Abstract: The application provides a white balance adjustment method, apparatus, camera, and medium. This method includes: obtaining a current image taken by the camera; determining a brightness value of the image and the acquisition parameter values with which the image is captured by the camera, in which the acquisition parameter values includes the exposure time, the exposure gain and the aperture value with which the image is captured by the camera; determining the first white balance gain, according to brightness value, exposure time, exposure gain and aperture value; calculating a second white balance gain with which the image is captured by the camera, according to the three-primary-color values of the pixel points of the image; adjusting the white balance gain of the camera according to the first white balance gain and the second white balance gain. The white balance gain determined by the embodiment of this application may better compensate for the color difference of the image taken by the camera.

Abstract: An image communication system includes a first communication terminal and a second communication terminal. The first communication terminal acquires an image captured by an image capturing device. The second communication terminal receives the image from the first communication terminal via a network, and displays the image on a screen of a display. The first communication terminal includes first circuitry that, in response to receipt of an operation of switching a view mode related to viewing of the image, transmits the image and first viewable area information to the second communication terminal. The first viewable area information is related to a viewable area of the image to be displayed on the screen. The second communication terminal includes second circuitry that receives the image and the first viewable area information and displays the viewable area of the image on the screen based on the first viewable area information.

Abstract: A camera module includes a substrate, a sensing chip, a lens module and a piezoelectric plate. The sensing chip is electrically connected with the substrate. The sensing chip includes a sensing region. The sensing chip is covered by the lens module. The sensing chip is arranged between the substrate and the lens module. When an external light beam passes through the lens module and projected on the sensing region, the sensing chip generates an image. The piezoelectric plate is arranged between the substrate and the lens module. When an electric power is provided to the piezoelectric plate, the piezoelectric plate is subjected to deformation, so that the lens group focuses on the sensing region. The present invention also provides a calibration method for the camera module.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus and a signal processing method that process a signal to control exposure timing of an image sensor, and an imaging device are provided. The signal processing apparatus includes a first adjustment unit that adjusts exposure density in an exposure period, and a second adjustment unit that adjusts a start time and an end time of exposure in a frame period, and provides a control signal to control exposure timing by the exposure density between the start time and the end time, to an image sensor including a mechanism to accumulate photoelectrically converted charge a plurality of times separately and then AD-convert and read out total charge, to allow acquisition of a flicker-free high dynamic range image.

Abstract: An imaging device derives a change amount of image magnification corresponding to each of a plurality of F-numbers in an autofocus area on the basis of a reference value of the change amount of the image magnification in accordance with a change in position of a focus lens for each of the plurality of F-numbers, in a case where autofocus is executed; determines, as a limit F-number, an F-number corresponding to any change amount equal to or less than a threshold value of the allowed change amount of the image magnification among the derived change amounts; and sets an F-number as the limit F-number in a case where the F-number obtained from a subject luminance in a case where autofocus is executed exceeds the determined limit F-number.

Abstract: An apparatus for evaluating an image is provided and includes one or more processors, and one or more memories storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors configure the apparatus to perform operations including receiving an input image, determining whether an exposure value corresponding to an input image is to be evaluated based on information obtained by the input image, and evaluating the exposure value corresponding to the input image according to the determined result.

Abstract: A control device includes a processor and a storage medium storing a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to obtain a reference distance of a photographing device that includes a height of the photographing device or a distance from the photographing device to a target object, determine a range of a focus distance of the photographing device according to the reference distance, and control the photographing device to shoot a plurality of images while changing the focus distance within the range.

Abstract: Provided are a camera system, a camera, a lens, an accessory, and an accessory detection method of a camera system capable of simply and quickly detect presence or absence of an attachment of the accessory and a type of the accessory. Data for accessory detection is transmitted from the lens to the camera. In a case where the accessory is attached between the lens and the camera, the accessory relays the data for accessory detection. At the time of relaying the data for accessory detection, the accessory adds own accessory information to update the data for accessory detection. The camera detects the presence or absence of the attachment of the accessory and the number of attachments of the accessory based on the received data for accessory detection. Further, in a case where the attachment is detected, the camera acquires information on the attached accessory.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an imaging device that images a predetermined imaging area, an illumination device that performs irradiation with illumination light so as to illuminate an imaging area and is capable of adjusting a light amount of the illumination light for each of local regions narrower than the imaging area, and a control unit that controls the imaging device and the illumination device. Then, a high-luminance region having a luminance value exceeding a predetermined luminance range is detected in an image captured by the imaging device, and a light amount of illumination light with which the illumination device irradiates a local region corresponding to the high-luminance region is determined to be a reduction light amount reduced to be less than a light amount with respect to overall of the imaging area. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a camera system for operation.

