Thomas D Osborne

US Patent:

20120105668, May 3, 2012

Filed:

Oct 27, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/912863

Inventors:

RUBEN M. VELARDE - CHULA VISTA CA, US
THOMAS W. OSBORNE - SAN DIEGO CA, US
SZEPO ROBERT HUNG - CARLSBAD CA, US
HAIYIN WANG - SAN DIEGO CA, US
LIANG LIANG - SAN DIEGO CA, US
YING X. NOYES - SAN DIEGO CA, US
EDWARD G. ATRERO - SAN MARCOS CA, US

Assignee:

QUALCOMM Incorporated - San Diego CA

International Classification:

H04N 5/235
H04N 9/73
G06K 9/46

US Classification:

3482231, 382190, 3482291, 348E05034, 348E09051

Abstract:

An example image capture device determines a region of interest using a first image captured while a light source is powered off and a second image captured while a light source is powered on and uses the region of interest to automatically set configurations. In one example, an image capture device includes a controlled light source, an image sensor configured to capture images, and a processing unit configured to cause the image sensor to capture a first image of a scene while the controlled light source is powered off, cause the image sensor to capture a second image of the scene while the controlled light source is powered on, calculate luminance differences between a plurality of regions in the first image and a plurality of collocated regions in the second image, and determine that a region of interest includes those regions for which the luminance differences exceed a threshold.

US Patent:

20130038701, Feb 14, 2013

Filed:

Aug 12, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/208838

Inventors:

Szepo Robert Hung - Carlsbad CA, US
Ruben M. Velarde - Chula Vista CA, US
Thomas Wesley Osborne - San Diego CA, US
Liang Liang - San Diego CA, US

Assignee:

QUALCOMM Incorporated - San Diego CA

International Classification:

H04N 13/02

US Classification:

348 49, 348E13074

Abstract:

Described are a system, apparatus, and method to capture a stereoscopic image pair using an imaging device with a single imaging sensor. Particularly, discussed are systems and methods for capturing a first and second image through an image sensor, determining a vertical and horizontal disparity between the two images, and applying corrections for geometric distortion, vertical disparity, and convergence between the two images. Some embodiments contemplate displaying a directional indicator before the second image of the stereoscopic image pair is captured. By displaying a directional indicator, a more optimal position for the second image of the stereoscopic image pair may be found, resulting in a higher quality stereoscopic image pair.

US Patent:

20180084193, Mar 22, 2018

Filed:

Nov 3, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/802994

Inventors:

- San Diego CA, US
Thomas Wesley Osborne - San Diego CA, US
Sergiu Radu Goma - San Diego CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 5/232
G06T 3/40
H04N 5/341
H04N 5/225
G02B 13/00
H04N 7/18
H04N 5/247

Abstract:

Described herein are methods and devices that employ a plurality of image sensors to capture a target image of a scene. As described, positioning at least one reflective or refractive surface near the plurality of image sensors enables the sensors to capture together an image of wider field of view and longer focal length than any sensor could capture individually by using the reflective or refractive surface to guide a portion of the image scene to each sensor. The different portions of the scene captured by the sensors may overlap, and may be aligned and cropped to generate the target image.

US Patent:

20160356978, Dec 8, 2016

Filed:

Jun 4, 2015

Appl. No.:

14/731303

Inventors:

- San Diego CA, US
Thomas Wesley Osborne - San Diego CA, US

International Classification:

G02B 7/00
G02B 27/62
G06T 7/00
G02B 7/02

Abstract:

Methods and devices are disclosed for aligning a lens assembly and a sensor assembly of an optical system during assembly of the optical system. For example, one method includes positioning the sensor assembly, having at least an image sensor, at the focal plane of the lens assembly and directing light through an alignment optic and lens assembly onto the image sensor. The method further includes producing multiple images from the light received through the lens assembly and alignment optic, the images having multiple alignment features based on the light received through the alignment optic, and the alignment features having multiple sections. The method then measures at least one performance indicator corresponding to each of multiple sections, and adjusts the position of the image sensor based on an optimization of the performance indicators, while the sensor assembly is being attached to the lens assembly.

US Patent:

20160353008, Dec 1, 2016

Filed:

Jun 1, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/170589

Inventors:

- San Diego CA, US
Thomas Wesley Osborne - San Diego CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 5/232
G02B 7/09
H04N 5/247
H04N 5/225
H04N 9/097
G02B 13/00
G02B 17/08

Abstract:

Embodiments of imaging systems and methods of autofocusing are disclosed, for example, using a folded optics configuration. One system includes at least one camera configured to capture a target image scene, including an image sensor comprising an array of sensor elements, a primary light folding surface configured to direct a portion of received light in a first direction, and an optical element having a secondary light folding surface directing light in a second direction. The system can also include a lens assembly having at least one stationary lens positioned between the secondary light folding surface and the image sensor, the at least one stationary lens having a first surface mechanically coupled to the optical element and a second surface mechanically coupled to the image sensor, and at least one movable lens positioned between the primary light folding surface and the optical element.

US Patent:

20160295112, Oct 6, 2016

Filed:

Jun 15, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/183043

Inventors:

- San Diego CA, US
Thomas Wesley Osborne - San Diego CA, US
Sergiu Radu Goma - San Diego CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 5/232
G06T 3/40
G02B 13/00
H04N 5/247

Abstract:

Described herein are methods and devices that employ a plurality of image sensors to capture a target image of a scene. As described, positioning at least one reflective or refractive surface near the plurality of image sensors enables the sensors to capture together an image of wider field of view and longer focal length than any sensor could capture individually by using the reflective or refractive surface to guide a portion of the image scene to each sensor. The different portions of the scene captured by the sensors may overlap, and may be aligned and cropped to generate the target image.

US Patent:

20160286121, Sep 29, 2016

Filed:

May 24, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/163091

Inventors:

- San Diego CA, US
Thomas Wesley Osborne - San Diego CA, US
Sergiu Radu Goma - San Diego CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 5/232
H04N 5/247
G02B 27/40
G02B 17/02
G02B 27/10
H04N 5/225
H04N 13/02

Abstract:

Aspects relate to an array camera exhibiting little or no parallax artifacts in captured images. For example, the planes of the central mirror surfaces of the array camera can be located at a midpoint along, and orthogonally to, a line between the corresponding camera location and the virtual camera location. Accordingly, the cones of all of the cameras in the array appear as if coming from the virtual camera location after folding by the mirrors. Each sensor in the array “sees” a portion of the image scene using a corresponding facet of the central mirror prism, and accordingly each individual sensor/mirror pair represents only a sub-aperture of the total array camera. The complete array camera has a synthetic aperture generated based on the sum of all individual aperture rays.

US Patent:

20160269602, Sep 15, 2016

Filed:

May 18, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/158252

Inventors:

- San Diego CA, US
Thomas Wesley Osborne - San Diego CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 5/225
G03B 17/17
G03B 13/36
H04N 5/232
G02B 7/09

Abstract:

An image capturing system and a method of autofocusing are disclosed such that, for example, when a folded optics configuration is used, a field corrector lens can be placed on the image sensor of the system and a plurality of lenses can be placed perpendicular to the image sensor. The plurality of lenses can be movable relative to the image sensor such that acceptable MTF curve performances can be obtained when the image capturing system is focused at reference distances.