Flash Or Strobe Patents (Class 348/371)
  • Patent number: 11948317
    Abstract: Multi-color flash with image post-processing that uses a camera device with a multi-color flash and implements post-processing to generate images is described. In one aspect, the multi-color flash with image post-processing may be implemented by a controller configured to control a camera and flashes of at least two different colors. The controller may be configured to cause the camera to acquire a first image of a scene while the scene is being illuminated with the first flash but not the second flash, then cause the camera to acquire a second image of the scene while the scene is being illuminated with the second flash but not the first flash, and generate a final image of the scene in post-processing based on a combination of the first image and the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventors: Charles André Schrama, Nicola Bettina Pfeffer, Arjen Gerben Van der Sijde
  • Patent number: 11871120
    Abstract: The present invention makes it possible to perform good illumination and obtain a good captured image when a plurality of users each having a camera-equipped portable information terminal device gather in the same place. A camera-equipped portable information terminal device is provided with: an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject; a first illumination means for illuminating the subject; a first communication unit that communicates with other portable information terminal devices; and a first control unit that controls the imaging unit and the first communication unit. The first control unit transmits a light emission instruction signal to the other portable information terminal devices via the first communication unit, and causes a second illumination means of each of the other portable information terminal devices to emit light in tandem with an imaging operation of the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shimizu, Motoyuki Suzuki, Yasunobu Hashimoto, Tomonori Nomura, Kazuhiko Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 11743604
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a pixel array part in which a plurality of pixel groups each including four pixels arranged in a matrix of 2×2 is arrayed. As a pixel group including four pixels, there are formed a first pixel group that includes three pixels that receive red light and one pixel that receives infrared light, a second pixel group that includes three pixels that receive blue light and one pixel that receives infrared light, a third pixel group that includes three pixels that receive green light and one pixel that receives infrared light, and a fourth pixel group that includes three pixels that receive green light and one pixel that receives infrared light. Four pixel groups including the first pixel group, the second pixel group, the third pixel group, and the fourth pixel group are arranged to form a set of 2×2 units in which the first pixel group and the second pixel group are diagonally positioned, and the third pixel group and the fourth pixel group are diagonally positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: SONY SEMICONDUCTOR SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasushi Sato, Junichi Sakamoto, Mitsuru Mishio, Yuichiro Baba
  • Patent number: 11728668
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a power system with a battery. The device may include power management circuitry that helps distribute power from the battery to components within the device. To prevent an excessive load from being applied to the battery and the battery from dropping below a cut-off voltage, power management circuitry may control power consumption by components in the device. Power consumption models in the power management circuitry may be used to ensure that maximum allowable power consumption levels are not exceeded. To help accurately and quickly manage power consumption decisions, each component may have characteristic power consumption values that characterize the power consumption profile of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Nalin Chaturvedi, Yiming Lou, Wei He, Stephen D. Sterz
  • Patent number: 11681209
    Abstract: The disclosed structured light projector may include (1) a light source having a light-emitting side that emits light, (2) a solid optical spacer element having a first side securely coupled to the light-emitting side of the light source, and (3) a diffractive optical element (DOE) stack including one or more DOEs, where the DOE stack includes (a) a light-receiving side securely coupled to a second side of the solid optical spacer element opposite the first side, and (b) a light-emitting side opposite the light-receiving side that emits structured light in response to the light received from the light-emitting side of the light source via the solid optical spacer element. Various other devices and methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Timothy Sullivan, Jonatan Ginzburg
  • Patent number: 11617023
    Abstract: A method for displaying a preview image, includes: obtaining a real-time image collected by an imaging device of a mobile terminal without turning on a flashlight; determining at least one target area in the real-time image; determining a distance between the mobile terminal and an entity corresponding to each of the at least one target area; determining a brightness enhancement degree for each of the at least one target area respectively according to the distance corresponding to each of the at least one target area and a flashlight parameter of the mobile terminal; and performing brightness enhancement on each of the at least one target area respectively according to the brightness enhancement degree for each of the at least one target area, and displaying the brightness-enhanced real-time image as a preview image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Enxing Hou, Junqi Xie
