Patents Examined by Cynthia Segura
  • Patent number: 11546516
    Abstract: A folded zoom optical image stabilization (OIS) circuit for driving a prism and a prism actuator, includes an attitude recognition unit configured to recognize housing attitude based on an acceleration sensor value received from an acceleration sensor when an OIS off command is input, and to output housing attitude information, a prism position control unit configured to control a gradual position movement of the prism to a corresponding target position matching the housing attitude information received from the attitude recognition unit, and a prism driving unit configured to move the prism to a target position under a control of the prism position control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nam Hong Jang, Dae Gil Yoon
  • Patent number: 11539875
    Abstract: An autofocusing method includes capturing an image of a scene with a camera that includes a pixel array; computing a horizontal-difference image, and a vertical-difference image; and combining the horizontal-difference image and the vertical-difference image to yield a combined image. The method also includes determining, from the combined image and the intensity image, an image distance with respect to a lens of the camera at which the camera forms an in-focus image. The pixel array includes horizontally-adjacent pixel pairs and vertically-adjacent pixel pairs each located beneath a respective microlens. The horizontal-difference image includes, for each horizontally-adjacent pixel pair, a derived pixel value that is an increasing function of a difference between pixel values generated by the horizontally-adjacent pixel pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Boyd Fowler
  • Patent number: 11531186
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an electronic imaging device including a first capturing device and a second capturing device. The first capturing device includes a first lens system and a first electronic photosensitive element located on an imaging plane of the first lens system. The second capturing device includes a second lens system and a second electronic photosensitive element located on an imaging plane of the second lens system. The first capturing device and the second capturing device are located at a same side of the electronic imaging device, and a field-of-view of the first capturing device is different from a field-of-view of the second capturing device. A total effective focal length fT of the first lens system and a total effective focal length fW of the second lens system satisfy fT/fW>3.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Zhejiang Sunny Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jianke Wenren, Jia Lu, Lin Huang, Fujian Dai, Liefeng Zhao
  • Patent number: 11528425
    Abstract: A shutter apparatus includes a front blade unit and a rear blade unit configured to open and close an opening for exposure control, a front drive member and a rear drive member configured to drive the front blade unit and the rear blade unit between an open position and a closed position of the opening, respectively, a front cam gear and a rear cam gear configured to charge the front drive member and the rear drive member, respectively, a front driving source and a rear driving source connected to and configured to rotate the front cam gear and the rear cam gear, respectively, and a controller configured to control the front driving source and the rear driving source based on an imaging condition so as to change driving times of the front blade unit and the rear blade unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Rentaro Imai, Jun Kawanami, Keisuke Adachi
  • Patent number: 11528418
    Abstract: A shake correction control device includes a processor that acquires imaging information for selecting mechanical correction of mechanically performing shake correction of a subject image or electronic correction of electronically performing the shake correction of the subject image. The processor performs a switching control from either of the mechanical correction or the electronic correction to the other of the mechanical correction or the electronic correction, and synchronizes shake correction operations of the mechanical correction and the electronic correction during the switching control, and changes an operation ratio of the mechanical correction and the electrical correction in accordance with passage of time during the switching control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Tomonori Masuda, Masahiko Sugimoto, Yi Pan, Takashi Hashimoto, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Yasunobu Kishine
  • Patent number: 11528407
    Abstract: A method includes dividing a field of view into a plurality of zones and sampling the field of view to generate a photon count for each zone of the plurality of zones, identifying a focal sector of the field of view and analyzing each zone to select a final focal object from a first prospective focal object and a second prospective focal object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignees: STMICROELECTRONICS SA, STMICROELECTRONICS, INC., STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventors: Darin K. Winterton, Donald Baxter, Andrew Hodgson, Gordon Lunn, Olivier Pothier, Kalyan-Kumar Vadlamudi-Reddy
  • Patent number: 11523045
    Abstract: An image sensor comprises: a plurality of microlenses; and a pixel region including, with respect to each of the plurality of microlenses, a plurality of first sensitivity regions formed at first depth from a light incident surface, a plurality of second sensitivity regions formed at second depth which is deeper than the first depth, and a plurality of connection portions that electrically connect the plurality of first regions and the plurality of second regions in different combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Makiko Saito, Nobuhiro Takeda
