With Display Of Focusing Condition Or Alarm Patents (Class 348/346)
  • Patent number: 11843848
    Abstract: A control apparatus is operable to control capturing by an image capturing apparatus. The control apparatus comprises: a detection unit configured to detect a feature portion included in an image that was captured by the image capturing apparatus; and a determination unit configured to, based on a subject region that surrounds a subject including a feature portion detected by the detection unit, determine an exposure region for calculating an exposure. The determination unit determines the exposure region by extending the subject region in a first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Shunsuke Chino, Toshiyuki Dobashi, Seiya Ohta
  • Patent number: 11722775
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor configured to capture an optical image formed by an image pickup optical system, and a controlling unit configured to, in tilt imaging that changes a tilt angle, set a focal plane to any position such that an angle between the focal plane and the optical axis is changed, by controlling at least one of a position of a focus lens in the image pickup optical system and the tilt angle. The controlling unit controls the at least one so as not to set the focal plane to a first position corresponding to a position of a first target object that is an imaging target, but to set the focal plane to a second position that is different from the first position and at which the position of the first target object is included in a depth of field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Natsuko Sato, Shunsuke Chino, Ryo Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 11696022
    Abstract: Disclosed is an auxiliary capturing device for remotely controlling a capturing action of a capturing device. The capturing device is provided with a plurality of function keys, the plurality of function keys includes a press function key, a rotation function key, and a toggle function key, the auxiliary capturing device includes: a device body configured to be detachably mounted on the capturing device; an electric drive mechanism provided on the device body, a plurality of drive portions being formed on the electric drive mechanism, the plurality of drive portions being connected to the press function key, the rotation function key, and the toggle function key, respectively, to drive the press function key, the rotation function key, and the toggle function key to perform corresponding capturing actions; and a control assembly electrically connected to the electric drive mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: ZHONGSHAN YUEGUANG INTELLIGENT IMAGING TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenming Tang, Siqi Guo
  • Patent number: 11551465
    Abstract: A method for detecting a finger occlusion image includes: N first original occlusion images and M first non-occlusion images are acquired, and first training data set is generated based on first original occlusion images and first non-occlusion images; first training is performed, based on first training data set, on neural network model for detection of finger occlusion image; L second original occlusion images and K second non-occlusion images are acquired, and second training data set is generated based on second original occlusion images and second non-occlusion images; linear classifier in neural network model having completed first training is replaced with iterative training module to form finger occlusion image detection model; second training is performed on finger occlusion image detection model based on second training data set; image to be detected is input into trained finger occlusion image detection model, to determine whether image to be detected is finger occlusion image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Pinecone Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Zhi Qu, Yasen Zhang, Yan Song, Zhipeng Ge, Ruoyu Liu
  • Patent number: 11520938
    Abstract: An approach is provided that detects when a digital camera has been set to a privacy mode that limits access to the digital camera. When in privacy mode, the digital camera receives a request to access the digital camera from an application. The approach determines whether the requesting application is allowed access to the digital camera while the digital camera is in the privacy mode. The requesting application is then allowed access to the digital camera in response to the determination being that the requesting application is allowed access to the digital camera. Likewise, the requesting application is inhibited access to the digital camera in response to the determination being that the requesting application is not allowed access to the digital camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan Jen-Wei Yu, Jonathan Co Lee
  • Patent number: 11496670
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided with a detecting unit for detecting a face and an eye from an image; an obtaining unit for obtaining a position designated by a user on a display screen on which the image is displayed; a setting unit for setting a left region for selecting a left eye of a face specified by the position designated and a right region for selecting a right eye of the face; and a selecting unit for selecting an eye region of a corresponding eye when the position designated is present in the left region or the right region. The setting unit extends a region for selecting, out of eyes of the specified face, an eye closer to an edge of the specified face when a predetermined condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masato Sanno
  • Patent number: 11490017
