Abstract: A distance information generation apparatus includes a generation unit configured to generate distance information using first and second image signals captured from different viewpoints, a detection unit configured to detect a known-shape subject using the image signals, an extraction unit configured to extract, from the distance information generated by the generation unit, distance information corresponding to the subject, a calculation unit configured to calculate, based on the distance information and the shape of the subject detected by the detection unit, a correction parameter for correcting the distance information extracted by extraction unit, and a correction unit configured to correct, using the correction parameter calculated by the calculation unit, the distance information generated by the generation unit.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a tilt driving unit configured to perform tilt driving, a focus driving unit, a control unit configured to control the focus driving unit and the tilt driving unit for focusing on at least a first area and a second area in a plurality of areas in an image, and a first determination unit configured to determine a control method of the control unit based on whether or not a difference between a position of at least one of the first area and the second area and a position corresponding to a tilt axis in the image is smaller than a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: An optical device is provided that comprises a multi-order diffractive Fresnel lens (MOD-DFL) and an achromatizing compensation mechanism that reduces refractive dispersion created by the MOD-DFL, thereby reducing the focal range of the MOD-DFL. A method is also provided of using the optical device in an image processing system to obtain images of an object and processing the images to perform image enhancement.

Abstract: An electronic device includes: a gaze detecting unit configured to detect a position of gaze input on an image displayed on a display unit; a subject detecting unit configured to detect from the image a subject of a specific type and a region included in the subject of the specific type; and a control unit configured to execute control so that, in a case where a position selected prior to a user operation on an operating member is not on the subject in the position of gaze input, a region corresponding to the user operation, which is included in the subject in the position of gaze input, is selected in response to the user operation, regardless of the position selected prior to the user operation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a prediction-based technique for encoding light field data by removing redundant information of light field data, reducing a number of bits by employing a prediction of a pixel value in all four dimensions of the light field. Using this technique to represent light field data, allows it to be transferred through a limited-bandwidth medium and/or to significantly reduce the required storage capacity for this purpose.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a first photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a first opening to an electric charge, a second photoelectric conversion unit that converts light incident through a second opening which is smaller than the first opening to an electric charge, and a signal output wiring that outputs a first signal generated by the electric charge converted by the first photoelectric conversion unit and a second signal generated by the electric charge converted by the second photoelectric conversion unit. The second photoelectric conversion unit is disposed between the second opening and the signal output wiring.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a reference coordinate selection unit configured to select reference coordinates of two points from a focus frame area set by a setting unit, and determines arrangement intervals of focus frames based on coordinates on image data before correction corresponding to the coordinates selected by the reference coordinate selection unit and a number of focus frames.

Abstract: One embodiment of a camera module can comprise: a housing having a first electrode pattern and a first recessed part, which are formed on the upper surface thereof; an auto-focusing unit mounted in the first recessed part and electrically connected to the first electrode pattern; a lens barrel accommodated inside the housing; a first holder which is disposed at the lower part of the housing and to which the lens barrel is coupled; and a printed circuit board disposed at the lower part of the first holder and electrically connected to the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus includes at least one processor programmed to perform operations of the following units: a focus detection unit configured to detect a defocus amount; and a control unit configured to control a focus lens to move based on the defocus amount, wherein the control unit includes three speed control patterns of acceleration control, constant speed control, and deceleration control, and the speed control patterns are changed based on at least two or more parameters.

Abstract: A vibration wave motor includes an element configured to be displaced by application of voltage, and an annular elastic body having a bottom surface coming into contact with the element and a drive surface having a groove, configured to drive a moving element by a vibration wave produced on the drive surface by displacement of the element. The element has a density of 4.2 to 6.0×103 kg/m3. A value of [(T/B)÷W] is in a range of 0.84 to 1.94, where T represents a depth of the groove, B represents a distance from a bottom part of the groove to the bottom surface, and W represents a radial width of the elastic body.

