Differentiating Unintentional From Purposeful Camera Movement (pan, Tilt) Patents (Class 348/208.3)
  • Publication number: 20140152859
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed to correct for tilt and/or perspective distortion in image capture devices. In some embodiments, the method may include reading an orientation measurement associated with a relative position of an image capture device with respect to an object, determining if the orientation measurement is less than a threshold, and in the event that the orientation measurement is less than the threshold, correcting an image obtained by the image capture device. In some embodiments, the apparatus may include an image sensor, a memory coupled to the image sensor, an orientation measurement device coupled to the image sensor, and a distance measurement device coupled to the image sensor, where the image data may be stored in the memory along with a measurement from the accelerometer and along with a measurement from the distance measurement device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Hau-Ping Chen, Brandon Dean Slack, David I. Simon
  • Patent number: 8723951
    Abstract: An interactive video server which enables multiple clients to independently and interactively extract views from a one or more wide-angle imagery sources is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Grandeye, Ltd.
    Inventors: Bartu Ahiska, Mark K. Davey, Yavuz Ahiska
  • Publication number: 20140125824
    Abstract: A camera driving apparatus includes a camera section including an imaging plane; a movable unit having the camera section built therein, having an attracting magnet therein, and having a convex partial spherical surface along an outer surface thereof; a fixed unit having a magnetic member therein and having a recess loosely fitted with the movable unit, wherein a magnetic attracting force of the attracting magnet with respect to the magnetic member puts the convex partial spherical surface of the movable unit into point or line contact with the recess and thus the movable unit is freely rotatable around a sphere center of the first convex partial spherical surface; a panning driving section; a tilting driving section; a rolling driving section; a first detector for detecting a tilt angle of the camera section in the panning and tilting directions with respect to the fixed unit; and a second detector for detecting a rotation angle of the camera section in the rolling direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Teruyuki Takizawa
  • Patent number: 8687070
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are disclosed to correct for tilt and/or perspective distortion in image capture devices. In some embodiments, the method may include reading an orientation measurement associated with a relative position of an image capture device with respect to an object, determining if the orientation measurement is less than a threshold, and in the event that the orientation measurement is less than the threshold, correcting an image obtained by the image capture device. In some embodiments, the apparatus may include an image sensor, a memory coupled to the image sensor, an orientation measurement device coupled to the image sensor, and a distance measurement device coupled to the image sensor, where the image data may be stored in the memory along with a measurement from the accelerometer and along with a measurement from the distance measurement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Hau-Ping Chen, Brandon Dean Slack, David I. Simon
  • Patent number: 8682155
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which changes focal point adjustment by a focal point adjusting unit in accordance with the panning state detected by a panning detecting unit and a focal point state detected by a focal point detecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8681228
    Abstract: A device includes a display monitor configured to display on a screen of the display monitor at least one of a current image and a preceding image taken by an optical unit, a storage unit configured to store the preceding image, and a control unit configured to display a part of the preceding image on the screen when the current image is displayed on the screen, the displayed part of the preceding image indicating a positional relationship between the current image and the preceding image. The current image is taken when the displayed part of the preceding image substantially overlaps a corresponding portion of the current image such that the current image and the preceding image can be processed to form a panoramic image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Ejiri, Shin Aoki, Takashi Saitoh, Guan Haike, Takuji Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8643745
    Abstract: A content shooting apparatus is provided which is suitable for generating a digest meeting the user's desire. A scene information generation portion detects a characteristic scene with reference to a parameter contained in either video/audio in content recorded during shooting operation information for the shooting apparatus, and generates scene information, an auxiliary information assignment portion assigns the scene information its type, priority, start time, end time, or representative time as auxiliary information in accordance with a prescribed rule, a listing portion makes a list of the scene information and the auxiliary information thereof, and a scene sorting-out portion sorts out scenes from the content with reference to the priority, such that the number of scenes is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Morioka, Kenji Matsuura, Hisashi Inoue, Masaaki Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20140028844
    Abstract: When an anomaly occurs in an optical system circuit unit of a surveillance camera, an error signal is transmitted to an external communicator of a control room through a camera-side communicator. When an error, with a special code, requiring a support service occurs, an emergency contact button on an optical system operation panel, which is used to control operation of the surveillance camera, is operated. In response to the operation, a lock signal is transmitted to the surveillance camera. Power supply to solenoids of an image shake correction device is stopped. A correction lens is centered on and fixed to an optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi OSAWA
