Provided is an imaging optical system that is compatible with a large image sensor, and achieves both a large aperture ratio and good aberration correction in consideration of weight reduction of a focus lens that is mainly driven in focusing. An imaging optical system consists of, in order from an object side: a front group GrF having a positive refractive power; a first focus group GrFC1 having a negative refractive power; a second focus group GrFC2 having a negative refractive power; and a rear group GrR having a positive refractive power. During focusing from infinity to a short distance, the front group GrF and the rear group GrR are fixed with respect to an image surface, the first focus group GrFC1 moves to the image side. The second focus group GrFC2 moves to the object side, and specific conditional expressions are satisfied.
A variable magnification optical system that is relatively compact while suppressing various aberrations such as spherical aberration and field curvature over the entire variable magnification range. The variable magnification optical system includes, in order from the object side, a first lens group G1 having a negative refractive power, a second lens group G2 having a positive refractive power, a third lens group G3 having a positive refractive power, and an image surface side lens group GR. During variable magnification from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end, the air distance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2 decreases, the air distance between the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 changes, and the air distance between the third lens group G3 and the image surface side lens group GR increases. The variable magnification optical system satisfies predetermined conditional expressions.
G02B 15/14 - Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective
G02B 15/16 - Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective with interdependent non-linearly related movements between one lens or lens group, and another lens or lens group
An optical system that achieves weight reduction while correcting various aberrations such as chromatic aberration at a large aperture ratio by arranging lens materials appropriately. An optical system includes, in order from an object side: a first lens group G1 having a negative refractive power; a second lens group G2 that moves along an optical axis during focusing from infinity to a short distance; and a last lens group GL that is disposed closest to the image surface side, in which an aperture diaphragm S is provided between the second lens group G2 and the last lens group GL.
G02B 9/12 - Optical objectives characterised both by the number of the components and their arrangements according to their sign, i.e. + or – having three components only
4.
VARIABLE MAGNIFICATION OPTICAL SYSTEM AND IMAGING APPARATUS
A variable magnification optical system including: in order from an object side, a first lens group G1 having a positive refractive power; a second lens group G2 having a negative refractive power; a third lens group G3 having a positive refractive power; a fourth lens group G4 having a positive refractive power; and a fifth lens group G5 having a negative refractive power, wherein, during zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, a distance between the first lens group G1 and the second lens group G2 changes, a distance between the second lens group G2 and the third lens group G3 changes, and a distance between the third lens group G3 and the fourth lens group G4 changes, during focusing from an infinity end to a closest object end, any one of the fourth lens group G4 or the fifth lens group G5 moves along an optical axis.
G02B 15/14 - Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective
H04N 23/69 - Control of means for changing angle of the field of view, e.g. optical zoom objectives or electronic zooming
An imaging optical system includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens group, a second lens group, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power, and a fifth lens group having a negative refractive power, in which, when focusing from an infinite distance object to a close distance object, the first lens group remains stationary with respect to an image surface, the second lens group moves to the object side along an optical axis, the third lens group remains stationary with respect to the image surface, the fourth lens group moves to the object side along the optical axis, and the fifth lens group remains stationary with respect to the image surface, the imaging optical system includes an aperture diaphragm, and the imaging optical system satisfies a predetermined conditional expression.
G02B 7/02 - Mountings, adjusting means, or light-tight connections, for optical elements for lenses
G02B 15/14 - Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective
An imaging optical system is suitable for a telephoto lens having a large aperture ratio, is lightweight and longitudinal chromatic aberration is satisfactorily corrected. The imaging optical system includes, in order from an object side, a first lens group G1 that has a positive refractive power, a second lens group G2, and a third lens group G3. Only the second lens group G2 moves while focusing from an infinite distance object to a close distance object. The first lens group G1 includes a group 1a and a group 1b in order from the object side. The group 1b has a negative lens L1na having a meniscus shape that is convex toward the object side and a negative lens L1nb different from the negative lens L1na. The negative lens L1na is a negative lens positioned closest to the object side in the first lens group G1, and satisfies predetermined conditional expressions.
G02B 9/64 - Optical objectives characterised both by the number of the components and their arrangements according to their sign, i.e. + or – having more than six components
A high power zoom lens including, in order from an object side: a first lens group that has a positive refractive power; a second lens group that has a negative refractive power; a third lens group that has a positive refractive power; a fourth lens group that has a positive refractive power; an L-th lens group that has a positive refractive power and is positioned at a position which is closest to an image side; in which, in a case of zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, a distance between the lens groups changes, the third lens group includes a lens group having a positive refractive power and a lens group having a negative refractive power, the fourth lens group includes a lens group having a positive refractive power and a lens group having a negative refractive power.
G02B 15/14 - Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective
The optical system is configured to include a first lens group G1, a second lens group G2 with a positive refractive power, a third lens group G3, a fourth lens group G4 with a positive refractive power, and a fifth lens group G5 with a negative refractive power. When focusing from infinity to a close distance, the second lens group G2 and the fourth lens group G4 move to an object side through different paths along an optical axis, the second lens group G2 includes an aspherical lens G2asp having such a shape as to weaken a convex power from a center of the optical axis to a periphery, and the fourth lens group G4 includes one or more lenses each having at least a positive refractive power and one or more lenses each having at least a negative refractive power.
