With Single Image Scanning Device Supplying Plural Color Signals Patents (Class 348/266)
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Publication number: 20130335603Abstract: A color filter array of a color imaging device is formed by repeatedly arranging a basic array pattern in which RGB filters are arrayed in an array pattern of 8×12 pixels, in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The basic array pattern is arranged in a matrix manner in the horizontal direction and/or the vertical direction and includes A array to D array having an array pattern of 4×4 pixels. In each of arrays, G filters are arranged in a checkered pattern and the arrangements of G filters have a mirror image relationship between arrays that are adjacent to each other.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 20, 2013Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: Fujifilm CorporationInventors: Tomoyuki KAWAI, Kenkichi HAYASHI, Seiji TANAKA
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Patent number: 8593566Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for controlling light emission of a flash. The method includes: during a pre-emission flash, exposing an image sensor by opening a global shutter; measuring light reflected from a subject by using the image sensor, and calculating a flash emission time of the flash based on the measured light; and controlling the flash to fire a main-emission flash for the calculated flash emission time. Accordingly, a partial exposure during a pre-emission flash, even in an image sensor that operates by using a rolling shutter, can be prevented.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2009Date of Patent: November 26, 2013Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jin-pyo Gwak, Won-kyu Jang
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Patent number: 8570421Abstract: In one embodiment, an image sensor includes, a bank 301 of charge-coupled devices, and charge sensing amplifiers 302, each of which transforms electric charges extracted from an associated pixel into an electrical signal. After the electric charges accumulated in every pixel have been extracted to the charge-coupled devices 301 at the same time, a color component with a high resolution is output to a horizontal transfer path 316 via the charge sensing amplifiers 302 and then output to a device outside of the image sensor. Thereafter, pixel signals representing another low-resolution color component are vertically added together on the bank 301 of charge-coupled devices. Those pixel signals are horizontally added together on the horizontal transfer path 316 and output. The image obtained by this image sensor is then input to an image processing section, thereby obtaining an output color image with a high resolution and a high frame rate.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2012Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Yusuke Okada, Takeo Azuma, Sanzo Ugawa, Taro Imagawa
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Publication number: 20130278801Abstract: An image processing device includes: a coordinate conversion unit (142) which calculates a corresponding sampling coordinate on a color mosaic image corresponding to a pixel position of a color image when a deformation process is performed, according to the pixel position of the color image; a sampling unit (143); a sampling unit (143) which interpolates-generates a pixel value in a sampling coordinate for each of color planes obtained by decomposing the color mosaic image; and a color generation unit (144) which generates a color image by synthesizing interpolation values of the respective color planes. Each pixel value of a color image subjected to a deformation process is obtained as a pixel value of the sampling coordinate from the color mosaic image by interpolation calculation, thereby realizing the color interpolation process for generating a color image from the color mosaic image and a deformation process of the color image by one interpolation calculation.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2013Publication date: October 24, 2013Inventors: Yasuhiro Sawada, XianJi Zhang, Takashi Masuda
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Publication number: 20130229540Abstract: In one embodiment, a light sensor includes four cell arrays, one for each color of the Bayer pattern, and four lenses each focusing the light coming from the scene to be captured on a respective cell array. The lenses are oriented such that at least a second green image, commonly provided by the fourth cell array, is both horizontally and vertically shifted (spaced) apart by half a pixel pitch from a first (reference) green image. In a second embodiment, the four lenses are oriented such that the red and blue images are respectively shifted (spaced) apart by half a pixel pitch from the first or reference green image, one horizontally and the other vertically, and the second green image is shifted (spaced) apart by half a pixel pitch from the reference green image both horizontally and vertically.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2013Publication date: September 5, 2013Applicant: STMicroelectronics S.r.lInventors: Marco Farina, Mirko Ignazio Guarnera, Massimo Mancuso, Giuseppe Messina, Alessandro Capra
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Patent number: 8506087Abstract: A laser light projector includes a laser beam generated by a laser light source, a scanner associated with the laser light source and having one or more moving mirrors capable of scanning the laser beam along X-Y coordinates, a scan-fail monitor and a safety-lens. The safety-lens includes at least one optical power, and is positioned and arranged for increasing the safety of the projected light within audience areas by increasing beam divergence in the audience, while keeping beam divergence low above the heads of the audience, thus allowing mirror targeting to occur.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2011Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Inventors: William R. Benner, Jr., Jeremy Philip Turner
