Abstract: Methods and apparatuses having imaging structures that include a focusing lens structure, a pixel array, and a transparent material arranged between the focusing lens and the pixel array. A color filter array may be located between the transparent material and the pixels of the pixel array.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention pattern array camera modules with ? filter groups. In one embodiment, an array camera module includes: an M×N imager array including a plurality of focal planes, where each focal plane includes an array of pixels; an M×N optic array of lens stacks, where each lens stack corresponds to a focal plane, and where each lens stack forms an image of a scene on its corresponding focal plane; where each pairing of a lens stack and focal plane thereby defines a camera; where at least one row in the M×N array of cameras includes at least one red camera, one green camera, and one blue camera; and where at least one column in the M×N array of cameras includes at least one red camera, one green camera, and one blue camera.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which is capable of accurately correcting for chromatic aberration of magnification in an area peripheral to a taken image using the taken image. Areas including edges in image data are extracted, and the amount of chromatic aberration of magnification is calculated as the amount of area chromatic aberration of magnification in each area with respect to each color component. Based on lens design values, chromatic aberration of magnification in each area is calculated as the amount of lens chromatic aberration of magnification. By using the amount of area chromatic aberration of magnification and the amount of lens chromatic aberration of magnification in adjacent areas next to an indefinite area matching predetermined conditions, the amount of lens chromatic aberration of magnification relating to the indefinite area is corrected to determine the amount of area chromatic aberration of magnification relating to the indefinite area.

Abstract: The solid-state image sensor 10 includes an array of photosensitive cells and an array 100 of dispersing elements. The photosensitive cell array is comprised of unit blocks 40, each including four photosensitive cells 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d.

Abstract: An image capture device according to the present invention includes: a first optical system 10 that has a longitudinal chromatic aberration to cause first, second and third colors to form images at mutually different positions on an optical axis; a first image capturing region Na for generating an image that has a component in at least one of the first, second and third colors by using light that has been transmitted through the first optical system 10; a second optical system 20 that has a different longitudinal chromatic aberration from that of the first optical system 10; a second image capturing region Nb for generating an image that has a component in the same color as the at least one color by using light that has been transmitted through the second optical system 20; and an arithmetic processing section C for generating an output image by using one of the two images that has been generated in the first or second image capturing region Na or Nb so as to have the component in the at least one color apiec

Abstract: A digital panoramic camera generally comprises a lens dependently secured to a body. The body comprises a power side, control side and rear compartment wherein the internal components of the digital panoramic camera are distributed such that their weight is uniformly placed about the axis of rotation for the camera. Because the axis of rotation for the camera passes through the nodal point of the lens, a slotted aperture is provided in the body in order that the camera may nonetheless have a nearly 180° vertical field of view. A novel lens cover, having a slotted aperture therein, is provided for reduction or elimination of flare, thereby improving image quality. Provisions are also made for elimination of fringe effects and blooming as well as for improved user interface with the camera. A novel interface permits operation of the camera as either a stand-alone or peripheral device.

Abstract: A wavelength detecting apparatus capable of detecting the main wavelength of the light coming into an image capture apparatus and a focus detecting apparatus using the same are disclosed. The wavelength detecting apparatus may include a spectral unit which separates the incoming light according to the respective wavelengths, and may focus the separated light onto a sensor. The main wavelength can be determined based on the wavelength distribution sensed by the sensor. The determined wavelength can be used to further determine amount of adjustment to be made to the defocus amount to compensate for the chromatic aberration associated with the wavelength of the light illuminating the source.

Abstract: Snapshot spectral imagers comprise an imaging lens, a dispersed image sensor and a restricted isometry property (RIP) diffuser inserted in the optical path between the source image and the image sensor. The imagers are used to obtain a plurality of spectral images of the source object in different spectral bands in a single shot. In some embodiments, the RIP diffuser is one dimensional. An optional disperser may be added in the optical path, to provide further dispersion at the image sensor. In some embodiments, all imager components except the RIP diffuser may be part of a digital camera, with the RIP diffuser added externally. In some embodiments, the RIP diffuser may be included internally in a digital camera.

