Zoom Patents (Class 348/240.99)
  • Patent number: 10999522
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a processor is configured to function as an information acquisition unit configured to acquire object size information from image data by a first method and a second method in continuous imaging, and an imaging control unit configured to perform an exposure while performing follow-up drive of an optical system so as to reduce a difference between the object size information and target size information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yusuke Kazami
  • Patent number: 10924680
    Abstract: An image capture control apparatus that comprises an operation member configured to accept an MF operation that is an instructional operation for manual focus, and that switches a display magnification of a live view to one of a plurality of display magnifications including a first magnification and a second magnification that represents a greater enlargement than the first magnification, performs control to display a guide indicating a degree of focus at a focus detection position, and performs control to, when the live view is displayed at the second magnification, switch the live view to display at the first magnification and display the guide together with the live view at the first magnification if the MF operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seiji Ogawa
  • Patent number: 10911686
    Abstract: A zoom control device includes: a zoom magnification ratio change speed setting unit that sets a main image zoom magnification ratio change speed and a monitoring image zoom magnification ratio change speed according to a zoom operation by a user; and a zoom control unit that conducts a zoom control on a main image so that a zoom magnification ratio changes according to the main image zoom magnification ratio change speed, and conducts a zoom control on a monitoring image so that the zoom magnification ratio changes according to the monitoring image zoom magnification ratio change speed. The zoom magnification ratio change speed setting unit is configured to set the main image zoom magnification ratio change speed by smoothing the monitoring image zoom magnification ratio change speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Masafumi Wakazono, Takahiro Mori, Kouji Yamamoto, Masakazu Ebihara, Masaya Kinoshita, Yuki Ono
  • Patent number: 10873814
    Abstract: An apparatus including a predetermined shape, the apparatus including at least three microphones, wherein at least one pair from the at least three microphones comprises including two microphones which are separated by a shorter distance of the predetermined shape than at least one other microphone pair of the predetermined shape; and a processor configured to: receive at least three microphone audio signals from the at least three microphones; analyse at least the microphone audio signals from the two microphones to determine a directional ambiguity decision; and analyse the microphone audio signals from at least one of the other microphone pairs to determine at least one sound characteristic other than the direction ambiguity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Juha Vilkamo, Miikka Vilermo, Mikko Tammi
  • Patent number: 10861862
    Abstract: Embodiments of ferroelectric memory devices and methods for forming the ferroelectric memory devices are disclosed. In an example, a ferroelectric memory cell includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a doped ferroelectric layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The doped ferroelectric layer includes oxygen and one or more ferroelectric metals. The doped ferroelectric layer further includes a plurality of dopants including at least one dopant from one of Group II elements, Group III elements, or Lanthanide elements. The plurality of dopants are different from the one or more ferroelectric metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: WUXI PETABYTE TECHNOLOGIES CO, LTD.
    Inventor: Zhenyu Lu
  • Patent number: 10848665
    Abstract: An alignment guide may be provided in the field of view of a camera associated with a mobile device used to capture an image of a check. When the image of the check is within the alignment guide in the field of view, an image may be taken by the camera and provided from the mobile device to a financial institution. The alignment guide may be adjustable at the mobile device. The image capture may be performed automatically by the camera or the mobile device as soon as the image of the check is determined to be within the alignment guide. The check may be deposited in a user's bank account based on the image. Any technique for sending the image to the financial institution may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED SERVICES AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION (USAA)
    Inventors: Bharat Prasad, Minya Liang, Reynaldo Medina, III
  • Patent number: 10848680
    Abstract: A zooming control apparatus comprises an object detection unit configured to detect an object from an image; a first acquisition unit configured to acquire information regarding a distance to the object; and a zooming control unit configured to perform zooming control for automatically changing a zoom magnification according to at least one of second information that includes information regarding a size of the object detected by the object detection unit and first information regarding the distance to the object acquired by the first acquisition unit, wherein a condition for automatically changing the zoom magnification in the zooming control differs according to a reliability of the first information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiro Tsubusaki
  • Patent number: 10757335
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mobile terminal. The present invention recognizes a region of interest (ROI) in a preview image acquired by executing a camera and stores a capture image corresponding to the preview image and a zoomed image acquired by zooming in/out the ROI when a capture command is received. Accordingly, a zoomed in/out image and the entire image can be simultaneously acquired through a single capture command without user manipulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Hyunjoo Jeon
