Abstract: Disclosed is a receiver system, capable of receiving RF signals on television channels of multiple bandwidths. The receiver system includes a tuner, an analog IF filter, an ADC, a mixer module, one or more digital filters, an AGC module and a controller. The tuner converts an RF signal into an IF signal using a mixer frequency. The analog IF filter filters out a fixed band signal from the IF signal. The ADC module converts the fixed band signal into a digital signal, which is filtered by digital filters. The output of the digital filters is converted to a base band signal and the power level of the base band signal is controlled by the AGC module. The controller selects a mixer frequency from a group of mixer frequencies based on a function of power of the output of the AGC module by applying each mixer frequency to the tuner.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and camera for obtaining a high-contrast image of a predetermined target present in an area under observation. The method involves obtaining an in-band image of the observation area including the target using a filter whose bands are aligned with selected characteristic wavelength bands of the target and an out-of-band image of the observation area excluding the target using the filter with its bands non-aligned with the selected characteristic wavelength bands of the target. Processing of the in-band and out-of-band images results in a high-contrast image highlighting the presence of the target in the observation area and thereby allowing its detection and monitoring.

Abstract: Provided are an image sensor module, a camera module including the image sensor module, and a method of correcting a back focal length of a camera including the camera module. The image sensor module includes an image sensor which converts light into an electrical signal; an infrared ray filter which is configured to be movable between a first position in an optical path of the light entering the image sensor and a second position outside the optical path of the light entering the image sensor, and decreases an amount of infrared rays entering the image sensor if the infrared ray filter is at the first position; and a variable focus liquid crystal lens which is disposed in the optical path.

Abstract: Optical multilayer thin-film filters (OMTFFs) are disclosed. An exemplary filter includes a transparent substrate, a multilayer film (MF) on a surface of the substrate, and a top layer. The MF is of alternatingly laminated layers of a high-refractive-index (HRI) material and a low-refractive-index (LRI) material. The top layer is on an uppermost layer of the MF and is of a material having atoms of lower atomic weight than atoms of either the HRI or LRI materials. The OMTFFs are made in a vacuum environment by alternatingly laminating respective thin films of the HRI and LRI materials on the substrate. The top layer is formed on the MF. Between forming the MF and top layer is a suppression step in which the newly formed MF is exposed to moisture by briefly venting the vacuum to atmosphere. The moisture inhibits migration of the low-molecular-weight atoms into the HRI and LRI materials.

Abstract: A sensor module for an image capture device including an image sensor and a filter system, the image capture device having a high resolution mode of operation and one or more lower resolution modes of operation; the filter system includes an adjustable spatial filter associated with the optical path of the image capture device having an adjustable optical structure which in response to a first signal causes the adjustable spatial filter to be effective in a high resolution mode of operation and in response to a second signal causes the adjustable spatial filter to be effective in a lower resolution mode of operation.

Abstract: An image capture system comprises a lens module, a color filter frame, and a cover. The lens module has an image sensor received in the cover. The cover has a threaded hole corresponding to the image sensor. The color filter frame comprises at least one bracket and a fixing frame. The bracket including a color filter is fixed by the fixing frame corresponding to the threaded hole.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus that includes a receiving unit configured to receive instructions for focus adjustment; an image-pickup unit configured to perform image-pickup of an object image input through a focus lens; a setting unit configured to set a focus detecting area to be used at a time of detection of a focus state of the focus lens; a light control unit configured to control an amount of light incident on the image-pickup unit; and a focus adjusting unit configured to detect a focus signal representing the focus state in the focus detecting area to move the focus lens based on the focus signal and a position of the focus lens corresponding to the focus signal.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which is capable of suppressing generation of shadows even when the aperture of the photographic lens is stopped down. A digital camera as an image pickup apparatus includes a photographic lens, a image pickup element that picks up an image of an object, and an optical low-pass filter disposed between the photographic lens and the image pickup element. The filter includes a liner phase diffraction grating having unit cells which are disposed in a regular pattern at a grating pitch P and are formed by equal-width recesses and equal-width protrusions adjacent to each other. When a shortest wavelength of a reference wavelength employed is ?S, and a longest wavelength of the reference wavelength is ?L, an optical path difference ?H between lengths of optical paths of light of which a phase is varied by the phase grating is larger than ?S/2 and smaller than ?L/2.

