To determine a position of an object (100) parallel to the optical axis (120) of an optical device (1), the object (100) is illumined from a first illumination direction (210-1) and from a second illumination direction (210-2) and an image (230-1, 230-2) is acquired in each case. The position of the object (100) is determined based on a distance (250) between imaging locations of the object (220-1, 220-2) in the images (230-1, 230-2).

The present disclosure describes imaging techniques and devices having improved autofocus capabilities. The imaging techniques can include actively illuminating a scene and determining distances over the entire scene and so that a respective distance to each object or point in the scene can be determined. Thus, distances to all objects in a scene (within a particular range) at any given instant can be stored. A preview of the image can be displayed so as to allow a user to select a region of the scene of interest. In response to the user's selection, the imager's optical assembly can be adjusted automatically, for example, to a position that corresponds to optimal image capture of objects at the particular distance of the selected region of the scene.

The present disclosure describes imaging techniques and devices having improved autofocus capabilities. The imaging techniques can include actively illuminating a scene and determining distances over the entire scene and so that a respective distance to each object or point in the scene can be determined. Thus, distances to all objects in a scene (within a particular range) at any given instant can be stored. A preview of the image can be displayed so as to allow a user to select a region of the scene of interest. In response to the user's selection, the imager's optical assembly can be adjusted automatically, for example, to a position that corresponds to optimal image capture of objects at the particular distance of the selected region of the scene.

An electronic device includes at least one optical lens assembly. The optical lens assembly includes four lens elements, and the four lens elements are, in order from an outside to an inside, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element and a fourth lens element. The first lens element has an outside surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof. The second lens element has an inside surface being convex in a paraxial region thereof. The fourth lens element has an inside surface being concave in a paraxial region thereof, wherein at least one of an outside surface and the inside surface of the fourth lens element includes at least one critical point in an off-axis region thereof.

An optical projection system includes an image sensor, a light emitting circuit and a processor. The image sensor is configured to capture an image of a target object. The processor is electrically coupled to the image sensor and the light emitting circuit. The processor is configured to determine a size of the target object, and control the light emitting circuit to emit an optical pattern and to fan out the optical pattern according to the size of the target object, in order to cover the target object.

A reader includes a smartphone configured to read information from an image of a symbol included in a photographed image created by a camera module, and a unit attached to the smartphone. The unit includes a semiconductor laser to display a marker in a photographing range of the camera module. A user simply adjusts the orientation of the reader so that the marker overlaps on the symbol for reading processing of the smartphone, whereby information can be read from the symbol.

The present technology relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image pickup apparatus that enable image data to be compressed using distance information. An image processing apparatus includes an image processing unit that divides an image area of a predetermined image into at least two areas on the basis of distance information obtained by a distance measurement sensor, and executes image processing on at least one of the two areas of the image such that image qualities of the two areas differ. The present technology is applicable to, for example, an image pickup apparatus and the like.

The present technology relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and an image pickup apparatus that enable image data to be compressed using distance information. An image processing apparatus includes an image processing unit that divides an image area of a predetermined image into at least two areas on the basis of distance information obtained by a distance measurement sensor, and executes image processing on at least one of the two areas of the image such that image qualities of the two areas differ. The present technology is applicable to, for example, an image pickup apparatus and the like.

An optical system can include an optical arrangement supported by an optical chassis. A flexure arrangement can support the optical chassis relative to a separate structure to maintain a calibrated distance between optical components of the optical arrangement.

A distance detection device is provided, including a calculating unit that calculates a distance to a detection target using a length of time until floodlighted light is received by a light-receiving unit; a first detecting unit that detects whether detection target changing operation is being performed; a second detecting unit that detects variation in the distance calculated by the calculating unit; a shake correcting optical system that is driven based on a shake detection result and through which the floodlighted light passes; and a control unit that controls driving of the shake correcting optical system using an output from the first detecting unit and an output from the second detecting unit.