Abstract: A system and method combine digital television together with a digital video camera and controller unit for using a digital video camera together with a digital television set as a home security system that allows stranger detection, fire detection, motion detection, etc. The detection results are used to make further decisions such as display or record some of the scenes.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for analyzing with a computer (1) the motion of an athlete (3), of a team or a patient during an activity, said method comprising the steps of defining a number of unevenly time-spaced key positions in said motion, said key positions being of particular interest for analyzing the correct execution of said motion by said athlete (3) or team. A video sequence (11) of said motion is acquired with a camera (2) and still pictures (12) are extracted from said video sequence (11). Templates can trigger the automatic extraction of still pictures (12). For extraction purposes, a metadata recorded with a sensor (5) at the same time as the video sequence (11) can be used. Said still pictures (12) correspond to said previously defined key positions. Thereafter said extracted still pictures (12) are displayed simultaneously on a same display (10).

Abstract: Systems and methods for receiving infrared data with a camera designed to detect images based on visible light are provided. A system can include a camera and image processing circuitry electrically coupled to the camera. The image processing circuitry can determine whether each image detected by the camera includes an infrared signal with encoded data. If the image processing circuitry determines that an image includes an infrared signal with encoded data, the circuitry may route at least a portion of the image (e.g., the infrared signal) to circuitry operative to decode the encoded data. If the image processing circuitry determines that an image does not include an infrared signal with encoded data, the circuitry may route the image to a display or storage. Images routed to the display or storage can then be used as individual pictures or frames in a video because those images do not include any effects of infrared light communications.

Abstract: A synthetic infrared image injection apparatus for simulating images obtained from an electron optics head and injecting them into a signal process part so as to evaluate the performance of an infrared image seeker. The synthetic infrared image injection apparatus comprises: an image input module for receiving the images from a channel synthetic image generation apparatus and extracting an effective area from the received images; a first pixel process module for performing an image process so as to reflect elements influenced by model characteristic effects of the electron optics head in the images; a second pixel process module for realizing dead and hot pixels and an automatic gain; an image transmitting and receiving module for outputting processing images of each module and real-time images before the output thereof formed at least one module among each module; and a system control module for diagnosing and controlling operations of each module.

Abstract: Evaluating coded video by identifying spatial and temporal errors in the reconstructed video. Spatial errors may be identified by evaluating the severity of each individual error and pooling closely located errors to determine whether the collection of errors is noticeable. Temporal errors may be identified by evaluating the quality of each frame and then pooling consecutive frames to determine whether the collection of frames has errors that may be noticeable if the errors persist within the sequence of consecutive frames. The quality of the frames may be analyzed with any conventional analysis metric. In an embodiment, the quality of the frames may be analyzed using a row-column metric. The calculated analysis metrics may be normalized to accurately compare different metric calculations.

Abstract: Various arrangements for testing video decoder device functionality are presented. A video frame decoded by a video decoder device under test may be received. The received video frame may be segmented into a plurality of blocks. A first value may be calculated for a first block of the plurality of blocks of the received video frame using pixel values of pixels present within the first block. The first value may be compared to a first reference value. The first reference value may correspond to a first reference block of one or more reference frames. Video decoder functionality of the video decoder device may be determined to be functional at least partially based on comparing the first value to the first reference value.

Abstract: Long and short exposure time pixel information are input to pixel information. A long exposure time image set with the pixel values assuming all of the pixels have been exposed for a long time and a short exposure time image set with the pixel values assuming all of the pixels have been exposed for a short time are generated. A point spread function corresponding to the long exposure time image is computed as a long exposure time image PSF. A corrected image is generated using the short exposure time image, the long exposure time image, and the long exposure time image PSF. The corrected image is generated as a wide dynamic range image utilizing the pixel information for the long and short exposure time image. Utilizing the pixel information for the short exposure time image with little blurring, makes the corrected image a high quality corrected image with little blurring.

