Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for adjusting stereoscopic image parallax and a stereo camera. The parallax adjusting method includes obtaining a depth range of a current scene. A preset parallax range may also be obtained according to a current viewing condition. Expected camera parameters of the current scene are calculated according to the depth range of the current scene and the preset parallax range. The stereo camera is adjusted according to the expected camera parameters and used to capture preprocessed stereoscopic images. Further, the captured preprocessed stereoscopic images are processed according to the expected camera parameters to make the preprocessed stereoscopic images suitable for being viewed under the current viewing condition. The disclosed method and apparatus can jointly adjust parameters of the stereo camera and captured stereo images to obtain images or videos with a maximum parallax as well as desired display effect under a specified condition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for adjusting stereoscopic image parallax and a stereo camera. The parallax adjusting method includes obtaining a depth range of a current scene. A preset parallax range may also be obtained according to a current viewing condition. Expected camera parameters of the current scene are calculated according to the depth range of the current scene and the preset parallax range. The stereo camera is adjusted according to the expected camera parameters and used to capture preprocessed stereoscopic images. Further, the captured preprocessed stereoscopic images are processed according to the expected camera parameters to make the preprocessed stereoscopic images suitable for being viewed under the current viewing condition. The disclosed method and apparatus can jointly adjust parameters of the stereo camera and captured stereo images to obtain images or videos with a maximum parallax as well as desired display effect under a specified condition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for adjusting stereoscopic image parallax and a stereo camera. The parallax adjusting method includes obtaining a depth range of a current scene. A preset parallax range may also be obtained according to a current viewing condition. Expected camera parameters of the current scene are calculated according to the depth range of the current scene and the preset parallax range. The stereo camera is adjusted according to the expected camera parameters and used to capture preprocessed stereoscopic images. Further, the captured preprocessed stereoscopic images are processed according to the expected camera parameters to make the preprocessed stereoscopic images suitable for being viewed under the current viewing condition. The disclosed method and apparatus can jointly adjust parameters of the stereo camera and captured stereo images to obtain images or videos with a maximum parallax as well as desired display effect under a specified condition.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal lens image forming device and an image forming method. The image forming device includes: at least one liquid crystal lens; a drive circuit, which is connected to the liquid crystal lens to set, at a first moment, the liquid crystal lens in a non-lens state and to set, at a second moment, the liquid crystal lens in a lens state; at least one image pick-up unit generating a first image signal and a second image signal; and an image processing unit, which processes the first image signal and the second image signal to form a target image signal. The liquid crystal lens image forming device and image forming method do not involve the use of a polarization device, allows a single liquid crystal lens to clearly form an image, and reduces the thickness of the entire image forming device.

Abstract: A microlens array imaging device includes a main lens, a microlens array containing a plurality of microlenses, and an image acquisition unit. The main lens projects a first image of an object for the plurality of microlenses, each of which projects a second image of the first image on the image acquisition unit. Each second image includes an image circle and a circle of confusion around the image circle. A distance between an image circle of one microlens and an image circle of an adjacent microlens is equal to or greater than a summation of a radius of the second image corresponding to the one microlens and a radius of the image circle of the adjacent microlens, and is equal to or less than a summation of the radius of the second image corresponding to the one microlens and a radius of the second image corresponding to the adjacent microlens.

Abstract: A liquid crystal lens imaging apparatus includes a lens group containing at least a liquid crystal lens, a drive circuit, an image collecting unit, and an image processing unit. The drive circuit is connected to the liquid crystal lens to drive the liquid crystal lens into an out-of-focus state or into an in-focus state. The image collecting unit is configured to collect light signal passing through the liquid crystal lens and to generate an image according to the light signal. When the liquid crystal lens is in the in-focus state, the image collecting unit generates an in-focus image of the light signal and, when the liquid crystal lens is in the out-of-focus state, the image collecting unit generates an out-of-focus image of the light signal. Further, the image processing unit is connected to the image collecting unit to receive both the in-focus image and the out-of-focus image and to process the in-focus image using the out-of-focus image to obtain a processed in-focus image as a final generated image.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal lens imaging apparatus and method. Wherein, the imaging apparatus comprises a lens group including at least a liquid crystal lens, a drive circuit, an image collecting unit and an image processing unit. The drive circuit is connected to the liquid crystal lens to drive the liquid crystal lens respectively into an in-focus state or into an out-of-focus state. The image collecting unit is configured to collect light signal passing through the liquid crystal lens to generate an image. When the liquid crystal lens is in the in-focus state, the image collecting unit generates an in-focus image of the light signal and, when the liquid crystal lens is in the out-of-focus state, the image collecting unit generates an out-of-focus image of the light signal as a reference image.

Abstract: A microlens array imaging device includes a main lens, a microlens array containing a plurality of microlenses, and an image acquisition unit. The main lens projects a first image of an object for the plurality of microlenses, each of which projects a second image of the first image on the image acquisition unit. Each second image includes an image circle and a circle of confusion around the image circle. A distance between an image circle of one microlens and an image circle of an adjacent microlens is equal to or greater than a summation of a radius of the second image corresponding to the one microlens and a radius of the image circle of the adjacent microlens, and is equal to or less than a summation of the radius of the second image corresponding to the one microlens and a radius of the second image corresponding to the adjacent microlens.

