Simultaneous Recording Of Plural Distinct Subjects Patents (Class 396/332)
  • Patent number: 11687894
    Abstract: In a method for instantly issuing a personalized financial transaction card to a customer a bank employee receives customer information and card information from the customer at a branch location. The card information may include a card personal identification number (PIN) selected by the customer. The operator inputs the customer information and at least some the card information into a data processing terminal at the branch. The customer information and the card information are communicated from the branch across a network to a card services provider. At the card services provider, the PIN is entered into a PIN database and a reference number associated with the customer and a PIN offset is generated. The reference number and at least some of the customer data and card data may be stored in a card file associated with the customer. The reference number is used to retrieve the PIN from the PIN database. The retrieved PIN is then used to apply calculations to the card file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: CPI CARD GROUP—TENNESSEE, INC.
    Inventors: Bobby Smith, James White
  • Patent number: 11249545
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an electronic apparatus, a spatial positioning system and a method thereof. The electronic apparatus includes: a body having a central region and a peripheral region surrounding the central region; and a plurality of signal receiving components disposed in the peripheral region of the body. The signal receiving component includes a circuit board and a plurality of signal receiving devices located on the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignees: BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chao Zheng, Zhanshan Ma, Jiyang Shao, Jinbao Peng, Ziqiang Guo, Wenhong Tian, Haoran Jing, Zhiyu Sun, Zheng Ge, Yuhong Liu, Hao Zhang, Lili Chen
  • Patent number: 11238145
    Abstract: Innovative aspects of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a portable biometric capture system. In one example, a portable biometric capture system includes a case, a telescoping stand, a camera housing, and a power source. The case includes wheels and a carry handle. The telescoping stand has a first end and a second end. The first end of the telescoping stand is coupled to a surface within an interior of the case by a first pivotable joint. The camera housing is coupled to the second end of the telescoping stand by a second pivotable joint. The power source is installed within the interior of the case and electrically connected to a wiring that is routed to the camera housing through a channel within the telescoping stand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Idemia Identity & Security USA LLC
    Inventors: Brian Bresnahan, Patrice Erickson, Anne Gray, Robert Grosso, Angelo Sallese, Harshad Thacore, Derek Riemer, Amy Potts, Nick Casco
  • Patent number: 11107082
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for authorizing an electronic transaction between two entities. The method includes receiving, at a verification module, coincidentally captured facial image data relating to both of the two entities and authenticating each of the two entities based on a comparison between the coincidentally captured facial image data and respective facial image templates relating to each of the two entities enrolled in a database. The method also includes retrieving, from the database, account data relating to each of the two entities based on the coincidentally captured facial image data, on determining that each of the two entities are positively authenticated, and generating an authorization message for authorizing the electronic transaction, where the authorization message comprises the account data relating to each of the two entities retrieved from the database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Arunmurthy Gurunathan, Ravi Pareek, Ganesh Shinde
  • Patent number: 10873682
    Abstract: A method of synchronizing cameras for a vehicular vision system includes providing camera control signals to the cameras from the ECU via respective links from the ECU to the cameras. At least two of the cameras are in communication with a hub via respective links, and the ECU is in communication with the hub via a hub link. The camera control signals are provided to one camera via a link between the ECU and the camera, and are provided to at least two other cameras via the hub link and respective links between the hub and the other cameras. The camera control signals regulate timing of the respective camera via starting the camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing. Image data is captured by each camera and provided to the ECU via the respective link or links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Michael Schaffner
  • Patent number: 10560610
    Abstract: A method of synchronizing cameras with an electronic control unit (ECU) of a vehicular vision system includes providing camera control signals to the cameras from the ECU via respective links from the ECU to the cameras, with the camera control signals regulating timing of the respective camera to be synchronous with reference timing of the ECU. The timing regulation of the cameras includes starting the camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing and holding the camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing. Image data is captured with each camera and provided to the ECU via the respective link. Image data captured by at least one of the cameras may be processed to detect an object present exterior of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Michael Schaffner
