With Photoarray Patents (Class 396/54)
  • Patent number: 11856332
    Abstract: Each remote operation robot includes: an imaging direction detection unit configured to detect an imaging direction of a camera, an imaging direction information generation unit configured to generate imaging direction information indicating the imaging direction detected by the imaging direction detection unit, an imaging direction information transmission unit configured to transmit imaging direction information to another remote operation robot, an imaging direction information reception unit configured to receive the imaging direction information from another remote operation robot, and an imaging direction control unit configured to control the imaging direction of the camera based on the imaging direction information received by the imaging direction information reception unit in such a way that the imaging direction of the camera of the own robot is synchronized with the imaging direction of the camera of the robot that has transmitted the imaging direction information received by the imaging direction
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masahiro Takahashi
  • Patent number: 11747218
    Abstract: A camera attachment for measuring a temperature of a surface, and related methods of measuring the temperature of the surface, employ a temperature reactive material that is thermally coupled with the surface and imaged to provide image data of the temperature reactive material that is analyzed to measure the temperature. A camera attachment for measuring a temperature of a surface includes a distal surface configured to be thermally coupled with the surface, a frame configured to be coupled with a camera that has a field of view, and a temperature reactive material coupled with the frame and thermally coupled with the distal surface. The frame positions the temperature reactive material within the field of view of the camera so that an image captured by the camera includes at least a portion of the temperature reactive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Schmitt, Pablo A. Escobar, Zijing Zeng
  • Patent number: 11594019
    Abstract: An object recognition method of a refrigerator is disclosed. The disclosed object recognition method of a refrigerator comprises the steps of: obtaining a captured image of a storage compartment of a refrigerator; checking the change in the imaging direction of an image capturing device which has captured the image of the storage compartment, when a change in the captured image is confirmed compared to a previously stored image; and performing an object recognition operation of the captured image when the imaging direction is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seongjoo Han
  • Patent number: 11562466
    Abstract: By performing a simple operation on an information processing terminal, a direction of a subject desired to be viewed by a user 40 can be smoothly displayed from various directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: AMATELUS INC.
    Inventors: Shinya Shimojo, Mitsuhide Matsuda, Izuru Senokuchi
  • Patent number: 11451698
    Abstract: In a case where a plurality of imaging apparatuses is used for a surgery, the appearance is regulated between images captured by the respective imaging apparatuses. According to the present disclosure, a medical system is provided, the medical system including a plurality of surgical imaging apparatuses and a control unit to which each of the surgical imaging apparatuses is connected, the control unit including a signal processing unit that links images captured by the respective surgical imaging apparatuses. With this configuration, in a case where a plurality of imaging apparatuses is arranged for a surgery, it becomes possible to regulate the appearance between images captured by the respective imaging apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Kikuchi, Yuki Sugie, Yukihiro Nakamura, Kentaro Fukazawa, Kenji Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11373451
    Abstract: Provided are a device and method for recognizing a gesture. The device includes a video image acquirer configured to acquire a video including a gesture object by photographing the gesture object, a center point detector configured to detect a center point of the gesture object in frames of the acquired video, a velocity calculator configured to calculate a velocity of the gesture object by calculating a difference between motion coordinates on each axis on the basis of the center point of the gesture object, and a gesture recognizer configured to recognize a gesture of the gesture object by comparing the calculated velocity of the gesture object with a preset velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: KOREA ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yang Keun Ahn, Young Choong Park
  • Patent number: 11202011
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a motion vector detector configured to detect a motion vector, a calculator configured to calculate angular velocity information of an object based on the motion vector and an angular velocity detected by an angular velocity detector, an acquirer configured to acquire a result of an image stabilizing control in capturing a still image based on the angular velocity information of the object, and a controller configured to control a display unit so as to display the still image and information of the result of the image stabilizing control superimposed on the still image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hironori Seki, Hideya Takanashi