Abstract: A focus driving control unit 34 of a control unit 30 performs speed priority driving control in which a focus lens is driven to a focusing position in a driving pattern selected in advance by a user, for example, in a case in which a defocus amount of a ranging area is greater than a driving control determination threshold set in advance. In addition, the focus driving control unit 34 performs subject priority driving control in which a focus lens movement amount by which the focus lens is located at the focusing position in accordance with the defocus amount of the ranging area is set and the focus lens is driven in a case in which the defocus amount is equal to or less than the driving control determination threshold. The focus lens is driven to the focusing position in the driving pattern selected by the user. Thereafter, a focusing state can be maintained. Accordingly, it is possible to easily perform an auto-focus operation with the high degree of freedom.

Abstract: A fixed focal length imaging optical system includes a first lens group having positive power, a second lens group having positive power, and a third lens group having negative power in order from an object side toward an image side. Upon focusing, the second lens group moves along an optical axis, and the first lens group and the third lens group do not move. The present disclosure provides the fixed focal length imaging optical system capable of favorably correcting various aberrations such as spherical aberration, astigmatism, and distortion, and an imaging device and a camera system each of which includes the fixed focal length imaging optical system.

Abstract: In an optical system according to each exemplary embodiment, an interval between adjacent lens units changes in focusing from an infinite-distance object to a close-distance object, and a first in-focus state in which ?=?1.2 is obtained can be caused, where ? is a lateral magnification of an entire system. The optical system according to each exemplary embodiment includes a plurality of focus lens units, and out of a focus lens unit having a largest absolute value of a focus sensitivity and a focus lens unit having a second largest absolute value of a focus sensitivity in a state in which focus is put on an infinite-distance object, a focus lens unit disposed on an object side is a lens unit LA, and a focus lens unit disposed on an image side is a lens unit LB. A partial optical system LC including all lenses disposed on the image side of the lens unit LB has negative refractive power. The partial optical system LC satisfies a predetermined conditional expression.

Abstract: An imaging device stores a focal length and a position of a focus lens in a storage unit in a case in which a focal state is determined to be a focus state in which a subject is in focus and at least one of the imaging device or the subject is determined to be stationary; generates tracking data for changing the position of the focus lens according to a change in focal length, using a plurality of stored focal lengths and a plurality of stored positions of the focus lens; and performs a zoom tracking control using the generated tracking data.

Abstract: Disclosed are a camera module and an electronic device. The camera module comprises at least two cameras. Two cameras of the at least two cameras are disposed in parallel; incident optical axes of the two cameras are parallel to each other; each camera includes a reflecting element, an optical lens assembly and a photosensitive element; and reflecting optical axes of the two cameras are consistent or parallel to each other. The incident light is reflected by the reflecting element and passes through the optical lens assembly and is then imaged on the photosensitive element.

Abstract: A detection device, comprising an image sensor provided with a plurality of pixels having a plurality of light receiving sections corresponding to a micro lens, capable of adding output signals of the plurality of light receiving sections in accordance with phase difference detection direction and outputting an added signal, and a processor for performing focus detection or depth detection using phase difference detection, based on the added signal of the image sensor, whereby the image sensor makes height of a potential barrier between the light receiving sections different in accordance with the plurality of phase difference detection directions, and the processor sets charge storage determination level differently in accordance with the phase difference detection direction, and controls charge storage operation of the image sensor based on the added signal and the charge storage determination level.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, a positive third lens group, a positive fourth lens group, and a fifth lens group in order from an object side. In a case of zooming, an interval with an adjacent lens group is changed. The third lens group includes two positive lenses consecutively arranged in order from a side closest to the object side to an image side. The fifth lens group consists of a negative meniscus lens having a concave surface toward the object side and a positive lens having a convex surface toward the object side in order from the object side to the image side.

