Abstract: An electronic camera for producing an output image of a scene from a captured image signal includes a first imaging stage comprising a first image sensor for generating a first sensor output and a first lens for forming a first image of the scene on the first image sensor, and a second imaging stage comprising a second image sensor for generating a second sensor output and a second lens for forming a second image of the scene on the second image sensor, where the lenses have different focal lengths. A processing stage uses the sensor output from one of the imaging stages as the captured image signal and uses the images from both imaging stages to generate a range map identifying distances to the different portions of the scene.

Abstract: A method of sharpening a full-color image of a scene includes capturing an image of the scene using a two-dimensional sensor array having both color and panchromatic pixels; forming the full-color image in response to the captured color pixels and forming a reference panchromatic image in response to the captured panchromatic pixels; forming a high-frequency panchromatic image from the reference panchromatic image; and providing a sharpened full-color image in response to the high-frequency panchromatic image and the full-color image.

Abstract: A method of processing an array of pixels captured by an image capture device, having a first two-dimensional array of pixels from the image capture device, some of which are color pixels, and some of which are panchromatic pixels; determining in response to ambient lighting conditions, whether panchromatic pixels are to be combined with color pixels; combining pixels to produce a second two-dimensional array of pixels which has fewer pixels than the first two-dimensional array of pixels; and correcting the color pixels.

Abstract: A method of processing an array of pixels captured by an image capture device, includes providing a first two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has individual pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors and the placement of the first and second groups of pixels define a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit arranged to permit the reproduction of a captured color image under different lighting conditions; responding to ambient lighting conditions, whether panchromatic pixels are to be combined with color pixels; combining pixels to produce a second two-dimensional array of pixels which has fewer pixels than the first two-dimensional array of pixels; and correcting the color pixels.

Abstract: A method for producing a noise-reduced digital color image, includes providing an image having panchromatic pixels and color pixels corresponding to at least two color photoresponses; providing from the image a panchromatic image and at least one color image; and using the panchromatic image and the color image to produce the noise-reduced digital color image.

Abstract: A method for using a capture device to capture at least two video signals corresponding to a scene, includes: providing a two-dimensional image sensor having a plurality of pixels; reading a first group of pixels from the image sensor at a first frame rate to produce a first video signal of the image scene; reading a second group of pixels from the image sensor at a second frame rate for producing a second video signal; and using at least one of the video signals for adjusting one or more of the capture device parameters.

Abstract: Imaging systems and methods for calibrating imaging systems are provided. The imaging system has a body, a scene image capture system that captures images using a taking lens system that can be set to a plurality of different focus distances, and a rangefinder that is capable of determining a distance between the imaging system and at least one portion of a field of view of the taking lens system. The method comprises: automatically capturing a first calibration image of a first field of view through the taking lens system with the taking lens system set to a first focus distance setting; identifying a portion of the first calibration image having a predetermined degree of focus; using the rangefinder to determine a first calibration distance from the imaging device to the identified portion. A focus correlation is determined based upon the first calibration distance and the first focus distance setting.

Abstract: A method for operating an autofocus system for focusing an image on an electronic imager includes providing an adjustable lens system defining an optical path for scene light and having at least one movable lens to focus an image of the scene onto the electronic imager; and causing a first portion of the scene light to be obscured so that the electronic imager captures a first autofocus image and causing a second different portion of the scene light to be obscured so that the electronic imager captures a second autofocus image wherein portions of the first and second autofocus images are offset. The method further includes moving the movable lens to a position so that an image to be captured will be in focus.

Abstract: A method of adjusting the color characteristics of a digital image includes receiving a digital image including a plurality of pixels, receiving non-pixel data relating to camera capture parameters including an aperture value, an exposure time value, and a speed value specific to the received digital image; using the aperture value, time value, and speed value to calculate a scene brightness value; and using the calculated scene brightness value to adjust the color of the digital image.

