Patents Issued in March 28, 2017
  • Patent number: 9609194
    Abstract: A camera (10) for the detection of objects (30) in a detection region (16) is provided which has a light receiver (22) having a plurality of light reception pixels, a multispectral illumination unit (12) for illuminating the detection region (16) in different spectral bands and an evaluation unit (24) that is configured to illuminate the detection region (16) by means of the illumination unit (12) during different illumination windows of time (30a-c) in a respectively different spectral band and to record image data from the detection region (16) by means of the light receiver (22) in recording windows of time (40a-c, 42a-c). In this respect, the light receiver (22) is configured as a two-line receiver having a first line (22a) of light reception pixels and a second line (22b) of light reception pixels and the recording window of time (40a-c, 42a-c) for the first line (22a) is different from that for the second line (22b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Christoph Egger, Richard Nopper, Jurgen Reichenbach
  • Patent number: 9609195
    Abstract: An integrated image sensor and lens assembly includes a lens barrel adhered to a lens holder or a lens barrel adhered to an image sensor assembly using an adhesive. The lens barrel and lens holder or the lens barrel and the image sensor assembly are bonded based on the sheer strength of the adhesive. Thus, adhesive expansion does not substantially affect the distance between the lens and the image sensor and therefore does not affect the focal plane of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Czepowicz
  • Patent number: 9609196
    Abstract: An imaging module 100 includes a lens unit 10 and an imaging element unit 20. The lens unit 10 includes a VCM 16A which moves a lens group 12 in a z direction, terminals 14A and 14B which are electrically connected to the VCM 16A, a VCM 16C and a VCM 16E which move the lens group 12 in an x direction and a y direction, and terminals 14C to 14F which are electrically connected to the VCM 16C and the VCM 16E. The imaging element unit 20 includes terminals 24A to 24F which are electrically connected to the terminals 14A to 14F. Exposed areas of the terminals 14A and 14B are larger than exposed areas of the terminals 14C to 14F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Yamakawa, Yukihiro Kaneko, Manabu Tobise, Tatsuya Fujinami
  • Patent number: 9609197
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method comprises: extracting a setting from a description file of a virtual pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera used to capture an original image through a wide-angle lens; determining a first set of coordinates of a pixel of the original image for each cell of a sparse conversion map represented as a first look-up table, wherein the sparse conversion map corresponds to a sparse grid of pixels of an output image; determining, via interpolating the first set of coordinates, a second set of coordinates of a pixel of the original image for each cell of a full conversion map, wherein the second set of coordinates is represented as a second look-up table, wherein the full conversion map corresponds to a full grid of pixels of the output image; instructing a display to present the output image, wherein the original image is less rectilinear than the output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Intelligent Security Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Oleg Vladimirovich Stepanenko
  • Patent number: 9609198
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: an encoding unit configured to perform encoding processing on an image output from an image capturing unit for obtaining an image; a communication unit configured to receive designation of a resolution of the encoding unit from an information processing apparatus; an obtaining unit configured to obtain a resolution which is associated with the resolution set for the image capturing unit, and is settable for the encoding unit; a determination unit configured to determine whether the designated resolution is the resolution obtained by the obtaining unit and settable for the encoding unit; and a transmission unit configured to transmit an error response to the information processing apparatus, if the determination unit determines that the designated resolution is not the resolution obtained by the obtaining unit and settable for the encoding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 9609199
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of communicating with an external apparatus via a network includes, a combining unit configured to combine a plurality of images captured under different exposure conditions, an exposure setting unit configured to acquire an image under a set exposure condition, a reception unit configured to receive a command for specifying an operation of the combining unit and the exposure setting unit from the external apparatus, and a first control unit configured to control a timing of the operation of the exposure setting unit, specified by the command received by the reception unit, based on an operation state of at least one of the combining unit and the exposure setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takamichi Nakata
  • Patent number: 9609200
    Abstract: A system for determining a distance to a region of interest. The system may be used to adjust focus of a motion picture camera. The system may include a first camera configured to have a first field of view, and a second camera configured to have a second field of view that overlaps at least a portion of the first field of view. The system may include a processor configured to calculate a distance of the selected region of interest relative to a location by comparing a position of the selected region of interest in the first field of view with a position of the selected region of interest in the second field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Panavision International, L.P.
