Abstract: In an embodiment, a device comprises a plurality of elements configured to apply a filter to multiple groups of pixels in a neighborhood of pixels surrounding a particular pixel to generate a matrix of filtered values; compute, from the matrix of filtered values, a first set of gradients along a first direction and a second set of gradients along a second and different direction; determine how many directional changes are experienced by the gradients in the first set of gradients and the gradients in the second set of gradients; compute a first weighted value for a first direction and a second weighted value for a second direction; and based, at least in part, upon the first and second weighted values, compute an overall texture characterization value for the particular pixel, wherein the overall texture characterization value indicates a type of image environment in which the particular pixel is located.

Abstract: A forward interpolation approach is disclosed for enabling a second version of an image to be constructed from a first version of the image. According to one implementation of the forward interpolation approach, pixels from the first version of the image are processed one row at a time. As the pixels in a row of pixels in the first version of the image are processed, they may cause pixel values on different rows of the second version of the image to be determined. Since the pixel values of the second version of the image are stored in output line buffers, this means that, at any particular point in time, there may be multiple partially filled output line buffers. It has been observed that the forward interpolation approach enables significant benefits (such as reduced storage requirements and reduced internal bandwidth and processing) to be achieved over a backward interpolation approach.

Abstract: A forward interpolation approach is disclosed for enabling a second version of an image to be constructed from a first version of the image. According to one implementation, an input pixel from the first version of the image is forward mapped to the second version of the image to determine a set of candidate pixels that may be affected by the input pixel. Each candidate pixel is then backward mapped to the first version of the image to determine whether they are actually affected by the input pixel. For each candidate pixel that is actually affected by the input pixel, a pixel value is determined for that candidate pixel based at least in part upon the pixel value of the input pixel. By using this forward and backward mapping technique, forward interpolation can be implemented quickly and efficiently.

Abstract: A chromatic noise reduction method is provided for removing chromatic noise from the pixels of a mosaic image. In one implementation, an actual chroma value and a de-noised chroma value are derived for the central pixel of a matrix of pixels. Based at least in part upon these chroma values, a final chroma value is derived for the central pixel. The final chroma value is then used, along with the actual luminance of the central pixel, to derive a final de-noised pixel value for the central pixel. By de-noising the central pixel based on its chroma (which takes into account more than one color) rather than on just the color channel of the central pixel, this method allows the central pixel to be de-noised in a more color-coordinated fashion. As a result, improved chromatic noise reduction is achieved.

Abstract: A lens system is provided that comprises an enhanced depth of field based on a uniform or near uniform relative illumination via a lens with a large distortion. The distortion can be corrected with image processing equipment. The lens system can comprise an aperture stop and a group of lens, wherein there can be about five lenses in the group of lenses. The lens system is designed for relative illumination such that the light distribution over the lens system is substantially uniform.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a digital zoom operation on an input Bayer format image is provided, the output of the digital zoom operation being a second Bayer format image corresponding to the input Bayer format imaged enlarged by a zoom factor.

Abstract: An electronic device including a camera adapted to capture images is provided. The camera includes a lens having a first focusing state and a second focusing state; an image sensor adapted to capture a first image of an object in the first focusing state and a second image of the object in the second focusing state. The electronic device further includes a memory configured to store instructions; and a processor coupled to the memory and the camera, wherein the processor is adapted to determine a distance to the object based on the first image and the second image. A lens system including an actuator to modify a configuration of the lens system is also provided, having a first and second focusing state; a memory; and a lookup table to estimate a distance from the lens system to an object.

Abstract: Different distances of two or more objects in a scene being captured in a video conference are determined using an auto-focus sweep of the scene. A depth map of the scene is generated based on the auto-focus sweep. At least one of the objects is identified as a foreground object or a background object, or one or more of each, based on the determining of the different distances. The technique involves blurring or otherwise rendering unclear at least one background object or one or more portions of the scene other than the at least one foreground object, or combinations thereof, also based on the determining of distances.

Abstract: Different distances of two or more objects in a scene being captured in a video conference are determined by determining a sharpest of two or more color channels and calculating distances based on the determining of the sharpest of the two or more color channels. At least one of the objects is identified as a foreground object or a background object, or one or more of each, based on the determining of the different distances. The technique involves blurring or otherwise rendering unclear at least one background object or one or more portions of the scene other than the at least one foreground object, or combinations thereof, also based on the determining of distances.

Abstract: A 9 pixel-by-9 pixel working window slides over an input Bayer image. For each such window, a demosaicing operation is performed. For each such window, corrective processing is performed relative to that window to produce relative differences for that window. For each such window for which relative differences have been produced, those relative differences are regulated. For each window, a maximum is found for that window's regulated relative differences; in one embodiment of the invention, this maximum is used to select which channel is sharp. For each window, the colors in that window are corrected based on the relative difference-based maximum found for that window. For each window, edge oversharpening is softened in order to avoid artifacts in the output image. The result is an output image in which axial chromatic aberrations have been corrected.

