Abstract: An image sensor module includes a rigid-flex board, an image sensor, a supporting plate, and a glue. The rigid-flex board defines a through hole, and includes a plurality of connecting pads adjacent to the through hole. The image sensor is positioned on one side of the rigid-flex board, and includes an image surface and a plurality of pins adjacent to the image surface. The image surface faces the through hole, and the pins are connected to the connecting pads. The supporting plate defines a receiving recess. The supporting plate is positioned on the side of the rigid-flex board. The image sensor is received in the receiving recess. The glue fills between the supporting plate and the rigid-flex board.

Abstract: Provided is a near-infrared absorptive compositions which having excellent near-infrared shielding property even if they are formed into thin films, being able to apply, and inhibited transmittance of visible light loss and transmittance loss after postbaking even if they contain a higher proportion of solids such as copper complexes. The near-infrared absorptive composition comprising a copper complex, a polyfunctional polymerizable compound and a solvent, wherein the near-infrared absorptive composition has a solids content of 35 to 90% by mass.

Abstract: An adjustable lens includes a first lens member having a first corrugated surface, a second lens member having a second corrugated surface, and blackout regions disposed between the first and second corrugated surfaces. The first corrugated surface includes a periodic structure of alternating ridge and groove sections. The second corrugated surface includes a periodic structure of alternating ridge and groove sections. The blackout regions are positioned to block image light passing through either the ridge sections of the first lens member, or alternatively, the groove sections of the first lens member.

Abstract: A focus detector, which detects a defocus amount from a displacement amount between images formed by a pair of light beams split from an image pickup system so as to pass through a pair of pupil regions, includes a pair of lenses and phase difference sensors, a memory unit for storing an image displacement amount between the image signals on the phase difference sensors in an in-focus state, a waveform read out controller for setting pixels to be calculated for the phase difference sensors, respectively, based on the image displacement amount, a correlation calculator for calculating a correlation amount between the image signals from the pixels to be calculated, a waveform degree-of-conformity calculator for calculating a waveform degree-of-conformity based on the image signals obtained from the pixels to be calculated, and a defocus calculator for calculating the defocus amount based on the correlation amount and the waveform degree-of-conformity.

Abstract: An image sensor package and image sensor chip capable of being slenderized while enhancing the reliability with respect to physical impact are provided. The image sensor package includes an image sensor chip provided with a pixel domain at a central portion of an upper surface thereof, a substrate disposed at an upper side of the image sensor chip so as to be flip-chip bonded with respect to the image sensor chip, provided with a hole formed at a position corresponding to the pixel domain, and formed of organic material, a printed circuit board at which the substrate provided with the image sensor chip bonded thereto is mounted, and a solder ball configured to electrically connect the substrate to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: An optical imaging lens set includes a first lens element to a sixth lens element from an object side toward an image side along an optical axis. The first lens element has negative refractive power. The second lens element has an object-side surface with a convex portion in a vicinity of periphery. The third lens element has an object-side surface with a convex portion in a vicinity of periphery. The fifth lens element has an image-side surface with a convex portion in a vicinity of the optical axis. The sixth lens element has an object-side surface with a concave portion in a vicinity of its periphery.

Abstract: An imaging lens includes first to sixth lens elements arranged from an object side to an image side in the given order. Through designs of surfaces of the lens elements and relevant optical parameters, a short system length of the imaging lens may be achieved while maintaining good optical performance.

Abstract: An optical device includes a base; an image sensor disposed on the base; an outer frame connected to the base and having a flat surface; an inner frame having a protrusion and movable between a first position and a second position with respect to the base; and a lens group disposed on the inner frame and having an optical axis, wherein the protrusion abuts the flat surface and the optical axis extends through the image sensor when the inner frame moves to the first position, and the inner frame is accommodated in a space when the inner frame moves to the second position.

Abstract: An optical system includes, in order from the object side, an aperture, a first lens having a positive refractive power, a second lens having a negative refractive power, a third lens having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens having a positive refractive power and having a meniscus shape with a convex surface facing the image side, and a fifth lens having a negative refractive power. The optical system satisfies a certain condition.

