Abstract: A camera system includes an image sensor assembly and a tunable optical element. The tunable optical element is a polymer dispersed liquid crystal lens doublet using a PDLC layer. The doublet is tunable by applying an electric field to the optical element via a control element. The control element applies a voltage differential to the optical element inducing an electric field which changes the polarization of the PDLC within the optical element. The refractive index of the lens doublet is dependent on the polarization of the liquid crystals within the optical element. Applying the electric field to the tunable element changes the optical properties of the lens doublet.

Abstract: To compensate for a focal plane shifting away from an image plane due to a temperature change, an integrated image sensor and lens assembly includes an optical component and an optics compensator including passively actuating elements. The passively actuating elements couple the optical component to the inner surface of the lens mount. The passively actuating elements and the optics component are configured such that the focal plane is maintained to coincide with or substantially coincide with the image plane. The passively actuating elements and the optics component adjust the distance an incident ray travels in the optics compensator when the temperature changes to thereby maintaining the focal plane to coincide with or substantially coincide with the image plane.

Abstract: Blurring is simulated in post-processing for captured images. A 3D image is received from a 3D camera, and depth information in the 3D image is used to determine the relative distances of objects in the image. One object is chosen as the subject of the image, and an additional object in the image is identified. Image blur is applied to the identified additional object based on the distance between the 3D camera and the subject object, the distance between the subject object and the additional object, and a virtual focal length and virtual f-number.

Abstract: A camera system captures an image in a source aspect ratio and applies a transformation to the input image to scale and warp the image to generate an output image having a target aspect ratio different than the source aspect ratio. The output image has the same field of view as the input image, maintains image resolution, and limits distortion to levels that do not substantially affect the viewing experience. In one embodiment, the output image is non-linearly warped relative to the input image such that a distortion in the output image relative to the input image is greater in a corner region of the output image than a center region of the output image.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electronically controlled camera iris device. The camera iris device may include a transparent conductor layer supplying an input voltage controlling the diameter of the aperture, a transparent resistance layer providing different voltages in different regions varying based on the distance from a center point, and a diaphragm layer that can be independently controlled in different regions to block or transmit light incident on the diaphragm layer when corresponding control voltages are applied on the diaphragm layer. The camera iris device can be configured to have a desired diameter by controlling a first region of the diaphragm layer to transmit the light and a second region of the diaphragm layer outside of the first region to block the light. The diaphragm layer may include a Bragg grating layer or an Electrochromic layer.

Abstract: Video and corresponding metadata is accessed. Events of interest within the video are identified based on the corresponding metadata, and best scenes are identified based on the identified events of interest. Events of interest can be tagged within the video based on, for instance, user input, audio signals, motion vectors, and metadata corresponding to the video. A camera system can process video data based on the events of interest tagged within the video before outputting the video data. For instance, video scenes associated with tagged events of interest can be combined to form a video highlight clip. Likewise, portions of video tagged with events of interest can be encoded or stored at a higher resolution or frame rate than other portions of the video.

Abstract: A camera system includes a camera and an underwater housing. The underwater housing, when submerged underwater, causes refraction of light entering the camera, thereby affecting focus. The camera includes a lens assembly adjustable between a first secured position at a first distance from an image sensor to enable the camera to capture images that are in focus when the camera is outside of water. The lens assembly is adjustable to a second secured position at a second distance from the image sensor to enable the camera to capture images that are in focus when the camera operates within the underwater housing and submerged under water.

Abstract: A camera system includes an image sensor assembly and a tunable optical element. The tunable optical element is a polymer dispersed liquid crystal lens doublet using a PDLC layer. The doublet is tunable by applying an electric field to the optical element via a control element. The control element applies a voltage differential to the optical element inducing an electric field which changes the polarization of the PDLC within the optical element. The refractive index of the lens doublet is dependent on the polarization of the liquid crystals within the optical element. Applying the electric field to the tunable element changes the optical properties of the lens doublet.

Abstract: An opto-acoustic transducer may include a light source, a substrate, a top layer, an interstitial layer, a lens, and a detector array. The light source may generate light beams. The substrate may reflect the light beams generated by the light source. The top layer may modulate responsive to an acoustical wave impingent thereupon and may reflect the light beams generated by the light source. The interstitial layer may be between the substrate and the top layer and may include a cavity which acts as an optical collector. The lens may propagate the light beams reflected by the substrate and the light beams reflected by the top layer. The detector array may reconstruct the acoustical wave impingent on the top layer based on the light beams propagated by the lens.

Abstract: A camera system includes an image sensor assembly and a tunable optical element. The tunable optical element is a gradient index (GRIN) lens created from a polymer dispersed liquid crystal and a coupled control element. The GRIN lens is tunable by applying an electric field to the optical element via a control element. The control element applies a voltage differential to the optical element inducing an electric field which changes the polarization of the PDLC within the optical element. The electrodes of the control element can include sheet resistors with a radially dependent voltage drop. The refractive index of the GRIN lens is dependent on the polarization of the liquid crystals within the optical element. Applying the electric field to the tunable element changes the optical properties of the grating.

