Solid-state Image Sensor Patents (Class 348/294)
  • Patent number: 11978759
    Abstract: A light emitting diode (LED) stack for a display including a substrate, a first LED stack disposed on the substrate, a second LED stack disposed on the first LED stack, a third LED stack disposed on the second LED stack, a first color filter interposed between the first LED stack and the second LED stack, and a second color filter interposed between the second LED stack and the third LED stack, in which the second LED stack and the third LED stack are configured to transmit light generated from the first LED stack to the outside, and the third LED stack is configured to transmit light generated from the second LED stack to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: SEOUL VIOSYS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jong Hyeon Chae, Chung Hoon Lee, Seong Gyu Jang, Chang Yeon Kim, Ho Joon Lee
  • Patent number: 11979673
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to image sensors and methods for image sensing. More specifically, and without limitation, this disclosure relates to systems and methods for providing super-pixels, and implementing and using image sensors with super-pixels. In one implementation, an image sensor includes a plurality of super-pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: PROPHESEE SA
    Inventors: Thomas Finateu, Daniel Matolin, Christoph Posch
  • Patent number: 11972508
    Abstract: It is proposed an image sensor comprising pixels for acquiring color information from incoming visible light, wherein said image sensor comprising three pixels being partially covered by a color splitter structure for deviating only one color channel of said incoming visible light towards one of said three pixels, and for deviating other colors of said incoming visible light towards the other pixels among said three pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: InterDigital CE Patent Holdings, SAS
    Inventors: Oksana Shramkova, Mitra Damghanian, Laurent Blonde
  • Patent number: 11957305
    Abstract: An endoscope distal end structure includes: an imaging unit; a signal cable; and a distal end frame including a housing portion, and a cable connection portion configured to connect the signal cable. The housing portion is a recess formed on a distal end side of the distal end frame. The housing portion includes a side surface and a bottom surface provided with a connection terminal. At least a part of the cable connection portion is provided with a cable connection electrode that connects a core wire of the signal cable on a distal end side from a bottom surface of the housing portion with reference to the optical axis direction of the imaging unit. The connection terminal and the cable connection electrode are connected by a wiring pattern formed in the housing portion, an outer periphery of the distal end frame, and the cable connection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shigeru Hosokai
  • Patent number: 11935912
    Abstract: A display apparatus including a thin film transistor (TFT) substrate; a first LED sub-unit, a second LED sub-unit, and a third LED sub-unit; first, second, third, and fourth electrode pads disposed between the TFT substrate and the first LED sub-unit; and connectors connecting the first, second, and third LED sub-units to a respective one of the electrode pads, in which the first, second, and third sub-units are configured to be independently driven; light generated from the first LED sub-unit is emitted to the outside of the display apparatus by passing through the second and third LED sub-units; light generated from the second LED sub-unit is emitted to the outside of the display apparatus by passing through the third LED sub-unit; and at least one of the connectors includes a first portion electrically connecting a first surface of the first LED sub-unit to the second electrode pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Seoul Viosys Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Hyeon Chae, Seong Gyu Jang, Ho Joon Lee, Chang Yeon Kim, Chung Hoon Lee
  • Patent number: 11936998
    Abstract: In one example, an apparatus comprises: a photodiode configured to generate a charge in response to light within an exposure period, a charge sensing unit configured to accumulate at least a part of the charge as an overflow charge, a quantizer, and a controller configured to: within a first time within the exposure period, control the quantizer to perform a first quantization operation to quantize the overflow charge accumulated at the charge sensing unit to generate a first measurement output; within a second time after the first time, and within the exposure period, control the quantizer to perform a second quantization operation to quantize the overflow charge accumulated at the charge sensing unit to generate a second measurement output; and generate a digital output to represent an intensity of the light based on at least one of the first measurement output or the second measurement output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Tsung-Hsun Tsai, Lu Jie, Xinqiao Liu
  • Patent number: 11927546
    Abstract: Various systems and methods for non-destructive testing (NDT) devices are provided. In one embodiment, an NDT can include a tubular housing including a proximal end and a distal end. The tubular housing can include a head section arranged at the distal end, and a bendable articulation section secured to the head section and arranged proximal to the head section. A sensor can be arranged within the head section, and include a first output terminal having an output signal cable extending along the tubular housing to a control unit arranged at the proximal end of the tubular housing, and a second output terminal grounded within the tubular housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Yan Li, Kevin Andrew Coombs
  • Patent number: 11924569
