Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
DETAILED ACTION
Priority
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Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement(s) submitted on 6/30/2025 is/are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement(s) is/are being considered by the examiner.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
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Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-10, 12-13 and 15-18 of U.S. Patent No. 12363446. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other.
Instance Application
U.S. Patent No. 12363446
1. An image sensor comprising:
a pixel array and a readout circuit configured to generate a first image of an object based on a first exposure time, a second image of the object based on a second exposure time, and a third image of the object based on a third exposure time, the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time being different from each other and the second exposure time and the third exposure time are shorter than the first exposure time;
a pre-processor configured to perform linearization processing on the second image and the third image without the first image among the first image, the second image, and the third image to generate a merged image; and
an interface circuit configured to output the first image and the merged image.
1. An image sensor comprising:
a pixel array and a readout circuit configured to generate a first image of an object based on a first exposure time, a second image of the object based on a second exposure time, and a third image of the object based on a third exposure time, the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time being different from each other and the second exposure time and the third exposure time are shorter than the first exposure time;
a pre-processor configured to perform linearization processing on the second image and the third image without the first image among the first image, the second image, and the third image to generate a merged image with an increased number of bits of a pixel value; and
an interface circuit configured to output first image data based on the first image and second image data based on the merged image to an external processor.
Claims 2-9
Claims 2-9
1. An image sensor comprising:
a pixel array and a readout circuit configured to generate a first image of an object based on a first exposure time, a second image of the object based on a second exposure time, and a third image of the object based on a third exposure time, the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time being different from each other and the second exposure time and the third exposure time are shorter than the first exposure time;
a pre-processor configured to perform linearization processing on the second image and the third image without the first image among the first image, the second image, and the third image to generate a merged image; and
an interface circuit configured to output the first image and the merged image.
10. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the pixel array and the readout circuit are configured to generate a fourth image of the object based on a fourth exposure time, wherein the fourth exposure time is shorter than the first exposure time and longer than the second and the third exposure time, and wherein the interface circuit is configured to output the first image, the fourth image, and the merged image.
12. An image processing system comprising:
a pixel array configured to convert optical signals incident thereon into electrical signals based on different exposure times;
a readout circuit configured to generate a first exposure image having a first exposure time, a second exposure image having a second exposure time, and a third exposure image having a third exposure time based on the electrical signals, wherein the first exposure time is a longest exposure time among the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time, and wherein the third exposure time is a shortest exposure time among the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time;
a pre-processor configured to generate a merged image based on merge the second exposure image and the third exposure image without the first exposure image among the first exposure image, the second exposure image, and the third exposure image to generate a merged image with an increased number of bits of a pixel value; and
an interface circuit configured to output first image data based on the merged image and second image data based on the first exposure image to an application processor.
15. The image processing system of claim 13 (and 12), wherein the readout circuit is configured to generate a fourth exposure image having a fourth exposure time, wherein the fourth exposure time is shorter than the first exposure time and longer than the second exposure time, and wherein the interface circuit is configured to output the first exposure image, the fourth exposure image, and the merged image to the application processor.
Claim 11
Claim 10
12. An image processing system comprising:
a pixel array configured to convert optical signals incident thereon into electrical signals based on different exposure times;
a readout circuit configured to generate a plurality of images with mutually different exposure times based on the electrical signals;
a pre-processor configured to merge at least two images excluding at least one image among the plurality of images to generate merged image; and
an interface circuit configured to output the merged image and the at least one image.
12. An image processing system comprising:
a pixel array configured to convert optical signals incident thereon into electrical signals based on different exposure times;
a readout circuit configured to generate a first exposure image having a first exposure time, a second exposure image having a second exposure time, and a third exposure image having a third exposure time based on the electrical signals, wherein the first exposure time is a longest exposure time among the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time, and wherein the third exposure time is a shortest exposure time among the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time;
a pre-processor configured to generate a merged image based on merge the second exposure image and the third exposure image without the first exposure image among the first exposure image, the second exposure image, and the third exposure image to generate a merged image with an increased number of bits of a pixel value; and
an interface circuit configured to output first image data based on the merged image and second image data based on the first exposure image to an application processor.
13. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein the at least one image includes a first image based on a first exposure time, and the at least two images include a second image based on a second exposure time, and a third image based on a third exposure time, and the second exposure time and the third exposure time are shorter than the first exposure time.
12… a readout circuit configured to generate a first exposure image having a first exposure time, a second exposure image having a second exposure time, and a third exposure image having a third exposure time based on the electrical signals, wherein the first exposure time is a longest exposure time among the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time, and wherein the third exposure time is a shortest exposure time among the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time;
14. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein the pre-processor comprises:
a signal processor configured to perform image processing to adjust pixel values of pixels of the plurality of images;
a line buffer that stores a pixel value corresponding to a plurality of lines of a second image among the at least two images, received before receiving a first line of a third image among the at least two images; and
a linearization processor configured to perform linearization processing to increase a dynamic range by merging the at least two images.
13. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein the pre-processor comprises:
a signal processor configured to perform image processing to adjust pixel values of pixels of the first exposure image, the second exposure image, and the third exposure image;
a line buffer that stores a pixel value corresponding to a plurality of lines of the second exposure image received before receiving a first line of the third exposure image; and
a linearization processor configured to perform linearization processing to increase a dynamic range by merging the second exposure image and the third exposure image.
15. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein a first number of bits of a first pixel value of a pixel included in the merged image is greater than a second number of bits of a second pixel value of the pixel included in the at least one image.
16. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein a first number of bits of a first pixel value of a pixel included in the merged image is greater than a second number of bits of a second pixel value of the pixel included in the first exposure image.
16. The image processing system of claim 12, further comprising a compressor configured to perform image compression to reduce a number of bits of each pixel value of the merged image.
17. The image processing system of claim 12, further comprising a compressor configured to perform image compression to reduce a number of bits of each pixel value of the merged image.
17. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein the at least one image and the merged image are merged into an high dynamic range (HDR) image by an application processor.
18. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein the first image data and the second image data are merged into an high dynamic range (HDR) image by the application processor.
18. An apparatus comprising:
an image sensor configured to generate a plurality of images of an object based on different exposure times, wherein the plurality of images includes a first image based on a first exposure time, a second image based on a second exposure time, and a third image based on a third exposure time, and perform linearization processing on the second image and the third image, without including the first image, among the first image, the second image, and the third image, to generate a merged image, and output the first image and the merged image; and
an application processor configured to receive the first image and the merged image from the image sensor and generate a high dynamic range (HDR) image having an increased dynamic range based on the first image, and the merged image.
12. An image processing system comprising:
a pixel array configured to convert optical signals incident thereon into electrical signals based on different exposure times;
a readout circuit configured to generate a first exposure image having a first exposure time, a second exposure image having a second exposure time, and a third exposure image having a third exposure time based on the electrical signals, wherein the first exposure time is a longest exposure time among the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time, and wherein the third exposure time is a shortest exposure time among the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time;
a pre-processor configured to generate a merged image based on merge the second exposure image and the third exposure image without the first exposure image among the first exposure image, the second exposure image, and the third exposure image to generate a merged image with an increased number of bits of a pixel value; and
an interface circuit configured to output first image data based on the merged image and second image data based on the first exposure image to an application processor.
18. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein the first image data and the second image data are merged into an high dynamic range (HDR) image by the application processor.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second exposure time and the third exposure time are shorter than the first exposure time.
12… wherein the first exposure time is a longest exposure time among the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time…
20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the application processor is configured to perform the linearization processing and dynamic range compression on the first image and the merged image.
12… an interface circuit configured to output first image data based on the merged image and second image data based on the first exposure image to an application processor…
18. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein the first image data and the second image data are merged into an high dynamic range (HDR) image by the application processor.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-9, 14-15 and 17 of U.S. Patent No. 11637963. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other.
