Including Optics Patents (Class 348/333.08)
  • Patent number: 11966098
    Abstract: A modular lens system for use with a camera system and connected therewith. The lens system including modular sections configured to include one or more lenses and/or an aperture. The one or more lenses are controlled by one or more motors to enhance focus, softness, and/or size and other optical characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Panavision International, L.P.
    Inventors: David William Macintosh, Daniel Keith Sasaki
  • Patent number: 11887513
    Abstract: Techniques include performing a display calibration while a smartglasses device is stored in a case that enables the smartglasses device to perform display calibrations. The case includes an optical device configured to form an image of a test pattern formed in a first display and a second display of the smartglasses device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: GOOGLE LLC
    Inventors: Clayton Woodward Bavor, Jr., Steven Benjamin Goldberg, Zhiheng Jia
  • Patent number: 11860510
    Abstract: An observation device according to the present invention includes an image display element displaying an image, and a finder optical system used for observing the image displayed on an image display surface of the image display element. The finder optical system includes a positive first lens, a negative second lens, and a biconvex positive third lens arranged in this order from the image display surface side to the observation side. A focal length of the second lens, a focal length of the finder optical system, a curvature radius of a lens surface of the second lens on the image display surface side, a curvature radius of a lens surface of the second lens on the observation side, a diagonal length of the image display surface, and a curvature radius of a lens surface of the third lens on the image display surface side are appropriately set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Fumihiro Shinobu
  • Patent number: 11543734
    Abstract: An observation device according to the present invention includes an image display element displaying an image, and a finder optical system used for observing the image displayed on an image display surface of the image display element. The finder optical system includes a positive first lens, a negative second lens, and a biconvex positive third lens arranged in this order from the image display surface side to the observation side. A focal length of the second lens, a focal length of the finder optical system, a curvature radius of a lens surface of the second lens on the image display surface side, a curvature radius of a lens surface of the second lens on the observation side, a diagonal length of the image display surface, and a curvature radius of a lens surface of the third lens on the image display surface side are appropriately set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Fumihiro Shinobu
  • Patent number: 11509961
    Abstract: A method comprises receiving video streams from a plurality of mobile devices associated with respective distinct users of a crowd-stream video application, evaluating the received video streams relative to an event of interest, selecting particular ones of the video streams for use in generation of crowd-stream video output based at least in part on results of the evaluating, generating the crowd-stream video output utilizing at least portions of the selected video streams, and providing the crowd-stream video output to one or more servers of a content delivery network for delivery to one or more viewer devices. The video streams illustratively comprise live video streams of the event of interest captured by respective ones of the mobile devices. In some embodiments, evaluating the received video streams relative to an event of interest comprises evaluating the received video streams in terms of at least vantage point relative to the event of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Kiswe Mobile Inc.
    Inventors: Yung-Lung Ho, Wim Sweldens, Tom Cuypers, Bert De Decker
  • Patent number: 10641987
    Abstract: A controller includes: operating member having movable range for operating a movable optical member; setting device setting relation between operation amount in entirety of movable range and command value in part of an operating range of the movable optical member; controller generating signal for controlling operation of the movable optical member, based on the set relation and an operation amount of the operating member in the movable range; and switcher switching mode between first mode causing the entirety of the movable range to correspond to entirety of the operating range, and second mode causing the entirety of the movable range to correspond to the part of the operating range. The setting device sets the relation such that a point in the operating range corresponding to a reference point, set by the setting device, in the movable range is unchanged in any of the first or second mode is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Kato
  • Patent number: 10451882
    Abstract: A head-mounted display (HMD) system includes an optical arrangement, a first image panel, a second image panel, and a central image panel located between the first and second image panels. The optical arrangement is reconfigurable between a first position and a second position that maintains first and second optical pathways of the first and second image panels, and the HMD system has a different form factor when the optical arrangement is in the second position as compared to the first position. The optical arrangement includes at least one segmented optical component, wherein segments of the segmented optical component are moveable relative to each other to reconfigure the optical arrangement between the first position and the second position. The segmented optical component may include one more lens assemblies, each with multiple lens segments that are rotatable relative to each other about a hinge structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ka Ho Tam, David James Montgomery, Scott Wells
  • Patent number: 10298841
    Abstract: Various aspects of a device, such as an imaging device, and method to generate a panoramic image are disclosed herein. The imaging device comprises a micro-lens array configured to capture light-field (LF) data associated with a field-of-view (FOV) of the imaging device. One or more circuits in the imaging device focus on a first subject to determine a first frame. The first frame is based on a first realignment of the stored LF data of the first subject in the FOV. Determination of one or more other frames occurs when the one or more circuits dynamically refocus on one or more other subjects. A panoramic image is generated from a combination of the determined first frame and the determined one or more other frames. The generated panoramic image corresponds to a pseudo three-dimensional image that contributes to the depth perception of the selected one or more subjects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nabarun Goswami, Madhvesh Sulibhavi, Pramod Chintalapoodi