  • Patent number: 10645261
    Abstract: An image sensor terminal and a building management system, and belongs to the field of building intelligent management technologies. The image sensor terminal includes an image sensor and a lens element, and further includes: a photosensitive filter and light-transmitting layer disposed at a light incoming side of the lens element; and the image sensor terminal is further provided with a mounting portion for fixing the image sensor terminal into a building. A building management system uses a plurality of the image sensor terminals. Image information acquired by the image sensor terminal under strong light conditions is more accurate, and image information acquired under different ambient light density conditions is more consistent. The control of the building management system under different ambient light density conditions has better accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: CARRIER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jianwei Zhao, Benliang Li, Qiang Li, Anning Qui
  • Patent number: 10587811
    Abstract: A display control apparatus: displays an enlarged image of an enlarging area including a first focus measurement area and a focus guide corresponding to the first focus measurement area; moves the enlarging area in the captured image, in response to a moving instruction from a user that does not satisfy a predetermined condition, and displays an enlarged image of an enlarging area whose position was changed by the moving instruction and a focus guide that corresponds to the first focus measurement area; and newly sets, in response to a moving instruction from a user that satisfies the predetermined condition, a second focus measurement area in a predetermined area of an enlarging area whose position was changed by the moving instruction, and displays an enlarged image of the enlarging area and a focus guide that corresponds to the second focus measurement area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshimichi Ise
  • Patent number: 10574881
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media that can guide a user to align a camera feed captured by a user client device with a target digital image. In particular, the systems described herein can analyze a camera feed to determine image attributes for the camera feed. The systems can compare the image attributes of the camera feed with corresponding target image attributes of a target digital image. Additionally, the systems can generate and provide instructions to guide a user to align the image attributes of the camera feed with the target image attributes of the target digital image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Adobe Inc.
    Inventors: Alannah Oleson, Radomir Mech, Jose Echevarria, Jingwan Lu
  • Patent number: 10540755
    Abstract: A method of capturing writing or drawing on a whiteboard comprises inputting camera data for a succession of image frames of the whiteboard, and processing data from said image frames to remove parts of the image frames corresponding to parts of a user or user pen writing or drawing on the whiteboard. The processing involves filtering to distinguish between i) motion of the user/user pen parts in the image frames, and ii) writing/drawing image information in the image frames which appears or changes during said writing or drawing but which is thereafter substantially unchanging. The filtered data defines captured writing or drawing from the whiteboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Light Blue Optics Ltd.
    Inventors: Raul Benet Ballester, Eyal Katz, Barak Maoz, Adrian James Cable, Euan Christopher Smith, Gareth John McCaughan, Shane Thornton
  • Patent number: 10511749
    Abstract: Disclosed is a magnification device with multiple orientations. This allows a blind or low vision user to select the best orientation for the task being performed. The device includes both opened and closed orientations. It is further configurable into document reading, near object inspection, far object inspection, and self inspection modes. The camera of the device can be manipulated by the user depending upon which of these orientations is selected. Furthermore, the camera automatically adjusts itself into one of two pre-set configurations whenever the device is opened or closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Freedom Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Goldenberg, Carlos M. Rodriguez, Bradley S. Davis, Patrick Murphy, Todd Conard, Waldemar H. Tunkis
  • Patent number: 10510136
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an image blurring method, an electronic device, and a computer device. The method includes obtaining an image to be processed and physical distance information corresponding to each pixel in the image; detecting a first area comprising a part of a photographed object in the image, obtaining physical distance information corresponding to a second area comprising the photographed object and obtaining physical distance information corresponding to a third area other than the second area in the image according to the physical distance information corresponding to each pixel and the first area; obtaining a blur parameter corresponding to the third area according to the physical distance information corresponding to the second area and the physical distance information corresponding to the third area; and performing a blurring processing on the third area according to the blur parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Gong Zhang
  • Patent number: 10482151
    Abstract: An electronic device and method are disclosed. The method is operable on the electronic device to parse attribute information of an electronic document displayed on a display unit of the electronic device, and when a component of the electronic document is activated, detect a format of the activated component based on the parsed attribute information, and when the detected format indicates visual media, output an alternative notification comprising at least one a notification in a different format than the detected format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Jae Kim, Myung-Su Kang, Jeong-Yong Kim, Jung-Won Kim, Sang-Bae Shin
