Focus Control Patents (Class 348/345)
  • Patent number: 9906695
    Abstract: Provided is a manufacturing method of an imaging module which includes a lens unit having a housing in which a lens barrel and a lens drive unit are accommodated, and an imaging element unit. The manufacturing method includes, a first process of holding the lens unit and the imaging element unit on a axis orthogonal to a measurement chart, a second process of moving the imaging element unit in the direction of the axis and imaging the measurement chart at each position, and a third process of adjusting the inclination of the imaging element unit with respect to the lens unit based on imaging signals of the measurement chart. In the first process, a tubular portion of which a position in a plane perpendicular to the axis is fixed and the lens barrel are fitted to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Motokazu Shimizu, Tatsuya Fujinami
  • Patent number: 9894772
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a molded photosensitive assembly of an array imaging module includes the steps of providing an enclosing element at a mold engaging surface of a first mold body of a mold; receiving the circuit board in the mold and positioning between the first mold body and a second mold body; introducing a fluid state mold material into the closed mold to fill the mold cavity and enclose the electronic elements; solidifying the mold material in the mold cavity and forming a molded base integrated with the circuit board and the electronic elements; and separating the first mold body and the second mold body and obtaining a molded photosensitive assembly which is an integrated body of the circuit board, the electronic elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Ningbo Sunny Opotech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mingzhu Wang, Bojie Zhao, Zhenyu Chen, Takehiko Tanaka, Nan Guo, Zhen Huang, Duanliang Cheng, Liang Ding, Feifan Chen, Heng Jiang
  • Patent number: 9894269
    Abstract: First and second images are captured at first and second focal lengths, the second focal length being longer than the first focal length. Element sets are defined with a first element of the first image and a corresponding second element of the second image. Element sets are identified as background if the second element thereof is more in-focus than or as in-focus as the first element. Background elements are subtracted from further analysis. Comparisons are based on relative focus, e.g. whether image elements are more or less in-focus. Measurement of absolute focus is not necessary, nor is measurement of absolute focus change; images need not be in-focus. More than two images, multiple element sets, and/or multiple categories and relative focus relationships also may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Atheer, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Nabil Hajj Chehade, Sina Fateh, Sleiman Itani, Allen Yang Yang
  • Patent number: 9894270
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus is configured to capture an object image, generate a RAW image, perform simple development on the RAW image during the image capturing operation, and store not only the developed image but also the RAW image. In a predetermined interval, in an idle state, or in predetermined enlargement processing, the image processing apparatus reads a RAW file stored in a storage medium and performs high-quality image development to generate an image having higher image quality than that obtained by the simple development. If development processing has been completed by a high-quality image development unit, the image processing apparatus replaces the image obtained by the simple development with the image obtained by the high-quality image development and reproduces the image obtained by the high-quality image development.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shingo Nozawa, Masamichi Ito
  • Patent number: 9888196
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging element, a driving method therefor, and an electronic apparatus, by which the characteristics of phase-difference pixels can be made constant irrespective of a chip position. In a pixel array section, a normal pixel including a photodiode (PD) that receives and photoelectrically converts incident light such that a color component signal is obtained, and a phase-difference pixel including a pair of a photodiode (PD1) and a photodiode (PD2) including light-receiving surfaces having a size depending on an image height such that a phase difference detection signal is obtained are arranged in a matrix form. The pair of the photodiode (PD1) and the photodiode (PD2) each include a first region serving as a charge accumulation main part and a second region that performs photoelectric conversion and contributes to charge transfer to the main part. The present technology is applicable to a CMOS image sensor, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Ishiwata
  • Patent number: 9866755
    Abstract: In an image capture apparatus that can perform processing using an image on which information displayed by a display device is superimposed and a method for controlling the same, the influence of the superimposed information included in the image is reduced. A first image in which information displayed by the display device is superimposed on an optical finder image is acquired. Then, the predetermined image processing is performed using a second image that excludes data on a pixel having the display color of the information, of pixels included in the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Reiji Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9858649
    Abstract: An image such as a light-field image may be processed to provide depth-based blurring. The image may be received in a data store. At an input device, first and second user input may be received to designate a first focus depth and a second focus depth different from the first focus depth, respectively. A processor may identify one or more foreground portions of the image that have one or more foreground portion depths, each of which is less than the first focus depth. The processor may also identify one or more background portions of the image that have one or more background portion depths, each of which is greater than the second focus depth. The processor may also apply blurring to the one or more foreground portions and the one or more background portions to generate a processed image, which may be displayed on a display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Lytro, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia-Kai Liang, Kent Oberheu, Kurt Akeley, Garrett Girod, Nikhil Karnad, Francis A. Benevides, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9854153
