Patents Examined by Nhan T. Tran
  • Patent number: 12167144
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus that includes a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element, and disposed in matrix on a light-receiving surface, a plurality of light-receiving lenses provided one by one for each of the plurality of pixels in the plurality of pixels, and a control section that controls exposure times of the plurality of pixels. The control section controls the exposure times of the plurality of pixels to allow exposure times of at least two of the pixels, of the plurality of pixels corresponding to each of the light-receiving lenses, to be the same, and exposure times of at least two of the pixels, of the plurality of pixels corresponding to each of the light-receiving lenses, to be different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takuma Nagata
  • Patent number: 12160670
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems, apparatuses, processes, and computer-readable media to capture images with subjects at different depths of fields. A method of processing image data includes capturing an image associated with a first exposure; capturing a plurality of images associated with at least a second exposure, the second exposure being less than the first exposure; generating a combined image from the plurality of images associated with at least the second exposure; and generating a high dynamic range (HDR) image from the image associated with the first exposure and the combined image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Kevin Yao Han, Narayana Karthik Ravirala, Satyajit Giri, Shizhong Liu, Weiliang Liu
  • Patent number: 12160656
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an operation member that receives an operation from a user, an image capturing unit including a first function of performing still image capturing when a first operation on the operation member is received, a second function of starting moving image recording when a second operation on the operation member is received, and a third function of automatically starting moving image recording, and a control unit configured to, when the first operation is received via the operation member while the third function is performed, perform control to stop the moving image recording by the third function and perform the still image capturing by the first function, and when the first operation is received via the operation member while the second function is performed, perform control to stop the moving image recording by the second function and not perform the still image capturing by the first function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuya Miyahara
  • Patent number: 12155948
    Abstract: Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods that buffer events in device memory during synchronous readout of a plurality of frames by a sensor. Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods that disable a sensor communication link until the buffered events are sufficient for transmission by the sensor. In some implementations, the sensor using a synchronous readout may select a readout mode for one or more frames based on how many of the pixels are detecting events. In some implementations, a first mode that reads out only data for a low percentage of pixels that have events uses the device memory and a second mode bypasses the device memory based on accumulation criteria such as high percentage of pixels detecting events. In the second mode, less data per pixel may be readout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nikolai E. Bock, Emanuele Mandelli, Gennady A. Manokhin
  • Patent number: 12149828
    Abstract: A camera may include an actuator driver system comprising at least two drivers to generate current for individual coils of one or more actuators of the camera. One driver may act as a primary driver, whilst the other may serve as a secondary driver. The primary driver may receive at last one command signal from a host and at last one measurement signal from a sensor. The primary driver may determine command current for the individual coils according to the command and measurement signals. The primary driver may distribute between the two drivers signals indicative of the determined current for the coils. Accordingly, the first and second drivers may respectively generate the current for the corresponding coils connected with the drivers to move at least one lens and/or an image sensor of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Shahrooz Shahparnia
  • Patent number: 12143740
    Abstract: An image sensing device including a pixel array including a plurality of pixels and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to convert an analog signal into a digital signal is provided. The ADC includes a first circuit configured to receive the analog signal from a selected pixel among the plurality of pixels and generate a first output signal and a second circuit including a select transistor configured to apply a voltage to a floating node electrically connected to the select transistor based on the first output signal. The second circuit further includes a capacitor connected in parallel between a gate and a drain of the select transistor and an output circuit connected to the floating node and configured to output the digital signal based on the applied voltage to the floating node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Minwoong Seo, Hyunyong Jung, Myunglae Chu
  • Patent number: 12137296
    Abstract: A pixel circuit includes a photodiode configured to photogenerate image charge in response to incident light. A transfer transistor is coupled between the photodiode and a floating diffusion to transfer the image charge from the photodiode to the floating diffusion. A reset transistor is coupled between a pixel voltage source and the floating diffusion. A lateral overflow integration capacitor (LOFIC) network includes a first LOFIC coupled between the floating diffusion and the first bias voltage source, and a second LOFIC coupled between the floating diffusion and the second bias voltage source. The first LOFIC is configured to be forward biased and the second LOFIC is configured to be reverse biased at an end of an integration period, and image charge discharged from the first LOFIC and image charge discharged from the second LOFIC compensate each other during a readout period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yuanliang Liu, Bill Phan, Duli Mao
  • Patent number: 12132060
    Abstract: An imaging device capable of image processing is provided. The imaging device can retain analog data (image data) obtained by an image-capturing operation in a pixel and extract data obtained by multiplying the analog data by a predetermined weight coefficient. When the data is taken in a neural network or the like, processing such as image recognition can be performed. Since enormous volumes of image data can be retained in pixels in the state of analog data, processing can be performed efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Yoneda, Yusuke Negoro
  • Patent number: 12114094
    Abstract: A video processing method, apparatus, and device and a storage medium are provided. The method includes: monitoring an operation indication inputted by a user through a personal homepage on a social platform, the personal homepage being used for displaying personal information of the user; obtaining, when the operation indication is a shooting indication for shooting a personal status video, the personal status video; uploading the personal status video to a back-end server of the social platform; and displaying indication information of the personal status video in a personal-information display region of the personal homepage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Man Liu, Su Cao, Hongfa Qiu, Zhe Yan, Mingsan Wang, Qinhong Zheng, Qi Tang, Ziping He, Shihai Cheng, Dong Huang, Dongxuan Zhang, Runjia Huang, Junjie Zhou, Jingchao Suo, Jin Jiang, Yong Li, Zhenfeng Cai, Yuewei Chen, Leteng Weng, Zhenan Guan, Yuan Zhao, Yiheng Liu, Ying Qi
