Patents Issued in June 21, 2016
  • Patent number: 9374475
    Abstract: A transactional processing system includes a central storage system utilized to form a scalable pipeline for processing activity records into invoices subscriber usage records and invoices. Activity records received by the transactional processing system are queued and processed into “shards” and shards are stored in the central storage system. and queued for processing into billing records. Sharded activity records applicable for billing are stored by the central storage system and queued for processing into “shards”, and shards are stored by the central storage system for processing into invoices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: OCTOPUS VENTURES INC.
    Inventor: Tom Frazier
  • Patent number: 9374476
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for vending network access by determining access pricing or tariffs for one or more of a plurality of network access regions using one or more of an eNB cell congestion level, an eNB congestion level, a quality of service level, an access technology, a level of activity by a target subscriber and the like. The access pricing is offered to potential access purchasers along with optional metadata indicative of, illustratively, user equipment and network parameters associated with the cell or eNB. The pricing may be offered via an API to allow automatic purchase decisions by access purchasers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Colin Kahn, Sankaranarayanan Sathyanarayan
  • Patent number: 9374477
    Abstract: A system includes a wrist computer and a portable video camera. The wrist computer acquires physical activity data measured by a sensor device, generates a time marker on the basis of the physical activity data, and transmits the time marker to the portable video camera according to a predefined wireless communication protocol. The portable video camera is configured to record video data, encode the video data into a video data file, and store the received time marker as meta data in the video file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: POLAR ELECTRO OY
    Inventors: Mika Erkkila, Niclas Granqvist
  • Patent number: 9374478
    Abstract: Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method comprising receiving image data generated by an imaging device. The image data represents an image captured by the imaging device and the image includes image edges. The method further comprises receiving sensor data related to sensor gain used by the imaging device for capturing the image, and adjusting the image data to modify sharpness of the image edges of the image. The adjusting is based, at least in part, on the sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: Huai Dong Li
  • Patent number: 9374479
    Abstract: A document delivery network server having a set of integrated functions including sending, receiving, routing and filing of FAXes and e-mails to other users which achieves numerous advantages over the prior art. The document delivery system is based on a client/server model having both analog and digital Fax line capabilities. The server side provides very highly integrated systems functionality based on industry standard, commercially available hardware and a mix of industry standard and proprietary software components including integrated FAX/modem modules, an embedded OS, embedded plug-and-play driver sets, embedded e-mail gateways, an embedded FAX archive, embedded back-up/restore, proprietary high efficiency line utilization and highly efficient load balancing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Open Text S.A.
    Inventors: Kevin Phillips, Eric C. Chen, Curtis R. Powell, Jian Chen, Kamal Punn
  • Patent number: 9374480
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes a reading unit that reads an image from a sheet to generate image data. A code generation unit generates a code representing an email address of the image processing apparatus. A display unit displays the code. A control unit receives an email transmitted from a transmission source to the email address of the image processing apparatus and transmits an email with the image data attached to an email address of the transmission source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazunobu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9374481
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first storing part, a storage controlling part and a display controlling part. The storage controlling part stores, when a first remote operation device carries out an image output operation making the image processing apparatus process an output object image on a first process condition of the first remote operation device to create a first processed image and output the first processed image, the output object image in the first storing part with associating with the first process condition. The display controlling part processes, when a second remote operation device carries out a preview operation displaying the output object image stored in the first storing part, the output object image on a second process condition of the second remote operation device to create a second processed image and makes the second remote operation device display the second processed image on a displaying part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Ryuichi Nitta
  • Patent number: 9374482
    Abstract: When an input unit receives a predetermined operation on a preview image during execution of a real-time preview, an image processing apparatus stores information that specifies the preview image for which the predetermined operation has been received, in a specific information storage unit. The image processing apparatus executes a first preview display of displaying a preview image for which the predetermined operation has been received or a preview image for which the predetermined operation has not been received among preview images of a job after completion of the real-time preview, based on the information stored in the specific information storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Daiki Nishioka
