Abstract: A circuit, e.g., a CMOS sensor, with individually addressable transfer transistors and individually addressable reset transistors is described. Through the individually addressable transistors, pixels within different regions of interest, of the same or different size and/or the same or different exposure times, can be efficiently processed. Different regions of interest may be exposed concurrently and read out independently.

Abstract: Reference clock CMOS input buffer with self-calibration and improved ESD performance. In one embodiment, a reference clock input buffer of an image sensor includes a Schmitt trigger configured to generate a clock signal having a falling edge and a rising edge. The falling edge and the rising edge are separated by a hysteresis voltage. The Schmitt trigger includes a plurality of output switches and a plurality of voltage control switches that are individually coupled to individual output switches [M2-i] of the plurality of output switches. Voltage of the falling edge signal or the rising edge signal of the Schmitt trigger is adjustable by selectively switching at least one voltage control switch of the plurality of voltage control switches.

Abstract: A pixel circuit includes a transfer transistor coupled between a photodiode and a floating diffusion. A lateral overflow integration capacitor (LOFIC) includes an insulating region disposed between a first metal electrode coupled to a bias voltage source, and a second metal electrode selectively coupled to the floating diffusion. A multifunction reset transistor includes a gate, a drain, a first source, and a second source. The drain, the first source, and the second source are coupled to each other in response to a multifunction reset control signal turning the multifunction reset transistor on. The drain, the first source, and the second source are decoupled from one another in response to the multifunction reset control signal turning the multifunction reset transistor off. The drain is coupled to a reset voltage source, the first source is coupled to the first metal electrode, and the second source is coupled to the second metal electrode.

Abstract: Presenting an image of a scene may include capturing an image of a scene by a camera of an electronic device, wherein the electronic device comprises the camera and a display, and wherein the camera and the display have a first spatial relationship, determining a second spatial relationship between a viewpoint and the display of the electronic device, warping the image to obtain an image of a first portion of the scene based on the first spatial relationship and the second spatial relationship, and presenting the warped image on the display, wherein, from the viewpoint, the image of the first portion of the scene is substantially contiguous with a second portion of the scene visible outside an edge of the electronic device.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel configured to operate in a high conversion gain (HCG) mode and a low conversion gain (LCG) mode during a readout period, and a correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit configured to generate a comparison signal based on a ramp signal and a pixel voltage received from the pixel, wherein the CDS circuit includes a comparator configured to: receive the pixel voltage through a first input node, receive the ramp signal through a second input node based on an LCG reset signal or an LCG image signal being received as the pixel voltage, and receive the ramp signal through a third input node based on an HCG reset signal or an HCG image signal being received as the pixel voltage; and compare the ramp signal to the pixel voltage, and output the comparison signal corresponding to a comparison result.

Abstract: An image sensor comprises a row driver, a first row line which is connected to the row driver, first to fourth pixels connected to the first row line, first to fourth column lines connected to the first to fourth pixels and configured to receive respective first to fourth output signals from the first to fourth pixels, a boosting circuit connected to the first to fourth column lines, a second row line connected to the boosting circuit, first and second boosting drivers connected, respectively, to first and second terminals of the second row line. The boosting circuit may adjust voltage of the first and second output signals based on a first boosting enable signal received from the first boosting driver and may adjust a voltage of the third and fourth output signals based on a second boosting enable signal received from the second boosting driver.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an image sensing device, a private key generation unit, and an image encryption unit. The image sensing device includes an image generator configured to generate image data acquired by capturing as image, and a physical unclonable function (PUF) generator configured to generate physical unclonable function (PUF) data including information about at least one fixed pattern noise (FPN) data value and at least one random telegraph noise (RTN) data value. The private key (KEY) generation unit generates a private key based on the at least one FPN data value and the at least one RTN data value that are acquired from the PUF data. The image encryption unit encrypts the image data using the private key. A first transistor included in the PUF generator exhibits different properties from a second transistor that is included in the image generator and corresponds to the first transistor.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging element, and a processing portion that generates single image data by combining a plurality of pieces of image data output from the imaging element and outputs the generated single image data, in which the plurality of pieces of image data are image data generated by performing imaging accompanying A/D conversion of different reference levels, and the number of bits, in units of pixels, of the single image data output from the processing portion is greater than the number of bits of each of the plurality of pieces of image data in units of pixels.

Abstract: An image sensor device includes a sensor array and a processing circuit. The sensor array includes a plurality of pixel units each including a photodiode unit and a storage capacitor. The sensor array generates an image of a specific frame, and the photodiode unit is illuminated by a light ray to generate a photodiode current which is stored in the storage capacitor when the image sensor device performs an exposure operation. The processing circuit generates a reference current according to photodiode current(s) of photodiode unit(s) of pixel unit(s) before the exposure operation arranged for the specific frame starts, and predicts a length of an exposure time interval of the exposure operation for the specific frame based on the generated reference current.

