Patents Examined by Chan Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8542292
    Abstract: An average value calculation section 100 calculates an average value of each line during the validity period of an input image signal. A three-field average value calculation section 104 calculates a 50 Hz flicker signal from which the light and shade of a subject is removed. A difference value calculation section 105 subtracts an n-field preceding field line average value from the line average value of the present frame. Then, a 60 Hz flicker signal, from which the light and shade of the subject is removed, is calculated by dividing the difference value by the line average value of the present frame. A flicker determination section 112 determines whether flicker exists or not, and whether the flicker frequency is 50 Hz or 60 Hz, on the basis of the extraction results of the 50 Hz flicker component extraction section 108, and of the 60 Hz flicker component extraction section 109.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Keiji Toyoda
  • Patent number: 8537246
    Abstract: The present invention provides a portable device that includes at least one view angle sensor for collecting sensor information about the view angle of the portable device. It also includes a view angle determination component for determining (1) the view angle of the portable device engaged in a videoconference session and (2) whether the view angle is within a predefined range for the videoconference session. The portable device also includes a feedback component, wherein responsive to the determination that the view angle is out of range, providing user feedback.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ramin Samadani, Mary G Baker
  • Patent number: 8531579
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus which is capable of accurately correcting for chromatic aberration of magnification in an area peripheral to a taken image using the taken image. Areas including edges in image data are extracted, and the amount of chromatic aberration of magnification is calculated as the amount of area chromatic aberration of magnification in each area with respect to each color component. Based on lens design values, chromatic aberration of magnification in each area is calculated as the amount of lens chromatic aberration of magnification. By using the amount of area chromatic aberration of magnification and the amount of lens chromatic aberration of magnification in adjacent areas next to an indefinite area matching predetermined conditions, the amount of lens chromatic aberration of magnification relating to the indefinite area is corrected to determine the amount of area chromatic aberration of magnification relating to the indefinite area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masami Sugimori
  • Patent number: 8531559
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image sensor, a shutter, a memory, a temperature acquisition unit, a determination unit, and an acquisition controller. The image sensor includes an effective pixel region and an optical black region. The memory temporarily stores photoelectric-converted image data after the shutter is opened. The temperature acquisition unit acquires an ambient temperature when the temperature is determined to be equal to or more than a threshold value when the image data is stored in the memory. The acquisition controller makes control for shutting the shutter and for acquiring photoelectric-converted image data at that time when the temperature is equal to or more than the threshold value. The writing unit cuts out image data of the effective pixel region from the acquired image data. Difference in optical black level is corrected using the cut-out image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Suzuki, Takanori Ishihama
  • Patent number: 8525897
    Abstract: A device and a method for predicting photograph timing. First, a detection step is performed. Then, a face determination step is performed to determine whether or not a face is shown. A face-classifying step is then performed. If a detected image is a non-front face, a difference generation step is then performed. A difference determination step is performed when a plurality of differences are obtained to determine whether or not the sequentially adjoined differences are reduced, wherein if the sequentially adjoined differences are reduced, a photographing timing is predicted according to a reduction degree of the differences. As a result, the probability of successfully photographing the front face can be enhanced. In addition, a training database that has both front face information and non-front face information can be utilized. As a result, it is not easy to determine the non-front face as the front face incorrectly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Altek Corporation
    Inventors: Tai-Chang Yang, Wen-Yan Chang
  • Patent number: 8502883
    Abstract: When an interchangeable lens in which a memory that records image data is provided is mounted to a camera main body including a display section that displays an image, a signal processing and control section of the camera main body reads in a sample image that is previously stored in the memory. The sample image serves as a model with respect to an image that can be photographed by the interchangeable lens. The sample image is displayed by the display section for a predetermined time. Thereafter, the signal processing and control section performs display control that switches the display of the display section so as to display an image in which a subject is picked up by the interchangeable lens and the image pickup section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Osamu Nonaka, Yoshinori Matsuzawa
  • Patent number: 8497936
    Abstract: A display apparatus includes a display panel for display an image, a camera module and a receiving container. The camera module includes a lens part mounted on a printed circuit board. The receiving container includes a main receiving space receiving the display panel and a sub receiving space extended from the main receiving space and receiving the camera module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Ho Park, Chang-Young Bang, Jae-Min Ha, Tae-Gil Kang, Yong-Eun Park, Man-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 8488049
