Abstract: An imaging device includes: an optical system which obtains an optical image of a photographic subject; an image sensor which converts the optical image to an electric signal; a digital signal processor which produces image data based on the electric signal; a display section which displays a photographic subject image expressed by the image data; and an operating section which performs a necessary setting regarding imaging, the digital signal processor including: an autofocus operation section which performs an autofocus operation based on data of an autofocus area set in the photographic subject image; a main area setting section which sets a main area in the photographic subject image; and a blurring operation section which performs a blurring operation on an area other than the main area in the photographic subject image, wherein the autofocus area is set automatically to overlap with at least a part of the main area.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus includes first-type and second-type pixels and an image-formation-state detector. Each first-type pixel includes a photoelectric converter that receives light from an image-pickup optical system and first and second optical members arranged on an optical path from the optical system to the photoelectric converter and having different refractive indices, and outputs a first charge signal corresponding to an amount of light received by the photoelectric converter. Each second-type pixel includes the photoelectric converter and the first and second optical members arranged such that a positional relationship relative to the photoelectric converter differs from that in each first-type pixel, and outputs a second charge signal corresponding to an amount of light received by the photoelectric converter. The detector detects an image formation state of the image-pickup optical system on the basis of the first and second charge signals.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus, when an image captured by an imaging unit thereof is not displayed on a display unit, can facilitate framing of an object to be imaged. An aspect ratio setting unit sets an aspect ratio imaged by an image sensor. A system control circuit controls, in a first mode, the display unit to display image data captured by an image sensor in the aspect ratio, and in a second mode, not to display the image data. The system control circuit also displays, in the second mode, information from which at least one of a focus detectable position and a metering area within a shooting area in the aspect ratio is identifiable.

Abstract: A communication apparatus is provided, which discloses a plurality of control content items to an external apparatus. The control content items are used to cause the communication apparatus to perform processing for generating content, and to generate different content in different formats. If one of the plurality of the control content items is requested from the external apparatus, the communication apparatus performs processing according to the requested control content, and transmits the generated content. The disclosed control content items are each in a format of the content generated in the processing according to the control content.

Abstract: A zoom lens system comprises: a negative first lens unit being composed of two lens elements; a positive second lens unit; and a positive third lens unit, wherein the lens units are moved such that an interval between the first lens unit and the second lens unit decreases and an interval between the second lens unit and the third lens unit increases in zooming, so that magnification change is achieved, wherein the first lens unit is composed of a negative first lens element and a positive second lens element, and wherein the condition is satisfied: 0.50<fL2/fT<1.00 where, Z=fT/fW>4.0, ?W>35, fL2: a focal length of the second lens element, fT, fW: focal lengths of the entire system at a telephoto limit, a wide-angle limit, ?W: a half view angle at a wide-angle limit.

Abstract: A disclosed method of manufacturing a camera module includes providing a stack of optical elements, providing an integrated circuit image capture device (ICD) having a top surface with an array of sensors, rigidly attaching the stack of optical elements to top surface of the image capture device, providing a substrate having an opening therethrough and a recess around said opening, and attaching the image capture device to the substrate such that edges of the image capture device are disposed in the recess and the stack of optical elements extends through the opening. The method further includes providing a second substrate (e.g., host PCB) and mounting the substrate on the second substrate to attach the camera module to the host device. Optionally, the substrate is mounted to the second substrate via a reflow solder process.

Abstract: An image signal processing unit partitions a frame image into a plurality of partitioned blocks and calculates for each partitioned block luminance information, color information, contrast information, and a motion vector quantity. A grouping unit groups the partitioned blocks into an image area of the same object based on the luminance information and the color information of each partitioned block. A moving amount calculating unit calculates a moving amount of an object contained in a grouped image area based on the motion vector quantity of each partitioned block, a detection value of a motion detection sensor, and a focal length calculated by a focal length calculating unit. A tracking object selecting unit selects an object in the image area of the highest contrast value as a tracking target object out of objects each having a moving amount exceeding a threshold value.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus and method for selective real-time focus/parameter adjustment. The image capturing apparatus includes a display unit, an adjustment unit, and a generation unit. The display unit is configured to display an image. The interface unit is configured to enable a user to select a plurality of regions of the image displayed on the display unit. The adjustment unit is configured to enable the user to adjust at least one focus/parameter of at least one selected region of the image displayed on the display unit. The generation unit is configured to convert the image including at least one adjusted selected region into image data, where at least one focus/parameter of the at least one adjusted selected region has been adjusted by the adjustment unit prior to conversion.

Abstract: An image acquisition apparatus includes: an imaging device on which an image of a small area allocated to an area to be imaged is formed; a detection section detecting intensity of light irradiated on the small area from a light source; an integration section integrating the intensity of light detected by the detection section; if an integration value of the intensity of light integrated by the integration section from a point in time when light is emitted from the light source is greater than a predetermined threshold value, a light-source control section terminates light emission; an exposure control section starting exposure of the imaging device before light is emitted from the light source and terminating exposure of the imaging device after emission of light from the light source is terminated; and an image acquisition section acquiring the image of the small area as a divided image from the imaging device.

