Patents by Inventor Thomas Guillaume GRANDIN

Thomas Guillaume GRANDIN 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: 10096115
    Abstract: A method for building a depth map is operable on a mobile device having a single camera integrated therewith. The method includes capturing a plurality of images of a given view using movement of the mobile device between images, capturing data regarding the movement of the mobile device during capture of the plurality of images, determining a relative position of the mobile device corresponding to each of the plurality of images, and building a depth map using the plurality of images and the relative position corresponding to each of the plurality of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Thomas Guillaume Grandin, Sui Tong Tang, Sung Ho Hong
  • Patent number: 9848125
    Abstract: A device with a front facing camera having two discrete focus positions is provided. The device comprises: a chassis comprising a front side; a display and a camera each at least partially located on the front side; the camera adjacent the display, the camera facing in a same direction as the display, the camera configured to: acquire video in a video mode; acquire an image in a camera mode; and, discretely step between a first and second focus position, the first position comprising a depth of field (“DOF”) at a hyperfocal distance and the second position comprising a DOF in a range of about 20 cm to about 1 meter; and, a processor configured to: when the camera is in the camera mode, automatically control the camera to the first position; and, when the camera is in the video mode, automatically control the camera to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yun Seok Choi, Sui Tong Tang, Thomas Guillaume Grandin, Arnett Ryan Weber
  • Publication number: 20170208249
    Abstract: A device with a front facing camera having two discrete focus positions is provided. The device comprises: a chassis comprising a front side; a display and a camera each at least partially located on the front side; the camera adjacent the display, the camera facing in a same direction as the display, the camera configured to: acquire video in a video mode; acquire an image in a camera mode; and, discretely step between a first and second focus position, the first position comprising a depth of field (“DOF”) at a hyperfocal distance and the second position comprising a DOF in a range of about 20 cm to about 1 metre; and, a processor configured to: when the camera is in the camera mode, automatically control the camera to the first position; and, when the camera is in the video mode, automatically control the camera to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Yun Seok CHOI, Sui Tong TANG, Thomas Guillaume GRANDIN, Arnett Ryan WEBER
  • Patent number: 9648236
    Abstract: A device with a front facing camera having two discrete focus positions is provided. The device comprises: a chassis comprising a front side; a display and a camera each at least partially located on the front side; the camera adjacent the display, the camera facing in a same direction as the display, the camera configured to: acquire video in a video mode; acquire an image in a camera mode; and, discretely step between a first and second focus position, the first position comprising a depth of field (“DOF”) at a hyperfocal distance and the second position comprising a DOF in a range of about 20 cm to about 1 meter; and, a processor configured to: when the camera is in the camera mode, automatically control the camera to the first position; and, when the camera is in the video mode, automatically control the camera to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
    Inventors: Yun Seok Choi, Sui Tong Tang, Thomas Guillaume Grandin, Arnett Ryan Weber
  • Patent number: 9443335
    Abstract: Methods and electronic devices for producing a zoomed image using a narrow field of view monochrome camera are described. In one aspect, the method includes: receiving a color image that is captured by a color camera; receiving an achromatic image that is captured by a monochrome camera with the monochrome camera having a narrower field of view than the color camera; and merging the color image and the achromatic image to produce an enhanced image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Thomas Guillaume Grandin, Joey Shah, Yun Seok Choi
  • Publication number: 20160248975
    Abstract: A device with a front facing camera having two discrete focus positions is provided. The device comprises: a chassis comprising a front side; a display and a camera each at least partially located on the front side; the camera adjacent the display, the camera facing in a same direction as the display, the camera configured to: acquire video in a video mode; acquire an image in a camera mode; and, discretely step between a first and second focus position, the first position comprising a depth of field (“DOF”) at a hyperfocal distance and the second position comprising a DOF in a range of about 20 cm to about 1 metre; and, a processor configured to: when the camera is in the camera mode, automatically control the camera to the first position; and, when the camera is in the video mode, automatically control the camera to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Yun Seok CHOI, Sui Tong TANG, Thomas Guillaume GRANDIN, Arnett Ryan WEBER
