Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include circuits and methods for calibrating lens displacement in a voltage controlled actuator. In one embodiment, a calibration circuit comprises a programmable voltage source that provides a voltage to a control terminal of an actuator to set a lens displacement, a switch that selectively decouples said programmable voltage source from said control terminal, a current source that provides a reference current to said control terminal when the control terminal is decoupled from said programmable voltage source, a comparator that senses a voltage difference between said programmable voltage source and said control terminal, and a timer coupled to an output of the comparator. The timer measures a time period required to increase the control terminal voltage. The capacitance of the actuator may be determined and used to calibrate the position of a lens.

Abstract: A set of calibration procedures that can be run to assist in calibrating a camera module, such as may be intended for installation into a mobile consumer device. The procedures include lens shading calibration, white balance calibration, light source color temperature calibration, auto focus macro calibration, static defect pixel calibration, and mechanical shutter delay calibration. The light source color temperature calibration may be performed to assist in the other calibrations, each of which may generate data that can be potentially be stored in non-volatile memory on board the camera module for use during operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for new digital image/video camera that directly acquires random projections of the incident light field without first collecting the pixels/voxels and has a startle reflex. The startle reflex is achieved by collecting a training set of samples while operating the imaging device at the low sampling rate, computing an empirical probability distribution of the training set of samples, collecting a testing set of samples while operating the imaging device at the low sampling rate, computing an empirical probability distribution of the testing set of samples, computing an empirical entropy test statistic, and capturing an image at the high sampling rate in response to the computed empirical entropy statistic exceeding a threshold.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging optical system including a focus lens; an imaging element generates an image indicating an object image; a lens drive device which moves the focus lens along an optical axis direction of the imaging optical system; an evaluation value calculation device which calculates an evaluation value of a contrast for each of a plurality of evaluation value calculation areas while moving the focus lens; a point light source presence/absence determination device which determines a presence or absence of a point light source in a specific region of the image; an area selection device which selects a focusing determination area based on the presence or absence of the point light source; and a focusing control device which determines the focusing position of the focus lens based on the evaluation value in the focusing determination area and moves the focus lens to the focusing position.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for determining capabilities of an on-line sensor are disclosed. The exemplary method may comprise the following acts. The method may generate an image of a sample texture with known characteristics. The method may transfer the image to an on-line sensor. The method may also analyze data generated by the on-line sensor to determine measured characteristics. The method may compare the measured characteristics to the known characteristics.

Abstract: An improved on chip test method for determining the photon transfer curve (PTC) and dark current in an image sensor is described. Cost and time savings is achieved by reducing the number of frames necessary for the measurements to three including two exposure frames and one frame for dark current testing. A conventional test involving “n” different exposure times each with two frames is replaced by implementing a snap shot mode where a first plurality of pixel rows are exposed for a time t1, a second plurality of pixel rows are exposed for a time t2, and so forth up to an nth plurality of pixel rows exposed for a time tn where the total number of pixel rows equals a frame and tn>t2>t1. The resulting image has “n” regions each with a different brightness that become progressively brighter from top to bottom of the image.

Abstract: A system for and method of calibrating an imaging device efficiently is described herein. The imaging device acquires an image of an object that is more than one color. The information acquired is then transferred to a computing device. The information is then used to generate a set of data which represents information which was not acquired in the image. The set of data is generated based on statistical prediction using a training data set. Using acquired image information and the set of data, an imaging device is able to be calibrated. Since the process of calibration utilizing this method only requires one image to be acquired and a reduced set of image information to be sent to the computing device, the process is more efficient than previous implementations.

Abstract: A method is provided for testing a camera function of an electronic device. The electronic device communicates with a testing device. The method comprises the following steps. Parameters are configured by a parameter module of the electronic device. A camera of the electronic device takes pictures according to the configured parameters. The pictures and the configured parameters are sent to the testing device by a sending module of the electronic device. The pictures and the configured parameters are received by a receiving module of the testing device. Parameters of the pictures are got by a judging module of the testing device, and the judging module judges whether the parameters are identical to the configured parameters.

