Abstract: This video signal processing apparatus includes a luminance correction circuit that multiplies video signals of M sequential frames by weight coefficients individually set for frames respectively ordered in the M frames, M being plural, and adds and averages results, to generate a correction video signal of a frame in a predetermined order in the M frames, a value of a weight coefficient set for the frame in the predetermined order being set to be maximum among values of the weight coefficients individually set for the frames respectively ordered in the M frames.

Abstract: An image sensor includes first pixels and second pixels arranged in alternating order along a first direction, first output lines extending in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and respectively connected to the first pixels, second output lines extending in the second direction and respectively connected to the second pixels, first analog circuit blocks and second analog circuit blocks arranged in alternating order along the first direction, and shielding structures disposed each between adjacent ones of the first and second analog circuit blocks. Each of the first analog circuit blocks includes a plurality of first analog circuits respectively connected to the first output lines. Each of the second analog circuit blocks includes a plurality of second analog circuits respectively connected to the second output lines.

Abstract: Provided is a solid-state image pickup apparatus which includes a plurality of groups, each including an output line to which the pixel signals are output from pixels in a corresponding column and an AD conversion unit configured to perform AD conversion on the pixel signals output to the output line for some of the plurality of rows to generate a digital signal. An adjustment period for ensuring a difference in length between a first horizontal period and a second horizontal period and executing an operation of the AD conversion unit is set in a period excluding a period from first timing at which the output of the pixel signals to the output line starts, to second timing at which the AD conversion unit starts the AD conversion.

Abstract: An image processing technique that enables accurate detection of a flicker component even when applied to an image pickup device capable of changing a driving method on a region basis within a frame. A flicker detection section detects a flicker component of an image pixel signal read out from the image pickup device having a pixel region for detecting a phase difference. When the driving method is changed to one for performing phase difference detection, the flicker detection section detects a flicker component such that the period of the flicker component in a region used for phase difference detection within the frame coincides with a period of the flicker component in a region not used for phase difference detection.

Abstract: In an image capturing apparatus, an image sensing unit has a plurality of pixels and photoelectrically converts an object image formed by an optical imaging system including a focus lens and outputs an electrical image signal, a control unit controls at least a readout rate or an exposure condition independently for different regions of the image sensing unit, and a calculation unit calculates a plurality of focus evaluation values based on image signals read out from the pixels present in a focus detection area in one of the plurality of different regions at different focus lens positions, and find an in-focus position of the focus lens based on the focus evaluation values. The control unit takes an image signal read out from a first region among the plurality of different regions as an image signal for display.

Abstract: [Object] To easily determine whether a flicker component is present. [Solution] An image sensor performs a process of generating image data by exposing a plurality of lines, each of which including a plurality of pixels, in sequence over a predetermined exposure time from exposure start timings that are different from each other whenever a predetermined period of a vertical synchronization signal elapses. A timing controller performs control for shifting each of the exposure start timings by a fixed time interval whenever the period elapses. A determination unit determines whether a component having luminance varying at a predetermined frequency along a direction perpendicular to the plurality of lines in the image data is present. A removal unit removes the component in the image data in a case where the component is determined to be present.

Abstract: An image sensor circuit includes an image sensor, a flicker detector and a flicker compensator. The image sensor generates frame data for a plurality of successive frames. The flicker detector determines a representative value of the frame data for each of the plurality of successive frames and generates a flicker detection signal that is activated when the determined representative values of the generated frame data show periodicity between a minimum value and a maximum value. The flicker compensator generates compensated frame data by compensating the frame data based on the determined representative values and a predetermined reference value when the flicker detection signal is activated.

Abstract: Included are a photometric unit configured to obtain respective photometric values of a plurality of photometry areas in an image capturing area, an operation unit configured to perform setting regarding continuous shooting and/or focus adjustment, a calculation unit configured to calculate a light quantity change characteristic of a photometric target based on the photometric values of the plurality of photometry areas, an adjustment unit configured to adjust exposure timing based on the light quantity change characteristic, and a control unit configured to change a method of calculating the light quantity change characteristic according to the setting regarding continuous shooting and/or focus adjustment, and to determine whether the exposure timing is adjusted based on the light quantity change characteristic.

