Abstract: A method for removing color noise on a slowly varying component contained in color difference component image data of image data which is imported from an image sensor and converted to brightness and the color difference component image data, includes the steps of: sampling pixels of said color difference component image data by thinning out according to a first defined sampling format when not performing a color noise removal process on the slowly varying component; determining if the color noise removal process is necessary to be performed or not; producing the color difference component image data, corresponding to a compressed image data size smaller than an image data size without said color noise removal process, by thinning out according to a second defined sampling format when performing said color noise removal process; and recording the color difference and brightness component image data.

Abstract: The detection of red-eye defects is enhanced in digital images for embedded image acquisition and processing systems. A two-stage redeye filtering system includes a speed optimized filter that performs initial segmentation of candidate redeye regions and optionally applies a speed-optimized set of falsing/verification filters to determine a first set of confirmed redeye regions for correction. Some of the candidate regions which are rejected during the first stage are recorded and re-analyzed during a second stage by an alternative set of analysis-optimized filters to determine a second set of confirmed redeye regions.

Abstract: A digital image acquisition device is for acquiring digital images including one or more preview images. A face detector analyzes the one or more preview images to ascertain information relating to candidate face regions therein. A speed-optimized filter produces a first set of candidate red-eye regions based on the candidate face region information provided by the face detector.

Abstract: An image sensor apparatus is disclosed. The image sensor apparatus includes an image sensor for generating image data corresponding to an optical image. The image sensor apparatus also includes a color filter customized for a lens distortion model. A processor processes the image data with a plurality of distortion correction routines to generate a digital image.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a storage unit configured to store at least a portion of image data, a homogeneous pixel determination unit configured to determine whether dead pixels exist in homogeneous pixels having the same color characteristic as a center pixel in a window of the image data, and an offset correction processing unit configured to calculate a difference value between the center pixel and homogeneous pixels determined as normal pixels by the homogeneous pixel determination unit, and correct a center pixel value by using the calculated difference value.

Abstract: An image processing device for performing color conversion processing on a VS (video signal obtained from a color CCD) includes a region defining section, which estimates an amount of noise of the VS, according to an ISO-sensitivity and a white-balance-coefficient, and, based on the estimated amount of noise, defines an AR (achromatic region) of a color space to which the video signal belongs as a region centered on an achromatic axis where saturation is 0, and a color conversion section, which determines whether or not the VS belongs to the AR, and does not perform color conversion processing or performs projection of the video signal onto the achromatic axis if the video signal does not belong to the AR, or performs color conversion processing so that the numerical error between a target color signal and a color signal after color conversion processing is minimized if the video signal belongs to the AR.

Abstract: An image capturing system includes: a first noise reduction unit which roughly removes the effects of an edge component by performing edge-preserving adaptive noise reduction processing on a target pixel within a local region including the target pixel and the neighboring pixels extracted from an image signal acquired from a CCD; a noise estimation unit which dynamically estimates the noise amount with respect to the target pixel based upon the target pixel value thus subjected to the noise reduction processing by the first noise reduction unit; and a second noise reduction unit which performs noise reduction processing on the target pixel based upon the target pixel value thus subjected to the noise reduction processing by the first noise reduction unit and the noise amount thus estimated by the noise estimation unit.

Abstract: Various techniques for applying binning compensation filtering to binned raw image data acquired by an image sensor are provided. In one embodiment, a binning compensation filter (BCF) includes separate digital differential analyzers (DDA) for vertical and horizontal scaling. A current position of an output pixel is determined by incrementing the DDA based upon a step size. Using the known output pixel position, a center source input pixel and an index corresponding to the between-pixel fractional position of the output pixel position relative to the input pixels may be selected for filtering. Using the selected center input pixel, one or more same-colored neighboring source pixels may be selected. The number of selected source pixels may depend on the number of taps used by the scaling logic, and may depend on whether horizontal or vertical scaling is being applied.

