Abstract: A method of removing a bad pixel from a pixel image is provided. The method includes determining whether a representative pixel representing at least one bad pixel is included in a kernel, determining whether a first pixel is a bad pixel when the representative pixel is included in the kernel, and compensating for the first pixel using a second pixel in the kernel when the first pixel is determined to be a bad pixel. The kernel has the first pixel at a center of the kernel.

Abstract: The system may capture an image comprising an original image size. The system may further determine an optimal size for the image based on a connection bandwidth and/or connection latency. The system may also compress the image to reduce an image size locally until the image size is less than or equal to the optimal size, before transmitting the image with the optimal size to the receiver while controlling latency in image transmission.

Abstract: An imaging system may have a pixel array that includes a first group of pixels and a second group of pixels that generate image signals in response to light received from a scene. Image signals generated by the first group of pixels may be read out using a first skipping pattern and/or binning factor and image signals generated by the second group of pixels may be read out using a second skipping pattern and/or binning factor. The first and second skipping patterns and/or binning may be different and may be weighted based on the amount of image data that is available for different portions of the scene. An image may be generated based on the image signals that are read out from the first and second groups. Perspective correction operations may be used to correct for perspective distortion in the image.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement modular array cameras using sub-array modules. In one embodiment, an X×Y sub-array module includes: an X×Y arrangement of focal planes, where X and Y are each greater than or equal to 1; and an X×Y arrangement of lens stacks, the X×Y arrangement of lens stacks being disposed relative to the X×Y arrangement of focal planes so as to form an X×Y arrangement of cameras, where each lens stack has a field of view that is shifted with respect to the field-of-views of each other lens stack so that each shift includes a sub-pixel shifted view of the scene; and image data output circuitry that is configured to output image data from the X×Y sub-array module that can be aggregated with image data from other sub-array modules so that an image of the scene can be constructed.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus that forms an image of a light beam transmitted through an imaging lens on an imaging element includes a laminated material that is provided on the imaging element, the light beam being transmitted through the laminated material, the laminated material being provided at a position at which an end portion of an upper surface of the laminated material allows an outermost light beam out of light beams to be transmitted therethrough, the light beams entering a pixel in an outer end portion of the imaging element in an effective pixel area, the position having a width Hopt.

Abstract: A lens moving apparatus including a bobbin, a first coil mounted at an outer circumference of the bobbin, a first magnet moving the bobbin in a first direction parallel to an optical axis by interaction with the first coil, a housing supporting the first magnet, an upper elastic member disposed at a top surface of the bobbin and at a top surface of the housing, a lower elastic member disposed at a bottom surface of bobbin and at a bottom surface of the housing, and first and second winding protrusions disposed with being opposite to each other, the first coil being wound on the first and second winding protrusions.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an image sensor includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels, an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert analog pixel signals output from the pixels into digital signals, a first cluster configured to store a first group of digital signals among the digital signals and to output first image data, a second cluster configured to store a second group of digital signals among the digital signals and to output second image data, and at least one cluster switch connected to the first cluster and the second cluster, a first channel, and a second channel. The image sensor is configured to transmit at least one among the first image data and the second image data to at least one among the first channel and the second channel based on an operation mode.

Abstract: Methods for stitching multiple sub-images together to form a substantially seamless composite image are disclosed. Overlap regions formed by each pair of neighboring sub-images are periodically examined and key features common to the overlap regions in each sub-image of the pair are identified. A transformation is determined for each sub-image pair based on the positions of these key features. The transformation is split between the sub-images and applied to distort the overlap regions in each sub-image pair such that they are substantially aligned. Applying the transformations to each overlap region in the overall image enables creation of a substantially seamless composite image. In some embodiments, the process wherein the transformations are determined is run as a feedback loop to enable continuing refinement of the transformations.

Abstract: Disclosed are a ramp signal generator capable of reducing the size of a feedback capacitor by using a current subtraction and a CMOS image sensor using the same. The ramp signal generator may include a current supply unit suitable for supplying a first current; a current subtraction unit suitable for subtracting the first current from a second current, or the second current from the first current; and a ramp signal generation unit suitable for generating a ramp signal according to a third current and a reference voltage. The third current is a result of the subtraction.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described that relate to optical image stabilization in mobile computing devices that include multiple optical element sets. In an example embodiment, a mobile computing device may include a plurality of optical element assemblies, which may be coupled to a shared frame. The shared frame may be configured to maintain a fixed spatial arrangement between the optical element assemblies. A controller may receive a signal indicative of a movement of the mobile computing device. Based at least on the signal, the controller may determine a stabilization movement of the shared frame. The controller may cause an actuator to move the shared frame according to the stabilization movement. Optionally, the shared frame may also be configured to provide focus adjustments. For example, the controller may be additionally configured to cause the shared frame to move to a focus position based on a focus signal.

