Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in rows and columns; a plurality of unit power supply circuits that generate a second power supply voltage from a first power supply voltage based on a reference voltage and supply the second power supply voltage to amplifier transistors provided in the plurality of pixel circuits; and a regulator circuit that generates the reference voltage that is constant. Each of the unit power supply circuits is provided for a corresponding one of the columns of the plurality of pixel circuits or for a corresponding one of the pixel circuits, and supplies the second power supply voltage to the amplifier transistors in the pixel circuits that belong to the corresponding one of the columns or to the amplifier transistor in the corresponding one of the pixel circuits.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus has an image sensor in which unit pixels each having a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions are arranged in matrix, a readout unit for performing a first readout operation of reading out signals of a portion of the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions and a second readout operation of reading out signals of a greater number of the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions, a switching regulator, and a frequency controller for controlling a switching frequency of the switching regulator. The frequency controller controls the switching frequency such that the phase of the switching frequency satisfies predetermined relationship, with respect to a timing for reading out noise signals, a timing for reading out signals by the first readout operation, and a timing for reading out signals by the second readout operation.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus interpolates a signal of a missing color component based on first, second, and third color signals respectively generated by first, second, and third pixels of an image sensor, to generate color signals. These pixels are arranged in a matrix. The first pixels generate the first color signal of a first luminance component of white light. The second pixels generate the second color signal of a second luminance component of narrow band light. Density of the first pixels being higher than density of the second pixels and density of the third pixels. The apparatus extracts a specific frequency component signal from a color signal of the first luminance component among the color signals generated by interpolation, and adds the specific frequency component signal to a color signal of a color component different from the first luminance component depending on white light imaging or narrow band imaging.

Abstract: A camera apparatus for a motor vehicle includes a carrier housing which is disposed on a moveable vehicle part, and a camera module coupled to the carrier housing. The camera module includes a drive unit and a camera unit, wherein the drive unit is coupled to the camera unit and the drive unit is also coupled to a control mechanism. The camera unit is supported in the carrier housing such that it can rotate about a camera rotational axis, and can be rotated within an adjustment range, wherein the camera module forms at least a section of a handle extending along the camera rotational axis, with which a sensor mechanism, designed for sensing a proximity to the handle and/or for detecting an actuation of the handle, is coupled.

Abstract: First and second images are captured at first and second focal lengths, the second focal length being longer than the first focal length. Element sets are defined with a first element of the first image and a corresponding second element of the second image. Element sets are identified as background if the second element thereof is more in-focus than or as in-focus as the first element. Background elements are subtracted from further analysis. Comparisons are based on relative focus, e.g. whether image elements are more or less in-focus. Measurement of absolute focus is not necessary, nor is measurement of absolute focus change; images need not be in-focus. More than two images, multiple element sets, and/or multiple categories and relative focus relationships also may be used.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises the following units. A dividing unit divides a frame of a moving image into a changing area in which there is an active object and a changeless area in which there is a stationary object. A generation unit generates a still image by compositing an area corresponding to the changeless area in each of X frame(s) (where X is an integer of 1 or more) among a plurality of frames included in the moving image and an area corresponding to the changing area in each of Y frames (where Y is an integer greater than X) among the plurality of frames.

Abstract: An optical phased array (OPA) receiver selectively detects, measures and differentiates between the amplitudes and directions of signals received from different directions. Because the OPA changes the direction that it looks toward electronically and without the use of any mechanical movements, the OPA is fast, has an enhanced sensitivity, and can be used in a wide variety applications, such as lens-free imaging systems. The OPA is adapted to dynamically control the array of optical elements and focus on the area of interest. The OPA achieves a higher numerical aperture compared to imaging systems that use conventional lens, thereby effectively maintaining a relatively large field of view and collection area concurrently. The OPA may be readily scaled by increasing its array size. Furthermore, because the OPA is relatively flat, it is ideally suited for small form factor applications such as cell phones and tablets.

Abstract: A photographing control method for use in a mobile terminal, includes: detecting whether the mobile terminal is in a photographing mode; sending an action-collecting instruction to a wearable device if the mobile terminal is in the photographing mode, for the wearable device to collect a motion trajectory of the wearable device according to the action-collecting instruction; receiving the motion trajectory collected by the wearable device; judging whether the received motion trajectory is a preset motion trajectory; and triggering the mobile terminal to take a photo if the received motion trajectory is the preset motion trajectory.

Abstract: An image capturing device includes a pixel unit and a buffer. In the pixel unit, pixels are arranged in a matrix, wherein each pixel includes a photoelectric conversion unit, a transfer transistor, and an amplification transistor. In the pixel unit, first and second pixel rows are arranged in a column direction. A first pixel row first pixel includes a first switch that changes a capacitance value at an input node of an amplification transistor included in the first pixel. A second pixel row second pixel includes a second switch that changes a capacitance value at an input node of an amplification transistor included in the second pixel. The buffer drives the first and second switches. A buffer output node is electrically connected to a first switch input node and a second switch input node to be common to the first switch input node and the second switch input node.

Abstract: A device has stacked first and second substrates. The first substrate includes pixel array having pixels arranged along surface, the second substrate includes readout circuit having first AD-conversion circuit for generating first digital signals corresponding to first signals from the pixels, first parallel-serial conversion circuit for outputting first serial signal by performing parallel-serial conversion on the first digital signals, and processing circuit for processing the first serial signal. In orthogonal projection to the surface, part of the pixel array and part of the processing circuit overlap with each other. The first AD-conversion circuit is arranged between edge of the second substrate and the processing circuit. The first parallel-serial conversion circuit is arranged between the first AD-conversion circuit and the processing circuit.

