Abstract: A driving mechanism for moving an optical element is provided, including a first fixed part, a second fixed part, a movable part, and a driving unit. The movable part is movably connected to the first and second fixed parts for holding the optical element, wherein the optical element has an optical axis. The driving unit drives the movable part to move along the optical axis relative to the first and second fixed parts.

Abstract: The technical problem of enhancing the quality of an image captured by a front facing camera in low light conditions is addressed by displaying the viewfinder of a front facing camera with an illuminating border, termed a viewfinder ring flash. A viewfinder ring flash acts as a ring flash in low light conditions. A viewfinder ring flash may be automatically generated and presented in the camera view user interface (UI) when the digital sensor of a front facing camera detects a low light indication based on intensity of incident light detected by the digital image sensor of the camera.

Abstract: An image sensor and pixel circuit therefor includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices, a zero-biased multiplexer connected to the plurality of photoelectric conversion devices, an amplifier including a first input terminal connected to the zero-biased multiplexer, and an output terminal, a capacitor disposed between the first input terminal and the output terminal, and a reset switch disposed between the first input terminal and the output terminal in parallel with the capacitor, the reset switch including a body terminal connected to a common reference voltage.

Abstract: Provided is a semiconductor device including: a multilayer substrate including an optical element; a light-transmitting plate provided on the substrate to cover the optical element; and a lens of an inorganic material provided between the substrate and the light-transmitting plate. A structure having a same strength as a strength per unit area of the lens is provided at a portion outside an effective photosensitive region where the optical element is formed, when the substrate is viewed in plan.

Abstract: An optical image stabilizer includes an electric circuit member, an image sensor, a driving member and a pressing member. The electric circuit member includes a fixed part, a movable part and a connection part. The fixed part surrounds the movable part. The connection part is connected to the fixed part and the movable part, and the movable part is movable through the connection part. The image sensor is electrically connected to the electric circuit member and disposed on the movable part. The driving member and the pressing member are coupled to the movable part to respectively move and keep the movable part. The connection part includes wire structures connected to and located between the fixed part and the movable part. The wire structures with pliability are connected to the movable part with no physical support. The wire structures each includes a circuit layer and an insulation layer stacked together.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a dynamic flex circuit that may be used in a camera with a moveable image sensor. The dynamic flex circuit may include one or more fixed end portions, a moveable end portion, and an intermediate portion. In some embodiments, the fixed end portion may be connected to another flex circuit of the camera. The moveable end portion may be coupled with the moveable image sensor. The intermediate portion may be configured to allow the moveable end portion to move with the moveable image sensor. Some embodiments include a reinforcement arrangement that reinforces one or more portions of the dynamic flex circuit.

Abstract: The imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes: a first operation unit having a plurality of buttons corresponding to setting items of imaging conditions, and capable of adjusting the setting items according to operation; and a second operation unit capable of performing a rotating operation and a depressing operation and setting conditions related to the setting items according to operation.

Abstract: A camera may include at least one suspension assembly as part of optical image stabilization and/or autofocus systems of the camera. The suspension assembly may include an inner frame, an outer frame, and one or more flexure arms. Electrical traces may be deposited at both sides of the suspension assembly. A connection may be created, for electrical traces at the different sides of the suspension assembly, through the suspension assembly by removing (e.g., using an etching process) one or more parts in the body of the suspension assembly to create one or more cavities. A remaining part of the suspension assembly surrounded (and thus isolated) by the cavities may thus form at least a part of the connection for the electrical traces. The connection may further include one or more filled trenches connecting the electrical traces to the remaining part of the suspension assembly.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a camera having one or more base cutouts for a position sensing arrangement. For example, the position sensing arrangement may be used to determine a position of a moveable lens group and/or a moveable image sensor. According to some embodiments, a base structure of the camera may include a cutout that allows for a protrusion of a lens carrier to extend (e.g., in a direction parallel to an optical axis of the camera) past at least a portion of the base structure. A probe magnet may be attached to the protrusion of the lens carrier, and a position sensor for sensing magnetic fields of the probe magnet may be attached to the substrate.

Abstract: A camera may use a multi-axis image sensor shifting system to implement both autofocus (AF) and optical image stabilization (OSI) functions. The multi-axis image sensor shifting system may include a flexure suspension arrangement and an actuator. The flexure suspension arrangement may include an inner frame, an intermediate frame, and an outer frame. The actuator may include one or more magnets, and two sets of one or more coils attached respectively to some of the frames of the flexure suspension arrangement. Current flowing through the coils may be regulated to interact with the magnetic field of the magnets to generate motive force to move an image sensor of the camera relative to a lens group in multiple directions.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is disclosed. The imaging apparatus includes an image sensor including includes a photosensitive region and an anti-shake module including a base, a carrier, a flexible connection member, and an actuator set. The base includes a cavity, a depth of the cavity is greater than or equal to a thickness of the image sensor, the carrier and the image sensor are disposed in the cavity, and the base provides support for the carrier by using the flexible connection member. The carrier includes a through hole, a size of the through hole is greater than or equal to that of the photosensitive region, the carrier is separately electrically connected to the image sensor and the base, and a bottom surface of the carrier is fastened to a top surface of the image sensor. Each actuator in the actuator set includes a fastened end and a movable end.