  • Patent number: 10419683
    Abstract: A subject detection unit of an imaging apparatus detects a subject image from an image. An automatic zoom control unit designates the subject image detected by the subject detection unit and cancels the designation. The automatic zoom control unit automatically selects a specific composition among a plurality of compositions and sets a reference size of the subject image used to control a zoom magnification based on the elected composition. The automatic zoom control unit controls the zoom magnification based on the reference size and a size of the subject image sequentially detected by the subject detection unit. At least one of composition selection candidates selected by the automatic zoom control unit is different according to whether the subject image is designated by the automatic zoom control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seiji Ogawa
  • Patent number: 10387997
    Abstract: An information processing device includes a first memory and a processor. The processor includes a circuit and a second memory. The circuit calculates a first value from a plurality of third pixels that are located above an interpolation pixel from among a plurality of first pixels, calculates a second value from a plurality of fourth pixels that are located above the interpolation pixel from among an plurality of second pixels, calculates a third value from a plurality of fifth pixels that are located below the interpolation pixel, calculates a fourth value from a plurality of sixth pixels that are located below the interpolation pixel, calculates a first gradient value from the first and third values, calculates a second gradient value from the second and fourth values, determines an edge direction according to the first gradient value and the second gradient value, and calculates a pixel value of an interpolation pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Akihiko Kasagi
  • Patent number: 10388052
    Abstract: A device that includes one or more processors may determine a configuration of a display region of the device. The device may also receive a request to perform an animation of a virtual object within the display region. The request may be indicative of a given duration for the animation based on the animation being performed within a given display region having a given configuration. The device may also modify the given duration to determine an adjusted duration for the animation based on a comparison between the configuration and the given configuration. The device may also perform the animation within the display region based on the animation having the adjusted duration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Chet Haase, Daniel Marc Gatan Shiplacoff
  • Patent number: 10382695
    Abstract: A mobile terminal includes a camera configured to acquire a preview picture including a picture of a subject, a display unit configured to display the preview picture and a controller configured to control the display unit 151 and the camera. The controller displays a guide object configured to provide guidance on taking the picture of the subject, automatically takes the preview picture if a shape of the subject matches a shape of the guide object by a reference value or more, and moves a position of an image of the subject acquired by taking the preview picture to correspond to a position of the guide object and displays a generated final image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jumin Chi, Youngwoo Kim, Sohoon Yi, Shinhae Lee, Jaeyoung Chae
  • Patent number: 10382697
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes a magnification variator configured to move during magnification variation, a drive unit that drives the magnification variator, an output unit that outputs a first drive command, and a controller configured to: derive, based on the first drive command, a second drive command so that the second drive command satisfies a predetermined condition related to a moving speed of the magnification variator and a variation of a field-of-view change rate in a case where the magnification variator is driven with the second drive command is smaller than a variation of a field-of-view change rate in a case where the magnification variator is driven with the first drive command; and control the drive unit based on the second drive command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Keisuke Makita
  • Patent number: 10367991
    Abstract: A focus adjustment device includes a focus detection region setting section, a direction determination section and control section. The focus detection region setting section sets focus detection regions which are different in size from one another. The direction determination section determines a movement direction of a focus lens to be in focus based on a change of the contrast caused by the movement of the focus lens. The control section repetitively determines whether determination results of the movement direction obtained in the respective focus detection regions are different. The control section inhibits a switchover of a focus adjustment operation when it is consecutively determined a predetermined number of times or more that the determination results of the movement direction are different, otherwise the control section does not inhibit the switchover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 10270978
    Abstract: A subject detection unit of an imaging apparatus detects a subject image from an image. An automatic zoom control unit automatically selects a specific composition among a plurality of compositions, sets a reference size of the subject image used to control a zoom magnification based on the selected composition, and controls the zoom magnification according to the reference size and a size of the subject image detected by the subject detection unit. The selectable composition differs between when a photographing state is a photographing preparation state of a still image and when the photographing state is a recording state of a moving image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Tsubusaki
