Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging unit configured to generate image data, an image data analyzing unit configured to analyze the image data to determine an age group or a sex of an image of a person included in the image data, a voice data generating unit configured to generate voice data, a voice data analyzing unit configured to analyze the voice data, a shooting condition information generating unit configured to generate shooting condition information based on a result of an analysis by the voice data analyzing unit and the age group or the sex of the image of the person determined by the image data analyzing unit, an image data recording unit, and a recording controller configured to record the image data and the shooting condition information in the image data recording unit.

Abstract: A lens module includes a driving device, an image sensing device, a lens group frame, and an infrared filter. The driving device has a lens barrel for an optical signal passing through. The image sensing device is on a path of the optical signal to convert the optical signal into an electric signal. The lens group frame is provided in the lens barrel, and has a main body, which is driven by the driving device to be moved between a first position and a second position, and a lens holder, which is pivotally connected on the main body and is swung between a third position and a fourth position when the main body is respectively at the first and the second positions. The infrared filter is provided on the lens holder, and is precisely aligned with the image sensing device when the lens holder is at the fourth position.

Abstract: Methods, devices, and systems for continuous image capturing are described herein. In one embodiment, a method includes continuously capturing a sequence of images with an image capturing device. The method may further include storing a predetermined number of the sequence of images in a buffer. The method may further include receiving a user request to capture an image. In response to the user request, the method may further include automatically selecting one of the buffered images based on an exposure time of one of the buffered images. The sequence of images is captured prior to or concurrently with receiving the user request.

Abstract: A determining apparatus of the present invention includes: a feature extracting section configured to extract, as a feature from at least one captured image, at least one piece of information on the at least one captured image out of (i) a piece of information on a blur, (ii) a piece of information on a skew, and (iii) a piece of information on an image type; and a captured image determining section configured to determine whether or not the at least one captured image is suitable for conversion into a compressed image in a platform independent file format, by determining whether or not the extracted feature satisfies a given condition.

Abstract: Presented herein are novel shared amplifier charge mode readout architectures for image sensors, for example, configured to process a pair of signals comprising photointegration and reset signals from a pixel. The invention encompasses a novel 2-channel configuration wherein a single amplifier can serve the two channels in alternating phases. In the first phase, a selected pair of signals from the first channel is read out to an ADC using the amplifier while the readout components of the second channel are reset. In the second phase, a selected pair of signals from the second channel is read out an ADC using the amplifier while the readout components of the first channel are reset. This alternating arrangement allows a single amplifier to be shared between two readout channels. Level shifting may be included in the signal pathway to modulate output swing and other signal parameters.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for identifying depth refinement image capture instructions for capturing images that may be used to refine existing depth maps. The depth refinement image capture instructions are determined by evaluating, at each image patch in an existing image corresponding to the existing depth map, a range of possible depth values over a set of configuration settings. Each range of possible depth values corresponds to an existing depth estimate of the existing depth map. This evaluation enables selection of one or more configuration settings in a manner such that there will be additional depth information derivable from one or more additional images captured with the selected configuration settings. When a refined depth map is generated using the one or more additional images, this additional depth information is used to increase the depth precision for at least one depth estimate from the existing depth map.

Abstract: An optical semiconductor element includes a ring modulator, and a light absorbing material provided at a position apart from a path for a modulated light which is guided by the ring modulator, the light absorbing material absorbing a light leaked out of a ring waveguide of the ring modulator, and increasing a temperature of the ring waveguide.

Abstract: An optical semiconductor element includes a ring modulator, and a light absorbing material provided at a position apart from a path for a modulated light which is guided by the ring modulator, the light absorbing material absorbing a light leaked out of a ring waveguide of the ring modulator, and increasing a temperature of the ring waveguide.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable splicing box is provided that can easily connect together optical fiber cables that include a metal wire and an optical fiber. Optical fiber cable splicing box 1 includes a pair of cable holders 3A, 3B aligned in a predetermined direction fixed to a body 2, a mechanical splice 4 that optically connects together ends of optical fibers 91A and 91B, a pair of contact portions 80A and 80B respectively provided on the pair of cable holders 3A and 3B, and a metal plate 5 having conductivity. The contact portions 80A and 80B include a first connecting portion 84c that is electrically connected to metal wires 92a and 92b of optical fiber cables 90A and 90B by penetrating into a jacket 94, and a base portion 83 that is electrically conducting with the first connecting portion 84c and electrically connected to a metal plate 5.

Abstract: A metal-insulator-metal (MIM) waveguide structure for nano-lasers or optical amplifiers is described. The structure comprises a substrate on which are supported first and second metal layers which form electrical contacts for the waveguide. A narrow ridge of low-band gap semiconductor core, which forms the optical gain material, is sandwiched between the two metal layers. The semiconductor core is surrounded on both sides by a low refractive index material which is also sandwiched between the two metal layers. First and second layers of thin higher-band gap doped semiconductor material are provided between the respective first and second metal layers and the low-band gap semiconductor core and the low refractive index material. The optical mode that propagates down this waveguide is localized in the center of the waveguide structure where the narrow ridge of low-band gap semiconductor core is.

