Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating high-dynamic range images. In particular, a signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio objective associated with an imaging platform configured to capture one or more images of a region of interest using an image sensor having a first portion and a second portion can be determined. The SNR objective can specify a desired SNR response as a function of a brightness of the region of interest. A first integration time and a second integration time can then be determined based at least in part on the SNR objective. Data indicative of a plurality of image frames can then be obtained. Each image frame is captured by exposing the first portion of the image sensor for the first integration time and exposing the second portion of the image sensor for the second integration time.

Abstract: A controller controls a focus lens driver so as to maintain an in-focus state associated with a magnification variation, based on information on a tracking curve that represents a position of the focus lens corresponding to an object distance and a focal length of an image-pickup optical system. The controller controls the focus lens driver so as to prevent the focus lens from being moved for focusing based on a difference between an actual position of the focus lens and the position of the focus lens indicated by the tracking curve in a case the focus lens driver is driving the focus lens based on information on the tracking curve.

Abstract: A control method for a photosensitive device comprises a matrix of photosensitive pixels distributed at the intersections of rows and columns of the matrix, each of the pixels comprising a photosensitive element able to generate an electrical signal under the effect of incident radiation and a switch controlled by a row conductor, the switch allowing the electrical signal to be transferred to a column conductor, the device further comprising a readout circuit connected to the column conductor to read out successively the various pixels connected to the column conductor, the method consisting, for each of the pixels, in activating the switch a first time by deactivating the associated readout circuit and in activating the switch a second time by activating the associated readout circuit, the duration separating the first activation and the second activation of the switch being equal to a predefined duration of integration.

Abstract: Provided are an imaging device and a focusing control method capable of preventing a focusing error even in a case where still image capturing is consecutively performed to enhance imaging quality. A digital camera performs a correlation operation of two images captured by a pixel pair P1 after performing an imaging process of an N-th frame, and determines a reliability of a correlation operation result based on the result of the correlation operation. In a case where the reliability is low, the digital camera performs a focusing control based on a contrast AF method in each time of imaging subsequent to an (N+1)-th frame, and in a case where the reliability is low, the digital camera performs a focusing control based on a phase difference AF method in an imaging process of the (N+1)-th frame.

Abstract: A pixel circuit is provided. The pixel circuit includes a photoelectric converter unit, an amplifier unit, a reset unit, a compensation unit, a charging unit, and a readout unit, wherein the photoelectric converter unit is connected to a first voltage terminal and the amplifier unit, and is configured to convert an optical signal into an electric signal, wherein the amplifier unit is connected to the photoelectric converter unit, the charging unit, and the readout unit, and is configured to amplify an output signal from the photoelectric converter unit, and wherein the reset unit is connected to a reset terminal, the first voltage terminal, and the amplifier unit, and is configured to reset the amplifier unit based on an input signal from the reset terminal and an input signal from the first voltage terminal.

Abstract: “Programmed manual modes” mimic the processes a digital camera user goes through manually, but at the speed of the processor built in the camera. Each program preferably includes an exposure condition and a set of shooting parameters, with each parameter having a range and a priority. The processor automatically applies the parameters in sequential fashion within their ranges based upon their priorities, causing the camera to take a picture if and when the exposure condition is met. The shooting parameters may include one or more of ISO, aperture and shutter speed, and the ranges generally include upper or lower limits. The program may be created in the camera or downloaded into the camera from an external device, and the program may be written in a format that can be shared with other camera users. The program preferably includes one or more pre-compose settings to establish a set of initial shooting conditions.

