Different Planes Patents (Class 396/334)
  • Patent number: 11323679
    Abstract: A multi-camera system, including a first camera apparatus, a second camera apparatus, and an information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes a communication interface and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to receive a predetermined user input and in response to the predetermined user input, send, via the communication interface, a first control signal to the first camera apparatus that captures a first video, and send, via the communication interface, a second control signal to the second camera apparatus that captures a second video. The first control signal causes the first camera apparatus to assign first unique identifiers to frames of the first video captured by the first camera apparatus. The second control signal causes the second camera apparatus to assign second unique identifiers to frames of the second video captured by the second camera apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: SONY GROUP CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuo Kaneko, Yasuhiro Iizuka, Kazuhiro Uchida, Shigeo Nakatsuka, Shinnosuke Usami
  • Patent number: 10812716
    Abstract: A camera apparatus includes an optical image stabilizer (OIS) circuit including a control circuit configured to control data reading, and a digital circuit including a serial peripheral interface bus (SPI) master and configured to perform data processing using SPI communications in response to control of the control circuit to perform hand-shake correction. The camera apparatus further includes a navigation sensor including an SPI slave for communication with the SPI master and configured to provide corresponding data in response to a request from the OIS circuit. The control circuit is further configured to control communication using a single mode or a burst mode based on a preset SPI communications setting, and the digital circuit is further configured to read data from the navigation sensor using two frames based on a single SPI communications setting in a case of using the burst mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gyu Won Kim, Kyoung Joong Min
  • Patent number: 10448446
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus (e.g., smart phone), a first external device (e.g., first camera), and a second external device (e.g., second camera), may establish respective wireless communication connections in one of a first communication mode and a second communication mode. In the first communication mode, the information processing apparatus may act as a client device. In the second communication mode, the information processing apparatus may act as a master device. When there is an active communications connection between the information processing apparatus and the first external device in the first communication mode, the information processing apparatus switches from the first communication mode to the second communication mode based on a communications connection being initiated between the second external device and the information processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Koji Nagahiro
  • Patent number: 10027875
    Abstract: A control apparatus obtains first data generated by a first imaging apparatus imaging an object and second data generated by a second imaging apparatus imaging an object, evaluates, based on the first data and the second data, a relationship between the object imaged by the first imaging apparatus and the object imaged by the second imaging apparatus, and performs processing for connecting the first imaging apparatus and the second imaging apparatus in accordance with an evaluation result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaru Kaieda
  • Patent number: 10021287
    Abstract: An imaging control device 100 includes a control communication unit 110 that communicates with a plurality of imaging devices and an overall control unit 101. The overall control unit 101 transmits an imaging preparation command to prepare imaging to each of the plurality of imaging devices 10 through the control communication unit 110 in response to an instruction received through an instruction receiving unit, receives preparation completion information indicating the completion of preparation for imaging from each of the plurality of imaging devices 10 through the control communication unit 110, and transmits a captured image acquisition command to acquire a captured image to each of the plurality of imaging devices 10 through the control communication unit 110 after receiving the preparation completion information from the plurality of imaging devices 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Fuminori Irie, Mikio Watanabe, Takeshi Misawa, Masaya Tamaru, Daisuke Hayashi, Hiroyuki Oshima
  • Patent number: 9842868
    Abstract: A sensor includes an InGaAs photodetector configured to convert received infrared radiation into electrical signals. A notch filter is operatively connected to the InGaAs photodetector to block detection of wavelengths within at least one predetermined band. An imaging camera system includes an InGaAs photodetector configured to convert received infrared radiation into electrical signals, the InGaAs photodetector including an array of photodetector pixels each configured to convert infrared radiation into electrical signals for imaging. At least one optical element is optically coupled to the InGaAs photodetector to focus an image on the array. A notch filter is operatively connected to the InGaAs photodetector to block detection of wavelengths within at least one predetermined band. A ROIC is operatively connected to the array to condition electrical signals from the array for imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Sensors Unlimited, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Rozploch
  • Patent number: 9741100
    Abstract: The spatial resolution of captured plenoptic images is enhanced. In one aspect, the plenoptic imaging process is modeled by a pupil image function (PIF), and a PIF inversion process is applied to the captured plenoptic image to produce a better resolution estimate of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Sapna A. Shroff, Kathrin Berkner, Lingfei Meng
  • Patent number: 9712820
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, a light-field image may be compressed and/or decompressed to facilitate storage, transmission, or other functions related to the light-field image. A light-field image may be captured by a light-field image capture device having an image sensor and a microlens array. The light-field image may be received in a data store. A processor may generate a first refocus image pool with a plurality of refocus images based on the light-field image. The processor may further use the first refocus image pool to compress the light-field image to generate a bitstream, smaller than the light-field image, which is representative of the light-field image. The processor or a different processor may also be used to generate a second refocus image pool with a second plurality of images based on the bitstream. The second refocus image pool may be used to decompress the bitstream to generate a reconstructed light-field image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Lytro, Inc.