Instance Application
U.S. Patent No. 11637963
1. An image sensor comprising:
a pixel array and a readout circuit configured to generate a first image of an object based on a first exposure time, a second image of the object based on a second exposure time, and a third image of the object based on a third exposure time, the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time being different from each other and the second exposure time and the third exposure time are shorter than the first exposure time;
a pre-processor configured to perform linearization processing on the second image and the third image without the first image among the first image, the second image, and the third image to generate a merged image; and
an interface circuit configured to output the first image and the merged image.
1. An image processing system comprising:
an image sensor comprising:
a pixel array and a readout circuit configured to generate a first image of an object based on a first exposure time, a second image of the object based on a second exposure time, and a third image of the object based on a third exposure time, the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time being different from each other and the first image having a first luminance, the second image having a second luminance, and the third image having a third luminance, wherein the first luminance, the second luminance, and the third luminance are different from each other;
a pre-processor configured to perform linearization processing on the first image and the second image to generate a merged image with an increased number of bits of a pixel value; and
an interface circuit configured to output first image data based on the merged image and second image data based on the third image; and
an image processor configured to receive the first image data and the second image data and generate a high dynamic range (HDR) image having an increased dynamic range based on the first image, the second image, and the third image using the first image data and the second image data.
2. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein a start time and an end time of the first exposure time are different from a start time and an end time of the second exposure time, and the start time and the end time of the second exposure time are different from a start time and an end time of the third exposure time.
1… a pixel array and a readout circuit configured to generate a first image of an object based on a first exposure time, a second image of the object based on a second exposure time, and a third image of the object based on a third exposure time, the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time being different from each other and the first image having a first luminance, the second image having a second luminance, and the third image having a third luminance, wherein the first luminance, the second luminance, and the third luminance are different from each other; {this could include a species of sequentially capture three images at different timings}
3. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein a first exposure operation based on the first exposure time, a second exposure operation based on the second exposure time, and a third exposure operation based on the third exposure time are sequentially performed.
1… a pixel array and a readout circuit configured to generate a first image of an object based on a first exposure time, a second image of the object based on a second exposure time, and a third image of the object based on a third exposure time, the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time being different from each other and the first image having a first luminance, the second image having a second luminance, and the third image having a third luminance, wherein the first luminance, the second luminance, and the third luminance are different from each other; {this could include a species of sequentially capture three images at different timings}
Claims 4-9
Claims 3-8
1. An image sensor comprising:
a pixel array and a readout circuit configured to generate a first image of an object based on a first exposure time, a second image of the object based on a second exposure time, and a third image of the object based on a third exposure time, the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time being different from each other and the second exposure time and the third exposure time are shorter than the first exposure time;
a pre-processor configured to perform linearization processing on the second image and the third image without the first image among the first image, the second image, and the third image to generate a merged image; and
an interface circuit configured to output the first image and the merged image.
10. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the pixel array and the readout circuit are configured to generate a fourth image of the object based on a fourth exposure time, wherein the fourth exposure time is shorter than the first exposure time and longer than the second and the third exposure time, and wherein the interface circuit is configured to output the first image, the fourth image, and the merged image.
14. An image processing system comprising:
an image sensor comprising a pixel array configured to convert optical signals incident thereon into electrical signals based on different exposure times;
a readout circuit configured to generate a first exposure image having a first exposure time, a second exposure image having a second exposure time, and a third exposure image having a third exposure time based on the electrical signals, wherein the first exposure time is a longest exposure time among the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time, and wherein the third exposure time is a shortest exposure time among the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time;
a pre-processor configured to perform linearization processing to generate a merged image based on the second exposure image and the third exposure image, the merged image having an increased number of bits of a pixel value; and
an interface circuit configured to output first image data based on the merged image and second image data based on the first exposure image; and
an image processor configured to receive the first image data and the second image data and generate a high dynamic range (HDR) image having an increased dynamic range based on the first exposure image, the second exposure image, and the third exposure image using the first image data and the second image data.