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Patent number: 8502895Abstract: A method of capturing an image of a scene using an image capture device having an array of pixels, wherein the array of pixels includes pixels of different colors, includes, for a first duration, capturing a first portion of the scene with a first plurality of the pixels of a first color, and for a second duration, capturing a second portion of the scene with a second plurality of the pixels of a second color. The first and second durations are different and the first and second durations are chosen, at least in part, to improve the signal to noise ratio of the image capture device.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2011Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Mark Yosefin
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Patent number: 8488035Abstract: A camera system at least including: a MOS imaging device at least having a pixel section having a plurality of pixels two-dimensionally arrayed in row and column directions, each having a photoelectric conversion section for generating electrical signal corresponding to a quantity of incident light, an accumulation section for accumulating signal generated at the photoelectric conversion section, a transfer switch means for controlling transfer of signal from the photoelectric conversion section to the accumulation section, a reset switch means for resetting signal of the photoelectric conversion section, an amplification section for outputting a voltage value corresponding to signal of the accumulation section, and a select switch for selecting output of the amplification section, wherein an exposure period is determined by simultaneously resetting signals of the photoelectric conversion section for all pixels and effecting signal transfer from the photoelectric conversion section to the accumulation sectionType: GrantFiled: July 18, 2007Date of Patent: July 16, 2013Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Toru Kondo, Seisuke Matsuda
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Patent number: 8436441Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device comprising a photoelectric conversion part including a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer and a photoelectric conversion layer provided between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, wherein light is made incident from an upper part of the second electrode layer into the photoelectric conversion layer; the photoelectric conversion layer generates a charge containing an electron and a hole corresponding to the incident light from the upper part of the second electrode layer; and the first electrode layer works as an electrode for extracting the hole.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2011Date of Patent: May 7, 2013Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventors: Tetsuro Mitsui, Daisuke Yokoyama
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Publication number: 20130063630Abstract: An image pickup device may include an image capturing unit that includes a solid-state image pickup device having a plurality of pixels arrayed in a matrix form and simultaneously outputting pixel signals of the plurality of pixels adjacent to each other in a row or column direction in sequence while sequentially shifting the pixels that output the pixel signals in the row direction, and that simultaneously outputs image capturing signals respectively corresponding to the simultaneously output pixel signals in sequence from corresponding output terminals, an image processing unit to which the image capturing signals respectively corresponding to the plurality of pixels adjacent to each other in the row or column direction of the pixels arrayed in the solid-state image pickup device are simultaneously input in sequence from corresponding input terminals, and which performs image processing on the input image capturing signals, and a signal transmitting unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2012Publication date: March 14, 2013Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Takashi Yanada, Yoshinobu Tanaka
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Patent number: 8363135Abstract: A method for reconstructing a color image from a sensor which comprises a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix of rows and columns is provided. The sensor is provided with a color filter array such that each pixel corresponds to one of three basic colors. The three basic colors are provided on the sensor in a predetermined pattern. The sensor outputs a detected value for each of the plurality of pixels. The method comprises the steps: for each of the plurality of pixels: accepting a detected value obtained for the corresponding one of the three basic colors and, for each of the respective two other basic colors, calculating a vertical interpolation value and a horizontal interpolation value and selecting either the vertical interpolation value or the horizontal interpolation value; outputting the accepted detected value and the selected interpolation values.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2009Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: NXP B.V.Inventor: Andreas Dicks
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Patent number: 8350935Abstract: A color filter array includes a plurality of white filters, a plurality of yellow filters, a plurality of cyan filters and a plurality of green filters. The plurality of white filters transmits incident light. The plurality of yellow filters transmits a green component and a red component of the incident light. The plurality of cyan filters transmits the green component and a blue component of the incident light. The plurality of green filters transmits the green component of the incident light. An image sensor including the color filter array has high sensitivity and high SNR by increasing transmittance of the incident light.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2009Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jin-Hak Kim, Tae-Chan Kim, Bum-Suk Kim, Jung-Hoon Jung, Tae-Sub Jung
