Abstract: The TDI sensor includes: a light receiving unit including pixel rows each having a plurality of image capturing elements arranged in a first direction and generating and holding electric charges corresponding to respective exposure amounts, and electric charge holding rows each having a plurality of electric charge holding sections having only a function of holding the electric charges and arranged in the first direction so as to correspond to respective image capturing elements of the pixel rows, one of the pixel rows and one or a plurality of the electric charge holding rows being alternately arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and a transfer unit that sequentially, on a row-by-row basis, transfers electric charges held by the image capturing elements and the electric charge holding sections to adjacent rows, and outputs a signal corresponding to electric charges finally accumulated by the transfer.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of preventing a user who uses another device from knowing the current location of a photographer based on shooting information about an image when an external apparatus distributes the image to the other device. A calculation unit calculates a distance from the shooting location of the image file to the current location of the image pickup apparatus. A distance determination unit determines whether the calculated distance is larger than a predetermined lower limit. A transmission control unit controls to transmit the image file to the external apparatus when the distance determination unit determines that the distance is larger than the lower limit, and not to transmit the image file to the external apparatus when the distance determination unit determines that the distance is not larger than the lower limit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a representative value calculation unit that selects a designation area from a first image, and that calculates a representative value of each of the color components in the designation area, a class classification unit that performs class classification on the designation area, a coefficient reading unit that reads a coefficient that is stored in advance, a color component conversion unit that sets the pixel value relating to a predetermined pixel within the designation area to be a prediction tap, sets the pixel value of one color component, to be a reference, and converts the pixel value of each color component into a conversion value, and a product and sum calculation unit that sets the conversion value to be a variable and calculates each of the pixel values of a second image, by performing product and sum calculation which uses the coefficient which is read.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus of determining a defect pixel which includes at least one of a first edge periphery defect determiner and a second edge periphery defect determiner, wherein the first edge periphery defect determiner is configured to determine if a central pixel of a pixel group is the defect pixel by using pixel values of pixels adjacent to the central pixel disposed close to an image edge, wherein the edge includes at least one of right, left, upper, lower, lower-left, lower-right, upper-left and upper-right pixels of the central pixel, and wherein the second edge periphery defect determiner is configured to determine if the central pixel is the defect pixel by using a pixel disposed at at least one of the lower-left, lower-right, upper-left and upper-right of the central pixel.

Abstract: The present invention utilizes color mixings with angle dependencies from adjacent R pixels, and in the case where a subject color is red, uses first and second B pixels as phase-difference pixels, allowing for an accurate phase-difference AF based on the output signals of the first and second B pixels. Here, it is unnecessary to provide phase-difference pixels dedicated to the case where the subject color is red, and the phase difference is detected using ordinary B pixels of an imaging element. Therefore, the resolution is not sacrificed.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes: a capturing unit that captures an object image and generates image data; a setting unit that sets an exposure time for the capturing unit; a composition unit that generates composite image data, in which a predetermined number of pieces of image data have been composed, by dividing the exposure time set by the setting unit into multiple exposure time segments and sequentially composing image data obtained from the capturing unit for each of the exposure time segments into which the exposure time has been divided; and a recording control unit that records, into a recording medium, the composite image data generated by the composition unit and history image data generated by sequentially composing the image data, obtained from the capturing unit, that has been sequentially generated up until the composite image data has been generated.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: an image capturing element in which a plurality of pixels and phase difference pixels are formed within an effective pixel region; a photographing lens; a phase difference amount detecting unit analyzing a captured image signal and obtaining a phase difference amount from detection signals of two of the phase difference pixels that make a pair; and a control unit obtaining a defocus amount of a photographic subject image from the detected phase difference amount and performing a focusing control, in which the control unit obtains a parameter value regarding a ratio of the defocus amount and the phase difference amount based on photographing lens information of the photographing lens and a light receiving sensitivity distribution indicating sensitivity for each incident angle of incident light for the two of the phase difference pixels that make the pair, and obtains the defocus amount.

Abstract: Disclosed is a communication apparatus including an image input unit that includes an image input member that inputs an image of an object and a retaining member that retains the image input member at its one edge; an enclosure to which a concave portion is formed at its one side surface; a uniaxial hinge device that includes a first hinge member and a second hinge member rotatably connected with each other and capable of rotating around a first axial line with respect to each other, the first hinge member being connected to the enclosure and the second hinge member being connected to the other edge of the retaining member. The image input unit is rotated via the uniaxial hinge device around the first axial line with respect to the enclosure between a housing position and a protruding position.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a camera comprising a photosurface having a substrate comprising photopixels and associated storage pixels and a controller that controls the photosurface to image a scene by maintaining a bias between the photopixels and their respective storage pixels at all times during an exposure period of the photosurface so that photocharge, substantially upon its generation in a photopixel by light from the scene incident on the photopixel moves towards the photopixel's storage pixel.