    Inventors: Ritesh Narang, William Bennett Hogue, Jr., Clive Austin Towndrow
  • Patent number: 9609201
    Abstract: To achieve focusing suitable for a perspective-conflict object in AF control using a phase difference detection method, a focus adjustment apparatus detects a defocus amount of an image pickup optical system based on plural image signals generated from an exit pupil of the system, sets plural areas including a predetermined area used for focus adjustment of the system as areas of the plural image signals used for detecting the defocus amount, generates a focus adjustment signal for performing the focus adjustment based on the defocus amount detected in the predetermined area, and determines whether a perspective conflict occurs in the predetermined area according to the defocus amount detected in each set area. If the perspective conflict occurs in the predetermined area, the area used for the focus adjustment is changed from the predetermined area to any of other set areas, according to the defocus amount detected from each area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shun Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9609202
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprising an imaging element for capturing an object image, and a sensor dedicated to focus detection for receiving light reflected from the object to output a signal for focus detection is provided. The image pickup apparatus carries out continuous shooting that sequentially exposes an imaging element. The image pickup apparatus acquires mode related information used in the determination of a focus adjusting mode applied to an interval between each of the exposures during the continuous shooting, and based on the acquired mode related information, determines either a first focus adjusting mode for calculating a defocus amount based on a signal output by the imaging element or a second focus adjusting mode for calculating the defocus amount based on a signal for focus detection output by the sensor dedicated for focus detecting, to be the focus adjusting mode applied to the interval between each of the exposures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinichiro Yano
  • Patent number: 9609203
    Abstract: Disclosed is a technique for allowing proper classification information to be provided to an edited image. When it is determined that the editing is cropping, a system controller cuts a decompressed image down to a desired size using an image processor and performs face detection on a crop image. The system controller generates a header for image data of an edited image. When the setting of automatically providing classification information is “ON”, classification information is automatically provided based on the detected face information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuichi Nakase, Atsushi Inagaki, Masato Sanno, Hitoshi Ikeda, Chiyumi Niwa, Hitoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9609204
    Abstract: An auto-focus device, for eliminating an uncomfortable feeling when phase difference AF is switched to optical path length difference AF when an arbitrary area is set as a focusing target area, and a method for controlling operation of the same. A desired area is set as the focusing target area. Until a first threshold value position is reached, the focus lens is moved based on a phase difference AF evaluation value obtained from a phase difference AF sensor so as to bring the center portion of the imaging area into focus. Until a second threshold value position is reached, the focus lens is moved based on a phase difference AF evaluation value which is obtained from a signal of an area corresponding to the set focusing target area. When the focus lens reaches the second threshold value position, the focus lens is positioned at the focusing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Ebato, Takahisa Sato, Aiko Sekiya
  • Patent number: 9609205
    Abstract: Disclosed is an imaging system including a camera terminal apparatus capable of performing pan operation and/or tilt operation and a camera control apparatus for controlling the camera terminal apparatus. In the imaging system, the camera terminal apparatus includes a signal processor configured to generate a panorama image, a panorama image storing unit configured to store the generated panorama image, and an imaging direction controller configured to generate camera position information indicative of an imaging direction, and the camera control apparatus includes a position determination processor configured to determine a position of the imaging direction in the panorama image, based on the camera position information, and a panorama image processor configured to process the panorama image in such a way that the determined position becomes the center position of an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichi Morimoto
  • Patent number: 9609206
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an identification unit configured to identify an object in image data, an acquisition unit configured to acquire position information indicating a position of the object, a setting unit configured to set, based on the position information of the object, a movable range in which a position of the virtual illumination can be set, a specified position acquisition unit configured to acquire a specified position input by a user on a display screen, a determination unit configured to determine the position of the virtual illumination based on the movable range and the specified position, and a lighting processing unit configured to execute lighting processing on the object in the image data based on the position of the virtual illumination determined by the determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Nakada
  • Patent number: 9609207
