Patents Issued in May 14, 2013
  • Patent number: 8441528
    Abstract: A stereoscopic image display includes: a display device that time-division displays left-eye image data and right-eye image data; shutter glasses comprising a left-eye shutter and a right-eye shutter alternately turned on and off in synchronization with the display device; and a backlight unit that irradiates light to the display device and is periodically turned on and off such that the backlight unit is turned on when a predetermined time determined according to a response time of liquid crystal lapses from a start point of a frame period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seonggyun Kim, Jeongki Lee
  • Patent number: 8441529
    Abstract: An endoscope objective lens unit includes a front lens group and a rear lens group with a diaphragm interposed therebetween. The front lens group includes a first lens and a second lens, and the rear lens group includes a third lens, a fourth lens and a fifth lens. The endoscope objective lens unit satisfies following expressions (1A) to (4): (1A) ?3 <SF ?1; (2) ?3 <Fr/Ff <?1.1; (3) ?1.6 <Ff/f <?0.6; and (4) Ff/f1 <1.6, where SF is a shape factor, Ff is a focal length of the front lens group, Fr is a focal length of the rear lens group, f is a focal length of the entire unit, and f1 is a focal length of the first lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Sasamoto
  • Patent number: 8441530
    Abstract: A method and system for detection of intestinal contraction may include detecting an obstructed portion of an image frame captured in-vivo. The obstructed portion of the image frame may include an area within an image frame that is obstructed by turbid intestinal content. The method and system may set a threshold for the area of the obstructed portion in the image frame, to determine an invalid frame and may remove the invalid frame from an image stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Given Imaging Ltd.
    Inventors: Petia Radeva, Jordi Vitria, Fernando Vilarino, Panagiota Spyridonos, Fernando Azpiroz, Juan Malagelada, Fosca De Iorio, Anna Accarino
  • Patent number: 8441531
    Abstract: A method for inspecting a marine vessel underdeck utilizes a video camera such as a digital video camera with a magnifying or telephoto lens. The method produces a magnified image on a monitor for viewing by an inspector that appears to be no more than about 24 inches (61 cm) away. The method includes the step of filming the underdeck of a distance of about 40-70 feet (12-21 m). The lens provides a focal length of between about 15 feet (4.6 m) and 150 feet (46 m). Thus the method is conducted at a workable focal range of between about 15 feet (4.6 m) and 150 feet (46 m). The lens preferably has a focal length of between 30 feet (9 m) and 75 feet (23 m). The method includes the step of scanning the suspect area of the underdeck of a speed of about 1 inch (2.54 cm) per second to three feet (91.4 cm) per second. The preferred method contemplates scanning of the suspect area of a rate of between about 0.5-1 foot (15.2-30.5 cm) per second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Ultrasonics and Magnetics Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Stevenson
  • Patent number: 8441532
    Abstract: A method of measuring a shape of a specular reflective surface is provided. A pattern displayed on a surface of a target positioned at a target plane is produced from a specular reflective surface positioned at a measurement plane. An image of the reflection is recorded at an imaging plane. Positions of a plurality of points on the specular reflective surface relative to the imaging plane are determined. A first relation between feature positions on the image of the reflection and feature positions on the pattern is determined. The shape of the specular reflective surface is determined from a second relation involving a surface profile of the specular reflective surface and the first relation using the positions of the plurality of points as an initial condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Sergey Potapenko
  • Patent number: 8441533
    Abstract: A bi-directional communication system is provided for mounting to a partition (e.g., a glass partition or a partition formed of a bullet-resistive material). The system is a self-contained system and is formed of several parts that mount together to form the assembled system. The system is not only a two-way, hands-free audio system that includes working audio components that deliver high-quality audio communication between people separated by the partition (i.e., a security or isolation barrier) but also the system provides high-quality video communication. The video communication is provided by a micro video camera that can be disposed on either or both sides of the partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Norcon Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Schlaff
  • Patent number: 8441534
    Abstract: An electronic article surveillance system (1) comprises a read/write station (2; 217, 218, 220-224) that is designed to communicate an electronic article surveillance status test-request command comprising zone information that indicates an electronic article surveillance zone for which an electronic article surveillance status that is assigned to said zone is to be tested, and further comprises a data carrier (3; 31-35) having a circuit (11) that is designed to store status data (SD) for indicating whether an electronic article surveillance status is active and to store zone data (ZD) for specifying at least one electronic article surveillance zone to which the electronic article status is assigned, the data carrier (3; 31-35) being further designed to test whether said stored status is active for the electronic article surveillance zone to which it is assigned in the case that this zone is indicated by the zone information provided by the read/write station (2; 217, 218, 220-224).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Paul Hubmer, Christian Schwar
  • Patent number: 8441535
