Live demonstration: Real-time high dynamic range video acquisition using in-pixel adaptive content-aware tone mapping compression

This demonstration targets the acquisition of realtime video sequences involving High Dynamic Range (HDR) scenes. Adaptation to different illumination conditions while preserving contrast is achieved by using a sensor chip, which implements an adaptive content-aware tone mapping compression algorithm by using in-pixel circuitry. Its response gets adapted to changing illumination conditions by using at each frame a statistical estimation of the light distribution, which is derived from the HDR histogram calculated at the previous frame. This method allows adaptive HDR video, while capable to capture very large DR scenes including moving objects.Office of Naval Research (USA) N000141410355Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad IPT-2011-1625-430000Junta de Andalucía TIC 2338-201

Control and acquisition system for a high dynamic range CMOS image sensor

A control and acquisition system for the visualization of the images captured with a High Dynamic Range (HDR) CMOS Image Sensor is developed. The image sensor is inserted in a PCB system, which performs low level control, in communication with a PC software, which performs high level control and images visualization. In order to make it user-friendly, we have opted to use object-oriented method to implement the computer software. The system has an attractive interface, and it is easy to operate. It also includes additional functionalities, such as the increment of the frame rate, enhancement of human perception of details contained in the depicted scene and the possibility to display statistical data for illustrating the behavior of the chip.Office of Naval Research (USA) N000141110312Gobierno de España TEC2009-11812, IPT-2011-1625-43000

A 148dB focal-plane tone-mapping QCIF imager

http://digital.csic.es/handle/10261/84304This paper presents a QCIF HDR imager where visual information is simultaneously captured and adaptively compressed by an in-pixel tone-mapping scheme [1]. The tone mapping curve (TMC) is calculated from the histogram of an auxiliary previous image, which serves as a probability indicator of the distribution of illuminations within the current frame. The chip maps 148dB scenes onto 7-bit/pixel coding, containing illuminations from 2.2mlux (SNR10) to 55.33klux -with extreme values captured at 8s and 2.34µs, respectively. Pixels use an Nwell-Psubstrate photodiode and autozeroing for establishing the reset voltage. Measured sensitivity is 5.79 V over lux·s. Dark current effects in the final image are attenuated by an automatic programming of the DAC levels. The chip has been fabricated in the 0.35µm OPTO technology from AMS

A QCIF 145dB imager for focal plane processor chips using a tone mapping technique in standard 0.35μm CMOS technology

This paper presents a QCIF HDR imager where visual information is simultaneously captured and adaptively compressed by means of an in-pixel tone mapping scheme [1]. The tone mapping curve (TMC) is calculated from a nonlinear histogram of the previous image, which serves as a probability indicator of the distribution of illuminations within the present frame. The chip produces 7-bit/pixel images that can map illuminations from 311 10-6lux to 5875 lux in a single frame in a way that each pixel decides when to stop observing photocurrent integration –with extreme values captured at 8s and 20 s respectively. Pixels use a 3x3 m2 Nwell-Psubstrate photodiode and an autozeroing technique for establishing the reset voltage, which cancels most of the o set contributions created by the analog processing circuitry. Measured sensitivity is 5.79 V lux s . Dark current e ects in the final image are attenuated by an automatic programming of the DAC top voltage. The chip has been designed in the 0.35 m OPTO technology from AMS.FEDER TEC2009-1181

Differences in stressful life events between men and women experiencing homelessness

People experiencing homelessness are particularly vulnerable to experiencing stressful life events (SLEs) at some point in their lives; these SLEs are crucial for understanding the etiology and maintenance of homelessness. This study analyses the differences between men and women experiencing homelessness in the suffering of SLEs throughout their lives (childhood, adolescence, and adulthood). The sample consisted of a group of 293 people experiencing homelessness in Madrid (Spain): 156 men and 137 women. The results suggest that the number and type of SLEs experienced by men and women are different. In general, women experiencing homelessness suffer more SLEs than men in all periods of their lives. The differences in the level of sexual violence in childhood, sexual abuse in adulthood, and abuse by a spouse or partner are particularly striking. However, men experiencing homelessness score significantly higher than women for alcohol abuse, police complaints, arrest, and imprisonment throughout their lives. These findings have significant implications for the design of interventions and social policies that should be tailored to the specific needs of men and women who are homeless.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y CompetitividadUniversidad Complutense de MadridAgencia Estatal de Investigación of the Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad of Spain (Ref. FEM2016-75317-R; Ref. PSI2009-08472; Ref: FEM2012-35053) and Complutense-Santander Back grant (ref: CT17/17-CT18/17) to SR

