Patents Examined by Dwight Alex C Tejano
  • Zoom control device, zoom control method, and program
    Patent number: 10911686
    Abstract: A zoom control device includes: a zoom magnification ratio change speed setting unit that sets a main image zoom magnification ratio change speed and a monitoring image zoom magnification ratio change speed according to a zoom operation by a user; and a zoom control unit that conducts a zoom control on a main image so that a zoom magnification ratio changes according to the main image zoom magnification ratio change speed, and conducts a zoom control on a monitoring image so that the zoom magnification ratio changes according to the monitoring image zoom magnification ratio change speed. The zoom magnification ratio change speed setting unit is configured to set the main image zoom magnification ratio change speed by smoothing the monitoring image zoom magnification ratio change speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi Wakazono, Takahiro Mori, Kouji Yamamoto, Masakazu Ebihara, Masaya Kinoshita, Yuki Ono
  • Image sensor module with auto focus control
    Patent number: 10890733
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes image sensor modules that can include auto focus control. The modules also include features that can help reduce or eliminate tilt of the module's optical sub-assembly with respect to the plane of the image sensor. In some instances, the modules include features to facilitate highly precise positioning of the optical sub-assembly, and also can result in modules having a very small z height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: ams Sensors Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jukka Alasirniö, Kyu Won Hwang, Hartmut Rudmann
  • Image sensor with reduced noise
    Patent number: 10887536
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a photoelectric conversion unit configured to receive light to generate an electric charge and provide the electric charge to a first node, a transfer transistor configured to provide a voltage level of the first node to a floating diffusion node in response to a first signal, a booster configured to increase a voltage level of the floating diffusion node in response to a second signal, a source follower transistor configured to provide the voltage level of the floating diffusion node to a second node, and a selection transistor configured to provide a voltage level of the second node to a pixel output terminal in response to a third signal. After the selection transistor is turned on, the booster is enabled, and before the transfer transistor is turned on, the booster is disabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung Wook Lim, Eun Sub Shim, Kyung Ho Lee
  • Accessory apparatus and imaging apparatus
    Patent number: 10873691
    Abstract: An accessory apparatus is connectable to an imaging apparatus along with an interchangeable lens apparatus. The accessory apparatus includes an accessory communication unit configured to provide a communication channel to and from the imaging apparatus, an operation member allowing an operation by a user, and an accessory control unit configured to communicate with the imaging apparatus via the accessory communication unit. The accessory control unit notifies the imaging apparatus of a communication request according to detection of the operation of the operation member, and repeats transmitting operation state information indicating an operation state of the operation member to the imaging apparatus from when the communication request is notified to when an end of the operation is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsushi Sugita
  • Image capturing apparatus and control method thereof
    Patent number: 10848698
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor; a light shielding member; a thermometer that measures temperature of the image sensor; and a controller that controls the image sensor so as to perform continuous shooting to obtain a plurality of images. The controller determines a number of images to be shot in the continuous shooting, determines, before starting the continuous shooting, whether or not to shoot a black image with the image sensor being shielded from light by the light shielding member based on the temperature measured by the thermometer and the determined number of images to be shot, and in a case where it is determined to shoot a black image, controls to shoot a black image every time an image is shot in the continuous shooting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Soichiro Hayashi
  • Camera input interface and semiconductor device
    Patent number: 10848754
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a camera input interface includes a first channel processing circuit, a second channel processing circuit, a selector, and a comparator. The first channel processing circuit is configured to perform image processing to image data from the first input source. The second channel processing circuit is configured to perform image processing to image data from the first input source or the second input source. The selector is provided on an input side of the second channel processing circuit and configured to be switched to either one of the first input source and the second input source. The comparator is configured to compare a first output result output from the first channel processing circuit and a second output result output from the second channel processing circuit with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventor: Yuichi Ito
  • Apparatus and method for processing image signal, imaging apparatus, and method for displaying image
    Patent number: 10819947
