Variable Intensity Control Patents (Class 396/164)
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Patent number: 11886097Abstract: A camera can capture an image of a scene during an exposure duration of the camera. An illumination system for the camera can include a light-emitting diode (LED) array. The LED array can include a plurality of LEDs that can produce light during the exposure duration of the camera. The LED array can include one or more non-emitting areas located between adjacent LEDs in the LED array. A lens can direct the light toward the scene as illumination. The illumination can include one or more dark bands corresponding to the one or more non-emitting areas of the LED array, optionally surrounding the LEDs in the LED array. An actuator can translate at least one of the LED array or the lens during the exposure duration of the camera so as to blur the one or more dark bands in the illumination in the image of the scene.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2022Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Lumileds LLCInventors: Arjen Gerben Van der Sijde, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer
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Patent number: 11736812Abstract: Provided herein may be an image sensing device and a method of operating the same. The image sensing device may include an image sensor configured to acquire an image including a plurality of pixel values, a memory configured to store reference gain values of each of a plurality of block areas included in the image, and an image processor configured to calculate gain values included in each of the plurality of block areas using the reference gain values and to output a correction image in which the reference gain values and the gain values are applied to the plurality of pixel values, wherein the block areas include a first block area and a second block area having a shorter distance from a center of the image than the first block area and having a size greater than that of the first block area.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2021Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: SK hynix Inc.Inventors: Ji Hee Han, Jeong Yong Song, Jae Yoon Yoo
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Patent number: 11729518Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for rendering a combined image. In use, two or more source images including at least one strobe image and at least one ambient image are loaded. A pixel-level correction is estimated for at least one of the two or more source images based on a pixel level correction function. At least one pixel of the two or more source images is color-corrected based on the pixel-level correction. A first blend weight associated with the two or more source images is initialized, and a first combined image from the two or more source images is rendered based on the color-correction and the first blend weight. Additional systems, methods, and computer program products are also presented.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: DUELIGHT LLCInventors: William Guie Rivard, Adam Barry Feder, Brian J. Kindle
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Patent number: 11483490Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a plurality of image capturing units each configured to change its position on a circle centered on a first axis, and to rotate around a second axis that is closer to each image capturing unit of the plurality of image capturing units than the first axis and that is parallel to the first axis, a plurality of illumination units configured to emit illumination light in different directions, and a control unit configured to control the plurality of illumination units. The control unit is configured to make the plurality of illumination units emit light, according to a rotation state of the image capturing unit around the second axis.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2021Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Kohsuke Kawabata, Tomohiko Takayama
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Patent number: 10496909Abstract: Systems and methods for utilizing one or more cameras at a mobile device to assist in the implementing anti-counterfeit measures for digital barcodes are disclosed. For example, the systems and methods use a mobile device's front camera to capture photographs (or images) at a certain frequency (e.g., capture a photograph every 0.20 seconds). The systems and methods then scan the captured photograph and retrieve relevant image data (for example, scan image vertically and utilize image data of every fourth pixel). The systems and methods compare certain properties of the retrieved image data with properties of one or more comparison light sources. When the systems and methods detect a match (for example, a match within certain threshold parameters), they identify a barcode among a set of barcodes and display the identified barcode at a display screen of the mobile device.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2018Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc.Inventor: Jacob Holman
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Patent number: 10123401Abstract: A method to be implemented by a vehicle capable of communication with a portable electronic device is shown. The vehicle includes an electrical system including a power switch, and an indicating system including a processor, a wireless transmission module and an indicating unit. The method includes: controlling the electrical system to temporarily provide electric power to the indicating system when the power switch is switched from a conductive state to a non-conductive state; determining whether a wireless connection is established between the portable electronic device and the wireless transmission module. When it is determined that the wireless connection is established, activating the indicating unit to output an indication signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2017Date of Patent: November 6, 2018Assignee: KWANG YANG MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Chen-Sheng Lin, Yi-Yang Tsai, John C. Wang, Ming-San Huang, Li-Hui Chen, Chi-Hui Hsu, Nai-Kun Yeh, Chih-Feng Hsu
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Patent number: 9973735Abstract: A camera apparatus includes a rotatable camera unit; a filter unit which is configured to selectively take at least one of a covering state and a standby state, wherein the covering state covers a light incident portion of the camera unit with a filter and the standby state removes the filter from the light incident portion; a controller which is configured to control a rotation of the camera unit and a state of the filter unit; and a memory which stores posture information including a direction of the camera unit and filter information representing at least one of the covering state and the standby state of the filter unit. The controller controls the direction of the camera unit based on the posture information stored in the memory and controls the filter unit based on the filter information stored in the memory.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2014Date of Patent: May 15, 2018Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Jyouji Wada, Masahito Oka, Yoshihito Urashima
