Abstract: A portable imaging device that has a CMOS image sensor, a color display for displaying an image sensed by the CMOS image sensor and a central processor. The central processor has an image sensor interface for receiving data from the CMOS image sensor, multiple processing units for parallel operation to simultaneously process the data, and an image display interface for sending processed data to the color display. The central processor is integrated onto a single chip.

Abstract: A digital image photographing apparatus and a method of controlling the digital image photographing apparatus, the method involving dividing an imaging surface of an imaging device into a plurality of areas, and applying a first skip mode to an area that is expected to include a target object and applying a different second skip mode to an area that is not expected to include the target object, so that images having different resolutions may be obtained from the plurality of areas.

Abstract: A portable hand-held device is provided having a network interface for sharing images between the device and a network, an image display for displaying the shared images, an orientation sensor for sensing an orientation of the device, and a processor for processing the displayed images based on the sensed device orientation and outputting the processed images to the image display.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device including a plurality of pixels and a scanning unit. Each pixel includes a photoelectric conversion element and a charge accumulation region. The scanning unit is configured to read a first signal from a charge accumulation region. The scanning unit is configured to read a second signal from the charge accumulation region. The first signal corresponds to an accumulation of signal charges during a first period, while the second signal corresponds to another accumulation of signal charges during a second period.

Abstract: A multi-core processor is used in a portable device that has first and second image sensors spaced from each other for capturing images of a scene from slightly different perspectives. The multi-core processor has a first image sensor interface for receiving data from the image sensor, a second image sensor interface for receiving data from the second image sensor, multiple processing units and, the four processing units and the first and second sensor interfaces being integrated onto a single chip. The processing units are configured to simultaneously process the data from the first and second image interfaces to generate stereoscopic image data.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit to photograph a subject by using a photographing device, a control unit to determine an operation mode of the image pickup apparatus, and, when the operation mode of the image pickup apparatus is a manual focusing mode, the control unit selects a focus detecting method to be applied among a plurality of focus detecting methods according to a focus operation of a user, a determination unit to determine a focus state for the subject by using the selected focus detecting method, and a user interface unit to indicate the determined focus state.

Abstract: High dynamic range imaging techniques with multi-storage pixels are provided. Multiple images may be captured during a single exposure using an image sensor with multi-storage pixels. During a single exposure, charge from photodiodes may be transferred alternately to multiple storage nodes of the multi-storage pixels. During readout of a multi-storage pixel, charge may be transferred from each of multiple storage nodes one at a time to a floating diffusion node. Each subsequent transfer of charge may be summed with the charge already stored in the floating diffusion node. A pixel signal may be read out from the multi-storage pixel after each charge transfer. Images formed from the pixel signals may be combined to produce a high dynamic range image.

Abstract: A portable hand-held device is provided having an image sensor for capturing images, and a processor chip for image processing the images captured by the image sensor. The processor chip has an on-chip interface for receiving the captured images and four interconnected processing units configured to process the received images.

Abstract: A camera with a CMOS image sensor, an image sensor interface for receiving data from the CMOS image sensor and multiple processing units interconnected with each other for parallel processing of data from the image sensor interface. The multiple processing units and the image sensor interface are integrated onto a single chip.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state image pickup element, including a pixel portion in which plural pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element for converting an optical signal into an electrical signal and accumulating therein the resulting electrical signal in accordance with an exposure period of time are disposed in a matrix; and a pixel driving portion adapted to control operations of the pixels in rows so as to carry out an electronic shutter operation and a reading operation of the pixel portion.

Abstract: There is provided an image pickup apparatus that, even if image data has insufficient depth difference between an object and a background, accurately discriminates a region including an object and a region including a background. The image pickup apparatus includes a generation unit configured to generate image data, and a discrimination unit configured, based on first image data generated by the generation unit, when an in-focus position is at a first focal position at which an object is in-focus state or a second focal position on a short distance side of the first focal position, and second image data generated by the generation unit, when an in-focus position is at a third focal position on a far distance side of a focal position at which a background is in-focus state, to discriminate a first region including the object and a second region including the background.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, apparatus, devices, methods, computer program products, and other implementations, including a method that includes capturing an image of a scene by an image capturing unit of a device that includes an accelerometer, and determining orientation of the device based, at least in part, on determined location of a vanishing point (e.g., a single vanishing point) in the captured image of the scene and at least one measurement obtained from the accelerometer.