  • Patent number: 10082656
    Abstract: A lamellar bone observation microscope includes: a light source; a condenser lens for focusing light emitted by the light source onto a sample; an objective lens on an opposite side of the sample from the condenser lens; a first polarizing plate between the light source and the condenser lens to pass only a polarization component of the light emitted by the light source; a second polarizing plate configured to pass only a polarization component of the light passed through the sample in accordance with a relative positional relationship with the first polarizing plate; a first wave plate between the first polarizing plate and the condenser lens to introduce a phase difference of ?/4 in a ? direction of the light passed through the first polarizing plate; and a second wave plate for introducing a phase difference of ?/4 in a ? direction of the light passed through the objective lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takaaki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 10012889
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus which is capable of reducing the number of parts and assembling man-hours of a seal construction of an matching section of external covers, and making seal performance stable while realizing downsizing of the apparatus. The electronic apparatus has a first external cover, a second external cover abutting to the first external cover through a matching section, a seal member disposed at the matching section, a gap disposed at the matching section on an external side of the electronic apparatus with respect to the seal member, and a third external cover fitted to the first external cover and the second external cover so as to partially cover the seal member. The seal member has, at a part of the gap partially covered by the third external cover, a protruding portion abutting to the third external cover to seal the part of the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Asai
  • Patent number: 9413460
    Abstract: A communication method used in a terminal is provided that includes a front camera and a back camera. The communication method includes switching between the front camera and the back camera according to an orientation of the terminal, and performing visible light communication by using the front camera or the back camera, which is selected in the switching. The performing of visible light communication includes capturing a first subject that is changing in luminance by using the front camera and obtaining a first image when the front camera is used, capturing a second subject by using the back camera and obtaining a second image when the back camera is used, and obtaining specified information that is related to the first subject or the second subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Oshima, Koji Nakanishi, Hideki Aoyama, Shinsuke Ogata
  • Patent number: 9207427
    Abstract: An optical apparatus includes an operator rotationally operable about an optical axis of an image pickup optical system and configured to move, when rotationally operated, part of the image pickup optical system in an optical axis direction of the image pickup optical system and to change a focal length, an adjustor rotationally operable about the optical axis and configured to change, when rotationally operated, a pressure applied to the operator so as to change an operating load necessary to rotationally operate the operator, and an indicator prohibited from rotating about the optical axis and configured to move in the optical axis direction of the image pickup optical system, the indicator including part disposed between the operator and the adjustor. The operator indicates a plurality of zoom states, the part of the indicator has a pointer configured to select one of the plurality of zoom states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuki Nagao
  • Publication number: 20150146072
    Abstract: A device is provided, wherein a focus plane may be selected via a user input (33, 34). The selected focus plane is highlighted to enable a user to select a desired focus plane easily.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: SONY MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS AB
    Inventors: Bo Larsson, Mats Wernersson
  • Publication number: 20150130982
    Abstract: An image of subject formed optically is obtained by the finder unit. The subject is imaged electronically by an image sensing device, and a video signal, which represents an image within an autofocus target area inside the image of the subject of the subject obtained, is read out of the image sensing device. The image represented by the video signal is displayed on the display screen of a liquid crystal device which constitutes an electronic viewfinder. Looking through the finder unit, a user sees an image obtained by superimposing the image, which is displayed on the display screen, upon the optical image of the subject. If correct focusing is achieved, the optical image of the subject and the image coincide. Since a video representing a portion of the image of the subject is read out of the image sensing device, the image is displayed without delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi MISAWA
  • Patent number: 9019394
    Abstract: An optical system includes, in order from the object side, an aperture, a first lens having a positive refractive power, a second lens having a negative refractive power, a third lens having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens having a positive refractive power and having a meniscus shape with a convex surface facing the image side, and a fifth lens having a negative refractive power. The optical system satisfies a certain condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Takuya Otsu
  • Patent number: 9007497
    Abstract: A three-mirror anastigmatic with at least one non-rotationally symmetric mirror is disclosed. The at least one non-rotationally symmetric mirror may be an electroformed mirror shell having a non-rotationally symmetric reflective surface formed by a correspondingly shaped mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Media Lario S.R.L.