Abstract: There is provided an imaging apparatus that can obtain a satisfactory image under a flickering light source while preventing lowering of a frame speed during consecutive image capturing. The imaging apparatus includes an image capturing unit, an acquisition unit to acquire information about a periodic change in light intensity from a subject, and a control unit to control exposure timing of the image capturing unit to the light. The control unit may control the exposure timing so that the image capturing unit is exposed in synchronization with a timing at which the light intensity from the subject becomes a first light intensity based on the acquired information. A period at or during which the light intensity from the subject becomes the first light intensity may be shorter than a change period of the light intensity from the subject based on the acquired information.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus for correcting blinking defect noise included in image data generated by an image sensor, the image sensor including pixels arranged two-dimensionally and read-out circuits configured to read out a pixel value. The image processing apparatus is configured to: acquire noise information that associates the pixel value with positional information of the read-out circuits or positional information of each of the pixels, and with feature data related to blinking defect noise attributed to the read-out circuits; determine whether the blinking defect noise occurs on a pixel of interest based on the noise information; calculate candidate values indicating a correction amount for correcting the blinking defect noise based on the noise information and a pixel value of the pixel of interest if the blinking defect noise occurs; and correct the pixel value of the pixel of interest based on the candidate values.

Abstract: A flash band determination device capable of always detecting a flash band with high accuracy, and correcting the detected flash band. It is determined whether or not there is a high-luminance area in an image, which is an area having a luminance level exceeding a predetermined luminance level. When determining whether or not a flash band which is an area having a luminance level higher than a predetermined threshold level is present in a difference image which is a difference between two images which are continuously obtained, if it is determined that the high-luminance area is present, whether or not the flash band is present is determined, by excluding an area corresponding to the high-luminance area, as a determination excluded area, from the difference image.

Abstract: Provided are an imaging apparatus, a flicker detection method, and a flicker detection program that can accurately detect a flicker even in a case in which an image of a bright object is captured. A digital camera directs a MOS imaging element 5 to perform a plurality of imaging operations at an arbitrary frame rate and compares captured image signals which are read from the imaging element 5 for frame periods F1 and F2 based on the frame rate to detect whether a flicker has occurred. The end time of a signal reading period in the frame period F1 is before the end time of the frame period F1 and the end time of a signal reading period in the frame period F2 coincides with the end time of the frame period F2.

Abstract: A method of processing an image obtained by a camera includes: obtaining the image using an image sensor; identifying an image signal in a direction perpendicular to a line scan direction of the image sensor, with respect to at least one region of the image; detecting a signal indicating a flicker, using the image signal; and generating an image in which a flicker is corrected, based on the signal indicating a flicker and the image.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor, a driving unit configured to drive the image sensor, and a detection unit configured to detect a variation in amount of light within one frame image based on a plurality of image signals obtained by driving the image sensor with different accumulation periods by the driving unit.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging element; an imaging element driving unit that directs the imaging element to alternately perform imaging operations at a first frame rate and a second frame rate being different from the first frame rate; and a flicker detection unit that detects whether a first flicker of a light source with a first frequency is present and whether a second flicker of a light source with a second frequency is present, based on a first captured image signal obtained by an imaging operation at the first frame rate and a second captured image signal obtained by an imaging operation at the second frame rate as defined herein, and a sum of a duration of a first frame period based on the first frame rate and a duration of a second frame period based on the second frame rate is a value as defined herein.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging element; an imaging element driving unit that directs the imaging element to alternately perform imaging operations at a first frame rate and a second frame rate being different from the first frame rate; and a flicker detection unit that detects whether a first flicker of a light source with a first frequency is present and whether a second flicker of a light source with a second frequency is present, based on a captured image signal obtained by an imaging operation at the first frame rate, a captured image signal obtained by an imaging operation at the second frame rate following the imaging operation at the first frame rate and a captured image signal obtained by an another imaging operation at the first frame rate or the second frame rate, wherein the first frame rate and the second frame rate are as defined herein.

