Abstract: Apparatus and method for realizing a processing with which a pixel gravity center control can be conducted when a pixel number reduction image is generated in an image pickup apparatus. A pixel unit configured to output a pixel addition signal obtained by adding output pixel signals from pixels having different sensitivities to each other and a pixel information synthesis unit configured to execute a weighted addition processing of multiplying plural pixel addition signals output from the pixel unit by a previously set gain and calculate a configuration pixel value of a pixel number reduction image where a total number of pixels is lower than a number of pixels of the pixel unit are provided.

Abstract: An image sensor comprises a pixel array having a plurality of pixel regions, wherein the pixel array is adapted to generate at least one signal from each pixel region and a separate signal from a subset of pixels within each pixel region, both during a single exposure period. In one embodiment, the sensor is in communication with a shift register which accumulates the separate signal and transfers the separate signal to an amplifier. The shift register further accumulates the at least one signal from the pixel region after the separate signal has been transferred to the amplifier and transfers the at least one signal to the amplifier.

Abstract: A method adjusts an auto exposure target in an auto-exposure operation on a sequence of images, such as a sequence of infrared images. The method comprises: obtaining a histogram of at least one of the images; applying a weighted histogram table to the histogram to obtain weighted histogram bins wherein at least some bins in the histogram containing saturated pixels are assigned a higher weighting value and at least some bins in the histogram containing unsaturated pixels are assigned a lower weighting value, and summing the weighted histogram bins to obtain a saturation score and decreasing an auto exposure target for an auto exposure operation when the saturation score exceeds a first threshold value, and increasing the auto-exposure target when the saturation score is below the first threshold value and the image is underexposed.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of not only detecting whiteout or blackout but also effectively achieving exposure control. In the image pickup apparatus, an entire-screen brightness frequency distribution is detected based on a picked-up image signal. The image pickup apparatus calculates a first exposure control value from the entire-screen brightness frequency distribution. The image signal is divided into a plurality of small areas, and the brightness of each of the small areas is detected. The image pickup apparatus calculates a second exposure control value from the brightness. The image pickup apparatus calculates an exposure correction value based on the first exposure control value and the second exposure control value. An exposure value is calculated using the exposure correction value and an exposure value of the image signal. The image pickup apparatus performs exposure control of the image pickup section based on the calculated exposure value.

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: Methods and apparatus for capturing or generating images using multiple optical chains operating in parallel are described. Pixel values captured by individual optical chains corresponding to the same scene area are combined to provide an image with at least some of the benefits which would have been provided by capturing an image of the scene using a larger lens than that of the individual lenses of the optical chain modules. By using multiple optical chains in parallel at least some benefits normally obtained from using a large lens can be obtained without the need for a large lens. Furthermore in at least some embodiments, a wide dynamic range can be supported through the use of multiple sensors with the overall supported dynamic range being potentially larger than that of the individual sensors. Some lens and/or optical chain configurations are designed for use in small handheld devices, e.g., cell phones.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes: an image-capturing unit with variable image-capturing sensitivity, which captures an image of a subject through a photographic lens; a brightness detection unit that detects subject brightness; an exposure calculation unit that executes an exposure calculation by using the image-capturing sensitivity set at the image-capturing unit and the detected subject brightness; a flash quantity calculation unit that calculates a main flash quantity for a flash unit that illuminates the subject when capturing an image thereof; and a sensitivity adjusting unit that adjusts the image-capturing sensitivity so as to achieve optimal exposure with a main flash quantity within a flash quantity control range of the flash unit when the main flash quantity calculated by the flash quantity calculation unit is outside the flash quantity control range.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a pixel outputs a photoelectrically converted signal. A reference ramp generating circuit generates a first ramp wave and a second ramp wave having a step width smaller than that of the first ramp wave. A column ADC circuit performs switching between the first ramp wave and the second ramp wave on the basis of the signal level of the signal from the pixel, compares the ramp wave with the signal level, and detects a signal component of the pixel by CDS.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, or method is provided for imaging and for capturing visuals to provide image manipulation options for increasing resolution of subject images. A system, apparatus or method for increasing resolution of subject images using a camera to deliver unexposed photographic emulsion or a digital image and to generate images of greater resolution by modifying digital images or modifying digital and emulsion images.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a method of generating a final exposure setting, including, (a) selecting one of a number of predetermined exposure settings as a current exposure setting for a solid state camera having a camera imager, (b) generating a captured scene by the camera imager using the current exposure setting, (c) selecting according to an automated search methodology another one of the exposure settings to be the current setting in response to the captured scene being underexposed or overexposed, and, (d) repeating (b) and (c) until the captured scene is neither underexposed or overexposed.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus and method. The apparatus including: an image pickup unit configured to capture an image of a subject to create image data; a image pickup unit controller configured to set a photographing time that is longer than an exposure time required for photographing the subject, and configured to divide the overall photographing time into a plurality of unit photographing times, and configured to control the image pickup unit to sequentially perform a plurality of unit photographing operations corresponding to the plurality of unit photographing times to create unit images; a storage unit; a user inputting unit; an image synthesis unit configured to sum up the image data of the unit images to create preparatory images and configured to sum up the unit images of a preparatory image to create a final image; and a display unit configured to display the preparatory images and the final image.

