Patents Assigned to FotoNation Vision Limited
  • Patent number: 7694048
    Abstract: An apparatus for the remote wireless control of a printer appliance includes a remote control handset and a wireless receiver for connection to the appliance. The remote control unit is adapted to transmit data and control codes to the receiver. The receiver is responsive to the data and control codes to control the appliance to print the data. The remote control unit includes a reader for a storage medium for printing the data, or a cable or wireless interface to an image acquisition device such as a digital video or still camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: FotoNation Vision Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Sumat Mehra, Petronel Bigioi
  • Patent number: 7683946
    Abstract: A method automatically corrects dust artifact within images acquired by a system including a digital acquisition device including a lens assembly and a translucent lens cap. Multiple original digital images are acquired with the digital acquisition device. Probabilities that certain pixels correspond to dust artifact regions within the images are determined based at least in part on a comparison of suspected dust artifact regions within two or more of the images. Probable dust artifact regions are associated with extracted parameter values relating to the lens assembly when the images were acquired. A statistical dust map is formed including mapped dust regions based on the determining and associating. Pixels corresponding to correlated dust artifact regions are corrected within further digitally-acquired images based on the associated statistical dust map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: FotoNation Vision Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Petronel Bigioi, Adrian Zamfir
  • Patent number: 7685341
    Abstract: An apparatus for the remote wireless control of a consumer electronic audio visual appliance such as a TV set, and/or for internet uploading, includes a remote control handset and a wireless receiver for connection to the appliance. The remote control unit is adapted to transmit audio and/or visual data (A/V data) and control codes to the receiver. The receiver is responsive to the A/V data and control codes to control the appliance to play and/or display the A/V data. The remote control unit includes a reader for a storage medium for A/V data, or a cable or wireless interface to an A/V acquisition device such as digital video or digital still camera or digital music player or recorder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: FotoNation vision Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Sumat Mehra, Petronel Bigioi
  • Patent number: 7684630
    Abstract: A method of adjustable spatial and/or temporal compression of an image including a face includes identifying a group of pixels that correspond to a face within a digitally-acquired image. A first compression portion of the image including the group of pixels is determined. A second compression portion of the image other than the group of pixels is also determined. The first compression portion may be automatically compressed with higher-grade compression than the second compression portion to generate a compressed image including the face, or an option to provided the compressed image including the different grade compressions may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: FotoNation Vision Limited
    Inventor: Eran Steinberg
  • Patent number: 7680342
    Abstract: An analysis and classification tool compares at least a portion of a captured image and a reference image of nominally the same scene. One of the captured and reference images is taken with flash and the other is taken without flash. The tool provides a measure of the difference in illumination between the captured image and the reference image. The tool compares the measure with a threshold and categorizes the scene as outdoor or indoor based on the measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: FotoNation Vision Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Yury Prilutsky, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi
  • Patent number: 7676108
    Abstract: A digital image acquisition system includes a portable apparatus for capturing digital images and a digital processing component for detecting, analyzing, invoking subsequent image captures 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 initiates a subsequent capture if determined that the motion blur exceeds a certain threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: FotoNation Vision Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran, Yury Prilutsky
  • Patent number: 7676110
    Abstract: A method of automatically determining a need to service a digital image acquisition system including a digital camera with a lens assembly includes analyzing pixels within one or more acquired digital images according to probability determinations that such pixels correspond to blemish artifacts. It is automatically determined whether a threshold distribution of blemish artifacts is present within one or more of the digital images. A need for service is indicated when at least the threshold distribution is determined to be present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: FotoNation Vision Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Yury Prilutsky, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi, Adrian Zamfir, Vasile Buzuloiu, Danutz Ursu, Marta Zamfir
  • Publication number: 20100054533
    Abstract: A method of processing a digital image using face detection within the image achieves one or more desired image processing parameters. A group of pixels is identified that correspond to an image of a face within the digital image. Default values are determined of one or more parameters of at least some portion of the digital image. Values are adjusted of the one or more parameters within the digitally-detected image based upon an analysis of the digital image including the image of the face and the default values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: FotoNation Vision Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Yury Prilutsky, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi
  • Publication number: 20100054549
    Abstract: A method of processing a digital image using face detection within the image achieves one or more desired image processing parameters. A group of pixels is identified that correspond to an image of a face within the digital image. Default values are determined of one or more parameters of at least some portion of the digital image. Values are adjusted of the one or more parameters within the digitally-detected image based upon an analysis of the digital image including the image of the face and the default values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: FotoNation Vision Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Yury Prilutsky, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi
  • Publication number: 20100040284
    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: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Applicant: FOTONATION VISION LIMITED
    Inventors: Mihai Ciuc, Adrian Capata, Florin Nanu, Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran
  • Publication number: 20100008577
    Abstract: A digital segmentation method and apparatus determines foreground and/or background within at least one portion of a captured image. The determining includes comparing a captured image to a pre-captured or post captured reference image of nominally the same scene. One of the images is taken with flash and the other without. The system can be implemented as part of a digital camera acquisition chain having effective computation complexity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Applicant: FOTONATION VISION LIMITED