Abstract: An image processing device comprising a synchronization unit (25) for generating a luminance (Y?) from the sum of pixel signals R, Gr, Gb, B, for subtracting the R pixel signal and the B pixel signal from the sum of the Gr pixel signal and Gb pixel signal so as to generate a first color difference (C1), and for calculating a difference between the R pixel signal and the B pixel signal to generate a second color difference (C2), a pseudo-color suppression unit (31) for performing pseudo-color suppression of the first color difference (C1) and/or the second color difference (C2), a color space conversion unit (37) for converting the luminance Y?, the first color difference (C1), the second color difference (C2), into a predetermined color space to generate YUV color information.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a selection unit selects a pixel value to be assigned to a target pixel according to a determination result of a defect determining unit. The defect determining unit performs defect determination according to the level of a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) estimated by an SNR estimating unit. In the case where the defect determining unit determines that the target pixel is a defect, the selection unit outputs a pixel value according to the level of the SNR.

Abstract: A noise reduction apparatus for digital cameras is presented that includes groups of one or more connected non-linear filter units. Each of the filter unit groups are driven by decimated input image data at a different level of decimation and the output of at least one of these filter unit groups serves as one of a plurality of inputs to another filter unit group driven at a different decimation level. Filtered image data from one or more filter unit groups is adaptively combined in response to one or more image metrics related to one or more local regional image characteristics.

Abstract: A portable digital image acquisition device includes multiple lenses and/or multiple flashes. A main digital image and first and second reference images are acquired. The first and second reference images are acquired with different flash-lens combinations that have different flash-lens distances. One or more flash eye defects are detected and corrected in the main image based on analysis of the first and second reference images.

Abstract: An image is obtained with reduced chromatic aberration as well as improved sharpness. An image processing apparatus includes image acquiring means configured to acquire an input image, and image restoration processing means configured to generate a restored image by calculating the input image and an image restoration filter that is based on a transfer function of an image pickup system that is used to form an object image as the input image, wherein the image restoration filter performs restoration so that when an object is a white point light source, a difference between spectra of two color components in the restored image is made smaller than a difference between spectra of the two color components in the input image.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a knee correction device includes a generator, a detector, a mixer, and a calculator. The generator generates a luminance signal from R, G, and B color signals. The detector detects a color signal having a maximum value among the R, G, and B color signals. The mixer mixes the luminance signal generated by the generator and the color signal detected by the detector, at a predetermined mixing ratio. The supply module supplies a coefficient for performing level compression on each of the R, C, and B color signals, based on an output of the mixer. The calculator performs level compression on the R, G, and B color signals by subjecting the coefficient supplied by the supply module and the R, G, and B color signals to a calculation.

Abstract: A method of forming a full-color output image using a color filter array image having a plurality of color channels and a panchromatic channel, comprising capturing a color filter array image having a plurality of color channels and a panchromatic channel, wherein the panchromatic channel is captured using a different exposure time than at least one of the color channels; computing an interpolated color image and an interpolated panchromatic image from the color filter array image; computing a chrominance image from the interpolated color image; and forming the full color output image using the interpolated panchromatic image and the chrominance image.

Abstract: An improved handheld electronic device and camera apparatus upon which can be executed an improved method enable a modular camera to be used in conjunction with a flash. In one implementation, compensation parameters that are intended for use in a non-flash situation are overwritten with compensation parameters that are configured to compensate for the combined effects of the camera and the flash and are used by an embedded compensation routine executed on the camera. In another implementation, an image signal is processed by the embedded compensation routine using the original compensation parameters, but if it is determined that the image signal is a flash image signal, the image signal is further processed by the embedded compensation routine employing an additional set of parameters which compensate the image signal for the effect of the flash.

Abstract: An imaging device made of a single-chip type including a RGB Bayer pattern color filter is where pixel signals outputted from the imaging device are inputted through a signal processing part to an image processing part. A correlation judgment part judges a correlation between the pixel signals, and an interpolation processing part performs a pixel interpolation process based on a correlation result. Thus, each pixel signal becomes a perfect signal having all R, G and B color components. Filter factors for a filter are determined based on the correlation result, and a filtering process is performed on the pixel signals subjected to the pixel interpolation.

