Methods and apparatuses are provided for obtaining an image by an electronic device. A first image for an object is obtained from a first image sensor of the electronic device. Information regarding a focusing state is determined with respect to the object based on the first image. The second image sensor of the electronic device is focused on the object based on the information regarding the focusing state. A second image for the object is obtained through the second image sensor.

An event sensor and a method for producing a signal stream of event data in reaction to light incident on a pixel array. The event sensor includes: for each pixel of the array, a photodetector configured to produce a detector signal in reaction to light incident on the pixel; for each pixel or a group of the pixels a signal converter connected to the photodetector and configured to repeatedly produce and store digital sample values dependent on the detector signal sampled at sampling intervals; and a readout processor connected to the signal converter. The readout processor is configured: to derive a digital accumulated pixel value based on the sample values, wherein the accumulated pixel value corresponds to an accumulation of the detector signal over a sampling count of the sampling intervals; and to generate a pixel event of the event data dependent on the accumulated pixel value and sampling count.

A solid-state image sensor according to the present disclosure includes a first semiconductor substrate having a photoelectric conversion element and a second semiconductor substrate facing the first semiconductor substrate with an insulating film interposed therebetween, in which the second semiconductor substrate has an amplification transistor that amplifies an electrical signal output from the photoelectric conversion element on a first main surface (MSa), has a region having a resistance lower than a resistance of the second semiconductor substrate on a second main surface (MSb) opposite to the first main surface (MSa), and is grounded via the region.

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.

In one example, a digital image capture unit comprises a gated image sensor configured to operate multiple sensor exposure events per a single image frame readout. The digital image capture unit further comprises a motion monitor configured to monitor motion related to the digital image capture unit. The digital image capture unit further comprises a controller configured to instruct the gated image sensor to discard a sensor exposure event of the multiple sensor exposure events in response to a temporally corresponding monitored motion related to the digital image capture unit failing to meet a motion requirement.

An image processing apparatus that generates a combined image by performing gamma processing and combination processing for a plurality of images obtained by capturing images of the same image capturing-target scene under different exposure conditions and includes: an acquisition unit configured to acquire adjustment parameters that adjust gamma characteristics applied to the gamma processing in accordance with a dynamic range of the image capturing-target scene; a gamma processing unit configured to perform the gamma processing to which adjustment parameters acquired by the acquisition unit have been applied for the plurality of images; and a combination unit configured to generate the combined image by performing the combination processing for the plurality of images for which the gamma processing has been performed by the gamma processing unit.

A system and method for obtaining, by an electronic device, a first set of image data recorded during an image capture event and a second set of image data recorded during an image capture event. During the image capture event, a characteristic of an image capture device is changed from a first state to a second state. The first and second sets of image data are recorded by an image capture device having one or more image recording components with one or more image sensor arrays. An image is generated based at least in part on the first and second sets of image data.

A distance-measuring imaging device includes: a controller which repeatedly performs outputting of an emission signal instructing light emission and outputting of an exposure signal instructing exposure; a light source unit which performs light emission a plurality of times in accordance with the emission signal repeatedly outputted by the controller; and an imaging unit which includes a solid-state imaging element for performing exposure a plurality of times in accordance with the exposure signal repeatedly outputted by the controller and which generates an imaging signal through the exposure performed the plurality of times.

A distance-measuring imaging device includes: a controller which repeatedly performs outputting of an emission signal instructing light emission and outputting of an exposure signal instructing exposure; a light source unit which performs light emission a plurality of times in accordance with the emission signal repeatedly outputted by the controller; and an imaging unit which includes a solid-state imaging element for performing exposure a plurality of times in accordance with the exposure signal repeatedly outputted by the controller and which generates an imaging signal through the exposure performed the plurality of times.

A system for selectively modifying gating rate in a single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) is configurable to access first frame metadata associated with a first image frame. The first image frame is captured by performing a first plurality of gate operations to configure the SPAD array to enable photon detection over a frame capture time period. The first plurality of gate operations is performed at a first gating rate such that the first plurality of gate operations comprises a first quantity of gate operations performed over the frame capture time period. The system is further configurable to define a second gating rate based on the first frame metadata and capture a second image frame by performing a second plurality of gate operations to configure the SPAD array to enable photon detection at the second gating rate.