Electronic Shuttering Patents (Class 348/296)
  • Patent number: 11762070
    Abstract: A distance measuring device includes a light emission portion for emitting light; a light receiving portion for receiving measurement light that is emitted by the light emission portion and reflected by a measurement object, the light receiving portion comprising a plurality of pixels, each pixel having at least one light receiving portion and outputting a light reception signal that depends on the measurement light incident on the pixel; a discrimination portion for discriminating whether the pixel receives measurement light; a pixel output control portion for selectively outputting the light reception signal of each pixel individually, depending on the determination result of the discrimination portion; and an evaluation portion for receiving the light reception signals output by the pixel output control portion and outputting a distance signal that is indicative of a distance between the measuring device and the measurement object based on these light reception signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignees: OMRON Corporation, Politecnico di Milano
    Inventors: Yuki Matsui, Ken Nakamuro, Franco Zappa, Federica Villa, Rudi Lussana
  • Patent number: 11736833
    Abstract: A pixel circuit includes a photodiode configured to photogenerate image charge in response to incident light. A transfer transistor is configured to transfer the image charge from the photodiode to a floating diffusion. A reset transistor coupled between a reset voltage source and the floating diffusion. A lateral overflow integration capacitor (LOFIC) includes an insulating region disposed between a first metal electrode and a second metal electrode. The first metal electrode is coupled to a bias voltage source, the second metal electrode is selectively coupled to the floating diffusion, and excess image charge photogenerated by the photodiode during an idle period is configured to overflow from the photodiode through the transfer transistor into the floating diffusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Woon Il Choi
  • Patent number: 11716549
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel configured to operate in a high conversion gain (HCG) mode and a low conversion gain (LCG) mode during a readout period, and a correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit configured to generate a comparison signal based on a ramp signal and a pixel voltage received from the pixel, wherein the CDS circuit includes a comparator configured to: receive the pixel voltage through a first input node, receive the ramp signal through a second input node based on an LCG reset signal or an LCG image signal being received as the pixel voltage, and receive the ramp signal through a third input node based on an HCG reset signal or an HCG image signal being received as the pixel voltage; and compare the ramp signal to the pixel voltage, and output the comparison signal corresponding to a comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yunhwan Jung, Hyeokjong Lee, Sunyool Kang, Kyungmin Kim, Yunhong Kim, Ingyeong Shin
  • Patent number: 11582431
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and techniques to receive, at one or more processor associated with an image signal processing (ISP) pipeline, a compressed image generated by an image sensor, wherein the compressed image is captured at a first bit-depth associated with the image sensor and is compressed to a second bit-depth that is lower than the first bit-depth, and wherein the ISP is associated with a third bit-depth that is lower than the first bit-depth and higher than the second bit-depth; and decompress the compressed image according to a power curve to generate a partially decompressed image having the third bit-depth, wherein a plurality of regions of the partially decompressed image are decompressed at separate decompression amounts based on a corresponding pixel value of each region of the plurality of regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: NVIDIA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Animesh Khemka, Sean Midthun Pieper
  • Patent number: 11337595
    Abstract: When a first mode is set in an endoscope apparatus, a light source control unit causes a light source to be turned on during a period including all or a part of a period during which available storage periods of pixels in all simultaneous exposure lines. An imaging device generates a first image. When a second mode is set, the light source control unit causes the light source to be turned on during a period including all of the available storage period of the pixels in each of a plurality of rows. The imaging device generates a second image. The rolling distortion determination unit determines a situation of occurrence of rolling distortion using the first image and the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kiyotomi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11333489
