Color Separating Optics Patents (Class 348/336)
  • Patent number: 11930259
    Abstract: One embodiment according to the technology of the present disclosure provides an optical element, an optical device, an imaging apparatus, and a manufacturing method of the optical element, for capturing a multispectral image. An optical element according to an aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of optical filters including two or more optical filters that transmit light beams having at least partially different wavelength ranges, and a frame having an inclined surface portion with an optical axis center as an apex, in which the plurality of optical filters are installed on the inclined surface portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Kawanago, Naoki Nishimoto, Shuhei Matsushita
  • Patent number: 11849226
    Abstract: An image processing device includes: an image sensor configured to generate first image data by using a color filter array; and processing circuitry configured to select a processing mode from a plurality of processing modes for the first image data, the selecting being based on information about the first image data; generate second image data by reconstructing the first image data using a neural network processor based on the processing mode; and generate third image data by post-processing the second image data apart from the neural network processor based on the processing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Irina Kim, Seongwook Song
  • Patent number: 11711598
    Abstract: A vehicular camera for a vehicular vision system includes a housing having a front housing portion and a rear housing portion, with the front housing portion including a lens barrel for accommodating a lens. A heating device is disposed at an outermost lens element of the lens. The heating device includes a pair of electrically conductive elements that are routed along the lens barrel for electrical connection to circuitry at a printed circuit board. An outer end of each of the electrically conductive elements is disposed at and in contact with a heating element at and in contact with the inner surface of the outermost lens element. When powered, the heating element heats the outermost lens element to evaporate moisture or condensation thereat. The camera is configured to be disposed at an exterior portion of a vehicle so as to have a field of view exterior of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Magna Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Zhongyao Liu, Yuesheng Lu, Jonathan D. Conger
  • Patent number: 11664401
    Abstract: An image sensor includes: a light detector including a plurality of photosensitive cells configured to sense light; a color separation lens array provided above the light detector and including a plurality of pattern structures, the color separation lens array being configured to collect light having different wavelength spectra respectively on at least two photosensitive cells of the plurality of photosensitive cells; and a variable interlayer element configured to adjust an optical distance between the light detector and the color separation lens array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seokho Yun, Sookyoung Roh, Hongkyu Park, Minwoo Lim
  • Patent number: 11371888
    Abstract: A polarization and color sensitive pixel device and a focal plane array made therefrom. Each incorporates a thick color/polarization filter stack and microlens array for visible (0.4-0.75 micron), near infrared (0.75-3 micron), mid infrared (3-8 micron) and long wave infrared (8-15 micron) imaging. A thick pixel filter has a thickness of between about one to 10× the operational wavelength, while a thick focal plane array filter is on the order of or larger than the size or up to 10× the pitch of the pixels in the focal plane array. The optical filters can be precisely fabricated on a wafer. A filter array can be mounted directly on top of an image sensor to create a polarization camera. Alternatively, the optical filters can be fabricated directly on the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona
    Inventor: Stanley Pau
  • Patent number: 11363159
    Abstract: In a line sensor including color filters that are periodically disposed in a light-receiving-element row, a problem called a “mixture of colors” occurs. A “mixture of colors” occurs when light that has been transmitted through a color filter differing from a color filter corresponding to a light receiving element is incident upon the light receiving element. In a CMOS sensor 107 including a light-receiving-element row in which a plurality of photodiodes 1204 are disposed side by side in a main scanning direction and a plurality of color filters 1202 that are disposed in correspondence with the plurality of photodiodes 1204, the center of each color filter 1202 is displaced in a direction of the center of the light-receiving-element row from the center of the photodiode 1204 corresponding to the color filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Daisuke Akagi, Masanori Ogura, Jun Iba, Atsushi Furubayashi
  • Patent number: 11330211
    Abstract: An imaging device with a plurality of image sensing pixels and a plurality of event detection pixels is provided. Each image sensing pixel includes a photoelectric conversion element and an imaging signal generation readout circuit. The image sensing readout circuit can be shared by a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements. Each event detection pixel includes a photoelectric conversion element and an event detection readout circuit. The event detection readout circuit can be shared by a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements. In addition, the photoelectric conversion element of an event detection pixel can be selectively connected to a shared imaging signal generation readout circuit. The number of image sensing pixels is greater than the number of event detection pixels. In addition, the area of a photoelectric conversion element of an event detection pixel can be greater than the area of a photoelectric conversion element of an image sensing pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventors: Giri Mehta, Pooria Mostafalu, Frederick Brady, Ping Wah Wong
  • Patent number: 11252382
    Abstract: A 3 MOS camera includes a first prism that causes a first image sensor to receive IR light of light from an observation part, a second prism that causes a second image sensor to receive visible light of A % (A: a predetermined real number) of the light from the observation part, a third prism that causes a third image sensor to receive remaining visible light of (100?A) % of the light from the observation part, and a video signal processor that combines a color video signal based on imaging outputs of the second image sensor and the third image sensor and an IR video signal based on an imaging output of the first image sensor and outputs the combined signal to a monitor, the second image sensor and the third image sensor being respectively bonded to positions optically shifted by substantially one pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC I-PRO SENSING SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuji Kiniwa, Yota Hashimoto, Yuuichi Takenaga