  • Patent number: 11610293
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus acquires first image data obtained by capturing an image of a subject, second image data obtained by capturing an image of a person capturing the subject and surroundings thereof, and third image data indicating an appearance of an image capture apparatus that captures the image of the subject. The apparatus reduces a reflection in the first image data using a learned machine learning model that uses the first image data, the second image data, and the third image data as input data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Koichi Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11611691
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a computer implemented method and system for coordinating taking of a picture using a camera and initiation of a flash pulse of at least one flash device. The method is adapted for a system including a first device and at least one remote device. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a time base for a processor element of the first device, estimating a time base for a processor element of each at least one remote device in relation to the time base of the processor element of the first device, scheduling a timing for initiation of the flash pulse of the respective at least one flash device and/or a timing for taking a picture using the camera in the time base of the first device so that the coordination with the timing for taking the picture is obtained, and obtaining at the respective remote device of the system the scheduled timing of initiation of the remote device in the time base of that device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: PROFOTO AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventor: Sven Christian Ridderström
  • Patent number: 11611687
    Abstract: A thin blade open-close device is incorporated in a limited space. A blade open-close device includes a base located on a module board including a lens unit, a partition located opposite to the module board from the base, and a cover plate located opposite to the base from the partition. The partition and the cover plate each have an opening aligned with an optical axis of the lens unit. The blade open-close device includes a blade movable in X-direction in a blade chamber defined between the cover plate and the partition, an actuator that moves the blade between a closing position to cover the openings and an opening position to uncover the openings, and a terminal plate extending in Z-direction. The terminal plate electrically connected to the actuator includes connectors at its end adjacent to the module board to be electrically connected to contacts on the module board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: NIDEC COPAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryosuke Ushio, Kenzo Imai, Koji Sawanobori, Nobuaki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 11595572
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes obtaining distance information and subject information with respect to a captured image, specifying, based on the obtained distance information, a first subject region in which images of subjects that exist in a predetermined distance range are distributed in the captured image, specifying, based on the subject information and independently of the obtained distance information, specifying a second subject region that includes a region from which the predetermined subject has been detected in the captured image, and determining a target region for which the image processing is executed with reference to at least one of the first subject region and the second subject region. A subject region varies depending on at least one of an image capture condition of the captured image and a state of the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoko Watazawa
  • Patent number: 11500268
    Abstract: A lighting device capable of suppressing an excessive temperature rise of a light emission section even when a fan is incapable of normal rotation. The light emission section emits light for illuminating an object. The fan cools the light emission section. A motor driving section drives the fan for rotation. A strobe microcomputer determines whether or not the motor driving section is abnormal, and controls a light emission interval of the light emission section in continuous light emission, based a result of the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yoshiro Ichihara
  • Patent number: 11445111
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes a connection unit to which an accessory apparatus is connected, a communication unit that communicates with a power source that supplies power to the image capture apparatus, and a control unit that determines power suppliable to the connection unit based on a predetermined value in a case where a predetermined communication with the power source is not to be performed. The connection unit is configured to supply power from the power source to the accessory apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takamitsu Abe
  • Patent number: 11438524
    Abstract: Example implementations relate to automated rack imaging. According to an example, a system for imaging a face of a rack includes a camera and lighting array, a positioning system, a computer system and a wheeled platform. The array includes multiple cameras located in a first plane orthogonal to a second plane and each camera has a first field of view in a first axis of the second plane. Collectively, the first fields of view extend from one end of the face to another end of the face. The positioning system is operable to move the array from a starting point to an ending point via multiple intermediate points along an axis in a third plane parallel to the first plane. The computer system (i) causes the cameras to capture images at the starting, intermediate, and ending point; (ii) stitches the captured images together; and (iii) stores the resulting image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: David Moore, Jonathon Hughes, Thomas Wright
