Using Both Optical And Electronic Zoom Patents (Class 348/240.1)
  • Patent number: 11956539
    Abstract: A correction control apparatus outputs a blur correction amount associated with an image blur with respect to a group of captured images. The apparatus obtains status information indicating an image capture status of the group of images, obtains a result of detection of a motion blur with respect to the group of images, derives the blur correction amount based on the obtained result, outputs the blur correction amount and controls a method of derivation of the blur correction amount. The apparatus includes a filter that extracts components of a first frequency band from the result, and derives the blur correction amount based on the components of the first frequency band associated with the motion blur extracted by the filter, and causes the first frequency band extracted by the filter to vary in accordance with the obtained status information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryuichiro Yasuda, Yu Narita
  • Patent number: 11934089
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the technical field of compensation for projection thermal defocusing, and the embodiments specifically disclose a bidirectional compensation method and apparatus for projection thermal defocusing, and a readable storage medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: CHENGDU XGIMI TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bo Zhong, Shi Xiao, Xin Wang, Zhong Ning
  • Patent number: 11917295
    Abstract: An example electronic device includes a camera module, a display, and a processor. The processor is configured to: obtain a magnification input corresponding to a first magnification; acquire first image data corresponding to a second magnification, which is different from the first magnification, from among image data obtained by an image sensor of a first camera module, based on the obtaining of the magnification input; determine second image data corresponding to at least a part of the acquired first image data; perform shaking correction on the generated second image data; and display a preview image having the first magnification on the display, based on the second image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wonseok Song, Sehyun Lee, Hongseob Shin, Bohee Lee, Yookyung Lee
  • Patent number: 11812132
    Abstract: An imaging device is capable of performing automatic imaging and automatic authentication registration of a subject. The imaging device includes a drive unit that rotationally moves a lens barrel in a panning direction and a tilting direction, and can change an imaging direction under the control of the drive unit. The imaging device can perform automatic authentication registration of searching for a subject detected in captured image data and authenticating and storing the subject. A first control unit of the imaging device performs determination of whether or not a condition for performing the automatic authentication registration is satisfied and determination of whether or not a condition for performing the automatic imaging is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Sosuke Kagaya, Shigeo Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11729500
    Abstract: A lowpass filter control apparatus of the present disclosure includes a lowpass filter controller that causes lowpass characteristics of a variable lowpass filter disposed in an optical path of incoming light into an imaging element including phase-difference pixels and normal pixels to be different for an exposure period of the normal pixels and an exposure period of the phase-difference pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventor: Norihiko Akamatsu
  • Patent number: 11704771
    Abstract: An image processing method and a device, where the image processing method is performed by a terminal having a digital zoom function, and the method includes determining a target zoom magnification based on a selection input of a user, collecting a to-be-processed image, and processing the to-be-processed image using a target super-resolution convolutional neural network model to obtain a processed image corresponding to the target zoom magnification, where the target super-resolution convolutional neural network model is obtained by training a super-resolution convolutional neural network model using a high-definition training image, a low-definition training image, and a mask image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yunchao Zhang, Shuai Chen, Zhiping Jia, Lei Miao
  • Patent number: 11700452
    Abstract: This application provides a photographing method and an electronic device, and relates to the field of terminal technologies, to ensure stabilization performance existing during photographing in a zoom scenario, and improve definition of a photographing image. The method includes: obtaining a first photographing image through a first camera; determining a first crop ratio of the first photographing image based on a first zoom ratio of the first photographing image; cropping the first photographing image based on the first crop ratio; obtaining a second photographing image through the first camera in response to a first zoom operation; and cropping the second photographing image based on the second crop ratio; wherein the second crop ratio is greater than the first crop ratio, and a stabilization angle of the second photographing image is a product of the FOV of the first camera and the second crop ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Rongyue Xu, Huanhuan Ao, Yuanyou Li, Congchao Zhu, Jieguang Huo, Cheng Du
  • Patent number: 11588974
    Abstract: A zoom method, an image processing method of an imaging device and imaging device are disclosed. The zoom method includes: detecting, when determining to zoom, whether a zoom position of the imaging device is currently in a preset optical zoom area or a preset digital zoom area; compressing, if the zoom position of the imaging device is in the preset optical zoom area and a first image containing a specified target is collected by the image sensor, the first image into a second image, and outputting the second image; selecting, if the zoom position of the imaging device is in the preset optical zoom area, a target sensing area from a sensing area of the imaging sensor according, and cropping a third image collected by the image sensor according to the target sensing area to obtain a fourth image and outputting the fourth image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: HANGZHOU HIKVISION DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Qi Gong, Weimin Ma
  • Patent number: 11573414
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes an endoscope in which an actuator moves a movable lens and a position sensor outputs a position detection signal, and a processor including a driver circuit configured to drive the actuator and a driving control circuit configured to subject a deviation of the position detection signal to first correction based on individual processor correction data stored in a processor memory and controls the driver circuit based on a target position and the position detection signal subjected to the first correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rintaro Nishihara, Sho Nakamura