    Inventor: Iain A. Neil
  • Patent number: 8947576
    Abstract: An optical viewfinder to observe an object image focused as a primary image by an objective lens includes a first display unit of self-luminous type and a second display unit of non-self-luminous type. The first display unit is arranged at a position closer to a primary image plane of the objective lens than the second display unit in a direction of an optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Irie
  • Patent number: 8947553
    Abstract: An image processing device including a subject frame setting section which, by operating a subject detector which detects a subject captured in an image, sets a subject frame which surrounds a predetermined range of the subject detected from the image; an acceptance frame setting section which sets an acceptance frame with a range wider than the subject frame according to the context of the image; a position detecting section which detects a specified position on an image which is specified by a user; and a recognizing section which recognizes a subject which is a tracking target based on the acceptance frame set by the acceptance frame setting section and the specified position detected by the position detecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yoko Fukata
  • Patent number: 8913155
    Abstract: An optical system includes, in order from the object side, an aperture, a first lens having a positive refractive power, a second lens having a negative refractive power, a third lens having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens having a positive refractive power and having a meniscus shape with a convex surface facing the image side, and a fifth lens having a negative refractive power. The optical system satisfies a certain condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Takuya Otsu
  • Patent number: 8902346
    Abstract: Certain embodiments described herein relate to a scanning controller configured produce a horizontal (H) and vertical (V) scanning control signal that is used to control a bi-axial scanning mirror of a scanning laser projector device, a system including such a scanning controller, and a method for generating such an H and V scanning control signal. In an embodiment, the H and V scanning control signal includes H scanning frequency content that is used to control a H scanning frequency of the bi-axial scanning mirror, and V scanning frequency content that is used to control a V scanning frequency of the bi-axial scanning mirror. To avoid cross talk, the scanning controller is configured to produce the H and V scanning control signal such that the H scanning frequency content has a null at DC, and the V scanning frequency content has a null at the H scanning frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Intersil Americas LLC
    Inventor: Gwilym Luff
  • Publication number: 20140347543
    Abstract: A camera system includes an imaging optical system, an imaging unit, a reflecting mirror that is in a first state of being positioned in an optical path extending from the imaging optical system to the imaging unit or in a second state of being retracted from the optical path, an aperture adjustment unit, an image adjustment unit, a release button, and a control unit. The imaging unit performs focusing by detecting contrast in an image of the subject, and while the reflecting mirror is kept in the second state, the image adjustment unit increases the brightness of the image on a display when the aperture adjustment unit changes the aperture value of the imaging optical system to a larger aperture value, and by operation of the release button, the imaging unit performs the focusing, and then the photographing of the subject is started.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Naoto YUMIKI, Kaoru MOKUNAKA
  • Publication number: 20140340558
    Abstract: An ocular optical system used to view an image displayed on an image display surface, which includes a first lens having positive refractive power, a second lens of meniscus shape having negative refractive power with its concave surface facing the image display surface side, and a third lens having positive refractive power arranged in this order from the image display surface side to a viewer side. A focal length of the first lens, a focal length of the second lens and a focal length of the entire system need to be determined suitably.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Seiji Nakahara
  • Patent number: 8872957
    Abstract: There are provided: a half mirror provided in a finder device and transmitting an incident light image from a subject side and projecting the incident light image onto a photographer side finder view window side; a display panel provided in a position facing the half mirror in the finder device and displaying a taken image of the subject taken by an imaging device with given brightness so that the displayed taken image (EVF image) is reflected by the half mirror so as to be projected onto the photographer side finder view window side; and a display control portion changing brightness of the display image (EVF image) displayed on the display panel so that the brightness of the display image (EVF image) increases gradually to given brightness or the brightness of the display image (EVF image) further increases gradually from the given brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tadashi Jogetsu
  • Publication number: 20140307145
