Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a set of infra-red (IR) sources surrounding an image capture sensor and a processor operatively coupled to said IR sources and said image capture sensor. The processor being arranged to acquire from the sensor a succession of images, each illuminated with a different combination of the IR sources. The processor is further arranged to combine component images corresponding to the succession of images by selecting a median value for corresponding pixel locations of the component images as a pixel value for the combined image.

Abstract: A method of responding to a criterion-based request for information collected from users meeting the criterion while complying with a user-requested privacy requirement. In one embodiment a request is received for data comprising facial or audio expressions for users who meet the criterion. A program monitors activities indicative of user attention or user reaction based on face tracking, face detection, face feature detection, eye gaze determination, eye tracking, audio expression determination, or determination of an emotional state. When a user requests a high level of privacy, the timestream data collected for the user is aggregated with timestream data collected for other users into a statistical dataset by processing the timestreams to ensure the high level of privacy in the statistical dataset which is provided to a content provider without providing data collected for the user who has requested the high level of privacy.

Abstract: An iris image acquisition system for a mobile device, comprises a lens assembly arranged along an optical axis and configured for forming an image comprising at least one iris of a subject disposed frontally to the lens assembly; and an image sensor configured to acquire the formed image. The lens assembly comprises a first lens refractive element and at least one second lens element for converging incident radiation to the first refractive element. The first refractive element has a variable thickness configured to counteract a shift of the formed image along the optical axis induced by change in iris-lens assembly distance, such that different areas of the image sensor on which irises at different respective iris-lens assembly distances are formed are in focus within a range of respective iris-lens assembly distances at which iris detail is provided at sufficient contrast to be recognised.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating an array camera are disclosed. Systems and methods for calibrating an array camera in accordance with embodiments of this invention include the capturing of an image of a test pattern with the array camera such that each imaging component in the array camera captures an image of the test pattern. The image of the test pattern captured by a reference imaging component is then used to derive calibration information for the reference component. A corrected image of the test pattern for the reference component is then generated from the calibration information and the image of the test pattern captured by the reference imaging component. The corrected image is then used with the images captured by each of the associate imaging components associated with the reference component to generate calibration information for the associate imaging components.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the synthesis of light field images from virtual viewpoints in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a system includes a processor and a memory configured to store captured light field image data and an image manipulation application, wherein the captured light field image data includes image data, pixel position data, and a depth map, and wherein the image manipulation application configures the processor to obtain captured light field image data, determine a virtual viewpoint for the captured light field image data, where the virtual viewpoint includes a virtual location and virtual depth information, compute a virtual depth map based on the captured light field image data and the virtual viewpoint, and generate an image from the perspective of the virtual viewpoint based on the captured light field image data and the virtual depth map.

Abstract: Systems in accordance with embodiments of the invention can perform parallax detection and correction in images captured using array cameras. Due to the different viewpoints of the cameras, parallax results in variations in the position of objects within the captured images of the scene. Methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention provide an accurate account of the pixel disparity due to parallax between the different cameras in the array, so that appropriate scene-dependent geometric shifts can be applied to the pixels of the captured images when performing super-resolution processing. In a number of embodiments, generating depth estimates considers the similarity of pixels in multiple spectral channels. In certain embodiments, generating depth estimates involves generating a confidence map indicating the reliability of depth estimates.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement optical systems incorporating lens elements formed separately and subsequently bonded to low coefficient of thermal expansion substrates. Optical systems in accordance with various embodiments of the invention can be utilized in single aperture cameras, and multiple-aperture array cameras. In one embodiment, a robust optical system includes at least one carrier characterized by a low coefficient of thermal expansion to which at least a primary lens element formed from precision molded glass is bonded.

Abstract: Systems and methods for depth estimation in accordance with embodiments of the invention are illustrated. One embodiment includes a method for estimating depth from images. The method includes steps for receiving a plurality of source images captured from a plurality of different viewpoints using a processing system configured by an image processing application, generating a target image from a target viewpoint that is different to the viewpoints of the plurality of source images based upon a set of generative model parameters using the processing system configured by the image processing application, and identifying depth information of at least one output image based on the predicted target image using the processing system configured by the image processing application.

Abstract: A method of tracking an object across a stream of images comprises determining a region of interest (ROI) bounding the object in an initial frame of an image stream. A HOG map is provided for the ROI by: dividing the ROI into an array of M×N cells, each cell comprising a plurality of image pixels; and determining a HOG for each of the cells. The HOG map is stored as indicative of the features of the object. Subsequent frames are acquired from the stream of images. The frames are scanned ROI by ROI to identify a candidate ROI having a HOG map best matching the stored HOG map features. If the match meets a threshold, the stored HOG map indicative of the features of the object is updated according to the HOG map for the best matching candidate ROI.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing array cameras configured to perform super-resolution processing to generate higher resolution super-resolved images using a plurality of captured images and lens stack arrays that can be utilized in array cameras are disclosed. An imaging device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes at least one imager array, and each imager in the array comprises a plurality of light sensing elements and a lens stack including at least one lens surface, where the lens stack is configured to form an image on the light sensing elements, control circuitry configured to capture images formed on the light sensing elements of each of the imagers, and a super-resolution processing module configured to generate at least one higher resolution super-resolved image using a plurality of the captured images.

