With Zoom Position Detection Or Interrelated Iris Control Patents (Class 348/347)
  • Patent number: 11982796
    Abstract: Zoom digital cameras comprising a Wide sub-camera and a folded fixed Tele sub-camera. The folded Tele sub-camera may be auto-focused by moving either its lens or a reflecting element inserted in an optical path between its lens and a respective image sensor. The folded Tele sub-camera is configured to have a low profile to enable its integration within a portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg, Gal Avivi, Gil Bachar
  • Patent number: 11809017
    Abstract: A lens control unit as a control device includes a second position profile generator that generates a second target position profile indicating a target position of a second focus lens unit of a lens apparatus in driving the second focus lens unit. A trajectory shift amount calculator of the lens control unit calculates a shift between an ideal position of the second focus lens unit corresponding to a position of the first focus lens unit and a position of the second focus lens unit in the second target position profile. A correction value calculator corrects the target position of the second focus lens unit based on this shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Maruyama
  • Patent number: 11736819
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imager to capture a subject image via an optical system including a focus lens to generate image data for each first frame period; a recorder to intermittently record image data for each frame captured by the imager in a second frame period; a focusing driver to adjust a focus lens position; and a controller to perform image processing for scaling an image indicated by the image data based on the focus lens position. The focusing driver repeats moving and stopping the focus lens alternately. When image processing of the scaling is performed on image data to be recorded by the recorder, the controller adjusts a timing at which the focusing driver starts movement of the focus lens to a timing at which a thinned-out frame is captured, and scales an image indicated by image data that is a frame at stopping of the focus lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 11736797
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a sensor driving unit configured to incline an imaging sensor with respect to a plane orthogonal to an optical axis of an imaging optical system, a focus lens driving unit configured to change a position of a focus lens in the imaging optical system, a range change unit configured to change an imaging range, and a control unit configured to control the position of the focus lens, the imaging range, and an angle of the imaging sensor so that a first inclined focal plane and a second inclined focal plane after a position of the first inclined focal plane is changed have a predetermined relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taisuke Nishio, Naoki Maruyama
  • Patent number: 11703668
    Abstract: Zoom digital cameras comprising a Wide sub-camera and a folded fixed Tele sub-camera. The folded Tele sub-camera may be auto-focused by moving either its lens or a reflecting element inserted in an optical path between its lens and a respective image sensor. The folded Tele sub-camera is configured to have a low profile to enable its integration within a portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg, Gal Avivi, Gil Bachar
  • Patent number: 11656537
    Abstract: A lens apparatus attachable to and detachable from an image pickup apparatus includes an imaging optical system, a first-shaped mount part, and a communicator. A first lens apparatus includes a mount part engageable with the mount part of the image pickup apparatus, and is communicable with the image pickup apparatus using a first communication method. A second lens apparatus includes a second-shaped mount part that is not engageable with the mount part of the image pickup apparatus, and the second lens apparatus is attachable to the image pickup apparatus via the intermediate adapter, and is communicable with the image pickup apparatus using a second communication method different from the first communication method. The communicator is communicable with the image pickup apparatus using the second communication method, and uncommunicable with the image pickup apparatus using the first communication method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Okada
  • Patent number: 11624891
    Abstract: There are provided a lens guide device, a lens moving device, and an imaging apparatus that can accurately position a lens frame regardless of an attitude, such as an imaging direction. A first-rail supports a first-rolling-body so as to allow the first-rolling-body to be rollable in a first-direction parallel to an optical-axis of a first-focus-lens. A second-rail supports a second-rolling-body so as to allow the second-rolling-body to be rollable in the first-direction. A biasing-mechanism supports the first-rolling-body so as to allow the first-rolling-body to be movable in the first-direction, and biases the first-rolling-body toward the first-rail. A third-rail is provided in parallel with the second-rail. The third-rail supports the second-rolling-body so as to allow the second-rolling-body to be movable in the first-direction. Since the first-rail and the second-rail are moved and guided in a first direction by the first-rolling-body and the second-rolling-body, a lens frame is not inclined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Kawanabe
