Patents Examined by Antoinette T Spinks
  • Patent number: 10841519
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus including pixels is provided. Each pixels comprises a photoelectric converter, a floating diffusion, a transfer transistor between the photoelectric converter and the floating diffusion, a reset transistor resetting the floating diffusion, and an amplification transistor outputting a signal from the pixel to a signal line. An accumulation period includes, sequentially, a first period supplying a first voltage to a gate of the reset transistor, a second period supplying a second voltage to the gate, and a third period supplying a third voltage to set the reset transistor to the OFF to the gate. The first voltage is a voltage that falls between the second voltage and the third voltage, the second period is started before the signal is output, and the second period is longer than the third period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuya Itano
  • Patent number: 10840936
    Abstract: Provided is an AD conversion unit that includes a comparator to compare an electric signal with a reference signal having a variable level, and performs AD conversion of the electric signal by using a result of the comparison between the electric signal and the reference signal by the comparator. An attenuation unit attenuates the electric signal supplied to the comparator with the amplitude of the electric signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masako Hasegawa, Ryuta Okamoto, Tomonori Yamashita, Atsumi Niwa, Yosuke Ueno
  • Patent number: 10834322
    Abstract: An actuator for a camera module includes two or more detectable elements, the detectable elements are respectively disposed on a first and second surface of a lens barrel, an oscillating element including a first oscillation circuit unit that includes two or more oscillation circuits facing the first surface of the lens barrel, and a second oscillation circuit unit that includes two or more oscillation circuits facing the second surface of the lens barrel, and a determining device that calculates a position of the lens barrel in response to oscillation signals output from the oscillating element. The determining device is configured to calculate the position of the lens barrel based on determined frequencies of oscillation signals of the first oscillation circuit unit and the second oscillation circuit unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Youn Joong Lee, Sung Man Pang, Jin Kim, Sang Hyun Min, Ja Hwi Cho, Koon Shik Cho, Je Hyeon Yu, Ho Kwon Yoon
  • Patent number: 10834331
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for processing at least a portion of an input digital image comprising rows of pixels extending in two mutually perpendicular directions over a 2D field. The method comprises defining a kernel for processing an image, the kernel comprising at least one row of contiguous elements of the same non-zero value (such rows being referred to herein as equal-valued kernel regions), the equal-valued kernel regions, if more than one, extending parallel to one another. For each pixel in at least selected parallel rows of pixels within the image portion, the cumulative sum of the pixel is calculated by adding a value of the pixel to the sum of all preceding pixel values in the same row of the image portion. The kernel is convolved with the image portion at successive kernel positions relative to the image portion such that each pixel in each selected row is a target pixel for a respective kernel position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: FotoNation Limited
    Inventors: Cosmin Pit Rada, Cosmin Stan
  • Patent number: 10827110
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens includes: a mount unit on which a camera body can be mounted; a driven member; a drive unit that drives the driven member; a storage unit that stores lens data related to driving of the driven member by the drive unit; and a transmitter that sends lens-side judgment data, based on which whether the lens data is properly stored in the storage unit can be judged at the camera body, to the camera body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Isono, Natsuki Shirai, Takashi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10827127
    Abstract: A subject detection unit of an imaging apparatus detects a subject image from an image. An automatic zoom control unit determines whether the subject detection unit detects the subject image in a specific region and performs first control such that a zoom magnification is controlled on a telephoto side based on a determination result when the subject image is not detected in the specific region. The automatic zoom control unit changes the first control to second control when the subject detection unit detects the subject image in the specific region, and controls the zoom magnification based on a reference size and a sequentially detected size of the subject image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Tsubusaki
  • Patent number: 10812746
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state imaging device including: an effective pixel region of a substrate, effective pixels being arranged in the effective pixel region; an interconnection region around the effective pixel region, electrodes or interconnects being provided in the interconnection region; a peripheral region outside the interconnection region; and a film formed on the substrate. A cross-sectional height of the film in the effective pixel region is smaller than a cross-sectional height of the film in the interconnection region, and a cross-sectional height of the film in the peripheral region and a cross-sectional height of the film in at least a portion of a middle region between the effective pixel region and the interconnection region, the portion being closer to the interconnection region, are between the cross-sectional height of the film in the effective pixel region and the cross-sectional height of the film in the interconnection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Masuda, Kazufumi Watanabe, Kyohei Mizuta, Keishi Inoue, Hirohisa Uchida
