Patents Assigned to DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
  • Red-eye filter method and apparatus
    Patent number: 8493466
    Abstract: A digital image acquisition system having no photographic film, such as a digital camera, has a flash unit for providing illumination during image capture and a red-eye filter for detecting a region within a captured image indicative of a red-eye phenomenon, the detection being based upon a comparison of the captured image and a reference image of nominally the same scene taken without flash. In the embodiment the reference image is a preview image of lower pixel resolution than the captured image, the filter matching the pixel resolutions of the captured and reference images by up-sampling the preview image and/or sub-sampling the captured image. The filter also aligns at least portions of the captured image and reference image prior to comparison to allow for, e.g. movement in the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Yury Prilutsky, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi, Michael J. DeLuca
  • Method of determining PSF using multiple instances of a nominally similar scene
    Patent number: 8494299
    Abstract: A digital image acquisition system includes a portable apparatus for capturing digital images and a digital processing component for detecting, analyzing and informing the photographer regarding motion blur, and for reducing camera motion blur in an image captured by the apparatus. The digital processing component operates by comparing the image with at least one other image, for example a preview image, of nominally the same scene taken outside the exposure period of the main image. In one embodiment the digital processing component identifies at least one feature in a single preview image which is relatively less blurred than the corresponding feature in the main image, calculates a point spread function (PSF) in respect of such feature, and de-convolves the main image using the PSF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran, Yury Prilutsky
  • Registration of differently scaled images
    Patent number: 8493460
    Abstract: An image registration method involves computing horizontal and vertical integral projection vectors for first and second distorted or partially distorted images. The images are registered by applying a scale factor estimation between the first and second images on the horizontal and vertical integral projection vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventor: Felix Albu
  • Image processing method and apparatus
    Patent number: 8494232
    Abstract: An image processing technique includes acquiring a main image of a scene and determining one or more facial regions in the main image. The facial regions are analyzed to determine if any of the facial regions includes a defect. A sequence of relatively low resolution images nominally of the same scene is also acquired. One or more sets of low resolution facial regions in the sequence of low resolution images are determined and analyzed for defects. Defect free facial regions of a set are combined to provide a high quality defect free facial region. At least a portion of any defective facial regions of the main image are corrected with image information from a corresponding high quality defect free facial region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Petronel Bigioi, Peter Corcoran, Eran Steinberg
  • Separating Directional Lighting Variability in Statistical Face Modelling Based on Texture Space Decomposition
    Publication number: 20130182920
    Abstract: A technique for determining a characteristic of a face or certain other object within a scene captured in a digital image including acquiring an image and applying a linear texture model that is constructed based on a training data set and that includes a class of objects including a first subset of model components that exhibit a dependency on directional lighting variations and a second subset of model components which are independent of directional lighting variations. A fit of the model to the face or certain other object is obtained including adjusting one or more individual values of one or more of the model components of the linear texture model. Based on the obtained fit of the model to the face or certain other object in the scene, a characteristic of the face or certain other object is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicants: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DIGITALOPTICS CORPORATION EUROPE LIMITED
    Inventors: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited, National University of Ireland
  • Separating Directional Lighting Variability in Statistical Face Modelling Based on Texture Space Decomposition
    Publication number: 20130182149
    Abstract: A technique for determining a characteristic of a face or certain other object within a scene captured in a digital image including acquiring an image and applying a linear texture model that is constructed based on a training data set and that includes a class of objects including a first subset of model components that exhibit a dependency on directional lighting variations and a second subset of model components which are independent of directional lighting variations. A fit of the model to the face or certain other object is obtained including adjusting one or more individual values of one or more of the model components of the linear texture model. Based on the obtained fit of the model to the face or certain other object in the scene, a characteristic of the face or certain other object is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicants: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DIGITALOPTICS CORPORATION EUROPE LIMITED
    Inventors: DIGITALOPTICS CORPORATION EUROPE LIMIT, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND
  • Separating Directional Lighting Variability in Statistical Face Modelling Based on Texture Space Decomposition
    Publication number: 20130182148
