Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems for scene adaptive lens shading correction. One or more gain adjustment surfaces calibrated to a reference illuminant type is stored. At least one scene adjustment surface, which varies as a function of the illuminant type, is stored for each additional illuminant type for which lens shading correction is desired. Additionally, an imaging device with a color image sensor may define a gain adjustment surface and a scene adjustment surface for each of the color channels of the image sensor. Scene adaptive lens shading correction entails determining an illuminant type for a captured image, selecting a scene adjustment surface based on the determined illuminant type, and processing the image using a gain adjustment surface modified by the scene adjustment surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting three-color image signals to four-color image signals including a white signal comprises a data processor which generates the four-color image signals from the three-color image signals, calculates distortion values associated with conversion to the four-color image signals, and calculates scaling factors from the distortion values, the scaling factors being used to scale image signals in generating the four-color image signals. A method for operating the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention corrects the insufficient peripheral light amount due to the lens shading and correcting the non-uniformity of light amount at the periphery due to a distortion resulting from a precision of the lens or a poor mounting precision of the lens. A peripheral light amount correction circuit is structured by an image synchronization signal generation circuit, a coordinate conversion circuit and a luminance value correction computing circuit. An integrated value of luminance values is calculated at the coordinate conversion circuit to extract light amount information. Coordinate values to be input to the luminance value correction computing circuit are generated based on an integrated/averaged value of the light amount information. In the luminance value correction computing circuit, peripheral light amount correction functions are converted based on the input coordinate values from the coordinate conversion circuit to perform appropriate correction on the input image.

Abstract: A digital image capture device and a brightness correction method thereof are described. The digital image capture device is adapted to correct the brightness value of a shot object in a digital image through the compensation of a strobe during shooting. The method includes setting a shooting magnification of the digital image capture device to the shot object; capturing a pre-shot image at least including the image of the shot object; triggering a strobe to emit a main flash onto the shot object, so as to shoot a digital image; setting a plurality of light measuring areas in the digital image; calculating a corresponding object distance of the shot object from each of the light measuring areas; establishing a shading table according to each of the object distances; and loading the shading table to adjust the brightness value of each of the light measuring areas in the digital image.

Abstract: A solid-state image-capturing apparatus that converts light, which is reflected from a subject, into an electrical signal, includes an image processing unit that performs edge enhancement on a digital video signal that is generated based on an analog video signal, which is obtained from the light captured by an image-capturing device and amplified with a predetermined analog gain, based on position information on the image-capturing device and the analog gain.

Abstract: A brightness level detector detects a brightness level of the digital imaging signal for each of the plurality of pixels. A shading detector sets a group of pixel regions distant from each other in a horizontal direction in the imaging element and then detects whether or not shadings are generated in the analog imaging signal based on a difference between the brightness levels of the group of pixel regions. A timing adjuster adjusts a phase of a peak sample pulse for detecting a peak level of the analog imaging signal, a phase of a reference sample pulse for detecting a signal level used as a reference in the correlated double sampling executed when the digital imaging signal is generated and a phase of a horizontal transfer pulse in the imaging element based on outputs of the brightness level detector and the shading detector.

Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, an imaging device has a black level reference generator for generating a reference value of a black level by calculating an average value of the accumulated pixel values for which the maximum values and/or minimum values has been replaced by the compensational pixel values, and an output compensator for compensating an output from the light sensitive pixels with the reference value of the black level.

Abstract: A method is provided for removing an illumination generated shadow in a captured image. Each pixel of the captured input image is plotted on a two dimensional logarithmic graph. A linear axis for the plurality of color sets is determined that is substantially orthogonal to a respective illumination direction of each respective color set. A log-chromaticity value of each plotted pixel is projected on the axis. An orientation of the linear axis is selected to minimize an illumination effect and provide optimum separation between each of the respective color sets on the linear axis. Edges in the input image and illumination invariant image domain are identified. The identified edges of the input image are compared to identify edges in the illumination invariant image domain. A determination is made whether a shadow edge is present in response to the comparison. A shadow-reduced image is generated for scene analysis by a vehicle vision-based system.

