Abstract: A read circuit for an image sensor includes: a first analog-to-digital conversion unit configured to perform successive approximation high-bit analog-to-digital conversion on collected pixel data to obtain high-bit conversion data and residual pixel data; and a second analog-to-digital conversion unit electrically connected to the first analog-to-digital conversion unit and configured to perform single-slope low-bit analog-to-digital conversion on the residual pixel data to obtain low-bit conversion data, wherein a sum of a first conversion accuracy of the first analog-to-digital conversion unit and a second conversion accuracy of the second analog-to-digital conversion unit is equal to a preset conversion accuracy for the pixel data. In accordance with the read circuit, a high image conversion frame rate of the pixel data can be achieved with lower power consumption and less circuit area, and the conversion cycle of the pixel data is effectively shortened.

Abstract: In one example, an apparatus includes an array of pixel cells and a peripheral circuit. Each pixel cell of the array of pixel cells includes: a memory to store pixel-level programming data and measurement data, and light measurement circuits configured to, based on the pixel-level programming data from the control memory, perform a light measurement operation to generate the measurement data, and to store the measurement data at the data memory. The peripheral circuit is configured to: receive a pixel array programming map including pixel-level programming data targeted at each pixel cell; extract the pixel-level programming data from the pixel array programming map; and transmit the pixel-level programming data to each pixel cell of the array of pixel cells for storage at the memory of the each pixel cell and to individually control the light measurement operation and a generation of the measurement data at the each pixel cell.

Abstract: A method for automatic exposure (AE) control is provided that includes receiving statistics for AE control for an image from an image signal processor (ISP) coupled to an image sensor generating the image, computing an exposure value at a current time t (EV(t)) using a cost function based on target characteristics of an image, wherein computation of the cost function uses the statistics, and computing AE settings for the image sensor based on EV(t).

Abstract: Provided is a control device for controlling an imaging condition of a sensor having one or more pixels, comprising an event detection unit for detecting an event indicating that a luminance signal changes in excess of a predetermined threshold value in one or more pixels, and for outputting an event detection signal; a counter for counting a number of events detected by the event detection unit; and a control unit for controlling the imaging condition of the sensor, based on the event detection signal. In addition, provided is a control method for controlling an imaging condition of a sensor having one or more pixels. The control method comprises detecting an event indicating that a luminance signal changes in excess of a predetermined threshold value in one or more pixels; counting a number of events; and controlling the imaging condition of the sensor, based on the detection of events.

Abstract: A method of displaying fluorescence intensity in an image includes displaying a target reticle covering a region of the image; calculating a normalized fluorescence intensity within the target reticle; and displaying the normalized fluorescence intensity in a display region associated the target.

Abstract: Increases to the sensitivity of a probe magnet sensor are implemented for a camera lens. Probe magnet sensors may be located on carrier of a surface of an actuator coil to reduce the distance between the probe magnet sensor and a probe magnet mounted on an optics component that includes the camera lens. A probe magnet may be located within the camera so that the flux region of the probe magnet does not overlap with a flux region of a drive magnet for an actuator of the camera.

Abstract: Shake correction is performed using posture information corresponding to each frame of image data constituting a moving image on each frame, the frame having been subjected to processing of pasting to a celestial sphere model. Further, protrusion prevention processing for correcting an effective cropping area from each frame so that the effective cropping area does not protrude from a movable area in which the effective shake correction is maintained is performed on a requested cropping area to set an effective cropping area applied to each frame. Processing for generating an effective cropping area image is performed, the effective cropping area image being an image subjected to the shake correction and then projected onto a plane model from the celestial sphere model and being an image of the set effective cropping area.

Abstract: A blur correction device includes: a sensor; a mechanical blur correction device; an electronic blur correction circuit that corrects the blurring by performing image processing on an image obtained through imaging of the imaging apparatus; and a supplementary blur correction circuit that, in a case where the mechanical blur correction device and the electronic blur correction circuit are shared and operated at a predetermined ratio during the exposure, corrects the blurring by applying, to the image, a filter that removes noise which appears in the image.

Abstract: A matrix-array detector having: an array of pixels arranged in a matrix along rows and down columns, each pixel for generating a signal according to a physical effect; a signal generator for generating two clock signals that are phase-shifted relative to one another; and a row-addressing device including a shift register, the shift register including a plurality of stages arranged in a cascade, each stage for receiving, in alternation from one stage to another, one clock signal from the two clock signals, and delivering an intermediate output signal that takes a high value and a low value allowing the pixels of the row to be activated and to be deactivated, respectively. The signal generator is also for generating a third clock signal.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for selecting a lens control mode for a camera in external magnetic fields or other types of non-magnetic interference. In embodiments, when the camera is activated, a test of a position sensor for the camera lens is performed by moving the camera lens through a range of positions and collecting values from the sensor. In embodiments, the sensor readings are analyzed to determine conditions such as (a) whether the sensor is saturated by an external magnetic field or non-magnetic interference, (b) whether the sensor's readings are within an error margin, and (c) whether a computed position offset for the sensor is valid. Based on the analysis, the camera is placed into a first control mode where movement of the lens is controlled using the position sensor, or a second control mode where lens movement is controlled without the position sensor.