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Patent number: 9812486Abstract: An apparatus is described that includes an image sensor and a light source driver circuit having configuration register space to receive information pertaining to a command to simulate a distance between a light source and an object that is different than an actual distance between the light source and the object.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2014Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Cheng-Yi Andrew Lin, Clemenz Portmann
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Patent number: 9759987Abstract: A stroboscopic device includes a flash discharge tube, a first element for performing switching operation of flash discharge tube, a second element for performing ON control of the first element by an ON operation, and performing OFF control of the first element by an OFF operation, a third element for performing the OFF control of the first element by an ON operation, and performing the ON control of the first element by an OFF operation, and a first circuit for holding the ON operation of the third element for a predetermined period. The first circuit includes a fourth element for holding the ON control of the third element by the ON operation, and a second circuit capable of setting an operation period of an ON operation of the fourth element. This makes it possible to prevent false operation of the first element due to noise with a simple circuit configuration.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2014Date of Patent: September 12, 2017Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventor: Takahiro Ikeda
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Patent number: 9448108Abstract: A measuring and adjusting system and method on uniformity of light intensity of a light source. The measuring and adjusting system on uniformity of light intensity of a light source includes: a light intensity measuring plate; a light source, irradiating light to the light intensity measuring plate; an image acquisition module, acquiring color difference variation image on the light intensity measuring plate; a microprocessor, connected with the image acquisition module and connected with the light source through a control module, wherein the microprocessor compares the color difference variation image with colorimetric criterion internally stored, and obtains the light intensity distribution on the whole surface of the light intensity measuring plate, so as to judge the uniformity situation, and performs adjustment on the light intensity of the light source.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2013Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.Inventor: Yangkun Jing
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Patent number: 9338347Abstract: In a method for adjusting a photographic lamp of an electronic device, the electronic device obtains a preview image from a camera device of the electronic device, and obtains a brightness value of an ambient environment of the electronic device. When a human face is detected in the obtained preview image, the electronic device changes a current output power value of the photographic lamp to be a first output power value, according to the obtained brightness value. When no human face is detected in the obtained preview image, the electronic device changes the current output power value to be a second output power value according to the obtained brightness value.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2013Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Chiun Mai Communication Systems, Inc.Inventors: Yu-Han Chien, Chao-Yun Yu, Li-Ly Chang
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Patent number: 9277135Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus includes an exposure condition calculator configured to calculate an exposure condition of an image sensor determined by accumulation time of the image sensor, an amplification amount and an aperture value of an image signal, and an image generator configured to generate a high dynamic range image. When the plurality of exposure conditions have equal exposure differences, the exposure condition calculator changes the accumulation time so as to follow a change of the object brightness from a first value to a second value, and the exposure condition calculator calculates the plurality of exposure conditions by fixing the accumulation time and by changing the amplification amount so as to follow a change of the object brightness from a third value smaller than the first value to a fourth value smaller than the second value.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2013Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shigeru Ichikawa
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Patent number: 9167170Abstract: There is provided an imaging device including an imaging element that acquires a captured image of a subject, a light emission unit that emits light to the subject, and a control unit that is capable of controlling a timing of exposure performed by the imaging element and a timing of light emission performed by the light emission unit. In a mode in which imaging is performed with a plurality of times of consecutive light emission by the light emission unit, the control unit controls at least one of a timing of the exposure and a timing of the light emission so that light amounts effective for exposure in each imaging are substantially the same.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2013Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Shunji Okada, Kazuaki Iguchi, Satoshi Shinohara, Yoshitsugu Nomiyama, Naoya Katoh, Yukio Isobe, Yuuji Watanabe
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Patent number: 9094613Abstract: A photographic apparatus with supplemental light adjusting function and the supplemental light adjusting method used in the same are provided. The photographic apparatus comprises a light source and a photographic element. The method comprises steps of: photographing by the photographic element; illuminating by the light source once the operating condition of a default photographing mode is conformed, and reaching a first supplemental light intensity by the light source within a first length of time; completing photographing by the photographic element once the light source reaches a second supplemental light intensity which is greater than the first supplemental light intensity.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2014Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: BenQ CorporationInventors: Ho-Shih Wu, Chen-Hung Lin, Li-Wei Cheng, Ming-Chih Yuan
