Patents Examined by Shahbaz Nazrul
  • Patent number: 11418687
    Abstract: An embodiment comprises: a lens barrel; a holder; a filter disposed in the holder; a circuit board having an aperture; a reinforcing member including a first region corresponding to the aperture and a second region in which the circuit board is disposed; and an image sensor disposed in the first region of the reinforcing member, wherein the first region of the reinforcing member includes a protruding part protruding farther than the second region of the reinforcing member, and the image sensor is disposed on the upper surface of the protruding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Min Soo Kim, In Hoe Kim, Hyun Ah Oh, Sung Il Lee, Jong Ho Chung
  • Patent number: 11418688
    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: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Suk Yang
  • Patent number: 11394863
    Abstract: Introduced here are technologies for examining content generated by electronic devices in real time to optimize the quality of the content. The content may be examined in batches to address some of the drawbacks of real-time analysis. For instance, a series of videos may be examined to collect data on how well security system(s) that are presently employed are working. Each security system can include one or more electronic devices, such as cameras or microphones, and parameters of the electronic devices can be altered to improve the quality of content generated by the electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Arlo Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peiman Amini, Joseph Amalan Arul Emmanuel
  • Patent number: 11394866
    Abstract: Provided is a signal processing device including a control unit that acquires distance measurement information on the basis of an addition value obtained by adding together outputs of a plurality of phase difference detection pixels supplied from an imaging element in which the plurality of phase difference detection pixels different in phase difference characteristic is arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Fujii
  • Patent number: 11394867
    Abstract: The lens apparatus according to the present invention includes an optical system including a plurality of lens units configured to move in adjusting an in-focus state of a subject image, a detection unit configured to detect respective positions of the plurality of lens units, an acquisition unit configured to acquire position information regarding a single position representing the respective positions of the plurality of lens units corresponding to a current subject distance, based on the respective positions of the plurality of lens units and relational information indicating a relation between a subject distance and the respective positions of the plurality of lens units, and a control unit configured to control the respective positions of the plurality of lens units based on the position information acquired by the acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Minoru Uchiyama
  • Patent number: 11388348
    Abstract: A method includes obtaining, using at least one processor of an electronic device, a high dynamic range (HDR) input Bayer image. The method also includes generating, using the at least one processor of the electronic device, a plurality of synthesized images at different exposure levels based on the input Bayer image. The method further includes fusing, using the at least one processor of the electronic device, the synthesized images to generate a fused image. The method also includes generating, using the at least one processor of the electronic device, a gain map based on the fused image. In addition, the method includes applying, using the at least one processor of the electronic device, a gain based on the gain map to the input Bayer image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Long N. Le, Ruiwen Zhen, John W. Glotzbach, Hamid R. Sheikh, Ibrahim Pekkucuksen
  • Patent number: 11381721
    Abstract: A lens adjusting device for a multi-lens camera, comprising: a first holder and a second holder, which is provided on the first holder and is configured for mounting a lens; wherein, the second holder is rotatably cooperated with the first holder and can rotate in a direction parallel to a support plane of the first holder; one of the support plane of the first holder and a surface on the second holder opposite to the support plane is provided with a plurality of first toothed slots, and the other is provided with a first engaging teeth, and the first engaging teeth is elastically engaged with the first toothed slots in the rotation direction of the second holder. The solution above can solve current issues that operation is complex and adjustment efficiency is low existed in adjustment of a lens in P direction by a multi-lens camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Caisheng Yan, Yan Wu, Zhan Ye, Peng Xu
  • Patent number: 11375139
    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: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Patrick Campbell, David A. Newman, Brian G. Schunck
  • Patent number: 11372312
    Abstract: Provided is an image sensor including a pixel array including a plurality of auto focus (AF) pixels and a plurality of normal pixels, wherein each of the plurality of AF pixels comprises two sub-pixels, a light blocking member provided between the two sub-pixels, and a lens corresponding to the two sub-pixels, and wherein the light blocking member is shifted from an intermediate point of the two sub-pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Junghyung Pyo, Kyungho Lee
  • Patent number: 11363175
    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: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: LARGAN DIGITAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Lin An Chang, Ming-Ta Chou
  • Patent number: 11361539
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable media are set forth for generating and/or utilizing image shortcuts that cause one or more corresponding computer actions to be performed in response to determining that one or more features are present in image(s) from a camera of a computing device of a user (e.g., present in a real-time image feed from the camera). An image shortcut can be generated in response to user interface input, such as a spoken command. For example, the user interface input can direct the automated assistant to perform one or more actions in response to object(s) having certain feature(s) being present in a field of view of the camera. Subsequently, when the user directs their camera at object(s) having such feature(s), the assistant application can cause the action(s) to be automatically performed. For example, the assistant application can cause data to be presented and/or can control a remote device in accordance with the image shortcut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Marcin Nowak-Przygodzki, Gökhan Bakir
