Abstract: A camera module system for a vehicle, an image pickup device, and a method. The camera module system including a lens holder, a case, a first engaging part, and a second engaging part. The lens holder is configured to mount a lens, the lens holder having a first surface that is perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens. The case is configured to mount the lens holder, the case having a second surface that faces the first surface. The first engaging part is on the first surface, the first engaging part including a plurality of first projections. The second engaging part is on the second surface, the second engaging part including a plurality of second projections. The first engaging part is engaged with the second engaging part when the plurality of first projections is engaged with the plurality of second projections.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems, and computer-readable media for assigning a real-time clock domain timestamp to sensor frames from a sensor component that operates in a non-real-time time-domain. In some implementations, a real-time component receives capture instances that each indicate capturing of a corresponding sensor data frame by the sensor component. In response to a capture output instance, the real-time component or an additional real-time component assigns a real-time timestamp to the capture output instance, where the real-time timestamp is based on the real-time clock domain. Separately, a non-real-time component receives the corresponding sensor data frames captured by the sensor component, along with corresponding metadata. For each sensor data frame, it is determined whether there is a real-time timestamp that corresponds to the data frame and, if so, the real-time timestamp is assigned to the sensor data frame.

Abstract: A smartphone may be freely moved in three dimensions as it captures a stream of images of an object. Multiple image frames may be captured in different orientations and distances from the object and combined into a composite image representing an image of the object. The image frames may be formed into the composite image based on representing features of each image frame as a set of points in a three dimensional point cloud. Inconsistencies between the image frames may be adjusted when projecting respective points in the point cloud into the composite image. Quality of the image frames may be improved by processing the image frames to correct errors. Distracting features, such as the finger of a user holding the object being scanned, can be replaced with background content. As the scan progresses, a direction for capturing subsequent image frames is provided to a user as a real-time feedback.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for correcting lens distortion. In some feasible implementation manners of the present invention, image data acquired from a lens is corrected in a horizontal direction; the image data corrected in the horizontal direction is written into a dynamic memory; image data in the dynamic memory is corrected in a vertical direction; and lens distortion correction is performed in two steps: in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction, so that lens distortion correction is implemented at a low cost. The present invention further discloses a corresponding apparatus for correcting lens distortion.

Abstract: Camera methods and apparatus are described where the camera device includes multiple optical chains. In various embodiments two or more of the optical chains include light redirection devices such as mirrors or prisms. Sensors corresponding to multiple different optical chains, but not necessarily all optical chains, are parallel to each other. In some embodiments sensors corresponding to different optical chains are located in the same plane at the front or rear of the camera. However other sensor mounting positions are also possible.

Abstract: An image sensor is disclosed. The image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, a switch circuit coupled to the pixels and configured to substantially simultaneously output signals output only from pixels having similar characteristics among the pixels in response to a control signal; and a comparison circuit configured to convert the signals output from the switch circuit into digital signals. The pixels having similar characteristics are located across among the plurality of pixels.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for stitching images, or re-stitching previously stitched images. Specifically, the disclosed systems in one implementation save stitching information and/or original overlap source data during an original stitching process. During subsequent retrieval, rendering, and/or display of the stitched images, the originally stitched image can be flexibly augmented, and/or re-stitched to improve the original stitch quality. Practical applications of the disclosed solutions enable, among other things, a user to create and stitch a wide field of view (FOV) panorama from multiple source images on a device with limited processing capability (such as a mobile phone or other capture device). Moreover, post-processing stitching allows for the user to convert from one image projection to another without fidelity loss (or with an acceptable level of loss).

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image processing unit configured to process an image, a display unit configured to provide a live-view display in which images processed by the image processing unit are sequentially displayed, and a control unit configured to make, when determining that the image pickup apparatus is panning, the image processing unit produce a synthesized image by synthesizing a plurality of images arranged in a time series, and the display unit display the synthesized image produced by the image processing unit as a frame image in the live-view display. At least one processor or circuit is configured to perform a function of at least one of the units.

Abstract: A method for operating an imaging apparatus includes transmitting and shooting. The imaging apparatus can perform normal shooting or infrared shooting based on adjustment information received from a client device via a network. Information, transmitted to the client, indicates whether adjustment information for performing switching from the normal shooting to the infrared shooting and adjustment information for performing switching from the infrared shooting to the normal shooting can be individually set. A subject's image is shot by performing switching between the normal shooting and the infrared shooting based on the adjustment information received from the client device.