Abstract: A method for detecting electronic lighting flickering includes: taking a video of an electronic light with a duration of a predetermined period and a scanning frequency; extracting a predetermined number of frames of pictures from the video; determining a flickering frequency of the electronic light; determining at least one fixed reference point at each frame; and reconstructing a brightness waveform of the electronic light from the reference point in all frames of the video.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which is capable of properly detecting and compensating for flash bands to generate a corrected image with no different levels of luminance. Based on an image signal output from an image pickup device which sequentially starts exposure and reads out signals for each row of pixels, a flash band appearing in a plurality of frames consecutive in terms of time due to an external flash is detected. Gains are changed with rows of the frames. At least one of the frames in which the flash band was detected is corrected to a full-screen flash image. When flash bands caused by a plurality of external flashes fired in one frame is detected, a gain is calculated based on a light quantity ratio between the external flashes, and a region where the flash bands overlay each other is multiplied by the gain to generate the full-screen flash image.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus equipped with a flicker detection function and including an image sensor of a rolling shutter type calculates a Fourier spectrum including an amplitude and a phase for each of two captured images acquired by the image sensor and having different imaging timings by performing Fourier spectrum analysis based on a flicker period serving as a detection target, and judges that flicker with the flicker period serving as the detection target has occurred, when the amplitude of a calculated Fourier spectrum and the phases of the two Fourier spectrums satisfy predetermined conditions and a sum of squares of a pixel value difference between the two captured images for each pixel is larger than a predetermined sum of squares.

Abstract: A flicker detection apparatus and method where flickers in the video images are detected based on the mean detection values obtained from pairs of neighboring frames in the current frame and the former n frames, which is able to perform flicker detection efficiently, and the detection results are accurate.

Abstract: A coded light component is modulated into emitted light on one of multiple channels each having a different modulation frequency. Modulation in the light causes a receiving camera to experience an apparent temporal frequency due to sequential capture of multiple frames and an apparent spatial frequency due to sequential exposure of spatial portions within each frame. Each channel can be detected by a detection module of the camera based on a respective combination of values of the apparent temporal and spatial frequency corresponding to the respective modulation frequency. The detection module has a respective response on each channel that varies as a function of the apparent temporal frequency. The channel for modulating the coded light component is selected from amongst a predetermined set having a property that the response of the detection module on each channel will have a minimum substantially at the apparent temporal frequency of each other channel.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus has a first mode in which a determination unit determines an exposure timing of an imaging unit based on a timing calculated by a calculation unit after a light metering unit performs light metering a first number of times, and a second mode in which the determination unit determines the exposure timing of the imaging unit based on the timing calculated by the calculation unit after the light metering unit performs the light metering a second number of times.

Abstract: In one shooting mode in a case where a flicker is detected by a flicker detecting unit, it is determined whether anti-flicker shooting is set, and a flicker icon is lighted and displayed on an in-viewfinder display unit in a different displaying form between when the anti-flicker shooting is set and when it is not set. In another shooting mode, in the case where the flicker is detected by the flicker detecting unit, the flicker icon is hidden.

Abstract: A system which synchronizes audio and video, that uses a sensor sensing the display of video and audio from an external device. The sensor creates timestamps for each of the video and audio, and then calculates a difference between those timestamps. The differences sent to the external device which then compensates for the difference.

Abstract: A method for flicker detection based on a plurality of images and associated circuit is provided. The method includes providing an integrated flicker signal for each image, including accumulating pixel data of a number of pixels along each row; performing a motion compensation including: comparing two integrated flicker signals of two images, and accordingly providing a flicker signal difference; performing a flicker feature extraction including: applying a frequency analysis on the flicker signal difference, and accordingly providing a normalized flicker feature value; and performing a flicker determination, including: calculating a likelihood according to the normalized flicker feature value, and, according to the likelihood, determining whether a flicker-free hypothesis should be rejected in favor of a flicker-suffered hypothesis.

