Abstract: A novel endoscope includes a camera module, an electrical cable, and an electrical connector. The camera module includes an analog image signal output terminal. The cable includes an analog image signal line having a first end connected to the analog image signal output terminal of the camera module. The electrical connector includes a set of electrical contacts configured to engage a complimentary set of electrical contacts of a host system. The set of electrical contacts includes at least an analog image signal contact connected to a second end of the analog image signal line of the cable.

Abstract: A method for capturing a high-dynamic-range image includes: (i) storing a plurality of pixel values representing a first image captured by an image sensor that includes a pixel array, each pixel value having been generated by a respective pixel of a pixel subarray of the pixel array, each pixel being set to one of N1 first exposure values, N1?1; (ii) determining an exposure-count N2 based on the plurality of pixel values; (iii) setting each pixel to one of a second plurality of exposure values, N2 in number, such that, for each of the second plurality of exposure values, at least one pixel is set to that exposure value, one of the second plurality of exposure values differing from each of the N1 first exposure values by more than a threshold value; and after setting (iv), capturing a second image with the image sensor.

Abstract: A test voltage sample and hold circuitry is disclosed in a readout circuitry of an image sensor. This circuitry samples a voltage at demand value based on a ramp voltage shared by the ADC comparators of the readout circuitry. The value of the sampled voltage is controlled by a control circuitry which is able to predict and calculate at what time a ramp generator may carry the demand voltage value. The sampled voltage is held by a hold capacitor during readout of one row and is accessed during the next row by the control circuitry as test data to drive a device under test (DUT) which may be any portion of the image sensor to be tested. Measured data out of the DUT is compared with expected data. Based on the result of the comparison, a signal indicates the pass or fail of the self-test concludes a self-test of the DUT.

Abstract: An image sensor has an array of pixel blocks, and each pixel block having associated shutter transistors with each coupled to transfer an image signal comprising a charge dependent on light exposure of a selected pixel onto an image storage capacitor of a plurality of image storage capacitors associated with the pixel block, the image storage capacitors of the pixel block configured to be read through a differential amplifier into an analog to digital converter. The differential amplifier of each pixel block receives a second input from a single reset-sampling capacitor associated with the pixel block. The single reset-sampling capacitor is loaded when the pixels of the pixel block are reset.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array with rows and columns of pixels. Each row of the pixel array has a first end that is opposite a second end of each row of the pixel array. Control circuitry is coupled to the first end of each row of the pixel array to provide control signals to each row of the pixel array from the first end of each row of the pixel array. Far end driver circuitry coupled to the second end of each row of the pixel array to selectively further drive from the second end of each row of the pixel array the control signals provided by the control circuitry from the first end of each row of the pixel array. The control circuitry is further coupled to provide far end control signals to the far end driver circuitry.

Abstract: A chart for calibrating a system of multiple cameras, the chart comprising: a background; an array of dots contrasting the background, wherein the array of dots are arranged in rows and columns, wherein the array of dots comprise a first dot array, and a second dot array, wherein the first dot array fully occupies a first region of evenly spaced dots with a first dot density, the second dot array fully occupies a second region of evenly spaced dots with a second dot density, and wherein the second region is enclosed within the first region; a group of first markers in the first region, a group of second markers in the second region, and a third marker at the center of the chart, wherein each second marker is closer to the third marker than each first marker.

Abstract: An optical element comprising a transparent substrate and an anti-reflective coating, wherein the anti-reflective coating further comprises at least a transparent, high refractive index layer and a transparent, low refractive index layer, wherein the high refractive index layer is in contact with the low refractive index layer; and wherein the high refractive index layer is situated at an interface between the anti-reflective coating and air. Further, the low refractive index layer may be silicon oxide; the high refractive index layer may be tantalum oxide or silicon nitride.

Abstract: An example liquid crystal display device includes a circuit substrate, an array of conductive mirrors formed on the substrate, a light absorbing material disposed between the conductive mirrors, a transparent plate disposed over the array of conductive mirrors, and liquid crystal material disposed between the conductive mirrors and the transparent plate. The light absorbing material can also be disposed around the peripheral region of the array of the conductive mirrors. In an example display, the light absorbing material is black and/or has a light absorbing efficiency of at least fifty percent.

Abstract: An image sensor module comprises an image sensor having a light sensing area, a cover glass for covering the light sensing area, a dam between the image sensor and the cover glass, which surrounds the light sensing area, and has an outer wall and an inner wall, where a cross-section of the inner wall parallel to the surface of the light sensing area of the image sensor forms a sawtooth pattern and/or, where a cross-section of the inner wall orthogonal to the surface of the light sensing area of the image sensor forms an inclined surface.