Abstract: A forward interpolation approach is disclosed for enabling a second version of an image to be constructed from a first version of the image. According to one implementation, pixels from the first version of the image are mapped to pixels in the second version of the image, and pixel values are determined for the corresponding pixels in the second version of the image. In one implementation, the pixel mapping is performed using a lookup table and linear approximation. Performing the pixel mapping in this manner enables computations to be simplified and cost and gate count to be reduced.

Abstract: A lens system is provided that comprises an enhanced depth of field based on a uniform or near uniform relative illumination via a lens with a large distortion. The distortion can be corrected with image processing equipment. The lens system can comprise an aperture stop and a group of lens, wherein there can be about five lenses in the group of lenses. The lens system is designed for relative illumination such that the light distribution over the lens system is substantially uniform.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adjusting the effect of applying a kernel to a signal is provided. The adjustment may be based on the magnitude of an effect that a kernel matrix is intended to have on the signal matrix. The adjustments can be based on factors including, but not limited to, a signal-to-noise ratio of the signal data, properties of a device (e.g., lens) used to capture the signal data, or a metric that is derived based on an analysis of the signal data. Processing image data in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is aimed at regaining lost contrast that may be due to properties of optics that are used to capture the image data.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting and addressing image flicker are disclosed. An imaging device that senses a distorted image and subsequently removes the distortion during processing can utilize an analysis module that obtains statistics indicative of image flicker prior to removing the distortion. An imaging device that features a diode for illuminating a field of view can utilize the diode as a photosensor to determine one or more flicker statistics to determine whether ambient lighting conditions are of the type that cause image flicker.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an anisotropic denoising method is provided that removes sensor noise from a digital image while retaining edges, lines, and details in the image. In one embodiment, the method removes noise from a pixel of interest based on the detected type of image environment in which the pixel is situated. If the pixel is situated in an edge/line image environment, then denoising of the pixel is increased such that relatively stronger denoising of the pixel occurs along the edge or line feature. If the pixel is situated in a detail image environment, then denoising of the pixel is decreased such that relatively less denoising of the pixel occurs so as to preserve the details in the image. In one embodiment, detection of the type of image environment is accomplished by performing simple arithmetic operations using only pixels in a 9 pixel by 9 pixel matrix of pixels in which the pixel of interest is situated.

Abstract: An electronic device including a camera adapted to capture images is provided. The camera includes a lens having a first focusing state and a second focusing state; an image sensor adapted to capture a first image of an object in the first focusing state and a second image of the object in the second focusing state. The electronic device further includes a memory configured to store instructions; and a processor coupled to the memory and the camera, wherein the processor is adapted to determine a distance to the object based on the first image and the second image. A lens system including an actuator to modify a configuration of the lens system is also provided, having a first and second focusing state; a memory; and a lookup table to estimate a distance from the lens system to an object.

Abstract: A chromatic noise reduction method is provided for removing chromatic noise from the pixels of a mosaic image. In one implementation, an actual chroma value and a de-noised chroma value are derived for the central pixel of a matrix of pixels. Based at least in part upon these chroma values, a final chroma value is derived for the central pixel. The final chroma value is then used, along with the actual luminance of the central pixel, to derive a final de-noised pixel value for the central pixel. By de-noising the central pixel based on its chroma (which takes into account more than one color) rather than on just the color channel of the central pixel, this method allows the central pixel to be de-noised in a more color-coordinated fashion. As a result, improved chromatic noise reduction is achieved.

Abstract: An optical system can provides a distorted image of an object within a field of view onto sensing pixels of an image capturing device. The optical system can expand the image in a center of the field of view and compress the image in a periphery or introduce other distortion. The distortion intentionally introduced by the optical system is corrected when the sensing pixels are read to remove some or all of the distortion and thereby produce a “rectified” image. The pixels can be read along a trajectory corresponding to a curvature map of the distorted image to rectify distortions during pixel read out, rather than waiting until all or substantially all of the sensing pixels have been read. Sensor logic and/or algorithms can be used in removing the distortion.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a device comprises a plurality of elements configured to apply a filter to multiple groups of pixels in a neighborhood of pixels surrounding a particular pixel to generate a matrix of filtered values; compute, from the matrix of filtered values, a first set of gradients along a first direction and a second set of gradients along a second and different direction; determine how many directional changes are experienced by the gradients in the first set of gradients and the gradients in the second set of gradients; compute a first weighted value for a first direction and a second weighted value for a second direction; and based, at least in part, upon the first and second weighted values, compute an overall texture characterization value for the particular pixel, wherein the overall texture characterization value indicates a type of image environment in which the particular pixel is located.

Abstract: Different distances of two or more objects in a scene being captured in a video conference are determined by determining a sharpest of two or more color channels and calculating distances based on the determining of the sharpest of the two or more color channels. At least one of the objects is identified as a foreground object or a background object, or one or more of each, based on the determining of the different distances. The technique involves blurring or otherwise rendering unclear at least one background object or one or more portions of the scene other than the at least one foreground object, or combinations thereof, also based on the determining of distances.