A device for detecting the surroundings of a vehicle and a method for detecting the surroundings, and a vehicle designed to carry out said method comprise a camera module, a camera control apparatus, an analysis unit and an illumination device. The illumination device is formed by a matrix headlight of the vehicle and is designed such that it can project a light pattern into the surroundings. The projected light pattern is imaged in the detection region of the camera module and the 3D position of measurement points formed by the light pattern in the surroundings is determined by the analysis unit. However, the illumination device projects the light pattern only into regions of the surroundings in which the analysis unit has ascertained, based on image data, a value that is critical for 3D position determination.

A system for generating a signal includes a touchpad including touch cells and a touch detection device for detecting the location and intensity of a pressure exerted on the touchpad; a first computer generating a first instruction based on the location and intensity of the pressure; an optical detection device for detecting a movement and/or a position, including optics for capturing images; a second computer for determining a motion parameter based on the captured images and for generating a second instruction based on the parameter; and a signal generator for producing a second signal based on the first instruction or on a first signal extracted from the first instruction, to which there is applied a special effect extracted from the second instruction; or on the second instruction or on a first signal extracted from the second instruction, to which there is applied a special effect extracted from the first instruction.

A long-baseline and long depth-range stereo vision system is provided that is suitable for use in non-rigid assemblies where relative motion between two or more cameras of the system does not degrade estimates of a depth map. The stereo vision system may include a processor that tracks camera parameters as a function of time to rectify images from the cameras even during fast and slow perturbations to camera positions. Factory calibration of the system is not needed, and manual calibration during regular operation is not needed, thus simplifying manufacturing of the system.

A long-baseline and long depth-range stereo vision system is provided that is suitable for use in non-rigid assemblies where relative motion between two or more cameras of the system does not degrade estimates of a depth map. The stereo vision system may include a processor that tracks camera parameters as a function of time to rectify images from the cameras even during fast and slow perturbations to camera positions. Factory calibration of the system is not needed, and manual calibration during regular operation is not needed, thus simplifying manufacturing of the system.

A camera system. In some embodiments, the camera system includes a first laser, a camera, and a processing circuit connected to the first laser and to the camera. The first laser may be steerable, and the camera may include a pixel including a photodetector and a pixel circuit, the pixel circuit including a first time-measuring circuit.

A processor or control circuit of an apparatus receives data of an image based on sensing by one or more image sensors. The processor or control circuit also detects a region of interest (ROI) in the image. The processor or control circuit then adaptively controls a light projector with respect to projecting light toward the ROI.

A camera module according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: an illumination unit for outputting a signal of incident light irradiated to an object; a lens unit for collecting a signal of reflection light reflected from the object, an image sensor unit for generating an electric signal from a reflection light signal collected by the lens unit, a tilting unit for shifting an optical path of the reflection light signal, and an image control unit for extracting a depth map of the object by using a phase difference between the incident light signal with respect to a frame having shifted by the tilting unit and the reflection light signal received by the image sensor unit, wherein the lens unit is disposed on the image sensor unit and includes an infrared (IR) filter disposed on the image sensor unit and at least one lens disposed on the infrared filter, and the tilting unit controls tilt of the infrared filter.

A camera module according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: an illumination unit for outputting a signal of incident light irradiated to an object; a lens unit for collecting a signal of reflection light reflected from the object, an image sensor unit for generating an electric signal from a reflection light signal collected by the lens unit, a tilting unit for shifting an optical path of the reflection light signal, and an image control unit for extracting a depth map of the object by using a phase difference between the incident light signal with respect to a frame having shifted by the tilting unit and the reflection light signal received by the image sensor unit, wherein the lens unit is disposed on the image sensor unit and includes an infrared (IR) filter disposed on the image sensor unit and at least one lens disposed on the infrared filter, and the tilting unit controls tilt of the infrared filter.

A time-of-flight (ToF) image sensor system includes a pixel array, where each pixel of the pixel array is configured to receive a reflected modulated light signal and to demodulate the reflected modulated light signal to generate an electrical signal; a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), where each ADC is coupled to at least one assigned pixel of the pixel array and is configured to convert a corresponding electrical signal generated by the at least one assigned pixel into an actual pixel value; and a binning circuit coupled to the plurality of ADCs and configured to generate at least one interpolated pixel, where the binning circuit is configured to generate each of the at least one interpolated pixel based on actual pixel values corresponding to a different pair of adjacent pixels of the pixel array, each of the at least one interpolated pixel having a virtual pixel value.

A time-of-flight (ToF) image sensor system includes a pixel array, where each pixel of the pixel array is configured to receive a reflected modulated light signal and to demodulate the reflected modulated light signal to generate an electrical signal; a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), where each ADC is coupled to at least one assigned pixel of the pixel array and is configured to convert a corresponding electrical signal generated by the at least one assigned pixel into an actual pixel value; and a binning circuit coupled to the plurality of ADCs and configured to generate at least one interpolated pixel, where the binning circuit is configured to generate each of the at least one interpolated pixel based on actual pixel values corresponding to a different pair of adjacent pixels of the pixel array, each of the at least one interpolated pixel having a virtual pixel value.