Abstract: A method for compensating for off-axis tilting of a lens relative to an image sensor in an image acquisition device comprises acquiring a set of calibrated parameters n ? ? ( n x n y n z ) corresponding to the tilting of said lens. Px? and Py? indicate a coordinate of a pixel in an acquired image. Image information is mapped from the acquired image to a lens tilt compensated image according to the formulae: P x ? = s n z ? ( n z - 1 ) ? ( ( n x 2 + n z ? ( n z - 1 ) ) ? u x + n x ? n y ? u y ) P y ? = s n z ? ( n z - 1 ) ? ( ( n y 2 + n z ? ( n z - 1 ) ) ? u y + n x ? n y ? u x ) where s comprises a scale factor given by s = n z u x ? n x + u y ? n y + n z and where ux and uy indicate the location of a pixel in the lens tilt compensated image.

Abstract: A technique of generating a stereoscopic panorama image includes panning a portable camera device, and acquiring multiple image frames. Multiple at least partially overlapping image frames are acquired of portions of the scene. The method involves registering the image frames, including determining displacements of the imaging device between acquisitions of image frames. Multiple panorama images are generated including joining image frames of the scene according to spatial relationships and determining stereoscopic counterpart relationships between the multiple panorama images. The multiple panorama images arc processed based on the stereoscopic counterpart relationships to form a stereoscopic panorama image.

Abstract: A method of estimating motion between a pair of image frames of a given scene comprises calculating respective integral images for each of the image frames and selecting at least one corresponding region of interest within each frame. For each region of interest, an integral image profile from each integral image is calculated, each profile comprising an array of elements, each element comprising a sum of pixel intensities from successive swaths of the region of interest for the frame. Integral image profiles are correlated to determine a relative displacement of the region of interest between the pair of frames. Each region of interest is divided into a plurality of further regions of interest before repeating until a required hierarchy of estimated motion for successively divided regions of interest is provided.

Abstract: A method for determining bias in an inertial measurement unit of an image acquisition device comprises mapping at least one reference point within an image frame into a 3D spherical space based on a lens projection model for the image acquisition device to provide a respective anchor point in 3D space for each reference point.

Abstract: A method of correcting an image obtained by an image acquisition device includes obtaining successive measurements, Gn, of device movement during exposure of each row of an image. An integration range, idx, is selected in proportion to an exposure time, te, for each row of the image. Accumulated measurements, Cn, of device movement for each row of an image are averaged across the integration range to provide successive filtered measurements, G, of device movement during exposure of each row of an image. The image is corrected for device movement using the filtered measurements G.

Abstract: A hand-held digital image capture device (digital camera) has a user-selectable mode in which upon engaging the mode the device detects a face in the field of view of the device and generates a face delimiter on a camera display screen, the delimiter surrounding the initial position of the image of a the face on the screen. The device is arranged to indicate thereafter to the user if the device departs from movement along a predetermined concave path P with the optical axis of the device pointing towards the face, such indication being made by movement of the image of the face relative to the delimiter. The camera captures and stores a plurality of images at successive positions along the concave path.

Abstract: A method for determining bias in an inertial measurement unit of an image acquisition device comprises mapping at least one reference point within an image frame into a 3D spherical space based on a lens projection model for the image acquisition device to provide a respective anchor point in 3D space for each reference point.

Abstract: A method for determining bias in an inertial measurement unit of an image acquisition device comprises mapping at least one reference point within an image frame into a 3D spherical space based on a lens projection model for the image acquisition device to provide a respective anchor point in 3D space for each reference point.

Abstract: A technique of generating a stereoscopic panorama image includes panning a portable camera device, and acquiring multiple image frames. Multiple at least partially overlapping image frames are acquired of portions of the scene. The method involves registering the image frames, including determining displacements of the imaging device between acquisitions of image frames. Multiple panorama images are generated including joining image frames of the scene according to spatial relationships and determining stereoscopic counterpart relationships between the multiple panorama images. The multiple panorama images are processed based on the stereoscopic counterpart relationships to form a stereoscopic panorama image.

Abstract: A rearview imaging system for a vehicle includes at least one video camera mounted at the rear of the vehicle for providing a wide angle horizontal field of view (FoV) rearwardly of the vehicle, and a display device in the vehicle at a position viewable by the driver. A video processor subdivides the camera FoV into three horizontally disposed sub-FOVs and displaying said sub-FoVs on visually separated side-by-side regions of the display device screen. The horizontal position and/or extent of at least one sub-FoV is variable as a function of the motion of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method of correcting an image obtained by an image acquisition device includes obtaining successive measurements, Gn, of device movement during exposure of each row of an image. An integration range, idx, is selected in proportion to an exposure time, te, for each row of the image. Accumulated measurements, Cn, of device movement for each row of an image are averaged across the integration range to provide successive filtered measurements, G, of device movement during exposure of each row of an image. The image is corrected for device movement using the filtered measurements G.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a gimbal adjustment system and an associated method for adjusting the position of an object. The system comprises a base, a plate and a shaft including a pivot attached to the plate. The pivot has a point of contact with the plate in a joint about which the plate is rotatable. Magnetic elements are positioned on the base and the plate to stabilize or rotate the plate. The object may be an optical unit attached to the plate. A combination comprising the plate, optical unit and magnetic elements may form a gimbaled assembly having a center of mass in the joint.

