Photosensitive Switching Transistors Or "static Induction" Transistors Patents (Class 348/307)
  • Patent number: 11790866
    Abstract: To reduce power consumption of a display device with the use of a simple structure and a simple operation. The display device includes an input device. Input of an image signal to a driver circuit is controlled in accordance with an image operation signal output from the input device. Specifically, input of image signals at the time when the input device is not operated is less frequent than that at the time when the input device is operated. Accordingly, display degradation (deterioration of display quality) caused when the display device is used can be prevented and power consumed when the display device is not used can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenichi Wakimoto, Masahiko Hayakawa
  • Patent number: 11664404
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a first semiconductor substrate provided with a pixel, including a photoelectric conversion unit that photoelectrically converts incident light to generate an electric charge, an accumulation unit that accumulates the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit, and a transfer unit that transfers the electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit to the accumulation unit, and a second semiconductor substrate provided with a supply unit for the pixel, the supply unit supplying the transfer unit with a transfer signal to transfer the electric charge from the photoelectric conversion unit to the accumulation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Osamu Saruwatari, Shutaro Kato, Ryoji Ando, Yojiro Tezuka, Atsushi Komai
  • Patent number: 11570386
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image sensing device and an operating method thereof, and the image sensing device may include a first unit pixel circuit disposed in a first row, including a first floating diffusion node, and suitable for outputting a first pixel signal through a column line, a second unit pixel circuit disposed in a second row, including a second floating diffusion node, and suitable for outputting a second pixel signal through the column line, and a first coupling circuit suitable for selectively coupling the first floating diffusion node to the second floating diffusion node based on a first mode control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: SK hynix Inc.
    Inventors: Jung Soon Shin, Nam Ryeol Kim, Yu Jin Park, Kang Bong Seo
  • Patent number: 11525996
    Abstract: Provided are a fiber bundle image processing method (200) and an apparatus. The method (200) includes: determining pixel information corresponding to a center position of a fiber in a sample image; correcting the determined pixel information; and reconstructing the sample image based on the corrected pixel information to obtain a reconstructed image. The method (200) and apparatus can not only obtain a more ideal fiber-bundle processed image, but also have a smaller calculation amount, and the entire calculation process takes less time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: SUZHOU MICROVIEW MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinhua Shao, Houli Duan, Jin Sun
  • Patent number: 11450113
    Abstract: An embodiment of a Wearable Computer apparatus includes a first portable unit for data gathering and providing a natural user interface, and a second portable unit for processing the gathered data from the first unit and taking an action in respond to the received data. The first portable unit includes an eyeglass frame, at least one first scene camera disposed on the eyeglass frame for capturing at least one scene image corresponding to a field of view of a user, at least one microphone, one speaker and one LED to create a natural user interface, and at least one first processor to receive data from the data gathering units in the first portable unit and communicating that data to the second portable unit. The second portable unit is in communication with the first portable unit and includes at least one second processor configured for receiving data from the first processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Inventor: Masoud Vaziri
  • Patent number: 11356631
    Abstract: An image sensor includes image sensor cells, each configured to generate an image signal in response to control signals. The image sensor also includes an ADC to receive the image signals of the image sensor cells, and a first driver to generate one or more first control signals for a first image sensor cell, where the first driver includes a first negative supply terminal. The image sensor also includes a first multiplexor to selectively connect the first negative supply terminal of the first driver to one of a plurality of power supply nodes, and a second driver to generate one or more second control signals for a second image sensor cell, where the second driver includes a second negative supply terminal. The image sensor also includes a second multiplexor to selectively connect the second negative supply terminal of the second driver to one of the power supply nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Shenzhen Goodix Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao Yang, Matthew Powell, Dazhi Wei
  • Patent number: 10761633
    Abstract: A touch display device, a touch driving circuit, and a touch-sensing method are disclosed in which control operation timing at which a charge control circuit connected to an input terminal of a pre-amplifier is controlled in consideration of a difference in a location or time constant for each touch electrode. Accordingly, unnecessary variation in a signal-to-noise ratio for each touch electrode can be reduced, and thus touch sensitivity can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: HyeongWon Kang, HongJu Lee
  • Patent number: 10746886
