Patents Examined by Dwight C Tejano
  • Patent number: 9565411
    Abstract: An image processing device provided with: a white balance correcting section multiplying image data by a white balance gain for each color component; a color difference calculating section calculating color difference components of the image data after the white balance correction, for each pixel; and a color difference correcting section setting a color difference correction range wider as the white balance gain is larger, and, when all the color difference components of a processing target pixel are within the set color difference correction range, performing color difference correction processing for reducing the color difference components of the processing target pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Takasumi
  • Patent number: 9560290
    Abstract: Long and short exposure time pixel information are input to pixel information. A long exposure time image set with the pixel values assuming all of the pixels have been exposed for a long time and a short exposure time image set with the pixel values assuming all of the pixels have been exposed for a short time are generated. A point spread function corresponding to the long exposure time image is computed as a long exposure time image PSF. A corrected image is generated using the short exposure time image, the long exposure time image, and the long exposure time image PSF. The corrected image is generated as a wide dynamic range image utilizing the pixel information for the long and short exposure time image. Utilizing the pixel information for the short exposure time image with little blurring, makes the corrected image a high quality corrected image with little blurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kensei Jo, Shun Kaizu, Tomoo Mitsunaga
  • Patent number: 9549117
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a method and an apparatus for adjusting an optical center. The method includes fixedly installing a viewport cover plate in a terminal device; movably installing a camera in the terminal device; and adjusting a position of the camera; wherein adjusting the position of the camera comprises adjusting a position of an optical center of the camera by aligning the optical center of the camera with a center of an external viewport on the viewport cover plate to achieve concentricity between the optical center of the camera and the center of the external viewport. The apparatus for adjusting the optical center includes a projector, a computer, and an adjusting assembly. The apparatus of the present disclosure could provide an advantage of simple operation, and each terminal device can achieve an excellent centering effect by using the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: XIAOMI INC.
    Inventors: Yuan Gao, Shuo Zhang, Shibo Li
  • Patent number: 9547153
    Abstract: In a camera module (51), a lid glass (15) protrudes from a sensor cover (14) toward an image pickup lens (1), and a base section (9) includes an overhanging part (9b) overhanging in such a manner as to cover part of the lid glass (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kyoji Kasuga
  • Patent number: 9538052
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a housing such as a metal housing. Openings may be formed in the housing to accommodate a button, to form a camera window, to form a microphone port, and to form a camera flash window. An input-output component mounting member may be used to mount input-output components to the housing of the electronic device. The input-output component mounting member may have a recess that mates with a corresponding protrusion on the housing. Screws may attach the input-output component mounting member to the housing. The protrusion and recess in the input-output component mounting member may ensure that the input-output component mounting member is accurately aligned with respect to the housing. Input-output components such as a microphone, button switch, camera, and camera flash may be mounted to the electronic device with the input-output component mounting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Emery A. Sanford, David G. Havskjold, Teodor Dabov, Stephen Brian Lynch, Erik G. P. de Jong, Tyson B. Manullang, Anthony S. Montevirgen
  • Patent number: 9531932
    Abstract: A camera module is provided. The camera module includes a camera device and a support ring. The camera device includes a substrate, an image sensor device on the substrate, and a holder for covering the image sensor device, wherein the holder includes a side portion placed around the image sensor device. The support ring is fixed to and laterally extends from the side portion of the holder, and is attached onto a wall portion of the chassis. A portable device with the camera module is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Hsin-Chih Liu, Yu-Jing Liao, Ying-Yen Cheng, Yin-Chou Chen, I-Cheng Chuang, Chia-Huan Chang
  • Patent number: 9524578
    Abstract: A projection system includes a projection apparatus that projects, onto an object, pattern light indicating pattern images obtained by conversion of projection coordinates defined in a projection coordinate system to codes, an imaging apparatus that captures images created on the object by projecting the pattern light onto the object and that generates first captured images, and an image correction apparatus that generates, based on the first captured images, first coordinate conversion information which associates the projection coordinates with imaging pixel coordinates defined in an imaging coordinate system of the imaging apparatus and that corrects a projection image, which is prepared in advance, by using the first coordinate conversion information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Ryuji Fuchikami, Masahiro Ohashi
