Patents by Inventor Richard A. Ayers

Richard A. Ayers 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).

  • Publication number: 20220260716
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes a photoelectric conversion region that converts incident light into electric charge, and a first transfer transistor coupled to a first floating diffusion and the photoelectric conversion region. The imaging device includes a first driving circuit to control the plurality of pixels in an imaging mode to generate a color image, and a second driving circuit to control the plurality of pixels in a depth mode to generate a depth image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2020
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Thomas Richard AYERS, Ping Wah WONG, Frederick BRADY
  • Patent number: 10151111
    Abstract: An insulation system for a concrete block having an open end and a closed end, the insulation system including a single sheet of a foam material configured to have opposite end portions with a middle portion intermediate the end portions and a hinge defined between each of the end portions and the middle portion to enable the sheet to be folded so that the middle portion is disposed perpendicular to the end portions to render the sheet in a u-shaped orientation so as to be insertable into the open end of the concrete block; and a panel of foam material configured as a rectangle to conform to the closed end of the concrete block. The sheet of foam material is sized to provide a snug interference fit with the open end of the concrete block when folded into the u-shaped orientation and the panel is sized to provide a snug interference fit with the closed end of the concrete block. The sheet of foam material and the panel of foam material are each made of a closed cell flexible foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: CFI FOAM, INC.
    Inventor: Richard Ayers Porter
  • Publication number: 20180227522
    Abstract: An image sensor comprises a pixel circuit including a reset transistor and configured to output a pixel signal; and a differential comparator including a pixel input, a reference input, and a comparator output, wherein one of a source or a drain of the reset transistor is connected to the comparator output. In this manner, an active reset method may be incorporated in the image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Richard Ayers, Shizunori Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 9967496
    Abstract: An image sensor comprises a pixel circuit including a reset transistor and configured to output a pixel signal; and a differential comparator including a pixel input, a reference input, and a comparator output, wherein one of a source or a drain of the reset transistor is connected to the comparator output. In this manner, an active reset method may be incorporated in the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Richard Ayers, Shizunori Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20180007296
    Abstract: An image sensor comprises a pixel circuit including a reset transistor and configured to output a pixel signal; and a differential comparator including a pixel input, a reference input, and a comparator output, wherein one of a source or a drain of the reset transistor is connected to the comparator output. In this manner, an active reset method may be incorporated in the image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 4, 2018
    Inventors: THOMAS RICHARD AYERS, SHIZUNORI MATSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 9654711
    Abstract: A system and method for scaling an image includes receiving raw image data comprising input pixel values which correspond to pixels of an image sensor, filtering pixels in a spatial domain, and filtering pixels in a frequency domain according to an oversampling ratio. The system and method may also include outputting scaled image data as output pixel values, which correspond to subgroups of the input pixel values. The filtering may be done according to a Bayer-consistent ruleset which includes a set of filter weights and a series of scaling rules. The oversampling ratio is set to minimize an error after the filtering in the spatial domain and the filtering in the frequency domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Richard Ayers, Edward Elikhis, Ping Wah Wong
  • Publication number: 20170085818
    Abstract: A system and method for scaling an image includes receiving raw image data comprising input pixel values which correspond to pixels of an image sensor, filtering pixels in a spatial domain, and filtering pixels in a frequency domain according to an oversampling ratio. The system and method may also include outputting scaled image data as output pixel values, which correspond to subgroups of the input pixel values. The filtering may be done according to a Bayer-consistent ruleset which includes a set of filter weights and a series of scaling rules. The oversampling ratio is set to minimize an error after the filtering in the spatial domain and the filtering in the frequency domain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas Richard Ayers, Edward Elikhis, Ping Wah Wong
  • Patent number: 9449366
    Abstract: A system and method for scaling an image includes receiving raw image data comprising input pixel values which correspond to pixels of an image sensor; and filtering pixels according to a Bayer-consistent ruleset. The system and method may also include outputting scaled image data as output pixel values, which correspond to subgroups of the input pixel values. The Bayer-consistent ruleset includes a set of filter weights and a series of scaling rules. The Bayer-consistent ruleset results in a scaled image having a high degree of Bayer-consistency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ping Wah Wong, Thomas Richard Ayers
  • Patent number: 9424626
    Abstract: A system and method of processing raw image pixel information includes an integrated decimation filter and raw image scaling filter. The decimation filter operates in the time domain; for example, to calculate a weighted average of time samples. The raw image scaling filter operates in the spatial domain; for example, to calculate a weighted average of spatial samples. The raw image pixel information is modulated by a sigma-delta analog-to-digital modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Richard Ayers
  • Patent number: 9342865
    Abstract: A system and method of processing raw image pixel information includes an integrated decimation filter and raw image scaling filter for a set of M columns of raw image pixel information. The decimation filter operates in the time domain; for example, to calculate a weighted average of time samples. The raw image scaling filter operates in the spatial domain; for example, to calculate a weighted average of spatial samples. The raw image pixel information is modulated by a sigma-delta analog-to-digital modulator. The system and method scale the raw image pixel information by a factor of 1/N. M and N are positive integers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Thomas Richard Ayers
