Patents Examined by Ngoc-Yen Vu
  • Patent number: 9842381
    Abstract: A system accesses an image with each pixel of the image having luminance values each representative of a color component of the pixel. The system generates a first histogram for aggregate luminance values of the image, and accesses a target histogram for the image representative of a desired global image contrast. The system computes a transfer function based on the first histogram and the target histogram such that when the transfer function is applied, a histogram of the modified aggregate luminance values is within a threshold similarity of the target histogram. The system modifies the image by applying the transfer function to the luminance values of the image to produce a tone mapped image, and outputs the modified image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruno Cesar Douady-Pleven, Michael Serge André Kraak, Guillaume Matthieu Guerin, Thomas Nicolas Emmanuel Veit
  • Patent number: 9843749
    Abstract: A leakage mitigation circuit is provided. The leakage mitigation circuit includes an inverter coupled to a storage node, wherein the storage node receives a signal output by an imaging pixel having a first voltage level to be stored. The inverter inverts the signal to a second voltage level. A single transistor coupled to the inverter and the storage node inverts the signal output by the inverter to the first level to hold the signal at the storage node to its original level. A self-biased device coupled to the inverter lowers current disturbance related to the storage node and increase threshold voltage at which fluctuation of the level of the signal at the storage node causes the signal to be inverted by the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Sensors Unlimited, Inc.
    Inventors: Minlong Lin, Joshua Lund, John Liobe
  • Patent number: 9838592
    Abstract: There are provided a lens barrel, an imaging device body, and an imaging device that can reduce a deviation in a blurred image of oblique luminous flux caused by an APD filter. A lens barrel includes a first lens optical system and a second lens optical system serving as lens optical systems including focus lenses, a diaphragm that changes the amount of an incident ray and emits the incident ray, a first APD filter that is disposed on a light-incident side of the diaphragm, and a second APD filter that is disposed on a light-emitting side of the diaphragm. Since the amount of a reduced upper ray L1 of oblique luminous flux and the amount of a reduced lower ray L2 thereof are made to be substantially equal to each other by the first APD filter and the second APD filter, a deviation of a blurred image is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Furuta, Takashi Aoki
  • Patent number: 9838636
    Abstract: Provided is an image pickup apparatus, including: first and second photoelectric conversion elements; first and second transfer transistors configured to transfer charges respectively from the first and second photoelectric conversion elements when the first and second transfer transistors are brought into conductive states, respectively; a floating diffusion region configured to accumulate the charges transferred by the first and second transfer transistors; an amplifying transistor configured to output a signal corresponding to the charges transferred by the first and second transfer transistors; first and second drive wirings, which are electrically connected to gates of the first and second transfer transistors, respectively; and a conductive member, which is configured to electrically connect the floating diffusion region and a gate of the amplifying transistor to each other, and is configured to extend beyond the floating diffusion region in a plan view while being opposed to the first drive wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiromasa Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 9838651
    Abstract: Systems and methods for streaming video and/or audio from wireless cameras are provided. Methods may include, at a network camera, receiving an instruction to begin video capture from a first network node, including information identifying a second network node. A first video stream may be sent from the network camera to the first network node, and a second video stream may be simultaneously sent to the second network node. The first and second video streams may be based on common video capture data, and may be sent at different bitrates, different resolutions, different frame-rates, and/or different formats. A parameter of the second video stream may be adjusted in response to performance data received from the second network node or another network node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Logitech Europe S.A.
