Patents by Inventor Andrew Kenneth John McMahon
Andrew Kenneth John McMahon has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11659298Abstract: An image sensor for an electronic device can adjust a scan rate of a reset pointer of a frame relative to a scan rate of a readout pointer of a previous frame. As a result, the image sensor can transition between various readout modes without interrupting image output from the image sensor.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2021Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Andrew Kenneth John McMahon
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Publication number: 20230044950Abstract: A pulse-width modulation (PWM) image sensor is described herein. The PWM image sensor may have a stacked configuration. A top wafer of the PWM image sensor may have a charge-to-time converter and a logic wafer, stacked with the top wafer, may include a time-to-digital converter. The PWM image sensor may utilize variable transfer functions to avoid highlight compression and may utilize non-linear time quantization. A threshold voltage, as input to a charge-to-time converter, may additionally be controlled to affect light detection, dynamic range, and other features associated with the PWM image sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2022Publication date: February 9, 2023Inventors: Nikolai E. Bock, Andrew Kenneth John McMahon, Dario Clocchiatti, Emanuele Mandelli, Gennady A. Manokhin, Robert H. Mullis
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Publication number: 20210281789Abstract: An image sensor for an electronic device can adjust a scan rate of a reset pointer of a frame relative to a scan rate of a readout pointer of a previous frame. As a result, the image sensor can transition between various readout modes without interrupting image output from the image sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2021Publication date: September 9, 2021Inventor: Andrew Kenneth John McMahon
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Patent number: 11022725Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention actively align a lens stack array with an array of focal planes to construct an array camera module. In one embodiment, a method for actively aligning a lens stack array with a sensor that has a focal plane array includes: aligning the lens stack array relative to the sensor in an initial position; varying the spatial relationship between the lens stack array and the sensor; capturing images of a known target that has a region of interest using a plurality of active focal planes at different spatial relationships; scoring the images based on the extent to which the region of interest is focused in the images; selecting a spatial relationship between the lens stack array and the sensor based on a comparison of the scores; and forming an array camera subassembly based on the selected spatial relationship.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2019Date of Patent: June 1, 2021Assignee: FotoNation LimitedInventors: Jacques Duparre, Andrew Kenneth John McMahon, Dan Lelescu
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Patent number: 11019294Abstract: An image sensor for an electronic device can adjust a scan rate of a reset pointer of a frame relative to a scan rate of a readout pointer of a previous frame. As a result, the image sensor can transition between various readout modes without interrupting image output from the image sensor.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2018Date of Patent: May 25, 2021Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventor: Andrew Kenneth John McMahon
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Patent number: 10841355Abstract: Methods and apparatus for converting streaming media between different formats. A bridging device for e.g., Camera Serial Interface (CSI) and DisplayPort is disclosed. Both the CSI and DisplayPort technologies use low power mode operation during blanking intervals of a video transmission. However, the CSI interface can wake up in a very short amount of time (e.g., ˜400 ns), but the DisplayPort interface takes significantly longer to perform link training (e.g., ˜1 ms). Various embodiments of the present disclosure use frame signaling trigger to start a wait time interval timer; the wait time interval can be used by the bridge device to wake up the DisplayPort interface ahead of the CSI2 D-PHY interface, thereby ensuring that both links are active at the same time. This “wake-up” technique can greatly reduce the size of buffering memories that are required.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2018Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Shoichiro Sengoku, Anup K. Sharma, Andrew Kenneth John McMahon
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Patent number: 10801886Abstract: The sensitivity of one or more single-photon avalanche diodes (SPAD) in a SPAD detector is modulated over time. The sensitivity of all of the SPADs may be modulated, or the sensitivity of one section of the SPADs can be modulated differently from another section of the SPADs. Various techniques for modulating the sensitivity are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 24, 2018Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Shingo Mandai, Andrew Kenneth John McMahon, Cristiano L. Niclass, Thierry Oggier, Tal Kaitz, Moshe Laifenfeld
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Patent number: 10742861Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting and receiving image data captured by an imager array including a plurality of focal planes are described. One embodiment of the invention includes capturing image data using a plurality of active focal planes in a camera module, where an image is formed on each active focal plane by a separate lens stack, generating lines of image data by interleaving the image data captured by the plurality of active focal planes, and transmitting the lines of image data and the additional data.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2019Date of Patent: August 11, 2020Assignee: FotoNation LimitedInventor: Andrew Kenneth John McMahon