    Abstract: An image signal processing apparatus includes a down-converter unit configured to down-convert an image signal having a first resolution into an image signal having a second resolution lower than the first resolution, a high-frequency-band-edge detection unit configured to perform filtering on the image signal having the first resolution to extract components in a higher frequency band than a frequency corresponding to the second resolution and to perform down-conversion on an edge detection signal obtained through the filtering to obtain an edge detection signal having the second resolution, and a combination unit configured to combine the edge detection signal obtained by the high-frequency-band-edge detection unit with the image signal having the second resolution generated by the down-converter unit so as to obtain an image signal having the second resolution and being to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Gomita, Koji Kamiya
  • Method of capturing based on usage status of electronic device and related products
    Patent number: 10798302
    Abstract: A capturing method and related products are provided. The capturing method is applicable to an electronic device including a gravity sensor, a display screen, a control circuit, and a camera. The display screen has a display region and a non-display region. The camera is located in the non-display region. The method includes the follows. A usage status of the electronic device is determined. The usage status includes a portrait-mode-upright usage status and a portrait-mode-inverted usage status. The non-display region is located at the top side of the display region when the electronic device is in the portrait-mode-upright usage status. A target zoom ratio of the camera is determined when the electronic device is in the portrait-mode-inverted usage status. An image is captured based on the target zoom ratio when the electronic device is in the portrait-mode-inverted usage status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Haiping Zhang, Yibao Zhou
  • Imaging device, imaging system, movable object, method, and program
    Patent number: 10785390
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an image sensor, an optical element arranged in front of the image sensor, an electromechanical converter attached to the optical element, and a controller configured to provide a control signal to the electromechanical converter to control a vibration of the electromechanical converter. An amplitude of the control signal has a first amplitude value when a frequency of the control signal has a first frequency value. The amplitude of the control signal has a second amplitude value smaller than the first amplitude value when the frequency of the control signal has a second frequency value that is closer to a resonant frequency of the optical member than the first frequency value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kiichi Naito
  • Electronic apparatus and image pickup apparatus improved in heat dissipation structure
    Patent number: 10771659
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus capable of efficiently cooling first and second circuit boards, using one cooling fan. A main circuit board is arranged substantially in parallel to a side surface of a casing. A sensor circuit board is arranged orthogonal to the side surface of the camera casing. A main duct is formed with a flow passage for cooling the main circuit board. A sensor duct has an exhaust port and is formed with a flow passage for cooling the sensor circuit board. A cooling fan is fixed to the main duct and has an exhaust port for discharging air flowing into the flow passage of the main duct. The main duct is formed with an opening connected to the exhaust port of the sensor duct, and introduces air discharged from the exhaust port of the sensor duct into the flow passage of the main duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naohiro Arai, Shintaro Komori, Ayumu Kawamura
  • Robot, analog-to-digital converter, and solid-state imaging device
    Patent number: 10771085
    Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter includes: a first to an (m+1)-th capacitive element each of which has a first end connected to a first terminal of a comparison circuit and have a predetermined capacitance ratio; and selection circuits which are connected to second ends of the capacitive elements, respectively. Each of the capacitive elements includes: a first electrode disposed in a semiconductor substrate and electrically connected to the second end; a third electrode disposed above the semiconductor substrate to oppose the first electrode and electrically connected to the second end; a second electrode disposed between the first electrode and the third electrode, above the semiconductor substrate, and electrically connected to the first end; a first insulation film disposed between the first and second electrodes; and a second insulation film disposed between the third and second electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichi Sekita
  • Display control device and display control method
    Patent number: 10761294
    Abstract: A display control device including a display control unit that controls display, on a display unit, of highlighting corresponding to a state of an image depending on an in-focus state of a subject in the image being within a predetermined in-focus near range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masafumi Wakazono
  • Electronic device, imaging device, and imaging element
    Patent number: 10757341
    Abstract: An electronic device includes: an imaging unit including a region having a pixel group that has a plurality of first pixels, and second pixels that are fewer than the first pixels in the pixel group; and a control unit that reads out the signals based upon exposure of the second pixels during exposure of the plurality of first pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koichi Gohara, Satoshi Tsuchiya
