Abstract: A teleconverter includes a master lens apparatus-side mount on which a master lens apparatus is mounted, a camera body-side mount on which a camera body is mounted, and a converter lens unit that has a negative refracting power for mounting the master lens apparatus thereon to obtain a lens system having a focal length longer than that of the master lens apparatus, the converter lens unit including a first lens group on the master lens apparatus side and a second lens group on the camera body side with an on longest air separation interposed between them, the first lens group has positive refracting power, and the second lens group has negative refracting power, with satisfaction of the following condition (1): ?1.53<f1/f<?0.66??(1) where f is the focal length of a whole system of the converter lens unit, and f1 is the focal length of the first lens group.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes an image sensor chip and a signal processing chip, which are electrically connected. A low thermal conductivity region is positioned between the image sensor chip and the signal processing chip. The low thermal conductivity region is configured to insulate the image sensor chip from heat, which may be generated by the signal processing chip.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a first chip including a plurality of pixels, each pixel including a light sensing unit generating a signal charge responsive to an amount of received light, and a plurality of MOS transistors reading the signal charge generated by the light sensing unit and outputting the read signal charge as a pixel signal, a second chip including a plurality of pixel drive circuits supplying desired drive pulses to pixels, the second chip being laminated beneath the first chip in a manner such that the pixel drive circuits are arranged beneath the pixels formed in the first chip to drive the pixels, and a connection unit for electrically connecting the pixels to the pixel drive circuits arranged beneath the pixels.

Abstract: An image sensor that has a plurality of pixels within a pixel array coupled to a control circuit and to one or more subtraction circuits. The control circuit causes an output transistor coupled to a pixel to provide a first reference output signal, a common reset output signal, and a first sense-node reset output signal, between which a subtraction circuit may form a weighted difference to create a noise signal. The control circuit causes the output transistor to provide a second sense-node reset output signal, a light response output signal and a second reference output signal, between which a subtraction circuit may form a weighted difference to create a normalized light response signal. The light response output signal corresponds to the image that is to be captured by the sensor. The noise signal is subtracted from the normalized light response signal to generate a de-noised signal.

Abstract: A method for associating event times or time periods with digital images in a collection for determining if a digital image is of interest, includes storing a collection of digital images each having an associated capture time; comparing the associated capture time in the collection with a special event time to determine if a digital image in the collection is of interest, wherein the comparing step includes calculation of a special event time associated with a special event based on the calendar time associated with the special event and using such information to perform the comparison step; and associating digital images of interest with the special event.

Abstract: A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one other terminal; a camera configured to output a camera preview image; a display unit configured to display the camera preview image output by the camera; and a controller configured to set a reference region on the display unit, and to output position information regarding positions of an object included in the camera preview image and the set reference region.

Abstract: A housing for protecting a wafer-level camera module and fixing the wafer-level camera module to a printed circuit board (PCB) includes: four side plates, defining a quadrilateral frame; four supporting plates each fixed to a lower portion of an inner face of a corresponding one of the four side plates, each supporting plate having a top face supporting a portion of the camera module; and four bottom plates each fixed to a lower portion of an outer face of a corresponding one of the four side plates, each bottom plate having a bottom face fixed to the PCB. The housing is capable of addressing the issues of poor housing-PCB soldering, paint falling off and surface scratching and improving the efficiency in UV lamp-utilized UV adhesive curing.

Abstract: A lens shading correction method for pixels of an image is provided. The method includes the steps of: inputting coordinates of the pixels and setting a threshold range on the image; providing a first gain function and a second gain function, each relating the coordinates of the pixels to brightness gains; performing the first gain function on the pixels located at the interior of the threshold range for calculating the brightness gains; and performing a blended gain function on the pixels located at the exterior of the threshold range for calculating the brightness gains, wherein the blended gain function is the combination of the first gain function and the second gain function.

Abstract: An image sensor includes circuitry compensating for voltage drops in a VSS line. The image sensor includes a plurality of photoreceptors arranged in a pixel array having a number of column lines, and read-out circuitry on the column lines. The read-out circuitry provides substantially equal currents on each column line so as to compensate for voltage drops in the VSS line and provide more accurate pixel signals. The image sensor also includes circuitry for filtering noise from a voltage supply line, and for providing hard and/or soft reset operations.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus comprises an image sensor which photo-electrically converts an object image formed by an imaging lens, the image sensor including a first pixel group having a first light-receiving area, and a second pixel group which is discretely arranged in the first pixel group and configured by dividing a light-receiving area substantially equal in area to the first light-receiving area into a second light-receiving area and a third light-receiving area different in area from the second light-receiving area, and control means for integrally controlling the second light-receiving area of the second pixel group and the first light-receiving area of the first pixel group.

