Patents Examined by Paul M Berardesca
  • Patent number: 11418739
    Abstract: An optical sensing apparatus includes an absorption region configured to receive an optical signal and to generate, in response to the optical signal, photo-generated electrons and photo-generated holes, a carrier steerer, and circuitry electrically coupled to the carrier steerer and a controller. The carrier steerer includes a first p-doped region, a first n-doped region electrically shorted with the first p-doped region, a first gate configured to control a flow of holes from the absorption region to the first p-doped region, and a second gate configured to control a flow of electrons from the absorption region to the first n-doped region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Artilux, Inc.
    Inventor: Yun-Chung Na
  • Patent number: 11412197
    Abstract: An electronic device includes: a display; a first image sensor configured to output a first image signal based on sensing a first light passing through the display; a second image sensor configured to output a second image signal based on sensing a second light that does not pass through the display; and a processor configured to: generate a first optical value and a second optical value based on the second image signal, the second optical value being different from the first optical value; based on the first optical value satisfying a first condition, correct the first image signal by using the second optical value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Ho Cha, Sung Su Kim
  • Patent number: 11388324
    Abstract: Examples relate to a camera device, to a base unit for a camera device, to a computation device, and to corresponding methods and computer programs. A camera device comprises a magnetic attachment mechanism for attaching the camera device to a display surface of a monitor. The camera device comprises a camera sensor for generating image data. The camera device comprises wireless communication circuitry for providing the image data wirelessly to a computation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: James Okuley
  • Patent number: 11381731
    Abstract: In order to provide a tilt control device capable of performing tilt control optimal at a high speed by controlling both a focus position and a tilt angle even when a scene changes such as in a case in which a subject changes, there is provided an imaging apparatus including a tilt control unit that performs tilt control by driving at least one of an imaging device and an imaging optical system, a focus lens driving unit that drives a focus lens, and a control unit that has a plurality of control modes for performing focus correction using at least one of the tilt control unit and the focus lens driving unit and selects one of the plurality of control modes in accordance with the number of subject areas displayed on an image screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunsuke Chino, Ryo Kawasaki, Natsuko Sato, Naoki Maruyama
  • Patent number: 11375114
    Abstract: A control device includes a processor configured to: perform movie display control of causing a display to sequentially display images acquired in time series, and still image display control of causing the display to display any of the images as a still image; detect a first operation on a switch; determine whether a predetermined operation condition for the switch is satisfied, after the first operation has been detected; switch, when the first operation is detected while the movie display control is being executed, from the movie display control to the still image display control and causing the display to display, as a still image, an image displayed at a timing at which the first operation is detected; and cause, when the processor determines that the predetermined operation condition is satisfied, a memory to store the image displayed as a still image under the still image display control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: SONY OLYMPUS MEDICAL SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Sadayuki Tamonoki
  • Patent number: 11375147
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image capturing element, a drive method, and an electronic device capable of speeding up operation mode switching. The image capturing element includes a pixel region in which a plurality of pixels is disposed in a matrix of rows and columns, and a vertical drive circuit that drives the pixels on each row. The vertical drive circuit includes a positive power source and a negative power source that supply electrical power to an output element that outputs a drive signal for driving each pixel, and a control element that controls current flowing between each wire through which electrical power is output from the positive power source or the negative power source and a ground level based on a pulse having a predetermined pulse width at operation mode switching. The present technology is applicable to an image capturing element having a plurality of operation modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuki Nishino
  • Patent number: 11375175
    Abstract: Using the techniques discussed herein, a set of images is captured by one or more array imagers (106). Each array imager includes multiple imagers configured in various manners. Each array imager captures multiple images of substantially a same scene at substantially a same time. The images captured by each array image are encoded by multiple processors (112, 114). Each processor can encode sets of images captured by a different array imager, or each processor can encode different sets of images captured by the same array imager. The encoding of the images is performed using various image-compression techniques so that the information that results from the encoding is smaller, in terms of storage size, than the uncompressed images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: John T. Bretscher, Randall S. Vaas
  • Patent number: 11375096
    Abstract: A processing apparatus is configured to process image data from an image pickup apparatus that includes a first imaging unit and a second imaging unit. The processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire information on first image data acquired by the first imaging unit, and a processing unit configured to process second image data acquired by the second imaging unit so that the information on the first image data is collateral with the second image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11368645
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to image sensors and methods for image sensing. More specifically, and without limitation, this disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing super-pixels, and implementing and using image sensors with super-pixels. In one implementation, an image sensor includes a plurality of super-pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: PROPHESEE SA
    Inventors: Thomas Finateu, Daniel Matolin, Christoph Posch
  • Patent number: 11368627
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus is provided. The image capturing apparatus includes a display member, configured to display an image, a camera module, disposed behind the display member, and a touch sensor member, configured to detect a touch input. The camera module is configured to capture a first image in a first position in front of the display member or the touch sensor member, and to capture a second image in a second position in front of the display member or in front of the touch sensor member, the second position being different from the first position. An image capturing position of the camera module is moved such that at least a portion of a non-captured region, covered with the display member or the touch sensor member in one of the first and second images, is not covered in the other of the first and second images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chul Choi
