Patents Examined by Shahbaz Nazrul
  • Patent number: 10326904
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that capture and compress frames of pixel data. In an implementation, an image sensor chip is configured to convert light into pixel data and generate compressed pixel data at a variable compression rate including applying a transform to pixel data associated with a pixel category from a plurality of pixel categories. The variable compression rate is within an available bandwidth of an output bus configured to output the compressed pixel data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Patrick Campbell, David A. Newman, Brian G. Schunck
  • Patent number: 10321028
    Abstract: A camera module and its photosensitive assembly and manufacturing method thereof are provided. The photosensitive assembly includes a photosensitive element, a window circuit board and a packaging body integrally packaged the photosensitive element and the window circuit board to form an integrated body, wherein the window circuit board has at least one window for receiving the photosensitive element therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Ningbo Sunny Opotech Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mingzhu Wang, Zhenyu Chen, Takehiko Tanaka, Zhongyu Luan, Bojie Zhao, Zhen Huang, Nan Guo, Fengsheng Xi, Heng Jiang, Zilong Deng
  • Patent number: 10321036
    Abstract: A positioning system is designed to align a lens barrel with a sensor assembly. A first end of a lens barrel includes ridges along an edge. The sensor assembly includes a recessed channel with reciprocal ridges for mating with the ridges of the lens barrel. The sensor assembly also includes a plurality of shim platforms structured, each structured to position a wedge shaped shim, the wedge shaped shim including a flat bottom to slide on the shim platform and raise or lower the lens barrel relative to the reciprocal ridges on which the lens barrel rests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Patrick Campbell, Leo Baldwin, Gary Fong
  • Patent number: 10295798
    Abstract: A camera module, which is mounted on an inside of a front windshield of a vehicle and to image an external environment of the vehicle, includes a lens unit and an imager to image the external environment by forming an optical image, which is from the external environment through the lens unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuki Furutake, Ken Nishioka
  • Patent number: 10297626
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a pixel array, a plurality of column circuits, an amplifier, switch arrays of a first layer to an nth layer, and signal lines of the first layer to the nth layer. n is an integer of two or more. The switch array of an ith layer is disposed between the switch array of an (i+1)th layer and the amplifier. i is an integer of one or more and less than n. The signal line of the first layer is connected to the nth amplifier. The signal line of the nth layer is connected to the switch array of the nth layer. Each of the plurality of switches included in the switch array of the nth layer is connected to the column circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Kato, Yasunari Harada, Masato Osawa
  • Patent number: 10291843
    Abstract: In order to capture entire object, it is necessary for an image capturer to move a mobile terminal in various directions and to determine whether all is captured, and therefore, the operation of the image capturer becomes complicated. An information processing apparatus having a camera function, which displays a live view image acquired via a camera on a display, determines, by analyzing the live view image, a direction of an uncaptured area that should be captured next and whether the live view image is an image suitable to OCR processing, and displays, in accordance with analysis results of the live view image, a guide to prompt a user to perform an operation so that an image corresponding to the determined direction of the uncaptured area of the object is captured next.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daijiro Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 10284801
    Abstract: A method for performing differential double sampling and a CMOS image sensing device for performing the same. In one example, the CMOS image sensing device includes a pixel array include a multitude of pixels with each pixel formed by a plurality of photodiodes, a floating diffusion point and a plurality of transistors electrically coupled the plurality of photodiodes. Moreover, a column readout circuit with four storage capacitors is selectively coupled to the pixel array by switches so that the storage capacitors can store sampled pixel values. A control circuit connected to the pixel array and the column readout circuit selectively activates the transistors to output to the column readout circuit sampled dark value and bright values of one photodiode and a sampled double bright value of the one photodiode and one additional photodiode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: GVBB HOLDINGS S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Juul Josephus Johannes Van Den Heijkant, Jeroen Rotte, Petrus Gijsbertus Centen
  • Patent number: 10284785
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for image signal processing. For example, methods may include receiving an image from an image sensor; applying a filter to the image to obtain a low-frequency component image and a high-frequency component image; determining a first enhanced image based on a weighted sum of the low-frequency component image and the high-frequency component image, where the high-frequency component image is weighted more than the low-frequency component image; determining a second enhanced image based on the first enhanced image and a tone mapping; and storing, displaying, or transmitting an output image based on the second enhanced image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Guillaume Matthieu Guerin, Antoine Regimbeau, Thomas Nicolas Emmanuel Veit, Bruno Cesar Douady-Pleven, Violaine Marie Mong-lan Sudret
