Abstract: An image sensor may include image sensor pixels formed on a substrate. Each pixel may have a photodiode, a floating diffusion node, and charge transfer gate. The pixel may include an n-type doped well region and a p-channel MOS source follower transistor formed within the n-well region. An n-channel MOS reset transistor may be coupled between the floating diffusion region and a bias voltage column line and may have a drain terminal that overlaps with the n-well region. If desired, the pixel may include a p-channel JFET source follower transistor formed within the floating diffusion region on the substrate and an n-channel MOSFET reset transistor coupled to the floating diffusion. The polarities of the doping in the substrate on which the pixels are formed may be reversed. The pixel may be formed without row select transistors to increase photodiode area and charge storage capacity.

Abstract: A method of classifying video data representing activity within a space to be monitored. A method comprises storing video data obtained from a camera configured to monitor the space. Sensor data indicative of a condition occurring within the space is obtained, and a plurality of program elements are defined within the video data. Each program element has an associated classification code, and each classification code is selected using the sensor data.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a color filter unit disposed on a pixel array unit including pixels two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix and a conversion processing unit disposed on a substrate having the pixel array unit thereon. The color filter unit has a color arrangement in which a color serving as a primary component of a luminance signal is arranged in a checkerboard pattern and a plurality of colors serving as color information components are arranged in the other area of the checkerboard pattern. The conversion processing unit converts signals that are output from the pixels of the pixel array unit and that correspond to the color arrangement of the color filter unit into signals that correspond to a Bayer arrangement and outputs the converted signals.

Abstract: The invention introduces a method for generating and manipulating grouped photos, executed by a processing unit, which contains at least the following steps. Photos shot in a geometric region are selected from a storage unit, and shooting dates thereof are read. Time intervals between every two adjacent shooting dates are calculated, and CDFGs (Continuous Data-time Fragment Groupings) are generated accordingly. For each CDFG comprising two or more shooting dates, a total number of photos associated with each shooting date is obtained, and one or more groups are generated accordingly. Information regarding the groups is displayed in a map to help a user to search and browse photos.

Abstract: Since the great number of elements constituting a unit pixel having an amplification function would hinder reduction of pixel size, unit pixel n,m arranged in a matrix form is comprised of a photodiode, a transfer switch for transferring charges stored in the photodiode, a floating diffusion for storing charges transferred by the transfer switch, a reset switch for resetting the floating diffusion, and an amplifying transistor for outputting a signal in accordance with the potential of the floating diffusion to a vertical signal line, and by affording vertical selection pulse ?Vn to the drain of the reset switch to control a reset potential thereof, pixels are selected in units of rows.

Abstract: A feature detection process includes identifying an approximate location of a feature in a preliminary image. A gradient phase map of image pixel intensities within the approximate location is computed. A projection result is determined by applying a projection function to the gradient phase map. The projection result is analyzed to determine a state of the feature.

Abstract: An image pickup device including an imaging lens, an image sensor, and a multiple aperture optical element is provided. The multiple aperture optical element is disposed on a light path between the imaging lens and the image sensor, and includes aperture elements arranged in an array. A ratio of an image side f-number of the imaging lens to an object side f-number of the imaging lens is within a range of 0.25 to 2. A light field image pickup lens is also provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus including a pixel array including a plurality of individual pixels grouped into pixel kernels having two or more individual pixels, wherein each pixel kernel includes a floating diffusion electrically coupled to all individual pixels in the kernel. A color filter array (CFA) is positioned over and optically coupled to the pixel array, the CFA comprising a plurality of tiled minimal repeating units, each including a plurality of scaled filters having a photoresponse selected from among two or more different photoresponses. Individual pixels within each pixel kernel are optically coupled to a scaled filter.

Abstract: A linear light source apparatus is provided, being configured to convert light emitted from one light emitting element to light extended linearly, and output thus converted light. There is a lens that diffuses light flux within a predetermined region including the optical axis of the light emitting element, out of the light incident from the light emitting element, at a predetermined diffusion angle in the second direction (x-direction). The light is made to converge with respect to the first direction (y-direction). This converts the light from one light emitting element to light extended linearly and outputs the converted light. As for the second direction (x-direction), it is possible to make the light flux sparse in the predetermined region, and in the region outside thereof, the light flux is rendered to be dense.

Abstract: Noise in RAW image data is reduced by determining parameters including pixels used as a target area and reference pixels in the RAW image data, based on color filter information for the RAW image data. The RAW image data is corrected based on the parameters thus determined.

