Abstract: Among other things, the present disclosure relates to image searching. With a depth map, image pixels of an image having depth values intersecting a desired optical field can be identified. A territory can be set based on locations of the identified image pixels. Feature detection can be performed on the image within the set territory. The feature detection can be limited to the set territory.

Abstract: Methods and devices are described for image or video capture while in a manual mode. In some aspects, a device includes one or more processors. The device also includes a memory coupled to the one or more processors. The memory includes instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the device to generate a first image frame of a scene using manual mode settings and generate a second image frame of the scene using automatic mode settings different from the manual mode settings.

Abstract: A method of image processing includes capturing two frames of image data using a camera having a phase detection auto focus (PDAF) sensor, subtracting phase difference pixel data associated with the two frames of image data to produce residual phase difference values, detecting a region-of-interest change based on the residual phase differences values, and determining a focus for the PDAF camera sensor based on the detected region-of-interest change. The method may further include compressing the residual phase difference values, sending the compressed residual phase difference values to a processor, and reconstructing, with the processor, the phase difference pixel data from the compressed residual phase difference values.

Abstract: One innovation includes an imaging device having an image sensor, a lens having a movable optical element, and an actuator operative to move the one optical element to a plurality of lens positions. The imaging device further includes an electronic display, a power source electrically coupled to the camera system and to the display, the power source (e.g., voltage regulator) configured to provide power to the display and the camera system, a memory circuit configured to store information representing an actuator control value that corresponds to a low-power focus position, and an electronic hardware processor coupled to the memory circuit, the actuator and the electronic display. The processor may retrieve the actuator control value from the memory circuit and controls the actuator to move the optical element to the lens position that corresponds to the low-power focus position when the camera system is in a deactivated state.

Abstract: Methods, systems, computer-readable media, and apparatuses for improved camera flash are presented. In some embodiments, a method includes performing an autofocus technique on a scene to obtain an autofocus output. The method also includes obtaining an ambient light measurement of the scene. The method further includes adjusting a sensitivity of an image sensor based at least in part on the autofocus output and the ambient light measurement. The method additionally includes, after adjusting the light sensitivity of the image sensor, illuminating the scene using a pre-flash.

Abstract: A method of image processing includes capturing two frames of image data using a camera having a phase detection auto focus (PDAF) sensor, subtracting phase difference pixel data associated with the two frames of image data to produce residual phase difference values, detecting a region-of-interest change based on the residual phase differences values, and determining a focus for the PDAF camera sensor based on the detected region-of-interest change. The method may further include compressing the residual phase difference values, sending the compressed residual phase difference values to a processor, and reconstructing, with the processor, the phase difference pixel data from the compressed residual phase difference values.

Abstract: Briefly, one particular example implementation is directed to an apparatus including a digital imager. In the particular example implementation, the image includes an array of pixels, in which at least some pixels are dedicated to measure light component signals, such as for an image, and at least other pixels are dedicated to measure Visible Light Communication (VLC) signals. It should be understood that the aforementioned particular implementation is merely an example and claimed subject matter is not necessarily limited to any particular aspect of this example implementation.

Abstract: Briefly, one particular example implementation is directed to an apparatus including a digital imager. The digital imager, in the example implementation, includes an array of pixels to capture an image frame. At least some pixels are to measure light component signals for an image and are also to measure Visible Light Communication (VLC) signals. Circuitry to crop an image frame of light signal measurements is included so that, for light signal measurements that remain after cropping, extraction of VLC signal measurements from light component signal measurements is able to be employed. It should be understood that the aforementioned implementation is merely an example implementation, and claimed subject matter is not necessarily limited to any particular aspect thereof.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are described for processing Visual Light Communication (VLC) signals with a reduced number of pixels while maintaining a substantially complete field of view. One method may include receiving one or more VLC signals at an array of pixels and sampling their intensity. The sampling may comprise additively combining analog signals obtained from two or more pixels having like color to generate a plurality of combined VLC signal samples. The VLC signals may be decoded based on a plurality of the combined VLC signal samples.

Abstract: Methods and devices for camera initialization are disclosed. In some aspects, a device includes a first camera to capture one or more first image frames, a second camera to capture one or more second image frames, and a camera controller coupled to the first camera and the second camera. The camera controller is configured to initialize the first camera, to cause the second camera to capture one or more second image frames while initializing the first camera, to determine an initial capture setting for the first camera based on the one or more second image frames captured by the second camera, and to complete initialization of the first camera using the initial capture setting.

