Camera Image Stabilization Patents (Class 348/208.99)
  • Patent number: 11968454
    Abstract: A sensor driving apparatus according to the embodiment includes a fixed portion including a first substrate; an elastic member disposed on the first substrate; and a sensor moving portion disposed on the elastic member; wherein the elastic member includes: a first insulating portion; a second insulating portion spaced apart from the first insulating portion; and an elastic connection portion connecting the first insulating portion and the second insulating portion; wherein the elastic connection portion electrically connects the fixed portion and the moving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jung Seok Oh
  • Patent number: 11947757
    Abstract: A personal digital assistant includes a display control unit that causes an object as a target of the touch operation to be displayed in the image display unit, an image input unit that acquires a video of an operation instruction object that performs the touch operation on the touch screen, and a shaking detection unit that analyzes the video of the operation instruction object, which is acquired by the image input unit, and calculates a relative shaking amount of the operation instruction object to a position of the personal digital assistant as a reference. The display control unit causes the object to be displayed in the image display unit to be displayed, based on the relative shaking amount of the operation instruction object, which is calculated by the shaking detection unit, such that the object is shifted in accordance with the relative shaking amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Yoshizawa, Yasunobu Hashimoto, Sadao Tsuruga, Susumu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 11936974
    Abstract: An actuator, the actuator is used for the camera unit. The actuator includes: a seat configured to be assembled with a first lens and a fluid lens of the camera unit; a stator assembly fixedly connected to the seat; a focusing mover assembly configured to be connected with the fluid lens; and an anti-shake mover assembly configured to be connected with the first lens. The focusing mover assembly is configured to move along a first direction of the seat by interacting with the stator assembly, for adjusting a curvature of the fluid lens, and the anti-shake mover assembly is configured to translate in a plane perpendicular to the first direction by interacting with the stator assembly, for driving the first lens to move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hui Wang, Bin Wang
  • Patent number: 11935263
    Abstract: Various implementations disclosed herein include devices, systems, and methods that determine an orientation of a three-dimensional (3D) model with respect to a global reference direction. For example, an example process may include obtaining an image from an image sensor, determining an orientation of the image sensor with respect to the direction of a celestial element, determining an orientation of the image sensor with respect to a global reference direction based on the orientation of the image sensor with respect to the direction of the celestial element and a relationship between the direction of the celestial element and the global reference direction, obtaining a 3D model of the physical environment, determining an orientation of the image sensor with respect to the 3D model, and determining an orientation of the 3D model with respect to the global reference direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Kurz
  • Patent number: 11900613
    Abstract: This application relates to an image segmentation method and apparatus. The method includes obtaining a current frame and historical affine transformation information transmitted by a previous video frame in a video frame sequence; performing affine transformation on the current frame according to the historical affine transformation information to obtain a candidate region image corresponding to the current frame; performing feature extraction on the candidate region image to obtain a feature map corresponding to the candidate region image; performing semantic segmentation based on the feature map to obtain a segmentation result corresponding to a target in the current frame; and revising the historical affine transformation information according to the feature map to obtain updated affine transformation information, and using the updated affine transformation information as historical affine transformation information corresponding to a subsequent video frame in the video frame sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: Sihong Chen
  • Patent number: 11889203
    Abstract: A camera module includes an image sensor configured to output a plurality of image frames, a lens assembly disposed on the image sensor, the lens assembly including at least one lens unit disposed on an optical path and a variable filter unit configured to adjust the optical path of light incident on the image sensor from outside, a controller configured to generate a control signal to control the variable filter unit, and an image synthesizer configured to synthesize the plurality of image frames to generate a composite image, wherein the composite image has a higher resolution than the image frames, and wherein the plurality of image frames includes image frames generated along respectively different optical paths changed by the variable filter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seok Hyen Kim, Hyo Seon Yoon, Eun Song Kim
  • Patent number: 11885977
    Abstract: A camera module includes a carrier supported on a housing and movable in an optical axis direction, a frame supported on the carrier and movable, relative to the carrier, in a first direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and a lens module supported on the frame and movable, relative to the frame, in a second direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction. One of the frame and the lens module is supported such that attractive force acts in one of the first direction and the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bo Sung Seo, Jung Seok Lee, Young Bok Yoon
  • Patent number: 11877059
