Abstract: A novel display system includes a host and a display. In a particular embodiment the host includes a data scaler and a dual frame buffer. Frames of image data are down-scaled before being transferred to the display, and is up-scaled while being loaded into the frame buffer or the display. The down-scaled frames of image data include less data than the frames of image data. In another embodiment, the process of loading the image data into the display begins before an entire frame of data is loaded into the frame buffer. Increasingly sized portions of the image data, each corresponding to a different color field, are asserted on the display and displayed one at a time. The portions of the frame that were not previously displayed are displayed along with the initial portions of a subsequent frame.

Abstract: An edge detection method includes reading at least a portion of wide-band pixel signals generated by wide-band pixels of an image sensor. The image sensor also includes narrow-band pixels that generate narrow-band pixel signals that remain unread. The method also includes sending the wide-band pixel signals to an image signal processor, forming a partially-filled reference image based on data from the wide-band pixel signals; and applying an edge-forming technique to the partially-filled reference image to produce an edge map. An edge detection system includes a two-dimensional array of pixels having wide-band pixels and narrow-band pixels, an image signal processor for producing an edge map from a partially-filled reference image, and a readout circuit for generating the partially-filled reference image for the image signal processor. The partially-filled reference is based only on at least part of the wide-band pixels.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a signal-separating CFA includes forming a multi-height CFA on a substrate. The multi-height CFA includes a plurality of tall spectral filters and a plurality of short spectral filters. Each of the tall spectral filters is taller than each of the short spectral filters. The method also includes disposing a spectral-blocking layer on the multi-height CFA, and planarizing the spectral-blocking layer to expose a top surface of each of the plurality of tall spectral filters.

Abstract: Embodiments of an image sensor pixel that includes a photosensitive element, a floating diffusion region, and a transfer device. The photosensitive element is disposed in a substrate layer for accumulating an image charge in response to light. The floating diffusion region is dispose in the substrate layer to receive the image charge from the photosensitive element. The transfer device is disposed between the photosensitive element and the floating diffusion region to selectively transfer the image charge from the photosensitive element to the floating diffusion region. The transfer device includes a buried channel device including a buried channel gate disposed over a buried channel dopant region. The transfer device also includes a surface channel device including a surface channel gate disposed over a surface channel region. The surface channel device is in series with the buried channel device. The surface channel gate has the opposite polarity of the buried channel gate.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of photodiodes arranged in an array and disposed in a semiconductor material with pinning wells disposed between individual photodiodes in the plurality of photodiodes. The image sensor also includes a microlens layer. The microlens layer is disposed proximate to the semiconductor material and is optically aligned with the plurality of photodiodes. A spacer layer disposed between the semiconductor material and the microlens layer. The spacer layer has a concave cross-sectional profile across the array, and the microlens layer is conformal with the concave cross-sectional profile of the spacer layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of a color filter array include a plurality of tiled minimal repeating units, each minimal repeating unit comprising an M×N set of individual filters, and each individual filter in the set having a photoresponse selected from among four different photoresponses. Each minimal repeating unit includes a checkerboard pattern of filters of the first photoresponse, and filters of the second, third, and fourth photoresponses distributed among the checkerboard pattern such that the filters of the second, third, and fourth photoresponses are sequentially symmetric about one or both of a pair of orthogonal axes of the minimal repeating unit.

Abstract: A photon detector includes a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) disposed proximate to a front side of a semiconductor layer. The SPAD includes a multiplication junction that is reversed biased above a breakdown voltage such that light directed into the SPAD through a backside of the semiconductor layer triggers an avalanche multiplication process. A guard ring is disposed in a guard ring region that surrounds the SPAD to isolate the SPAD in the semiconductor layer. A guard ring region reflecting structure is disposed in the guard ring region proximate to the guard ring and proximate to the front side of the semiconductor layer such that light directed into the guard ring region through the backside of the semiconductor layer that bypasses the SPAD is redirected by the guard ring region reflecting structure back into the semiconductor layer and into the SPAD.

Abstract: A fractal-edge thin film includes a material layer having a perimeter with a fractal dimension exceeding one, the material layer having greater peel resistance as compared to a thin-film material layer with fractal dimension equaling one. A method of manufacturing a fractal-edge thin film includes determining an area shape to be covered by the fractal-edge thin film. The method also includes generating a thin-film perimeter based upon the area shape, the thin-film perimeter having a fractal dimension exceeding one. The method also includes determining a photomask perimeter such that a photomask with the photomask perimeter, when used in a photolithography process, yields a fractal-edge thin film with the thin-film perimeter. The method may also include photolithographically etching a thin-film, the thin film having a photoresist layer disposed thereon, the photoresist layer having been exposed through the photomask, wherein the etching results in the fractal-edge thin film.

Abstract: A curved image sensor system includes (a) an image sensor substrate having a concave light-receiving surface, a pixel array located along the concave light-receiving surface, and a planar external surface facing away from the concave light-receiving surface, (b) a light-transmitting substrate bonded to the image sensor substrate by a bonding layer, and (c) a hermetically sealed cavity, bounded at least by the concave light-receiving surface, the light-transmitting substrate, and the bonding layer.