    Abstract: A radiation imaging apparatus, comprising a sensor array in which a plurality of sensors capable of detecting radiation are arrayed, and a readout unit configured to read out image data from the sensor array, wherein the sensor array has, as an operation mode, a binning mode in which signals of not less than two sensors are collectively output, and the readout unit includes a correcting unit configured to correct image data read out from the sensor array irradiated with radiation, based on image data read out in the binning mode from the sensor array not irradiated with radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichi Naito
  • Patent number: 10716522
    Abstract: A radiation image capturing apparatus is provided. The radiation image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing unit configured to capture a radiation image. The image capturing unit includes a detection element configured to detect radiation. The radiation image capturing apparatus comprises a processor configured to perform, in accordance with an exposure request from a user, a first reset operation of resetting the detection element, and configured to detect an amount of irradiation of the radiation based on a signal from the detection element after the first reset operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Eriko Sato, Tomoyuki Yagi, Shinichi Takeda, Hideyuki Okada, Takuya Ryu, Katsuro Takenaka
  • Patent number: 10684401
    Abstract: [Object] To make it possible to improve viewing angle characteristics more. [Solution] Provided is a display device including: a plurality of light emitting sections formed on a substrate; and a color filter provided on the light emitting section to correspond to each of the plurality of light emitting sections. The light emitting sections and the color filters are arranged such that, in at least a partial region in a display surface, a relative misalignment between a center of a luminescence surface of the light emitting section and a center of the color filter corresponding to the light emitting section is created in a plane perpendicular to a stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Daisuke Ueda
  • Patent number: 10645315
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array including a plurality of unit pixels arranged along a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. Each of the unit pixels includes a photoelectric conversion element generating and accumulating photocharges, a charge detection node receiving the photocharges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element, a readout circuit converting the photocharges accumulated in and output from the charge detection node into an electrical pixel signal, the readout circuit outputting the electrical pixel signal, a capacitive element, and a switching element controlling connection between the charge detection node and the capacitive element. Each of the rows of the pixel array includes first pixels connected to a first conversion gain control line and second pixels connected to a second conversion gain control line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Eun Sub Shim, Kyungho Lee
  • Patent number: 9948875
    Abstract: An imaging system may include an image sensor having an array of dual gain pixels. Each pixel may be operated using an improved three read method and an improved four read method such that all signals are read in a high gain configuration in order to prevent electrical offset in signal levels. Each pixel may be operated using an improved three read, two analog to digital conversion (ADC) method in which a frame buffer is used to store calibration data. Each pixel may be operated using an improved three read, three ADC method in which no frame buffer is required. A high dynamic range image signal may be produced for each pixel based on signals read from the pixel and on light conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR COMPONENTS INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: Bart Cremers, Tomas Geurts
  • Patent number: 9924113
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of imaging pixels configured to acquire a radiation image, a plurality of detection pixels each including a detection conversion element and a detection switch element, a drive unit configured to drive the detection switch element of each of the plurality of detection pixels, a plurality of detection regions in each of which the plurality of detection pixels are arranged, a control unit configured to control the drive unit to drive the plurality of detection pixels arranged in each of the plurality of detection regions at respective different timing, and an acquisition unit configured to acquire an amount of incidence of radiation rays on each of the plurality of detection regions based on a value obtained by summing or averaging signals read out from the plurality of detection pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Jun Kawanabe, Minoru Watanabe, Keigo Yokoyama, Masato Ofuji, Kentaro Fujiyoshi, Hiroshi Wayama, Kazuya Furumoto
  • Patent number: 9648214
    Abstract: An apparatus including a substrate; a plurality of first image sensels supported by the substrate and arranged in rows and columns, wherein the substrate includes one or more apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Pranav Mishra, Gururaj Putraya
  • Patent number: 9509888
    Abstract: A detection system is provided for use in a high-radiation environment includes a sensor assembly with a housing enclosing an unshielded radiation-hardened sensor for generating a digital signal of detected data corresponding to an object of interest and a first serializer/deserializer (SERDES) for converting the digital signal into a serial bit stream. A high-frequency transmission cable transmits the serial bit stream to a signal processing module located outside of the high-radiation environment where a second SERDES deserializes the serial bit stream to generate a decoded signal that is processed to generate an output at a display device corresponding to the detected object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Remote Ocean Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas Kalfas
  • Patent number: 9323391
