Patents Assigned to FotoNation
  • Patent number: 9239957
    Abstract: A method of image processing within an image acquisition device comprises: acquiring an image including one or more face regions and identifying one or more eye-iris regions within the one or more face regions. The one or more eye-iris regions are analyzed to identify any eye-iris region comprising an eye-iris pattern of sufficient quality to pose a risk of biometrically identifying a person within the image. Responsive to identifying any such eye-iris region, a respective substitute eye-iris region comprising an eye-iris pattern sufficiently distinct from the identified eye-iris pattern to avoid identifying the person within the image is determined, and the identified eye-iris region is replaced with the substitute eye-iris region in the original image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: FotoNation Limited
    Inventors: Ilariu Raducan, Ruxandra Vranceanu, Razvan Condorovici, Cosmin Stan, Peter Corcoran
  • Patent number: 9224034
    Abstract: A method of detecting a face in an image includes performing face detection within a first window of the image at a first location. A confidence level is obtained from the face detection indicating a probability of the image including a face at or in the vicinity of the first location. Face detection is then performed within a second window at a second location, wherein the second location is determined based on the confidence level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: FotoNation Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Petronel Bigioi, Peter Corcoran, Mihnea Gangea, Stefan Mirel Petrescu, Andrei Vasiliu, Gabriel Costache, Alexandru Drimbarean
  • Patent number: 9160897
    Abstract: An estimated total camera motion between temporally proximate image frames is computed. A desired component of the estimated total camera motion is determined including distinguishing an undesired component of the estimated total camera motion, and including characterizing vector values of motion between the image frames. A counter is incremented for each pixel group having a summed luminance that is greater than a threshold. A counter may be decremented for pixels that are under a second threshold, or a zero bit may be applied to pixels below a single threshold. The threshold or thresholds is/are determined based on a dynamic luminance range of the sequence. The desired camera motion is computed including representing the vector values based on final values of counts for the image frames. A corrected image sequence is generated including the desired component of the estimated total camera motion, and excluding the undesired component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: FotoNation Limited
    Inventors: Felix Albu, Corneliu Florea, Adrian Zamfir, Alexandru Drimbarean, Peter Corcoran
  • Patent number: 9151920
    Abstract: A cable support device having a first portion at a back side thereof and a second portion at a front side opposite the back side of the cable support device, the first portion adapted to couple to a front side of a housing, and the second portion adapted to support a length of at least one cable extending along a direction of the front side of the cable support device, wherein the cable support device is transitionable between a first state and a second state, wherein, in the first state, the second portion extends at a first angle with respect to the front side of the housing, and in the second state, the second portion extends at a second angle with respect to the front side of the housing, the second angle being different from the first angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Go!Foton Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Haiguang Lu, Kenichiro Takeuchi, Mengjue Wang, Akimitsu Sato
  • Patent number: 9137425
    Abstract: A method and device for detecting a potential defect in an image comprises acquiring a digital image at a time; storing image acquisition data, wherein the image acquisition data includes at least one of a position of a source of light relative to a lens, a distance from the source of light to the lens, a focal length of the lens, a distance from a point on a digital image acquisition device to a subject, an amount of ambient light, or flash intensity; determining dynamic anthropometric data, wherein the dynamic anthropometric data includes one or more dynamically changing human body measurements, of one or more humans represented in the image, captured at the time; and determining a course of corrective action based, at least in part, on the image acquisition data and the dynamic anthropometric data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: FotoNation Limited
    Inventors: Florin Nanu, Peter Corcoran, Cosmin Nicolae Stan
  • Publication number: 20150253529
    Abstract: A cable support device having a first portion at a back side thereof and a second portion at a front side opposite the back side of the cable support device, the first portion adapted to couple to a front side of a housing, and the second portion adapted to support a length of at least one cable extending along a direction of the front side of the cable support device, wherein the cable support device is transitionable between a first state and a second state, wherein, in the first state, the second portion extends at a first angle with respect to the front side of the housing, and in the second state, the second portion extends at a second angle with respect to the front side of the housing, the second angle being different from the first angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: GO!FOTON HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Haiguang Lu, Kenichiro Takeuchi, Mengjue Wang, Akimitsu Sato
