Patents Examined by Selam Gebriel
  • Patent number: 9848143
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a first chip including a plurality of pixels, each pixel including a light sensing unit generating a signal charge responsive to an amount of received light, and a plurality of MOS transistors reading the signal charge generated by the light sensing unit and outputting the read signal charge as a pixel signal, a second chip including a plurality of pixel drive circuits supplying desired drive pulses to pixels, the second chip being laminated beneath the first chip in a manner such that the pixel drive circuits are arranged beneath the pixels formed in the first chip to drive the pixels, and a connection unit for electrically connecting the pixels to the pixel drive circuits arranged beneath the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Katsumi Honda, Takafumi Takatsuka
  • Patent number: 9832361
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging optical system, an imaging element acquiring an image of an object, a unit that acquires distance information corresponding to distance between the imaging optical system and the object, a unit that generates a map information corresponding to the image based on the distance information, a unit that is able to detect touch operation of a user on a display unit displaying the image and that detects a position in the image corresponding to a position touched by the user, and a control unit configured to acquire the distance information at the position of the acquired image from the map information to set the position as a focus point according to the acquired distance information, or configured to display, on the display unit, an enlarged image obtained by cutting an area of part of the image including the position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tatsushi Katayama
  • Patent number: 9749514
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera module, the camera module including a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) mounted with an image sensor, a housing configured to protect the image sensor and mounted therein with camera constituent parts, and plural pieces of lenses mounted on the housing, wherein a surface of the housing is metalized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kwang Joon Han
  • Patent number: 9743005
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus including an incline detection device configured to detect an incline of the imaging apparatus, an image display device configured to display an image based on the image information, an incline computation device configured to compute an incline information that corresponds to a magnitude of the incline, an information storage device configured to store the incline information that is computed by the incline computation device, and a display processing device configured to display the image and an incline guide display corresponding to the incline information upon a screen of the image display device. The display processing device is configured to change a display format of the incline guide display in accordance with the magnitude of the incline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Takuroh Yasuda, Yohsuke Suzuki, Atsushi Matsutani, Takashi Maki
  • Patent number: 9706150
    Abstract: Provided are an image pickup device and a camera system that are capable of detecting an extremely small signal from a pixel or one photon signal with low noise and high precision at high speed, and are capable of performing various kinds of high-performance shooting by increasing a frame rate with use of this. Each sense circuit includes a comparator configured to compare an output signal from a pixel with a reference signal, and when signal detection is performed, a charge allowing a first pixel signal output from a selected pixel to be cancelled out is held in one or both of input sections of the comparator, an independent offset bias for each comparator is applied to one of the input sections of the comparator to cancel out an offset of the comparator, and a digital decision on intensity of light incident on the pixel is performed by comparing a reference signal changing in steps with a second pixel signal output from the selected pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Nishihara, Hirofumi Sumi
  • Patent number: 9706131
    Abstract: First, images are captured with three exposure levels, and pixel levels of a low exposure image and an intermediate exposure image are amplified to be matched to those of a high exposure image. Next, a brightness combining ratio for each image is calculated based on the low exposure image that has been matched in brightness. Then, images having brightness combining ratios that are not 0% in a region of interest are selected, and only the selected images are used to generate a combined image in the region of interest, and the low exposure image is used as a substitute, for example, in a region other than the region of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoru Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9699363
    Abstract: In a camera system including a camera body (200) and an interchangeable lens (100), the camera body includes a body-side communication unit, and a body-side control unit that transmits a request signal to the interchangeable lens via the body-side communication unit, and receives a response signal corresponding to the transmitted request signal from the interchangeable lens via the body-side communication unit, the interchangeable lens includes a lens-side communication unit, and a lens-side control unit that transmits the response signal corresponding to the received request signal to the camera body via the lens-side communication unit when receiving the request signal via the lens-side communication unit, and the lens-side control unit transmits lens information in synchronization with a frame of a video without receiving a request signal for lens information from the camera body at least in a video recording mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kenshi Imamura, Kenkichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9681031