G02B 13/18 - Optical objectives specially designed for the purposes specified below with lenses having one or more non-spherical faces, e.g. for reducing geometrical aberration
G02B 15/14 - Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective
Provided is a zoom lens that has a large aperture ratio, has a suppressed total length, has a small center of gravity movement during zooming or focusing, and can perform quiet auto focus, and that is suitable for video capturing. A zoom lens has, in order from an object side: a first lens group G1 having a negative refractive power; a middle lens group GM having a positive refractive power as a whole; a rear lens group GR; and a final lens group GN. The middle lens group GM includes three or more lens groups and includes a focus lens group that moves along an optical axis during focusing from infinity to a short distance. The rear lens group GR includes one or more lens groups. A distance between each of the groups changes during zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end.
G02B 15/14 - Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Optical machines and apparatus, namely, loupes, interchangeable lenses for cameras and interchangeable lenses for digital cameras; photographic camera lenses; optical lenses; lenses for cameras; lenses for digital cameras
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Optical machines and apparatus, namely, loupes, interchangeable lenses for cameras and interchangeable lenses for digital cameras; photographic camera lenses; optical lenses; lenses for cameras; lenses for digital cameras
An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging optical system that is inherently small and lightweight, and suitable for use in a small and lightweight telephoto lens with a small and lightweight focusing unit.
An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging optical system that is inherently small and lightweight, and suitable for use in a small and lightweight telephoto lens with a small and lightweight focusing unit.
The imaging optical system of the present invention includes, in order from an object side to an image side: a first group G1 with positive power overall; a second group G2 composed of a lens that moves along an optical axis during focusing; and a third group G3 with power. The imaging optical system satisfies a specified conditional expression.
G02B 15/14 - Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective
G02B 15/22 - Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective with movable lens means specially adapted for focusing at close distances
A large aperture ratio ultra wide angle lens is compact and lightweight, has a half angle of view of 80 degrees or more, is bright with an F-number of approximately 1.8 or less, and has good optical performance from center of a screen to periphery while ensuring a sufficient image circle is provided. A large aperture ratio ultra wide angle lens includes, in order from an object side, first lens group G1, aperture diaphragm S, and second lens group G2, first lens group G1 has a meniscus negative lens component N1 having its convex surface facing the object side and being disposed on a side closest to the object side, and a meniscus negative lens component N2 with its convex surface facing the object side on a side closer to an image side than the meniscus negative lens component N1, and a predetermined conditional expression is satisfied.
G02B 9/64 - Optical objectives characterised both by the number of the components and their arrangements according to their sign, i.e. + or – having more than six components
G02B 13/18 - Optical objectives specially designed for the purposes specified below with lenses having one or more non-spherical faces, e.g. for reducing geometrical aberration
A telephoto zoom lens according to the present invention includes: a first lens group with a positive refractive power; a middle lens group; and a final lens group in order from an object side to an image side, and at a time of zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens group is fixed with respect to an image surface, distances between adjacent lens groups change, focusing from an infinity object distance to an extremely close range is performed by moving a part or a plurality of lens groups in the middle lens group, the first lens group includes a front sub-lens group located on the object side and a rear sub-lens group located on the image side, and predetermined conditional expressions are satisfied.
G02B 13/00 - Optical objectives specially designed for the purposes specified below
G02B 13/02 - Telephoto objectives, i.e. systems of the type + – in which the distance from the front vertex to the image plane is less than the equivalent focal length
G02B 15/14 - Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Optical lenses; camera lenses; interchangeable lenses for cameras; lenses for digital cameras; interchangeable lenses for digital cameras; all said goods not for use in or as components of systems for measuring and determining the position, the orientation and/or the movement of objects, components, persons or animals
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Lenses; optical lenses; camera lenses; interchangeable lenses for cameras; lenses for digital cameras; interchangeable lenses for digital cameras; all said goods not for use in or as components of systems for measuring and determining the position, the orientation and/or the movement of objects, components, persons or animals.
It is aimed at providing an imaging optical system which is small-sized and lightweight, has a small-sized and lightweight focusing unit, and is therefore appropriate for a small-sized and lightweight telephoto lens. An imaging optical system of the present invention includes, in order from an object side toward an image side, a first lens group G1 having a positive power as a whole, a second lens group G2 including a lens that moves on an optical axis during focusing, and a third lens group G3 having a power, and satisfies predetermined conditional expressions.
G02B 13/02 - Telephoto objectives, i.e. systems of the type + – in which the distance from the front vertex to the image plane is less than the equivalent focal length
G02B 13/00 - Optical objectives specially designed for the purposes specified below
Disclosed is a large aperture ratio telephoto zoom lens with high optical performance, equipped with a vibration reduction system and a silent and speedy focusing mechanism and yet small and lightweight. The large aperture ratio telephoto zoom lens includes, sequentially from the object side to the image side: a first lens group G1 with positive refractive power, fixed relative to the image surface during zooming; a second lens group G2 with negative refractive power; a third lens group G3 with negative refractive power; a fourth lens group G4 with positive refractive power; an aperture diaphragm S; and a subsequent lens group GR composed of a plurality of lens groups. Distances between adjacent lens groups change during zooming from the wide-angle end to the telephoto end. The subsequent lens group GR includes a focusing lens group that moves during focusing from an infinite distance object to a close distance object.
