Abstract: Provided are a cathode material for sodium-ion batteries, a preparation method therefor, and an application thereof, and the preparation method comprises the following steps: (1) mixing a nickel source, a manganese source, and a magnesium source to obtain a ternary salt solution, adding the ternary salt solution, a precipitating agent, a complexing agent, a boron source solution, and an organic additive to a reaction vessel in parallel flow, and performing a reaction to obtain a B-doped radially-packed hydroxide precursor; and (2) mixing the B-doped radially-packed hydroxide precursor obtained in step (1) with a sodium source, and performing sintering treatment to obtain the cathode material for sodium-ion batteries.

Abstract: This application describes method and apparatus for color noise reduction to enhance the quality of color images. An example method first takes a color image as its input and converts it into a Luminance-Chrominance color space, resulting in an YUV image. This YUV representation consists of a Y-channel (Luminance information), which encapsulates the luminance information responsible for the image's brightness, and UV-channels, which represent the chrominance information responsible for the color information. Then a guided filter is created using the Y-channel of the YUV image. The guided filter acts as a reference and assists in refining the subsequent noise reduction steps. With the guided filter in place, the method performs color noise reduction in the UV-channels of the YUV image, where the color noise is primarily present, resulting in smoother and cleaner color values.

Abstract: The fruit perception system for a robotic harvester acquires and processes fruit detection and localization information to enable a robotic manipulator arm to connect with a targeted fruit. The system includes multiple embodiments, but comprises at least one RGB-D camera and one horizontally slidable line scan laser. The system uses the RGB-D camera data and a planning algorithm to identify a specific target fruit to pick first. The line scan laser paints the surface of the target fruit with a laser line and the RGB-D camera extracts line scan laser image data and communicates the line scan laser image data to a controller/processor. The controller/processor processes the extracted laser line image data and determines the xyz position of the centroid of the target fruit, so that the controller/processor directs a manipulator arm to pick the fruit.

Abstract: This application describes method and apparatus for HDR+ using M×N-cell sensors. An example apparatus includes a plurality of pixel groups, each pixel group having M×N pixels configured with color filters of a same color such that the M×N pixels in each pixel group capture a same color. M and N are integers greater than one, and each pixel is represented by a first number of bits. The example apparatus further include one or more processors configured to: capture, through the plurality of pixel groups, a plurality of frames of a scene using a short-exposure setting; merge the plurality of frames into an HDR image; and perform tone mapping on the HDR image to reduce a dynamic range of the super-pixels of the HDR image into a low dynamic range (LDR) image, wherein each pixel in the LDR image is represented with the first number of bits.

Abstract: This application describes systems and methods for detecting depth in deep trench isolation with semiconductor devices using test key transistors. An method comprises: capturing, by an image sensor, an image; generating a plurality of chrominance channels by converting the image into luminance-chrominance space; performing homogeneous region segmentation on the plurality of chrominance channels to generate one or more regions of interest in the plurality of chrominance channels; and projecting the regions of interest onto eigen-illuminant images to determine gray color pixels on the image, wherein the eigen-illuminant images are generated via performing a machine learning algorithm on a training set of images captured by the image sensor.

Abstract: This application describes method and apparatus for HDR+ using M×N-cell sensors. An example apparatus includes a plurality of pixel groups, each pixel group having M×N pixels configured with color filters of a same color such that the M×N pixels in each pixel group capture a same color. M and N are integers greater than one, and each pixel is represented by a first number of bits.

Abstract: Provided are an image sensor with one or more image receivers for image switching, and an imaging system and method therefor. The image sensor includes an image sensor array to generate first image data for a first image; a receiver to receive, into the image sensor, second image data for a second image; an image selection circuit coupled to the image sensor array and the receiver to receive the first image data and the second image data and select one of the first image data and the second image data according to one or more image selection criteria and at least one of the first image data and the second image data; and a transmitter coupled to the image selection circuit to transmit the selected one of the first image data and the second image data from the image sensor.

Abstract: Provided are an image sensor with one or more image receivers for image combining, and an imaging system and method therefor. The image sensor includes an image sensor array to generate first image data for a first image; a receiver to receive, into the image sensor, second image data for a second image; an image combination circuit coupled to the image sensor array and the receiver to receive the first image data and the second image data and combine the first image data and the second image data into combined image data for a single combined image, according to one or more image combination criteria, and at least one of the first image data and the second image data; and a transmitter coupled to the image combination circuit to transmit the combined image data for the combined image from the image sensor.

Abstract: Provided are an image sensor with one or more image receivers for image switching, and an imaging system and method therefor. The image sensor includes an image sensor array to generate first image data for a first image; a receiver to receive, into the image sensor, second image data for a second image; an image selection circuit coupled to the image sensor array and the receiver to receive the first image data and the second image data and select one of the first image data and the second image data according to one or more image selection criteria and at least one of the first image data and the second image data; and a transmitter coupled to the image selection circuit to transmit the selected one of the first image data and the second image data from the image sensor.

Abstract: This application describes methods and systems for dark shading calibration and correction. An example method may include configuring an image sensor into a plurality of sensor states to capture a plurality of dark images, determining a dark current distribution on each of the plurality of dark images captured by the image sensor to obtain a plurality of dark current distributions respectively corresponding to the plurality of sensor states, storing the plurality of dark current distributions in a memory associated with the image sensor, capturing an image by the image sensor at a first sensor state, determining a first dark current distribution for the first sensor state of the image sensor based on the plurality of dark current distributions stored in the memory, and offsetting dark current noise on the image based on the first dark current distribution for the first sensor state of the image sensor.

