Patents Examined by Sinh Tran
  • Patent number: 11009675
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a focus detector configured to perform a focus detection based on a signal output from the image sensor corresponding to the first imaging, a calculator configured to calculate a first time corresponding to the second imaging, and a focus controller configured to perform a focus control for driving the focus lens to an in-focus position predicted at the first time based on a focus detection result. The calculator calculates the first time in accordance with whether the aperture control corresponding to the attached lens apparatus is a first aperture control for driving the aperture to a target aperture value via a predetermined aperture value from the aperture value before the aperture control or a second aperture control for driving the aperture to the target aperture value directly from the aperture value before the aperture control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eiji Yoshino, Soichiro Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10999513
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus having a camera function, including: a display control unit configured to display a live view image acquired via a camera on a display unit; and an image analysis unit configured to perform, when performing an image capturing of an object every area: projective transformation of an image of an already-captured area of the object, for which image capturing has already been completed, onto a plane space of the live view image; and an image analysis to display the image of the already-captured area for which the projective transformation has been performed along with the live view image, and the display control unit displays, in accordance with analysis results by the image analysis unit, the image of the already-captured area for which the projective transformation onto the plane space of the live view image has been performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuzuru Okubo
  • Patent number: 10992871
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for protecting a device under powerful light are disclosed. It is determined whether there is a powerful light source in an image captured by a camera device based on the number of target pixels (pixels whose gray values are larger than the first preset threshold) in the image. If so, it is indicated that the photosensitive element in the camera device is aligned with the powerful light source. In this case, the light avoidance instruction is sent, so as to cause a photosensitive element of the camera device to avoid the light source, thereby reducing the damage caused by the powerful light to the photosensitive element in the camera device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Inventors: Wei Yang, Haixun Guo, Qiyi Song, Jie Tang
  • Patent number: 10971533
    Abstract: In an embodiment, an image sensor includes a semiconductor region, a first doped region disposed over the semiconductor region, a ring shaped well disposed over the first doped region and surrounding parts of the first doped region, a second doped region formed within the ring shaped well and disposed over the first doped region, and a third doped region disposed over the second doped region. The ring shaped well is defined by a conductor surrounded by an insulator. The conductor is connected to a voltage terminal. The third doped region is more heavily doped than the second doped region, which is more heavily doped than the first region, and are all of the same doping type. The first doped region and the second doped region within the ring shaped well, form a potential barrier for controlling transfer of charge carriers from the first doped region to the third doped region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (CROLLES 2) SAS
    Inventor: Francois Roy
  • Patent number: 10958814
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of maintaining accuracy of positioning a sealing member and also applying a proper elastic repulsion force to an image pickup device. A first holding member holds an image pickup device, a first optical member is disposed forward of the device in a first direction orthogonal to an image pickup surface of the device, and a sealing member is sandwiched and held between the first optical member and the device. The first holding member has an opening portion for guiding light flux having passed through a photographing optical system to the device, and an abutment surface brought into contact with part of the first optical member. The sealing member has protrusions each extending forward in the first direction, along an outer shape of the first optical member inside the opening portion of the first holding member, as viewed in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Atsuto Noda
  • Patent number: 10944902
    Abstract: Digital image generation through use of capture support data is described. In one example, an image capture device is configured to obtain capture support data from an imaging support system via a network through inclusion of a pre-capture system. The pre-capture system, for instance, is configured to obtain capture support data from an imaging support system via a network. The capture support data is configured for use by digital image processor along with raw image data received from an image sensor to generate a digital image, e.g., that is configured for rendering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: Adobe Inc.
