Patents Examined by Paul Berardesca
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Patent number: 9544494Abstract: An imaging apparatus according to the present disclosure includes an imaging unit configured to generate image data by imaging an object image; a displaying unit configured to display the image data and a focus area superimposed on the image data, the focus area being a set of a plurality of focus frames; a determination unit configured to determine a number and positions of arbitrary focus frames selected from the focus area; and a control unit configured to control the imaging unit and the determination unit, and to perform focus processing on an image. The control unit performs the focus processing according to a plurality of selected focus frames when the determination unit determines that the plurality of selected focus frames are located at positions not adjacent to each other.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2015Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Kyosuke Osuka, Koji Shibuno
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Patent number: 9521326Abstract: A method of misregistration correction in a line scanning imaging system includes: generating a model of scan motion over a focal plane of the imaging system, using a coupled system of non-linear scan equations with constant coefficients; estimating programmed motion positions across a plurality of detector junction overlap regions via a state transition matrix solution to the scan equations; at each detector junction overlap region, measuring actual motion positions via image correlation of overlapping detectors; generating differences between the actual motion positions and the estimated programmed motion positions; estimating updates to the constant coefficients based on the generated differences; generating corrections from the estimated updates to remove unwanted motion; and applying the updates to the constant coefficients.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2014Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Sarah A. LaFarelle, Archie Henry Muse
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Patent number: 9519202Abstract: An auto-focusing device including: an imaging unit which generates image data of a subject image; an optical system which includes a focus lens; a lens driver which drives the focus lens; a lens position detector which detects a position of the focus lens; a region detector which detects a predetermined region of the subject image; an evaluation value calculating unit which calculates an AF evaluation value; a movement determining unit which determines whether a subject is moving closer or away based on whether the predetermined region has been enlarged or reduced from the region before; and a lens controller which controls the lens driver, wherein the lens controller controls a moving direction and a moving speed of the focus lens in an autofocus operation based on a determination result of the movement determining unit, the AF evaluation value, and a position detection result for the focus lens.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2014Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kenichi Honjo, Mitsuyoshi Okamoto, Koji Shibuno
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Patent number: 9521338Abstract: In an integrated-circuit image sensor, binary sample values are read out from an array of pixels after successive sampling intervals that collectively span an image exposure interval and include at least two sampling intervals of unequal duration. Each pixel of the array is conditionally reset after each of the successive sampling intervals according to whether the pixel yields a binary sample in a first state or a second state.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2012Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Rambus Inc.Inventors: Thomas Vogelsang, David Geoffrey Stork, Jie Shen, Yeuyong Wang, Marko Aleksic
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Patent number: 9516233Abstract: Disclosed are a micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) device and an apparatus for compensating for a tremble. The MEMS device includes a substrate; a driven member moving relative to the substrate; an elastic member connected to the driven member and the substrate; a driving member fixed to the substrate for driving the driven member; and a dynamic stopper fixed to the substrate and latched to the driven member.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2012Date of Patent: December 6, 2016Assignees: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD., GWANGJU INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYInventors: Hyun Kyu Park, Seung Hwan Moon, Jong Hyun Lee
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Patent number: 9509918Abstract: A method and a device for obtaining a high dynamic range image are provided. The method includes: obtaining a pixel value of each pixel in two images of a same scene; determining a brightness value of each pixel in the two images; determining an objective brightness value of each pixel in a combined image combining the two images; determining a color value of each pixel in the two images; determining a color value of each pixel in the combined image; correcting the color value of each pixel in the combined image so as to obtain a corrected color value of each pixel in the combined image; determining a pixel value of each pixel in the combined image; and obtaining a high dynamic range image.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2014Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: BYD Company LimitedInventors: Huaren Liu, Shuijiang Mao, Jingjun Fu, Wei Feng