  • Patent number: 12101542
    Abstract: The present embodiment relates to a camera device comprising: a bracket comprising a first hole and a second hole; a first camera module disposed in the first hole of the bracket; a second camera module disposed in the second hole of the bracket; a first magnet disposed on the outer surface of the first camera module; and a second magnet disposed at a position corresponding to the first magnet on the outer surface of the bracket, wherein the first magnet is fixed to the outer surface of the first camera module and the second magnet is movably disposed on the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Yeon Han, Deok Yong Lee, Woo Yeong Lee
  • Patent number: 12096138
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor with quasi-global shutter function and a method of operating the same. A row control unit of the image sensor is configured to determine exceptional pixel rows for which a pre-scheduled global exposure control pulse would fully or partially coincide with a sequentially applied readout control pulse that is selecting a number of pixel rows of the pixel array to be read out. The pre-scheduled global exposure control pulse is applied simultaneously to all but the exceptional pixel rows and delayed and/or advanced versions of the exposure control pulse are applied to the exceptional pixel rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: CAELESTE CVBA
    Inventor: Bart Dierickx
  • Patent number: 12089475
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an array substrate and a preparation method thereof, a display device and an imaging method thereof. In one embodiment, an array substrate includes: a base substrate; and a plurality of imaging apertures and a plurality of sensor units on the base substrate, wherein the plurality of imaging apertures are respectively on the plurality of sensor units, so that each of the imaging apertures corresponds to each of the sensor units one by one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignees: CHENGDU BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haijun Qiu, Yuedi He, Guoqiang Tang, Zhenhua Zhang
  • Patent number: 12088900
    Abstract: A display unit including a liquid crystal layer, a plurality of optical layers and an imaging device. The imaging device is aligned to a portion of the display unit, the portion configured to transmit more than 10% of light rays to the imaging device. A method of assembling the same is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH
    Inventors: Carel Suat Fun Yew, Kah Soon Ang, Swee Yoong Foo, Ma Ella Preciosa Cruz Yap
  • Patent number: 12088938
    Abstract: Embodiments of pixel circuit, image sensor, image pickup device and methods for using the same are provided. In an example, the pixel circuit comprises a source module configured to output non-simultaneously a reference signal indicative of a reset level and an electrical signal indicative of incident light, a sampling module comprising a first sampling unit, a second sampling unit and a sampling switch, a first switch module configured to be electrically coupled between the source module and the sampling module, and a second switch module configured to be electrically coupled between the sampling module and a bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN RGBIC MICROELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yang Xu, Jia Guo, Zhisheng Li
  • Patent number: 12080742
    Abstract: An image capture device includes a first housing, a second housing, a first integrated sensor-lens assembly (ISLA), and a second ISLA. The second housing is coupled to the first housing to form an internal compartment. The first ISLA includes a first image sensor coupled to a first lens in fixed alignment. The second ISLA includes a second image sensor coupled to a second lens in fixed alignment. The first ISLA is positively statically connected to the first housing, and the second ISLA is coupled to the first housing indirectly via the first ISLA.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Vitale, Michael Brookmire, Matthew David Thomas, Jesse Patterson, John George Muhlenkamp, IV, Heman Au
  • Patent number: 12081689
    Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for shielding of an optical element of an imaging device in a mobile device. In an embodiment, an imaging device includes: an optical element; a metallic shielding enclosure, wherein the optical element is partially located within the metallic shielding enclosure; an electrically conductive coating layer applied on a surface of the optical element that is outside the metallic shielding enclosure, wherein the electrically conductive coating layer is electrically connected to the metallic shielding enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Julien Sarry, Henry M. Daghighian
  • Patent number: 12062677
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus of the present disclosure includes: a plurality of pixel blocks that each includes a plurality of light-receiving pixels including color filters of mutually the same color, the plurality of light-receiving pixels being divided into a plurality of pixel pairs each including two light-receiving pixels; and a plurality of lenses provided at respective positions corresponding to the plurality of pixel pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Kozo Hoshino
  • Patent number: 12058459
    Abstract: An NMOS-only operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) replaces the PMOS transistors with switched capacitor pseudo-resistors in the pixels of an optical sensor such as a dynamic vision sensor or event-based vision sensor. Thus, if a stacked CMOS image sensor (CIS) process is employed, then the upper wafer can be kept free from N-wells, while still having the complete OTA on the upper wafer. Thus, it is possible to have only one wafer-to-wafer connection per pixel. Moreover, by operating the switched capacitor pseudo-resistors as three terminal devices, the gain can further be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: SONY ADVANCED VISUAL SENSING AG
    Inventors: Raphael Berner, Chistian Brändli
  • Patent number: 12055693
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a camera module using a small reflective unit and an optical device for augmented reality using the same, and provides a camera module using a small reflective unit, the camera module including a lens unit configured such that one or more lenses are disposed therein and an image sensor configured to convert image light, incident through the lens unit, into an electrical signal and output the electrical signal, the camera module further including a reflective unit configured to transfer incident image light to the lens unit by reflecting the incident image light; wherein the reflective surface of the reflective unit is disposed to be inclined with respect to the optical axis of incident light in order to reflect incident image light to the lens unit, and acts as an aperture for the incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Inventor: Jeong Hun Ha
  • 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