5722 results about "Image sensing" patented technology

A solid-state image-sensing device that compensates for brightness at edges of a screen and a method of driving the device are provided. The solid-state image-sensing device comprises: an active pixel sensor (APS) array including pixels disposed in a two-dimensional matrix, each pixel for outputting a photoelectrically converted image signal generated by a photodiode in response to one of a plurality of transmission control signals transmitted to a selected row of the APS array, and for generating and outputting a reset signal in response to a reset control signal; a row driver for selecting a row of the APS array by generating row selection signals and for generating the reset control signal; an integration time control driver for generating the transmission control signals for setting non-uniform integration times of the photodiodes in each pixel; and an analog-digital converter for converting an analog signal corresponding to a difference between the image signal and the reset signal into a digital signal.

An image sensing system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor and a logic and control circuit. The imaging sensor comprises a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements formed on a semiconductor substrate, and has a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The logic and control circuit comprises an image processor for processing image data derived from the imaging sensor. The image sensing system may generate an indication of the presence of an object within the field of view of the imaging sensor. Preferably, video images may be captured by said imaging sensor and may be displayed by a display device for viewing by the driver when operating the vehicle. The logic and control circuit may generate at least one control output, and the at least control output may control an enhancement of the video images.

An image sensing system for a vehicle includes an imaging sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of light sensing photosensor elements. The system includes a logic and control circuit comprising an image processor for processing image data derived from the imaging sensor. The logic and control circuit generates at least one control output for controlling at least one accessory of the vehicle. The imaging sensor is disposed at an interior portion of the cabin of the vehicle and preferably has a field of view exterior of the vehicle through a window of the vehicle.

A diagnostic imaging apparatus of hand piece type suitable for medical or dental use, comprising a main body held by operator's fingers, a luminous means for irradiating at least one of lights selected from excitation light, infrared light and ultraviolet light, and an imaging means provided in a forward portion of the main body. The imaging means comprises a solid-state image sensing device and an optical means for forming an optical image of a diagnosis object to be examined on the solid-state image sensing device and is so constructed as to output a predetermined diagnostic image information by receiving the light reflected from the diagnosis object and / or the fluorescence generated from the diagnosis object when irradiation of light from the luminous means to the diagnosis object is performed.

This invention has as its object to provide an image sensing apparatus which can satisfactorily correct misregistration among images, and can composite the images. To achieve this object, an image sensing apparatus includes: a plurality of apertures that receives external light from different positions; a plurality of image sensing units that outputs image signals obtained by independently receiving light that comes from an identical position of an object and is received via the plurality of apertures, and independently extracting predetermined color components for each received light; and a signal processing device that forms a signal that outputs an object image by mixing the image signals output from the plurality of image sensing units. When it is determined that a predetermined position deviation occurs between the image signals upon forming the signal that outputs the object image, the signal processing device corrects the predetermined position deviation by a signal process, and forms the signal that outputs the object image.

An image sensing apparatus including: an image sensor including a plurality of focus detection pixel pairs that perform photoelectric conversion on each pair of light beams that have passed through different regions of a photographing lens and output an image signal pair; a flash memory that stores shift information on relative shift between an optical axis of the photographing lens and a central axis of the focus detection pixel pairs; a correction unit that corrects a signal level of the image signal pair based on the shift information and exit pupil information of the photographing lens so as to compensate for an unbalanced amount of light that enters each of the focus detection pixel pairs; and a focus detection unit that detects a focus of the photographing lens using the image signal pair corrected by the correction unit.

This invention allows easy update of an image to be included in a document which is submitted on the network. For this purpose, data that set the image sensing times and image sensing states of a camera (111) the pan angle, tilt angle, and zoom ratio of which can be varied, are stored in an HD (106). If one of the stored times has been reached, image sensing is done in accordance with the set contents, and the obtained image is stored in the HD (106). Upon launching a candidate edit program, an old document inserted with images is displayed on a CRT (103). When a desired image is designated, it is substituted by a new, sensed image candidate corresponding to that designation position. The created document is then uploaded to a WWW server.

An optical projection and image sensing apparatus including a light source, a light valve, a first lens set, a sensing module, and a beam splitter is provided. The light valve is used to convert an illumination light from the light source to an image light beam. The first lens set is used to project the image light to display an image on a screen, and the sensing module is used to sense a sensing light from the image on the screen. The beam splitter is disposed on the optical paths of the image light and the sensing light from the image on the screen. One of the sensing module and the light valve is disposed on the optical path of the sensing light passing through the beam splitter, and the other is disposed on optical path of the sensing light reflected by the beam splitter.

