Patents Examined by Mekonnen Dagnew
  • Patent number: 8797428
    Abstract: An image processing device that corrects a pixel value in image data, includes: an input unit that inputs image data having a plurality of color components and including a plurality of pixels each holding one color component; a calculation unit that calculates a maximum value among pixel values of a plurality of same-color neighboring pixels each holding a color component identical to a color component held in a processing target pixel selected from the pixels included in the image data and pixel values of a plurality of different-color neighboring pixels each holding a color component different from the color component held in the processing target pixel, which take up positions closer to the processing target pixel than the plurality of same-color neighboring pixels; and a correction unit that compares a pixel value of the processing target pixel with the maximum value and replaces the pixel value of the processing target pixel with the maximum value if the pixel value of the processing target pixel is grea
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Kenichi Ishiga
  • Patent number: 8786760
    Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus and method using a face recognition function for obtaining an image in which a plurality of faces are focused by setting AF areas in the plurality of recognized faces and photographing the faces in a bracket mode based on the set AF areas. The digital photographing apparatus includes: a face recognition unit detecting face information from a real image; an AF region setting unit setting a plurality of AF areas based on the detected face information; and a control unit operating so that an image is captured by adjusting focuses of the set plurality of AF areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-sik Yu, Sang-ryoon Son, Byeong-chan Park
  • Patent number: 8786743
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging device that includes a plurality of pixels; a first curtain that travels to block incidence of light on the imaging device; a reset unit that sequentially reset-scans lines of the imaging device earlier than the traveling of the first curtain; and a correction controller that corrects a line reset-scanning time of the reset unit on the basis of a movement amount of the imaging device having been made to move on the basis of a camera shake detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yuki Asukabe
  • Patent number: 8780223
    Abstract: A system for visually comparing a part to a drawing of said part in computer memory or on a screen is provided. The system includes a camera for capturing either a single image or an image stream of the part, a computing module for receiving the image or image stream, for obtaining, scaling, positioning and displaying the drawing of the part on a display unit and for overlaying the drawing on the image or image stream. The system determines if the part is manufactured within predefined tolerances at least one control section. In use, a user defines at least one control section and the system performs a CAD-space to image-space transformation of each control section. A deviation between the CAD drawing and the part at each control section is calculated, and this deviation is indicated to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Visionx Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick Beauchemin
  • Patent number: 8773557
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state imaging element including pixel signal read lines, and a pixel signal reading unit for reading pixel signals from a pixel unit via the pixel signal read line. The pixel unit includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form, each pixel including a photoelectric conversion element. In the pixel unit, a shared pixel in which an output node is shared among a plurality of pixels is formed, and a pixel signal of each pixel in the shared pixel is capable of being selectively output from the shared output node to a corresponding one of the pixel signal read lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Kato, Yoshikazu Nitta, Noriyuki Fukushima, Takashi Suenaga, Toshiyuki Sugita
  • Patent number: 8767115
    Abstract: An auto-focus method includes steps of receiving a first image from an image capturing unit, wherein the first image conforms to a first resolution of the image capturing unit; setting a focus frame in the first image; converting the first image into a second image, wherein the second image conforms to a second resolution of a display unit and the second resolution is smaller than the first resolution; and displaying the second image and the first image within the focus frame in the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Chuan-Yen Kao, Li-Jen Chen
  • Patent number: 8767098
    Abstract: A method for preprocessing analog image data to reduce noise in the analog image data that is readout from a pixel array of an image sensor during a sampling time is disclosed. The method includes generating multiple samples of the analog image data during the sampling time and then limiting values of the multiple samples to an upper and lower threshold. The method also includes pre-conditioning the multiple samples by applying a weighting factor to each of the multiple samples in response to when a respective sample was generated during the sampling time. A median value of the multiple samples is then determined and outputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Johannes Solhusvik
  • Patent number: 8760571
    Abstract: Embodiments related to the alignment of a lens with an image sensor in an optical device are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises an optical device including a printed circuit board, and an image sensor package mounted on the printed circuit board, wherein the image sensor package includes an image sensor. The optical system further comprises a lens holder including a lens, and one or more alignment features arranged on the lens holder. The one or more alignment features are configured to contact the image sensor package to mechanically align the lens holder with the image sensor package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Dawson Yee
  • Patent number: 8723959
    Abstract: A technique of enhancing a scene containing one or more off-center peripheral regions within an initial distorted image captured with a large field of view includes determining and extracting an off-center region of interest (hereinafter “ROI”) within the image. Geometric correction is applied to reconstruct the off-center ROI into a rectangular or otherwise undistorted or less distorted frame of reference as a reconstructed ROI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi, Piotr Stec
  • Patent number: 8723984
