Patents Examined by Paul M Berardesca
  • Patent number: 12158782
    Abstract: A foldable touch screen display device made up of flexible or tiled display segments that can be folded from a compact state to an expanded state which also includes a 360 degree camera system. The form factor of the compact state is roughly the size of a typical handheld phone or smaller. The form factor of the expanded state is roughly the size of a larger phone or tablet computer, which may also include the mechanical functionality of a laptop. The device form factor may also be a flip phone configuration. Both folded states may include an integrated speaker and microphone. The 360 degree camera utilizes the inherent folded segment positions and their respective cameras such that they can be configured at different angles to achieve the appropriate camera array geometry. The device may further include sensors to indicate the position of each display segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Lepton Computing LLC
    Inventor: Stephen E. Delaporte
  • Patent number: 12149854
    Abstract: The photoelectric conversion device includes a pixel including a photoelectric conversion unit that outputs a pulse in response to incidence of a photon and a pulse counting unit that counts the pulse. The pulse counting unit includes first and second counters, a selection circuit for selecting a signal input to the first and second counters, and a control unit. The control unit controls the selection circuit to perform a first connection mode in which a counter of a first number of bits is configured by the first and second counters, and a second connection mode in which a counter of a second number of bits smaller than the first number of bits is configured by at least one of the first and second counters. The second connection mode includes a third connection mode in which pulses are counted in parallel by the first and second counters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shingo Hikosaka
  • Patent number: 12149837
    Abstract: An auto white balance adjusting method includes acquiring an image, allocating N windows inside the image according to color information of the image, filtering out M windows from the N windows for generating N-M windows according to feature information of the N windows, grouping the color temperatures of the N-M windows for generating at least one color temperature group according to a standard color temperature curve, setting a first weighting of the at least one color temperature group according to a correlation between the at least one color temperature group and the standard color temperature curve, setting a second weighting of the at least one color temperature group according to spatial information of the at least one color temperature group of the image, and adjusting a white balance of the image according to color information, the first weighting, and the second weighting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: WELTREND SEMICONDUCTOR INC.
    Inventors: Chien-Ming Chen, Chun-Ying Li, Hsuan-Ying Chen, Te-Wei Hsu
  • Patent number: 12143709
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of attaching and detaching a lens unit, includes: a processor; and a computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the imaging apparatus to detect a tilt of the imaging apparatus, acquire information on a type of the lens unit attached on the imaging apparatus, perform control to display an image captured using an optical system of the lens unit on the screen, and perform control to superimpose and display an item indicating the detected tilt on the image based on the acquired information, wherein the item is displayed at different positions depending on whether the lens unit includes a plurality of optical systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keisuke Inazawa, Toshimichi Ise
  • Patent number: 12137291
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a photoelectric conversion region provided with a plurality of photoelectric conversion units, a signal processing unit configured to process an output signal from the plurality of photoelectric conversion units, and a processing unit configured to perform processing based on a learned model on data processed by the signal processing unit. The photoelectric conversion apparatus also includes a first pad connected to the processing unit and a second pad connected to the signal processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yu Arishima
  • Patent number: 12132990
    Abstract: An image stabilization motor, a camera module, and an electronic device are disclosed. The image stabilization motor includes a lens carrier, a sensing component, a base, a bearing assembly, and a driving component. The lens carrier is configured to fasten a lens, the sensing component is fastened to the lens carrier, the bearing assembly is mounted on the base, the driving component is fastened to the base, and the driving component cooperates with the sensing component, so that the lens carrier can rotate around the bearing assembly. In the image stabilization motor, the camera module, and the electronic device, by disposing the bearing assembly, the lens carrier needs to overcome only friction force between the lens carrier and the bearing assembly in an entire rotation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lei Lu, Li-Te Kuo, Jiapeng Dan, Xin Wang
  • Patent number: 12132991
    Abstract: A camera device including a mover including a first magnet; a lens; a stator including a first coil; a first substrate; a second substrate movably disposed on the first substrate; an image sensor disposed on the second substrate; a second coil disposed on the first substrate; and a second magnet disposed on the second substrate and facing the second coil is provided. The second substrate includes a coupling part coupled to the image sensor, and an extension part extending outwardly from the coupling part so that at least a portion thereof overlaps with the first substrate in the optical axis direction, and the camera device further includes a ball disposed between the first substrate and the extension part of the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jae Keun Park
