Abstract: A camera module of the disclosure includes: an imaging unit that includes a plurality of pixels, acquires a first detection value in one of the pixels in a second term out of a first term, the second term, a third term, and a fourth term that are set in order, acquires a second detection value in the relevant one of the pixels in the fourth term, and obtains a pixel value of the relevant one of the pixels on the basis of a difference between the first and second detection values; a lens unit including a lens and an actuator that drives the lens; and a driver unit that generates a drive signal and drives the actuator using the drive signal, in which the drive signal makes a transition in each of the first and third terms.

Abstract: A wobble detection device includes a sensor unit. The sensor unit includes a one-dimensional image sensor and a one-dimensional image sensor arranged side by side in an auxiliary scanning direction so that their corresponding pixels coincide with each other in a main scanning direction, and acquires an image of an object moving in the auxiliary scanning direction as one-dimensional data. The wobble detection device makes a comparison of data corresponding to the same image region by using one-dimensional data acquired by the one-dimensional image sensor and one-dimensional data acquired by the one-dimensional image sensor and thereby detects a movement amount of the image in the main scanning direction between a time when the one-dimensional data used for the comparison was acquired and a time when the one-dimensional data used for the comparison was acquired.

Abstract: A notched-spacer camera module includes a chip-scale package, a lens plate, a spacer ring, and a glue ring. The chip-scale package has an image sensor and a top surface. The spacer ring includes a glue gate having a gate height and a spacer base, having a base height, between the glue gate and the lens plate. The glue ring is between the spacer ring and the top surface and has (i) an outer region between the top surface and a bottom surface of the spacer base, and (ii) an inner region, having an inner thickness, between the top surface and a bottom surface of the glue gate. The lens plate, the spacer ring, the glue ring, and the top surface form a sealed cavity having a cavity height equal to at least a sum of the inner thickness, the gate height, and the base height.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to drive a mirror in a wide driving range and at a fast response speed. An imaging device 100 includes an imaging element 103, a mirror 102, a lens 101, and a mirror tilt actuator 110. The imaging element 103 images subject light that is reflected light from a subject. The mirror 102 reflects the subject light, and makes the subject light incident on the imaging element 103. The lens 101 collects the subject light on the mirror 102. The mirror tilt actuator 110 drives the mirror 102 so as to change an optical axis of the lens OAL. The optical axis of the lens OAL is an optical axis to be incident on the central part C of the imaging element 103 in the subject light exited from the lens 101.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an AF evaluation value calculation unit for calculating an AF evaluation value by integrating a focus differential signal value. The AF evaluation value calculation unit includes a high luminance region determination unit for extracting a feature of each pixel value and determining whether or not the feature is a backlight scene in a dark place, and a band determination unit for determining a band of a contour component of a subject. A focus differential signal value on a low luminance region side in a contour component formed by a boundary between a high luminance region and a low luminance region due to backlighting is excluded from the integration, and the AF evaluation value is calculated using only a focus differential signal value on the high luminance region side in the contour component of the subject to be focused as an object for the integration.

Abstract: A correction optical device comprises an OIS frame, and an OIS lock ring that restricts a movement of the OIS frame. The OIS lock ring rotates so that a position of a first protrusion reciprocates between a lock position and an unlock position. The first protrusion and the second protrusion are formed into such shapes that generate a component force acting on the first protrusion in a direction from the unlock position toward the lock position when a force causing the first protrusion and the second protrusion to push against each other is generated between the first protrusion and the second protrusion.

Abstract: There is provided a method for controlling an infrared cut, IR-cut, filter of a video camera. An indication to switch state of the IR-cut filter of the video camera is received, and a switch of state of the IR-cut filter is synchronized with a video encoding of frames captured by the video camera, such that the IR-cut filter is controlled to switch state when the video camera is about to capture a frame which is a predetermined number of frames before a frame which is scheduled to be encoded as an intra-frame.

Abstract: A method and associated architecture for dividing column readout circuitry in an active pixel sensor in a manner which reduces the parasitic capacitance on the readout line. In a preferred implementation, column readout circuits are grouped in blocks and provided with block signaling. Accordingly, only column output circuits in a selected block significantly impart a parasitic capacitance effect on shared column readout lines. Block signaling allows increasing pixel readout rate while maintaining a constant frame rate for utility in large format high-speed imaging applications.

Abstract: A method and associated architecture for dividing column readout circuitry in an active pixel sensor in a manner which reduces the parasitic capacitance on the readout line. In a preferred implementation, column readout circuits are grouped in blocks and provided with block signaling. Accordingly, only column output circuits in a selected block significantly impart a parasitic capacitance effect on shared column readout lines. Block signaling allows increasing pixel readout rate while maintaining a constant frame rate for utility in large format high-speed imaging applications.

