Abstract: An apparatus including a sensor for setting an exposure time or gain for each of pixel groups including at least one pixel includes an imaging unit including the sensor configured to capture a subject through an optical system to generate an image, an acquisition unit configured to acquire information about a specific image region in the generated image, a determination unit configured to determine a specific pixel region including at least one pixel group in the sensor and corresponding to the specific image region, based on the information about the specific image region, a change unit configured to change at least one of a number, a size, and a shape of pixel groups in the specific pixel region determined by the determination unit, and a control unit configured to control the exposure time or gain for each of the pixel groups.

Abstract: An imaging device in which noise can be reduced, and an electronic device using this device. The imaging device includes a light receiving element, and a read circuit. A field effect transistor in the read circuit has a semiconductor layer in which a channel is formed, a gate electrode that covers the semiconductor layer, and a gate insulating film disposed between the semiconductor layer and the gate electrode. The semiconductor layer has a main surface, and a first side surface on one end side of the main surface in a gate width direction of the field effect transistor. The gate electrode has a first portion that faces the main surface via the gate insulating film, and a second portion that faces the first side surface via the gate insulating film. A crystal plane of the first side surface is a plane or a plane equivalent to the plane.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a lens assembly that includes at least one lens that defines an optical axis. The apparatus also includes a substrate, an image sensor disposed on the substrate, and an actuator coupled to the substrate and configured to adjust a position of the substrate relative to the lens assembly to move the image sensor along the optical axis. The apparatus additionally includes a capacitive position sensor that includes a first capacitive plate coupled to the substrate and a second capacitive plate coupled to the lens assembly. The capacitive position sensor may be configured to generate a capacitance measurement indicative of the position of the substrate relative to the lens assembly. The apparatus further includes circuitry configured to control the actuator based on (i) the capacitance measurement and (ii) a target position of the image sensor relative to the lens assembly.

Abstract: A device includes a first camera and a second camera respectively supported by a first and a second assemblies coupled via a hinge. The first and the second cameras are configured to respectively capture a first image and a second image that include a common reference object. A controller is coupled to the first and the second cameras, and configured to change an operating mode of the device in response to a comparison between the first and the second images. Additional cameras may be used in further embodiments and may be mounted onto the front and back surfaces of the first and the second assemblies.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a storage portion that stores captured image data obtained by imaging a subject by an imaging element and is incorporated in the imaging element, an output portion that is incorporated in the imaging element, and a plurality of signal processing portions that are disposed outside the imaging element, in which the output portion includes a plurality of output lines each disposed in correspondence with each of the plurality of signal processing portions and outputs each of a plurality of pieces of image data into which the captured image data stored in the storage portion is divided, to a corresponding signal processing portion among the plurality of signal processing portions from the plurality of output lines, and any of the plurality of signal processing portions combines the plurality of pieces of image data.

Abstract: A mounting area in a solid-state imaging device that detects an address event. The solid-state imaging device includes a light receiving chip and a detection chip. In the solid-state imaging device including the light receiving chip and the detection chip, the light receiving chip includes a photodiode that photoelectrically converts incident light and generates a photocurrent. In addition, in the solid-state imaging device, the detection chip quantizes a voltage signal corresponding to the photocurrent generated by the photodiode in the light receiving chip and outputs the voltage signal as a detection signal.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an illumination unit and a sensor unit disposed on a printed circuit board. The illumination unit includes a diode laser source inside an illumination housing. The sensor unit includes an image sensor having a pixel array and a lens barrel mounted on the image sensor with an adhesive, and an optical fiber coupled between the illumination housing and image sensor. The optical fiber is configured to collect a portion of light from the interior of the illumination housing that is emitted by the diode laser source and direct the portion of light to a corner of the pixel array of the image sensor that is located outside the lens barrel.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining multiple image frames captured during a multi-frame capture operation. The method also includes determining that two or more of the multiple image frames are available for selection as a reference frame, where the two or more image frames are associated with at least two different exposure levels. The method further includes determining whether a moving saturated region is present in the two or more image frames. The method also includes, in response to determining that the moving saturated region is present, selecting an image frame from among the two or more image frames having a first exposure level. In addition, the method includes, in response to determining that the moving saturated region is not present, selecting an image frame from among the two or more image frames having a second exposure level, where the second exposure level is longer than the first exposure level.

Abstract: An endoscopic camera system having an optical assembly; a first color image sensor transmitting a first low dynamic range image; a second color image sensor transmitting a second low dynamic range image; a monochrome image sensor transmitting a monochrome image; an HDR processor coupled to the first color image sensor and the second color image sensor for receiving the first low dynamic range image and the second low dynamic range image, the HDR processor being configured to combine the first low dynamic range image and the second dynamic range image into a high dynamic range image; and a combiner coupled to the HDR processor and the monochrome image sensor, the combiner being configured to combine the high dynamic range image with the monochrome image.

Abstract: At least one processor of an electronic device is configured to: activate a first image sensor and a second image sensor; obtain first image data by means of the first image sensor; obtain second image data by means of the second image sensor; and determine to output a preview image on the basis of the first image data among the first image data and the second image data on a display. In response to the determination to output the preview image, the at least one processor is configured to: set the resolution of the first image data as a first resolution; and set the resolution of the second image data as a second resolution which is lower than the first resolution.

