Abstract: An implantable device for detecting biomarkers in animals, the device comprises: a sensor comprising: a pair of electrodes spaced apart from each other, the pair of electrodes having a first capacitance; an oscillator configured to oscillate at a first frequency and output a first signal at the first frequency; wherein the sensor is configured to receive an amount of biological fluid wherein the biological fluid causes the capacitance of the pair of electrodes to change from the first capacitance to a second capacitance; wherein the oscillator is coupled to the pair of electrodes and arranged such that a change in the capacitance of the pair of electrodes causes a change in oscillation of the oscillator from the first frequency to a second frequency; and wherein the oscillator is configured to output a second signal at the second frequency, the second signal indicative of a biomarker in the biological fluid.

Abstract: A broken pipe, such as a PVC water pipe, is repaired by cutting out a section and replacing that section with a special repair assembly. The replacement section is of at least the same diameter and specification, such as ASTM Schedule 40 PVC, as the existing line of pipe. The ends of the repair pipe section and ends of the existing pipe are provided with increased diameters, and special one-way couplings are provided to slide over the two joints, one at each end of the repair section, to solvent weld the joints together. In a modified procedure a single joint is made with the special coupling.

Abstract: An image sensor for an electronic device can adjust a scan rate of a reset pointer of a frame relative to a scan rate of a readout pointer of a previous frame. As a result, the image sensor can transition between various readout modes without interrupting image output from the image sensor.

Abstract: A pulse-width modulation (PWM) image sensor is described herein. The PWM image sensor may have a stacked configuration. A top wafer of the PWM image sensor may have a charge-to-time converter and a logic wafer, stacked with the top wafer, may include a time-to-digital converter. The PWM image sensor may utilize variable transfer functions to avoid highlight compression and may utilize non-linear time quantization. A threshold voltage, as input to a charge-to-time converter, may additionally be controlled to affect light detection, dynamic range, and other features associated with the PWM image sensor.

Abstract: An image sensor for an electronic device can adjust a scan rate of a reset pointer of a frame relative to a scan rate of a readout pointer of a previous frame. As a result, the image sensor can transition between various readout modes without interrupting image output from the image sensor.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention actively align a lens stack array with an array of focal planes to construct an array camera module. In one embodiment, a method for actively aligning a lens stack array with a sensor that has a focal plane array includes: aligning the lens stack array relative to the sensor in an initial position; varying the spatial relationship between the lens stack array and the sensor; capturing images of a known target that has a region of interest using a plurality of active focal planes at different spatial relationships; scoring the images based on the extent to which the region of interest is focused in the images; selecting a spatial relationship between the lens stack array and the sensor based on a comparison of the scores; and forming an array camera subassembly based on the selected spatial relationship.

Abstract: An image sensor for an electronic device can adjust a scan rate of a reset pointer of a frame relative to a scan rate of a readout pointer of a previous frame. As a result, the image sensor can transition between various readout modes without interrupting image output from the image sensor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for converting streaming media between different formats. A bridging device for e.g., Camera Serial Interface (CSI) and DisplayPort is disclosed. Both the CSI and DisplayPort technologies use low power mode operation during blanking intervals of a video transmission. However, the CSI interface can wake up in a very short amount of time (e.g., ˜400 ns), but the DisplayPort interface takes significantly longer to perform link training (e.g., ˜1 ms). Various embodiments of the present disclosure use frame signaling trigger to start a wait time interval timer; the wait time interval can be used by the bridge device to wake up the DisplayPort interface ahead of the CSI2 D-PHY interface, thereby ensuring that both links are active at the same time. This “wake-up” technique can greatly reduce the size of buffering memories that are required.

Abstract: The sensitivity of one or more single-photon avalanche diodes (SPAD) in a SPAD detector is modulated over time. The sensitivity of all of the SPADs may be modulated, or the sensitivity of one section of the SPADs can be modulated differently from another section of the SPADs. Various techniques for modulating the sensitivity are disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting and receiving image data captured by an imager array including a plurality of focal planes are described. One embodiment of the invention includes capturing image data using a plurality of active focal planes in a camera module, where an image is formed on each active focal plane by a separate lens stack, generating lines of image data by interleaving the image data captured by the plurality of active focal planes, and transmitting the lines of image data and the additional data.

