Abstract: A method capable of constructing an accurate three-dimensional image is offered. The method comprises the step (S10) of obtaining a first series of tilted images which are constituted by electron microscope images or elemental mapping images of a sample (S) at different tilt angles and which have been obtained by tilting the sample in angular increments, the step (S14) of obtaining a second series of tilted images which are constituted by electron microscope images or elemental mapping images of the sample at different tilt angles and which have been obtained by rotating the sample about an axis (P) perpendicular to a surface (Sf) of the sample and then tilting the sample in angular increments, and the step (S16) of constructing the three-dimensional image on the basis of the first and second series of tilted images.

Abstract: An image capture device, such as a smartphone or point of sale scanner, is adapted for use as an imaging spectrometer, by synchronized pulsing of different LED light sources as different image frames are captured by the image sensor. A particular implementation employs the CIE color matching functions, and/or their orthogonally transformed functions, to enable direct chromaticity capture. These and various other configurations of spectral capture devices are employed to capture spectral images comprised of spectral vectors having multi-dimensions per pixel. These spectral images are processed for use in object identification, classification, and a variety of other applications. Particular applications include produce (e.g., fruit or vegetable) identification. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: Systems and methods may be directed to de-blurring panoramic images and/or video. An image processor may receive a frame, where the frame comprises a plurality of pixel values arranged in a grid. The image processor may divide the frame into a first section and a second section. The image processor may determine a first motion kernel for the first section and apply the first motion kernel to the first section. The image processor may also determine a second motion kernel for the second section and apply the second motion kernel to the second section.

Abstract: Methods for palette coding of image and video data to avoid issues associated with zero-size palette or to improve performance by conditionally signaling CU (coding unit)-level escape pixel presence flag are disclosed. In one embodiment, size information related to palette size of a current palette table of the current CU is signaled conditionally based on the escape indication flag, where the escape indication flag indicates whether there is any sample in the current CU coded as an escape pixel. In another embodiment, the CU-level escape pixel presence flag is conditionally signaled according to the current palette size or both of the predicted palette size and the new palette size. Conditionally signaling the palette sharing flag may also be based on the palette sharing flag.

Abstract: An image coding apparatus and method capable of suppressing a decrease in coding efficiency. The image coding apparatus includes: a coding unit that codes image data configured by plural layers; an interlayer prediction-related information generating unit that generates information relating to an interlayer prediction of the current slice in a case a layer of the current slice is an enhancement layer, and a slice type of current slice is a P slice or a B slice; and a transmission unit that transmits coded data of the image data generated by the coding unit and the information relating to the interlayer prediction generated by the interlayer prediction-related information generating unit. The apparatus and method, for example, may be applied to an image coding apparatus that scalably codes image data or an image decoding apparatus that decodes coded data acquired by performing scalable coding of the image data.

Abstract: Reconstructed prediction errors in a sub-portion (12) of a residual block (11) obtained by inverse transforming a transform block (10) are modified in order to spatially improve localized portions of the residual block (11), e.g. to compensate for visual artifacts from transform coding. The modification affects reconstructed prediction errors in the sub-portion (12) of the residual block (11) but not reconstructed prediction errors in a remaining portion of the residual block (11).

Abstract: An image coding apparatus and method capable of suppressing a decrease in coding efficiency. The image coding apparatus includes: a coding unit that codes image data configured by plural layers; an interlayer prediction-related information generating unit that generates information relating to an interlayer prediction of the current slice in a case a layer of the current slice is an enhancement layer, and a slice type of current slice is a P slice or a B slice; and a transmission unit that transmits coded data of the image data generated by the coding unit and the information relating to the interlayer prediction generated by the interlayer prediction-related information generating unit. The apparatus and method, for example, may be applied to an image coding apparatus that scalably codes image data or an image decoding apparatus that decodes coded data acquired by performing scalable coding of the image data.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a lens, a moving mechanism, an imaging device, and a controller. The moving mechanism moves the lens in the optical axis direction. The controller drives, in response to an input of an imaging instruction, the moving mechanism to move the lens to a plurality of imaging positions from one of infinity and close-up ends to the other and drives the imaging device when the lens is positioned at each of the imaging positions. Since the interior of an oral cavity, for example, is difficult to capture, the focus can hardly be adjusted on it with high accuracy when an autofocus mechanism is used. However, since the lens is moved to the plurality of imaging positions in the optical axis direction in response to each input of the imaging instruction to obtain captured images, an in-focus image can be reliably obtained.

Abstract: The present invention is a variable length coding method for coding coefficients in each block which are obtained by performing frequency transformation on picture data of a moving picture per block having a predetermined size, and comprises: a coefficient scanning step of scanning the coefficients in the block in a predetermined order; and a coding step of coding the coefficients scanned in the coefficient scanning step into variable length codes in a predetermined order by switching a plurality of tables to be used for coding. Here, a direction of switching between the tables may be one-directional. Also, the coding may be non-arithmetic coding.

Abstract: A method of controlling a stereo convergence and an image processor using the method are provided. The method includes: detecting objects from a stereo image; grouping the detected objects into at least one or more objects according to setup specification information; and moving at least one of left and right eye images of a stereo image of the grouping or a setup area including the grouping in a horizontal or vertical direction or in the horizontal and vertical directions.

