Patents Examined by John H Morehead, III
  • Patent number: 12160674
    Abstract: An image sensor includes first and second column lines, and a read circuit configured to receive pixel signals through the first and second column lines. The first column line and the second column line each include a main wire, a first wire between one end of the main wire and the first interlayer connection region, and a second wire connected with an opposite end of the main wire. A first distance between the first and second column lines is longer than a second distance between a connection point of the first column line and the first interlayer connection region and a connection point of the second column line and the first interlayer connection region. A length of the first wire of the first column line is greater than a length of the first wire of the second column line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Moo Young Kim
  • Patent number: 12144585
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method (100) is described. The method comprises obtaining (102) a three-dimensional representation of a body surface. The method further comprises obtaining illumination information for the three-dimensional representation that is indicative of an orientation of the body surface relative to a reference axis. The method further comprises determining illumination compensation information (104). The illumination compensation information is used (106) to compensate for an illumination variation apparent from the illumination information in an image of the body surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Jonathan Alambra Palero, Steffie Petronella Akkermans
  • Patent number: 12148773
    Abstract: This application belongs to the technical field of semiconductor devices, and relates to a pixel circuit, a control method, and an image sensor, including: at least two pixel units arranged in an array, wherein transmission transistors of two pixels of at least one pixel unit are connected to a corresponding first group of transmission control lines, and transmission transistors of other pixel unit are connected to a corresponding second group of transmission control lines. Therefore, the pixel circuit, the control method and the image sensor provided in the present application can control the density of phase focus of the image sensor by controlling the first group of transmission control lines and the second group of transmission control lines without changing the structure of the pixel, the structure is simple, and the optical performance is good.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: SMARTSENS TECHNOLOGY (HK) CO., LIMITED
    Inventors: Jinjian Hou, Guanjing Ren, Yaowu Mo, Xiaoyong Wang, Guang Yang
  • Patent number: 12124100
    Abstract: A lens assembly and a mobile terminal incorporating a lens assembly include, a lens barrel, and the lens barrel includes a front lens barrel and a rear lens barrel arranged coaxially. A ratio of an outer diameter of a front end surface of the front lens barrel to an outer diameter of a front end surface of the rear lens barrel is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhidong Yin
  • Patent number: 12126932
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, including: capturing, using a camera sensor of an information handling device, an image associated with a user; identifying, in a conferencing application, a background image for a video stream of the user; determining, based on comparing the background image to the image of the user, a contextual discrepancy for a superimposition of the image of the user over the background image; and adjusting, based on the determining, one or more aspects of the background image or one or more aspects of the image of the user to negate the contextual discrepancy. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Russell Speight VanBlon, Axel Ramirez Flores, Jason Grimme, Jonathan Gaither Knox
  • Patent number: 12120426
    Abstract: An image sensor has diffractive microlenses over pixels with central structures and ring(s) of material having index of refraction different from that of background material. Disposed beneath the diffractive microlenses are photodiodes that permit determining ratios of illumination of peripheral photodiodes to illumination of central photodiodes of the pixels, and, in embodiments, circuitry for determining said ratio. In embodiments, the ratio is used to find illumination wavelengths; and in other embodiments the ratio is used to determine focus of an imaging lens providing illumination. A method determines color by passing light through a diffractive lens disposed above photodiodes of the diffractive pixel and determining color from illumination peripheral and central photodiodes. An autofocus method of determining focus includes passing light through a diffractive lens and determining focus from illumination of peripheral photodiodes and central photodiodes of the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Lenchenkov, Andreas Suess
  • Patent number: 12120472
    Abstract: Various schemes pertaining to generating a full-frame color image using a hybrid sensor are described. An apparatus receives sensor data from the hybrid sensor, wherein the sensor data includes partial-frame chromatic data of a plurality of chromatic channels and partial-frame color-insensitive data. The apparatus subsequently generates full-frame color-insensitive data based on the partial-frame color-insensitive data. The apparatus subsequently generates the full-frame color image based on the full-frame color-insensitive data and the partial-frame chromatic data. The apparatus provides benefits of enhancing image quality of the full-frame color image especially under low light conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Inventors: Yu-Ju Lin, Ying-Jui Chen, Keh-Tsong Li, Pin-Chung Lin, Hung-Chih Ko, Chi-Cheng Ju
