A method (50) of acquiring images of a terrestrial region Z using a spacecraft (10) in non-geostationary orbit around the Earth (30), the spacecraft includes an observation instrument associated with a ground footprint of length L along the direction of travel, the method includes: a step (51) of observing a portion P1 of the terrestrial region Z, including a step of controlling the attitude of the spacecraft (10) during which the ground footprint is kept stationary during the entirety of the step of observing portion P1, and a step of acquiring an image of portion P1, a step (52) of modifying the pitch attitude of the spacecraft (10) so as to place the ground footprint over a portion P2 of the terrestrial region Z, and a step (53) of observing portion P2 of the terrestrial region.

A photoelectric conversion element includes a first pixel array including first light-receiving sections arranged in a direction and a second pixel array including second light-receiving sections arranged in the direction. Each of the first light-receiving sections includes a first pixel configured to receive at least light having a first wavelength inside a visible spectrum and a first pixel circuit configured to transmit a signal from the first pixel to a subsequent stage. Each of the second light-receiving sections includes a second pixel configured to receive at least light having a second wavelength outside the visible spectrum and a second pixel circuit configured to transmit a signal from the second pixel to the subsequent stage. The second pixel circuit is provided in a vicinity of the second pixel.

There is provided a light-receiving element including: an on-chip lens; an interconnection layer; and a semiconductor layer arranged between the on-chip lens and the interconnection layer, the semiconductor layer including a photodiode, an interpixel trench portion engraved up to at least a part in a depth direction of the semiconductor layer at a boundary portion of an adjacent pixel, and an in-pixel trench portion engraved at a prescribed depth from a front surface or a rear surface of the semiconductor layer at a position overlapping a part of the photodiode in a plan view.

In one example, an apparatus comprises a first photodiode, a second photodiode, a first floating diffusion, a second floating diffusion, a quantizer, and a controller. The controller can enable the first photodiode and the second photodiode to generate and accumulate photo charge within an exposure period, and use the quantizer to quantize reset voltages at the first floating diffusion and at the second floating diffusion to generate a first digital reset value and a second digital reset value. After the exposure period ends, the controller can transfer the photo charge from the first photodiode and the second photodiode to, respectively, the first floating diffusion and the second floating diffusion to generate a first signal voltage and a second signal voltage, and quantize the signal voltages into digital signal values using the quantizer. Digital representations can be generated based on the digital reset values and the digital signal values.

Provided is an imaging device capable of adaptively acquiring a captured image according to an imaging condition. An imaging device (1) according to an embodiment includes: an imaging unit (10) that includes a pixel array (110) including a plurality of pixel groups each including N×N pixels (100) (N is an integer of 2 or more), and outputs a pixel signal read from each pixel; and a switching unit (14) that switches a reading mode in which the pixel signal is read from each of the pixels by the imaging unit, in which the switching unit switches the reading mode between an addition mode in which the pixel signals read from the N×N pixels included in the pixel group are added to form one pixel signal and an individual mode in which each of the pixel signals read from the N×N pixels included in the pixel group is individually output.

Provided is a spectral filter, and an image sensor and an electronic device each including the spectral filter. The spectral filter includes: at least one first filter having a central wavelength in a first wavelength region; and at least one second filter having a central wavelength in a second wavelength region. The first filter includes: a plurality of first metal reflection layers vertically spaced apart from each other; and at least one first cavity provided between the plurality of first metal reflection layers. The second filter includes: a second metal reflection layer and a Bragg reflection layer vertically spaced apart from each other; and at least one second cavity disposed between the second metal reflection layer and the Bragg reflection layer.

A digital loupe system is provided which can include a number of features. In one embodiment, the digital loupe system can include a stereo camera pair and a distance sensor. The system can further include a processor configured to perform a transformation to image signals from the stereo camera pair based on a distance measurement from the distance sensor and from camera calibration information. In some examples, the system can use the depth information and the calibration information to correct for parallax between the cameras to provide a multi-channel image. Ergonomic head mounting systems are also provided. In some implementations, the head mounting systems can be configurable to support the weight of a digital loupe system, including placing one or two oculars in a line of sight with an eye of a user, while improving overall ergonomics, including peripheral vision, comfort, stability, and adjustability. Methods of use are also provided.

An example apparatus includes a light projecting system, a light receiving system, and a controller. The light projecting system projects beams of light of a wavelength that is invisible. The beams form a pattern on a surface when the beams are incident upon the surface. The light receiving system acquires an image of the pattern on the surface. The controller calculates a distance to the surface based on the image. The light receiving system includes a lens, an imaging sensor, and a bandpass filter. The imaging sensor includes a first subset of photodetectors sensitive to wavelengths of light that are visible and a second subset of photodetectors sensitive to the wavelength of light that is invisible. The bandpass filter includes a first passband whose range corresponds to the wavelengths of light that are visible and a second passband whose range corresponds to the wavelength of light that is invisible.

Embodiments of the invention provide an image sensor image sensor including an image sensor structure. The image sensor structure includes a multitude of image elements arranged in a grid-shaped manner in a first direction and in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction. An image element of the multitude of image elements includes a plurality of filter elements spatially arranged side by side. The plurality of filter elements includes at least one color filter and at least one additional filter from a filter group. The filter group includes a first absorption filter with a first optical bandwidth, a second absorption filter with a second optical bandwidth different from the first optical bandwidth, a first polarization filter with a first polarization characteristic, a second polarization filter with a second polarization characteristic different from the first polarization characteristic, and a filter element without absorption effect or polarization effect.

A method for converting an image format applied to an RGB-IR image sensor includes: (Step 1) acquiring an RGB-IR image in digital form; (Step 2) selecting a pixel of the RGB-IR image as a center pixel and selecting a pixel unit with the center pixel at the center; (Step 3) interpolating the center pixel to obtain missing color components of the center pixel; (Step 4) repeating blocks (S2) and (S3) for interpolating each pixel of the RGB-IR image to obtain the missing color component of each pixel; and (Step 5) outputting an image after the interpolation process.