Abstract: Techniques for creating a High Dynamic Range (HDR) image within a consumer grade digital camera from a series of images of a scene captured at different exposure levels, and displaying the HDR image on the camera's built-in display, are provided. The approach employs mixing images of the series to incorporate both scene shadow and highlight details, and the removing of “ghost” image artifacts appearing in the mixed HDR image resulting from movement in the scene over the time the series images are captured. The low computational resource utilization of the present invention's image mixing and ghost removal processing operations, along with the present invention's ability to commence image mixing and ghost removal prior to the acquisition of all series images, can significantly reduce the time required to generate and display a tone mapped HDR image.

Abstract: There are situations where GPS signals are received from less than four satellites. In order to improve the GPS location availability, disclosed here are systems and methods for synthesizing GPS measurements, which, together with fewer than four available real GPS signals, can be used to calculate a position fix. In particular, GPS range measurements for lost satellites, which are satellites that were previously tracked but are now not tracked, are synthesized to improve GPS signal availability. The synthesized measurements are used along with real measurements to enable accurate position fix even when GPS satellite availability is poor. Different synthesized measurement generation schemes, depending on whether an INS/DR aiding system is available, are further described herein.

Abstract: Satellite positioning system (SATPS) receiver that has a plurality of modes and channels, where a timeline module configures the channels based on the mode of operation of the SATPS receiver and reconfigures the channels if the mode of operation of the SATPS changes.

Abstract: GPS navigation devices or GPS receivers can consume less power by using a temperature recorder circuit and/or a power manager in maintaining the accuracies of the GPS receiver time and reference frequency to improve battery life. A representative receiver includes a time reference device and the temperature recorder circuit that operate while the receiver hibernates. The time reference device generates clock signals and the temperature recorder circuit receives and operates using the clock signals from the time reference device. The temperature recorder senses the temperature of the time reference device. The temperature recorder circuit is designed to send a wake-up signal to at least one electrical component of the receiver to wake up the electrical component of the receiver. The electrical component of the receiver includes at least one of the following: a GPS signal processing system and a frequency reference device.

Abstract: A track and hold circuit (1) comprising a switch device (10) and a capacitive hold device (20). The track and hold circuit (1) comprises a track-voltage generating device (30) adapted to generate a control voltage based on a signal on an input terminal of the switch device (10) and supply the control voltage to the switch device (10) during track phases of the track and hold circuit (1). The control voltage provides a channel charge, which is the same for each track phase, in the switch device (10).

Abstract: A receiver includes a sample rate converter configured to receive an input data stream having a variable data rate and to output a data stream having a fixed data rate. In some embodiments, the input data stream corresponds to digital video, digital audio and/or metadata, while in other embodiments the input data stream corresponds to any digital data stream that needs to be data rate converted for use by a receiving device. The sample rate converter is configured to track an externally sourced reference time signal corresponding to the input data stream.

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: A camera with auto-focusing performs multiple iterations in which the distance from the camera to an object is estimated for the purpose of auto-focusing the camera. Each estimate is made using depth-from-defocus with at least two images used to make the estimate. When the two images are taken, the camera parameters are different. For example, the focus position, aperture, or zoom may be different between the two images. In each subsequent iteration, the previous estimate of distance from the camera to the object is used so that the parameter varied (focus position or zoom) is closer to that corresponding to the estimated distance from the camera to the object, so that the estimated distance is closer to the actual distance in each iteration.

Abstract: A television receiver includes a tuner, a bandpass filter, an intermediate frequency amplifier and a demodulator. The tuner has an input to receive radio frequency signals and an output to provide modulated analog and digital television signals at an intermediate frequency. The bandpass filter and the intermediate frequency amplifier provide a singular signal path to filter and amplify both the modulated analog and digital television signals at the intermediate frequency. The demodulator has a singular input coupled to the output of the intermediate frequency amplifier and a plurality of outputs. The plurality of outputs includes a first output to provide demodulated analog television signals in response to the output of the tuner providing modulated analog television signals at the intermediate frequency and a second output to provide demodulated digital television signals in response to the output of the tuner providing modulated digital television signals at the intermediate frequency.

Abstract: An extended deinterleaver the extended deinterleaver being responsive to at least one input signal, comprised of codewords, and operative to generate a deinterleaved output signal. The extended deinterleaver comprising a storage space organized into B number of appended storage branches, at least one appended storage branch having a storage branch and at least one element N, the received codewords being deinterleaved and buffered by the extended deinterleaver prior to being provided to the variable iteration decoder. Each appended storage branch further having a length that is extended by the length of N, N being at least one element, wherein as a codeword is provided to the variable iteration decoder, other codewords are provided to subsequent appended storage branches, and further wherein each appended storage branch, indexed by ‘b’, has a length of Lb+N, wherein Lb is the length of the storage branch prior to appending N.