    Abstract: In some aspects, a device may receive measured camera motion information associated with an image. The device may generate a shared image based on the image. The device may apply, based on the measured camera motion information, an image stabilization process to the image to generate a true image. The device may store the true image in a memory associated with the device. The device may provide the shared image and the measured camera motion information to another device. Numerous other aspects are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Mehul Soman, Diyan Teng
  • Patent number: 11860512
    Abstract: A camera module includes a carrier supported on a housing and movable in an optical axis direction, at least one frame supported on the carrier and movable, relative to the carrier, in at least one direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction, and a lens module supported on the frame. The frame is supported on the carrier such that attractive force acts in the at least one direction perpendicular to the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bo Sung Seo, Hong Joo Lee, Young Bok Yoon, Jung Seok Lee
  • Patent number: 11835845
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera with a voice coil motor (VCM) actuator assembly to provide autofocus (AF) and/or optical image stabilization (OIS) movement. The VCM actuator assembly is configured to move an image sensor of the camera in three dimensions (e.g. X, Y, and Z) to provide the AF and/or OIS movements. The VCM actuator assembly is asymmetrical and includes an at least partially open side that allows an optical assembly of the camera to pass through the open side of the VCM actuator. In some embodiments, the optical assembly is part of a folded optics arrangement of the camera that includes one or more prisms/and or lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Shashank Sharma
  • Patent number: 11831986
    Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera with image sensor shifting capabilities and a flexure arrangement. In various embodiments, the flexure arrangement may include an upper flexure and a lower flexure. The upper flexure may include a suspension wire that extends between two sheets. The lower flexure may include one or more flexure arms that connect a moveable platform to a stationary platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Shashank Sharma
  • Patent number: 11821985
    Abstract: There is provided a mobile robot that performs the obstacle avoidance and visual simultaneous localization and mapping (VSLAM) according to image frames captured by the same optical sensor. The mobile robot includes a pixel array and a processor. An upper part of the pixel array is not coated with any filter and a lower part of the pixel array is coated with an IR filter. The processor performs range estimation using pixel data corresponding to the lower part of the pixel array, and perform the VSLAM using pixel data corresponding to the upper part of the pixel array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Guo-Zhen Wang, Hui-Hsuan Chen
  • Patent number: 11815734
    Abstract: The present embodiment relates to a lens driving device comprising: a housing; a bobbin disposed inside the housing; a coil disposed at the bobbin; a magnet disposed in the housing and facing the coil; an elastic member coupled to the housing and the bobbin; and a damper disposed at the elastic member, wherein the elastic member comprises an outer part coupled to the housing, an inner part coupled to the bobbin, and a connection part for connecting the outer part and the inner part; and the damper is disposed at the connection part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kap Jin Lee, Kyung Hwan Kim
  • Patent number: 11808951
    Abstract: An actuator for a camera includes a guide member, a base, and a carrier stacked in a housing in an optical axis direction, a first driving unit generating driving force in a first axial direction and a second axial direction, the first driving unit including a plurality of magnets and a plurality of coils, and a second driving unit generating driving force in the optical axis direction and including a magnet and a coil. The carrier, the base, and the guide member are movable together in the first axial direction, the carrier and the base are movable together in the second axial direction, the carrier is movable relative to the base in the optical axis direction, the magnets and the coils of the first driving unit and the magnet and the coil of the second driving unit are disposed to face each other in the optical axis direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 11800227
    Abstract: A program may cause a computer to perform the steps of: acquiring a target posture information indicating a target posture of a movable member with m degrees of freedom components associated with a movement or rotation of the movable member; deriving a correction information indicating a corrective component for correcting an error in respective target positions of m+n positions of the movable member due to at least one of n degrees of freedom components other than m degrees of freedom, based on at least one value of m+n values corresponding to m+n positions of the movable member indicated in respective position informations; deriving respective target positions of each of m+n positions of the movable member based on m degrees of freedom components and the corrective component; and outputting respective target position informations indicating the respective target positions to each of m+n control circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation
    Inventor: Hidekazu Tsukiji
  • Patent number: 11800229
    Abstract: An illustrative example camera device includes a substrate and a sensor supported on the substrate. The sensor is configured to gather image information. A lens is situated near the sensor and an electroactive polymer selectively causes relative movement between the sensor and the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Steven A. Liburdi
  • Patent number: 11792516
    Abstract: Various embodiments include flex circuit arrangements for a camera with sensor shift actuation. Some embodiments include a flexure-circuit hybrid structure. Some embodiments include an actuation-module flex circuit hybrid structure. In some embodiments, the hybrid structures may include different portions that share multiple layers of a plurality of stacked layers. In some embodiments, one portion of a hybrid structure may include one or more layers that are different from the layers in another portion of the hybrid structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Himesh Patel, Kai Min, Phillip R. Sommer