  • Publication number: 20150294474
    Abstract: A method for building a depth map is operable on a mobile device having a single camera integrated therewith. The method includes capturing a plurality of images of a given view using movement of the mobile device between images, capturing data regarding the movement of the mobile device during capture of the plurality of images, determining a relative position of the mobile device corresponding to each of the plurality of images, and building a depth map using the plurality of images and the relative position corresponding to each of the plurality of images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Thomas Guillaume Grandin, Sui Tong Tang, Sung Ho Hong
  • Patent number: 9124805
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems of adapting an optical image stabilizer (OIS) for a camera, the methods comprising acquiring an image of the scene; obtaining image context associated with the image of the scene; selecting a mode of operating the OIS based on the obtained image context; and, applying the OIS using the selected mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Thomas Guillaume Grandin, Yun Seok Choi, Robert Francis Lay, Ian Edward Charles Rogers
  • Publication number: 20150116576
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses an image capture assembly, digital camera and a mobile device having an improved construction. In one example embodiment, there is provided an image capture assembly, comprising: a lens; an image sensor; an optical grade plate disposed between the lens and the image sensor, wherein the plate comprises a substrate which material is selected from poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and sapphire glass; and an image signal processor coupled to the image sensor, wherein the image signal processor is configured to process data provided by the image sensor to generate a digital image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Thomas Guillaume GRANDIN, Yun Seok CHOI, Arnett Ryan WEBER
  • Publication number: 20150078678
    Abstract: Methods and electronic devices for producing a zoomed image using a narrow field of view monochrome camera are described. In one aspect, the method includes: receiving a color image that is captured by a color camera; receiving an achromatic image that is captured by a monochrome camera with the monochrome camera having a narrower field of view than the color camera; and merging the color image and the achromatic image to produce an enhanced image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Thomas Guillaume GRANDIN, Joey SHAH, Yun Seok CHOI
  • Patent number: 8786769
    Abstract: An electronic device and camera module are described. The camera module includes a housing for housing components of the camera module. The housing has a top side which defines an opening. The camera module also includes a lens barrel housed by the housing and having one or more lens elements and an actuator housed by the housing and engaging the lens barrel. The actuator is configured to move the lens barrel to a first position in which at least a portion of the lens barrel extends through the opening. The camera module also includes an image sensor for receiving light which passes through the lens elements of the lens barrel. The image sensor is configured to produce an electronic signal based on the received light. The electronic device also includes a processor electrically connected to the camera module for receiving the electronic signal from the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Blackberry Limited
    Inventors: Thomas Guillaume Grandin, Yun Seok Choi, Soren Laustsen
  • Publication number: 20140139694
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems of adapting an optical image stabilizer (OIS) for a camera, the methods comprising acquiring an image of the scene; obtaining image context associated with the image of the scene; selecting a mode of operating the OIS based on the obtained image context; and, applying the OIS using the selected mode of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Thomas Guillaume GRANDIN, Yun Seok CHOI, Robert Francis LAY, Ian Edward Charles ROGERS
  • Publication number: 20130155311
    Abstract: An electronic device and camera module are described. The camera module includes a housing for housing components of the camera module. The housing has a top side which defines an opening. The camera module also includes a lens barrel housed by the housing and having one or more lens elements and an actuator housed by the housing and engaging the lens barrel. The actuator is configured to move the lens barrel to a first position in which at least a portion of the lens barrel extends through the opening. The camera module also includes an image sensor for receiving light which passes through the lens elements of the lens barrel. The image sensor is configured to produce an electronic signal based on the received light. The electronic device also includes a processor electrically connected to the camera module for receiving the electronic signal from the image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
    Inventors: Thomas Guillaume GRANDIN, Yun Seok CHOI, Soren LAUSTSEN