Abstract: Provided herein are devices for enhancing the quality of photo shooting using a camera integrated into a handheld smart device, such as a smartphone. An external lighting device comprises a base plate removably securable to a mount on the smart device, a connecting structure disposed at the edge of the top surface of the base plate and a ring-like turntable rotatably connected on the base plate via the connecting structure and a plurality of LED lights on the top surface of the turntable. When secured on the body of the smart device, the ring-like turntable rotates to a position where the LED lights surround the cameras to provide adjustable lighting. Further provided is a handheld camera system comprising a smart device, the external lighting device as described above and a protective case with a mount to attached to the lighting device.

Abstract: Provided is an information provision apparatus (10) including: a feature quantity storage unit (11) in which a feature quantity of print content that is printed on a printed material is stored; a relevant information storage unit (12) in which relevant information that is associated with the print content is stored; a captured image obtainment unit (13) that obtains a captured image that is captured by an imaging unit; a specification unit (14) that specifies the print content that is included in the captured image by using the feature quantity of the print content that is stored in the feature quantity storage unit (11); and a relevant information output unit (15) that obtains from the relevant information storage unit (12) the relevant information that is associated with the print content that is specified by the specification unit (14) and outputs the obtained relevant information.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus that includes an image capturing unit; an image capture control unit configured to control the image capturing unit to repeat image capture of frame images under different exposures; a development unit configured to apply development processing to each of the captured frame images; and a composition unit configured to generate a composite image by compositing temporally consecutive images that have been developed by the development unit, wherein the development unit generates, from one of the captured frame images, a first image and a second image that are associated with different development parameters, and the composition unit composites images generated using the same development parameter among images generated from the captured frame images that are temporally consecutive.

Abstract: Provided is a display control device including circuitry that performs a display image data process that is an image data process for display on image data that is a target of a main subject determination process such that at least candidate presentation for a candidate image set as a candidate for a main subject in the main subject determination process based on candidate image information and main subject presentation based on main subject information of a determination result of the main subject determination process are performed in different display forms. The circuitry also outputs processed image data to be supplied to a display.

Abstract: A camera device is provided. The camera device includes a camera module in which a lens assembly is disposed and a camera window provided on a surface of the camera module, and including a projection part inclined by a predetermined angle in relation to the camera module and coupled to the camera module. The projection part may comprise a size corresponding to an angle of view of the camera module.

Abstract: A system for controlling an exposure of a camera may include: a histogram calculator configured to calculate a histogram from an input image; a virtual histogram generator configured to generate a virtual histogram by differently applying the exposure to the calculated histogram; a histogram hole filter configured to generate a final histogram by filtering a hole generated in the virtual histogram; a histogram uniformity unit configured to perform uniformity of the final histogram; and an optimum exposure setting unit configured to apply an exposure value depending on the uniformized histogram.

Abstract: A method and a system for a mobile terminal camera, to automatically adapt to scenarios, may include collecting motion data of a mobile terminal, within a predetermined period of time, via a sensor, acquiring a number of times when a maximum value of the motion data exceeds a predetermined value, obtaining a current motion scenario through analysis of the motion data according to the number of times the motion data exceeds the predetermined value, and automatically adjusting camera operation parameters according to the current motion scenario. Thereby, the present invention may make it unnecessary for a user to conduct frequent operations, so the user can conveniently and rapidly take pictures or videos in agreement with a current environment.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a mode switching unit which, in response to an instruction from a user, switches an operation mode of the apparatus, a display control unit which controls such that a reproduced image is displayed in a reproduction mode, and a control unit controls such that, when a reproduced image is displayed in the reproduction mode, in response to accepting a specific instruction, based on attribute information of the reproduced image being displayed, at least a part of settings from shooting settings for when the reproduced image was shot are set in the apparatus, switching from a reproduction mode to a shooting mode is performed, and a live view image in which the part of settings are reflected is displayed.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup apparatus includes a timing signal generation unit, a plurality of sensor units arranged in a matrix pattern and configured to perform photoelectric conversion of light received on an image pickup surface to accumulate signal charges, a vertical transfer unit provided for each vertical column of the sensor units and configured to transfer the signal charges in a plurality of divided fields in a vertical direction in an image pickup area in a plurality of horizontal blanking periods, a horizontal transfer unit configured to perform a horizontal transfer of the signal charges to the vertical transfer unit along with the horizontal blanking period, and a vertical and horizontal shift control unit configured to control a timing at which the vertical transfer unit transfers the signal charges to the horizontal transfer unit for each vertical column of the sensor units on the basis of the timing signal.

