Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100188397 | THREE DIMENSIONAL NAVIGATION USING DETERMINISTIC MOVEMENT OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - Systems and methods are providing for navigating a three-dimensional model using deterministic movement of an electronic device. An electronic device can load and provide an initial display of a three-dimensional model (e.g., of an environment or of an object). As the user moves the electronic device, motion-sensing components, positioning circuitry, and other components can detect the device movement and adjust the displayed portion of the three-dimensional model to reflect the movement of the device. By walking with the device in the user's real environment, a user can virtually navigate a representation of a three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, a user can record an object or environment using an electronic device, and tag the recorded images or video with movement information describing the movement of the device during the recording. The recorded information can then be processed with the movement information to generate a three-dimensional model of the recorded environment or object. | 07-29-2010 |
20100188432 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR NAVIGATING A SCENE USING DETERMINISTIC MOVEMENT OF AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - Systems and methods are providing for scrolling the display of information based on the displacement of the electronic device. An electronic device can include a motion sensing component operative to detect movement of the electronic device (e.g., an accelerometer). The electronic device can display any suitable information, including information that is too large to display at a single instance on the display (e.g., a multi-page text document, or a large image). To view portions of the information that are not initially displayed (e.g., to scroll displayed information), the user can move the electronic device along the plane of the device. As the motion sensing component detects movement, the electronic device can scroll the displayed information to match the detected movement. In some embodiments, the electronic device can detect tilt movements and adjust the displayed information to reflect the tilted display. | 07-29-2010 |
20100188503 | GENERATING A THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODEL USING A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE RECORDING - Systems and methods are providing for navigating a three-dimensional model using deterministic movement of an electronic device. An electronic device can load and provide an initial display of a three dimensional model (e.g., of an environment or of an object). As the user moves the electronic device, motion sensing components, positioning circuitry, and other components can detect the device movement and adjust the displayed portion of the three-dimensional model to reflect the movement of the device. By walking with the device in the user's real environment, a user can virtually navigate a representation of a three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, a user can record an object or environment using an electronic device, and tag the recorded images or video with movement information describing the movement of the device during the recording. The recorded information can then be processed with the movement information to generate a three-dimensional model of the recorded environment or object. | 07-29-2010 |
20100225429 | MAGNET ARRAY FOR COUPLING AND ALIGNING AN ACCESSORY TO AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE - Systems and methods are providing for aligning an accessory to an electronic device interface. In particular, some accessories such as optical filters and lens require specific alignment to operative properly. Using a first magnet array positioned around the periphery of the interface and a second magnet array positioned within the accessory, a user can position an accessory on the electronic device and rotate the accessory until the magnets of each array exert a force on an opposing magnet of the other array. By distributing the magnets in a manner that includes no repeating segments, only a single alignment of the accessory relative to the interface can allow the magnet arrays to be properly in opposition. | 09-09-2010 |
20100238344 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING A CAMERA FLASH REDIRECTOR - An electronic camera device has an imaging sensor to capture an image of a scene, a flash to illuminate the scene for capture by the sensor, and an evaluator to detect a condition in the scene. A redirector shifts the peak of a spatial energy profile of light from the flash. The peak is shifted from being aimed at one region in the scene to being aimed at another region in the scene, in response to the evaluator having detected the condition in the scene. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. | 09-23-2010 |
20100277603 | Image Capture Device to Minimize the Effect of Device Movement - A device to capture an image includes an image sensor on which an optical image is formed by a lens. The image sensor provides electrical signals that represent the optical image. A motion sensor is included to sense movement of the image sensor. An image processor is coupled to the image sensor and the motion sensor. The image processor adjusts an integration time of the image sensor responsive to the motion sensor and creates a digital image according to the electrical signals received from the image sensor. The image processor may further respond to a signal-to-noise ratio in the electrical signals when adjusting the integration time. The image processor may select a frame scan of the image sensor responsive to the motion sensor. The image processor may add movement metadata to the digital image. | 11-04-2010 |
