Patents Examined by Hung H. Lam
  • Patent number: 10462397
    Abstract: A sample-and-hold circuit comprises a sampling capacitor; an amplifier transistor; and a noise reduction circuit including an integration capacitor and a feedback capacitor, the noise reduction circuit being configured to reduce noise via a four-phase operation including: an auto-zero phase in which the feedback capacitor is discharged, a feedback phase in which a gate voltage of the amplifier transistor is partially compensated through the feedback capacitor, an integration phase in which the integration capacitor is charged, and a feedforward phase in which the gate voltage of the amplifier transistor is fully compensated by a voltage on the integration capacitor through the feedback capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Noam Eshel, Golan Zeituni
  • Patent number: 10447868
    Abstract: A photography system includes a remote server to store a database of geofence regions within a geographical area, and themed photograph overlays, with at least one themed photograph overlay corresponding to each respective geofence region within the database. A portable electronic device (PED) includes a processor to execute a creative artworks picture application, a geographic position determining to determine a geographic location of the PED, and a transceiver. The transceiver is configured to transmit the geographic location of the PED to the remote server, and receive the themed photograph overlay from the remote server when the geographic location of the PED is within one of the respective geofence regions. A camera takes a photograph within the geofence region the PED is located in, and a display displays the photograph with the at least one themed photograph overlay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Colorvision International, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry Tyson, Mark Simmons, Bryan Wilkins
  • Patent number: 10440260
    Abstract: There is provided a display control apparatus including: a display control unit configured to cause a display apparatus to display a live preview image generated based on image data obtained through an image sensor, and one or more processed images generated using respective image processing conditions based on one of the image data which has been obtained at some time point; and a determination unit configured to determine whether or not a predetermined user operation has been recognized. If it is determined that the predetermined user operation has been recognized, the display control unit updates the one or more processed images to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yousuke Kawana, Tsubasa Tsukahara, Tomoya Narita, Maki Imoto, Takuro Noda
  • Patent number: 10440294
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for depth imaging. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining, by an image sensor that includes infrared pixels and color pixels, a first image of a scene while the image sensor is in a first position, moving the image sensor to a second position, wherein, in the second position, a particular infrared pixel is located where a particular color pixel was previously located when the image sensor was in the first position, obtaining, by the image sensor, a second image of the scene while the image sensor is in the second position, generating a composite image based on the first image and the second image, and determining an estimated distance to an object within the scene based on the composite image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Chung Chun Wan, Jamyuen Ko
  • Patent number: 10440248
    Abstract: The present embodiment relates to a camera module comprising: a first body; a second body coupled to the first body; a lens unit coupled to the second body; a circuit substrate unit located in an internal space formed by the first body and the second body and having an image sensor mounted thereon; and a focusing unit formed in the second body, and moving and fixing the lens unit or the circuit substrate unit in an optical axis direction of the lens unit, wherein a distance between the lens unit and the image sensor in the optical axis direction is adjusted through the focusing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seung Ryong Park
  • Patent number: 10430683
    Abstract: There are provided an image processing method and an image processing device. The image processing method comprises: acquiring an input image; acquiring a first noise image and a second noise image; executing image conversion processing on the input image with the first noise image using a generative neural network, to acquire a first output image; and executing high resolution conversion processing on the first output image with the second noise image using a super-resolution neural network, to acquire a second output image, wherein the first noise image is different from the second noise image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hanwen Liu, Pablo Navarrete Michelini
  • Patent number: 10429608
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include techniques for maintaining multiple cameras in focus on same objects and/or at same distances. In some examples, a subordinate camera may be configured to focus based on the focus of a primary camera. For instance, a focus relationship between the primary camera and the subordinate camera may be determined. The focus relationship may characterize the trajectory of the lens position of the subordinate camera with respect to the lens position of the primary camera. In various examples, the focus relationship may be updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Baer, Andrew David Fernandez, Santiago Alban
  • Patent number: 10425593
    Abstract: There are provided systems and methods for digital image filtering and post-capture processing using user specific data. A computing device may include a camera that records media of a scene, including images or videos. A user may utilize the computing device to add filters, graphical overlays, or other effects to the recorded media, which may alter pixel data for pixels of the media or blend graphics into the media. When adding image effects to images, the device or a service provider that offers and image hosting and/or sharing platform may determine recommendations for particular image effects to use when recording and processing the image. The recommended effects may be based on effects used in past media, as well as user information, and may change an appearance of the output media in a particular way specific to the user, media, and/or scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: PAYPAL, INC.
