Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a light-receiving element making a photoelectric conversion and being disposed in each of a plurality of pixels, wherein a honeycomb structure in which a predetermined pixel is surrounded with six pixels neighboring the predetermined pixel out of the plurality of pixels or a structure in which one to three pixels out of the six neighboring pixels are omitted from the honeycomb structure is used as a basic unit.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus comprises photo-electric conversion means comprising a first pixel group which receives a light beam passing through a first pupil area of an image forming optical system that forms an image of an object, and a second pixel group which receives a light beam passing through a second pupil area of the image forming optical system; focus detection means for detecting a focus state of the image forming optical system based on a first object image generated by the first pixel group and a second object image generated by the second pixel group; a correction calculator for performing correction calculation for the first object image and the second object image based on the output from the focus detection means; and determination means for determining, based on the output from the focus detection means, whether to perform the correction calculation again.

Abstract: An imaging system may include an array of lenses, each of which is aligned over a respective one of a plurality of imaging pixels. The array of lenses may be formed in two layers. The first layer may include a first set of non-adjacent lenses and centering structures between the first lenses. The centering structures may be aligned with the first set of lenses as part of a mask design with a high level of accuracy. The second layer may include a second set of lenses, each of which is formed on a respective one of the centering structures. Forming the second set of lenses may include a reflow process in which surface tension forces center the second set of lenses on their respective centering structures, thereby aligning the second set of lenses with the first set of lenses with a high level of accuracy.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a micro lens that collects light from a subject, a light sensing element that generates a signal for performing focusing determination through phase difference detection by sensing subject light collected by the micro lens, a first light blocking unit that performs pupil division by blocking a portion of the subject light, and a second light blocking unit that is disposed between the first light blocking unit and the micro lens, and blocks the portion of the subject light which is incident to the first light blocking unit, wherein an aperture area of the second light blocking unit is smaller than an aperture area of an image generation pixel.

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: There is provided a lens module, including: a first lens having positive refractive power, an object-sided surface thereof being convex; a second lens having negative refractive power, an image-sided surface thereof being concave; a third lens having positive refractive power; a fourth lens having negative refractive power, an image-sided surface thereof being convex; and a fifth lens having negative refractive power, an image-sided surface thereof being concave, wherein the fourth lens satisfies Conditional Expression 1, f4/f<?3.0 ??[Conditional Expression 1] where f is an overall focal distance of an optical system and f4 is a focal distance of the fourth lens.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus, comprising: a semiconductor chip having a principal face including a pixel region; a protruding portion disposed on the principal face to surround the pixel region; a cover member disposed over the pixel region; and an adhesive material surrounding the pixel region and bonding the cover member and the protruding portion, is provided. The protruding portion has top and first side faces facing the space, a first edge line being formed by this two faces. The adhesive material bonds the top face of the protruding portion and the cover member. The adhesive material has a first face facing the interior space, and the first face extends from the first edge line toward the cover member. Perimeters of the interior space, in planes parallel to the principal face become shorter in a direction from the top face of the protruding portion toward the cover member.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a camera module including: a lens barrel mounted with a camera lens; a housing including an exposing hole and guide portions formed on the top thereof, the exposing hole being opposite to the camera lens; a printed circuit board fixed to the housing; and an LC lens module including an LC lens and guided to the guide portions of the housing to thereby be coupled to the housing so that the LC lens is positioned on the same axis as the center of the lens.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating co-registerable images for processing is disclosed. The apparatus includes a dichroic filter that splits an electro-magnetic beam into first and second split beams, and a mirror that reflects the second split beam. The dichroic filter and the first and second split beams are arranged to direct the first and second split beams, respectively, along substantially parallel but non overlapping paths.

Abstract: There is provided a lens module, including: a first lens having positive refractive power, an object-sided surface thereof being convex; a second lens having negative refractive power, an image-sided surface thereof being concave; a third lens having positive refractive power; a fourth lens having negative refractive power, an image-sided surface thereof being convex; and a fifth lens having negative refractive power, an image-sided surface thereof being concave, wherein the fourth lens satisfies Conditional Expression 1, f ? ? 4 f < - 3.0 [ Conditional ? ? Expression ? ? 1 ] where f is an overall focal distance of an optical system and f4 is a focal distance of the fourth lens.

Abstract: A solid-state image-taking apparatus which have a solid-state image-taking device includes a chip of the solid-state image-taking device, an imaging lens configured to focus incoming light into an image on the solid-state image-taking device, and a material of a refraction index larger than 1, which is arranged between the chip and the imaging lens.