Abstract: The lens apparatus includes a first member having a first cam, a second member having a first cam follower engaging with the first cam and a second cam follower, which rotates in a circumferential direction and is moved in an optical axis direction by the first cam, a third member provided with a second cam engaging with the second cam follower and rotating the second member, and biasing members generating between the first and second members a biasing force in a direction oblique to the optical axis direction. The biasing force presses the first and second cam followers respectively against the first and second cams. A biasing force generation direction changes with rotation of the second member, and the biasing force presses the first and second cam followers respectively against same cam surfaces of the first and second cams in an entire second member rotation range.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a miniaturization image capturing module includes adhesively placing a double side adhesive element onto a carrier board; adhesively placing an image capturing chip onto the double side adhesive element; adhesively placing a substrate unit onto the double side adhesive element, the substrate unit including a hollow substrate body adhered to the double side adhesive element and surrounding the image capturing chip; forming a fixing glue between the hollow substrate body and the image capturing chip to fix the position of the image capturing chip relative to the hollow substrate body; electrically connecting the image capturing chip to the substrate unit; positioning a lens unit on the top side of the hollow substrate body, the lens unit including a lens group disposed above the image capturing chip; and then removing the carrier board to expose the double side adhesive element.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus relating to image capture of image portions using optical chains with non-parallel optical axis are described. In some embodiments different portions of a scene area of interest captured by different optical chains operating in parallel are combined. The use of multiple optical chains in parallel facilitates generation of an image with a higher overall pixel count than would be possible using a single sensor of one of the optical chains and/or with more light capture than would be captured using a single one of the optical chains.

Abstract: An image sensor module includes a rigid-flex board, an image sensor, and a supporting plate. The rigid-flex board defines a through hole, and includes a plurality of connecting pads adjacent to the through hole. The image sensor is positioned on one side of the rigid-flex board, and includes an image surface and a plurality of pins adjacent to the image surface. The image surface faces the through hole, and the pins are connected to the connecting pads. The supporting plate is positioned on the side of the rigid-flex board. The image sensor is positioned between the supporting plate and the rigid-flex board.

Abstract: Apparatus for imaging a scene, comprising a focusing structure for focusing light emanating from a scene on an imaging subsystem, and an imaging subsystem. The imaging subsystem includes an imager, disposed within the optical path of the focusing structure, having an array of pixels sensitive to light at frequencies higher than far infrared frequencies, and a frequency shifter disposed between the lens element and the imager. The frequency shifter includes an array of frequency-shifting elements disposed over a subset of the array of pixels, the elements shifting the far infrared frequencies from the focused light to higher frequencies and transmitting the resulting signals to the subset of the array of pixels.

Abstract: A color image sensor having a plurality of sensor elements arranged in a two-dimensional array, wherein the sensor elements each include an optical filter whose transmission behavior is electrically adjustable, and wherein the color image sensor includes a control for controlling the optical filters.

Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: a plurality of micro-lenses disposed in a two-dimensional pattern near a focal plane of an image forming optical system; an image sensor that includes a two-dimensional array of element groups each corresponding to one of the micro-lenses and made up with a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements which receive, via the micro-lenses light fluxes from a subject having passed through the photographic optical system and output image signals; and a synthesizing unit that combines the image signals output from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements based upon information so as to generate synthetic image data in correspondence to a plurality of image forming areas present on a given image forming plane of the image forming optical system, the information specifying positions of the photoelectric conversion elements output image signals that are to be used for generating synthetic image data for each image forming area.

Abstract: An image lens assembly system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element, a sixth lens element and a seventh lens element. The first lens element has refractive power. The second lens element has positive refractive power. The third lens element has refractive power. The fourth lens element has refractive power. The fifth lens element has refractive power. The sixth lens element with refractive power is made of plastic material, and has at least one surface being aspheric. The seventh lens element with refractive power is made of plastic material and has a concave image-side surface, wherein the image-side surface thereof changes from concave in a paraxial region thereof to convex in a peripheral region thereof, and at least one surface thereof is aspheric.

Abstract: A dust removing device includes an oscillation body including at least an elastic member and an electromechanical energy conversion element which is fixed to the elastic member, wherein the electromechanical energy conversion element is configured to excite oscillation in the elastic member to remove dust. A rigidity-increasing member configured to enhance rigidity of the oscillation body in the direction of a node line of the oscillation is provided on at least one of the elastic member and the electromechanical energy conversion element.

Abstract: An imaging module is provided with: a front case, in which a lens unit is mounted on a side of the subject to be imaged; a back case, which is attached to the front case and seals an imaging substrate in an inside space formed with the front case; and a bracket attached to the back case, and the back case is attached to the front case by case a case fastening screw that is screwed into a screw hole and a case screw-fastening through-hole, and the positioning protrusion 5a is inserted into the case screw-fastening through-hole, so that the back case is positioned on the bracket.

Abstract: The present invention is a camera system which is usable with a mobile terminal. The camera system includes a lens module and at least one mechanism for changing optical properties by interacting with the lens module. The camera system may be built into the mobile terminal or attached thereto as an external module.