  • Publication number: 20160093019
    Abstract: A system and method of processing raw image pixel information includes an integrated decimation filter and raw image scaling filter for a set of M columns of raw image pixel information. The decimation filter operates in the time domain; for example, to calculate a weighted average of time samples. The raw image scaling filter operates in the spatial domain; for example, to calculate a weighted average of spatial samples. The raw image pixel information is modulated by a sigma-delta analog-to-digital modulator. The system and method scale the raw image pixel information by a factor of 1/N. M and N are positive integers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas Richard Ayers
  • Publication number: 20160093016
    Abstract: A system and method for scaling an image includes receiving raw image data comprising input pixel values which correspond to pixels of an image sensor; and filtering pixels according to a Bayer-consistent ruleset. The system and method may also include outputting scaled image data as output pixel values, which correspond to subgroups of the input pixel values. The Bayer-consistent ruleset includes a set of filter weights and a series of scaling rules. The Bayer-consistent ruleset results in a scaled image having a high degree of Bayer-consistency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Ping Wah Wong, Thomas Richard Ayers
  • Publication number: 20160093017
    Abstract: A system and method of processing raw image pixel information includes an integrated decimation filter and raw image scaling filter. The decimation filter operates in the time domain; for example, to calculate a weighted average of time samples. The raw image scaling filter operates in the spatial domain; for example, to calculate a weighted average of spatial samples. The raw image pixel information is modulated by a sigma-delta analog-to-digital modulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas Richard Ayers
  • Patent number: 9077924
    Abstract: An image sensing device and image sensing method are described herein. By way of example, the imaging sensing device includes a two-dimensional array of light sensing elements, each light sensing element being configured to generate an output signal indicative of an intensity level of light impinging on the light sensing element, one or more analog-to-digital converters configured to digitize output signals read out from the array of light sensing elements to generate digital output pixel values, a control circuit configured to generate digital pixel reset values, and a compression module configured to receive the digital pixel reset values and to generate a compressed digital pixel reset value corresponding to each digital pixel reset value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Pixim, Inc.
    Inventors: Ping Wah Wong, Thomas Richard Ayers
  • Patent number: 8980978
    Abstract: The present invention relates to processes to produce nanocomposites. In particular, the invention relates to solution processes using organic solvents and mixtures of solvents to produce polymeric nanocomposites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Weiqing Weng, Anthony Jay Dias, Caiguo Gong, Beverly Jean Poole, Carmen Neagu, Kriss Randall Karp, Molly Westermann Johnston, James Richard Ayers
  • Publication number: 20150062377
    Abstract: An image sensing device and image sensing method are described herein. By way of example, the imaging sensing device includes a two-dimensional array of light sensing elements, each light sensing element being configured to generate an output signal indicative of an intensity level of light impinging on the light sensing element, one or more analog-to-digital converters configured to digitize output signals read out from the array of light sensing elements to generate digital output pixel values, a control circuit configured to generate digital pixel reset values, and a compression module configured to receive the digital pixel reset values and to generate a compressed digital pixel reset value corresponding to each digital pixel reset value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicants: PIXIM, INC., SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ping Wah Wong, Thomas Richard Ayers
  • Patent number: 7514491
    Abstract: A nanocomposite of a halogenated elastomer and an inorganic, exfoliated clay, suitable for use as an air barrier, is disclosed. The halogenated elastomer can be a polymer comprising C4 to C7 isoolefin derived units, para-methylstyrene derived units, and para(halomethylstyrene) derived units, or can be a butyl-type rubber. The nanocomposite can be formed by contacting an aqueous slurry of inorganic clay with a polymer cement while agitating vigorously to form emulsions or micro-emulsions to intimately mix the inorganic clay and the elastomer. The nanocomposite so formed has improved air barrier properties and is suitable for use as an innerliner or innertube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Weiqing Weng, Anthony Jay Dias, Carmen Neagu, Beverly Jean Poole, Caiguo Gong, James Richard Ayers, Kriss Randall Karp, Molly Westermann Johnston
  • Publication number: 20050101029
    Abstract: A semi-automated method of replacing micropipettes using a micromanipulator is disclosed. A first micropipette is moved at a known angle from a work position to a distal position under automatic control of the micromanipulator. A replacement micropipette is then mounted in the micromanipulator and is moved under automatic control to a position proximate to the work position. The distance between the work position and the proximate position is substantially equal to the range of manufacturing variability of the micropipettes. The second micropipette is then moved by manual control of the micromanipulator from the proximate position to the work position by moving it in a linear path along the known angle so that the final approach to the work position can be visually monitored.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Publication date: May 12, 2005
    Inventors: YunGui Tang, Dale Flaming, Richard Ayer, Jack Belgum, Frederick Siedenburg
  • Patent number: D880013
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: CFI FOAM, INC.
    Inventor: Richard Ayers Porter
  • Patent number: D880014
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: CFI FOAM, INC.
    Inventor: Richard Ayers Porter