Defective Pixel (e.g., Signal Replacement) Patents (Class 348/246)
  • Patent number: 12225301
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for optical processing. According to some aspects an optical processing apparatus may include a pixelated photodiode array (PDA), each pixel in the PDA includes a radiation detector. The apparatus also includes a read out integrated circuit (ROIC) that includes a logic circuit and a plurality of switch elements. The plurality of switch elements being switchable between an armed state for arming its corresponding radiation detector and transmitting a signal received from the corresponding detector to the ROIC, and a disarmed state for disarming its corresponding detector and blocking transmittal of the signal, wherein in the armed state, the PDA is configured to detect an incoming optical signal and in the disarmed state, the PDA is configured to disregard the incoming optical signal. Moreover, the logic circuit controls a switch state of a selectable switch element associated with a radiation detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Harold Hwang, Matthew T. O'Grady, Brian Edward Piccione, Mark Itzler
  • Patent number: 12219278
    Abstract: A processing apparatus includes a first storage unit for storing first array data that is based on output values of a plurality of pixels arranged in an array, a second storage unit having second array data stored therein to be used for correction of the output values from the plurality of pixels, and a correction unit including a calculation unit that corrects an output value of at least one pixel of the plurality of pixels based on the first array data and the second array data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Morimoto, Hiroshi Sekine
  • Patent number: 12119357
    Abstract: Provided are an image sensor with one or more image receivers for image switching, and an imaging system and method therefor. The image sensor includes an image sensor array to generate first image data for a first image; a receiver to receive, into the image sensor, second image data for a second image; an image selection circuit coupled to the image sensor array and the receiver to receive the first image data and the second image data and select one of the first image data and the second image data according to one or more image selection criteria and at least one of the first image data and the second image data; and a transmitter coupled to the image selection circuit to transmit the selected one of the first image data and the second image data from the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: Cista System Corp.
    Inventors: Zhaojian Li, Jiangtao Pang
  • Patent number: 12114087
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging element including photodiode divided pixels, and a control unit. The control unit performs control to execute first readout in which an addition value of a first pixel and a second pixel constituting a photodiode divided pixel is read out as a pixel value constituting an image and second readout of performing readout in which a value of the first pixel and a value of the second pixel used for phase difference detection can be obtained from a photodiode divided pixel that is not a readout target in the first readout. In this case, the first readout is performed after performing the second readout in one vertical period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Group Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Fujii
  • Patent number: 11955888
    Abstract: As inputs of a controller of a direct current (DC)-DC converter are sampled for a predetermined time and thus two-dimensional state information in which one axis is an input physical quantity and the other axis is a time is generated, the two-dimensional state information is processed by a convolutional neural network to determine and output one of a plurality of control signals. An artificial intelligence control part may operate in accordance with a plurality of operation conditions or dynamically determined operation conditions by applying different artificial intelligence engines according to operation modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Inventors: Kang Yoon Lee, Jong Wan Jo, Min Young Kim, Dong Soo Park, Kyung Duk Choi, Young Gun Pu
  • Patent number: 11910080
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a solid-state image pickup device, a learning unit configured to generate a learned model by performing machine learning using, as supervised data, first correction information for identifying a pixel signal for which noise is to be corrected among a plurality of pixels of the solid-state image pickup device and using, as input, an image acquired from the solid-state image pickup device and that has not been corrected based on the first correction information, and an inference unit configured to infer a pixel signal on which noise is superimposed by inputting an image corrected based on the first correction information to the learned model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Makiko Saito
  • Patent number: 11776974
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a photoelectric conversion portion, an amplification transistor having an input node, a first transfer transistor, a second transfer transistor arranged between the first transfer transistor and the input node, and a reset transistor connected to the input node. When electric charges are transferred from the photoelectric conversion portion to the input node, the photoelectric conversion apparatus switches a capacity value of the input node by controlling the second transfer transistor to be on or off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Sekine
  • Patent number: 11748862
