Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting zoom operations using a plurality of optical chain modules, e.g., camera modules, are described. Switching between use of groups of optical chains with different focal lengths is used to support zoom operations. Digital zoom is used in some cases to support zoom levels corresponding to levels between the zoom levels of different optical chain groups or discrete focal lengths to which optical chains may be switched. In some embodiments optical chains have adjustable focal lengths and are switched between different focal lengths. In other embodiments optical chains have fixed focal lengths with different optical chain groups corresponding to different fixed focal lengths. Composite images are generate from images captured by multiple optical chains of the same group and/or different groups. Composite image is in accordance with a user zoom control setting. Individual composite images may be generated and/or a video sequence.

Abstract: The receiver is connectable to at least one of plural transmitters and configured to receive, from a connected transmitter, a transmission signal in which an image signal and a control signal are multiplexed, the plural transmitters having mutually different specifications on the control signal. The receiver includes a demultiplexer configured to demultiplex the transmission signal received from the connected transmitter into the image signal and the control signal, a selector configured to select a signal path for the demultiplexed control signal, an information acquirer configured to acquire first information to be used to identify the connected transmitter, and a controller configured to control the selection of the signal path by the selector depending on the first information.

Abstract: A capturing device includes an image sensor that generates an image signal by performing photoelectric conversion for light from a subject, a control unit that generates a setting value for setting a range where an image resulting from the image signal is cut, based on a first instruction input from a user, a setting value storage unit that stores the setting value generated by the control unit, an image conversion unit that reads the setting value from the setting value storage unit, and cuts a specific region specified by the setting value from the image and enlarges the cut region, when there is a second instruction input from the user, and an output unit that converts a signal of the image cut and enlarged by the image conversion unit into an image signal of a predetermined format and outputs the converted image signal.

Abstract: Technologies for automated cropping and sharing of images include an imaging device configured to capture a digital image, recognize one or more subjects represented in the image, determine the social network groups associated with the subjects of the digital image, and crop the digital image to generate one or more sub-images. Each of the sub-images includes subjects associated with a particular social network group. Each of the sub-images may be shared with the relevant social network group. Subjects may include persons, objects, or events, and may be recognized through computer vision techniques as well as using contextual data. The imaging device may receive social network data from one or more social network servers, which may be used to determine the relevant social network groups. The imaging device may also exclude subjects from the cropped sub-images based on one or more content policies. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A computer program product includes instructions for a processor to perform a method of improving image structure and coherence, and/or for simplification/stylization. The method includes inputting the image, by: scanning the image; image capture using a camera; and/or image creation using a computer. Multi-channel images are converted into a single-channel image, which is separated into a first image component—the high spatial frequencies, and a second component image—the low spatial frequencies. The first and second component images are each formed by filtering to remove frequencies outside of respective upper and lower threshold frequencies. A gain multiplier is applied to the filtered first and second component images to control detail amplification. The first and second component images are each blurred at the respective upper and lower threshold frequencies.

Abstract: The zoom lens comprises, from an object side, a first lens group, a second lens group that includes an aperture stop moving integrally therewith, a third lens group, and a fourth lens group having, respectively, negative, positive, negative, and positive refracting power, and during zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, a spacing between the first and second lens groups becomes narrow, between the second and third lens groups changes, and between the third and fourth lens groups grows wide, and the first lens group includes a first lens having negative refracting power, a second lens having a reflective surface for bending a light ray coming out of an object and a third lens having positive refracting power, and in said second lens group, a most image-plane-side surface of a lens having negative refracting power is configured in a concave shape on an image plane side.

Abstract: There is provided a camera apparatus, including a first output section which outputs first image signals for displaying a first image corresponding to an image by captured image signals, and a second output section which outputs second image signals for displaying a second image having information which becomes effective when imaging.