  • Patent number: 11187576
    Abstract: In an example, an example article may include a spatially variant microreplicated layer optically coupled to a wavelength selective filter. The wavelength selective filter may have a light incidence angle-dependent optical band. The spatially variant microreplicated layer may be configured to transmit light to a first optical region of the wavelength selective filter at a first predetermined incidence angle and to a second optical region of the wavelength selective filter at a second predetermined incidence angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John A. Wheatley, Gilles J. Benoit, Guanglei Du, Rolf W. Biernath, Sara Suzanne Merritt, James Hillis, Owen M. Anderson, Timothy J. Nevitt
  • Patent number: 11153506
    Abstract: An image processing device including a first lens, a second lens disposed on one side of the first lens, a third lens disposed on the other side of the first lens, a first image sensor which receives an input of a first image obtained from the first lens to generate a first image signal, a second image sensor which receives an input of a second image obtained from the second lens to generate a second image signal, a third image sensor which receives an input of a third image obtained from the third lens to generate a third image signal, a selector which receives the input of the second image signal and the third image signal, outputs the second image signal under a first condition, and outputs the third image signal, under a second condition different from the first condition and an image processor which performs image processing, using the first image signal and an output signal of the selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ser Hoon Lee, Choon Seung Lee
  • Patent number: 10996426
    Abstract: A 3D imaging system comprises a phase detection autofocus (PDAF) image sensor, a lens for imaging a cross-section of a 3D object on the PDAF image sensor and an actuator for driving the lens for focusing each cross-section of the 3D object on the PDAF image sensor. The actuator drives the lens until the PDAF image sensor identifies an image of a first cross-section of the 3D object in-focus and records the image of the first cross-section. The PDAF image sensor records images of subsequent cross-sections of the 3D object formed by the lens driven by the actuator on the PDAF image sensor. The recorded images of each cross-section of the 3D object are stacked to form a 3D image of the 3D object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Anson Chan, Lequn Liu, Suganda Jutamulia
  • Patent number: 10992854
    Abstract: An image processing method includes correcting a magnification in a plurality of images captured at a plurality of different focus positions, aligning the plurality of images having the corrected magnification, correcting a color blur in the plurality of aligned images, and combining the plurality of images having the corrected color blur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroaki Nashizawa
  • Patent number: 10721381
    Abstract: The present invention provides the following camera. A first camera-side contact pin is a pin corresponding to detection of a signal change caused by coupling of a camera accessory. A second camera-side contact pin is a pin corresponding to supply of power for communication with the coupled camera accessory. A third camera-side contact pin is a pin corresponding to supply of a driving force to an actuator of the camera accessory. The first, second, and third camera-side contact pins are disposed in such a manner that, when a camera-side mount shifts from a first state to a second state, the third camera-side contact pin contacts first and second accessory-side contact surfaces, the second camera-side contact pin contacts the first accessory-side contact surface, and the first camera-side contact pin does not contact the second and third accessory-side contact surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuyuki Tokunaga, Takashi Hasegawa, Tetsuya Nishio, Yoshihiko Konno, Hiroshi Kikuchi, Azusa Sugawara
  • Patent number: 10682081
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product include aiming a light source at an object, where the light source is communicatively coupled to the processor, and where the light source and the image capture device are both positioned at pre-defined distances from a the object and are not in contact with the object. The processor enables the image capture device, to capture measurements of reflected light, where the reflected light comprises the light from the source as the light is reflected out of the object, where the image capture device is communicatively coupled to the processor, and where an image comprises the measurements. The processor obtains the image and locates data indicating a center of the light source in the image. The processor extracts intensities of the reflected light at a pixel location measured to be a predefined distance from the center of the light source in the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Outerfacing Technology LLC
    Inventors: Leanne Hirshfield, Christopher M. Meier
  • Patent number: 10516860
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an image processing method, device, terminal, and storage medium. The method includes: obtaining an RGB-NIR image sensor replacing a G component in a Bayer RGGB mode with an NIR component; using the RGB-NIR image sensor to obtain an RGB-NIR RAW image; and obtaining an RGB image and a near-infrared (NIR) image by demosaicing the RGB-NIR RAW image based on a vector median method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: NUBIA TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Rui Wang, Xiaolin Zhang
  • Patent number: 10455219
    Abstract: Stereo correspondence and depth sensor techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a depth map generated by a depth sensor is leveraged as part of processing of stereo images to assist in identifying which parts of stereo images correspond to each other. The depth map, for instance, may be utilized to assist in identifying depth discontinuities in the stereo images. Additionally, techniques may be employed to align the depth discontinuities identified from the depth map to image edges identified from the stereo images. Techniques may also be employed to suppress image edges that do not correspond to the depth discontinuities of the depth map in comparison with image edges that do correspond to the depth discontinuities as part of the identification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Adobe Inc.
