Patents Examined by Mark Monk
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Patent number: 9445021Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 21, 2015Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Ambrella, Inc.Inventors: Elliot N. Linzer, Leslie D. Kohn
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Patent number: 9445012Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 10, 2014Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Akane Matsuo, Keiya Eguchi, Takashi Komemushi
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Patent number: 9444989Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element including a plurality of focus detection pixels configured to generate a pair of image signals based on light beams passing through pupil regions different from each other in an image pickup optical system, a detection unit configured to detect a base line length of the plurality of focus detection pixels and a pupil division direction based on position information of a focus detection region in the image pickup element and information relating to the image pickup optical system, and a calculation unit configured to calculate a phase difference in the pupil division direction by using the pair of image signals.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2014Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Takeshi Ogawa
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Patent number: 9444983Abstract: A photographing device comprises an assembling component, an image capturing component, a first annular fastener, a first stopping part and a second annular fastener. The assembling component comprises a hollow case, a protruding part, a first fastening part and a second fastening part. The hollow case has an inner surface, a first end and a second end. The protruding part is located at inner surface to form a supporting space together. The first fastening part and second fastening part are located at first end and second end, respectively. The image capturing component is located in supporting space. The first annular fastener has a third fastening part fastened to first fastening part and an annular abutting part. The first stopping part is connected to first annular fastener or first end. The second annular fastener has a fourth fastening part fastened to second fastening part and a second stopping part.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2014Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: VIVOTEK INC.Inventors: Yui-Juin Liu, Chih-Chieh Chan
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Patent number: 9445028Abstract: An image sensor may include an array of image sensor pixels arranged in rows and columns. Each image pixel arranged along a given column may be coupled to analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuitry that is capable of converting analog pixel signals into a digital floating point equivalent representation. The ADC circuitry may be configured to perform exponent conversion during a first time period at a nominal reference voltage level and to perform mantissa conversion a subsequent time period at an adjustable reference voltage level that can be less than the nominal reference voltage level. Readout circuitry implemented in this way can perform conversion in a shorter period of time using a reduced resolution ADC to serve effectively as a higher resolution ADC.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2014Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventor: Nikolai Bock
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Patent number: 9438827Abstract: Electronic devices may include image sensors that capture interleaved images having rows of long-exposure pixel values interleaved with rows of short-exposure pixel values. Processing circuitry in the electronic device may (spatially) partition the interleaved images into multiple bins. The processing circuitry may generate a weighted long-exposure pixel value for each bin and a weighted short-exposure pixel value for each bin. The weighted long and short exposure values in each bin may be combined to generate a binned high-dynamic-range (HDR) pixel value for that bin. The processing circuitry may output a binned HDR image formed from the binned HDR pixel values to additional circuitry such as video processing circuitry for performing additional image processing operations. If desired, the image sensor and processing circuitry may be combined into an integrated structure that generates a single binned HDR pixel value and multiple integrated structures may be used.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2014Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventor: Huai Dong Li
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Patent number: 9432642Abstract: An imaging system and method having a selected depth of field include an imaging lens for forming images of an object, the imaging lens having chromatic aberration and a color image sensor for receiving the images of the object. The color image sensor has a selected spectral response, the selected spectral response of the color image sensor defining a selected first center wavelength, a selected second center wavelength and a selected third center wavelength, wherein the selected first center wavelength is larger than the selected second center wavelength and the selected second center wavelength is larger than the selected third center wavelength. The selected spectral response defines the depth of field of the imaging system. A difference between the selected first center wavelength and the selected third center wavelength is greater than 150 nm.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2011Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Lu Gao, Jizhang Shan, Guansong Liu, Hongjun Li
