Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking target objects includes a network of unidirectional sensors which correspond to nodes on the network. The sensors identify the presence of a target object, determine a first criteria for the relationship of the target object to the sensors and send a message to sensors neighboring the sensor. The message includes a unique identification of the target object and the first criteria. The sensors are ranked to determine which of the sensors should head a cluster of sensors for tracking the target object. Clusters are propagated and fragmented as the target object moves through a field of sensors.

Abstract: The image generation device includes distance calculation means for calculating a distance between a space model and an imaging device arrangement object model which is a model such as a vehicle having a camera mounted, according to viewpoint conversion image data generated by viewpoint conversion means, captured image data representing captured image, a space model, or mapped space data. When displaying an image viewed from an arbitrary virtual viewpoint in the 3D space, the image display format is changed according to the distance calculated by the distance calculation means. When displaying a monitoring object such as a vicinity of a vehicle, a shop, a house or a city as an image viewed from an arbitrary virtual viewpoint in the 3D space, it is possible to display the monitoring object in such a manner that the relationship between the vehicle and the image of the monitoring object can be understood intuitionally.

Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus includes a detecting unit which detects a distance to an object located in a predetermined detection range; an imaging unit which generates an image signal group corresponding to a predetermined imaging field; a calculating unit which calculates the distance to the object located in the imaging field based on the image signal group; and an interpolating unit which either interpolates a detection result by the detecting unit by using a calculation result by the calculating unit, or interpolates the calculation result by the calculating unit by using the detection result by the detecting unit.

Abstract: A user activity support agent in a user support apparatus includes a target detection evaluation module configured to detect demand, desire, and/or instruction of the user in the form of a target based on a user's activity state and/or an environment situation detected by a sensor group, and to ask the user whether or not the target is desired by the user via a user information providing device to evaluate the user's reaction to the information, and an activity plan evaluation module configured to plan the detected target in such a manner as to realize the target by the user's activity group, and to provide the user with information suggesting the activity group via the user information providing device to perform monitoring and/or evaluation with respect to the user's reaction to the information from the user's activity state and/or the environment situation.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is provided with an imaging optical system (imaging lens), an image sensor for picking up a subject image formed by the imaging optical system, and a view division optical system (first mirror) which divides a view picked up by the image sensor into an environment imaging side view and an eyeball imaging side view.

Abstract: The object recognition apparatus has an active range finder having a floodlight unit which floodlights a light onto a target object, and determines a distance up to a target object on the basis of a reflected light therefrom, a stereo camera to determine a distance up to the target object on the basis of image information from the target object, an object recognition unit which recognizes the target object on the basis of an output signal from the active range finder and an output signal from the stereo camera, and a fill light control unit which controls the floodlight unit to operate so as to irradiate a light floodlit by the floodlight unit as a fill light of the stereo camera.

Abstract: An image generation method for generating a viewpoint-modified image is carried out based on camera information sensed by one or a plurality of image sensing unit sensing an image around an image sensing unit-disposed object. The image generation method comprises displaying an image sensing unit-disposed object model on the viewpoint-modified image, detecting the change of the movable member of the image sensing unit-disposed object and transforming/displaying the relevant part of the image sensing unit-disposed object model in the viewpoint-modified image. The image generation method can also comprise transforming/displaying the virtual viewpoint position of the viewpoint-modified image, according to the amount of change of the movable member of the image sensing unit-disposed object.

Abstract: In this stereo optical module, a constituent member is arranged in at least one of a circuit arrangement space which exists substantially behind a front lens unit and above a primary deflecting mirror and a secondary deflecting mirror and a circuit arrangement space which exists substantially behind a front lens unit and below a primary deflecting mirror and a secondary deflecting mirror.

Abstract: There is provided a particle-group movement analysis system which is capable of detecting from a plurality of objects in a form of a particle, an object in the form of a particle which moves in a manner different from the other objects in the form of a particle, a particle-group movement analysis method, and a program.

Abstract: This stereo camera system is constituted of a stereo optical module which acquires a stereo image, a central control unit which evaluates an object as a target based on the stereo image acquired by the stereo optical module, and a communication line through which stereo image data output from the stereo optical module is input to the central control unit. Further, in this stereo camera system, an image output processing circuit which performs predetermined image processing with respect to the stereo image acquired by the stereo optical module is provided in the stereo optical module, whereby this image output processing circuit performs a correction arithmetic operation which corrects unbalance at the time of capturing the stereo image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an imaging unit which is mounted on a mobile object and picks an image of a predetermined field of view to generate an image; and a moving information detection unit which detects moving information including a speed of the mobile object. The apparatus also includes a processing content setting unit which sets contents of a process to be performed in the image generated by the imaging unit, based on the moving information detected by the moving information detection unit; and a processing calculation unit which performs processing calculation according to the contents of the process set by the processing content setting unit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus include an imaging unit that picks up a predetermined view to create an image; a processing region setting unit that sets a region to be processed in the image created by the imaging unit; and a processing calculating unit that performs a predetermined processing calculation on the region set by the processing region setting unit.