    Inventors: Abhay Vinayak Parasnis, Oliver I. Goldman
  • Patent number: 10931885
    Abstract: An illumination processing method and apparatus relate to the field of video recording technologies, where a liquid crystal panel is disposed between a photosensitive sensor and a lens assembly, and an incident light from the lens assembly reaches the photosensitive sensor after passing through the liquid crystal panel. The method includes determining a highlight region on a first image captured from the photosensitive sensor, and turning down light transmittance of each pixel in an adjustment region on the liquid crystal panel, where the adjustment region corresponds to the highlight region. According to the illumination processing method and apparatus, occurrence of a highlight blooming phenomenon can be avoided as much as possible, thereby avoiding loss of valid image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Xiaoliang Chen
  • Patent number: 10931905
    Abstract: A pixel array in a three-dimensional image sensor includes depth pixels and an ambient light cancellation (ALC) circuit. The depth pixels operate in response to photo control signals having different phases, and generate distance information of an object based on light reflected by the object. The ALC circuit removes an ambient light component from the reflected light, and is shared by the depth pixels. Each depth pixel includes a photoelectric conversion region, a floating diffusion region, a photo gate, and a drain gate. The photoelectric conversion region collects photo charges based on the reflected light. The floating diffusion region accumulates the photo charges. The photo gate is activated in response to one of the photo control signals. The photoelectric conversion region accumulates the photo charges when the photo gate is activated, and the photo charges in the photoelectric conversion region are released when the drain gate is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young-Gu Jin, Min-Sun Keel, Young-Chan Kim
  • Patent number: 10911727
    Abstract: A mobile device includes an image sensor separated from a processing component by an open space. The image sensor includes one or more light source modules and the processing component includes one or more light sensors aligned with the one or more light source modules. Image data from the image sensor may be transmitted to the processing component via light signals exchanged between the one or more light source modules and the one or more light sensors. In some embodiments, light signals transmitted between one or more light source modules of an image sensor and one or more light sensors of the processing component are used to determine positional and angular data about the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Neil MacKinnon
  • Patent number: 10910429
    Abstract: Examples of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor are provided. One example CMOS image sensor includes a first plurality of pixel units that are arranged in lattice manner and that are obtained by rotating a rectangular area including four sets of photodiodes and transfer gates (TX) and one charge accumulation portion by 45 degrees. The example CMOS image sensor further includes a second plurality of pixel units that are arranged by shifted in a horizon direction by half of the distance between the centers of the adjacent pixel units in the horizon direction and shifted in a vertical direction by half of the distance between the centers of the adjacent pixel units in the vertical direction from the positions of the respective pixel units of the first plurality of pixel units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Monoi
  • Patent number: 10904449
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein are directed to capturing intrinsic color images of subjects. A camera may be equipped with a light source that is coaxial to the camera's image sensor and configured to emit a pulse of light of short duration. During image capture of a subject, the camera light source may emit the pulse of light through the lens barrel of the camera and stop emission of light before the reflected light from the light source returns. Thereafter, the camera lens receives the reflected light from the light source (with the light source no longer emitting light) and charge is collected at one or more image sensor photodetector sites of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Steven Chapman, Mehul Patel, Joseph Popp, Calis Agyemang, Joseph Hager
  • Patent number: 10904452
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a memory, a camera module, and a processor electrically connected to the memory and the camera module. The processor is configured to determine a first exposure value based on a brightness of an external object, sequentially capture a plurality of images using a first exposure value, a second exposure value having an exposure value less than the first exposure value, the first exposure value, and a third exposure value having an exposure value greater than the first exposure value, when a specified condition is satisfied, select a set of continuous images from the plurality of images, and generate a composite image using the set of continuous images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byungpo Choi, Insu Yu, Jongpil Park, Jinho Lim, Jiyoon Park
  • Patent number: 10893174
    Abstract: Provided are a camera, a system for remote viewing and talking, and its application. The camera includes a camera shielding case, a holder, and a cloud deck shielding case, the holder is a hollow structure, and a cavity of the camera shielding case is communicated with a cavity of the cloud deck shielding case through the holder with the hollow structure; a lens, a camera mainboard, an optical fiber transceiver, and a first filter are arranged in the camera shielding case; the camera shielding case is further provided with a power line hole and an optical fiber interface; the optical fiber transceiver is connected with the optical fiber interface through an optical fiber; output ends of the first filter are connected with the camera mainboard and the optical fiber transceiver respectively to supply power to the camera mainboard and the optical fiber transceiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU CHANGEN ELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Nan Li, Jun Li
