Patents Examined by Stephen Coleman
  • Patent number: 10033915
    Abstract: A peripheral device (e.g., a small wearable device) may operate in conjunction with a camera to enable in-the-moment capture and control. The peripheral device may receive voice commands and uses voice recognition to generate a control signal to control the camera, thereby enabling users to freely participate in their activities while seamlessly controlling the camera in a hands-free manner. Additionally, the peripheral device may operate as a wireless microphone source to capture high quality audio for instead of or in addition to audio captured by the camera. This may provide improved audio quality in certain operating conditions such as during narrating and interviewing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Lisa Boghosian, Jesse Baker
  • Patent number: 10033935
    Abstract: In order to improve imaging performance, an imaging apparatus is provided to include an image capturing unit configured to detect incident light and generate a raw image data, a compression unit configured to compress the raw image data to generate a coded data having a data amount smaller than that of the raw image data, and an output unit configured to output the coded data to a processing unit for processing the coded data. Furthermore, the image capturing unit, the compression unit, and the output unit are configured to be within a same semiconductor package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuo Ueki, Masuyoshi Kurokawa, Yoichi Yagasaki, Makoto Aoki
  • Patent number: 10027890
    Abstract: A motion detector calculates a camera shake matrix H(t) applied for a coordinate conversion for a camera shake correction. At this time, the motion detector calculates a motion vector (MV) for each block obtained by dividing a frame, and excludes an object motion vector (MV-B) from the MV. In addition, when a camera shake matrix H_mv that represents a camera shake between the frames is not calculable based on the MV, the motion detector calculates and adjusts a camera shake matrix H_sensor that represents a camera shake in accordance with a motion of an image picker, and settles this matrix as the camera shake matrix H(t).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshitsugu Manabe
  • Patent number: 10021317
    Abstract: Disclosed are an image display apparatus and a method of operating the same. The method of operating the image display apparatus includes entering a camera mode, acquiring a captured image on a per lens position basis via position shift of a single lens included in a camera module according to the camera mode, storing the acquired captured image on a per lens position basis, displaying at least one of a plurality of stored captured images according to an image view mode, and displaying any one image focused on at least one area in the displayed captured image when the at least one area is selected. This method may enhance user convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sun Ryang Kim, Sang Won Um, Il Yong Lee, Sung Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 10021253
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a storage, a communication unit, an image processor and a communication controller. The imaging unit generates first image data. The communication unit performs data communications between a first external apparatus and a second external apparatus. The image processor generates second image data based on the first image data. The communication controller controls communications via the communication unit. The communications includes transmission of the second image data to the first external apparatus in response to a first request. The communications includes transmission of image data related to the first image data to the second external apparatus in accordance with a second request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Akinobu Sato, Saori Matsumoto, Arata Shinozaki, Yoshihiro Yokomae, Tsuyoshi Yaji, Osamu Nonaka
  • Patent number: 10021301
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a plurality of image modules and a plurality of processors. The image modules may each comprise (i) a sensor configured to generate images and (ii) a lens mounted to the sensor. The processors may each be configured to (A) receive the images from a subset of the plurality of image modules and (B) generate a plurality of video streams. Each one of the video streams may be generated by one of the processors in response to the images received from one of the image modules. The subset of the plurality of image modules may comprise at least two distinct image modules of the plurality of image modules. The lenses may be arranged to allow the images to provide coverage for a spherical field of view of a scene surrounding the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: VIDEOSTITCH INC.
    Inventors: Alexander Fink, Nicolas Burtey, George Haber, Stephane Valente
  • Patent number: 10015428
    Abstract: A pixel circuit includes a first photocharge accumulator including at least two photodiodes exposed to light for a long period of time, and a second photocharge accumulator including at least one photodiode exposed to light for a short period of time. The pixel circuit includes a first transfer controller that transfers photocharges accumulated in the first photocharge accumulator to a floating diffusion area, and a second transfer controller that transfers photocharges accumulated in the second photocharge accumulator to the floating diffusion area. The pixel circuit includes a driving transistor to generate a pixel signal according to the photocharges transferred to the floating diffusion area. A number of photodiodes of the first photocharge accumulator is greater than a number of photodiodes of the second photocharge accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-won Lee, Moo-sup Lim, Seung-sik Kim
  • Patent number: 10003741
    Abstract: A system comprising a camera and a computing device. The camera may comprise (a) a plurality of capture devices configured to capture images of an environment surrounding the camera to provide a spherical field of view and (b) a first interface. The computing device may comprise (a) a processor and (b) a second interface. The camera may be configured to encode a plurality of video streams based on the captured images. The first interface may be configured to transfer the plurality of video streams to the second interface. The processor may perform a stitching operation on the plurality of video streams to generate a single video signal. The stitching operation may be performed on the plurality of video streams in real time as the plurality of video streams are transferred. The single video signal may be configured to represent an omnidirectional view based on the environment surrounding the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: VIDEOSTITCH INC.
    Inventors: Alexander Fink, Nicolas Burtey, George Haber, Stephane Valente
  • Patent number: 9998638
    Abstract: A camera device with a sensor which is mounted at an angle relative to a mounting surface or other reference surface is described. Camera modules, which include mirrors for light redirection, which are mounted at different angles in the camera device have sensors with different amounts of rotation. In some embodiments modules without mirrors use camera modules without rotated sensors while camera modules with mirrors may or may not use sensors which are rotated depending on the angle at which the modules are mounted in the camera device. By rotating the sensors of some camera modules rotation that maybe introduced by the angle at which a camera module is mounted can be offset. The images captured by different camera modules are combined in some embodiments without the need for computationally rotating an image thanks to the rotation of the sensor in the camera module used to capture the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Light Labs Inc.