Abstract: A camera apparatus capable of providing optical image stabilization comprises: a support structure; a camera unit comprising an image sensor and a lens system; a suspension system comprising a plurality of flexure elements supporting the camera unit on the support structure in a manner allowing the camera unit to tilt; and a plurality of SMA actuators each formed as SMA wire connected between the camera unit and the support structure and arranged on contraction to drive tilting of the camera unit. The SMA wire may be fixed to the camera unit at its ends and hooked over an element of the support structure. A vibration sensor, whose output is used as the basis for generating drive signals, may be mounted on the camera unit.

Abstract: A pan-tilt camera is arranged to include a camera head, a stationary unit, an intermediate member arranged between the camera head and the stationary unit, a first rotary joint rotatably connecting the camera head to the intermediate member, and a second rotary joint, rotatably connecting the intermediate member to the stationary unit. A communication path is provided between the camera head and the stationary unit, including an optical waveguide arranged between the camera head and the stationary unit. The optical waveguide has a first end positioned at the first rotary joint to receive light from the camera head through the first rotary joint. The other end of the waveguide is positioned at the second rotary joint and is arranged to send light to the stationary unit through the second rotary joint.

Abstract: A method and a system for generating image content. The method and system allow segments of a panoramic scene, to be generated with reduced distortion. The method and system reduce the amount of distortion by mapping pixel data onto a pseudo camera focal plane which is provided substantially perpendicularly to the focal location of the camera that captured the image. A camera arrangement can implement the method and system.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus which records, on a recording medium, development parameters corresponding to a plurality of first Raw image frames, of a plurality of Raw image frames, which satisfy a predetermined condition, and a development parameter corresponding to a last Raw image frame, of the plurality of Raw image frames, which corresponds to a last image frame of a Raw moving image data, together with the Raw moving image data.

Abstract: This document discloses a solution for detecting human facial micro-expressions automatically by a video analysis system. Facial micro-expressions are involuntary expressions having a very short duration.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus including a distortion component calculation unit calculating a distortion component in a time series, based on an image signal indicating a moving image composed of a frame image, for each of a first region corresponding to the whole frame image, a second region corresponding to one region obtained by dividing the frame image, and a third region corresponding to the other region obtained by dividing the frame image, and a decision unit deciding a scanning pattern of an imaging device having captured the moving image, which the image signal indicates, based on a combination of a correlation of distortion between the second region and the first region and a correlation of distortion between the second region and the third region.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus and its control method for capturing a moving image. Plural movie capturing modes with different control parameters are set in accordance with an instruction from a user. One of selectable frame rates is selected in accordance with video output setting by the user. Moving image frames are generated based on the selected frame rate and a control parameter corresponding to the frame rate, and recorded as a moving image on a recording medium.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of capturing a moving image with an imaging device is equipped with a first image-processing device that uses hardware to process images captured by the imaging device and a second image-processing device that processes captured images with software. The imaging apparatus includes an image-processing switching device that selectively operates one of either the first image-processing device or the second image-processing device. The imaging apparatus includes a light-detection device that detects the amount of light received by the imaging device and a sensitivity adjustment device that increases the sensitivity of the imaging device as the amount of light decreases. The image-processing switching device operates the first image-processing device when the sensitivity is lower than a predetermined value and operates the second image-processing device when the sensitivity is higher than the predetermined value.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is provided which includes an image pickup device; a display unit configured to perform a control operation to display a signal output from the image pickup device on a monitor; a first photometry section configured to measure luminance of an image of an object based on the signal output from the image pickup device; a second photometry section configured to measure luminance of the image of the object using a photometric sensor mounted at a position different from the image pickup device; and a controller configured to control exposure based on photometric information obtained from the second photometry section in a case where, before photometric information is obtained from the first photometry section, a request is made by a user to capture an image for recording an output of the image pickup device.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: an R pixel provided with an R filter for transmitting red-color light; a B pixel provided with a B filter for transmitting blue-color light; an S1 pixel which is provided with an S1 filter with a visible light transmittance independent of wavelengths in a visible light region and has a sensitivity higher than that of the R pixel; and an S2 pixel which is provided with an S2 filter with a visible light transmittance independent of wavelengths in the visible light region and lower than the visible light transmittance of the S1 filter and has a sensitivity lower than the sensitivity of the S1 pixel.

