Example embodiments relate to imaging systems and methods for acquisition of multi-spectral images. One example imaging system includes a detector that includes an array of light sensitive elements arranged in rows and columns. Each light sensitive element is configured to generate a signal dependent on an intensity of light incident onto the light sensitive element. The imaging system also includes a plurality of wavelength separating units. Each wavelength separating unit is configured to spatially separate incident light within a wavelength range into a number of wavelength bands distributed along a line. The line is a straight line. Each wavelength band along the line is associated with a mutually unique light sensitive element. Further, the imaging system includes a processing unit configured to define a number of mutually unique clusters of light sensitive elements for summing signals from the light sensitive elements within the respective clusters.

An image sensor has a plurality of rows and columns of pixels, including RGB and bandpass I filters in a predetermined pattern shifted between adjacent columns so that none of the RGBI filters is adjacent the same type of filter. Each pixel includes a photodiode, a transfer gate and a floating diffusion. The transfer gate for all pixels in a pattern is controlled by the same signal, which can be a separate synchronous control signal controlled based on a predefined integration period or an asynchronous signal generated internally by the bandpass filter I and that is compared to a predefined voltage level indicative of a predetermined intensity at filter I. Upon activation of either signal, the integration period for the pixels ends and the charge on the floating diffusion for the R, G and B pixels is digitized in relation to the bandpass pixel I using a ratio-to-digital converter.

A color filter array includes a plurality of pixel filters arranged in a predetermined pattern composed of 2×2 pixel filters including two infrared filters and two visible filters. The two infrared filters in the predetermined pattern are disposed along one diagonal, and the two visible filters in the predetermined pattern are disposed along another diagonal.

An imaging device includes a pixel array including a 4x4 grouping of pixel circuits. The 4x4 grouping of pixel circuits includes four rows and four columns of the pixel array. A plurality of bitlines includes a first bitline, a second bitline, a third bitline, and a fourth bitline. Each one of the first, second, third, and fourth bitlines is coupled to a respective four pixel circuits in the 4x4 grouping of pixel circuits. Each one of the first, second, third, and fourth bitlines is coupled to all four of the rows and to all four of the columns of the 4x4 grouping of pixel circuits.

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.

Provided are a lens device, an imaging apparatus, an optical member, an imaging method, and an imaging program that are used to acquire multispectral images having a good image quality. According to one aspect, a lens device includes: an imaging optical system that includes a lens forming an optical image of a subject; and an optical member that is disposed near a pupil of the imaging optical system in a state where an optical axis of the optical member coincides with an optical axis of the imaging optical system, and includes a frame that includes a plurality of aperture regions, a plurality of optical filters that are disposed in at least one of the plurality of aperture regions and include two or more optical filters transmitting light having at least some wavelength ranges different from each other, and a plurality of polarizing filters that are disposed in at least one of the plurality of aperture regions and have different polarization directions. The amount of light emitted from the imaging optical system is changeable in the plurality of aperture regions.

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.

An image capture device is described. The image capture device includes an array of pixels, each pixel including a photodetector. A Bayer pattern color filter is disposed over a 4×4 subset of pixels in the array of pixels. The Bayer pattern color filter defines a first 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to red light; a second 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; a third 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to green light; and a fourth 2×2 subset of pixels sensitive to blue light. A set of 1×1 on-chip lenses (OCLs) includes a different 1×1 OCL disposed over each pixel in the second 2×2 subset of pixels and the third 2×2 subset of pixels. A set of 2×1 OCLs or 2×2 OCLs includes a 2×1 OCL or a 2×2 OCL disposed over each pixel in the first 2×2 subset of pixels and the fourth 2×2 subset of pixels.

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.

Disclosed is an electronic device including a camera module, and at least one processor, wherein the camera module includes a micro-lens array, a color filter array, and a light-receiving element array, wherein a first row of the micro-lens array includes a first micro-lens and a second micro-lens adjacent to the first micro-lens, wherein a first row of the color filter array includes a first color filter and a second color filter disposed under the first micro-lens, and a third color filter and a fourth color filter disposed under the second micro-lens, and wherein a first row of the light-receiving element array includes a first light-receiving element disposed under the first color filter, a second light-receiving element disposed under the second color filter, a third light-receiving element disposed under the third color filter, and a fourth light-receiving element disposed under the fourth color filter.