  • Patent number: 11422391
    Abstract: The colored strobe for mobile phone comprises an optical instrument and a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket may couple to a mobile phone such that the optical instrument is positioned in front of a flashlight of the mobile phone. The optical instrument may alter optical properties of light emitted by the flashlight as the light passes through the optical instrument. The optical properties may comprise a path of the light, color of the light, or both. Operation of the flashlight while covered by the optical instrument may provide a novelty appearance for the mobile phone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventors: Bevan Brathwaite, Jean Desir
  • Patent number: 11405562
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a first acquisition unit configured to acquire an image shot by continuous shooting while emitting a flash; a second acquisition unit configured to acquire light emission information of the flash in the continuous shooting; a detection unit configured to detect a light emission variation of the flash based on the light emission information; a setting unit configured to set a parameter of a virtual light source for correcting a variation of brightness of the image shot by the continuous shooting due to the light emission variation based on a result of detecting the light emission variation; and a correction unit configured to correct the image shot by the continuous shooting based on the set parameter of the virtual light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kenji Ouchi
  • Patent number: 11320722
    Abstract: In a thin flash module for a camera, a rectangular array of LEDs is mounted on a single lead frame. The lead frame connects the LEDs in series. The LEDs are much smaller than conventional LEDs in a flash module. The LEDs may be in 5×3 array or a 4×3 array, for example. An array of reflective cups is molded over the lead frame or attached to the 10 lead frame, where each of the cups has a substantially square aperture to produce a square sub-beam. A layer of phosphor is located within each cup overlying its associated LED to produce white light. The aspect ratio of the array is selected to generally match the aspect ratio of the camera's field of view (e.g., 16:9). Since the LEDs are very small, the height of the cups may be small to form an ultra-thin flash module. Thin lenses may instead be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventor: Mark Melvin Butterworth
  • Patent number: 11287727
    Abstract: Introduced here are light sources for flash photography configured to produce high-fidelity white light that is tunable over a broader range of correlated color temperatures (CCTs) than conventional flash technologies. The light source can include multiple independently controllable color channels representing illuminants (e.g., light-emitting diodes) of different colors with varying degrees of saturation. Operating collectively, the multiple color channels can produce a high spectral quality white light corresponding to different CCTs (e.g., “warm” white light having a red hue, “cool” white light having a blue hue). Operating independently, these same color channels can be pre-flashed in a variety of prescribed sequences to probe the spectral characteristics of a scene, thereby allowing for an enhanced, spectrally matched white flash as well as collecting per-pixel reflectivity data that can be later used in during post processing of the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: RINGO AI, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Weaver, Jay Hurley, Jeffrey Saake
  • Patent number: 11287726
    Abstract: In a thin flash module for a camera, a rectangular array of LEDs is mounted on a single lead frame. The lead frame connects the LEDs in series. The LEDs are much smaller than conventional LEDs in a flash module. The LEDs may be in 5×3 array or a 4×3 array, for example. An array of reflective cups is molded over the lead frame or attached to the 10 lead frame, where each of the cups has a substantially square aperture to produce a square sub-beam. A layer of phosphor is located within each cup overlying its associated LED to produce white light. The aspect ratio of the array is selected to generally match the aspect ratio of the camera's field of view (e.g., 16:9). Since the LEDs are very small, the height of the cups may be small to form an ultra-thin flash module. Thin lenses may instead be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Lumileds LLC
    Inventor: Mark Melvin Butterworth
  • Patent number: 11283982
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include a selfie camera system for capturing selfie content and sharing captured content on a social media and/or a video streaming platform. In various embodiments, selfie camera makes capturing higher quality selfie content more efficient by providing a preview of the selfie content before and after capture. One or more aspects of previews may be modified to simulate content displayed on a social media and/or video streaming platform. The selfie camera may be easily attached to any surface using one or more mounting mechanisms to allow the selfie camera for function as a personal, private photographer than can capture any scene from a variety of perspectives using a variety of capture sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: SELFIE SNAPPER, INC.
