Patents Examined by Mark Monk
  • Patent number: 9521416
    Abstract: Systems and methods for image data compression in an array camera are disclosed. An array camera includes a processor, an array of cameras, and a compression module. The compression module is configured to receive image data from the array of pixels of a focal plane in a sequentially linear group of pixel data, analyze the received image data based upon truncation rules, compress the received data image based upon the analysis to generate compressed image data, and generate a bit mask identifying truncated image data in the compressed image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: KIP PELI P1 LP
    Inventors: Andrew Kenneth John McMahon, Kartik Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 9503655
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a first unit pixel including a first transfer transistor configured to transfer electric charges from a photoelectric conversion unit to an impurity diffusion region and a second unit pixel including a second transfer transistor configured to transfer electric charges from a photoelectric conversion unit to an impurity diffusion region, and a potential at a channel of the first transfer transistor when the first transfer transistor is on-state is higher than a potential at a channel of the second transfer transistor when the second transfer transistor is on-state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoki Kususaki
  • Patent number: 9479715
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device including a unit pixel including a photoelectric conversion section, an impurity-diffusion region capable of temporarily accumulating or holding electric charges generated by the photoelectric conversion section, and a reset transistor resetting the impurity-diffusion region by a voltage of a voltage-supply line, and having an impurity concentration such that at least the reset transistor side of the impurity-diffusion region becomes a depletion state; and a drive circuit changing the voltage of the voltage-supply line from a first voltage lower than a depletion potential of the reset transistor side of the impurity-diffusion region to a second voltage higher than the depletion potential while the reset transistor is on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusuke Oike
  • Patent number: 9479718
    Abstract: Provided is a signal processing apparatus, including: an A/D conversion unit configured to perform A/D conversion of a first signal, A/D conversion of a second signal, A/D conversion of a third signal, and A/D conversion of a fourth signal; and a correlated double sampling processing unit configured to generate a first output signal by performing correlated double sampling using a first digital data item obtained through the A/D conversion of the first signal, and a second digital data item obtained through the A/D conversion of the second signal, a second output signal by performing correlated double sampling using a third digital data item obtained through the A/D conversion of the third signal, and a fourth digital data item obtained through the A/D conversion of the fourth signal, and a third output signal by performing correlated double sampling using the first output signal and the second output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ichikawa, Nobutaka Shimamura, Atsushi Suzuki, Yusuke Oike, Katsumi Honda, Masahiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9473679
    Abstract: In an imaging apparatus including a reset instruction unit configured to instruct a lens unit to reset an optical member thereof, a first communication system is used for communication for acquiring individual information of the lens unit, and a second communication system different from the first communication system is used for communication for instructing the lens unit to reset an optical member by a reset instruction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideya Takanashi
  • Patent number: 9467604
    Abstract: A method and camera assembly for use in a machine vision system, the assembly comprising a support structure forming a mounting flange that is configured for coupling with any of a plurality of exchangeable electrically controllable adjustable focal length lens assemblies, a two dimensional image sensor supported by the support structure and forming a sensor plane spaced from the mounting flange by a flange focal distance and a processor programmed with a flange focal distance error and to use the flange focal distance error to generate lens control signals to compensate for the flange focal distance error when a lens is mounted to the mounting flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Cognex Corporation
    Inventors: Laurens Nunnink, Michael Haardt, Rene Delasauce
  • Patent number: 9462189
    Abstract: An image signal processor of a device, apparatus, or computing system that includes a camera capable of capturing image data may apply piecewise perspective transformations to image data received from the camera's image sensor. A scaling unit of an Image Signal Processor (ISP) may perform piecewise perspective transformations on a captured image to correct for rolling shutter artifacts and to provide video image stabilization. Image data may be divided into a series of horizontal slices and perspective transformations may be applied to each slice. The transformations may be based on motion data determined in any of various manners, such as by using gyroscopic data and/or optical-flow calculations. The piecewise perspective transforms may be encoded as Digital Difference Analyzer (DDA) steppers and may be implemented using separable scalar operations. The image signal processor may not write the received image data to system memory until after the transformations have been performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher L. Mills, David R. Pope, D. Amnon Silverstein
  • Patent number: 9462191
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an acquiring unit configured to acquire an image signal, a generating unit configured to perform enhancement processing on the image signal to generate a first image and a second image, a synthesizing unit configured to generate a synthetic image with the first image used in a region having a first brightness and the second image used in a region having a second brightness lower than the first brightness, and a recording unit configured to record the synthetic image on a recording medium, the generating unit being configured to perform the enhancement processing such that the second image is more enhanced than the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tsutomu Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 9462247
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises an estimation unit which estimates, from color distribution information of an image obtained by capturing an object, a depth of water at which the captured object is positioned, and a white balance control unit which performs white balance control along an axis different from a black body radiation axis in accordance with the depth of water estimated by the estimation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Takayama, Kenji Ouchi
  • Patent number: 9462165