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Patent number: 9432561Abstract: A camera includes a camera body having a camera lens structured on a front surface of the camera body and electronics internal to the camera body for capturing images via the camera lens. A thermally conductive material is thermally coupled to the electronics and exposed on an external face of the camera body. The thermally conductive material transfers heat produced by the electronics to the external face of the camera, and a removable heat sink removably couples to the thermally conductive material. The camera further includes a housing structured to at least partially enclose the camera body. The housing is structured to enable at least a portion of the removable heat sink to protrude through the housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2014Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: GoPro, Inc.Inventors: Rudy Lucas Samuels, Scott Patrick Campbell
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Patent number: 9420160Abstract: A method includes obtaining a plurality of object images taken by an image pickup device while moving a focal position within a predetermined range, the image pickup device being capable of taking images at arbitrary focal positions within the predetermined range; calculating a first in-focus position within the predetermined range based on pieces of contrast information on a manually-taken object image group, the manually-taken object image group including the plurality of object images taken while manually moving the focal position within the predetermined range; and calculating a second in-focus position within the search range based on pieces of contrast information on an automatically-taken object image group including the plurality of object images taken while automatically moving the focal position within a search range, the search range being determined with reference to the calculated first in-focus position.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2014Date of Patent: August 16, 2016Assignee: MITUTOYO CORPORATIONInventor: Hiroyuki Yoshida
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Patent number: 9313433Abstract: In a solid-state imaging device and an electronic camera, a first substrate of the solid-state imaging device includes first and second photoelectric converting units, a transfer unit that transfers signal charges of the first and second photoelectric converting units to a connector, and a microlens that causes light to be incident on the first and second photoelectric converting unit. A second substrate of the solid-state imaging device includes first and second memory units that hold signal charges transferred from one or the other of the first and second photoelectric converting unit to the connector and an averaging unit that averages the signal charges held in the first memory unit and the signal charge held in the second memory unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2013Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Shinichi Nakajima, Yuichi Gomi
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Patent number: 9294691Abstract: An imaging device includes: plural photoelectric conversion device layers in which photoelectric conversion devices performing photoelectric conversion of incident light are formed; and a wiring layer sandwiched by respective photoelectric conversion device layers, in which wirings for reading charges from the photoelectric conversion devices are formed.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2012Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventor: Susumu Ooki
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Patent number: 9282252Abstract: A camera with a pair of lens/sensor combinations, the two lenses having different focal lengths, so that the image from one of the combinations has a field of view approximately two to three times greater than the image from the other combination. As a user of the camera requests a given amount of zoom, the zoomed image provided will come from the lens/sensor combination having the field of view that is next larger than the requested field of view. Thus, if the requested field of view is less than the smaller field of view combination, the zoomed image will be created from the image captured by that combination, using cropping and interpolation if necessary. Similarly, if the requested field of view is greater than the smaller field of view combination, the zoomed image will be created from the image captured by the other combination, using cropping and interpolation if necessary.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2013Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: DigitalOptics CorporationInventor: Lawrence Alan Scarff
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Patent number: 9277145Abstract: An imaging device is provided which includes a solid-state imaging device that includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a form of a two-dimensional (2D) matrix, and outputs pixel signals corresponding to subject light incident on the plurality of pixels, and a plurality of image-acquiring units that acquire the pixel signals output from the solid-state imaging device, and output image data corresponding to the acquired pixel signals, wherein each of the plurality of image-acquiring units acquires pixel signals of one of divisional imaging regions obtained by dividing an imaging region in which all pixels arranged in the solid-state imaging device image the subject light by the number of image-acquiring units, and outputs image data corresponding to the acquired pixel signal of the divisional imaging region as divisional image data.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2013Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Takashi Yanada, Yoshinobu Tanaka, Tomoyuki Sengoku, Masami Shimamura, Akira Ueno
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Patent number: 9277119Abstract: An electronic apparatus is described. The electronic apparatus includes an image capture unit, a first image processor, a second image processor, a display unit, and an image storage unit. The image capture unit generates an input image by a photoelectric conversion of incident light. The first image processor generates a display image from the input image and generates a first stored image from the first input image. The input image is divided into a first input image and a second input image. The second image processor generates a second stored image from the second input image. The display unit displays the display image. The image storage unit stores a combined stored image. The combined stored image is a combination of the first stored image and the second stored image.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2014Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Soon-ae Kim, Oh-hyun Kwon, Jin-a Jeon, Myoung-kyoung Jeong