Abstract: A first sigma filtering circuit sigma filters an image to produce a filtered image. An analysis circuit processes the sigma filtered image to produce an approximation part and a detail part. A second sigma filter circuit filters the approximation part to produce a sigma filtered approximation part. Another analysis circuit process the sigma filtered approximation part to produce a second approximation part and a second detail part. A third sigma filter circuit sigma filters the second approximation part to produce a sigma filtered second filtered approximation part. A first synthesizer synthesizes the sigma filtered second filtered approximation part and the second detailed part to produce a first reconstructed image, and a second synthesizer synthesizes the first reconstructed image and the first detail part to produce a final filtered image.

Abstract: Disclosed are an optical system for infinite image formation and a method for fabricating a camera module using the optical system. The optical system includes a first lens unit including at least one lens; a projection chart capable of partially allowing light to pass therethrough; a backlight unit capable of emitting light; and a first holder coupled with the first lens unit, the projection chart and the backlight unit. The first lens unit is exposed through an opening of the first holder. The method includes coupling the optical system with a camera module including a first lens unit, an image sensor and a printed circuit board, where the optical system is coupled to the first lens unit; and adjusting an effective focal length between the first lens unit and the image sensor by rotating the optical system and the first lens unit of the camera module.

Abstract: An optical element includes: a base material formed of a film-like resin material that has an infrared absorbing effect; and a multilayered film that adjusts spectral characteristics, and is formed on an object-side surface and an image-side surface of the base material. The optical element is disposed on a light path of an imaging optical system, and of such characteristics that its spectral transmittance, and its spectral reflectivities on the object-side surface and the image-side surface satisfy the conditions (1) to (4) 0.75<TIRCF (600)/TIRCF (540)<0.95??(1) 615<?LT50%<670??(2) |TIRCF (700)/TIRCF (540)|<0.05??(3) 680??LR50%,??(4) where TIRCF (600), TIRCF (540), and TIRCF (700) are the spectral transmittances of light with wavelength of 600 nm, 540 nm, and 700 nm, respectively, and ?LT50% and ?LR50% are the wavelengths of near-infrared light at 50% spectral transmittance and 50% spectral reflectivity, respectively.

Abstract: A multi-standard integrated television receiver is disclosed. According to the invention, a RF tracking filter is provided to receive a RF signal and then filter out a fifth order and above harmonics and a band-pass filter is provided to further eliminate harmonics. Moreover, a double quadrature mixer is provided to remove third order harmonics. Accordingly, the quality factor requirement of the RF tracking filter and the linearity requirement of the band-pass filter are relaxed. Thus, the RF tracking filter and the band-pass filter can be fully integrated without any external components.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an image sensor and an optical filter. The image sensor captures image data in response to incident light. The optical filter filters the light and includes a dual window transmission spectrum. The dual window transmission spectrum includes a first transmission window having a first pass band aligned to pass visible light and a second transmission window having a second pass band overlapping with an absorption band of infrared light in Earth's atmosphere.

Abstract: An RGB-Z sensor is implementable on a single IC chip. A beam splitter such as a hot mirror receives and separates incoming first and second spectral band optical energy from a target object into preferably RGB image components and preferably NIR Z components. The RGB image and Z components are detected by respective RGB and NIR pixel detector array regions, which output respective image data and Z data. The pixel size and array resolutions of these regions need not be equal, and both array regions may be formed on a common IC chip. A display using the image data can be augmented with Z data to help recognize a target object. The resultant structure combines optical efficiency of beam splitting with the simplicity of a single IC chip implementation. A method of using the single chip red, green, blue, distance (RGB-Z) sensor is also disclosed.

Abstract: RGB-Z imaging systems acquire RGB data typically with a high X-Y resolution RGB pixel array, and acquire Z-depth data with an array of physically larger Z pixels having additive signal properties. In each acquired frame, RGB pixels are mapped to a corresponding Z pixel. Z image resolution is enhanced by identifying Z discontinuities and identifying corresponding RGB pixels where the Z discontinuities occur. Thus segmented data enables RGB background substitution, which preferably blends foreground pixel color and substitute background color. The segmented data also enables up-sampling in which a higher XY resolution Z image with accurate Z values is obtained. Up-sampling uses an equation set enabling assignment of accurate Z values to RGB pixels. Fixed acquisition frame rates are enabled by carefully culling bad Z data. Segmenting and up-sampling enhanced video effects and enable low cost, low Z resolution arrays to function comparably to higher quality, higher resolution Z arrays.