  • Patent number: 10488346
    Abstract: It is therefore an objective to provide an object multi-perspective inspection apparatus and a method therefor. The apparatus includes an image capture device; an inspection site and at least two reflection devices, being arranged for reflecting simultaneously to the image capture device at least two different side views of the object located in the inspection site; wherein: the image capture device has a field of view including the at least two different side views of the reflection. By introducing reflection devices into the inspection apparatus to enable the image capture device to “see” the part from multiple views at once, multiple surfaces can be inspected at once, in one image frame, without having the need to reposition the reflection device, the camera and/or the object for every single surface. There are more than one reflection devices placed in the camera's field of view to assist the inspection process by exploiting otherwise hidden surfaces of any given solid object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Martin Kefer, Jiafan Zhang
  • Patent number: 10397548
    Abstract: A camera module is provided. The camera module includes a number of camera assembles. Each of the camera assembles includes a lens unit and an electromagnetic driving unit. The electromagnetic driving unit includes at least one magnetic element for controlling the movement of the corresponding lens unit. The distance between two of the magnetic elements, which are closest to each other and respectively positioned in two of the camera assemblies, is greater than the distance between two of the light through holes, to which the two of the camera assemblies are arranged to correspond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chen-Er Hsu, Chih-Wei Weng, Chao-Chang Hu
  • Patent number: 10325374
    Abstract: A computer-assisted method to segment an image of an identification document that includes: accessing data encoding the image of the identification document that includes four curved corners connected by four edges; applying gradient filters to the image of the identification document to generate an edge map that reveals candidate edges that are substantially horizontal or vertical relative to borders of the identification document, the gradient filters including gradient maps that reveal horizontal as well as vertical alterations of image intensities; accessing data encoding models representing an expected range of curved corners, each model quantifying both the radial and angular extents of the curved corners; identifying combinations of candidate edges, each combination including four candidate edges that are connected at four corners; and selecting a combination of candidate edges by applying the models to each of the four corners formed by the four candidate edges of each identified combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: MorphoTrust USA, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph R. Mayer
  • Patent number: 10303940
    Abstract: An HMD device includes a display panel and an x-prism beamsplitter disposed along a first axis between the display panel and an expected position of an eye of a user. The x-prism beamsplitter directs a first light beam in a first direction from the display panel to the eye along the first axis, directs a second light beam in a second direction along a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, and directs a third light beam in the second direction along the second axis, wherein the second light beam is representative of the first light beam and the third light beam is representative of a reflection of the first light beam off of the eye. The HMD device further includes an imaging camera to capture a composite image comprising a combination of both a representation of the second light beam and a representation of the third light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Zhibin Zhang, Jerry Carollo
  • Patent number: 10291828
    Abstract: A scalable three-dimensional (3D), 360-degree camera system is configured to capture images and/or video across 360 degrees of a local area. The camera system includes a plurality of cameras that are coupled to a spherical inner core, which is enclosed within an exterior shell composed of several segments. The exterior shell segments include apertures that align with each camera, and an interior shell component is concentrically aligned with each aperture. The configuration of the exterior shell segments and the interior shell components protect the camera assembly from physical damage and the environment and additionally improve heat dissipation from internal components of the camera system. Design parameters of the camera system can be determined to adjust the number of cameras, the size of the inner core, the positioning of the cameras on the inner core, and the number and configuration of the segments of the interior and exterior shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Joyce Hsu, Jussi Antero Timonen, James Gilbert Ammon, Oscar Karlsson, Casper Asmussen, Felix Antoine, Andrew Hamilton Coward
  • Patent number: 10171709
