Abstract: An image processing apparatus, method and non-transitory computer program storage device cooperate to process successive images. Respective frames are created and positioned within the successive images, where each frame has a border. When changes between the frame borders are detected, a controller triggers the capturing of an image. This approach results in the capturing of interesting moments, even if the subject is not a human subject. The change in frame boundaries may be categorized in a variety of ways, including change in aspect ratio, shape, orientation, and position, for example. By detecting the changes in this way, an imaging device can capture images of interesting events automatically.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing device and method, and a program whereby a subject can be imaged in a simpler manner with a desired imaging range. A size ratio calculating unit 553 calculates a size ratio between a region of interest that is a region of a subject of interest, and a partial region that is the region of a portion of the subject included in the region of interest with an imaged image that has been imaged, and a lens driving control unit 556 controls the zoom power of an imaged image according to a zoom operation by a user so that the size ratio calculated by the size ratio calculating unit 553, and a predetermined value match or generally match. The present invention may be applied to an imaging apparatus.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus, method and non-transitory computer program storage device cooperate to process successive images. Respective frames are created and positioned within the successive images, where each frame has a border. When changes between the frame borders are detected, a controller triggers the capturing of an image. This approach results in the capturing of interesting moments, even if the subject is not a human subject. The change in frame boundaries may be categorized in a variety of ways, including change in aspect ratio, shape, orientation, and position, for example.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus, method and non-transitory computer program storage device cooperate to process successive images. Respective frames are created and positioned within the successive images, where each frame has a border. When changes between the frame borders are detected, a controller triggers the capturing of an image. This approach results in the capturing of interesting moments, even if the subject is not a human subject. The change in frame boundaries may be categorized in a variety of ways, including change in aspect ratio, shape, orientation, and position, for example. By detecting the changes in this way, an imaging device can capture images of interesting events automatically.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing device that specifies a region including a specific subject on each input image of a plurality of continuous frames. The image processing device includes: subject map generation means that, from feature maps corresponding to features of respective pixels of the input image and representing feature amounts in respective regions of the input image, selects one feature amount of any of the feature maps for each pixel so as to thereby generate a subject map representing similarities of the respective regions of the input image to the subject; and subject region specification means that, on the basis of the subject map, specifies a subject region, which is a region most similar to the subject, in the subject map so as to thereby specify a region which includes the subject on the input image.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method, and a program that are capable of more easily identifying an area of a subject in an image. A luminance information extraction unit 21 through to a motion information extraction unit 25 extract predetermined information from an input image and create an information map indicating feature quantities of features possessed by an area of a subject of the input image. Furthermore, the luminance information extraction unit 21 through to the motion information extraction unit 25 subtract an average value of the pixel values of the pixels of the entire information map from the pixel value of each pixel of the created information map so as to normalize the information map. As a result, the information map can be normalized, and noise can be removed with a simple process when compared to a case in which the information map is normalized using a DOG filter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method, and a program that make it possible to more accurately specify a photographic subject in an image. A photographic subject map generating unit 21 generates, based on an input image, a photographic subject map indicating the likeliness of each region of the input image being a region of a photographic subject. A gradient map generating unit 22 generates a gradient map indicating the degree of change of the likeliness of the photographic subject map being a photographic subject. A threshold processing unit 23 and a threshold processing unit 24 binarize the gradient map using a high threshold THh and a low threshold TH1, and obtain threshold maps.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus, method and non-transitory computer program storage device cooperate to process successive images. Respective frames are created and positioned within the successive images, where each frame has a border. When changes between the frame borders are detected, a controller triggers the capturing of an image. This approach results in the capturing of interesting moments, even if the subject is not a human subject. The change in frame boundaries may be categorized in a variety of ways, including change in aspect ratio, shape, orientation, and position, for example. By detecting the changes in this way, an imaging device can capture images of interesting events automatically.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is provided which includes a buffer for holding image data output line by line from an image pickup device, a write enable generator for generating a write enable signal which indicates a timing by which the image data is written to the buffer line by line, an adder for adding per reference clock a read frequency set value which determines readout frequency of the image data written in the buffer, and a write enable generator for generating a read enable signal which indicates a timing by which the image data written in the buffer is read out line by line based on an added value of the read frequency set values.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method, and a program that are capable of more easily identifying an area of a subject in an image. A luminance information extraction unit 21 through to a motion information extraction unit 25 extract predetermined information from an input image and create an information map indicating feature quantities of features possessed by an area of a subject of the input image. Furthermore, the luminance information extraction unit 21 through to the motion information extraction unit 25 subtract an average value of the pixel values of the pixels of the entire information map from the pixel value of each pixel of the created information map so as to normalize the information map. As a result, the information map can be normalized, and noise can be removed with a simple process when compared to a case in which the information map is normalized using a DOG filter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing device and method, and a program whereby a subject can be imaged in a simpler manner with a desired imaging range. A size ratio calculating unit 553 calculates a size ratio between a region of interest that is a region of a subject of interest, and a partial region that is the region of a portion of the subject included in the region of interest with an imaged image that has been imaged, and a lens driving control unit 556 controls the zoom power of an imaged image according to a zoom operation by a user so that the size ratio calculated by the size ratio calculating unit 553, and a predetermined value match or generally match. The present invention may be applied to an imaging apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method, and a program that make it possible to more accurately specify a photographic subject in an image. A photographic subject map generating unit 21 generates, based on an input image, a photographic subject map indicating the likeliness of each region of the input image being a region of a photographic subject. A gradient map generating unit 22 generates a gradient map indicating the degree of change of the likeliness of the photographic subject map being a photographic subject. A threshold processing unit 23 and a threshold processing unit 24 binarize the gradient map using a high threshold THh and a low threshold TH1, and obtain threshold maps.

