Exposure Control Circuit Patents (Class 396/213)
  • Patent number: 11545021
    Abstract: An acquisition imaging system is described herein that acquires multiple images from multiple imagers where each are sent to a single processor/controller, resulting in a single, resultant image providing a detailed field of view. The system is comprised of multiple sets of images taken by multiple sensors, strategically placed to acquire multiple perspectives of an image field. Each sensor is packaged with digitization, compression and communication components in an imager to allow for the transfer of the image to a processor/controller system controller. The system's controller acts as the network interface, power supply and centralized management for processing information, specifically the analytics. The present invention has applications in surveillance, event classification systems, indexed archival storage, real-time and post facto image content analytics, future filtering vectors; ad hoc querying, automatic queries, and multiple query languages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Storevision North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry Katz
  • Patent number: 11509814
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an area sensor on which photoelectric conversion elements are arranged two-dimensionally, and that includes a plurality of regions, a reading unit for reading, from the area sensor, signals photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion elements, a focus detection unit for performing focus detection using the signals read by the reading unit, and a control unit for performing control as to from which region of the plurality of regions the reading unit preferentially reads the signals of the photoelectric conversion elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yosuke Mine
  • Patent number: 11375092
    Abstract: An image sensor and an image sensing method are provided. The image sensor may restore a high resolution image with respect to a high magnification based on sensing information corresponding to different fields of view (FOVs) and that is received through lens elements having a same focal length and different lens sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Deokyoung Kang, Yang Ho Cho, Dong Kyung Nam
  • Patent number: 11375174
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing background light in an image are disclosed. The system includes a sensor and a processor. An illuminator may illuminate a scene with emitted light. The sensor outputs one or more images in response to received light. The processor processes images from the sensor to reduce or eliminate ambient light in a captured image. The processor may do this by causing the sensor to capture a first image of the scene, where the first image includes background light and portions of the emitted light reflected or scattered from the scene. The processor also causes the sensor to capture a second image of the scene, where the second image includes background light with no contribution from the emitted light. The processor subtracts the second image from the first image to produce a third image of the scene predominately illuminated by the emitted light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: nLIGHT, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Banks, Bodo Schmidt, Lorenzo N. Venneri
  • Patent number: 11228720
    Abstract: A method for imaging controlling, an electronic device, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium are provided. The method includes the following. Determine a same-exposure image ratio according to ambient brightness of a shooting scene, where the same-exposure image ratio is a ratio of the number of images to be captured with same exposure among multiple images to be captured to the number of the multiple images to be captured, and the same-exposure image ratio is inversely proportional to the ambient brightness. Capture the multiple images that satisfy the same-exposure image ratio. Perform a synthesizing processing on the multiple images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.
    Inventor: Gong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11227172
    Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to coordinating motion-capture of a hand by a network of motion-capture sensors having overlapping fields of view. In particular, it relates to designating a first sensor among three or more motion-capture sensors as having a master frame of reference, observing motion of a hand as it passes through overlapping fields of view of the respective motion-capture sensors, synchronizing capture of images of the hand within the overlapping fields of view by pairs of the motion-capture devices, and using the pairs of the hand images captured by the synchronized motion-capture devices to automatically calibrate the motion-capture sensors to the master frame of reference frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: Ultrahaptics IP Two Limited
    Inventor: David S. Holz
  • Patent number: 11190707
    Abstract: The present invention provides a motion ghost resistant HDR image generation method and a portable terminal. A normally exposed image and an underexposed image are mapped to an overexposed image and are fused in the overexposed image, such that the values of the underexposed image are more considered to be used in the fused image in a bright place and the values of the overexposed image are more considered to be used in a dark place; therefore, both the dark place and bright place have abundant information and a motion ghost resistant HDR image is finally generated, thus improving the visual effect of a ghost-removed high-dynamic range image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: ARASHI VISION INC.