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Publication number: 20120314108Abstract: According to embodiments, a solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of pixel cells. The plurality of pixel cells includes a first green pixel cell and a second green pixel cell. The first green pixel cell detects first green light of a first wavelength region. The second green pixel cell detects second green light of a second wavelength region. The second wavelength region includes the first wavelength region. A half-value width of a function representing a spectral sensitivity characteristic of the second green pixel cell is larger than a half-value width of a function representing a spectral sensitivity characteristic of the first green pixel cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2012Publication date: December 13, 2012Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Takayuki OGASAHARA
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Patent number: 8284279Abstract: A multispectral imaging method and system is provided. A multispectral imaging method of the present invention includes determining an on-off combination of a plurality of light sources illuminating a scene; illuminating the scene with the light sources according to the on-off combination selected on the basis of a first control signal generated by a microcontroller; capturing an image of the scene by operating a camera on the basis of a second control signal synchronized with the first control signal; determining a plurality of spectral basis functions and weights of the spectral basis functions; and acquiring a continuous spectral reflectance by summing values obtained by multiplying the spectral basis functions and respective weights. The multispectral imaging method of the present invention is practical and efficient in that a continuous spectral reflectance image can be acquired with a minimized number of measurements required for obtaining spectral reflectance.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2008Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Inventors: Jong-Il Park, Moon Hyun Lee, Michael Grossberg, Shree K. Nayar
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Publication number: 20120249819Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes an image sensor which has a tunable spectral response and which is tunable in accordance with a capture mask to capture multi-spectral image data. Light-field optics are arranged to project light-field information of a scene onto the image sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2011Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Francisco Imai
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Patent number: 8269837Abstract: Default image data and subject image data are stored separately in nonvolatile memory and when the subject image data stored in the nonvolatile memory is displayed in a standard playback mode, the subject image data is displayed on an LCD at a specific scaling factor (first scaling factor) determined by the image size of the subject image data regardless of whether or not default image data is set for the subject image data. On the other hand, when composite image data is displayed in a print preview mode, scaling processing to display the subject image data on the LCD at a smaller scaling factor than the first scaling factor is performed so that the whole of the composite image data can be displayed on one screen of the display.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2004Date of Patent: September 18, 2012Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventors: Masanobu Shirakawa, Shuji Tsuji
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Patent number: 8237829Abstract: A frequency component comparing unit performs frequency component comparison for each of the image signals corresponding to the wavelength components subjected to resolution reconstruction. An image synthesizing unit performs image synthesis with an image signal that is selected according to a comparison result of the frequency component comparing unit as a component. The wavelength component that is subjected to frequency component comparison by frequency component comparing unit is selected according to the modulation transfer function characteristic of the optical system.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2010Date of Patent: August 7, 2012Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Takayuki Ogasahara
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Patent number: 8233038Abstract: An image-signal processing unit comprising a first and second luminance calculation block, a correction-value calculation block, and a subtraction block, is provided. The first luminance calculation block calculates a first luminance corresponding to the sum of a plurality of primary color light components. Each of them is multiplied by a coefficient from a first coefficient combination. The second luminance calculation block calculates a second luminance corresponding to the sum of a plurality of the primary color light components. Each of them is multiplied by a coefficient from a second coefficient combination. The correction-value calculation block calculates a luminance correction value according to the second luminance if the first luminance is greater than a threshold value. The subtraction block calculates a corrected luminance by subtracting the luminance correction value from the first luminance.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2008Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Hoya CorporationInventors: Kohei Iketani, Go Matsui
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Publication number: 20120176521Abstract: An image sensor for capturing a color image is disclosed having a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has individual pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors. Further, the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defines a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least twelve pixels. The minimal repeating unit has a plurality of cells wherein each cell has at least two pixels representing a specific color selected from the first group of pixels and a plurality of pixels selected from the second group of pixels arranged to permit the reproduction of a captured color image under different lighting conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 19, 2012Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: OMNIVISION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: John T. Compton, John F. Hamilton, JR.
