Patents by Inventor Francisco Imai
Francisco Imai 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: 8619179Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes an image sensor which has a tunable spectral response and which is tunable in accordance with a capture mask to capture multi-spectral image data. Light-field optics are arranged to project light-field information of a scene onto the image sensor.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2011Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Francisco Imai
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Patent number: 8614767Abstract: An image capture device includes an image sensor for capturing image data of a scene, and a display screen for displaying a preview of the captured image of the scene. Additionally, the image capture device includes a photovoltaic solar cell for outputting electrical energy responsive to environmental lighting conditions. A control section determines whether the image capture device is or is not currently being used in a bright environment. Responsive to a determination that the image capture device is currently being used in a bright environment, the control section increases brightness of the display screen, and switches electrical energy outputted from the photovoltaic cell for use by the display screen.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2010Date of Patent: December 24, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Francisco Imai
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Patent number: 8605199Abstract: Image capture using an image capture device which includes an imaging assembly having a spectral sensitivity tunable in accordance with a spectral capture mask and light-field optics for projecting a light-field of a scene onto the imaging assembly. A first spectral capture mask is applied to the imaging assembly and preview image data of a scene is captured under the first capture mask. A designation of a region of interest, and a designation of a capture preference in the region of interest are received. A second spectral capture mask is calculated by calculations which use the preview image data and the capture preference for the region of interest. The second spectral capture mask is applied to the imaging assembly, and light-field image data of the scene is captured under the second spectral capture mask.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2011Date of Patent: December 10, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Francisco Imai
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Patent number: 8599282Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating an image is provided. The method includes acquiring a plurality of images using different exposure amounts, white-balancing each of the raw images, and synthesizing the white-balanced images producing as a result an absolute HDR image.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2007Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Francisco Imai, Sung Ho Park, Won-hee Choe, Seong-deok Lee
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Publication number: 20130300894Abstract: Systems and methods for simulating an image exposure capture a first set of images of a scene; and generate a flash preview image based on the first set of images, an estimated scene spectral reflectance, an estimated spectral power distribution of the scene, and one or more flash device settings, wherein the flash preview image approximates a brightness and a color appearance of a final image of the scene captured while the scene is illuminated by a flash device according to the one or more flash device settingsType: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2012Publication date: November 14, 2013Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Francisco Imai, Neil Y. Iwamoto, Eric Riggert
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Patent number: 8558923Abstract: An image capturing apparatus and method for selective real-time focus/parameter adjustment. The image capturing apparatus includes a display unit, an adjustment unit, and a generation unit. The display unit is configured to display an image. The interface unit is configured to enable a user to select a plurality of regions of the image displayed on the display unit. The adjustment unit is configured to enable the user to adjust at least one focus/parameter of at least one selected region of the image displayed on the display unit. The generation unit is configured to convert the image including at least one adjusted selected region into image data, where at least one focus/parameter of the at least one adjusted selected region has been adjusted by the adjustment unit prior to conversion.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2010Date of Patent: October 15, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Francisco Imai
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Patent number: 8547447Abstract: Compensation is performed for an image capture device which includes an image sensor which has a tunable spectral response and which is tunable in accordance with a capture mask. The compensation is for spatial non-uniformity in color sensitivity of the image sensor. A default capture mask is applied to the image sensor, and a sample image is captured using the image sensor tuned by the default capture mask. Color of the sample image is analyzed to identify spatial non-uniformity in color sensitivity of the image sensor. A compensation capture mask is constructed. The compensation capture mask is constructed using calculations based on the identified spatial non-uniformity so as to compensate for spatial non-uniformity in color sensitivity of the image sensor. The compensation capture mask is stored in a memory of the image capture device for application of the compensation capture mask to the image sensor.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2011Date of Patent: October 1, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Francisco Imai
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Patent number: 8525899Abstract: There is provided a user interface on a display unit of an image-capturing device for selective color balance adjustment of an image. The user interface allows for an image to be divided into a plurality of regions. A user may select one or more regions on the user interface. The user interface also includes a control unit for adjusting a color balance value for each of the selected regions on the user interface based on user input. The user interface allows for adjustment of the color balance value for different regions of an image prior to the image being written onto a recording medium by the image-capturing device.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2010Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Francisco Imai
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Patent number: 8456524Abstract: Linear and rotational speeds of a mobile device are calculated using distance estimates between imaging sensors in the device and objects or scenes in front of the sensors. The distance estimates are used to modify optical flow vectors from the sensors. Shifting and rotational speeds of the mobile device may then be calculated using the modified optical flow vector values. For example, given a configuration where the first imaging sensor and the second imaging sensor face opposite directions on a single axis, a shifting speed is calculated in the following way: multiplying a first optical flow vector and a first distance estimate, thereby deriving a first modified optical flow vector value; multiplying a second optical flow vector and a second distance estimate, thereby deriving a second modified optical flow vector value; the second modified optical flow vector value may then be subtracted from the first modified optical flow vector value, resulting in a measurement of the shifting speed.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2010Date of Patent: June 4, 2013Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Stefan Marti, Seung Wook Kim, Francisco Imai
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Publication number: 20130093919Abstract: An image capture device includes an imaging assembly having a spectral sensitivity tunable in accordance with a spectral capture mask. A pre-capture captures a sample image of a scene using the imaging assembly tuned by a first spectral capture mask. A second spectral capture mask is constructed by calculations which use image data of the sample image. The second spectral capture mask is constructed to tune the spectral sensitivity of the imaging assembly so as to adjust respective capture parameters for different objects in the scene. The second spectral capture mask is applied to the imaging assembly. An image of the scene is captured with the second spectral capture mask applied to the imaging assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2011Publication date: April 18, 2013Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Francisco Imai, John Haikin
