Patents Assigned to OmniVision Technologies
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Patent number: 10672101Abstract: A bond-per-pixel-block image sensor has a pixel array including multiple pixel blocks with selection circuitry to couple signals to an ADC. The image sensor has an image RAM of DRAM superblocks, each superblock with multiple DRAM blocks each having tristate output driving an image RAM output bus, and data input from several of the ADCs. Each DRAM block has an address multiplexor coupled to read and write addresses. DRAM blocks of each superblock are written simultaneously with data wider than a width of the image RAM output bus. A method of capturing and processing images includes reading a first image frame from pixels of a pixel block through ADCs; writing digital pixel data for the first image frame in a first DRAM superblock; and reading pixel data into an alignment buffer. The method includes overlapping reading the first image frame with writing a second image frame into a second superblock.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2019Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Chia Ming Chen, Hoon Ryu, Qing Qin
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Patent number: 10659056Abstract: A counter distribution system includes an N bit counter to receive a first counting clock to generate a plurality of data bits including lower data bits on lower data bit lines and upper data bits on upper data bit lines. The upper data bits include at least one redundant bit to provide error correction for the counter distribution system. A plurality of latches is coupled to the N bit counter. Each one of the lower data bit lines and each one of the upper data bit lines is coupled to at least one of the latches. The latches are arranged into a plurality of groupings of latches. Each grouping of latches is coupled to a respective latch enable signal. Each latch in each grouping of latches is coupled to latch a respective one of the plurality of data bits in response to the respective latch enable signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2019Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Satoshi Sakurai, Hiroaki Ebihara
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Patent number: 10659055Abstract: An N bit counter includes a lower counter having a first output having M bits that operates a first counting frequency. An upper counter having a second output having N?M+L bits operates a second counting frequency. The second counting frequency is equal to the first counting frequency divided by 2(M-L). An error correction controller is coupled to receive the first and second outputs and perform operations that include comparing the L least significant bits (LSBs) of the second output and at least one most significant bit (MSB) of the first output, and correcting the N?M MSBs of the second output in response to the comparison. The lower bits of the N bit counter are the M bits of the first output, and the upper bits of the N bit counter are the corrected N?M MSBs of the second output.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2018Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Satoshi Sakurai, Hiroaki Ebihara
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Patent number: 10644048Abstract: An optical element comprising a transparent substrate and an anti-reflective coating, wherein the anti-reflective coating further comprises at least a transparent, high refractive index layer and a transparent, low refractive index layer, wherein the high refractive index layer is in contact with the low refractive index layer; and wherein the high refractive index layer is situated at an interface between the anti-reflective coating and air. Further, the low refractive index layer may be silicon oxide; the high refractive index layer may be tantalum oxide or silicon nitride.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Chun-Sheng Fan, Chen-Wei Tsai, Wei-Feng Lin
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Patent number: 10644057Abstract: An image sensor includes a photodiode disposed in a first semiconductor material to absorb photons incident on the image sensor and generate image charge. A floating diffusion is disposed in the first semiconductor material and positioned to receive the image charge from the photodiode, and a transfer transistor is coupled between the photodiode and the floating diffusion to transfer the image charge out of the photodiode into floating diffusion in response to a transfer signal. A source follower transistor with a gate terminal is coupled to the floating diffusion to output an amplified signal of the image charge in the floating diffusion. The gate terminal includes a second semiconductor material in contact with the floating diffusion, and a gate oxide is partially disposed between the second semiconductor material and the first semiconductor material. The second semiconductor material extends beyond the lateral bounds of the floating diffusion.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2018Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Xin Wang, Dajiang Yang, Siguang Ma, Keiji Mabuchi, Bill Phan, Duli Mao, Dyson Tai
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Patent number: 10645448Abstract: Systems and methods for buffer-aware transmission rate control for real-time video streaming are disclosed herein. An example method includes transmitting a first video packet at a transmission rate based on a buffer fill ratio of a buffer, where the transmission rate is adjusted in response to changes of the buffer fill ratio, selectively retransmitting a second video packet in response to a negative acknowledgement packet, where selectively retransmitting the second video packet is at least based on whether the second video packet has been previously retransmitted, a buffer level of the buffer, and a retransmission rate, and selectively retransmitting a third video packet in response to a non-receipt of an acknowledgement packet within a retransmission timeout, wherein selectively retransmitting the third video packet is at least based on whether the third video packet has been previously retransmitted, the buffer level of the buffer, and the retransmission rate.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jiyan Wu, Zhizhuan Wen, Jun Wei, Hui Pan
