Patents Examined by Jason Whipkey
  • Patent number: 8081226
    Abstract: A digital camera system includes a digital camera unit, and an authenticating unit in which unique setup control data of the digital camera unit is stored. The digital camera unit includes an imaging module that picks up an object image to generate image data, a first human body communication module that conducts communication via a human body, and a first controller that performs a setup operation related to at least one of a plurality of functions of the digital camera unit according to the setup control data received from the authenticating unit by the first human body communication module. In addition, the authenticating unit includes a second human body communication module that conducts communication via the human body, a setup control data storing unit in which the setup control data is stored, and a second controller that causes the setup control data to be transmitted to the digital camera unit via the second human body communication module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Masaharu Yanagidate
  • Patent number: 8081227
    Abstract: An image for which a quality indicator is to be displayed is obtained. The image is processed to obtain a quality value associated with the quality of the image. The quality indicator based at least in part on the quality value is displayed, wherein the quality indicator is displayed with a displayed version of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Grace Kim, Wilson Chan, Sheryl Ehrlich
  • Patent number: 8077203
    Abstract: A vehicle-periphery image generating apparatus and a method of correcting distortion of vehicle-periphery image corrects distortion of the obstacle image appearing in the vehicle-periphery image after viewpoint conversion, so that visual discomfort experienced by the driver is reduced. Images around the vehicle are captured by a plurality of cameras, and an obstacle around the vehicle is detected by an ultrasonic sensor. When the obstacle is detected, a width of an image in the region positioned on the far side of the obstacle is compressed in the center direction of the images to generate the vehicle-periphery image. As a result, when a three-dimensional obstacle around the vehicle appears in an camera image, the camera image is viewpoint-converted so that enlargement or stretching of the obstacle image can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Alpine Electronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Koichi Abe
  • Patent number: 8059190
    Abstract: A portable electronic apparatus includes a main body, a camera device, and a supplementary light device. The camera device and the supplementary light device are fixed on the main body. The supplementary light device includes a light module, a lens module, and a motor. The light module includes a circuit board, a light source, and a heat sink opposite to the light source. The lens module includes a lens barrel and a plurality of lenses received in the lens module. The motor drives the lens module to change the intensity distribution of the light from the light module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jen-Tsorng Chang, Chau-Yuan Ke, Yi-Mou Huang, Yu-Chien Huang, Hsiang-Chieh Yu, Hsin-Hung Chuang, Han-Bang Chen
  • Patent number: 8049793
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image file creation unit, a storage control unit, an extracting unit, and a display controller. The image file creation unit is configured to create a file including a plurality of images, first management information indicating a specified Exif version, and second management information including an image size and a total number of the images in the file. The storage control unit is configured to store the image file in a storage. The extraction unit is configured to extract the image from the image file in the storage based on the second management information. The display controller is configured to display the image on a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Shinji Furukawa
  • Patent number: 8045006
    Abstract: A best blending function from among a plurality of blending functions is determined. Each of the plurality of blending functions smoothes an overlap region of at least two projected images. The overlap image is captured and a processing unit analyzes the stored overlap image for color value linearity to calculate a first smoothness result. The processing unit analyzes the projection of the first or second image for color value uniformity to calculate a second smoothness result. These smoothness results for one blending function are paired and compared to smoothness result pairs corresponding to other blending functions to determine a best blending function from among those being analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Sean Miceli
  • Patent number: 8031248
    Abstract: Since the great number of elements constituting a unit pixel having an amplification function would hinder reduction of pixel size, unit pixel n,m arranged in a matrix form is comprised of a photodiode, a transfer switch for transferring charges stored in the photodiode, a floating diffusion for storing charges transferred by the transfer switch, a reset switch for resetting the floating diffusion, and an amplifying transistor for outputting a signal in accordance with the potential of the floating diffusion to a vertical signal line, and by affording vertical selection pulse ?Vn to the drain of the reset switch to control a reset potential thereof, pixels are selected in units of rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takahisa Ueno, Kazuya Yonemoto, Ryoji Suzuki, Koichi Shiono
  • Patent number: 8026946
    Abstract: A gate access system is described where the system includes an imaging system configured to capture an image of an object disposed in a predetermined field of view in response to an image capture signal. The imaging system is also configured to associate time/date data with the image. The time/date data represents a time and a date when the image was captured. At least one gate access panel device is disposed in the field of view and coupled to the imaging system. The at least one gate access panel device is configured to transmit the image capture signal in response to being actuated. A gate transceiver is coupled to the imaging system. The transceiver is configured to transmit the image and the time/date data via a wireless communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: The Chamberlain Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Shary Nassimi
  • Patent number: 8023006
    Abstract: An electronic still camera includes a position calculating unit. A storage unit stores the self-position data calculated by the position calculating unit, as photography-site data, in association with the image data acquired by photographing an object. If the self-position data cannot be acquired at the time of photographing the object, a control unit sets the self-position data acquired by the position calculating unit at a time different from the time of photographing the object, in the storage unit as the photography-site data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Toyoda
  • Patent number: 8023024
    Abstract: Since the great number of elements constituting a unit pixel having an amplification function would hinder reduction of pixel size, unit pixel n,m arranged in a matrix form is comprised of a photodiode, a transfer switch for transferring charges stored in the photodiode, a floating diffusion for storing charges transferred by the transfer switch, a reset switch for resetting the floating diffusion, and an amplifying transistor for outputting a signal in accordance with the potential of the floating diffusion to a vertical signal line, and by affording vertical selection pulse ?Vn to the drain of the reset switch to control a reset potential thereof, pixels are selected in units of rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takahisa Ueno, Kazuya Yonemoto, Ryoji Suzuki, Koichi Shiono
  • Patent number: 8023040
