Patents Examined by Sinh Tran
-
Patent number: 10571609Abstract: An image sensor includes an optical sensor layer including a plurality of light-sensitive cells configured to sense light to generate electrical signals, and a color filter array layer disposed on the optical sensor layer and including a plurality of color filters respectively facing the plurality of light-sensitive cells. Each of the plurality of color filters includes a nanostructure in which a first material having a first refractive index and a second material having a second refractive index higher than the first refractive index are arranged. The first material and the second material are alternatively positioned at an interval less than a central wavelength of a color of the color filter. Thus, a thin image sensor having good wavelength selectivity and suitable for obtaining high resolution images is provided.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2019Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGYInventors: Seunghoon Han, Yu Horie, Andrei Faraon, Sungwoo Hwang
-
Patent number: 10574923Abstract: An image capturing device including a pixel array having pixels forming a first group and pixels forming a second group, a selection circuit to sequentially output signals of the pixels of the first group to a first signal line and sequentially output signals of the pixels of the second group to a second signal line, an output circuit to output a pixel signal in accordance with a signal supplied to an input node from the pixel array via the selection circuit, a switch circuit to control connection of the first signal line to the input node and connection of the second signal line to the input node, a load circuit to consume power, a reset circuit to perform a reset operation of resetting a potential of the input node.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2018Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tatsuya Suzuki
-
Patent number: 10574925Abstract: A comparator in an AD conversion part, under the control of a reading part, performs a first comparison processing outputting a digitized first comparison result signal with respect to a voltage signal corresponding to an overflow charge overflowing from a photodiode PD1 to FD1 in an integration period and performs a second comparison processing outputting a digitized second comparison result signal with respect to a voltage signal corresponding to an accumulated charge of the photodiode PD1 transferred to the FD1 after a transfer period after the integration period, and a signal processing part performs combinational processing applying FWC information and joining a first AD conversion transfer curve TC1 corresponding to the first comparison processing and a second AD conversion transfer curve TC2 corresponding to the second comparison processing. Thus, it is possible to smoothly switch (connect) a plurality of signals to be combined and to suppress deterioration of an image.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2018Date of Patent: February 25, 2020Assignee: BRILLNICS INC.Inventor: Toshinori Otaka
-
Patent number: 10567651Abstract: A system for performing image processing determines one or more conditions of an imaging device positioned on an aerial vehicle or another mobile platform. Exemplary conditions include one or more of an ambient condition or a scenery content. The ambient condition is determined via devices available on the mobile platform. The scenery content is obtained via the devices and preloaded local data. Based upon the determined conditions, an appropriate operation mode of the imaging device is selected from among multiple operation modes of the imaging device. These operation modes are categorized, for example, based on a set of predetermined condition categories.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2018Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: SZ DJI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventor: Mingyu Wang
-
Patent number: 10567664Abstract: An information processing device including a control unit that, based on a specific subject that is an imaging target of a during-exposure zoom imaging operation, performs control decide control details for a zoom lens in the during-exposure zoom imaging operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2018Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: SONY CORPORATIONInventors: Weijie Wang, Kaoru Hatta
-
Patent number: 10547804Abstract: Systems and methods for fixed pattern noise reduction in image sensors is disclosed herein. An example method may include simultaneously providing a pixel reference voltage of a pixel to a reference sampling capacitor and a signal sampling capacitor, decoupling the reference sampling capacitor from the pixel, providing a signal voltage to the signal sampling capacitor, and decoupling the signal sampling capacitor from the pixel.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2016Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Tiejun Dai, Jing Yin, Rui Wang
-
Patent number: 10536654Abstract: The present technology relates to a signal processing apparatus, a control method, an image pickup element, and an electronic device which make it possible to suppress RTS noise. The signal processing apparatus of the present technology may include an amplifying transistor and a short-circuit unit. The amplifying transistor amplifies a signal input to a gate, and the short-circuit unit is capable of short-circuiting the gate of the amplifying transistor to a potential which reduces a gate-to-source voltage of the amplifying transistor. For example, it is determined whether the amplifying transistor is in a period of a non-operating state, and when the amplifying transistor is determined to be in the period of a non-operating state, the gate of the amplifying transistor may be short-circuited. The present technology can be applied, for example, to an image pickup element and an electronic device.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2015Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Katsuhiko Hanzawa
-