Abstract: CMOS imagers can possess higher levels of imager noise than their predecessors, CCDs. This noise can be of the form of temporal variation and fixed pattern. The fixed pattern component of this noise can be removed, which is known already in the art. The invention in this disclosure is that proper correction can be developed for all imager conditions (imager integration time and imager temperature) using a single FPN (fixed pattern noise) dark map, a single FPN PRNU (pixel response nonuniformity) map, imager integration time and imager temperature. Without this invention, a dark frame capture and a flat field capture (integrating sphere), are required before every image capture, a practical impossibility in typical picture taking.

Abstract: A system and method for use in testing and calibrating both electronic and traditional photographic devices. An illuminator with solid-state emitters and having independent control of both output spectral characteristics and power level enable the system and method to accurately test and calibrate the desired equipment.

Abstract: An illuminator suitable for accurate colorimetric work in electronic imaging and traditional photograghic environments uses an integrating chamber, a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a controller for controlling the emitted energy form the LED. An LED support member assures that the beam of energy will be directed along a predetermined path between the energy inlet end and energy outlet end of the integrating chamber. Energy of a predetermined wavelength is filtered from entering the integrating chamber.

Abstract: A method of calculating a set of color-correction matrix coefficients for an image capturing device uses an LED illuminator having programmable output characteristics and spectral characteristics. A first XYZ data set is created from computed tristimulus values for each of the object stimulus. An image of each one of the predetermined set of object stimulus is captured thereby producing a plurality of images. RGB values are determined and normalized for each image thereby creating an RGB data set. A set of color-correction matrix coefficients are then calculated for the RGB data set corresponding to the first XYZ data set, thereby producing a color corrected RGB data set.

Abstract: A method of minimizing noise in an image produced by an electronic imager comprising: determining a correction system for a range of imager integration times and a range of imager temperatures for an electronic imager which has taken a series of dark capture images and a series of flat field capture images in a calibration mode; and applying the correction system to an image produced by the electronic imager in an image capture mode.

Abstract: CMOS imagers can possess higher levels of imager noise than their predecessors, CCDs. This noise can be of the form of temporal variation and fixed pattern. The fixed pattern component of this noise can be removed, which is known already in the art. The invention in this disclosure is that proper correction can be developed for all imager conditions (imager integration time and imager temperature) using a single FPN (fixed pattern noise) dark map, a single FPN PRNU (pixel response nonuniformity) map, imager integration time and imager temperature. Without this invention, a dark frame capture and a flat field capture (integrating sphere), are required before every image capture, a practical impossibility in typical picture taking.

Abstract: A method of adjusting the color characteristics of a digital image includes receiving a digital image including a plurality of pixels, receiving non-pixel data relating to camera capture parameters including an aperture value, an exposure time value, and a speed value specific to the received digital image; using the aperture value, time value, and speed value to calculate a scene brightness value; and using the calculated scene brightness value to adjust the color of the digital image.

Abstract: An illuminator suitable for accurate colorimetric work in electronic imaging and traditional photograghic environments uses an integrating chamber, a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a controller for controlling the emitted energy form the LED. An LED support member assures that the beam of energy will be directed along a predetermined path between the energy inlet end and energy outlet end of the integrating chamber. Energy of a predetermined wavelength is filtered from entering the integrating chamber.

Abstract: A system and method for use in testing and calibrating both electronic and traditional photographic devices. An illuminator with solid-state emitters and having independent control of both output spectral characteristics and power level enable the system and method to accurately test and calibrate the desired equipment.

Abstract: A white balance correction method for a digital imaging device, including determining a scene illuminant type from a scene brightness and one or more color coordinate values; determining a white balance parameter value responsive to the scene illuminant type, the scene brightness, and one or more color coordinate values; providing at least one white balance correction curve; determining the white balance correction from the white balance parameter value and at least one white balance correction curve for the determined scene illuminant type.