Abstract: Disclosed herein is an imaging apparatus including imaging means configured to photograph an image of a scene that is in a direction in which a user sees, outside world information acquisition means configured to acquire outside world information, and control means configured to control an operation of the imaging means based on the outside world information acquired by the outside world information acquisition means.

Abstract: System and method for improving the shaving experience by providing improved visibility of the skin shaving area. A digital camera is integrated with the electric shaver for close image capturing of shaving area, and displaying it on a display unit. The display unit can be integral part of the electric shaver casing, or housed in a separated device which receives the image via a communication channel. The communication channel can be wireless (using radio, audio or light) or wired, such as dedicated cabling or using powerline communication. A light source is used to better illuminate the shaving area. Video compression and digital image processing techniques are used for providing for improved shaving results. The wired communication medium can simultaneously be used also for carrying power from the electric shaver assembly to the display unit, or from the display unit to the electric shaver.

Abstract: In embodiments, apparatuses, methods and storage media are described that are associated with content distribution. In embodiments, one or more frames may be displayed on a display, and the frame or frames with the highest luminance level of those frames may be identified. A camera may be configured to capture an image at a point in time based at least in part on display of the frame with the highest luminance level. In some embodiments, the luminance level of the frames may be identified based at least in part on analysis of the frames by a device prior to display of the frames. In other embodiments, the luminance level of the frames may be identified based at least in part on the receipt of luminance data from a server.

Abstract: An auto focus (AF) adjusting method, an AF adjusting apparatus, and a digital photographing apparatus including the same, the AF adjusting apparatus including: an AF calculator for calculating focus detection evaluation values; a peak detector for detecting a peak position of the focus detection evaluation values; and a speed calculator for calculating a moving speed of a subject by using the peak position. When continuous photographing of still images is performed, the peak detector detects the peak position in an image pickup interval before a light exposure preparation interval for image capturing, and the focus lens driver performs moving body compensation driving for compensating for a focal position by using a moving speed calculated in the light exposure preparation interval before capturing starts.

Abstract: A device includes: an image acquisition device acquiring a taken image in which a subject is imaged; a smoothing device generating a smoothed image by smoothing the taken image; a noise extraction device extracting a difference noise component from a difference between the taken image and the smoothed image; a noise addition device adding the difference noise component to the smoothed taken image; a map acquisition device acquiring a blurring strength map that represents a distribution of blurring strengths for the taken image; and an image combining device combining the taken image with the smoothed image on the basis of the blurring strength map, and generating an output image.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device and a camera system are disclosed. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel unit and a pixel signal readout circuit. The pixel signal readout circuit includes a plurality of comparators disposed to correspond to a pixel column array, and a plurality of counters. Each counter includes a first amplifier, a second amplifier, and a mirror circuit to from a current mirror in parallel with the second amplifier. The first amplifier includes differential transistors, initializing switches connected between gates and collectors of the differential transistors, and first and second capacitors connected to each of the gates of the differential transistors. The second amplifier includes an initializing switch and a third capacitor. The mirror circuit includes a gate input transistor whose gate is inputted with a voltage sampled by the first amplifier or a voltage sampled by the second amplifier.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device including: a plurality of pixels which are on a same semiconductor substrate and each of which generates a pixel signal; a comparison circuit that is connected to the pixels in each of columns; a D/A conversion circuit that generates a comparison potential and provide the generated comparison potential in common to the comparison circuit in each column; and a D/A conversion circuit output unit provided in a common line for providing the comparison potential to the comparison circuit in each column, wherein the D/A conversion circuit output unit includes: a source follower circuit that is provided to the line and includes a first current source having a transistor, and an amplification transistor having a gate oxide film that is thinner than a gate oxide film of the transistor; and a voltage control circuit that controls a drain-to-source voltage of the amplification transistor.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus or camera system comprises an image sensor 1, a geometrical position calculation device 6 for performing predetermined correction of a distortion, a first address table 10 for storing information correlating an input side address based on the calculation results of the geometrical position calculation device 6 to an output side address as a reference, a sort unit 11 for sorting the output side addresses according to the input side addresses, a second address table 12 for storing information correlating the output side address to the sorted input side address as a reference, and an address matching device 13 for matching the input side address of input side image data DI with the input side address stored in the second address table 12 and outputting output side image data DO.

Abstract: A method of providing one or more snapshots extracted from video footage includes displaying a first image in a first display area. The first image is associated with a first capture time. The method also includes displaying a first plurality of preview images in a second display area. The first plurality of preview images are associated with times prior to the first capture time. The method further includes displaying a second plurality of preview images in a third display area. The second plurality of preview images are associated with times subsequent to the first capture time. Moreover, the method includes selecting at least one of the first image, one of the first plurality of preview images, or one of the second plurality of preview images and saving the selected image to a memory.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a system for tracking with reference to a three-dimensional display system may include a display device, an image processor, a surface including at least three emitters, at least two sensors, a processor. The display device may image, during use, a first stereo three-dimensional image. The surface may be positionable, during use, with reference to the display device. At least two of the sensors may detect, during use, light received from at least three of the emitters as light blobs. The processor may correlate, during use, the assessed referenced position of the detected light blobs such that a first position/orientation of the surface is assessed. The image processor may generate, during use, the first stereo three-dimensional image using the assessed first position/orientation of the surface with reference to the display.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a display unit, an antenna, an antenna control unit, a wireless unit, a reception strength detection unit, an identification information extraction unit, a recording control unit, a recording unit, a relative angle extraction unit, an estimated position calculation unit, a display control unit, an instruction input detection unit, and a wireless connection switching control unit.

