James Edward Gates

US Patent:

7199348, Apr 3, 2007

Filed:

Nov 2, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/265669

Inventors:

Richard Ian Olsen - Newport Beach CA, US
Darryl L. Sato - Irvine CA, US
Borden Moller - Laguna Beach CA, US
Olivera Vitomirov - Foothill Ranch CA, US
Jeffrey A. Brady - Newport Beach CA, US
Ferry Gunawan - Tustin CA, US
Remzi Oten - Irvine CA, US
James Gates - Carlsbad CA, US

Assignee:

Newport Imaging Corporation - Irvine CA

International Classification:

H04N 3/14
H04N 5/225

US Classification:

2502081, 3482201, 348297

Abstract:

There are many, many inventions described herein. In one aspect, what is disclosed is a digital camera including a plurality of arrays of photo detectors, including a first array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a first wavelength and a second array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a second wavelength. The digital camera further may also include a first lens disposed in an optical path of the first array of photo detectors, wherein the first lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the first wavelength, and a second lens disposed in with an optical path of the second array of photo detectors wherein the second lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the second wavelength. In addition, the digital camera may include signal processing circuitry, coupled to the first and second arrays of photo detectors, to generate a composite image using (i) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photo detectors, and (ii) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photo detectors; wherein the first array of photo detectors, the second array of photo detectors, and the signal processing circuitry are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.

US Patent:

7564019, Jul 21, 2009

Filed:

Apr 19, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/788122

Inventors:

Richard Ian Olsen - Irvine CA, US
Darryl L. Sato - Irvine CA, US
James Gates - Irvine CA, US

International Classification:

H01L 27/00

US Classification:

2502081

Abstract:

Digital camera systems and methods are described that provide digital cameras with large effective single-frame dynamic exposure ranges. The digital camera systems include multiple channels. Each channel includes an optics component and sensor comprising an array of photo-detectors. The sensors of the camera channels are integrated on a semiconductor substrate. The camera systems include a processing component coupled to the channels. The processing component is configured to separately and simultaneously control an integration time of each channel. The integration time of at least one channel is controlled relative to the integration time of at least one other channel so that an image formed by combining data of a frame received simultaneously from the channels has a relatively large dynamic range.

US Patent:

7566855, Jul 28, 2009

Filed:

Aug 1, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/888570

Inventors:

Richard Ian Olsen - Newport Beach CA, US
Darryl L. Sato - Irvine CA, US
Borden Moller - Laguna Beach CA, US
Olivera Vitomirov - Foothill Ranch CA, US
Jeffrey A. Brady - Newport Beach CA, US
Ferry Gunawan - Tustin CA, US
Remzi Oten - Irvine CA, US
James Gates - Carlsbad CA, US

International Classification:

H01L 27/00

US Classification:

2502081

Abstract:

There are many, many inventions described herein. In one aspect, what is disclosed is a digital camera including a plurality of arrays of photo detectors, including a first array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a first wavelength and a second array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a second wavelength. The digital camera further may also include a first lens disposed in an optical path of the first array of photo detectors, wherein the first lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the first wavelength, and a second lens disposed in with an optical path of the second array of photo detectors wherein the second lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the second wavelength. In addition, the digital camera may include signal processing circuitry, coupled to the first and second arrays of photo detectors, to generate a composite image using (i) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photo detectors, and (ii) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photo detectors; wherein the first array of photo detectors, the second array of photo detectors, and the signal processing circuitry are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.

US Patent:

7714262, May 11, 2010

Filed:

Aug 1, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/888546

Inventors:

Richard Ian Olsen - Newport Beach CA, US
Darryl L. Sato - Irvine CA, US
Borden Moller - Laguna Beach CA, US
Olivera Vitomirov - Foothill Ranch CA, US
Jeffrey A. Brady - Newport Beach CA, US
Ferry Gunawan - Tustin CA, US
Remzi Oten - Irvine CA, US
James Gates - Carlsbad CA, US

International Classification:

H01L 27/00

US Classification:

2502081, 250226, 348265, 348336, 257432

Abstract:

There are many, many inventions described herein. In one aspect, what is disclosed is a digital camera including a plurality of arrays of photo detectors, including a first array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a first wavelength and a second array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a second wavelength. The digital camera further may also include a first lens disposed in an optical path of the first array of photo detectors, wherein the first lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the first wavelength, and a second lens disposed in with an optical path of the second array of photo detectors wherein the second lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the second wavelength. In addition, the digital camera may include signal processing circuitry, coupled to the first and second arrays of photo detectors, to generate a composite image using (i) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photo detectors, and (ii) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photo detectors; wherein the first array of photo detectors, the second array of photo detectors, and the signal processing circuitry are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.