  • Patent number: 9525813
    Abstract: A control device acquires a focus detection signal from a pixel portion of the imaging element so as to detect a focus state by phase difference detection. A camera control unit performs focus adjustment control by the drive control of a focus lens constituting an imaging optical system. The camera control unit performs exposure control for adjusting the brightness of an object in the focus area to an appropriate level, and determines whether or not the brightness level of the object in the focus area is saturated based on the focus detection signal. When the exposure state during a focus adjustment operation is not in an appropriate state, the camera control unit calculates an exposure correction value and determines whether or not the exposure correction value falls within the exposure control range. When the exposure correction value falls within the exposure control range, the exposure state is readjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 9513458
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a threaded spacer and a biasing element to reduce backlash. The threaded spacer includes a thread end point that is offset from the thread start point of the carrier frame. The offset thread ending and starting points create a gap between the threaded spacer and the carrier frame. The biasing element applies a force to the threaded spacer, thereby reducing the backlash between the lens and the carrier frame, while at the same time allowing the lens to be rotated for focus adjustments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: COGNEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kai Flügge, Laurens Nunnink
  • Patent number: 9491351
    Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device which includes a focus detection pixel that has a light shielding film, which is formed on a light receiving surface of a photoelectric conversion portion and shields light in a part of the light receiving surface, performs pupil division and photoelectric conversion of a received light flux and acquires a phase difference detection signal, where the light shielding film is formed avoiding a gate electrode of a reading gate portion to read a signal charge from the photoelectric conversion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Moriya, Kazuyoshi Yamashita, Hiroyuki Mori, Hiroaki Ishiwata
  • Patent number: 9483848
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided which offers higher versatility than conventional image processing apparatuses. When an input signal to a spatial filtering block is a monochrome signal that contains Y component only, a selector selects its input terminal and a selector selects its input terminal. Then, a low-pass filter output signal of a programmable spatial filter is inputted to a spatial filter, and a low-pass filter output signal of the spatial filer is inputted to a spatial filter. That is, the programmable spatial filter and the spatial filters are connected in series (in cascade), and the cascade-connected three spatial filters perform filtering operation. In this example, low-pass filters with 5H5 taps are connected in cascade in three stages, which enables low-pass filtering with 13H13 taps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: MEGACHIPS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gen Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9477140
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an optical information acquiring section that acquires optical information of a photographing optical system to form an image in the imaging element, an optical function calculating section that calculates an optical function to determine the correction function based on the optical information, a pixel function calculating section that calculates a pixel function to determine the correction function based on the pixel outputs of pixels positioned around focus detecting pixels, and a correction function selecting section (2172d) that selects the correction function to correct the pixel output to be output from the focus detecting pixels corresponding to current frame, based on the optical function, the pixel function and the optical information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Atsuro Okazawa, Takuya Matsunaga
  • Patent number: 9467646
    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: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Gomita, Koji Kamiya
  • Patent number: 9467634
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array, a column signal processor, and a column mismatch compensator. The pixel array outputs a pixel signal from each column line during a pixel measuring time, and outputs a reference signal during a reference measuring time. The column signal processor performs correlated double sampling (CDS) on the reference signal to generate a reference CDS signal, and performs CDS on the pixel signal to generate a pixel CDS signal. The column mismatch compensator compensates the pixel CDS signal based on the reference CDS signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Tae Jang, Ju Hyun Ko, Kwang June Sohn, Jin Woo Kim, Min Woo Son, Won Joon Hong
  • Patent number: 9467612