  • Patent number: 10798296
    Abstract: A method for operating a camera system for detecting codings, in which positions of contour points of the codings are determined in relation to edges of a search zone of the camera system, wherein a reading reliability of the search zone is determined from a distance of the contour points from the edges of the search zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: IFM ELECTRONIC GMBH
    Inventors: Ville Olbrich, Klaus Kohlmann, Christian Prestele, Ralph Wilks, Andreas Gebhard
  • Patent number: 10778900
    Abstract: An approach is provided for adjusting camera shots. The approach involves receiving an audio signal via a microphone of a mobile device during video recording of a subject by a camera of the mobile device. The approach also involves determining, at the mobile device, an audio level in a vicinity of the subject based on the received audio signal, wherein the audio level is based on sounds produced by the subject. The approach additionally involves determining that the audio level triggers a shot adjustment state. In the alternative or in addition to, the shot adjustment state is triggered by facial expression of the subject. The approach further involves dynamically adjusting, in response to the shot adjustment state, one or more camera parameters of the camera to alter shot of the subject by the camera during the video recording. The camera parameters relate to either zoom control, aperture, lighting, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Eikon Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Bryan Patrick Kelly, Kelly Lea O'Leary
  • Patent number: 10755743
    Abstract: The present technology is a video recording system and method of recording a video while applying special effects in real time prior to and/or while recording. The system includes a processing unit in communication with a camera and a memory unit. The processor receives a raw video data at a native speed rate from the camera or remote video stream, and an input from an interface. The system determines if the native speed rate of the raw video data is to be changed, and if so then modifies at least one frame in the raw video data to create a modified video data at a modified speed rate that is different to the native speed rate. The system then generates an output video recording data and writes it to memory. This allows for the continuous recording of video from the camera or video feed at different speed rates without altering camera operations or settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Inventors: Henry M. Pena, Thomas F. Bryant, III
  • Patent number: 10757340
    Abstract: An adaptive filter system and a method for controlling the adaptive filter system are described herein. The system can includes one or more filters to attenuate incoming light. The one or more filters can be moved by one or more actuators. The method can capture image data from an imaging device through the one or more filters. Information can be determined from the captured image data. The one or more filters can be moved to a position for capturing image data based on the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventors: Kai Chen, Jun Peng, Tiancheng Lou, Xiang Yu, Zhou Zhang, Hao Song, Sinan Xiao, Yiming Liu, Tianyi Li
  • Patent number: 10754122
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an electronic circuit board containing a processing element and a vision sensor. A carrier frame is used to support the electronic circuit board. An optical element is positioned over the sensor and supported by the carrier frame. The electronic circuit board is bent to reduce the length, thickness and/or width of the electronic device, without increasing the others of the length, thickness and/or width of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: COGNEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kai Flugge, Laurens Nunnink, Richard Reuter, David R. King
  • Patent number: 10750100
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus which is capable of obtaining a moving image having a special effect suitable for a scene while suppressing a load of a user. In the image processing apparatus, an acquisition unit acquires a first image generated by shooting, a division unit divides the first image into two or more regions according to a distribution of a distance of each subject, at the time of shooting, included in the first image, a detection unit detects one of the divided regions as a high brightness region where high brightness pixels exist, a first generation unit performs correction of the first image with different correction intensities with respect to the high brightness pixels and surrounding pixels thereof in the high brightness region to generate a plurality of second images, and a second generation unit generates a moving image using the generated second images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji Onuki
  • Patent number: 10735651
