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SamsungGranted patentCameras & imagingInterest 5/10

Samsung patents camera method using micro-lenses to combine image data

Patent drawing
Patent drawing from the official filing.

This patent describes a camera system where a single small lens covers multiple pixels to capture slightly different views of the same scene. The processor groups these similar views together, applies image processing to them, and then combines the results to create a final picture.

Why it mattersThis technique could help improve image quality or depth perception in future Samsung cameras by processing multiple data points from a single optical element.

In the filing’s own words

An image obtaining apparatus includes an image sensor including a micro lens and a plurality of neighboring pixels sharing the micro lens and a processor configured to generate, based on an input image received from the image sensor, a plurality of parallax images having a same parallax, group, from among the plurality of parallax images, first parallax images having similar image characteristics, perform at least one image processing operation on the first parallax images, and generate an output image by combining the first parallax images on which the at least one image processing operation is performed.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. An image obtaining apparatus comprising: an image sensor comprising a micro lens and a plurality of neighboring pixels sharing the micro lens; and a processor configured to: generate, based on an input image received from the image sensor, a plurality of parallax images having a same parallax; group, from among the plurality of parallax images, first parallax images having similar image characteristics, the first parallax images comprising a first parallax image group comprising at least two parallax images and a second parallax image group comprising at least two parallax images; perform at least one image processing operation on the first parallax images; and generate an output image by combining the at least two parallax images of the first parallax image group and the at least two parallax images of the second parallax image group of the first parallax images on which the at least one image processing operation is performed.

Facts

Company
Samsung (SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.)
Official title
Apparatus and method for obtaining image using lens array
Patent number
US12771953B2
Application number
18658571
Filed
May 8, 2024
Granted
Oct 20, 2026
Inventors
2
Claims
20

Classified under

H04N 23/88 Electricity & electronicsH04N 5/265 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/11 Electricity & electronicsH04N 25/60 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.