  • Patent number: 12114063
    Abstract: There is provided a motion sensor including a pixel array and a processor. The motion sensor is embedded with multiple power consumption modes. In one of the multiple power consumption modes, the pixel array outputs image frames having different frame formats. The processor processes the image frames having different frame formats respectively using different algorithms so as to achieve the purposes of low power consumption and high detection sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventor: Chih-Huan Wu
  • Patent number: 12108165
    Abstract: A thin lightweight imaging device is provided. A highly convenient imaging device is provided. The imaging unit includes an imaging unit, a memory, and an arithmetic circuit. The imaging unit includes a light-receiving device, a first light-emitting device, and a second light-emitting device. The first light-emitting device has a function of emitting light in a wavelength range that is different from a wavelength range of light emitted by the second light-emitting device. The imaging unit has a function of making the first light-emitting device emit light and acquiring first image data. The imaging unit has a function of making the second light-emitting device emit light and acquiring second image data. The memory has a function of retaining the first reference data and the second reference data. The arithmetic circuit has a function of correcting the first image data with the use of the first reference data retained in the memory and calculating first correction image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Kubota, Ryo Hatsumi, Taisuke Kamada
  • Patent number: 12106507
    Abstract: A position detection system includes an event-driven vision sensor that includes a sensor array including sensors each generating an event signal when a change in the intensity of incident light is detected, a microlens array that includes at least first and second microlenses for guiding the light to first and second regions of the sensor array, respectively, and a terminal device that has a reception unit for receiving the event signal from the vision sensor and a position detection unit for detecting the three-dimensional position of the change in the intensity of light, from the event signal generated by each sensor in the first region and the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Tetsugo Inada
  • Patent number: 12101541
    Abstract: An embodiment comprises: a substrate; a housing disposed on the substrate; a bobbin disposed on the substrate; a first elastic member coupled to the housing and the bobbin; a second elastic member disposed between the first elastic member and the substrate; and a control unit for determining a movement distance of the bobbin in an optical axis direction in consideration of displacement of the bobbin due to a change in orientation of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sang Ok Park
  • Patent number: 12092800
    Abstract: A low parallax imaging device includes a plurality of imaging lens elements arranged to capture adjacent fields of view. In some examples, adjacent imaging lens elements may contact at datum features to maintain a desired spacing. The spacing may allow for partial overlapping of low-parallax volumes associated with the respective imaging lens elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Circle Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene Sisto, Andrew F. Kurtz, Allen Krisiloff, Thomas Bidwell, John Bowron, Zakariya Niazi, Robert Stanchus, James Mazzarella, Robert Baldino, Deanan DaSilva, Jose Manuel Sasian-Alvarado
  • Patent number: 12092948
    Abstract: A frame for a low parallax imaging device includes a plurality of interconnected faces configured to mount cameras. The faces are mounted along peripheral edges using kinematic connections. The frame provides a structure on which the mounted cameras provide a combined field of view of up to about 360-degrees with minimal parallax between adjacent cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Circle Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Muir, Andrew F. Kurtz, Thomas Bidwell, Adam Inskip, Karen Leap, Nils Kingston
  • Patent number: 12088897
    Abstract: A flexure for a camera includes a dynamic platform to which an image sensor and a substrate are connected such that the image sensor and the substrate move together with the dynamic platform. A driver associated with an actuator to move the image sensor relative to a lens group is mounted to the substrate. The flexure also includes a static platform connected to a static portion of the camera, a plurality of flexure arms that mechanically connect the dynamic platform to the static platform, a routing layer and a base layer both at least partially forming the dynamic platform, the static platform, and the plurality of flexure arms, and at least one segmentation region extending through the base layer and configured to physically isolate a return current from the driver and through the base layer from a return current from the image sensor and through the base layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Himesh Patel, Kai Min, Phillip R Sommer, Qiang Yang
  • Patent number: 12081893
