Patents Issued in February 18, 2014
  • Patent number: 8654212
    Abstract: The controller controls the audio processor to perform the first reduction process, in a case where the type of the connected removable lens unit is a first type lens unit, the controller controls the audio processor to perform the second reduction process, in a case where the type of the connected removable lens unit is a second type lens unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masafumi Kimura
  • Patent number: 8654213
    Abstract: An imaging device comprising an image pickup sensor that captures an image of a subject, a storage unit that temporarily stores a plurality of frames of image data captured by the image pickup sensor, a detection unit that detects identity or non-identity between at least two image data consecutively captured by the image pickup sensor adjacent in time based on a predetermined image characteristic quantity, and a control unit that controls the device to write the later captured image data in the storage unit when the detection unit detects the non-identity and to not write the later captured image data in the storage unit when it detects the identity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Tetsuya Konishi
  • Patent number: 8654214
    Abstract: Multi-spectral imaging technique embodiments are presented which involve an active imaging approach that uses wide band illumination of known spectral distributions to obtain multi-spectral reflectance information in the presence of unknown ambient illumination. In general, a reflectance spectral distribution of a captured scene is computed by selecting a number of different illumination spectra and capturing multiple images of the scene. Each of these images is captured when the scene is illuminated by a different one of the selected illumination spectra in addition to the ambient light. The reflectance spectral distribution of the scene is computed for each pixel location based on the relative response between pairs of the radiometric responses of the corresponding pixels in the captured images, given a set of parameters including the added illumination spectra used to capture each of the images and the response function and spectral sensitivity of the camera used to capture the images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Moshe Benezra, Chi Cui
  • Patent number: 8654215
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for combining a mobile communication device having a camera (150) that includes a curved sensor (160) are disclosed. The present invention offers higher quality pictures that conventional phones that incorporate a flat sensor. These higher quality pictures are obtained without the need for large, bulky and expensive lenses. Higher light gathering capacity is provided, which reduces or eliminates the need for a flash to enhance ambient illumination. Longer battery life is obtained, since the need for a flash is reduced or eliminated. The combination of a mobile communication device with a camera that utilizes a curved sensor renders dedicated pocket cameras obsolete. The present invention, which, for the first time, combines a mobile communication device with a high performance camera, will reduce or eliminate the need to carry a separate stand-alone camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventors: Gary Edwin Sutton, Douglas Gene Lockie
  • Patent number: 8654216
    Abstract: A camera system includes a lens unit, a mount, a camera body, and a control unit. The lens unit includes at least one lens unit operation portion and changes the magnification of an optical image electrically. The mount supports removably the lens unit. The camera body includes at least one camera body operation portion. The control unit controls the lens unit so as to change the magnification of an optical image electrically in response to either one of the operation of the camera body operation portion or the operation of the lens unit operation portion. The control unit controls the lens unit so as to execute an operation that is different from the operation which changes the magnification of an optical image, in response to the other of the operation of the camera body operation portion or the operation of the lens unit operation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Dai Shintani, Akira Koga, Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 8654217
    Abstract: A system and method for detecting dust (18) on an image sensor (20) from a single captured image (14) of an actual scene (12) includes a control system (22) that evaluates at least one of a hue channel (466), a value channel (470), and a saturation channel (468) of the captured image (14) to determine if there is dust (18) on the image sensor (20). For example, the control system (22) can evaluate the hue channel (466) and the value channel (470) of the captured image (14) to determine if there is dust (18) on the image sensor (20). With information from the hue channel (466) and the value channel (470), the control system (22) can compute a computed probability (572) of dust (18) for a plurality of pixels (362) of the captured image (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hany Farid
  • Patent number: 8654218
    Abstract: An imaging technology having high reproducibility of a document and making image correction possible, without being influenced by a way of placing the document or a position of a camera, and irrespective of paper color and despite of damage of a corner portion. By printing positioning symbols on document paper in advance when the document is photographed by a digital camera or a portable phone with a camera, such as a smart phone, and by processing the image based on these positioning symbols, image processing having high reproducibility of the document and making image correction (keystone correction) possible can be implemented irrespective of paper color and despite damage to a corner portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: King Jim Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Hine, Shin Endo
  • Patent number: 8654219