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Publication number: 20120127351Abstract: A multi-spectral camera comprises a blocking element (201) having at least one hole (203) allowing light through. A dispersive element (205) spreads light from the at least one hole (203) in different wavelength dependent directions and a lens (207) focuses light from the dispersive element (205) on an image plane (209). A microlens array (211) receives light from the lens (207) and an image sensor (213) receives the light from the microlens array (211) and generates a pixel value signal which comprises incident light values for the pixels of the image sensor (213). A processor then generates a multi-spectral image from the pixel value signal. The approach may allow a single instantaneous sensor measurement to provide a multi-spectral image comprising at least one spatial dimension and one spectral dimension. The multi-spectral image may be generated by post-processing of the sensor output and no physical filtering or moving parts are necessary.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2010Publication date: May 24, 2012Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.Inventors: Ruud Vlutters, Remco Theodorus Johannes Muijs, Harold Agnes Wilhelmus Schmeitz
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Patent number: 8149319Abstract: An electro-optic color imaging system includes an optical subsystem, a detector subsystem and a digital image processing subsystem. The system is used to image a color-correlated object. In the optical subsystem, the image surfaces for different color channels of the object are substantially separated. Thus, one color channel may be in focus while others are out of focus. The detector subsystem is located at a fixed image distance from the optical subsystem and captures the different color channel images of the object. The image processing subsystem estimates the image of the object by combining the captured color channel images based at least in part on an a priori estimate of the correlation between the color channels.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2007Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.Inventor: M. Dirk Robinson
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Publication number: 20120050588Abstract: An image sensing device including a light sensing plane and a shifting module is provided. A plurality of pixel blocks is disposed on the light sensing plane as an array. Each of the pixel blocks generates a first elementary color signal, a second elementary color signal, a third elementary color signal, and a fourth elementary color signal according to an illumination intensity. The shifting module has a first output terminal and a second output terminal. The shifting module receives the first elementary color signals, the second elementary color signals, the third elementary color signals, and the fourth elementary color signals, and outputs one of the third elementary color signals and one of the fourth elementary color signals at the second output terminal. Each of the third elementary color signals and each of the fourth elementary color signals are two signals corresponding to the same color light.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2011Publication date: March 1, 2012Applicant: NOVATEK MICROELECTRONICS CORP.Inventors: Hung-Miao Lo, Min-Hui Hung
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Publication number: 20120044394Abstract: A multi-spectral imaging device includes pixels R, G, B, ?1, ?2, . . . , ?12 composing color sensors for four or more colors having mutually differing spectral sensitivity characteristics. In a first signal readout mode, an image signal including all of four or more types of signals read from the pixels composing the color sensors for the four or more colors is read from the multi-spectral imaging device. In a second signal readout mode, an image signal having a smaller number of colors than that of the first signal readout mode is read such that a narrower gamut than a gamut that can be reproduced by the image signal read in the first signal readout mode is formed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2011Publication date: February 23, 2012Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATIONInventors: Yasuhiro Komiya, Nobuyuki Watanabe
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Publication number: 20120002086Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, are described for rendering a mosaic from digital images using information about location and orientation of an image capturing device, and further about optics settings for the image capturing device when the digital images were captured. In one aspect, methods include generating respective virtual image sheets for frames captured from different camera locations and different camera orientations. Generating the virtual image sheets includes projecting texture maps of the captured frames over wire frames corresponding to optics settings of the camera. The methods further include positioning the generated virtual image sheets at locations and orientations within a viewing space that correspond to the different camera locations and the different orientations. The methods also include rendering the positioned virtual image sheets into a mosaic viewed from a reference point of the viewing space.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2010Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicant: APPLE INC.Inventor: Robert Mikio Free
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Patent number: 8059175Abstract: A method for operating an image capture device having a sensor with an array of first and second pixels includes capturing an image a plurality of times with the second pixels to produce a corresponding second image signal, the second pixels being white pixels, capturing the image a single time with the first pixels to produce a corresponding first image signal, inputting selecting signals to the sensor via a row driver to obtain the first and second image signals from the first and second pixels, respectively, and converting the first and second image signals to respective digital values via an analog-to-digital converter.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2007Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ju-Seop Park, Gun-Hee Han, Seog-Heon Ham