Abstract: An imaging circuit includes a photoelectric conversion section and a transferring section. The photoelectric conversion section in which pixels each having a color filter attached thereto are arranged in an oblique direction in a lattice manner. The color filter is formed of: a GR line on which G and R pixels are alternately arranged in a horizontal direction; a GB line on which the G and B pixels are alternately arranged in a horizontal direction; and a G line on which only the G pixel is arranged in a horizontal direction, and having a combination of: the GR and G lines; and the GB and G lines being placed alternately in a vertical direction to arrange the G pixel at a position adjacent to the R and B pixels. The transferring section for transferring only an electrical signal associated with pixels included on the GR line and the GB line.

Abstract: The number of channels is changed in accordance with an operation mode in an image pickup apparatus. An image-pickup control unit 240 determines the number of operation channels W in accordance with an operation mode. A sensor unit 210 outputs an image pickup signal corresponding to each pixel in accordance with the number of operation channels W. A data sending unit 220 performs serial conversion on image pickup signals, and transfers them to the image processing unit 300 using a high-speed interface (a signal line 229) such as an LVDS in accordance with the number of operation channels W. A data receiving unit 311 performs parallel conversion on the transferred serial signal for each of the channels in units of M bits. A data reconstruction unit 500 detects a synchronization code embedded in the parallel signals, extracts data windows, and supplies, to a signal line 319, image pickup signals of bit length n which are reconstructed from the data windows.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing device that specifies a region including a specific subject on each input image of a plurality of continuous frames. The image processing device includes: subject map generation means that, from feature maps corresponding to features of respective pixels of the input image and representing feature amounts in respective regions of the input image, selects one feature amount of any of the feature maps for each pixel so as to thereby generate a subject map representing similarities of the respective regions of the input image to the subject; and subject region specification means that, on the basis of the subject map, specifies a subject region, which is a region most similar to the subject, in the subject map so as to thereby specify a region which includes the subject on the input image.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is provided which includes a buffer for holding image data output line by line from an image pickup device, a write enable generator for generating a write enable signal which indicates a timing by which the image data is written to the buffer line by line, an adder for adding per reference clock a read frequency set value which determines readout frequency of the image data written in the buffer, and a write enable generator for generating a read enable signal which indicates a timing by which the image data written in the buffer is read out line by line based on an added value of the read frequency set values.

Abstract: The number of channels is changed in accordance with an operation mode in an image pickup apparatus. An image-pickup control unit 240 determines the number of operation channels W in accordance with an operation mode. A sensor unit 210 outputs an image pickup signal corresponding to each pixel in accordance with the number of operation channels W. A data sending unit 220 performs serial conversion on image pickup signals, and transfers them to the image processing unit 300 using a high-speed interface (a signal line 229) such as an LVDS in accordance with the number of operation channels W. A data receiving unit 311 performs parallel conversion on the transferred serial signal for each of the channels in units of M bits. A data reconstruction unit 500 detects a synchronization code embedded in the parallel signals, extracts data windows, and supplies, to a signal line 319, image pickup signals of bit length n which are reconstructed from the data windows.

Abstract: An imaging circuit includes a photoelectric conversion section and a transferring section. The photoelectric conversion section in which pixels each having a color filter attached thereto are arranged in an oblique direction in a lattice manner. The color filter is formed of: a GR line on which G and R pixels are alternately arranged in a horizontal direction; a GB line on which the G and B pixels are alternately arranged in a horizontal direction; and a G line on which only the G pixel is arranged in a horizontal direction, and having a combination of: the GR and G lines; and the GB and G lines being placed alternately in a vertical direction to arrange the G pixel at a position adjacent to the R and B pixels. The transferring section for transferring only an electrical signal associated with pixels included on the GR line and the GB line.