Patents Examined by Padma Haliyur
  • Patent number: 12143728
    Abstract: The technical problem of enhancing the quality of an image captured by a front facing camera in low light conditions is addressed by displaying the viewfinder of a front facing camera with an illuminating border, termed a viewfinder ring flash. A viewfinder ring flash acts as a ring flash in low light conditions. A viewfinder ring flash may be automatically generated and presented in the camera view user interface (UI) when the digital sensor of a front facing camera detects a low light indication based on intensity of incident light detected by the digital image sensor of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Snap Inc.
    Inventors: Newar Husam Al Majid, Christine Barron, Ryan Chan, Bertrand Saint-Preux, Shoshana Sternstein
  • Patent number: 12143726
    Abstract: A camera may use a multi-axis image sensor shifting system to implement both autofocus (AF) and optical image stabilization (OSI) functions. The multi-axis image sensor shifting system may include a flexure suspension arrangement and an actuator. The flexure suspension arrangement may include an inner frame, an intermediate frame, and an outer frame. The actuator may include one or more magnets, and two sets of one or more coils attached respectively to some of the frames of the flexure suspension arrangement. Current flowing through the coils may be regulated to interact with the magnetic field of the magnets to generate motive force to move an image sensor of the camera relative to a lens group in multiple directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Bin Xu, Aurelien R. Hubert
  • Patent number: 12143702
    Abstract: The imaging apparatus comprises a retractable structure with active and inactive positions. An outermost lens group and a lens group actuator are movable along an optical axis. In the inactive position the lens group and the lens group actuator reside close to an image sensor. The lens group actuator is positioned to the same level as the image sensor. In the active position the outermost lens group and the lens group actuator are further from the image sensor along the optical axis. The retractable structure may protrude from the device, covering the imaging apparatus. In one example the structure is reversed, the image sensor protrudes from the device while the outermost lens group is fixed to the device body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC.
    Inventors: Marko Eromäki, Mikko Juhola, Eero Salmelin
  • Patent number: 12143710
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus and a method by which the electronic apparatus provides recommendation information related to photography are provided. The method includes identifying a subject included in a preview image recognized by a first camera, obtaining information of the identified subject, obtaining information related to light in surroundings of the identified subject, determining a recommended photographing composition based on the information of the identified subject and the information related to the light in the surroundings of the subject, and providing information about the determined recommended photographing composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-ho Jung, Yeul-tak Sung
  • Patent number: 12143699
    Abstract: A sensor module according to an embodiment of the present technology includes a sensor element, a first casing, a bracket, and a second casing. The first casing includes an opening end and accommodates therein the sensor element. The bracket fixes the first casing to an attachment target. The second casing includes a first surface that includes a first welding portion welded to the opening end, and a second surface that includes a second welding portion welded to the bracket, the second casing being fixed between the first casing and the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Hirofumi Owaki
  • Patent number: 12137293
    Abstract: In an image sensor, an analog-to-digital conversion circuitry generates image data by sequentially performing analog-to-digital conversion processing twice or more on a pixel signal transferred from the pixel array in an operation period of one horizontal cycle, and an image signal processing circuitry receives the image data and performs digital processing on the image data. A timing controller controls the image signal processing circuitry to hold the digital processing during a plurality of holding periods that respectively correspond to portions of two or more ADC processing periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Inje Jeong, Sujong Jang
  • Patent number: 12132989
    Abstract: A sensor-stabilization assembly includes: a housing including a first portion of a first electromagnetic assembly and of a second electromagnetic assembly and defining a housing aperture; a first frame having first guides that permit relative motion between the first frame and the housing and defining a first frame aperture; and a second frame having second guides that permit relative motion between the second frame and the first frame. The second frame includes: a second portion of the first electromagnetic assembly adapted to interact with the first portion to cause the first frame and second frame to move relative to the housing; and a second portion of the second electromagnetic assembly adapted to interact with the first portion to cause the second frame to move relative to the first frame and housing. A sensor is coupled to the second frame to capture light through the housing aperture and first frame aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Suyao Ji, Lu Gao
  • Patent number: 12132981
