Gray Scale Transformation (e.g., Gamma Correction) Patents (Class 348/254)
  • Patent number: 11875486
    Abstract: Provided in the present disclosure are an image brightness statistical method and an imaging device, related to the image processing field. The method includes: acquiring the bit width of a pixel brightness value of an image to be processed and a maximum acceptable bit width of a block random access memory; dividing bits of each pixel of said image into multiple groups of bits so that the bit width of each group is less than or equal to the maximum acceptable bit width; performing brightness histogram statistics based on the pixel data of same groups to produce a brightness histogram component corresponding to each group; determining brightness evaluation value components of each groups based on the brightness histogram components corresponding to the groups and the number of pixels of said image; and determining a brightness evaluation value of said image based on the brightness evaluation value components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING TUSEN ZHITU TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yu Zhang
  • Patent number: 11699378
    Abstract: A gamma reference voltage generator includes a first resistor string, black voltage setters, a selector, and a second resistor string. The first resistor string receives a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage. The black voltage setters extract a plurality of black candidate voltages from the first resistor string. The selector selects one of the black candidate voltages as a black gamma voltage based on a selection signal. The second resistor string receives a first voltage corresponding to one of the black candidate voltages and a second voltage extracted from the first resistor string. In addition, the gamma reference voltage generator includes gamma voltage setters that extract a plurality of gamma voltages from the second resistor string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yunki Baek, Nam-Gon Choi, Hansin Lim
  • Patent number: 11683594
    Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting an exposure parameter of an imaging device are disclosed. A first exposure level of the imaging device is identified, and a first image of a scene is captured via the imaging device at the first exposure level. The first image of the scene comprises a plurality of polarization images corresponding to different degrees and angles of polarization. Each of the polarization images comprise a plurality of color channels. A gradient for the first image is computed based on the plurality of the polarization images, and a second exposure level is computed based on the gradient. A second image of the scene is captured based on the second exposure level, where the gradient of the second image is greater than a gradient for the first image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Intrinsic Innovation LLC
    Inventors: Kartik Venkataraman, Agastya Kalra, Achuta Kadambi
  • Patent number: 11587209
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to axial chromatic aberration (ACA) reduction of raw image data generated by image sensors. A chromatic aberration reduction circuit performs chromatic aberration reduction on the raw image data to correct the ACA in the full color images through sharpening that has been clamped to reduce sharpening overshoot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Sheng Lin
  • Patent number: 11575866
    Abstract: Display with an appropriate luminance dynamic range is realizable on a receiving side. A gamma curve is applied to input video data having a level range from 0% to 100%*N (N: a number larger than 1) to obtain transmission video data. This transmission video data is transmitted together with auxiliary information used for converting a high-luminance level on the receiving side. A high-level side level range of the transmission video data is converted on the receiving side such that a maximum level becomes a predetermined level based on the auxiliary information received together with the transmission video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: SATURN LICENSING LLC
    Inventor: Ikuo Tsukagoshi
  • Patent number: 11418722
    Abstract: An exposure control device includes a feature quantity calculation section, a priority setting section, and a control amount calculation section. The feature quantity calculation section calculates feature quantities of a plurality of pixels in a frame image acquired by the imaging section which are different from luminance values. The priority setting section sets priority in accordance with the feature quantities so that the luminance value(s) of one or more pixels with high feature quantities calculated by the feature quantity calculation section are preferentially used to calculate an exposure control amount. The control amount calculation section calculates the exposure control amount based on the luminance values of the pixels and the priority set by the priority setting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Akiba, Toshikazu Murao
  • Patent number: 11410283
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electronic device. The electronic device obtains a first histogram regarding a difference in gradation between adjacent pixels of an input image based on the first maximum output brightness, obtains a second histogram regarding a difference in gradation between the adjacent pixels of the input image based on the second maximum output brightness, obtains a third histogram regarding a difference in brightness between the adjacent pixels of the input image based on the first HVS recognition information, obtains a fourth histogram regarding a difference in brightness between the adjacent pixels of the input image based on the second HVS recognition information, and obtains a brightness value regarding the input image corresponding to the second maximum output brightness based on a difference between a first value obtained based on information on the first and third histograms and a second value obtained based on the second and fourth histograms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., PUKYONG NATIONAL UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COOPERATION FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Younghoon Jeong, Hoang Nam Nguyen, Chul Lee, Joseph Kim, Youngsu Moon, Van Tu Vo, Jaemoon Lim
