Patents Examined by Nelson D Hernández Hernández
  • Patent number: 10757304
    Abstract: Systems and methods for simultaneous image acquisition are provided herein. An apparatus for simultaneous image capture may include a camera, and a chamber with an aperture, the camera oriented to capture light emitted through the aperture. The chamber may include at least first and second mirrors positioned inside the chamber with a defined angle between them, and a holder for an object to be imaged, the holder positioned inside the chamber between the first and second mirrors. In embodiments, the field of view of the camera includes at least portions of the first and second mirrors with respective portions of the object reflected by the first and second mirrors. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin Bell, Timothy Getsch, Grant Wescott
  • Patent number: 10750106
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging unit including an imaging section that includes a pixel capable of performing charge accumulation a plurality of times in response to an imaging instruction for generating one frame of image data; a storage section that stores a pixel signal based on output from the pixel; an updating section that updates the pixel signal already stored in the storage section by performing an integration process to integrate the pixel signal output from the pixel as a result of a new charge accumulation and the pixel signal already stored in the storage section; and a control section that controls whether the updating section performs the update, for each of a plurality of pixel groups that each include one or more pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takashi Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 10728450
    Abstract: Certain techniques are provided for triggering events based on detecting changes in CV features, such as edges, corners etc., by generating computed results based on sensor readings. Yet other techniques also provided for detecting CV features once an event is detecting based on a change in a sensor reading for a sensor element. In certain aspects, the event detection logic and the feature calculation CV vision operations may be performed, individually, or in combination in circuitry on a sensor or in software/firmware on a computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Alok Govil, Soo Youn Kim, Evgeni Petrovich Gousev
  • Patent number: 10725280
    Abstract: A multiscale telescopic imaging system is disclosed. The system includes an objective lens, having a wide field of view, which forms an intermediate image of a scene at a substantially spherical image surface. A plurality of microcameras in a microcamera array relay image portions of the intermediate image onto their respective focal-plane arrays, while simultaneously correcting at least one localized aberration in their respective image portions. The microcameras in the microcamera array are arranged such that the fields of view of adjacent microcameras overlap enabling field points of the intermediate image to be relayed by multiple microcameras. The microcamera array and objective lens are arranged such that light from the scene can reach the objective lens while mitigating deleterious effects such as obscuration and vignetting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: David Jones Brady, Jungsang Kim, Daniel Marks, Hui Seong Son
  • Patent number: 10701256
    Abstract: Techniques are described for automatically selecting between multiple image capture subsystems with overlapping fields of view but different optical properties. A selection may be made by estimating a plurality of operational characteristics of an image capture event, and, based on those estimates, selecting a primary image capture subsystem for the image capture event. For example, in a device such as a cellphone comprising two capture subsystems, each subsystem including a lens system and sensor system where each subsystem has a different fixed optical zoom parameter, a subsystem can be chosen based on a combination of desired zoom value, estimated focus distance, and estimated scene brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jianping Zhou, Sebastien Beysserie, Jozef Kruger
  • Patent number: 10674074
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes at least one processor operatively coupled to a memory, and serving as a determiner configured to determine a weight coefficient of a first region in each of a plurality of parallax images, and an image generator configured to synthesize the plurality of parallax images based on the weight coefficient to generate an output image. In one aspect, the weight coefficient is set to reduce a blur of a second object that is at a closer range side than a first object in the first region. In another aspect, a sum of the weight coefficients of the plurality of parallax images is constant in the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 10638038
    Abstract: An embodiment method for enhancing the intrinsic spatial resolution of an optical sensor includes projecting, by an optical source of the optical sensor, a plurality of illumination patterns onto an object and detecting, by an optical detector of the optical sensor, reflected radiation for each of the plurality of illumination patterns. The method further includes generating, by a processor of the optical sensor, a plurality of sub-images, where each sub-image corresponds to a respective illumination pattern of the plurality of illumination patterns, each sub-image having a first image resolution. The method additionally includes reconstructing, by the processor and from the plurality of sub-images, an image having a second image resolution, the second image resolution being finer than the first image resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: James Peter Drummond Downing
  • Patent number: 10609272
