26th week of 2011 patent applcation highlights part 29 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20110157352 | INFRARED DIRECT ILLUMINATION MACHINE VISION TECHNIQUE FOR SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING EQUIPMENT - A vision system is provided to determine a positional relationship between a semiconductor wafer on a platen and an element on a processing machine, such as a printing screen, on a remote side of the semiconductor wafer from the platen. A source directs infrared light through an aperture in the platen to illuminate the semiconductor wafer and cast a shadow onto the element adjacent an edge of the semiconductor wafer. A video camera produces an image using light received from the platen aperture, wherein some of that received light was reflected by the wafer. The edge of the semiconductor wafer in the image is well defined by a dark/light transition. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157353 | MEASUREMENT SYSTEM, IMAGE CORRECTION METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - A measurement system includes an illumination unit configured to irradiate a measurement target with illumination light, an imaging unit configured to capture an image of light reflected by or transmitted through the measurement target, an acquisition unit configured to acquire positional relationship information representing a positional relationship between the illumination unit and the measurement target and a positional relationship between the imaging unit and the measurement target, and a correction unit configured to correct a luminance of at least one of the illumination light emitted by the illumination unit and the image captured by the imaging unit based on the positional relationship information in such a way as to correct a luminance change of the measurement target image captured by the imaging unit, wherein at least two of the measurement target, the illumination unit, and the imaging unit are variable in spatial position. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157354 | DISTANCE IMAGE SENSOR AND METHOD FOR GENERATING IMAGE SIGNAL BY TIME-OF-FLIGHT METHOD - A distance image sensor capable of enlarging the distance measurement range without reducing the distance resolution is provided. A radiation source | 2011-06-30 |
20110157355 | Method and System for Detecting Events in Environments - A system and a method for detecting events in time-series data are disclosed, wherein the time-series data represent atomic activities sensed by sensors in an environment, and wherein each atomic activity includes a time and a location at which the each atomic activity is sensed, comprising the steps of: mapping a specified event to a Petri net (PN), wherein the specified event is a spatio-temporal pattern of the atomic activities, wherein the spatio-temporal pattern is based only on the time and the location of the atomic activities, such that a spatio-temporal sequence of the atomic activities forms a primitive activity, and the spatio-temporal pattern includes primitive activities and constraints on the primitive activities, wherein the constraints are sequential and/or concurrent; and detecting, in the time-series data, a sensed event corresponding the specified event mapped to the PN to produce a result, wherein the detecting is performed by a processor. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157356 | MONITORING SYSTEM - A monitoring system applies to a long distance transmission. A number of data acquisition devices records still images and video as signals and converts the video signals into voltage signals suitable for transmission. A monitoring host connected to the number of data acquisition devices via a network cable for long distance transmission processes the voltage signals to show the video. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157357 | COMBINED REAL-TIME DATA AND LIVE VIDEO SYSTEM - A system for providing combined real-time data and live video of an enclosure. The real-time data may be overlayed on live video. Additionally, or instead, alarms and/or real-time control capabilities may be overlayed on the live video. An embedded server may be connected to sensors and cameras at the enclosure for providing the video with the overlaid information to a network. A user interface may obtain access to the overlaid video via the network. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157358 | CONFINED MOTION DETECTION FOR PAN-TILT CAMERAS EMPLOYING MOTION DETECTION AND AUTONOMOUS MOTION TRACKING - A method of operating a surveillance system includes capturing a sequence of images of a field-of-view. A source of localized motion is disposed within at least one of a plurality of segments of the field-of-view. Provided to an operator is means to enable or disable, for at least one of the segments of the field-of-view, a localized motion identification and notification function wherein localized motion in the segment is automatically identified and distinguished from transient motion, and the operator is automatically notified about the presence of the localized motion. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157359 | VIRTUAL PERSPECTIVE CENTER ALIGNED WITH MEASUREMENT CENTER - An apparatus for acquiring image and location information includes an antenna comprising an element configured to receive signals for determining the location information, and an imaging device coupled to the antenna and configured to acquire the image information. A virtual perspective center of the imaging device is coincident with the element of the antenna. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157360 | SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM AND METHOD - A surveillance system includes a time-of-flight (TOF) camera and a processing unit. The TOF camera captures a scene to obtain an image of the scene and distance data between a number of points in the scene and the TOF camera. The processing unit builds a three-dimensional (3D) model of the scene according to the image of the scene and the distance data between the points in the scene and the TOF camera, and compares a standard 3D model with the 3D model from the 3D model building module, to determine whether the two 3D models are the same. When the two 3D models are different, the processing unit notices that there is anomalous event occurring in the scene. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157361 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR GENERATING SURROUNDING SEAMLESS BIRD-VIEW IMAGE WITH DISTANCE INTERFACE - The present invention provides a method and system for generating a surrounding seamless bird-view image with distance assistance interface, which process a plurality of surrounding images associated with a carrier captured by different image sensing devices. After that, an assistant marking is determined according to the relationship between acquired image space and the real space and thereby is formed on the surrounding seamless bird-view image so as to assist the driver in the carrier for avoiding collision or events affecting the safety being occurred. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157362 | METHOD FOR EXPOSURE CONTROL FOR A CAMERA IN A MOTOR VEHICLE - A method for exposure control for a camera system in a motor vehicle is provided. The camera system records a sequence of images of the surroundings of the vehicle using an optimal exposure time. The optimal exposure time is predetermined depending on the brightness of the surroundings or on the brightness of individual objects in the image. If the optimal exposure time is longer than a predetermined threshold value, at least one intermediate image is recorded using a short predetermined exposure time, i.e. an exposure time shorter than the optimal exposure time. At least two driver assistance functions are executed on the basis of the image data of the camera system. The image data recorded using the optimal exposure time is used for a first driver assistance system and the image data recorded using the short exposure time is used for a second driver assistance system. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157363 | ONBOARD UNIT FOR A ROAD TOLL SYSTEM - An onboard unit for a road toll system including: at least one transceiver for transmitting toll-relevant data to transceiver stations for forwarding to a central processing unit of the road toll system; and at least one camera, which is directed towards an environment in front of a vehicle carrying the onboard unit and can create at least one image recording of at least one section of the environment. The camera forms an object detector, which detects the presence of an object remaining substantially stationary in a moving environment of the vehicle and upon detection of such an object causes the camera to record an image. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157364 | INTELLECTUAL SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM AND MONITORING METHOD THEREOF - The present invention relates to an intellectual surveillance system and a monitoring method thereof. The intellectual surveillance system comprises a camera module and a terminal computer module, wherein the camera module is capable of monitoring and reacting various sudden situations, and then the camera module transmits images and messages of the situations to the terminal computer module through at least one BNC connector and at least one coaxial cable, further that, the terminal module is able to display the images and show a alert so as to complete a secure monitor without any RS-485 series communication port and digital IP camera. Besides, the intellectual surveillance system can control the actions of monitoring and reacting such situations automatically by using the monitoring method. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157365 | HEAD-MOUNTED DISPLAY - A head-mounted display includes an image capture device that captures an image; a first setting device that sets a starting time for the capturing of the image; a start command device that causes the image capture device to start capturing the image at the starting time; a first acquiring device that acquires an audio text in which sound that is emitted by a captured object has been converted into text; a storage control device that stores in a storage device the image that has been captured during an interval from the time that the capturing of the image is started until the audio text is acquired; a first creating device that creates a display image in which the captured image and the audio text are synchronized by superimposing the audio text on the captured image; and a display control device that outputs the display image. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157366 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REAL TIME DETECTION OF CONFERENCE ROOM OCCUPANCY - A method for detecting occupancy status of a plurality of conference rooms in real time is provided. The method enables, firstly, monitoring a first output signal of a first sensor. Secondly, the method enables monitoring a second output signal of a second sensor. The method further enables comparing the first and second output signals with one or more predetermined thresholds within a predetermined time. Furthermore, the method enables correlating the comparison results to identify any uncertainty in detecting the occupancy. Furthermore, the method enables processing output from one or more image and/or video sensors based on the correlation to obtain occupancy status information when there is uncertainty in detecting occupancy. Finally, the method enables displaying the occupancy status information on one or more user devices. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157367 | SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM WITH DUAL CAMERA MODULES - A surveillance system includes a stationary camera module, a movable camera module, and a control unit. The stationary camera module fixedly surveils a total field of view of the surveillance system. The movable camera module movably surveils portions of the total field of view of the surveillance system. The control unit is connected with the stationary camera module and the movable camera module, controlling movement of the camera module. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157368 | METHOD OF PERFORMING HANDOFF BETWEEN PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUSES AND SURVEILLANCE APPARATUS USING THE SAME - Provided are a method of performing a handoff between photographing apparatuses and a surveillance apparatus using the method. The method includes: displaying a first area which is captured by a first photographing apparatus among the plurality of photographing apparatuses; displaying first icons corresponding to peripheral areas, among the plurality of areas, neighboring the first area; and displaying a second area, among the peripheral areas, which is captured by a second photographing apparatus, among the plurality of photographing apparatus, corresponding to an icon selected among the first icons. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157369 | Intelligent Observation And Identification Database System - An intelligent video/audio observation and identification database system may define a security zone or group of zones. The system may identify vehicles and individuals entering or exiting the zone through image recognition of the vehicle or individual as compared to prerecorded information stored in a database. The system may alert security personnel as to warrants or other information discovered pertaining to the recognized vehicle or individual resulting from a database search. The system may compare images of a suspect vehicle, such as an undercarriage image, to standard vehicle images stored in the database and alert security personnel as to potential vehicle overloading or foreign objects detected, such as potential bombs. The system may track individuals or vehicles within a zone or between zones. The system may further learn the standard times and locations of vehicles or individuals tracked by the system and alert security personnel upon deviation from standard activity. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157370 | TAGGING PRODUCT INFORMATION - A system for enabling the tagging of items appearing in a moving or paused image includes the use of an identification device on or within said item to be tagged. The method includes capturing moving image footage containing the image of said item to be tagged, detecting the presence and the position of the identification means within each frame of the moving image footage and hence determining the position of the item to be tagged in each frame of the moving image. By automatically determining the position of the identification device, a suitable tag can then be automatically associated with the item which has the identification device provided thereon or therein when saving or transmitting the moving image. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157371 | METHOD OF IDENTIFYING INCONSISTENT FIELD DOMINANCE METADATA IN A SEQUENCE OF VIDEO FRAMES - Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of identifying inconsistent field order flags for a sequence of video frames comprising: for each frame in the sequence of video frames analyzing the frame to make an initial determination of the field order for that frame; averaging the initial determination of the field order over a predefined number of most recently analyzed frames; and determining those frames for which the averaged field order does not match the field order identified by a respective field order metadata item associated with each frame by comparing the averaged field order for each frame to the respective field order metadata item. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157372 | MULTIMEDIA APPARATUS HAVING FUNCTION OF DETECTING VIDEO SIGNAL CONNECTION - A multimedia apparatus has a function of detecting video signal connection. The multimedia apparatus includes plural video output terminals. The user may selectively connect one of the video output terminals with a TV set. The analog video signal outputted from the video output terminal is detected by a detector. In a case that the connection between the first video output terminal and the TV set is interrupted but the second video output terminal is connected with the TV set, the detector issues control signal. According to the control signal, a first digital-to-analog converter is disabled to stop outputting a first analog video signal through the first video output terminal, and a second digital-to-analog converter is enabled to output a second analog video signal through the second video output terminal. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157373 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RUNTIME DETERMINATION OF CAMERA MISCALIBRATION - This invention provides a system and method for runtime determination (self-diagnosis) of camera miscalibration (accuracy), typically related to camera extrinsics, based on historical statistics of runtime alignment scores for objects acquired in the scene, which are defined based on matching of observed and expected image data of trained object models. This arrangement avoids a need to cease runtime operation of the vision system and/or stop the production line that is served by the vision system to diagnose if the system's camera(s) remain calibrated. Under the assumption that objects or features inspected by the vision system over time are substantially the same, the vision system accumulates statistics of part alignment results and stores intermediate results to be used as indicator of current system accuracy. For multi-camera vision systems, cross validation is illustratively employed to identify individual problematic cameras. The system and method allows for faster, less-expensive and more-straightforward diagnosis of vision system failures related to deteriorating camera calibration. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157374 | Circuit for Calibrating Sync-on-Green Signal and Associated Method - A circuit for calibrating a sync-on-green (SOG) signal includes a switching device for controlling whether to output an image signal; a reference voltage generator for providing a clamp reference voltage and a comparison reference voltage; a clamp circuit for receiving the clamp reference voltage to generate a clamp output; and a comparing device for comparing the reference voltage with the clamp output to generate the SOG signal. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157375 | DISPLAY DEVICE AND PROGRAM FOR DISPLAY DEVICE - A display device has a data storage section with a transfer memory area and a storage memory area, and a display section to display the stored data. A first and second communication section establish communication with a first and second external device, respectively. A connection detecting section activates the second communication section when connection with the second external device is established. A storage determining section determines whether data is stored in the transfer memory area. A particular storage control section transfers the data from the transfer memory area to the storage memory area. A transfer control section transfers the particular data to a transfer memory area of the second external device, when the second communication section is active, and the particular data is present in the transfer memory area. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157376 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF STARTING SNAPPING STATIC SCENE - A method of starting snapping a static scene is applied to a system, which is electrically connected with an image-capturing device and a display device. The display device has a displaying zone for display a visual field of the image-capturing device. After an instruction of setting a block in the displaying zone is received by the system, a skin color coverage percentage of the block is calculated. According to the skin color coverage percentage, the system determines whether the scene within the visual field is stored or not. By the method and system of the present invention, a self-timer function is activated according to the skin color. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157377 | DIGITAL PHOTO FRAME HAVING STEREO CAMERA MODULE - A digital photo frame includes a display module, a frame body and a stereo camera module. The frame body is includes a plurality of sides connected end to end. The sides are mounted around the display module. The stereo camera module includes two cameras and an image combination chip. The two cameras are configured for capturing two respective images of an object from two different viewing angles. The image combination chip is configured for combining the images captured by the two cameras to form a three-dimensional image. The two cameras are slidable along one of the sides of the frame body. The display module is capable of displaying the three-dimensional image. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157378 | Method for Providing A Hotkey Sequence Defined By A User and Photographic Device Using The Method - A method for providing a hotkey sequence defined by a user and a photographic device using the method are disclosed. The method is used for the photographic device, and the photographic device comprises a plurality of keys. The method comprises the steps of: obtaining a using status of the photographic device; obtaining a first hotkey sequence inputted by the user; recording the first hotkey sequence; and making the first hotkey sequence correspond to the using status. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157379 | IMAGING DEVICE AND IMAGING METHOD - A wearable camera that is an imaging device includes a sensing unit that senses motion of a camera, and a prediction unit that calculates a pixel shift distance (d) between frames based on the results of the sensing. The prediction unit obtains a position (p | 2011-06-30 |
20110157380 | IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - This invention comprises an image sensor which captures a moving image of an object, the image of which is formed by an imaging lens, a first detection unit which detects vibration of an image capture apparatus, a second detection unit which detects movement of the object based on an image signal for each image capture period which is output by the image sensor, a distance detection unit which detects an object distance, which is a distance from the image capture apparatus to the object, a changing unit which changes an output of the second detection unit based on the object distance which is detected by the distance detection unit, and a driving unit which drives a vibration correction unit, which optically performs vibration correction, based on an output of the first detection unit and an output of the second detection unit which is changed by the changing unit. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157381 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensing unit arranged to sense an object image; a vibration detection unit arranged to detect a vibration applied to the image capturing apparatus; a vector detection unit arranged to detect a motion vector from an image sensed by the image sensing unit; a first calculation unit arranged to calculate a first correction amount from a signal obtained based on an output from the vibration detection unit and a signal based on the motion vector; a second calculation unit arranged to calculate a second correction amount based on the motion vector; a first correction unit arranged to optically correct the vibration based on the first correction amount; and a second correction unit arranged to correct the vibration by changing an image read region based on the second correction amount, wherein vibration correction is performed using both the first and second correction units. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157382 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - An image capturing apparatus comprises: at least one vibration detection unit configured to detect a vibration applied to the image capturing apparatus and outputting a vibration signal; a calculation unit configured to calculate, based on the vibration signal output from the vibration detection unit, respective vibration correction signals for a plurality of correction units for performing a plurality of different correction processes, respectively; the correction units configured to correct the vibration based on the respective vibration correction signals calculated by the calculation unit; and a control unit configured to, when stopping the plurality of correction processes based on the vibration correction signals, shift the correction units to initial states serving as states of the correction units obtained when the vibration is not detected, wherein the control unit controls to simultaneously start moving the correction units to the initial states, and simultaneously stop moving the correction units. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157383 | Digital Photographing Apparatus, Method for Controlling the Same, and Computer-Readable Medium - A method of controlling a digital photographing apparatus successively photographs one short exposure image and a plurality of long exposure images. A global motion of each of the long exposure images is compensated based on the one short exposure image. A Point Spread Function (PSF) of each of the one short exposure image and the long exposure images are extracted. A shake correction image is extracted through a repeat estimation by determining an initial value of the repeat estimation based on the one short exposure image and the long exposure images and using each PSF. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157384 | Stabilizing rod for a video camera stabilizer - The present invention relates to a photographic apparatus and more particularly pertains to a stabilizing rod for a video camera stabilizer which comprises a data processing circuit, wherein it further comprises memory units which are connected to the data processing circuit for receiving digital format signals from the data processing circuit and recording the digital format signals. The present invention provides a stabilizing rod for a video camera stabilizer which is connected to memory units and is therefore capable of recoding image content in digital format for future editing and playback. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157385 | IMAGING APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH IMAGE ENLARGING DISPLAY FUNCTION, RECORDING MEDIUM RECORDING CONTROL PROGRAM OF THE IMAGING APPARATUS, AND CONTROL METHOD OF THE IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging apparatus includes a display section to sequentially display each of the images generated by the imaging section and an enlargement display control section to sequentially display parts of the images generated by the imaging section on the display section while enlarging the parts by a predetermined enlargement factor. The imaging section changes the enlargement factor of the enlargement display control section according to a shake quantity detected by the detecting section or an optical zoom magnification of an optical zoom section. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157386 | CONTROL APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - A control apparatus which controls a capturing device so as to obtain a plurality of captured images including an entire region of an object by capturing the object by a plurality of times while changing a capturing direction of the capturing device, the apparatus comprises: a derivation unit configured to derive a corrected capturing range when at least one of lens aberration correction and perspective correction which are based on a position and the capturing direction of the capturing device with respect to the object is applied to a capturing range obtained upon capturing the object by the capturing device; and a determination unit configured to determine a plurality of capturing ranges which cover the entire region of the object so that two corrected capturing ranges corresponding to two adjacent capturing ranges, respectively, overlap each other. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157387 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING IMAGE DATA - A method for generating image data includes adjusting an angle formed by each of a plurality of lenses attached to the imaging device relative to a reference plane based on a photography mode, obtaining at least one first image data using the plurality of adjusted lenses, and generating second image data corresponding to the photography mode using the at least one first image data. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157388 | Gun Camera - A gun camera, including a main body, a video unit, a video processing unit, a recording unit and a power supply unit, wherein interior of the main body forms a holding space, and the main body can be separably joined to a gun device. The video unit fixed to the main body is used to convert external video images into electronic signals. The video processing unit fixedly positioned within the main body processes and converts electronic signals produced by the video unit into digital video data. The recording unit electrically connected to the video processing unit is used to store the digital video data, and the power supply unit provides the electric power required by the video unit, the video processing unit and the recording unit. Accordingly: the gun camera is operated in coordination with a gun device or manually operated to implement immediate filming and recording of video. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157389 | DISTRIBUTED VISION SYSTEM WITH MULTI-PHASE SYNCHRONIZATION - This invention provides a system and method for synchronization of vision system inspection results produced by each of a plurality of processors that includes a first bank (that can be a “master” bank) containing a master vision system processor and at least one slave vision system processor. At least a second bank (that can be one of a plurality of “slave” banks) contains a master vision system processor and at least one slave vision system processor. Each vision system processor in each bank generates results from an image acquired and processed in a given inspection cycle. The inspection cycle can be based on an external trigger or other trigger signal, and it can enable some or all of the processors/banks to acquire and process images at a given time/cycle. In a given cycle. each of the multiple banks can be positioned to acquire an image of a respective region of a plurality of succeeding regions on a moving line. A synchronization process (a) generates a unique identifier and that passes a trigger signal with the unique identifier associated with the master processor in the first bank to each of the slave processor in the master bank and each of the master and slave processor and (b) receives consolidated results via the master processor of the second bank, having the unique identifier and consolidated results from the results from the first bank. The process then (c) consolidates the results for transmission to a destination if the results are complete and the unique identifier of each of the results is the same. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157390 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MEASURING LENS QUALITY - A method for measuring lens quality includes receiving and transmitting an image's information to a location module through an image collecting module. A location module partitions the image's information into a plurality of measure areas. An image processing module computes the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) of each measure area. A comparing module compares the MTF with a predetermined MTF to determine quality of the lenses. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157391 | HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGE SENSING DEVICE AND IMAGE MOTION SENSING METHOD THEREOF - An image motion sensing method applicable for an image sensing device includes the steps of capturing a plurality of sensing frames, each sensing frame including image position information of an image; selecting a base frame from the sensing frames and a sampling frame disposed after the base frame; comparing image position information of images in the base frame and the sampling frame within a base comparison range of the base frame and a sampling comparison range of the sampling frame to generate displacement information; determining a comparison range size according to the displacement information; updating sampling comparison range according to the comparison range size; selecting a sensing frame after the sampling frame as an updated sampling frame; updating the base comparison range of the base frame according to the comparison range size; and returning to the foregoing step of comparing the image position information. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157392 | METHOD FOR ADJUSTING SHOOTING CONDITION OF DIGITAL CAMERA THROUGH MOTION DETECTION - A method for adjusting a shooting condition of a digital camera through motion detection is applied to determine a shooting parameter of the digital camera. The adjusting method includes the following steps. At least two consecutive images, namely a first pre-capture image and a second pre-capture image, are selected. The first pre-capture image and the second pre-capture image are divided into a plurality of selection blocks. A motion vector of each selection block is calculated. The motion vector of each selection block is used to generate a background dominant motion vector of the camera sloshing and a self-movement vector of the shot object. The background dominant motion vector is subtracted from the self-movement vector of the shot object, so as to obtain a corrected foreground motion vector. According to the size of the corrected foreground motion vector, the corresponding shooting parameter is determined. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157393 | LENSLESS IMAGING WITH CONTROLLABLE APERTURES - Embodiments of the present invention provide a lensless optical device for acquiring an image. The device can include a light attenuating layer having a plurality of elements, where transmittance of each of the plurality of elements is controllable, and an image detector disposed at a distance from the light attenuating layer, the image detector configured to acquire an image with light that passes through the light attenuating layer. The device also can include a light attenuating layer controller configured to simultaneously control transmittance of each of the plurality of elements independent of each other. Methods of detecting and tracking an object in a scene are also disclosed. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157394 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus includes: a picture range variation control section adapted to variably set a picture range extent of image data; and a composition processing section adapted to detect whether or not a target image is included in a picture range while the picture range extent is variably set by the picture range variation control section and carry out, when one or more target images are detected, a composition determination process including confirmation of a different target image around the detected target image or images. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157395 | IMAGE SENSOR WITH FRACTIONAL RESOLUTION IMAGE PROCESSING - A system-on-chip (SOC) includes an image sensor, an image signal processor connected to an output of the image sensor, a bypass connected to the output of the image sensor, and a multiplexer connected to an output of the image signal processor and an output of the bypass. The image sensor, image signal processor, bypass, and multiplexer are all integrated on one silicon wafer. An image capture device includes the SOC and applications processor connected to an output of the multiplexer. The image capture device can further include a system memory and a display connected to the applications processor. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157396 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - The invention provides an image processing apparatus comprising: an acquisition unit configured to acquire a plurality of captured images captured by an image capturing apparatus; a determination unit configured to determine position information of the image capturing apparatus for each of the plurality of captured images so that an evaluation value becomes smaller; and a connecting unit configured to connect the plurality of captured images projected onto a reconstruction plane using the determined position information of the image capturing apparatus, wherein the determination unit comprises a calculation unit configured to project each of the plurality of captured images onto the reconstruction plane based on the set position information and to calculate, as the evaluation value, an image difference between the projected images in a overlapping region between the projected images. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157397 | IMAGE PICKUP CONTROL APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP CONTROL METHOD AND PROGRAM - An image pickup control apparatus, includes: a trigger acceptance section adapted to accept a predetermined trigger input as a changeover input from an automatic image pickup mode to a request responding image pickup mode; and a request responding image pickup control section adapted to establish, when the trigger input is accepted by the trigger acceptance section while an image pickup apparatus is carrying out still picture image pickup operation with an image pickup visual field of the image pickup apparatus changed in the automatic image pickup mode, the request responding image pickup mode and control the image pickup apparatus to execute a process for determining an image pickup visual field in accordance with an image pickup request and then execute still picture image pickup operation after the determination of the image pickup visual field. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157398 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING APPARATUS - A solid-state imaging apparatus according to the present invention is characterized in that a reset gate voltage VresH to be applied to a gate of a reset MOS transistor is lower than a power supply voltage SVDD of a power supply to which drains of an amplifying MOS transistor and the reset MOS transistor are connected. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157399 | CAMERA MODULE, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE RECORDING METHOD - According to one embodiment, a camera module includes a plurality of sub-camera modules. The sub-camera modules include imaging elements and imaging lenses. At least two of the sub-camera modules include the imaging lenses, subject distances of which when best-focused are set different from each other. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157400 | PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF DISPLAYING GRAPHIC FOR USER TO ESTIMATE THE REAL SIZE OF OBJECT - A photographing method displays a photographed object and displays a graphic for the user to estimate the real size of the object based on a calculated real size of the object. Accordingly, the user can evaluate the real size of the object, which is being photographed by the user. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157401 | METHOD FOR READING OUT A HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE IMAGE AND DEVICE USING THE SAME - A method for reading out a high dynamic range image in an image sensor comprises: resetting a pixel array row by row from an initial row of the pixel array to process a first integration treatment for a first image when reaching a first start time; resetting the pixel array row by row from the initial row of the pixel array to process a second integration treatment for the first image when reaching a second start time; and resetting the pixel array row by row from the initial row of the pixel array to process a first integration treatment for a second image when reaching a third start time. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157402 | METHOD FOR PROCESSING IMAGE, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A method for processing image includes: acquiring image data; firstly correcting saturation information acquired from the image data based on at least one of hue information and luminance information of the image data; determining whether an image of the image data is a vivid color scene based on the saturation information corrected by the first correction; and outputting a result of scene determination. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157403 | CAMERA AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME - A camera with a focusing function is provided. The camera includes a first imaging unit configured to generate a first image by a photoelectric conversion from an image of a subject obtained via a first lens, a second imaging unit configured to generate a second image by a photoelectric conversion from an image of the subject obtained via a second lens, where the second imaging unit being different from the first imaging unit, an focusing amount acquiring unit configured to acquire amount of focusing, a composite image generating unit configured to set a cutout position on the second image, to cut out an partial image at the cutout position, on the basis of the operation amount and a predetermined cutout rule, and to generate a composite image by superimposing the partial image on the first image, and an image display unit configured to display the composite image. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157404 | DIGITAL CAMERA AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME - A digital camera is provided with a focusing function and a focal length varying function of a main lens. The digital camera includes a main imaging unit configured to generate a main image by performing a photoelectric conversion from a subject obtained via the main lens, a sub-imaging unit configured to generate a sub-image by performing a photoelectric conversion from the subject obtained via a sub-lens, a focal length acquiring unit configured to acquire the focal length of the main lens, a magnification setting unit configured to set a level of magnification on the basis of the focal length, a composite image generating unit configured to generate a composite image by combining the main image and the sub-image, after at least one of the main image and the sub-image is magnified at the level of magnification, and an image display unit configured to display the composite image. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157405 | Photographing Apparatus, Photographing Method and Recording Medium - The photographing apparatus includes an image pickup unit that generates a raw image; a feature extractor that extracts a feature image containing at least one feature part from the raw image; an image processor that performs image processing of the raw image according to a first scene information and that performs image processing of the feature image according to a second scene information; a quantizer that performs discrete cosine transform and quantization of a raw-processed image obtained by performing image processing of the raw image and a feature-processed image obtained by performing image processing of the feature image; a difference data generator that generates difference data indicating a difference between image data obtained by processing the raw-processed image in the quantizer and feature image data obtained by processing the feature-processed image in the quantizer on a feature image data basis; and an image compressor. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157406 | Photographing Apparatus and Method - A photographing apparatus includes an auxiliary line display unit displaying auxiliary lines including at least one of at least one vertical line movable in a horizontal direction within a screen and at least one horizontal line movable in a vertical direction within the screen, an edge extracting unit extracting an edge of an object image from image data obtained by photographing an object, a straight line detecting unit detecting at least one straight line portion from the extracted edge, a target extracting unit extracting a target straight line portion from the detected at least one straight line portion, according to at least one of an inclination and a length of the detected at least one straight line portion, and a distance calculating unit calculating a distance between the extracted target straight line portion and at least one of the vertical line and the horizontal line. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157407 | DOCUMENT CAMERA WITH SIZE-ESTIMATING FUNCTION AND SIZE ESTIMATION METHOD - A size estimation method is used with a document camera to estimate an object size. The document camera includes a lens and an image sensor. The size estimation method includes the following steps. Firstly, an object distance between the lens and the object is detected. According to the object distance and a viewable angle of the lens, a shooting zone size is estimated. Then, the object is shot by the lens and the image sensor, thereby acquiring a digital image including an image of the object. Then, an effective pixel number corresponding to the object image is counted. Afterward, the size of the object is estimated according to the effective pixel number, a total pixel number of the image sensor and the shooting zone size. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157408 | Foreground/Background Segmentation in Digital Images with Differential Exposure Calculations - A digital segmentation method and apparatus determines foreground and/or background within at least one portion of a captured image. The determining includes comparing a captured image to a pre-captured or post captured reference image of nominally the same scene. One of the images is taken with flash and the other without. The system can be implemented as part of a digital camera acquisition chain having effective computation complexity. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157409 | IMAGE QUALITY ADJUSTING DEVICE, IMAGE QUALITY ADJUSTING METHOD, AND IMAGE QUALITY ADJUSTING PROGRAM - An image quality adjusting device | 2011-06-30 |
20110157410 | AUTO WHITE BALANCE ALGORITHM USING RGB PRODUCT MEASURE - A method and device is provided for adjusting the white balance of a digital image by adjusting the values assigned to the red, green, and blue subpixels of a pixel in the image. The adjustment to the subpixels is determined by identifying pixels in the image that have an RGB product greater than a threshold value, wherein the threshold value is based at least in part on an average of the RGB products of each pixel in the image and a variance between the RGB products of the pixels and the average of the RGB products. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157411 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGING APPARATUS - The present invention is directed to an image processing apparatus wherein a discrimination whether an input image is a vivid color scene can be made to match a perception or an intention of a human. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157412 | Photographing Apparatus and Method and Recording Medium - A photographing apparatus and method and a recording medium, the photographing apparatus including: an exposure control value calculator for calculating a first exposure control value for a first image obtained by performing non-flash photographing and a second exposure control value for a second image by performing flash photographing based on light received from a subject; a photographing unit for acquiring the first image by performing photographing based on the first exposure control value and acquiring the second image by performing photographing based on the second exposure control value; an exposure control value difference calculator for calculating an exposure control value difference that is a difference between the first exposure control value and the second exposure control value; and a subject brightness calculator for calculating a first subject brightness of the first image and calculating a second subject brightness of the second image. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157413 | Image Pickup Apparatus and Image Pickup Method - An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit that acquires a first image without a flash and a second image with the flash; a down-sampling unit that generates a third image by down-sampling the second image; a brightness difference calculator that calculates a brightness difference between the first image and the third image; a flash reflection intensity calculator that calculates a first flash reflection intensity from the brightness difference; and a white balance gain calculator that calculates a white balance gain based on the first flash reflection intensity. An image pickup method includes acquiring a first image without a flash and a second image with the flash, generating a third image by down-sampling the second image, calculating a brightness difference between the first image and the third image, calculating a first flash reflection intensity from the brightness difference, and calculating a white balance gain. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157414 | IMAGE'S CHROMATISM CORRECTION APPARATUS - A reference pixel is specified for a specified pixel whose (luminance) value is below a threshold, for example, in RGB data obtained by an image pickup operation. The reference pixel should be on a straight line passing through the specified pixel and a center of the image and spaced from the specified pixel by a distance depending on a reduction or expansion rate of a blue (B) component image of the optical image corresponding to an optical zoom magnification in the image pickup. Only when the B value of the specified pixel is greater than that of the reference pixel, the B value of the specified pixel is replaced with that of the reference pixel. By expanding or reducing the blue component image alone for the original RGB data, image data is obtained in which the magnification chromatism is corrected. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157415 | PHOTOGRAPHIC FLICKER DETECTION AND COMPENSATION - One disclosed embodiment includes detecting flicker in a photographic setting. A plurality of samples are obtained from a light detector circuit of a camera, each of which has a value that is dependent upon intensity of light incident upon the camera. The method further includes processing the samples to identify whether the incident light is varying in intensity at one or more pre-selected frequencies. The processing may include multiplying the samples with one or more periodic signals to generate scalar product outputs, and analyzing the scalar product outputs to ascertain the presence of periodic flicker. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157416 | FLICKER DETECTION METHOD AND IMAGE SENSING DEVICE UTILIZING THE SAME - A flicker detection method of an image sensing device is disclosed. The image sensing device includes a sensor and a processor. The method comprises steps of: consequently detecting multiple frames according to a frame rate, wherein each of the multiple frames includes a light signal; generating a light intensity information based on the light signals; determining a sampling window according to a predetermined detection frequency and the frame rate; dividing the light intensity information into multiple light intensity groups according to the sampling window; distinguishing a feature of each light intensity group, and recording an index position of each feature of the light intensity groups; calculating, individually, a difference between the index positions of the adjacent light intensity groups; and determining whether the differences are patterned, in order to determine whether the light intensity information corresponds to a flicker. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157417 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND LIGHT CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An electronic device automatically adjusts luminance of a monitor device, such as an image capture device. The electronic device analyzes captured images and determines brightness thereof. If the luminance of the captured images are too dark, the electronic device widens an aperture of the monitor device or turns up a supplementary lighting device. If the luminance is too high, the electronic device narrows the aperture of the monitor device or decreases output of the supplementary lighting device. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157418 | IMAGE SENSOR ARRAYS - An array of image sensors are connected in a daisy chained arrangement. The sensors in the array are addressed on the basis of the number of pixels each of them processes. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157419 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE IMAGING USING SPATIALLY VARYING EXPOSURES - Apparatus and methods are provided for obtaining high dynamic range images using a low dynamic range image sensor. The scene is exposed to the image sensor in a spatially varying manner. A variable-transmittance mask, which is interposed between the scene and the image sensor, imposes a spatially varying attenuation on the scene light incident on the image sensor. The mask includes light transmitting cells whose transmittance is controlled by application of suitable control signals. The mask is configured to generate a spatially varying light attenuation pattern across the image sensor. The image frame sensed by the image sensor is normalized with respect to the spatially varying light attenuation pattern. The normalized image data can be interpolated to account for image sensor pixels that are either under or over exposed to enhance the dynamic range of the image sensor. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157420 | FILING DIGITAL IMAGES USING VOICE INPUT - Method and device for naming digital image data files stored on a camera enabled device having an image sensor, an audio sensor, a display and a memory, including: capturing image data through the image sensor; automatically displaying on the display a default filename for an image data file for the captured image data; monitoring the audio sensor for voice input upon detecting a user input selecting the default filename, and determining a new filename for the image data file in dependence on a text translation of the voice input. A folder name can alternatively be determined in dependence on a text translation of a voice input and an image data file for the captured image data saved in the memory using a folder having the folder name. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157421 | Systems and Methods for Capturing Images of Objects - A method for generating an image object, performed by a mobile electronic device, comprises the following steps. The mobile electronic device comprises multiple shutter objects, and each shutter object corresponds to an orientation type. A signal generated by one of the shutter objects is detected. A orientation type is determined according to the shutter object generating the signal. The image object with the determined orientation type is stored. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157422 | METHOD OF POSITION STAMPING A PHOTO OR VIDEO CLIP TAKEN WITH A DIGITAL CAMERA - A method of appending a position stamp to an image file of a photo or video clip taken with a digital camera having a GPS antenna and a GPS RF front-end including an analogue to digital converter for receiving GPS signals and outputting GPS signal samples together with a digital camera and computer for the same. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157423 | Image processing apparatus, imaging apparatus, image processing method, and program - An image processing apparatus includes an imaging operation state acquiring unit that acquires imaging operation state information representing imaging operation states at the time of an imaging operation for a plurality of images that are consecutively generated in a time series, an image processing unit that performs image processing, which is used for generating a synthesized image representing transition in a specific operation of an observed subject included in the plurality of images, based on the acquired imaging state information for the plurality of images, and an image synthesis unit that generates a synthesized image by synthesizing the plurality of images for which the image processing has been performed. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157424 | IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM - A method includes specifying an image area which is contained in the subject-present image taken and in which nonflatness is less than or equal to a predetermined value, determining whether or not a range of the specified image area in the subject-present image in which the nonflatness is less than or equal to a predetermined value is greater than or equal to a predetermined range, generating an extraction background image used to extract a subject area in the subject-present image containing the subject, from the image area when the range of the image area in which the nonflatness is less than or equal to a predetermined value is determined to be greater than or equal to the predetermined range, and extracting the subject area from the subject-present image based on information on a difference between each pixel in the extraction background image and a corresponding pixel in the subject-present image. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157425 | VIDEO PROCESSING APPARATUS AND VIDEO PROCESSING METHOD - An imaging apparatus includes a histogram shape determination unit that acquires a histogram of luminance values from video captured by an image capturing unit and determines whether or not the captured video is a night scene from the shape of the histogram. The imaging apparatus also includes a point light source determination unit that acquires the maximum value of contrast for each horizontal line in the video as a line evaluation value and determines whether the captured video is a night scene based on whether or not the line evaluation value has a characteristic of an object as a point light source. If the histogram shape determination unit and the point light source determination unit determine that the captured video is a night scene, the imaging apparatus determines that the scene captured by the image capturing unit is a night scene. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157426 | VIDEO PROCESSING APPARATUS AND VIDEO PROCESSING METHOD THEREOF - A video processing apparatus and a video processing method are used to capture a view region as a video result. The video processing apparatus includes a video sensor, a temporary memory, and a video pipeline. The video sensor captures the view region at a sensor frame rate and generates a video having a plurality of frames. The video pipeline receives one of the frames directly from the video sensor to serve as a first frame. The video pipeline processes the first frame to generate a temporary result frame, and then generates a video result at a video frame rate according to the temporary result frame and a second frame directly received from the video sensor, wherein the video frame rate is smaller than the sensor frame rate. The video processing method captures the view region as the video result by using the video processing apparatus. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157427 | PHOTOGRAPHING METHOD OF GENERATING IMAGE OF TRACED MOVING PATH AND PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS USING THE PHOTOGRAPHING METHOD - A photographing method of generating an image of a traced moving path and a photographing apparatus using the photographing method are provided. The photographing apparatus includes an image processing unit which captures a plurality of still images regarding an object, obtains state information about a state of the photographing apparatus at time points corresponding to the plurality of still images, respectively, and synthesizes the plurality of still images into an image based on the state information. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157428 | VIDEO SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS AND VIDEO SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD - Disclosed herein is a video signal processing apparatus including an image outputting portion, a manipulation portion, and a video signal extracting portion. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157429 | Zoom lens and image pickup device - Disclosed herein is a zoom lens including a first lens group, a second lens group, a third lens group, a fourth lens group, and a fifth lens group. The zoom lens satisfies following conditional expressions (1) and (2), | 2011-06-30 |
20110157430 | Image pickup apparatus having optical path reflecting zoom lens - An image pickup apparatus includes a zoom lens, and an image pickup element having an image pickup surface which receives optically an image formed by the zoom lens, and which converts the image received to an electric signal. The image pickup apparatus satisfies the following conditional expressions (1), (2), and (3). | 2011-06-30 |
20110157431 | Method and System for Directing Cameras - A system and a method for directing a camera based on time-series data are disclosed, wherein the time-series data represent atomic activities sensed by sensors in an environment, and wherein each atomic activity includes a time and a location at which the each atomic activity is sensed, comprising: providing a spatio-temporal pattern of the specified atomic activity, wherein the spatio-temporal pattern is based only on the time and the location of the atomic activities, such that a spatio-temporal sequence of the atomic activities forms the specified primitive activity; detecting, in the time-series data, a sensed primitive activity corresponding to the spatio-temporal pattern to produce a result, wherein the detecting is performed by a processor; and directing the camera based on the result. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157432 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REMOVING LENS DISTORTION AND CHROMATIC ABERRATION, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM STORING COMPUTER PROGRAM TO EXECUTE THE IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus for processing an input image generated by an image pick-up device from an optical signal passing through a lens includes a first module comprising a plurality of chromatic aberration correction units that correct chromatic aberration in the input image; a second module, configured independently of the first module in terms of hardware, comprising a lens distortion correction unit that corrects lens distortion in the input image; a memory that stores data; and a bus connected to the first module, the second module, and the memory, and that transfers data between the first module, the second module, and the memory. The data is transferred in an on-the-fly method between the plurality of chromatic aberration correction units of the first module. The first module outputs data processed in units of blocks that are units for processing the data of the input image in the first module. The second module performs lens distortion correction when the data of the input image of a block is output from the first module. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157433 | Generating column offset corrections for image sensors - An image sensor includes multiple photoactive pixels and multiple dark reference pixels typically arranged in rows and columns to form a pixel array. A dark signal is read out from a given number of dark reference pixels in each column at a first gain level. An initial column offset correction is determined for one or more columns in the pixel array using respective dark signals read out at the first gain level. The initial column offset corrections are repeatedly scaled in response to each detected change to a different gain level. The column offset corrections can be scaled based on an amount of change between each respective different gain level and the first gain level. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157434 | Generating column offset corrections for image sensors - An image sensor includes multiple photoactive pixels and multiple dark reference pixels arranged in rows and columns to form a pixel array. A dark signal is read out of one or more dark reference pixels in each column and used to determine a column offset for one or more columns in the pixel array. Each time an image or frame of an image is read out, the column offset for the one or more columns is updated using dark signals read out from a given number of dark reference pixels. The column offset for the one or more columns is scaled when a gain level is changed for a captured image. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157435 | Generating column offset corrections for image sensors - An image sensor includes multiple photoactive pixels and multiple dark reference pixels arranged in rows and columns to form a pixel array. A dark signal is read out of one or more dark reference pixels in each column and used to determine a column offset for one or more columns in the pixel array. An offset window is used for each column in the pixel array to define an acceptable maximum dark signal and an acceptable minimum dark signal for each column. The dark signals from each column are analyzed to determine if there are any dark signals outside the offset window. If any of the dark signals are outside the offset window, the dark signal or signals can be compensated for or discarded. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157436 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RINGING AND HALO CONTROL - A system is disclosed for reducing artifacts in images and video, such as ringing or halo artifacts. The system may include an edge detector and a gain controller. The edge detector may create an edge image used by the gain controller to create a gain image, and the gain image may be used to reduce artifacts in an image. The gain controller may, for a current pixel in the edge image, compute the maximum value of the edge image over a window containing the current pixel. The gain controller may also perform averaging to determine a maximum edge value and a current edge value, and may also use a ratio of the current edge value and the maximum edge value to determine a gain to be applied to a pixel of an image. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157437 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INFORMATION REPRODUCTION - According to one embodiment, an imaging apparatus including an imaging module that outputs imaging data for each color component including a synchronization code, a synchronization detecting module that detects a synchronization code from imaging data output from the imaging module, a data holding module that temporarily holds video data for each color component output from the imaging module, and a synchronization module that aligns the phases of video data for each color component held by the data holding module. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157438 | PAUSING COLUMN READOUT IN IMAGE SENSORS - An image sensor includes a two-dimensional array of pixels having multiple column outputs and an output circuit connected to each column output. Each output circuit is configured to operate concurrent sample and read operations. An analog front end (AFE) circuit processes pixel data output from the output circuits and an AFE clock controller transmits an AFE clocking signal to the AFE circuit to effect processing of the pixel data. A timing generator outputs a column address sequence that is received by a column decoder. During one or more sample operations the timing generator suspends the column address sequence and subsequently during the one or more sample operations the AFE clock controller suspends the AFE clocking signal. The AFE clocking signal and the column address sequence resume at the end of the one or more sample operations. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157439 | IMAGING DEVICE, A/D CONVERTER DEVICE AND READING CIRCUIT - An A/D converter device includes a zone identifying circuit configured to identify which one of a plurality of level zones a voltage level of an analog output signal is in; a shift voltage generating circuit configured to generate a shift voltage which corresponds to a relevant one of the level zones; an operational amplifier circuit configured to change the analog output signal by means of the shift voltage, the operational amplifier circuit being configured to amplify the changed analog output signal to suit an A/D conversion input range so as to generate an amplified and shifted analog signal; a first A/D converter circuit configured to A/D-convert the amplified and shifted analog signal so as to calculate a first A/D converted value; and a second A/D converted value calculating circuit configured to calculate a second A/D converted value from the first A/D converted value in accordance with the relevant level zone. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157440 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE - To control the potential distribution generated in a well at the time of amplification and reduce a shading in a solid-state imaging device of amplification type, the amplification type solid-state imaging device of the present invention comprises a plurality of picture elements each including photoelectric conversion elements formed in a second conductivity type common well inside a first conductivity type substrate, wherein a plurality of well contacts are disposed inside a picture element array area. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157441 | SOLID STATE IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE AND CAMERA - An solid state image pickup device including a plurality of photoelectric conversion regions (PD | 2011-06-30 |
20110157442 | SOLID STATE IMAGING DEVICE AND METHOD OF DRIVING THE SOLID STATE IMAGING DEVICE - A row scanner selects an arbitrary row in an pixel array unit. Per-column AD converters separately convert voltage signals respectively outputted from a column of a plurality of unit pixels in the selected arbitrary row into digital signals. A column scanner sequentially outputs the digital signals by a column-scanning operation thereof. An AD conversion result adjuster judges whether or not the digital signals reach a predetermined judgment value or the status equivalent to the digital signals reaching the predetermined judgment value is generated, and fixes the digital signals to digital pixel values set in accordance with the predetermined judgment value when a result of the judgment is positive. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157443 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS - An image sensing apparatus is provided, which is provided with a plurality of image sensing elements each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion sections and an adding circuit adapted to add signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion sections to obtain a one-pixel signal, wherein the adding circuit adds the signals such that the one-pixel signals obtained by the addition are arranged at equal intervals in an area extending over the plurality of Image sensing elements. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157444 | SUSPENDING COLUMN READOUT IN IMAGE SENSORS - An image sensor includes a two-dimensional array of pixels having multiple column outputs and an output circuit connected to each column output. Each output circuit is configured to operate concurrent sample and read operations. An analog front end (AFE) circuit processes pixel data output from the output circuits and an AFE clock controller transmits an AFE clocking signal to the AFE circuit to effect processing of the pixel data. A timing generator outputs a column address sequence that is received by a column decoder. During one or more sample operations the AFE clock controller suspends the output of the AFE clocking signal and the timing generator suspends the output of the column address sequence during the sample operation. The output of the AFE clocking signal and the column address sequence resume at the end of the sample operation. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157445 | SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - A semiconductor device comprising a first semiconductor section including a first wiring layer at one side thereof, a second semiconductor section including a second wiring layer at one side thereof, the first and second semiconductor sections being secured together with the respective first and second wiring layer sides of the first and second semiconductor sections facing each other, a conductive material extending through the first semiconductor section to the second wiring layer of the second semiconductor section and by means of which the first and second wiring layers are in electrical communication. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157446 | IMAGE SENSOR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME, AND SENSOR DEVICE - An image sensor is provided. The image sensor includes a photoelectric conversion portion including a light receiving element; and a well region defined by a wall structure that is formed integrally on the photoelectric conversion portion, wherein the well region is positioned to correspond to the light receiving element of the photoelectric conversion portion. An image sensor device and methods of manufacture are also provided. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157447 | PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE METHOD FOR PRODUCING PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE AND IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM - A photoelectric conversion device includes a photoelectric conversion region having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a first MOS transistor configured to read a signal in response to an electric charge of each photoelectric conversion element; and a peripheral circuit region having a second MOS transistor configured to drive the first MOS transistor and/or amplify the signal read from the photoelectric conversion region, the photoelectric conversion region and the peripheral circuit region being located on the same semiconductor substrate, wherein an impurity concentration in a drain of the first MOS transistor is lower than an impurity concentration in a drain of the second MOS transistor. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157448 | Image sensor, semiconductor device and image sensing method - An image sensor and an image sensing method can obtain image signals with a high S/N ratio in a high-speed image pickup operation. Signal charges are input to input transfer stage | 2011-06-30 |
20110157449 | Photographing Lens Assembly - This invention provides a photographing lens assembly comprising, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens element with positive refractive power having a convex object-side surface and a convex image-side surface; a second lens element with negative refractive power having a concave object-side surface and a concave image-side surface; a third lens element with negative refractive power, the object-side and image-side surfaces thereof being aspheric; a fourth lens element with negative refractive power having a concave image-side surface on which at least one inflection point is formed; and an aperture stop disposed between an imaged object and the second lens element; wherein there are four lens elements with refractive power. Such an arrangement of optical elements can effectively reduce the size of the lens assembly, attenuate the sensitivity of the optical system and enable the lens assembly to obtain higher resolution. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157450 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A portable electronic device includes a housing defining a through hole, a barrel positioned in the housing, a lens fixed at an end of the barrel and a light detection unit fixed at the other end of the barrel away from the lens. The lens includes an imaging portion facing the light detection unit and an incidence portion facing the through hole. The incidence portion forms a reflecting surface angled relative to an optical axis of the imaging portion, such that light entering from the through hole through the incidence portion is then reflected by the reflecting surface and refracted by the imaging portion, and is then received by the light detection unit. | 2011-06-30 |
20110157451 | IMAGING DEVICE - An exemplary imaging device includes first camera modules, second camera modules, third camera modules, and a processing device. The first camera modules each have a red filter and is capable of capturing red images. The second camera modules each have a green filter and is capable of capturing green images. The third camera module each have a blue filter and is capable of capturing blue images. The processing device is electronically connected with the first, second, and third camera modules to combine the red, green, and blue images to form a full-color image. The imaging device can also include one or more fourth camera module, which includes an IR-cut filter. | 2011-06-30 |