Abstract: A system and method for detecting if a vehicle is being parked in a garage is disclosed. The method includes detecting sensory information at a vehicle and comparing the sensory information with ambient conditions outside of a garage to determine if the vehicle is likely in the garage or outside. The sensory information may also be compared to ambient conditions inside of a garage to determine if the vehicle is likely inside the garage or not. The method also includes sending reminders to vehicle owners who are not using their garage frequently. The method also includes automatically adjusting an insurance policy according the frequency of garage use.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided that includes a first cover defining one surface, a second cover defining an opposite surface, and a camera assembly of which at least a portion is arranged in a space between the first cover and the second cover. The camera assembly includes a metal plate arranged substantially parallel to the first cover, a printed circuit board arranged between the first cover and the metal plate, the printed circuit board having an opening arranged substantially at a center, and at least one through-hole arranged outside the opening, an image sensor arranged in the opening and attached to the metal plate, a lens assembly arranged adjacent to the image sensor, and a side surface that surrounds at least a portion of the image sensor and the lens assembly. At least a portion of the side surface passes through the through-hole to be connected to the metal plate.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided that includes a first cover defining one surface, a second cover defining an opposite surface, and a camera assembly of which at least a portion is arranged in a space between the first cover and the second cover. The camera assembly includes a metal plate arranged substantially parallel to the first cover, a printed circuit board arranged between the first cover and the metal plate, the printed circuit board having an opening arranged substantially at a center, and at least one through-hole arranged outside the opening, an image sensor arranged in the opening and attached to the metal plate, a lens assembly arranged adjacent to the image sensor, and a side surface that surrounds at least a portion of the image sensor and the lens assembly. At least a portion of the side surface passes through the through-hole to be connected to the metal plate.

Abstract: A method for displaying a thermal image in an infrared (IR) thermal camera, includes, for an embodiment, registering an outdoor temperature value, registering an indoor temperature value, calculating an isotherm level by using the registered temperature values and a temperature color alarm level, imaging a surface area to create an image of the temperature distribution in at least a part of the surface area, comparing the surface area temperature in at least one image point of the thermal image to the isotherm level, adjusting the color of the at least one image point in dependence of the relation between the surface area temperature in said at least one image point and the isotherm level and displaying the colored version of the thermal image. The method may allow a user to determine immediately, on-site, if a building is well insulated and may present an easily interpreted and understandable thermal image.

Abstract: A dichroic filter that for use with an electronic imaging device, such as a camera. The dichroic filter is located in the main imaging lens, and may permit all light to pass through a first portion and be measured by a photosensor, while restricting at least some portions of visible light from passing through a second portion thereof. In this manner, only the non-restricted portions of visible light passing through the second portion may be measured by the associated pixels of the photosensor. The filter may be formed from a first aperture permitting a first set of wavelengths to pass therethrough and a second aperture adjacent the first aperture, the second aperture permitting only a subset of the first set of wavelengths to pass therethrough. The second aperture may be a dichroic mirror or it may be an optical filter of some other type.

Abstract: In order to obtain an image with high color fidelity in an environment with a bright source in a field of view, flare must be minimized. An image device that reduces flare may include an absorptive UV cut filter positioned in an integrated optical system and a dichroic IR cut filter disposed on a lens in the optical system. The dichroic IR cut filter receives reflected light from one or more surfaces in the optical system at an angle of incidence larger than an angle of incidence of image light entering the dichroic IR cut filter, so that the reflected light is transmitted out of the system. The absorptive UV cut filter may be used to reduce UV-wavelength light reaching an image sensor of the image device. In this manner, the image device avoids processing undesirable wavelengths of light that is beyond the visible spectrum.

Abstract: A (meth)acrylate ester includes a (meth)acrylate moiety having an ester oxygen, an anthraquinone moiety having a transmittance spectrum producing blue light, and a linking group covalently bound to the ester oxygen and to a ring of the anthraquinone moiety, the linking group including, as a first component: phenyl, naphthyl, a linear alkyl group having from 1 to about 6 carbons, a branched alkyl group having from 3 to about 6 carbons, a cycloalkyl group having from about 3 to about 20 carbons, or a substituted aromatic group.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a light receiving device array having light receiving devices two-dimensionally arranged in both a row direction and a column direction, and a light transmissive filter disposed in front of the light receiving device array, wherein the light transmissive filter includes plural types of band-shaped light transmissive sections having respective, different light transmissive characteristics, and the plural types of band-shaped light transmissive sections are arranged in sequence in a width direction thereof.