  • Patent number: 9374483
    Abstract: A reading device includes a reading unit, an output unit, and a processor. The processor is configured to: control the reading unit to read an image from an original sheet; perform an image process on the read image; and output, to the display, both an output image and an explanation image representing contents of the image process performed on the read image. The output image represents one of the read image and an image resulting from the image process performed on the read image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Taketo Numata
  • Patent number: 9374484
    Abstract: A printing apparatus and an image forming apparatus are provided. The printing apparatus includes a printing unit to form an image on a printing medium, a scanning unit pivotally coupled to the printing unit, and a cover unit pivotally coupled to the scanning unit and having a pressing protrusion. The printing apparatus includes a first member rotatably mounted to the scanning unit to latch the scanning unit to the printing unit when the cover unit is in an open state with respect to the scanning unit, and a second member mounted to the scanning unit to rotate the first member to unlatch the scanning unit from the printing unit when pressed by the pressing protrusion of the cover unit moving from the open state to a closed state with respect to the scanning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yong Kon Jo, Myoung Jin Kim, Heung Kyu Jang
  • Patent number: 9374485
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a main unit, an openable unit, a cable connected to the openable unit and routed in the main unit, and a holding member attached to the main unit. The holding member includes a first guide portion configured to hold a first specified portion of the cable. The holding member, with the first guide portion holding the first specified portion of the cable, is configured to move from a first position to a second position. When the holding member is in the first position, the cable has no slack in a second specified portion of the cable, the second specified portion being closer to an end of the cable disposed in the openable unit than the first specified portion. When the holding member is in the second position, the cable has slack in a second specified portion of the cable routed in the main unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Miyase, Daisuke Kozaki
  • Patent number: 9374486
    Abstract: A driving device is used in an image reading apparatus, and reciprocates a scanning unit for reading an image on an original. The driving device comprises a pull member, a driving pulley which transmits driving force to the pull member, a following pulley which applies tension to the pull member and a pulley holder having a pulley axis which holds the following pulley rotatably. Then, the pulley axis has a lock pawl capable of locking an upper end portion of the following pulley and canceling engagement with the following pulley by being tilted toward a side of an axial center by elastic deformation. Furthermore, the lock pawl is arranged at a side of a tension acting direction from the pull member to the following pulley except the farthest position from the driving pulley among positions in a circumferential direction of the pulley axis. It is possible to attach and detach the following pulley easily at a time of maintenance or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Imoto, Yasuhiro Suto, Shohichi Fukutome, Kenji Nakanishi, Kazuhiro Iguchi
  • Patent number: 9374487
    Abstract: A reading control portion reads an image in reading range including image regions of an entire document sheet image in both state where a document sheet is not tilted and a state where the document sheet is tilted at predetermined maximum tilt angle. A first blank sheet determination processing portion is able to determine whether the image read by the reading control portion is a blank sheet image, based on an image of a first determination region which is included in both the image region of the entire document sheet image in the state where the document sheet is not tilted and the image region of the entire document sheet image in the state where the document sheet is tilted at the maximum tilt angle. A first tilt correction processing portion executes no tilt correction processing for the document sheet image when the read image is a blank sheet image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Yabuuchi
  • Patent number: 9374488
    Abstract: A management system in which a plurality of managed apparatuses and a managing apparatus managing the plurality of managed apparatuses are connected so that they communicate via an HTTP server, wherein each of the managed apparatus includes: a communication section accessing the HTTP server and writing apparatus information indicating status of apparatus itself; a timing setting section setting a timing of accessing the HTTP server based on a unique value of apparatus itself set in advance; and a communication control section making the communication section operate periodically based on set timing information; wherein the managing apparatus includes; a communication section accessing the HTTP server and reading out the apparatus information of each of the managed apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Tatsuyoshi Haga
  • Patent number: 9374489
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus equipped with a customization function and a resume function, which is capable of enabling a user to select one of these functions and thereby displaying an initial display screen intended by the user. A user is prompted to make a selection as to whether to display a user-customized screen or to display a screen displayed at logout time, as an initial screen to be displayed after start or reactivation of the image forming apparatus. The display of the initial screen after the start or reactivation of the image forming apparatus is controlled based on the selection made by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoko Ishii