    Inventor: Megan Marie O'Neill
  • Patent number: 10419648
    Abstract: A camera system including an integrated coupling system configured to releasable couple the camera system with a user head accessory such as a pair of glasses, a hat, a headband, an item of jewelry, etc. The camera module may have an outer dimension smaller than three cubic inches and may further include a data coupler, battery, lens, image sensor, circuit board, and microphone. The camera module may transmit and receive data from the portable computer device including video data and on/off recording, respectively. A magnetic coupling system configured to selectively releasably couple the camera module directly with the user head accessory including magnet(s) disposed within each of the camera module and the user head accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: OPKIX, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Mikah Fuller, Tamio Stehrenberger, Shahin Amirpour, John McGuinness, Christopher Lawrence Greaves, Lane Gearle Brooks
  • Patent number: 10417882
    Abstract: A motion detector camera is configured to differentiate between an object or objects passing through the field of view of the camera and an object or objects approaching the sensor. In one example, motion is detected with a camera configured to identify and selectively filter specific directions of motion. The motion detector compares pixel changes, corresponding to the basic area or size of the object, from frame to frame, and detects the amount of increase in change or decrease in change. An increasing change in the area or size of an object indicates that an object is approaching, and a decreasing change in the area or size of an object indicates that an object that is receding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric C. Bretschneider, James J. Fitzgibbon
  • Patent number: 10412321
    Abstract: Imaging apparatus includes imaging unit that captures a subject image while changing an in-focus position to generate a plurality of pieces of image data, image processor that synthesizes the plurality of pieces of image data generated by the imaging unit to generate still image data having a deeper depth of field than a depth of field of each of the plurality of pieces of image data, and controller that controls the image processor. Controller causes image processor to detect a main subject from an image indicated by one image data in the plurality of pieces of image data, determine a range for synthesizing the plurality of pieces of image data based on a position of the detected main subject, and synthesize pieces of image data focused within the determined range to generate the still image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Abe
  • Patent number: 10402958
    Abstract: A system includes an imaging system having a housing with a window, an imaging device within the housing having a field-of-view containing at least a portion of the window, a dark-field illuminator source within the housing directed at that portion of the window within the field-of-view, a control processor in communication with the imaging device and configured to execute instructions that cause the imaging device to acquire a first series of images with the dark-field illuminator source not activated, the control processor configured to control activation of the dark-field illuminator source, the imaging device configured to capture additional images during acquisition of the first series of images, the additional images captured during periods when the dark-field illuminator source is activated. In some implementations, dark-field illuminator can be synched with frame acquisition rate of the first series of images. A method and a non-transitory computer readable medium are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: CURRENT LIGHTING SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Clynne, Rick Dean Dureiko, Jonathan Robert Meyer, Koushik Babi Saha
  • Patent number: 10401918
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the field of electronics and provide a display device including a housing and a camera movably connected to the housing through a connecting part. The camera is movable between a position where it is affixed onto the housing and a position where it extends beyond the periphery of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kunpeng Zhu, Inho Park, Zhanchang Bu, Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 10397498
    Abstract: A compressive sensing capturing device has circuitry, which is configured to obtain compressive sensing image data; and to set a device attribute based on image attribute data, wherein the image attribute data are based on a machine learning algorithm performed in the compressing domain on the obtained compressive sensing image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fabien Cardinaux, Stefan Uhlich
  • Patent number: 10387486
    Abstract: When image information is transmitted from a first communication device, a server acquires a storyboard ID, a user ID, a photographing date/time, and the like contained in the image information. Furthermore, the server compares the storyboard ID and the user ID with the storyboard ID and the user ID in the storyboard information, specifies the registration destination of the image registration information corresponding to the image information, and registers them. Furthermore, the server generates a layout screen on which the images are displayed in chronological order based on the image registration information and the layout information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Satoshi Higashibeppu
  • Patent number: 10389938
    Abstract: A device includes one or more image sensors that capture live video data and a memory that stores the captured live video data. The device includes circuitry that determines an angle-of-view for one or more frames of the live video data and generates wide angle video data that has a larger angle-of-view than the one or more frames of the live video data. The circuitry determines one or more angles-of-view not represented in the wide angle video data by the live video data. The circuitry generates make-up image data captured at a later time than the live video data, wherein the make-up image data has an angle-of-view corresponding to at least one of the one or more angles-of-view that are not represented in the wide angle video data by the live video data. The circuitry updates the wide angle video data to include the make-up image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Tokutake
  • Patent number: 10382676
    Abstract: An image display apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire an image file that includes reconstructable image data that includes information corresponding to a light field, a display unit configured to display the image data included in the image file acquired by the acquisition unit as an image, and a control unit configured to control the display unit so as to display an image and perform display for informing a user that the image file corresponding to the image is a reconstructable image file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitomi Ueda
  • Patent number: 10382713
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a first opening to an electric charge, a second photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a second opening which is smaller than the first opening to an electric charge, and a signal output wiring that outputs a first signal generated by the electric charge converted by the first photoelectric conversion unit and a second signal generated by the electric charge converted by the second photoelectric conversion unit. The second photoelectric conversion unit is disposed between the second opening and the signal output wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hironobu Murata
  • Patent number: 10375319
    Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing array cameras configured to perform super-resolution processing to generate higher resolution super-resolved images using a plurality of captured images and lens stack arrays that can be utilized in array cameras are disclosed. An imaging device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes at least one imager array, and each imager in the array comprises a plurality of light sensing elements and a lens stack including at least one lens surface, where the lens stack is configured to form an image on the light sensing elements, control circuitry configured to capture images formed on the light sensing elements of each of the imagers, and a super-resolution processing module configured to generate at least one higher resolution super-resolved image using a plurality of the captured images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: FotoNation Limited
    Inventors: Kartik Venkataraman, Amandeep S. Jabbi, Robert H. Mullis, Jacques Duparre, Shane Ching-Feng Hu
  • Patent number: 10375286
    Abstract: An imaging device and an imaging method are provided. An incident beam is separated into a first spectroscopic beam and a second spectroscopic beam by a spectroscopic unit and the first spectroscopic beam and the second spectroscopic beam are respectively incident on a first imaging module and a second imaging module. One of a phase detection autofocus (PDAF) mode and a contrast detection autofocus (CDAF) mode of the first imaging module is activated based on a brightness of an ambient light source. The first imaging module and the second imaging module are activated to shoot at a partially overlapping field of view (FOV) to obtain a first image and a second image. The first image and the second image are superimposed to obtain a composite image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: PEGATRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ying-Hsin Lin, Ming-Jer Yang, Kui-Hao Chang