Abstract: An electronic device and a method of controlling an operation thereof are provided. The method includes acquiring image data using an image sensor comprising a first plurality of pixels configured to have a first identical exposure time and a second plurality of pixels configured to have a second identical exposure time, wherein the acquiring of the image data includes acquiring the image data using the first plurality of pixels and the second plurality of pixels while the first plurality of pixels have the first identical exposure time that is identical to the second identical exposure time of the second plurality of pixels and controlling the image sensor such that the first plurality of pixels has the first identical exposure time different from the second identical exposure time of the second plurality of pixels, at least partially based on the acquired image data.

Abstract: A single chip vision sensor of an embodiment includes a pixel array and one or more circuits. The one or more circuits are configured to search an image for one or more features using a model of the one or more features. A method of an embodiment in a single chip vision sensor includes obtaining an image based at least partially on sensed light, and searching the image for one or more features using a model of the one or more features. A system of an embodiment includes the single chip vision sensor and a device. The device is configured to receive one or more signals from the single chip vision sensor and to control an operation based at least partially on the one or more signals.

Abstract: The present invention provides a display device which has a display unit on a main body, comprising a cover member that can be deformed into a first shape for covering the display unit and a second shape for forming a grip in order to solve the problems in the conventional cameras. The problem is such that the size of the camera becomes large by the size of the grip, which impairs portability of the camera because the conventional camera provides a fixed grip on the camera body on which a display unit with a large screen is mounted. In addition, another conventional camera has a space for accommodating the cover members within the grip, so that the size of the grip becomes accordingly large and thus the camera itself becomes large.

Abstract: A camera having a substantially cubic form factor comprises, among other components, an image sensor, a lens assembly, a printed circuit board, and a heat sink. A heat sink operates to provide a thermally conductive path to an external surface of the camera. The heat sink comprises an external portion structured around a perimeter of the lens window and at least one arm extending perpendicular from the external portion to the interior of the camera. The at least one arm is thermally coupled to the at least one electronic component on the printed circuit board so as to conduct heat away from the electronics to the exterior of the camera.

Abstract: A focus detector, which detects a defocus amount from a displacement amount between images formed by a pair of light beams split from an image pickup system so as to pass through a pair of pupil regions, includes a pair of lenses and phase difference sensors, a memory unit for storing an image displacement amount between the image signals on the phase difference sensors in an in-focus state, a waveform read out controller for setting pixels to be calculated for the phase difference sensors, respectively, based on the image displacement amount, a correlation calculator for calculating a correlation amount between the image signals from the pixels to be calculated, a waveform degree-of-conformity calculator for calculating a waveform degree-of-conformity based on the image signals obtained from the pixels to be calculated, and a defocus calculator for calculating the defocus amount based on the correlation amount and the waveform degree-of-conformity.

Abstract: A CMOS image sensor includes an active pixel array suitable for generating an active pixel signal, a dummy pixel array suitable for generating a dummy pixel signal, a row driver suitable for controlling the active pixel array and the dummy pixel array to simultaneously operate at a same column, and a correlated double sampling (CDS) array suitable for generating an active sampling signal and a dummy sampling signal, which are sampled from the active pixel signal and the dummy pixel signal by using a correlated double sampling, respectively, based on a first ramp signal and a second ramp signal, and comparing the active sampling signal with the dummy sampling signal.

Abstract: A novel lighting system includes an image capture device, an image processor, and an image projector. In a particular embodiment, the image capture device captures and converts images of a subject into image data, the image processor generates illumination patterns based on the image data, and the image projector projects the illumination patterns onto the subject. Optionally, the lighting system includes a controlled feedback mechanism for periodically updating the illumination pattern. In a more particular embodiment, the lighting system continually updates the illumination pattern to illuminate the subject in real-time.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that acquires image data captured by an image capturing device; performs an analysis on the image data prior to cropping the image data for display to detect a specified image from the image data; generates an image for display by cropping the image data; controls a display to display the image for display; and executes predetermined processing when the specified image is detected in the image data as a result of performing the analysis on the image data prior to the cropping.

Abstract: An optical image stabilizing device is to be formed on a substrate, and includes an outer frame, an image sensor module, and an actuating module. The outer frame module is disposed on the substrate. The outer frame module and the substrate cooperatively define a receiving space. The image sensor module is suspended in the receiving space. The actuating module connects the outer frame module and the image sensor module, and is configured to drive the image sensor module to move for adjusting a relative position of the image sensor module with respect to the outer frame module.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an image processing apparatus including a comparing unit to perform comparison using at least one of a maximum value and an average value of luminance signals of an input image, with a saturation level as a reference of comparison, the saturation level being a level of light accumulation performed for a predetermined time length which is one of a plurality of time lengths for accumulating light in imaging of the input image; a tone curve generator to generate a tone curve to be used for performing compression processing to luminance gradation of the input image, on the basis of a result of the comparison being made; and a luminance gradation compression processor to perform compression processing to luminance gradation of the input image, according to the tone curve being generated.

