Abstract: A digital camera has a dual field of view optical system with two separate focal planes, whose images fall simultaneously on a single imaging sensor, an actuator to move the optical system along an optical axis, and a digital processor associated with the imaging sensor. The actuator moves the optical system so that the imaging sensor is sequentially in each of the focal planes, and the digital processing element co-processes images sampled from each of the focal planes to as to derive images with two fields of view.

Abstract: A focus control apparatus includes a focus detection unit configured to detect a focus state, and a control unit configured to performing a focusing operation in accordance with the focus state and a setting value relating to the focusing operation. The control unit is configured to select a first state that allows user setting of the setting value and a second state that automatically sets the setting value according to the focus state. The control unit sets the setting value in a first setting range that is a range of the setting value that can be set by the user in the first state, and sets the setting value in a second setting range that is wider than the first setting range in the second state.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a first semiconductor substrate including a photoelectric conversion element; and a second semiconductor substrate including at least a part of a peripheral circuit arranged in a main face of the second semiconductor substrate, the peripheral circuit generating a signal based on the charge of the photoelectric conversion element, a main face of the first semiconductor substrate and the main face of the second semiconductor substrate being opposed to each other with sandwiching a wiring structure therebetween; a pad to be connected to an external terminal; and a protection circuit electrically connected to the pad and to the peripheral circuit, wherein the protection circuit is arranged in the main face of the second semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: An image acquisition unit configured to acquire an image obtained by performing image capturing of a subject using an imaging unit, a detection method setting unit configured to set a detection method of a subject for the image, a subject detection unit configured to detect a subject based on the detection method determined by the detection method setting unit, and an exposure determination unit configured to determine exposure based on a detection result obtained from the subject detection unit are included, and the detection method setting unit can set the detection method different for each of different regions in the image, based on predetermined information used in performing image capturing for obtaining the image.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus having an imaging sensor and a processor configured to set n different exposure times for n successive frames, where n is an integer equal to or larger than two; control the imaging sensor to capture the n successive frames with the set n exposure times so as to make a blank period between frames shorter than the n exposure times; acquire n pieces of image data of the n successive frames captured by the imaging sensor; and generate a composite frame for recording or displaying a motion picture of an extended dynamic range from the n pieces of image data, wherein the processor is further configured to set the n exposure times so that a sum of the n exposure times matches a time for n frames for the composite frame or a time for one frame for the composite frame in accordance with a brightness of a photographic subject captured by the imaging sensor.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes first and second line buffers, an image processing circuit configured to perform an image processing on first pixel data stored in the first line buffer and then second pixel data stored in the second line buffer, and a controller configured to control writing of the second pixel data in the second line buffer at a timing aligned with a synchronizing signal and reading of the second pixel data written in the second line buffer for the image processing by the image processing circuit at a timing of a completion of the image processing by the image processing circuit of the first pixel data stored in the first line buffer.

Abstract: An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present invention comprises a camera module and a processor, wherein the processor may: receive a signal related to photographing; acquire, in response to the signal, by taking a single photograph, a first image related to a first exposure time and a second image related to a second exposure time shorter than the first exposure time, through the camera module; compare at least one pixel included in the first image and at least one pixel included in the second image, which corresponds to the at least one pixel included in the first image; divide the at least one pixel included in the second image into a first group and a second group, on the basis of a result of the comparison; determine one of the first group and the second group; and process at least one pixel included in the determined group. In addition, various embodiments are possible.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel structure which pair-wise vertically shares at least one read node, and further comprises a memory node for storing charges. A vertical transfer control line commands charge transfer from the photodiode to the memory node of a given column. The vertical transfer control rows apply two different exposure times, a first to the even columns and a second to the odd columns. The pixels and the read circuit perform one read operation per vertical pair of pixels over the exposure time associated with the column of the pair. A processing block is configured to calculate, for each vertical pair of pixels, an interpolated digital value. A periodic pattern of colored filters creates an HDR-mode color image sensor.

Abstract: In a lens apparatus, a CS terminal is disposed adjacent to a DGND terminal, and a DCA terminal is disposed on the other side of the CS terminal from the DGND terminal. The terminals on the accessory correspond to terminals on an imaging apparatus where a CS terminal is disposed adjacent to a DGND terminal, and a DCA terminal is disposed on the other side of the CS terminal from the DGND terminal.

Abstract: A device suitable for use as a scanning directional radio receiver or transmitter.

Abstract: A camera module with compression-molded circuit board is manufactured by compression-molding that can obtain properties such as high flatness, ultra-thin, fine wiring width and high integration.

Abstract: Provided is an image sensor including: a pixel section configured to include a plurality of pixels arranged therein; and an AD conversion unit configured to perform analog-to-digital (AD) conversion on a pixel signal on the basis of a result of comparison between a first voltage of a signal, which is obtained by adding, via capacitances, the pixel signal of the pixel and a reference signal that linearly changes in a direction opposite to the pixel signal, with a second voltage serving as a reference.