Abstract: This invention concerns the tracking of objects in video data for artificial vision; for instance for a bionic eye. More particularly, the invention concerns a vision enhancement apparatus for a vision-impaired user. In other aspects, the invention concerns a method for enhancing vision and software to perform the method. The image processor operates to process video data representing images of a scene. Automatically detect and track a user selected object, such as a face, in the images. And, automatically modify the video data, by reserving a user selected area of the displayed images for displaying the tracked object as a separate video tile within the scene. The separate video tile remains in the selected area despite movement of the camera relative to the scene, or movement of the user relative to the object or the scene.

Abstract: A method for decoding a scalable video signal, according to the present invention, comprises: determining whether a corresponding picture in a lower layer is used as an inter-layer reference picture for a current picture in an upper layer, based on a temporal level identifier of the lower layer; and performing inter-layer prediction of the current picture using the corresponding picture, when the corresponding picture in the lower layer is used as the inter-layer reference picture for the current picture in the upper layer, wherein the inter-layer prediction is limitedly performed depending on tile alignment between the upper layer and the lower layer.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for capturing person-specific data of a person, wherein the person-specific data comprises a facial image of the person, wherein the device has a camera for recording the facial image of the person, a lighting apparatus, and a semi-transparent mirror, wherein the semi-transparent mirror is arranged between the person and the camera, wherein the semi-transparent mirror is oriented such that, on the side of the semi-transparent mirror facing towards the person, the optical path of light incident on the semi-transparent mirror is parallel to the optical path of the portion of this light reflected back by the semi-transparent mirror, wherein the lighting apparatus is used to illuminate the person from the front, wherein the device also has a control unit for capturing an image, by generating light by means of the lighting apparatus in order to illuminate the face of the person and, during the illumination, capturing a first image of the face of the person by means of the camera,

Abstract: A camera module for a vehicle according to the present invention includes a first Printed Circuit Board (PCB) configured to have an image sensor mounted on its surface; a second PCB configured to supply a power source to the first PCB; an outer shield installed to surround the side of the first and the second PCBs and to shield the first and the second PCBs from electromagnetic interference (EMI); and a plurality of support units disposed at positions where the supports units interfere with the first and the second PCBs of the outer shield and configured to support the first and the second PCBs.

Abstract: A distance measurement device includes a detection unit, an optical path forming unit, a common reduction unit that reduces influence of variation of an optical axis of an image formation optical system, and reduces variation of an optical axis of the directional light, an auxiliary reduction unit that auxiliarily reduces at least one of influence of variation of the optical axis of the image formation optical system or variation of the optical axis of the directional light, and a control unit that, in a case of operating the common reduction unit and the auxiliary reduction unit at the same time, controls the common reduction unit and the auxiliary reduction unit to reduce variation of an irradiation position of the directional light in a subject image received as light by a light receiving section.

Abstract: The present invention is a variable length coding method for coding coefficients in each block which are obtained by performing frequency transformation on picture data of a moving picture per block having a predetermined size, and comprises: a coefficient scanning step of scanning the coefficients in the block in a predetermined order; and a coding step of coding the coefficients scanned in the coefficient scanning step into variable length codes in a predetermined order by switching a plurality of tables to be used for coding. Here, a direction of switching between the tables may be one-directional. Also, the coding may be non-arithmetic coding.

Abstract: A monitoring camera apparatus including a processing unit configured to process a video image input by an imaging unit, an upload control unit configured to upload the video image processed by the processing unit to a server via a network, a setting unit configured to set a parameter for the imaging unit to perform imaging or a processing parameter for the processing unit, and a transmission control unit configured to stop uploading of the processed video image to the server when the setting unit is in use.

Abstract: A method for decoding a multi-layer video signal, according to the present invention, determines whether a corresponding picture in a lower layer is used as an inter-layer reference picture for a current picture in an upper layer, on the basis of a temporal level identifier of the lower layer, performs inter-layer prediction for the current picture by using the corresponding picture if the corresponding picture in the lower layer is used as the inter-layer reference picture for the current picture in the upper layer, reconstructs the current picture by using a prediction sample acquired through the inter-layer prediction and a residual sample of the current picture, and selectively applies a loop filter to a tile boundary of the reconstructed current picture on the basis of a layer filter flag for the upper layer.

Abstract: A distance measurement device includes a detection unit, an optical path forming unit, a first reduction unit that reduces, based on a detection result of the detection unit, influence of variation of the optical axis of the image formation optical system, a second reduction unit that is disposed in a different part from the common optical path and reduces variation of the optical axis of the directional light based on the detection result of the detection unit, and a control unit that, in the case of operating the first reduction unit and the second reduction unit at the same time, controls the first reduction unit and the second reduction unit to reduce variation of an irradiation position of the directional light in the subject image received as light by the light receiving section.

Abstract: A distance measurement device includes a detection unit, an optical path forming unit, a first reduction unit, based on a detection result of the detection unit, influence of variation of the optical axis of the image formation optical system, a second reduction unit that is disposed in a different part from a common optical path and reduces variation of the optical axis of the directional light with respect to the subject based on the detection result of the detection unit, and a control unit that, in the case of operating the first reduction unit and the second reduction unit at the same time, controls the first reduction unit and the second reduction unit to reduce variation of an irradiation position of the directional light in the subject image received as light by the light receiving section.