26th week of 2009 patent applcation highlights part 25 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20090160890 | HEAD UNIT ARRANGEMENT METHOD, LIQUID DROPLET EJECTION APPARATUS, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ELECTRO-OPTIC DEVICE, AND ELECTRO-OPTIC DEVICE - Provided herein is a head unit arrangement method for arranging a plurality of head units in a liquid droplet ejection device that plots an image in a matrix form with functional liquid droplets in a number n of colors by performing the number n of primary scans and a number (n−1) of secondary scans. The head unit arrangement method includes evaluating liquid droplet ejection performance of each of the head units based on an inspection result of a volume of liquid droplet ejection from each of the functional liquid droplet ejection heads to arrange two of the head units that exhibit the lowest liquid droplet ejection performance at both ends in the Y-axis direction. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160891 | CAPACITIVE LOAD DRIVING CIRCUIT AND DROPLET EJECTION APPARATUS - A capacitive load driving circuit includes: a phase lead compensator, advancing a phase of an output signal of a filter; a series compensator, determining an error between a driving signal and an output signal of the phase lead compensator; a stabilization compensator, performing a derivative action on an output signal of the filter; a voltage comparison unit, comparing a differential voltage between a signal output from the series compensator and a signal output from the stabilization compensator, with a voltage of a predetermined triangular waveform, and outputting a pulse width modulation signal; a voltage amplification unit, amplifying the voltage of the pulse width modulation signal output, and supplying the amplified pulse width modulation signal to the input terminal of the filter; and plural capacitive loads each connected in parallel to the capacitor. A droplet ejection apparatus includes the capacitive load driving circuit. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160892 | HEAD ELEMENT SUBSTRATE, RECORDING HEAD, AND RECORDING APPARATUS - A head element substrate includes receiving means for receiving data in which recording data and drive pulse width data have been multiplexed, a shift register which separates recording data from the multiplexed data, and a drive pulse width signal generation circuit which generates a drive pulse width signal by separating the drive pulse width data from the multiplexed data. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160893 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR OPTIMIZING ENERGY SUPPLIED TO A PRINT HEAD HEATER - Methods and apparatuses for optimizing the energy supplied to a print head heater are disclosed. A resistance associated with the print head heater or actuator is determined. A range of fire pulse values is determined based at least in part on the determined resistance and a velocity optimization procedure is executed based at least in part on the determined range of fire pulse values. An optimal fire pulse for the print head heater is selected based at least in part on the results of the velocity optimization procedure. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160894 | HAND HELD PRINTER COLOR MISALIGNMENT CORRECTION - A method for correcting misalignment between a plurality of columns of color ink jetting nozzle arrays of a color printhead during printing with a hand held printer includes determining a misdirection angle of motion of the plurality of columns of color ink jetting nozzle arrays relative to a desired direction of motion of the hand operated printer; determining for each of the plurality of columns of color ink jetting nozzle arrays a respective usable nozzles subset to be used in printing a swath, based on the misdirection angle; determining an amount of shifting of at least one of the respective usable nozzles subsets to adjust for non-perpendicularity of the color ink jetting nozzle arrays relative to the desired direction of motion, based on the misdirection angle; and shifting the respective usable nozzles subset for a respective column based on the amount determined. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160895 | Liquid ejecting method, liquid ejecting apparatus, and storage medium having program stored thereon - A liquid ejecting method according to the present invention includes the following: varying dots that are to constitute a dot row that is to be formed with a first nozzle row and a second nozzle row, according to a usage rate of each of the first and second nozzle rows when forming that dot row, the first nozzle row including a plurality of first nozzles lined up in a transport direction, the second nozzle row including a plurality of second nozzles in the transport direction, the first nozzles of the first nozzle row forming dots on a medium by ejecting liquid while moving in a movement direction, the second nozzles of the second nozzle row forming dots on the medium by ejecting liquid while moving in the movement direction, the dot row that has been formed on the medium being composed of a plurality of the dots to be lined up on the medium in the movement direction; and forming a plurality of the dot rows in the transport direction by alternately repeating a transport operation of transporting the medium in the transport direction and a dot forming operation of forming a dot on the medium by ejecting liquid from the first nozzles and the second nozzles while the first and second nozzles moving in the movement direction, at least one of the dot rows that have been formed by the first and second nozzles being composed of the dots that are varied according to the usage rate of each of the first nozzle row and the second nozzle row. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160896 | INK-JET TYPE IMAGE-FORMING APPARATUS - An ink-jet type image-forming apparatus is provided which is improved in ink ejection performance and ink ejection reliability by retarding increase of the ink viscosity. In this apparatus, the ink in nozzles is not heated immediately before the printing (no voltage pulse is applied to the heater | 2009-06-25 |
20090160897 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND LIQUID REMOVAL CAPABILITY SETTING METHOD - An image forming apparatus including an ejection head which ejects liquid onto a recording medium to form a desired image thereon, a conveyance device which moves either the recording medium or the ejection head to move the recording medium in a conveyance direction relative to the ejection head, a first density determination device downstream of the ejection head in the conveyance direction which determines density of the image formed on the recording medium, a liquid removal device downstream of the first density determination device in the conveyance direction that removes liquid from the recording medium, a second density determination device downstream of the liquid removal device in the conveyance direction that determines the density of the image from which the liquid removal device liquid, and a liquid removal control device which controls the liquid removal device according to determination results of the first and second density determination devices. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160898 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING NON-NUCLEATING HEATING IN A FLUID EJECTION DEVICE - A method is described for controlling the temperature of a fluid ejection head is a fluid ejection apparatus. The fluid ejection head includes heating elements for generating fluid-nucleating heat for fluid ejection purposes and for generating non-fluid-nucleating heat (NNH) for temperature control purposes. The fluid ejection head has heating elements disposed in a plurality of zones distributed across the fluid ejection head. The heating elements are assigned to a plurality of address groups that are activated during corresponding address windows. The method includes generating a bit intensity word corresponding to each zone, where the bit intensity word specifies a sequence for activating the address groups for generating NNH. Each bit of the bit intensity word controls the activation of a corresponding address group during a corresponding address window. The high or low states of each bit in each of the bit intensity words are determined so that the address groups activated during the address windows are evenly distributed over the zones of the fluid ejection head to substantially balance the distribution of electrical current applied for non-fluid-nucleating heating across the zones. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160899 | Printer - An inkjet printer performs printing by circulating cyan, magenta, yellow and black inks in their respective passages. The printer includes a heat exchanger which the passages enter together, and which is configured to promote the temperatures of the inks to be equal to each other. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160900 | REGISTRATION ERROR DETECTION METHOD AND INKJET IAMGE FORMING DEVICE - An inkjet image forming device records a test pattern | 2009-06-25 |
