With Plural Sensors Patents (Class 358/514)
  • Patent number: 11939214
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a device comprising a membrane extending over a useful cavity, the method comprising: providing a generic structure comprising a surface layer extending in a main plane and arranged on a first face of a support substrate, the support substrate comprising elementary cavities opening under the surface layer and partitions delimiting each elementary cavity, the partitions having top surfaces that form all or part of the first face of the support substrate; defining a group of adjacent elementary cavities, such that a contour of the group of elementary cavities corresponds, in the main plane, to a contour of the useful cavity; and removing the partitions situated within the contour of the group of elementary cavities, in order to form the useful cavity, and to free the surface layer arranged above the useful cavity and forming the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Soitec
    Inventor: Bruno Ghyselen
  • Patent number: 11695892
    Abstract: A reading device includes a light source, an image sensor, a background board, and an image processing circuitry. The light source irradiates visible light and invisible light to a subject. The image sensor receives the visible light and the invisible light, each of which is reflected from the subject, to capture a visible image and an invisible image. The background board is provided in an image capturing range of the image sensor. The background board is a background portion. The image processing circuitry detects a feature amount of the subject and the background portion from at least one of the visible image and the invisible image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shogo Nakamura, Ayumu Hashimoto, Masamoto Nakazawa, Tadaaki Oyama
  • Patent number: 11546482
    Abstract: A document reading apparatus having a display unit and a placement section on which plural documents is to be placed includes a conveyance unit and a reading unit. The conveyance unit conveys a document placed on the placement section. The reading unit reads a document conveyed by the conveyance unit and generates image data. Based on at least a reading mode being set on the document reading apparatus of reading a plurality of documents of a plurality of different sizes in a single job by the reading unit, first prompting information that prompts placement of the plurality of documents at a center of the placement section in a direction perpendicular to a document conveyance direction in which the conveyance unit conveys the plurality of documents is displayed on the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Totsuka
  • Patent number: 11412100
    Abstract: An image forming system including: a conveyance unit configured to convey a first sheet on which an image has been formed by an image forming portion; a reading unit including a reading sensor configured to read the first sheet being conveyed by the conveyance unit through a transparent member at a reading position; a guide member configured to cover a reference member on a side opposite to the reading sensor with respect to the transparent member; and a controller configured to perform shading correction on a result of reading the first sheet based on image data obtained by the reading unit reading the reference member through the transparent member, and to control, based on an image subjected to the shading correction, a geometric characteristic of an image to be formed on a second sheet by the image forming portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohito Nakagawa, Teppei Nagata, Yukihiro Soeta, Shogo Terakawa
  • Patent number: 11200652
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus processes image data generated by a reading unit configured to read a document, using at least one of a plurality of types of reading elements that have different spectral sensitivity characteristics and are cyclically arrayed in a first direction, by scanning the document in a second direction vertical to the first direction. The image processing apparatus includes a processing unit configured to perform, on the image data, filter processing for averaging pixel values of pixels at least equal in number to the types of the reading elements in the first direction, wherein the processing unit is implemented by at least one processor or at least one circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinji Sano
  • Patent number: 10931887