Abstract: A portable device that has first and second image sensors and a central processor. The central processor has four processing units and a first image sensor interface and a second image sensor interface for receiving data from the from the first and second image sensors respectively. The four processing units and the first and second sensor interfaces are integrated onto a single chip such that the four processing units are configured to simultaneously process the data from the first and second image interfaces to generate stereoscopic image data.

Abstract: A multi-core processor is used in a portable device that has first and second image sensors spaced from each other for capturing images of a scene from slightly different perspectives. The multi-core processor has a first image sensor interface for receiving data from the image sensor, a second image sensor interface for receiving data from the second image sensor, multiple processing units and, the four processing units and the first and second sensor interfaces being integrated onto a single chip. The processing units are configured to simultaneously process the data from the first and second image interfaces to generate stereoscopic image data.

Abstract: In exemplary implements of this invention, a lens and sensor of a camera are intentionally destabilized (i.e., shifted relative to the scene being imaged) in order to create defocus effects. That is, actuators in a camera move a lens and a sensor, relative to the scene being imaged, while the camera takes a photograph. This motion simulates a larger aperture size (shallower depth of field). Thus, by translating a lens and a sensor while taking a photo, a camera with a small aperture (such as a cell phone or small point and shoot camera) may simulate the shallow DOF that can be achieved with a professional SLR camera. This invention may be implemented in such a way that programmable defocus effects may be achieved. Also, approximately depth-invariant defocus blur size may be achieved over a range of depths, in some embodiments of this invention.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensor includes a dispersing element array which is arranged to face a photosensitive cell array and which includes a plurality of high-refractive-index transparent portions, a low-refractive-index transparent layer that fills a gap between the high-refractive-index transparent portions, and pairs of dispersing elements arranged to face multiple unit blocks of the photosensitive cell array. Each pair of dispersing elements is comprised of: a first dispersing element which includes one of the high-refractive-index transparent portions and which splits incoming light into two light rays representing first and second color components, respectively; and a second dispersing element which includes another one of the high-refractive-index transparent portions and which splits the incoming light into two light rays representing third and fourth color components, respectively.

Abstract: A portable imaging device that has a CMOS image sensor, a color display for displaying an image sensed by the CMOS image sensor and a central processor. The central processor has an image sensor interface for receiving data from the CMOS image sensor, multiple processing units for parallel operation to simultaneously process the data, and an image display interface for sending processed data to the color display. The central processor is integrated onto a single chip.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element that includes a plurality of image pickup pixels and a plurality of focus detecting pixels, a detector configured to detect a phase difference between two images of the object on a secondary imaging plane, and a controller configured to provide focusing based on a defocus amount obtained from a detection result of the detector for a first focus detecting point, and set a correcting value used to correct a defocus amount obtained from a next detection result of the detector so that a difference can reduce between the defocus amount obtained from the detection result of the detector for the first focus detecting point and a defocus amount obtained from the focus detecting pixels for the first focus detecting point of a captured image of the object that has been captured.

Abstract: A camera system to capture a visual image comprising of a housing that allowing a beam of light representing the visual image to be captured to enter the housing. The camera system has a dichroic beam splitter placed in the path of the beam of light to split the beam of light into a two beams of light. The first beam of light is comprised of red light and blue light while the second beam is comprised of green light and near infrared light. The camera system has two filters that will filter the two beams of light. The first filter is comprised of an array of a first and second filter elements. The first filter element allows red light to pass through it while the second filter element allows blue light to pass through it. The second filter has an array of two filter elements as well. The first and second filter elements in the second filter will allow green and near infrared light to pass through it. The amount of filtered light for each of the spectral bands is roughly equal to each other.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of generating a presentation in accordance with a theme defining the graphical appearance and layout of the presentation is provided. The method comprises generating a test image for display on an external display, capturing a digital image of the test image displayed on the external display, digitally analysing the captured digital image, selecting the theme for the presentation based on the analysis, and, generating the presentation in accordance with the selected these. An electronic device and computer program product are also provided.