20090160901 | Labelling Machine - A labelling machine and a method of applying information onto containers and/or labels by means of an ink jet printer which has at least one print head with at least one nozzle and in the case of which a cover can selectively be moved to a position in front of the discharge opening of the nozzle so as to recirculate ink discharged from the nozzle into the ink circuit. The printer can also be operated during a printing pause whereby the ink is prevented from drying up in the print head. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160902 | PRINTING APPARATUS - A printing apparatus for printing on a medium through which ink ejected onto the surface of the medium is allowed to seep to the back side of the medium. The printing apparatus includes an inkjet head for ejecting ink in accordance with an inkjet method, an ink receiver that is arranged at a position facing the inkjet head across the medium during printing to receive the ink dripping from the back of the medium, and a wiper member as an ink removing device for removing the ink in the ink receiver from the ink receiver. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160903 | INK RECEIVING UNIT AND INKJET PRINTER INCLUDING THE SAME - An ink receiving unit for an inkjet printer includes an ink receiver and an ink removing device. The inkjet printer has an inkjet head configured to eject ink onto a first surface of a medium. The ink receiver is provided to face the inkjet head via the medium. The ink receiver is configured to receive ink dripping from a second surface opposite to the first surface of the medium during printing. The ink removing device is configured to remove the ink from the ink receiver. The ink receiver unit is detachably mounted to a main body to which the inkjet head is mounted. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160904 | POSITIONING APPARATUS AND PRINTER USING THE SAME - A positioning apparatus and a printer using the same are provided. The positioning apparatus includes a slide rod, a carrying base, and a light detecting module. The slide rod has a plurality of positioning grooves on one side surface thereof, and the carrying base is slidingly disposed on the slide rod. The light detecting module is integrated with the carrying base and corresponds to the side surface of the slide rod having the positioning grooves. The light detecting module determines a relative position of the light detecting module with respect to the slide rod according to the intensity change of a reflection light reflected by the slide rod. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160905 | LIQUID DROPLET EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid droplet ejecting apparatus, comprising: a plurality of liquid droplet ejecting heads arranged in parallel to each other, and the liquid droplet ejecting heads having the same liquid droplet ejectable width, and at least one of the liquid droplet ejecting heads being shifted in a widthwise direction of the liquid droplet ejectable width with respect to other liquid droplet ejecting heads, the liquid droplet ejecting apparatus having the following relationship: an image quality assured width2009-06-25 | |
20090160906 | LIQUID JET HEAD, LINE TYPE LIQUID JET HEAD, PRINTER, LINE TYPE PRINTER AND FILM FORMING APPARATUS - A liquid jet head includes: a plurality of unit heads, wherein each of the unit heads has a nozzle forming region and a plurality of nozzle apertures arranged in a first direction in the nozzle forming region, the plurality of unit heads being laminated in a manner that the nozzle forming regions are shifted from one another in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, wherein the unit heads are laminated in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction, and liquid is ejected in a fourth direction between the second direction and the third direction. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160907 | LIQUID EJECTION HEAD - A liquid ejection head including: a head main body including: a cavity unit including a passage forming base plate forming a liquid passage from a common liquid chamber to a nozzle opening via a pressure chamber; and a pressure generating source generating a change of pressure of liquid in the pressure chamber to eject the liquid in the pressure chamber as a liquid droplet from the nozzle opening; and a case member to which the head main body is attached and which includes: a first member provided with a first atmosphere opening passage; and a second member laminated on the first member and provided with a second atmosphere opening passage, wherein the first and second atmosphere opening passages communicate with each other under the laminated state and are opened to atmosphere. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160908 | SEMICONDUCTOR ELEMENT CHIP, INK JET HEAD EMPLOYING SEMICONDUCTOR ELEMENT CHIP, AND METHOD FOR BONDING ELECTRODES OF SEMICONDUCTOR ELEMENT CHIP - A semiconductor element substrate includes an electrode pad; a semiconductor element; and a connection heater for heating the electrode pad, wherein the connection heater is disposed in a range capable of heating the electrode pad up to a level capable of electrical connection. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160909 | INKJET PRINTER NOZZLE ARRANGEMENT HAVING THERMAL ACTUATOR WITH INNER AND OUTER PORTION OF INVERSE PROFILE - A nozzle arrangement for an inkjet printhead. The nozzle arrangement comprising a wafer substrate assembly defining an ink inlet channel; a static ink ejection structure extending from the substrate assembly and bounding the ink inlet channel; a pair of thermal bend actuators extending from the wafer substrate assembly on opposite sides of the static ink ejection structure, each actuator having an outer passive portion and an inner active portion, the inner active portion having a profile inverse of the outer passive portion; an active ink ejection structure comprising a roof defining an ink ejection port, and at least one sidewall which depends from the roof and surrounds the static ink ejection structure; and a pair of coupling structures coupling respective thermal bend actuators to the active ink ejection structure, the thermal bend actuators adapted to bend to move the active ink ejection structure relative to the static ink ejection structure, whereby ink contained within the ink ejection structure is ejected through the ink ejection port. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160910 | INKJET PRINTHEAD WITH HEATER ELEMENT CLOSE TO DRIVE CIRCUITS - A printhead with drive circuitry for a heating element. At least part of the drive circuitry is positioned proximate to and within 60 microns of the heating element. Moving the drive circuitry within 60 microns of the heating element enhances the nozzle packing on the printhead substrate and improves its energy efficiency. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160911 | PRINTHEAD HAVING OVERLAYED HEATER AND NON-HEATER ELEMENTS - A printhead is provided having a plurality of nozzles, a plurality of chambers for holding a liquid for ejection from the nozzles, and heater and non-heater elements in contact with the liquid in the chambers. Each heater element overlays an associated non-heater element with a space therebetween. The heater elements are heated by connected electrodes to heat the liquid thereby forming gas bubbles in the heated liquid which cause ejection of the liquid from the nozzles. Each chamber has a circular cross section and each heater element has arcuate sections that are concentric with the circular cross section. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160912 | SELF-COOLING HIGH NOZZLE DENSITY INK JET NOZZLE ARRANGEMENT - An inkjet printhead having a high density array of micro-electromechanical nozzles arrangements. Each arrangement comprises side walls located on a wafer substrate with a roof layer deposited on said walls to define an ink chamber, the roof layer defining a nozzle aperture; an inlet defined in the substrate to supply the ink chamber with printing fluid; and at least one heater element having a mass of less than 250 picograms suspended between the side walls in the chamber, the heater element operable to form a vapour bubble when electrical actuation energy of less than 120 nanojoules is applied thereto, said heater element having an annular shape with a point of collapse of the bubble near a centre thereof. The inlet, heater element and nozzle aperture are configured such that all heat generated in the ink chamber by the heater element per actuation is negated completely between actuations by an intake of unheated ink into the ink chamber through the inlet and an expulsion of heated ink from the ink chamber through the nozzle aperture. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160913 | INK JET RECORDING HEAD AND MANUFACTURE METHOD FOR THE SAME - An ink jet recording head has sufficient and uniform ink refill for all orifices and separate flow paths even though the substrate has a high rigidity by dividing a supply port into a plurality of ports. The substrate of the ink jet recording head has a plurality of separate flow paths corresponding to discharge pressure generating elements, a common flow path communicating with the separate flow paths, an ink supply port communicating with the common flow path and supplying ink to the common flow path, and a plurality of beam portions dividing the ink supply port. A recess is formed on the common flow path, extending to the separate flow paths formed nearest to the beam portion. