Abstract: A lens unit (120) shows longitudinal chromatic aberration and focuses an imaged scene into a first image for the infrared range in a first focal plane and into a second image for the visible range in a second focal plane. An optical element (150) manipulates the modulation transfer function assigned to the first and second images to extend the depth of field. An image processing unit (200) may amplify a modulation transfer function contrast in the first and second images. A focal shift between the focal planes may be compensated for. While in conventional approaches for RGBIR sensors contemporaneously providing both a conventional and an infrared image of the same scene the infrared image is severely out of focus, the present approach provides extended depth of field imaging to rectify the problem of out-of-focus blur for infrared radiation. An imaging system can be realized without any apochromatic lens.

Abstract: A lens unit of an imaging unit features longitudinal chromatic aberration. From an imaged scene, an imaging sensor unit captures non-color-corrected first images of different spectral content. An intensity processing unit computes broadband luminance sharpness information from the first images on the basis of information descriptive for imaging properties of the lens unit. A chrominance processing unit computes chrominance information on the basis of the first images. A synthesizing unit combines the computed chrominance and luminance information to provide an output image having, for example, extended depth-of-field. The imaging unit may be provided in a camera system, a digital microscope, as examples.

Abstract: A lens unit (120) shows longitudinal chromatic aberration and focuses an imaged scene into a first image for the infrared range in a first focal plane and into a second image for the visible range in a second focal plane. An optical element (150) manipulates the modulation transfer function assigned to the first and second images to extend the depth of field. An image processing unit (200) may amplify a modulation transfer function contrast in the first and second images. A focal shift between the focal planes may be compensated for. While in conventional approaches for RGBIR sensors contemporaneously providing both a conventional and an infrared image of the same scene the infrared image is severely out of focus, the present approach provides extended depth of field imaging to rectify the problem of out-of-focus blur for infrared radiation. An imaging system can be realized without any apochromatic lens.

Abstract: A lens unit (120) shows longitudinal chromatic aberration and focuses an imaged scene into a first image for the infrared range in a first focal plane and into a second image for the visible range in a second focal plane. An optical element (150) manipulates the modulation transfer function assigned to the first and second images to extend the depth of field. An image processing unit (200) may amplify a modulation transfer function contrast in the first and second images. A focal shift between the focal planes may be compensated for. While in conventional approaches for RGBIR sensors contemporaneously providing both a conventional and an infrared image of the same scene the infrared image is severely out of focus, the present approach provides extended depth of field imaging to rectify the problem of out-of-focus blur for infrared radiation. An imaging system can be realized without any apochromatic lens.

Abstract: A lens unit (120) shows longitudinal chromatic aberration and focuses an imaged scene into a first image for the infrared range in a first focal plane and into a second image for the visible range in a second focal plane. An optical element (150) manipulates the modulation transfer function assigned to the first and second images to extend the depth of field. An image processing unit (200) may amplify a modulation transfer function contrast in the first and second images. A focal shift between the focal planes may be compensated for. While in conventional approaches for RGBIR sensors contemporaneously providing both a conventional and an infrared image of the same scene the infrared image is severely out of focus, the present approach provides extended depth of field imaging to rectify the problem of out-of-focus blur for infrared radiation. An imaging system can be realized without any apochromatic lens.

Abstract: A lens unit (120) shows longitudinal chromatic aberration and focuses an imaged scene into a first image for the infrared range in a first focal plane and into a second image for the visible range in a second focal plane. An optical element (150) manipulates the modulation transfer function assigned to the first and second images to extend the depth of field. An image processing unit (200) may amplify a modulation transfer function contrast in the first and second images. A focal shift between the focal planes may be compensated for. While in conventional approaches for RGBIR sensors contemporaneously providing both a conventional and an infrared image of the same scene the infrared image is severely out of focus, the present approach provides extended depth of field imaging to rectify the problem of out-of-focus blur for infrared radiation. An imaging system can be realized without any apochromatic lens.

Abstract: In a method for estimating motion vectors for blocks of a current video image in a sequence of video images, each video image being divided into a plurality of blocks, the following is performed: determining (13) a motion vector for a block of a previous video image; projecting (16) the determined motion vector of the block of the previous video image to a block position of the current video image, thereby obtaining a projected motion vector; and performing (18) a motion estimation for a current block of the current video image on the basis of the projected motion vector, thereby obtaining a motion vector for the current block of the current video image.

Abstract: A method of processing signal data comprises receiving signal data, calculating a first k-th moment from the signal data based on a first number of samples N1, calculating a second k-th moment from the signal data based on a second number of samples N2, the first number N1 being different than the second number N2, calculating a combined error, the combined error being a function of the first and second k-th moments, classifying a data region of the signal data as flat if the combined error is below or equal to a threshold curve in the data region, and classifying a data region of the signal data as non-flat if the combined error is higher than the threshold curve in the data region.

Abstract: A lens unit of an imaging unit features longitudinal chromatic aberration. From an imaged scene, an imaging sensor unit captures non-color-corrected first images of different spectral content. An intensity processing unit computes broadband luminance sharpness information from the first images on the basis of information descriptive for imaging properties of the lens unit. A chrominance processing unit computes chrominance information on the basis of the first images. A synthesizing unit combines the computed chrominance and luminance information to provide an output image having, for example, extended depth-of-field. The imaging unit may be provided in a camera system, a digital microscope, as examples.