    Abstract: An information capturing system includes a flexible light sensing film including a film and a plurality of light sensing elements configuring on the film for converting light to electric energy and storing the electric energy to form electric fields; and a sensing panel device for sensing the electric fields formed by the light sensing elements not shaded with a light shielding material on the flexible light sensing film to generate an electric field distributing situation, and capturing an information formed by the light shielding material on the flexible light sensing film according to the electric field distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Shyh-Jye Ni
  • Patent number: 9200956
    Abstract: A readout transistor circuit for a pixel is disclosed. The readout transistor circuit includes a sense node. A reset transistor is in signal communication with the sense node. A source follower transistor is in signal communication with the sense node. A row select transistor is in signal communication with the source follower transistor. A switching transistor is in signal communication with the sense node. A capacitor is in signal communication with the switching transistor. The switching transistor is configured to place the capacitor in signal communication with the sense node to switch between a low voltage-per-charge (V/e?) ratio and a high voltage-per-charge (V/e?) to enable low noise performance of the sense node. The capacitor may be a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor. At least one of the reset transistor, the source follower transistor, the row select transistor, and the switching transistor may be a MOSFET. One or more of the MOSFETs may be a buried channel MOSFET.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: SRI INTERNATIONAL
    Inventor: James Robert Janesick
  • Patent number: 9137524
    Abstract: Described herein is a system and method for displaying a stereoscopic plenoptic image or video to a user, with eye-tracking capabilities. A display device displays a plenoptic image or video on a screen, and focuses the plenoptic image or video at the depth plane corresponding to the eye-coordinates of the user's gaze. The focused depth plane in the displayed plenoptic frame updates as the frames progress in the video stream, thereby constantly re-focusing the depth plane of the currently displayed plenoptic frame depending on the location of the user's gaze.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventor: Giuliano Maciocci
  • Patent number: 9117713
    Abstract: A solid-state image sensor which holds a potential for a long time and includes a thin film transistor with stable electrical characteristics is provided. A reset transistor is omitted by initializing the signal charge storage portion to a cathode potential of a photoelectric conversion element portion in the solid-state image sensor. When a thin film transistor which includes an oxide semiconductor layer and has an off-state current of 1×10?13 A or less is used as a transfer transistor of the solid-state image sensor, the potential of the signal charge storage portion is kept constant, so that a dynamic range can be improved. When a silicon semiconductor which can be used for a complementary metal oxide semiconductor is used for a peripheral circuit, a high-speed semiconductor device with low power consumption can be manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Koyama
  • Patent number: 8982255
    Abstract: An image pickup unit includes: an image pickup section including a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels including a photoelectric conversion device; and a driving section that includes an amplifier and drives each of the pixels to perform a read out operation intended to read out electric charge obtained by the photoelectric conversion device from the pixel as a signal with use of the amplifier, a pixel reset operation intended to reset electric charge in the pixel, and an amplifier reset operation intended to reset an operation of the amplifier. The driving section drives each of the pixels to allow one or both of end timing of the pixel reset operation and end timing of the amplifier reset operation not to be included in a predetermined power-source potential unstable period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichiro Minami, Michiru Senda
  • Publication number: 20150070552
    Abstract: An image sensor is provided in the present invention, including a plurality of optical elements, wherein each optical element includes a semiconductor substrate, a dielectric layer and a color filter set. The semiconductor substrate includes a plurality of photosensitive units. The dielectric layer is disposed above the semiconductor substrate and includes a plurality of notches. The color filter set is disposed above the dielectric layer and includes a plurality of filter units and a plurality of convex substances corresponding to the filter units, and the convex substances and the notches are engaged with each other, wherein the convex substances and the notches change in accordance with the distance to the center of the image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Applicant: Himax Imaging Limited
    Inventors: Yu-Tsung Lin, Chung-Wei Chang, Dong-Long Lin
  • Patent number: 8917339
    Abstract: The dynamic range of a pixel is increased by using selective photosensor resets during a frame time of image capture at a timing depending on the light intensity that the pixel will be exposed to during the frame time. Pixels that will be exposed to high light intensity are reset later in the frame than pixels that will be exposed to lower light intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Nikolai E. Bock
  • Patent number: 8878997
    Abstract: A visual display includes at least a first canvas configured to display a first session on the display and a second canvas configured to display a second session on the display. The first session includes first content received from a first content source and the second session includes second content having subject matter associated with the first content. The display includes a user agent configured to determine that the first content of the first session is associated with the second content of the second session and to pair the first and second canvases such that the first content and the second content are synchronized to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Graham Clift, Brant Candelore, Kazumoto Kondo, Steven Richman, Fred Zustak