G02B 13/02 - Telephoto objectives, i.e. systems of the type + – in which the distance from the front vertex to the image plane is less than the equivalent focal length
G02B 13/18 - Optical objectives specially designed for the purposes specified below with lenses having one or more non-spherical faces, e.g. for reducing geometrical aberration
G02B 15/14 - Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective
G02B 27/00 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups ,
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Lenses; Optical lenses; Optical apparatus and instruments; Cinematographic cameras; Camera lenses (for photographing); Cinematographic machine and apparatus; Optical instruments containing eyepieces; Binoculars; Photographic apparatus and instruments; Camera lenses; Digital cameras; Video cameras; Cameras; Cameras (photography); Motion-picture cameras for self-developing film; Camera hoods; Shutter releases (for cameras); Flashlights (photography); Lens filters (for cameras); Scientific apparatus and instruments for photographic and vision purposes; Apparatus for recording of sound; Apparatus for transmission of sound; Apparatus for reproduction of sound; Apparatus for recording of images; Apparatus for transmission of images; Apparatus for reproduction of images; Lens hoods; Straps for cameras; USB dock for photographic and vision equipment; Teleconverters; mount adapters for use with lenses and cameras; Tripod socket; Lens caps; Camera cage; Electronic calendars; Electronic books; Loupes; Batteries for photographic and vision equipment; Chargers for batteries for photographic and vision equipment; Grips for cameras; AC adaptors for photographic and vision equipment; Viewfinders for cameras; Electronic viewfinders; Bags for cameras and photographic equipment; holders for photographic filters; DC connector for photographic and vision equipment; Macro flash adapter; grips for cameras containing a battery pack; holders for camera straps; Lens cap holder; Camera lens cases.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Lenses; Optical lenses; Optical apparatus and instruments; Cinematographic cameras; Camera lenses (for photographing); Cinematographic machine and apparatus; Optical instruments containing eyepieces; Binoculars; Photographic apparatus and instruments; Camera lenses; Digital cameras; Video cameras; Cameras; Cameras (photography); Motion-picture cameras for self-developing film; Camera hoods; Shutter releases (for cameras); Flashlights (photography); Lens filters (for cameras); Scientific apparatus and instruments; Apparatus for recording of sound; Apparatus for transmission of sound; Apparatus for reproduction of sound; Apparatus for recording of images; Apparatus for transmission of images; Apparatus for reproduction of images; Lens hoods; Straps for cameras; USB dock; Teleconverters; mount adapters for use with lenses and cameras; Tripod socket; Lens caps; Camera cage; Electronic calendars; Electronic books; Loupes; Batteries; Chargers for batteries; Grips for cameras; AC adaptors; Viewfinders for cameras; Electronic viewfinders; Bags for cameras and photographic equipment; holders for photographic filters; DC connector; Macro flash adapter; grips for cameras containing a battery pack; holders for camera straps; Lens cap holder; Camera lens cases.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Interchangeable lenses for cameras; lenses for digital cameras; interchangeable lenses for digital cameras; cinematographic cameras; camera lenses for photographing; cinematographic machine and apparatus; instruments containing eyepieces, namely, telescopes and scopes; binoculars; photographic viewfinders; camera lenses; digital cameras; video cameras; cameras; cameras for photography; motion-picture cameras for self-developing film; camera hoods; shutter releases for cameras; flashlights for use in photography; lens filters for cameras; lens hoods; straps for cameras; electronic device that connects a lens to a PC via USB; lenses for cameras in the nature of teleconverters; camera lens mounts, namely, mount converters; sockets specially designed for camera tripods; lens caps for use with film, digital, and video cameras; camera cases, namely, camera cages; downloadable calendaring software; electronic books in the field of magazines and photo books; magnifying glasses; grips for cameras; power adapters, namely, AC adapters; viewfinders for cameras; electronic viewfinders; bags for cameras and photographic equipment; holders adapted for photography filters; adapters specially designed to attach photographic macro flash units to cameras; power grips in the nature of battery packs for cameras; strap holders for cameras; lens cap holder in the nature of buckles for holding camera lens caps; camera lens cases
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Interchangeable lenses for cameras; lenses for digital cameras; interchangeable lenses for digital cameras; optical lenses; optical filters; cinematographic cameras; camera lenses for photographing; cinematographic machine and apparatus; instruments containing eyepieces, namely, telescopes and scopes; binoculars; photographic viewfinders; camera lenses; digital cameras; video cameras; cameras; cameras for photography; motion-picture cameras for self-developing film; camera hoods; shutter releases for cameras; flashlights for use in photography; lens filters for cameras; apparatus for recording of sound; apparatus for transmission of sound; apparatus for reproduction of sound; apparatus for recording of images; apparatus for transmission of images; apparatus for reproduction of images; lens hoods; straps for cameras; electronic device that connects a lens to a PC via USB; lenses for cameras in the nature of teleconverters; camera lens mounts, namely, mount converters; sockets specially designed for camera tripods; lens caps for use with film, digital, and video cameras; camera cases, namely, camera cages; downloadable calendaring software; electronic books in the field of magazines and photo books; magnifying glasses; grips for cameras; power adapters, namely, AC adapters; viewfinders for cameras; electronic viewfinders; bags for cameras and photographic equipment; holders adapted for photography filters; electrical connectors, namely, DC connector; adapters specially designed to attach photographic macro flash units to cameras; power grips in the nature of battery packs for cameras; strap holders for cameras; lens cap holder in the nature of buckles for holding camera lens caps; camera lens cases
