Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein provide for a system and method for recalibrating an augmented reality experience in mobile devices using a plurality of physical markers. The system and methods provide for realigning the digital representation to the physical world using known physical locations associated with the physical markers that map directly to the digital representation.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device comprising: a first signal transfer unit group having a plurality of signal transfer units which transfer digital signals to a first common output line from a first holding circuit group; and a second signal transfer unit group having a plurality of signal transfer units which transfer digital signals to a second common output line from a second holding circuit group, wherein each of the plurality of signal transfer units is capable of transiting to a second state in which current consumption is less than current consumption in a first state, and, in a predetermined period, a number of the signal transfer units in the second state increases in the first signal transfer unit group and a number of the signal transfer units in the second state decreases in the second signal transfer unit group.

Abstract: A photon counting device includes a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element configured to convert input light to charge, and an amplifier configured to amplify the charge converted by the photoelectric conversion element and convert the charge to a voltage, an A/D converter configured to convert the voltages output from the amplifiers of the plurality of pixels to digital values; and a conversion unit configured to convert the digital value output from the A/D converter to the number of photons by referring to reference data, for each of the plurality of pixels, and the reference data is created based on a gain and an offset value for each of the plurality of pixels.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus having a wide dynamic range and a stable black level without decreasing frame rate comprises a pixel unit including pixels, a read out unit for reading out the noise signal from each pixel and to amplify the noise signal by a first gain to generate a first noise signal, reads out the pixel signal and amplifies the pixel signal by the first gain and a second gain to generate a first and a second pixel signal, a first memory unit for storing a second noise signal generated by amplifying, by the second gain, the noise signal read out from a pixel of a predetermined row, and a subtraction unit for subtracting the first noise signal from the first pixel signal and to subtract the second noise signal stored in the first memory unit from the second pixel signal, while sequentially reading out signals from each pixel.

Abstract: An image sensor has an array of pixels, each pixel having an associated shutter transistor coupled to transfer a charge dependent on light exposure of the pixel onto an image storage capacitor, the image-storage capacitors being configured to be read into an analog to digital converter. The shutter transistors are P-type transistors in N-wells, the wells held at an analog power voltage to reduce sensitivity of pixels to dark current; in an alternative embodiment the shutter transistors are N-type transistors in P-wells, the wells held at an analog ground voltage.

Abstract: A first input receiving a voltage to be sampled formed by a terminal of a sampling capacitor. An amplifier has a first input connected to another terminal of the sampling capacitor and a second input connected to a reference voltage. The amplifier is supplied by a power supply configured to deliver a reduced current and to supply the amplifier in a first condition during a first period, deliver a rated current and to supply the amplifier in a second condition during a second period, the reduced current being lower than the rated current. During the first period, the first and second inputs of the amplifier are short-circuited.

Abstract: Vehicle sensor systems include modular sensor kits having one or more pods (e.g., sensor roof pods) and/or one or more bumpers (e.g., sensor bumpers). The sensor roof pods are configured to couple to a vehicle. A sensor roof pod may be positioned atop a vehicle proximate a front of the vehicle, proximate a back of the vehicle, or at any position along a top side of the vehicle being coupled, for example, using a mounting shim or a tripod. The sensor roof pods can include sensors (e.g., LIDAR sensors, cameras, ultrasonic sensors, etc.), processing units, control systems (e.g., temperature and/or environmental control systems), and communication devices (e.g., networking and/or wireless devices).

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus configured to perform a focus detection using a pixel signal obtained by photoelectrically converting light passing through different pupil areas in an imaging optical system includes an acquirer configured to acquire the pixel signal, a signal generator configured to generate a plurality of focus detection signals corresponding to the different pupil areas using the pixel signal, and a focus detector configured to calculate a detected defocus amount based on the plurality of focus detection signals, and to calculate a corrected defocus amount by correcting the detected defocus amount based on a phase transfer function corresponding to the different pupil areas.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for controlling a dual camera unit and a device, the dual camera unit includes a first camera, a second camera and a driving component. The second camera is movable relative to the first camera. The method includes determining whether current ambient-light intensity reaches a preset threshold; controlling the driving component to deform, thereby to drive the second camera to move and change the distance between the first camera and the second camera to a first preset distance, when the current ambient-light intensity fails to reach the preset threshold; controlling the first camera and the second camera to be in a first imaging mode corresponding to the first preset distance; and controlling the first camera and the second camera to shoot in the first imaging mode, and outputting a first image in the first imaging mode.

Abstract: Compact camera heads as used in inspection systems having improved thermal extraction architectures are disclosed. Methods for assembling a camera head and associated components having improved thermal extraction architectures are also disclosed.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a photosensitive sensor, a floating diffusion node, a reset transistor, and a source follower transistor. The reset transistor comprises a first source/drain coupled to the floating diffusion node and a second source/drain coupled to a first voltage source. The source follower transistor comprises a gate coupled to the floating diffusion node and a first source/drain coupled to the second source/drain of the reset transistor. A first elongated contact contacts the second source/drain of the reset transistor and the first source/drain of the source follower transistor. The first elongated contact has a first dimension in a horizontal cross-section and a second dimension in the horizontal cross-section. The second dimension is perpendicular to the first dimension, and the second dimension is less than the first dimension.