  • Patent number: 11348953
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate having first and second faces. The sensor includes a plurality of pixel groups each including pixels, each pixel having a photoelectric converter and a wiring pattern, the converter including a region whose major carriers are the same with charges to be accumulated in the photoelectric converter. The sensor also includes a microlenses which are located so that one microlens is arranged for each pixel group. The wiring patterns are located at a side of the first face, and the plurality of microlenses are located at a side of the second face. Light-incidence faces of the regions of the photoelectric converters of each pixel group are arranged along the second face such that the light-incidence faces are apart from each other in a direction along the second face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Minowa, Hidekazu Takahashi, Yuichiro Yamashita, Akira Okita
  • Patent number: 11350023
    Abstract: Autofocus methods and devices are provided. The method includes: controlling a lens group to move at a first speed, and photographing an image at a preset photographing frequency when the lens group moves at the first speed; when a definition of the image photographed by the lens group in a state of moving at the first speed satisfies a preset condition, reducing a moving speed of the lens group to a second speed, and photographing images at the preset photographing frequency when the lens group moves at the second speed; and when a first image with a highest definition is determined in the images photographed by the lens group in a state of moving at the second speed, controlling the lens group to decelerate, and controlling, when the lens group stops moving, the lens group to return to a position of the lens group where the first image was photographed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: HANGZHOU HIKVISION DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Limin Xu
  • Patent number: 11342366
    Abstract: An image sensing device may include: a plurality of pixels included in a first row; a first signal line configured to transfer a boosting voltage to the plurality of pixels; a first switch transistor coupled between the first signal line and a second signal line disposed adjacent to the top side of the first signal line; and a second switch transistor coupled between the first signal line and a third signal line disposed adjacent to the bottom side of the first signal line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventor: Pyong Su Kwag
  • Patent number: 11336851
    Abstract: An image sensing device is disclosed. The image sensing device includes a semiconductor substrate and a lens layer. The semiconductor substrate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and includes a photoelectric conversion element that generates photocharges in response to light incident to the photoelectric conversion element via the first surface. The lens layer is disposed over the semiconductor substrate to direct light through the first surface of the semiconductor substrate into the substrate lens which further directs the incident light into the photoelectric conversion element. The semiconductor substrate is structured to include a substrate lens formed by etching the first surface to a predetermined depth and located between the first surface and the photoelectric conversion element to direct incident light via the first surface to the photoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: SKhynix Inc.
    Inventor: Kyung Su Byun
  • Patent number: 11330206
    Abstract: An image sensing circuit includes floating node, switch circuit, capacitor(s), and counting circuit. The floating node receives image electric charge from a photosensitive pixel. The switch circuit is coupled between floating node and capacitor(s) to dynamically connect and disconnect floating node and capacitor(s). The capacitor(s) include(s) first terminal(s) connected to switch circuit and second terminal(s) connected to ground. The counting circuit counts the number of charging and discharging behavior of capacitor(s) according to dynamic switches of switch circuit wherein the switch circuit dynamically switches to make capacitor(s) be charged and discharged dynamically in response to one exposure time period to receive energy of image electric charge which is determined by the number of charging and discharging behavior of the capacitor(s) and the capacitor(s)' potential value measured finally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Yen-Min Chang, Ren-Chieh Liu
  • Patent number: 11327550
    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: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Joon-Chok Lee, Kevin Len-Li Lim
  • Patent number: 11323610
    Abstract: An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention may comprise: a camera including a lens assembly having one or more lenses, and a driving unit that can adjust focus by moving at least some of the lenses (a portion of the lenses) of the lens assembly; a memory; and a processor operatively connected to the lens assembly, the camera, and the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyunghoon Yoon, Jaehyoung Park, Jeongki Kim, Kyongtae Park, Jonghoon Won
  • Patent number: 11317014
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus has a first/second optical system transmitting light through a first/second optical path, the second optical system having parallax with the first optical path; a switcher switching between the first and second optical paths in time series; an image sensor forming a first image and a second image by capturing subject images according to the light transmitted through the first optical path and the second optical path respectively; and a processor processing a signal output from the image sensor, wherein the processor calculates a motion vector in each divided region of a first base image from the first base image and a first reference image captured, interpolates an interpolation motion vector for each pixel of the first base image from the motion vector, and corrects the first base image or the first reference image to form a prediction image of the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masao Sambongi, Munenori Fukunishi
  • Patent number: 11314150
    Abstract: Apparatus for an optical system optimized for PDAF depth sensing are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a phase detection auto focus (PDAF) sensor including a plurality of focus pixels and a plurality of micro lenses. The example apparatus also includes an optical system located above the PDAF sensor and configured to direct light to the micro lenses of the PDAF sensor. In some examples, the optical system includes a lens and an opaque element configured to block light through the lens except for at least one circular asymmetric subsection of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Micha Galor Gluskin