Abstract: Aspects and embodiments are directed to a digital unit cell comprising an integrator circuit, a dynamic comparator configured to compare an integration voltage of the integrator circuit with a reference voltage, provide a first pulse signal each time the integration voltage is less than the reference voltage, and provide a second pulse signal each time the integration voltage exceeds the reference voltage, a multiplexer configured to receive a count direction control signal, and a counter element configured to increment a count value each time the first pulse signal or the second pulse signal is received, wherein the multiplexer is configured to couple a first output of the dynamic comparator to the counter element when the count direction control signal is in a first state, and to couple a second output of the dynamic comparator to the counter element when the count direction control signal is in a second state.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a camera module, and a camera control module operatively connected to the camera module, wherein the camera control module obtains focus information of a subject to be captured by using the camera module, moves a lens of a camera to focus the camera on the subject based on at least the focus information, and provides guide information corresponding to the movement of the lens through an output device operatively connected to the electronic device.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises: a first image sensor configured to photo-electrically convert a subject image and output an image signal; a first image processing unit configured to develop a first image signal generated by the first image sensor; a second image processing unit configured to reduce a number of pixels in the first image signal and develop the image signal whose pixels have been reduced as a second image signal; a recording unit configured to record an image signal; and a display unit having a lower pixel count than the pixel count of the first image sensor, wherein in the case where an instruction to capture a still image has been made, the recording unit records the image signal developed by the first image processing unit and the display unit displays the image signal developed by the second image processing unit.

Abstract: Using the same image sensor to capture a two-dimensional (2D) image and three-dimensional (3D) depth measurements for a 3D object. A laser point-scans the surface of the object with light spots, which are detected by a pixel array in the image sensor to generate the 3D depth profile of the object using triangulation. Each row of pixels in the pixel array forms an epipolar line of the corresponding laser scan line. Timestamping provides a correspondence between the pixel location of a captured light spot and the respective scan angle of the laser to remove any ambiguity in triangulation. An Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) in the image sensor operates as a Time-to-Digital Converter (TDC) to generate timestamps. When the epipolar line is misaligned or curved, multiple TDC arrays acquire timestamps of multiple pixels (in multiple rows) substantially simultaneously. Multiple timestamp values are reconciled to obtain a single timestamp value for a light spot.

Abstract: Synchronized capture of image and non-image sensor data is disclosed. In one embodiment, a device for synchronized capture comprises a synchronization signal generator to generate a synchronization (sync) signal for each of a plurality of heterogeneous capture devices and timestamping logic coupled to the synchronization signal generator to assign timestamp information to each set of data captured by individual capture devices of the plurality of capture devices to indicate when the data was captured, wherein the timestamp information is assigned based on when the sync signal is generated for its corresponding capture device and based on a first delay between when the sync signal is generated for a corresponding capture device and when processing of captured data, by a processing device, has been completed.

Abstract: A focus adjustment device for carrying out focus adjustment by moving a focus lens, comprises a point light source determination section which determines a point-like light source subject based on the image signals, an orientation stability determination section which determines stability of orientation by detecting orientation of the focus adjustment device, a photometry section which outputs photometric values corresponding to subject brightness based on the image signals, and a focus adjustment section which carries out a focus adjustment operation using the image signals, based on a determination result of the point light source determination section, wherein the point light source determination section, in a state where a point-like light source subject is currently determined, when a determination result of the orientation stability determination section indicates unstable and a photometric value output from the photometry section does not indicate low brightness, determines that the subject is not a po

Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus, a solid-state image sensing apparatus, and a camera system capable of reducing interference between signals transmitted through adjacent via holes, preventing an increase in the number of the via holes, reducing the area of a chip having sensors thereon and the number of mounting steps thereof. First and second chips are bonded together to form a laminated structure, a wiring between the first chip and the second chip being connected through via holes, the first chip transmitting signals obtained by time-discretizing analog signals generated by respective sensors to the second chip through the corresponding via holes, the second chip sampling the signals transmitted from the first chip through the via holes at a timing different from a timing at which the signals are sampled by the first chip and quantizing the sampled signals to obtain digital signals.