    Abstract: There is provided a collation device capable of capturing a face image suitable for collation by an imaging device while making a display suitable for collation by a display to a person in the front side of a half mirror. By disposing a plurality of displays with predetermined gap in the back side of the half mirror and disposing camera lenses and in this gap, it is possible to make the line of sight for viewing the display and the line of sight for imaging by the cameras be almost the same. As a result, it is possible to capture a face image suitable for collation by an imaging device while making a display suitable for collation by a display to a person in the front side of the half mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yosuke Nozue, Kazuki Maeno, Hiroaki Yoshio, Masao Kubota, Yoshinori Kunieda, Hiroyuki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10860125
    Abstract: Disclosed are a display panel and a display device which can sense a fingerprint. A photo-sensor is disposed within a sub-pixel, a voltage change of a pixel electrode according to a leakage current of the photo-sensor exposed to light is sensed, and a fingerprint is sensed, so that a fingerprint can be sensed in an active area of a display panel. Also, a voltage change of the pixel electrode is sensed using a common electrode without directly applying a driving voltage to the pixel electrode, so as to perform driving of the pixel electrode and light irradiation together, thereby enabling a reduction in a fingerprint sensing mode and detection of only the level of a leakage voltage during fingerprint sensing. Therefore, a sensing circuit can be efficiently configured, and sensing sensitivity can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: HongChul Kim
  • Patent number: 10747354
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a piezoelectric detection circuit, an array, a pressure detection device and a method. The piezoelectric detection circuit comprises a constant current circuit, a dual-gate transistor, and a transmission circuit. The dual-gate transistor comprises a first gate, a second gate, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The first gate is configured to receive a first voltage signal. The second gate is configured to receive a bias voltage and a pressure. The first electrode is electrically connected to a first voltage terminal. The second electrode is configured to receive a constant current. The transmission circuit is configured to output a second voltage signal from the second electrode. A magnitude of the pressure is obtained according to an amplitude of the second voltage signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chihjen Cheng, Xueyou Cao, Pengpeng Wang, Xiaoliang Ding, Yuzhen Guo
  • Patent number: 10488965
    Abstract: A touch display device, a display panel, a touch-sensing method, a touch-sensing circuit, and a driving circuit, are discussed, which can detect a signal utilizing a pixel electrode and can remove a noise component that may be generated at the time of touch position sensing or fingerprint sensing while sensing a touch position or a fingerprint based on the detected signal, thereby improving sensing performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: YoungJoon Lee, HongChul Kim, SungYub Lee, Seongkyu Kang
  • Patent number: 10384932
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a micromechanical component, including: providing a MEMS wafer and a cap wafer; forming micromechanical structures in the MEMS wafer for at least two sensors; hermetically sealing the MEMS wafer with the cap wafer; forming a first access hole in a first cavity of a first sensor; introducing a defined first pressure into the cavity of the first sensor via the first access hole; closing the first access hole; forming a second access hole in a second cavity of a second sensor; introducing a defined second pressure into the cavity of the second sensor via the second access hole; and closing the second access hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Achim Breitling, Jan-Peter Stadler, Jochen Reinmuth, Johannes Classen
  • Patent number: 10384611
    Abstract: A vehicle vision system includes an extender element disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle. The extender element includes an extender portion and an end portion, with the end portion viewable to a viewer who is viewing the rear of the vehicle. The end portion includes at least one of (i) a vehicle emblem and (ii) a vehicle logo. A rear backup camera assembly is at least partially disposed in the extender portion of the extender element. The rear backup camera assembly is disposed with its lens viewing exterior of the vehicle. The extender element is incapable of extending such that the rear backup camera is non-movable relative to the rear portion of the vehicle when disposed at the rear portion of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: William G. Briggance
  • Patent number: 10313621