Structures and methods for three-dimensional image sensing using high frequency modulation includes CMOS-implementable sensor structures using differential charge transfer, including such sensors enabling rapid horizontal and slower vertical dimension local charge collection. Wavelength response of such sensors can be altered dynamically by varying gate potentials. Methods for producing such sensor structures on conventional CMOS fabrication facilities include use of “rich” instructions to command the fabrication process to optimize image sensor rather than digital or analog ICs. One detector structure has closely spaced-apart, elongated finger-like structures that rapidly collect charge in the spaced-apart direction and then move collected charge less rapidly in the elongated direction. Detector response is substantially independent of the collection rate in the elongated direction.

An image processing apparatus and method, which can appropriately extract an object even when the focus of a camera having an automatic focus adjustment function shifts from the background to the object. To this end, frame images which are sensed by an image sensing unit and are sequential in the time axis direction are input from an input unit. The input frame images are smoothed by a filter unit. A background image generation unit generates an average image of a predetermined number of smoothed frame images as a background image. An image differential unit generates a differential image between the predetermined smoothed frame image and the background image. An object extraction unit extracts an object region where a predetermined object is sensed, on the basis of the differential image.

The position and orientation of the viewpoint of an observer (100) are acquired. The position and orientation of a stylus (120) are acquired. A list image is laid out near the position of the stylus (120). An image of a virtual space after laying out the list image, which is seen in accordance with the position and orientation of the viewpoint, generated. The generated image is output to the display screen of an HMD (110).

A stacked package structure of an image sensor for electrically connecting to a printed circuit board includes a substrate, an integrated circuit, an image sensing chip, and a transparent layer. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first surface is formed with signal input terminals. The second surface is formed with signal output terminals for electrically connecting the substrate to the printed circuit board. The integrated circuit is mounted on the first surface of the substrate and electrically connected to the signal input terminals of the substrate. The image sensing chip is located above the integrated circuit to form a stacked structure with the integrated circuit for electrically connecting to the signal input terminals of the substrate. The transparent layer covers the image sensing chip. The image sensing chip receives image signals via the transparent layer and converts the image signals into electrical signals that are to be transmitted to the substrate. Thus, the image sensing chip of the image sensing product and the integrated circuit can be integrally packaged.

A closed-loop vision system is disclosed that utilizes a concept known as Dynamically Reconfigurable Vision (DRV), which is adaptive image sensing driven by a computer or human operator's response to changing scenery. The system reduces the amount of irrelevant video information sensed and thus achieves more effective bandwidth and computational resource utilization, as compared to traditional vision systems. One or more reconfigurable photodetector arrays sensitive to either visible, infrared or ultraviolet radiation are present in the DRV system. These photodetector arrays feature on-chip means for spatial and temporal data reduction implemented through multiple independently controllable, time-correlated, frequently overlapping windows on the photodetector array that may be programmed according to their size, location, resolution, integration time, and frame rate. All photodetector array windows are dynamically reconfigurable in real time on a frame-by-frame basis. Furthermore, a DRV system is constructed in a client-server architecture in which a vision processor client passes window request command messages to the reconfigurable photodetector array server, which in turn delivers the requested video back to the client processor. The ability to simultaneously reconfigure, integrate, process, and readout multiple photodetector array video windows is an important characteristic of the DRV system.

An apparatus for imaging a fingerprint operates in a selected mode to provide a finger recognition and / or a finger navigation application. At least one light source illuminates at least one partition of a finger interface upon which a user places a finger (or thumb). Light reflected from the finger is captured by at least one image sensing region aligned to receive reflected light emitted from the illuminating light source(s). The illuminating light sources are selected depending on the selected mode of operation to illuminate only those partitions of the finger interface necessary for operation of the selected mode.

An image processing apparatus assumes the characteristic of a virtual image sensing optical system, and applies a blur effect corresponding to an in-focus state to a captured image. An image input unit captures image information including distance information to each portion of an object to be photographed. A parameter input unit inputs a parameter from which the effective aperture and focal length of the assumed image sensing optical system can be derived. An in-focal pint position designation unit designates the in-focal pint position of the assumed image sensing optical system. A blur state calculation unit calculates a blur state from the distance information input by the image input unit, the in-focal pint position designated by the in-focal pint position designation unit, and the parameter input by the parameter input unit. An image processing unit applies the blur effect to the image input by the image input unit in correspondence with the blur state calculated by the blur state calculation unit.