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing image and sound during interactivity with a computer program is provided. The apparatus includes an image capture unit that is configured to capture one or more image frames. Also provided is a sound capture unit. The sound capture unit is configured to identify one or more sound sources. The sound capture unit generates data capable of being analyzed to determine a zone of focus at which to process sound to the substantial exclusion of sounds outside of the zone of focus. In this manner, sound that is captured and processed for the zone of focus is used for interactivity with the computer program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Marks, Xiadong Mao
  • Patent number: 8717458
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing method. The image processing method includes forming a reference division line to perform white balance, forming a grid including a pixel distribution degree based on the reference division line, extracting a red gain value, a blue gain value, and the pixel distribution degree with respect to a specific point on the reference division line, determining if the extracted pixel distribution degree is a maximum point, and setting new gain values by using the extracted red gain value and the extracted blue gain value depending on if the pixel distribution degree is the maximum point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soo Jin Park, K. S. Krishna, Babu K. Manohar
  • Patent number: 8717470
    Abstract: The solid-state imaging apparatus illustrates a solid-state imaging element having a light receiving portion; a package which contains the solid-state imaging element; a light-transmissive member which is provided above the solid-state imaging element; and a partitioning member which is fixed to the package to isolate the light receiving portion of the solid-state imaging element from the surrounding portion of the light receiving portion of the solid-state imaging element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Ono
  • Patent number: 8717416
    Abstract: An imaging device capable of capturing depth information or surface profiles of objects is disclosed herein. The imaging device uses an enclosed flashing unit to project a sequence of structured light patterns onto an object and captures the light patterns reflected from the surfaces of the object by using an image sensor that is enclosed in the imaging device. The imaging device is capable of capturing an image of an object such that the captured image is comprised of one or more color components of a two-dimensional image of the object and a depth component that specifies the depth information of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrew Ian Russell, David Foster Lieb, Andrew Gerritt Huibers
  • Patent number: 8717493
    Abstract: A shutter device is disclosed, the device including a base formed with a lens hole through which reflective light from an object passes, a first blade and a second blade rotating about a hinge provided at the base to open or close the lens hole, and an actuator provided with a linearly-shifting slider at an area eccentrically positioned from the hinge to allow the first and second blades to be activated with rotation moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jinsuk Han
  • Patent number: 8717471
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array, two signal lines and a row scanning circuit. The row scanning circuit simultaneously renders conductive, by the first read-out row scanning circuit and the second read-out row scanning circuit, the two transfer transistors, which are connected to two photoelectric conversion elements do not share a floating diffusion portion neighboring in the column direction, thereby reading out signals in parallel from the photoelectric conversion elements of the pixels of two rows of an odd-numbered row and an even-numbered row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Maki Sato
  • Patent number: 8670065
    Abstract: The present disclosure comprises a camera that includes a plurality of technical components including an optical system, an actuator device, and an energy source. The camera also includes a disposable housing for receiving said technical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: DigiDays, AG
    Inventor: Werner Krachtus
  • Patent number: 8654240
    Abstract: Methods and the corresponding device are presented for the correction of lateral chromatic aberration within a digital camera or other imaging device, using calibration approaches that do not require previously acquired lens data to effect the correction. An in-camera auto-calibration procedure is performed on the attached lens, such as when a lens is exchanged, and extracts parameters required for chromatic aberration correction, respecting zoom and focus, from one or more captured images. Based on image data extracted as a plurality of channels of a chromatic decomposition of the image, the chromatic aberration information for the lens is extracted. From the chromatic aberration information, the correction factors for the lens are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: CSR Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dudi Vakrat, Victor Pinto
  • Patent number: 8648917
    Abstract: Disclosed is an imaging apparatus including a plurality of imaging units; a correction unit that executes a correction process for images captured by a plurality of the imaging units; and a control unit that computes a correction parameter applied to a correction process in the correction unit, wherein the correction unit executes distortion aberration correction and hand-vibration correction for each of the captured images and an image characteristic matching correction process for matching characteristics between a plurality of images captured by a plurality of the imaging units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Miyuki Okada
  • Patent number: 8648960
    Abstract: Embodiments include a digital photographing apparatus and a control method thereof. The digital photographing apparatus detects two or more face regions from an input image, calculates an aperture value for focusing on all face regions to notify a user of the calculated value, and photographs all focused faces by automatically changing the aperture value, when the subject to be photographed is a plurality of persons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-myung Lee
  • Patent number: 8648924
    Abstract: In an exemplary capturing apparatus, a captured image is acquired in real time. A first face area is detected from a plurality of face areas included in the captured image thus acquired, and a first face image corresponding to the first face area is acquired. Then, a face combination image is generated by replacing at least a part of a second face area with the first face image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Akifusa, Naoko Mori, Misuzu Yoshida, Asako Kagita, Takaya Yamane