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
26 - Small items for dressmaking; artifical flowers; false hair
Goods & Services
(1) Lenses; Optical lenses; Optical apparatus and instruments; Cinematographic cameras; Camera lenses (for photographing);Cinematographic machine and apparatus; Instruments containing eyepieces; Binoculars; Photographic apparatus and instruments; Camera lenses; Digital cameras; Video cameras; Cameras; Cameras (photography); Motion-picture cameras for self-developing film; Camera hoods; Shutter releases (for cameras); Flashlights (photography); Lens filters (for cameras); Scientific apparatus and instruments; Apparatus for recording of sound; Apparatus for transmission of sound; Apparatus for reproduction of sound; Apparatus for recording of images; Apparatus for transmission of images; Apparatus for reproduction of images; Lens hoods; Straps for cameras; USB dock; Teleconverters; Mount converter; Tripod socket; Lens caps; Camera cage; Electronic calendars; Electronic books; Loupes; Batteries; Chargers for batteries; Grips for cameras; AC adaptors; Viewfinders for cameras; Electronic viewfinders; Bags for cameras and photographic equipment; Filter holder; DC connector; Macro flash adapter; Power grips; Strap holders; Lens cap holder; Camera lens cases.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
26 - Small items for dressmaking; artifical flowers; false hair
Goods & Services
(1) Lenses; Optical lenses; Optical apparatus and instruments; Cinematographic cameras; Camera lenses (for photographing); Cinematographic machine and apparatus; Instruments containing eyepieces; Binoculars; Photographic apparatus and instruments; Camera lenses; Digital cameras; Video cameras; Cameras; Cameras (photography); Motion-picture cameras for self-developing film; Camera hoods; Shutter releases (for cameras); Flashlights (photography); Lens filters (for cameras); Scientific apparatus and instruments; Apparatus for recording of sound; Apparatus for transmission of sound; Apparatus for reproduction of sound; Apparatus for recording of images; Apparatus for transmission of images; Apparatus for reproduction of images; Lens hoods; Straps for cameras; USB dock; Teleconverters; Mount converter; Tripod socket; Lens caps; Camera cage; Electronic calendars; Electronic books; Loupes; Batteries; Chargers for batteries; Grips for cameras; AC adaptors; Viewfinders for cameras; Electronic viewfinders; Bags for cameras and photographic equipment; Filter holder; DC connector; Macro flash adapter; Power grips; Strap holders; Lens cap holder; Camera lens cases.
To provide an optical system that achieves a reduction in weight while correcting various aberrations, such as chromatic aberration, with appropriate use of a glass material for lenses forming respective lens groups. Provided is an optical system characterized in that an object-side lens group GF and an image-side lens group GR are arranged in order from an object side, and the optical system includes a lens LA that satisfies a predetermined conditional expression.
G02B 27/00 - Optical systems or apparatus not provided for by any of the groups ,
G02B 13/18 - Optical objectives specially designed for the purposes specified below with lenses having one or more non-spherical faces, e.g. for reducing geometrical aberration
G02B 13/00 - Optical objectives specially designed for the purposes specified below
An imaging optical system includes: sequentially from an object side, a first lens group G1 having a positive refractive power, a front lens group GF having a negative refractive power, and a rear lens group GR having a positive refractive power; wherein for zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, a distance between G1 and GF increases, a distance between GF and GR decreases, and G1 monotonously moves to an object side, G1 has at least one negative lens, GF includes a lens group having a negative refractive power of 1 or more, GR has a final lens group GL arranged closest to an image plane I side, and is fixed to I, and does not move for zooming and focusing, GL has a vibration reduction lens group movable in a direction including a perpendicular component with respect to an optical axis, and prescribed conditional expressions are satisfied.
G02B 15/14 - Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective
G02B 13/02 - Telephoto objectives, i.e. systems of the type + – in which the distance from the front vertex to the image plane is less than the equivalent focal length
G02B 15/20 - Optical objectives with means for varying the magnification by axial movement of one or more lenses or groups of lenses relative to the image plane for continuously varying the equivalent focal length of the objective with interdependent non-linearly related movements between one lens or lens group, and another lens or lens group having an additional movable lens or lens group for varying the objective focal length
27.
Pipelined row decoder topology for faster imager row decoding
An imaging array includes a plurality of rows of pixel sensors. A timing pattern generator generates timing pattern control signals and provide the timing pattern control signals to every row in the array. Timing pattern control signals generated during a timing pattern period directed to operate the pixel sensors in a selected row. A latched row driver circuit includes an enable latch in each row of the array responsive to a row address enable signal provided prior to the timing pattern period to gate the timing pattern control signals to the pixel sensors in the selected row at the start of the timing pattern period. A row address generator circuit is coupled to the timing pattern generator and to the enable latches in each row of the array to generate the row address enable signal for each selected row prior to the timing pattern period.