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Patent number: 10638075Abstract: Counters with various widths for an image sensor. An image sensor includes a plurality of image pixels arranged in rows and columns of a pixel array. A plurality of memory cells are individually coupled to corresponding columns of the pixel array. The memory cells are arranged in a memory bank. The memory bank includes a first memory cell coupled to a first column of the pixel array. The first memory cell includes a first counter having a first width. A second memory cell is coupled to a second column of the pixel array. The second memory cell comprises a second counter having a second width. The first width and the second width are different.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2019Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Zejian Wang, Chun-Hsiang Chang
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Publication number: 20200124902Abstract: An example liquid crystal display device includes a circuit substrate, an array of conductive mirrors formed on the substrate, a light absorbing material disposed between the conductive mirrors, a transparent plate disposed over the array of conductive mirrors, and liquid crystal material disposed between the conductive mirrors and the transparent plate. The light absorbing material can also be disposed around the peripheral region of the array of the conductive mirrors. In an example display, the light absorbing material is black and/or has a light absorbing efficiency of at least fifty percent.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2018Publication date: April 23, 2020Applicant: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Pei-Wen Ko, Chun-Sheng Fan
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Publication number: 20200120315Abstract: A pixel array comprise a green pixel comprising a first green optical filter and a first clear filter, a red pixel comprising a red optical filter and a first special filter, a blue pixel comprising a blue optical filter and a second special filter, and an IR pixel comprising an IR optical filter and one of a second green optical filter and a second clear filter, where the first special filter suppresses a transmission of IR at a stopband centered at 850 nm at a first IR minimum transmission, and the second special filter suppresses a transmission of IR at the stopband centered at 850 nm at a second IR minimum transmission, and where the first minimum IR transmission is different from the second minimum IR transmission.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2018Publication date: April 16, 2020Applicant: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Tawei Ho, Chen-Wei Lu, Cheng-ming Liu
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Patent number: 10620491Abstract: A method of fanning an electrical connection in a liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) device, comprising: providing a silicon substrate including a first surface and a second surface, wherein the silicon substrate includes an conductive pad at the first surface; providing a cover glass panel that includes a cover glass, a transparent electrode layer formed upon the cover glass, and a first sealing material layer formed upon the transparent electrode layer; forming a second sealing material layer upon the first surface of the silicon substrate, wherein the second sealing material layer covers the conductive pad; forming a display layer, comprising a liquid crystal portion, a first seal portion, and a second seal portion, upon the second sealing material layer; wherein the first seal portion and the second seal portion are situated to form a space between them; and wherein the space is situated on top of the conductive pad; placing the cover glass panel upon the display layer, wherein the first sealing material laType: GrantFiled: October 21, 2019Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Chun-Sheng Fan
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Patent number: 10613387Abstract: A method for preventing dark banding in a liquid-crystal-on-silicon (LCoS) device, comprising illuminating, during a first timeframe, a transparent conductive layer of the LCoS device with a first illumination, the LCoS device including liquid-crystal layer between the transparent conductive layer and a reflective pixel-array. The method also includes illuminating, during a second timeframe, the transparent conductive layer with a second illumination, the second timeframe following both the first timeframe and a gap time-interval temporally between the first and second timeframes. The method also includes applying, to the transparent conductive layer, a layer-voltage equal to (i) during the first and second timeframes, an intra-frame voltage having an intra-frame root-mean-square amplitude and, (ii) during the gap time-interval, a gap voltage signal having a gap root-mean-square amplitude less than the intra-frame root-mean-square amplitude.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Sinsuk Lee
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Patent number: 10611108Abstract: A wafer-level method for manufacturing yardless lenses includes (a) depositing light-curable lens resin between a mold and a first side of a transparent substrate, wherein the first side of the transparent substrate has an opaque coating with a plurality of apertures respectively aligned with a plurality of lens-shaped recesses of the mold, and (b) exposing a second side of the transparent substrate, facing away from the first side, to light, thereby illuminating portions of the light-curable lens resin aligned with the plurality of apertures to form a respective plurality of yardless lenses.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2016Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Mao-Chin Wang, Chia-Yang Chang, Shao-Fan Kao
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Patent number: 10615190Abstract: A method includes coupling a low gain input of a dual stage comparator to establish a low conversion gain mode. An analog-to-digital (ADC) operation is performed to determine a low gain reset voltage. A low gain input is decoupled in response to a DCG control signal. A high gain input is coupled to establish a high conversion gain mode in response to the DCG control signal. The ADC operation is performed with the high gain input to determine a high gain reset voltage. The ADC operation is performed with the high gain input to determine a high gain signal voltage. The high gain input is decoupled in response to a DCG control signal transition. The low gain input is recoupled in response to the DCG control signal, and the ADC operation is performed with the low gain input to determine a low gain signal voltage.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2019Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Hiroaki Ebihara
