Abstract: The projection display unit includes an illumination section including one or a plurality of light sources, a light valve that modulates light emitted from the illumination section and outputs the modulated light, a projection lens section that projects the light outputted from the light valve onto a projection surface, a light-receiving section including an imaging device that receives light incident via the projection lens section, and an optical device that allows for splitting into respective optical paths that pass through the illumination section, the light valve, and the light-receiving section. A first range corresponding to a portion of a pupil range of the projection lens section is assigned for projection, and the light-receiving section includes a light-shielding part that performs light-shielding of a selective part corresponding to the first range, at a position substantially optically conjugate with respect to an aperture of the projection lens section.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging element, a driving method, and an electronic device that generates an arbitrary intermediate voltage level between a high voltage level and a low voltage level. The solid-state imaging element includes a first driving line that supplies selectively to a posterior stage, a first voltage level that is output from a first power source and a second voltage level that is output from a second power source and lower than the first voltage level. Also included is a second driving line that is different from the first driving line, a capacitance that is formed between the first driving line and the second driving line, and a floating setting unit that sets the first driving line to a floating state. The disclosure is applicable to, for example, a CMOS image sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting bad pixels from a pixel array of a device, for capturing an image, that is sensitive to infrared radiation. The method includes: receiving an input image captured by the pixel system, and calculating a score for a plurality of target pixels including at least some of the pixels from the input image. The score for each target pixel is generated on the basis of k pixels of the input image that are selected in a window of H by H pixels around the target pixel. H is an odd integer greater than or equal to 3, and k is an integer between 2 and 5. Each pixel, from the set formed of the k pixels and the target pixel, share at least one border or corner with another pixel from said set, and the values of the k pixels are at respective distances from the value of the target pixel, the k pixels being selected on the basis of the k distances. The method also includes detecting that at least one of the target pixels is a bad pixel on the basis of the calculated scores.

Abstract: A method of assembling a camera for a vehicular vision system includes providing a camera housing and forming a post at an interior portion of the camera housing, and positioning a printed circuit board in the camera housing so that the post is received through a hole through the printed circuit board such that a protruding end of the post protrudes from the side of the printed circuit board opposite the imager. Circuitry disposed at one side of the printed circuit board includes an imager. The protruding end of the post is adapted to limit retraction of the post from the hole through the printed circuit board so as to secure the printed circuit board relative to the post and the camera housing. A lens is provided at the camera housing.

Abstract: A first imaging unit images subject light after angle-of-view mark light is removed by a dichroic mirror, and outputs a first imaging signal. A second imaging unit images the angle-of-view mark light of each of other television cameras. A calculating unit calculates a position of a virtual angle-of-view mark showing an imaging angle of view of each of the other television cameras in an imaging angle of view of the host television camera based on the angle-of-view mark light of each of the other television cameras. An image compositing unit generates a composite image by compositing a virtual angle-of-view mark image and a virtual angle-of-view frame image corresponding to the position of the virtual angle-of-view mark with a video image based on the first imaging signal. The composite image is displayed on a monitor.

Abstract: A spectrally-scanned hyperspectral EO sensor trades the temporal properties of spectral information content for instantaneous situation awareness by capturing an image frame and scanning the spectral scene (wavelength) to build up spectral content. The objective optical system, preferably including a chromatic aberration enhancing device, separates spectral components of the incident radiation. A focus cell is used to adjust a relative axial focus position of the objective optical system with respect to a detector to at least two different axial focus positions to adjust the image position and read out an image frame for a spectrally-weighted component. A processor computes a relative spatial image contrast from a plurality of image frames at different wavelengths as a function of encoded focus cell position. A mechanism may be configured to move the enhancing device in and out of the optical path to form a dual gray-scale and hyperspectral EO sensor.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method for operating a camera. A lens or a sensor of the camera is rotated about an axis to a plurality of positions, and the rotation generates a rotation of a plane of sharp focus of the camera. At each of the plurality of positions, an image is captured. For each image, a substantially in-focus region is determined. The substantially in-focus regions are combined to generate a composite image.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus, a black level correction method thereof, and a computer readable medium are provided. The image sensing apparatus comprises a pixel array and a black level correction circuit, and the pixel array comprises an optical black area and an active area. The black level correction circuit generates a black offset with respect to a pixel in the active area according to a plurality of reference black offsets with respect to a plurality of reference pixels which are neighboring the pixel and a ratio determined according to a current thermal noise information and a reference thermal noise information. The black level correction circuit generates a corrected pixel data of the pixel according to original pixel data of the pixel and the black offset.

Abstract: One or more lens control apparatuses, methods and storage mediums for use therewith are provided herein. In at least one lens control apparatus, a camera control unit determines that a subject is in focus if an amount of defocus is within a first range in a first mode where the camera control unit has not determined that the subject is a moving subject, and determines the focus state on a basis of the amount of defocus and a reversed state of a drive direction of a focus lens based on the amount of defocus in a second mode where the camera control unit has determined that the subject is a moving subject.

Abstract: A camera system comprises illumination and optical components that manage illumination from the illumination source to the camera sensor in a highly efficient manner to image a wide field of view. The camera sensor comprises a modular compound imaging lens and a corresponding illuminator. The illuminator is capable of emitting a field of illumination that is wide in one plane (e.g., the tangential plane) and relatively narrow in the orthogonal plane (e.g., the sagittal plane). The modular compound lens receives scattered light from the viewing field and focuses the light to one or more imaging sensors (e.g., 3D imaging sensors). The modular lens images a wide field of view substantially equal to the field of illumination of the illuminator and is oriented such that the field of view of the lens substantially overlaps the field of illumination of the illuminator, yielding a high collection efficiency.