  • Patent number: 11367169
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for processing a picture of an automatic driving vehicle. The method for processing a picture of an automatic driving vehicle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes obtaining a first image from a camera while a vehicle on which the camera is driving, generating a prediction signal for predicting a sign of occurrence of White-Out from the first image, when a quantity of light which is a threshold brightness or higher from the first image, storing the first image during a first period when the prediction signal is generated, and predicting and correcting a second image based on the first image stored during the first period and a correction model, when the second image in which the White-Out occurs in the first image is detected on a specific time during the first period, and the correction model is a result of learning the second image by processing high dynamic range (HDR) image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Jonghoon Chae
  • Patent number: 11336367
    Abstract: A method performed at a transmitter comprises generating a set of digital signals representing a constellation point, each dimension of the point being uniquely represented by m bits, where m?{1, 2, 3}; applying a linear polyphase filter to a digital signal of the set, the linear polyphase filter pre-compensating for a linear transfer function of an electro-optic path of the digital signal and generating a first filtered signal having a roll-off factor ?, where ? is a positive real number satisfying ??1; applying a nonlinear polyphase filter to the digital signal, in parallel to applying the linear polyphase filter to the digital signal, the nonlinear polyphase filter generating a second filtered signal representing nonlinear noise in the electro-optic path; calculating a pre-compensated digital signal from a difference between the first and second filtered signals; and transmitting an optical signal based on the pre-compensated digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: IENA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shahab Oveis Gharan, James St. Leger Harley, Kendal Zimmer, Christian Bourget
  • Patent number: 11284862
    Abstract: An ultrasound observation device includes a processor including hardware, wherein the processor is configured to: generate ultrasound image data; set, in a region of interest, a plurality of small regions by dividing the region of interest in accordance with a preset condition; generate a histogram of each of the small regions; calculate a determination value for each of the small regions; determine whether the physical quantity in each of the small regions is uniform; change a determination target small region in accordance with a preset condition when the physical quantity in the determination target small region among the small regions is determined to be not uniform; set the determination target small region as an attenuation rate calculation target region when the physical quantity in the determination target small region is determined to be uniform; and set an attenuation rate of the attenuation rate calculation target region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigenori Kozai
  • Patent number: 11283989
    Abstract: A camera system comprising a body that contains a lens with a range of focus settings and an image sensor operable to record an image. The camera system has a controller operably connected to the sensor to receive the image, and the controller is operably connected to the lens to control the focus setting. The controller is operable to focus the lens on a selected point, and the controller is operable to determine at least two different first and second subject elements. The controller is operable to focus the lens on the first subject and record a first image, and the controller is operable to focus the lens on the second subject and record a second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Inventor: Bennet Langlotz
  • Patent number: 11277554
    Abstract: A control apparatus includes a determination unit configured to determine whether or not a point light source area exists in an image, and a focus control unit configured to perform a focus control based on an evaluation value sequentially acquired from the image while moving the focus lens. The focus control unit changes a method of the focus control based on a position of the point light source area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kurisu
  • Patent number: 11270416
    Abstract: A geometric correction system and method for performing geometric correction of a distorted image in an input frame to provide a corrected image in an output frame including a local memory, geometric correction circuitry, a tile reader, and a descriptor memory storing multiple tile descriptors. The tile reader retrieves distorted tile data from the input frame into the local memory for one corrected tile group at a time according to a corresponding tile descriptor. Each tile descriptor identifies distorted tile data to retrieve and distorted tile data to skip from the local memory for the corresponding corrected tile group. The tile descriptor includes a descriptor for each row of local memory area identifying data to be read and data to be skipped for each row. Only the data needed for one or more target tiles is read to reduce memory transfer bandwidth overhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Sharath Subramanya Naidu, Michael Andreas Staudenmaier, Ajit Singh
  • Patent number: 11227363
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for correcting image regions following upsampling or frame interpolation. For example, one embodiment of an apparatus comprises a machine-learning engine to evaluate at least a first image in a sequence of images generated by a real-time interactive application, the machine learning engine to responsively use previously learned data to generate an upsampled or interpolated image comprising a plurality of pixel patches. In one embodiment, each pixel patch is associated with a confidence value reflecting how accurately the pixel patch was generated by the machine learning engine. A selective ray tracing engine identifies a first pixel patch to be corrected based a first confidence value corresponding to the first pixel patch being lower than a threshold and performs ray tracing operations on a first portion of the first image to generate a corrected first pixel patch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel Pohl