Abstract: A blur characteristic of a captured image changes due to demosaicing at the time of blur correction of an image pickup optical system. As a result, favorable blur correction cannot be performed. Pieces of RAW data are input, correction coefficients for correcting a blur of RAW images represented by the pieces of RAW data are obtained with respect to a plurality of colors, the blur of the RAW images represented by the pieces of RAW data is corrected on the basis of the correction coefficients obtained with respect to the plurality of colors, corrected images are obtained, and a demosaic process is performed on the plurality of obtained corrected images, thereby generating output image data.

Abstract: A method of forming a full-color output image using a color filter array image having a plurality of color channels and a panchromatic channel, comprising capturing a color filter array image having a plurality of color channels and a panchromatic channel, wherein the panchromatic channel is captured using a different exposure time than at least one of the color channels; computing an interpolated color image and an interpolated panchromatic image from the color filter array image; computing a transform relationship from the interpolated color image; and forming the full color output image using the interpolated panchromatic image and the functional relationship.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes : a lens mount section; an imager having an imaging plane on which an image having an image height obtained through a lens device mounted to the lens mount section is formed; an imaging process section correcting transverse chromatic aberration of an imaging signal obtained by the imager; and a control section determining an imager size in accordance with the diameter of the lens device mounted to the lens mount section and correcting a correction coefficient for the correction of transverse chromatic aberration at the imaging process section according to the size thus determined.

Abstract: An image pickup device may include a stage moving a sample, a line sensor that comprises an imaging element including pixels arranged in a line shape, the line sensor scanning and acquiring an image of the sample, a spectrum detection unit that comprises a first light receiving element including a first color filter and a second light receiving element including a second color filter, the first color filter and the second color filter having different spectral transmittance distributions, the first light receiving element and the second light receiving element scanning a first portion of the sample so as to acquire spectrum information of the first portion, an optical system that introduces a light from the sample to the line sensor and the spectrum detection unit, and a correction device that corrects the image, which has been acquired by the line sensor, based on the spectrum information of the first portion.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus obtains a plurality of pre-restoration images of an object for chromatic components when these images are taken at a first in-focus position to a third in-focus position corresponding to the RGB chromatic components, obtains an image pickup state and an image restoration filter corresponding to the image pickup state for each chromatic component, restores the pre-restoration image at an in-focus position for each chromatic component utilizing the obtained image restoration filter, and synthesizes the restored images.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus performs image processing on an input image produced by image pickup of a scene through an optical system, the scene including plural objects whose object distances are mutually different. The apparatus includes a filter acquisition part acquiring a chromatic aberration correction filter for an out-of-focus area in the input image and an image restoration filter, and a processing part performing chromatic aberration correction processing using the chromatic aberration correction filter and image restoration processing using the image restoration filter on the input image. The filter acquisition part acquires the chromatic aberration correction filter by using information on chromatic aberration of the optical system, information on an in-focus distance of the optical system in the image pickup of the scene, and information on the distances to the respective objects.

Abstract: A device and method for reducing color noise of an image by using a distance weight depending on a distance from a central pixel for each pixel of an image and an edge weight depending on the difference in luminance and chrominance with the central pixel is provided, which can effectively reduce the color noise of the image by using the correlation between the luminance and the chrominance and edge characteristics.

Abstract: In an image capturing apparatus, a hue shift is prevented. A digital camera has a gray level correction function. Image data obtained with a CCD 10 is divided into a plurality of blocks and further has brightness data and color difference data converted in a brightness/color difference conversion section 20. When it is determined, based on the color difference data, that image data includes blue sky image or that chroma of the image data is high, an image processing exposure compensation adjustment/exposure correction amount calculation section 30 sets an underexposure value, which is employed when capturing images with an exposure value being lower than a correct exposure value, to be smaller than a default value to prevent a hue shift caused by gray level correction performed by a gray level correction section 32.