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a plurality of cameras disposed at the vehicle and having respective fields of view exterior of the vehicle and being operable to capture frames of image data. Image data captured by each of the cameras is provided to an ECU via an ETHERNET link from the respective camera to the ECU. At least one control signal for controlling operation of each camera is provided from the ECU to the respective camera via the respective ETHERNET link. Image data captured by at least one of the cameras is processed at the ECU to detect an object present exterior of the equipped vehicle, wherein the object is a vehicle that is approaching the equipped vehicle and that is traveling in a traffic lane adjacent to a traffic lane in which the equipped vehicle is traveling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Michael Schaffner
  • Patent number: 9912841
    Abstract: A vehicular vision system includes a plurality of cameras disposed at the vehicle and having respective fields of view exterior of the vehicle and being operable to capture frames of image data. Image data captured by each of the first camera is provided to an ECU via a respective ETHERNET link from the respective camera to the ECU. Control signals controlling operation of each camera are provided from the ECU to the respective camera via the respective ETHERNET link. Each camera receives from the ECU via the respective ETHERNET link a camera control signal that regulates timing of the respective camera to be synchronous with reference timing of the ECU. Regulation of timing of each camera includes starting the respective camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing and holding the respective camera synchronous to the ECU reference timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Michael Schaffner
  • Patent number: 9865070
    Abstract: Provided are an image processing apparatus, a pixel processing method, a program, and a camera which are capable of appropriately generating a joined image. An image processing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment generates a joined image by joining a plurality of textures based on a plurality of images. The image processing apparatus includes: a motion vector derivation unit that derives a motion between images of the plurality of images; a frame memory in which a joined image frame is set and the plurality of textures that form the joined image are written; and a texture writing unit that writes the plurality of textures into the frame memory based on the motion between the images. The texture writing unit writes a first texture among the plurality of textures into an area that is not in contact with an edge of the joined image frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: JVC KENWOOD CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kunio Yamada
  • Patent number: 8947585
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: an imaging element; a main lens that condenses light from a subject toward the imaging element; a micro lens array that is configured by a plurality kinds of micro lenses with different focal lengths that is disposed between the imaging element and the main lens and causes light transmitted through the main lens to form an image on the imaging element; and a CPU that, in response to receiving a designation of a distance to a side of a subject that is photographed, performs weighting for each image that is imaged by the plurality kinds of micro lenses of the imaging element based on the distance so as to constitute one captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Nagasaka, Akira Hamada, Ryohei Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8811812
    Abstract: A camera rig system is configured to film in several overlapping directions at once. The camera rig system has a front rig having a first plurality of cameras arranged to film in a first set of overlapping directions. A trigger box is electrically coupled to the front rig and configured to receive data from the first plurality of cameras. A rear rig having a second plurality of cameras is electrically coupled to the trigger box and arranged to film in a second set of overlapping directions. The first set of overlapping directions and the second set of overlapping directions are configured such that images taken from the first plurality of cameras and the second plurality of cameras can reflect background images around the camera rig system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventors: Michael Shawn Lawler, David Charles Smith
  • Publication number: 20130128005
    Abstract: A two-parallel-channel reflector (TPCR) with focal length and disparity control is used after being combined with an imaging device. A left parallel channel and a right parallel channel are formed in the TPCR, so that the imaging device can synchronously perform an imaging operation on a left side view and a right side view of a scene, so as to obtain a stereoscopic image. Each parallel channel is bounded by two curved reflecting mirrors, so that captured light rays may be parallelly reflected in the channel, and an operator may adjust a convergence angle and an interocular distance between the left side view and the right side view, so as to control the focal length and disparity during imaging as require.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: AMCHAEL VISUAL TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Fuhua CHENG, Shang Te TU