    Abstract: [Object] The present technique relates to an image pickup device, a control method, and an image pickup apparatus with which more diverse pickup images can be obtained. [Solving Means] An image pickup device according to the present technique includes: a pixel array that reads out pixel signals obtained by photoelectrically converting incident light, from each of a plurality of pixels in the pixel array; an analog processing unit that carries out signal processing on the analog pixel signals to obtain digital image data; a storage unit that stores the image data; a signal processing unit that carries out signal processing on the image data stored in the storage unit; an output unit that outputs the image data stored in the storage unit; and a control unit that causes reading processing, analog processing, digital processing, and output processing to be executed at processing speeds independent from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keita Sasaki, Tsutomu Nakajima, Jun Hashizume
  • Patent number: 10276615
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device that can improve the sensitivity of imaging pixels while maintaining AF properties of a focus detecting pixel. The present technology also relates to a method of manufacturing the solid-state imaging device, and an electronic apparatus. The solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel array unit including pixels; first microlenses formed in the respective pixels; a film formed to cover the first microlenses of the respective pixels; and a second microlens formed on the film of the focus detecting pixel among the pixels. The present technology can be applied to CMOS image sensors, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hirokazu Shibuta
  • Patent number: 10075687
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an imaging apparatus, an imaging method, and a program that are capable of obtaining a higher-quality luminance image. The imaging apparatus captures a luminance image with a monochrome image sensor and also captures a color image with a color image sensor. A magnification aberration amount determination unit analyzes the amount of magnification chromatic aberration of each image height position on the basis of information on magnification chromatic aberration of a lens unit. A recording image selection unit selects the luminance image captured with the monochrome image sensor or a luminance image obtained from the color image captured with the color image sensor on the basis of the result of the analysis on the amount of magnification chromatic aberration, and sets the selected luminance image as a recording image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tadashi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9975484
    Abstract: A vehicle vision system includes an extender element disposed at a rear portion of a vehicle. The extender element includes an extender portion and an end portion, with the end portion viewable to a viewer who is viewing the rear of the vehicle. The end portion includes at least one of (i) a vehicle emblem and (ii) a vehicle logo. A rear backup camera assembly is at least partially disposed in the extender portion of the extender element. The rear backup camera assembly is disposed with its lens viewing exterior of the vehicle. The extender element is incapable of extending such that the rear backup camera is non-movable relative to the rear portion of the vehicle when disposed at the rear portion of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: William G. Briggance
  • Patent number: 9442296
    Abstract: An integrated image sensor capable of determining the distance to objects contained in a scene, including a pixel array, each pixel in the array being associated with a microlens and being formed of an assembly of sub-pixels, each including a photosensitive area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
    Inventor: Jérôme Vaillant
  • Patent number: 9386246
    Abstract: To provide a small-area photoelectric conversion device without impairing a resolution switching function, signals for controlling output order control switches provided so as to correspond to photoelectric conversion elements are selected by an output order control circuit and a shift register. In this manner, the number of flip-flops forming a shift register is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: SII SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu Tomioka, Daisuke Muraoka
  • Patent number: 9174838
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a multiple MEMS device. A semiconductor substrate having a first and second MEMS device, and an encapsulation wafer with a first cavity and a second cavity, which includes at least one channel, can be provided. The first MEMS can be encapsulated within the first cavity and the second MEMS device can be encapsulated within the second cavity. These devices can be encapsulated within a provided first encapsulation environment at a first air pressure, encapsulating the first MEMS device within the first cavity at the first air pressure. The second MEMS device within the second cavity can then be subjected to a provided second encapsulating environment at a second air pressure via the channel of the second cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: mCube Inc.