Abstract: Systems and methods for transmitting and receiving image data captured by an imager array including a plurality of focal planes are described. One embodiment of the invention includes capturing image data using a plurality of active focal planes in a camera module, where an image is formed on each active focal plane by a separate lens stack, generating lines of image data by interleaving the image data captured by the plurality of active focal planes, and transmitting the lines of image data and the additional data.

Abstract: It is an object to provide an image processing device capable of obtaining a high precise image while aberration asymmetry is corrected. An image processing device according to the present invention includes image obtaining means configured to obtain an input image, image restoration means configured to restore the input image using a generated or selected image restoration filter in accordance with a transfer function of an image pickup system used for forming the input image from an object image. The image restoration filter makes a difference between absolute values of transfer functions of two azimuthal directions at a time when the restoration image is obtained from an object smaller than a difference between absolute values of transfer functions of the two azimuthal directions of the image pickup system.

Abstract: An optical system drive device, an image capture device, and a mobile device of the invention includes: an optical system; a urging member; a shape-memory alloy actuator; a current applying section for supplying a current to the actuator; a measurement section for measuring a characteristic value of the actuator; a driving control section for controlling the supply current to the current applying section according to the characteristic value measured by the measurement section; and a signal output section for outputting prescribed signal to the driving control section when the characteristic value of the actuator measured by the measurement section reaches a value corresponding to a target position of the optical system while making the shape-memory alloy of the actuator change the length at least in an extending mode when moving the optical system to the target position.

Abstract: The present invention evaluates the quality of an image shot by a terminal device in a state closer to that seen with the eye. A computer evaluates the quality of an image obtained by shooting a photographic subject including a periodic pattern that fluctuates periodically in one direction. A Fourier transform unit accomplishes a two-dimensional Fourier transform on the image to obtain two-dimensional spatial frequency spectrum components. An analysis unit analyzes the resolution of the image on the basis of spectrum components of spatial frequencies included in the periodic pattern, among the two-dimensional spatial frequency spectrum components obtained by the Fourier transform unit, and analyzes the deterioration of the image on the basis of spectrum components other than these.

Abstract: The depth of field is extended by using a simple structure. Provided is an imaging device comprising: an objective optical system that comprises an aperture stop that is disposed at an intermediate position on an optical axis and that has an opening that allows incident light from an object to pass therethrough; and an imaging element that acquires an optical image of the object, which is formed by the objective optical system, wherein pixels of the imaging element are arranged in a square along two mutually orthogonal axial directions, and the aperture stop includes a light-blocking portion at a portion aligned with the optical axis, the light-blocking portion having a square shape with sides inclined at 45° relative to the directions in which the pixels are arranged.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lens or objective for a camera, more particularly for a digital camera, comprising a housing, an actuating element arranged on the housing, and a lens element system that can be set into a plurality of settings, wherein the lens element system is embodied in such a way that in at least one setting an f-number is F?3. The lens element system is furthermore embodied in such a way that an actuation of the actuating element brings about a movement of two optical elements relative to one another, such that an intersection length difference of the lens element system can be set.

Abstract: A method for controlling a camera through a Multi-Hop-based wireless sensor network includes: sensing whether an event occurs or not in a corresponding area and transmitting position information on the corresponding area and type information on the event, converting the received position information on the event into a movement control signal for the camera, calculating camera driving values in a left/right direction and an up/down direction using the converted signal, controlling a zoom-in operation of the camera lens using the calculated camera driving values according to the received event type and photographing an object located in the corresponding direction, and transmitting the photographed images over the outer network.

Abstract: There is provided a zoom lens including first and second lens groups independently movable in an optical axis direction in an optical system. Before and after switching between two modes different in minimum focusing distance, a lens group to rule focusing changes between the first and second lens groups or a relative position between the first and second lens groups changes.

Abstract: A solid state image sensor has a plurality of ranging pixels on the imaging area thereof and each of the ranging pixels has a photoelectric conversion section and an optical waveguide arranged at the light-receiving side of the photoelectric conversion section. The optical waveguide has at least two optical waveguides including a first optical waveguide arranged at the light-receiving side and a second optical waveguide arranged at the side of the photoelectric conversion section in the direction of propagation of light. The core region of the first optical waveguide shows a refractive index lower than the refractive index of the core region of the second optical waveguide and is designed so as to show a high light-receiving sensitivity relative to light entering at a specific angle.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus is provided. A solid-state imaging device chip is enclosed in a package having an optically transparent member. An adhesive layer is formed on an internal surface of the package, and a penetration hole is formed in a bottom part of the package to communicate with an open space in the package.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus includes an image forming optical system, an image sensing unit which photoelectrically converts the object image, and a focus detection unit which detects the focus state of the imaging optical system from a pixel signal from the image sensing unit. The focus detection unit includes a first focus detection pixel which divides the exit pupil of the image forming optical system in the first direction and receives a light beam, and a second focus detection pixel which divides the exit pupil of the image forming optical system in the second direction different from the first direction, and receives a light beam. The first and second focus detection pixels are periodically arranged near the lattice points of a 2-dimensional lattice formed from first lattice lines set in a predetermined unit area of the image sensing unit, and second lattice lines crossing the first lattice lines.

