Abstract: A playground security system comprises a power supply and a monitoring station. The monitoring station comprises a camera, a light and/or an audio deterrent device which are electrically connected to the power supply. The monitoring station can be contained in a post; and the post is part of a playground structure or can be a stand alone post. The audio deterrent device emits signals in a frequency range that is bothersome to humans between the ages of about 13 to about 25 years. The audio deterrent device and light are activated by a motion sensor. Further, the system includes a dusk-to-dawn sensor which also controls the audio deterrent device and the light. The camera can be in an “always-on” mode and can be adapted to transmit signals containing visual or audio-visual information. The camera signals can be stored and viewed remotely from the playground.

Abstract: A system for streaming digital media over a network includes a plurality of cameras configured with an image capture facility to capture images; an image stabilization and alignment facility disposed within at least one of the plurality of cameras; and a data transmission channel adapted to transmit the digital media including the captured images to a network-enabled handheld device for storage and manipulation. The system can be integrated with a projector to perform as a camera and projector device for sharing and/or projecting media.

Abstract: A system is provided to control cameras of a camera array setup. The system generates an electric signal relative to a contacting track of a touching device on a touch screen. Therefore, a displacement of the touching device on the touch screen is obtained. The system generates a control signal. The control signal indicates a displacement range in which the displacement of the touching device is on the touch screen. The displacement range corresponds to a required camera of the camera array setup. The system controls the camera array setup to transmit video captured by the required camera to the touch screen. The video is displayed on the touch screen. The system can also switch the cameras of the camera array setup when a touch on the touch screen is sensed.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an infrared cutoff filter, an image capturing device having a plurality of pixels for detecting light transmitted through the infrared cutoff filter, and four optical filters disposed on a light-detecting surface of the image capturing device. The four optical filters include a first filter for transmitting light having a wavelength longer than a first wavelength, a second filter for transmitting light having a wavelength longer than a second wavelength, a third filter for transmitting light having a wavelength longer than a third wavelength, and a fourth filter for transmitting light having a wavelength longer than a fourth wavelength. The infrared cutoff filter transmits light having a wavelength shorter than a fifth wavelength. A processor calculates blue-, green-, red-, and infrared-component pixel signals from pixel signals that are produced by the pixels of the image capturing device.

Abstract: An image display apparatus includes: an image display unit for forming and displaying an optical image; an external-equipment-link unit capable of sending/receiving a control signal to/from external equipment; and a control unit for controlling operations of the image display unit and the external-equipment-link unit. The external-equipment-link unit includes at least one control signal output circuit and at least one control signal input circuit, the control signal input circuit detects an input control signal inputted from the external equipment and supplies the input control signal to the control unit. The control unit controls the control signal output circuit to output an external equipment control signal to the external equipment in response to the image display apparatus being in a predetermined operation state, and the control unit controls operations of the image display apparatus based on the input control signal supplied from the control signal input circuit.

Abstract: A method is provided for determining a modulation of a CATV channel, the modulation being one of a digital modulation and an analog modulation. The method includes passing at least a portion of a tuner output from a tuner to a RF detector, and passing a RF detector output from the RF detector to a sync detector. The method further includes attenuating at least a portion of a sync detector output to create a remaining portion of the sync detector output, and passing the remaining portion of the sync detector output to a peak detector. The method further includes passing an output of the peak detector to a subsequent device, the output of the peak detector indicating whether the modulation of the CATV channel.

Abstract: A data communication method and system using a mobile terminal are provided. Multimedia data stored in a mobile terminal can be provided to a counterpart during webcam communication. The data communication method includes activating webcam mode operation, identifying a preset operating mode during the webcam mode operation, the preset operating mode being selected from a plurality of operating modes including a multimedia mode and a capture mode, extracting, when the preset operating mode is the multimedia mode, multimedia data according to a predetermined acquisition scheme, and transmitting the extracted multimedia data to a connected device through a pre-specified interface.