    Abstract: An electronic device has multiple cameras and displays a digital viewfinder user interface for previewing visual information provided by the cameras. The multiple cameras may have different properties such as focal lengths. When a single digital viewfinder is provided, the user interface allows zooming over a zoom range that includes the respective zoom ranges of both cameras. The zoom setting to determine which camera provides visual information to the viewfinder and which camera is used to capture visual information. The user interface also allows the simultaneous display of content provided by different cameras at the same time. When two digital viewfinders are provided, the user interface allows zooming, freezing, and panning of one digital viewfinder independently of the other. The device allows storing of a composite images and/or videos using both digital viewfinders and corresponding cameras.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Traer Bernstein, Lukas Robert Tom Girling, Linda L. Dong, Henrique Penha, Paulo Michaelo Lopez, Behkish J. Manzari
  • Patent number: 11483466
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imager configured to capture a subject image formed via an optical system including a focus lens, to generate image data; a display configured to display an image indicated by the image data; an operation member configured to receive a user operation; and a controller configured to control a focusing operation for adjusting a position of the focus lens along an optical axis in the optical system according to an evaluation value for a focus state, wherein the controller is operable to cause the display to display a graph indicating the evaluation value for a focus state in each position of the focus lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koji Shibuno
  • Patent number: 11327606
    Abstract: Provided are an output unit configured to output an image or distribution information of evaluation values corresponding to a plurality of regions of the image, an operation unit configured to accept a first action and a second action different from the first action; and a control unit configured to execute, when the output unit outputs a first image, output control such that the output unit outputs a second image if the operation unit accepts the first action, and that the output unit outputs distribution information of the evaluation values corresponding to the first image if the operation unit accepts the second action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Asahi Suzuki, Masaaki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 11297244
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a selection of a selected zoom area on an input image frame displayed on a user interface; determining one or more candidate zoom previews proximate to the selected zoom area using a saliency detecting algorithm; and displaying the one or more candidate zoom previews on the user interface adjacent to the selected zoom area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gyeongmin Choe, Hamid R. Sheikh, John SeokJun Lee, Youngjun Yoo
  • Patent number: 11273843
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for detecting a user gesture or eye tracking for selecting of an object, and responding to the selection, are disclosed. A gesture or eye tracker may be placed near a user, along with a camera positioned to share at least a portion of a field of view with the user. The user may look or gesture to an object within the portion of the field of view, indicating its selection. The object may be recognized, and the user presented with one or more actions to take in response to the selected object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Glen Anderson
  • Patent number: 10635910
    Abstract: This malfunction diagnosis apparatus detects a line on a road surface by distinguishing the line from an asphalt surface other than the line. The malfunction diagnosis apparatus sets a first area corresponding to the line and a second area corresponding to the asphalt surface using a first image captured while the line is detected. The malfunction diagnosis apparatus calculates a first brightness in the first area and a second brightness in the second area using a second image captured while the vehicle is cruising and the line is not detected. Further, the malfunction diagnosis apparatus diagnoses the malfunction based on at least one of the first brightness and the second brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: TRANSTRON INC
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Hishinuma, Naoyuki Urushizaki, Hirokazu Sugita, Kazuhiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10597042
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for detecting a user gesture or eye tracking for selecting of an object, and responding to the selection, are disclosed. A gesture or eye tracker may be placed near a user, along with a camera positioned to share at least a portion of a field of view with the user. The user may look or gesture to an object within the portion of the field of view, indicating its selection. The object may be recognized, and the user presented with one or more actions to take in response to the selected object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Glen Anderson
  • Patent number: 10440251
    Abstract: An information processing system configured to perform predetermined processing based on out-of-focus information corresponding to a first area of an image, the out-of-focus information corresponding to a difference in focus between the first area of the image and a second area of the image that is different from the first area of the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiki Ono, Ryuji Shibata
  • Patent number: 10346692
    Abstract: This malfunction diagnosis apparatus detects a line on a road surface by distinguishing the line from an asphalt surface other than the line. The malfunction diagnosis apparatus sets a first area corresponding to the line and a second area corresponding to the asphalt surface using a first image captured while the line is detected. The malfunction diagnosis apparatus calculates a first brightness in the first area and a second brightness in the second area using a second image captured while the vehicle is cruising and the line is not detected. Further, the malfunction diagnosis apparatus diagnoses the malfunction based on at least one of the first brightness and the second brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: TRANSTRON INC