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Patent number: 7911518Abstract: A method of capturing an image of a scene using an image capture device having an array of pixels, wherein the array of pixels includes pixels of different colors, includes, for a first duration, capturing a first portion of the scene with a first plurality of the pixels of a first color, and for a second duration, capturing a second portion of the scene with a second plurality of the pixels of a second color. The first and second durations are different and the first and second durations are chosen, at least in part, to improve the signal to noise ratio of the image capture device.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2006Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Mark Yosefin
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Publication number: 20100328502Abstract: A frequency component comparing unit performs frequency component comparison for each of the image signals corresponding to the wavelength components subjected to resolution reconstruction. An image synthesizing unit performs image synthesis with an image signal that is selected according to a comparison result of the frequency component comparing unit as a component. The wavelength component that is subjected to frequency component comparison by frequency component comparing unit is selected according to the modulation transfer function characteristic of the optical system.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2010Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Takayuki OGASAHARA
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Patent number: 7855740Abstract: A method for obtaining image data from an image sensor array including the steps of: providing an image sensor array having a first component subset of panchromatic pixels for integrating charge and a second component subset of color pixels for integrating charge; reading pixel charge to produce pixel signals from the first component subset of the panchromatic pixels while exposing the second component subset of color pixels and digitizing and storing the first component subset signals; and reading pixel charge to produce pixel signals from the second component subset of color pixels that were exposed for at least a portion of time during the reading of pixel signals from the first component subset of the panchromatic pixels and digitizing and storing the second component subset signals.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2007Date of Patent: December 21, 2010Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: John F. Hamilton, Jr., John T. Compton
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Patent number: 7825970Abstract: Example embodiments may provide a CMOS image sensor. The CMOS image sensor may include a plurality of unit blocks each including two unit pixels. Each unit block may include two photodiodes having a hexagonal shape, a floating diffusion shared by the two unit pixels, a first transfer transistor and a second transfer transistor between the floating diffusion and the two photodiodes, respectively, a reset transistor connected with the floating diffusion, a drive transistor with a gate connected with the floating diffusion, and/or a selection transistor connected to the drive transistor in series. Example embodiment CMOS image sensors may be used in digital cameras, mobile devices, computer cameras, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2007Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Sung-Ho Choi, Jung-Chak Ahn, Yi-Tae Kim, Young-Chan Kim, Hae-Kyung Kong
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Publication number: 20100271515Abstract: To provide an image generation apparatus that generates a visually-favorable target video sequence in color using input video sequences of color components and that is least likely to have an insufficient transfer rate when obtaining the input video sequences. The image generation apparatus includes: an image receiving unit (101) that receives, as the plurality of input video sequences, a plurality of video sequences that are obtained by shooting the same subject with a phase difference being set between frame exposure periods of the different color components; and a color image integration unit (103) that generates the target video sequence whose frame cycle is shorter than each of the frame exposure periods of the input video sequences, by reducing a difference between a frame image of the input video sequence of each color component and a sum of a plurality of frame images of the target video sequence which are included in a period that corresponds to the frame image of the input video sequence.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2008Publication date: October 28, 2010Inventors: Taro Imagawa, Takeo Azuma
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Publication number: 20100214453Abstract: A backside illumination image sensor equipped with a plurality of pixels disposed in a two-dimensional pattern, includes: image-capturing pixels; and focus detection pixels.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2010Publication date: August 26, 2010Applicant: NIKON CORPORATIONInventor: Hironobu MURATA
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Patent number: 7777786Abstract: A device and a method for color data correction during color data transmission from a pickup device to an output device. Raw data of the pickup device are converted to uncorrected interim color values with a smaller number of pixels than the pickup device, and the uncorrected interim color values are then subjected to a color correction calculation and are finally converted into corrected interim color values for the output device.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2006Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Olympus Soft Imaging Solutions GmbHInventor: Dirk Ströker