  • Patent number: 8613030
    Abstract: A wireless video camera system including a single or dual HDTV digital camera; a system for the wireless transmission of uncompressed single or multiple SMPTE 292M, HDSDI data streams over an RF band; and automatic self-pointing transmitting and receiving antennas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventors: Philip S Kossin, John E Nelson
  • Patent number: 8593529
    Abstract: An integration circuit integrates an angular velocity signal outputted from a vibration detection element and generates a shift amount signal indicating the shift amount of an imaging device. A control unit samples a plurality of amplitude values of an acceleration signal during a predetermined unit period in the panning state or the tilting state. When an average value of the sampling values exists nearer to zero than a predetermined basic threshold value, it is judged that the panning state or the tilting state is terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Naoto Iwata
  • Patent number: 8587674
    Abstract: An integration circuit integrates an angular velocity signal outputted from a vibration detection element and generates a shift amount signal indicating the shift amount of an imaging device. A control unit judges whether the device is in the panning state or the tilting state. The integration circuit is formed by a digital filter, which includes a register for holding an accumulation value to be an amplitude value of the shift amount signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignees: Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd., Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Naoto Iwata
  • Patent number: 8570385
    Abstract: A image stabilization control circuit is provided which comprises at least one analog-to-digital converter circuit which converts an output signal of a vibration detection element which detects vibration of an imaging device and an output signal of a position detection element which detects a position of an optical component, into digital signals, and a logic circuit which generates a control signal which drives the optical component based on the output signal of the vibration detection element which is digitized by the analog-to-digital converter circuit and the output signal of the position detection element which is digitized by the analog-to-digital converter circuit, wherein an abnormality of the vibration detection element is judged based on an amplitude of the output signal from the vibration detection element which is converted into the digital signal by the analog-to-digital converter circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignees: Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd., Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Yamada, Yuuki Tashita
  • Patent number: 8547435
    Abstract: An internet connected mobile security system for recording at least one audio and video on a removable semiconductor storage media in a continuous record loop for evidentiary documentation purposes inside an automotive vehicle or as a wearable video recording device is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Selka Elektronik ve Internet Urunleri San.ve Tic.A.S
    Inventor: Tibet Mimar
  • Patent number: 8542282
    Abstract: An integration circuit integrates an angular velocity signal outputted from a vibration detection element and generates a shift amount signal indicating the shift amount of an imaging device. The integration circuit is formed by a digital filter, which includes a register for holding an accumulation value serving as a shift amount signal. A control unit acquires an accumulation values held in the register at a predetermined interval and obtains a change amount between the accumulation value previously obtained and the accumulation value currently obtained. When the change value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the control unit subtracts a correction value from the currently obtained accumulation value so that the value approaches zero and resets the obtained value in the register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Semiconductor Componets Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Naoto Iwata
  • Patent number: 8488008
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a lens barrel unit having a photographing optical system, an image pickup unit that is displaced two-dimensionally to correct camera shake, a FPC that has a first extending section connected to the image pickup device and extending on a surface of the lens barrel unit and a second extending section that is bent at an end of the first extending section and fixed to the surface of the lens barrel unit, and a guide plate that guides the first extending section on the surface of the lens barrel unit, wherein when the image pickup unit moves in an X direction, a bent section is bent to absorb an amount of movement in the X direction, and when the image pickup unit moves in a Y direction, the first extending section bends to absorb an amount of movement in the Y direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Shuhei Kaneko, Keita Takahashi, Masaki Higashiyama
  • Patent number: 8488006
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to capture an image of an object to acquire image data; a display unit configured to display the image captured by the imaging unit; a motion detection unit configured to detect information about motion of the object and the background in a display image based on image data acquired by the imaging unit; a determination unit configured to determine whether the imaging apparatus is taking a panning shot from a result detected by the motion detection unit; and an exposure control unit configured to execute exposure control to decrease the amount of motion of the object and the background in the display image based on a result detected by the motion detection unit, wherein the exposure control unit executes exposure control based on a result detected by the motion detection unit when the imaging apparatus is determined not to be taking a panning shot by the determination unit and, when the imaging apparatus is determined to be taking a panning shot by the d
