Patents Examined by Luong T. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11330194
    Abstract: In a night shot mode, a photo is captured and processed based on a plurality of frames. The plurality of frames is obtained based on a plurality of parameters including an exposure duration, a light sensitivity, and a number of frames. These parameters are determined based on factors, such as whether the electronic device is in a handheld state or not, and whether the current photographing scene is a dark scene or a light source scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tao Sun, Congchao Zhu
  • Patent number: 11327606
    Abstract: Provided are an output unit configured to output an image or distribution information of evaluation values corresponding to a plurality of regions of the image, an operation unit configured to accept a first action and a second action different from the first action; and a control unit configured to execute, when the output unit outputs a first image, output control such that the output unit outputs a second image if the operation unit accepts the first action, and that the output unit outputs distribution information of the evaluation values corresponding to the first image if the operation unit accepts the second action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Asahi Suzuki, Masaaki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 11330160
    Abstract: An observation and designation apparatus includes a first image sensor and a second image sensor that are connected to an electronic image processor circuit connected to a display. The first image sensor and the second image sensor provide fields that are superposed to supply respectively at least a first image and a second image of the same scene. The appliance further includes a laser emitter for emitting a laser beam lying in a predetermined range of wavelengths into a predetermined zone of the field of the second sensor; a region-of-interest filter extending in front of the second sensor. The electronic processor circuit superposes the two images by using the zone of the second image that corresponds to the third region of the filter to register the second image spatially relative to the first image. An observation and designation method makes use of such filtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE
    Inventors: Nicolas Roux, Brice Lerat, Heloise Berthier
  • Patent number: 11323632
    Abstract: An electronic device and a method of controlling the electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a camera configured to generate a detection signal by photoelectrically converting incident light, and one or more processors configured to control operations of the camera and process the detection signal, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to generate a plurality of input images from the detection signal, determine a first parameter applied to the camera, based on brightness information of each of the plurality of input images, detect at least one feature from each of the plurality of input images, determine whether to update the first parameter, based on a result of detecting the at least one feature, and adjust the first parameter, based on a brightness of the at least one feature upon determining to update the first parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Iegor Vdovychenko
  • Patent number: 11317032
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging device including: a photoelectric conversion unit; a charge holding portion; a charge transfer unit that transfers charges from the photoelectric conversion unit to the charge holding portion; an output unit that outputs a signal based on transferred charges; a first acquisition unit that acquires first image data based on charges generated in the photoelectric conversion unit in a first exposure time period; a second acquisition unit that acquires second image data based on charges generated in the photoelectric conversion unit in a second exposure time period that is a sum of exposure time periods for charges transferred from the photoelectric conversion unit to the charge holding portion for multiple times by the charge transfer unit and is longer than the first exposure time period; and a compression unit that reduces a gradation value of the second image data to generate a third image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Shigeta
  • Patent number: 11303787
    Abstract: A camera module of an embodiment may comprise: a first holder in which a filter is mounted; a lens barrel that is provided to be vertically movable in a first direction with respect to the first holder; a lens operating device that comprises a terminal and moves the lens barrel in the first direction; a first circuit board that is disposed under the first holder and on which an image sensor is mounted; a soldering portion for electrically connecting the terminal of the lens operating device to the first circuit board; and a coupling reinforcement portion that is disposed to face the soldering portion and couples the lens operating device and the first circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong Ho Chung, Sung Il Lee
  • Patent number: 11297270
    Abstract: A time-of-flight device comprises a pixel array including an array of pixel circuits, wherein a column of the array includes: a first pixel circuit including a first photodiode, a first capacitor and a second capacitor coupled to the first photodiode, and a second pixel circuit including a second photodiode, a third capacitor and a fourth capacitor coupled to the second photodiode, a first signal line coupled to the first capacitor, a second signal line coupled to the second capacitor, a third signal line coupled to the third capacitor, a fourth signal line coupled to the fourth capacitor, a first switch circuitry, a second switch circuitry, a first comparator coupled to the first signal line and the third signal line through the first switch circuitry, and a second comparator coupled to the second signal line and the fourth signal line through the second switch circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Zvika Veig, Golan Zeituni, Kei Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11290612