Abstract: A method is provided for removing an illumination generated shadow in a captured image. An image is captured by an image capture device. Each pixel of the captured image is represented by a respective color value in a logarithmic graph. A non-linear illumination-invariant kernel is determined. An illumination direction for each respective color set is determined in the logarithmic graph that is orthogonal to the non-linear illumination-invariant kernel. A log-chromaticity value of each plotted pixel is projected on the non-linear illumination-invariant kernel. Edges are identified in the input image. Edges are identified in the illumination-invariant image domain. The identified edges are compared. A determination is made whether a shadow is present in response to an edge identified in the input image and an absence of a correlating edge in the illumination-invariant image domain. A shadow-reduced image is generated for scene analysis by a vehicle vision-based system.

Abstract: A method for is provided for creating a shadow-reduced image from a captured image for distinguishing a clear path of travel. Each pixel of a captured input image is plotted according to a two dimensional logarithmic graph. A specific color set relating to an associated color value of a clear path. A linear illumination-invariant axis is determined as a function of the specific color set. An illumination direction for the linear illumination-invariant axis is determined. A log-chromaticity value of each plotted pixel of the specific color set is projected on the axis. Edges in the input image and the illumination-invariant image domain are identified. The identified edges of the input image are compared to identify edges in the illumination-invariant image domain. A determination is made whether a shadow edge is present in response to comparing the edges. A shadow-reduced image is generated for scene analysis by a vehicle vision-based system.

Abstract: Foreign substance information including information on a position and size of a foreign substance in an imaging unit is acquired. When correcting a shadow of the foreign substance of the moving image data using the acquired foreign substance information and playing back the corrected moving image data, a selection is made whether to perform processing for correcting the shadow of the foreign substance of a frame based on the data size of the frame of the moving image data to be played back.

Abstract: Apparatus having corresponding methods and computer programs comprise an input module to receive image data representing an image, wherein the image data includes radial distortion; and a zoom module to scale the image based on the image data and a scaling factor, wherein the zoom module comprises a radial distortion correction module to correct the radial distortion in the image data while the zoom module scales the image.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for creating a lens shading compensation table suitable for a photography environment are provided. A photography environment condition determining unit determines photography environment conditions of an image input from a camera module. A compensation parameter detecting unit detects compensation parameters corresponding to the determined photography environment conditions. A compensation table creating unit creates a lens shading compensation table suitable for the determined photography environment conditions by applying the detected compensation parameters to a predetermined reference lens shading compensation table.

Abstract: Aspects of an embodiment include providing a correction circuit that corrects image data in apiece of a frame, the correction circuit comprising: a weight processing unit which performs weighting on position data corresponding to a relative position in response to the relative position between a position of a pixel in the image data and a certain position in the frame; and a correction processing unit that corrects the image data based on a correction value corresponding to the weighted position data.

Abstract: An image blemish detecting system includes an image capturing module, a brightness adjusting module, and a blemish detecting module. The image capturing module captures an image. The brightness adjusting module adjusts the brightness of the image to obtain a second image having substantially uniform brightness. The blemish detecting module calculates a brightness ratio of each pixel in the second image, marks the pixels of which the brightness ratios are not smaller than a predetermined reference value as “1”, and marks the other pixels as “0”. The blemish detecting module calculates the quantity of the pixels in a continuous area in which all pixels are marked as “1”, and determines that the continuous area is a blemish if the quantity of the pixels in the continuous area is greater than or equal to the predetermined pixel quantity.