    Abstract: An image sensor for sampling a pixel signal a plurality of times during a readout time includes an analog comparator configured to compare a signal level of the pixel signal with a signal level of a target ramp signal that is any one of a plurality of ramp signals, a counter configured to output counting data based on a comparison result of the analog comparator, and a digital comparing circuit configured to compare a binary value of a target reference code corresponding to the target ramp signal with a binary value of the counting data and determine whether to output a digital signal corresponding to the counting data to a data output circuit based on a result of the comparison between the binary value of the counting data and the binary value of the target reference code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yunhong Kim, Heesung Chae, Yunhwan Jung, Haesick Sul
  • Patent number: 11922713
    Abstract: An apparatus for fingerprint sensing includes a touch-display layer covered by a transparent layer. The touch-display layer can emit light to illuminate a finger surface touching the transparent layer. The touch-display layer is transparent to reflected light from the surface to underlying layers. The underlying layers include a collimator layer and a pixelated image sensor. The collimator layer can collimate the reflected light, and the pixelated image sensor can sense the collimated reflected light. The collimator can collimate the reflected light to enable a one-to-one imaging ratio between an area of the finger surface touching the transparent layer and an area of a corresponding image formed on the pixelated image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Mohammad Yeke Yazdandoost, Giovanni Gozzini, Dale Setlak
  • Patent number: 11904187
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method comprising: generating multiple radiation beams respectively from multiple locations toward an object and an image sensor, wherein the image sensor comprises an array of multiple active areas, and gaps among the multiple active areas, and capturing multiple partial images of the object with the image sensor using respectively radiations of the multiple radiation beams that have passed through and interacted with the object, wherein each point of the object is captured in at least one partial image of the multiple partial images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN XPECTVISION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Peiyan Cao, Yurun Liu
  • Patent number: 11889212
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a comparator that can easily modify operating point potential of the comparator, and an imaging device. A pixel signal output from a pixel, and, a reference signal with changeable voltage are input to a differential pair. A current mirror connected to the differential pair, and a voltage drop mechanism allowed to cause a predetermined voltage drop is connected between a transistor that configures the differential pair, and a transistor that configures the current mirror. A switch is connected in parallel to the voltage drop mechanism. The present technology can be applied, for example, to an image sensor that captures an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Masayoshi Chiba, Shinichi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11886111
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to methods of forming a substrate having a target thickness distribution at one or more eyepiece areas across a substrate. The substrate includes eyepiece areas corresponding to areas where optical device eyepieces are to be formed on the substrate. Each eyepiece area includes a target thickness distribution. A base substrate thickness distribution of a base substrate is measured such that a target thickness change can be determined. The methods described herein are utilized along with the target thickness change to form a substrate with the target thickness distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: David Sell, Samarth Bhargava
  • Patent number: 11882359
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, a method for driving the solid-state imaging device, and an electronic device capable of improving auto-focusing accuracy by using a phase difference signal obtained by using a photoelectric conversion film. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel including a photoelectric conversion portion having a structure where a photoelectric conversion film is interposed by an upper electrode on the photoelectric conversion film and a lower electrode under the photoelectric conversion film. The upper electrode is divided into a first upper electrode and a second upper electrode. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a solid-state imaging device or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Hatano, Fumihiko Koga, Tetsuji Yamaguchi, Shinichiro Izawa
  • Patent number: 11882375
    Abstract: An imaging element includes a reading circuit that reads out pixel data obtained by imaging a subject at a first frame rate, a memory that stores the read pixel data, and an output circuit that outputs image data based on the stored pixel data at a second frame rate. The first frame rate is a frame rate higher than the second frame rate. The pixel data includes phase difference pixel data and non-phase difference pixel data different from the phase difference pixel data. The reading circuit reads out the pixel data of each of a plurality of frames in parallel within an output period defined by the second frame rate as a period in which the image data of one frame is output, and performs reading of the non-phase difference pixel data and a plurality of reading of the phase difference pixel data within the output period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hitoshi Sakurabu, Makoto Kobayashi, Ryo Hasegawa, Tomoyuki Kawai
  • Patent number: 11867668