  • Patent number: 8380060
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for full-resolution light-field capture and rendering. A radiance camera is described in which the microlenses in a microlens array are focused on the image plane of the main lens instead of on the main lens, as in conventional plenoptic cameras. The microlens array may be located at distances greater than f from the photosensor, where f is the focal length of the microlenses. Radiance cameras in which the distance of the microlens array from the photosensor is adjustable, and in which other characteristics of the camera are adjustable, are described. Digital and film embodiments of the radiance camera are described. A full-resolution light-field rendering method may be applied to light-fields captured by a radiance camera to render higher-resolution output images than are possible with conventional plenoptic cameras and rendering methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Todor G. Georgiev, Andrew Lumsdaine
  • Patent number: 8363103
    Abstract: A drive assist display apparatus displays the backward or frontward of a vehicle. It is assumed that planes are perpendicular with the front-back direction, the downward, leftward and rightward directions being perpendicular with the front-back direction. Square subjects assumed to be on the planes are displayed as squares or rectangles having equal to one another on respective regions in accordance with the direction. The regions include a forward correction image display region in the vicinity of other display regions. The vicinity area has the same display image corresponding to a straight line coincident with a vertical straight line with respect to the ground surface or being in the vehicle front-back direction. The bottom side of a leftward or rightward correction image display region and the left or right side of a downward correction image display region are straight lines coincident with respective vehicle front-back direction straight lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tadao Ichinose, Koji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8331621
    Abstract: A toll violation enforcement system that contains a capture unit that receives a trigger signal and takes vehicle images of passing vehicles. A lighting unit configured to operate continuously is provided to establish a major lighting source incident on the vehicle. A processing unit is provided that processes the vehicle image and controls the settings employed by the capture unit. The processing unit preferably contains a plate location module for extracting an original resolution license plate area image from a first vehicle image; an exposure control module for controlling the exposure setting on the capture unit to provide consistent intensity of the license plate area; a resolution reset module for changing the image resolution for a second vehicle image; an image enhancement module for brightening pixels of the second vehicle image; and an image compression module for compressing the license plate area image and second vehicle image to a predetermined format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: United Toll Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Allen, Sheng Zhong, Raghavan Venugopal, Balaraju Banna, Xidong Zheng
  • Patent number: 8072517
    Abstract: An image capturing device includes an adjustment assembly and two camera modules. The adjustment assembly includes a base, a driving member fixed on the base, and two supporting boards. The driving member includes an elastic connecting board having two ends connected to the base, a rigid board fixed to the elastic connecting board facing the base, and a cam rotating unit positioned between the base and the rigid board. The cam rotating unit abuts the rigid board and is rotatable to cause the rigid board to move toward or away from the base. The two supporting boards are attached to the elastic connecting board opposite to the base and spaced apart from each other. The two camera modules are fixed to the two supporting boards respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jen-Tsorng Chang
  • Publication number: 20110211824
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for full-resolution light-field capture and rendering. A radiance camera is described in which the microlenses in a microlens array are focused on the image plane of the main lens instead of on the main lens, as in conventional plenoptic cameras. The microlens array may be located at distances greater than f from the photosensor, where f is the focal length of the microlenses. Radiance cameras in which the distance of the microlens array from the photosensor is adjustable, and in which other characteristics of the camera are adjustable, are described. Digital and film embodiments of the radiance camera are described. A full-resolution light-field rendering method may be applied to light-fields captured by a radiance camera to render higher-resolution output images than are possible with conventional plenoptic cameras and rendering methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Inventors: Todor G. Georgiev, Andrew Lumsdaine
  • Patent number: 7962033