Abstract: A camera system includes an image sensor assembly and a tunable optical element. The tunable optical element is a doublet prism including one polymer dispersed liquid crystal layer. The doublet prism is tunable by applying an electric field to the optical element via a control element. The control element applies a voltage differential to the optical element inducing an electric field which changes the polarization of the PDLC within the optical element. The refractive index of the doublet prism is dependent on the polarization of the liquid crystals within the optical element. Applying the electric field to the tunable element changes the optical properties of the doublet prism.

Abstract: An underwater housing comprises a laterally offset back-to-back dome configuration. A dual-lens camera having laterally offset back-to-back lenses is mounted within the housing such that the optical axes of the camera lenses align with the optical axes of the domes. This configuration beneficially minimizes effects introduced by the dome on field of view and focus.

Abstract: A camera system includes an image sensor assembly and a tunable optical element. The tunable optical element is a polymer dispersed liquid crystal gradient index (GRIN) prism. The GRIN prism is tunable by applying an electric field to the optical element via a control element. The control element applies a voltage differential to the optical element inducing an electric field which changes the polarization of the PDLC within the optical element. The control element can include a sheet resistor that has a linearly dependent voltage drop. The refractive index of the GRIN prism is dependent on the polarization of the liquid crystals within the optical element. Applying the electric field to the tunable element changes the optical properties of the GRIN prism.

Abstract: An underwater housing includes a mounting plate, a first dome attached to a first surface of the mounting plate, and a second dome attached to a second surface of the mounting plate in a back-to-back configuration. A camera mount for a dual-lens camera is oriented at a tilt angle relative to a plane of a mounting plate. The dual-lens camera has laterally offset back-to-back lenses. The tilt angle is set such that the optical axes of the dual-lens camera intersect the center points of the respective domes.

Abstract: A camera system includes an image sensor assembly and a tunable optical element. The tunable optical element is a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal diffraction grating of alternating PDLC layers. The diffraction grating is tunable by applying an electric field to the optical element via a control element. The control element applies a voltage differential to the optical element inducing an electric field which changes the polarization of the PDLC within the optical element. The refractive index of the holographic grating is dependent on the polarization of the liquid crystals within the optical element. Applying the electric field to the tunable element changes the optical properties of the grating.

Abstract: An image capture accelerator performs accelerated processing of image data. In one embodiment, the image capture accelerator includes accelerator circuitry including a pre-processing engine and a compression engine. The pre-processing engine is configured to perform accelerated processing on received image data, and the compression engine is configured to compress processed image data received from the pre-processing engine. In one embodiment, the image capture accelerator further includes a demultiplexer configured to receive image data captured by an image sensor array implemented within, for example, an image sensor chip. The demultiplexer may output the received image data to an image signal processor when the image data is captured by the image sensor array in a standard capture mode, and may output the received image data to the accelerator circuitry when the image data is captured by the image sensor array in an accelerated capture mode.

Abstract: A content visualization system generates visual content for a visualization device based on visual content of a live event. The content visualization system collects visual content and source perspective data from visual content sources. The visualization device requests visual content from the content visualization system by providing device perspective data to the content visualization system. The content visualization system generates visual content for the visualization device based on the visual content from the visual content sources, the source perspective data, and the device perspective data. The content visualization system can determine visual content that is relevant to the device perspective by identifying source perspectives that overlap with the device perspective. The content visualization system generates visual content for the visualization device based on the identified visual content.

Abstract: A camera is configured with multiple microphones to reduce wind noise in audio data collected by the camera. The camera receives motion data, which may comprise data indicating acceleration of the camera, a plurality of video frames received by the camera, or a background level of noise associated with one or more microphones configured on the camera. The camera determines a motion vector from the motion data. The motion vector is parallel to the direction of motion of the camera. The camera selects a subset of one or more microphones in the direction of the motion vector. By recording audio data using the one or more selected microphones, the camera reduces wind noise in the audio data.

Abstract: A spherical content capture system captures spherical video content. A spherical video sharing platform enables users to share the captured spherical content and enables users to access spherical content shared by other users. In one embodiment, captured metadata provides proximity information indicating which cameras were in proximity to a target device during a particular time frame. The platform can then generate an output video from spherical video captured from those cameras. The output video may include a non-spherical reduced field of view such as those commonly associated with conventional camera systems. Particularly, relevant sub-frames having a reduced field of view may be extracted from frames of one or more spherical videos to generate an output video that tracks a particular individual or object of interest.

Abstract: A positioning system is designed to align a lens barrel with a sensor assembly. A first end of a lens barrel includes ridges along an edge. The sensor assembly includes a recessed channel with reciprocal ridges for mating with the ridges of the lens barrel. The sensor assembly also includes a plurality of shim platforms structured, each structured to position a wedge shaped shim, the wedge shaped shim including a flat bottom to slide on the shim platform and raise or lower the lens barrel relative to the reciprocal ridges on which the lens barrel rests.