Patents Examined by Timothy J. Henn
  • Patent number: 10791289
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus processes noise from a defective pixel in image data generated by an image sensor including plural pixels, and plural read-out circuits that read out the signal. The apparatus includes an acquisition unit that obtains the image data and position information of the defective pixel; a defective pixel correction unit that corrects the signal from the defective pixel included in the image data, based on the position information; a low saturation pixel correction unit that corrects a signal from a low saturation pixel included in the image data where the signal from the defective pixel has been corrected, the low saturation pixel having a saturation level lower than the other pixels, based on a preliminarily calculated saturation level of the plural pixels; and a saturation level calculation unit that calculates the saturation level of the defective pixel corrected by the defective pixel correction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Maruyama, Manabu Ichikawa, Teruaki Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 10791290
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus is disclosed which processes noise resulting from a defective pixel different from a low saturation pixel, included in image data generated by an image sensor including a plurality of pixels two-dimensionally arranged to receive light from outside and generate a signal according to an amount of received light and including a plurality of read-out circuits that read out the signal as a pixel value. The image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit that obtains the image data generated by the image sensor and a saturation level of each of the plurality of pixels; and a noise processing unit that processes the noise on the basis of the saturation level obtained by the acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Maruyama, Manabu Ichikawa, Teruaki Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 10791257
    Abstract: A method and device are provided for positioning a mounted camera. The device includes a holding element that secures the mounted camera to the device, a wireless linkage at which remote attitude commands representing attitude changes of a remote driver are received, a local controller that interprets the remote attitude commands and generates local attitude commands that move the camera to mimic an orientation of the remote driver, and an attitude sensing element that senses a local attitude of the device. The attitude sensing element includes a gyro, an accelerometer, or a magnetometer, and jitter present in the remote attitude commands is removed and not passed on to the local attitude commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Josh Guyot, JoeBen Bevirt
  • Patent number: 10785419
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing device including a light sensor and a processor. The light sensor is used to detect light and output an image frame. The processor identifies intensity of ambient light according to an image parameter associated with the image frame. When the ambient light is identified to be strong enough, the processor performs an object identification directly using the image frame. When the ambient light is identified to be not enough, the processor firstly converts the image frame to a converted image using a machine learning model, and then performs the object identification using the converted image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventor: Guo-Zhen Wang
  • Patent number: 10785421
    Abstract: A computerized system comprising a processing unit and a memory, the system operating in connection with a real-time video conference stream containing a video of a user, wherein the memory embodies a set of computer-executable instructions, which cause the computerized system to perform a method involving: receiving the real time video conference stream containing the video of the user; detecting and separating the background in the received real time video conference stream from the user; and replacing the separated background with a background received from a system of a second user or with a pre-recorded background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Laurent Denoue, Scott Carter, Chelhwon Kim
  • Patent number: 10775614
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include optical aberration control for a camera system. Such a camera system may implement optical aberration control, e.g., by combining one or more variable focus devices with one or more actuators (e.g., a voice coil motor actuator) for moving a lens stack of the camera system to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) functionality. A variable focus device may have variable optical power to achieve AF, OIS, and/or introduce optical aberrations such as spherical aberration. In some implementations, the variable focus device may be driven to introduce optical aberrations, and the actuator for moving the lens stack may be driven to compensate for the optical power from the variable focus device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Kevin A. Gross
  • Patent number: 10771675
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes an imaging control apparatus, an imaging control method, and an imaging apparatus. The imaging control apparatus includes a focal point detection control circuitry configured to receive first information from a range-finding area of a dedicated phase difference detection sensor and second information from a range-finding area of an image plane phase difference detection sensor, and detect a focal point based on at least one of the first information or the second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takayuki Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 10764520
