Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement TDI imaging techniques in conjunction with monolithic CCD image sensors having multiple distinct imaging regions, where TDI imaging techniques can be separately implemented with respect to each distinct imaging region. In many embodiments, the distinct imaging regions are defined by color filters or color filter patterns (e.g. a Bayer filter pattern); and data from the distinct imaging regions can be read out concurrently (or else sequentially and/or nearly concurrently). A camera system can include: a CCD image sensor including a plurality of pixels that define at least two distinct imaging regions, where pixels within each imaging region operate in unison to image a scene differently than at least one other distinct imaging region. In addition, the camera system is operable in a time-delay integration mode whereby time delay-integration imaging techniques are imposed with respect to each distinct imaging region.

The present application provides a pixel sensing unit applied in an image capturing device, wherein the pixel sensing unit is corresponding to a light-sensing area and outputs a pixel value corresponding to the pixel sensing unit. The pixel sensing unit comprise a plurality of sub-pixel sensing units, configured to a plurality of sub-pixel values, wherein the plurality of sub-pixel sensing units corresponding to a plurality of sub-light-sensing areas, a summation of the plurality of sub-light-sensing areas corresponds to the light-sensing area; and an integrating unit, configured to output the pixel value corresponding to the pixel sensing unit according to the plurality of sub-pixel values.

A distributed, parallel, image capture and processing architecture provides significant advantages over prior art systems. A very large array of computational circuitsin some embodiments, matching the size of the pixel arrayis distributed around, within, or beneath the pixel array of an image sensor. Each computational circuit is dedicated to, and in some embodiments is physically proximal to, one, two, or more associated pixels. Each computational circuit is operative to perform computations on one, two, or more pixel values generated by its associated pixels. The computational circuits all perform the same operation(s), in parallel. In this manner, a very large number of pixel-level operations are performed in parallel, physically and electrically near the pixels. This obviates the need to transfer very large amounts of pixel data from a pixel array to a CPU/memory, for at least many pixel-level image processing operations, thus alleviating the significant high-speed performance constraints placed on modern image sensors.

The present invention provides a random number generation system comprising: an image sensor module for outputting dark noise generated from each unit pixel region respectively that is shielded from external light as digital data; and a control unit for classifying the respective pieces of digital data output from the image sensor module, for allocating random numbers to the same using a database in which a plurality of reference values are stored for each unit pixel, and for collating the same so as to generate a first random number.

The present subject matter includes a method of focusing of an optical imaging apparatus. The method comprises causing illumination of an object using an illuminating beam to thereby cause generation of a scattered beam. A first set of luminous parameters are derived from a first detected position of a luminous representation formed by the scattered beam from the object. The illumination-beam is focused upon the object by triggering a movement of the object along an optical-axis in a first direction, the first direction being based a numerical-representation of the first set of luminous parameters. A second set of luminous parameters are derived from a second detected position of the luminous-representation of the object, the second detected position being related to the first detected position and the movement of the object. The focusing of the illumination beam is ceased based at-least on a numerical-representation of the second set of luminous parameters.

A spot detecting apparatus includes a photographing part and a spot detecting part. The photographing part photographs, in a first resolution, an image displayed on a display panel to output first resolution image data, and photograph, in a second resolution, the image displayed on the display panel to output second resolution image data, where the second resolution is higher than the first resolution, and the image displayed on the display panel includes a first spot greater than or equal to a reference size and a second spot less than the reference size. The spot detecting part receives the first resolution image data and the second resolution image data, and subtracts the first resolution image data from the second resolution image data to detect the second spot.

A camera module includes: a plurality of lenses; an image sensing component disposed on an imaging side of the plurality of lenses, and an area of a photosensitive region of the image sensing component is greater than an area of actual imaging region of a single lens and less than the sum of the area of actual imaging region of each of the lenses; and a plurality of optical switch components, disposed, between the plurality of lenses and the image sensing component, corresponding to the plurality of lenses, wherein the optical switch component is controlled to switch between an on state and an off state, and neighboring optical switch components corresponding to neighboring lenses whose actual imaging regions overlap each other are not turned on at the same time.

Imaging circuitry may include circuits for implementing feature extraction in the analog domain. The imaging circuitry may include pixels configured to generate pixel values. The pixel values may then be weighted using variable charge integration times, variable resistors in the readout path, and/or variable switch on times in the readout path. The weighted pixels values may be binned and combined to obtain an output neuron voltage for at least one layer in a neural network. Performing feature extraction in the analog domain for each layer of results in the neural network saves power and area by avoiding the need to move data around to conventional digital memories.

Systems and methods related to a structured illumination (SI)-based inspection apparatus are described. The SI-based inspection apparatus may be capable of accurately inspecting an inspection object in real time with high resolution, while reducing the loss of light. Also described are an inspection method, and a semiconductor device fabrication method including the SI-based inspection method. The inspection apparatus may include a light source configured to generate and output a light beam, a phase shifting grating (PSG) configured to convert the light beam from the light source into the SI, a beam splitter configured to cause the SI to be incident on an inspection object and output a reflected beam from the inspection object, a stage capable of moving the inspection object and on which the inspection object is arranged, and a time-delayed integration (TDI) camera configured to capture images of the inspection object by detecting the reflected beam.

An image sensing device includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, and suitable for outputting a plurality of pixel signals, and a plurality of readout circuits coupled to the pixel array, and suitable for compensating for readout deviations among the plurality of pixel signals when reading out the plurality of pixel signals.