Abstract: An image sensor architecture with multi-bit sampling is implemented within an image sensor system. A pixel signal produced in response to light incident upon a photosensitive element is converted to a multiple-bit digital value representative of the pixel signal. If the pixel signal exceeds a sampling threshold, the photosensitive element is reset. During an image capture period, digital values associated with pixel signals that exceed a sampling threshold are accumulated into image data.

Abstract: A control pulse is generated a first control signal line coupled to a transfer gate of a pixel to enable photocharge accumulated within a photosensitive element of the pixel to be transferred to a floating diffusion node, the first control signal line having a capacitive coupling to the floating diffusion node. A feedthrough compensation pulse is generated on a second signal line of the pixel array that also has a capacitive coupling to the floating diffusion node. The feedthrough compensation pulse is generated with a pulse polarity opposite the pulse polarity of the control pulse and is timed to coincide with the control pulse such that capacitive feedthrough of the control pulse to the floating diffusion node is reduced.

Abstract: In a pixel array within an integrated-circuit image sensor, each of a plurality of pixels is evaluated to determine whether charge integrated within the pixel in response to incident light exceeds a first threshold. N-bit digital samples corresponding to the charge integrated within at least a subset of the plurality of pixels are generated, and then applied to a lookup table to retrieve respective M-bit digital values (M being less than N), wherein a stepwise range of charge integration levels represented by possible states of the M-bit digital values extends upward from a starting charge integration level that is determined based on the first threshold.

Abstract: In a pixel array within an integrated-circuit image sensor, each of a plurality of pixels is evaluated to determine whether charge integrated within the pixel in response to incident light exceeds a first threshold. N-bit digital samples corresponding to the charge integrated within at least a subset of the plurality of pixels are generated, and then applied to a lookup table to retrieve respective M-bit digital values (M being less than N), wherein a stepwise range of charge integration levels represented by possible states of the M-bit digital values extends upward from a starting charge integration level that is determined based on the first threshold.

Abstract: In a pixel array within an integrated-circuit image sensor, each of a plurality of pixels is evaluated to determine whether charge integrated within the pixel in response to incident light exceeds a first threshold. N-bit digital samples corresponding to the charge integrated within at least a subset of the plurality of pixels are generated, and then applied to a lookup table to retrieve respective M-bit digital values (M being less than N), wherein a stepwise range of charge integration levels represented by possible states of the M-bit digital values extends upward from a starting charge integration level that is determined based on the first threshold.

Abstract: A digital camera captures high quality long exposure images by capturing and summing several images of the same scene. The effective ISO of the camera is reduced by scaling the summed image, thus reducing image noise and improving long exposure quality.

Abstract: A camera has a body and an electronic capture unit mounted in the body. The electronic capture unit selectively captures and stores a scene image as a representational electronic image having a first array of pixels. A control system is mounted in the body. The control system provides a remapped electronic image having a second array of pixels. A memory unit is disposed in the body. The memory unit stores a data-set defining an non-uniform mapping between a plurality of primary input coordinates mappable on said first array of pixels and plurality of primary output coordinates mappable on said second array of pixels. The control system uses the data-set to remap the pixels of the input electronic image to provide the remapped electronic image.

Abstract: A digital camera captures high quality long exposure images by capturing and summing several images of the same scene. The effective ISO of the camera is reduced by scaling the summed image, thus reducing image noise and improving long exposure quality.

Abstract: In a digital image matching method, reference calibration data associated with one or more reference digital image files is ascertained. The reference digital image files each have reference calibration data that is hidden metadata and can also have public metadata that is readable by a different procedure. A test digital image file is obtained and a data structure capable of holding the reference calibration data is detected in the test digital image file. The presence of second calibration data within the data structure of the test digital image file is determined. If the reference and second calibration data match, then the test digital image file and reference digital image files are from the same digital acquisition device.

Abstract: A digital camera captures high quality long exposure images by capturing and summing several images of the same scene. The effective ISO of the camera is reduced by scaling the summed image, thus reducing image noise and improving long exposure quality.

Abstract: A camera has a body and an electronic capture unit mounted in the body. The electronic capture unit selectively captures and stores a scene image as a representational electronic image having a first array of pixels. A control system is mounted in the body. The control system provides a remapped electronic image having a second array of pixels. A memory unit is disposed in the body. The memory unit stores a data-set defining an non-uniform mapping between a plurality of primary input coordinates mappable on said first array of pixels and plurality of primary output coordinates mappable on said second array of pixels. The control system uses the data-set to remap the pixels of the input electronic image to provide the remapped electronic image.

Abstract: A target type thrust reverser is provided for reversing the thrust of jet engines, particularly on aircraft. The thrust reverser preferably has a plurality of doors that occupy a stowed position about the nozzle of the jet engine until deployed. In the stowed position, the doors are out of the exhaust stream of the jet engine. The doors are mounted to pivot joints on the rear portions of the doors. To deploy the thrust reverser, actuators connected to the pivot joints cause the pivot joints to translate linearly aft, and link rods attached to the forward portions of the doors cause the doors to pivot about the sliding pivot joints. In this manner, the distance between the doors and the engine exhaust nozzle is minimized during deployment, which enables significant weight savings due to reduced loads and fewer parts. A novel lock is also provided for simultaneously locking the thrust reverser doors and the actuators.

