Abstract: A system may include first lens with a first optical component and a first mounting structure having a first wall on a first side and a second wall on second side, each wall having a gap. The system may further include a second lens that interlocks with the first lens. The second lens includes a second optical component and a second mounting structure that engages with the first mounting structure. The second mounting structure has a first barrier with a first protrusion and a second barrier with a second protrusion. The first and second protrusions positioned complementary to the gaps of the first mounting structure and configured to engage with the gaps, where engagement of the protrusions into the gaps provides passive rotational alignment of the optical components about the optical axis.

Abstract: The following relates to forming a combined image by an imaging system with a rotatable reflector. A reflector is rotated about an axis to a first position relative to an image sensor. At the first position, the reflector directs light from a first portion of a view corresponding to an external environment towards the image sensor. An image of the first portion of the view is captured by the image sensor. The reflector is rotated about the axis to a second position relative to the image sensor. At the second position, the reflector directs light from a second portion of the view corresponding to the external environment towards the image sensor. An image of the second portion of the view is captured by the image sensor. The image of the first portion and the image of the second portion are combined to form an image corresponding to the view.

Abstract: In exemplary illustrative embodiments, a method of generating a digital image and/or modified depth information may include obtaining, via a first electronic sensor, a plurality of images of a target within a time period; selecting one or more pixels in a first image of the plurality of images; identifying corresponding pixels, that correspond to the one or more selected pixels, in one or more other images of the plurality of images, the one or more selected pixels and the corresponding pixels defining sets of reference pixels; identifying two or more images of the plurality of images having respective sets of reference pixels with optimal disparity; generating modified depth information; and/or generating a final digital image via the plurality of images and the modified depth information.

Abstract: The following describes the apparatus and associated algorithms related to a new type of imaging system that has several benefits over conventional camera architectures in terms of size, volume, shape, performance, and imaging capabilities. The imaging system includes an image sensor, a reflector, and a controller. The controller rotates the reflector relative to the image sensor to direct light from portions of a view of an external environment towards the image sensor. The controller synchronizes the image sensor with the reflector to capture images of the different portions of the view of the external environment. The controller then combines the images from the image sensor to form an image that includes the view of the external environment.

Abstract: The following relates to forming a combined image by an imaging system with a rotatable reflector. A reflector is rotated about an axis to a first position relative to an image sensor. At the first position, the reflector directs light from a first portion of a view corresponding to an external environment towards the image sensor. An image of the first portion of the view is captured by the image sensor. The reflector is rotated about the axis to a second position relative to the image sensor. At the second position, the reflector directs light from a second portion of the view corresponding to the external environment towards the image sensor. An image of the second portion of the view is captured by the image sensor. The image of the first portion and the image of the second portion are combined to form an image corresponding to the view.

Abstract: The following relates to forming a combined image by an imaging system with a rotatable reflector. A reflector is rotated about an axis to a first position relative to an image sensor. At the first position, the reflector directs light from a first portion of a view corresponding to an external environment towards the image sensor. An image of the first portion of the view is captured by the image sensor. The reflector is rotated about the axis to a second position relative to the image sensor. At the second position, the reflector directs light from a second portion of the view corresponding to the external environment towards the image sensor. An image of the second portion of the view is captured by the image sensor. The image of the first portion and the image of the second portion are combined to form an image corresponding to the view.

Abstract: The following describes the apparatus and associated algorithms related to a new type of imaging system that has several benefits over conventional camera architectures in terms of size, volume, shape, performance, and imaging capabilities. The imaging system includes an image sensor, a reflector, and a controller. The controller rotates the reflector relative to the image sensor to direct light from portions of a view of an external environment towards the image sensor. The controller synchronizes the image sensor with the reflector to capture images of the different portions of the view of the external environment. The controller then combines the images from the image sensor to form an image that includes the view of the external environment.

Abstract: The following relates to forming a combined image by an imaging system with a rotatable reflector. A reflector is rotated about an axis to a first position relative to an image sensor. At the first position, the reflector directs light from a first portion of a view corresponding to an external environment towards the image sensor. An image of the first portion of the view is captured by the image sensor. The reflector is rotated about the axis to a second position relative to the image sensor. At the second position, the reflector directs light from a second portion of the view corresponding to the external environment towards the image sensor. An image of the second portion of the view is captured by the image sensor. The image of the first portion and the image of the second portion are combined to form an image corresponding to the view.

Abstract: Techniques are described for automated analysis and filtering of image data. Image data is analyzed to identify regions of interest (ROIs) within the image content. The image data also may have depth estimates applied to content therein. One or more of the ROIs may be designated to possess a base depth, representing a depth of image content against which depths of other content may be compared. Moreover, the depth of the image content within a spatial area of an ROI may be set to be a consistent value, regardless of depth estimates that may have been assigned from other sources. Thereafter, other elements of image content may be assigned content adjustment values in gradients based on their relative depth in image content as compared to the base depth and, optionally, based on their spatial distance from the designated ROI. Image content may be adjusted based on the content adjustment values.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for capturing stereoscopic images using one or more high color density or “full color” image sensors and one or more low color density or “sparse color” image sensors. Low color density image sensors, may include substantially fewer color pixels than the sensor's total number of pixels, as well as fewer color pixels than the total number of color pixels on the full color image sensor. More particularly, the mostly-monochrome image captured by the low color density image sensor may be used to reduce noise and increase the spatial resolution of an imaging system's output image. In addition, the color pixels present in the low color density image sensor may be used to identify and fill in color pixel values, e.g., for regions occluded in the image captured using the full color image sensor. Optical Image Stabilization and/or split photodiodes may be employed on one or more sensors.

