Abstract: A digital camera includes an imaging element having an imaging surface where pixels are arranged in two dimensions in a row direction X and in a column direction Y, an AF processing unit that determines whether a focus lens is in a focused state using detection signals obtained from respective pixels of a first pixel group including plural pixels arranged in the row direction X and a second pixel group including pixels arranged at the same distance in one direction that crosses the row direction X with respect to each of the plural pixels of the first pixel group, in a state where the focus lens is at an arbitrary position, and a system control unit that moves the focus lens until the AF processing unit determines that the focus lens is in the focused state.

Abstract: Image sensors may include an array of pixels each having nested sub-pixels. Nested sub-pixels may include an inner photosensitive region and an outer photosensitive region. Inner photosensitive regions of pixels in an array may be provided with a respective local vertical transfer gate structure formed in a trench that laterally surrounds the inner photosensitive region. A trench structure may be formed in a grid-like pattern having gaps in which the nested sub-pixels are formed. The trench structure may be coupled to outer photosensitive regions of each of the pixels in the array. The trench structure may be a global vertical transfer gate structure. The vertical transfer gate structures provided to the pixels may allow for accumulated charges to be transferred to respective charge storage nodes associated with the photosensitive regions in any given pixel. Image sensors formed in this way may be used in rolling shutter or global shutter configurations.

Abstract: A fish eye camera is provided. A main circuit board is fixed to an inside of a base housing. A middle housing is formed to cover both of the main circuit board and a camera module and fixed to the base housing in a state in which a fish eye lens of the camera module is drawn from the middle housing. A bracket includes a bracket body, which is insertion-coupled to a plurality of light emitting diode (LED) substrates and elastically supports the plurality of LED substrates in a state in which the plurality of LED substrates are arranged around an outer side of the middle housing, and metal bodies which are inserted into the bracket body to be in contact with the LED substrates. A cover housing is formed to cover both of the bracket and the middle housing and fixed to the base housing.

Abstract: A method for processing camera images in real-time is disclosed. The user starts a process that generates a feed from a mobile device of camera images of a document. An image from the feed is obtained and set as the current image. One or more of a plurality of aspects regarding the image are computed and tested against a threshold. If the aspect fails to satisfy the threshold, then the user is prompted to change the move the mobile device. Once the aspects satisfy their respective thresholds, the camera feed is stopped, the last image is saved, and character recognition of the last image is performed and displayed to the user.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for focusing, applied in image processing field, which includes determining that imaging mode switches from a first imaging mode to a second imaging mode, making luminance adjustment to a first feature template of target object in the first imaging mode to obtain a second feature template, searching for an image of the target object according to the second feature template in the second imaging mode. The method enables a terminal in an automatic focusing process to realize a function of constant automatic focusing, and to make user interaction decreases and focus on the target object in time, accurately and efficiently to output constant satisfactory images or videos.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus has a first mode in which a detection unit detects a light amount change characteristic from an object between first and second exposures of an imaging unit during a continuous shooting and a determination unit determines an exposure timing of the second exposure based on the detected light amount change characteristic.

Abstract: The alignment of a camera system is less expensive when using a holder with a plurality of connecting pieces, each implemented for connecting, fitting or clamping with a counterpart of a camera housing or an objective, a holder that is implemented such that the connecting pieces or holder modules of the holder, where the connecting pieces are held rigidly or merely at rotation axes, are held rigidly with respect to one another along at least one common spatial direction.

Abstract: When imaging bright objects, a conventional detector array can saturate, making it difficult to produce an image with a dynamic range that equals the scene's dynamic range. Conversely, a digital focal plane array (DFPA) with one or more m-bit counters can produce an image whose dynamic range is greater than the native dynamic range. In one example, the DFPA acquires a first image over a relatively brief integration period at a relatively low gain setting. The DFPA then acquires a second image over longer integration period and/or a higher gain setting. During this second integration period, counters may roll over, possibly several times, to capture a residue modulus 2m of the number of counts (as opposed to the actual number of counts). A processor in or coupled to the DFPA generates a high-dynamic range image based on the first image and the residues modulus 2m.

Abstract: A camera module includes a lens carrier that houses a lens, electrical components of optical path modifiers positioned on the lens carrier, an image sensor, and a controller that is to generate commands for operating the optical path modifiers. A printed circuit assembly positioned on the lens carrier is electrically coupled to suspension wires. The printed circuit assembly includes a printed circuit that has installed thereon a serial bus communications interface circuit that is to receive the commands from the controller through one of the suspension wires, and a translation circuit that is to translate the commands into control signals that are to operate or drive the optical path modifiers via the electrical components and according to the commands, respectively. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A comparison device includes a multi-step pixel signal generation circuit coupled to a pixel to receive a pixel signal and generate a multi-step pixel signal based on the pixel signal according to a multi-step trigger signal and a multi-step size control signal; a comparison circuit coupled to the multi-step pixel signal generation circuit to compare a ramp signal with the multi-step pixel signal and output a comparison signal; and a control circuit coupled to the multi-step pixel signal generation circuit and the comparison circuit to detect crossings of the multi-step pixel signal and the ramp signal based on the comparison signal from the comparison circuit and output the multi-step size control signal to the multi-step pixel signal generation circuit.

