Abstract: An image processing apparatus, including circuitry configured to cause an aperture diaphragm to move from a first diaphragm position to a second diaphragm position within a first exposure period. The circuitry is further configured to cause the aperture diaphragm to then move from the second diaphragm position to the first diaphragm position within the first exposure period or a second exposure period. The first and second exposure periods are used to capture different images.

Abstract: An exposure control device including a control unit configured to set a shutter speed and an aperture using a predetermined program chart based an exposure value calculated through photometry, an ISO sensitivity setting unit configured to set at least one of an upper limit and a lower limit of an ISO sensitivity to be used for photo shooting, and an ISO sensitivity change point determining unit configured to determine a point at which the ISO sensitivity is to be changed on the predetermined program chart.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for dynamic range estimation of imaged scenes for automatic exposure control. For a given exposure time setting, certain areas of a scene may be brighter than what a camera can capture. In cameras, including those experiencing substantial lens vignetting, a gain stage may be used to extend dynamic range and extract auto-exposure data from the extended dynamic range. Alternatively, dynamic range can be extended using pre-capture image information taken under reduced exposure conditions.

Abstract: A diaphragm control apparatus of an interchangeable lens camera includes a photographing lens, a diaphragm control slider which is driven between first and second control ends corresponding to maximum and minimum apertures, a position detector, and a controller which drives the diaphragm control slider toward the first control end at high-speed, stores in a memory, as a temporary origin, a position to which the diaphragm control slider has rebounded after reaching the first control end. Thereafter, the controller compares the current position of the diaphragm control slider with the temporary origin while driving the diaphragm control slider at a low-speed towards the first control end. When the current position is within a predetermined range of the temporary origin, the controller determines the current position as the origin of the diaphragm control slider.

Abstract: A light intensity control device includes a fixed opening 261, an aperture stop part 26 for controlling a light flux of incident light, a light intensity aperture part 24 for changing the size of an opening by moving a plurality of aperture blades to limit a light intensity of transmitted light and a ND filter 25 having a transparent area 253 and a light blocking area 254, which is arranged to be movable between a first light blocking state where the transparent area 253 faces the fixed opening 261 of the aperture stop part 26 and a second light blocking state where the light blocking area 254 faces the fixed opening. The moving of the ND filter 25 is carried out when the opening area of the light intensity aperture part 24 is a maximum.

Abstract: A method and a system for forming an image of a scene are provided. The method includes capturing an image of the scene by exposing an image sensor to radiation from one part of the EM spectrum using one aperture and to radiation from another part of the EM spectrum using another aperture having a different size than the first aperture. Simultaneously with capturing the image, the scene is illuminated with radiation from the second part of the EM spectrum. The image is then formed on the basis of image data generated by the radiation from the first part of the EM spectrum and image data generated by radiation from the second part of the EM spectrum.

Abstract: Receiving an instruction from a user to start sensing a still image, an image sensing apparatus performs scene determination based on an evaluation value of scene determination from an image sensed immediately after the luminance of the image converges to a predetermined range of a target luminance. The image sensing apparatus can accurately determine a scene of the image even the image sensor with a narrow dynamic range.

Abstract: An image pick-up apparatus that is capable of correcting shading due to a closing travel operation of a shutter by a simple process. An image pick-up device picks up the image formed. A shutter unit opens and closes a substantially rectangular aperture corresponding to image pick-up area of the image pick-up device by means of a plurality of rotating shutter blades. The shutter blades travel in mutually opposite directions perpendicular to a long side of the aperture while keeping edges of the shutter blades facing the aperture are parallel to the long side so that edge portions that cover a center area of the aperture start shading the aperture before edge portions that cover four corner areas of the aperture start shading the aperture.

Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. A continuous shooting speed of the digital photographing apparatus may be improved by simultaneously performing a shutter operation and a read out operation of image data. A disclosed method of controlling a digital photographing apparatus includes displaying an image signal input through an image pickup device as a live view image, performing a first operation by driving a shutter, reading data from the image pickup device, and performing a second operation by driving the shutter during a time period overlapping the reading of the data.