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Yury Prilutsky, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi
  • Publication number: 20090304278
    Abstract: A method for red-eye detection in an acquired digital image comprises acquiring a first image and analyzing the first acquired image to provide a plurality of characteristics indicative of image quality. The process then determines if one or more corrective processes can be beneficially applied to the first acquired image according to the characteristics. Any such corrective processes are then applied to the first acquired image. Red-eye defects are then detected in a second acquired image using the corrected first acquired image. Defect detection can comprise applying a chain of one or more red-eye filters to the first acquired image. In this case, prior to the detecting step, it is determined if the red-eye filter chain can be adapted in accordance with the plurality of characteristics; and the red-eye filter is adapted accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: FOTONATION VISION LIMITED
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Yury Prilutsky, Petronel Bigioi, Florin Nanu
  • Patent number: 7616233
    Abstract: Within a digital acquisition device, acquisition parameters of a digital image are perfected as part of an image capture process using face detection within said captured image to achieve one or more desired image acquisition parameters. Default values are determined of one or more image attributes of at least some portion of the digital image. Values of one or more camera acquisition parameters are determined. Groups of pixels are identified that correspond to an image of a face within the digitally-captured image. Corresponding image attributes to the groups of pixels are determined. One or more default image attribute values are compared with one or more captured image attribute values based upon analysis of the image of the face. Camera acquisition parameters are then adjusted corresponding to adjusting the image attribute values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: FotoNation Vision Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Yury Prilutsky, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi
  • Publication number: 20090273685
    Abstract: An implementation efficient method of distinguishing between foreground and background regions of a digital image of a scene includes capturing two images of nominally the same scene and storing the captured images in DCT-coded format. The first image is taken with the foreground more in focus than the background and the second image is taken with the background more in focus than the foreground. Regions of the first image are assigned as foreground or background according to whether the sum of selected higher order DCT coefficients decreases or increases for the equivalent regions of the second image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: FOTONATION VISION LIMITED
    Inventors: Mihai Ciuc, Adrian Zamfir, Adrian Capata, Peter Corcoran, Eran Steinberg
  • Publication number: 20090263022
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for tracking faces in an image stream iteratively receives an acquired image from the image stream including one or more face regions. The acquired image is sub-sampled at a specified resolution to provide a sub-sampled image. An integral image is then calculated for a least a portion of the sub-sampled image. Fixed size face detection is applied to at least a portion of the integral image to provide a set of candidate face regions. Responsive to the set of candidate face regions produced and any previously detected candidate face regions, the resolution is adjusted for sub-sampling a subsequent acquired image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: FotoNation Vision Limited
    Inventors: Stefan Petrescu, Peter Corcoran, Eran Steinberg, Petronel Bigioi, Alexandru Drimbarean
  • Patent number: 7606417
    Abstract: A digital segmentation method and apparatus determines foreground and/or background within at least one portion of a captured image. The determining includes comparing a captured image to a pre-captured or post captured reference image of nominally the same scene. One of the images is taken with flash and the other without. The system can be implemented as part of a digital camera acquisition chain having effective computation complexity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: FotoNation Vision Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Yury Prilutsky, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Blgiol
  • Patent number: 7599577
    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: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: FotoNation Vision Limited
    Inventors: Mihai Ciuc, Adrian Capata, Florin Nanu, Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran
  • Publication number: 20090238410
    Abstract: A face recognition method for working with two or more collections of facial images is provided. A representation framework is determined for a first collection of facial images including at least principle component analysis (PCA) features. A representation of said first collection is stored using the representation framework. A modified representation framework is determined based on statistical properties of original facial image samples of a second collection of facial images and the stored representation of the first collection. The first and second collections are combined without using original facial image samples. A representation of the combined image collection (super-collection) is stored using the modified representation framework. A representation of a current facial image, determined in terms of the modified representation framework, is compared with one or more representations of facial images of the combined collection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicants: FotoNation Vision Limited, National University Of Ireland
    Inventors: Peter Corcoran, Gabriel N. Costache
  • Patent number: 7590305
    Abstract: A digital camera that automatically corrects dust artifact regions within acquired images by compiling a dust map includes an optical system for acquiring an image with a corresponding dust calibration table for such optical system, including a lens assembly and an aperture stop, in which the corresponding dust calibration map can reside. A transformation between the dust map and the specific lens calibration table, enables the use for a single dust map in multiple instances of lenses and focal length, without the need to recalibrate the digital camera for each instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: FotoNation Vision Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Yury Prilutsky, Peter Corcoran, Adrian Zamfir, Petronel Bigioi
  • Patent number: 7587085
    Abstract: A method for red-eye detection in an acquired digital image comprises acquiring a first image and analyzing the first acquired image to provide a plurality of characteristics indicative of image quality. The process then determines if one or more corrective processes can be beneficially applied to the first acquired image according to the characteristics. Any such corrective processes are then applied to the first acquired image. Red-eye defects are then detected in a second acquired image using the corrected first acquired image. Defect detection can comprise applying a chain of one or more red-eye filters to the first acquired image. In this case, prior to the detecting step, it is determined if the red-eye filter chain can be adapted in accordance with the plurality of characteristics; and the red-eye filter is adapted accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: FotoNation Vision Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Yury Prilutsky, Petronel Bigioi, Florin Nanu