In an image sensing apparatus having a plurality of unit cells, each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a common circuit shared by the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, arranged in either one or two dimensions, the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged at a predetermined interval.

An attachable three-dimensional scan module includes an attachable unit, at least two image sensing units, a depth map generation unit, and an output interface. The attachable unit fixes the attachable three-dimensional scan module on a mobile device. When the mobile device is moved around an object, a first image sensing unit and a second image sensing unit of the at least two image sensing units capture a plurality of first images including the object and a plurality of second images including the object, respectively. A plurality of depth maps generated by the depth map generation unit, the plurality of first images, and the plurality of second images are used for generating a color three-dimensional scan result corresponding to the object. The output interface outputs the color three-dimensional scan result, or the plurality of first images, the plurality of second images, and the plurality of depth maps.

A solid-state image sensing element has a photoelectric conversion element which converts incoming light into an electrical signal in accordance with an amount of the light, a microlens which is arranged on an incident surface, a light guide which is arranged between the photoelectric conversion element and the microlens, and an insulating interlayer which is arranged around the light guide. The solid-state image sensing element located at a distance (H) satisfies: H·DL·P<a·NHNL⁢ ⁢for⁢ ⁢0<a<1where L is the distance from an exit pupil of an image sensing optical system of an image sensing device, which mounts an image sensor formed by two-dimensionally arranging a plurality of the solid-state image sensing elements, H is the distance from a center of the image sensor to a position of the solid-state image sensing element on the image sensor, D is the height from the photoelectric conversion element to an apex of the microlens, P is the spacing between the plurality of solid-state image sensing elements, NH is the refractive index of the light guide, and NL is the refractive index of the insulating interlayer.

An image capture device including a housing, a first lens unit, a second lens unit, an image sensing element, and a beam spliter is provided. The housing includes a body, a first lens barrel, and a second lens barrel. The first lens unit is disposed within the first lens barrel and includes a first switchable light valve. The second lens unit is disposed within the second lens barrel and includes a second switchable light valve. The image sensing element faces to the first lens unit. The beam spliter is configured in front of the image sensing element so that the image sensing element is able to receive a first image light passing through the first lens unit and a second image light passing through the second lens unit. The first switchable light valve and the second switchable light valve present a transparent state at different timings.

The present invention relates to devices and methods for image sensing. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a device including a plurality of pixels, wherein each pixel includes a charge transfer device and photodetector, and each of the pixels has a pitch of about 3 microns or less. This aspect further includes a select transistor, a reset transistor, a source follower transistor, and a sense node, wherein the select transistor, the reset transistor, the source follower transistor, and the sense node are shared by the plurality of pixels.

In an image sensing apparatus using an image sensing device, such as a CCD, to be used by connecting to an external device, such as a computer, an operating rate of the CCD is changed in accordance with a rate at which the computer receives image signals from the image sensing apparatus. Further, when the operating rate of the CCD is changed, a proper exposure value is conjectured to obtain an image sensed at a proper exposure on the basis of operating rates of the CCD before and after the operating rate is changed, and a proper exposure value of the CCD before the operating rate is changed.

A first error coordinate between the image coordinate of a first indicator, which is arranged on the real space and detected on a first image captured by a first image sensing unit, and the estimated image coordinate of the first indicator, which is estimated to be located on the first image in accordance with the position / orientation relationship between the first image sensing unit (with the position and orientation according to a previously calculated position / orientation parameter) and the first indicator, is calculated. On the other-hand, a second error coordinate between the image coordinate of a second indicator, which is arranged on the first image sensing unit and detected on a second image that includes the first image sensing unit, and the estimated image coordinate of the second indicator, which is estimated to be located on the second image in accordance with the position / orientation relationship between the first image sensing unit (with the position and orientation according to the position / orientation parameter), and the second indicator, is calculated. Using the first and second error coordinates, the position / orientation parameter is corrected.