    Inventors: Scott D. Cohen, Brian L. Price, Gowri Somanath
  • Patent number: 10334241
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting defective camera arrays, optic arrays and/or sensors are described. One embodiment includes capturing image data using a camera array; dividing the captured images into a plurality of corresponding image regions; identifying the presence of localized defects in any of the cameras by evaluating the image regions in the captured images; and detecting a defective camera array using the image processing system when the number of localized defects in a specific set of image regions exceeds a predetermined threshold, where the specific set of image regions is formed by: a common corresponding image region from at least a subset of the captured images; and any additional image region in a given image that contains at least one pixel located within a predetermined maximum parallax shift distance along an epipolar line from a pixel within said common corresponding image region within the given image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: FotoNation Limited
    Inventors: Jacques Duparre, Andrew Kenneth John McMahon, Dan Lelescu, Kartik Venkataraman, Gabriel Molina
  • Patent number: 10237520
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an imaging system, including an optical lens, where a spectroscopical module that can split a light wave transmitted from the optical lens into three light waves in different wavelength ranges is disposed on an imaging side of the optical lens; and the imaging system further includes three photosensitive chips configured to receive corresponding light waves, where the three photosensitive chips are correspondingly distributed at three light waves emitted by the spectroscopical module, and the spectroscopical module is a prism. In the present invention, a spectroscopical module is used to separate light whose wavelengths are different, and therefore light waves that are output from the spectroscopical module are three light waves in different wavelength ranges. These light waves in the different wavelength ranges are separately received by three different photosensitive chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: UNION OPTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Junqiang Gong
  • Patent number: 10209518
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a display apparatus, in which a shift of a transmission or reflection wavelength characteristic due to an incident angle of light is suppressed, and observation of external light necessary for display and image light necessary for display is possible. The display apparatus of the present disclosure includes an image light generator that generates image light by use of light in each of at least a first wavelength band, a second wavelength band, and a third wavelength band, and a light synthesizing part that transmits external light and reflects the image light. The light synthesizing part has a transparent substrate having a concave surface on which the image light is reflected, and a film that is provided on the concave surface of the substrate, reflects the image light, and transmits light in a predetermined wavelength band of the external light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Katsuo Saigo, Hiroshi Mitani
  • Patent number: 10203438
    Abstract: Provided are an optical filter and an optical measuring device employing the optical filter. The optical filter comprises at least one pixel. The at least one pixel comprises a first reflective plate that is configured to receive the incident light and have a plurality of first holes formed therein; and a second reflective plate that is configured to transmit particular wavelength or range of wavelengths of the light transmitted through the first reflective plate, faces the first reflective plate with a gap between the first reflective plate and the second reflective plate, and has a plurality of second holes formed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Younggeun Roh, Yeonsang Park
  • Patent number: 9851252
    Abstract: A compressive sensing-based multispectral video imager comprises a beamsplitter, a first light channel, a second light channel, and an image reconstruction processor; the beamsplitter is configured to divide the beam of an underlying image into a first light beam and a second light beam; the first light beam enters the first light channel, processed and sampled in the first light channel, to obtain a first mixing spectral image which is transferred to the image reconstruction processor; the second light beam enters the second light channel, processed and sampled in the second light channel, to obtain a second mixing spectral image which is transferred to the image reconstruction processor; the image reconstruction processor is configured to reconstruct the underlying spectral image based on the first mixing spectral image and the second mixing spectral image by using non-linear optimization method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Xidian University
    Inventors: Guangming Shi, Lizhi Wang, Danhua Liu, Dahua Gao, Guo Li, Yang Liu
  • Patent number: 9807382
    Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting defective camera arrays, optic arrays and/or sensors are described. One embodiment includes capturing image data using a camera array; dividing the captured images into a plurality of corresponding image regions; identifying the presence of localized defects in any of the cameras by evaluating the image regions in the captured images; and detecting a defective camera array using the image processing system when the number of localized defects in a specific set of image regions exceeds a predetermined threshold, where the specific set of image regions is formed by: a common corresponding image region from at least a subset of the captured images; and any additional image region in a given image that contains at least one pixel located within a predetermined maximum parallax shift distance along an epipolar line from a pixel within said common corresponding image region within the given image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: FotoNation Cayman Limited
    Inventors: Jacques Duparre, Andrew Kenneth John McMahon, Dan Lelescu, Kartik Venkataraman, Gabriel Molina
  • Patent number: 9407675
    Abstract: A room conferencing system includes a hub with a plurality of sensor nodes, each sensor node including a sensor node camera and a sensor node processor. A master controller is operable to establish a plurality of named queues, each of the named queues associated with a proximate physical object in an area comprising the hub and detectable by the sensor node camera. Each sensor node operable to cause the sensor node processor to identify a viewed physical object in a feed from the sensor node camera, and associate the viewed physical object with one of the named queues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Surround.IO
    Inventors: John Ludwig, Richard Tong, John Zagula, Jon Anderson
  • Patent number: 9386206
    Abstract: An imaging element includes: a semiconductor substrate in which a plurality of pixels is arranged in a two-dimensional array; a color filter layer which is laminated in a position corresponding to the pixel on an upper layer of the semiconductor substrate; a plurality of micro lenses which is laminated on an upper layer of the color filter layer to condense light which is incident onto the pixel; and an isolated columnar reflective wall which is vertically provided in an intermediate layer between the semiconductor substrate and the micro lens at every position of a gap enclosed by the plurality of adjacent micro lenses and reflects the light which is incident onto the color filter from the gap to a direction facing the pixel corresponding to the color filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Shunsuke Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9304300
    Abstract: An anamorphotic telescope has mutually different magnification along directions of minimum and maximum magnification in an image plane. A spectroscope with an elongated input slit directed along one of the directions of maximum and minimum magnification may be located in the image plane. The anamorphotic telescope has a first and second reflector lens with mutually different first and second radii of curvature in directions (y, x) that optically correspond to directions of minimum and maximum magnification. At least one of the first and second reflector lens has a variable radius of curvature in one direction (x), which varies as a function of position in the other direction (y), the variable radius of curvature decreasing in a direction of the angle from the view direction to the light directed by the first reflector lens to the second reflector lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Huibert Visser, Borgert Kruizinga, Michiel David Nijkerk
  • Patent number: 9143704
    Abstract: An image capturing device and a method thereof are provided. The image capturing device includes an image sensor and a processor. The image sensor includes a color filter array and a sensor chip. The color filter array includes a first region permitting visible light and infrared light to pass and a second region permitting the infrared light to pass. The sensor chip obtains a target image through the color filter array, wherein the target image includes a composite image corresponding to the first region and a first group infrared image corresponding to the second region, and the composite image includes a second group infrared image, where the second group infrared image and the first group infrared image are linear correlated. The processor adjusts a proportion of the second group infrared image in the composite image by employing the first group infrared image, so as to generate a processed image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventor: Chun-Ta Lin
  • Patent number: 9049359
    Abstract: A camera body, to which a lens unit configured to form an optical image of a subject is attachable, comprises a body mount to which the lens unit is attachable, an imaging element configured to convert the optical image of the subject into an electrical signal, and a shutter unit. The shutter unit is disposed between the body mount and the imaging element and provided so that an optical path can be blocked between the lens unit and the imaging element. The shutter unit is configured to be in an open state while the lens unit is removed from the body mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dai Shintani, Masato Murayama
