Patents Examined by Chiawei Chen
  • Patent number: 12212824
    Abstract: An image capture device is disclosed that includes: a body; first and second image capture devices supported within the body so as to define respective, overlapping first and second fields-of-view; and a thermal spreader. The first image capture device includes a first integrated sensor-lens assembly (ISLA) with a first image sensor and a first lens, and the second image capture device includes a second ISLA with a second image sensor and a second lens. The first lens faces in a first direction, and is positioned to receive and direct light onto the first image sensor, and the second lens faces in a second direction, and is positioned to receive and direct light onto the second image sensor, wherein the second direction is generally opposite to the first direction. The thermal spreader extends between, and is connected to, the first and second ISLAs, and is configured to transfer heat therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventor: Monika Sharma
  • Patent number: 12196990
    Abstract: A color filter structure includes multiple color filter groups. Each color filter group includes multiple color filters. For each color filter group, the multiple color filters transmit light of preset wavelength bands, and each color filter corresponding to a respective preset wavelength band. At least two of the preset wavelength bands correspond to a common color channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zongbao Yang, Yan Zheng, Hui Wang
  • Patent number: 12200388
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a pixel array with odd and even pixel cells. Each of the odd and even pixel cells includes a photodiode, a floating diffusion, a transfer transistor, a reset transistor, a lateral overflow integration capacitor (LOFIC), and an overflow gate (OFG) transistor. The imaging system further includes a readout circuit with a sample and hold (SH) circuit and an analog to digital converter. The OFG transistor of each of the odd and even pixel cells is configured to direct the image charge photogenerated by the respective photodiode away from the respective transfer transistor and reduce photodiode exposure shift during LOFIC readouts during a global transfer period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Zhe Gao, Tomas Geurts, Ling Fu, Tiejun Dai
  • Patent number: 12192653
    Abstract: In an advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS), RAW sensor image processing for a machine vision (MV) application is important. Due to different color, e.g., red/green/blue (RGB), color components, being focused by the lens at different locations in image plane, the lateral chromatic aberration phenomenon may sometimes be observed, which causes false color around edges in the final image output, especially for high contrast edges, which can impede MV applications. Disclosed herein are low-latency, efficient, optimized designs for chromatic aberration correction (CAC) components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Gang Hua, Rajasekhar Reddy Allu, Mihir Narendra Mody, Niraj Nandan, Mayank Mangla, Pandy Kalimuthu
  • Patent number: 12180064
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip structure. The integrated chip structure includes a MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) actuator. The MEMS actuator has an anchor. A proof mass continuously wraps around the anchor in a closed loop. One or more curved cantilevers are coupled between the proof mass and a frame. The frame wraps around the proof mass. The one or more curved cantilevers include curved outer surfaces arranged directly between a sidewall of the frame and a sidewall of the proof mass, as viewed in a top-view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2024
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ting-Jung Chen
  • Patent number: 12177610
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus in communication with an external apparatus generates an image list indicating images to be provided to the external apparatus and performs control such that the image list is transmitted to the external apparatus in a case where an obtainment request for the image list is received from the external apparatus. The electronic apparatus starts generating a cache of the image list after a predetermined operation pertaining to establishing communication with the external apparatus is made and before receiving the obtainment request for the image list, and transmits the image list based on the cache to the external apparatus in response to receiving the obtainment request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiko Ishizu
  • Patent number: 12177549
    Abstract: A camera, camera lens, image sensor, and a shape memory alloy (SMA) motor are stacked within a frame. The SMA motor is located on an out-light side of the camera lens. The image sensor is located between the lens and the SMA motor and is fastened to the SMA motor. The SMA motor is configured to actuate the image sensor to shift on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the camera lens. The camera may be associated with an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xin Li, Gang Wang, Wei Tang
  • Patent number: 12170844
    Abstract: A photographing method and an electronic device. The photographing method includes: receiving, by the electronic device, a first operation for triggering the electronic device to enter a large aperture mode; obtaining, by the electronic device, a distance value between the electronic device and a photographed target object in response to the first operation; enabling, by the electronic device in a case that a distance value does not exceed a first distance threshold, a first camera and a second camera to acquire the image of the target object; enabling, by the electronic device in a case that the distance value exceeds the first distance threshold, the first camera and a third camera to acquire the image of the target object; and displaying, by the electronic device, a preview image including the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2024
    Assignee: HONOR DEVICE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hantao Cui, Yang Yang, Shuai Feng, Jie Lin, Lingli Chang
  • Patent number: 12156339
    Abstract: A camera module according to an embodiment includes a printed circuit board; an infrared filter disposed on an upper surface of the printed circuit board; and an image sensor disposed under a lower surface of the printed circuit board, wherein the printed circuit board includes: an insulating layer including a cavity overlapping at least a part of the infrared filter and at least a part of the image sensor in an optical axis direction; and a circuit pattern buried in the insulating layer and connected to a terminal of the image sensor; and wherein a shape of the cavity is different from a shape of the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Suk Ho Kim, Sang Hyuck Nam, Seok Jun Hong
  • Patent number: 12149806
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a sensor unit, a lens unit and a lens frame, a housing configured to hold the sensor unit and the lens unit, a connecting member that connects the lens frame and the housing, a cover member that covers part of a first lens disposed furthest to the image sensor, and an elastic member disposed between the first lens and the cover member. A thermal expansion coefficient of the connecting member is larger than that of each of the housing and the lens frame. The lens frame includes a first lens holding portion configured to hold the first lens. A connecting position between the connecting member and the lens frame is disposed on the image sensor side of each of a connecting position between the housing and the connecting member and a position of the first lens holding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Saito, Kosuke Nozaki
  • Patent number: 12149857
