Patents Issued in January 26, 2021
  • Patent number: 10904418
    Abstract: Embodiments herein provide a method for capturing view in an electronic device comprising at least two image sensors. The method includes determining a folding angle between a first side of the electronic device including a first image sensor and a second side of the electronic device including a second image sensor. Further, the method also includes capturing a first view of a scene using the first image sensor and capturing a second view of the scene using the second image sensor. Further, the method includes determining whether the first view and the second view partially overlap with each other, completely overlap with each other, or do not overlap with each other based on the folding angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Pulkit Agrawal, Kaushal Kumar
  • Patent number: 10904419
    Abstract: An image magnification ratio indicating device of the invention includes a processor having hardware, and the processor is configured to: magnify, or not, an image at a predetermined magnification ratio and transmit the image; switch an image transmission destination; instruct change of an image as a transmission target, and change a first magnification ratio to a second magnification ratio according to the change of the image as the transmission target or the switching of the image transmission destination and indicate the magnification ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Keiji Kunishige, Masashi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10904420
    Abstract: Provided is a control device including a control unit that determines a concentrating state of a creator of content and changes an effect on the content between a first part where a concentrating state to the content of a creator of the content is detected in the content and a second part different from the first part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chikako Tateishi, Kazuki Nakamura, Morio Omata
  • Patent number: 10904421
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for taking pictures or videos triggered by pre-selected changes in a user's biorhythms includes a wearable camera for taking one or more picture and/or videos. The wearable camera is configured to be worn by the user. The apparatus also includes at least one processor configured to receive a biorhythm signal indicative of at least one detected biorhythm of a user. The processor is configured to compare the received biorhythm signal to a biorhythm threshold and, in response to the received biorhythm signal exceeding the biorhythm threshold, to simultaneously trigger the wearable camera to take one or more pictures or videos.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Inventor: Kristin Blume Slater
  • Patent number: 10904422
    Abstract: There is provided a master communication apparatus. A selection unit selects a representative slave from a plurality of slave communication apparatuses. A notification unit notifies the plurality of slave communication apparatuses of the representative slave. Each of the plurality of slave communication apparatuses is configured to, if it is not the representative slave, transmit state information that indicates a state of the slave communication apparatus to the representative slave. A reception unit receives the state information of the plurality of the slave communication apparatuses from the representative slave. A transmission unit transmits a control signal for controlling the plurality of slave communication apparatuses based on the state information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hajime Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10904423
    Abstract: An image providing apparatus includes an internal communication interface configured to receive image data and camera setting information from a plurality of camera modules included in a network camera housing, and transmit a control signal to the plurality of camera modules; a processor configured to generate the control signal to control an operation of the plurality of camera modules, control a power supply to each of the plurality of camera modules, and generate combined image data by combining the image data obtained from the plurality of camera modules; and an external communication interface configured to transmit the combined image data to a client terminal via an Internet network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: HANWHA TECHWIN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Il Hwang Cha, Sung Bong Cho
  • Patent number: 10904424
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises a pixel unit, a driver that drives the pixel unit, a memory that stores image data output from the pixel unit, and at least one image processor that performs a first operation which uses a first image data and a second operation for obtaining an image using the image data, and a controller that controls transfer of the image data to the memory and the image processor. The controller controls so that after the first image data is transferred to the image processor, second image data of the image data is transferred to the image processor, and the driver drives the pixel unit so as to output the image data in a predetermined order which is different from an order of transferring the first image data and the second image data to the image processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shigeyoshi Ito
  • Patent number: 10904425
    Abstract: A camera controller controls driving of a focus lens included in a lens group based on a result of first focus detection performed by a defocus amount detection unit. The defocus amount detection unit performs second focus detection based on image data acquired by a first image sensor which outputs image data corresponding to a subject image at a position of the focus lens that is based on the control. The camera controller evaluates, based on a result of the second focus detection, a focusing state of the image data that is based on an output of the first image sensor, and performs control to record information about the evaluated focusing state together with data corresponding to the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Kawarada
  • Patent number: 10904426
    Abstract: A portable electronic device with a touch screen display for photo management is disclosed. One aspect of the invention involves a computer-implemented method in which the portable electronic device displays an array of thumbnail images corresponding to a set of photographic images. The device replaces the displayed array of thumbnail images with a user-selected photographic image upon detecting a user contact with a corresponding thumbnail image in the array. The user-selected photographic image is displayed at a larger scale than the corresponding thumbnail image. The portable device displays a different photographic image in replacement of the user-selected photographic image in accordance with a scrolling gesture. The scrolling gesture comprises a substantially horizontal movement of user contact with the touch screen display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Matas, Greg N. Christie, Paul D. Marcos, Scott Forstall, Marcel Van Os, Bas Ording, Imran Chaudhri