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image display apparatus including a display unit; a camera unit configured to capture a subject, and to acquire a depth image from the captured subject; and a controller operatively connected to the display unit and the camera unit, the controller configured to control the camera unit to restore an interest region based on depth information and light intensity information when the interest region exists in the acquired depth image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Soungmin Im, Soungsoo Park
  • Patent number: 8654220
    Abstract: When determining a direction in which pixels highly correlated with a defective pixel exist, it is determined whether the direction is the horizontal or vertical direction or the oblique direction from signal values of peripheral pixels of the same color as the defective pixel. On the other hand, one of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction and one of a plurality of predetermined oblique directions are determined from signal values of peripheral pixels of different colors from the defective pixel, and one direction is selected as the final direction determination result according to a determination result obtained by using pixels of the same color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Honda, Hiroshi Ogino
  • Patent number: 8654221
    Abstract: An image processing device extracting a contrast component for each pixel of an input image by removing a low-frequency component of the input image and correcting the contrast component for each pixel based on a gain value, including: an input/output-property generating unit for generating an input/output-property curve, assuming an input contrast component which is the pre-correction contrast component as input, and an output contrast component which is the post-correction contrast component as output, which is an input/output-property curve of which the output contrast component monotonously increases as to the input contrast component; a gain properties generating unit for generating a gain property curve representing properties as to the input contrast component of the gain value for correcting the input contrast component to obtain the output contrast component based on the input/output-property curve; and a gain-value calculating unit for calculating the gain value for each pixel of the input image bas
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoo Mitsunaga
  • Patent number: 8654222
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a main image sensor configured to obtain an image used for recording, a sub-image sensor configured to obtain a live view image, an input switching unit, and a signal processor. The input switching unit receives a plurality of sensor outputs including an output of the main image sensor and an output of the sub-image sensor, switches the plurality of received sensor outputs in a time-division manner, and outputs time-division switched signals of the plurality of sensor outputs to the signal processor. The signal processor receives the time-division switched signals from the input switching unit, and executes signal processing on the received time-division switched signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuyoshi Kuwazoe
  • Patent number: 8654223
    Abstract: The image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor unit including an optical system forming an optical image of an object placed on a stage part and plural image sensors each of which captures part of the optical image, a drive mechanism relatively moving the stage part and the image sensor unit, and a processing part causing the image sensor unit to perform plural image capturing operations with causing the drive mechanism to relatively move the stage part and the image sensor unit after each image capturing operation, and combining the plural captured images to produce a whole image covering the whole image capturing area. The plural image sensors are arranged such that an effective diameter of the optical system necessary to introduce light from the stage part to all the plural image sensors is smaller than a diameter of a circle circumscribed to the whole image capturing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoaki Kawakami
  • Patent number: 8654224
    Abstract: A composite imaging element is provided that includes a first imaging element and a second imaging element. The first imaging element has a plurality of first opto-electrical conversion parts, a first light receiving surface, and a first circuit part. The first opto-electrical conversion parts are configured to receive light with a first basic color and a second basic color different from the first basic color. The first opto-electrical conversion parts are also configured to convert light received by the first opto-electrical conversion parts into a first electrical signal. The first light receiving surface is formed by the first opto-electrical conversion parts. The first circuit part transmits the first electrical signal. The second imaging element has a plurality of second opto-electrical conversion parts and a second circuit part. The second opto-electrical conversion parts receive light emitted from the first opto-electrical conversion parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Dai Shintani
  • Patent number: 8654225
    Abstract: A color interpolation system is disclosed. An enhancement unit receives raw signals from an image sensor, and then processes the raw signals to output an enhanced first signal. A first interpolation unit receives and processes a raw first signal and accordingly outputs an interpolated first signal. A gain generator generates an enhancement gain according to the enhanced first signal and the interpolated first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Himax Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Po-Chang Chen, Yuan-Chih Peng, Yu-Yu Sung
  • Patent number: 8654226