Abstract: In order to allow a user to arbitrarily set color processing parameters which determine the color reproduction characteristics of a digital camera according to user's preference, an image processing unit obtains color data by performing the same processing as that performed by the digital camera with respect to the sensed data of each color patch included in a color chart by using color processing parameters. A changing unit displays, on a display unit, a target data changing window which presents color data and the target data (the target color of color reproduction) of each color patch and allows the user to change the target data. A parameter editing unit edits color processing parameters so as to reduce the color difference between the changed target data and color data. A data input/output unit transmits the edited color processing parameters to the digital camera.

Abstract: The present invention calibrates interior orientation parameters (IOP) and exterior orientation parameters (EOP). With the calibrated IOPs and EOPs, a remotely controlled camera can quickly obtains corresponding IOPs and EOPs no matter on panning, tilting or zooming. Thus, the remotely controlled camera obtains accuracies on imaging and measuring and obtains wide applications.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved method for visualizing the environment of a vehicle, especially in the dark. The invention also relates to a night vision system, which especially provides a visual image of the environment or the digital data thereof. Preferably, the visual image is a color image which indicates the visually perceptible objects of the environment. The system also provides an infrared image of the environment or the digital data thereof. The infrared image indicates the infrared radiation radiated by the visually perceptible and/or other objections. In a preferred form of embodiment, a merged image of the visual image and the infrared image of largely identical sections of the environment of the vehicle is represented on a display comprising at least one merged region and at least one region which is not merged or not merged to the same extent or not merged with the same weighting.

Abstract: An electron multiplication gain calibration mechanism, which is capable of readily stabilizing a gain of an electron multiplying CCD image pickup device, is provided. The mechanism comprises a gain adjusting section and a control section. The gain adjusting section is provided independently of gain adjustment by the electron multiplying CCD image pickup device, and sets a reference gain. The control section calibrates the gate voltage for obtaining a desired electron multiplication gain by comparing a video level amplified by the electron multiplication gain to a video level amplified by the reference gain. The control section sets an initial value of the gate voltage, which is supposed to provide the electron multiplication gain equal to the reference gain, and controls the gate voltage gradually so that the video level amplified by the electron multiplication gain becomes equal to the video level amplified by reference gain.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an electronic imaging module, a calibration memory including stored calibration data indicative of specific characteristics of said electronic imaging module, and at least one register including stored allocation data indicative of composition of said stored calibration data.

Abstract: Indices are detected from a pattern image including a plurality of indices, and first positions of the detected indices on the captured image are calculated. Using parameters associated with an image capturing apparatus, second positions indicating the positions of the indices on the captured image are calculated. While a parameter of a radial distortion of a lens of the image capturing apparatus is fixed, the parameters other than the parameter of the radial distortion of the lens of the image capturing apparatus are corrected using the differences between the first positions and the second positions. Using the corrected parameters, third positions indicating the positions of the indices on the captured image are calculated. Using the differences between the first positions and the third positions, the parameter of the radial distortion is corrected.

Abstract: Apparatus for inspecting a solid-state image pickup device comprises: a memory for saving an image data from the solid-state image pickup device; an arithmetic operation part that performs predetermined image processing on the image data saved in the memory and outputting an evaluation value; and a controller that judges whether the solid-state image pickup device is good based on the evaluation value. The arithmetic operation part adds image data values saved in the memory in the column direction (extension direction of a vertical charge transfer path) to obtain a column-based addition value. The arithmetic operation part then obtains difference data from the adjacent value, counts the number of difference data items contained in the plurality of specified level regions, and obtains the evaluation value based on the sum total of the products of level information and count in the level regions.

Abstract: The invention refers to a digital camera 1 which can be used in a motion sensor 4. In order to be able to test the function of the camera, a light source 3 is provided which irradiates at least a part of the sensing matrix 2. The processor device 5 of the camera judges whether the output signal of the sensing matrix 2 corresponds correctly to the light which has irradiated the sensing matrix 2. Various test methods are disclosed, such as using varying wavelengths, ON/OFF-modulation, dependence on shutter time and illumination of various regions of the sensing matrix 2.