  • Patent number: 10904427
    Abstract: A camera is mounted on a drone, which is programmed to follow a flight path that is specified by trajectory parameters. The position of the drone is coordinated with a subject to be filmed by the camera, and may be coordinated with the position of one or more objects, including other automatically controlled drones, a manually controlled drone and virtual assets. The drone can also be coordinated with the behavior of a subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Inventors: Benjamin James Sheftel, Tryon Williams
  • Patent number: 10904428
    Abstract: An electronic device includes: a touch detector configured to detect a touch operation with respect to a touch operation surface; a registration unit configured to register, in accordance with a user operation, at least a function to be executed by a first type of a touch operation among types of touch operations with respect to the touch operation surface; and a control unit configured to control so as to execute an assigned function registered by the registration unit in accordance with the first type of a touch operation, and execute a predetermined function that cannot be changed by the registration unit in accordance with a second type of a touch operation that requires the touch operation surface to be touched over a larger touch area than a touch area satisfying a condition for the first type of a touch operation to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Kamiya, Takuma Iwagami, Kimihiro Masuyama, Hirokazu Izuoka, Koji Yoshida, Daiyu Ueno
  • Patent number: 10904429
    Abstract: In an image sensor, high-speed recognition processing is performed using high-speed image data, which is different from low-speed image data used for displaying. In the image sensor, an imaging element captures an image of an object and generates frames of image data arranged in time series. A binarization processing unit performs binarization processing on each of the frames to generate binarized frames. A tracking processing unit generates a difference between binarized frames adjacent in time series and tracks a change in a position of the object included in the binarized frames.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masatsugu Kobayashi, Sayaka Shida, Koki Mitsunami
  • Patent number: 10904430
    Abstract: The present application discloses a method for processing an image, an image processing apparatus, a multi-camera photographing apparatus and an aerial vehicle. A first image photographed by a first lens module is obtained, the first image including a target object; then a second image photographed by a second lens module is obtained; and image processing is performed on the first image and the second image, and an output image is generated, so that a range in a large-perspective scene and precision of the target object in a small-perspective scene can be both combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Autel Robotics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yang Liu
  • Patent number: 10904431
    Abstract: A processing system for a camera, such as a panoramic camera, and an associated mobile device, vehicle, computer program product and method of use. The processing system being configured to access a data store that stores priority or value data, the priority or value data indicating respective priorities or values for each of a plurality of roads, locations, regions or areas. The processing system is configured to determine or identify a location and determine the priority or value for the determined or identified location from the priority or value data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: NCTech Ltd
    Inventors: Neil Tocher, Cameron Ure, Mansour Ahmadian
  • Patent number: 10904432
    Abstract: A vehicle's panoramic view system includes a non-centered real camera that captures an image of surroundings, a virtual camera, an image processing unit, and a display unit that displays a geometric form overlaid over the captured image. The image processing unit projects the captured image onto a first plane perpendicular to the real camera to correct perspective distortions resulting from the camera's non-centered position, and projects the geometric form onto a second plane perpendicular to the virtual camera to represent the geometric form without distortion on the display unit. The image processing unit finds an affine transformation between the first and second planes by delta transformation between the real and virtual cameras, and applies the affine transformation to the first plane containing the projected distortion-corrected captured image, to align a modified representation of the image with the undistorted geometric form in the second plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Conti Ternie microelectronic GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Arbeiter, Stefan Milz, Johannes Petzold, Joerg Schrepfer, Sudhan Dhana Sekaran, Rodrigo Garcia Marques
  • Patent number: 10904433
    Abstract: A multi-view optical system includes an optical element. The optical element is configured to direct, in a predetermined direction, a first polarization component of a light beam coming from a first visual field, and a second polarization component, which is different from the first polarization component, of a light beam coming from a second visual field different from the first visual field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ohno, Hiroya Kano
  • Patent number: 10904434
    Abstract: At least one combined image may be created from a plurality of images captured by a plurality of cameras. A sensor unit may receive the plurality of images from the plurality of cameras. At least one processor in communication with the sensor unit may correlate each received image with calibration data for the camera from which the image was received. The calibration data may comprise camera position data and characteristic data, and may translate the data about a translated virtual center point translated a predetermined distance in space from the virtual center point. The processor may combine at least two of the received images from at least two of the cameras into the at least one combined image by orienting the at least two images relative to one another based on the calibration data for the at least two cameras from which the images were received and merging the at least two aligned images into the at least one combined image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: BOUNCE IMAGING, INC.
