Abstract: Disclosed herein is an imaging apparatus including: imaging means for imaging a scene that is in a direction in which a user sees to obtain image data of the scene; temporary storage means for storing the image data obtained by imaging by the imaging means; and control means for controlling the temporary storage means to store the image data obtained by imaging by the imaging means, and, when a predetermined storage condition has been satisfied, extracting image data to be stored from the temporary storage means and adding metadata to the extracted image data to perform a storage process.

Abstract: A picture imaging apparatus includes: an imaging means for imaging a subject picture to acquire taken picture data; a storage processing means for performing a storage process of taken picture data acquired by the imaging means; a motion detecting means for detecting motion of the picture imaging apparatus itself; a manipulating means for manipulating a shutter; and a control means for instructing the imaging means to perform a process in accordance with a shutter manipulation at a timing based on a result detected in the motion detecting means during a period during which the shutter is being manipulated by the manipulating means.

Abstract: A method for generating a signal based on a visual image includes photographing a target object with a digital camera to obtain a target image; receiving the target image into a processor that is in communication with the camera; cross-correlating the target image with a structure having a variety of scales across the target image; and based on cross-correlating the target image, generating a signal for output on a device associated with the camera. A visual recognition system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A camera module (50) is provided with a suspension wire (16) and an AF spring. The spring constant of the suspension wire (16) and the AF spring is set so that the maximum value of stress specified according to the degree of deformation in the longitudinal direction of the suspension wire (16) does not exceed the buckling stress or the yield stress of the suspension wire (16) when a movable section moves within a moving range.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for delivering an enhanced reality message. The method includes sending a medium containing a code or indicia corresponding to a recorded video to a recipient, said video including an altered “green screen” background. A web server is operated to send the recorded video including the altered “green screen” background to a recipient's computer when the corresponding code or indicia is received from the client computer. The method also includes superimposing the recorded, altered video over an image acquired by a webcam of the recipient's computer, and to position the recorded video on the display screen dependent upon the location of a special marker on an object seen by the webcam.

Abstract: Multiple uncompressed digital images, each at a different exposure, may be captured automatically in response to an image capture request. The set of uncompressed digital images may be stored as a single data object and manipulated to produce a final digital image.

Abstract: In a driving device, a distance from a guide member to a vibrator is less than that from the guide member to a permanent magnet in a plane perpendicular to a guiding direction of a guide member. An attraction force between the permanent magnet and a magnetic body acts as a force to rotate (i.e., a rotating force) a holding member about an axis of the guide member, and the vibrator is pressed against a contact member by the rotating force.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device comprises a semiconductor substrate; a multilayer wiring structure; a first color filter layer including a plurality of first color filters which are arranged above a first photoelectric conversion units to allow light of a first color to enter the first photoelectric conversion units, each first color filter being connected to an adjacent first color filter; and a second color filter layer including a plurality of second color filters which are arranged above a second photoelectric conversion units to allow light of a second color to enter the second photoelectric conversion units, wherein the multilayer wiring structure including an uppermost wiring layer which defines the aperture regions corresponding to the respective photoelectric conversion units, and an insulation film arranged to cover the uppermost wiring layer, and wherein the first color filter layer and the second color filter layer are arranged to cover the insulation film.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus 10 includes a solid-state imaging device 40, and a color filter 16 constituted of a first color filter 16a (first filter) and a second color filter 16b (second filter). The solid-state imaging device 40 photoelectrically converts light incident to a face S1 (first face) thereof to thereby capture an image of an object to be imaged. Arranged on the face S1 of the solid-state imaging device 40 is the first color filter 16a and second color filter 16b. The first color filter 16a is a filter that allows first wavelength band light to be selectively transmitted therethrough; the second color filter 16b is a filter that allows second wavelength band light in the longer wavelength side relative to the first wavelength band to be selectively transmitted therethrough.

Abstract: The invention concerns correcting an error in an estimated pose of a moveable camera. The camera is at least a part of a camera system that generates an output image on the basis of the camera pose. Incremental pose measurements for the camera are taken over time and a pose of the camera using the incremental pose measurements is estimated, the estimated camera pose having an error. A pose correction is determined on the basis of the difference between an absolute pose measurement for the camera and the estimated camera pose. A rate of change in the camera image caused by a change in the camera is monitored. A parameter of the camera system is periodically adjusted based on the incremental pose measurements. The adjustment is further set in order to effect the pose correction so as to correct for the estimated camera pose error and the pose correction is effected at a rate based on the monitored rate of change in the camera image.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus and an imaging method supply an optimum amount of image data to another apparatus. When a PDA has a maximum transfer rate of 1.5 Mbps, a mobile phone determines that the maximum speed of communication with the PDA is low, reduces the amount of moving image data captured by a CCD of the mobile phone accordingly, and supplies the captured moving image data to the PDA. The PDA therefore displays a low-quality moving image on its display unit. When the PDA 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. The PDA then displays a high-quality moving image on its display unit. The foregoing may be advantageously applied to digital cameras.