Abstract: A global shutter image sensor includes an array of pixel groups arranged in rows and columns, each pixel group including four pixels and a shared readout circuit having a floating diffusion. Each pixel includes a photodiode, a transfer gate and a charge coupled gate (CCG) device. The CCG devices are coupled in series with the floating diffusion of the shared readout circuit. Control circuitry controls the image sensor such that all of the pixels simultaneously capture image information (charges) and then transfer the captured charges to the CCG devices during a global shutter operation. The control circuit then controls the CCG devices to act as a shift register that transfers the captured charges to the floating diffusion during sequential correlated double sampling readout phases. The readout circuit includes a shared reset transistor, a source-follower and row select transistor, and each pixel group is controlled by eight or fewer control signals.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a control unit configured to control a cycle from a first irradiation start timing to a second irradiation start timing to be shorter than a cycle of each of first and second picture periods. The first irradiation start timing is a timing at which a light source device starts radiating pulsed illumination light in the first picture period in which an image pickup device performs reading. The second irradiation start timing is a timing at which the light source device starts radiating the illumination light in the second picture period succeeding the first picture period and having the same cycle as the first picture period.

Abstract: A focusing device including: an optical system that includes a focusing lens; an image sensor that captures a subject image formed via the optical system and outputs an image signal containing a plurality of color components; an edge detection unit that detects an edge in correspondence to each color component among the plurality of color components contained in the image signal; a differential value calculation unit that calculates a differential value of an edge strength of the edge detected by the edge detection unit, in correspondence to the each color component; and a decision-making unit that determines a moving direction along which the focusing lens is to move for purposes of focus adjustment of the optical system based upon the differential value calculated by the differential value calculation unit.

Abstract: An optical element according to the present invention includes: an optical surface at a center portion thereof; a spacer section having a predetermined thickness on an outer circumference side of the optical surface; a support plate including one or a plurality of through holes penetrating the optical surface, inside a transparent resin material; and a penetrating portion and/or a concave portion for releasing the resin material when forming resin, in a further outer peripheral portion of the support plate.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes, on a semiconductor substrate, a pixel portion having a plurality of pixels provided with a photoelectric conversion portion, which photoelectrically converts incident light to obtain a signal charge and a pixel transistor portion, which converts the signal charge read from the photoelectric conversion portion to a voltage, wherein an element isolation region disposed in the pixel portion includes an insulating film buried in a trench disposed in the semiconductor substrate, and the insulating film includes an insulating film having a negative charge.

Abstract: An image signal processing apparatus and a method thereof which can simplify design of a circuit for controlling each of camera modules when a terminal has two camera modules therein, the image signal processing apparatus includes: first and second camera modules for capturing a subject; a digital signal processor for controlling each operation of the first and second camera modules and processing image signals captured by the first and the second camera modules; and a switch module for supplying control signals inputted through the digital signal processor to the first and second camera modules, and selectively outputting the image signals captured by the first and second camera modules to the digital signal processor.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a camera comprising a photosurface having a substrate comprising photopixels and associated storage pixels and a controller that controls the photosurface to image a scene by maintaining a bias between the photopixels and their respective storage pixels at all times during an exposure period of the photosurface so that photocharge, substantially upon its generation in a photopixel by light from the scene incident on the photopixel moves towards the photopixel's storage pixel.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensor including photoelectric conversion elements, comprises a first insulating film arranged on a substrate and having openings arranged on the respective elements, insulator portions having a refractive index higher than that of the first insulating film and arranged in the respective openings, a second insulating film arranged on upper surfaces of the insulator portions and an upper surface of the first insulating film, and a third insulating film having a refractive index lower than that of the second insulating film and arranged in contact with an upper surface of the second insulating film, wherein letting ? be a wavelength of entering light, n be the refractive index of the second insulating film, and t be a thickness of the second insulating film in at least part of a region on the upper surface of the first insulating film, a relation t<?/n is satisfied.

Abstract: The image processing method processes an image generated by image pickup using an optical system (100). The method includes a step of acquiring the image, an image restoration step (S2-S7) of performing image restoration processing to reduce a blur component of the image using an image restoration filter, and a distortion correction step (S8) of performing geometric transformation processing to reduce a distortion component of the image on which the image restoration processing has been performed.

Abstract: In an AR system, method for operating same, a mobile device, and method for operating same, flexible loxels are used that may be different for different image data providers. This enables AR applications to download smaller loxels which have more information, such as dense areas, like in cities, or larger loxels which have less information, like, for example, desert areas. Data downloads may take into account client orientation and direction of motion to determine incremental data that need to be downloaded as the client moves. The loxels are coded with loxel identifiers mapped to location information, so only the necessary loxels for a particular application need be downloaded, allowing the client to autonomously decide when to acquire new image data and how much data to acquire.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device comprises a first pixel group includes a first photoelectric conversion unit that converts into electric charges reflection light pulses from an object irradiated with an irradiation light pulse, a first electric charge accumulation unit accumulating the electric charges in synchrony with turning on the irradiation light pulses, and a first reset unit resetting the electric charges; and a second pixel group includes a second photoelectric conversion unit that converts the reflection light into electric charges, a second electric charge accumulation unit that accumulates the electric charges synchronously with a switching the irradiation light pulses from on to off, and a second reset unit that releases a reset of the electric charges converted by the second photoelectric conversion unit.