Abstract: An image calibration method includes: (a) sensing at least one target pixel of a sensing row from an effective pixel region of an image sensor to generate at least one target pixel value; (b) sensing at least one reference pixel of a shading region in the image sensor to generate a calibration value, wherein the reference pixel and the sensing row do not belong to the same row; and (c) referring to the calibration value to calibrate and output the target pixel value.

Abstract: A method for calibrating the video camera includes: obtaining the internal and external parameters of the video camera according to a reference template; recording data of a reference object in the scene; obtaining images of the reference object from at least two perspectives; and obtaining the internal and external parameters of the video camera according to the recorded data of the reference object. An apparatus for calibrating the video camera includes: a preliminary calibration unit, configured to obtain the internal and external parameters of the video camera according to a reference template, and record the data of a reference object in the scene; a recalibration unit, configured to obtain images of the reference object from at least two perspectives, and obtain the internal and external parameters of the video camera according to the recorded data of the reference object. The invention is applicable to various scenes and features simple operations.

Abstract: A method of automatically determining a need to service a digital image acquisition system including a digital camera with a lens assembly includes analyzing pixels within one or more acquired digital images according to probability determinations that such pixels correspond to blemish artifacts. It is automatically determined whether a threshold distribution of blemish artifacts is present within one or more of the digital images. A need for service is indicated when at least the threshold distribution is determined to be present.

Abstract: An intelligent light source for use with the test of a digital camera module provides a plurality of shapes of light. A fast light pulse is created with turn-on and turn-off transitions less than or equal to one microsecond. Other waveform shapes comprise a ramp and a sinusoid, and all shapes can be made to occur once or repetitively. The magnitude of the light has a range from 0.01 LUX to 1000 LUX, and the ramp has a ramp time that has a range from microseconds to 100 ms. The light comprises of a plurality of colors created by serial connected strings of LED devices, where the LED devices in a string emit the same color. The light emanating from the light source is calibrated using a photo diode and the control of a tester by adjusting offset voltages of a DAC controlling a current through the LED strings.

Abstract: A test handler is controlled by a tester to transport, select, focus and test miniature digital camera modules. The modules are loaded onto a transport tray and moved on a conveyer to a robot. The robot selects the untested modules from the tray an alternately places the modules into two test stations. A first test station focuses and tests a first module while the second test station is loaded with a second module, thus burying the handling time for the modules within the test time. The robot returns tested modules to the transport tray, and when all modules on the tray are tested, moves the tray out of the test handler. A second tray with untested modules is positioned at the robot while the tested modules of the first tray are being focus fixed and sorted into part number bins. The overlap of operations buries handling time within the focus and test time so that the limitation of total test time is depending on focus and test operations.

Abstract: A method of automotive camera system calibration is disclosed in the present invention. At least two targets are placed within the field of view of each camera included in the system. Each camera captures the targets. Then, the vehicle is moved, and another image is captured. The images are used to derive the camera orientation parameters. Based on these parameters, misalignment of the cameras can be compensated by the image processing unit.

Abstract: When switching a mode between an imaging mode imaging an object and an adjustment mode adjusting an image produced by the imaging, in accordance with the switched mode, one photometric region is selected from at least two photometric regions to an image signal obtained from incident light, and exposure of the incident light is controlled on the selected photometric region based on photometric information, thereby achieving accuracy in adjusting the image produced by imaging an object by preventing effect on exposure due to dispersion in field angle.

Abstract: There is provided a calibrating apparatus for an on-board camera of a vehicle, which allows speedy, yet reliable decision of acceptance/rejection of calibration result, with a simple apparatus construction, without depending on or being influenced by the calibration environment. An image processing target region on which an image processing for detection of each calibration point in each one of calibration markers in a camera-captured image which is a projecting plane of a camera coordinate system is displayed as a region frame in the form of a graphic image, in superposition with the camera-captured image.

Abstract: An apparatus for calibrating images between cameras, includes: a detector for detecting dynamic markers from images taken by a motion capture camera and a video camera; a 3D position recovery unit for recovering 3D position data of the dynamic markers obtained by the motion capture camera; a 2D position tracking unit for tracking 2D position data of the dynamic markers obtained by the video camera; a matching unit for matching the 3D position data and the 2D position data of the dynamic markers; and a calibrating unit for converting the 3D position of the dynamic markers on a spatial coordinate system into image coordinates on an image coordinate system of the video camera to calculate intrinsic parameters and extrinsic parameters of the video camera to minimize a difference between coordinates of the 2D position data and the image coordinates.