  • Patent number: 11206359
    Abstract: An image outputting method and an electronic device are provided. The method includes: shooting a scene by using a plurality of different exposure durations to obtain a plurality of images respectively; performing a summation operation according to the images to obtain a first image; adjusting a first brightness of the first image to an output brightness to generate a second image; respectively converting pixel values of a plurality of first pixels in the second image into other corresponding pixel values in another value domain to generate an output image; and outputting the output image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Altek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Bo-Wei Jiang, Hsiao-Min Wang, Jing-Yu Huang
  • Patent number: 11205268
    Abstract: The invention provides an image color enhancement system, method, storage medium and endoscope. Since the human skin color and the basic tone of endoscopic image are similar, a data set of Macbeth color card is utilized to generate a color correction matrix for skin color enhancement. The color correction matrix is used by an endoscope for real time image capture, resulting in a vivid expression of the basic tone of an endoscopic image without introducing artifacts in other tonal image parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Shenzhen Jifu Medical Technology Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Xiaoning Huai
  • Patent number: 11193898
    Abstract: An X-ray inspection system for scanning objects and providing corresponding contrast controlled scan images is provided. The system includes an X-ray source configured to generate an X-ray beam for irradiating the object where the X-ray source is coupled with at least a first beam filter having a first thickness and a second beam filter having a second thickness greater than the first thickness, a detector array, a processing unit, a user interface configured to receive a user input indicative of a desired level of contrast in an image, and a controller configured to adjust a position of at least one of the first or second beam filters based on the user input indicative of the desired level of contrast in the at least one image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: American Science and Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Schubert
  • Patent number: 10791287
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging control apparatus, method, and a vehicle, capable of efficiently analyzing an image. Among a short accumulation signal and a long accumulation signal of a photographed image, the short accumulation signal of a preceding frame is set to correspond to the short accumulation signal of a succeeding frame. The signal of the succeeding frame is processed by using the short accumulation signal of the preceding frame. The present technology is applicable to control imaging in an apparatus that supports driving of a vehicle by performing various processing, in each of frames of an N-frame sequence, for example, of recognizing various target objects necessary in supporting the driving of the vehicle, such as an obstacle, a guidance object, and other target objects, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Kawamata, Hiroyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10777152
    Abstract: In the method and device of driving display panel, and display device provided in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the display panel is divided into n sub-regions, and an average gray scale value of original pixel cells in each sub-region is determined, a gray scale threshold value range corresponding to the sub-region is determined according to the average gray scale value of the sub-region when the average gray scale value is greater than a preset gray scale threshold value, a ratio of the total number of original pixel cells in the gray scale threshold value range to the total number of original pixel cells contained in the corresponding sub-region is determined, and gamma value of original pixel cell in the corresponding sub-region according to the ratio and a preset gamma value conversion relationship is reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: HKC CORPORATION LIMITED
    Inventor: Zhicong Kang
  • Patent number: 10715816
    Abstract: Techniques for selecting a luminance value for color space conversion are disclosed. Techniques include determining values for Cb and Cr from values for R?, G?, and B?; producing a reconstructed Cb* value and a reconstructed Cr* value by processing the Cb and Cr values; and determining a plurality of Y? value options from the values for Cb* and Cr*. A Y? output value may be selected based on the plurality of Y? value options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandros Tourapis, David W. Singer, Hsi-Jung Wu, Yeping Su
  • Patent number: 10616536
    Abstract: An imaging device may have a monochrome image sensor and a bi-chromatic image sensor. A beam splitter may split incident light between the two image sensors. The monochrome image sensor may have an array of broadband image sensor pixels that generate broadband image signals. The bi-chromatic image sensor may have an array of red and blue image pixels that generate red and blue image signals. The image sensors may be coupled to processing circuitry that performs processing operations on only the broadband image signals to produce monochrome images, or on the red, blue, and broadband image signals to produce color images. Processing operations used to produce color images may include chroma-demosaicking and/or point filter operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Paul James Kane, Robin Brian Jenkin
  • Patent number: 10574901
