Abstract: An image blur correction apparatus includes: a blur correction actuator that corrects image blur by moving a lens or by moving an image sensor; a shake detection unit that detects a postural change amount of the imaging apparatus; a storing unit that stores three or more postural change amounts detected at different times; an estimating unit that calculates an estimate of a postural change amount after a predetermined time period on the basis of the three or more postural change amounts and on the basis of an approximation based on a temporal change in the postural change amounts; a blur amount calculating unit that calculates an image blur amount on the basis of the estimate; and a driving control unit that calculates a movement amount of a lens or image sensor to be moved by the blur correction actuator on the basis of the image blur amount.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a shutter, an array of photodetectors, and electronic circuitry associated with the photodetectors to read intensity values from the photodetectors, the electronic circuitry including elements configured to provide an operating bias point of the photodetectors. The imaging system includes components, such as a controller, configured to adaptively adjust the operating bias for the photodetectors wherein the adjustment is based at least in part on intermittent measurement of a flat field image. During use, the imaging system can be configured to perform intermittent adjustments of the operating bias based on changes in photodetector values for intermittently acquired flat field images. Adjustment of the operating bias may provide compensation for drift over time of the photodetectors and/or electronics due to effects including but not limited to temperature changes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, a solid-state image sensor and a camera system capable of reducing the influence of noise at a connection between chips without a special circuit for communication and reducing the cost as a result. The semiconductor device includes: a first chip; and a second chip, wherein the first chip and the second chip are bonded to have a stacked structure, the first chip has a high-voltage transistor circuit mounted thereon, the second chip has mounted thereon a low-voltage transistor circuit having lower breakdown voltage than the high-voltage transistor circuit, and wiring between the first chip and the second chip is connected through a via formed in the first chip.

Abstract: The lens apparatus includes a first operating member rotatable around an optical axis of an optical element so as to move the optical element in an optical-axis direction, a first elastic member configured to press the first operating member, a second elastic member configured to press the first operating member, a second operating member rotatable around the optical axis and movable in the optical-axis direction, and a first interposition provided between the first operating member and the second operating member. When the second operating member is moved in the optical-axis direction, the first interposition is moved in the optical-axis direction without rotating around the optical axis and presses the first elastic member and the second elastic member.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a first pixel array arrange to capture a first image and a second pixel array arranged to capture a second image. The imaging device also includes shutter control circuitry which is coupled to the first pixel array to initiate a first exposure period of the first pixel array to capture the first image. The shutter control circuitry is also coupled to the second pixel array to initiate a second exposure period of the second pixel array to capture the second image. The imaging device also includes processing logic coupled to receive first pixel data of the first image and coupled to receive second pixel data of the second image. The processing logic is configured to generate at least one image using the first pixel data and the second pixel data.

Abstract: An image pickup device includes a first image sensor for photoelectrically converting subject light and generating an image, a second image sensor for photoelectrically converting the subject light and generating an image for a live view, a first optical member for transmitting the subject light and allowing the subject light to enter the first image sensor, and at the same time, reflecting the subject light, and a second optical member for leading the subject light reflected by the first optical member to the second image sensor and allowing the subject light to enter the second image sensor.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: a pixel configured to generate a signal through photoelectric conversion; a comparator configured to compare a signal generated by the pixel with a first reference signal that changes with time; and a control unit configured to change the rate of change of the first reference signal with respect to time according to a comparison result of the comparator.

Abstract: Digital video stabilization is selectively turned off in circumstances where it could actually decrease the quality of a captured video. A video camera includes a device for directly detecting physical motion of the camera. Motion data from the motion detector are analyzed to see if video stabilization is appropriate. If the motion data indicate that the video camera is stable, for example, then video stabilization is not applied to the video, thus preventing the possibility of introducing “motion artifacts” into the captured video. In another example, motion as detected by the motion detector can be compared with motion as detected by the video-stabilization engine. If the two motions disagree significantly, then the video-stabilization engine is probably responding more to motion in the captured video rather than to motion of the camera itself, and video stabilization should probably not be applied to the video.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for image capture with infrared emitters, with associated computer control and processing for providing consistent and high quality image data. Image data of consecutive frames from a camera is obtained, with a first frame being taken during an emission of infrared light directed at a scene to be captured by the camera and a second frame being taken without an emission of infrared light. The consecutive frames provide a dynamic control image of the captured scene. The image data may be used to support photometric sampling techniques used in building geometric models for subject recognition in camera imagery in variable lighting environments.

Abstract: A camera lens module according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured to include an optical image stabilizing carrier for accommodating a lens barrel; an autofocus carrier for mounting the optical image stabilizing carrier; a rolling unit for supporting a plane motion orthogonal to the optical axis of the optical image stabilizing carrier with respect to the autofocus carrier; a base for accommodating the autofocus carrier which mounts the optical image stabilizing carrier to advance and retreat the autofocus carrier in an optical axis direction; an optical image stabilizer driving unit; and an autofocus driving unit.