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods to correct for perspective calibration variations of a variable thickness specimen with a single camera extensometer in a video extensometer system. In some examples, the systems and methods compensate for a change between a reference characteristic, such as a calibration plane, and an actual physical characteristic, such as a testing plane associated with a surface of a test specimen, during a testing operation. In some examples, a correction value is applied to an output (e.g., measured dimensions of the imaged test specimen) to compensate for the difference between the reference characteristic and the physical characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Christian J. Hoehl, Adrian Charles Riddick, Michael Ashman, Nicholas Francisco Salerno
  • Patent number: 11863895
    Abstract: An imaging device 100 includes a pixel array PA. A first period, a third period, and a second period appear in this order in a first frame. During the first period, pixel signal readout is performed on a first row in the pixel array PA. During the second period, pixel signal readout is performed on a second row in the pixel array PA. Each of the first period and the second period is a high-sensitivity exposure period. The third period is a low-sensitivity exposure period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Miyake, Yusuke Okada, Takeyoshi Tokuhara, Yoshiaki Satou
  • Patent number: 11849228
    Abstract: An image sensing device includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, each of pixels configured to generate a pixel signal corresponding to intensity of incident light, and a plurality of grid structures, each grid structure disposed to overlap with a boundary between adjacent pixels among the plurality of pixels and configured to include an air layer so as to optically isolate the adjacent pixels. Each of the grid structures includes regions that form a cross shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: SK HYNIX INC.
    Inventors: Kyoung In Lee, Won Jin Kim, Hoon Sang Oh, Sung Joo Hong
  • Patent number: 11843012
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form on a substrate, wherein the plurality of pixels each include a photoelectric conversion region disposed inside the substrate and configured to convert light entering the substrate into charge, a charge retaining region disposed more on a side from which the light enters, than the photoelectric conversion region inside the substrate and configured to retain the charge converted in the photoelectric conversion region, an indented region indented from a surface of the substrate on the side from which the light enters, toward the photoelectric conversion region to at least a depth corresponding to the charge retaining region, and a light blocking film formed covering the charge retaining region at the surface side of the substrate and extending along a side wall of the indented region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Sharp Semiconductor Innovation Corporation
    Inventor: Takanori Usuki
  • Patent number: 11838657
    Abstract: A mobile electronic device includes a first camera configured to capture a first image of a subject in a first field of view and including an RGB array, a second camera configured to capture a second image of the subject in a second field of view that is different from the first field of view and including an RGBW array; and an image processor configured to generate a target image using at least one of the first or second images in accordance with a selected mode of a plurality of modes. The plurality of modes includes still image modes and video modes associated with separate, respective combinations of output speed and bit depth such that the image processor is configured to control an output of the second camera to have a different combination of output speed and bit depth based on the selected mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soyoung Jeong, Jongmin You, Jeongguk Lee, Yunseok Choi
  • Patent number: 11826025
    Abstract: An imaging module of the invention includes an image-sensing device that has a light-receiving face, a substrate, a signal cable including a conductor, and a resin mold. A wiring of the substrate includes an electrode terminal and a cable terminal. The image-sensing device electrode is electrically connected to the electrode terminal via solder. The conductor is electrically connected to the cable terminal via solder. The resin mold coats the electrode surface, the cable terminal, the conductor, and the solder. On a plane of projection of the image-sensing device when viewed in a direction from the image-sensing device to the signal cable, the substrate, the resin mold, and the signal cable are disposed inside an outline of the image-sensing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Oishi, Yoshinobu Numasawa
  • Patent number: 11832003
    Abstract: Binnable time-of-flight (ToF) pixels are described, such as for integration with image sensor pixels. Each binnable ToF pixel includes a central dump gate and sub-pixels that are nominally mirror-symmetric and identical around the dump gate. Each sub-pixel includes a photodiode region (or a respective portion of a photodiode region), a storage gate, a storage region, a transfer gate, and a floating diffusion (FD) region. In an array, the binnable ToF pixels are arranged to share FD regions with other binnable ToF pixels of the array. In an un-binned mode, each sub-pixel can integrate photocharge in its storage region until it is time for readout, at which time the photocharges can be transferred to its respective floating diffusion region for individualized readout. In a binned mode, sub-pixels can integrate photocharge directly in their FD regions, which facilitates charge binning of integrated photocharge from all sub-pixels sharing the same FD region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SHENZHEN GOODIX TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Robert Daniel McGrath
  • Patent number: 11825196