  • Patent number: 9041987
    Abstract: An image evaluation apparatus includes a reading unit that includes a monochrome detection unit reading, in a focused state, an image formed on a recording material by an image forming apparatus that represents grayscale of the image by forming dots on the recording material, and a color detection unit reading the image in a defocused state; an image information obtaining unit that obtains image information for the image forming apparatus to form the image; a computing unit that computes a luminance and a chroma of an image supposed to be formed on the recording material by the image forming apparatus from the obtained image information; a comparing unit that compares a derived luminance with the computed luminance, and compares a derived chroma with the computed chroma; and an image evaluation unit that evaluates the image formed by the image forming apparatus, on the basis of results of comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyofumi Aikawa, Michio Kikuchi, Takashi Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 9030590
    Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes: a lens unit; a light transmission adjustment unit that adjusts light transmittance of light that passes through the lens unit; a photographing unit that is disposed a reflected light path of the light transmission adjustment unit and that generates an image data according to received light, and a view finder that is disposed on a transmitted light path of the light transmission unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-tae Kim, Dae-myung Kim, Toshikazu Takayanagi, Jong-hoon Lim
  • Publication number: 20150124151
    Abstract: Array cameras, and array camera modules incorporating independently aligned lens stacks are disclosed. Processes for manufacturing array camera modules including independently aligned lens stacks can include: forming at least one hole in at least one carrier; mounting the at least one carrier relative to at least one sensor so that light passing through the at least one hole in the at least one carrier is incident on a plurality of focal planes formed by arrays of pixels on the at least one sensor; and independently mounting a plurality of lens barrels to the at least one carrier, so that a lens stack in each lens barrel directs light through the at least one hole in the at least one carrier and focuses the light onto one of the plurality of focal planes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Errol Mark Rodda, Jaques Duparré
  • Patent number: 9013590
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for pixel multiplication in optical imaging systems. In one example, an expanded optical point spread function, referred to as a code spread function, is used to phase modulate an incident electromagnetic wavefront, and digital processing, including correlation techniques, are used to filter and process the modulated wavefront to recover sub-pixel information from an image produced by the wavefront on a pixilated detector array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Chet L. Richards
  • Publication number: 20150098005
    Abstract: An image sensor and an image capturing system are provided. The image sensor includes a pixel array, and the pixel array includes a plurality of image sensing arrays and a focus sensing pixel group. Each of the image sensing arrays is covered by a plurality of color filter units, and the focus sensing pixel group is not covered by the color filter units. The focus sensing pixel group includes a plurality of first focus sensing pixel units, and the first focus sensing pixel units are arranged according to a first arrangement pattern. An area ratio of the focus sensing pixel group and the pixel array is smaller than one-ninth, or the focus sensing pixel group is, with respect to the whole pixel array, non-uniformly disposed in the pixel array. The image capturing system of the present invention can enhance a focus function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: Novatek Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Shen-Fu Tsai, Wei Hsu
  • Publication number: 20150085174
    Abstract: A multi-aperture imaging system comprising a first camera with a first sensor that captures a first image and a second camera with a second sensor that captures a second image, the two cameras having either identical or different FOVs. The first sensor may have a standard color filter array (CFA) covering one sensor section and a non-standard color CFA covering another. The second sensor may have either Clear or standard CFA covered sections. Either image may be chosen to be a primary or an auxiliary image, based on a zoom factor. An output image with a point of view determined by the primary image is obtained by registering the auxiliary image to the primary image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: Corephotonics Ltd.
