Abstract: In aspects of automated polarizer filter positioning, a device includes a polarizer integrated with the device and auto-positioned to filter lighting of a camera scene. The device includes a camera device to capture a digital image of the camera scene using the polarizer at a rotation angle of the polarizer. The device implements an imaging manager to determine an orientation of the device relative to a position of the sun. The imaging manager can also determine the lighting of the camera scene as viewable with the camera device, and position the polarizer at the rotation angle based on the orientation of the device and the lighting of the camera scene to filter the lighting. The imaging manager can then initiate the camera device to capture the digital image of the camera scene with an imager of the camera device at the rotation angle of the polarizer.

Abstract: In an image sensor, high-speed recognition processing is performed using high-speed image data, which is different from low-speed image data used for displaying. In the image sensor, an imaging element captures an image of an object and generates frames of image data arranged in time series. A binarization processing unit performs binarization processing on each of the frames to generate binarized frames. A tracking processing unit generates a difference between binarized frames adjacent in time series and tracks a change in a position of the object included in the binarized frames.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to the lightweight and efficient synthesis of shallow depth of field (SDOF) renderings. According to some embodiments, coarse focus information and semantic segmentation information may be leveraged to generate SDOF renderings in a “live preview” or “streaming” mode. Semantic segmentation may be defined as a process of creating a mask over an image, wherein pixels are segmented into a predefined set of semantic classes. Segmentations may include as many classes as are desired by a given implementation (e.g., a ‘foreground’ class and a ‘background’ class). In some embodiments, the rendering of synthetic SDOF images according to the techniques described herein may be completed using only a single camera of a device and without the use of dedicated depth-sensing technology (e.g., structured light cameras, stereo cameras, time-of-flight cameras, etc.), thereby allowing the SDOF rendering process to operate in a fashion that is not unduly time-, processing-, and/or power-intensive.

Abstract: The present technology relates to an imaging element and an electronic device that enable pixels to flexibly share a charge voltage converting unit. The imaging element includes a pixel array unit in which pixels respectively having charge voltage converting units and switches are arranged, and the charge voltage converting units of the plurality of pixels are connected to a signal line in parallel via the respective switches. The present technology is applied to, for example, a Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor in which pixels share a charge voltage converting unit.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to user-selected metadata related to images captured by a camera of a client device. User-selected metadata may include contextual information and/or information provided by a user when the images are captured. In various implementations, a free form input may be received at a first client device of one or more client devices operated by a user. A task request may be recognized from the free form input, and it may be determined that the task request includes a request to store metadata related to one or more images captured by a camera of the first client device. The metadata may be selected based on content of the task request. The metadata may then be stored, e.g., in association with one or more images captured by the camera, in computer-readable media. The computer-readable media may be searchable by the metadata.

Abstract: An optical member driving mechanism for driving an optical member is provided, including a fixed portion, a movable portion, and a driving module. The movable portion can support the aforementioned optical member, and the driving module can drive the movable portion to rotate relative to the fixed portion around a rotating axis, wherein the rotating axis is different from the optical axis of the optical member. The driving module includes a first electromagnetic driving assembly and a second electromagnetic driving assembly, and the optical axis is disposed therebetween. The first electromagnetic driving assembly and the second electromagnetic driving assembly are disposed on a side of the movable portion, and are electrically independent.

Abstract: Provided are an imaging apparatus, a signal processing method for an imaging apparatus, and a non-transitory computer readable recording medium storing a signal processing program for an imaging apparatus capable of capturing a high quality image with a compact configuration. An imaging lens 10A is composed of, in order from an object side, a first lens group G1 that is fixed during variable magnification, a second lens group G2 and a third lens group G3 that move during variable magnification, and a fourth lens group G4 that is fixed during variable magnification. The first lens group G1 is composed, in order from the object side, a first-a lens group G1a that is fixed during focusing, a first-b lens group G1b that moves during focusing, and a first lens group rear group G1c that is fixed during focusing. Fluctuation of an angle of view with focusing is corrected through image processing.

Abstract: A video recording method and apparatus, an electronic device and a readable storage medium, which realize positioning of a privacy background by acquiring a sensitive video frame containing a privacy background image from the recorded video information; acquire an image region of the privacy background image in the sensitive video frame; superimpose an augmented reality AR occlusion image on the image region of the privacy background image to obtain an occlusion frame in which the privacy background image is occluded, so as to realize the hiding of the privacy background image by occluding part of the background; obtain live video information according to the recorded video information and the occlusion frame, thereby improving the reliability of real time occlusion of objects that need to be hidden, during video recording.

Abstract: A light sensor module is described. The light sensor module includes a sensor layer having a plurality of sensor cells. The sensor cells each has at least two sensor pixels, each for acquiring a different light property or transfer characteristic. The sensor pixels are configured in columns and rows. In addition, the light sensor module includes a signal processing unit for processing sensor signals of the sensor pixels. The sensor pixels of each column are connected in electrically conductive fashion to the signal processing unit via at least one read line each assigned to a different light property. Likewise, the sensor pixels of each row are connected in electrically conductive fashion to the signal processing unit via at least one selection line. The signal processing unit is designed to select row-by-row, via the selection line, the sensor pixels to be read out via the read line.

Abstract: A pixel circuit and method for operating the same is disclosed. The circuit includes a first driver circuit coupled to receive an analog pixel data, transfer signal and reset signal. The circuit further includes a source follower transistor having a source terminal coupled to a column node, and a gate terminal coupled to the first driver circuit. The circuit further includes a second driver circuit coupled to receive the transfer signal and the reset signal. The second driver circuit is capacitively coupled to the column node through a first capacitor.