    Inventors: Francisco Aguilar, Sietse Dijkstra
  • Patent number: 10904435
    Abstract: In example implementations, a method to launch a camera application from a mobile device is provided. The method includes receiving a biometric of a user. The orientation of the mobile device may also be detected. In response to the biometric and detecting that the mobile device is in a landscape orientation, the camera application is launched and the camera on the mobile device is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Sudish Mukundan
  • Patent number: 10904436
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an image sensor including an image generator configured to generate and output a pixel image, an image processing device configured to process the pixel image, and a storage unit configured to store the pixel image, and an application processor configured to generate a mode setting signal and configured to transmit the generated mode setting signal to the image processing device. The image processing device is configured to generate a plurality of path selection signals for selecting a path to use by the image processing device to process the pixel image, based on the mode setting signal. The image processing device selects a compression ratio for the pixel image based on at least one of an input signal of a user, an analysis result of the pixel image, and a motion signal of the image sensor, and compresses the pixel image based on the selected compression ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae Sung Heo, Kyung Ho Kim, Won Seok Lee
  • Patent number: 10904437
    Abstract: There is provided a control apparatus that includes an estimating section calculating motion of an entire image on the basis of an image signal corresponding to an optical image of a living organism input from an imaging section of a medical observation apparatus, to estimate blurring of the entire image according to a result of the calculation, and a control section controlling an operation related to correction of the blurring of the entire image by controlling a coefficient for controlling an amount of correction of the blurring on the basis of a zoom magnification of the imaging section such that a degree of correction of the blurring increases consistently with the zoom magnification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Ikeda, Hisakazu Shiraki, Daisuke Tsuru
  • Patent number: 10904438
    Abstract: An actuator of a camera module includes a comparison unit sequentially calculating each error value by comparing a target position with a current position of a lens barrel, a controller integrated circuit (IC) generating a control signal by applying a control gain based on a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) control scheme to each error value sequentially input thereto from the comparison unit, and a driving circuit unit generating a driving signal in response to the control signal to move the lens barrel to the target position, wherein the controller IC changes the control gain in response to the error values sequentially input including both overshoot and undershoot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung Eun Youm
  • Patent number: 10904439
    Abstract: An image pickup system includes a camera body and a lens unit that is attachable to the camera body. The lens unit detects shaking by a shake detection unit. Drive control of an image shake correction unit is performed in accordance with an image shake correction amount calculated based on the shaking. The camera body sets timing of obtaining the shaking detected by the shake detection unit, based on information transmitted to the lens unit. In a first communication, a camera communication control unit transmits information on a base point to a lens communication control unit, and in a second communication, the camera communication control unit transmits information on a relative time from the base point that was transmitted in the first communication to a lens communication control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shunichiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 10904440
    Abstract: An image sensor driving mechanism includes a fixed assembly, a movable assembly, and a driving assembly. The movable assembly includes a circuit component. The circuit component includes a circuit main body and a movable suspension arm. The circuit main body is configured to hold an image sensor. The movable suspension arm is elastically connected to the circuit main body and the fixed assembly. The image sensor is electrically connected to the fixed assembly via the circuit component. The image sensor extends in a direction that is perpendicular to the optical axis. The drive assembly is configured to drive the movable assembly to move relative to the fixed assembly. The movable suspension arm includes a section that extends in a different direction than the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chen-Chi Kuo, Yi-Ho Chen, Sin-Jhong Song
  • Patent number: 10904441