  • Publication number: 20150257295
    Abstract: A cassette conveying system comprising a housing having front, back, left, and right sides, wherein the front side is open; and a cassette holding assembly for holding one or more cassettes, the holding assembly including a bracket to which each cassette is coupled, each cassette including at least one device and receiving one or more cables operatively connected to the device, and a cassette conveying assembly operably coupling the cassette holding assembly to the housing such that the cassette holding assembly is linearly and rotationally movable in relation to the housing and transitionable between a stored state and a retracted state; wherein, in the stored state, the cassette holding mechanism is stored completely within the housing; and wherein, in the retracted state, the cassette holding mechanism is at least partially external the front side of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: GO!FOTON HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Haiguang Lu, Kenichiro Takeuchi, Alla Shtabnaya
  • Patent number: 9129381
    Abstract: A method of generating one or more new digital images using an original digitally-acquired image including a selected image feature includes identifying within a digital image acquisition device one or more groups of pixels that correspond to the selected image feature based on information from one or more preview images. A portion of the original image is selected that includes the one or more groups of pixels. The technique includes automatically generating values of pixels of one or more new images based on the selected portion in a manner which includes the selected image feature within the one or more new images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: FotoNation Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Yury Prilutsky, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi
  • Patent number: 9118833
    Abstract: A hand-held digital image capture device (digital camera) has a user-selectable mode in which upon engaging the mode the device detects a face in the field of view of the device and generates a face delimiter on a camera display screen, the delimiter surrounding the initial position of the image of a the face on the screen. The device is arranged to indicate thereafter to the user if the device departs from movement along a predetermined concave path P with the optical axis of the device pointing towards the face, such indication being made by movement of the image of the face relative to the delimiter. The camera captures and stores a plurality of images at successive positions along the concave path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: FotoNation Limited
    Inventors: Petronel Bigioi, Peter Corcoran, Piotr Stec
  • Patent number: 9117282
    Abstract: A method for providing improved foreground/background separation in a digital image of a scene is disclosed. The method comprises providing a first map comprising one or more regions provisionally defined as one of foreground or background within the digital image; and providing a subject profile corresponding to a region of interest of the digital image. The provisionally defined regions are compared with the subject profile to determine if any of the regions intersect with the profile region. The definition of one or more of the regions in the map is changed based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: FotoNation Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran, Yury Prilutsky, Petronel Bigioi, Alexei Pososin, Mihai Ciuc, Adrian Zamfir, Adrian Capata
  • Patent number: 9094648
    Abstract: A technique is provided for generating sharp, well-exposed, color images from low-light images. A series of under-exposed images is acquired. A mean image is computed and a sum image is generated each based on the series of under-exposed images. Chrominance variables of pixels of the mean image are mapped to chrominance variables of pixels of the sum image. Chrominance values of pixels within the series of under-exposed images are replaced with chrominance values of the sum image. A set of sharp, well-exposed, color images is generated based on the series of under-exposed images with replaced chrominance values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: FotoNation Limited
    Inventor: Ruxandra Vranceanu
  • Patent number: 9069122
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical component may include providing a plate formed from a transparent material, cutting depth-wise through a planar surface of the plate along first and second linear directions to define first and second planar surfaces, and cutting depth-wise through the planar surface along a curved direction to define a curved surface such that an optical component is obtained including the first and second planar surfaces and the curved surface extending between an edge of the first planar surface and an edge of the second planar surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignees: Go!Foton Holdings, Inc., Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Kenichiro Takeuchi, Kaneyuki Tsuji
  • Patent number: 9053545
    Abstract: A method of modifying the viewing parameters of digital images using face detection for achieving a desired spatial parameters based on one or more sub-groups of pixels that correspond to one or more facial features of the face. Such methods may be used for animating still images, automating and streamlining application such as the creation of slide shows and screen savers of images containing faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Fotonation Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran
  • Patent number: 9053681