  • Patent number: 10890494
    Abstract: A camera attachment for measuring a temperature of a surface, and related methods of measuring the temperature of the surface, employ a temperature reactive material that is thermally coupled with the surface and imaged to provide image data of the temperature reactive material that is analyzed to measure the temperature. A camera attachment for measuring a temperature of a surface includes a distal surface configured to be thermally coupled with the surface, a frame configured to be coupled with a camera that has a field of view, and a temperature reactive material coupled with the frame and thermally coupled with the distal surface. The frame positions the temperature reactive material within the field of view of the camera so that an image captured by the camera includes at least a portion of the temperature reactive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Schmitt, Pablo A. Escobar, Zijing Zeng
  • Patent number: 10867328
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing AI-based relocation cost estimates for services and products are disclosed. The method may comprise receiving description data of a location, the description data generated via at least one or more of a camera, a user interface, and/or one or more environment sensors. The method may generate an inventory list comprising a plurality of items, utilizing the machine learning model, based on the description data, the inventory list further comprising inventory attributes associated with the plurality of items related to a context of the plurality of items in the location. The method may generate, utilizing the machine learning models, one or more interactive quotes for relocation cost estimates comprising at least one or more offers for products and/or services based on the plurality of items in the inventory list and the inventory attributes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: YEMBO, INC.
    Inventors: Zachary Rattner, Siddharth Mohan, Vikram Gupta
  • Patent number: 10764503
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus (2000) includes a determination unit (2020) and a notification unit (2040). The determination unit (2020) determines whether a field of view of a second camera is correct, on the basis of a first captured image (40), a second captured image (50), and relationship information (information indicating the relationship to be satisfied between a field of view of a first camera and the field of view of the second camera). In a case in which the field of view of the second camera is not correct, the notification unit (2040) notifies that the field of view of the second camera is not correct. The first camera is provided in a head-mounted display worn by a person. The second camera is provided in a part other than the head-mounted display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryoma Oami, Katsuhiko Takahashi, Yuusuke Konishi, Hiroshi Yamada, Hiroo Ikeda, Junko Nakagawa, Kosuke Yoshimi, Ryo Kawai, Takuya Ogawa
  • Patent number: 10432904
    Abstract: An image processing method and device are provided. The image processing device includes an image sensor module including a lens and an image sensor; and a processor configured to obtain, using the image sensor module, a first image having first color information, the first image corresponding to an external object, by; move at least one of the lens and the image sensor based on a designated pixel unit; obtain, using the image sensor module with the moved at least one of the lens and the image sensor, a second image having second color information, the second image corresponding to the external object; and generate a third image having third color information based on the first color information and the second color information, the third image corresponding to the external object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Dongsoo Kim, Hwayong Kang, Jian Chang, Youngkwon Yoon, Donghoon Jang
  • Patent number: 10348955
    Abstract: There is provided an imaging apparatus for continuously performing a plurality of photographing operations. The imaging apparatus includes an AF sensor and an image sensor. A microcomputer performs focal point detection (i.e., defocus amount calculation) processing based on a signal acquired by the AF sensor. Further, the microcomputer performs focal point detection processing based on a signal acquired by the image sensor. The microcomputer selects one of two focal point detection results and performs a control to drive a focusing lens in a lens drive 1 and a lens drive 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Terutake Kadohara
  • Patent number: 10070113
    Abstract: An image processing method and device are provided. The image processing device includes an image sensor module including a lens and an image sensor; and a processor configured to obtain, using the image sensor module, a first image having first color information, the first image corresponding to an external object, by; move at least one of the lens and the image sensor based on a designated pixel unit; obtain, using the image sensor module with the moved at least one of the lens and the image sensor, a second image having second color information, the second image corresponding to the external object; and generate a third image having third color information based on the first color information and the second color information, the third image corresponding to the external object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Dongsoo Kim, Hwayong Kang, Jian Chang, Youngkwon Yoon, Donghoon Jang
