Abstract: A reliable and repeatable accuracy of focus measurement device to measure the focus accuracy of cameras that employ a different light path between the lens and the focusing sensor and between the lens and the film or image sensor. The measurement device includes a frame having a substantially planar front face with a focusing target located thereon, and at least one depth-of-field ruler coupled to the frame with a transverse axis falling within a front face plane and a long axis that is angularly adjustable with respect to the front face plane.

Abstract: An RGB-Z sensor is implementable on a single IC chip. A beam splitter such as a hot mirror receives and separates incoming first and second spectral band optical energy from a target object into preferably RGB image components and preferably NIR Z components. The RGB image and Z components are detected by respective RGB and NIR pixel detector array regions, which output respective image data and Z data. The pixel size and array resolutions of these regions need not be equal, and both array regions may be formed on a common IC chip. A display using the image data can be augmented with Z data to help recognize a target object. The resultant structure combines optical efficiency of beam splitting with the simplicity of a single IC chip implementation. A method of using the single chip red, green, blue, distance (RGB-Z) sensor is also disclosed.

Abstract: RGB-Z imaging systems acquire RGB data typically with a high X-Y resolution RGB pixel array, and acquire Z-depth data with an array of physically larger Z pixels having additive signal properties. In each acquired frame, RGB pixels are mapped to a corresponding Z pixel. Z image resolution is enhanced by identifying Z discontinuities and identifying corresponding RGB pixels where the Z discontinuities occur. Thus segmented data enables RGB background substitution, which preferably blends foreground pixel color and substitute background color. The segmented data also enables up-sampling in which a higher XY resolution Z image with accurate Z values is obtained. Up-sampling uses an equation set enabling assignment of accurate Z values to RGB pixels. Fixed acquisition frame rates are enabled by carefully culling bad Z data. Segmenting and up-sampling enhanced video effects and enable low cost, low Z resolution arrays to function comparably to higher quality, higher resolution Z arrays.

Abstract: Disclosed is an imaging apparatus capable of enlarging a portion of an image captured by an imaging device of a fisheye camera and displaying the enlarged image on a display screen with little distortion. The imaging apparatus enlarges a section, which is a portion of an image captured by a fisheye camera, and displays the section on a display screen such that the enlargement ratios of points in the section are different from each other. An image processing method uses a change function that changes the enlargement ratio of a field angle depending on the place is used, and converts a portion of the captured image into a central projection image to generate a display image. The use of the change function makes it possible to generate a display image having high visibility.

Abstract: An imaging system is provided and includes: an imaging lens; an imaging device; a coefficient storage section; and a signal processing section. When a maximum diameter of an effective region of a point image projected onto a light receiving surface of the imaging device through the imaging lens 10 is a size covering three or more pixels, a restoration coefficient corresponding to a state of the point image expressed by first image data output from the imaging device is stored in the coefficient storage unit. The signal processing section executes restoration processing on the first image data output from the imaging device by utilizing the restoration coefficient stored in the coefficient storage unit, the restoration processing being executed to generate second image data equivalent to the first image data output from the imaging device when the resolving power of the imaging lens is higher.

Abstract: A correction signal capturing section of a skin color correction processing section of an image processor captures WB-corrected R1G1B1 signal values, a WB inverse correction section performs inverse correction, a YCbCr conversion section converts obtained R2G2B2 signal values into Y1Cb1Cr1 signal values. A skin color pixel region detection section detects pixels corresponding to skin color pixel regions, a skin color correction section performs skin color correction to the Y1Cb1Cr1 signal values and obtains Y2Cb2Cr2 signal values, and a RGB conversion section converts the obtained Y2Cb2Cr2 signal values into R3G3B3 signal values. A WB correction section performs WB correction to the R3G3B3 signal values and obtains R4G4B4 signal values. An output section outputs the image signals of the image reconstructed by applying said R4G4B4 signal values to the skin color pixel regions and by applying said R1G1B1 signal values to the pixel regions other than the skin color pixel regions.

Abstract: An imaging system substantially simultaneously acquires z-depth and brightness data from first sensors, and acquires higher resolution RGB data from second sensors, and fuses data from the first and second sensors to model an RGBZ image whose resolution can be as high as resolution of the second sensors. Time correlation of captured data from first and second sensors is associated with captured image data, which permits arbitrary mapping between the two data sources, ranging from 1:many to many:1. Preferably pixels from each set of sensors that image the same target point are mapped. Many z-depth sensor settings may be used to create a static environmental model. Non-correlative and correlative filtering is carried out, and up-sampling to increase z-resolution occurs, from which a three-dimensional model is constructed using registration and calibration data.

Abstract: An Internet direct device comprises an imaging system and a microprocessor. The imaging system captures still or video images. The microprocessor transmits the captured still or video images to another Internet direct device upon image capture, and receives still or video images from other Internet direct devices over a communications network. The Internet direct device automatically connects to the communications network on power-up using one of a plurality of available modes of connection, which is designated as a primary mode of connection. The Internet direct device automatically switches to another available mode of connection when the Internet direct device detects that the primary mode of connection to the communications network is unavailable.

