Abstract: A method for delivering multiple write commands is provided. The method includes: encoding data to be written and corresponding addresses in the multiple write commands to obtain encoded data and an encoded address, wherein the addresses are not sequential; generating a virtual burst write command according to the encoded data and the encoded addresses; and transmitting a virtual burst-mode start indicator and the virtual burst write command through a serial bus.

Abstract: A system of estimating ambient light includes an image sensor that captures an image; a region of interest (ROI) selector that determines at least one ROI on the image; an occupancy detector that determines existence status of an object disposed on the at least one ROI; and an ambient light estimator that estimates illumination of ambient light of the at least one ROI according to luminance of the at least one ROI on the image.

Abstract: An on-chip temperature sensor for generating a digital output signal representing a temperature value includes: a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) buffer for alternately generating a first voltage signal representing a first temperature of the PTAT buffer and a second voltage signal representing a second temperature of the PTAT buffer; an analog to digital (A/D) converter, coupled to the PTAT buffer, for converting the first voltage signal to a first digital voltage signal and for converting the second voltage signal to a second digital voltage signal; and a digital output generating block, for receiving the first digital voltage signal and the second digital voltage signal, and comparing a difference between the first digital voltage signal and the second digital voltage signal with a digital voltage reference signal to generate the digital output signal.

Abstract: A method of controlling a lighting fixture based on motion detection includes: receiving a plurality of captured image frames; obtaining a plurality of resampled image frames by resampling the captured image frames according to regional characteristics of the resampled image frames; dynamically adjusting a sensitivity for motion detection according to the regional characteristics of the resampled image frames; performing motion detection on the resampled image frames according to the sensitivity; and controlling the lighting fixture according to a result of the motion detection.

Abstract: A presence detection system includes a camera that captures an image; an appearance-based detector that detects appearance of an object according to the image, thereby outputting an appearance-detection signal that is asserted when the appearance is detected; a proximity detector that detects motion of the object on a predetermined detection window on the image, thereby outputting a proximity-detection signal that is asserted when the motion is detected; and a fusion unit that receives the appearance-detection signal and the proximity-detection signal, thereby outputting an object-presence signal that is asserted when the appearance-detection signal or the proximity-detection signal is asserted.

Abstract: A method for controlling an image capturing device that is operated according to a startup signal includes: configuring an image sensor array of the image capturing device by a first context to output a high-resolution image with a relatively long exposure time to a post-device; switching the first context to a second context based on the high-resolution image and a wide convergence zone; configuring the image sensor array by the second context to output one or more low-resolution images with relatively short exposure times in order to update an exposure value based on the low-resolution images; and updating the exposure value based on a narrow convergence zone to configure the image sensor array.

Abstract: A motion detection system with flicker compensation includes an image sensor that captures a first image for motion detection and a second image for flicker detection, the second image having a resolution lower than the first image; a controller that controls the image sensor to output either the first image or the second image; a motion detection device that receives first images and performs motion detection on the first images; and a flicker detection device that receives second images and performs flicker detection on the second images to generate a time offset, which is fed to the controller to update a wakeup cycle for coordinating the image sensor.

Abstract: A color filter structure includes a material stack disposed on a substrate, a material stack disposed in the substrate, a first trench penetrating the material stack and exposing a first metal pad, a scribe line trench penetrating the material stack and exposing a scribe line metal pad, a first filling material partially filling the first trench and substantially filling up the scribe line trench, a second filling material partially filling the first trench and the first filling material and the second filling material together substantially fill up the first trench, and a color filter material covering an optical uniform surface which the material stack, the first filling material and the second filling material together form.

Abstract: A multi-mode image sensor applicable to image sensing and additional detection is provided. The multi-mode image sensor includes: a photodiode array, a hybrid type color filter array that is positioned on the photodiode array, and a mode controller. The photodiode array may include a plurality of photodiodes. The hybrid type color filter array may be arranged to perform optical filtering for the photodiode array. The mode controller may activate the photodiode array to output corresponding photo detection results in any of at least two modes. For example, in addition to an image sensing mode, the at least two modes may further include an ambient light sensor (ALS) mode and/or a proximity sensor (PS) mode.

Abstract: A pixel circuit is disclosed. The pixel circuit includes a photodiode (PD), a transmission circuit, a reset circuit, a signal storage circuit and a buffer circuit. The transmission circuit is coupled between the PD and an ordinary floating diffusion (FD) node. The reset circuit is coupled to the ordinary FD node. The signal storage circuit is coupled to the ordinary FD node. The buffer circuit is coupled to the ordinary FD node. The signal storage circuit may store a PD signal on a specific node having a reduced leakage path in comparison with the ordinary FD node during a holding phase of the pixel circuit, wherein the holding phase is a time interval starting from a first time point at which the PD signal is stored on the specific node and ending at a second time point at which the pixel circuit is selected for performing a read-out operation.

Abstract: A pixel circuit includes a front-end circuit, a signal storage circuit, and an output circuit. All of the front-end circuit, the signal storage circuit and the output circuit are coupled to a common floating diffusion (FD) node. The front-end circuit is arranged to generate pixel signals. The signal storage circuit is arranged to store the pixel signals generated by the front-end circuit, wherein when the pixel circuit is selected for performing a read-out operation, the pixel signals stored in the signal storage circuit are pulled up from original voltage levels to other voltage levels higher than the original voltage levels according to a voltage increment applied to a control voltage of the signal storage circuit. When the pixel circuit is selected for performing the read-out operation, the output circuit generates output signals on an output terminal according to voltage levels of the common FD node, respectively.