    Abstract: A gated-clock shift register including a series of clocked flip-flops with preceding outputs connected to subsequent inputs as a horizontal digital shift register. Each flip-flop (or other state holding device) includes a clock buffer between the respective flip-flop's clock, and the global clock. Each clock buffer propagates the clock signal when it determines the associated flip-flop will have a state change during that clock cycle (e.g., via an XOR of the flip-flops input and output signals). In the absence of a state change, that buffer does not propagate the clock signal, essentially only clocking the relevant flip-flops. Further, the clock buffer may be implemented with only NMOS devices (or alternatively, only PMOS devices), which offers power savings over an otherwise required CMOS implementation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Analog Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven Decker
  • Patent number: 8654227
    Abstract: A focus detection apparatus includes: an image sensor that has a first pixel group which receives a luminous flux passing a first pupil area of an imaging optical system, and a second pixel group which receives a luminous flux passing a second pupil area different from the first pupil area; a storage unit that stores first and second distribution functions corresponding to the first and second pupil areas, respectively; a calculation unit that generates a first image signal by performing calculations on a first subject image, obtained from the first pixel group, using the second distribution function, and generates a second image signal by performing calculations on a second subject image, obtained from the second pixel group, using the first distribution function; and a focus state detection unit that detects a focus state of the imaging optical system based on the first and the second image signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Hashimoto, Akihiko Nagano
  • Patent number: 8654228
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an optical system configured to collect subject light, an imaging device having an electronic front curtain function, configured to receive the subject light to generate an image signal, a data storage unit configured to store an exit pupil distance of the optical system and a correction amount of the exit pupil distance, a mechanical shutter capable of cutting off the subject light passing through the optical system to the imaging device, and a correction unit configured to obtain the exit pupil distance of the optical system and the correction amount of the exit pupil distance from the data storage unit, obtain a corrected exit pupil distance using the obtained exit pupil distance of the optical system and a correction amount of the exit pupil distance, and correct brightness unevenness of the image signal based on the corrected exit pupil distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Haruo Isaka, Mikio Sakurai, Yasuhiro Nakagai
  • Patent number: 8654229
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: a synchronizing signal generation portion outputting a synchronizing signal periodically; a diaphragm; an imaging portion operated based on the synchronizing signal to pick up a subject image through the diaphragm and generate image data; a trigger input portion operable to input a trigger signal commanding a start of a photographing operation by the imaging portion; and a control portion controlling the operation of the imaging portion. The control portion controls synchronous processing for operating the diaphragm in synchronization with the synchronizing signal. When the trigger signal is input, the control portion stops the generation of the synchronizing signal by the synchronizing signal generation portion and thereafter resumes the generation of the synchronizing signal, while when the synchronous processing is being performed, the control portion initializes the synchronous processing before resuming the generation of the synchronizing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yuji Shigeta, Yasutoshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8654230
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image pickup circuit including: amplifying means for amplifying a charge corresponding to an amount of light received by a photodetector, and outputting a pixel signal; ramp signal generating means for generating a ramp signal whose voltage drops with a fixed slope from a predetermined initial voltage; and comparing means for comparing the pixel signal output by the amplifying means with the ramp signal output by the ramp signal generating means. A reference potential of the pixel signal output by the amplifying means and a reference potential of the ramp signal output by the ramp signal generating means are at a same level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hayato Wakabayashi, Yoshiaki Inada, Ken Koseki
  • Patent number: 8654231
    Abstract: In a CMOS image sensor in which a plurality of pixels is arranged in a matrix, a transistor in which a channel formation region includes an oxide semiconductor is used for each of a charge accumulation control transistor and a reset transistor which are in a pixel portion. After a reset operation of the signal charge accumulation portion is performed in all the pixels arranged in the matrix, a charge accumulation operation by the photodiode is performed in all the pixels, and a read operation of a signal from the pixel is performed per row. Accordingly, an image can be taken without a distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kurokawa, Takayuki Ikeda, Hikaru Tamura, Munehiro Kozuma, Masataka Ikeda, Takeshi Aoki
  • Patent number: 8654232
    Abstract: A pixel design is disclosed. The pixel includes a photo-sensitive element. A first reflective layer substantially overlies the photo-sensitive element. A second reflective layer substantially underlies the photo-sensitive element and forms a cavity with the first reflective layer that is non-resonant with respect to photon absorption. An aperture is formed in either the first reflective layer or the second reflective layer. When electromagnetic radiation enters the aperture, the first reflective layer and the second reflective layer are configured to reflect the electromagnetic radiation substantially toward each other until substantially absorbed in the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Peter Alan Levine, Rui Zhu, John Robertson Tower