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Publication number: 20150117849Abstract: A lighting device includes a base unit arranged on a medium installation face on which a medium is disposed, an arm unit extending upwardly from the base unit, a top unit extending from the arm unit so as to face the medium installation face, a mounting face disposed on the top unit to mount an image capturing unit at a position capable of photographing the medium on the medium installation face, a lighting disposed in the top unit to irradiate the medium installation face, and a lighting control unit configured to adjust an amount of light of the lighting. The lighting control unit sets the amount of light of the lighting to a maximum at the time of photographing and, after the photographing, returns the amount of light to that before the photographing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2014Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: PFU LIMITEDInventors: Yuki KASAHARA, Jian LI
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Patent number: 8994876Abstract: A system for photographic exposure via real-time broadcast of lighting parameters. The system includes a light source that emits light at different color temperatures and intensities controlled by a controller. The controller generates light source data that is transmitted to a digital imaging device. The digital imaging device includes a receiver for receiving the signal from the light source and a processor processing the light source data for determining color temperature, intensity, and timing of light emitted by the light source for generating exposure data. The exposure data determines when to commence capturing an image of a desired exposure and color temperature for achieving a desired exposure. The digital imaging device includes a display for displaying the exposure data to a user for allowing the user to select when to actuate the shutter release for capturing the image with the desired color temperature and exposure.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2012Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Anthony C. Spielberg
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Patent number: 8929727Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that is capable of reducing variation in the color temperature of a subject in a taken image and capable of shooting a more suitable image. The image pickup apparatus can shoot with emitting a light emitting unit. A color temperature acquisition unit acquires information about a color temperature of a light illuminating a subject. An emission control unit controls emission of the light emitting unit. The emission control unit determines emission light amount of the light emitting unit based on a color temperature difference between a color temperature of an illumination light of the light emitting unit and a color temperature based on the information acquired by the color temperature information acquisition unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2013Date of Patent: January 6, 2015Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akira Kubota
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Patent number: 8810718Abstract: A camera assembly including a camera that has an image-capturing device. The camera assembly also includes an illumination device that is coupled to the camera and that is adapted to illuminate a subject when the camera is capturing an image, and a control unit. The illumination device is capable of illuminating in at least two different peak wavelengths. The control unit automatically configures the camera assembly to use one or more of the at least two different wavelengths.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2013Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Non Typical, Inc.Inventor: Mark O. Cuddeback
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Patent number: 8810716Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of performing photographing in which a light emitting unit executes main light emission includes a photometric unit that executes photometry, a selection unit that selects a certain area in a photographing screen, and a control unit that determines a main light emission amount of the light emitting unit based on a photometric value acquired by photometry executed by the photometric unit when the light emitting unit executes pre-flash emission and controls, based on a position of the area selected by the selection unit, a light receiving amount of the photometric unit during a photometry period for acquiring the photometric value used for determining the main light emission amount.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2012Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Naoyuki Nakagawara
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Patent number: 8736710Abstract: A photographic flash unit comprises a direct flash unit and a bounce flash unit rotatably connected to the direct flash unit. Status and control lines coupled between a hot shoe and each flash unit enable independent triggering and control of each flash unit. The direct and bounce flash units may be a part of a digital camera adapted to make a first test exposure using direct flash illumination and second test exposure using bounce flash illumination, then computing an attenuation factor for compensating a selected flash exposure parameter by dividing the selected parameter by the attenuation factor. Steps in a method embodiment include making a first test image, making a second test image, selecting regions in the first and second test images, computing an attenuation factor from luminosity values for the first and second test images, and compensating settings for a final bounce flash image by the attenuation factor.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventor: Anthony C. Spielberg
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Publication number: 20140099091Abstract: Methods for providing a flash management feature (“FMF”) in a camera system include obtaining a flash intensity value calculated for a flash device by a camera, saving the calculated flash intensity value in memory, accepting a user-provided adjustment of the calculated value, saving the adjusted flash intensity value in a memory, and providing, when the camera transmits the calculated value to the flash device for use during image acquisition, the adjusted value to the flash device instead of the calculated value. A communication device to provide a FMF includes a microprocessor configured to obtain a calculated flash intensity value from a camera, a memory, and a user interface configured to display and allow a user to adjust the calculated value. The microprocessor stores the adjusted flash intensity value in memory, and signals the flash device to emit light at the adjusted value during image acquisition by the camera.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2013Publication date: April 10, 2014Inventor: Kevin J. King
