Patents Examined by Gary C. Vieaux
  • Patent number: 11108958
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens apparatus attachable to an imaging apparatus configured to move an image sensor in an image stabilization includes an imaging optical system, a storage unit configured to store image circle information including a relationship between an imaging condition and position information of an image circle of the imaging optical system, and a transmission unit configured to transmit at least part of the image circle information to the imaging apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shigenobu Sugita, Kenji Saitsu, Masakazu Kodaira
  • Patent number: 11108968
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor; an optical filter having a first filter region that selectively passes light in a first wavelength band; and a calculation circuit that calculates an in-focus position of a focus lens based on a signal obtained from the image sensor. The calculation circuit estimates a first component in the first wavelength band and a second component in a second wavelength band of light received by a second pixel region of the image sensor excluding a first pixel region of the image sensor, based on a first signal obtained from the first pixel region that receives light passed through the first filter region and a second signal obtained from the second pixel region, and calculates an in-focus position with respect to a predetermined shooting distance based on the estimated first and second components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Aihiko Numata
  • Patent number: 11089222
    Abstract: A shake correction device that corrects a shake of a captured image captured by an imager which images subjects through an imaging optical system, and includes: a movement detection sensor as defined herein; a drive mechanism as defined herein; an optical splitter as defined herein; a subject light detector as defined herein; and a processor as defined herein, and the processor calculates distances of the subjects formed on the light receiving surface of the subject light detector from the imaging optical system based on output signals of the subject light detector, and detects the movement amount as the second movement in a case where a movement amount of the subject of which the distance is maximum exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsu Wada
  • Patent number: 11087498
    Abstract: An image processing system according to an aspect of the invention includes: an optical sensor including: an optical member configured to refract light from a subject, the optical member including a plurality of transmissive units that have different optical properties, thus forming different refraction patterns of light that passes therethrough; and a plurality of image sensors configured to receive light that has passed through the transmissive units and to form captured images in which the subject appears; and an information processing apparatus configured to calculate attribute information representing an attribute of the subject by inputting the captured images obtained by the image sensors to a learning device that has learned the attribute of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Tanichi Ando
  • Patent number: 11082623
    Abstract: An imaging control device includes: a transmittance control unit that controls transmittance of each of a plurality of regions in an optical element for controlling a quantity of light incident on an imaging element to a different value; an imaging control unit that causes the imaging element to perform imaging for light measurement in a state where the transmittance of each of the plurality of regions is controlled to the different value; a light measurement processing unit that measures brightness of a subject based on a captured image signal obtained from the imaging element by the imaging for light measurement; an image processing unit that generates image data for display from the captured image signal obtained by the imaging for light measurement; and an output unit that outputs the image data for display to a display unit displaying an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Tomonori Masuda, Hitoshi Sakurabu, Ryo Hasegawa, Makoto Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11076116
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: pixels arranged in m rows by n columns; a first comparator that generates a first output signal indicating a result of comparison between a first pixel signal outputted from each pixel located in an ath column among the pixels and a reference signal; a first counter that generates a first digital signal by counting a period from start of a first counting period to inversion of the first output signal; and a first control circuit that determines, in accordance with a magnitude correlation between the first digital signal obtained from a first pixel located at the ath column and a bth row and a threshold, a period in which the first clock signal is supplied to the first counter in the first counting period of a second pixel located at the ath column and a cth row different from the bth row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Kobayashi, Yuusuke Shimizu
  • Patent number: 11070734
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that is capable of taking and editing a content with satisfactory operability while holding a grip. The image pickup apparatus includes a display unit, a grip, an operation unit including a touch operation member extending in a slide direction for a slide operation that designates one of taken contents, a first instruction member to take, and a second instruction member to retake, and a controller that changes a display content on the display unit according to a slide operation to the touch operation member. The operation unit is provided between the grip and the display unit in a perpendicular direction to the slide direction. The first and second instruction members are provided between the touch operation member and the grip in the perpendicular direction. The first and second instruction members are respectively provided near one end and the other end of the touch operation member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Watanabe, Harry Vermeulen, Kenichi Nishimura, Takeshi Nakata
  • Patent number: 11064143
    Abstract: An image processing device includes an image data generation circuit configured to generate n pieces of Bayer-type divisional image data configured by divisional pixel signals having the same divisional arrangement from divisional pixel signals of m×n generated by photoelectric conversion elements at n parts into which each of m pixels is divided, and an image processing circuit configured to perform image processing on the n pieces of Bayer-type divisional image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinao Shimada, Yoshinobu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11064100
    Abstract: A stereo camera, including an imaging sensor, and an optical apparatus comprising first and second apertures separated by an interocular distance and configured to focus first and second images on the imaging sensor in a side by side arrangement. An imaging system including the stereo camera, and at least one image processor, configured to receive first and second frames of image data from a stereo camera, and construct volumetric image data based on binocular disparity between the first and second frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: EtherSec Industries Ltd
    Inventor: Adam Wacey
  • Patent number: 11039054