Abstract: A method comprising obtaining a mobile electronic device comprising a color sensitive light sensor and outward facing optics, exposing a sample to light having a predetermined optical path-length between a light source and the color sensitive light-sensor, and measuring the amount of light transmitted though the sample with the color sensitive light sensor. Also a mobile electronic device comprising a color sensitive light sensor and outward facing optics, the mobile electronic device configured for quantitative analysis of absorbance in colored liquids. Additionally, a system comprising a mobile electronic device configured for quantitative analysis of absorbance in colored samples, the mobile electronic device comprising a color sensitive light sensor and outward facing optics and a light source.

Abstract: In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a method of manufacturing, on a waver scale, a plurality of optical devices comprises the steps of providing a wafer scale spacer with a plurality of holes arranged in a hole pattern at the positions of camera modules, providing a wafer scale substrate with an infrared (IR) filter that is patterned to comprise a plurality of IR filter sections, the IR filter sections being arranged in an IR filter pattern that is such that radiation paths through the substrate and onto the camera modules go through the IR filter sections, and stacking the substrate and the spacer on each other with the holes and the filter sections being aligned.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: an imaging unit wherein a plurality of light sensing units formed in a matrix and a plurality of interconnections are formed among the plurality of light sensing units; a color filter that is disposed over the imaging unit, and delivers colors to the light sensing units in accordance with a predefined rule; and on-chip lenses that are disposed corresponding to the light sensing units on a one-by-one basis over the color filter, and have light-collection characteristics varying in accordance with differences among sensitivities of the light sensing units, where the differences among the sensitivities of the light sensing units are generated, when the same colors are delivered to the light sensing units in accordance with the same rule, owing to the fact that positions of the individual interconnections relative to the light sensing units vary periodically.

Abstract: Image capture using an image capture device that includes an imaging assembly having a spectral sensitivity tunable in accordance with a spectral capture mask, and imaging optics having a polarization filter tunable in accordance with a polarization control mask for projecting an image of a scene onto the imaging assembly. A default polarization control mask is applied to the imaging optics, and a default spectral capture mask is applied to the imaging assembly. An image of the scene is captured using the imaging assembly.

Abstract: A method includes sampling a first intensity of light with a first array of photo detectors of a digital camera. A second intensity of light is sampled with a second array of photo detectors of the digital camera. A first channel processor coupled to the first array of photo detectors generates a first image using first array data which is representative of the first intensity of light sampled by the first array of photo detectors. A second channel processor coupled to the second array of photo detectors generates a second image using second array data which is representative of the second intensity of light sampled by the second array of photo detectors. The first array of photo detectors, the second array of photo detectors, the first channel processor, and the second channel processor are integrated on or in a semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe an electro-magnetic interference (EMI) shield cover disposed over a wafer level camera module. Said camera module includes substrate having a plurality of imaging pixels, an imaging lens unit disposed on a top side the substrate and a plurality of conductive connectors disposed a bottom side of the substrate, wherein at least one of the conductive connectors comprises a ground connector. The substrate further includes a thru-silicon via (TSV) accessible on the top-side of the substrate and communicatively coupled to the ground connector. The EMI shield is communicatively coupled to the TSV, and thus coupled to the ground connection of the digital camera module.

Abstract: An image sensor including a pixel unit, the pixel unit including a photodiode, a first color filter and a second color filter each disposed in a different position on a plane above the photodiode, and a first on-chip lens disposed over the first color filter and a second on-chip lens disposed over the second color filter.