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus receive light fluxes passing through and incident on different pupil regions of an imaging optical system and generates at least image data of one pair of subject images. Imaging surface correction information regarding a manufacturing error or optical characteristics of design of an imaging lens is transmitted from a lens control unit of the imaging lens to a system control unit of a camera body, and then the system control unit receives the imaging surface correction information. The system control unit performs a process of generating a defocus map based on a parallax between at least one pair of images and performs imaging surface correction through correction of the calculated defocus amount. In the imaging surface correction process, influences of the optical characteristics of the imaging lens and an inclination of an imaging surface of an image sensor are corrected, and thus a more accurate distance map is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Abe
  • Patent number: 9854174
    Abstract: The embodiment of the present invention discloses a shot image processing method comprising: obtaining composition target information in initial image data captured by a lens; obtaining a corresponding target composition area according to the composition target information; and obtaining the initial image data in the target composition area so as to obtain target image data. The embodiment of the present invention also discloses a shot image processing apparatus. By adopting the present invention, for the obtained initial image data captured by the lens, the composition target information in the initial image data can be automatically obtained, the corresponding target composition area can be obtained according to the composition target information, and then the initial image data in the target composition area can be obtained so as to obtain target image data, thereby improving the intelligence of the shooting terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: DONGGUAN GOLDEX COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jianbin Zhang
  • Patent number: 9854146
    Abstract: A pair of pupil regions of an exit pupil, through which light beams received by a pair of photoelectric conversion units included in a pixel portion of a first image sensor respectively pass, are overlapped. A pair of pupil regions of an exit pupil, through which light beams received by a pair of photoelectric conversion units included in a pixel portion of a second image sensor respectively pass, are overlapped. A second base length, which is a distance between centroids of the pair of pupil regions corresponding to the pair of photoelectric conversion units included in the pixel portion of the second image sensor, is longer than a first base length, which is a distance between centroids of the pair of pupil regions corresponding to the pair of photoelectric conversion units included in the pixel portion of the first image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ichiro Onuki, Hirohito Kai
  • Patent number: 9854151
    Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging device and a focusing control method capable of enhancing accuracy of moving subject estimation while reducing the computation of the moving subject estimation used in a case of continuously performing focusing with respect to the moving subject. A system control unit (11) predicts a subject distance in an imaging process of a third frame from information about subject distances obtained in an imaging process of a first frame and an imaging process of a second frame, calculates an error with respect to the predicted subject distance from information about a maximum error with respect to a focus lens position to be calculated, and performs lens driving based on a predicted focus lens position instead of a focusing control based on the predicted subject distance in a case that the error of the subject distance is large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hisashi Endo
  • Patent number: 9851533
    Abstract: Present embodiments provide for a mobile device and an optical imaging lens thereof. The optical imaging lens may comprise an aperture stop and five lens elements positioned sequentially from an object side to an image side. By controlling the convex or concave shape of the surfaces of the lens elements and designing parameters satisfying at least two inequalities, the optical imaging lens may exhibit better optical characteristics and the total length of the optical imaging lens may be shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: GeniuS Electronic Optical (Xiamen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Matthew Bone, Maozong Lin, Shan Huang
  • Patent number: 9848117
    Abstract: A focus control apparatus, comprises an area setting unit that sets a plurality of divided areas by dividing in a first direction and in a second direction, the first direction corresponding to a direction in which a focus state is detected; a focus detection unit that detects first information related to the focus state; a calculation unit that calculates defocus information on the basis of the first information; and a control unit that performs focus control on the basis of the calculated defocus information, wherein in a first mode in which the defocus information for the focus control is calculated by combining pieces of the first information, the calculation unit causes the part of the plurality of divided areas to vary in accordance with pieces of the first information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazunori Ishii
  • Patent number: 9835642
