Abstract: A focus detection apparatus for performing a focus detection on the basis of pixel data of an object obtained from an imaging unit having pupil dividing means of a photographing optical system, Sets a focus detection area divided into division areas and a plurality of different first areas for deciding a focus state in the focus detection area, arithmetically operates first correlation data from the pixel data with respect to the object image of each division area to hold into a memory, adds the first correlation data of the division areas included in each first area read out from the memory, generates second correlation data of each first area, And discriminates focus states of a plurality of first areas in predetermined order on the basis of the second correlation data of each first area.

Abstract: An image capture device includes multiple pixels, each of which has multiple photoelectric conversion elements. Each of first pixels which are some of the pixels outputs a signal based on charges obtained by adding together the charges generated in the photoelectric conversion elements. Each of second pixels outputs a signal based on charges generated by a photoelectric conversion element disposed at a first position, without outputting charges generated by a photoelectric conversion element disposed at a second position among the photoelectric conversion elements. Each of third pixels outputs a signal based on charges generated by the photoelectric conversion element disposed at the second position, without outputting a signal based on charges generated by the photoelectric conversion element disposed at the first position.

Abstract: A time-lapse photography method includes several steps as follows. A determination is immediately made as to whether an image retaining condition is satisfied whenever an electronic device with an image-capturing function collects at least one data set. The data set includes a captured image. When the image retaining condition is satisfied, the captured image of the data set is stored; otherwise, the captured image of the data set is refused to be stored.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor and a generation unit configured to generate a signal of each of the pixels from the signals respectively read out from the plurality of charge accumulation units. The image sensor includes a plurality of pixels, each of the pixels including: a photoelectric conversion unit; a plurality of charge accumulation units for accumulating a charge generated in the photoelectric conversion unit; a control unit configured to control accumulation of charge in each of the plurality of charge accumulation units; and a readout unit configured to read out a signal corresponding to the charge from each of the plurality of charge accumulation units. The photoelectric conversion unit is formed in a first chip, and the plurality of charge accumulation units, the control unit, and the readout unit are formed in a second chip.

Abstract: An image capturing device, control method for grouping image capturing devices, and control system thereof are provided. The control method is applied in the control system for controlling image capturing devices. Every image capturing device includes a direction detection unit for indicating a current direction, a command receiving unit, a computing unit, a driving unit and an image capturing unit. The control method comprises the following steps. A steering command for indicating a specified region is provided to at least two image capturing devices. The computing unit calculates a steering angle according to the current direction and specified region. The driving unit drives the image capturing device to capture the specific region according to the steering angle.

Abstract: There is provided an image sensor including a pixel unit, the pixel unit including a photodiode, a first color filter and a second color filter each disposed in a different position on a plane above the photodiode, and a first on-chip lens disposed over the first color filter and a second on-chip lens disposed over the second color filter.

Abstract: A camera lens element is suspended on a support structure by balls that allow movement of the camera lens elementorthogonal to the optical axis and plural flexures connected between the support structure and the camera lens element to bias them against the balls while permitting said movement of the camera lens elementorthogonal to the optical axis. Lateral movement is driven by a lateral actuation arrangement comprising plural SMA actuator wires. The flexures provide a lateral biasing force that biases the camera lens element towards a central position. An electrical connection is made through the flexures from the support structure to the camera lens element. The flexures may be connected to laminated structures.

Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure include actions of receiving image data, the image data being provided from a camera and corresponding to a scene viewed by the camera, receiving one or more annotations, the one or more annotations being provided based on one or more entities determined from the scene, each annotation being associated with at least one entity, determining one or more actions based on the one or more annotations, and providing instructions to display an action interface including one or more action elements, each action element being selectable to induce execution of a respective action, the action interface being displayed in a viewfinder.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus including an image pickup unit configured to employ a first mode and a second mode; and a controller configured to read out, in the first mode, a first row, and read out, in the second mode and a mode different from the second mode, a second row, the first row being read out in the first mode during a first read-out period, the second row being read out in the second mode during a second read-out period, the second row read out in the mode different from the second mode during a third read-out period, and the first to third read-out periods having the same length.

Abstract: An optimum low-pass filter effect according to various photographing condition parameters related to photographing conditions is obtained with flexibility without forcing the user to perform a troublesome manual operation in a photographing apparatus which drives an image sensor to obtain an optical low-pass filter effect. The photographing condition parameter setters set parameters related to photographing conditions. The image sensor drive controller changes the drive range of the image sensor and the optical low-pass filter effect, which are defined by the image sensor driver, based on the photographing condition parameters set by the photographing condition parameter setters.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing motion blur in images or video in ultra low light with array cameras in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for synthesizing an image from multiple images captured using an array camera includes capturing image data using active cameras within an array camera, where the active cameras are configured to capture image data and the image data includes pixel brightness values that form alternate view images captured from different viewpoints, determining sets of corresponding pixels in the alternate view images where each pixel in a set of corresponding pixels is chosen from a different alternate view image, summing the pixel brightness values for corresponding pixels to create pixel brightness sums for pixel locations in an output image, and synthesizing an output image from the viewpoint of the output image using the pixel brightness sums.