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuyoshi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 8462219
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus determines from which position in a plurality of photographed frames a pixel of each of lines of an image to be output is read out, on the basis of a motion amount at a photographing time of each of the lines of a photographed predetermined frame, and if the determined read-out position is located on the outside of a photographing range of the predetermined frame, then determines to read out a pixel in a frame photographed before and/or after a photographing of the predetermine frame as the pixel of the output image and calculates a read-out position of the pixel on the basis of the motion amount at a photographing time of each of the lines in the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ichiro Matsuyama
  • Patent number: 8451337
    Abstract: An image stabilization control circuit controls an optical element driving element that moves an optical element provided in an imaging apparatus based on an output signal of a vibration detection element provided in the imaging apparatus. The image stabilization control circuit includes a high-pass filter that removes a low-frequency component from an output signal of the vibration detection element. A movement amount calculation circuit calculates a movement amount of the imaging apparatus based on an output signal of the high-pass filter. A servo circuit generates a correction signal for correcting the position of the optical element based on an output signal of the movement amount calculation circuit and outputs the correction signal to the optical element driving element. The movement amount calculation circuit includes a digital filter circuit and a register. The digital filter circuit performs filter processing based on a filter coefficient stored in the register.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignees: Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd., Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Hideki Hirayama
  • Patent number: 8451338
    Abstract: Object motion during camera exposure often leads to noticeable blurring artifacts. Proper elimination of this blur is challenging because the blur kernel is unknown, varies over the image as a function of object velocity, and destroys high frequencies. In the case of motions along a 1D direction (e.g. horizontal), applicants show that these challenges can be addressed using a camera that moves during the exposure. Through the analysis of motion blur as space-time integration, applicants show that a parabolic integration (corresponding to constant sensor acceleration) leads to motion blur that is not only invariant to object velocity, but preserves image frequency content nearly optimally. That is, static objects are degraded relative to their image from a static camera, but all moving objects within a given range of motions reconstruct well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Anat Levin, Peter Sand, Taeg Sang Cho, Fredo Durand, William T. Freeman
  • Patent number: 8436908
    Abstract: An optical image stabilization (OIS) system may be used in a camera having an optical system which includes a motion compensating optical element driven by an actuator. The system may include a motion sensor providing a motion signal, a frequency detector for detecting a dominant frequency being that frequency within the motion signal which may produce the most significant motion blurring in the image produced by the camera, and a tunable high-pass filter for filtering the motion signal and supplying the filtered motion signal as an actuator control signal. The tunable high pass filter may be tuned based upon the dominant frequency to a filter characteristic which provides a phase lead substantially canceling a phase lag of the actuator at that frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Stuart McLeod, Ewan Findlay
  • Patent number: 8417103
    Abstract: An image stabilization apparatus wherein a detection unit detects camera shake in first and second directions that are not parallel to each other and a calculation unit calculates first and second correction amounts for correcting the camera shake in the first and second directions, respectively, based on outputs from the detection unit. A control unit controls correction characteristics of the calculation unit so as to restrain correction of a movement corresponding to a panning operation in the first and second directions as the first and second correction amounts becomes larger, controls the correction characteristics of the second correction amount based on the first correction amount and controls the correction characteristics of the first correction amount based on the second correction amount and a correction unit corrects the camera shake based on the calculated correction amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Kawahara
  • Patent number: 8405720
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment a method calibrates a pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera system. The PTZ camera system may include a PTZ camera. The method may perform at least one of the following steps: determining a radial distortion of the PTZ camera; determining a base focal length of the PTZ camera; determining a zoom and magnification profile of the PTZ camera; determining an actuation delay of the PTZ camera system; determining a pan position mode speed and/or a tilt position mode speed of the PTZ camera; determining a pan velocity profile and/or a tilt velocity profile of the PTZ camera; determining a zoom position profile and/or a zoom duration profile of the PTZ camera; determining a query delay of the PTZ camera system; and determining a minimum query interval of the PTZ camera system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: ObjectVideo, Inc.