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Publication number: 20130343741Abstract: A method includes providing, in a camera system, a flash light including one or more Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) having color changing ability based on the one or more LEDs being constituted by a combination of semiconductor compounds, and providing a user interface on the camera system to enable a user of the camera system to modify a number of settings on the camera system. The method also includes modifying, through a flash light driver component, an intensity level of the flash light and/or a voltage supplied thereto through a flash light driver circuit of the flash light in accordance with an appropriate modified setting by the user on the user interface. The modification of the voltage supplied to the flash light enables an appropriate modification of a color of a light emitted by the flash light.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2012Publication date: December 26, 2013Applicant: NVIDIA CorporationInventor: Sachin Krishna Nikam
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Patent number: 8598798Abstract: A method and an apparatus for spectrum synthesis for use in a flash unit, wherein the spectrum synthesis includes combining a plurality of emissive light sources in order to provide a combine output beam and producing the output spectrum for the combined output beam at least based on a reference spectrum. The reference spectrum can be obtained by sensing the spectrum of ambient light or selected from a plurality of stored spectra. The flash unit has at least two emissive light sources and each of the light sources can be adjusted relative to each other so that the outputs from the light sources can mimic a selected illumination scenario. It is possible to use a mixture of quantum dots to tailor each light source so that the combined spectra from different light sources can reasonably mimic a number of frequently used illumination scenario.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2009Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Core Wireless Licensing S.a.r.lInventor: Johan Bergquist
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Patent number: 8571400Abstract: Methods for providing a flash management feature (“FMF”) in a camera system include obtaining a flash intensity value calculated for a flash device by a camera, saving the calculated flash intensity value in memory, accepting a user-provided adjustment of the calculated value, saving the adjusted flash intensity value in a memory, and providing, when the camera transmits the calculated value to the flash device for use during image acquisition, the adjusted value to the flash device instead of the calculated value. A communication device to provide a FMF includes a microprocessor configured to obtain a calculated flash intensity value from a camera, a memory, and a user interface configured to display and allow a user to adjust the calculated value. The microprocessor stores the adjusted flash intensity value in memory, and signals the flash device to emit light at the adjusted value during image acquisition by the camera.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2011Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Inventor: Kevin James King
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Patent number: 8571401Abstract: A control system for controlling power states of a controlled device, such as a lighting device, a special effects device and an in-scene device, in a photographic image-acquisition setting. The control system is configured to detect one or more camera body signals generated as a function of actuation of one or more camera body controls by a user. The control system generates a first power state change signal in response to the detected camera body signal(s) and transmits the power state change signal to the remote device so as to cause the remote device to operate at a first power state. The control system also implements a preset delay and causes the remote device to change from the first power state to a second power state in response to expiration of the preset delay.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2012Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Lab Partners Associates, Inc.Inventor: James E. Clark
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Patent number: 8548316Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method of controlling light intensity of a camera. The method of controlling light intensity of a camera includes generating a code value for correcting a positional error of the camera to store the positional error in a memory, and then, reflecting the code value for correcting the positional error to generate a code value upon auto-focusing. Next, after measuring a distance to a subject through displacement of a camera lens according to the auto-focusing, light intensity of a flash is adjusted according to the distance to the subject.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2011Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Choon Bok Lee
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Publication number: 20130251357Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that is capable of reducing variation in the color temperature of a subject in a taken image and capable of shooting a more suitable image. The image pickup apparatus can shoot with emitting a light emitting unit. A color temperature acquisition unit acquires information about a color temperature of a light illuminating a subject. An emission control unit controls emission of the light emitting unit. The emission control unit determines emission light amount of the light emitting unit based on a color temperature difference between a color temperature of an illumination light of the light emitting unit and a color temperature based on the information acquired by the color temperature information acquisition unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Akira Kubota