Abstract: A system and method of driving shutter by an object moving tendency. In this method, an image capture process is performed, wherein a sensor captures a first image of a moving object in a first resolution in the image capture process. Then, a prediction moving module analyzes the first image to acquire a prediction time for the moving object to reach a feature position. Finally, an automatic shutter control process is performed according to the prediction time, and a second image with a second resolution is captured, wherein the value of the second resolution is larger than that of the first resolution. This method automatically captures the second image of the moving object when situated at the feature position by using the prediction moving system to analyze the moving object.

Abstract: Provided is an action control device, including a variable-transmittance ND filter configured to have transmittance that varies according to an applied voltage, an applied voltage control unit configured to control a voltage to be applied to the variable-transmittance ND filter, and a diaphragm control unit configured to control illuminance through a diaphragm. At a time of monitoring, the illuminance is controlled such that the applied voltage control unit applies a substantially minimum voltage to the variable-transmittance ND filter, and the diaphragm control unit opens or closes the diaphragm, and at a time of imaging preparation or imaging, the illuminance is controlled such that the applied voltage control unit applies a certain applied voltage to the variable-transmittance ND filter in a state of the substantially minimum voltage, and controls transmittance, and the diaphragm control unit performs control such that the diaphragm enters a fully opened state or substantially fully opened state.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of adjusting an auto focus are provided. The apparatus includes: an imaging pickup device for generating an image signal by capturing light passing through an imaging lens; a shutter for controlling light exposure of the image pickup device; a focus detector that calculates a contrast value from the image signal and detecting a focus from the contrast value; and a release controller for controlling a release operation constituting a photographing operation of a still image, wherein the release controller includes, as driving modes, a first mode that directs a focus lens included in the imaging lens to be driven while driving the shutter, and a second mode that directs the focus lens not to be driven while driving the shutter. Accordingly, a photographing time is reduced.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus including an image acquisition unit configured to acquire, as an image, a result of imaging, on an image sensor unit, light traveling from an object via an opening of a stop, a control unit configured to control a shape of the opening based on a function which defines a temporal change of the shape of the opening when the image acquisition unit acquires the image, and a detection unit configured to detect a blur state in the image based on the function.

Abstract: When a exposure controlling unit changes an aperture value of a diaphragm in a predetermined range, the exposure controlling unit also changes a transmittance of a variable ND filter so as to perform an exposure control and, after obtaining a proper exposure by changing both the aperture value and the transmittance, sets the aperture value after exposure control to Fa, and in a case where the aperture value at which a maximum resolving power is obtained is set to Fb, when a condition, Fa?Fb, is satisfied and the transmittance is neither the minimum nor the maximum, the exposure controlling unit brings the aperture value close to Fb and changes the transmittance so as to maintain the proper exposure after the exposure control.

Abstract: In accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention, methods and systems for user guided automatic exposure control. Multiple sequential user settings for ordered choices of image capture settings and associated limit values are used to determine values of image capture settings including aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, such that a proper exposure is obtained within the guides set by a user.

Abstract: A method for checking a camera includes the steps of capturing an image of an object using a photo-sensitive element, converting the color level value of each of a plurality of pixels of the image into image gray level values, and when one of the image gray level values is higher than a predetermined gray level threshold value, displaying an alarm message on the screen of the camera. A camera is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: An electro-optic aperture has a stack that includes a front transparent conductor medium, an active electro-chromic medium, and a rear transparent conductor medium. The front and rear transparent conductor mediums are directly connected to each other by a conductive section located within the imaging path. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method for controlling a digital camera system having an optical system with an F/# that can be varied between a minimum F/# and a maximum F/#, comprising: setting the optical system F/# to a first F/#; capturing an evaluation image of the scene; analyzing the evaluation image to determine whether a subject is acceptably focused; if the subject is acceptably focused setting a capture F/# to be equal to the first F/#, otherwise the optical system F/# is iteratively increased until the subject is determined to be acceptably focused, or until a maximum F/# is reached; determining a capture F/# responsive to the F/# where the subject is acceptably focused; setting the optical system to use the capture F/#; capturing an archival image of the scene using the image sensor; and storing the captured archival image in a storage memory.

