Abstract: This disclosure relates to various implementations that dynamically adjust one or more shallow depth of field (SDOF) parameters based on a designated, artificial aperture value. The implementations obtain a designated, artificial aperture value that modifies an initial aperture value for an image frame. The designated, artificial aperture value generates a determined amount of synthetically-produced blur within the image frame. The implementations determine an aperture adjustment factor based on the designated, artificial aperture value in relation to a default so-called “tuning aperture value” (for which the camera's operations may have been optimized). The implementations may then modify, based on the aperture adjustment factor, one or more SDOF parameters for an SDOF operation, which may, e.g., be configured to render a determined amount of synthetic bokeh within the image frame.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to various implementations that dynamically adjust one or more shallow depth of field (SDOF) parameters based on a designated, artificial aperture value. The implementations obtain a designated, artificial aperture value that modifies an initial aperture value for an image frame. The designated, artificial aperture value generates a determined amount of synthetically-produced blur within the image frame. The implementations determine an aperture adjustment factor based on the designated, artificial aperture value in relation to a default so-called “tuning aperture value” (for which the camera's operations may have been optimized). The implementations may then modify, based on the aperture adjustment factor, one or more SDOF parameters for an SDOF operation, which may, e.g., be configured to render a determined amount of synthetic bokeh within the image frame.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to various implementations that dynamically adjust one or more shallow depth of field (SDOF) parameters based on a designated, artificial aperture value. The implementations obtain a designated, artificial aperture value that modifies an initial aperture value for an image frame. The designated, artificial aperture value generates a determined amount of synthetically-produced blur within the image frame. The implementations determine an aperture adjustment factor based on the designated, artificial aperture value in relation to a default so-called “tuning aperture value” (for which the camera's operations may have been optimized). The implementations may then modify, based on the aperture adjustment factor, one or more SDOF parameters for an SDOF operation, which may, e.g., be configured to render a determined amount of synthetic bokeh within the image frame.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to techniques for synthesizing out of focus blurring effects in digital images. Cameras having wide aperture lenses typically capture images with a shallow depth of field (SDOF). SDOF cameras are often used in portrait photography, since they emphasize subjects, while deemphasizing the background via blurring. Simulating this kind of blurring using a large depth of field (LDOF) camera may require a large amount of computational resources, i.e., to simulate the physical effects of using a wide aperture lens, while constructing a synthetic SDOF image. Moreover, cameras having smaller lens apertures, such as those in mobile phones, may not have the ability to accurately estimate or recreate the true color of clipped background light sources. Described herein are techniques to synthesize out of focus background blurring effects that attempt to reproduce accurate light intensity and color values for clipped background light sources in images captured by LDOF cameras.

Abstract: A method for storing digital images is presented. The method includes capturing an image using a digital camera system. It also comprises capturing metadata associated with the image or a moment of capture of the image. Further, it comprises storing the metadata in at least one field within a file format, wherein the file format defines a structure for the image, and wherein the at least one field is located within an extensible segment of the file format. In one embodiment, the metadata is selected from a group that comprises audio data, GPS data, time data, related image information, heat sensor data, gyroscope data, annotated text, and annotated audio.

Abstract: A system and method for enhanced automatic monoimaging. Embodiments of the present invention are operable for configuring a first camera based on a configuration determination by a second camera. The method includes capturing a first image with the first camera and determining an optical configuration based on an optical measurement performed by a second camera. In one embodiment, the second camera comprises a lower resolution sensor than a sensor of the first camera. The method further includes sending the optical configuration from the second camera to the first camera and adjusting a configuration of the first camera based on the optical configuration. The method further includes capturing a second image with the first camera. The first image and the second image may be preview images.

Abstract: An image signal processor (ISP) and a method of generating image statistics. One embodiment of the ISP includes: (1) a client configured to employ image statistics to process a current frame of a scene if changes in the current frame relative to a previous frame of the scene rise above a threshold, and (2) a statistics engine associated with the client and configured to generate the image statistics based on the current frame if the changes rise above the threshold.

Abstract: A method for sharing digital photos securely is presented. The method includes capturing image data using a digital camera system. It also includes encrypting the image data using an encryption key to produce encrypted image data. Further, it comprises storing metadata associated with the encrypting in at least one field within a file format, wherein the file format defines a structure for storing the encrypted image data, and wherein the at least one field is located within an extensible segment of the file format. Finally, it comprises transmitting the encrypted image data to a recipient.

Abstract: A method for storing digital images is presented. The method includes capturing an image using a digital camera system. It also comprises capturing metadata associated with the image or a moment of capture of the image. Further, it comprises storing the metadata in at least one field within a file format, wherein the file format defines a structure for the image, and wherein the at least one field is located within an extensible segment of the file format. In one embodiment, the metadata is selected from a group that comprises audio data, GPS data, time data, related image information, heat sensor data, gyroscope data, annotated text, and annotated audio.

Abstract: A method for storing digital images is presented. The method comprises accessing a first image. It further comprises capturing at least one second image. Further, it comprises storing metadata associated with the at least one second image in at least one field within a file format of the first image, wherein the file format defines a structure for the image, and wherein the at least one field is located within an extensible segment of the file format. In one embodiment, the at least one second image is an image that is intermediate in relation to the first image, wherein the at least one second image is selected from a group consisting of: intermediate HDR images; RAW Bayer image data; RGB image data; RAW images; multiple exposures captured to produce a single final image.