Abstract: A method for processing image data representing a segmentation mask, comprises generating two-dimensional shape representations of a three-dimensional object on the basis of a plurality of parameter sets; and matching motion blocks of the segmentation mask with the two-dimensional shape representations to obtain a best fit parameter set. Thereby, for example, a distance between the three-dimensional object and a camera position may be determined.

Abstract: A method and unit for noise reduction in a current image frame, wherein the current image frame is a part of a sequence of image frames. The method compares a current pixel value of a pixel within the current image frame with a corresponding pixel value of the pixel in at least one adjacent image frame, and determines a piled-up value of the current pixel value and the corresponding pixel value if a pixel difference between the current pixel value and the corresponding pixel value is below a pixel threshold, wherein the pixel threshold depends on the corresponding pixel value and/or the current pixel value. The method and unit can be applied for block and color processing as well.

Abstract: A lens unit (120) shows longitudinal chromatic aberration and focuses an imaged scene into a first image for the infrared range in a first focal plane and into a second image for the visible range in a second focal plane. An optical element (150) manipulates the modulation transfer function assigned to the first and second images to extend the depth of field. An image processing unit (200) may amplify a modulation transfer function contrast in the first and second images. A focal shift between the focal planes may be compensated for. While in conventional approaches for RGBIR sensors contemporaneously providing both a conventional and an infrared image of the same scene the infrared image is severely out of focus, the present approach provides extended depth of field imaging to rectify the problem of out-of-focus blur for infrared radiation. An imaging system can be realized without any apochromatic lens.

Abstract: Method for motion detection in a current picture (CP) with respect to a reference picture (RP), wherein for a plurality of locations in the current picture (CP) respective difference values (|D|) are determined (B100). A respective difference value is determined based on a difference between a first value and a second value, wherein the first value is descriptive of a photometric measure of one of the locations in the current picture (CP) and the second value is descriptive of the photometric measure of a corresponding location in the reference picture (RP). Based on the difference values, a histogram is determined (B102). The histogram is used as a basis for determining (B104) a threshold (T1, T2, T3). At a respective location in the current picture (CP), motion is detected by comparing the threshold (T1, T2, T3) to the difference value (|D|) of the respective location.

Abstract: A method for converting an image and an image conversion unit are provided, the method comprising: determining a target pixel of pixels of the image; calculating a first value based on pixel values of a first set of pixels, wherein the first set of pixels do not include pixels in a column of the target pixel; determining a second value based on pixel values of a second set of pixels, wherein the second set of pixels are located in the column of the target pixel; and determining a pixel value of the target pixel based on adding the first and second values. The method and the image conversion unit are used e.g. for converting an image in interlaced format to progressive scan format.

Abstract: A method for processing image data representing a segmentation mask, comprises generating two-dimensional shape representations of a three-dimensional object on the basis of a plurality of parameter sets; and matching motion blocks of the segmentation mask with the two-dimensional shape representations to obtain a best fit parameter set. Thereby, for example, a distance between the three-dimensional object and a camera position may be determined.

Abstract: A method of processing signal data comprises receiving signal data, calculating a first k-th moment from the signal data based on a first number of samples N1, calculating a second k-th moment from the signal data based on a second number of samples N2, the first number N1 being different than the second number N2, calculating a combined error, the combined error being a function of the first and second k-th moments, classifying a data region of the signal data as flat if the combined error is below or equal to a threshold curve in the data region, and classifying a data region of the signal data as non-flat if the combined error is higher than the threshold curve in the data region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for classifying a signal (S). An intermediate signal (IS) is decimated in order to obtain a processed signal (PS) as a new intermediate signal (IS). A processed signal (PS) is compared with respect to the signal (S) to be classified to thereby generate comparison data (CompDAT). Based on the comparison data (CompDAT) said signal (S) to be classified is classified, thereby classification data (ClassDAT) are generated.

Abstract: A method and unit for noise reduction in a current image frame, wherein the current image frame is a part of a sequence of image frames. The method compares a current pixel value of a pixel within the current image frame with a corresponding pixel value of the pixel in at least one adjacent image frame, and determines a piled-up value of the current pixel value and the corresponding pixel value if a pixel difference between the current pixel value and the corresponding pixel value is below a pixel threshold, wherein the pixel threshold depends on the corresponding pixel value and/or the current pixel value. The method and unit can be applied for block and color processing as well.

Abstract: Method for motion detection in a current picture (CP) with respect to a reference picture (RP), wherein for a plurality of locations in the current picture (CP) respective difference values (|D|) are determined (B100). A respective difference value is determined based on a difference between a first value and a second value, wherein the first value is descriptive of a photometric measure of one of the locations in the current picture (CP) and the second value is descriptive of the photometric measure of a corresponding location in the reference picture (RP). Based on the difference values, a histogram is determined (B102). The histogram is used as a basis for determining (B104) a threshold (T1, T2, T3). At a respective location in the current picture (CP), motion is detected by comparing the threshold (T1, T2, T3) to the difference value (|D|) of the respective location.

Abstract: A method for converting an image and an image conversion unit are provided, the method comprising: determining a target pixel of pixels of the image; calculating a first value based on pixel values of a first set of pixels, wherein the first set of pixels do not include pixels in a column of the target pixel; determining a second value based on pixel values of a second set of pixels, wherein the second set of pixels are located in the column of the target pixel; and determining a pixel value of the target pixel based on adding the first and second values. The method and the image conversion unit are used e.g. for converting an image in interlaced format to progressive scan format.