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Noy Cohen, Oded Gigushinski, Ephraim Goldenberg
  • Publication number: 20150077617
    Abstract: Provided is an image capturing module including a microlens array that collects light from a subject, which is imaged at an image plane; a filter that allows light in specific wavelength bands in the collected light to pass therethrough; and an image capturing device that acquires images of the light passing through the filter, wherein the filter is formed by arraying a plurality of RGB filter portions and a plurality of narrow-band filter portions, the image capturing device includes a plurality of color-wavelength obtaining regions and a plurality of narrow-band-wavelength obtaining regions, and the microlens array includes a plurality of first microlenses corresponding to the respective color-wavelength obtaining regions and a plurality of second microlenses corresponding to the respective narrow-band-wavelength obtaining regions, and the first microlenses are each disposed so that the light from the subject imaged at the image plane reaches at least one of the color-wavelength obtaining regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhiro KOMIYA, Kosei TAMIYA
  • Publication number: 20150070562
    Abstract: Generalized assorted pixel camera systems and methods are provided. In accordance with some embodiments, the generalized assorted pixel camera systems include a color filter array, where the color filter array includes a plurality of primary filters and a plurality of secondary filters. Each filter has a particular spectral response and each filter is formed on a corresponding pixel of a plurality of pixels. Each of the plurality of primary filters and the plurality of secondary filters enhances an attribute of image quality and the information obtained using the plurality of primary filters and the plurality of secondary filters is used to balance spectral resolution, dynamic range, and spatial resolution for generating an image of a plurality of image types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Shree K. Nayar, Fumihito Yasuma, Tomoo Mitsunaga
  • Patent number: 8922690
    Abstract: An image sensor including a pixel unit, the pixel unit including a photodiode, a first color filter and a second color filter each disposed in a different position on a plane above the photodiode, and a first on-chip lens disposed over the first color filter and a second on-chip lens disposed over the second color filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Masashi Nakata
  • Publication number: 20140285628
    Abstract: Optical apparatus includes an image sensor and objective optics, which are configured to collect and focus optical radiation over a range of wavelengths along a common optical axis toward a plane of the image sensor. A dispersive element is positioned to spread the optical radiation collected by the objective optics so that different wavelengths in the range are focused along different, respective optical axes toward the plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Alexander Shpunt, Niv Gilboa, Haim Bezdin
  • Publication number: 20140285701
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus, comprising a plurality of pixels arranged on a substrate, and element isolation regions formed between the plurality of pixels on the substrate, wherein the plurality of pixels include a first pixel including a first color filter for passing light having a first wavelength, a second pixel including a second color filter for passing light having a second wavelength shorter than the first wavelength, and a pixel for focus detection into which light longer than at least the second wavelength enters, and of the element isolation regions, a first region between the pixel for focus detection and the first pixel has a potential barrier against a signal charge, which is higher than that of a second region between the first pixel and the second pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Takakusagi
  • Publication number: 20140285702
    Abstract: A three-chip camera apparatus includes: a color separation prism which includes an incident surface perpendicular to an optical axis, a first emission surface parallel to the incident surface, a second emission surface inclined at a first inclination angle with respect to the optical axis, and a third emission surface inclined at a second inclination angle greater than the first inclination angle; a first imaging device which is disposed in parallel to the first emission surface; a second imaging device which is disposed in parallel to the second emission surface; and a third imaging device which is disposed in parallel to the third emission surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seiji HIGASHIYAMA, Takahisa SUZUKI
  • Patent number: 8836825
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes: a lens optical system L having a first optical region D1 and a second optical region D2 having a different optical power from that of the first optical region D1; an imaging device N having a plurality of pixels P1, P2; and an array optical device K for causing light passing through the first optical region D1 to enter the pixel P1 and causing light passing through the second optical region D2 to enter the pixel P2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Norihiro Imamura
  • Patent number: 8804014
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imagine lens, an imaging sensor having a color filter array with color filters of a plurality of colors having a plurality of pixels which are arranged on a light-receiving surface, a computing section obtaining a pixel value of an objective pixel by adding pixel values of a plurality of adjacent pixels which are adjacent to the objective pixel and which have one of the color filters of same color as the objective pixel among pixel values output from the imaging sensor, and a control section making the computing section compute, while shifting the objective pixel one by one in one direction, a pixel row formed of pixel values of the objective pixel in the one direction with respect to each predetermined pixel width in other direction, and generating an image thinned out at the predetermined pixel width in the other direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hideaki Kera
  • Patent number: 8786757
    Abstract: Optical apparatus includes an image sensor and objective optics, which are configured to collect and focus optical radiation over a range of wavelengths along a common optical axis toward a plane of the image sensor. A dispersive element is positioned to spread the optical radiation collected by the objective optics so that different wavelengths in the range are focused along different, respective optical axes toward the plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Primesense Ltd.