  • Buffer management for plug-in architectures in computation graph structures
    Patent number: 10742834
    Abstract: A computer vision processing device is provided which comprises memory configured to store data and a processor. The processor is configured to store captured image data in a first buffer and acquire access to the captured image data in the first buffer when the captured image data is available for processing. The processor is also configured to execute a first group of operations in a processing pipeline, each of which processes the captured image data accessed from the first buffer and return the first buffer for storing next captured image data when a last operation of the first group of operations executes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Radhakrishna Giduthuri, Michael L. Schmit
  • Systems and methods for enhanced optical sensor devices
    Patent number: 10735640
    Abstract: The disclosed imaging device may include an optical sensor, a lens positioned to focus light from a scene onto the optical sensor, a matrix of variable-phase optical elements that are dimensioned to introduce at least two different phase delays into a wavefront of the light from the scene, and a housing that couples the matrix of variable-phase optical elements to the optical sensor. The housing may position the matrix at least substantially perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical sensor and may enable the optical sensor to capture at least two different perspectives of the scene per output image. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Manoj Bikumandla, Andrew Matthew Bardagjy, Cina Hazegh
  • Image sensor, imaging method, and imaging apparatus
    Patent number: 10735678
    Abstract: There is provided an image sensor comprising: a pixel unit having a plurality of pixels; an A/D converter which converts an image signal from the pixel into a digital image signal; a gradation converter which performs a gradation conversion to the digital image signal; and a selector which selects gradation converting characteristics of the gradation conversion to the digital image signal performed by the gradation converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirokazu Kobayashi, Nobuhiro Takeda
  • Image capture control apparatus, image capture control method, and image capture control program
    Patent number: 10728437
    Abstract: An image capture control apparatus includes a processor and a memory. The processor executes a program stored in the memory to perform operations including: detecting a manual image acquisition operation in which a user instructs the image capture control apparatus to capture or record an image to a storage unit according to an instruction; acquiring observation information relevant to a trigger for automatically acquiring image data on the basis of the detection of the manual image acquisition operation; setting a threshold value for automatically acquiring the image data on the basis of the observation information acquired by detecting the manual image acquisition operation; and performing control for automatically acquiring the image data on the basis of the threshold value of the observation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Norio Endo
  • Image processing method and device for auto white balance
    Patent number: 10721449
    Abstract: An auto white balance method is disclosed. The auto white balance method includes receiving image data to divide the image data into a plurality of partition cells, calculating an estimation value of a skin tone included in the image data, and selecting outliers for detection of a white point of the image data, based on at least some of the plurality of partition cells and the estimation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-Sol Kang, Ju-Hyun Cho, Dong-Hee Kwon
  • Image capturing apparatus, lens apparatus, and data communication process program
    Patent number: 10708485
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus sends to the lens apparatus command registration information indicative of a combination and a transmission order of a plurality of lens data to be transmitted from the lens apparatus to the image capturing apparatus, and requests the lens apparatus to continuously transmit the plurality of lens data in the transmission order based on the command registration information. The lens apparatus registers the command registration information in response to the command registration information received from the image capturing apparatus, and continuously transmits the plurality of lens data to the image capturing apparatus in the transmission order based on the command registration information in response to a transmission request command corresponding to the command registration information received from the image capturing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Kawada
  • Image processing apparatus, solid-state imaging device, and electronic apparatus
    Patent number: 10701281
    Abstract: Image processing device and method for processing images captured at different times. The method may comprise determining a location of a first area in a first image, determining in a second image captured at a different time than the first image, a location of a second area, wherein the first area and the second area include a same object, and determining a new background area in the second image based on the location of the first area and the location of the second area, wherein the new background area includes a portion of the second image included in the first area but not included in the second area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takaaki Nakagawa, Hiromasa Doi, Rio Yamasaki, Hideo Okamoto, Kazuhiro Kondo