Abstract: A method for enhancing an image read from an image sensor in the digital domain includes analyzing a row or a column of the image; determining the row or column is defective; and replacing the row or the column with information from adjacent portions of the image when the row or image is found defective.

Abstract: A method of increasing the dynamic range of a captured image using a pixel array having a plurality of rows includes reading first pixel information corresponding to a long integration period from each pixel of a first row, reading second pixel information corresponding to a short integration period from each pixel of the first row, and merging the first pixel information and the second pixel information to thereby produce wide dynamic range pixel information for each pixel of the first row. Reading first pixel information takes place during a first interval, reading second pixel information takes place during a second interval, and at least a portion of the second interval takes place during a long integration period corresponding to a second row of the pixel array.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a filtering arrangement configured to receive incoming pixel information and filter at least a first portion of the information to thereby pass a second portion of the information for further processing, circuitry configured to apply a gamma function to the second portion to thereby produce a modified second portion, and an adder configured to combine the first portion to the modified second portion.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a filtering arrangement configured to receive incoming pixel information and filter at least a first portion of the information to thereby pass a second portion of the information for further processing; circuitry configured to apply a first color correction function to the incoming pixel information to thereby produce a modified first portion; circuitry configured to apply a second color correction function to the second portion to thereby produce a modified second portion; and an adder configured to combine the modified first portion to the modified second portion.

Abstract: An image capture device includes an image capture medium configured to record image data representative of a scene, a lens, positioned to focus an image of the scene onto the image capture medium, an input configured to receive a user-command to capture the image, an output configured to alert a user to the presence of an image artifact in the captured image, and a processor. The processor is programmed to receive at least a portion of the image data from the capture medium, analyze the image data for the presence of the image artifacts, and, based on the analysis send alert information to the output.

Abstract: A method of capturing an image of a scene includes providing an imaging device having an array of pixels. Each pixel is configured to provide a pixel output. The method also includes determining a frequency of light produced by a light source illuminating the scene and capturing an image of the scene using the pixel array. A first capture time for one or more pixels in the array is different from a second capture time of one or more other pixels in the array. The method further includes, for each pixel in the array, determining a relative phase of the light with respect to the capture time of the pixel, determining a compensating gain based on the relative phase of the light and the frequency of the light, and adjusting the pixel output of the pixel in relation to the compensating gain.

Abstract: A method of displaying a captured image includes using an array of pixels to capture an image. The array of pixels includes a first plurality of pixels of a first color, a second plurality of pixels of a second color, and a third plurality of pixels of a third color. The pixels are arranged into rows and columns and the pixels of the third plurality of pixels have two different arrangements within the array of pixels with respect to neighboring pixels. The method includes, for each pixel in the third plurality of pixels, normalizing the pixel's value as a function of the pixel values of at least six other pixels in the third plurality of pixels. The method also includes displaying the captured image using a normalized value for the pixel value of each pixel in the third plurality of pixels.

Abstract: A method of compressing an image according to an image compression algorithm includes sequentially receiving pixel values into a buffers bank in line-by-line order. The image includes a plurality of pixels arranged into lines and columns. Each pixel has a pixel value associated therewith. Each line has L pixels. The image compression algorithm operates on blocks of pixels, each block having N lines and M columns. The method also includes storing each block-line of pixel values in a buffer of the buffers bank. A block-line includes M consecutive pixels of a line. The method also includes, for each block-line, storing a pointer to the buffer in which the block-line is stored and reading block-lines out of the buffers bank to a compression engine, wherein the block-lines are read out of the buffers bank in an order that is different from the line-by-line order in which the block-lines were received into the buffers bank.

Abstract: The pixel includes a reset element (350) used in relation to charging a light sensitive element (390). Further, the pixel includes a charge evacuation element (380) for dissipating charge build up about the reset element. Dissipation of the charge results in a reduction of noise at the output of the pixel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to measure small shifts and rotations of video images captured in short succession after a first reference video image is captured, and to add the sequence of captures while shifting or rotating back the shifted or rotated images, in order to improve the SNR in low light conditions.

