Patents Examined by Selam Gebriel
  • Patent number: 9990698
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a storage circuit that stores first data containing a plurality of coefficient data obtained by approximating an optical transfer function of an optical system to an approximation function having a predetermined order. An input circuit inputs information of an image processing apparatus that is different from the control apparatus and performs image processing on an image captured by using the optical system. A determination circuit determines second data, that are coefficient data corresponding to an order lesser than the predetermined order of the approximation function, from the first data, based on the information of the image processing apparatus. An output circuit outputs the second data to the image processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kunihiro Shirai
  • Patent number: 9986184
    Abstract: An image sensor includes phase difference detection pixels including first group pixels each having a first shield region deviated at one side and second group pixels each having a second shield region deviated at the other side, and image detection pixels arranged in a lattice pattern together with the phase difference detection pixels. The phase difference detection pixels include a first pixel group configured such that an area of the first shield region is equal to that of the second shield region, a second pixel group configured such that the area of the first shield region is equal to or greater than that of the second shield region, and a third pixel group configured such that the area of the first shield region is equal to or less than that of the second shield region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eun Sung Seo, Yu Kyeong Jeong
  • Patent number: 9967410
    Abstract: An image control method, applied to a mobile device including a camera service platform, wherein the mobile device complies an image transmission protocol and establishes an event queue and an extension unit according to the image transmission protocol, wherein the image control method comprises: receiving at least one control parameter of an image processing function of a camera service platform; generating a control item of the image processing function according to the controlling parameter; mapping the control item to a database and transmitting a notification including the control item to a computer device to transmit an image between the computer device and the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Yi-Chi Lai, Kuan-Ying Huang, Bo-Cheng Chen, Wan-Ya Chen, Cheng-An Chiu
  • Patent number: 9967456
    Abstract: A photographing method for use in a device includes: monitoring a current time and determining whether the current time reaches a preset shooting time; taking a first picture of an object when it is determined that the current time reaches the preset shooting time; determining a difference between a first image in a preset area of the first picture and a second image in the preset area of a second picture taken at a previous preset shooting time, the preset area corresponding to the object; and saving the first picture if the determined difference is equal to or greater than a preset threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Xiaomi Inc.
    Inventors: Mingyong Tang, Huayijun Liu, Yanlin Xiao
  • Patent number: 9958582
    Abstract: An image sensor includes an optical sensor layer including a plurality of light-sensitive cells configured to sense light to generate electrical signals, and a color filter array layer disposed on the optical sensor layer and including a plurality of color filters respectively facing the plurality of light-sensitive cells. Each of the plurality of color filters includes a nanostructure in which a first material having a first refractive index and a second material having a second refractive index higher than the first refractive index are arranged. The first material and the second material are alternatively positioned at an interval less than a central wavelength of a color of the color filter. Thus, a thin image sensor having good wavelength selectivity and suitable for obtaining high resolution images is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Seunghoon Han, Yu Horie, Andrei Faraon, Sungwoo Hwang
  • Patent number: 9955053
    Abstract: An image-capturing assembly is disclosed. The image-capturing assembly includes an array of lens units and an array of optical sensor units. At least one of the lens units includes a first functional lens and a first light-blocking member having an aperture. Each of the optical sensor units includes an image-capture element corresponding to one of the lens units. The first functional lens, the aperture of the first light-blocking member, and one of the image-capture element are arranged along an optical axis, and the aperture of the first light-blocking member is asymmetrical with respect to the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Yin-Dong Lu, Chuan-Hui Yang
  • Patent number: 9948868
    Abstract: A multi-point spectral system includes an imaging lens, an image capturing module and a multiwavelength filter (MWF) disposed between the imaging lens and the image capturing module. The MWF has a plurality of narrow-bandpass filter (NBPF) units arranged in an array, and each of the plurality of NBPF units has a respective predetermined central transmitted wavelength. The multi-point spectral system is provided to capture plural spectral images of a scene, which contain spectral or color information of the scene. The multi-point spectral system may utilize the information of the plural spectral images to recognize features revealed at the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Yan-Rung Lin, Hsin-Yi Chen, Chia-Liang Yeh, Yi-Chen Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9942463
