The present disclosure generally relates to HDR imaging techniques, and more specifically to HDR imaging techniques for use when a scene is moving. For time delay integration, the same scene location is repeatedly imaged on sequential rows, allowing for different gain values and/or exposure times to be utilized in different rows. The present disclosure utilizes a static or dynamic selection of gain values and/or exposure times on each row to enable stitching of the rows for high dynamic range.

A method and apparatus for imaging a body lumen are disclosed. According to the method, an imaging apparatus is induced into the body lumen. Structured light from the imaging apparatus is projected into the body lumen. The structured light reflected from anatomical features in the body lumen is detected by the imaging apparatus. A first structured light image is generated from the detected structured light by the imaging apparatus. Non-structured light is emitted from the imaging apparatus into the body lumen. The non-structured light reflected from the anatomical features in the body lumen is detected by the imaging apparatus. A non-structured light image is generated from the detected non-structured light by the imaging apparatus. The frame period of the first structured light image is shorter than the frame period of the non-structured light image. In one embodiment, the imaging apparatus corresponds to a capsule endoscope.

A system that may include (a) a radiation source that is constructed and arranged to illuminate an object with radiation during consecutive time frames of microsecond-scale duration, wherein radiation emitted during one time frame differs by energy from radiation transmitted during an adjacent time frame; and (b) a CMOS sensor that may include a readout circuit and CMOS pixels. Each CMOS pixel may include a radiation sensing element and in-pixel memory elements. Different in-pixel memory elements are constructed and arranged to sample a state of the radiation sensing element during different time frames of the consecutive time frames.

An imaging apparatus capable of capturing two images which may not be obtained by the general HDR imaging by simultaneously capturing two images of different exposures by changing exposure change rates of a low exposure image and a high exposure image is provided. The imaging apparatus includes a calculation unit configured to calculate a first exposure for obtaining a first image included in the plurality of images under a first condition and calculate a second exposure for obtaining a second image included in the plurality of images under a second condition which is different from the first condition, and a setting unit configured to set an exposure for obtaining the first and second images based on the first and second exposures calculated by the calculation unit.

An imaging device includes pixels each including a photoelectric converter that generates charges by photoelectric conversion, a first transfer transistor that transfers charges of the photoelectric converter to a first holding portion, a second transfer transistor that transfers charges of the first holding portion to a second holding portion, and an amplifier unit that outputs a signal based on charges held by the second holding portion. The first transfer transistor is configured to form a potential well for the charges between the photoelectric converter and the first holding portion when the first transistor is in an on-state. The maximum charge amount Q.sub.PD generated by the photoelectric converter during one exposure period, a saturation charge amount Q.sub.MEM_SAT of the first holding portion, and the maximum charge amount Q.sub.GS that can be held in the potential well are in a relationship of: Q.sub.PD<Q.sub.GSQ.sub.MEM_SAT.

An image processing method is provided. The image processing method is applied in the electronic device. The image sensor is controlled to output the merged image and the color-block image. The merged image is converted into the image having the first brightness using the scaling algorithm. The color-block image is converted into the image having the second brightness using the interpolation algorithm, in which the first brightness is greater than the second brightness. The image having the first brightness and the image having the second brightness are merged to obtain a HDR image. An image processing apparatus and an electronic device are also provided.

An integrated image sensor for capturing a mixed structured-light image and regular image using an integrated image sensor are disclosed. The integrated image sensor comprises a pixel array, one or more output circuits, one or more analog-to-digital converters, and one or more timing and control circuits. The timing and control circuits are arranged to perform a set of actions including capturing a regular image and a structured-light image. According to the present invention, the structured-light image captured before or after the regular image is used to derive depth or shape information for the regular image. An endoscope based on the above integrated image sensor is also disclosed. The endoscope may comprises a capsule housing adapted to be swallowed, where the components of integrated image sensor, a structured light source and anon-structured light source are enclosed and sealed in the capsule housing.

A method includes capturing, by a camera disposed behind a display panel of the electronic device, a plurality of images at a plurality of exposures, respectively. One or more captured images include one or more flare artifacts. The method further includes generating a high dynamic range (HDR) image by fusing the captured images. The method further includes accessing a HDR point spread function (PSF) from a memory of the electronic device. The HDR PSF may be generated, at an initial camera calibration stage, by fusing a plurality of PSFs captured at the plurality of exposures, respectively. The method further includes generating, using an image deconvolution technique, a reconstructed image with flare artifacts mitigated based on the HDR image and the HDR PSF.

A method includes capturing, by a camera disposed behind a display panel of the electronic device, a plurality of images at a plurality of exposures, respectively. One or more captured images include one or more flare artifacts. The method further includes generating a high dynamic range (HDR) image by fusing the captured images. The method further includes accessing a HDR point spread function (PSF) from a memory of the electronic device. The HDR PSF may be generated, at an initial camera calibration stage, by fusing a plurality of PSFs captured at the plurality of exposures, respectively. The method further includes generating, using an image deconvolution technique, a reconstructed image with flare artifacts mitigated based on the HDR image and the HDR PSF.

A vertically stacked image sensor with HDR imaging functionality and a method of operating the same are disclosed. The image sensor comprises, a first substrate, a pixel array organized into a plurality of pixel subarrays, of which each pixel comprises a photoelectric element for integrating a photocharge during each one of a plurality of subframe exposures, a transfer gate and a buffered charge-voltage converter. A first charge accumulation element of the charge-voltage converter is operatively connectable to at least one second charge accumulation element through a gain switch. The image sensor comprises control circuitry configured to trigger a partial or a complete transfer of the and to time-interleave at least two rolling shutter control sequences. Separate readout blocks are provided on the second substrate for each pixel subarray, each comprising in a pipelined architecture an A/D conversion unit, a pixel memory logic and a pixel memory unit.