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Patent number: 9277103Abstract: A wireless speaker and digital camera device comprises a speaker, a lens, and image sensor, a processor, a wireless transceiver, a digital memory device, a battery and a shutter button to cause the at least one processor to capture a still image or video from the image sensor and store a captured image or video in the digital memory device. The processor and the wireless transceiver being configured to pair with a portable, hand-held computer. The device also having a play button to cause the processor and the transceiver to wirelessly receive music data from the portable, hand-held computer and play the music data through the speaker. The device can have a microphone and the processor can be capable of suspending operation of the speaker during operation of the microphone.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2015Date of Patent: March 1, 2016Assignee: ZAGG Intellectual Property Holding Co., Inc.Inventors: Randy Hales, Paul Faerber
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Patent number: 9270962Abstract: A method of eliminating a color cast of image in photographic device includes: obtaining a color cast image; determining a color temperature of the color cast image; analyzing a brightness ratio among a first primary color, a second primary color, and a third primary color of the color cast image; choosing one parameter group from a plurality of color cast calibration parameter groups according to the color temperature; calibrating the brightness ratio among the first primary color, the second primary color, and the third primary color of the color cast image via the chosen color cast calibration parameter group.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2014Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.Inventors: Po-Yu Yeh, Po-Yin Lai
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Patent number: 9270847Abstract: A method and system for sharing photographic content, the method comprising generating social media content for a photograph feed associated with a photograph that is shared on a social network, the photograph located at a first location and including scannable code, receiving activity information associated with the photograph from one or more client devices, the activity information including scanning of the scannable code and geographical data of the one or more client devices, and determining movements of the photograph from the first location based on the geographical data. The method further comprises updating the social media content with geographical locations and distances traveled from the first location based on the activity information and the determined movements.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2014Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Inventors: Antonio De Rosa, Artem Shishakin
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Patent number: 9264602Abstract: An optical apparatus which is capable of, when performing manual focus shooting, freely adjusting a rack focus speed and stabilizing a final focusing accuracy for a shooting subject. Operation of the focus lens, which is driven in a direction of an optical axis by a motor, is controlled in accordance with rotation of a manual focus ring. A position of the focus lens in the direction of the optical axis, which is detected when the focus lens lies at a predetermined position, is stored in a storage unit. According to the relationship between a signal indicative of a current position of a focus lens and a signal indicative of a position of the focus lens, which is stored in the storage unit, the amount by which the focus lens is driven relative to rotation of a manual focus ring is changed.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2014Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Masato Shiono
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Patent number: 9253434Abstract: An electronic device for contemporaneously obtaining, with a processor connected to a memory, a forward image from a forward facing camera of the electronic device and a rear image from a rear facing camera of the electronic device, and embedding the rear image in the forward image or the forward image in the rear image, thereby creating a composite image. Optionally, the rear image is embedded as a watermark in the forward image thereby creating the composite image. Alternatively, the rear image is steganographically embedded in the forward image thereby creating the composite image.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2013Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Gregory J. Boss, James R. Kozloski, Clifford A. Pickover, Anne R. Sand
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Patent number: 9253433Abstract: An electronic device and method for contemporaneously obtaining, with a processor connected to a memory, a forward image from a forward facing camera of the electronic device and a rear image from a rear facing camera of the electronic device, and embedding the rear image in the forward image or the forward image in the rear image, thereby creating a composite image. Optionally, the rear image is embedded as a watermark in the forward image thereby creating the composite image. Alternatively, the rear image is steganographically embedded in the forward image thereby creating the composite image.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2012Date of Patent: February 2, 2016Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Gregory J. Boss, James R. Kozloski, Clifford Alan Pickover, Anne R. Sand