    Abstract: A camera device without an image displaying function which is adapted to assemble with a portable electronic device with a vision displaying module is disclosed in the present invention. The camera device is electrically connected to the portable electronic device via wire/wireless connection. The camera device includes a base, a lens module and at least one touch navigation module. The base includes a surrounding component whereinside the lens module is disposed. The lens module includes a lens assembly and a digital processing unit. The touch navigation module is disposed on an outer surface of the surrounding component and electrically connected to the lens module. The touch navigation module detects an input command to trigger the lens assembly to capture an image, or controls parameters of an adjustable mode of the lens assembly via the digital processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Shih-Wei Kuo, Feng-Cheng Yang, Yi-Min Liu, Yen-Min Chang
  • Patent number: 9936135
    Abstract: A locking device for locking an image sensor element in a camera, a camera comprising such a locking device, and a method for controlling image stabilization in a camera comprising such a locking device are disclosed. The locking device comprises two locking arrangements which are superimposed such that one or more locking holes of the locking arrangements at least partly overlap each other in pairs so as to form two open sections adapted to each receive a locking protrusion. The locking device is adjustable between a locked mode and an unlocked mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Axis AB
    Inventors: Andreas Karlsson Jägerman, Stig Frohlund
  • Patent number: 9936137
    Abstract: A display control apparatus includes a viewfinder including an eye contacting portion and an internal display unit, an eye approaching detection unit, a mode switching unit which selects one of a plurality of operation modes including first and second operation modes, and a control unit which performs control such that an on state of the internal display unit is changed to an off state based on detection, by the eye approaching detection unit, of an object which moves away from the eye contacting portion to a position at or further than a first distance from the eye contacting portion in the first operation mode, and the on state is changed to the off state based on detection, by the eye approaching detection unit, of an object which moves away from the eye contacting portion to a position at or further than a second distance, which is larger than the first distance, from the eye contacting portion in the second operation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Wada
  • Patent number: 9930246
    Abstract: The present disclosure may provide a mobile terminal including a camera unit configured to acquire a plurality of images for which focuses are formed at different regions at the same time, a memory unit configured to store the plurality of images, a display unit configured to display a representative image among the plurality of images, and a controller configured to control the display unit such that the representative image among the plurality of images is converted to another image based on a touch input applied to the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yung Kim, Jungmin Lee, Jeongeun Choi, Hyedeuk Lee
  • Patent number: 9912869
    Abstract: An image stabilization apparatus comprising: a conversion unit that corrects an angular velocity signal detected by a camera shake detection unit based on an output variation of the camera shake detection unit and converts it into a camera shake amount; a separation unit that divides each frame of image into a plurality of regions and separates motion vectors each calculated from a difference in each region between frames of images into subject vectors and background vectors using the camera shake amount; an identification unit that identifies the output variation based on the angular velocity signal before the correction, the background vector, and a position signal of a correction unit; and a changing unit that changes the subject vector into a drive amount of the correction unit. The conversion unit corrects the angular velocity signal based on the identified output variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shimpei Miyahara
  • Patent number: 9904030
    Abstract: A teleconverter, comprising: a master lens apparatus-side mount on which a master lens apparatus is mounted, a camera body-side mount on which a camera body is mounted, and a converter lens unit that has a generally negative refracting power for mounting the master lens apparatus thereon to obtain a lens system having a focal length longer than that of the master lens apparatus, wherein: the converter lens unit comprises a first lens group on the master lens apparatus side and a second lens group on the camera body side with an on-axis longest air separation interposed there-between, and does not include any lens group other than the first lens group and the second lens group, the first lens group has positive refracting power, the second lens group has negative refracting power, the first lens group consists of a first lens element having positive refracting power, and the second lens group comprises, in order from an object side to an image side along an optical path, a second lens element having negativ
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasuji Ogata
  • Patent number: 9906697