Abstract: In a single plate type solid-state image pickup device having a color filter with primary color filters, gray filters are disposed at specific pixels of the arrangement of the primary color filters, whereby variation of the sense of resolution with respect to color can be prevented, and outline emphasis is applied to achieve an excellent image.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having a first semiconductor section including a first wiring layer at one side thereof; a second semiconductor section including a second wiring layer at one side thereof, the first and second semiconductor sections being secured together with the respective first and second wiring layer sides of the first and second semiconductor sections facing each other; a conductive material extending through the first semiconductor section to the second wiring layer of the second semiconductor section and by means of which the first and second wiring layers are in electrical communication; and an opening, other than the opening for the conductive material, which extends through the first semiconductor section to the second wiring layer.

Abstract: A solid-state image capturing apparatus including: a pixel array unit including two-dimensionally arranged pixels each including a photoelectric conversion unit, a transfer transistor that transfers charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit, and a charge discharging transistor that selectively discharges the charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit; and a driving unit that performs driving for reading signals from each pixel of the pixel array unit, and drives the charge discharging transistor by using a signal for the driving.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a solid-state imaging device that has a plurality of pairs of a first photoelectric conversion element and a second photoelectric conversion element, which have different spectral sensitivity characteristics, respectively. A wavelength range where the first photoelectric conversion element of each pair mainly has a spectral sensitivity and a wavelength range where the second photoelectric conversion element of the pair mainly has a spectral sensitivity fall within wavelength ranges of specific colors of visible light respectively. The plurality of pairs include a plurality of types of pairs having different specific colors. A half-width in a spectral sensitivity characteristic of the second photoelectric conversion element of each pair is wider than a half width in a spectral sensitivity characteristic of the first photoelectric conversion element of the pair.

Abstract: A booster circuit including an output terminal; a reference voltage generating section that generates a boosting reference voltage; a charge pump section that boosts the reference voltage and outputs the boosted reference voltage from the output terminal; and an output-terminal voltage holding section that holds the output terminal at a voltage of a high level at a standby time. The charge pump section includes an input node, at least one boosting node, at least one reference node, at least one boosting capacitor, and a plurality of switching transistors that are provided between the input node and the at least one boosting node, between a boosting node at a last stage and the output terminal, between the input node and the reference node, and between a reference potential and a reference node, and are switched on or off by a switch signal.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, a plurality of readout circuits provided in each column of the plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, configured to read out for each column a signal of the plurality of pixels, a plurality of comparison units configured to compare a signal output from the plurality of readout circuits with a reference signal whose level changes with time, a counter configured to perform a count operation from when the level of the reference signal starts to change, first and second buffers each configured to buffer a count value of the counter, and a plurality of storing units connected to the plurality of comparison units, configured to store a count value of the counter when a magnitude relation between a signal output from the plurality of the readout circuits and the reference signal is inverted.

