Abstract: An imaging system includes a primary imager and plurality of 3A-control sensors. The primary imager has a first field of view and includes a primary image sensor and a primary imaging lens with a first optical axis. The primary image sensor has a primary pixel array and control circuitry communicatively coupled thereto. The plurality of 3A-control sensors includes at least one of a peripheral imager and a 3A-control sensor. The peripheral imager, if included, has a second field of view including (i) at least part of the first field of view and (ii) a phase-difference auto-focus (PDAF) sensor and a peripheral imaging lens, the PDAF sensor being separate from the primary image sensor. The 3A-control sensor, if included, is separate from the primary pixel array and communicatively connected to the control circuitry to provide one of auto-white balance and exposure control for the primary pixel array.

Abstract: A method of detecting light-emitting diode (LED) light starts with a control circuitry generating a shutter signal that is transmitted to a pixel array to control image acquisition by the pixel array and to establish a set exposure time. The readout circuitry may then read out the image data from the pixel array that includes reading out the image data from a plurality of successive and overlapped frames having the set exposure time. The set exposure time may be the same for each of the frames. The successive and overlapped frames may be interlaced frames. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus and process are described. The process includes capturing a first image frame using an image sensor, the image sensor including a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns and a color filter array optically coupled to the pixel array. A region of interest within the first image frame is determined, and the exposure time of the image sensor is adjusted to eliminate a substantial fraction of the visible light captured by the image sensor. A rolling shutter procedure is used with the pixel array to capture at least one subsequent frame using the adjusted exposure time, and a source of invisible radiation is activated while the rolling shutter enters the region of interest and deactivated when the rolling shutter exits the region of interest. Finally, an image of the region of interest is output. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: A system for obtaining image depth information for at least one object in a scene includes (a) an imaging objective having a first portion for forming a first optical image of the scene, and a second portion for forming a second optical image of the scene, the first portion being different from the second portion, (b) an image sensor for capturing the first and second optical images and generating respective first and second electronic images therefrom, and (c) a processing module for processing the first and second electronic images to determine the depth information. A method for obtaining image depth information for at least one object in a scene includes forming first and second images of the scene, using respective first and second portions of an imaging objective, on a single image sensor, and determining the depth information from a spatial shift between the first and second images.

Abstract: A method for combining images includes capturing a first image including a subject from a first camera. A second image is captured from a second camera and the second image includes the subject. First pre-processing functions are applied on the first image to produce a first processed image. The first pre-processing functions include applying a distortion component of a rotation matrix to the first image. The rotation matrix defines a corrected relationship between the first and the second image. Second pre-processing functions are applied on the second image to produces a second processed image. The second pre-processing functions include applying the rotation matrix to the second image. The first processed image and the second processed image are blended in a processing unit to form a composite image.

Abstract: An imaging system with on-chip phase-detection includes an image sensor with symmetric multi-pixel phase-difference detectors. Each symmetric multi-pixel phase-difference detector includes (a) a plurality of pixels forming an array and each having a respective color filter thereon, each color filter having a transmission spectrum and (b) a microlens at least partially above each of the plurality of pixels and having an optical axis intersecting the array. The array, by virtue of each transmission spectrum, has reflection symmetry with respect to both (a) a first plane that includes the optical axis and (b) a second plane that is orthogonal to the first plane. The imaging system includes a phase-detection row pair, which includes a plurality of symmetric multi-pixel phase-difference detectors in a pair of adjacent pixel rows and a pair, and an analogous phase-detection column pair.