  • Patent number: 12114064
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging element including a pixel array, a drive circuit of the pixel array, and a signal processing circuit as defined herein; a power supply; a power supply control circuit that controls electric power supplied to the imaging element from the power supply; and a processor, and the processor is configured to control the power supply control circuit to stop the supply of electric power to a part of circuits of the imaging element from the power supply at a first timing after completion of the readout of the signal, to resume the supply of electric power to the part of the circuits at a third timing before a second timing that is a start timing of the readout of the signal from the pixel array performed after the first timing, and to variably control an interval between the second timing and the third timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinori Furuta
  • Patent number: 12096120
    Abstract: A photographing method in a telephoto scenario and a mobile terminal are disclosed, which are related to the field of communications technologies, so as to improve sharpness of a photographed object in an image, blur a background, highlight the photographed object, and improve an overall visual effect of the image. The method specifically includes: in a telephoto photographing scenario, when a mobile terminal display a preview or photographed image, recognizing a target photographed object and a background of the target photographed object based on the image collected by a camera; and improving image sharpness of an area in which the target photographed object is located, and adding a blurring effect to the image of the area in which the background of the target photographed object is located.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Honor Device Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guangyuan Li, Huanhuan Ao, Yuanwen Liu
  • Patent number: 12087791
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array including first pixels and second pixels, each of the first and second pixels including photodiodes, a sampling circuit detecting a reset voltage and a pixel voltage from the first and second pixels and generating an analog signal, an analog-to-digital converter image data from the analog signal, and a signal processing circuit generating an image using the image data. Each of the first pixels includes a first conductivity-type well separating the photodiodes and having impurities of a first conductivity-type. The photodiodes have impurities of a second conductivity-type different from the first conductivity-type. Each of the second pixels includes a second conductivity-type well separating the photodiodes and having impurities of the second conductivity-type different from the first conductivity-type. A potential level of the second conductivity-type well is higher than a potential level of the first conductivity-type well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eunsub Shim, Kyungho Lee, Sungsoo Choi
  • Patent number: 12072609
    Abstract: Digital cameras comprising a lens assembly comprising N lens elements L1-LN starting with L1 on an object side, wherein N is ?4, an image sensor having a sensor diagonal SD, and a pop-out mechanism that controls a largest air-gap d between two consecutive lens elements within lens elements L1 and LN to bring the camera to an operative pop-out state and a collapsed state, wherein the lens assembly has a total track length TTL in the operative pop-out state and a collapsed total track length cTTL in the collapsed state, wherein SD is in the range of 7-20 mm and wherein cTTL/SD<0.6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Itay Yedid, Ephraim Goldenberg, Tal Korman, Roy Rudnick, Kobi Goldstein, Yiftah Kowal, Michael Dror, Michael Scherer
  • Patent number: 12069392
    Abstract: Provided are an image sensor and an image output method and application thereof. The image sensor includes an input circuit, configured to perform a first photoelectric conversion on incident light to generate a photoelectric current in an EVS mode working period, and performs s second photoelectric conversion on the incident light to generate photoelectric charges in an APS mode working period; an EVS circuit configured to output a corresponding event signal according to a difference value between a first voltage corresponding to a photoelectric current and a reference voltage; an APS circuit configured to output a corresponding grayscale signal according to a second voltage corresponding to photoelectric charges; and a control circuit configured to output a corresponding APS image according to the grayscale signal and output a corresponding EVS image according to the event signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Shenzhen Ruishizhixin Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yingyun Zha, Jian Deng
  • Patent number: 12066747
    Abstract: Digital cameras comprising a lens assembly comprising N lens elements L1-LN starting with L1 on an object side, wherein N is ?4, an image sensor having a sensor diagonal SD, and a pop-out mechanism that controls a largest air-gap d between two consecutive lens elements within lens elements L1 and LN to bring the camera to an operative pop-out state and a collapsed state, wherein the lens assembly has a total track length TTL in the operative pop-out state and a collapsed total track length cTTL in the collapsed state, wherein SD is in the range of 7-20 mm and wherein cTTL/SD<0.6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Itay Yedid, Ephraim Goldenberg, Tal Korman, Roy Rudnick, Kobi Goldstein, Yiftah Kowal, Michael Dror, Michael Scherer
  • Patent number: 12052504