  • Patent number: 9374490
    Abstract: An information processing system including at least one computer that is connected to an equipment unit via a network is disclosed. The information processing system includes a reception unit which receives data via the network; a data storage unit which stores the data; a first transmission unit which transmits, to the equipment unit, the data in response to a request for obtaining the data stored in the data storage unit from some equipment unit; a history information storage unit which stores history information on transmission of the data by the first transmission unit and on reception of the data by the reception unit; a projection unit which projects a first equipment unit which transmits the obtaining request on first data in response to the reception of the first data by the reception unit; and a second transmission unit which transmits information on the first data to the first equipment unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Ando
  • Patent number: 9374491
    Abstract: A sensor device includes an irradiation unit that includes a light source and irradiates an object with light, an optical detection unit disposed on an optical path of light emitted from the irradiation unit and reflected at the object, at least one object sensor that detects presence of the object, and a controller that controls the light source based on output from the object sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Sunao Chubachi
  • Patent number: 9374493
    Abstract: An image scanner includes: a lid or a backing sheet as a cover unit on which a pattern is depicted; a sensor unit configured to scan a document between a platen and the cover unit; and an image processing unit configured to set a threshold value using information on a first transmitted pattern of the pattern, obtained through the document, and perform image processing based on the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kamisoyama, Yoshimi Morita
  • Patent number: 9374494
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and method, a reproducing apparatus and method, and a program that make it possible to photograph and record a still image and moving images before and after the still image as well. In step S1, when a still-image-with-moving-image photographing mode is set, moving image temporary storage is started. When a shutter is depressed in step S2, in step S3, a photographed still image is recorded and one moving image is generated from the moving image before the still image stored in step S1, a moving image obtained by converting the photographed still image, and a moving image photographed after the depression of the shutter and the one moving image generated is recorded. Therefore, the moving images before and after the still image are recorded together with a high-definition still image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kubo, Kumiko Shimazaki, Hiroyuki Tominaga, Sachiyo Noguchi, Masayuki Kuwata, Nahoko Kaji, Takashi Nunomaki, Ko Kobayashi, Noriko Ohtsuka, Mihoko Yamamoto, Simon Currie, Keisuke Okawa, Takashi Oguma, Kenichiro Imai, Katsuhiko Watanabe, Tetsuo Morimoto
  • Patent number: 9374495
    Abstract: A printing system includes first and second communicatively linked printers, each including a print engine and a processor which controls the operation of the respective print engine. A scanner, associated with the first printer, scans a hardcopy document and generates image data therefrom. The scanner is for communicating the image data to the first printer. A graphical user interface is provided through which user selections are communicated to at least one of the scanner and the first printer. The first processor has a first mode of operation in which a print job derived from the image data is printed on the first print engine and a second mode of operation in which a print job is exported to the second printer for printing. At least one of the first and second modes of operation is invoked at least in part by user interaction with the graphical user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael B. Sewell, Marcin Cholkowski, Natalia Vershinina, Wayne Rudge, Rebecca Mallaband, Erroll Elliston, Gregory C. Sosinski, Edward J. Solcz, Christian G. Midgley
  • Patent number: 9374496
    Abstract: A fill-in form providing device includes: a transmission section that transmits information of a user interface for a fill-in form to an image forming device in response to an acquisition request to acquire the user interface issued from the image forming device; a printing instruction section that instructs the image forming device to print a fill-in form associated with the user interface for the fill-in form, in response to a printing request to print the fill-in form based on an operation of the user interface for the fill-in form in the image forming device; a reception section that receives image data, which is generated through image reading based on the operation of the user interface for the fill-in form in the image forming device, and storage destination information; and a storage processing section that executes processing for storing the image data in the storage destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeki Ishino, Takahiro Okayasu, Shinichiro Yamamoto, Teppei Aoki, Masamune Oshitani, Russell Neville
  • Patent number: 9374497
    Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional article includes sequentially forming a plurality of first two-dimensional layers and a second two-dimensional layer. The second two-dimensional layer includes a second outer edge and a second inner area within the boundary defined by the second outer edge. The second inner area includes uniform physical characteristic and a watermark area within the second inner area having a physical characteristic different from that of the second inner area. An article includes a body with an inner area having a physical characteristic. A watermark is within the inner area and has a physical characteristic different from the physical characteristic of the inner area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Eric D. Misfeldt, Mark T. Allott, Stephen J. Pierz
  • Patent number: 9374498
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes connectors to each of which position information is allocated, processing units configured to be connected to the connectors, each of the processing units is configured to read position information, and to output an IP address of the processing unit determined based on the position information and identification information which denotes a function of the processing unit via the connector, and a control unit configured to be connected with the connectors in compliance with a standard for a transmission line in an IP (internet protocol) network, and to manage the IP address and the identification information of the processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Kenshi Dachiku
  • Patent number: 9374499
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus displays, in a case where a second search condition in which a condition is added to a first search condition is set with a data processing apparatus which satisfies the first search condition being displayed on the map, a data processing apparatus which satisfies the second search condition and a data processing apparatus which satisfies the first search condition and does not satisfy the second search condition on the map in a distinguishable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masanori Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 9374500
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a processor and a memory storing computer-readable instructions therein. The computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the image processing apparatus to: acquire scan data from a scan data generating unit, the scan data generating unit being configured to generate the scan data by optically reading a sheet being conveyed, the scan data representing a scanned image that includes an image indicative of the sheet, the sheet having a plurality of sides; detect a plurality of edge lines from the scanned image by analyzing the scan data, the plurality of edge lines representing the plurality of sides, respectively; determine whether the plurality of edge lines include a non-linear edge line; and correct, when the plurality of edge lines is determined to include a non-linear edge line, the scan data so that the non-linear edge line is changed to a linear edge line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koichi Tsugimura
  • Patent number: 9374501
    Abstract: A device for registration of content in a filled-out application form is disclosed. The device is configured for scanning at least one portion of the filled-out application form. The device is configured for extracting filled-out content from the scanned form. The geometrical features of the master form are retrieved. The master form includes one or more anchor fields. Each anchor field has one or more anchor zones and at least one anchor segment. At least one anchor segment has global adjustment parameters and geometrical features. The extracted filled-out content is related to the retrieved geometrical features of a master form to create a new geometrical representation of the extracted filled-out content of the scanned application form. The new representation of the filled-out content based on the global adjustment parameters for the at least one anchor segment is globally adjusted. The globally adjusted filled-out content based on the geometrical features for the anchor segments is locally adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Safwan R Wshah, Michael R Campanelli
  • Patent number: 9374502
    Abstract: A method for converting a full color image to a monochrome image is provided, wherein the color values of pixels are decomposed in a luminance and a chrominance component. Both components are converted to a grayscale value representing an intensity of a pixel. The luminance grayscale value is in a limited range close to a light end of the available grayscale. The chrominance grayscale value is closer to the dark end of the available grayscale when the chrominance component of the color value is larger. The darkest value of the two converted values is selected for a corresponding pixel. The effect of this conversion is that colored pixels are darker than colorless pixels, which is useful to highlight parts of a monochrome image that stand out because of their color in a full color image. It is particularly useful to help color blind people recognize colored parts of an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: OCE-TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes H. M. Janssen
  • Patent number: 9374503
    Abstract: According to the present invention, multiresolution decomposition is performed on a color component of image data by using a wavelet frame with orientation selectivity or a filter bank with orientation selectivity and subband signals are obtained; and when reconstructing an image by summing the obtained subband signals, coefficient processing is performed, between a decomposition phase and a synthesis phase in the multiresolution decomposition, on decomposition detail coefficients that are output from the decomposition phase such that the larger the energy of the decomposition detail coefficients is, the more small values are further reduced, and the smaller the energy of the decomposition detail coefficients is, the more small values are increased, or vise versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Japan Science and Technology Agency
    Inventors: Hitoshi Arai, Shinobu Arai
  • Patent number: 9374504