Abstract: In a shake correction unit, a first circuit board has a first portion extending from a first side to a second side in a direction, a second portion extending from the second side to the first side in the direction, and a bent portion in which an end portion on the second side of the second portion is bent with respect to an end portion on the second side of the first portion. A second circuit board has a first portion extending from the second side to the first side in the direction, a second portion extending from the first side to the second side in the direction, and a bent portion in which an end portion on the first side of the second portion is bent with respect to an end portion on the first side of the first portion.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system for extending image sensor dynamic range using coded pixels. The method including: providing pixel codes to pixels in the photodetector array for each subframe of a frame; receiving a sensor readout of each of the pixels in the photodetector array for each subframe; for each subframe, based on the pixel code, routing each sensor readout value for collection at one or more taps or to a drain; combining the collected sensor readout values at each of the taps to determine a single pixel value for the frame; and outputting the single pixel value for each pixel for the frame.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire an image, a first detection unit configured to detect a first region corresponding to a first feature from the image, a second detection unit configured to detect a second region corresponding to a second feature from the image, a measurement unit configured to perform photometric measurement on the first region and the second region, a determination unit configured to determine an exposure based on a weighted average of a first photometric value of the first region that is acquired by the measurement unit and a second photometric value of the second region that is acquired by the measurement unit before the first photometric value is acquired, and an output unit configured to output information about the exposure.

Abstract: Camera system having a camera for a vehicle (F) for capturing the environment around the vehicle and a protection element. The camera has an optical element, with a light incidence portion (EB) and a retainer, which supports the optical element. The protection element is provided separately to the optical element and the retainer and is positioned at least on the light incidence portion (EB) of the optical element. The protection element has a sight opening, which exposes a use portion (NB) of the light incidence portion (EB). At least one gap between the optical element and the protection element for receiving a water drop (T), which is located on the use portion (NB), and a water drainage opening s distal from the sight opening is provided.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a surround-view imaging system for time-of-flight (TOF) depth sensing applications and a time-of-flight sensing based collision avoidance system comprising such an imaging system. The imaging system for time-of-flight depth sensing applications comprises a lens system, adapted for imaging angles of view (AOV) larger than 120° in an image on an image plane; a sensor system, adapted to convert at least a part the image in the image plane into an electronic image signal; and an evaluation electronics, adapted to analyze the electronic image signal and to output resulting environmental information; wherein the lens system and/or the sensor system are designed for specifically imaging fields of view (FOV) starting at zenithal angles larger than 60°.

Abstract: A semiconductor device comprising: a voltage generator configured to generate a voltage; a first analog-to-digital (AD) converter configured to convert an analog value based on a voltage generated by the voltage generator into a first digital value; and a second AD converter configured to convert an analog value based on a voltage generated by the voltage generator into a second digital value, wherein the voltage generator generates voltages by dividing a power supply voltage by resistive elements.

Abstract: Provided are an information processing apparatus and an information processing method, an imaging apparatus, a mobile device, and a computer program that performs processing for controlling exposure of an in-vehicle camera. The information processing apparatus includes: a recognition unit that recognizes an image after an output signal of an image sensor is processed by a processing unit; and a control unit that controls at least one of imaging operation of the image sensor or processing operation in the processing unit on the basis of a recognition result of the recognition unit. The image sensor is mounted on a vehicle and used, and the recognition unit image-recognizes at least a surrounding vehicle or a road surface. Then, the control unit controls detection or development processing of the region of the surrounding vehicle or the road surface in the image.

Abstract: A method for producing a camera module having a first part, preferably a housing part, and a second part, preferably a circuit board or a cover part, in which the two parts are connected in positive locking fashion. The positive lock is produced in that a connecting element connected to the first part in the form of a tongue, sleeve or a pin is guided through an opening of the second part, the first part is brought to abut on the second part and subsequently the end of the connecting element protruding beyond the second part is curled in a deforming process so that the curled end abuts on the second part in a pretensioned manner. A camera module is also described.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a chassis unit, a movable section rotatably held by the chassis unit, and a circuit board assembly on which circuit components including a tall electronic component are mounted. The chassis unit includes a pan driving unit that drives the movable section, and a pan position detection unit that detects an amount of rotation of the movable section. The chassis unit and the circuit board assembly are arranged such that they are opposed to each other in a first direction perpendicular to an installation surface of the electronic apparatus. The tall electronic component is mounted on a mounting surface, opposed to the chassis unit, of the circuit board assembly, and mounted at a location where in a projection view in the first direction, the tall electronic component does not overlap the pan driving unit and the panning detection unit.

Abstract: An image capture device includes an image capture circuit, a control unit, a determination unit, and a filter control unit. The image capture circuit is configured to capture an image formed by an image capture optical system. The control unit is configured to control exposure by determining an exposure time of each of pixel groups including one or more pixels on an image capture surface of the image capture circuit. The determination unit is configured to, on a basis of the exposure time, determine whether an image capture mode is to be a first mode in which a filter configured to attenuate infrared rays is inserted in an optical path of the image capture optical system or a second mode in which the filter is removed from the optical path. The filter control unit is configured to control insertion and removal of the filter.