Abstract: By utilizing scene metrics in an image processing system (such as night vision goggles or a camera), a setpoint controller can set a setpoint used by a gain controller. Using the setpoint and an average video level of a frame, the gain controller can set gain control signals sent to an image sensor and/or a high voltage power supply to adaptively adjust for higher and lower light scenarios. Scene metrics can include an amount of saturation in a frame, a number or percentage of pixels above a first threshold and a number or percentage of pixels below a second threshold.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a mobile device that captures and produces images with high dynamic ranges. To capture and produce a high dynamic range image, the mobile device of some embodiments includes novel image capture and processing modules. In some embodiments, the mobile device produces a high dynamic range (HDR) image by (1) having its image capture module rapidly capture a succession of images at different image exposure durations, and (2) having its image processing module composite these images to produce the HDR image.

Abstract: A first plurality of images of a scene may be captured. Each image of the first plurality of images may be captured with a different total exposure time (TET). Based at least on the first plurality of images, a TET sequence may be determined for capturing images of the scene. A second plurality of images of the scene may be captured. Images in the second plurality of images may be captured using the TET sequence. Based at least on the second plurality of images, an output image of the scene may be constructed.

Abstract: A system for processing images may comprise a pixel configuration circuitry enabled to set for each pixel in a pixel array one of a plurality of integration times and one of a plurality of signal gains. A column analog-to-digital converter may be enabled to generate a corresponding digital data for a pixel in the pixel array, and digital processing circuitry may be enabled to interpolate output data from the corresponding digital data for pixels grouped into pixel groups, wherein the pixel group comprises a target pixel and neighboring pixels in a same color plane.

Abstract: A method and system for applying photo texture acquired from a video resource to a 3D model operates within a 3D modeling system. The modeling system includes a modeling application operating on a workstation and a storage device containing a video resource. A 3D model is created or edited within the 3D modeling system. For a selected surface, the method and system allow selection of a video resource, selection of a video frame of the video resource, and selection of an area of the video frame to use as a photo texture to apply to the selected surface. The selected area of the video frame is copied and mapped to the selected surface of the 3D model.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for extending the dynamic range of imaging systems, and more particularly fluorescence or luminescence imaging systems, having low optical background and a linear detector response. Images of a sample at each of a set of exposure times are acquired, a system-level dark estimate for each exposure time is subtracted from each image to form dark-corrected images, and the different exposures (dark-corrected images) are merged into a wider dynamic-range image. Typically merging is performed on a pixel-by pixel basis.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically adjusting an exposure for a digital imaging device by (a) receiving a current image frame using an exposure value (EV), (b) computing a current image spatial entropy (ISE) for the current image frame, and (c) whenever the current ISE is greater than a previous ISE, setting the previous ISE equal to the current ISE, increasing the EV, and repeating steps (a) and (b), and (d) whenever the current ISE is less than or equal to the previous ISE, decreasing the EV, receiving the current image frame using the EV, and displaying the current image frame.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for processing wide dynamic range (WDR) image are disclosed. The WDR image processing apparatus could be integrated within an image sensor or an image backend apparatus. Whether the m-th bit of the sensing image signal is equal to 1 is determined. If the m-th bit is equal to 1, then the values corresponding to the m-th to the (m?r)-th bits are added by first offset to output a WDR image signal. If the m-th bit is not equal to 1, then whether the (m?1)-th bit is equal to 1 is determined. If the (m?1)-th bit is equal to 1, then the values corresponding to the (m?1)-th to the (m?s)-th bits are added by a second offset to output the WDR image signal. The same processing is applied up to the (m?t)-th bit, m, n, r, s and t are positive integers, and m is greater than n.

Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling adaptive auto exposure. In the method, a digital photograph captured from an object and a background is divided into an object region where the object is mainly located and a background region where the background is mainly located. Average luminances of the object and background regions are calculated, and a luminance difference between the average luminances of the object and background regions is calculated. If the luminance difference is within a predetermined range, an average luminance of the entire photograph is calculated by applying a weight to the average luminance of the object region, and exposure is controlled based on the calculated average luminance of the entire photograph so as to emphasize the object region.

Abstract: In order to obtain a quality image without deterioration owing to radiation noise in inspection using the optical video camera in high radiation environment, an inspection apparatus is formed of an image pick-up unit, an image obtaining unit which fetches a video image that contains a signal (noise) that is substantially independent of each frame obtained by the image pick-up unit, a local alignment unit which locally aligns frames with different time phases for forming the image fetched by the image obtaining unit, a frame synthesizing unit which synthesizes the plurality of frames aligned by the local alignment unit for generating a synthesis frame with an SN ratio higher than the SN ratio of the frame before frame synthesis, and an image output unit for displaying or recording the image formed of the synthesis frame generated by the frame synthesizing unit.

Abstract: Charge generated in a photodiode is properly split for difference processing. An imaging element is constituted by a semiconductor such that a charge accumulation portion is connected to a light receiving portion using a buried photodiode and charge is split from the charge accumulation portion by a plurality of gates and is accumulated. An imaging device includes a control device performing control so as to accumulate charge that is generated by a photoelectric conversion at an exposure cycle synchronous with the light emission of a light source. The exposure cycle includes a first period for receiving reflection light from a subject illuminated by light from the light source and a second period for receiving light from the subject illuminated by an environmental light not including the light from the light source.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a pixel unit in which pixels are arranged in a matrix form; an electronic shutter scanning circuit controlling an accumulation time of the pixels for each line of the pixel unit; a flicker correction circuit correcting flicker generated in a signal imaged in the pixel unit for each line based on a signal of the pixels of each of the lines in which the accumulation times are different from each other.

Abstract: High-dynamic-range images may be produced by combining multiple integration periods of varying duration, wherein each integration is obtained using a global shutter operation. Charge accumulated during a first integration period may be stored on a first storage node while charge accumulated during a second and third integration time are carried out. Storage of charges accumulated during the second and third integration periods on a second storage node within a pixel while charge is stored on the first storage node allows capture of a global-shutter-based, high-dynamic-range image. A global-shutter-based image capture base on at least three integration time periods may provide enhanced dynamic range.

Abstract: An image capture device for capturing an image of an object includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements configured to output a signal corresponding to the image based on an amount of exposure between a first shutter operation for starting exposure and a second shutter operation for ending exposure, a controller configured to control the first shutter operation and the second shutter operation, and an image generation section configured to correct the signal, and to generate an output image corresponding to the signal after being corrected. The image generation section is configured to correct the signal based on variance in exposure duration among the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements between the first shutter operation and the second shutter operation.

Abstract: Provided are an image fusion apparatus and method for combining multi-exposure images. The image fusion apparatus and method may generate a sharp high-resolution high dynamic image while fully representing detail in an over-exposed region and an under-exposed region of the image without contrast degradation.