Abstract: Techniques and apparatuses are described for reducing a flicker effect of multiple light sources in an image captured with an imaging device. A lighting frequency associated with each of the multiple light sources is detected and prioritized relative to a flicker effect upon the image to identify at least a first-prioritized lighting frequency and a second-prioritized lighting frequency. A first exposure-time factorization set is determined for the first-prioritized lighting frequency, and a second exposure-time factorization set is determined for the second-prioritized lighting frequency. An exposure time of the imaging device is adjusted to an exposure time identified in the first exposure-time factorization set that matches, or aligns near-to-matching, an exposure time identified in the second exposure-time factorization set.

Abstract: An imaging element of an imaging apparatus has a configuration in which a plurality of pixels provided with a plurality of photoelectric conversion units for receiving light fluxes transmitting each of different pupil partial regions of an image forming optical system are arrayed. A CPU performs control to acquire a plurality of viewpoint images corresponding to different pupil partial regions from the imaging element and to generate output images using an image processing unit. The CPU and the image processing unit sets a detection range of an image shift amount using a photographing condition of an input image and a conversion coefficient for a conversion an image shift amount to a defocus amount, generates an image shift amount distribution of the detection range on the basis of a plurality of viewpoint images, and generates an image shift difference amount distribution. Image processing in accordance with the image shift amount distribution is performed to generate refocused images as output images.

Abstract: An image sensor, an image signal processor, and an image processing system including the same are disclosed. The image sensor includes an active pixel sensor (APS) block provided with a (3×3) matrix in which three red color pixels, three blue color pixels, and three white color pixels are contained, and a data generation block configured to generate pixel data of each of the red color pixels, pixel data of each of the blue color pixels, and pixel data of each of the white color pixels.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for selecting a lens control mode for a camera in external magnetic fields or other types of non-magnetic interference. In embodiments, when the camera is activated, a test of a position sensor for the camera lens is performed by moving the camera lens through a range of positions and collecting values from the sensor. In embodiments, the sensor readings are analyzed to determine conditions such as (a) whether the sensor is saturated by an external magnetic field or non-magnetic interference, (b) whether the sensor's readings are within an error margin, and (c) whether a computed position offset for the sensor is valid. Based on the analysis, the camera is placed into a first control mode where movement of the lens is controlled using the position sensor, or a second control mode where lens movement is controlled without the position sensor.

Abstract: A dual camera module system includes a housing and a pair of camera modules (e.g., digital cameras) that are aligned with fields of view that overlap below the housing. The camera modules are mounted to a bench within the housing. The dual camera module system is configured for mounting above areas such as retail establishments or other materials handling facilities. The housing is formed from one or more sections of plastic or like materials, and includes inlets and outlets that enable air to flow past the camera modules and other components within the housing, and to maintain such components at a desired temperature. Images captured by the imaging devices of the camera module may be utilized for any purpose.

Abstract: A shift register is described. The shift register includes a plurality of cells and register space. The shift register includes circuitry having inputs to receive shifted data and outputs to transmit shifted data, wherein: i) circuitry of cells physically located between first and second logically ordered cells are configured to not perform any logical shift; ii) circuitry of cells coupled to receive shifted data transmitted by an immediately preceding logically ordered cell comprises circuitry for writing into local register space data received at an input assigned an amount of shift specified in a shift command being executed by the shift register, and, iii) circuitry of cells coupled to transmit shifted data to an immediately following logically ordered cell comprises circuitry to transmit data from an output assigned an incremented shift amount from a shift amount of an input that the data was received on.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital conversion circuit includes a first comparator, a second comparator and a counter circuit. The first comparator compares an analog signal with a ramp signal. The second comparator compares the analog signal with the ramp signal plus a predetermined offset. When a signal level of the ramp signal is less than a signal level of the analog signal, the counter circuit counts a number of clock cycles of a first clock signal to generate a first portion of a digital signal. When the signal level of the ramp signal plus the predetermined offset is greater than the signal level of the analog signal, the counter circuit counts a number of clock cycles of a second clock signal to generate a second portion of the digital signal. A frequency of the first clock signal is less than a frequency of the second clock signal.

Abstract: An imaging device according to the present disclosure includes a photoelectric converter that converts light into an electric charge; a transfer transistor; a charge accumulation node coupled to the photoelectric converter via the transfer transistor; a first signal detection transistor having a gate coupled to the charge accumulation node; a first reset transistor one of a source and a drain of which is coupled to the charge accumulation node; and a second reset transistor one of a source and a drain of which is coupled to the photoelectric converter, wherein one of a source and a drain of the first signal detection transistor is coupled to the other of the source and the drain of the first reset transistor and the other of the source and drain of the second reset transistor.