    Abstract: An image sensing systems supports independently setting sensor parameters in two or more different regions of interest. In one implementation resolution, exposure time, and gain are independently selectable in each region of interest. Independently setting exposure time and gain in different regions of interest improves image recognition when there are large differences in the illumination of objects within an image. Independently setting resolution permits the resolution to be selectively increased in regions of interest requiring high resolution in order to reduce the pixel data bandwidth and processing requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Morin
  • Patent number: 8441536
    Abstract: A vehicle periphery displaying apparatus for a vehicle is disclosed. The apparatus includes: an imaging device for capturing a periphery image; a storage medium for storing history data comprising one of the periphery image and information on an object-in-periphery, the storage medium pre-storing a vehicle image; a display screen having a real-time displaying part for displaying thereon the periphery image with distortion of the periphery image being uncorrected, and a history displaying part for displaying thereon the vehicle image and a history image being produced based on the history data; and a drawing section configured to superimposingly draw the vehicle image and the history image provided with the distortion that the periphery image has, such that the object-in-periphery shown in the history image is continuously connected to that shown in the periphery image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Masayuki Imanishi, Nobuhiko Wakayama
  • Patent number: 8441537
    Abstract: An image output apparatus receives a single piece of captured image data from a portable terminal apparatus, and carries out, in accordance with the single piece of captured image data received, a high resolution correction for creating high resolution image data which has a higher resolution than the single piece of captured image data. Then, the image output apparatus carries out an output process in which the high resolution image data created is outputted. This provides a captured image processing system which allows an image output apparatus to output an image captured by a portable terminal apparatus while the image is improving in resolution such as text readability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Makoto Hayasaki
  • Patent number: 8441538
    Abstract: To provide an image generation apparatus that generates a visually-favorable target video sequence in color using input video sequences of color components and that is least likely to have an insufficient transfer rate when obtaining the input video sequences. The image generation apparatus includes: an image receiving unit (101) that receives, as the plurality of input video sequences, a plurality of video sequences that are obtained by shooting the same subject with a phase difference being set between frame exposure periods of the different color components; and a color image integration unit (103) that generates the target video sequence whose frame cycle is shorter than each of the frame exposure periods of the input video sequences, by reducing a difference between a frame image of the input video sequence of each color component and a sum of a plurality of frame images of the target video sequence which are included in a period that corresponds to the frame image of the input video sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Taro Imagawa, Takeo Azuma
  • Patent number: 8441539
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus that can achieve a clear image in which motion blur is reduced even when a moving subject is photographed in a dark environment. The imaging apparatus (1) is equipped with multiple photoelectric conversion element groups, whereby a pickup image is generated based on intermediate image data read from each of the photoelectric conversion element groups. The apparatus (1) is equipped with an exposure time setting portion (12b) that sets the exposure time for each element group during imaging, and an exposure time for carrying out multiple exposures during one imaging cycle is set for at least one element group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kei Tokui
  • Patent number: 8441540
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method for controlling an image sensor includes loading an image file having data sets associated with multiple image sensors respectively, identifying the image sensor if identification data included in one of the data sets matches to the image sensor, and configuring the image sensor according to configuration data included in the data set matching to the image sensor. The identification data indicates an identity of the image sensor. The configuration data indicates operation parameters of the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: O2Micro, Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaoguang Yu, Xinsheng Peng, Hongxiao Zhao, Rui Chen
  • Patent number: 8441541
    Abstract: A control apparatus which controls a capturing device so as to obtain a plurality of captured images including an entire region of an object by capturing the object by a plurality of times while changing a capturing direction of the capturing device, the apparatus comprises: a derivation unit configured to derive a corrected capturing range when at least one of lens aberration correction and perspective correction which are based on a position and the capturing direction of the capturing device with respect to the object is applied to a capturing range obtained upon capturing the object by the capturing device; and a determination unit configured to determine a plurality of capturing ranges which cover the entire region of the object so that two corrected capturing ranges corresponding to two adjacent capturing ranges, respectively, overlap each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masatoshi Ishii
  • Patent number: 8441542