Abstract: An imaging system is configured to identify an object represented by a plurality of preliminary images. The preliminary images are each associated with a different camera imaging channel, and include different image information. An object distance is determined based on the difference in preliminary image information. An object shift is determined based on the object distance and a pre-determined relationship between object shift and object distance. The object shift is applied to the portions of one or more preliminary images representing the object to form shifted preliminary images, and the shifted preliminary images are combined to form a final image.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for capturing stereoscopic images using one or more high color density or “full color” image sensors and one or more low color density or “sparse color” image sensors. Low color density image sensors, may include substantially fewer color pixels than the sensor's total number of pixels, as well as fewer color pixels than the total number of color pixels on the full color image sensor. More particularly, the mostly-monochrome image captured by the low color density image sensor may be used to reduce noise and increase the spatial resolution of an imaging system's output image. In addition, the color pixels present in the low color density image sensor may be used to identify and fill in color pixel values, e.g., for regions occluded in the image captured using the full color image sensor. Optical Image Stabilization and/or split photodiodes may be employed on one or more sensors.

Abstract: Techniques are described for automated analysis and filtering of image data. Image data is analyzed to identify regions of interest (ROIs) within the image content. The image data also may have depth estimates applied to content therein. One or more of the ROIs may be designated to possess a base depth, representing a depth of image content against which depths of other content may be compared. Moreover, the depth of the image content within a spatial area of an ROI may be set to be a consistent value, regardless of depth estimates that may have been assigned from other sources. Thereafter, other elements of image content may be assigned content adjustment values in gradients based on their relative depth in image content as compared to the base depth and, optionally, based on their spatial distance from the designated ROI. Image content may be adjusted based on the content adjustment values.

Abstract: The exposure of pixel lines in one or more image sensor regions is substantially synchronized. Each image sensor region is associated with a different lens in a multi-lens camera system. For a first pixel line in a first image sensor region and a second pixel line in a second image sensor region corresponding to the same portion of a field of view, the first pixel line and the second pixel line are sequentially or substantially simultaneously exposed. After exposing the first pixel line and the second pixel line, image information associated with the exposures is combined and output on the same readout line.

Abstract: Spatial resolution can be improved in multi-lens digital cameras. Each lens can have the same or similar field of view, but can be associated with different modulation transfer functions defining varying sharpness based on location within the field of view. The image information received from each lens can be combined to form an image based on the sharpness of the image information received from each lens.

Abstract: The luminance information of an image captured by a multi-lens camera system can be improved by selecting a luminance information source for each portion of the captured image. Each lens of the camera system can capture an initial image. For each portion of a final image, a corresponding initial image portion can be selected as the luminance information source. The portions of the final image and initial images can be pixels, groups of pixels, or other image portions. The luminance information from the selected initial image portions is combined to form final image luminance information. Chrominance information can also be selected from the initial images to form final image chrominance information, and the final image chrominance information and the final image luminance information can be combined to form a final image.

Abstract: Spatial resolution can be improved in multi-lens digital cameras. Each lens can have the same or similar field of view, but can be associated with different geometric distortions defining, for example, a magnification at various field of view portions. A final image can be generated based on an initial image captured by each lens. Luminance information from the magnified portions of the initial images can be combined to form final image luminance information. Chrominance information from the initial images can be combined to form final image chrominance information. The final image can be generated based on the final image luminance information and the final image chrominance information.

Abstract: The luminance information of an image captured by a multi-lens camera system can be improved by selecting a luminance information source for each portion of the captured image. Each lens of the camera system can capture an initial image. For each portion of a final image, a corresponding initial image portion can be selected as the luminance information source. The portions of the final image and initial images can be pixels, groups of pixels, or other image portions. The luminance information from the selected initial image portions is combined to form final image luminance information. Chrominance information can also be selected from the initial images to form final image chrominance information, and the final image chrominance information and the final image luminance information can be combined to form a final image.

Abstract: The luminance information of an image captured by a multi-lens camera system can be improved by selecting a luminance information source for each portion of the captured image. Each lens of the camera system can capture an initial image. For each portion of a final image, a corresponding initial image portion can be selected as the luminance information source. The portions of the final image and initial images can be pixels, groups of pixels, or other image portions. The luminance information from the selected initial image portions is combined to form final image luminance information. Chrominance information can also be selected from the initial images to form final image chrominance information, and the final image chrominance information and the final image luminance information can be combined to form a final image.

Abstract: Spatial resolution can be improved in multi-lens digital cameras. Each lens can have the same or similar field of view, but can be associated with different geometric distortions defining, for example, a magnification at various field of view portions. A final image can be generated based on an initial image captured by each lens. Luminance information from the magnified portions of the initial images can be combined to form final image luminance information. Chrominance information from the initial images can be combined to form final image chrominance information. The final image can be generated based on the final image luminance information and the final image chrominance information.