    Abstract: An image sensor comprising a plurality of microlenses, and a pixel array having, with respect to each of the microlenses, a pair of first regions formed at a first depth from a surface on which light is incident, a pair of second regions formed at a second depth deeper than the first depth, and a plurality of connecting regions that connects the pair of first regions and the pair of second regions, respectively. A direction of arranging the pair of second regions corresponding to each microlens is a first direction, and a direction of arranging the pair of first regions is either the first direction or a second direction which is orthogonal to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunichi Wakashima, Kohei Okamoto
  • Patent number: 11824003
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a first wiring extending in a first direction and a second wiring extending in a second direction crossing the first direction and having an end that faces the first wiring and is a predetermined distance away from the first wiring. The predetermined distance is approximately equal to a width of the second wiring, and the end of the second wiring is formed into one or more loops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Kioxia Corporation
    Inventor: Takaco Umezawa
  • Patent number: 11825229
    Abstract: A dynamic vision sensor such as an event based vision sensor employs analog to digital converters (ADC), such as ramp ADCs, that analog to digital converts the signals from photoreceptors. Only previous light values need to be stored in the pixels. This is accomplished by generating three ramps. In addition, log compression can be implemented by increasing the count linearly while increasing the reference voltage exponentially, or increasing the count logarithmically while increasing the reference voltage linearly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: SONY ADVANCED VISUAL SENSING AG
    Inventors: Christian Brändli, Raphael Berner
  • Patent number: 11818936
    Abstract: A display device is provided that has pixels including a first pixel and a second pixel arranged to be adjacent to each other along a first direction. The pixels include a light emitting region and a color filter. Luminous efficacy of the first pixel is higher than that of the second pixel. In a plane view, a center position of each color filter is shifted in the first direction from a center position of a corresponding light emitting region, and a length parallel to the first direction of the color filter of the first pixel is longer than that of the second pixel. In the first direction, each first pixel is periodically arranged and a pitch of the color filter of each first pixel and a pitch of the light emitting region of each first pixel are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Ishizuya, Norifumi Kajimoto, Yojiro Matsuda
  • Patent number: 11808740
    Abstract: Novel markers that can be attached physically to a tensile specimen with a center guide to allow for measuring correct strain, as well as a binder that fixes and holds a pin guide to its location on the specimen during the test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventor: Alaa Alsharaballi
  • Patent number: 11805331
    Abstract: A high dynamic range imaging pixel may include a photodiode that generates charge in response to incident light. When the generated charge exceeds a first charge level, the charge may overflow through a first transistor to a first storage capacitor. When the generated charge exceeds a second charge level that is higher than the first charge level, the charge may overflow through a second transistor. The charge that overflows through the second transistor may alternately be coupled to a voltage supply and drained or transferred to a second storage capacitor for subsequent readout. Diverting more overflow charge to the voltage supply may increase the dynamic range of the pixel. The amount of charge diverted to the voltage supply may therefore be updated to control the dynamic range of the imaging pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Richard Scott Johnson
  • Patent number: 11800098
    Abstract: Disclosed are an imaging method and device. The method includes: acquiring, at a specified imaging time, a pulse sequence in a time period before the specified imaging time, with regard to each pixel of a plurality of pixels; calculating a pixel value of the pixel according to the pulse sequence; and obtaining an image at the specified imaging time according to a space arrangement of the pixels, in accordance with pixel values of the plurality of pixels at the specified imaging time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: SPIKE VISION (BEIJING) TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tiejun Huang
  • Patent number: 11796825
    Abstract: A display apparatus including: a display screen including multiple light-emitting points and a first side, wherein light generated by the light-emitting points emits from the first side; and a microlens array provided on the first side of the display screen, the microlens array includes multiple microlenses arranged in an array, an orthographic projection of the microlens array on the display screen covers the display screen, and the display screen is provided on a focal surface of the microlens array. The focal lengths of the multiple microlenses increase sequentially from the center of the microlens array to the edge of the microlens array, so that a beam width of the light that is emitted from each light-emitting point of the display, transmits through the microlens array and is incident into a pupil of a human eye is less than a preset threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinye Zhu, Jian Gao, Fang Cheng, Tao Hong, Jing Yu, Tianyang Han
  • Patent number: 11792527