  • Patent number: 9787895
    Abstract: To provide an information processing device, an information processing method, and a program capable of sharing a space while maintaining the degree of freedom of a visual line. An information processing device according to the present disclosure includes: a control unit configured to perform control in a manner that a display image generated based on image information which is generated through imaging of an imaging device mounted on a moving object moving in a space, imaging-device posture information which is information regarding a posture of the imaging device, and user view information which is obtained from a user manipulation device manipulated by a user and specifies a region that the user desires to view is displayed in a display region viewed by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Rekimoto, Shunichi Kasahara
  • Patent number: 9374520
    Abstract: A digital image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. When the composition of a subject displayed on a display of the apparatus is changed during application of a first shutter-release signal, a current auto-focus (AF) region moves along with the subject and displayed on the display at the same time as the subject. The apparatus can further display an initial AF region on the display in a manner distinguishable from the current AF region. After the composition of the subject is changed, while the current AF region moving along with the subject is being displayed on the display, when the application of the first shutter-release signal is interrupted, an AF region is reset as the initial AF region. Also, an image file can be generated and stored after application of a second-shutter release signal which occurs after application of the first shutter-release signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-shik Koh
  • Patent number: 9361672
    Abstract: A system of estimating image blur in digital images stored in a digital file. The disclosed system may calculate a blur value and direction of motion causing image blur based on detected edges within an input image and spectral energy information of the input image in the frequency domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Vitalii Umanskyi, Volodymyr Kyiko, Yuriy S. Musatenko
  • Patent number: 9094599
    Abstract: A digital image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. When the composition of a subject displayed on a display of the apparatus is changed during application of a first shutter-release signal, a current auto-focus (AF) region moves along with the subject and displayed on the display at the same time as the subject. The apparatus can further display an initial AF region on the display in a manner distinguishable from the current AF region. After the composition of the subject is changed, while the current AF region moving along with the subject is being displayed on the display, when the application of the first shutter-release signal is interrupted, an AF region is reset as the initial AF region. Also, an image file can be generated and stored after application of a second-shutter release signal which occurs after application of the first shutter-release signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-shik Koh
  • Patent number: 9030566
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor configured to capture an image; a vibration detection unit configured to detect a vibration; a vector detection unit configured to detect a motion vector from images; a first correction unit configured to optically correct an image blur; a second correction unit configured to electrically correct the image blur; a first calculation unit configured to calculate, on the basis of the vibration, a first vibration correction amount for controlling the first correction unit; a second calculation unit configured to calculate, on the basis of the motion vector, a second vibration correction amount for controlling the second correction unit; and a control unit configured to control the first and second calculation units so that the first and second vibration correction amounts are suppressed when a vibration amount is greater than a first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Miyasako
  • Patent number: 9025040
    Abstract: A rifle scope includes an image sensor configured to capture visual data corresponding to a view area, a display, and a controller coupled to the display and the image sensor. The controller is configured to apply a first stabilization parameter to at least a portion of the visual data to produce a stabilized view, to provide the stabilized view and a reticle to the display, and to apply a second stabilization parameter to stabilize the reticle relative to the stabilized view in response to motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: TrackingPoint, Inc.
    Inventors: Dane Andrew Thyssen, John Hancock Lupher
  • Patent number: 8830330
    Abstract: Segments of interest within video footage are identified automatically. Such segments of interest include portions of the footage which were taken using a hand held camera and which show a static subject, portions which track the motion of a moving subject, and portions which show an abrupt event. Methods are presented for identifying such segments, based on motion and/or colour analysis of the video footage or based on observations of discontinuities in the video footage following a period of stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Muvee Technologies PTE Ltd.
