Patents Examined by Chriss Yoder, III
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Patent number: 9818785Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 5, 2016Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Hiroshi Takahashi, Taku Umebayashi
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Patent number: 9819885Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel signal processing unit including a plurality of pixels; a plurality of first charge storage circuits which are configured to hold the first signal charges generated by the photoelectric conversion units and output first signal voltages as first pixel signals; and a plurality of second charge storage circuits which are configured to hold second signal charges and output second signal voltages, and a differential analog/digital conversion unit includes: a plurality of first differential calculation units; a plurality of first analog/digital conversion units which are configured to perform analog/digital conversion to the first differential pixel signals and output digital values indicating magnitudes of the first differential pixel signals; and a plurality of second analog/digital conversion units which are configured to perform analog/digital conversion to the second pixel signal and output digital values indicating magnitudes of the second pixel signals.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2016Date of Patent: November 14, 2017Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Eiji Furukawa, Toru Kondo
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Patent number: 9807291Abstract: Embodiments described herein may allow for dynamic image processing based on biometric data. An example device may include: an interface configured to receive video data that is generated by an image capture device; an interface configured to receive biometric data of a user of the image capture device from one or more sensors generated synchronously with the video data; and an image processing system configured to apply image processing to the video data to generate edited video data. The image processing may be based, at least in part, on the biometric data.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2014Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Google Inc.Inventors: Basheer Tome, Hayes Solos Raffle
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Patent number: 9807368Abstract: A plenoptic camera is proposed having a color filter array positioned on an image sensor with an array of pixels, the color filter array having a first filter with a set of unit elements, each unit element covering M×M pixels of the image sensor, with M an integer such that M?2. The plenoptic camera further includes a set of micro-lens, each micro-lens delivering a micro-lens image on the image sensor with a diameter equal to p=k×M, with k being an integer greater than or equal to two.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2016Date of Patent: October 31, 2017Assignee: Thomson LicensingInventors: Benoit Vandame, Mathilde Brossard, Valter Drazic
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Patent number: 9800782Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of operating a wearable life logging device comprising a data processing unit, a camera unit, and at least one motion sensor. The method comprises selectively operating the device in a take photo state, wherein a photo is captured by means of the camera unit, and selectively operating the device in a sleep state, wherein the camera unit is in a low power mode. The method further comprises causing the device to transition to the take photo state in response to a signal from the motion sensor.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2014Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Narrative ABInventors: Martin Kallstrom, Eric Hampusgard, Linus Pizunski, Simon Pantzare, Bjorn Wesen
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Patent number: 9800775Abstract: A focus detection apparatus comprising: a plurality of signal generation units that output pairs of image signals; a detection unit that detects first focus states of the imaging optical system based on the pairs of image signals without carrying out a predetermined digital filtering process, and detects second focus states of the imaging optical system based on the pairs of image signals that have undergone the predetermined digital filtering process, and reliabilities of the pairs of image signals; a selection unit that selects a second focus state to be used for focus control of the imaging optical system from among the second focus states based on the reliabilities; and an adjustment unit that, if a difference between the corresponding first and second focus states is greater than a threshold, decreases a possibility that this second focus state is selected.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2016Date of Patent: October 24, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yasuyuki Suzuki
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Patent number: 9787954Abstract: Provided are a pixel interpolation apparatus, imaging apparatus, program, and integrated circuit that appropriately perform pixel interpolation on an image signal obtained by a single-chip image sensor with a four-color array filter whatever array pattern the four-color array filter has. An imaging apparatus includes an imaging circuitry, a signal processing circuitry, and a pixel interpolation processing circuitry. The apparatus calculates a degree of correlation for pairs in two orthogonal directions for an image signal obtained by the imaging circuitry including a single-chip image sensor having a four-color array filter using pixel data in an area around a target pixel, and performs pixel interpolation using the correlation degree as a determination criterion.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2016Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: MegaChips CorporationInventors: Junji Moriguchi, Hiromu Hasegawa
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Patent number: 9787891Abstract: There is provided a focus control apparatus including: an information acquisition unit that acquires focal distance information of a predetermined position on a 2-dimensional map using the 2-dimensional map of focal distances; and a focus control unit that performs focus control based on the focal distance information which is acquired by the information acquisition unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2014Date of Patent: October 10, 2017Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Koji Kamiya, Hiroaki Matsumura
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Patent number: 9772432Abstract: A sensing device with an odd-symmetry grating projects near-field spatial modulations onto a closely spaced photodetector array. Due to physical properties of the grating, the spatial modulations are in focus for a range of wavelengths and spacings. The spatial modulations are captured by the array, and photographs and other image information can be extracted from the resultant data. Used in conjunction with a converging optical element, versions of these gratings provide depth information about objects in an imaged scene. This depth information can be computationally extracted to obtain a depth map of the scene.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2016Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: Rambus Inc.Inventors: Patrick R. Gill, David G. Stork
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Patent number: 9774789Abstract: Systems and methods for high dynamic range imaging using array cameras in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a method of generating a high dynamic range image using an array camera includes defining at least two subsets of active cameras, determining image capture settings for each subset of active cameras, where the image capture settings include at least two exposure settings, configuring the active cameras using the determined image capture settings for each subset, capturing image data using the active cameras, synthesizing an image for each of the at least two subset of active cameras using the captured image data, and generating a high dynamic range image using the synthesized images.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2014Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: FotoNation Cayman LimitedInventors: Florian Ciurea, Kartik Venkataraman