    Inventor: Liang Xie
  • Patent number: 11115596
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a camera, a primary display panel including a pixel array and an aperture adjacent the pixel array, an auxiliary display, and an optical assembly including a reflecting optical element and an actuator coupled to the reflecting optical element. The actuator is configured to switch the reflecting optical element between a first arrangement and a second arrangement. The first arrangement defines an optical path from the aperture to the camera and the second arrangement defines an optical path from the aperture to the auxiliary display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Ping Tong Chu, Chung Chun Wan
  • Patent number: 11095798
    Abstract: An image capturing apparatus that is attachable to a robot arm, comprises an image capturing device configured to capture an object image, a receiving unit configured to receive information relating to status of the robot arm from a control apparatus for controlling the robot arm, and an imaging control unit configured to control an image capturing operation of the image capturing device that is performed on an object, wherein the imaging control unit controls the image capturing operation based on the information relating to status of the robot arm that was notified by the control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kazunori Ishii, Makoto Yokozeki
  • Patent number: 10992873
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for transferring color information from a no-flash image of a scene to a flash image of the scene using a localized tonal mapping algorithm. In some aspects, an example method can include obtaining a no-flash image and a flash image, mapping color information from the no-flash image to the flash image, and generating an output image including the flash image modified based on the mapping to include at least a portion of the color information from the no-flash image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Reza Pourreza Shahri, Ramin Rezaiifar
  • Patent number: 10863110
    Abstract: A digital camera that includes an imaging sensor having a stop 2 arranged in front of an imaging surface includes an imaging control unit that starts exposure of pixels on the entire imaging surface at the same time and then, ends the exposure of the pixels at the same time in a state where light from a subject is incident on the imaging surface, by controlling an imaging sensor drive circuit which drives the imaging sensor, and a processor that sequentially changes an F number of the stop 2 to a plurality of values during a period from the start of the exposure until the end of the exposure. The processor controls a time in which the F number is maintained at each of the plurality of values to be a time that is based on a function indicating light transmittance characteristics of an APD filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Ryo Hasegawa, Masaru Kobayashi, Makoto Kobayashi, Hitoshi Sakurabu, Tomonori Masuda
  • Patent number: 10764468
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an image generation unit configured to generate, from an input image, a hierarchical image including a plurality of images different in frequency band from one another, a first gain map generation unit configured to generate a first gain map with use of the hierarchical image and a first tone characteristic, a second gain map generation unit configured to generate a second gain map with use of the first gain map and a second tone characteristic, and a processing unit configured to apply the second gain map to the input image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naoto Kimura
  • Patent number: 10757340
    Abstract: An adaptive filter system and a method for controlling the adaptive filter system are described herein. The system can includes one or more filters to attenuate incoming light. The one or more filters can be moved by one or more actuators. The method can capture image data from an imaging device through the one or more filters. Information can be determined from the captured image data. The one or more filters can be moved to a position for capturing image data based on the information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Pony AI Inc.