Abstract: An image sensor architecture with multi-bit sampling is implemented within an image sensor system. A pixel signal produced in response to light incident upon a photosensitive element is converted to a multiple-bit digital value representative of the pixel signal. If the pixel signal exceeds a sampling threshold, the photosensitive element is reset. During an image capture period, digital values associated with pixel signals that exceed a sampling threshold are accumulated into image data.

Abstract: A MEMS electrostatic actuator that provides 5 degrees of freedom (5-DOF) motion is disclosed. The actuator comprises of an inner, a middle, and an outer MEMS structures that are nested with respect to each other. Each of the structures comprise of a plurality of rotors and stators. The rotors further comprise a plurality of moving capacitive electrodes which engage with a plurality of fixed capacitive electrodes in the stators to provide a variety of translational and rotational motions.

Abstract: An image detector comprises a sensor produced on a first monolithic substrate comprising a set of pixels organized in a matrix on rows and columns and configured to generate signals as a function of a radiation striking the detector, column conductors, each linking the pixels of a same column and intended to convey the signals generated by the pixels, at least one bump contact situated at the periphery of the first substrate and outside of the matrix of pixels and linked to the column conductors. At least two column conductors are connected together on the first substrate outside of the matrix of pixels and the column conductors connected together converge toward the at least one bump contact.

Abstract: An ADC includes: a ramp signal selector suitable for selecting a ramp signal selector suitable for selecting a rising half ramp signal or falling half ramp signal according to a ramping direction detection result from a ramping direction detector; a comparator suitable for outputting an initial comparison result signal by initially comparing a half ramp signal and a pixel signal, and outputting a comparison result signal by comparing the rising or falling half ramp signal selected through the ramp signal selector to the pixel signal; the ramping direction detector suitable for detecting a ramping direction according to the initial comparison result signal from the comparator; and a data converter suitable for deciding an initial bit according to the initial comparison result signal from the comparator, and performing data conversion according to the comparison result signal from the comparator.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a memory and one or more processors. The one or more processors are electrically connected to the memory, and calculate blur correction information to make a blur of a first shape of an object approach a blur of a second shape of the object. The first shape of the object is contained in a first component image of one image. The second shape of the object is contained in a second component image of the one image. The one or more processors calculate a distance between an imaging device and the object based on an image distance when the one image is captured and the blur correction information. The image distance is a distance from a lens up to an image forming surface of the object.

Abstract: The fact that a beam-deflecting device can be produced cost-effectively and without any losses of optical quality of the multi-aperture imaging device is used when a carrier substrate is provided for the same, wherein the carrier substrate is common to the plurality of optical channels and is installed with a setting angle, i.e. oblique with respect to the image sensor in the multi-aperture imaging device such that a deflection angle of deflecting the optical path of each optical channel is based, on the one hand, on the setting angle and, on the other hand, on an individual inclination angle with respect to the carrier substrate of a reflecting facet of a surface of the beam-deflecting device facing the image sensor, the reflecting facet being allocated to the optical channel.

Abstract: An approach is provided for managing a usage of a camera. A context of a camera being used by a user is determined. The context includes information selected from: a geographic location of the camera, a direction in which the camera is pointed, a position of the user, a time at which the camera is being used by the user, and an identification of object(s) in an image being processed by the camera. Based on the context of the camera, it is determined that the usage of the camera by the user is likely to cause a danger to the user or to another person. Based on the usage of the camera being likely to cause the danger, a functionality of the camera is disabled or a notification about the danger is sent to one or more persons.

Abstract: In an image sensor comprising a plurality of imaging pixels, each pixel includes: a microlens for guiding incident light into a corresponding one of the plurality of imaging pixels, a color filter transmitting light of a predetermined wavelength band, a first photoelectric conversion unit for photoelectrically converting the light transmitted through the color filter, and a second photoelectric conversion unit provided below the first photoelectric conversion unit with a predetermined space therebetween. The first photoelectric conversion unit is provided with a first electrode provided to acquire a first signal from a first region of the first photoelectric conversion unit and a second electrode provided to acquire a second signal from a second region different from the first region. A light transmittance of the first photoelectric conversion unit with respect to the predetermined wavelength band is higher than 50%.

Abstract: A method, a system, and a computer program product for applying a white balance correction to an image data captured by a camera sensor based on a current level of ambient color. The method includes capturing, via a camera sensor, image data of a scene. The method further includes contemporaneously measuring, via a light color sensor, an amount of ambient color. The method further includes calculating a determinant value that represents a magnitude of variance of colors in the scene. The method further includes in response to determining the determinant value is less than a determinant threshold: generating a white balance correction based at least in part on the measured amount of ambient color and applying the white balance correction to the image data to generate a corrected image data having colors that more accurately represent colors in the current scene.

Abstract: The invention relates to pixel circuit and an operating method thereof, comprising a front-end circuit comprising a single photodiode and having an output, said front-end circuit being configured for delivering on said output a photoreceptor signal derived from a light exposure of said single photodiode; a transient detector circuit configured for detecting a change in said photoreceptor signal delivered on said output; an exposure measurement circuit configured for measuring said photoreceptor signal delivered on said output upon detection by the transient detector circuit of a change in the photoreceptor signal. The invention also relates to an image sensor comprising a plurality of pixel circuits.