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a lens-side suppression unit that moves an anti-vibration lens, which is provided in an interchangeable imaging lens mounted on an imaging device body including an imaging element, to a position, which is determined according to a detection result of a detection unit detecting vibration applied to a device, to suppress an influence of the vibration on a subject image; an imaging element-side suppression unit that moves the imaging element to suppress a shift in an angle of view caused by the movement of the anti-vibration lens; and a control unit that performs control on the lens-side suppression unit to limit a movable range of the anti-vibration lens, which is moved by the lens-side suppression unit, on the basis of the amount of the maximum shift in the angle of view caused by the movement of the imaging element performed by the imaging element-side suppression unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Tanaka, Seiichi Izawa, Akihiro Uchida, Hideo Kobayashi, Kenkichi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 10904442
    Abstract: An image sensing apparatus, comprising: an image sensor to capture an image; a display to display a full screen image and a display controlling unit to switch an image to be displayed by the display between an enlarged image and the full screen image; and a control unit to perform, in accordance with a predetermined operation, a first setting for determining a setting parameter of the image sensor in a first state and a second setting for determining a predetermined range of the live view image in a second state, wherein when the predetermined operation is performed while the display displays the enlarged image, the display controlling unit does not switch the image displayed to the full screen image, and the control unit performs the first setting if the display is in the first state, and performs the second setting if the display is in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Funatsu
  • Patent number: 10904443
    Abstract: Provided is a lens apparatus including: an optical member; an input device configured to perform input for selecting an operation device for operating a state of the optical member; and a controller configured to perform, in a case where a command is input from the selected operation device, a first control of the state of the optical member based on the input command; and perform, in a case where a command is not input from the selected operation device, a second control of the state of the optical member based on a state of the optical member at a time when the input for selecting the operation device is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Chinami Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 10904444
    Abstract: A dual-aperture zoom digital camera operable in both still and video modes. The camera includes Wide and Tele imaging sections with respective lens/sensor combinations and image signal processors and a camera controller operatively coupled to the Wide and Tele imaging sections. The Wide and Tele imaging sections provide respective image data. The controller is configured to combine in still mode at least some of the Wide and Tele image data to provide a fused output image from a particular point of view, and to provide without fusion continuous zoom video mode output images, each output image having a given output resolution, wherein the video mode output images are provided with a smooth transition when switching between a lower zoom factor (ZF) value and a higher ZF value or vice versa, and wherein at the lower ZF the output resolution is determined by the Wide sensor while at the higher ZF value the output resolution is determined by the Tele sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg, Oded Gigushinski, Noy Cohen
  • Patent number: 10904445
    Abstract: A zoom tracking method performed by a control unit of a zoom camera includes operations (a) through (c). In operation (a), the control unit determines a focusing progress state at a time when a zooming start signal is received. In operation (b), the control unit narrows an estimated range of a subject distance or estimates the subject distance, according to the focusing progress state. In operation (c), the control unit performs focusing for a zoom magnification according to the narrowed estimated range or the estimated subject distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Hanwha Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae Bong Kim, Young Sang Kwon, Ki Bum Park
  • Patent number: 10904446
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally provides for advanced single camera video conferencing systems, and methods related thereto. The advanced single camera video conferencing system features a hybrid optical/digital camera, herein a camera device, having a controller that is configured to execute one or more of the methods set forth herein. In one embodiment, a method includes optically framing, a first portion of a video conferencing environment to provide an actual field-of-view, digitally framing a second portion of the video conferencing environment to provide an apparent field-of-view that is encompassed within the actual field-of-view, generating a video stream of the apparent field-of-view, surveying the actual field-of-view to generate survey data, and detecting changes in the survey data over time. The method may be performed using a single camera device using a single image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: LOGITECH EUROPE S.A.