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method, device and computer readable storage medium for communication based on smart video cameras in the field of communication technology. The method comprises: receiving a communication request from a first smart video camera, wherein the communication request carries a device identification of the first smart video camera; determining the device identification of a second smart video camera bound with the first smart video camera, based on the device identification of the first smart video camera; establishing a communication between the first smart video camera and the second smart video camera based on the device identification of the second smart video camera. In the examples of the present disclosure, the server is able to realize the communication between the first smart video camera and the second smart video camera according to their device identifications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qiang Fu, Weiguang Jia, Enxing Hou
  • Patent number: 10594949
    Abstract: In aspects of digital image capture with a polarizer at different rotation angles, a device includes a polarizer that filters light at different polarizations and a first camera captures filtered digital images at different rotation angles of the polarizer. The device also includes a second camera to capture a full light digital image that is unfiltered. The device implements an imaging algorithm to determine a common region in each of the filtered digital images that has a variable brightness in each of the filtered digital images. The imaging algorithm can then determine pixel brightness values of the pixels in the common region of the filtered digital images, select one of the filtered digital images with a lowest pixel brightness value in the common region as an output filtered image, and combine the full light digital image with the output filtered image to generate a final image with modified image brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Yuta Asano, Lin Chen, John Christopher Pincenti
  • Patent number: 10594957
    Abstract: Various image acquisition control methods and apparatuses, and various image acquisition devices are disclosed. One of the image acquisition control methods comprises: acquiring target pixel density distribution information of an image to be acquired; adjusting pixel density distribution of an image sensor according to the target pixel density distribution information; and acquiring the image to be acquired according to the adjusted image sensor. Technical solutions provided can fully utilize integral pixels of an image sensor to achieve differentiated resolution of different displayed regions of an acquired image, improve efficiency of image acquisition, and/or better satisfy diversified application demands of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: BEIJING ZHIGU RUI TUO TECH CO., LTD
    Inventor: Lin Du
  • Patent number: 10547802
    Abstract: While realizing a broad dynamic range, the present technology relates to a solid-state image pickup device and control method therefor, and electronic apparatus aiming at enabling an influence of PLS to be suppressed. The solid-state image pickup device includes a pixel array unit in which a plurality of pixels are arrayed. A portion of pixels in the pixel array unit are a unit pixel at least having one photoelectric conversion element and over flow integration capacitor. Further, the solid-state image pickup device includes one AD converter for one or more unit pixels in the pixel array unit. The present technology is applicable to, for example, the solid-state image pickup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Sakakibara, Yasuhisa Tochigi
  • Patent number: 10525334
    Abstract: An example device includes at least one camera and a touchscreen user interface including thumbnail images for a plurality of stored pictures and a first button for a communication operation for sending a picture corresponding to a selected thumbnail image to another device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiro Imaizumi, Takako Masaki
  • Patent number: 10531033
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging device including a pixel array including pixels; a readout circuit that reads out signals from the pixels; a temperature sensor that outputs a signal in accordance with a temperature; and a current control circuit that controls a current supplied to the temperature sensor. The current control circuit performs control in a first period such that a predetermined current is supplied to the temperature sensor, and performs control in a second period such that a current supplied to the temperature sensor becomes smaller than the predetermined current or stops. The first period is set in a first blanking period between a process in which the first readout circuit reads out one frame of signals output from the pixels and a process in which the first readout circuit reads out next one frame of signals output from the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Morita, Kei Ochiai, Tetsuya Itano
  • Patent number: 10516861
    Abstract: An image sensor included in a camera system comprises: a plurality of photodiodes for processing optical signals which have passed through a lens included in the camera system; and at least one mask, disposed on the top of at least one photodiode among the plurality of photodiodes, for enabling the optical signals which have passed through an inner region of the lens included in the camera system to enter the at least one photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: CENTER FOR INTEGRATED SMART SENSORS FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Seung Hyuk Chang
  • Patent number: 10515442