  • Patent number: 11792515
    Abstract: An image acquisition apparatus includes a display layer including hole regions through which external light is received and pixel regions arranged between the hole regions, an image sensor disposed under the display layer and configured to generate a raw image by sensing the external light received through the hole regions, and a processor configured to perform image processing on the raw image based on blur information based on an arrangement of the hole regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sujin Lee, Eunhee Kang, Kinam Kwon, Hyong Euk Lee
  • Patent number: 11792518
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for processing image. The method includes: determining a first translation amount based on a first voice coil motor (VCM) value of a first image photographed by a wide-angle camera, the VCM value is a normalized value corresponding to a magnitude of a current acting on a coil of a VCM in response to successful focusing of the camera; determining a second translation amount based on a zoom multiple of the first image and the first translation amount; and obtaining a target image by translating the first image by the second translation amount and amplifying the first image. According to the present disclosure, smooth switching of zooming can be achieved, and obvious geometric jump of images in continuous focal lengths and between focal lengths is avoided, thereby providing a good zooming experience to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: SPREADTRUM COMMUNICATIONS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xiaoxia Dong
  • Patent number: 11776314
    Abstract: The present invention provides a technology that acquires a high resolution iris image more quickly than before. An iris capture apparatus according to one example embodiment of the present invention includes a rotatable movable mirror; a control unit that controls rotation of the movable mirror; a capture unit that captures different regions of a face of a user via the movable mirror and outputs a group of images every time the control unit rotates the movable mirror by a predetermined angle; and an iris image acquisition unit that acquires an image of an iris of the user from the group of images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Leiming Su, Hiroaki Morita, Mamoru Inoue
  • Patent number: 11778310
    Abstract: A machine learning (ML) operating mode is selected for a camera. A physical orientation of a housing of a camera is determined. In response to determining the orientation, an operating mode from a set of operating modes is selected. The set of operating modes includes at least a ML inference mode and a ML training mode. Based on the selected operating mode, images obtained by an image capturing unit are processed. In the ML inference mode, a ML controller applies a ML model to the images to infer or predict characteristics of the image (e.g., detecting objects within the images). In the ML training mode, the ML controller is configured to cause a ML model to be trained using images captured by the image capturing unit, either local to the camera or on a remotely located computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Mahesh Suresh Yadav, Donghee Pi, Robyn E. Dunn
  • Patent number: 11758270
    Abstract: A shake correction control device includes a processor that selects mechanical correction of mechanically performing shake correction of a subject image or electronic correction of electronically performing the shake correction of the subject image. The processor performs a switching control from either of the mechanical correction or the electronic correction to the other of the mechanical correction or the electronic correction, and synchronizes shake correction operations of the mechanical correction and the electronic correction during the switching control, and changes an operation ratio of the mechanical correction and the electrical correction during the switching control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Tomonori Masuda, Masahiko Sugimoto, Yi Pan, Takashi Hashimoto, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Yasunobu Kishine
  • Patent number: 11750754
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus (1) includes image sensors (20A, 20B). The image sensor (20A) includes light guides (21A, 22A) guiding light to a reading target (M), a lens body (8A) forming an image of reflected light derived from the light guided by the light guides (21A, 22A) and reflected from the reading target (M), light receiving elements (11A) converting the image of reflected light formed by the lens body (8A) into electrical signals, and a controller (14A) controlling exposure times of the light receiving elements (11A). The image sensor (20B) includes a lens body (8B) forming an image of transmitted light derived from the light guided by the light guide (22A) and transmitted through the reading target (M), light receiving elements (11B) converting the image of transmitted light formed by the lens body (8B) into electrical signals, and a controller (14B) controlling exposure times of the light receiving elements (11B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Aramaki, Tomokazu Ogomi, Masatoshi Kodama
  • Patent number: 11731558
    Abstract: A method for displaying and processing an image captured by an optical system used to simulate a rear-view system of a vehicle, includes capturing the image, identifying primary edges of a first image of the plurality of images, locating a first border within the first image that extends to part of a first edge of the first image, identifying secondary edges of a second image of the plurality of images, selecting a second edge from the secondary edges closest in position and orientation to the part of the first edge of the first image, locating a second border within the second image that extends to the second edge, and adjusting the second image such that a second part of the second border of the second image aligns with the first border of the first image, wherein the optical system simultaneously simulates both a plane mirror and a spotter mirror in form of a spherical mirror in the single image to provide a plurality of optical subsystems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.À.R.L.
