Patents Examined by Kent Wang
  • High dynamic range sensor with blooming drain
    Patent number: 7825966
    Abstract: An image sensor has at least two photodiodes in each unit pixel. A high dynamic range is achieved by selecting different exposure times for the photodiodes. Additionally, blooming is reduced. The readout timing cycle is chosen so that the short exposure time photodiodes act as drains for excess charge overflowing from the long exposure time photodiodes. To improve draining of excess charge, the arrangement of photodiodes may be further selected so that long exposure time photodiodes are neighbored along vertical and horizontal directions by short exposure time photodiodes. A micro-lens array may also be provided in which light is preferentially coupled to the long exposure time photodiodes to improve sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sohei Manabe, Ashish Shah, Sasidhar Saladi, William Qian, Hidetoshi Nozaki, Nagaraja Satyadev, Hsin-Chih (Dyson) Tai, Howard M. Rhodes
  • Operation stabilized pixel bias circuit
    Patent number: 7825982
    Abstract: A pixel bias current supply for supplying a stable source of bias current to pixels of an imager includes a current bypass feature for improving stability when one or more pixels of an imager saturates. The pixel bias current supply also features voltage limiters to restrict the output voltage of a pixel in order to prevent reverse video from being output when very strong light is incident upon one or more pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Isao Takayanagi
  • Image sensor with cooling element
    Patent number: 7821554
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a base an image sensor chip, and a cooling element. The base includes an opening disposed in the base. The image sensor chip is connected electrically to the base and covers the opening. The cooling element is received in the opening and is connected thermally to the image sensor chip. Heat produced by the image sensor chip can be dissipated in time by the cooling elements in the image sensor. The cooling elements maintain the image sensor chip works under a temperature no more than the rated working temperature of the image sensor chip and therefore extend the life of the image sensor, and improve the image quality of the image sensor chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Feng-Yang Ma, Shao-Hung Wang
  • Remote image-pickup system, camera device, and card substrate
    Patent number: 7821550
    Abstract: A remote image-pickup system includes a camera device including an image-pickup unit for capturing an image of a subject and generating picture signals and a card slot; and a plurality of types of card substrates which are selectively inserted into the card slot and which convert the format of the picture signals so as to output the converted signals to an external device. By inserting different card substrates into the card slot, a plurality of formats of picture signals can be output from the camera device. Accordingly, the format of the picture signals output from the camera device can be flexibly expanded. Further, since many circuits for converting the picture signals need not be incorporated into the camera device, an increase in the size and price of the camera device can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tomokuni Yamashina
  • Camera for recording observation image of microscope
    Patent number: 7800658
    Abstract: A camera for recording a specimen image obtained by a microscope includes a record control unit for making a storage medium record an image data file expressing the specimen image, and a switch unit for controlling a supply of power to the camera. The camera also includes an attribute setting unit for setting a read only attribute for a data file that is already recorded by the storage medium at a time when the switch unit starts the supply of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiro Uchida
  • Solid-state image sensing apparatus and method of reading image signal using a plurality of output channels
    Patent number: 7800674
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensing apparatus having output channels CH1 and CH2 has first and second driving modes in which pixel signals of pixels in the same image sensing area are read out. The number of output channels to be used is changed between the first driving mode and the second driving mode. In at least one of the two modes, the phase of the read timing of pixel signals of pixels adjacent in the horizontal direction is shifted by a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Gomi, Seisuke Matsuda, Yukihiro Kuroda, Keiichi Mori
  • Image processing apparatus for correcting captured image
    Patent number: 7796169
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus selects a correction method of a defective pixel in accordance with the type of the defective pixel. The image processing apparatus includes an imaging device consisting of a plurality of pixels, a storage device for storing a captured image output from the imaging device, a first correction processing device for correcting a defective pixel in the captured image based on first corrective data containing address information of a defective pixel in the imaging device in accordance with input of a signal output from the defective pixel in the imaging device, and a second correction processing device for correcting the defective pixel in the captured image stored in the storage device based on second corrective data containing address information of a defective pixel in the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazunari Kitani
  • Electronic camera and image generating apparatus generating stereo image
    Patent number: 7791640
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a CCD color image pickup element forms a right and left parallel object images and photoelectrically converts the object images into a object image signal. In this case, the object image signal is analyzed to calculate exposure information on a predetermined photometric area. Then, when an SPM synthesizing section generates a stereo image from the object image signal, a partition area setting section sets the luminance level of a partition are on the basis of the exposure information on the parallel object images, the partition area is a median strip used to arrange monocular images of the parallel object images away from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Hideaki Yoshida
  • Image-pickup apparatus for dust prevention
    Patent number: 7787031
    Abstract: An optical filter which can remove dust stuck to the incidence surface of incidence of light and reduce the mounting space. A filter body is adapted to have predetermined transmittivity as well as a piezoelectric characteristic. At least two electrodes are formed on the filter body. A drive voltage is applied between the at least two electrodes to vibrate the filter body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasushi Hozumi, Goro Noto, Isami Itoh
  • Photographing apparatus, control method for lens barrel of photographing apparatus, printer, control method for printer, and printing system
    Patent number: 7777779
    Abstract: In this photographing apparatus, when it is recognized that communication with an external device is possible, the operating mode is set to the communication mode, in which communication can be carried out with the external device. Once there is communication connection with the external device, signals to change the mode from the mode selecting device, which directs the operating mode of the photography apparatus, are ignored, and a shift from the communication mode to another mode is prohibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Tomonaga Yasuda