Abstract: A distance measuring apparatus includes a detecting unit which detects a distance to an object located in a predetermined detection range; an imaging unit which generates an image signal group corresponding to a predetermined imaging field; a calculating unit which calculates the distance to the object located in the imaging field based on the image signal group; and an interpolating unit which either interpolates a detection result by the detecting unit by using a calculation result by the calculating unit, or interpolates the calculation result by the calculating unit by using the detection result by the detecting unit.

Abstract: A background lighting module illuminates an object from behind by visible light with respect to a photographing module to identify an area including the boundary between the object and the background portion in an image to be photographed by the photographing module. A controller controls a photographing operation including the exposure of the photographing module and the lighting intensity of the background lighting module. An image processing module processes the images photographed by the photographing module. The controller sets the exposure and lighting intensity to specific conditions so as to photograph a processing image where the background portion on the periphery of the object has a higher luminance than that of the silhouette portion of the object. The image processing module extracts the shape of the object by using the luminance difference between the silhouette area of the object and the background area on the periphery of the object.

Abstract: A calibration pattern unit which obtains correction information of an imaging system by imaging at the imaging system comprises a calibration pattern which has a known geometric pattern formed on a plurality of three-dimensionally arranged planes, and a relative position and posture fixing section which fixes relative position and posture between the calibration pattern and the imaging system.

Abstract: A 3-dimensional image acquisition apparatus acquires images to be used for 3-dimensionally reconstructing an object by picking up the object by a camera twice or more in an image acquisition set including picking up at least once the object carrying a pattern projected onto it by a projection light source. The apparatus comprises a light projection information memory configured to store information on projection of light including information on the time for projecting light for the purpose of projecting the pattern in the image acquisition set, an image acquisition progress information memory configured to store information on the progress of image acquisition in the image acquisition set, and a controller configured to control the projection of light by the projection light source and the picking up by the camera on the basis of the stored information on projection of light and the stored information on the progress.

Abstract: A background lighting module illuminates an object from behind by visible light with respect to a photographing module to identify an area including the boundary between the object and the background portion in an image to be photographed by the photographing module. A controller controls a photographing operation including the exposure of the photographing module and the lighting intensity of the background lighting module. An image processing module processes the images photographed by the photographing module. The controller sets the exposure and lighting intensity to specific conditions so as to photograph a processing image where the background portion on the periphery of the object has a higher luminance than that of the silhouette portion of the object. The image processing module extracts the shape of the object by using the luminance difference between the silhouette area of the object and the background area on the periphery of the object.

Abstract: Provided are an image generation apparatus, image generation method and image generation program which are capable of displaying the relationship between a vehicle, et cetera, and an imaged image of the subject of monitoring in a manner intuitively comprehensible when displaying the monitoring subject, such as a vehicle, shop, surrounding area of a house, or street, by further comprising a movement information calculation unit for calculating movement information relating to a movement of an camera unit installation body based on either of viewpoint conversion image data generated by a viewpoint conversion unit, imaged image data expressing an imaged image, a spatial model, or mapped spatial data, and by a display unit displaying an image of an camera unit installation body model corresponding to the camera unit installation body and also movement information calculated by a movement information calculation unit.

Abstract: The image generation device includes distance calculation means for calculating a distance between a space model and an imaging device arrangement object model which is a model such as a vehicle having a camera mounted, according to viewpoint conversion image data generated by viewpoint conversion means, captured image data representing captured image, a space model, or mapped space data. When displaying an image viewed from an arbitrary virtual viewpoint in the 3D space, the image display format is changed according to the distance calculated by the distance calculation means. When displaying a monitoring object such as a vicinity of a vehicle, a shop, a house or a city as an image viewed from an arbitrary virtual viewpoint in the 3D space, it is possible to display the monitoring object in such a manner that the relationship between the vehicle and the image of the monitoring object can be understood intuitionally.

Abstract: A human interface equipment includes an outer shell. A photographing device is arranged inside the outer shell and photographs a neighborhood of the outer shell via a photographing optical system. A variation recognition device recognizes a variation in an image photographed by the photographing device.