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Patent number: 9509899Abstract: A camera system includes an interchangeable lens and a camera main body. The interchangeable lens includes a lens side storage unit that stores pupil related data according to an image height. The camera main body includes an image sensor including focus detection pixels, a main body side storage unit that stores correction data, and a correction unit corrects non-uniformity in illumination distribution of outputs of the focus detection pixels. The pupil related data is data regarding an F-number and an exit pupil position. The data regarding the F-number indicates a range of luminous flux to be applied to the focus detection pixels at a predetermined image height. The data regarding the exit pupil position relates to a position of intersection of a center of luminous flux applied to the focus detection pixels at a predetermined image height and an optical axis of the imaging optical system.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2016Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Tetsuo Kikuchi, Kazumi Ito, Kazumasa Kunugi, Yukie Yamazaki, Yoshinobu Omata
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Patent number: 9503633Abstract: By conventional method, it is not possible to check whether or not a target subject is included in a range in which refocus can be performed at the time of image capturing or at the time of editing a captured image. An image processing apparatus includes a subject of interest specification unit configured to specify a subject of interest within a parallax image obtained by performing image capturing from a plurality of different viewpoints, and a notification unit configured to notify a user of a focused state of the specified subject of interest in an image to be generated by performing image combination processing using the parallax image.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2014Date of Patent: November 22, 2016Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Shohei Tsutsumi
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Patent number: 9497364Abstract: The camera module according to the present disclosure can improve reliability by mounting a posture sensor on a PCB and promoting a bending prevention of the PCB.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2014Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.Inventors: Nae Seong Kim, Hack Ho Kim
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Patent number: 9497397Abstract: An electronic device includes an image sensor, a memory, and a processor operably connected to the image sensor and the memory. A pixel array in the image sensor includes at least one pixel that is configured as an auto-focus pixel that is at least partially shielded from light by a shielding element. The memory stores computer-readable instructions, and the processor is adapted to produce a digital image by executing the computer-readable instructions for obtaining a plurality of coefficients representing a relationship between a ratio of two affected pixels and a ratio of two non-affected pixels in the pixel array, constructing a predictive function based on the plurality of coefficients, and computing a compensated pixel value for at least one pixel of the image sensor using the predictive function. A digital image can be created based in part on the compensated pixel value.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2014Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Suppawan Kleekajai, Xiangli Li
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Patent number: 9491335Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera module, the camera module including a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) mounted with an image sensor, an auto focusing unit installed thereinside with at least one lens and fixed at an upper side of the PCB for auto focusing a focus of an image transmitted to the image sensor, a shield can formed with a through hole at a position corresponding to that of the lens and so formed as to wrap the PCB and the auto focusing unit as well, and a shock absorber installed at an upper circumference of the shield can to form a buffer space between the shield can and the auto focusing unit.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2012Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.Inventor: Hack Ho Kim
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Patent number: 9491363Abstract: An automatic tuning method for an OIS camera module, comprising the steps of: S0, providing an automatic tuning platform (1), and enabling an OIS camera module (2) to directly face an objective plane (103); S1, a control module (101) indicating to an OIS motor controller (201) to control an OIS motor (203), thereby changing the stroke of a lens; S2, changing control parameters of each driver or each pair of drivers in sequence, and recording the control parameters, compensation angles and a relative angle each time the control parameters of one or one pair of drivers are changed; S3, according to the control parameters, the compensation angles and the relative angle, the control module (101) calculating an OIS gain in each stroke; and S4, transmitting the OIS gain in each stroke to the OIS motor controller (201).Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2015Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: AP PHOTONICS (SHEN ZHEN) LIMITEDInventor: Lin Chi Mak
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Patent number: 9485409Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprising: an image sensor configured to perform photoelectric conversion on light that enters via an imaging optical system and output an image signal; a focus detection unit configured to detect an in-focus position based on the image signal output from the image sensor; an edge detection unit configured to detect an edge angle and a number of edge of a subject included in an image based on the image signal output from the image sensor; and a correction unit configured to obtain a correction amount for the in-focus position based on the detected edge angle and the number of edge and correct the in-focus position detected by the focus detection unit based on the obtained correction amount.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yumi Takao