  • Publication number: 20140300789
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus including a pixel, a current source, and a signal processing circuit. The pixel outputs signal charge, obtained by imaging, as a pixel signal. The current source is connected to a transmission path for the pixel signal and has a variable current. The signal processing circuit performs signal processing on a signal depending on an output signal to the transmission path and performs control so that a current of the current source is changed in accordance with the result of signal processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventor: Hiroki Sato
  • Patent number: 8841595
    Abstract: An image sensor includes an array of pixels. Each pixel has at least one photo-sensitive element. Readout circuitry receives an analog signal from each pixel at a first time and at a second time, between which the analog signal changes. The image sensor further includes associated support circuitry which is a source of time variant noise. The signal level at both first and second times includes pixel noise. Sample and hold circuitry is provided to maintain substantially level at least a proportion of this support circuitry noise time invariant at the sensor output between the first time and the second time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Graeme Storm, Matthew Purcell
  • Patent number: 8830405
    Abstract: A DC/DC converter 10 has a high-side transistor QH as a switching element and a low-side transistor QL as a synchronous rectifier element. A first primary electrode D and secondary primary electrode S of the high-side transistor QH are connected to an input voltage VIN and an external terminal T1, respectively. A detection transistor QD is provided in a row with the high-side transistor QH, and the ON voltage of the high-side transistor QH when ON is output as detection voltage VQD from the detection transistor QD. The output detection voltage VQD is added to a feedback voltage VFB1 by an adder CB, and inputted to a comparator CMP1. The ON period of a one-shot pulse PS1 outputted from the comparator CMP1 is regulated so as to be in direct proportion to the sum of the detection voltage VQD and the feedback voltage VFB1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Murakami
  • Patent number: 8818068
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a control unit and a detector that includes multiple pixels and that performs an image capturing operation to output image data corresponding to emitted radiation or light. The image capturing operation includes a first image capturing operation in which the detector is scanned in a first scanning area corresponding to part of the multiple pixels to output image data in the first scanning area and a second image capturing operation in which the detector is scanned in a second scanning area larger than the first scanning area to output image data in the second scanning area. The control unit causes the detector to perform an initialization operation to initialize the conversion element during a period between the first image capturing operation and the second image capturing operation in accordance with switching from the first scanning area to the second scanning area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Yagi, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama, Sho Sato
  • Patent number: 8817108
    Abstract: A method is for monitoring the electrical integrity of lines of photosites of an imaging device with matrix array of photosites. The control lines of photosites may include for each line of photosites an emission of elementary electrical control signals for the photosites of the line. The method may include diagnosis of the elementary electrical control signals emitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Grenoble 2) SAS
    Inventor: Pascal Mellot
  • Patent number: 8792035
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes multiple pixels formed of photoelectric converters and pixel transistors; a floating diffusion portion that exists within a region of each of the photoelectric converters when viewed from above; and a vertical transfer gate electrode of a transfer transistor that surrounds at least a portion of each photoelectric converter and is formed in the depth direction of a substrate and makes up the pixel transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Akihiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 8730404
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention includes a latch circuit having a first input to receive a data signal and a second input to receive a clock signal. This latch circuit may have a first pair of transistors including a first transistor gated by the data signal and a second transistor gated by an inverted data signal and a second pair of transistors including third and fourth transistors gated by the clock signal. The first transistor may be coupled to the third transistor at a first inter-latch node and the second transistor coupled to the fourth transistor at a second inter-latch node. A reset circuit may be coupled to the latch circuit to maintain the first and second inter-latch nodes at a predetermined voltage level when the clock signal is inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: Clayton Daigle, Abdulkerim L. Coban
  • Patent number: 8724000