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for full-resolution light-field capture and rendering. A radiance camera is described in which the microlenses in a microlens array are focused on the image plane of the main lens instead of on the main lens, as in conventional plenoptic cameras. The microlens array may be located at distances greater than f from the photosensor, where f is the focal length of the microlenses. Radiance cameras in which the distance of the microlens array from the photosensor is adjustable, and in which other characteristics of the camera are adjustable, are described. Digital and film embodiments of the radiance camera are described. A full-resolution light-field rendering method may be applied to light-fields captured by a radiance camera to render higher-resolution output images than are possible with conventional plenoptic cameras and rendering methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Todor G. Georgiev, Andrew Lumsdaine
  • Publication number: 20110134262
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a camera module includes two or more sub camera modules and a block matching unit. The two or more sub camera modules are fixed in an arrangement in which directions of optical axes of the imaging optical systems differ to each other. The block matching unit matches the images of the subject of the respective sub camera modules in portions where the image circles of the imaging optical systems overlap with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Takayuki OGASAHARA
  • Publication number: 20110050911
    Abstract: A method for capturing images includes setting a capturing mode and a monitor time of a plurality of lenses of an image capturing device, controlling each lens to capture images at the same time when the monitor time arrives. The method further captures a plurality of images based on different focal lengths or from different angles at the same time, and sends the plurality of images to a monitor computer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: HOU-HSIEN LEE, CHANG-JUNG LEE, CHIH-PING LO
  • Patent number: 7857132
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a merchandise package capable of presenting a three-dimensional image. An image A is disposed on one surface 11a of two surfaces of a merchandise package 11 and an image B is disposed on the other surface 11c thereof so that a three-dimensional image is formed by the images A and B becoming a pair. When the images A and B are juxtaposed while being paired, the two images provide a three-dimensional image to an observer. With this, novel distinguishing ability is given to the merchandise package and a customer who purchases the merchandise can enjoy the three-dimensional image by juxtaposing the merchandise packages, and thus a novel function is given to the merchandise package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Sapporo Breweries Limited
    Inventor: Kunio Shibano
  • Patent number: 7747157
    Abstract: A face-image area is decided with comparatively good accuracy. An (N?1)th frame of a subject image ?1 and an Nth frame of a subject image ?2 are obtained by sensing the image of a subject successively. Face-image detection processing is applied to the frames of the subject images ?1 and ?2 to detect face-image areas C1, C2 and C3. The face-image area C2 is construed to be linked to the face-image area C1, which is the corresponding face-image area. Since a face-image area that corresponds to the face-image area C3 does not exist, the face-image area C3 is construed as not being linked. The linked face-image area C2 in the Nth frame of the subject image ?2 is decided upon as a face-image area. Thus, face areas can be decided with comparatively good accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7689116
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mobile camera optical lens system which assures a wide view angle by dividing a view angle into two or more view angles, and simultaneously achieves the thinness of the mobile camera optical lens system by providing separate off-axis lens systems respectively corresponding to the split view angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ho Sik You, Seok Ho Song, Ho Seop Jeong, Sang Hyuck Lee, Hye Ran Oh
  • Patent number: 7643749
    Abstract: A camera module includes an image sensor, a first lens, a second lens and a beam splitting and combining component. The beam splitting and combining component is disposed between the first lens, the second lens and the image sensor. The first lens is suitable for imaging a first light beam of a first object onto the image sensor, while the second lens is suitable for imaging a second light beam of a second object onto the image sensor. In addition, both the first light beam and the second light beam are imaging onto the image sensor through the beam splitting and combining component. Therefore, the camera module is able to provide a two-way image-capturing function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Young Optics Inc.
    Inventors: Jyh-Horng Shyu, Sheng-Chieh Yang, Chu-Ming Cheng
  • Patent number: 7590348
    Abstract: A photographing apparatuses, enabling to keep dynamic resolution, as well as, to obtain an image being wide in dynamic range, with using a plural number of cameras therein, and further enabling to photograph a further wider range, comprises: a plural number of photographing devices overlapping photographing regions thereof with each other; a brightness distribution detecting portion for detecting brightness levels of image signals, which are photographed by means of the plural number of photographing devices; an area determining portion for determining an area where the brightness level detected by the brightness distribution detecting portion is appropriate, among photographing regions overlapping with each other, in relation with the image signals photographed by the plural number of photographing devices; and a synthesizing portion for synthesizing the image signals photographed by the plural number of photographing devices, with using the image signal of the area, the brightness level of which is determin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Usui, Hirotomo Sai