Abstract: Systems and methods for performing HDR imaging are described. Aspects of the disclosure may include a camera system that uses the same pixels to capture both short and long exposure pixel data to improve camera hardware efficiency and pixel efficiency, and to reduce power usage by the camera system. In some aspects, exposure of a plurality of pixels available in a device may be started. Pixel data from the plurality of pixels may be captured after a first time period has elapsed to obtain short exposure pixel data. Pixel data from the plurality of pixels may also be captured after a second time period, longer than the first time period, has elapsed to obtain long exposure pixel data. The short exposure pixel data and the long exposure pixel data may be processed to create HDR images and/or videos.

Abstract: An electronic device is described. The electronic device includes an image sensor that is configured to capture phase detection data for automatic focusing. The electronic device also includes an automatic focusing module that is configured to dynamically enable or disable transmission of the phase detection data from the image sensor. The automatic focusing module may be configured to enable transmission of the phase detection data from the image sensor in response to detecting a scene change.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for dynamically configuring an image sensor of a mobile device for visible light communication (VLC) to an operational mode based on the position of the image of a VLC source on the image sensor and the different regions of interest (ROIs) of different operational modes of the image sensor. The operational mode that the image sensor is configured to has the smallest ROI among ROIs of operational modes that include at least a portion of the image of the VLC source on the image sensor. Techniques disclosed herein can reduce the power consumption of the mobile device during VLC communication and improve the effective sampling rate of VLC signals by the image sensor.

Abstract: A method of operating a device that includes an image sensor including a plurality of pixels includes: detecting visible light communication (VLC) signals with the image sensor; obtaining image data based on the VLC signals, the image data including a set of brightness components and possibly a set of chrominance components, and each brightness component of the set of brightness components being associated with a respective pixel of the plurality of pixels and (if available) each chrominance component of the set of chrominance components being associated with a respective pixel of the plurality of pixels; and decoding the set of brightness components to obtain information encoded in the VLC signals using a processor of the device without decoding, if available, the set of chrominance components.

Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for optimizing visual light communication (VLC) processing performed at a mobile device. In an aspect, an image sensor of the mobile device having a rolling shutter captures a plurality of lines of an image frame, an image signal processor (ISP) coupled to the image sensor writes each line of the plurality of lines of the image frame into a dual port memory as each line of the plurality of lines of the image frame is received from the image sensor, and, for each line of the plurality of lines of the image frame, a VLC decoder of the mobile device reads a first line of the plurality of lines of the image frame from the dual port memory while the ISP writes a second line of the plurality of lines of the image frame to the dual port memory.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for power efficient visible light communication (VLC) scanning. In an aspect, a mobile device determines that the mobile device has lost view of a VLC light source, turns on, in response to determining that the mobile device has lost view of the VLC light source, a camera of the mobile device in a low-resolution mode to scan for any VLC light sources within view of the mobile device, and switches, based on detecting a detected VLC light source, the camera of the mobile device to a high-resolution mode to decode VLC signals from the detected VLC light source.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed facilitate power and resource utilization efficiencies in User Equipment (UE) during Visible Light Communication (VLC). VLC may be used for UE pose determination and may involve image frame capture at relatively high frame rates thereby increasing resource utilization including power consumption in UEs. Disclosed embodiments determine a motion state of the UE during a first time period where a first plurality of image frames with VLC signals from at least one VLC source are captured with an image sensor. In some embodiments, VLC related functionality on the UE may be selectively disabled based on at least one of the determined motion state, and/or the determined usage of the one or more image frames.

Abstract: One innovation includes an imaging device having an image sensor, a lens having a movable optical element, and an actuator operative to move the one optical element to a plurality of lens positions. The imaging device further includes an electronic display, a power source electrically coupled to the camera system and to the display, the power source (e.g., voltage regulator) configured to provide power to the display and the camera system, a memory circuit configured to store information representing an actuator control value that corresponds to a low-power focus position, and an electronic hardware processor coupled to the memory circuit, the actuator and the electronic display. The processor may retrieve the actuator control value from the memory circuit and controls the actuator to move the optical element to the lens position that corresponds to the low-power focus position when the camera system is in a deactivated state.