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises: a conversion unit configured to convert a characteristic of an image signal; and a display control unit configured to generate information indicating a relationship of image signals before and after conversion is performed by the conversion unit, and cause a display to display the information indicating a relationship of image signals, wherein the display control unit generates the information indicating a relationship of image signals, so as to include information indicating a relationship of scales of signals before and after conversion and information indicating a relationship of signal values before and after conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tadayoshi Ono, Keisuke Matsuno, Taketoshi Kinoshita, Akihito Shin
  • Patent number: 10560674
    Abstract: Display with an appropriate luminance dynamic range is realizable on a receiving side. A gamma curve is applied to input video data having a level range from 0% to 100%*N (N: a number larger than 1) to obtain transmission video data. This transmission video data is transmitted together with auxiliary information used for converting a high-luminance level on the receiving side. A high-level side level range of the transmission video data is converted on the receiving side such that a maximum level becomes a predetermined level based on the auxiliary information received together with the transmission video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC
    Inventor: Ikuo Tsukagoshi
  • Patent number: 10477122
    Abstract: An image sensor including a plurality of pixels and a plurality of pixel sensing circuits is provided. The pixels are arranged in a pixel array. The pixels are configured to sense an image to obtain a plurality of reference pictures. The pixels include a plurality of pixel types. The pixel sensing circuits are respectively and electrically connected to the pixels. The pixel sensing circuits are configured to respectively receive a photo current generated by each of the pixels. The pixels have different characteristic curves based on the pixel types, and at least one of an electrode structure parameter and an electrode bias of each of the pixels is determined according to a correspondingly characteristic curve. In addition, an image sensing method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yan-Rung Lin, Pei-Wen Yen, Siou-Cheng Lou, Kai-Ping Chuang
  • Patent number: 10388235
    Abstract: A display driving method and device is provided. The display driving method determines whether each image pixel is within a range of skin color in accordance with the original grayscale data of the image pixel, and performs color casting compensation only on the image pixels within the range of skin color but not on other image pixels. The effects of color casting compensation and display are improved, and the granular feeling caused due to the color casting compensation is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Xiaoliang Guan
  • Patent number: 10380432
    Abstract: An on-board camera apparatus includes a camera module, a control circuit board, a housing, a bracket, and a hood. The housing houses the camera module and the control circuit board. The bracket fixes the housing to a front windshield of the own vehicle. The hood is arranged so as to cover the camera module. The camera module captures an image of an area ahead of an own vehicle. As captured images, the camera module generates a plurality of linear images in which a relationship between luminance and an output pixel value is fixed. Based on the linear images, the camera module further generates high dynamic range images in which a relationship between luminance and an output pixel value differs depending on a luminance region, under a predetermined imaging mode. The control circuit board enables a plurality of types of driving-related processes based on the captured images to be performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Toshikazu Murao
  • Patent number: 10339879
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a corrector and a determinator. The corrector corrects a correspondence between display pixels of a display unit and data pixels on an image signal to be inputted to the display pixels so that at least one of the display pixels is defined as a mask pixel to which the image signal is no longer inputted. The determinator determines a gradation of the mask pixel in accordance with a gradation indicated by the image signal to be inputted to an edge pixel that is included in the display pixels and located at an edge of the display pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chiyoaki Iijima, Kenichi Tajiri, Toshiaki Tokumura, Yusuke Ogasawara
  • Patent number: 10298859
    Abstract: Various techniques are provided to generate enhanced visual representations of captured infrared (IR) data values. For example, various methods, systems, devices, and machine-readable mediums are provided that may be used to map color and/or grayscale values to temperature values. Such mapping permits a user to intuitively interpret the temperatures associated with the IR data values. The temperatures may be presented as a visual representation of the captured IR data values having an enhanced contrast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: FLIR Systems AB
    Inventors: Walter Frost, Mikael Erlandsson, Fredrik Von Braun, Petter Wilhelm Richard Sundin
  • Patent number: 10250828
    Abstract: An image sensor has global shutter imaging pixel cells, each including an anti-blooming transistor gate for modifying electric charge within a photodiode and for setting the photodiode to a selected potential. The sensor also has a row decoder circuit providing readout signals to each row of the imaging cells during both a readout interval and during a calibration interval for each row and providing to the anti-blooming transistor drain a selectable potential supply voltage. A mode select switch within the row decoder circuit applies either a standard drain supply voltage or an adjustable low voltage to the anti-blooming transistor drain. A programmable function logic circuit determines the timing of operation of the mode select switch to provide knee-point calibration to minimize photo conversion variations that lead to fixed pattern noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: SMARTSENS TECHNOLOGY (U.S.), INC.