Abstract: A drive device in which the frequency of a drive waveform applied to a piezoelectric element is easily settable with less obligation to consider resonance in a stationary member. The device includes a piezo element that expands and contracts according to a drive voltage, a transmission shaft that receives vibration produced by the piezo element, a stationary member that holds the transmission shaft in a slidable state along the longitudinal direction of the transmission shaft, and a lens holder that is displaced together with the piezo element and transmission shaft relative to the stationary member according to drive of the piezo element. The piezo element and the transmission shaft move in the moving direction of the lens holder in synchronization with the lens holder according to drive of the piezo element in the state where the piezo element is spaced from the stationary member.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards automatically creating a cinemagraph on at least an imaging device, where the cinemagraph can be created without additional user interaction beyond capturing an initial sequence of images, and indicating that a cinemagraph is to be created from the sequence. Automatic creation of the cinemagraph includes selecting an anchor frame within the sequence and aligning the other frames to the anchor frame. Detection and segmentation of moving objects within the sequence, with respect to the anchor frame are performed. A mask is generated and refined. Segmentation of masks are then unified, and combined with a background from the anchor frame to generate an animated sequence.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus 100 includes an image pickup element 101 including a plurality of image pickup pixels that perform a photoelectric conversion for an image formed by a light beam from an image pickup optical system and a plurality of focus detection pixels that perform a photoelectric conversion for an image formed by a divided light beam of the light beam from the image pickup optical system, and a DSP 103 configured to perform a shading correction for a pixel signal from the image pickup element 101, the image pickup element 101 generates a first pixel signal by adding signals from the plurality of image pickup pixels, and generates a second pixel signal without adding a signal from the focus detection pixel, and the DSP 103 performs the shading correction for the first pixel signal and the second pixel signal using correction data different from each other.

Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling an imaging apparatus capable of changing an imaging direction of an imaging unit in panning and tilting directions includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a captured image captured by the imaging unit, and an provision unit configured to provide, together with the captured image, when the imaging direction of the imaging unit coincides with a panning rotational axis for rotating the imaging direction in the panning direction, a panning direction guide for indicating that changing the imaging direction in the panning direction rotates the captured image around an intersection of an optical axis of the imaging unit and a plane containing the captured image.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device is capable of simplifying the pixel structure to reduce the pixel size and capable of suppressing the variation in the characteristics between the pixels when a plurality of output systems is provided. A unit cell (30) includes two pixels (31) and (32). Upper and lower photoelectric converters (33) and (34), transfer transistors (35) and (36) connected to the upper and lower photoelectric converters, respectively, a reset transistor (37), and an amplifying transistor (38) form the two pixels (31) and (32). A full-face signal line 39 is connected to the respective drains of the reset transistor (37) and the amplifying transistor (38). Controlling the full-face signal line (39), along with transfer signal lines (42) and (43) and a reset signal line (41), to read out signals realizes the simplification of the wiring in the pixel, the reduction of the pixel size, and so on.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to provide access to video streams associated with communication channels in a communication network are described. The method may comprise monitoring selection of a communication channel by a user of a mobile communication device, identifying at least one video feed associated with the selected channel, and providing access to the mobile communication device to the selected at least one video feed. Providing access may comprise associating the selected video stream with the mobile communication device.

Abstract: A pixel area with a two-dimensional array of pixels (10) each including a photodiode and a memory area (3a) on which memory sections for holding signals produced by the pixels for continuously recordable frames are separately provided on a semiconductor substrate. All the pixels simultaneously perform a photocharge storage operation, and the signals produced by the photocharge storage are extracted in parallel through mutually independent pixel output lines (14). In a plurality of memory sections connected to one pixel output line, a sample-and-hold transistor of a different memory section is turned on for each exposure cycle so as to sequentially hold signals in a capacitor of each memory section. After the continuous imaging is completed, all the pixel are sequentially read. Unlike CCD cameras, the present sensor does not simultaneously drive all the gate loads. Therefore, the sensor consumes less power yet can be driven at high speeds.

Abstract: Provided is a digital image signal processing method and apparatus which generates a first continuous-captured image in a continuous-photographing mode, generates a first name of the first continuous-captured image according to DCF rules, generates a second name of a second continuous-captured image following the first continuous-captured image according to the DCF rules, generates first continuous-photographing number information indicating an order of continuous-photographing of the first continuous-captured image, and generates a first file comprising the first continuous-captured image, the first name, the second name, and the first continuous-photographing number information. In this way, continuous-captured images and images obtained before and after the continuous-captured images can be effective played back.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel array including a plurality of pixels which are arranged in a matrix of a plurality of rows and columns and each of the plurality of pixels being configured to convert intensity of incident light into an electrical image signal; and an extended counting analog-to-digital converter configured to perform a first analog-to-digital conversion to provide a digital signal from an output signal of the pixel array, to obtain a residue using the output signal of the pixel array and the digital signal, and to perform a second analog-to-digital conversion using the residue.