Patents Examined by James Hannett
  • Patent number: 9420168
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus obtains light field data, and selects a subject. The apparatus outputs restriction information which is information for not focusing on the selected subject, and is information for restricting reconstruction of the light field data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Aimi, Toshihiro Mochizuki, Kenichi Murata
  • Patent number: 9420155
    Abstract: A compact optic design is disclosed in which an image capture device's cover glass (or other transparent material) is imbued with optic power and affixed directly to the device's housing. A lens barrel, in which one or more additional lens elements are mounted, may be aligned with the optical lens formed by the cover glass and an image sensor to provide a complete camera module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas S. Brodie, Miodrag Scepanovic
  • Patent number: 9420172
    Abstract: An electronic device for editing a dual image and a method thereof are provided. The method includes storing at least one photographed front and rear images, respectively, and editing a stored dual image using at least the one stored front and rear images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Kyoung Kim, Dae-Sung Kim, So-Ra Kim, Hang-Kyu Park, Seung-Kyung Lim
  • Patent number: 9413973
    Abstract: Disclosed is a magnifier for use by blind or low vision users. The magnifier includes a camera, such as a CMOS image sensor, that displays enlarged images upon a screen for easy viewing. The magnifier further includes a handle that is pivotally interconnected to a housing to allow for handheld use in a variety of different configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Freedom Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Carlos M. Rodriguez, Patrick Murphy, Waldemar H. Tunkis, Todd Conard, Michael Goldenberg, Jeffery McDaniel
  • Patent number: 9412030
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, computer-readable mediums, and methods for receiving, from a camera, a frame representing image data prior to the image data being saved in long term memory. Areas of image data are analyzed to determine types of defects contained within each area of image data. At least one area contains a defect, and the types of defects include glare, blur, defocused, and noise. The frame is visually altered based upon each area of image data that contains a defect such that each defect can be ascertained within the frame, and the altered frame is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: ABBYY Development LLC
    Inventors: Konstantin Bocharov, Mikhail Kostyukov
  • Patent number: 9401006
    Abstract: A demosaicing unit interpolates mosaic image data of each pixel of interest so as to reproduce colors missing at each pixel by interpolation using neighboring pixels. In the demosaicing unit, an interpolation unit performs an interpolation process in a plurality of prescribed directions using neighboring pixels in the prescribed directions. An evaluation unit evaluates image data in each prescribed directions interpolated by the interpolation unit. A spurious resolution area judgment unit judges whether a pixel is in a spurious resolution area, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, based on a saturation detected from image data subjected to an interpolation process performed so as to preserve an edge component. An image generation unit selects image data to be interpolated for each pixel based on a result of the evaluation by the evaluation unit and a result of the judgment by the spurious resolution area judgment unit, and generates interpolated image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yohei Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 9392165
    Abstract: An array camera, a mobile terminal, and methods for operating the same are disclosed. The method for operating an array camera having a plurality of camera modules includes acquiring images through the plurality of camera modules, grouping the acquired images into a first group and a second group by comparing the acquired images, and generating a composite image using images of the first group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Ji Youn Choi
  • Patent number: 9392170
    Abstract: Camera module with switchable light filters includes a lens module, a bearing rotating device, a visible light filter, and an infrared light filter. The bearing rotating device includes a rotating shaft, at least one guiding stick, and a bearing plate. The rotating bearing plate holds the two filters and defines an arcuated guiding slot. The circle center of the arcuated guiding slot is the rotating shaft. A visible light filter and an infrared light filter are switchable, their movement being governed by the guiding stick and the guiding slot, to respective alignment with an optical axis of the lens module. The camera module can rotate the bearing plate to switch the infrared filter for the visible filter where the acquisition of infrared light is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun-Hui Yu, Shin-Wen Chen, Shu-Sheng Peng, Yong Li, Dai-Peng Zhu, Chien-Liang Chou
  • Patent number: 9386202
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a camera module are proposed, the camera module being such that a terminal formed at a holder is inserted into a through hole or a groove of a substrate in a case the substrate and the holder are coupled, to allow the terminal and the holder to be electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Suk Woo Son
  • Patent number: 9386245
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array and a pixel value correcting unit. The pixel array includes a plurality of pixels, the plurality of pixels each having one of a different exposure time and a different exposure sensitivity and being disposed according to a predetermined rule. The pixel value correcting unit is configured to correct, among pixel values obtained from the plurality of pixels in the pixel array, a pixel value of a pixel of the plurality of pixels that applies to a preset condition, by using a pixel value of another pixel of the plurality of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhide Fujita, Kentaro Okamura
  • Patent number: 9380193
    Abstract: A camera module includes a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) installed with an image sensor, a base mounted on the PCB, and a bobbin reciprocatingly mounted above the base. A bottom elastic member is fixed to the base to support the bobbin, and a terminal is installed at the base, one end of which is conductively connected to the PCB and the other end of which is conductively connected to the bottom elastic member at a solder part. A solder cut-off part is formed at the base to cut off movement of overflowing solder from the solder part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Ok Park, Seong Min Lee, Jun Taek Lee, Byung Wook Son
  • Patent number: 9374477