Abstract: A color filter array includes a plurality of white filters, a plurality of yellow filters, a plurality of cyan filters and a plurality of green filters. The plurality of white filters transmits incident light. The plurality of yellow filters transmits a green component and a red component of the incident light. The plurality of cyan filters transmits the green component and a blue component of the incident light. The plurality of green filters transmits the green component of the incident light. An image sensor including the color filter array has high sensitivity and high SNR by increasing transmittance of the incident light.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus according to the present invention includes an apparatus body including an image sensor built therein, and a lens unit, the apparatus body is provided with a back focus adjustment mechanism and a sliding member which is slidable in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the image sensor, the sliding member is provided with an infrared blocking filter and a dummy glass plate arranged next to each other, the apparatus is capable of switching modes between a day photographing mode in which the infrared blocking filter is positioned on the optical axis of the image sensor and a night photographing mode in which the dummy glass plate is positioned on the optical axis of the image sensor, and the dummy glass plate has a thickness greater than a thickness with which optical path length extension equivalent to that with the infrared blocking filter is obtained.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a camera module includes an insulating substrate having an imaging device, solder balls, a cylindrical lens holder, a shield, and a mounting board. The solder balls are formed on a rear face of the substrate. The lens holder is fixed on the substrate and includes an upper larger-diameter portion and a lower smaller-diameter portion. The shield includes a cylindrical side portion fitted onto the small-diameter portion and fixed on the rear face of the large-diameter portion and a plate-shaped bottom portion in contact with the rear face of the substrate and having an opening. The mounting board is on an upper surface of which the plate-shaped bottom portion is mounted to come in contact with the upper surface and the insulating substrate or the imaging device is connected with the upper surface by the plurality of solder balls.

Abstract: A dichroic filter that for use with an electronic imaging device, such as a camera. The dichroic filter is located in the main imaging lens, and may permit all light to pass through a first portion and be measured by a photosensor, while restricting at least some portions of visible light from passing through a second portion thereof. In this manner, only the non-restricted portions of visible light passing through the second portion may be measured by the associated pixels of the photosensor. The filter may be formed from a first aperture permitting a first set of wavelengths to pass therethrough and a second aperture adjacent the first aperture, the second aperture permitting only a subset of the first set of wavelengths to pass therethrough. The second aperture may be a dichroic mirror or it may be an optical filter of some other type.

Abstract: Methods and systems for estimating the amount of visible light in a light source using an image sensor, e.g., such as an image sensor of the type commonly found in color video cameras. The methods and systems may be implemented to use information about the normalized differences of three color components contained in a light source in conjunction with a measure of total light energy of the light source in order to estimate the amount of visible light present in light received by the image sensor from a light source.

Abstract: A dichroic filter that for use with an electronic imaging device, such as a camera. The dichroic filter is located in the main imaging lens, and may permit all light to pass through a first portion and be measured by a photosensor, while restricting at least some portions of visible light from passing through a second portion thereof. In this manner, only the non-restricted portions of visible light passing through the second portion may be measured by the associated pixels of the photosensor. The filter may be formed from a first aperture permitting a first set of wavelengths to pass therethrough and a second aperture adjacent the first aperture, the second aperture permitting only a subset of the first set of wavelengths to pass therethrough. The second aperture may be a dichroic mirror or it may be an optical filter of some other type.

Abstract: The camera module comprises: an insulating substrate 13 having an imaging device 18 on a front face thereof and a plurality of solder balls 21 on a rear face thereof; a cylindrical lens holder 14 securely fixed on the substrate 13, composed of an upper large-diameter portion 14-1 and a lower small-diameter portion 14-2 and having a lens 15 therein; a cylindrical shield 12 fitted onto the small-diameter portion 14-2 of the lens holder and composed of a cylindrical side portion 12-2 fixed on the large-diameter portion 14-1 of the lens holder and a plate-shaped bottom portion 12-1 in contact with the rear face of the insulating substrate 13 and having an opening 12-1a for conduction; and a mounting board 11 connected with the insulating substrate 13 by the plurality of solder balls 21 formed on the rear face of the insulating substrate 13.

Abstract: A lens assembly for an imaging device may include a lens member for focusing external radiation towards an image sensor of the imaging device, and a screen member adjacent the lens member. A transparent portion may be positioned between the lens member and the external radiation and may have first and second surfaces. A first mask member may be positioned at the first surface of the transparent portion and may have an inlet therein. A second mask member may be positioned at the second surface of the transparent portion and may have an outlet therein. The outlet may be smaller than the inlet.