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 apparatus for performing shade correction for a lens in an image sensor includes a gain profile extractor, a common profile calculator, a gain controller calculator, and a memory device. The gain profile extractor generates a respective channel gain profile for each of a plurality of color channels from image data. The common profile calculator generates a common profile from the channel gain profiles. The gain controller calculator generates a respective gain controller for each of the plurality of color channels from the common profile and the channel gain profiles. A memory device stores the common profile and the gain controllers.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a shading correction circuit, which corrects for the influence of ambient light quantity shading, for input image light from three CCD sensors of R, G and B, based on a distance from the center of a screen. A shading correction circuit does not make correction for a maximum correction area which is out of a circle with a distance a from the central part of a screen, and corrects for the influence of ambient light quantity shading for a minimum correction area with a distance b from the central part of a screen, after calculating a square L2 of an address distance of each pixel of a correction object obtained by using a vertical distance and a horizontal distance from an address of the central part of a screen.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a method of correcting sensitivity and an imaging apparatus, by which shading correction can be performed with good accuracy even with a simple structure.

Abstract: A color gamut mapping method, which is capable of minimizing a color difference perceived by a person, preventing brightness and contrast from deteriorating, and improving color reproducibility, and a liquid crystal display device using the same are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are a lens shading compensation apparatus and a lens shading compensation method in an image sensor that compensate the difference in signal amplitude according to the position of pixels to preserve the quality of a primitive image. The lens shading compensation apparatus includes a pixel value analyzing part, an auto exposure value setting part, a central pixel detecting part, a table generating part, a pixel location calculating part, a mask image generating part and a compensation part. The above apparatus and method perform a color interpolation individually for red, green and blue, and then compensate a lens shading image for each color in accordance with its characteristics. Also the above apparatus and method can analyze and compensate a lens shading phenomenon without considering other colors or being interrupted by other colors.

Abstract: An image-processing device including a pulverization-core unit configured to divide input-image data into blocks, generate basic blocks by reducing each of the blocks in size, and arrange the basic blocks into the blocks so that processed-image data including at least one noise particle of the input-image data is generated, where the noise particle included in the processed-image data is reduced in size, an edge-detection unit configured to detect an edge degree from the input-image data, and an edge-blend unit configured to subject a pixel value of the input-image data and a pixel value of the processed-image data to load addition and output output-image data based on the detection result so that a weight to the pixel value of the input-image data increases as the edge degree increases is provided.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus for applying high-speed dark shading correction and reducing random noise in a black image is provided. The image pickup apparatus has an image pickup element capable of reading image signals corresponding to one frame, which are obtained by photoelectric conversion, on a field-by-field basis. With the image pickup element exposed to light, first image signals corresponding to one frame are read. Then, with the image pickup element shielded from light, second image signals are read from fields that are fewer than fields constituting one frame. Each of third image signals is generated by averaging the second image signals for each of blocks obtained by dividing the image pickup element and converting the average image signal for each block to a resolution of the first image signals. The third image signals are subtracted from the first image signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for compensating the lens shading phenomenon in image sensor. The invention first stores an inputted compensation reference value, identifies a center pixel using digital image signals received sequentially in correspondence to each pixel from a sensor, generates analysis data corresponding to each pixel, generates and stores block compensation values for blocks grouped according to the distance from the center pixel, calculates the distance from a compensation target pixel to the center pixel, calculates a compensation value corresponding to the compensation target pixel using the block compensation value corresponding to the distance, and generates for output correction pixel data by aggregating analysis data and the compensation value corresponding to the compensation target pixel.

Abstract: An image taking apparatus according to an aspect of the present invention comprises: a light source discrimination device which discriminates a light source in a photographing environment; and a shading correction device which makes shading correction according to the light source discriminated by the light source discrimination device for an image photographed under the light source in the photographing environment. According to the image taking apparatus of the present invention, the shading correction is made according to the light source in the photographing environment, whereby the excellent image quality can be maintained by appropriately making shading correction even if the light source is changed.