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to user interfaces. In some examples, the electronic device transitions between user interfaces for capturing photos based on data received from a first camera and a second camera. In some examples, the electronic device provides enhanced zooming capabilities that result in visual pleasing results for a displayed digital viewfinder and for captured videos. In some examples, the electronic device provides user interfaces for transitioning a digital viewfinder between a first camera with an applied digital zoom to a second camera with no digital zoom. In some examples, the electronic device prepares to capture media at various magnification levels. In some examples, the electronic device enhanced capabilities for navigating through a plurality of values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Johnnie B. Manzari, Pavel Pivoňka, Daniel Trent Preston
  • Patent number: 12126918
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a method (100) is described. The method is a computer-implemented method. The method comprises receiving (102) pixel information corresponding to at least part of a first, second and third image, acquired by an imaging system, of a subject illuminated by temporally modulated illumination. A time delay between an acquisition start time of the first, second and third images is such that there is an overlap in time during acquisition of the first, second and third images. The method further comprises determining (104) modified pixel information for constructing a modified image of the subject. The modified pixel information is determined based on: a difference between the received pixel information of the first, second and third images to reduce an effect of ambient lighting in the received pixel information; and a combination of the received pixel information to cancel out a spatial intensity modulation pattern apparent in each of the first, second and third images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Yannyk Parulian Julian Bourquin, Jonathan Alambra Palero, Mathivanan Damodaran, Rieko Verhagen
  • Patent number: 12126929
    Abstract: According to certain embodiments, an electronic device comprises: a motion sensor; a first camera module including a lens assembly and a driving circuit configured to move the lens assembly in a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis, the first camera module having a first angle of view when the lens assembly is positioned in a reference position; a second camera module having a second angle of view, wherein the first angle of view is entirely in the second angle of view; and at least one processor electrically connected to the motion sensor, the first camera module, and the second camera module, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: control the driving circuit to move the lens assembly based on motion data received from the motion sensor, thereby causing the first camera module to have a third angle of view, offset from the first angle of view by an angle, acquire, from the first camera module, a first image corresponding to the third angle of view, acquire a second image cor
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kioh Jung, Seunghan Lee, Cheolhee Choi, Soonkyoung Choi, Dongyoul Park
  • Patent number: 12126892
    Abstract: This application provides a photographing method and an electronic device. In the photographing method, a virtual shutter button provided on a photographing preview interface can trigger a photographing or video recording function by when tapped by a user. The virtual shutter button has a same function as a shutter button of a camera application. When the user uses the photographing function of the electronic device, the virtual shutter button may move on the photographing preview interface based on a touch input of the user, thereby improving photographing experience of the user. In addition, the user may complete a photographing operation by touching and tapping the virtual shutter button, and therefore, shake caused by taking a photo by pressing a mechanical button (for example, a volume button) is avoided, and quality of a captured photo is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jie Yin, Jiangzhen Zheng
  • Patent number: 12114053
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging element including an imaging surface; a first filter unit including a first optical filter; and a drive mechanism configured to move the first filter unit in parallel in a second direction intersecting a first direction being a normal direction of the imaging surface and between a first filtering position and a first retraction position. The first filtering position is a position at which the first optical filter is present in front of the imaging surface, and the first retraction position is a position at which the first optical filter is deviated from a front of the imaging surface. The drive mechanism includes a belt member coupled to the first filter unit, and a belt drive member configured to rotate in a state where the belt member is partially wound, the belt drive member configured to move a first portion of the belt member to which the first filter unit is coupled in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kuroki
  • Patent number: 12108163
    Abstract: A sequential image photographing device for photographing sequential images of an object to be observed includes: an illuminating unit configured to sequentially irradiate a plurality of light having different wavelength bands to the object; a digital camera configured to photograph the object illuminated by the plurality of the light emitted from the illuminating unit; a controller controlling the illuminating unit and the digital camera; and an image processing unit configured to extract a plurality of channel images corresponding to the respective wavelength band from the image photographed by the digital camera and to obtain the sequential images of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Jeju National University Industry—Academic Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Min Joo Choi, Jong Min Kim, Gwan Suk Kang