Abstract: Techniques are described to combine image data from multiple images with different exposures into a relatively high dynamic range image. A first image of a scene may be generated with a first operational mode of an image processing system. A second image of the scene may be generated with a second different operational mode of the image processing system. The first image may be of a first spatial resolution, while the second image may be of a second spatial resolution. For example, the first spatial resolution may be higher than the second spatial resolution. The first image and the second image may be combined into an output image of the scene. The output image may be of a higher dynamic range than either of the first image and the second image and may be of a spatial resolution higher than the second spatial resolution.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling exposure in a camera device are described. A depth map is used in combination with user selection of a portion of scene as part of an exposure control operation. Exposure control is based on portions of the scene, e.g., in a local window surrounding the user selected point, at the same depth as the user selected portion of the scene with other portions of the scene being excluded from consideration when controlling exposure or being given less weight than the portion or portions at the same depth as the user selected scene portion. Color maybe and in some embodiments is used in combination with depth information to identify an object of interest identified by the user selection. The identified object is then used in some embodiments in making exposure control determinations with portions of a scene outside the object being ignored or given less weight in determining an exposure to be used than the portions corresponding to the identified object.

Abstract: A video transmission apparatus includes a camera controller that obtains camera movement amount data indicating a direction and an amount of movement of a camera, and an image encoder that performs motion compensation on image data received from the camera and determines an image search range for the motion compensation based on the camera movement amount data. The image encoder adjusts a motion vector indicated by the camera movement amount data for each coordinate position in the image data based on a lens characteristic of the camera, and determines the image search range for the motion compensation based on the adjusted motion vector for each coordinate position.

Abstract: A video tracking system includes a user interface configured to facilitate tracking of a target between video cameras. The user interface includes user controls configured to assist a user in selecting video cameras as the target moves between fields of view of the video cameras. These user controls are automatically associated with specific cameras based on a camera topology relative to a point of view of a camera whose video data is currently being viewed. The video tracking system further includes systems and methods of synchronizing video data generated using the video cameras and of automatically generating a stitched video sequence based on the user selection of video cameras. The target may be tracked in real-time or in previously recorded video and may be track forward or backwards in time.

Abstract: A digital double sampling method, a related complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor, and a digital camera comprising the CMOS image sensor are disclosed. The method includes generating first digital data corresponding to an initial voltage level apparent in a pixel in response to a reset signal, inverting the first digital data, outputting a detection voltage corresponding to image data received from outside of the CMOS image sensor, and counting in synchronization with a clock signal, starting from an initial value equal to the inverted first digital data, and for an amount of time responsive to a voltage level of the detection voltage.

Abstract: Various embodiments describe systems and methods for utilizing a reduced amount of processing capacity for incoming data over time, and, in response to detecting a scene-change-event, notify one or more data processors that a scene-change-event has occurred, and cause incoming data to be processed as new data. In some embodiments, an incoming frame can be compared with a reference frame to determine a difference between the reference frame and the incoming frame. The reference frame may be correlated to a latest scene-change-event. In response to a determination that the difference does not meet one or more difference criteria, a user interface or at least one processor of the computing device can be notified to reduce processing of incoming data over time. In response to a determination that the difference meets the one or more difference criteria, the user interface or the at least one processor can be notified that a scene-change-event has occurred.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device including a pixel unit in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements having different sensitivities are arranged; and a pixel reading unit configured to read and add output signals from the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements in the pixel unit, and to obtain an output signal seemingly from one pixel. The pixel unit includes an absorbing unit configured to absorb overflowing electric charge from a photoelectric conversion element with a high sensitivity.

Abstract: A camera on a computing device can capture a plurality of images, each with a different exposure setting but having the same subject. The images can be stored, at least temporarily, in a memory device on the computing device. The device can determine a time subsequent to the capturing of the images at which to process the plurality of images. For example, the time can be when the camera is not being used and/or when the computing device has sufficient resources (e.g., processing power, battery life, etc.) to process the plurality of images. At the determined time, the computing device can process the plurality of images to generate at least one high dynamic range (HDR) image. The processing of the plurality of images to generate the at least one HDR image can be based at least in part upon combining at least some portions of the plurality of images.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dual aperture camera which includes a dual band filter and a CMOS image sensor (CIS). The dual band filter is adapted to filter light signals to receive a light signal of a first wavelength range and receive a light signal of a second wavelength range through a pin hole included therein. The CIS is adapted to process the light signal of the first wavelength range and the light signal of the second wavelength range received through the dual band filter.

Abstract: According to an illustrative embodiment, an image processing device is provided. The image processing device includes a foreground selection processing circuit to select at least one foreground image that has been separated from a source image; a background selection circuit to select at least two display background images from at least one background image that has been separated from the source image; and a combination circuit to combine the at least one selected foreground image with the at least two display background images to generate a plurality of combined images, wherein at least one of the plurality of combined images does not appear in the source image.