Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for conducting collaborative sessions between mobile devices may provide for identifying the external mobile devices within a predetermined range of a local mobile device. One or more of the identified external mobile devices may be selected to provide an enhanced flash performance to an internal flash of the local mobile device. In response to receiving and detecting an optical transmission or a wireless transmission from the local mobile device, the flash device of the one or more external devices may be activated to generate a flash that is synchronized with the capture of an image by the local mobile device.

Abstract: Video image stabilization provides better performance on a generic platform for computing devices by evaluating available multimedia digital signal processing components, and selecting the available components to utilize according to a hierarchy structure for video stabilization performance for processing parts of the video stabilization. The video stabilization has improved motion vector estimation that employs refinement motion vector searching according to a pyramid block structure relationship starting from a downsampled resolution version of the video frames. The video stabilization also improves global motion transform estimation by performing a random sample consensus approach for processing the local motion vectors, and selection criteria for motion vector reliability. The video stabilization achieves the removal of hand shakiness smoothly by real-time one-pass or off-line two-pass temporal smoothing with error detection and correction.

Abstract: A camera includes: a shooting section that outputs images of an object; a moving image shooting control section that controls the shooting section to repeat shooting under predetermined shooting conditions at a predetermined frame rate; a moving image generation section that generates moving images based on images shot under the predetermined shooting conditions, respectively; an image extraction section that extracts a first image and a second image based on a predetermined condition from each of the moving images; a display section; and a display control section that performs control to simultaneously multi-display the first image and the second image of each moving image on the display section.

Abstract: Aspects identify one or more persons appearing within a photographic image framing of a camera viewfinder. A geographic location is determined for an additional person related to such identified persons, wherein the additional person is located within a specified proximity range to the identified persons but does not appear within the photographic image framing. In response to determining that a relationship of the additional person to a person identified within the image framing indicates that the additional person should be included within photographic images of the identified person, aspects recommend that the additional person be added to the photographic image framing prior to acquisition of image data by the camera from the photographic image framing.

Abstract: An imaging device, and a method for automatic focus in said imaging device is disclosed. The imaging device comprises a first imaging system with a first lens system, a second imaging system with a second lens system, and an autofocus controller. The imaging device and the method are respectively able to perform a step by step autofocus search with the first lens system and the second lens system on the basis of a search parameter. Thereby, the autofocus controller obtains a result of an objective function for each of the first lens system and the second lens system after each autofocus search step, and updates the search parameter depending on the obtained results of the objective function for each of the first lens system and the second lens system.

Abstract: A method and device for autofocusing a macro object by an imaging device is provided. The imaging device includes a lens. In one aspect, the method includes: providing two or more focus perimeters in a viewfinder; obtaining a group of focus values, the group of focus values including at least one focus value associated with each of the two or more focus perimeters, each focus value in the group of focus values including a magnitude and a direction for causing movement of the lens; comparing focus values in the group of focus values to identify a macro object focus value; and in response to identifying the macro object focus value, determining autofocus settings based on the macro object focus value.

Abstract: Electronic devices may include High Dynamic Range (HDR) complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor arrays that are illuminated from the back side of the substrate and operate in a rolling shutter (RS) scanning mode. An image sensor may include stacked chips to improve image sensor performance. For example, by stacking photodiodes on top of each other and using dichroic dielectric layers in chip-to-chip isolation, sensor sensitivity may be increased, Moiré effect may be reduced, and the overall image sensor performance may be improved. Image sensors may include a charge sensing and charge storing scheme where charge generated by low incident light levels is transferred onto a charge sensing node of an in-pixel inverting feedback amplifier and charge generated by high incident light levels overflows a certain potential barrier built in the pixel, is stored on capacitors, and is sensed by a source follower.

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: An image pickup apparatus which is capable of easily generating a developed image file from image data obtained using the light field technique. A first recording mode in which data obtained from signals having different focuses is recorded as refocusable first data or a second recording mode in which data which is obtained by carrying out a development process on the data is recorded as non-refocusable second data is selected. During captured image review, at least one focus position in the image data is set as focus information. Based on the recording mode and the focus information, whether to generate a RAW image file or generate a developed image file is determined. When the RAW image file is to be generated and recorded in response to the determination, the focus information is added to the RAW image file.

Abstract: An image sensor that includes a substrate having front and back surfaces, a plurality of photo detectors formed adjacent the front surface, a plurality of contact pads at the front surface and electrically coupled to the photo detectors, and a plurality of light manipulation components disposed on a portion of the back surface. The photo detectors are configured to generate electrical signals in response to light incident through the light manipulation components and through the portion of the back surface. The portion of the back surface has a non-planar shape.