US Patent:

7772532, Aug 10, 2010

Filed:

Jun 29, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/478242

Inventors:

Richard Ian Olsen - Newport Beach CA, US
Darryl L. Sato - Irvine CA, US
Borden Moller - Laguna Beach CA, US
Olivera Vitomirov - Foothill Ranch CA, US
Jeffrey A. Brady - Newport Beach CA, US
Ferry Gunawan - Tustin CA, US
Remzi Oten - Aliso Viejo CA, US
James Gates - Carlsbad CA, US

International Classification:

H01L 27/00

US Classification:

2502081, 25055929, 396103, 396144

Abstract:

There are many inventions described herein. Some aspects are directed to methods and/or apparatus to provide relative movement between optics, or portion(s) thereof, and sensors, or portion(s) thereof, in a digital camera. The relative movement may be in any of various directions. In some aspects, relative movement between an optics portion, or portion(s) thereof, and a sensor portion, or portion(s) thereof, are used in providing any of various features and/or in the various applications disclosed herein, including, for example, but not limited to, increasing resolution, optical and electronic zoom, image stabilization, channel alignment, channel-channel alignment, image alignment, lens alignment, masking, image discrimination, range finding, 3D imaging, auto focus, mechanical shutter, mechanical iris, multi and hyperspectral imaging, and/or combinations thereof. In some aspects, movement is provided by actuators, for example, but not limited to MEMS actuators, and by applying appropriate control signal thereto.

US Patent:

7795577, Sep 14, 2010

Filed:

Jul 5, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/825382

Inventors:

Richard Ian Olsen - Irvine CA, US
Darryl L. Sato - Irvine CA, US
Jeffrey A. Brady - Irvine CA, US
James Gates - Irvine CA, US
Han Tai - Irvine CA, US

International Classification:

H01J 40/14
H01J 5/02

US Classification:

250239, 250226, 250234, 348335, 348336, 348345, 348374

Abstract:

An imager apparatus and methods are described. An embodiment of an imager module includes a plurality of groups of optical lenses, a lens frame, and at least one associated lens barrel configured to position and hold the plurality of groups of optical lenses. At least one of the groups of optical lenses is movable with respect to at least one other group of optical lenses for achieving optical focus. The imager module includes an integrated circuit (IC) imager die in proximity to the plurality of lenses, the imager die containing at least one image capture microelectronic device. The imager module includes a modular frame assembly that contains a first portion that holds a plurality of lens barrels, each containing one or more focusing lenses, and a second portion that supports the first portion at a specific distance from the substrate being imaged. The lens barrels are each responsive to different wavelengths or bands of wavelengths. The first and second portions include minimal, partial, or full partition structures between the imaging areas defined by the lens barrels.

US Patent:

7884309, Feb 8, 2011

Filed:

Aug 1, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/888582

Inventors:

Richard Ian Olsen - Newport Beach CA, US
Darryl L. Sato - Irvine CA, US
Borden Moller - Laguna Beach CA, US
Olivera Vitomirov - Foothill Ranch CA, US
Jeffrey A. Brady - Newport Beach CA, US
Ferry Gunawan - Tustin CA, US
Remzi Oten - Irvine CA, US
James Gates - Carlsbad CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 9/77

US Classification:

2502081, 250226, 348265, 348336, 257432

Abstract:

There are many, many inventions described herein. In one aspect, what is disclosed is a digital camera including a plurality of arrays of photo detectors, including a first array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a first wavelength and a second array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a second wavelength. The digital camera further may also include a first lens disposed in an optical path of the first array of photo detectors, wherein the first lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the first wavelength, and a second lens disposed in with an optical path of the second array of photo detectors wherein the second lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the second wavelength. In addition, the digital camera may include signal processing circuitry, coupled to the first and second arrays of photo detectors, to generate a composite image using (i) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the first array of photo detectors, and (ii) data which is representative of the intensity of light sampled by the second array of photo detectors; wherein the first array of photo detectors, the second array of photo detectors, and the signal processing circuitry are integrated on or in the same semiconductor substrate.

US Patent:

7916180, Mar 29, 2011

Filed:

Apr 19, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/788279

Inventors:

Richard Ian Olsen - Irvine CA, US
Darryl L. Sato - Irvine CA, US
James Gates - Irvine CA, US

Assignee:

Protarius Filo AG, L.L.C. - Dover DE

International Classification:

H04N 5/225

US Classification:

3482181

Abstract:

Digital camera systems and methods are described that provide digital cameras configured to simultaneously acquire image data via multiple channels having different fields of view. The digital cameras include multiple channels coupled to a processing component. Each channel includes an optics component and an array of sensors or photo-detectors integrated on a semiconductor substrate. The channels include a first channel having a first field of view (FOV) and a second channel having a second FOV, and the second FOV is different than the first FOV. The processing component is configured to independently control simultaneous data acquisition with each of the channels, and to combine data from at least one channel during a frame to provide a high resolution image.