Patents by Inventor Hsuan-Ming LIU

Hsuan-Ming LIU 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).

  • Patent number: 11756221
    Abstract: Image processing performed on images captured with image capture devices may be used to improve upon some of the problems with images captured from devices, including images captured from devices with larger aperture lenses, and, in some particular examples, mobile devices with larger aperture lenses. Multiple images may be captured by the capture device and processing applied to generate a single image through fusing of the multiple images. One potential benefit obtained with fusion of multiple images is a single image with an effective depth of focus (DOF) larger than that available in a single image obtained from the capture device. The DOF of the fused image may be larger than a single image and/or may include multiple distinct in-focus focal distances, whereas a single image from a single capture device has only a single in-focus focal distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Wen-Chun Feng, Hsuan-Ming Liu, Yu-Ren Lai
  • Publication number: 20230015621
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, apparatus, methods, and computer-readable media that support improved image signal processing, particularly in low-light or high dynamic range (HDR) scenes. The image processing techniques may include performing two automatic exposure control (AEC) operations, in which a first AEC operation targets obtaining good conditions for autofocus (AF) operation, and a second AEC operation follows the AF operation and targets obtaining good conditions for an image capture. The image processing techniques may also include communication between the AEC operations and AF operations to coordinate the operations by locking and releasing exposure levels and focus positions as part of the image signal processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Wen-Chun Feng, Hsuan-Ming Liu, Hui Shan Kao, Hang-Wei Liaw, Yawen Chi
  • Publication number: 20220392036
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described regarding fusing or combining frames of image data to generate composite frames of image data. Cameras comprising camera processors configured to perform the techniques are also disclosed. A camera processor may capture multiple frames at various focal lengths. The frames of image data may have various regions of the respective frame in focus, whereas other regions of the respective frame may not be in focus, due to particular configurations of lens and sensor combinations used. The camera processor may combine the frames to achieve a single composite frame having both a first region (e.g., a center region) and a second region (e.g., an outer region) in focus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Wen-Chun Feng, Yu-Chen Hsu, Mian Li, Hsuan-Ming Liu
  • Patent number: 11490000
    Abstract: An apparatus configured for image processing comprises one or more processors configured to determine data associated with a distance between an object and the apparatus and determine a plurality of lens positions of a camera lens based on the data associated with the distance between the object and the apparatus. The one or more processors are further configured to determine, for each one of the plurality of lens positions, a respective focus value to generate a plurality of focus values. To determine, for each one of the plurality of lens positions, the respective focus value, the one or more processors are configured to determine, for each one of the plurality of lens positions, phase difference information. The one or more processors are further configured to determine a final lens position based on the plurality of focus values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Wen-Chun Feng, Hui Shan Kao, Hsuan-Ming Liu
  • Publication number: 20220237813
    Abstract: Image processing performed on images captured with image capture devices may be used to improve upon some of the problems with images captured from devices, including images captured from devices with larger aperture lenses, and, in some particular examples, mobile devices with larger aperture lenses. Multiple images may be captured by the capture device and processing applied to generate a single image through fusing of the multiple images. One potential benefit obtained with fusion of multiple images is a single image with an effective depth of focus (DOF) larger than that available in a single image obtained from the capture device. The DOF of the fused image may be larger than a single image and/or may include multiple distinct in-focus focal distances, whereas a single image from a single capture device has only a single in-focus focal distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Wen-Chun Feng, Hsuan-Ming Liu, Yu-Ren Lai
  • Publication number: 20220116545
    Abstract: An apparatus configured for image processing comprises one or more processors configured to determine data associated with a distance between an object and the apparatus and determine a plurality of lens positions of a camera lens based on the data associated with the distance between the object and the apparatus. The one or more processors are further configured to determine, for each one of the plurality of lens positions, a respective focus value to generate a plurality of focus values. To determine, for each one of the plurality of lens positions, the respective focus value, the one or more processors are configured to determine, for each one of the plurality of lens positions, phase difference information. The one or more processors are further configured to determine a final lens position based on the plurality of focus values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Wen-Chun Feng, Hui Shan Kao, Hsuan-Ming Liu
  • Publication number: 20170127039
    Abstract: A portable device and a method for display delay enhancement in a depth application running on the portable device are provided. The portable device includes: a dual camera device, continuously capturing a sequence of frame pairs; a video encoder; a display; a processor, configured to obtain a first depth map associated with one or more previous frame pairs of the frame pairs, and generate a first output image based on a current frame pair of the frame pairs and the first depth map associated with the one or more previous frame pairs, and sends the first output image to the display. The processor obtains a second depth map associated with the current frame pair, and generates a second output image based on the current frame pair and the second depth map associated with the previous frame pair, and sends the second output image to the video encoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Hsuan-Ming LIU, Cheng-Che CHAN, Po-Hsun LIN, Cheng-Che CHEN