Abstract: In certain embodiments, an electronic device comprises a camera; a tilt optical image stabilizer (OIS) configured to rotate the camera with respect to the electronic device, about at least one axis; and at least one processor operatively connected to the camera and the tilt OIS, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: operate the camera and the tilt OIS such that the camera is rotated about the at least one axis and captures an image, and synthesize a plurality of images captured by the camera.

Abstract: An event driven sensor includes an arrangement of photodiodes including an inner portion laterally surrounded by an outer portion. An outer pixel cell circuit is coupled to generate an outer pixel value in response to photocurrent generated by the outer portion. The outer pixel value is a binned signal representative of an average value of brightness of incident light on the arrangement of photodiodes. An inner pixel cell circuit is coupled to the inner portion to generate an inner pixel value in response to photocurrent generated by from the inner portion. An event driven circuit is coupled to the outer pixel cell circuit and the inner pixel cell circuit. The event driven circuit is coupled to generate an output signal responsive to an inner brightness indicated by the inner pixel value relative to an outer brightness indicated by the outer pixel value.

Abstract: An image sensing device includes a plurality of image sensor pixels including a first image sensor pixel and a second image sensor pixel and a transmission driver. The transmission driver is coupled to first and second transfer gates to apply a first transmission signal to the first transfer gate to control the first transfer gate and a second transmission signal to the second transfer gate to control the second transfer gate. A first distance between the first image sensor pixel and the transmission driver is shorter than a second distance between the second image sensor pixel and the transmission driver, and the first and second transfer gates of the first image sensor pixel are different in structure from the first and second transfer gates of the second image sensor pixel, respectively.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solid-state imaging device and an electronic device that can be provided with phase difference pixels with a lower degree of difficulty in manufacturing. Provided is a solid-state imaging device including a pixel array unit in which a plurality of pixels is two-dimensionally arrayed, in which the pixel array unit has an array pattern in which a plurality of pixel groups each including neighboring pixels of an identical color is regularly arrayed, and among the plurality of pixel groups arrayed in the array pattern, pixels configuring a light-shielded pixel group are shielded in an identical direction side from light, the light-shielded pixel group being a pixel group including pixels each being shielded in a part of a light incident side from the light. The present technology can be applied to, for example, a CMOS image sensor including pixels for phase difference detection.

Abstract: An encrypted photographing method based on fingerprint recognition, and a system thereof are disclosed. The method may include: when detecting starting an encrypted photographing mode, obtaining an unlocking fingerprint for starting the encrypted photographing mode; when detecting a photographing instruction, generating an original photo and generating a key pair based on the unlocking fingerprint wherein the key pair may include an encryption key and a decryption key; encrypting the original photo according to the encryption key so as to generate an encrypted photo; and generating a corresponding system directory according to the decryption key, and saving the encrypted photo to the generated system directory. The present disclosure improves the security of a photo, and avoids leaking the content of an encrypted photo.

Abstract: A signal conversion circuit and a signal readout circuit are provided. The signal conversion circuit includes: an operational amplifier, configured to amplify an electric signal output by a sensing array; an input switched capacitor, wherein an end of the input switched capacitor is configured to receive the electric signal output by the sensing array, and another end of the input switched capacitor is coupled with an input end of the operational amplifier; and a feedback switched capacitor, wherein an end of the feedback switched capacitor is coupled with the input end of the operational amplifier, and another end of the feedback switched capacitor is coupled with an output end of the operational amplifier.

Abstract: Switching techniques for fast voltage settling in image sensors are described. In one embodiment, an image sensor includes a plurality of lateral overflow integrating capacitor (LOFIC) pixels arranged in rows and columns of a pixel array. The plurality of pixels includes an active pixel configured for exposure to light, and a dummy pixel at least partially protected from exposure to light. A common bitline (BL) is couplable to the active pixel and the dummy pixel. A comparator (OA1) is coupled to the bitline. The comparator is configured to receive a pixel voltage (Vx) from the active pixel on one input and a ramp voltage (Vy) on another input. Charge accumulated by the active pixel is determined at least in part by an intersection between the ramp voltage and the pixel voltage.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a sensor element and an electronic device that can further reduce noise. In a solid-state imaging apparatus that performs AD conversion in a pixel, a comparator circuit included in the pixel at least has: a comparing unit that compares a pixel signal output from a pixel circuit with a reference signal which is a slope signal whose level monotonously decreases with time; a band limiting unit that performs band limiting by narrowing a band of a signal that changes according to a result of comparison by the comparing unit; and an amplification unit that amplifies the signal whose band has been limited through the band limiting unit. The present technology can be applied to a solid-state imaging apparatus that performs AD conversion in a pixel, for example.

Abstract: There is provided a camera apparatus, including circuitry configured to: output a first image signal for displaying a first image, output a second image signal for displaying a second image. The second image signal is an image signal transmitted as a return signal. Further, the second image is an image that includes one of a location of a focus adjustment in the first image and an enlarged image corresponding to a part of the first image.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus comprises a first signal processing circuit that generates image data for display by applying signal processing for display to image data obtained from an image sensor and a second signal processing circuit that generates image data for recording by applying signal processing for recording to the image data obtained from the image sensor. The image capture apparatus further comprises a recording circuit that records, in association with the image data for recording, information from which settings of the signal processing for display can be identified.

