Patents Examined by Hung H. Lam
  • Patent number: 10250819
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus, comprising a memory that stores first image data, and a processor that includes an image associated information processing section, wherein the image associated information processing section, for the image data of a single frame that has been taken at a plurality of shooting conditions, within the first image data that has been stored in the memory, acquires image region information, relating to an image region in which shooting is carried out at different shooting conditions, and image associated information of the image region, associates the image region information and the image associated information and subjects the first image data to image processing, and generates second image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuya Hosono, Hiroaki Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 10244177
    Abstract: An electronic device can include a camera, a display, a processor coupled to the camera and the display, and a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the processor when executing instructions stored in the memory is configured to display a preview image obtained from the camera on a first user interface on the display, receive a first input of a user, capture a plurality of images using the camera in response to the first input of the user, for each captured plurality of images, generate data corresponding to a processing of the captured plurality of images, receive a second input of the user during or after the data generation, process at least one of the captured plurality of images based on the generated data in response to the received second input, and display the processed at least one of the captured plurality of images on a second user interface on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wooyong Lee, Kihuk Lee
  • Patent number: 10244191
    Abstract: An image pixel may include a shutter element that is operable in an open state during which a corresponding photodiode accumulates charge and a closed state during which charge is drained from the photodiode. During a first portion of an image frame, the image pixel may operate in a flicker mitigation mode in which a non-continuous exposure period is used. During a second portion of the image frame, the image pixel may operate in a high dynamic range mode in which images are obtained with exposures of varying lengths. To conserve memory requirements, the signal from the flicker mitigation mode may not be sampled until the end of the first exposure of the high dynamic range mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Sandor Barna
  • Patent number: 10237439
    Abstract: A location tagged data provision and display system. A personal communication device (PCD) with electromagnetic communication capability has a GPS receiver and a display. The PCD requests maps and location tagged data from data providers and other for display on the PCD. The data providers respond to requests by using searching and sorting schemes to interrogate data bases and then automatically transmitting data responsive to the requests to the requesting PCD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Silver State Intellectual Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Obradovich
  • Patent number: 10225445
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a user of a camera information about the status of one or more lenses and/or providing a subject of a photograph an indicator of where to look during image capture are described. In some embodiments different sets of camera modules are used for taking photographs depending on user input and/or the distance to the objects to be captured. In various embodiments an indicator, e.g., light emitting element, is associated with each of the different sets of camera modules which maybe used to indicate where a subject should look during image capture by the corresponding set of camera modules. In some embodiment dirty lenses of the camera are detected and the user is notified of the dirty lenses through an audible and/or visual indication. In some embodiments the indication of which lens/lenses are dirty is provided by illuminating light emitting elements corresponding to the dirty lens(es).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Light Labs Inc.