Abstract: An auto exposure method for an image sensor includes (a) evaluating variance, for each of a plurality of histograms of the pixel values from a respective plurality of individual exposures of the image sensor at respective exposure 5 time settings, of contribution from individual bins of the histogram to total entropy of the histogram, to determine an optimal exposure time for the image sensor corresponding to a minimum value of the variance, and (b) outputting the optimal exposure time to the image sensor.

Abstract: Examples of image sensors are described herein. In an example, an image sensor may comprise an array of hybrid pixels, where each hybrid pixel includes light sensing unit and a non-volatile memory component coupled to the light sensing unit. The light sensing unit comprises a light detecting element and a charge to voltage conversion unit. The charge to voltage conversion unit is to provide an output pixel signal (VPD), based on photo-electrons generated by the light detecting element. Further, the non-volatile component when calibrated to an initial resistance state is to compress the output pixel signal (VPD) during exposure.

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: An imaging device includes a plurality of unit pixels or pixels, with each pixel separated from every other unit pixel by an isolation structure. Each unit pixel includes a photoelectric conversion unit, a pixel imaging signal readout circuit, and an address event detection readout circuit. A first transfer transistor selectively connects the photoelectric conversion unit to the pixel imaging signal readout circuit, and a second transfer transistor selectively connects the photoelectric conversion unit to the address event detection readout circuit. The photoelectric conversion unit, the pixel imaging signal readout circuit, the address event detection readout circuit, and the first and second transfer transistors for a given pixel are located within a pixel area defined by the isolation structure. The isolation structure may be in the form of a full thickness dielectric trench isolation structure.

Abstract: A control method includes sending a switching signal to a camera to control the camera to switch between a landscape shot-mode and a portrait shot-mode, receiving an image from the camera, determining whether a display screen is in a landscape orientation or in a portrait orientation, and controlling the display screen to display the image upright. The image includes a landscape image captured by the camera in the landscape shot-mode or a portrait image captured by the camera in the portrait shot-mode. Controlling the display screen to display the image upright includes controlling the display screen to display the portrait image upright when the display screen is in the landscape orientation or controlling the display screen to display the landscape image upright when the display screen is in the portrait orientation.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus including a processor including hardware, the processor being configured to: detect a defective pixel from among the multiple pixels; calculate a level of a pixel value of the defective pixel; compare the calculated level of the pixel value of the defective pixel with a threshold to determine whether a defective pixel that is stored in a storage is to be corrected, the threshold being determined based on a brightness that is calculated from pixel values close to a defective pixel and on any one of an exposure time of image data corresponding to a defective pixel on which a determination is to be made, a value of gain, and variation in pixel value among pixels surrounding the defective pixel on which a determination is to be made; and interpolate the pixel value of the determined defective pixel that is to be corrected.

Abstract: A camera module for a vehicular vision system includes a front camera housing having a housing portion and a cylindrical lens barrel extending from the housing portion and accommodating a lens. An imager printed circuit board is attached at the front camera housing portion. With the imager printed circuit board attached at the front camera housing, the imager is optically aligned with an optical axis of the lens. A rear camera housing portion is mated with the housing portion of the front camera housing so as to encase the imager printed circuit board in the camera module. The housing portion of the front camera housing includes mounting structure configured to mount the camera module at a vehicle. The lens barrel includes a material having a lower coefficient of thermal expansion as compared to the material of the front camera housing.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a detection unit configured to detect a contrast from a plurality of images of a focus position, wherein viewing angles of the plurality of images overlaps at least partially, an adjustment unit configured to adjust the contrast, a setting unit configured to set a combining ratio based on the adjusted contrast, and a combining unit configured to combine the plurality of images based on the set combining ratio to generate a combined image, wherein the adjustment unit spreads the contrast of the image in which a subject is brought into focus, among the plurality of images, and the setting unit sets, based on the contrast of a corresponding position in the plurality of images, the combining ratio for the combining to the corresponding position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera module, for use in the automobile sector, with a printed circuit board assembly, the printed circuit board assembly comprising at least one printed circuit board and an image sensor; an interface for data transmission, which makes contact with the printed circuit board; a camera module housing, which has a peripheral wall; an interface-side covering element; a compensating element, which is arranged between the peripheral wall and the covering element; the compensating element being designed to seal the camera module housing and compensate for a clearance between the covering element and the peripheral wall. The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle with a camera module according to the invention and also to a method for producing it.

Abstract: A method of controlling parameters for image sensors includes; receiving a first image and a second image, calculating first feature values related to the first image and second feature values related to the second image; generating comparison results by comparing the first feature values of fixed regions and first variable regions of the first image with the second feature values of fixed regions and first variable regions of the second image, and controlling at least one parameter on the basis of the comparison results.

Abstract: An embodiment of a camera device may include an optical filter. The camera device may attempt to actuate the optical filter from an inactive position to an active position, record video, count a quantity of pixels, and/or a quantity of lines of pixels, in one or more frames of the video that are a color that is characteristic of the absence of the optical filter, determine that the quantity is greater than a threshold, and again attempt to move the optical filter to its active position.