Patents Examined by Stephen Coleman
  • Systems and methods to super resolve a user-selected region of interest
    Patent number: 9635246
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are described for efficiently super resolving a portion of an image. One embodiment involves capturing, using a camera module of a device, at least one image of a scene, and creating a higher resolution image of a user-selected region of interest. The super resolution of the region of interest may be performed by matching a high resolution grid with a grid that is at the resolution of a device camera, populating the high resolution grid with information from an image from the camera, and then populating the remaining points of the grid that are not yet populated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Nitesh Shroff, Ramin Rezaiifar, Chiachi Sung
  • Image sensors with interconnects in cover layer
    Patent number: 9635228
    Abstract: An image sensor die may include a pixel array formed in an image sensor substrate and covered by a transparent cover layer. The transparent cover layer may be attached to the image sensor substrate using adhesive. Electrical interconnect structures such as conductive vias may be formed in the transparent cover layer and may be used in conveying electrical signals between the image sensor and a printed circuit board. The conductive vias may have one end coupled to a bond pad on the upper surface of the transparent cover layer and an opposing end coupled to a bond pad on the upper surface of the image sensor substrate. The conductive vias may pass through openings that extend through the transparent cover layer and the adhesive. Conductive structures such as wire bonds, stud bumps, or solder balls may be coupled to the bond pads on the surface of the transparent cover layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Swarnal Borthakur, Nathan Lee, Andrew Perkins, Marc Sulfridge
  • Time-of-flight camera system and method to improve measurement quality of weak field-of-view signal regions
    Patent number: 9635231
    Abstract: A time-of-flight camera system is described. The time-of-flight camera system includes an illuminator to illuminate a region within the time-of-flight camera system's field of view. The time-of-flight camera system includes an image sensor to receive optical signals from the illumination for determining depth profile information within the field of view using time-of-flight measurement techniques. The image sensor has circuitry to determine one or more regions within the field of view where a received optical signal from the illuminating was weak. The illuminator is also to re-illuminate the one or more regions with stronger light than the one or more regions received during the illuminating. Each of the one or more regions being smaller than the region. The image sensor is also to receive optical signals from the re-illumination for determining depth profile information within the one or more regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: GOOGLE INC.
    Inventors: Chung Chun Wan, Jamyuen Ko
  • Image capturing apparatus, control apparatus, and control method for distributing captured images to a terminal via a network
    Patent number: 9635221
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes image pickup means; holding means for holding a coordinate system used to represent an image capturing direction of the image pickup means or a region in an image capturing range of the image pickup means; reception means for receiving a first command for rotating a captured image obtained by the image pickup means or a captured image cut out from the region in the image capturing range by a certain angle, a second command for rotating the coordinate system held in the holding means about the origin by the certain angle, and specification information for specifying the image capturing direction in the coordinate system; and change control means for executing control to change the image capturing direction of the image pickup means to the image capturing direction specified by the specification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Iwasaki
  • Photoelectric converter, imaging system, and driving method of photoelectric converter
    Patent number: 9635300
    Abstract: An absolute value between a reset voltage to reset a signal line and a first voltage supplied from a signal source is smaller than an absolute value between the reset voltage and a second voltage supplied from the signal source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanori Yamashita, Yoshikazu Yamazaki
  • Solid-state image sensing device and electronic device
    Patent number: 9635290
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for achieving higher picture quality of a captured image by reducing noise which occurs at the time of resetting in a solid-state image sensing device and the like. A pixel array in a solid-state image sensing device includes a plurality of pixels and includes an OB pixel region and an effective pixel region. The solid-state image sensing device has a signal processing unit outputting a pixel signal of each of the pixels in the effective pixel region on the basis of the signal level of a signal output from each of the pixels. The solid-state image sensing device obtains a signal without applying a reset signal to each of the pixels in the OB pixel region, obtains the difference between the signal and a signal of a pixel in the effective pixel region, and outputs an image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shunsuke Okura, Fukashi Morishita
  • Comparator circuit, imaging apparatus using the same, and method of controlling comparator circuit
    Patent number: 9635298