Locust-inspired vision system on chip architecture for collision detection in automotive applications

This paper describes a programmable digital computing architecture dedicated to process information in accordance to the organization and operating principles of the four-layer neuron structure encountered at the visual system of Locusts. This architecture takes advantage of the natural collision detection skills of locusts and is capable of processing images and ascertaining collision threats in real-time automotive scenarios. In addition to the Locust features, the architecture embeds a Topological Feature Estimator module to identify and classify objects in collision course.European Commission IST2001 - 38097Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología TIC2003 - 09817- C02 - 0

High-dynamic range tone-mapping algorithm for focal plane processors

This paper presents a Dynamic Range improvement technique which is specially well-suited to be implemented in Focal Plane Processors (FPP) due to its very limited computing requirements since only local memories, little digital control and a comparator are required at the pixel level. The presented algorithm employs measurements during exposure time to create a 4-bit non-linear image whose histogram determines the shape of the tone-mapping curve which is applied to create the final image. Simulations results over a highly bimodal 120dB image are presented showing that both the highly and poorly illuminated parts of the image keep a sufficient level of details.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación TEC2009-11812Junta de Andalucía 2006-TIC-235

Excited-State Proton and Charge Transfer in Protonated Amino and Methylated Derivatives of 2-(2′-Hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazole

This is the peer-reviewed version of the following article: The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 2015, 119, 2475–2489, DOI: 10.1021/jp507917u, which has been published in final form at https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jp507917u. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes onlyWe studied the excited-state behavior of a family of mono- and diprotonated derivatives of 2-phenylbenzimidazole in different solvents, using steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The species investigated were 2-(4′-amino-2′-hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazole (1), the diethylamino analogue 2-(4′-N,N-diethylamino-2′-hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazole (2) and its N-methylated derivative 1-methyl-2-(4′-N,N-diethylamino-2′-hydroxyphenyl)benzimidazole (3). The O-methoxy derivatives of 2 and 3 (2-OMe and 3-OMe), and the simpler models 2-phenylbenzimidazole (4) and its 4′-amino (5) and 4′-dimethylamino (6) derivatives were also studied. We found that the dications of 1, 2, and 3 (protonated at the benzimidazole N3 and at the amino group) were strong photoacids, which were deprotonated at the hydroxyl group upon excitation in aqueous solution (totally for 2 and 3) to give a tautomer of the ground-state monocation. In contrast, no photodissociation was observed for the monocations of these species. Instead, some of the monocations studied behaved as molecular rotors, for which electronic excitation led to a twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) state. The monocations of 2, 3, 2-OMe, 3-OMe, and 6, protonated at the benzimidazole N3, experienced a polarity- and viscosity-dependent radiationless deactivation associated with a large-amplitude rotational motion. We propose that this process is connected to an intramolecular charge transfer from the dimethylaminophenyl or diethylaminophenyl moiety (donor) to the protonated benzimidazole group (acceptor) of the excited monocation, which yields a twisted charge-transfer species. No fluorescence from this species was detected except for 3 and 3-OMe in low-viscosity solventsWe are indebted to the European Regional Development Fund, the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Grant CTQ2010-17835), and the Xunta de Galicia (Grants GPC2013/052, CN2012/314, and EM2012/091) for financial support of our work. S.R. and J.L.P.L. are thankful for a MEC-FPU fellowship and a “Ramón y Cajal” contract, respectivelyS

Effect of integrated fertilization and cover cropping on N2O losses in an irrigated mediterranean maize field

Agronomical and environmental benefits are associated with replacing winter fallow by cover crops (CC). Yet, the effect of this practice on nitrous oxide (N2 O) emissions remains poorly understood. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of two different CC species (barley and vetch) and fallow on N2O emissions during the CC period and during the following maize cash crop period in an Integrated Soil Fertility management (ISFM) system. We also aimed to study the contribution of synthetic fertilizer and other N sources to N2O emissions through a parallel 15N labelled fertilizer experiment