20110081142 | PULSED CONTROL OF CAMERA FLASH - Input from a user is received, to take a picture. A camera flash is signaled to produce multiple flash pulses during a single shutter cycle of the picture. The amplitudes of at least two of the flash pulses are different relative to each other. The picture is stored, including in its metadata information that describes the variable amplitude of the flash pulses that illuminated the scene when taking the picture. The information describing the variable amplitude of the flash pulses is used to deblur the picture. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. | 04-07-2011 |
20110102671 | Picture in Picture Video Display for Low Power Device - A device to display moving images with a picture-in-picture effect. A memory that stores values is coupled to a display screen. The display screen displays images according to the values stored in the memory. A first receiver receives a first sequence of images and stores image data in a first portion of the memory. A second receiver receives a second sequence of images and stores image data in a second portion of the memory that is different than the first portion of the memory. The memory may be a multi-ported memory and the first and second receivers store image data independently of one another. The memory may include independent first and a second memories respectively coupled to the receivers and a data selector may selectively connect the display to one of the memories to display images with a picture-in-picture effect. | 05-05-2011 |
20110123186 | ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SHUTTER CONTROL - A method in a camera device having an image sensor and an electro-mechanical shutter mechanism is as follows. A constant drive current is applied to the shutter mechanism to close shutter at the end of a first exposure. Then, a decaying drive current is applied to the shutter mechanism during a readout interval for the first exposure. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. | 05-26-2011 |
20110169026 | Light Guide for LED Source - A device to emit light includes a light emitting diode (LED) die and a light guide coupled to the LED die. The light guide includes a first material having a first index of refraction with a plurality of apertures arranged in a grid. A second material having a second index of refraction that is larger than the first index of refraction fills the plurality of apertures. Each aperture extends from a first end adjacent the LED die to a larger second end. The first end may be a circle of approximately 1 to 2 μm in diameter. The distance between the first and second ends may be from approximately 10 to 20 μm. Each aperture may be in the form of a frustrated cone having an included angle between the sides from approximately 3 to 7 degrees. The light guide may be formed on a transparent substrate. | 07-14-2011 |
20110211823 | ELECTRO-MECHANICAL SHUTTER CONTROL - A method in a camera device having an image sensor and an electro-mechanical shutter mechanism is as follows. A constant drive current is applied to the shutter mechanism to close shutter at the end of a first exposure. Then, a decaying drive current is applied to the shutter mechanism during a readout interval for the first exposure. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. | 09-01-2011 |
20110317991 | FLASH CONTROL FOR ELECTRONIC ROLLING SHUTTER - A method performed by an electronic camera in flash mode is as follows. A scene ambient lighting indication is obtained. An integration time interval and a flash pulse-on time interval for taking a picture is then set. The set integration time interval is shorter when the indication is bright than when the indication is dark; and the set flash pulse-on time interval is longer when the indication is bright than when the indication is dark. An image is captured using the set integration time interval and the set flash pulse-on time interval in accordance with an electronic rolling shutter (ERS). Other embodiments are also described and claimed. | 12-29-2011 |
20120013775 | Enhanced Image Capture Sharpening - An image capture sharpening subsystem for a digital camera includes a capture sharpening processor and a memory that stores values for a capture sharpening amount. The values for the capture sharpening amount are a function of position on an image sensor of the digital camera. The capture sharpening processor receives a first value for a pixel in an image captured by the image sensor and a position value for the pixel on the image sensor. The capture sharpening processor determines a pixel sharpening amount from the values for the capture sharpening amount stored in the first memory according to the position value. The capture sharpening processor applies a capture sharpening process to the pixel to provide a second value for the pixel according to the pixel sharpening amount and stores the second value in a second memory that provides a sharpened version of the image captured by the image sensor. | 01-19-2012 |
20120057303 | HEAT VALVE FOR THERMAL MANAGEMENT IN A MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - A thermal valve for controlling heat transfer between two electronic components is disclosed. The thermal valve includes a first thermally conductive strip that is secured to the first electronic component and a second thermally conductive strip that is secured to the second electronic component. The first strip and the second strip are located between the two electronic components. The first strip changes its shape toward making contact with the second strip in response to a temperature increase of the first electronic component, and the second strip changes its shape away from making contact with the first strip in response to a temperature increase of the second electronic component. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. | 03-08-2012 |
20120075521 | MECHANICAL CAMERA SHUTTER MECHANISM - A camera shutter mechanism for covering and exposing an imaging sensor array is disclosed. The camera shutter mechanism includes a rotary motor, a crank mechanism, a cover, a guide, and a drive circuit. The rotary motor is coupled to the crank mechanism to rotate the crank mechanism about a central axis. The cover is coupled to the crank mechanism at a point away from the central axis. The drive circuit controls the rotary motor so that the cover moves back and forth repeatedly in a substantially linear motion along the guide between a shutter closed position and a shutter open position over the imaging sensor array. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. | 03-29-2012 |