    Inventors: John Bateman, Oleg Ostap, Oliver Hoheisel, David Kim, Vijay Karnataki
  • Patent number: 9838641
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an image capture, curation, and editing system that includes a resource-efficient mobile image capture device that continuously captures images. In particular, the present disclosure provides low power frameworks for processing, compressing, and transmitting images at a mobile image capture device. One example low power framework includes a scene analyzer that analyzes a scene depicted by a first image and determines whether to store the first image in a non-volatile memory or to discard the first image from a temporary image buffer without storing the first image in the non-volatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Suk Hwan Lim, Blaise Aguera-Arcas
  • Patent number: 9824477
    Abstract: A system and method for creatively directing a promotional campaign comprised of photos or videos captured by a plurality of remote contributors. The method may comprise creating, via a graphical user interface of a computing device, a list of shot templates for desired photos or videos, each shot template comprising shot specifications. The shot specifications may comprise a description of a desired subject of the shot template and one or more desired camera settings. The method may then comprise generating a notification regarding the list of shot templates from the graphical user interface, sending the notification to an image capture device of one or more of the plurality of remote contributors, and displaying the list of shot templates on the image capture device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Super 6 LLC
    Inventor: Scott McDonald
  • Patent number: 9813652
    Abstract: An image sensing device may include one or more compression modules that compress digitized pixel reset values obtained from light sensing elements. The device may perform a CDS operation in which the compressed reset values are stored, decompressed, and then subtracted from light dependent values obtained from the light sensing elements. The compressed reset values may also be output from the device without CDS subtraction having been performed. The light dependent values may also be compressed. CDS corrected output pixel values may also be compressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Pixim, Inc.
    Inventors: Ping Wah Wong, Thomas R. Ayers
  • Patent number: 9810920
    Abstract: A positioning device for a picture stabilizer for the controlled movement of a carrier with respect to a base includes a first coupling element, a second coupling element, a first transmission unit, and a second transmission unit. The first coupling element, by way of a first suspension, is assembled in a movable manner with respect to the base and is movable by a first linear drive. The second coupling element, by way of a second suspension, is assembled in a movable manner with respect to the base and is movable by a second linear drive. The first transmission unit transmits movement of the first coupling element onto the carrier and the second transmission unit transmits movement of the second coupling element onto the carrier. The first coupling element and the second coupling element in each case have a movability with essentially exactly one translatory degree of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: MINISWYS SA
    Inventors: Martin Siegrist, Jean-Michel Meyer
  • Patent number: 9813628
    Abstract: An imaging module includes an image stabilizing movable portion which has a lens group and a magnetic member, an imaging element which images a subject through the lens group, an elastic support portion which supports the image stabilizing movable portion so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens group and to be inclinable around an axis perpendicular to the optical axis, and a suppression portion which mechanically prevents inclination of the image stabilizing movable portion, in which the suppression portion has an extension portion which is provided in the image stabilizing movable portion and extends in an outer circumferential direction of the image stabilizing movable portion, and a guide portion which overlaps the extension portion when viewed from the direction of the optical axis, and prevents inclination of the image stabilizing movable portion by abutting the extension portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuro Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 9807306
    Abstract: A method for photographing an image and a portable terminal having a camera for photographing an image are provided. The method includes buffering a burst shot image and displaying a frame image, erasing an object having a movement in the displayed image, and generating and displaying a still image by replacing the displayed image including the object having the movement, at location where the object is erased, with a buffered image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seockhyun Yu, Kyunghwa Kim, Seonhwa Kim, HeeJin Kim, Mijung Park, Joah Choi
  • Patent number: 9800774
    Abstract: A first restoration processing section 110 and a second restoration processing section 120 perform restoration processing on images (luminance data Y), which are successively captured by an image capture section, using a first filter 102, which is a restoration filter generated corresponding to a point spread function of an optical system, and a second filter 104 of which a restoration strength is weaker than that of the first filter 102. Depending on a result of determination which is input from an in-focus determination section 150 and indicates whether or not the image at the current time point is in a target in-focus state, a selection section 122 selects and outputs either luminance data YA which is processed using the first filter 102 or luminance data YB which is processed using the second filter 104.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yousuke Naruse, Kenkichi Hayashi, Masahiko Sugimoto, Kosuke Irie
  • Patent number: 9787917