    Inventors: Chen Xu, Yaowu Mo, Zexu Shao, Zhengmin Zhang, Weijian Ma
  • Patent number: 10165186
    Abstract: A video capture device may include multiple cameras that simultaneously capture video data. The video capture device and/or one or more remote computing resources may perform video stabilization to the video data to reduce unwanted camera shake. The video capture device may include one or more motion sensors that track the motion of the video capture device. Using the motion data, video stabilization algorithms can be executed on a first video stream to calculate stabilizing adjustments for the video stream. The stabilization adjustments can then be used to stabilize a second video stream due to the fixed positioning of a first camera that captured the first video stream and a second camera that captured the second video stream. The video capture device and/or the remote computing resources may stitch together the first and second video streams to generate a digitally stabilized panoramic video.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ilya Vladimirovich Brailovskiy, Manuel Rosendo Arana Manzano, Marcus-Alan Gilbert, Kenneth James Albanowski
  • Patent number: 10165269
    Abstract: A more efficient way of addressing different bit-depths, or different bit-depths and chroma sampling format requirements is achieved by using a low bit-depth and/or low-chroma resolution representation for providing a respective base layer data stream representing this low bit-depth and/or low-chroma resolution representation as well as for providing a higher bit-depth and/or higher chroma resolution representation so that a respective prediction residual may be encoded in order to obtain a higher bit-depth and/or higher chroma resolution representation. By this measure, an encoder is enabled to store a base-quality representation of a picture or a video sequence, which can be decoded by any legacy decoder or video decoder, together with an enhancement signal for higher bit-depth and/or reduced chroma sub-sampling, which may be ignored by legacy decoders or video decoders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: GE Video Compression, LLC
    Inventors: Detlev Marpe, Martin Winken, Heiko Schwarz, Thomas Wiegand
  • Patent number: 10136080
    Abstract: In an image generating apparatus, an image combining unit combines, for each of first and second processes in sequence, first and second images to generate a composite image having a digital pixel value representing a luminance level of the corresponding pixel by a first bit width. A range setter sets, for each of the first and second processes, a target luminance-level distribution range of at least one target with respect to the composite image; the distribution range represents a range within which luminance levels of the at least one target are distributed. A dynamic range adjuster adjusts a dynamic range of the composite image generated for one of the first and second processes such that the dynamic range of the composite image generated for the corresponding one of the first and second processes matches with the target luminance-level distribution range set for the first process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masato Nishikawa, Kazuyoshi Akiba
  • Patent number: 10044999
    Abstract: An image processing device includes a luminance signal expansion unit which expands a luminance signal, and a chroma signal correction unit which corrects a chroma signal in a manner adjusted to the expansion of the luminance signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hidetaka Honji
  • Patent number: 10036882
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a holder holding a carrier carrying cells, an imager including an imaging optical system in which an optical axis is oriented toward the carrier, and images the cells in a bright field, a position changer changing a focus position of the imaging optical system in a direction along the optical axis, a controller changing a set position of the focus position by the position changer and obtaining a plurality of original images by causing the imager to perform imaging at each set position, and an image processor calculating a contrast value of each original image, specifying two set positions at opposite sides of a local minimum value of the contrast value in a profile of the contrast value in relation to the set position and generating a difference image of two of the original images respectively imaged at the two set positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: SCREEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sueki, Masayoshi Kobayashi, Hiroki Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 9883123
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel signal processing unit which has a plurality of pixels disposed in a two-dimensional matrix, outputs each of pixel signals generated by all pixels as a total pixel signal, and outputs each of the pixel signals generated by the pixels with the number of pixels reduced to a prescribed number of pixels as a reduced pixel signal, a bit reduction method determination unit which determines a bit reduction method for reducing the number of pixels of a digital value representing the amount of the total pixel signal based on the reduced pixel signal, and a bit reduction unit which reduces the number of bits of the digital value based on the bit reduction method and outputs the digital value with the reduced number of bits as a digital value corresponding to the total pixel signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Tanaka, Akira Ueno
  • Patent number: 9860505
    Abstract: Display with an appropriate luminance dynamic range is realizable on a receiving side. A gamma curve is applied to input video data having a level range from 0% to 100%*N (N: a number larger than 1) to obtain transmission video data. This transmission video data is transmitted together with auxiliary information used for converting a high-luminance level on the receiving side. A high-level side level range of the transmission video data is converted on the receiving side such that a maximum level becomes a predetermined level based on the auxiliary information received together with the transmission video data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Saturn Licensing LLC