Abstract: A new framework for video compressed sensing models the evolution of the image frames of a video sequence as a linear dynamical system (LDS). This reduces the video recovery problem to first estimating the model parameters of the LDS from compressive measurements, from which the image frames are then reconstructed. We exploit the low-dimensional dynamic parameters (state sequence) and high-dimensional static parameters (observation matrix) of the LDS to devise a novel compressive measurement strategy that measures only the dynamic part of the scene at each instant and accumulates measurements over time to estimate the static parameters. This enables us to lower the compressive measurement rate considerably yet obtain video recovery at a high frame rate that is in fact inversely proportional to the length of the video sequence. This property makes our framework well-suited for high-speed video capture and other applications.

Abstract: An image sensor capable of boosting a voltage of a floating diffusion node is provided. The image sensor includes a floating diffusion node and a storage element which are in a semiconductor substrate. The image sensor includes a first light-shielding material formed over the floating diffusion node, and a second light-shielding material formed over the storage diode. The second light-shielding material is separated from the first light-shielding material. The image sensor also includes a first voltage supply line configured to apply a first voltage to the first light-shielding material and a second voltage supply line configured to apply a second voltage lower than the first voltage to the second light-shielding material.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing device which includes: an event detector configured to detect a first event occurring at the AP by analyzing a response signal which the AP transmits to a transceiver of a camera in response to a query signal transmitted from the transceiver to the AP; and a power controller configured to place a sensor, the transceiver and a plurality of other elements constituting the camera in an activated state, in response to the event detector detecting the first event, wherein the power controller places the other elements in a deactivated state while at least one of the sensor and the transceiver is in the activated place, unless the first event is detected by the event detector, a second event is detected by the sensor, or a predetermined setting is provided.

Abstract: A web camera and an operation method thereof are provided. The web camera includes a photographic unit, an infrared (IR) transmitter, a network communication unit and a processing unit. The photographic unit captures an image. The network communication unit establishes a connection with a remote host via a communication network. The processing unit sends the image captured by the photographic unit to the remote host via the network communication unit. The processing unit receives a control command from the remote host via the network communication unit. The processing unit transmits an IR control code corresponding to the control command to a target device via the IR transmitter. The processing unit determines whether the target device responds to the IR control code based on the image.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an electronic apparatus and method. The electronic includes a photography lens, an eyeball recognition sensor, and a controller. The photography lens acquires an image signal from a subject. The eyeball recognition sensor senses movement of a user's eyeball. The controller recognizes opening and closing of the user's eyelid based on eyeball monitoring information transmitted from the eyeball recognition sensor, and performs a device driving control operation for a reference time period for which the user's eyelid is in a closed state.

Abstract: Provided is an image pickup apparatus comprising: a light control mirror element (ace CME) having a function of splitting an incident light flux (LF) into a first LF from reflection and a second LF from transmission and a function of switching between a semi-transmissive/semi-reflective state (s-t/s-rS) and a totally reflective state (TRS); a LF splitting unit causes first and second LFs to be emitted from first and second exit surfaces (ES), respectively; an electrochromic element (EE) switches between a state of transmitting light having a first wavelength range (WR) out of first LF (first state) and a state of transmitting light having a second WR out of first LF (second state); and a control device conducts switching control between a first mode in which LCME is in s-t/s-rS and EE is in first state and a second mode in which LCME is in TRS and EE is in second state.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes photoelectric converting sections transfer sections first buffer sections second buffer sections first output sections, and second output sections. The photoelectric converting sections generate electric charges in response to incidence of light. The transfer sections transfer the generated electric charges in a first direction or in a second direction opposite thereto in response to three-phase or four-phase drive signals. The first buffer sections and the second buffer sections acquire the electric charges transferred in the first and second directions, respectively, by the transfer sections and transfer the acquired electric charges in the first and second directions, respectively, in response to two-phase drive signals. The first output sections and the second output sections acquire the electric charges transferred from the first buffer sections and from the second buffer sections respectively, and output signals according to the acquired electric charges.