    Inventor: Denis Koci
  • Patent number: 11276134
    Abstract: A reconfigurable image processing pipeline includes an image signal processor (ISP), a control processor, and a local memory. ISP processes raw pixel data for a frame based on an image processing parameter and provides lines of processed pixel data to control processor via a first interface. For each region of interest (ROI) in the frame, ISP generates auto-exposure and auto-white balance (2A) statistics based on the lines for the ROI and writes them to the local memory via a second interface. Control processor reads 2A statistics from the local memory, determines the image processing parameter based on them, and provides the image processing parameter to ISP. ISP also generates an integer N bin histogram for control processor, which sums a portion of the N total bins and compares the summed bin count to a lighting transition threshold. The image processing parameter is further based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Mihir Narendra Mody, Niraj Nandan, Rajat Sagar, Shashank Dabral, Anthony Lell, Brijesh Jadav
  • Patent number: 11240418
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a connection unit, a communication unit configured to communicate with a first external device or a second external device, and a control unit configured to control the electronic device. The control unit controls the electronic device so that at least one terminal of the connection unit is connected to the communication unit in a case where the first external device is connected to the connection unit. The control unit controls the electronic device so that at least one terminal of the connection unit is connected to the control unit in a case where the second external device is connected to the connection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Nagano
  • Patent number: 11232693
    Abstract: A help-seeking method and system for indoor care are provided. A presentation information code is obtained through the acquired human body presentation information in each preset height section, and a help-seeking message is generated when a duration in which the presentation information code matches a target code is greater than a time threshold corresponding to the target code. All possible behavioral postures of a human body in daily activities are converted into and represented by respective target codes, and the target codes are associated with time and preset in the system. By recording duration in which the human body presentation information code for an elder during indoor activities matches the corresponding target code, a help-seeking message can be generated for an abnormal situation in which the duration of a behavioral posture is greater than the time threshold for the matched target code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGZHOU SAFENC ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Zhiyong Chen
  • Patent number: 11228719
    Abstract: A method of controlling zoom of a lighting unit based on brightness of an image may include determining at least one of an angle of view of an optical unit and an optical zoom magnification of the optical unit configured to obtain an image by using an image sensor, determining a zoom adjustment range of a lighting unit based on at least one of the angle of view and the optical zoom magnification, and adjusting zoom of the lighting unit such that brightness of the image meets a preset condition within the zoom adjustment range, wherein a diffusion range of light from the lighting unit is adjusted through the zoom adjustment of the lighting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: HANWHA TECHWIN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Won Mo Koo, Hee Joong Han, Won Sin Lee, Jong In Park
  • Patent number: 11223755
    Abstract: An image scanning, displaying and lighting system for eliminating color differences is revealed. The system includes an image scanner, a display screen with a second emission spectrum and a lighting device with a third emission spectrum. The image scanner consists of an optoelectronic image capturing and forming system, a plurality of first light sources disposed around the optoelectronic image capturing and forming system and a control module. The first light sources have a first emission spectrum which is a white light composed of a plurality of wavebands with different peak wavelengths. The control module controls the optoelectronic image capturing and forming system to take monochrome images in different colors in time sequence. The second emission spectrum has the same characteristics as the first emission spectrum while the third emission spectrum has the same characteristics as the second emission spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: eSHADE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yeh-Wei Yu, Ching-Cherng Sun, Tsung-Hsun Yang, Jia-Min Chuang
  • Patent number: 11219107
    Abstract: This application discloses an electronic device (e.g., a camera) that a plurality of light sources and a light source driver. The light sources are configurable to a plurality of light source subsets to illuminate a field of view. At least two of the light source subsets include distinct light source members and are configured to illuminate different regions of the field of view. The light source driver is coupled to the plurality of light sources and configured to drive the plurality of light source subsets. In some embodiments, the electronic device includes or is coupled to a camera module configured to capture visual data of the field of view, and the plurality of light sources is configured to provide illumination for the camera module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Arvind Dorai, Anders Nelson, Brian Jonathan Conner