Abstract: An image processing method includes the steps of: receiving the plurality of single color image signals from an image sensor, and delaying the received single color image signals belonging to a plurality of pixels for storing in a delay unit; retrieving the single color image signals from the delay unit simultaneously, and determining original R, G, and B values for each of the two neighboring pixels of the image sensor with respect to the retrieved single color image signals using an interpolation algorithm; converting the original R, G, and B values for each of the two neighboring pixels to Y, U, and V values; calculating an average Y value of two Y values for two neighboring pixels in the two neighboring pixels; converting the calculated Y value, the U value, and the V value to new R, G, and B values.

Abstract: When determining a direction in which pixels highly correlated with a defective pixel exist, it is determined whether the direction is the horizontal or vertical direction or the oblique direction from signal values of peripheral pixels of the same color as the defective pixel. On the other hand, one of the vertical direction and the horizontal direction and one of a plurality of predetermined oblique directions are determined from signal values of peripheral pixels of different colors from the defective pixel, and one direction is selected as the final direction determination result according to a determination result obtained by using pixels of the same color.

Abstract: A system for generating a stereoscopic image pair comprising a split color filter with complementary colors located at a stop associated with a lens and configured to split an image of a scene received from the lens into two complementary images having complementary colors, a color image sensor configured to simultaneously receive the two complementary images; and a data processing system configured compute an offset value for each corresponding pixel in the complementary images and generate a stereoscopic full color image pair based upon an analysis of the complementary images and the offset values.

Abstract: A method, system and polarization filter for analyzing polarization properties of light are described, the method comprising: receiving image data from a plurality of image sensor cells, the image sensor cells comprised in an image sensing system; separating from the received image data polarization information and scene image data of a scene being captured; and processing the polarization information to deduce information. Additionally, a polarization filter for analyzing polarization properties of light is described, the polarization filter comprising an array of polarization cells in various directions of polarization, the polarization filter comprising a core array of at least horizontal polarization filter cell, vertical polarization filter cell, no-polarization filter cell and circular polarization filter cell.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a lens apparatus attached to a camera apparatus detachably, and a camera apparatus separating a beam into color beams of three colors and displays an image synthesizing first, second and third image signals, wherein the lens apparatus includes a memory unit storing correcting data in an image height direction of the second and third image signals on the first image signal for correcting aberration of the image taking optical system, and a lens controlling unit extracting the correcting data of the image taking optical system state, wherein the camera apparatus includes a camera controller moving the second and third image signals in the image height direction, and displaying an image obtained by superimposing the color image signals, wherein the image pickup apparatus includes a controller, and wherein the lens controlling unit adjusts the correcting data, and the memory unit stores the adjusted correcting data.

Abstract: The solid state image sensor of this invention includes multiple units, each of which includes first and second photosensitive cells 2a, 2b and a dispersive element 1a facing the first cell 2a. The element 1a passes a part of incoming light with a first color component to the second cell 2b. The first cell 2a receives a smaller quantity of light with the first color component than that of the light with the first color component incident on the dispersive element. The second cell 2b receives a greater quantity of light with the first color component than that of the light with the first color component incident on the dispersive element.

Abstract: A panel camera, and an optical touch screen and a display apparatus employing the panel camera. The panel camera includes a lens panel comprising a plurality of narrow-angle lenses arranged in a two-dimensional (2D) array and a light-detection panel comprising a plurality of light detectors which are arranged in a 2D array to respectively correspond to the plurality of narrow-angle lenses to receive lights passing through the plurality of narrow-angle lenses from outside and obtain a remote image.

Abstract: A color representation technique to be effectively applicable to a pixel shifted arrangement to realize high sensitivity and high resolution is provided by using a dipersive prism or diffraction. A dispersive element is provided for an image sensor in which photosensitive cells are arranged to be shifted from each other by a half pitch both horizontally and vertically. The dispersive element makes at least G rays fall straight down to a pixel right under itself and also makes either R rays or B rays incident on an adjacent pixel. Meanwhile, a photosensitive cell, for which no dispersive element is provided, receives directly incident light, too. Color information can be obtained by making computations on photoelectrically converted signals provided by these pixels.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus according to one aspect of the invention includes: an imaging lens configured to perform a phase modulation function to extend a depth of field; a color image pickup element configured to convert an optical image which passes through the imaging lens and is formed on the image pickup element into an electric signal, the image pickup element having primary filters of three primary colors arranged for respective pixels in a predetermined pattern; and a restoration processing device configured to perform filtering processing using a single restoration filter on color signals corresponding to the primary filters of the three primary colors outputted from the color image pickup element, the restoration filter being an inverse function of a point spread function obtained when the phase modulation is performed by the imaging lens.