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for taking close-up pictures using a mobile terminal equipped with a camera and an exterior optical module for taking close-up pictures. The exterior optical module according to the present invention is characterized in that it is possible to take close-up pictures of even subjects within the shortest photographing distance of a camera part embedded in a typical mobile terminal, and the light source embedded in the mobile terminal is used without using a separate external light source. By providing an optical zoom through a separate exterior lens, it is possible to apply the present invention in cases where a magnified image is required, such as for the inspection of the skin tissues, in a portable microscope function, or the like. The mobile terminal becomes an apparatus for taking close-up pictures through an exterior optical module mounted thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Inventor: Yo Shik Shin
  • Patent number: 9906696
    Abstract: A first magnetic body is arranged between a coil and an image pickup element, and has an opening through which light directed from an imaging optical system toward the image pickup element passes. A second magnetic body is arranged at a position on the coil side with respect to the first magnetic body in an optical axis direction of the imaging optical system. The second magnetic body is arranged such that at least a portion thereof overlaps the first magnetic body when seen in the optical axis direction, at a position on the coil side with respect to the opening. The second magnetic body is made of a ferromagnetic material having higher relative permeability than that of the first magnetic body, and has a smaller area than that of the first magnetic body when seen in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichi Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9906694
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera module, the camera module including a base supporting a filter member mounted on a position corresponding to that of an image sensor mounted on a PCB (Printed Circuit Board), a dust trap unit mounted about the filter member of the base to collect soils including dust introduced into the filter member, wherein the dust trap unit includes an epoxy reception groove formed with one or more ribs formed at a periphery of the filter member mounted at the base, and a dust trap epoxy coated on an inside of the epoxy receptin groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jung Sik Lee
  • Patent number: 9894256
    Abstract: An illuminator includes: a body with an opening, for receiving optical means; illuminating means arranged around the opening in a frontal face of this body and commandable to illuminate a space in front of the frontal face, electronic control means of the illuminator; heat dissipating means; connecting means for removably fixing the illuminator at least to the optical apparatus. The body of the illuminator includes a rear face opposite the frontal face which includes a plurality of distinct functional case elements positioned around the opening for receiving at least the electronic control means and/or which defines the heat dissipating means and/or the connecting means, in such a manner as to enable an operator, when the optical apparatus is associated with the illuminator, to access the optical means to dismantle the optical means from the apparatus and/or adjust optical adjusting means of the optical means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: DATALOGIC IP TECH S.R.L.
    Inventors: Silvio Liberatore, Luigi Pellegrino, Marco Bassani
  • Patent number: 9883100
    Abstract: An image processing method includes steps of obtaining a first image under a first field of view; generating a first rectangular mask in the first image; converting first X-Y plane coordinates of four end points of the first rectangular mask into spherical coordinates; obtaining a second image under a second field of view; converting the spherical coordinates into second X-Y plane coordinates corresponding to the second image; determining whether the second X-Y plane coordinates of the end points all are located in the second image; and if the second X-Y plane coordinates of the end points all are located in the second image, generating a second rectangular mask in the second image by a maximum X coordinate value, a maximum Y coordinate value, a minimum X coordinate value and a minimum Y coordinate value of the second X-Y plane coordinates of the end points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: VIVOTEK INC.
    Inventor: Chih-Chiang Chen
  • Patent number: 9866749
    Abstract: A system for publishing digital images wherein a mobile device (14) that stores at least one digital image generates output signals in response to operator commands. The mobile device (14) communicates with a source of digital instructions (18) thorough a communication network (16) such that digital instructions are downloaded to the mobile device. The mobile device is thereafter in selective communication with a server (12) that stores digital images, maintains a user profile corresponding to the user of the mobile device, and publishes digital images to at least one digital address (24, 26, 28, 30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Pikmobile, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Relf
  • Patent number: 9860441
    Abstract: A computing device may obtain a first captured image of a scene and a second captured image of the scene. For a plurality of m×n pixel tiles of the first captured image, the computing device may determine respective distance matrixes. The distance matrixes may represent respective fit confidences between the m×n pixel tiles and pluralities of target p×q pixel tiles in the second captured image. The computing device may approximate the distance matrixes with respective bivariate surfaces. The computing device may upsample the bivariate surfaces to obtain respective offsets for pixels in the plurality of m×n pixel tiles. The respective offsets, when applied to pixels in the plurality of m×n pixel tiles, may cause parts of the first captured image to estimate locations in the second captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan T. Barron, Dillon Sharlet