    Abstract: A scene measurement assembly includes a first illuminator assembly having multiple grids of coplanar illuminators, a first system-on-chip light sensing device having sensors disposed to receive reflected light emitted by the first illuminator assembly, a second illuminator assembly having plural grids of coplanar illuminators, each of the plural grids of coplanar illuminators being disposed in different planes relative to each other, and a second system-on-chip light sensing device that receives reflected light emitted by the second illuminator assembly. Each of the multiple grids of coplanar illuminators of both illuminator assemblies is disposed in different planes relative to each other. The first and second system-on-chip light sensing devices each have a sampling rate of greater than 10,000 frames per second relative to performing on-chip image data processing. The system-on-chip light sensing devices are each disposed at a scene to be measured at locations having different perspectives of the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Samuel M. Smith, Charbel G. Rizk
  • Patent number: 9835826
    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 imagining quality for use in compact cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: ABILITY OPTO-ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yao-Wei Liu, Nai-Yuan Tang, Yeong-Ming Chang
  • Patent number: 9829676
    Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging device and a focusing control method capable of performing reliability determination of a phase difference AF at high speed. A phase difference AF processing unit (19) performs a correlation operation with respect to detection signal groups in first pairs P1, and performs a correlation operation with respect to detection signal groups in second pairs P2. A system control unit (11) compares a difference between a first correlation amount M1 which is a minimum correlation amount between the detection signal groups in the first pairs P1, among obtained results of the correlation operation with respect to the first pairs P1 and a second correlation amount M2 which is a minimum correlation amount between the detection signal groups in the second pairs P2, among obtained results of the correlation operation with respect to the second pairs P2 with a threshold value TH, to thereby determine a reliability of a focusing control based on the phase difference AF method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuki Inoue, Yasuo Ohtsuki
  • Patent number: 9832360
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor that includes a pixel array in which a plurality of unit pixels, each having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, are arranged in matrix, and a plurality of column output lines respectively provided in columns of the pixel array, and a control unit that performs control such that in a case in which signals from a portion of photoelectric conversion elements of each of the plurality of unit pixels is to be read out, signals from a plurality of unit pixels that are arranged in the same column of the pixel array are output simultaneously to one column output line out of the plurality of column output lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideta Nishizawa
  • Patent number: 9826140
    Abstract: In an image capturing apparatus, an image sensing unit has a plurality of pixels and photoelectrically converts an object image formed by an optical imaging system including a focus lens and outputs an electrical image signal, a control unit controls at least a readout rate or an exposure condition independently for different regions of the image sensing unit, and a calculation unit calculates a plurality of focus evaluation values based on image signals read out from the pixels present in a focus detection area in one of the plurality of different regions at different focus lens positions, and find an in-focus position of the focus lens based on the focus evaluation values. The control unit takes an image signal read out from a first region among the plurality of different regions as an image signal for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuki Konishi, Naoki Iwasaki, Akiko Wada
  • Patent number: 9819853
    Abstract: A phase difference AF processing unit (19) compares subject images between a region R1 and a region Rj (j=2 to m) in an AF area (53), and determines a phase difference detection pixel (52A, 52B) as a detection signal addition target with respect to a phase difference detection pixel (52A, 52B) in the region R1 among phase difference detection pixels (52A, 52B) in the region Rj. Further, the phase difference AF processing unit (19) adds up detection signals with respect to the phase difference detection pixels (52A, 52B) in the region R1 and the phase difference detection pixels (52A, 52B) which are addition targets, and generates a defocus amount (Df1) from a result of a correlation operation using detection signals after addition. A system control unit (11) drives a focus lens according to the defocus amount (Df1) to perform a focusing control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9807288
    Abstract: In accordance with disclosed embodiments, there are provided methods, systems, and apparatuses for implementing multi-lens array cameras and mounts. In one embodiment there is a lens mount assembly, having therein a lens mount with a front side and a back side; a lens array mounted to the front side of the lens mount, the lens array having a plurality of optics embedded within lenses mounted to the front side of the lens mount; a plurality of image capture circuits at the back side of the lens mount, the plurality of image capture circuits having a one to one correspondence to the lenses of the lens array mounted to the front side of the lens mount; and a plurality of receiving couplers at the front side of the lens mount, each to receive one of the lenses of the lens array, wherein the receiving couplers mechanically bring the optics of the respective lens mounted thereto into alignment with a corresponding one of the image capture circuits on the back side of the lens mount opposing the mounted lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel C. Middleton, Evan R. Green, Luis S. Kida
  • Patent number: 9807294