Abstract: Provided is an electronic device including: a sensor; an image acquisition unit; a storage unit that stores a reference image that is an image of a target object; a feature-point position determining unit that determines the positions of feature points indicating local feature quantities in the reference image; a feature-point distance calculating unit that repeatedly executes detection of points corresponding to the feature points in the reference image from the acquired image of the space and calculation of the distances with respect to the positions of the detected points; a judgment unit that judges whether the amount of movement is equal to or less than a predetermined allowable reference value; and a control unit that obtains the acquired image of the space and stores the image of the space if it is judged that the amount of movement is equal to or less than the allowable reference value.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein reduce petal flare. A flare-suppressing image sensor includes a plurality of pixels including a first set of pixels and a second set of pixels. The flare-suppressing image sensor further includes plurality of microlenses, where each microlens is aligned to a respective one of the first set of pixels. The flare-suppressing image sensor further includes plurality of sub-microlens, where each microlens array is aligned to a respective one of the second set of pixels.

Abstract: The present technology relates to an imaging apparatus, a manufacturing apparatus, a manufacturing method, and an electronic appliance that contribute to miniaturization and thinning of an imaging apparatus. Provided is an imaging apparatus including a first circuit board in which an imaging element is mounted on a center portion, a component that is mounted on an outer circumference portion of the center portion of the first circuit board and a member that incorporates the component and is provided in the outer circumference portion and is formed by a mold method. The imaging apparatus further includes a lens barrel that holds a lens, in which a frame that supports a portion including the lens barrel is located on the member. Further, the frame includes an infra red cut filter (IRCF). The present technology can be applied to an imaging apparatus.

Abstract: There is provided with an image capturing control apparatus. A first storing unit configured to store, in advance, first signal information that is obtained by processing a captured first image. A first processing unit configured to send the first image to a second storing unit that is different from the first storing unit. A second processing unit configured to process the first image stored in the second storing unit. A determination unit configured to determine whether or not at least one of the second processing unit and the second storing unit is anomalous based on whether the first signal information matches second signal information obtained by the second processing unit processing the first image.

Abstract: An electronic device having a camera, while displaying a live preview for the camera, detects activation of a shutter button at a first time. In response, the electronic device acquires, by the camera, a representative image that represents a first sequence of images, and a plurality of images after acquiring the representative image, and also displays an indication in the live preview that the camera is capturing images for the first sequence of images. The electronic device groups images acquired by the camera in temporal proximity to the activation of the shutter button at the first time into the first sequence of images, such that the first sequence of images includes a plurality of images acquired by the camera prior to detecting activation of the shutter button at the first time, the representative image, and the plurality of images acquired by the camera after acquiring the representative image.

Abstract: The present technology relates to an imaging element that can reduce noise. The imaging element includes: a photoelectric conversion element; a first amplification element that amplifies a signal from the photoelectric conversion element; a second amplification element that amplifies an output from the first amplification element; an offset element provided between the first amplification element and the second amplification element; a first reset element that resets the first amplification element; and a second reset element that resets the second amplification element. The offset element is a capacitor. A charge is accumulated in the offset element via a feedback loop of an output from the second amplification element, and an offset bias is generated. The present technology can be applied to an imaging element.

Abstract: A control method for generating a high quality HDR image is provided. A control device of the technique of this disclosure is a control device configured to control an image capturing element capable of controlling an exposure condition for each of areas, the device including: an acquisition unit configured to acquire an exposure value map obtained by preliminary exposure using the image capturing element; and a setting unit configured to set the exposure condition including a shutter speed and an ISO sensitivity for each of the areas based on the exposure value map.

Abstract: Techniques for providing photography assistance include: determining a location of a mobile device; determining one or more object of interest (OOI) based on the location of the mobile device; obtaining a set of photographs associated with the one or more OOI; presenting the set of photographs associated with the OOI on a display of the mobile device; and in response to a selection of at least one photograph from the list of photographs, providing directional guidance via one or more user interface of the mobile device, wherein the directional guidance includes directions to reach a particular location associated with the selected at least one photograph.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to a master image sensor configured to communicate with a slave image sensor via an exposure time voltage line, wherein the exposure time voltage line is connected to a terminal of the master image sensor, the master image sensor having master circuitry, configured to: transmit to the slave image sensor, via the exposure time voltage line, an exposure time voltage signal being indicative of an exposure time for the master image sensor; and transmit to the slave image sensor, via the exposure time voltage line, an auxiliary information voltage signal being indicative of auxiliary information for adjusting at least one imaging capture parameter of the slave imaging sensor.

Abstract: An image acquisition method includes: exposing a pixel array to obtain a first color original image and a second color original image, data of the first color original image being generated by at least one color photosensitive pixel in a sub-unit, and data of the second color original image being generated by at least one transparent photosensitive pixel and the at least one color photosensitive pixel in the sub-unit; performing interpolation on the first color original image to obtain first interpolated images of multiple color channels, and performing interpolation on the second color original image to obtain a second interpolated image of at least one color channel; fusing the second interpolated image with the first interpolated images to obtain fused images of the multiple color channels; and acquiring a target image according to the fused image of the multiple color channels.