    Inventors: Wenhua Zhang, Shingo Yoneoka
  • Patent number: 9151776
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a combined sensor capable of suppressing the influence of electrostatic force generated by a potential difference and preventing a reduction in the S/N ratio or a variation in the sensitivity of a sensor. A combined sensor according to the invention includes first and second movable portions and first and second dummy portions provided around the first and second movable portions, which are formed in a layer of a laminated substrate. The first dummy portion and the second dummy portion are electrically separated from each other. A first potential is applied to the first movable portion and the first dummy portion and a second potential is applied to the second movable portion and the second dummy portion (see FIG. 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Heewon Jeong, Masahide Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9102170
    Abstract: A printer which is connected to a post-processing apparatus, the post-processing apparatus performing a wrapped binding in which a paper sheet bundle including a plurality of inner paper sheets is wrapped by outer paper sheets, and which prints the outer paper sheets and inner paper sheets to be sent out to the post-processing apparatus, wherein the printer includes a control unit configured to control printing of the inner paper sheets and the outer paper sheets in cooperation with the post-processing apparatus, and the control unit is configured to set printing restart information of inner paper sheets and printing restart information of outer paper sheets, and controls a restarting of printing in accordance with the setting, when printing is restarted after an abnormal conveyance that occurred inside of the post-processing apparatus has been resolved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: RISO KAGAKU CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Hanamoto, Yoshikazu Hara, Hideaki Ogawa, Kazuaki Mori, Hiroaki Takanohashi, Yousuke Minowa, Yoshiaki Kono
  • Patent number: 9041987
    Abstract: An image evaluation apparatus includes a reading unit that includes a monochrome detection unit reading, in a focused state, an image formed on a recording material by an image forming apparatus that represents grayscale of the image by forming dots on the recording material, and a color detection unit reading the image in a defocused state; an image information obtaining unit that obtains image information for the image forming apparatus to form the image; a computing unit that computes a luminance and a chroma of an image supposed to be formed on the recording material by the image forming apparatus from the obtained image information; a comparing unit that compares a derived luminance with the computed luminance, and compares a derived chroma with the computed chroma; and an image evaluation unit that evaluates the image formed by the image forming apparatus, on the basis of results of comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyofumi Aikawa, Michio Kikuchi, Takashi Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 9036162
    Abstract: An image sensing and printing digital camera device includes a housing defining a slot for receiving a printed instruction card having printed thereon an array of dots representing a programming script, the housing further storing therein a roll of print media; an area image sensor for sensing an image and generating pixel data representing the image; a linear image sensor for scanning the array of dots on the card and converting the array of dots into a data signal; a microcontroller provided in the housing, the microcontroller for decoding the data signal into the programming script and applying the programming script on the pixel data; and a printing mechanism for printing the pixel data, having applied thereto the programming script, on the roll of print media. The microcontroller integrates on a single chip a VLIW processor, a printhead interface, and an output buffer effecting communication between the VLIW processor and the printhead interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 9030601
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus in which a pixel area including arrangement of a plurality of pixels each having a photoelectric conversion portion and a common output portion for sequentially amplifying and outputting signals from the plurality of pixels included in the pixel area are formed on a single semiconductor substrate, comprises a power supply unit for effecting power supply control of the common output portion independently of control on power supply to the pixel area, and a control circuit for effecting control to supply no power to the common output portion in a predetermined period after starting photo charge accumulation in the photoelectric conversion portion and supply the power to the common output portion before the end of a photo charge accumulation period in the photoelectric conversion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoichi Sato
  • Patent number: 9025060
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor which comprises a pixel group in which unit pixels each including a microlens and a plurality of photo-electric converters are arrayed two-dimensionally, wherein a shielding unit that shields part of all of a plurality of photo-electric converters corresponding to a single microlens is provided in a portion of the unit pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akihiro Nishio, Ichiro Onuki, Koichi Fukuda, Ryo Yamasaki, Hideaki Yamamoto, Makoto Oikawa
  • Patent number: 9013717
    Abstract: A handheld imaging device includes an image sensor for sensing an image; a multi-core processor for processing the sensed image; and a program memory provided external to the multi-core processor, and communicating therewith via a communication bus. The multi-core processor includes a bus interface for interfacing with the communication bus, and further includes an image sensor interface for interfacing with the image sensor separately from the communication bus and the bus interface. The multi-core processor includes a plurality of parallel processing units connected by a crossbar switch to form the multi-core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8989487
