Abstract: An imaging device capable of detecting and correcting, with high accuracy, the motion (image rotation) in the rolling direction of the image caused by the camera shake during imaging without being influenced by the individual variation, temperature characteristic, and variation with time of the sensor. To correct the motion (image rotation) in the rolling direction of the image caused by the camera shake during imaging, the result of detection of the angle of inclination of the device by an angle sensor (8a) is corrected with the result of detection of the angle of inclination of the image on the basis of the feature of the captured image by an image inclination detecting section (7), and the imaging device (3) is rotated around the optical axis or an axis parallel to the optical axis according to the corrected angle of inclination of the device.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes first and second standard-deviation calculating circuits for calculating deviations ?1 and ?2 indicating a luminance bias of each pixel forming an input image. The deviation ?1 is calculated by referring to an average luminance of first block images forming the input image, and the deviation ?2 is calculated by referring to an average luminance of second block images forming the input image. A first correction-coefficient calculating circuit adjusts a correction coefficient K1 based on the deviation ?1, and a second correction-coefficient calculating circuit adjusts a correction coefficient K2 based on the deviation ?2. A Y correcting circuit corrects the luminance of each pixel forming the input image by referring to the correction coefficients K1 and K2. A CPU determines an input-image-attribute including presence/absence of a face image of a person so as to change adjustment characteristics of the correction coefficients K1 and K2.

Abstract: Provided is an image capturing apparatus (100) that can improve coding efficiency, and record a still image with a wide dynamic range and smooth moving images. The apparatus includes: an image capturing unit (110) capturing images by exposure for a first exposure time and a second exposure time longer than the first exposure time to generate a short-time exposure image and a long-time exposure image; a short-time exposure image storage unit (120) storing the short-time exposure image; a long-time exposure image storage unit (130) storing the long-time exposure image; a motion blur adding unit (140) generating a predicted image of the long-time exposure image by adding motion blur to the short-time exposure image; a subtracting unit (150) calculating a difference between the long-time exposure image and the predicted image to generate a difference image; and a coding unit (170) coding the short-time exposure image and the difference image.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems provide a high dynamic range mode of operation for an image sensor when operating in a skip mode where certain pixels of an array are not readout. Multiple integration periods are employed in the skip mode with selected pixels being readout through circuits associated with pixels that are not readout.

Abstract: Imaging devices and techniques that utilize multiple optical detectors are described and, in particular, imaging geometries for imaging devices that include three or more optical detectors with overlapping fields of regard. The imaging geometries are determined and provided in consideration of one or more performance criteria evaluated over multiple different operating conditions for a process of generating a reconstructed image from the captured images. Imaging systems and methods utilizing the imaging geometries are also described.

Abstract: The invention enables a verifier to easily confirm that the image data was captured in the multiple exposure mode, and also to easily confirm which area in the image captured in the multiple exposure mode was greatly affected by multiple exposure. An image generating unit generates exposure image data pieces by exposing an image sensor a plurality of times. An image composition unit combines exposure image data pieces to generate a single piece of composite image data. A reference image generating unit generates reference image data composed of data pieces for distinguishing pixel positions at which the exposure amount exceeds a threshold from the other pixel positions. A verification data generating unit generates verification data for determining whether alteration has been made from the composite image data and the reference image data to output a single file.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging element, an image signal transmitter, an image signal receiver, a signal processor and a control unit. The imaging element includes pixels arranged in two-dimensional array. The pixels output an imaging signal in synchronization with a first synchronizing signal. The image signal transmitter superimposes a second synchronizing signal on the imaging signal and transmits an image signal. The second synchronizing signal indicates a start position in vertical and horizontal directions in the two-dimensional array and is different from the first synchronizing signal. The image signal receiver receives the image signal from the image signal transmitter, and separates the received image signal into the imaging signal and second synchronizing signal. The signal processor processes the separated imaging signal based on the separated second synchronizing signal.

Abstract: An image processing method for executing edge enhancement for an original image includes: extracting edge components based upon the original image; correcting the extracted edge components by attenuating the individual edge components so that a frequency distribution related to intensity of the edge components approximates a Gaussian distribution assuming a specific width; and executing edge enhancement for the original image based upon the corrected edge components.

Abstract: An amplifier control device controls an amplifier which amplifies a first signal supplied from an image-pickup element, and supplies a second signal acquired by amplification of the first signal to a signal processing unit which is a following stage. The amplifier control device comprises a control unit which changes a current supplied to the amplifier depending on whether or not the first signal supplied to the amplifier is used for image data.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes first-group pixels 41, second-group pixels 42 skipped during thinning drive, and a scanning section 13. The scanning section 13 drives each of the first-group pixels 41 to perform read operation of outputting the output signal and initializing the amount of the signal charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element to a first level, and also drives each of the second-group pixels 42 to perform discharge operation of initializing the amount of the signal charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion element to a second level that is higher than the first level and lower than a saturation signal level of the photoelectric conversion element 12.