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Patent number: 8538250Abstract: A control system for communicating with a controlled device, such as a lighting device, a special effects device and an in-scene device, in a photographic image-acquisition setting using a camera body. The control system is configured to detect a preset pattern of actuation of one or more camera body controls by a user. In response to detecting of the preset pattern, the control system either communicates a power state change signal to the controlled device or causes the camera body to enter into a controlled device control mode that changes the functionality of one or more camera body controls from a camera body functionality to a controlled device control functionality, or both. Such a system can allow a photographer to control a controlled device while remaining at the camera body.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2012Date of Patent: September 17, 2013Assignee: Lab Partners Associates, Inc.Inventor: James E. Clark
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Publication number: 20130230305Abstract: A flash apparatus comprising at least two flash tubes and at least two energy storage units is presented, wherein each of said at least two energy storage units is being arranged to be configured to strictly correspond to one of the at least two flash tubes for a flash. The flash apparatus is configured to control the amount of energy provided by the at least two energy storage unit(s) to their corresponding flash tube and control the flash duration of the corresponding flash tube dependent of each other, respectively for each flash tube, so as to obtain substantially the same colour temperature from each flash tube for a flash. A method and a computer program product for use in the flash apparatus are also presented.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2011Publication date: September 5, 2013Applicant: PROFOTO ABInventors: Anton Falk, Ulf Carlsson, Bo Dalenius, Göran Marén
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Patent number: 8515275Abstract: It is possible to provide a user-friendly camera. Provided is an illumination device for emitting illumination light for photographing by a camera including: a light emission unit which can emit lights of a plurality of different colors and/or a plurality of different light emission amounts as the illumination light; and a light emission control unit which controls the light emission unit so as to continuously emit the illumination light while changing the color and/or the light emission amount as the time elapses, independently of photographing by the camera.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2010Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventors: Kiyosada Machida, Hatsuko Ogasawara
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Publication number: 20130195435Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a camera flash filter. In one embodiment, a processor determines an intensity of light to filter through areas of the flash filter based on the lighting of a scene. The processor may determine a color of light to filter though the areas of the flash filter based on the determined intensity of light to filter through the areas of the flash filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2012Publication date: August 1, 2013Inventors: Jason Yost, John Mick, Shane D. Voss, Alan P. Lemke
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Patent number: 8483557Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a camera flash filter. In one embodiment, a processor determines an intensity of light to filter through areas of the flash filter based on the lighting of a scene. The processor may determine a color of light to filter though the areas of the flash filter based on the determined intensity of light to filter through the areas of the flash filter.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2012Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Jason Yost, John Mick, Shane D Voss, Alan P Lemke
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Patent number: 8463119Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that is capable of reducing variation in the color temperature of a subject in a taken image and capable of shooting a more suitable image. The image pickup apparatus can shoot with emitting a light emitting unit. A color temperature acquisition unit acquires information about a color temperature of a light illuminating a subject. An emission control unit controls emission of the light emitting unit. The emission control unit determines emission light amount of the light emitting unit based on a color temperature difference between a color temperature of an illumination light of the light emitting unit and a color temperature based on the information acquired by the color temperature information acquisition unit.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2010Date of Patent: June 11, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akira Kubota
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Publication number: 20130094845Abstract: A control system for communicating with a controlled device, such as a lighting device, a special effects device and an in-scene device, in a photographic image-acquisition setting using a camera body. The control system is configured to detect a preset pattern of actuation of one or more camera body controls by a user. In response to detecting of the preset pattern, the control system either communicates a power state change signal to the controlled device or causes the camera body to enter into a controlled device control mode that changes the functionality of one or more camera body controls from a camera body functionality to a controlled device control functionality, or both. Such a system can allow a photographer to control a controlled device while remaining at the camera body.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2012Publication date: April 18, 2013Applicant: LAB PARTNERS ASSOCIATES, INC.Inventor: Lab Partners Associates, Inc.
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Publication number: 20130089313Abstract: A control system for controlling power states of a controlled device, such as a lighting device, a special effects device and an in-scene device, in a photographic image-acquisition setting. The control system is configured to detect one or more camera body signals generated as a function of actuation of one or more camera body controls by a user. The control system generates a first power state change signal in response to the detected camera body signal(s) and transmits the power state change signal to the remote device so as to cause the remote device to operate at a first power state. The control system also implements a preset delay and causes the remote device to change from the first power state to a second power state in response to expiration of the preset delay.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2012Publication date: April 11, 2013Applicant: LAB PARTNERS ASSOCIATES, INC.Inventor: LAB PARTNERS ASSOCIATES, INC.