    Inventors: Sachin Jain, Peter Rowan Kellock, Sheng Lo
  • Patent number: 8797414
    Abstract: A method of Digital Image Stabilization (DIS) including a feature point sorting algorithm for selecting optimal feature points, and a computationally efficient tile-vector based Hierarchical Block-Matching search algorithm for deriving motion vectors of the selected feature points, and a feature point motion vector grouping/comparison process for grouping pairs of the selected feature points based on their vector magnitude ratio and their angular difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: SungSoo Park, Matthias Braun
  • Patent number: 8792009
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of reducing camera-shake blur and rolling-caused distortion of image data obtained by shooting without including invalid data. An object obtained by shooting is stored in a memory area as first image data, and data having a smaller data size than the first image data is acquired as second image data by clipping from the memory area. A clipping position which enables correction of camera-shake blur is calculated according to an amount of movement due to a camera shake. Range information indicative of a range in the memory area and shift amounts used for correcting rolling-caused distortion are calculated. Rolling-caused distortion of the second image data is corrected based on the calculated shift amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Oota
  • Patent number: 8743268
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit, a motion vector detection unit which detects a motion vector quantity representing a shift amount between images from image signals successively obtained by the image capturing unit, an angle conversion unit which converts the motion vector quantity into an angular displacement amount between the images on the basis of a zoom position of the zoom lens, a shift angle calculation unit which calculates a shift angle from an optical axis of the imaging optical system by calculating the angular displacement amount, a shift amount conversion unit which converts the shift angle into a shift amount on an image plane of the image capturing unit on the basis of the zoom position of the zoom lens, and a correction unit which corrects a shift on the basis of the shift amount on the image plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Kawahara
  • Patent number: 8433185
    Abstract: A multiple anti-shake system and a method thereof applied to a camera device. The system comprises a sensing module, a first anti-shake module and a second anti-shake module. The sensing module detects the vibration signal of the camera device and the first anti-shake module is actuated to perform a first vibration compensation according to the vibration signal, therefrom calculates a residual vibration amount according to said first vibration compensation. The second anti-shake module thereby further performs a second vibration compensation to determine the set parameter of multi-frame blending. Thereby, the user can obtain a clear image by immediately processing a blurred image through a compensation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Altek Corporation
    Inventors: Yu-Ming Cheng, Yun-Chin Li, Chin-Lung Yang, Yu-Kai Kang
  • Patent number: 8395672
    Abstract: An imaging device capable of detecting and correcting, with high accuracy, the motion (image rotation) in the rolling direction of the image caused by the camera shake during imaging without being influenced by the individual variation, temperature characteristic, and variation with time of the sensor. To correct the motion (image rotation) in the rolling direction of the image caused by the camera shake during imaging, the result of detection of the angle of inclination of the device by an angle sensor (8a) is corrected with the result of detection of the angle of inclination of the image on the basis of the feature of the captured image by an image inclination detecting section (7), and the imaging device (3) is rotated around the optical axis or an axis parallel to the optical axis according to the corrected angle of inclination of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Hayashi, Masanobu Tanaka, Atsuo Ochi, Hiroya Kusaka, Hideyuki Hashi
  • Patent number: 8334909
    Abstract: Provided is an image shake correction device which can be miniaturized without degrading a correction performance thereof. The image shake correction device includes a support supporting a lens; a moving portion installed independently from the support and moving the support on a plane that is approximately perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens, wherein the moving portion comprises a first moving portion moving the support in a first direction and a second moving portion moving the support in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction; a prop supporting the support; a pressurizing member pressurizing the support toward the prop by applying force to the moving portion; a first driving portion driving the first moving portion; and a second driving portion driving the second moving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Shirono
  • Patent number: 8319834
    Abstract: Segments of interest within video footage are identified automatically. Such segments of interest include portions of the footage which were taken using a hand held camera and which show a static subject, portions which track the motion of a moving subject, and portions which show an abrupt event. Methods are presented for identifying such segments, based on motion and/or color analysis of the video footage or based on observations of discontinuities in the video footage following a period of stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Muvee Technologies Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Sachin Jain, Peter Rowan Kellock, Sheng Lo
  • Patent number: 8253810