Abstract: Provided is a camera module providing EMS shielding, so that electromagnetic waves generated in the camera module are prevented from radiating to the outside and external electromagnetic waves or noise are prevented from flowing into the camera module. The camera module includes: a lens unit comprising at least one lens; an image sensor package including an image sensor chip having an image area where an image is formed in response to light passing through the lens unit; a housing surrounding the lens unit and the image sensor package, wherein the housing is electrically connected to the image sensor package and is formed of a conductive material; and a connection terminal disposed below the image sensor package and electrically connecting the image sensor package and a main board of an electronic device including the camera module.

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 imaging system comprises a rolling-reset imager that forms an electronic image of an object, a light source illuminating the object with pulsed light, and a bandpass optical filter disposed between the object and the rolling-reset imager. The pulsed light has an illumination frequency spectrum and an illumination pulse width defining an effective exposure time for forming the image of the object. The bandpass optical filter has a frequency pass band permitting transmission of a significant portion of the illumination frequency spectrum while at least approximately inhibiting transmission of at least some light having frequencies outside the illumination frequency band. An imaging method illuminates an object with light in a given frequency range, so that the illumination light reflects from the object along with background light. The method filters the reflected light so as to attenuate at least some of the background light by a greater attenuation factor than the illumination light.

Abstract: In a digital camera, when snapshot shooting is instructed during recording of a moving image, a shot still image is temporarily pushed aside in a memory area for use in pushing aside (7a) in a frame buffer (7). A currently shooting motion image and a still image are displayed in parallel on a display (9), so that a user can confirm a content of a snapshot. The moving image continues to be recorded even during a push-aside operation. After a moving image processing is completed, the still image is processed by an image correcting circuit (4). The frame buffer (7) comprises a plurality of frame recording areas, and is shared on the occasions of a moving image processing and a still image processing. In a normal moving image processing, these areas are utilized in a cyclic manner, and when the still image is shot, any of areas will be utilized. Thereafter, the rest of areas are utilized in the cyclic manner for the moving images.

Abstract: The action camera has a housing, a lens, and an image sensor located in a light path from the lens. A filter is operable to move between first and second positions, with the first position located in the light path and the second position located out of the light path. An actuator moves the filter between the first and second positions. The actuator includes an electromagnet and a magnet. One of the electromagnet and the magnet is fixed relative to the light path, while the other of the electromagnet and the magnet is movable relative to the light path and is coupled to the filter. The magnet has poles that interact with the poles of the electromagnet. As the electromagnet is energized, the magnet rotates. The polarity of the electromagnet is reversed in order to reverse the rotation of the magnet. The camera is also provided with a light source. When the light source is activated, then the filter is moved accordingly. The actuator is small and consumes little electrical power.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an input unit configured to input a characteristic parameter indicating the characteristics of a filter process; a detection unit configured to detect, on the basis of the characteristic parameter input by the input unit, a phase shift amount between the image-captured signal and an obtained signal; a first forming unit configured to form a first prediction tap composed of a plurality of obtained pixels used to predict a target image-captured pixel value; a coefficient obtaining unit configured to obtain a first prediction coefficient generated in accordance with the characteristic parameter and the phase shift amount in order to predict the target image-captured pixel value by product-sum computation with the value of the first prediction tap; and a first computation unit configured to generate a first output signal corresponding to the image-captured signal by performing product-sum computation between the first prediction coefficient.

Abstract: An image sensor and a method of forming an image sensor. The image sensor includes an array of pixel cells at a surface of a substrate. Each pixel cell has a photo-conversion device. At least one a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) element including a photonic crystal structure is provided over at least one of the pixel cells. The MEMS-based photonic crystal element is supported by a support structure and configured to selectively permit electromagnetic wavelengths to reach the photo-conversion device upon application of a voltage. As such, the MEMS-based photonic crystal element of the invention can replace or compliment conventional filters, e.g., color filter arrays.

Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for imaging subsurface features of a semiconductor object comprising a first region having a first doping property and a second region having a second doping property. The semiconductor object may comprise subsurface features and material between a surface of the semiconductor object and the subsurface features. The material may have an index of refraction that is greater than an index of refraction of a surrounding medium in contact with the surface of the semiconductor object. For example, a system may comprise an imaging device comprising an objective. The imaging device may be sensitive to a first wavelength. The system may also comprise an illumination source to emit illumination substantially at the first wavelength. The illumination may be directed towards the surface of the semiconductor object at a first angle relative to a normal of the surface. The first angle is greater than an acceptance angle of the objective of the imaging device.