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Patent number: 9743029Abstract: An analog to digital converting device includes an analog to digital converting unit suitable for converting an image signal into a digital signal; and a digital arithmetic unit suitable for calculating a difference between a reset voltage and a signal voltage, which correspond to the digital signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2015Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignees: SK Hynix Inc., Industry-University Cooperation Foundation Hanyang UniversityInventors: Ja Seung Gou, Oh Kyong Kwon, Min Kyu Kim
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Patent number: 9736386Abstract: There is provided a control device including a control unit configured to perform exposure control of a first pixel group and exposure control of a second pixel group independently of each other, the first pixel group and the second pixel group being disposed in a single imaging surface. The control unit controls gain or an exposure time of the first pixel group and gain or an exposure time of the second pixel group independently of each other.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2014Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Motoshi Yamaguchi, Daisuke Kasai
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Patent number: 9736414Abstract: In a matrix image sensor, a method of reading a pixel of a column allows two modes of analogue-digital conversion of the voltage level provided by the column: a first mode in which are carried out a single analogue-digital conversion in a nominal conversion time window FCONV, of nominal duration dn and a counting which starts with a ramp of nominal duration dn and stops upon the toggling of the output SCMP of the comparator; and a second mode which provides for multiple conversions by comparison with a ramp of reduced duration dr, in the same nominal conversion time window.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2014Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: E2V SEMICONDUCTORSInventor: Stéphane Gesset
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Patent number: 9729797Abstract: A shutter lag from when a shutter button is fully pressed to when an exposure is actually performed may be reduced by performing a precedence operation for a state transition of a shutter when the shutter button is half pressed.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2014Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Myung-hun Lee
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Patent number: 9727948Abstract: The generation of a false color is prevented. In a pixel mixture block, pixels of the same color are mixed. For example, red pixels are mixed to obtain a red mixed pixel and blue pixels are mixed to obtain a blue mixed pixel. Green pixels in an odd-numbered row and pixels in an even-numbered row are separately mixed to obtain a green mixed pixel and a green mixed pixel. A correlation direction in a partial color image 1 is detected from these mixed pixels. Interpolation pixels are generated from the mixed pixels according to the correlation direction such that a false color is not generated.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2015Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Seiji Tanaka
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Patent number: 9721330Abstract: Determining of still/movement may be performed with reference to quantization noise of a first section to which a first pixel belongs, and for different results of determining of whether the first pixel is in a movement area or a still area, different frame difference thresholds applicable to the movement area and the still area are separately set, and different frame difference calculation manners are used, different blending coefficients applicable to the movement area and the still area are selected according to the different frame difference thresholds applicable to the movement area and the still area and the frame difference calculation manners, and a noise reduction blending manner is selected according to the different blending coefficients applicable to the movement area and the still area, the frame difference calculation manners, and a pixel value of the first pixel in a current frame.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2016Date of Patent: August 1, 2017Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hai Chen, Fengwei Zhang
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Patent number: 9716850Abstract: There is provided a BJT pixel circuit including a BJT transistor, a photodiode, a first storage capacitor and a second storage capacitor. The first storage capacitor is configured to discharge, via the BJT transistor, to a first output voltage in a first exposure time of the photodiode. The second storage capacitor is configured to discharge, via the BJT transistor, to a second output voltage in a second exposure time of the photodiode.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2015Date of Patent: July 25, 2017Assignee: PixArt Imaging (Penang) SDN. BHD.Inventors: Kwai-Lee Pang, Swee-Lin Thor, Lee-Ling Teh
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Patent number: 9710692Abstract: An imaging device includes: an illumination portion which includes a light-transmitting transmission region and a light-shielding non-transmission region, has a plurality of simultaneous light-emitting elements that have a light-transmitting property, include a plurality of first light-emitting elements in which turning-on and turning-off are simultaneously controlled and a plurality of second light-emitting elements in which turning-on and turning-off are simultaneously controlled, and are provided in the transmission region, and has a plurality of individual light-emitting elements in which turning-on and turning-off are individually controlled and which are provided in the non-transmission region; an imaging portion which receives light that is reflected from a subject illuminated by the illumination portion and is transmitted through the transmission region; and a switching portion which selectively turns on the plurality of first light-emitting elements and the plurality of second light-emitting elementsType: GrantFiled: May 3, 2016Date of Patent: July 18, 2017Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Takashi Toya, Mitsutoshi Miyasaka
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Patent number: 9706121Abstract: An image processing apparatus calculates correlation values between a plurality of images with respect to relative positions, and detects a motion vector between the plurality of images based on the calculated correlation values. The image processing apparatus then determines the reliability of the motion vector based on a value indicating the highest correlation among the correlation values and a correlation value obtained at a position that is distant by a predetermined distance or longer from a position at which the value indicating the highest correlation is obtained. In this way, the reliability of the motion vector can be determined with high accuracy.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2014Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Mitsuhiro Saito
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Patent number: 9696755Abstract: There is provided an opening and closing device including a base; a movable member that is moved between a retracted position and a forward position by making linear movement and rotational movement with respect to the base; and a locking system for locking the movable member at the retracted position, wherein locking of the movable member by the locking system is released by rotationally moving the movable member, and thereby the linear movement of the movable member is allowed.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2015Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignee: MITSUBISHI STEEL MFG. CO., LTD.Inventor: Yasuhiro Mitsui