Abstract: An image capturing element of an image capturing section 2 has a color filter with a Bayer matrix, and interpolation unit 6 implements an interpolation process to an image signal for each pixel received from the image capturing element by using image signals of adjacent pixels to obtain an image signal of R, G and B for the respective pixels. High-frequency component extracting unit 7 extracts a high frequency component from the G signal; false-color reduced color signal generation unit 8 obtains, for the respective pixels, a false-color reduced color signal (R+B?2G) in which an effect of a false color is reduced; and, chroma signal generation unit 9 generates a chroma signal, which is an absolute value of the false-color reduced color signal. Suppression unit 10 suppresses the false color on the basis of the high frequency component extracted by the high-frequency component extracting unit 7 and the chroma signal for the respective pixels generated by the chroma signal generation unit 9.

Abstract: Various techniques for implementing aspects of color control in display devices are disclosed. One exemplary technique includes measuring an input/output profile of a display, then applying a mathematical model to the display's measured profile to generate color control tables. One exemplary technique may include tracking a first color temperature below a high-luminosity transition point and gradually transitioning to tracking a second color temperature above the high-luminosity transition point. One exemplary technique may also include gradually transitioning from tracking a darklight color temperature below a low-luminosity transition point to tracking the first color temperature above the low-luminosity transition point. Another exemplary technique may include tracking a response curve for a specified chromaticity above a low-luminosity transition point.

Abstract: A digital image acquisition device is for acquiring digital images including one or more preview images. A face detector analyzes the one or more preview images to ascertain information relating to candidate face regions therein. A speed-optimized filter produces a first set of candidate red-eye regions based on the candidate face region information provided by the face detector.

Abstract: A method of reducing noise in an image including steps for obtaining a first value for a target pixel, obtaining a respective second value for each neighboring pixel surrounding the target pixel and having the same color as the target pixel, for each neighboring pixel, comparing a difference between said first value and said second value to a threshold value, and replacing the first value with an average value obtained from the first value and at all second values from the neighboring pixels which have an associated difference which is less than or equal to the threshold value based on a result of the comparing step.

Abstract: An imaging device includes: an optical system, for focusing light from subjects; color imaging element including a plurality of types of light receiving sections that detect light of different wavelength bands, for imaging focused images of the subjects; and an image processing section, for performing filtering processes to remove blur caused by the optical system from data output by the imaging element. The pitch among specified light receiving sections that contribute most to brightness signals is set smaller than that among other light receiving sections. The point spread diameter of the optical system on the specified light receiving sections is set to be greater than the pitch among the specified light receiving sections for wavelengths detected thereby, and less than the pitches among the other light receiving sections for wavelengths detected thereby. The image processing section performs the filtering process only on data output by the specified light receiving sections.

Abstract: A read-out circuit of an image sensor is provided. The read-out circuit includes: a CDS block, including: a plurality of reset capacitors storing inputted reset values of pixels; a plurality of signal capacitors storing inputted signal values of the pixels; a plurality of reset driving devices outputting the reset values stored into the reset capacitors; a plurality of signal driving devices outputting the signal values stored into the signal capacitors; and a plurality of capacitor equalization devices equalizing electric potential levels of the reset capacitors and the signal capacitors; a reset line transferring reset value output signals of the CDS block; a signal line transferring signal value output signals of the CDS block; a differential amplification unit amplifying a difference between the individual reset value output signal and the individual signal value output signal; and a line equalization device equalizing electric potential levels of the reset line and signal line.

Abstract: A digital image acquisition device is for acquiring digital images including one or more preview images. A face detector analyzes the one or more preview images to ascertain information relating to candidate face regions therein. A speed-optimized filter produces a first set of candidate red-eye regions based on the candidate face region information provided by the face detector.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel section formed by pixels having a photoelectric conversion function arranged in a matrix; a pixel driving section driving the operation of the pixels to allow a readout to be performed according to a readout mode; a readout circuit reading out signals from the pixels and outputting the signals as image data in a raw data format; and a logic section performing scaling and phase correction in preparation for a resolution conversion process on a signal output from the readout circuit.

