Patents Examined by Anthony J. Daniels
  • Patent number: 11696030
    Abstract: A vibration type actuator control apparatus, which uses a vibration from a vibrator to move a contact member, includes a control unit and a drive unit. The control unit includes first and second learned models, each having a neural network, and outputs control amounts for the drive unit to move the contact member. When a contact member moving target velocity is input, the first learned model outputs a first control amount as one of the control amounts. When a positional deviation is input, the second learned model outputs a second control amount as one of the control amounts. The drive unit moves the contact member using a value based on the first and second control amounts. The positional deviation is in association with a difference between a target position for moving the contact member and a detected position detected when the contact member is moved relative to the vibrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Sumioka
  • Patent number: 11696028
    Abstract: A blur correction device includes a blur correction element that is movable to correct blurring of a subject image formed via an image-capturing optical system, a motion sensor that detects a motion of a device equipped with the blur correction device, an input unit to which information indicating a position on an image sensor that captures the subject image is input, and a drive unit that moves the blur correction element based on the position and the motion. In a case where the position is different, the direction of the blur correction element moved based on the motion is different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daiju Nakajima, Tsuyoshi Matsumoto, Yoshiko Ono, Eiji Mikamoto
  • Patent number: 11696044
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor configured to change an exposure condition for each of a plurality of exposure areas, each of the exposure areas including a single pixel or a plurality of pixels, and an image processing unit configured to perform steps of digital signal processing on a signal of a captured image includes generating a plurality of coupled areas in which the exposure areas are coupled based on a first threshold of the exposure condition, calculating a development parameter for each of the coupled areas, and applying the development parameter to the image processing unit for each of the exposure areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seigo Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11696012
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed and an example system includes a digital image receiver for receiving a digital image, and an automatic obscuration processor coupled to the image receiver and configured to determine whether the digital image includes a region that classifies as an image of a category of object and, upon a positive determination, to obscure the region and output a corresponding obscured-region digital image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Homeland Security
    Inventor: Arun Vemury
  • Patent number: 11680677
    Abstract: This application is directed to a passively-cooled electronic device including a housing, a plurality of electronic assemblies and a plurality of thermally conductive parts. The electronic assemblies are enclosed in the housing and include a first electronic assembly and a second electronic assembly. The first and second electronic assemblies are disposed proximately to each other within the housing, and the second electronic assembly is substantially sensitive to heat, including heat generated by operation of the first electronic assembly. The thermally conductive parts are coupled between the first electronic assembly and the housing, and configured to create a first plurality of heat conduction paths to conduct the heat generated by the first electronic assembly away from the second electronic assembly without using a fan. At least a subset of the thermally conductive parts mechanically supports one or both of the first and second electronic assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Arun Raghupathy, Benjamin Niewood, Cheng-Jung Lee, Adam Scott Kilgore
  • Patent number: 11677919
    Abstract: An image processing method and apparatus is disclosed, where the image processing method includes receiving an image including frames captured over a time period in an illumination environment including alternating current (AC) light, estimating a specular chromaticity and a diffuse chromaticity of the image based on the frames, determining a weight of each of the specular chromaticity and the diffuse chromaticity based on a frame of the frames, and correcting the image based on the specular chromaticity, the diffuse chromaticity, the weight of the specular chromaticity, and the weight of the diffuse chromaticity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Korea University Research and Business Foundation
    Inventors: Jong-Ok Kim, Jun-Sang Yoo, Chan-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 11665428
    Abstract: A lens apparatus attachable to and detachable from an image pickup apparatus includes a detector configured to detect an angular shake of the lens apparatus, an image stabilizer configured to provide an image stabilization by driving part of an imaging optical system in the lens apparatus, and a controller configured to calculate a driving amount using a rotation angle based on an output of the detector and information for converting the rotation angle into the driving amount. The controller changes the information based on the image pickup apparatus attached to the lens apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Rumi Ito
  • Patent number: 11657186
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for privacy shield design and placement in an Information Handling System (IHS) are described. In some embodiments, a privacy shield may include a film configured to emit light and a circular aperture in the film, such that the privacy shield is configured to be deployed in front of a lens of a camera coupled to an IHS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Dell Products, L.P.