    Abstract: A sensor system includes a light source that applies, to an imaging target, light whose light amount gradually increases or gradually degreases, an event-driven type sensor that generates an event signal by detecting a fluctuation of reflection light from the imaging target after the application of the light whose light amount gradually increases or gradually degreases is started, and a gradation calculation unit that calculates a gradation of the imaging target on the basis of an elapsed period of time from the start of the application of the light whose light amount gradually increases or gradually decreases to the generation of the event signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Makoto Koizumi, Jun Horie
  • Patent number: 11792539
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging element includes a pixel section including a plurality of pixels that are arranged in a matrix and to perform photoelectric conversion, and circuitry to perform reading control on pixels in the pixel section, such that reading control is not performed on at least one pixel included in the pixel section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Sakaguchi, Masamoto Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 11777627
    Abstract: A serial communication apparatus capable of efficiently eliminating a timing lag between serial data transferred via a plurality of routes in serial communication is provided. The serial communication apparatus transfers serial data transmitted from a transmitting side communication unit disposed on a transmitting side to a receiving side communication unit disposed on a receiving side via a plurality of lanes. The transmitting side communication unit comprises a packet transmitting unit configured to divide transmission data into equal parts according to the number of the lanes, distribute the divided transmission data to each lane as a data main body, and add header information indicating the type of the transmission data to the divided transmission data distributed to each lane. The receiving side communication unit comprises a received packet skew adjusting unit configured to adjust skew of data received in each lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daisuke Morikawa
  • Patent number: 11765480
    Abstract: This application provides a pixel collection circuit comprising an optical-to-electrical converter circuit configured to convert a collected optical signal into an analog signal; an analog-to-digital converter circuit configured to: receive the analog signal from the optical-to-electrical converter circuit; and perform analog-to-digital conversion on the analog signal to obtain a digital signal; a differential circuit configured to: receive the digital signal from the analog-to-digital converter circuit; and obtain a difference signal between a digital signal of a previous triggering moment and the digital signal of a current triggering moment; the previous triggering moment and the current triggering moment are determined by at least a digital clock signal; a comparison circuit configured to receive the difference signal from the differential circuit, and output a pulse signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: HUAWEI TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yifan Fu, Shan Gao, Jiantong Zhou, Jing Xiao
  • Patent number: 11740396
    Abstract: An optical device comprises an optical filter having a substrate and a multilayer film, and an infrared light emitting and receiving device having a first conductive-type semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second conductive-type semiconductor layer. The multilayer film has layers with different refractive indexes formed on at least one side of the substrate, in which first and second layers having refractive indexes of 1.2 or more and 2.5 or less, and 3.2 or more and 4.3 or less, respectively, in a wavelength range of 6 ?m to 10 ?m are alternately stacked. The optical filter includes a wavelength range having an average transmittance of 70% or more with a width of 50 nm or more in a wavelength range of 6 ?m to 10 ?m, and has a maximum transmittance of 10% or more in a wavelength range of 12.5 ?m to 20 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Asahi Kasei Microdevices Corporation
    Inventor: Kengo Sasayama
  • Patent number: 11726207
    Abstract: An electronic device comprising circuitry configured to accumulate, in a multiphase exposure, multiple sub-exposures with same phase data in an associated phase memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Alper Ercan, Michiel Timmermans, Ward Van Der Tempel
  • Patent number: 11706525
    Abstract: An image sensor including a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of color filters, a plurality of first lenses and a second lens is provided. The semiconductor substrate includes a plurality of sensing pixels arranged in array, and each of the plurality of sensing pixels respectively includes a plurality of image sensing units and a plurality of phase detection units. The color filters at least cover the plurality of image sensing units. The first lenses are disposed on the plurality of color filters. Each of the plurality of first lenses respectively covers one of the plurality of image sensing units. The second lens is disposed on the plurality of color filters and the second lens covers the plurality of phase detection units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yun-Wei Cheng, Chun-Hao Chou, Hsin-Chi Chen, Kuo-Cheng Lee, Hsun-Ying Huang
  • Patent number: 11683600
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus includes pixel cells arranged in a matrix. Each pixel cell includes: a first photodiode that accumulates a signal charge generated by photoelectric conversion; a second photodiode that functions as a first holder that holds a signal charge that overflows from the first photodiode; a second holder; and a first transfer transistor that transfers the signal charge held in the second photodiode to the second holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: NUVOTON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION JAPAN