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Hishinuma, Naoyuki Urushizaki, Hirokazu Sugita, Kazuhiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10277799
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: an image sensor configured to capture an object image; a first focus detection unit configured to perform focus detection based on a pair of image signals generated by the image sensor; a second focus detection unit configured to image the object image on a focus detection element as a pair of images, and perform focus detection based on a pair of image signals; a setting unit configured to set an AF correction value used in correction of a focus detection result by the second focus detection unit; and a determining unit configured to determine accuracy of the AF correction value, based on a difference between a focus detection result by the first focus detection unit and a focus detection result by the second focus detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hiroshi Abe, Takuya Izumi
  • Patent number: 10148861
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which is capable of easily generating a developed image file from image data obtained using the light field technique. A first recording mode in which data obtained from signals having different focuses is recorded as refocusable first data or a second recording mode in which data which is obtained by carrying out a development process on the data is recorded as non-refocusable second data is selected. During captured image review, at least one focus position in the image data is set as focus information. Based on the recording mode and the focus information, whether to generate a RAW image file or generate a developed image file is determined. When the RAW image file is to be generated and recorded in response to the determination, the focus information is added to the RAW image file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takuma Mikawa
  • Patent number: 9992467
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to an architecture of a vision pipe included in an image signal processor. The architecture includes a front-end portion that includes a pair of image signal pipelines that generate an updated luminance image data. A back-end portion of the vision pipe architecture receives the updated luminance images from the front-end portion and performs, in parallel, scaling and various computer vision operations on the updated luminance image data. The back-end portion may repeatedly perform this parallel operation of computer vision operations on successively scaled luminance images to generate a pyramid image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Suk Hwan Lim, D. Amnon Silverstein, David R. Pope
  • Patent number: 9979875
    Abstract: A focusing method is disclosed, comprising: recording image statistical information corresponding to each position of a focusing lens from the beginning of focusing, wherein the image statistical information comprises a luminance value of image; determining whether the current scene is a point light source scene or not based on the recorded image statistical information; and executing a focusing process based on a regional luminance variance of image when the current scene is determined as a point light source scene. Wherein, the regional luminance variance of image denotes a mean of the square of differences between luminance values of a plurality of regions partitioned from an image and an average luminance value of the image. The method of the present disclosure can effectively improve the stability and accuracy of focusing effect under a point light source scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVIEW TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD
    Inventors: Qiankun Lv, Ning Ren
  • Patent number: 9936158
    Abstract: The present invention enables automatic generation of an image in which only an impressive color is kept, without requiring a complicated operation. A digital camera 100 divides an image obtained by an imaging unit 20 into regions based on color information and luminance information, and determines a characteristic object in accordance with a characteristic degree of each region into which the image is divided. Further, a region for keeping a color is set in which the color of the characteristic object is to be kept. A color conversion process is then performed so as to keep the color of the characteristic object in the region for keeping a color, and to change colors of the other regions to an achromatic color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akira Kubota
  • Patent number: 9667861
    Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a camera module, and a camera control module operatively connected to the camera module, wherein the camera control module obtains focus information of a subject to be captured by using the camera module, moves a lens of a camera to focus the camera on the subject based on at least the focus information, and provides guide information corresponding to the movement of the lens through an output device operatively connected to the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung ELectronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woo-Yong Lee, Dong-Hoon Jang, Ki-Huk Lee, Yun-Sik Choo
  • Patent number: 9648225