Abstract: A digital camera has an image pickup unit which can obtain a set of plural input images with different exposure amounts by photographing the same subject; an image synthesizing unit which creates a synthesized image from the set of plural input images; a live-view image output unit which outputs a live-view image on the basis of the synthesized image obtained by synthesizing a set of n pieces of (n is an integer not less than 2) input images with different exposure amounts obtained from the photographing unit during a view display operation; and a recorded image creating unit which creates an image for recording on the basis of the synthesized image obtained by synthesizing a set of m pieces of (m is an integer not less than 2) input images with different exposure amounts obtained from the image pickup unit during main photographing in the image synthesizing unit.

Abstract: In an image sensing apparatus having a plurality of unit cells, each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a common circuit shared by the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, arranged in either one or two dimensions, the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged at a predetermined interval.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to reduce display delay time in a live view display. An image capturing device has an image data generation unit that generates image data per line of a display section based on an output of an image capturing sensor in which a start and an end of charge storing are controlled per line, a display control unit that causes the display section to display generated image data sequentially per line, and a control unit that ends charge storing after a first amount of time passes since charge storing of an image capturing target line is started, and starts displaying image data of a display target line corresponding to the image capturing target line after a second amount of time passes since charge storing of an image capturing target line is ended. The second amount of time is time required for starting displaying image data in a display target line after charge storing of an image capturing target line is ended.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing method. The image processing method includes forming a reference division line to perform white balance, forming a grid including a pixel distribution degree based on the reference division line, extracting a red gain value, a blue gain value, and the pixel distribution degree with respect to a specific point on the reference division line, determining if the extracted pixel distribution degree is a maximum point, and setting new gain values by using the extracted red gain value and the extracted blue gain value depending on if the pixel distribution degree is the maximum point.

Abstract: A camera system includes a lens unit, a mount, a camera body, and a control unit. The lens unit includes at least one lens unit operation portion and changes the magnification of an optical image electrically. The mount supports removably the lens unit. The camera body includes at least one camera body operation portion. The control unit controls the lens unit so as to change the magnification of an optical image electrically in response to either one of the operation of the camera body operation portion or the operation of the lens unit operation portion. The control unit controls the lens unit so as to execute an operation that is different from the operation which changes the magnification of an optical image, in response to the other of the operation of the camera body operation portion or the operation of the lens unit operation portion.

Abstract: A pre-amplifier (column region unit) of a solid-state imaging device including a pixel-signal controller. The pixel-signal controller, for each vertical signal line, detects the level of each pixel signal independently by a pixel-signal detector on the output side of a pixel-signal amplifier, and sets a gain independently to the pixel-signal amplifier according to the level of the signal. At a subsequent stage of the solid-state imaging device, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter and a signal extending unit are provided. The A/D converter digitizes a pixel signal, and the digitized pixel signal is corrected by a gain set to the pixel-signal amplifier with reference to a classification signal from the pixel-signal detector, so that the dynamic range of signals of one screen is extended.

Abstract: A mobile phone terminal with a camera function includes a camera hardware section having an image sensor and a camera lens, an instruction input section for inputting an instruction to start image capturing, an illumination sensor which is arranged on an outer surface of a housing and detects an ambient illumination value while a mobile phone function is activated, and an image capturing start control section. The image capturing start control section sets camera driver software into a standby state after starting it while the mobile phone function is activated. When an instruction to start image capturing is inputted from the instruction input section, the image capturing start control section determines an exposure value used for image capturing by using the detected illumination value, restores the camera driver software, and causes the camera hardware section to perform image capturing using the exposure value.

Abstract: Disclosed are a pixel, a pixel array, an image sensor including the pixel array and a method for operating the image sensor. The pixel includes a photo-electro conversion unit; a capacitor for storing charges converted by the photo-electro conversion unit; an output switching device for outputting an electric potential of the capacitor; and a removal unit for removing a part of the charges converted by the photo-electro conversion unit.