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a computer program for performing a color matching operation. The computer program identifies first and second images. Each image includes several pixels. Each pixel includes a luma component value. Based on analysis of the luma component values of the pixels of the first and second images, the computer program determines a set of transforms to modify pixel values of the first image so that the pixel values of the first image are similar to pixel values of the second image. The computer program applies the set of transforms to the first image such that the pixel values of the first image are similar to the pixel values of the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Pettigrew, Andrew Bryant, Olivier Fedkiw
  • Patent number: 9374505
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device is capable of simplifying the pixel structure to reduce the pixel size and capable of suppressing the variation in the characteristics between the pixels when a plurality of output systems is provided. A unit cell (30) includes two pixels (31) and (32). Upper and lower photoelectric converters (33) and (34), transfer transistors (35) and (36) connected to the upper and lower photoelectric converters, respectively, a reset transistor (37), and an amplifying transistor (38) form the two pixels (31) and (32). A full-face signal line 39 is connected to the respective drains of the reset transistor (37) and the amplifying transistor (38). Controlling the full-face signal line (39), along with transfer signal lines (42) and (43) and a reset signal line (41), to read out signals realizes the simplification of the wiring in the pixel, the reduction of the pixel size, and so on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Abe, Nobuo Nakamura, Tomoyuki Umeda, Keiji Mabuchi, Hiroaki Fujita, Eiichi Funatsu, Hiroki Sato
  • Patent number: 9374506
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for reducing random noise in digital video streams are described. In one innovative aspect, the device includes a noise estimator. The device also includes a motion detector configured to determine a motion value indicative of motion between two frames of the video stream, the motion value based at least in part on the noise value. The device further includes a spatial noise reducer configured to filter the image data based at least in part on a blending factor and the noise value. The device also includes a temporal noise reducer configured to filter the video data based on the motion value and the noise value. The device also includes a blender configured to blend the spatial and temporal filtered values to provide a weighted composite filtered output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Mainak Biswas, Vasudev Bhaskaran, Sujith Srinivasan, Shilpi Sahu
  • Patent number: 9374507
    Abstract: A method of improving accuracy and reliability of motion estimation is described herein. In one aspect, a 2D neighborhood of phase correlation peak is approximated with an outer-product of two 1D vectors to eliminate the sub-pixel error. In another aspect, estimation of reliability is improved. In yet another aspect, two-pass phase correlation is implemented to eliminate sub-pel motion bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark Robertson, Ming-Chang Liu, Yoshihiro Murakami, Toru Kurata, Yutaka Yoneda
  • Patent number: 9374508
    Abstract: An image is sharpened without generating, in frequency domain exceeding frequency component in horizontal and vertical direction, frequency component caused by sharpening carried out in horizontal and vertical direction in overlapping manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: KEISOU GIKEN Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Gohshi, Jin Ogasawara, Shinichiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9374509
    Abstract: A wearable image sensor is described. In one example, an apparatus includes a camera to capture images with a wide field of view, a data interface to send camera images to an external device, and a power supply to power the camera and the data interface. The camera, data interface, and power supply are attached to a garment that is wearable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Ravi Pillarisetty, Sairam Agraharam, John S. Guzek, Christopher J. Jezewski
  • Patent number: 9374510
    Abstract: Generating by a digital processing device, of a first digital image from a second digital image, by: for each pixel of the second image, determining a pixel luminance; dividing the interval ranging from the lowest to the highest luminance into a plurality of sub-intervals; and determining the value of at least one pixel of the first image by multiplying the value of a pixel of the second image by a gain determined by interpolation by taking into account the distance of the pixel luminance of the second image to the limits of the sub-interval containing this luminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
    Inventor: Gregory Roffet
  • Patent number: 9374511
    Abstract: A back-illuminated type solid-state image pickup unit in which a pad wiring line is provided on a light reception surface and which is capable of improving light reception characteristics in a photoelectric conversion section by having a thinner insulating film in a pixel region. The solid-state image pickup unit includes a sensor substrate having a pixel region in which photoelectric conversion sections are formed in an array, and a drive circuit is provided on a surface opposed to a light reception surface for the photoelectric conversion sections of the sensor substrate. A through hole via reaching the drive circuit from the light reception surface of the sensor substrate is provided in a peripheral region located outside the pixel region. A pad wiring line directly laminated on the through hole via is provided on the light reception surface in the peripheral region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kentaro Akiyama