    Abstract: Provided are an image composition apparatus for composing color images with black-and-white images including infrared components, and an image composition method thereof. The image composition method includes generating a first image signal with color information and a second image signal including infrared components without color information, dividing the first image signal into a brightness signal and a color signal, composing the brightness signal of the first image signal with a brightness signal of the second image signal to generate a composed brightness signal, and composing the composed brightness signal with the color signal of the first image signal to generate a color image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-hee Choe, Jae-hyun Kwon, Seong-deok Lee
  • Patent number: 8953178
    Abstract: A handheld digital camera device including: a digital camera unit having a first image sensor for capturing images and a color display for displaying captured images to a user; an integral processor configured for: controlling operation of the first image sensor and color display; decoding an imaged coding pattern printed on a substrate, the printed coding pattern employing Reed-Solomon encoding; and performing an action in the handheld digital camera device based on the decoded coding pattern. The decoding includes the steps of: detecting target structures defining an extent of a data area; determining the data area using the detected target structures; and Reed-Solomon decoding the coding pattern contained in the determined data area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8953233
    Abstract: Correction of brightness of image data outputted by an image sensor which includes a light emitting portion, a photoelectric conversion portion in which a plurality of photoelectric transducers are arrayed in line, and a charge transfer portion. For a smear occurred at the charge transfer portion, reference smear amount data is stored, corresponding to each of color components of light from the light emitting portion and a correction target pixel. A correction amount for brightness is based on a difference between brightness values of a first color component and a second color component and the reference smear amount data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Sakai
  • Patent number: 8947753
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a plurality of light-receiving units configured to perform photoelectric conversion for different colors, respectively, each light light-receiving unit including a plurality of pixels; a plurality of output units provided for the light-receiving units, each output unit sequentially converting charges of the respective pixels produced by the photoelectric conversion into voltages and sequentially outputting the voltages; a switching unit configured to switch between signal paths so as to alternate output of the voltage between the output units in accordance with a switching signal input from an external device; and an electric-potential applying unit configured to apply an offset potential to the voltages output by the output units until a predetermined time has elapsed since switching between the signal paths by the switching unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Masahiro Hiranuma
  • Patent number: 8947679
    Abstract: A portable handheld device including a CPU for processing a script; a multi-core processor for processing an image; an input buffer for receiving data for processing by the multi-core processor, the input buffer being provided under the control of the multi-core processor to send data thereto; and an output buffer for receiving data processed by the multi-core processor, the output buffer being provided under the control of the multi-core processor to receive data therefrom. The multi-core processor comprises a plurality of micro-coded processing units. The CPU is configured with authority to clear and query the input and output buffers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8941898
    Abstract: A sensor IC of the present invention is provided with plurality of light receiving portions arranged in a row along a primary scanning direction and including a first light receiving portion for receiving light of a first wavelength, a second light receiving portion for receiving light of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, and a third light receiving portion for receiving light of a third wavelength different from the first wavelength and the second wavelength. The sensor IC further includes a control circuit that outputs a first electric signal corresponding to light of the first wavelength received by the first light receiving portion, a second electric signal corresponding to light of the second wavelength received by the second light receiving portion, and a third electric signal corresponding to light of the third wavelength received by the third light receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Onishi, Kuniaki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8937727
    Abstract: A portable handheld device includes an image sensor for capturing an image; an orientation sensor for determining a rotation of the image sensor; and a system-on-chip processor having integrated on a common wafer a CPU for processing a script language, a multi-core processor for processing an image captured by the image sensor, and a common synchronization register. The multi-core processor includes multiple processing units connected in parallel by a crossbar switch. Each processing unit stores one or more synchronization bits for identifying which of the other processing units are functioning as a single process therewith. The common synchronization register contains therein synchronization bits from each of the processing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8928897
