Patents Examined by Ngoc-Yen Vu
  • Patent number: 9456119
    Abstract: A focusing apparatus with a photoelectric converter which photoelectrically converts at least a pair of optical images formed by light fluxes that have passed a focus lens to output at least a pair of image signals, a phase difference detector which detects a phase difference between the pair of output image signals, and a driving amount calculator which calculates a driving amount of the focus lens based upon the detected phase difference. The driving amount calculator changes the calculated driving amount, in accordance with a first driving amount corresponding to a detected phase difference when the focus lens is located at a first position, a second driving amount corresponding to the detected phase difference when the focus lens is located at a second position, and a relationship between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideyuki Hamano
  • Patent number: 9451175
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprises: an image pickup element including a two-dimensional array of a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, for outputting an electric signal of an optical image; a focus adjustment unit for adjusting a focus state of a photographing optical system; an image pickup control unit for obtaining electric signals from the image pickup element in a plurality of different focus states while changing the focus state by the focus adjustment unit; and a light ray determination unit for obtaining incident position information and incident angle information, which are light field information of the optical image of an object, by using the electric signals obtained in the a plurality of different focus states by the image pickup control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masafumi Kimura
  • Patent number: 9436980
    Abstract: A computational image processing filter processes an image from a wedge-based imaging system so as to remove artifacts such as blurring and ghost images. By removing the artifacts computationally instead of optically, manufacturing costs and complexity are reduced over prior solutions. In one implementation, the computational image processing filter performs a two-dimensional transform to align a ghost image with a pixel grid defined by the wedge. The transformed image is then stretched using a nonlinear transform to make the ghost pitch versus position a constant. Next, an anti-ghost point spread filter is created and deconvolved. Finally, an inverse of the nonlinear mapping is applied. Artifacts introduced by other optical layers can be reduced by deconvolving the artifact from the image according to a point-spread function representing an effect of the optical layers on the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Karlton Powell
  • Patent number: 9438812
    Abstract: A method for controlling a frame exposure level, comprising: (a) determining a second integration time for the pixel array via a desired exposure level, and determining a second analog gain and a second digital gain via a desired total gain; (b) respectively applying the second analog gain and the second digital gain to amplify at least one second light sensing signal and at least one digital light sensing signal generated from the second light sensing signal; (c) computing a desired total gain for the third frame, and determining a third analog gain and a third digital gain via the desired total gain; and (d) respectively applying the third analog gain and the third digital gain to amplify at least one third light sensing signal and at least one digital light sensing signal generated from the third light sensing signal, and applying the second integration time to the pixel array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Himax Imaging Limited
    Inventors: Po-Fang Chen, Po-Chang Chen, Yuan-Chih Peng
  • Patent number: 9432566
    Abstract: A camera system includes at least one IP camera apparatus and a central controlling apparatus. The IP camera apparatus includes a base module, a lens module and a first connector. The lens module is connected to the base module. A control unit of the base module is adapted to analyze information acquired by the lens module. The first connector is disposed on the base module. The central controlling apparatus includes at least one holder, a second connector and a controller. The base module is detachably disposed on the holder. The second connector is disposed on the at least one holder to electrically connect to the first connector since the central controlling apparatus is assembled with the IP camera apparatus. The controller is electrically connected to the second connector. The controller is adapted to set an address for the IP camera apparatus via the first connector and the second connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GeoVision Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Ming Wu, Chun-Kai Hsu, Tsun-Jen Cheng
  • Patent number: 9432568
    Abstract: An image sensor may include a pixel array having image pixels for capturing image data and phase detection pixels for gathering phase information during automatic focusing operations. Phase detection pixels may form phase detection pixel pairs having first and second pixels with different angular responses. The first and second pixels may have color filters of the same color or may have color filters of different colors. The phase detection pixel pairs may be isolated from other phase detection pixel pairs in the array or may be arranged consecutively in a line. The phase detection pixels may, for example, be provided with color filters to match the color filter pattern of the pixel array. Processing circuitry may adjust red and green pixel signals from a phase detection pixel pair having a red and green color filter and may subsequently determine a phase difference using the adjusted pixel signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Marko Mlinar, Brian Keelan, Douglas Fettig