    Inventor: Ikuo Tsukagoshi
  • Patent number: 9836844
    Abstract: Disclosed is a coating apparatus. A first imaging unit captures an image of the substrate disposed on the stage. A second imaging unit captures an image of the substrate disposed on the stage with a narrower viewing angle and higher resolution than the first imaging unit. The control unit performs a pre-alignment processing of capturing an image of a circular pre-alignment mark formed on the substrate using the first imaging unit and performing positioning of the substrate by controlling the moving mechanism and the rotating mechanism based on the captured image and, after the pre-alignment processing, performs a fine-alignment processing of capturing an image of a circular fine-alignment mark formed on the substrate using the second imaging unit and performing positioning of the substrate by controlling the moving mechanism and the rotating mechanism based on the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kazuhito Miyazaki, Akira Kakino
  • Patent number: 9706074
    Abstract: A method is provided including: capturing a first set of images, wherein each one of the first set of images is captured in accordance with a different value of a camera setting; generating a second set of reduced images, wherein each of the second set of reduced images is a reduced version of a respective one of the first set of images; generating, by an electronic device, a third set of composite images, wherein each one of the third set of composite images is generated by HDR-compositing the second set of reduced images in accordance with a different weight-ratio; receiving a selection of a first composite image, the first composite image being part of the third set of composite images; and storing a second composite image, the second composite image being generated by HDR-compositing the first set of images in accordance with a weight ratio associated with the first composite image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jaemyung Baek, Dongyoul Park, Soonkyoung Choi, Sabari Raju Shanmugam, Minyoung Chang
  • Patent number: 9691136
    Abstract: Sub-regions within one or more face images are identified within a digital image, and enhanced by applying an artificial glint symmetrically and/or synchronously to image data corresponding to sub-regions of eyes within the face image. An enhanced face image is generated including an enhanced version of the face that includes certain original pixels in combination with pixels corresponding to the one or more eye regions of the face with the artificial glint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: FOTONATION LIMITED
    Inventors: Corneliu Florea, Cosmin Nicolae Stan, Mihai Ciuc, Adrian Capata
  • Patent number: 9621811
    Abstract: A vehicle system includes a processing device programmed to identify a first zone and a second zone in an image of an area ahead of a vehicle. The processing device compares a first brightness associated with the first zone to a second brightness associated with the second zone to determine a brightness difference. The processing device can determine whether at least one vehicle headlight has malfunctioned based at least in part on the brightness difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Cuddihy, Manoharprasad K. Rao
  • Patent number: 9589497
    Abstract: A method of grayscale calibration of subpixels of liquid crystal panels during imaging includes: obtaining a first brightness value when the subpixel of the i-th color has a maximum grayscale; calculating a second brightness value of each grayscale(j); obtaining a third brightness value of each grayscale(r) of the main subpixel area and a fourth brightness value of each grayscale (s) of the secondary subpixel area of under the direct view condition; determining value combinations for the main and the secondary subpixel area of the subpixel having the grayscale (j) and satisfying a predetermined criteria; calculating total color differences of the grayscale images respectively for the direct and a squint view condition when the value combination being applied; determining the value combination of the minimum total color difference as the value combination applied for the subpixel. With such configuration, the color shift of the liquid crystal panel may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Lixuan Chen
  • Patent number: 9582866
    Abstract: An adaptive contrast enhancement method, the steps include: calculating a probability density function based on pixel values of a plurality of pixels of an input image signal; dividing the plurality of pixels into one of a plurality of low-brightness sets and high-brightness sets according to the pixel values of the plurality of pixels, wherein a part of the plurality of pixels with pixel values below one of a plurality of delimiting values are allocated to the low-brightness set and a part of the plurality of pixels with pixel values above the delimiting value are allocated to the high-brightness set; determining a mapping function according to the probability of the plurality of pixels in the low-brightness set and the probability of the plurality of pixels in the high-brightness set; and mapping the input image signal to an output image signal according to the mapping function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: VIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: De-Wei Shen, Sheng-Che Tsao
  • Patent number: 9552778
    Abstract: A method for controlling a digital device, and which includes receiving content; displaying the received content on a display screen of the digital device; calculating, via a controller of the digital device, an average luminance value respective to an entire display screen where the received content is displayed; generating, via the controller, a histogram respective to a partial area of the entire display screen; analyzing, via the controller, the histogram respective to the partial area and verifying whether or not a pixel distribution ratio of pixels having a minimum gray level, among pixels being located in the partial area of the display screen, is equal to or greater than a reference ratio; and if the pixel distribution ratio of pixels having the minimum gray level is equal to or greater than the reference ratio, processing a luminance of the partial area of the display screen to be black.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Yongsoo Lee