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160914 | PIEZOELECTRIC DEVICE, PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE PIEZOELECTRIC DEVICE, AND INKJET RECORDING HEAD - A process for producing a piezoelectric device constituted by a first electrode, at least one second electrode, and a piezoelectric film sandwiched between the first electrode and the at least one second electrode so that an electric field can be applied to the piezoelectric film. First, a seed layer of a material containing at least one element is formed on a substrate, and then the first electrode is formed on the seed layer. Next, the at least one element is diffused through the first electrode so that the at least one element precipitates on a surface of the first electrode on the opposite side to the seed layer, and then the piezoelectric film is formed on the first electrode. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160915 | INK SUPPLYING APPARATUS, INKJET PRINTING APPARATUS, INKJET PRINTING HEAD, INK SUPPLYING METHOD AND INKJET PRINTING METHOD - An inkjet printing apparatus which can perform cost-down and an improvement on a print quality by simplification of an apparatus construction is realized. For realizing such an apparatus, a gas-liquid separation is achieved by the construction where air bubbles generated in an ejection portion or a reservoir can rise to a liquid surface, and a negative pressure control and at the same time, discharge of the air bubbles are performed by a fan. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160916 | AIR TIGHT INK CARTRIDGE WITH UNOBSTRUCTED INK OUTLET - An ink cartridge that has a rigid housing. The housing has a docking face for abutting a printer such that, when installed, the docking face faces downwards. The cartridge also has an ink storage volume and an ink outlet valve for fluid communication with the printhead. The ink outlet valve and an air inlet are both being positioned in the docking face. A variable volume structure within the ink storage volume inflates with air as ink is drawn from the outlet. The variable volume structure has a section that displaces upwardly within the ink storage volume as it inflates with air. An air inlet spaced from the outlet valve is in fluid communication with the variable volume structure to lets air into the ink storage volume as ink is drawn out through the outlet valve. A conduit in the ink storage volume is connected to the ink outlet valve at one end, with the other end being open to ink within the ink storage volume. The other end is positioned remote from the docking face such that it does not get obstructed by the variable volume structure as the variable volume structure inflates. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160917 | PRINTER WITH INK CARTRIDGE FOR SEALED CONNECTION WITH INLET VALVE PRIOR TO VALVE ACTUATION - An inkjet printer with a printhead assembly and at least one replaceable ink cartridge, has an ink inlet valve on the printhead assembly for sealed connection to an outlet on the ink cartridge. The inlet valve has an inlet opening and a movable valve member biased into sealing engagement with the inlet opening. The outlet has a complementary member for depressing the movable valve member out of engagement with the inlet opening to open the valve. The inlet opening has an external formation about its periphery for sealing against the outlet before the complementary member depresses the movable valve member. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160918 | INK CARTRIDGE AND INKJET RECORDING SYSTEM - An ink cartridge includes a cartridge main body and a pivoting member. The cartridge main body has an ink accommodating chamber accommodating ink therein and an ink outlet outputting ink in the ink accommodating chamber toward the inkjet recording device. The pivoting member is pivotably supported by the cartridge main body and that has a lid member configured of closing the ink outlet. The pivoting member pivots to move the lid member between a closing position and an opening position. The lid member closes the ink outlet at the closing position. The lid member opens the ink outlet at the opening position. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160919 | System for delivering solid ink through a feed channel having non-linear sections - A system facilitates transport of solid ink by a motorized feed drive through a feed channel in a solid ink printer. The system includes a feed channel, a motorized feed drive in at least a portion of the feed channel, a meltable ink body having a drive coupler that is offset from a surface of the meltable ink body, the drive coupler having an opening to receive a portion of the motorized feed drive to enable the motorized feed drive to urge the meltable ink body, along the feed channel. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160920 | Pressure And Transfix Rollers For A Solid Ink Jet Printing Apparatus - A printing machine for transferring a phase change ink onto a print medium includes a component for applying a phase change ink in an image, an imaging member for accepting the image and transferring the image from the imaging member to the print medium and a pressure member positioned in association with the imaging member to form a nip through which the print medium passes. The pressure member includes an outer layer with a tailored electrical conductivity to eliminate ghosting in duplex printing modes. The outer layer comprises a composite of a polymer and carbon nanotubes and/or graphenes. A similar outer layer may be implemented on a pressure roller in a direct-to-paper printing machine. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160921 | LIQUID SUPPLY DEVICE AND LIQUID EJECTING APPARATUS - A liquid supply device includes a liquid supply path for supplying liquid from an upstream, liquid supply side toward a downstream side where the liquid is consumed. A defoaming chamber in the middle of the liquid supply path causes bubbles to escape from the liquid. A decompression chamber adjacent to the defoaming chamber has a partition wall interposed therebetween and is decompressed to have lower pressure than the defoaming chamber. The partition wall allows gas to permeate therethrough by decompression of the decompression chamber and regulates permeation of liquid. The partition wall is formed by a separate member from a decompression chamber forming member that forms the decompression chamber. The partition wall forms a part of an inner surface of the liquid supply path, and the liquid supply path passes along the inside of a wall portion of the decompression chamber in the decompression chamber forming member. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160922 | Solid ink stick having a feed drive coupler - A solid ink unit enables facilitates coupling of the solid ink unit to a drive mechanism. The solid ink unit includes a meltable ink body having a longitudinal axis, a coupler support extending from the meltable ink body, and an opening in the coupler support that extends along a portion of the longitudinal axis of the solid ink body. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160923 | CONCENTRATED ENERGY SOURCE - Apparatus for curing a substance. The apparatus includes a diode for emitting electromagnetic energy at a frequency selected to cure the substance and a culminator positioned to receive at least a portion of the electromagnet energy emitted by the diode. The culminator is selected to concentrate and intensify the received energy and to direct the energy toward an area of the substance. The area has a length and a width less than the length. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160924 | CONTACTLESS INK LEVELING METHOD AND APPARATUS - A method of leveling ink that is printed on a substrate includes establishing a thermal gradient across a thickness of the substrate, the thermal gradient characterized in that it is less than a viscosity threshold temperature of the ink across most of the substrate. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160925 | RECORDING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HEATING RECORDING MEDIUM - A recording apparatus is provided which includes recording means for ejecting liquid so that the liquid is recorded on a recording medium; transporting means for transporting the recording means relative to the recording medium; microwave irradiation means for irradiating microwaves to the recording medium; microwave reception means for receiving the microwaves reflected from the recording medium; and microwave irradiation control means for determining a dryness level of the recording medium based on a reception level of the microwave reception means and controlling an irradiation dose or an irradiation intensity of the microwaves irradiated by the microwave irradiation means in accordance with the dryness level. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160926 | Exposure Head and an Image Forming Apparatus - An image forming apparatus, includes: a latent image carrier that moves in a first direction; an exposure head that includes a first imaging optical system, a second imaging optical system that is distanced from the first imaging optical system in the first direction, a light emitting element that emits a light to be imaged on the latent image carrier by the first imaging optical system and a light emitting element that emits a light to be imaged on the latent image carrier by the second imaging optical system; and a controller that is adapted to control a light quantity of the light emitting element that emits a light to be imaged on the latent image carrier by the first imaging optical system in accordance with an imaging characteristic of the first imaging optical system. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160927 | Thermal Marking System - One or more arrays of heating elements are configured with insulating regions to prevent the dissipation of heat to unintended regions of a thermochromic substrate. Methods include printing and arranging impressions on a two-sided substrate avoiding bleeding and other problems more-commonly associated with traditional two-sided thermal printing techniques. A simple and reliable thermal printing system is provided for use in ballot marking, including several mechanisms for receiving and detecting the orientation of a substrate within a thermal printing apparatus. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160928 | MULTIPLE-BEAM RASTER OUTPUT SCANNER WITH A COMPENSATING FILTER - A printing system includes a multiple-beam generator array configured to generate multiple beams. A collimator lens is positioned to receive the multiple beams, and an aperture stop is located where the multiple beams are spatially coincident with each other. A scanning optical system is positioned to receive the beams from the aperture stop, and a recording medium receives the beams from the scanning optical system. A filter is located where the multiple beams are spatially coincident with each other, whereby each of the multiple beams may be filtered by the supplied filter. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160929 | System and Method for Video Conferencing - In one embodiment, an apparatus includes two modules. A first module receives a request from a first endpoint to subscribe to a voice activated multicast group and causes the first endpoint to receive a current speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a last speaker's video stream if the first endpoint is the current speaker. A second module receives a request from a second endpoint to subscribe to a continuous presence multicast group and causes the second endpoint to receive a continuous presence, current speaker video stream if the second endpoint is not the current speaker and to receive a continuous presence, last speaker video stream if the second endpoint is the current speaker. The continuous presence, current speaker video stream includes a composition or two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of the current speaker's video stream. The continuous presence, last speaker video stream includes a composition or two or more video streams, one of which includes at least a portion of a last speaker's video stream. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160930 | Method for Recording Digital Images - A device and a method for recording digital images which represent objects, in particular, motor vehicles, from various angles of observation is disclosed. According to the system described herein, a method for recording images with a qualitatively high resolution image of objects from various angles of observation may be rapidly achieved with generation of minimal data by means of carrying out the following steps: arranging the object on a turntable, continuously rotating the turntable, generating electronic trigger signals on rotating the turntable in given angular positions of the turntable, transmitting the trigger signals to a controller of a digital camera and recording an image with the digital camera on receipt of a trigger signal. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160931 | Image processing for supporting a stereoscopic presentation - An image processing is applied in common to image data for a first image and to image data for a second image. The image data for the first image and the image data for the second image are moreover compared as a basis for matching a visual appearance of images for a stereoscopic presentation. The visual appearance can be matched in the current pair of images by adjusting at least one of the images accordingly and/or in future pairs of images by adjusting parameters of at least one of the image capturing components providing the image data. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160932 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING MULTIVIEW IMAGE DATA STREAM AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DECODING THE SAME - Provided is a method and apparatus for generating a multi-view image data stream, the method including: recording multi-view image data onto the multi-view image data stream; recording onto the multi-view image data stream a multi-view image parameter recording parameter indicating whether a multi-view image parameter with regard to the multi-view image data is to be recorded onto the multi-view image data stream; and determining whether the multi-view image parameter is to be recorded onto the multi-view image data stream based on a value of the multi-view image data parameter recording parameter. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160933 | Video perspective navigation system and method - A video navigation system and method can be utilized to efficiently and adjustably navigate video content. In one embodiment, a video information control method facilitates efficient video navigation. A video stream is received and video access point selection between multiple access points in said video stream is controlled. The presentation information is forwarded for each of the multiple access points. In one exemplary implementation, the presentation information is forwarded to a display and the information is directed to presenting a main viewing area and navigation areas that present looping video clips or portions of the video stream at time intervals ahead of and behind the video portion being presented in the main viewing area. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160934 | GENERATION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL MOVIES WITH IMPROVED DEPTH CONTROL - Techniques for creating 3-D movies allow improved control over camera positioning parameters and editing of depth in post-process to provide for a smoother variation in the viewer's convergence distance and a more pleasant viewing experience. A director can define reference parameters related to a desired viewing experience, and camera positioning parameters are derived therefrom. A depth script specifying piecewise continuous variations in reference parameters can be applied in post-process to generate 3-D shots, scenes, or movies. These techniques can be applied in both computer-generated and live-action 3-D movies. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160935 | METROLOGY DEVICE FOR VIDEOENDOSCOPIC PROBE - Image splitting device for videoendoscope, comprising an image splitting optical component to form on the sensitive surface of a video sensor housed in the distal end part of a videoendoscope a single composite image formed from two images of an observed target, viewed from two different angles; the image splitting optical component comprises two sections of identical convergent lenses, integrated into an opaque central element, maintaining the space between the two sections of lenses, each of the two sections of lenses are at least equal to a half-moon so that it is crossed by the optical axes of the lens. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160936 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A VIDEO CAMERA ASSEMBLY - Method and apparatus for a video camera assembly are provided. The video camera assembly includes a pan mechanism rotatable about a pan axis, a video camera mounted on the pan mechanism such that the video camera is rotatable about the pan axis, and a controller communicatively coupled to the pan mechanism and the video camera. The controller is configured to control the rotation of the video camera about the pan axis at a predetermined speed, acquire a plurality of images from the video camera at a predetermined rate, and display the acquired images panoramically. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160937 | CAMERA CONTROL METHOD FOR VEHICLE ENTRAMCE CONTROL SYSTEM - This development is about the camera control method for a vehicle entrance control system. In detail, it is about the applying variable exposure time and gain level per image frames that are captured through a CCTV camera of vehicle entrance control system. The entire control is done through 4 steps. The first step is to calculate the average value of image brightness and write the multiple parameters of exposure time and gain level that match with the calculated average brightness value in the lookup table to a camera control register. The second step is to compare average brightness value with the threshold of strobe operation and compare acquired exposure time and gain level parameters with the preset maximum limitations. The third step is to turn on strobe if the acquired exposure time and gain level parameters are higher than preset maximum limitation and average brightness value is lower than strobe operation threshold. The fourth step is to adjust exposure time and gain level if the acquired exposure time and gain level parameters are lower than preset maximum limitation and average brightness value is higher than strobe operation threshold. This development is to maintain a certain brightness level of images by controlling exposure time and gain level on a camera and turning on and off a strobe, which is proven the most adequate brightness for license plate recognition. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160938 | Image Processing Method and Image Capture Apparatus Applying The Same - An image processing method and an image capture apparatus applying the method are disclosed. The image processing method comprises the steps of: capturing an image; detecting whether the image is captured in a low luminance environment; performing at least one image enhanced process for the image when the image is captured in the low luminance environment, so as to obtain a processed image; and outputting the processed image. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160939 | MOBILE UNIT COMMUNICATION VIA A NETWORK - Integrated imaging and GPS network monitors remote object movement. Browser interface displays objects and detectors. Database stores object position movement. Cameras detect objects and generate image signal. Internet provides selectable connection between system controller and various cameras according to object positions. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160940 | IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD AND IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS - An image display method for displaying a combined image by capturing images at areas surrounding a vehicle includes a) calculating a plurality of displacement vectors for a plurality of points taken on images captured by a plurality of cameras upon the application of a load that changes the attitude of a camera on the vehicle, and b) determining each image borderline between two adjacent images such that a difference in the directions of displacement vectors in the neighborhood of each image borderline between two adjacent images does not exceed a predetermined angle. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160941 | ENHANCING IMAGE RESOLUTION OF DIGITAL IMAGES - An imaging apparatus with adjustable imaging plane, said apparatus having mechanical, electronic or optical means to adjust the position and the orientation of the imaging plane, which successively captures a plurality of images while adjusting the imaging plane, and a method to integrate the captured images to a single high-resolution image by exploration of the mutual information not available in a single image, such as the sub-pixel observations due to the spatial misalignment, thus achieving an image resolution higher than the senor resolution. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160942 | Tagging And Path Reconstruction Method Utilizing Unique Identification And The System Thereof - Disclosed is a tagging and path reconstruction method utilizing unique identification characteristics and the system thereof. The tagging and path reconstruction system comprises a plurality of readers for reading identification information having unique IDs, a plurality of cameras for taking object's image data, and a server. The server includes an identifying and tagging module, an interlaced fusion and identification module, and a path reconstruction module. The identifying and tagging module identifies and tags the object image data with unique IDs. The interlaced fusion and identification module filters, checks and updates the tagged object image data. The path reconstruction module recovers the tagged object image data, lets them regress to their original identity data, and reconstructs the motion path of each object. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160943 | Detecting legacy bridges in an audio video bridging network - In a network having one or more Audio Video Bridging (AVB) devices, non-AVB bridges are detected by transmitting a maintenance message, such as a unicast linktrace message, from one AVB device such as a residential gateway to another AVB device such as a set-top box or IPTV. AVB devices in the path provide replies indicating whether the port on which the linktrace message was received is connected to a non-AVB bridge. The disclosure has utility in diagnostics problems with IPTV in a network. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160944 | Camera flash module and method for controlling same - An auto-exposure algorithm for controlling a camera flash uses image processing to identify important areas of the image affected by the flash, while disregarding highly reflective/illuminated areas and uses a ND filter to linearize the flash triggering with highly reflective scenes. The camera flash is controlled by the auto-exposure algorithm in two stages: | 2009-06-25 |
20090160945 | Systems and Methods for Enhancing Image Quality of a Web Camera Image - A method for capturing an image using a webcam is provided. The method may include receiving a request to capture an image using a webcam of an information handling system the information handling system comprising a display. In response to the request to capture an image, a flash screen may be displayed on the display, and an image is captured using the webcam. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160946 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, COMMUNICATION CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM - In an image pickup apparatus having a communication function through a predetermined communication interface and being equipped with a plurality of connectors adapted for the communication interface, the image pickup apparatus includes a connection state determining unit configured to detect respective connection states of the connectors, and when a state of two or more connectors being connected is detected, to hold communication on standby until a state of only one connector being connected is detected. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160947 | IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM, METHOD FOR DRIVING IMAGE PICKUP ELEMENTS, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - An image pickup system includes an image pickup element with an image pickup region in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix, and a controller configured to control reading of signals from the pixels. The controller divides a first frame period in which a first image is read from the image pickup element into a plurality of divided frame periods, including first and second divided frame periods. When the number of pixels included in the first image is larger than the number of pixels included in a second image, a second frame period required for reading all signals from the pixels included in the second image is inserted between the first and second divided frame periods. A refresh cycle of the second image is shorter than a refresh cycle of the first image. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160948 | Image stabilization control circuit - In an image stabilization control circuit for an image capturing device, a gyro-equalizer ( | 2009-06-25 |
20090160949 | VIDEO PROCESSING APPARATUS, VIDEO PROCESSING SYSTEM, VIDEO PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A video processing apparatus comprises a signal input unit which receives a video signal, a shift detection unit which detects a shift period in shooting and a maximum shift amount during the shift period from the video signal input from the signal input unit, an effective area detection unit which detects an object area common throughout the shift period as an effective area on the basis of the shift period and the maximum shift amount, a correction unit which corrects a shift during the shift period by reading out data from the effective area, and a resolution conversion unit which performs enlarge processing to convert a size of the effective area read out by the correction unit into an output image size. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160950 | IMAGE STABILIZATION CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR CORRECTING VIBRATION-CAUSED DISPLACEMENT OF OPTICAL AXIS, AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH THE SAME - A first equalizer generates a vibration-component signal indicating the amount of movement of an image pickup apparatus according to an output signal of a vibration detecting element for detecting the vibration of the image pickup apparatus. The second equalizer generates a drive signal used to control a driver element to correct the position of lens and image pickup devices, based on the output signal of a position detecting element for detecting the position of the lens to be driven or the image pickup devices to be driven and the vibration-component signal. A verifying-signal input circuit inputs a signal used for verification, to the first equalizer. A control unit verifies the operations of the driver element, the position detecting element and the first equalizer. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160951 | Three-Axis Image Stabilization System - An image stabilization system includes an optical assembly configured to receive electromagnetic radiation emitted by a target and produce focused image of the target; a focal plane array, the focal plane array being configured to receive the image and integrate at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation making up the image to produce an electrical representation of the image; sensors configured to provide kinematic data; a control system receiving the kinematic data and estimating jitter-induced motion of the image on the focal plane and outputting a control signal; and actuators configured to receive the control signal and to translate the focal plane along two orthogonal axes and rotate the focal plane about a third orthogonal axis such that jitter-induced motion of the image on the focal plane is reduced. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160952 | SHAKE CORRECTION CONTROL CIRCUIT AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH THE SAME - An optical shake correction unit corrects an optical axis in response to an output signal of an vibration detecting element. An electronic shake correction unit adaptively varies an effective region in image signals of an image pickup region formed by image pickup devices. A control unit performs control such that either the optical shake correction unit or the electronic shake correction unit is enabled by switching between a first image pickup mode and a second image pickup mode. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160953 | Image stabilization control circuit - In an image stabilization control circuit of an image-capturing device, a gyro-equalizer ( | 2009-06-25 |