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems and software for focusing a camera are disclosed. The camera focusing system includes a distance measuring device, a video receiver that receives video/images, a graphics overlay unit, and a monitor. The distance measuring device includes an emitter that emits a radiation beam, a detector that detects reflected radiation, and logic that determines and processes distance information for subject(s) or object(s) in detection zones from the reflections. The graphics overlay unit receives video/image information from the video receiver and the distance information from the distance measuring device, and includes a video overlay and data processing unit that generates graphics indicating a field of detection and position for each detection zone and a direction and/or magnitude of a change in focus setting(s) to bring subjects or objects within each detection zone into focus. The monitor displays the video/image and the graphics overlaid thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Inventor: Howard Preston
  • Patent number: 9594291
    Abstract: A lens apparatus includes a focus lens, a focus detector, an automatic focusing unit configured to drive the focus lens based on a focus detection result obtained from the focus detector, a focus information output unit configured to output focus information to a display unit capable of displaying the focus information superimposed on a picked up image obtained by picking up an image with use of a light beam from an object, which passes through the lens apparatus, and a display determination unit configured to determine whether or not to display the focus information on the display unit, in which the focus information output unit is configured to output a signal for displaying the focus information to the display unit based on a determination result obtained from the display determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Junichi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9554029
    Abstract: There is provided an imaging apparatus including a first focus detection unit that has a plurality of first focus detection areas in a photographed screen, and detects a first defocusing amount in the first focus detection areas, a second focus detection unit that has a plurality of second focus detection areas in a photographed screen, and detects a second defocusing amount in the second focus detection areas, a defocusing amount selection unit that selects which of the first defocusing amount detected by the first focus detection unit and the second defocusing amount detected by the second focus detection unit is used, and a focus control unit that performs focus control by moving a focus lens on the basis of the defocusing amount selected by the defocusing amount selection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenji Komori, Norihiko Akamatsu, Akifumi Mizukami
  • Patent number: 9521339
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus. A first correction unit sets each of a plurality of pixels included in an image as a target pixel in sequence, determines whether or not the target pixel is a defective pixel, and corrects the defective target pixel using peripheral pixels. The first correction unit does not use, in the correction of the target pixel, a defective pixel in the peripheral pixels that is known. A second correction corrects each corrected pixel that has been corrected by the first correction unit using a defective pixel which was unknown at the time of the correction, using the peripheral pixels used by the first correction unit. The second correction unit uses, for the defective pixel in the peripheral pixels used by the first correction unit, a corrected pixel by the first correction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hayato Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9338367
    Abstract: One or more embodiments of the present application provide a processing method of a scene image of a device with a shooting function, the device with the shooting function and a storage medium. The method includes: determining first and second combined regions in a pre-shot image of a shot scene according to gray values of pixels in the pre-shot image; determining first and second exposures according to the determined first and second combined regions respectively; adjusting respectively gray values of pixels in a first image region corresponding to the first combined region in a first image shot at the first exposure, and gray values of pixels in a second image region corresponding to the second combined region in a second image shot at the second exposure; and splicing the two adjusted image regions together to obtain the scene image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignees: Hisense Electric Co., Ltd., Hisense USA Corporation, Hisense International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Guilin Hou, Fei Huang, Xuebin Sun
  • Patent number: 9197871
    Abstract: There is provided a signal processing device including a correction processing unit that acquires a pixel signal output from a sensor on which pixels are disposed in an array in which a spatial frequency of a color pixel which is a pixel acquiring a color component is lower than a spatial frequency of luminance pixels which are pixels acquiring luminance components, and then corrects the pixel signal output from a defective pixel out of the pixels that the sensor includes. During correction of a pixel signal of the color pixel, the correction processing unit performs correction referring to pixel signals of the luminance pixels having a spatial frequency higher than the spatial frequency of the color pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideki Shoyama
  • Patent number: 9148559
    Abstract: A device assists focusing of a camera that is equipped with a manual focus-adjusting unit and that provides digital image contents, such as a smart camera. The device is configured to determine a focus value of the camera depending on an operation of the manual focus-adjusting unit and to display focusing information on the basis of the determined focus value to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Fillbrandt, Jan Karl Warzelhan
  • Patent number: 9122129
