Abstract: Frame capture techniques may include obtaining, from at least one sensor, sensor data indicating a motion rate of the system in the environment, receiving a request for the image data of the environment, and selecting, by the controller, a frame rate based on one or more requesting client applications and the sensor data. In addition, the frame tracking techniques may include detecting, based on a motion parameter in the sensor data and by the controller, that a motion of the system falls below a predetermined threshold; and triggering frame capture by the camera in accordance with the sensor data and the selected frame rate, the frame capture being triggered in accordance with the request and the detection.

Abstract: Frame capture techniques may include obtaining, from at least one sensor, sensor data indicating a motion rate of the system in the environment, receiving a request for the image data of the environment, and selecting, by the controller, a frame rate based on one or more requesting client applications and the sensor data. In addition, the frame tracking techniques may include detecting, based on a motion parameter in the sensor data and by the controller, that a motion of the system falls below a predetermined threshold; and triggering frame capture by the camera in accordance with the sensor data and the selected frame rate, the frame capture being triggered in accordance with the request and the detection.

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 imaging device includes a pixel-circuit and a readout circuit. The pixel-circuit includes a photodetector. The readout circuit is configured to perform a series of iterations, each iteration including (i) accumulating an electrical charge in the photodetector during an integration time, (ii) transferring a portion of the electrical charge accumulated in the photodetector to a floating diffusion, the portion being less than all the electrical charge accumulated in the photodetector, and (iii) coupling a voltage of the floating diffusion to a storage capacitance, to subsequently, in a final iteration, transfer a remaining electrical charge from the photodetector, and to derive an output digital value, indicative of a total energy of the light incident on the photodetector over the series of iterations and the final iteration, from the voltage on the storage capacitance and from the remaining electrical charge transferred in the final iteration.

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: 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: 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.