Patents Examined by Nhan T. Tran
  • Patent number: 12284432
    Abstract: A camera module according to an embodiment includes a circuit board including a cavity; a first plate including a first region vertically overlapping the cavity and a second region other than the first region; a second plate disposed on the first region of the first plate; and an image sensor disposed on the second plate; and wherein an upper surface of the second plate is positioned lower than an upper surface of the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sang Yeon Han
  • Patent number: 12279070
    Abstract: A method for frame interpolation and related products are provided. The method is applied to an electronic device including a camera. The method includes the following. On-screen display (OSD) data and first video data collected by the camera are obtained. Second video data is obtained by performing frame interpolation on the first video data. The second video data and the OSD data are displayed in a video window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Jie Hu, Wenzhen Lin
  • Patent number: 12273998
    Abstract: A substrate according to an embodiment includes an insulating layer; a first pattern portion disposed on the insulating layer; and a second pattern portion disposed on the insulating layer and spaced apart from the first pattern portion, wherein the insulating layer includes a first insulating portion including a first open region; and a second insulating portion disposed to surround an outside of the first insulating part and spaced apart from the first insulating portion with a second open region therebetween; wherein the first pattern portion includes a first lead pattern portion disposed on the first insulating portion; a second lead pattern portion disposed on the second insulating portion; and a connection pattern portion having one end connected to the first lead pattern portion and the other end connected to the second lead pattern portion, and disposed on the second open region; wherein the connection pattern portion includes a bent portion positioned on a corner of the second open region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Joon Son, Jee Heum Paik, Hye Eun Kim
  • Patent number: 12272707
    Abstract: A pixel cell with a photosensitive region formed in association with a substrate, a color filter formed over the photosensitive region, the color filter comprising a first material layer and a second material layer formed in association with the first shaping material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Inventors: Loriston Ford, Ulrich C. Boettiger
  • Patent number: 12267605
    Abstract: Structures are disclosed for a binned set of two or more pixels of a pixel array that share a same readout circuit. The binned pixel design provides space-saving benefits on the chip and also improves the overall image quality. According to some embodiments, each of the binned pixels includes a photodetector and its own transfer gate. The readout circuit is coupled to the transfer gates of each of the binned pixels and includes its own second transfer gate that separates the pixels from a gain mode select block. The gain mode select block may include capacitors of different sizes and one or more switches to control which capacitors are to receive the charge from any one of the binned pixels. The readout circuit may also include a potential barrier (such as a diode), which allows for pumping charge onto the one or more capacitors of the gain mode select block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: FAIRCHILD IMAGING, INC.
    Inventors: Xianmin Yi, Alexander Lu
  • Patent number: 12250454
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for camera dynamic voting to optimize fast sensor mode power. In some examples, a computing device can obtain, based on performing dynamic voting, a plurality of votes associated with a plurality of components sharing a power source. The computing device can determine a voting result based on the plurality of votes. The computing device can increase or decreasing a clock rate and a voltage for the power source based on the voting result to produce an updated clock rate and an updated voltage. The computing device can then apply the updated clock rate and the updated voltage to an image processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Aravind Bhaskara, Tauseef Kazi, Zhurang Zhao, Rohan Desai, Michael Tipton, Joshua Stubbs, Kiran Bhagwat, Pavan Kumar Chilamkurthi
  • Patent number: 12238432
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a pixel unit including a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and each including a quench element of which a control node a signal defining a start and an end of an exposure period is input to and a photodiode connected to the quench element, a scan unit that scans the pixel unit by performing processing of reading signals of the pixels, processing of starting the exposure period, and processing of ending the exposure period on the plurality of rows sequentially in units of one row or two or more rows, and a control unit that outputs a synchronization signal to the scan unit to control a timing of the reading processing, wherein at least one of a timing of the start processing and a timing of the end processing is controlled by another control signal different from the synchronization signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taichi Kasugai, Yasuharu Ota, Shintaro Takenaka
  • Patent number: 12231791
    Abstract: Solid-state imaging devices, methods of driving solid-state imaging devices, and electronic devices are disclosed. In one example, a solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array unit in which pixels are two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix. At least some pixel rows include a first signal line configured to transmit a drive signal for driving a first transfer transistor of a first pixel in units of microlenses having a color filter of a first color, a second signal line configured to transmit a drive signal for driving a second transfer transistor of a second pixel different from the first pixel, and a third signal line configured to transmit a drive signal for driving a third transfer transistor of a third pixel in units of microlenses having a color filter of a second color different from the first color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yamajo, Masayuki Tachi, Kazuhito Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 12231772