  • Patent number: 11567305
    Abstract: Zoom digital cameras comprising a Wide sub-camera and a folded fixed Tele sub-camera. The folded Tele sub-camera may be auto-focused by moving either its lens or a reflecting element inserted in an optical path between its lens and a respective image sensor. The folded Tele sub-camera is configured to have a low profile to enable its integration within a portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg, Gal Avivi, Gil Bachar
  • Patent number: 11543633
    Abstract: Zoom digital cameras comprising a Wide sub-camera and a folded fixed Tele sub-camera. The folded Tele sub-camera may be auto-focused by moving either its lens or a reflecting element inserted in an optical path between its lens and a respective image sensor. The folded Tele sub-camera is configured to have a low profile to enable its integration within a portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg, Gal Avivi, Gil Bachar
  • Patent number: 11385658
    Abstract: A video processing method includes receiving a video to be edited including a target object and shot by a photographing device mounted at an aircraft, determining a first video frame from the video to be edited, determining a display area of the target object in the first video frame, and obtaining a target video including performing an adjustment processing on an image position of the target object in a second video frame of the video to be edited according to the display area. The image position of the target object in the second video frame after being adjusted is the same as an image position of the display area in the first video frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Long Cheng, Guanhua Su
  • Patent number: 11385527
    Abstract: A lens apparatus attachable to and detachable from an image pickup apparatus includes an imaging optical system, a first-shaped mount part, and a communicator. A first lens apparatus includes a mount part engageable with the mount part of the image pickup apparatus, and is communicable with the image pickup apparatus using a first communication method. A second lens apparatus includes a second-shaped mount part that is not engageable with the mount part of the image pickup apparatus, and the second lens apparatus is attachable to the image pickup apparatus via the intermediate adapter, and is communicable with the image pickup apparatus using a second communication method different from the first communication method. The communicator is communicable with the image pickup apparatus using the second communication method, and uncommunicable with the image pickup apparatus using the first communication method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koji Okada
  • Patent number: 11336827
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens apparatus attachable to an imaging apparatus configured to move an image sensor in an image stabilization includes an imaging optical system, a storage unit configured to store image circle information including a relationship between an imaging condition and position information of an image circle of the imaging optical system, and a transmission unit configured to transmit at least part of the image circle information to the imaging apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigenobu Sugita, Kenji Saitsu, Masakazu Kodaira
  • Patent number: 11303817
    Abstract: An active sensor includes a light projector configured to emit probe light, and an image sensor. The active sensor is configured to obtain a first image in a light emitting state of the light projector and a second image in a non-light emitting state of the light projector. The second image can be used for correcting the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: KOITO MANUFACIURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kensuke Arai
  • Patent number: 11262559
    Abstract: Zoom digital cameras comprising a Wide sub-camera and a folded fixed Tele sub-camera. The folded Tele sub-camera may be auto-focused by moving either its lens or a reflecting element inserted in an optical path between its lens and a respective image sensor. The folded Tele sub-camera is configured to have a low profile to enable its integration within a portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg, Gal Avivi, Gil Bachar
  • Patent number: 11258946
    Abstract: A display control unit of an illustrative embodiment simultaneously displays a plurality of cut-out images cut out from respective ranges of a wide-angle moving image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Inventors: Kae Okazawa, Keiichi Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 11223753
    Abstract: A camera for industrial image processing having a camera module and an objective module that is releasably connected thereto and has an optical system having at least one optical lens preferably comprises—in the camera module—an image sensor for capturing an image and a camera control unit for controlling the camera module and/or the objective module, and—in the objective module—a storage unit having lens data, wherein interacting wireless near field communication units are provided in the camera module and in the objective module, wherein the near field communication unit in the objective module converts an electromagnetic alternating field emitted from the near field communication unit in the camera module into electrical energy for supplying energy to the objective module, and the camera module reads the lens data out via the near field communication units, and the camera control unit controls therewith a function of the camera module and/or of the objective module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventor: Andreas Waldl