Abstract: A memory space configuration method applied in a video signal processing apparatus is provided. The method includes: arranging a first memory space and a second memory space in a memory, the first and second memory spaces being partially overlapped; determining a type of a signal source; when the signal source is a first video signal source, enabling a first processing circuit and buffering data associated with the first video signal source by using the first memory space; and, when the signal source is a second video signal source, enabling a second processing circuit and buffering data associated with the second video signal source by using the second memory space. The second processing circuit is disabled when the first processing circuit is enabled; the first processing circuit is disabled when the second processing circuit is enabled.

Abstract: A digital camera system providing an extended focus range, comprising: a program memory storing instructions to implement a method for capturing a focused digital image. The method includes: setting an optical system F/# to a first F/#; capturing an evaluation image of the scene; analyzing the evaluation image to determine whether a subject is acceptably focused; if the subject is acceptably focused setting a capture F/# to be equal to the first F/#, otherwise the optical system F/# is iteratively increased until the subject is determined to be acceptably focused, or until a maximum F/# is reached; determining a capture F/# responsive to the F/# where the subject is acceptably focused; setting the optical system to use the capture F/#; capturing an archival image of the scene using the image sensor; and storing the captured archival image in a storage memory.

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 capturing apparatus includes a setting unit for enabling a user to set control values, a display unit for displaying the control values, an obtaining unit for obtaining an aperture value of a lens unit based on luminous information of an object image and the control values set by the user, and a calculation unit for calculating a signal for controlling an aperture of the lens unit according to the aperture value, wherein when the aperture value of the lens unit is a first aperture value, a value based on the first aperture value is displayed and a signal corresponding to the first aperture value is calculated, and when the aperture value of the lens unit is a second aperture value, a value based on the second aperture value is displayed and a signal corresponding to a third aperture value which is different from the second aperture value is calculated.

Abstract: An aperture control device includes: an aperture first driving member that controls an aperture of a diaphragm through which light flux passes; an aperture second driving member that drives the aperture first driving member; a motor that drives the aperture second driving member; a detection device that detects start of movement of the aperture first driving member caused by the aperture second driving member driven by the motor; and a motor control device that controls an aperture value of the diaphragm by controlling a rotational amount of the motor after the detection device detects the start of movement of the aperture first driving member.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes: an image capturing unit; a first blade making a first movement to move to the other side edge of the image capturing unit and a second movement to move to a side edge of the image capturing unit; a second blade moving along with the first blade to the other side edge while being spaced apart from the first blade during the first movement and moving to the side edge of the image capturing unit during the second movement; a third blade moving along with the first blade to the side edge of the image capturing unit to block light from the image capturing unit and then moving to the other side edge to open the image capturing unit; and a controlling unit that resets the plurality of pixels in the rows of the image capturing unit corresponding to the first blade during the first movement.

Abstract: There is provided an image capturing apparatus, comprising an image capturing unit configured to acquire video data at a first frame rate or a second frame rate higher than the first frame rate; and a control unit configured to perform control of an aperture and an exposure time within a range in which the exposure time is shorter than or equal to a maximum exposure time that is a reciprocal of a frame rate of the image capturing unit, so that luminance of the image signal acquired by the image capturing unit is at a predetermined level, wherein when the image capturing unit is operating at the first frame rate, the control unit performs the control within a range in which the exposure time is shorter than a first time that is a reciprocal of the first frame rate.

Abstract: A digital camera comprises a CCD, a flash memory for storing images captured by the CCD, setting unit configured to set a recording condition, an auto shutter condition table for storing auto recording conditions for each of the auto shutter mode which are set by detecting an input from a key input device during auto shutter mode setting, and a CPU for determining whether the captured image satisfies the set recording condition and for recording the captured image to the flash memory it is determined that the image satisfies the recording condition.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-exposure imaging are provided. Multiple images may be captured having different exposure times. The multiple images may be processed to produce an output image. Multi-exposure images may be summed prior to linearization. Pixel values in multi-exposure images may be summed to nonlinear pixel values. The nonlinear pixel values may be linearized using one or more knee points. Multi-exposure imaging may be used to motion-intensive application such as automotive applications.

Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus and a method of controlling the same may reduce a photographing time by performing an operation of reading out data, an operation of closing an iris, and an operation of opening a shutter in parallel.

Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus in which iris patterns that have various shapes are provided. The digital photographing apparatus includes a lens unit; an iris in which an iris pattern, that defines a transmission area of incident light according to a signal, is determined; an imaging device that converts the incident light into an electrical signal; and an iris control unit which controls to form the iris pattern in the iris.

Abstract: An imaging system includes: an imaging apparatus including a first communication section performing communication with an interchangeable lens, and a first control section making a transmission request of prediction information being state information on a state of a member included in the interchangeable lens and being the state information related to a state of the member after a predetermined time period to the interchangeable lens; and an interchangeable lens including a second communication section performing communication with the imaging apparatus, a calculation section obtaining the state information from the member and calculating the prediction information on the basis of the obtained state information and the predetermined time period, and a second control section controlling transmission of the calculated prediction information to the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: An optical apparatus having a light amount adjustment device capable of realizing a high-speed operation and a high-resolution operation. The light amount adjustment device includes a second motor that has a rotor provided with magnetized poles whose number is two times the number of magnetized poles provided in a rotor of a first motor, so that the second motor has a resolution two times higher than that of the first motor. A control unit of the optical apparatus controls the drives of the first and second motors independently of each other. In a high-speed drive mode, the first and second motors are driven simultaneously or only the first motor is driven. In a low-speed drive mode, only the second motor is driven.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a sensor configured to photoelectrically convert light from an object to output a signal, a selection unit configured to select one of a first exposure control mode and a second exposure control mode having an exposure changing amount per unit time larger than that of the first exposure control mode, and a controller configured to perform control to transmit diaphragm control information generated based on the output signal from the sensor, first information, and second information to a connected lens unit, wherein the first information is about the exposure control mode selected by the selection unit, and the second information is speed information of a diaphragm unit corresponding to the lens unit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of adjusting an auto focus are provided. The apparatus includes: an imaging pickup device for generating an image signal by capturing light passing through an imaging lens; a shutter for controlling light exposure of the image pickup device; a focus detector that calculates a contrast value from the image signal and detecting a focus from the contrast value; and a release controller for controlling a release operation constituting a photographing operation of a still image, wherein the release controller includes, as driving modes, a first mode that directs a focus lens included in the imaging lens to be driven while driving the shutter, and a second mode that directs the focus lens not to be driven while driving the shutter. Accordingly, a photographing time is reduced.

Abstract: A shutter includes a driver ring, a plurality of shutter blades coupled to the drive ring such that movement of the drive ring transitions the plurality of shutter blades between an open position exposing a central aperture of the shutter, and a closed position blocking the central aperture, and a first stop and a second stop movable relative to the first stop. At least one of the first and second stops limits travel of the shutter blades.

Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling a digital photographing device, the method including: removing high-frequency components from a first input image and a second input image; calculating a differential image between the first input image and the second input image from which the high-frequency components are removed; calculating the frequency of each of the pixel values of the differential image; determining at lease one pixel value of the differential image having a frequency greater than a frequency threshold as a target motion range among the pixel values of the differential image greater than a motion threshold; and determining photographing settings corresponding to the target motion range.

