Abstract: A method for generating an adapted slice image from a focal stack of refocused images using an all-in-focus image derived from the focal stack comprises: selecting a slice image in the focal stack; selecting at least one object in the all-in-focus image to be focused in the adapted slice image; and generating the adapted slice image by combining the selected at least one object in the all-in-focus image onto the selected slice image.

Abstract: Modular digital camera systems are disclosed. The modular digital camera system can include a brain module configured to be releasably coupled to one or more of a port extender module, power module, display module, and handle module. The brain module and other accessory modules can be structured according to some embodiments to increase an ease of coupling and decoupling the modules. The brain module can include an antenna, such as a slot antenna, for transmitting and receiving radiofrequency signals.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a plurality of first pixels that includes pixels of a plurality of color components and generates a first signal from incident light, a plurality of second pixels that generates a second signal from light that has transmitted at least a part of the first pixels, and a signal generation unit that generates a signal obtained by combining the first signal and the second signal.

Abstract: Implementations pertaining to dynamic noise reduction for high dynamic range (HDR) in digital imaging are described. A method may involve receiving a data related to digital imaging. The method may also involve determining a respective HDR enhancement ratio for each of one or more portions of a plurality of portions of the data. The method may further involve determining a respective level of noise reduction corresponding to the respective HDR enhancement ratio for each of the one or more portions of the data. The method may additionally involve performing noise reduction up to the respective level of noise reduction for each of the one or more portions of the data.

Abstract: This invention relates to an imaging apparatus and an imaging method for supplying an optimum amount of image data to another apparatus. When a PDA 91 has a maximum transfer rate of 1.5 Mbps, a mobile phone 1 determines that a maximum speed of communication with the PDA 91 is low, reduces accordingly the amount of moving image data captured by a CCD of the mobile phone, and supplies the captured moving image data to the PDA 91. The PDA 91 displays a low-quality moving image 93 on its display unit. When the PDA 91 has a maximum transfer rate of 480 Mbps, the CPU of the mobile phone leaves unchanged the amount of moving picture data captured by the CCD and supplies the captured moving image data to the PDA 91. The PDA 91 then displays a high-quality moving image 94 on the display unit. This invention applies advantageously to digital cameras.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus which can take shots sequentially by self-timer. The imaging apparatus, in response to input of a user's start operation to perform self-timer shooting, plays back a first voice file including a voice of a predetermined playback time period one time, the first voice file including a voice providing guidance to prepare for shooting, determines whether the first voice file has been played back to completion one time, and performs shooting one time when it is determined that the first voice file has been played back to completion one time, without performing a time-check function. The imaging apparatus repeats playback of the first voice file and performs shooting a predetermined number of times.

Abstract: A method of camera pose estimation is provided that includes capturing a model image of a scene at a canonical camera pose, generating an image library from warped images of the model image and the model image, wherein each warped image is a transformation of the model image at a different pre-determined camera pose, capturing an image of the scene as a user moves the camera, reporting the current camera pose as a camera pose of the image when the image is acceptable, conditionally adding the first image to the image library when the first image is acceptable, and re-initializing the current camera pose to a camera pose selected from the image library when the first image is not acceptable.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image capturing condition acquirer (260) configured to acquire image capturing condition information of a plurality of images having angles of view different from each other, a distance information acquirer (230) configured to acquire distance information of an object included in the plurality of images, an angle of view information acquirer (240) configured to acquire angle of view information, and an image generator (224) configured to generate an image corresponding to the angle of view information from the plurality of images based on the image capturing condition information, the distance information, and the angle of view information, and the distance information is object distance information at each position in an image.

Abstract: The invention comprises a small, easily transportable, specially programmed, camera mounting device with a wireless remote control. The camera mounting device is equipped with a ¼-20 stud, the standard type of stud used by tripods, so the user can easily mount a Go-Pro camera or any other kind of presently available small camera on the camera mounting device. Embodiments of the device can rotate the camera up to 360 degrees, left or right, at any of multiple speeds, and can also pause, and rotate the camera up or down, when needed. Embodiments of the device can attach themselves to other surfaces. The invention eliminates the need to use multiple cameras, while making a video, and splice the video together after the fact. This invention also comprises a method of filming, using the camera mount of the present invention, or a comparable camera mount.

Abstract: A method for using a telescoping monopod apparatus to capture an image including synchronizing a photographic instrument with the telescoping monopod apparatus, attaching the photographic instrument to the telescoping monopod apparatus, determining that the photographic instrument is in an image-capturing mode, extracting, by the image-capturing mode, a humanoid feature, detecting that the humanoid feature comprises a cutoff, adjusting a position of the photographic instrument using the telescoping monopod apparatus, and capturing an adjusted image using the photographic instrument.