Abstract: An imaging system substantially simultaneously acquires z-depth and brightness data from first sensors, and acquires higher resolution RGB data from second sensors, and fuses data from the first and second sensors to model an RGBZ image whose resolution can be as high as resolution of the second sensors. Time correlation of captured data from first and second sensors is associated with captured image data, which permits arbitrary mapping between the two data sources, ranging from 1:many to many:1. Preferably pixels from each set of sensors that image the same target point are mapped. Many z-depth sensor settings may be used to create a static environmental model. Non-correlative and correlative filtering is carried out, and up-sampling to increase z-resolution occurs, from which a three-dimensional model is constructed using registration and calibration data.

Abstract: An image sensing device includes a substrate, a color filter layer, a plurality of micro-lenses and a plurality of anti-reflection units. The substrate has a plurality of sensing units, and the color filter layer covers the sensing units. The micro-lenses are disposed on the color filter layer, and the micro-lenses are respectively corresponded to the sensing units. Moreover, the anti-reflection units are respectively disposed on the micro-lenses. Each anti-reflection unit includes a plurality of anti-reflection films stacked on the corresponding micro-lens, and refractive indexes of the two adjacent anti-reflection films are different. The image sensing device has a better image sensing quality.

Abstract: A unit pixel array of an image sensor includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of unit pixels, an interlayer insulating layer disposed on a front side of the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of color filters disposed on a back side of the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of light path converters, each of the light path converters being disposed adjacent to at least one color filter and having a pair of slanted side edges extending from opposing ends of a horizontal bottom edge, and a plurality of micro lenses disposed on the color filters.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an output signal obtaining unit that is connected to a pixel group having a first pixel, a second pixel, and a third pixel and obtains a first output signal, a second output signal, and a third output signal, a spectral sensitivity determination unit that determines a first spectral sensitivity, a second spectral sensitivity, and a third spectral sensitivity, which are spectral sensitivities of the first, second, and third output signals, respectively, with respect to a wavelength of incident light entering the pixel group, an output signal amplification unit that amplifies the first, second, and third output signals based on the first, second, and third spectral sensitivities, respectively, and an image generation unit calculates pixel values of the first pixel, the second pixel, and the third pixel from the first output signal, the second output signal, and the third output signal amplified, and generates an image.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image-pickup optical system, three color separation prisms separating incident light guided by the image-pickup optical system into three-primary-color light components and emitting the light components, and three image pickup elements respectively receiving the three light components from the prisms so as to produce respective image signals. Of the three prisms, a first prism that first receives the incident light has an edge extending parallel to an incidence plane. The image-pickup optical system has a plate-like fixed aperture stop disposed between the first prism and a final lens, disposed closest to the first prism, of multiple lenses included in the image-pickup optical system. The fixed aperture stop has an aperture that limits the incident light. An edge section of the aperture has projections and depressions arranged at least in parallel to the edge, as viewed from an optical-axis direction of the final lens.

Abstract: In fixing prisms for a TV camera and solid-state image pickup element packages, two holding plates are fixed at two sides of each of the prisms, each of the holding plates having a wedge-shaped or semicircular tip surface, and an adhesive is provided in a gap formed by a surface of the solid-state image pickup element package and the wedge-shaped or semicircular tip surface of the holding plate, respectively. Then, relative to light axes, X, Y and Z axes and rotational axes ?x, ?y and ?z for the axes X, Y, and Z of the solid-state image pickup element packages are aligned while inclining the holding plates in a front-rear direction simultaneously. The adhesive is cured by applying light or heat to thereby fix the holding plates, the solid-state image pickup elements and the prisms, respectively.

