Patents Examined by Shahbaz Nazrul
  • Patent number: 10887496
    Abstract: In an imaging device, a heater heats cover glass from an outer circumferential side thereof. Here, a first heating area and a second heating area are provided respectively on a lower side and an upper side of the heater, and a heating density of the first heating area is greater than a heating density of the second heating area. Consequently, when defrosting the cover glass, it is possible to inhibit water droplets from remaining in a central portion of the cover glass and in an upper-side portion thereof above this central portion, and to inhibit water droplets from being present in the central portion of the cover glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOKAI-RIKA-DENKI-SEISAKUSHO
    Inventors: Reiya Ichimura, Nobuhiro Kudou, Suguru Fujisaki
  • Patent number: 10873732
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a plurality of optical systems having different angles of view. A wide-angle-side light detection unit detects a plurality of wide-angle-side color components in each of a plurality of regions in wide-angle image data having an angle of view wider than a predetermined value. A telephoto-side light detection unit detects a plurality of telephoto-side color components in each of a plurality of regions in telephoto image data having an angle of view narrower than the predetermined value. A telephoto-side white balance gain acquisition unit obtains a gain for the telephoto image data on the basis of a wide-angle-side integration ratio that is a ratio of respective integration values of the plurality of wide-angle-side color components and the plurality of telephoto-side color components as a telephoto-side white balance gain. A telephoto-side white balance correction unit corrects the telephoto image data with the telephoto-side white balance gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayoshi Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 10863067
    Abstract: An image pickup unit that is capable of simplifying an optical adjustment work for an image pickup surface. A holding plate holds an image sensor. A lens barrel includes an optical system that forms an object image on the image sensor. A removable shim plate is inserted between the lens barrel and the holding plate and has a shape to avoid the image sensor. An energizing mechanism is inserted between the shim plate and the lens barrel to energizes the shim plate and the holding plate in a direction away from the lens barrel. Three adjusting screws fix the holding plate and shim plate to the lens barrel. Each of the adjusting screws displaces corresponding portions of the shim plate and holding plate toward the lens barrel when being fastened and displaces the corresponding portions away from the lens barrel in cooperation with the energizing mechanism when being loosened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirotaka Ifuku
  • Patent number: 10863076
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for performing an Auto Focus (AF) function in an electronic device which does not perform the AF function while performing a camcorder function are provided. The apparatus includes a camera for receiving a photographing data, a camera processing unit for performing any one of a still picture acquisition function and an AF function, a recording processing unit for performing a function for recording the photographing data, a camera driver for operating the camera under control of the camera processing unit and the recording processing unit, and a processor for controlling the camera processing unit and the recording processing unit when detecting an AF request while photographing a moving picture to focus on the photographing data automatically and to record the focused photographing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Heum Cho, Gi-Ung Jung
  • Patent number: 10863089
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises: a detector configured to detect a pressing force applied to a specific operation member; and at least one processor which function as a control unit configured to: responsive to detection of pressing with a first pressure or more on the member during a first operation mode, perform control so that a transition to a second operation mode is made; responsive to detection of pressing with a second pressure or more during the second operation mode, perform control so that a shooting preparation process is performed, the second pressure being smaller than the first pressure; and responsive to detection of pressing with a third pressure or more during the second operation mode, perform control so that shooting is performed, the third pressure being greater than the second pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuki Totori
  • Patent number: 10855928
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus that allows the user to easily change the brightness of an image that is shot while using automatic exposure control is disclosed. The image capture apparatus comprises a setting unit configured to be able to set a reference value of proper exposure. The image capture apparatus determines exposure conditions based on the luminance information and the reference value, wherein the reference value is a value used as a reference exposure value from which exposure conditions are varied in an exposure compensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Keisuke Matsuno, Takeshi Ikeda, Kenzo Hisa, Taketoshi Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 10855903
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus of the present invention, multiple subjects are selected in an image signal, and subject distances for focusing on each of the selected subjects are specified. A subject distance range defined by the specified subject distances is then set. Then, based on the image signal, the image processing apparatus generates a reconstructed image that is focused on each of the subjects that are to be focused on in the set subject distance range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 10848742
    Abstract: A content generation device is capable of generating moving-image virtual viewpoint content on a basis of a group of images captured with a plurality of image capturing devices. The content generation device comprises a determination unit configured to determine whether each image of the group of images captured with the plurality of image capturing devices has an abnormality on a basis of data associated with each image; and a method determination unit configured to determine a type of content to be generated among a plurality of types of content including the moving-image virtual viewpoint content in accordance of a determination of a presence or an absence of the abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Katsumasa Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10848717
    Abstract: In some embodiments, auditable devices such as auditable cameras are provided. The auditable devices maintain audit trail data that is digitally signed and stored on the devices until it can be uploaded to an evidence management system. When intermittent data connections to the evidence management system are available, an auditable device may transmit records of urgent events to the evidence management system. The transmission of urgent events via ad-hoc data connections and the digital signing of audit trail data help overcome technical obstacles in establishing provably reliable data collection while minimizing power consumption by the auditable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Hanchett, Aaron J. Kloc, Tyler J. Conant
  • Patent number: 10841471
    Abstract: A camera module includes a housing, a unitary element, an optical lens assembly, an image-side light blocking assembly and a driving device. The unitary element is one-piece formed from a lens carrier and a lens barrel and movably disposed in the housing. The optical lens assembly is disposed in the unitary element. The image-side light blocking assembly includes at least one light blocking sheet, and the image-side light blocking assembly does not contact the optical lens assembly. The driving device is disposed between the housing and the unitary element. The driving device drives the unitary element, the optical lens assembly and the image-side light blocking assembly to move in an optical axis direction parallel to an optical axis of the optical lens assembly by electromagnetic force. A minimal inner opening of the unitary element is located between the optical lens assembly and the image-side light blocking assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: LARGAN DIGITAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lin An Chang, Ming-Ta Chou