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array unit in which pixels are arranged in a matrix, and multiple vertical signal lines provided in pixel column units. The multiple vertical signal lines provided in pixel column units are arranged in multiple wiring layers laminated on the pixel, and are arranged so that orthogonal projections of the vertical signal lines on the multiple wiring layers overlap. The wiring layer is provided with a connection portion for connecting the vertical signal line corresponding to the pixel to the pixel. A pixel signal is taken out from the vertical signal line through the connection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takafumi Morikawa
  • Patent number: 12063429
    Abstract: An image collection method and apparatus, and an electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes: a housing provided with a light transmission hole and an opening, where the light transmission hole and the opening are respectively disposed on adjacent first and second sides of the housing; a camera module including a first camera module and a second camera module disposed in the housing; and a driving mechanism connected to the camera module and configured to drive the camera module to move between a first position and a second position. When the camera module is located at the first position, the first camera is opposite to the light transmission hole. When the camera module is located at the second position, the first camera at least partially extends out of the housing from the opening. The second camera is opposite to the light transmission hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: VIVO MOBILE COMMUNICATION CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Song Ding
  • Patent number: 12058454
    Abstract: Provided is a vision sensor including a pixel array including a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix form, an event detection circuit configured to detect whether an event has occurred in the plurality of pixels and generate event signals corresponding to pixels from among the plurality of pixels in which an event has occurred, a map data processor configured to generate a timestamp map based on the event signals, and an interface circuit configured to transmit vision sensor data including at least one of the event signals and the timestamp map to an external processor, wherein the timestamp map includes timestamp information indicating polarity information, address information, and an event occurrence time of a pixel included in an event signal corresponding to the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jongseok Seo, Junhyuk Park, Hyunku Lee
  • Patent number: 12056844
    Abstract: A method with image processing includes: receiving an input image including Bayer images captured by a plurality of lenses included in a lens assembly; generating channel separation images by separating each of the Bayer images by a plurality of channels; determining corresponding points such that pixels in the channel separation images are displayed at the same position on a projection plane, for each of the plurality of lenses; performing binning on the channel separation images, based on a brightness difference and a distance difference between a target corresponding point and a center of a pixel including the target corresponding point, corresponding to each of the corresponding points in channel separation images that correspond to a same channel and that are combined into one image, for each of the plurality of lenses; restoring the input image for each of the plurality of lenses based on binned images generated by performing the binning; and outputting the restored input image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byong Min Kang, Dong Kyung Nam, Yang Ho Cho, Jingu Heo
  • Patent number: 12058464
    Abstract: An imaging device with low power consumption is provided. The pixel of the imaging device includes first and second photoelectric conversion elements, and first to fifth transistors. A cathode of the first photoelectric conversion element is electrically connected to the first transistor. An anode of a second photoelectric conversion element is electrically connected to the second transistor. Imaging data of a reference frame is obtained using the first photoelectric conversion element, and then imaging data of a difference detection frame is obtained using the second photoelectric conversion element. After the imaging data of the difference detection frame is obtained, a first potential that is a potential of a signal output from the pixel and a second potential that is a reference potential are compared. Whether or not there is a difference between the imaging data of the reference frame and the imaging data of the difference detection frame is determined using the first potential and the second potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuro Ohmaru, Naoto Kusumoto, Kentaro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 12052519
    Abstract: A system includes an image sensor having a plurality of pixels that form a plurality of regions of interest (ROIs), image processing resources, and a scheduler configured to perform operations including determining a priority level for a particular ROI of the plurality of ROIs based on a feature detected by one or more image processing resources of the image processing resources within initial image data associated with the particular ROI. The operations also include selecting, based on the feature detected within the initial image data, a particular image processing resource of the image processing resources by which subsequent image data generated by the particular ROI is to be processed. The operations further include inserting, based on the priority level, the subsequent image data into a processing queue of the particular image processing resource to schedule the subsequent image data for processing by the particular image processing resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Vlad Cardei, Lucian Ion, Nirav Dharia