Abstract: An image-processing device is provided with: a flicker detecting portion that detects a flicker component in an input image signal for each frame and that generates a first signal; a storing portion that stores the generated first signal for a plurality of latest continuous frames; a phase-displacement detecting portion that selects, from the stored past first flicker correction signals, the first signal having substantially the same phase as the most-recent first signal, and that detects a phase displacement level with respect to the most-recent first signal; a phase-displacement correcting portion that corrects the selected past first signal on the basis of the detected phase displacement level; an infinite-impulse-response combining portion that generates a second signal by combining, at a predetermined ratio, the corrected past first signal and the most-recent first signal; and a flicker correcting portion that corrects the input image signal on the basis of the generated second signal.

Abstract: In a method and system for assessing video quality, an analog video signal to be assessed is input. At least part of the incoming video signal is converted to digital values. The digital values are stored. A detector determines whether any stored digital value is outside an acceptable range.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit, a calculation unit configured to calculate light amount variation characteristics of light from an object, a photometric value determination unit configured to determine a photometry value used for determination of an exposure condition based on the light amount variation characteristics calculated by the calculation unit, and an exposure condition determination unit configured to determine an exposure condition when performing exposure of the image capturing unit at a timing set based on the light amount variation characteristics calculated by the calculation unit, based on the photometry value determined by the photometric value determination unit.

Abstract: A mechanism which makes it possible to obtain high-quality images in continuous photographing by reducing the influence of flicker while suppressing reduction of frame speed. An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device and an exposure unit configured to perform exposure of the image pickup device in response to a photographing instruction. An AE sensor detects peak timing of flicker. A camera CPU switches between peak synchronous exposure in which exposure operation is performed by making the same synchronous with the peak timing of flicker and normal exposure in which exposure operation is performed without making the same synchronous with the peak timing of flicker. The camera CPU corrects a photographed image obtained by the normal exposure. The camera CPU switches between the peak synchronous exposure and the normal exposure, based on the detected peak timing of flicker.

Abstract: At least one imaging apparatus includes a sensor configured to output a signal according to an incident light amount, a calculation unit configured to calculate an evaluation value in regard to a flicker based on the output signal from the sensor, a notification unit configured to notify a user of information about a presence of the flicker based on the evaluation value, and a control unit configured to control processing for reducing an influence of the flicker based on the evaluation value. When the evaluation value is equal to or larger than a first threshold value, the notification unit notifies the user of the information about the presence of the flicker. When the evaluation value is equal to or larger than a second threshold value which is larger than the first threshold value, the control unit performs control to carry out processing for reducing the influence of the flicker.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus includes an image sensor including a plurality of pixels and configured to sense an optical image formed from fluorescence or phosphorescence generated by excitation light from an excitation light source when periods during which pixels perform the photoelectric conversion sequentially end on the respective rows, a mechanical shutter configured to control exposure on the image sensor, and a control unit configured to control the image sensor and the mechanical shutter so as to prevent overlapping between an excitation period and a detection period, the excitation period being a period during which the excitation light source emits excitation light, the detection period being a period during which the plurality of pixels are commonly set in a state of performing the photoelectric conversion for detecting fluorescence or phosphorescence and the mechanical shutter is open.

Abstract: A method for detecting electronic lighting flickering includes: taking a video of an electronic light with a duration of a predetermined period and a scanning frequency; extracting a predetermined number of frames of pictures from the video; determining a flickering frequency of the electronic light; determining at least one fixed reference point at each frame; and reconstructing a brightness waveform of the electronic light from the reference point in all frames of the video.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of reducing influence of flicker while suppressing delay of start of photographing. An image pickup device and a photometric sensor pick up images of an object. A CPU obtains images by controlling driving of one of the device and the sensor to perform charge accumulation and charge readout. Further, the CPU detects a flicker frequency and a flicker phase of a flicker light source, and stores them in a memory as first information. When photographing, if the CPU determines that the first information is not valid, an ICPU obtains images by controlling driving of the other of them to perform charge accumulation and charge readout. Further, the ICPU detects the flicker frequency and the flicker phase and stores them in a memory as second information. The CPU controls exposure timing according to the second information to perform photographing.