Abstract: A portable terminal device comprising: a control section that controls power supplied to a display section; and an acceleration detection section including a comparator that outputs a signal when the power is supplied to the display section even in a power-off state and acceleration equal to or greater than a predetermined value is detected, wherein the control section starts supplying the power to the display section, if there is no vibration during a predetermined time, after detecting the acceleration equal to or greater than the predetermined value with the acceleration detection section.

Abstract: A system and method for scaling an image includes receiving raw image data comprising input pixel values which correspond to pixels of an image sensor, filtering pixels in a spatial domain, and filtering pixels in a frequency domain according to an oversampling ratio. The system and method may also include outputting scaled image data as output pixel values, which correspond to subgroups of the input pixel values. The filtering may be done according to a Bayer-consistent ruleset which includes a set of filter weights and a series of scaling rules. The oversampling ratio is set to minimize an error after the filtering in the spatial domain and the filtering in the frequency domain.

Abstract: An apparatus including a substrate; a plurality of first image sensels supported by the substrate and arranged in rows and columns, wherein the substrate includes one or more apertures.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus that forms an image of a light beam transmitted through an imaging lens on an imaging element includes a laminated material that is provided on the imaging element, the light beam being transmitted through the laminated material, the laminated material being provided at a position at which an end portion of an upper surface of the laminated material allows an outermost light beam out of light beams to be transmitted therethrough, the light beams entering a pixel in an outer end portion of the imaging element in an effective pixel area, the position having a width Hopt.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solid-state imaging device conforming to different data transmission modes. A driver in a CMOS sensor includes a single-end driver which is provided in correspondence with two output terminals, activated in a parallel transmission mode, and outputs a corresponding data signal as a single-end signal to a corresponding output terminal; a serializer which is activated in a serial transmission mode and outputs a plurality of data signals which are supplied in parallel, serially one by one, and a differential driver which is activated in the serial transmission mode and outputs each of data signals output from the serializer as a differential signal to the output terminals.

Abstract: An image processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention obtains recovery image data by performing restoration processing using a restoration filter based on a point spread function of an optical system, on original image data obtained from an imaging element by imaging using the optical system. The restoration filter used in this restoration processing (a combination filter and realization filter Fr) is generated by combining multiple base filters Fb. Base filter Fb may be arbitrarily selected from filters that are confirmed beforehand to be effective to prevent image quality degradation.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a first image sensor, a second image sensor, one or more image processing modules, and a display. The first image sensor generates first image data. The second image sensor generates second image data. The one or more image processing modules process one or more image data among the first image and the second image data. The display displays the one or more image data among the first image data or second image data processed by the one or more image processing modules. The thumbnail generation module generates thumbnail data using the one or more image data among the first image data and second image data processed by the one or more image processing modules. A method includes converting the plurality of image data into a format displayable on a display, and generating thumbnail data using the image data of the displayable format.

Abstract: In an imaging device, a difference calculation unit calculates a differential signal between charge signals that have been accumulated and are held by first and charge holding units with different timings. A multiple sampling unit performs multiple sampling processing on the differential signal, and an analog digital conversion unit converts a signal that has undergone multiple sampling processing to a digital signal. That is, multiple sampling processing is performed on a differential signal with a higher sparsity than that of an image signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for implementing optical image stabilization (OIS) in a mobile device. One or more functions associated with OIS may be performed by hardware and/or processing resources that are provided independently of a camera unit.

Abstract: A MEMS actuator including buckled flexures and a method of assembling the actuator are described. The assembled MEMS actuator includes an inner frame; an outer frame including latched electrical bars, where a first of the latched bars includes a latch protrusion secured to a corresponding latch groove of a second of the latched bars; and buckled flexures coupling the inner frame to the outer frame. The flexures are buckled during assembly of the MEMS actuator by incorporating the electrical bar latching mechanism into the design of the outer frame of the MEMS actuator. In one implementation, the MEMS actuator is assembled by providing a MEMS actuator with unbuckled flexures coupling the outer frame of the MEMS actuator to an inner frame of the MEMS actuator, where the outer frame includes unlatched electrical bars, and latching the electrical bars of the outer frame, resulting in buckled flexures.