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Patent number: 8385735Abstract: An illumination device for a camera includes a light source, in which LED chips are supplied with a drive current, for emitting light of a first color at intensity according to the drive current. An encapsulant is disposed in front of each LED chip, for changing an illuminating color of the light. An EEPROM stores a data table for representing a correlation between the illuminating color and the drive current. An illumination control unit obtains first drive current associated with a target color of light for use by referring to the data table, to drive the LED chips with the first drive current. Phosphor in the encapsulant sets color temperature of the light lower upon passage through the encapsulant than upon emission from the LED chips.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2008Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Kouhei Awazu
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Patent number: 8364031Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting assembly for an image capturing system. The lighting assembly includes at least one lighting element for generating light and a control system arranged to control the at least one lighting element and to interface with at least one camera of the image capturing system. The control system is arranged for controlling an intensity and a spectrum of the at least one lighting element. The control system is arranged to provide a control for emitting a constant light or a pulsed light with the at least one lighting element. The at least one lighting element includes at least one LED being at least one high CRI white LED.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2009Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignees: Endolab Holding B.V., Imagingete Inc.Inventors: William Scott Geffert, Marc Saes, Hubert Johan Marie Robert van Doorne
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Patent number: 8351779Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which is capable of reducing possibility of missing a good moment to take a photo and reducing electric power wasted for strobe shooting. The image pickup apparatus is capable of shooting using a strobe. A motion detector detects an amount of motion of an object of which an image is to be picked up. A camera controller sets a target charge voltage level of a main capacitor based on the detected amount of motion of the object.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2012Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takashi Kageyama
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Patent number: 8351778Abstract: A method for adjusting brightness of an image, suitable for an image capturing apparatus with a flash lamp, is provided. In the method, an intensity of a main flash of the flash lamp is raised, and a sensitivity is reduced. When the main flash is fired by the flash lamp, a raw image is captured according to the reduced sensitivity for calculating a brightness mean value. A gain ratio is calculated according to the brightness mean value and a brightness target, so as to use the gain ratio to compensate the brightness of the raw image.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2011Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Altek CorporationInventors: Chung-Pin Lu, Yi-Yu Chen
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Patent number: 8330822Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed for setting a depth camera light source operating temperature in a thermal tuning mode executed during a depth camera manufacturing process. One embodiment of a method includes illuminating a target with light from a light source at a plurality of light source temperatures; for each light source temperature, sensing an intensity of reflected light received at a light sensor through a light filter positioned intermediate the target and the light sensor; approximating a frequency response relationship between a light filter cutoff frequency and a light source emission wavelength based on a comparison of the sensed intensities and stored reference data; generating a temperature set point so that the light source emission wavelength does not overlap the light filter cutoff frequency by more than a predetermined overlap threshold; and programming a temperature controller to control the light source to the temperature set point during depth camera operation.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 2010Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Scott McEldowney, Prafulla Masalkar, Yun Fang
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Patent number: 8326136Abstract: A control system for communicating with a controlled device, such as a lighting device, a special effects device and an in-scene device, in a photographic image-acquisition setting using a camera body. The control system is configured to detect a preset pattern of actuation of one or more camera body controls by a user. In response to detecting of the preset pattern, the control system either communicates a power state change signal to the controlled device or causes the camera body to enter into a controlled device control mode that changes the functionality of one or more camera body controls from a camera body functionality to a controlled device control functionality, or both. Such a system can allow a photographer to control a controlled device while remaining at the camera body.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2010Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Lab Partners Associates, Inc.Inventor: James E. Clark
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Publication number: 20120294600Abstract: An imaging apparatus including a light emitting device includes a determination unit configured to determine a weighting coefficient of each of a plurality of light metering regions, a calculation unit configured to calculate an amount of main flash light of the light emitting device after performing weighting of the light metering value of each of the plurality of light metering regions according to the weighting coefficient determined by the determination unit, and a selection unit configured to select, from the plurality of light metering regions, a reference region which is used when the weighting coefficient of each of the plurality of light metering regions is determined by the determination unit, and the selection unit selects the reference region in such a manner that a light metering region different from a light metering region whose color information acquired by the color information acquisition unit satisfies a particular condition, is preferentially selected.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Toshifumi Osawa