Abstract: A modular device includes base and color sensing portions. The color sensing portion has a face, a controlled light source offset from the face to define an interior, the face configured to engage a target surface about a perimeter of the device housing wherein ambient light is restricted from entering the interior. A color sensor receives light reflected from the target surface and generates output signals representative of a surface color. The base portion communicates with the color sensor and a user device having a hosted program which generates a user interface enabling users to provide control input for the color sensor. The program further receives the output signals from the color sensing device and displays a first image of the detected color, and displays a second image of a user-selected color beside the first image. Color data values are further displayed corresponding to the difference between displayed colors.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for optimizing phase detection autofocus (PDAF) processing are provided. One aspect provides an apparatus comprising: an image sensor configured to capture image data of a scene; a buffer; and a processor. The processor may be configured to store the image data in the buffer as a current frame and divide the current frame into a plurality of windows each corresponding to a different spatial region of the scene. The processor may be further configured to identify a central portion of the current frame comprising a subset of the plurality of windows. The processor may be further configured to determine a depth value of the central portion based on performing PDAF on the subset of the plurality of windows and determine a confidence value for the central portion based on the depth value and image data corresponding to the subset of the plurality of windows.

Abstract: In a related-art image pickup device, there is a problem that the power consumption increases. A semiconductor device includes a plurality of pixel circuits connected to one vertical signal line SL, and an inverting amplification circuit configured to amplify a signal level obtained through the vertical signal line SL with an amplification factor determined according to a capacitance ratio between an input capacitor Ci and a feedback capacitor Cf, in which the feedback capacitor Cf is disconnected from an output of the inverting amplification circuit and connected to the vertical signal line SL in a charge recovery period set in a period between a first timing and a second timing, the first timing being a timing when amplification of an image pickup signal read from a first pixel circuit by the inverting amplification circuit has been completed, the second timing being a timing when amplification of a dark level signal read from a second pixel circuit by the inverting amplification circuit is started.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for automated stop-motion animation are described herein. An image capture system for automated stop-motion animation includes a motion sensing subsystem to: monitor motion in a camera field of view of the image capture system; and detect when there is no motion in the camera field of view for longer than a threshold period; an image capture device to capture a capture image of the camera field of view; and a video renderer to add the capture image with a set of other images to form a stop-motion animation.

Abstract: An optical assembly is described. The optical assembly comprises a transparent front cover, a lens having a lens surface facing the front cover, wherein the lens surface is designed to be essentially planar and has a central region and a transparent medium. The optical assembly optically couples at least the central region of the lens surface extensively to the front cover by the fact that the refractive index of the transparent medium differs from the refractive index of the front cover and the refractive index of a segment of the lens adjacent to the lens surface by less than 0.5. Furthermore, an electronic device having the optical assembly, a motor vehicle comprising the electronic device and a method for manufacturing the optical assembly are described.

Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling an imaging apparatus capable of changing an imaging direction of an imaging unit in panning and tilting directions includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a captured image captured by the imaging unit, and an provision unit configured to provide, together with the captured image, when the imaging direction of the imaging unit coincides with a panning rotational axis for rotating the imaging direction in the panning direction, a panning direction guide for indicating that changing the imaging direction in the panning direction rotates the captured image around an intersection of an optical axis of the imaging unit and a plane containing the captured image.

Abstract: There is provided an image capturing apparatus including a positioning adjustment mechanism for performing positioning adjustment of an area image-captured by an image capturing unit; an image processing unit for recognizing a subject using an image signal generated in the image capturing unit; a vibration detection unit for detecting vibration of the image capturing apparatus; a control unit for determining a priority order of subject tracking processing for driving the positioning adjustment mechanism based on a subject recognition result provided from the image processing unit and image vibration correction processing for driving the positioning adjustment mechanism based on a vibration detection result of the vibration detection unit, and for limiting an adjustment amount of the positioning adjustment mechanism for the processing having no priority. Also, an image capturing method thereof and a program therefor are provided.

Abstract: The present technology relates to a solid-state imaging device, an electronic apparatus, and an AD converter that are capable of suppressing the occurrence of an error in AD conversion results. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel section having a plurality of pixels, a comparator for comparing a pixel signal outputted from the pixels with a reference signal, and a counter for counting the time of comparison made by the comparator. The comparator includes a first amplifier for comparing the pixel signal with the reference signal, a second amplifier that has a first transistor and amplifies an output signal of the first amplifier, and a second transistor having the same polarity as the first transistor. A gate of the second transistor is connected to an output end of the first amplifier, and a source and a drain of the second transistor are connected to the same fixed potential as a source of the first transistor. The present technology is applicable, for example, to a CMOS image sensor.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a mechanically self-leveling camera head includes a rear housing assembly, an illumination window, an illumination window retainer having a forward end for holding the illumination window a threaded coupling ring for having the rear housing assembly screwed over a rear portion of the coupling ring and the illumination window retainer screwed over a forward portion of the coupling ring, and a camera module assembly supported inside the housing.

Abstract: System and Method for automatically removing blur and noise in a plurality of digital images. The system comprises an electronic processor configured to receive the plurality of digital images, perform motion estimation and motion compensation to align the plurality of digital images, determine an alignment of the plurality of digital images with respect to a reference frame, generate a consistency map based on the alignment of the plurality of digital images with respect to the reference frame, combine the plurality of digital images aligned with respect to the reference frame in the Fourier domain using a quality of alignment information from the consistency map to generate an aggregated frame, and apply a post-processing filter to enhance the quality of the aggregated frame.