Abstract: In an imaging apparatus including a stepping motor that drives a diaphragm, a favorable moving image exposure control is carried out while reducing electrical power required for holding the diaphragm position. When a rotor and the magnetic poles of a stator do not face each other in a first mode, a control unit of the stepping motor drives the rotor to a facing position, and shuts off the current in a coil. When the diaphragm driving does not occur in a second operation mode, the control unit shuts off the current in the coil at the state where the rotor of the motor and the magnetic poles of the stator face each other. A holding current to be supplied to the motor is shut off in the first and second. The program profile of a diaphragm drive method and an exposure control is switched depending on the type of an imaging lens unit.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus on which an interchangeable lens is removably mounted, includes an image pickup element configured to perform a photoelectric conversion of an optical image formed via the interchangeable lens, and a controller configured to control a power supply to the interchangeable lens mounted on the image pickup apparatus. When the mounted interchangeable lens is a first type interchangeable lens and a power is turned off, the controller performs an aperture control so as to change a first aperture state set in the interchangeable lens to a second aperture state and then stops the power supply to the interchangeable lens. When the mounted interchangeable lens is a second type interchangeable lens and the power is turned off, the controller maintains the power supply differently from a case where the mounted interchangeable lens is the first type interchangeable lens.

Abstract: A lens apparatus includes an aperture stop unit that adjusts light intensity, a terminal configured so that a voltage is applied in a state of connecting to an image pickup apparatus, a drive circuit that drives the aperture stop unit, and a controller that controls the drive circuit, the controller controls the drive circuit in a drive mode that drives the aperture stop unit from a first position to a second position without driving the aperture stop unit to an open position.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an image-pickup lens; a shutter partitioned into a plurality of sections along a first direction and allowed to open and close for each of the plurality of sections; a stop adjusting an amount of light; and a drive section driving the shutter and the stop. The drive section controls the shutter in such a manner that any one of the sections of the shutter is opened and the remaining sections are closed, and drives the stop in such a manner that passage of a flux of light through the open section is limited to a larger extent in a second direction than in the first direction, the second direction being orthogonal to the first direction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving video stutter in high resolution progressive video captured with fast exposure times. In a first approach, digital video is captured with fast shutter speeds that cause each frame of the video to be sharp. A motion blur is not captured for objects moving within the frame. The video codec generates motion information that may be utilized to add an artificial motion blur to each frame of the digital video during processing in a digital video pipeline. In a second approach, the lens assembly of the digital camera includes an electronically actuated filter that attenuates the light reaching an image sensor such that the shutter speeds may be decreased in order to capture motion blur. The electronically actuated filter may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) device that is set to a plurality of different transparency levels based on the voltage applied to the LCD device.

Abstract: The present invention is an image pickup apparatus including an image pickup device having an image pickup plane on which pixels are two-dimensionally arranged, a mechanical rear curtain shutter that runs along the image pickup plane to control passage/shielding of light, a system control section that divides the image pickup plane into a plurality of pixel groups along the running direction ahead of running of the mechanical rear curtain shutter and collectively resets charge of all pixels in one pixel group sequentially at timing per pixel group according to running characteristics of the mechanical rear curtain shutter, and an image processing section that corrects a signal level of an image signal read from the image pickup device to approximate to an image signal obtained when the pixels have a same exposure time based on the running characteristics of the mechanical rear curtain shutter and reset timing for each pixel group.

Abstract: Systems and methods using the same to achieve a precise timing of a camera shutter, which can be used also for a controllable aperture, are disclosed. A bidirectional linear motor having two coils driving the shutter blades can also be used as a position sensor. A movable iron is driven dependent upon currents through the coils and as the iron moves, the inductance of both coils changes. The difference of inductance of both coils indicates the actual position of the iron. Since the movable iron is mechanically connected to the entirety of shutter blades the difference of inductance indicates the actual position of the shutter blades. A read-out circuit senses the difference of inductance of both coils, which is indicating the actual position, and a control loop is comparing the inductance difference signal with a target signal in order to control the current through the coils in a way that the shutter blades are moved quickly to their target position.

Abstract: A diaphragm control apparatus of an interchangeable lens camera includes a photographing lens, a diaphragm control slider which is driven between first and second control ends corresponding to maximum and minimum apertures, a position detector, and a controller which drives the diaphragm control slider toward the first control end at high-speed, stores in a memory, as a temporary origin, a position to which the diaphragm control slider has rebounded after reaching the first control end. Thereafter, the controller compares the current position of the diaphragm control slider with the temporary origin while driving the diaphragm control slider at a low-speed towards the first control end. When the current position is within a predetermined range of the temporary origin, the controller determines the current position as the origin of the diaphragm control slider.