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: The present invention relates to an apparatus for and a method of providing a sharper image by preventing the deterioration of an image caused by the difference in dynamic ranges of a center part and a surrounding part of the image photographed by an image sensor or by the difference of lens resolution. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, an image edge detection apparatus and a method thereof, a sharpness emphasis apparatus and a method thereof, and a recoding medium recorded with a program performing the method can acquire the sharpness and quality of a desired image by detecting an edge of a surrounding part by use of an edge detection filter having a different filter area size and/or a weight of a computed edge value in a center part and the surrounding part, respectively, of the image, and then by giving a weight to the detected edge.

Abstract: In camera systems with more than one aperture plane, light from different object points can be shaded by either the lens' pupil, the system's aperture or both. depending on pupil and aperture diameters, separation and camera system field of view. In an aperture shading correction (ASC) algorithm, the shading that results from the convolution of the lens' pupil function and its aperture function is determined over the image plane for any given pupil and aperture diameter and separation. A shading correction function is then calculated, and/or its parameters are determined, that will undo the adverse relative illumination degradations that result from the tandem pupil and aperture. This can be done in separate color planes. This can be done in tandem with standard lens shading correction that must also be corrected for (i.e., the lens shading correction (LSC) can be performed in the sensor for the case of no aperture shading, then the ASC multiples the LSC during aperture shading).

Abstract: A method and apparatus that allows for the correction of multiple defective pixels in an imager device. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes the steps of selecting a correction kernel for a defective pixel, determining average and difference values for pixel pairs in the correction kernel, and substituting an average value from a pixel pair for the value of the defective pixel.

Abstract: A method including using an optical image stabilization function in an imaging apparatus comprising a lens and an image sensor; acquiring system change information, the system change information concerning changes that affect optical path through the lens to the image sensor during capturing of an image through the lens; adjusting a lens shading correction function on the basis of the acquired system change information; and applying the adjusted lens shading correction function to image data representing the captured image.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus is disclosed which is capable of adjusting a positional displacement of an image-taking optical system and an image-pickup element even in a state in which they are fixed. The image-taking apparatus includes the image-taking optical system including an offset lens unit movable in a direction orthogonal to an optical axis, the image-pickup element and a memory which stores adjustment data. The adjustment data is data on a movement amount of the offset lens unit to make light amounts in peripheral parts on the image-pickup element substantially homogeneous in a case where an object has a surface with approximately homogeneous luminance.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a coding device configured to code input image data, and a decoding device configured to decode the coded input image data, wherein, if coding and decoding are repeated on the input image data, the image quality of an image corresponding to the input image data is deteriorated. The decoding device includes an input section inputting quantized data in which the input image data is quantized; and a decoding section dequantizing the quantized data that is input by the input section and converting a dequantized value obtained as a result of the quantization into a value in the vicinity of the boundary of a quantization threshold value within a range corresponding to the dequantized value when the quantization is performed.

Abstract: Defect correction and other de-noising as well as resolution maintenance and contour correction can all be appropriately performed in an image-signal processing device for processing an image signal from an image sensor. First through third de-noising parts 30a through 30c are provided separately to correspond to a brightness-processing part 36, a color-processing part 40, and a contour-processing part 38, respectively. Among defect-correcting parts 42a through 42c provided to the de-noising parts 30a through 30c, respectively, the defect-correcting part 42c provided to correspond to the contour-processing part 38 is set to a low defect-correction level and maintains contour information. The defect-correcting part 42a provided to correspond to the brightness-processing part 36 is set to an intermediate correction level and corrects pixel defects while maintaining resolution.