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus according to the present invention is an imaging apparatus performing live-view display by generating image data using an exposure parameter calculated from a brightness value in a photometric area for the live-view display which is different from a photometric area for focus adjustment when not performing the focus adjustment, and performing the live-view display also when performing the focus adjustment, and includes: a focus adjustment brightness value calculation section comparing a first brightness value in the photometric area for the live-view display with a second brightness value in the photometric area for the focus adjustment, correcting the first brightness value according to a comparison result, and calculating a brightness value for obtaining the image data for the focus adjustment; an imaging section obtaining the image data by performing exposure using the brightness value calculated by the focus adjustment brightness value calculation section; a focus adjustment section p
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru ITO
  • Publication number: 20140300792
    Abstract: The defocus amount of an imaging optical system is detected based on a pair of image signals that are obtained from an image sensor and are used for phase-difference detection automatic focusing. In a first mode, the drive of a focusing lens is controlled so that the focusing lens is driven at a first speed if the reliability of the pair of image signal is at a first level, and at a second speed lower than the first speed if the reliability of the pair of image signals is at a second level higher than the first level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shun Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140285676
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a high precision method, model and apparatus for calibrating, determining the rotation of the lens scope around its symmetry axis, updating the projection model accordingly, and correcting the image radial distortion in real-time using parallel processing for best image quality. The solution provided herein relies on a complete geometric calibration of optical devices, such as cameras commonly used in medicine and in industry in general, and subsequent rendering of perspective correct image in real-time. The calibration consists on the determination of the parameters of a suitable mapping function that assigns each pixel to the 3D direction of the corresponding incident light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSIDADE DE COIMBRA
    Inventors: João Pedro de Almeida Barreto, Gabriel Falcão Paiva Fernandes, Rui Jorge Melo Teixeira
  • Publication number: 20140267872
    Abstract: A digital camera includes an image sensor, a display device which displays a live-view display of an object image, an autofocus adjuster which detects a focal state and brings a specified object image into an in-focus state by moving a focal-adjusting lens group of a photographing lens, a focus lock-on device which prohibits the focal-adjusting lens group from moving and enters a focus locked-on state when the autofocus adjuster brings the specified object image into an in-focus state, a focus lock-on detector, and a distinguishing-display controller. When the focus lock-on detector detects a focus locked-on sate, the distinguishing-display controller performs image processing on part or the entirety of the specified object image, and a peaking display of the specified object image is displayed on the display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Teppei OKAMOTO
  • Patent number: 8830334
    Abstract: This is generally directed to systems and methods for providing shiftable column circuitry for a pixel array of an imaging system. Columns of a pixel array can be switchably coupled (e.g., through multiplexers) to their default column circuitry as well as coupled to one or more instances of a neighboring column's column circuitry. In response to an instance of default column circuitry being identified as defective, its corresponding column may “shift” and choose to couple to the neighboring column circuitry. Similarly, all following columns may also shift and couple to a neighboring column circuitry. In some embodiments, the defective column circuitry can be identified during wafer testing and identifying information (e.g., an address) of the defective column circuitry stored in memory. The identifying information may then be accessed from memory and, during an image signal readout phase, used to suitably shift the columns to avoid the defective column circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Dean Silsby
  • Publication number: 20140240578
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention relates to methods, systems, architectures, algorithms, designs, and user interfaces for light-field based autofocus. In response to receiving a focusing request at a camera, a light-field autofocus system captures a light-field image. An image crop that contains a region of interest and a specified border is determined. A series of refocused images are generated for the image crop at different scene depths. A focus metric is calculated for each refocused image. The scene depth of the refocused image with the best focus metric is identified as the appropriate focus. The focus motor position for the appropriate focus is selected and the focus motor is automatically driven to the selected focus motor position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Lytro, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Fishman, Timothy Knight, Yuriy Romanenko, Jeff Kalt
  • Patent number: 8810674
    Abstract: The invention provides an imaging apparatus and an imaging system, each one comprising an optical system having characteristics matching with image restoration processing, thereby achieving effective image restoration processing. To this end, the imaging apparatus or system comprises an imaging device 12, an optical system 11 for forming a subject image on the imaging device 12, and an image processing means 14 for implementing image processing for an image being viewed, the image produced out of the image device 12. The imaging apparatus or system is characterized in that the optical system 11 has a substantially constant MTF at a position where the imaging device 12 is located and in the predetermined distances before and after that position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Ayako Asakura, Akikazu Yachi
