An image processing apparatus and method are provided. In the method, an image sensor including first pixels for detecting an image and second pixels for detecting a different type of signals, reads out values from at least one of the second pixels and at least one the first pixels, based on a predetermined rule, outputs a first sampling image, based on the read out pixels, restores values of the at least one of the second pixels to be image pixel values for locations of the at least one of the second pixels included in the first sampling image, outputs a restored image based on the restored values, performs binning on pixels of the restored image using a predetermined method; and outputs a reduced resolution image with a resolution reduced at a predetermined rate from the restored image, based on the binning.

A photoelectric conversion device of an embodiment includes a plurality of pixels, a signal processing circuit, and a switch unit. The signal processing circuit performs analog-to-digital conversion on signals output from the plurality of pixels. The switch unit performs switching between a first mode for motion detection to input a first signal generated by adding signals of at least two pixels to the signal processing circuit and a second mode to input respective signals of the at least two pixels to the signal processing circuit individually as second signals. A first period from start to end of a readout operation performed by the signal processing circuit in order to process the first signal is shorter than a second period from start to end of a readout operation performed by the signal processing circuit in order to process one of the second signals.

A photosensor having a plurality of light sensitive pixels each of which comprises a light sensitive region and a plurality of storage regions for accumulating photocharge generated in the light sensitive region, a transfer gate for each storage region that is selectively electrifiable to transfer photocharge from the light sensitive region to the storage region, and an array of microlenses that for each storage region directs a different portion of light incident on the pixel to a region of the light sensitive region closer to the storage region than to other storage regions.

An image sensor includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, the plurality of pixels configured to generate separate, respective pixel signals, a row driver configured to selectively read pixel signals generated by pixels of a plurality of rows of the pixel array, a binning circuitry configured to selectively sum or pass through the read pixel signals to generate binned pixel signals, a column array including a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) configured to perform an analog-to-digital conversion on the binned pixel signals, and a mode selecting circuitry configured to control the row driver and the binning circuitry to change an operation mode of the image sensor based on a mode signal received at the image sensor to change an operation mode of the image sensor.

An image sensor system with an image sensor that generates a first image and a second image. The first and second images are transmitted to a processor in a time overlapping manner. By way of example, the images may be transferred to the processor in an interleaving manner or provided on separate dedicated busses.

Read electrodes are provided to drain signal charge of pixels from photoelectric conversion units provided in the pixels separately to a vertical transfer unit. During a first exposure period during which an object is illuminated with infrared light, signal charge obtained from a first pixel, and signal charge obtained from a second pixel adjacent to the first pixel, are added together in the vertical transfer unit to produce first signal charge. During a second exposure period during which the object is not illuminated with infrared light, signal charge obtained from the first pixel, and signal charge obtained from the second pixel adjacent to the first pixel, are transferred without being added to the first signal charge in the vertical transfer unit, and are added together in another packet to produce second signal charge.

An optical apparatus captures images of a wide-angle scene with a single camera having a continuous panomorph zoom distortion profile. When combined with a processing unit, the hybrid zoom system creates an output image with constant resolution while allowing continuous adjustment in the magnification and field of view of the image without interpolation like a digital zoom system or without any moving parts like an optical zoom system.

An image signal processing method includes: receiving an original color filter array (CFA) image and a pixel binned CFA image; computing a specific information of the pixel binned CFA image; and processing the original CFA image according to the specific information. The associated image signal processor includes an input terminal, an operating unit and a processing unit, wherein the input terminal is for receiving an original CFA image and a pixel binned CFA image, the operating unit is for computing a specific information of the pixel binned CFA image, and the processing unit is for processing the original CFA image according to the specific information and utilizing the pixel binned CFA image.

Apparatus for binning an input value into an array of bins, each bin representing a range of input values and the bins collectively representing a histogram of input values, the apparatus comprising: an input for receiving the input value; a memory for storing the array; and a binning controller configured to: derive a plurality of bin values from the input value according to a binning distribution located about the input value, the binning distribution spanning a range of input values and each bin value having a respective input value dependent on the position of the bin value in the binning distribution; and allocate the plurality of bin values to a plurality of bins in the array, each bin value being allocated to a bin selected according to the respective input value of the bin value.

Methods and apparatus to capture images are disclosed. An example device disclosed herein includes an image sensor to observe a first image of a face and a logic circuit. The logic circuit is to determine whether the face in the first image is in a first orientation with respect to the image sensor. When the face in the first image is in the first orientation, the logic circuit is trigger the image sensor to capture a second image of the face, and perform a facial recognition process on the second image, but not on the first image.