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes; an image sensor including pixels that generate first image data, and an image processing system. The image processing system includes; a neural network processor that performs a cluster-level bad pixel correction operation on the first image data based on first coordinate information associated with first-type bad pixel clusters to generate second image data, and a main processor that performs a post-processing operation on the second image data to generate third image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Inventors: Irina Kim, Seongwook Song
  • Patent number: 11734931
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus that provides information about a virtual viewpoint image includes: a generation unit configured to generate scene information including type information and time information, the type information indicating a type of an event occurring in an image-capturing region in which an image is captured by a plurality of cameras, the time information indicating a time when the event has occurred; and a provision unit configured to provide an output destination of material data with the scene information generated by the generation unit, the material data being generated from a plurality of captured images obtained by the plurality of cameras capturing images of the image-capturing region from different directions, the material data being used to generate the virtual viewpoint image depending on a position and an orientation of a virtual viewpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazufumi Onuma
  • Patent number: 11714259
    Abstract: A focus detection device includes: an imaging unit having a first pixel and a second pixel each of which receives light transmitted through an optical system and outputs signal used for focus detection; an input unit to which first information regarding a position on an image plane and an exit pupil distance of the optical system is input; a selection unit that selects a first focus detection based on the signal having been output from the first pixel or a second focus detection based on the signal having been output from the second pixel, based on the first information having been input to the input unit; and a focus detection unit that performs the first focus detection or the second focus detection based on a selection by the selection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Kita, Akira Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 11632505
    Abstract: In a solid-state image sensor that detects presence or absence of an address event, erroneous detection of the address event is suppressed. Each of a plurality of pixels executes detection processing for detecting whether or not a change amount of an incident light amount exceeds a predetermined threshold, and outputting a detection result. An abnormal pixel determination unit determines whether or not each of the plurality of pixels has an abnormality, and enables a pixel without an abnormality and disables a pixel with an abnormality. A control unit performs control for causing the enabled pixel to execute detection processing and control for fixing the detection result of the disabled pixel to a specific value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Hongbo Zhu, Shin Kitano
  • Patent number: 11617026
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to processing of pixels captured by a quadra image sensor. A quadra image sensor includes a plurality of pixel tiles, each having a plurality of pixels corresponding to the same color. A lens shading correction (LSC) circuit receives, for each of a plurality of colors, a set of gain tables. Each gain table corresponds to a different channel associated with the color. Each gain table includes a set of gain values, each associated with a location. The LSC circuit determines a pixel gain value for each pixel in a pixel tile and scales the pixels in the pixel tile based on the determined pixel gain values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Chihsin Wu, David R Pope, Sheng Lin
  • Patent number: 11611732
    Abstract: A method of aligning a plurality of color channels of a projector is provided. The method includes: for each color channel, (i) projecting test pattern on a surface; (ii) capturing image of the test pattern generated on the surface; and (iii) adding the captured image to an image set. Once the captured images for each color channel are added to an image set, identifying a reference position based on the image set. This is followed by processing the image set to estimate a divergence of the respective test patterns for each color channel with respect to the reference position, followed by computing a corrective function for each color channel and applying the respective corrective function to each color channel to align the color channel to the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew Dennison, Christopher John Gordon, Simon Thomson, Peter Anthony Van Eerd, Colin Bartlett Yardley, Chad Faragher
  • Patent number: 11589035
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to correcting pixels of images captured using a quadra image sensor. A defect detection circuit analyzes the pixels in the captured image and determines whether a pixel is defective. The defect detection circuit generates a first defect indication by determining whether pixel data of a pixel under test is brighter or darker by a first threshold value than pixel data of pixels in pixel tiles surrounding the pixel tile corresponding to the pixel under test. Moreover, the defect detection circuit generates a second defect indication by determining whether pixel data of the pixel under test is brighter or darker by a second threshold value than pixel data of other pixels in the pixel tile corresponding to the pixel under test. Using the first and second defect indications, the defect detection circuit identifies whether the pixel data of the pixel under test is defective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Sheng Lin
  • Patent number: 11582362