Abstract: A capturing device includes an image sensor that generates an image signal by performing photoelectric conversion for light from a subject, a control unit that generates a setting value for setting a range where an image resulting from the image signal is cut, based on a first instruction input from a user, a setting value storage unit that stores the setting value generated by the control unit, an image conversion unit that reads the setting value from the setting value storage unit, and cuts a specific region specified by the setting value from the image and enlarges the cut region, when there is a second instruction input from the user, and an output unit that converts a signal of the image cut and enlarged by the image conversion unit into an image signal of a predetermined format and outputs the converted image signal.

Abstract: A computer program product includes instructions for a processor to perform a method of improving image structure and coherence, and/or for simplification/stylization. The method includes inputting the image, by: scanning the image; image capture using a camera; and/or image creation using a computer. Multi-channel images are converted into a single-channel grayscale image, which is separated into a first image component—the high spatial frequencies, and a second component image—the low spatial frequencies. The first and second component images are each formed by filtering to remove frequencies outside of respective upper and lower threshold frequencies. A gain multiplier is applied to the filtered first and second component images to control detail amplification. The first and second component images are each blurred at the respective upper and lower threshold frequencies.

Abstract: A gesture recognition system includes an EDOF lens, an image sensor, and a processing unit. The image sensor successively captures image frames through the EDOF lens. The processing unit is configured to perform gesture recognition according to at least one object image within a sharpness range in the image frames thereby eliminating the interference from background objects.

Abstract: A system for capturing sequences of digital images, including a lens, a digital sensor including a plurality of light-sensitive elements, a focusing module suitable for varying the focus of the lens on the sensor, and an electronic processing unit. The electronic processing unit is suitable for determining a variation in magnification between two consecutively captured digital images from a variation in the focus of the lens, and for determining a digital compensation for said variation in magnification. The electronic processing unit is further suitable for digitally processing at least one of the consecutively captured digital images on the basis of said predetermined compensation. The system enables compensation for visual effects resulting from changes in magnification between two consecutively captured images.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is communicably connectable to a first transmission terminal, which is communicably connected with a second transmission terminal via a network. The information processing apparatus includes an aspect ratio change unit that transforms a shape of a display region in a screen which is displayed on a display unit so that an aspect ratio of the display region is changed to a predetermined value, the display unit being integrated with the information processing apparatus or being connected to the information processing apparatus; an acquisition unit that acquires display data displayed in the display region, an aspect ratio of the display region having been changed to the predetermined value by the aspect ratio change unit; and a data transmission unit that transmits the display data displayed in the display region acquired by the acquisition unit to the first transmission terminal.

Abstract: In an implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving a digital signal from an image acquisition sensor, the digital signal encoded with an initial resolution. A video image is constructed from the digital signal to display on a micro display of an optical system, an initial linear dimension of the video image smaller than a linear dimension of an active area of the micro display. A display of the video image is initiated on the micro display using monochrome sub-pixels configured to act as independent pixels for display of the video image. A magnification request is received for the video image on the micro display, and the video image is adjusted on the micro display by increasing a linear dimension of the video image on the micro display by combining groups of monochrome sub-pixels to collectively represent a single pixel of the video image at the initial resolution.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for reducing plenoptic camera artifacts. A first method is based on careful design of the optical system of the focused plenoptic camera to reduce artifacts that result in differences in depth in the microimages. A second method is computational; a focused plenoptic camera rendering algorithm is provided that corrects for artifacts resulting from differences in depth in the microimages. While both the artifact-reducing focused plenoptic camera design and the artifact-reducing rendering algorithm work by themselves to reduce artifacts, the two approaches may be combined.

Abstract: An embodiment of a method includes generating a command configured to cause activation of local beaconing at a selected device, and transmitting the command to the selected device. An embodiment of a system includes a processor, a memory including instructions executable by the processor, wherein the instructions cause the processor to generate a command configured to cause a selected device to activate local beaconing, a port connected to the selected device, and a transmitter operable to transmit the command to the selected device via the port.

Abstract: For pixel signals of a plurality of pixels arranged in a first pixel area arranged in a two dimensional matrix form, a size of the first pixel area is converted to output first image data, and for pixel signals of pixels arranged in a second pixel area smaller than the first pixel area, a size of the second pixel area is converted to output second image data, wherein an operating mode is changed in response to the size of the second pixel area.

