Abstract: A method for acquiring an image comprises acquiring a first image frame including a region containing a subject at a first focus position; determining a first sharpness of the subject within the first image frame; identifying an imaged subject size within the first image frame; determining a second focus position based on the imaged subject size; acquiring a second image frame at the second focus position; and determining a second sharpness of the subject within the second image frame. A sharpness threshold is determined as a function of image acquisition parameters for the first and/or second image frame. Responsive to the second sharpness not exceeding the first sharpness and the sharpness threshold, camera motion parameters and/or subject motion parameters for the second image frame are determined before performing a focus sweep to determine an optimal focus position for the subject.

Abstract: A method for dynamically calibrating an image capture device comprises: a) determining a distance (DCRT, DEST) to an object within a scene; b) determining a first lens actuator setting (DACINIT) for the determined distance; c) determining a second lens actuator setting (DACFOCUS) providing maximum sharpness for the object in a captured image of the scene; and d) storing the determined distance (DCRT, DEST) and the first and second lens actuator settings. These steps are repeated at a second determined distance separated from the first determined distance. A calibration correction (ERRNEARPLP, ERRFARPLP) for stored calibrated lens actuator settings (DACNEARPLP, DACFARPLP) is determined as a function of at least: respective differences between the second lens actuator setting (DACFOCUS) and the first lens actuator setting (DACINIT) for each of the first and second determined distances; and the stored calibrated lens actuator settings are adjusted according to the determined calibration corrections.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an image capture device comprises mounting at least one sample device from a batch for movement through a plurality of orientations relative to a horizontal plane. For a given orientation, the sample device is focused at a sequence of positions, each position being at a respective focus distance from the device. A lens actuator setting is recorded for the sample device at each position. This is repeated at a plurality of distinct orientations of the sample device. Respective relationships are determined between lens actuator settings at any given position for distinct orientations from the plurality of distinct orientations and actuator settings at a selected orientation of the plurality of distinct orientations. Lens actuator settings for the image capture device to be calibrated are recorded at least at two points of interest (POI), each a specified focus distance from the device with the image capture device positioned at the selected orientation.

Abstract: A method of providing a sharpness measure for an image comprises detecting an object region within an image; obtaining meta-data for the image; and scaling the chosen object region to a fixed size. A gradient map is calculated for the scaled object region and compared against a threshold determined for the image to provide a filtered gradient map of values exceeding the threshold. The threshold for the image is a function of at least: a contrast level for the detected object region, a distance to the subject and an ISO/gain used for image acquisition. A sharpness measure for the object region is determined as a function of the filtered gradient map values, the sharpness measure being proportional to the filtered gradient map values.

Abstract: A method of providing a sharpness measure for an image comprises detecting an object region within an image; obtaining meta-data for the image; and scaling the chosen object region to a fixed size. A gradient map is calculated for the scaled object region and compared against a threshold determined for the image to provide a filtered gradient map of values exceeding the threshold. The threshold for the image is a function of at least: a contrast level for the detected object region, a distance to the subject and an ISO/gain used for image acquisition. A sharpness measure for the object region is determined as a function of the filtered gradient map values, the sharpness measure being proportional to the filtered gradient map values.

Abstract: A method for acquiring an image comprises acquiring a first image frame including a region containing a subject at a first focus position; determining a first sharpness of the subject within the first image frame; identifying an imaged subject size within the first image frame; determining a second focus position based on the imaged subject size; acquiring a second image frame at the second focus position; and determining a second sharpness of the subject within the second image frame. A sharpness threshold is determined as a function of image acquisition parameters for the first and/or second image frame. Responsive to the second sharpness not exceeding the first sharpness and the sharpness threshold, camera motion parameters and/or subject motion parameters for the second image frame are determined before performing a focus sweep to determine an optimal focus position for the subject.

Abstract: A method for acquiring an image comprises acquiring a first image frame including a region containing a subject at a first focus position; determining a first sharpness of the subject within the first image frame; identifying an imaged subject size within the first image frame; determining a second focus position based on the imaged subject size; acquiring a second image frame at the second focus position; and determining a second sharpness of the subject within the second image frame. A sharpness threshold is determined as a function of image acquisition parameters for the first and/or second image frame. Responsive to the second sharpness not exceeding the first sharpness and the sharpness threshold, camera motion parameters and/or subject motion parameters for the second image frame are determined before performing a focus sweep to determine an optimal focus position for the subject.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an image capture device comprises mounting at least one sample device from a batch for movement through a plurality of orientations relative to a horizontal plane. For a given orientation, the sample device is focused at a sequence of positions, each position being at a respective focus distance from the device. A lens actuator setting is recorded for the sample device at each position. This is repeated at a plurality of distinct orientations of the sample device. Respective relationships are determined between lens actuator settings at any given position for distinct orientations from the plurality of distinct orientations and actuator settings at a selected orientation of the plurality of distinct orientations. Lens actuator settings for the image capture device to be calibrated are recorded at least at two points of interest (POI), each a specified focus distance from the device with the image capture device positioned at the selected orientation.

Abstract: A digital camera has an integral flash and stores and displays a digital image. Under certain conditions, a flash photograph taken with the camera may result in a red-eye phenomenon due to a reflection within an eye of a subject of the photograph. A digital apparatus has a red-eye filter which analyzes at least one partial face region identified within the digital image for the red-eye phenomenon and modifies the image to eliminate the red-eye phenomenon by changing the red area to black. The modification of the image is enabled when a photograph is taken under conditions indicative of the red-eye phenomenon. The modification is subject to anti-falsing analysis which further examines the area around the red-eye area for indicia of the eye of the subject. The detection and correction can be optimized for performance and quality by operating on subsample versions of the image when appropriate.