    Inventor: Chia-Kai Liang
  • Patent number: 9495751
    Abstract: A method and a system for processing multi-aperture image data are described, wherein the method comprises: capturing image data associated with one or more objects by simultaneously exposing an image sensor in an imaging system to spectral energy associated with at least a first part of the electromagnetic spectrum using at least a first aperture and to spectral energy associated with at least a second part of the electromagnetic spectrum using at least a second and third aperture; generating first image data associated with said first part of the electromagnetic spectrum and second image data associated with said second part of the electromagnetic spectrum; and, generating depth information associated with said captured image on the basis displacement information in said second image data, preferably on the basis of displacement information in an auto-correlation function of the high-frequency image data associated with said second image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: DUAL APERTURE INTERNATIONAL CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Andrew Augustine Wajs
  • Patent number: 9467607
    Abstract: A light field data acquisition device includes optics and a light field sensor to acquire light field image data of a scene. In at least one embodiment, the light field sensor is located at a substantially fixed, predetermined distance relative to the focal point of the optics. In response to user input, the light field acquires the light field image data of the scene, and a storage device stores the acquired data. Such acquired data can subsequently be used to generate a plurality of images of the scene using different virtual focus depths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Lytro, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi-Ren Ng, Colvin Pitts, Timothy Knight
  • Patent number: 9052866
    Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a computer-readable medium for image registration and display are provided. In the method, a registration request is respectively sent to each of the electronic apparatuses to control the electronic apparatus to capture a local image and return the captured local image to the master apparatus. Next, an image registration is performed on the local images to obtain registration information among the local images. Then, a relative location between the master apparatus and each electronic apparatus is estimated according to the registration information. Finally, at least one frame to be displayed are oriented according to the estimated relative locations and sent to the electronic apparatuses for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Chun-Hsiang Huang, Chung-Huan Mei, Hao-Yuan Chen, Li-Hui Chen, Cheng-Shiun Jan
  • Patent number: 9001261
    Abstract: A method for characterizing an optical focusing defect of an image capture instrument is based on contrast values. Said contrast values are calculated for two images of a same scene portion, captured in respective overlapping length segments of two image sensors. To this end, the sensors are mounted in an image capture instrument so that the overlapping length segments between the sensors are situated at different heights along a focusing direction perpendicular to said sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignees: Airbus Defence and Space SAS, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales C N E S
    Inventor: Pierre-Luc Georgy
  • Patent number: 8351780
    Abstract: An imaging system to collect image data relating to a conical liquid film and its hollow conical spray emanating from an injector with a central spray axis includes a light source for emitting light into the film and spray generated by the injector; and a detector array located downstream from the injector along the central spray axis for panoramically detecting instantaneously for the entire film and spray the emitted light which has interacted with the spray to produce the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Carsten Ralf Mehring
  • Patent number: 8326142
    Abstract: The present invention is an optical image system having at least a first camera including a first lens and at least a second sensor including a second lens. The system also includes at least one beam splitter for transmitting an incoming beam of electromagnetic radiation of at least a first band of wavelength to a focal plane array of the first camera and reflecting an incoming beam of electromagnetic radiation of at least a second band of wavelength to a focal plane array of the second camera. The first lens is positioned behind the beam splitter for focusing the beam of the first band of wavelength onto an image at the focal plane array of the first camera and the second lens is positioned behind the beam splitter for focusing the beam of the second band of wavelength onto the image at the focal plane array of the second camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Arnold Kravitz, Jongjin George Kim, Sergey Gershtein
  • Patent number: 8265478