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit to photograph a subject by using a photographing device, a control unit to determine an operation mode of the image pickup apparatus, and, when the operation mode of the image pickup apparatus is a manual focusing mode, the control unit selects a focus detecting method to be applied among a plurality of focus detecting methods according to a focus operation of a user, a determination unit to determine a focus state for the subject by using the selected focus detecting method, and a user interface unit to indicate the determined focus state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshihiro Hamamura
  • Patent number: 9094610
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus has either one of a first display mode for continuously displaying a captured image on an image display unit and a second display mode for not displaying the captured image on the image display unit and displays an image according to the detection result on the image display unit when the second display mode is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Eiji Yoshino
  • Patent number: 9041812
    Abstract: Real-time access by a requestor to surveillance video is conditionally pre-authorized dependent on the existence of at least one pre-specified automatically detectable condition, and recorded in a data processing system. A requestor subsequently requests real-time access to the surveillance video (e.g., as a result of an alarm), and if the pre-specified automatically detectable condition is met, access is automatically granted, i.e., without the need for manual intervention. An automatically detectable condition could, e.g., be an alarm condition detected by a sensor at the site of the video surveillance. Alternatively, it could be a locational proximity of the requestor to the site of the video surveillance. Alternatively, it could be a previously defined time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald L. Billau, Vincenzo V. Di Luoffo, Dan P. Dumarot, Matthew J. Paschal, Brandon W. Schulz, James E. Woodbury
  • Patent number: 9036071
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a shooting lens having a focus lens for adjusting a degree of focus on an imaging plane; an image sensor converting an optical image of a photographic subject to an electric image signal and outputting it; a confirmation image creator creating a focus state confirmation image in which a part, or a whole of an image expressed by the image signal is enlarged; a display displaying the focus state confirmation image; and a focus evaluation value calculator calculating a focus evaluation value based on the image signal; wherein when a state of an inclination of change in a focus evaluation value calculated at a plurality of positions of the focus lens while moving the focus lens is different from a state of an inclination of change in a focus evaluation value calculated immediately before, the focus state confirmation image is displayed on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Yoshida, Noriaki Ojima
  • Patent number: 9036072
    Abstract: It is required to carry out a tapping operation on a display screen to adjust the focus in a case where refocus process is performed in shifting to a reproduction mode, so that a user has to do an extra work. An image processing apparatus obtains a multi-view image data obtained by image-capturing in a plurality of viewpoints. A mode indicating information on a target to be focused is set. A combined image data focused on the target is generated by executing image processing to the multi-view image data based on the set mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasunari Nagamatsu
  • Patent number: 9001253
    Abstract: A mobile phone comprises a display, etc. If a camera function is performed, a through image (preview image) based on an imaging parameter value, a shutter key, etc. are displayed on the display. A RAM is registered in advance with imaging parameter value brought into correspondence to a coordinates range. When a predetermined time period elapses after a touch operation is made to the shutter key, an auxiliary key corresponding to the coordinates range is displayed. If a user moves a finger into the coordinates range based on the displaying of the auxiliary key, a current imaging parameter value is changed to a registered imaging parameter value. If the finger is released in such a state, an image imaged based on a changed imaging parameter value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Maeda
  • Patent number: 8988589
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus uses an image pickup device. A manual focus adjusting unit is configured to control a focus lens in response to a user's input operation. An edge detecting unit is configured to detect edge components from an image signal obtained by the image pickup device and to output detection levels of the detected edge components. A color signal replacement unit is configured to replace a signal of a pixel corresponding to the detection level with a predetermined color signal when the detection level satisfies a predetermined condition. A display unit is configured to display an image based on an output image signal from the color signal replacement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuichiro Yamada, Tsutomu Kume
  • Patent number: 8982272
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems and software for focusing a camera are disclosed. The camera focusing system includes a distance measuring device, a video receiver that receives video/images, a graphics overlay unit, and a monitor. The distance measuring device includes an emitter that emits a radiation beam, a detector that detects reflected radiation, and logic that determines and processes distance information for subject(s) or object(s) in detection zones from the reflections. The graphics overlay unit receives video/image information from the video receiver and the distance information from the distance measuring device, and includes a video overlay and data processing unit that generates graphics indicating a field of detection and position for each detection zone and a direction and/or magnitude of a change in focus setting(s) to bring subjects or objects within each detection zone into focus. The monitor displays the video/image and the graphics overlaid thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventor: Howard Preston
