Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and a method for capturing images by applying different color filters to two pixel regions with IR blocking filters removed so that optical signals in the visible band and IR signals can be received. The apparatus includes a filter unit having a plurality of filters having different wavelength bands; a sensor unit sensing optical signals passing through the filters; and a signal-extraction unit extracting detailed optical signals in respective wavelength bands by using the difference between the sensed optical signals.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing motion blur of an image is disclosed. The apparatus includes a motion-blur-function-estimation unit that estimates the motion-blur function of an input image, an image-restoration unit that restores the input image using the estimated motion-blur function, a cost-calculation unit that calculates the blur cost of the restored image, and a control unit that determines the re-estimation of the motion-blur function depending on the calculated blur cost.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for adaptively enhancing a color of an image are provided. The apparatus includes a saturation component deriving unit, a saturation enhancement function determining variable calculator, a saturation enhancement unit, and a saturation component synthesizing unit. The saturation component deriving unit derives a saturation component from an input image. The saturation enhancement function determining variable calculator determines a saturation enhancement function used to enhance the saturation of the input image based upon a predetermined reference value. The saturation enhancement unit changes the derived saturation component using the saturation enhancement function. The saturation component synthesizing unit synthesizes the changed saturation component and other components of the input image and generates an output image based upon the synthesized components.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating user preference data regarding the color characteristic of an image and a method and apparatus for converting image color preference using the method and apparatus is provided. The method for generating user preference data comprises (a) obtaining an image color characteristic value of a preference image and a reference image, (b) generating {preference value, reference value} which corresponds to a pair of the preference value and the reference value, and (c) generating the pair {preference value, reference value} as preference meta-data having at least one feature block.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for reducing noise. A method of reducing noise according to an aspect of the present invention includes calculating a noise level of a reference pixel forming an input image, determining a weighted value to be allocated to the reference pixel based on similarity of a reference window including the reference pixel with respect to at least one comparative window existing in a comparative region of the input image and having the same size as the reference window, and the calculated noise level of the reference pixel, and filtering the input image using the determined weighted value.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus for and method of restoring an image, by which when the focus of an image is blurred, an image can be restored using the characteristic of a lens. The apparatus includes: an estimation unit estimating field information and focus blur of an input signal, a weight applying unit applying a plurality of weights according to the optical characteristic of a lens to the input image, and a generation unit generating an output image using the input image to which the plurality of weights are applied.

Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and a method of preventing image degradation due to shaking of an image photographing device. An apparatus for preventing image degradation due to shaking of an image photographing device according to an aspect of the present invention includes an image acquiring unit to acquire a plurality of images of a predetermined subject using a second exposure time shorter than a first exposure time, a scale adjusting unit to adjust scales of the plurality of acquired images, and an image restoring unit to restore images of the subject using the plurality of images whose scales are adjusted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of correcting a chromatic aberration of an image, and in particular, to an apparatus and method of correcting a chromatic aberration of an image that can correct a general chromatic aberration of an edge or an extreme chromatic aberration, such as a purple fringe, in an image. An apparatus for correcting a chromatic aberration of an image according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an edge detection unit detecting an edge of an input image, a level calculation unit calculating a chromatic aberration level of the detected edge, and a correction unit correcting the edge using different weighted values according to the calculated chromatic aberration level.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and a method for correcting a shake of an image photographing device, which enables miniaturization and thin-shaping of the image photographing device, and yet can implement an anti-shake function. This apparatus includes a shake sensing unit sensing the shake of the image photographing device which photographs an image of a subject, a first optical path changing unit changing an optical path of light incident to the image photographing device, an angle adjusting unit adjusting an angle of an light-incident surface of the first optical path changing unit according to the sensed shake, and an image generating unit generating the image of the subject through the light, the optical path of which has been changed by the first optical path changing unit.

Abstract: A system, medium, and method converting image colors, more particularly, a system, medium, and method converting image colors by estimating the surface spectral reflectance of a subject in one or more wavelength ranges based on an input color signal and by converting the input color signal into a device-independent color signal based on the estimated surface spectral reflectance. The system may include an image input unit receiving an image, a reflectance estimating unit estimating spectral reflectances of the image in one or more wavelength ranges, a reflectance synthesizing unit synthesizing the estimated spectral reflectances into one spectral reflectance, and a color converting unit converting the color of the image on the basis of the synthesized spectral reflectance.