Abstract: A method, system and polarization filter for analyzing polarization properties of light are described, the method comprising: receiving image data from a plurality of image sensor cells, the image sensor cells comprised in an image sensing system; separating from the received image data polarization information and scene image data of a scene being captured; and processing the polarization information to deduce information. Additionally, a polarization filter for analyzing polarization properties of light is described, the polarization filter comprising an array of polarization cells in various directions of polarization, the polarization filter comprising a core array of at least horizontal polarization filter cell, vertical polarization filter cell, no-polarization filter cell and circular polarization filter cell.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a reception unit configured to receive a transmission request of information on a directory for managing contents from a display apparatus, a transmission unit configured to transmit a response to the transmission request received by the reception unit, and a notification unit configured to notify the display apparatus of a change in a predetermined directory, thereby causing the display apparatus to transmit a transmission request of information on the predetermined directory again. When a new directory is formed on the same layer as that of the directory for managing the contents as a result of addition of the contents in the storage medium, the notification unit notifies the display apparatus of a change in a directory located on a layer above the directory for managing the contents.

Abstract: A digital camera for capturing an image containing the photographer, comprising: an image sensor; an optical system for forming an image of a scene on the image sensor; a processor for processing the output of the image sensor in order to detect the presence of one or more faces in a field of view of the digital camera; a feedback mechanism for providing feedback to the photographer while the photographer is included within the field of view, responsive to detecting at least one face in the field of view, and a means for initiating capture of a digital image of the scene containing the photographer.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens includes a zoom lens, a driver configured to drive the zoom lens, an operation unit configured to receive a user's operation for changing a magnification of the zoom lens, and a controller configured to control the driver according to the operation of the operation unit. The controller controls the driver in either one of a first operation mode for enabling the zoom lens to stop at an arbitrary position according to the operation of the operation unit and a second operation mode for enabling the zoom lens to stop at one of discrete predetermined stop positions according to the operation of the operation unit.

Abstract: A digital camera system includes an image capture module and a remote control module. The image capture module includes an image capture system and a first wireless communication system. The remote control module includes a status display with one or more status display elements for displaying status information pertaining to the image capture module, a battery-operated power supply, one or more user controls, a second wireless communication, and a power management system providing a normal-power state and a low-power state. The system is configured such that when a user activates one of the user controls while the remote control module is in the low-power state the remote control module is set to operate in the normal-power state, a status inquiry is sent to the image capture module, and returned status information is displayed on the status display.

Abstract: Various techniques are disclosed for collecting and processing auto-focus statistics data in an image signal processor (ISP). In one embodiment, a statistics collection engine in an ISP front-end processing unit may be configured to collect coarse (based on decimated raw data) and fine auto-focus statistics. Coarse auto-focus statistics may be collected on decimated Bayer RGB data and/or on linear camera luma values. Fine auto-focus statistics may be collected on raw Bayer RGB using a combination of a horizontal filter and edge detector, or may be collected on BayerY data (by applying a 3×1 transform to the raw Bayer RGB data). Edge sums may be accumulated using the filter outputs to determine auto-focus statistics.

Abstract: Provided are: an acquisition unit that acquires at least one of an image stored in a storage unit and an image recorded on a recording medium; an extraction unit that extracts a factor regarding the image that is acquired by the acquisition unit, the factor that does not satisfy a predetermined condition; and a display unit capable of displaying information on an image-capture state of the image based on the factor extracted by the extraction unit and capable of displaying information on a solution for allowing the factor to satisfy the predetermined condition.

Abstract: A method and a system for forming an image of a scene are provided. The method includes capturing an image of the scene by exposing an image sensor to radiation from one part of the EM spectrum using one aperture and to radiation from another part of the EM spectrum using another aperture having a different size than the first aperture. Simultaneously with capturing the image, the scene is illuminated with radiation from the second part of the EM spectrum. The image is then formed on the basis of image data generated by the radiation from the first part of the EM spectrum and image data generated by radiation from the second part of the EM spectrum.

Abstract: An imaging module includes: a hollow lens holder open at both ends; a lens assembled in the lens holder and collecting light input from one end of the lens holder; a hollow imaging holder having an opening into which the light output from the lens is input; an optical member assembled in the imaging holder and transmitting or deflecting the light input from one end of the imaging holder; and an image sensor assembled in the imaging holder and having a light-receiving region configured to receive the light transmitted or deflected by the optical member and to perform photoelectric conversion of the received light, wherein an optical axis center of the lens and a center of the light received by the light-receiving region of the image sensor are aligned with each other by fitting a light-output-side end portion of the lens holder and the imaging holder to each other.

Abstract: The short distance iris recognition camera of the present invention has a prism, installed on top of a guide for an infrared LED light, which has an inclined surface and a protrusion part, thereby enhancing the degree of uniformity in brightness around an iris, and thus enhancing iris recognition, and also effectively preventing static electricity from being delivered to internal devices. To accomplish this, the camera for iris recognition according to the present invention comprises a sensor and accessory circuits, a lens, and a lighting source including a white light and an infrared LED light. The lighting source is spaced apart from the lens centerline by a set length. The object plane of the lens is located where the iris is located, and is spaced apart by a set length L from the end of the lens. In practice, the object plane comprises the area around the lens centerline. The phase surface of the lens is an image sensor surface.