Abstract: An imaging device formed as a CMOS semiconductor integrated circuit having two adjacent pixels in a row connected to a common column line and a processor based system with such an imaging device. By having adjacent pixels of a row share column lines, the CMOS imager circuit eliminates half the column lines of a traditional imager allowing the fabrication of a smaller imager. The imaging device also may be fabricated to have a diagonal active area to facilitate contact of two adjacent pixels with the single column line and allow linear row select lines, reset lines and column lines.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that enables to make a periodic noise in a captured image less noticeable without making the whole construction thereof complicated. An image pick up unit accumulates electric charges corresponding to an optical image of a target object and transfers the accumulated electric charges, and also reads them out as image signals. A control unit drives the image pick up unit to read out the image signals consecutively from the image pick up unit in a field-by-field base in such a manner so as to make the horizontal cycle of each field different from one another.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes a viewfinder and a display, switches between a display mode for displaying an image on the viewfinder, and a display mode for displaying an image on the display, sets processing of speech input to a mode for close-talking, when an image is displayed on the viewfinder, sets processing of speech input to a mode for non-close-talking, when an image is displayed on the display, and inputs by speech a control command that has been set in advance according to a mode of speech input that has been set.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus and a file transfer method in the photographing apparatus efficiently process files of an external device and image data of the photographing apparatus which have a same name when transferring the image data to the external device, such as a personal computer. The photographing apparatus which captures an image and creates and stores image data of the image includes a display unit that displays the image data, a communication interface that performs data communications with an external device by transmitting data to and receiving data from the external device, and a control unit that controls the communication interface to transfer the image data to the external device and, when the external device includes a file having the same file name as the image data, controls the display unit to display a synthesized image of the image data and an image of the file of the external device.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that is capable of generating an album by laying out desired images in desired positions by a simple operation, while confirming a result of the layout by a photographer when shooting an image. A control section displays a through-the lens-image obtained by shooting an object on a display section by inserting the through-the lens-image in a plurality of frames on a template. When it is detected that one of the plurality of frames has been designated, the control section generates an image file by executing image pickup processing, and stores the generated image file in a storage medium in association with the designated frame of the plurality of frames on the template.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus capable of performing communication with an external apparatus and a method of controlling the photographing apparatus. The photographing apparatus can communicate with an external apparatus and store data received from the external apparatus together with a photographed image, even while photographing the image. Additionally, the data received from the external apparatus can be stored in a form of metadata to connect data to the image, and thus it is possible to play back the data received from the external apparatus in a more lifelike manner.

Abstract: Provided are a digital photographing apparatus and a method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus. The digital photographing apparatus includes an image generator configured to generate an image comprising a subject; a subject recognizer configured to recognize the subject from the generated image of the subject; a cue selector configured to select a cue for the recognized subject; and an output unit configured to output the selected cue. The recognized subject may be captured after the selected cue is output.

Abstract: An information display apparatus includes an input device adapted to input user operation information, a touch sensor adapted to detect the state of the input device in terms of whether the input device is touched by a user, a display adapted to display information, and a control unit adapted to receive user operation information from the input device and sensor detection information from the touch sensor, and control displaying of the information on the display in accordance with the received user operation information and the sensor detection information. If the touch information indicating that the input device is touched by the user is received from the touch sensor, the control unit displays first information associated with the input device on the display. If the input device is maintained in the touched state longer than a predetermined period, the control unit switches the displayed information into second information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining an image and providing one or more document files to a user is disclosed. The method may include receiving an image of a target object using an imaging device, analyzing the image to identify one or more features, and accessing a model database to identify an object model having features that match the identified features from the image. When the system determines that more than one model may be a match, the method looks for distinguishing features of the target object and selects a model that includes the distinguishing features. The method then includes, retrieving a document file that corresponds to the identified model from a file database, and providing the document file to a user.

Abstract: Without depending on the conventional standard, relationships between a location of user's apparatus and locations where images have been shot affect a display on a display screen. In shooting operation, image data is stored in a memory with image-location data added, which represents locations where images have been shot (step S110). When the user of a digital camera moves from a current location, vectors are calculated, having an initial point at the current location and terminal points at locations represented by image-location data of the image data (step S113). It is judged whether any vector projects from a display target region (display screen) (step S117). The vector projecting from the region is adjusted to fall within the region (step S118), whereby all the thumbnail images fall within the display target region and are displayed at locations represented by the image-location data within a marginal displaying region (step S120).

