Patents Examined by Mark Monk
  • Patent number: 9091413
    Abstract: Optical apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate and an edge-emitting radiation source, mounted on a surface of the substrate so as to emit optical radiation along an axis that is parallel to the surface. A reflector is fixed to the substrate in a location on the axis and is configured to reflect the optical radiation in a direction that is angled away from the surface. One or more optical elements are mounted on the substrate so as to receive and transmit the optical radiation reflected by the reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Israel Petronius, Zafrir Mor, Mordehai Margalit, Benny Pesach, Alexander Shpunt
  • Patent number: 9077881
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a camera module herein. The camera module includes a case; a bracket that is installed in the case, wherein an elastic element is interposed between the bracket and the case, and the bracket is elastically supported in the case by the elastic element; a substrate coupled to a lower portion of the bracket; an image sensor installed on the printed circuit board, wherein an upper portion of the image sensor is inserted into the bracket; and a focusing and tilt adjuster that is coupled through a bottom surface of the case, wherein a front end portion of the focusing and tilt adjuster contacts the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 9071757
    Abstract: The optical image stabilizer sets a movable amount of an image stabilizing element to a first movable amount when a detection signal from a shake detector does not exceed a first value. The stabilizer sets the movable amount to a second movable amount when the signal exceeds the first value and then exceeds, without exceeding a second value, a third value within a first period of time, sets the movable amount to a third movable amount when the signal exceeds the first value and then does not exceed the second and third values, sets the movable amount to the second movable amount when the signal exceeds the first value, then exceeds the second value and thereafter exceeds a fourth value, and sets the movable amount to the third movable amount when the signal exceeds the first value and then exceeds the second value without exceeding the fourth value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinji Imada
  • Patent number: 9071780
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: 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: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusuke Oike
  • Patent number: 9064983
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a semiconductor substrate having a light receiving surface sectioned for red, green, blue, and white pixels arranged in a matrix with photodiodes formed thereon; color filters formed on the semiconductor substrate in light incident paths to the photodiodes of the respective formation regions of the red, green, and blue pixels and respectively transmitting lights in red, green, and blue wavelength regions; and photochromic films formed on the semiconductor substrate in the light incident path to the photodiodes in the formation regions of at least some of the white pixels, and containing a photochromic material having light transmittance varying in response to incident light intensity in a predetermined wavelength region, wherein a half period of the light transmittance of the photochromic films is shorter than one frame as a period in which pixel signals obtained in the pixels are read out with respect to all pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kyoko Izuha, Kouichi Harada
  • Patent number: 9001269
    Abstract: An actuator includes a base, a stationary frame fixed on the base, a movable frame received in the stationary frame, a SMA line, a guide pole, a position sensor, and a controller. The movable frame includes a resisting surface adjacent to the base, and defines a hole. The SMA line resists on the resisting surface. Two ends of the SMA line are fixed on the stationary frame. The guide pole is fixed on the base and extends through the hole. The position sensor detects the position of the movable frame. The controller supplies current to heat the SMA line to change the length of the SMA line, the SMA line drives the movable frame to move along the guide pole accordingly. The controller adjusts the current according to the position of the movable frame detected by the position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chi-Wei Chiu
  • Patent number: 8988599
    Abstract: A controllable lighting system may include a plurality of light source groups, a group controller for each light source group, a master controller, and a network communication system. Each group controller may be configured to control the light sources in its light source group based on a group control command. The master controller may be configured to receive a master control command relating to the light sources and to issue a group control command to each of the group controllers that collectively effectuate compliance with the master control command. The network communication system may be configured to communicate the group control commands from the master controller to the group controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: University of Southern California
    Inventors: Paul Debevec, Xueming Yu, Mark Bolas, Graham Fyffe, Jay Busch, Pieter Peers, Abhijeet Ghosh
  • Patent number: 8982267
    Abstract: A camera module including a particle trap. The particle trap may be disposed in the camera module and may be operable to prevent particles from obstructing an optical path defined between a lens assembly and an image sensor. The particle trap may include a particle getter to retain particles in contact with the particle trap. The camera module may be operative to move the lens assembly so as to provide focus on the image sensor for objects at various distances from the camera module. The movement of the lens assembly may be a source of particles retained by the particle trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventors: Prebesh Pavithran, Yeow Thiam Ooi, Haw Chyn Cheng, Hung Khin Wong, Giap Chye Toh, Shun Kyo Low
  • Patent number: 8970743
    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: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Ambarella, Inc.