Abstract: Modular digital camera systems, such as modular digital still and motion cameras are disclosed. Individual modules may be removed from the system and replaced, such as to benefit from upgraded technology, while preserving the remaining modules in the system. The modules may be disassembled and reconstructed to convert the physical form of the camera, such as between still configurations, motion configurations, ENG configurations, DSLR configurations and studio configurations. The modules may be used to add wireless capabilities employing standard wireless protocols to allow a variety of devices to control or communicate with the modular digital camera system. The wireless capabilities may also be used to present a soft interface for camera control to the user, exposing a variety of variables and controls to the user that may otherwise be difficult or impossible to access.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor, and a controller configured to drive a focus unit so that a first position is focused, to acquire first information on a first refocusable range that is available in an image that is captured while the first position is being focused by the focus unit, to acquire second information on a second refocusable range that contains the first position, to acquire information on a second position on which the focus unit is to be focused so as to provide the second refocusable range using the first information and the second information, and make the image sensor capture an image while the second position is being focused by the focus unit.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: plural pixels arranged in matrix, each outputting a signal from a photoelectric conversion element; and plural readout circuits each provided for a corresponding column of the pixels, signals from the pixels being input to the readout circuits. The readout circuit includes an amplifier unit configured to amplify the signal from the pixel, and have a variable gain, and a hold capacitance connected to an output terminal of the amplifier unit via a sampling switch, and having a variable capacitance value. When the variable gain of the amplifier unit is set to be a first gain, the variable capacitance value of the hold capacitance is set to be a first capacitance value. When the variable gain is set to be a second gain larger than the first gain, the variable capacitance value is set to be a second capacitance value smaller than the first capacitance value.

Abstract: An image processing circuit includes a first sample-and-hold circuit that samples a first data from a pixel, a second sample-and-hold circuit that samples a second data from the pixel, a voltage-to-current circuit that includes a resistor and a current source and receives the first and second data to output a difference data, an adaptive gain control determination circuit that determines whether a rate of change of a signal from the pixel exceeds a threshold based on an output of the second sample-and-hold circuit, and a current-mode ADC that converts the difference data from an analog form to a digital form.

Abstract: An image capture method includes performing light metering with respect to a subject in response to a first control signal, setting an ISO value and a shutter speed value based on result of the light metering, increasing the ISO value by a first amount and decreasing the shutter speed value by a second amount in response to a second control signal to capture a plurality of images, where the second amount is greater than the first amount, performing gamma correction with respect to the plurality of images to increase brightness of each image, and synthesizing the plurality of gamma corrected images to obtain a single image with improved brightness.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus including an image sensor, an evaluation value calculation unit, and an in-focus position calculation unit. The image sensor performs photoelectric conversion on a subject image formed by an image optical system including a focus adjustment unit. The evaluation value calculation unit calculates a first and a second focus evaluation values with spatial frequency components of first and second frequency bands extracted from image signals output from the image sensor. The second frequency band includes a spatial frequency component higher than the spatial frequency component of the first frequency band. The in-focus position calculation unit defines a position at which a third focus evaluation value reaches its peak value as an in-focus position of the focus adjustment unit. The third focus evaluation value is obtained by calculating a ratio of the first and the second focus evaluation values.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an apparatus and a method for auto-focusing in a device having a camera. The method includes displaying a focus item in a preview screen while driving a camera, auto-focusing by searching an image of the focus item from a preview image and displaying a focus mark, and processing a focused image if the auto-focusing is completed.

Abstract: A method of controlling an accessory device which is connected with a body unit of an interchangeable lens system camera is described. The method includes: receiving identification information of a first device from the first device through a first communication path that passes through a digital signal processing unit of the accessory device; generating combination information by adding identification information of the accessory device to the identification information of the first device; transmitting the combination information to a second device through the first communication path; and when receiving a switching signal from the second device, switching the first communication path to a second communication path that does not pass through the digital signal processing unit of the accessory device.

Abstract: An image pickup device includes: a focal plane shutter including: a board including an opening; a shutter moving to open and close the opening; an actuator moving the shutter; and a detection portion detecting that the shutter passes through a predetermined position, an image pickup element which light enters through the opening; and a drive control portion that controls the actuator to move the shutter, wherein the drive control portion performs movement control to move the shutter at least until the shutter passes through the predetermined position, and performs brake control to decelerate the shutter while the shutter is moving after the shutter passes through the predetermined position.

Abstract: Methods and systems for filtered image data recovery using lookback include storing first, second, and third data captures received from the image sensor in a first memory component and a second memory component. The methods and systems also include identifying a second detection in the second data capture and a third detection in the third data capture by filtering the first, second, and third data captures. The second detection and the third detection each exceed a pixel intensity threshold. The methods and systems also include correlating the second detection and the third detection to identify at least one track. The methods and systems also include detecting a first detection in the first data capture stored in the second memory component, the first detection being a pixel intensity value that is less than the threshold or an initiation event having a pixel intensity value that is less than the threshold.

Abstract: A system comprises a digital imaging system for capturing digital images. The system includes a controller that captures at least one digital image, determines a brightness level of at least one bright region of the digital image, and generates brightness data representing the brightness level of the at least one bright region. The brightness data is compared with compositional information for determining a maximum brightness level of the at least one bright region of the digital image. The maximum brightness level comprises a level of brightness where information about the at least one bright region remains. The controller then determines an exposure value of a final digital image, where at least one region of the final digital image has a brightness level equal to or less than the maximum brightness level. At least one final digital image is then captured.