  • Patent number: 10893185
    Abstract: Provided is an intermediate unit including a first connect unit, a second connect unit, and an information bridge unit. The first connect unit is for connecting a camera unit having a first resolution in one of a spatial direction and a temporal direction. The second connect unit is for connecting a camera control unit for a camera unit having a second resolution lower than the first resolution in one of the spatial direction and the temporal direction. The information bridge unit is interposed between the first connect unit and the second connect unit and configured to bridge information exchanged between the camera unit and the camera control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Kamiya
  • Patent number: 10887517
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image stabilization control device for an imaging device, the image stabilization control device stabilizing the shaking of a subject, caused by vibration applied to an imaging device, and comprising: filters for outputting rotational angular speed data in which a low-frequency component is removed from a rotational angular speed outputted from each of vibration detection sensors of an imaging device according to filter coefficients, which are variably set; a lens moving distance calculation unit processing output signals of the filters so as to calculate a lens moving distance; and a filter coefficient variable control unit for varying the filter coefficients of the filters in order to increase a lens return speed in a lens movement limited area, when the lens moving distance outputted from the lens moving distance calculation unit goes beyond the lens movement limit area having been virtually set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: DONGWOON ANATECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kwang Sung Jung, Doo Young Yang, In Woo Han
  • Patent number: 10887505
    Abstract: A method and a device of a auto-focusing are provided. The method includes: for each of a set comprising N frequency bands of an image, acquiring a FV corresponding to each of focal points during a focusing process; acquiring an interested focal point which corresponds to a maximum FV for the lowest frequency band in the set; if the FV corresponding to the interested focal point for each other frequency band in the set is the maximum FV, determining that the interested focal point is an in-focus point, if the FV corresponding to the interested focal point for any other frequency band is not the maximum FV deleting at least one frequency band for which the FV corresponding to the interested focal point reaches maximum from the set, acquiring a new interested focal point based on the new set, and repeating the above determinations based on the new interested focal point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVIEW TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD
    Inventors: Xingxing Hu, Tianjun Chen
  • Patent number: 10873692
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element, an optical filter, a filter driver configured to insert and to eject the optical filter into and from an optical path between the optical system and the image sensor, and a controller configured to search for an in-focus position based on the image pickup signal and to control a position of the focus lens based on a result of a search. The controller determines whether the focus lens is to move by a first amount after the optical filter moves from one of the position on the optical path and the position outside the optical path to the other, and before the search starts, based on a difference between an in-focus position when the optical filter is disposed on the optical path and an in-focus position when the optical filter is not disposed on the optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Harukazu Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10868995
    Abstract: An AD converter includes a comparator that compares a potential of a pixel signal line with a reference potential that is a potential of a ramp waveform changing with time, a counter that stops a counting operation in response to a change in an output of the comparator, and an all-bit latch unit that holds all bits of a count value subsequent to stopping the counting operation during the second count period. The counter sets an initial value for the counting operation during the first count period to be a negative value, and prior to the counting operation during the second count period, inverts all bits of the count value subsequent to stopping the counting operation during the first count period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeo Ushinaga
  • Patent number: 10855900
    Abstract: A data management device and a method of managing data are provided. The data management device includes a communication interface configured to receive image data from cameras, and a data manager configured to sort predetermined cameras among the cameras into a group, and record, among the received image data, image frames that are received from the predetermined cameras sorted into the group, in a single group file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: HANWHA TECHWIN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kyung Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 10812743
    Abstract: An image sensing device includes a pixel array suitable for generating a pixel signal, a tracking circuit suitable for generating a tracking signal whose voltage level gradually converges to a voltage level of the pixel signal by selectively using any one of a first convergence voltage where an amount of decrease in a voltage level gradually decreases during a plurality of tracking periods and a second convergence voltage where an amount of increase in a voltage level gradually decreases during the tracking periods for each tracking period, based on the pixel signal and first and second comparison result signals, and a signal generation circuit suitable for generating the first and second comparison result signals and an image signal based on the pixel signal and the tracking signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Tae-Gyu Kim