An integrated imaging apparatus is disclosed for displaying images of a scene, including an electronic display having a display pixel that is used to display image content, the display pixel having a substrate, one-or-more electronic component(s) formed over a distinct portion of the substrate, a first electrode connected to the electronic component(s) having a first transparent portion formed over the substrate but not over the electronic component(s) and a second reflective portion formed over the electronic component(s), a light-emitting layer(s) formed over the first electrode, and a second transparent electrode formed over the light-emitting layers; and at least one image capture device which captures an image, wherein the image capture device has at least an imaging lens and an image sensor array; and wherein the image capture device receives light through the transparent portion of the first electrode, and wherein the display pixel also provides light to display image content.

Disclosed is a remote automatic meter reading (AMR) system for image-sensing, reading and transmitting metering values. The AMR system includes an AMR terminal, a collector and an AMR server. The AMR terminal includes an image sensing module for sensing an image signal of a metering value displayed on a display panel of the meter. A character recognition module performs pattern recognition of the image signal, and a communication module transmits digital data from the character recognition module to the AMR server side. The character recognition module may include a microcomputer and an ID setting During power saving mode, the microcomputer wakes up and decodes received data; and when a meter reading command is received, the image sensing module receives the image signal of the metering value, performs pattern recognition, generates the numeral code to form a packet together with the terminal ID, and transmits the packet to the communication module.

Image sensing apparatus includes an image pickup plate disposed generally orthogonally with respect to an expected direction of movement of an object, such as a finger, multiple image drive plates in spaced relation to the image pickup plate to define sensor gaps between respective image drive plates and the image pickup plate, and a reference plate disposed substantially parallel to the image pickup plate. The reference plate is spaced from the image pickup plate to permit common mode noise and coupling to be cancelled and is spaced from the image drive plates to permit a differential image signal to develop between the image pickup plate and the reference plate. A differential amplifier coupled to the image pickup plate and the reference plate provides noise cancellation. The apparatus may further include a comb plate spaced from the reference plate and coupled to a reference potential, such as ground.

An image sensing systems supports independently setting sensor parameters in two or more different regions of interest. In one implementation resolution, exposure time, and gain are independently selectable in each region of interest. Independently setting exposure time and gain in different regions of interest improves image recognition when there are large difference in the illumination of objects within an image. Independently setting resolution permits the resolution to be selectively increased in regions of interest requiring high resolution in order to reduce the pixel data bandwidth and processing requirements.

In a photoelectric conversion device having a plurality of pixel cells each of which includes a photoelectric conversion element, a field effect transistor having the gate area for storing signal charge generated by the photoelectric conversion element and the source-drain path for outputting a signal corresponding to the signal charge stored in the gate, a first power supply line for supplying electric power to the field effect transistor, and a first switch connected between the field effect transistor and the first power supply line, when a reset voltage for resetting the gate of the field effect transistor is Vsig0, a threshold voltage of the field effect transistor is Vth, current flowing through the field effect transistor is Ia, a voltage applied via the first power supply line is Vc1, and a series resistance of the first switch is Ron, each pixel cell is configured to satisfy a condition determined by Vc1−Ron×Ia>Vsig0−Vth.

A wide angle HDTV endoscope includes at least two optical imaging channels. Lenses close each channel at the distal end of the endoscope. The imaging channels each have a different field of view in complementary directions, and have overlapping or cross-over field of view areas. Received images are transmitted along the longitudinal axis of the imaging channels of the endoscope to a camera head that contains a wide screen image sensing device. An external light source provides the required lighting and an image processing device can provide necessary software algorithms to format the images and to control any overlapping or cross-over field of view areas to obtain a single display image. In another arrangement, optical blocking elements provided at the proximal end of the endoscope or within the imaging channels eliminate portions of one or more images from the imaging channels so that at the cross-over areas only a single image is provided to the imaging device.

A gaming peripheral apparatus for a gaming computing device includes a passive marker and an interactive input device. The passive marker has a surface covered with a reflective layer for reflecting light invisible to human eyes. The interactive input device includes at least one light source, an image sensing module, a filter unit, and an interface module. Each light source emits light that is invisible to human eyes and that is to be reflected by the passive marker. The image sensing module generates image data corresponding to images that include the passive marker and that are sensed thereby. The filter unit is disposed in front of the image sensing module, and filters light visible to human eyes from the images sensed by the image sensing module. The interface module is coupled electrically to the image sensing module, and is adapted for transmitting the image data to the gaming computing device.