Abstract: A shading correction method includes dividing a light receiving region of a solid-state image capturing element, in which pixels including light receiving elements are disposed, into areas; irradiating each of the areas with light, which is emitted from a light source serving as a reference, via an image forming optical system so that a size of a spot of the light corresponds to a size of the area; storing a sensitivity value of each of the areas in an area-specific-sensitivity memory; calculating shading correction values for all of the pixels of the solid-state image capturing element from the sensitivity values; storing the shading correction values for all of the pixels in a correction-value memory; and correcting signals of the individual pixels, which have been obtained using image capture by the solid-state image capturing element, using the corresponding shading correction values for the individual pixels.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for vignetting correction of imager pixels signals. A polynomial correction surface is determined based on a pixel array center, height, and width, surface fitting parameters, and pixel coordinates. The pixel signal is then multiplied by the corresponding value from the polynomial correction surface to create a vignetting corrected signal.

Abstract: A technique for modifying data of an image, such as can be implemented in a still camera or video recorder in order to correct for defects in its optical and/or electronic systems, includes generating data to modify the image as a function of radial position across it. A variation of the intensity across an image (lens shading) that appears in data from a two-dimensional detector is an example of an application of the technique. In order to make modifications to the data, positions of a two-dimensional raster scan pattern of an image sensor are converted to radial positions and this is then used to generate the modification data. The modification data is generated on the fly, at the same rate as the image data is being acquired, so that the modification takes place without slowing down data transfer from the image sensor.

Abstract: Document image data is converted into luminance image data. Block image data is generated from the luminance image data. Start point block pixel data and end point block pixel data are set based on a change rate of luminance values of adjacent block pixel data. A luminance value of block pixel data between the start point block pixel data and the end point block pixel data is corrected based on a start point luminance value and an end point luminance value. The luminance value, of the block pixel data wherein each luminance value of an adjacent block pixel data cluster is less than an average value, is substituted by the average value. The luminance value of each pixel data is set based on the luminance value of the block pixel data. Post process luminance image data that includes each pixel data is reconverted into the document image data.

Abstract: Techniques for modifying data of an image that can be implemented in a digital camera, video image capturing device and other optical systems are provided to correct for Image image shading variations appearing in data from a two-dimensional photo-sensor. These variations can be caused by imperfect lenses, non-uniform sensitivity across the photo-sensor, and internal reflections within a housing of the optical system, for example. In order to correct for these variations, a small amount of modification data is stored in a small memory within the camera or other optical system, preferably separate correction data for each primary color. Image data from individual pixels are corrected on the fly by interpolating individual pixel corrections from the stored modification data, at the same rate as the image data is being acquired, so that the correction takes place without slowing down data transfer of picture data from the image sensor.

Abstract: An imaging area includes an effective pixel section and an optical black section. Pixel signals read out from the imaging area, onto a plurality of vertical signal lines, are converted by an AD conversion circuit. The converted pixel signals are sequentially input to a signal processing circuit for computing processing. The circuit is provided with a horizontal-stripe noise suppression circuit for averaging of output signals, on a plurality of lines, which are readout from an OB section at an end in the horizontal direction in the imaging area, and for adding and subtracting of the averaged result to effective-pixel signals.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of correcting a captured image for lens shading artifacts, the captured image being captured by an image capture system, the method comprising: determining a function L(x, y) being a lens shading correction function to be applied to images captured by a lens of the image capture system in order to correct for lens shading artifacts; if a focal length associated with the captured image is less than a focal length associated with, the function L(x, y) then cropping the function L(x, y) based on the focal length associated with the captured image; and scaling the cropped function L(x, y) to a size of the tin-cropped Junction L(x, y).

Abstract: In a solid-state image pickup device, it is difficult to match an optimum incidence angle corresponding to an image height of a pixel array region with light incidence characteristics of a camera lens, thereby causing image quality deterioration due to sensitivity shading. Respective microlenses are disposed in a two-dimensional manner, i.e., in a row and a column directions. In particular, the microlenses are disposed such that each side of a disposition region where the microlenses are disposed has a concave curve with respect to a line connecting adjacent vertexes of the disposition region. In other words, a distance AH (AV) between center points of a pair of facing sides of the disposition region is set to be smaller than a distance BH (BV) between neighboring vertexes of the disposition region.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an image obtaining unit that obtains an image captured with an image sensor; and a defect information generating unit that generates defect information indicating a defect within the image having been obtained, based upon a value at a target pixel and an average value of a plurality of pixel values corresponding to pixels present within a predetermined range containing the target pixel.