  • Patent number: 10277807
    Abstract: Provided are an image device and method for operating the device. The image device includes a memory, a first image processor configured to receive image data that includes first and second sub-data, perform first image processing, and write a result of the first image processing to the memory, a second image processor configured to read the first and second sub-data, on which the first image processing has been performed, from the memory, and perform second image processing that is different from the first image processing, and a controller configured to control the second image processor to read the first sub-data, on which the first image processing has been performed, from the memory, before the second sub-data, on which the first image processing has been performed, is written in the memory, after the first sub-data, on which the first image processing has been performed, is written in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yong-Bae Song
  • Patent number: 10277794
    Abstract: An acquisition unit acquires an image of a partial region which is a portion of an image captured by an imaging unit. During a time in which the image of the partial region is acquired by the acquisition unit, a control unit performs control to restrict operations of driving units for changing an imaging range of the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideyuki Ikegami
  • Patent number: 10277822
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which is able to shoot high-quality images while improving image stabilization performance. An optical device which corrects for image blurring is moved in a direction different from an optical axis. Focusing is controlled by calculating a shape of a contrast using AF evaluation values at respective positions of a focus lens, which moves in the direction of the optical axis, at predetermined intervals and using a position of the focus lens at which the contrast is at its peak as a position at which a bundle of rays comes to a focus on a light-incident plane of the image pickup device. During the focusing control, positions of the focus lens obtained when the AF evaluation values were obtained or the obtained AF evaluation values are corrected according to detected positions of the optical device in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Shibata
  • Patent number: 10257435
    Abstract: A receiver sets a storage capacity to be assigned for each connected digital camera based on the number of connected digital cameras, and allocates these storage capacities in a buffer. Also, the receiver sends a request for a through image for each frame to each of the connected digital cameras, receives through images transmitted in response to the requests, and stores the through images in areas of the buffer assigned for each of the digital cameras. Furthermore, after receiving the through image for one frame from each digital camera, the receiver performs image processing on each through image and causes these images to be displayed in a list form on one screen of the display section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Koiso, Tomohiko Murakami, Tsuyoshi Horiguchi, Hiroshi Suzuki, Muneyuki Ishihara, Takehito Morimatsu, Ken Fujita, Toshihiro Kiuchi, Naoya Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10257457
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state imaging device capable of increasing the speed of an A/D converter. The solid-state imaging device includes a successive approximation A/D converter that performs A/D conversion on an analog pixel signal. The successive approximation A/D converter includes a D/A converter, a comparator, and a successive approximation register. The D/A converter converts a digital reference signal to an analog reference signal. The successive approximation register operates based on the result of comparison by the comparator to generate the digital reference signal in such a manner that the analog reference signal approximates the analog pixel signal. The D/A converter includes a split capacitor, first capacitors, second capacitors, a switch array, a third capacitor, and a multiplexer. The first capacitors each have a first electrode coupled to the output node. The second capacitors are coupled to a second electrode of the split capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Osamu Matsumoto, Fukashi Morishita
  • Patent number: 10257456
    Abstract: Embodiments of a virtual frame buffer (VFB) for buffering asynchronous data originating from an imaging source such as a dynamic vision sensor. The VFB may include a hash table memory, a data memory, and a control unit. The control unit receives an input address of an asynchronous data event and determines a pseudo-randomly computed hash of the hash table memory at which to store the input address. The control unit links the hash to a handle corresponding to a data memory cell that stores pixel data of the event. The VFB may interface like a full frame buffer, but use significantly less memory. The VFB may be used with a pixel processing algorithm to search for recent events in a localized environment of a pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ariel Orfaig, Nathan Henri Levy
  • Patent number: 10257447
