Abstract: Detecting a true face includes: capturing a parallel image of a face captured by a camera having a filter polarizing parallel to a polarization direction and an orthogonal image of the face captured by a camera's filter polarizing orthogonally to the polarization direction; computing a difference image from difference between the parallel and orthogonal images; filtering the difference image in wavelet packets on 5 levels, eliminating “low” resolution levels; dividing the filtered image into sub-images; the filtered image and each sub-image undergoes: a Fourier or discreet cosine transformation; and modelling during which the frequency decrease profile is modelled by a model of the power type (a.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a plurality of photosensitive devices arranged in a semiconductor substrate. A planar layer is disposed over the plurality of photosensitive devices in the semiconductor substrate. A plurality of first microlenses comprised of a lens material is arranged in first lens regions on the planar layer. A plurality of lens barriers comprised of the lens material is arranged on the planar layer to provide boundaries that define second lens regions on the planar layer. A plurality of second microlenses comprised of the lens material is formed within the boundaries provided by the plurality of lens barriers that define the second lens regions on the planar layer. The plurality of lens barriers are integrated with respective second microlenses after a reflow process of the plurality of second microlenses.

Abstract: An imaging system may include an image sensor die stacked on top of a digital signal processor (DSP) die. The image sensor die may be a backside illuminated image sensor die. Through-oxide vias (TOVs) may be formed in the image sensor die and may extend at least partially into in the DSP die to facilitate communications between the image sensor die and the DSP die. Bond pad structures may be formed on the surface of the image sensor die and may be coupled to off-chip circuitry via bonding wires soldered to the bad pad structures. Color filter elements may be formed over active image sensor pixels on the image sensor die. Microlens structures may be formed over the color filter elements. An antireflective coating (ARC) liner may be simultaneously formed over the microlens structures and over the bond pad structures to passivate the bond pad structures.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter has a sampler to hold a sampled signal, an input signal predictor to generate a prediction signal at predetermined timing before a signal level of a ramp signal that monotonically increases or monotonically decreases with time crosses a signal level of the sampled signal, a comparator to compare signal levels of the ramp signal and the sampled signal to output a comparison signal showing whether the signal level of the ramp signal is larger than the signal lever of the sampled signal, a first counter to perform a count operation in synchronism with a first clock signal within a period from start of a comparison operation by the comparator to generation of the prediction signal, and a second counter to perform a count operation in synchronism with a second clock signal.

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 system and method to enhance dark areas of a scenes while preventing bright areas of the scenes from distorting or skewing exposure settings of video cameras. The video cameras capture images and identify bright areas in the captured images. The video cameras calculate exposure settings while excluding the bright areas in the captured images to enhance the dark areas in the captured images. Camera control parameters are then adjusted based on the calculated exposure settings.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes determining one or more amounts of light present during recording of a multimedia clip. The method also includes determining a motion-blur metric for the multimedia clip, the motion-blur metric based at least in part on the amounts of light. The method further includes determining whether to apply a video-stabilization routine to the multimedia clip based at least in part on the motion-blur metric.

Abstract: A technique is provided for generating sharp, well-exposed, color images front low-light images. A series of under-exposed images is acquired. A mean image is computed and a sum image is generated each based on the series of under-exposed images. Chrominance variables of pixels of the mean image are mapped to chrominance variables of pixels of the sum image. Chrominance values of pixels within the series of under-exposed images are replaced with chrominance values of the sum image. A set of sharp, well-exposed, color images is generated based on the series of under-exposed images with replaced chrominance values.

Abstract: An AD converting unit compares an output signal from an amplifier circuit after reset of a pixel with a reference signal of time-variable, outputs a first digital value, when the output signal from the amplifier circuit in a non-reset state of the pixel is larger than a threshold, sets a gain of the amplifier circuit to a first gain, when the output signal is smaller than the threshold, sets the gain of the amplifier circuit to a second gain larger than the first gain, further after the gain of the amplifier circuit was set to the first or second gain, compares the output signal from the amplifier circuit in the non-reset state of the pixel with the reference signal of time-variable, and outputs a second digital value. When resolutions of the first and second digital values differ, a correcting unit corrects a difference between the resolutions.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method detect and connect a counterpart device by capturing an image of the counterpart device in a wireless device. A Relative Distance Value (RDV) between the wireless device and the counterpart device is determined via image capture using a camera. The counterpart device is identified using the determined RDV.

Abstract: An optical zoom imaging system includes (1) first and second image sensors disposed on a common substrate, and (2) first and second optical blocks in optical communication with the first and second image sensors, respectively. The first and second optical blocks have different respective magnifications. An array includes a plurality of the optical zoom imaging systems. A method for imaging a scene includes the following steps: (1) generating first image data representing the scene at a first zoom level using a first optical block in optical communication with a first image sensor, (2) generating second image data representing the scene at a second zoom level using a second optical block in optical communication with a second image sensor, the second zoom level being different from the first zoom level, and (3) selecting between the first image data and the second image data based on a desired zoom level.