  • Patent number: 11172114
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for photography comprising a light sensor configured to detect a flash from a strobe light and in response produce a sensor signal; a control unit operably coupled to a camera and a photography platform, the control unit configured to send a command to the camera for triggering the camera and the strobe light, capture a time at which the command is sent, receive the sensor signal from the light sensor, the sensor signal indicative of the flashing of the light source, determine a calibration value based on the difference between the time at which the sensor signal is received by the control unit and the time at which the command is sent to the camera by the control unit, and calibrate itself based on the calibration value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Inventors: Michael Allen, Jasper Michalczik, Jeremy Fissell
  • Patent number: 11153504
    Abstract: Example systems and methods for controlling an illumination source are described. An example apparatus for controlling an illumination source may include a memory and a processor implemented in circuitry and coupled to the memory. The processor may be configured to process a first frame captured by a video capture device when an illumination source is active, process a second frame captured by the video capture device when the illumination source is inactive, and compare the first frame and the second frame. The processor may also be configured to instruct the illumination source to be active or inactive, based on the comparison, for capture of a third frame by the video capture device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventor: Ben Zion Shaick
  • Patent number: 11095826
    Abstract: A light adjustment module for camera includes a light source unit and a light adjustment unit. The light source unit includes a plurality of light emitting elements disposed around a lens of the camera, and the light emitting direction of each light emitting element is parallel to the image capturing direction of the lens. The light adjustment unit is disposed above the light source unit and includes a plurality of secondary optical elements, and the secondary optical elements respectively corresponds to the light emitting elements. The light emitted by each light emitting element is deflected through the corresponding secondary optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chien-Yueh Chen, Jin-Kae Jang
  • Patent number: 11079658
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting control device, the device comprising means for receiving a trigger; and means for switching operation of a lighting device from a continuous mode to a flash mode upon receipt of said trigger; wherein said lighting device comprises at least one light emitting diode; and said flash mode is at a higher brightness than said continuous mode. The invention also relates to a lighting system comprising: a lighting device comprising at least one light emitting diode; and a lighting control device; wherein the lighting control device is operable to switch operation of said lighting device between a continuous mode and a flash mode; wherein the flash is at a higher brightness than said continuous mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: Rotolight Limited
    Inventors: Roderick Allen Gammons, Andrew Francis, Roderick Aaron Gammons
  • Patent number: 11042075
    Abstract: A photography system includes a lighting system configured to provide a lighting scene that is diffused and is artistically desirable. The system includes an array of light panels configured to simulate a wall of windows that receive natural, diffused, and consistent sunlight, such as a large window facing the north. The light panels can operate in various modes of operation, such as a continuous light mode a strobe light mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Shutterfly, LLC
    Inventors: Brent Peterson, Michael Surma
  • Patent number: 11039080
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provides a method, including: obtaining an output time of an image being taken by an image capturing apparatus; obtaining an exposure time of the image being taken by an image capturing apparatus; and based on the output time and the exposure time, controlling a turn-on time of a flash corresponding to the image being taken by the image capturing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: LENOVO (BEIJING) LIMITED
    Inventor: Jiefeng Chen
  • Patent number: 11003899
    Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to a biometric authentication system including headwear having a plurality of biosensors each configured to sample muscle activity so as to obtain a respective time-varying signal, a data store for storing a data set representing characteristic muscle activity for one or more users, and a processor configured to process the time-varying signals from the biosensors in dependence on the stored data set so as to determine a correspondence between a time-varying signal and characteristic muscle activity of one of the one or more users, and in dependence on the determined correspondence, authenticate the time-varying signals as being associated with that user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: EMTEQ LIMITED
