Patents Examined by Amy Hsu
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Patent number: 9521313Abstract: An information processing system that detects that a first user input is received at a user interface corresponding to a display configured to display an image captured by an image capturing unit; determines a status of a timer corresponding to the user interface upon detecting the first user input; controls an image capture operation of the image capturing unit upon detecting the first input and determining that the status of the timer satisfies a first predetermined condition; and controls the display to display an image condition settings menu upon detecting the first input and determining that the status of the timer satisfies a second predetermined condition.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2013Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventor: Koji Ozaki
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Patent number: 9516212Abstract: A camera module including a fixing unit including a hole formed therein a moving unit including at least one lens, and configured to linearly move in the hole of the fixing unit; and a driving unit configured to drive the moving unit. Further, the driving unit includes a corresponding magnet arranged in the inner surface of the hole of the fixing unit; a moving coil surrounding the outer surface of the moving unit; and a fixed coil arranged in the fixing unit and configured to receive from the moving coil a current or voltage variable based on a distance with the moving coil.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2015Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Hyungjoo Kang, Sungdu Kwon
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Patent number: 9509931Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus, comprising a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arrayed, a plurality of processing units, forming a plurality of groups each including two or more processing units, an output line, a power supply line, a plurality of signal lines corresponding to the plurality of groups and connecting output nodes of the two or more processing units in the corresponding group, a plurality of connecting units provided between the output line and the plurality of signal lines, and a control unit configured to control the plurality of processing units and the plurality of connecting units based on a group including the two or more processing units being to output signals.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2015Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Hideo Kobayashi, Hiroki Hiyama, Kazuo Yamazaki, Hiroaki Kameyama
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Patent number: 9501834Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for capturing images for later refocusing. Embodiments estimate a distance map for a scene, determine a number of principal depths, capture a set of images, with each image focused at one of the principal depths, and process captured images to produce an output image. The scene is divided into regions, and the depth map represents region depths corresponding to a particular focus step. Entries having a specific focus step value are placed into a histogram, and depths having the most entries are selected as the principal depths. Embodiments may also identify scene areas having important objects and include different important object depths in the principal depths. Captured images may be selected according to user input, aligned, and then combined using blending functions that favor only scene regions that are focused in particular captured images.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2012Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: QUALCOMM Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Meir Tzur
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Patent number: 9502034Abstract: A mobile terminal including a touchscreen; a camera; a memory; a wireless communication unit; and a controller configured to display a preview image input through the camera on the touchscreen, capture the preview image and execute a voice recognition function, in response to a first touch gesture performed on the touchscreen, and control the wireless communication unit to transmit the captured image to at least one counterpart terminal found through the voice recognition function in accordance with a voice input, in response to a release of the first touch gesture from the touchscreen.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2015Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Samsick Kim, Sesook Oh, Younhwa Choi, Jongin Lim
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Patent number: 9503662Abstract: A solid-state imaging device and a camera system are disclosed. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel unit and a pixel signal readout circuit. The pixel signal readout circuit includes a plurality of comparators disposed to correspond to a pixel column array, and a plurality of counters. Each counter includes a first amplifier, a second amplifier, and a mirror circuit to from a current mirror in parallel with the second amplifier. The first amplifier includes differential transistors, initializing switches connected between gates and collectors of the differential transistors, and first and second capacitors connected to each of the gates of the differential transistors. The second amplifier includes an initializing switch and a third capacitor. The mirror circuit includes a gate input transistor whose gate is inputted with a voltage sampled by the first amplifier or a voltage sampled by the second amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2015Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Kenichi Tanaka
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Patent number: 9497421Abstract: A camera light assembly (100) includes a camera assembly (102) and a marker light assembly (111). The camera assembly (102) includes a body (104) and a lens (108) positioned at a forward portion of the body (104). The marker light assembly (111) includes a light housing (112) having an aperture (118) extending therethrough. The body (104) of the camera assembly (102) is elongated and is received within the aperture (118) of the light housing (112) of the marker light assembly (111). Camera lock rings (126, 128) are utilized to releasably secure the camera assembly (102) to the marker light assembly (111).Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2011Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Inventors: Stephen Thomas Peacock, Elizabeth Jane Peacock