Abstract: Techniques are described for digital conversion of pixel signals in a CMOS image sensor (CIS). The CIS includes column-parallel analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), each having a programmable gain amplifier (PGA) supporting N gain settings. Each ADC can execute, for each gain setting (Gn) of the N gain settings, a respective reset phase conversion to obtain a respective baseline offset (BOn) associated with the Gn. A pre-decision value can be determined as a function of a pixel signal, the pre-decision value corresponding to a selected one of the gain settings (Gs). The pixel signal can be converted by using the pre-decision value to set a gain of the PGA to the Gs and obtaining a signal offset (SO). A digital pixel output can be computed for the pixel signal as a function of the SO and the BOs, wherein the BOs is the BOn corresponding to the Gs.

Abstract: This invention enables one to check flicker of a HFR image signal. A display image signal of a first frame rate for flicker check is obtained on the basis of an image signal of a second frame rate. For example, the display image signal of the first frame rate is generated from the image signal of the second frame rate by a frame thinning process. In this case, a frame to be thinned is determined from a relationship between the second frame rate and a light source frequency. For example, the number of frames to be a flicker period is obtained from the second frame rate and the light source frequency, and the frame to be thinned is determined so that continuous frames of the number of frames to be the flicker period are present.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus, comprising: a pixel array; a first and a second signal line groups; a first and a second readout circuit groups; a first multiplexer group that selects one of at least two first signal lines, and connects the selected first signal line to one first readout circuit; and a second multiplexer group that selects one of at least two second signal lines, and connects the selected second signal line to one second readout circuit, a number of the first readout circuits is more than a number of the first signal lines, a number of the second readout circuits is more than a number of the second signal lines, the selection operations by the first and second multiplexer groups are executable independently from each other, the selection operation of the first multiplexer group is controlled collectively, and the selection operation of the second multiplexer group is controlled collectively.

Abstract: An imaging device includes pixel units, a control unit, and a correction unit. The control unit causes each pixel unit to output first and second signal. The first signal is a potential of a floating diffusion held when the charge accumulated in a photoelectric conversion unit is transferred upon a transfer switch being closed. The second signal is a potential of the floating diffusion held when a reset switch is closed with the transfer switch being open. The correction unit generates, with respect to the first and second signals output by each pixel unit, the pixel signal by subtracting a correction amount from a signal intensity of the first signal. The correction amount is a product of a signal intensity of the second signal and a coefficient determined in advance in accordance with a position of each pixel unit.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a plurality of pixels, a generation unit configured to generate a first reference signal changing in potential in a first period from a first point in time to a second point in time, and a second reference signal having a gradient larger than a gradient of the first reference signal and changing in potential in a second period from a third point in time to a fourth point in time, and a plurality of analog to digital (AD) conversion units. Each of the AD conversion units includes a selection circuit configured to select the first reference signal or the second reference signal, and a comparator. The first period and the second period partially overlap with each other. The third point in time is later than the first point in time.

Abstract: A camera system includes an imaging device that acquires a first image by a normal exposure including only one exposure and that acquires a second image by a multiple exposure including a plurality of exposures; and an image processor that extracts a feature value of a first object in the first image and that identifies one or more locations corresponding to the feature value in the second image.

Abstract: An imaging element includes a reading circuit, a memory that is capable of storing read captured image data, and an output circuit that outputs output image data based on the captured image data to an outside, in which the reading circuit reads out the captured image data using a first reading method or a second reading method having a smaller read data amount than the first reading method, in a case of the first reading method, a first frame rate corresponds to a second frame rate, in a case of the second reading method, the first frame rate is a frame rate lower than in the case of the first reading method, and the first and second reading methods are switched in accordance with a motion of a subject.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid lens control circuit, which includes a liquid lens including a plurality of individual electrodes disposed in compartmental areas at the same level and a common electrode disposed at a different level from that of the individual electrodes, a voltage control circuit configured to supply voltages to the common electrode and at least one of the individual electrodes in the liquid lens in order to control an interface in the liquid lens, and a capacitance measuring circuit configured to calculate a capacitance between the common electrode and at least one of the individual electrodes in the liquid lens using a switched capacitor.

Abstract: In an image capturing unit 20, an imaging element has a 4×4-pixel area in which: pixels including at least one pixel of every color component of a plurality of color components are polarization pixels of the same polarization direction; and pixels which are not the polarization pixels constitute a majority of the 4×4-pixel area, and are non-polarization pixels. The unpolarized component calculating unit 31 of the image processing unit 30 calculates unpolarized components for each pixel and for each color component by using pixel signals of polarization pixels, and pixel signals of non-polarization pixels that are generated at the image capturing unit 20. The diffuse reflection component calculating unit 32 calculates diffuse reflection components for each pixel and for each color component by using pixel signals of polarization pixels, and pixel signals of non-polarization pixels that are generated at the image capturing unit 20.