Patents Examined by Gary C. Vieaux
  • Patent number: 11630376
    Abstract: An image capture device is described that includes a body; a mounting structure that is connected to the body; an integrated sensor-lens assembly (ISLA) that defines an optical axis and extends through the body and the mounting structure; and an accessory that is releasably connectable to the mounting structure via rotation through a range of motion less than approximately 90 degrees. The mounting structure and the accessory include corresponding angled bearing surfaces that are configured for engagement such that rotation of the accessory relative to the mounting structure creates a bearing effect that displaces the accessory along the optical axis to thereby reduce any axial force required during connection and disconnection of the accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew David Thomas, Jordan Zook Todd, Jesse Patterson, Nicholas Vitale, Joseph Tucker, Ian Griggs
  • Patent number: 11632450
    Abstract: An electronic device, method and computer program product provide an image capturing device having a lens assembly including a lens and lens housing that supports the lens. The lens housing has an opening that exposes the lens. A planar exterior surface of the electronic device extends across the lens assembly and includes a slit aperture that is smaller than the opening in the lens housing of the image capturing device. The slit aperture directs only a corresponding portion of light from in front of the planar exterior surface through the opening to the lens. The slit aperture enables at least one of: (i) reducing noticeability of the image capturing device; and (ii) use of an adjacent portion of the planar exterior surface for an aesthetic or functional component. An image from the image capturing device is sharpened along a longer dimension of the slit aperture to remove asymmetric blur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Cole P Sheldon, Zetong Gu, John Pincenti, Emily Yang
  • Patent number: 11632514
    Abstract: First and second readout circuits, each having a respective floating diffusion node, are coupled to a photodetection element within a pixel of an integrated-circuit image sensor. Following an exposure interval in which photocharge is accumulated within the photodetection element, a first portion of the accumulated photocharge is transferred from the photodetection element to the first floating diffusion node to enable generation of a first output signal within the first readout circuit, and a second portion of the accumulated photocharge is transferred from the photodetection element to the second floating diffusion node to enable generation of a second output signal within the second readout circuit. A digital pixel value is generated based on the first and second output signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Gigajot Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiaju Ma, Saleh Masoodian
  • Patent number: 11627384
    Abstract: A multi-lens camera module and its multi-lens camera module conjoined stand, and the application thereof. The multi-lens camera module includes at least two lens assemblies, at least two photosensitive assemblies and an integrated multi-lens camera module conjoined stand. The multi-lens camera module conjoined stand has an upside and a downside. Each lens assembly is connected to the upside of the multi-lens camera module conjoined stand. Each photosensitive assembly is connected to the downside of the multi-lens camera module conjoined stand. Each of the camera assembly is located along a path of photoreception of the respective photosensitive assembly. By this means, technical defects in the conventional art, including positional deviations and angle deviations among stands when separate stands are connected, can be avoided. Therefore, the imaging quality of the multi-lens camera module is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: NINGBO SUNNY OPOTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kouwen Zhang, Keqiang Xiong, Bojie Zhao, Mingzhu Wang
  • Patent number: 11616868
    Abstract: A camera module device includes: a base plate; one or more cameras fixed to and disposed on one surface of the base plate; a plurality of movable cameras movably disposed on the one surface of the base plate and configured to move individually or collectively; a driving gear disposed on the base plate; and a plurality of sub-gears engaged with the driving gear, wherein positions of the plurality of sub-gears are configured to change to selectively transfer power to one or more of the plurality of movable cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Woo Jun, Chul Choi
  • Patent number: 11599009
    Abstract: An image sensor attached to a printed circuit board is installed in a camera. A holder includes first and second rails comprising first and second printed circuit boards, respectively, and the holder is fastened to a lens mount of the camera. The holder may be fastened to captively hold the image sensor, and the image sensor may be resiliently supported when captively held. A gripper grasps the image sensor proximate to the holder and aligns the image sensor to an aligned position of the image sensor relative to the lens mount. The image sensor may be moved to the aligned position after directing an image toward the image sensor to produce a processed image for determining relative alignment. The printed circuit board is soldered to the first and/or second printed circuit board such that the holder fixedly holds the image sensor so it is unmovable in its aligned position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Lucid Vision Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Bull, Alexander Rybolov, Roderick A. Barman, Masahiro Takada
  • Patent number: 11601573
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus, having a grip portion, an image sensor, and a mount portion receives attachment of an interchangeable lens, includes a control circuit, a display panel disposed on a rear face side of an exterior member, and a heat dissipation fan disposed on a bottom surface side of the exterior member. The image sensor, control circuit, and display panel are arranged in an optical axis direction. A duct, having a first vent, is disposed between the grip and mount portions of a front face of the exterior member, extends in the optical axis direction from a top toward a bottom surface side between substrates of the image sensor and the control circuit, and connects to a second vent formed across an optical axis. The heat dissipation fan is disposed inside the duct and is located on bottom surface sides of the image sensor and the control circuit substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Tamura, Takashi Yoshida, Kenji Ishii
  • Patent number: 11588965