  • Publication number: 20140226054
    Abstract: In a variable magnification viewfinder device, information displayed on a liquid crystal panel and a viewfinder image are combined with each other through a prism. When a variable power lens is inserted in a viewfinder optical path, viewfinder magnification is changed. Based on the change in the viewfinder magnification, brightness of a backlight unit is changed and luminance of the information displayed on the liquid crystal panel is changed. In a viewfinder field of view, the information and the viewfinder image are displayed at substantially the same brightness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Kazunori TAMURA
  • Patent number: 8760556
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes a variable translucency mirror, a viewfinder unit configured to receive light reflected by the variable translucency mirror, an imaging sensor configured to receive light transmitted through the variable translucency mirror, an image display unit configured to display an image based on the light received by the imaging sensor, and a controller configured to set a translucency of the variable translucency mirror. In a viewfinder mode, the controller sets the variable translucency mirror to be at least partially reflective such that light incident on the variable translucency mirror is reflected thereby and received by the viewfinder unit. In a display view mode, the controller sets the variable translucency mirror to be at least partially transparent, such that light incident on the variable translucency mirror is transmitted therethrough and received by the imaging sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Andy Lai Lin
  • Publication number: 20140152883
    Abstract: Several methods for operating a built-in digital camera of a portable, handheld electronic device are described. In one embodiment, the device receives a user selection (e.g., tap, tap and hold, gesture) of a region displayed on the display screen (e.g., touch sensitive screen). A touch to focus mode may then be initiated in response to the user selection and exposure and focus parameters determined and adjusted. Then, an automatic scene detection mechanism can determine whether a scene has changed. If the scene has changed, then the touch to focus mode ends and a default automatic focus mode initiates. This mode sets a new exposure metering area and focus area prior to determining and adjusting exposure and focus parameters, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventors: Jeremy Jones, Nikhil Bhogal, Ralph T. Brunner
  • Patent number: 8743262
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a setting unit for enabling a user to set control values, a display unit for displaying the control values, an obtaining unit for obtaining an aperture value of a lens unit based on luminous information of an object image and the control values set by the user, and a calculation unit for calculating a signal for controlling an aperture of the lens unit according to the aperture value, wherein when the aperture value of the lens unit is a first aperture value, a value based on the first aperture value is displayed and a signal corresponding to the first aperture value is calculated, and when the aperture value of the lens unit is a second aperture value, a value based on the second aperture value is displayed and a signal corresponding to a third aperture value which is different from the second aperture value is calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukihiro Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8670061
    Abstract: There is provided a photography device including: a display control section; a guiding section; and a guiding control section that, in a state in which the optical image has been guided to the eyepiece portion and the electronic image and the composite image have not been guided to the eyepiece portion, if the photographing conditions are changed, carries out first control that controls the guiding section such that the composite image is guided to the eyepiece portion, and, if a predetermined time elapses after the first control or a predetermined operation is carried out by a user after the first control, carries out second control that controls the guiding section such that the optical image is guided to the eyepiece portion and the electronic image and the composite image are not guided to the eyepiece portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Sakurabu
  • Patent number: 8643749
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging unit that receives light coming from a subject and thus generates electronic image data; a display unit that displays an image corresponding to the image data; an angle-of-view setting unit that an angle of view to be changed for the image displayed by the display unit according to a first signal input from the outside; and a control unit that starts control of change to a predetermined angle of view set by the angle-of-view setting unit according to a second signal different from the first signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Matsuzawa, Tsuyoshi Yaji, Osamu Nonaka
  • Patent number: 8643759