    Abstract: Provided is a digital photographing apparatus and method, and more particularly, provided is a self-timer photographing apparatus and method involving checking the number of persons using an image capturing device having a self-timer function. The self-timer photographing apparatus involving checking the number of persons as a digital image processing device, the apparatus includes a digital signal processing unit detecting a change in the number of faces of a live view image, detecting positions of faces of the live view image, and, when there is no change in the positions of faces during a predetermined period of time, controlling to perform self-timer photographing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eun-young Kim
  • Patent number: 8441543
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a conversion unit converting a first color image signal including a predetermined color space into a second color image signal including a color space having a luminance signal and a color difference signal; a color determination section determining a color of each pixel of the first color image signal or the second color image signal; and a noise removal unit performing a noise removal process by changing a noise removal strength with respect to the color difference signal in accordance with the color determined by the color determination section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Matsushita, Jiro Takatori, Yuki Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 8441544
    Abstract: An electronic camera is characterized by including an imaging part shooting a figure image; an area detection part detecting a flesh-colored area including a face portion and a portion other than a face; a color judgment part judging color information of the flesh-colored area; a color difference calculation part determining a color difference between first color information of the face portion and second color information of the flesh-colored area of the portion other than the face; a correction coefficient calculation part determining color correction coefficients based on the color difference; an area appointment part appointing an area on which a color conversion is performed; and a color conversion part performing, when the color difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the color conversion on the area appointed by the area appointment part by using the color correction coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Kazue Minagawa, Keiichi Nitta, Takeshi Nishi
  • Patent number: 8441545
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor 104 in which at least part of pixels arranged in two dimensions are configured as focus detection pixels with divided-pupil, a memory control circuit 113 configured to read out from a memory position information for the focus detection pixels 401, 402 stored in the memory, and a correction circuit 110 configured to identify positions of the focus detection pixels 401, 402 in the image sensor 104 based on the position information for the focus detection pixels 401, 402 and to correct a defective focus detection pixel signal using defect-free focus detection pixel signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Saori Hoda, Hideyuki Rengakuji, Yoshihiro Homma
  • Patent number: 8441546
    Abstract: A device includes a first isolated-point candidate detection section calculates a parameter value used for detecting an isolated-point candidate from a near-field region of a target pixel of a color image signal, a color-space conversion section combines a plurality of signals constituting the color image signal together, and converts the combined signals into a plurality of color signals on defined color space, a second isolated-point candidate detection section calculates a parameter value used for detecting an isolated-point candidate from a near-field region of a target pixel of the converted color signal, and an isolated-point degree determination section determines an isolated-point degree on the basis of parameter values calculated by the isolated-point candidate detection sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Keiji Higuchi
  • Patent number: 8441547
    Abstract: In a digital still camera, when the reproducing mode is selected, an indication to the effect that the operation is in standby for reproduction is displayed on an indicating device, and if the command dial is not operated until 16 seconds elapses after the indication has been started, the supply of source voltage to the various parts of the camera is stopped, to achieve a reduction in power consumption. If the command dial is operated within 16 seconds, image signals are output to an external monitor and also an indication to the effect that reproduction is in progress is displayed on the indicating device. If the command dial has been operated within three minutes after reproduction of a given photographic frame has been started, reproduction of the following frame is performed, but if the command dial has not been operated until the three minutes have elapsed, the indication to the effect that the operation is in standby for reproduction is displayed again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Uehara, Koichiro Kawamura
  • Patent number: 8441548
    Abstract: An example method includes capturing, by a camera of a mobile computing device, an image, determining whether the image includes a representation of at least a portion of a face, and, when the image includes the representation of at least the portion of the face, analyzing characteristics of the image. The characteristics include at least one of a tonal distribution of the image that is associated with a darkness-based mapping of a plurality of pixels of the image, and a plurality of spatial frequencies of the image that are associated with a visual transition between adjacent pixels of the image. The method further includes classifying, by the mobile computing device, a quality of the image based at least in part on the analyzed characteristics of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Christian Nechyba, Michael Andrew Sipe
  • Patent number: 8441549