Abstract: A system (10) for multispectral imaging includes a first optical filter (24) having at least two passbands disposed in different spatial positions on the first optical filter, a second optical filter (20) having another at least two passbands, and processor (32) adapted to identify an intensity of light in the at least two passband of the second optical filter (20).

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an imaging processing method where a plurality of images are picked up while an imaging direction of a camera is being changed. The images are combined into a composite image. A target region is specified within the composite image. An imaging direction and an imaging magnification for imaging an object included in the target region in a predetermined size are calculated based on a position and a size of the target region in the composite image and an imaging parameter set for the camera when the plurality of images are picked up. Accordingly, the imaging direction and the imaging magnification for imaging the object to be imaged can be set easily.

Abstract: An image sensing device includes a color filter array module and a controlling module. The color filter array module includes a first, a second, a third and a fourth filter unit. The first filter unit is used to sense a first pixel data at the frame; the second filter unit is used to sense a second pixel data at the frame; the third filter unit is used to sense a third pixel data at the frame; and the fourth filter unit is used to sense a narrow-band data. The controlling module controls the sensing and illuminating form of the color filter array module according to the first light or the second light. An image processing system reconstructs the full scale chromatic image and gray barrow-band image respectively after color filter array demosaicking process and synthesizes the chromatic image and narrow-band image into a color narrow-band image.

Abstract: An image pick-up apparatus comprises a filter whose transmitting wavelength band is changed depending on an input drive signal, a spectral control unit for inputting the drive signal to the filter, thereby changing the transmitting wavelength band of the filter in plural steps, a single image pick-up unit disposed at rear side of the filter, for obtaining image data every time the transmitting wavelength band of the filter is changed, and a record control unit for recording plural pieces of image data obtained by the image pick-up unit.

Abstract: An image sensor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a front surface and a back surface, pixels formed on the front surface of the semiconductor substrate, and grid arrays aligned with one of the pixels. One of the grid arrays is configured to allow a wavelength of light to pass through to the corresponding one of the pixels. The grid arrays are disposed overlying the front or back surface of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes one or a plurality of optical filters, an image sensor, an imaging signal processing part, a detecting part, and a control part. The one or the plurality of optical filters are selectively arranged in a path of an optical system for obtaining imaging light. The image sensor is provided for converting the imaging light obtained through the optical system into an imaging signal. The imaging signal processing part is provided for subjecting the imaging signal from the image sensor to a color-temperature correction processing. The detecting part is provided for detecting a type of the one or the plurality of optical filters arranged in the optical system. The control part is provided for adjusting a color temperature that is set at the imaging signal processing part to a color temperature defined for each filer detected by the detecting part.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for selecting appropriate anisotropic filtering levels for images. An image is obtained, that image is Fourier transformed into its frequency components, and then those frequency components are normalized. The Fourier transformed into its frequency components are assigned to Fourier buckets (or bins) having dimensions selected in accord with the number of available anisotropic filtering levels. A predetermined threshold value is used to select one of the Fourier buckets by comparing the predetermined threshold value with the contents of the Fourier buckets. The selected Fourier bucket is used to determine an appropriate anisotropic filtering level for the image. Some embodiments of the present invention can provide for an automatic selection and setting of the appropriate anisotropic filtering level.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a solid-state imaging device provided with a plurality of arranged light-sensitive devices each having sensitivity to light in a range from a visible region to an infrared region; a first filter for transmitting light in the visible region to a first part light-sensitive device out of the plurality of light-sensitive devices; a second filter for transmitting light in the infrared region to a second part light-sensitive device out of the plurality of light-sensitive devices; and a signal processing section for changing a ratio between an electrical signal converted by the first part light-sensitive device and an electrical signal converted by the second part light-sensitive device used as an electrical signal used for deciding exposure in accordance with intensity of the electrical signal converted by the first part light-sensitive device.

Abstract: An exemplary camera module includes a barrel, a holder engaged with the barrel, a first lens received in the barrel, an image sensor received in the holder and a second lens received in the holder. The holder includes an inner chamber. The second lens is mounted on the holder proximate to the image sensor. The second lens is configured for preventing dust accessing into the inner chamber. The second lens includes a main body and an infrared cut film formed on and in contact with an outside surface of the main body or embedded within the main body.