Abstract: A variable-magnification image processing apparatus, comprising: a magnification setting group storing unit to store a magnification setting group; a display magnification obtaining unit to obtain a display magnification of an image displayed on a display screen at an equal pixel magnification; a magnification setting selection unit configured to select one of the magnification settings in one of decreasing order and increasing order; and a display control unit configured to display the image at the magnification setting, wherein the magnification setting selection unit is configured to execute at least one of: operation to select the obtained display magnification subsequently to a maximum one of the magnification settings smaller than the obtained display magnification when a magnifying operation is conducted; and operation to select the obtained displaying magnification subsequently to a minimum one of the magnification settings larger than the obtained display magnification when a reducing operation is co

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a solid-state image sensor that has a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix form and outputs pixel signals according to subject light incident on each of the plurality of pixels in at least two or more drive modes, a first processing unit that performs, on the pixel signals output by the solid-state image sensor according to any one drive mode, the equal process to a first process performed when the solid-state image sensor outputs the pixel signals according to another drive mode and a pixel signal selection unit that selects any one of the pixel signals that are subject to the equal process to the first process performed by the first processing unit or the pixel signals that are subject to the first process performed by the solid-state image sensor according to the latter drive mode.

Abstract: An apparatus including at least one processor; and at least one non-transitory memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to, during a digital zoom having increasing or decreasing zoom values for first frames taken by a camera, and based upon a sensor mode changing from a first sensor mode to a different second sensor mode, using at least one new different zoom value to one of the first frames captured by the camera before the sensor mode change to form at least one new second frame.

Abstract: A capturing device includes an image sensor that generates an image signal by performing photoelectric conversion for light from a subject, a control unit that generates a setting value for setting a range where an image resulting from the image signal is cut, based on a first instruction input from a user, a setting value storage unit that stores the setting value generated by the control unit, an image conversion unit that reads the setting value from the setting value storage unit, and cuts a specific region specified by the setting value from the image and enlarges the cut region, when there is a second instruction input from the user, and an output unit that converts a signal of the image cut and enlarged by the image conversion unit into an image signal of a predetermined format and outputs the converted image signal.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprising an image capturing unit is provided. A zoom control unit controls a zoom ratio during shooting. An image capture control unit controls the image capturing unit such that a plurality of images with different exposure conditions are captured in a predetermined period. A generation output unit generates a composite image from the plurality of images and outputs the generated composite image. A determination determines whether or not the zoom ratio is being changed during the predetermined period. In a case where it is determined that the zoom ratio is being changed, the generation output unit outputs one of the images captured by the image capturing unit during the predetermined period, instead of the composite image.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method for determining the number of available shots and an image-shooting apparatus. The method includes: determining a current shooting mode; acquiring an average value of a picture size before current shooting in the current shooting mode, where the average value of the picture size is calculated according to storage space occupied by pictures shot before the current shooting in the current shooting mode and the number of the pictures shot before the current shooting in the current shooting mode; and determining, according to currently available storage space and the average value of the picture size, the number of available shots before the current shooting. The technical solution of the present invention improves precision of the determined number of available shots.

Abstract: A digital camera system for super resolution image processing is provided. The digital camera system includes a resolution enhancement module configured to receive at least a portion of an image, to increase the resolution of the received image, and to output a resolution enhanced image and an edge extraction module configured to receive the resolution enhanced image, to extract at least one edge of the resolution enhanced image, and to output the extracted at least one edge of the resolution enhanced image, the at least one edge being a set of contiguous pixels where an abrupt change in pixel values occur. The digital camera system also includes an edge enhancement module configured to receive the resolution enhanced image and the extracted at least one edge, and to combine the extracted at least one edge or a derivation of the extracted at least one edge with the resolution enhanced image.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes: an image pickup section picking up an image of an object to acquire image data; a part judgment section judging a particular part of the object in the image shown based on the image data; a change-in-part judgment section judging change over time of the part of the object judged by the part judgment section; and a control section changing a photographing condition in accordance with a result of the judgment by the change-in-part judgment section, wherein the part judgment section judges a first part of the object in the image and a second part presumed from the first part; and the change-in-part judgment section judges change over time of the second part.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an optical system configured to form an image of an object; an imaging unit configured to image an image of the object and generate image data; a first image generating unit configured to generate a first image data based on image data from a first area of the image data; a second image generating unit configured to generate a second image data based on image data from a second area of the image data; and a controller which (A) detects a setting operation and then sets the first area in the second area, and (B) detects a zooming operation and then performs zooming of the optical system, wherein a zooming range of the optical system is limited based on a setting of the second area.

