William Jacobs

US Patent:

6580456, Jun 17, 2003

Filed:

Nov 9, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/188831

Inventors:

William S. Jacobs - Santa Cruz CA

Assignee:

Pictos Technologies, Inc. - Newport Beach CA

International Classification:

H04N 5335

US Classification:

348312, 348296, 348298, 317 77, 317 60

Abstract:

A programmable timing generator for a digital imaging system has a first clock generator and a second clock generator. The first clock generator includes a programmable microsequencer and generates a plurality of first clock signals in response to the microsequencer. The second programmable clock generator is responsive to the microsequencer and generates second clock signals. The first clock signals have a lower frequency than the second clock signals. In a typical implementation, the second clock signals are called horizontal clock signals, which are used for clocking rows of pixel data out of a digital image sensor, while the first clock signals are called vertical clock signals that are used for shifting pixel data one position in vertical shift registers in the digital image sensor. The horizontal or vertical clock signals can also be used to control the image capture operation of the digital sensor, with the programmable microsequencer being used to control the image capture exposure time.

US Patent:

6597394, Jul 22, 2003

Filed:

Nov 9, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/188871

Inventors:

Kathleen A. Duncan - Santa Cruz CA
William S. Jacobs - Santa Cruz CA
Robert G. Taylor - Scotts Valley CA

Assignee:

Pictos Technologies, Inc. - Newport Beach CA

International Classification:

H04N 5228

US Classification:

3482221, 34823199, 3484031, 37524018, 37524019, 382248, 382250

Abstract:

A programmable image transform processor has a programmable addressing and arithmetic blocks. In the programmable addressing block, an input address generator has an input addressing microsequencer and an input addressing memory that stores an input addressing procedure. The microsequencer executes the input addressing procedure to generate addresses from which to request image data. In the programmable arithmetic block, an arithmetic block memory stores an image processing procedure and a microsequencer executes the image processing procedure using the image data to generate transformed image data.

US Patent:

6750876, Jun 15, 2004

Filed:

Nov 9, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/188996

Inventors:

Sean R. Atsatt - Santa Cruz CA
William S. Jacobs - Santa Cruz CA

Assignee:

ESS Technology, Inc. - Fremont CA

International Classification:

G09G 500

US Classification:

345656, 345204, 345440, 345522, 345531, 345532, 345534, 345538, 345619, 345625, 345634, 345650, 345667, 345682, 348575

Abstract:

A programmable display controller for use in a digital imaging system has a video control register, a data access controller and a programmable modulator. The programmable display control is designed to be used with a digital imaging systems, such as digital cameras, having a variety of display different devices that require respective different control signals, different image signal modulations, and so on. The video control register stores video mode bits indicating the type of video signal to output. The data access controller has a buffer for requesting image data and storing the requested image data in the buffer. The programmable modulator, in response to the video mode bits, generates a video signal from the image data stored in the buffer. In some embodiments, a decoder detects and decodes a link code in received image data. An address generator is responsive to the decoder and outputs a link address corresponding to the decoded link code for fetching image data that is stored at the link address.

US Patent:

8553096, Oct 8, 2013

Filed:

Dec 6, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/312857

Inventors:

Adrian Proca - Santa Cruz CA, US
William Jacobs - Santa Cruz CA, US

Assignee:

CISCO Technology, Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

H04N 5/228

US Classification:

3482082, 3482086

Abstract:

Systems and methods for performing digital image stabilization implemented in a digital camera. The digital camera includes a gyroscope to measure motion of the digital camera and processes the signals from the gyroscope to track the total displacement of an image sensor over a series of frames of video. The algorithm implemented by the digital camera includes a processing block for correcting a DC bias in the signals from the gyroscope, a filter for attenuating the signals during periods of high acceleration, a processing block for detecting the start of a panning motion, and a processing block for quickly retracing the digital image stabilization correction back to the center of the image sensor during a panning motion.

US Patent:

20050195289, Sep 8, 2005

Filed:

Sep 9, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/936713

Inventors:

William Jacobs - Santa Cruz CA, US
Kathleen Duncan - Santa Cruz CA, US

International Classification:

H04N005/222

US Classification:

348223100

Abstract:

A method and apparatus is provided which obtains the temporal signature of artificial illuminants using a single imaging path, by controlling and reading the actual solid stage area imager. When using the solid-state area sensor to sample the temporal characteristics of artificial illuminants it may be necessary to greatly increase solid-state area sensor readout speed and to also increase the solid-state area sensors effective sensitivity to light. A method and apparatus is provided for discriminating artificial illuminants reliably through-the-lens (TTL) without the cost and bulkiness and other disadvantages of an additional sensor. This method and apparatus may be used independently or can be used in combination with the white pixel discrimination or scene analysis methods described earlier and embodied in the prior art.

US Patent:

20130038744, Feb 14, 2013

Filed:

Aug 9, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/206433

Inventors:

Adrian PROCA - Santa Cruz CA, US
William Jacobs - Santa Cruz CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 5/225

US Classification:

3482082, 3482084, 348E05024

Abstract:

Systems and methods for performing fast zero recovery with alpha blending with digital image stabilization implemented in a digital camera. The digital camera includes a gyroscope to measure motion of the digital camera and processes the signals from the gyroscope to track the total displacement of an image sensor over a series of frames of video. If the motion is a sustained motion in a substantially uniform direction, then the digital camera recognizes the motion as a panning-type motion and activates a fast-zero recovery with alpha blending operation to retrace the displacement of active pixel locations to the center of the image sensor. Alpha blending is performed to smooth the transition from a normal image stabilization operation to the fast-zero recovery with alpha blending operation.

US Patent:

20130141601, Jun 6, 2013

Filed:

Dec 6, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/312862

Inventors:

Adrian PROCA - Santa Cruz CA, US
William JACOBS - Santa Cruz CA, US

International Classification:

H04N 5/228

US Classification:

3482086, 348E05024

Abstract:

Systems and methods for performing digital image stabilization implemented in a digital camera. The digital camera includes a gyroscope to measure motion of the digital camera and processes the signals from the gyroscope to track the total displacement of an image sensor over a series of frames of video. The algorithm implemented by the digital camera includes a processing block for correcting a DC bias in the signals from the gyroscope, a filter for attenuating the signals during periods of high acceleration, a processing block for detecting the start of a panning motion, and a processing block for quickly retracing the digital image stabilization correction back to the center of the image sensor during a panning motion.