    Inventors: Jace W. Files, John Trevor Morrison
  • Patent number: 11659291
    Abstract: Stability of a current-voltage conversion circuit is increased in a solid-state imaging element that converts photocurrent to a voltage signal. A photodiode photoelectrically converts incident light and generates photocurrent. A conversion transistor converts photocurrent to a voltage signal and outputs the voltage signal from a gate. A current source transistor supplies predetermined constant current to an output signal line connected to the gate. A voltage supply transistor supplies a certain voltage corresponding to the predetermined constant current from the output signal line to a source of the conversion transistor. A capacitance is connected between the gate and the source of the conversion transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Atsumi Niwa
  • Patent number: 11647274
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed and an example system includes a digital image receiver for receiving a digital image, and an automatic obscuration processor coupled to the image receiver and configured to determine whether the digital image includes a region that classifies as an image of a category of object and, upon a positive determination, to obscure the region and output a corresponding obscured-region digital image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Homeland Security
    Inventor: Arun Vemury
  • Patent number: 11641440
    Abstract: Techniques for video content based on multiple capture devices are described and are implementable to enable multiple video capture devices to be utilized for a video feed. Generally, the described implementations enable video content captured by multiple video capture devices to be utilized, such as to integrate different instances of video content into a merged video content stream. In at least one implementation this provides higher quality video attributes to be utilized than is provided by utilizing a single video content source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Amit Kumar Agrawal, Rahul Bharat Desai, William Ryan
  • Patent number: 11632500
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an imaging device, an imaging method, and a program that make it possible to implement an appropriate auto white balance (AWB) lock desired by a user. As a shutter button setting for applying the AWB lock, any one of Shutter Halfway Down, Continuous Shooting, or Off can be select and set. Furthermore, a setting is configured in which an AWBL button is assigned to a custom button so that the AEB lock can be applied by either a hold operation or a toggle operation. The present disclosure can be applied to an imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ayumi Tadano, Osamu Izuta, Hiroto Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11622068
    Abstract: An elevatable webcam module is provided. The elevatable webcam module includes a fixing base, a bearing base, a webcam unit, an elastic element, a damper and a locking unit. The fixing base is fixed in a display body. The bearing base is slidably disposed on the fixing base, the bearing base is accommodated in the display body when the bearing base is at a retracted position, and the bearing base is partially exposed from the display body when the bearing base is at a protruded position. The webcam unit is disposed on the bearing base. The elastic element abuts against the fixing base and the bearing base therebetween. The damper is disposed on the fixing base and is connected to the bearing base. The locking unit is disposed on the fixing base to fix the bearing base at the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: SYNCMOLD ENTERPRISE CORP.