Abstract: A system and method for image capture. The method includes configuring an image sensor to capture at a full resolution of the image sensor and automatically capturing a first image with the image sensor irrespective of a shutter button of a camera. The method further includes receiving an image capture request and accessing a second image after the receiving of the image capture request. The first image is captured prior to the receiving of the image capture request. The first image and the second image may then be stored.

Abstract: A system and method for enhanced automatic monoimaging. Embodiments of the present invention are operable for configuring a first camera based on a configuration determination by a second camera. The method includes capturing a first image with the first camera and determining an optical configuration based on an optical measurement performed by a second camera. In one embodiment, the second camera comprises a lower resolution sensor than a sensor of the first camera. The method further includes sending the optical configuration from the second camera to the first camera and adjusting a configuration of the first camera based on the optical configuration. The method further includes capturing a second image with the first camera. The first image and the second image may be preview images.

Abstract: A system and method for stereoscopic image capture. The method includes capturing a first image with a first camera and capturing a second image with a second camera. The second camera comprises a lower resolution sensor than a sensor of the first camera. The method further includes determining a third image based on adjusting the first image to a resolution of the lower resolution sensor of the second camera and generating a stereoscopic image comprising the second image and the third image.

Abstract: A graphics system and method for rendering a plurality of triangles. Information regarding the triangle may first be received. The method may then determine the longest edge or major edge of the triangle and also determine the direction or axis of the longest edge of the triangle. The method may then perform edge walking on the major edge (e.g., along the axis of the major edge) of the triangle, followed by span walking. The edge walking is preferably always performed on the major or longest edge of the triangle, prior to the span walking, and regardless of the orientation of the major edge of the triangle. This operates to load balance the edge walker and the span walker for the plurality of triangles.

Abstract: A system and method for assigning operations to multiple pipelines in a graphics system is disclosed. The graphics system may include an arbitration unit coupled to a plurality of calculation pipelines. The arbitration unit is operable to provide graphics operations to selected ones of the calculation pipelines. Each of the calculation pipelines is operable to perform a graphics operation. Each of the calculation pipelines may include digital logic and/or a processing element for performing the graphics operations. An operation may be assigned to a pipeline if the pipeline is performing a low latency operation. A low latency operation may comprise an operation that is performed by one of the calculation pipelines in less time than a pre-determined number of clock cycles.

Abstract: A graphics system and method for displaying lines on a display device. The system may comprise a sample buffer, a rendering unit and a sample-to-pixel calculation unit. The rendering unit may (a) generate a plurality of sample positions in a two-dimensional space, (b) determine a sample normal distance for each of the sample positions with respect to a line defined by the line-draw command, (c) assign sample values to the sample positions based on the sample normal distance of each of the sample positions, and (d) store the sample values in the sample buffer. The sample-to-pixel calculation unit may read sample values from the sample buffer, filter them to determine a pixel value, and transmit the pixel value to the display device. The rendering unit may render the line sample values with a narrower width to pre-compensate for the line-expanding effect of the filtering performed by the sample-to-pixel calculation unit.

Abstract: A graphics system and method are disclosed that may optimize the rate of pixel generation to match the rate at which a memory may be designed to receive pixel data. If a memory is configured to store multiple pixels substantially simultaneously, it may be advantageous to render an equivalent number of pixels substantially simultaneously and at the same rate. An edge walker that utilizes multiple sets of accumulators to generate multiple scan lines substantially simultaneously and a span walker that utilizes multiple sets of accumulators to render multiple pixel values substantially simultaneously is described.

Abstract: A system and method for rendering a polygon, such as a triangle. The method may comprise receiving geometry data (or vertex data) defining vertices of the polygon. The method may compute initial vertex x,y values at end points proximate to each of the vertices of the polygon, and a slope value along each edge of the polygon. The computed slope may be a quantized slope value having a first number of bits of precision. The first number of bits of precision may produce inaccuracies for interpolated x,y values computed at the end points of an edge of the polygon. The method may then interpolate x,y values along each respective edge of the polygon using the computed slope along the respective edge of the polygon. Finally the method may store final x,y values for each respective edge of the polygon. The final x,y values comprise the interpolated x,y values for non-end points of the respective edge, and the computed initial vertex x,y values for each of the end points of the respective edge.

Abstract: A graphics system and method for rendering a plurality of triangles. Information regarding the triangle may first be received. The method may then determine the longest edge or major edge of the triangle and also determine the direction or axis of the longest edge of the triangle. The method may then perform edge walking on the major edge (e.g., along the axis of the major edge) of the triangle, followed by span walking. The edge walking is preferably always performed on the major or longest edge of the triangle, prior to the span walking, and regardless of the orientation of the major edge of the triangle. This operates to load balance the edge walker and the span walker for the plurality of triangles.

Abstract: A graphics system and method are disclosed that may optimize the rate of pixel generation to match the rate at which a memory may be designed to receive pixel data. If a memory is configured to store multiple pixels substantially simultaneously, it may be advantageous to render an equivalent number of pixels substantially simultaneously and at the same rate. An edge walker that utilizes multiple sets of accumulators to generate multiple scan lines substantially simultaneously and a span walker that utilizes multiple sets of accumulators to render multiple pixel values substantially simultaneously is described.