Abstract: SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a driving mechanism, a camera module and an electronic device. The driving mechanism includes: a driving component, a movable assembly, and a fixed assembly, wherein the driving component includes an elastic conductor element, a closed circuit, and a magnetic element; wherein the closed circuit is located in a magnetic field generated by the magnetic element, and is configured to communicate with the elastic conductor element to generate an electromagnetic force for overcoming an elastic force of the elastic conductor element; and wherein the elastic conductor element is fixedly connected with the fixed assembly, and is abutted against the movable assembly; and the elastic conductor element is configured to drive the movable assembly to move relative to the fixed assembly during a focusing function in response to determining that the electromagnetic force is greater than the elastic force of the elastic conductor element.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling an apparatus for performing control to, move, in a case where a detected defocus amount is within a range of a second in-focus management width, a focusing lens and then terminate a focusing adjustment operation without performing focus detection processing again, and move, in a case where the defocus amount is out of the range of the second in-focus management width, the focusing lens to perform the focus detection processing again. In a case where a subject to be subjected to the focus detection processing is a saturated subject, at least one of the range of the second in-focus management width and the focus detection operation is changed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprising a first detection unit configured to detect a first area in an image of an image signal output from an image pickup element, a second detection unit configured to detect one or more second areas each corresponding to an eye included in the first area in the image, a specification unit configured to receive an area specification instruction by a user operation and to specify one area in the image, and a setting unit configured to set an object corresponding to the area specified by the specification unit to be focused on, wherein, in a case where the first area is detected by the first detection unit, the specification unit receives specification of the eye in an area based on the first area regardless of a detection result of the second areas.

Abstract: An optical element driving mechanism is provided, including: a fixed portion; a movable portion movably connected to the fixed portion and includes a frame and a holder, wherein an optical element having an optical axis is connected to the movable portion; a first driving assembly disposed in the fixed portion to move the movable portion relative to the fixed portion; and a resilient element, including: an outer resilient element, including: a first segment having a strip-shaped structure; a second segment having a strip-shaped structure; and a first bending segment, wherein the first segment connects to the second segment through the first bending segment, and the frame is movably connected to the fixed portion through the outer resilient element; and an inner resilient element, wherein the holder is movably connected to the frame through the inner resilient element.

Abstract: An information processing system configured to perform predetermined processing based on out-of-focus information corresponding to a first area of an image, the out-of-focus information corresponding to a difference in focus between the first area of the image and a second area of the image that is different from the first area of the image.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprises: an imager that captures an image of a subject to generate image data; a first detector that detects a face region corresponding to a face of the subject in the image data; a second detector that detects a subject region corresponding to at least a part of the subject in the image data; and a controller that controls exposure based on metering for the image data, wherein the controller performs, when the face region is detected by the first detector, exposure compensation according to metering in the detected face region, and continues the exposure compensation according to the metering in the detected face region, when the detected face region is lost by the first detector and the subject region corresponding to the subject of the detected face region is detected by the second detector.

Abstract: A variable magnification optical system comprising, in order from an object side, 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 rear lens group; upon varying magnification, the first lens group being fixed with respect to the image plane and each distance between the neighboring lens groups being varied; the rear lens group comprising a focusing lens group which is moved upon carrying out focusing; and the predetermined conditional expressions being satisfied, whereby it is possible to suppress superbly variations in aberrations upon varying the magnification.

Abstract: An electromagnetic wave detection apparatus (10) includes a first propagation unit (16), second propagation unit (17), first detector (19), and second detector (20). The first propagation unit (16) propagates electromagnetic waves incident on a reference surface (ss) in a particular direction at each pixel (px). The second propagation unit (17) includes first through sixth surfaces (s1 to s6). The second surface (s2) separates electromagnetic waves propagated in a second direction (d2) and propagates the electromagnetic waves in a third direction (d3) and fourth direction (d4). The fourth surface (s4) emits electromagnetic waves propagated in the fourth direction (d4) towards the reference surface (ss) and propagates electromagnetic waves incident again from the reference surface (ss) in a fifth direction (d5). The first detector (19) detects electromagnetic waves emitted from the third surface (s3). The second detector (20) detects electromagnetic waves emitted from the sixth surface (s6).

Abstract: An image stabilization apparatus comprises a setting unit that sets a correction axis to be used in image stabilization among correction axes of a first image stabilization unit based on a shooting state of an image capturing apparatus; and a calculation unit that obtains a driving amount of the first image stabilization unit for correcting a shake with respect to the set correction axis based on an amount of shake of the image capturing apparatus. The setting unit sets the correction axis so that a different correction axis is set in a case where the image capturing apparatus is in a moving image shooting state and in a case where the image capturing apparatus is in a still image shooting state.