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an imaging method. The imaging method comprises: providing an image sensor, the image sensor comprising a photosensitive pixel array and a filter arranged on the photosensitive unit array, the filter comprising a filter cell array, and each filter cell covering a plurality of photosensitive pixels to form a merged pixel; and reading outputs of the photosensitive pixel array, and adding the outputs of the photosensitive pixels of the same merged pixel to obtain a pixel value of the merged pixel, thereby producing a merged image. Images, having higher signal to noise ratio, brightness, and definition, and less noise, can be captured by using the imaging method in low light. The present disclosure also discloses an imaging device using the imaging method and an electronic device using the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Qiqun Zhou
  • Patent number: 10244153
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus provided with a lens module which has a main body and two vane members. The main body holds a lens on an inside thereof. The vane members are plate shaped sections projected from an outside surface of the main body, which are provided with through-holes enabling fastening members to be threaded through. A base is provided with an imaging element and configured to fix thereto the main body. The case which accommodates the lens, the lens module and the base has two thread-holes formed on an inside thereof, into which the fastening members are fastened thereto. The lens module is fixed to the case by threading the fastening members through the through-holes, and fastening the fastening members into the thread-holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuki Furutake, Daisuke Takama, Soji Masui
  • Patent number: 10244164
    Abstract: A method performed by an electronic device is described. The method includes receiving a plurality of images from a first camera with a first field of view and a second plurality of images from a second camera with a second field of view. An overlapping region exists between the first field of view and the second field of view. The method also includes predicting a disparity of a moving object present in a first image of the first plurality of images. The moving object is not present in a corresponding second image of the second plurality of images. The method further includes determining warp vectors based on the predicted disparity. The method additionally includes combining an image from the first plurality of images with an image from the second plurality of images based on the determined warp vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Sudipto Banerjee, Pushkar Gorur Sheshagiri, Pawan Kumar Baheti, Ajit Deepak Gupte, Ajit Venkat Rao
  • Patent number: 10225455
    Abstract: The present invention is capable of spontaneously providing a status notification to an external device in an appropriate manner. To achieve this aim, the external device, upon establishing communication with a communication apparatus, makes a status notification request to the communication apparatus, the status notification request being a request for a response that, when a change occurs in an internal status of the communication apparatus, indicates the change. Also, upon making a request to serve as a remote camera to the communication apparatus via a user interface, the external device makes a status notification request to the communication apparatus, regardless of whether or not a response has been made to the first request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koshi Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 10225476
    Abstract: An imaging-displaying apparatus includes an imaging unit outputting an imaging signal; an image processing unit generating an image signal based on the imaging signal, and writing the signal in a VRAM; an image signal output unit outputting the image signal from the VRAM, and outputting the signal to the display unit; and a timing control unit generating an imaging vertical synchronizing signal for driving the imaging unit, generating a display vertical synchronizing signal obtained by delaying the imaging vertical synchronizing signal at least by a predetermined time which is necessary for a generation of an image signal, and supplying the signal to the display unit, and controlling an image signal output unit so that the image signal is read from the VRAM by being delayed by a phase difference between the imaging vertical synchronizing signal and the display vertical synchronizing signal, after outputting the imaging signal from the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Ryuichi Shiohara
  • Patent number: 10225457
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating an imaging system to maintain a tunable acoustic gradient (TAG) lens at a desired operating state. In a first step, the TAG lens operates using a standard imaging drive control configuration (e.g., a standard drive voltage and duration) during a plurality of imaging drive mode time periods, to achieve a standard imaging state of the TAG lens. In a second step, the TAG lens operates using a regulating adaptive drive control configuration during a plurality of regulating adaptive drive mode time periods, wherein at least one of a different respective TAG lens drive voltage and a different respective TAG lens drive duration is used for different respective regulating adaptive drive mode time periods, based on a monitoring signal that is indicative of a difference between the standard imaging state and a current operating state of the TAG lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventors: Isaiah Freerksen, Paul Gerard Gladnick