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for light-field capture with large depth of field. A design methodology is described in which the relationships among various plenoptic camera parameters, including inverse magnification, F-number, focal length, wavelength, and pixel size, may be analyzed to design plenoptic cameras that provide increased depth-of-field when compared to conventional plenoptic cameras. Plenoptic cameras are described, which may be implemented according to the design methodology, and in which both Keplerian telescopic and Galilean telescopic imaging can be realized at the same time while providing a larger depth of field than is realized in conventional plenoptic cameras, thus capturing light-field images that capture “both sides” in which all but a small region of the scene is in focus. In some embodiments, apertures may be added to the microlenses so that depth of field is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventor: Todor G. Georgiev
  • Patent number: 8072517
    Abstract: An image capturing device includes an adjustment assembly and two camera modules. The adjustment assembly includes a base, a driving member fixed on the base, and two supporting boards. The driving member includes an elastic connecting board having two ends connected to the base, a rigid board fixed to the elastic connecting board facing the base, and a cam rotating unit positioned between the base and the rigid board. The cam rotating unit abuts the rigid board and is rotatable to cause the rigid board to move toward or away from the base. The two supporting boards are attached to the elastic connecting board opposite to the base and spaced apart from each other. The two camera modules are fixed to the two supporting boards respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jen-Tsorng Chang
  • Patent number: 7949241
    Abstract: An imaging system includes an offset focal array including a plurality of photosensitive elements disposed at different focal lengths from at least one lens to output an image simulating an orthogonal view of an oblique coverage area. In further embodiments, the photosensitive elements are arranged in layers positioned substantially equal to the focal lengths of one or more focusing lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Frederick V. Petitti
  • Patent number: 7949252
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for light-field capture with large depth of field. A design methodology is described in which the relationships among various plenoptic camera parameters, including inverse magnification, F-number, focal length, wavelength, and pixel size, may be analyzed to design plenoptic cameras that provide increased depth-of-field when compared to conventional plenoptic cameras. Plenoptic cameras are described, which may be implemented according to the design methodology, and in which both Keplerian telescopic and Galilean telescopic imaging can be realized at the same time while providing a larger depth of field than is realized in conventional plenoptic cameras, thus capturing light-field images that capture “both sides” in which all but a small region of the scene is in focus. In some embodiments, apertures may be added to the microlenses so that depth of field is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventor: Todor G. Georgiev
  • Patent number: 7877007
    Abstract: An omni-directional stereo camera and a control method thereof. The omni-directional stereo camera includes two or more omni-directional cameras, and a supporting member installed within a shooting range between the omni-directional cameras to interconnect the omni-directional cameras and including compensation patterns formed at the surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sukjune Yoon, Kyung Shik Roh, Woosup Han, Seung Ki Min
  • Patent number: 7817916
    Abstract: A camera module includes a substrate, an image sensor, a shell, and at least two lens modules. The image sensor comprises at least two image sensor portions connecting with each other via a connecting portion. The at least two image sensor portions are mounted on the substrate. The connecting portion is separated from the substrate. The shell is mounted on the substrate and has a chamber for receiving the image sensor. The lens modules are each mounted in the shell corresponding to the image sensor portions. The lens module captures and transmits images to the image sensor portion of the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsung-Yu Lin
  • Patent number: 7732744
    Abstract: An image input apparatus includes an imaging optical system, a microlens array having a plurality of microlenses two-dimensionally arrayed with a predetermined pitch in the vicinity of a focal plane of the imaging optical system, and a photoreceptor array having a plurality of photoreceptors for each of the microlenses, each of the photoreceptors receiving bundles of rays passing through one of different exit-pupil regions of the imaging optical system. A power of the microlens and a gap between the microlens array and the photoreceptor array are determined so that a cross-sectional dimension of the bundles of rays for forming an image of each of the photoreceptors related to the microlens is equal to or smaller than the pitch of the microlens, within a range from the microlens array to a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Ken Utagawa
  • Patent number: 7680411
    Abstract: Imaging optical systems of imaging units of a multi-focus camera are set to form respective focal planes in a shooting space at different distances from the multi-focus camera. Front depths of field of the imaging optical systems are set to be so deep that they reach the adjacent focal planes that are arranged on the camera side of the respective focal planes. Focal lengths and magnifications of the imaging optical systems are so defined that images of any subjects of the same size are taken in the same size regardless of where the subjects are located in the shooting space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Zhijin Ye