    Inventors: Andreas Herrmann, Martin Schwalb, Frank Linsenmaier, Oliver Eder, Ilka Rötzer, Thomas Jochmann, Firas Mualla, Maximilian Kauffmann, Thorsten Steder
  • Patent number: 11727579
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus determines a direction (first direction (12)) from a sensor (10) toward a moving object (20) by detecting the moving object (20) using the sensor (10). The information processing apparatus causes a camera (30) to perform imaging while moving the optical axis direction (34) of the camera (30) along the first direction (12). As a result, a plurality of captured images (32), each of which is captured in the different direction, are generated by the camera (30). The information processing apparatus (2000) detects the moving object (20) by performing image analysis on the captured image (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shoji Yachida
  • Patent number: 11722774
    Abstract: A camera system includes a first camera unit and a second camera unit. The first camera unit may include a first actuator. The second camera unit may include a second actuator. The first actuator may move one or more components of the first camera unit to provide autofocus and/or optical image stabilization functionality to the first camera unit. The second actuator may move one or more components of the second camera unit to provide autofocus and/or optical image stabilization functionality to the second camera unit. The first camera unit may be configured to capture a first image of a first visual field. The second camera unit may be configured to capture, simultaneously with the first camera unit capturing the first image, a second image of a second visual field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Shashank Sharma, Scott W. Miller, Aurelien R. Hubert
  • Patent number: 11710222
    Abstract: Images may be captured by a moving image capture device. A reference image and a background image may be selected from the images. The reference image may include depiction of an object, with the object blocking view of the background. The background image may include depiction of the background blocked by the object in the reference image. An object layer may be generated by segmenting the depiction of the object from the reference image. A background layer may be generated by combining the depiction of the background in the background image with the reference image. The background layer may be blurred and combined with the object layer to generate a panning image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Gladys Jocelyne Marc, Balthazar Neveu, Nicolas Rahmouni, Maeva Escoulan
  • Patent number: 11711612
    Abstract: An imaging support device that supports imaging performed by an imaging apparatus includes an acquisition portion that acquires an in-image shift amount between a predetermined position in a captured image obtained by capturing an imaging region by an imaging element and a position of a target subject image showing a target subject, and a focal length of the imaging apparatus, a derivation portion that derives a movement amount required for moving the position of the target subject image to a specific position by a position adjustment portion which adjusts the position of the target subject image in the captured image, based on the in-image shift amount acquired by the acquisition portion, the focal length acquired by the acquisition portion, and information related to a pixel interval of pixels in the imaging element, and an output portion that outputs the movement amount derived by the derivation portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shinichiro Fujiki, Tetsuya Fujikawa, Junichi Tanaka, Atsushi Kawanago
  • Patent number: 11706530
    Abstract: An imaging device has a computer executing instructions that, when executed by the computer, cause the computer to: acquire a current position in an imaging direction of the imaging device; perform a process of controlling the imaging direction of the imaging device; and control, in a case where the imaging direction is controlled to a target position, a timing of starting a stop process for stopping controlling the imaging direction based on a speed at which the imaging direction is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryutaro Nishimura
  • Patent number: 11706507
    Abstract: Described examples relate to an apparatus comprising a first sensor configured to scan an area of interest during a first time period and a second sensor configured to capture a plurality of images of a field of view. The apparatus may include at least one controller configured to receive the plurality of images captured by the second sensor, compare the timestamp information associated with at least one image of the plurality of images to at least one time period of the first time period, and select a base image from the plurality of images based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Jia Feng, Damien Kelly, Ignacio Garcia Dorado, Xiaoying He, Benjamin Frevert, Nirav Dharia
  • Patent number: 11698572
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for controlling a multi-axial point tilt of a camera lens and a method therefor, characterized by controlling a camera lens to move within a common stroke section among respective stroke sections in which the camera lens can move in an axis direction (z-axis) parallel to an optical axis direction at each of three or more axial points, wherein the camera lens is moved to a target position by using a compensation factor that is compensated such that a lens movement distance for each control code is the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: DONGWOON ANATECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Da Woon Lee, Young Ho Lee, Noh Yeol Park