    Inventors: Kai Chen, Jun Peng, Tiancheng Lou, Xiang Yu, Zhou Zhang, Hao Song, Sinan Xiao, Yiming Liu, Tianyi Li
  • Patent number: 10687044
    Abstract: A method and arrangement for calibrating stereo cameras. A first image from a first camera is received, and a second image is received from a second camera, the first image and the second image comprise an overlap. One or more candidate points of the first image and of the second image are determined in the overlap. The candidate points of the first image are matched with the candidate points of the second image and pairs of corresponding candidate points are determined. A homography of the first camera is calculated based on the pairs of corresponding candidate points and a homography of the second camera is calculated based on the pairs of corresponding candidate points. The first camera and the second camera are calibrated by adjusting an intrinsic parameter or an extrinsic parameter of each respective camera, based on the calculated homography of each respective camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Cognimatics AB
    Inventors: Rikard Berthilsson, Siri Dovner, Håkan Ardö
  • Patent number: 10652489
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a vision sensor comprising, an array of pixels comprising rows and columns of pixels, wherein each pixel in the array comprises, a photosensor which is configured to output a current proportional to the intensity of light which is incident on the photosensor; a current source which is configured such that it can output a current which has a constant current level which is equal to the current level of the current output by the photosensor at a selected first instant in time, and can maintain that constant current level even if the level of the current output from the photosensor changes after said selected first instant in time; an integrator which is configured to integrate the difference between the level of current output by the current source and the level of current output by the photosensor, after the selected first instant in time; wherein the vision sensor further comprises a counter which can measure time, wherein the counter is configured such tha
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Insightness AG
    Inventors: Raphaël Berner, Marc Osswald
  • Patent number: 10602112
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus 100 includes: an analysis range indicating section 23 that indicates an analysis range that is a range, on a screen of captured-image data, that has a brightness higher than a predetermined brightness; a color analysis section 24 that analyzes a color included in the analysis range; a color correction instructing section 25 that gives an instruction to perform a color correction, on the basis of the color analysis; and an image generator 50 that corrects the captured-image data on the basis of the color correction instruction, so as to generate a corrected image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Hirozumi Arai
  • Patent number: 10534240
    Abstract: An imaging control device includes a controller and an input section. The controller causes an image sensor to, during at least one first frame period, capture at least one first multiple exposure image by using a first exposure signal that contains a plurality of pulses having a plurality of pulse widths different from one another; the image sensor is configured to capture an image by making multiple exposure. The input section receives the at least one first multiple exposure image. The controller selects one pulse width from the plurality of pulse widths, based on the first multiple exposure image received by the input section and then causes the image sensor to, during a second frame period, capture the image by using a second exposure signal that contains a pulse having the selected pulse width; the second frame period follows the first frame period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Iwai, Osamu Shibata, Kazuko Nishimura, Yasuo Miyake, Yoshiaki Satou
  • Patent number: 10523923
    Abstract: Apparatus for controlling a plurality of active illumination cameras to operate in a time division multiplexed operating mode to acquire images of scenes that the cameras image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Abhinav Kashyap
  • Patent number: 10334158
    Abstract: A media capture device (MCD) that provides a multi-sensor, free flight camera platform with advanced learning technology to replicate the desires and skills of the purchaser/owner is provided. Advanced algorithms may uniquely enable many functions for autonomous and revolutionary photography. The device may learn about the user, the environment, and/or how to optimize a photographic experience so that compelling events may be captured and composed into efficient and emotional sharing. The device may capture better photos and videos as perceived by one's social circle of friends, and/or may greatly simplify the process of using a camera to the ultimate convenience of full autonomous operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Inventor: Robert John Gove
  • Patent number: 10203595
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an autofocus testing device. The autofocus testing device includes a first focusing plate; a second focusing plate; a driver configured to drive at least one of a camera and the first and second focusing plates to aim a lens of the camera at the first and second plates in turn, wherein a first distance between the first focusing plate and the camera is different from a second distance between the second focusing plate and the camera; and a controller configured to obtain status information of the driver, determine whether the lens is aimed at one of the first and second focusing plates based on the status information, and control the camera to perform an autofocus image capture operation when the lens is aimed at one of the first and second focusing plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hongming Li, Zhibin Zhou, Yi Guo
  • Patent number: 10200663
    Abstract: A flash image component acquisition unit (40) of an image processing device (31) acquires the flash image component data on the basis of first image data which is acquired by capturing an image of the object while flash light is emitted. A flash correction data acquisition unit (42) acquires flash correction data in which the difference in the luminosity of the flash image component data caused by the color of the object has been reflected. The flash luminosity correction unit (44) acquires flash image correction component data, in which the difference in the luminosity of the flash image component data caused by the color of the object has been compensated for, on the basis of the flash image component data and the flash correction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Taro Saito, Shinya Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 10037474