    Inventors: Charles Nduka, Andrew Cleal, James Archer, Mohsen Fatoorechi
  • Patent number: 10935459
    Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to methods and systems for unobtrusive and automated detection of frequencies of spatially located distinct parts of a machine. Location of vibration and detection of vibration frequency of each vibrating part in a machine is critical for routine monitoring and fault detection in the machine. Current solutions use either high frames per second (fps) industrial grade camera or stroboscopes tuned at one particular frequency. Manual stroboscopes require manual intervention for objects moving at different speeds with high convergence time. Point-lasers need prior knowledge of exact location of faults. Also Point-by-point scanning of a large machine body is time consuming. In the present disclosure, a movement detector such as RADAR enables detecting all vibration frequencies that also serve to reduce the search space of a stroboscope configured to start strobing at each detected vibration frequency to enable mapping of each vibration frequency to a corresponding vibrating part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Tata Consultancy Services Limited
    Inventors: Arijit Sinharay, Raj Rakshit, Dibyendu Roy, Tapas Chakravarty, Balamuralidhar Purushothaman
  • Patent number: 10924686
    Abstract: An optoelectronic lighting device that illuminates a scene to be captured as an image includes a pixelated emitter including a plurality of light emitting pixels that illuminate a scene to be captured as an image, and a driving device configured to individually drive the pixels depending on at least one parameter to illuminate the scene to be recorded with a predetermined illuminance distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: OSRAM OLED GmbH
    Inventors: Marco Antretter, Mikko Perälä, Ludwig Plötz, Désirée Queren, Ulrich Streppel
  • Patent number: 10916024
    Abstract: An illumination module and a depth camera on a near-eye-display (NED) device used for depth tracking may be subject to strict power consumption budgets. To reduce power consumption of depth tracking, the illumination power of the illumination module is controllably varied. Such variation entails using a previous frame, or previously recorded data, to inform the illumination power used to generate a current frame. Once the NED determines the next minimum illumination power, the illumination module activates at that power level. The illumination module emits electromagnetic (EM) radiation (e.g. IR light), the EM radiation reflects off surfaces in the scene, and the reflected light is captured by the depth camera. The method repeats for subsequent frames, using contextual information from each of the previous frames to dynamically control the illumination power. Thus, the method reduces the overall power consumption of the depth camera assembly of the NED to a minimum level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond Kirk Price, Michael Bleyer, Denis Demandolx
  • Patent number: 10917558
    Abstract: Described is a method for processing image data to determine if a portion of the image data is affected due to sunlight. In some implementations, image data is sent to an image data store and camera parameters are sent to a radiance detection service. The radiance detection service, upon receiving the camera parameters, retrieves the image data, converts the image data to gray-scale and processes the image data based on the camera parameters to determine a radiance value for the camera. The radiance value may be compared to a baseline radiance value to determine if sunlight is represented in the image data. In some implementations, a baseline model may be developed for the camera and used to cancel out any pixels of the image data that are overexposed under normal or baseline conditions. Likewise, a foreground model may be generated to detect any objects in the image data for which corresponding pixel values should not be considered for determining if sunlight is represented in the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Riccardo Gherardi, Saral Jain, Hasan Tuna Icingir, Griffin Alexander Jarmin, Bo Chen
  • Patent number: 10904439
    Abstract: An image pickup system includes a camera body and a lens unit that is attachable to the camera body. The lens unit detects shaking by a shake detection unit. Drive control of an image shake correction unit is performed in accordance with an image shake correction amount calculated based on the shaking. The camera body sets timing of obtaining the shaking detected by the shake detection unit, based on information transmitted to the lens unit. In a first communication, a camera communication control unit transmits information on a base point to a lens communication control unit, and in a second communication, the camera communication control unit transmits information on a relative time from the base point that was transmitted in the first communication to a lens communication control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shunichiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 10904450