Abstract: A high dynamic range image sensor and a method and medium for measuring charges in a pixel are provided. The high dynamic range image sensor includes a sensor that resets a predetermined pixel when the pixel has reached a saturation level, a storage unit that stores the number of times the pixel has been reset, and a measurement unit that measures the quantity of light received in the pixel using the number of times the pixel has been reset, which is simply referred to as the number of resets, and the quantity of charges remaining after the pixel is finally reset.

Abstract: A four color liquid crystal display is provided, which includes: a plurality of first and second dots arranged in a matrix, pixels each of the first dots including three primary color pixels and each of the second dots including two primary color pixels and a white pixel, each pixel including a pixel electrode and a switching element; a plurality of gate lines extending in a row direction for transmitting a gate signal to the switching elements; and a plurality of data lines extending in a column direction for transmitting data signals to the switching elements, wherein the first dots and the second dots are alternately arranged both in a row direction and in a column direction.

Abstract: A color rendering technique, more particularly, an illuminant estimation method, medium, and system estimating an illuminant for white balancing. The illuminant estimation method includes detecting a plurality of valid images from input image data, and determining an illuminant for white balancing based on one or more estimated illuminants that are obtained based on data included in each of the valid images.

Abstract: A system, method and medium correcting brightness of an image, and more particularly, a system, method and medium correcting brightness of an acquired image to achieve a target brightness. The system includes an initial brightness sensing unit to sense an initial brightness of the image from an initial exposure, and an image correction unit to correct the brightness of the sensed initial image toward a target brightness using predetermined brightness information corresponding to a sensed brightness environment of the image.

Abstract: A system, medium, and method compensating brightness of an image, by compensating the brightness of a main object included in the image. The system includes a brightness distribution calculation unit dividing the obtained image into a plurality of divided regions and calculating the brightness distribution of each divided region, and a compensation unit determining a main region including a main object in the obtained image according to the calculated brightness distribution and compensating the obtained image according to the determination result.

Abstract: An image photographing apparatus, method and medium that can enhance color reproducibility and sensitivity. The image photographing apparatus includes a filter unit having a first filter region to pass at least one band of an incident light signal corresponding to a complementary color of a first color, and a second filter region to pass all bands of the incident light signal, wherein the first filter region and the second filter region are each formed in one of two adjacent pixels, and an image sensor unit to sense an image from the incident light signal that passes through the filter unit, the image sensor unit including a plurality of photoelectric conversion layers each having a different spectral sensitivity.

Abstract: Provided is an image correction method and apparatus which can enhance the performance of image correction without deteriorating image quality. The image correction method includes creating a cumulative density function (CDF) based on a luminance histogram of an input image; calculating a plurality of correction parameters, which will be respectively applied to a plurality of different luminance adjustment functions, based on the CDF of the input image; and correcting luminance of the input image using the correction parameters and the luminance adjustment functions.

Abstract: Provided is an image generation system and method, more particularly, an image generation system and method which can generate a high dynamic range image from a plurality of images acquired in a single short exposure. The image generation system To includes an image generation system having an image acquisition unit to acquire an image, an image generation unit to generate, from the acquired image, a plurality of images with different resolution and brightness, and an image synthesis unit to synthesize the generated images.

Abstract: A method of converting image signals for a display device including six-color subpixels is provided, which includes: classifying three-color input image signals into maximum, middle, and minimum; decomposing the classified signals into six-color components; determining a maximum among the six-color components; calculating a scaling factor; and extracting six-color output signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for contrast control is provided. The apparatus includes a cumulative density function which provides a second cumulative density function modified from a first cumulative density function based on a first luminance histogram of an input image; a transformer function provider which provides a transform function based on the first cumulative density function and the second cumulative density function; a compensation unit which compensates the transform function based on a predetermined illumination level; and a transform unit which transforms a luminance distribution of the input image based on the compensated transform function.