  • Patent number: 11462138
    Abstract: A feeling is given that a stationary object having any contour shape is moving. An image generation device comprises means for generating video including a stationary object area, at least one luminance varying area located along a contour of the stationary object area, and a background area other than the stationary object area and the luminance varying area. Luminance of the luminance varying area varies with time in a luminance range based on luminance of the stationary object area and luminance of the background area, and the luminance varying area is a portion that does not overlap the stationary object area in at least one area obtained by moving and/or enlarging the stationary object area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahiro Kawabe
  • Patent number: 11245846
    Abstract: An image capturing control apparatus including an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about a zoom magnification, a combining unit configured to combine a plurality of images acquired by a series of image capturing operations to generate a combined image wider in angle of view than each acquired image, and a control unit configured to perform control to display, before starting of the series of image capturing operations, an item indicating an angle of view of a combined image which is able to be generated by the combining unit, based on the acquired information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shogo Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 11226477
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recording and providing digital images using a digital surgical microscope system. The method includes recording magnified video image of an object region by an image sensor in the image recording unit. The method also includes displaying, on a digital display unit, in at least certain regions, the image recorded by the image sensor. A magnification of the image displayed on the digital display unit is adjusted by a limit value of the magnification. The limit value of the magnification is set using situative parameters to determine an optimum magnification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventor: Alois Regensburger
  • Patent number: 11218641
    Abstract: In general, techniques are described regarding adaptation of image capture modes to provide refined image capture capabilities. Cameras comprising image sensors configured to perform the techniques are also disclosed. An image sensor may use different image capture modes to capture frames of image data based at least in part on various operating conditions. For example, the processor can cause an image sensor to transition between image capture modes specifying different binning levels in the case that a digital zoom level satisfies a predefined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Shizhong Liu, Hailong Wang, Wan Shun Vincent Ma
  • Patent number: 11128805
    Abstract: An apparatus for recording an image output from a sensor based on an instruction from a user includes a detection unit configured to detect a subject from an image output from the sensor, and a control unit configured to set a parameter based on the detected subject and to perform automatic optical zoom control using the parameter. In a first mode, the detection unit detects a subject from a first image which is acquired after a predetermined condition is satisfied after the instruction, and the control unit performs the automatic optical zoom control using the parameter set based on the subject detected from the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiro Tsubusaki
  • Patent number: 11064109
    Abstract: A shooting control apparatus obtains image data from an imaging unit that obtains the image data based on light from an imaging optical system, and detects an object from the image data. The apparatus controls rotational driving of the imaging unit and a zoom mechanism included in the imaging optical system based on a result of detection of the object by determining a target zoom position and a shooting direction of the imaging unit. The apparatus determines the target zoom position and the shooting direction so that the object falls within a partial region of a field of view of the imaging unit including a center of the field of view, based on a size and position of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sosuke Kagaya, Nobushige Wakamatsu
  • Patent number: 11064119
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs stored on a computer-readable storage medium, for video stabilization. In some implementations, a computer system obtains frames of a video captured by a recording device using an optical image stabilization (OIS) system. The computing system receives (i) OIS position data indicating positions of the OIS system during capture of the frames, and (ii) device position data indicating positions of the recording device during capture of the frames. The computing system determines a first transformation for a particular frame based on the OIS position data for the particular frame and device position data for the particular frame. The computing system determines a second transformation for the particular frame based on the first transformation and positions of the recording device occurring after capture of the particular frame. The computing system generates a stabilized version of the particular frame using the second transformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Fuhao Shi, Chia-Kai Liang, Xue Tu
  • Patent number: 11025835
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a processor. The processor, in a manual focus mode, sets a focus evaluation area to have a larger size than the focus evaluation area set in an auto focus mode, generates assist information assisting adjustment of the in-focus object plane position based on a focus evaluation value obtained from an image of the focus evaluation area, and outputting the assist information to a display section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoya Kuriyama, Koichiro Yoshino, Satoshi Takekoshi
  • Patent number: 11002940
    Abstract: A control apparatus is used for an optical apparatus that includes a movable optical element, an operation ring that is endlessly rotatable, and a driver configured to drive the optical element. The control apparatus includes an operation start detector configured to detect a start of an operation of the operation ring, and a drive controller configured to control the driver. The drive controller sets a rotational position of the operation ring and the position of the optical element to a ring reference position and an optical element reference position respectively when the start of the operation of the operation ring is detected. The drive controller controls the driver in accordance with a drive amount of the optical element calculated with an operational amount of the operation ring from the ring reference position, and the optical element reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takeshi Kakimoto
