Patents Examined by Nhan T. Tran
  • Patent number: 12046613
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a light detector including a plurality of photosensitive cells configured to sense light; a color separation lens array provided above the light detector and including a plurality of pattern structures, the color separation lens array being configured to collect light having different wavelength spectra respectively on at least two photosensitive cells of the plurality of photosensitive cells; and a variable interlayer element configured to adjust an optical distance between the light detector and the color separation lens array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seokho Yun, Sookyoung Roh, Hongkyu Park, Minwoo Lim
  • Patent number: 12047701
    Abstract: Solid-state imaging elements are disclosed. In one example, an upstream circuit sequentially generates a predetermined reset level and a signal level corresponding to an exposure amount, and causes first and second capacitive elements to hold the reset level and the signal level. A selection circuit sequentially connects one of the capacitive elements to a predetermined downstream node, disconnects both capacitive elements from the downstream node, and connects the other capacitive element to the downstream node. A downstream reset transistor initializes a level of the downstream node when both capacitive elements are disconnected from the downstream node. A downstream circuit sequentially reads the reset level and the signal level from the first and second capacitive elements via the downstream node and outputs the reset level and the signal level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Luonghung Asakura, Yoshiaki Inada
  • Patent number: 12047664
    Abstract: A light shielding plate includes a front surface that is located on a light incident side, a rear surface that is a surface facing away from the front surface, and an aperture that penetrates through the front surface and the rear surface. The aperture has a first aperture portion and a second aperture portion that is connected to the first aperture portion via a central opening, and the first aperture portion extends from a rear opening in the rear surface toward the central opening and has a shape tapered from the rear surface toward the front surface. The second aperture portion extends from a rear opening in the front surface to the central opening and has a shape tapered from the front surface toward the rear surface. The front opening is larger than the rear opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: TOPPAN INC.
    Inventors: Kiyoaki Nishitsuji, Shinichi Shimamura
  • Patent number: 12047697
    Abstract: An image sensor may include an array of image pixels. The array of image pixel may be coupled to row control circuitry and column readout circuitry. An image pixel in the array may include a charge integration portion having a photodiode, a floating diffusion region, and a capacitor coupled to the floating diffusion region and may include a voltage-domain sampling portion having three capacitors. High light and low light image level and reset level signals may be sampled and stored at the voltage-domain sampling portion before being readout to the column readout circuitry during a readout operation. The high light reset level signal may be sampled and stored during the readout operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Manuel H. Innocent, Tomas Geurts, Genis Chapinal Gomez, Tze Ching Fung, Bartosz Piotr Banachowicz
  • Patent number: 12040418
    Abstract: An imaging device (100) comprises a stack of photoactive layers (11) including at least a p-type photoactive layer (11p) and an n-type photoactive layer (11n). The photoactive layers comprise quantum dots (QD) formed by semiconductor nanocrystals capped by ligands. Readout electronics comprise electrodes (13t, 13b) sandwiching the photoactive layers (11). At least one of the electrodes (13b) is divided in respective pixels (10p) for collecting photo-generated charges from respective parts of the photoactive layers. Each pixel (10p) comprises an amplification circuit to amplify the photo-generated charge, preferably using a DG-FET. An intermediate layer (11i) can be provided between the p- and n-type photoactive layers (11p, 11n).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Rijksuniversiteit Groningen
    Inventors: Artem Gennadiiovych Shulga, Maria Antonietta Loi
  • Patent number: 12039761
    Abstract: An image processing method of converting spectral image data of a plurality of spectral wavelengths imaged by a spectral camera into a color image by using a processor, wherein the processor acquires a plurality of pieces of the spectral image data from a storage unit, calculates a correction value by multiplying a optical spectrum of each pixel of a corresponding one of the plurality of spectral image data by a correction constant set for each wavelength, calculates a color conversion value by summing the correction values of the same pixel positions, and generates a color composite image based on the color conversion value. Then, the correction constant is set such that a sum spectrum obtained by summing characteristic spectra obtained by multiplying a sensitivity characteristic with respect to each spectral wavelength of the spectral camera by the correction constant corresponding to each wavelength matches a target spectrum of any color filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kei Kudo, Teruyuki Nishimura
  • Patent number: 12027541
    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: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Hong Kim, Dae Hwa Paik, Seung Hyun Lim, Sin Hwan Lim
  • Patent number: 12022209
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device and an electronic apparatus that enable simultaneous acquisition of a signal for generating a high dynamic range image and a signal for detecting a phase difference. The solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of pixel sets each including color filters of the same color, for a plurality of colors, each pixel set including a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a plurality of photodiodes PD. The present technology can be applied, for example, to a solid-state imaging device that generates a high dynamic range image and detects a phase difference, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Kozo Hoshino
  • Patent number: 12022196
    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: August 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Noy Cohen, Oded Gigushinski, Nadav Geva, Gal Shabtay, Ester Ashkenazi, Ruthy Katz, Ephraim Goldenberg
  • Patent number: 12015861
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a pixel collection circuit and an image sensor. The image collection circuit includes: a movement detection module configured to detect a change in a light intensity in a field of view, and generate a pixel triggering signal when the change in the light intensity exceeds a predetermined threshold so as to indicate the pixel collection circuit to be in a triggered state; and a time signal generation module coupled to the movement detection module and configured to generate a time signal upon the receipt of the pixel triggering signal, the time signal being used to represent time information about a time point at which the pixel collection circuit is triggered. The movement detection module and the time signal generation module are coupled to a reading unit, so that the reading unit scans the pixel collection circuit to output the time information about the pixel collection circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: OMNIVISION SENSOR SOLUTION (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD
    Inventors: Shoushun Chen, Menghan Guo
  • Patent number: 12010446