    Abstract: A monitor device is provided, including: a fixing seat, for fixing to a structure; a casing, with an accommodating space, upper end of the longitudinal axis of the casing rotatably connected to the fixing seat; a first optoelectronic device, disposed on the lower end of the casing; a second photoelectric device and a third photoelectric device, respectively rotatably disposed at a first position and a second position outside the casing; a transmission mechanism, disposed in the accommodating space of the casing, and the transmission mechanism including: an angle rotation mechanism, connected to the fixing seat to drive the casing to rotate in a first direction relative to the fixing seat; and a second angle rotation mechanism connected to and driving the first, the second and the third optoelectronic device to rotate synchronously in a second direction; wherein the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Inventor: Cheng Yuan Liao
  • Patent number: 12052488
    Abstract: A camera decoration cover includes a decoration cover plate stacked with a light-transmitting cover plate. A region covered by the light-transmitting cover plate on the decoration cover plate is a coverage region, at least one camera hole is provided in the coverage region, the coverage region includes at least one first region, and the first region is provided with at least one first electrostatic discharge hole corresponding to the camera hole. A center of the coverage region is a first center, and a center of the camera hole is a second center. The first region is a region located on one side of the second center far away from the first center, and the first region is formed by respectively rotating a straight line where the first center and the second center lie around the first center toward two sides of the straight line by a first preset angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: HONOR DEVICE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xiaoyong Dong
  • Patent number: 12047690
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for processing a stream of image frames captured by a camera system. When an image frame from the stream of image frames is dropped, a current camera movement is determined. A substitute image frame for the dropped image frame is generated. The substitute image frame comprises a reference to a previous image frame and includes one or more motion vectors estimated solely based on the determined current camera movement. Remaining image frames in the stream of image frames are encoded and the substitute image frame is inserted at the place of the dropped image frame in the stream of encoded image frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: AXIS AB
    Inventors: Viktor Edpalm, Song Yuan, Raphael Teller
  • Patent number: 12028641
    Abstract: Described is a system including a camera module connected to an electronic device. The camera module includes a non-volatile memory that includes instructions storing a script for setting up the camera module. The electronic device includes an interpreter that executes at least partially the instructions including the script stored in the non-volatile memory of the camera module to set up the camera module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
    Inventors: Waldemar Dworakowski, Maciej Krzanowski, Lukasz Szpiech
  • Patent number: 12028626
    Abstract: Visual-inertial tracking of an eyewear device using a rolling shutter camera(s). The eyewear device includes a position determining system. Visual-inertial tracking is implemented by sensing motion of the eyewear device. An initial pose is obtained for a rolling shutter camera and an image of an environment is captured. The image includes feature points captured at a particular capture time. A number of poses for the rolling shutter camera is computed based on the initial pose and sensed movement of the device. The number of computed poses is responsive to the sensed movement of the mobile device. A computed pose is selected for each feature point in the image by matching the particular capture time for the feature point to the particular computed time for the computed pose. The position of the mobile device is determined within the environment using the feature points and the selected computed poses for the feature points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Matthias Kalkgruber, Erick Mendez Mendez, Daniel Wagner, Daniel Wolf, Kai Zhou
  • Patent number: 12028589
    Abstract: A covering for an electronic imaging device with an optically transparent display screen viewing window centrally disposed in a band bag sleeve to define an inner volume with a mouth. An adherent, such as an optically transparent adhesive, is disposed on an inner surface of the viewing window for adhering to a display screen of the electronic imaging device. A cinching mechanism is operative to constrict the mouth of the band bag sleeve. A sterile barrier is thus created between the electronic imaging device and an exterior environment while permitting optically clear, stable viewing and operation of the display screen. A method for enveloping an electronic imaging device with a covering is founded on providing such a covering, causing the electronic imaging device to be received through the mouth and into the inner volume, and adhering the display screen viewing window to the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Inventor: Robert L. Marchione
  • Patent number: 12015044
    Abstract: An image sensor module includes an image sensor and a substrate on which the image sensor is disposed, wherein a step portion is provided on an upper surface of the substrate, an accommodation portion in which the image sensor is disposed is provided at the step portion, the image sensor is connected to the substrate by a bonding wire, and the bonding wire is covered with a bonding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kang Jin Lee