Patent number: 10536614Abstract: A technique in multi-light control capable of notifying an image pickup apparatus of charge completion information items of a plurality of lighting devices. A lighting device is wirelessly communicably connected to other lighting devices, and is communicably attached to an image pickup apparatus so as to be driven in synchronism with the other lighting devices. First charge completion information of the lighting device itself and second charge completion information of the other lighting devices are transmitted to the image pickup apparatus either in a combined state or in a separate state. If it is determined that an instruction for transmitting the first charge completion information and the slave charge completion information in the separate state has been received from the image pickup apparatus, the first charge completion information and the slave charge completion information are transmitted to the image pickup apparatus in the separate.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2018Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Yuji Yamamoto
-
Patent number: 10531027Abstract: An image sensor may include an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns. The array of pixels may operate in a global shutter mode. Each pixel in the array of pixels may have a floating diffusion node for storing charge and may include an active reset circuit that acts as an inverting amplifier and that resets the floating diffusion node to a predetermined reference voltage, which eliminates the need for correlated double sampling readout. A sampling circuit may be coupled to the active reset circuit. The sampling circuit may sample and store signals that correspond to the amount of charge stored at the floating diffusion node. The sampling circuit may pass stored signals to a column sensing line through an amplifier. The amplifier may include a source follower transistor that provides proportional amplification to the stored signals and may include an active reset circuit for resetting the sampling circuit.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2018Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLCInventor: Tomas Geurts
-
Patent number: 10530989Abstract: An electronic apparatus determines that only a first touch operation moved by a predetermined movement amount in a predetermined time period is a valid operation, and determines that another touch operation is an invalid operation, when a user captures an image while looking into a finder. Then, even when a movement amount by which the touch determined to be the valid operation once is moved in the predetermined time period falls below the predetermined movement amount, the electronic apparatus continuously determines that this touch is the valid operation. Even when a Touch-Up is performed regarding the touch determined to be the valid operation, the electronic apparatus continuously determines that the touch determined to be the invalid operation is the invalid operation.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2016Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Tomoyuki Shiozaki
-
Patent number: 10523879Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to displaying visual effects in image data. In some examples, visual effects include an avatar displayed on a user's face. In some examples, visual effects include stickers applied to image data. In some examples, visual effects include screen effects. In some examples, visual effects are modified based on depth data in the image data.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2018Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Alan C. Dye, Grant Paul, Jason Rickwald, Nicolas Scapel
-
Patent number: 10520791Abstract: A technique that prevents a movable unit of a strobe device including a light emission section from unexpectedly interfering with an obstacle during rotation thereof. The movable unit is supported in a manner rotatable with respect to a device body about a first axis in a vertical direction, and rotatable about a second axis in a lateral direction. In bounce flash shooting, the movable unit irradiates light from the light emission section toward a ceiling to cause reflected light from the ceiling to be irradiated to an object. The movable unit is rotated such that the light emission section is oriented in the optimum irradiating direction. Whether to drive the movable unit in the lateral direction is determined based on a result of determining whether a rotational angle of the movable unit driven in the vertical direction exceeds a predetermined angle.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2017Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Yoshiro Ichihara
-
Patent number: 10515437Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a processing unit to perform noise reduction processing on image data and an output unit to output noise-reduced output image data. The processing unit determines a weight for a reference pixel based on a target area including a target pixel and a reference area including the reference pixel and sets, as a pixel value of the target pixel on which processed noise reduction processing has been executed, a value calculated using reference pixels and a weight corresponding to each of the reference pixels. The size of the target area equals to the size of the reference area. The output unit outputs, as the pixel value of the target pixel after noise reduction processing, either a first value, calculated when a first pixel group is set as the target area, or a second value, calculated when a second pixel group is set as the target area.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2017Date of Patent: December 24, 2019Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Kazuhiro Yahata, Atsushi Takahama
-
Patent number: 10504949Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes pixels each of which includes a photoelectric converter configured to generate charges by photoelectric conversion, a holding unit configured to hold charges generated by the photoelectric converter, and a transfer unit configured to transfer charges from the photoelectric converter to the holding unit, and outputs a signal based on charges in the holding unit, a transfer control unit configured to control the transfer unit to transfer charges generated by the photoelectric converter during one exposure period to the holding unit by a variable number, which is one or greater, of transfer operations, an amplifier unit configured to amplify the signal, and a control unit configured to control a gain of the amplifier unit to be a first gain when the number of transfer operations is first number and to be a second gain when the number of transfer operations is a second number.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2017Date of Patent: December 10, 2019Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Daisuke Kobayashi, Toru Koizumi, Kazuhiro Saito