    Abstract: The technology disclosed relates to coordinating motion-capture of a hand by a network of motion-capture sensors having overlapping fields of view. In particular, it relates to designating a first sensor among three or more motion-capture sensors as having a master frame of reference, observing motion of a hand as it passes through overlapping fields of view of the respective motion-capture sensors, synchronizing capture of images of the hand within the overlapping fields of view by pairs of the motion-capture devices, and using the pairs of the hand images captured by the synchronized motion-capture devices to automatically calibrate the motion-capture sensors to the master frame of reference frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Leap Motion, Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Holz
  • Patent number: 10007313
    Abstract: An electronic device allows a user to exchange a main battery in a state where an electronic device is continuously operated, even when a backup battery is a small-sized battery charger. The power supply device supplies power for driving an electronic device, and includes a first battery used as a driving power supply, a second battery used as the driving power supply when the first battery is unusable, a booster circuit that increases an output voltage of the second battery, a dummy load circuit for the booster circuit, a battery detachment detector that detects whether the first battery is detachable from the device, and a power controller that switches the driving power supply of the device to the first or second battery. The power controller activates the booster circuit and supplies output power of the booster circuit to the dummy load circuit, when the first battery is detachable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Toshiro Nishimura
  • Patent number: 9854218
    Abstract: An image processing method includes receiving an image including a plurality of pixels; compensating a color temperature of at least one pixel included in the image according to a color of the at least one pixel; and outputting the image according to a result of the compensating, wherein the compensating includes: measuring a color temperature of the image; and applying a color temperature compensation value to the at least one pixel based on the measured color temperature and the color of the at least one pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jaewon Yu, Ki-Chrl Park
  • Patent number: 9742941
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit for receiving light output from the light emitting unit, and includes a detection unit for outputting a light reception signal indicating that the light receiving unit has received light from the light emitting unit, a driving signal output unit for outputting a driving signal to the detection unit so that the light emitting unit intermittently outputs light, a detection signal output unit for outputting, based on the output driving signal and the output light reception signal, a detection signal indicating whether an object exists between the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit, and a control unit including an interrupt port to which the output detection signal is input and for returning from a power saving state in response to the detection signal being input to the interrupt port in the power saving state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Utsumi
  • Patent number: 9716821
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a light receiving element configured to photoelectrically convert an optical image to output a pair of image signals, a selection unit configured to select a focus detection region from among a plurality of focus detection regions, and a calculation unit configured to calculate a defocus amount based on the image signals from the selected focus detection region and a correction value for the selected focus detection region, and the correction value varies depending on the plurality of focus detection regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9674423
    Abstract: Surveying apparatus such as, for example, a video theodolite or video tachymeter, is disclosed. In some embodiments, the surveying apparatus may include a base, a support pivotable about a first axis relative to the base, a targeting unit pivotable about a second axis relative to the support and comprising a telescope optical unit comprising at least one objective and a motorized-adjustable focusing optical unit and also an eyepiece and/or a camera chip for recording an image through the objective, goniometers for measuring pivoting positions of the support and the targeting unit, an electro-optical distance measuring device, an evaluation and control unit, which provides a calibrated autofocusing functionality for automatically setting the focusing optical unit in a manner dependent on a target distance measured by the distance measuring device and contains for this stored calibration coefficients with regard to focusing optical unit positions to be set in a target-distance-dependent manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: LEICA GEOSYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Norbert Kotzur, Hans-Martin Zogg
  • Patent number: 9635270
    Abstract: A method for performing image control in an electronic device and an associated apparatus are provided, where the method may include the steps of: obtaining a specific image from a camera module of the electronic device, and obtaining a specific focus-related parameter corresponding to the specific image, wherein the specific focus-related parameter is related to focus control of the camera module; determining a specific resize parameter corresponding to the specific image according to a relationship between the specific resize parameter and the specific focus-related parameter; and performing a resize operation on the specific image according to the specific resize parameter, to control the specific image to be displayed in a quasi-scale-invariant manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Chia-Ming Cheng, Po-Hao Huang, Yuan-Chung Lee
  • Patent number: 9632394
    Abstract: An image pickup device includes: a focal plane shutter including: a board including an opening; a shutter moving to open and close the opening; an actuator moving the shutter; and a detection portion detecting that the shutter passes through a predetermined position, an image pickup element which light enters through the opening; and a drive control portion that controls the actuator to move the shutter, wherein the drive control portion performs movement control to move the shutter at least until the shutter passes through the predetermined position, and performs brake control to decelerate the shutter while the shutter is moving after the shutter passes through the predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: SEIKO PRECISION INC.