Abstract: A control unit provided in a digital camera acquires an image and a focus map serving as distribution information of an evaluation value corresponding to the image, and outputs the acquired image or the acquired focus map. When an operation that providing instructions for the magnification of magnification display of the image or the focus map is performed, the control unit executes output control to coordinate the display of the image and the display of the focus map with each other, in response to the above operation.

Abstract: Provided is a zoom lens, which includes lens units, in which an interval between each pair of adjacent lens units is changed during zooming, the zoom lens including, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens unit having a negative refractive power; a first lens subunit having a positive refractive power; and a second lens subunit having a negative refractive power. During focusing from infinity to minimum object distance, the first lens subunit is moved toward the object side, and the second lens subunit is moved toward the image side. Further, a movement amount of the first lens subunit during focusing from infinity to minimum object distance at a telephoto end, a movement amount of the second lens subunit during focusing from infinity to minimum object distance at the telephoto end, and a focal length at the telephoto end are appropriately set.

Abstract: A LIDAR system includes a receiver that includes a photodetector array configured to detect light and generate electrical signals based on the detected light; and a spatial light modulator having an array reflective elements, including a plurality of columns. Each column includes a plurality of reflective elements configured to switchably direct the light towards the photodetector array, where the spatial light modulator is configured to receive the light from objects in a field of view corresponding to ambient light reflected therefrom. The LIDAR system includes a controller configured to sequentially activate the plurality of columns of the spatial light modulator such that the plurality of reflective elements of an activated column directs the light towards the photodetector array; and at least one processor configured to receive the electrical signals from the photodetector array and generate a two-dimensional image that represents an ambient light picture of the field of view.

Abstract: An external scene image captured by an external scene imaging electronic camera attached to a head mounted display (HMD) is projected and displayed onto an image display screen arranged in front of the eyes of the user as a virtual image with a suitable viewing distance corresponding to the visual acuity of the user. At this time, for each object image presented in the virtual image of the external scene image, the virtual image is processed and formatted to add a predetermined degree of binocular disparity and image blur to the virtual image projected and displayed on the right and the left image display screen on the basis of a predetermined converted distance calculated from the real distance of each object. Thus, the user is given a sense of a realistic perspective for the virtual image of the external scene, free of the discomfort or unease.

Abstract: Provided herein is a system and method that acquires data and determines a driving action based on the data. The system comprises a sensor, one or more processors, and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the system to perform, determining data of interest comprising an object, feature, or region of interest, determining whether a sharpness of the data of interest exceeds a threshold, in response to determining that the sharpness does not exceed a threshold, operating the sensor to increase the sharpness of the data of interest until the sharpness exceeds the threshold, in response to the sharpness exceeding the threshold, determining a driving action of a vehicle based on the data of interest, and performing the driving action.

Abstract: Digital cameras, optical lens modules for such digital cameras and methods for assembling lens elements in such lens modules. In various embodiments, the digital cameras comprise an optical lens module including N?3 lens elements Li, each lens element comprising a respective front surface S2i?1 and a respective rear surface S2i. In various embodiments the first lens element toward the object side, L1 and its respective front surfaces S1 have optical and/or mechanical properties, such as a clear aperture, a clear height and a mechanical height that are larger than respective properties of following lens elements and surfaces. This is done to achieve a camera with large aperture stop, given a lens and/or camera height.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes, from the object side, a positive first lens unit not moving for zooming, a negative second lens unit moving for zooming, and a positive third lens unit moving for zooming. The second lens unit includes a negative lens closest to the object side, the third lens unit consists of a 3-1 sub-lens unit and a 3-2 sub-lens unit from the object side. Conditional expressions ?18.0<f1/f2<?3.0, 0.2<f21/f2<3.6, ?0.95<f21/r2<?0.25, 7.0<?2t/?2w<125.0, and 0.3<f31/f32<2.5, are satisfied where f1, f2, and f21 are the focal lengths of the first lens unit, the second lens unit, and the negative lens, r2 is an image-side radius of curvature of the negative lens, ?2w and ?2t are the lateral magnifications of the second lens unit at the wide angle end and the telephoto end, and f31 and f32 are the focal lengths of the 3-1 sub-lens unit and the 3-2 sub-lens unit.