    Abstract: An electronic device including a camera module and a bracket for supporting the camera module provides for a slimmer construction and better absorption of the impact of external forces. The camera module includes a camera lens module, a housing having an opening and containing the camera lens module, and a camera window for covering the opening of the housing. The bracket includes a region for supporting at least a portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heecheul Moon, Yongseok Lee, Jongchul Choi
  • Patent number: 9456148
    Abstract: The ability of a user to acquire satisfactory images in varying imaging conditions can be improved by enabling the user to select one or more scene settings that are appropriate for current conditions. In some embodiments, a camera instructed to capture an image can instead capture multiple images, each with different camera settings corresponding to a respective scene setting. The user can then view at least some of these images, and select one or more images that appeal to the user. In some embodiments, this selection process can be used to determine the appropriate settings for the current conditions, and then enable the user to capture images using those settings. The user can also customize, change the selection of, or obtain additional scene settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dynin Hong Khem, Scott Oja Ward, Nicholas Ryan Gilmour, Vivek Shah
  • Patent number: 9456144
    Abstract: A determination unit determines exposure control values for a light emission shooting operation and a non-light emission shooting operation based on information acquired by an acquisition unit about a brightness of an object a preliminary light emission is performed by the light emitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuyoshi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9451167
    Abstract: A lens moving unit for a camera module is disclosed. The lens moving unit includes a first lens moving unit, a second lens moving unit, and a cover member to encompass the first and second lens moving units by being coupled to a base. The first lens moving unit moves in response to the interaction between a magnet and a coil. The lens moving unit is configured to miniaturize a camera module and configured to include a handshake correction function for enhancement of operational reliability to simplify an assembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kap Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 9451155
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer readable medium related to autofocusing a camera lens system. An initial image is captured at a first lens position and focus information is extracted with respect to a first plurality of focus windows. A second image is captured at a second lens position and focus information is extracted for a second plurality of focus windows that correspond to the first plurality of focus windows in the initial image. The focus information for corresponding windows is compared to determine whether the focus status in each window is improving or degrading; this determination reveals whether the lens is positioned in a desirable position with respect to the data revealed by the data extracted from the focus windows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Brunner, Michael Chin
  • Patent number: 9451169
    Abstract: Multiple capture assist marks (markers for capture assistance) to be synthesized with video captured by a camera unit 10 is generated by an OSD unit 20 through the control of a control unit 100. These capture assist marks are synthesized with the video from the camera unit 10 by synthesis means and displayed. In this case, an operation unit 110 is used to accept input of an instruction about the capture assist mark from a user. Based on this instruction input, the control unit 100 controls the OSD unit 20 and a baseband processing unit 30 to synthesize the capture assist mark corresponding to the instruction with a video signal from the camera unit 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Ohashi, Kuniaki Sakai, Isao Sasaki
  • Patent number: 9451122
    Abstract: A method and system for sharing photographic content, the method comprising capturing an image on a processing device. A photograph is generated, via the processing device, from the image. Metadata of a user is associated with the photograph and a scannable code corresponding to the metadata is generated. The method further comprises printing, via the processing device, the photograph including the scannable code and an identification of the user on a given social networking site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Inventors: Antonio De Rosa, Artem Shishakin
  • Patent number: 9451136
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a shutter blade arrangement (134) for an array camera (100) comprising an array (130) of lenses (131). The shutter blade arrangement (134) comprises: at least one shutter blade (200), an array of openings (201) on said shutter blade (200), and an actuator (160) to control the at least one shutter blade (200), and wherein the at least one shutter blade (200) and said array of lenses (131) are displaceable relative each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications Inc.
    Inventor: Mats Wernersson
  • Patent number: 9445021
    Abstract: A method of pixel correction is disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) calibrating a per-pixel correction model of a sensor at a plurality of different illumination levels, (B) generating a plurality of pixel values from the sensor in response to an optical signal and (C) generating a plurality of corrected values by applying the per-pixel correction model to the pixel values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Ambrella, Inc.
    Inventors: Elliot N. Linzer, Leslie D. Kohn
  • Patent number: 9445017
    Abstract: There are provided a near-infrared cut filter that effectively uses near-infrared absorbing glass and a near-infrared absorbing dye and is excellent in a near-infrared shielding property, and a high-sensitivity solid-state imaging device including the same. A near-infrared cut filter includes: a near-infrared absorbing glass substrate made of CuO-containing fluorophosphate glass or CuO-containing phosphate glass; and a near-infrared absorbing layer containing a near-infrared absorbing dye (A) and a transparent resin (B), on at least one principal surface of the near-infrared absorbing glass substrate, wherein an average value of a transmittance in a 400 nm to 550 nm wavelength range is 80% or more, and an average value of a transmittance in a 650 nm to 720 nm wavelength range is 15% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Teppei Konishi, Hiroyuki Arishima, Kazuhiko Shiono, Hiroki Hotaka, Makoto Hasegawa, Hiroshi Shimoda, Atsushi Komori, Aya Ikoma
  • Patent number: 9445012
    Abstract: A camera controller device of the present technique includes a switching operation unit for switching a camera to be controlled, an adjuster for adjusting adjustment elements of a camera to be controlled, and a controller for controlling the entire device. The adjuster has a start point and an end point of an adjustment range. The controller compares a setting value of the adjustment element of the camera before switching with a setting value of the adjustment element of the camera after switching, and when both the setting values do not match with each other, the controller prohibits an operation of the cameras until the setting value of the adjustment element of the camera after switching matches with a setting value set by the adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akane Matsuo, Keiya Eguchi, Takashi Komemushi