  • Patent number: 9430815
    Abstract: This image correction system corrects image data from pixels, is connected to at least two different input pathways, and is provided with: a pixel value relationship extraction means that extracts the pixel value relationship among neighboring pixels from image data that is the subject of correction; a pixel value relational expression estimation means that estimates a relational expression representing the difference in characteristics in each pixel from the pixel value relationship between neighboring pixels; and a pixel value correction means that forms a corrected image by correcting the pixel values of the image data that is the subject of correction using the relational expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Monden
  • Patent number: 9421131
    Abstract: System and method of photoaltering a region of an eye using an enhanced contrast between the iris and the pupil of the imaged eye. The system includes a laser assembly outputting a pulsed laser beam, a user interface displaying one of a first digital image of the eye and a second digital image of the eye, and a controller coupled to the laser assembly and the user interface. The first digital image has a first contrast between the pupil and the iris, and the second digital image has a second contrast between the pupil and the iris. The controller selectively increases the first contrast between the pupil and the iris to the second contrast between the pupil and the iris and directs the pulsed laser beam to the region of the eye based on one of the first and second digital images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: AMO Development, LLC
    Inventors: Keith Watanabe, Jesse Buck
  • Patent number: 9413929
    Abstract: Provided is an intermediate unit including a first connect unit, a second connect unit, and an information bridge unit. The first connect unit is for connecting a camera unit having a first resolution in one of a spatial direction and a temporal direction. The second connect unit is for connecting a camera control unit for a camera unit having a second resolution lower than the first resolution in one of the spatial direction and the temporal direction. The information bridge unit is interposed between the first connect unit and the second connect unit and configured to bridge information exchanged between the camera unit and the camera control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Kamiya
  • Patent number: 9307162
    Abstract: An embodiment of a local enhancement apparatus is provided, in which a block divider divides an image into a plurality of blocks, and a first enhancement unit performs a brightness-preserved enhancement on each block of the plurality of blocks to generate a brightness-preserved block. A second enhancement unit performs a brightness-adjusted enhancement on the each block to generate a brightness-adjusted block. A scene dynamic range estimator generates a dynamic range of the image according to characteristics of the image. A blender blends the brightness-preserved blocks and the brightness-adjusted blocks to generate an enhanced image based on the dynamic range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: HIMAX IMAGING LIMITED
    Inventor: Yuan-Chih Peng
  • Patent number: 9172859
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of a camera module are proposed, the camera module including an image sensor photographing a object image, a memory unit stored with a look-up table recorded with pixel number of the object image corresponding to a length of the object, and an image signal processor detecting a pixel number of the object image photographed by the image sensor, reading out a length of a object corresponding to the detected pixel number from the memory unit and inspecting horizontality of the image sensor and the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yong Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 9129414
    Abstract: A device is provided that generates a composite image using a first image and a second image having different exposure conditions. The device includes an image input unit, a likelihood calculating unit, an exposure estimating unit, and a compositing unit. The image input unit inputs the first image and the second image. The likelihood calculating unit calculates a subject motion likelihood at each pixel based on a difference between the first image and the second image. The exposure estimating unit estimates an exposure transform function that conforms the exposure conditions of the first image and the second image to each other based on the subject motion likelihood. The compositing unit composites the first image and the second image by using the exposure transform function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Morpho, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshihito Hirai, Takeshi Miura
  • Patent number: 9099367
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array and a calibration circuit. The pixel array includes a plurality of pixels each of which includes a photoelectric conversion device configured to absorb incident light and generate a photocharge, a transfer transistor configured to transfer the photocharge from the photoelectric conversion device to a floating diffusion node, and a reset transistor configured to reset the floating diffusion node. The calibration circuit is connected to the reset transistor of each pixel, and is configured to apply a different voltage to each pixel and adjust an amount of photocharge generated by the photoelectric conversion device in each pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirosige Goto, Yi Tae Kim