Abstract: Provided are an image sensor with one or more image receivers for image combining, and an imaging system and method therefor. The image sensor includes an image sensor array to generate first image data for a first image; a receiver to receive, into the image sensor, second image data for a second image; an image combination circuit coupled to the image sensor array and the receiver to receive the first image data and the second image data and combine the first image data and the second image data into combined image data for a single combined image, according to one or more image combination criteria, and at least one of the first image data and the second image data; and a transmitter coupled to the image combination circuit to transmit the combined image data for the combined image from the image sensor.

Abstract: This application describes methods and systems for imbalance correction in quad image sensors. An exemplary method includes performing pixel value compensation at both inter-quaternion level and intra-quaternion level within a single pipeline. For example, the method may include obtaining an image captured by a quad image sensor and parameters of quaternions in the quad image sensor; computing a quad-pixel value bin and a standard deviation for each quaternion; performing inter-quad compensation among different quaternions using a cross-mean computed based on the plurality of pixel value bins and the plurality of standard deviations; computing texture weights for the plurality of quaternions based on the quad-pixel value bins; and performing intra-quad compensation among pixels within the quaternion based on the cross-mean and corresponding texture weight.

Abstract: A three-dimensional stereo vision camera communicates the location of a targeted fruit (preferably an apple) to a controller. The controller directs a vacuum selection tube to the location of the targeted apple. The selection tube has a gripping orifice that has a smaller diameter than the apple so that the vacuum suction from the selection tube grips the apple. The selected fruit is then rotated and pulled away from the tree canopy by the selection tube until the apple detaches from the canopy. The detached apple is then gently placed in a collection bin for later sorting and processing.

Abstract: This application describes methods and systems for High Dynamic Range (HDR) image fusion on Low Dynamic Range (LDR) images that avoid ghosting effect. An example method may start with detecting a plurality of motion pixels on the plurality of LDR images. For each of the motion pixels, a plurality of pixel values may be obtained. Each pixel value represents a brightness of the pixel in the corresponding LDR image. The method may then construct a fusion tensor comprising a plurality of dimensions respectively corresponding to the plurality of exposure settings. Each motion pixel may be mapped to the fusion tensor based on the plurality of the pixel values of the motion pixel to obtain a fusion weight. The fusion weights of the motion pixels may provide guidance to the HDR fusion on the LDR images.

Abstract: This application describes apparatuses and systems for rendering the Bokeh effect using stereo vision with edge computing. An example apparatus may include a first sensor and a second sensor. The first sensor is configured to: capture a first view of a scene. The second sensor is configured to: capture a second view of the scene, and send the second view of the scene to the first sensor. The first sensor is further configured to: receive the second view of the scene, compute a depth map of the scene based on the first view of the scene and the second view of the scene; and render Bokeh effect to an image of the scene based on the depth map.

Abstract: Example systems, apparatus, and methods for assessing cognitive decline based upon monitored driving performance are disclosed. An example system includes a sensor suite configured to be used in conjunction with a vehicle, and a computing device. The sensor suite comprising one or more sensors configured to sense one or more physiological signals of a driver while the driver grips the steering wheel and operates the vehicle, one or more converters configured to convert the one or more sensed physiological signals into physiological data representative of one or more physiological states, and an imaging device configured to capture image data representative of the vehicle within an environment of use. The computing device comprising one or more processors configured to receive the physiological data and the image data from the sensor suite and determine one or more biomarkers representative of cognitive decline based upon the physiological data and the image data.

Abstract: This application describes apparatuses and systems for rendering the Bokeh effect using multi-pixel microlenses. An example apparatus includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixel groups, each pixel group having a square shape comprising at least four pixels, wherein: each pixel group is covered by a microlens; each pixel group is configured with color filters of a same color such that pixels covered by the pixel group capture the same color; and every four adjacent pixel groups form a two-by-two matrix and the four adjacent pixel groups include at least three pixel groups configured with color filters of three different colors.

Abstract: This application describes systems and methods for detecting depth in deep trench isolation with semiconductor devices using test key transistors. An method comprises: capturing, by an image sensor, an image; generating a plurality of chrominance channels by converting the image into luminance-chrominance space; performing homogeneous region segmentation on the plurality of chrominance channels to generate one or more regions of interest in the plurality of chrominance channels; and projecting the regions of interest onto eigen-illuminant images to determine gray color pixels on the image, wherein the eigen-illuminant images are generated via performing a machine learning algorithm on a training set of images captured by the image sensor.

Abstract: Provided are an image sensor with one or more image receivers for image switching, and an imaging system and method therefor. The image sensor includes an image sensor array to generate first image data for a first image; a receiver to receive, into the image sensor, second image data for a second image; an image selection circuit coupled to the image sensor array and the receiver to receive the first image data and the second image data and select one of the first image data and the second image data according to one or more image selection criteria and at least one of the first image data and the second image data; and a transmitter coupled to the image selection circuit to transmit the selected one of the first image data and the second image data from the image sensor.

Abstract: Provided are an image sensor with one or more image receivers for image switching, and an imaging system and method therefor. The image sensor includes an image sensor array to generate first image data for a first image; a receiver to receive, into the image sensor, second image data for a second image; an image selection circuit coupled to the image sensor array and the receiver to receive the first image data and the second image data and select one of the first image data and the second image data according to one or more image selection criteria and at least one of the first image data and the second image data; and a transmitter coupled to the image selection circuit to transmit the selected one of the first image data and the second image data from the image sensor.