H04N 5/374 - Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
H04N 5/378 - Readout circuits, e.g. correlated double sampling [CDS] circuits, output amplifiers or A/D converters
H04N 5/3745 - Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors having additional components embedded within a pixel or connected to a group of pixels within a sensor matrix, e.g. memories, A/D converters, pixel amplifiers, shared circuits or shared components
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Photographic image sensors; optical sensors; computer hardware; electronic integrated circuits; encoders; electronic circuit boards; sensor chips; semiconductor chips; silicon chips; system on a chip; printed circuits; integrated circuits; digital image processors; imaging systems comprised of computers and imaging software for capturing, editing and printing images; imaging integrated circuits contained in digital cameras; equipment for photography, including cameras, lenses for photography, lens adapters, intermediate rings, flashes; software for digital image processing; cameras; electronic cameras and imaging systems; digital cameras; electronic photographic cameras and imaging systems comprised of computers and imaging software for capturing, editing and printing images; parts and fittings for all the aforesaid goods.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Photographic image sensors; optical sensors; computer hardware; electronic integrated circuits; encoders; electronic circuit boards; sensor chips; semiconductor chips; silicon chips; system on a chip; printed circuits; integrated circuits; digital image processors; imaging systems comprised of computers and imaging software for capturing, editing and printing images; imaging integrated circuits contained in digital cameras; equipment for photography, including cameras, lenses for photography, lens adapters, intermediate rings, flashes; software for digital image processing; cameras; electronic cameras and imaging systems; digital cameras; electronic photographic cameras and imaging systems comprised of computers and imaging software for capturing, editing and printing images; parts and fittings for all the aforesaid goods.
A switchable amplifier and comparator circuit includes an operational amplifier having an inverting input, a non-inverting input, a first differential output and a second differential output, the first differential output switchably coupled to the inverting input and the second differential output switchably coupled to the non-inverting input. A first feedback capacitor is coupled to the inverting input and switchably coupled to the first differential output, a second feedback capacitor is coupled to the non-inverting input and switchably coupled to the second differential output. A capacitive load is switchably coupled between the first differential output and the second differential output. A diode clamp circuit is switchably coupled between the first differential output and the second differential output. A resistive load is switchably coupled between the first differential output and the second differential output.
In an array of multi-color vertical detector color pixel sensors, a readout wiring architecture includes a transfer transistor for each individual color detector. In first and second rows in a first column, the first, second, and third color transfer transistor gates are coupled, respectively, to the first, second, and third row-select lines. In a first row in a second column, the first color transfer transistor gate is coupled to the second row-select line, the second color transfer transistor gate is coupled to the first row-select line, and the third color transfer transistor gate is coupled to the third row-select line. In a second row in the second column, the first color transfer transistor gate is coupled to the first row-select line, the second color transfer transistor gate is coupled to the third row-select line, and t the third color transfer transistor gate is coupled to the second row-select line.
In an array containing rows and columns of multi-color vertical detector color pixel sensors disposed in a rows and columns of the array, a readout wiring architecture includes a plurality of row-select lines for each row of the array, equal to the number of colors in the vertical detector color pixel sensors, an individual column line for each column, a transfer transistor for each individual color detector coupled between a color detector and a column line associated with the column in which the color detector is disposed. Each transfer transistor has a gate coupled to one of the plurality of row-select lines in a row in which the vertical detector color pixel sensor is disposed. The gates of at least some of the transfer transistors in each row for each color detector in adjacent columns of the array are coupled to different ones of the row-select lines for that row.
A focal plane phase detect pixel sensor is formed on a substrate and includes a surface pixel sensor formed in a pixel sensor area at a surface of the substrate. The surface pixel sensor has a sensing area occupying no more than an adjacent pair of quadrants centered in the pixel sensor area. A microlens is disposed over the surface pixel sensor.
A pixel sensor array includes a plurality of surface pixel sensors disposed in a substrate, a layer of dielectric material formed over the surface of the pixel sensors, a plurality of apertures formed in the dielectric layer each aligned with one of the surface pixel sensors and having an inner side wall. A lining layer is formed on the inner side wall of each aperture and is substantially fully reflective to visible light. The lining layer is spaced apart from the surface of the substrate and has a smaller cross-sectional area than a cross-sectional area of each surface pixel sensor. A filler material substantially transparent to visible light is disposed inside of the reflective lining layer and has a top surface lying in the plane with the top surface of the layer of dielectric material. A microlens is disposed over the top surface of each aperture.
H01L 31/062 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof adapted as photovoltaic [PV] conversion devices characterised by at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier the potential barriers being only of the metal-insulator-semiconductor type
A method for performing restoration for highlights and saturated regions in a digital image includes analyzing the pixels in the image and compensating an appropriate amount to identified highlights and saturated pixels. For a pixel with vertical color channels, the output for each channel is highly correlated, and each color channel can be recovered as a combination of the other channels. Each selected pixel in the highlights or saturated regions is identified as a restorable pixel only if at least two color channels of the pixel are not saturated. For each restorable pixel, a replacement pixel value is generated by using the equation derived from the color channels correlation. For pixels where more than one color channel is saturated, the similarity is calculated between these pixels and restored pixels. These pixels can be compensated using the combination of the similarity index and the pixel values of other color channels.
A method for performing restoration for highlights and saturated regions in a digital image includes analyzing the pixels in the image and compensating an appropriate amount to identified highlights and saturated pixels. For a pixel with vertical color channels, the output for each channel is highly correlated, and each color channel can be recovered as a combination of the other channels. Each selected pixel in the highlights or saturated regions is identified as a restorable pixel only if at least two color channels of the pixel are not saturated. For each restorable pixel, a replacement pixel value is generated by using the equation derived from the color channels correlation. For pixels where more than one color channel is saturated, the similarity is calculated between these pixels and restored pixels. These pixels can be compensated using the combination of the similarity index and the pixel values of other color channels.