Abstract: A phase-locked loop (PLL) includes a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) that generates a PLL output signal having an oscillation frequency controlled by a control signal; a phase detector that generates a phase signal representing a difference in phase between the PLL output signal and a reference signal; a loop filter coupled to receive the phase signal; a switch; and a sampling circuit switchably coupled to receive the control signal of the VCO via the switch, and generating a code representing the control signal.

Abstract: A pixel circuit is disclosed. The pixel circuit includes a photodiode (PD), a transmission circuit, a reset circuit, a signal storage circuit and a buffer circuit. The transmission circuit is coupled between the PD and an ordinary floating diffusion (FD) node. The reset circuit is coupled to the ordinary FD node. The signal storage circuit is coupled to the ordinary FD node. The buffer circuit is coupled to the signal storage circuit. The signal storage circuit may store a PD signal on a specific node having a reduced leakage path in comparison with the ordinary FD node during a holding phase of the pixel circuit, wherein the holding phase is a time interval starting from a first time point at which the PD signal is stored on the specific node and ending at a second time point at which the pixel circuit is selected for performing a read-out operation.

Abstract: A pixel circuit is provided. The pixel circuit may comprise a photodiode, a comparator circuit, a capacitor, a first switch circuit, a second switch circuit and a third switch circuit. The photodiode is arranged to accumulate charges in response to incident radiation, to generate a photodiode signal. The comparator circuit is arranged to generate an output signal according to a voltage level of a specific node within the pixel circuit during a read-out phase of the pixel circuit. The capacitor is coupled between a control voltage terminal of the pixel circuit and the specific node, the first switch circuit is coupled between the photodiode and the specific node, the second switch circuit is coupled between the specific node and an output terminal of the pixel circuit, and the third switch circuit is coupled between the output terminal and the comparator circuit.

Abstract: A pixel circuit includes a front-end circuit, a signal storage circuit, and an output circuit. The signal storage circuit is coupled to the front-end circuit, and the output circuit is coupled to the signal storage circuit. The front-end circuit is arranged to generate pixel signals. The signal storage circuit is arranged to store the pixel signals generated by the front-end circuit, wherein when the pixel circuit is selected for performing a read-out operation, the pixel signals stored in the signal storage circuit are pulled up from original voltage levels to other voltage levels higher than the original voltage levels according to a voltage increment applied to a control voltage. When the pixel circuit is selected for performing the read-out operation, the output circuit generates output signals on an output terminal according to the other voltage levels, respectively.

Abstract: A pixel circuit is provided, where the pixel circuit comprises a photodiode, a buffer circuit, a first capacitor, a first switch, a second switch and a third switch. The photodiode is configured to accumulate charges in response to incident radiation, to generate a photodiode signal. The buffer circuit is configured to output at least one read-out signal, wherein an input terminal of the buffer circuit is coupled to a specific node. The first capacitor is coupled between a control voltage terminal of the pixel circuit and the specific node. The first switch is coupled between the photodiode and the specific node. The second switch is coupled between the input terminal of the buffer circuit and an output terminal of the buffer circuit. The third switch is coupled between the output terminal of the buffer circuit and a read-out terminal of the pixel circuit.

Abstract: A camera system is provided and includes a processor, a first camera, a second camera, and a data bus. The processor transmits a first trigger signal to the first camera to enable the first camera outputting first data to the processor through the data bus. The first camera transmits a second trigger signal to the second camera to enable the second camera outputting second data to the processor through the data bus.

Abstract: An automatic exposure (AE) imaging system includes an image sensor that captures an analog image; an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that converts the analog image into a digital image; a single-frame image processor that processes the digital image; an exposure quantizer that generates a discrete number representing a determined exposure time according to an output of the single-frame image processor; a multi-exposure controller, under control of a motion-detect signal, generating a plurality of different exposure times in sequence in each frame period in a motion detection mode, and outputting the determined exposure time in a streaming mode; and a pixel controller coupled to receive an output of the multi-exposure controller, according to which the image sensor is controlled.

Abstract: An anti-eclipse circuit for use in an imager includes a differential amplifier and a feedback circuit. The differential amplifier is coupled to an output line for receiving an output signal associated with the voltage level of a floating diffusion region in a pixel of the imager and configured to detect when a reset signal received from the pixel drops below a predetermined level. The feedback circuit is configured to increase the reset signal when the output signal is lower than the clamp voltage, thereby keeping the reset signal at the constant level.

Abstract: A structured-light (SL) method of dynamically generating a depth map includes moving a lens of an image capture device to a first position associated with first depth of field (DOF); capturing first reflected structured light with the first DOF, thereby resulting in a first image; processing the first image to generate a first depth map; moving the lens to a second position associated with second DOF, the second DOF being nearer the image capture device than the first DOF; capturing second reflected structured light with the second DOF, thereby resulting in a second image; processing the second image to generate a second depth map; and combining the first depth map and the second depth map to result in a combined depth map.