Abstract: A method performed by a processing system is provided. The method comprises computing an auto-correlation of sharp channel information of a digital image, computing a cross-correlation between the sharp channel information and blurred channel information of the digital image, and estimating a blur kernel using the auto-correlation and the cross-correlation.

Abstract: A system for and method of providing feedback information relating to characteristics of the oral presentation to a speaker while giving a real-time oral presentation by analyzing representations of the audio signal corresponding to the oral presentation. The feedback information can then be provided to the speaker during the real-time presentation to assist the speaker and improve the oral presentation.

Abstract: A computer mouse includes a collapsible housing and an optical sensor within the housing. The housing may be collapsed into a relatively flat or compact structure. Once collapsed, the mouse may be stored in a compartment such as a PCMCIA slot of a notebook computer.

Abstract: A first aspect of the present invention is a method for processing an image of a scene with an image-capturing device. The method includes sensing a plurality of frames of image data with the sensor, retrieving a sub-set of the image data, storing the sub-set of image data in a storage component of the image-capturing device and generating an image of the scene with the sub-set of image data.

Abstract: A system and method of transmitting an image adapted to a first display area size, such as a standard computer screen having a particular pixel-by-pixel resolution, to an apparatus having a smaller second display area size by scaling the image through coefficient cropping its frequency domain representation. When the cropped frequency coefficients are used to display an image within the second smaller display area, a scaled version of the image is displayed. In a specific embodiment, frequency domain coefficients are cropped such that a region of interest of the image is scaled down less than the remainder of the image when displayed in the second smaller display area. Scaling in this manner provides the user with a readable region of interest with the remainder of the image scaled down so as to facilitate easy image navigation by the user.

Abstract: Image data processing methods, imaging apparatuses, and articles of manufacture are described. According to one embodiment, an image data processing method includes providing image data comprising a plurality of frames using an image sensor, and the providing comprising providing the image data of a first frame comprising a first number of parameters, providing the image data of a second frame comprising a second number of parameters less than the first number of parameters, and increasing the number of parameters of the image data of the second frame after the providings.

Abstract: Digital video image data processing methods, digital video imaging devices, and articles of manufacture are described. According to one aspect, a digital video image data processing method includes providing a digital video imaging device configured to obtain image data, reading image data for a plurality of rolling frames from an image sensor of the digital video imaging device, wherein the reading for an individual one of the rolling frames comprises reading a plurality of different portions of the image sensor at a plurality of respective different moments in time, and forming a plurality of desired frames comprising image data at a plurality of respective common moments in time, wherein the forming comprises forming an individual one of the desired frames using image data from a plurality of the rolling frames.

Abstract: A system and method of obtaining a reconstructed digital image of an image that is projected, displayed, or printed on a surface by capturing a single digital image of the surface is described. According to the system and method, at least three illumination marks are projected onto the surface. The illumination marks have a particular detectable characteristic. An image captures a single image of the surface including the illumination marks to obtain captured image data. The location and the pixel values corresponding to the illumination marks are detected dependent on the particular characteristic of the illumination mark pixels in the captured image data. The locations of the illumination marks are then used to correct for distortion of the image and surface in the captured image data to generate an undistorted digital image of the image on the surface.

Abstract: Using a joint video and still image pipeline technology, a network may be deployed through the Internet so that a user may acquire a remote high resolution photograph using a low resolution video streamed from a remote camera as a view-finder. The remote camera may enable the user to exercise control from a remote device through the network or other communication channels. A network server may store the video and the high resolution photograph, and either sends the video and the high resolution photograph to the user upon payment or posts the video and the high resolution photograph on a web page.

Abstract: A system and method for displaying images of a scene captured by an imaging device selectively displays the images at different locations on a display according to the position the device. The selective displaying of the images allows a user to readily determine the position of the imaging device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to enhancing a user's interaction with a physical document, such as a page of a book, by supplying the user with additional information related to the physical document in a simple, easy to use fashion. Exemplary embodiments provide this additional information as digital content that is displayed as an overlay upon the document. The overlay can be in the form of a flat digital display that can be moved about a surface of the physical document. The absolute position of the movable display is tracked, so that digital content presented on the display is related to a particular position of the display over the document. This capability can be exploited to, for example, provide an on-the-fly translation of a particular document, with the translation being provided as the movable display is scanned over the words printed on a document to be translated.