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Publication number: 20100194938Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging section receiving color light and interpolation light including at least a part of a wavelength range of the color light in order to interpolate the brightness of the color light and converting the received color light and interpolation light into a signal; a control section controlling a first exposure time of the color light and a second exposure time of the interpolation light separately according to the brightness of an object to be imaged; and an image creating section creating an image on the basis of a color signal, which is output when the imaging section receives the color light, during the first exposure time controlled by the control section and on the basis of an interpolation signal, which is output when the imaging section receives the interpolation light, during the second exposure time controlled by the control section.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2010Publication date: August 5, 2010Applicant: Sony CorporationInventor: Hiroshi Iwasa
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Patent number: 7756327Abstract: An image processing system is used for dentistry. Upon creating a false tooth of a patient (59), a plurality of illuminating light of LEDs with different wavelengths emit light and a photographing apparatus (1A) photographs a tooth portion of the patient (59), thereby obtaining image data. The image data is sent to a dentistry filing system (2A) serving as a processing apparatus, and color reproducing data is obtained by calculation. The color reproducing data is sent to a dentistry factory (55) via a public line. Data is searched from a database (56) for calculating a ceramic compounding ratio, compound data of the ceramic false tooth is obtained, matching the color of the tooth portion of the patient (59), and the false tooth approximate to the tooth color of the patient (59) is created.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2003Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Olympus CorporationInventors: Yasuhiro Komiya, Toru Wada, Osamu Konno, Takeyuki Ajito, Tomoyuki Nakamura
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Patent number: 7742088Abstract: A color solid-state image pickup device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion areas provided in an array pattern on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The inside of each of photoelectric conversion areas 10 is two-dimensionally partitioned into a plurality of segments R, G1, G2, and B which output a plurality of photoelectric conversion signals of different spectral sensitivities. As a result, occurrence of a false signal and a false color is suppressed, and high-sensitivity, high-resolution image data having superior color reproducibility can be obtained.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2003Date of Patent: June 22, 2010Assignee: Fujifilm CorporationInventor: Makoto Shizukuishi
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Publication number: 20100134662Abstract: An image capture device (2) includes a sensor (4) having an active area comprising a plurality of pixels (6) and a shutter array (8) for controlling the exposure of individual pixels. The pixels are grouped in a plurality of pixel subsets and are arranged to capture a plurality of time-separated lo-res images, which can be viewed sequentially as a movie or combined to form a hi-res still image.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2008Publication date: June 3, 2010Applicant: ISIS INNOVATION LTDInventor: Gil Bub
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Patent number: 7724292Abstract: An image pickup apparatus having a plurality of pixels; and a color filter array of four colors disposed on the plurality of pixels, wherein the color filter away has a periodicity of two rows×two columns, and colors of four color filters in a periodical unit of two rows×two columns are all different.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2006Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Isamu Ueno, Shigetoshi Sugawa, Katsuhisa Ogawa, Toru Koizumi, Tetsunobu Kochi, Katsuhito Sakurai, Hiroki Hiyama
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Patent number: 7657173Abstract: An optical lens system of a mobile camera is provided. The lens optical system includes: an optical lens in which bilaterally symmetrical off-axis lens systems corresponding to the divided view angles are integrally formed and arranged in parallel on the same plane, the optical beams incident at the divided view angles being transmitted through the respective off-axis lens systems; and an image sensor for receiving the optical beams transmitted through the off-axis lens systems, the image sensor being bisected into a green light receiving region and a mixed light receiving region of red and blue colors. Accordingly, the mega resolution can be achieved using the optical lens having the height of VGA grade. Moreover, as the whole length of the optical lens system in the mega optical system is greatly reduced, the camera optical system can have the slim profile.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2006Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Sang Hyuck Lee, Ho Seop Jeong, Ho-Sik You