-
Patent number: 10498933Abstract: This invention provides a vision system with an exchangeable illumination assembly that allows for increased versatility in the type and configuration of illumination supplied to the system without altering the underlying optics, sensor, vision processor, or the associated housing. The vision system housing includes a front plate that optionally includes a plurality of mounting bases for accepting different types of lenses, and a connector that allows removable interconnection with the illustrative illumination assembly. The illumination assembly includes a cover that is light transmissive. The cover encloses an illumination component that can include a plurality of lighting elements that surround an aperture through which received light rays from the imaged scene pass through to the lens. The arrangement of lighting elements is highly variable and the user can be supplied with an illumination assembly that best suits its needs without need to change the vision system processor, sensor or housing.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2011Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: COGNEX CORPORATIONInventors: Laurens Nunnink, Richard Reuter
-
Patent number: 10498988Abstract: Image processing devices and methods thereof use different color conversion data of an image obtained in a black-and-white mode under a low illuminance condition than that of an image obtained in a color mode.Type: GrantFiled: January 2, 2018Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: HANWHA TECHWIN CO., LTD.Inventors: Jong Seon Park, Jung Won Pac, Joo Hyun Yoon, Seung Wook Nam
-
Patent number: 10498934Abstract: This invention provides a vision system with an exchangeable illumination assembly that allows for increased versatility in the type and configuration of illumination supplied to the system without altering the underlying optics, sensor or vision processor, and their associated housing. The vision system housing includes a front plate that optionally includes a plurality of mounting bases for accepting different types of lenses. An optional connector is provided on the front plate to accept an electrical connection for a liquid lens component. The front plate includes a connector that allows removable interconnection with the illustrative illumination assembly. The illumination assembly includes a cover that is light transmissive on at lest the front face thereof. The cover encloses an illumination component that can include a plurality of lighting elements that surround an aperture through which received light rays from the imaged scene pass through to the lens.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2014Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: Cognex CorporationInventors: Laurens Nunnink, Richard Reuter
-
Patent number: 10491846Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a photoelectric conversion unit, a light shielding unit and a transfer transistor. The photoelectric conversion unit generates charges by photoelectrically converting light. The light shielding unit is formed by engraving a semiconductor substrate on which the photoelectric conversion unit is formed, so as to surround an outer periphery of the photoelectric conversion unit. The transfer transistor transfers charges generated in the photoelectric conversion unit. During a charge accumulation period in which charges are accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit, a potential that repels the charges is supplied to the light shielding unit and a gate electrode of the transfer transistor. During a charge transfer period in which charges are transferred from the photoelectric conversion unit, a potential that repels the charges is supplied to the light shielding unit and a potential that attracts the charges is supplied to the gate electrode of the transfer transistor.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2019Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Hirotoshi Nomura
-
Patent number: 10491828Abstract: Included are a display control unit configured to display a live view image being imaged by an imaging unit, and to display a display item indicating a degree of in-focus, superimposed on the live view image; an acquiring unit configured to acquire information relating to a degree of in-focus in a focus detecting region; and a changing unit configured to change display positions and display forms of a first indicator and second indicator that indicate a degree of in-focus by a positional display relationship with each other, and a third indicator that indicates a focus position, based on information acquired by the acquiring unit, the first indicator and the second indicator and the third indicator are included in the display item.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2016Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tomohiro Ota, Soushi Takita, Koichi Okada, Masaaki Kano, Hidetaka Uemura, Satoshi Ishimaru
-
Patent number: 10491815Abstract: An image-processing apparatus includes a computer configured to: detect a positional-displacement amount between low-resolution images including a standard image and at least one reference image that are acquired in a time series; generate a high-resolution combined image by positioning, based on the positional-displacement amount detected, pixel information of the reference image at a standard-image position and by performing combining thereof in a high-resolution image space; evaluate a positioning error caused by a resolution-enhancement magnification used when positioning the reference image in the high-resolution image space when generating the high-resolution combined image; and correct the high-resolution combined image based on the evaluation result, wherein the correcting of the high-resolution combined image combines a high-resolution correction image generated by applying a filter to the high-resolution combined image based on the evaluation result obtained, and the high-resolution combined image iType: GrantFiled: November 28, 2018Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Kosuke Kajimura, Atsuro Okazawa, Takeshi Fukutomi