    Inventors: Chiaki Nemoto, Hiroshi Takahashi, Shoichi Tokura, Yoichi Nakano, Motoharu Sakurai
  • Patent number: 9607257
    Abstract: An electronic device and method for transmitting information on a barcode by using an infrared Light Emitting Diode (LED) are provided. The method includes transforming a displayed barcode into a binary code, and lighting ON/OFF an infrared LED according to set order based on the binary code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Do-Hun Cha, Ju-Nyun Kim, Jun-Hui Lee
  • Patent number: 9591204
    Abstract: A focus detecting unit that includes a corrector configured to correct a signal output from an image sensor using a first shading correction value when the half-mirror is retreated from an optical path, and to correct the signal using a second shading correction value different from the first shading correction value when the half-mirror is inserted into the optical path, and a focus detector configured to provide a focus detection based on the signal corrected by the corrector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kudo
  • Patent number: 9491358
    Abstract: An imaging device according to the present disclosure includes: an axially rotatable imaging unit; a detector that detects a photographing direction of the imaging unit; a processor that performs image processing on image data generated by the imaging unit; and a controller that changes a setting method of an image processing parameter depending on the photographing direction detected by the detector, the image processing parameter being given to the image data by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yukitaka Tsuchida, Yoshihiro Tomikura, Masahiro Yamada, Nao Kataoka
  • Patent number: 9479702
    Abstract: Provided are photographing apparatuses and methods of controlling the same. The photographing apparatuses may set an auto-focusing (AF) region according to a touch, a drag, and a touch release on a touchscreen, thereby making it possible to prevent the AF region from being easily shifted by an unintended touch of a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong-su Kim
  • Patent number: 9456144
    Abstract: A determination unit determines exposure control values for a light emission shooting operation and a non-light emission shooting operation based on information acquired by an acquisition unit about a brightness of an object a preliminary light emission is performed by the light emitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yasuyoshi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 9438794
    Abstract: A method for coordinated adjustment of a first image captured by a first camera and a second image captured by a second camera includes determining a first set of image processing parameters from the first image and a second set of image processing parameters from the second image, transmitting the first set of image processing parameters to a master, the master not being the first camera; combining at least the first and second sets of processing parameters into a combined or composite set of parameters; transmitting the composite parameters from the master to the first camera; and using a processor of the first camera to apply the composite parameters to the first image, and a processor of the second camera to apply composite parameters to the second image. An apparatus has at least two cameras configured to implement the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Omnivision Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gabor Mikes
  • Patent number: 9202278
    Abstract: Robust techniques for self-calibration of a moving camera observing a planar scene. Plane-based self-calibration techniques may take as input the homographies between images estimated from point correspondences and provide an estimate of the focal lengths of all the cameras. A plane-based self-calibration technique may be based on the enumeration of the inherently bounded space of the focal lengths. Each sample of the search space defines a plane in the 3D space and in turn produces a tentative Euclidean reconstruction of all the cameras that is then scored. The sample with the best score is chosen and the final focal lengths and camera motions are computed. Variations on this technique handle both constant focal length cases and varying focal length cases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Hailin Jin, Zihan Zhou
  • Patent number: 9122125
    Abstract: An exposure control value is calculated based on a first photometric value calculated based on first image data read out from an image sensor and a second photometric value calculated based on second image data read out from the image sensor, and wherein the first image data is obtained without or with adding pixel signals and the second image data is obtained by adding a number of pixel signals larger than pixel the number of signals added to obtain the first image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yosuke Mine
  • Patent number: 8886298
    Abstract: A small wearable recall device is provided to capture images triggered by a combination of a detection of a capture condition (e.g., changes in motion, temperature or light level) followed by a relatively stable period, as detected by an accelerometer. By triggering on the combination of a detected capture condition followed by a detected stability condition, a clearer image of the environment of an interesting event is expected to be captured. The small size of the recall device makes it possible to integrate it into common portable consumer products, such as MP3 players, purses, clothing, hats, backpacks, necklaces, collars, and other human-wearable products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Lyndsay Williams, Kenneth Robert Wood, Kevin Michael Schofield
