Patents Examined by Aung S. Moe
  • Patent number: 9007513
    Abstract: A document camera has an automatic focus function, and performs the automatic focus process for automatically adjusting the focus lens to the focal position in accordance with the subject distance when the document camera is started up, or when the focus key of the input operation section is operated. Further, when performing the automatic focus process, the document camera is arranged to detect the focal position in the state in which the zoom lens is temporarily moved to the telephoto end with shallow depth of field, and then restore the position of the zoom lens to the original position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Sakurai
  • Patent number: 9001236
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image file creation unit, a storage control unit, an extracting unit, and a display controller. The image file creation unit is configured to create a file including a plurality of images, first management information indicating a specified Exif version, and second management information including an image size and a total number of the images in the file. The storage control unit is configured to store the image file in a storage. The extraction unit is configured to extract the image from the image file in the storage based on the second management information. The display controller is configured to display the image on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Furukawa
  • Patent number: 8994863
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device is capable of simplifying the pixel structure to reduce the pixel size and capable of suppressing the variation in the characteristics between the pixels when a plurality of output systems is provided. A unit cell (30) includes two pixels (31) and (32). Upper and lower photoelectric converters (33) and (34), transfer transistors (35) and (36) connected to the upper and lower photoelectric converters, respectively, a reset transistor (37), and an amplifying transistor (38) form the two pixels (31) and (32). A full-face signal line 39 is connected to the respective drains of the reset transistor (37) and the amplifying transistor (38). Controlling the full-face signal line (39), along with transfer signal lines (42) and (43) and a reset signal line (41), to read out signals realizes the simplification of the wiring in the pixel, the reduction of the pixel size, and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Abe, Nobuo Nakamura, Tomoyuki Umeda, Keiji Mabuchi, Hiroaki Fujita, Eiichi Funatsu, Hiroki Sato
  • Patent number: 8994830
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to provide access to video streams associated with communication channels in a communication network are described. The method may comprise monitoring selection of a communication channel by a user of a mobile communication device, identifying at least one video feed associated with the selected channel, and providing access to the mobile communication device to the selected at least one video feed. Providing access may comprise associating the selected video stream with the mobile communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Shaffer, Zeeshan Rahman Khan
  • Patent number: 8994814
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method of detecting information transmitted by a light source in a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor by detecting a frequency of light pulses produced by the light source. In some embodiments, the method includes capturing on the CMOS image sensor with a rolling shutter an image in which different portions of the CMOS image sensor are exposed at different points in time; detecting visible distortions that include alternating stripes in the image; measuring a width of the alternating stripes present in the image; and selecting a symbol based on the width of the alternating stripes present in the image to recover information encoded in the frequency of light pulses produced by the light source captured in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Bytelight, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Ganick, Daniel Ryan
  • Patent number: 8988571
    Abstract: A pixel area with a two-dimensional array of pixels (10) each including a photodiode and a memory area (3a) on which memory sections for holding signals produced by the pixels for continuously recordable frames are separately provided on a semiconductor substrate. All the pixels simultaneously perform a photocharge storage operation, and the signals produced by the photocharge storage are extracted in parallel through mutually independent pixel output lines (14). In a plurality of memory sections connected to one pixel output line, a sample-and-hold transistor of a different memory section is turned on for each exposure cycle so as to sequentially hold signals in a capacitor of each memory section. After the continuous imaging is completed, all the pixel are sequentially read. Unlike CCD cameras, the present sensor does not simultaneously drive all the gate loads. Therefore, the sensor consumes less power yet can be driven at high speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignees: Tohoku University, Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventors: Shigetoshi Sugawa, Yasushi Kondo, Hideki Tominaga
  • Patent number: 8988555
    Abstract: Provided is a digital image signal processing method and apparatus which generates a first continuous-captured image in a continuous-photographing mode, generates a first name of the first continuous-captured image according to DCF rules, generates a second name of a second continuous-captured image following the first continuous-captured image according to the DCF rules, generates first continuous-photographing number information indicating an order of continuous-photographing of the first continuous-captured image, and generates a first file comprising the first continuous-captured image, the first name, the second name, and the first continuous-photographing number information. In this way, continuous-captured images and images obtained before and after the continuous-captured images can be effective played back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyu-chun Han, Su-jin Ryu
  • Patent number: 8988579
    Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging apparatus configured such that it is possible to check a long exposure subject image through a finder eye piece before actual imaging of long exposure imaging so as to recognize a subtle change in the tilt of the imaging apparatus caused when the apparatus gradually tilts over a long time period. In the imaging apparatus of the present invention, exposure control unit 60 controls an exposure time of a live view image, which is acquired by the imaging device 20, such that the exposure time is the same as that in the actual imaging, whereby it is possible to check the live view image from an eyepiece lens 52 of a finder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Aoki
  • Patent number: 8988560
    Abstract: A pixel driving portion 102 can carry out first read drive with which a transfer element is turned OFF in accordance with a drive signal TG to output a signal at an output node, and second read drive with which the transfer element is turned ON in accordance with the drive signal TG to transfer signal charges to the output node, thereby outputting a signal at the output node. A pixel signal reading portion 103, 104 outputs a signal corresponding to a difference between the signal read out in accordance with the second read drive and the signal read out in accordance with the first read drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Gen Kasai
  • Patent number: 8982240