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for super-resolution in integral photography are described. Several techniques are described that, alone or in combination, may improve the super-resolution process and/or the quality of super-resolved images that may be generated from flats captured with a focused plenoptic camera using a super-resolution algorithm. At least some of these techniques involve modifications to the focused plenoptic camera design. In addition, at least some of these techniques involve modifications to the super-resolution rendering algorithm. The techniques may include techniques for reducing the size of pixels, techniques for shifting pixels relative to each other so that super-resolution is achievable at more or all depths of focus, and techniques for sampling using an appropriate filter or kernel. These techniques may, for example, reduce or eliminate the need to perform deconvolution on a super-resolved image, and may improve super-resolution results and/or increase performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Todor G. Georgiev, Georgi N. Chunev, Andrew Lumsdaine
  • Patent number: 8680471
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a control unit and a detector that includes multiple pixels and that performs an image capturing operation to output image data corresponding to radiation or light that is emitted. The image capturing operation includes a first image capturing operation in a first scanning area corresponding to part of the multiple pixels to output image data in the first scanning area and a second image capturing operation in a second scanning area larger than the first scanning area to output image data in the second scanning area. The control unit causes the detector to perform an accumulation operation in the second image capturing operation in a time determined so that an image artifact caused by the scanning area is lower than a predetermined allowable value on the basis of information about the amount of integration of accumulation times in the first image capturing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Kameshima, Tadao Endo, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama, Sho Sato, Toshikazu Tamura
  • Publication number: 20140078368
    Abstract: An image sensor having pixel circuitry operable in multiple gain modes is provided. The pixel circuitry may include first and second floating diffusion (FD) regions, a first photodiode coupled to the first FD region via a first transfer gate, a second photodiode coupled to the first FD region via a second transfer gate, a third photodiode coupled to the second FD region via a third transfer gate, and a fourth photodiode coupled to the second FD region via a fourth transfer gate. The first FD region may be coupled to the second FD region via first and second control transistors. The control transistors may be connected to a shared reset transistor. During readout, both control transistors may be deactivated to provide a high gain mode, only one transistor may be activated to provide an intermediate gain mode, or both control transistors may be activated to provide a low gain mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Hirofumi Komori, Wei Gao, Paul Perez, Hui Tian, Xia Zhao
  • Patent number: 8531566
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image sensor, in particular a CMOS image sensor, for electronic cameras, having a plurality of light-sensitive pixels arranged in rows and columns, wherein all or at least some of the pixels of a column are connected to a respective common column line, and wherein the image sensor has a signal preprocessing device for one or more of the column lines to process a exposure signals generated by the pixels which can be applied to the respective column line. The image sensor is made selectively to apply one of at least two test input signals to the column lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Arnold & Richter Cine Technik GmbH & Co., Betriebs KG
    Inventor: Michael Cieslinski
  • Patent number: 8466994
    Abstract: There is provided a drive circuit of a solid-state image pickup device capable of generating pulse for vertical scanning the interval of which changes non-linearly and pulse other than the pulse for vertical scanning without increasing a circuit size and communication time for setting an electronic shutter. There is provided a drive circuit of a solid-state image pickup device including a polynomial arithmetic operation unit for carrying out an arithmetic operation of first or higher order of polynomial; an arithmetic operation controller of generating a variable of the polynomial to control an arithmetic operation in the polynomial arithmetic operation unit; and a pulse generator of generating a pulse based on a result of an arithmetic operation on a polynomial of the polynomial arithmetic operation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shintaro Takenaka
  • Publication number: 20130128087
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for super-resolution in integral photography are described. Several techniques are described that, alone or in combination, may improve the super-resolution process and/or the quality of super-resolved images that may be generated from flats captured with a focused plenoptic camera using a super-resolution algorithm. At least some of these techniques involve modifications to the focused plenoptic camera design. In addition, at least some of these techniques involve modifications to the super-resolution rendering algorithm. The techniques may include techniques for reducing the size of pixels, techniques for shifting pixels relative to each other so that super-resolution is achievable at more or all depths of focus, and techniques for sampling using an appropriate filter or kernel. These techniques may, for example, reduce or eliminate the need to perform deconvolution on a super-resolved image, and may improve super-resolution results and/or increase performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventors: Todor G. Georgiev, Georgi N. Chunev, Andrew Lumsdaine
  • Patent number: 8436314