    Abstract: A method in an integrated circuit device to compress images, including: generating, by an image processing logic circuit and based on first data representative of an input image, input data; generating, by an inference logic circuit and based on the input data, a column of inputs; converting, by the inference logic circuit using voltage drivers connected to wordlines and memory cells storing a weight matrix, and into output currents of the memory cells summed in bitlines, results of bitwise multiplications of bits in the column of inputs and bits stored in the memory cells in a form of threshold voltages of the memory cells; digitizing currents summed in the bitlines to obtain column outputs; generating, by the inference logic circuit, output data based on the column outputs; and generating, using the output data, second data representative of an output image compressed from the input image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Poorna Kale
  • Patent number: 12003847
    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: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Misawa, Kentaro Tokiwa, Hirofumi Horii, Yuichi Fujimura, Takeshi Misawa
  • Patent number: 12003865
    Abstract: To enable HDR video signals of a plurality of signal interfaces to be satisfactorily handled. [Solution] A processing unit processes a linear high dynamic range video signal and obtains a high dynamic range video signal that has undergone a grayscale compression process. The processing unit is able to perform grayscale compression processes of a plurality of signal interfaces. For example, when a grayscale compression process of another signal interface other than a reference signal interface is performed, the processing unit further performs a process of adding characteristics of system gamma of the reference signal interface and a process of cancelling out characteristics of system gamma of the other signal interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koji Kamiya, Hiroaki Kikuchi, Jun Onuki, Tomoyuki Endo, Masaki Hirose
  • Patent number: 11997382
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for providing a camera service by an electronic device. The electronic device may include a camera, a memory, and at least one processor, the processor configured to control the electronic device to: receive a camera shooting request; display a preview image of an external object obtained through the camera using first area information based on a first shooting mode in response to the shooting request; receive an input corresponding to a second shooting mode in the first shooting mode; and display the preview using second area information corresponding to the second shooting mode in response to the input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wooyong Lee, Yunson Yoo, Donghoon Jang, Beomjoon Kwon, Kihuk Lee
  • Patent number: 11990491
    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: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Inventors: Loriston Ford, Ulrich C. Boettiger
  • Patent number: 11979672
    Abstract: A backside illumination image sensor that includes a semiconductor substrate with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a read circuit formed on a front surface side of the semiconductor substrate, and captures an image by outputting, via the read circuit, electrical signals generated as incident light having reached a back surface side of the semiconductor substrate is received at the photoelectric conversion elements includes: a light shielding film formed on a side where incident light enters the photoelectric conversion elements, with an opening formed therein in correspondence to each photoelectric conversion element, and an on-chip lens formed at a position set apart from the light shielding film by a predetermined distance in correspondence to each photoelectric conversion element. The light shielding film and an exit pupil plane of the image forming optical system achieve a conjugate relation to each other with regard to the on-chip lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yosuke Kusaka
  • Patent number: 11968456
    Abstract: A method for computing a total weight array includes receiving an image frame captured by a content capture device and identifying a plurality of objects in the image frame. Each object of the plurality of objects corresponds to one of a plurality of pixel groups. The method also includes providing a plurality of neural networks and calculating, for each object of the plurality of objects, an object weight using a corresponding neural network of the plurality of neural networks. The method further includes computing the total weight array by summing the object weight for each of the plurality of objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Keith Smith, Ilya Tsunaev
  • Patent number: 11968318
    Abstract: In a control method for an electronic apparatus according to the present invention, in which a mobile terminal comprises a camera comprising a plurality of lenses and a first display unit combined to a case, the case comprising a first body where the mobile terminal is accommodated and a second body where a second display unit is arranged, the control method for an electronic apparatus comprises the steps of: displaying first screen information on the second display unit and displaying a preview screen on the first display unit in response to driving of the camera; detecting a pre-set touch input received by the first display unit; executing an expanded preview mode in response to the pre-set touch input, generating a control signal for displaying, on the second display unit, second screen information corresponding to a camera function related to the preview screen of the first display unit, and transmitting the control signal to the second display unit; and while the preview screen of the first display unit
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kyungrak Choi, Hyerim Ku, Eunyoung Noh, Seungmin Yang, Jieun Lee
  • Patent number: 11968466
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device, a method for driving a solid-state imaging device, and an electronic apparatus are provided that are capable of reducing memory circuits of a column reading system, so that the column reading system can achieve a reduced layout area and eventually a reduced size. A column reading circuit includes an AD converting part and a calculating part. The AD converting part is configured to analog-to-digital convert a read-out reset signal and a read-out signal of a pixel signal read to a vertical signal line into an n-bit digital pixel signal. The calculating part includes an n-bit asynchronous counter including a retention circuit with a control logic function, which is configured to obtain a difference between an n-bit read-out reset signal and an n-bit read-out signal produced by the AD conversion performed by the AD converting part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: BRILLNICS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Abe, Keita Murase, Takahiro Matsuzawa, Shinichiro Matsuo, Shingo Sanada
  • Patent number: 11954875
    Abstract: A method for determining a height of a plant, an electronic device, and a storage medium are disclosed. In the method, a target image is obtained by mapping an obtained color image with an obtained depth image. The electronic device processes the color image by using a pre-trained mobilenet-ssd network, obtains a detection box appearance of the plant, and extracts target contours of the plant to be detected from the detection box. The electronic device determines a depth value of each of pixel points in the target contour according to the target image. Target depth values are obtained by performing a de-noising on depth values of the pixel points, and a height of the plant to be detected is determined according to the target depth value. The method improves accuracy of height determination of a plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tzu-Chen Lin, Chih-Te Lu, Chin-Pin Kuo