    Abstract: A method for suppressing banding and rolling flicker in video acquired by a video camera. The method comprises acquiring a plurality of video frames and assessing an amount of rolling flicker in the plurality of video frames. The method further comprises configuring the video camera to quiet banding and rolling flicker responsive to periodic illumination at a first frequency if the amount of rolling flicker is above a threshold, and, configuring the video camera to quiet banding and rolling flicker responsive to periodic illumination at a second frequency if the amount of rolling flicker is below the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Yi He, Stuart William Milton, Todd Nelson Schoepflin, Andrew Juenger, Roy Goh, Douglas L. Beck
  • Patent number: 8441550
    Abstract: A video camera includes an imager. An imager outputs an object scene image produced on an imaging surface. A detector detects a plurality of luminance change amounts respectively corresponding to a plurality of timings based on the object scene image outputted from the imager. A determiner determines generation/non-generation of a flicker by referring to a difference between a sine wave depicted along a time axis and the plurality of luminance change amounts detected by the detector. A first adjuster adjusts an angular frequency of the sine wave to a frequency corresponding to a drive system of the imager. A second adjuster adjusts an initial phase and an amplitude of the sine wave based on the plurality of luminance change amounts detected by the detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Mizuguchi, Kazuhiro Tsujino
  • Patent number: 8441551
    Abstract: Circuitry, apparatus and methods provide flicker detection and improved image generation for digital cameras that employ image sensors. In one example, circuitry and methods are operative to compare a first captured frame with a second captured frame that may be, for example, sequential and consecutive or non-consecutive if desired, to determine misalignment of scene content between the frames. A realigned second frame is produced by realigning the second frame with the first frame if the frames are determined to be misaligned. Luminance data from the realigned second frame and luminance data from the pixels of the first frame are used to determine if an undesired flicker condition exists. If an undesired flicker condition is detected, exposure time control information is generated for output to the imaging sensor that captured the frame, to reduce flicker. This operation may be done, for example, during a preview mode for a digital camera, or may be performed at any other suitable time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Graham C. H. Greenland, Milivoje Aleksic, Sergio Goma
  • Patent number: 8441552
    Abstract: A photographing apparatus and method and a recording medium, the photographing apparatus including: an exposure control value calculator for calculating a first exposure control value for a first image obtained by performing non-flash photographing and a second exposure control value for a second image by performing flash photographing based on light received from a subject; a photographing unit for acquiring the first image by performing photographing based on the first exposure control value and acquiring the second image by performing photographing based on the second exposure control value; an exposure control value difference calculator for calculating an exposure control value difference that is a difference between the first exposure control value and the second exposure control value; and a subject brightness calculator for calculating a first subject brightness of the first image and calculating a second subject brightness of the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiko Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8441553
    Abstract: An imager is provided having an image-capturing device, a voice detector, a voice recognition device and a composer. The image-capturing device captures a subject image and outputs an image. The voice detector detects ambient sound. The voice recognition device converts the ambient sound to characters. The composer composes the characters into the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8441554
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: a first image capturing unit that captures a subject existing image; a first nonflatness calculating unit that calculates nonflatness of a peripheral portion of the subject existing image; a first determination unit that determines whether the nonflatness of the peripheral portion of the subject existing image is higher than a threshold value; a background generating unit that generates an extracting background image from the peripheral portion of the subject existing image when the first determination unit determines that the nonflatness is not higher than the threshold value, the extracting background image serving to extract a subject region containing the subject in the subject existing image; and a subject extracting unit that extracts the subject region from the subject existing image based on difference information of each corresponding pixel between the extracting background image and the subject existing image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuji Makino
  • Patent number: 8441555
    Abstract: An image recording apparatus for recording an image captured by use of electronic zoom, comprises an electronic-zoom setting unit configured to set a zoom magnification when using the electronic zoom, a recording-mode selection unit configured to select at least either a non-compression format or a compression format as a recording mode in recording the captured image, a recording-size setting unit configured to set a recording size in each recording mode, and a control unit configured to, when the zoom magnification is set to a magnification at which an image is enlarged, control a recording size in the non-compression format to be larger than the recording size set by the recording-size setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukio Odaka
  • Patent number: 8441556