    Inventors: Oleg Ostap, Henry Levak, John Scott Skeehan
  • Patent number: 10904447
    Abstract: A metering compensation method for effectively increasing visibility of an image is applied to a monitoring camera apparatus. The metering compensation method includes acquiring a histogram of the image, setting a convergent target value and a minimal mapping value, utilizing the convergent target value and the minimal mapping value to set a weighting function, transforming the histogram into a weighted histogram via the weighting function for acquiring an intensity mean of the weighted histogram, and utilizing the convergent target value and the intensity mean to generate a first exposure compensation value. The first exposure compensation value can be used for determining whether to adjust an exposure parameter of the monitoring camera apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: VIVOTEK INC.
    Inventors: Hsiang-Sheng Wang, Shih-Hsuan Chen
  • Patent number: 10904448
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product controlling flash behavior of a camera during capture of image data. The method includes identifying a target object from among a plurality of objects in a current scene. The method further includes determining whether a distance to the target object is within an effective flash range associated with at least one flash module of an image capturing device. The method further includes measuring, via at least one camera, an ambient light level within the current scene and comparing the measured ambient light level to a predetermined flash light threshold. The method further includes, in response to determining the target object is within the effective flash range and the measured ambient level is less than the predetermined flash light threshold, triggering at least one flash module of the image capturing device to illuminate the current scene during capture of image data by the at least one camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Yin Hu Chen, Valeriy Marchevsky, Susan Yanqing Xu
  • Patent number: 10904449
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein are directed to capturing intrinsic color images of subjects. A camera may be equipped with a light source that is coaxial to the camera's image sensor and configured to emit a pulse of light of short duration. During image capture of a subject, the camera light source may emit the pulse of light through the lens barrel of the camera and stop emission of light before the reflected light from the light source returns. Thereafter, the camera lens receives the reflected light from the light source (with the light source no longer emitting light) and charge is collected at one or more image sensor photodetector sites of the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: DISNEY ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventors: Steven Chapman, Mehul Patel, Joseph Popp, Calis Agyemang, Joseph Hager
  • Patent number: 10904450
    Abstract: A method of illuminating a face of a person including recording a first image imaging the face of the person, determining an eye region in the imaged face, and illuminating the face of the person, a first region corresponding to the eye region determined, of the face being illuminated such that dazzling of the eyes of the person can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: OSRAM OLED GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Brick
  • Patent number: 10904451
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that is capable of automatically finding an irradiation angle of each external flash in photographing using a plurality of external flashes. An image pickup apparatus controls external flashes that are communicably connected to one another and have light emitting units of which irradiation angles are variable. A photometry device obtains a photometry value. A memory device stores a set of instructions. At least one processor that executes the set of instructions to: obtain photometry values at times of emissions at each of different irradiation angles for each of the external flashes, generate an evaluation value at each of the different irradiation angles based on a photometry result obtained by the photometry device, and decide an irradiation angle for photographing of each of the external flashes based on the evaluation values generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Kageyama
  • Patent number: 10904452
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a memory, a camera module, and a processor electrically connected to the memory and the camera module. The processor is configured to determine a first exposure value based on a brightness of an external object, sequentially capture a plurality of images using a first exposure value, a second exposure value having an exposure value less than the first exposure value, the first exposure value, and a third exposure value having an exposure value greater than the first exposure value, when a specified condition is satisfied, select a set of continuous images from the plurality of images, and generate a composite image using the set of continuous images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byungpo Choi, Insu Yu, Jongpil Park, Jinho Lim, Jiyoon Park
  • Patent number: 10904453
    Abstract: Examples embodiments of a method and system for synchronizing active illumination pulses in a multi-sensor imager is provided. Example embodiments of the method disclosed herein include the provision of an illumination pulse for each of N sensors, each of N illumination pulses are set to have the same pulse period and active pulse width. Moreover, example embodiments include setting the active width pulse for each of the N illumination pulses to have maximum exposure time for each of N image sensors, and in further examples, ensuring that the time to capture a frame plus the time interval between subsequent image captures is the same for each sensor. In yet further examples, an offset period between subsequent frame synchronous signals is determined. In yet further example embodiments, an interval between frame captures is adjusted and a negative edge of the frame synchronous signal and an illumination pulse is aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Hand Held Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Feng Chen, Jie Ren, Haiming Qu, Qing Zhang