    Abstract: A technique for determining a characteristic of a face or certain other object within a scene captured in a digital image including acquiring an image and applying a linear texture model that is constructed based on a training data set and that includes a class of objects including a first subset of model components that exhibit a dependency on directional lighting variations and a second subset of model components which are independent of directional lighting variations. A fit of the model to the face or certain other object is obtained including adjusting one or more individual values of one or more of the model components of the linear texture model. Based on the obtained fit of the model to the face or certain other object in the scene, a characteristic of the face or certain other object is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Applicants: NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DIGITALOPTICS CORPORATION EUROPE LIMITED
    Inventors: DIGITALOPTICS CORPORATION EUROPE LIMITED, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND
  • Enhanced depth of field based on uniform relative illumination via lens with large distortion
    Patent number: 8488258
    Abstract: A lens system is provided that comprises an enhanced depth of field based on a uniform or near uniform relative illumination via a lens with a large distortion. The distortion can be corrected with image processing equipment. The lens system can comprise an aperture stop and a group of lens, wherein there can be about five lenses in the group of lenses. The lens system is designed for relative illumination such that the light distribution over the lens system is substantially uniform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Gal Shabtay, Ephraim Goldenberg, Pavel Reshidko, Noy Cohen
  • Chromatic noise reduction method and apparatus
    Patent number: 8488031
    Abstract: A chromatic noise reduction method is provided for removing chromatic noise from the pixels of a mosaic image. In one implementation, an actual chroma value and a de-noised chroma value are derived for the central pixel of a matrix of pixels. Based at least in part upon these chroma values, a final chroma value is derived for the central pixel. The final chroma value is then used, along with the actual luminance of the central pixel, to derive a final de-noised pixel value for the central pixel. By de-noising the central pixel based on its chroma (which takes into account more than one color) rather than on just the color channel of the central pixel, this method allows the central pixel to be de-noised in a more color-coordinated fashion. As a result, improved chromatic noise reduction is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Tomer Schwartz, Eyal Ben-Eliezer, Orly Liba, Noy Cohen
  • Identifying facial expressions in acquired digital images
    Patent number: 8488023
    Abstract: A face is detected and identified within an acquired digital image. One or more features of the face is/are extracted from the digital image, including two independent eyes or subsets of features of each of the two eyes, or lips or partial lips or one or more other mouth features and one or both eyes, or both. A model including multiple shape parameters is applied to the two independent eyes or subsets of features of each of the two eyes, and/or to the lips or partial lips or one or more other mouth features and one or both eyes. One or more similarities between the one or more features of the face and a library of reference feature sets is/are determined. A probable facial expression is identified based on the determining of the one or more similarities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignees: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited, National University of Ireland
    Inventors: Ioana Bacivarov, Peter Corcoran
  • Digital zoom on bayer
    Patent number: 8482636
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a digital zoom operation on an input Bayer format image is provided, the output of the digital zoom operation being a second Bayer format image corresponding to the input Bayer format imaged enlarged by a zoom factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Noy Cohen, Eliezer Uri Mendlovic
  • Detecting Orientation of Digital Images Using Face Detection Information
    Publication number: 20130169821
    Abstract: A method of automatically establishing the correct orientation of an image using facial information. This method is based on the exploitation of the inherent property of image recognition algorithms in general and face detection in particular, where the recognition is based on criteria that is highly orientation sensitive. By applying a detection algorithm to images in various orientations, or alternatively by rotating the classifiers, and comparing the number of successful faces that are detected in each orientation, one may conclude as to the most likely correct orientation. Such method can be implemented as an automated method or a semi automatic method to guide users in viewing, capturing or printing of images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: DIGITALOPTICS CORPORATION EUROPE LIMITED
    Inventor: DIGITALOPTICS CORPORATION EUROPE LIMITED
  • Detecting Red Eye Filter and Apparatus Using Meta-Data
    Publication number: 20130162869
    Abstract: A method of filtering a red-eye phenomenon from an acquired digital image including a multiplicity of pixels indicative of color, the pixels forming various shapes of the image, includes analyzing meta-data information, determining one or more regions within the digital image suspected as including red eye artifact, and determining, based at least in part on the meta-data analysis, whether the regions are actual red eye artifact. The meta-data information may include information describing conditions under which the image was acquired, captured and/or digitized, acquisition device-specific information, and/film information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventor: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
  • Detecting Red Eye Filter and Apparatus Using Meta-Data
    Publication number: 20130155298