  • Patent number: 8654233
    Abstract: A The CMOS image sensor includes a pixel array including pixels arranged in a matrix of rows and columns and a row selection unit configured to generate selection signals for simultaneously or concurrently selecting at least two rows from the rows of the pixel array in response to a received row address. An analog-to-digital conversion unit is configured to convert pixel data output from the at least two rows selected from the pixel array into a digital video signal and output the digital video signal. The pixel array outputs the pixel data in response to the selection signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 8654234
    Abstract: A bidirectional screen alternately switches between a display mode showing conventional graphics and a capture mode in which the LCD backlight is disabled and the LCD displays a pinhole array or a tiled-broadband code. A large-format image sensor is placed behind the liquid crystal layer. Together, the image sensor and LCD function as a mask-based light field camera, capturing an array of images equivalent to that produced by an array of cameras spanning the display surface. The recovered multi-view orthographic imagery is used to passively estimate the depth of scene points from focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Matthew Hirsch, Ramesh Raskar, Henry Holtzman, Douglas Lanman
  • Patent number: 8654235
    Abstract: A terminal device includes: a camera configured to capture an image via a lens; a wireless communication unit configured to receive service information corresponding to a service zone in the service zone; a controller configured to extract service information corresponding to the image captured by the camera among the received service information; and a display unit configured to visually display the extracted service information under the control of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jinsung Im, Yunji Koh, Kangsoo Shin, Dukho Choi
  • Patent number: 8654236
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus selects and extracts a longest straight line from a captured image, and superimposes the straight line on the captured image to display it by a display device. An orientation detection unit including an acceleration sensor detects a roll angle. An X axis indicating a roll angle 0° and a Y axis indicating a roll angle 90° of the acceleration sensor are superimposed on the captured image, and an original point of the X and Y axes is matched with a center value of the extracted straight line to be displayed by the display device. A user rotates, by a predetermined operation, the image until the X and Y axes match the gradient of the extracted straight line. Thus, a system control unit corrects a roll angle output value of the orientation detection unit by an amount equal to a corrected rotational angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Shiozaki
  • Patent number: 8654237
    Abstract: A method of controlling a digital photographing apparatus including a touch screen to which a touch input is applied by a user, the method includes: recognizing the touch input by the user in a photographing mode; setting a photographing condition by the recognized touch input; and performing a photographing, wherein the setting a photographing condition includes performing a plurality of auto focuses with time intervals, by which a focus change due to shaking occurring in the touch type photographing may be addressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hae-sung Oh
  • Patent number: 8654238
    Abstract: A digital still camera includes an image-capturing device, a recording device that records a subject image captured by the image-capturing device into an image recording medium, a first monitor device and a second monitor device. The images repeatedly captured by the image-capturing device are displayed in real time at the first monitor device and, at the same time, a photographic support image having been captured by the image-capturing device is displayed at the second monitor device. A single image or a plurality of images recorded in the image recording medium, for instance, may be displayed at the second monitor device as the photographic support image. Alternatively, an image obtained by partially enlarging the image displayed at the first monitor device may be displayed at the second monitor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Fujinawa
  • Patent number: 8654239
    Abstract: An infrared (IR) camera comprising: a camera housing having an image capturing device; an objective with an optical lens system for generating an IR image of an object; a focusing mechanism for focusing the optical lens system; a focus ring that is displaceably mounted on the objective and adapted to control an electromechanical focusing servo system actuating the focusing mechanism dependent on a displacement of the focus ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: FLIR Systems AB
    Inventors: Rune Bergqvist, Katrin Strandemar, Ove Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 8654240
    Abstract: Methods and the corresponding device are presented for the correction of lateral chromatic aberration within a digital camera or other imaging device, using calibration approaches that do not require previously acquired lens data to effect the correction. An in-camera auto-calibration procedure is performed on the attached lens, such as when a lens is exchanged, and extracts parameters required for chromatic aberration correction, respecting zoom and focus, from one or more captured images. Based on image data extracted as a plurality of channels of a chromatic decomposition of the image, the chromatic aberration information for the lens is extracted. From the chromatic aberration information, the correction factors for the lens are determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: CSR Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dudi Vakrat, Victor Pinto