  • Patent number: 7676146
    Abstract: An electronic camera includes: (a) a first imaging stage comprising a first image sensor; a first lens for forming a first image on the first image sensor; and a first lens focus adjuster for adjusting focus of the first lens responsive to a first focus detection signal; and (b) a second imaging stage comprising a second image sensor; a second lens for forming a second image on the second image sensor; and a second lens focus adjuster for adjusting focus of the second lens responsive to a second focus detection signal. A processing stage (a) selects the sensor output from the first imaging stage and uses the sensor output from the second imaging stage to generate the first focus detection signal, (b) selects the sensor output from the second imaging stage and uses the sensor output from the first imaging stage to generate the second focus detection signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: John N. Border, Russell J. Palum, Wilbert F. Janson, Jr., Kenneth A. Parulski, Keith A. Jacoby
  • Patent number: 7403710
    Abstract: This invention provides an image processing apparatus that corrects an image blur by using a plurality of images acquired by image capturing means. The apparatus comprises: blur detection means that detects a blur amount between the plurality of images; image composition means that performs the composition of the plurality of images using the detected blur amount; acquisition means that acquires, based on a difference value between the plurality of images and a threshold value thereof, region data for separating the image into regions by changing the threshold value; and display means that selectably displays the region data for each threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Osamu Itokawa
  • Patent number: 6078750
    Abstract: A camera according to the present invention includes a first cavity to accommodate conventional film material having multiple frames, each frame having a corresponding indicia disposed on the conventional film material to identify the corresponding frame and a second cavity to accommodate self-developable film material having multiple image forming portions, each image forming portion having a corresponding indicia disposed on the self-developable film material to identify the corresponding image forming portion and a corresponding frame of conventional film material. The camera further includes a light path for exposing simultaneously one of the multiple frames of the conventional film material and one of the multiple image forming portions of the self-developable film material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventor: Philip R. Norris
  • Patent number: 5943511
    Abstract: A compact dual imaging camera is disclosed wherein conventional and self-developing photographic films are generally simultaneously exposed from a common scene through separate taking apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Farrington, Philip R. Norris, Norman D. Staller
  • Patent number: 5838999
    Abstract: There is disclosed an improved image recording method and camera for simultaneously obtaining dual latent images on respective 35 mm and self-developing films. The self-developing film contains a plurality of separate film units arranged on a strip which are sequentially pulled from the camera so that a leading one of exposed film units separate from the strip as the latter is being pulled and after an exposed film unit has been processed. Advancement of the film strip also effects advancement of the 35 mm film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Polaroid Corporation
    Inventor: Philip R. Norris
  • Patent number: 5768643
    Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to easily produce a relief of a model viewed from the most preferable angle without pain to the model. In order to achieve this object, 1) a process of producing a stereophotographic sculpture is performed to produce a three-dimensional unadjusted sculpture 1, 2) the angle at which the individuality of the model is best represented is determined based on the sculpture, 3) the unadjusted sculpture 1 is photographed at that angle and, 4) a relief 14 is produced based on the pictures thus obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Rittaishashinzo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kimihiko Morioka
  • Patent number: 5668595
    Abstract: This invention relates to a multi-lens imaging apparatus and, more particularly, to a multi-lens imaging apparatus for obtaining a single high-fine image by synthesizing a plurality of images obtained by picking up an image of a common object using a plurality of imaging systems and to an apparatus which can provide an image having an aspect ratio different from that of an image obtained by a single imaging apparatus, especially, a panoramic image, by synthesizing a plurality of images using a plurality of imaging systems. This invention has as its object to obtain a high-fine image by synthesizing images from a plurality of imaging systems and, more specifically, to correct mis-registration such as keystone distortions generated in the images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsushi Katayama, Yukichi Niwa, Shigeyuki Suda