Abstract: A color processing method which sets viewing conditions easily and properly from shooting conditions added to an image. Shot image data and shooting conditions of the image data are obtained. Input side viewing conditions from the obtained shooting conditions are set. The image data with a color appearance model based on the set input side viewing conditions are converted.

Abstract: Optical motion sensing systems and methods are described. In one aspect, light from subfields of a scene is focused onto respective capture areas of a focal plane. Successive sets of contemporaneous local images are captured from the focused light. Respective saliency measures are derived from respective ones of the local images. Respective local motion measures are determined from comparisons of corresponding ones of the local images in ones of the contemporaneous local image sets. A respective global motion measure is produced for each of the contemporaneous local image sets based on the respective ones of the local motion measures and the respective ones of the saliency measures.

Abstract: Provided is a multi-purpose imaging apparatus (10) comprising a body (14) and imaging means (36) housed within the body (14). The body (14) is adapted to releasably engage an adaptor (12). The adaptor (12) has an aperture (108) extending therethrough that aligns with the optical axis (X) of the imaging means (36) when so engaged, such that at least a portion of the optical axis (X) is not obscured. The adaptor (12) also has optics for illuminating a subject within the optical axis (X) for diagnostic purposes.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus illuminates an object and captures an image of the object using the reflected light from the object. On a circuit substrate mounted an image sensor, a plurality of light-emitting devices are mounted in the peripheral positions of the image sensor. By means of a ring-shaped light guide member, the light from the plurality of light-emitting devices is guided to an image capturing range, so as to illuminate the object. With this, by mounting a light receiving system and a light emitting system on an identical substrate, miniaturization can be achieved, and the image capturing range can be illuminated by substantially uniform light. Also, using the ring-shaped light guide member, an optical unit is housed inside the ring, thus enabling further miniaturization.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are described that provide automated and efficient optimization of camera settings. In certain embodiments of the invention, both focus and exposure settings are determined based on an analysis of compressed images taken of a frame. Based on this analysis, the camera focus and exposure settings are set to provide a preferred image quality of the particular frame. This optimization of the focus and exposure settings is performed at each frame within the multi-frame image source. As a result, each frame image is independently optimized and addresses variations, such as light and surface inconsistencies, across the multi-frame image source.

Abstract: A programmable gain amplifier (PGA) includes a sample-and-hold (S&H) stage which provides an input capacitance value for storing a charge. The PGA also includes an amplifying stage, which has a gain dependent on the input capacitance value. The amplifying stage is configured to provide a variable gain, while the S&H stage is configured to provide a substantially constant input capacitance value, regardless of the gain.

Abstract: According to the invention, rotating cylinders (1) are provided in at least two locations. Stripes (3) comprising light emitting elements and stripes (2) comprising a recording system resembling a scanner strip are mounted on the rotating cylinders (1) such that the surroundings of one cylinder can be represented on the other cylinder, visual contact being possible. The inventive system can also be configured in a planar manner, e.g. on a revolving band or a plate that is moved back and forth. Said system can also be configured for three-dimensional representation.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for processing a three-dimensional (3D) video signal which corrects first and second video signals to prevent a reduction in a 3D effect and a disparity estimation error due to a difference between the first and second video signals. The method includes: a video signal detection unit detecting a difference between respective characteristics of received first and second video signals; and a video signal correction unit correcting the first video signal or the second video signal to equalize the characteristics of the first and second video signals. When the apparatus and the method are used, a reduction in the 3D effect and the disparity estimation error due to the difference between the first and second video signals can be prevented.

Abstract: An image processor for lowering data transfer speed. A JPEG compression circuit performs two-dimensional compression process on data output from a YCbCr conversion circuit to generate compressed image data. A timing signal generator changes the frequency of a transfer clock signal in accordance with the compressed image data. An output circuit outputs the compressed image data in accordance with the transfer clock signal.

Abstract: When a release button is pressed in the image adding mode and flash-on mode, a system control section instructs a timing generation section to continuously supply a timing signal to an imaging section, thereby causing the imaging section to perform high speed continuous shooting. A flash is caused to emit light in sync with taking the last one of images taken by the continuous shooting such that the amount of the emitted light results in underexposure for one image. The continuous images taken by the imaging section are sequentially output via a preprocessing section to a blurring correction section where the taken images are superimposed upon each other to obtain an image of appropriate exposure in which blurring has been corrected.

Abstract: A switch for changing the mode of a device main body accompanied with the rotation of an image capture unit and an operation section provided in the device main body and performing inputting or outputting operations of the external information are included, and the external information outputting unit and the operation section change a plurality of modes controlled according to the mode change of the device main body by the switch.