Abstract: A photographing control method and a photographing apparatus applying the same are provided. The photographing control method includes setting an image photographing configuration according to an image processing scheme useable with image content. Therefore, it is possible to easily set various photographing configurations according to a user's preference.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes a confirmation unit configured to confirm whether a processing, which is to be executed between the communication apparatus and a partner communication apparatus in communication therewith, has been selected by a user, a selection unit configured to select a processing to be executed according to a priority assigned to each of a plurality of processings, and an execution unit configured to execute the processing selected by the selection unit when the communication apparatus is again connected to the partner communication apparatus after the communication with the partner communication apparatus is disconnected, wherein the execution unit executes the selected processing when the confirmation unit confirms that there is a processing selected by the user during a period when the communication with the partner communication apparatus is disconnected and when the communication is connected again.

Abstract: A method and device are provided for method for stabilization of image data by an imaging device. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting image data for a first frame and a second frame, performing motion estimation to determine one or more motion vectors associated with global frame motion for image data of the first frame, performing an outlier rejection function to select at least one of the one or more motion vectors, and determining a global transformation for image data of the first frame based, at least in part, on motion vectors selected by the outlier rejection function. The method may further include determining a stabilization transformation for image data of the first frame by refining the global transformation to correct for unintentional motion and applying the stabilization transformation to image data of the first frame to stabilize the image data of the first frame.

Abstract: An imaging system includes optics foi foiming an optical image, that provide a first region m the optical image that is charactenzed by a fust range of best focus and a second region in the optical image that is characterized by a second range of best focus The first and second ianges correspond to object distance ranges that are discontiguous A sensor array converts the optical image to a data stream, and a digital signal processor processes the data stream to generate a final image.

Abstract: A novel phase-coded aperture, associated imaging system, and design method is disclosed. The optical imaging system includes a coded-aperture followed optically by a detector array and includes an image processor. A diffraction pattern in the form of a band-limited uniformly redundant array is formed on the detector array when focusable radiation from a point source in object space is modulation by the transmission function of the coded-aperture. Since diffraction effects cannot be ignored in the optical regime, an iterative phase retrieval method is used to calculate the phase-coded aperture transmission function. Correlation type processing can be applied for the image recovery.

Abstract: An object is to suppress a false color and moire that occur in a high-frequency region. Color interpolation circuits of a color-difference signal generating circuit separate an image signal obtained from an image pickup device, in which a plurality of color filters are arranged in a predetermined pattern and in which pixels corresponding to the respective color filters are provided, into image signals of the respective color filters (R, G1, G2, and B), and perform an interpolation process on the image signals of the respective color filters. Then, a false color determining circuit determines whether a target region is a high-frequency region on the basis of at least any of slopes of image signals of the G1 filter and the G2 filter and a difference between the image signals of the G1 filter and the G2 filter in the target region.

Abstract: An automatic focusing system in a low-illumination setting and a method using the same are disclosed. Through a selection of the memory bits and a tone adjustment, an automatic focusing could be precisely achieved. According to one embodiment, a lens module and an image sensor are firstly used for generating the digital image signals. Next, a gain adjustment unit is introduced to adjusting the gain of the signals, so as to reduce the noises. A memory bit retrieving unit is further used to retrieve the data from a plurality of memory bits. Next, a tone adjusting process is performed to raise the signals' contrast.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing power consumption in a digital image processor are disclosed. The apparatus includes a global positioning system (GPS) module using power and configured to generate initial GPS location information of the digital image processor; and a digital signal processor (DSP) configured to receive the initial GPS location information, to set user selected location information for recording in a captured image, and to cut the power to the GPS module. The method includes supplying power to a global positioning system (GPS) module; receiving initial GPS location information of the digital image processor, wherein the initial GPS location is generated by the GPS module; setting a user selected location information to capture an image; and cutting the power to the GPS module.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: an image capturing section for capturing an image; a person determining section for determining whether the image captured by the image capturing section includes any person; an input notification section for notifying a user that the person included in the image captured by the image capturing section should be inputted when the image determining section determines that the image includes the person; a personal identification information input section for causing the user to input personal identification information indicative of the person included in the image captured by the image capturing section by a predetermined timing after the input notification section notifies the user that the person included in the image captured by the image capturing section should be inputted; and an image storage section for storing the personal identification information inputted by the personal identification information input section in association with the image captured by the ima

Abstract: A process and apparatus for displaying and recording image data can be smoothly performed in characteristic methods by computing a quantization parameter for use in compression of image data, obtaining a difference in the amount of processes between the display of image data and the recording of image data, and managing memory of temporarily stored image data for regeneration of recorded image data.

