Abstract: A disclosed apparatus includes a plurality of camera units. Control logic, operatively coupled to each camera unit, is operative to perform a parallax operation using at least two image frames from at least two camera units to determine a common focus distance, subsequent to completing independent auto-focus operations and respective lens position adjustments for the at least two camera units. The control logic provides a control signal to at least one of the camera units to adjust its actuator to adjust lens position in response to the determined common focus distance. A test procedure is used to map focus distance to lens position for each camera unit and to generate a lookup table. The control logic uses the lookup table unique to each camera unit to adjust the lens settings according to the determined common focus distance. The parallax operation is iterated until the common focus distance converges.

Abstract: A method and apparatus can determine lens shading correction for a multiple camera device with various fields of view. According to a possible embodiment, a flat-field image can be captured using a first camera having a first lens for a multiple camera device. A first lens shading correction ratio can be ascertained for the first camera. A second lens shading correction ratio can be determined for a second camera having a second lens for the multiple camera device. The second camera can have a different field of view from the first camera. The second lens shading correction ratio can be based on the first lens shading correction ratio and can be based on the flat-field image acquired by the first camera.

Abstract: A method and apparatus synchronize auto exposure between chromatic pixels and panchromatic pixels in a camera system. A first exposure can be determined for different chromatic pixels that detect different color light. An illumination type of a scene can be detected. An exposure ratio between the chromatic pixels and panchromatic pixels can be ascertained based on the illumination type of the scene. A second exposure can be determined for the panchromatic pixels that detect panchromatic light. The first exposure can be different from the second exposure based on the exposure ratio between the chromatic pixels and the panchromatic pixels with respect to an illumination type of a scene. Then, at least one image of the scene can be captured using the first exposure for the different chromatic pixels and the second exposure for the panchromatic pixels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for auto exposure value detection for High Dynamic Range (HDR) Imaging. An image can be captured as a captured image at a capture exposure. The exposure of a current iteration of the image can be changed by at least a fraction of an exposure value. A changed exposure image can be captured at the changed exposure value. A difference between an exposure data metric of the current iteration of the changed exposure image and an exposure data metric of a previous iteration of the image can be ascertained. The difference between the exposure data metric of the current iteration of the changed exposure image and the exposure data metric of the previous iteration of the image can be compared to a difference threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus merge depth maps in a depth camera system. According to a possible embodiment, a first image of a scene can be received. The first image can include first image coordinates. A second image of the scene can be received. A third image of the scene can be received. An x-axis depth map of the first image coordinates can be generated based on the first and second images. A y-axis depth map of the first image coordinates can be generated based on the first and third images. The y-axis can be perpendicular to the x-axis. Edge detection can be performed on the first image to detect edges in the first image. A confidence score map can be generated for each depth map. A higher confidence score on the confidence score map of the x-axis depth map can be set for a pixel on an edge at an angle closer to the y-axis than the x-axis for the pixel on the x-axis depth map.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide user interaction for virtual measurement using a depth camera system. According to a possible embodiment, an image of a scene can be displayed on a display of the apparatus. A first frame of the scene can be captured using a first camera on an apparatus. A second frame of the scene can be captured using a second camera on the apparatus. A depth map can be generated based on the first frame and the second frame. A user input can be received that generates at least a human generated segment for measurement on the displayed scene. A measurement overlay can be generated based on the user input and the depth map. The measurement overlay can indicate a measurement in the scene. The measurement overlay can be displayed on a frame of the scene on the display.

Abstract: In embodiments of dual camera system zoom notification, a dual camera system includes a first imager and a second imager that are designed to support synthetic optical zoom of a scene. A camera controller is implemented to determine that the synthetic optical zoom is not supported to capture an image of the scene with the dual camera system. The camera controller can then initiate a message for a user of the dual camera system to indicate that the synthetic optical zoom is not supported to capture the image of the scene. The message can be displayed to indicate that the synthetic optical zoom is not supported and/or to indicate that digital zoom is activated. A user can also be provided with selectable options that enable the user to decide the zoom operation when the dual camera system is not operational for synthetic optical zoom.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of camera units where each camera unit has a lens, a sensor that can detect at least three colors, and camera unit calibration data for each camera unit is stored in non-volatile, non-transitory memory. The apparatus also includes multi-camera auto white balance synchronization logic that is operatively coupled to each camera unit. The multi-camera auto white balance synchronization logic is operative to determine common white balance results based on the camera unit white balance results per frame and the camera calibration data. The common white balance results are provided to image signal processing pipelines such that a merged frame can be obtained by combining the frames of each camera after performing white balance and color correction using the common white balance results.

Abstract: Panchromatic pixels and chromatic pixels are interpolated into color channels per pixel of an output image. First, panchromatic pixels and chromatic pixels are used to generate an intermediate image with panchromatic channel, and color channels per pixel. At least three color channels of a first color space can be converted to a first panchromatic light intensity channel in a second color space and at least two first chrominance channels in the second color space based on a detected correlated color temperature. A ratio per pixel between the first panchromatic light intensity channel in the second color space and a second panchromatic light intensity channel in the second color space can be calculated, where the second panchromatic light intensity channel can be based on a panchromatic value per pixel. The ratio can be applied to the at least two first chrominance channels per pixel to determine pixel values in at least two second chrominance channels of the second color space.