Abstract: A projector includes an optical arrangement and a cooling arrangement. The optical arrangement includes a light source, a filtering component, a light modulation component and a projection lens. The filtering component filters the light emitted by the light source. The light modulation component modulates the light filtered by the filtering component to form an image. The projection lens projects the image formed by the light modulation component. The cooling arrangement is arranged relative to the optical arrangement to cool the optical arrangement. The cooling arrangement includes a blower, an air duct and a heat sink. The blower blows cooling air. The air duct guides the cooling air from the blower to the filtering component along an cooling air path. The heat sink is disposed in the cooling air path within the air duct and fixedly attached to the light modulation component to thermally contact with the light modulation component.

Abstract: A color imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate including a plurality of photoelectric transducers, and a color filter including a plurality of coloring layers provided to associate with the photoelectric transducers of the semiconductor substrate. Each of the coloring layers of the color filter including a side surface that is erected with respect to a surface of the semiconductor substrate, and an inclined surface that is continuous from an end of the side surface located in the opposite side of the semiconductor substrate toward an end portion of the coloring layer located in the opposite side of the semiconductor substrate. The coloring layers are arranged with their side surfaces being in contact with each other without a gap therebetween, and the end portion of the coloring layer has a curved surface shape protruding toward the opposite side of the corresponding photoelectric transducer.

Abstract: An image pickup device includes a color separation prism composed of prism members and which separates light into color components, solid-state image sensors fixed to the prism members, respectively, image sensor boards on which the solid-state image sensors are mounted, respectively, an image control board to which image pickup signals generated by the image sensor boards, respectively, are inputted, and a flexible board which is connected to the image control board. The flexible board includes a signal transmission layer connected to each of the image sensor boards and which contains transmission paths for transmitting the image pickup signals to the image control board, and a heat radiating layer formed of a high heat conductivity material which is connected to each of the solid-state image sensors and fixed to the signal transmission layer via an insulating layer to transfer heat generated in the solid-state image sensors.

Abstract: Provided is a method of luminance compensation for a camera lens by performing a multiline interpolation algorithm. Preferably, a plurality of directional lines are radially arranged on a curved surface of the lens. Sampling dots are then designated along the directional lines in equal or variant distances. Steps including a step of determining the location of a target for luminance compensation, a step of obtaining adjacent directional lines by referring to a slope at the target, a step of calculating the correction values and the weights for interpolation are further introduced. The interpolation algorithm is used to restore a correction plane of a whole image. A polynomial equation is preferably used to obtain two correction values of two directional lines with the same radius. Alternatively, a lookup table is introduced to find the two correction values. It's featured that a symmetric or asymmetric compensation for the camera lens is achieved.

Abstract: The present invention provides a visible and infrared light image-taking optical system which can facilitate changing a wavelength of infrared light used to take an infrared video image with an infrared light camera and which can achieve an infrared video image not affected by infrared light of any wavelength other than a desired wavelength, by separating object light incident on an image-taking optical system into object light in a visible light region and object light in an infrared light region and taking an object image formed by each object light for each object light in each wavelength region decomposed by the color separation optical system.

Abstract: A camera module 100a of the present invention includes a lens unit 10a which includes a lens 11 and a lens holder 12 holding the lens 11 therein, and an image sensing unit 20a which includes a solid-state image sensor 24 and a transparent lid section 26 which is arranged so as to face the receiving surface of the solid-state image sensor 24, provided with a space S therebetween. The transparent lid section 26 and the lens 11 are independent of each other, and the lens 11 is aligned with respect to the solid-state image sensor 24 by engaging the transparent lid section 26 with the lens holder 12 by mounting the lens 11 on the transparent lid section 26. Thus, it is possible to provide a solid-state image sensing device having high lens alignment precision with respect to a solid-state image sensor.