Abstract: A method of detecting light-emitting diode (LED) light starts with a control circuitry generating a shutter signal that is transmitted to a pixel array to control image acquisition by the pixel array and to establish a set exposure time. The readout circuitry may then read out the image data from the pixel array that includes reading out the image data from a plurality of successive and overlapped frames having the set exposure time. The set exposure time may be the same for each of the frames. The successive and overlapped frames may be interlaced frames. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Implementations of a color filter array comprising a plurality of tiled minimal repeating units. Each minimal repeating unit includes at least a first set of filters comprising three or more color filters, the first set including at least one color filter with a first spectral photoresponse, at least one color filter with a second spectral photoresponse, and at least one color filter with a third spectral photoresponse; and a second set of filters comprising one or more broadband filters positioned among the color filters of the first set, wherein each of the one or more broadband filters has a fourth spectral photoresponse with a broader spectrum than any of the first, second, and third spectral photoresponses, and wherein the individual filters of the second set have a smaller area than any of the individual filters in the first set. Other implementations are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments of an apparatus and process are described. The process includes capturing a first image frame using an image sensor, the image sensor including a pixel array comprising a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns and a color filter array optically coupled to the pixel array. A region of interest within the first image frame is determined, and the exposure time of the image sensor is adjusted to eliminate a substantial fraction of the visible light captured by the image sensor. A rolling shutter procedure is used with the pixel array to capture at least one subsequent frame using the adjusted exposure time, and a source of invisible radiation is activated while the rolling shutter enters the region of interest and deactivated when the rolling shutter exits the region of interest. Finally, an image of the region of interest is output. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: An image sensor for on-chip phase detection includes a pixel array for capturing an image of a scene, wherein the pixel array has a plurality of horizontal phase-detection rows, each including phase-detection pixels for detecting horizontal change in the scene, and a plurality of vertical phase-detection columns, each including phase-detection pixels for detecting vertical change in the scene, and wherein each of the horizontal phase-detection rows intersects each of the vertical phase-detection columns. A phase-detection method includes generating a pair of horizontal line profiles using one of a plurality of phase-detection rows; generating a pair of vertical line profiles using one of a plurality of phase-detection columns intersecting with the one of a plurality of phase-detection rows; and determining phase shift associated with at least one arbitrarily oriented edge in a scene, based upon the pair of horizontal line profiles and the pair of vertical line profiles.

Abstract: An image sensor for on-chip phase detection includes a pixel array for capturing an image of a scene, wherein the pixel array has a plurality of horizontal phase-detection rows, each including phase-detection pixels for detecting horizontal change in the scene, and a plurality of vertical phase-detection columns, each including phase-detection pixels for detecting vertical change in the scene, and wherein each of the horizontal phase-detection rows intersects each of the vertical phase-detection columns. A phase-detection method includes generating a pair of horizontal line profiles using one of a plurality of phase-detection rows; generating a pair of vertical line profiles using one of a plurality of phase-detection columns intersecting with the one of a plurality of phase-detection rows; and determining phase shift associated with at least one arbitrarily oriented edge in a scene, based upon the pair of horizontal line profiles and the pair of vertical line profiles.

Abstract: A system and method for generating an image includes a plurality of imaging units coupled together and a system controller coupled to the plurality of imaging units for providing at least one signal to each of the plurality of imaging units. Each of the imaging units comprises: an image sensing unit for generating an in-situ image, each in-situ image being a portion of the image; an input for receiving the in-situ image; a composition unit for receiving a first composite image and producing a second composite image, the second composite image being a combination of the first composite image and the in-situ image; and an output at which the second composite image is provided.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed of a color filter array including a plurality of tiled minimal repeating units. Each minimal repeating unit comprises a set of individual filters grouped into an array of M rows by N columns, wherein each set of individual filters includes a plurality of individual filters having at least first, second, third, and fourth spectral photoresponses. If M equals N, at least two directions within each minimal repeating unit include individual filters having all the spectral photoresponses, the at least two directions being selected from a set of directions consisting of row, column, major diagonal and minor diagonal. And if M?N at least two directions within each of one or more N×N or M×M cells within the minimal repeating unit include individual filters having all the spectral photoresponses, the at least two directions being selected from a set of directions consisting of row, column, major diagonal and minor diagonal of each cell.

