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: A shutter apparatus includes a shutter base plate having an opening, a light shielding member movable to provide a closed state for closing the opening and an open state for opening the opening, and at least one processor or circuit configured to perform operations of a control unit configured to control the light shielding member configured to reciprocate relative to the opening so as to move the light shielding member in a first direction for a forward exposure and in a second direction opposite to the first direction for a return exposure. The control unit varies an exposure correction amount of the light shielding member between the forward exposure and the return exposure.

Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus includes a stack of first and second chips each having a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in a matrix form. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the e1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the p-th row and the v-th column. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the f1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the q-th row and the v-th column. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the g1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the r-th row and the v-th column. The pixel circuit of the a-th row and the h1-th column is connected to the electric circuit of the s-th row and the v-th column.

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.

Abstract: There is provided an image sensor employing an avalanche diode. The image sensor includes a plurality of pixel circuits arranged in a matrix, a plurality of pulling circuits and a global current source circuit. Each of the plurality of pixel circuits includes a single photon avalanche diode and four P-type or N-type transistors. Each of the plurality of pulling circuits is arranged corresponding to one pixel circuit column. The global current source circuit is used to form a current mirror with each of the plurality of pulling circuits.

Abstract: An apparatus of reading out an image sensor having a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns includes a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) configured to output digital codes representative of received pixel signals of pixels coupled to respective ADCs, and a smear cancellation circuit configured to determine an average value of the digital codes, multiply the average value by a factor to obtain an offset value, and subtract the offset value from the digital codes to obtain smear-cancelled digital codes.

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.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: an image sensor that outputs an image signal obtained by image capturing by an imaging device, the imaging device performing image capturing of a photographic subject through an image capturing optical system; a display that displays a captured image based on the image signal; and a processor configured to determine, on the basis of a result of analysis of the captured image, a position of a boundary line along which the captured image is divided into a plurality of regions, adjust, in a case where a change occurs in the captured image, the determined position of the boundary line on the basis of the change in the captured image, and control, on the basis of a brightness of the captured image after the change, an exposure for at least one of the plurality of regions separated by the adjusted boundary line.

Abstract: A camera may include an image sensor configured to capture and measure light of a scene to be imaged. Control circuitry may be configured to control the image sensor to measure instances of the light captured in main exposure windows interspersed with test exposure windows. Timing of the main exposure windows may be adjusted based on luminance levels captured during the test exposure windows, for synchronization with a flickering waveform of the light.

Abstract: A method for reconstructing a colour image acquired by a photosensitive sensor covered with a mosaic of filters of different colours making up a base pattern, obtaining the product of a demosaicing matrix with a matrix representation of a mosaic image coming from the sensor following acquisition of the colour image by the sensor, the product of the demosaicing matrix with the matrix representation of the mosaic image performing an interpolation of the colour of each pixel of the mosaic image as a function of a pixel neighbourhood of a base pattern corresponding to the base pattern of the mosaic of filters.

Abstract: Devices and methods of minimizing the temporal error between pixels or groups of pixels on a focal plane array involving, on a focal plane array comprising at least two pixels or groups of pixels, at least one counter or ramp, and at least one trigger: determining the timing error associated with a time stamp associated with the at least two pixels or groups of pixels; storing the timing error associated with the at least two pixels or groups of pixels and the pixel or pixel group location; and using the stored timing error and pixel or pixel group location to correct subsequent time stamps associated with the at least two pixels or groups of pixels, wherein the timing error corresponds to a systematic error between the trigger and the counter or ramp value due to the location of a pixel or group of pixels on the focal plane array.

Abstract: An image sensor including pixels, each pixel including a photodetector and a circuit for reading out the quantity of charges collected by the photodetector at the end of a phase of charge collection by the photodetector. The image sensor further includes, for at least one of the pixels, a detection circuit capable, at least at two different times during the phase, of detecting whether the quantity of charges collected at the time by the photodetector of the pixel exceeds a threshold and, in the case where the quantity of charges collected at the time exceeds the threshold, of storing a first signal representative of the time and of resetting the photodetector.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing images with a high degree of movements in a captured scene are provided. The method includes receiving, by an image sensor, a sequence of images including a plurality of RGB image frames and color event data, generating a plurality of pseudo color filter array (CFA) frames based on the color event data, and generating dynamic images by combining the plurality of RGB image frames and the plurality of pseudo CFA frames.

Abstract: A visual privacy system unilaterally blocks rolling shutter cameras by providing a periodically interrupted ambient light source imposing bright and dark bands on the image yet at a frequency imperceptible to human observers in the environment. Communication of the modulation pattern to authorized cameras allows unaffected imaging in these regions by authorized individuals. The system also contemplates operation in a barcoding mode with a light modulation providing embedded barcodes that can be extracted from images taken in the region to indicate that the images were improperly acquired and to block the images in certain applications.