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a camera captures a sequence of input images. These input images are then merged by a massively parallel processor into a merged intermediate image, which is represented in memory as floating point numbers of a greater bit depth than the bit depth of the input images, thus creating a cumulative image representing a long exposure. After finishing exposure with a desired number of input images, the merged image is tonemapped with an HDR tonemapping operator. Other embodiments are shown and discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Inventor: Oliver Markus Haynold
  • Patent number: 11287668
    Abstract: A dual-aperture zoom camera comprising a Wide camera with a respective Wide lens and a Tele camera with a respective Tele lens, the Wide and Tele cameras mounted directly on a single printed circuit board, wherein the Wide and Tele lenses have respective effective focal lengths EFLW and EFLT and respective total track lengths TTLW and TTLT and wherein TTLW/EFLW>1.1 and TTLT/EFLT<1.0. Optionally, the dual-aperture zoom camera may further comprise an optical OIS controller configured to provide a compensation lens movement according to a user-defined zoom factor (ZF) and a camera tilt (CT) through LMV=CT*EFLZF, where EFLZF is a zoom-factor dependent effective focal length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg
  • Patent number: 11265463
    Abstract: A low-resolution/high-framerate camera performs steady-basis imaging, and a server detects an area of a person, based on frame data from the low-resolution/high-framerate camera, and generates and outputs to a high-resolution/low-framerate camera imaging condition data. The high-resolution/low-framerate camera starts imaging based on the imaging condition data and outputs frame data to the server. The server performs trimming processing to extract from the frame data output from the high-resolution/low-framerate camera an area of a face of the person, recording of image data of the facial area, and sending of the image data to an external recognition device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takao Nakai, Takehito Morimatsu
  • Patent number: 11258992
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a filter array and to a method for processing image data in a camera. The camera is configured to receive light and generate image data using an image sensor having an associated filter array. The image sensor includes an array of pixels, each of which corresponds to a filter element in the filter array, so that each pixel has a spectral response at least partly defined by a corresponding filter element. The filter array includes a pattern of wideband filter elements and at least two types of narrowband filter elements. The method includes the step of generating a luminance image comprising a wideband filter element value that is calculated for each pixel of the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Blackmagic Design Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Carsten Buettner
  • Patent number: 11258962
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a plurality of cameras, a memory, and at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to identify a change in a distance between a focused subject and the electronic device within a first frame through at least some of the plurality of cameras while a video with a bokeh effect is acquired. The at least one processor is also configured to provide the bokeh effect of the video within a first background area in a second frame in response to identifying that a difference between a first distance and a second distance is within a criterion range. The at least one processor is further configured to provide the bokeh effect of the video within a second background area identified based on a third distance in the second frame in response to identifying that the difference is out of the criterion range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yumin Jung, Junghoon Kim, Sungho Lee, Taehwa Hong, Jiyoon Park
  • Patent number: 11252337
    Abstract: A method for controlling an image capturing device that is operated according to a startup signal includes: configuring an image sensor array of the image capturing device by a first context to output a high-resolution image with a relatively long exposure time to a post-device; switching the first context to a second context based on the high-resolution image and a wide convergence zone; configuring the image sensor array by the second context to output one or more low-resolution images with relatively short exposure times in order to update an exposure value based on the low-resolution images; and updating the exposure value based on a narrow convergence zone to configure the image sensor array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Himax Imaging Limited
    Inventors: Wei-Chieh Yang, Po-Chang Chen, Po-Fang Chen
  • Patent number: 11252351