  • Patent number: 10992866
    Abstract: A method for stabilizing an imaging device with an image stabilization device includes setting a setpoint of the imaging device to a default setpoint, the setpoint corresponds to an orientation of the imaging device; stabilizing the imaging device with the image stabilization device according to the default setpoint; determining whether a flip condition exists; in response to determining that the flip condition exists, stopping operation of the image stabilization device so that the default setpoint is no longer maintained and the imaging device is not stabilized; and in response to determining that the flip condition does not exist, maintaining the default setpoint to stabilize the imaging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Pascal Gohl, Thomas Gubler, Axel Murguet, Garance Bruneau
  • Patent number: 10798302
    Abstract: A capturing method and related products are provided. The capturing method is applicable to an electronic device including a gravity sensor, a display screen, a control circuit, and a camera. The display screen has a display region and a non-display region. The camera is located in the non-display region. The method includes the follows. A usage status of the electronic device is determined. The usage status includes a portrait-mode-upright usage status and a portrait-mode-inverted usage status. The non-display region is located at the top side of the display region when the electronic device is in the portrait-mode-upright usage status. A target zoom ratio of the camera is determined when the electronic device is in the portrait-mode-inverted usage status. An image is captured based on the target zoom ratio when the electronic device is in the portrait-mode-inverted usage status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Haiping Zhang, Yibao Zhou
  • Patent number: 10764484
    Abstract: An imaging system for a vehicle includes an image sensor for detecting electromagnetic radiation, a first lens unit and a second lens unit for focusing electromagnetic radiation, and at least one transflective unit, with the transflective unit being configured to project electromagnetic radiation from the first lens unit or from the second lens unit essentially perpendicularly on the image sensor, where the first lens unit has a first optical axis and the second lens unit has a second optical axis crossing the first optical axis at a crossing point, and the transflective unit is arranged between the image sensor, the first lens unit, and the second lens unit, preferably at the crossing point. A rear view display device includes at least one imaging system, and a vehicle includes at least one imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SMR Patents S.à.r.l.
    Inventor: Alexander Slama
  • Patent number: 10750095
    Abstract: A display control apparatus comprises a detection unit configured to detect a user operation made to an operation member; a control unit configured to perform control to perform zoom processing at a zooming speed corresponding to an operation amount of the operation member in accordance with an operation made to the operation member, while a live view image is being displayed; and a display control unit configured to perform control to perform pseudo zooming display using a sample image that differs from the live view image, so that an object in the sample image is enlarged or reduced at a speed corresponding to the operation amount of the operation member in a setting screen for setting the zooming speed corresponding to an operation made to the operation member for the zoom processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akio Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 10652473
    Abstract: An apparatus for recording an image output from a sensor based on an instruction from a user includes a detection unit configured to detect a subject from an image output from the sensor, and a control unit configured to set a parameter based on the detected subject and to perform automatic optical zoom control using the parameter. In a first mode, the detection unit detects a subject from a first image which is acquired after a predetermined condition is satisfied after the instruction, and the control unit performs the automatic optical zoom control using the parameter set based on the subject detected from the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiro Tsubusaki
  • Patent number: 10444762
    Abstract: A vehicle control device has a control unit configured to adapt a plurality of vehicle systems in response to captured images of an environment external to the vehicle, a camera configured to capture images of the environment and communicate the captured images to the control unit, and a progressive lens coupled to the camera so as to focus the captured image over a continuous focus area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Pascal Viala, Mehmet Inonu
  • Patent number: 10303101
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image formation unit configured to form an image on a recording material, a conveyance unit configured to convey a recording material, an irradiation unit configured to emit light onto the recording material being conveyed by the conveyance unit, an image capturing unit configured to capture the light emitted by the irradiation unit and reflected from the recording material as a surface image of the recording material, and a control unit configured to control an image forming condition of the image formation unit based on the surface image of the recording material acquired by the image capturing unit, wherein the control unit controls the image forming condition based on a plurality of surface images of the recording material having different resolutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masafumi Monde, Tomohiro Hashimoto, Tsutomu Ishida
  • Patent number: 10257431
    Abstract: A filter control device of the present disclosure includes a filter controller that performs control to cause low-pass characteristics of an optical low-pass filter mounted in an imaging device to be changed in accordance with change in an image shooting range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jun Minakuti, Akira Takeo, Yasutoshi Katsuda
  • Patent number: 10142543
    Abstract: A dual-camera devices operates with two cameras turned on in response to an indication detected from a user interface that a change to a zoom factor is to occur and before the change is stabilized. The device selects one of the two cameras according to a stable point of the zoom factor. The device displays images sensed by the selected one of the two cameras when the zoom factor reaches the stable point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: MediaTek Inc.