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs image processing for correcting a lateral chromatic aberration that contains a rotationally symmetrical component and a shift component, for an input image generated by image capturing using an optical system. The image processing apparatus includes a first acquirer configured to acquire first component information on a first component that is one of the rotationally symmetrical component and the shift component, the first component information being acquired and stored before the input image is acquired, a second acquirer configured to acquire the second component information on a second component that is the other of the rotationally symmetrical component and the shift component based on the color shift amount, by using the input image and the first component information, and a corrector configured to perform a correction process with the first component information and the second component information for the input image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Ida
  • Patent number: 10488742
    Abstract: A multi-lens system can be configured to be selectively attachable to a mobile electronic device having a user-facing onboard camera lens and an outward-facing onboard camera lens. The multi-lens system can attach to the mobile electronic device in at least a first position and a second position. The first lens component in the first position is configured to be in optical alignment with the user-facing onboard camera lens and simultaneously the second lens component is configured to be in optical alignment with the outward-facing onboard camera lens. The first lens component in the second position is configured to be in optical alignment with the outward-facing onboard camera lens and simultaneously the second lens component is configured to be in optical alignment with the user-facing onboard camera lens. A portable attachment accessory can be configured to be selectively attachable to a lens system that is configured to receive a portion of a mobile electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: PORTERO HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Patrick D. O'Neill, Chong Pak, Joshua Cantor, Jason Patrick, Daniel Arato, Ryan Nguyen, Robert O'Neill
  • Patent number: 10477088
    Abstract: A camera module and an array camera module based on an integral packing process are disclosed. The camera module or each of the camera module units of the array camera module includes a circuit board, an integral base, a photosensitive element operatively connected to the circuit board, a lens, a light filter holder installed at the integral base and a light filter installed at the light filter holder. The light filter is not required to be directly installed to the integral base, so that the light filter is protected and the requiring area of the light filter is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Ningbo Sunny Opotech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mingzhu Wang, Bojie Zhao, Zhenyu Chen, Nan Guo, Takehiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10455139
    Abstract: Image processing device is image processing device that uses a plurality of images respectively having focusing positions different from each other to calculate distance information to a subject, and includes frequency converter, amplitude extractor, and distance information calculator. Frequency converter converts the plurality of images into frequency. Amplitude extractor extracts an amplitude component out of a phase component and the amplitude component of a coefficient obtained by converting the plurality of images into frequency. Distance information calculator calculates the distance information, by using lens blur data and only the amplitude component extracted by amplitude extractor out of the phase component and the amplitude component of the coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Khang Nguyen, Takashi Kawamura, Shinsaku Hiura
  • Patent number: 10419661
    Abstract: A shooting method and a shooting device are disclosed. In general, the shooting method includes the following steps: continuously capturing images; reading a captured image of the captured images and searching in the current read image according to a predetermined criteria to identify a Light Painting region of the current read image; and extracting the Light Painting region and merging the Light-Painting region and a corresponding position of a base image to achieve a synthesized image, and using the synthesized image as a base image for next image synthesis. Since only the Light Painting region is merged and synthesized, and other light spot regions in the image would not appear in the synthesized image, and it would not contaminate the synthesized image, a clear Light Painting trajectory can be recorded in the finally synthesized image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Nubia Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qiang Wei, Xiaohui Cui, Lei Miao, Qiang Li, Qian Hai
  • Patent number: 10389923
    Abstract: A camera module includes a lens assembly, a voice coil motor assembly for receiving and driving the lens assembly, and an image sensor assembly located below the voice coil motor assembly. The voice coil motor assembly comprises a bottom unit that is hollow and a color filter supported by the bottom unit, the color filter, the lens assembly and the image sensor assembly are coaxial, the bottom unit has an upper portion and a lower portion that are integrated together, the upper portion is configured around the lens assembly, and the bottom unit is configured below the lens assembly and supports the color filter. The camera module has simple structure and convenient assembly, can reduce total assembly tolerances of the camera module, achieve an accurate optical axis alignment between the lens and the image sensor, and reduce manufacturing cost to benefit the popularization in industries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: SAE MAGNETICS (H.K.) LTD.
    Inventors: Yiu Sing Ho, Fen Yan Li, Wen Ju Yang