Abstract: An image sensor can respond to light either linearly or logarithmically in order to achieve flexible and high contrast performance. This is made possible by using a programmable lookup table, or an array of numbers, that represents control parameter values of the image sensor. The control parameter values in the lookup table are programmable and could be kept constant, increase linearly, or non-linearly, between consecutive indexes. Photodiode control circuitry is used to adapt the response of the photodiodes in the image sensor depending on the lighting impacting upon the image sensor.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting a presence of a target in a room is disclosed. The apparatus includes a motion-sensitive passive infrared (PIR) sensor, an imaging sensor, and a control unit. The PIR sensor is adapted to provide a motion signal, while the imaging sensor is adapted to generate at least a first image and a second image. The control unit is adapted to provide either a first signal or a second signal, depending on the strength of the motion and a comparison of the first and second images, where the first signal indicates a presence of the target and the second signal indicates an absence of the target. Also disclosed are a system for controlling lighting in a room, a method for detecting a presence of a target in a room, and a corresponding use of an apparatus for controlling lighting in a room.

Abstract: In order to provide a home user with cost-effective PC processing capability, the home user is provided with a terminal which has only sufficient processing capability to communicate with a service provider over a network. Any processing and program execution is performed, in response to requests from the home user's terminal, by the service provider and the results are returned to the terminal. In addition to the processing capability, data is stored in the service provider. Because the processing and data storage is performed by the service provider, changes to the programs and/or hardware can the confined to the processing resources of the service provider. In addition, the service provider can be provided with virus and hacking protection, protection that will then not be necessary for the home user's terminal.

Abstract: In an optical image acquisition and information transmission system, the system components can be fabricated, according to a first implementation, in a stack positioned on a circuit board. According to a second implementation, the system components are fabricated on a single substrate using the same semiconductor processes for each component. Both implementations result in better performance parameters. These systems are particularly useful as control devices wherein information resulting from processing the acquired image rather than the image itself is transmitted.

Abstract: In an optical image acquisition and information transmission system, the system components can be fabricated, according to a first implementation, in a stack positioned on a circuit board. According to a second implementation, the system components are fabricated on a single substrate using the same semiconductor processes for each component. Both implementations result in better performance parameters. These systems are particularly useful as control devices wherein information resulting from processing the acquired image rather than the image itself is transmitted.

Abstract: In order to provide a home user with cost-effective PC processing capability, the home user is provided with a terminal which has only sufficient processing capability to communicate with a service provider over a network. Any processing and program execution is performed, in response to requests from the home user's terminal, by the service provider and the results are returned to the terminal. In addition to the processing capability, data is stored in the service provider. Because the processing and data storage is performed by the service provider, changes to the programs and/or hardware can the confined to the processing resources of the service provider. In addition, the service provider can be provided with virus and hacking protection, protection that will then not be necessary for the home user's terminal.