Abstract: Various image-capturing systems are disclosed that use polarized filters to reduce or control glare effects on captured images. In one embodiment, the system includes a light source, a first polarized filter adapted to polarize light emanating from the light source; a second polarized filter adapted to perform polarized filtering on received light; and an image-capturing device adapted to receive the filtered light. In another embodiment, the system further includes an actuator to selectively move any of the polarized filter into and out of the light path. In yet another embodiment, a method of forming a resultant image comprises recording a first image with a filter set to a first polarization angle, recording a second image with the filter set to a second polarization angle, and blending the first and second images. The recording of the first and second images may be performed simultaneously or at different times.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera module, which comprises a packaged image sensor, an IR filter, a lens and a holder for holding these components and has a reduced overall size and height. A camera module according to the present invention comprises an image sensor package having a translucent substrate formed thereon; and a holder having a lower end attached to the translucent substrate of the image sensor package. At this time, the holder comprises a horizontal portion formed with a through-hole and a connecting portion extending downwardly from an edge of the horizontal portion, and an end surface of a lower end of the connecting portion is formed with an inner stepped portion so as to be attached to a peripheral portion of a top surface and a lateral surface of the translucent substrate.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus may include an infrared cutoff filter capable of being inserted into and extracted from an incident light path to an image sensing device, and may further include a first detecting unit configured to, when the infrared cutoff filter is off the incident light path to the image sensing device, detect whether the difference between current illuminance of a subject acquired from an image signal of the subject sensed by the image sensing device and a reference value of the illuminance of the subject determined after the infrared cutoff filter was extracted is equal to or greater than a first threshold value, and a filter control unit configured to, when the first detecting unit detects that the difference between the current illuminance and the reference value is equal to or greater than the first threshold value, insert the infrared cutoff filter into the incident light path.

Abstract: An optical lens system of a mobile camera is provided. The lens optical system includes: an optical lens in which one pair of incident surfaces corresponding to the divided view angles are adjacently arranged at the center portion, optical beams incident at the divided view angles being transmitted through respective off-axis lens systems; and one pair of image sensors separately arranged under both lower portions of the optical lens to receive the optical beams transmitted through the off-axis lens systems. As one pair of the image sensors is separately arranged on both lower portions of the optical lens, the images formed in the image sensors can be easily combined. Moreover, during the combination of the image, the disparity of the images can be prevented by the narrowed distance between the incident surfaces.

Abstract: An optical lens system of a mobile camera is provided. The lens optical system includes: an optical lens in which bilaterally symmetrical off-axis lens systems corresponding to the divided view angles are integrally formed and arranged in parallel on the same plane, the optical beams incident at the divided view angles being transmitted through the respective off-axis lens systems; and an image sensor for receiving the optical beams transmitted through the off-axis lens systems, the image sensor being bisected into a green light receiving region and a mixed light receiving region of red and blue colors. Accordingly, the mega resolution can be achieved using the optical lens having the height of VGA grade. Moreover, as the whole length of the optical lens system in the mega optical system is greatly reduced, the camera optical system can have the slim profile.

Abstract: A lens assembly for an imaging device may include a lens member for focusing external radiation towards an image sensor of the imaging device, and a screen member adjacent the lens member. A transparent portion may be positioned between the lens member and the external radiation and may have first and second surfaces. A first mask member may be positioned at the first surface of the transparent portion and may have an inlet therein. A second mask member may be positioned at the second surface of the transparent portion and may have an outlet therein. The outlet may be smaller than the inlet.

Abstract: A nonadjustable focusing type camera module includes a lens assembly having at least one lens, a lens accommodating part mounted on an upper surface of a substrate, and a barrel having an inner space in which the lens assembly is arranged along an optical axis. An upper cap having an incident hole formed in a front center thereof is fixed to the upper side of the barrel to apply pressure to the lens assembly along the optical axis. The camera module further includes an image sensor having an image forming plane on which a light passed through the lens is focused. The sensor is electrically connected to the substrate to transmit the focused image, and a filter is disposed between the lens assembly and the image sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus suitably detects a recording trigger even in a low-brightness or low-light-intensity environment, and acquires, from a recorded image, a high-quality image from which a person or the like can be easily recongized. When a recording trigger is to be detected, this apparatus disables an infrared reduction filter, so a recording trigger can be suitably detected even in an environment in which the brightness or light inensity is low. When an image is to be recorded, this apparatus records a color image by enabling the infrared reduction filter.

Abstract: In an electronic image pickup apparatus of the present invention, a lens barrel having optical elements arranged in the optical axis direction has a CCD for photographing a luminous flux from a subject, a CCD holder formed around the CCD to hold the CCD, and a low-pass filter provided on the front side of the CCD. A low-pass filter holder as a plate-like member to hold and fix the low-pass filter is provided to contact the low-pass filter at one end through a diaphragm on the CCD side surface, and contacts the CCD holder on the side opposite to the CCD at the other end.