Abstract: An image capture device includes a focusing lens, a light sensor array having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix of rows and columns and a plurality of optical components. Each optical component is configured to focus light on a light-sensing portion of one of the pixels. The locations of the optical components define a grid of parallel and perpendicular lines and a line spacing of the grid varies as a function of a distance from an optical axis of the focusing lens.

Abstract: An image capture device includes a focusing lens, a light sensor array having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix of rows and columns and a plurality of optical components. Each optical component is configured to focus light on a light-sensing portion of one of the pixels. The locations of the optical components define a grid of parallel and perpendicular lines and a line spacing of the grid varies as a function of a distance from an optical axis of the focusing lens.

Abstract: A method of capturing an image of a scene using an image capture device having an array of pixels arranged into a plurality of rows includes, for a first duration, capturing a first portion of the scene with a first plurality of the rows and, for a second duration that is longer than the first duration, capturing a second portion of the scene with a second plurality of the rows. If a pixel value is below a first threshold, an interpolated pixel value is used. If the pixel value is above a second predetermined threshold, a different interpolated pixel value is used.

Abstract: A method of capturing an image of a scene using an image capture device having an array of pixels, wherein the array of pixels includes pixels of different colors, includes, for a first duration, capturing a first portion of the scene with a first plurality of the pixels of a first color, and for a second duration, capturing a second portion of the scene with a second plurality of the pixels of a second color. The first and second durations are different and the first and second durations are chosen, at least in part, to improve the signal to noise ratio of the image capture device.

Abstract: An image sensor for producing a moving or still picture is disclosed. The image sensor includes an imaging array, a digital image processor, and a multiplexer. The multiplexer is coupled to both the imaging array and the digital image processor. The multiplexer includes a plurality of inputs, a plurality of switches, an output, and a select function. The select function selectively causes coupling of one of the plurality inputs to the output, wherein switching to any of the plurality of inputs results in a predetermined number of plurality of switches either opening or closing.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for capturing a still or moving picture is disclosed. The imaging apparatus includes a substrate and an aperture. The substrate includes an imaging array and a pixel. The aperture exposes the imaging array to radiation. The pixel is isolated from radiation passing though the aperture. In some embodiments, the radiation gathered by the pixel can be used to improve the still or moving picture captured by the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate in general to systems and methods for dynamically correcting color cross-talk and related color distortion in an image sensor. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to correcting pixel outputs from a pixel array in an image sensor at the Bayer domain for color cross-talk and/or green disparity using hyperbolically varying correction functions to dynamically derive color cross-talk correction factors using pixel location on the pixel array, a selected pixel output and related outputs from neighboring pixels on the image sensor prior to or synchronous with color interpolation.

Abstract: An image capture device includes a focusing lens, a light sensor array having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix of rows and columns and a plurality of optical components. Each optical component is configured to focus light on a light-sensing portion of one of the pixels. The locations of the optical components define a grid of parallel and perpendicular lines and a line spacing of the grid varies as a function of a distance from an optical axis of the focusing lens.

Abstract: An image capture device includes a focusing lens, a light sensor array having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix of rows and columns and a plurality of optical components. Each optical component is configured to focus light on a light-sensing portion of one of the pixels. The locations of the optical components define a grid of parallel and perpendicular lines and a line spacing of the grid varies as a function of a distance from an optical axis of the focusing lens.

Abstract: A method of capturing an image of a scene includes providing an imaging device having an array of pixels. Each pixel is configured to provide a pixel output. The method also includes determining a frequency of light produced by a light source illuminating the scene and capturing an image of the scene using the pixel array. A first capture time for one or more pixels in the array is different from a second capture time of one or more other pixels in the array. The method further includes, for each pixel in the array, determining a relative phase of the light with respect to the capture time of the pixel, determining a compensating gain based on the relative phase of the light and the frequency of the light, and adjusting the pixel output of the pixel in relation to the compensating gain.