    Abstract: An imaging system with on-chip phase-detection includes an image sensor with symmetric multi-pixel phase-difference detectors. Each symmetric multi-pixel phase-difference detector includes (a) a plurality of pixels forming an array and each having a respective color filter thereon, each color filter having a transmission spectrum and (b) a microlens at least partially above each of the plurality of pixels and having an optical axis intersecting the array. The array, by virtue of each transmission spectrum, has reflection symmetry with respect to both (a) a first plane that includes the optical axis and (b) a second plane that is orthogonal to the first plane. The imaging system includes a phase-detection row pair, which includes a plurality of symmetric multi-pixel phase-difference detectors in a pair of adjacent pixel rows and a pair, and an analogous phase-detection column pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Guansong Liu, Jizhang Shan, Chin Poh Pang, Xiaodong Yang
  • Patent number: 9797718
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor including a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element formed on a semiconductor. The solid-state image sensor includes a distance measurement pixel including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements configured to acquire signals for distance measurement and included in at least a part of the plurality of pixels, and a control electrode disposed on the semiconductor via an insulating film, wherein the control electrode is configured to control positions or shapes of the photoelectric conversion elements by applied voltages, while the distance measurement pixel maintains the number of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daisuke Yamada
  • Patent number: 9784954
    Abstract: A rear conversion lens, which may include a plurality of lenses may be disposed at a side of master lenses facing an image side for varying a focal length, and may include: a first lens having a positive refractive power; a second lens having a biconcave shape; a third lens having a positive refractive power; a fourth lens having a positive refractive power; and a fifth lens having a negative refractive power. The first to fifth lenses may be sequentially arranged in a direction from an object side to the image side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuji Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 9781332
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an imaging optical system, an image pickup element including a plurality of pixels, a lens array configured such that rays from the same position on an object plane are incident on pixels of the image pickup element different from each other depending on a pupil region of the imaging optical system through which the ray passes, an image processing unit configured to perform image processing for the input image acquired by the image pickup element to generate the output images, and a control unit configured to drive the imaging optical system to perform focus control, the image processing unit is configured to acquire information on a refocus control range, and the control unit is configured to perform the focus control based on the information on the refocus control range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kaoru Eguchi, Koshi Hatakeyama, Norihito Hiasa
  • Patent number: 9762783
    Abstract: An imager module for a camera system includes a sensor carrier, an image sensor accommodated on the sensor carrier, and an objective lens. An elastically deformable clamping device is tensioned between the objective lens and the sensor carrier. The clamping device is elastically deformable, in particular between regions of the outer surface of the objective lens and the supporting ribs of a receiving depression in a plane that extends essentially orthogonally to an axis of symmetry of the objective lens or an optical axis of the imager module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Apel, Nikolai Bauer
  • Patent number: 9759921
    Abstract: A display device according to an embodiment of the invention includes an image display unit for the left eye, an image display unit for the right eye, a main frame which supports the image display unit for the left eye and the image display unit for the right eye, and a position adjusting unit which adjusts positions of the image display unit for the left eye and the image display unit for the right eye with respect to the main frame. The position adjusting unit adjusts a gap between the image display unit for the left eye and the image display unit for the right eye, and respectively adjusts a position of the image display unit for the left eye with respect to the main frame, and a position of the image display unit for the right eye with respect to the main frame independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 9762840
    Abstract: In an imaging device including a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels is arranged, each of the pixels including first and second photoelectric conversion units, and a micro lens that collects incident light to the first and second photoelectric conversion units, in a first frame period, a first signal based on a signal electric charge generated in the first photoelectric conversion unit and a second signal based on a signal electric charge generated in at least the second photoelectric conversion unit are read out from a plurality of pixels included in a part of the pixel array, and in a second frame period, a third signal based on the signal electric charges generated in the first and the second photoelectric conversion units is read out from a plurality of pixels included in another part of the pixel array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuo Yamazaki, Seiichirou Sakai, Yu Maehashi
  • Patent number: 9762838
    Abstract: An imaging device to which an imaging optical system is attachable, includes a correction data generating unit that generates correction data to correct a sensitivity difference of first phase difference detecting pixel cells and second phase difference detecting pixel cells; and a signal correcting unit that corrects at least one of an output signal of the first phase difference detecting pixel cells and an output signal of the second phase difference detecting pixel cells in accordance with the correction data, in which the correction data generating unit calculates two ratios to generate the correction data based on the two ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuki Inoue, Yoichi Iwasaki, Takashi Aoki
  • Patent number: 9757015