    Abstract: An image sensor system with an image sensor that generates a first image and a second image. The first and second images are transmitted to a processor in a time overlapping manner. By way of example, the images may be transferred to the processor in an interleaving manner or provided on separate dedicated busses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Inventor: Hiok Nam Tay
  • Patent number: 9781327
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing apparatus including a correspondence relationship information change unit for changing a correspondence relationship information indicating each correspondence relationship between a plurality of image pickup devices and a plurality of controllers, the image pickup devices and the controllers being associated with each other, the controller being used to operate at least one of the plurality of image pickup devices, and the controller being capable of operating the image pickup device associated with the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hitoshi Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9781310
    Abstract: A motion picture camera arrangement comprises a motion picture camera and a display device, wherein the motion picture camera has an image sensor for taking images at a variable frame rate and wherein the display device displays the taken images at a settable display rate. A method of operating the motion picture camera arrangement comprises the steps of: selecting a frame rate; determining a setting value for the display rate of the display device, wherein the setting value corresponds, in dependence on the selected frame rate, either to the selected frame rate or to a product or quotient of the selected frame rate and a whole-number multiplier or divisor; operating the image sensor at the selected frame rate; and operating the display device using the determined setting value for the display rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Arnold & Richter Cine Technik GmbH & Co., Betriebs KG
    Inventor: Klaus Jacumet
  • Patent number: 9769371
    Abstract: An phase detect (PD) module including a phase detect (PD) lens, PD image sensor, and a PD controller is disclosed. The PD module may be configured to provide a control signal to an electromechanical device, such as a voice coil motor (VCM), of an image capture module to move a lens assembly to focus an image of an object to be imaged onto a primary image sensor. The PD module may direct the capture of a PD image by the PD image sensor and perform a phase detect (PD) technique on the captured AF image to identify a focus point of the lens assembly. This determined focus point may be used to displace the lens assembly relative to the primary image sensor to achieve focus of the object onto the primary image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eddie Alex Azuma, Leo Benedict Baldwin
  • Patent number: 9756247
    Abstract: A method for automatic image capture control and digital imaging is described. An image buffer is initialized to store a digital image produced by an image sensor, through allocation of a region in memory for the buffer that is large enough to store a full resolution frame from the image sensor. While non-binning streaming frames, from the sensor and in the buffer, are being displayed in preview, the sensor is reconfigured into binning mode, and then binned streaming frames are processed in the buffer, but without allocating a smaller region in memory for the buffer. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Yongfang Liang, Munchiro Mori, Haitao Guo, Ting Chen
  • Patent number: 9743003
    Abstract: A portable information device including a body, a position information portion that is provided in the body and that outputs position information, an image sensor that is provided in the body, a display system that is provided in the body and that displays, on a local field in a screen field, relevant information based on the position information such that the displayed relevant information is overlapped on a real-time image, an input portion that is provided on the body and, by use of which user operates an icon, the icon being displayed on the local field such that the displayed icon is overlapped on the real-time image and an imaging button that is provided, separately from the input portion, on the body and that is operated by user to capture a subject image via the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: NIKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideya Inoue, Toru Iwaoka, Michiko Noborisaka, Masayuki Hatori, Tomohide Hamada
  • Patent number: 9736412
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel unit in which a plurality of unit pixels is arranged in rows and columns, the unit pixels performing photoelectric conversion of incident light to generate pixel information; and a secondary memory unit in which a plurality of unit memories is arranged in rows and columns, the unit memories holding the pixel information, wherein each of the columns in the secondary memory unit includes, as a unit memory block, the unit memories in the column, the secondary memory unit includes: a memory signal line provided for each of the columns in the memory unit; and a selection transistor provided between the unit memory block and the memory signal line, and shared by the plurality of unit memories in the unit memory block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinzo Koyama, Takahiko Murata
  • Patent number: 9736424
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit configured to capture an object and acquire image data; a first acquisition unit configured to acquire image capturing conditions of the image capturing apparatus; a holding unit configured to hold history information of peripheral devices that have been connected to the image capturing apparatus; and a second acquisition unit configured to acquire image capturing auxiliary information related to image capturing performed by the image capturing unit based on the image capturing conditions acquired by the first acquisition unit and on the history information held in the holding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoaki Komiyama