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Publication number: 20200029043Abstract: An image sensor for an electronic device can adjust a scan rate of a reset pointer of a frame relative to a scan rate of a readout pointer of a previous frame. As a result, the image sensor can transition between various readout modes without interrupting image output from the image sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2018Publication date: January 23, 2020Inventor: Andrew Kenneth John McMahon
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Publication number: 20200021633Abstract: Methods and apparatus for converting streaming media between different formats. A bridging device for e.g., Camera Serial Interface (CSI) and DisplayPort is disclosed. Both the CSI and DisplayPort technologies use low power mode operation during blanking intervals of a video transmission. However, the CSI interface can wake up in a very short amount of time (e.g., ˜400 ns), but the DisplayPort interface takes significantly longer to perform link training (e.g., ˜1 ms). Various embodiments of the present disclosure use frame signaling trigger to start a wait time interval timer; the wait time interval can be used by the bridge device to wake up the DisplayPort interface ahead of the CSI2 D-PHY interface, thereby ensuring that both links are active at the same time. This “wake-up” technique can greatly reduce the size of buffering memories that are required.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2018Publication date: January 16, 2020Inventors: SHOICHIRO SENGOKU, Anup K. Sharma, Andrew Kenneth John McMahon
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Patent number: 10455168Abstract: Architectures for imager arrays configured for use in array cameras in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described. One embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of focal planes, where each focal plane comprises a two dimensional arrangement of pixels having at least two pixels in each dimension and each focal plane is contained within a region of the imager array that does not contain pixels from another focal plane, control circuitry configured to control the capture of image information by the pixels within the focal planes, where the control circuitry is configured so that the capture of image information by the pixels in at least two of the focal planes is separately controllable, sampling circuitry configured to convert pixel outputs into digital pixel data, and output interface circuitry configured to transmit pixel data via an output interface.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2018Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: FotoNation LimitedInventor: Andrew Kenneth John McMahon
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Patent number: 10412314Abstract: Systems and methods for performing photometric normalization in an array camera in accordance with embodiments of this invention are disclosed. The image data of scene from a reference imaging component and alternate imaging components is received. The image data from each of the alternate imaging components is then translated to so that pixel information in the image data of each alternate imaging component corresponds to pixel information in the image data of the reference component. The shifted image data of each alternate imaging component is compared to the image data of the reference imaging component to determine gain and offset parameters for each alternate imaging component. The gain and offset parameters of each alternate imaging component is then applied to the image data of the associate imaging to generate corrected image data for each of the alternate imaging components.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: FotoNation LimitedInventors: Andrew Kenneth John McMahon, Dan Lelescu, Florian Ciurea
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Patent number: 10382687Abstract: At a processor of a camera-equipped electronic device, a first data set generated at a sensor incorporated within a camera module is obtained, and a second data set generated at one or more sensors external to the camera module is obtained. Based on the first set and second data sets, a first set of control signals is transmitted to the camera module. At a disturbance rejection controller integrated within the camera module, a second set of control signals is generated, based on the first set of control signals and on a third set of data obtained from the sensor incorporated within the camera module. The second set of control signals is transmitted to an actuator, which causes a displacement of a camera lens.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2017Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Parin Patel, Santiago Alban, Andrew Kenneth John McMahon
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Publication number: 20190235138Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention actively align a lens stack array with an array of focal planes to construct an array camera module. In one embodiment, a method for actively aligning a lens stack array with a sensor that has a focal plane array includes: aligning the lens stack array relative to the sensor in an initial position; varying the spatial relationship between the lens stack array and the sensor; capturing images of a known target that has a region of interest using a plurality of active focal planes at different spatial relationships; scoring the images based on the extent to which the region of interest is focused in the images; selecting a spatial relationship between the lens stack array and the sensor based on a comparison of the scores; and forming an array camera subassembly based on the selected spatial relationship.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Applicant: FotoNation LimitedInventors: Jacques Duparre, Andrew Kenneth John McMahon, Dan Lelescu