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a portable handheld device includes a CPU for processing a script; a multi-core processor for processing an image, and a DRAM for storing image data. The CPU and the multi-core processor are integrated on one chip and share a data cache provided on the same chip. The DRAM is provided external to the chip. The portable handheld device further comprises a DRAM interface for receiving and sending data to the DRAM, the DRAM interface being provided on the same chip and sharing the data cache with the CPU and the multi-core processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8928961
    Abstract: An image reading device has a light source section that includes light sources of a plurality of colors and that emits light in one color during a period for reading one line and switches the color of the light source lit cyclically from one line to the next, an image sensor that reads one color per line, a data generation section that generates image data of the light source color which is the color of the light source lit during reading, a memory that stores a plurality of lines' worth of the image data, and a remaining color component generation section that determines the pixel value of a color component other than the light source color based on the pixel values of pixels around a pixel of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kei Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8922846
    Abstract: A reading apparatus reads an object placed faceup on a reading plate by using an imaging unit attached above the reading plate, and determines whether a user has reversed the read object by using information about the read object. If the read object is determined to have been reversed, the reading apparatus reads the reversed object by using the imaging unit and associates respective pieces of data of the two read objects with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiromi Omi
  • Patent number: 8922791
    Abstract: A camera system including: a substrate having a coding pattern printed thereon and a handheld digital camera device. The camera device includes: a digital camera unit having a first image sensor for capturing images and a color display for displaying captured images to a user; an integral processor configured for: controlling operation of the first image sensor and color display; decoding an imaged coding pattern printed on a substrate, the printed coding pattern employing Reed-Solomon encoding; and performing an action in the handheld digital camera device based on the decoded coding pattern. The decoding includes the steps of: detecting target structures defining the extent of the data area; determining the data area using the detected target structures; and Reed-Solomon decoding the coding pattern contained in the determined data area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8922682
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an array of daisy chained image sensors, with each image sensor including a pixel array. A host is coupled to an image sensor at an end of the array and is configured to insert identification codes. The identification codes include embedded data values to thereby indicate specific parts of the image data, and a set of identification codes comprising a first identification code to identify a start of a data stream and a second identification code to identify an end of the data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Jeffrey Raynor, Patrick Baxter
  • Patent number: 8885180
    Abstract: A portable handheld device includes an image sensor for capturing an image; an orientation sensor for determining a rotation of the image sensor; and a system-on-chip processor having integrated on a common wafer a CPU for processing a script language, a multi-core processor for processing an image captured by the image sensor, and a common synchronization register. The multi-core processor includes multiple processing units connected in parallel by a crossbar switch. Each processing unit stores one or more synchronization bits for identifying which of the other processing units are functioning as a single process therewith. The common synchronization register contains therein synchronization bits from each of the processing units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8885179
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the disclosure, a portable handheld device includes a CPU for processing a script; a multi-core processor for processing an image, and a DRAM for storing image data. The CPU and the multi-core processor are integrated on one chip and share a data cache provided on the same chip. The DRAM is provided external to the chip. The portable handheld device further comprises a DRAM interface for receiving and sending data to the DRAM, the DRAM interface being provided on the same chip and sharing the data cache with the CPU and the multi-core processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8861046
    Abstract: A multi-functional device comprising an image forming apparatus to form a printing image and a scanner module to scan an image. The scanner module includes an illuminator to illuminate a light to a document mount, a sensor unit to read an image information of an object placed on the document mount, and an imaging lens to focus the light reflected from the object onto the sensor unit. The illuminator includes a light source to emit light, a light guiding unit and changes a traveling path of the light emitted from the light source to illuminate the document mount, and a guide holder which comprises an installation part where the light guiding unit is installed, and a mounting part where the light source holder is mounted to provide the light source at least one side of the light guiding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaname Nagatani, Dong-hun Lee
  • Patent number: 8854704
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light source unit, an image sensor, an attenuator, an analog processor and an A/D converter. The attenuator generates a second analog signal by voltage-dividing a first analog signal by two resistors. The analog processor generates a third analog signal by amplifying the second analog signal with a predetermined gain. The A/D converter converts the third analog signal into a digital signal. A voltage-dividing ratio of the attenuator is not higher than a ratio of a maximum value of the amplitude of a signal inputtable to the analog processor to a maximum value of the amplitude of a signal having a possibility of being output from the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Masayoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8848209