    Abstract: An imaging pixel array and associated method and system are disclosed in which the array contains first pixels each having a first photo-conversion device, and second pixels each having a first photo-conversion device and a second photo-conversion device. The first photo-conversion devices are configured to acquire an image during a first integration period. The second photo-conversion devices are configured to acquire a plurality of images during the first integration period. A circuit uses the plurality of image signals and determines from them relative motion between the array and an image during a portion of the first integration period and provides a signal representing the motion which is used for image stabilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Myers, Michael J. Brosnan, Charles Moore, Richard A. Baumgartner, Christopher Silsby, Brian J. Misek
  • Patent number: 8159540
    Abstract: A MCP semiconductor device with an “anti-shake” function includes a driver chip and a logic chip. The logic chip includes a correction signal processing unit which obtains a value for vibration of apparatus based on a vibration detection signal to generate a correction signal and a control signal output unit having a plurality of types of signal output sections which output a vibration control signal in accordance with the correction signal to a vibration correction control unit which executes vibration correction control for an optical component. The logic chip further includes a driver output terminal which outputs the vibration control signal to the driver chip, an external output terminal which outputs the control signal to an external circuit other than the driver chip, and also an output switch unit which connects one of the plurality of signal output sections with the driver output terminal or the external output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Tomofumi Watanabe, Tomonori Kamiya, Yoshihisa Yamada
  • Patent number: 8135237
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses provide noise reduction in a demosaiced digital image by processing the digitized signals received from a color pattern pixel array for noise reduction previous to, or as part of, a demosaicing process by using a weight matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Shuxue Quan
  • Patent number: 8125711
    Abstract: An image blur correction apparatus includes first and second lens units, a supporting unit aligning the first and second lens units in an optical axis direction, so that the first and second lens units can independently move in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, a driving unit driving the first and second lens units in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, a relative position detection unit detecting a relative position between the first and second lens units, a shake detection unit detecting a shake amount added to the image blur correction apparatus, and a control unit controlling the driving unit based on an output of the shake detection unit. The control unit performs closed-loop control based on an output of the relative position detection unit so that the second lens unit moves in a direction opposite to that of the first lens unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masafumi Kimura
  • Patent number: 8115814
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to track and to photograph a mobile object over a wide range, by a cooperative operation of multiple cameras. In addition, a mobile tracking system is provided for tracking the mobile object by the cooperation of multiple cameras, in which each camera includes a photographing device which photographs and recognizes the mobile object, a changing device which changes a view angle of the photographing device, a position deriving device which derives a position of the camera, a distance deriving device which derives the distance between the camera and the mobile object, and a communication device which transmits an identifier of the camera, a position of the camera, a moving direction of the mobile object and the distance between the camera and the mobile object to another camera and receives an identifier of the other camera, a position of the other camera, a moving direction of the mobile object and a distance between the other camera and the mobile object from the other camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Iwase, Masaaki Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 7986343
    Abstract: A multi-eye imaging apparatus comprises a plurality of imaging systems (106a, 106b) each including an optical system (107a, 107b) and an imaging element (108a, 108b) and having a different optical axis. The plurality of imaging systems (106a, 106b) include a first imaging system (106b) having a pixel shift means (101) for changing a relative positional relationship between an image formed on the imaging element (108b), and the imaging element (108b), and a second imaging system (106a) in which a relative positional relationship between an image formed on the imaging element (108a), and the imaging element (108a), is fixed during time-series image capture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Hironori Kumagai, Taku Hirasawa
  • Patent number: 7917021
    Abstract: A portable apparatus, comprising a first detector, a second detector, and a controller, is provided. The portable apparatus has a photographing function. The first detector detects a movement in a first direction. The second detector detects a second direction. The second direction is different from the first direction. The controller switches the running and suspension of a first and second function according to the combination of movements in the first and second directions. The first and second functions are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7909256
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically focusing an image received by an image capturing unit (100) relative to a target is disclosed. The target is present in a sequence of one or more scanned frames. The method includes dividing (302) each frame from the sequence of one or more scanned frames in a plurality of sections. The method further includes iteratively determining (304) a relative focus of the target within each section of the plurality of sections. The method further includes adjustment (306) of a position of at least a first light path adjustment element in response to the determined relative focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility, Inc.
