Abstract: Techniques for combining images to reduce motion blur in an output image are described. Data indicative of a first image and a second image of a scene is received. At least one portion of the first image associated with motion blur is identified. The portion of the first image is compared to a corresponding second portion of the second image. First pixels within the at least one portion of the first image and second pixels within the second portion of the second image not associated with motion blur are selected. The selected first pixels and second pixels are combined into an output image. The combined selected pixels are rendered on a display device.

Abstract: The present application relates to image capture and generation methods and apparatus and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus which detect and/or indicate a dirty lens condition. One embodiment of the present invention includes a method of operating a camera including the steps of capturing a first image using a first lens of the camera; determining, based on at least the first image, if a dirty camera lens condition exists; and in response to determining that a dirty lens condition exists, generating a dirty lens condition notification or initiating an automatic camera lens cleaning operation. In some embodiments multiple captured images with overlapping image regions are compared to determine if a dirty lens condition exists.

Abstract: In a portable camera device, a variable voltage regulator produces a power supply voltage of a VCM driver circuit that conducts the coil current of a VCM actuator as part of an optical image stabilization (OIS) mechanism. A processor signals the variable voltage regulator to increase the power supply voltage when the camera device transitions from still capture mode or preview mode to video capture mode, where the increase causes an increase in stroke of the VCM OIS actuator. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An image processing system may process an image of indicia positioned behind a reflective surface. The indicia may be a vehicle identification number and the reflective surface may be a windshield of a vehicle. The image processing system may receive an initial image of the indicia positioned behind a reflective surface and process the initial image to produce a resulting image. In processing the initial image, the image processing system may identify an interest region of the initial image, where the interest region identifies a portion of the initial image affected by glare caused by the reflective surface, texturize the interest region to account for the glare, and remove a defocusing effect from the initial image to account for blur, reflection, or both, caused by the reflective surface. Then, the image processing system may extract data, such as the vehicle identification number, from the resulting image.

Abstract: Disclosed is a camera module for a vehicle. In one embodiment, the camera module for the vehicle comprises: a lens unit comprising one or more lenses; a front body open on one side to accommodate the lens unit; and a rear body bonded with the front body so as to form a space therein, wherein the front body comprises a first composition comprising a dispersion of a first filler comprising graphite, graphene and carbon fiber in a resin matrix comprising one or more of polyamide, polyphenylene sulfide and modified polyphenylene ether.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus of the disclosure includes a base that has a power transmitter for transmitting power wirelessly; and a movable unit that has a power receiver for receiving power wirelessly from the power transmitter, an imager operating on the basis of power received by the power receiver, and a first communicator transmitting image information acquired by the imager wirelessly. The movable unit is movable relative to the base. According to the disclosure, it is possible to improve reliability of transmission and reception of a signal and power, and it is possible to alleviate deficiency due to limitation on the number of operation times caused by a mechanical contact.

Abstract: A time-dependent aperture is configured to modulate light during an integration time interval. A first detector is configured to capture a first image of a scene during the integration time interval using light received from the time-dependent aperture. A second detector is configured to capture a second image of the scene concurrently with the first detector capturing the first image. A processor is configured to reconstruct a plurality of images of the scene based on the first image and the second image.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus and method enables an automated extended depth of field capability that automates and simplifies the process of creating extended depth of field images. An embodiment automates the acquisition of an image “stack” or sequence and stores metadata at the time of image acquisition that facilitates production of a composite image having an extended depth of field from at least a portion of the images in the acquired sequence. An embodiment allows a user to specify, either at the time of image capture or at the time the composite image is created, a range of distances that the user wishes to have in focus within the composite image. An embodiment provides an on-board capability to produce a composite, extended depth of field image from the image stack. One embodiment allows the user to import the image stack into an image-processing software application that produces the composite image.

Abstract: Imaging sensors that detect infrared and visible light are provided herein. In one example, an imaging sensor is presented that includes a semiconductor substrate comprising an array of pixel structures for concurrently sensing infrared light and visible light. Each of the pixel structures include a first pixel element configured to detect the infrared light and a second pixel element configured to detect the visible light. Each of the pixel structures further include a shared output circuit that couples the first pixel element and the second pixel element such that a first output state presents a first signal corresponding to detected infrared light of the first pixel element and a second output state presents a second signal corresponding to detected visible light of the second pixel element.