  • Patent number: 11694311
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method executed by at least one processor for applying rolling shutter (RS)-aware spatially varying differential homography fields for simultaneous RS distortion removal and image stitching is presented. The method includes inputting two consecutive frames including RS distortions from a video stream, performing keypoint detection and matching to extract correspondences between the two consecutive frames, feeding the correspondences between the two consecutive frames into an RS-aware differential homography estimation component to filter out outlier correspondences, sending inlier correspondences to an RS-aware spatially varying differential homography field estimation component to compute an RS-aware spatially varying differential homography field, and using the RS-aware spatially varying differential homography field in an RS stitching and correction component to produce stitched images with removal of the RS distortions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventors: Bingbing Zhuang, Quoc-Huy Tran
  • Patent number: 11696030
    Abstract: A vibration type actuator control apparatus, which uses a vibration from a vibrator to move a contact member, includes a control unit and a drive unit. The control unit includes first and second learned models, each having a neural network, and outputs control amounts for the drive unit to move the contact member. When a contact member moving target velocity is input, the first learned model outputs a first control amount as one of the control amounts. When a positional deviation is input, the second learned model outputs a second control amount as one of the control amounts. The drive unit moves the contact member using a value based on the first and second control amounts. The positional deviation is in association with a difference between a target position for moving the contact member and a detected position detected when the contact member is moved relative to the vibrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Sumioka
  • Patent number: 11665428
    Abstract: A lens apparatus attachable to and detachable from an image pickup apparatus includes a detector configured to detect an angular shake of the lens apparatus, an image stabilizer configured to provide an image stabilization by driving part of an imaging optical system in the lens apparatus, and a controller configured to calculate a driving amount using a rotation angle based on an output of the detector and information for converting the rotation angle into the driving amount. The controller changes the information based on the image pickup apparatus attached to the lens apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Rumi Ito
  • Patent number: 11663697
    Abstract: A device for assembling at least two shots of a scene acquired by at least one sensor includes a memory and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to save, in the memory, a first data set contained in a first signal generated by each pixel of the sensor and indicative of a first shot of the scene, and a second data set contained in a second signal generated by each pixel of the sensor and indicative of a second shot of the scene. The processing circuitry is further configured to assemble the first and second shots on the basis of the content of the first and second data sets of a plurality of pixels in order to form a resulting scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (GRENOBLE 2) SAS
    Inventors: Gregory Roffet, Stephane Drouard, Roger Monteith
  • Patent number: 11659280
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is mountable with a lens apparatus including a first optical image stabilizing unit configured to move an optical element that is a part of the imaging optical system, in a direction intersecting an optical axis of the imaging optical system. The image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor, a second optical image stabilizing unit configured to move the image sensor in a direction intersecting the optical axis, and a control unit configured to control the second optical image stabilizing unit based on an image stabilizing reference position of the first optical image stabilizing unit which is a reference position for an image stabilization of the first optical image stabilizing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Go Naito, Masafumi Kimura
  • Patent number: 11659303
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises a controller configured to transmit an image obtained by an image sensor to an external device via a communication circuit, and cause the external device to execute a predetermined image processing on the image. The controller obtains information indicating recommendation or non-recommendation for the execution of the predetermined image processing on the image by the external device, based on a state of at least one of an imaging optical system and the image sensor when capturing the image, and transmits an execution request for the predetermined image processing on the image to the external device via the communication circuit, if the obtained information indicates the recommendation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kunihiro Shirai
  • Patent number: 11657620