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a control unit and a detector that includes multiple pixels and that performs an image capturing operation to output image data corresponding to radiation or light that is emitted. The image capturing operation includes a first image capturing operation in a first scanning area corresponding to part of the multiple pixels to output image data in the first scanning area and a second image capturing operation in a second scanning area larger than the first scanning area to output image data in the second scanning area. The control unit causes the detector to perform an accumulation operation in the second image capturing operation in a time determined so that an image artifact caused by the scanning area is lower than a predetermined allowable value on the basis of information about the amount of integration of accumulation times in the first image capturing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Kameshima, Tadao Endo, Tomoyuki Yagi, Katsuro Takenaka, Keigo Yokoyama, Sho Sato, Toshikazu Tamura
  • Patent number: 8379128
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor apparatus having a structure capable of obtaining digital values of signal components with a high accuracy using an A/D conversing circuit with the outputted digital value thereof having a small number of expressive bits. In the sensor apparatus, a voltage value corresponding to the amount of incident light to a photodiode is held by a holding circuit through an integrating circuit and a CDS circuit. Meanwhile, a voltage value corresponding to the amount of incident light to an adjacent photodiode is held by another holding circuit through an integrating circuit and a CDS circuit. The voltage values held by the respective different holding circuits are inputted to a subtracting circuit through different paths. The subtracting circuit outputs a voltage value corresponding to the difference between the two inputted voltage values. In an A/D converting section, the difference voltage outputted from the subtracting circuit is converted into a digital value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Seiichiro Mizuno, Haruhiro Funakoshi
  • Patent number: 8373782
    Abstract: An image sensor including a noise removing unit may sense images accurately by measuring the amount of noise generated when the image sensor does not perform a sensing operation, storing information about the measured noise amount in each pixel, and removing photocharge corresponding to the information about the measured noise amount during image sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric Fossum, Kyoung Lae Cho, Yoon Dong Park, Young Gu Jin, Seung Hoon Lee, Sung-Jae Byun
  • Patent number: 8368000
    Abstract: The device for the acquisition and automatic processing of data obtained from optical codes comprises a CMOS optical sensor; an analog processing unit connected to the optical sensor; an analog/digital conversion unit connected to the analog processing unit; a logic control unit connected to the CMOS optical sensor, the analog processing unit and the analog/digital conversion unit; and a data-processing unit connected to the logic control unit and the analog/digital conversion unit. The CMOS optical sensor and at least one of the analog processing, analog/digital conversion, logic control and data processing units are integrated in a single chip. The data processing unit processes the digital signals corresponding to the image acquired by the CMOS sensor and extracts the optically coded data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Datalogic S.p.A.
    Inventors: Frederico Canini, Marco Piva, Rinaldo Zocca
  • Patent number: 8339490
    Abstract: An imaging device is disclosed. The device includes: a unit pixel that outputs an analog electric signal in accordance with a signal charge; a local voltage supply circuit that generates a local voltage different from an operation voltage; a reference signal generation section that generates a reference signal based on the local voltage provided by the local voltage supply circuit; and a processing section that converts, by referring to the reference signal generated by the reference signal generation section, the analog signal provided by the unit pixel into a digital signal. In the imaging device, the reference signal generation section keeps constant a load current of the local voltage supply circuit in an operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hayato Wakabayashi, Yoshiaki Inada
  • Patent number: 8331621
    Abstract: A toll violation enforcement system that contains a capture unit that receives a trigger signal and takes vehicle images of passing vehicles. A lighting unit configured to operate continuously is provided to establish a major lighting source incident on the vehicle. A processing unit is provided that processes the vehicle image and controls the settings employed by the capture unit. The processing unit preferably contains a plate location module for extracting an original resolution license plate area image from a first vehicle image; an exposure control module for controlling the exposure setting on the capture unit to provide consistent intensity of the license plate area; a resolution reset module for changing the image resolution for a second vehicle image; an image enhancement module for brightening pixels of the second vehicle image; and an image compression module for compressing the license plate area image and second vehicle image to a predetermined format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: United Toll Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Allen, Sheng Zhong, Raghavan Venugopal, Balaraju Banna, Xidong Zheng
  • Patent number: 8274036
    Abstract: An active infrared induction instrument powered by a dry battery capable of reducing power consumption through the adjustment of the emitter pulse width. The infrared emitted LED emits infrared signals, which, after being reflected by an object, are received by the infrared photodiode. The infrared signals received the infrared signals received by the infrared photodiode then enter an integrated circuit chip through a comparator. The pulse widths of the infrared emission pulse signals are dynamically adjusted after the width of the pulse series is received by the discrimination chip, thus reducing the emission power consumption to save energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Shanghai Kohler Electronics, Ltd.