Abstract: An optical member driving device is provided that includes a fixed portion with an accommodation space for a lens device, and a movable portion, which has a holding portion for holding an image sensor, and is rockably supported at a position on a rear side of the lens device. The movable portion includes an FPC having a main body portion connected to the image sensor and a connecting portion for connecting the main body portion and an external device and a coil substrate which is fixed on a front surface of the main body portion of the FPC and on which a coil is formed. The connecting portion has a base end portion which rises from a predetermined position on an edge of the main body portion to a front side. The base end portion is opposed to a side surface of the coil substrate with an adhesive interposed.

Abstract: A camera module includes a housing having a first ball support surface disposed on an inner surface thereof, a driving body movably disposed in the housing and having a second ball support surface disposed on an outer surface thereof, and a plurality of ball bearings disposed between the first ball support surface of the housing and the second ball support surface of the driving body. A distance between the first ball support surface and the second ball support surface along a direction perpendicular to an optical axis direction is different at respective first end portions of the first ball support surface and the second ball support surface in the optical axis direction than at respective second end portions of the first ball support surface and the second ball support surface in the optical axis direction.

Abstract: An imaging method includes acquiring one or more passive light images of a scene. A region of interest in the scene is identified based on the one or more passive light images. One or more illumination zones of a plurality of illumination zones that collectively cover the region of interest is determined. Each illumination zone is sized according to active illumination emitted from a steerable illumination source. For a determined illumination zone of the one or more illumination zones, the illumination zone is individually illuminated with the active illumination from the steerable illumination source. For a pixel of a sensor array that maps to the illumination zone, a depth value of an object locus in the scene reflecting the active illumination back to the pixel is determined.

Abstract: An image sensor for electronic cameras has a plurality of pixels for generating exposure-dependent signals, wherein a respective pixel at least comprises: a light-sensitive element to generate electrical charge from incident light; a readout node; a transfer gate to selectively couple the light-sensitive element to the readout node; a converter transistor to convert the charge present at the readout node into a voltage signal at a signal output; and a selection switch that is connected to the signal output of the converter transistor to selectively couple the signal output of the converter transistor to an associated readout line of the image sensor. The respective pixel has an electrically conductive shielding structure that at least partly surrounds the readout node and that is set or can be set to an electrical potential that depends on the voltage signal of the converter transistor.

Abstract: To satisfactorily detect an edge detection signal of a high frequency band from a captured image signal at all times. A filtering unit extracts an edge detection signal of a high frequency band from an image signal obtained from imaging, and a band control unit controls the high frequency band on the basis of lens information. For example, the filtering unit includes a first high-pass filter with a first cutoff frequency, a second high-pass filter with a second cutoff frequency that is lower than the first cutoff frequency, and an ? blending unit that performs ? blending on output of the first high-pass filter and output of the second high-pass filter. Even if the frequency of the edge detection signal included in the captured image signal varies due to a change in a zoom position, a lens model number, an F value or the like, the edge detection signal can be satisfactorily detected at all times.

Abstract: An optical element driving mechanism is provided and includes a fixed assembly, a movable assembly, a driving assembly and a stopping assembly. The fixed assembly has a main axis. The movable assembly is configured to connect an optical element, and the movable assembly is movable relative to the fixed assembly. The driving assembly is configured to drive the movable assembly to move relative to the fixed assembly. The stopping assembly is configured to limit the movement of the movable assembly relative to the fixed assembly within a range of motion.

Abstract: A camera head unit including an image sensor configured to generate an image signal, a main unit configured to perform a signal process to the image signal, and first and second cables are included. Further, a determining section configured to determine whether a connection state is in a first connection state in which the camera head unit and the main unit are connected with each other via a first cable without a second cable or a second connection state in which the camera head unit and the main unit are connected with each other via the first cable and the second cable, and a transmission section configured to transmit the image signal between the camera head unit and the main unit at least via the first cable according to a determination result determined by the determining section are included.

Abstract: A pixel includes a photodiode and first and second transistors, the first and second transistors being coupled in series. One of the first and second transistors is a P channel transistor and the other is an N channel transistor. An electronic device may include one or more of the pixels.

Abstract: An optical assembly, a camera module having the optical assembly, and a smart device having the camera module.