Abstract: Pre-image-acquisition information is obtained by a digital camera and transmitted to a system external to the digital camera. The system is configured to provide image-acquisition settings to the digital camera. In this regard, the digital camera receives the image-acquisition settings from the external system and performs an image-acquisition sequence based at least upon the received image-acquisition settings. Accordingly, the determination of image-acquisition settings can be performed remotely from the digital camera, where data-processing resources can greatly exceed those within the digital camera.

Abstract: There is a problem in that when magnification chromatic aberration correction is carried out, the difference in reproducibility of high-frequency components, depending on the spatial position, between a color for which position shift correction is not performed and a color for which position shift correction is performed may influence the image quality of an output image. In order to perform magnification chromatic aberration correction, high-frequency components, which are lost due to the position shift correction of a color for which position shift correction is carried out, are extracted from a color for which position shift correction is not carried out, and are added to the color for which position shift correction is carried out. Therefore, the high-frequency components are restored in a pseudo manner.

Abstract: The present invention provides an information display device including an imaging unit that executes an imaging process to image a subject to output an imaging signal; a monitor capable of displaying an image of the subject based on the imaging signal; a switching part located near the monitor; a first display controller for displaying, in a menu on the monitor, each of a first group of items consisting of a plurality of items associated with the imaging process, whereby first setting data can be set; and a second display controller for displaying, in a menu on the monitor, each of a second group of items associated with a plurality of particular items in the first group and having fewer items than the first group, whereby second setting data can be set, wherein switching between the first and second display controllers is performed by operating the switching part.

Abstract: There is provided an image pickup module which can be formed by a simple process while securing the mechanical strength of an inner lead at the time of bending and when fixed, without increasing an outer dimension of the image pickup module. The image pickup module includes an image pickup element having an image pickup surface, and a flexible substrate is drawn to be directed rearward of the image pickup surface. A guide member which fixes the image pickup element and the flexible substrate is provided, and the guide member includes a portion which is extended along a rear surface of the image pickup element, and a portion which is extended along a gap between the image pickup element and the flexible substrate.

Abstract: A method for increasing dynamic range of original image data representing an image comprises applying an expansion function to generate from the original image data expanded data having a dynamic range greater than that of the original image data and, obtaining an expand map comprising data indicative of a degree of luminance of regions associated with pixels in the image. The method then combines the original image data and the expanded data according to the expand map to yield enhanced image data. Apparatus for boosting the dynamic range of image data comprises a dynamic range expander that produces expanded data, a luminance analyzer that produces an expand map and a combiner that combines the original and expanded data according to a variable weighting provided by the expand map.

Abstract: A plurality of photography operations are performed with respect to a single subject with different photography conditions, to obtain a plurality of image data sets. The obtained image data are processed to obtain a single dynamic range expanded image data set. A photography method is selected from among: a first method, in which photography is performed at least twice at different exposures; a second method, in which photography is performed with an underexposure at a step number based on a set dynamic range; and a third method, in which photography is performed at least twice with different underexposures at step numbers based on a set dynamic range, based on whether photography operations are possible at exposure ratios corresponding to the expansion ratio of the dynamic range and whether flash is emitted. Photography is performed according to the selected method, thereby preventing limitations of dynamic range due to hardware specifications.

Abstract: The information communication terminal includes a first housing having a display unit and a second housing having an operating unit. The first housing can be arranged as follows: the first state where the display unit is directed oppositely to the photographing direction of the imaging unit; the second state where the display unit is directed in the photographing direction of the imaging unit; the third state where the rotary shaft direction of the first housing is made to adjoin the direction perpendicular to the open/close shaft direction of the second housing and the display unit and the operating unit are directed to the same side; and fourth state where the direction perpendicular to the rotary shaft direction of the first housing is made to adjoin the open/close shaft direction of the second housing through the hinge and the display unit and the operating unit are directed to the same side.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus and an imaging method which can obtain an image in which a dynamic range is expanded at one shooting are provided. In a case where a pixel output of a pixel where a specific color separation filter is placed is equal to or more than a predetermined saturation level, based on a pixel output of a pixel which is placed in the vicinity of the pixel where the specific color separation filter is placed, a pixel output for brightness, where the pixel output becomes equal to or more than the predetermined saturation level, of the pixel where the color separation filter of the specific color is placed and the pixel output is equal to or more than the predetermined saturation level is compensated, and thereby a dynamic range of an image sensor is expanded.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus that can output images with a plurality of resolutions is provided. The imaging apparatus comprises an imaging section (101) for imaging a subject using an imaging device (103) to generate an image signal and a resolution conversion section (110) for converting a resolution of the image signal captured by the imaging section (101) and outputting it. The resolution conversion section (110) reduces the image inputted from the imaging section (101) to a plurality of images of different sizes and outputs an embedded image in which the size-reduced images of different sizes are embedded in the input image size from the imaging section (101). Thereby, images of a plurality of image sizes can be outputted at the same time.

Abstract: This invention makes it possible to produce a high quality synthesized panoramic image when it is difficult to highly precisely shift the image pickup direction.