Abstract: An image sensor includes an objective lens arranged on an optical axis; a substrate including a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices; and a micro lens layer including a plurality of micro lenses corresponding to each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion devices, respectively, wherein the plurality of micro lenses includes a central micro lens corresponding to a central portion of the objective lens, and an edge micro lens corresponding to an edge portion of the objective lens, and the plurality of micro lenses are configured such that focal lengths of the micro lenses increase from the central micro lens toward the edge micro lens.

Abstract: An imaging unit includes: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power; and a solid-state imaging device that images an optical image formed by the first lens group to the third lens group sequentially arranged from an object side toward an image side, wherein, at zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group becomes larger and a distance between the second lens group and the third lens group becomes smaller, and a distance from the second lens group to the solid-state imaging device at the wide-angle end is the longest in all zoom positions.

Abstract: A system including an imaging device configured to capture an image of a target at a first aspect ratio and with a first field of view on the target, a light source configured to illuminate the target with a light at a second aspect ratio and with a second field of view on the target, and at least one optical baffle configured to shape the light at the target. The second aspect ratio equals the first aspect ratio and the second field of view equals the first field of view. Methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus disclosed in this application includes: a lens optical system (L) including a first optical region and a second optical region; an image pickup device (N) including at least a plurality of first pixels and a plurality of second pixels where light transmitted through the lens optical system (L) enters; an area segmented optical attenuator device (W) including a first light control part and a second light control part, which are located in the first optical region and the second optical region, respectively; a control section (V) for changing at least one of a transmittance of the first light control part of the area segmented optical attenuator device and a transmittance of the second light control part of the area segmented optical attenuator device; and an array-patterned optical device (K), which is placed between the lens optical system and the image pickup device, for causing light transmitted through the first optical region to enter the plurality of first pixels and causing lig

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes a negative first lens group, positive second and third lens groups, wherein upon zooming from the short to long focal length extremities, the distance between the first and second lens groups decreases and the distance between the second and third lens groups changes. The second lens group includes a biconvex positive lens element with an aspherical surface on each side, and a negative meniscus lens element with an aspherical surface, and a concave surface on the image side. Conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied: ?d>80??(1), and Pg—F>0.53??(2), wherein ?d designates the Abbe number at the d-line of the biconvex positive lens element within the second lens group, and Pg_F designates the partial dispersion ratio of the biconvex positive lens element within the second lens group.

Abstract: There is provided a wide angle lens module including: a first lens having negative refractive power; a second lens having positive refractive power and at least one first reflection surface; and a third lens having the positive refractive power and at least one second reflection surface.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus includes an image inputting part configured to acquire a captured image produced by an image pickup system including an optical system and an image sensor, a filter producing part configured to produce an image restoration filter, and a restoration processing part configured to perform an image restoration process on the captured image by using the image restoration filter to produce a restored image. The filter producing part is configured to set amplification factors for respective frequency components in the image restoration filter according to a frequency characteristic of an alias signal that may be generated in the image sensor.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and computer-readable storage media for simulating artistic effects in images rendered from plenoptic data. An impressionistic-style artistic effect may be generated in output images of a rendering process by an “impressionist” 4D filter applied to the microimages in a flat captured with focused plenoptic camera technology. Individual pixels are randomly selected from blocks of pixels in the microimages, and only the randomly selected pixels are used to render an output image. The randomly selected pixels are rendered to generate the artistic effect, such as an “impressionistic” effect, in the output image. A rendering technique is applied that samples pixel values from microimages using a thin sampling kernel, for example a thin Gaussian kernel, so that pixel values are sampled only from one or a few of the microimages.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus including an insulating structural body having a through opening, a wiring part formed on a front surface of the structural body, a solid-state imaging element which is connected to the wiring part and also is attached to the structural body so as to close the through opening, a translucent member which is opposed to the solid-state imaging element and is attached to the structural body through an adhesive inside an adhesion region R so as to close the through opening, and a solder resist film with which at least a part of the front surface of the structural body is covered, and is characterized in that a region R0 in which the solder resist film is selectively removed is had in the adhesion region R and the removed region R0 is filled with the adhesive.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes light-transmitting substrate; a plurality of lenses which faces a first surface of the substrate; a light shielding layer which is formed on the second surface of the substrate and has an opening section through which optical axes of each lens pass; and a plurality of light sensing elements which is placed so that the optical axes of the lenses pass through a light sensing surface facing the second surface at an interval. An efficient diameter of the lens, a diameter of the opening section, a distance between the light sensing surfaces and the light shielding layer, a diameter of the light sensing surface, and a distance between the light sensing surface and center of the lens satisfy a<(h·D+h·d?s·d)/s and tan?1{(p?a/2?d/2)/h}>sin?1(1/n).