    Inventors: Po-Hsun Lin, Cheng-Che Chen, Shih-Min Cheng
  • Patent number: 10079976
    Abstract: A display processing apparatus for displaying, on a display unit, an image captured by an image capture apparatus capable of changing an image capture direction performs first display processing in which an image captured by the image capture apparatus is displayed in a first region of the display unit while the image capture direction is changed, and performs second display processing in which, in a second region indicating a range in which the image capture apparatus can perform image capture by changing the image capture direction, display according to the image capture direction in which the received image was captured is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takahiro Onsen
  • Patent number: 10027895
    Abstract: A dual camera module that includes a voice coil motor actuator and a method for controlling the same are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyungjoo Kang, Sungdu Kwon, Youngman Kwon, Samnyol Hong, Jayong Lee
  • Patent number: 9851583
    Abstract: A single focus lens including: a first lens group having a negative refractive power; a second lens group having a positive refractive power, the second lens group being arranged to move in a direction that is transverse to an optical axis of the single focus lens; a third lens group having a negative refractive power that is arranged to perform a focusing function; and a rear lens group disposed between the third lens group and an image side of the single focus lens, wherein the first lens group, the second lens group, the third lens group, and the rear lens group are ordered sequentially from an object side of the single focus lens to the image side of the single focus lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong-woo Kim
  • Patent number: 9813686
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus according to one embodiment comprises an imaging element, a photographing optical system, an imaging control section, a first projection converting section, composing section, and a second projection converting section. The first projection converting section converts a first projection images into second projection images, respectively, each of which is an image of a second projection system in which a variation of a change amount of an image height on an imaging plane to a change amount of an entrance angle of the light into the photographing optical system is smaller than that of the first projection image. The composing section composes the second projection images to acquire a composed image. The second projection converting section converts the composed image into an image of a projection system different from the second projection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Tsuchiya, Tomoyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 9667874
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an optical system including a zoom lens and a focus lens, a driver to drive the zoom lens and the focus lens, an image sensor to convert an optical image of a subject formed via the optical system into an electric signal and output the signal as an image signal, an image processor to generate image data of the subject according to the image signal, a digital zoom element to perform digital zoom on the basis of the image data; and a position detector to detect a position of the zoom lens, wherein the digital zoom element is configured to perform the digital zoom even when the zoom lens position has not reached a telephoto end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Katsuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9648244
    Abstract: The zoom lens according to the present invention includes, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens unit having a positive refractive power that does not move for zooming; a second lens unit having a negative refractive power that moves during zooming; a third lens unit having a negative refractive power that moves along a locus convex toward the object side during zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end; a fourth lens unit having a positive refractive power that moves during zooming; an aperture stop; and a fifth lens unit having a positive refractive power that does not move for zooming, in which the fourth lens unit has a lens surface having an aspherical shape with which the positive refractive power is weakened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yutaka Iriyama
  • Patent number: 9572530
    Abstract: Various portable systems, devices and methods for imaging or visualizing blood vessels or other body tissue to facilitate accurate placement of a needle or other elongate instrument in blood vessels or other body tissue are described herein. In certain variations an imaging system for aiding needle insertion in a patient may include a mountable unit having an illumination source, an image sensor, and a display for displaying an image based on image information from the image sensor. The mountable unit may be configured for attachment to a hand of a user such that the user's hand on which the unit is mounted remains free to hold an object. The display may be positioned next to a needle insertion site during needle insertion by the user such that the needle insertion site and an image of the blood vessel and/or needle are simultaneously within the user's field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: QuickVein, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven H. Drucker
  • Patent number: 9405119
    Abstract: An imaging device is presented for use in an imaging system capable of improving the image quality. The imaging device has one or more optical systems defining an effective aperture of the imaging device. The imaging device comprises a lens system having an algebraic representation matrix of a diagonalized form defining a first Condition Number, and a phase encoder utility adapted to effect a second Condition Number of an algebraic representation matrix of the imaging device, smaller than said first Condition Number of the lens system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: RAMOT AT TEL-AVIV UNIVERSITY LTD.