  • Patent number: 10257611
    Abstract: Systems and methods for stereo separation and directional suppression are provided. An example method includes receiving a first audio signal, representing sound captured by a first microphone associated with a first location, and a second audio signal, representing sound captured by a second microphone associated with a second location. The microphones comprise omni-directional microphones. The distance between the first and second microphones is limited by the size of a mobile device. A first channel signal of a stereo signal is generated by forming, based on the first and second audio signals, a first beam at the first location. A second channel signal of the stereo signal is generated by forming, based on the first and second audio signals, a second beam at the second location. First and second directions, associated respectively with the first and second beams, are fixed relative to a line between the first and second locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Knowles Electronics, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathon Ray, John Woodruff, Shailesh Sakri, Tony Verma
  • Patent number: 10250760
    Abstract: An imaging device comprising: an imaging sensor; a processor including a magnification processing section which magnifies a part of an image captured by the imaging sensor to generate a magnified image, a display device to display an image, and a transmission circuit to transmit an image to an external device, wherein the display device displays the magnified image generated by the magnification processing section of the processor, and wherein the transmission circuit transmits a non-magnified image not subjected to magnification processing by the magnification processing section of the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Haneda
  • Patent number: 10205883
    Abstract: A display control method executed by a processor included in a terminal device that includes a display and a camera disposed at a display surface side of the display, the display control method includes acquiring a first image taken by the camera, the first image including a second image of a face; calculating a proportion of a region of the second image to a region of the first image; determining whether the proportion is equal to or higher than a threshold; displaying the first image on the display when it is determined that the proportion is equal to or higher than the threshold; and restraining the first image from being displayed on the display when it is determined that the proportion is not equal to or higher than the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: FUJITSU CONNECTED TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventor: Shigeyuki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10129482
    Abstract: A display controller includes circuitry configured to cause a display device to display self-portrait photographing information in response to receiving an indication that the display device and an imaging unit are in a predetermined positional relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Yamaguchi, Yoshiro Furukawa
  • Patent number: 10092169
    Abstract: An endoscope with a wide angle lens that comprises an optical axis that is angularly offset from a longitudinal axis of the endoscope such that the optical axis resides at an angle greater than zero degrees to the longitudinal axis. The wide angle lens system simultaneously gathers an endoscopic image field, the endoscopic image field at least spanning the longitudinal axis and an angle greater than ninety degrees to the longitudinal axis. The endoscope includes an optical lens system to at least partially even out the information density across an imaging surface area of the imager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: KARL STORZ IMAGING, INC.
    Inventors: Eric L. Hale, Hans David Hoeg, George E. Duckett, III, Nathan Jon Schara
  • Patent number: 10079964
    Abstract: A lens system, an interchangeable lens apparatus, and a camera system each include a front group including a first focus lens group that moves with respect to an image surface in focusing from an infinity in-focus condition to a close-object in-focus condition; a rear group including a second focus lens group that moves with respect to the image surface in focusing, the front group and the rear group being located in order from an object side to an image side; a fixed lens group including at least one positive power lens element, the fixed lens group being located between the front group and the rear group and fixed with respect to the image surface in focusing; and an aperture diaphragm. The positive power lens in the fixed lens group satisfies dPgF>0.015 (dPgF is an anomalous dispersibility in a g-line and an F-line of the lens element).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshio Matsumura, Masafumi Sueyoshi, Yusuke Nihei
  • Patent number: 10025163
    Abstract: A flash unit capable of being attached to a flash control unit, comprising: a memory that stores information relating to a light emission time for actual flash corresponding to a difference between an emitted light amount command value for actual flash and an emitted light amount command value for pre-flash, and a controller, including an light emission time calculation section that obtains light emission time corresponding to emitted light amount command value for actual flash based on emitted light amount command value for pre-flash, emitted light amount command value for actual flash, and information stored in the memory, wherein the controller inputs the emitted light amount command value for pre-flash and the emitted light amount command value for actual flash acquired to the light emission time calculation section, and controls actual flash of the flash light emitting source based on the light emission time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Kanako Hoshino
  • Patent number: 10015406