Abstract: An image sensing system comprises an image sensor having an image sensing surface, a filter arranged between the image sensing surface and an optical system which forms an image of an object on the image sensing surface, a sensor configured to detect a luminance of the object in a band in the vicinity of a cutoff wavelength of the filter relative to an average luminance of the object via the optical system, and a corrector configured to execute color shading correction of the image, sensed by the image sensor, using a color shading correction coefficient determined by the relative luminance detected by the sensor.

Abstract: A method for determining a deblurred image from images captured using an image sensor comprising a two-dimensional array of light-sensitive pixels including panchromatic pixels and color pixels, the method comprising: receiving image sensor data from the image sensor for a sharp image of a scene captured with a short exposure time; receiving image sensor data from the image sensor for a blurred image of the scene captured with a longer exposure time than the sharp image; determining an interpolated sharp grayscale image from the sharp image; determining an interpolated blurred color image from the blurred image; determining an interpolated blurred grayscale image from the blurred image; determining a blur kernel responsive to the sharp grayscale image and the blurred grayscale image; determining a deblurred image responsive to the blurred color image and the blur kernel; and storing the deblurred image in a processor-accessible memory system.

Abstract: A method for digital image eye artifact detection and correction include identifying one or more candidate red-eye defect regions in an acquired image. For one or more candidate red-eye regions, a seed pixels and/or a region of pixels having a high intensity value in the vicinity of the candidate red-eye region is identified. The shape, roundness or other eye-related characteristic of a combined hybrid region including the candidate red-eye region and the region of high intensity pixels is analyzed. Based on the analysis of the eye-related characteristic of the combined hybrid region, it is determined whether to apply flash artifact correction, including red eye correction of the candidate red-eye region and/or correction of the region of high intensity pixels.

Abstract: A digital image acquisition device is for acquiring digital images including one or more preview images. A face detector analyzes the one or more preview images to ascertain information relating to candidate face regions therein. A speed-optimized filter produces a first set of candidate red-eye regions based on the candidate face region information provided by the face detector.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for processing Bayer images. The Bayer image processing method including interpolating red (R), green (G), and blue (B) image signals output in Bayer patterns; converting the interpolated RGB image signals to a luminance signal and chrominance signals; correcting phases of the chrominance signals based on the luminance signal; and removing aliasing of the luminance signal and aliasing of the phase-corrected chrominance signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for camera sensor correction are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, a method may include sampling a spectral response for a plurality of color channels at different spatial locations on a sensor. The method may also include applying a 4×4 color correction matrix at the different spatial locations in an image captured by the sensor. The method may also include converting the spectral response at each spatial location to match the spectral response of the sensor at any one location on the image.

Abstract: The subject matter discloses a color rolling reduction apparatus, comprising: an antenna (99) for receiving signals; a detector (330) linked to the antenna, for detecting low signals from the signals received by the antenna, the low signals are associated with a power supply connected to a light source; and an amplifier for amplifying the low signals; wherein the low signals that are amplified are for synchronizing of a functionality of a camera.