Abstract: A method of correcting an image obtained by an image acquisition device includes obtaining successive measurements, Gn, of device movement during exposure of each row of an image. An integration range, idx, is selected in proportion to an exposure time, te, for each row of the image. Accumulated measurements, Cn, of device movement for each row of an image are averaged across the integration range to provide successive filtered measurements, G, of device movement during exposure of each row of an image. The image is corrected for device movement using the filtered measurements G.

Abstract: A method operable within an image capture device for stabilizing a sequence of images captured by the image capture device is disclosed. The method comprises, using lens based sensors indicating image capture device movement during image acquisition, performing optical image stabilization (OIS) during acquisition of each image of the sequence of images to provide a sequence of OIS corrected images. Frame-to-frame movement of the device for each frame during which each OIS corrected image is captured is determined using inertial measurement sensors. At least an estimate of OIS control performed during acquisition of an image is obtained. The estimate is removed from the frame-to-frame movement determined for the frame during which the OIS corrected image was captured to provide a residual measurement of movement for the frame. Electronic image stabilization (EIS) of each OIS corrected image based on the residual measurement is performed to provide a stabilized sequence of images.

Abstract: A method operable within an image capture device for stabilizing a sequence of images captured by the image capture device is disclosed. The method comprises, using lens based sensors indicating image capture device movement during image acquisition, performing optical image stabilization (OIS) during acquisition of each image of the sequence of images to provide a sequence of OIS corrected images. Frame-to-frame movement of the device for each frame during which each OIS corrected image is captured is determined using inertial measurement sensors. At least an estimate of OIS control performed during acquisition of an image is obtained. The estimate is removed from the frame-to-frame movement determined for the frame during which the OIS corrected image was captured to provide a residual measurement of movement for the frame. Electronic image stabilization (EIS) of each OIS corrected image based on the residual measurement is performed to provide a stabilized sequence of images.

Abstract: A hand-held digital image capture device (digital camera) has a user-selectable mode in which upon engaging the mode the device detects a face in the field of view of the device and generates a face delimiter on a camera display screen, the delimiter surrounding the initial position of the image of a the face on the screen. The device is arranged to indicate thereafter to the user if the device departs from movement along a predetermined concave path P with the optical axis of the device pointing towards the face, such indication being made by movement of the image of the face relative to the delimiter. The camera captures and stores a plurality of images at successive positions along the concave path.

Abstract: A hand-held digital image capture device (digital camera) has a user-selectable mode in which upon engaging the mode the device detects a face in the field of view of the device and generates a face delimiter on a camera display screen, the delimiter surrounding the initial position of the image of a the face on the screen. The device is arranged to indicate thereafter to the user if the device departs from the movement along a predetermined concave path P with the optical axis of the device pointing towards the face, such indication being made by movement of the image of the face relative to the delimiter. The camera captures and stores a plurality of images at successive positions along the concave path.

Abstract: A rearview imaging system for a vehicle includes at least one video camera mounted at the rear of the vehicle for providing a wide angle horizontal field of view (FoV) rearwardly of the vehicle, and a display device in the vehicle at a position viewable by the driver. A video processor subdivides the camera FoV into three horizontally disposed sub-FOVs and displaying said sub-FoVs on visually separated side-by-side regions of the display device screen. The horizontal position and/or extent of at least one sub-FoV is variable as a function of the motion of the vehicle.

Abstract: A method for correcting a distorted input image comprises determining a local region of an image to be displayed and dividing said region into an array of rectangular tiles, each tile corresponding to a distorted tile with a non-rectangular boundary within said input image. For each tile of the local region, maximum and minimum memory address locations of successive rows of said input image sufficient to span said boundary of said distorted tile are determined. Successive rows of the distorted input from between said maximum and minimum addresses are read. Distortion of the non-rectangular portion of said distorted input image is corrected to provide a tile of a corrected output image which is stored.

Abstract: A method for correcting a distorted input image includes determining a local region of an image to be displayed and dividing the region into an array of rectangular tiles, each tile corresponding to a distorted tile with a non-rectangular boundary within the input image. For each tile of the local region, maximum and minimum memory address locations of successive rows of the input image sufficient to span the boundary of the distorted tile are determined. Successive rows of the distorted input from between the maximum and minimum addresses are read. Distortion of the non-rectangular portion of the distorted input image is corrected to provide a tile of a corrected output image which is stored.