Abstract: A luminance signal generation apparatus capable of suppressing an occurrence of aliasing at near horizontal and vertical Nyquist regions in the case of an achromatic object. An OG signal is generated by interpolating a green signal on pixels other than green pixels, and an SWY signal is generated as luminance signals at positions of pixels for respective colors. An angle determination signal is generated according to a direction of an edge of an image signal, and hierarchical image signals having different frequencies are generated from the image signal. Based on results of determination of false color region in the hierarchical image signals, one of the hierarchical image signals is selected. According to an angle determination signal and a chroma signal obtained from the selected hierarchical image signal, the OG signal and the SWY signal are mixed to generate a final luminance signal.

Abstract: An automatic exposure control device includes an image acquisition section that acquires an image that has been captured by an imaging optical system that receives reflected light, and includes an image of an object, the reflected light being light that has been applied to the object, and reflected by the object, an angle-of-view information acquisition section that acquires angle-of-view information that indicates an angle of view of the imaging optical system when the image has been captured, and an automatic exposure control section that performs an automatic exposure control process based on the acquired angle-of-view information.

Abstract: A mobile phone apparatus 10 is equipped with a camera module 36 including an image sensor (52), an AE evaluation circuit (60), etc. When a camera function is executed, an exposure is adjusted such that an exposure evaluated value is equal to an exposure target value, whereby, an AF controlling processing is executed. For example, when a shutter key is operated, the exposure target value is changed to an exposure target value for AF control being smaller than an exposure target value for normal photographing. Furthermore, a frame rate is increased such that the exposure evaluated value having a correlation to the frame rate is smaller than the exposure target value in response to the change of the exposure target value. Then, the AF controlling processing is executed on the basis of the image data every frame output from the image sensor (52) at the increased frame rate.

Abstract: A parameter of a digital camera or other digital image acquisition device is adjusted to maintain the resulting digital signal within a range carried by a digital processing path that carries a limited number of bits. The magnitude of the parameter is then also used to represent the image. Examples of the parameter include analog signal gain and exposure time. This is a cost effective way to increase the dynamic range of a digital camera, instead of increasing the width of its digital processing path. The digital data may be processed to obtain either tone mapped images, which are compatible with current cameras and other equipment, or to obtain images with a greater dynamic range for use with suitable displays and the like.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided which minimizes reduction in S/N ratio and deterioration in resolution feeling at the lens periphery when the peripheral light amount drop correction of the lens is performed. An image processing LSI to perform the peripheral light amount drop correction of the imaging lens includes a space-direction noise removal correction part and a time-direction noise removal correction part. As the distance from the lens center position increases, the space-direction noise removal correction part reduces the noise reduction correction intensity to the image region to which the light amount drop correction gain is added in each image. As the distance from the lens center increases, the time-direction noise removal correction part increases the noise removal correction intensity to the image region to which the light amount drop correction gain is added in each image.

Abstract: An image signal processing system according to the present invention has a function to perform image quality control in photographing a subject having a large difference in brightness in the surrounding environment so that the entire photographed image, in particular a subject which a user desires to view, has an adequate brightness and an adequate gradation. Specifically, this image signal processing system comprises: a video input unit, a video signal processing unit for performing signal processing on a signal output from the video input unit, and generating a video signal; an input-output characteristic control unit for controlling a characteristic of the video signal which the video signal processing unit generates; and a subject recognition unit for performing image processing on the video signal which the video signal processing unit generates, and recognizing and detecting subject information.

Abstract: There is set forth herein an imaging terminal having and image sensor including an image sensor array having a plurality of pixels. In one embodiment the imaging terminal can include a lens assembly for focusing light on the image sensor array. In one embodiment the lens assembly is a variable setting lens assembly having a first lens setting at which the terminal has a first plane of optimum focus and a second lens setting at which the terminal has a second plane of optimum focus. The imaging terminal can execute one or more processes for determining an operating parameter of the imaging terminal.

Abstract: An image sensor for electronic cameras includes a plurality of light sensitive pixels arranged in rows and columns for generating exposure proportional signals, wherein the pixels of a respective column are coupled to at least one respective column read-out circuit via at least one respective column line, and wherein the respective column read-out circuit includes at least two column amplifiers which are connected in parallel, and includes a control device for controlling a read-out process of an image, wherein the read-out process for the respective pixel includes at least one read-out cycle. The gain factor of at least one of the two column amplifiers of the respective column read-out circuit is adjustable.