    Abstract: A method of illuminating a face of a person including recording a first image imaging the face of the person, determining an eye region in the imaged face, and illuminating the face of the person, a first region corresponding to the eye region determined, of the face being illuminated such that dazzling of the eyes of the person can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: OSRAM OLED GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Brick
  • Patent number: 10904412
    Abstract: Portable electronic devices having I/O assemblies that can include optical and audio components are described. An exemplary I/O assembly can include a first camera module and a second camera module that can be carried within a camera module housing. A flex connector can carry a strobe that can be positioned between the first camera module and the second camera module. A trim can enclose the first camera, the second camera and the strobe and optically isolates the optical components. An exemplary portable electronic device can include a side wall retainer that defines its perimeter, a front cover glass and a rear cover glass that cooperate to form an enclosure. The I/O assembly can be secured to the enclosure both from inside and outside of the rear cover glass. I/O assembly can also include an audio transducer that can record sound when the camera module are recording videos.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Jarvis, Michael D. Quinones
  • Patent number: 10817027
    Abstract: A window includes a window that includes a first hole, a second hole, and a third hole between the first and second holes, a front protection film disposed on a front surface of the window that covers the first, second, and third holes, a first protection film disposed on a rear surface of the window that covers the first hole, a second protection film disposed on the rear surface of the window that covers the second hole, a cover disposed on the rear surface of the window and inserted into the third hole, the cover including a plurality of holes, and a cap disposed on the rear surface of the window and on the first and second protection films and the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISILAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong-Su Yee, Minhyuk Im, Myungan Min, Sujin Jung
  • Patent number: 10819888
    Abstract: A camera decoration may include a main portion defining a first through hole configured to expose a camera; and an extending portion connected to an end of the main portion and defining a second through hole configured to expose a flash. A thickness of the extending portion may be less than a thickness of the main portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventors: Lisi Xu, Yuxian Lin
  • Patent number: 10785393
    Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods and/or devices for directing flash illumination. In one aspect, a method is performed at a device including a camera, one or more processors, and memory storing one or more programs configured for execution by the one or more processors. The method includes directing flash illumination to an identified area of interest in a scene by adjusting power supplied to respective elements of a flash array. The method further includes capturing, via the camera, an image of the scene as illuminated by the flash illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: FACEBOOK, INC.
    Inventor: Shizhe Shen
  • Patent number: 10764497
    Abstract: A document camera which operates with electric power supplied via a USB cable includes: an image pickup unit which picks up an image of a subject via a lens; a light source unit which emits light toward the subject; a drive unit which drives the lens; a detection unit which detects an amount of current supplied via the USB cable; and a control unit which controls an operation of the light source unit and the drive unit according to the amount of current detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Katsuya Ota
  • Patent number: 10764420
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a flash assembly of a mobile terminal, the flash assembly is a display assembly, and the display assembly disposed at a front end of a camera assembly of the mobile terminal and connects to a processor of the mobile terminal via an I2C. The present disclosure also provides a control system, comprising a scene predictor, a controller and a flash assembly. A control method is also provided. Compared with the related art, the protective cover of the camera is replaced by a display assembly, thereby reducing the number of components; and the display assembly can reduce the thermal output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: JRD COMMUNICATION (SHENZHEN) LTD
    Inventor: Tao Jiao
  • Patent number: 10728431
    Abstract: A fish eye camera is provided. A main circuit board is fixed to an inside of a base housing. A middle housing is formed to cover both of the main circuit board and a camera module and fixed to the base housing in a state in which a fish eye lens of the camera module is drawn from the middle housing. A bracket includes a bracket body, which is insertion-coupled to a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) substrates and elastically supports the plurality of LED substrates in a state in which the plurality of LED substrates are arranged around an outer side of the middle housing, and metal bodies which are inserted into the bracket body to be in contact with the LED substrates. A cover housing is formed to cover both of the bracket and the middle housing and fixed to the base housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: IDIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Kyu Song, Chi Hwan Choi, Hyun Geun Ahn
