Abstract: Devices and methods that monitor batteries used in electronic devices are disclosed herein. An embodiment of a device comprises a sample and hold circuit connected between terminals of the battery, wherien the sample and hold circuit comprising a sample and hold output. A comparator comprising a comparator input connected to the sample and hold output and a comparator output. The state of the comparator output changes when the potential of the comparator input crosses a preselected voltage threshold. A processor comprising a processor input is connected to the comparator output. The processor initiates a shut down of the electronic device upon a change of state of the comparator output.

Abstract: A photoelectric imaging sensor and method that provide for electronic shuttering and frequency filtering. An exemplary sensor includes a biased conductive frame disposed adjacent to an electron emitting plate that is coupled by way of a reset field effect transistor to ground. A metallized plate is insulated from (capacitively coupled to) the electron emitting plate and is coupled by way of a charge isolation field effect transistor (to ground. Electronic shuttering and frequency filtering in the photoelectric imaging sensor is implemented is as follows. The conductive frame is biased by predetermined amounts to control the surface work function of the electron emitting plate and set the incident light frequency at which photoelectrons are emitted by the electron emitting plate, thus providing for frequency filtering and electronically shuttering of the photoelectric imaging sensor. Electronic shuttering is provided by gating the metallized plate using the charge isolation field effect transistor.

Abstract: A photoelectric imaging sensor comprising a bias frame and electron collector and an electron emissive photosensitive material disposed on a first side of the bias frame and electron collector. A piezoelectric variable color filter is disposed on a second side of the bias frame and electron collector, piezoelectric separation control circuitry is coupled to the piezoelectric variable color filter that controls separation of colors thereby, and a current switch connected to the electron collector.

Abstract: A camera is adjustable such that the force required to actuate one or more of the camera's controls can be adjusted by a camera user. In a preferred embodiment, the force required to depress the camera's shutter release button is adjustable. The force may be adjusted to accommodate changing photographic situations, to accommodate a physical disability of the photographer, or simply to accommodate the camera user's taste. Mechanical and electromechanical embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A pixel-differentiated CCD imager architecture may include: a plurality of photo-sensing pixels arranged in a matrix, each pixel being classified according to type from among a plurality of photo-sensing pixel types; and read circuitry controllable to respectively read one or more of a second type of pixel independently of reading a first type of pixel, the reading of one or more first type pixels representing a sampling of fewer than all of the plurality of pixels, the sampling being obtainable without having to read all of the plurality of pixels. A related method and digital camera may include features similar to elements of the pixel-differentiated CCD imager architecture.

Abstract: A method, of selectively reading less than all information from an image sensor for which member-pixels of a subset of the entire set of pixels are individually addressable, may include: sampling information from a targeted member-pixel of the subset without having to read information from the entire set of pixels; and adaptively reading information from another one or more but fewer than all member pixels of the entire set based upon the sampling information without having to read all pixels on the image sensor. A related digital camera may include features similar to elements of the method.