  • Patent number: 11108958
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens apparatus attachable to an imaging apparatus configured to move an image sensor in an image stabilization includes an imaging optical system, a storage unit configured to store image circle information including a relationship between an imaging condition and position information of an image circle of the imaging optical system, and a transmission unit configured to transmit at least part of the image circle information to the imaging apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigenobu Sugita, Kenji Saitsu, Masakazu Kodaira
  • Patent number: 11086099
    Abstract: A light-folding camera includes a light folding device, a light path control device LPC, a first sensor and a second sensor. The light folding device outputs a folded light propagating in a first horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to a vertical direction by changing a light path of a vertical light that is incident on the light folding device in the vertical direction. The light path control device outputs a first light propagating in the first horizontal direction by passing at least a first portion of the folded light, or outputs a second light propagating in a second horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction by changing a light path of at least a second portion of the folded light. The first sensor receives the first light propagating in the first horizontal direction. The second sensor receives the second light propagating in the second horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jihyung Lim, Seunghak Lee, Hyunsu Jun
  • Patent number: 11054721
    Abstract: Provided are an imaging device capable of assisting focusing without giving uncomfortable feeling, a focusing assistance method thereof, and a focusing assistance program thereof. In a case where manual focusing is assisted by moving an image sensor, a focus adjustment speed by an imaging lens is detected. In a case where the focus adjustment speed by the imaging lens is reduced to a threshold value or less, the assistance is started by moving the image sensor. At this time, a focusing assistance unit is brought into an in-focus state by controlling the movement of the image sensor such that the sum of the focus adjustment speed by the imaging lens and a focus adjustment speed by the movement of the image sensor is set to a speed equal to or less than the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Aoki
  • Patent number: 11009765
    Abstract: A varifocal block includes, in optical series, a switchable half waveplate (SHWP) and a plurality of liquid crystal (LC) lenses. The SHWP outputs circularly polarized light, and a handedness of the circularly polarized light is controlled by the SHWP being in an active state or a non-active state. Each LC lens of the plurality of LC lenses has a plurality of optical states, the plurality of optical states including an additive state that adds optical power to the LC lens and a subtractive state that removes optical power from the LC lens. The plurality of optical states of each of the plurality of the LC lenses compounded in optical series provides a range of adjustment of optical power for the varifocal block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Lu Lu, Scott Charles McEldowney, Pasi Saarikko
  • Patent number: 10885613
    Abstract: Provided are systems, methods, and media for real-time alteration of underwater images. An example method includes receiving an image that is captured by a wearable electronic device of a user while submerged in water, in which the wearable electronic device of the user includes one or more display screens and one or more sensors, and in which the one or more sensors include one or more cameras that are configured to capture the image. The method includes adjusting the image based, at least in part, on one or more environmental factors of the water, in which the adjusting of the image includes adjusting colors of the image to compensate for changes in color while submerged in the water. The method includes causing the wearable electronic device to display the adjusted image to the user while submerged in water via the one or more display screens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Glenn P. Crawford, Christopher R. Florence, Rocky D. McMahan
  • Patent number: 10775614
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include optical aberration control for a camera system. Such a camera system may implement optical aberration control, e.g., by combining one or more variable focus devices with one or more actuators (e.g., a voice coil motor actuator) for moving a lens stack of the camera system to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) functionality. A variable focus device may have variable optical power to achieve AF, OIS, and/or introduce optical aberrations such as spherical aberration. In some implementations, the variable focus device may be driven to introduce optical aberrations, and the actuator for moving the lens stack may be driven to compensate for the optical power from the variable focus device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin A. Gross