    Abstract: The solid-state imaging device of the present disclosure includes a signal processing unit including an AD converter that digitizes an analog pixel signal read from each pixel of the pixel array unit to a signal line, the signal processing unit transferring digitized pixel data at a first speed higher than a frame rate; a memory unit that stores the pixel data transferred from the signal processing unit; a data processing unit that reads pixel data at a second speed lower than the first speed from the memory unit; and a control unit that, when the pixel data is read from the memory unit, controls to stop operation of a current source connected with the signal line and operation of at least the AD converter of the signal processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hayato Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 10728453
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: an image obtainer configured to generate image information by converting received light into an electrical signal; a first detector configured to detect first time information regarding a first time at which the image obtainer acquires the image information; a second detector configured to receive a plurality of pieces of movement information indicating movements of the image obtainer, and detecting second time information regarding a second time at which at least one piece of movement information among the plurality of pieces of movement information is received. A single port is configured to output the image information, the first time information, output movement information selected from among the plurality of pieces of movement information, and the second time information regarding the selected output movement information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Mi Jo, Hoe Won Kim, Chae Sung Kim, Jae Sung Heo
  • Patent number: 10715737
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a MOS type imaging element comprising a plurality of pixels; a mechanical shutter disposed in front of the imaging element; a driving unit that drives the imaging element; an imaging control unit that performs still image exposure control, first readout control and second readout control as defined herein; a display control unit that generates live view image data as defined herein; a first storage unit as defined herein; and an image processing unit as defined herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10715709
    Abstract: An imaging device has a lens holding member; a base member for holding the lens holding member; and a substrate to which the base member is secured. The lens holding member holds at least one lens. The base member has a contact surface that is perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens, and contacts an end face of the lens holding member in a state wherein the lens holding member is held; and an opening portion through which passes the optical axis of the lens, provided in the contact surface. The substrate has an imaging element on which light that has passed through the lens and through the opening portion of the base member is incident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuta Nakamura, Ryo Kikuta
  • Patent number: 10715751
    Abstract: The solid-state image pickup element includes a pixel, a light-receiving-surface-sided trench, and a light-receiving-surface-sided shielding member. A plurality of protrusions is formed on the light-receiving surface of the pixel in the solid-state image pickup element. In addition, the light-receiving-surface-sided trench is formed around the pixel having the plurality of protrusions formed, at the light-receiving surface in the solid-state image pickup element. In addition, the light-receiving-surface-sided member is buried in the light-receiving-surface-sided trench formed around the pixel having the plurality of protrusions formed on the light-receiving surface in the solid-state image pickup element. In addition, the photoelectric conversion region of a near-infrared-light pixel expands to the surface side opposed to the light-receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion region of a visible-light pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harumi Tanaka, Itaru Oshiyama, Sozo Yokogawa
  • Patent number: 10708502
    Abstract: A camera device includes a lens on which subject light is incident, an imaging element that images an image based on the subject light, a shake sensor that detects shake of the camera device, a shake correction mechanism that holds a holder which holds the imaging element and performs shake correction on a captured image captured by the imaging element through driving of the holder, a characteristic estimator that estimates characteristics of the lens based on a detection value of the shake sensor and a shake correction amount of the shake correction mechanism, and a controller that causes the shake correction mechanism to drive the holder by using the detection value of the shake sensor and an estimation result of the characteristics of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jyouji Wada, Masaomi Iiizumi, Hideaki Yamada, Masamichi Ohara, Takayuki Shimaoka
  • Patent number: 10708518
    Abstract: There is a demand for increasing the dynamic range of an imaging unit. Provided is an imaging unit comprising a pixel section that outputs a pixel signal corresponding to a reset potential after a reset and a signal potential after charge accumulation; an amplifying section that amplifies the pixel signal with a first amplification ratio or a second amplification ratio that is different from the first amplification ratio; and a control section that causes the amplifying section to amplify the pixel signal corresponding to a change from the reset potential to the signal potential with the first amplification ratio, and then causes the amplifying section to amplify the pixel signal corresponding to a change from the signal potential to the reset potential with the second amplification ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Wataru Funamizu