  • Patent number: 9432597
    Abstract: An integrated-circuit image sensor generates, as constituent reference voltages of a first voltage ramp, a first sequence of linearly related reference voltages followed by a second sequence of exponentially related reference voltages. The integrated-circuit image sensor compares the constituent reference voltages of the first voltage ramp with a first signal level representative of photocharge integrated within a pixel of the image sensor to identify a first reference voltage of the constituent reference voltages that is exceeded by the first signal level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Guidash, Thomas Vogelsang, Jay Endsley, James E. Harris, Craig M. Smith, John Ladd, Michael T. Ching
  • Patent number: 9432564
    Abstract: An approach is provided for tagging information based on contextual criteria. A tagging platform determines at least one criteria for associating information acquired by a device with at least one tag. The tagging platform also processes and/or facilitates a processing of context information of the device, a user of the device, or a combination thereof to determine a state of the at least one criteria. The tagging platform further causes, at least in part, an association of the at least one tag with the information based, at least in part, on the state of the at least one criteria. Such an approach allows for configuring the tagging of information prior to or upon initially acquiring the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: NOKIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Marko Kullervo Nurmenniemi
  • Patent number: 9424655
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a video, a superimposition unit configured to superimpose an image onto the video acquired by the acquisition unit, and a detection unit configured to detect the emergence of an object in a video in a detection area set on the video acquired by the acquisition unit, wherein the superimposition unit superimposes an image corresponding to the size of the object to be detected when emerging by the detection unit onto the video in the detection area, and outputs the resultant video to the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoichi Kamei
  • Patent number: 9418193
    Abstract: Arrayed imaging systems include an array of detectors formed with a common base and a first array of layered optical elements, each one of the layered optical elements being optically connected with a detector in the array of detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward R. Dowski, Jr., Paulo E. X. Silvieri, George C. Barnes, IV, Vladislav V. Chumachenko, Dennis W. Dobbs, Regis S. Fan, Gregory E. Johnson, Miodrag Scepanovic, Satoru Tachihara, Christopher J. Linnen, Inga Tamayo, Donald Combs, Howard E. Rhodes, James He, John J. Mader, Kenneth Kubala, Mark Meloni, Brian Schwartz, Robert Cormack, Michael Hepp, Gary L. Duerksen
  • Patent number: 9414003
    Abstract: A method for transmitting an image and an electronic device thereof are provided. An image transmission method of an electronic device includes displaying a message transmission/reception history with at least one other electronic device, sensing a selection of a camera execution menu, displaying a preview screen of a camera within a screen in which the message transmission/reception history is displayed, detecting a touch on the displayed preview screen, if the displayed preview screen is touched, capturing an image of a subject, detecting a gesture for the captured image, and, if the gesture for the captured image is detected, transmitting the captured image to the at least one other electronic device according to the detected gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong-Hyun Park, Young-Keun Choi
  • Patent number: 9413999
    Abstract: An image sensing device and image sensing method are described herein. By way of example, the imaging sensing device includes a two-dimensional array of light sensing elements, each light sensing element being configured to generate an output signal indicative of an intensity level of light impinging on the light sensing element, one or more analog-to-digital converters configured to digitize output signals read out from the array of light sensing elements to generate digital output pixel values, a control circuit configured to generate digital pixel reset values, and a compression module configured to receive the digital pixel reset values and to generate a compressed digital pixel reset value corresponding to each digital pixel reset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ping W. Wong, Thomas R. Ayers
  • Patent number: 9380256
    Abstract: An archival video system uses profile images as a background for an image and delta images to indicate the difference between a current image and a profile image. An image may be segmented into multiple sectors, with each sector compared to a profile sector. The resulting image may be constructed using references to previously stored sectors from different images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: TROVER GROUP INC.