Abstract: Techniques are provided to generate high or wide dynamic range image from two or more input images of different exposure settings by directly merging coefficients derived from the input images in a transform domain. Energy values may be determined from coefficients blocks derived from the input images. The energy values may be compared with thresholds to determine weight factors for the coefficient blocks. An output coefficient block in the transform domain, used in or used to generate the output image, may be determined as a weighted combination of the coefficient blocks in the transform domain derived from the input images. If input images are compressed in transform domain, an output image can be generated without performing decompression in transform domain.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which composes a plurality of images shot under different exposure conditions, comprises a detection unit which detects an exposure error according to a position on a screen using, out of the plurality of images shot under different exposure conditions, an image whose exposure amount is smaller than a predetermined value as a detection target image, a calculation unit which calculates correction information to correct the exposure error detected by the detection unit in accordance with the position on the screen, an adjustment unit which performs level adjustment according to the exposure amount of the detection target image in accordance with the correction information and position information on the screen, and an image composition unit which generates a composite image by composing the plurality of images including the image that has undergone the level adjustment.

Abstract: In an image processing method of processing an image obtained from an image sensor, the resolution distribution of the image sensor is held in a memory, and a resolution corresponding to a pixel of interest of the image is acquired from the resolution distribution of the image sensor which is held in the memory. Sharpening processing having the sharpening level selected on the basis of the acquired resolution is executed for the pixel of interest.

Abstract: A photometric device includes a storage-type photometric sensor, a first control means that performs accumulation control on the photometric sensor based upon an average value of an output of the photometric sensor, a second control means that performs accumulation control on the photometric sensor based upon a maximum value of the output of the photometric sensor, and an accumulation control means that controls the second control means to perform next accumulation control, if the maximum value of the output of the photometric sensor on which the accumulation control is performed by the first control means exceeds a saturation output level of the photometric sensor, and controls the first control means to perform next accumulation control, if the maximum value of the output of the photometric sensor does not exceed the saturation output level of the photometric sensor.

Abstract: There are provided an imaging apparatus and an electronic device having the same, and a method for determining a backlit condition, an exposure compensation method and an imaging method in the imaging apparatus. The imaging apparatus includes a body; an imaging unit installed in the body and configured to photograph an image in a first direction; an image processing unit configured to generate image data by processing the image; a light meter installed in the body and configured to measure light in a second direction corresponding to an incident direction of light different from an incident direction of light of the first direction; and a control unit configured to control first imaging unit to photograph the image at an exposure value calculated using a photometric value obtained by the light meter.

Abstract: There is provided an imaging device including an imaging element that acquires a captured image of a subject, a light emission unit that emits light to the subject, and a control unit that is capable of controlling a timing of exposure performed by the imaging element and a timing of light emission performed by the light emission unit. In a mode in which imaging is performed with a plurality of times of consecutive light emission by the light emission unit, the control unit controls at least one of a timing of the exposure and a timing of the light emission so that light amounts effective for exposure in each imaging are substantially the same.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus including an image sensor that images an image of a photographic subject; a flash that emits light to the photographic subject; and a controller that controls the flash to emit light, in a case where a light amount of the image of the photographic subject in an imaged image formed on the image sensor is underexposed, wherein the controller includes a dividing and amplifying function part that divides the imaged image into a plurality of grid-like block, and applies digital gain per each divided block; and a flash emission influence degree determination function part that determines a flash influence degree per each divided block, and in a case of emitting the flash and performing shooting, the controller determines a value of the digital gain applied per each divided block by the dividing and amplifying function part, in accordance with the flash influence degree per each divided block.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an image capturing element which photoelectrically converts a subject image into electrical charge information, a driving device which drives a driving part related to image capturing, and a controlling unit which changes a driving frequency of the driving device at a timing to read the electrical charge information from the image capturing element.