    Abstract: When imaging bright objects, a conventional detector array can saturate, making it difficult to produce an image with a dynamic range that equals the scene's dynamic range. Conversely, a digital focal plane array (DFPA) with one or more m-bit counters can produce an image whose dynamic range is greater than the native dynamic range. In one example, the DFPA acquires a first image over a relatively brief integration period at a relatively low gain setting. The DFPA then acquires a second image over longer integration period and/or a higher gain setting. During this second integration period, counters may roll over, possibly several times, to capture a residue modulus 2m of the number of counts (as opposed to the actual number of counts). A processor in or coupled to the DFPA generates a high-dynamic range image based on the first image and the residues modulus 2m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Michael W. Kelly, Megan H. Blackwell, Curtis Colonero, James Wey, Christopher David, Justin Baker, Joseph Costa
  • Patent number: 11245852
    Abstract: An apparatus obtains a captured image, obtains exposure setting relating to the captured image, obtains for luminance of a scene, sets a mode for generating the display image; and generates the display image by performing luminance conversion of the captured image depending on the set mode. The apparatus performs, in a case where a first mode is set, the luminance conversion of the captured image using a first conversion characteristic indicating that output luminance after conversion is determined for the luminance of the scene, and does not change depending on the exposure setting. And the apparatus performs, in a case where a second mode is set, the luminance conversion of the captured image using a second conversion characteristic indicating that the output luminance changes depending on the exposure setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Shiozaki
  • Patent number: 11233923
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a method, comprising: receiving, at an information handling device, an indication to activate a camera positioned underneath a display portion of the information handling device; identifying, using a processor, a location of at least one pixel on the display portion positioned overtop the camera; disabling, based on the identifying, the at least one pixel; performing, subsequent to the disabling and using the camera, a function; and enabling, responsive to identifying that the function was performed, the at least one pixel. Other aspects are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: John Weldon Nicholson, Daryl Cromer, Howard Locker
  • Patent number: 11223753
    Abstract: A camera for industrial image processing having a camera module and an objective module that is releasably connected thereto and has an optical system having at least one optical lens preferably comprises—in the camera module—an image sensor for capturing an image and a camera control unit for controlling the camera module and/or the objective module, and—in the objective module—a storage unit having lens data, wherein interacting wireless near field communication units are provided in the camera module and in the objective module, wherein the near field communication unit in the objective module converts an electromagnetic alternating field emitted from the near field communication unit in the camera module into electrical energy for supplying energy to the objective module, and the camera module reads the lens data out via the near field communication units, and the camera control unit controls therewith a function of the camera module and/or of the objective module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: B&R INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION GMBH
    Inventor: Andreas Waldl
  • Patent number: 11223776
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a camera which generates an exposure information image signal is provided. The camera may include an image sensor, a storage medium, and a processing component. The image sensor may be for creating an initial image signal. The storage medium may have gamma correction information stored therein. The processing component may be configured to at least receive the initial image signal, receive the gamma correction information, and generate an exposure information signal based at least in part on the initial image signal and the gamma correction information, where when the exposure information signal is displayed on a display device, the display device shows relative exposure values of portions of the initial image as modified by the gamma correction information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Cinecam, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward Lachman
  • Patent number: 11212461
    Abstract: This image pickup system includes an image pickup unit that captures a subject to obtain a pixel signal, and a processing circuit that generates a first video signal having a first dynamic range from the pixel signal generated by the image pickup unit, and generates a second video signal having a second dynamic range correlated with the first dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Koji Kamiya
  • Patent number: 11212425
    Abstract: An image capture device may include an image sensor, a processor, and a memory. The image sensor may be configured to obtain an image. The processor may be configured to generate a grid on the image. The grid may include one or more vertices. The one or more vertices may be used to form tiles. The processor may be configured to determine a flare level of each vertex. The processor may be configured to assign a maximum flare level for each tile of the image. The processor may be configured to sort the tiles. The tiles may be sorted based on the maximum flare level of each tile. The processor may be configured to apply a flare compensation to a subset of the tiles to obtain a processed image. The processed image may have reduced flare artifacts or no flare artifacts. The processed image may be stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruno César Douady, Guillaume Matthieu Guérin, Eric Chasseur