Abstract: An embodiment includes a system, comprising: a buffer configured to store a plurality of events, each event including a plurality of bits; an output circuit configured to output events from the buffer; and a controller coupled to the buffer and the output circuit and configured to: cause the output circuit to output a first event from the buffer; and select a second event from the buffer to be output by the output circuit after the first event based on bits associated with the first event.

Abstract: A Dynamic Vision Sensor (DVS) where pixel pitch is reduced to increase spatial resolution. The DVS includes shared pixels that employ Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) for higher spatial resolution and better linear separation of pixel data. The pixel array in the DVS may consist of multiple N×N pixel clusters. The N×N pixels in each cluster share the same differentiator and the same comparator using TDM. The pixel pitch is reduced (and, hence, the spatial resolution is improved) by implementing multiple adjacent photodiodes/photoreceptors that share the same differentiator and comparator units using TDM. In the DVS, only one quarter of the whole pixel array may be in use at the same time. A global reset may be done periodically to switch from one quarter of pixels to the other for detection. Because of higher spatial resolution, applications such as gesture recognition or user recognition based on DVS output entail improved performance.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a system, comprising a first memory; a plurality of first circuits, wherein each first circuit is coupled to the memory; and includes a second circuit configured to generate a first output value in response to an input value received from the first memory; and an accumulator configured to receive the first output value and generate a second output value; and a controller coupled to the memory and the first circuits, and configured to determine the input values to be transmitted from the memory to the first circuits.

Abstract: A client device configured with a neural network includes a processor, a memory, a user interface, a communications interface, a power supply and an input device, wherein the memory includes a trained neural network received from a server system that has trained and configured the neural network for the client device. A server system and a method of training a neural network are disclosed.

Abstract: An image sensor operates in a base mode according to a first sampling rate and a first pixel exposure time and includes a light condition detector that extracts illuminance information from a pixel signal received from pixels in a pixel array, and generates a low-illuminance information signal upon detecting that a value of the illuminance information falls within a first range, a sampling controller that changes the first sampling rate to a second sampling rate in response to the low-illuminance information signal, and an exposure time controller that changes the first pixel exposure time to a second pixel exposure time in response to the low-illuminance information signal.

Abstract: Imaging systems, such as time-of-flight imaging systems, and methods with pixel sensitivity adjustments. An embodiment includes a method, comprising: for a plurality of pixels having a first output and a second output, measuring the first outputs and the second outputs in response to a demodulation signal; and adjusting the demodulation signal such that a combination of the first outputs is substantially similar to a combination of the second outputs.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device includes an array of active pixels and an infrared cut filter formed over the sensor. Optionally, a slot in the infrared cut filter allows infrared illumination to reach the sensor to be detected by pixels covered by a visually opaque filter and surrounded by pixels of special types that limit charge leakage and enable high dynamic range sensing of infrared illumination. A ratio of average infrared signal to average brightness indicates an amount of infrared illumination reaching the imaging device.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein may operate to image a scene with an imaging system using an image blurring technique. An image sensor array (ISA) element may be identified as a dark defect element if a first ratio of an average of a set of illuminance signal magnitudes from a set of surrounding ISA elements to a magnitude of an illuminance signal from the ISA element is greater than a threshold sharpness value. The image sensor array element may be identified as a bright defect element if a second ratio of the magnitude of the illuminance signal from the ISA element to the average of the set of illuminance signal magnitudes from the set of surrounding ISA elements is greater than the threshold sharpness value.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein may operate to compare an illuminance corresponding to a signal from an image sensor array (ISA) element in a production imaging system with an illuminance associated with optical flare incident to an ISA from which the ISA element is selected. The ISA element may be identified as unusable if the illuminance corresponding to the signal from the ISA element is less than the illuminance associated with the optical flare incident to the ISA.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein may operate to compare an illuminance corresponding to a signal from an image sensor array (ISA) element in a production imaging system with an illuminance associated with optical flare incident to an ISA from which the ISA element is selected. The ISA element may be identified as unusable if the illuminance corresponding to the signal from the ISA element is less than the illuminance associated with the optical flare incident to the ISA.

Abstract: Imaging systems, such as time-of-flight imaging systems, and methods with pixel sensitivity adjustments. An embodiment includes a method, comprising: for a plurality of pixels having a first output and a second output, measuring the first outputs and the second outputs in response to a demodulation signal; and adjusting the demodulation signal such that a combination of the first outputs is substantially similar to a combination of the second outputs.