Abstract: There is provided an image capturing method for use in an image capturing apparatus including an image capturing unit configured to capture an image of an object to output image data. The method includes performing a first position adjustment between the image data obtained under the first image capturing control and the image data obtained under the second image capturing control, thereby calculating a first displacement, performing a second position adjustment between the image data obtained under the second image capturing control and the image data obtained under the third image capturing control, thereby calculating a second displacement, and performing an image composition of obtaining image data representing a composite image, by performing a position adjustment between the image data obtained under the first image capturing control and the image data obtained under the third image capturing control, using the first and second displacements.

Abstract: A shutter apparatus mounted in an image sensing apparatus, the shutter apparatus comprising: a blade member configured to open/close an opening through which light from an object passes, and control an aperture area of the opening; and a driving unit capable of first and second driving controls, the first driving control driving the blade member to serve as a stop, and the second driving control driving the blade member to serve as a shutter, wherein when the object is captured by an image sensor, the driving unit temporarily drives the blade member in an opening direction from a first position, to which the blade member is driven in a closing direction to serve as a stop, and then activates the blade member to a fully closing position.

Abstract: An actively addressable aperture disposed ahead of the rear surface of a camera lens allows the camera to capture a full-resolution, five-dimensional (5D) light field that describes every possible view from every possible angle of the scene being imaged. Shifting the aperture over the entire aperture plane and acquiring an image at each step yields a 2D grid of 2D images of the scene, otherwise known as a 4D parameterized light field. Estimating the 3D depth of the objects in the imaged scene yields a 3D model with 2D surface irradiance patterns, which is the full, non-parameterized 5D light field. The 5D light field can be used to display perspective changes in a way that mimics cognitive processing of the same scene or object. 5D light fields can also be used to create high-precision, 3D depth maps suitable for 3D movies, interactive displays, machine vision, and other applications.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus that includes a receiving unit configured to receive instructions for focus adjustment; an image-pickup unit configured to perform image-pickup of an object image input through a focus lens; a setting unit configured to set a focus detecting area to be used at a time of detection of a focus state of the focus lens; a light control unit configured to control an amount of light incident on the image-pickup unit; and a focus adjusting unit configured to detect a focus signal representing the focus state in the focus detecting area to move the focus lens based on the focus signal and a position of the focus lens corresponding to the focus signal.

Abstract: An image pick-up apparatus that is capable of correcting shading due to a closing travel operation of a shutter by a simple process. An image pick-up device picks up the image formed. A shutter unit opens and closes a substantially rectangular aperture corresponding to image pick-up area of the image pick-up device by means of a plurality of rotating shutter blades. The shutter blades travel in mutually opposite directions perpendicular to a long side of the aperture while keeping edges of the shutter blades facing the aperture are parallel to the long side so that edge portions that cover a center area of the aperture start shading the aperture before edge portions that cover four corner areas of the aperture start shading the aperture.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a pixel unit divided into at least two regions which generates pixel signals, driving controllers which controls reading of the pixel signals from the regions, a storage unit storing pixel signals for one screen, a timing controller controlling a timing when the pixel signals are read from the storage unit based on a setting value of an input frame rate, and a timing generator which generates a driving signal for performing the reading processes of the pixel signals the regions in parallel in terms of time when the frame rate is larger than a predetermined threshold value and generates a driving signal for performing the reading processes of the pixel signals from the regions in series in terms of time when the frame rate is not larger than the predetermined threshold value, and which supplies the generated driving signal to the driving controllers.

Abstract: An apparatus has an image sensing device, and a signal processing device for performing a first image sensing operation for making the image sensing device perform an image sensing operation in an exposure state to obtain a sensed image signal, and a second image sensing operation for making the image sensing device perform an image sensing operation in a non-exposure state to obtain a sensed image signal, and processing the sensed image signal obtained by the first image sensing operation by the sensed image signal obtained by the second image sensing operation. The signal processing device determines in accordance with the image sensing time of the first image sensing operation whether or not the second image sensing operation is performed.