Abstract: An apparatus and a method for multispectral imaging that may, comprising a cyclopean camera arrangement comprising at least two spaced apart imaging sensors operating at a first waveband, an image combiner arranged to combine images from the at least two spaced apart imaging sensors to provide a first cyclopean image of a scene from a first virtual position, a further imaging sensor operating at a second waveband different from the first and arranged to provide a second image of the scene from a second position, and a second image combiner arranged to combine the first and second images of the scene to provide a multispectral image, wherein the first virtual position of the cyclopean camera arrangement and the second position of the further sensor are arranged to be substantially the same.

Abstract: An encoded bitstream is processed without re-encoding so as to recombine multiple packets of each image into contiguous data of one packet for the image. Each packet is assigned a presentation time stamp, corresponding to the display order of its image in the sequence of images. In one embodiment, each intra-frame compressed image also is marked as a recovery point indicating that a decompression processor empties its buffers of data for prior groups of pictures before processing the image. A video editing or other playback application uses the converted bitstream for scrubbing and similar playback operations.

Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques for signaling deblocking filter parameters for a current slice of video data with reduced bitstream overhead. Deblocking filter parameters may be coded in one or more of a picture layer parameter set and a slice header. The techniques reduce a number of bits used to signal the deblocking filter parameters by coding a first syntax element that indicates whether deblocking filter parameters are present in both the picture layer parameter set and the slice header, and only coding a second syntax element in the slice header when both sets of deblocking filter parameters are present. Coding the second syntax element is eliminated when deblocking filter parameters are present in only one of the picture layer parameter set or the slice header. The second syntax element indicates which set of deblocking filter parameters to use to define a deblocking filter applied to a current slice.

Abstract: Intra prediction is used in state-of-the-art video coding standards such as AVC. The intra prediction modes are coded into the bitstream. Luma and chroma components could potentially have different prediction modes. For chroma components, there are 5 different modes defined in AVC: vertical, horizontal, DC, diagonal down right, and “same as luma”. Statistics show that the “same as luma” mode is frequent used, but in AVC, this mode is encoded using more bits than other modes during entropy coding, therefore the coding efficiency is decreased. Accordingly, a modified binarization/codeword assignment for chroma intra mode signaling is able to be utilized for high efficiency video coding (HEVC), the next generation video coding standard.

Abstract: A load control system includes: an imaging sensor to capture an image of a target space and detect whether or not a human exists in a detection area in the space; and a display terminal including a display unit to display detection area information corresponding to the detection area thereon. The imaging sensor transmits a transmission signal containing area data indicative of the detection area to the transmission control device, and the transmission control device transmits a transmission signal containing the area data and an address of the display terminal to the display terminal, and the display terminal displays the detection area information on the display unit based on the area data.

Abstract: An electronic imaging flow-microscope for remote environmental sensing, bioreactor process monitoring, and optical microscopic tomography applications is described. A fluid conduit has a port on each end of a thin flat transparent fluid transport region. A planar illumination surface contacts one flat side of the transparent fluid transport region and a planar image sensing surface contacts the other flat side. Light from the illumination surface travels through the transparent fluid transport region to the planar image sensing surface, producing a light field affected by the fluid and objects present. The planar image sensing surface creates electrical image signals responsive to the light field. The planar illumination surface can be light emitting elements such as LEDs, OLEDs, or OLET whose illumination can be sequenced in an image formation process. The flow microscope can further comprise flow-restricting valves, pumps, energy harvesting arrangements, and power management.

Abstract: A multiple sensor endoscope system includes daisy chained image sensors and a central control unit. At least one daisy-chained image sensor has a sensor array for capturing images and generating video packets from captured images, a video compression unit that compresses the video packets, a self-packet buffer that stores the video packets, a serial-to-parallel de-serializer input unit that converts serialized input video packets to parallel data, and a chain packet buffer that stores the video packets received from previous-in-chain image sensors.

Abstract: The ratio between coding quality on the one hand and coding rate on the other hand is increased. To this end, a global predictor and a local predictor are used in combination. The global predictor derives a global tone-mapping function based on a statistical analysis of pairs of values of co-located samples in the first tone-mapped version and the second version of the picture, and applies the global tone-mapping function onto the first tone-mapped version of the picture. The local predictor locally derives a locally varying tone-mapping function based on a statistical analysis of values of co-located samples in the second version of the picture and the globally predicted reference picture in units of sub-portions into which the globally predicted reference picture and the second version of the picture are partitioned, and applies the locally varying tone-mapping function onto the globally predicted reference picture.

Abstract: Disparity is determined for images from an array of disparate image sensors. In one example, a method includes processing images from multiple cameras of a camera array to reduce variations caused by variations in the in the image sensors of the respective cameras, the multiple cameras including a reference camera and at least one secondary camera, and determining multiple baseline disparities from the image from the reference camera to the images from the secondary cameras.