    Abstract: An imaging system for use in a spatially constrained location includes an image sensor for capturing an image, wherein the image sensor has (a) a first rectangular area containing a pixel array and connecting circuitry communicatively coupled with the pixel array and (b) a second rectangular area with only one shared side with the first rectangular area and containing support electronics for pixel array control and signal acquisition, where the support electronics is communicatively coupled with the connecting circuitry. An imaging method for use in a spatially constrained location includes (a) forming an image of a scene on a pixel array of an image sensor contained within a first rectangular area having a first side and (b) communicating electrical signals between the pixel array and support electronics located onboard the image sensor and contained within a second rectangular area sharing only one side with the first rectangular area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Junzhao Lei
  • Patent number: 9756236
    Abstract: A photographing apparatus comprises a focus adjustment lens capable of movement in an optical axis direction, an operation member for designating a movement amount on movement direction of the focus adjustment lens as a result of being operated, an operation time detector for detecting operation time based on operation amount of the operating member, a target position calculation section for calculating target position that the focus adjustment lens is moved to, based on operation amount of the operating member, and a controller for changing the target position based on the operation time, and repeatedly executing control to move the focus adjustment lens to the target position, wherein the controller sets a movement velocity of the focus adjustment lens, at an estimated time for recommencing movement of the focus adjustment lens, so that the focus adjustment lens moves to the target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Okawa
  • Patent number: 9746650
    Abstract: A zoom lens is constituted by, in order from the object side: a positive first lens group; a negative second lens group; a positive third lens group; a negative fourth lens group; and a positive fifth lens group. The distance between the first and second lens groups constantly increases, the distance between the second and third lens groups constantly decreases, the distance between the third and fourth lens groups constantly changes, and the distance between the fourth and fifth lens groups constantly increases when changing magnification from the wide angle end to the telephoto end. The first lens group is constituted by three lenses, which are negative, positive, and positive in order from the object side. The second lens group is constituted by five lenses, which are negative, negative, positive, positive, and negative in order from the object side. The fifth lens group is constituted by a single lens component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Taiga Noda, Ryoko Tomioka, Michio Cho
  • Patent number: 9736355
    Abstract: A variable focal length (VFL) lens system is utilized to determine surface Z-height measurements of imaged surfaces. A controller of the system is configured to control a VFL lens (e.g., a tunable acoustic gradient index of refraction lens) to periodically modulate its optical power and thereby periodically modulate a focus position at a first operating frequency, wherein the periodically modulated VFL lens optical power defines a first periodic modulation phase. A phase timing signal is synchronized with a periodic signal in the controller that has the first operating frequency and that has a second periodic modulation phase that has a phase offset relative to the first periodic modulation phase. A phase offset compensating portion is configured to perform a phase offset compensating process that provides Z-height measurements, wherein at least one of Z-height errors or Z-height variations that are related to a phase offset contribution are at least partially eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Kamil Bryll
  • Patent number: 9720221
    Abstract: A device and a method for acquiring a microscopic image of a sample structure are described. An optic for imaging the sample structure and a reference structure is provided, as well as a drift sensing unit for sensing a drift of the sample structure relative to the optic on the basis of the imaged reference structure. The optic comprises a first sharpness plane for imaging the sample structure and at the same time a second sharpness plane, modifiable in location relative to the first sharpness plane, for imaging the reference structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Leica Microsystems CMS GmbH
    Inventors: Marcus Dyba, Jonas Foelling
  • Patent number: 9721153
    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: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichi Tsunematsu
  • Patent number: 9720302
    Abstract: At least certain embodiments described herein provide a continuous autofocus mechanism for an image capturing device. The continuous autofocus mechanism can perform an autofocus scan for a lens of the image capturing device and obtain focus scores associated with the autofocus scan. The continuous autofocus mechanism can determine an acceptable band of focus scores based on the obtained focus scores. Next, the continuous autofocus mechanism can determine whether a current focus score is within the acceptable band of focus scores. A refocus scan may be performed if the current focus score is outside of the acceptable band of focus scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Brunner, David Hayward
  • Patent number: 9716822
    Abstract: Methods and imaging devices are disclosed for determining a first direction to move a lens in an autofocus operation. For example, one method includes capturing a plurality of frames depicting a scene, selecting a portion of at least one frame that corresponds to an object in a displayed frame, and tracking the object in the plurality of frames, where tracking the object provides a reference parameter of the object for each of the plurality of frames. The method may further includes detecting a change in the reference parameter of at least a first frame and a second frame of the plurality of frames, determining a focus direction based on the change in the reference parameter, and initiating a focus operation by moving a lens of the imaging device based on the determined focus direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Lei Ma, Fan Deng, Leung Chun Chan
