Patents Assigned to Aptina Imaging Corporation, Inc.
  • Patent number: 7944488
    Abstract: A defective pixel detection and correction mechanism for use in an image sensor integrated circuit determines whether a current pixel is a defective pixel in a consistent manner from frame to frame. The defective pixel detection and correction mechanism also replaces defective pixels with stable replacement values. The defective pixel detection and correction mechanism has a defective pixel detection mechanism that employs a look-up table with defective pixel locations for providing a non-varying determination of whether a pixel is defective or non-defective. The defective pixel detection and correction mechanism also has a defective pixel correction mechanism that employs a consistent replacement choice facility to provide a previous pixel value in the same frame, on the same row, and a predetermined number of pixels from the current pixel location as a replacement value and a replacement unit (e.g., multiplexer) for replacing the defective pixel value with the replacement value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation, Inc.
    Inventor: William L. Post
  • Patent number: 7787663
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting a thermal anomaly in humans and/or livestock. In one embodiment, the system includes an image capturing component that captures a visual image of incident light in a screening area, the image capturing component further operable to determine a first coordinate in the captured image, such as the location of a person's eyes. The system further includes a radiation capturing component operable to capture a thermal image of incident radiation in the screening area, the radiation capturing component further operable to determine an analysis area in the captured thermal image based upon the first coordinate in the captured light image. Finally, the system includes a processing component for determining thermal characteristics about the analysis area. As a result, if the thermal characteristics correspond to an alarm event, then an alarm may be triggered and the person or animal may be isolated for further health screening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason Hartlove
  • Patent number: 7768084
    Abstract: A semiconductor sensor including a plurality of pixels, each of which includes a fluorescent molecule layer and a photosensitive layer. The fluorescent molecule layer converts light incident on the pixel to surface plasmons. The photosensitive layer generates a light detection signal representative of an intensity of light incident on the pixel in response to the surface plasmons in a region of the sensor which is close enough to the surface of the pixels that electronic crosstalk between the pixels does not occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell W. Gruhlke, Mark D. Crook, Thomas E. Dungan