    Inventors: Iftach Klapp, David Mendlovic
  • Patent number: 9300878
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit having an optical zoom mechanism that optically changes magnification and capturing an image, an image processing unit that performs image processing including an electronic zoom process that enlarges part of the image captured with the imaging unit by cutting the image, an input unit that accepts an input that specifies an output range of the image, and a control unit that controls the imaging unit and the image processing unit, and when the output range is specified, the control unit causes the imaging unit to perform imaging at a magnification determined in accordance with the amount of deviation of the output range from the center of a viewing angle of the imaging unit and causes the image processing unit to carry out the electronic zoom process that enlarges the image by cutting the output range from an image captured at the magnification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yasunori Yoshino
  • Patent number: 9030578
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a plurality of optical systems, each having a different focal length, an image pickup element which picks up an image of an object by the optical system, and a zoom control section which changes an angle of field of an output image by at least one optical system from among the plurality of optical systems, and a part of the angle of field which changes is same as an angle of field of another optical system, and the image pickup apparatus further includes a control section which changes a control position of a display image at the time of zooming to be directed toward an optical-axial center of the another optical system for which the part of the angle of field is same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Ayako Asakura
  • Patent number: 9025052
    Abstract: A manual input via a manual input unit while automatically changing a zoom magnification via a zoom control unit is permitted, and after the manual input, the zoom magnification is automatically changed so that a size of an object output from an object extraction unit becomes a second size in relation to an angle of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Kimura
  • Publication number: 20150116547
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting zoom operations using a plurality of optical chain modules, e.g., camera modules, are described. Switching between use of groups of optical chains with different focal lengths is used to support zoom operations. Digital zoom is used in some cases to support zoom levels corresponding to levels between the zoom levels of different optical chain groups or discrete focal lengths to which optical chains may be switched. In some embodiments optical chains have adjustable focal lengths and are switched between different focal lengths. In other embodiments optical chains have fixed focal lengths with different optical chain groups corresponding to different fixed focal lengths. Composite images are generate from images captured by multiple optical chains of the same group and/or different groups. Composite image is in accordance with a user zoom control setting. Individual composite images may be generated and/or a video sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Rajiv Laroia
  • Patent number: 9019389
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that reduces a camera shake and a motion blur during close-up shooting performed by increasing shooting magnification and depth of field. A control unit determines an aperture value and a shutter speed based on information on shooting magnification and a photometry result. In a situation where luminance information based on photometry result is the same, the aperture value is set larger when the shooting magnification is larger than a first value than when not larger than the same, and in a situation where the shooting magnification is larger than the first value and the luminance information is the same, the aperture value is set larger and the shutter speed is set lower when neither a camera shake nor a motion of an object within an imaging screen has occurred than when either has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshifumi Osawa
  • Publication number: 20150103211
    Abstract: A zoom lens system, in order from an object side to an image side, comprising: a first lens unit having positive optical power; a second lens unit having negative optical power; a third lens unit having positive optical power; a fourth lens unit having negative optical power; a fifth lens unit; and a sixth lens unit, wherein in zooming from a wide-angle limit to a telephoto limit at a time of image taking, the first lens unit, the second lens unit, the third lens unit, and the fourth lens unit move along an optical axis so that an interval between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit at the telephoto limit is larger than that at the wide-angle limit, and wherein focusing from an infinity in-focus condition to a close-object in-focus condition is performed by moving the fourth lens unit along the optical axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Inventors: Takakazu BITO, Hiroaki SUZUKI, Yoshiaki KURIOKA, Yusuke YONETANI
  • Patent number: 8982246
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an obtaining unit that obtains lens information including information indicating resolution of an optical system with respect to a position of a zoom lens, an imaging sensor that captures a subject image formed through the optical system to output image information, an image processor that performs digital zoom to electronically enlarge a subject image by performing image processing on the image information outputted from an imaging sensor, and a controller that determines, based on the obtained lens information, whether the zoom lens is located in a predetermined position and controls the image processor to perform the digital zoom on the image information outputted from the imaging sensor, when the zoom lens is located in the predetermined position. The predetermined position is a position of the zoom lens where resolution of the optical system is larger than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 8976228