    Abstract: Capturing conditions and capturing of an imaging apparatus, which captures a plurality of color patches displayed on a monitor, are controlled. Imaging data is inputted from the imaging apparatus. Measurement values of the plurality of color patches are calculated from the imaging data using color conversion characteristics corresponding to the capturing conditions. First capturing conditions used at start of the capturing for the calculation of measurement values based on the imaging data captured by the imaging apparatus using initial capturing conditions. After the capturing for the calculation of measurement values is started, when the imaging data is input, it is determined whether or not perform the capturing by changing the capturing conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kimitaka Arai
  • Patent number: 9609208
    Abstract: An image generation method is provided for generating an output image from an input image acquired by an image sensor that has an array of multiple pixels, each of which has arranged therein multiple sub-pixels that each receive a light beam that passes through a different pupil sub-area of an imaging optical system. The method includes a step of generating multiple parallax images that respectively correspond to the different pupil sub-areas; a step of generating multiple pixel shifted images by performing different shifting for each of the parallax images according to a virtual image forming plane of the imaging optical system; and a step of generating an output image that has a higher resolution than the resolution of the parallax images from the pixel shifted images through composition processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Fukuda, Masafumi Kimura, Koshi Hatakeyama, Norihito Hiasa, Shohei Tsutsumi, Tomohiro Nishiyama, Kazuhiro Yahata
  • Patent number: 9609209
    Abstract: Provided is a mobile terminal including a main body, first and second cameras that are arranged on the front and rear sides of the main body, respectively, a sensing unit that senses the extent to which the main body moves when driving the first and second cameras, and a controller that when a panorama photographing mode is selected, drives the first and second cameras at the same time in such a manner that the first and second cameras capture their respective images depending on movement of the main body, and when the extent of the sensed movement of the main body falls out of a reference range, stops photographing and connects first images captured by the first camera and second images captured by the second camera to generate at least one panorama picture. The rotation of the main body within a reference range enables a panorama picture to be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Haeju Lee, Jaemin Park, Yeongmi Park
  • Patent number: 9609210
    Abstract: A technique for computing an image of a virtual view based on a plurality of camera views is presented. One or more cameras provide the plurality of camera views. As to a method aspect of the technique, two or three camera views that at least partially overlap and that at least partially overlap with the virtual view are selected among the plurality of camera views. The image of the virtual view is computed based on objects in the selected camera views using a multilinear relation that relates the selected camera views and the virtual view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Branko Djordjevic, Can Cagman, Alexander Langer
  • Patent number: 9609211
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of image conversion operation for panorama dynamic IP camera. Three wide-angle cameras are used for obtaining a panorama dynamic image, and then to be compressed and transferred through Internet to a PC/smartphone/tablet for being decompressed and image conversion operation, so that a user can use the PC/smart phone/tablet to slide a touch screen thereof for viewing the desired dynamic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: NATIONAL TAIPEI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Shaw Hwa Hwang, Bing Chih Yao, Kuan Lin Chen, Yao Hsing Chung, Chi Jung Huang, Li Te Shen, Shun Chieh Chang, Cheng Yu Yeh, Chao Ping Chu, Ning Yun Ku, Tzu Hung Lin, Ming Che Yeh
  • Patent number: 9609212
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus detecting a plurality of joint positions between a plurality of input images includes a target image generation unit configured to generate a plurality of target images to be searched in a second input image among the input images from a first input image among the input images; a characteristic amount calculation unit configured to calculate a characteristic amount for each of the target images generated by the target image generation unit; and a matching calculation unit configured to calculate a matching between the target image of interest among the target images having the characteristic amounts calculated by the characteristic amount calculation unit, and a part of the second input image, using an evaluation method depending on the characteristic amounts calculated by the characteristic amount calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Takenaka, Kazuhiro Yoshida, Keiichi Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 9609213
    Abstract: The solid-state imaging device of the present disclosure includes a signal processing unit including an AD converter that digitizes an analog pixel signal read from each pixel of the pixel array unit to a signal line, the signal processing unit transferring digitized pixel data at a first speed higher than a frame rate; a memory unit that stores the pixel data transferred from the signal processing unit; a data processing unit that reads pixel data at a second speed lower than the first speed from the memory unit; and a control unit that, when the pixel data is read from the memory unit, controls to stop operation of a current source connected with the signal line and operation of at least the AD converter of the signal processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hayato Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 9609215