    Inventors: Himaanshu Gupta, Andrew J. Chosak, Geoffrey R. Taylor, Paul C. Brewer, Niels Haering, Alan J. Lipton
  • Patent number: 8385732
    Abstract: Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to image stabilization. Image stabilization includes techniques used to reduce jitter associated with the motion of a camera. Image stabilization can compensate for pan and tilt (angular movement, equivalent to yaw and pitch) of a camera or other imaging device. Image stabilization can be used in still and video cameras, including those found in mobile devices such as cell phones and personal digital assistants (PDAs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Oscar Zuniga, Shane D Voss, Jason Yost
  • Patent number: 8379095
    Abstract: A method is provided for determining presence of a user's hand tremor or intentional motion during recognition of an image through photographing. Image sample blocks of a previous frame are detected by using an edge detecting method. A block distance between the detected image sample block of the previous frame and an estimated image sample block of a current frame is calculated. The calculated block distance is compared with a first threshold. The calculated block distance is compared with a second threshold when the calculated block distance is less than the first threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Dong-Hyuk Lee, Mu-Sik Kwon, Sang-Wook Oh, Seong-Taek Hwan
  • Patent number: 8374595
    Abstract: A handheld electronic device and an operating method thereof are provided, in which at least two sets of sound outputting modules and sound receiving modules are disposed in the handheld electronic device. The operating method detects an orientation of the handheld electronic device by a motion detecting module and enables different sets of the sound outputting modules and the sound receiving modules according to a variation of the orientation of the handheld electronic device, so as to change a direction of a call operation, and thus a user can successfully make a phone call, even if the handheld electronic device is held upside down. Furthermore, the operating method can control the sound outputting modules and the sound receiving modules individually or collectively according to actual demands to achieve a multifunctional product design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Chih-Ling Chien, Hsiao-Chuan Huang
  • Patent number: 8355055
    Abstract: A method for real-time adjusting image capture frequency by an image detection apparatus comprises: sensing the frames consecutively by an image detection unit; setting a value for a counting variable; selecting a testing frame from the frames and comparing an image displacement between the testing frame and a previous frame thereof, to obtain a motion reference signal by a processing unit; providing a plurality of adjustable values for a capturing frequency variable by a memory unit and corresponding either one of the capturing frequency variable values to the motion reference signal; comparing the value of the counting variable to that of the capturing frequency variable by the processing unit; capturing and recording the testing frame as a sampling frame while the counting variable value reaches that of the capturing frequency variable; comparing an image displacement between the sampling frame and a previous frame thereof, to obtain an ultimate motion speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Lite-On Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventor: Jau-Yu Chen
  • Patent number: 8310552
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a correction unit, a vibration detection unit, a filter passing and outputting frequency of a predetermined band of vibration signals periodically entered from the vibration detection unit: the filter setting, as intermediate value, sum of a value based on a vibration signal of current period and a value based on a vibration signal of last period and setting, as output signal, a value obtained by adding a value based on intermediate value of the current period and a value based on intermediate value of the last period, a calculation unit calculating vibration correction amount, a driving control unit driving the correction unit by using the vibration correction amount, and an offset unit performing feedback control so that an intermediate value is shifted to predetermined value by changing the intermediate value and an offset value added to a signal based on output from the vibration detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Noguchi
  • Patent number: 8300106
    Abstract: An image stabilizer includes a stationary frame with four sidewalls, a moveable frame including four side panels, magnets, a plurality of fine pattern coils, and a resilient plate holding the moveable frame in the stationary frame. Each sidewall includes a receiving hole, a support portion received in the receiving hole, and a raised engagement portion extending from the support portion. The magnets are fixed on the side panels. The fine pattern coils are fixed in the receiving holes and aligned with the magnets and compensate for vibration and movement of the device to which it is affixed. The resilient plate is configured for returning the moveable frame to a resting position when a power supply is cut off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ting-Yuan Wu, Chi-Wei Chiu
  • Patent number: 8290355
    Abstract: A lens apparatus supported by a support member, includes a correction lens for correcting an image blur, a correction lens driving portion for driving the correction lens, a vibration detection portion for detecting vibration of the lens apparatus, and a driving signal calculation unit for calculating a driving signal used for driving the correction lens. The driving signal calculation unit includes a detected vibration calculation portion for calculating a vibration signal based on an output from the vibration detection portion, a panning/tilting component calculation portion for calculating a pan/tilt operation signal based on pan/tilt operation information input from the support member, and a subtraction portion for subtracting the pan/tilt operation signal from the vibration signal. The correction lens driving portion drives the correction lens based on an output from the subtraction portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaomi Kanayama
