Abstract: An optical imaging assembly having cylindrical symmetry, comprising a plurality of lenses having surfaces with curvatures and spacings between the surfaces, such that an optical image formed by the plurality of lenses has a defocus aberration coefficient greater than 0.1 at a focal plane of the assembly.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus (26) is provided for use with an image sensor (24). The apparatus includes a non-linear mapping circuit (42), which is configured to receive a raw stream of input pixel values generated by the image sensor and to perform a non-linear mapping of the input pixel values. to generate a mapped stream of mapped pixel values, and a linear convolution filter (44), which is arranged to filter the mapped stream of mapped pixel values to generate a filtered stream of filtered pixel values. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed digital electronic camera that is designed to operate both on land and underwater to great depths, and method of making same. The present invention is a camera which is hermetically sealed by being totally encapsulated, preferably by being cast in plastic, with no seals, holes, joints, penetrating pins, wires or other objects. Wireless means are used for communicating information, electrical power and control signals. The invention is impervious to atmospheric contamination and absolutely incapable of leaking under water to great depths and pressures. In an alternate embodiment camera optics are not encapsulated but are immersed in water when the encapsulated digital camera is placed in water.

Abstract: A method for imaging includes receiving an input image that includes a matrix of pixels (32) having input pixel values. The input pixel values are processed so as to detect a region of saturation in the input image. A first image filtering operation is applied to the input pixel values of at least the pixels that are outside the region of saturation, so as to generate first filtered pixel values. A second image filtering operation is applied to the input pixel values of at least the pixels that are within the region of saturation, so as to generate second filtered pixel value. An enhanced output image is generated by stitching together the first and second filtered pixel values.

Abstract: An optical imaging assembly having cylindrical symmetry, comprising a plurality of lenses having surfaces with curvatures and spacings between the surfaces, such that an optical image formed by the plurality of lenses has a defocus aberration coefficient greater than 0.1 at a focal plane of the assembly.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed digital electronic camera that is designed to operate both on land and underwater to great depths, and method of making same. The present invention is a camera which is hermetically sealed by being totally encapsulated, preferably by being cast in plastic, with no seals, holes, joints, penetrating pins, wires or other objects. Wireless means are used for communicating information, electrical power and control signals. The invention is impervious to atmospheric contamination and absolutely incapable of leaking under water to great depths and pressures. In an alternate embodiment camera optics are not encapsulated but are immersed in water when the encapsulated digital camera is placed in water.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus includes an image sensor, which is adapted to generate an input image in response to optical radiation that is incident thereon. A processing engine is configured to apply a digital filter to the input image so as to generate a filtered image, the digital filter having a kernel, which has a kernel width that is greater than five pixels. An optical assembly is arranged to focus the optical radiation onto the image sensor with a point spread function (PSF) such that no more than a first threshold percentage of energy emitted from a point object and focused by the optical assembly falls within a first region of the image sensor having a first width that is five times the pitch of the image sensor, while at least a second threshold percentage of the energy emitted from the point object and focused by the optical assembly falls within a second region, which contains the first region and has a second width corresponding to the kernel width.

Abstract: An optical imaging assembly having cylindrical symmetry, comprising a plurality of lenses having surfaces with curvatures and spacings between the surfaces, such that an optical image formed by the plurality of lenses has a defocus aberration coefficient greater than 0.1 at a focal plane of the assembly.

Abstract: An image enhancement circuit (26, 60, 190, 260) includes an input interface (64, 262), which is operative to accept a stream of input pixel values belonging to pixels (32) of an input image. The input image includes a plurality of different input sub-images including respective subsets of the pixels, such that the input pixel values of the pixels in the different input sub-images are interleaved in the stream. A plurality of filter cells (92, 144, 206, 222, 238, 364) are connected in a two-dimensional array configuration and are arranged to separately filter the input pixel values of each of the input sub-images with respective two-dimensional deconvolution kernels so as produce respective output sub-images that include output pixel values. A multiplexer (88, 332) is coupled to multiplex together the output pixel values of the output sub-images so as to produce a filtered output image.

Abstract: An optical imaging assembly having cylindrical symmetry, comprising a plurality of lenses having surfaces with curvatures and spacings between the surfaces, such that an optical image formed by the plurality of lenses has a defocus aberration coefficient greater than 0.1 at a focal plane of the assembly.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus (20, 44) includes an array (22) of optical sensing elements (24), characterized by a pitch, which is adapted to generate a signal in response to optical radiation that is incident on the elements. Objective optics (26, 46), which have an optical axis (134) and are characterized by a cylindrical symmetry about the axis, are arranged to focus the optical radiation from an object onto the array with a point spread function (PSF) having an extent greater than twice the pitch of the array at an optimal focus of the objective optics.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus includes a mosaic image sensor (24), which is configured to generate a stream of input pixel values belonging to a plurality of input sub-images, each sub-image responsive to light of a different, respective color that is incident on the mosaic image sensor. An image restoration circuit (26) is coupled to receive and digitally filter the input pixel values in each of the input sub-images so as to generate a corresponding plurality of enhanced output sub-images. An image signal processor (ISP) (28) is coupled to receive and combine the plurality of the output sub-images in order to generate a color video output image.

Abstract: An optical imaging assembly having cylindrical symmetry, comprising a plurality of lenses having surfaces with curvatures and spacings between the surfaces, such that an optical image formed by the plurality of lenses has a defocus aberration coefficient greater than 0.1 at a focal plane of the assembly.