Abstract: This invention comprises a system and a method for inspecting the inside of delayed petroleum coking vessels to identify deformations, detect and determine the severity of other defects, and visually observe the inside of the inspected vessel.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus includes a chassis, in which a recess is formed; the recess including at least one pair of inner wall surfaces which face each other; an imaging unit positioned in the recess; an intermediate frame which is interposed between the recess and the imaging unit, the intermediate frame including a pair of support walls which correspond to the pair of inner wall surfaces of the recess; a first cushioning member which is interposed between one of the pair of support walls of the intermediate frame and an adjacent outer wall surface of the imaging unit; and a second cushioning member which is interposed between the other of the pair of support walls of the intermediate frame and an adjacent inner wall surface of the pair of inner wall surfaces of the recess.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for operating a camera. The method includes the steps of providing an array of image sensing pixels, disposing an electronic shutter in an optical path between the array of pixels and an image where the electronic shutter has a reflective state and a transmissive state and applying a predetermined sequence of electrical signals to the electronic shutter to expose the image sensing pixels to the image.

Abstract: A system for aligning a camera view and the illumination of a lighting fixture is disclosed. The system includes a camera contained with a housing and a lighting fixture that is pivotedly attached to the housing. An angle adjuster attached to a proximate end of each of the housing and the lighting fixture converts a linear movement to the adjuster into an angular adjustment of the lighting fixture with regard to an optical axis of a camera contained with the housing. In another aspect of the invention, the system of aligning a camera view and light fixture may be attached to a magnification lenswear and a focal point of the magnification lenswear may be aligned with the aligned camera view and the illumination of the lighting fixture.

Abstract: A telescoping monopod system including an image acquisition module having a field of vision, an attachment member configured to contact the image acquisition module, a body housing a processor, a memory, an electromechanical component, and a plurality of shafts. The body contacts the attachment member. The body comprises a control panel.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a first image sensor that is placed to intersect the optical axis of an imaging lens, a second image sensor that is placed to intersect the optical axis of the imaging lens so as to be situated at a given distance from the first image sensor, and receives light that has passed through the first image sensor, and a processor including hardware, wherein the processor is configured to implement a brightness correction process that amplifies the pixel value of the second image captured by the second image sensor using a gain set based on the light transmittance of a light-receiving section of the first image sensor, and an object distance calculation process that performs a depth-from-defocus (DFD) process based on the pixel value of the first image and the pixel value of the second image subjected to the brightness correction process to calculate an object distance.

Abstract: An image sensor in which a first chip and a second chip are stacked comprises: a pixel unit; output lines each configured to output a pixel signal from the pixel unit; and an analog-digital converter provided for each of the output lines. The analog-digital converter comprises a plurality of sets of the following configuration: reference signal generation units configured to generate a reference signal, a comparison unit configured to compare a signal level of a pixel signal output to one of the output lines with a signal level of the reference signal, a counter configured to count until the signal level of the pixel signal coincides with the signal level of the reference signal compared by the comparison unit. The pixel unit is arranged in the first chip and the analog-digital converter is arranged in the second chip.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensor including a pixel array portion formed from a two-dimensional array of ordinary imaging pixels each having a photoelectric conversion unit and configured to output an electric signal obtained through photoelectric conversion as a pixel signal, and focus detection pixels for detecting focus. The focus detection pixels include at least a first focus detection pixel and a second focus detection pixel each having a photoelectric conversion unit and configured to transfer and output an electric signal obtained through photoelectric conversion to an output node. The first focus detection pixel and the second focus detection pixel share the output node. The first focus detection pixel includes a first photoelectric conversion unit, and a first transfer gate for reading out an electron generated through photoelectric conversion in the first photoelectric conversion unit to the shared output node.

Abstract: A control apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire information indicating a speed at which an imaging apparatus changes an imaging range thereof, an input unit configured to input a first instruction for changing display of an image displayed on a display unit, a display control unit configured to, if the input unit has input the first instruction, change display of the image at a speed corresponding to the information acquired by the acquisition unit, and a transmission unit configured to transmit, to the imaging apparatus, a second instruction for changing the imaging range according to the display of the image being changed by the display control unit.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for focusing an imaging device on a liquid sample flowing through a field of view of the imaging device. Objects are segmented in the captured frames and used to account for the fact that the sample is flowing. Object velocities are calculated and used in selecting an appropriate focus value. The calculation of a focus measure takes account of the number of objects in captured frames in order to ensure a consistent calculation of the focus measure.