Abstract: An imaging device comprising: a camera mount; an imaging element; an optical finder capable of observing an optical image of an object which goes through an optical system different from the interchangeable lens; an electronic viewfinder capable of superimposing and displaying a taken image based on the image signal and the optical image; a lens information acquiring unit for communicating with the interchangeable lens mounted on the camera mount and acquiring information concerning the interchangeable lens; a communication determination unit configured to determine whether or not the interchangeable lens is communicable with the lens information acquiring unit; and a first display control unit for causing the electronic viewfinder to superimpose and display the taken image and the optical image if the communication determination unit determines that the interchangeable lens is not communicable with the lens information acquiring unit.

Abstract: A new digital image/video camera that directly acquires random projections of the incident light field without first collecting the pixels/voxels. In one preferred embodiment, the camera employs a digital micromirror array to perform optical calculations of linear projections of an image onto pseudorandom binary patterns. Its hallmarks include the ability to obtain an image with only a single detection element while measuring the image/video fewer times than the number of pixels or voxels—this can significantly reduce the computation required for image/video acquisition/encoding. Since the system features a single photon detector, it can also be adapted to image at wavelengths that are currently impossible with conventional CCD and CMOS imagers.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a light-receiving element; and a multilayer film which is disposed on a side of a light-receiving surface of the light-receiving element and is formed by laminating a plurality of layers made of materials having different refractive indices, in which a defect layer is included in at least one of the laminated layers, wherein in the defect layer, a plurality of kinds of materials having different refractive indices coexist in a surface parallel to the light-receiving surface.

Abstract: An image-capturing apparatus includes an imaging unit that generates RAW image data by capturing an object image, an image processing unit that generates color image data by implementing image processing on the RAW image data, a processing mode setting unit capable of setting a filter effect mode for artificially reproducing an image effect obtained by image-capturing using an optical filter, a display unit that displays the color image data, a ring type or dial type rotary operating unit, a rotation operation detection unit that detects a rotation operation of the rotary operating unit, and a control unit that, when a rotation operation of the rotary operating unit is detected in a case where the filter effect mode has been set, controls the image processing unit to perform image processing for varying the image effect in conjunction with the rotation operation.

Abstract: Autofocusing is performed in response to a capturing object images upon which multiple depth estimation techniques are applied to yield a plurality of iterations. An iteration from one of these depth estimation techniques is selected based on results, such as based on largest absolute value, and checked. If the iteration fails the check, another of the iterations is selected and tested. Once a valid iteration is found, additional focus positions are executed in like manner from which an accurate focus position is determined.

Abstract: A focus detector for detecting a defocus amount of an image pickup optical system based on a displacement amount between two images formed by two beams divided from the image pickup optical system and passed through two pupil areas, the focus detector including: two lenses; two phase difference sensors for photoelectrically converting two subject images formed by the two lenses into two image signals; a correlation computing unit for dividing the two image signals based on a reference number-of-pixels to compute an image displacement amount for each divided area; a waveform coincidence computing unit for computing a coincidence degree of the two image signals in the each divided area in which the image displacement amount is computed by the correlation computing unit; and a defocus computing unit for computing a defocus amount based on the coincidence degree of the two image signals computed by the waveform coincidence computing unit.

Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus has an image sensor in which an image-pickup pixel and a focus detecting pixel are arrayed; a focus detection unit which detects a defocus amount of the imaging lens by a phase difference detection method using an output signal from the focus detecting pixel; and acquisition unit which acquires the ray vignetting information of the imaging lens. When the focus lens in the imaging lens is positioned within a position range in which the position of the focus lens cannot be detected, the focus detection unit detects the defocus amount of the imaging lens using the ray vignetting information in a position of the focus lens in which the amount of ray vignetting is the smallest within the position range.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image obtaining unit configured to perform an image obtaining operation to obtain a plurality of frames of image data having continuity in time, a storage unit configured to temporarily store each of the plurality of frames of image data obtained by the image obtaining unit during the image obtaining operation, and an arithmetic operation control unit configured to perform an image combination process using the plurality of frames of image data sequentially stored in the storage unit during the image obtaining operation to generate combined-image data, the combined-image data being used as data used for display.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image analysis unit obtaining brightness information for respective hue regions from an image signal of a picked-up image and an exposure control unit carrying out exposure control based on the brightness information obtained in the image analysis unit.