  • Patent number: 9374512
    Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement one-dimensional array cameras, as well as modular array cameras using sub-array modules. In one embodiment, a 1×N array camera module includes: a 1×N arrangement of focal planes, where N is greater than or equal to 2, each focal plane includes a plurality of rows of pixels that also form a plurality of columns of pixels, and each focal plane not including pixels from another focal plane; and a 1×N arrangement of lens stacks, the arrangement of lens stacks being disposed relative to the arrangement of focal planes so as to form a 1×N arrangement of cameras, each configured to independently capture an image of a scene, where each lens stack has a field of view that is shifted with respect to that of each other lens stack so that each shift includes a sub-pixel shifted view of the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Pelican Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Kartik Venkataraman, Paul Gallagher, Dan Lelescu, Andrew Kenneth John McMahon, Jacques Duparre
  • Patent number: 9374513
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mobile device and an optical imaging lens thereof. The optical imaging lens comprises six lens elements positioned in an order from an object side to an image side and an aperture stop positioned between the second and the third lens elements. Through controlling the convex or concave shape of the surfaces of the lens elements and designing parameters satisfying at least one inequality, the optical imaging lens shows better optical characteristics and the total length of the optical imaging lens is shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: GENIUS ELECTRONIC OPTICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shih-Han Chen, Hua Bin Liao, Yu-Rong Wu
  • Patent number: 9374514
    Abstract: Camera methods and apparatus are described where the camera device includes multiple optical chains. In various embodiments two or more of the optical chains include light redirection devices such as mirrors or prisms. Sensors corresponding to multiple different optical chains, but not necessarily all optical chains, are parallel to each other. In some embodiments sensors corresponding to different optical chains are located in the same plane at the front or rear of the camera. However other sensor mounting positions are also possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: THE LIGHTCO INC.
    Inventor: Rajiv Laroia
  • Patent number: 9374515
    Abstract: An electronic element supporting base and an electronic device applying the same are provided. The electronic element supporting base comprises a fixing portion and a carrying part. The fixing portion is suitable for being fixed to a frame of the electronic device as a fulcrum for the electronic element supporting base. The carrying part is suitable for carrying a plurality of electronic elements, wherein a gap exists between the carrying part and the frame, and a gap exists between the carrying part and the circuit board. When the electronic device receives an impact, the suspended design of the electronic element supporting base allows the carrying part to oscillate through the gaps, and the electronic element supporting base will not be squeezed, which prevents the electronic elements on the electronic element supporting base from being shifted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: I-Te Chen, Wei-Cheng Liu, Chun Tseng, Jia-Yuan Hsu, Jen-Cheng Lai, Cheng-Chieh Chuang, Chin-Kai Sun
  • Patent number: 9374516
    Abstract: An image capturing system and a method of autofocusing are disclosed such that, for example, when a folded optics configuration is used, a field corrector lens can be placed on the image sensor of the system and a plurality of lenses can be placed perpendicular to the image sensor. The plurality of lenses can be movable relative to the image sensor such that acceptable MTF curve performances can be obtained when the image capturing system is focused at reference distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas Wesley Osborne
  • Patent number: 9374517
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, an item listing process is run in an item listing application. Upon reaching a specified point in the item listing process, a camera application on the user device is triggered (or the camera directly accessed by the item listing application) to enable a user to capture images using the camera, wherein the triggering includes providing a wireframe overlay informing the user as to an angle at which to capture images from the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventor: Dane Glasgow
  • Patent number: 9374518
    Abstract: A focus detection sensor and an image pickup system are provided. The focus detection sensor includes photoelectric conversion units converting light into charges, memory units storing the charges generated by the photoelectric conversion units as pixel signals, transfer units transferring the charges generated by the photoelectric conversion units to the memory units, reset units resetting the photoelectric conversion units and the memory units, a detection unit outputting a first detection signal in accordance with the pixel signals stored in the memory units, and a mode switching determination unit performing switching from a first operation mode in which the transfer units are set to a transfer state in a charge accumulation period after the photoelectric conversion units are reset to a second operation mode in which the transfer units are set to a non-transfer state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Suzuki, Yukihiro Kuroda
  • Patent number: 9374519