    Abstract: An image captured using a lens mounted via a mount adapter is corrected in simple fashion in accordance with the lens. An interchangeable lens is mounted on a camera body via the mount adapter. The mount adapter is provided with a slide switch capable of setting a lens type that corresponds to the interchangeable lens. The slide switch is positioned in accordance with the interchangeable lens. The switch setting state of the positioned slide switch is detected in the camera body. Correction parameters that conform to the detected switch setting state are read out of a memory within the camera body. The captured image is corrected using the correction parameters that have been read out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Fuminori Irie
  • Patent number: 9462206
    Abstract: A module for high speed image processing includes an image sensor for generating a plurality of analog outputs representing an image and a plurality of HDDs for concurrently processing the plurality of analog outputs. Each HDD is an integrated circuit configured to process in parallel a predetermined set of the analog outputs. Each channel of the HDD can include an AFE for conditioning a signal representing one sensor analog output, an ADC for converting a conditioned signal into a digital signal, and a data formatting block for calibrations and formatting the digital signal for transport to an off-chip device. The HDDs and drive electronics are combined with the image sensor into one package to optimize signal integrity and high dynamic range, and to achieve high data rates through use of synchronized HDD channels. Combining multiple modules results in a highly scalable imaging subsystem optimized for inspection and metrology applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Coporation
    Inventors: David L. Brown, Mansour Kermat, Lance Glasser, Henrik Nielsen, Guowu Zheng, Kurt Lehman, Kenneth F. Hatch, Yung-Ho Chuang, Venkatraman Iyer
  • Patent number: 9451802
    Abstract: One variation of a method for recording accidents includes: in a first mode, capturing a second video frame at a second time, storing the second video frame with a first sequence of video frames, captured over a buffer duration, in local memory in the helmet, removing a first video frame captured outside of the buffer duration from local memory, and rendering a subregion of the second video frame on a display arranged within the helmet; in response to detection of an accident involving the helmet, transitioning from the first mode into a second mode; in the second mode, capturing a second sequence of video frames, and storing the second sequence of video frames exceeding the buffer duration in local memory; and generating a video file from the first sequence of video frames and the second sequence of video frames stored in local memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Fusar Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan T Shearman, Daniel R Bersak
  • Patent number: 9445069
    Abstract: A restoration process using a restoration filter that is based on a point spread function for an optical system is performed for original image data acquired from an image-capturing element by an image taking of an object image using the optical system, so that recovery image data are acquired. The above restoration process is performed, in a point-image restoration processing section, for color data of the original image data in which a gradation correction has been performed by a logarithmic process. The restoration filter may be configured by a filter coefficient corresponding to the image data before the logarithmic process, or may be configured by a filter coefficient corresponding to the image data after the logarithmic process. Thus, by performing the restoration process capable of flexibly responding to various properties of the original image, it is possible to reduce the image degradation such as the ringing in the recovery image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Sugimoto, Kenkichi Hayashi, Yousuke Naruse
  • Patent number: 9438784
    Abstract: A display control section causes a display section to display an image corresponding to imaging data generated by an imaging element before the wireless reception of imaging data which is wirelessly transmitted from a camera is started, and causes the display section to display an image corresponding to imaging data which is wirelessly received after the wireless reception of the imaging data which is wirelessly transmitted from the camera is started. A parameter generating section generates imaging parameters when an instruction for the imaging parameters is input in a state where the image corresponding to the imaging data generated by the imaging element is displayed on the display section. A communication control section causes a wireless communication circuit section to wirelessly transmit the imaging parameters generated by the parameter generating section to the camera, and to wirelessly receive the imaging data wirelessly transmitted from the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Takahisa Endo
  • Patent number: 9420152
    Abstract: A hand-held device comprises two bodies that are connected to each other. The first body and the second body have two predefined positions, an open position and a closed position. In an embodiment, the first and the second body are connected by a hinge that may comprise one or more arms, enabling different embodiments for the open and closed positions. The first body comprises a camera that has different functions in the open and closed positions. In the closed position the second body may cover the camera, thus providing protection to the camera in the first body. The second body has a reflective element, such as a mirror that reflects an image to the camera in the open position. An imaging device may enable one camera and one flash unit for two-directional imaging purposes and introduce multiple imaging modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Marko Eromäki