  • Patent number: 10841472
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a lighting device, the method comprising: receiving data relating to settings on a camera; determining an illuminance for at least one lighting device in dependence on said data; and modifying the illuminance of a lighting device to said determined illuminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Rotolight Limited
    Inventors: Roderick Allen Gammons, Jan Christoph Winter, Andrew Francis, Roderick Aaron Gammons
  • Patent number: 10834309
    Abstract: Based on information corresponding to a state of an object at a first time, information corresponding to the state of the object at a second time after the first time is estimated. The information corresponding to the state of the object at the second time is calculated by correcting the estimated information corresponding to the state of the object at the second time based on a focus detection result detected by a focus detection unit at the second time. Based on the information corresponding to the state of the object at the second time and information of time from the second time to a third time after the second time, an image plane position at the third time is predicted. Based on the image plane position predicted by a first prediction unit, driving of a focus lens is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kuniaki Sugitani, Yasuyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10834354
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a plurality of pixels arranged to form rows and columns and each configured to output a signal in accordance with an incident light, a plurality of column signal processing units provided in association with the columns and each having an A/D conversion unit that performs A/D conversion on a signal output from the pixels arranged on a corresponding column, a plurality of memory units provided in association with the columns and each having a memory that holds digital data output from the column signal processing unit of a corresponding column, a transfer unit that sequentially outputs the digital data held in each of the plurality of memory units to a common output line, and a bit value inversion unit that inverts a value of a bit of one of first and second digital data sequentially output to the common output line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Kobayashi, Yoshikazu Yamazaki, Kazuo Yamazaki, Wataru Endo
  • Patent number: 10827129
    Abstract: The present disclosure minimizes the degradation of image quality when an active image and a passive image are combined. The present disclosure provides an image processing apparatus that includes a correlation amount calculation section and a combination section. The correlation amount calculation section calculates the amount of correlation between the luminance of an active image captured by irradiating light and the luminance of a passive image captured without irradiating light. The combination section combines the luminance of the active image with the luminance of the passive image in accordance with the calculated amount of correlation. The above configuration minimizes the degradation of image quality when the active image and the passive image are combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshiyuki Sasaki
  • Patent number: 10812735
    Abstract: An image processing device and a method that enable removal of reflection component light from images captured from various directions are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasutaka Hirasawa, Yuhi Kondo, Hideki Oyaizu, Shun Kaizu, Teppei Kurita, Tuo Zhuang, Ying Lu, Hajime Mihara
  • Patent number: 10805576
    Abstract: In some embodiments, auditable devices such as auditable cameras are provided. The auditable devices maintain audit trail data that is digitally signed and stored on the devices until it can be uploaded to an evidence management system. When intermittent data connections to the evidence management system are available, an auditable device may transmit records of urgent events to the evidence management system. The transmission of urgent events via ad-hoc data connections and the digital signing of audit trail data help overcome technical obstacles in establishing provably reliable data collection while minimizing power consumption by the auditable device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Hanchett, Aaron J. Kloc, Tyler J. Conant
  • Patent number: 10805544
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that is capable of switching a display device that is used to display appropriately. A first display device at a rear face of a body of the apparatus and is rotatable upward around a first rotation axis. A second display device has an eyepiece and is movable between a housing position and a use position. A first sensor detects whether the eyepiece is in the use position. A second sensor detects approaching of an object to the eyepiece. A controller controls the first and second display devices based on detection results of the first and second sensors. The controller enables predetermined control set in association with the detection result of the second sensor when the first sensor detects that the eyepiece is in the use position and disables the predetermined control when the first sensor detects that the eyepiece is not in the use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoichi Osada
  • Patent number: 10805513
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a camera module including a lens unit, a first board formed with an electromagnetic circuit, a second board spaced apart from the first board, the second board including a terminal for external electrical connection and being formed with an electromagnetic circuit, a first support member having one side coupled to the first board and the other side coming into contact with one surface of the second board, so as to maintain a constant distance between the first board and the second board, and an electromagnetic-field shield configured to receive the first board and the second board therein, the electromagnetic-field shield serving to inhibit outward leakage of an electromagnetic-field formed in each board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Suk Yang
  • Patent number: 10798293
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus of the present invention includes: an image pickup unit that picks up an image of a specific range and acquires an image signal; a storage unit that stores multiple target image dictionaries respectively corresponding to multiple types of targets; an inference engine that determines a type of the specific target on the basis of an image signal acquired by the image pickup unit and the multiple target image dictionaries stored in the storage unit, and selects one of the target image dictionaries corresponding to the determined type of the specific target from the multiple target image dictionaries; and an image pickup control unit that performs image pickup control on the basis of the image signal acquired by the image pickup unit and the target image dictionary selected by the inference engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusuke Sudo
  • Patent number: 10775868
    Abstract: There is provided a navigation device including an image sensor, an analog to digital converter and a processor. The image sensor is used to output an analog image using an exposure time. The analog to digital converter is used to convert the analog image to a digital image using a resolution. The processor is used to identify an image quality of the digital image, and adjust at least one of the exposure time of the image sensor and the resolution of the analog to digital converter according to the image quality thereby adjusting the operation power by changing data length actually processed by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Joon-Chok Lee, Kevin Len-Li Lim