Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an image comparing unit that compares a shot image shot by a photographer with a sample image selected by the photographer; an operation comparing unit that compares an operation performed when the shot image was shot with an operation performed when the sample image was shot; and an advising unit that gives the photographer advice on an image shooting method to make the shot image close to the sample image according to comparison results provided by the image comparing unit and the operation comparing unit.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a unit pixel including a pixel electrode, a charge accumulation region electrically connected to the pixel electrode, and a signal detection circuit electrically connected to the charge accumulation region; a counter electrode facing the pixel electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer disposed between the electrodes; and a voltage supply circuit configured to selectively apply any one of first, second, and third voltages between the electrodes. The photoelectric conversion layer exhibits first and second wavelength sensitivity characteristics in a wavelength range when the voltage supply circuit applies the first and second voltages between the electrodes, respectively, and becomes insensitive to light in the wavelength range when the voltage supply circuit applies the third voltage between the electrodes.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a camera module, a first capacitive sensing element, a monitoring circuit, and a blocking module. The monitoring circuit is electrically connected to the first capacitive sensing element and the camera module. The blocking module includes a moving member and a first conductive element. The moving member moves relative to the camera module. The first conductive element is disposed on the moving member. When the moving member is located in a first position, the first capacitive sensing element senses the first conductive element, so as to generate a sensing signal. The monitoring circuit enables the camera module according to the sensing signal. When the moving member is located in a second position and the first capacitive sensing element does not sense the first conductive element, the monitoring circuit turns off the camera module.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device having a pixel portion in which a plurality of pixels each including a photodiode are arranged in rows and columns, a reading part for reading pixel signals from the pixel portion, and a key generation part which generates a unique key by using, as the key generation-use data, at least one of fluctuation information of pixels and fluctuation information of the reading part, wherein the key generation part includes a tamper resistance enhancement processing part for processing the key generation-use data to enhance the tamper resistance making it difficult to break the unique key as tamper resistance enhancement processing. Due to this, a unique key having a high confidentiality can be generated. Further, reproducibility and uniqueness of the unique ID can be improved to secure a high tamper resistance of the unique key, and tampering and forgery of an image can be reliably prevented.

Abstract: A color filter array for an image sensing device includes a plurality of pixels, for generating a plurality of pixel data of an image; and a control unit, for controlling the plurality of pixels; wherein each of the plurality of pixels is divided into a plurality of sub-pixels; wherein the pixel data outputted by each of the plurality of pixels is generated based on at least one pixel value of the plurality of sub-pixels and the outputted pixel data is smaller than a saturated threshold; wherein at least one pixel in the plurality of pixels has a mixed color by having different sub-pixel colors in the plurality of sub-pixels.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a signal readout unit 15 which reads out a frame image obtained from an image pickup device while the frame image is divided into a plurality of different regions, an image information calculating unit 16 which calculates image information based on an image signal of each of the plurality of different regions obtained from the signal readout unit, and an adjusting unit 17 which determines a target adjustment value of an image pickup unit including an image pickup optical system and the image pickup device based on the image information during capturing the frame image.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit configured to sequentially output one or more frames of image data of moving images and one or more frames of image data of still images as frames on a per-frame basis, each still image being shot between shootings of the moving images; and a control unit configured to control the image capturing unit to shoot the still images at a first shutter speed and shoot the moving images at a second shutter speed, the first shutter speed being higher than the second shutter speed.

Abstract: When image information is transmitted from a first communication device, a server acquires a storyboard ID, a user ID, a photographing date/time, and the like contained in the image information. Furthermore, the server compares the storyboard ID and the user ID with the storyboard ID and the user ID in the storyboard information, specifies the registration destination of the image registration information corresponding to the image information, and registers them. Furthermore, the server generates a layout screen on which the images are displayed in chronological order based on the image registration information and the layout information.

Abstract: An end face inspection apparatus which inspects an end face of an test object, and includes optical system causing an image acquisition unit to form an image of an end face of a held test object, focusing degree changing means for changing a distance between the end face of the test object and a focal position of the optical system, and a control unit processing image data acquired in the image acquisition unit. The end face inspection apparatus acquires a series of image data which is output from the image acquisition unit at a preset time interval while the distance between the end face of the test object and the focal position of the optical system is changed, determines whether or not each piece of the image data is focused, and selects focused image data as image data for end face inspection.

Abstract: A read-out circuit of an image sensor includes a ramp signal generator, a bias voltage generator and a conversion circuit. The ramp signal generates a ramp signal that linearly varies at a constant slope. The bias voltage generator generates a bias voltage based on a power supply voltage having a first noise component. The conversion circuit generates a reference voltage based on the bias voltage and the ramp signal, and performs an analog-to-digital conversion on an analog signal from a pixel to generate a digital signal corresponding to the analog signal. The analog signal has second noise component. The bias voltage generator adjusts an alternating current component included in the bias voltage such that a magnitude of a third noise component added to the reference voltage is substantially the same as a magnitude of the second noise component.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a photodiode having a first electrode and a second electrode, a first transistor that controls electrical connection between the first electrode and a first wiring line through which first voltage is supplied, and a second transistor that controls electrical connection between the first electrode and a second wiring line through which second voltage different from the first voltage is supplied, and voltage at the second electrode is read with the first transistor and the second transistor turned off.

Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus including a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in a matrix, each of the pixels comprising a photoelectric conversion portion. The pixel array includes a first pixel configured to output an imaging signal in accordance with an incident light and a second pixel configured to output a correction signal used for correcting the imaging signal. The second pixel outputs the correction signal after performing a first reset performed in a state where a first bias voltage is applied to the photoelectric conversion portion of the second pixel and a second reset performed in a state where a second bias voltage that is different from the first bias voltage is applied to the photoelectric conversion portion.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to configurable demodulation of image data produced by an image sensor. In some aspects, a method includes receiving information indicating a configuration of the image sensor. In some aspects, the information may indicate a configuration of sensor elements and/or corresponding color filters for the sensor elements. A modulation function may then be generated based on the information. In some aspects, the method also includes demodulating the image data based on the generated modulation function to determine chrominance and luminance components of the image data, and generating the second image based on the determined chrominance and luminance components.

Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device including an imaging unit including a plurality of image sensors, and an analog to digital (AD) conversion unit including a plurality of AD converters arranged in a row direction, each AD converter performing AD conversion of an electrical signal output by the image sensor. Each of the AD converters includes a comparator having a differential pair at an input stage, the differential pair including a first transistor and a second transistor, the first and second transistors are each divided into an equal number of a plurality of division transistors, and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in a predetermined column and an arrangement pattern of the plurality of division transistors constituting the comparator in an adjacent column adjacent to the predetermined column are different from each other.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup element, including: a pixel array including a plurality of pixels; a first calculator that calculates a phase difference evaluation value for focus detection by a phase difference detection method based on signal from the pixel; and a second calculator that calculates a contrast evaluation value for focus detection by a contrast detection method based on signal from the pixel, wherein, when the first calculator completes calculation of the phase difference evaluation value, the phase difference evaluation value is output regardless of whether or not output of an image signal acquired by the pixel array is completed, and wherein, when the second calculator completes calculation of the contrast evaluation value, the contrast evaluation value is output regardless of whether or not output of the image signal acquired by the pixel array is completed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: at least one processor for executing a program stored in at least one memory to perform functions of: a first acquiring unit configured to acquire RAW image data; a second acquiring unit configured to acquire first brightness information related to first brightness, which is display brightness of a display unit to be used for displaying an image based on the RAW image data; a setting unit configured to set a development parameter to be used for development processing, based on the first brightness information acquired by the second acquiring unit; and a developing unit configured to perform the development processing using the development parameter set by the setting unit, on the RAW image data acquired by the first acquiring unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for generating a monochrome image from a color filter array. Image data from an image capturing device may be received having a color filter array comprising a plurality of filter positions. The image data may be interpolated to de-mosaic the image data into three sets of data representing red, blue, and green (RGB) data, respectively, for each of the plurality of filter positions. A weight may be calculated for each value of the RGB data based on a local gradient calculated for each value of the RGB data. A pixel value may be calculated for each pixel position for generating a monochrome image using the weight for each value of the RGB data.

Abstract: A digital camera is configured to display a continually updated preview image of an observed scene, wherein kinetic objects that appear in the observed scene do not appear in the continually updated preview image. An observed scene includes static objects and kinetic objects. The observed scene is recorded using a digital imaging sensor which forms part of a smartphone. A live camera feed results, the live camera feed comprising a plurality of frames, each depicting the observed scene at a specific time. A median color value is evaluated over m non-consecutive frames captured from the live camera feed. The median color values are used to generate an output feed that is displayed at a reduced frame rate as compared to the live camera feed. The resulting displayed scene includes the same static objects which appeared in the observed scene, but does not include the kinetic objects.

Abstract: An imaging element mounting substrate may include an insulating substrate and a metal substrate. The insulating substrate may include a first mounting region for mounting an imaging element on a top surface, and a second mounting region located a distance away from the first mounting region for mounting one or more electronic components. The insulating substrate may include a fixed region for securing a lens housing surrounding the first mounting region. A metal substrate may be bonded to a bottom surface of the insulating substrate. A third mounting region located between the first mounting region and the second mounting region in the fixed region of the insulating substrate may be positioned with respect to the center of the insulating substrate in a plan view. The metal substrate may be located to overlap with the third mounting region and bestride the first mounting region and the second mounting region.

Abstract: In an example embodiment, method, apparatus and computer program product are provided. The method includes facilitating receipt of a plurality of VR contents and a plurality of video contents associated with an event captured by a plurality of VR cameras and a plurality of user camera devices, respectively. Each of the plurality of VR cameras comprises a plurality of camera modules with respective field of views (FOVs) associated with the event. The FOVs of the plurality of user camera devices are linked with respective FOVs of camera modules of the plurality of VR cameras based on at least a threshold degree of similarity between the FOV of the user camera device and the FOV of the camera module. The processor creates an event VR content by combining the plurality of VR contents and the plurality of video contents based on the linking of the FOVs.