  • Patent number: 8654241
    Abstract: An image pickup lens includes: a first lens with a positive power, including a convex surface facing the object side; an aperture stop; a second lens with a negative power, including a concave surface facing the image side; a third lens with a positive or negative power; a fourth lens with a positive power, including a convex surface facing the image side; and a fifth lens with a negative power, including a concave surface facing the image side. The surface of the fifth lens facing the image side is an aspheric surface and includes an inflection point. The image pickup lens satisfies the predetermined condition relating to a focal length of the first lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventor: Eigo Sano
  • Patent number: 8654242
    Abstract: Provided is a single-focus optical system which is configured, in order from the object side to the image side, of a first to third lens groups and in which the first lens group and the third lens group are fixed with respect to a predetermined imaging surface, and the second lens group is moved in the optical axis direction to focus, wherein the first lens group comprises at least one positive lens and at least one negative lens, the second lens group comprises at least one positive lens, the third lens group comprises at least one lens having at least one aspheric surface and having a positive optical power at a peripheral portion thereof and 5<|?v1|<70 is satisfied where ?v1 is a maximum value of the Abbe number difference between the positive lens and the negative lens in the first lens group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Keiji Matsusaka, Taizo Wakimura, Masashi Isono, Eigo Sano, Keiko Yamada, Hiroaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8654243
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a display unit configured to display a captured image, an object region detection unit configured to detect the main object region in a photographic screen, a determination unit configured to determine whether the main object region is in a focused state, an enlarge unit configured to enlarge and display the main object region in focus on the display unit larger than when the main object region is not in focus, an object movement detection unit configured to detect whether the main object in the main object region moves in the photographic screen, and an enlarge control unit configured to, when the object movement detection unit detects that the main object is moving, limit the enlarge from performing enlargement and display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tetsuya Hada
  • Patent number: 8654244
    Abstract: An image-pickup system is disclosed which is capable of performing highly accurate back focus adjustment for each combination of an image-pickup apparatus and a lens apparatus. The system includes a first memory provided in the image-pickup apparatus and stores first identification information unique to a combination of the image-pickup apparatus and a certain lens apparatus, a second memory provided in the lens apparatus and stores second identification information unique to a combination of the lens apparatus and a certain image-pickup apparatus. A comparator compares the first identification information with the second identification information. The generator generates, when the comparison results that the first identification information does not match the second identification information, identification information unique to the combination of the image-pickup apparatus and the lens apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Okamura
  • Patent number: 8654245
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging element, a shutter mechanism, an actuator, a rotatable transmission member, a position detector, and a drive controller. The shutter mechanism is switchable between an open and a closed state to control the light incident on the imaging element. The transmission member is configured to transmit a driving force produced by the actuator to the shutter mechanism. The position detector is configured to detect the rotational position of the transmission member. The drive controller is configured to direct the actuator to begin storing the driving force while image data is being read from the imaging element, to control the timing at which the actuator begins driving the shutter mechanism based on the position of the transmission member detected by the position detector, and to switch the shutter mechanism from the closed state to the open state after the actuator has stopped storing the driving force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Junji Takahata, Takahiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8654246
    Abstract: An image processor (101) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a polarized light source (102) and a polarization camera (103). In shooting an object (104), the object is irradiated with polarized light (105) that rotates its polarization plane. The polarized light is reflected from the object's surface and the polarized reflected light (106) reaches the polarization camera (103), thereby recording an image there. The polarization camera (103) includes a polarization image sensor (201), an intensity and polarization information processing section (202), a polarization plane control section (204), and an image capturing control section (205). By capturing an image every time the polarization plane control section (204) changes the polarization state of the polarized light, an intensity image Y and a polarization phase image P are obtained in association with each polarization state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Kanamori
  • Patent number: 8654247
