Abstract: A camera including a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may be configured to perform image signal processing and control one or more functions of the camera using image signal processing related information and encoding related information. The second circuit may be configured to encode image data using the image signal processing related information and camera settings information. The first circuit may be further configured to pass the image signal processing related information and the camera settings information to the second circuit. The second circuit may be further configured to pass the encoding related information to the first circuit.

Abstract: First and second data areas are defined in an image file, and each area is defined to have an image data recording area and a header data recording area. When the image file is reproduced, header data in a first header data recording area at the leading end is read and first image data that has been recorded in the first image data recording area is reproduced. If an image file reproducing apparatus is one that can reproduce second image data that has been recorded in the second data area, then the second image data is read from the second area and reproduced. The first image data is data that has undergone JPEG compression, and the second image data is data that has not been compressed. Since the compressed first image data and uncompressed second image data can be stored in one file, an increase in number of files can be reduced even if there is an increase in types of image format.

Abstract: A color signal correcting method for correcting a color signal of each pixel outputted from a single-plate color image pickup element having a given color filter arrangement to correct a color reproduction error in an image, comprising the steps of: computing color signals of filter colors other than a filter color at the spatial location of a pixel to be corrected, wherein the other color signals at the spatial location are computed on the basis of color signals of a plurality of pixels of the same filter color located around the pixel to be corrected; and obtaining a correction value by multiplying the color signal of the pixel to be corrected and the computed other color signals by a predetermined correction coefficient and combining the products.

Abstract: The present invention provides a white balance adjustment method and a digital image capturing device using the same. The method according to the present invention comprises the following steps: capturing an image; partitioning the image into one or more blocks; obtaining a first brightness value of each block; obtaining a second brightness value, a R value, a G value and a B value of each block; determining whether each block is a gray block according to the difference value between the first brightness and the second brightness values, the R value, the G value and the B value; and determining whether to proceed with a first white balance procedure or a second white balance procedure according to the quantity of the gray block(s).

Abstract: Image data of a digital signal is inputted to a digital signal processor. A CPU reads out color correction coefficients from a ROM. Weights are added to the color correction coefficients based on information regarding transfer efficiency of a CCD image sensor such that the coefficients in a horizontal direction are set larger than those in a vertical direction. Further, an interpolation processor calculates horizontal and vertical components of R, G, and B colors of each pixel through color interpolation processing based on image data of each pixel and its peripheral pixels. A linear matrix circuit is controlled by the CPU and subjects the horizontal and vertical components to linear matrix operation using the color correction coefficients, thus subjecting each pixel data to color correction processing.

Abstract: A system and method synthesizes multiview videos. Multiview videos are acquired of a scene with corresponding cameras arranged at a poses such that there is view overlap between any pair of cameras. A synthesized multiview video is generated from the acquired multiview videos for a virtual camera. A reference picture list is maintained for each current frame of each of the multiview videos and the synthesized video. The reference picture list indexes temporal reference pictures and spatial reference pictures of the acquired multiview videos and the synthesized reference pictures of the synthesized multiview video. Then, each current frame of the multiview videos is predicted according to reference pictures indexed by the associated reference picture list during encoding and decoding.

Abstract: A method for enabling an output device to emulate colors of a target camera includes the following steps: (a) utilizing the target camera to shoot a color chart to obtain a first plurality of output values respectively corresponding to a plurality of color patches of the color chart, (b) utilizing the output device to shoot the color chart to obtain a second plurality of output values respectively corresponding to the plurality of color patches of the color chart, (c) comparing the first plurality of output values with the second plurality of output values to deduce a color transform matrix, and (d) applying the color transform matrix in an image processing pipeline of the output device to enable the output device to emulate colors of the target camera.

Abstract: This invention relates to an image capturing apparatus for illuminating and capturing an image of an object using reflected light therefrom, and is objective to a miniaturized construction and simplified assembly. A plurality of light-emitting devices is mounted around an image sensor, and a light guide member guides the light of the light-emitting devices to an image capturing region for illumination. The image capturing apparatus having the closely disposed image capturing system and illumination system, the miniaturized image capturing apparatus is assembled by pressing a projection of the light guide member to the lower end of the hood for cutting outside lights from the image capturing range and by pressing the upper end of the hood to the filter. Thus, it becomes possible to assemble with less adhesion points and improve working ability of assemble of the image capturing apparatus to make defect ratios of productions low and improve production efficiency.

Abstract: A pixel circuit having a shared control line for providing two control signals to the pixel array. One control line is used to provide a control signal to both a high dynamic range circuit and a dual conversion gain circuit to two pixel circuits. The pixel circuits each contain two pixel cells that have separate photo-conversion devices but share readout circuitry.

Abstract: A method processes a multiview videos of a scene, in which each video is acquired by a corresponding camera arranged at a particular pose, and in which a view of each camera overlaps with the view of at least one other camera. Side information for synthesizing a particular view of the multiview video is obtained in either an encoder or decoder. A synthesized multiview video is synthesized from the of multiview videos and the side information. A reference picture list is maintained for each current frame of each of the multiview videos, the reference picture indexes temporal reference pictures and spatial reference pictures of the acquired multiview videos and the synthesized reference pictures of the synthesized multiview video. Each current frame of the multiview videos is predicted according to reference pictures indexed by the associated reference picture list.

