Abstract: The invention concerns an image sensor comprising: at least one pixel having a photodiode (PD); a sensing node (SN) coupled to the photodiode via a transfer gate (104); and a further node (AN) coupled to the sensing node (SN) via a first transistor (112); and a control circuit (120) adapted: to apply, during a reset operation of the voltage levels at the sensing node (SN) and further node (AN), a first voltage level (VDD) to a control node of the first transistor (112); and to apply, during a transfer operation of charge from the photodiode (PD) to the sensing node (SN), a second voltage level (VSK) to the control node of the first transistor (112), the second voltage level being lower than the first voltage level and higher than a ground voltage of the pixel.

Abstract: An image capturing device includes an optical module configured to capture an image, at least one sensor module configured to generate image signals for the captured image, and a data processing module configured to generate image data for the captured image on the basis of the generated image signals. The image capturing device further includes a display device configured to display the captured image on the basis of the generated image data and an assigned memory unit configured to store the generated image data. The data processing module has a marking unit configured to optically mark at least one image position in the displayed image on the display device and to produce on the display device a display of at least one designating element to allow a designation of the at least one image position. The designating element is configured to allow a clear identification of the image position designated.

Abstract: A lens apparatus, which is communicatable with an image capturing apparatus and includes a lens, comprises a communication unit configured to receive information concerning a driving amount of the lens which is used to move the lens to a focus position, and a controller having a first mode and a second mode of controlling the lens, wherein the controller selects one of the first mode and the second mode based on the received information, and wherein the controller decelerates the lens in the first mode slower than in the second mode.

Abstract: The present invention is a control apparatus for controlling an image capturing sensor, the control apparatus comprising: a generation unit configured to selectively determine an exposure time from at least two or more different exposure times for each pixel constituting image data and to generate exposure time data indicative of an exposure time for each pixel; and a gain adjustment processing unit configured to make a gain adjustment to the image data based on the determined exposure time, wherein the generation unit calculates an output value from acquired image data, determines an exposure time for each pixel based on the calculated output value, calculates an error related to the calculated output value, and diffuses the calculated error to pixels adjacent to a processing-target pixel, thereby turning a pixel switching pattern into a blue noise pattern.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array with a plurality of pixels arranged in a semiconductor layer. A color filter array including a plurality of groupings of filters is disposed over the pixel array. Each filter is optically coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of pixels. Each one of the plurality of groupings of filters includes a first, a second, a third, and a fourth filter having a first, a second, the second, and a third color, respectively. A metal layer is disposed over the pixel array and is patterned to include a metal mesh having mesh openings with a size and pitch to block incident light having a fourth color from reaching the corresponding pixel. The metal layer is patterned to include openings without the metal mesh to allow the incident light to reach the other pixels.

Abstract: Surveillance networks are used to observe large areas, like public places, streets, public buildings or private houses, privates premises etc. The surveillance networks often comprise a plurality of surveillance cameras. Such surveillance cameras should be small, robust, trouble-free and have low-maintenance requirements.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a vehicle-mounted camera housing including a cover housing, a camera main body and a circuit board includes providing a set of partial molds which are combined to form an internal cavity. When the combined partial molds are separated, an intermediate member is taken out and machined to obtain the cover housing. A top plate portion of the cover housing includes a pedestal extending downward. The machining includes cutting a distal end of the pedestal such that a flat face of the pedestal faces a predetermined direction with reference to an inclination angle of a windshield of a target vehicle, a relative direction of an optical axis of the camera, relative directions of the pedestal flat face and an upper surface of the top plate portion, and relative directions of the top plate and the windshield surface.

Abstract: An image display apparatus configured to zoom display an image to be displayed on a display area has a position specifying unit that specifies a position of an object contained in a displayed image, a position deciding unit that decides a positional relationship between an outer frame of the display area and the position of the object, and a zoom speed changing unit that changes a zoom speed in the zoom display depending on the decided positional relationship.

Abstract: An imaging system of the present invention comprises a lens unit having a barrel section that contains a photographing optical system, and an operating section provided on the barrel section, and a camera body having an imaging section for converting a subject image formed by the photographing optical system into electrical signals, and a display section for displaying the subject image based on the electrical signals, wherein the lens unit has a transmission section for transmitting information relating to the operation section, and the camera body has a receiving section for receiving information relating to the operating section that has been transmitted from the transmission section, and an association section for displaying the information relating to the operation section that has been received by the receiving section on the display section, and associating information relating to the operating section with functions of the camera body.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprising an image sensor including a plurality of pixels each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion units, and a first holding unit and a second holding unit configured to store signals output from the plurality of pixels and a driving unit configured to perform first write processing for writing first signals supplied from a first number of photoelectric conversion elements of each pixel in the first holding unit and second write processing for writing second signals supplied from a second number of photoelectric conversion units of each pixel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera based method for text input and detection of a keyword or of a text-part within page or a screen comprising the steps of: directing a camera module on the printed page and capturing an image thereof; digital image filtering of the captured image; detection of word blocks contained in the image, each word block containing most likely a recognizable word; performing OCR within each word block; determination of A-blocks among the word blocks according to a keyword probability determination rule, wherein each of the A-blocks contains most likely the keyword; assignment of an attribute to each A-block; indication of the A-blocks in the display by a frame or the like for a further selection of the keyword; further selection of the A-block containing the keyword based on the displayed attribute of the keyword; forwarding the text content as text input to an application.

Abstract: A method for detecting electronic lighting flickering includes: taking a video of an electronic light with a duration of a predetermined period and a scanning frequency; extracting a predetermined number of frames of pictures from the video; determining a flickering frequency of the electronic light; determining at least one fixed reference point at each frame; and reconstructing a brightness waveform of the electronic light from the reference point in all frames of the video.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus comprises a line sensor including a photoelectric conversion element and an integrating capacitor, a storage unit configured to store information concerning a defective pixel, a first comparison unit configured to compare a signal from the defective pixel with a predetermined threshold, a switching unit configured to switch between a first accumulation mode and a second accumulation mode, and a control unit configured to control the switching unit so as to set the line sensor in the first accumulation mode if the first comparison unit determines that a signal from the defective pixel is not more than the predetermined threshold and set the line sensor in the second accumulation mode if the first comparison unit determines that a signal from the defective pixel is larger than the threshold.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus and a method for making a bokeh image are provided. The electronic apparatus includes an image photographing unit configured to photograph an image, a display configured to display a user interface (UI) to set a bokeh option on the image, and a controller configured to, when the image is divided into a plurality of areas on the UI, and a bokeh pattern is determined for each of the plurality of areas, generate a bokeh image by mapping the bokeh pattern determined for each of the plurality of areas to a light source point included in the respective each of the plurality of areas.

Abstract: An image-capturing apparatus is disclosed, including a lens driver module and a sensor module; wherein the lens driver module includes a lens housing chamber and a female engagement base, the lens housing chamber being for housing a lens, and the female engagement base being located inside the lens driver module; the sensor module includes a sensor and a male engagement base; the female engagement base being disposed on the male engagement base; and an optical calibration facility being used to adjust the lens driver module; when an optical axis of the lens driver module is parallel to a sensor optical axis of the sensor module, a glue is applied to fasten the lens driver module and the sensor module so that the female engagement base and the male engagement base do not move with respect to each other.

Abstract: Automatic techniques to tune images based on metadata are described. In one or more implementations, image data and metadata are received that references a geographic location. Responsive to a user input, the image data is processed using one or more tuning parameters that correspond to the geographic location to change one or more visual characteristics of the image data.