Patents Examined by Ahmed A Berhan
  • Patent number: 11871120
    Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to perform good illumination and obtain a good captured image when a plurality of users each having a camera-equipped portable information terminal device gather in the same place. A camera-equipped portable information terminal device is provided with: an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject; a first illumination means for illuminating the subject; a first communication unit that communicates with other portable information terminal devices; and a first control unit that controls the imaging unit and the first communication unit. The first control unit transmits a light emission instruction signal to the other portable information terminal devices via the first communication unit, and causes a second illumination means of each of the other portable information terminal devices to emit light in tandem with an imaging operation of the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shimizu, Motoyuki Suzuki, Yasunobu Hashimoto, Tomonori Nomura, Kazuhiko Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 11871129
    Abstract: A method for estimating a signal charge collected by a pixel of an image sensor includes determining an average bias that depends on the pixel's floating-diffusion dark current and pixel-sampling period. The method also includes determining a signal-charge estimate as the average bias subtracted from a difference between a weighted sum of a plurality of N multiple-sampling values each multiplied by a respective one of a plurality of N sample-weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Boyd Fowler, Andreas Suess
  • Patent number: 11863864
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a photographer is guided so that all construction phots can be taken. A program according to one embodiment of the present disclosure causes a terminal to function as: an information acquiring part configured to acquire an item to be photographed and the order in which the item is to be photographed, the item indicating a photographing object and what stage of construction the photographing object is in; and a presenting part configured to present the item and the order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tomomi Kukita, Daisuke Satou
  • Patent number: 11854167
    Abstract: A method for image capture includes determining an exposure range and setting at least one camera parameter to capture an underexposed image outside the exposure range. The underexposed image is processed using a neural network to recover image details. Image defects due to camera or object motion blur can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: SPECTRUM OPTIX INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Gordon, Darcy Daugela, Martin Humphreys
  • Patent number: 11849707
    Abstract: A method for external fish parasite monitoring in aquaculture, comprising the steps of: submerging a camera (52) in a sea pen containing fish, the camera having a field of view; capturing images of the fish with the camera (52); and identifying external fish parasite on the fish by analyzing the captured images, characterized in that a target region within the field of view of the camera (52) is illuminated from above and below with light of different intensities and/or spectral compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: INTERVET INC.
    Inventors: Russel Howe, Zachary Lizer, James Wallace Sarrett, Peter Jon Abrahamson, Jascha Tucker Little
  • Patent number: 11849248
    Abstract: Image capture devices and methods may be used to pre-buffer media storage. The pre-buffering method includes recording an image capture segment in a circular buffer. The circular buffer includes a number of recordable segments. The pre-buffering method includes determining whether a key moment command is received. If a key moment command is not received, the method includes recording a next image capture segment in a next adjacent recordable segment of the circular buffer if the next adjacent recordable segment of the predetermined number of recordable segments is available. If a key moment command is not received, the method includes overwriting an oldest recordable segment if the next adjacent recordable segment of the predetermined number of recordable segments is not available. If a key moment command is received, the pre-buffering method includes marking a wrap point in the circular buffer and switching from recording in the circular buffer to linear recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Anandhakumar Chinnaiyan, Michael A. Ramirez, Naveen Chinya Krishnamurthy, Feng Li
  • Patent number: 11843871
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for generating an HDR image. An example method can include obtaining a first image and a second image that has an exposure that is greater than an exposure of the first image; setting pixels of the first image that are below a minimum threshold to a minimum value and pixels of the second image that are above a maximum threshold to a maximum value; retrieving, from memory, a compressed version of the first image with the pixels set to the minimum value and a compressed version of the second image with the pixels set to the maximum value; generating a first decompressed image including the first image with the pixels set to the minimum value and a second decompressed image including the second image with the pixels set to the maximum value; and generating an HDR image based on the first and second decompressed images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Abhijeet Dey, Vijayamanohar Nagarajan, Debarati Kundu, Joby Abraham, Aakil Mahendra Bapna, Animesh Behera
  • Patent number: 11843867
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an image sensor configured to capture a plurality of images different in in-focus position, at least one memory configured to store instructions, and at least one processor in communication with the at least one memory and configured to execute the instructions to determine a predetermined value of exposure in advance, control exposure so that the image sensor captures the plurality of images with the exposure less than the predetermined value, and correct brightness of at least a part of the plurality of images based on the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ryo Shiota
  • Patent number: 11843868
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: an image sensor for acquiring an image including normal pixel values that are sensed during a first exposure time and short exposure pixel values that are sensed during a second exposure time that is shorter than the first exposure time; and a processor configured to acquire flag information that indicates that a selected region, among a plurality of regions of the image, is one of a motion region and a normal region by using an exposure ratio of the first exposure time and the second exposure time and by using a short exposure pixel value and normal pixel values, which are included in the selected region, and configured to output a restoration image including a restoration pixel value that is corrected from the short exposure pixel value that is included in the selected region, based on the flag information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Tae Hyun Kim, Jin Su Kim, Jong Hyun Bae
  • Patent number: 11843879
    Abstract: A technology is described for pixel frequency filtering for event cameras. An example of the technology can include receiving events representative of changes in brightness detected by a pixel in a pixel array included in the event camera, tracking a number of event sign transitions that occur within a defined time window, determining that the number of event transitions corresponds to an event transition frequency, and allowing the events generated by the pixel to be output from the event camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Raytheon BBN Technologies, Corp.