    Inventor: Chen Weigen
  • Patent number: 8173476
    Abstract: There is provided an image pickup device, including a photoelectric conversion element converting light into charges, a transfer gate for transferring the converted charges to a floating node, a source follower transistor for outputting a signal based on a voltage of the floating node to a signal line, and a clip circuit clipping the signal line at a first voltage and a second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanori Watanabe, Tetsuya Itano, Mahito Shinohara
  • Patent number: 8154640
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of unit pixels arranged in an array. Each unit pixel includes a plurality of sub-pixels configured to be irradiated by light having the same wavelength. Each sub-pixel includes a plurality of floating body transistors. Each floating body transistor includes a source region, a drain region, a floating body region between the source region and the drain region, and a gate electrode formed on the floating body region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-kil Cha, Bok-ki Min, Young-gu Jin, Won-joo Kim, Seung-hoon Lee, Yoon-dong Park
  • Patent number: 8115153
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device which includes a pixel unit, a plurality of pixels in the pixel unit which are two dimensionally arranged in rows and columns and each include a photoelectric conversion element and a reset element, a driver unit which sequentially applies selective scanning to each respective row of the pixel unit, a mode switching circuit, where the mode switching circuit is configured to charge a portion of the pixels in the pixel unit and to apply an intermediate voltage to a gate of each reset element in the non-charged pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhide Yokota, Hisashi Kurebayashi
  • Patent number: 8093541
    Abstract: Circuits and methods of generating control signals for transistors in a pixel row of a pixel array are disclosed. The circuits include a transfer transistor control signal row driver that includes a plurality of output branches and a reset transistor control signal row driver that includes a plurality of output branches. The row drivers output positive boosted control signals to selected pixel rows during a photosensor-to-floating diffusion region charge transfer phase and during a floating diffusion region reset phase and to unselected pixel rows during an initial part of an integration phase. The row drivers output positive non-boosted control signals to unselected non-integrating pixel rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Yandong Chen
  • Patent number: 8081246
    Abstract: There is provided a drive circuit of a solid-state image pickup device capable of generating a pulse for vertical scanning, an interval of which changes non-linearly, and of generating a pulse other than the pulse for vertical scanning, without increasing a circuit size and a communication time for setting an electronic shutter. There also is provided a drive circuit of a solid-state image pickup device including a polynomial arithmetic operation unit for carrying out an arithmetic operation of a polynomial of a first or higher order; an arithmetic operation controller for generating a variable of the polynomial to control an arithmetic operation in the polynomial arithmetic operation unit; and a pulse generator for generating a pulse based on a result of an arithmetic operation in the polynomial arithmetic operation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shintaro Takenaka
  • Patent number: 8076631
    Abstract: Two unshielded photosensors to determine the outside-light illuminance and two shielded photosensors are placed alternating both in the longitudinal direction and in the lateral direction. Then, the difference between the output of the unshielded photosensors and the output of the shielded photosensors is obtained. Accordingly, even when the thermoelectric currents differ from each other due to a variation in characteristics between the elements and a difference in the thermal distribution between the elements, the sensor currents can be corrected, so that a photodetector circuit which stably determines the outside-light illuminance can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Tada, Takashi Nakamura, Hirotaka Hayashi, Masayoshi Fuchi, Takayuki Imai
  • Patent number: 8058600
    Abstract: The device for the acquisition and automatic processing of data obtained from optical codes comprises a CMOS optical sensor; an analog processing unit connected to the optical sensor; an analog/digital conversion unit connected to the analog processing unit; a logic control unit connected to the CMOS optical sensor, the analog processing unit and the analog/digital conversion unit; and a data-processing unit connected to the logic control unit and the analog/digital conversion unit. The CMOS optical sensor and at least one of the analog processing, analog/digital conversion, logic control and data processing units are integrated in a single chip. The data processing unit processes the digital signals corresponding to the image acquired by the CMOS sensor and extracts the optically coded data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Datalogic S.p.A.
    Inventors: Federico Canini, Marco Piva, Rinaldo Zocca