Abstract: An assembly for aligning an optical system over an image sensor is described. The assembly may include a lens structure positioned over an image sensor and a lens holder positioned over the lens structure and secured onto a substrate. The lens structure may incorporate an optical section and a structural section extending from the optical section and may rest directly on an image sensor with one or more stoppers that may serve to elevate the optical system with respect to the image sensor at a distance corresponding to a near optimal focal length distance. A lip also included in the structural section of the lens structure may abut two or more opposing sides to secure the lens structure over the image sensor in a centered position with respect to the image sensor.

Abstract: An infrared (IR) camera comprising: a camera housing having an image capturing device; an objective with an optical lens system for generating an IR image of an object; a focusing mechanism for focusing the optical lens system; a focus ring that is displaceably mounted on the objective and adapted to control an electromechanical focusing servo system actuating the focusing mechanism dependent on a displacement of the focus ring.

Abstract: Provided is a single-focus optical system which is configured, in order from the object side to the image side, of a first to third lens groups and in which the first lens group and the third lens group are fixed with respect to a predetermined imaging surface, and the second lens group is moved in the optical axis direction to focus, wherein the first lens group comprises at least one positive lens and at least one negative lens, the second lens group comprises at least one positive lens, the third lens group comprises at least one lens having at least one aspheric surface and having a positive optical power at a peripheral portion thereof and 5<|?v1|<70 is satisfied where ?v1 is a maximum value of the Abbe number difference between the positive lens and the negative lens in the first lens group.

Abstract: An image-pickup system is disclosed which is capable of performing highly accurate back focus adjustment for each combination of an image-pickup apparatus and a lens apparatus. The system includes a first memory provided in the image-pickup apparatus and stores first identification information unique to a combination of the image-pickup apparatus and a certain lens apparatus, a second memory provided in the lens apparatus and stores second identification information unique to a combination of the lens apparatus and a certain image-pickup apparatus. A comparator compares the first identification information with the second identification information. The generator generates, when the comparison results that the first identification information does not match the second identification information, identification information unique to the combination of the image-pickup apparatus and the lens apparatus.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an optical device including manufacturing a first element from a first component, manufacturing at least one second element from a second component, the first and second elements being manufactured with the aid of a two-component injection molding process and at least the first element being designed as an optical element. An optical device, a corresponding image sensor and a corresponding use are also described.

Abstract: A lens holder includes: a first barrel with a plurality of helicoidal grooves that extend from a base portion to an end portion and at positions with rotational symmetry; and a second barrel with a plurality of protrusions that respectively enter the plurality of helicoidal grooves. The helicoidal grooves are respectively divided into helicoidal groove sections in multiple stages with a helicoidal groove section on a base portion side and a helicoidal groove section on an end portion side being disposed at angles that do not overlap. The first barrel includes circumferential grooves on the middle portion and circumferential grooves on the end portion. The middle circumferential grooves connect the end on the end side of the helicoidal groove sections on the base side to the end on the base side of the helicoidal groove sections on the end side and guide the protrusions in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and methods for providing a single use imaging device for sterile environments is disclosed and described. A single use high definition camera used for general purpose surgical procedures including, but not limited to: arthroscopic, laparoscopic, gynecologic, and urologic procedures, may comprise an imaging device that is a sterile and designed to ensure single use. The imaging device may have a single imaging sensor, either CCD (charge coupled device) or CMOS (complementary metal oxide semiconductor), encased in a housing. The imaging device may further include the ability to be attached to an optical coupling device, using C-Mount threads or another proprietary or unique connection method. The imaging device may further include a cable to transmit data to and from a camera control unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a camera module. The camera module includes a lens assembly including a wafer level optics lens (WLO), and a sensor assembly on which the lens assembly is mounted through a surface mount technology (SMT). In the camera module, a lens is directly mounted on a sensor die through the SMT, so that the manufacturing process can be simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. A height of the camera module is lowered, so that a slim camera module can be realized.