Abstract: A method of detecting light-emitting diode (LED) light starts with a control circuitry generating a shutter signal that is transmitted to a pixel array to control image acquisition by the pixel array and to establish a set exposure time. The readout circuitry may then read out the image data from the pixel array that includes reading out the image data from a plurality of successive and overlapped frames having the set exposure time. The set exposure time may be the same for each of the frames. The successive and overlapped frames may be interlaced frames. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a panoramic image include capturing image data from a plurality of cameras and storing the image data within a memory buffer of the respective camera; transmitting image data from an upstream camera to a downstream camera; and combining, within the downstream camera, the image data from the upstream camera with the image data of the downstream camera as combined image data. Each of the plurality of cameras may include an imaging array for capturing image data of a scene; a receiver for receiving image data from an upstream camera of the plurality of cameras; a memory buffer for: combining the image data received from the upstream camera with image data captured by the imaging array to form combined image data, and storing the combined image data; and a transmitter for transmitting the stored combined image data to a downstream camera of the plurality of camera.

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: Embodiments of an apparatus and process are described. The process includes capturing a first image frame using an image sensor, the image sensor including a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns and a color filter array optically coupled to the pixel array. A region of interest within the first image frame is determined, and the exposure time of the image sensor is adjusted to eliminate a substantial fraction of the visible light captured by the image sensor. A rolling shutter procedure is used with the pixel array to capture at least one subsequent frame using the adjusted exposure time, and a source of invisible radiation is activated while the rolling shutter enters the region of interest and deactivated when the rolling shutter exits the region of interest. Finally, an image of the region of interest is output. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments are described of a color filter array including a plurality of tiled minimal repeating units. Each minimal repeating unit includes an invisible-wavelength filter layer including a plurality of filters and a visible-wavelength filter layer positioned on the invisible-wavelength filter layer and having a plurality of filters such that each filter from the visible-wavelength layer is optically coupled to a corresponding filter in the invisible-wavelength layer.

Abstract: A method of capturing an image includes reducing a resolution of the image to be captured by an image sensor of an electronic device to a low power reduced resolution if a checked battery level of the electronic device is less than a battery threshold level. A live preview of the image to be captured by the image sensor on a display of the electronic device is disabled if the battery level of the electronic device is less than a battery threshold level. The image is captured at the low power reduced resolution of the image sensor if the battery level of the electronic device is less than the battery threshold level. A low power feedback notification is provided from the electronic device without displaying the captured image after the image is captured if the battery level of the electronic device is less than the battery threshold level.

Abstract: An image sensor pixel includes a first photodiode, a second photodiode, a first microlens, a second microlens, and a filter. The first and second photodiode are disposed adjacent to each other in a semiconductor material. The first photodiode has a first full well capacity that is substantially equal to a second full well capacity of the second photodiode. The first microlens is disposed over the first photodiode and the second microlens is disposed over the second photodiode. The second microlens is substantially identical to the first microlens. The filter is disposed between the second microlens and the second photodiode to reduce an intensity of the image light incident upon the second photodiode. The filter does not substantially affect the image light directed toward the first photodiode.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array disposed in a first semiconductor die. The pixel array is partitioned into a plurality of pixel sub-arrays. Each one of the plurality of pixel sub-arrays is arranged into a plurality of pixel groups. Each one of the plurality of pixel groups is arranged into a p×q array of pixel cells. A plurality of readout circuits is disposed in a second semiconductor die. An interconnect layer is stacked between the first semiconductor die and the second semiconductor die. The interconnect layer includes a plurality of conductors. Each one of the plurality of pixel sub-arrays is coupled to a corresponding one of the plurality of readout circuits through a corresponding one of the plurality of conductors.

Abstract: Embodiments of a color filter array include a plurality of tiled minimal repeating units, each minimal repeating unit comprising an M×N set of individual filters, and each individual filter in the set having a photoresponse selected from among four different photoresponses. Each minimal repeating unit includes a checkerboard pattern of filters of the first photoresponse, and filters of the second, third, and fourth photoresponses distributed among the checkerboard pattern such that the filters of the second, third, and fourth photoresponses are sequentially symmetric about one or both of a pair of orthogonal axes of the minimal repeating unit.

Abstract: An image sensor pixel includes a photodiode disposed in a semiconductor material, and doped regions surrounding the photodiode, at least in part. The doped regions include a doped portion of the semiconductor material. Deep trench isolation structures are disposed in the doped regions, and surround the photodiode at least in part. The deep trench isolation structures include a SiGe layer disposed on side walls of the deep trench isolation structures, a high-k dielectric disposed on the SiGe layer, and a filler material.

Abstract: An eyewear display system includes a camera coupled to capture an image of an object in a surrounding environment. A projector is coupled to receive the captured image to output a projected image. A polarizing beam splitter optically coupled to receive the projected image and an actual view of the surrounding environment. The polarizing beam splitter is optically coupled to output a combined view of the projected image combined with the actual view of the surrounding environment. The combined image is to be directed to an eye of a user. An intensity controller is optically coupled between the surrounding environment and the polarizing beam splitter to controlling an intensity of the actual view of the surrounding environment received by the polarizing beam splitter.