Abstract: A camera according to the present invention, which is capable of continuous shooting before and after a still image shot according to photographer's operation, comprises: an imaging section converting an object image into image data; a still image shooting section obtaining image data of the still image according to release operation; a continuous shooting section obtaining the image data by continuous shooting before and after the obtaining of the still image in the still image shooting section; an image processing section performing image processing which is different from that of the image data obtained by the still image shooting section and changed sequentially, on the image data obtained by the continuous shooting section; and a recording section recording the image data image-processed by the image processing section.

Abstract: In an imaging apparatus that enables still image shooting during movie recording in a movie recording mode, a first AF area to be focused is set in a imaging field, in still image shooting in a still image shooting mode, and focus control is implemented by utilizing the first AF area. In movie recording in the movie recording mode, focus control is implemented, by utilizing a second AF area that is set independently from the first AF area. In the case where, during the movie recording, still image shooting is instructed, focus control for the still image shooting is implemented, based on the second AF area instead of the first AF area.

Abstract: A portable electronic device and an autofocus control method of a camera of the portable electronic device are disclosed. The portable electronic device provides a G-sensor to detect the orientation of the portable electronic device, and provides a storage unit to store autofocus lookup tables for different orientations of the portable electronic device, respectively. According to orientation information from the G-sensor, the central processing unit of the portable electronic device selects one autofocus lookup table from the storage unit and thereby generates an actuating signal for a focus model. The focus model of the portable electronic device is actuated by the actuating signal to adjust an image distance between a lens module and an image sensor of the camera.

Abstract: A method of full-frame video stabilization with a polyline-fitted camcorder path is disclosed. The regions was first considered of interest in the video to estimate which regions or objects the user wants to capture, and then use a polyline to estimate a new stable camcorder motion path while avoiding the user's interested regions or objects being cut out. Then, the dynamic and static missing areas caused by frame alignment from other frames were filled to keep the same resolution and quality as the original video. Furthermore, the discontinuous regions were smoothed by using a three-dimensional Poisson-based method. After the above automatic operations, a full-frame stabilized video could be achieved and the important regions and objects could also be preserved.

Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus and a method of controlling the same captures a still image in correspondence to a shutter signal input in a photographing mode, captures a moving image after the capturing of the still image is completed, and continues a photographing operation by receiving from the user a selection of the capturing of the still image or the capturing of the moving image. As such, the digital photographing apparatus may obtain a moving image even when a user attempts to capture the moving image without knowing that a photographing mode is a still image capturing mode, and may also obtain a still image at a desired moment even when the user attempts to capture the still image without knowing that the photographing mode is a moving image capturing mode.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus on which a lens apparatus is detachably mounted, may include an image capture device, an image-signal processor, a communication unit, and a control unit. The image capture device may generate an image signal obtained by photoelectric conversion of subject light forming an image through a lens of the image capture apparatus. The image-signal processor may carry out image processing on the image signal photo-electrically converted by the image capture device. The communication unit may communicate with the lens apparatus. The control unit may carry out control to receive the correction information for lateral chromatic aberration and/or the correction information for light falloff at edges through the communication unit.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of increasing the accuracy of detection of an outside flash of light. The imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that sequentially captures images using a CMOS-type image sensor, and a flash determination unit that determines the presence/absence of a flash based on the images captured by the imaging unit. The flash determination unit monitors an amount of change in the average luminance level of a predetermined region in the lower area of the screen in the images captured by the imaging unit, and determines the presence/absence of a flash based on the amount of change in the average luminance level.

Abstract: Light field imaging systems, and in particular light field lenses that can be mated with a variety of conventional cameras (e.g., digital or photographic/film, image and video/movie cameras) to create light field imaging systems. Light field data collected by these light field imaging systems can then be used to produce 2D images, right eye/left eye 3D images, to refocus foreground images and/or background images together or separately (depth of field adjustments), and to move the camera angle, as well as to render and manipulate images using a computer graphics rendering engine and compositing tools.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image recording unit configured to record captured image data on a first recording medium with no wireless communication function and a second recording medium with a wireless communication function, which is detachable, a recording destination setting unit configured to set a recording destination on which to record the image data by the image recording unit, and a transmission setting unit configured to set whether to transmit the image data to an external apparatus by the wireless communication function of the second recording medium. If the transmission setting unit sets the image data to be transmitted to the external apparatus, the recording destination setting unit automatically sets the second recording medium as the recording destination of the captured image data.

Abstract: In a solid state image sensor having a pixel array, a first frame is imaged using varying exposure times in a series of zones. The exposure time for a subsequent frame is selected from the results of the first frame, The exposure times are controlled in a rolling blade manner by controlling the number of lines between reset and readout. The sensor is particularly suited to use in bar code readers.

Abstract: An imaging device and an image crosstalk analysis device are described that may be used to reduce optical crosstalk and radial fall-off in image data. The imaging device may include an image processing unit that applies corrections to the raw image data using newly developed correction algorithms and correction parameters that are generated for the imaging device by the image crosstalk analysis device based on an analysis of uncorrected image data generated by the imaging device. The correction parameters generated for a single imaging device may be loaded to imaging devices of the same make and model as part of the imaging device manufacturing process. Due to the flexible nature of the described processing techniques in which the control parameters are used, improved image quality may be achieved in every image generated by the respective manufactured cameras.