Abstract: A device for communication may include an optical sensor to capture an image. A processor may be provided to identify or select a class of data in the image and to perform a predetermined function in response to the class of data.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for initiating capture of an image on a computer system, performed by the computer system that is programmed to perform the method includes determining by a physical sensor of the computer system, a change in physical state of the computer system, wherein the change in physical state is associated with a magnitude of change in physical state, determining by the computer system, whether the magnitude of change in physical state by the physical sensor exceeds a threshold level, determining by the computer system, a plurality of parameters for a camera associated with the computer system, and initiating by the computer system, capture of one or more images using the camera after the magnitude of change in physical state by the physical sensor exceeds the threshold level.

Abstract: Various systems and methods are provided to implement a flexible approach to the remote control of camera systems. For example, camera systems and related methods may be implemented to recognize a protocol that supports a multi-tiered configuration of camera system components. In one example, routing tables may be maintained at various tiers of a camera system to facilitate the selective routing or execution of commands at different tiers in a hierarchical manner. In one example, the routing tables may be dynamically built and may include routing information related to lower level tiers but not higher level tiers.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus includes: a photoelectric conversion unit of a charge accumulation type, including a plurality of sensors; an accumulation controller for controlling charge accumulation of the photoelectric conversion unit; an accumulation time measuring unit for measuring accumulation time; a correction computing unit for performing correction computing of a photoelectric conversion signal; and a focus detection computing unit for performing focus detection computing. The accumulation controller detects a signal of accumulation completion in a first sensor of the plurality of sensors, and then forces sensors except the first sensor to terminate the charge accumulation. The correction computing unit performs the correction computing of the photoelectric conversion signal based on first accumulation time that is accumulation time of the first sensor and second accumulation time that is different from the first accumulation time.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a barrel unit having a photographic lens, an image pickup device configured to receive light through the photographic lens to capture a subject image, a movable unit configured to movably support the image pickup device in a direction perpendicular to a light-receiving axis of the subject image, a processing unit configured to process signals from the image pickup device, a flexible board configured to connect the image pickup device to the processing unit, and a positioning unit configured to position the flexible board.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a first obtaining unit, a second obtaining unit and a display control unit. The first obtaining unit obtains, from an electronic device connected to the information processing apparatus, image data stored in a memory medium connected to the electronic device. The second obtaining unit obtains in advance reduced image data corresponding to the image data before obtainment of the image data by the first obtaining unit. The display control unit updates reduced image data displayed on a display unit, obtained by the second obtaining unit, in accordance with a display condition designated by a user. When the display condition is changed while the first obtaining unit is executing obtainment of image data, the first obtaining unit changes an obtainment order of image data based on the changed display condition.

Abstract: A method for deblurring an image. A first image is captured. A second image is captured, wherein the second image is more blurred and more exposed than the first image. The second image is deblurred based on the first image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a distribution detection unit configured to detect whether a luminance distribution on the screen changes to a hill-shaped form, based on a result of adding photometric values of each of divided photometry areas by rows and by columns, a difference calculation unit configured to calculate a luminance value difference between one portion of the screen and the peripheral portion thereof, a ratio calculating unit configured to calculate a ratio of pixels having a luminance value higher than or equal to a threshold value in the one portion, and a spotlight determination unit configured to determine whether a scene of the captured image is a spotlight scene according to a detection result of the distribution detection unit, calculation result of the difference calculation unit, and a calculation result of the ratio calculation unit.

Abstract: If a request of handle information to identify data existing in a recording medium is made to a digital camera by a PC, the digital camera collects the data existing in the recording medium by accessing a file system, generates unique handle information independent of the file system on the basis of a file path of the file system, and transmits it to the PC. When the request accompanied by the handle information is received from the PC, the digital camera executes a file path restoring process to the handle information, thereby restoring the file path which depends on the file system in the digital camera, retrieves the requested file by using the obtained file path, and transmits the data to the PC. According to this arrangement, installation costs can be suppressed by making an identification information management table unnecessary even while identification information which is independent of a logical data management system is used.