Abstract: This disclosure pertains to systems, methods, and computer readable media for extending the dynamic range of images using an operation referred to herein as “Adaptive Auto Exposure” (AAE). According to the embodiments disclosed herein, the AAE-enabled higher dynamic range capture operations are accomplished without blending multiple or bracketed exposure captures (as is the case with traditional high dynamic range (HDR) photography). AAE also enables high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) rendering when scene content allows for it and/or certain highlight clipping is tolerable. Decisions with regard to preferred AE strategies may be based, at least in part, on one or more of the following: sensor characteristics; scene content; and pre-defined preferences under different scenarios.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an image capturing device and an exposure time adjusting method thereof. The image capturing device comprises an image capturing module, a processing module and an image integrated module. The image capturing module is used to capture a plurality of temporary images. While the image capturing module captures the temporary images, the processing module dynamically adjusts the exposure times of the temporary images according to a predetermined file, a plurality of analysis results of the temporary images or the vibration information sensed by a vibration sensor. Next, the image integrated module controlled by a control module in the processing module integrates the temporary images to generate a stored image.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device that includes a substrate having oppositely facing first and second surfaces and a photoelectric conversion unit layer having a light incident side facing away from the substrate. The substrate includes a first photoelectric conversion unit and a second photoelectric conversion and the photoelectric conversion layer includes a third photoelectric conversion unit.

Abstract: A handheld electronic magnifier for providing a magnified representation of an object is provided. The magnifier includes a casing having a camera face and an opposed display face, a camera inside the casing for acquiring an image of the object, and a display extending along the display face for displaying the magnified representation of the object based on the image acquired by the camera. The handheld electronic magnifier also includes a handle and a two-axis hinge assembly rotatably connecting the casing and the handle about orthogonal first and second hinge axes extending respectively along a length of the casing and a width of the handle. The two-axis hinge assembly includes a longitudinal and a transverse hinge member rigidly fixed to each other and extending along the first and second hinge axes, respectively. The longitudinal and transverse hinge members are rotatably connected to the casing and the handle, respectively.

Abstract: A focus control apparatus reduces the degree of out-of-focus of an image of an intense point light source during zooming in contrast-based autofocus control. A zooming lens moves in an optical axis direction to perform magnification change and a focusing lens moves in the optical axis direction to perform focus adjustment and is driven in accordance with a trace curve corresponding to the distance to a subject. A controller evaluates, during the magnification change operation, based on the rate of change in the number of high-luminance pixels at which the number of high-luminance pixels in an output image from the imaging apparatus changes with the zoom magnification, whether or not the focusing lens is driven in accordance with a trace curve corresponding to the distance to the subject before the magnification change operation is performed or a trace curve corresponding to a distance to the subject of infinity.

Abstract: Image data may be color graded, distributed and viewed on target displays. Mappings that preserve mid-range points and mid-range contrast may be applied to view the image data for color grading and to prepare the image data for display on a target display. The image data may be expanded to exploit the dynamic range of the target display without affecting mid-tone values.

Abstract: An apparatus and method including determining if a copy of an image file of an image has been transmitted from an apparatus as a backup copy of the image file; determining if the image file has predetermined metadata based upon a user handling or manipulating the image file after the image was captured by the apparatus; and automatically deleting the image from the apparatus based upon both the image file having been determined to have been transmitted from the apparatus as the backup copy of the image file, and the image file having been determined to not have the predetermined metadata based upon the user handling or manipulating the image file after the image was captured by the apparatus.

Abstract: In a camera unit that is mountable to a lens unit having a focus lens, an AF signal processing unit generates an AF evaluation value from an imaging signal obtained by an imaging element, and a camera control unit generates drive information for moving the focus lens to an in-focus point using the AF evaluation value and transmits the drive information to the mounted lens unit. The camera control unit transmits drive information including a focus lens position served as a reference for micro vibration and an amount of movement of the focus lens indicated by shift amount of an image plane with reference to the focus lens position to a lens unit.

Abstract: The luminance information of an image captured by a multi-lens camera system can be improved by selecting a luminance information source for each portion of the captured image. Each lens of the camera system can capture an initial image. For each portion of a final image, a corresponding initial image portion can be selected as the luminance information source. The portions of the final image and initial images can be pixels, groups of pixels, or other image portions. The luminance information from the selected initial image portions is combined to form final image luminance information. Chrominance information can also be selected from the initial images to form final image chrominance information, and the final image chrominance information and the final image luminance information can be combined to form a final image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a corresponding point determining unit configured to, for a plurality of points contained in a first image, search a second image for corresponding points; a transformation coefficient calculating unit configured to divide the plurality of corresponding points into groups, based on amounts of misalignment between the images at the corresponding points, and configured to calculates a coordinate transformation coefficient for each of the groups; and an image synthesizing unit configured to generate a synthesis image, using a plurality of the coordinate transformation coefficients and the second image.