    Abstract: A moving-image recording/reproduction apparatus includes a first image processing apparatus configured to divide a region of an image signal into first and second regions when the image signal of each frame in a high-resolution moving image is input and generate first moving-image data by performing moving-image processing on the image signal of the first region and a second image processing apparatus configured to generate second moving-image data by performing the moving-image processing on the image signal of the second region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Keisuke Nakazono
  • Patent number: 9609216
    Abstract: An image capturing device includes an image capturing unit capturing an image at a timing based on a first frame rate and outputs data corresponding to the image after a first period, an image data generation unit generating image data based on the output data and outputting the image data after a second period, a display unit displaying a display image based on the image data after the second period and at a timing based on a second frame rate, and a mode selecting unit selecting a first or second mode. The first mode prioritizes reduction in a display delay time. The second mode prioritizes image quality of the display image over reduction in the display delay time. A total period of the first and second periods is less than or equal to a first vertical synchronization period based on the first frame rate when the first mode is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Ryuichi Shiohara
  • Patent number: 9609217
    Abstract: An image-based motion sensor includes a camera system and a processing system. The camera system is arranged for generating an image output including a plurality of captured images. The processing system is arranged for obtaining a motion sensor output by processing the image output, wherein the motion sensor output includes information indicative of at least one of a motion status and an orientation status of the image-based motion sensor. For example, information indicative of the orientation status of the image-based motion sensor may includes roll, pitch, and yaw related motion information, and information indicative of the motion status of the image-based motion sensor may includes speed, acceleration and displacement information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Chi-Cheng Ju, Cheng-Tsai Ho, Ding-Yun Chen
  • Patent number: 9609218
    Abstract: In an image-shake correction apparatus, if distortion is generated such that a screen peripheral portion of an image pickup screen of an image pickup element is reduced as compared with a screen center portion of the image pickup screen and if distortion is generated such that the screen center portion is reduced as compared with the screen peripheral portion, image-shake correction effect in the screen center portion is higher than image-shake correction effect in the screen peripheral portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobushige Wakamatsu
  • Patent number: 9609219
    Abstract: A camera lens element is suspended on a support structure by balls that allow movement of the camera lens elementorthogonal to the optical axis and plural flexures connected between the support structure and the camera lens element to bias them against the balls while permitting said movement of the camera lens elementorthogonal to the optical axis. Lateral movement is driven by a lateral actuation arrangement comprising plural SMA actuator wires. The flexures provide a lateral biasing force that biases the camera lens element towards a central position. An electrical connection is made through the flexures from the support structure to the camera lens element. The flexures may be connected to laminated structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: CAMBRIDGE MECHATRONICS LIMITED
    Inventors: James Howarth, Andrew Benjamin David Brown
  • Patent number: 9609220
    Abstract: A photographing screen is divided into a plurality of blocks, for each of which a determination is made as to whether there is motion and then motion information is detected. At the same time, motion information of an image pickup apparatus is detected using an angular velocity sensor. From these motion information, the photographing screen is separated into a background region and a subject region, and contrast values in the background region are calculated. If the proportion of blocks determined to be high-contrast blocks in the background region is greater than a threshold, photographing conditions are set such that the exposure time increases as the amount of movement of the image pickup apparatus decreases. If the proportion described above is less than or equal to the threshold, photographing conditions are set such that a plurality of images are captured with different exposure times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takumi Ishii
  • Patent number: 9609221
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing or preventing image degradation due to shaking of a camera upon image acquisition is provided. The method includes determining illuminance corresponding to a subject, automatically determining a capturing mode of an electronic device based on at least the illuminance, acquiring a first resulting image of the subject based on a first exposure time, if the capturing mode is a first capturing mode, and acquiring a plurality of images of the subject based on a second exposure time, if the capturing mode is a second capturing mode, and generating a second resulting image based on at least two images among the plurality of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Pyo-Jae Kim, Ki-Huk Lee, Young-Kwon Yoon
  • Patent number: 9609222
    Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a digital mirror is disclosed including an enclosure; a display device mounted in the enclosure to display images at a front side of the enclosure; an image capture device mounted in the enclosure adjacent the display device to reduce parallax error; lights mounted in the enclosure adjacent the display device; and a light diffuser mounted to the enclosure around the display device over the one or more lights. The one or more lights provide lighting in front of the display device and the image capture device captures images in the field of view in the front. The light diffuser diffuses and softens the light emitted by the one or more lights. Alternatively, the image capture device may be mounted on an articulated arm that may be used to capture and display various angles in the filed of view of the digital mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: VissionQuest Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Rowles, Kyaw Z. Min
  • Patent number: 9609223
    Abstract: An image pickup element generates an AF evaluation value to be used for image-pickup in accordance with an image signal corresponding to a voltage signal obtained from a first pixel group among a plurality of pixels. The image pickup element further outputs an image signal corresponding to a voltage signal obtained from a second pixel group among the plurality of pixels as a live-view display signal for image display. In accordance with the AF evaluation value, a control unit controls a mechanical optical unit having a focus lens and performs live-view display on an image display unit in accordance with the live-view display signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Naoto Ogushi, Shinobu Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9609224
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a creation device configured to create a first display image, a second display image, and a third display image to be used for assisting the focusing confirmation from first and second images based on first and second image signals outputted from the first and second pixel groups, a display device, and a display control device, where the creation device creates the second display image including first and second display ranges in which the first image is used in the first display range and the second image is used in the second display range, and the creation device creates the third display image in which an image used in at least one of the first and second display ranges is different from the second display image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Junji Hayashi, Katsutoshi Izawa, Tomoyuki Kawai
  • Patent number: 9609225
    Abstract: Provided is an operating method of a flexible display device including a display. The method includes: displaying, at a preview area of the display, a preview image corresponding to an object; expanding the display in an first direction according to detecting the display is expanded in the first direction; and capturing an image of the object when the display is expanded in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Yunmi Kwon, Kiseon Lee
  • Patent number: 9609226
    Abstract: A system for improved camera focusing systems using subject location tags. More particularly, the disclosed subject matter relates to providing a system comprising camera accessories and in-lens technologies that allows for the continuous, automated focus of a subject by measuring the distance between the camera and a subject that has been “tagged” with a locator beacon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Free Focus Systems
    Inventors: Douglas R Kennedy, Stephen A Kennedy, Phillip B Kennedy
  • Patent number: 9609227
    Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes an image pickup section configured to output a first picked-up image obtained by photographing an object, a display control section for displaying the first picked-up image, a comparing section configured to compare an angle of view of the first picked-up image from the image pickup section and an angle of view of a second picked-up image from a second photographing apparatus, and an angle-of-view determining section configured to control, based on a comparison result of the comparing section, the display control section to display, in the first picked-up image, a display indicating a part or whole of an image pickup range of the second picked-up image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuyuki Uemura, Yoshiyuki Fukuya
  • Patent number: 9609228
    Abstract: Provided is a solid-state image pickup device that includes: a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element; and a transmittance control element provided on a light incident side of the photoelectric conversion element of at least a part of the plurality of pixels, and configured to change a transmittance of incident light by an external input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Kuboi
  • Patent number: 9609229
    Abstract: A light emitting apparatus that can obtain accurate color information including change of color information during luminescence. An information obtaining unit obtains status information on a status change of a light source in a luminescence time period of the light source. A determination unit determines color information of a light emitted from the light source in the luminescence time period based on the status information obtained by the information obtaining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ginta Hirasawa
  • Patent number: 9609230
    Abstract: In general, the subject matter can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for using a display of a computing device as a light source. The computing device receives a first image that was captured by a camera of the computing device, determines a brightness of at least part of the first image, selects an intensity of a light source that is to be presented by the display of the computing device, the intensity of the light source being selected based on the determined brightness of the at least part of the image, presents the light source by the display of the computing device, the presented light source having the selected intensity, and receives a second image that is captured by the camera of the computing device while the computing device is presenting the light source on the display using the selected intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Dhruv Bakshi, Jakob Nicolaus Foerster
  • Patent number: 9609231