  • Patent number: 9716847
    Abstract: An image capture device is disclosed. The image capture device may generally include an optical element configured to create a light cone having a focal plane. The image capture device may also include an image sensor having an active area defining an image plane that is angled relative to the optical element. In addition, the image capture device may include a controller communicatively coupled to the image sensor. The controller may be configured to control the image sensor such that the light passing through the optical element is detected by a readout area of the active area. The readout area may be set by the controller based on the position of the focal plane relative to the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Ian Rickard Muldoon
  • Patent number: 9716823
    Abstract: Provided is an image pickup apparatus, including a plurality of microlenses, a plurality of image pickup rows being configured to output a signal for generating an image a distance measurement row being configured to output a focus detection signal a plurality of signal processing units, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to control the plurality of image pickup rows to perform a first operation of reading signals to the plurality of signal processing units; control, before or after the first operation, the distance measurement row to perform a second operation of reading signals to the plurality of signal processing units; control the plurality of signal processing units to be in an operating state in one of the first and second operations; and control a part of the plurality of signal processing units to be in an operation-restricted state in another of the first and second operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Koichiro Iwata, Hiroo Akabori, Hiroyuki Morita
  • Patent number: 9716824
    Abstract: A focus detection apparatus according the present invention includes: a normal focus detection information acquiring section which detects a normal AF evaluation peak position from contrast information; a special focus detection information acquiring section which detects a special AF evaluation peak position among different focus positions using brightness information and the contrast information; a determination section which determines information to be used for focus detection using the brightness information and either of the normal AF evaluation peak position and the special AF evaluation peak position, and a focus detection calculation section which calculates a focus detection position using the information to be used for focus detection determined by the determination section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Ito
  • Patent number: 9709876
    Abstract: An optical device that includes first and second members that is rotatable relative to the first member is provided that includes a coupling unit that is provided for the second member; and a position detecting unit that has a detecting part disposed at the first member and a detected part disposed at the second member, and is configured to detect a position of the second member relative to the first member. When viewed from a direction along a rotation central axis of the second member, an angle between a first axis and a second axis at a position within a rotational range of the second member is 90 degrees. The first axis is an axis that is perpendicular to the rotation central axis and passes through the detecting part and the second axis is an axis that is perpendicular to the rotation central axis and passes through the coupling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomohiko Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 9710913
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of correcting an error during computation of a correlation degree without storing data for correcting distance information in advance in a recording medium, to highly accurately form a distance image. The image processing apparatus has a distance estimation unit that estimates a subject distance in each area, from a correlation degree of a plurality of images, a distance reliability calculation unit that calculates the reliability of the subject distance estimated by the distance estimation unit, and a distance image forming unit that corrects the subject distance estimated by the distance estimation unit based on the reliability calculated by the distance reliability calculation unit and to form a distance image based on the corrected subject distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9706145
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging element, a driving method therefor, and an electronic apparatus, by which the characteristics of phase-difference pixels can be made constant irrespective of a chip position are provided. In a pixel array section, a normal pixel including a photodiode (PD) that receives and photoelectrically converts incident light such that a color component signal is obtained, and a phase-difference pixel including a pair of a photodiode (PD1) and a photodiode (PD2) including light-receiving surfaces having a size depending on an image height such that a phase difference detection signal is obtained are arranged in a matrix form. The pair of the photodiode (PD1) and the photodiode (PD2) each include a first region serving as a charge accumulation main part and a second region that performs photoelectric conversion and contributes to charge transfer to the main part. The present technology is applicable to a CMOS image sensor, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroaki Ishiwata
  • Patent number: 9706111
    Abstract: Techniques related to no-reference image and video quality evaluation are discussed. Such techniques may include generating, for a still image or video frame, features including a natural scene statistics based feature and an image quality based feature and determining an image evaluation indicator associated with the still image or video frame based on a mapping of the generated features to the image evaluation indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Santa Clara
