Abstract: Lens flare mitigation techniques determine which pixels in images of a sequence of images are likely to be pixels affected by lens flare. Once the lens flare areas of the images are determined, unwanted lens flare effects may be mitigated by various approaches, including reducing border artifacts along a seam between successive images, discarding entire images of the sequence that contain lens flare areas, and using tone-mapping to reduce the visibility of lens flare.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a radial distortion parameter acquiring method and apparatus. The method includes: randomly selecting a plane as a first plane; making an optical axis of a digital image capture device perpendicular to the first plane, and photographing the first plane to obtain a distorted image of the first plane; acquiring n arcs from the distorted image; and obtaining, by calculation, a radial distortion parameter of the digital image capture device according to the arcs. The apparatus includes: a selecting unit, a photographing unit, an acquiring unit, and a calculating unit. By applying the embodiments of the present invention, only one distorted image needs to be photographed to acquire a radial distortion parameter of a digital image capture device, and the distorted image can be acquired depending on a natural environment.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus, including: a data acquisition unit configured to acquire light field data containing a plurality of parallax images; a setting unit configured to set a virtual focal plane of the light field data acquired by the data acquisition unit; a reconstruction unit configured to generate, based on the light field data acquired by the data acquisition unit, light field data in which a focal plane is moved to the virtual focal plane; a determination unit configured to determine a data reduction amount of the light field data generated by the reconstruction unit in accordance with a refocusable range of the light field data generated by the reconstruction unit; and a reduction unit configured to reduce an amount of data of the light field data generated by the reconstruction unit in accordance with the data reduction amount.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the actuator module includes an voice coil motor base, a coil rigidly attached to the voice coil motor base, a lens movement mechanism suspended on the voice coil motor base by a suspension means configured to limit relative motion in linear directions orthogonal to an optical axis of the miniature camera, and a plurality of magnets rigidly mounted to the lens movement mechanism.

Abstract: A wireless camera system and related methods are disclosed in which the camera system has a camera body and a mounting base. The camera body has electronics to create a wireless connection hotspot that can be connected to wireless connection enabled device. The mounting base can be positioned on any surface and can include one or more magnetic inserts to mount the camera system on a magnetic surface, such as to a car chassis.

Abstract: A controller for an image sensor includes a mode selector that receives a selection between image capture mode and data capture mode. An exposure sensor collects exposure data for a scene falling on the image sensor. A command interface sends commands to the image sensor to cause the image sensor to capture an image with a rolling reset shutter operation in which an integration interval for the image sensor is set based on the exposure data if the image capture mode is selected. The integration interval for the image sensor is set to less than two row periods, preferably close to one row period, without regard to the exposure data if the data capture mode is selected. An analog gain may be increased to as large a value as possible in data capture mode. All pixels in a row may be summed before AD conversion in data capture mode.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward providing intelligent sampling strategies that make efficient use of an always-on camera. To do so, embodiments can utilize sensor information to determine contextual information regarding the mobile device and/or a user of the mobile device. A sampling rate of the always-on camera can then be modulated based on the contextual information.

Abstract: A mobile terminal assembly is provided. The mobile terminal assembly includes: a terminal case; and a mobile terminal detachable from the terminal case, wherein the terminal case comprises: a case body; and a lens cover openably disposed in the case body, wherein the mobile terminal comprises: a display unit; a camera module including a camera lens disposed at a position corresponding to the lens cover; a lens cover sensing unit sensing whether the lens cover is opened or closed; and a control unit configured to execute a camera application on the basis of whether the lens cover is opened or closed.

Abstract: A mechanism which makes it possible to obtain high-quality images in continuous photographing by reducing the influence of flicker while suppressing reduction of frame speed. An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device and an exposure unit configured to perform exposure of the image pickup device in response to a photographing instruction. An AE sensor detects peak timing of flicker. A camera CPU switches between peak synchronous exposure in which exposure operation is performed by making the same synchronous with the peak timing of flicker and normal exposure in which exposure operation is performed without making the same synchronous with the peak timing of flicker. The camera CPU corrects a photographed image obtained by the normal exposure. The camera CPU switches between the peak synchronous exposure and the normal exposure, based on the detected peak timing of flicker.

Abstract: An image sensor may have an array of pixels and readout circuitry. The array may include image pixels that generate signals in response to image light and reference pixels that generate signals in response to electrical noise. The readout circuitry may obtain first pixel values from the image pixels and may obtain second pixel values from the reference pixels. The readout circuitry may generate an extended precision pixel value based on the second pixel values that have an extended bit width relative to the each of the second pixel values. The readout circuitry may generate multiple dithered correction values by adding randomized sequences of least significant bits to the extended precision pixel value. The readout circuitry may mitigate visible quantization error and noise such as row-correlated and column-correlated noise in the final image by subtracting the dithered correction values from corresponding first pixel values.