Abstract: Systems and methods to improve photo taking using an image capture device having a wide field of view (FOV) camera. In some embodiments, when the device is held in landscape orientation, a wide diagonal FOV may be displayed to the user on a preview screen of the device, and the landscape image may be captured in a wide, 16:9 aspect ratio. However, when the device is held in portrait orientation, the effective diagonal FOV of the device may be decreased via software and/or hardware, and a 4:3 aspect ratio image may be displayed and captured. In other embodiments, the captured portrait orientation image may be scaled, shifted, and/or cropped before being displayed to the user on the device's preview display screen, in such a manner that the user will naturally be inclined to hold the device in a position that will produce a more optimal self-portrait image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image encoding method and an image decoding method. An image encoding method according to the present invention comprises: a step of determining motion information of a current block; and a step of transmitting information for inducing the motion information, wherein the step of determining motion information of the current block determines the motion information of the current block by reusing motion information of a reference block.

Abstract: A VP8 video decoder is implemented by partitioning the required functions across multiple sub systems, with an optimal mapping to existing functional blocks. Key optimizations include the reuse of hardware designed for prior generation V^6 and VP7 decoders. In order to reduce implementation complexity, cost and power consumption, a non exact, approximate deblocking loop filter is implemented.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes roof inspection devices, methods, and systems. One roof inspection device includes a pole, a camera coupled to an end of the pole and configured to capture an image of a roof, and a number of attachments coupled to the pole and configured to stabilize the pole on the roof or other elevated surface.

Abstract: A method for automatic, stereo vision based, in-line solder ball height and substrate coplanarity inspection includes providing an imaging setup together with an imaging processor for reliable, in-line solder ball height measurement. The imaging set up includes a pair of cameras mounted at two opposing angles with ring lighting around each camera lens, which allows the capture of two images of an electronics package in parallel. The lighting generates features on solder balls located on a substrate of the electronics package, which are then used to determine height. Specifically, points with the same intensity on each solder ball surface are grouped, which allows for the formation of curves, also known as iso-contours, which are then matched between the two views. An optimized triangulation is then performed to determine the height of each one of the solder balls.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes roof inspection devices, methods, and systems. One roof inspection device includes a pole, a camera coupled to an end of the pole and configured to capture an image of a roof, and a number of attachments coupled to the pole and configured to stabilize the pole on the roof or other elevated surface.

Abstract: A prediction information derivation unit derives inter prediction information candidates from inter prediction information of coded prediction blocks neighboring a prediction block subject to coding within the same picture as the prediction block subject to coding and inter prediction information of a prediction block in a coded picture that is different from the prediction block subject to coding. The prediction information derivation unit determines an inter prediction information candidate to be used for inter prediction of the prediction block subject to coding from the inter prediction information candidates that have been derived. A second bitstream generation unit codes an index that indicates the inter prediction information candidate based on the number of the inter prediction information candidates.

Abstract: A merging motion information candidate list construction unit generates a merging motion information candidate list, which is a list of merging motion information candidates, using a spatial merging motion information candidate and a temporal merging motion information candidate. A second merging motion information candidate supplying unit generates a new merging motion information candidate including, if a reference index indicates an available reference picture, the reference index and, if the reference index does not indicate an available reference picture, a predetermined reference index along with a motion vector having a size and a direction that are preset and adds the new merging motion information candidate to the merging motion information candidate list. A merging motion information selection unit selects one merging motion information candidate from the merging motion information candidate list to which the new merging motion information candidate has been added.

Abstract: An automatic ball tracking camera for taking video images of a ball game includes a two-stage video camera unit including two sets of camera modules arranged on top of each other, each camera module including a video camera, a zoom lens, and a pan-tilt pod. A video switcher selects one video camera as output and an image processor analyzes an video image currently in use for output and determines whether a ball position moves out from a preset area defined on that video image. A controller determines a target viewing direction to recapture the ball within the preset area in a close-up mode, adjusts the video camera currently not in use for output to achieve the target viewing direction, and switches the output to the video camera adjusted when determined that the ball position moves out from the preset area.

Abstract: A video predictive coding system includes a video predictive encoding device having: an input circuit to receive pictures constituting a video sequence; an encoding circuit which conducts predictive coding of a target picture using, as reference pictures, pictures encoded and reconstructed in the past, to generate compressed picture data; a reconstruction circuit to decode the compressed picture data to reconstruct a reproduced picture; picture storage to store the reproduced picture as a reference picture for encoding of a subsequent picture; and a buffer management circuit which controls the picture storage, (prior to predictive encoding of the target picture), on the basis of buffer description information BD[k] related to reference pictures used in predictive encoding of the target picture, encodes the buffer description information BD[k] with reference to buffer description information BD[m] for a picture different from the target picture, and adds encoded data thereof to the compressed picture data.

Abstract: A prediction information deriving unit derives the inter-prediction information candidates from inter-prediction information of a prediction block neighboring to a coding target prediction block or a prediction block present at the same position as or near the coding target prediction block in a coded picture at a temporally different position from the coding target prediction block. A candidate supplementing unit supplements inter-prediction information candidates having the same prediction mode, reference index, and motion vector until the number of inter-prediction information candidates reaches the designated number of candidates when the number of inter-prediction information candidates is smaller than the designated number of candidates.