Abstract: An imaging device includes: an imaging unit that photographs an image; a position measurement unit that measures a photographic position when the image is photographed by the imaging unit; a control unit that determines whether or to not to record data for the photographic position along with the photographed image; and a recording unit that, according to a determination by the control unit, either records only the photographed image, or records the photographed image and the data for the photographic position.

Abstract: An improved scalar embedded graphics coding (EGC) for wireless HD compression is described herein. The image frame to be encoded is divided into blocks, which are further divided into color groups. These groups are encoded one bit plane at a time. The improved scalar EGC method and system uses shared grouping data among color components, but bit planes of each color are separately encoded. Further, during encoding a second-level grouping is able to occur on the splitting signaling of the groups. The system and method described herein retain the simplicity of scalar EGC and attain an efficiency comparable to vector EGC.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to generate a thumbnail image in a moving image photographing mode, and storing the generated thumbnail image are disclosed. The apparatus to photograph the thumbnail image generates a thumbnail image at intervals of a predetermined time simultaneously with photographing the moving image. In addition, the apparatus selects a thumbnail image to be preserved and a thumbnail image to deleted from among generated thumbnail images in such a manner that the number of generated thumbnail images does not exceed a predetermined number, thereby limiting the number of generated thumbnail images.

Abstract: A method for combining images in a camera device, includes following steps. The camera device takes a first image. A first inclination angle of the camera device at the time of taking the first image is saved. A view finder of the camera device finds a next view, and compares the current inclination angle of the camera device with the first inclination angle. If the angles are not the same, the view finder inclines to adjust the current inclination angle of the camera device until the angles are the same. The camera device takes a second image. The first image and the second image are combined to generate a new image.

Abstract: An image photographing apparatus to adjust gain and directivity of a signal input via a microphone according to the position of a subject, and a method of controlling the same. The image photographing apparatus includes a face recognition unit to detect a face of a subject, a control unit to calculate a distance between the subject and the image photographing apparatus according to zoom ratio information of the image photographing apparatus and the size of the face and to calculate a position angle of the subject according to the zoom ratio information of the image photographing apparatus and a position coordinate of the subject, and an audio processing unit to adjust gain of a signal input via a microphone according to the distance between the image photographing apparatus and the subject and to adjust directivity of the signal input via the microphone according to the position angle of the subject.

Abstract: A system and method for improving image processing. In one aspect of the invention the method includes receiving data indicating an intensity of light incident on a first pixel of a pixel array and determining from the received data if the intensity of incident light on the first pixel satisfies a first condition. A processing operation is performed on data received from a second, third and fourth pixel of the pixel array but skipped on the data received from the first pixel if the first condition is satisfied. The first condition includes whether the first pixel is substantially saturated in response to an intensity of light incident on the first pixel.