Abstract: A focusing control device includes: a sensor that has a focus detection area in which a plurality of first signal detection sections which receives one of a pair of luminous fluxes passing through different portions arranged in one direction of a pupil region of an imaging optical system including a focus lens and detects signals and a plurality of second signal detection sections which receives other one of the pair of luminous fluxes and detects signals are formed; and a processor, configured to obtain correlation values, obtain an accumulative value of the correlation values included in each of a plurality of division areas obtained by dividing a graph of the correlation values in which shift amounts are represented on a first axis in a direction of the first axis, and perform focusing control by controlling the focus lens based on the accumulative value obtained.

Abstract: A mode selection assembly includes a gear ring coupled to a lens barrel of an imaging device having two or more gear positions, a selecting ring coupled to the lens barrel, and two or more photoelectric sensors. The gear ring is configured to be a sleeve of the lens barrel. The selecting ring is configured to adjust an imaging mode of the imaging device by turning the selecting ring. The selecting ring includes a first circular section having a plurality of recesses configured to engage with a first number of bulges of the gear ring. The two or more photoelectric sensors are attached to the first circular ring.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image processing method, an image processing apparatus, and an electronic device. The method includes projecting structured light to a current user based on a preset rule; capturing a structured-light image modulated by the current user each time; and superposing the structured-light images to acquire a target image.

Abstract: A three-dimensional measuring apparatus includes a projection unit that projects a first pattern light and a second pattern light by a laser beam on a region containing an object, an imaging unit that images a captured image of the region, a vibration information receiving part that receives vibration information on a vibration of the projection unit or the imaging unit, and a measuring unit that measures a three-dimensional shape of the object based on the captured image, wherein the region on which the first pattern light having a first period is projected is imaged by the imaging unit when the vibration information is equal to or smaller than a first threshold value.

Abstract: In described examples, a LIDAR system includes a laser transmitter, a receiver, and first and second light directing elements. The laser transmitter is configured to scan a field of view with a laser beam. The receiver is configured to receive light from the field of view, and to focus a first portion of the received light, corresponding to a region of interest, on a first light directing element. The receiver is also configured to focus a second portion of the received light, corresponding to the field of view except for the region of interest, on multiple second light directing elements. The first light directing element is configured to direct the first portion of the received light towards a first photon detector, and the second light directing elements are configured to direct the second portion of the received light towards a second photon detector.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes: a master lens including in order from an object side: a positive first lens unit configured not to move for zooming; a negative second lens unit configured to move for zooming; at least one lens unit configured to move for zooming; and a positive relay lens unit arranged closest to the image side; and an extender lens unit configured to change a focal length range of the zoom lens by one of: being inserted in place of a lens unit arranged adjacent to the relay lens unit on the object side; and being inserted into a space adjacent to the positive relay lens unit on the object side, wherein the extender lens unit includes a positive lens Gp, and an Abbe number and a partial dispersion ratio of the positive lens Gp are suitably set.

Abstract: Provided is an optical device including an optics including at least two moving groups that are movable along an optical axis and share portions of driving regions; a plurality of actuators configured to move the at least two moving groups along the optical axis, respectively; and a control unit configured to control the positions of the at least two moving groups by operating the actuators, wherein the control unit moves the at least two moving groups independently, such that the position coordinates of the at least two moving groups in one integrated coordinates system do not coincide with each other.

Abstract: An imaging device derives a change amount of image magnification corresponding to each of a plurality of F-numbers in an autofocus area on the basis of a reference value of the change amount of the image magnification in accordance with a change in position of a focus lens for each of the plurality of F-numbers, in a case where autofocus is executed; determines, as a limit F-number, an F-number corresponding to any change amount equal to or less than a threshold value of the allowed change amount of the image magnification among the derived change amounts; and sets an F-number as the limit F-number in a case where the F-number obtained from a subject luminance in a case where autofocus is executed exceeds the determined limit F-number.