Abstract: A device, comprising a plurality of pixel arrays. Two or more pixel arrays are stacked in overlapping fashion and rotated. Optionally, one or more of the pixel arrays are shifted with respect to others. As a result, the horizontal and vertical Nyquist spatial sampling frequency limits are increased, thus permitting an increase in image resolution, for example in terms of line pairs that can be resolved, without reducing the pixel size. Certain stacked pixel pattern arrangement can also be read out as Bayer color pattern for processing by traditional Bayer image signal processors.

Abstract: Pixels of an array capture values for an input image. The captured values correspond to pixel center points of the pixels that captured the values. Additional values about the input image may be further computed from the captured values. These additional values may correspond to additional center points, which can be different from any of the pixel center points. An output image may be constructed from the captured values plus the additional values. These values may be stored together and/or displayed together as the output image. Embodiments are applicable to images such as from multi-layer sensors. Since the output image can be created from a higher total number of values than those captured by the available number of pixels, such image processing can be called super-resolution, and can be applied to image processing within imaging devices, for still pictures, video and motion pictures, and so on.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a first photoelectric conversion element supplying charges to a first charge storage node, a first charge storage element adjusting an amount of charges supplied from a charge supply source to the first charge storage node in response to a feedback signal, and a feedback signal generating circuit generating the feedback signal based on an amount of charges in the first charge storage node.

Abstract: An image capture device includes an image sensor having an array of pixels therein, which are configured to receive light reflected from an object during an image capture time interval. A light source is provided, which is configured to project light to the object during at least a portion of the image capture time interval. A control circuit/unit is provided, which is electrically coupled to the image sensor and the light source. This control circuit is configured to drive the light source with signals that cause the light source to project light to the object without interruption during at least a first time interval when all rows of a frame of pixels within the array are being sequentially read and during a second time interval when all rows of the frame of pixels within the array are being sequentially read.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for dynamic range estimation of imaged scenes for automatic exposure control. For a given exposure time setting, certain areas of a scene may be brighter than what a camera can capture. In cameras, including those experiencing substantial lens vignetting, a gain stage may be used to extend dynamic range and extract auto-exposure data from the extended dynamic range. Alternatively, dynamic range can be extended using pre-capture image information taken under reduced exposure conditions.

Abstract: According to one general aspect, an apparatus may include an image sensor, a monochromatic pixel reconstruction engine, and a demosaicing engine. The image sensor may be configured to capture, at least in part, an image. The image sensor may include a plurality of first sensors configured to generate captured monochromatic pixel values, and a plurality of second sensors configured to not generate captured monochromatic pixel values. The plurality of second sensors may be dispersed amongst the plurality of first sensors such that portions of the image are not captured by the image sensor. The monochromatic pixel reconstruction engine may be configured to estimate an estimated monochromatic pixel value for each second sensor. The demosaicing engine may be configured to, via a color selective adaptive technique, generate a polychromatic image based upon the captured monochromatic pixel values and the estimated monochromatic pixel values.

Abstract: An improved non-uniform sensitivity correction algorithm for use in an imager device (e.g., a CMOS APS). The algorithm provides zones having flexible boundaries which can be reconfigured depending upon the type of lens being used in a given application. Each pixel within each zone is multiplied by a correction factor dependent upon the particular zone while the pixel is being read out from the array. The amount of sensitivity adjustment required for a given pixel depends on the type of lens being used, and the same correction unit can be used with multiple lenses where the zone boundaries and the correction factors are adjusted for each lens. In addition, the algorithm makes adjustments to the zone boundaries based upon a misalignment between the centers of the lens being used and the APS array.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a casing, a defined a field of view, and light sources on the casing. Each light source has a field of illumination configured to illuminate a respective distinct sector of the FOV at a higher intensity than the other sectors. Accordingly, any partial shadow or visible partial shadow around a front image can be reduced or eliminated completely.

Abstract: An imaging device has a pixel array that includes one or more depth pixels. The imaging device also includes a controller that can cause one or more of the depth pixels to image a depth of an object in a ranging mode. The controller can further cause the depth pixel(s) to image in one or more detection modes, with the appropriate control signals. The imaging device also includes a monitoring circuit that can detect a current drawn by the depth pixel(s) in the detection modes. A revert indication can be generated from the detected current. Depending on the control signals, the revert indication can serve as a proximity indication, or as a motion indication.