Abstract: An image sensor module includes an interposer substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the interposer substrate being light-transmissive and having a plurality of through-holes; an image sensor located to face the first surface of the interposer substrate, the image sensor having a light receiving surface on a side of the interposer substrate, a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements being located at the light receiving surface, the image sensor being connected with an external circuit via electrodes provided in the plurality of through-holes; and a lens unit located to face the second surface of the interposer substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes imaging techniques and devices having improved autofocus capabilities. The imaging techniques can include actively illuminating a scene and determining distances over the entire scene and so that a respective distance to each object or point in the scene can be determined. Thus, distances to all objects in a scene (within a particular range) at any given instant can be stored. A preview of the image can be displayed so as to allow a user to select a region of the scene of interest. In response to the user's selection, the imager's optical assembly can be adjusted automatically, for example, to a position that corresponds to optimal image capture of objects at the particular distance of the selected region of the scene.

Abstract: An image sensing system includes a pixel array, an analog-to-digital converter circuit, and a memory. The pixel array includes a first pixel, a second pixel, and a third pixel interposed between the first pixel and the second pixel. During a first sensing time, the analog-to-digital converter circuit converts a first image signal received from the first pixel to first image data and converts a second image signal received from the second pixel to second image data. During a second sensing time, the analog-to-digital converter circuit converts a third image signal received from the third pixel to third image data. The first image data and the second image data are written in the memory during a first write time, and the third image data are written in the memory during a second write time.

Abstract: An imaging device is capable of interval shooting that allows images to be consecutively captured at predetermined image-capture intervals. The imaging device includes power input unit through which the imaging device receives power from an external device; battery configured to be charged with power received via the power input unit, and to supply power to operate the imaging device; and charge controller configured to control charging of the battery. Charge controller prohibits, under a predetermined condition, charging of the battery during the interval shooting performed by the imaging device.

Abstract: A dual-aperture zoom camera comprising a Wide camera with a respective Wide lens and a Tele camera with a respective Tele lens, the Wide and Tele cameras mounted directly on a single printed circuit board, wherein the Wide and Tele lenses have respective effective focal lengths EFLW and EFLT and respective total track lengths TTLW and TTLT and wherein TTLW/EFLW>1.1 and TTLT/EFLT<1.0. Optionally, the dual-aperture zoom camera may further comprise an optical OIS controller configured to provide a compensation lens movement according to a user-defined zoom factor (ZF) and a camera tilt (CT) through LMV=CT*EFLZF, where EFLZF is a zoom-factor dependent effective focal length.

Abstract: An image sensor may include an array of pixels having an active pixel. The active pixel may generate image signals in response to incident light. The image sensor may also include a power supply and booster circuitry. The power supply may provide a powers supply voltage signal, which has a first noise component, to the active pixel. The booster circuitry may provide a control signal, which has a second noise component that is the inverted version of the first noise component, to the active pixel. The control signal with the second noise component may be used to reject the first noise component, which is an unwanted noise component (e.g., power supply noise). The booster circuitry may include an operational amplifier, capacitors, and switches coupled to two input terminals and one output terminal of the operational amplifier in various configurations.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus and a method by which the electronic apparatus provides recommendation information related to photography are provided. The method includes detecting, by an electronic device, a face of a subject in a preview screen viewed by a camera of the electronic device and displayed on a display of the electronic device, identifying a current composition information of the preview screen based on the detected face of the subject within the preview screen, determining a recommended photographing composition based at least in part on the identified current composition information of the preview screen and a central composition information, and providing a visual composition guide on the display of the electronic device based on the determined recommended photographing composition, the visual composition guide including a current composition indicator and a recommended photographing composition indicator.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an imaging apparatus comprising an image sensor that includes an imaging surface in which many pixels are arranged vertically and horizontally, a pixel control unit that controls the image sensor, selects a pixel corresponding to a sampling function among pixels configuring a block by applying the sampling function for each block acquired by partitioning the imaging surface of the image sensor into a plurality of blocks, and outputs a sampling signal based on a pixel value of the selected pixel, and a reduced image generating unit that generates a reduced image on the basis of the sampling signal for each block output from the image sensor.

Abstract: An information processing device includes: an outline extraction unit extracting an outline of a subject from a picked-up image of the subject; a characteristic amount extraction unit extracting a characteristic amount, by extracting sample points from points making up the outline, for each of the sample points; an estimation unit estimating a posture of a high degree of matching as a posture of the subject by calculating a degree of the characteristic amount extracted in the characteristic amount extraction unit being matched with each of a plurality of characteristic amounts that are prepared in advance and represent predetermined postures different from each other; and a determination unit determining accuracy of estimation by the estimation unit using a matching cost when the estimation unit carries out the estimation.

Abstract: Provided is an image display device which includes an image pickup camera and makes it possible to prevent an image pickup window part from reducing a display area. The image display device which includes the image pickup camera is configured such that: the image pickup window part for the image pickup camera is disposed in an image display region; and a diameter ?p of the image pickup window part is set so as to satisfy a specific condition which is based on an angle of view ? of the image pickup camera.