  • Publication number: 20090185801
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for full-resolution light-field capture and rendering. A radiance camera is described in which the microlenses in a microlens array are focused on the image plane of the main lens instead of on the main lens, as in conventional plenoptic cameras. The microlens array may be located at distances greater than f from the photosensor, where f is the focal length of the microlenses. Radiance cameras in which the distance of the microlens array from the photosensor is adjustable, and in which other characteristics of the camera are adjustable, are described. Digital and film embodiments of the radiance camera are described. A full-resolution light-field rendering method may be applied to light-fields captured by a radiance camera to render higher-resolution output images than are possible with conventional plenoptic cameras and rendering methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventors: Todor G. Georgiev, Andrew Lumsdaine
  • Patent number: 7548691
    Abstract: A camera module is advantageously used in a vision system mounted on an automotive vehicle. The camera module includes a first optical system focused on distant objects such as a preceding vehicle and scenery in front of a vehicle and a second optical system focused on close objects such as raindrops on a windshield. The first optical system includes a first convex lens, a mirror or a half mirror and an imager, and the second optical system includes a second convex lens and a mirror. The distant image formed by the first optical system and the close image formed by the second optical system are combined into a combined image made on the imager in a single frame. The distant and close images are taken at the same time without adjusting the focuses in the camera module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsunori Tanida
  • Publication number: 20080267606
    Abstract: An image capture device and methods are provided. The image capture device has a scene image capture system adapted to capture an image of a scene and a user image capture system adapted to capture an image of a user of the image capture device. A trigger system adapted to generate a capture signal and a controller is adapted to receive the capture signal and to cause an image to be captured by the user image capture system and the scene image capture system at substantially the same time. The controller is further adapted to associate the image of the user with the image of the scene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Dana W. Wolcott, Elena A. Fedorovskaya, John C. Neel
  • Patent number: 7376345
    Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method to permit a photographer to take accurate portraiture pictures. There is provided a camera reference device for adjusting the settings on a camera comprising a reference member with qualitative indicia for determining picture sharpness and colour for adjusting the settings on the camera and which allows for the taking of a picture of the face and head of the subject within the same photographic image beside the reference member. Using the device, there is provided a method of taking a photographic image comprising: taking a picture of the subject in combination with an apparatus comprising a reference member with qualitative indicia for determining photographic image qualities for adjusting the settings on the camera and which allows for the taking of a picture of the face and head of the subject within the same photographic image beside the reference member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Inventor: Ferrand David Ernest Corley
  • Publication number: 20080031608
    Abstract: Cameras are adjusted by setting magnifications of two or more cameras to be substantially equal, focusing the two or more cameras, and setting the two or more cameras so that portions of an object captured thereby when displayed are aligned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2006
    Publication date: February 7, 2008
    Inventors: Mark E. Gorzynski, Scott Grasley, David R. Ingalls
  • Publication number: 20080019684
    Abstract: A camera module includes an image sensor, a first lens, a second lens and a beam splitting and combining component. The beam splitting and combining component is disposed between the first lens, the second lens and the image sensor. The first lens is suitable for imaging a first light beam of a first object onto the image sensor, while the second lens is suitable for imaging a second light beam of a second object onto the image sensor. In addition, both the first light beam and the second light beam are imaging onto the image sensor through the beam splitting and combining component. Therefore, the camera module is able to provide a two-way image-capturing function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Applicant: YOUNG OPTICS INC.