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a pixel. The pixel includes: a first electrode; a second electrode facing the first electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer between the first electrode and the second electrode, the photoelectric conversion layer converting light into signal charge; and a charge accumulation region coupled to the second electrode, the charge accumulation region accumulating the signal charge. The pixel captures first data in a first exposure period and captures second data in a second exposure period different from the first exposure period, the first exposure period and the second exposure period being included in a frame period. A length of the first exposure period is different from a length of the second exposure period. The imaging device generates multiple-exposure image data including at least the first data and the second data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuko Nishimura, Yasuo Miyake, Yoshiaki Satou, Osamu Shibata, Hiroshi Iwai
  • Patent number: 11303829
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging device including a scanning unit configured to control a plurality of pixels so as to perform a shutter scan and a readout scan, and the scanning unit is further configured to switch a drive mode between a first drive mode and a second drive mode having periods of different lengths of the readout scan in control of the plurality of pixels and start the shutter scan performed in the second drive mode before the readout scan performed in the first drive mode ends when switching a drive mode from the first drive mode to the second drive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yoshiko Shigiya, Noriyuki Shikina, Shintaro Takenaka
  • Patent number: 11297275
    Abstract: A sensing device may include a signal source, an active area and a plurality of driving units. The active area having a plurality of sensing units. The plurality of driving units sequentially disposed adjacent to the active area and coupled to the plurality of sensing units and the signal source. The signal source provides a first operating mode and a second operating mode. In the first operating mode, a scan signal exported from one of the plurality of driving units has a first voltage level and a second voltage level. In the second operating mode, the scan signal has the second voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: InnoLux Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 11244612
    Abstract: A display driving circuit including: a data driver configured to supply driving signals to a plurality of pixels of a display panel and sense electrical characteristics of each of the plurality of pixels; and a degradation compensation circuit configured to generate and store an accumulated degradation value by accumulating degradation values for each of a plurality of pixel blocks for a unit time, based on driving data corresponding to the driving signals, correct the accumulated degradation value of a first pixel block, based on sensing data received from the data driver, and perform data compensation to compensate for pixel degradation, based on the accumulated degradation values and a degradation model, wherein each pixel block includes at least one pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jiheon Ok, Yoonho Ko, Taekon Yu, Hwahyun Cho
  • Patent number: 11243310
    Abstract: Each of column signal lines is connected to two or more of P pixels belonging to one of Q pixel columns of pixels. In each of the pixels, a first switch switches connection and disconnection between a light receiver and a first charge storage. A second switch switches connection and disconnection between the first charge storage and a second charge storage. A third switch switches connection and disconnection between the first charge storage and one of column signal lines corresponding to the pixel. The fourth switch switches the connection and disconnection between the second charge storage and the one of the column signal lines corresponding to the pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Motonori Ishii, Masato Takemoto, Shigeru Saitou, Shinzo Koyama
  • Patent number: 11238263
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a display device and an electronic device. The display device includes a substrate, a pixel circuitry, a first light emitting unit, a fingerprint sensor circuitry, and a fingerprint sensor unit. The pixel circuitry and the first light emitting unit are disposed on the substrate, and the first light emitting unit is driven by the pixel circuitry. The fingerprint sensor circuitry and the fingerprint sensor unit are disposed on the substrate, and the fingerprint sensor unit is driven by the fingerprint sensor circuitry. The first light emitting unit overlaps with at least a portion of the fingerprint sensor circuitry in a top view direction of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: InnoLux Corporation
    Inventors: Chandra Lius, Kuan-Feng Lee
  • Patent number: 11146750
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensing device is of a global-shutter type and includes a vertical driving unit and an analog-to-digital (AD) converter. The vertical driving unit performs a shutter operation during a time period from when the AD converter starts an AD conversion to when the AD converter ends the AD conversion. The AD converter does not output a digital signal during a time period from when the vertical driving unit starts the shutter operation to when the vertical driving unit ends the shutter operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Matsumoto, Yoshinao Morikawa
  • Patent number: 11128823