    Inventor: Chih-Hsin Chou
  • Patent number: 11622167
    Abstract: The present invention provides a lens driving device and an electronic device, wherein the lens driving device comprises a housing and a lens assembly; the lens assembly includes a lens module and a shell for accommodating the lens module; a bottom wall of the housing is formed an arc-shaped rail; the lens driving device further includes a ball disposed between the housing and the shell and located in the arc-shaped rail; a first driving structure for driving the lens assembly to rotate around an optical axis is further arranged between the housing and the shell; and the first driving structure includes a magnet and a coil opposite to the magnet. The present invention realizes rotation of the lens module around the optical axis direction, thus avoiding the swaying of the lens driving device caused by hand movement, achieving image stabilization, and improving the imaging effect of the lens module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Changzhou AAC Raytech Optronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Feng Yan, Tianheng Ni, Limei Zhao, Suohe Wei
  • Patent number: 11614606
    Abstract: There is provided a camera module including a first lens substrate having a light-incident side. The first lens substrate includes a lens disposed at an inner side of a through-hole of the first lens substrate, and a wiring layer disposed at an opposite side of the light-incident side of the first lens substrate. The camera module may include an imaging element including a pixel array disposed at a light-incident side of a substrate, where the imaging element is electrically connected to the wiring layer of the first lens substrate, and where a width of the imaging element in a direction parallel to the light-incident surface of the imaging element is smaller than a width of the first lens substrate in the direction parallel to the light-incident surface of the first lens substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Komai
  • Patent number: 11616916
    Abstract: A processing circuitry is configured to generate a first analysis result based on a size of a partial area of a target area when the partial area is captured by only one of a first sensor or a second sensor, based on first image data for the target area captured by the first sensor and second image data for the target area captured by the second sensor, and generate first final image data or second final image data by using the first image data and the second image data, based on the first analysis result. A difference between the first final image data and the second final image data is based on a difference between a first characteristic of the first sensor and a second characteristic of the second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Jin Park, Duck-Soo Kim, Dongki Min, Junam Song, Joonhyuk Im
  • Patent number: 11611687
    Abstract: A thin blade open-close device is incorporated in a limited space. A blade open-close device includes a base located on a module board including a lens unit, a partition located opposite to the module board from the base, and a cover plate located opposite to the base from the partition. The partition and the cover plate each have an opening aligned with an optical axis of the lens unit. The blade open-close device includes a blade movable in X-direction in a blade chamber defined between the cover plate and the partition, an actuator that moves the blade between a closing position to cover the openings and an opening position to uncover the openings, and a terminal plate extending in Z-direction. The terminal plate electrically connected to the actuator includes connectors at its end adjacent to the module board to be electrically connected to contacts on the module board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryosuke Ushio, Kenzo Imai, Koji Sawanobori, Nobuaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11606486
    Abstract: An actuator is disclosed having a sensor substrate, a coil substrate and an FPC. The sensor substrate includes an image sensor on a front surface thereof. The coil substrate includes a coil for driving the image sensor and is provided with a first through hole. The FPC includes a main body portion and a coupling portion extending from a periphery of the main body portion and is coupled to an outside element. The main body portion is provided with a second through hole. The sensor substrate is fixed to the main body portion from a rear side, the coil substrate is fixed to the main body portion from a front side, and the image sensor is exposed to a front surface through the first through hole and the second through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: NEW SHICOH MOTOR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Xuepeng Fu, Tatsuki Wade
  • Patent number: 11595552
    Abstract: A dome for a surveillance camera comprises an at least partially transparent spherical portion, a front transition portion, a back transition portion, and lateral transition portions. All transition portions extend to a perimeter plane and a tangent to the spherical portion where it connects to the front transition portion has an angle ? relative to a normal to the perimeter plane, as measured in a symmetry plane, and a tangent to the spherical portion where it connects to the back transition portion has an angle ? relative to a normal to the perimeter plane, as measured in the same plane and the same direction as the angle ?. The angle ? is equal to or larger than the angle ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: AXIS AB
    Inventors: Ulf Lundberg, Philipp Liljevall
  • Patent number: 11595602
    Abstract: Methods and systems for quantizing a physical quantity, such as light, are provided. In one example, an apparatus comprises an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter configured to generate raw digital outputs based on performing at least one of: (1) a first quantization operation to quantize a physical stimulus within a first intensity range based on a first A/D conversion relationship, or (2) a second quantization operation to quantize the physical stimulus within a second intensity range based on a second A/D conversion relationship; and a raw output conversion circuit configured generate a refined digital output based on a raw digital output obtained from the A/D converter and at least one predetermined conversion parameter. The at least one conversion parameter compensates for a discontinuity between the first A/D conversion relationship and the second A/D conversion relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Wei Gao, Andrew Samuel Berkovich, Song Chen, Tsung-Hsun Tsai, Xinqiao Liu