    Abstract: A disclosed embodiment includes: semiconductor substrate including a pixel region in which a plurality of pixels are arranged, each of the pixels including a photoelectric conversion unit configured to accumulate charges generated from an incident light, a charge holding portion configured to hold the charges transferred from the photoelectric conversion unit, and an amplification unit including an input node configured to receive the charges transferred from the charge holding portion; a light-shielding portion arranged so as to cover at least the charge holding portion and extending over at least two or more of the plurality of pixels; a contact plug connected to the light-shielding portion; and a wiring connected to the contact plug to supply a fixed potential to the light-shielding portion via the contact plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yusuke Onuki, Yasushi Matsuno, Takafumi Miki
  • Patent number: 10757321
    Abstract: A detection method includes image acquisition processing for acquiring an image; white balance adjustment processing for adjusting a white balance of the image which is acquired in the image acquisition processing; control processing for controlling adjustment content of the white balance in the white balance adjustment processing, on the basis of a specific color serving as a reference; and detection processing for detecting a portion satisfying a predetermined condition relevant to the specific color from the acquired image in which the white balance has not adjusted, on the basis of the image in which the white balance has been adjusted by the adjustment content of the white balance controlled in the control processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Tsukagoshi
  • Patent number: 10757353
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a photoelectric conversion apparatus which includes a semiconductor substrate, signal output units disposed on the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of photoelectric conversion layers disposed on a surface of the substrate, and an upper electrode in this order. The photoelectric conversion apparatus further includes insulation layers which are disposed between the plurality of photoelectric conversion layers and which have lines connected to power supply units. The upper electrode and the lines are electrically connected to each other on side surfaces of the insulation layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yojiro Matsuda, Hidekazu Takahashi, Kazuaki Tashiro
  • Patent number: 10756448
    Abstract: A camera module for facilitating industrialized water assembly includes a lens driver, a holder, a printed circuit board, and at least two conductive adhesives. The lens driver includes at least one pin. The lens driver is mounted on the holder. The pin extends from the lens driver to the holder. The holder includes at least one conductive layer corresponding to the pin. The conductive layer includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The holder is mounted on the printed circuit board. One conductive adhesive connects the pin to the first end of the conductive layer, the other one conductive adhesive connects the second end of the conductive layer to the printed circuit board, that makes the conductive layer electrically connect to the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: TRIPLE WIN TECHNOLOGY(SHENZHEN) CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng-An Lin, Chun-Yao Huang
  • Patent number: 10742893
    Abstract: A mobile terminal including a camera having an image sensor; a memory; a display; and a controller configured to synthesize first image data generated by a first exposure and second image data generated by a second exposure, store a log image in the memory obtained by applying a log profile to the synthesized image data in a first mode, and display a first image on the display obtained by transforming the log image in a second mode. Further, the controller controls the first exposure and the second exposure based on first exposure information corresponding to an average brightness information and a maximum brightness information of the synthesized image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kyunghee Kang, Seunghwan Kang, Hyungseok Ji, Jinsool Lee, Sungbum Joo
  • Patent number: 10735647
    Abstract: An image processing method and an image processing device are provided. The image processing method includes capturing a first image of a target irradiated by an infrared light; capturing a second image of the target not irradiated by the infrared light; performing noise suppression and signal enhancement on each of the first image and the second image to generate a first processed image and a second processed image; and processing the first processed image and the second image by a recognition device to recognize the target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kai Liu, Wen-Tsung Huang, Shih-Hsiang Yen
  • Patent number: 10735650
    Abstract: To reduce power consumed when the display magnification of an image is changed. A digital camera includes a display unit having a first display region in which a first image is displayed and a second display region in which a second image is displayed, an image capture unit having a first image capture region in which first image data indicating the first image is generated and a second image capture region in which second image data indicating the second image is generated, magnification change units that change the display magnifications of the first and second images displayed on the display unit, and an image capture control unit that when the magnification change units change the display magnifications, changes the charge accumulation conditions or reading conditions of the first and second image capture regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 10721390