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Patent number: 10609309Abstract: A pixel array comprise a green pixel comprising a first green optical filter and a first clear filter, a red pixel comprising a red optical filter and a first special filter, a blue pixel comprising a blue optical filter and a second special filter, and an IR pixel comprising an IR optical filter and one of a second green optical filter and a second clear filter, where the first special filter suppresses a transmission of IR at a stopband centered at 850 nm at a first IR minimum transmission, and the second special filter suppresses a transmission of IR at the stopband centered at 850 nm at a second IR minimum transmission, and where the first minimum IR transmission is different from the second minimum IR transmission.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2018Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Tawei Ho, Chen-Wei Lu, Cheng-ming Liu
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Publication number: 20200099878Abstract: An image sensor pixel comprises a first charge storage node configured to have a first charge storage electric potential; a second charge storage node configured to have a second charge storage electric potential and receive charge from the first charge storage node, wherein the second charge storage electric potential is greater than the first charge storage electric potential; and a transfer circuit coupled between the first and the second charge storage nodes, wherein the transfer circuit comprises at least three transfer regions, wherein: a first transfer region is proximate to the first charge storage node and configured to have a first transfer electric potential greater than the first charge storage electric potential and lower than the second charge storage electric potential; a second transfer region is coupled between the first and a third transfer region and configured to have a second transfer electric potential greater than the first charge storage electric potential and lower than the second chaType: ApplicationFiled: September 25, 2018Publication date: March 26, 2020Applicant: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Gang Chen, Duli Mao, Dyson Tai, Lindsay Grant
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Patent number: 10602139Abstract: A system includes an image sensor and a sending controller. The image sensor to generate video data at a source bit rate. The sending controller is coupled to the image sensor to transmit communication data representative of the video data. The sending controller includes one or more processors coupled to memory. The memory includes instructions, which when executed by the sending controller causes the system to perform operations. The operations include determining a first bit rate to encode a first portion of the video data, generating a first video packet representative of the first portion by encoding the first portion at the first bit rate, and determining whether to transmit the first video packet as the communication data with the sending controller based on at least one of a transmission rate threshold, a transmission interval threshold, or a buffer fill threshold.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2017Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jiyan Wu, Jilai Qian, Jun Wei, Shunbo Mou
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Patent number: 10586825Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of photodiodes disposed in a semiconductor material to convert image light into image charge, and a metal grid, including a metal shield that is coplanar with the metal grid, disposed proximate to a backside of the semiconductor material. The metal grid is optically aligned with the plurality of photodiodes to direct the image light into the plurality of photodiodes, and a contact pad is disposed in a trench in the semiconductor material. The contact pad is coupled to the metal shield to ground the metal shield.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2019Date of Patent: March 10, 2020Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Qin Wang, Gang Chen, Duli Mao
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Publication number: 20200073097Abstract: A structure light module comprises: a VCSEL substrate comprising a VCSEL array comprising a plurality of individual VCSELs; a first spacer disposed on the VCSEL substrate; a first wafer level lens comprising a glass substrate and at least a replicated lens on a first surface of the glass substrate disposed on the first spacer; a FOE disposed on the first wafer level lens; a second spacer disposes on the FOE; a second wafer level lens comprising a glass substrate and at least a replicated lens on a first surface of the glass substrate disposed on the second spacer; a third spacer disposed on the second wafer level lens; a DOE disposed on the third spacer, where a structure light is projected from the DOE on a target surface for 3D imaging.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2018Publication date: March 5, 2020Applicant: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Tsung-Wei Wan, Jau Jan Deng, Wei-Ping Chen
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Patent number: 10582346Abstract: A method for communicating from a mobile platform includes arranging a plurality of regions in a communication screen on a first mobile platform. Each one of the plurality of regions in the communication screen is populated with communication data. The communication data includes at least one or more of text data, image data, and video data. The communication screen is sent from the first mobile platform to a second mobile platform. A display of the communication screen on the second mobile platform appears substantially identical to a display of the communication screen on the first mobile platform.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2014Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Jizhang Shan, Hui Pan, Xinhua Su
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Patent number: 10582178Abstract: An active depth imaging system and method of operating the same captures illuminator-on and illuminator-off image data with each of a first and second imager. The illuminator-on image data includes information representing an imaged scene and light emitted from an illuminator and reflected off of objects within the imaged scene. The illuminator-off image data includes information representing the imaged scene without the light emitted from the illuminator. For each image set captured by the first and second imagers, illuminator-off image data is subtracted from the illuminator-on image data to identify the illuminated light within the scene. The depth of an object at which the light is incident on then is determined by the subtracted image data of the first and second imagers.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2016Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Zheng Yang, Eiichi Funatsu, Sohei Manabe, Keiji Mabuchi, Dajiang Yang, Duli Mao, Bowei Zhang