    Inventors: Elliot N. Linzer, Leslie D. Kohn
  • Patent number: 8964110
    Abstract: In the imaging apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention, the aperture area ratio between the plurality of regions of the multifocal lens is appropriately configured. Thereby, it is configured such that, when a plurality of images are simultaneously imaged via the plurality of regions using the illumination light source, brightness of the image of the subject at an in-focus distance corresponding to one region of the plurality of regions, the image imaged via the one region, the brightness arising from the illumination light, is substantially equal to brightness of the image of another subject at an in-focus body distance corresponding to another region, the image imaged via the other region except the one region, the brightness arising from the illumination light. Accordingly, the subject at any of the distances does not suffer excess or deficient exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Shuji Ono
  • Patent number: 8953065
    Abstract: A titling apparatus for giving a title to a captured image includes a captured image storing unit, an image capturing time storing unit, an image capturing period judging unit, a period terminology storing unit and a titling unit. A title to a captured image group is determined by using terminology corresponding to a period and a season.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventors: Shuji Ono, Akira Yoda
  • Patent number: 8947555
    Abstract: Systems and methods to improve the white balance of a high dynamic range image are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, an imaging device includes a camera sensor and a processor, the processor configured to capture a lighter image and a darker image of a scene. The processor is then configured to white balance the lighter image based on the lighter regions of the image, and to white balance the darker image based on the darker regions of the image. The two images can then be combined to produce a final image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Ruben M. Velarde, Kalin M. Atanassov, Bob R. Hung, Liang Liang
  • Patent number: 8941774
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus to which an accessory is detachably attached, said accessory including an optical member, includes a signal generation unit configured to generate a vertical synchronizing signal and output the generated vertical synchronizing signal, an imaging unit configured to accumulate charges in synchronization with the vertical synchronizing signal and output an imaging signal, a control unit configured to generate a clock signal and control data communication with the accessory based on the clock signal, a first terminal for sending the clock signal to the accessory, and a second terminal for communicating data with the accessory, in which the control unit, after the data communication via the second terminal, notifies timing at which the vertical synchronizing signal is output using the clock signal via the first terminal by changing a signal level of the first terminal after a lapse of a predetermined time while the signal level is kept at a predetermined level, and controls the accessory to dr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Kudo, Yoshihiko Aihara, Minoru Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 8941746
    Abstract: Adapter (3, 5) for processing electrical signals in an installation comprising a video camera equipment (1) and a remote equipment (7). A first aim of the present invention is to provide an adapter system which allows automatically providing an output video signal that is co-timed to the master timing reference of the remote equipment. A second aim of the invention is to provide an adapter system which improves the security of the installation when power for the camera is transmitted by the remote equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Interlemo Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Keith Jenkins, Gary Wordsworth, David Pether, Philip Longhurst, Christopher Hamblin, Gareth Foster
  • Patent number: 8922684
    Abstract: A deterioration in image quality caused by correction can be prevented in comparison to when consideration is not given to the sequence in which correction is performed on an image captured by an image pickup device. An imaging apparatus 10 is configured including an optical system 12, an image pickup device 14, an image capture correction processing section 16, and an image processing section 18. The image capture correction processing section 16 is configured including a color mixing correction section 20, a noise correction section 22, an offset correction section 24 and a gain correction section 26. The color mixing correction section 20 reads image data from the image pickup device 14 and performs color mixing correction processing thereon. The noise correction section 22 performs noise correction processing on the image data on which the color mixing correction section 20 has performed color mixing correction processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kenkichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8922676
    Abstract: A video frame buffer may enable a high resolution image sensor video stream to be transmitted on a standard communication link at a high frame rate. The buffer may include an image stream input for receiving image frames from the image sensor, and a memory for buffering image frames. A frame processor manipulates portions of each image frame before passing the modified image frame to the memory which selectively buffers the frames before outputting the frames to a communication output. The video frame buffer may be implemented in a FPGA along with a DDR SDRAM memory. The communication link may be a USB2 communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventor: Craig McNaughton
  • Patent number: 8913180
    Abstract: Described herein is a folded tape package for electronic devices. The folded tape package uses a flexible tape substrate having two end sections for passive components and a middle section for connecting and stacking multiple dies. The stacked dies are encapsulated or covered with a mold. One side may be left exposed for device functionality and operation with additional components or devices. The passive components may also be covered with a mold. The end sections are folded such that the end sections are in a parallel configuration with the middle section. The flexible tape substrate may be a high density interconnect flexible tape substrate with two layers. A silicon substrate may be used to interconnect a die stack to the flexible tape substrate. The folded tape package has a reduced device footprint, lower substrate warpage effects, and higher substrate yields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Flextronics AP, LLC
    Inventor: Samuel Tam
  • Patent number: 8913154
    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: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Takayama, Kenji Ouchi
  • Patent number: 8896742
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is arranged to perform live view to display enlarged image by deciding a Tv value, an Av value, and an ISO value based on a program diagram for deciding an exposure amount from brightness of an object, when a change instruction of an AF adjustment value used for a live view is provided, while when an operation to start the live view is provided and the change instruction of the AF adjustment value used for the live view is not provided, the apparatus performs live view by deciding the Tv value, Av value, and ISO value based on the program diagram if a photographing mode is not a manual mode, but performs the live view by using the Tv value, Av value, and ISO value set by the user, if the photographing mode is the manual mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuki Fukushima
  • Patent number: 8885080
    Abstract: The present invention is applied to an image pickup device with a CMOS solid-state image pickup element, in which an analog-to-digital conversion circuit is disposed in a surface on an opposite side from an image pickup surface in a semiconductor chip 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Seiji Kobayashi