    Abstract: An exemplary electronic device includes a lower housing having a mounting panel, a first camera module mounted to the mounting panel, a sliding member mounted to the lower housing, a second camera module mounted to the sliding member, and two hinge assemblies fixed to the sliding member. The first camera module is configured to be covered by the sliding member. The second camera module is configured to be covered by the mounting panel. The hinge assemblies are configured to make the sliding member slidable relative to the lower housing to expose the first camera module and the second camera module out from the sliding member and the mounting panel, respectively, and enable the sliding member rotatably relative to the lower housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignees: Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd., FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventor: Yu-Hui Zhou
  • Patent number: 8018506
    Abstract: An image taking apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention comprises: a light source discrimination device which discriminates a light source in a photographing environment; and a shading correction device which makes shading correction according to the light source discriminated by the light source discrimination device for an image photographed under the light source in the photographing environment. According to the image taking apparatus of the present invention, the shading correction is made according to the light source in the photographing environment, whereby the excellent image quality can be maintained by appropriately making shading correction even if the light source is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo Takane
  • Patent number: 8009214
    Abstract: A column parallel image sensor such as an active pixel sensor includes a calibration circuit for the readout circuit within the active pixel sensor. The calibration circuit produces a value that is stored and used to offset any noise in the A/D converter. The calibration is carried out each time that each row is read out so in effect the calibration's individual for each pixel. Hence, any noise within the calibration evens out within the image, and is effectively random within the image and hence becomes less noticeable within the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Forza Silicon
    Inventor: Steven Huang
  • Patent number: 8009229
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a helmet with a plurality of electronic safety devices. The safety devices of the present invention include an audio and video communication system. The video communication system features include a video camera system that can transmit images to a central location, and a display system that can display images transmitted via satellite on a unique heads up display located within the helmet's pivotal safety glasses. The helmet's pivotal safety glasses have a specially designed display that allows users to view images broadcasted to them without having the bulky designs and limited sight problems associated with the traditional display apparatuses of the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventor: Allen Peterson
  • Patent number: 8004576
    Abstract: A multidimensional histogram is used to characterize an image (or object), and is used to identify candidate matches with one or more reference images (or objects). An exemplary implementation employs hue information for two of the dimensions, and a second derivative function based on luminance for a third dimension. The simplicity and speed of the detailed arrangements make them well suited for use with cell phones and other mobile devices, which can use the technology for image/object recognition, e.g., in visual search applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventor: Ravi K. Sharma
  • Patent number: 7999865
    Abstract: An imaging array and a method for operating the same are disclosed. The imaging array includes a plurality of light pixels and a sense amplifier. Each light pixel includes a photodetector that generates and couples a signal indicative of a light exposure to a light pixel node, a readout circuit, and a mixer that mixes a signal on the light pixel node with a pixel oscillator signal. The sense amplifier includes an input node that receives a signal from each light pixel, one light pixel at a time. The sense amplifier also includes a high pass filter that attenuates signals with frequencies less than a cutoff frequency and a mixer that demodulates the signal from the filter to provide a signal that is related to the potential on the light pixel node of the light pixel connected to the first input node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Fairchild Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Boyd Fowler
  • Patent number: 7995124
    Abstract: An image sensor apparatus comprises an image sensor for generating digital images having a high dynamic range. The image sensor apparatus includes an image sensor for generating a first and a second set of digital image samples at a first bit depth, with each set of digital image samples generated by a different column readout circuit path. A processor combines the first and second set of digital image samples to generate a digital image at a second bit depth, the second bit depth higher than the first bit depth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Tiejun Dai
  • Patent number: 7990465
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus for capturing a moving image performs backlight correction of an image and outputs a natural image. The imaging apparatus electronically captures an image of a subject. An optical system has a light amount adjustment function. An imaging unit reads an optical image of the subject that is formed by the optical system. An A/D converter subjects an output of the imaging unit to A/D conversion. A backlight correction unit converts the tones of an image read by the A/D converter using a conversion characteristic selected differently according to a spatial position and at least increases the luminance level of a dark region of the image. An instruction unit instructs to start backlight correction. A control unit operates the backlight correction unit based on an instruction signal output from the instruction unit, and decreases an exposure light amount of the optical system by a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Yamashita, Takeshi Ito, Daisuke Sato
  • Patent number: 7986344
    Abstract: A digital camera is provided, comprising a body containing an image sensor, a lens attached to the camera body and configured to focus a scene onto the image sensor. The digital camera also includes a wireless communication unit for communicating with a service host. In addition, the digital camera includes a control unit and a download setting unit. The digital camera also contains executable program code embodied in a computer readable medium and configured to cause the download setting unit to select a subset of digital images to download from a communication network in response to a user query.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Kensuke Ishii
  • Patent number: RE42639
    Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention preferably comprises an image sensor, an orientation sensor, a memory and a processing unit. The image sensor is used for generating captured image data. The orientation sensor is coupled to the image sensor, and is used for generating signals relating to the position of the image sensor. The memory, has an auto-rotate unit comprising program instructions for transforming the captured image data into rotated image data in response to the orientation sensor signals. The processing unit, executes program instructions stored in the memory, and is coupled to the image sensor, the orientation sensor and the memory. The method of the present invention preferably comprises the steps of: generating image data representative of an object with an image sensor; identifying an orientation of the image sensor relative to the object during the generating step; and selectively transferring the image data to an image processing unit in response to the identifying step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Eric C. Anderson