Abstract: An imaging system and method having a selected depth of field include an imaging lens for forming images of an object, the imaging lens having chromatic aberration and a color image sensor for receiving the images of the object. The color image sensor has a selected spectral response, the selected spectral response of the color image sensor defining a selected first center wavelength, a selected second center wavelength and a selected third center wavelength, wherein the selected first center wavelength is larger than the selected second center wavelength and the selected second center wavelength is larger than the selected third center wavelength. The selected spectral response defines the depth of field of the imaging system. A difference between the selected first center wavelength and the selected third center wavelength is greater than 150 nm.

Abstract: A method determines a pixel value in a high dynamic range image from two images of different brightness by obtaining corresponding input pixel intensities from the two images, determining combination weights, and calculating the pixel value in the high dynamic range image as a weighted average of the input pixel intensities. Another method determines a pixel value in a high dynamic range image from more than two images by forming pairs of corresponding input pixel intensities, determining relative combination weights for the input pixels intensities for each pair, applying a normalization condition to determine absolute combination weights, and calculating the pixel value in the high dynamic range image as a weighted average of the input pixel intensities. Systems for generating high dynamic range image generation from two or more input images include a processor, a memory, a combination weight module, and a pixel value calculation module.

Abstract: An example image sensor includes first, second, and third micro-lenses. The first micro-lens is in a first color pixel and has a first curvature and a first height. The second micro-lens is in a second color pixel and has a second curvature and a second height. The third micro-lens is in a third color pixel and has a third curvature and a third height. The first curvature is the same as both the second curvature and the third curvature and the first height is greater than the second height and the second height is greater than the third height, such that light absorption depths for the first, second, and third color pixels are the same.

Abstract: Implementations of a color filter array comprising a plurality of tiled minimal repeating units. Each minimal repeating unit includes at least a first set of filters comprising three or more color filters, the first set including at least one color filter with a first spectral photoresponse, at least one color filter with a second spectral photoresponse, and at least one color filter with a third spectral photoresponse; and a second set of filters comprising one or more broadband filters positioned among the color filters of the first set, wherein each of the one or more broadband filters has a fourth spectral photoresponse with a broader spectrum than any of the first, second, and third spectral photoresponses, and wherein the individual filters of the second set have a smaller area than any of the individual filters in the first set. Other implementations are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Implementations of a color filter array comprising a plurality of tiled minimal repeating units. Each minimal repeating unit includes at least a first set of filters comprising three or more color filters, the first set including at least one color filter with a first spectral photoresponse, at least one color filter with a second spectral photoresponse, and at least one color filter with a third spectral photoresponse; and a second set of filters comprising one or more broadband filters positioned among the color filters of the first set, wherein each of the one or more broadband filters has a fourth spectral photoresponse with a broader spectrum than any of the first, second, and third spectral photoresponses, and wherein the individual filters of the second set have a smaller area than any of the individual filters in the first set. Other implementations are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Implementations of a color filter array comprising a plurality of tiled minimal repeating units. Each minimal repeating unit includes at least a first set of filters comprising three or more color filters, the first set including at least one color filter with a first spectral photoresponse, at least one color filter with a second spectral photoresponse, and at least one color filter with a third spectral photoresponse; and a second set of filters comprising one or more broadband filters positioned among the color filters of the first set, wherein each of the one or more broadband filters has a fourth spectral photoresponse with a broader spectrum than any of the first, second, and third spectral photoresponses, and wherein the individual filters of the second set have a smaller area than any of the individual filters in the first set. Other implementations are disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for JPEG encoding and decoding are disclosed. In the encoding method, an image is split into 8×8 pixel blocks and the 8×8 pixel blocks are grouped into a number of minimum coded units (MCU's), such that each MCU consists of a constant number of 8×8 pixel blocks. The MCU's are then scanned to forward discrete cosine transform, quantization, zigzag scanning and entropy encoding processes and are subsequently converted into bitstreams according to entropy encoding coding tables. In the entropy encoding process, AC coefficients are run-length encoded, while DC coefficients are not subjected to differential pulse-code modulation. The bitstreams are byte-aligned by stuffing zeroes and compression data for a special JPEG file are generated from the byte-aligned bitstreams. A position table is established, recording positions of the bitstreams in the compression data. The method enables fast positioning of bitstreams corresponding to an image region of interest.