    Abstract: Reduction in power consumption of a video camera and a remote controller that displays a captured image of the video camera and improvement of operability are achieved. In a system including the video camera and the remote controller that displays a captured image of the video camera, when a period in which there is no operation on the operation unit of the remote controller reaches a first prescribed time, transmission of the captured image from the video camera to the remote controller via Wi-Fi communication and displaying processing on a display unit of the remote controller are stopped. Further, when a period in which there is no operation on the operation unit of the remote controller reaches a second prescribed time, the Wi-Fi communication is interrupted. Valid operation unit information in each mode is displayed on the display unit of the remote controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Nagahiro, Yoshihiro Otsuka
  • Patent number: 11588967
    Abstract: A camera body includes a plurality of electric contacts in a first set and a second set. When a lens apparatus is mounted to the camera body, the first set of the electric contacts comes into contact with an electric contact disposed on the lens apparatus before coming into contact with the second set of electric contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Fuya Mizuochi, Toru Ohara, Yasuyuki Watazawa, Naoto Fujihashi
  • Patent number: 11575807
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for keeping the field of view of an optical device (camera, laser, etc.) clean and unobstructed from dirt, contaminants, dust, chemicals, or other physical or chemical obstructions that hinder the performance of the optical device and, more particularly it employs a sacrificial transparent film positioned in front of and radially around a transparent main cylinder, within which an optical device is to be located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Inventor: Harry J. Helmrich
  • Patent number: 11575829
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques that provide a “best” picture taken within a few seconds of the moment when a capture command is received (e.g., when the “shutter” button is pressed). In some situations, several still images are automatically (that is, without the user's input) captured. These images are compared to find a “best” image that is presented to the photographer for consideration. Video is also captured automatically and analyzed to see if there is an action scene or other motion content around the time of the capture command. If the analysis reveals anything interesting, then the video clip is presented to the photographer. The video clip may be cropped to match the still-capture scene and to remove transitory parts. Higher-precision horizon detection may be provided based on motion analysis and on pixel-data analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Doina I. Petrescu, Thomas T. Lay, Steven R. Petrie, Bill Ryan, Snigdha Sinha, Jeffrey S. Vanhoof
  • Patent number: 11570356
    Abstract: An image capture device may provide framing recommendations for capture of visual content. Framing recommendation may include information on how one or more subjects are to be positioned with respect to the image capture device. Framing recommendation may guide a user in how the image capture device and/or the subject(s) are to be positioned. Framing recommendation may include suggestions on orientation of the image capture device with respect to the subject(s) to improve composition of the subject(s) within the visual content. The image capture device may provide these aforementioned framing recommendations visually, audibly, and/or through other means. For example, the image capture device may provide framing recommendations in form of visual overlays/directional graphs and/or audible instructions (e.g., directions on subject/image capture device positioning provided through a speaker of the image capture device). Framing recommendation may be static (not changing over time) or dynamic (changing over time).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Leland Thorn, Clark Weber
  • Patent number: 11570357
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a modulator, a first grating pattern constituted by a plurality of lines, and a second grating pattern having a phase deviating from a phase of the first grating pattern, and modulates light intensity. The imaging device receives a first image signal output by the first grating pattern and a second image signal output by the second grating pattern, calculates difference data and a range of a difference between the first image signal and the second image signal, generates and sets a data conversion parameter at a regular interval from the difference data that is continuously input on the basis of the range of the difference and the difference data, generates compression image data by using the difference data and the data conversion parameter, compresses the generated compression image data, and includes information indicating the range of the difference into the compressed data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mayumi Nakade, Yusuke Nakamura, Keisuke Inata
  • Patent number: 11561330
    Abstract: A photosensitive module is provided, for receiving light passing through a lens in an electronic device, including a base assembly, a first transparent plate, an image sensor, and a first plastic member. The base assembly includes a substrate having a main body that includes a metal material. The first transparent plate is located on the first side of the base assembly. The image sensor is located on the second side of the base assembly and adjacent to the main body, wherein the first side is opposite the second side. The substrate is disposed between the image sensor and the first transparent plate. The first plastic member is connected to the base assembly. The image sensor is surrounded by the first plastic member. When the photosensitive module receives light, the light passes through the first transparent plate and an opening of the main body sequentially to the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chen-Er Hsu, Sin-Jhong Song
  • Patent number: 11558547
    Abstract: An image capture system provides automated prompts for aiding a user in capturing images for use in 3D model creation. While a user is preparing to capture an image, the system provides visual indications that indicate whether a quality-based condition is satisfied. Based on the visual indications, a user can determine whether an image, if captured, would likely be suitable for use in creating a 3D model. Determining if the quality-based condition is satisfied may include monitoring output generated by one or more sensors and comparing the output against a threshold value. Additionally, the system may analyze the visual content or metadata associated with an image to determine if the quality-based condition is satisfied and request user input to further identify certain image features that were identified by the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Hover Inc.