    Abstract: The image pickup apparatus includes a finder optical system, a measuring part performing measurement relating to an object field image, a liquid crystal display element displaying in-finder information to be observed as an image superimposed on the object field image, and a temperature detector detecting temperature. A controller starts non-display control for causing the display element to change from a display state to a non-display state at a non-display control timing before start of the measurement, and starts display control for causing the display element to change from the non-display state to the display state at a display control timing before end of the measurement. The controller makes at least one of the non-display timing and the display timing earlier when a detected temperature acquired from the temperature detector is lower than a predetermined temperature as compared with when the detected temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Irie
  • Publication number: 20140022435
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium are disclosed for determining focal lengths of photographs. Image content is displayed in a graphical user interface. The image content is derived from a photograph taken with a lens having a focal length. The focal length is unknown when the image content is initially displayed. A user interface control is displayed in the graphical user interface. The user interface control is displayed on or proximate to the image content. User input comprising a change in position of the user interface control is received. The focal length is determined based on the change in position of the user interface control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: Dong Feng, Jingyuan Bai
  • Patent number: 8610842
    Abstract: A display apparatus, which is able to minimize a thickness by innovatively removing a case and some portions of a set cover and to realize a good aesthetic exterior appearance of the display apparatus by a novel design, includes a set cover exposed to the external to have a storage space, a guide frame received in the storage space, a display unit including a display panel prepared by bonding lower and upper substrates to each other, the display unit placed onto the guide frame, and a camera overlapping with one edge of the display unit and received in the guide frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Yong Kim, Nam Do Son, Song Ryol You, Kyeong Tak Baek, Seong Rok Kim, Ki Nam Jean
  • Publication number: 20130329112
    Abstract: This invention teaches a new generation of prompting system which allows an ordinary user to conveniently couple a LCD based prompting box to a video camera or a camcorder using a universal mounting and adjustment assembly by few steps which are as simple as loosening and fastening few fasteners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: Edmond Louis Dudkowski
  • Patent number: 8605192
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an aberration control optical system having an aberration control function to intentionally generate an aberration and an imaging device; and an image processing device which forms a first image into a highly accurate final image. An aberration control optical system makes the PSF to cover two or more pixels by using the aberration control optical system containing an aberration control element having an aberration control function to intentionally generate an aberration or an aberration control plane having the aberration control function. The aberration control optical system is formed as a depth extension optical system having two or more peaks of the MTF characteristic for defocus in a main image plane shift region not causing a false resolution in a predetermined frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Hayashi, Naoto Ohara, Tomoya Sugita
  • Publication number: 20130321601
    Abstract: An observation instrument includes an image capturing device, a processor, a first display, a second display, a half mirror and a pair of polarized glasses. The processor is electrically connected to the image capturing device. The first display and the second display are electrically connected to the processor. The first display and the second display face each other, and cooperatively define a right or an obtuse angle. The half mirror is located on an angle bisector line defined by the first and the second displays for receiving emitting lights. The polarized glasses is located at a front of the half mirror, and comprises a first lens and a second lens, in which the first lens allows a perpendicularly polarized light to pass through only, the second lens allows a horizontally polarized light to pass through only.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Inventor: KUO-FONG TSENG
  • Patent number: 8570422
    Abstract: A photographing apparatus, such as a digital camera, provided with a scene recognition function is disclosed, in which images photographed according to a photographing mode or color candidate corresponding to a recognized scene are played back according to a predetermined classification. Live view data and actually-photographed image data representing a subject are acquired, and the live view data is analyzed to recognize at least one scene representing the subject. Then, a photographing mode or a color candidate corresponding to the scene is selected. The photographing mode or color candidate selected for each actually-photographed image data is recorded together with the actually-photographed image data acquired according to the selected photographing mode or color candidate. A photographing mode or color candidate for playing back the actually-photographed image data is specified to play back all the actually-photographed image data acquired according to the specified photographing mode or color candidate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Oishi, Masako Suehiro
  • Patent number: 8564711
