Patents by Inventor Eric R. Fossum

Eric R. Fossum 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).

  • Image sensor devices having dual-gated charge storage regions therein
    Patent number: 8520104
    Abstract: An image sensor device may include a dual-gated charge storage region within a substrate. The dual-gated charge storage region includes first and second diodes within a common charge generating region. This charge generating region is configured to receive light incident on a surface of the image sensor device. The first and second diodes include respective first conductivity type regions responsive to first and second gate signals, respectively. These first and second gate signals are active during non-overlapping time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric R. Fossum, Young Gu Jin, Soo Jung Hwang, Dae Kil Cha, Yoon Dong Park, Jung Chak Ahn, Kyoung Sik Moon
  • UNIT PIXEL AND THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGE SENSOR INCLUDING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20130119234
    Abstract: A unit pixel of a three-dimensional image sensor includes a non-silicon photodetector and at least one readout circuit. The non-silicon photodetector is formed at a silicon substrate, and the non-silicon photodetector comprising at least one of non-silicon materials to generate a photocharge in response to incident light. The at least one readout circuit is formed at the silicon substrate, the at least one readout circuit outputs a sensing signal based on the photocharge, and the sensing signal generates depth information on a distance to an object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong-Jei LEE, Young-Gu JIN, Tae-Yon LEE, Yoon-Dong PARK, Eric R. FOSSUM
  • DIGITAL INTEGRATION SENSOR
    Publication number: 20120281126
    Abstract: Multiple scans of a digital integration image sensor are combined to form an output image. The sensor scans or portions thereof may be positionally-shifted relative to one another, and may be acquired in uniform or non-uniform exposure intervals. Selected pixels within at least one of the scans may be excluded from the combination. The scans may also be non-uniformly weighted prior to being combined, with the scan weighting profile corresponding to the scan order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Inventor: Eric R. Fossum
  • Three dimensional image sensor
    Patent number: 8300088
    Abstract: A three-dimensional (3D) image sensor includes a plurality of color pixels, and a plurality of distance measuring pixels. Where the plurality of color pixels and the plurality of distance measuring pixels are arranged in an array, and a group of distance measuring pixels, from among the plurality of distance measuring pixels, are disposed so that a corner of each distance measuring pixel in the group of distance-measuring pixels is adjacent to a corner of an adjacent distance-measuring pixel in the group of distance-measuring pixels. The group of distance measuring pixels is capable of jointly outputting one distance measurement signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-hoon Lee, Eric R. Fossum, Yoon-dong Park, Kyoung-lae Cho, Sung-jae Byun
  • Methods of Operating a Three-Dimensional Image Sensor Including a Plurality of Depth Pixels
    Publication number: 20120236121
    Abstract: In a method of operating a three-dimensional image sensor according to example embodiments, modulated light is emitted to an object of interest, the modulated light that is reflected from the object of interest is detected using a plurality of depth pixels, and a plurality of pixel group outputs respectively corresponding to a plurality of pixel groups are generated based on the detected modulated light by grouping the plurality of depth pixels into the plurality of pixel groups including a first pixel group and a second pixel group that have different sizes from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Yoon-Dong Park, Eric R. Fossum
  • Method of operating an image sensor having a digital exposure circuit
    Publication number: 20120057047
    Abstract: Automatic exposure adjusting device considers the image on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Each pixel is characterized according to its most significant bits. After the pixels are characterized, the number of pixels in any particular group is counted. That counting is compared with thresholds which set whether the image is over exposed, under exposed, and can optionally also determine if the image is seriously over exposed or seriously under exposed. Adjustment of the exposure is carried out to bring the image to a more desired state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: ROUND ROCK RESEARCH, LLC
    Inventors: Eric R. Fossum, Alexander I. Krymski, Roger A. Panicacci, Christopher Clark
  • UNIT PIXEL, PHOTO-DETECTION DEVICE AND METHOD OF MEASURING A DISTANCE USING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20120038904
    Abstract: A unit pixel included in a photo-detection device, the unit pixel including a floating diffusion region in a semiconductor substrate, a ring-shaped collection gate over the semiconductor substrate, a ring-shaped drain gate over the semiconductor substrate, and a drain region in the semiconductor substrate, wherein the collection gate and the drain gate are respectively arranged between the floating diffusion region and the drain region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Eric R. FOSSUM, Yoon-Dong Park
  • Highly miniaturized, battery operated, digital wireless camera using programmable single chip active pixel sensor (APS) digital camera chip
    Patent number: 8085342
    Abstract: A miniaturized camera which is programmable and provides low power consumption. An active pixel image sensor used in the highly miniaturized camera provides improved imaging functionality as well as reduced power consumption, extending the possible life time of the camera system. The spread spectrum nature of transmission and reception improves data integrity as well as data security. The ability of the highly miniaturized wireless camera to receive commands as well as transmit image data provides improved functionality and a variable rate of power consumption to be set according to the application and needs of the situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Martin J. Agan, Eric R. Fossum, Bob H. Nixon, Brita H. Olson, Bedabrata Pain, Chris Pasqualino, Ed H. Satorius, Tim J. Shaw, Gary L. Stevens
  • Digital exposure circuit for an image sensor
    Patent number: 8054339
    Abstract: Automatic exposure adjusting device considers the image on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Each pixel is characterized according to its most significant bits. After the pixels are characterized, the number of pixels in any particular group is counted. That counting is compared with thresholds which set whether the image is over exposed, under exposed, and can optionally also determine if the image is seriously over exposed or seriously under exposed. Adjustment of the exposure is carried out to bring the image to a more desired state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLC
    Inventors: Eric R. Fossum, Alexander I. Krymski, Roger A. Panicacci, Christopher Clark
  • Digital exposure circuit for an image sensor
    Patent number: 8040394
    Abstract: Automatic exposure adjusting device considers the image on a pixel-by-pixel basis. Each pixel is characterized according to its most significant bits. After the pixels are characterized, the number of pixels in any particular group is counted. That counting is compared with thresholds which set whether the image is over exposed, under exposed, and can optionally also determine if the image is seriously over exposed or seriously under exposed. Adjustment of the exposure is carried out to bring the image to a more desired state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLC
    Inventors: Eric R. Fossum, Alexander I. Krymski, Roger A. Panicacci, Christopher Clark
  • Technique for flagging oversaturated pixels
    Patent number: 8031260
    Abstract: An active pixel sensor (APS) that includes circuitry to eliminate artifacts in digital images. The APS includes a comparator for comparing a signal level from a pixel to an adjusted saturation voltage to determine if the pixel is saturated. If the pixel is saturated, an associated saturation flag is stored and used to replace the signal from the pixel with a maximum value corresponding to a brightest pixel in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Sandor L. Barna, Eric R. Fossum
  • COLOR INTERPOLATION
    Publication number: 20110205409
    Abstract: An imager has first and second photosensitive sites and an interpolator located in a semiconductor substrate. The first photosensitive site is configured to receive light having a spectral component, and the second photosensitive site is configured to measure the level of the spectral component in light received by the second photosensitive site. The interpolator is configured to estimate the level of the spectral component in the light received by the first photosensitive site based on the measurement by the second photosensitive site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: ROUND ROCK RESEARCH, LLC
    Inventor: Eric R. Fossum
  • High dynamic range cascaded integration pixel cell and method of operation
    Patent number: 7990449
    Abstract: A cascaded imaging storage system for a pixel is disclosed for improving intrascene dynamic range. Charges accumulated in a first capacitor spill over into a second capacitor when a charge storage capacity of the first capacitor is exceeded. A third capacitor may also be provided such that charges accumulated by said second capacitor spill over into the third capacitor when the charge storage capacity of the second capacitor is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Eric R. Fossum
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ILLUMINATION WITH A PULSE-CONTROLLED LIGHT EMITTING DIODE SOURCE
    Publication number: 20110169421
    Abstract: An array of LEDs includes first and second rows of LEDs. The LEDs emit light at red, green, and blue wavelengths parallel to an output port, and the light is re-directed by a light reflecting material from directions parallel to the output port toward the output port. The first and second rows are parallel to each other, and the LEDs are powered by pulse width modulated signals that establish a brightness of the LEDs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: ROUND ROCK RESEARCH, LLC
    Inventors: Eric R. Fossum, Gregory Waligorski
  • IMAGE SENSORS
    Publication number: 20110074989
    Abstract: Provided is an image sensor having a depth sensor. The image sensor includes a substrate including a visible light region and a non-visible light region, a first well and a second well having a first conductivity type and in the non-visible light perception region, and a first gate and a second gate configured to receive voltages of opposite phases, respectively, and apply voltages to the first well and the second well, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eric R. Fossum, Soo-Jung Hwang, Young-Gu Jin, Yoon-Dong Park, Dae-Kil Cha
  • Interpolator for a CMOS image sensor using a digital register
    Patent number: 7916193
    Abstract: An imager has first and second photosensitive sites and an interpolator located in a semiconductor substrate. The first photosensitive site is configured to receive light having a spectral component, and the second photosensitive site is configured to measure the level of the spectral component in light received by the second photosensitive site. The interpolator is configured to estimate the level of the spectral component in the light received by the first photosensitive site based on the measurement by the second photosensitive site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLC
    Inventor: Eric R. Fossum
  • Double sample active pixel sensor with double sampling temperature sensor
    Patent number: 7898316
    Abstract: A system which operates to determine temperature of an image sensor using the same signal chain that is used to detect the image sensor actual outputs. A correlated double sampling circuit is used to obtain the image outputs. That's same correlated double sampling circuit is used to receive two different inputs from the temperature circuit, and to subtract one from the other. The temperature output can be perceived, for example, once each frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Per Olaf Pahr, Alf Olsen, Eric R. Fossum
  • Pinned photodiode photodetector with common pixel transistors and binning capability
    Patent number: RE42292
    Abstract: A lock in pinned photodiode photodetector includes a plurality of output ports which are sequentially enabled. Each time when the output port is enabled is considered to be a different bin of time. A specified pattern is sent, and the output bins are investigated to look for that pattern. The time when the pattern is received indicates the time of flight. A CMOS active pixel image sensor includes a plurality of pinned photodiode photodetectors that use a common output transistor. In one configuration, the charge from two or more pinned photodiodes may be binned together and applied to the gate of an output transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Round Rock Research, LLC
    Inventors: Vladimir Berezin, Alexander I. Krymski, Eric R. Fossum
  • Single substrate camera device with CMOS image sensor
    Patent number: RE42918
    Abstract: Single substrate device is formed to have an image acquisition device and a controller. The controller on the substrate controls the system operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Eric R. Fossum, Robert Nixon
  • CMOS active pixel sensor type imaging system on a chip
    Patent number: RE42974
    Abstract: A single chip camera which includes an intergrated integrated image acquisition portion and control portion and which has double sampling/noise reduction capabilities thereon. Part of the intergrated integrated structure reduces the noise that is picked up during imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Eric R. Fossum, Robert Nixon