    Inventor: Bradley Lautenbach
  • Patent number: 10225505
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic device for analyzing a scene, including a plurality of pixels (101) connected to a readout circuit (103) by a same first conductive track (105), wherein: each pixel (101) is capable of detecting an occurrence of a first event characteristic of the scene and of transmitting an event indication signal on the first conductive track (105) when it detects an occurrence of the first event; and the readout circuit (103) is capable of reading from the first conductive track (105) the event indication signals transmitted by the pixels (101) and of deducing therefrom characteristics of the scene, without transmitting event acknowledgement signals to the pixels (101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT À L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: William Guicquero, Arnaud Verdant
  • Patent number: 10218944
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present technology may comprise methods and devices for improving the spectral response of an imaging device. The methods and devices may operate in conjunction with a pixel array and color filter array. The color filter array may comprise pattern of color filters arranged in groups. At least one group may comprise multiple same-color filters and at least one filter of a different color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Richard Scott Johnson
  • Patent number: 10212379
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a unit pixel including a pixel electrode, a charge accumulation region electrically connected to the pixel electrode, and a signal detection circuit electrically connected to the charge accumulation region; a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer disposed between the electrodes; and a voltage supply circuit configured to selectively apply any one of first, second, and third voltages between the electrodes. The photoelectric conversion layer exhibits first and second wavelength sensitivity characteristics in a wavelength range when the voltage supply circuit applies the first and second voltages between the electrodes, respectively, and becomes insensitive to light in the wavelength range when the voltage supply circuit applies the third voltage between the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Machida, Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Manabu Nakata, Sanshiro Shishido, Masaaki Yanagida, Masumi Izuchi
  • Patent number: 10212349
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided that includes a correction unit configured to optically correct image shake by moving a lens or an imaging element; a first detector configured to detect an angular velocity of the imaging apparatus; a second detector configured to detect a motion vector from a captured image; a calculator configured to calculate an object angular velocity on the basis of the angular velocity of imaging apparatus and the motion vector; a third detection unit configured to detect a cycle of a motion of the object on the basis of the object angular velocity; and a processor configured to detect a cycle of a motion of the object on the basis of the object angular velocity and set an exposure timing at the time of panning on the basis of the cycle of the motion of the object and correct image shake of the object by driving the correction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kuchiki
  • Patent number: 10212351
    Abstract: An image display system includes an image acquisition unit which acquires an image, an area setting unit which sets a plurality of viewing areas to which the image is to be assigned according to a direction of the image, an image assignment unit which assigns the image to each of the plurality of viewing areas, an operation determination unit which discriminates an operation in a first viewing area among the plurality of viewing areas each having the image assigned thereto, and a display control unit which displays the image in the first viewing area and the image in a second viewing area other than the first viewing area among the plurality of viewing areas concurrently based on a result of the discrimination by the operation determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hironori Irie, Toshiyuki Terashita, Tomohiko Sasaki, Ryuichi Shirane
  • Patent number: 10212338
    Abstract: In general, techniques of this disclosure may enable a computing device to capture one or more images based on a natural language user input. The computing device, while operating in an image capture mode, receive an indication of a natural language user input associated with an image capture command. The computing device determines, based on the image capture command, a visual token to be included in one or more images to be captured by the camera. The computing device locates the visual token within an image preview output by the computing device while operating in the image capture mode. The computing device captures one or more images of the visual token.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Rodrigo Carceroni
  • Patent number: 10200610
    Abstract: A camera system includes a lens assembly and image processing electronics internal to the camera housing and thermally coupled to the battery assembly. The battery assembly is sensitive to low ambient temperatures and may become damaged if the temperature of the assembly becomes sufficiently low. The camera system comprises a thermal management system that dissipates heat from electronic components of the camera to increase or maintain the temperature of the battery assembly. The thermal management configures the electronic components in different modes to create a step-wise increase of the resistive heat generated in the camera system and thereby increase the temperature of the components in the camera system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas D. Woodman, Ihab A. Ali, Todd Gotham
  • Patent number: 10200623
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for determining one or more image capture settings for use in flash photography are disclosed. In some aspects a device includes a memory and a processor that is coupled to a first camera, a second camera, a flash unit, and the memory. The processor can be configured to cause the flash unit to emit a flash during a flash operation having a first portion and a second portion. The processor can be further configured to cause the first camera to receive a plurality of image frames during the first portion, determine at least one image capture setting based on at least one of the plurality of frames received by the first camera, and cause the second camera to capture one or more image frames during the second portion based on the determined image capture setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Cullum James Baldwin, Rengaraj Thirupathi
