Patents Examined by Marly S Camargo
  • Patent number: 11272132
    Abstract: Provided are pixels, devices, systems, and methods relating to active pixel sensor in which each active pixel puts out a signal that represents a temporal differential. The output of the active pixel represents a comparison or difference between successive frames. The differential can represent the state of the sensor element in the pixel at the end of one frame compared to the state of the sensor element of the frame, at the end of the prior frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.
    Inventors: Annette Grot, Stephen Turner, Steven Benjamin Warren
  • Patent number: 11272130
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an image sensor including a first substrate and a second substrate that are stacked one on top of another, the first substrate having a pixel array in which pixel blocks each including a plurality of pixels for performing photoelectric conversion are disposed in matrix, the second substrate having a circuit array in which a plurality of signal processing units that process signals based on the photoelectric conversion are disposed in matrix; obtaining means for obtaining an image signal from the image sensor; and driving control means for controlling driving for obtaining the image signal from the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideaki Sambonsugi
  • Patent number: 11272128
    Abstract: In a solid-state imaging element that detects a change in an amount of light on the basis of a photocurrent, erroneous detection due to a dark current or dark current shot noise is reduced. The solid-state imaging element includes a limiting circuit, a differentiating circuit, and a comparison circuit. The limiting circuit limits an electric signal generated by photoelectric conversion by a predetermined limit value and outputs the electric signal limited as an output signal. The differentiating circuit obtains an amount of change of the output signal output from the limiting circuit. The comparison circuit performs comparison between the amount of change obtained by the differentiating circuit and a predetermined threshold value to output a result of the comparison as a result of detection of an address event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Masaki Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 11272119
    Abstract: High dynamic range imaging includes first image data captured using a first image sensor and a first exposure time, using a rolling shutter such that different lines within the first image data are captured at different times. Two or more instances of second image data are captured using second image sensors and second exposure times that are shorter than the first exposure time. The second image data are captured using a rolling shutter, and overlap at least in part with the first image data. A line of the first image data has a corresponding line in each instance of second image data, and the corresponding instances of second image data are captured at different second capture times. For a line in the first image data, the corresponding line from the instance of second image data is selected to be merged with the line in the first image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: AXIS AB
    Inventors: Song Yuan, Martin Santesson
  • Patent number: 11265501
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes pixels including first and second photoelectric converters, a memory unit, and a transfer unit for transferring signals in the memory unit to a processing unit. The pixels output a first signal based on a signal of the first photoelectric converter, and a second signal based on signals of the first and second photoelectric converters. The transfer unit performs on row-by-row a first transfer period of transferring the first signal in the memory unit and a second transfer period of transferring the second signals held in the memory unit. A column a pixel outputting the first signal transferred during the first period of a first row is arranged is different from a column a pixel outputting the first signal transferred during the first period of a second row is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koichiro Iwata
  • Patent number: 11265475
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprising an image capturing unit, a communication unit and a control unit that controls communication by the communication unit, wherein the control unit determines whether a predetermined setting has been made on the image capturing apparatus, upon receiving, from the client apparatus via the local network, a connection request for connecting the image capturing apparatus and the cloud server via an Internet, wherein the predetermined setting includes at least one of: a setting of a mask function for masking at least a part of an image captured by the image capturing unit; and a setting of a limiting function for limiting a driving range of a driving unit that can drive the image capturing unit in a pan direction or a tilt direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinjiro Takami
  • Patent number: 11258976
    Abstract: A pixel circuit includes a differential amplifier. The differential amplifier includes a non-inverting input terminal, an inverting input terminal, and an output terminal. The differential amplifier includes an input differential pair including first and second NMOS transistors, a current mirror pair including PMOS transistors, and a constant current source including a fifth NMOS transistor. A threshold voltage of each of the first and second NMOS transistors is higher than a threshold voltage of the fifth NMOS transistor. Further, the threshold voltage of each of the first and second NMOS transistors is higher than a threshold voltage of another NMOS transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Sho Morita, Takayuki Kurashina, Hiroo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11258970
    Abstract: In an imaging device, each of first and second pixels in a same column includes a photoelectric converter, a first transistor, and a second transistor wherein a source (or a drain) of the first transistor is connected to the photoelectric converter, a gate of the second transistor is connected to the photoelectric converter, and a source (or a drain) of the second transistor is connected to the drain (or the source) of the first transistor. A first current source is configured to be electrically connected to the source (or the drain) of the second transistor of the first pixel, a second current source is configured to be electrically connected to the source (or the drain) of the second transistor of the second pixel, and a signal line is configured to be electrically connected to the drain (or the source) of the second transistor of the first pixel and to the drain (or the source) of the second transistor of the second pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaaki Yanagida, Kazuko Nishimura
  • Patent number: 11252341
    Abstract: A method for shooting image, applied to an electronic device in which an image capturing device is mounted, includes: receiving a first input from a user; responsive to the first input, acquiring a first image and a second image captured by the image capturing device for a target object, a framing range of the first image being same as a framing range of the second image; and performing synthesis processing on the first image and the second image to generate a target image, the target image including a first object image of the target object in the first image and a second object image of the target object in the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qian Wang, Huixia Wu
  • Patent number: 11252350
    Abstract: An image sensor, a camera module, a mobile terminal, and an image acquisition method are provided in the present disclosure. The image sensor includes a repeating unit in a two-dimensional pixel array. The repeating unit includes a plurality of color pixels and a plurality of transparent pixels. In the repeating unit, the plurality of transparent pixels are disposed along a first diagonal line and one or more first parallel lines parallel to the first diagonal line, and the color pixels are disposed along a second diagonal line and one or more second parallel lines parallel to the second diagonal line. The first diagonal line is different from the second diagonal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng Tang, Qiqun Zhou, Gong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11245851
    Abstract: If an on/off setting of an on-screen display (OSD) on a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel (“LCD OSD” setting) is changed from on to off on an “LCD OSD” setting screen of a menu screen, a system control unit stores a flag A indicating that the “LCD OSD” setting is changed to off into a system memory. If a menu end operation is made and the flag A is stored, the system control unit changes the “LCD OSD” setting to off and ends the menu screen. The setting of the information display on the LCD panel can thereby be made with high operability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomohiro Ota
  • Patent number: 11233945
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus that can comfortably be focused while an influence on a wide angle image is minimized. The imaging apparatus includes: a display unit for displaying an image being photographed; an enlarged image display function for displaying an image obtained by enlarging a part of an area being photographed in the display unit; an edge component detection function for detecting an edge component amount of an enlarged image area; and a focal point position detection function for detecting movement of a focal point operated by a photographer. Duration time of the enlarged image display displayed by the enlarged image display function is changed in conjunction with the edge component detected by the edge component detection function and the movement of the focal point detected by the focal point position detection function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI KOKUSAI ELECTRIC INC.