    Inventors: Fan He, Michael W. Frenzer
  • Patent number: 7881595
    Abstract: An imaging device and processes to provide image stabilization by controlling analog gain and integration time. Analog gain and integration time for images are determined by comparing an image in various frames, whether full frames or hidden frames, where the image is provided with differently set analog gain and integration time settings to determine settings for stabilized image capture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Dmitri Jerdev, Igor Subbotin
  • Patent number: 7859568
    Abstract: A roll correction section (21) performs correction to an image captured by a camera (11). A region limiting section (15) limits image data of an image in an upper region of the image and outputs the image data and a roll amount detection section (13) detects, from the limited and output image data, a roll amount of the image. A roll correction section (21) performs correction based on the detected roll amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mihoko Shimano, Takeo Azuma, Jun Ozawa
  • Patent number: 7847824
    Abstract: A shake correction apparatus of a camera, includes a stationary support board; an electrical board movable relative to the stationary support board; an image pickup device supported by the electrical board and including leads made of a magnetic material which are arranged on a periphery of the image pickup device to electrically connect the image pickup device to the electrical board; at least one drive coil which moves with the electrical board; at least one magnet provided on a surface of the stationary support board which faces the electrical board, and positioned around the image pickup device and the leads as viewed from the front thereof, the magnet exerting a magnetic force on the drive coil; and at least one magnetic cover, made of a magnetic substance, for covering a portion of the magnet which faces the leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Mogamiya
  • Patent number: 7818091
    Abstract: A process and a device are provided for determining the pose as the entirety of the position and the orientation of an image reception device. The process is characterized in that the pose of the image reception device is determined with the use of at least one measuring device that is part of a robot. The device is characterized by a robot with an integrated measuring device that is part of the robot for determining the pose of the image reception device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Kuka Roboter GmbH
    Inventors: Arif Kazi, Rainer Bischoff
  • Patent number: 7791644
    Abstract: When a camera body is shaken, a piezoelectric element generates a signal corresponding to angular velocity. The output signal of the element is amplified by a synchronous detection amplifier and is sent to a high-pass filter. An output signal of the filter is integrated after digital conversion and is outputted as a shake amount of the camera body. An initialization-trigger generating circuit generates an initialization trigger in predetermined cycles. When the trigger is inputted, the amplifier outputs a first zero-level signal. A zero-level initialization circuit initializes the filter every input of the trigger to output a second zero-level signal. The two zero-level signals have a reference signal value to be outputted at a time of the angular velocity zero. During the initialization, the reference signal value is applied to both sides of the filter to remove drift components included in the output signal thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Ebato
  • Patent number: 7675543
    Abstract: Segments of interest within video footage are identified automatically. Such segments of interest include portions of the footage which were taken using a hand held camera and which show a static subject, portions which track the motion of a moving subject, and portions which show an abrupt event. Methods are presented for identifying such segments, based on motion and/or color analysis of the video footage or based on observations of discontinuities in the video footage following a period of stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Muvee Technologies Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Sachin Jain, Peter Rowan Kellock, Sheng Lo
  • Patent number: 7609951
    Abstract: A roll correction section (21) performs correction to an image captured by a camera (11). A region limiting section (15) limits image data of an image in an upper region of the image and outputs the image data and a roll amount detection section (13) detects, from the limited and output image data, a roll amount of the image. A roll correction section (21) performs correction based on the detected roll amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Mihoko Shimano, Takeo Azuma, Jun Ozawa
  • Patent number: 7596307
    Abstract: A blur correction camera system includes a blur correction lens driven based upon the vibration detection signal detected by an angular velocity sensor, that corrects an image blur, a point-image function computing unit that computes a point spread function, and an image restoration computing unit that corrects an image blur by executing image restoration through image processing on a captured image by using the point spread function. The image blur that cannot be completely corrected by the blur correction lens is further corrected through image restoration so as to obtain a high quality image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Tomita, Kazutoshi Usui, Kenichi Kitano, Yoshiko Ono
  • Patent number: 7593040