    Abstract: A subject detection unit of an imaging apparatus detects a subject image from an image. An automatic zoom control unit designates the subject image detected by the subject detection unit and cancels the designation. The automatic zoom control unit automatically selects a specific composition among a plurality of compositions and sets a reference size of the subject image used to control a zoom magnification based on the elected composition. The automatic zoom control unit controls the zoom magnification based on the reference size and a size of the subject image sequentially detected by the subject detection unit. At least one of composition selection candidates selected by the automatic zoom control unit is different according to whether the subject image is designated by the automatic zoom control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seiji Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9998650
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus has: a depth map acquiring unit configured to acquire a depth map that records information indicating a depth distance corresponding to each point on a photographed image; an in-focus position acquiring unit configured to acquire an in-focus position on the photographed image; a reference distance determining unit configured to acquire a depth distance corresponding to the in-focus position from the depth map and sets the acquired depth distance as a reference distance; and an image processing unit configured to perform image processing on the photographed image by using the depth map and the reference distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shin Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9992423
    Abstract: Devices and methods for capturing images are described herein. A processor may be configured to capture a first image. The processor may further be configured to determine a distance between a lens and an image sensor of the image capture device for capturing the first image. The processor may further be configured to determine a portion of the image sensor to use for the first image based on the determined distance in order to maintain a constant field of view for one or more images captured by the image capture device. The processor may further be configured to adjust the portion of the image sensor used for the first image based on the determined portion of the image sensor to generate an adjusted first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Sanket Krishnamurthy Sagar, Venkata Ravi Kiran Dayana, Leung Chun Chan
  • Patent number: 9992421
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a movement detector detecting movement of the apparatus, a subject detector detecting a subject, a setting unit setting a mode for controlling a zoom operation which is enabled as a first mode or second mode, and a controller controlling the zoom operation based on the enabled mode. In the first mode, the controller controls the zoom operation based on at least one of position or size of the detected subject. In the second mode, the controller performs a first zoom operation for changing a zoom magnification to a wide-angle side when a movement amount of the apparatus is a first amount larger than a predetermined amount and performs a second zoom operation for changing the zoom magnification to a telephoto side when a movement amount of the apparatus detected after execution of the first zoom operation is a second amount smaller than the predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akihiro Tsubusaki
  • Patent number: 9917994
    Abstract: A selectively attachable and removable visual and tactile assessment tool or clip for use with a mobile device is provided. Clip is an elongate member forming a curvilinear shape having a magnifying lens at a distal end thereof. Clip has a transparent tubular member disposed between first and second openings through the body portion of the clip. Tubular member has varying internal diameters to simulate, for example, the constriction or stenosis of a patient's vessel lumen. Once clip is attached to mobile device and the magnifying lens is positioned over the camera of the mobile device, a catheter is inserted through tubular member. The magnifying lens enlarges the size of the catheter displayed on the screen of the mobile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry O'Connell, Brian Dowling, James Smedley
  • Patent number: 9807311
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging section, a signal processor that analyzes video data obtained from the imaging section, calculates a most suitable exposure condition for an entire area of the video data to set the most suitable exposure condition to the imaging section, and outputs most suitable video data imaged on the most suitable exposure condition, a partial area clipping section that clips area video data from a partial area of the most suitable video data to output the area video data, and an exposure condition calculator that calculates a most suitable area exposure condition based on the area video data. The exposure condition calculator sets the most suitable area exposure condition to the imaging section and the signal processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Koji Kuwata
  • Patent number: 9781507
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising: an input configured to receive at least two groups of at least two audio signals; a first audio former configured to generate a first formed audio signal from a first of the at least two groups of at least two audio signals; a second audio former configured to generate a second formed audio signal from the second of the at least two groups of at least two audio signals; an audio analyzer configured to analyze the first formed audio signal and the second formed audio signal to determine at least one audio source and an associated audio source signal; and an audio signal synthesizer configured to generate at least one output audio signal based on the at least one audio source and the associated audio source signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Jorma Mäkinen, Anu Huttunen, Mikko Tammi, Miikka Vilermo
  • Patent number: 9743009