  • Patent number: 10192911
    Abstract: Imaging apparatus includes a photosensitive medium and a bias electrode, which is at least partially transparent, overlying the photosensitive medium. An array of pixel circuits is formed on a semiconductor substrate. Each pixel circuit includes a pixel electrode coupled to collect the charge carriers from the photosensitive medium; a readout circuit configured to output a signal indicative of a quantity of the charge carriers collected by the pixel electrode; a skimming gate coupled between the pixel electrode and the readout circuit; and a shutter gate coupled in parallel with the skimming gate between a node in the pixel circuit and a sink site. The shutter gate and the skimming gate are opened sequentially in each of a sequence of image frames so as to apply a global shutter to the array and then to read out the collected charge carriers via the skimming gate to the readout circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Gennadiy A. Agranov, QingFei Chen, Oray O. Cellek, Xiangli Li
  • Patent number: 10191708
    Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer-readable medium for displaying image data are provided, which pertains to the field of computer technology. The method comprises: determining current spatial position information and attitude information of the terminal and establishing a data connection between the terminal and a wearable device when detecting that an image-capturing component of a terminal is turned on; and sending image data captured by the image-capturing component to the wearable device for displaying the image data synchronously when the current spatial position information and attitude information of the terminal meet a preset condition that is disadvantageous for viewing a screen of the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Huayijun Liu, Tao Chen, Ke Wu
  • Patent number: 10187574
    Abstract: An apparatus including a plurality of detection devices, a processor and a controller. The plurality of detection devices may each be configured to detect an object in a respective zone. The processor may be configured to (i) perform analysis of one or more frames of a video captured by an image sensor and (ii) evaluate a detection of the object by at least one of the detection devices based on the analysis. The controller may be configured to (i) activate the processor in response to the object detected by at least one of the detection devices and (ii) provide feedback to at least one of the detection devices based on the evaluation by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Ambarella, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerome N. Gigot
  • Patent number: 10187561
    Abstract: The accessory apparatus provides, with an image-capturing apparatus, a notification channel used for providing a notice from the image-capturing apparatus to the accessory apparatus, a first data communication channel used for data transmission from the accessory apparatus to the image-capturing apparatus, and a second data communication channel used for data transmission from the image-capturing apparatus to the accessory apparatus. An accessory controller acquires from a timer, in response to receiving a transmission request as the notice, a first time of receiving the transmission request and acquires, in response to receiving a specific command through the second data communication channel from the image-capturing apparatus, accessory information corresponding to the first time or a second time acquired based on the first time. The accessory controller transmits the accessory information to the image-capturing apparatus through the first data communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hironori Seki, Atsushi Sugita
  • Patent number: 10178304
    Abstract: A method for capturing video or still images at a determined orientation, via a mobile device, including accessing at least some information regarding a desired orientation preference; accessing at least some information regarding an orientation of the mobile device; comparing the information regarding the orientation of the mobile device to the information regarding the desired orientation preference; determining whether the information regarding the orientation of the mobile device matches the information regarding the desired orientation preference, within a degree of variance; disabling, if the information regarding the orientation of the mobile device does not match the desired orientation preference, within the degree of variance, a video or still image capture function of the mobile device; and enabling, if the information regarding the orientation of the mobile device matches the desired orientation preference, within the degree of variance, a video or still image capture function of the mobile device
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Worldwide Live Holding, LLC
    Inventors: Charles R. Tudor, Dani R. Sleiman, Christopher D. Davis
  • Patent number: 10171728
    Abstract: An information processing system that acquires first image data captured by a first camera unit disposed on a first side of a housing; acquires second image data captured by a second camera unit disposed on a second side of the housing, which is opposite to the first side of the housing; and modifies the second image data based on the first image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hirotaka Shinozaki, Shinichi Yoshimura, Shuichi Konami, Mayuko Maruyama, Masayuki Tachi, Mitsuharu Ohki, Hideshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10165205
    Abstract: An image processing method is provided. The image sensor is controlled to output the merged image. The depth-of-field area is identified based on the merged image. The image sensor is controlled to output the color-block image. A first part of the color-block image within the depth-of-field area is converted into a first simulation image using a first interpolation algorithm. The second part of the color-block image outside the depth-of-field area is converted into a second simulation image using a second interpolation algorithm. The first simulation image and the second simulation image are merged to generate a simulation image corresponding to the color-block image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Cheng Tang