    Inventors: Jyh-Horng Shyu, Sheng-Chieh Yang, Chu-Ming Cheng
  • Patent number: 7274478
    Abstract: A print-direct printer for receiving and printing JPEG data from a DSC divides the area of a memory into a plurality of blocks, stores the received JPEG data in the memory on a block-by-block basis and decompresses the compressed JPEG data that has been stored in the memory, thereby expanding the JPEG data into image data. If it is determined that JPEG data to be expanded next has not been stored in the memory, then the DSC is requested for JPEG data corresponding to at least one block, in an amount that is less than the maximum amount of data transferable from the DSC, in addition to the JPEG data to be expanded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: CanonKabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masato Oshima, Tetsuya Kawanabe, Takao Aichi, Akihiko Hamamoto, Kazuyuki Masumoto, Fumihiro Goto, Makoto Hibi, Tetsuya Suwa, Mitsuhiro Ono
  • Patent number: 7106526
    Abstract: A thin imaging apparatus with an extremely low profile captures high quality images with outstanding resolution. The imaging apparatus has a light guide, incidence mirror, imaging device, and aperture unit. The incidence mirror reflects and guides light from a subject into the light guide, and the imaging device receives the light from the subject reflected by the incidence mirror and passing through the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Tomita, Katsumi Imada, Tsuguhiro Korenaga
  • Patent number: 6761257
    Abstract: A coin discriminating device has a first camera for producing a first image of a first surface of a coin, a second camera for producing a second image of a second surface of the coin, and a processor, e.g. a computer, which is operatively connected to the first and second cameras. The processor analyzes the first and second images in order to determine a type of the coin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Scan Coin Industries AB
    Inventor: Jerry Karlsson
  • Patent number: 6560413
    Abstract: A panoramic imaging system includes multiple cameras and mirrors. The field of view of each camera is directed radially outward from a central axis of the imaging system by one of the mirrors, the target alignment planes for the mirrors being defined by a plurality of planar reference surfaces. Each mirror is mounted in a resilient mounting structure, and is held in place by the mirror contact region of a retaining structure. Each retaining structure also includes a base contact region clamped to one of the planar reference surfaces. The base contact region and the mirror contact region of each retaining structure are coplanar, so that each reflective surface is aligned with a planar reference surface. The properly directed fields of view of the plurality of cameras can be combined to form a panoramic image. According to an embodiment of the invention, the panoramic imaging system comprises an eight-sided camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Enroute, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip H. Lee
  • Patent number: 6542699
    Abstract: A camera is provided with an object lens, an aperture and a guiding device for an image-recording medium. The camera includes a device for providing generally scattered or white light to be incident on a first portion of the image-recording medium and a light adjusting device for varying the dissipation of the white or scatted light across the aperture of the camera in relation to the exposure time across the aperture. The camera also includes a lens system with an object lens and an additional focusing device with a focal length in a first area being infinite and in a second area being a relatively short focusing light on the image close to the lens system, for example, on the plate held in front of the lens system. A light enhancement device is also provided for increasing the light on the first portion of the image-recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Ginfax Development Limited
    Inventors: Ming Tung Lau, Quan Jiang
  • Publication number: 20030026611
    Abstract: a camera that enables a photographer to take pictures of himself as he takes pictures of other subjects. The camera has an image-collecting system (lens and CCD) pointed in the forward direction as in an ordinary video camera; it also has an image-collecting system pointed substantially backward towards the photographer. Electronic means in the camera combines the images such that the forward view is the main picture and the backward view (the photographer) appears as a picture-in-picture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventor: Frederick Yi-Tung Cho
  • Patent number: 6400910
    Abstract: A photographic film strip in the form of a length of photographic film has a pre-exposed area and an unexposed area. The pre-exposed area is continuous and extends along one edge of the strip between ends of the strip. The unexposed area is also continuous and has a length suitable for making multiple single exposure frames with adjacent frames being separated by a frame line. Upon development the film, an image formed by the pre-exposed section of each print will extend between opposite edges of prints formed by individual frames without the need to preregister the film in a camera. The pre-exposure comprises a contact exposure. A strip of film can be placed in contact with a partially pre-exposed master on a cylindrical drum in a light tight housing so that pre-exposed section of the film can be exposed by one activation of an electronic flash located in the center of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Inventor: Robert Lee Craig
  • Patent number: 6351617