Abstract: A color filter array of an image sensor, the color filter array including a plurality of infrared ray (IR) filters, each of which filters out light to transmit wavelengths in an IR region; a plurality of first type color filters; a plurality of second type color filters; and a plurality of third type color filters, wherein some adjacent IR filters are arranged to form a T shape.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device and a camera system are provided that are capable of preventing the occurrence of invalid frames if a shutter and a gain are simultaneously set. The solid-state imaging device has a picture element array block 110 on which a plurality of picture element circuits having features for converting an optical signal into an electrical signal and accumulating the electrical signal in accordance with an exposure time are arranged in a matrix manner, a picture element drive block 120 drivable so as to execute a shutter operation of said picture element block and a read operation in accordance with setting data, and an interface section 170 including functions of holding shutter setting data and gain setting data supplied from the outside and controlling a timing for reflecting shutter setting and gain setting onto at least said picture element drive block. The interface section 170 includes a function of reflecting a gain on a frame next to one frame after setting.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes, a pixel section, a read pulse amplitude control unit which controls exposure time for which a photo diode carries out the photoelectric conversion and dividing the signal charge accumulated in the photo diode into fractions so that the fractions are read from the photo diode, a plurality of line memories to which the plurality of read signals are saved. And the device further includes an addition unit which synthesizes the plurality of read signals into one signal, the addition unit includes first determination unit which reads the signal saved to the predetermined line memory and comparing a signal level of the read signal with a predetermined level to determine whether or not to add a signal read from a different line memory to the compared signal.

Abstract: A burst reading memory section (200) and continuous reading memory section (210) are independently provided for each of the two-dimensionally arrayed pixels (10). The burst reading memory section (200) has capacitors (25001-25104) capable of holding a plurality of signals. The continuous reading memory section (210) has only one capacitor 213. Signal output lines for the two memory sections are separately provided. When a signal produced by photoelectric conversion at the pixel (10) is outputted on a pixel output line (14), the signal can be simultaneously written in the capacitors at both memory sections (200, 201), after which the signals can be separately extracted to the outside at different timings. Therefore, a series of images taken at extremely short intervals of time during a short period of time can be obtained at an arbitrary timing without impeding a continuous image-acquiring operation at a low frame rate.

Abstract: An image sensor pixel includes a substrate, a first epitaxial layer, a collector layer, a second epitaxial layer and a light collection region. The substrate is doped to have a first conductivity type. The first epitaxial layer is disposed over the substrate and doped to have the first conductivity type as well. The collector layer is selectively disposed over at least a portion of the first epitaxial layer and doped to have a second conductivity type. The second epitaxial layer is disposed over the collector layer and doped to have the first conductivity type. The light collection region collects photo-generated charge carriers and is disposed within the second epitaxial layer. The light collection region is also doped to have the second conductivity type.

Abstract: Provided is a stacked organic light-emitting device in which organic compound layers for respective emission colors are capable of separately emitting light. The stacked organic light-emitting device includes a first organic compound layer, a second organic compound layer, and a third organic compound layer, which have emission colors different from each other. The first organic compound layer is provided on one side of a common transparent electrode, and the second organic compound layer and the third organic compound layer are provided on another side thereof. The first organic compound layer has a polarity direction opposite to polarity directions of the second organic compound layer and the third organic compound layer.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus that enables a remaining battery capacity to be checked without requiring the battery to be loaded into the electronic apparatus. In this electronic apparatus, a battery lid closes a battery chamber that accommodates a battery. An opening/closing detection device detects opening/closing of the battery lid. An acquisition device acquires battery information of the battery when the opening/closing detection device detects that the battery lid opens. A storing device stores the battery information acquired by the acquisition device. A display device displays the battery information that is stored in the storing device, and displays the battery information of a battery that is not accommodated in the battery chamber.

Abstract: A lens unit composed of different materials includes a base and a lens. A part of a camera module of a different material from the lens is used as the base. The lens of optical resin is directly replicated on the base such that the lens is integrally formed on the base. A camera module is provided with the lens unit. The lens/lenses is/are formed on the single base/multiple bases to form the lens unit/units, using a die whose surface contacting the base slopes in relation to its central axis to allow the base to self-align.