Abstract: Optical apparatus includes an image sensor and objective optics, which are configured to collect and focus optical radiation over a range of wavelengths along a common optical axis toward a plane of the image sensor. A dispersive element is positioned to spread the optical radiation collected by the objective optics so that different wavelengths in the range are focused along different, respective optical axes toward the plane.

Abstract: Provided are a digital image processing apparatus for determining a focused portion in an image and showing the focused portion to a user and a method of controlling the same. The digital image processing apparatus includes a digital signal processor (DSP) which extracts the intensity of edges from an image and displays the combination of the extracted intensity of edges on the image. A user may determine whether a region of interest is successfully focused or not without additionally operating the digital image processing apparatus.

Abstract: An exemplary imaging device includes first camera modules, second camera modules, third camera modules, and a processing device. The first camera modules each have a red filter and is capable of capturing red images. The second camera modules each have a green filter and is capable of capturing green images. The third camera module each have a blue filter and is capable of capturing blue images. The processing device is electronically connected with the first, second, and third camera modules to combine the red, green, and blue images to form a full-color image. The imaging device can also include one or more fourth camera module, which includes an IR-cut filter.

Abstract: An imaging device includes: a lens optical system, for focusing light from a subject; a single chip color imaging element equipped with a Bayer pattern color filter, for imaging an image of the subject focused by the lens optical system; and an image processing section, for performing a filtering process in which data output by the imaging element is passed through an image reconstructing filter having properties inverse blur properties of the optical system, and then performing a synchronization process. The image processing section collects data excluding zero elements for each of R, G, and B channels, to generate reduced data arrays in which the amount of data is ¼ for the R and B channels, and ½ for the G channel, and administers the filtering process using the image reconstruction filter onto data of the reduced data array for each of the R, G, and B channels.

Abstract: A digital still camera includes a lens system. A cold mirror separates object light incident on the lens system into a visible light component and an infrared component. A visible light image sensor outputs a first image signal of a visible light image by receiving the visible light component. An infrared light image sensor outputs a second image signal of an infrared image by receiving the infrared component. A contour signal generator extracts a high frequency component from a luminance signal determined according to the second image signal, to produce an edge enhancement signal. An adder adds the edge enhancement signal to a luminance signal determined according to the first image signal. Addition of the edge enhancement signal is adapted to the object light from an object at a far distance. Specifically, the cold mirror reflects the visible light component and transmits the infrared component.

Abstract: A filed sequential color camera system includes a color camera, and an illumination unit. The color camera includes a separation optical system to separate an optical image of a subject incident from a lens in two directions; two solid-state imaging devices to convert into electric signals the respective optical images separated in the two directions; an electronic shutter control device to apply sequential exposure control to the two solid-state imaging devices within a time corresponding to a ½ frame for each one frame and at a non-overlapping interval; and a light-emitting sync signal output device to produce a light-emitting sync signal in sync with the sequential exposure control by the electronic shutter control device. The illumination unit receives the light-emitting sync signal from the color camera to emit multicolor light having different wavelength ranges in sync with exposure control of the solid-state imaging devices and in a sequential switch mode.

Abstract: A method comprising obtaining a mobile electronic device comprising a color sensitive light sensor and outward facing optics, exposing a sample to light having a predetermined optical path-length between a light source and the color sensitive light-sensor, and measuring the amount of light transmitted though the sample with the color sensitive light sensor. Also a mobile electronic device comprising a color sensitive light sensor and outward facing optics, the mobile electronic device configured for quantitative analysis of absorbance in colored liquids. Additionally, a system comprising a mobile electronic device configured for quantitative analysis of absorbance in colored samples, the mobile electronic device comprising a color sensitive light sensor and outward facing optics and a light source.

