Patents Examined by Chriss S. Yoder, III
  • Patent number: 10560636
    Abstract: Crop synchronized auto focus and exposure may be provided. First, a command corresponding to a new crop region of a sensor of a camera may be received. Then new capture settings corresponding to the new crop region may be obtained. Next, a frame may be captured from the sensor of the camera according to the obtained new capture settings. The captured frame may then be cropped according to the new crop region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Hellerud, Frode Tjøntveit, Anh Duc Dao
  • Patent number: 10554916
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a readout circuit that reads out a signal to a signal line, the signal being generated by an electric charge resulting from a photoelectric conversion; a holding circuit that holds a voltage based on an electric current from a power supply circuit; and an electric current source including a transistor having a drain part connected to the signal line and a gate part connected to the holding circuit and the drain part, the electric current source supplying the signal line with an electric current generated by the voltage held in the holding circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru Funamizu, Masahiro Juen, Atsushi Komai
  • Patent number: 10547779
    Abstract: An apparatus is described. The apparatus includes a smart image sensor having a memory and a processor that are locally integrated with an image sensor. The memory is to store first program code to be executed by the processor. The memory is coupled to the image sensor and the processor. The memory is to store second program code to be executed by the processor. The first program code is to cause the smart image sensor to perform an analysis on one or more images captured by the image sensor. The analysis identifies a region of interest within the one or more images with machine learning from previously captured images. The second program code is to cause the smart image sensor to change an image sensing and/or optical parameter in response to the analysis of the one or more images performed by the execution of the first program code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Chung Chun Wan, Choon Ping Chng, Suk Hwan Lim, Szepo Robert Hung, Blaise Aguera-Arcas
  • Patent number: 10542224
    Abstract: There is provided an imaging device including: an image processing unit; a face recognition processing unit; a storage unit; and a composition processing unit for generating composite data by a composition process so that persons photographed in each of a plurality of image data are included in one image data. The face recognition processing unit recognizes a first person by performing a face recognition process on first image data. When second image data obtained by photographing a second person at the different photographing timing of the first image data, with the same background as the first image data, is recorded in the storage unit, the composition processing unit generates composite data in which the first person and the second person are superimposed on the same background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Masayuki Hirabayashi, Yasunobu Hashimoto, Hiroshi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10534194
    Abstract: A reflecting module for optical image stabilization (OIS) includes: a housing including an internal space; a driving holder including a reflecting member and supported by an inner wall of the housing in a state in which a driving plate is fitted between the driving holder and the housing so that the driving holder is provided in the internal space; and a driving part configured to provide driving force to the driving holder to move the driving holder. The driving plate is linearly movable along one axis approximately perpendicular to an optical axis or is rotatable around the one axis with respect to the housing. The driving holder is linearly movable along the one axis or is rotatable around the one axis with respect to the driving plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ta Kyoung Lee, Ah Hyeon Im
  • Patent number: 10523881
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are described providing a high dynamic range pixel. An integration period has multiple sub-integration periods during which charges are accumulated in a photosensor and repeatedly transferred to a storage node, where the charges are accumulated for later transfer to another storage node for output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Parker Altice
  • Patent number: 10516840
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a readout circuit that reads out a signal to a signal line, the signal being generated by an electric charge resulting from a photoelectric conversion; a holding circuit that holds a voltage based on an electric current from a power supply circuit; and an electric current source including a transistor having a drain part connected to the signal line and a gate part connected to the holding circuit and the drain part, the electric current source supplying the signal line with an electric current generated by the voltage held in the holding circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wataru Funamizu, Masahiro Juen, Atsushi Komai
  • Patent number: 10511765
    Abstract: A method and an electronic device are provided for generating a still image from a video file. The electronic device includes an image sensor, a display, and a controller configured to generate a video file from an image signal input through the image sensor, assign frame characteristics to each frame included in the video file, selectively display at least one of the frames on the display, receive a selection of a frame among the displayed at least one of the frames, and generate a still image from the selected frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Goun-young Kim, Karthik Narayanan, Tapan Shah, Vamsee Kalyan Bandlamudi, Yun-mi Lee
  • Patent number: 10498961
    Abstract: Folded digital camera module comprising an optical path folding element (OPFE) for folding light from a first optical path with a first optical axis to a second optical path with a second optical axis perpendicular to the first optical axis, an image sensor, and a lens module carrying a lens with a symmetry axis parallel to the second optical axis. The camera module is adapted to perform optical image stabilization (OIS) involving at least one tilt motion of the OPFE tilt around an axis such that the OPFE tilt creates an image Roll movement and a shift movement, the OPFE tilt-created image Roll movement compensating for a folded camera module-induced Roll movement and the shift movement cancelable by a movement of the lens module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Ephraim Goldenberg, Gil Bachar, Itay Jerby, Gal Shabtay
  • Patent number: 10488535
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are described for capturing images in visible light as well as other radiation wavelengths. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises: a diffraction coded imaging system including a plurality of apertures arranged in a diffraction coded array pattern with opaque material blocking array elements not containing apertures; and a light- or radiation-sensitive sensor coupled to the diffraction coded imaging system array and positioned at a specified distance behind the diffraction coded imaging system array, the radiation-sensitive sensor configured to sense light or radiation transmitted and diffracted through the apertures in the diffraction coded imaging system array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: REARDEN, LLC
    Inventor: Stephen G. Perlman
  • Patent number: 10483304