Abstract: The imaging apparatus 1 comprises: a semiconductor imaging device 5 which converts incident light to an electrical signal; an optical filter 4 which is opposed to an incident surface of the semiconductor imaging device 5 and transmits light of a certain wavelength; and a three-dimensional substrate 2 fixing the optical filter 4 by means of adhesion using a filler-containing adhesive 6; wherein the diameter of the filler is smaller than or equal to the pixel size of the semiconductor imaging device 5. Degradation of image quality of the imaging apparatus 1 caused by the dropped filler can thus be reduced.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide infrared camera techniques that may improve image quality or infrared camera performance over a range of varying conditions. For example, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a system is disclosed that transforms data provided by an infrared camera based upon environmental conditions at the time the data was obtained. As an example, the image quality provided by the infrared camera may be improved over a range of environmental conditions by the proper transformation of the data based upon the sensor's information.

Abstract: Disclosed are a camera module and a mobile terminal having the same, capable of simplifying the manufacturing process while reducing the fault rate and improving reliability of products. The camera module can include a camera housing having a support protrusion with an aperture formed at a center thereof and a predetermined mounting section provided at an inner portion; a plurality of lenses inserted and mounted in the mounting section of the camera housing so as to receive an optical image of a subject, where the support protrusion is provided at an upper portion of the lenses; an IR cut-off filter disposed below the lenses while sealing the mounting section; an image sensor; and a printed circuit board that digitalizes an image signal output from the image sensor.

Abstract: A camera module package. A housing is provided with a lens barrel having at least one lens contained therein. At least one IR filter is also provided in the housing. A board, which is assembled to the housing, has at least one reinforcement material stacked thereon and at least one passive device mounted thereon. An image sensor is assembled to a lower surface of the board with its image region exposed through a window of the board. The present invention prevents contamination by an adhesive spreading over outer periphery of the board during flip-chip bonding of the board and the sensor, increases the rigidity of the board to prevent damage to the board during the assembly into the housing, and promotes miniaturization of the module.

Abstract: An optical lens system of a mobile camera is provided. The lens optical system includes: an optical lens in which bilaterally symmetrical off-axis lens systems corresponding to the divided view angles are integrally formed and arranged in parallel on the same plane, the optical beams incident at the divided view angles being transmitted through the respective off-axis lens systems; and an image sensor for receiving the optical beams transmitted through the off-axis lens systems, the image sensor being bisected into a green light receiving region and a mixed light receiving region of red and blue colors. Accordingly, the mega resolution can be achieved using the optical lens having the height of VGA grade. Moreover, as the whole length of the optical lens system in the mega optical system is greatly reduced, the camera optical system can have the slim profile.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical filter switching apparatus used in an optical instrument for converting externally input image information into video image information and outputting the video image information. The apparatus comprises: an optical filter holding section holding a first optical filter and a second optical filter; an actuator having a rotary solenoid which rotates between a first position and a second position. A rotational power transmission section transmits the rotational force of the rotary solenoid to the optical filter holding section; and a microprocessor controls the rotary solenoid of the actuator in accordance with at least one external input signal and the power level of the video image information. The rotary solenoid is rotated to at least one of the first and second positions.

Abstract: Light emitted from a taking lens 20 enters a first birefringent plate 1a to be spatially divided along a first direction extending perpendicular to the direction in which the light advances to achieve two separate rays L10 and L20. The vibrational planes of the two light fluxes L10 and L20 emitted from the first birefringent plate 1a are converted to a circularly polarized light by a phase plate 1c. The two light fluxes L10? and L20? emitted from the phase plate 1c are each spatially divided into two by a second birefringent plate 1d along a second direction extending perpendicular to the first direction to achieve four separate rays L11, L12, L21 and L22, to be guided to an imaging plane 15a of an imaging device 15. At least either the first birefringent plate or the second birefringent plate is constituted of lithium niobate, rutilo, Chilean nitrate, or the like.

Abstract: Light emitted from a taking lens 20 enters a first birefringent plate 1a to be spatially divided along a first direction extending perpendicular to the direction in which the light advances to achieve two separate rays L10 and L20. The vibrational planes of the two light fluxes L10 and L20 emitted from the first birefringent plate 1a are converted to a circularly polarized light by a phase plate 1c. The two light fluxes L10′ and L20′ emitted from the phase plate 1c are each spatially divided into two by a second birefringent plate 1d along a second direction extending perpendicular to the first direction to achieve four separate rays L12, L12, L21 and L22, to be guided to an imaging plane 15a of an imaging device 15. At least either the first birefringent plate or the second birefringent plate is constituted of lithium niobate, rutile, Chilean nitrate, or the like.