    Abstract: An optical system including five lens units having, in order from the object side, positive, negative, positive, negative, positive refracting powers respectively. The distances between the lens units change during zooming. The first and third lens units are located closer to the object side at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end of the zoom range. The first lens unit includes a negative lens, a first positive lens, and a second positive lens. The second lens unit includes a plurality of negative lenses and at least one positive lens. The third lens unit includes a plurality of positive lenses and at least one negative lens. The fourth and fifth lens units each include two lenses or less. The refractive indices of the at least one negative lens in the first lens unit, the at least one positive lens in the second lens unit, and the at least one negative lens in the third lens unit are not lower than 1.9. The optical system satisfies a certain condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventor: Akinori Nishio
  • Patent number: 8441557
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes a first lens group with positive refracting power and normally located at a fixed position, a second lens group with negative refracting power and movable in an optical axis direction for zooming, a third lens group with positive refracting power and normally located at a fixed position, a fourth lens group with positive refracting power and movable in the optical axis direction for correction of a focal position for zooming and focusing, and a fifth lens group. These lens groups are arranged in order from an object side to an image side. The zoom lens satisfies the conditional equations (1) 1.00<f3/f4<2.49 and (2) 1.00<|fw1˜2/f2|<1.50, where f2 to f4 are focal lengths of the second to fourth lens groups, and fw1˜2 is a synthetic focal length of the first and second lens groups at the wide-angle end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takuya Anzawa, Shinichi Arita
  • Patent number: 8441558
    Abstract: An solid state image pickup device including a plurality of photoelectric conversion regions (PD1, PD2) for generating carriers by photoelectric conversions to accumulate the generated carriers, an amplifying unit for amplifying the carriers, being commonly provided to at least two photoelectric conversion regions, a first and a second transfer units (Tx-MOS1, Tx-MOS2) for transferring the carriers accumulated in the first and the second photoelectric conversion regions, respectively, a first and a second carrier accumulating units (Cs1, Cs2) for accumulating the carriers flowing out from the first and the second photoelectric conversion regions through a first and a second fixed potential barriers, respectively, and a third and a fourth transfer units (Cs-MOS1, Cs-MOS2) for transferring the carriers accumulated in the first and the second carrier accumulating units to the amplifying unit, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akira Okita, Toru Koizumi, Masanori Ogura, Shin Kikuchi, Tetsuya Itano
  • Patent number: 8441559
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided for reducing noise which is derived from random noise contained in a correction signal used for correcting an image data and is newly generated on correction of the image data. The imaging apparatus drives vertical transfer registers with no signal charge from photoelectric transducers read out to the vertical transfer registers to obtain and store a correction signal into a field memory. The apparatus subtracts the correction signal from the image data by a subtractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yukihiro Tanizoe, Yasutoshi Yamamoto, Yoshimasa Okabe, Hiromasa Funakoshi
  • Patent number: 8441560
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor including a first reference pixel for black level, a second reference pixel for black level, and an effective pixel, and a processing unit which applies first processing to an output signal from the effective pixel based on an output signal from the first reference pixel for black level, and applies second processing to an output signal from the effective pixel based on an output signal from the second reference pixel for black level. The first reference pixel for black level and the second reference pixel for black level each include a charge-voltage converter which converts electric charge into a voltage and a pixel amplifier which amplifies the voltage of the charge-voltage converter. The pixel amplifiers of the first reference pixel for black level and the second reference pixel for black level differ in arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshikazu Yanai
  • Patent number: 8441561
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that make it possible to perform image processing under appropriate conditions and secure appropriate image qualities of taken images. The image pickup device has a photoelectric conversion element portion that generates signal electric charge according to the amount of received light, a first optical black unit having a light-shielded photoelectric conversion element structure and having first output characteristics, and a second optical black unit having a light-shielded photoelectric conversion element structure and having second output characteristics different from the first output characteristics. A dark current value is measured based on an output from the first optical black unit and an output from the second optical black unit. Whether or not to perform image processing is determined according to the measured dark current value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Teruyuki Okado
  • Patent number: 8441562
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for determining a phase alignment of a Bayer color filter array is provided. A quincunx lattice of the color filter array corresponding to a first color component is determined from an input frame of image data. Elements of the color filter array corresponding to first and second rectangular lattices of the color filter array are selected. Second and third color components corresponding to elements of the first and second rectangular lattices are determined from the sample values in an input frame of image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Xilinx, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabor Szedo, Jose R. Alvarez
  • Patent number: 8441563