    Abstract: A method of filtering a red-eye phenomenon from an acquired digital image including a multiplicity of pixels indicative of color, the pixels forming various shapes of the image, includes analyzing meta-data information, determining one or more regions within the digital image suspected as including red eye artifact, and determining, based at least in part on the meta-data analysis, whether the regions are actual red eye artifact. The meta-data information may include information describing conditions under which the image was acquired, captured and/or digitized, acquisition device-specific information, and film information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2013
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: DIGITALOPTICS CORPORATION EUROPE LIMITED
    Inventor: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
  • Face Recognition Performance Using Additional Image Features
    Publication number: 20130142391
    Abstract: A technique is provided for recognizing faces in an image stream using a digital image acquisition device. A first acquired image is received from an image stream. A first face region is detected within the first acquired image having a given size and a respective location within the first acquired image. First faceprint data uniquely identifying the first face region are extracted along with first peripheral region data around the first face region. The first faceprint and peripheral region data are stored, and the first peripheral region data are associated with the first face region. The first face region is tracked until a face lock is lost. A second face region is detected within a second acquired image from the image stream. Second peripheral region data around the second face region are extracted. The second face region is identified upon matching the first and second peripheral region data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: DIGITALOPTICS CORPORATION EUROPE LIMITED
    Inventor: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
  • Method and apparatus of correcting hybrid flash artifacts in digital images
    Patent number: 8422780
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Mihai Ciuc, Adrian Capata, Florin Nanu, Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran
  • Real-time face tracking in a digital image acquisition device
    Patent number: 8422739
    Abstract: A database includes an identifier and associated parameters for each of a number of faces to be recognized. A new acquired image from an image stream is received potentially including one or more face regions. Face detection is applied to at least a portion of the acquired image to provide a set of candidate face regions each having a given size and a respective location. Using the database, face recognition is selectively applied to at least one of the candidate face regions to provide an identifier for a face recognized in a candidate face region. A portion of the image is stored including the recognized face in association with at least one image of the image stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Mihai Ianculescu, Petronel Bigioi, Mihnea Gangea, Stefan Petrescu, Peter Corcoran, Eran Steinberg
  • Efficient implementations of kernel computations
    Patent number: 8417759
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently performing digital signal processing is provided. In one embodiment, kernel matrix computations are simplified by grouping similar kernel coefficients together. Each coefficient group contains only coefficients having the same value. At least one of the coefficient groups has at least two coefficients. Techniques are disclosed herein to efficiently apply successive first order difference operations to a data signal. The techniques allow for a low gate count. In particular, the techniques allow for a reduction of the number of multipliers without increasing clock frequency, in an embodiment. The techniques update pixels of a data signal at a rate of two clock cycles per each pixel, in an embodiment. The techniques allow hardware that is used to process a first pixel to be re-used to start the processing of a second pixel while the first pixel is still being processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Hari Chakravarthula, Christopher Loo, Jose Mendez
  • Image processing method and apparatus
    Patent number: 8417055
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing image processing. For one embodiment of the invention, an image processing apparatus is arranged to process a first relatively underexposed and sharp image of a scene, and a second relatively well exposed and blurred image, nominally of the same scene, the first and second images being derived from respective image sources. The apparatus provides a portion of the relatively first underexposed image as an input signal to an adaptive filter; and a corresponding portion of the second relatively well exposed image as a desired signal to the adaptive filter. The adaptive filter produces an output signal from the input signal and the desired signal; and an image generator constructs a first filtered image from the output signal, relatively less blurred than the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Felix Albu, Eran Steinberg, Alexandru Drimbarean, Corneliu Florea, Adrian Zamfir, Peter Corcoran, Vlad Poenaru
  • Face recognition using face tracker classifier data
    Patent number: 8411912
    Abstract: A method of determining face recognition profiles for a group persons includes determining with a multi-classifier face detector that a face region within a digital image has above a threshold probability of corresponding to a first person of the group, and recording probability scores which are analyzed for each classifier, including determining a mean and variance for each classifier for the first person. The process is repeated for one or more other persons of the group. A sub-set of classifiers is determined which best differentiates between the first person and the one or more other persons. The sub-set of classifiers is stored in association with the first person as a recognition profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Petronel Bigioi, Peter Corcoran