  • Patent number: 8837933
    Abstract: A shutter control device that uses an imaging device provided in a camera body to operate a shutter housed in a lens barrel to perform photography. The shutter control device comprises a communication port and a shutter control unit. The communication port is provided for transmitting and receiving signals between the camera body and the lens barrel. The shutter control unit is provided in the camera body, and outputs a shutter control signal to operate the shutter. The shutter control signal is transmitted to the lens barrel through the communication port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Kamimura
  • Patent number: 8818184
    Abstract: When a exposure controlling unit changes an aperture value of a diaphragm in a predetermined range, the exposure controlling unit also changes a transmittance of a variable ND filter so as to perform an exposure control and, after obtaining a proper exposure by changing both the aperture value and the transmittance, sets the aperture value after exposure control to Fa, and in a case where the aperture value at which a maximum resolving power is obtained is set to Fb, when a condition, Fa?Fb, is satisfied and the transmittance is neither the minimum nor the maximum, the exposure controlling unit brings the aperture value close to Fb and changes the transmittance so as to maintain the proper exposure after the exposure control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Arihiro Saita
  • Patent number: 8811810
    Abstract: A monitoring camera and an operation method thereof are provided. The monitoring camera includes a light sensor, a voltage comparing unit and a reference voltage generating unit. The light sensor senses an environment brightness of the monitoring camera and generates an induced current accordingly. The voltage comparing unit generates a sensing voltage according to the induced current and compares the sensing voltage and a reference voltage to obtain a first comparison result, so that the monitoring camera can determine whether to perform at least one of a plurality of mode switching operations according to the first comparison result. The reference voltage generating unit outputs the first reference voltage and determines whether to reduce the first reference voltage according to the first comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Alpha Networks Inc.
    Inventor: Chung-Ming Lo
  • Patent number: 8678681
    Abstract: A shutter control device performs photography by operating a shutter housed in a lens barrel, and comprises a communication port, a shutter control unit and a memory. The communication port transmits and receives signals between the camera body and the lens barrel. The shutter control unit is provided in the camera body to output a shutter control signal. The memory is provided in the lens barrel to store shutter delay information regarding a time delay from when the shutter control signal is input to the lens barrel until when the shutter is closed. The shutter control unit receives the shutter delay information from the lens barrel and transmits the shutter control signal to the lens barrel through the communication port, ahead of an exposure time as determined by photometry, by an amount of time equal to the time delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Pentax Ricoh Imaging Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Kamimura
  • Patent number: 8494357
    Abstract: A system, computer readable medium, and method for dynamically setting a camera's exposure parameters based on face detection are disclosed. When taking a picture or video of a person in front of a bright background, standard exposure algorithms tend to overexpose the background. In one embodiment disclosed herein, a face detection algorithm is run on the current picture or video frame, and the exposure metering region is inset over the detected face. Exposure time, gain, or other exposure parameters may be set based on the pixels within the exposure metering region. In another embodiment, the exposure metering region tracks a moving face according to lag parameters so that the exposure metering region remains substantially over the face. In yet another embodiment, a plurality of faces may be tracked, with the exposure parameters set based on a weighted average of the pixels within the plurality of face-containing exposure metering regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph Brunner
  • Publication number: 20130011126
    Abstract: A shutter control device that uses an imaging device provided in a camera body to operate a shutter housed in a lens barrel to perform photography. The shutter control device comprises a communication port and a shutter control unit. The communication port is provided for transmitting and receiving signals between the camera body and the lens barrel. The shutter control unit is provided in the camera body, and outputs a shutter control signal to operate the shutter. The shutter control signal is transmitted to the lens barrel through the communication port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: PENTAX RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Masayuki KAMIMURA
