Patents Examined by Tuan H. Le
  • Patent number: 11212467
    Abstract: A switch driver circuit includes a first transistor coupled between a voltage supply and a first output node. A second transistor is coupled between the first output node and a first discharge node. A first slope control circuit is coupled to the first discharge node to discharge the first discharge node at a first slope. A third transistor is coupled between the voltage supply and a second output node. A fourth transistor is coupled between the second output node and a second discharge node. A second slope control circuit coupled to the second discharge node to discharge the second discharge node at a second slope. The first and second slopes are mismatched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Zhe Gao, Ling Fu, Yu-Shen Yang, Tiejun Dai
  • Patent number: 11196918
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for image signal processing. For example, systems may include an image sensor and a processing apparatus. The image sensor captures image data using a plurality of selectable exposure times. The processing apparatus receives a first image from the image sensor captured with a first exposure time and receives a second image from the image sensor captured with a second exposure time that is less than the first exposure time. A high dynamic range image is determined based on the first image and the second image, wherein an image portion of the high dynamic range image is based on a corresponding image portion of the second image when a pixel of a corresponding image portion of the first image is saturated. An output image that is based on the high dynamic range image is stored, displayed, or transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruno César Douady, Michael Serge Andre Kraak, Guillaume Matthieu Guèrin, Thomas Nicolas Emmanuel Veit
  • Patent number: 11196969
    Abstract: A display that includes a plurality of contiguous pixel areas. Each pixel area is divided into subpixels for displaying and a photodetector for imaging. The display can be configured into a display mode to display information using the subpixels for displaying or an imaging mode to capture image information using the photodetectors for imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Tony Ong, Steven Fong, Yichi Chen
  • Patent number: 11189651
    Abstract: An image sensor including: a first photodiode; a first circuit including an overflow transistor and a first transfer transistor connected to the first photodiode, a switch element connected to the first transfer transistor and a capacitor disposed between the first transfer transistor and the switch element, wherein the capacitor is a physical capacitor; a second photodiode; and a second circuit including a second transfer transistor connected to the second photodiode, a reset transistor connected to an output of the first circuit and a driving transistor connected to the second transfer transistor and the output of the first circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kang Sun Lee, Seung Ho Shin, Hyung Jin Bae, Jin Ho Seo, Ji Hun Shin, Moo Sup Lim, Young Tae Jang, Young Kyun Jeong
  • Patent number: 11181672
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an imaging device capable of enhancing an accuracy of detecting a light with a narrow wavelength band, and an electronic apparatus. An imaging device includes a pixel array including an effective region used for obtaining an image and a surrounding region around the effective region, a plurality of kinds of first optical filters configured to transmit a light with a respective different wavelength are provided in respective pixels in the effective region, a second optical filter having a transmission band with a smaller bandwidth than a bandwidth of a transmission band of the first optical filters is provided in a first pixel in the surrounding region, and a third optical filter with a difference in transmission band from the second optical filter of a predetermined wavelength or more, or with a transmissivity equal to or lower than a transmissivity of the second optical filter is provided in a second pixel adjacent to the first pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Morimitsu
  • Patent number: 11184596
    Abstract: An image processing device includes an acquisition section configured to acquire still image data obtained by imaging, a generator configured to generate, from the still image data acquired by the acquisition section, a logically single data unit including first still image data and second still image data different from each other in luminance dynamic range and reproducible independently from each other, and an output section configured to output the data unit generated by the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi Uesaka, Masayuki Kozuka, Yoshihiro Mori, Toshiyuki Fukushima, Kazuhiko Kouno, Yoshiichiro Kashiwagi, Shigeo Sakaue
  • Patent number: 11159797
    Abstract: Method and system to improve the performance of a video encoder. The method includes processing an initial video signal in a front-end image pre-processor to obtain a processed video signal and processor information respecting the signal, providing the processed video signal and the processor information to a video encoder, and encoding the video signal in the video encoder according to the processor information to provide an encoded video signal for storage. The system includes a video pre-processor connectable to receive an initial video signal. The video encoder in communication with the video pre-processor receives a processed video signal and a processor information. A storage medium in communication with the video encoder stores an encoded video signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Naveen Srinivasamurthy, Manoj Koul, Soyeb Nagori, Peter Labaziewicz, Kedar Chitnis
  • Patent number: 11141050
    Abstract: An autofocus control device includes a processor. The processor performs an image acquisition process of acquiring an object image captured by an imaging section, a treatment determination process of determining whether or not treatment is being performed based on the object image, a focus evaluation area setting process of setting either a preset area or a treatment area set based on the object image, as a focus evaluation area in the object image based on a determination result of the treatment determination process, and a focus control process of performing focus control of the imaging section based on a focus evaluation value of the focus evaluation area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoya Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 11095813
    Abstract: multi-aperture system for foveated imaging as well as to a corresponding multi-aperture system. The method comprises the steps of: providing an image sensor; and forming, by means of a 3D-printing technique, at least two imaging elements directly on the image sensor such that the imaging elements have a common focal plane located on the image sensor and each imaging element has a different focal length and field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Baden-Wuerttemberg Stiftung gGmbH
    Inventors: Simon Thiele, Harald Giessen, Timo Gissibl, Kathrin Arzenbacher, Alois M. Herkommer
  • Patent number: 11064148
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image sensor module which includes a pixel array including a plurality of sub-pixels arranged along a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, an analog to digital converter connected to the pixel array through a plurality of data lines and converting signals output from the plurality of sub-pixels into digital signals, a row decoder connected to the pixel array through a plurality of selection lines, a plurality of transfer lines, and a plurality of reset lines, and a control logic circuit controlling the analog to digital converter and the row decoder to allow a plurality of sub-frames to be sequentially outputted from the plurality of sub-pixels, wherein each of the plurality of sub-frames is generated based on signals output from different sub-pixels among the plurality of sub-pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yohwan Noh, Chaesung Kim