17. The image processing system of claim 15 (and 14), wherein the readout circuit is configured to generate a fourth exposure image having a fourth exposure time, wherein the fourth exposure time is shorter than the first exposure time and longer than the second exposure time, and wherein the interface circuit is configured to output the first exposure image, the fourth exposure image, and the merged image to the image processor.
11. The image sensor of claim 1, wherein the merged image and the first image are merged into an high dynamic range (HDR) image by an external processor.
1… an interface circuit configured to output first image data based on the merged image and second image data based on the third image; and
an image processor configured to receive the first image data and the second image data and generate a high dynamic range (HDR) image having an increased dynamic range based on the first image, the second image, and the third image using the first image data and the second image data.
12. An image processing system comprising:
a pixel array configured to convert optical signals incident thereon into electrical signals based on different exposure times;
a readout circuit configured to generate a plurality of images with mutually different exposure times based on the electrical signals;
a pre-processor configured to merge at least two images excluding at least one image among the plurality of images to generate merged image; and
an interface circuit configured to output the merged image and the at least one image.
1. An image processing system comprising:
an image sensor comprising:
a pixel array and a readout circuit configured to generate a first image of an object based on a first exposure time, a second image of the object based on a second exposure time, and a third image of the object based on a third exposure time, the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time being different from each other and the first image having a first luminance, the second image having a second luminance, and the third image having a third luminance, wherein the first luminance, the second luminance, and the third luminance are different from each other;
a pre-processor configured to perform linearization processing on the first image and the second image to generate a merged image with an increased number of bits of a pixel value; and
an interface circuit configured to output first image data based on the merged image and second image data based on the third image; and
an image processor configured to receive the first image data and the second image data and generate a high dynamic range (HDR) image having an increased dynamic range based on the first image, the second image, and the third image using the first image data and the second image data.
13. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein the at least one image includes a first image based on a first exposure time, and the at least two images include a second image based on a second exposure time, and a third image based on a third exposure time, and the second exposure time and the third exposure time are shorter than the first exposure time.
2. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein the first exposure time and the second exposure time are shorter than the third exposure time.
12. An image processing system comprising:
a pixel array configured to convert optical signals incident thereon into electrical signals based on different exposure times;
a readout circuit configured to generate a plurality of images with mutually different exposure times based on the electrical signals;
a pre-processor configured to merge at least two images excluding at least one image among the plurality of images to generate merged image; and
an interface circuit configured to output the merged image and the at least one image.
14. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein the pre-processor comprises:
a signal processor configured to perform image processing to adjust pixel values of pixels of the plurality of images;
a line buffer that stores a pixel value corresponding to a plurality of lines of a second image among the at least two images, received before receiving a first line of a third image among the at least two images; and
a linearization processor configured to perform linearization processing to increase a dynamic range by merging the at least two images.
14. An image processing system comprising:
an image sensor comprising a pixel array configured to convert optical signals incident thereon into electrical signals based on different exposure times;
a readout circuit configured to generate a first exposure image having a first exposure time, a second exposure image having a second exposure time, and a third exposure image having a third exposure time based on the electrical signals, wherein the first exposure time is a longest exposure time among the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time, and wherein the third exposure time is a shortest exposure time among the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time;
a pre-processor configured to perform linearization processing to generate a merged image based on the second exposure image and the third exposure image, the merged image having an increased number of bits of a pixel value; and
an interface circuit configured to output first image data based on the merged image and second image data based on the first exposure image; and
an image processor configured to receive the first image data and the second image data and generate a high dynamic range (HDR) image having an increased dynamic range based on the first exposure image, the second exposure image, and the third exposure image using the first image data and the second image data.
15. The image processing system of claim 14, wherein the pre-processor comprises:
a signal processor configured to perform image processing to adjust pixel values of pixels of the first exposure image, the second exposure image, and the third exposure image;
a line buffer that stores a pixel value corresponding to a plurality of lines of the second exposure image received before receiving a first line of the third exposure image; and
a linearization processor configured to perform the linearization processing to increase a dynamic range by merging the second exposure image and the third exposure image.
15. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein a first number of bits of a first pixel value of a pixel included in the merged image is greater than a second number of bits of a second pixel value of the pixel included in the at least one image.
7. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein a first number of bits of a first pixel value of a pixel included in the merged image is greater than a second number of bits of a second pixel value of the pixel included in the third image.
16. The image processing system of claim 12, further comprising a compressor configured to perform image compression to reduce a number of bits of each pixel value of the merged image.
8. The image processing system of claim 1, further comprising a compressor configured to compress the merged image to generate a compressed image, wherein the interface circuit is configured to output the third image and the compressed image to the image processor.
17. The image processing system of claim 12, wherein the at least one image and the merged image are merged into an high dynamic range (HDR) image by an application processor.
1… an interface circuit configured to output first image data based on the merged image and second image data based on the third image; and
an image processor configured to receive the first image data and the second image data and generate a high dynamic range (HDR) image having an increased dynamic range based on the first image, the second image, and the third image using the first image data and the second image data.
18. An apparatus comprising:
an image sensor configured to generate a plurality of images of an object based on different exposure times, wherein the plurality of images includes a first image based on a first exposure time, a second image based on a second exposure time, and a third image based on a third exposure time, and perform linearization processing on the second image and the third image, without including the first image, among the first image, the second image, and the third image, to generate a merged image, and output the first image and the merged image; and
an application processor configured to receive the first image and the merged image from the image sensor and generate a high dynamic range (HDR) image having an increased dynamic range based on the first image, and the merged image.
1. An image processing system comprising:
an image sensor comprising:
a pixel array and a readout circuit configured to generate a first image of an object based on a first exposure time, a second image of the object based on a second exposure time, and a third image of the object based on a third exposure time, the first exposure time, the second exposure time, and the third exposure time being different from each other and the first image having a first luminance, the second image having a second luminance, and the third image having a third luminance, wherein the first luminance, the second luminance, and the third luminance are different from each other;
a pre-processor configured to perform linearization processing on the first image and the second image to generate a merged image with an increased number of bits of a pixel value; and
an interface circuit configured to output first image data based on the merged image and second image data based on the third image; and
an image processor configured to receive the first image data and the second image data and generate a high dynamic range (HDR) image having an increased dynamic range based on the first image, the second image, and the third image using the first image data and the second image data.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the second exposure time and the third exposure time are shorter than the first exposure time.
2. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein the first exposure time and the second exposure time are shorter than the third exposure time.
20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the application processor is configured to perform the linearization processing and dynamic range compression on the first image and the merged image.
9. The image processing system of claim 1, wherein the image processor is configured to perform linearization processing and dynamic range compression on the third image and the merged image.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 would be allowable if timely filing a terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) to overcome the rejection(s) on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting, set forth in this Office action.
Sun (CN 109089053 B): an camera module synthesizing three-frame original images stored in cache to generate an HDR image and then directly transmitting the HDR image through an interface circuit between the cache and an application processor.
Yasuda (US 20180276783 A1): An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image capturing unit; an acquisition unit that acquires at least two images having different exposures; a compression unit that acquires at least two compressed images; a transmission unit that transmits the at least two compressed images; a composition unit that generates a composite image by compositing the transmitted at least two compressed images; and a luminance distribution acquisition unit that acquires luminance distribution information of the composite image, the acquisition unit controlling exposure of the at least two images based on the luminance distribution information acquired by the luminance distribution acquisition unit, and the compression unit performing the compression processing of the at least two images based on the luminance distribution information and the exposure of the at least two images.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: the prior art of record taken alone or in combination, fails to disclose or render obvious a pre-processor configured to perform linearization processing on the second image and the third image without the first image among the first image, the second image, and the third image to generate a merged image; and an interface circuit configured to output the first image and the merged image, in combination with all the limitations recited in claim 1 and similarly in claims 12 and 18.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Quan Pham whose telephone number is (571)272-4438. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 9am-7pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Sinh Tran can be reached at (571) 272-7564. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Quan Pham/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2637