Abstract: RAW camera images may be processed by a computer system using either a particular application or a system level service. In either case, at least some parameters needed for the processing are preferably separated from the executable binary of the application or service, and are provided in separate, non-executable, data-only files. Each of these files can correspond to a particular camera or other imaging device. When a user of the system attempts to open a RAW image file from an unsupported device, the local system may contact a server for on-demand download and on-the-fly installation of the required support resource.

Abstract: Techniques for direct local binary pattern (LBP) generation are presented. An image sensor for LBP generation includes a variable reference signal generator and a sensor pixel array that can generate events based on optical signals on the sensor pixel array and a reference level from the variable reference signal generator. The image sensor also includes an address encoder that can encode the addresses of the sensor pixels that generate events, and a binary image generator that can create a binary image based on the addresses of the sensor pixels that generate the events at the reference level. The image sensor may also include a local binary pattern generator configured to determine local binary pattern labels for image pixels whose binary value changes from a first binary image at a first reference level to a subsequent second binary image at a next reference level.

Abstract: A timer is activated when a menu button is pressed, and a setting screen for customizing a function of an assign button is displayed when the assign button is pressed before a period of the timer expires with the menu button being pressed. On the other hand, when the assign button is pressed first, even if the menu button is pressed with the assign button being pressed, the function of the assign button is executed, and the setting screen for customizing the function of the assign button is not displayed.

Abstract: In a photoelectric conversion apparatus, the number of differential transistors in which ON states thereof overlap with one another is increased when the number of the amplification transistors in which ON states thereof overlap with one another is increased.

Abstract: A pixel array within an integrated-circuit image sensor is exposed to light representative of a scene during a first frame interval and then oversampled a first number of times within the first frame interval to generate a corresponding first number of frames of image data from which a first output image may be constructed. One or more of the first number of frames of image data are evaluated to determine whether a range of luminances in the scene warrants adjustment of an oversampling factor from the first number to a second number, if so, the oversampling factor is adjusted such that the pixel array is oversampled the second number of times within a second frame interval to generate a corresponding second number of frames of image data from which a second output image may be constructed.

Abstract: A pixel circuit including a photodiode, a first storage capacitor and a second storage capacitor is provided. The first storage capacitor discharges to a first output voltage in a first exposure time and to a third output voltage in a third exposure time. The second storage capacitor discharges to a second output voltage in a second exposure time and to a fourth output voltage in a fourth exposure time. The first and second exposure times are included in a first frame period. The third and fourth exposure times are included in a second frame period. The second frame period is a next frame period of the first frame period. In the first frame period, the first exposure time is subsequent to the second exposure time. In the second frame period, the third exposure time is prior to the fourth exposure time.

Abstract: An image sensing device includes a read-out control block suitable for generating a selection address signal and one or more address clock signals based on a source address signal, and a judge clock signal having a higher frequency than a source clock signal; and a read-out block suitable for reading out a plurality of pixel signals in response to the selection address signal, the address clock signals and the judge clock signal.

Abstract: Techniques for proving digital photograph authorship using ECG biometrics are described. Electrodes are located on the exterior of a digital camera and are electrically coupled to an ECG circuit. When a photographer holds the camera with both hands, the electrodes detect electrical voltages from the photographer's hands and the ECG circuit produces a digital ECG signal. When the photographer uses the digital camera to capture a photograph, the camera's stenographic engine uses a stenographic key to embedded the ECG signal into the raw image file, producing a watermarked image. The camera's cryptographic engine uses a cryptographic key to encrypt the watermarked image to produce an encrypted image. If a dispute arises regarding authorship of the photograph, the stenographic and cryptographic engines convert the encrypted image into the raw image file and the photographer's ECG signals, which are compared to the ECG signals of the disputed author(s).

Abstract: In an image capturing apparatus and a photographing method using the same, the image capturing apparatus comprises: a transparent display panel; and a camera facing a bottom surface of the transparent display panel for synchronizing a shutter time with a period when the transparent display panel displays a black image, and for capturing an image positioned in front of the transparent display panel, thereby capturing a clear image without interference between images due to light-leakage property.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of operating a wearable life logging device (2) comprising a data processing unit (9), a camera unit (7), and at least one motion sensor (4, 5). The method comprises selectively operating the device in a take photo state (200), wherein a photo is captured by means of the camera unit (7), and selectively operating the device in a sleep state (300), wherein the camera unit (7) is in a low power mode. The method further comprises causing the device to transition (120, 330, 430) to the take photo state (200) in response to a signal from the motion sensor (4, 5).