Abstract: Provided is a calibrating apparatus for an on-board camera of a vehicle, which apparatus allows completion of calibration process with a simple additional calibration, even when rejection has issued on the result of automatic calibration. Based upon a camera parameter obtained at the time of completion of adjustment by an automatic adjusting section, a confirmation marker indicating the position of coordinate of a calibration point is displayed in superposition with a camera-captured image. A manual adjusting section adjusts the camera parameter, based on an amount of displacement of the coordinate of the calibration point corresponding to an amount of movement of the confirmation marker moved in response to input of adjustment instruction.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to calibration assemblies and methods for use with an imaging system, such as an endoscopic imaging system. A calibration assembly includes: an interface for constraining engagement with an endoscopic imaging system; a target coupled with the interface so as to be within the field of view of the imaging system, the target including multiple of markers having calibration features that include identification features; and a processor configured to identify from first and second images obtained at first and second relative spatial arrangements between the imaging system and the target, respectively, at least some of the markers from the identification features, and using the identified markers and calibration feature positions within the images to generate calibration data.

Abstract: The matrix lighting system comprises an array of lighting sources that are activated by a power supply system provided with a processing means. It also comprises at least one camera and an object having marks characterizing the position and the orientation of the object in space, an area to be lit being designated according to the orientation of the object, the camera capturing the images of the object and transmitting them to the processing means which compute the space coordinates of the marks, the power supply system activating the lighting sources according to the position and the orientation of the object that are defined by the marks. The invention applies notably to shadowless lamps meeting the lighting requirements in the medical field.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an imaging instrument, possibly located on an aircraft or satellite, is described. According to the method, an image acquired by the instrument is ortho-rectified, and then co-registered and correlated with a reference image. In this way, ground disparities between the acquired image and the reference image are measured. Updated instrument pointing directions that correct for the disparities measured are then determined and adopted as corrective calibrations for the distortions of the instrument.

Abstract: Techniques and technologies are described herein for motion parallax three-dimensional (3D) imaging. Such techniques and technologies do not require special glasses, virtual reality helmets, or other user-attachable devices. More particularly, some of the described motion parallax 3D imaging techniques and technologies generate sequential images, including motion parallax depictions of various scenes derived from clues in views obtained of or created for the displayed scene.

Abstract: A method for calibrating an assembly consisting of an omnidirectional camera (2) located on a vehicle (1) and an optical display unit. An image displayed by the display unit reproduces a perspective of an imaginary virtual camera above the object (1), an image from the virtual camera is projected into an object coordinate system and resulting coordinates (XW, XW.Y) are projected into the omnidirectional camera. During the projection of the image of the virtual camera into the object coordinate system, pixels (xp) of the image of the virtual camera within an imaginary circle or ellipse (1) around the object are projected onto an imaginary plane, while pixels (xp) of the image outside the circle or ellipse are transformed by the virtual camera into the object coordinate system in such a way that they are projected onto an imaginary surface that rises from the edge of the circle or ellipse.

Abstract: A digital image acquisition device has an image acquisition sensor, a shutter, an aperture and optical elements for focusing an image on the sensor. The device includes a light source located in the body of the device. The light source is periodically activated with one of the aperture or shutter closed, and the device derives a map of defects on the surface of the sensor from a calibration image acquired by the sensor when illuminated by the light source.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an objective optical system, an image pickup element having a surface at an image formed by the objective optical system, and an etalon positioned between the objective optical system and the surface of the image pickup element. The etalon includes a gap, an optical path length of which is controllable for scanning the wavelengths transmitted by the etalon to thereby select the wavelengths that reach the surface. An optical filter is positioned between the objective optical system and the surface and has a first wavelength range over which incident light is reflected, a second wavelength range over which incident light is transmitted, and a boundary wavelength range that is bounded by the first and second wavelength ranges. The boundary wavelength range lies entirely within the wavelength range the peak transmission of the etalon can be scanned. A method of calibrating the etalon is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for monitoring connection performance within a network. In one embodiment, the invention is implemented by analyzing an array of status bits outputted by an analog to digital video decoder. By storing and statistically analyzing an array of status information units, the person monitoring the network can quickly and efficiently be notified of a connection problem, such as a degrading connection resulting in an intermittent signal. In another embodiment, the system and method are implemented by analyzing an array of time stamps outputted when processing frames of video from an analog video camera.