    Inventors: Rajiv Laroia, Sapna A Shroff
  • Patent number: 9998715
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a photoelectric conversion unit including one microlens and a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, a read-out circuit unit configured to read out a first signal based on charges accumulated by one of the photoelectric conversion elements and a second signal based on charges accumulated by another one of the photoelectric conversion elements, and a signal processing unit configured to, in a case where the first signal is larger than a predetermined saturation signal level and the second signal, correct the first signal to a predetermined signal level based on the second signal so that a change rate of a third signal obtained by adding the first and second signals relative to a light amount approximates to the change rate in a case where the first signal is smaller than the predetermined saturation signal level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Satoshi Koizumi
  • Patent number: 9992457
    Abstract: The use of a hybrid camera tool may capture high resolution multispectral images without sacrificing resolution in exchange for spectral accuracy. The capture of a high resolution multispectral image may include forming a high spatial resolution image based on a portion of incoming light and generating a high spectral resolution image that includes multispectral samples based on another portion of the incoming light. The high resolution multispectral image is then synthesized by consolidating the high spatial resolution image with the high spectral resolution image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen S. Lin, Xin Tong, Xun Cao
  • Patent number: 9990715
    Abstract: Methods for personalized treatment of tumor lesions in subject with metastatic cancer are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Inventors: Heiko Enderling, Jan T. Poleszczuk, Kimberly A. Luddy, Eduardo G. Moros
  • Patent number: 9986183
    Abstract: A lens distortion correction device and an application processor having the same include a distortion correction unit configured to correct a distorted image into an undistorted image and an image enhancement unit configured to improve the undistorted image using a high-frequency component of the distorted image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Chung-Ang University Industry—Academy Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Byung-Joon Baek, Joon-Ki Paik, Tae-Chan Kim, Dong-Gyun Kim, Jin-Ho Park
  • Patent number: 9983668
    Abstract: Examples are directed to a gaze detector using reference frames in media. One example includes inserting reference frames between frames of media presented on a display at a first frequency, analyzing images of reflections of the reference frames, and determining a portion of the media that is being viewed by a user based on the reflections of the reference frames from a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Harold Merkel
  • Patent number: 9979915
    Abstract: Pixel array with shared pixels in a single column and associated devices, systems, and methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a pixel array includes a floating diffusion region, a source a source follower transistor having a gate coupled to the floating diffusion region, a plurality of first pixels associated with a first color, and a plurality of second pixels associated with a second color different than the first color and arranged in a single column with the first pixels. The first and second pixels are configured to transfer charge to the floating diffusion region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhiping Yin, Xiaofeng Fan, Xiangli Li
  • Patent number: 9977254
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a camera lens module. The camera lens module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a vibration correction carrier, a rolling unit disposed in parallel to a direction vertical to an optical axis and configured to support the vibration correction carrier, a lens barrel carrier disposed on a side opposite the vibration correction carrier based on the rolling unit, and a base configured to mount the vibration correction carrier and the lens barrel carrier on the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Jahwa Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee Seung Kim, In Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 9973676
    Abstract: Provided is an interchangeable lens digital camera that is capable of correcting a rolling shutter distortion in a live view image without delay in displaying the image. At the start of live view imaging, a lens controller in an interchangeable lens controls a shake detection sensor to detect the direction and amount of a shake, and produces deviation information on the basis of shake detection signals from the shake detection sensor, the deviation information indicating fluctuation in direction and amount of the shake for one frame of the live view image in the form of a parameter. The deviation information is transmitted to a body controller of a camera body through a serial communication unit, to correct the rolling shutter distortion on the basis of the deviation information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kenshi Imamura
  • Patent number: 9973678
    Abstract: In various embodiments, methods, techniques, and related apparatuses for phase-detect autofocus devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a phase-detect system includes a first color filter formed over a first pixel and a second pixel formed adjacent to the first pixel with a second color filter being formed over the second pixel. The second color filter has a color different from a color of the first color filter. A micro-lens spans the first pixel and the second pixel, configured to capture a phase difference in spatial frequency information present in an imaged scene. The first pixel and the second pixel are placed adjacent to each other in at least one of a horizontal direction, a vertical direction, and/or a diagonal direction, with an arrangement of the two pixels being replicated at either regular and/or irregular intervals across the sensor. Other methods and apparatuses are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: INVISAGE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Emanuele Mandelli, Gregory Chow, Naveen Kolli
  • Patent number: 9967501
    Abstract: An imaging device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a first image pickup cell comprising a first photoelectric converter that converts incident light into a first charge, a first charge detection circuit that is electrically connected to the first photoelectric converter and detects the first charge, and a first capacitive element one end of which is electrically connected to the first photoelectric converter, the first capacitive element storing at least a part of the first charge; and a second image pickup cell comprising a second photoelectric converter that converts incident light into a second charge, and a second charge detection circuit that is electrically connected to the second photoelectric converter and detects the second charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tokuhiko Tamaki
  • Patent number: 9964778
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a camera lens module. The camera lens module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a vibration correction carrier, a rolling unit disposed in parallel to a direction vertical to an optical axis and configured to support the vibration correction carrier, a lens barrel carrier disposed on a side opposite the vibration correction carrier based on the rolling unit, and a base configured to mount the vibration correction carrier and the lens barrel carrier on the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Jahwa Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hee Seung Kim, In Soo Kim