Abstract: An electronic camera comprises a casing in which a photographing section is accommodated; a rotating member mounted rotably to the casing; a plurality of light amount regulating members for regulating a light amount incident to the photographing section; a cover for covering the photographing section; and a rotating member mounted rotably to the casing; wherein the plurality of light amount regulating members and the cover are attached to the rotating member so that each of the plurality of light amount regulating members and the cover member is located at the front of the photographing section in the photographing direction by rotating the rotating member.

Abstract: A camera includes an exposure part arranged to cause a film loaded on the camera to be exposed to light, an image sensor arranged to convert an object image into an electrical signal, a signal processing circuit arranged to carry out predetermined processes on the signal outputted from the image sensor, the signal processing circuit being arranged to perform the processes for obtaining an object image which is nearly equivalent to an image of a picture to be obtained when a specific film is exposed to light under set exposure conditions, and a display device arranged to display the object image by using the signal processed by the signal processing circuit.

Abstract: In a camera wherein a lens cap is detachably attached there are provided first and second photometric sensors on a lens barrel and the camera main frame, respectively. It is detected in accordance with the photometric values by the first and second photometric sensors whether the lens cap is mounted. According to the camera, it is possible to detect with great accuracy whether the lens cap is mounted, with a standard type lens cap.

Abstract: In a lens control apparatus, the performance does not deteriorate even if a filter is inserted and removed. Correction amounts of a focusing lens position which are necessary to eliminate an out-of-focus that is caused when, for example, a filter is inserted are actually measured at several zooming positions such as zm0, zm1, zm2, and zm3 and the results are stored into a predetermined memory such as an ROM or the like in a CPU 36 with respect to a position control of a lens. A correction amount when the filter is inserted at an arbitrary zooming position is calculated by a polygonal line approximation based on correction amounts at the several zooming positions. By adding this correction amount to the focusing lens position which is calculated in accordance with separately stored zoom tracking curve data when the filter is removed, a correct in-focus state can be obtained even when the filter is inserted.

Abstract: A photometric device is provided with a light receiving section including a diffusing member which has a spherical diffusing surface to diffuse incident light to provide a predetermined oblique incidence angle characteristics, and a plurality of light receiving units which each receive light diffused by the diffusing member, each of the light receiving units including a light receiving surface that is a symmetrical form with respect to an optical axis of the light receiving section. The oblique incidence angle characteristics in the latitudinal direction can be made regardless of or independently of an oblique incidence angle characteristics in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a focus detection optical system of a single lens reflex camera wherein a quick return mirror directs a part of luminous flux incident through a photographic lens system towards an optical sensor unit to detect the focusing state of the photographic lens system. The quick return mirror comprises a main mirror part which transmits said part of luminous flux while reflects the other part of luminous flux, and a sub-mirror part attached to the main mirror part so as to direct the part of luminous flux having transmitted the main mirror part toward the optical sensor unit. The main mirror part is provided with an infra-red cut coat which is formed on at least partial area of the light output side surface of the main mirror part which faces the sub-mirror part.

Abstract: An exposure calculation device for use in a camera is, provided with a light metering device for effecting light metering in each of plural areas divided in the object field and generating a light metering signal, containing information relating to the color of the object in each area. A first judgment device judges, whether the object in each area is colored or uncolored based on the light metering signal, and determines colored areas in which the object is colored and uncolored areas in which the object is uncolored. A second judgment device judges whether a predetermined uncolored area contains a white or black object, based on the light metering signals from the colored areas and those from the uncolored areas. An exposure value determining device determines the exposure value according to the light metering signals, based on the results of judgment by the first and second judgment devices.

Abstract: A photographic camera (1) includes a back part (8) attachment that houses a charge-coupled surface sensor (9) and an associated filter system (11 and 13-17). The filter system includes a plurality of filters (13-16) positioned on a carrier (11). A motor (20) rotates the carrier (11) about rotational axis (12) such that individual filters (13-16) or cover disk (17) are positioned in front of the charge-coupled surface sensor (9). When the back part (8) attachment is mounted on the camera, the charge-coupled surface sensor (9) and one of the filters (13-16) lie in the beam bath from lens (3). Preferably, the lens (3) is interchangeable. Preferably, the individual filters (13-16) of the filter system are selected to break down incident light into primary colors (e.g., red, green, blue, and yellow). The cover disk (17) protects the charge-coupled surface sensor (9) when the back part (8) attachment is removed from the camera body (1).