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Amikawa, Makoto Ikuma, Kazutoshi Onozawa
  • Patent number: 11683605
    Abstract: An image sensor chip and a sensing method thereof are provided. The image sensor chip includes a pixel array. The pixel array includes a plurality of pixel units, and each of the pixel units includes a light sensing circuit, a reset switch and an output circuit. The reset switch is coupled to a first terminal of the light sensing circuit. The reset switch resets the light sensing circuit during reset period. The output circuit is coupled to the first terminal of the light sensing circuit. The output circuit of the pixel unit outputs difference information corresponding to the difference between the first sensing result of the light sensing circuit in a first frame period and the second sensing result of the light sensing circuit in a second frame period after the first frame period to a corresponding one of a plurality of readout lines of the pixel array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Egis Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Cheng Hsieh, Yen-Kai Chen, Tzu-Hsiang Hsu
  • Patent number: 11678067
    Abstract: An image sensor processor implemented method for retaining pixel intensity, comprising: receiving, by the image processor, a numerical value indicative of a corresponding pixel intensity; determining, by the image processor, whether a least significant portion of the received numerical value is equal to a predetermined numerical value; and responsive to determining the least significant portion of the received numerical value is equal to the predetermined numerical value, rounding, by the image processor, the received numerical value of the corresponding pixel intensity to a higher or lower value depending on a bit sequence, and if the least significant portion of the received numerical value is not equal to the predetermined value, rounding the received numerical value to the higher or lower value based on the received numerical value; and binning the rounded value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yiyi Ren, Wenshou Chen, Guansong Liu
  • Patent number: 11676988
    Abstract: An image sensor is disclosed. The image sensor includes a first pixel of a first color arranged alternately with a pixel of a second color in a first direction of a pixel array, a second pixel of the first color arranged alternately with a pixel of a third color in the first direction in a row different from that of the first pixel of the first color, an isolation layer formed to surround the first pixel in the pixel array and structured to have a first depth, and an isolation layer formed to surround the second pixel in the pixel array and structured to have a second depth different from the first depth. One of the first and second pixels of the first color, and each of the pixels of the second color and the third color are configured to selectively receive different colors of light, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Han Jun Kim
  • Patent number: 11671723
    Abstract: Image sensing devices are disclosed. In some implementations, an image sensing device includes a substrate, and a pixel array including one or more phase difference detection pixel groups supported by the substrate and structured to respond to incident light, each phase difference detection pixel group including two or more phase difference detection pixels structured to detect a phase difference of the incident light, wherein the phase difference detection pixel group comprises a light shielding pattern structured to provide each of the two or more phase difference detection pixels with a light receiving region along two contiguous sides of each of the two or more phase difference detection pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Kilbock Lee
  • Patent number: 11671581
    Abstract: A stereoscopic image capture device includes a first image sensor, a second image sensor, a first frame timer, and a second frame timer. The first and second frame timers are different frame timers. The first image sensor includes a first plurality of rows of pixels. The second image sensor includes a second plurality of rows of pixels. The first and second image sensors can be separate devices or different areas of a sensor region in an integrated circuit. The first frame timer is coupled to the first image sensor to provide image capture timing signals to the first image sensor. The second frame timer coupled to the second image sensor to provide image capture timing signals to the second image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. Shafer, Jeffrey M. DiCarlo, Ian E. McDowall, Max J. Trejo
  • Patent number: 11665450
    Abstract: This disclosure describes devices, systems, and methods that relate to obtaining image frames with variable resolutions in synchronization with a clock source. An example device may include an image sensor, a clock input, and a controller. The controller includes at least one processor and a memory. The at least one processor is operable to execute program instructions stored in the memory so as to carry out operations. The operations include receiving, by the clock input, a clock signal. The clock signal is a periodic signal defining at least one scan interval. The operations also include during the scan interval, causing the image sensor to capture a full resolution image frame. The operations yet further include during the scan interval, causing the image sensor to capture at least one reduced resolution image frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Nirav Dharia, Xiaoying He, Benjamin Frevert
  • Patent number: 11659295