Abstract: A Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) Image Sensor (CIS), includes a pixel circuit, a VSL circuit, and an amplifier. The pixel circuit may generate a reset voltage and a signal voltage, based on a power supply connected to the pixel circuit and/or intensity of light captured by the pixel circuit. The VSL circuit may store pixel information in a pixel load based on settling a voltage at the pixel load to the signal voltage and/or set the voltage at the pixel load to a pixel reset voltage based on settling the voltage at the pixel load to the reset voltage. The amplifier may generate a voltage, based on varying a resistance at an input of the amplifier, to enable the VSL circuit to store the pixel information and/or set the voltage at the pixel load to the pixel reset voltage.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device that detects the presence or absence of an address event further captures an image. The solid-state imaging device includes a detection pixel and a counting pixel. In the solid-state imaging device, the detection pixel detects whether or not a predetermined address event has occurred, depending on whether or not the amount of change in the amount of incident light exceeds a predetermined threshold. Further, in the solid-state imaging device, in a case where an address event has occurred, the counting pixel counts the number of photons entering during a predetermined exposure period and outputs a pixel signal indicating the count value.

Abstract: An image sensing device includes a pixel array including a plurality of unit pixels coupled to a plurality of row lines, wherein at least one of the unit pixels includes a photo-diode for generating photo charges corresponding to an incident light and a transfer transistor for transferring the photo charges to a floating diffusion (FD) node in response to a transfer control signal transferred through a corresponding row line; a row control circuit disposed at a first side of the pixel array and suitable for providing, to the respective row lines, the transfer control signal having a voltage level between a first voltage and a second voltage; and a bias compensation circuit disposed at a second side of the pixel array and suitable for driving the transfer control signal to the second voltage during a reset read-out section of each of the row lines.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is mountable with a lens apparatus including a first optical image stabilizing unit configured to move an optical element that is a part of the imaging optical system, in a direction intersecting an optical axis of the imaging optical system. The image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor, a second optical image stabilizing unit configured to move the image sensor in a direction intersecting the optical axis, and a control unit configured to control the second optical image stabilizing unit based on an image stabilizing reference position of the first optical image stabilizing unit which is a reference position for an image stabilization of the first optical image stabilizing unit.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus to which an image pickup accessory having a focus lens and a diaphragm is detachably attachable includes a communication unit configured to communicate with the image pickup accessory, an image pickup unit, an exposure control unit, and a focus control unit. The communication unit transmits a request for diaphragm control to the image pickup accessory, and receives first information on a relationship between a diaphragm position and a variation in a light amount during the diaphragm control, second information corresponding to the diaphragm position, and third information corresponding to the diaphragm position and light transmittance of the image pickup accessory. The exposure control unit controls the exposure based on the first information and the second information. The focus control unit controls the driving of the focus lens based on the defocus amount calculated based on the third information.

Abstract: A mobile device includes a camera and a light source module embedded in the mobile device. The light source module includes at least a laser-pumped phosphor light source that includes a photoluminescent phosphor and a laser diode to generate laser light within a first wavelength range to pump the photoluminescent phosphor. Exposure of the photoluminescent phosphor to the laser light results in emission of visible light within a second wavelength range according to a laser-pumped emission spectrum associated with the photoluminescent phosphor.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a plurality of imaging units arranged in a circumferential manner and movable in a circumferential direction, and a plurality of illumination units arranged in such a manner that each of the plurality of illumination units corresponds to a different one of the plurality of imaging units. In a case where the plurality of imaging units moves in the circumferential direction, each of the plurality of imaging units integrally moves with a corresponding one of the plurality of illumination units.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device comprising: a plurality of effective pixels and a plurality of light shielded pixels which are arranged respectively in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; and a signal processing circuit, wherein in a period during which pixel signals are output from first light shielded pixels which are first-row light shielded pixels to a first vertical output line, pixel signals are output from second light shielded pixels which are second-row light shielded pixels to a second vertical output line, and the signal processing circuit corrects effective pixel signals output from the effective pixels by using a correction signal obtained by performing filtering processing on pixel signals from the first light shielded pixels and on the pixel signals from the second light shielded pixels.

Abstract: An image detection device includes: a liquid resonant lens system whose focal point is cyclically changed; an image detector configured to detect an image of an object through the lens system; a pulsed illuminator configured to provide pulsed illumination to the object in synchronization with the focal point; and an illumination controller configured to control the pulsed illuminator, in which the pulsed illuminator includes a main illumination section and a supplementary illumination section, and the illumination controller is configured to provide pulsed illumination to the object with the main illumination section and supplement illuminance on the object with the supplementary illumination section when the illuminance on the object by the main illumination section is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device, a method for driving the solid-state imaging device, and an electronic device capable of improving auto-focusing accuracy by using a phase difference signal obtained by using a photoelectric conversion film. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel including a photoelectric conversion portion having a structure where a photoelectric conversion film is interposed by an upper electrode on the photoelectric conversion film and a lower electrode under the photoelectric conversion film. The upper electrode is divided into a first upper electrode and a second upper electrode. The present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a solid-state imaging device or the like.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array, a row driver, a detector, an analog-to-digital converter and a controller. The pixel array includes a pixel area including a pixel and a dummy area including a monitoring circuit. The dummy area is disposed on a same substrate as the pixel area. The dummy area is disposed adjacent to the pixel area. The row driver is configured to output a driving signal to the pixel and the monitoring circuit. The detector is configured to receive a monitoring signal from the monitoring circuit. The analog-to-digital converter is configured to receive an analog signal corresponding to an incident light from the pixel and to convert the analog signal to a digital signal. The controller is configured to control the row driver and the analog-to-digital converter.