Abstract: A bimodal zoom lens includes three coaxially aligned lenses including a first lens, a third lens, and a second lens therebetween. The first lens is a negative lens, each of the second lens and the third lens is a positive lens. The three coaxially aligned lenses form (i) a first configuration when the second lens and the first lens are separated by an axial distance L11 and (ii) a second configuration when the second lens and the first lens are separated by an axial distance L12, which exceeds axial distance L11. The second configuration has a second effective focal length that exceeds a first effective focal length of the first configuration.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array, and a first, second, and an intermediate memory-element. The memory-elements store, respectively, a first, second, and an intermediate exposure value. The pixel array includes pixel-subarrays each including a rescue pixel and a first, second, and third plurality of contiguous pixels. Each of the first plurality of pixels is connected to the first memory-element and spans diagonally-opposite corners of the pixel-subarray. Each of the second plurality of pixels is connected to the second memory-element and located on a first side of the first plurality of pixels. Each of the third plurality of pixels is connected to the second memory-element and located on a second side of the first plurality of pixels. The rescue-pixel is connected to the intermediate memory-element and is (i) located on one of the first side and the second side and/or (ii) adjacent to one of the first plurality of pixels.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing light-shielded cameras includes forming a plurality of camera dies by dicing a camera wafer stack including (a) an image sensor wafer having a plurality of image sensors, (b) a cover glass bonded to the image sensor wafer, and (c) a lens wafer bonded to the cover glass and having a plurality of lenses, to form a plurality of camera dies. The method further includes, prior to the step of dicing, (i) from a first side of the image sensor wafer facing away from the cover glass and at least partly covered by an opaque layer, pre-cutting a sensor-cover wafer stack that includes the image sensor wafer and the cover glass, and (ii) depositing an opaque material in the pre-cuts. The method also includes, after the step of dicing, applying an opaque coating to second-side surfaces, of the camera dies, formed by the step of dicing.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an image-sensor chip-scale package includes bonding, with temporary adhesive, a glass wafer to a device wafer including an array of image sensors. The method also includes forming an isolated-die wafer by removing, from the device wafer, each of a plurality of inter-sensor regions each located between a respective pair of image sensors of the array of image sensors. The isolated-die wafer includes a plurality of image-sensor dies each including a respective image sensor, of the array of image sensors, bonded to the glass wafer. The method also includes encapsulating the isolated-die wafer to form an encapsulated-die wafer; removing, from each of the plurality of image-sensor dies, a respective region of the glass wafer covering the respective image sensor; and singulating the encapsulated-die wafer.

Abstract: An image sensor package includes a transparent material, and a substrate adhered to the transparent material. An image sensor is disposed on or within the substrate so that the image sensor is disposed between the substrate and the transparent material to receive light from an optical side of the image sensor package through the transparent material. A solder mask dam is disposed between the substrate and the transparent material to form a gap between the image sensor and the transparent material, and the solder mask dam is structured to indicate an orientation of the image sensor, when the image sensor is viewed from the optical side.

Abstract: A pixel circuit includes a photodiode disposed in a semiconductor material layer to accumulate image charge in response to light incident upon the photodiode. A charge collection gate is coupled to the photodiode. The charge collection gate is disposed over the photodiode to generate an inversion layer in the semiconductor material layer under the charge collection gate to collect the image charge from the photodiode. A first transfer gate is disposed proximate to the charge collection gate, wherein the first transfer gate is coupled to transfer the image charge from in the inversion layer in response to a first transfer signal.

Abstract: An optical system comprises an imaging lens for imaging an object to an image and a sensing pixel array for detecting lights from the object toward the image. The sensing pixel array comprises a first sensing pixel and a second sensing pixel, each sensing pixel comprising a microlens covering a one-dimensional series of photodiodes having n photodiodes. A photodiode at an end of the one-dimensional series of photodiodes of the first sensing pixel detects a first light from the object toward the image, and a photodiode at an opposite end of the one-dimensional series of photodiodes of the second sensing pixel detects a second light from the object toward the image, where the first light and the second light pass opposite parts of the imaging lens.

Abstract: A time-of-flight (TOF) sensor includes a light source structured to emit light and a plurality of avalanche photodiodes. The TOF sensor also includes a plurality of pulse generators, where individual pulse generators are coupled to individual avalanche photodiodes in the plurality of avalanche photodiodes. Control circuitry is coupled to the light source, the plurality of avalanche photodiodes, and the plurality of pulse generators, to perform operations. Operations may include emitting the light from the light source, and receiving the light reflected from an object with the plurality of avalanche photodiodes. In response to receiving the light with the plurality of avalanche photodiodes, a plurality of pulses may be output from the individual pulse generators corresponding to the individual photodiodes that received the light. And, in response to outputting the plurality of pulses, a timing signal may be output when the plurality of pulses overlap temporally.

Abstract: A time-of-flight pixel array comprises multiple pixel cells. The pixel cell comprises a light collection region, a light shielded region, and a deep trench isolation (DTI) structure that encircles the light collection region to prevent light from entering the light shielded region. Photogate in the light collection region is disposed above a photodiode to accumulate the photo-generated electrical charges. A doped region disposed near the photogate collects the attracted charges. The doped region extends to the light shielded region and transfers the collected charges to a floating diffusion through a shutter transistor also in the light shielded region. DTI or similar structures are deployed to the entire pixel array to prevent light from exchanging between different light collection regions and light from entering the light shielded regions of all pixel cells. Interference between the shielded regions of different pixel cells is also minimized.

Abstract: A system for capturing a high dynamic range (HDR) image comprises an image sensor comprising a split pixel including a first pixel having higher effective gain and a second pixel having lower effective gain. The second pixels exposed with a capture window capture at least a pulse emitted by a light emitting diode (LED) controlled by a pulse width modulation. A first HDR image is produced by a combination including an image produced by the second pixels, and images produced by multiple exposures of the first pixels. A weight map of LED flicker correction is generated from the difference of the image produced by second pixels and the images produced by the first pixels, and the flicker areas in the first HDR image are corrected with the weight map and the image from the second pixels.

Abstract: A collimator for under-display fingerprint sensing includes (a) a substrate having opposite facing first and second sides, (b) an array of microlenses disposed on the first surface for focusing light from a fingerprint surface onto a focal plane that is between the array of microlenses and the second side of the substrate such that the light, as projected by the array of microlenses, is diverging when exiting the second side of the substrate, and (c) an array of apertures between the array of microlenses and the substrate, wherein each of the apertures is aligned to and cooperates with a respective one of the microlenses to form a field-of-view-limited lens having a field of view corresponding to a respective local portion of the fingerprint surface.