Abstract: If a setting device such as a focus switch happens to be changed during the time that a power supply is off, the user is notified of how the setting device has changed. When the power supply of a digital camera is turned off, the set state of the setting device at such time is stored. When the power supply is turned on, the set state of the setting device is detected and this set state is compared with the set state of the setting device that was in effect when the power supply was turned off. If the set state has been changed, a warning image is displayed and the set state that was in effect when the power supply was turned off and the set state currently in effect are displayed.

Abstract: A game device according to the present embodiment includes a camera as image pick-up means. An inner camera is accommodated in an upper housing. In addition, a microphone hole is provided in an inner surface of the upper housing so as to sense external sound through a microphone.

Abstract: An orientable head (1) for supporting video-photographic equipment comprises: a first articulated joint member (2) on which an attachment means (8) for the video-photographic equipment is provided, a second articulated joint member (3) coupled to the first articulated joint member to permit the orientation of the video-photographic equipment into a preferred position, a level indicator (30) arranged on the first articulated joint member within a stem (5) extending between said attachment means and said second articulated joint member, for indicating the position of the video-photographic equipment with respect to the horizontal plane.

Abstract: A system or a method comprising comparing two video images and producing a similarity, or differential, value that is used to indicate whether the two video images are either similar or different. An index value is assigned to a current video image being processed based on the similarity, or differential, value. The system or method further determines how to process the current video image based on whether the assigned index value comprises an even or an odd number. The current video image is combined, merged, or scaled with the immediately preceding or following video image based on the assigned index value being an even number or an odd number. The system or method generates at least one output video image that is at least twice the resolution of the current video image being processed.

Abstract: It is desired to provide a content data display device having a caption display function which can effectively use the screen of the limited size and achieves a high operability. A content data display device includes: a storage unit configured to store an image data and a content data which includes at least one caption data which respectively corresponds to at least one region on the image data; a display unit configured to display the image data; an input unit configured to select a selected region from the at least one region; and a control unit configured to display a caption data which is one of the at least one caption data and corresponds to the selected region to overlap on the selected region of the image data as a selected caption data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a solution for integrating a headset antenna and whip antenna together as a combined antenna for a mobile TV application. In certain embodiments, the invention can be applied to portable devices for both analog TV, FM radio, and digital TV applications and can be applied more generally to any wireless system which spans a broad frequency range, where the antenna gain of two antennas together can exceed the performance of either alone. In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a connector module that is configured to connect to both a whip antenna and a headset antenna while providing necessary electrical and signal isolation. The isolation can be accomplished by using a plurality of filters. There are other embodiments as well.

Abstract: A video playing device capable of external connection to an application processor includes a remote controller and a processor. The remote controller includes a first button group having a plurality of buttons for use in operating the video playing device and a second button group having a plurality of buttons for use in operating a portable carrier. The processor processes an external video signals and portable carrier video signals from the portable carrier, sends the signals to a screen, and processes remote control signals corresponding to the first and second button groups. The processor sends to the portable carrier a plurality of signals according to the remote control signals of the second button group. A portion of the signals triggers the application processor of the portable carrier to execute a plurality of App accordingly.

Abstract: A display section (2) includes: a display-end path switching section (50) for detecting, within a LAN, a tuner section (1) with use of a pairing ID which is obtained for establishing communication via a communication path (a) and which is generated with use of a MAC address of the tuner section (1); and a display-end connection processing section (52) for establishing communication with the tuner section (1) via a communication path (c).