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus that includes a pixel array portion, a plurality of unit pixels in the pixel array portion, and a driving unit that controls an operation of the unit pixel. The unit pixel includes a photoelectric converter, a charge retention unit that retains a charge, a charge-voltage converter that converts the charge into a voltage, a first transmitting unit that transmits the charge from the photoelectric converter to the charge retention unit, a second transmitting unit that transmits the charge from the photoelectric converter to the charge-voltage converter, and a third transmitting unit that transmits the charge from the charge retention unit to the charge-voltage converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Machida, Ryoji Suzuki, Hiroshi Tayanaka
  • Patent number: 11101302
    Abstract: An imaging device capable of image processing is provided. The imaging device can retain analog data (image data) obtained by an image-capturing operation in a pixel and perform a product-sum operation of the analog data and a predetermined weight coefficient in the pixel to convert the data into binary data. When the binary data is taken in a neural network or the like, processing such as image recognition can be performed. Since enormous volumes of image data can be retained in pixels in the state of analog data, processing can be performed efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Ikeda, Yoshiyuki Kurokawa, Shintaro Harada, Hidetomo Kobayashi, Roh Yamamoto, Kiyotaka Kimura, Takashi Nakagawa, Yusuke Negoro
  • Patent number: 11070737
    Abstract: An exposure control device of a vehicle-mounted camera comprises an illuminance level determination unit, a plurality of timers, a timer operating unit, and an exposure level determination unit. The illuminance level determination unit determines that an illumination level of an external light illuminance corresponds to one of a plurality of illuminance levels. The timers each provided for a corresponding one of a plurality of change modes, the change modes being defined among the plurality of illuminance levels, or among a plurality of exposure levels for an exposure of a vehicular camera. The timer operating unit operates each of the timers in accordance with a state of change of the illuminance level of the external light illuminance. The exposure level determination unit determines one of the exposure levels for the exposure of the vehicular camera based on a count state of each of the timers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kyohei Ozaki, Taichi Hasegawa, Kunihiro Sugihara, Goro Asai, Tomoaki Iida
  • Patent number: 11022487
    Abstract: An optical sensor arrangement comprises a photodiode (11), an integrator (12) with an integrator input (15) coupled to the photodiode (11), a comparator (13) with a first input (18) coupled to an integrator output (16) of the integrator (12), and a reference capacitor circuit (14) that is coupled to the integrator input (15) and is designed to provide a charge package to the integrator input (15). In a start phase (A), charge packages are provided to the integrator input (15), until a comparator input voltage (VIN) at the first input (18) of the comparator (13) crosses a comparator switching point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: AMS INTERNATIONAL AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Greimel-Rechling, Peter Bliem, Herbert Lenhard, Josef Kriebernegg, Joachim Lechner, Christian Halper
  • Patent number: 11005909
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described herein for providing content during reduced streaming quality. Data streaming is susceptible to degradation in quality that adversely affects the delivery of content. For example, sufficient reduction in streaming quality can cause video and audio portions of a data stream to become unsynchronized. In place of displaying a buffering notification, the system displays a previously stored video frame that the system determines is a suitable replacement for the currently streamed video frame that is affected by the sufficiently reduced streaming quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Rovi Guides, Inc.
    Inventors: Vikram Makam Gupta, Vishwas Sharadanagar Panchaksharaiah
  • Patent number: 10955354
    Abstract: A cylindrical-body surface inspection device includes: a light irradiation unit configured to irradiate the cylindrical body with light; a two-dimensional imaging unit; a scanning-position determination unit configured to determine at a predetermined period, with respect to two-dimensional image data acquired by the two-dimensional imaging unit, a scanning position that is corresponding to a circumferential direction of the cylindrical body; a time-series scanning image generator configured to perform extraction of image data in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction at the scanning position determined by the scanning-position determination unit on a plurality of pieces of the two-dimensional image data acquired by the two-dimensional imaging unit, and generate a time-series scanning image by arranging in chronological order in the first direction each piece of extracted image data of the second direction; and an inspection unit configured to inspect the time-series scanning image to detect a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Inventor: Hiroki Sugihara
  • Patent number: 10942576
    Abstract: Examples include techniques for real object and hand representation in virtual reality content. In some examples, one or more hands of a user of a head-mounted display (HMD) may be tracked while receiving sensor data from an identified object including one or more embedded sensors. Virtual reality content visible to the user on the HMD may be modified based on the tracking of the one or more hands and based on the received sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: INTEL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Glen J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 10902807