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a light-sensing element that generates charge in response to incident light, a storage diode formed in a substrate, wherein the storage diode stores the charge generated by the light-sensing element, a floating diffusion region formed in a top surface of the substrate and spaced apart from the storage diode, and a transfer gate at least partially buried under the top surface of the substrate, wherein the transfer gate controls the transfer of the charge from the storage diode to the floating diffusion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gwi-Deok Ryan Lee, Tae Yon Lee
  • Patent number: 10477123
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an image sensor, an electronic apparatus, a signal transmission system, and a control method that are capable of easily reducing adverse effects of a parasitic capacitance. An assist signal line is adjacent to a VSL and placed along the VSL, a signal output from a pixel flowing through the VSL, and a signal control unit causes a similar signal to flow through the assist signal line, the similar signal having a similarity to a signal that flows through the VSL. The present technology is applicable to, for example, an image sensor including a VSL through which a signal output from a pixel flows, and a signal transmission system including a transmission path through which a signal flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuaki Kaneko, Yoshinori Takagi, Nobutaka Shimamura
  • Patent number: 10460422
    Abstract: The polarization imaging unit generates a polarized image including pixels for each of a plurality of polarization components. The demosaicing unit calculates a pixel signal for each polarization component by using the pixel signal of the target pixel of the polarized image and the pixel signal of the pixel for each of the identical polarization components located near the target pixel. In one example, a low frequency component is calculated for each polarization component using the pixel signal of the pixel located near the target pixel for each of the identical polarization components. In addition, component information indicating relationship between the low frequency component of the polarization component of the polarized image and the pixel signal of the target pixel is acquired. Furthermore, the pixel signal for each polarization component in the target pixel is calculated based on the low frequency component and the component information for each polarization component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Teppei Kurita, Shun Kaizu, Yuhi Kondo, Yasutaka Hirasawa, Ying Lu
  • Patent number: 10461107
    Abstract: There is provided an image pickup element including a non-planar layer having a non-planar light incident surface in a light receiving region, and a microlens of an inorganic material which is provided on a side of the light incident surface of the non-planar layer, and collects incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yoichi Ootsuka, Atsushi Yamamoto, Kensaku Maeda
  • Patent number: 10455132
    Abstract: A communication apparatus comprises: a communication unit for communication with an image capturing apparatus including a display unit; an input unit configured to input a setting change request to the image capturing apparatus; and a control unit configured to control the communication unit to transmit, to the image capturing apparatus, second information to be highlighted together with first information indicating contents of the setting change request so as to highlight a display element related to the setting change request when displayed in the display unit of the image capturing apparatus in a case where the contents of the setting change request meet a predetermined condition, and control the communication unit to transmit the first information to the image capturing apparatus without transmitting the second information in a case where the contents of the setting change request do not meet the predetermined condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomohiro Ota
  • Patent number: 10440245
    Abstract: A door assembly for providing selective access to a cooking chamber of an oven appliance includes an inner glass assembly and an outer glass assembly spaced apart by an outer air gap. A mounting bracket is positioned within the outer air gap and a camera is mounted to the mounting bracket. The door assembly further includes a primary light shield, which may be an extension of the mounting bracket or a non-reflective coating on the outer glass assembly, which blocks reflected light from reaching the camera. In addition, the inner glass assembly may include an inner glass pane and a middle glass pane separated by an inner air gap, and a secondary light shield may be positioned within the inner air gap to block more reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Scott Johnson, Hans Juergen Paller
  • Patent number: 10438985
    Abstract: A semiconductor device having a first semiconductor section including a first wiring layer at one side thereof; a second semiconductor section including a second wiring layer at one side thereof, the first and second semiconductor sections being secured together with the respective first and second wiring layer sides of the first and second semiconductor sections facing each other; a conductive material extending through the first semiconductor section to the second wiring layer of the second semiconductor section and by means of which the first and second wiring layers are in electrical communication; and an opening, other than the opening for the conductive material, which extends through the first semiconductor section to the second wiring layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takahashi, Taku Umebayashi
  • Patent number: 10425586
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are herein provided for providing markers for improved picture taking. A method may include causing presentation of information representative of a live environment on a screen. The method may further include receiving user input defining a marker and a position of the marker on the screen over at least a portion of the live environment information. The method may further include causing presentation of the marker in the position on the screen. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Xiaoping Li, Christian Rossing Kraft
  • Patent number: 10425574
    Abstract: An imaging device for evaluating focusing of light by one or more optical elements on an imaging sensor, the imaging device having one or more processors configured to compare a first value of a characteristic of a first signal from a first photoelectric conversion structure of the imaging sensor having a first light-receiving surface area and a second value of the characteristic of a second signal from a second photoelectric conversion structure of the imaging sensor having a second light-receiving surface area smaller than the first light-receiving surface area, and to determine whether focusing is achieved by the one or more optical elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kento Kokubu
  • Patent number: 10425602
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an acquisition unit configured to acquire defective pixel information including one of positional information on a reading circuit in which defective pixel noise occurs and positional information on each of pixels, blinking defect noise information including one of positional information on a reading circuit in which blinking defect noise occurs and the positional information on each of the pixels, and image data generated by an image sensor; and a noise reduction unit configured to reduce one of the defective pixel noise and the blinking defect noise based on the defective pixel information acquired by the acquisition unit and the blinking defect noise information acquired by the acquisition unit, with respect to the image data acquired by the acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Maruyama, Manabu Ichikawa