Abstract: In a method and digital camera, an initial set of evaluation images are captured. A plurality of characteristics of the initial set of evaluation images are assessed to provide a first assessment. The characteristics include subject motion between the initial set of evaluation images. When the subject motion is in excess of a predetermined threshold, a final capture state of the camera is set responsive to the first assessment. When the subject motion is less than the predetermined threshold, the evaluation images are analyzed to provide analysis results and the final capture state of the camera is set responsive to the first assessment and the analysis results.

Abstract: Camera calibration which is robust against noise factors such as variation in environmental lighting and obstructions is realized. Light-emitting markers, whose on/off states can be controlled, are arrayed in a matrix on a reference panel on which an object is placed. The light-emitting markers blink in accordance with respective switching patterns in synchronism with the frame of continuous imaging of a camera. A three-dimensional measuring instrument determines the time-varying bright-and-dark pattern of a blinking point from the image of each frame and identifies, on the basis of the pattern, to which light-emitting marker each point corresponds. By reference to the identification results, camera calibration is performed, and a coordinate transformation parameter is computed.

Abstract: A camera with dynamic calibration and a method thereof is provided. The camera is first subject to an initial calibration. Then, a motion amount of the camera is calculated, and a plurality of motion amount estimation samples of the camera is generated according to the motion amount. Then, a weight of each of the motion amount estimation samples is calculated. Thereafter, the plurality of motion amount estimation samples is re-sampled based on the weights, and the camera is calibrated by the re-sampled estimated motion samples.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a surveying instrument is disclosed, the survey instrument comprising a base element and a camera with an image sensor, the camera being rotatable about a vertical axis fixed with respect to said base element and being rotatable about a tilting axis, the tilting axis being rotated about the vertical axis with rotation of the camera about the vertical axis. In the method, data associated with calibration points and images of the calibration points on the image sensor captured in different faces are used, the data for each of said calibration points comprising distance data and the data for each of the images of each said calibration point comprising image position data and orientation data.

Abstract: A calibrating device for calibration of an image measurement system. The calibrating device includes a main body having an upper surface, and a characteristic portion, which serves as a benchmark for calibration and is in the form of a recess formed in the upper surface of the main body, wherein the characteristic portion includes a side surface extending in a direction crossing the upper surface, and a bottom surface extending in a direction crossing the side surface, the bottom surface has an optical reflectance lower than an optical reflectance of the upper surface in relation to light identical to each other. This can provide a calibrating device for calibration of an image measurement system, which can detect the characteristic portion on the calibrating device stably, precisely and independent of the illumination conditions, which is less costly and can be easily handled.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for calibrating an imaging system comprising a processing unit communicatively coupled to one or more imaging devices. The imaging system may also include a display. In an embodiment, a sequence of display features are displayed on a display, and imaged by the imaging device or devices. Spatial data is compiled related to the display features and the corresponding image features. In an embodiment, the display, imaging device or device, or both may be repositioned and another sequence of display features may be presented and the spatial data compiled. Using optimization and calibration techniques, the compiled spatial data may be used to obtain one or more internal imaging device parameters, one or more external parameters, or both.

Abstract: A method for enabling an output device to emulate colors of a target camera includes the following steps: (a) utilizing the target camera to shoot a color chart to obtain a first plurality of output values respectively corresponding to a plurality of color patches of the color chart, (b) utilizing the output device to shoot the color chart to obtain a second plurality of output values respectively corresponding to the plurality of color patches of the color chart, (c) comparing the first plurality of output values with the second plurality of output values to deduce a color transform matrix, and (d) applying the color transform matrix in an image processing pipeline of the output device to enable the output device to emulate colors of the target camera.