  • Patent number: 8964100
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Teppei Okamoto
  • Patent number: 8964099
    Abstract: A lens device according to one aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter obtains camera information indicating whether a mounted camera is a first camera with an AF-frame display function or a second camera without the AF-frame display function; when the camera information indicating the first camera is obtained, when the camera information indicating the second camera is obtained and an automatic tracking mode is set, the lens device changeably sets position and size of the AF frame; and when the camera information indicating the second camera is obtained and the automatic tracking mode is not set, the lens device fixes the AF frame at a predetermined position and size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tadashi Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20150042866
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an evaluation value generation unit configured to generate a focus evaluation value indicating a degree of focus of image data which is a target; an evaluation value stabilization unit configured to perform a stabilization process on the focus evaluation value generated by the evaluation value generation unit; and a display data generation unit configured to generate display data, in which focus information is added to the image data, using the focus evaluation value subjected to the stabilization process by the evaluation value stabilization unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventor: MASAFUMI WAKAZONO
  • Patent number: 8953089
    Abstract: In a camera unit that is mountable to a lens unit having a focus lens, an AF signal processing unit generates an AF evaluation value from an imaging signal obtained by an imaging element, and a camera control unit generates drive information for moving the focus lens to an in-focus point using the AF evaluation value and transmits the drive information to the mounted lens unit. The camera control unit transmits drive information including a focus lens position served as a reference for micro vibration and an amount of movement of the focus lens indicated by shift amount of an image plane with reference to the focus lens position to a lens unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoshi Yasuda
  • Patent number: 8947581
    Abstract: A focusing apparatus includes a focus area setting unit that sets a first focus area in a first captured image, an auto focusing control unit that performs focusing according to a first focus evaluation value that is calculated from the first focus area by automatically adjusting a focus lens, an information deriving unit that derives focus aid information corresponding to a second focus evaluation value that is calculated from a second focus area in a second captured image by manually adjusting the focus lens, and a storage unit that stores at least one of first focus area information about the first focus area and second focus area information about the second focus area, wherein the focus area setting unit sets a third focus area in a third captured image from among the first focus area information and the second focus area information stored during another focusing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Hamada, Kenji Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 8947580
    Abstract: The invention includes steps of setting a main area set within the frame of a photographed image signal, and a plurality of auxiliary areas each of which is smaller than the main area, selecting one or a plurality of focus detection areas from the main area and the auxiliary areas in accordance with the in-focus position of a focus lens based on the focus signals of the main area and the auxiliary areas, and controlling the focus lens to move to the in-focus position of the focus lens in the focus detection area selected in the selecting step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akiko Wada
  • Publication number: 20150009393
    Abstract: A digital camera 10 includes an imaging device 21a, a finder device 15, a phase difference information analyzing portion 71 and a control portion 32. In the finder device 15, an image in which an OVF optical image formed by an objective optical system 65 and an image displayed on a display portion 61 are superimposed on each other can be observed through an eyepiece window 17. The phase difference information analyzing portion 71 determines a focus region and a non-focus region in a photographic subject imaged by the imaging device 21a. The control portion 32 makes control to display an image Eg for highlighting the focus region E in the OVF optical image on the display portion 61 in the state in which the OVF optical image can be observed through the eyepiece window 17.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuki INOUE, Shigeru KONDOU, Takashi AOKI, Hiroyuki OSHIMA, Daisuke HAYASHI
  • Publication number: 20150002724
    Abstract: A method for adjusting focus position and an electronic apparatus are provided. Herein, a depth map is obtained according to a first image and a second image which are captured by a first lens and a second lens, respectively. A plurality of depth values included in the depth map is compared with a depth of field (DOF) table for obtaining a plurality of focus distances. An All-in-Focus (AIF) image is generated according to a plurality of focus images captured by the first lens with the focus distances, respectively. A blur process is executed for a plurality of pixels excluding a focus selected location in the AIF image, so as to obtain an adjusting image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: Altek Semiconductor Corp.