20120120277 | Multi-point Touch Focus - A camera includes a lens arranged to focus an image on an image sensor and a touch sensitive visual display for freely selecting two or more regions of interest on a live preview image by touch input. An image processor is coupled to the image sensor and the touch sensitive visual display. The image processor displays the live preview image according to the image focused on the image sensor by the lens. The image processor further receives the selection the regions of interest and controls acquisition of the image from the image sensor based on the characteristics of the image in regions that correspond to at least two of the regions of interest on the live preview image. The image processor may optimize sharpness and/or exposure of the image in at least two of the regions of interest. The image processor may track movement of the selected regions of interest. | 05-17-2012 |
20120147193 | Back Panel for a Portable Electronic Device with Different Camera Lens Options - A portable electronic device includes a digital imaging subsystem with a lens having an optical axis. A case encloses and supports the digital imaging subsystem in a first defined positional relationship to the case. A removable panel is coupled to the case and held in a second defined positional relationship to the case that covers the digital imaging subsystem without the removable panel being directly connected to the digital imaging subsystem. An optical component is supported by the removable panel such that the optical component is aligned with the optical axis and alters optical characteristics of the digital imaging subsystem. The device may include a power supply and an electronic control system coupled to the digital imaging subsystem and the power supply enclosed in and supported by the case. Electrical connectors may couple the power supply and the electronic control system to an electrical component on the removable panel. | 06-14-2012 |
20120188426 | FLASH CONTROL FOR ELECTRONIC ROLLING SHUTTER - A method performed by an electronic camera in flash mode is as follows. A scene ambient lighting indication is obtained. An integration time interval and a flash pulse-on time interval for taking a picture is then set. The set integration time interval is shorter when the indication is bright than when the indication is dark; and the set flash pulse-on time interval is longer when the indication is bright than when the indication is dark. An image is captured using the set integration time interval and the set flash pulse-on time interval in accordance with an electronic rolling shutter (ERS). Other embodiments are also described and claimed. | 07-26-2012 |
20120235790 | LOCKING AND UNLOCKING A MOBILE DEVICE USING FACIAL RECOGNITION - In an embodiment of the invention, an unlocked mobile device is configured to capture images, analyze the images to detect a user's face, and automatically lock the device in response to determining that a user's face does not appear in the images. The camera capturing and face recognition processing may be triggered by the device having detected that it has been motionless for a threshold period of time. In another embodiment, a locked mobile device is configured to capture an initial image using its camera, capture a new image in response to detecting movement of the device, determine that the device moved to a use position, capture a subsequent image in response to determining that the device moved to a use position, analyze the subsequent image to detect a user's face, and unlock the device in response to detecting the user's face. Other embodiments are also described and claimed. | 09-20-2012 |
20130038609 | Generating a Three-Dimensional Model Using a Portable Electronic Device Recording - Systems and methods are provided for navigating a three-dimensional model using deterministic movement of an electronic device. An electronic device can load and provide an initial display of a three dimensional model (e.g., of an environment or of an object). As the user moves the electronic device, motion sensing components can detect the device movement and adjust the displayed portion of the three-dimensional model to reflect the movement of the device. By walking with the device in the user's real environment, a user can virtually navigate a representation of a three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, a user can record an object or environment using an electronic device, and tag the recorded images or video with movement information describing the movement of the device during the recording. The recorded information can then be processed with the movement information to generate a three-dimensional model of the recorded environment or object. | 02-14-2013 |
20140118346 | Generating a Three-Dimensional Model Using a Portable Electronic Device Recording - Systems and methods are provided for navigating a three-dimensional model using deterministic movement of an electronic device. An electronic device can load and provide an initial display of a three dimensional model (e.g., of an environment or of an object). As the user moves the electronic device, motion sensing components can detect the device movement and adjust the displayed portion of the three-dimensional model to reflect the movement of the device. By walking with the device in the user's real environment, a user can virtually navigate a representation of a three-dimensional environment. In some embodiments, a user can record an object or environment using an electronic device, and tag the recorded images or video with movement information describing the movement of the device during the recording. The recorded information can then be processed with the movement information to generate a three-dimensional model of the recorded environment or object. | 05-01-2014 |