Abstract: Disclosed are image data acquisition methods and systems that utilizes selective temporal co-adding of detector integration samples to construct improved high-resolution output imagery for arrays with selectable line rates. Configurable TDI arrays are used to construct output imagery of various resolutions dependent upon array commanding, the acquisition geometry, and temporal sampling. The image acquisition techniques may be applied to any optical sensor system and to optical systems with multiple sensors at various relative rotations which enable simultaneous image acquisitions of two or more sensors. Acquired image data may be up-sampled onto a multitude of image grids of various resolution.

Abstract: An imaging device is disclosed, the device comprising a pixelated array of semiconductor detector elements, in which each detecting element is electrically connected to an integrated circuit, the integrated circuit comprising a passive signal path and an active signal path. The active path provides consecutive frame imaging and the active path detects the location of transient events. The device further comprising a readout decoder block, the readout decoder block controlling operation of the passive paths. Additionally the device comprises of an address arbitration control block, the address arbitration control block controlling operation of the active paths, wherein the address arbitration control block readout of the active paths is independent of readout of the passive paths.

Abstract: An imaging device according to an exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of pixels, a differential amplifier circuit that includes a plurality of transistors forming a differential pair, and a current source configured to supply a bias current to the plurality of transistors, and is configured to receive a signal from the plurality of pixels, a capacitor element including a first terminal and a second terminal, a first switch through which the first terminal is connected to an electric path between the current source and the plurality of transistors, and a second switch through which the first terminal is connected to a voltage supply node supplied with a voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus for use with an electronic device having a microphone and a camera. The apparatus comprises a structure configured to detachably couple to the device, and a shutter supported by the structure and comprising a lens shutter configured to obscure a lens of the camera when in an engaged position. A generator is supported by the structure and configured to generate a force that acts on the microphone and renders the microphone unresponsive to voice sounds.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging an object has an image sensor that comprises a plurality of pixels. The plurality of pixels is matrix-arrayed along vertical and horizontal directions. The apparatus also has an image sensor driver that drives the image sensor, and the image sensor driver is capable of reading image-pixel signals of neighboring pixels among the plurality of pixels while mixing the image-pixel signals. The apparatus also has a pixel addition setting processor that sets the number of pixel addition with respect to at least one of at least one row and at least one column. The pixel addition setting processor sets different numbers of pixel addition to different pixel areas. The image sensor driver reads the image-pixel signals in response to the set number of pixel addition.

Abstract: A method comprising: selecting one of a plurality of read start positions for an image sensor; during a first auto-focus frame, moving a focused region of an optical system relative to an image sensor in accordance with an auto-focus control signal and then after moving the focused region of the optical system relative to the image sensor and during the first auto-focus frame, starting reading of the image sensor from the read start position. An apparatus that can perform the method.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus uses an image pickup device. A manual focus adjusting unit is configured to control a focus lens in response to a user's input operation. An edge detecting unit is configured to detect edge components from an image signal obtained by the image pickup device and to output detection levels of the detected edge components. A color signal replacement unit is configured to replace a signal of a pixel corresponding to the detection level with a predetermined color signal when the detection level satisfies a predetermined condition. A display unit is configured to display an image based on an output image signal from the color signal replacement unit.

Abstract: An image generation apparatus and method includes a first imaging circuit that acquires first image data, a second imaging circuit that acquires second image data, a control circuit that searches a region corresponding to the first image data from the second image data, a designating circuit that limits a region in the second image data corresponding to the first image data by a touch operation designating a limited region in the second image data corresponding to the first image data, and a communication circuit that is provided in the second imaging circuit, transmits, upon receipt of an information acquiring operation, information obtained by analyzing the limited region or the corresponding region in the second image data to a server, and receives information relating to the first image data from the server.

Abstract: A charge pump provides an output voltage with reduced voltage ripple. The charge pump includes a first capacitor, a second capacitor, and a control circuit. The control circuit charges the first capacitor to one of a first voltage and a second voltage and the second capacitor to the other one of the first and second voltages using differential clock signals and an input voltage during each clock phase and outputs the higher one of the first and second voltages as an output voltage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a focal-length setting of a lens mounted to a camera. In a method for determining a focal-length of a lens mounted to a camera, a distorted image of a scene is captured. A distortion-correction function is applied on the distorted image or on a portion of the distorted image. A most representative distortion-correction function is identified and a current focal-length setting for the lens is identified by correlating the identification to a data compilation.

Abstract: An image sensor and an image processing system including the same are provided. The image sensor includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels each connected to one of first through m-th column lines to output a pixel signal, where “m” is an integer of at least 2; analog-to-digital converters each configured to receive the pixel signal corresponding to one of the first through m-th column lines, to compare the pixel signal with a ramp signal, and to convert the pixel signal to a digital pixel signal; and a blocking circuit connected to an input terminal of at least one of the analog-to-digital converters to block an influence of an operation of others among the analog-to-digital converters.