Abstract: Image capture of a scene in which there is an identification of an imaging property of the scene, such as the illuminant or dynamic range of the scene. An imaging assembly has a spectral response which is tunable in accordance with a capture parameter, and first and second different capture parameters are applied to the image sensor. Respective first and second images of the scene are captured. The first and second images of the scene are compared to identify an imaging property of the scene, such as the illuminant or multiple illuminants in respective ones of multiple regions in the scene. In accordance with the property identified for the scene, a third capture parameter is derived, such as to obtain color correction or white balance in accordance with each identified illuminant. The third capture parameter is applied to the image sensor, and a final image of the scene is captured.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a housing defining a through hole, a barrel positioned in the housing, a lens fixed at an end of the barrel and a light detection unit fixed at the other end of the barrel away from the lens. The lens includes an imaging portion facing the light detection unit and an incidence portion facing the through hole. The incidence portion forms a reflecting surface angled relative to an optical axis of the imaging portion, such that light entering from the through hole through the incidence portion is then reflected by the reflecting surface and refracted by the imaging portion, and is then received by the light detection unit.

Abstract: A CMOS image sensor includes a pixel array including a plurality of unit pixels with individual rows of unit pixels being coupled to respective row control signal lines, and a buffer including plural row control signal drivers. Each driver is coupled to a respective one of the row control signal lines and is configured to provide a row control signal pulse to a respective row control signal line in response to an input pulse when the row control signal line is in an active state and to bias the row control signal line at a ground voltage when the respective row control signal line is in an inactive state. Each driver has a first drive capability when the row control signal line is in the active state and a second drive capability greater than the first drive capability when the row control signal line is in an inactive state.

Abstract: A display system, method, and computer program product are provided for capturing images using multiple integrated image sensors. The display system includes a front panel for displaying an image. The display system further includes a matrix of image sensors situated behind the front panel.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for capturing an image on an electronic device having a flash comprising a first light source and a second light source is presented herein. A detection of a color spectrum of ambient light is made using image data sensed by an image sensor of a camera module. Additionally, a determination of an intensity of a first light when combined with an associated intensity of a second light results in a color spectrum that substantially matches the color spectrum of the ambient light. The flash emits a first light from the first light source of the flash and second light from the second light source of the flash. An image from a camera module is recorded during the emission of the first and second light.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a digital image capable of recognizing user input by motion of a user through a voice coil motor (VCM) is provided. Also, a method of controlling the apparatus is provided. The apparatus for processing a digital image includes: a body; a VCM installed to the body generating motion signals according to motion of the body; an operation recognition interface processing the motion signals and generating motion data of a digital signal; and a controller recognizing motion of the body from the motion data and recognizing user input according to the motion.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided with: an imaging unit including an imaging sensor for imaging light from an object and a storage unit for storing image data generated based on an imaging signal output from the imaging sensor; and a GPS module. The GPS module is used for executing a process of calculating location information based on received data from a satellite. The GPS module shifts from the low power consumption mode or the power OFF state to a normal operation mode in which the process of calculating the location information is executed as a result of the imaging unit shifting from a low power consumption mode or a power OFF state to a normal image-capture mode.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for obtaining a high dynamic range (HDR) image. The apparatus includes an image sensor generating a first image by applying different exposure times for units of different predetermined regions, an image separating unit separating the first image into images, each of which is composed of regions having an identical exposure time, an image restoring unit restoring the separated images in such a way that each of the separated images has a resolution that is the same as a resolution of the first image, and an image synthesizing unit synthesizing the restored images into a second image.

Abstract: Providing for optical imaging lenses employing non-linear distortion for image magnification is described herein. By way of example, a five-lens system can perform magnification functions by producing distortion that expands the image in the center of the field of view and compresses the image in the periphery of the field of view. This distortion can be corrected through image processing to yield a rectified image. Further, the five-lens system can be implemented as part of a fixed-focus imaging system, or in conjunction with a variable focus optical magnification imaging system.

Abstract: An image stabilization system includes a fixed unit having a first receiving cavity therein, a movable unit received in the first receiving cavity, a pivot member located between the fixed unit and the movable unit, a magnetic motion sensor, and a magnetic driving module. The pivot member is received in and between the fixed unit and the movable unit. The magnetic motion sensor is disposed on the fixed unit for detecting a movement of the image stabilization system. The magnetic driving module is configured for rotating the movable unit around the pivot member to compensate for movement of the image stabilization system based on the motion detection result of the motion sensor.