  • Patent number: 8274570
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for correcting hand shake blur in a moving image includes a generation unit that generates, by setting an image among images constituting the moving image as a reference image and the remaining images as correction target images, a correction amount by which position displacement of a correction target image relative to the reference image is corrected; an estimation unit that estimates a hand shake blur area where hand shake blur relative to the reference image has occurred, on the basis of the correction amount; a detection unit that detects a composition changing operation on the basis of the correction amount; and an updating unit that updates a correction area to an area where hand shake blur in the correction target image relative to the reference image is corrected on the basis of the hand shake blur area and a detection result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Handa, Tomoyuki Otsuki, Kenji Takahashi, Tetsujiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 8264551
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for correcting distortions of image-taking video signals are provided. The method and an apparatus adopting the method are capable of reducing distortion generated in a taken image by correction of inter-frame and intra-frame hand movements in an image-taking apparatus employing an image-taking device of an X-Y address type. To be more specific, this method is capable of correcting distortion observed in a taken image as distortion caused by a positional change, which occurs in the horizontal and/or vertical directions of the taken image at a photographing time as a positional change of the image-taking device. In accordance with the method, in a frame period of a taken image, an inter-frame correction quantity for a positional change of the device is detected and, on the basis of the detected inter-frame correction quantity, the positional change is corrected to eliminate a displacement observed when the frame changes to the next one as a displacement of the taken image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tohru Kurata, Manabu Kubo, Kimitaka Wada, Toshiyuki Kaimi
  • Patent number: 8253814
    Abstract: An ocular motor controller for preventing an image blur by using the principle of vestibulo-ocular reflex in response to translational movement. The ocular motor controller comprises an image pickup section (20) used as an ocular device, an ocular drive section (30) for rotating the image pickup section, a distance information acquisition section (40) for acquiring information concerning the distance from the image pickup section (20) to a visual target (1), a translational movement sensor (50) for measuring the variation due to the translational movement of a moving object, and a correction section (60) for utilizing the rotational movement driven by the ocular drive section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Xiaolin Zhang, Tsukasa Odagawa, Yukari Ishihara, legal representative
  • Patent number: 8254770
    Abstract: A lens apparatus supported by a support member, includes a pan/tilt detection portion for determining whether or not a pan operation and a tilt operation of the support member are performed, based on pan/tilt operation information output from the support member, an image blur correction lens for correcting an image blur, a vibration detection portion for detecting vibration of the lens apparatus, and calculating an amount of the image blur, and an image stabilizing portion for driving the image blur correction lens based on the amount of the image blur. The pan/tilt detection portion resets the vibration detection portion when the pan/tilt detection portion determines that one of the pan operation or the tilt operation is performed, and releases the reset of the vibration detection portion when the pan/tilt detection portion determines that the one of the pan operation or the tilt operation is not performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaomi Kanayama, Junichi Kasuya
  • Patent number: 8253811
    Abstract: An image blur correcting unit allows the optical axis of a lens system to coincide with the center of an imager, thus correcting an image blur. The unit includes a stationary member and a holder member. The holder member holds either one of the elements of the lens system or the imager and moves relative to the stationary member in a first direction and a second direction, the first and second directions being orthogonal to each other in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis. The unit further includes a first guide section and a second guide section for guiding the holder member in the first and second directions during movement, and a driving section moving the holder member in the first and second directions. The one of the elements of the lens system or the imager is disposed outside an area surrounded by the first and second guide sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Ippei Maeda, Tatsuyuki Nakayama, Hiroto Ogiyama, Yoshinori Mutoh, Yasuto Matsubara
  • Patent number: 8228394
    Abstract: An image capture device includes an image detection unit, a display unit, and a control system. The image detection unit captures images of an object of which orientations can be detected. The display displays the captured images. The control system acquires the captured images, extracts features of the object, recognizes the orientations of the object, identifies an angle between the orientations and physical direction of the display unit, implements a corresponding command stored therein associated with the angle, and executes the corresponding command to adjust display direction of the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zheng-Gang Lin
  • Patent number: 8212882
