Patents Examined by Marly Camargo
  • Patent number: 8970765
    Abstract: An image processing device may include a control unit. The control unit may be operable, in a first mode, to control display on a display screen of a representative image of a group of images and, in a second mode, to control display on the display screen of an image of the group of images corresponding to a posture of the device. In addition, the control unit may be operable to switch between operation in the first mode and the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kimu Higashimoto
  • Patent number: 8964074
    Abstract: An amplification circuit includes an amplifier, a first capacitor including a first terminal connected to an input terminal of the amplifier, a second capacitor including a first terminal connected to the input terminal of the amplifier and a second terminal connected to an output terminal of the amplifier, and a correction unit configured to correct a difference in bias dependency between capacitance values of the first and second capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hideo Kobayashi, Masanori Ogura
  • Patent number: 8947585
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: an imaging element; a main lens that condenses light from a subject toward the imaging element; a micro lens array that is configured by a plurality kinds of micro lenses with different focal lengths that is disposed between the imaging element and the main lens and causes light transmitted through the main lens to form an image on the imaging element; and a CPU that, in response to receiving a designation of a distance to a side of a subject that is photographed, performs weighting for each image that is imaged by the plurality kinds of micro lenses of the imaging element based on the distance so as to constitute one captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Nagasaka, Akira Hamada, Ryohei Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8947556
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that is capable of reducing the load of the process required to combine images with different exposures to generate a composite image. An image pickup unit performs continuous image pickup that shoots a subject continuously under different exposure conditions. A control unit controls the image pickup unit so that the exposure condition for the first shot in a current set, which is a second or later set, is coincident with the exposure condition for the last shot in the previous set when a plurality of sets of the continuous image pickup are performed. A composing unit composes the images acquired by one set of the continuous image pickup by the image pickup unit to generate one output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taro Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8941765
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a plurality of first pixels, each of which outputs a first pixel signal, a plurality of second pixels, each of which outputs a second pixel signal, a ramp wave generator that outputs a ramp signal that monotonously increases or monotonously decreases over time, a phase shift pulse generator that outputs first to n-th phase shift pulse signals, a first pixel latch group that latches the first to n-th phase shift pulse signals when the first pixel signal and the ramp signal have a predetermined relationship, a second pixel latch group that latches the first to n-th phase shift pulse signals when the second pixel signal and the ramp signal have the predetermined relationship, first to n-th power source lines to supply a power source and first to n-th phase shift pulse supply lines to supply the phase shift pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Saito
  • Patent number: 8941771
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: a plurality of micro-lenses disposed in a two-dimensional pattern near a focal plane of an image forming optical system; an image sensor that includes a two-dimensional array of element groups each corresponding to one of the micro-lenses and made up with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which receive, via the micro-lenses light fluxes from a subject having passed through the photographic optical system and output image signals; and a synthesizing unit that combines the image signals output from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements based upon information so as to generate synthetic image data in correspondence to a plurality of image forming areas present on a given image forming plane of the image forming optical system, the information specifying positions of the photoelectric conversion elements output image signals that are to be used for generating synthetic image data for each image forming area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Toru Iwane
  • Patent number: 8937682
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a focusing device comprising: a lens, a lens plate, an image sensor, an image sensor plate, at least two rotatable structures, and at least two strips, wherein the lens is connected to the lens plate, the image sensor is connected to the image sensor plate, wherein each strip is arranged to be wound onto one of the rotatable structures, respectively, the rotatable structures and the strips are arranged between the lens plate and the image sensor plate, the rotatable structures and/or the strips are arranged in contact with the lens plate and the image sensor plate, and wherein a distance between the lens and the image sensor is adjusted by winding the strips onto or off the rotatable structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Axis AB
    Inventor: Jonas Hjelmstrom
  • Patent number: 8922690
    Abstract: An image sensor including a pixel unit, the pixel unit including a photodiode, a first color filter and a second color filter each disposed in a different position on a plane above the photodiode, and a first on-chip lens disposed over the first color filter and a second on-chip lens disposed over the second color filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Nakata
  • Patent number: 8902330
    Abstract: A method for correcting image data, in particular for color correction and cross-talk reduction of image data obtained by an image sensor comprising image pixels (R, G, B) and non-image pixels (F), the image pixels (R,G,B) being overlaid with a color filter array (CFA) and having a different spectral sensitivity than the non-image pixels, comprises determining a set of color components (rold, gold, bold) for the image pixels (R,G,B) based on raw image data (rraw, graw, braw) read only from the image pixels (R,G,B) of the image sensor (10); correcting the set of color components of non-direct neighbors of the non-image pixels (F) by means of a first color correction matrix (CCM1); and correcting the set of color components of direct neighbors of the non-image pixels by means of a second color correction matrix (CCM2) different from the first color correction matrix. An image sensor (10) and an auto-focus camera using same are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Harvest Imaging bvba
    Inventor: Albert Theuwissen
  • Patent number: 8842187
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a high dynamic range synthesizing circuit includes an interpolation processing unit, a blur detection unit and a mix processing unit. The interpolation processing unit generates an interpolation signal. The blur detection unit uses a first image signal and a second image signal a signal level of which is adjusted for detecting the amount of blur. The mix processing unit performs processing of mixing the second image signal into the interpolation signal. The mix processing unit applies a weight of the second image signal depending on the amount of blur to the interpolation signal by the mix processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yukiyasu Tatsuzawa, Kazuhiro Hiwada
  • Patent number: 8823836
    Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus includes a digital signal processing unit that obtains first image data from an input image and generates second image data using the first image data according to a condition that is previously set. A method of controlling a digital photographing apparatus includes obtaining first image data from an input image and generating second image data using the first image data according to a condition that is previously set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-ha Park
  • Patent number: 8803985
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus including an HDR (High Dynamic Range) processing unit inputting images picked up while exposure control that changes an exposure time is being carried out with a predetermined spatial period and a predetermined temporal period on pixels that compose an image sensor, and carrying out image processing. The HDR processing unit generates a first combined image by combining pixel values of a plurality of images with different sensitivities generated by an interpolation process using a plurality of consecutively picked-up images, generates a second combined image by combining pixel values of a plurality of images with different sensitivities generated by an interpolation process that uses a single picked-up image, and generates an HDR image by executing a pixel value blending process on the first combined image and the second combined image in accordance with a blending ratio calculated in accordance with movement detection information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shun Kaizu, Tomoo Mitsunaga, Yasushi Saito, Masanori Kasai
  • Patent number: 8786745
    Abstract: In a pixel 11, a floating semiconductor region FD accumulates a charge from a photoelectric transducer PD. A first charge transfer path CTP1 extends from the photoelectric transducer PD to the floating semiconductor region FD through the storage diode SD. A second charge transfer path CTP2 extends from the photoelectric transducer PD to the floating semiconductor region. An output unit AMP provides a signal corresponding to a potential in the floating semiconductor region FD. The first charge transfer path CTP includes a first shutter switch TR(GS1) for controlling a transfer of the charge from the photoelectric transducer PD, the storage diode SD for accumulating the charge from the photoelectric transducer PD, and a transfer switch TR(TF1) for controlling a transfer of the charge from the storage diode SD to the floating semiconductor region PD, while the second charge transfer path CTP includes a shutter switch TR(GS2) for controlling a transfer of the charge from the photoelectric transducer PD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: National University Corporation Shizuoka University
    Inventors: Shoji Kawahito, Keita Yasutomi
  • Patent number: 8780234
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an imaging apparatus configured to display a through image in a visible manner when it is assumed that a status of a focus is confirmed even if a multiple live view display suitable for composition adjustment is performed in multiple exposure photography. The imaging apparatus includes a generation unit configured to multiple-synthesize a through image and at least a captured image, and to generate a multiple-composite image, a display control unit configured to perform control to display the multiple-composite image on a display unit while sequentially updating the multiple-composite image, a magnification instruction receiving unit configured to receive an image magnification instruction, and a control unit configured to perform control to display a through image magnified without multiple-synthesizing, on the display unit when receiving the magnification instruction while displaying the multiple-composite image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukihiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8780232
    Abstract: A method of analyzing images captured using an imaging device is provided herein. The analysis provides suggestions for changing a parameter of the imaging device during subsequent image capture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Murray D. Craig, Gregory Hofer, Susan E. Manson, Amy E. Battles
  • Patent number: 8754957
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus which performs recovery processing of correcting a degradation in image due to an aberration in an optical imaging system, with respect to image data of a plurality of colors, comprising: a separation unit configured to separate image data into image data of the respective colors, and further separate image data of a color whose spatial frequency characteristic is higher than that of another color due to an arrangement of color filters of the plurality of colors into a plurality of image data of same color so as to have the same spatial frequency characteristic as that of the other color; a plurality of image processing units configured to perform recovery processing by filter processing for each of the separated image data; and an interpolation processing unit configured to perform color interpolation processing of each pixel for the image data having undergone the recovery processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Kano
  • Patent number: 8749693
    Abstract: A light reduction device for adjusting an amount of light reaching an imaging device includes: a light shielding plate in which light shielding parts are discretely formed for blocking the light, and a light transmission part is formed for transmitting the light; a first light reduction plate in which light reduction parts are discretely formed for reducing the amount of the light passing through, and a light transmission part is formed for transmitting the light; and a moving unit configured to move at least one of the light shielding plate and the first light reduction plate in a first direction which intersects with an incident direction of the light, in which the light shielding plate and the first light reduction plate overlap each other at least in part, when viewed from the incident direction of the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Uchida, Yoshiaki Sugitani
  • Patent number: 8749686
    Abstract: In various embodiments, image sensors include photosensitive pixels, associated vertical CCDs, sense nodes each accepting charge from one or more of the vertical CCDs, and readout circuitry accepting signals from the sense nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Truesense Imaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Edward T. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8743245
    Abstract: An image processing method includes the steps of obtaining an input image that is an image in which information of an object space is obtained from a plurality of points of view using an image pickup apparatus that includes an image pickup element having a plurality of pixels and an imaging optical system, calculating a first position of a virtual imaging plane that corresponds to a specified focus position, setting the virtual imaging plane to a second position that is in a range of a depth of focus of the imaging optical system with reference to the first position so that a maximum value of an apparent pixel pitch that is formed by reconstructing the input image is decreased, and generating an output image in a state where the virtual imaging plane is set to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Norihito Hiasa, Koshi Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 8743240
    Abstract: Disclosed is an imaging apparatus with a flicker detector that restrains an increased calculation amount and image quality degradation. The apparatus includes a frame rate controller for setting a frame rate of an acquired image to a first frame rate or different second frame rate, a luminance calculator for calculating a first luminance difference between two images of a first group continuously acquired at the first frame rate and a second luminance difference between two images of a second group continuously acquired at the second frame rate, and a flicker detector for comparing the first and second luminance differences with first and second threshold, respectively, and determining whether flickers of a first frequency and a different second frequency are generated or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Satoshi Horiuchi