    Inventors: Che-Lun Chuang, Yun-Chin Li, Chia-Chun Tseng
  • Patent number: 8902366
    Abstract: In order to trigger an out of focus alert when the focus level of a video frame meets a focus criteria, a method is performed including the operations of: receiving a video frame, partitioning the video frame into a plurality of blocks, calculating an array of discrete cosign transformation (DCT) coefficients for at least one of the plurality of blocks using a DCT, classifying each of the at least one of the plurality of blocks based on the array of DCT coefficients for that block, calculating a focus level of the video frame from the block classifications, and triggering an out of focus alert if the focus level meets a focus criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Verint Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Fuk Sang Mak, Hing Yip Chung, Tao Luo, Wai Shing Yiu, Chi Kin Lee, Shiu Hang Tsang
  • Patent number: 8890998
    Abstract: Provided are a focusing apparatus for generating an image signal by converting image light incident through a focus lens to an electrical signal by an image pickup device, storing the image signal un a memory, calculating an AF evaluation value for an image signal read from the memory in a direction different from a reading direction of the image pickup device, and driving the focus lens by deriving a focus lens position corresponding to the calculated AF evaluation value, a focusing method thereof, and a recording medium for recording the focusing method. Accordingly, a focus can be correctly adjusted for various subject images, and a focus can be effectively adjusted for the images even in a high speed capturing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masataka Hamada
  • Publication number: 20140320732
    Abstract: Apparatus and associated method for facilitating image capturing in an electronic camera without the image being completely focused. A “mostly-in-focus” indicator is provided to an operator of the camera to notify the operator that a reasonably good image is available for capture, without having to wait for the camera to finish a fine focus adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventor: Brett Foster
  • Patent number: 8872934
    Abstract: A control unit monitors a state of captured image sequentially outputted by an image capturing unit. The control unit carries out a first determination that determines whether or not the state of a captured image satisfies a prescribed condition. When the result is that the prescribed condition is satisfied, the captured image is recorded in a recording unit. The control unit also carries out a second determination that determines whether or not the state of the captured image is appropriate for being subjected to the first determination. When the result is that the state is not appropriate for being subjected to the first determination, a warning is issued to the user to this effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Onodera, Shinichi Matsui
  • Patent number: 8872961
    Abstract: An autofocus system is provided that includes a focus-verification image-recapturing processor and a focus-verification image display processor. The focus-verification image-recapturing processor sets ISO sensitivity to a value lower than a predetermined value and increases an exposure value by adjusting at least one of an aperture value and an exposure time to carry out a focus-verification image-recapturing operation under focusing conditions applied in an antecedent autofocus operation when ISO sensitivity that is set in said auto focus operation exceeds the predetermined value. The focus-verification image display processor displays a focus-verification image obtained by the focus-verification image-recapturing operation when the ISO sensitivity that is set in the auto focus operation exceeds the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Kimura, Hiroyuki Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8860870
    Abstract: An imaging method includes setting a manual focus mode for moving a focus lens according to an operation of an operation unit, generating a contrast image, which is an image in which an edge of a taken image is enhanced or extracted, and superimposing and displaying, in the case of the manual focus mode, the contrast image on an optical image of the object in an optical finder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Fumio Nakamaru