Abstract: A connector comprising: (a) at least one multi-fiber ferrule having a front face presenting a plurality of fiber end faces, and a back face having a first surface and defining a first orifice through which the fibers pass; (b) a retainer for holding the at least one multi-fiber ferrule, the retainer comprising a front face having a second surface and defining a second orifice through which the fibers pass, the second surface contacting the first surface; wherein at least one of the first or second surface is convex along at least one of an x-axis or a y-axis such that the at least one multi-fiber ferrule is able to move relative to the retainer about at least one of the axes.

Abstract: An expanded beam optical connector including a connector body, an optical element in the form of a waveguide or active device, a beam width altering optical lens, and a transmit/receive window. The optical element, the beam width altering optical lens, and the transmit/receive window are configured such that optical signals propagate between the optical element and the transmit/receive window via the beam width altering optical lens. The transmit/receive window includes an optical medium that forms an interior surface of the transmit/receive window, an optical transition layer between the interior surface formed by the optical medium, and a protective layer forming an exterior surface of the transmit/receive window. The connector body is configured to place the exterior surface of the transmit/receive window in close contact with a mating exterior surface of a mating transmit/receive window of a complementary optical device to define a close contact portion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated circuit including photonic components on a silicon layer and a laser made of a III-V group material includes providing the silicon layer positioned on a first insulating layer that is positioned on a support. First trenches are etched through the silicon layer and stop on the first insulating layer, and the first trenches are covered with a silicon nitride layer. Second trenches are etched through a portion of the silicon layer, and the first and second trenches are filled with silicon oxide, which are planarized. The method further includes removing the support and the first insulating layer, and bonding a wafer including a III-V group heterostructure on the rear surface of the silicon layer.

Abstract: The solid-state imaging device includes a D/A converting circuit generating a reference voltage to be used for an A/D conversion. The D/A converting circuit includes: a voltage generating circuit generating an analog voltage according to a digital signal; a buffer circuit (a resistor ladder upper voltage supplying buffer circuit) which buffers the generated analog voltage, the buffer circuit sampling and holding a bias voltage generated inside the buffer circuit, and outputting the buffered analog voltage using the held bias voltage; an analog signal outputting unit (a resistor ladder unit) outputting the reference voltage according to the inputted digital signal, by receiving an output from the buffer circuit; and a pre-charge amplifier which charges a noise-reducing capacitor in conjunction with the sampling and holding by the buffer circuit, the noise-reducing capacitor being connected to the analog signal outputting unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to posing subjects for a photograph. Specifically, the present invention relates to a device and method for posing subjects. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to providing pre-determined stencil filters that photographers may use to pose or otherwise arrange subjects on camera. The pre-determined stencil filters allow amateur artists to take professional quality photographs.

Abstract: An apparatus including an image processor configured to receive a video, superimpose an object on the video at a distance from a reference point, and modify a location of the object based on a distance between the object and the reference point in a later frame.

Abstract: A fiber optic distribution cable includes a jacket defining an exterior of the fiber optic distribution cable and a plurality of optical fibers extending through a cavity of the jacket. The jacket has an access location with a single opening formed in the jacket that extends to the cavity. A distribution optical fiber of the plurality of optical fibers extends through and protrudes from the single opening in the jacket at the access location and is secured by a demarcation point.

Abstract: An image capture accelerator performs accelerated processing of image data. In one embodiment, the image capture accelerator includes accelerator circuitry including a pre-processing engine and a compression engine. The pre-processing engine is configured to perform accelerated processing on received image data, and the compression engine is configured to compress processed image data received from the pre-processing engine. In one embodiment, the image capture accelerator further includes a demultiplexer configured to receive image data captured by an image sensor array implemented within, for example, an image sensor chip. The demultiplexer may output the received image data to an image signal processor when the image data is captured by the image sensor array in a standard capture mode, and may output the received image data to the accelerator circuitry when the image data is captured by the image sensor array in an accelerated capture mode.

Abstract: Fiber optic cable assemblies and fiber optic terminals supporting port mapping for series connected fiber optic terminals are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fiber optic cable assembly is provided. The fiber optic cable assembly includes a fiber optic cable having a plurality of optical fibers disposed therein between a first end and a second end of the fiber optic cable. The plurality of optical fibers on the first end of the fiber optic cable are provided according to a first mapping. The plurality of optical fibers on the second end of the fiber optic cable are provided according to a second mapping. In this regard, the fiber optic cable assembly provides port mapping of optical fibers to allow multiple fiber optic terminals having the same internal fiber mapping to be connected in series in any order, while providing the same connectivity to each of the terminals in the series.

Abstract: A camera array, an imaging device and/or a method for capturing image that employ a plurality of imagers fabricated on a substrate is provided. Each imager includes a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers. Each imager may be associated with an optical element fabricated using a wafer level optics (WLO) technology.