    Inventors: Michele A. Saad, Ramesh V. Jaladi, Philip J. Corriveau, Ralston A. Da Silva
  • Patent number: 9706104
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for calculating a focusing evaluation value. The method may be applied in a scene having a dynamic light source and include: dividing an image region of a camera into a plurality of sub-regions; selecting a first sub-region which is affected by a dynamic light source from the plurality of sub-regions; correcting a focusing evaluation value of the first sub-region with the focusing evaluation value of each of sub-regions adjacent to the first sub-region; and calculating a focusing evaluation value of the whole image region based on the focusing evaluation value of each of the sub-regions. The present disclosure improves the performance of auto-focusing in a scene having a dynamic light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVIEW TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD
    Inventors: Fang Chen, Qingyi Chen
  • Patent number: 9696536
    Abstract: A plan apochromat corrected microscope objective including multiple subsystems with optical components and/or component groups, wherein an optical component or a component group can move axially in the interior of the microscope objective. The axially movable component or the component group includes a concave-convex lens or lens group oriented toward the object plane, with a form factor of: X = c 1 + c 2 c 1 - c 2 wherein X is the form factor, c1 is the curvature of the surface oriented in the direction of the object plane, and c2 is the curvature of the surface oriented in the direction of the image plane, of the axially movable lens or lens group, X lying within a range from ?8<X<?1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Nobis
  • Patent number: 9699369
    Abstract: A detection unit detects a defocus value, a correction value for shifting an in-focus position that is based on the defocus value is obtained by first or second method and stored in a memory. A controller controls to move a focus position to a lens position obtained from the defocus value and the stored correction value. The first mode is to make a user select an amount for shifting the focus position, and the correction value is obtained according to the selection. In the second mode, imaging and detection of the defocus value are performed at each of different focus positions, and the correction value is obtained from a defocus value corresponding to selected one of obtained images. A minimum unit of the correction value in the second mode is larger than that in the first mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Hashimoto, Hiroshi Abe
  • Patent number: 9699363
    Abstract: In a camera system including a camera body (200) and an interchangeable lens (100), the camera body includes a body-side communication unit, and a body-side control unit that transmits a request signal to the interchangeable lens via the body-side communication unit, and receives a response signal corresponding to the transmitted request signal from the interchangeable lens via the body-side communication unit, the interchangeable lens includes a lens-side communication unit, and a lens-side control unit that transmits the response signal corresponding to the received request signal to the camera body via the lens-side communication unit when receiving the request signal via the lens-side communication unit, and the lens-side control unit transmits lens information in synchronization with a frame of a video without receiving a request signal for lens information from the camera body at least in a video recording mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kenshi Imamura, Kenkichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9686461
    Abstract: The present invention illustrates an automatic focusing method. Firstly, through multiple cameras of an image capturing device, a scene is captured, such that multiple images generated corresponding to the cameras are obtained. Then, multiple depth maps are generated according to the images. Next, according to the resolutions of single one or multiple objects in the depth maps, the depth information of the single one or multiple objects in the depth maps can be selected to generate a merged depth map. Then, a target focus distance of the single one object or target focus distances of multiple objects are calculated according to the merged depth map. Next, an actual focus distance of the multi-lenses module associated with the cameras is adjusted according to the target focus distance of the single one object or one of the multiple objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jau-Yu Chen, Chih-Hsiung Huang
  • Patent number: 9686462
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including two or more photoelectric conversion layers that have photoelectric conversion portions divided on a pixel-by-pixel basis and are laminated. Light, which is incident into a single pixel of a first photoelectric conversion layer close to an optical lens, is received by the photoelectric conversion portions of a plurality of pixels of a second photoelectric conversion layer far from the optical lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Hirota
  • Patent number: 9674420
    Abstract: The interchangeable lens apparatus includes a memory to store first correction information to be used to correct focus state information on a focus state of its image capturing optical system, the focus state being detected in the image capturing apparatus by using a signal from an image sensor thereof, and a lens calculator configured to produce, by performing an interpolation process on the first correction information by using image sensor information that is information on the image sensor and received from the image capturing apparatus, second correction information corresponding to the image sensor information. The lens calculator sends the second correction information to the image capturing apparatus in a case where the lens calculator performs the interpolation process and sends the first correction information to the image capturing apparatus in a case where the image capturing apparatus performs the interpolation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuya Higuma