Abstract: A 3D imaging device determines during imaging whether the captured images will be viewed three-dimensionally without causing fatigue while simulating actual human perception. In a 3D imaging device, a warning unit provides a warning to a photographer indicating that the captured images of the scene to be imaged will not be perceived as a 3D video having an appropriate 3D effect when a control unit determines that the captured images will not be perceived as such an appropriate 3D video. The 3D imaging device is prevented from obtaining an inappropriate 3D image (3D video).

Abstract: Various methods are provided for automatically adjusting a zoom feature in accordance with a camera movement to perform a dolly zoom effect. One example method may include causing reception of a first image frame from video data, wherein the first image frame comprises two or more interest points, causing reception of a second image frame from the video data, wherein the second image frame comprises the two or more interest points in a different location, and tracking a difference in location of the two or more interest points from the first image frame to the second image frame. The method may also include calculating a scaling factor and applying the scaling factor to the second image frame.

Abstract: An optical instrument of the present invention comprises a ring member which is arranged to be rotatable with respect to a lens barrel, and also to slide in an optical axis direction, a movement mechanism for slide movement of the ring member to a first position or a second position in the optical axis direction, an encoder that generates signals in accordance with a rotation operation of the ring member, a slide position determination section for determining positional change accompanying slide movement to the first position or the second position by the movement mechanism, and a control section for performing determination of the signals from the encoder to switch the display operation, and prohibiting switching of the display operation when the slide position determination section has determined a positional change accompanying the slide operation.

Abstract: The invention provides an imager readout architecture utilizing analog-to-digital converters (ADC), the architecture comprising a band-limited sigma delta modulator (SDM) ADC; and a serpentine readout, which can be configured to allow the band-limited SDM to multiplex between multiple columns by avoiding discontinuities at the edges of a row. SDM ADC image reconstruction artifacts are minimized using a modified serpentine read out methodology, the methodology comprising using primary and redundant slices with the serpentine read out in opposite directions and averaging the slices. Advantageously, the invention can be used to develop a read out integrated circuit (ROIC) for strained layer superlattice imagers (SLS) using sigma delta modulator (SDM) based analog to digital converters (SDM ADC).

Abstract: A digital camera system synchronizes a flash to an array of image sensing elements. The array of image sensing elements senses an image focused on the array by a lens. The system includes an array controller that implements an electronic rolling shutter to capture the image as a frame. The electronic rolling shutter includes read and reset pointers that the array controller scans through the array to capture integrated photo charges on the image sensing elements to generate the frame. The number of lines between the reset and read pointers defines the integration time of the imager. The system also includes a flash controller that synchronizes the flash to a portion of the frame. When the flash is activated, the camera system reduces the integration time and synchronizes the flash to the scanning of a selected portion of the array.

Abstract: Determining an amount of motion in a second frame of video with reference to a first frame of video. Adaptively predicting a cropping factor for the second frame in response to the determined amount of motion. The cropping factor specifies a portion of the second frame that is to be excluded from the second frame. The predicted cropping factor is adaptively changed for a successive plurality of frames by buffering the first frame to predict a desired cropping factor for the second frame, wherein the first frame occurs prior to the second frame.

Abstract: A color space converter converts data points from one color space to another color space using a lookup table. Color space converters may be used in any device that involves image processing, such as displays and printers. An interface receives an input value in a first color space. A controller access a lookup table stored in memory to determine an upper bound and a lower bound of a subset of the color space. An output value is interpolated between the upper bound and the lower bound using interpolation values. The interpolation values of the last subset in any dimension of the color space are modified by a scale factor to approximate ideal values.