Abstract: In a MOS-type solid-state imaging device 1, in pixels 101 to 104 in which lines in an upper layer (charge transfer lines 1018 to 1048) are formed in shifted positions located toward a center L1 of an image area, each two oppositely disposed pixels with the center L1 of the image area sandwiched therebetween, such as a pixel 101 and a pixel 104 have the following relation. In each of the pixels 101 and 104, power supply lines 1016 and 1046, vertical signal lines 1017 and 1047, and charge transfer lines 1018 and 1048 relating to each of the pixels 101 and 104 are arranged symmetrically with respect to an imaginary plane extending from the center L1 of a sensor 10 in a direction orthogonal to the drawing page in an X-axis direction.

Abstract: A method is disclosed as including scanning a first pixel of an image with a primary scanning line of a sensor, and scanning a second pixel of the image with a secondary scanning line of the sensor, wherein the first pixel is separated from the second pixel by a pitch of one or more scan lines. A compensation value is determined for one or more pixels of the image, wherein the compensation value is determined based, at least in part, on a mathematical operation comprising pixel values associated with the first and second pixels and the pitch. The method further includes compensating the one or more pixel values based, at least in part, on the compensation value, wherein the compensation value compensates for a reflection of light between the first and second scanning lines when the first and second pixels are scanned.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a plurality of light-receiving elements which are arranged by rows and columns. A driving unit performs a driving, so that a signal packet and a plurality of dummy packets in an identical column are mixed together into a mixed packet in each holding units, charges of the mixed packet are held in a hold unit, the held charges of the mixed packet are vertically transferred to a horizontal transfer unit so that the mixed packet is mixed with a mixed packet of a different hold unit which is vertically transferred from the different hold unit to the horizontal transfer unit.

Abstract: A system for displaying a digital video sequence includes a graphics processing unit (GPU) and a display device. The GPU receives and modifies the digital video sequence to compensate for perceived blur based on motion between frames of the digital video sequence. The display device displays the modified digital video sequence. A method and computer readable medium having computer readable code is also provided.

Abstract: Provided is a lens shading correction device and method in an image sensor. The device comprises a brightness weight storage unit, an input image divider, and an input image brightness correction unit. The brightness weight storage unit stores a brightness weight for allowing one of representative brightness values to be a representative brightness value of a reference image block having a maximal representative brightness value. The input image divider blocks and divides an input image into input image blocks. The input image brightness correction unit corrects a brightness of the input image by multiplying brightness of input pixels by brightness weights.

Abstract: A method is for filtering data output from an array of pixels in an image sensor. The method may include filtering noise from variation in pixel response across the array. An electronic device may have a device for filtering data output from an array of pixels in an image sensor. The device may include a noise filter for removing variation in pixel response across the array.

Abstract: Techniques for modifying data of an image that can be implemented in a digital camera, video image capturing device and other optical systems are provided to correct for image shading variations appearing in data from a two-dimensional photo-sensor. These variations can be caused by imperfect lenses, non-uniform sensitivity across the photo-sensor, and internal reflections within a housing of the optical system, for example. In order to correct for these variations, a small amount of modification data is stored in a small memory within the camera or other optical system, preferably separate correction data for each primary color. The modification data is generated on the fly, at the same rate as the image data is being acquired, so that the modification takes place without slowing down data transfer from the image sensor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for dynamic correction of data for non-uniformity are disclosed. Feature data are extracted from input video data that include a subject shot against a backing area in a solid color. The feature data may describe characteristics of non-uniformity in input video data. A curve is generated based on the extracted feature data, and correction factors are formed based on the generated curve. At least one of the input video data and alpha data associated with the input video data is corrected based on the correction factors.