    Abstract: A method for switching focus between objects found simultaneously in an image area from a main camera where the focus of the main camera and a switch between different focus distances is controlled by a remote follow focus unit. A secondary system and a computer system are used to measure the distance to the first and second object simultaneously and continuously. Distance information from the secondary system regarding distance to the first object is used by the follow focus unit as a focus distance to set the focus of the main camera on the first object. Distance information from the secondary system regarding distance to the second object is used by the follow focus unit as a focus distance to switch the focus of the main camera from the first object to the second object. The secondary system and the computer system obtain distance information using a secondary camera system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Moonlightning Industries AB
    Inventor: Miko Lazic
  • Patent number: 10715723
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes at least one processor configured to execute processes including: calculating a misalignment amount of each pixel of a reference image relative to a standard image; and combining the reference image converted based on the calculated amount with the standard image. The calculating includes: calculating a projection conversion matrix for each of planes with different misalignment amounts in the reference image; generating a plane map in which the plane to which each pixel of the reference image belongs and the matrix to be applied to each plane are selected based on a difference value between the standard image and each of the alignment images converted from the reference image by using each calculated matrix; suppressing a selection error of the matrix; and calculating the misalignment amount for each of the planes based on the plane map in which the selection error of the matrix is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsuro Okazawa
  • Patent number: 10701265
    Abstract: Techniques to selectively capture media using a single user interface element are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a touch controller, a visual media capture component, and a storage component. The touch controller may be operative to receive a haptic engagement signal. The visual media capture component may be operative to be configured in a capture mode based on whether a haptic disengagement signal is received by the touch controller before expiration of a first timer, the capture mode one of a photo capture mode or video capture mode, the first timer started in response to receiving the haptic engagement signal, the first timer configured to expire after a first preset duration. The storage component may be operative to store visual media captured by the visual media capture component in the configured capture mode. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: FACEBOOK, INC.
    Inventors: William M. Ruben, Daniel J. Smith, II, Nilesh V. Patel, Mykyta Lutsenko, William J. Flynn, Andrei V. C. Gheorghe
  • Patent number: 10701279
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods, non-transitory computer readable media, and systems that generate a virtual long exposure image from a sequence of short exposure images portraying a moving object. In various embodiments, the image transformation system aligns two digital images in the sequence of short exposure images. The image transformation system can determine a motion vector path for the moving object between the first digital image and the second digital image. The image transformation system can also blend pixels along the motion vector path to generate a blended image representative of the motion of the moving object between the first digital image and the second digital image. The image transformation system can generate additional blended images based on consecutive pairs of images in the sequence of digital images and generates a virtual long exposure image by combining the first blended image with the additional blended images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: ADOBE INC.
    Inventors: Chih-Yao Hsieh, Sylvain Paris, Seyed Morteza Safdarnejad, Gregg Wilensky
  • Patent number: 10685427
    Abstract: An electronic device including a bendable base, a plurality of camera modules, a sensing module and a processing module is provided. The camera modules are mounted on the base, and may capture a plurality of images corresponding to different fields of view. The sensing module is coupled to the base for detecting a physical bending information of the base. The processing module is coupled to the camera module and the sensing module for estimating a bending angle of the base according to the physical bending information, obtaining an overlapping information of the images according to the bending angle, and stitching the images according to the overlapping information to create a stitched image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: ACER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Chen-Ju Cheng, Sergio Cantero Clares
  • Patent number: 10687036
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method, apparatus and system for detecting and reducing the effects of color fringing in digital video acquired by a camera comprising an iris. The method comprises: acquiring, by the camera, a first digital image frame using a first camera setting, including a first iris aperture size; acquiring, by the camera, a second digital image frame using a second camera setting, including a second iris aperture size, wherein the second aperture size is smaller than the first aperture size; comparing the first and the second digital image frame, at least a specific color component thereof; localizing regions having a disproportional intensity ratio in the specific color component between the first digital image frame and the second digital image frame; and reducing the specific color component in the localized regions for subsequently acquired digital image frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Axis AB
    Inventor: Jonas Hjelmström