Abstract: An imaging lens includes four lenses arranged in order from the object side to the image side: an aperture stop, positive (refractive power) first lens having a convex object-side surface near the optical axis, second lens having a positive meniscus shape near the axis, positive third lens having a convex image-side surface near the axis, and negative fourth lens having a concave image-side surface near the axis. All lens surfaces are aspheric. The image-side aspheric surface of the fourth lens has a pole-change point off the optical axis and conditional expressions (1) and (2) are satisfied: 0.75<TLA/(2IH)<0.90??(1) 0.90<TLA/f<1.

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: An optical element according to an embodiment includes: a lens array including a plurality of convex shaped lenses provided on a first surface thereof and taking a flat shape at a second surface which is opposite from the first surface; a lens holder comprising concave portions formed to correspond to respective lenses in the lens array, at a surface opposed to the lens array, each of the concave portions having a size which makes it possible for one of the convex shaped lenses corresponding to the concave portion to fit therein; and a drive unit configured to drive at least one of the lens array and the lens holder to bring the convex shaped lenses in the lens array and the concave portions in the lens holder into an isolation state or a contact state.

Abstract: An output level difference in the case of using a joint line as a boundary, a bright line, a black bar, or the like is suppressed. A solid-state image pick-up apparatus in which, on a substrate having a plurality of photoelectric converting areas (photodiodes), a solid-state image pick-up element provided with at least one pattern layer formed by divisional exposure and a lens for introducing light into the plurality of photoelectric converting areas of the solid-state image pick-up element are formed. By setting a center of an optical axis of the lens to an approximate joint position between the pattern layers where the pattern layers have been joined by the divisional exposure, the output level difference of a pixel output of the solid-state image pick-up element on the right and left sides of the joint position is suppressed.

Abstract: An image pickup device includes a placing section on which an image pickup element that receives light from an object is placed, a tilted surface section, which is provided on the placing section and is tilted with respect to the axis of light that enters the image pickup element, a direction specifying section, which specifies a moving direction so that the placing section moves parallel to the optical axis direction, a panel section having a surface perpendicular to the optical axis, and a rotating member, which is disposed between the tilted surface section and the panel section, and rotates and moves in the tilt direction of the tilted surface by being in contact with the tilted surface section.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is realized which enables a thin finger vein authentication apparatus having a thickness installable in a portable information device. A light beam emitted from an object passes through a visible light cut-off filter 20 and enters a pre-focus lens array 11. The pre-focus lens array 11 focuses the light beam on an opening of a micro aperture array 15. The light beam passed through the micro aperture array 15 diverges, but it is focused with the post-focus lens array 13 on the light detection device 30. With this structure, a thin imaging apparatus can be obtained with maintained resolution, and a finger authentication apparatus installable in a portable information device can be realized.

Abstract: A fisheye lens system and a photographing apparatus including the fisheye lens system. The fisheye lens system includes, in an order from an object to an image, a first lens group including at least three lenses and having negative refractive power; and a second lens group having positive refractive power, wherein the at least three lenses included in the first lens group include a first lens, a second lens, and a third lens, in the order from the object to the image.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of storing pixel data corresponding to a pixel is disclosed. A first and a second set of pixel data is determined for the pixel. Parity bits for the first set of pixel data are generated, using error correction. An encoded version of the first set of pixel data including the parity bits is stored. An encoded version of the second set of pixel data is stored, using lossless data compression, for use in decoding the first set of pixel data.

Abstract: When a contrast-system multipoint ranging is performed to detect a main photographic subject in a screen based on a ranging result, a focus area is set at a screen center to perform continuous AF. When focusing is attained or almost attained in the continuous AF, the multipoint ranging is executed, and the main photographic subject in the screen is detected based on the ranging result. In this way, change in an angle of view can be prevented, and the main photographic subject can be accurately recognized.

Abstract: A compressive imaging system for optimizing dynamic range during the acquisition of compressed images. A light modulator modulates incident light with spatial patterns to produced modulated light. A light sensing device generates an electrical signal representing intensity of the modulated light over time. The system amplifies a difference between the electrical signal and an adjustable baseline voltage and captures samples of the amplified signal. The adjustable baseline voltage is set to be approximately equal to the average value of the electrical signal. A compressive imaging system for identifying and correcting hot spot(s) in the incident light field. Search patterns are sent to the light modulator and the corresponding samples of the electrical signal are analyzed. Once the hot spot is located, the light modulating elements corresponding to the hot spot may be turned off or their duty cycle may be reduced.