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes a fixing element, an image-capturing module, and a resilient friction element. The fixing element includes a fixed friction face. The image-capturing module includes a journal portion connected rotatably to the fixing element, and a main body connected to the journal portion and having a lens. The journal portion has an outer surface facing the friction face and rotatable relative to the friction face, and at least one accommodating groove formed in the outer surface. The resilient friction element is disposed on the outer surface of the journal portion, and includes at least one friction portion spanning the accommodating groove. The friction portion is in frictional contact with the friction face, and is deformed and compressed into the accommodating groove by the friction face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Wen-Tsung Chang
  • Patent number: 8654248
    Abstract: A system and method for displaying video content in a proper aspect ratio may include, in response to video content being received from a personal computer, determining if the video content is configured to be displayed in the first aspect ratio. If the video content is configured to be displayed in the first aspect ratio, the video content is displayed in the first aspect ratio. Otherwise, if the video content is not configured to be displayed in the first aspect ratio, the video content is displayed in the second aspect ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC
    Inventors: Jamie C. Howarter, Douglas Ceballos, Michael Lesher
  • Patent number: 8654249
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a resolution determining section that determines, for a selected combination of an input terminal and an output terminal, an input set resolution set for an input terminal to be a processing resolution, when an output set resolution of an output terminal is set to “Source”; and ignores the input set resolution set for the input terminal and determines the output set resolution set for the output terminal to be a processing resolution, when the output set resolution of the output terminal is set to other than “Source”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Onkyo Corporation
    Inventors: Hideyuki Sawada, Tadaharu Sunaga, Shinya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8654250
    Abstract: A method and a system for deriving visual rhythm from a video signal are described. A feature extraction module receives the video signal and extracts a two-dimensional feature from the video signal. A one-dimensional video feature computation module derives a one-dimensional feature from the extracted two-dimensional feature. A visual rhythm detector module detects a visual beat and a visual tempo from the one-dimensional feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ching-Wei Chen, Trista Chen
  • Patent number: 8654251
    Abstract: Problem. Current systems for generating synchronized video sequences from multiple video sources are too complex, too restrictive, too cumbersome or too imprecise. There are also few practical ways of faithfully transmitting highly synchronized multivideo between video sources and video sinks. Solution. A system and a method for ensuring precise synchronization of high speed stereovision or multivision systems is disclosed. This method involves the use of matched video sources such as cameras or image sensors which are subjected to a common clock as well as identical operating conditions thereby guaranteeing an identical internal state and synchronized output timing behaviour without relying on the provision of a frame reset pulse or a line reset pulse generated by any one of the video sources in order to guarantee synchronization. This avoids the delays associated with the transmission of such pulses and hence allows much higher frames rates to be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: University of Malta
    Inventor: Marc Anthony Azzopardi
  • Patent number: 8654252
    Abstract: There is provided an electronic device and an information processing program, which may provide a user with information about functions of the electronic device without stress to the user. The electronic device includes: a holding section holding plural pieces of function-introductory information each concerning a plurality of functions of the electronic device; a determination section selecting one out of the plural pieces of function-introductory information, and determining the selected piece of function-introductory information as transmission information to be transmitted to an external display device; and an output section outputting the transmission information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yuki Sugiue
  • Patent number: 8654253
    Abstract: A video apparatus includes a video processor for performing video processing to generate normal video data. The video processor includes an on-screen display (OSD) module for selectively generating OSD data that is capable of being mixed into the normal video data. The video apparatus further includes a digital output path including a digital transmitter and an analog output path including a digital-to-analog converter (DAC). The video apparatus is capable of outputting OSD data through an unauthorized output path out of the digital and analog output paths to provide a user with a warning message or an interactive help dialogue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventors: Hsiang-Sung Huang, Ting-Hsun Wei, Hua Wu
  • Patent number: 8654254
    Abstract: An apparatus for driving a display panel includes: a time variant signal (TVS) generator configured to generate a time variant signal group; a common pulse signal generator configured to generate a plurality of pulse signals; a selector configured to receive the time variant signal, the plurality of the pulse signals, and video data and select a grayscale voltage corresponding to the video data; and a buffer configured to buffer and transfer an output of the selector. Herein, the selector and the buffer are provided to each of a plurality of channels, and the time variant signal and the plurality of the pulse signals are inputted in common to the selector of each channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Magnachip Semiconductor, Ltd.
