Patents Examined by Nicholas G. Giles
  • Patent number: 11586033
    Abstract: A variable focal length optical assembly may include a deformable entry lens element, a deformable first reflective element and a deformable second reflective element. Using a controller coupled to the deformable elements, an external force such as a mechanical, electrical, electromechanical, or electromagnetic force is applied to the deformable elements to provide any number of different focal lengths. Since the deformation of the deformable elements, and consequently the changes in focal length, occur much faster than the playback frame rate, a number of sub-frames, each containing an image obtained at a different focal length, are associated with each playback frame. The availability of multiple images in the form of sub-frames permits the selection of an optimal image for inclusion in the final playback frame sequence. The availability of multiple images in the form of sub-frames at different focal lengths also permits the seamless incorporation of zoom-in and zoom-out effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Saikou Optics Incorporated
    Inventor: Eric Sanford
  • Patent number: 11575821
    Abstract: A camera device including first and second cameras, focal position information of the first camera and focal position information of the second camera are matched with each other. Also, the accuracy of the current focal position of the first camera is determined based on the phase difference of images obtained by the first camera when the first camera is auto-focused. Subsequently, when the accuracy of the current focal position of the first camera is low, an accurate focal position of the first camera is tracked by using the matched focal position information of the second camera. When an auto-focusing function of the first camera is activated, focal position movements are tracked by using the focal position information of the second camera as well as zoom tracking of the first camera, and thus, the accuracy can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min Kim, Jun Seok Oh
  • Patent number: 11533447
    Abstract: A capacitive trans-impedance amplifier (CTIA) unit cell includes a CTIA and a clamp capacitor. The CTIA is configured to process a first electrical charge induced by a photocurrent. The clamp capacitor includes a first clamp terminal configured to receive a dynamic signal and a second clamp terminal connected to a CTIA output of the CTIA so as to establish an integrating node. The clamp capacitor delivers a second electrical charge to the CTIA in response to receiving the dynamic signal so as to adjust an integrating reset level at the integrating node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventor: Bryan W. Kean
  • Patent number: 11533461
    Abstract: An image capturing unit captures an image including an embedded image that is printed on the basis of image data in which at least a color component has been modulated according to additional information. An adjustment unit adjusts a white balance of the image captured by the image capturing unit on the basis of an adjustment value associated with the embedded image. A processing unit processes image data of the image captured by the image capturing unit whose white balance has been adjusted by the adjustment unit to read the additional information in the image captured by the image capturing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sakai, Mitsuru Uratani, Yuki Ishida, Yuki Omagari, Tomohiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11528416
    Abstract: A camera device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a light output unit that outputs an output light signal to be irradiated to an object, a lens unit that condenses an input light signal reflected from the object, an image sensor that generates an electric signal from the input light signal condensed by the lens unit and an image processing unit that extracts a depth map of the object using at least one of a time difference and a phase difference between the output light signal and the input light signal received by the image sensor, the lens unit including IR (InfraRed) filter, a plurality of solid lenses disposed on the IR filter and a liquid lens disposed on the plurality of solid lenses, or disposed between the plurality of solid lenses, the camera device further including a first driving unit that controls shifting of the IR filter or the image sensor and a second driving unit that controls a curvature of the liquid lens, an optical path of the input light signal being repeatedl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seong Ha Jang, Ju Un Park, Yang Hyun Joo
  • Patent number: 11523080
    Abstract: A photoelectric converter comprising a pixel unit and a processor configured to process a pixel signal output from the pixel unit is provided. The processor comprises a ?? AD converter configured to convert the pixel signal into a digital signal. The ?? AD converter comprises a subtracter to which the pixel signal and a subtraction signal are input, an integrator configured to receive an output from the subtracter, a comparator configured to compare an output from the integrator with a predetermined voltage, a decimation filter configured to generate the digital signal based on an output from the comparator, a delay unit configured to delay an output from the comparator, a buffer configured to buffer an output from the delay unit, and a DA converter configured to convert an output from the buffer into an analog signal to generate the subtraction signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11516399
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an interchangeable lens, and a camera body. The interchangeable lens includes a correction lens, a lens driver, and a first controller. The camera body includes an image sensor, a sensor driver, and a second controller. The first or second controller selects one of the interchangeable lens and the camera body, in accordance with a level of correction capability to perform the image stabilization. Corresponding to the selected one, one driver of the lens driver and the sensor driver performs the image stabilization for the image blur within a predetermined range. The other driver corresponding to non-selected one performs the image stabilization for a remaining portion of the image blur exceeding the predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Shingu
  • Patent number: 11509841