  • Patent number: 10904454
    Abstract: In aspects of automated polarizer filter positioning, a device includes a polarizer integrated with the device and auto-positioned to filter lighting of a camera scene. The device includes a camera device to capture a digital image of the camera scene using the polarizer at a rotation angle of the polarizer. The device implements an imaging manager to determine an orientation of the device relative to a position of the sun. The imaging manager can also determine the lighting of the camera scene as viewable with the camera device, and position the polarizer at the rotation angle based on the orientation of the device and the lighting of the camera scene to filter the lighting. The imaging manager can then initiate the camera device to capture the digital image of the camera scene with an imager of the camera device at the rotation angle of the polarizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC
    Inventors: Cole Preston Sheldon, David Thomas Platner, John Christopher Pincenti
  • Patent number: 10904455
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a lens moving apparatus including a housing supporting a magnet, a bobbin having an outer circumferential surface on which a first coil is disposed, the bobbin moving in the housing in a first direction, upper and lower elastic members each connected to both the housing and the bobbin, and a second coil disposed so as to be spaced apart from the first coil in the first direction, wherein the second coil generates induction voltage resulting from inductive interaction with the first coil when the bobbin moves in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Sang Ok Park
  • Patent number: 10904456
    Abstract: A time-of-flight image sensor (TOF) for imaging with ambient light subtraction. In one embodiment, the TOF image sensor includes a pixel array, a control circuit, and a signal processing circuit. The signal processing circuit reads out a first data signal from respective first floating diffusions and respective second floating diffusions during a first frame while a light generator is not emitting, reads out a second data signal from the respective first floating diffusions and the respective second floating diffusions during a second frame after the first integration and after a second integration while the light generator is emitting, generate a third data signal indicative of ambient light, generate a fourth data signal indicative of the ambient light and a light signal reflected off an object, and generate a fifth data signal indicative of the light signal by subtracting the third data signal from the fourth data signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Elad Ilan
  • Patent number: 10904457
    Abstract: A microscope scanner is provided comprising a detector array for obtaining an image from a sample and a sample holder configured to move relative to the detector array. The sample holder can be configured to move to a plurality of target positions relative to the detector array in accordance with position control signals issued by a controller and the detector array is configured to capture images during an imaging scan based on the position control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William Roland Hawes, Martin Philip Gouch
  • Patent number: 10904458
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an error correction unit for a time slice image. The present invention comprises: a stand having a length corresponding to the height of an object and standing upright; and a plurality of marker members, installed on the stand, for indicating a plurality of reference positions for setting an offset reference value, and providing the same shape in all directions. The present invention can readily set the offset reference value through the plurality of reference positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Inventor: Christopher Chinho Chang
  • Patent number: 10904459
    Abstract: An array sensor includes a sensor element array that includes a plurality of sensor elements, a signal processing circuit array that includes a plurality of signal processing circuits coupled to the corresponding sensor elements, and a resistor network that supplies bias voltages to the corresponding signal processing circuits, wherein different voltages are applied to at least two voltage application nodes in the resistor network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Yasuo Matsumiya
  • Patent number: 10904460
    Abstract: An imaging instrument for controlling a target designation makes it possible to visualise a target designation spot (SP) within a scene (SC), while using only one image sensor. To do this, a filter is arranged on the image sensor, in a restricted area (ZC) of same. The filter makes it possible to increase a contrast and a signal-to-noise ratio for an image of the target designation spot, when a misalignment (DP) is produced in order to bring the image of the target designation spot into the area of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Safran Electronics & Defense
    Inventors: Patrick Robert, Hervé Sik
  • Patent number: 10904461
    Abstract: Apparatus for binning an input value into an array of bins, each bin representing a range of input values and the bins collectively representing a histogram of input values, the apparatus comprising: an input for receiving the input value; a memory for storing the array; and a binning controller configured to: derive a plurality of bin values from the input value according to a binning distribution located about the input value, the binning distribution spanning a range of input values and each bin value having a respective input value dependent on the position of the bin value in the binning distribution; and allocate the plurality of bin values to a plurality of bins in the array, each bin value being allocated to a bin selected according to the respective input value of the bin value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Imagination Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Timothy Smith