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a conveyance unit configured to convey an original; a reading unit comprising a reading sensor, the reading sensor having a light receiving element to receive light of a first color and a light receiving element to receive light of a second color that is different from the first color, wherein the reading unit is configured to read an image of the original conveyed by the conveyance unit by using the reading sensor to generate image data which represents a reading result of the reading unit; at least one processor configured to: determine a first abnormal position that is a position in a first direction of an abnormal pixel of the first color in an image represented by the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koichi Matsumura
  • Patent number: 11451752
    Abstract: A grid gain calculation circuit includes a region setting component suitable for setting a grid region corresponding to a pixel array; a virtual grid point setting component suitable for setting virtual grid points with respect to outer grid points located on a border of a grid region and with respect to an inner grid point located in an inner area of the grid region close to the outer grid points; and a gain calculation component suitable for calculating a gain of the outer grid points based on a gain of the inner grid point and a gain of the virtual grid points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Jae Yoon Yoo
  • Patent number: 11388357
    Abstract: Presence or absence of an abnormality is easily determined in a solid-state imaging element that detects an address event. The solid-state imaging element includes a photoelectric conversion element, a test signal supply unit, a selection unit, and a comparator. The photoelectric conversion element converts incident light into an electric signal by photoelectric conversion. The test signal supply unit supplies, as a test signal, a signal that fluctuates with time. The selection unit selects either the electric signal or the test signal. The comparator compares a predetermined threshold value with the signal selected by the selection unit, and outputs a result of the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Atsumi Niwa
  • Patent number: 11373093
    Abstract: Adversarial input detection and purification (AIDAP) preprocessor and deep learning computer model mechanisms are provided. The deep learning computer model receives input data and processes it to generate a first pass output that is output to the AIDAP preprocessor. The AIDAP preprocessor determines a discriminative region of the input data based on the first pass output and transforms a subset of elements in the discriminative region to modify a characteristic of the elements and generate a transformed input data. The deep learning computer model processes the transformed input data to generate a second pass output that is output to the AIDAP preprocessor which detects an adversarial input or not based on a comparison of the first pass and second pass outputs. If an adversarial input is detected, a responsive action that mitigates effects of the adversarial input is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Zhongshu Gu, Hani T. Jamjoom
  • Patent number: 11368639
    Abstract: In an aspect of the present disclosure, a photoelectric conversion apparatus comprising includes a scan unit and a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion unit and configured to output a digital signal corresponding to an electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit. The scan unit performs a scan to read the digital signal from the plurality of pixels and an operation of inputting a signal based on the digital signal output from the plurality of pixels to the plurality of pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yukihiro Kuroda
  • Patent number: 11354186
    Abstract: Provided is a circuit device for detecting error on a display image obtained by image processing. The circuit device includes an image acquisition circuit configured to acquire image data, an image processing circuit configured to perform image processing on the image data to obtain a display image, and an index acquisition circuit configured to obtain an index for performing error detection on the display image. The index represents a degree of matching between a foreground image, which is an image of a given region of the display image, and a reference image, which is a reference with respect to the foreground image. The index is obtained based on pixel values of the display image and pixel values of the reference image or based on pixel values of an edge image of the display image and pixel values of an edge image of the reference image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kumar Anandabairavasamy Anand, Peter van Baarsen John, Wittmeir Manfred
  • Patent number: 11330212
    Abstract: An imaging device according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of pixels each including a first light-receiving element and a second light-receiving element, the plurality of pixels including a first pixel. The imaging device further includes a generating section that generates a first detection value on a basis of a light-receiving result by the first light-receiving element of each of the plurality of pixels, and generates a second detection value on a basis of a light-receiving result by the second light-receiving element of each of the plurality of pixels. The imaging device further includes a diagnosis section that performs a diagnosis processing on a basis of a detection ratio that is a ratio between the first detection value and the second detection value in the first pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Kawazu, Keita Sasaki, Takumi Oka, Mohammad Munirul Haque, Yuichi Motohashi, Atsushi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11284852
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus is provided. The apparatus comprises: an imaging unit including a plurality of pixels configured to convert incident radiation into an electrical signal; a storage unit configured to store position information of a first pixel, among the pixels, which always outputs an abnormal pixel value; a correction unit configured to detect a second pixel, among the pixels, which is not stored in the storage unit and outputs an abnormal pixel value, and correct the pixel value of the second pixel; and an interpolation unit configured to, after image data output from the imaging unit is processed by the correction unit, generate a pixel value of the first pixel based on the position information and a pixel value of a pixel, among the pixels, which is arranged near the first pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hidehiko Saito