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a reception unit that receives positioning information necessary for a positioning process from the outside; a determination unit that determines whether or not a process on the basis of an operation input is a predetermined process that uses the positioning information in a case where the operation input is received from a user; and a control unit that performs control of an operation of the reception unit based on a result of the determination performed by the determination unit and a content of the operation of the reception unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Akiyoshi, Takuma Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8982259
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels which are arranged in a matrix of a plurality of rows and columns and each of the plurality of pixels being configured to convert intensity of incident light into an electrical image signal; and an extended counting analog-to-digital converter configured to perform a first analog-to-digital conversion to provide a digital signal from an output signal of the pixel array, to obtain a residue using the output signal of the pixel array and the digital signal, and to perform a second analog-to-digital conversion using the residue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kwi Sung Yoo, Min Ho Kwon, Wun-Ki Jung, Jin Ho Seo, Dong Hun Lee, Seung Hyun Lim, Jae Hong Kim
  • Patent number: 8982263
    Abstract: A lens on an image capture device is illuminated with a known light source. The current light field created by illuminating the lens is measured at an image sensor on the device. In response to detecting that the current light field measurement fails to satisfy a threshold, a notification is provided on the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Robb Cazier, Shane D. Voss, Jason Yost
  • Patent number: 8976268
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of properly synthesizing a strobe-illuminated image and non-strobe-illuminated images, irrespective of a condition for illuminating a photographic subject. A sensitivity of strobe emission photographing is set to be lower than a sensitivity of non-strobe emission photographing, and a strobe-illuminated image and plural sheets of non-strobe-illuminated images are continuously photographed with the set sensitivities. The strobe-illuminated image is gain-processed with a gain amount, and positional deviations of the plural sheets of non-strobe-illuminated images relative to the strobe-illuminated image are corrected. An averaged image obtained by synthesizing the gain-processed image and the images after the positional deviation correction is synthesized with the strobe-illuminated image, while taking account of amounts of strobe illumination in the strobe-illuminated image, thereby obtaining a synthesized image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuaki Hattori
  • Patent number: 8976253
    Abstract: A camera and another device synchronization system, apparatus, signaling, processor-readable medium, and method are provided. As part of a system or as an apparatus, the camera may include a user content synchronization module for automatically synchronizing image data stored as camera records by the camera with central records stored for the user by a central node remote from the camera, the camera records and the central records comprising at least one of photo images or video files, such that changed central record and camera records are update using the most recent records from the other source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Amos Winbush, III
  • Patent number: 8970770
    Abstract: An autofocus method includes acquiring an image of a scene that includes one or more out of focus faces and/or partial faces. The method includes detecting one or more of the out of focus faces and/or partial faces within the digital image by applying one or more sets of classifiers trained on faces that are out of focus. One or more sizes of the one of more respective out of focus faces and/or partial faces is/are determined within the digital image. One or more respective depths is/are determined to the one or more out of focus faces and/or partial faces based on the one or more sizes of the one of more faces and/or partial faces within the digital image. One or more respective focus positions of the lens is/are adjusted to focus approximately at the determined one or more respective depths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Fotonation Limited
    Inventors: Florin Nanu, Cosmin Nicolae Stan, Peter Corcoran
  • Patent number: 8970725
    Abstract: The user interaction system comprises a portable pointing device (101) connected to a camera (102) and sending pictures to a digital signal processor (120), capable of recognizing an object (130) and a command given by the user (100) by moving the pointing device (101) in a specific way, and controlling an electrical apparatus (110) on the basis of this recognition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Gerhardus Engbertus Mekenkamp, Tim Dekker
  • Patent number: 8970714
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method relate to an imaging process which is applied to image data captured by an image capturing apparatus such as a multi-eye camera, multi-view camera, and the like. The image processing apparatus and method generates synthetic image data which focused on a curved focus surface by compositing multi-view image data captured from multi-viewpoints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ai Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 8970779
    Abstract: According to an aspect of the present invention, the camera body can switch the present version, which is an original version, to specifications of an older version. Thus, even if the present versions of the camera body and the interchangeable lens doe not have compatibility, if an old version has compatibility, a minimum operation can be ensured by the specifications of the old version without updating the firmware, although the functions may have possibility of being restricted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yi Pan
  • Patent number: 8970752
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: an imaging sensor 110 configured to capture an optical image of an object and generate image data; a main circuit substrate 120 configured to perform signal processing of the image data generated by the imaging sensor 110; a mounting component 130 configured to mount the imaging sensor 110; a metal plate 150 disposed between the mounting component 130 and the main circuit substrate 120; and an electrically-conductive section 190 configured to electrically connect between a ground conductor of the main circuit substrate 120 and the metal plate 150. The electrically-conductive section 190 is positioned in an area where the metal plate 150 and the imaging sensor 110 overlap each other in the case of a back surface of the metal plate 150 being viewed in a direction orthogonal thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Tobinaga, Hirotsugu Fusayasu, Masafumi Kumoi, Ryuichi Nagaoka, Yoshio Nishizawa, Atsushi Inoue
  • Patent number: 8970784
    Abstract: There is provided a driving apparatus which includes an acquisition section which acquires a parameter for driving an imaging element, which receives an optical image from a subject and outputs an imaging image as an electric signal, in an action mode which is desired by a user; a timing generation section which generates respective timings of the starting of each of a plurality of horizontal synchronization periods, where horizontal synchronization periods which are only different in terms of the number of clocks determined in advance are acquired in a mixed state, based on the parameter; and a driving control section which receives the optical image from the subject for each line which configures the imaging element by synchronizing the respective timings which are generated using the timing generation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Miyashita, Daisuke Kuruma, Daisuke Miyakoshi