    Abstract: In some embodiments, the actuator module includes an voice coil motor base, a coil rigidly attached to the voice coil motor base, a lens movement mechanism suspended on the voice coil motor base by a suspension means configured to limit relative motion in linear directions orthogonal to an optical axis of the miniature camera, and a plurality of magnets rigidly mounted to the lens movement mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas S. Brodie, Scott W. Miller
  • Patent number: 9661202
    Abstract: A mobile terminal assembly is provided. The mobile terminal assembly includes: a terminal case; and a mobile terminal detachable from the terminal case, wherein the terminal case comprises: a case body; and a lens cover openably disposed in the case body, wherein the mobile terminal comprises: a display unit; a camera module including a camera lens disposed at a position corresponding to the lens cover; a lens cover sensing unit sensing whether the lens cover is opened or closed; and a control unit configured to execute a camera application on the basis of whether the lens cover is opened or closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jungin Oh, Sanghyun Eim, Daiki Min, Julie Park, Myungsoo Choi, Jisun Yang
  • Patent number: 9648250
    Abstract: A mechanism which makes it possible to obtain high-quality images in continuous photographing by reducing the influence of flicker while suppressing reduction of frame speed. An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device and an exposure unit configured to perform exposure of the image pickup device in response to a photographing instruction. An AE sensor detects peak timing of flicker. A camera CPU switches between peak synchronous exposure in which exposure operation is performed by making the same synchronous with the peak timing of flicker and normal exposure in which exposure operation is performed without making the same synchronous with the peak timing of flicker. The camera CPU corrects a photographed image obtained by the normal exposure. The camera CPU switches between the peak synchronous exposure and the normal exposure, based on the detected peak timing of flicker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Sugawara
  • Patent number: 9648265
    Abstract: An image sensor may have an array of pixels and readout circuitry. The array may include image pixels that generate signals in response to image light and reference pixels that generate signals in response to electrical noise. The readout circuitry may obtain first pixel values from the image pixels and may obtain second pixel values from the reference pixels. The readout circuitry may generate an extended precision pixel value based on the second pixel values that have an extended bit width relative to the each of the second pixel values. The readout circuitry may generate multiple dithered correction values by adding randomized sequences of least significant bits to the extended precision pixel value. The readout circuitry may mitigate visible quantization error and noise such as row-correlated and column-correlated noise in the final image by subtracting the dithered correction values from corresponding first pixel values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Roger Panicacci, Jeffery Beck, Barry Vanhoff
  • Patent number: 9648237
    Abstract: A portable device and a manipulation method are disclosed. The portable device includes a camera unit, a first sensor and a control module. The camera unit has a plurality of functional modes. The functional modes include a photo-capturing mode and a video-recording mode. The first sensor is disposed on the portable device and configured for sensing a manipulation input. The manipulation input has a manipulation pattern and duration information of the manipulation pattern. The control module is coupled with the camera unit and the first sensor. The control module is configured for selecting one of the functional modes corresponding to the manipulation pattern and the duration information sensed by the first sensor, and triggering the camera unit into the selected functional mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Yuan-Kang Wang, Wen-Chuan Lee, Wen-Chien Liu, Ko-Hsin Hsiang
  • Patent number: 9641757
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus that properly sets a moving image area according to an image. An image processor generates a combined image, by setting one of a plurality of images as a basic image and disposing a moving image generated from the plurality of images in a moving image area which is designated in part of the basic image. The image processor sets a still area in part of the basic image. A system controller causes the basic image to be displayed on a display section. A user performs a touch operation on the display section displaying the basic image, whereby the moving image area is designated. When the moving image area is designated in a manner overlapping the still area, the image processor performs image combining by deleting the overlapping area from the moving image area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Abe
  • Patent number: 9635275