Abstract: A three-mirror anastigmatic with at least one non-rotationally symmetric mirror is disclosed. The at least one non-rotationally symmetric mirror may be an electroformed mirror shell having a non-rotationally symmetric reflective surface formed by a correspondingly shaped mandrel.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup pixel and a focus detection pixel. The image pickup pixel includes a micro lens and a photoelectric conversion unit that receives light incident from the micro lens. The focus detection pixel includes the micro lens, the photoelectric conversion unit, and a light shielding unit that shields part of light incident on the photoelectric conversion unit. In the solid-state image pickup apparatus, the micro lens is uniformly formed in the image pickup pixel and the focus detection pixel, and the focus detection pixel further includes a high refractive index film formed under the micro lens.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a substrate with oppositely facing first surface and second surfaces, light being received through the second surface; a wiring layer on the first surface; a photodetector in the substrate; a charge accumulation region between the second surface and the photodetector; and an insulating layer over the second surface, the insulating layer have a region that is at least partially crystallized.

Abstract: A device can have an optical component having at least one alignment/attachment feature and a MEMS structure having a complimentary alignment/attachment feature for each alignment/attachment feature of the optical component. Each alignment/attachment feature of the optical component can mate with a corresponding alignment/attachment of the MEMS structure to align and/or attach the optical component to the MEMS structure. Thus, improved combinations of optical components and MEMS devices can be provided.

Abstract: A method, system and reference target for estimating spectral data on a selected one of three spectral information types is disclosed. Spectral information types comprise illumination of a scene, spectral sensitivity of an imager imaging the scene and reflectance of a surface in the scene. The method comprises obtaining a ranking order for plural sensor responses produced by the imager, each sensor responses being produced from a reference target in the scene, obtaining, from an alternate source, data on the other two spectral information types, determining a set of constraints, the set including, for each sequential pair combination of sensor responses when taken in said ranking order, a constraint determined in dependence on the ranking and on the other two spectral information types for the respective sensor responses and, in dependence on the ranking order and on the set of constraints, determining said spectral data that optimally satisfies said constraints.

Abstract: A zoom lens in which aberration variations at telephoto end during focusing are suppressed while suppressing breathing at wide angle end, which includes, from object side: a positive first unit which does not move for zooming; a negative second unit which moves during zooming; at least one zooming unit which moves during zooming; a stop; and an imaging unit which does not move for zooming. The first unit includes: a negative first sub unit which does not move for focusing; a positive second sub unit which moves to image side during focusing from infinity to proximity; and a positive third sub unit which moves to object side during focusing from infinity to proximity. Focal lengths of the first, second, first sub, and second sub units, and amounts of movement of the second and third sub units during the focusing from infinity proximity are appropriately set.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a focus lens, an image sensor which captures an image and a controller which moves the image sensor or the focus lens. A distance measurer measures a distance to a subject based on a first image and a second image. A focal position moves for the first focal range by moving the image sensor or by moving the position of the focus lens during the first exposure time period, and the focal position moves for the second focal range by moving the image sensor or by moving the position of the focus lens during the second exposure time period.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a photoelectric transformation portion and a micro lens, the micro lens has a first refractive index layer which is a first refractive index and a second refractive index layer which is a second refractive index different from the first refractive index, wherein the micro lens is configured so that a vertical cross section, which is a surface perpendicular to the capturing surface, has a rectangular shape, wherein each of the first refractive index layer and the second refractive index layer are arranged adjacent to each other in a direction along the capturing surface, and an interface between the first refractive index layer and the second refractive index layer in the vertical cross section is formed so as to follow a direction perpendicular to the capturing surface.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus disclosed in the present application includes a lens optical system including a lens and a stop; an imaging; and an array-form optical element located between the lens optical system and the imaging device and including optical components extending in a row direction in a plane vertical to an optical axis of the lens optical system, the optical components being arrayed in a column direction in the plane. The imaging device includes pixel groups, each of which includes first pixels arrayed in the row direction and second pixels arrayed in the row direction at positions adjacent, in the column direction, to the first pixels. The pixel groups are arrayed in the column direction. Border positions between the optical components are respectively offset in the column direction with respect to corresponding border positions between the pixel groups.

Abstract: An optical imaging lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element, a fifth lens element and a sixth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface. The second lens element with negative refractive power has a concave object-side surface and a convex image-side surface. The third lens element and the fourth lens element both have refractive power. The fifth lens element has refractive power, wherein both of the surfaces thereof are aspheric. The sixth lens element with negative refractive power has a concave object-side surface and a concave image-side surface, wherein the surfaces thereof are aspheric. The optical imaging lens assembly has a total of six lens elements with refractive power.