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a comparator which has an input voltage range larger than the case where a conventional offset cancel technique is used, while reducing an offset voltage. A comparator circuit includes: a comparator having an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting input terminal and an output terminal; a first switch having one terminal connected to the inverting input terminal and having the other terminal connected to the output terminal; a first capacitor which has one end connected with the inverting input terminal; a first signal input terminal which is another end of the first capacitor; and a second signal input terminal which selectively inputs either one of a fixed voltage and a comparing signal into the non-inverting input terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kohichi Nakamura, Hideo Kobayashi, Hiroki Hiyama, Kazuo Yamazaki
  • Image processing apparatus that performs tone correction and edge enhancement, control method therefor, and storage medium
    Patent number: 9635331
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus which enables natural edge enchantment suited to a frequency band of a subject even when performing local contrast correction in combination with edge enhancement. A local contrast correction unit multiplies a signal of a target pixel in image data by a gain based on values obtained by reflecting signals of pixels around the target pixels. For signals of the target pixel output from the local contrast correction unit, a gamma conversion unit performs gamma conversion based on the signal of the target pixel. An edge signal is extracted from the image data and multiplied by a gain based on a signal output from the local contrast correction unit. The edge signal is added to a signal output from the gamma conversion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Nashizawa
  • Image processing apparatus and method of controlling the same
    Patent number: 9635265
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a motion detection unit (141) configured to detect motion of an object based on an output from an image pickup element, a first calculation unit (153a) configured to calculate, based on an output from the motion detection unit, a first change amount by which the object changes in a predetermined time, a second calculation unit (153b) configured to calculate, based on an output from a shake detection unit, a second change amount by which the apparatus changes in the predetermined time, and a determination unit (153c) configured to determine based on the first change amount and the second change amount whether to perform image capturing through use of an image stabilization unit configured to perform an image stabilization by moving an optical element in a direction different from a direction of an optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayuki Mukunashi
  • Method of displaying a photographing mode by using lens characteristics, computer-readable storage medium of recording the method and an electronic apparatus
    Patent number: 9635247
    Abstract: A method of displaying a photographing mode is provided. The method includes: generating input images; determining scene information by recognizing scenes in the input images; obtaining lens information related to a lens of an electronic apparatus; determining setup information by using the scene information and the lens information; searching for a photographing mode of the electronic apparatus based on the setup information; and displaying a found photographing mode on a display unit of the electronic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-pyo Gwak, Su-kyung Kim, Hyun-ock Yim
  • Solid-state imaging device, production method of the same, and imaging apparatus
    Patent number: 9635294
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device in which a pixel circuit formed on the first surface side of a semiconductor substrate is shared by a plurality of light reception regions and second surface side of the semiconductor substrate is the light incident side of the light reception regions. The second surface side regions of the light reception regions are arranged at approximately even intervals and the first surface side regions of the light reception regions e are arranged at uneven intervals. Respective second surface side regions and first surface side regions are joined in the semiconductor substrate so that the light reception regions extend from the second surface side to the first surface side of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Keiji Mabuchi
  • Image processing apparatus and method for controlling image processing apparatus
    Patent number: 9635292
    Abstract: A first area of an image is generated from pixels existing on a line of interest that is set so as to pass through a pixel corresponding to a correction target pixel. Second areas are generated, each second area based on the positions of pixels existing on at least one reference lines that are set so as not to pass through the correction target pixel. The value of the pixel corresponding to the correction target pixel is corrected using a value of a pixel on each of the at least one reference lines, the value being determined based on the amounts of correlation between the respective second areas and the first area. The amounts of correlation are computed while applying a larger weight to a correlation in a portion that is closer to the pixel corresponding to the correction target pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kohei Furuya
  • Preview streaming of video data
    Patent number: 9635307
    Abstract: A system and method for generating preview data from video data and using the preview data to select portions of the video data or determine an order with which to upload the video data. The system may sample video data to generate sampled video data and may identify portions of the sampled video data having complexity metrics exceeding a threshold. The system may upload a first portion of the video data corresponding to the identified portions while omitting a second portion of the video data. The system may determine an order with which to upload portions of the video data based on a complexity of the video data. Therefore, portions of the video data that may require additional processing after being uploaded may be prioritized and uploaded first. As a result, a latency between the video data being uploaded and a video summarization being received is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Rohith Mysore Vijaya Kumar, Ambrish Tyagi, Yadunandana Nagaraja Rao, Suresh Bholabhai Lakhani, Amit Kumar Agrawal