Abstract: Panchromatic pixels and chromatic pixels are interpolated into color channels per pixel of an output image. First, panchromatic pixels and chromatic pixels are used to generate an intermediate image with panchromatic channel, and color channels per pixel. At least three color channels of a first color space can be converted to a first panchromatic light intensity channel in a second color space and at least two first chrominance channels in the second color space based on a detected correlated color temperature. A ratio per pixel between the first panchromatic light intensity channel in the second color space and a second panchromatic light intensity channel in the second color space can be calculated, where the second panchromatic light intensity channel can be based on a panchromatic value per pixel. The ratio can be applied to the at least two first chrominance channels per pixel to determine pixel values in at least two second chrominance channels of the second color space.

Abstract: A method and apparatus synchronize auto exposure between chromatic pixels and panchromatic pixels in a camera system. A first exposure can be determined for different chromatic pixels that detect different color light. An illumination type of a scene can be detected. An exposure ratio between the chromatic pixels and panchromatic pixels can be ascertained based on the illumination type of the scene. A second exposure can be determined for the panchromatic pixels that detect panchromatic light. The first exposure can be different from the second exposure based on the exposure ratio between the chromatic pixels and the panchromatic pixels with respect to an illumination type of a scene. Then, at least one image of the scene can be captured using the first exposure for the different chromatic pixels and the second exposure for the panchromatic pixels.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for auto exposure value detection for High Dynamic Range (HDR) Imaging. An image can be captured as a captured image at a capture exposure. The exposure of a current iteration of the image can be changed by at least a fraction of an exposure value. A changed exposure image can be captured at the changed exposure value. A difference between an exposure data metric of the current iteration of the changed exposure image and an exposure data metric of a previous iteration of the image can be ascertained. The difference between the exposure data metric of the current iteration of the changed exposure image and the exposure data metric of the previous iteration of the image can be compared to a difference threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus can determine lens shading correction for a multiple camera device with various fields of view. According to a possible embodiment, a flat-field image can be captured using a first camera having a first lens for a multiple camera device. A first lens shading correction ratio can be ascertained for the first camera. A second lens shading correction ratio can be determined for a second camera having a second lens for the multiple camera device. The second camera can have a different field of view from the first camera. The second lens shading correction ratio can be based on the first lens shading correction ratio and can be based on the flat-field image acquired by the first camera.

Abstract: In embodiments of dual camera system zoom notification, a dual camera system includes a first imager and a second imager that are designed to support synthetic optical zoom of a scene. A camera controller is implemented to determine that the synthetic optical zoom is not supported to capture an image of the scene with the dual camera system. The camera controller can then initiate a message for a user of the dual camera system to indicate that the synthetic optical zoom is not supported to capture the image of the scene. The message can be displayed to indicate that the synthetic optical zoom is not supported and/or to indicate that digital zoom is activated. A user can also be provided with selectable options that enable the user to decide the zoom operation when the dual camera system is not operational for synthetic optical zoom.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a plurality of camera units where each camera unit has a lens, a sensor that can detect at least three colors, and camera unit calibration data for each camera unit is stored in non-volatile, non-transitory memory. The apparatus also includes multi-camera auto white balance synchronization logic that is operatively coupled to each camera unit. The multi-camera auto white balance synchronization logic is operative to determine common white balance results based on the camera unit white balance results per frame and the camera calibration data. The common white balance results are provided to image signal processing pipelines such that a merged frame can be obtained by combining the frames of each camera after performing white balance and color correction using the common white balance results.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for invoking a High Dynamic Range (“HDR”) mode in a camera are disclosed. The method comprises detecting that the camera is operating in a preview mode. The method further comprises determining a dynamic range, Auto Exposure (“AE”) metadata, and a motion level associated with a plurality of frames captured in the preview mode. Finally, the method comprises invoking the HDR mode when each of the determined dynamic range, the AE metadata, and the motion level is above a first threshold value, a second threshold value, and a third threshold value, respectively.

Abstract: A disclosed apparatus includes a plurality of camera units. Control logic, operatively coupled to each camera unit, is operative to perform a parallax operation using at least two image frames from at least two camera units to determine a common focus distance, subsequent to completing independent auto-focus operations and respective lens position adjustments for the at least two camera units. The control logic provides a control signal to at least one of the camera units to adjust its actuator to adjust lens position in response to the determined common focus distance. A test procedure is used to map focus distance to lens position for each camera unit and to generate a lookup table. The control logic uses the lookup table unique to each camera unit to adjust the lens settings according to the determined common focus distance. The parallax operation is iterated until the common focus distance converges.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for invoking a High Dynamic Range (“HDR”) mode in a camera are disclosed. The method comprises detecting that the camera is operating in a preview mode. The method further comprises determining a dynamic range, Auto Exposure (“AE”) metadata, and a motion level associated with a plurality of frames captured in the preview mode. Finally, the method comprises invoking the HDR mode when each of the determined dynamic range, the AE metadata, and the motion level is above a first threshold value, a second threshold value, and a third threshold value, respectively.