Abstract: A method and imaging device are provided. An image is divided into N zones, and a histogram is generated for each of the N zones. A tone curve is determined for each of the N zones, where tone curve parameters including the controlling of shape and transition point of the curve are based on the histogram of each zone. A tone-mapped value for each pixel of the image is determined based on a sum of M weighted values determined by applying tone curves of M zones to a value of the pixel.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a filter, an imaging element, a lens, a spectral image generator, and an exposure adjuster. The filter includes a plurality of filter areas having different spectral transmission characteristics. The imaging element receives light transmitted through the filter and outputs image information. The lens array includes a plurality of lenses arranged approximately parallel to a light receiving surface of the imaging element and is arranged between the filter and the imaging element. The spectral image generator generates a plurality of spectral images respectively corresponding to the plurality of filter areas on the basis of the image information output by the imaging element. The exposure adjuster adjusts an exposure time of the imaging element on the basis of luminance values of the spectral images.

Abstract: A communication method used in a terminal is provided that includes a front camera and a back camera. The communication method includes switching between the front camera and the back camera according to an orientation of the terminal, and performing visible light communication by using the front camera or the back camera, which is selected in the switching. The performing of visible light communication includes capturing a first subject that is changing in luminance by using the front camera and obtaining a first image when the front camera is used, capturing a second subject by using the back camera and obtaining a second image when the back camera is used, and obtaining specified information that is related to the first subject or the second subject.

Abstract: A method for generating HDR (High Dynamic Range) images, performed by a processing unit, the method at least containing: acquiring a frame 0; obtaining frame statistics information at least includes a first pixel count for a dark area and a second pixel count for a saturate area; calculating the ratio according to the first pixel count and the second pixel count; calculating a first expansion factor and a second expansion factor according to the ratio and the exposure setting of the frame 0; expanding the frame 0 to HDR space using the first expansion factor; expanding a frame 1 to the HDR space using the second expansion factor; and fusing the expanded frame 0 with the expanded frame 1.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor having focus detection pixels arrayed in pixel lines, and controls a ratio of pixel line addition to signal correlation amount addition in a focus detection region in accordance with subject information to perform focus detection with increased resolution and suppressed noise based on an image signal of a subject slanting in relation to the focus detection region.

Abstract: Various disclosed embodiments include methods and systems that automatically adjust camera functions of an electronic device to provide improved image quality by determining whether the electronic device is being operated indoors or outdoors.

Abstract: A depth measurement apparatus including ranging pixels each having a plurality of photoelectric conversion units for receiving light fluxes that have respectively passed through first and second pupil regions, a reading unit that is shared by the plurality of photoelectric conversion units, and a control unit for controlling the ranging operation, wherein a signal charge accumulated in one of the photoelectric conversion units is output as a first signal and a second signal obtained by adding a signal accumulated in the other photoelectric conversion unit to the first signal is output, the signal charge accumulated in the other photoelectric conversion unit is acquired based on a difference between the first and second signals, and the signal charge of the photoelectric conversion unit receiving flux with a lower transmittance is read first.

Abstract: There is set forth herein in one embodiment an image sensor array including a global shutter shared by first and second pixels. The global shutter can include a charge storage area having an associated shield for reducing charge build up on the charge storage area attributable to incident light rays. There is set forth herein in one embodiment an imaging apparatus having one or more configuration. The one or more configuration can include one or more of a configuration wherein a frame read out from an image sensor array has unbinned pixel values, a configuration wherein a frame read out from an image sensor array has binned pixel values corresponding to an M×N, M>=2, N>=2 arrangement of pixel values, and a configuration wherein a frame read out from an image sensor array has binned pixel values corresponding to a 1×N, N>=2 arrangement of pixel values.

Abstract: Approaches are described for managing the processing of images or video on a computing device. A portable computing device can include one or more dedicated components, such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or other dedicated processor component, to be integrated into the computing device to perform at least a portion of the imaging processing of captured images or video. For example, the dedicated processor component can enable the offloading of basic image signal processing, as well as higher level or “machine vision” processing from the device processor of the device. In this way, the dedicated processor component can perform signal processing for which the input is an image (or video), and where image or video data can be analyzed, interpreted and/or manipulated to generate an output, the output of image processing being either an image or a set of characteristics or parameters related to the image. The output can be provided to a device processor for further processing.

Abstract: A depth measurement apparatus including ranging pixels each having photoelectric conversion units for receiving light fluxes that have respectively passed through first and second pupil regions, a reading unit shared by the photoelectric conversion units, and a control unit for controlling the ranging operation wherein a signal charge accumulated in one of the photoelectric conversion units is output as a first signal and a second signal obtained by adding a signal charge accumulated in the other photoelectric conversion unit to the first signal is output, the signal charge accumulated in the other photoelectric conversion unit is acquired based on a difference between the first and second signals after noise reduction, and the signal charge of the photoelectric conversion unit receiving flux with a higher transmittance is read first.