Abstract: A digital camera that includes an imaging sensor having a stop 2 arranged in front of an imaging surface includes an imaging control unit that starts exposure of pixels on the entire imaging surface at the same time and then, ends the exposure of the pixels at the same time in a state where light from a subject is incident on the imaging surface, by controlling an imaging sensor drive circuit which drives the imaging sensor, and a processor that sequentially changes an F number of the stop 2 to a plurality of values during a period from the start of the exposure until the end of the exposure. The processor controls a time in which the F number is maintained at each of the plurality of values to be a time that is based on a function indicating light transmittance characteristics of an APD filter.

Abstract: A readout circuit for reading sensed signals of a pixel array. The readout circuit includes: an operational amplifier, a plurality of switching devices and a computation circuit. The operational amplifier is arranged to generate an output signal in each amplifier output cycle. In each amplifier output cycle, each of the switching devices is controlled by a switch controlling signal to selectively couple pixel circuits to the differential input terminals of the operational amplifier. The computation circuit is arranged to the recover a plurality of sensed signal respectively corresponding to a plurality of pixel circuits. In each amplifier output cycle, at least two of the switching devices are turned on, such that the operational amplifier receives the sensed signals of at least two pixel circuits in the pixel array simultaneously and sums the sensed signals of the at least two pixel circuits to generate the output signal.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a first chip on which a plurality of first blocks is arranged in a matrix, and a second chip which includes a first block scanning circuit and a second block scanning circuit. The second chip includes a selection circuit configured to select driving timing given to a plurality of pixels, based on a signal output from the first block scanning circuit and a signal output from the second block scanning circuit. A second block includes a circuit other than the selection circuit.

Abstract: An image sensor is disclosed which includes a substrate, a pixel array, a peripheral circuit, an SPAD detector and a VCSEL integrated in the substrate. The peripheral circuit is configured to process an electrical signal obtained from photoelectric conversion in the pixel array, the SPAD detector is configured to convert a first external optical pulse into an electrical pulse to provide a clock signal to the peripheral circuit. The VCSEL is driven by the peripheral circuit and configured to output a second optical pulse. The number of electrical connection terminals in the image sensor is reduced to only two, which is favorable to the miniaturization of the image sensor and simplifies the design of the mating device while allowing the inputting of a first optical pulse and outputting of a second optical pulse. By using these optical signals, extremely high speed and high bandwidth data transmission can be achieved.

Abstract: Methods and systems for light sensing are provided. In one example, an apparatus comprises and an array of pixel cells and a controller. Each pixel cell of the array of pixel cells includes a photodiode configured to generate charges upon receiving incident light and a capacitor configured to accumulate the charges generated by the photodiode. The controller is configured to: start an exposure period to accumulate the charges at the pixel cells; and based on a determination that the quantity of charges accumulated by the at least one pixel cell exceeds a pre-determined threshold: end the exposure period to cause the capacitors of the array of pixel cells to stop accumulating the charges, generate an output pixel value for each pixel cell based on the charges accumulated at the capacitor of the each pixel cell within the exposure period; and provide the output pixel values to generate an image frame.

Abstract: Provided are an image processing device and an image providing method therefor. The image providing method performed by the image processing device includes setting a privacy mode of each of a plurality of registered objects; obtaining a first image of a monitoring zone from a camera; changing to a privacy mode of an object first appearing in the monitoring zone among the plurality of registered objects; and in the privacy mode, in response to a request for the first image from at least one of the remaining objects, generating a second image in which a privacy zone preset by the appearing object is processed in the first image.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to active depth sensing. An example device may include a memory and a processor coupled to the memory. The processor may be configured to determine an amount of ambient light for a scene to be captured by a structured light receiver and adjust an exposure time for frame capture of a sensor of the structured light receiver based on the determined amount of ambient light. The exposure time of the sensor of the structured light receiver is inversely related to the determined amount of ambient light. The processor further may be configured to receive a plurality of captured frames from the structured light receiver based on the adjusted exposure time and generate an aggregated frame, including aggregating values across the plurality of captured frames.

Abstract: A method of applying an image effect based on recognized objects involves capturing an imaging area comprising at least one object as an image stream through operation of an image sensor. The method recognizes the at least one object in the image stream through operation of an object detection engine. The method communicates at least one correlated image effect control to an image processing engine, in response to the at least one object comprising an optical label. The method communicates at least one matched image effect control to the image processing engine, in response to receiving at least a labeled image stream at an image effect matching algorithm from the object detection engine. The method generates a transformed image stream displayable through a display device by applying at least one image effect control to the image stream through operation of the image processing engine.

Abstract: An image sensor, comprising: a plurality of photo-diodes arranged divided in a specified pupil division direction, so that a pixel signal is generated by subjecting respective light flux, that passes through different exit pupil regions of an imaging optical systems for a single micro-lens, to photoelectric conversion, and a control circuit that implements an imaging mode for alternately and repeatedly executing a first imaging operation and a second imaging operation, wherein the first imaging operation combines pixel signals corresponding to the pupil division direction and generates and outputs a pixel signal for storage, and the second imaging operation generates and outputs a pixel signal corresponding to the pupil division direction, for focus detection.

Abstract: The present application is applicable in the field of videos. Provided are a method and system for panoramic video stabilization, and a portable terminal. The method comprises: acquiring in real time the timestamp of a current state, an accelerometer count value, and an angular velocity value of a portable terminal; estimating the rotation vector of the current state by utilizing an Extended Kalman Filtering combined with the accelerometer count value and the angular velocity value; calculating a current rotation matrix via the Rodrigues' rotation formula on the basis of the rotation vector of the current state; and rotating a panoramic image on the basis of the current rotation matrix and producing a stabilized video frame. The present invention allows the stabilization of a jittering video frame and alleviates VR motion sickness.