    Inventors: Manish Upendran, William Castillo, Derek Halliday
  • Patent number: 11553116
    Abstract: An electronic component assembly having thermal pads with thermal vias coupling an image sensor and a camera board fab is provided for heat dissipation. The electronic component assembly can include: a circuit board having at least one thermal pad disposed on a top surface of the circuit board; and an image sensor disposed on the top surface of the circuit board, having at least one conductive pad disposed at at least one corner of the image sensor. The at least one thermal pad is coupled to the at least one conductive pad of the image sensor and the at least one thermal pad is formed with a plurality of first thermal vias penetrating the thermal pad and the circuit board for transfer of heat of the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen Swihart, Li Lu, Wade Jameson, Evan Thrush, Michael Griffin, Evelio Perez
  • Patent number: 11546494
    Abstract: A camera module includes a supporting seat, a filter, and a lens assembly. The supporting seat defines a window passing through the supporting seat. An annular flange extending from an inner wall of the window towards the central axis of the window. The filter is fixed on the annular flange. The lens assembly is fixed on the supporting seat. The lens assembly includes a lens holder and a lens disposed in the lens holder. A surface of the supporting seat facing the lens assembly is recessed to form at least two receiving slots surrounding the window. A buffer layer is disposed in each of the at least two receiving slots. An orthogonal projection of the lens on a plane of the buffer layer at least partially overlaps with the buffer layer, and lens is spaced apart from the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: TRIPLE WIN TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Shin-Wen Chen, Sheng-Jie Ding, Jing-Wei Li, Jian-Chao Song
  • Patent number: 11546495
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a camera module mounted in a display device, comprising: a lighting lens configured to collect light; a photoelectric sensor configured to convert the light collected by the lighting lens into a corresponding electrical signal; and a reflector arranged to be capable of reflecting the light from the lighting lens towards the photoelectric sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignees: Beijing BOE Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing BOE Technology Development Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhiyong Chen, Haiwei Sun, Jian Sang, Zhihui Zeng, Lu Yu, Heling Zhu, Zhiyuan Wang, Wei Gong, Jinpeng Li, Zongying Shu, Xiangyu Ji, Zhonghua Li
  • Patent number: 11537027
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for using a controllable filter, e.g., an liquid crystal panel, in front of a camera are described. The filter is controlled based on the luminosity of object in a scene being captured by the camera to reduce or eliminate luminosity related image defects such as flaring, blooming or ghosting. Multiple cameras and filters can be used to capture multiple images as part of a depth determination processes where pixel values captured by cameras at different locations are matched to determine the depth, e.g., distance from the camera or camera system to object in the environment. Pixel values are normalized in some embodiments based on the amount of filtering applied to a sensor region and sensor exposure time. The filtering allows for regional sensor exposure control at an individual camera even though the overall exposure time of the pixel sensors may be and often will be the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Blue River Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Atul Maharshi, Pablo A Anigstein, Rajiv Laroia
  • Patent number: 11531151
    Abstract: A polarization filter effect is prevented from being changed due to a change in orientation of an imaging apparatus. An imaging apparatus according to the present technique includes an imaging section including a first pixel capable of receiving light in a first polarization direction and a second pixel capable of receiving light in a second polarization direction different from the first polarization direction, a detection section detecting an orientation of the imaging section, and an image generating section generating, on the basis of signals for the first and second pixels, an image corresponding to a polarization direction corresponding to a detection result from the detection section. Thus, as an image corresponding to a particular polarization direction, that is, an image corresponding to application of a polarization filter effect, an image can be generated that corresponds to a polarization direction corresponding to a change in the orientation of the imaging section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Mitani, Masafumi Wakazono