Abstract: An image-capturing apparatus includes a pixel array including pixels. Each of the pixels includes a transducer for generating signal charge according to the intensity of an incident light beam. The image-capturing apparatus further includes an output circuit for outputting a pixel signal outside the pixel array at a frame rate depending on the pixel position in the pixel array, based on the signal charge; and an output-controlling unit for controlling the operation of the output circuit.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes plural photoelectric conversion means arranged along light receiving surfaces, readout means for reading out signal charge generated in the photoelectric conversion means, a voltage supply means for supplying various levels of voltages to respective units including the photoelectric conversion means and the readout means, a detection means for detecting level change of a prescribed supply voltage in supply voltages by the voltage supply means and a control means for controlling so that the level change is converged when level change of the prescribed supply voltage is detected by the detection means.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit configured to pick up a subject image and a control unit configured to perform control in a manner such that, in a case in which a predetermined mode is set, smile detection of a subject is started when an operation input is performed, the subject image is picked up if a smile is detected, and smile detection and image pickup are repeatedly performed until a completion condition is satisfied.

Abstract: An apparatus and other embodiments associated with performing interpolations to compute gain values that correct for varying spatial intensity are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes interpolation logic configured to determine a gain value for a pixel in image data for which there is no gain value available in the apparatus. The interpolation logic is configured to determine the gain value by performing an interpolation of related gain values available in the apparatus. The apparatus also includes falloff correction logic configured to apply the gain value to the pixel in the image data.

Abstract: A pixel cell with a photosensitive region formed in association with a substrate, a color filter formed over the photosensitive region, the color filter comprising a first material layer and a second material layer formed in association with the first shaping material layer.

Abstract: An image sensor, system and method that alternates sub-sets of pixels with long exposure times and pixels with short exposure times on the same sensor to provide a sensor having improved Wide Dynamic Range (WDR). The sub-sets of pixels are reset at different time intervals after being read, which causes the respective integration times to vary. By combining information contained in the both the short and long integration pixels, the dynamic range of the sensor is improved.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are described providing a high dynamic range pixel. An integration period has multiple sub-integration periods during which charges are accumulated in a photosensor and repeatedly transferred to a storage node, where the charges are accumulated for later transfer to another storage node for output.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system that allows for the identification of defective pixels, for example, defective pixel clusters, in an imager device. The method, apparatus and system determine, during use of the imager device, that a pixel defect, e.g., cluster defect, exists and accurately maps the location of the defective pixel. By analyzing more than one frame of an image, the method increases the accuracy of the defect mapping, which is used to improve the quality of the resulting image data.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus uses an image pickup device. A manual focus adjusting unit is configured to control a focus lens in response to a user's input operation. An edge detecting unit is configured to detect edge components from an image signal obtained by the image pickup device and to output detection levels of the detected edge components. A color signal replacement unit is configured to replace a signal of a pixel corresponding to the detection level with a predetermined color signal when the detection level satisfies a predetermined condition. A display unit is configured to display an image based on an output image signal from the color signal replacement unit.

Abstract: Certain systems and methods are directed to acquiring, generating, manipulating and/or editing (for example, focusing or refocusing) refocusable video data, information, images and/or frames. The refocusable video data, information, images and/or frames may be light field video data, information, images and/or frames, that may be focused and/or re-focused after acquisition or recording of such video data, information, images and/or frames.

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: A method of detecting a red eye is provided that includes determining an eye area from an input image, obtaining a pixel having the maximum redness from the eye area, generating a first mask area having a predetermined size including the pixel from the eye area, obtaining an average of image data from pixels in the first mask area, obtaining red-eye pixels corresponding to the image data average from the eye area, and determining a red-eye area by using the red-eye pixels.

Abstract: The total imaging time period and recorded volume of each image is displayed in association with the imaging date and time of the image. An imaging information acquiring section acquires information on the imaging dates and times and recorded volumes of images. The acquired information is held in an index table. A period setting part sets the period of a period display. An imaging start position deciding section decides the position corresponding to the imaging start date and time of each image in the period display. An imaging time length deciding section decides the display range of the imaging time length of each image in the period display. A recorded volume length deciding section decides the display range of the recorded volume length of each image.

Abstract: A power supply voltage containing a noise component is supplied to each pixel at the time of sampling of a reset level of a signal read out from each pixel, and a power supply voltage in which the noise component is suppressed is supplied to each pixel at the time of sampling of a read level of the signal read out from each pixel.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method in which auto-selecting of an object to be prioritized from among a plurality of detected objects is capable more appropriately. A characteristic detecting unit detects a previously set characteristic portion of an object from an image signal constituting a moving image. A control unit sets a priority to each characteristic portion when a plurality of the characteristic portions are detected by the characteristic detecting unit and also sets a high priority to a characteristic portion being detected for a long period of time.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate, a guard ring structure in the substrate, and at least one pixel surrounded by the guard ring structure. The guard ring structure is implanted in the substrate by high-energy implantation.

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: An imaging apparatus including a driving portion configured to move an optical system for acquiring an image of an object collects ambient sound to acquire an audio signal, and detects a level of the audio signal. Based on a detection result, the imaging apparatus adjusts the level of the audio signal and outputs the adjusted audio signal. When the driving portion is not driven, the imaging apparatus adjusts the level of the audio signal after adjustment to be lower as the level of the detection result is lower. When the driving portion is driven, the imaging apparatus sets the level of the audio signal after adjustment to be lower than that when the driving portion is not driven.

Abstract: An image deblurring system deblurs motion blurred images of a video stream captured from a moving object. An image deblurring method selects a blurred image from the video stream, selects blurred pixels from the blurred image, and calculates a movement offset for each of the blurred pixels according to coordinates of the blurred pixel in a frequency domain during the movement of the moving object. The method generates a point spread function according to the movement offset, and generates an image conversion formula according to the point spread function. The method converts each of the blurred pixels into a sharp pixel according to the image conversion formula, and generates a sharp image based on all of the sharp pixels.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a photoelectric conversion element package, a chassis member arranged at a position opposite a rear surface of the photoelectric conversion element package, a wiring member electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion element package. The wiring member has an opening that exposes the rear surface of the photoelectric conversion element package. The wiring member is arranged between the rear surface of the photoelectric conversion element package and the chassis member. The imaging apparatus further includes a heat conduction member configured to contact the rear surface of the photoelectric conversion element package, exposed by the opening, and the chassis member.