    Abstract: A dynamically reconfigurable heterogeneous systolic array is configured to process a first image frame, and to generate image processing primatives from the image frame, and to store the primatives and the corresponding image frame in a memory store. A characteristic of the image frame is determined. Based on the characteristic, the array is reconfigured to process a following image frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: FotoNation Limited
    Inventors: Petronel Bigioi, Corneliu Zaharia, Peter Corcoran
  • Patent number: 9039558
    Abstract: An electric vehicle driving system includes an energy-storage apparatus (1), a first motor (2), a speed regulating motor (3) and a single row planetary mechanism. Said first motor (2) and said speed regulating motor (3) are connected electrically to the energy-storage apparatus (1). The single row planetary mechanism includes a sun gear (4), a gear ring (5) and a planetary carries (6) with planetary gears (7). The planetary gears (7) in the planetary carrier (6) mesh the gear ring (5) and the sun gear (4) separately. The output axle of the first motor (2) is connected to the gear ring (5), and the output axle of the speed regulating motor (3) is connected to the sun gear (4) by a brake (8). The invention takes the speed regulating motor and the single row planetary mechanism instead of the gearbox in a transmission driving system, and achieves a simple and compact structure, easy assemble, light weight, and low manufacturing cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignees: BEIQI FOTON MOTOR CO., LTD., BEIJING ZHI KE INVESTMENT AND MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng Li, Xingquan Qin, Yu Li, Bao Li, Yanqiao Zhang, Qiang He
  • Patent number: 9025054
    Abstract: A method of filtering a red-eye phenomenon from an acquired digital image including a multiplicity of pixels indicative of color, the pixels forming various shapes of the image, includes analyzing meta-data information, determining one or more regions within the digital image suspected as including red eye artifact, and determining, based at least in part on the meta-data analysis, whether the regions are actual red eye artifact. The meta-data information may include information describing conditions under which the image was acquired, captured and/or digitized, acquisition device-specific information, and/film information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: FotoNation Limited
    Inventors: Michael J. DeLuca, Yury Prilutsky, Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi, Alexei Pososin
  • Patent number: 9025837
    Abstract: An image processing technique includes acquiring a main image of a scene and determining one or more facial regions in the main image. The facial regions are analyzed to determine if any of the facial regions includes a defect. A sequence of relatively low resolution images nominally of the same scene is also acquired. One or more sets of low resolution facial regions in the sequence of low resolution images are determined and analyzed for defects. Defect free facial regions of a set are combined to provide a high quality defect free facial region. At least a portion of any defective facial regions of the main image are corrected with image information from a corresponding high quality defect free facial region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Fotonation Limited
    Inventors: Petronel Bigioi, Peter Corcoran, Eran Steinberg
  • Patent number: 9019402
    Abstract: Two or more digital images of a same scene are captured with different exposure levels. Image pairs are generated that have a same exposure level from the image data of differently exposed images by adjusting the exposure of at least one of the pair of images. A ghosting map is generated based on differences between the pair of images adjusted to the same exposure. A blurred ghosting map is generated and alpha blending is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: FotoNation Limited
    Inventors: Ruxandra Vränceanu, Razvan George Condorovici, Foti Coleca, Corneliu Florea
  • Patent number: 9014529
    Abstract: An apparatus for positioning an optical device includes (i) a holder assembly for holding an optical device and for limiting movement of the optical device within the holder assembly to movement in the Z-direction and (ii) a housing for permitting limited movement of the holder assembly in the X-direction, for supporting and optionally permitting movement of the holder assembly in the Y-direction, for supporting and for substantially preventing movement of the holder assembly in the Z-direction. When the holder assembly optionally holding the optical device is positioned within the housing to obtain a desired position of the optical device, a bonding material may be used for fixing the location in the X-direction, and optionally the Y-direction, of the holder assembly within the housing. A method of operating the apparatus for obtaining a desired position of an optical device is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Go!Foton Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenichiro Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 9007480
    Abstract: Sub-regions within a face image are identified to be enhanced by applying a localized smoothing kernel to luminance data corresponding to the sub-regions of the face image. An enhanced face image is generated including an enhanced version of the face that includes certain original pixels in combination with pixels corresponding to the one or more enhanced sub-regions of the face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: FotoNation Limited
    Inventors: Mihai Ciuc, Adrian Capata, Valentin Mocanu, Alexei Pososin, Corneliu Florea, Peter Corcoran