A lens unit (120) shows longitudinal chromatic aberration and focuses an imaged scene into a first image for the infrared range in a first focal plane and into a second image for the visible range in a second focal plane. An optical element (150) manipulates the modulation transfer function assigned to the first and second images to extend the depth of field. An image processing unit (200) may amplify a modulation transfer function contrast in the first and second images. A focal shift between the focal planes may be compensated for. While in conventional approaches for RGBIR sensors contemporaneously providing both a conventional and an infrared image of the same scene the infrared image is severely out of focus, the present approach provides extended depth of field imaging to rectify the problem of out-of-focus blur for infrared radiation. An imaging system can be realized without any apochromatic lens.

An image generation apparatus includes: a spectroscopic filter switching a wavelength of transmitted image light depending on a change in distance between a pair of reflective films; an imaging element imaging the image light transmitted through the spectroscopic filter; and one or more processors, which switches the wavelength of the transmitted light to a plurality of wavelengths in forward scanning to narrow the distance between the reflective films and backward scanning to widen the distance between the reflective films, switches the wavelength of the transmitted light to wavelengths of red, green, and blue colors in the forward scanning and the backward scanning, synthesizing a color image by synthesizing spectroscopic images of the red, green, and blue colors obtained in the forward scanning performed once, and generating a color image by synthesizing spectroscopic images of the red, green, and blue colors obtained in the backward scanning performed once.

The present technology relates to an imaging device capable of selectively taking out only a specific electromagnetic wavelength and generating a signal with an enhanced wavelength resolution, and an electronic apparatus. There are provided a first pixel including a metallic thin film filter configured to transmit a light in a first frequency band and a second pixel including a color filter configured to transmit a light in a second frequency band wider than the first frequency band. A signal in a third frequency band is generated from the respective signals of a plurality of first pixels each including a metallic thin film filter configured to transmit a light in the different first frequency bands. The present technology can be applied to a CMOS image sensor of backside irradiation type or surface irradiation type, for example.

A method for estimating the image depth map of a scene, includes the following steps: providing (E1) an image, the focus of which depends on the depth and wavelength of the considered object points of the scene, using a longitudinal chromatic optical system; determining (E2) a set of spectral images from the image provided by the longitudinal chromatic optical system; deconvoluting (E3) the spectral images to provide estimated spectral images with field depth extension; and analyzing (E4) a cost criterion depending on the estimated spectral images with field depth extension to provide an estimated depth map.

Preferable optical performance is ensured to improve image quality. The present technology includes: a housing having a mount part to which at least a first accessory and a second accessory are selectively attached; and an imaging element that photoelectrically converts captured light into an electrical signal, in which the mount part is formed with a first mount surface to which the first accessory is attached, and a second mount surface to which the second accessory is attached, and the first mount surface and the second mount surface are located on the same plane. Therefore, since the first accessory and the second accessory are selectively attached to the first mount surface and the second mount surface, which are located on the same plane, it is possible to ensure preferable optical performance and improve image quality.

A lens unit (120) shows longitudinal chromatic aberration and focuses an imaged scene into a first image for the infrared range in a first focal plane and into a second image for the visible range in a second focal plane. An optical element (150) manipulates the modulation transfer function assigned to the first and second images to extend the depth of field. An image processing unit (200) may amplify a modulation transfer function contrast in the first and second images. A focal shift between the focal planes may be compensated for. While in conventional approaches for RGBIR sensors contemporaneously providing both a conventional and an infrared image of the same scene the infrared image is severely out of focus, the present approach provides extended depth of field imaging to rectify the problem of out-of-focus blur for infrared radiation. An imaging system can be realized without any apochromatic lens.

An image sensor may have a pixel array that includes an array of pixels arranged in rows and columns. Each pixel may include a number of adjacent sub-pixels covered by a single microlens. The adjacent sub-pixels of each pixel may include color filter elements of the same color. Image signals from the sub-pixels may be used to calculate phase information in each pixel in the array. This information may be used to generate a depth map of the entire captured image. The pixels may each be able to detect vertical, horizontal, or diagonal edges. Additionally, the image signals from each photodiode in a pixel may be binned or average to obtain image data for each pixel. The image sensor also may generate high-dynamic-range images using the pixel array.

A conductive film has a polygonal wiring pattern which allows an indicator of evaluation of noises to be equal to or less than an evaluation threshold value. Here, from at least one point of view, in frequencies and intensities of noises each calculated for each color from first and second peak frequencies and first and second peak intensities of 2DFFT spectra of transmittance image data of a combined wiring pattern including a random mesh pattern of a plurality of thin metal lines of a wiring portion and luminance image data of a pixel array pattern of each color at the time of lighting on for each single color, the indicator of evaluation of noise is calculated from evaluation values of noises of the respective colors obtained by applying human visual response characteristics in accordance with an observation distance to intensities of the noises equal to or greater than a first intensity threshold value among intensities of the noises at frequencies of noises equal to or less than a frequency threshold value defined by a display resolution of a display unit.

An imaging system (500) includes an optical unit (100) that captures, from a scene (900), first images indifferent wavelength ranges when the scene (900) is illuminated with not-structured light and second images of different wavelength ranges when the scene (900) is illuminated with structured light. Thereby an imaging lens unit (112) with longitudinal chromatic aberration is arranged between the scene (900) and an imaging sensor unit (118). A depth processing unit (200) may generate depth information (DI) on the basis of the second images by using optical triangulation. A sharpness processing unit (300) uses the depth information (DI) to generate an output image (OImg) by combining the first images. The optical unit (100) of the imaging system (500) may be implemented in an endoscope, by way of example.

A solid-state imaging device includes a color filter unit disposed on a pixel array unit including pixels two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix and a conversion processing unit disposed on a substrate having the pixel array unit thereon. The color filter unit has a color arrangement in which a color serving as a primary component of a luminance signal is arranged in a checkerboard pattern and a plurality of colors serving as color information components are arranged in the other area of the checkerboard pattern. The conversion processing unit converts signals that are output from the pixels of the pixel array unit and that correspond to the color arrangement of the color filter unit into signals that correspond to a Bayer arrangement and outputs the converted signals.