    Abstract: A sensor substrate unit is formed by connecting edges of a plurality of sensor substrates in a longitudinal direction. Sensor chips at the edges are mounted beyond the edges. The edges include convex portions and convex portions for connecting the sensor substrates. Farthest tips of the sensor chips are positioned inside of farthest edges of the convex portions and inside of farthest edges of the convex portions in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Junya Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8817345
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for image processing using multiple imaging devices are provided. A first imaging device is configured to acquire a first image of a portion of a printed substrate and the second imaging device is configured to acquire a second image of a portion of the printed substrate. At least a portion of the first image and the second image are acquired from the same portion of the printed substrate at the same time. The first imaging device is configured to process color data from the first image using a first processing circuit of the first imaging device and the second imaging device is configured to process spatial information from the second image using a separate second processing circuit of the second imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Quad/Tech, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick James Noffke
  • Patent number: 8767233
    Abstract: A method of detecting and correcting imaging defects in a media printed on a high-speed multi-color printer includes providing a multisensory imaging device (10); illuminating the media; sensing images on the media at high resolution with at least one high resolution sensor (20) as it passes the multisensory imaging device; transmitting an output of the high resolution sensor to a controller (19); sensing images on the media at low resolution with at least one low resolution sensor (24); calculating a correction for stitch; adjusting a timing of image data provided to image writers to align the inkjets to produce an optimal cross-track line; and providing a full page view from the low resolution sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Stacy M. Munechika, Christopher B. Liston
  • Patent number: 8760739
    Abstract: A scanner apparatus and method includes an optical scanner, at least one movable carriage associated with the optical scanner, and a point sensor that rides the movable carriage to measure a slow scan document width associated with a document scanned by the optical scanner. The point sensor moves in a slow scan direction with respect to the document scanned by the optical scanner. The point sensor also includes a single moving size sensor that improves a resolution by which a size associated with the document is determinable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Simon Golding, Michael John Wilsher
  • Patent number: 8743435
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an ADF driven by a motor; an image reading unit transmitting charges accumulated in a photoelectric conversion element as a shift pulse to a shift register; and a shift pulse control unit controlling an output timing of the shift pulse based on rotation of the motor. When the rotation of the motor stops, the shift pulse control unit outputs the shift pulse to transmit the charges accumulated in lighting of a light source immediately before the stoppage of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hideto Yamakita
  • Patent number: 8730545
    Abstract: The precision of phase difference AF control is raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Endo, Yoichi Iwasaki, Takashi Aoki, Kazuki Inoue, Kenkichi Hayashi, Seiji Tanaka, Noriko Kawamura
  • Patent number: 8717649
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. A color contact image sensor (CIS) module employing a single channel line sensor can be used to produce substantially the same performance as a color CIS module employing a three-channel line sensor and having color filters to, for example, reduce manufacturing costs. Moreover, a blurring phenomenon that can occur in a scanned image can be reduced and the quality of the scanned image can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Mi Kim, Jong Hyon Yi
  • Patent number: 8717640
    Abstract: An optical scanner includes a light source for projecting a light beam, a deflector for deflecting the light beam, a reflective member for reflecting the light beam toward a target, a contact member, and a pressing member. The reflective member includes a reflective plane and a rear plane opposite the reflective plane. The contact member contacts one of the rear plane of the reflective member and a first lateral plane perpendicular to the reflective plane to position the reflective member in place. The pressing member presses the reflective member against the contact member and includes a first pressing portion to press the reflective plane of the reflective member and a second pressing portion to press a ridge of the reflective member at which the reflective plane and a second lateral plane opposite the first lateral plane and perpendicular to the reflective plane of the reflective member meet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Susumu Mikajiri
  • Patent number: 8705117
    Abstract: A hand-held printer is disclosed. The hand-held printer includes an image sensor configured to determine a color having plurality of color components associated with a print medium, an image processing module configured to process image data into a plurality of color layers; and a print module configured to receive information related to the plurality of color components from the image sensor and information related to the plurality of color layers from the image processing module. The print module being configured to enhance at least one of the plurality of color layers based on at least one of the corresponding plurality of color components associated with the print medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Todd A. McClelland, Asher Simmons