Abstract: The embodiment relates to a camera module. The camera module according to the embodiment includes a circuit board on which an image sensor is disposed, a lens unit disposed in front of a sensor surface of the image sensor, a housing accommodating the lens unit and the image sensor, disposed on the circuit board and a gyro sensor sensing the motion. The circuit board may include a first circuit board on which the image sensor is disposed, and a second circuit board on which the gyro sensor is disposed. The first circuit board may be disposed extending in a first axis direction, and the second circuit board may be disposed extending in a direction parallel to the optical axis direction while perpendicular to the first axis. The central axis of the gyro sensor may be parallel to the first axis direction but perpendicular to the optical axis direction.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus comprises an image sensor, from which a first viewpoint image and a second viewpoint image that share the same charge accumulation period can be read out. The apparatus further comprises a correction circuit that applies correction processing to the images read out from the image sensor. The apparatus controls the image sensor and the correction circuit so that correction processing performed on the first viewpoint image by the correction circuit during continuous shooting is performed in parallel with the readout of the first viewpoint image and the second viewpoint image from the image sensor.

Abstract: A camera includes an image sensor, a lens, memory, and a controller. The lens is positioned to direct object light from a scene onto the image sensor. The memory is configured to store a camera-specific optical center of the lens relative to the image sensor. The camera-specific optical center is measured after a position of the lens is center fixed relative to a position of the image sensor. The controller is configured to acquire a raw image of the scene via the image sensor and generate a distortion corrected image from the raw image based on at least the camera-specific optical center.

Abstract: A camera module includes: a housing; a reflecting module; and a lens module disposed behind the reflecting module, wherein the moving holder is disposed to be movable in one axial direction, approximately perpendicular to the optical axial direction and the one axial direction with respect to the housing, the lens module includes a carrier supported by the housing to be linearly movable in approximately the optical axial direction, the lens module includes two or more lens barrels of which some are fixed, and the others are supported by the housing to be linearly movable in approximately the optical axial direction, and lenses are distributed and provided into the at least two lens barrels.

Abstract: Provided is an image pickup apparatus capable of selection of a first shot image taken in focus bracketing as a shot image at a user's desired focus position. A focus step is an amount of change in focus position between adjacent shot images. A focus lens is driven so as to achieve a focus change speed such that the amount of change in focus per unit time is constant. A vertical synchronization signal is issued to an image pickup device on the basis of a start focus position. A reference position at which a focus position comes to the start focus position in a first shot image generated in the focus bracketing is set. A focus position at the start of exposure is determined based on a time period required for one readout by the image pickup device, an exposure time period, the focus change speed, and the reference position.

Abstract: A control device includes a processor and a storage medium storing a program that, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to obtain a reference distance of a photographing device that includes a height of the photographing device or a distance from the photographing device to a target object, determine a range of a focus distance of the photographing device according to the reference distance, and control the photographing device to shoot a plurality of images while changing the focus distance within the range.

Abstract: A depth camera assembly (DCA) for depth sensing of a local area. The DCA includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a controller. The transmitter illuminates a local area with outgoing light in accordance with emission instructions. The transmitter includes a fine steering element and a coarse steering element. The fine steering element deflects one or more optical beams at a first deflection angle to generate one or more first order deflected scanning beams. The coarse steering element deflects the one or more first order deflected scanning beams at a second deflection angle to generate the outgoing light projected into the local area. The receiver captures one or more images of the local area including portions of the outgoing light reflected from the local area. The controller determines depth information for one or more objects in the local area based in part on the captured one or more images.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes a focus detecting unit configured to detect a defocus amount, a continuity determining unit configured to determine a continuity of a focus detection result, a characteristic detecting unit configured to detect characteristics of a main object and of surroundings of the main object, a controlling unit configured to change a parameter relating to a tracking operation based on the characteristics during the tracking operation and a focus adjusting unit configured to perform a focus adjustment based on the defocus amount, the continuity of the focus detection result and the parameter.