    Abstract: A dual-aperture zoom digital camera operable in both still and video modes. The camera includes Wide and Tele imaging sections with respective lens/sensor combinations and image signal processors and a camera controller operatively coupled to the Wide and Tele imaging sections. The Wide and Tele imaging sections provide respective image data. The controller is configured to output, in a zoom-in operation between a lower zoom factor (ZF) value and a higher ZF value, a zoom video output image that includes only Wide image data or only Tele image data, depending on whether a no-switching criterion is fulfilled or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Noy Cohen, Oded Gigushinski, Nadav Geva, Gal Shabtay, Ester Ashkenazi, Ruthy Katz, Ephraim Goldenberg
  • Patent number: 12225304
    Abstract: An image sensor may be implemented by mounting a first die to a second die. The first die may include an image sensor pixel array having active pixels and non-active pixels, while the second die may include pixel control and readout circuitry that are coupled to the image sensor pixel array via inter-die connections. The image sensor pixel array may have pixel columns in excess of corresponding column readout paths in the pixel readout circuitry and/or pixel rows in excess of corresponding sets of row control paths in the pixel control circuitry. A select set of inter-die connections may be implemented to provide connections between a desired set of pixel columns and the limited number of column readout paths and to provide connections between a desired set of pixel rows and the limited number of sets of row control paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Paul Cowley, Andrew David Talbot
  • Patent number: 12225315
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to enable fast readout from an image sensor to support pixel-wise conversion gain selection for high dynamic range imaging. In embodiments, an image sensor integrated circuit performs the pixel-wise gain selection with its readout circuitry, so that the image sensor outputs pixels with only the selected gain option. In this manner, the image sensor is able to achieve faster frame rates and lower power consumption. Depending on the embodiment, the conversion gain may be selected by the readout logic, an image signal processor, or an auto-exposure engine. The gain selection may be made based on a previous image captured by the camera or other pixels in the same image. The image signal processor may interpolate a high-gain and a low-gain portion of the image to obtain full resolution images in the two gain options, and merge the two to obtain the final image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Gigajot Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Jiaju Ma
  • Patent number: 12225314
    Abstract: An imaging device that has an image processing function and is capable of a high-speed operation is provided. The imaging device has an additional function such as image processing, and can retain analog data obtained by an image capturing operation in pixels and extract data obtained by multiplying the analog data by a given weight coefficient. In the imaging device, the data is stored in a memory cell and pooling processing of data stored in a plurality of memory cells can be performed. The pixels are provided so as to have a region overlapping with at least one of the memory cells, a pooling processing circuit, and a reading circuit of the pixels; thus, an increase in the area of the imaging device can be inhibited even with an additional function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Yoneda, Yusuke Negoro, Takeya Hirose, Shunsuke Sato, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 12219265
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a first image captured by a content capture device included in a mixed reality or augmented reality device, identifying a location corresponding to a pixel group of a plurality of pixel groups in the first image, and determining, for each location, one or more updates for one or more settings of the content capture device. The method also includes iteratively: updating the content capture device using an update of the one or more updates, capturing an image of a predetermined number of images using the content capture device and the update of the one or more updates, and repeating updating the content capture device and capturing the image the predetermined number of times. The method also includes stitching the predetermined number of images together to form a composite image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2024
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Keith Smith, Ilya Tsunaev
  • Patent number: 12219249
    Abstract: An audiovisual controller adapted to transmit control signals to a computing device for controlling microphone and video functions of an audiovisual application executed on the computing device. The audiovisual controller has a housing with a first portion having a first switch and a second portion having a second switch. The first switch and the second switch are each associated with either the microphone or video function of the audiovisual application. The first portion and the first switch are enlarged compared to the second portion and the second switch, and provide visual and tactile differentiation to prevent a user from misidentifying or unintentionally activating the incorrect switch. Each switch further has an illumination element which emits light in accordance with a plurality of illumination states, and activation of the switch causes the illumination element to alternate between the illumination states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Inventor: Dolly Krishnaswamy