Abstract: An approach is provided to adjust a camera shutter lag. In the approach, data is collected that corresponds to an ambient light found in a physical environment with the ambient light being controlled using a pulse-width modulation (PWM). The pulse-width modulation corresponds to a PWM timing model. When an exposure request is received, the camera shutter lag is calculated using the PWM timing model. The calculated shutter lag is based on a future point in time at which the ambient light of the physical environment is predicted to be at a selected light output level, such as a power level selected by the user of a camera. When the calculated camera shutter lag has expired, a shutter of the camera is opened causing a camera lens to be exposed that results in a captured exposure.

Abstract: An image sensor includes an imaging area and one or more flicker detection regions. The imaging area includes pixels that capture one or more images. Each flicker detection region includes pixels that are sampled multiple times while an image is being captured. The samples can be analyzed to detect flicker in the scene being imaged.

Abstract: A method of an optical detecting device for synchronizing an exposure timing sequence of an image detector with a light emitting timing sequence of a reference light source is disclosed. The method includes capturing a continued image set according to a predetermined period, analyzing intensity variation of the continued image set, and adjusting the exposure timing sequence of an image detector according to the intensity variation, so as to synchronize the exposure timing sequence of the image detector with the light emitting timing sequence of the reference light source.

Abstract: Provided is an image signal processor, including: an integrator configured to integrate each frame of an image signal; a first flicker corrector configured to extract a flicker component from the integrated value obtained by the integrator, the flicker component depending on a frequency of a light source, and to reduce a flicker component from the integrated value sequentially; and a second flicker corrector configured to generate a reference image without a flicker component based on the correction result of the integrated value corrected by the first flicker corrector, and to correct a flicker of the image signal based on the reference image.

Abstract: The present invention generates first developed image data by correcting image data with use of a first white balance correction value corresponding to a first light source, generates second developed image data by correcting the image data with use of a second white balance correction value corresponding to a second light source, calculates a color evaluation value of each of blocks by adding and averaging color evaluation values of pixels in the image data for each of the divided blocks, calculates a combining ratio based on a difference between the calculated color evaluation value of each of the blocks and a color evaluation value of white under the second light source, and combines the first developed image data and the second developed image data according to the calculated combining ratio.

Abstract: An approach is provided for enabling viewers to control the depth of three-dimensional content rendered via a set-top box. A 3D content platform receives a user input for specifying a user identifier and a mode of operation of a set-top box. A depth setting parameter is determined based on user profile information related to the user identifier. Content is then presented for display via the set-top box at the dept setting corresponding to the parameter.

Abstract: This image capture device (100) includes: an image sensor (102); an integrated value calculating section (210) which calculates, on a frame-by-frame basis, a value of a line integral of luminance values with respect to each of a plurality of horizontal lines included in a frame; a memory (220); an average calculating section (230) which calculates a line average value by working out the average of the values of the line integral on the same horizontal line between the newest frame and a number of other frames gotten earlier than the newest one in the memory (220); a waveform data generating section (240) which generates waveform data by normalizing the value of the line integral in the memory (220) based on the value of the line integral and a line average value; and a flicker extracting section (250) which extracts information about the phase and frequency of the flicker based on the waveform data.