    Abstract: A method and system for minimizing the effects of image motion in still cameras is provided. In one embodiment, a method of capturing an image in a digital camera is presented. The method includes calculating a sharpness value related to an image input. The method also includes evaluating the sharpness value to determine image motion. The method further includes capturing a next image input data from the image input responsive to evaluating the sharpness value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Omnivision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jizhang Shan, Jess Jan Young Lee, Guansong Liu, Hui Pan, Daniel L. Flamm
  • Patent number: 7593039
    Abstract: An image correcting method includes: (a) acquiring original image information to be corrected; (b) setting a confirmation range for confirming an effect of a correction; (c) producing corrected image information; and (d) displaying, on an image display section, an original image based on the original image information and a corrected image based on the corrected image information. The confirmation range is set based on the original image information. The corrected image information is produced by correcting the original image information within the confirmation range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Eunice Poon, Megumi Kanda, Ian Clarke
  • Patent number: 7542666
    Abstract: An image-capturing apparatus includes a first image pickup element which picks up an actual image of a subject, a second image pickup element which detects a displacement and has sensitivity that is higher than that of the first image pickup element, an image pickup unit for picking up an image of the subject by driving the first image pickup element and the second image pickup element simultaneously, a displacement detecting unit for computing an amount of displacement between images due to a camera shake using image data obtained from the second image pickup element when the image of the subject is picked up by the image pickup unit, and a position correcting unit for correcting a position of image data obtained from the first image pickup element, based on the amount of displacement computed by the displacement detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kouichi Nakagomi
  • Patent number: 7509039
    Abstract: In an image sensing apparatus which has a camera shake correction function of performing a camera shake correction on a plurality of images sensed by an image sensing unit by extracting a partial image from each of the sensed images on the basis of correlation between the sensed images, the image sensing unit is exposed, and image signals are read out at predetermined periods. The image sensing apparatus selectively outputs either each of the image signal read out at the predetermined period as one image, or each of image signals obtained by adding image signals for latest n (n is a natural number not less than 2) periods while performing a camera shake correction on the image signals read out at the predetermined period, and the sum image signal as one image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hirofumi Suda
  • Patent number: 7496287
    Abstract: Feature points are extracted from an image of a plurality of frames. A blurring direction component of a previous frame image is judged from motion vectors of the next frame image acquired with reference to feature points of the extracted previous frame image. Images of the same blurring direction are selected and grouped from the image of a plurality of frames based on that judgment result. After performing position compensation, an additive composite of a grouped composite image is created for each group so that feature points conform to grouped images. Subsequently, inverse transform filter processing is applied to the grouped composite image data and hand shake compensation by group is accomplished which compensates the blurring direction component matched to a group. Upon position compensation, an additive composite is generated of a hand shake compensated image so that feature points of each grouped composite image conform to hand shake compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Sasaki, Shinichi Matsui
  • Patent number: 7432953
    Abstract: An image-taking apparatus which improves accuracy of taken images by correcting image blurring is disclosed. The image-taking apparatus comprises an image pickup element which photoelectrically converts an object image formed by an image-taking optical system; a detection sensor which detects vibration; and a control circuit which controls driving of a correcting lens unit being disposed in the image-taking optical system and correcting image blurring by moving within a plane substantially orthogonal to the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Washisu
  • Patent number: 7426340
    Abstract: A stage apparatus in which a movable stage is guided in first and second directions orthogonal to each other on a stationary member, includes a pair of first elongated holes formed on one of the movable stage and the stationary member and are elongated in the first direction; a pair of link members having two engaging pins at first ends thereof which are engaged in the pair of first elongated holes to be movable therein, respectively, one of second ends of the pair of link members being pivoted at the other of the movable stage and the stationary member, and the other of the second ends of the pair of link members being supported by the other of the movable stage and the stationary member; and a link-member support mechanism for moving the movable stage in the second direction while maintaining a symmetrical shape thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Shuzo Seo