  • Patent number: 11256372
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating an adaptive mosaic pixel-wise virtual Bayer pattern. The method may include receiving a plurality of monochromatic images from an array of imaging elements, creating a reference ordered set at infinity from the plurality of monochromatic images, running a demosaicing process on the reference ordered set, and creating a color image from the demosaiced ordered set. One or more offset artifacts resulting from the demosaicing process may be computed at a distance other than infinity, the ordered set may be modified in accordance with the computed offsets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Edge 3 Technologies
    Inventors: Tarek El Dokor, Joshua King, Roger Hauptman
  • Patent number: 11228724
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus including a processor including hardware, the processor being configured to: detect a defective pixel from among the multiple pixels; calculate a level of a pixel value of the defective pixel; compare the calculated level of the pixel value of the defective pixel with a threshold to determine whether a defective pixel that is stored in a storage is to be corrected, the threshold being determined based on a brightness that is calculated from pixel values close to a defective pixel and on any one of an exposure time of image data corresponding to a defective pixel on which a determination is to be made, a value of gain, and variation in pixel value among pixels surrounding the defective pixel on which a determination is to be made; and interpolate the pixel value of the determined defective pixel that is to be corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroki Maruyama, Teruaki Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 11184522
    Abstract: The invention describes an imaging device (1) comprising an image sensor (2), an imaging lens (3), an infrared light source (5) to illuminate a scene (SC), and an infrared autofocus system (6) for providing an autofocus function, wherein the image sensor (2) comprises an array (21) of sensor pixels each arranged as dual pixel (22) comprising two separate pixel sensors (22a, 22b) per dual pixel (22) to record the image data (D1) as a sum signal from both pixel sensors (22a, 22b) and providing infrared data (D2) as individual signals from each of the two pixel sensors (22a, 22b) for phase contrast (PC) autofocusing, wherein an infrared filter (7) arranged between an aperture (4) of the imaging device (1) and an imaging sensor (2) and is adapted to locally transmit only a portion of the infrared light (IR) to the imaging sensor (2) by comprising at least one first area (71) arranged as infrared blocking area and at least one second area (72) arranged as infrared bandpass area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventor: Arjen Van Der Sijde
  • Patent number: 11169892
    Abstract: Embodiments herein describe a hardware solution where a reset monitor in an integrated circuit detects and reports unintentional resets. A glitch in a reset path can cause a logic block to initiate an undesired or unintentional reset. As a result, the local circuitry in the logic block resets which causes them to lose data and their current state. In the embodiments herein, the reset monitor can monitor the reset signals generated within the logic blocks in the circuit. The reset monitor can compare these reset signals to golden copies of the resets signals generated by the reset generator. If a reset signal generated within a logic block does not match the corresponding golden copy of the reset signal, the reset monitor determines that an unintentional reset has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: XILINX, INC.
    Inventors: Sarosh Azad, Akshay Shetty, Alex Warshofsky
  • Patent number: 11119313
    Abstract: An imaging system for producing extended-reality images for a display apparatus. The imaging system including camera that is employed to capture input image representing captured region of real-world environment; and processor configured to: generate intermediate image by correcting spatial distortion of input image; determine capturing region of intermediate image representing captured region of real-world environment and non-capturing regions of intermediate image corresponding to non-captured regions of real-world environment; generate image data for non-capturing region of intermediate image, based on at least one of: information pertaining to virtual object that is to be virtually superimposed, capturing region neighbouring non-capturing region, previous extended-reality image, photogrammetric model of real-world environment; and process intermediate image, based on generated image data, to produce extended-reality image to be presented at display apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Varjo Technologies Oy
    Inventor: Mikko Ollila
  • Patent number: 11122180
    Abstract: A method of performing a three-dimensional (3D) scan of an object includes applying an optical contrast powder to the object and illuminating the object with light. First and second two-dimensional (2D) color image data corresponding to the object is generated. First and second 2D monochrome image data corresponding to the object is generated using the first and second 2D color image data. 3D data corresponding to the object is generated using the first and second monochrome 2D image data. Color 3D image data corresponding to the object is generated by adding color information to the 3D data. The color 3D image data is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA Inc.