Abstract: Liquid crystal lens imaging apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes: juxtaposed at least two lens groups, a rubbing direction of alignment layer of a LC lens in one lens group being perpendicular to a rubbing direction of alignment layer of a LC lens in neighboring another lens group; an image capture unit for forming first and second image signals according to light signals passing through the lens groups at a first moment and forming third and fourth image signals according to light signals passing through the lens groups at a second moment; an image processor for processing the image signals to obtain a final formed image signal; and a driving circuit for controlling the LC lenses to be non-lens state and lens state respectively at the first and second moments. No polarizer is used, the intensity of received incident light is increased and the thickness is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal lens imaging apparatus and method. Wherein, the imaging apparatus comprises a lens group including at least a liquid crystal lens, a drive circuit, an image collecting unit and an image processing unit. The drive circuit is connected to the liquid crystal lens to drive the liquid crystal lens respectively into an in-focus state or into an out-of-focus state. The image collecting unit is configured to collect light signal passing through the liquid crystal lens to generate an image. When the liquid crystal lens is in the in-focus state, the image collecting unit generates an in-focus image of the light signal and, when the liquid crystal lens is in the out-of-focus state, the image collecting unit generates an out-of-focus image of the light signal as a reference image.

Abstract: A liquid crystal lens imaging apparatus includes a lens group containing at least a liquid crystal lens, a drive circuit, an image collecting unit, and an image processing unit. The drive circuit is connected to the liquid crystal lens to drive the liquid crystal lens into an out-of-focus state or into an in-focus state. The image collecting unit is configured to collect light signal passing through the liquid crystal lens and to generate an image according to the light signal. When the liquid crystal lens is in the in-focus state, the image collecting unit generates an in-focus image of the light signal and, when the liquid crystal lens is in the out-of-focus state, the image collecting unit generates an out-of-focus image of the light signal. Further, the image processing unit is connected to the image collecting unit to receive both the in-focus image and the out-of-focus image and to process the in-focus image using the out-of-focus image to obtain a processed in-focus image as a final generated image.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for adjusting stereoscopic image parallax and a stereo camera. The parallax adjusting method includes obtaining a depth range of a current scene. A preset parallax range may also be obtained according to a current viewing condition. Expected camera parameters of the current scene are calculated according to the depth range of the current scene and the preset parallax range. The stereo camera is adjusted according to the expected camera parameters and used to capture preprocessed stereoscopic images. Further, the captured preprocessed stereoscopic images are processed according to the expected camera parameters to make the preprocessed stereoscopic images suitable for being viewed under the current viewing condition. The disclosed method and apparatus can jointly adjust parameters of the stereo camera and captured stereo images to obtain images or videos with a maximum parallax as well as desired display effect under a specified condition.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method for object tracking, including determination of an area scaling ratio of the object in a video image sequence. In one embodiment, a centroid of the object is determined. One or more directed straight lines are selected, each passing through the centroid, extending from an end of the object's boundary to an opposite end thereof, and having a direction that is upward. A length scaling ratio for each directed straight line is determined by: determining a motion vector for each selected pixel on the line; computing a scalar component of the motion vector projected onto the line; estimating a change of the line's length according to the scalar components obtained for all pixels; and determining the length scaling ratio according to the change of the line's length. The area scaling ratio is computed based on the length scaling ratios for all directed straight lines.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid crystal lens image forming device and an image forming method. The image forming device includes: at least one liquid crystal lens; a drive circuit, which is connected to the liquid crystal lens to set, at a first moment, the liquid crystal lens in a non-lens state and to set, at a second moment, the liquid crystal lens in a lens state; at least one image pick-up unit generating a first image signal and a second image signal; and an image processing unit, which processes the first image signal and the second image signal to form a target image signal. The liquid crystal lens image forming device and image forming method do not involve the use of a polarization device, allows a single liquid crystal lens to clearly form an image, and reduces the thickness of the entire image forming device.

Abstract: Liquid crystal lens imaging apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes: juxtaposed at least two lens groups, a rubbing direction of alignment layer of a LC lens in one lens group being perpendicular to a rubbing direction of alignment layer of a LC lens in neighboring another lens group; an image capture unit for forming first and second image signals according to light signals passing through the lens groups at a first moment and forming third and fourth image signals according to light signals passing through the lens groups at a second moment; an image processor for processing the image signals to obtain a final formed image signal; and a driving circuit for controlling the LC lenses to be non-lens state and lens state respectively at the first and second moments. No polarizer is used, the intensity of received incident light is increased and the thickness is reduced.

Abstract: Systems and methods which provide generation of high resolution depth maps from low resolution depth information using boundary-based processing techniques are disclosed. Boundary-based depth processing provided by embodiments implements boundary detection and boundary-based interpolation algorithms for providing high resolution depth information from low resolution depth information and high resolution image information. Boundary detection algorithms are implemented according to embodiments to detect object boundaries (e.g., depth discontinuities), where the low resolution depth samples are typically inaccurate and generally in need of refining. Boundary-based interpolation algorithms are implemented according to embodiments of the invention to refine intermediate upsampled depth information (e.g., spatially interpolated low resolution depth information), using the boundary information provided by a boundary detection algorithm, and provide high resolution depth information.

Abstract: Subject matter disclosed herein relates to foreground image extraction and image depth of video images.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method for determining an area scaling ratio of an object in a video image sequence. In one embodiment, a centroid of the object is determined. One or more directed straight lines are selected, each passing through the centroid, extending from an end of the object's boundary to an opposite end thereof, and having a direction that is upward. A length scaling ratio for each directed straight line is determined by: determining a motion vector for each selected pixel on the line; computing a scalar component of the motion vector projected onto the line; estimating a change of the line's length according to the scalar components obtained for all pixels; and determining the length scaling ratio according to the change of the line's length. The area scaling ratio is computed based on the length scaling ratios for all directed straight lines.