    Inventors: Alexander Shpunt, Niv Gilboa, Haim Bezdin
  • Patent number: 8767114
    Abstract: The solid-state image sensor of the present invention includes an array of photosensitive cells, an array 100 of dispersing elements, and an array 300 of color filters. The photosensitive cell array 200 has a number of unit blocks 40, each of which includes photosensitive cells 2a and 2b. The dispersing element array 100 includes a dispersing element 1a, which makes all of incoming light (W) but a light ray falling within a first wavelength range incident on the first photosensitive cell 2a and which also makes at least a part of the light ray falling within the first wavelength range incident on the second photosensitive cell 2b. A color filter 3a that either absorbs or reflects the light ray falling within the first wavelength range is arranged between the photosensitive cell 2a and the dispersing element 1a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Hiramoto, Masaaki Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20140176780
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device has normal pixels, first phase difference pixels, and second phase difference pixels. “R”, “G”, and “B” denote colors of color filters provided for the respective pixels. A color dependence characteristic calculator averages output signals from the normal pixels located at the center of a screen, on a color basis, and thereby calculates average output signals. A color determination section determines a main color of a subject, out of three primary colors, based on the average output signals. An AF controller performs focus adjustment of a taking lens based on the output signals of the determined main color, out of the output signals from the first phase difference pixels and the second phase difference pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Masaaki KOSHIBA
  • Publication number: 20140132819
    Abstract: A hyperspectral imaging system and a method are described herein for providing a hyperspectral image of an area of a remote object (e.g., scene of interest). In one aspect, the hyperspectral imaging system includes at least one optic, a rotatable disk (which has at least one spiral slit formed therein), a spectrometer, a two-dimensional image sensor, and a controller. In another aspect, the hyperspectral imaging system includes at least one optic, a rotatable disk (which has multiple straight slits formed therein), a spectrometer, a two-dimensional image sensor, and a controller. In yet another aspect, the hyperspectral imaging system includes at least one optic, a rotatable drum (which has a plurality of slits formed on the outer surface thereof and a fold mirror located therein), a spectrometer, a two-dimensional image sensor, and a controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Lovell Elgin Comstock, II, Richard Lynton Wiggins, Kenneth Smith Woodard
  • Patent number: 8664579
    Abstract: A method includes sampling a first intensity of light with a first array of photo detectors of a digital camera. A second intensity of light is sampled with a second array of photo detectors of the digital camera. A first channel processor coupled to the first array of photo detectors generates a first image using first array data which is representative of the first intensity of light sampled by the first array of photo detectors. A second channel processor coupled to the second array of photo detectors generates a second image using second array data which is representative of the second intensity of light sampled by the second array of photo detectors. The first array of photo detectors, the second array of photo detectors, the first channel processor, and the second channel processor are integrated on or in a semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Protarius Filo AG, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Richard Ian Olsen, Darryl L. Sato, Borden Moller, Olivera Vitomirov, Jeffrey A. Brady, Ferry Gunawan, Remzi Oten, Feng-Qing Sun, James Gates
  • Publication number: 20140028892
    Abstract: Image data is processed to facilitate focusing and/or optical correction. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an imaging arrangement collects light data corresponding to light passing through a particular focal plane. The light data is collected using an approach that facilitates the determination of the direction from which various portions of the light incident upon a portion of the focal plane emanate from. Using this directional information in connection with value of the light as detected by photosensors, an image represented by the light is selectively focused and/or corrected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yi-Ren Ng, Patrick M. Hanrahan, Marc A. Levoy, Mark A. Horowitz
  • Publication number: 20140009662
    Abstract: A physical information acquisition method in which a corresponding wavelength region of visible light with at least one visible light detection unit coupled to an image signal processing unit is detected, each said visible light detection unit comprising a color filter adapted to transmit the corresponding wavelength region of visible light; a wavelength region of infrared light with at least one infrared light detection unit coupled to the image signal processing unit is detected; and, with the signal processing unit, a first signal received from the at least one visible light detection unit by subtracting a product from said first signal is corrected, said product resulting from multiplication of a second signal received from the at least one infrared light detection unit and a predetermined coefficient factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Atsushi Toda, Genta Sato
  • Patent number: 8610801
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image pickup circuit that performs photoelectric conversion on an optical image, and a chromatic aberration correcting circuit that calculates an amount of shift by chromatic aberration based on a linear function to perform chromatic aberration correction on captured image data in accordance with the amount of shift. The chromatic aberration correcting circuit performs the chromatic aberration correction on a first pixel in a first area including an optical center of the captured image data with a first linear function using a distance from the optical center, and performs the chromatic aberration correction on a second pixel in a second area that does not include the optical center and that is different from the first area with a second linear function using the distance from the optical center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventor: Yuji Watarai
  • Patent number: 8610815
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses having imaging structures that include a focusing lens structure, a pixel array, and a transparent material arranged between the focusing lens and the pixel array. A color filter array may be located between the transparent material and the pixels of the pixel array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Jacques Duparre, Ulrich C. Boettiger