  • Patent number: 10904462
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a vision sensor comprising, an array of pixels (101) comprising rows and columns of pixels, wherein each pixel has an address assigned thereto which represents the position of the pixel in the array, wherein each pixel in the array of pixels comprises a photodiode (103) which can receive light, and which can output current having an amplitude proportional to the intensity of the received light; a photoreceptor circuit (104) which is electronically connected to the photodiode, and which is configured to convert current which it receives from the photodiode into a voltage; a first storage capacitor (105), and at least a first switch which (106) is positioned between the first storage capacitor and an output of the photoreceptor circuit, wherein the first switch can be selectively closed to electronically connect the output of the photoreceptor circuit to the first storage capacitor, or selectively opened to electronically disconnect the output of the photorec
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Advanced Visual Sensing AG
    Inventor: Raphael Berner
  • Patent number: 10904463
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first semiconductor substrate provided with a pixel, including a photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts incident light to generate an electric charge, an accumulation unit that accumulates the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit, and a transfer unit that transfers the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit to the accumulation unit, and a second semiconductor substrate provided with a supply unit for the pixel, the supply unit supplying the transfer unit with a transfer signal to transfer the electric charge from the photoelectric conversion unit to the accumulation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Saruwatari, Shutaro Kato, Ryoji Ando, Yojiro Tezuka, Atsushi Komai
  • Patent number: 10904464
    Abstract: An imaging device comprising: a first pixel cell including a first photoelectric converter generating a first signal, the first photoelectric converter including a first electrode and a first photoelectric conversion region on the first electrode, and a first circuit coupled to the first electrode and detecting the first signal; and a second pixel cell including a second photoelectric converter generating a second signal, the second photoelectric converter including a second electrode and a second photoelectric conversion region on the second electrode, and a second circuit coupled to the second electrode and detecting the second signal. A sensitivity of the first pixel cell is higher than that of the second pixel cell. A circuit configuration of the first circuit is different from that of the second circuit. The first circuit includes a feedback circuit configured to negatively feed back a voltage of the first electrode to the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuko Nishimura, Tokuhiko Tamaki, Masashi Murakami
  • Patent number: 10904465
    Abstract: This invention relates to a pixel circuit comprising a photo-sensor stage (10) comprising a photodiode (1) delivering a photoreceptor current (Iph), a comparison stage (30) configured for detecting a change in a signal voltage (Vph) derived from said photoreceptor current, a sample-and-hold circuit (50) connected to the converting stage (20) and to the comparison stage (30), said comparison stage (30) configured to output an input signal for the sample-and-hold circuit (50), and for emitting a sampling signal to a control terminal of the sample-and-hold circuit (50) when a change is detected in the signal voltage (Vph).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignees: Prophesee, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas
    Inventors: Thomas Finateu, Bernabe Linares Barranco, Teresa Serrano Gotarredona, Christoph Posch
  • Patent number: 10904466
    Abstract: A digital correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit includes a first latch circuit, a first converting circuit, a second converting circuit, a second latch circuit, and a calculating circuit. The first latch circuit latches an input phase shift code based on a first control signal to store first and second phase shift codes. The first converting circuit converts the first and second phase shift codes into first and second Gray codes. The second converting circuit converts the first Gray code and the second Gray code into a first binary code and a second binary code. The second latch circuit latches an output of the second converting circuit based on a second control signal to store the first binary code. The calculating circuit operates on the first binary code and the second binary code to generate a third binary code, and outputs the third binary code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Inventor: Hyeok-Jong Lee
  • Patent number: 10904467
    Abstract: An image sensor pixel may include a photodiode that generates first charge for a first frame and second charge for a second frame, first and second storage gates coupled to the photodiode, a floating diffusion coupled to the first storage gate through a first transistor, a second transistor coupled to the second storage gate, and a capacitor coupled to the floating diffusion through a third transistor. The image sensor pixel may output image signals associated with the first charge generated by the photodiode for the first image frame while the photodiode concurrently generates the second charge for the second image frame. The second storage gate may be used to store overflow charge. Overflow charge for the second frame may be stored at the second storage gate while image signals associated with the first image frame are read out from capacitor and the floating diffusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Tomas Geurts