Abstract: The specification and drawings present a new method, apparatus and software product for determining a mechanical shutter exposure time (e.g., an actual closing time) with a rolling readout of an image (e.g., complimentary metal oxide semiconductor) sensor using a predetermined calibration area of the image sensor in digital cameras or in electronic devices with digital cameras.

Abstract: A method for correcting an image of a physical object first captures images of a circle and a rectangle set of a calibration plate placed on a measurement machine, and determines correction data using the images of the circle and the rectangle. The method further corrects the image of the physical object captured by the measurement machine according to the correction data, and displays a corrected image of the physical object.

Abstract: Video surveillance systems are used, by way of example, for monitoring public places, such as railway stations, junctions, airports, or public buildings, such as libraries, museums, but also private environments, such as an alarm system in houses. To this end, the video surveillance systems often have a plurality of surveillance cameras which observe relevant surveillance scenes. The video sequences produced during observation are usually combined and evaluated at a central location.

Abstract: A method and system according to the disclosure facilitates subscription based access to services for image systems including an image acquisition device configured to generate image data describing a target object in a target area of the image acquisition device and an image display device configured to generate a human perceptible rendering of the target object based on the image data.

Abstract: A method of detecting defects in an image sensor that may occur from a floating diffusion area of the image sensor, a tester using the method, and a control signal generator using the method include a photo diode generating charges corresponding to an image signal; a transmission transistor having a first terminal connected to a the photodiode and a second terminal connected to a floating diffusion area, thereby transmitting the charges generated in the photo diode to the floating diffusion area in response to a charge transmission control signal; and a reset transistor having a first terminal applied by a reset voltage and a second transistor connected to the floating diffusion area, thereby transmitting the reset voltage to the floating diffusion area in response to a reset control signal. The reset transistor is turned on during at least one sampling zone selected between reset level sampling and signal level sampling that are performed with respect to the image sensor.

Abstract: An intelligent light source for use with the test of a digital camera module provides a plurality of shapes of light. A fast light pulse is created with turn-on and turn-off transitions less than or equal to one microsecond. Other waveform shapes comprise a ramp and a sinusoid, and all shapes can be made to occur once or repetitively. The magnitude of the light has a range from 0.01 LUX to 1000 LUX, and the ramp has a ramp time that has a range from microseconds to 100 ms. The light comprises of a plurality of colors created by serial connected strings of LED devices, where the LED devices in a string emit the same color. The light emanating from the light source is calibrated using a photo diode and the control of a tester by adjusting offset voltages of a DAC controlling a current through the LED strings.

Abstract: A handheld device and system ins disclosed in which the device has a wide reading head with a narrow optical slot. The reader is used to read color patches on a target or the color output of a printer or other color reproducing device in which the colors to be measured are presented as a number of patches on a target. The light from the sensor is collimated and diffracted and focused onto a sensor for providing electrical signals indicative of the sensed patch. Repeated images of each test patch are taken and sent to the sensor. The output of the sensor is computed by on board electronics and an external computer to determine each color being measured. As indicated, light passes through a slot in the handheld device, is collimated and passed through a diffraction grating or prism so as to split the light into its spectral components and its position of its pixels with respect to the slot. The sensor is of the type found in a digital camera or similar means.

Abstract: A stereo calibration method is proposed to calibrate an interface's shape and position when the measurement system is in one media and measures deformation and strain of an object that is submerged in a different media. After the interface's shape and position are modeled by parameters, an explicit model of object points as measurement is established taking account of refraction happening at the interface. Efficiency and convergence are assured by using measurement of object points to acquire initial estimates for refraction angles at the interface. Then, an optimization method is performed to get the optimized value of interface parameters. Last, based on the resulting interface parameters, 3-dimensional positions of object points in all the subsequent measurement could be reconstructed accurately. Therefore, the distortion induced by refraction in the measurement is corrected.

Abstract: In a method for calibrating a stage-camera system, a travel distance of a stage is determined in a first coordinate system and an object displacement distance of at least one object is determined in a second coordinate system. A calibration measure for calibrating the coordinate systems is computed from the travel distance and the object displacement distance. The object displacement distance is determined by registering a calibration image with a reference image based on the at least one object. The method enables an automatic and accurate calibration of the stage-camera system.