Abstract: In various embodiments, the present invention provides a system and associated methods of calibration and use for an interactive imaging environment based on the optimization of parameters used in various segmentation algorithm techniques. These methods address the challenge of automatically calibrating an interactive imaging system, so that it is capable of aligning human body motion, or the like, to a visual display. As such the present invention provides a system and method of automatically and rapidly aligning the motion of an object to a visual display.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a plurality of active pixels and a plurality of flicker pixels. The active pixels output active pixel signals at a first readout frequency, and the flicker pixels output flicker pixel signals at a second readout frequency greater than the first readout frequency. A plurality of frequency detectors accumulate the flicker pixel signals and then perform frequency domain transformation of the accumulated flicker pixel signals. A frequency analyzer detects flicker by analyzing the flicker pixel signals which have been transformed into the frequency domain.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a flicker correction unit for correcting a flicker component using a correction gain. The flicker correction unit includes an integrating unit for calculating a line integrated value from a video signal in one horizontal line in one vertical synchronization period, a normalization unit for normalizing the line integrated value for a plurality of the vertical synchronization periods so as to calculate a normalized line integrated value, an inter-frame DFT processing unit for performing Discrete Fourier Transform on the normalized line integrated value for the plurality of vertical synchronization periods, a flicker component calculation unit for calculating information of a flicker component based on a Fourier Transform processing result, and a correction gain calculation unit for calculating a correction gain based on the information of the flicker component in two or more horizontal lines.

Abstract: A flicker compensation method for images taken by an image sensor operating in rolling-shutter mode may include capturing a first image and capturing a second image offset in time from the first image by an integer or zero number of flicker periods, plus half a flicker period. The method may also include producing a compensated image based on an average of the first and second images.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus comprises an X-Y address scan type image sensor; a flicker detector configured to detect a flicker of a light source; a switch configured to switch the image sensor between a first state in which the image sensor is driven by a first driving method which comprises reading out a pixel signal within a range of a first angle of view and a second state in which the image sensor is driven by a second driving method which comprises reading out a pixel signal within a range of a second angle of view narrower than the first driving method; and a controller configured to control the switch so as to drive the image sensor by the first driving method while the flicker detector is detecting the flicker and to drive image sensor by the second driving method when the flicker detector has completed flicker detection.

Abstract: An information communication method includes: setting an exposure time of an image sensor so that, in an image obtained by capturing a subject by the image sensor, a bright line corresponding to an exposure line included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject; capturing the subject that changes in luminance by the image sensor with the set exposure time, to obtain the image including the bright line; and obtaining information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained image.

Abstract: An information communication method includes: setting an exposure time of an image sensor so that, in an image obtained by capturing a subject by the image sensor, a bright line corresponding to an exposure line included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject; capturing the subject that changes in luminance by the image sensor with the set exposure time, to obtain the image including the bright line; and obtaining information by demodulating data specified by a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained image.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adjusting the frame rate or other settings of a video camera device operably connected to a computing device are discussed. Embodiments disclosed herein include features such as detecting a camera activation event, acquiring location information about the location of the computing device, determining an AC power frequency associated with the device location or with a power source used by the device, determining ambient lighting conditions near or around the device, identifying a camera frame rate meant to reduce or avoid flicker that would otherwise be caused by a mismatch between AC frequency and camera frame rate, and setting the frame rate of the camera to the identified rate. Embodiments may include some or all of the features noted above, as well as additional features described herein.

Abstract: A flash band correction apparatus includes a flash band detection unit and a frame rate conversion unit. The flash band detection unit is configured to detect a start line and an end line of a flash band in a frame on the basis of a difference in an exposure period for each line of an image signal output for each frame at a predetermined frame rate by an image pickup element with a rolling shutter system. The flash band is an unevenness in brightness level for each line which is generated in the frame due to flash light. The frame rate conversion unit is configured to determine a combination of the frames of the image signal before a frame rate is converted on the basis of the start line and the end line and convert the frame rate to 1/n thereof.

Abstract: An information communication method includes: setting an exposure time of an image sensor to less than or equal to 1/2000 second so that, in an image obtained by capturing a subject by the image sensor, a stripe bright line parallel to a plurality of exposure lines included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject; obtaining the image including the stripe bright line parallel to the plurality of exposure lines by, using the set exposure time, starting exposure sequentially for the plurality of exposure lines each at a different time; and obtaining information by demodulating data according to, in a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained image, a brightness change in a direction perpendicular to the plurality of exposure lines.