Abstract: A method for reducing thermal shading in a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor is provided. The method includes: detecting one or more regions in a CMOS image sensor in which thermal shading occurs, the CMOS image sensor including a plurality of heating elements in a chip; automatically switching a subset of the plurality of heating elements to turn on based on the detected one or more regions; and automatically switching the subset of the plurality of heating elements to turn off in an active power consumption phase of the CMOS image sensor.

Abstract: An image capturing method can be applied to an application, and include: determining a dimension adjustment approach set for a preset object in an acquired image to be processed after a dimension adjustment function of the application is turned on; and obtaining and displaying an adjusted image by adjusting a dimension of the preset object in the image to be processed according to the dimension adjustment approach, so as to support real-time preview of the adjusted image. As the dimension of the preset object in the image to be processed is adjusted in the image capturing process, the image capturing experience of the user is improved, and satisfying photos or videos can be obtained quickly.

Abstract: An image sensing device may include a first tap and a second tap configured to generate a hole current in a substrate, and capture photocharge which is generated by incident light and migrated by the hole current. The first and second taps may be disposed in vertex regions facing each other in a diagonal direction in one pixel, respectively.

Abstract: Techniques are described for implementing ramp voltage generators with current steering architectures that provide high power supply noise rejection. For example, a current steering architecture uses a sample and hold block and a driver block to control and drive a current steering network. Both generate signals that track supply voltage variations, and those signals are used to generate a ramp voltage. For image sensor applications, image tolerance to ramp noise can be very low when the ramp voltage is low, but can increase appreciably as the ramp voltage increases. As such, embodiments can be implemented to provide high PSR at low ramp voltages, even if the PSR degrades at higher ramp voltages, while maintaining high linearity over the entire ramp voltage.

Abstract: One embodiment of a camera module includes: a lens barrel provided with at least one lens; and a lens holder having the lens barrel coupled thereto, wherein the lens barrel may have a first adhesive part formed thereon having the bottom surface thereof facing the top surface of the lens holder and adhered to the lens holder, the lens holder may have a second adhesive part formed thereon having the top surface thereof facing the bottom surface of the lens barrel and adhered to the lens barrel, and a first recessed groove having at least a portion of an adhesive deposited therein may be formed in the second adhesive part.

Abstract: An image capturing device is provided, which includes a capacitive trans-impedance amplifier (CTIA) unit cell. The CTIA unit cell includes an image detector and a switching network. The image detector is configured to detect light having a first color and light having a second color different from the first color, and to generate a photocurrent in response to detecting the light. The switching network includes a CTIA switch, a CTIA low reset switch, and a CTIA high-reset biasing switch. The CTIA switch sets a first reset level of the CTIA unit cell to a first voltage in response invoking a first switching state of the CTIA low-reset switch and sets a second reset level of the CTIA to a second voltage greater than the first voltage level in response to invoking a second switching state of the CTIA low-reset switch.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes a first operation member, a second operation member different from the first operation member, a specific operation unit, and a control unit. Where the electronic apparatus is in a first operation mode and in response to the first operation member being operated, the control unit performs control to execute a specific function different from a switching function of switching a lock setting state of an operation on the specific operation unit. Where the electronic apparatus is in a second operation mode different from the first operation mode and in response to the first operation member being operated, the control unit performs control to execute the switching function. The first operation member is an operation member located on a surface lower in height in a direction perpendicular to an operation surface than a surface on which the second operation member is located.

Abstract: An array imaging apparatus having discrete camera modules is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a substrate; and heterogeneous camera modules attached to the substrate and in a geometric relationship with each other, the heterogeneous camera modules having a substantially similar photometric response.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods that use and/or generate image files according to a novel microvideo image format. For example, a microvideo can be a file that contains both a still image and a brief video. The microvideo can include multiple tracks, such as, for example, a separate video track, audio track, and/or one or more metadata tracks. As one example track, the microvideo can include a motion data track that stores motion data that can be used (e.g., at file runtime) to stabilize the video frames. A microvideo generation system included in an image capture device can determine a trimming of the video on-the-fly as the image capture device captures the microvideo.

Abstract: A high dynamic range imaging pixel may include first and second photodiodes that generate charge in response to incident light. The second photodiode may have a higher sensitivity than the first photodiode. When generated charge in the first photodiode exceeds a given charge level, the charge may overflow through a transistor to a capacitor. The overflow path from the first photodiode to the capacitor may optionally pass through the floating diffusion region. A transistor may be coupled between the first and second photodiodes. A gain select transistor may be coupled between the floating diffusion region and the capacitor. After sampling the overflow charge, the charge from both the first and second photodiodes may be sampled. In one arrangement, overflow charge may be transferred to a capacitor in a subsequent row.