    Abstract: An image sensor including a pixel that includes: a first photoelectric conversion unit and a second photoelectric conversion unit, each of which generates an electric charge through photoelectric conversion of light; an output unit that outputs a first signal generated based upon the electric charge generated in the first photoelectric conversion unit and a second signal generated based upon an electric charge generated in the second photoelectric conversion unit; and an adjustment unit that adjusts a capacitance at the output unit upon outputting of the first signal and the second signal from the output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsushi Komai
  • Patent number: 11509807
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a first image sensor, a second image sensor, one or more image processing modules, and a display. The first image sensor generates first image data. The second image sensor generates second image data. The one or more image processing modules process one or more image data among the first image and the second image data. The display displays the one or more image data among the first image data or second image data processed by the one or more image processing modules. The thumbnail generation module generates thumbnail data using the one or more image data among the first image data and second image data processed by the one or more image processing modules. A method includes converting the plurality of image data into a format displayable on a display, and generating thumbnail data using the image data of the displayable format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Woo-Hyun Baek
  • Patent number: 11503219
    Abstract: With respect to a subject included in an image, the illuminating condition by an ambient light source in an environment where the image was captured is estimated, and based on the estimation result, the effect of a virtual light source that was non-existent at the time of image capture is computed. More specifically, the effect of the virtual light source is computed using an illumination direction of the virtual light source and the reflective characteristics of the subject illuminated by the virtual light source, which have been determined based on the estimation result, and an image derived from addition of the effect of the virtual light source is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kotaro Kitajima
  • Patent number: 11503216
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus, comprises an instructing unit capable of issuing an instruction for an image capture preparation operation and an instruction for an image capture operation, a metering unit configured to meter brightness of a subject, a calculating unit configured to calculate values of exposure parameters based on a metering result, an acquiring unit configured to acquire information related to an image capture lens; and a controlling unit configured to, when image capture is performed with light emitted by a light emitter, control the calculating unit so as to make different a calculation method for the values of the exposure parameters at the time of issuance of the instruction for the image capture preparation operation based on the information related to the image capture lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takashi Kageyama, Hiroki Saegusa
  • Patent number: 11493675
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to hyperspectral spectroscopy, and in particular, to systems, methods and devices enabling a single-sensor hyperspectral imaging device. Hyperspectral (also known as “multispectral”) spectroscopy is an imaging technique that integrates multiples images of an object resolved at different narrow spectral bands (i.e., narrow ranges of wavelengths) into a single data structure, referred to as a three-dimensional hyperspectral data cube. Data provided by hyperspectral spectroscopy allow for the identification of individual components of a complex composition through the recognition of spectral signatures of individual components within the three-dimensional hyperspectral data cube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Mark Anthony Darty
  • Patent number: 11496699
    Abstract: The dynamic range of a pixel is increased by using selective photosensor resets during a frame time of image capture at a timing depending on the light intensity that the pixel will be exposed to during the frame time. Pixels that will be exposed to high light intensity are reset later in the frame than pixels that will be exposed to lower light intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Nikolai E. Bock
  • Patent number: 11490033
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a video generating method, apparatus, electronic device, and computer storage medium. The method comprises: receiving a user's video capturing operation through a video playing interface of an original video; in response to the video capturing operation, superimposing a video capturing window on the video playing interface, capturing a user's video, and displaying the user's video through the video capturing window; and combining the user's video with the original video to obtain a combined video. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the combined video by combining the user's video with the original video may be obtained conveniently and quickly, and the operation process is simple and fast, and the actual application requirements of the user can be better meet, which improves the users' interactive experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: BEIJING MICROLIVE VISION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Mingwei Zhao, Haidong Chen
  • Patent number: 11483478
    Abstract: The present invention is applicable to the field of videos, and provides a panoramic video anti-shake method and a portable terminal. The method comprises: obtaining world coordinates of any reference point in a world coordinate system in real time, and simultaneously obtaining camera coordinates corresponding to the reference point in the portable terminal and an angular velocity value of a current state of a gyroscope in the portable terminal; smoothing the motion of a camera using an extended Kalman filter; decomposing the smoothed motion to synthesize virtual lens motion of a free lens mode, and calculating the rotation amount of the virtual lens; and re-projecting an original video to generate a stable video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: ARASHI VISION INC.