  • Patent number: 10715731
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for image processing are described. The method includes detecting blurring in one or more images from a stream of images captured by a camera based on monitoring the stream of images, identifying a level of zoom based on detecting the blurring, selecting an autofocus configuration from a set of autofocus configurations based on the identified level of zoom, and performing an autofocus operation using the selected autofocus configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Rahul Khandelwal, Gazal Mittal, Lakshmi Kantha Reddy Ponnatota
  • Patent number: 10609274
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for performing an autofocus operation. An example device may include one or more processors and a memory. The memory may include instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to determine a focus value for each of a plurality of focal regions for a camera set to a focal length, and determine, based on the focus values, one or more focal regions of the plurality of focal regions to exclude from use in triggering or performing an autofocus operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Mooyoung Shin
  • Patent number: 10571665
    Abstract: Zoom digital cameras comprising a Wide sub-camera and a folded fixed Tele sub-camera. The folded Tele sub-camera may be auto-focused by moving either its lens or a reflecting element inserted in an optical path between its lens and a respective image sensor. The folded Tele sub-camera is configured to have a low profile to enable its integration within a portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg, Gal Avivi, Gil Bachar
  • Patent number: 10516819
    Abstract: An electronic device able to automatically select one of a plurality of lenses includes a lens module, an image sensor, a focusing module, and a processor. The lens module includes a standard lens, a macro lens, and a telephoto lens. The image sensor captures images and the focusing module controls the lenses to automatically focus on the object. The processor selects the standard lens as a current lens, obtains a first focusing distance at a first moment and a second focusing distance at a second moment, and determines to switch the current lens or not to switch according to a comparison of the first and second focusing distances. The second moment is later than the first moment. A lens switching method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Chiun Mai Communication Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: How-Wen Chien, Sung-Chieh Chang
  • Patent number: 10509209
    Abstract: Zoom digital cameras comprising a Wide sub-camera and a folded fixed Tele sub-camera. The folded Tele sub-camera may be auto-focused by moving either its lens or a reflecting element inserted in an optical path between its lens and a respective image sensor. The folded Tele sub-camera is configured to have a low profile to enable its integration within a portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg, Gal Avivi, Gil Bachar
  • Patent number: 10498949
    Abstract: A method of focusing a camera with a movable field of view includes obtaining a current field of view setting corresponding to a current field of view of the camera, retrieving, based on the obtained current field of view setting, focusing data pertaining to the focusing method that was previously used to focus the camera for a previous field of view, at least partly overlapping the obtained current field of view, by accessing a focusing assisting database comprising a plurality of camera focusing entries. wherein each camera focusing entry includes a respective previous field of view setting, corresponding to a respective previous field of view and thereto associated focusing data pertaining to the focusing method that was previously used to focus the camera for the respective previous field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: AXIS AB
    Inventors: Björn Ardö, Sebastian Hultqvist
  • Patent number: 10378886
    Abstract: A three dimensional measurement apparatus that measures a three-dimensional shape of a measurement subject based on an image obtained by capturing, by an image capturing unit, the measurement subject onto which a pattern is projected, the apparatus comprising: a compositing unit configured to composite a first image and a second image of the measurement subject respectively obtained under first imaging conditions and second imaging conditions that are different from the first imaging conditions, so that a relationship of an exposure amount produced by light incident on an image sensor of the image capturing unit and the magnitude of a luminance value corresponding to the exposure amount is maintained between the first image and the second image; and a measuring unit configured to measure the three-dimensional shape of the measurement subject based on the image composited by the compositing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaki Nakajima
  • Patent number: 10302764