    Abstract: A system includes a wrist computer and a portable video camera. The wrist computer acquires physical activity data measured by a sensor device, generates a time marker on the basis of the physical activity data, and transmits the time marker to the portable video camera according to a predefined wireless communication protocol. The portable video camera is configured to record video data, encode the video data into a video data file, and store the received time marker as meta data in the video file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: POLAR ELECTRO OY
    Inventors: Mika Erkkila, Niclas Granqvist
  • Patent number: 9374097
    Abstract: A data processor including: a reference signal generator to generate a reference signal, used to convert a level of an analog processing signal into digital data; a comparator to compare the processing signal with the reference signal; and a count period controller to perform a real number count operation or a complement number count operation, on the basis of the comparison result of the comparator. The count period controller independently controls the real number count operation and the complement number count operation of the counter on the basis of a predetermined criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tadayuki Taura
  • Patent number: 9367916
    Abstract: A system, article, and method of run-time self-calibrating lens shading correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dmytro Paliy, Timo Gerasimow, Jarno Nikkanen
  • Patent number: 9369646
    Abstract: Examples of systems and methods to provide estimates of dark current for pixels of a photosensor as a function of the temperature of the sensor and the gain applied to the photosensor are described. In various implementations, the dark current estimated for each pixel can depend at least partly on a global scale factor and a global bias that depend on temperature and gain and a temperature-independent and gain-independent offset value for each pixel. The scale, bias, and offsets may be determined from multiple dark field images taken by the sensor over a range of operating temperatures. In some cases, the scale and bias can be determined using a subset of less than all the image pixels. Scale and bias derived for a particular sensor can be used in the calibration of different sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Skybox Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Chwen-Yuan Ku, H. Keith Nishihara, M. Dirk Robinson
  • Patent number: 9369624
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging module configured to continuously generate a live image and perform capture to generate still images, an operation interface configured to receive an operation of a user who inputs a first capturing command, a communication module configured to transmit the live image to a display apparatus and receive a second capturing command from the display apparatus, a transmission detection unit configured to detect whether the live image is being transmitted to the display apparatus, an information addition unit configured to add transmission information indicating whether the transmission of the live image is being performed before the first capturing command is input or the second capturing command is received to the still images generated based on the first capturing command or the second capturing command, and a storage module configured to store the still images with the transmission information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Kensuke Ishii, Saori Matsumoto, Arata Shinozaki, Yoshitaka Sato
  • Patent number: 9357193
    Abstract: A method of correcting color imbalance in a captured image includes deriving gradient data from a group of pixels in the captured image, determining a compensation value based on the gradient data, and applying that value to at least one pixel. Apparatus for correcting color imbalance includes a digital image processor that corrects color imbalance, in an image that is output by an image detector, according to the method. Each pixel may represent a color from a set of colors, with one particular color being a selected color, and each pixel to which the compensation value is applied representing the selected color. Where the group of pixels forms a rectangular shape, the gradient data may include horizontal and vertical gradients. The classifying may be performed according to a visual characteristic of a portion of the image, where determining the compensation value is based also on the visual characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Marvell World Trade Ltd.
    Inventor: Huai Dong Li
  • Patent number: 9357128
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an information processing terminal, an information processing method, and a program capable of naturally suppressing camera shake with a target object being arranged at a certain position on an image. An information processing terminal of an aspect of the present technology includes an imaging unit that takes an image; a display unit that displays the taken image; a measuring unit that measures a motion occurring in the terminal itself; and a display control unit that displays an indicator composed of a plurality of components arranged in a nested structure on the image and varies a position and a size of each component in accordance with the motion. The present technology is applicable to a mobile terminal provided with a camera and a display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takatoshi Nakamura, Atsushi Shionozaki
  • Patent number: 9350912
    Abstract: There is provided a portable device that transmits an image obtained through photographing to another device managed in association with the portable device each time when photographing is performed, receives the image transmitted from the other device each time when photographing is performed in the other device, and displays the image received from the other device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Suki, Mayu Kosaka, Aya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9344662
    Abstract: Provided is a solid state imaging device including: a pixel portion where pixel sharing units are disposed in an array shape and where another one pixel transistor group excluding transfer transistors is shared by a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions; transfer wiring lines which are connected to the transfer gate electrodes of the transfer transistors of the pixel sharing unit and which are disposed to extend in a horizontal direction and to be in parallel in a vertical direction as seen from the top plane; and parallel wiring lines which are disposed to be adjacent to the necessary transfer wiring lines in the pixel sharing unit and which are disposed to be in parallel to the transfer wiring lines as seen from the top plane, wherein voltages which are used to suppress potential change of the transfer gate electrodes are supplied to the parallel wiring lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshifumi Wakano, Fumihiko Koga