  • Patent number: 11516378
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods employing a PDAF optical system are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes an image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels. The plurality of pixels include a set of pixels configurable to be imaging pixels or focus pixels. The image sensor is configured to generate image data of a scene based on received light at the plurality of pixels. The example apparatus also includes a processor coupled to the image sensor. The processor may be configured to receive first image data of a first frame of the scene, determine at least one region of interest or region of non-interest of the first frame, select, based on the determined at least one region of interest or region of non-interest, a subset of the set of pixels to be focus pixels, and cause the selected subset of the set of pixels to operate as focus pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Nan Cui, Zuguang Xiao, Wenbin Wang
  • Patent number: 11503201
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a focus detection device and method and a program by which an accurate image shift amount can be detected. A calculation unit performs calculation based on learning on the basis of a received light amount distribution of an A pixel group having a first property for phase difference detection and a received light amount distribution of a B pixel group having a second property different from the first property and outputs defocus amount related information relating to a defocus amount. The present technology can be applied to an imaging apparatus that performs focus detection by a phase difference detection method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Miyatani
  • Patent number: 11496666
    Abstract: In an imaging element in which a plurality of phase difference detection pixels and a plurality of normal pixels for imaging are two-dimensionally arranged in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, the phase difference detection pixel includes a first phase difference pixel ZA and a second phase difference pixel ZB including opening portions for pupil separation at different positions in the horizontal direction. The first phase difference pixel ZA and the second phase difference pixel ZB are adjacently arranged to have the opening portions facing each other. RGB color filters are arranged in the plurality of normal pixels in the Bayer arrangement. The imaging element includes a normal pixel row in which only the normal pixel is arranged in the horizontal direction and a phase difference pixel row in which the first phase difference pixel ZA, the second phase difference pixel ZB, and one normal pixel are periodically arranged in the horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Kobayashi, Tomoyuki Kawai, Seiji Tanaka, Koichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11490003
    Abstract: An information processing device, a program, and an information processing method are provided, capable of instructing an imaging device to start and end a predetermined operation through an operation via a GUI. The information processing device includes: a display control unit configured to control display of a slider on a display unit, the slider being configured such that a display object is movable between predetermined positions; and a process control unit configured to instruct an imaging unit to control photography in a predetermined mode when the process control unit receives an operation of moving the display object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Masanori Kasa, Yohei Nakajima, Tomoko Takahashi, Junichirou Sakata
  • Patent number: 11483479
    Abstract: When a lens assembly of an imaging device is subject to impacts, vibrations or other movements, and an optical axis of a lens assembly is varied as a result of the movements, blurring or pixel shifts may be reduced or eliminated at a targeted location within an image plane by shifting a lens of the lens assembly by a distance calculated based on an angle corresponding to the selected location, an angular difference between orientations of the optical axis, and a focal length of the imaging device. If the distance would result in a pixel shift at a center of the image plane in excess of a maximum allowable pixel shift, an alternate distance may be calculated based on the maximum allowable pixel shift, the angular difference between orientations of the optical axis, and the focal length of the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jingqiang Li, Georgios Skolianos, Shuai Yue
  • Patent number: 11477391
    Abstract: Video stream data is received. The video stream data comprises a plurality of arriving frames. An indication that the stream data should be processed into a long exposure image is received. In response to receipt of a frame arrival, an attempt to align a current frame with a registration image is made. Based at least in part on at least one of the frame arrival and the attempt to align the current frame with the registration image, a determination is made that feedback should be provided to a user. The feedback is provided to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Lux Optics Incorporated
    Inventors: Benjamin Keith Sandofsky, Sebastiaan Anne Laurens de With
  • Patent number: 11470257