    Abstract: An illumination module and a depth camera on a near-eye-display (NED) device used for depth tracking may be subject to strict power consumption budgets. To reduce power consumption of depth tracking, the illumination power of the illumination module is controllably varied. Such variation entails using a previous frame, or previously recorded data, to inform the illumination power used to generate a current frame. Once the NED determines the next minimum illumination power, the illumination module activates at that power level. The illumination module emits electromagnetic (EM) radiation (e.g. IR light), the EM radiation reflects off surfaces in the scene, and the reflected light is captured by the depth camera. The method repeats for subsequent frames, using contextual information from each of the previous frames to dynamically control the illumination power. Thus, the method reduces the overall power consumption of the depth camera assembly of the NED to a minimum level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond Kirk Price, Michael Bleyer, Denis Demandolx
  • Patent number: 10277801
    Abstract: The image capture device includes an optical system including a focus lens, a CCD that captures a subject image input via the optical system and generates an image signal, an image processor that generates image data by performing predetermined processing on the image signal generated by the CCD, and a controller. The controller performs a scan operation for detecting a focus position for each of a plurality of partial regions of image data while moving the focus lens and records a moving image by moving the focus lens while switching a moving speed of the focus lens based on information on the focus position obtained for each of the plurality of partial regions as a result of the scan operation. The plurality of partial regions is a plurality of regions obtained by dividing an image region of the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomohiro Oogami, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Kohei Fukugawa, Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 10156706
    Abstract: Zoom digital cameras comprising a Wide sub-camera and a folded fixed Tele sub-camera. The folded Tele sub-camera may be auto-focused by moving either its lens or a reflecting element inserted in an optical path between its lens and a respective image sensor. The folded Tele sub-camera is configured to have a low profile to enable its integration within a portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Robert Goldenberg, Gal Avivi, Gil Bachar
  • Patent number: 10148866
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging section, an image capture optical system, and a controller. The controller sets in an image a first focus adjustment region, which is a target of adjustment of focusing conditions, and a second focus adjustment region, which has a lower priority of adjustment of focusing than the first focus adjustment region. The controller performs focus adjustment based on the image data in the second focus adjustment region, if focus adjustment based on the image data in the first focus adjustment region is difficult. If the focus adjustment based on the image data in the first focus adjustment region is not difficult, while performing the focus adjustment based on the image data in the second focus adjustment region, the controller performs the focus adjustment based on the image data in the first focus adjustment region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 10006803
    Abstract: A contact detector circuit that detects a change in a DC sensor signal based on a change in a physical amount to be detected includes: a reference signal generation circuit that generates a reference signal based on the DC sensor signal; a trigger signal output circuit that compares the DC sensor signal with the reference signal and outputs a trigger signal based on a result of the comparison; and a sampling-and-holding circuit that holds the reference signal when the trigger signal is started to be outputted and outputs the held reference signal to the trigger signal output circuit while the trigger signal is outputted. The trigger signal output circuit uses the reference signal outputted by the sampling-and-holding circuit for the comparison with the DC sensor signal while the trigger signal is outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Mituoyo Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9992411
    Abstract: An electronic device with photographing function is provided. The electronic device includes a first image-capturing unit, a second image-capturing unit, a touch display screen and a processing unit. The first image-capturing unit includes a straight photosensitive unit. The second image-capturing unit includes a transverse photosensitive unit. The processing unit is coupled to the first image-capturing unit, the second image-capturing unit and the touch display screen. The processing unit determines, according to the user's operation of the electronic device, to use the straight photosensitive unit of the first image-capturing unit to capture a first image from a pickup target or to use the transverse photosensitive unit of the second image-capturing unit to capture a second image from the pickup target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Wistron Corp.