    Abstract: A method for determining a safe state for a vehicle includes disposing a camera at a vehicle and disposing an electronic control unit (ECU) at the vehicle. Image data is captured via the camera and provided to the ECU. An image processor of the ECU processes captured image data. A condition is determined via processing at the image processor of the ECU captured image data. The condition comprises a shadow present in the field of view of the camera within ten frames of captured image data or a damaged condition of the imager within two minutes of operation of the camera. The condition is indicative of a condition where processing of captured image data degrades in performance. The ECU determines a safe state for the vehicle responsive to determining the condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: MAGNA ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Horst D. Diessner, Richard C. Bozich, Aleksandar Stefanovic, Anant Kumar Lall, Nikhil Gupta
  • Patent number: 11579461
    Abstract: Various embodiments include perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangements for cameras. A perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement may be used to suspend a moveable platform of the camera from a base structure of the camera, and allow a lens group of the camera to move laterally. According to some embodiments, the perimeter sheet spring suspension arrangement may include one or more tabs that may be used as bumpers that cushion lateral movement of the moveable platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred N. Mireault, Scott W. Miller
  • Patent number: 11582389
    Abstract: A camera may include at least one suspension assembly as part of optical image stabilization and/or autofocus systems of the camera. The suspension assembly may include an inner frame, an outer frame, and one or more flexure arms. Electrical traces may be deposited at both sides of the suspension assembly. A connection may be created, for electrical traces at the different sides of the suspension assembly, through the suspension assembly by removing (e.g., using an etching process) one or more parts in the body of the suspension assembly to create one or more cavities. A remaining part of the suspension assembly surrounded (and thus isolated) by the cavities may thus form at least a part of the connection for the electrical traces. The connection may further include one or more filled trenches connecting the electrical traces to the remaining part of the suspension assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip R. Sommer
  • Patent number: 11575840
    Abstract: The described technology is a technique related to a method for controlling a mobile device cradle and combining images. The method for controlling a mobile device cradle performed in an application of a user device linked with the mobile device cradle, comprises: pairing the mobile device cradle with the user device; starting capturing an image based on an input of a user; extracting a subject from a captured image; calculating a moving speed and a moving direction of the subject extracted; and calculating a rotation speed and a rotation direction of a motor included in the mobile device cradle based on the calculated moving speed and moving direction, and controlling the motor based on the calculated rotation speed and rotation direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: 3i Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Kim, Ji Wuck Jung
  • Patent number: 11570334
    Abstract: A lens driving device includes a fixing bracket; first and second support frames; a rotation assembly including first and second rolling balls so that the fixing bracket and the first support frame are spaced apart from each other and form a rotational connection about a first direction, and the first and second support frames are spaced apart from each other and form a rotational connection about a second direction; a driving assembly for driving the fixing bracket to rotate relative to the first and second support frames about the first direction and for driving the first support frame to rotate relative to the second support frame about the second direction; a flexible circuit board; and first and second elastic support components. The lens driving device reduces the height of the overall structure, and effectively reduces the height of the lens driving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Changzhou AAC Raytech Optronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tianheng Ni, Feng Yan, Suohe Wei
  • Patent number: 11563852
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for machine learning systems to process incoming call-center calls based on inferred sentiments. An incoming call is routed to a call agent based on an inferred topic, classified based on one or more inferred sentiments of a current caller's speech, determining, based on the call classification, that a complaint has been articulated and initiating an automated assistance by searching for one or more similar callers to the current caller. Based on finding a successful call outcome associated with one or more similar callers, the system suggests one or more phrases to the call agent for use in a dialog with the current caller to improve the one or more inferred sentiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Capital One Services, LLC
    Inventors: Aysu Ezen Can, Adam Faulkner, Maury Courtland, David Chen, Jonathan Galsurkar
  • Patent number: 11539867
