Abstract: A method for resizing an input digital image to provide a high-resolution output digital image having a larger number of image pixels. The input image pixels in the input digital image are analyzed and assigned to different pixel classifications. A plurality of pixel generation processes are provided, each pixel generation process being associated with a different pixel classification and being adapted to operate on a neighborhood of input image pixels around a particular input image pixel to provide a plurality of output image pixels. Each input image pixel is processed using a pixel generation process that is selected in accordance with the corresponding pixel classification to produce the high-resolution output digital image.

Abstract: A method of enhancing a full-color image of a scene includes capturing an image of the scene using a two-dimensional sensor array having both color and panchromatic pixels, forming an edge map in response to the panchromatic pixels, forming the full-color image in response to the captured color pixels, and using the edge map to enhance the full-color image.

Abstract: An electronic camera for producing an output image of a scene from a captured image signal includes a first imaging stage comprising a first image sensor for generating a first sensor output and a first lens for forming a first image of the scene on the first image sensor, and a second imaging stage comprising a second image sensor for generating a second sensor output and a second lens for forming a second image of the scene on the second image sensor, where the lenses have different focal lengths. A processing stage uses the sensor output from one of the imaging stages as the captured image signal and uses the images from both imaging stages to generate a range map identifying distances to the different portions of the scene.

Abstract: A method of sharpening a full-color image of a scene includes capturing an image of the scene using a two-dimensional sensor array having both color and panchromatic pixels; forming the full-color image in response to the captured color pixels and forming a reference panchromatic image in response to the captured panchromatic pixels; forming a high-frequency panchromatic image from the reference panchromatic image; and providing a sharpened full-color image in response to the high-frequency panchromatic image and the full-color image.

Abstract: A method for forming a digital color image of a desired resolution, includes providing a panchromatic image of a scene having a first resolution at least equal to the desired resolution and a first color image having at least two different color photoresponses, the first color image having a lower resolution than the desired resolution; and using the color pixel values from the first color image and the panchromatic pixel values to provide additional color pixels and combining the additional color pixels with the first color image to produce the digital color image having the desired resolution.

Abstract: A method for producing a noise-reduced digital color image, includes providing an image having panchromatic pixels and color pixels corresponding to at least two color photoresponses; providing from the image a panchromatic image and at least one color image; and using the panchromatic image and the color image to produce the noise-reduced digital color image.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for using a display having a predetermined display resolution to show out of focus areas in an archival image having a greater resolution than the predetermined display resolution. In this method, a verification image sized for presentation on the display, is provided. Portions of the archival image that are out of focus are identified. The verification image is blurred so that portions of the verification image that correspond to out of focus portions of the archival image appear out of focus when the verification image is presented on the display. In another aspect a camera system is provided having a source of an archival image with a predetermined resolution and a verification display having an image display resolution that is lower than the predetermined resolution of the archival image.

Abstract: A method for processing a sparsely populated color digital image having colored pixels to produce a fully populated and noise clean color image including noise cleaning the sparsely populated image using a variable noise cleaning kernel to provide a noise clean sparsely populated color digital image; and interpolating the noise clean sparsely populated image for producing color pixels with appropriate values missing from the sparsely populated color digital image by interpolating the color values for missing pixels from neighboring color pixels.

Abstract: A method of computing neighborhoods of pixels which neighborhoods are bounded to include particular image characteristics including using the digital image to compute neighborhoods of pixels which are to be processed and wherein such neighborhoods of pixels are substantially bounded by pixels defining the particular image characteristic; computing an activity number for each pixel based upon the values of adjacent pixels; using the activity numbers for each pixel and activity numbers for adjacent pixels in a predetermined neighborhood to produce a plurality of trend numbers for each pixel related to the particular image characteristic; and using the trend numbers for each pixel to determine the neighborhoods of pixels which bound the particular image characteristic.

Abstract: A method of reducing color aliasing artifacts from a color digital image having color pixels including providing luminance and chrominance signals from the color digital image; downsampling the luminance and chrominance signals; using such downsampled luminance and chrominance signals to separate the image into textured and nontextured regions having boundaries; cleaning the downsampled chrominance signals in the textured regions in response to the boundaries of the textured region and the downsampled chrominance signals; cleaning the downsampled chrominance signals in the nontextured regions in response to the downsampled chrominance signals; upsampling the downsampled noise-cleaned chrominance signals; and using the luminance and upsampled noise-cleaned chrominance signals to provide a color digital image having reduced color aliasing artifacts.