Abstract: The single-camera multi-mirror imaging method and apparatus is an inspection system configured to examine a whole surface of a rotating object, preferably a spheroidal object such as a fruit or vegetable. The system includes a plurality of mirrors that direct an image of the inspected object into a digital line scan camera with an associated processor. The processor produces an image of the inspected object showing any detected surface defects and selected contamination on the outer surface of the object.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array and an image sensor objective optical element. The element is formed by a lenslet array. Each lenslet in the array directs incoming radiation onto a different specific pixel or sub-array of pixels in the pixel array. The lenslets in the array are shaped such that fields of view of next-but-one neighboring ones of the lenslets (i.e., two lenslets spaced from each other by another lenslet) do not overlap until a certain object distance away from the lenslet array.

Abstract: A camera module includes a body having recesses in a first datum surface. A filleted edge may join the recesses to the first datum surface. An image sensor is coupled to the body at a known distance from the first datum surface. A movable lens mechanism includes a fixed portion and a movable portion. The fixed portion is coupled to the body. The movable portion includes a lens assembly and protrusions arranged to fit within the recesses in the first datum surface and to define a second datum surface. A resilient stop plate covers the recesses in the first datum surface with an elastic sheet material. A spring may hold the protrusions in contact with the resilient stop plate when the movable lens mechanism is unpowered. The resilient stop plate may include a rigid support plate coupled to the body by heat staking. The elastic sheet material may be viscoelastic.

Abstract: A method of operating a video system includes receiving an image captured by use of a fisheye lens. The image is divided into a plurality of horizontal image lines. A respective fraction of each of the horizontal image lines is sampled with a different respective sampling frequency. Each sampling frequency is inversely related to a size of the sampled fraction. The size of the sampled fraction increases with each horizontal image line in a progression from a top of the image to a bottom of the image.

Abstract: Provided is a lens optical unit, including at least one lens arranged at an object side of a solid-state image sensor. An imaging plane of the image sensor has a non-planar shape causing a sag amount in an optical axis direction to increase as a distance from an optical axis increases, and satisfies the expression: ?×Sag>0, where ? represents a Petzval curvature of an optical unit represented by ? ? : ? ? = ? k ? 1 r k · ( 1 n k ? - 1 n k ) , rk represents a curvature radius of a kth lens surface from the object side, nk represents a refractive index of a medium before being incident to the kth lens surface from the object side, n?k represents a refractive index of a medium after being emitted from the kth lens surface from the object side, and Sag represents a sag amount in the optical axis direction related to a given point other than the optical axis on the imaging plane.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a microlens array for a solid-state image sensing device includes a plurality of microlenses and a state detector. The plurality of microlenses are disposed in an imaging microlens area and is configured to form two-dimensional images. The state detector is disposed on a periphery of the imaging microlens area and is configured to, on an image forming surface of the microlenses, generate images having a smaller diameter than images formed by the microlenses.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an imaging lens includes a first optical system and a microlens array. The first optical system includes an optical axis. The microlens array is provided between the first optical system and an imaging element. The microlens array includes microlens units provided in a first plane. The imaging element includes pixel groups. Each of the pixel groups includes pixels. The microlens units respectively overlap the pixel groups when projected onto the first plane. The first optical system includes an aperture stop, and first, second, and third lenses. The first lens is provided between the aperture stop and the microlens array, and has a positive refractive power. The second lens is provided between the first lens and the microlens array, and has a negative refractive power. The third lens is provided between the second lens and the microlens array, and has a positive refractive power.