    Abstract: An electric conversion device may include A/D converters each of which includes a pulse delay circuit and an encoder, the pulse delay circuit including delay units each of which delaying a pulse signal with a delay time based on the difference between a voltage of a pixel signal and a reference voltage, the delay units being connected so that the pulse signal can circulate through the delay units, the encoder outputting a digital value based on the number of the delay units that the pulse signal passes through within a predetermined period of time. The encoder may include a latch circuit that includes latch units storing delay information, the delay information being output when the pulse signal passes through each of the delay units, an encoder unit that outputs the digital value based on the delay information, and a counter unit that counts the number of circulations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Atsuko Kume
  • Patent number: 8441564
    Abstract: In the solid-state imaging apparatus, the carrier holding portion is arranged at a position in a first direction from a photoelectric conversion portion, a floating diffusion region is arranged at a position in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction from the carrier holding portion with a transfer portion sandwiched between the floating diffusion region and the carrier holding portion, the carrier holding portion included in the first pixel is arranged between the photoelectric conversion portion included in the first pixel and the photoelectric conversion portion included in the second pixel, the carrier holding portion included in the first pixel is covered with a light shielding portion, and the light shielding portion extends over a part of each of the photoelectric conversion portions included in the first and second pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8441565
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that makes it possible to achieve both high picture quality and a wide dynamic range is provided. Each pixel unit included in the image pickup apparatus includes: four photodiodes; four transfer transistors; a charge storage portion (four floating diffusions) for storing electric charges generated at the photodiodes; an amplification transistor; a select transistor; and a reset transistor. The image pickup apparatus further includes multiple coupling transistors. Each coupling transistor couples together the charge storage portions of two pixel units of the pixel units. A scanning circuit switches on or off the coupling transistors according to read mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Zenzo Suzuki, Katsumi Dosaka
  • Patent number: 8441566
    Abstract: An image sensing apparatus comprises: a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arrayed in a row direction and column direction; a selection unit configured to select a row of the pixel array; and a readout unit configured to read out signals from the pixels of the row selected by the selection unit, wherein, when the readout unit reads out signals from the pixels of not all rows but some rows in the pixel array, the selection unit resets the pixels of rows in adjacent regions adjacent to readout rows from which signals are read out, and the pixel array includes rows, in which the pixels are not reset by the selection unit, in regions other than the readout rows and the adjacent regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keisuke Ota
  • Patent number: 8441567
    Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus and a method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus prevent a touch malfunction from occurring while holding the digital photographing apparatus by having a touch protection area in the digital photographing apparatus. The digital photographing apparatus includes a large-sized touch screen on one surface thereof, wherein the touch screen includes: a touch area which inputs a touch from a user and executes icons corresponding to the touch; and a touch protection area which is not activated by the touch when the touch from the user is input on the touch screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hye-jin Kim, Jun-ho Choi, Sung-ho Eun, Na-ri Choi
  • Patent number: 8441568
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store attribute information about a person and information about a priority of the person with the attribute information associated with the information about a priority, an imaging unit configured to capture a subject to generate image data, and a display unit configured to display attribute information of a person included in an image represented by the image data generated by the imaging unit. When displaying plural pieces of attribute information for a plurality of people with the plurality pieces of attribute information being overlapped, the display unit displays attribute information of a person having a higher priority above attribute information of a person having a lower priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Kazumasa Tabata
  • Patent number: 8441569
    Abstract: A reproducing apparatus, an image data reproducing method, a program, and a storage medium each detects an attitude state of the reproducing apparatus, extracts a part of an area of image data obtained by an image pickup device, and reproduces the part of the area of the extracted image data. According to the detection result, the part of the area of the image data is changed to another part of the area and rotation processing of another part of the area is performed, thereby reproducing the another part of the area which was subjected to the rotation processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Harada
  • Patent number: 8441570
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus and a lens apparatus capable of photographing high-grade still images even where an interlace type image pickup element is used are to be provided. When an instruction to photograph a still image is entered, a camera microcomputer generates a timing to intercept light coming incident on a lens according to the aperture value of an iris, and transmits this timing to a lens microcomputer. The lens microcomputer supplies a control signal to an aperture control circuit according to the received timing, and a mechanical shutter is caused to operate as the aperture control circuit closes the iris at high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Tsuda