Abstract: There are many, many inventions described herein. In one aspect, what is disclosed is a digital camera including a plurality of arrays of photo detectors, including a first array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a first wavelength and a second array of photo detectors to sample an intensity of light of a second wavelength. The digital camera further may also include a first lens disposed in an optical path of the first array of photo detectors, wherein the first lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the first wavelength, and a second lens disposed in with an optical path of the second array of photo detectors wherein the second lens includes a predetermined optical response to the light of the second wavelength.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide: a thin imaging device in which a high image resolution is obtained and in which the resolution does not uniformly vary even when the shooting distance is changed; and a lens array used therein. The present invention relates to an imaging device comprising: a lens array 130 constructed by arranging in parallel a plurality of lens elements having optical power in at least one surface; and an image sensor 110 in which an optical image formed by an optical system having each of the lens elements is received by each of mutually different imaging regions each having a plurality of photoelectric conversion sections so that the optical image is converted into an electric image signal, wherein each lens element and the imaging region corresponding to the lens element constitute an imaging unit, while the imaging units have diverse imaging region areas. The present invention relates also to a lens array used therein.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: an imaging unit wherein a plurality of light sensing units formed in a matrix and a plurality of interconnections are formed among the plurality of light sensing units; a color filter that is disposed over the imaging unit, and delivers colors to the light sensing units in accordance with a predefined rule; and on-chip lenses that are disposed corresponding to the light sensing units on a one-by-one basis over the color filter, and have light-collection characteristics varying in accordance with differences among sensitivities of the light sensing units, where the differences among the sensitivities of the light sensing units are generated, when the same colors are delivered to the light sensing units in accordance with the same rule, owing to the fact that positions of the individual interconnections relative to the light sensing units vary periodically.

Abstract: A multispectral image capturing apparatus has different spectral sensitivity characteristics of at least four bands. Three primary bands of the at least four bands have spectral sensitivity characteristics of standard RGB. At least one auxiliary band of the rest of the at least four bands excluding the three primary bands has a spectral sensitivity characteristic of a narrower bandwidth than bandwidths of the RGB.

Abstract: An image sensor pixel that includes a photoelectric conversion unit supported by a substrate and an insulator adjacent to the substrate. The pixel includes a cascaded light guide that is located within an opening of the insulator and extends above the insulator such that a portion of the cascaded light guide has an air interface. The air interface improves the internal reflection of the cascaded light guide. The cascaded light guide may include a self-aligned color filter having air-gaps between adjacent color filters. Air-gaps may be sealed from above by a transparent sealing film. The transparent sealing film may have a concave surface over the air-gap to diverge light that crosses the concave surface into the air-gap away from the air-gap into adjacent color filters. These characteristics of the light guide eliminate the need for a microlens.

Abstract: Light 2 that is the subject to be imaged enters a lens system 3, and the light is transmitted and absorbed by a color filter 5. The transmitted components enter an image sensor 4 to be imaged. The color filter 5 is composed of, as shown in FIG. 7B, a transparent pixel (W) and micro filters including a filter (W-X) with a complementary color for the color matching function X, a filter (W-Y) with a complementary color for the color matching function Y, and a filter (W-Z) with a complementary color for the color matching function Z. Each of them is arranged to correspond in position to each pixel of the image sensor. As a result, light with components in the entire wavelength region, light with complementary color components of X, light with complementary color components of Y, and light with complementary color components of Z enter their respective pixels to be imaged.

Abstract: An imager apparatus and methods are described. An embodiment of an imager module includes a plurality of groups of optical lenses, a lens frame, and at least one associated lens barrel configured to position and hold the plurality of groups of optical lenses. At least one of the groups of optical lenses is movable with respect to at least one other group of optical lenses for achieving optical focus. The imager module includes an integrated circuit (IC) imager die in proximity to the plurality of lenses, the imager die containing at least one image capture microelectronic device. The imager module includes a modular frame assembly that contains a first portion that holds a plurality of lens barrels, each containing one or more focusing lenses, and a second portion that supports the first portion at a specific distance from the substrate being imaged. The lens barrels are each responsive to different wavelengths or bands of wavelengths.