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Patent number: 9497385Abstract: The imaging device includes: a first display section that functions as an electronic view finder; an illuminance detection sensor that detects an illuminance of the first display section; a display luminance detection section; a subject luminance detection section; a target luminance calculation section; and a corrected luminance calculation section. The display luminance detection section detects an actual display luminance of the first display section on the basis of a detected value of the illuminance detection sensor. The subject luminance detection section detects a subject luminance on the basis of the live view image. The target luminance calculation section calculates a target luminance on the basis of the subject luminance.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2015Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Hirofumi Horii
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Patent number: 9491381Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes an image capture unit, a first correction unit configured to correct a black level of an image signal output from the image capture unit, a combining unit configured to select pixels to be used from among a plurality of image signals, the black level of which has been corrected by the first correction unit, to generate a combined image signal, and a second correction unit configured to correct the black level of the combined image signal generated by the combining unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2012Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akimitsu Yoshida
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Patent number: 9485410Abstract: A generation section generates a first display image based on an image signal output from an image pick-up device, and generates a second display image for use in focus verification based on a first and second image. A correction section corrects gradation of the second display image according to gradation correction information determined based on at least one of a spatial frequency characteristic in the second display image or maxima values in a histogram of pixel values in the second display image.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Katsutoshi Izawa
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Patent number: 9485402Abstract: An imaging apparatus, comprising: a communication unit configured to communicate with an external device; an operation control unit configured to control execution of predetermined operation concerning photographing in accordance with a control signal received from the external device; and a detection unit configured to detect disconnection of communication with the external device, wherein the operation control unit is configured to control execution of the predetermined operation in accordance with a predetermined operation control setting when disconnection of the communication with the external device is detected during execution of the predetermined operation.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2014Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.Inventor: Takeharu Shin
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Patent number: 9479787Abstract: An image capturing system includes a photoelectric conversion unit, a charge holding unit, a multiple sampling information setting unit, a multiple sampling unit, a conversion unit, and an image reconstruction unit. The photoelectric conversion unit converts optical signals received by a plurality of pixels to electric signals. The charge holding unit stores the electric signals and holds the electric signals as charge signals. The multiple sampling information setting unit sets multiple sampling information used for a multiple sampling process. The multiple sampling information includes first multiple sampling information and second multiple sampling information. The multiple sampling unit performs the multiple sampling process using the multiple sampling information and the charge signals so as to output signals. The conversion unit converts the output signals to digital signals.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2014Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Satoshi Sato, Takeo Azuma, Jun Ozawa
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Patent number: 9473763Abstract: In some embodiments, a system for tracking with reference to a three-dimensional display system may include a display device, an image processor, a surface including at least three emitters, at least two sensors, a processor. The display device may image, during use, a first stereo three-dimensional image. The surface may be positionable, during use, with reference to the display device. At least two of the sensors may detect, during use, light received from at least three of the emitters as light blobs. The processor may correlate, during use, the assessed referenced position of the detected light blobs such that a first position/orientation of the surface is assessed. The image processor may generate, during use, the first stereo three-dimensional image using the assessed first position/orientation of the surface with reference to the display.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2015Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: zSpace, Inc.Inventors: Jerome C. Tu, David A. Chavez
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Patent number: 9473703Abstract: A blur correction apparatus includes a first fixing member, a moveable member and a second fixing member. A coil for generating a magnetic flux is arranged on the first fixing member. The movable member includes (1) an optical element, (2) a first magnet facing the coil, and (3) a second magnet arranged along a line parallel with an optical axis of the optical element and facing the first magnet, such that the first magnet is arranged between the second magnet and the coil. The movable member can move in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. The second fixing member includes a hall element that is arranged adjacent to the second magnet. The second magnet is arranged between the first magnet and the hall element. The coil, the first magnet, the second magnet and the hall element are sequentially disposed in a line parallel with the optical axis, in this order.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2015Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Kazunori Yuge, Masaya Ota, Yoshiaki Sueoka