  • Lens distortion correction device and application processor having the same
    Patent number: 9633419
    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 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-Joon Baek, Joon-Ki Paik, Tae-Chan Kim, Dong-Gyun Kim, Jin-Ho Park
  • Exposure controller, exposure control method, and image pickup apparatus
    Patent number: 9632393
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus, including circuitry configured to cause an aperture diaphragm to move from a first diaphragm position to a second diaphragm position within a first exposure period. The circuitry is further configured to cause the aperture diaphragm to then move from the second diaphragm position to the first diaphragm position within the first exposure period or a second exposure period. The first and second exposure periods are used to capture different images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Daisuke Kasai
  • Image sensor and image capturing apparatus
    Patent number: 9625675
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of image forming pixels which receive light beams passing through an imaging pupil area of an imaging optical system, a plurality of first focus detecting pixels which receive light beams passing through a first pupil area smaller than the imaging pupil area, and a plurality of second focus detecting pixels which receive light beams passing through a second pupil area smaller than the imaging pupil area. The geometric center of the first pupil area differs from the geometric center of the second pupil area. The eccentricity of the microlens of the first focus detecting pixel relative to the center of the pixel differs from the eccentricity of the first focus detecting pixel relative to the center of the pixel of the microlens of the image forming pixel adjacent to the first focus detecting pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Fukuda
  • Light-field aberration correction
    Patent number: 9628684
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, the system and method disclosed herein serve to at least partially compensate for departures of an actual main lens of a light-field camera from the properties of an ideal main lens. Light-field data may be captured and processed through the use of product calibration data and unit calibration data. The product calibration data may be descriptive of departure of a main lens design of the light-field camera from an ideal main lens design. The unit calibration data may be descriptive of departure of the actual main lens of the light-field camera from the main lens design. Corrected light-field data may be generated as a result of the processing, and may be used to generate a light-field image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Lytro, Inc.
    Inventors: Chia-Kai Liang, Colvin Pitts, Carl (Warren) Craddock, Graham Butler Myhre
  • Imaging systems and methods for performing column-based image sensor pixel gain adjustments
    Patent number: 9628732
    Abstract: An imaging system may include an array of image pixels arranged in rows and columns that includes first and second pixels in two different columns and a common row. A first column readout circuit may control the first pixel to exhibit a first gain and a second column readout circuit may control the second pixel to exhibit a second gain. The first and second readout circuits may determine whether to adjust the gain of the first and second pixels based on image signals that are captured by the first and second pixels. For example, the first readout circuit may selectively activate a dual conversion gain transistor in the first pixel based on an image signal received from the first pixel and the second readout circuit may independently and selectively activate a dual conversion gain transistor in the second pixel based on an image signal received from the second pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Sergey Velichko
  • Electronic apparatus with display unit, and display control method for electronic apparatus with display unit
    Patent number: 9625973
    Abstract: An electronic device capable of shortening display start time when a user approaches while reducing power consumption. A detection unit detects a distance between a display unit and an object. A control unit changes a mode of the display unit according to the detected distance among a display mode, and first and second power saving modes. The second power saving mode is larger than the first power saving mode in power consumption. The second power saving mode is shorter than the first power saving mode in shifting time to the display mode. The control unit sets the display unit to the display mode when the object is closer than a first distance, to the second power saving mode when the object is further than the first distance and closer than a second distance, and to the first power saving mode when the object is further than the second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Shiozaki
  • Wireless camera systems and methods
    Patent number: 9628707
    Abstract: Camera systems and methods configured to receive power wirelessly are described. A wireless energy transfer system according to some examples includes a transmitter of wireless energy located within a communication device, such as a mobile phone, or attached to the communication device and a distance separated receiver located within an electronic wearable device other than the communication device, such as a wearable camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: PogoTec, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald D. Blum, Amitava Gupta, William Kokonaski, Richard Clompus, Massimo Pinazza, Claudio Dalla Longa, Stefan Bauer, Jean-Noel Fehr, Walter Dannhardt