    Abstract: A display device for motion blur reduction effect is provided which includes a liquid-crystal display panel, a driving module, a backlight module and a processing module. The processing module receives input display data to generate output display data. The output display data includes an output frame data section for performing data transmission with an output pixel clock higher than an input pixel clock and an output blank section within the same frame time. The processing module drives the liquid-crystal display panel to generate a display frame according to the output display data and controls the backlight module to turn on within the output blank section after the liquid-crystal display panel finished reacting to output frame data corresponding to the output frame data section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: REALTEK SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Li-Ang Chen, Ting-Lun Hsu
  • Patent number: 10863131
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels configured to output pixel signals corresponding to a plurality of row lines; a row driver configured to output a plurality of control signals for controlling operations of the plurality of pixels; a plurality of analog-to-digital converters configured to perform analog-to-digital conversion on the pixel signals output from the plurality of pixels via a plurality of column lines so as to generate digital pixel signals, and to output the digital pixel signals; and a timing generator configured to generate a line control signal, the pixel array being configured to output the pixel signals corresponding to the plurality of row lines responsive to the line control signal. The pixel signals are output in a predetermined pixel unit in parallel from at least one row line among the plurality of row lines responsive to the row driver receiving the line control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Il Yun Jeong, Chae Sung Kim, Jung Chan Kyoung, Yun Jung Kim, Jong-Seok Seo, Jae-Sung Heo
  • Patent number: 10839231
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting a rolling shutter effect in images of an environmental region (9) of a motor vehicle (1) captured by an image sensor of at least one camera (4) of the motor vehicle (1) comprising a plurality of sensor lines (15), including the following steps: a) determining a first position (P1) on a sensor plane (13) of the image sensor corresponding to a feature (14) when capturing a first image and identifying a second position (P2) on the sensor plane (13) corresponding to the feature (14) when capturing a second image, b) determining a motion vector (v) characterizing a displacement of the feature (14) on the sensor plane (13) between the first position (P1) and the second position (P2), c) determining a vertical span (?y) of the motion vector (v) characterizing a number of sensor lines (15) at least partially covered by the motion vector (v), d) detecting the rolling shutter effect based on the vertical span (?y).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: Connaught Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Pantelis Ermilios, Bryan Mcnamara, William O'Grady, Myles Friel
  • Patent number: 10819928
    Abstract: An imaging system includes an imaging apparatus that is mounted on a vehicle and generates an image by imaging an area around the vehicle, and a processing apparatus that is mounted on the vehicle. The imaging apparatus includes a plurality of pixels. A control unit controls exposure by each of the plurality of pixels, and a processing unit executes a predetermined test. The control unit controls exposure so that reading of a pixel signal is started in a second period after the completion of reading of a pixel signal in a first period. The processing unit executes a predetermined test in a third period, the third period is between the reading of the pixel signal in the first period and the reading of the pixel signal in the second period. The processing apparatus restricts a function of controlling the vehicle based on a result of the predetermined test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki Kawazu, Atsushi Suzuki, Junichiro Azami, Motohashi Yuichi
  • Patent number: 10812777
    Abstract: Described is an imaging component that utilizes two rolling shutter sensors for motion detection of objects and for depth mapping of objects within an effective field of view of the imaging component. Unlike traditional stereo cameras that utilize global shutter sensors to avoid distortions, or attempting to remove distortions created by rolling shutter sensors, the disclosed implementations emphasize the distortions created by rolling shutters imaging moving objects and utilize that information to determine that the objects are moving and/or to determine a range or distance of the object from the imaging component. For example, a first rolling shutter sensor is oriented in a first orientation such that the scanlines generate the image from a top of the sensor to the bottom of the sensor, and a second rolling shutter sensor is oriented in a second orientation such that the scanlines generate the image from a bottom of the sensor to the top of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Gabor Szedo Becker, Chengwu Luke Cui, Anirudth Nambirajan
