjustment lens based on the rear-side focus adjustment amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Tamron Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Ueyama
  • Patent number: 10171713
    Abstract: A tracking code is applied to a lens housing that holds one more lenses. A back focus distance and a tilt of an optical axis with respect to a datum of the lens housing is electronically recorded. A position of an image sensor surface of an image sensor mounted on a substrate is measured. The lens housing is positioned such that the optical axis is perpendicular to the image sensor surface using the measured position of the image sensor surface and the electronically recorded optical data for the lens housing. The lens housing is positioned along the optical axis such that the lenses are separated from the image sensor surface using the measured position of the image sensor surface and the electronically recorded back focus distance for the tracking code of the lens housing. The lens housing is joined to the substrate with an adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Howell John Chua Toc, Iain A. McAllister, Steven Webster
  • Patent number: 10165935
    Abstract: A measuring head of an endoscopic device is provided. The measuring head has an optical projection unit (projection optics) intended and designed to illuminate an object to be examined with light, and an optical measurement unit (measurement optics) intended and designed to record the light reflected or diffused from the object to be examined. It is provided that the optical measurement unit (measurement optics) has an aperture diaphragm of which the aperture is settable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Joachim Bauer, Sigurd Schrader, Martin Burger, Silvio Pulwer, Friedhelm Heinrich, Viachaslau Ksianzou, Patrick Steglich, Jean Blondeau, Claus Villringer
  • Patent number: 10165253
    Abstract: The device and method are intended for reconstructing in 3-Dimensions comprehensive representations of the head and torso of subject (S) with a portable stereophotogrammetry device which can operate at, at least, two predefined positions (A3, A4). The device is composed of a camera body (1), a double optics (2) and a measuring distance system (34) enabling the repositioning of subject (S) at position (A3) or (A4). The user can operate a switch (5) to select one of these at least two pre-defined positions. The method is further to process the stereo-pairs of the subject to reconstruct 3-Dimensional surfaces (400), match them (500) and then stitch them (600) in a comprehensive representation of the subject. By selecting a distance corresponding to a field of view of respectively approximately A4 dimension the device and method is enabling reconstructing the face and of approximately A3 dimension is enabling reconstructing the torso of subject (S).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: QuantifiCare
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Thirion
  • Patent number: 10146992
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus including an acquisition unit configured to acquire results of analysis processing for a plurality of images; a designation unit configured to designate a type of a target to be detected from an image; and a determination unit configured to determine, among the plurality of images, an image used for detection processing of the detection target designated by the designation unit based on the type of the detection target designated by the designation unit and the result of the analysis processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichi Tsunematsu
  • Patent number: 10137844
    Abstract: A camera for a vision system of a vehicle includes a housing having a front housing portion and a rear housing portion and configured to be disposed at a vehicle so as to have a field of view interior or exterior of the vehicle. The camera includes a connector portion for electrically connecting circuitry of the camera to an electrical connector of the vehicle when the camera is disposed at the vehicle. The front housing portion houses a lens assembly. A MID (Molded Interconnect Device) frame includes electrically conductive traces and is integrated in the rear housing portion with circuit board connecting elements and connector connecting elements exposed at an inner surface of the rear housing portion. The connector portion includes terminals that contact respective exposed connector connecting elements of the MID frame to electrically connect the connector portion terminals to circuitry of the circuit board via the MID frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Richard Wienecke, Michael Biemer, Ruediger Boegel
  • Patent number: 10142571
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor including a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions for each of a plurality of microlenses, performs readout control using one of a first readout method of reading out a plurality of image signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions corresponding to each of the microlenses, and a second readout method of reading out an added image signal from the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions corresponding to each of the microlenses, determines whether an image signal is read out using the first readout method or the second readout method, adds the plurality of image signals read out using the first readout method, and adjusts the added image signal obtained through the addition by an increased amount of the black level that has increased due to the addition as an adjustment value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakaoka
  • Patent number: 10133041
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes in order from an object side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, and a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power, and at the time of zooming, the first lens unit is fixed, and at least two lens units positioned on an image side of the first lens unit move, and the first lens unit includes a plurality of lenses, and also has a cemented lens, and the cemented lens are included in the plurality of lenses, and the plurality of lenses includes one negative lens and three positive lenses, and the following conditional expressions (1), (2), and (3) are satisfied. 1.5<ndp<1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaru Morooka
  • Patent number: 10126518
    Abstract: A lens barrel in which tilt adjustment can be made depending on the position of a lens unit in the optical axis direction. This lens barrel includes: at least three guide bars provided so as to extend along the optical axis direction; a driving unit that respectively drives the at least three guide bars in the optical axis direction; a lens frame holding unit that holds an image-capturing lens, the lens frame holding unit being attached to at least three guide bars and being driven in the optical axis direction by the at least three guide bars; and a control unit that controls said at least three linear actuators so as to adjust the respective drive amounts in the optical axis direction of the at least three guide bars and to tilt the lens frame holding unit from a direction orthogonal to the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kunihiro Fukino
  • Patent number: 10127474
    Abstract: Methods of image breathing correction. Implementations may include capturing and displaying a first image to a user using a lens, an image sensor, memory, and a display included in a camera unit, adjusting a position of the lens, capturing a second image and storing data of the second image collected by the image sensor in the memory. The method may include determining a second position of the lens using a lens position sensor included in the camera unit and calculating a change in magnification from the first image to the second image using a processor and a breathing correction model. The method may include rescaling the data of the second image to generate corrected second image data using the processor and displaying the corrected second image to a user. The corrected second image may be substantially free from breathing effects when compared with the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan Michael Stern
  • Patent number: 10122910
    Abstract: A focus detection device includes: a sensor outputting a pair of focus detection signal sequences, each of which being made of a plurality of focus detection signals; a difference calculation unit obtaining a plurality of differences by sequentially calculating differences between focus detection signals corresponding to each other in the pair of focus detection signal sequences; a division unit dividing the pair of focus detection signal sequences into at least two pairs of partial signal sequences based on the plurality of differences; a focus detection parameter calculation unit calculating a first focus detection parameter according to a phase difference amount of a first pair of partial signal sequences and a second focus detection parameter in accordance with a phase difference amount of a second pair of partial signal sequences; and a focus adjustment parameter determination unit determining either the first or second focus detection parameters, as a focus adjustment parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoyuki Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 10120558
    Abstract: A method for controlling a mobile terminal, and which includes displaying content on a front display unit of the mobile terminal; sensing a touch gesture applied to a distance detecting sensor on a rear input unit of the mobile terminal; measuring, via a controller of the mobile terminal, a spaced distance of a finger, taken away from the distance detecting sensor after inputting the touch gesture; and controlling, via the controller, an operation of the content displayed on the front display unit according to the sensed touch gesture and the measured spaced distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yoonseok Yang, Eunsoo Jung, Juha Hyun, Shinnyue Kang