    Inventors: Takuhiro Shibuya, Shiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 11233955
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a unit pixel including a pixel electrode; a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer disposed between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode; and a computing circuit that acquires a first signal upon a first voltage being applied between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode, the first signal corresponding to an image captured with visible light and infrared light and a second signal upon a second voltage being applied between the pixel electrode and the counter electrode, the second signal corresponding to an image captured with visible light, and generates a third signal by performing a computation using the first signal and the second signal, the third signal corresponding to an image captured with infrared light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Machida, Masashi Murakami, Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Masaaki Yanagida, Sanshiro Shishido, Manabu Nakata, Masumi Izuchi
  • Patent number: 11218657
    Abstract: A pixel included in an image sensor may include: a first control node and a second control node, each configured to receive control signals and generate a hole current in a substrate; and a first detection node and a second detection node, configured to capture electrons which are generated by incident light in the substrate and move by the hole current. Each of the first and second control nodes has a shape including a first surface and second surfaces connected to the first surface and the first surfaces of the first control node and the second control node are disposed to face each other, and an area of the first surface is larger than an area of any one of the second surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventor: Jae Hyung Jang
  • Patent number: 11212455
    Abstract: Processing method, processing apparatus, and electronic device are provided. The processing method includes continuously acquiring an image by using an acquisition component and continuously displaying the acquired image by using a display device in response to a first operation; and storing one or more frames of the image by using a storage device in response to a second operation. After the first operation and before storing the one or more frames of the image, there is at least one moment that a first light-emitting component is in an illuminating state and the moment of the first light-emitting component being in the illuminating state is different from a moment that the one or more frames of the image are acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: LENOVO (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Fanzhi Li
  • Patent number: 11212476
    Abstract: There is provided 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: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masashi Nakata
  • Patent number: 11206369
    Abstract: The image sensing device includes a pixel array including a plurality of unit pixels arranged in columns and rows. Each unit pixel includes a photoelectric conversion element, circulation gates, transfer gates, and drain nodes. The photoelectric conversion element generates photocharges by performing photoelectric conversion of incident light. The circulation gates are located at sides of the photoelectric conversion element, receive circulation control signals and move the photocharges within the photoelectric conversion element in a predetermined direction based on the circulation control signals. The transfer gates are respectively located between two adjacent circulation gates, receive a transfer control signal and transmit the photocharges to a floating diffusion region based on the transfer control signal. The drain nodes are located at sides of the circulation gates that are opposite to the photoelectric conversion element, and receive a drain voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventors: Hyung June Yoon, Jae Won Lee
  • Patent number: 11190697
    Abstract: There is provided a camera apparatus, including circuitry configured to: output a first image signal for displaying a first image, output a second image signal for displaying a second image. The second image signal is an image signal transmitted as a return signal. Further, the second image is an image that includes one of a location of a focus adjustment in the first image and an enlarged image corresponding to a part of the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuuji Ooba
  • Patent number: 11184565
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to obtain an image having a better S/N ratio in accordance with gain settings in an image pickup apparatus that enables amplifying a signal based on output of a photoelectric conversion unit, with a plurality of gains. An image pickup element provided in an image pickup apparatus has a photoelectric conversion unit in which unit pixels are arranged in a matrix and a signal voltage is generating by photoelectric conversion. A column amplifier of the image pickup element can amplify the signal voltage photoelectrically converted with a plurality of gains. An image pickup element control unit performs drive control of the image pickup element to perform gain settings. An image composition unit performs image composition by using a plurality of image signals having different gains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takenori Kobuse
  • Patent number: 11178326
    Abstract: Provided is an image sensor including a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, and a micro lens array including a first micro lens of a first size provided in a first area of the pixel array and a second micro lens of a second size provided in a second area of the pixel array, the second size being different from the first size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yohwan Noh, Daekwan Kim, Chaesung Kim, Tae-Shick Wang