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Patent number: 9471993Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for extracting spatio-temporal features with the aid of sensor information. An exemplary method comprises receiving video data and auxiliary sensor data and associating the two with timestamp information. The method may also include segmenting an input data stream into stable segments and extracting temporal features from the associated video data. The method may further include extracting temporal features either form the whole video or only from the video data where little or no stable segments are detected and performing camera view motion compensation by using information provided by the auxiliary sensors for modifying the feature-descriptors.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2014Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: Nokia Technologies OyInventors: Igor Danilo Diego Curcio, Sujeet Shyamsundar Mate, Francesco Cricri
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Patent number: 9467618Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is configured such that if a monitoring unit detects that a focus evaluation value changes as much as or more than a predetermined threshold, a monitoring state caused by the monitoring unit transitions to a focus adjustment state by minute driving. The predetermined threshold in the monitoring performed in an in-focus position obtained by hill-climbing driving is greater than the predetermined threshold in the monitoring performed in an in-focus position obtained by the minute driving.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2015Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Naoki Iwasaki
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Patent number: 9456125Abstract: A focus detection apparatus comprises: a sensor unit, having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements for receiving light that passed through an imaging optical system and accumulating charge, configured to generate an image signal to be used for correlation calculation for focus detection based on the accumulated charge; a control unit configured to control the photoelectric conversion elements to stop charge accumulation in a case where a first signal that represents contrast of the image signal reaches a predetermined voltage level; and a voltage level setting unit. The voltage level setting unit sets a larger voltage level in a first case, in which luminance change in a direction of the correlation calculation in the plurality of the photoelectric conversion elements is gentler than a second case, than in the second case.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2015Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Tomokuni Hirosawa, Takayuki Shu
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Patent number: 9449374Abstract: Methods, devices, and computer program products for multi-frame termporal de-noising using image alignment are describe. In one aspect, a method of capturing an image using a multi-frame temporal de-noising is described. The method includes capturing a plurality of frames and aligning the captured plurality of frames with each other. The method further includes determining a subset of frames of the captured plurality of frames, the subset determined based upon a focus quality of each frame of the plurality of frames. Finally, the method includes combining the subset of frames into a single image using a motion filter to reduce blurriness and ghosting.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2014Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: QUALCOMM IncoporatedInventors: James Wilson Nash, Kalin Mitkov Atanassov
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Patent number: 9451160Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging element, a reading scheme setting unit, and an image processing unit. A phase-difference detecting pixel for detecting a focal point is arranged at part of the imaging pixels of the imaging element. The reading scheme setting unit sets a reading scheme for reading pixel data from the imaging pixels and phase-difference detecting pixel. The image processing unit corrects the pixel data of the phase-difference detecting pixel. The image processing unit performs the correction, to change a use ratio of the pixel data of the phase-difference detecting pixel to the data interpolated from the pixels adjacent to the phase-difference detecting pixel.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2015Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventor: Atsuro Okazawa
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Patent number: 9451171Abstract: Methods and apparatus for performing zoom in and zoom out operations are described using multiple optical chains in a camera device. At least one optical chain in the camera device includes a moveable light redirection device, said light redirection device being one of a substantially plane mirror or a prism. Different zoom focal length settings correspond to different scene capture areas for the optical chain with the moveable light redirection device. Overlap between scene areas captured by different optical chains increases during zoom in and decreases during zoom out. Images captured by different optical chains are combined and/or cropped to generate a composite image corresponding to a zoom focal length setting.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2015Date of Patent: September 20, 2016Assignee: THE LIGHTCO INC.Inventor: Rajiv Laroia
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Patent number: 9445009Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of obtaining a sufficient HDR effect while keeping smoothness of an appearance of a video image in an HDR composition process. A first computation unit finds a first composition ratio of frames of images that are continuously taken at mutually different exposures based on luminance of at least one of the frames of images. A second computation unit finds a second composition ratio of the frames of images based on the luminance difference between the frames of images. A third computation unit finds a third composition ratio as a final composition ratio for compositing the frames of images based on the first composition ratio, the second composition ratio, and shutter speed at a time of taking the frames of images. A composition unit generates one frame of an image by compositing the frames of images based on the third composition ratio.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2015Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hironori Aokage