    Abstract: A method and a system for forming an image of a scene are provided. The method includes capturing an image of the scene by exposing an image sensor to radiation from one part of the EM spectrum using one aperture and to radiation from another part of the EM spectrum using another aperture having a different size than the first aperture. Simultaneously with capturing the image, the scene is illuminated with radiation from the second part of the EM spectrum. The image is then formed on the basis of image data generated by the radiation from the first part of the EM spectrum and image data generated by radiation from the second part of the EM spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: DUAL APERTURE INTERNATIONAL CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Andrew Augustine Wajs
  • Patent number: 9628683
    Abstract: A shading device for the light module of the surveillance camera, wherein the light module rotates, with the filming module of the camera, back and forth between the vertical axis and horizontal axis of the camera. The shading device includes a shading shield that can moves back and forth between the first position and the second position. When the light module and the filming module rotate to a preset angle zone that is near the horizontal axis, the shading shield will move with the light module and the filming module, and the shading shield shades part of the light emitted by the light module that the part of light will not project onto the reflective object of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Topview Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Yi-Chih Chu, Yu-Chuan Chang
  • Patent number: 9609186
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a receptacle configured to receive a mobile computing device that has an integrated image capture component. Further, the apparatus comprises a first handle having a first handle top portion that is operably connected to the receptacle and a first handle bottom portion that is operably connected to the receptacle. In addition, the apparatus comprises a second handle having a second handle top portion that is operably connected to the receptacle and a second handle bottom portion that is operably connected to the receptacle. The apparatus also comprises a tripod receiver that is operably attached to the first handle. The tripod receiver receives a tripod connector to connect a tripod to the first handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: iOgrapher, LLC
    Inventors: David Basulto, Jason Ivey
  • Patent number: 9602740
    Abstract: An example information processing apparatus includes: an image acquiring unit that acquires a captured image of a real space; a feature detecting unit that detects a feature from the captured image; a determining unit that determines a virtual object, or, a virtual object and an aspect of the virtual object while changing the same in accordance with a condition of imaging device for the captured image; an image generating unit that generates an image of a virtual space in which the determined virtual object or the virtual object in the determined aspect is placed on a basis of the feature; and a display controlling unit that displays an image on a display device such that the image of the virtual space is visually recognized by a user while being superimposed on the real space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 9591287
    Abstract: A lens module includes a first wafer level lens group, a second wafer level lens group, a first sensor, and a second sensor. The first wafer level lens group has a first optical axis. The second wafer level lens group has a second optical axis. The first optical axis is parallel with the second optical axis, and the first wafer level lens group and the second wafer level lens group are integrally formed. The first sensor is disposed corresponding to the first wafer level lens group, and the first sensor is disposed on the first optical axis. The second sensor is disposed corresponding to the second wafer level lens group, and the second sensor is disposed on the second optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: HIMAX TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Yin-Dong Lu, Han-Yi Kuo
  • Patent number: 9560270
    Abstract: In the present invention, in interval photographing, a CPU performs still image photographing based on a capture interval and a capture length set for each scene in advance. Then, for each captured still image, the CPU calculates a difference between images, writes a judgment flag indicating whether the difference is exceeding a capture threshold in EXIF information, and stores all captured images. When the interval photographing is ended, the CPU reads out the captured images, performs time-lapse moving image generation processing by using images having a positive judgment flag in the EXIF information, and stores the result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masanori Ishihara
  • Patent number: 9538101
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a photo gate controller configured to generate a plurality of demodulated signals respectively corresponding to a plurality of rows of a pixel array and a photo gate driver configured to adjust a phase of the demodulated signals using a source clock signal to remove power, voltage and temperature (PVT) noise and to apply the phase-adjusted demodulated signals to the pixel array. The image sensor matches the phases of the respective demodulated signals using the source clock signal generated based on a reference clock signal, thereby increasing the quality of depth images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Han Soo Lee, Tae-Chan Kim