  • Patent number: 11363199
    Abstract: An electronic device is disclosed. Moreover, various embodiment found through the disclosure are possible. The electronic device may include a camera module including an optical image stabilizer, a motion sensor, a processor electrically connected to the camera module and the motion sensor. The processor may be configured to obtain first motion information corresponding to shaking of the electronic device through the motion sensor, while at least partially obtaining an image frame, determine second motion information, which corresponds to motion of a lens or an image sensor included in the camera module, from the first motion information, using attribute information and a frequency pass filter of the optical image stabilizer, and perform digital image correction, based on the first motion information and the second motion information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bo Hee Lee, Nak Hoon Kim, Won Seok Song, Jae Mu Yun, Hak Jae Jeon, Byung Ho Ahn
  • Patent number: 11356610
    Abstract: The present embodiment relates to a camera device comprising: a mover comprising a first magnet; a lens; a stator comprising 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, wherein the second substrate comprises: 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 comprises a ball disposed between the first substrate and the extension part of the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jae Keun Park
  • Patent number: 11343415
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method, computer system, and computer program product for operating a flexible device equipped with one or more cameras to visually capture a target area is provided. The present invention may include identifying a bending profile and a holding pattern of a flexible device, and individually aligning one or more cameras of the flexible device to visually capture a target area designated by a user based on the bending profile and the holding pattern of the flexible device. The present invention may further include identifying one or more of the flexible device's cameras as compromised based on visual quality falling below a threshold, and disabling the compromised devices or recommending a new holding pattern or new bending profile to a user that would allow the cameras to capture the target area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Venkata Vara Prasad Karri, Sarbajit K. Rakshit
  • Patent number: 11323623
    Abstract: An image stabilization apparatus includes a subject detection unit, a motion vector detection unit, a separation unit for separating a motion vector of a main subject and that of a background, a calculation unit for calculating a correction amount for correcting image blur, and a control unit for controlling, in a case where a second main subject is detected, so as to transition from a state in which the calculation unit calculates the correction amount based on a first motion vector of the first main subject, via a state in which the correction amount is calculated based on the third motion vector of the background, to a state in which the correction amount is calculated based on a second motion vector of the second main subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazuki Konishi
  • Patent number: 11290656
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to receiving an input signal; generating an output signal by integrating a leaked signal over an integration time, wherein the leaked signal is obtained based on a dampening signal, a leak factor and the input signal; and providing the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: Brian Douglas Stewart
  • Patent number: 11284044
    Abstract: An image generation device includes a first color signal generation unit that generates three or more types of first color signals Rl, Gl, and Bl by combining two or more types of near-infrared light signals SIR1 and SIR2 with three or more types of visible light signals SR, SG, and SB in arbitrary proportions. The visible light signals SR, SG, and SB are outputted from a solid-state imaging element, and the near-infrared light signals SIR1 and SIR2 are acquired simultaneously with the visible light signals SR, SG, and SB. The near-infrared light signals SIR1 and SIR2 are a signal based on near-infrared light and a signal based on near-infrared light. The first color signal generation unit 1 changes combining proportions of the visible light signals SR, SG, and SB and the near-infrared light signals SIR1 and SIR2 according to quality and/or strengths of each light signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: NANOLUX CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Koichiro Ishigami, Hirofumi Sumi, Motoshi Sobue
  • Patent number: 11284021
    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: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Vlad Cardei, Lucian Ion, Nirav Dharia
  • Patent number: 11252320
    Abstract: A method for determining whether a video camera is out-of-focus comprises: capturing image data; setting a focus setting difference threshold based on a filter function configured to filter the image data; adjusting a focus setting between a present focus setting and an altered focus setting such that a first subset of the image data is captured with the video camera being set in the present focus setting and such that a second subset of the image data is captured with the video camera being set in the altered focus setting, wherein the adjusting is performed such that a difference between the present and altered focus settings is below the threshold; forming the video stream by applying the filter function on the image data; determining first and second focus metrics of the image data; and determining whether the video camera is out-of-focus by comparing the first and second focus metrics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Inventors: Johan Jeppsson, Björn Benderius, Niclas Svensson, Fritjof Jonsson, Jonas Levin, Stefan Lindgren
  • Patent number: 11252321
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, a portable camera equipped with an autofocus system is also equipped with a microelectromechanical rotation sensor. The camera's processor uses rotation data provided by this sensor to correct focus as the camera is a rotated and displays the new orientation of the area of interest for autofocus to the user on a display. Focus may be adjusted on user command only or continuously, and one or more areas of interest may be chosen. Additional applications are shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Inventor: Oliver Markus Haynold
  • Patent number: 11228686
    Abstract: A request processing apparatus includes a selecting section and an outputting section. The selecting section selects, from multiple pieces of photo data obtained through shooting during an event, one or more pieces of photo data consistent with a request accepted before or during the event. The outputting section outputs the one or more pieces of photo data selected by the selecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Oishi, Kenichi Kurihara, Satoko Asaoka, Yuriko Kaino, Aya Shuto, Isao Takahashi, Nobukazu Hirai, Asuka Tejima, Taichi Takeuchi, Yusuke Kajio