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a positive first lens unit, a negative second lens unit, a positive third lens unit, and a positive fourth lens unit. During zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens unit moves with a locus convex toward the image side, and the third lens unit moves toward the object side. The first lens unit includes, in order from the object side to the image side, a negative first lens, a positive second lens, and a positive third lens. A distance (d12) between the first lens and the second lens, a focal length (fw) of the entire zoom lens at the wide-angle end, and a refractive index (Np) of a positive lens having the lowest refractive index among the refractive indices of materials of all positive lenses included in the first lens unit are appropriately set based on predetermined mathematical conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Saruwatari
  • Patent number: 8970738
    Abstract: An apparatus for capturing images. The apparatus includes a camera unit configured to capture images of target objects, and a processing unit configured to control the apparatus to detect close-up photography conditions, and to automatically zoom said camera unit in response to said detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Juha Alakarhu
  • Patent number: 8941759
    Abstract: An interchangeable lens includes a zoom lens, a driver configured to drive the zoom lens, an operation unit configured to receive a user's operation for changing a magnification of the zoom lens, and a controller configured to control the driver according to the operation of the operation unit. The controller controls the driver in either one of a first operation mode for enabling the zoom lens to stop at an arbitrary position according to the operation of the operation unit and a second operation mode for enabling the zoom lens to stop at one of discrete predetermined stop positions according to the operation of the operation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiro Ikeda
  • Publication number: 20150022694
    Abstract: The information about an interchangeable lens is acquired, and the size of an image capture range, which is the range corresponding to a capture image in an optical image, is calculated based on the information about the interchangeable lens. When the image capture range is smaller than or equal to a range to be shown by the angular field of the optical image, a first image showing the image capture range in the optical image is displayed on a display device, and when the image capture range is larger than the range to be shown by the angular field of the optical image, a second image different from the first image showing the image capture range in the optical image is displayed on the display device such that the second image is superimposed on at least either of the four corner vicinities and four side vicinities of the optical image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tadashi JOGETSU, Takeshi OKUBO
  • Publication number: 20150015744
    Abstract: In an imaging apparatus having framing assist control, a controller controls a change speed of the display angle of view changed by a second or a third instruction member faster than the change speed of the display angle of view changed by a first instruction member. The first instruction member is configured to issue an instruction regarding a change of a display angle of view and a change direction of the display angle of view. The second instruction member is configured to issue an instruction to change the display angle of view displayed on the monitor to a wide-angle side by a predetermined amount. The third instruction member is configured to issue an instruction to change the display angle of view displayed on the monitor to the display angle of view before the display angle of view is changed by the second instruction member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Yasutaka Naka
  • Publication number: 20150015745
    Abstract: There is provided a zoom lens in which the load on the driving system for wobbling operation can easily made low and an image pickup apparatus equipped with the same. A zoom lens in which each of distances between a plurality of lens units changes during zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end, includes a focus lens unit that shifts along an optical axis to effect focusing from infinity to a close distance and a plurality of wobbling lens units that wobble after a shift of the focus lens unit at an amplitude smaller than the shift of the focus lens unit in focusing operation, wherein a combination of the wobbling lens units caused to operate changes in the middle of the zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Toru Miyajima, Kazuya Nishimura, Hiroshi Kodama, Toshio Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8928800
    Abstract: An imaging device comprises a lens barrel including an optical system that collects light from a predetermined viewing area and that defines an optical axis; an imaging unit that receives the light collected by the optical system and generates image data, the image data defining a main image that includes a determined sub area; a ring-shaped operation ring that is provided on an outer circumference of the lens barrel and that is manually rotatable about the optical axis of the optical system; and an area change unit that changes at least one of (A) a size of the determined sub area, or (B) a position of the determined sub area, responsive to a manual operation of the operation ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Kazunori Yuge, Tetsuya Takagi
  • Patent number: 8917334
    Abstract: An image detection device includes: a subject detector that acquires image information in an image field of an imaging optics with an image sensor, and detects a position of a subject in the image field based upon reference information related to an image of the subject and the image information; and a magnification detector that detects a magnification of the imaging optics. And the subject detector starts operation to detect the position of the subject, when the magnification has become greater than or equal to a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Takeuchi