Abstract: An external I/F gives numerical information on an imaging device, input from PC or PLC, to a memory. The memory outputs the numerical information to CPU as well as retaining the numerical information. CPU transmits the numerical information through a camera to an operation control unit. The operation control unit performs correction using a correction value from a correction table. In order to correct a variation individually possessed by a lens unit or an illumination unit, the correction table is previously produced for each lens unit or illumination unit based on the numerical information from the camera. The post-correction control signals are output to a lens unit 62 and an illumination unit.

Abstract: The specification and drawings present a new method, apparatus and software product for determining a mechanical shutter exposure time (e.g., an actual closing time) with a rolling readout of an image (e.g., complimentary metal oxide semiconductor) sensor using a predetermined calibration area of the image sensor in digital cameras or in electronic devices with digital cameras.

Abstract: A system and method for realizing a multi-camera system having two optical paths with a single processing path for the two optical paths. Such a multi-camera system typically includes a first image-capture device associated with a first optical train wherein the first image-capture device is typically pointed in a first direction (i.e., away from the user). The multi-camera system further includes a second image-capture device having a second optical train wherein the second image-capture device is typically pointed in a second direction (i.e., toward the user). The multi-camera system further includes a single processing block coupled to the first image-capture device and the second image-capture device. The processing block is typically operable to process image data captured at each image-capture device.

Abstract: A camera system includes a video camera having a first mating mechanism defined on a bottom, planar surface of the video camera. A battery assembly contains an energy cell and a first surface of the battery assembly is releasably engageable with the mounting mechanism such that the battery assembly is suspended beneath the video camera, with the bottom, planar surface of the video camera in substantial contact with the first surface. A support apparatus having a second mating mechanism is also provided, the second mating mechanism releasably engaging a second surface of the battery assembly.

Abstract: An image input apparatus includes (a) a connection unit capable of connecting with a detachable storage medium; (b) a storage unit that stores a program for controlling the image input apparatus; (c) a bus communicably coupled with the storage unit and the connection unit; (d) a container unit adapted to contain the detachable storage medium; (e) a detecting unit adapted to detect whether a cover on the container unit is open; (f) a control unit configured to use the bus to access the detachable storage medium or the storage unit; and (g) a display unit that displays a message notifying a user that the cover is open, if the detecting unit detects that the cover is open. If the detecting unit detects that the cover is open, the control unit disables access from the control unit to the storage unit.

Abstract: An optical projecting system includes a light-splitting unit for splitting composite source light into a plurality of composite light beam components, and a reflective color wheel rotatable about a rotation axis and including a plurality of multi-layer light-reflecting sections for further splitting each of the composite light beam components into a plurality of colored light beam components for subsequent modulation and projection. Each of the multi-layer light-reflecting sections includes a plurality of light-filtering layers stacked along the rotation axis, and each being capable of reflecting light within a predefined distinct wavelength range, and permitting transmission of light outside the predefined distinct wavelength range therethrough. Sequences of the light-filtering layers of an adjacent pair of the multi-layer light-reflecting sections are different from each other.

Abstract: An aberration compensation system for digital camera and a method therefor are provided, wherein the system includes an optical lens, an axial moving mechanism, a photosensitive element, and an image unit. The photosensitive element is loaded on the axial moving mechanism, and generates a first and a second image at a first and a second focus position. After receiving the first and second images, the image unit respectively calculates a first and a second image capture region and then synthesizes the two regions into a third image. The method includes using the optical lens to project the light beams of an object to be shot, generating the first image and second images, and capturing the distinct portions of the first and second images to be synthesized into the third image. Thereby, the system and method can solve the non-uniformity of the definitions at the center and periphery of each image.

Abstract: A regression analysis is carried out (8) using pixel signals having a K-th spectral characteristic as the explanatory variable and pixel signals having an L-th spectral characteristic as the purpose variable in a plurality of pixel positions in an area neighboring a pixel of interest to obtain a pixel signal having the L-th spectral characteristic (9). Pixel signals obtained by low-pass filtering (7a-7c) of the output signals of an imaging device may be used as the explanatory variable and the purpose variable. The occurrence of false colors is thereby reduced when, in a group of pixel signals from pixels arrayed on a two-dimensional plane, each pixel having one of a plurality of spectral characteristics, the missing colors at each pixel position are obtained by interpolation.

Abstract: The image processing system for integrating multi-resolution images mainly applies several different multi-resolution image capture devices to extract the images from the observed scene and using the multi-resolution imaging devices to present the scene images relative to the observed scenes, respectively. In order to present a seamless image according to two different-resolution image sources, the coordinate conversions among the image capture devices, and among the imaging devices are mainly applied to extract and present the entire image to be able to resemble having a single image capturing source and a single imaging source.

Abstract: A control system includes a controlled apparatus adjusting its operation based on a control signal from an independently cased control apparatus. The controlled apparatus includes an indicator light projector projecting indicator light in an invisible wavelength region so that an exiting direction thereof has a known regularity and change over time, a response signal receiver receiving a response signal in response to light reception from the control apparatus having received the indicator light, a relative position recognizer recognizing a relative position of the control apparatus to its housing based on the response signal, and an adjuster performing predetermined adjustment based on the recognition.