Abstract: Notification is given of the fact that a television camera lens has developed a malfunction. An extender lens includes an imaging lens having a 1× magnification and an imaging lens having a 2× magnification. For each of these imaging lenses, a master lens is adjusted in such a manner that the light-receiving surface of an image sensor will be brought to an in-focus position. The master lens adjustment processing is executed periodically and data indicating a history of amounts of adjustment of the master lens is stored in memory per imaging lens. Data indicating the history of amounts of adjustment of the master lens is read from the memory. Whether the television camera lens is malfunctioning is detected from the read data indicating the history. If a malfunction is detected, an error LED emits light to notify of the malfunction.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a detection unit that detects brightness of light from an object, an XY addressing type of image sensor, a focal plane shutter having a mechanical second curtain shutter, an electronic first curtain shutter that resets the pixels in each line, and causes accumulation of charges in the pixels to start, a period detection unit that detects periodic variation in a light amount, a prediction unit that, based on the period of the variation in the light amount, predicts variation in the light amount in a predetermined exposure time, and a control unit that controls a reset time of the electronic first curtain shutter such that charge accumulation amounts of the pixels of each line fall within a predetermined range according to the variation in the light amount.

Abstract: An electronic device and an image capture method thereof are disclosed herein. The image capture method is suitable for an electronic apparatus including an image capture unit. The image capture method includes steps of: providing a first preview image by the image capture unit; detecting a first facial expression from the first preview image; providing a second preview image by the image capture unit after the first preview image; detecting the second facial expression from the second preview image; determining whether the second facial expression is matched to the first facial expression; and, automatically generating a second target image in response to the second facial expression is not matched to the first facial expression.

Abstract: A method of processing an image using an electronic device is provided. The method includes displaying at least part of a first image which is obtained through a first image sensor and at least part of a second image which is obtained through a second image sensor through a display unit which is functionally connected to the electronic device, storing the at least part of the first image, storing the at least part of the second image in response to a detecting of a signal, and storing the at least part of the first image and the at least part of the second image to be simultaneously replayed as at least one image.

Abstract: An image photographing method includes: displaying a live view; receiving a user input for selecting an area of the live view; and in response to a capturing input, applying different capturing option values to the selected area of the live view and an other area of the live view to generate an image.

Abstract: An imaging control terminal includes a wireless communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate with an imaging terminal, an imaging module configured to generate imaging data, a display interface configured to display an image corresponding to the imaging data generated by the imaging module, an operation interface configured to receive an operation of an operator designating an imaging area or an imaging target to be imaged by the imaging terminal for the image, an information generation unit configured to generate imaging area information representing the imaging area or imaging target information representing the imaging target, and a communication control unit configured to cause the wireless communication interface to wirelessly transmit the imaging area information or the imaging target information to the imaging terminal.

Abstract: An imaging device comprising: a pixel array that includes pixels arranged in rows and columns, each of the pixels outputting a pixel signal; vertical signal lines each of which is provided for each of the columns; a reference-signal generator that generates a reset signal corresponding to a reset voltage of the pixels; a signal processor that outputs a differential signal corresponding to a difference between the pixel signal and the reset signal; a first switch that is connected between one of the vertical signal lines and the signal processor, the first switch switching between input and interruption of the pixel signal from each of the pixels to the signal processor; and a second switch that is connected between the reference-signal generator and the signal processor, the second switch switching between input and interruption of the reset signal from the reference-signal generator to the signal processor.

Abstract: A method for operating a camera network having a plurality of cameras, comprising the steps of: communicating with the plurality of cameras to determine one or more operation parameters for each of the plurality of cameras; synchronizing the one or more operation parameters for each of the plurality of cameras; and coordinating a capture of multimedia data using the plurality of cameras with the one or more synchronized operation parameters.

Abstract: An optical adjusting apparatus having an optical adjusting lens to perform image stabilization and auto focusing includes a base supporting a lens barrel on which the optical adjusting lens is mounted, a first driver to move the lens barrel in a first direction, a plurality of first ball bearings disposed between the base and the first driver, a second driver to move the lens barrel in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, and a plurality of second ball bearings disposed between the first driver and the second driver.