Abstract: A false color suppression method for a digital image is described. The method is performed in a digital camera, for suppressing the false color of the digital image shot by the digital camera. The method includes separating a luminance part and a chrominance part of a digital image; extracting the chrominance part, and calculating a first color gamut component and a second color gamut component in the chrominance part; setting a critical value according to a photosensitivity during shooting by the digital camera; performing a corresponding pixel uniformization action on the pixel according to a relation between a difference between the pixel and adjacent neighboring pixels and the critical value respectively for the first color gamut component and the second color gamut component; and combining the uniformized chrominance part and the luminance part of the digital image to a suppressed image.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes, an imaging unit configured to output an image signal of a captured object, a processing unit configured to perform a signal processing on the image signal, wherein the processing unit includes a cyclic noise reduction unit configured to reduce a noise of the image signal, a parameter change unit configured to change a parameter concerning at least one of an imaging by the imaging unit and the signal processing, and a coefficient change unit configured to change a cyclic coefficient of the cyclic noise reduction unit.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, computer readable medium, and method for radially-dependent noise reduction in image capturing devices involving an edge-preserving blur window are disclosed. In one embodiment, the edge-preserving blur includes only those pixels in the blur window that are within a threshold value of the blur window's current center pixel in its blurring calculation. By creating a threshold function that varies radially from the center of the image sensor's light intensity falloff function, a more appropriate threshold value can be chosen for each pixel, allowing for more noise farther from the center of the image, and allowing for less noise closer to the center of the image. Light-product information taken from the image's metadata may be used to scale the threshold value parameters dynamically. This allows the method to perform the appropriate amount of processing depending on the lighting situation of the image that is currently being processed.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, computer readable medium, and method for noise reduction in image capturing devices involving an edge-preserving blur window is disclosed. In one embodiment, the edge-preserving blur includes only those pixels in the blur window that are visually close to the blur window's current center pixel in its blurring calculation. Limiting the pixels considered in the blur to those that are visually close to the center pixel ensures that the image's colors are not blurred along color edges within the image. Light-product information taken from the image's metadata, for example, the camera sensor's gain level, may be used to adjust the blur filter parameters dynamically. This allows the method to perform the appropriate amount of processing depending on the lighting situation of the image that is currently being processed.

Abstract: An image capturing system includes a first camera, a second camera and a first rotating device. The first camera is configured to capture a first image. The second camera is configured to capture a second image whose scope is narrower than a scope of the first image. The first rotating device connects the first camera and the second camera. The first rotating device is configured to rotate the first camera and the second camera around a first rotational axis which is on the first rotating device.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus (26) is provided for use with an image sensor (24). The apparatus includes a non-linear mapping circuit (42), which is configured to receive a raw stream of input pixel values generated by the image sensor and to perform a non-linear mapping of the input pixel values. to generate a mapped stream of mapped pixel values, and a linear convolution filter (44), which is arranged to filter the mapped stream of mapped pixel values to generate a filtered stream of filtered pixel values. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an evaluation value calculation unit configured to acquire an evaluation value from image data, a reduction coefficient calculation unit configured to calculate a reduction coefficient based on the evaluation value, a reduction unit configured to subject the image data to image processing to reduce color bleeding in a target area in the image data based on the reduction coefficient, and a size change unit configured to change the size of the image data. The reduction coefficient calculation unit calculates the reduction coefficient to reduce the color bleeding in a target area in the image data when the evaluation value exceeds a threshold.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a video camera that can be configured to highly compress video data in a visually lossless manner. The camera can be configured to transform blue and red image data in a manner that enhances the compressibility of the data. The data can then be compressed and stored in this form. This allows a user to reconstruct the red and blue data to obtain the original raw data for a modified version of the original raw data that is visually lossless when demosacied. Additionally, the data can be processed in a manner in which the green image elements are demosaiced first and then the red and blue elements are reconstructed based on values of the demosaiced green image elements.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes, a color correction unit performing color correction on RGB signals to generate color-corrected RGB signals; a YC conversion unit converting the color-corrected RGB signals into a first luminance signal and a color-difference signal; a Y conversion unit generating a second luminance signal based on the RGB signals; an edge combination unit combining the first luminance signal with the second luminance signal; an edge adjustment unit obtaining an edge-adjusted signal based on a result of the combining by the edge combination unit; and an adder adding the first luminance signal to the edge-adjusted signal.

Abstract: An image processing method includes the following steps. First, noise of a first image is filtered, and the first image is converted to obtain a luminance signal. Second, the first image is stored and outputted. Third, a color space converting process is performed upon the first image according to the luminance signal to obtain a second image. Fourth, a linear computing is performed upon the second image to obtain a third image. Fifth, the color space converting process is performed according to a third image and the luminance signal to obtain and output a fourth image. Sixth, an error compensation is performed upon the first image and the fourth image, and the fourth image is outputted. Accordingly, a linear operating process and error compensation processing is performed upon the single image to filter the noise of the image, and thus a load of the system is reduced.