    Abstract: A dual-aperture zoom digital camera operable in both still and video modes. The camera includes Wide and Tele imaging sections with respective lens/sensor combinations and image signal processors and a camera controller operatively coupled to the Wide and Tele imaging sections. The Wide and Tele imaging sections provide respective image data. The controller is configured to combine in still mode at least some of the Wide and Tele image data to provide a fused output image from a particular point of view, and to provide without fusion continuous zoom video mode output images, each output image having a given output resolution, wherein the video mode output images are provided with a smooth transition when switching between a lower zoom factor (ZF) value and a higher ZF value or vice versa, and wherein at the lower ZF the output resolution is determined by the Wide sensor while at the higher ZF value the output resolution is determined by the Tele sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg, Oded Gigushinski, Noy Cohen
  • Patent number: 11470255
    Abstract: An optical member driving device, including: a sensor substrate to which an image sensor is fixed; a first slider fixed to the sensor substrate; a second slider slidable along a first direction orthogonal to an optical axis direction; and a third slider which is fixed to a lens unit which includes, and is slidable along a second direction, wherein any one of the first slider and the second slider has a first projecting member extending along the first direction, and another one of the first slider and the second slider has a first groove that is to fit over the first projecting member, and wherein any one of the second slider and the third slider has a second projecting member extending along the second direction, and another one of the second slider and the third slider has a second groove that is to fit over the second projecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: NEW SHICOH MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Hagiwara
  • Patent number: 11463622
    Abstract: An image capturing method for an image capturing apparatus includes setting a shake correction mode that performs shake correction processing during shooting, and a superimposed display mode that performs superimposition and display of an optical viewfinder display and an electronic viewfinder display. When the shake correction mode and the superimposed display mode are set, a captured image for which the shake correction processing is not performed, or an image equivalent to the state without shake correction processing, is used as the electronic viewfinder display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Sato
  • Patent number: 11455798
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging portion that images a subject; a positional information acquisition portion that acquires positional information of an imaging position; a control portion which acquires information on the subject based on the positional information, and displays image data of the subject and the information on the subject on a display portion; and a hold control portion that outputs a hold control signal, which holds the image data of the subject and the information on the subject, to the control portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideya Inoue
  • Patent number: 11451696
    Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a pixel array having pixels, a logic circuit configured to process a signal output by the pixels to generate image data, and sensor pads connected to the logic circuit, where the sensor pads include a first ground sensor pad, a second ground sensor pad, signal sensor pads disposed between the first ground sensor pad and the second ground sensor pad and configured to output the image data, and dummy sensor pads disposed between the first ground sensor pad and the second ground sensor pad and configured not to output the image data, and at least one of the dummy sensor pads is disposed between the signal sensor pads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kihyun Kwon, Gunwoo Ryu, Euncheol Lee
  • Patent number: 11445097
    Abstract: An electronic device and control method thereof capable of utilizing a display as illumination light for a camera that is being used to capture images is provided. The electronic device includes a foldable display; a camera; a processor; and a memory operatively connected to the processor, wherein the memory may store instructions that cause, when executed, the processor to detect a user input for activating the camera; identify a state of the foldable display based on the user input; display a live view of an object obtained by the camera through a designated region of the foldable display based on a first state of the foldable display; divide the foldable display into a first region for a live view and a second region for a lighting plate with respect to a folding site based on a second state of the foldable display; display a live view of an object obtained by the camera based on the first region; and output illumination light based on the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventors: Juhyun Ko, Sooyoun Park, Youngseok Park, Donghwan Bae, Minsuk Jang
  • Patent number: 11438536
    Abstract: An imaging device that includes pixels arranged in a matrix having rows and columns, the pixels including first pixels and second pixels different from the first pixels, the first pixels and the second pixels being located in one of the columns, each of the pixels including a photoelectric converter that converts incident light into signal charge, and a first transistor having a first gate, a first source and a first drain, the first gate being coupled to the photoelectric converter. The imaging device further includes a first line coupled to one of the first source and drain of the first pixels; a second line coupled to one of the first source and drain of the second pixels; a third line coupled to the other of the first source and drain of the first pixels; and voltage circuitry coupled to the third line and that supplies a first and second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Yanagida, Masashi Murakami, Sanshiro Shishido