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Patent number: 10334241Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting defective camera arrays, optic arrays and/or sensors are described. One embodiment includes capturing image data using a camera array; dividing the captured images into a plurality of corresponding image regions; identifying the presence of localized defects in any of the cameras by evaluating the image regions in the captured images; and detecting a defective camera array using the image processing system when the number of localized defects in a specific set of image regions exceeds a predetermined threshold, where the specific set of image regions is formed by: a common corresponding image region from at least a subset of the captured images; and any additional image region in a given image that contains at least one pixel located within a predetermined maximum parallax shift distance along an epipolar line from a pixel within said common corresponding image region within the given image.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2017Date of Patent: June 25, 2019Assignee: FotoNation LimitedInventors: Jacques Duparre, Andrew Kenneth John McMahon, Dan Lelescu, Kartik Venkataraman, Gabriel Molina
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Publication number: 20190174040Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting and receiving image data captured by an imager array including a plurality of focal planes are described. One embodiment of the invention includes capturing image data using a plurality of active focal planes in a camera module, where an image is formed on each active focal plane by a separate lens stack, generating lines of image data by interleaving the image data captured by the plurality of active focal planes, and transmitting the lines of image data and the additional data.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2019Publication date: June 6, 2019Applicant: FotoNation LimitedInventor: Andrew Kenneth John McMahon
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Patent number: 10311649Abstract: Systems and methods for the manipulation of captured light fields and captured light field image data in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a system for manipulating captured light field image data includes a processor, a display, a user input device, and a memory, wherein a depth map includes depth information for one or more pixels in the image data, and wherein an image manipulation application configures the processor to display a first synthesized image, receive user input data identifying a region within the first synthesized image, determine boundary data for the identified region using the depth map, receive user input data identifying at least one action, and perform the received action using the boundary data and the captured light field image data.Type: GrantFiled: September 1, 2017Date of Patent: June 4, 2019Assignee: FotoNation LimitedInventors: Andrew Kenneth John McMahon, Kartik Venkataraman, Robert Mullis
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Patent number: 10261219Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention actively align a lens stack array with an array of focal planes to construct an array camera module. In one embodiment, a method for actively aligning a lens stack array with a sensor that has a focal plane array includes: aligning the lens stack array relative to the sensor in an initial position; varying the spatial relationship between the lens stack array and the sensor; capturing images of a known target that has a region of interest using a plurality of active focal planes at different spatial relationships; scoring the images based on the extent to which the region of interest is focused in the images; selecting a spatial relationship between the lens stack array and the sensor based on a comparison of the scores; and forming an array camera subassembly based on the selected spatial relationship.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2017Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignee: FotoNation LimitedInventors: Jacques Duparre, Andrew Kenneth John McMahon, Dan Lelescu
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Patent number: 10218889Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting and receiving image data captured by an imager array including a plurality of focal planes are described. One embodiment of the invention includes capturing image data using a plurality of active focal planes in a camera module, where an image is formed on each active focal plane by a separate lens stack, generating lines of image data by interleaving the image data captured by the plurality of active focal planes, and transmitting the lines of image data and the additional data.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2018Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: FotoNation LimitedInventor: Andrew Kenneth John McMahon
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Patent number: 10205898Abstract: A pedestal level for an image sensor can be dynamically adjusted based on one or more parameters. The parameters include one or more operating conditions associated with the image sensor, pre-determined image sensor characterization data, the number of unused digital codes, and/or the number of clipped pixel signals. The operating conditions can include the temperature of the image sensor, the gain of at least one amplifier included in processing circuitry operably connected to at least one pixel, and/or the length of the integration period for at least one pixel in the image sensor. Based on the one or more of the parameters, the pedestal level is adjusted to reduce a number of unused digital codes in a distribution of dark current. Additionally or alternatively, the variance of the pixel signals can be reduced to permit the use of a lower pedestal level.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2015Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: Apple Inc.Inventors: Andrew Kenneth John McMahon, D. Amnon Silverstein, David R. Pope, Suk Hwan Lim