20090160954 | IMAGE STABILIZATION CONTROL CIRCUIT AND IMAGING DEVICE HAVING IMAGE STABILIZATION CONTROL CIRCUIT - A image stabilization control circuit is provided which comprises at least one analog-to-digital converter circuit which converts an output signal of a vibration detection element which detects vibration of an imaging device and an output signal of a position detection element which detects a position of an optical component, into digital signals, and a logic circuit which generates a control signal which drives the optical component based on the output signal of the vibration detection element which is digitized by the analog-to-digital converter circuit and the output signal of the position detection element which is digitized by the analog-to-digital converter circuit, wherein an abnormality of the vibration detection element is judged based on an amplitude of the output signal from the vibration detection element which is converted into the digital signal by the analog-to-digital converter circuit. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160955 | VIBRATION PREVENTION CONTROL CIRCUIT OF IMAGING DEVICE - A vibration prevention control circuit is provided, comprising at least one analog-to-digital converter circuit that converts an output signal of a vibration detection element which detects vibration of an imaging device, and an output signal of a position detection element which detects a position of an optical component, into digital signals, and a logic circuit that generates a control signal which drives the optical component, based on the output signal of the vibration detection element which is digitized by the analog-to-digital converter circuit and the output signal of the position detection element which is digitized by the analog-to-digital converter circuit, wherein a phase delay circuit (all-pass filter) is provided that delays a phase of the output signal of the vibration detection element without changing an intensity in a predetermined frequency band and outputs the processed signal. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160956 | CAMERA SYSTEM, CAMERA BODY, INTERCHANGEABLE LENS, AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING CAMERA SYSTEM - There are provided a camera system which operates the proper image blur corrector when image blur correction devices are incorporated in a camera body and in an interchangeable lens, and a method for controlling this camera system. The camera system ( | 2009-06-25 |
20090160957 | Methods and system for digitally stabilizing video captured from rolling shutter cameras - An imaging device and methods of stabilizing video captured using a rolling shutter operation. Motion estimation is used to determine a row motion vector for individual rows of a current frame of a pixel array. The row motion vectors are used to map the location of pixels in the current frame to a mapped frame representing a single acquisition time for the current frame. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160958 | IMAGE STABILIZATION CONTROL CIRCUIT AND IMAGING DEVICE HAVING IMAGE STABILIZATION CONTROL CIRCUIT - A image stabilization control circuit is provided that comprises at least one analog-to-digital converter circuit that converts an output signal of a vibration detection element which detects vibration of an imaging device, and an output signal of a position detection element which detects a position of an optical component or an imaging element, into digital signals, and a logic circuit that generates a control signal which drives the optical component or the imaging element, based on the output signal of the vibration detection element which is digitized by the analog-to-digital converter circuit and the output signal of the position detection element which is digitized by the analog-to-digital converter circuit, wherein an offset value and an amplitude for the output signal of the position detection element are adjusted. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160959 | IMAGE STABILIZATION CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR CORRECTING VIBRATION-CAUSED DISPLACEMENT OF OPTICAL AXIS, AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS PROVIDED WITH THE SAME - A first equalizer generates a vibration-component signal indicating the amount of movement of an image pickup apparatus according to an output signal of a vibration detecting element for detecting the vibration of the image pickup apparatus. The second equalizer generates a drive signal used to control a driver element to correct the position of a lens or image pickup devices, based on the output signal of a position detecting element for detecting the position of the lens to be driven or the image pickup devices to be driven and the vibration-component signal. A control unit verifies the operations of the driver element, the position detecting element, the vibration detecting element and the first equalizer, based on the output signal of the position detecting element and the vibration-component signal. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160960 | IMAGE STABILIZATION CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR IMAGING APPARATUS - A vibration control equalizer for generating a vibration signal for determining a driving amount for an optical component on the basis of an output signal of a vibration detector for detecting vibration of an imaging apparatus, a position control equalizer for calculating a position signal for determining a driving amount for the optical component on the basis of an output signal of a position detector for detecting position of the optical component, and an internal CPU for controlling the vibration control equalizer and the position control equalizer are provided, and compensation for the output signal of the position detector is performed by the internal CPU. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160961 | AMPLIFIER CIRCUIT - In a first operational amplifier, an input signal is input to the negative input terminal, a reference voltage is input to the positive input terminal, a feedback path from the output terminal to the negative input terminal is formed, and the input signal is amplified by a predetermined amplification factor. In a second operational amplifier, an output from the first operational amplifier is input to the positive input terminal, the reference voltage is input to the negative input terminal, and a pair of outputs having opposite polarities to each other and used for performing BTL drive of a load are obtained at the output terminal. Using the above arrangement, a low-frequency signal can be amplified. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160962 | VIBRATION PREVENTION CONTROL CIRCUIT OF IMAGING DEVICE - A vibration prevention control circuit is provided that comprises at least one analog-to-digital converter circuit which samples and converts an output signal of a vibration detection element which detects vibration of an imaging device and an output signal of a position detection element which detects a position of an optical component, into digital signals, a vibration component processor that processes the output signal of the vibration detection element which is digitized by the analog-to-digital converter circuit, a down-sampling unit that down-samples the output signal of the vibration detection element which is processed by the vibration component processor, and a servo circuit that generates a control signal which drives the optical component, based on the output signal of the vibration detection element which is output from the down-sampling unit and the output signal of the position detection element which is digitized by the analog-to-digital converter circuit. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160963 | Apparatus and method for blurring image background in digital image processing device - Provided is a method and apparatus for blurring an image background, in which a moving image information and a focal distance information, which is matched to the moving image according to a movement distance of an AF motor, are obtained for the same object and background blurring is applied to a still image differentially, based on focal distances of the moving image and the still image. The apparatus includes a digital signal processing unit capturing a moving image and a still image of the same object, comparing focal distances of at least one frame forming the moving image with focal distances of the still image, and applying background blurring to the still image according to differences between the focal distances. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160964 | IMAGE DATA PROCESSING METHOD - An image data processing method to capture still images while capturing motion images is disclosed. The method includes stopping a motion image capturing according to a first instruction to generate a first motion image data with a first resolution, thereafter, carrying out live view at a predetermined time; outputting the image data in the predetermined time and generating a first temporal motion data with a second resolution; capturing a still image data according to a second instruction after the predetermined time; transforming the first temporal motion data and the still image data and generating a second motion image data by combining the transformed data with the first motion image data. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160965 | Image sensor having a diffractive optics element - An apparatus for generating a color image that comprises an image sensor having a plurality of light-sensitive elements having a light sensing area, each light-sensitive element is configured for measuring a value corresponding to an intensity of light at the related light sensing area. The apparatus further comprises a diffractive optics element that diffracts impinging light waves. Each one of the impinging light waves is diffracted according to its wavelength toward at least one of the light-sensitive elements. The apparatus further comprises an image processor that generates a color image by arranging the values. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160966 | DIGITAL IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE AND DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD THEREOF - A digital image capture device includes an image capture unit, a display unit, a selection unit, and a processing unit. The image capture unit is configured to capture an image. The display unit is configured to display the captured image and allow determination of a portion thereof to be selected. The selection unit is configured to allow selection of a portion of the image in response to user input based on the determination. The processing unit is configured to process the unselected portion of the image. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160967 | Determination of shooting scene and image processing for the determined scene | 2009-06-25 |
20090160968 | CAMERA USING PREVIEW IMAGE TO SELECT EXPOSURE - A digital camera comprises an image sensor for providing initial sensor image data and final sensor image data; a lens for exposing the image of a scene onto the image sensor; an exposure control system for adjusting an exposure level of a final image on the image sensor in response to a scene type; and a processor for processing the initial sensor image data to select one of a plurality of scene types, and to process the final sensor image data in response to the scene type. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160969 | Image capturing apparatus - An image capturing apparatus can use a reading time from an image sensor efficiently. To achieve the object, the image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing unit which separates a color image of a subject being captured by an image sensor having pixels of colors into three or more fields and outputs said three or more fields successively, and an image processing unit which generates a low-resolution image which is lower in resolution than the color image obtained by the image capturing unit, based on output of one or more fields among said three or more fields, said one or more fields being able to extract color information of all the colors, wherein the image processing unit starts generation of the low-resolution image in a period in which fields other than said one or more fields for generating the low-resolution image are read. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160970 | REMOTE DETERMINATION OF IMAGE-ACQUISITION SETTINGS AND OPPORTUNITIES - Pre-image-acquisition information is obtained by a digital camera and transmitted to a system external to the digital camera. The system is configured to provide image-acquisition settings to the digital camera. In this regard, the digital camera receives the image-acquisition settings from the external system and performs an image-acquisition sequence based at least upon the received image-acquisition settings. Accordingly, the determination of image-acquisition settings can be performed remotely from the digital camera, where data-processing resources can greatly exceed those within the digital camera. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160971 | Image sensor with adjusted gains in active and black pixels - An image sensor includes an active pixel and a black pixel. The active pixel has a first signal gain and a first dark signal level, and the black pixel has a second signal gain and a second dark signal level. At least one of the first and second signal gains is adjusted such that the first and second dark signal levels are substantially equal for minimizing image defects in the image sensor. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160972 | DIGITAL IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE AND IMAGE ACCESSING METHOD THEREOF - An image accessing method is disclosed. A search query view is firstly generated in response to a first user input. A time search query is secondly received by the search query view in response to a second user input. Exifs respectively associated the images are compared with the time search query to search image(s), if any, matching the time search query. Next, entry(s) associated with the searched image(s) is generated and displayed. Then, desired entry(s) is selected and thereby is accessed. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160973 | REGISTER CONFIGURATION CONTROL DEVICE, REGISTER CONFIGURATION CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD - A resister configuration control device which is capable of updating resister configuration values during a non-display period without increasing a circuit scale. A FIFO selector | 2009-06-25 |
20090160974 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - When image shooting is performed in a mode that records plural images in response to a single shooting instruction and deletion is instructed on a shot-image confirmation screen that displays the shot image data immediately after the shooting, the plural image data generated by the same shooting instruction are all collectively deleted. On the contrary, in a playback mode, when deletion is instructed to one of the plural image data shot by the same shooting instruction, only the one image that has been instructed for deletion is deleted. This feature improves usability of the image sensing apparatus capable of recording plural images in response to a single shooting instruction. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160975 | Methods and Apparatus for Improved Image Processing to Provide Retroactive Image Focusing and Improved Depth of Field in Retail Imaging Systems - Systems and techniques for image capture and management in a retail environment. One or more retail cameras are directed so as to capture digital images. Each camera is configured so as to provide image information that can be used in a retroactive focusing process. Captured images are retroactively focused to provide sharp images of objects of interest, and the objects of interest are used in appropriate retail applications, such as site security, transaction security, and inventory control. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160976 | DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERA WITH BRIGHTNESS COMPENSATION AND COMPENSATION METHOD THEREOF - A digital photographic camera with brightness compensation and a compensation method thereof are applied for the brightness compensation of the digital photographic camera when shooting under different environments so as to maintain a frame rate. The camera includes a light measuring unit, a sensor, a light source generator, a light modulation unit, an operational unit, and a storage unit. The light measuring unit is used for sensing the environment brightness of the camera. The light modulation unit is coupled to the light source generator and used for controlling luminance of the light source generator. The operational unit is coupled to the light measuring unit and the light source generator, and executes a brightness calibration process for calibrating a brightness sensing reference value of the light measuring unit and a brightness compensation process for adjusting the luminance of the light source generator according to the environment brightness of the camera. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160977 | SYSTEM FOR MULTI-MEDIA IMAGE MAGNIFICATION - A vision magnification system includes a fixed work area, a camera, and drive mechanism capable of moving the camera in at least one direction. The vision magnification system provides a magnified image of an object for viewing by a user and is particularly useful for individuals having impaired vision. A control device includes a pointing device, to control movement of the camera in a direction provided by the user, and a tracking device, which can be coupled to a writing instrument to control movement of the camera when the user uses the writing instrument. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160978 | DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR OPERATING LENS CORRECTION AND METHOD FOR COMPRESSING AND RESTORING LOOKUP TABLE VALUES - A data processing apparatus having a small hardware size and performing tens correction includes a seed memory, a gain memory, and a decoder. The seed memory stores a plurality of encoded gain values forming an A*B seed matrix; the gain memory stores a plurality of decoded gain values forming an M*N grid matrix. The decoder is connected between the seed memory and the gain memory and performs vertical recursive rear polynomial (RNP) decoding before performing horizontal RNP decoding after a second time. Accordingly, the decoder may decode the M*N grid matrix from the A*B seed matrix by performing the row directional RNP decoding and the column directional RNP decoding by turns. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160979 | Methods and apparatuses for double sided dark reference pixel row-wise dark level non-uniformity compensation in image signals - Methods and apparatuses for row-wise dark level non-uniformity compensation of imaging sensor pixel signals. A column dependent dark reference value is determined as one of a linear and parabolic function of signal values from two areas of dark reference pixels and a column location and then used for dark level non-uniformity compensation of signal values from imaging pixels. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160980 | GRADUATED-BASED DIGITAL IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - A graduated processing method of digital image is adapted to a digital camera for immediately adjusting brightness in different regions of a shot digital image. The processing method includes the following steps. An image capturing device determines an image boundary of a digital image according to an image difference condition in the digital image. Then, a graduated layer is used in the digital image along a vertical direction of the image boundary, and a brightness difference in different regions of the digital image is adjusted. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160981 | APPARATUS INCLUDING GREEN AND MAGENTA PIXELS AND METHOD THEREOF - A color photo sensing structure, includes an array of multiple color photo sensing elements. The photo sensing structure includes a first pixel located laterally with respect to a second pixel in a substrate of a first conductivity. The first pixel includes a first doped region of a second conductivity formed in the substrate and a second doped region of a first conductivity formed in the substrate above the first doped region. The second pixel includes two doped regions formed in the substrate having a first conductivity and a second conductivity, respectively. The color photo sensing structure further includes a controller for sequentially providing a first photocurrent value of the first doped region, a second photocurrent value of both the first and second doped regions and a third photocurrent value of the two doped regions of the second pixel. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160982 | SENSOR DEVICE AND METHOD THEREOF - A sensor device determines a value based on a sensed parameter by applying a voltage across two voltage terminals of a sensor. In response, the sensor provides an electrical signal representative of a sensed parameter to a controller via a pair of conductors. The controller samples the electrical signal to determine the value. In addition, the controller alternates the polarity of the voltage applied to the voltage terminals, thereby reducing the risk of damage to the conductors due to ion drift. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160983 | Method and apparatus providing light traps for optical crosstalk reduction - An imager having layers of light trapping material to reduce optical crosstalk and a method of forming the same. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160984 | Analog to digital converting device and image pickup device for canceling noise, and signal processing method thereof - An image pick-up device includes a first correlated double sampling circuit configured to generate a first sampling signal by performing correlated double sampling on an active pixel signal output from an active pixel and generating a first comparison signal by comparing the first sampling signal with a reference signal, and a second correlated double sampling circuit to generate a second sampling signal by performing correlated double sampling on an OB pixel signal output from an optical black pixel and generating a second comparison signal by comparing the second sampling signal with the reference signal. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160985 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RECOGNITION OF A TARGET IN A THREE DIMENSIONAL SCENE - A method for three-dimensional reconstruction of a three-dimensional scene and target object recognition may include acquiring a plurality of elemental images of a three-dimensional scene through a microlens array; generating a reconstructed display plane based on the plurality of elemental images using three-dimensional volumetric computational integral imaging; and recognizing the target object in the reconstructed display plane by using an image recognition or classification algorithm. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160986 | PIXEL SENSOR - A photodetecting circuit is disclosed. The photodetecting circuit includes a photodetector for generating a signal in response to incident light, a storage node having first and second node terminals, a transfer transistor, disposed intermediate the first node terminal of the storage node and the photodetector, for electrically connecting the first node terminal and the photodetector upon receiving a transfer signal to a gate of the transfer transistor, allowing charge stored in the storage node to change based on the signal of the photodetector, a reset transistor, disposed intermediate a reset voltage node and the first node terminal of the storage node, for electrically connecting the first node terminal to the reset voltage node upon receiving a reset signal to a gate of the reset transistor, and an output circuit for generating an output signal during a read period of the photodetecting circuit, the output signal being at least partially based on a voltage at the first terminal. The photodetecting circuit is configured to receive the reset signal, receive the transfer signal, and receive a compensation signal at the second terminal of the storage node at least during the read period, the compensation signal increasing the voltage at the first terminal whilst the output circuit generates the output signal, the compensation signal being a logically negated version of the transfer signal. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160987 | Imaging device - The present invention relates to improved imaging devices having high dynamic range and to monitoring and automatic control systems incorporating the improved imaging devices. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160988 | DRIVE METHOD FOR SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A solid-state imaging device having: (a) a pixel array with an oblique pixel pattern in which pixels are obliquely disposed, an odd-numbered row vertical signal line in an odd-numbered row vertical signal line group being connected to each column of odd-numbered row pixels and an even-numbered row vertical signal line in an even-numbered row vertical signal line group being connected to each column of even-numbered row pixels; (b) a row selector for separately selecting an odd-numbered row and an even-numbered row of the oblique pixel pattern; (c) an odd-numbered row column processing circuit group including column processing circuits and connected to the odd-numbered row vertical signal line group, for adding signals of the odd-numbered row pixels between columns; (d) an even-numbered row column processing circuit group including column processing circuits and connected to the even-numbered row vertical signal line group, for adding signals of the even-numbered row pixels in pixel columns; and (d) a column selector for selecting the column processing circuits of the odd-numbered row column processing circuit group and the column processing circuits of the even-numbered row column processing circuit group. | 2009-06-25 |
20090160989 | Low noise readout apparatus and method with snapshot shutter and correlated double sampling - A low noise readout apparatus and method for CMOS image sensors having a photosensitive element configured to collect charge when light strikes the photosensitive element, a reset gate adjacent the photosensitive element and configured to drain excess charge from the photosensitive element, a first electrode, a second electrode and a third electrode, in series and adjacent the photosensitive element, the first electrode actuated to transfer a signal charge from the photosensitive element to the first electrode, the second electrode actuated to transfer the signal charge from the first electrode to the second electrode, the third electrode actuated to transfer the signal charge from the second electrode to the third electrode and onto a sense node, and a readout circuit coupled to the sense node, the readout circuit measures a voltage corresponding to the signal charge transferred to the sense node. | 2009-06-25 |