Abstract: An aberration correction apparatus includes an aberration information acquisition unit which acquires aberration information from an imaging lens; a spectroscopic characteristic information acquisition unit which acquires spectroscopic characteristic information of an imaging device which performs a photoelectric conversion of an optical image that is formed in the imaging lens; and an aberration information correction unit which performs a correction according to the spectroscopic characteristic information with respect to the acquired aberration information.

Abstract: A focus lens is moved to a position within a range of focus lens positions. A video frame is captured with the focus lens at that position. The magnification of the first video frame is altered according to a maximum magnification threshold associated with the range of focus lens positions.

Abstract: A device includes: an image acquisition device acquiring a taken image in which a subject is imaged; a smoothing device generating a smoothed image by smoothing the taken image; a noise extraction device extracting a difference noise component from a difference between the taken image and the smoothed image; a noise addition device adding the difference noise component to the smoothed taken image; a map acquisition device acquiring a blurring strength map that represents a distribution of blurring strengths for the taken image; and an image combining device combining the taken image with the smoothed image on the basis of the blurring strength map, and generating an output image.

Abstract: An apparatus having an electronic zoom function, comprising an image sensing element, a zoom magnification setting unit, a pixel signal readout unit, an image processor, and a controller which, when the zoom magnification is between first and second zoom magnifications, controls to read out pixel signals of a first pixel count, and to generate the image using pixel signals of a second pixel count, and when the zoom magnification is between third and fourth zoom magnifications, controls to read out pixel signals of a third pixel count, and to generate the image using pixel signals of a fourth pixel count, the second pixel count is not larger than the first pixel count, the fourth pixel count is not larger than the third pixel count.

Abstract: An imaging device produces images on the basis of signals, transmitted from an imaging element. The device includes a display controller which selectively carries out either a first or a second display process, based on a user's selection. The first display process includes obtaining a first portion of the signals from a first area of the imaging element at a first frame rate, and displaying a first through-the-lens image on the display unit on the basis of the first portion of the signals. The second display process includes obtaining the first portion of the signals from the first area of the imaging element at a second, lower frame rate; obtaining a second portion of the signals from a second area of the imaging element at the lower frame rate; and displaying a second through-the-lens image on the display unit on the basis of both portions of the signals.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for combining a mobile communication device having a camera (150) that includes a curved sensor (160) are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, motion is deliberately imparted to a sensor and/or an optical element while multiple exposures are taken to provide an enhanced image.

Abstract: A capturing device includes an image sensor that generates an image signal by performing photoelectric conversion for light from a subject, a control unit that generates a setting value for setting a range where an image resulting from the image signal is cut, based on a first instruction input from a user, a setting value storage unit that stores the setting value generated by the control unit, an image conversion unit that reads the setting value from the setting value storage unit, and cuts a specific region specified by the setting value from the image and enlarges the cut region, when there is a second instruction input from the user, and an output unit that converts a signal of the image cut and enlarged by the image conversion unit into an image signal of a predetermined format and outputs the converted image signal.

Abstract: A mobile terminal and a method for controlling the operation of the same are provided. The mobile terminal includes a first camera including a first lens, a second camera including a second lens having a wider angle than the first lens, and a controller configured to generate a stereoscopic 3D image using disparity between images captured through the first and second cameras. It is possible to generate a stereoscopic 3D image having the same resolution as that of a 2D image that can be captured.

Abstract: A portable device has a display, a display processor displays a magnification image on a screen of the display, and an input device. The portable device further has a display-area shift processor that shifts the magnification-image-display area in accordance to an input operation administered to the input device, and a position sensor that detects an angle of inclination of the body. Then, The display processor changes the magnification-image-display area to an image area that is inclined by an angle corresponding to the angle of inclination, and the display-area shift processor changes shift directions of the magnification-image-display area from vertical and lateral directions of the original image to directions that are perpendicular to each other and correspond to inclined vertical and lateral directions rotated by the angle of inclination.