    Inventors: Charles W. Dozier, Thomas W. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9372383
    Abstract: A plate provides clearance between a camera and a quick-release receiver securing the camera to a support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Really Right Stuff, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph M. Johnson, Sr., Matthew L. Burk
  • Patent number: 9369644
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an A/D converter, a solid-state image pickup device and a method of driving the same, and an electronic apparatus which are capable of reducing power consumption while reducing a circuit size. A comparator compares a reference voltage with an input voltage, the reference voltage having a ramp waveform whose voltage value varies with time, a lower-bit storage element holds a count value in a predetermined count pattern, based on an output signal from the comparator, a Gray code binary conversion circuit converts the count value in the count pattern held by the lower-bit storage element into binary data, and a storing operation control circuit supplies a pulse signal corresponding to the binary data obtained by conversion in the Gray code binary conversion circuit to a lower-bit U/D CNT. The present technology is applicable to, for example, an image sensor storing a count value in a storage element with use of a Gray code or a phase shift code as a clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Higuchi, Yoshiaki Inada
  • Patent number: 9367125
    Abstract: A terminal apparatus and a video-data distribution method thereof are described. The terminal apparatus includes a camera module, configured to shoot a video and generate raw data associated with the shot video in real time; an encoding-and-packaging unit configured to encode the raw data to produce encoded video data, and package the video data at a predefined time interval to produce a plurality of first-video clip data with a predetermined format, wherein the plurality of first-video clip data can all be played independently. The apparatus can include a first communication unit, configured to communicate with a remote server, wherein the server is a hypertext-transfer-protocol server and supports other terminal apparatuses to download the first-video clip data; and a first processing unit, configured to upload the produced plurality of first-video clip data to the server in real time via the first communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: LENOVO (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng Gao, Chentao Yu
  • Patent number: 9332198
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an A/D converter, a solid-state image pickup device and a method of driving the same, and an electronic apparatus which are capable of reducing power consumption while reducing a circuit size. A comparator compares a reference voltage with an input voltage, the reference voltage having a ramp waveform whose voltage value varies with time, a lower-bit storage element holds a count value in a predetermined count pattern, based on an output signal from the comparator, a Gray code binary conversion circuit converts the count value in the count pattern held by the lower-bit storage element into binary data, and a storing operation control circuit supplies a pulse signal corresponding to the binary data obtained by conversion in the Gray code binary conversion circuit to a lower-bit U/D CNT. The present technology is applicable to, for example, an image sensor storing a count value in a storage element with use of a Gray code or a phase shift code as a clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenichi Higuchi, Yoshiaki Inada
  • Patent number: 9332202
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus, wherein an analog to digital conversion unit converts an analog signal from the pixel, a first memory holds the digital signal from the analog to digital conversion unit, and thereafter, a second memory holds the digital signal held by the first memory. The analog to digital conversion unit converts an analog signal from the pixel based on a photoelectric conversion of the pixel, and the first memory holds the digital signal from the analog to digital conversion unit. The first memory includes a first latch circuit holding a digital signal from the analog to digital conversion unit and a second latch circuit holding a signal held by the first latch circuit. The second memory includes a third latch circuit holding a signal held in the first latch circuit and a fourth latch circuit holding a signal held in the third latch circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirofumi Totsuka
  • Patent number: 9332212
    Abstract: The imaging apparatus include a solid-state imaging device which has a plurality of pixels and outputs a pixel signal corresponding to a formed image of a subject as an image data; an image-capturing processing unit which outputs a pre-processed image data that is obtained by performing pre-processing on a part of the image data input from the solid-state imaging device, and an un-processed image data except the part of the image data from the image data input from the solid-state imaging device; and a storage unit which stores the pre-processed image data and the un-processed image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Tanaka, Akira Ueno, Takashi Yanada, Ayahiko Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9325896
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus on which a lens unit is to be removably mounted includes an image pickup element, a first focus detection unit which performs a focus detection by a contrast detection method based on a signal output from the image pickup element, a second focus detection unit which performs a focus detection by a phase difference detection method based on a pair of image signals output from the image pickup element, and a control unit which performs a focus control based on an in-focus position detected by the first or second focus detection unit, and the control unit receives, from the mounted lens unit, first information related to a displacement of the in-focus position by the phase difference detection method and determines whether to use the second focus detection unit for the focus control according to the first information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yukio Odaka, Shinichiro Yano