Abstract: An arrangement is disclosed for offset compensation of a time-interleaved analog-to-digital converter, having a plurality of computing channels and being adapted to convert a signal from an analog domain to a digital domain. The arrangement comprises the time-interleaved analog-to-digital converter, an analog offset estimation and compensation unit adapted to estimate a mean offset for the plurality of computing channels, a digital offset estimation and compensation unit adapted to estimate a residual computing channel specific offset for each of the plurality of computing channels, and offset compensation means. The offset compensation means are adapted to perform offset compensation in the analog domain of each of the plurality of channels based on the estimated mean offset in the analog domain, and to perform offset compensation in the digital domain of each of the plurality of channels based on respective residual computing channel specific offset.

Abstract: An adaptive known signal canceller comprising of a known signal canceller filter responsive to a known signal including a known portion of a transmitted signal, the known signal canceller filter operative to generate a filtered known signal, and a subtractor unit responsive to an input signal and operative to generate an output signal, the subtractor unit configured to subtract the filtered known signal from the input signal to generate an output signal, such that the known portion of the transmitted signal is substantially removed from the input signal. The adaptive known signal canceller further comprising of a known signal canceller update unit, responsive to a desired signal and an output signal and operative to continually adjust the coefficients of the known signal canceller filter based on the difference between the output signal and the desired signal, so that the filter coefficients substantially reflect the impulse response of a channel.

Abstract: Methods for estimating illumination parameters under flickering lighting conditions are disclosed. Illumination parameters, such as phase and contrast, of a intensity-varying light source may be estimated by capturing a sequence of video images, either prior to or after a desired still image to be processed. The relative average light intensities of the adjacently-captured images are calculated and used to estimate the illumination parameters applicable to the desired still image. The estimated illumination parameters may be used to calculate the point spread function of a still image for image de-blurring processing. The estimated illumination parameters may also be used to synchronize the exposure timing of a still image to the time when there is the most light, as well as for use in motion estimation during view/video modes.

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 non-uniform illumination and/or effects of saturation appearing in data obtained using one or more artificial illumination sources. In an implementation, correction factors are derived using data from at least two images that have been captured with different illumination levels of the object scene and close in time to the capture of the image of interest. Typically, the image of interest is of higher resolution than at least one of the at least two images.

Abstract: Motion of an image of a scene being captured by a digital image acquisition device is detected and used to control parameters of illumination of the scene by a flash lamp that is typically built into the device. Parameters that may be controlled include the intensity, duration and timing of light emitted by the flash lamp. Such control of the flash illumination is preferably performed in conjunction with adjusting one or more exposure parameters used to capture an image. Such exposure parameters include duration, aperture and sensor gain. Motion blur caused by movement of the camera or by movement of an object within the scene being photographed is reduced by selecting appropriate exposure parameters and flash light characteristics.

Abstract: A system and method for processing a digital video signal corresponding to an image are provided. A plurality of independent edge detecting processes or edge detector modules detect a set of edges and at least one additional edge that is not included in the set of edges. An edge map includes data regarding all edges identified by any edge detecting process or module, and a visually perceptible artifact of the image is altered based at least in part on an evaluation of the edge map. The system and method detects and filters block artifacts and ringing or other noise from digital images, resulting in reduced image distortion.

Abstract: Methods for estimating illumination parameters under flickering lighting conditions are disclosed. Illumination parameters, such as phase and contrast, of a intensity-varying light source may be estimated by capturing a sequence of video images, either prior to or after a desired still image to be processed. The relative average light intensities of the adjacently-captured images are calculated and used to estimate the illumination parameters applicable to the desired still image. The estimated illumination parameters may be used to calculate the point spread function of a still image for image de-blurring processing. The estimated illumination parameters may also be used to synchronize the exposure timing of a still image to the time when there is the most light, as well as for use in motion estimation during view/video modes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for processing navigational solutions are provided. In this regard, a representative system includes a navigational computing device comprising a processor and memory that stores a navigational solution manager that is executed by the processor to provide a receiver position. The navigational solution manager is configured to collect navigational data from at least one satellite vehicle, compute initialization navigational measurements based on the collected navigational data, and compute the receiver position using the initialization navigation measurements.

Abstract: Quantities of motion regarding an imaging device such as an electronic camera are calculated and used to adjust the exposure time and one or more other exposure parameters used to capture an image to improve the quality of the image. Motion blur caused by movement of the camera or by movement of an object within the scene being photographed is reduced by selecting appropriate exposure parameters. Further, when there is little or no motion detected, the exposure parameters may be selected to improve the depth of field and reduce the noise in the captured image.

Abstract: Motion of an image of a scene being captured by a digital image acquisition device is detected and used to control parameters of illumination of the scene by a flash lamp that is typically built into the device. Parameters that may be controlled include the intensity, duration and timing of light emitted by the flash lamp. Such control of the flash illumination is preferably performed in conjunction with adjusting one or more exposure parameters used to capture an image. Such exposure parameters include duration, aperture and sensor gain. Motion blur caused by movement of the camera or by movement of an object within the scene being photographed is reduced by selecting appropriate exposure parameters and flash light characteristics.