Abstract: An image processing device according to the present disclosure includes: a locating unit which locates a first in-focus region of each of plural images which are obtained by capturing a same subject and have different in-focus positions; and a display unit which displays a first image among the plural images, wherein when a certain position is designated on the first image displayed by the display unit, at least a second image having the first in-focus region which includes the certain position is selected from among the plural images, and the selected second image is displayed on the display unit.

Abstract: An image detection device includes: a subject detector that acquires image information in an image field of an imaging optics with an image sensor, and detects a position of a subject in the image field based upon reference information related to an image of the subject and the image information; and a magnification detector that detects a magnification of the imaging optics. And the subject detector starts operation to detect the position of the subject, when the magnification has become greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

Abstract: There is provided a display control apparatus, including: a composition determining section configured to determine recommended composition of an input image; an image generating section configured to generate an image based on the recommended composition; and a display controller configured to control displaying the input image, the recommended composition, and the image based on the recommended composition, on a display section.

Abstract: A zoom lens comprising, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a fifth lens unit having a positive refractive power. Each distance between the first lens unit and the second lens unit, between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit, and between the fourth lens unit and the fourth lens unit at the telephoto end is longer than at the wide angle end, and a distance between the second lens unit and the third lens unit at the telephoto end is shorter than at the wide angle end, and the following conditional expressions are satisfied. 2<mg3t/mg3w<6 1.2<mg5t/mg5w<4 0.02<f5/ft<0.

Abstract: A photographing device to photograph an object includes a displaying unit to display an image acquired from the object, an image recording unit to record the image, an enlarged image generating unit to extract a portion or whole of the image displayed on the displaying unit to generate an enlarged image from the image, and a display control unit to display the enlarged image instead of the image on the displaying unit or in an overlapped manner with the image before capturing the image into the image recording unit.

Abstract: If zoom magnification falls within an optical-zoom application scaling range of zoom magnifications Z1 to Z2, image data that has been enlarged by a zoom lens is recorded on a recording medium. If zoom magnification falls within an electronic-zoom application scaling range of zoom magnifications Z2 to Z3, the image data is subjected to super-resolution processing, super-resolution image data and image data that has not been subjected to super-resolution processing are combined by weighting processing executed such that the higher the zoom magnification, the greater the weight assigned to the super-resolution image data, and the resultant image data is subjected to electronic zoom processing and then recorded. If zoom magnification exceeds Z3, the super-resolution image data is recorded upon being subjected to electronic zoom processing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating a 360 degree camera system include imaging reference strips, analyzing the imaged data to correct for pitch, roll, and yaw of cameras of the 360 degree camera system, and analyzing the image data to correct for zoom and shifting of the cameras. Each of the reference strips may include a bullseye component and a dots component to aid in the analyzing and correcting.

Abstract: In a stereoscopic imaging device including a plurality of imaging optical systems, a wide-image in which a principal subject is shifted from the center is taken, and also, a tele-image in which the principal subject is enlarged is taken at the same time. A size of a wide-side frame W, that is, a size of an angle of view of a trimming wide-image is decided based on a size of a tele-side frame T, that is, a zoom magnification of a tele-side imaging optical system, a position of the wide-side frame W displayed in the decided size is arbitrarily moved depending on an instruction from an operation unit, an area delimited by the wide-side frame W moved to any position is clipped from a default wide-image, and thereby, the trimming wide-image is obtained. Thereby, the tele-image which is a telephoto image in which a desired subject is zoomed, and the trimming wide-image which is a wide-angle image in which the subject can exist at a position other than the center of the image are simultaneously obtained.

Abstract: A method and apparatus support a zoom microphone function in a mobile terminal. The apparatus includes a plurality of microphones, a camera, and a controller. Each of the plurality of microphones has a different directional characteristic. The camera captures an image. And the controller determines a zoom level of the camera, and adjusts gains of the plurality of microphones based on a zoom range to which the zoom level belongs.