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Patent number: 7612803Abstract: A digital camera system in which capture, processing and storage functions are partitioned differently than in existing systems. A hand-held digital camera is used with a workstation that may exist in a commercial image processing service center. A minimal amount of image data processing is performed in the digital camera, thereby allowing significant digital camera cost reductions due to lower memory requirements, lower processing requirements, and lower power requirements. Real-time single pass image compression techniques are employed within this digital camera to permit rapid gathering and storage of raw or minimally processed image data. The workstation to which the image data are transferred performs the image processing normally done within existing cameras. This processing takes advantage of the increased computational power that is possible to have in such a workstation, compared to that of a small camera, and the increased time over which such processing may be performed.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2003Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Assignee: Zoran CorporationInventors: Ohad Meitav, Daniel Seltz, Itzhak Shenberg
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Patent number: 7589858Abstract: An image processing apparatus for processing pieces of color image data each including a plurality of sub-pieces of color image data pertaining to the plurality of color components respectively comprises: initial color image inputting means; data dividing means responsive to the initial color image data for dividing it in respect of color components and for providing pieces of mono-color image data each corresponding to one of the sub-pieces of color image data of the piece of initial color image data, the number of the pieces of mono-color image data being equal to or larger than the number of the color components; data processing means for effecting a predetermined processing on each piece of mono-color image data to provide secondary image data; and secondary image data outputting means.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2004Date of Patent: September 15, 2009Assignee: Nokia CorporationInventors: Eiji Atsumi, Kazunobu Shin
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Patent number: 7583303Abstract: An imaging device having a hybrid RGBYC color filter using a primary color system RGB filter and a complementary color system YC filter is composed. Four G filters that directly relate to resolution and that is close to a luminance signal that human eyes sense are arrayed in a checker shape so that the number of the G filters is four times larger than the number of filters of each of the other colors. An array shown in FIG. 10A is composed of low resolution rows (G, R, G, and B) and high resolution rows (C, G, Y, and G) that are alternately arrayed in each line. When signals are read if exposure times are varied for individual lines, the signals that are read can easily have a wide dynamic range. An array shown in FIG. 10B has two Gs, a low sensitivity color, and a high sensitivity color in each line and each row. Thus, the luminance difference is small in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction. Thus, the reading method in the array shown in FIG.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2006Date of Patent: September 1, 2009Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Takami Mizukura, Naoya Katoh, Kenji Tanaka, Masaya Kinoshita, Yutaka Yoneda, Akira Matsui
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Patent number: 7570285Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus which suppresses appearance of a color moire of a color image signal of a wide dynamic range which is produced using an image signal acquired using, for example, a CCD image sensor of the single plate type or the like. A gradation conversion section 71 performs a gradation conversion process for a color mosaic image M to produce a modulated color mosaic image Mg. Color difference image production sections 72 and 3 use the modulated color mosaic image Mg to produce color difference images C and D, respectively. A luminance image production section 74 uses the modulated color mosaic image Mg and the color difference signals C and D to produce a luminance image L. A color space conversion section 75 performs a color space conversion process for the color difference images C and D and the luminance image L to produce modulated images.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2002Date of Patent: August 4, 2009Assignee: Sony CorporationInventors: Tomoo Mitsunaga, Seiji Kobayashi, Hiroaki Ono
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Patent number: 7542084Abstract: An imaging apparatus for outputting image signals by effecting photoelectric conversion of images formed at an optical system by an image sensor having a color filter array having various spectral transmittance disposed on a front surface thereof includes an image size setting means for setting one selected from a plurality of previously provided image reducing rates for determining an image size of image signals output from the image sensor; and a readout control means for controlling pixel locations at which image signals are read out from the image sensor, wherein the readout control means reads out image signals from the image sensor in accordance with a readout rule corresponding to the image reducing rate set by the image size setting means.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2003Date of Patent: June 2, 2009Assignee: Olympus Optical Co., Ltd.Inventor: Nobuyuki Watanabe
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Patent number: 7525569Abstract: An apparatus captures a digital image from a film-based camera having a chamber to receive a film cartridge and a take-up spool to advance the film after each shot. The apparatus includes a cartridge shaped to fit in the camera film chamber, the cartridge including a processor, a storage unit coupled to the processor, and an input output unit coupled to the processor. The cartridge houses a flexible strip having one end coupled to the cartridge and the other end adapted to be wound on the camera take-up spool, the flexible strip containing one or more imaging arrays deposited thereon to capture the digital image, each of the imaging arrays communicating with the processor.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2005Date of Patent: April 28, 2009Assignee: Gallitzin Allegheny LLCInventor: Dominik J. Schmidt