    Inventors: Joachim Pfeiffer, Jian Lu, Alexei Harvard, Bjoern Voss, Frank Thiel
  • Patent number: 11102407
    Abstract: A powered device receives power from at least one of a first power supply and a second power supply having a voltage higher than a voltage of the first power supply. The powered device includes a first load unit, a second load unit electrically separated from the first load unit, and a changing unit configured to supply power from the first power supply to the first load unit and the second load unit in a case where the first power supply is connected to the powered device and the second power supply is not connected to the powered device, and supply power from the second power supply to the first load unit and from the first power supply to the second load unit in a case where the first power supply and the second power supply are connected to the powered device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomohiro Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 11056083
    Abstract: A display control device outputs an image, which is obtained by processing as input image having been corrected by the correction unit, while correction data is loaded. The display control device outputs the input image, which has been corrected by the correction unit, after completion of loading the correction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SHENZHEN TOREY MICROELECTRONIC TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Masayuki Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 11017701
    Abstract: A correction data generating device is a device generating correction data for correcting input grayscale level vs. luminance characteristics of a plurality of pixels included in a display region of a display panel, and includes a display controller supplying each of the plurality of pixels with display signal voltages corresponding to two or more grayscale levels; an acquisition portion acquiring two or more luminances of each of the plurality of pixels supplied with the display signal voltages respectively corresponding to the two or more grayscale levels; a specification portion specifying, among the plurality of pixels, at least one abnormal pixel, the input grayscale level vs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: SAKAI DISPLAY PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Junichi Sawahata
  • Patent number: 10999546
    Abstract: An image sensor includes; a sensor array generating a pixel signal, a ramp signal generator generating a ramp signal having a decreasing slope during a ramp signal enable period between a first time at which a counter enable signal is activated and a third time at which the ramp signal ends falling, a comparator comparing the pixel signal with the ramp signal to trigger an output signal, and counters, where at least one of the counters performs counting during an entire counter enable period extending between the first time and a second time at which the comparator triggers the output signal, but not all of the counters perform counting during at least one section of the counter enable period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung Hoon Jung
  • Patent number: 10930687
    Abstract: An image sensor is provided to include: imaging pixels located at different locations to receive incident light and to produce pixel signals, each imaging pixel including a light-receiving area that receives a portion of the incident light and a photoelectric conversion element to convert received portion of incident into a pixel signal associated with part of the image; and a phase difference detection pixel located amongst the imaging pixels and structured to include an open part which receives a portion of the incident light and a photoelectric conversion element to convert the received light into a phase difference detection pixel signal, wherein the open part is eccentrically located in the phase difference detection pixel in a first direction, wherein the imaging pixels include a first imaging pixel that is adjacent to the phase difference detection pixel in the first direction and senses a first color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Kyung-Su Byun
  • Patent number: 10929682
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus that provides information about a virtual viewpoint image includes: a generation unit configured to generate scene information including type information and time information, the type information indicating a type of an event occurring in an image-capturing region in which an image is captured by a plurality of cameras, the time information indicating a time when the event has occurred; and a provision unit configured to provide an output destination of material data with the scene information generated by the generation unit, the material data being generated from a plurality of captured images obtained by the plurality of cameras capturing images of the image-capturing region from different directions, the material data being used to generate the virtual viewpoint image depending on a position and an orientation of a virtual viewpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazufumi Onuma
  • Patent number: 10911700
    Abstract: An imaging capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor including a two-dimensional array of a plurality of pixels; and a processor configured to perform defective pixel correction on an image signal outputted from a defective pixel among the plurality of pixels. The processor changes a defective-pixel-correction parameter used in the defective pixel correction based on at least one of a moving velocity and a moving direction of a photographic angle of view of the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takuya Kishi
  • Patent number: 10868985
