Abstract: Dynamic adjustment of noise filter strengths for use with dynamic range enhancement of images is performed to produce better quality images by adapting dynamically to the image noise profile. Global and local brightness and contrast enhancement (GLBCE) is performed on a digital image to form an enhanced image. The GLBCE applies local gain values to the digital image based on local intensity values. A GLBCE gain versus intensity curve is determined for the enhanced image. A set of noise filter thresholds is adjusted in response to the GLBCE gain versus intensity curve to form a set of dynamically adjusted noise filter thresholds. The enhanced image is noise filtered using the set of dynamically adjusted noise filter thresholds to form a noise filtered enhanced image.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for converting a two dimensional image or video to three dimensional image or video. The method includes segmenting objects in at least one of a two dimensional image and video, performing, in the digital processor, a depth map generation based on low-level features, performing face detection and scene classification on at least one of a two dimensional image and video, and utilizing the face detection and scene classification in enhancing the depth map and for converting the at least one of a two dimensional image and video to three dimensional image and video.

Abstract: A method for brightness and contrast enhancement includes computing a luminance histogram of a digital image, computing first distances from the luminance histogram to a plurality of predetermined luminance histograms, estimating first control point values for a global tone mapping curve from predetermined control point values corresponding to a subset of the predetermined luminance histograms selected based on the computed first distances, and interpolating the estimated control point values to determine the global tone mapping curve. The method may also include dividing the digital image into a plurality of image blocks, and enhancing each pixel in the digital image by computing second distances from a pixel in an image block to the centers of neighboring image blocks, and computing an enhanced pixel value based on the computed second distances, predetermined control point values corresponding to the neighboring image blocks, and the global tone mapping curve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing at least one of video and image quality using an exposure aware scene adaptive global brightness contrast. The method includes determining if gain control is needed utilizing Gamma corrected histogram and ancillary data, if gain control is not required, computing a set of scene adaptive tone points and blending with information from histogram equalization if needed, if gain control is required, estimating gain value and utilizing the gain value in computing the gain table, and accordingly, generating a look-up table for enhancing global brightness contrast utilizing the gain table, the tone table and the information from histogram equalization.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for focusing an image in an image-capturing device utilizing at least one face in the image. The method includes detecting at least one face in the image, determining the size of the detected at least one face, determining the distance of the at least one face from the image-capturing device, wherein the determination utilizes the size of the detected at least one face, and focusing an image according to the determined distance of the detected at least one face.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatic white balancing of an image. The method includes retrieving scene analysis of the image, determining at least one of the type of the scene and a scene content map utilizing the scene analysis of the image, performing scene adaptive white balance, if overall scene category type is used, perform white balance by applying global R, G, B gains optimized for the global scene type, and if scene segmentation map is used, perform locally adaptive white balance by applying an R, G, B gain map optimized for each scene content.

Abstract: A method and apparatus motion triggered image stabilization. The method includes computing projection vector for at least a portion of a frame of an image using horizontal and vertical sums, performing motion estimation utilizing projection vector with the shift of the projection vector from a previous frame, performing temporal IIR filter on the motion vector, calculating the maximum horizontal and vertical motion vectors, obtaining exposure time based on the horizontal and vertical motion vectors and the gain, returning the exposure time and the gain to the auto-exposure, utilizing the returned exposure time and gain, and producing a frame with less motion blur.