A method for performing color density filtering of images captured in a digital camera having a mechanical shutter and an imaging array including a plurality of pixels each including different color sensors aligned with each other, including opening the mechanical shutter, resetting all of the color sensors in each pixel by asserting a row reset signal, separately asserting color-select signals for each color after the mechanical shutter is opened, independently starting exposure for each different color sensor at a color sensor exposure start time by de-asserting its color select signal, the exposure start time for each different color sensor being a function of a color density filter function, closing the mechanical shutter, and reading color exposure values from the color sensors by separately asserting color-select signals after the mechanical shutter has closed, the reading being unrelated to the start times for the color sensors.
In an imaging array having a plurality of pixel sensors arranged in a plurality of rows and columns, pixel data being read out on column lines of the array, a column line voltage clamp circuit for column lines of the array includes a master voltage clamp circuit coupled to provide a reference voltage clamp level on a reference node, and a slave voltage clamp circuit coupled to each column line in the imaging array, each slave voltage clamp circuit configured to clamp voltage on the column line to a column voltage clamp level derived from the reference voltage level.
H04N 5/378 - Readout circuits, e.g. correlated double sampling [CDS] circuits, output amplifiers or A/D converters
H04N 5/16 - Circuitry for reinsertion of DC and slowly varying components of signalCircuitry for preservation of black or white level
H04N 5/18 - Circuitry for reinsertion of DC and slowly varying components of signalCircuitry for preservation of black or white level by means of "clamp" circuit operated by switching circuit
H04N 5/359 - Noise processing, e.g. detecting, correcting, reducing or removing noise applied to excess charges produced by the exposure, e.g. smear, blooming, ghost image, crosstalk or leakage between pixels
41.
Electronically controlled graduated density filters in stacked image sensors
In a digital camera having an imaging array including a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, the digital camera having a mechanical shutter, a method for performing neutral density filtering of images captured by the imaging array, the method comprising opening the mechanical shutter, operating each row in the array by resetting all of the pixel sensors in the row, starting exposure for all of the pixel sensors in the row, closing the mechanical shutter, reading pixel values from the pixels in the array after the mechanical shutter has closed at a time unrelated to a time at which any pixel-select signal was de-asserted, and wherein the interval of time between starting exposure for all of the pixel sensors in the row and closing the mechanical shutter for each row a function of a neutral density filter function applied to an image to be captured.
A pixel sensor array includes a plurality of pixel sensors having a first gain and a plurality of pixel sensors having a second gain less than the first gain.
A method for chroma denoising a digital image created in a digital camera includes decomposing the digital image into a plurality of spatial frequency bands. A separate modified color correction matrix is calculated from a color correction matrix associated with the camera for each of the plurality of spatial frequency bands. Each modified color correction matrix is applied to data in its corresponding spatial frequency band to produce color-corrected data in the plurality of spatial frequency bands. The color-corrected data in plurality of spatial frequency bands is combined to produce an output image.
A method for performing highlight restoration on a digital image includes comparing the pixels in the image with a saturation level value to identify saturated pixels. A saturation map of saturated pixels is generated. Each selected saturated pixel is identified as a restorable pixel only if at least one color channel of the pixel is unsaturated. For each restorable pixel, a group of the closest unsaturated pixels above, below, to the left, and to the right of the select saturated pixel is identified. A replacement pixel value is generated for each saturated color channel of the restorable pixel, using a combination of the pixel values of the unsaturated color channels of the restorable pixel and the pixel values of the corresponding color channels of the nearby unsaturated pixels.
A method for performing highlight restoration on a digital image includes comparing the pixels in the image with a saturation level value to identify saturated pixels. A saturation map of saturated pixels is generated. Each selected saturated pixel is identified as a restorable pixel only if at least one color channel of the pixel is unsaturated. For each restorable pixel, a group of the closest unsaturated pixels above, below, to the left, and to the right of the select saturated pixel is identified. A replacement pixel value is generated for each saturated color channel of the restorable pixel, using a combination of the pixel values of the unsaturated color channels of the restorable pixel and the pixel values of the corresponding color channels of the nearby unsaturated pixels.
A method for performing column/row pattern suppression in a digital input image includes creating a smoothed version of the input image by averaging a set of columns/rows neighboring around the column/row being corrected. A difference image is constructed by subtracting the smoothed image from the input image. New column/row intensities are computed from the difference image. An output image is constructed with suppressed column/row patterns by subtracting the new column/row intensities from the input image.
A method for generating a ramp comprises providing a voltage reference source, providing a summing amplifier, providing n switched capacitor elements coupled in parallel between the voltage reference source and the summing amplifier, and selectively activating a predetermined number of the switched capacitor elements to first store charge on each activated switched capacitor element and then to measure the sum of the charges on the activated capacitor switch elements in each of a fixed-integer number of time slots in a cyclical manner, the predetermined number being between 0 and n.
A pixel sensor array includes a plurality of pixel sensors having a first gain and a plurality of pixel sensors having a second gain less than the first gain.
A method for performing highlight restoration on a digital image includes comparing the pixels in the image with a saturation level value to identify saturated pixels. A saturation map of saturated pixels is generated. Each selected saturated pixel is identified as a restorable pixel only if at least one color channel of the pixel is unsaturated. For each restorable pixel, a group of the closest unsaturated pixels above, below, to the left, and to the right of the select saturated pixel is identified. A replacement pixel value is generated for each saturated color channel of the restorable pixel, using a combination of the pixel values of the unsaturated color channels of the restorable pixel and the pixel values of the corresponding color channels of the nearby unsaturated pixels.