    Abstract: An image processing method applied in an image processing device, which includes an image capturing unit, an image processing unit, an image recognition unit and an exposure adjusting unit, is provided. The image processing method includes the following steps: obtaining a first image by the image capturing unit, generating an average brightness of a dark part of the first image by the image processing unit; recognizing the first image by the image recognition unit; generating a first average brightness of a human face by the image processing unit and generating a first exposure value according to the average brightness of the dark part of the first image, the first average brightness of the human face and a weight array, when the human face is recognized from the first image; and adjusting an exposure of the first image according to the first exposure value by the exposure adjusting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: ASUSTEK COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Yi-Chi Cheng, Hsiu-Jui Kuo, Hendrik Hendrik, Guan-De Lee
  • Patent number: 9686472
    Abstract: Provided is a compound-eye image pickup apparatus in which a plurality of imaging units, each of which configured to photoelectrically convert an optical image focused by a single focal lens with different focal length so as to output a signal, are arranged in the form of a matrix. An image processing unit performs an electronic zoom process for changing a cut-out area of an image and a filtering process for an image signal. A system controller obtains information relating a change in zoom magnification from a zoom changing unit and data relating to a zoom control method from a zoom control method storage unit so as to instruct a zoom controller to perform zoom control. Upon change of an angle of view by controlling the electronic zoom process and the switching of the single focal lens, the zoom controller controls the filtering process performed by the image processing unit so as to equalize the resolution before and after the switching of the single focal lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Kimura
  • Patent number: 9664874
    Abstract: A substrate for mounting an imaging element is a substrate for mounting an imaging element that includes a base. The base has: a through-hole having an opening in a top surface of the base; a cover mounting region provided on the top surface, in a rim of the opening of the through-hole; a lens-housing mounting region 8 provided on the top surface, on an outer side of the cover mounting region; an intermediate region provided on the top surface, between the cover mounting region and the lens-housing mounting region; a connecting section that enables the intermediate region to communicate with an inside wall of the through-hole; and an imaging element mounting section provided on a bottom surface of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yamada, Daiji Haruna, Akihiko Funahashi
  • Patent number: 9654741
    Abstract: A system and a method for image acquisition suitable for use in a turbine engine are disclosed. Light received from a field of view in an object plane is projected onto an image plane through an optical modulation device and is transferred through an image conduit to a sensor array. The sensor array generates a set of sampled image signals in a sensing basis based on light received from the image conduit. Finally, the sampled image signals are transformed from the sensing basis to a representation basis and a set of estimated image signals are generated therefrom. The estimated image signals are used for reconstructing an image and/or a motion-video of a region of interest within a turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Erwan Baleine, Varun A V, Paul J. Zombo, Zubin Varghese
  • Patent number: 9628717
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a control unit configured to perform zoom control based on a size of an object indicated by acquired information and a set reference size, and a first detection unit configured to detect a first operation for instructing to change the reference size. In a case where the first operation has been detected during the zoom control in a first mode, the control unit performs the zoom control in a second mode until a first time elapses after the first operation has been detected, and, when the first time has elapsed, the control unit switches the second mode to the first mode. In the first mode, the reference size is set to a predetermined size and, in the second mode, the reference size is changed according to the first operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiro Tsubusaki
  • Patent number: 9621781
    Abstract: The focus control device includes a focus control section that controls an imaging optical system that is configured so that an in-focus object plane position is changed when an imaging magnification is changed, an image acquisition section that acquires a plurality of images captured through the imaging optical system at a different imaging magnification, and a change-in-magnification detection section that detects a change in magnification that is at least one of a change in the imaging magnification and a change in size of an object within an image among the plurality of images, the focus control section driving the imaging optical system based on an AF evaluation value that indicates the focus state of the imaging optical system and calculated based on the image and the change in magnification to control focus of the imaging optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seigo On, Naoya Kuriyama
  • Patent number: 9552625
    Abstract: A method, image processing apparatus, and computer readable medium for image enhancement are provided. In the method, a low-resolution image is received and upscaled to generate an upscaled image having first pixels. Edge detection is performed on the upscaled image to obtain edge information of the first pixels. Each piece of the edge information includes an edge direction and an edge intensity, and each of the edge directions includes a horizontal and vertical component having a constant summation. A non-edge region of the upscaled image is enhanced to generate a high-resolution detail image; based on unsharp masking sharpening methods, an edge region of the low-passed upscaled image is enhanced according to the horizontal and vertical components of the edge directions to generate a high-resolution edge image. Image fusion is performed on the high-resolution edge image and the high-resolution detail image according to the edge intensities to generate a super-resolution image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: National Chiao Tung University