Abstract: A technique for searching for probable matches in a video surveillance system is disclosed. A new event, such as a face captured in an image set, is matched against other events in a database of events. A similarity score is generated based on the difference between the new event and other events in the database. The similarity score may be weighted by information external to the image sets. Because of limited system resources, an association between a new event and every other event in the system may not be kept. Thus, when searching for probable matches of a particular event, some events that are related to the particular event may not be initially selected. Such events may be associated with an event in a first set of events that are associated with the particular event. Therefore, a second set of events is selected that are associated with the first set of events.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus includes an imager, an image reducer for reducing an image size from imaging data obtained from the imager, a moving image configurer for rendering an image reduced by the image reducer as a moving image, an image processor for image-processing image data, a network communicator, and a storing device for storing frame image data obtained from the imager in response to a control instruction from the outside while taking a moving image. The image data stored in the storing device is image-processed by dividing it into non-operating periods of moving image processing per frame configuring the moving image. Also, parallel processing of a moving image and a still image is performed without lowering a frame rate of the moving image.

Abstract: A stabilized camera system has a roll frame formed as a parallelogram linkage and pivotably attached to a pan frame. A tilt frame is pivotably attached to the roll frame. Control circuits are provided to compensate for drift, to allow manual aiming of the camera during stabilized camera operation, and for providing rapid leveling. The stabilized camera system is compact with low moments of inertia to allow rapid movements.

Abstract: An image sensor controls the gain of a pixel signal on a pixel-by-pixel basis and extends a dynamic range while maintaining a S/N ratio at a favorable level. A column unit in an image sensor is independently detects a level of each pixel signal and independently sets a gain for level of the signal. A photoelectric converting region unit has pixels arranged two-dimensionally with a vertical signal line for each pixel column to output each pixel signal. The column unit is on an output side of the vertical signal line. The column unit for each pixel column has a pixel signal level detecting circuit, a programmable gain control, a sample and hold (S/H) circuit. Gain correction is performed according to a result of a detected level of the pixel signal.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is an imaging apparatus, carrying out a step of calculating an exposure value based on image data obtained by the imaging section, a step of computing a shutter speed by mean of, for example, a program AE control in accordance with the exposure value calculated in the calculation step; a step of determining, in accordance with the shutter speed computed in the computation step, a continuous shooting speed indicative of the number of photographs per unit time; and a step of driving the imaging section so that a photographing operation is carried out with the continuous shooting speed thus determined.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus including a chromatic aberration of magnification correction device to correct chromatic aberration of magnification of an image by converting coordinates of pixel data of multiple color components of the image using multiple first coordinate conversion memories corresponding to the multiple color components and a distortion correction device to correct distortion of the image corrected with regard to the chromatic aberration of magnification by converting coordinates of the pixel data of multiple color components of the image at one time using a second coordinate conversion memory shared by the multiple color components.

Abstract: A method and system for estimating global motion in digital imaging applications with confidence level filtering. Motion search yields a plurality of vectors describing the movement of feature blocks from one frame to another. A confidence level is assigned to each motion vector. Based on the confidence levels, vectors are given more or less weight when estimating global motion. High-confidence vectors are given more weight than low-confidence vectors. Embodiments for estimating both the magnitude of global motion and the magnitude and direction of global motion are disclosed.

Abstract: A moving image recording/playback device records a moving image of a subject. In the case of recording, the moving image recording/playback device sequentially outputs a plurality of image frames that constitute the moving image at a predetermined frame rate and, for the plurality of image frames, records whole image frames at intervals of a predetermined number of frames and partly records other image frames, onto at least one recording medium. In the case of playback, when reading a partly recorded image frame, the moving image recording/playback device generates a display frame from the partly recorded image frame and a recorded whole image frame.

Abstract: An image sensor capable of canceling crosstalk without reduction of a signal to noise ratio (SNR) to improve a sensitivity includes a plurality of light detection units and a filter array including a plurality of filters, with each of the plurality of filters being deposited on a corresponding one of the light detection units. The filter array includes a green filter used to transmit a green component of an incident light, a yellow filter used to transmit a yellow component of the incident light, and a cyan filter used to transmit a cyan component of the incident light.

Abstract: This invention includes an imaging device that photographs a subject, a display device that has a display screen displaying image data photographed by the imaging device, a zoom device that varies the display screen, an extraction device that extracts a predetermined feature portion from image data photographed by the imaging device, a directive device that directs the display device so as to display a predetermined feature portion extracted by the extraction device in a predetermined form, and a controller that controls the directive device so as not to direct a display on the display device in accordance with the varying magnification of the zoom device. Namely, an icon of the extraction result is not displayed while the zoom is in action, so that it can avoid an inappropriate display in which the icon display does not correspond to a photographed subject due to the subject's quick movement or a sudden change in its size within a picture frame.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes: a synchronizing signal generation portion (6); an imaging portion (1) that is operated based on a synchronizing signal to pick up an image and generate image data; a trigger input portion (18) operable to input a trigger signal for commanding a start of a photographing operation; and a control portion (5) that controls the operation of the imaging portion based on the synchronizing signal and the trigger signal. The control portion controls synchronous processing that is performed in synchronization with the synchronizing signal to pickup a moving image. When the trigger signal is input, the control portion immediately stops the generation of the synchronizing signal by the synchronizing signal generation portion when the synchronous processing is not being performed, while the control portion initializes the synchronous processing and then stops the generation of the synchronizing signal when the synchronous processing is being performed.

Abstract: An image pickup system causes a first illumination unit to emit light toward a subject at a first angle without causing a second illumination unit for emitting light toward the subject at a second angle different from the first angle, and causes an image pickup unit to capture the image of the subject so as to obtain a first captured image. The image pickup system causes the second illumination unit to emit light without causing the first illumination unit to emit light, and causes the image pickup unit to capture the image of the subject so as to obtain a second captured image. The image pickup system associates the first captured image with the second captured image.