Abstract: Imager arrays, array camera modules, and array cameras in accordance with embodiments of the invention utilize pixel apertures to control the amount of aliasing present in captured images of a scene. One embodiment includes a plurality of focal planes, control circuitry configured to control the capture of image information by the pixels within the focal planes, and sampling circuitry configured to convert pixel outputs into digital pixel data. In addition, the pixels in the plurality of focal planes include a pixel stack including a microlens and an active area, where light incident on the surface of the microlens is focused onto the active area by the microlens and the active area samples the incident light to capture image information, and the pixel stack defines a pixel area and includes a pixel aperture, where the size of the pixel apertures is smaller than the pixel area.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention actively align a lens stack array with an array of focal planes to construct an array camera module. In one embodiment, a method for actively aligning a lens stack array with a sensor that has a focal plane array includes: aligning the lens stack array relative to the sensor in an initial position; varying the spatial relationship between the lens stack array and the sensor; capturing images of a known target that has a region of interest using a plurality of active focal planes at different spatial relationships; scoring the images based on the extent to which the region of interest is focused in the images; selecting a spatial relationship between the lens stack array and the sensor based on a comparison of the scores; and forming an array camera subassembly based on the selected spatial relationship.

Abstract: A method of iris recognition comprises detecting a body region larger than and comprising at least one iris in an image and performing a first eye modelling on the detected body region. If successful, the result of first iris segmentation based on the first eye model is chosen. Otherwise, a first iris identification is performed on the detected body region. If successful, the result of second iris segmentation based on a second eye modelling is chosen. Otherwise, second iris identification is performed on the image, third eye modelling is performed on the result of the second iris identification, and third iris segmentation is performed on the result of the third eye modelling. If successful, the result of third iris segmentation based on a third eye modelling is chosen. An iris code is extracted from any selected iris segment of the image.

Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed that use super-resolution (SR) processes to use information from a plurality of low resolution (LR) images captured by an array camera to produce a synthesized higher resolution image. One embodiment includes obtaining input images using the plurality of imagers, using a microprocessor to determine an initial estimate of at least a portion of a high resolution image using a plurality of pixels from the input images, and using a microprocessor to determine a high resolution image that when mapped through the forward imaging transformation matches the input images to within at least one predetermined criterion using the initial estimate of at least a portion of the high resolution image.

Abstract: A method for correcting an image divides an output image into a grid with vertical sections of width smaller than the image width but wide enough to allow efficient bursts when writing distortion corrected line sections into memory. A distortion correction engine includes a relatively small amount of memory for an input image buffer but without requiring unduly complex control. The input image buffer accommodates enough lines of an input image to cover the distortion of a single most vertically distorted line section of the input image. The memory required for the input image buffer can be significantly less than would be required to store all the lines of a distorted input image spanning a maximal distortion of a complete line within the input image.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically calibrating an array camera to accommodate variations in geometry that can occur throughout its operational life are disclosed. The dynamic calibration processes can include acquiring a set of images of a scene and identifying corresponding features within the images. Geometric calibration data can be used to rectify the images and determine residual vectors for the geometric calibration data at locations where corresponding features are observed. The residual vectors can then be used to determine updated geometric calibration data for the camera array. In several embodiments, the residual vectors are used to generate a residual vector calibration data field that updates the geometric calibration data. In many embodiments, the residual vectors are used to select a set of geometric calibration from amongst a number of different sets of geometric calibration data that is the best fit for the current geometry of the camera array.

Abstract: A method for compensating for off-axis tilting of a lens relative to an image sensor in an image acquisition device comprises acquiring a set of calibrated parameters n ? ? ( n x n y n z ) corresponding to the tilting of said lens. Px? and Py? indicate a coordinate of a pixel in an acquired image. Image information is mapped from the acquired image to a lens tilt compensated image according to the formulae: P x ? = s n z ? ( n z - 1 ) ? ( ( n x 2 + n z ? ( n z - 1 ) ) ? u x + n x ? n y ? u y ) P y ? = s n z ? ( n z - 1 ) ? ( ( n y 2 + n z ? ( n z - 1 ) ) ? u y + n x ? n y ? u x ) where s comprises a scale factor given by s = n z u x ? n x + u y ? n y + n z and where ux and uy indicate the location of a pixel in the lens tilt compensated image.

Abstract: A hand-held or otherwise portable or spatial or temporal performance-based image capture device includes one or more lenses, an aperture and a main sensor for capturing an original main image. A secondary sensor and optical system are for capturing a reference image that has temporal and spatial overlap with the original image. The device performs an image processing method including capturing the main image with the main sensor and the reference image with the secondary sensor, and utilizing information from the reference image to enhance the main image. The main and secondary sensors are contained together within a housing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for extended color processing on Pelican array cameras in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of generating a high resolution image includes obtaining input images, where a first set of images includes information in a first band of visible wavelengths and a second set of images includes information in a second band of visible wavelengths and non-visible wavelengths, determining an initial estimate by combining the first set of images into a first fused image, combining the second set of images into a second fused image, spatially registering the fused images, denoising the fused images using bilateral filters, normalizing the second fused image in the photometric reference space of the first fused image, combining the fused images, determining a high resolution image that when mapped through a forward imaging transformation matches the input images within at least one predetermined criterion.

Abstract: Techniques for identifying a person in a target image are described. According to one of the techniques, identifying a person in a target image involves displaying, within a graphical user interface, an image that depicts one or more faces. One or more faces are automatically detected within the image. A user provides input that selects a face of the one or more faces to be a currently-selected face. A set of images are selected from a collection of images, where the set of images includes images that closely match the currently-selected face. Concurrently with display of the currently-selected face, each image in the set of images is displayed. Within the graphical user interface, a control is provided. The control enables a user to select a target image from the set of images. In response to detecting that the user has selected a target image using the control, the currently-selected face is associated with a person to which the target image corresponds.