Google Inc.

Robert Boschgmbh

Philip Sean Stetson

Franz Laermer

John Matthew Muza

Roman Lewkow

Sucheendran Sridharan

Guangxun Liao

Michael James Daley

Andrew Jonathan Doller

Adrian Mircea Proca

Kevin D Brune

Kaigham Jacob Gabriel

Michael Knauss

Joseph Robert Fitzgerald

Yuriy Musatenko

Ivan Kovtun

Volodymyr Kysenko

Yevhen Ivannikov

Davin Luther Yuknis

Michael Peter Knauss

John M Muza

This document describes techniques and apparatuses for implementing monochrome-color mapping using a monochromatic imager and a color map sensor. These techniques and apparatuses enable better resolution, depth of color, or low-light sensitivity than many conventional sensor arrays.

Monochrome-color mapping using a monochromatic imager and a color map sensor

Techniques and apparatuses are described that enable non-canting VCM-actuated autofocus. These techniques and apparatuses enable multiple focal distances that are substantially free of imaging errors caused by canting of a lens housing. These multiple focal distances are provided by multiple positions of a lens housing relative to an image sensor. These positions can be free of cant through use of mechanical stops and corresponding mechanical stop-mates. By so doing, lower cost, faster focusing, higher image quality, lower power, or lower settling time can be achieved.

Non-canting VCM-actuated autofocus

Embodiments are provided for an imaging module configured to interface with an electronic device. According to certain aspects, the imaging module includes a support section that may secure to the electronic device and a body section that may extend beyond one or more dimensions that define the electronic device. The body section houses or secures various components that enable digital image capture, including one or more lenses, a viewfinder, and an image sensor. The body section may also articulate or rotate about an axis to increase versatility of the imaging module.

Articulating imaging module for electronic devices

Methods and system are described for cancelling interference in a microphone system. A positive bias voltage is applied to a first microphone diaphragm and a negative bias voltage is applied to a second microphone diaphragm. The diaphragms are configured to exhibit substantially the same mechanical deflection in response to acoustic pressures received by the microphone system. A differential output signal is produced by combining a positively-biased output signal from the first microphone diaphragm and a negatively-biased output signal from the second microphone diaphragm. This combining cancels common-mode interferences that are exhibited in both the positively-biased output signal and the negatively-biased output signal.

Differential microphone with dual polarity bias

Extending a microphone interface. One microphone interface extension includes a controller, a parent microphone, and a child microphone. The controller outputs a controller clock signal. The parent microphone receives the controller clock signal and generates a first data signal. The child microphone generates a second data signal and outputs the second data signal to the first parent microphone. The parent microphone receives the second data signal from the child microphone and outputs a combined data signal to the controller based on the first data signal and the second data signal. The parent microphone outputs the combined data signal to the controller on a phase of a microphone clock signal derived from the controller clock signal.

Digital microphone interface supporting multiple microphones

A method is provided for testing a MEMS microphone. The MEMS microphone includes a pressure sensor positioned within a housing and a pressure input port to direct acoustic pressure from outside the housing towards the pressure sensor. An acoustic pressure source provides acoustic pressure to the MEMS microphone. A reference microphone is positioned proximal to the MEMS microphone. An output signal of the MEMS microphone and an output signal of the reference microphone are compared. A common signal component is removed from the output signal of the MEMS microphone and the output signal of the MEMS microphone is analyzed for noise due to the construction of the device and for a signal-to-noise ratio of the device. Based on the noise signal and the signal-to-noise ratio, the MEMS microphone is rejected or accepted.

Low-cost method for testing the signal-to-noise ratio of MEMS microphones

A camera device includes monochromatic and color image sensors that capture an image as a clear image in monochrome and as a Bayer image. The camera device implements image processing algorithms to produce an enhanced, high-resolution HDR color image. The Bayer image is demosaiced to generate an initial color image, and a disparity map is generated to establish correspondence between pixels of the initial color image and clear image. A mapped color image is generated to map the initial color image onto the clear image. A denoised clear image is applied as a guide image of a guided filter that filters the mapped color image to generate a filtered color image. The filtered color image and the denoised clear image are then fused to produce an enhanced, high-resolution HDR color image, and the disparity map and the mapped color image are updated based on the enhanced, high-resolution HDR color image.

Computational camera using fusion of image sensors

This document describes curved image sensors capable of sensing light from a monocentric lens. This curved image sensor receives light focused at a curved focal surface and then provides electric signals from this curved image sensor to a planar computing chip, such as a CMOS chip. By so doing, the higher image quality, smaller size, and often smaller weight of monocentric lenses can be gained while using generally high-quality, low-cost planar chips.

Curved image sensor for a curved focal surface

Embodiments are provided for a support housing for an electronic device configured to removably secure a set of hardware modules. According to certain aspects, the support housing may be defined by a set of front slots, a set of rear slots, and a center plate. The support housing may include an opening that extends through the center plate from one of the front slots to one of the rear slots. When a front module is secured to the front slot and a rear module is secured to the rear slot, the opening in the center plate enables the front module to physically interface with the rear module.

Support housing for modular electronic devices

This document describes MEMS-released curved image sensors capable of sensing light from a monocentric lens. This MEMS-released curved image sensor receives light focused on a curved focal surface by releasing a photodetector side of a computing and sensing wafer, such as a Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) sensor. This releasing is effective to allow the photodetector side to conform to the curved focal surface of the monocentric lens. By so doing, the wider field of view, smaller size, and often smaller weight of monocentric lenses can be gained while using generally high-quality, low-cost computing and sensing wafers by processing these wafers to give them a curved surface at which to sense light from a monocentric lens.

MEMS-released curved image sensor

A system and method for controlling and adjusting a low-frequency response of a MEMS microphone. The system comprising the MEMS microphone, a controller, and a memory. The MEMS microphone includes a membrane and a plurality of air vents. The membrane configured such that acoustic pressures acting on the membrane cause movement of the membrane. The plurality of air vents are positioned proximate to the membrane. Each air vent of the plurality of air vents are configured to be selectively positioned in an open position or a closed position. The controller determines an integer number of air vents to be placed in the closed positioned, and generate a signal that causes the integer number of air vents to be placed in the closed position and causes any remaining air vents to be placed in the open position.

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Wexford, PA, United States of America

Philip Sean Stetson