Abstract: Provided is a imaging optical system for an image sensor. The imaging optical system includes a stop and a first lens sequentially arranged from an object side. The first lens has aspherical surfaces on both sides and has a positive refractive power, a first surface of the first lens which faces the object side is a convex surface and a second surface of the first lens which faces an image side is a convex surface.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a shutter drive section, an aperture blade drive section, an ND filter drive section, a light intensity detection section, a memory, and a control section. The shutter drive section opens and closes a shutter for a light receiving surface of a solid state image sensor. The aperture blade drive section drives an aperture blade forming an aperture. The ND filter drive section adjusts the position of an ND filter against the aperture. The control section calculates the exposure control voltage representing an exposure amount from the light intensity signal output from the light intensity detection section, and reads out the F value and the shutter speed corresponding to the exposure control voltage from the exposure control table stored in the memory so as to avoid a partial application state of the ND filter, for controlling respective drive sections.

Abstract: A coupling system and method for removably mounting filters to a photographic camera lens. The coupling system includes a lens coupling element and filter coupling element. The lens coupling element has a magnetically attractive projecting ring that is telescopically received by and magnetically coupled within the annular body of the filter coupling element. The forward end of the annular body operably supporting a filter material.

Abstract: An image of a surrounding area is projected onto a detector of a detector device by way of an optical system that produces an imaging beam path. A screen is disposed in the imaging beam path and the screen shadows a subarea of the image of the surrounding area on the detector. In order to allow an object which is dazzling the detector device to be masked out and nevertheless to allow the surrounding area to be monitored, the screen is subdivided into a plurality of segments which can be operated individually, and segments which are associated with the subarea are selected and operated, and are in this way heated. The transmission of the selected segments is reduced by the heating throughout the frequency range in which the detector is sensitive, and the selected segments of the screen thus shadow the subarea of the image.

Abstract: A surrounding area is imaged onto a detector of a detector device. An optical system produces an imaging beam path and a panel, which is arranged in the imaging beam path, shadows a subarea of the image of the surrounding area on the detector. In order to mask out an object which would dazzle the detector device, while nevertheless being able to monitor the surrounding area, the panel is illuminated in a subarea, and the transmission of the panel in the subarea is reduced by the illumination in the entire frequency range in which the detector is sensitive. The illuminated subarea of the panel shadows the selected subarea of the image.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus that includes a receiving unit configured to receive instructions for focus adjustment; an image-pickup unit configured to perform image-pickup of an object image input through a focus lens; a setting unit configured to set a focus detecting area to be used at a time of detection of a focus state of the focus lens; a light control unit configured to control an amount of light incident on the image-pickup unit; and a focus adjusting unit configured to detect a focus signal representing the focus state in the focus detecting area to move the focus lens based on the focus signal and a position of the focus lens corresponding to the focus signal.

Abstract: The dust-proof filter unit includes: a dust-proof member including a transmission portion which can transmit a light flux for image, the dust-proof member being oppositely disposed to a solid image pickup device at a predetermined spacing therebetween; a first excitation unit for providing a vibration to the dust-proof member, the vibration being in a first direction in parallel with a predetermined plane; a second excitation unit for providing a vibration to the dust-proof member, the vibration being in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction; a dust-proof filter driving portion for driving the first excitation unit and the second excitation unit; and a control circuit for controlling the dust-proof filter driving portion.

Abstract: An optical low pass filter includes one portion that splits an incident light beam into plural light beams having a predetermined split width in a predetermined direction, and emits the light beams, and another portion that splits the incident light beam into plural light beams having a split width different from the predetermined split width in the predetermined direction, and emits the light beams.

Abstract: A camera module is disclosed. The camera module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a housing, which has a hollow part formed therein, a lens module, which has a lens and is installed in the hollow part of the housing in such a way that the lens module can reciprocate in a direction of an optical axis, and a foreign substance pan, which is coupled to the lens module and disposed to correspond to a gap formed between the housing and the lens module and in which foreign substance has passed through the gap being settled on the foreign substance pan. Therefore, since the entered foreign substance or the generated foreign substance is prevented from approaching an image sensor, etc., defect caused by the foreign substance can be prevented.