Abstract: A method of operating a camera includes the step of selecting an recording mode of either a still or a video mode. At least one of the optical path or the first and second sensors is configured to communicate the optical signal to a selected one of the first and second sensors in accordance with the recording mode. The viewpoint of the optical path is independent of the recording mode. In various embodiments the first and second sensors are positioned by sliding or pivoting such that the optical signal is incident on the selected sensor. In an alternative embodiment, a mirror re-directs the optical signal to be incident upon the first or second sensor in accordance with the recording mode.

Abstract: A process and apparatus is described to improve a digital camera user interface and increase ease of use and functionality of a digital camera by quickly, accurately and robustly permitting cursor control and designation in a digital camera display. A digital camera is used as a pointing device such as a mouse or trackball. The motion of the camera is detected, and the motion of the camera is used to position graphic elements on the camera's own display. The camera's motion can be detected with sensors, such as gyroscopes, or the camera itself can be used as a motion sensor. One application of this involves using the camera as a computer mouse, or like a gun-sight, to select images from a sheet of low-resolution (“thumbnail”) images. The motion of the camera is tracked, and the user aims at the desired image from a sheet of thumbnail images.

Abstract: Using a joint video and still image pipeline technology, a network may be deployed through the Internet so that a user may acquire high resolution photographs using a handheld device and a remote camera. The remote device may also include an identification tag embedded with the user's personal information, so that the remote camera may identify the user in the photographs by reading the identification tag. The remote camera may optionally annotate the photographs, which may be sent to the user through the network.

Abstract: A robot having an imaging capability includes: an imaging device, and at least one actuator separate from the imaging device for moving at least a portion of the robot. The at least one actuator is controllable in response to a control command, the imaging device being responsive to the control command to modify characteristics of image data produced.

Abstract: Methods of modifying source images and image streams are described. These methods may be used, for example, to remove embedded digital data from images or to prevent splicing modified portions of the images to recreate the source image. One method includes the receiving a request for a selected portion of a source image stream comprising a plurality of source image frames. A distorted grid is applied to the selected portion to generate a modified selected portion. The grid is distorted spatially, temporally, or both. The modified selected portion of the source image stream in response to the request. The distortion is designed to introduce frequency domain distortion sufficient to render any embedded data unrecoverable without introducing significant visually perceptible changes to the source image or image stream.

Abstract: A method according to one aspect of the invention includes data into an image including a detecting an edge in the image, identifying a portion of the image having a known spatial relationship with the edge, and applying a transform to the portion of the image to provide a data space for inserting the data into the image. A method of detecting data in an image includes detecting an edge in the image, identifying a portion of the image having a known spatial relationship with the edge, and applying a transformation to the portion of the image source to provide a data space from which to detect the data.

Abstract: A system for and method of providing feedback information relating to characteristics of the oral presentation to a speaker while giving a real-time oral presentation by analyzing representations of the audio signal corresponding to the oral presentation. The feedback information can then be provided to the speaker during the real-time presentation to assist the speaker and improve the oral presentation.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus for calibrating an output of an image output device, comprising an image input device configured to image an output of the image output device; and a test pattern generator having an output of a dynamic test patch area and a grating area connected to an input of the image output device and responsive to the image input device for adjusting an intensity level of the dynamic test patch area to match an average intensity level of the grating area.

Abstract: A palmtop computer stand is provided. The palmtop computer stand includes a computing device, an imaging device and a cover. The imaging device pivotally couples with the computing device to capture an image of an object placed in close proximity to the computing device. The cover pivotally couples with the computing device such that the cover moves from a closed position into a lockable position. The cover supports the computing device and the imaging device at a fixed location relative to the cover in order to ensure precise image capturing of the object with the palmtop computer stand. Likewise, the cover supports a lens of the imaging device such that the lens is a fixed distance from a surface upon which the object rests.