  • Patent number: 10797092
    Abstract: An image sensor of reduced chip size includes a semiconductor substrate having an active pixel region in which a plurality of active pixels are disposed and a power delivery region in which a pad is disposed. A plurality of first transparent electrode layers is disposed over the semiconductor substrate, respectively corresponding to the plurality of active pixels. A second transparent electrode layer is integrally formed across the active pixels. An organic photoelectric layer is disposed between the plurality of first transparent electrode layers and the second transparent electrode layer. An interconnection layer is located at a level that is the same as or higher than an upper surface of the pad with respect to an upper main surface of the semiconductor substrate. The interconnection layer extends from the pad to the second transparent electrode layer, and includes a connector electrically connecting the pad and the second transparent electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gwi-Deok Ryan Lee, Kwang-Min Lee, Beom-Suk Lee, Tae-Yon Lee
  • Patent number: 10782513
    Abstract: In some example embodiments, there is provided an apparatus comprising a lens comprising a first medium having a first index of refraction and a second medium having a second index of refraction, wherein the first index of refraction is greater than the second index of refraction; wherein an interface between the first medium and the second medium is convex, and wherein total internal reflection from the first medium to the second medium forms an aperture on light transmission with edges dependent on the angle of light incidence. Related system, methods, and the like are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Joseph Ford, Ilya Agurok
  • Patent number: 10750105
    Abstract: Provided are an imaging apparatus capable of preventing deterioration in quality of a captured image to be captured in a case where imaging is performed by using the driving according to the global shutter method and the driving according to the rolling shutter method in combination, an operation method thereof, and an operation program thereof. The digital camera includes an imaging element 5 that has a plurality of pixels 61 each including a photoelectric conversion element 61A and a charge holding section 61B, and a driving controller 11A that performs driving control of the imaging element 5 according to a global shutter method while continuously performing driving control of the imaging element 5 according to a rolling shutter method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Makoto Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10735661
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which satisfactorily compensates for a flash band appearing due to an external flash and prevents a row insensitive to the flash from appearing in a corrected image. The flash band appearing in a plurality of frames consecutive in terms of time is detected based on an image signal output from an image pickup device which sequentially starts exposure and sequentially reads out signals for each row of pixels. An image in at least one of those frames is corrected to a full-screen flash image. When a width of the flash band is smaller than the number of rows in one frame, a row in which the flash band does not appear is interpolated using a row in which the flash band appears and which immediately precedes or immediately succeeds the row in which the flash band does not appear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takenori Kobuse
  • Patent number: 10728480
    Abstract: An improved solid-state image sensor including a plurality of pixels. Each of the pixels includes a photoelectric convertor to convert a light signal into an electrical charge; a transfer transistor to transfer the electrical charge to a floating diffusion; a reset transistor to reset the floating diffusion; and an amplifier transistor to amplify a signal when the floating diffusion is connected to a gate of the amplifier transistor. A first voltage is set less than or equal to a second voltage. Each of a third voltage and a fourth voltage is set higher than a voltage of a ground. The third voltage is a gate voltage of the transistor resistor at times other than the time of reading a signal of the pixel and the fourth voltage is a gate voltage of the reset transistor at times other than a reset time of the reset transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Atsushi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10694121
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device, in which a signal holding part can hold a signal with respect to a voltage signal corresponding to an accumulated charge in a photoelectric conversion element of a photodiode PD1 which is transferred to an output node of a floating diffusion FD1 in a transfer period after an integration period and a signal with respect to a voltage signal corresponding to an overflow charge overflowing to the output node of the floating diffusion FD1 from at least the photodiode PD1 in any period among the photoelectric conversion element of the photodiode PD1 and the storage capacity element of the storage capacitor. Due to this, substantially, it becomes possible to realize a broader dynamic range and higher frame rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: BRILLNICS INC.