A method for suppressing structured noise in a digital image includes creating a smoothed version of the original image. Monotonic and slowly-varying image regions are detected by analyzing a residual image which is the function of the original image and its smoothed version. A local window is defined in each pixel location identified in the thresholding process as the location with structured noise and samples inside the window are randomly permuted to randomize the noise structures. A noise-filtered version of the original residual image is generated. The noise-filtered residual and the smoothed version of the original image are combined to produce a final image.
A method for performing column/row pattern suppression in a digital input image includes creating a smoothed version of the input image by averaging a set of columns/rows neighboring around the column/row being corrected. A difference image is constructed by subtracting the smoothed image from the input image. New column/row intensities are computed from the difference image. An output image is constructed with suppressed column/row patterns by subtracting the new column/row intensities from the input image.
A method for sharpening an original digital image includes generating a smoothed image from the original image. A residual image is generated from the smoothed image and the original image. A sharpened smoothed image is generated. The residual image and the sharpened smoothed image are combined to produce a sharpened version of the original image.
A method for adjusting the brightness of a captured image from a digital camera includes calculating a reference exposure value using the capture parameters and calculating an actual exposure value as a function of ambient illumination parameters. The reference exposure and actual exposure values are compared to determine an actual image saturation value. The actual image saturation value is compared with the saturation value of the image sensor to determine a brightness adjustment factor, and the captured image is adjusted to compensate for overexposure or underexposure in response to the brightness adjustment factor. The image is scaled up or down using the brightness adjustment factor if the actual image saturation value is less than or more than the saturation value of the image sensor used to capture the image.
A method for replacing defective pixels in a digital color image includes determining whether each pixel has defective data in a selected color channel; for the pixel, determining whether a first reference color channel exists and, if so, correcting the defective data by defining a group of neighboring pixels; for each of m neighboring pixels having non-defective data in the selected color channel and the reference color channel, computing a sum of the differences between the non-defective data in the selected color channel and the non-defective data in the first reference color channel; adding the sum of the differences divided by m to the non-defective data value from the first reference color channel to obtain a result; dividing the result by two to obtain a substitution data value; and substituting the substitution data value for the defective data.
A method for identifying singleton outlier pixels in a selected color space in a digital image including a plurality of pixels, includes for each 3×3 patch of pixels in the image, calculating the diameter of the 3×3 patch of pixels. For each pixel in the patch, the distance to its nearest neighbor pixel within the patch is computed, as measured in the selected color space. The computed distance from each pixel in the patch is compared to its nearest neighbor with a threshold that is a preselected fraction of the diameter. A center pixel in the patch is identified as an outlier pixel if its calculated distance to its nearest neighbor is the largest distance to a nearest neighbor and exceeds the threshold.
G06K 9/56 - Combinations of preprocessing functions using a local operator, i.e. means to operate on an elementary image point in terms of the immediate surroundings of this point
A method for forming a photodiode cathode in an integrated circuit imager includes defining and implanting a photodiode cathode region with a photodiode cathode implant dose of a dopant species and defining and implanting an edge region of the photodiode cathode region with a photodiode cathode edge implant dose of a dopant species to form a region of higher impurity concentration than the photodiode cathode impurity concentration.
An active pixel sensor in a p-type semiconductor body includes an n-type common node formed below a pinning region. A plurality of n-type blue detectors more lightly doped than the common node are disposed below pinning regions and are spaced apart from the common node forming channels below blue color-select gates. A buried green photocollector is coupled to the surface through a first deep contact spaced apart from the common node forming a channel below a green color-select gate. A red photocollector buried deeper than the green photocollector is coupled to the surface through a second deep contact spaced apart from the common node forming a channel below a red color-select gate. A reset-transistor has a source disposed over and in contact with the common node. A source-follower transistor has gate coupled to the common node, a drain coupled to a power-supply node, and a source forming a pixel-sensor output.
An array of multicolor CMOS pixel sensors has a plurality of photosensors per pixel, each photosensor coupled to a single sense node through a select transistor having a select input, each pixel sensor including a reset transistor coupled to the sense node and having a reset input, an amplifier coupled to the sense node and a row-select transistor coupled to the amplifier. The select inputs and the reset inputs for pixel sensors in a pair of adjacent rows are coupled to select signal lines and reset signal lines associated with the pair of rows. The amplifier transistors in individual columns of each row are coupled to a column output line through a row-select transistor having a row-select input. The row-select inputs for pixel sensors in each row of the array are coupled to a row-select line associated with the row.
A pixel sensor comprises a first reset transistor having a drain coupled to a first potential, a gate coupled to a first reset line, and a source. A second reset transistor has a drain coupled to the first reset transistor source, a gate coupled to a second reset line, and a source coupled to a photodiode cathode. A source-follower transistor has a drain coupled to the first reset transistor source, a gate coupled to the photodiode cathode, and a source. A row-select transistor has a drain coupled to the source-follower transistor source, a gate coupled to a row-select signal line, and a source coupled to a column output line. An array of these pixel sensors further comprises timing and readout circuits that control the transistors in the pixel sensor to effect a reset operation that cancels the fixed pattern of threshold variations of the source-follower transistors.