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Publication number: 20120294599Abstract: A method for adjusting brightness of an image, suitable for an image capturing apparatus with a flash lamp, is provided. In the method, an intensity of a main flash of the flash lamp is raised, and a sensitivity is reduced. When the main flash is fired by the flash lamp, a raw image is captured according to the reduced sensitivity for calculating a brightness mean value. A gain ratio is calculated according to the brightness mean value and a brightness target, so as to use the gain ratio to compensate the brightness of the raw image.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2011Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: ALTEK CORPORATIONInventors: Chung-Pin Lu, Yi-Yu Chen
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Publication number: 20120263447Abstract: An illumination device and method for illuminating a scene monitored by a camera uses a plurality of light emitting elements and an illumination control unit. The illumination control unit is arranged to individually control the output intensity of the plurality of light emitting elements based on a camera view direction setting, such that illumination is provided in a view direction of the camera.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2012Publication date: October 18, 2012Applicant: AXIS ABInventor: Kent Fransson
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Publication number: 20120213503Abstract: An illumination device performs a method for illuminating a scene monitored by a camera. The illumination device includes a first light emitting source having a first lens arranged so that the first light emitting source, at a first distance from the illumination device, provides illumination essentially within a first area of a predetermined size. A second light emitting source of the illumination device has a second lens arranged so that the second light emitting source, at a second distance from the illumination device, provides illumination essentially within a second area of the predetermined size. The output intensity of the first and the second light emitting source is individually controllable.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2012Publication date: August 23, 2012Applicant: AXIS ABInventors: Christian Gustaffson, Christian Dahlqvist
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Publication number: 20120200723Abstract: An imaging apparatus, which is capable of performing wireless communication with a light emitting apparatus via a wireless communication unit using a radio wave, includes a light metering unit configured to meter light of an object, a calculation unit configured to calculate a main light emission amount of the light emitting apparatus based on a light metering value acquired by metering the light, and a control unit configured to perform control such that at least a part of a communication operation of the wireless communication unit with the light emitting apparatus is performed during a light metering operation for acquiring the light metering value to be used when the calculation unit calculates the main light emission amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2012Publication date: August 9, 2012Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shinichiro Yano
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Patent number: 8233788Abstract: An illumination device for photography which can photograph an image expressing a movement of the object is provided. The device comprises a light emission unit which emits, continuously and at an constant emission amount, an illumination light, and a light emission control unit which controls the emission unit and changes a light emission intensity during the acquisition of a single still image by exposing object light on an imaging unit provided in a photographic device, wherein the light emission control unit, during the acquisition of the single still image, causes the illumination light to emit continuously at a first light emission intensity in a first time period, and causes the illumination light to emit continuously at a second light emission intensity with a lower intensity than the first light emission intensity in a second time period after the elapse of the first time period.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2009Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Nikon CorporationInventor: Toshio Sosa
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Publication number: 20120177352Abstract: A method for capturing an improved archival image using an electronic image capture device having a flash, comprising: capturing at least two preview images of a scene at different capture times using the image capture device; determining a scene brightness; using a processor to analyze the captured preview images to determine a motion velocity for the scene; determining a flash exposure setting and an ambient exposure setting responsive to a ratio between the determined scene brightness and the determined motion velocity; and capturing an archival image using the determined flash exposure setting and the determined ambient exposure setting.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2011Publication date: July 12, 2012Inventors: Bruce Harold Pillman, John Norvold Border, Robert Paul Cloutier, Richard Bruce Wheeler
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Patent number: 8218963Abstract: Using photographic flash for candid shots often results in an unevenly lit scene, in which objects in the back appear dark. A spatially adaptive photographic flash (100) is disclosed, in which the intensity of illumination (21, 23) varies depending on the depth and reflectivity (30, 101) of features in the scene. Adaption to changes in depth are used in a single-shot method. Adaption to changes in reflectivity are used in a multishot method. The single-shot method requires only a depth image (30), whereas the multi-shot method requires at least one color image (40) in addition to the depth data (30).Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2009Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: ETH ZuerichInventors: Rolf Adelsberger, Markus Gross, Marc Levoy, Remo Ziegler
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Patent number: 8208804Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a light metering unit, a setting unit configured to set an exposure condition including exposure time and an aperture value at a time of flash photography based on a result of light metering by the light metering unit, and a first calculation unit configured to calculate an amount of light emission by a light emission unit to perform flash photography under the set exposure condition based on the result of light metering, wherein, when a first amount of light emission to perform flash photography under a first exposure condition is larger than a maximum amount of light emission that can be achieved by the light emission unit, the setting unit sets a second exposure condition having shorter exposure time and a smaller aperture value than the first exposure condition, and the first calculation unit calculates a second amount of light emission smaller than the maximum amount of light emission.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2010Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takaaki Fukui