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device and electronic apparatus capable of relieving wiring failure with less redundancy. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array unit in which a plurality of pixels is two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix, one redundant wiring provided for n number of signal lines that transmit a pixel signal from the pixels, and one or more redundant switches that connect one signal line and a redundant wiring. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a solid-state imaging device, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Luonghung Asakura
  • Patent number: 12149859
    Abstract: Systems and methods for receiving a media content item, causing a media content item interface containing the media content item to be displayed by a display device, and determining that a first contextual element is associated with the media content item displayed in the media content item interface. The systems and methods are include determining that a destructive action is applied to the media content item, and generating an overlay dialog component that is overlaid on top of the media content item in response to determining that the first contextual element is associated with the media content item in the media content item interface and that the destructive action has been applied to the media content item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Chan, Christie Marie Heikkinen
  • Patent number: 12143703
    Abstract: A camera module may have an optical assembly, an image sensor, and a frame, where the frame includes a reinforcement member and a base member that collectively form a sidewall of the frame. The reinforcement member defines a portion of the sidewall of the frame, a peripheral edge, and an opening. The base member may define another portion of the sidewall and extend through the opening and surround the peripheral edge of the reinforcement member. The optical assembly may be coupled to the sidewall of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nitin Kumar Chennupati, Hiran R Rathnasinghe, Nicholas D. Smyth, Kevin Garrison, Jeffrey P. Bosco, Julien C. Vittu
  • Patent number: 12136636
    Abstract: An image sensor (10), a camera assembly (40) and a mobile terminal (90) are disclosed. The image sensor (10) comprises panchromatic pixels and color pixels. The color pixels have the spectral response narrower than that of the panchromatic pixels, and the panchromatic pixels have the full-well capacity greater than that of the color pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng Tang, Gong Zhang, Xin Yang, Rui Xu, Wentao Wang, He Lan, Jianbo Sun, Xiaotao Li, Haiyu Zhang
  • Patent number: 12126910
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes an image sensor including a plurality of unit pixels, each unit pixel including two or more individual pixels, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to acquire a first image frame from the image sensor, determine a photographing environment of the electronic device, based on the first image frame, and, in response to the photographing environment corresponding to a first photographing environment, control the image sensor to acquire analog data through the individual pixels, and provide first digital data digitally converted from the analog data with first sensitivity, and second digital data digitally converted from the analog data with second sensitivity which is higher than the first sensitivity, and acquire a second image frame which follows the first image frame, based on the first digital data and the second digital data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dongsoo Kim, Inah Moon, Jaehyoung Park, Shuichi Shimokawa, Kawang Kang, Yunjeong Kim, Jonghoon Won, Yeotak Youn
  • Patent number: 12119357
    Abstract: Provided are an image sensor with one or more image receivers for image switching, and an imaging system and method therefor. The image sensor includes an image sensor array to generate first image data for a first image; a receiver to receive, into the image sensor, second image data for a second image; an image selection circuit coupled to the image sensor array and the receiver to receive the first image data and the second image data and select one of the first image data and the second image data according to one or more image selection criteria and at least one of the first image data and the second image data; and a transmitter coupled to the image selection circuit to transmit the selected one of the first image data and the second image data from the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Cista System Corp.
    Inventors: Zhaojian Li, Jiangtao Pang
  • Patent number: 12114057
    Abstract: A lens-less imaging device, includes, in part, a multitude of pixels each having a light detector and an associated optical element adapted to cause the pixel to be responsive to a different direction of light received from a target. Each pixel has a field of view that overlaps with a field of view of at least a subset of the remaining pixels. The optical element may be a transparent dielectric element, a transparent MEMS component, a transparent microlens, or include one or more metallic walls. The optical element may be a continuous mapping layer formed over the pixels. Each pixel may or may not have a Gaussian distribution response. The lens-less imaging device forms an image of a target in accordance with an optical transfer functions of the pixels as well as responses of the pixels to the light received from the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Seyed Ali Hajimiri, Seyed Mohammadreza Fatemi, Aroutin Khachaturian, Parham Porsandeh Khial, Alexander D. White
  • Patent number: 12108144
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a first control unit communicable with the accessory by a first communication method, and a second control unit communicable with the accessory by a second communication method. The first control unit acquires control information on the second communication method from the accessory. The second control unit determines a control method for communication with the accessory based on the control information acquired by the first control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Rui Nabeshima, Hiromichi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 12096129
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and devices for image signal processing. In a first aspect, a method of image processing includes controlling an image sensor to capture image data for determining a standard dynamic range (SDR) representation of a scene, the image data comprising a first series of image frames captured with a first exposure level and a second series of image frames captured at a second exposure level. The SDR representation of the scene may be generated by determining a first output image frame based on at least a first image frame of the first series of image frames. Determining of an exposure level for the image sensor during the SDR image capture may be based on a second image frame of the second series of image frames captured by the image sensor in a multi-frame sensor configuration. Other aspects and features are also claimed and described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Zuguang Xiao, Lee-Kang Liu, Loic Francois Segapelli, Ho Sang Lee, Jiafu Luo, Wenbin Wang, Silei Ma
  • Patent number: 12094172
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a camera calibration method and a system thereof. The method includes setting up a camera in a space; establishing or selecting two line segments in the space, and obtaining an image of the space including the two line segments, and obtaining heights and image coordinates of upper and lower endpoints of the two line segments; calculating a focal length, a first rotation angle, a second rotation angle and a third element of a translation vector of the camera based on the information of the two line segments; calculating a third rotation angle of the camera based on a reference direction and the camera information obtained above; calculating a first element and a second element of the translation vector of the camera based on a reference point and the camera information obtained above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Shu-Hsin Chang, Kun-Hsien Lu, Yi-Yu Su, Wei-Cheng Sun, Yu-Hsien Hsiao