Abstract: In order that an image pickup lens, an image pickup module, a method for manufacturing an image pickup lens, and a method for manufacturing an image pickup module may be realized each of which makes it possible to realize a higher resolution of a periphery of a formed image, an image pickup lens of the present invention satisfies the following formulas (1)and (2): 0.080<d1/d2<0.22??(1); and d1?/d1<1.00??(2) where: d1 is a center thickness of the single lens; d1 is a thickness of a lateral side of the single lens; and d2 is a length in air between the image surface and a center of that surface of the single lens which faces the image surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a camera module and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein the camera module includes a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) mounted with an image sensor, a holder fixed at the PCB, with one side formed with an optical transmission hole and the other side being opened, one or more lenses to be inserted into the holder, and a fixture ring to be inserted into the holder and fixed at an image sensor for fixing one or more lenses, whereby occurrence of defect caused by introduction of foreign objects during assembly of camera module can be minimized, and structure of camera module can be simplified to facilitate the assembling process and to reduce the assembling time.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a camera module having a selective focus adjustment function. The camera module includes a lens part containing a multiple of lenses, an image sensor converting an optical image transmitted through the lens part into an electric signal, and a main control part transferring the lens part driving signal to set a focusing area around the finger end part indicated by a finger in an image obtained from the optical image in a preview state. According to the proposed invention, a focusing region is set around the end part of a finger at the time of capturing an image when a user indicates a desired focusing setting area by a finger, so that the user can take the focus by selecting a desirable focus position freely at the time of photographing an image using a portable terminal having a camera module of the present invention.

Abstract: The image processing apparatus comprises, an image acquisition unit configured to acquire, as an image, a result of imaging, on an image sensor unit, light traveling from an object via an opening of a stop, a control unit configured to control a shape of the opening based on a function which defines a temporal change of the shape of the opening when the image acquisition unit acquires the image, and a detection unit configured to detect a blur state in the image based on the function.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for imaging an object, comprising the illumination of the object, and the detection of light coming from an area where the object is located and, based on the detected light, forming the image, with the illumination of the object taking place by distinguishing image elements in an imaging plane or space, and by separately illuminating the object parts corresponding with these image elements, while simultaneously registering the applied illumination dose of these object parts, and wherein the image is subsequently constructed by assembling the image elements corresponding with the illuminated object parts, subject to the light output and illumination doses pertaining to those image elements, wherein the illumination dose of each separate object part depends at least on a light output and/or illumination dose of another object part or several other object parts.

Abstract: An image pickup unit according to the present invention includes: a lens frame that internally holds an image pickup optical system; and a backside illuminated image pickup device which has a light-receiving section that receives light entering the lens frame via the image pickup optical system and which is held inside the lens frame, wherein a claw portion of the lens frame abuts an opposing surface that opposes a light-entering surface of the image pickup device so as to define a position of the image pickup optical system in an optical axis direction L with respect to the light-receiving section using the opposing surface as a reference.

Abstract: A content reproduction device has a television broadcast reception function and an Internet connection function, and includes a detection unit and a reproduction-output switching unit. The detection unit detects, when a content of a television broadcast is output for reproduction, a content which is the same as the content of the television broadcast and has a resolution higher than a resolution of the content of the television broadcast from among contents available via an Internet. The reproduction-output switching unit switches a content of the output for reproduction from the content of the television broadcast to the content detected by the detection unit if the detection by the detection unit is successful.

Abstract: According to the invention, a video distribution system is disclosed. The video distribution system distributes a video program in a first aspect ratio and includes information to convert the first aspect ratio to a second aspect ratio. Included in the video distribution system are a distribution point and a video converter that is located remotely from the distribution point. The video converter receives the information and the video program from the distribution point. The video converter uses the information to guide conversion between the first aspect ratio and the second aspect ratio.

Abstract: A method of processing digital video signals, comprising: receiving input pixels to be processed; performing multiple processing operations on the input pixels, where the multiple processing operations are performed during a time interval determined in part by a desired video output rate; and performing a classification analysis at an intermediate time during the time interval, the classification analysis yielding tag data that is used to dynamically vary one or more of the multiple processing operations, and where the tag data is generated on a per-pixel basis to enable pixel by pixel variation of the multiple processing operations.

Abstract: A video and digital multimedia aggregator includes a content decoder, coder (codec) and formatter. The codec formatter receives coding and formatting requests that characterize input source content and desired output target content. Data conveyed about the source and target content may include parameters such as physical and/or logical addresses, coding and compression parameters, format descriptions, content size, description of auxiliary services, and other metadata elements that may be required for coding and formatting.