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a single-exposure synthesized image on film is provided where an instantaneous image is combined with an image from a prepared picture on film. The preparation picture is reflected by a reflective mirror, and then is refracted by the objective lens of the camera to form a prepared image. The reflective mirror has a central hole that is located in front of the objective lens. The prepared picture also has a central hole, or a central transparent portion, and is located in a space between the objective lens and the reflective mirror, so that the reflecting surface of the reflective mirror faces the picture and the objective lens. Light rays from the prepared picture are reflected by the reflective mirror, pass through the central hole or the central transparent portion of the picture and through the objective lens to image the prepared picture image on the circumferential portion of the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Inventor: Wai-Man Tam
  • Patent number: 6289181
    Abstract: A camera (1) is provided with an object lens, an aperture and guiding means for an image recording medium. The camera includes a means for providing generally scattered or white light to be incident on a first portion of the image recording medium and a light adjusting means for varying the dissipation of the white or scattered light across the aperture of the camera in relation to the exposure time across the aperture. The camera also includes a lens system with an object lens and an additional focusing means with a focal length in a first area being infinite and in a second area being relatively short focusing light on the image close to the lens system, for example on the plate (10) held in front of the lens system. Light enhancement means are also provided for increasing the light on the first portion of the image recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Ginfax Development Limited
    Inventors: Ming Tung Lau, Quan Jiang
  • Patent number: 6278480
    Abstract: A compound eye camera provided integrally with plural image pickup elements and a display unit adapted to display an image, divided into stripes in every scanning line or in every plural scanning lines and to give different directionalities to the display of the striped image in the odd-numbered lines and the display of the striped image in the even-numbered lines, thereby providing stereoscopic display at a predetermined observing position. The camera further has a display control unit for dividing each of two images, picked up with the plural image pickup elements and having a parallax, into stripes in the horizontal direction and alternately arranging the divided stripes by every line to synthesize a striped image, and causing the display unit to display such synthesized striped image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sunao Kurahashi, Katsumi Iijima, Kotaro Yano, Hideki Morishima, Katsuhiko Mori, Takeo Sakimura
  • Patent number: 6208814
    Abstract: A lens-fitted film unit is loaded with a photographic film for which pre-exposure is performed in advance. When the pre-exposure is performed for the photographic film, the photographic film is advanced out of a cartridge shell. The advanced photographic film is pre-exposed every five frames. By performing the pre-exposure for the plural frames at the same time, a process speed of the pre-exposure becomes fast in comparison with a conventional speed. The pre-exposed photographic film is rolled, and is contained in the lens-fitted film unit together with the cartridge shell. As the process speed of the pre-exposure is improved, manufacturing efficiency of the lens-fitted film unit is also improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Haishi
  • Patent number: 6195513
    Abstract: An accessory unit is mounted on an electronic camera, and a printer connects to the electronic camera via a SCSI terminal of the accessory unit. An image signal is captured from a CCD in response to the releasing operation, and the image signal is analog-to-digital converted before being transferred to the accessory unit. The accessory unit converts the image signal into RGB data suitable for the printer, and outputs the RGB data to the printer so that the captured image can be simultaneously with the image-capturing. Moreover, during sequential image-capturing, captured image data is sequentially stored in an uncompressed state in a frame memory of the accessory unit. After sequential image-capturing is completed, the image data is transferred to the camera in an order in which it is stored, and compressed. Further, a background image is recorded in a memory card in advance, and an image is composed from the background image and a captured image (or a reproduced image) in the accessory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaname Nihei, Hiroshi Igarashi, Kazuki Iwabe, Masahiro Konishi
  • Patent number: 5940641
    Abstract: In a method of making a single image of a scene which is the combined images of different portions of the scene, including providing first and second image capturing structures with the second image capturing structure including a moveable lens; and moving the second lens so that it captures at least one different portion of the scene but which overlaps with a first portion of the scene captured by the first image capture structure, the second image capture structure including an image sensor. The method further determines when the second lens moves across the scene to a desired position and stopping the second lens at the desired position for causing the first and second capture structure to capture overlapping images of different portions of the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Dale F. McIntyre, Loretta E. Allen
  • Patent number: 5937212
    Abstract: A compound eye image pickup apparatus with reduced parallax having two optical image pickup systems wherein the cross points between entrance pupils and optical axes of the two optical image pickup systems are generally coincident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sunao Kurahashi, Shigeki Okauchi, Katsumi Iijima, Masayoshi Sekine, Kotaro Yano, Katsuhiko Mori, Motohiro Ishikawa, Takeo Sakimura