Abstract: According to one aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising at least one processing unit and at least one memory. The at least one memory stores program instructions that, when executed by the at least one processing unit, cause the apparatus to obtain a set of captured still images captured with a camera, detect at least one face in the captured still images, and cause display of the detected at least one face on a display providing a live viewfinder feed of a scene to be captured as an additional display element while providing the live viewfinder feed on the display.

Abstract: A smartphone may be freely moved in three dimensions as it captures a stream of images of an object. Multiple image frames may be captured in different orientations and distances from the object and combined into a composite image representing an image of the object. The image frames may be formed into the composite image based on representing features of each image frame as a set of points in a three dimensional point cloud. Inconsistencies between the image frames may be adjusted when projecting respective points in the point cloud into the composite image. Quality of the image frames may be improved by processing the image frames to correct errors. Reflections and shadows may be detected and removed. Further, optical character recognition may be applied. As the scan progresses, a direction for capturing subsequent image frames is provided to a user as a real-time feedback.

Abstract: A color temperature of each of a first sensed image that is sensed by a first image sensing device and a second sensed image that is sensed by a second image sensing device different from the first image sensing device is acquired, a color temperature that is common between the first image sensing device and the second image sensing device is decided based on the acquired color temperatures, and color information in an image sensed by the first image sensing device and an image sensed by the second image sensing device is adjusted based on the decided color temperature.

Abstract: A camera controller is configured to control a camera through voice commands. The camera controller includes drain mechanisms that allow the camera controller to be used in environments in which the camera controller is exposed to fluids. The camera controller device comprises a housing body with an outer surface including a first opening and a second opening. A first channel extends from the first opening into the housing body and to a cavity in which a microphone is located, enabling audio signals entering the first opening to be captured by the microphone. A membrane is located between the first channel and the microphone to create a waterproof seal over the microphone. A second channel extends from the first channel to the second opening to create a drain such that fluid entering from the first opening can flow from the first channel through the second channel and out the second opening.

Abstract: A camera system capable of capturing images of an event in a dynamic environment includes two microphones configured to capture stereo audio of the event. The microphones are on orthogonal surfaces of the camera system. Because the microphones are on orthogonal surfaces of the camera system, the camera body can impact the spatial response of the two recorded audio channels differently, leading to degraded stereo recreation if standard beam forming techniques are used. The camera system includes tuned beam forming techniques to generate multi-channel audio that more accurately recreates the stereo audio by compensating for the shape of the camera system and the orientation of microphones on the camera system. The tuned beam forming techniques include optimizing a set of beam forming parameters, as a function of frequency, based on the true spatial response of the recorded audio signals.

Abstract: An adaptive video end-to-end network is described that uses local abstraction. One example includes an image sensor to generate a sequence of images, a processor coupled to the image sensor to analyze the sequence of images to detect an event, to select images related to the event and to generate metadata regarding the event, and a communications interface coupled to the processor to send the metadata information through a network connection to a central node.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus combines a partial area of a first image with a second image. The partial area to be combined with the second image is determined based on distance information with regard to a plurality of partial areas of the first image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that performs image processing on an image having light-field image data having a focus state that is changeable after shooting of the image. The image processing apparatus includes a processor and a memory storing a program which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to function as a specifying unit configured to specify a trimming area of the image, an acquiring unit configured to acquire information indicating a depth position to be focused in the specified trimming area, a generating unit configured to generate edited light-field image data, a storing unit configured to store the information acquired by the acquiring unit together with the edited light-field image data, a focusing unit configured to bring the specified trimming area into focus, and an output unit configured to output an image that includes the specified trimming area that is brought into focus.

Abstract: There is provided an electronic circuit including a timing signal generation unit for generating a timing signal; a data signal supply unit for synchronizing with the timing signal generated to supply a data signal; a data signal transmission circuit for transmitting the data signal supplied; a timing signal transmission circuit for transmitting the timing signal generated by a circuit having a substantially same delay time as the data signal transmission circuit; and a data holding unit for synchronizing with the timing signal transmitted to hold and output the data signal transmitted. Also, there are provided a solid state image capturing apparatus and a method of controlling the electronic circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a control unit configured to perform zoom control based on a size of an object indicated by acquired information and a set reference size. In the zoom control, the control unit switches between first control and second control according to the set reference size. In the first control, a zoom speed to be set is updated in such a way as to gradually increase, and, in the second control, a zoom speed to be set is not updated.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image sensor, a driving unit configured to drive the image sensor, and a detection unit configured to detect a variation in amount of light within one frame image based on a plurality of image signals obtained by driving the image sensor with different accumulation periods by the driving unit.