Systems and methods of providing spatially dependent image exposure information to a user of a digital camera. The described approach is applicable to determination of image exposure quality in a digital camera system. In these applications an image is displayed in a first display mode wherein the exposure information is overlaid on the image or in a second display mode wherein the exposure information is eliminated or reduced and thus is less obstructive of the image. In the second display mode, a separate exposure warning optionally conveys a subset of the information displayed in the first display mode. The invention includes a user input operable to temporarily specify a change in the display of the image between the first mode and the second mode while an image is displayed, thus providing the user with direct control of the presence and duration of spatially dependent image exposure information.
An active pixel sensor in a p-type semiconductor body includes an n-type common node formed below a pinning region. A plurality of n-type blue detectors more lightly doped than the common node are disposed below pinning regions and are spaced apart from the common node forming channels below blue color-select gates. A buried green photocollector is coupled to the surface through a first deep contact spaced apart from the common node forming a channel below a green color-select gate. A red photocollector buried deeper than the green photocollector is coupled to the surface through a second deep contact spaced apart from the common node forming a channel below a red color-select gate. A reset-transistor has a source disposed over and in contact with the common node. A source-follower transistor has gate coupled to the common node, a drain coupled to a power-supply node, and a source forming a pixel- sensor output.
An active CMOS pixel sensor includes a red photodiode and a green photodiode coupled to sense nodes. Blue photodiodes are coupled to a blue sense node through select transistors. A blue reset transistor is coupled between a supply node and the blue sense node. A source-follower transistor is coupled to the blue sense node. A blue row-select transistor is coupled to the source-follower transistor and a biased blue column line. Red and green amplifier transistors have gates coupled to sense nodes, drains coupled to a supply node, and sources. Red and green reset transistors have drains coupled to the drains of the amplifier transistors, sources coupled to the sense nodes. Feedback capacitors couple the sense nodes to the reset transistor drains. Red and green row-select transistors have drains coupled to the sources of the amplifier transistors, sources coupled to biased column lines, and gates coupled to a red-green row-select line.
H04N 3/14 - Scanning details of television systemsCombination thereof with generation of supply voltages by means not exclusively optical-mechanical by means of electrically scanned solid-state devices
63.
CMOS pixel sensor with depleted photocollectors and a depleted common node
An active pixel sensor in a p-type semiconductor body includes an n-type common node formed below a pinning region. A plurality of n-type blue detectors more lightly doped than the common node are disposed below pinning regions and are spaced apart from the common node forming channels below blue color-select gates. A buried green photocollector is coupled to the surface through a first deep contact spaced apart from the common node forming a channel below a green color-select gate. A red photocollector buried deeper than the green photocollector is coupled to the surface through a second deep contact spaced apart from the common node forming a channel below a red color-select gate. A reset-transistor has a source disposed over and in contact with the common node. A source-follower transistor has gate coupled to the common node, a drain coupled to a power-supply node, and a source forming a pixel-sensor output.
A multicolor CMOS pixel sensor formed in a p-type semiconductor region includes a first detector formed from an n-type region of semiconductor material located near the surface of the p-type region. A first pinned p-type region is formed at the surface of the p-type region over the first detector, and has a surface portion extending past an edge of the pinned p-type region. A second detector is formed from an n-type region located in the p-type semiconductor region below the first detector. A second-detector n-type deep contact plug is in contact with the second detector and extends to the surface of the p-type semiconductor region. A second pinned p-type region is formed at the surface of the p-type semiconductor region over the top of the second-detector n-type deep contact plug. A surface portion of the second-detector deep contact plug extends past an edge of the second pinned p-type region.
H01L 31/062 - SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES NOT COVERED BY CLASS - Details thereof adapted as photovoltaic [PV] conversion devices characterised by at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier the potential barriers being only of the metal-insulator-semiconductor type
A multicolor CMOS pixel sensor formed in a p-type semiconductor region includes a first detector formed from an n-type region of semiconductor material located near the surface of the p-type region. A first pinned p-type region is formed at the surface of the p-type region over the first detector, and has a surface portion extending past an edge of the pinned p-type region. A second detector is formed from an n-type region located in the p-type semiconductor region below the first detector. A second-detector n-type deep contact plug is in contact with the second detector and extends to the surface of the p-type semiconductor region. A second pinned p-type region is formed at the surface of the p-type semiconductor region over the top of the second-detector n-type deep contact plug. A surface portion of the second-detector deep contact plug extends past an edge of the second pinned p-type region.
H01L 31/113 - Devices sensitive to infrared, visible or ultraviolet radiation characterised by field-effect operation, e.g. junction field-effect photo- transistor being of the conductor-insulator- semiconductor type, e.g. metal- insulator-semiconductor field-effect transistor
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
35 - Advertising and business services
36 - Financial, insurance and real estate services
42 - Scientific, technological and industrial services, research and design
Goods & Services
(1) Close-up lenses, lenses namely, lenses for cameras, lens converters for cameras, flash lighting units for use with photographic equipment, parts and accessories for the aforesaid goods namely, remote controls for cameras, filters for camera lenses, data backs which imprint the date or time on a picture; cases for lenses, cases for cameras.
(2) Optical instruments namely, binoculars. (1) Providing information about products, supporting information, new information and answers to frequent questions relating to cameras, lenses, flash units for use with photographic equipment by means of the web site of the applicant company.
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
Equipment for photography, including cameras, lenses for photography, lens adapters, intermediate rings, flashes; optical instruments, including binoculars.