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Patent number: 9473692Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an evaluation value calculation unit configured to calculate a contrast evaluation value of each of first image data and second image data in which an object is imaged in a state in which auxiliary light is emitted to the object included in a first image corresponding to the first image data; a determination unit configured to determine that fog or haze is occurring at a time the contrast evaluation value of the first image data, which has been calculated by the evaluation value calculation unit, is equal to or greater than the contrast evaluation value of the second image data; and an image processing unit configured to perform image processing to the first image data or the second image data based on a determination result of the determination unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2015Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Keisuke Saito, Takashi Gando
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Patent number: 9473691Abstract: An optoelectronic apparatus (10) for the detection of object information from a monitored zone (12), comprising an image sensor (16), a receiving optics (14) associated with the image sensor (16), the receiving optics having an adaptive lens (26) with variable tilt and an evaluation unit (18) for the generation of object information from a received signal of the image sensor (16) is provided. In this respect the evaluation unit (18) is adapted to determine a first position of an image feature (24) in a recording of the image sensor (16) on a control of a first tilt angle of the adaptive lens (26) and to determine a drift correction for the adaptive lens (26) from the first position.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2015Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: SICK AGInventor: Florian Schneider
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Patent number: 9467629Abstract: An image processing apparatus is designed to process pixel outputs of an imaging element including imaging pixels and phase-difference detecting pixels. The apparatus includes a pixel mixing unit and an image processing unit. The pixel mixing unit mixes the pixel outputs. The image processing unit corrects the pixel outputs to prevent the phase-difference detecting pixels from degrading image quality, by using at least one of information selected from a group consisting of the number of mixed pixel outputs of phase-difference detecting pixels having the same opening direction and the number of mixed pixel outputs of imaging pixels having the same opening direction.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2014Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Atsuro Okazawa, Teruaki Yamasaki, Takeshi Fukutomi
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Patent number: 9467635Abstract: An image processing apparatus that processes image data output from an image sensing device including a plurality of pixels, comprises: a storage unit that stores defect data at least including first information showing grades of defective pixels that are subject to correction and, with respect to each defective pixel among the plurality of pixels, address information, second information showing a grade of the defective pixel; an acquisition unit that acquires an imaging condition and an imaging environment at a time of image sensing; a determination unit that compares the first information and the second information, and determines whether defect correction of each defective pixel is necessary or not based on a comparison result; and a correction unit that performs the defect correction on image data output from a defective pixel for which the determination unit determines that defect correction is necessary.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2013Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shohei Tozawa
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Patent number: 9462188Abstract: A method includes determining, at an image processor, a first time period associated with processing a first frame of an image captured via an image sensor. The method also includes extending a frame time for processing the first frame by a second time period. The second time period is based at least in part on an amount of permitted focus value contamination for processing the first frame, and the frame time includes the first time period and the second time period.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2015Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: QUALCOMM IncorporatedInventors: Leung Chun Chan, Ying Chen Lou
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Patent number: 9462170Abstract: Illumination methods and apparatus are described. In some embodiments a lighting device includes one or more lighting modules. At least some but not necessarily all lighting modules include a light source, e.g., LED or bulb, a collimating lens positioned in front of said light source for generating a beam of light from light output by said light source and a beam flattening lens for flattening the beam of light in at least a first direction as it passes through the first beam flattening lens. In some but not necessarily all embodiments lighting modules are controlled based on which portion of a scene is being captured at a point in time thereby avoiding the need to illuminate the entire scene for the full duration of an image capture period. The lighting device may be used in combination with a rolling shutter and a sensor used to capture one or more images.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2015Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: THE LIGHTCO INC.Inventors: Rajiv Laroia, Sapna A Shroff