Abstract: A video horizontal synchronizer outputting a line timing signal and an indicating flag of a received video signal for use in a video signal post-processing unit, including a filter outputting a wide bandwidth filtered and a narrow bandwidth filtered signals of the received video signal, a dynamic slicer threshold generator generating a slicer threshold, a timing recovery circuit generating a phase error and the line timing signal, a phase error statistics circuit averaging the phase error to generate a average phase error, a HSYNC checker generating a matching flag indicating whether a periodic pattern appears in the narrow bandwidth filtered signal according to the line timing signal, and a finite state machine controlling the dynamic slicer threshold generator, the timing recovery circuit, the phase error statistics circuit and the HSYNC checker and generating an indicating flag when the average phase error is small enough and the matching flag is confirmed.

Abstract: Aggregated service and feature sharing is provided in a home network, in which users can freely enjoy not only the shared content, but also the unique features provided by each device anywhere in the network. The service sharing feature allows one device to control and use shared hardware or software functionalities provided by other devices in the network.

Abstract: A system for remotely controlling one or more components coupled to a display or TV. Remote application software is provided on the TV for communicating a first signal between remote control and the processor via a receiver coupled to the processor, the remote application software comprises a graphical user interface for output on the, wherein the graphical user interface allows a user to assign the buttons on the remote keypad first to one or more commands that operate one or more external devices coupled to the display.

Abstract: A system and method for a low complexity and robust spatiotemporal combining for video enhancement is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes computing a standard deviation estimate between a video frame and a temporally neighboring frame of the video frame in a video sequence, computing an error value, for each sub-block of pixels within a block of pixels in a current video frame, between pixel values within the sub-block in the current video frame and corresponding motion compensated pixel values in a temporally neighboring video frame of the current video frame, computing a temporal weighting factor for each sub-block of pixels as a function of the error value and the standard deviation estimate, and combining the block of pixels in the current video frame and their corresponding motion compensated pixel values in the temporally neighboring video frame using the computed temporal weighting factor.

Abstract: A visual processing device, display device, visual processing method, program, and integrated circuit that change a strength of visual processing of an image in real-time. A spatial processing portion (2) creates an unsharp signal US from an input signal IS. A target level setting portion (4) sets a predetermined target level value L for setting a range according to which the strength of the visual processing is adjusted. An effect adjustment portion (5) creates a synthesized signal MUS by synthesizing the predetermined target level value L and the unsharp signal US in accordance with an effect adjustment signal MOD that has been set externally. A visual processing portion (3) outputs an output signal OS in accordance with the input signal IS and the synthesized signal MUS, making it possible to change the strength of the visual processing.

Abstract: An adaptive noise reduction method is for reducing chroma noise of pixels within a frame, wherein each pixel has a chroma value and a luma value. The adaptive noise reduction method includes: de-noising the chroma values of the pixels, without de-noising the luma values of the pixels.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a communication module which conducts communications with a plurality of external apparatuses, a storage module which stores an address list correlating a logical address and a physical address of each of the external apparatuses, a determination module which transmits a power-on signal to the external apparatus and thereafter determines a power state of the external apparatus, and an acquisition module which performs switching of input by the communication module after the determination module determines that the external apparatus has been powered on, and acquires apparatus information including the physical address of the external apparatus.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method for coordinating analog and digital channel mapping features. More specifically, in one embodiment, there is provided a method, comprising performing an analog channel search to identify available analog channels, storing a list of the available analog channels found during the analog channel search, and performing a digital channel search after performing the analog channel search, wherein the digital channel search excludes the available analog channels in the list from being searched.

Abstract: A master Audio/Video (AV) device and at least one slave AV device based on a Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) network remotely control a state of each other. Thus, the at least one slave AV device can share the contents stored in the master AV device. The at least one slave AV device controls an operating state of the master AV device in a remote place, allowing a subscriber to more easily enjoy the contents stored in the master AV device.