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an evaluation value generation unit configured to generate a focus evaluation value indicating a degree of focus of image data which is a target; an evaluation value stabilization unit configured to perform a stabilization process on the focus evaluation value generated by the evaluation value generation unit; and a display data generation unit configured to generate display data, in which focus information is added to the image data, using the focus evaluation value subjected to the stabilization process by the evaluation value stabilization unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masafumi Wakazono
  • Patent number: 9374520
    Abstract: A digital image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. When the composition of a subject displayed on a display of the apparatus is changed during application of a first shutter-release signal, a current auto-focus (AF) region moves along with the subject and displayed on the display at the same time as the subject. The apparatus can further display an initial AF region on the display in a manner distinguishable from the current AF region. After the composition of the subject is changed, while the current AF region moving along with the subject is being displayed on the display, when the application of the first shutter-release signal is interrupted, an AF region is reset as the initial AF region. Also, an image file can be generated and stored after application of a second-shutter release signal which occurs after application of the first shutter-release signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-shik Koh
  • Patent number: 9374521
    Abstract: Techniques for entering an image-capture user interface from a locked mobile device and capturing an image while the mobile device is still in a locked state. In an example implementation, a mobile device at a lock-screen may detect a change in orientation of the mobile device from a portrait orientation to a landscape orientation. In response, the mobile device may display an image-capture UI. In some implementations, the image-capture UI may be overlaid over or displayed concurrently with one or more elements of the lock-screen. Accordingly, the mobile device may provide visual notice to a user that the phone is still in a locked state while offering image capture functionality. In another implementation, the mobile device may provide another indication that the mobile device is still locked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Brauer, Sebastian Amorim
  • Patent number: 9374522
    Abstract: A video generating apparatus comprises: an obtaining unit for obtaining an image in which a person has been taken; a human body recognizing unit recognizing a part of a human body of the person in the image; a holding unit for holding data concerning a basic video showing that the person exercises; a setting unit for setting a motion range of a specific part in the exercise of the person, on the basis of the recognized parts of the human body of the person; a video generating unit for generating, from the data concerning the basic video, a sample video for the person in the image on the basis of the motion range; and a display controlling unit for displaying the generated sample video on a displaying apparatus. Thus, it is possible to generate and show the sample video suitable for the person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mahoro Anabuki
  • Patent number: 9374523
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus and an imaging method supply an optimum amount of image data to another apparatus. When a PDA has a maximum transfer rate of 1.5 Mbps, a mobile phone determines that the maximum speed of communication with the PDA is low, reduces the amount of moving image data captured by a CCD of the mobile phone accordingly, and supplies the captured moving image data to the PDA. The PDA therefore displays a low-quality moving image on its display unit. When the PDA has a maximum transfer rate of 480 Mbps, the CPU of the mobile phone leaves unchanged the amount of moving picture data captured by the CCD and supplies the captured moving image data to the PDA. The PDA then displays a high-quality moving image on its display unit. The foregoing may be advantageously applied to digital cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Chisato Yoshida, Osamu Date
  • Patent number: 9374524
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure relates to a method for removing noise from a digital video sequence containing a modulated light signal emitted from a beacon light source. In some embodiments, the method includes electronically receiving, by an image sensor of a device, a digital video sequence of a scene, calculating noise from the digital video sequence, wherein the noise comprises information within the digital video sequence corresponding to the un-modulated illumination of the scene, reducing the noise from the digital video sequence to obtain an isolated digital video sequence of the modulated illumination of the scene, and demodulating the emitted light signal from the isolated digital video sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: ABL IP HOLDING LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Ryan, Peter Staats, Rob Sumner
  • Patent number: 9374525
    Abstract: A shooting apparatus includes an image pickup unit, a frame setting unit that sets frames for arranging a plurality of still images obtained from the picked-up image as a combination photograph before the still images are shot, an object determination unit that determines an object from the picked-up image before the still images are shot, a still image acquisition unit that acquires the still images including the object determined by the object determination unit while the image pickup unit is shooting a moving image, an arrangement unit that arranges the still images acquired by the still image acquisition unit in the frames set by the frame setting unit, and a combining unit that combines the still images acquired by the still image acquisition unit according to the arrangement by the arrangement unit to generate the combination photograph.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tadataka Mayuzumi