    Abstract: An image signal processor may include a pixel defect correction component that tracks defect history for frames captured by an image sensor and applies the history when identifying and correcting defective pixels in a frame. The component maintains a defect pixel location table that includes a defect confidence value for pixels of the image sensor. The component identifies defective pixels in a frame, for example by comparing each pixel's value to the values of its neighbor pixels. If a pixel is detected as defective, its defect confidence value may be incremented. Otherwise, the value may be decremented. If a pixel's defect confidence value is over a defect confidence threshold, the pixel is considered defective and thus may be corrected. If a pixel's defect confidence value is under the threshold, the pixel is considered not defective and thus may not be corrected even if the pixel was detected as defective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Sheng Lin, D. Amnon Silverstein, David R. Pope, Suk Hwan Lim
  • Patent number: 10854663
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus includes conversion elements which convert a radial ray into an electric signal, a signal line which reads electric signals obtained by the conversion elements, switch elements which are connected between the conversion elements and the signal line, and driving lines connected to control terminals of the switch elements. The first conversion element and the signal line are in a conductive state when a switch element connected to the first driving line is in an On state. The second conversion element and the signal line are in a conductive state when a switch element connected to the second driving line is in an On state. The third conversion element and the signal line are in a conductive state when a switch element connected to the first driving line and a switch element connected to the second driving line are in an On state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuro Takenaka
  • Patent number: 10848697
    Abstract: An image sensor pixel array comprises a center region and two parallel edge regions, wherein the center region is between the two parallel edge regions. The center region comprises a plurality of image pixels disposed along first sub-array of rows and columns, wherein each of the plurality of image pixels comprises a first micro-lens (ML) formed at an offset position above a first light receiving element as a countermeasure for shortening of exit pupil distance of the image pixel in the center region, and each of the two parallel edge regions comprises a plurality of phase detection auto-focus (PDAF) pixels disposed along second sub-array of rows and columns, wherein each of the plurality of PDAF pixels comprises a second micro-lens (ML) formed at an alignment position above a second light receiving element; and at least one of the PDAF pixels is located at a distance away from center of the edge region to receive incident light along an injection tilt angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazufumi Watanabe, Chih-Wei Hsiung, Vincent Venezia, Dyson Tai, Lindsay Grant
  • Patent number: 10819927
    Abstract: An imaging system comprises an image sensor and black level correction (BLC) circuitry. The image sensor includes an image pixel array adapted to generate an image signal in response to incident light and a dark pixel array adapted to generate a black reference signal representative of a black level value of the image sensor. The BLC circuitry is adapted to adjust the image signal of the image pixel array based, at least in part, on the black reference signal of the dark pixel array. The BLC circuitry includes a plurality of measurement circuits to readout the black reference signal from the dark pixel array to determine the black level value of the image sensor. The BLC circuitry also includes a plurality of calculation circuits to calculate a BLC value based, at least in part, on the black level value determined from the plurality of measurement circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gabor Mikes
  • Patent number: 10812744
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a defective pixel compensation method and device capable of compensating for defective pixels of an RGBIr sensor. An embodiment of the method includes: determining the type of a sensor; determining a plurality of sample positions according to the type of the sensor and the position of a target pixel; obtaining the values of a plurality of reference pixels in a sampling window according to the sample positions; determining a value range and at least one compensation value(s) according to the values of the reference pixels; determining whether an input value of the target pixel is within the value range; when the input value is within the value range, outputting the input value as an output value of the target pixel; and when the input value is outside the value range, outputting one of the compensation value(s) as the output value of the target pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Wen-Tsung Huang
  • Patent number: 10805998
    Abstract: Display systems for displaying digital content. The display systems have one or more LED-based lighting channels adapted to generate a circadian-inducing blue light output in first operational mode and a less-circadian-inducing blue light output in a second operational mode. The circadian-inducing blue light can have a first circadian-stimulating energy characteristic related to the associated first spectral power distributions of light generated in the first operational mode, and the non-circadian-inducing blue light can have a second circadian-stimulating energy characteristic related to the associated second spectral power distribution of light generated in the second operational mode. Disclosure methods of generating digital display content with the display systems described herein. The methods can generate a circadian-inducing blue light output in first operational mode and a less-circadian-inducing blue light output in a second operational mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: EcoSense Lighting, Inc.