    Abstract: A digital camera 10 has a pair of angular rate-sensing gyroscopic sensors 130 with mutually perpendicular axes and an electronic circuit 120 responsive to the sensor output signals to discriminate between voluntary and involuntary movements of the article as a function of the number of zero crossings per unit time of the signal and the average of the absolute amplitude of the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Corneliu Florea, Felix Albu, Adrian Zamfir, Alexandru Drimbarean
  • Patent number: 8208030
    Abstract: Method for motion detection in a current picture (CP) with respect to a reference picture (RP), wherein for a plurality of locations in the current picture (CP) respective difference values (|D|) are determined (B100). A respective difference value is determined based on a difference between a first value and a second value, wherein the first value is descriptive of a photometric measure of one of the locations in the current picture (CP) and the second value is descriptive of the photometric measure of a corresponding location in the reference picture (RP). Based on the difference values, a histogram is determined (B102). The histogram is used as a basis for determining (B104) a threshold (T1, T2, T3). At a respective location in the current picture (CP), motion is detected by comparing the threshold (T1, T2, T3) to the difference value (|D|) of the respective location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Muhammad Siddiqui, Christian Unruh
  • Patent number: 8199025
    Abstract: A ball-rolling type orientation sensor includes a housing, a light emitter, two light receivers, and a rolling ball. The housing has a ring-shaped tunnel and a first opening connecting to the tunnel and two second openings respectively located on two sides of the first opening. The light emitter is arranged at the first opening and emitting light into the tunnel through the first opening. The light receivers are respectively arranged at the second openings and receiving light from the tunnel through the second openings. The rolling ball is arranged in the tunnel, whereby while the ball-rolling type orientation sensor is tilting, the rolling ball rolls toward the direction of gravity force, a portion of light emitted from the light emitter is reflected to one of the light receivers by the rolling ball, the light receivers respectively receive light with predetermined intensities and correspondingly output electric signals with predetermined strengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Edison Opto Corporation
    Inventors: Tsung-Ting Sun, Chung-Ping Feng
  • Patent number: 8189058
    Abstract: A digital camera system has integrated accelerometers for determining static and dynamic accelerations of the digital cameral system. Data relating to static and dynamic accelerations are stored with recorded image data for further processing, such as for correcting image data for roll, pitch and vibrations and for displaying recorded images with a predetermined orientation using information about, e.g., roll. Data may also be used on-the-fly for smear suppression caused by vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Phase One A/S
    Inventor: Claus Molgaard
  • Patent number: 8184167
    Abstract: An electromagnetic driving apparatus includes a magnet member having a first face in which first and second magnetic poles are formed in a first direction and a second face in which the first and second magnetic poles are formed in a second direction, a first coil facing the first face, a second coil facing the second face, a first member holding the magnet member, and a second member holding the first and second coils. One of the first and second members holds a driven member. The first and second members are relatively moved in the first direction by the energization of the first coil, and the first and second members are relatively moved in the second direction by the energization of the second coil. The actuator constituted by the first and second coils and the magnet member can be compactly arranged in one region in the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Inaba
  • Patent number: 8175448
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a shake detector to detect a shake applied to the imaging apparatus, a first calculation unit to calculate a first shake correction amount, a vector detector to detect a motion vector on an imaging surface, a first integration unit to integrate an output of the vector detector, a second calculation unit to calculate a second shake correction amount, a shake correction unit to correct an image-shake based of the first shake correction amount and the second shake correction amount; and an angle-of-view change determination unit to detect an angle-of-view changing operation of the imaging apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenichi Miyasako
  • Patent number: 8169488
    Abstract: A digital camera includes an imager. An optical image of an object scene is irradiated onto an imaging surface of the imager. When the digital camera is rotated, a CPU starts measuring processing for repetitively measuring a rotation angle, and suppresses a change due to the rotation in a positional relationship between the imaging surface and the optical image on the basis of the result of the measurement. The CPU performs exposure processing on the imager every time that the measurement result and the angle of view of the optical image on the imaging surface satisfy the angular condition, and captures the object scene image generated on the imaging surface in to a memory. The plurality of object scene images thus stored in the memory are combined with each other to thereby produce a single panoramic object scene image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Michihiro Fujiyama
  • Patent number: 8169487
