An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) mounted with an image sensor, a housing arranged on an upper surface of the PCB and including therein at least one or more lenses, an actuator positioned on the housing, and an electronic circuit pattern layer formed at an non-exposed surface of the housing.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) mounted with an image sensor, a housing arranged on an upper surface of the PCB and including therein at least one or more lenses, an actuator positioned on the housing, and an electronic circuit pattern layer formed at an non-exposed surface of the housing.

An image pickup apparatus having: an image sensor, having an image pickup plane, configured to photoelectrically convert a subject image formed on the image pickup plane to an image signal; a driving actuator configured to rotatably move the image sensor relative to a rotation axis passing through the image pickup plane; an angular velocity detection sensor configured to detect a rotational angular velocity of the image sensor about the rotation axis; a first shutter configured to control an exposure time of the image sensor; a second shutter configured to control the exposure time of the image sensor; and one or more processors configured to: control the driving actuator to reduce rotational shake around the rotation axis based on the rotational angular velocity; and select one of the first shutter and the second shutter to control the exposure time of the image sensor based on the rotational angular velocity.

An apparatus for improving contrast in an image captured by an imaging sensor. The apparatus including: an objective optical system positioned in an optical path of illumination light on an object; an image sensor positioned in the optical path such that light from the objective optical system is incident on the image sensor; a device having a variable transparency positioned at a focal plane of the objective optical system; and a processor configured to: detect a bright spot on the image sensor; and control the device to change a transparency of a portion of the device corresponding to the detected bright spot.

A double-sided image sensor can capture images from two different perspectives during two different time intervals. For example, during a first time period, the image sensor captures the view relative to a first side of an electronic device containing the image sensor, but during a second time period, captures the view relative to a second side of the electronic device. To capture images from multiple views, the double-sided image sensor contains a layer of photodiodes which captures measurements from multiple directions. Moreover, the image sensor includes selectable attenuators (e.g., mechanical shutters or TN attenuators) which control what view the photodiodes are currently capturing. For example, when capturing an image from the backside of the electronic device, one of the selectable attenuators blocks light from striking the photodiodes from the front side, and as such, only the light entering at the backside strikes the photodiodes.

A double-sided image sensor can capture images from two different perspectives during two different time intervals. For example, during a first time period, the image sensor captures the view relative to a first side of an electronic device containing the image sensor, but during a second time period, captures the view relative to a second side of the electronic device. To capture images from multiple views, the double-sided image sensor contains a layer of photodiodes which captures measurements from multiple directions. Moreover, the image sensor includes selectable attenuators (e.g., mechanical shutters or TN attenuators) which control what view the photodiodes are currently capturing. For example, when capturing an image from the backside of the electronic device, one of the selectable attenuators blocks light from striking the photodiodes from the front side, and as such, only the light entering at the backside strikes the photodiodes.

The focal-plane shutter includes a blade drive member, an acceleration member providing a driving force to the drive member, and a lock member reducing bounce of the drive member after blade movement completion and being movable between a first position where a stopper portion thereof enters a movable area of a contact portion of the drive member and a second position where the stopper portion is located outside the movable area. During the blade movement, the contact portion pushes the lock member to move it from the first to second position. Before the blade movement completion, the contact portion is away from the lock member and thereby the lock member is moved from the second to first position by a biasing force. After the completion, the acceleration member pushes the lock member to move it from the first to second position.

System and apparatus including: a plurality of lens elements; and an aperture module coupled to the plurality of lens elements and including an array of pixels, wherein the aperture module is configured to be variable in pattern and transparency. Key words include variable aperture and pixels.

System and apparatus including: a plurality of lens elements; and an aperture module coupled to the plurality of lens elements and including an array of pixels, wherein the aperture module is configured to be variable in pattern and transparency. Key words include variable aperture and pixels.

Provided are a detecting unit that detects that a light-shielding member has passed a predetermined position at the time of the light-shielding member moving to a closed state and to an opened state, and a control unit that changes at least one of a driving start timing at the time of driving a stepping motor and a driving speed at the time of driving the stepping motor, based on the detection results of the detecting unit.