    Inventors: Kazuya Mori, Toshinori Otaka, Isao Takayanagi
  • Patent number: 10680027
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first semiconductor die, and a second semiconductor die bonded on the first semiconductor die. A through-substrate via penetrates through a semiconductor substrate of the second semiconductor die. A passivation layer is disposed between the first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die, wherein the passivation layer is directly bonded to the semiconductor substrate of the second semiconductor die. A conductive feature passes through the passivation layer, wherein the conductive feature is bonded to the through-substrate via. A barrier layer is disposed between the conductive feature and the passivation layer. The barrier layer covers sidewalls of the conductive feature and separates the surface of the conductive feature from a nearest neighboring surface of the first or second semiconductor die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min-Feng Kao, Dun-Nian Yaung, Jen-Cheng Liu, Hsun-Ying Huang
  • Patent number: 10666875
    Abstract: A plurality of pixels of a solid-state imaging device include: a photoelectric converter which receives light from an object and converts the light into charge; a plurality of readers which read the charge from the photoelectric converter; a plurality of charge accumulators each of which accumulates the charge of the photoelectric converter read from the plurality of readers; and a transfer controller which performs a transfer control including controlling whether the charge accumulated in one of the plurality of charge accumulators is transferred or blocked from being transferred to another one of the plurality of charge accumulators. The transfer controller is disposed between the plurality of charge accumulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sei Suzuki, Tohru Yamada, Yasuyuki Shimizu
  • Patent number: 10666929
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a hardware system for inverse graphics capture. An inverse graphics capture system (IGCS) captures data regarding a physical space that can be used to generate a photorealistic graphical model of that physical space. In certain approaches, the system includes hardware and accompanying software used to create a photorealistic six degree of freedom (6DOF) graphical model of the physical space. In certain approaches, the system includes hardware and accompanying software used for projection mapping onto the physical space. In certain approaches, the model produced by the IGCS is built using data regarding the geometry, lighting, surfaces, and environment of the physical space. In certain approaches, the model produced by the IGCS is both photorealistic and fully modifiable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Matterport, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Bradski, Moshe Benezra, Daniel A. Aden, Ethan Rublee
  • Patent number: 10650213
    Abstract: A fingerprint sensing device includes: a fingerprint sensor including scan lines and initialization lines extending in a first direction and arranged in a second direction, sensing lines extending in the second direction and arranged in the first direction, and sensing pixels connected to the scan lines, the initialization lines, and the sensing lines and disposed in a matrix configuration; a scan driver configured to apply an enable-level initialization signal to a-numbered sensing pixel rows while applying a disable-level initialization signal to b-numbered sensing pixel rows, and applying an enable-level scan signal to one sensing pixel row in the b-numbered sensing pixel rows; and a sensing driver configured to receive a sensing signal from the sensing pixel row to which the scan signal is applied through the sensing lines, wherein the a and b are positive numbers that are greater than 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keum Dong Jung, Ki Seo Kim, Il Nam Kim, Jae-Kyoung Kim, Kyung Tea Park, Jong In Baek
  • Patent number: 10628983
    Abstract: A system captures and combines image data from a plurality of image sensors to generate combined images. A plurality of individual rolling-shutter image sensors comprise a pair of adjacent image sensors. A controller combines image data captured by the plurality of individual rolling-shutter image sensors to generate a combined image, the combined image comprising first pixels captured by a first one of the adjacent image sensors, second pixels captured by a second one of the adjacent image sensors and a first boundary between the first pixels and the second pixels. A first one of the adjacent image sensors is configured to have a first integration and readout scanning direction along a first scanning axis and the second one of the adjacent image sensors is configured to have a second integration and readout scanning direction along the first scanning axis. Both of the first and second integration and readout scanning directions are oriented toward (or away from) the first boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Digital Domain 3.0, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Aaron Barger
  • Patent number: 10609312
    Abstract: An imaging pixel may have a fully depleted charge transfer path between a pinned photodiode and a floating diffusion region. A pinned transfer diode may be coupled between the pinned photodiode and the floating diffusion region. The imaging pixel may be formed in upper and lower substrates with an interconnect layer coupling the upper substrate to the lower substrate. The imaging pixel may include one or more storage diodes coupled between the transfer diode and the floating diffusion region. The imaging pixel may be used to capture high dynamic range images with flicker mitigation, images synchronized with light sources, or for high frame rate operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Sergey Velichko, Vladimir Korobov