Abstract: An example of a waterproof hinge and button configuration for a head mounted device is provided. A magnet may be attached to the button, and a sensor may be positioned adjacent to the button to detect movement of the button. For example, the sensor may detect when the button is fully pressed, partially pressed, or not pressed at all by the level of magnetic flux density detected by the sensor. In addition, the sensor may detect an opened or closed position of the hinge based on the magnetic field polarity of the magnet. Due to the implementation of the sensor, the electrical components of the button are able to be removed so as to make the button-hinge configuration waterproof.

Abstract: A method of operating an image sensor. Charge accumulated in a photodiode during a first sub-exposure may be selectively stored in a storage node responsive to a first control signal. Charge accumulated in the photodiode during a first reset period may be selectively discarded responsive to a second control signal. Charge accumulated in the photodiode during a second sub-exposure may be selectively stored responsive to the first control signal. Charge stored in the storage node from the first and second sub-exposures may be transferred to a floating diffusion node responsive to a third control signal.

Abstract: A method to correct an autofocus operation of a digital image capture device based on an empirical evaluation of image capture metadata is disclosed. The method includes capturing an image of a scene (the image including one or more autofocus windows), obtaining an initial focus score for at least one of the image's one or more autofocus windows, obtaining image capture metadata for at least one of the one or more autofocus windows, determining a focus adjustment score for the one autofocus window based on a combination of the autofocus window's image capture metadata (wherein the focus adjustment score is indicative of the autofocus window's noise), and determining a corrected focus score for the one autofocus window based on the initial focus score and the focus adjustment score.

Abstract: If separations between photoelectric conversion elements are different from each other, charge leaking into adjacent photoelectric conversion elements varies. A photoelectric conversion apparatus of the present invention includes a first semiconductor region that can be potential barriers against signal charge, between first and second photoelectric conversion elements. Further, the apparatus includes a second semiconductor region that has the same depth as the depth of the first semiconductor region and a width narrower than the width of the first semiconductor region and can be potential barriers against the signal charge, between the first and a third photoelectric conversion element. Moreover, the apparatus includes a third semiconductor region that can be potential barriers against the signal charge under the first semiconductor region and the second semiconductor region.

Abstract: Techniques for device camera angle are described. In one or more implementations, a camera is mounted in a computing device at an angle based on an orientation of the computing device. For example, when the computing device is positioned on a surface and at an angle to the surface (such as when supported by a kickstand), the mounting angle of the camera is such that an optical axis of the camera points forward, and not towards the surface. In at least some implementations, a computing device includes a camera that is physically adjustable to support different orientations of the computing device. In at least some implementations, images that are captured via a camera on a computing device can be manipulated based on an orientation of the computing device.

Abstract: An aspect of the present invention is an imaging method using a multifocal lens having a plurality of regions, the plurality of regions having different focal lengths, and the imaging method includes a focusing state control step of controlling a focusing state of the multifocal lens, and an imaging step of obtaining an image of a subject in the controlled focusing state. In the focusing state control step, the focusing state is controlled so that a main subject is focused via a region with a shortest required focusing time among the plurality of regions in response to a picture taking instruction.

Abstract: A desktop electronic magnifier in a first embodiment includes a monitor and a control panel mounted to the monitor so that access to the control panel cannot be blocked by any position of the monitor. In a second embodiment, a monitor is positioned atop a flat platform that surmounts the camera so that access to the control panel cannot be blocked by any position of the monitor. In a third embodiment, the control panel is mounted to the camera and the monitor is supported by a support surface independent of the magnifier. Access to the control panel is blocked only if the user positions the monitor in blocking relation to the control panel.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel region in which shared pixels which share pixel transistors in a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions are two-dimensionally arranged. The shared pixel transistors are divisionally arranged in a column direction of the shared pixels, the pixel transistors shared between neighboring shared pixels are arranged so as to be horizontally reversed or/and vertically crossed, and connection wirings connected to a floating diffusion portion, a source of a reset transistor and a gate of an amplification transistor in the shared pixels are arranged along the column direction.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a flicker correction unit for correcting a flicker component using a correction gain. The flicker correction unit includes an integrating unit for calculating a line integrated value from a video signal in one horizontal line in one vertical synchronization period, a normalization unit for normalizing the line integrated value for a plurality of the vertical synchronization periods so as to calculate a normalized line integrated value, an inter-frame DFT processing unit for performing Discrete Fourier Transform on the normalized line integrated value for the plurality of vertical synchronization periods, a flicker component calculation unit for calculating information of a flicker component based on a Fourier Transform processing result, and a correction gain calculation unit for calculating a correction gain based on the information of the flicker component in two or more horizontal lines.