    Abstract: A zoom lens includes a first lens group of positive refractive power; a second lens group of negative power; a third lens group of positive power; a fourth lens group of negative power, and a fifth lens group of positive power arranged from the object side to the image side. At activation of variable power from the wide angle end to the telescopic end, the first, third, fourth and fifth lens groups moves so as to get closer to the object side or the image side at the telescopic end than at the wide angle end; and a gap between the first lens group and the second lens group increases; a gap between the second lens group and the third lens group decreases; a gap between the third lens group and the forth lens group increases; and a gap between the forth lens group and the fifth lens group increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Masaru Morooka, Kazuteru Kawamura, Koki Hozumi, Hideyuki Nagaoka, Koji Nakagawa
  • Publication number: 20130271636
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for determining apodization properties of a projection system in a lithographic apparatus. The method comprises allowing light from a given point in an illumination field to pass through the projection system along at least three different optical paths, and then determining the difference in the intensity of light received in a projection field from the two different optical paths, and calculating apodization properties of the projection system from the intensity difference. It is not necessary to know the intensity distribution in the illumination field. To provide the different optical paths a pinhole reticle provided with wedges of different orientations is used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Jacobus Matheus BASELMANS
  • Patent number: 8558937
    Abstract: Provided is a dual display device for a camera apparatus having a projector therein, which includes a rotary mirror module configured to project light of the projector to a front side of the camera apparatus body to display the light to the outside or to a rear side of the camera apparatus body while being rotated by driving of a drive motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joong-Wan Park, Byung-Duck Cho, Jung-Kee Lee
  • Publication number: 20130222668
    Abstract: A system for enhanced operation of a camera that utilizes an adjustable focusing eyepiece assembly that removeably attaches to a small section of the touch sensitive display face of a mobile device such s a smartphone, or mp3 player so as to eliminate all outside light. The small area encapsulated by the eyepiece assembly surrounds a miniaturized camera viewfinder image and the associated control icons that indicate the operation status of the camera as controlled by the operator's finger manipulation on the touch screen through the specialized, associated mobile device software application. The mobile device's camera may be operated much more accurately with this system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventor: Paul Anderson
  • Publication number: 20130201378
    Abstract: An electronic viewfinder is configured to magnify an image and provide adjustable diopter for different observers. The electronic viewfinder includes an aperture stop, a lens group totally with positive power, and a display. The components in the electronic viewfinder are arranged sequentially between the observer and the image. The lens group is utilized to enlarge the image, and the lens group includes a first lens with positive power and a second lens with negative power. The display is for showing the image. A first planar lens is disposed between the aperture stop and the lens group. A second planar lens may be disposed between the lens group and the display. A polarizer may be arranged between the second planar lens and the lens group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: ABILITY ENTERPRISES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: ABILITY ENTERPRISES CO., LTD.
  • Patent number: 8502883
    Abstract: When an interchangeable lens in which a memory that records image data is provided is mounted to a camera main body including a display section that displays an image, a signal processing and control section of the camera main body reads in a sample image that is previously stored in the memory. The sample image serves as a model with respect to an image that can be photographed by the interchangeable lens. The sample image is displayed by the display section for a predetermined time. Thereafter, the signal processing and control section performs display control that switches the display of the display section so as to display an image in which a subject is picked up by the interchangeable lens and the image pickup section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Osamu Nonaka, Yoshinori Matsuzawa
  • Publication number: 20130194479
    Abstract: There are provided: a half mirror provided in a finder device and transmitting an incident light image from a subject side and projecting the incident light image onto a photographer side finder view window side; a display panel provided in a position facing the half mirror in the finder device and displaying a taken image of the subject taken by an imaging device with given brightness so that the displayed taken image (EVF image) is reflected by the half mirror so as to be projected onto the photographer side finder view window side; and a display control portion changing brightness of the display image (EVF image) displayed on the display panel so that the brightness of the display image (EVF image) increases gradually to given brightness or the brightness of the display image (EVF image) further increases gradually from the given brightness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tadashi JOGETSU