    Abstract: An imaging system 100 for imaging a sample in a medium carried in a container WP as an imaging object comprises: an imager 21 which obtains an original image by imaging the imaging object; and a data processor 33 which generates multi-gradation image data by performing a gradation correction on the original image, wherein the data processor 33 associates a luminance value corresponding to a luminance of the medium in the original image with a maximum gradation value in the gradation correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: SCREEN Holdings Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunio Ikefuji, Jiro Tsumura, Yoshihiro Kurimura
  • Patent number: 9609232
    Abstract: At least one imaging apparatus includes a sensor configured to output a signal according to an incident light amount, a calculation unit configured to calculate an evaluation value in regard to a flicker based on the output signal from the sensor, a notification unit configured to notify a user of information about a presence of the flicker based on the evaluation value, and a control unit configured to control processing for reducing an influence of the flicker based on the evaluation value. When the evaluation value is equal to or larger than a first threshold value, the notification unit notifies the user of the information about the presence of the flicker. When the evaluation value is equal to or larger than a second threshold value which is larger than the first threshold value, the control unit performs control to carry out processing for reducing the influence of the flicker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoyuki Nakagawara
  • Patent number: 9609233
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for adjusting a set of luminance values associated with a set of visual elements in a current frame (310) of a video sequence for object detection (370). The method determines (410,430,450), for each of a plurality of scenarios (SO, SI, S2), a set of adjusted luminance values based on a corresponding luminance compensation value, and accumulates (460), for each scenario, a set of brightness counts and darkness counts of the current frame based on the set of adjusted luminance values. A metric (470) is calculated for each scenario based on the set of brightness counts and darkness counts and one of scenarios is selected based on the calculated metric. The method then selects (350) the adjusted luminance value associated with the selected scenario as an adjusted set of luminance values associated with the current frame of the video sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Amit Kumar Gupta, Ashley John Partis, David Kenji See, Hiroshi Tojo, Peter Jan Pakulski
  • Patent number: 9609234
    Abstract: A completely self-contained camera module and operating method are provided. The camera module includes a housing member for mounting to a desired surface, an internal support structure positioned within the housing, and at least two cameras secured to the support structure. Each camera has a field of view to an exterior of the housing. The support structure being operably configured to be readily securable to and removable from the housing so that the support structure and cameras can easily be installed during manufacturing to at least reduce manufacturing variability and so that, if a module is not working in the field, an operator can at least readily replace the support structure and cameras as desired with a different support and cameras in the field without requiring tools and without needing to locate and replace a specific malfunctioning camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: VECNA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Neal Checka
  • Patent number: 9609235
    Abstract: A digital camera includes: a RAW data conversion unit that converts pixel values of respective colors of RAW data into values corresponding to predetermined spectral characteristics; and an output image conversion unit that converts the values corresponding to the spectral characteristics converted in the RAW data conversion unit, into predetermined output image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hisashi Sano
  • Patent number: 9609236
    Abstract: A camera system and method provide a trailing motion blur effect without the use of a flash. In one embodiment, a variable light-transmissive filter is positioned in front of an image sensor. While the light-transmissive property of the filter is lower, the blurred image of the object in motion is produced. The light-transmissive property of the filter is increased during the exposure in order to produce a clearer image of the object. In a method, a plurality of images taken in rapid succession are combined to produce a clear image of the object with a trailing blurred image of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventors: Kyle L. Baltz, John E. Carlson
  • Patent number: 9609237
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus can execute automatic focus detection of an imaging optical system, using a signal obtained from an image sensor. First image-forming position information is obtained by performing, using first weights, weighted addition on information regarding image-forming positions of the imaging optical system, the information corresponding to different spatial frequencies. In addition, second image-forming position information is obtained by performing, using second weights, weighted addition on the information. A result of the automatic focus detection is corrected based on a result of a comparison between the first and second image-forming position information. The first weights correspond to an evaluated band at the time of appreciating an image, and the second weights correspond to an evaluated band of the signal used in the automatic focus detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yumi Takao
  • Patent number: 9609238