    Inventors: Yung-Yen Chang, Haiyan Jiang
  • Patent number: 9883095
    Abstract: A focus adjusting device which includes an edge detection unit that detects edges of a subject image for each color component forming an image including the subject image; a distribution detection unit that detects distributions of a focalized state and an unfocused state of the image based on the edges detected by the edge detection unit; and a control unit that moves a lens based on the distributions detected by the distribution detection unit, wherein the subject image is incident from an optical system having the lens, the control unit moves the lens, and thus the subject image is focused on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hayato Hokoi
  • Patent number: 9829684
    Abstract: Zoom digital cameras comprising a Wide sub-camera and a folded fixed Tele sub-camera. The folded Tele sub-camera may be auto-focused by moving either its lens or a reflecting element inserted in an optical path between its lens and a respective image sensor. The folded Tele sub-camera is configured to have a low profile to enable its integration within a portable electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: COREPHOTONICS LTD.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Robert Goldenberg, Gal Avivi, Gil Bachar
  • Patent number: 9805566
    Abstract: A video surveillance system may include at least one sensing unit capable of being operated in a scanning mode and a video processing unit coupled to the sensing unit, the video processing unit to receive and process image data from the sensing unit and to detect scene events and target activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: AVIGILON FORTRESS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew J. Chosak, Paul C. Brewer, Geoffrey Egnal, Himaanshu Gupta, Niels Haering, Alan J. Lipton, Li Yu
  • Patent number: 9772480
    Abstract: The image measurement device includes: a measurement target place specifying part that specifies a measurement target place on a workpiece image based on a user's operation; an illumination condition storage part that holds two or more illumination conditions; an imaging control part that controls a camera and an illumination device to acquire two or more of the workpiece images sequentially photographed while making the illumination condition different; a workpiece image display part that displays the acquired plurality of workpiece images; a workpiece image selecting part that selects any one of the displayed workpiece images; an illumination condition deciding part that decides the illumination condition based on the selected workpiece image; and a dimension calculating part that extracts an edge of the measurement target place based on the workpiece image photographed on the decided illumination condition, and obtains a dimension of the measurement target place based on the extracted edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Hayato Oba
  • Patent number: 9769375
    Abstract: An auto focus camera module includes a camera module housing defining an aperture and an internal cavity to accommodate camera module components, an image sensor coupled to or within the housing, a lens barrel within the housing that contains an optical train including at least one movable lens disposed relative to the aperture and image sensor to focus images of scenes onto the image sensor along an optical path, and a fast focus MEMS actuator coupled to one or more lenses of the optical train including the at least one movable lens and configured to rapidly move said at least one movable lens relative to the image sensor to provide autofocus for the camera module in each frame of a preview or video sequence or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMS
    Inventors: Petronel Bigioi, Peter Corcoran, Takanori Miki
  • Patent number: 9762789
    Abstract: An autofocus device includes: an imaging element; an imaging element driver; an imaging element driving controller; a detector; a focus determiner; and a speed parameter calculator. The focus determiner detects a focus position based on a contrast value. The speed parameter calculator calculates a speed parameter used to set a driving speed of the imaging element driver based on the contrast value. The imaging element driving controller performs first and second driving controls for detecting the focus position based on the speed parameter in an autofocus operation. Also, the imaging element driving controller sets, during the first driving control, a driving speed of the imaging element driver for the second driving control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Matsui, Masahiro Inata, Norikazu Katsuyama
  • Patent number: 9729835
    Abstract: A method is provided for switching operation of a monitoring system from a first monitoring mode to a second monitoring mode. An overview image is presented when the monitoring system is in a first monitoring mode. A direction signal is received from a control means when the monitoring system is in the first monitoring mode. A camera is directed in an absolute direction indicated by the direction signal in accordance with a first camera control scheme. The monitoring system enters into a second monitoring mode in response to receiving the direction signal presenting a detailed image view captured by the camera when directed in the direction indicated by the direction signal. When in the second monitoring mode, a camera head of the camera is moved in response to control signals from the control means in accordance with a second control scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: AXIS AB
    Inventors: John Rehn, Niklas Svensson, Andreas Palsson
  • Patent number: 9638910
    Abstract: The image measurement device includes: a measurement target place specifying part that specifies a measurement target place on a workpiece image based on a user's operation; an illumination condition storage part that holds two or more illumination conditions; an imaging control part that controls a camera and an illumination device to acquire two or more of the workpiece images sequentially photographed while making the illumination condition different; a workpiece image display part that displays the acquired plurality of workpiece images; a workpiece image selecting part that selects any one of the displayed workpiece images; an illumination condition deciding part that decides the illumination condition based on the selected workpiece image; and a dimension calculating part that extracts an edge of the measurement target place based on the workpiece image photographed on the decided illumination condition, and obtains a dimension of the measurement target place based on the extracted edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventor: Hayato Oba