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Publication number: 20130088612Abstract: Image capture using an image capture device that includes an imaging assembly having a spectral sensitivity tunable in accordance with a spectral capture mask, and imaging optics having a polarization filter tunable in accordance with a polarization control mask for projecting an image of a scene onto the imaging assembly. A default polarization control mask is applied to the imaging optics, and a default spectral capture mask is applied to the imaging assembly. An image of the scene is captured using the imaging assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2011Publication date: April 11, 2013Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Francisco Imai
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EFFICIENT SPECTRAL IMAGING BASED ON IMAGING SYSTEMS WITH SCENE ADAPTATION USING TUNABLE COLOR PIXELS
Publication number: 20130063624Abstract: A method for adaptive spectral image capture that may be performed via an image capture device is disclosed. A default capture parameter is applied to an imaging assembly and a sample image of a scene is captured by an image capture device. The sample image is analyzed to identify transition zones between multiple different regions. An initial guess as to which spectral regions a filter mode might work best is obtained based on dominant transition region spectrum and a first iterated step in which numerical values for the filter mode are calculated. A second iterated step in which each such filter mode is evaluated for effectiveness against other filter modes. The regions in which a specific filter mode works best becomes associated with the filer mode and these regions become the guess for the next iteration.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2012Publication date: March 14, 2013Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Andy Lai Lin, Francisco Imai -
Publication number: 20130022261Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating images segment a computational image into sub-images based on spectral information in the computational image, generate respective morphological signatures for the sub-images, generate respective spectral signatures for the sub-images, and generate a resulting image signature based on the morphological signatures and the spectral signatures.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2011Publication date: January 24, 2013Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Francisco Imai, Andy Lai Lin
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Publication number: 20130002928Abstract: Image capture using an image capture device which includes an imaging assembly having a spectral sensitivity tunable in accordance with a spectral capture mask and light-field optics for projecting a light-field of a scene onto the imaging assembly. A first spectral capture mask is applied to the imaging assembly and preview image data of a scene is captured under the first capture mask. A designation of a region of interest, and a designation of a capture preference in the region of interest are received. A second spectral capture mask is calculated by calculations which use the preview image data and the capture preference for the region of interest. The second spectral capture mask is applied to the imaging assembly, and light-field image data of the scene is captured under the second spectral capture mask.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2011Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Francisco Imai
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Publication number: 20120268618Abstract: Image capture using an image capture apparatus that includes an imaging assembly. Geographic location of the image capture apparatus is received from a location sensor that obtains geographic location of the image capture apparatus. A capture mask is constructed by calculations which use the geographic location. The constructed capture mask is applied to the imaging assembly, the imaging assembly having a tunable spectral response and being tunable in accordance with the capture mask.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2011Publication date: October 25, 2012Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Francisco Imai
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Publication number: 20120257068Abstract: Systems and methods for setting a focal transition for an image capturing device receive data including user selections of focal settings for respective areas of interest in an image, generate a first interface that includes indicators of the focal settings for the respective areas of interest, receive data including user selections of transitional focal settings for respective transitional areas between the areas of interest, and generate a second interface, the second interface including indicators of the transitional focal settings for the respective transitional areas between the areas of interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2012Publication date: October 11, 2012Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Francisco Imai
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Publication number: 20120257067Abstract: Systems and methods for setting a focal transition for an image capturing device receive data including user selections of focal settings for respective areas of interest in an image, generate a first interface that includes indicators of the focal settings for the respective areas of interest, receive data including user selections of transitional focal settings for respective transitional areas between the areas of interest, and generate a second interface, the second interface including indicators of the transitional focal settings for the respective transitional areas between the areas of interest.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2011Publication date: October 11, 2012Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Francisco Imai
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Publication number: 20120249819Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes an image sensor which has a tunable spectral response and which is tunable in accordance with a capture mask to capture multi-spectral image data. Light-field optics are arranged to project light-field information of a scene onto the image sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2011Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Francisco Imai
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Publication number: 20120249821Abstract: Preview image data of a scene is captured. A designation of a region of interest is accepted in the preview image data. Spectral image data of the scene is captured, and spectral profile information for the region of interest is calculated by using the captured spectral image data for the scene. A database of plural spectral profiles is accessed, of which each profile maps a material to a corresponding spectral profile reflected therefrom. The spectral profile information for the region of interest is matched against the database, and materials for objects in the region of interest are identified by using matches between the spectral profile information for the region of interest against the database. Metadata which identifies materials for objects in the region of interest and which identifies location of the region of interest relative to the scene is constructed. The metadata is stored together with image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2011Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Francisco Imai
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Patent number: 8279285Abstract: A hybrid image of a scene is formed by obtaining a visible light image and a quantum entanglement image of the scene. Light intensity channel information is extracted from the visible light image of the scene, and a ghost image of the scene is constructed by cross-correlating the extracted light intensity channel information with the quantum entanglement image. The visible light image is thereafter fused with the ghost image so as to form a hybrid image of the scene.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2010Date of Patent: October 2, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Francisco Imai