    Inventors: Raghuram L. V. Petluri, Paul Kenneth Pickard, Benjamin Harrison, Shruti Koparkar
  • Patent number: 10791288
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a pixel value group creation unit configured to create, for a plurality of pieces of image data generated by an image sensor including: a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally to receive light from outside and generate a signal corresponding to an amount of the received light; and a plurality of read-out circuits shared by a predetermined number of pixels and configured to read out the signal as pixel values, a plurality of pixel value groups by classifying the pixel values for each of the plurality of read-out circuits; and a noise determination unit configured to determine whether blinking defect noise occurs in each of the plurality of pixel value groups, based on distribution of the pixel values of each of the plurality of pixel value groups created by the pixel value group creation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Manabu Ichikawa, Hiroki Maruyama
  • Patent number: 10771775
    Abstract: An imaging device comprising a plurality of pixels and a processing unit. The plurality of pixels includes (i) a light-receiving pixel arranged to receive incident light and output a light signal based on the incident light, and (ii) a reference pixel arranged to output a pixel signal for configuring a failure detection signal. The processing unit is arranged to determine whether or not the failure detection signal is correct based on abnormality information indicating the abnormality of the reference pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shinya Igarashi, Noriyuki Shikina, Yasushi Iwakura, Yoichi Wada
  • Patent number: 10742906
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel array unit in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in rows and columns; a plurality of column signal lines which are provided in one-to-one correspondence with pixel columns; a column processor including a plurality of column AD circuits provided in one-to-one correspondence with the plurality of column signal lines; a power supply variation detector which is connected to a power supply wire through which a power supply voltage is transmitted to each of the pixels, and which detects, in correspondence with pixel rows, power supply variation components attributed to variations in the power supply voltage; and a power supply variation corrector which corrects, for each of the pixel rows, a pixel signal detected by the column processor, using the power supply variation components detected by the power supply variation detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Ikuma, Takahiro Muroshima, Takayasu Kito, Hiroyuki Amikawa, Tetsuya Abe
  • Patent number: 10633095
    Abstract: An imaging system includes a first imaging device and a second imaging device disposed flanking the main wing of an aircraft. The first imaging device and the second imaging device are disposed so that at least part of a first imaging range of the first imaging device overlaps a second imaging range of the second imaging device. The first imaging device and the second imaging device are also disposed so that the first imaging range and the second imaging range overlap an extension of the pitch axis of the aircraft and do not overlap the roll axis of the aircraft or an extension thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Asao, Masaharu Matsumoto, Keijiroh Nagano, Masaaki Higashida
  • Patent number: 10609315
    Abstract: A solid-state image pickup element, including: a pixel array including a plurality of pixels; a first calculator that calculates a phase difference evaluation value for focus detection by a phase difference detection method based on signal from the pixel; and a second calculator that calculates a contrast evaluation value for focus detection by a contrast detection method based on signal from the pixel, wherein, when the first calculator completes calculation of the phase difference evaluation value, the phase difference evaluation value is output regardless of whether or not output of an image signal acquired by the pixel array is completed, and wherein, when the second calculator completes calculation of the contrast evaluation value, the contrast evaluation value is output regardless of whether or not output of the image signal acquired by the pixel array is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Ise, Tatsuya Arai
  • Patent number: 10585533
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating an adaptive mosaic pixel-wise virtual Bayer pattern. The method may include receiving a plurality of monochromatic images from an array of imaging elements, creating a reference ordered set at infinity from the plurality of monochromatic images, running a demosaicing process on the reference ordered set, and creating a color image from the demosaiced ordered set. One or more offset artifacts resulting from the demosaicing process may be computed at a distance other than infinity, the ordered set may be modified in accordance with the computed offsets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Edge 3 Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tarek El Dokor, Joshua King, Roger Hauptman
  • Patent number: 10571725
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for locating sub-pixel address, an address location device and a repairing device. The method includes: obtaining an address of a location sub-pixel which is located by a cursor of the address location device in a liquid crystal panel; and calculating an address of a target sub-pixel in one pixel to which the location sub-pixel belongs, by using a sub-pixel arrangement structure of the one pixel of the liquid crystal panel as well as the address of the location sub-pixel. The target sub-pixel is one sub-pixel which is unable to be located by the cursor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 10559070
    Abstract: An image processing method is provided. The image processing method is applied in an electronic device. The array of photosensitive pixel units is controlled to expose with different exposure parameters and output multiple frames of color-block image. Each frame of color-block image includes image pixel units arranged in a preset array, each image pixel unit includes a plurality of original pixels, and each photosensitive pixel corresponds to one original pixel. The multiple frames of color-block image are merged to obtain a HDR color-block image. The HDR color-block image is converted to a simulation image using an interpolation algorithm. The simulation image includes simulation pixels arranged in an array, and each photosensitive pixel corresponds to one simulation pixel. An image processing apparatus and an electronic device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Cheng Tang
  • Patent number: 10559069
    Abstract: An image processing method is provided. The image processing method is applied in an electronic device. The array of photosensitive pixel units is controlled to expose with different exposure parameters and output multiple frames of color-block image. Each frame of color-block image includes image pixel units arranged in a preset array, each image pixel unit includes a plurality of original pixels, and each photosensitive pixel corresponds to one original pixel. The multiple frames of color-block image are merged to obtain a HDR color-block image. The HDR color-block image is converted to a simulation image using an interpolation algorithm. The simulation image includes simulation pixels arranged in an array, and each photosensitive pixel corresponds to one simulation pixel. An image processing apparatus and an electronic device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Cheng Tang