A dual-aperture camera comprising a first camera having a first sensor and a first image signal processor (ISP), the first camera operative to output a first stream of frames, a second camera having a second sensor and a second ISP, the second camera operative to output a second stream of frames, and a synchronization and operation control module configurable to control operation of one camera in a fully operational mode and operation of the other camera in a partially operational mode and to output an output of the fully operational camera as a dual-aperture camera output, whereby the partially operational mode of the other camera reduces a dual-aperture camera the power consumption in comparison with a full operational mode of the other camera.

Various embodiments may include methods and systems for configuring synchronous multipoint photography. Various embodiments may include displaying preview images on initiating and responding devices. Various embodiments may include determining an adjustment to the orientation of a responding device based on the preview images. Various embodiments may include transmitting an instruction configured to enable the responding device to display a notification for adjusting the position or the orientation of the responding device based at least on the adjustment. Various embodiments may include transmitting, to the responding device, a second instruction to enable the responding device to capture a second image at approximately the same time as the initiating device captures a first image. Embodiments further include capturing, via a camera, the first image, receiving, from the responding device, s second image, and generating an image file based on the first image and the second image.

An image capture apparatus acquires exposure delay times and communication delay times of respective other image capture apparatuses, the exposure delay times being information of times from when the other image capture apparatuses receive a shooting command until when the other image capture apparatuses start exposure, the communication delay times being information of times required in communication with the other image capture apparatuses, and determines a common delay time based on the acquired communication delay times and exposure delay times of the respective other image capture apparatuses, the common delay time being delay time information that is common to all of the other image capture apparatuses, and upon accepting a shooting instruction, transmits the shooting command including a common timing obtained from the common delay time to the other image capture apparatuses.

Methods, devices, systems and computer software/program code products include techniques for creating a deep frame buffer, such techniques being implementable in conjunction with an apparatus comprising a main camera and an array of buddy cameras, the main camera and the buddy cameras being operable to capture images; and techniques for creating at least one depth buffer, such techniques being implementable in conjunction with an apparatus comprising at least two cameras.

A dual-aperture camera comprising a first camera having a first sensor and a first image signal processor (ISP), the first camera operative to output a first stream of frames, a second camera having a second sensor and a second ISP, the second camera operative to output a second stream of frames, and a synchronization and operation control module configurable to control operation of one camera in a fully operational mode and operation of the other camera in a partially operational mode and to output an output of the fully operational camera as a dual-aperture camera output, whereby the partially operational mode of the other camera reduces a dual-aperture camera the power consumption in comparison with a full operational mode of the other camera.

An embodiment of the present invention is an imaging system in which a camera unit and a control unit are connected by a video signal transmission line and a clock line, and the camera unit and the control unit operate in synchronization with each other by a horizontal synchronization signal and a vertical synchronization signal indicating reading timing of the video signal. The camera unit includes a signal analysis circuit configured to encode information superimposed on a master clock, and encode a register control signal superimposed on the master clock using a camera clock based on timing of the horizontal synchronization signal or the vertical synchronization signal, and write an imaging condition indicated by the register control signal to a register.

An embodiment of the present invention is an imaging system in which a camera unit and a control unit are connected by a video signal transmission line and a clock line, and the camera unit and the control unit operate in synchronization with each other by a horizontal synchronization signal and a vertical synchronization signal indicating reading timing of the video signal. The camera unit includes a signal analysis circuit configured to encode information superimposed on a master clock, and encode a register control signal superimposed on the master clock using a camera clock based on timing of the horizontal synchronization signal or the vertical synchronization signal, and write an imaging condition indicated by the register control signal to a register.

Before capture of images, capture aspects of image capture devices (e.g., movement of image capture devices, sounds around image capture devices, GPS times of image capture devices) may be used to identify matching clock times of the image capture devices. Start of image capture by the image capture devices may be restricted using the matching clock times to time-synchronize images captured by different image capture devices.

An array imaging apparatus having discrete camera modules is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a substrate; and heterogeneous camera modules attached to the substrate and in a geometric relationship with each other, the heterogeneous camera modules having a substantially similar photometric response.

An array imaging apparatus having discrete camera modules is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a substrate; and heterogeneous camera modules attached to the substrate and in a geometric relationship with each other, the heterogeneous camera modules having a substantially similar photometric response.