    Abstract: A sensor driving device is provided. A sensor driving device according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a first substrate; a second substrate disposed on the first substrate and electrically connected to the first substrate; and an image sensor disposed on the second substrate, wherein the second substrate comprises a body and a first protrusion part protruding from one end of the body, and the first protrusion part comprises a first extension part extending in a first direction from the body, and a second extension part extending in a second direction that differs from the first direction from the first extension part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yun Sang Song
  • Patent number: 11528417
    Abstract: In a method, it is determined that a detachable lens is mounted on an image capture device in a first orientation. A first image of a controlled scene is captured with the detachable lens mounted in the first orientation. It is determined that the detachable lens is mounted on the image capture device in a second orientation that is rotated approximately 180 degrees from the first orientation. A second image of the controlled scene is captured with the detachable lens in the second orientation. A first image circle center of the first image is determined. A second image circle center of the second image is determined. An average image circle center is determined, based on the first image circle center and the second image circle center. The average image circle center is provided to an image stabilization algorithm when the detachable lens is mounted on the image capture device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Riauté, Sandra Vitorino, Balthazar Neveu
  • Patent number: 11516398
    Abstract: In a camera device that includes a hand tremor correction mechanism, an anti-vibration mechanism for the camera device is provided. An optical system that is movable in an optical axis direction and includes a focus adjustment mechanism is provided in the camera device, includes an anti-vibration mechanism that performs hand tremor correction by anti-vibration of the imaging element, and includes from an object side, an imaging lens group, the anti-vibration mechanism, and an imaging element provided on the anti-vibration mechanism, and a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the imaging lens group is used as a movement plane to allow the imaging element on the anti-vibration mechanism to move, so as to achieve hand tremor correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Changzhou Raytech Optronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Shikama
  • Patent number: 11501572
    Abstract: In various examples, a set of object trajectories may be determined based at least in part on sensor data representative of a field of view of a sensor. The set of object trajectories may be applied to a long short-term memory (LSTM) network to train the LSTM network. An expected object trajectory for an object in the field of view of the sensor may be computed by the LSTM network based at least in part an observed object trajectory. By comparing the observed object trajectory to the expected object trajectory, a determination may be made that the observed object trajectory is indicative of an anomaly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: Milind Naphade, Shuo Wang
  • Patent number: 11487133
    Abstract: A camera module includes a housing, a carrier, a frame, a lens holder, an autofocusing (AF) ball bearing, and an optical image stabilization (OIS) ball bearing. The carrier is coupled to the housing and configured to move in an optical axis direction. The frame is coupled to the carrier and configured to move in a first axis direction, perpendicular to the optical axis direction. The lens holder is coupled to the frame and configured to move in a second axis direction, perpendicular to the optical axis and the first axis. The AF ball bearing is disposed between the housing and the carrier. The OIS ball bearing is disposed on either one or both of the carrier and the frame, and the frame and the lens holder. Either one or both of the AF ball bearing and the OIS ball bearing have an elastic modulus of 20 GPa or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung Hyun Park, Seok Cheon Lee
  • Patent number: 11480849
    Abstract: An optical member driving mechanism is provided. The optical member driving mechanism includes a movable portion, a fixed portion, a driving assembly and a guiding assembly. The movable portion is connected to an optical member, and is movable relative to the fixed portion. The driving assembly drives the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion. The guiding assembly limits the mode of movement for the movable portion relative to the fixed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Fu-Yuan Wu, Shang-Yu Hsu, Yu-Huai Liao, Meng-Ting Lin
  • Patent number: 11474416
    Abstract: An optical member driving mechanism for driving an optical member having an optical axis is provided, including a fixed portion, a movable portion, a driving assembly, and a circuit board. The fixed portion includes a case and a frame, and a gap is formed therebetween. The movable portion is movably connected to the fixed portion, and configured to hold the optical member. The driving assembly can drive the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion. The circuit board is disposed in the gap, and has a plate portion and a protruding portion. The protruding portion is disposed between the plate portion and the fixed portion, so as to tightly dispose the circuit board in the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Chien-Lun Huang, Shao-Chung Chang, Wei-Cheng Wang, Sin-Jhong Song, Che-Hsiang Chiu, Fu-Yuan Wu, Shou-Jen Liu