Abstract: An image sensor for an electronic device can adjust a scan rate of a reset pointer of a frame relative to a scan rate of a readout pointer of a previous frame. As a result, the image sensor can transition between various readout modes without interrupting image output from the image sensor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for converting streaming media between different formats. A bridging device for e.g., Camera Serial Interface (CSI) and DisplayPort is disclosed. Both the CSI and DisplayPort technologies use low power mode operation during blanking intervals of a video transmission. However, the CSI interface can wake up in a very short amount of time (e.g., ˜400 ns), but the DisplayPort interface takes significantly longer to perform link training (e.g., ˜1 ms). Various embodiments of the present disclosure use frame signaling trigger to start a wait time interval timer; the wait time interval can be used by the bridge device to wake up the DisplayPort interface ahead of the CSI2 D-PHY interface, thereby ensuring that both links are active at the same time. This “wake-up” technique can greatly reduce the size of buffering memories that are required.

Abstract: A thermal buffer device and installation method therefor are disclosed. The device includes a body and a fastening system. The body has a substantially planar rear surface, is generally cubic in shape, and is formed from a solid piece of thermally insulating material. The fastening system secures the rear surface of the body against an attachment surface within a temperature controlled enclosure, where the attachment surface is at a location in the enclosure selected for temperature monitoring. A temperature probe inserts into the body. The device is designed to resist air temperature changes in the temperature controlled enclosures in which the device is installed (i.e. to operate as a temperature buffer). In a preferred embodiment, the fastening system enables positive mechanical mounting of the device within the temperature controlled enclosures.

Abstract: Architectures for imager arrays configured for use in array cameras in accordance with embodiments of the invention are described. One embodiment of the invention includes a plurality of focal planes, where each focal plane comprises a two dimensional arrangement of pixels having at least two pixels in each dimension and each focal plane is contained within a region of the imager array that does not contain pixels from another focal plane, control circuitry configured to control the capture of image information by the pixels within the focal planes, where the control circuitry is configured so that the capture of image information by the pixels in at least two of the focal planes is separately controllable, sampling circuitry configured to convert pixel outputs into digital pixel data, and output interface circuitry configured to transmit pixel data via an output interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing photometric normalization in an array camera in accordance with embodiments of this invention are disclosed. The image data of scene from a reference imaging component and alternate imaging components is received. The image data from each of the alternate imaging components is then translated to so that pixel information in the image data of each alternate imaging component corresponds to pixel information in the image data of the reference component. The shifted image data of each alternate imaging component is compared to the image data of the reference imaging component to determine gain and offset parameters for each alternate imaging component. The gain and offset parameters of each alternate imaging component is then applied to the image data of the associate imaging to generate corrected image data for each of the alternate imaging components.

Abstract: At a processor of a camera-equipped electronic device, a first data set generated at a sensor incorporated within a camera module is obtained, and a second data set generated at one or more sensors external to the camera module is obtained. Based on the first set and second data sets, a first set of control signals is transmitted to the camera module. At a disturbance rejection controller integrated within the camera module, a second set of control signals is generated, based on the first set of control signals and on a third set of data obtained from the sensor incorporated within the camera module. The second set of control signals is transmitted to an actuator, which causes a displacement of a camera lens.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention actively align a lens stack array with an array of focal planes to construct an array camera module. In one embodiment, a method for actively aligning a lens stack array with a sensor that has a focal plane array includes: aligning the lens stack array relative to the sensor in an initial position; varying the spatial relationship between the lens stack array and the sensor; capturing images of a known target that has a region of interest using a plurality of active focal planes at different spatial relationships; scoring the images based on the extent to which the region of interest is focused in the images; selecting a spatial relationship between the lens stack array and the sensor based on a comparison of the scores; and forming an array camera subassembly based on the selected spatial relationship.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting defective camera arrays, optic arrays and/or sensors are described. One embodiment includes capturing image data using a camera array; dividing the captured images into a plurality of corresponding image regions; identifying the presence of localized defects in any of the cameras by evaluating the image regions in the captured images; and detecting a defective camera array using the image processing system when the number of localized defects in a specific set of image regions exceeds a predetermined threshold, where the specific set of image regions is formed by: a common corresponding image region from at least a subset of the captured images; and any additional image region in a given image that contains at least one pixel located within a predetermined maximum parallax shift distance along an epipolar line from a pixel within said common corresponding image region within the given image.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting and receiving image data captured by an imager array including a plurality of focal planes are described. One embodiment of the invention includes capturing image data using a plurality of active focal planes in a camera module, where an image is formed on each active focal plane by a separate lens stack, generating lines of image data by interleaving the image data captured by the plurality of active focal planes, and transmitting the lines of image data and the additional data.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the manipulation of captured light fields and captured light field image data in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a system for manipulating captured light field image data includes a processor, a display, a user input device, and a memory, wherein a depth map includes depth information for one or more pixels in the image data, and wherein an image manipulation application configures the processor to display a first synthesized image, receive user input data identifying a region within the first synthesized image, determine boundary data for the identified region using the depth map, receive user input data identifying at least one action, and perform the received action using the boundary data and the captured light field image data.