  • Patent number: 10712634
    Abstract: There is provided a digital camera that can suppress the generation of vibration caused by the operation of a shutter. One end portion of a camera body (10) forms a grip region (10A), and a drive unit (120) of a focal-plane shutter unit (110) is disposed within the range of the grip region (10A). Further, a battery (92) is disposed between an image sensor (70) and a display unit (100) at an end portion of the camera body opposite to a grip region (10A). Since the drive unit (120) of the focal-plane shutter unit (110) is disposed within the range of the grip region (10A), a portion of the camera body, which is close to the center of rotation of a shutter curtain, can be gripped with a hand at the time of handheld imaging. Accordingly, the generation of vibration can be effectively suppressed. Further, since the battery (92) is disposed at the end portion of the camera body opposite to the grip region (10A), the moment of inertia about the grip region (10A) can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Tokiwa, Takeshi Misawa, Atsushi Misawa
  • Patent number: 10706253
    Abstract: Introduced here are light sources for flash photography configured to produce high-fidelity white light that is tunable over a broader range of correlated color temperatures (CCTs) than conventional flash technologies. The light source can include multiple independently controllable color channels representing illuminants (e.g., light-emitting diodes) of different colors with varying degrees of saturation. Operating collectively, the multiple color channels can produce a high spectral quality white light corresponding to different CCTs (e.g., “warm” white light having a red hue, “cool” white light having a blue hue). Operating independently, these same color channels can be pre-flashed in a variety of prescribed sequences to probe the spectral characteristics of a scene, thereby allowing for an enhanced, spectrally matched white flash as well as collecting per-pixel reflectivity data that can be later used in during post processing of the captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: RINGO AI, INC.
    Inventors: Matthew D. Weaver, James Kingman, Jay Hurley, Jeffrey Saake, Sanjoy Ghose
  • Patent number: 10701250
    Abstract: Portable electronic devices having I/O assemblies that can include optical and audio components are described. An exemplary I/O assembly can include a first camera module and a second camera module that can be carried within a camera module housing. A flex connector can carry a strobe that can be positioned between the first camera module and the second camera module. A trim can enclose the first camera, the second camera and the strobe and optically isolates the optical components. An exemplary portable electronic device can include a side wall retainer that defines its perimeter, a front cover glass and a rear cover glass that cooperate to form an enclosure. The I/O assembly can be secured to the enclosure both from inside and outside of the rear cover glass. I/O assembly can also include an audio transducer that can record sound when the camera module are recording videos.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Jarvis, Michael D. Quinones
  • Patent number: 10694161
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus makes it possible to properly perform white balance (WB) processing that is image processing for WB correction on the premise of an illumination apparatus that uses a specific light source. The illumination apparatus includes a light source using a light-emitting diode (LED) and a transmitter configured to transmit color information relating to the LED, and the transmitter transmits, as the color information relating to the LED, color information that compensates a difference between spectral characteristics of the specific light source and spectral characteristics of the LED.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ginta Hirasawa
  • Patent number: 10681252
    Abstract: There is provided a digital camera of which the stable operation of a shutter can be performed by compact structure and which can suppress the generation of vibration caused by the operation of a shutter. A grip portion (22) is provided at one end portion of a camera body (10), and a charge section (124) of a focal-plane shutter unit (110) is disposed within a range GA of the grip portion (22). Further, a battery is disposed between an image sensor and a display unit at an end portion of the camera body opposite to the grip portion (22). Since the charge section is disposed within the range of the grip portion, a drive section (122) and the charge section (124) can be disposed close to each other. Accordingly, a drive unit for a focal-plane shutter can be made compact, and a shutter curtain can be charged with a stable operation even in a case in which the shutter curtain is to be charged with large torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Tokiwa, Takeshi Misawa, Atsushi Misawa