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for modeling a three-dimensional topological surface of an object acquiring, using a thermal imaging camera, a first image of the object, wherein the first image comprises a plurality of pixels each representative of at least one component of thermal data, calculating a normal vector for each pixel in the first image, corresponding to the normal vector on a surface of the object, generating a three-dimensional model representing a surface of the object based on aggregating the normal vector for each pixel together in the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Gorden W. Videen, Kristan P. Gurton, Alexey J. Yuffa
  • Patent number: 9609239
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a substrate, a plurality of visible light photosensitive devices, an infrared photosensitive device, a plurality of color filters, an infrared band-pass filter, a micro-lens layer and an infrared filter layer. The plurality of visible light photosensitive devices and the infrared photosensitive device are disposed in the substrate, wherein the plurality of visible light photosensitive devices and the infrared photosensitive device are arranged in an array. The plurality of color filters are respectively disposed to cover the plurality of visible light photosensitive device. In addition, the infrared band-pass filter disposed to cover the infrared photosensitive device. Furthermore, the micro-lens layer is disposed on the plurality of color filters and the infrared band-pass filter. The infrared filter layer is disposed to cover the plurality of visible light photosensitive device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chun-Hao Chuang, Chien-Hsien Tseng, Kazuaki Hashimoto, Keng-Yu Chou, Wei-Chieh Chiang, Yuichiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9609240
    Abstract: A solid state imaging device includes: a pixel array unit that has a plurality of pixels 2-dimensionally arranged in a matrix and a plurality of signal lines arranged along a column direction; A/D conversion units that are provided corresponding to the respective signal lines and convert an analog signal output from a pixel through the signal line into a digital signal; and a switching unit that switches or converts the analog signal output through each signal line into a digital signal using any of an A/D conversion unit provided corresponding to the signal line through which the analog signal is transmitted, and an A/D conversion unit provided corresponding to a signal line other than the signal line through which the analog signal is transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 9609241
    Abstract: There is described in one embodiment an indicia reading terminal having an image sensor pixel array incorporated therein, wherein the terminal is operative for decoding of decodable indicia and for providing color frames of image data for storage or transmission. An image sensor based terminal in one embodiment can include an image sensor having a hybrid monochrome and color image sensor pixel array wherein the image sensor pixel array includes a first subset of monochrome pixels and a second subset of color pixels. In one embodiment, an output response curve for the image sensor pixel array can include a logarithmic pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Ynjiun P. Wang
  • Patent number: 9609242
    Abstract: A depth-sensing camera may be used to locate objects on a planar surface. A planar fit calculation is used to model the surface. One problem with the best planar fit calculation is that it is not robust over time. Firstly, this is because the depth data has a non-linear curve near its extremities because of camera lens distortion. Secondly, as the depth-sensing camera warms up and its thermal activity changes, the depth data drifts and the initial plane fit is no longer valid. The position and the amount of curvature and drift may be different for cameras of the same make and model in some cases. In accordance with some embodiments, algorithms may be used to detect and correct for these types of errors to support more robust plane fitting in real time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Kip C. Killpack, David R. Holman, Abhay A. Dharmadhikari, Brandon Gavino, Vinay K. Nooji, Katie R. Hauser, Lauren M. Lieu
  • Patent number: 9609243
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatuses that may be employed to reduce noise in an electronic circuit are described. Systems are provided that include a circuit, wherein the circuit is configured to provide an active reset technique and an active column sensor readout technique. Methods for reducing circuit noise are also provided. The methods include providing a circuit configured to perform an active reset technique and an active column sensor readout technique. The methods further provide that the active reset technique and the active column sensor readout technique are both performed by the circuit. An imaging apparatus is provided that includes an array of photo-sensitive pixels, wherein each of the pixels can include a circuit configured to provide an active reset technique and an active column sensor readout technique. The active reset technique and the active column sensor readout technique are executable on the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: UTI Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Orly Yadid-Pecht, Terence Tam, Graham Jullien
  • Patent number: 9609244
    Abstract: Adverse effects of noise are reduced. A photodetector circuit, a difference data generation circuit, and a data input selection circuit are included. The photodetector circuit has a function of generating an optical data signal. A first data signal and a second data signal is input to the difference data generation circuit and the difference data generation circuit has a function of generating difference data of data of the first data signal and data of the second data signal. The data input selection circuit has a function of determining that the data of optical data signal is regarded as data of the first data signal or data of the second data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Munehiro Kozuma