  • Patent number: 12108172
    Abstract: An imaging device of the present disclosure includes a pixel array part in which pixels including photoelectric conversion units are disposed, an image processing unit for imaging that acquires captured image information on the basis of a pixel signal output from each pixel of the pixel array part, and an object recognition processing unit that acquires object recognition information on the basis of the pixel signal output from each pixel of the pixel array part. Further, a vehicle control system of the present disclosure has the imaging device having the aforementioned configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kei Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 12108167
    Abstract: A parameter optimization system (10) includes: an image sensor (110) having at least one sensing parameter; a parameter setting unit (120) configured to be able to change the sensing parameter; a score calculation unit (130) configured to calculate a score from an image acquired by the image sensor; and a parameter determination unit (140) configured to determine a right parameter value that is a value of the sensing parameter at which the score is relatively high, based on a value of the sensing parameter and the score corresponding to the value of the sensing parameter. According to such a parameter optimization system, the sensing parameter of the image sensor can be set to an appropriate value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Toizumi, Chisato Funayama, Masato Tsukada
  • Patent number: 12108154
    Abstract: A camera module includes a lens module and an anti-shake module. The anti-shake module includes an outer frame and a first drive component; the lens module is rotatably disposed inside the outer frame; the first drive component includes a first drive coil and a first magnetic element, where one of the first drive coil and the first magnetic element is disposed on the outer frame, and another of the first drive coil and the first magnetic element is disposed on the lens module; the first drive coil is located in a magnetic field of the first magnetic element; and in a case that the first drive coil is energized, the lens module is able to rotate relative to the outer frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: VIVO Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Qinquan Pang
  • Patent number: 12096134
    Abstract: This application provides an image processing method, including: after binocular image data of a photographing scene that is generated by dual cameras is obtained, determining binocular depth data by using the binocular image data, to determine an error region in an image, correcting depths of the error region based on time of flight (TOF) data corresponding to the scene, and finally performing blurring processing on monocular image data in the binocular image data by using corrected binocular depth data. Because TOF is considered when the depths of the error region are corrected, the method can effectively avoid a depth estimation error caused by relatively poor precision and stability of a binocular depth estimation manner, so that depth estimation precision and stability are improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xijia Deng, Yuanwen Liu
  • Patent number: 12093597
    Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program is described comprising: capturing images using one or more imaging devices of a foldable user device, wherein the user device comprises a visual display, wherein, in a first mode of operation, a display output on the visual display is modified depending on a folding angle of the foldable user device; capturing audio using one or more microphones of the foldable user device; providing a wind mode indication in a second mode of operation; and disabling the modification of the visual display depending on the folding angle in the second mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Jussi Leppänen, Arto Lehtiniemi, Antti Eronen, Mikko Heikkinen
  • Patent number: 12088909
    Abstract: Described techniques enable thwart detection for warning lights associated with recording devices, such as cameras. A warning light may be used to alert bystanders that a recording is in progress, but an operator of a recording device may attempt to circumvent the warning light by obstructing the warning light. A lightpipe or other light guiding element may be used to guide a redirection of the warning light to a light sensor. Then, when the redirection exceeds a threshold, which may be determined based in part on a baseline level of ambient light, recording operations of the recording device may be automatically deactivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Nils Johan Fransson, Arnett Ryan Weber, Erturk Kocalar
  • Patent number: 12081900
    Abstract: A portable, collapsible video production system includes a case having a top lid connected to a bottom lid, a lift rigidly secured within the case to the top lid or the bottom lid, and a collapsible camera system rigidly secured to a top of the lift. The camera system includes a bottom frame member housing a computer with a screen, a middle frame member housing a transparent substrate that, when angled with respect to the bottom frame member, is configured to project an image of the screen to a user facing the case, and a top frame member housing a camera that, when angled with respect to the bottom frame member, is configured to aim the camera through the transparent substrate at a user facing the case. The bottom frame, the middle frame, and the upper frame are pivotably connected to each other along a hinge axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Hidden Content LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Gentile, Adam Donald, Jacob Wasserman, Jay Shapiro