Abstract: In a digital camera having a wireless communicator with a server, a storage controller treats full size image data and display size image data unequally if the full size image data has been already sent to the server. For example, the display size image data is not allowed to be replaced by new digital image data unless the digital camera is not in use over a prescribed time. Own image data and other's image data are treated equally. Image data received from outside and retrieved from inside memory are treated equally. Search key for own image data and related search keys existing in the outside are indicated in a comparable manner. The digital camera receives search key from neighboring advertiser to send it for Internet search of advertisement. Search key received from neighboring notable site is sent for Internet search of photographs of the notable site taken by others.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided for processing image data acquired using a digital image sensor. In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, one such technique may relate to the processing of image data in a system that supports multiple image sensors. In one embodiment, the image processing system may include control circuitry configured to determine whether a device is operating in a single sensor mode (one active sensor) or a dual sensor mode (two active sensors). When operating in the single sensor mode, data may be provided directly to a front-end pixel processing unit from the sensor interface of the active sensor. When operating in a dual sensor mode, the image frames from the first and second sensors are provided to the front-end pixel processing unit in an interleaved manner. For instance, in one embodiment, the image frames from the first and second sensors are written to a memory, and then read out to the front-end pixel processing unit in an interleaved manner.

Abstract: In a digital camera having a wireless communicator with a server, a storage controller treats full size image data and display size image data unequally if the full size image data has been already sent to the server. For example, the display size image data is not allowed to be replaced by new digital image data unless the digital camera is not in use over a prescribed time. Own image data and other's image data are treated equally. Image data received from outside and retrieved from inside memory are treated equally. Search key for own image data and related search keys existing in the outside are indicated in a comparable manner. The digital camera receives search key from neighboring advertiser to send it for Internet search of advertisement. Search key received from neighboring notable site is sent for Internet search of photographs of the notable site taken by others.

Abstract: A pixel array uses two sets of pixels to provide accurate exposure control. One set of pixels provide continuous output signals for automatic light control (ALC) as the other set integrates and captures an image. ALC pixels allow monitoring of multiple pixels of an array to obtain sample data indicating the amount of light reaching the array, while allowing the other pixels to provide proper image data. A small percentage of the pixels in an array is replaced with ALC pixels and the array has two reset lines for each row; one line controls the reset for the image capture pixels while the other line controls the reset for the ALC pixels. In the columns, at least one extra control signal is used for the sampling of the reset level for the ALC pixels, which happens later than the sampling of the reset level for the image capture pixels.

Abstract: A video camera includes an image sensor for picking up an image of a subject and outputting a still image or a moving image, an operation accepting portion for accepting an operation by the user, and an image pickup control portion for, in response to the operation accepting portion accepting an operation of giving an instruction to pick up a moving image, controlling the image sensor to pick up an image under a predetermined condition for still images and thereafter allowing the image sensor to pick up an image under a predetermined condition for moving images, and for, in response to the operation accepting portion accepting an operation of giving an instruction to pick up a still image, controlling the image sensor to pick up an image under a predetermined condition for still images.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for capturing and rendering images with focused plenoptic cameras employing different filtering at different microlenses. In a focused plenoptic camera, the main lens creates an image at the focal plane. That image is re-imaged on the sensor multiple times by an array of microlenses. Different filters that provide different levels and/or types of filtering may be combined with different ones of the microlenses. A flat captured with the camera includes multiple microimages captured according to the different filters. Multiple images may be assembled from the microimages, with each image assembled from microimages captured using a different filter. A final image may be generated by appropriately combining the images assembled from the microimages. Alternatively, a final image, or multiple images, may be assembled from the microimages by first combining the microimages and then assembling the combined microimages to produce one or more output images.

Abstract: A method and system for photographing in a terminal is provided. The method includes receiving an option for setting a face arrangement location on the viewfinder; detecting a face image on a screen of the viewfinder, determining whether the detected face image is located in the face arrangement location, and if the detected face image is not located in the face arrangement location, informing a user that the detected face image is not located in the face arrangement location. The photographing method and system can allow a user to easily adjust his/her face on the viewfinder and to take a photograph of himself/herself.

Abstract: A computing device may capture a first image using a first exposure length. It may be determined that x pixels in the captured first image are properly-exposed and that y pixels in the captured first image are improperly-exposed. Based on the y improperly-exposed pixels, a second exposure length may be determined. A second image may be captured using the second exposure length. The second image may include y? pixels that correspond to the y improperly-exposed pixels in the first image. At least some of the x properly-exposed pixels from the first image may be combined with at least some of the y? pixels from the second image to form a composite image.

Abstract: A digital video capture system for capturing a digital video sequence and for producing a corresponding video summary, comprising: an image sensor; an optical system; a processor, a softcopy display and a means for providing a user with an option to view either a stored digital video sequence or a video summary on the softcopy display. The processor performs the steps of: capturing a digital video sequence; automatically analyzing the digital video sequence at the time the digital video sequence is captured to determine one or more feature values; compressing the digital video sequence; storing the compressed digital video sequence; automatically analyzing the feature values to identify one or more key video snippets, assembling the key video snippets to form a video summary; and storing a representation of the video summary.

Abstract: A control method for an image sensing apparatus is provided with an operation unit for receiving input from a user and a communication unit for communicating with an external processing device, and having a power saving mode for stopping the supply of electrical power to at least a part of the image sensing apparatus if no input to the operation unit is performed for a predetermined time period is disclosed. The control method selects one of a plurality of operation modes including at least image sensing mode and playback mode, and controls a shift to the power saving mode depending on the selected operation mode and a state of communication with the external processing apparatus using the communication unit.