  • Patent number: 8305487
    Abstract: Provided is a multi-exposure controlling method and apparatus. An exposure control unit may set an initial exposure time based on a comparison result between a predetermined brightness confidence interval and an average high brightness that is calculated based on at least one current histogram. A comparison unit may compare the brightness confidence interval and an average low brightness that is calculated based on a subsequent histogram obtained by photographing a subject using the set initial exposure time. The exposure control unit may change the initial exposure time based on a comparison result of the comparison unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon-Hyuk Cha, Young Su Moon, Shi Hwa Lee
  • Patent number: 8285134
    Abstract: A wide dynamic range (WDR) hardware apparatus and a photographing apparatus including the WDR hardware apparatus are provided where the WDR unit applies weight coefficients to a luminance signal of a small size image having a first exposure time and a luminance signal of a small size image having a second exposure time longer than the first exposure time. The system combines the luminance signals applied weight coefficients, applies weight coefficients to a luminance signal of an original size image having the first exposure time and a luminance signal of an original size image having the second exposure time, and combines the luminance signals applied weight coefficients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Soo-kyung Joo
  • Patent number: 8269853
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an image sensor including a plurality of charge storage-type photoelectric conversion elements disposed along a first and a second direction; a rolling shutter control unit that executes storage control to store electrical charges in a first element row and in a second element row with different timing for electrical charging, the first element row including a plurality of the charge storage-type photoelectric conversion elements along the first direction and the second element row including a plurality of the charge storage-type photoelectric conversion elements along the first direction at a different position along the second direction; a detection unit that detects light emission timing indicating a light emission cycle of each of a plurality of color components in light entering the image sensor; and a start instruction unit that engages the rolling shutter control unit to start the storage control based upon the light emission timing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Masanari Indo
  • Publication number: 20120201527
    Abstract: A monitoring camera and an operation method thereof are provided. The monitoring camera includes a light sensor, a voltage comparing unit and a reference voltage generating unit. The light sensor senses an environment brightness of the monitoring camera and generates an induced current accordingly. The voltage comparing unit generates a sensing voltage according to the induced current and compares the sensing voltage and a reference voltage to obtain a first comparison result, so that the monitoring camera can determine whether to perform at least one of a plurality of mode switching operations according to the first comparison result. The reference voltage generating unit outputs the first reference voltage and determines whether to reduce the first reference voltage according to the first comparison result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: ALPHA NETWORKS INC.
    Inventor: CHUNG-MING LO
  • Patent number: 8233789
    Abstract: A system, computer readable medium, and method for dynamically setting a camera's exposure parameters based on face detection are disclosed. When taking a picture or video of a person in front of a bright background, standard exposure algorithms tend to overexpose the background. In one embodiment disclosed herein, a face detection algorithm is run on the current picture or video frame, and the exposure metering region is inset over the detected face. Exposure time, gain, or other exposure parameters may be set based on the pixels within the exposure metering region. In another embodiment, the exposure metering region tracks a moving face according to lag parameters so that the exposure metering region remains substantially over the face. In yet another embodiment, a plurality of faces may be tracked, with the exposure parameters set based on a weighted average of the pixels within the plurality of face-containing exposure metering regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph Brunner
  • Patent number: 8228422
    Abstract: Disclosed are an auto exposure system and a method thereof. The auto exposure system may check whether an exposure target value is correct using brightness information of an input image. When the exposure target value is not proper, the auto exposure system may readjust the exposure target value through analyzing the brightness information of the input image. Also, the auto exposure system may correct exposure of the input image based on an exposure correction value according to the adjusted exposure target value, thereby adjusting the exposure of the input image to be proper. Also, exposure information of the input image may be easily obtained from a final exposure target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon Hyuk Cha, Young Su Moon, Sang Jo Lee, Ho Jin Lee