    Abstract: An image sensor including: a plurality of phase shift code generators, wherein each of the plurality of phase shift code generators outputs a phase shift code; a. test data selection circuit for outputting test data corresponding to a test pattern; a counter for receiving the phase shift code from at least one of the plurality of phase shift code generators, receiving the test data from the test data selection circuit, latching a digital code corresponding to the test pattern using the phase shift code, and outputting the digital code; and a control logic for calculating a data pattern using the digital code and selecting one of the plurality of phase shift code generators in accordance with a result of a comparison between the data pattern and the test pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hyeokjong Lee
  • Patent number: 11641523
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, where each of the plurality of pixels includes a photodiode. The image sensor is configured to capture images of a scene exposed with a flickering light source by for each of the plurality of pixels, acquiring a value representative of a light level at a corresponding pixel by gradually varying a value of sensitivity of the corresponding pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignees: STMicroelectronics SA, STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
    Inventors: Arnaud Bourge, Tarek Lule, Gregory Roffet
  • Patent number: 11641522
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: an image sensor that includes an image capturing area where an image of a subject is captured; a setting unit that sets image capturing conditions to be applied to the image-capturing area; a selection unit that selects pixels to be used for interpolation from pixels present in the image-capturing area; and a generation unit that generates an image of the subject captured in the image-capturing area with signals generated through interpolation executed by using signals output from the pixels selected by the selection unit, wherein: the selection unit makes a change in selection of at least some of the pixels to be selected depending upon the image-capturing conditions set by the setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Shionoya, Toshiyuki Kanbara, Naoki Sekiguchi
  • Patent number: 11637979
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a photodiode generating a charge in response to light, a transfer transistor connecting the photodiode and a floating diffusion, a reset transistor connected between the floating diffusion and a power node, a boosting capacitor connected to the floating diffusion, and adjusting a capacity of the floating diffusion in response to a boosting control signal, and a bias circuit having first and second current circuits for supplying different bias currents to an output node to which a voltage signal corresponding to a charge accumulated in the floating diffusion is output. The boosting control signal decreases from a high level to a low level after the transfer transistor is turned off, and the reset transistor is switched from a turned on state to a turned off state when the bias currents of the first and second current circuits are simultaneously provided to the output node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kyungho Lee, Eunsub Shim, Jungbin Yun, Sungsoo Choi, Masato Fujita
  • Patent number: 11632494
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, a method for driving the solid-state imaging device, and an electronic device capable of improving auto-focusing accuracy by using a phase difference signal obtained by using a photoelectric conversion film. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel including a photoelectric conversion portion having a structure where a photoelectric conversion film is interposed by an upper electrode on the photoelectric conversion film and a lower electrode under the photoelectric conversion film. The upper electrode is divided into a first upper electrode and a second upper electrode. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a solid-state imaging device or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Hatano, Fumihiko Koga, Tetsuji Yamaguchi, Shinichiro Izawa
  • Patent number: 11632512
    Abstract: An arithmetic logic unit (ALU) includes a front end latch stage coupled to latch Gray code (GC) outputs of a GC generator in response to a comparator output. A signal latch stage is coupled to latch outputs of the front end latch stage. A GC to binary stage is coupled to generate a binary representation of the GC outputs latched in the signal latch stage. First inputs of an adder stage are coupled to receive outputs of the GC to binary stage. Outputs of the adder stage are generated in response to the first inputs and second inputs of the adder stage. A pre-latch stage is coupled to latch outputs of the adder stage. A feedback latch stage is coupled to latch outputs of the pre-latch stage. The second inputs of the adder stage are coupled to receive outputs of the feedback latch stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lihang Fan, Min Qu, Chao-Fang Tsai, Chun-Hsiang Chang
  • Patent number: 11624930
    Abstract: A display device includes: a first closed-bottom lens tube including a first display part on the closed bottom for displaying a first image; a second closed-bottom lens tube including a second display part on the closed bottom for displaying a second image; an adjustment mechanism including a first rod that extends from the first lens tube and a second rod that extends from the second lens tube and is rotatably connected to the first rod; and an image outputter that outputs the first and second images to the first and second display parts, respectively. The image outputter, in accordance with the angle of rotation of the first and second rods of the adjustment mechanism, controls and outputs the first and second images to bring the horizontal directions thereof closer to the arrangement direction of the first and second lens tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasutoshi Yamamoto, Suguru Ogawa, Hiroyasu Makino, Makoto Serizawa, Yoshiichiro Kashiwagi, Toshiro Nishio, Masayuki Kozuka