  • Power system having a battery unit that calculate cumulative work volume value
    Patent number: 7773148
    Abstract: A camera includes: a battery unit on which a battery is mounted, that can be detachably loaded into the camera and supplies power to the camera; and a function unit that executes camera functions, wherein: as a function of the camera is executed, the function unit transmits information related to the executed function to the battery pack; and the battery unit has a storage unit in which the information related to the camera function is stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignees: Nikon Corporation, Nikon Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Hidehiro Ogawa, Tetsushi Nomoto
  • Camera capable of data transmission
    Patent number: 7768550
    Abstract: A camera according to the present invention can use a captured image of a communication target device to identify the communication target device when transmitting data to the outside. The camera includes a formatting section for converting transmission data to a format suitable for transmission to the communication target device identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Osamu Nonaka, Kazuhiro Sato
  • Single plate-type color solid-state image sensing device
    Patent number: 7760254
    Abstract: A color solid-state image sensing device including: a semiconductor substrate having a surface portion where high density impurity regions connected to signal reading circuits respectively are formed; a blue light detecting photodiode formed in a shallow portion of the semiconductor substrate; and a red light detecting photodiode formed in a deep portion of the semiconductor substrate, wherein connection regions which are provided so as to be continued to the photodiodes respectively and exposed to the surface of the semiconductor substrate are formed only in portions adjacent to the high density impurity regions so that electric charge accumulated in each photodiode can be transferred to corresponding one of the corresponding high density impurity regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuo Suzuki
  • Image data transfer control in digital imaging system
    Patent number: 7755661
    Abstract: When a digital camera 100 is connected to an information processing apparatus 101 so that they can communicate with each other, the digital camera 100 generates partial information of attribute information related to each image data stored in the camera 100, and transmits the partial information of the attribute information to the information processing apparatus 101.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Aizawa
  • Color interpolation method for Bayer filter array images
    Patent number: 7755682
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a color interpolation method for Bayer filter array images. The method first inputs a 3×3 Bayer pattern block with a center pixel. Next, a color filter interpolation case is determined according to the type of the center pixel. Next, Bayer pixel averages and Bayer pixel differences in horizontal and vertical directions of the color filter interpolation case are obtained. Next, missing color components of the center pixel are interpolated in both horizontal and vertical directions. Next, color differences in the horizontal and vertical directions are obtained based on the Bayer pixel differences and averages. Next, a pixel activity of the 3×3 Bayer pixel block is determined. Finally, interpolated color components in the direction of lower color differences are selected, when the pixel activity is high.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: ITE Tech. Inc.
    Inventor: Wen-Kuo Lin
  • Resolution proportional digital zoom
    Patent number: 7746391
    Abstract: A resolution proportional digital zoom system comprises a CCD imaging device with over a million pixels resolution. A standard fixed-1X optical lens is fitted to the imager. A communication channel with a limited bandwidth is used to transmit video. Such bandwidth is substantially less than the imager's full resolution times its frame rate. A user is provided with controls to pan and zoom within the imager's field of view. The pixel resolution is proportionally controlled such that video output data rate on the communication channel is optimal and held within maximum limits at any pan/zoom setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Jai Pulnix, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven R. Kinney
  • Image pickup apparatus including a lens barrel opening and closing a lens barrier protecting a lens and control method therefor, and control program for implementing the control method
    Patent number: 7742096
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that can accurately correct an error in the position of a taking lens due to a loss of synchronism of the stepping motor during opening and closing of the lens barrier. The position of a taking lens retractable into the body of the image pickup apparatus is detected. A reference position is provided on one of both sides of a section in which the lens barrier is driven to open and close, the one side being a side on which the lens barrier is not driven to open and close.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taro Murakami
  • Digital camera with light emitting diode flash device
    Patent number: 7742098
    Abstract: In a digital camera including an electronic flash device using a light-emitting diode as a flash light source, white balance correction is performed by using a white balance correction value corresponding to a color temperature of light actually emitted from the electronic flash device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Chikuni Kawakami
  • Method for detecting objects in a digital image using image zones of different resolutions
    Patent number: 7733409
    Abstract: A method and system according to the invention comprises the means for or steps of: acquiring, by means of a digital image taking apparatus, a digital image with aberration of a scene, the digital image incorporating at least a first image zone and a second image zone, the first and second image zones having respectively at least a first resolution and at least a second resolution, the first and second resolutions being different, calculating a deployed digital image, by deployment of at least one zone of the digital image with aberration, applying an object detection algorithm in the deployed digital image, and supplying information on each object detected in the deployed digital image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventors: Benoist Fleury, Joël Leleve, Caroline Robert
  • CMOS image sensor having wide dynamic range
    Patent number: 7733402
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensing device includes a pixel unit, analog-to-digital converter, controller, and adder. In the pixel unit, cells are two-dimensionally arranged on a semiconductor substrate. An output analog signal from the pixel unit is converted into a digital signal by the analog-to-digital converter and output. The controller controls the pixel unit and analog-to-digital converter, and causes the analog-to-digital converter to digitize a plurality of analog signals different in storage time in the pixel unit during the storage period of the electric charge of one frame. The adder adds digital signals corresponding to the analog signals different in storage time and output from the analog-to-digital converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Egawa, Shinji Ohsawa