  • Patent number: 10602111
    Abstract: Techniques for auto white balancing of captured images based on detection of flicker in ambient light is described. When flicker is detected in ambient light during an image capture event, and the flicker is unchanging during the image capture event, a white point of image data may be estimated according to a first technique. When flicker is detected in ambient light during an image capture event, and the flicker is changing during the image capture event, a white point of image data may be estimated according to a second technique. When flicker is not detected, a white point of image data may be estimated according to a third technique. Image data may be color corrected based on the estimated white point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yonghui Zhao, Xuemei Zhang, Yingjun Bai, Gregory Guyomarc'h, Kosta Dabov
  • Patent number: 10567689
    Abstract: An image sensor pixel may include a photodiode, one or more storage diodes, one or more potential barrier structures, one or more capacitors, and a floating diffusion region. The photodiode may be coupled to a storage diode and a first capacitor, and a first potential barrier structure may be interposed between the storage diode and the first capacitor. The photodiode may also be coupled to additional storage diodes and additional capacitors in a similar manner. Additionally, the photodiode may be directly separated from a given capacitor via a corresponding potential barrier structure. Each capacitor may store overflow charge from one or more storage diodes and/or the photodiode and may be connected to the floating diffusion via respective transistors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventor: Sergey Velichko
  • Patent number: 10557948
    Abstract: A radiation imaging system for generating a moving image includes pixels each including a signal generation unit configured to convert radiation into charges; a reading circuit configured to read, from each pixel, an accumulation signal output from the signal generation unit in accordance with accumulated charges and a reset signal output from the signal generation unit in a reset state; a storage unit; and a signal processing unit stores, in the storage unit, a correction image generated based on the reset signal and the accumulation signal read from each pixel before initial irradiation, and generates a frame image in each frame period based on a radiation image generated based on the accumulation signal read from each pixel, a reset image generated based on the reset signal read from each pixel, and the correction image stored in the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kazumasa Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 10560648
    Abstract: Image captured with an image capture device with a rolling shutter may be deformed due to changes in imaging sensor orientation during image capture. Image deformities may occur due to rolling shutter that exposes rows of pixels to light at slightly different times during image capture. Deformities such as wobble, for example, and/or other deformities may be corrected by constructing an output image. The output image may be constructed by determining corresponding pixels within the input image. The location of the input pixel may be determined by performing one or more fixed point iterations to identify one or more input pixels within the input image. A value of the output pixel within the output image may be determined based on a value of a corresponding pixel within the input image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrien Fontvielle, Sophana Kok
  • Patent number: 10518034
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising an optical sensor having a plurality of photosensitive cells arranged in a grid, wherein the optical sensor is configured to capture a first image using a first subset of the photosensitive cells and to capture a second image using a second subset of the photosensitive cells, the second subset not including any of the photosensitive cells in the first subset, wherein the apparatus is configured to process the first and second images using at least one optical character recognition algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GMBH
    Inventor: Stephan Muller-Pathle
  • Patent number: 10462402
    Abstract: A vertically stacked image sensor having a photodiode chip and a transistor array chip. The photodiode chip includes at least one photodiode and a transfer gate extends vertically from a top surface of the photodiode chip. The image sensor further includes a transistor array chip stacked on top of the photodiode chip. The transistor array chip includes the control circuitry and storage nodes. The image sensor further includes a logic chip vertically stacked on the transistor array chip. The transfer gate communicates data from the at least one photodiode to the transistor array chip and the logic chip selectively activates the vertical transfer gate, the reset gate, the source follower gate, and the row select gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Xiaofeng Fan
  • Patent number: 10447889
    Abstract: An image sensor module includes a first image reading chip and a second image reading chip. A first output circuit of the first image reading chip performs driving with multiple drive capabilities. A first output selection unit selects a first drive capability from the multiple drive capabilities and supplies a selection signal to the first output circuit. A second output circuit of the second image reading chip performs driving with one of the multiple drive capabilities. A second output selection unit selects a second drive capability from the multiple drive capabilities and supplies a selection signal to the second output circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takafumi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10412328