    Inventors: Kuo-Shiuan Peng, Fang-Cheng Lin, Yi-Pai Huang, Han-Ping D. Shieh
  • Patent number: 9525813
    Abstract: A control device acquires a focus detection signal from a pixel portion of the imaging element so as to detect a focus state by phase difference detection. A camera control unit performs focus adjustment control by the drive control of a focus lens constituting an imaging optical system. The camera control unit performs exposure control for adjusting the brightness of an object in the focus area to an appropriate level, and determines whether or not the brightness level of the object in the focus area is saturated based on the focus detection signal. When the exposure state during a focus adjustment operation is not in an appropriate state, the camera control unit calculates an exposure correction value and determines whether or not the exposure correction value falls within the exposure control range. When the exposure correction value falls within the exposure control range, the exposure state is readjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Sakaguchi
  • Patent number: 9485413
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging unit that receives light coming from a subject and thus generates electronic image data; a display unit that displays an image corresponding to the image data; an angle-of-view setting unit that an angle of view to be changed for the image displayed by the display unit according to a first signal input from the outside; and a control unit that starts control of change to a predetermined angle of view set by the angle-of-view setting unit according to a second signal different from the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshinori Matsuzawa, Tsuyoshi Yaji, Osamu Nonaka
  • Patent number: 9485384
    Abstract: A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed. The present invention discloses that an audio of an audio file linked to an image is outputted in a manner of being amplified centering on a subject in the image, whereby a user can be provided with a further emotionally visual/auditory image viewer environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hwasub Lee, Heeyoung Kim, Sooyong Park, Hyojin Lee, Ickjun Kim, Eunhye Yu
  • Patent number: 9479754
    Abstract: Depth maps are generated from two or more of images captured with a conventional digital camera from the same viewpoint using different configuration settings, which may be arbitrarily selected for each image. The configuration settings may include aperture and focus settings and/or other configuration settings capable of introducing blur into an image. The depth of a selected image patch is evaluated over a set of discrete depth hypotheses using a depth likelihood function modeled to analyze corresponding images patches convolved with blur kernels using a flat prior in the frequency domain. In this way, the depth likelihood function may be evaluated without first reconstructing an all-in-focus image. Blur kernels used in the depth likelihood function and are identified from a mapping of depths and configuration settings to the blur kernels. This mapping is determined from calibration data for the digital camera used to capture the two or more images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Huixuan Tang, Scott Cohen, Stephen Schiller, Brian Price
  • Patent number: 9467620
    Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for simulating different types of camera lens on a device by guiding a user through a set of images to be captured in connection with one or more desired lens effects. In one aspect, a wide-angle lens may be simulated by taking a plurality of images that have been taken at a particular location over a set of camera orientations that are determined based on the selection of the wide-angle lens. The mobile device may provide prompts to the user indicating the camera orientations for which images should be captured in order to generate the simulated camera lens effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Ettinger, David Lee, Evan Rapoport, Jake Mintz, Bryan Feldman, Mikkel Crone Köser, Daniel Joseph Filip
  • Patent number: 9454712
    Abstract: Saliency map computation is described. In one or more implementations, a base saliency map is generated for an image of a scene. The base saliency map may be generated from intermediate saliency maps computed for boundary regions of the image. Each of the intermediate saliency maps may represent visual saliency of portions of the scene that are captured in the corresponding boundary region. The boundary regions may include, for instance, a top boundary region, a bottom boundary region, a left boundary region, and a right boundary region. Further, the intermediate saliency maps may be combined in such a way that an effect of a foreground object on the saliency map is suppressed. The foreground objects for which the effect is suppressed are those that occupy a majority of one of the boundary regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Zhe Lin, Radomir Mech, Xiaohui Shen, Brian L. Price, Jianming Zhang
  • Patent number: 9377922
    Abstract: A device may receive information identifying a type of impairment, and provide, based on the type of impairment, a user interface. The user interface may allow a user to specify a command and an action that is to be performed, by an application, based on detecting the command. The action may relate to the type of impairment. The device may further receive configuration information via the user interface, where the configuration information identifies the command and the action. The device may configure the application based on the configuration information, detect, using the application, the command, and perform, using the application, the action based on detecting the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Sylvia A. Work