  • Patent number: 9638908
    Abstract: The image measurement device includes: a side-emitting illumination device that has a light amount distribution sharply changing in a photographing axis direction of a camera, and irradiates a workpiece on a movable stage with illumination light from a side; a measurement target place specifying part that specifies a measurement target place on a workpiece image; an illumination position adjusting part that moves the side-emitting illumination device in the photographing axis direction, to adjust a relative position of the side-emitting illumination device to the movable stage; a relative position identifying part that obtains a change in luminance in the measurement target place with respect to two or more of the workpiece images photographed by making the relative position different, to identify a relative position; an imaging control part that controls the illumination position adjusting part based on the identified relative position and drives the side-emitting illumination device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Keyence Corporation
    Inventors: Hayato Oba, Koji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9638985
    Abstract: An adjusting method and device of focusing curve of camera lens is disclosed. Steps of the adjusting method of focusing curve of camera lens includes: determining an adjustable moving range; moving the camera lens in the area of adjustable moving range, and recording a high definition of the camera lens; computing a difference value of a initial position of the camera lens and the high definition of the camera lens, and computing a focus offset; adjusting the focusing curve according to the focusing curve. Therefore, the angle of the camera lens motor can be adjusted accurately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignees: NANNING FUGUI PRECISION INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Cheng-Long Lin
  • Patent number: 9628704
    Abstract: An image capture accelerator performs accelerated processing of image data. In one embodiment, the image capture accelerator includes accelerator circuitry including a pre-processing engine and a compression engine. The pre-processing engine is configured to perform accelerated processing on received image data, and the compression engine is configured to compress processed image data received from the pre-processing engine. In one embodiment, the image capture accelerator further includes a demultiplexer configured to receive image data captured by an image sensor array implemented within, for example, an image sensor chip. The demultiplexer may output the received image data to an image signal processor when the image data is captured by the image sensor array in a standard capture mode, and may output the received image data to the accelerator circuitry when the image data is captured by the image sensor array in an accelerated capture mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Patrick Campbell, Paul Mobbs, Balineedu Chowdary Adsumilli, Sumit Chawla
  • Patent number: 9621784
    Abstract: There is provided a focus control apparatus including: a first adjustment unit configured to adjust a focus distance; a second adjustment unit configured to adjust an addition amount of the focus distance adjusted with the first adjustment unit; and a focus control unit configured to control a focus based on the focus distance adjusted with the first adjustment unit and the addition amount adjusted with the second adjustment unit. Also provided are a focus control method, a camera apparatus and a focus control method in the camera apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Kamiya
  • Patent number: 9591195
    Abstract: Camera control architecture and methods that distribute control responsibilities across hard real-time and soft real-time parts. The operation of digital camera control algorithms can be made less sensitive to timing fluctuations among the various systems within a device platform that includes a camera module (CM) and/or image signal processing (ISP) pipeline. Real-time dispatch of control parameter values may be offloaded from a controller responsible for generating control parameter values. With relaxed timing requirements, camera control algorithm libraries may be developed independent of lower-level hardware responsible for managing the dispatch of control parameter values to the CM and/or ISP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jarno Nikkanen, Liron Ain-Kedem
  • Patent number: 9584731
    Abstract: A camera system is provided that provides a smooth and centered zoom, even at high levels of magnification. The camera system corrects for misalignment between the optical axis of a lens and center of an image sensor. As a result of the misalignment, the center of an image will move during a zoom movement. The current camera system corrects for the misalignment as the zoom movement occurs. The correction is matched to the speed of the zoom in order to provide a fluid zoom movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Avigilon Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Wai Neufeld, Sina Afrooze
  • Patent number: 9581882
    Abstract: An image capturing device and an auto-focus method thereof are provided, where the method includes the following steps. An exposure time is calculated by using an optical sensing element of the first lens. Whether the exposure time exceeds a time threshold is determined. If so, a global maximum search is concurrently performed by the first lens with a first resolution and a first step size as well as by the second lens with a second resolution and a second step size, where the first resolution is higher than the second resolution, and the first step size is less than the second step size. When a focus region in which a focus position is located is obtained by using the second lens, the focus position would be searched out from the focus region by using the first lens so as to obtain a new focus image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventors: Shih-Ting Huang, Chao-Shih Huang