    Abstract: Image captured with an image capture device with a rolling shutter may be deformed due to changes in imaging sensor orientation during image capture. Image deformities may occur due to rolling shutter that exposes rows of pixels to light at slightly different times during image capture. Deformities such as wobble, for example, and/or other deformities may be corrected by constructing an output image. The output image may be constructed by determining corresponding pixels within the input image. The location of the input pixel may be determined by performing one or more fixed point iterations to identify one or more input pixels within the input image. A value of the output pixel within the output image may be determined based on a value of a corresponding pixel within the input image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrien Fontvielle, Sophana Kok
  • Patent number: 10389964
    Abstract: Provided is a solid state imaging device including: a pixel unit; row drive circuits respectively corresponding to rows of the pixel unit, each including a first and a second signal generation units; drive signal generation unit configured to generate a readout scan signal and a shutter scan signal, as drive signals for driving pixels, based on signals output from the first and the second signal generation units; and a switching unit configured to switch the row drive circuit between: a first state in which the first signal generation unit generates the readout scan signal and the second signal generation unit generates the shutter scan signal and a second state in which the first signal generation unit generates the shutter scan signal and the second signal generation unit generates the readout scan signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroaki Taniguchi, Noriyuki Shikina
  • Patent number: 10284784
    Abstract: A shutter apparatus of an electronic front curtain system includes a motor configured to rotate in a first rotating direction and a second rotating direction opposite to the first rotating direction, a first light shield movable between a close state for closing an aperture and an open state for opening the aperture, a second light shield movable between the close state for closing the aperture and the open state for opening the aperture, and a first cam member configured to interlock and move the first light shield and the second light shield in accordance with a rotation in each of the first rotating direction and the second rotating direction of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuya Karibe, Masahiro Takayama
  • Patent number: 10284908
    Abstract: Methods and systems related to processing multiple data transmissions are disclosed. For example, a computing device may receive a data stream corresponding to a content item, and generate additional data streams by sampling the data stream, for example, using different sampling regions. Another data stream at a higher resolution than each of the additional data streams may then be generated by combining elements (e.g., pixels) of the additional data streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications, LLC
    Inventor: Yasser F. Syed
  • Patent number: 10281799
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided, including a blade-driving device and a driving control unit which drives the front curtain actuator and the rear curtain actuator. The front curtain and the rear curtain are positioned at the open position at a time of start and termination of imaging, in which the front curtain moves from the closing position to the open position, and the rear curtain moves from the open position to the closing position, thereby performing an exposure operation. During consecutive photographing, the front curtain positioned at the closing position is moved once in a direction of the open position and is then returned to the closing position after the rear curtain is moved to the open position after termination of the exposure operation, and before a subsequent exposure operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Takahashi, Yoichi Nakano
  • Patent number: 10276619
    Abstract: A semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first semiconductor die, and a second semiconductor die bonded on the first semiconductor die. A through-substrate via penetrates through a semiconductor substrate of the second semiconductor die. A passivation layer is disposed between the first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die, wherein the passivation layer is directly bonded to the semiconductor substrate of the second semiconductor die. A conductive feature passes through the passivation layer, wherein the conductive feature is bonded to the through-substrate via. A barrier layer is disposed between the conductive feature and the passivation layer. The barrier layer covers sidewalls of the conductive feature and separates the surface of the conductive feature from a nearest neighboring surface of the first or second semiconductor die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min-Feng Kao, Dun-Nian Yaung, Jen-Cheng Liu, Hsun-Ying Huang
  • Patent number: RE47523
    Abstract: An image sensor comprises a pixel array having a plurality of pixel regions, wherein the pixel array is adapted to generate at least one signal from each pixel region and a separate signal from a subset of pixels within each pixel region, both during a single exposure period. In one embodiment, the sensor is in communication with a shift register which accumulates the separate signal and transfers the separate signal to an amplifier. The shift register further accumulates the at least one signal from the pixel region after the separate signal has been transferred to the amplifier and transfers the at least one signal to the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: PIXON IMAGING, INC.
    Inventors: Richard C. Puetter, Vesa Junkkarinen