Abstract: A portable device and a manipulation method are disclosed. The portable device includes a camera unit, a first sensor and a control module. The camera unit has a plurality of functional modes. The functional modes include a photo-capturing mode and a video-recording mode. The first sensor is disposed on the portable device and configured for sensing a manipulation input. The manipulation input has a manipulation pattern and duration information of the manipulation pattern. The control module is coupled with the camera unit and the first sensor. The control module is configured for selecting one of the functional modes corresponding to the manipulation pattern and the duration information sensed by the first sensor, and triggering the camera unit into the selected functional mode.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that properly sets a moving image area according to an image. An image processor generates a combined image, by setting one of a plurality of images as a basic image and disposing a moving image generated from the plurality of images in a moving image area which is designated in part of the basic image. The image processor sets a still area in part of the basic image. A system controller causes the basic image to be displayed on a display section. A user performs a touch operation on the display section displaying the basic image, whereby the moving image area is designated. When the moving image area is designated in a manner overlapping the still area, the image processor performs image combining by deleting the overlapping area from the moving image area.

Abstract: To notify that focusing operations are completed in an imaging device with a plurality of camera modules, in a form that is easy for a user to check. The imaging device of the present disclosure includes a display unit, a first imaging unit configured to generate a first image data by capturing a subject image, a second imaging unit configured to generate a second image data by capturing a subject image, and a controller configured to cause the display unit to display a superimposed image obtained by superimposing an image represented by the generated second image data on an image represented by the generated first image data, and to display a sign that a focusing operation on the subject image being captured by the second imaging unit is completed, in a position other than on the image represented by the second image data in the superimposed image.

Abstract: A shading device for the light module of the surveillance camera, wherein the light module rotates, with the filming module of the camera, back and forth between the vertical axis and horizontal axis of the camera. The shading device includes a shading shield that can moves back and forth between the first position and the second position. When the light module and the filming module rotate to a preset angle zone that is near the horizontal axis, the shading shield will move with the light module and the filming module, and the shading shield shades part of the light emitted by the light module that the part of light will not project onto the reflective object of the camera.

Abstract: Disclosed are a mobile terminal of a watch type and controlling method thereof, by which a photographing device can be remotely controlled. The present invention includes a wireless communication unit configured to communicate with a photographing device, a display unit configured to display a preview image inputted through a camera of the photographing device before a photo is photographed through the photographing device, and a controller, if a preset user input is received while the preview image is outputted, controlling a remote photograph command to be transmitted to enable the photo to be photographed through the photographing device.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a receptacle configured to receive a mobile computing device that has an integrated image capture component. Further, the apparatus comprises a first handle having a first handle top portion that is operably connected to the receptacle and a first handle bottom portion that is operably connected to the receptacle. In addition, the apparatus comprises a second handle having a second handle top portion that is operably connected to the receptacle and a second handle bottom portion that is operably connected to the receptacle. The apparatus also comprises a tripod receiver that is operably attached to the first handle. The tripod receiver receives a tripod connector to connect a tripod to the first handle.

Abstract: Provided are an image capture device and a focus control method capable of performing auto-focus (AF) at high speed by reducing time until a focus control is completed even when a focus control based on a phase difference AF method and a focus control based on a contrast AF method are used in combination. A digital camera performs a correlation operation of two images captured by a pixel pair P1, performs a correlation operation of two images captured by a pixel pair P2, and determines reliability of correlation operation results based on information generated from the two correlation operation results. When the reliability is low, the digital camera performs the contrast AF. Here, the digital camera variably controls a movement step (arbitrary distance) when moving a focus lens in a predetermined range to calculate a contrast value, according to the height of the reliability.

Abstract: There is provided an image sensor that includes a pixel array section, a column processing section, and a row control section. The pixel array section is configured to include two or more shared pixel cells arranged in a two-dimensional array, the shared pixel cells each including a plurality of pixels that output electric signals by photoelectric conversion. The column processing section is configured to process the electric signals that are read at the same time from the shared pixel cells on a plurality of rows in the two-dimensional array. The row control section is configured to perform access control differently between one and another of the rows for reading the electric signals from the pixels in the shared pixel cells.

Abstract: There is provided a signal processor including a phase difference detection part configured to acquire a pixel value of one light-shielding pixel having a part of a light-receiving region shielded therein and pixel values of a peripheral pixel row of the light-shielding pixel in a light shielding direction. A corrected pixel value obtained by subjecting the pixel value of the light-shielding pixel to a reduced sensitivity correction is compared with the pixel values of the peripheral pixel row to detect a phase difference of the light-shielding pixel.

Abstract: A microlens array imaging device includes a main lens, a microlens array containing a plurality of microlenses, and an image acquisition unit. The main lens projects a first image of an object for the plurality of microlenses, each of which projects a second image of the first image on the image acquisition unit. Each second image includes an image circle and a circle of confusion around the image circle. A distance between an image circle of one microlens and an image circle of an adjacent microlens is equal to or greater than a summation of a radius of the second image corresponding to the one microlens and a radius of the image circle of the adjacent microlens, and is equal to or less than a summation of the radius of the second image corresponding to the one microlens and a radius of the second image corresponding to the adjacent microlens.