Abstract: A method of reducing color aliasing artifacts from a color digital image having color pixels including providing luminance and chrominance signals from the color digital image; downsampling the luminance and chrominance signals; using such downsampled luminance and chrominance signals to separate the image into textured and nontextured regions having boundaries; cleaning the downsampled chrominance signals in the textured regions in response to the boundaries of the textured region and the downsampled chrominance signals; cleaning the downsampled chrominance signals in the nontextured regions in response to the downsampled chrominance signals; upsampling the downsampled noise-cleaned chrominance signals; and using the luminance and upsampled noise-cleaned chrominance signals to provide a color digital image having reduced color aliasing artifacts.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing digital images having eye color defects. In one method for detecting and correcting eye color defects of a subject in a digital image, the steps comprise: (a) processing the digital image to automatically detect one or more candidate positions of eye color defects in the digital image; (b) automatically applying an eye color defect algorithm to the digital image at the detected candidate positions to automatically correct for the eye color defect; (c) displaying, on a display, at least a portion of the digital image comprising at least one of the corrected eye color defects; and (d) displaying, on the display, an indicator located proximate the at least one of the corrected eye color defects indicative of the at least one of the corrected eye color defects.

Abstract: A method of reducing color aliasing artifacts from a color digital image having color pixels includes providing luminance and chrominance signals from the color digital image; using such luminance and chrominance signals to separate the image into textured and nontextured regions having boundaries; downsampling the chrominance signals and texture region mapping; producing cleaned chrominance signals in the textured regions in response to the boundaries of the textured region and chrominance signals; producing cleaned chrominance signals in the nontextured regions in response to the chrominance signals; upsampling the noise-cleaned chrominance signals; and using the luminance and upsampled noise-cleaned chrominance signals to provide a color digital image having reduced color aliasing artifacts.

Abstract: A target type thrust reverser is provided for reversing the thrust of jet engines, particularly on aircraft. The thrust reverser preferably has a plurality of doors that occupy a stowed position about the nozzle of the jet engine until deployed. In the stowed position, the doors are out of the exhaust stream of the jet engine. The doors are mounted to pivot joints on the rear portions of the doors. To deploy the thrust reverser, actuators connected to the pivot joints cause the pivot joints to translate linearly aft, and link rods attached to the forward portions of the doors cause the doors to pivot about the sliding pivot joints. In this manner, the distance between the doors and the engine exhaust nozzle is minimized during deployment, which enables significant weight savings due to reduced loads and fewer parts. A novel lock is also provided for simultaneously locking the thrust reverser doors and the actuators.

Abstract: A method of reducing color aliasing artifacts from a color digital image having color pixels including providing luminance and chrominance signals from the color digital image; downsampling the luminance and chrominance signals; using such downsampled luminance and chrominance signals to separate the image into textured and nontextured regions having boundaries; cleaning the downsampled chrominance signals in the textured regions in response to the boundaries of the textured region and the downsampled chrominance signals; cleaning the downsampled chrominance signals in the nontextured regions in response to the downsampled chrominance signals; upsampling the downsampled noise-cleaned chrominance signals; and using the luminance and upsampled noise-cleaned chrominance signals to provide a color digital image having reduced color aliasing artifacts.

Abstract: A method of reducing color aliasing artifacts from a color digital image having color pixels includes providing luminance and chrominance signals from the color digital image; using such luminance and chrominance signals to separate the image into textured and nontextured regions having boundaries; downsampling the chrominance signals and texture region mapping; producing cleaned chrominance signals in the textured regions in response to the boundaries of the textured region and chrominance signals; producing cleaned chrominance signals in the nontextured regions in response to the chrominance signals; upsampling the noise-cleaned chrominance signals; and using the luminance and upsampled noise-cleaned chrominance signals to provide a color digital image having reduced color aliasing artifacts.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing digital images having eye color defects. In one method for detecting and correcting eye color defects of a subject in a digital image, the steps comprise: (a) processing the digital image to automatically detect one or more candidate positions of eye color defects in the digital image; (b) automatically applying an eye color defect algorithm to the digital image at the detected candidate positions to automatically correct for the eye color defect; (c) displaying, on a display, at least a portion of the digital image comprising at least one of the corrected eye color defects; and (d) displaying, on the display, an indicator located proximate the at least one of the corrected eye color defects indicative of the at least one of the corrected eye color defects.

Abstract: A camera has a body and an electronic capture unit mounted in the body. The electronic capture unit selectively captures and stores a scene image as a representational electronic image having a first array of pixels. A control system is mounted in the body. The control system provides a remapped electronic image having a second array of pixels. A memory unit is disposed in the body. The memory unit stores a data-set defining an non-uniform mapping between a plurality of primary input coordinates mappable on said first array of pixels and plurality of primary output coordinates mappable on said second array of pixels. The control system uses the data-set to remap the pixels of the input electronic image to provide the remapped electronic image.