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Publication number: 20090051793Abstract: Methods and systems of imaging to correct parallax. Color information is received from multi-array sensors. Luminance information is received from a sub-array sensor arranged with the multi-array sensors. Color information received from at least one of the multi-array sensors is correlated with the luminance information received from the sub-array sensor. Color information is shifted among the multi-array sensors, based on the correlation, to correct the parallax.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2007Publication date: February 26, 2009Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Scott SMITH
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Publication number: 20080129849Abstract: A file is prepared by bringing patient ID and a photograph of affected parts into correspondence with each other. An image pickup unit takes an image of bar code. An ID extraction unit extracts an ID from the image taken of the bar codes. A communication unit acquires entity information corresponding to the ID, from an external database. The IDs and entity information are displayed to a user. The user acquires an affected-part image from the image pickup unit. An affected-part file generation unit generates an affected-part file where ID and a photograph of an affected part are brought into correspondence with each other. The communication unit transmits the affected-part file to an external file database on patients.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2005Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicants: Sanyo Electric Co.ltd, Kyoto UniversityInventors: Yasuaki Inoue, Yoshinao Hiranuma, Kyoichi Takano, Tomohiro Kuroda
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Solid-state image pickup apparatus with horizontal thinning and a signal reading method for the same
Patent number: 7372488Abstract: In a solid-state image pickup apparatus, a solid-state image sensor includes a color filter having filter segments arranged in a pattern, photosensitive cells for photoelectrically transducing light transmitted through the filter segments to generate corresponding signal charges, vertical transfer devices for vertically transferring the signal charges, a horizontal transfer device for transferring the signal charges input from the vertical transfer devices in the horizontal direction, and a charge holding circuit intervening between the vertical and horizontal transfer devices for temporarily storing the signal charges. A signal charge thinning circuit omits signal charges whose color pattern, which is generated by mixing signal charges having the same color attribute in the direction of row in the filter pattern to thereby horizontally thin the signal charges, is different in positional relation from the filter pattern.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2003Date of Patent: May 13, 2008Assignee: FUJIFILM CorporationInventor: Naoki Kubo -
Patent number: 7370972Abstract: In a two-dimensional image display device, speckle noise is reduced by a simple construction. A two-dimensional image display device for displaying an image by projecting coherent light onto a projection plane is provided with at least one coherent light source (1a), (1b), (1c) for outputting coherent light, a polarization state modulator 6 for modulating at least one of a polarization state and a phase of the coherent light emitted from the coherent light source, and a birefringent diffusion plate (7) for spatially varying the phase of the coherent light emitted from the polarization state modulator. The polarization states of light spots in the respective pixels of the image displayed on the projection plane are spatially and temporally varied, thereby forming various speckle patterns.Type: GrantFiled: December 24, 2004Date of Patent: May 13, 2008Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Akihiro Morikawa, Ken'ichi Kasazumi, Kiminori Mizuuchi
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Patent number: 7352896Abstract: A method, a system, a device, a storage means, and a computer software product for sharpening colours in an image, in which a first colour component is interpolated and sharpened in such a way that the effect of the colour component is computed in different directions, the highest and/or lowest value of the computed values is selected to represent the greatest and/or smallest change, after which the colour component is sharpened, if the ratio between the highest and lowest values falls within predetermined limit values. The second colour component is sharpened on the basis of the sharpening of said first colour component. After the sharpening, the second colour component is interpolated, wherein the result is a sharpened and interpolated three-colour image.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2003Date of Patent: April 1, 2008Assignee: Nokia CorporationInventors: Henry Rantanen, Ossi Kalevo
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Publication number: 20080055414Abstract: For a television scanning element with a scanning area, a method of scanning a television image comprises the steps of: scanning the scanning area at a predetermined fine detail picture scanning rate; imaging a fine detail picture of the television image onto a portion of the scanning area; and imaging more than one coarse detail picture of the television image adjacent to the fine detail picture, each coarse detail picture having a size less than the fine detail picture; wherein the imaging combination produces a fine detail image with the fine detail scan rate and a coarse detail image with a coarse detail scan rate, the coarse detail scan rate being a multiple of the fine detail scan rate equal to the number of imaged coarse detail pictures.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2007Publication date: March 6, 2008Inventor: Stephen George Mican