Abstract: A method of reducing color aliasing artifacts from a color digital image having color pixels includes providing luminance and chrominance signals from the color digital image; using such luminance and chrominance signals to separate the image into textured and nontextured regions having boundaries; downsampling the chrominance signals and texture region mapping; producing cleaned chrominance signals in the textured regions in response to the boundaries of the textured region and chrominance signals; producing cleaned chrominance signals in the nontextured regions in response to the chrominance signals; upsampling the noise-cleaned chrominance signals; and using the luminance and upsampled noise-cleaned chrominance signals to provide a color digital image having reduced color aliasing artifacts.

Abstract: A method of adjusting the color characteristics of a digital image includes receiving a digital image including a plurality of pixels, receiving non-pixel data relating to camera capture parameters including an aperture value, an exposure time value, and a speed value specific to the received digital image; using the aperture value, time value, and speed value to calculate a scene brightness value; and using the calculated scene brightness value to adjust the color of the digital image.

Abstract: A method for processing a sparsely populated color digital image having colored pixels to produce a fully populated and noise clean color image including noise cleaning the sparsely populated image using a variable noise cleaning kernel to provide a noise clean sparsely populated color digital image; and interpolating the noise clean sparsely populated image for producing color pixels with appropriate values missing from the sparsely populated color digital image by interpolating the color values for missing pixels from neighboring color pixels.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided for using a display having a predetermined display resolution to show out of focus areas in an archival image having a greater resolution than the predetermined display resolution. In this method, a verification image sized for presentation on the display, is provided. Portions of the archival image that are out of focus are identified. The verification image is blurred so that portions of the verification image that correspond to out of focus portions of the archival image appear out of focus when the verification image is presented on the display.

Abstract: A method for processing a sparsely populated color digital image having colored pixels to produce a fully populated and noise clean color image including noise cleaning the sparsely populated image using a variable noise cleaning kernel to provide a noise clean sparsely populated color digital image; and interpolating the noise clean sparsely populated image for producing color pixels with appropriate values missing from the sparsely populated color digital image by interpolating the color values for missing pixels from neighboring color pixels.

Abstract: An electronic still imaging system employs an image sensor comprised of discrete light sensitive picture elements overlaid with a color filter array (CFA) pattern to produce color image data corresponding to the CFA pattern, an A/D converter for producing digital CFA image data from the color image data, and a memory for storing the digital CFA image data from the picture elements. A processor enables the processing of the digital CFA image data to produce finished image data, and the digital CFA image data and the finished image data are both stored together in an image file. This enables image processing from raw camera data to final output data to be completed in a single, integrated process to provide improved image quality when printing.

Abstract: A method for processing a sparsely populated color digital image having colored pixels to produce a fully populated and noise clean color image including noise cleaning the sparsely populated image using a variable noise cleaning kernel to provide a noise clean sparsely populated color digital image; and interpolating the noise clean sparsely populated image for producing color pixels with appropriate values missing from the sparsely populated color digital image by interpolating the color values for missing pixels from neighboring color pixels.

Abstract: A color filter array for an image sensor which has a plurality of pixels is disclosed. The color filter array includes a plurality of color pixel kernels, with each kernel having the plurality of pixels arranged in the following pattern A C D B wherein: A and B are companion colors; and C and D are companion colors.

Abstract: A multiple torsion spring assembly according to the present invention may be provided with a coiled helical torsion spring. The spring has first and second end coils, and a plurality of intermediate coils between the first and second end coils. The first end coil inner diameter is less than the inner diameter of the intermediate coils. The second end coil inner diameter is less than the inner diameter of the first end coil. The spring may be used to control a throttle return of a throttle body. Methods of manufacturing spring assemblies are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for compressing a first bit digital input representative of first pixel data into a second bit digital output representative of second pixel data, the method comprises the steps of defining a logarithmic function for converting the first bit digital input into the second bit digital output; replacing a portion of the logarithmic function with a polynomial function; and compressing the first bit digital input into the second bit digital output by utilizing the logarithmic and polynomial function.