Abstract: Light emitted from a taking lens 20 enters a first birefringent plate 1a to be spatially divided along a first direction extending perpendicular to the direction in which the light advances to achieve two separate rays L10 and L20. The vibrational planes of the two light fluxes L10 and L20 emitted from the first birefringent plate 1a are converted to a circularly polarized light by a phase plate 1c. The two light fluxes L10? and L20? emitted from the phase plate 1c are each spatially divided into two by a second birefringent plate 1d along a second direction extending perpendicular to the first direction to achieve four separate rays L11, L12, L21 and L22, to be guided to an imaging plane 15a of an imaging device 15. At least either the first birefringent plate or the second birefringent plate is constituted of lithium niobate, rutile, Chilean nitrate, or the like.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an objective optical system, an image pickup element having a surface at an image formed by the objective optical system, and an etalon positioned between the objective optical system and the surface of the image pickup element. The etalon includes a gap, an optical path length of which is controllable for scanning the wavelengths transmitted by the etalon to thereby select the wavelengths that reach the surface. An optical filter is positioned between the objective optical system and the surface and has a first wavelength range over which incident light is reflected, a second wavelength range over which incident light is transmitted, and a boundary wavelength range that is bounded by the first and second wavelength ranges. The boundary wavelength range lies entirely within the wavelength range the peak transmission of the etalon can be scanned. A method of calibrating the etalon is also disclosed.

Abstract: A camera module is disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the camera module includes a lens unit, an image sensing unit, which converts light received through the lens unit to an electrical signal, and a shield can, which supports the lens unit and is made of a conductive metallic material so as to shield an electromagnetic wave.

Abstract: A camera module is disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the camera module includes a lens unit, an image sensing unit, which converts light received through the lens unit to an electrical signal, a housing, which supports the lens unit, and a shield can, which supports a lower side of the housing and is made of a conductive metallic material so as to shield an electromagnetic wave.

Abstract: A camera module may include a substrate, and an image sensor mounted on the substrate. The camera module may also include a housing, and an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield provided around the image sensor and within the module. The camera module may be particularly suited for use in a mobile telephone, for example.

Abstract: A dichroic filter that for use with an electronic imaging device, such as a camera. The dichroic filter is located in the main imaging lens, and may permit all light to pass through a first portion and be measured by a photosensor, while restricting at least some portions of visible light from passing through a second portion thereof. In this manner, only the non-restricted portions of visible light passing through the second portion may be measured by the associated pixels of the photosensor. The filter may be formed from a first aperture permitting a first set of wavelengths to pass therethrough and a second aperture adjacent the first aperture, the second aperture permitting only a subset of the first set of wavelengths to pass therethrough. The second aperture may be a dichroic mirror or it may be an optical filter of some other type.

Abstract: Featured is an apparatus and method for detecting an object (e.g., human, man-made object) from its background, which object may be camouflaged so as to blend the object with the background. In its broadest aspects the detecting method includes viewing an area while selectively and varyingly changing a sensitivity of a viewing device to certain wavelengths of light lying in any one of the ultraviolet (UV) range, the visible range or the near and/or far infrared and determining the presence of an object when a visual difference between the object and background is discerned when the sensitivity of the viewing device is changed to a certain mixture of wavelengths of light. The method further includes determining the presence of an object when a visual difference is observed between the object and the background and no discernable difference is observed one sensitivity of the viewing device is changed to least another mixture of wavelengths.

Abstract: An image pickup device that picks up an image of an object with an image pickup element, consisting of: a lens connecting portion that connects an interchangeable lens that can be attached and detached; a lens distinguishing portion that distinguishes the type of the interchangeable lens that is connected to the lens connecting portion; a plurality of optical filters that are capable of being disposed to the optical rear side of the interchangeable lens in the image pickup optical path when picking up an image of an object on an image pickup element with the interchangeable lens; and a moving portion that moves at least any of the plurality of optical filters to a position that corresponds to the type of the interchangeable lens that the lens distinguishing portion has distinguished.

Abstract: Disclosed is a camera module and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein the camera module includes a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) mounted with an image sensor, a holder fixed at the PCB, with one side formed with an optical transmission hole and the other side being opened, one or more lenses to be inserted into the holder, and a fixture ring to be inserted into the holder and fixed at an image sensor for fixing one or more lenses, whereby occurrence of defect caused by introduction of foreign objects during assembly of camera module can be minimized, and structure of camera module can be simplified to facilitate the assembling process and to reduce the assembling time.