    Abstract: An image-shake correction apparatus includes a shake detection unit configured to detect a shake applied to the image-shake correction apparatus, a shake correction unit configured to correct the shake of an image caused by the shake, a drive unit configured to drive the shake correction unit, a filtering unit configured to remove a specific frequency component from the output of the shake detection unit, a characteristic change unit configured to change the frequency characteristic of the filtering unit, and a temperature detection unit configured to detect temperature of the shake detection unit or a vivinity thereof, wherein the characteristic change unit changes the frequency characteristic of the filtering unit according to the change rate in temperature detected by the temperature detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaaki Noguchi
  • Patent number: 8159540
    Abstract: A MCP semiconductor device with an “anti-shake” function includes a driver chip and a logic chip. The logic chip includes a correction signal processing unit which obtains a value for vibration of apparatus based on a vibration detection signal to generate a correction signal and a control signal output unit having a plurality of types of signal output sections which output a vibration control signal in accordance with the correction signal to a vibration correction control unit which executes vibration correction control for an optical component. The logic chip further includes a driver output terminal which outputs the vibration control signal to the driver chip, an external output terminal which outputs the control signal to an external circuit other than the driver chip, and also an output switch unit which connects one of the plurality of signal output sections with the driver output terminal or the external output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Semiconductor Components Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Tomofumi Watanabe, Tomonori Kamiya, Yoshihisa Yamada
  • Patent number: 8154606
    Abstract: Image pickup means is capable of picking up an image at a first frame rate and a second frame rate that is higher than the first frame rate. A highlight scene is detected by detection means. When detecting the highlight scene, image pickup operation is performed at a high speed mode and an image signal at high frame rate (240 fps) is produced for a period of predetermined time. When detecting no highlight scene, image pickup operation is performed at a normal mode and an image signal at normal frame rate (60 fps) is produced. It is possible to save time and labor for performing a switchover operation of a frame rate when imaging a highlight scene. It is also possible to save power consumption and a capacity of a storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Haruto Tokuyama
  • Patent number: 8134603
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for a digital image stabilization intended to remove unwanted camera movement or jitter, both translational and rotational jitter. The system comprises the following means: 1) a motion estimation stage (10) of the global motion of the camera: block motion vectors are calculated for specific parts of the image and global motion parameters representing the camera motion are then derived. 2) a motion/jitter filtering stage (11): the translation vector and the rotation angle are filtered separately, a boundary check being then performed for verifying if the correction thus done is not above an allowed threshold. 3) a jitter compensation stage (12): the raw sequence is compensated according to the extracted jitter and the result is a stabilized sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventors: Stephane Auberger, Carolina Miro, Yann Picard
  • Patent number: 8115817
    Abstract: In an anti-shake circuit for an imaging device, a differential circuit receives an analog sensing signal and a target signal and then generates a difference signal. An analog mathematical circuit performs at least one mathematical operation on the difference signal, resulting in generation of at least one mathematical output signal. A driver receives the at least one mathematical output signal, and, accordingly, generates a driving signal and controls an actuator in order to correct the shaking movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ability Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chi-De Chen
  • Patent number: 8102429
    Abstract: A digital camera system has integrated accelerometers for determining static and dynamic accelerations of the digital camera system. Data relating to static and dynamic accelerations are stored with recorded image data for further processing, such as for correcting image data for roll, pitch and vibrations and for displaying recorded images with a predetermined orientation using information about, e.g., roll. Data may also be used on-the-fly for smear suppression caused by vibrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Phase One A/S
    Inventor: Claus Molgaard
  • Patent number: 8102428
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a source video sequence; determining a stabilized camera path to which the source video sequence is to be stabilized; and generating a stabilized video sequence, wherein each frame of the stabilized video sequence is generated as a content-aware warp of a corresponding frame in the input sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Aseem O. Agarwala, Feng Liu, Hailin Jin
  • Patent number: 8089517
    Abstract: In an image stabilization control circuit of an image-capturing device, a gyro-equalizer (24) is used to integrate an angular velocity signal corresponding to vibration, and determine a required magnitude of displacement of a lens. The gyro-equalizer (24) integrates the angular velocity signal from a gyro-sensor (12) using an integration circuit (46) (LPF), and converts the result into an angular signal. A direct-current component of the angular signal is removed using a centering circuit (52) (HPF). Excessive phase delay of the angular signal on a high-frequency side caused by a phase characteristic of the gyro-sensor (12) is compensated by a phase lead compensation circuit (50) composed of a high-boost filter, and the phase delay of the angular signal with respect to the angular velocity signal is brought nearer to 90° by an integration process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignees: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sanyo Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasunori Nagata, Yasuhisa Yamada