In some aspects, a device may receive, from a pixel array of a camera, a first image. The device may configure, based at least in part on the first image, a setting of a filter. The filter may be included within a filter array that is arranged within the camera in association with the pixel array. The device may cause the pixel array to capture a second image. Numerous other aspects are described.

The present invention provides an imaging device and a focusing control method capable of performing reliability determination of a phase difference AF at high speed. A phase difference AF processing unit (19) performs a correlation operation with respect to detection signal groups in first pairs P1, and performs a correlation operation with respect to detection signal groups in second pairs P2. A system control unit (11) compares a difference between a first correlation amount M1 which is a minimum correlation amount between the detection signal groups in the first pairs P1, among obtained results of the correlation operation with respect to the first pairs P1 and a second correlation amount M2 which is a minimum correlation amount between the detection signal groups in the second pairs P2, among obtained results of the correlation operation with respect to the second pairs P2 with a threshold value TH, to thereby determine a reliability of a focusing control based on the phase difference AF method.

A camera includes a sensor array including a plurality of individually addressable sensor elements, each of the plurality of sensor elements responsive to incident light over a broad wavelength band. Covering the sensor array is a light valve switchable electronically between closed and open states. The light valve is configured to, in the closed state, block light of a stopband and transmit light outside the stopband, and, in the open state, transmit the light of the stopband. An electronic controller of the camera is configured to switch the light valve from the closed to the open state and, synchronously with switching the light valve, address the sensor elements of the sensor array.

An image sensing apparatus including a pixel array comprising two or more photo-sensor elements, a first optical filter disposed on a first photo-sensor element of the pixel array and a second optical filter disposed on a second photo-sensor element of the pixel array. The first optical filter is configured such that a spectral response of the first optical filter includes a first passband in a first wavelength range and a second passband in a second wavelength range, where the first passband and the second passband are separated by a first stop band. The second optical filter is configured such that a spectral response of the second optical filter includes a third passband in the first wavelength range and a fourth passband in the second wavelength range, where the third passband and the fourth passband are separated by a second stop band.

Some embodiments are directed to an imaging that includes an image sensor; a tunable filter; and a controller operatively connected to the tunable filter and to the image sensor. The imaging system is configured to: tune the tunable filter to a plurality of filter states. The image sensor acquires, at each state of the plurality of states, an image of an object, to provide different images of the object. The controller calculates a state related score, for each state that is indicative of one or more properties of at least one subset of pixels of the at least one image acquired at the state, to provide a plurality of state related scores; and determines, based on at least one of the plurality of state related scores, a desired state of the tunable filter that satisfies a desired state related score criterion; and sets the tunable filter.

Some embodiments are directed to an imaging that includes an image sensor; a tunable filter; and a controller operatively connected to the tunable filter and to the image sensor. The imaging system is configured to: tune the tunable filter to a plurality of filter states. The image sensor acquires, at each state of the plurality of states, an image of an object, to provide different images of the object. The controller calculates a state related score, for each state that is indicative of one or more properties of at least one subset of pixels of the at least one image acquired at the state, to provide a plurality of state related scores; and determines, based on at least one of the plurality of state related scores, a desired state of the tunable filter that satisfies a desired state related score criterion; and sets the tunable filter.

A camera includes an optical filter for a sensor array of the camera. The optical filter includes a plurality of liquid crystal layers switchable between a reflection state and a transmission state. Each liquid crystal layer is configured to block spectral light in a different spectral light sub-band and transmit spectral light outside of the spectral light sub-band in the reflection state, and to transmit spectral light in the spectral light sub-band in the transmission state. An active illuminator of the camera is configured to emit active light in a selected spectral light sub-band. One or more of the plurality of liquid crystal layers is switched from the transmission state to the reflection state to tune the optical filter to block spectral light in all but the selected spectral light sub-band. The sensors of the sensor array are addressed to measure spectral light in the selected spectral light sub-band.

A camera includes an optical filter for a sensor array of the camera. The optical filter includes a plurality of liquid crystal layers switchable between a reflection state and a transmission state. Each liquid crystal layer is configured to block spectral light in a different spectral light sub-band and transmit spectral light outside of the spectral light sub-band in the reflection state, and to transmit spectral light in the spectral light sub-band in the transmission state. An active illuminator of the camera is configured to emit active light in a selected spectral light sub-band. One or more of the plurality of liquid crystal layers is switched from the transmission state to the reflection state to tune the optical filter to block spectral light in all but the selected spectral light sub-band. The sensors of the sensor array are addressed to measure spectral light in the selected spectral light sub-band.

A hyperspectral imaging systems includes an imaging sensor, a multispectral filter, and an actuator. The actuator moves the multispectral filter with respect to the imaging sensor to capture a scene with full spectral data. The spectral data of the scene can be stored in a hyperspectral data cube, which can be compressed, processed, stored, and/or sent to a remote location. Each acquired image includes a spatial map of the scene which facilitates pointing, focusing, and data analysis. The spectral measurement parameters can be configured dynamically in order to optimize performance such as spectral resolution, storage capacity, and transmission bandwidth. The system achieves high spectral and spatial resolution, is simple, compact, and lightweight, thereby providing an efficient hyperspectral imaging system.

A camera includes a sensor array including a plurality of individually addressable sensor elements, each of the plurality of sensor elements responsive to incident light over a broad wavelength band. Covering the sensor array is a light valve switchable electronically between closed and open states. The light valve is configured to, in the closed state, block light of a stopband and transmit light outside the stopband, and, in the open state, transmit the light of the stopband. An electronic controller of the camera is configured to switch the light valve from the closed to the open state and, synchronously with switching the light valve, address the sensor elements of the sensor array.