Abstract: An image sensing device includes an image sensing chip, an optical module and a protecting element. The image sensing chip has a front surface defining an image sensing region thereon. The optical module includes a barrel and at least one transparent element. The barrel is directly disposed on the front surface and around the image sensing region. The transparent element is disposed in the barrel and faces to the image sensing region. The protecting element covers an area of the front surface outside the optical module and surrounds the barrel. The image sensing device has a thin thickness.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a camera module includes a second imaging optical system and an image processing section. The second imaging optical system forms an image piece. The image processing section has at least one of an alignment adjustment section, a resolution restoration section, and a shading correction section and has a stitching section. The stitching section joins the image pieces, subjected to at least one of alignment adjustment, resolution restoration, and shading correction, together to form a subject image.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes: a first lens group having a positive refractive power and including a plurality of lenses, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens group having a negative refractive power and including one lens, and a fifth lens group having a positive refractive power and including one lens. The first through fifth lens groups are subsequently arranged from an object side. An interval between neighboring lens groups changes during zooming from a wide angle position to a telephoto position. The zoom lens satisfies the following inequality, 0.4?n1?n2?0.7, where “n1” denotes a refractive index of a first lens from the object side in the first lens group, and “n2” denotes a refractive index of the second lens from the object side in the first lens group.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an image pick-up device including phase difference detection pixel pairs, each formed from a pair of phase difference detection pixels respectively having their openings eccentrically formed on opposite sides of a main axis of an imaging lens, and imaging pixel pairs; a reading section that reads out signals from the pixels arrayed in the image pick-up device using a rolling shutter method; a first correlation computation section that performs correlation computation on the signals from the phase difference detection pixel pairs; a second correlation computation section that performs correlation computation on the signals from the imaging pixel pairs; a correction section that corrects a result from the first correlation computation section using a result from the second correlation computation section; and a focusing section that performs focus control using the corrected result.

Abstract: A vehicle including a scanning imaging system includes a vehicle body having an outer surface, a propulsion source, and an optical window secured to the outer surface of the vehicle positioned on an optical axis for transmitting electromagnetic radiation received from a portion of an area of interest to the scanning imaging system. The scanning imaging system includes a first achromatic prism pair having prisms with different materials that have different refractive properties, and a second achromatic prism pair having prisms with different materials that have different refractive properties, both positioned on the optical axis. A camera fixed in location is optically coupled to form images from the electromagnetic radiation after being bent by the achromatic prism pairs. A motor including a controller independently rotates the first and second achromatic prism pairs about the optical axis for scanning within the area of interest.

Abstract: An image pickup optical system made of five lenses, includes in order from an object side, an aperture stop, a first lens L1 having a positive refracting power, a second lens L2 having a negative refracting power, a third lens L3 having a positive refracting power, a fourth lens L4 having a positive refracting power, and a fifth lens L5 having a negative refracting power. Moreover, an image pickup apparatus includes this image pickup optical system.

Abstract: A light field data acquisition device includes optics and a light field sensor to acquire light field image data of a scene. In at least one embodiment, the light field sensor is located at a substantially fixed, predetermined distance relative to the focal point of the optics. In response to user input, the light field acquires the light field image data of the scene, and a storage device stores the acquired data. Such acquired data can subsequently be used to generate a plurality of images of the scene using different virtual focus depths.

Abstract: A zoom lens comprises in order from an object side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, and at the time of zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens unit moves, and the zoom lens satisfies the following conditional expression (1). FNO(W)<1.64??(1) where, FNO(W) denotes an F-number of the zoom lens at the wide angle end.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a semiconductor substrate; and a pixel unit having a plurality of pixels on the semiconductor substrate, wherein the pixel unit includes first pixel groups having two or more pixels and second pixel groups being different from the first pixel groups, wherein a portion of the pixels in the first pixel groups and a portion of the pixels in the second pixel groups share a floating diffusion element.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprises an optical imaging system 110, an image sensor 101, and an image processor 103. The optical imaging system 110 has an aberration control element 103 for generating a predetermined aberration. The optical imaging system 110 forms an optical image. The image sensor 101 generates an image signal corresponding to the optical image. The image processor 103 performs image processing on the image signal so as to enhance a degraded image characteristic on the basis of the predetermined aberration. The aberration control element 112 causes a response of an optical transfer function of the optical imaging system 110 to be zero at a first spatial frequency. The first spatial frequency is below a Nyquist frequency of the image sensor 201.

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: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for an imaging system that includes a light guide having light-turning features that are configured to receive ambient light incident on the light guide, including light scattered from a scene to be imaged, and to direct the received ambient light towards an image sensor. The light-turning features may have angle-discriminating properties so that some light-turning features capture light incident upon the light guide at certain angles of incidence, but not others. Light scattered from multiple parts of a scene to be imaged may then be directed to correlated locations on an image sensor, which provides electronic data representing an image.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus comprising a substrate having a first face and a second face opposing each other, and in which photoelectric conversion portions are formed, an optical system including microlenses provided on a side of the first face, and light absorbing portions provided on a side of the second face, wherein the apparatus has pixels of first type for detecting light of a first wavelength and second type for detecting light of a second wavelength shorter than the first wavelength, and the apparatus further comprises a first portion between the substrate and the light absorbing portion for each first type pixel, and a second portion between the substrate and the light absorbing portion for each second type pixel, and the first portion has a reflectance higher than that of the second portion for the light of the first wavelength.