  • Patent number: 8441571
    Abstract: A control method for an image sensing apparatus is provided with an operation unit for receiving input from a user and a communication unit for communicating with an external processing device, and having a power saving mode for stopping the supply of electrical power to at least a part of the image sensing apparatus if no input to the operation unit is performed for a predetermined time period is disclosed. The control method selects one of a plurality of operation modes including at least image sensing mode and playback mode, and controls a shift to the power saving mode depending on the selected operation mode and a state of communication with the external processing apparatus using the communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoichi Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 8441572
    Abstract: To produce a subject's image on an imager as accurately as possible, a technique that is effectively applicable to the process of assembling an optical system is provided. An imaging device includes: an imager; a plate member, to which the imager is attached; and a holding member configured to hold the plate member. The plate member has a first portion, through which at least one fixing hole has been cut, and a second portion, to which the imager is attached and through which at least one adjusting hole has been cut. The plate member is held by the holding member using a number of fastening members to be introduced through the at least one fixing hole and the at least one adjusting hole. When the first portion is fixed on the holding member, the fastening member that is introduced through the at least one adjusting hole adjusts the relative position of the second portion to the holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Konishi, Koichiro Hirabayashi, Keiji Sakamoto, Daisuke Ito, Eiji Nagasaki
  • Patent number: 8441573
    Abstract: Systems and methods of coding progressive content with isolated fields for conversion to interlaced display are provided. Some systems and methods may find use in, for example, digital video compression systems and methods. Film material may be encoded as video material with an intended field polarity and an explicit 3:2 pull-down operation for interlaced display (e.g., a 30-frames-per-second display).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventors: Sherman (Xuemin) Chen, Alexander G. MacInnis
  • Patent number: 8441574
    Abstract: A system and method for displaying images or video on an electronic display. A unique identifier may be embedded within the frames of images or video and detected by a light sensor. The data from the light sensor is analyzed to determine if the proper image or video was actually shown at the display. Some embodiments analyze the data from the light sensor in real time and may stop displaying the image or video if the data is not in the format of a unique identifier. Using this embodiment, the system can prevent unintended images or video from being shown on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
    Inventors: William Dunn, Rick De Laet, John Schuch, Jerry Wasinger
  • Patent number: 8441575
    Abstract: It is difficult to implement a conventional phase lock loop circuit in a sink device within an HDMI system because the low frequency input causes the conventional phase lock loop circuit to absorb unnecessary noise during a long waiting period. Therefore, the present invention provides a low jitter clock regenerator comprises: an input clock; a divider to divide said input clock into a slower clock; a phase lock loop circuit to regenerate said slower clock to a reference clock; and a parameter transformer to tune said divider and said phase lock loop circuit to increase the adjustment speed of said phase lock loop circuit. The present invention also provides a method to reorganize parameters in order to create new parameters which are better suitable for a clock recovery circuit in a sink device within an HDMI system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Himax Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Hui-Min Wang
  • Patent number: 8441576
    Abstract: A television receiver computes a delay time of an image displayed on the television receiver with respect to an audio signal transmitted from the television receiver to an audio amplifier, based on video delay information as EDID data, delay information transported from a disc recorder and information of a time required until audio data received from the disc recorder is transmitted to an audio amplifier. The audio amplifier controls a delay time lasting until the audio responsive to the received audio data is outputted so that the delay time matches the aforementioned delay time. Thereby, the displayed image in the television receiver and the audio output in the audio amplifier are synchronized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Nakajima, Hidekazu Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8441577
    Abstract: Systems and methods are operable to synchronize presentation between video streams and separately received audio streams. An exemplary embodiment receives a first media content stream at a media device, wherein the first media content stream comprises at least a video stream portion; receives a second media content stream at the media device, wherein the second media content stream comprises at least an audio stream portion; delays the audio stream portion of the second media content stream by a duration corresponding to at least one synchronization time delay; communicates the video stream portion of the first media content stream to a visual display device; and communicates the delayed audio stream portion of the second media content stream to an audio presentation device, wherein a visual scene of the video stream portion of the first media content stream is substantially synchronized with sounds of the audio stream portion of the second media content stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: EchoStar Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gregory Davis