    Inventor: Cong Chen
  • Patent number: 11483506
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an image detector that includes an array of digital pixels, each digital pixel including an output that provides a digital pixel output pulse each time a charge stored in the digital pixel exceeds a threshold and a readout integrated circuit (ROIC) connected to the output of each of the digital pixels to receive the digital pixel output pulse from each pixel, the ROIC including a plurality of accumulators, each of the plurality of accumulators associated with a respective digital pixel. The imaging device also includes a controller that reads the accumulators to determine a number of digital pixel output pulses stored by the accumulators without stopping the generation of digital pixel output pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Neil R. Malone, Michael J. Batinica
  • Patent number: 11483499
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus of the present disclosure includes: a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels including a first partial pixel, a second partial pixel, and a third partial pixel are arranged; and an addition processor that adds, for each of the pixels, a third partial pixel signal generated from the third partial pixel to either one of a first partial pixel signal generated from the first partial pixel and a second partial pixel signal generated from the second partial pixel, on the basis of a temperature of the pixel array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoya Satoh
  • Patent number: 11483491
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an image acquisition method, an image acquisition apparatus, and a storage medium. The method is applicable for a terminal, and a display screen of the terminal includes a first screen area and a second screen area, and an under-screen camera is disposed under the second screen area. The method includes: when receiving an image acquisition instruction, adjusting a light transmittance of the second screen area, in which the adjusted light transmittance of the second screen area is greater than the light transmittance of the second screen area before adjustment; activating the under-screen camera in response to the image acquisition instruction, and performing image acquisition with the under-screen camera; and performing corresponding process on the image acquired by the under-screen camera, in which the corresponding process includes at least one of fingerprint image recognition and viewfinder image display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Bingquan Han
  • Patent number: 11467322
    Abstract: The present embodiment relates to a dual camera module comprising: a first camera module including a first liquid lens and capturing a first image; and a second camera module including a second liquid lens and capturing a second image, wherein a viewing angle of the first camera module is smaller than a viewing angle of the second camera module, at least a part of the viewing angle of the first camera module is included in the viewing angle of the second camera module such that there is an overlapping area between the first image and the second image so as to enable a composite image formed by combining the first image and the second image to be generated, and when the first camera module is focused, a focal length of the first liquid lens is varied according to the distance between the first liquid lens and a subject, and when the second camera module is focused, a focal length of the second liquid lens is varied according to the distance between the second liquid lens and the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Seop Moon, Ui Jun Kim, Han Young Kim, Hyung Kim, Sang Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 11463607
    Abstract: A camera module is disclosed. The camera module includes a camera housing, a camera assembly including a lens and an image sensor, at least a portion of the camera assembly being disposed inside the camera housing, and a guide plate connected to the camera assembly and the camera housing. The camera assembly is rotatable with respect to each of a first rotation axis and a second rotation axis, which are substantially perpendicular to an optical axis L of the lens. The guide plate includes a central portion disposed in a peripheral portion of the lens, a first portion and a second portion, which extend from the central portion in a direction of the first rotation axis and are rotatably connected to the camera assembly, and a third portion and a fourth portion, which extend from the central portion in a direction of the second rotation axis and are rotatably connected to the camera housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventors: Chanyoung Moon, Yeonhak Kim, Hyungjin Rho