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus sets focusing time for changing an in-focus state onto each in-focus point by the optical system in accordance with a plurality of in-focus points set by a setting unit and controls the change of the in-focus state by the optical system on the basis of the set focusing time and evaluation by a focus estimation unit in response to a recording instruction given to a recording unit, so that the plurality of set in-focus points are made intop the in-focus state in turn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryunosuke Iijima, Yusuke Fujita
  • Patent number: 8456557
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide dynamic range extension for CMOS image sensors for mobile applications. An embodiment of the invention may comprise setting for each pixel in a pixel array one of a plurality of integration times and one of a plurality of signal gains, wherein the settings may be used to generate corresponding digital data for each pixel in the pixel array. The corresponding digital data for adjacent pixels for the same color plane may then be grouped into a superpixel, where each pixel has associated with it a different combination of integration time and signal gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Yibing Michelle Wang, Jeff Rysinski, Hongyu Wang
  • Patent number: 8432462
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus that enables to prevent waste of electric power, memory or the like by selecting image data that is highly significant for image processing from multiple pieces of image data contained in a single file and subjecting the image processing to image data. A reception section receives a file that contains multiple pieces of image data with attribute information added. A determination section determines whether or not a corresponding one of the pieces of image data is to be subjected to image processing based on the attribute information contained in the file received by the reception section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takao Ikuno
  • Patent number: 8416335
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a data storing portion configured to store coefficient data for reconstructing an optical transfer function of an image pickup optical system in accordance with a type of the image pickup optical system and an imaging condition, a tap number determining portion configured to determine a tap number of the optical transfer function that is reconstructed by using the coefficient data in accordance with a size of one pixel of an image pickup element, and a reconstruction portion configured to reconstruct the optical transfer function in accordance with Nyquist frequency of the image pickup element and the tap number in a frequency space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8400523
    Abstract: Disclosed are a white balance device and a white balance method. The device comprises a unit used to extract background pixels of an image; a unit used to obtain representative color of background; a unit for determining a global magnification ratio of the background pixels; a unit used to carry out pre-adjustment with regard to original color of each of the background pixels; a unit used to, for each of the background pixels, determine expected final background color of the corresponding background pixel, and then determine an accurate magnification ratio of the corresponding background pixel; and a unit used to, for each of the background pixels, carry out adjustment with regard to the original color of the corresponding background pixel by using the accurate magnification ratio of the corresponding background pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yan Li, Wenbo Zhang
  • Patent number: 8379118
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus in which a matrix of pixels converts light into electric charge. The pixels are disposed in an optically black area that receives no light so as to output optically black signals and in an effective pixel area that receives incident light. An analog amplifier applies predetermined gain to the electric charge read from the pixels in the effective pixel area. A vertical line detector calculates a correction value to remove vertical line-shaped fixed pattern noise. A vertical line corrector adds each of the correction values to the corresponding effective pixel signal to remove the vertical line-shaped fixed pattern noise; and a multiplier multiplies the corrected pixel signals by the digital gain so that the output pixel signal contains no vertical line-shaped fixed pattern noise caused by the digital gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hideaki Komori
  • Patent number: 8363153
    Abstract: A focus detection device includes: a defocus information detection unit that detects phase difference information indicating a phase difference manifested by a pair of images formed with a pair of light fluxes having passed through different areas of a photographic optical system and detects defocus information based upon the phase difference information; and a correction unit that executes correction for correcting the defocus information, detected by the defocus information detection unit, in correspondence to a predetermined direction extending between a first direction that orthogonally intersects an optical axis of the photographic optical system and radially extends from the optical axis and a second direction that orthogonally intersects the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Tsukada
  • Patent number: 8345154
    Abstract: An accessory connecting shelf for video and camera includes a horizontal orientated connecting plate (1) having double-step connecting pieces. A screwed connecting through hole (3) is provided in the higher connecting piece (2) at the inside end of the connecting plate for connecting a video and camera apparatus, and a chute (5) is provided in the lower connecting fpiece (4) at its outside end. An arc support (6) is connected to the chute, wherein the lower end of the arc support is connected with the lower connecting piece by a connecting screw (7) passing through the chute, and the upper end of the arc support is provided with an arc chute (9). Hot shoe holders (10) are provided within the arc chute for connecting accessories. The present invention not only enables several hot shoe holders to be installed simultaneously to connect several accessories, but also can flexibly adjust various orientations to meet the requirements of different shooting angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventor: Xiaohong Zhan