  • Patent number: 12212881
    Abstract: A electronic device includes a plurality of first photosensitive chips, one first fusion chip, and one processing chip. Each first photosensitive chip is connected to the first fusion chip by a respective data transmission channel and is configured both to generate a MIPI protocol-based data stream and to transmit said data stream to the first fusion chip by the respective data transmission channel. The first fusion chip is connected to the processing chip by a data transmission channel and is configured to converge data streams received via a plurality of data transmission channels connected to the plurality of first photosensitive chips, to obtain a first high-speed convergent data, and to send the first high-speed convergent data to the processing chip. The processing chip is configured to receive the high-speed convergent data stream and obtain an image by using the received data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dongke Zhu, Tao Gong, Pengwei Ma, Hongli Wang, Xiaowen Cao
  • Patent number: 12212838
    Abstract: Provided are a camera capable of preventing an erroneous operation with a compact configuration and has high operability, a setting method of the camera, and a setting program of the camera. A change in a setting value by the operation dial is switched between valid and invalid, and an operation by the operation dial becomes possible only in a case where the change in the setting value is valid. A setting value of an item to be set by the operation dial is displayed on a dial display provided on the operation dial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Misawa, Kentaro Tokiwa, Hirofumi Horii, Yuichi Fujimura, Takeshi Misawa
  • Patent number: 12211220
    Abstract: A method for aligning a removably attachable skin analysis device to a mobile device is disclosed. The method is particularly applicable to skin analysis devices comprising a housing that defines a housing aperture, the housing aperture comprising a housing aperture center and wherein the housing aperture is centered on a camera of the mobile device when the skin analysis device is in an aligned position, and the method includes capturing, with the camera, a current position image, wherein the current position image comprises at least a portion of the housing aperture, processing the current position image to determine if the current position is the aligned position and communicating a message from the processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: FITSKIN INC.
    Inventors: Sergio Rattner, Justinas Vilimas
  • Patent number: 12199115
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first column line and a second column line configured to extend in a first direction, a plurality of pixel groups configured to connect to the first column line or the second column line and to comprise a plurality of pixels in each of the plurality of pixel groups, a bias circuit configured to comprise a first current circuit and a second current circuit configured to output different bias currents in a first operational mode, and a switching circuit configured to connect the first column line to the first current circuit and connect the second column line to the second current circuit during a first time period, and to connect the first column line to the second current circuit and connect the second column line to the first current circuit during a second time period subsequent to the first time period in the first operational mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2024
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Hong Kim, Dae Hwa Paik, Seung Hyun Lim, Sin Hwan Lim
  • Patent number: 12192655
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a time delay integration (TDI) sensor using a rolling shutter. The TDI sensor includes multiple pixel columns. Each pixel column includes multiple pixels arranged in an along-track direction, wherein two adjacent pixels or two adjacent pixel groups in every pixel column have a separation space therebetween. The separation space is equal to a pixel height multiplied by a time ratio of a line time difference of the rolling shutter and a frame period, or equal to a summation of at least one pixel height and a multiplication of the pixel height by the time ratio of the line time difference and the frame period. The TDI sensor further records defect pixels of a pixel array such that in integrating pixel data to integrators, the pixel data associated with the defect pixels is not integrated into corresponding integrators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignees: PIXART IMAGING INC., TAIWAN SPACE AGENCY
    Inventors: Ren-Chieh Liu, Chao-Chi Lee, Yi-Yuan Chen, En-Feng Hsu
  • Patent number: 12184973
    Abstract: Methods for transmitting asynchronous event data via synchronous communications interfaces (and associated imaging systems) are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an imager comprises an array of event vision pixels, a synchronous communications transmitter configured to transmit frames of data to a synchronous communications receiver, and a timer configured to indicate when a threshold amount of time has elapsed. The pixels can generate event data based on activity within an external scene. The imager can be configured to insert available event data into a payload of the current frame during a first time period before the frame timer indicates that the threshold amount of time has elapsed, pad the payload with dummy data during a second time period after the frame timer indicates that the threshold amount of time has elapsed, and transmit (using the synchronous communications transmitter) the current frame of data to the synchronous communications receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Wenlei Yang, Shoushun Chen, Andreas Suess