Abstract: A digital camera has an integral flash and stores and displays a digital image. Under certain conditions, a flash photograph taken with the camera may result in a red-eye phenomenon due to a reflection within an eye of a subject of the photograph. A digital apparatus has a red-eye filter which analyzes at least one partial face region identified within the digital image for the red-eye phenomenon and modifies the image to eliminate the red-eye phenomenon by changing the red area to black. The modification of the image is enabled when a photograph is taken under conditions indicative of the red-eye phenomenon. The modification is subject to anti-falsing analysis which further examines the area around the red-eye area for indicia of the eye of the subject. The detection and correction can be optimized for performance and quality by operating on subsample versions of the image when appropriate.

Abstract: A method of processing an image comprises: acquiring an image of a scene including an object having a recognisable feature. A lens actuator setting providing a maximum sharpness for a region of the image including the object and a lens displacement corresponding to the lens actuator setting are determined. A distance to the object based on the lens displacement is calculated. A dimension of the feature as a function of the distance to the object, the imaged object size and a focal length of a lens assembly with which the image was acquired, is determined. The determined dimension of the feature is employed instead of an assumed dimension of the feature for subsequent processing of images of the scene including the object.

Abstract: A method and device for detecting a potential defect in an image comprises acquiring a digital image at a time; storing image acquisition data, wherein the image acquisition data includes at least one of a position of a source of light relative to a lens, a distance from the source of light to the lens, a focal length of the lens, a distance from a point on a digital image acquisition device to a subject, an amount of ambient light, or flash intensity; determining dynamic anthropometric data, wherein the dynamic anthropometric data includes one or more dynamically changing human body measurements, of one or more humans represented in the image, captured at the time; and determining a course of corrective action based, at least in part, on the image acquisition data and the dynamic anthropometric data.

Abstract: An autofocus method includes acquiring an image of a scene that includes one or more out of focus faces and/or partial faces. The method includes detecting one or more of the out of focus faces and/or partial faces within the digital image by applying one or more sets of classifiers trained on faces that are out of focus. One or more sizes of the one of more respective out of focus faces and/or partial faces is/are determined within the digital image. One or more respective depths is/are determined to the one or more out of focus faces and/or partial faces based on the one or more sizes of the one of more faces and/or partial faces within the digital image. One or more respective focus positions of the lens is/are adjusted to focus approximately at the determined one or more respective depths.

Abstract: A color filter enhancement method for a portable digital image acquisition device includes digitally exposing color pixels of a color sensor array for a first digital exposure duration and digitally exposing white pixels of a color sensor array for a second digital exposure time shorter than the first digital exposure duration. A color filter enhanced digital image is generated using data from both the color pixels exposed for the first digital exposure duration and the white pixels exposed for the second digital exposure duration.

Abstract: A method of tracking a face in a reference image stream using a digital image acquisition device includes acquiring a full resolution main image and an image stream of relatively low resolution reference images each including one or more face regions. One or more face regions are identified within two or more of the reference images. A relative movement is determined between the two or more reference images. A size and location are determined of the one or more face regions within each of the two or more reference images. Concentrated face detection is applied to at least a portion of the full resolution main image in a predicted location for candidate face regions having a predicted size as a function of the determined relative movement and the size and location of the one or more face regions within the reference images, to provide a set of candidate face regions for the main image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing image processing. For one embodiment of the invention, a digital image is acquired. One or more relatively large candidate red eye defect regions are detected in at least a portion of the image. Face detection is applied to at least a portion of the image to eliminate non-face regions and one or more relatively small candidate red eye defect regions are identified in at least a portion of the image not including the eliminated non-face regions.

Abstract: A method for digital image eye artifact detection and correction include identifying one or more candidate red-eye defect regions in an acquired image. For one or more candidate red-eye regions, a seed pixels and/or a region of pixels having a high intensity value in the vicinity of the candidate red-eye region is identified. The shape, roundness or other eye-related characteristic of a combined hybrid region including the candidate red-eye region and the region of high intensity pixels is analyzed. Based on the analysis of the eye-related characteristic of the combined hybrid region, it is determined whether to apply flash artifact correction, including red eye correction of the candidate red-eye region and/or correction of the region of high intensity pixels.

Abstract: A portable digital image acquisition device includes multiple lenses and/or multiple flashes. A main digital image and first and second reference images are acquired. The first and second reference images are acquired with different flash-lens combinations that have different flash-lens distances. One or more flash eye defects are detected and corrected in the main image based on analysis of the first and second reference images.

Abstract: A method of tracking a face in a reference image stream using a digital image acquisition device includes acquiring a full resolution main image and an image stream of relatively low resolution reference images each including one or more face regions. One or more face regions are identified within two or more of the reference images. A relative movement is determined between the two or more reference images. A size and location are determined of the one or more face regions within each of the two or more reference images. Concentrated face detection is applied to at least a portion of the full resolution main image in a predicted location for candidate face regions having a predicted size as a function of the determined relative movement and the size and location of the one or more face regions within the reference images, to provide a set of candidate face regions for the main image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing image processing. For one embodiment of the invention, a digital image is acquired. One or more relatively large candidate red eye defect regions are detected in at least a portion of the image. Face detection is applied to at least a portion of the image to eliminate non-face regions and one or more relatively small candidate red eye defect regions are identified in at least a portion of the image not including the eliminated non-face regions.