    Inventors: Beom-Jin Kim, Hee-Jung Kim, Dae-Ho Lim, Ki-Seok Cho
  • Patent number: 8654255
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining insertion points in a first video stream are described. The insertions points being configured for inserting at least one second video into the first video. In accordance with one embodiment, a method for determining the insertion points includes parsing the first video into a plurality of shots. The plurality of shots includes one or more shot boundaries. The method then determines one or more insertion points by balancing a discontinuity metric and an attractiveness metric of each shot boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Xian-Sheng Hua, Tao Mei, Linjun Yang, Shipeng Li
  • Patent number: 8654256
    Abstract: A video processing apparatus includes a first video processing block, a second video processing block and a third video processing block. The first video processing block has a plurality of first video processing circuits disposed at a first video processing path, and is arranged for generating a first video output according to a first video input. The second video processing block has a plurality of second video processing circuits disposed at a second video processing path parallel with the first video processing path, and is arranged for generating an intermediate video output in response to a second video input, wherein an output signal of one of the first video processing circuits acts as the second video input fed into one of the second video processing circuits. The third video processing block is arranged for generating the second video output according to the intermediate video output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mediatek Inc.
    Inventor: Te-Hao Chang
  • Patent number: 8654257
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image signal input unit that receives an input of an image signal representing an image to be displayed, a noise reduction unit that performs noise reduction for reducing the noise contained in the image signal, and an image quality adjustment unit that performs image quality adjustment for adjusting the displayed image quality of the image on the image signal that has undergone the noise reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuya Ota
  • Patent number: 8654258
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting and estimating noise in a video signal. For example, detail edges may be identified in a plurality of pixels, wherein each detail edge has an edge magnitude value. The detail edges in the plurality of pixels may be identified by: determining one or more directionality values for the plurality of pixels by passing the input video signal through at least one directional filter, and identifying the detail edges by assigning edge magnitude values based on whether the one or more directionality values exceed predetermined threshold levels. An edge map of the detail edges may be created, where the edge map is configured to indicate areas of the plurality of pixels to be considered or ignored in estimating the noise in the input video signal. The noise in the input video signal may then be estimated based on the indicated areas of the edge map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: Ankit Ghiya, Shilpi Sahu
  • Patent number: 8654259
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device (101) of the present invention includes an NR circuit (106) for carrying out a signal processing process in which a predetermined noise amount is added to or subtracted from data of a target pixel in accordance with a result of a comparison of signal levels between the target pixel and at least two surrounding pixels which are beside the target pixel, the NR circuit (106) adding or subtracting the predetermined noise amount to or from data of respective pixels adjacent to each other temporally or positionally in respective different signal processing processes. This allows providing a liquid crystal display device having a noise reduction effect. It is thus possible to provide a liquid crystal display device enabling less blur of an image after a noise reduction process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takaji Numao, Seiichi Gohshi, Takashi Mine
  • Patent number: 8654260
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to the present invention extracts a characteristic value of a luminance in relation to respective fields of an input video, and determines the presence of a scene change between adjacent fields. A gamma curve is then generated on the basis of the magnitude of the characteristic value. When a difference in the characteristic value between fields is larger than a predetermined value and a scene change does not exist, the gamma curve to be applied to a subsequent field is modified such that the correction characteristic of the gamma curve does not vary rapidly. The luminance is then corrected using the modified gamma curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Taisuke Nishio, Yuki Shindo
  • Patent number: 8654261
    Abstract: A video and audio processing device comprises: a switching unit that switches a video input and output pathway at least between “analog video input terminal—analog video output terminal” and “specific-standard digital input terminal—specific-standard digital output terminal”; an input determining unit that determines whether the specific-standard digital data is fed into the specific-standard digital input terminal; and a pathway determining unit that determines whether the video input and output pathway is “analog video input terminal—analog video output terminal”. The receiving unit produces only the audio data from the specific-standard digital data, when the specific-standard digital data is fed into the specific-standard digital input terminal while the video input and output pathway is “analog video input terminal—analog video output terminal”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Onkyo Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuya Kurokawa