    Abstract: An image capturing system includes a first camera having a first lens, a second camera having a second lens, a third camera having a third lens, a fourth camera having a fourth lens, a fifth camera having a fifth lens, a sixth camera having a sixth lens, and a processor coupled to the six cameras. The processor generates an optimized image according to images captured by at least two of the six cameras. The first lens, the second lens, the third lens and the fourth lens are disposed adjacently. The first lens, the third lens, the fifth lens, and the sixth lens are disposed along a straight line. Fields of view of the first lens, the second lens, the third lens, and the fourth lens are the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: ArcSoft Corporation Limited
    Inventors: Jian-Hua Lin, Chung-Yang Lin
  • Patent number: 11019242
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a camera assembly. The camera assembly includes a shell, a light incident opening defined in the shell, a first imaging module accommodated in the shell, a light-redirecting element, a receiving recess defined in the shell and adjacent to the light incident opening; and a decorative member. The light-redirecting element is accommodated in the shell and configured to redirect an incident light from the light incident opening to the first imaging module. The decorative member is mounted on the shell in such a manner that the light entrance incident opening is exposed from the decorative member and the decorative member is arranged around the light incident opening and partially received in the receiving recess. The disclosure also provides an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Gong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11019252
    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 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Doina I. Petrescu, Thomas T. Lay, Steven R. Petrie, Bill Ryan, Snigdha Sinha, Jeffrey S. Vanhoof
  • Patent number: 11006031
    Abstract: A camera 200 and accessory devices 100 and 300 perform communication via channels including a data communication channel used for data communication and a notification channel for notifying timing of communication performed via the data communication channel. Each of the accessory devices 100 and 300 performs switching from a first communication mode to a second communication mode upon receiving communication-partner designation data via the data communication channel with communication in the first communication mode, the communication-partner designation data indicating that the relevant accessory device has been selected as a communication partner with the camera 200.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yutaka Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10992853
    Abstract: An image capture control apparatus comprises a touch detector being capable of detecting a touch operation, a tracking unit that tracks a tracking target in a live view image captured by an image capturing unit, and a display control unit that, in response to the touch detector detecting a movement operation of moving a touch position, carries out control to display an indicator at a position, in a display, that is based on a movement amount of the movement operation, and a control unit configured to, in response to a predetermined amount of time elapsing after the touch for making the movement operation has been released, carry out control such that a tracking target determined on the basis of the position of the indicator is tracked by the tracking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seiji Ogawa
  • Patent number: 10986287
    Abstract: A method of capturing a photo using a mobile device is described. The method comprises detecting a signature motion of the mobile device; capturing video using a camera of the mobile device upon detecting the signature motion; and automatically identifying a start frame and an end frame of the captured images using neural networks. A mobile device for capturing a photo is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: David Liu, Michael Polley, Youngjun F. Yoo, Hamid Rahim Sheikh, Kaimo Lin, George Chen, Chenchi Luo
  • Patent number: 10979592
    Abstract: An electronic device that is capable of using a plurality of wireless communication units and communicates wirelessly with an external device using one of the plurality of wireless communication units, is disclosed. The device comprises a storage device that stores one or more sets of settings used in past wireless communication with one or more external device, the settings being stored separately as settings pertaining to a network used in the wireless communication and settings pertaining to communication with an external device over the network. The device also extracts a set of settings that can be used from the one or more sets of settings stored in the storage device, in accordance with a combination of a type of an external device with which wireless communication to be performed and a wireless communication unit to be used for the wireless communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideaki Ohshima
  • Patent number: 10979699
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an electronic display assembly includes a microlens layer and a pixel array layer. The microlens layer includes a plurality of cells. The pixel array layer is adjacent to the microlens layer. The pixel array layer includes a plurality of pixels. Each cell of the plurality of cells includes a transparent lenslet and one or both of: a plurality of opaque walls configured to prevent light from bleeding into adjacent cells; and a filter layer on one end of each cell of the plurality of cells. The filter layer is configured to limit light passing through the filter layer to a specific incident angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Lamkin, Kyle Martin Ringgenberg, Jordan David Lamkin
  • Patent number: 10979652
    Abstract: A camera module includes: a base plate; and a plurality of cameras disposed on the base plate and spaced apart from one another. The plurality of cameras include: fixed cameras that are immovable with respect to the base plate; and movable cameras that are each configured to move with respect to the base plate and rotate around a fixed camera among the fixed cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Woo Jun, Chul Choi
  • Patent number: 10972637
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes, by a computing device of a first sensor receiving synchronization information from a controller. The synchronization information being generated based on a clock of the controller. The method also includes determining, based on the synchronization information, a first offset between a first clock of the first sensor and the clock of the controller; storing the first offset; and synchronizing, based on the stored first offset and the first clock of the first sensor, a first data capture by the first sensor with a second data capture by a second sensor. The first data capture and the second data capture being requested by the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Lyft, Inc.
    Inventors: Corey Frederick Bangs, Forrest Samuel Briggs, George James Hansel, James Allen-White Hoffacker, Dhruv Lamba, Chi Hoon Lee, Yi Lu, Brian Thomas McGinn, Phillip Sawbridge
  • Patent number: 10965848
    Abstract: A MEMS electrostatic actuator that achieves autofocus and super resolution imaging in cameras is disclosed. The actuator is able to provide multi-degrees of freedom motion (of up to 5-degrees-of-freedom). It consists of a moving and fixed parts. The moving part comprises an inner and outer rotor. The inner rotor contains a load stage and the moving plates of the parallel-plate electrodes and is attached to the outer rotor via a plurality of mechanical springs. The outer rotor holds the inner rotor and contains a plurality of openings or tubes surrounded by walls and are attached to the outer periphery of the actuator via multiple mechanical springs. The present device can be used to achieve super resolution functionality in compact cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Inventor: Faez Ba-Tis