  • Patent number: 11064110
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for image signal processing. For example, methods may include receiving, by an image signal processor, one or more input image signals from one or more image sensors; determining a mapping based on the input image signal(s), wherein the mapping includes records that associate image portions of an output image with corresponding image portions of the input image signal(s); sorting the records of the mapping according to an order of the corresponding image portions of the input image signal(s); applying, by the image signal processor, image processing to image portions of the input image signal(s) to determine image portions of one or more processed images in the order; and determining, by the image signal processor, the image portions of the output image based at least in part on the mapping and the corresponding image portions of the processed image(s) in the order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruno Cesar Douady-Pleven, Sandeep Doshi, Sophana Kok
  • Patent number: 11057581
    Abstract: Examples of an apparatus are disclosed. In some example, an apparatus may include an array of digital pixel cells, each digital pixel cell including a photodiode and a memory device to store a digital output generated based on charge generated by the photodiode in an exposure period. The apparatus may also include an image processor configured to: receive first digital outputs from the memory devices of a first set of digital pixel cells of the array of digital pixel cells; determine, from the first set of digital pixel cells, a second set of digital pixel cells of which the first digital outputs satisfy one or more pre-determined conditions; identify, based on the second set of digital pixel cells, a third set of digital pixel cells; receive the second digital outputs generated by the third set of digital pixel cells; and perform image processing operations based on the second digital outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Xinqiao Liu
  • Patent number: 11050920
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, mobile terminals, and cameras for recognizing a photographed object are provided. The recognition method includes starting a photographing device of a terminal to auto-focus a photographed object in response to receiving a photographing instruction; obtaining a post-focusing focal distance of the photographing device after the photographing device successfully focuses on the photographed object; and determining whether an object type of the photographed object is a photograph based on the post-focusing focal distance. The present application resolves the technical problem of the high complexity associated with the schemes for recognizing a remade photograph in existing technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Alibaba Group Holding Limited
    Inventors: Wentao Yu, Chen Zhang
  • Patent number: 11037355
    Abstract: A method is described comprising: applying a random pattern to specified regions of an object; tracking the movement of the random pattern during a motion capture session; and generating motion data representing the movement of the object using the tracked movement of the random pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Rearden Mova, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Cotter, Stephen G. Perlman, John Speck, Roger van der Laan, Kenneth A. Pearce, Greg LaSalle
  • Patent number: 11030790
    Abstract: A method is described comprising: applying a random pattern to specified regions of an object; tracking the movement of the random pattern during a motion capture session; and generating motion data representing the movement of the object using the tracked movement of the random pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Rearden Mova, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Cotter, Stephen G. Perlman, John Speck, Roger van der Laan, Kenneth A. Pearce, Greg LaSalle
  • Patent number: 11032463
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus, comprises a detector configured to detect a focus adjustment position in an image, a processor configured to generate a composite image in which a guide indicating the detected position is superimposed on the image, a display configured to display the composite image generated by the processor, and a controller configured to update, in accordance with information of the position detected by the detector, display information used for processing for generating the composite image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koichi Gunji
  • Patent number: 11024072
    Abstract: A method is described comprising: applying a random pattern to specified regions of an object; tracking the movement of the random pattern during a motion capture session; and generating motion data representing the movement of the object using the tracked movement of the random pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: Rearden Mova, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Cotter, Stephen G. Perlman, John Speck, Roger van der Laan, Kenneth A. Pearce, Greg LaSalle
  • Patent number: 11012683
    Abstract: Methods and systems including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for receiving, from a camera, an image in which the camera detected a particular event based on a first set of camera settings, determining, from the image, that the image is a false positive as the camera falsely detected the particular event, determining that a number of images uploaded by the camera that are false positives satisfies a camera setting generation criteria, and in response, generating a second set of camera settings and providing the second set of camera settings to the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: Allison Beach, Donald Madden, Weihong Yin, David James Hutz, Dave Conger, Christopher Silverman, Benjamin Asher Berg, Andrew Scanlon
  • Patent number: 11004248
    Abstract: A method is described comprising: applying a random pattern to specified regions of an object; tracking the movement of the random pattern during a motion capture session; and generating motion data representing the movement of the object using the tracked movement of the random pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Rearden Mova, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy Cotter, Stephen G. Perlman, John Speck, Roger van der Laan, Kenneth A. Pearce, Greg LaSalle
  • Patent number: 10986284
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods of detecting and minimizing the effect of light flickering in a stitched HDR image formed using a plurality of images obtained using image acquisition sensor circuitry. Light flicker mitigation (LFM) circuitry receives a signal containing data representative of a plurality of images. Multi-feature extraction circuits in the LFM circuitry extract data representative of one or more features from some or all of the pixels included in the plurality of images. Light flicker detection and analysis circuits in the LFM circuitry detect flickering pixels in the plurality of images. Exposure index conversion circuits in the LFM circuitry determine one or more output corrections to apply to the plurality of images as the images are stitched to form a single HDR image in which flickering pixels are minimized, mitigated, or eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Rastislav Lukac