    Inventor: Scott Ritter
  • Patent number: 11838646
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire distance information indicating a distance to an object included in each of divided areas of an imaging area, a creation unit configured to create a combined area that is obtained by combining divided areas based on the acquired distance information and positions of the divided areas in the imaging area, and a decision unit configured to decide an exposure condition of the created combined area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seigo Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11838621
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a photographing method and apparatus, an electronic device, and a computer readable storage medium, relating to the technical field of image processing. Said method is applied to a first terminal. Said method comprises: in a cooperative photographing process, transmitting, to a second terminal, a preview image acquired by the first terminal; receiving cooperative photographing information inputted by the second terminal on the basis of the preview image, the cooperative photographing information being used for performing photographing control on the first terminal; executing a cooperative photographing operation corresponding to the cooperative photographing information; and outputting a target image obtained by the first terminal after executing the cooperative photographing operation. The implementation of the present disclosure is beneficial for improving the image photographing quality, and reducing operation cost when a user performs photographing by himself/herself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventors: Panlong He, Lei Shi, Chenman Zhou, Fanhua Feng, Zhihao Zhang
  • Patent number: 11838645
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire distance information indicating a distance to an object included in a divided area obtained by dividing an image capturing area, a calculation unit configured to calculate a distance distribution on the object included in the divided area based on a position of the divided area and the distance information, and a determination unit configured to determine a settable range of exposure conditions for the divided area based on the calculated distance distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seigo Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11832012
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device may operate in a first to third driving modes. In the first driving mode in which a correction value is acquired, an analog-to-digital conversion unit compares a first analog signal with a reference signal to acquire the correction value. In the second driving mode in which a pixel signal is read, a reading condition is set based on a result of comparing the pixel signal with a threshold signal. In the third driving mode, at least one of the first analog signal and the threshold signal is controlled to reduce a difference between a potential of the first analog signal and a potential of the threshold signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seiichirou Sakai
  • Patent number: 11831996
    Abstract: A system for generating high dynamic range (HDR) imagery obtains a history frame associated with a first timepoint and with a first set of image capture parameters. The system obtains an image frame associated with a particular set of image capture parameters and captured at a second timepoint that is subsequent to the first timepoint, and the particular set of image capture parameters comprises the first set of image capture parameters or a second set of image capture parameters. The system generates a normalized image frame by applying a normalization operation to the image frame. The normalization operation may be determined based upon the particular set of image capture parameters. The system generates a weight map based upon at least the normalized image frame and generate an HDR image frame based upon the normalized image frame, the history frame, and the weight map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Christian Markus Maekelae, Michael Bleyer
  • Patent number: 11831992
    Abstract: A control circuit and a control method of an image sensor are provided. The image sensor generates a sensed data. The control circuit includes a statistical circuit, an auto exposure (AE) circuit, and a calculation circuit. The statistical circuit generates a luminance statistical data according to the sensed data. The AE circuit sets the image sensor and outputs an AE data which includes a target luminance of the image sensor. The calculation circuit controls an operation mode of the image sensor according to the luminance statistical data and the AE data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SIGMASTAR TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Si-Da Luo, Wei-Lan Zhong
  • Patent number: 11831984
    Abstract: A camera shooting program control method, the method is applied to terminal equipment, and the method includes obtaining motion parameters collected by at least one motion sensor in response to a situation that the terminal equipment enters a camera shooting program from a screen locking state, and determining a motion state of the terminal equipment according to the motion parameters collected by the at least one motion sensor; obtaining a mistaken touch rate of a display screen of the terminal equipment in response to the motion state of the terminal equipment being a moving state; and exiting the camera shooting program in response to a condition that the mistaken touch rate is greater than a preset first proportion threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yongkang Fan, Suyue Liu, Xing Yu
  • Patent number: 11825207
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to exposure control for image capture devices. One example method generally includes receiving sensor data indicating a movement associated with an image capture device capturing a first frame and a second frame, wherein the first frame is associated with a higher exposure setting as compared to the second frame; predicting, based on the sensor data, a shift for aligning one or more features of the first frame and one or more features of the second frame; applying the shift to align the one or more features of the first frame and the one or more features of second frame; and generating a frame output at least in part by combining at least a portion of the first frame with at least a portion of the second frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Narayana Karthik Ravirala, Chanchal Raj, Shizhong Liu, Weiliang Liu, Ron Gaizman, Lianming Shi
  • Patent number: 11818497
    Abstract: A recording frame rate control method includes a mobile terminal starts video recording and collects N video frames of a photographing scenario at a first frame rate. The mobile terminal determines light intensity in the photographing scenario based on the N video frames, and adjusts a recording frame rate of the mobile terminal based on the light intensity in the photographing scenario.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuanyou Li, Wei Luo, Jieguang Huo, Rongyue Xu
  • Patent number: 11818457
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image pickup device configured to output image data, and at least one processor programmed to perform the operations of following units: a calculation unit configured to calculate an evaluation value used to determine whether to perform an image capturing operation for recording the image data; a setting unit configured to set a threshold value used to determine whether to perform an image capturing operation for recording the image data; a determination unit configured to make a determination as to whether to control execution of an image capturing operation using the evaluation value and the threshold value; and a storing unit configured to store image capturing history information obtained from execution of an image capturing operation based on the determination made by the determination unit, wherein the setting unit sets the threshold value based on the image capturing history information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeo Ogawa