Abstract: Method, device and computer program product for stabilizing a video signal. A plurality of frames of the video signal are captured using a camera. A motion sensor associated with the camera is used to generate a plurality of samples representing motion of the camera. The samples are used to determine a displacement of the camera between a first time and a second time, wherein the first time corresponds to an exposure time midpoint of a first frame of the video signal and the second time corresponds to an exposure time midpoint of a second frame of the video signal. The determined displacement is used to compensate for motion in the video signal between the first and second frames caused by the motion of the camera, to thereby stabilize the video signal.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus comprises shake detection unit configured to detect a shake of the image capture apparatus translation component correction amount calculation unit configured to calculate, based on an output of the shake detection unit, a first correction amount configured to correct a translation component of image blurring generated in a captured image due to the shake, perspective component correction amount calculation unit configured to calculate, based on the first correction amount, a second correction amount for correcting a perspective component of the image blurring; and correction unit configured to correct the image blurring based on the first correction amount and the second correction amount.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus comprises a first shake detection unit configured to detect a shake of the image capture apparatus, a rotational shake calculation unit configured to calculate a rotational shake amount, a second shake detection unit configured to detect the shake of the image capture apparatus, a translational shake calculation unit configured to calculate a translational shake amount, a correction amount calculation unit configured to calculate, based on the rotational shake amount and the translational shake amount, a correction amount for correcting image blurring, and a correction unit configured to correct the image blurring, wherein the rotational shake calculation unit calculates a first translational motion component and perspective component, and wherein the correction amount calculation unit calculates a second translational motion component.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, an apparatus, and a mobile device for photographic processing. A spatial position parameter of a mobile device is collected by a gravity sensor in real time. According to the spatial position parameter of the mobile device, stability degrees of the mobile device at multiple reference moments before a current reference moment and a stability degree of the mobile device at the current reference moment are separately computed. Photographic processing is performed according to the stability degrees of the mobile device at the multiple reference moments before the current reference moment and the stability degree of the mobile device at the current reference moment.

Abstract: The present invention is applied to an image pickup apparatus for which, for example, a CMOS solid-state image pickup element is used. One screen image is divided into a plurality of blocks, and a motion is detected for each of the blocks to control the exposure time of the block.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention is characterized by executing first integration operation for time-integrating the first acceleration to calculate a first velocity, second integration operation for time-integrating the first velocity to calculate an amount of movement in the first axial direction, estimation operation for calculating an estimated first velocity in the first axial direction based on a first velocity change found by time integration of the first acceleration from a first timing at which the third angular velocity becomes zero to a second timing at which the third angular velocity again becomes zero, the second angular velocity at the first timing, and the second angular velocity at the second timing, and update operation for updating the first velocity calculated in the first integration operation to the estimated first velocity estimated in the estimation operation.

Abstract: Digital video stabilization is selectively turned off in circumstances where it could actually decrease the quality of a captured video. A video camera includes a device for directly detecting physical motion of the camera. Motion data from the motion detector are analyzed to see if video stabilization is appropriate. If the motion data indicate that the video camera is stable, for example, then video stabilization is not applied to the video, thus preventing the possibility of introducing “motion artifacts” into the captured video. In another example, motion as detected by the motion detector can be compared with motion as detected by the video-stabilization engine. If the two motions disagree significantly, then the video-stabilization engine is probably responding more to motion in the captured video rather than to motion of the camera itself, and video stabilization should probably not be applied to the video.

Abstract: Digital video stabilization is selectively turned off in circumstances where it could actually decrease the quality of a captured video. A video camera includes a device for directly detecting physical motion of the camera. Motion data from the motion detector are analyzed to see if video stabilization is appropriate. If the motion data indicate that the video camera is stable, for example, then video stabilization is not applied to the video, thus preventing the possibility of introducing “motion artifacts” into the captured video. In another example, motion as detected by the motion detector can be compared with motion as detected by the video-stabilization engine. If the two motions disagree significantly, then the video-stabilization engine is probably responding more to motion in the captured video rather than to motion of the camera itself, and video stabilization should probably not be applied to the video.

Abstract: An image pickup device includes: an image pickup optical system configured to form a subject image; an image pickup element configured to generate a picked-up image from the subject image formed by the image pickup optical system; an image blur detecting section configured to output an image blur signal using a motion detecting sensor; an arithmetic section configured to calculate an amount of image blur correction including an amount of optical correction and an amount of electronic correction on a basis of the image blur signal; an optical image blur correcting section configured to move at least one of an optical element forming a part of the image pickup optical system and the image pickup element in accordance with the amount of optical correction; and an electronic image blur correcting section configured to correct electronically an image blur of the picked-up image by image processing based on the amount of electronic correction.

Abstract: A method for processing a blurred image (16) that includes a captured light trail (24) includes the steps of: (i) displaying the blurred image (16) on an image display (36); (ii) manually identifying an image patch (25) that includes the captured light trail (24) in the displayed blurred image (16); (iii) calculating a point spread function for the captured light trail (24) with a control system (28); and (iv) deblurring at least a portion of the blurred image (16) with the control system (28) utilizing the calculated point spread function.

Abstract: A method for predicting whether a test image (318) is sharp or blurred includes the steps of: training a sharpness classifier (316) to discriminate between sharp and blurred images, the sharpness classifier (316) being trained based on a set of training sharpness features (314) computed from a plurality of training images (306), the set of training sharpness features (314) for each training image (306) being computed by (i) resizing each training image (306) by a first resizing factor; (ii) identifying texture regions (408, 410) in the resized training image; and (iii) computing the set of sharpness features in the training image (412) from the identified texture regions; and applying the trained sharpness classifier (316) to the test image (318) to determine if the test image (318) is sharp or blurred based on a set of test sharpness features (322) computed from the test image (318), the set of test sharpness features (322) for each test image (318) being computed by (i) resizing the test image (318) by a se

Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of preventing photographing sensitivity from being increased more than necessary, reducing image quality degradation caused by camera shake or object shake and easily photographing images in good image quality. The imaging apparatus includes an imaging optical system that forms an optical image of a photographing object. An imaging sensor receives the optical image and converts the optical image to an electrical image signal. A detector determines, based on the image signal, whether the photographing object is a specific photographing object likely to move while a photograph is being captured that corresponds to information stored in a memory device provided to the imagining apparatus. A control section establishes an operational mode causing the imaging apparatus to continuously take a plurality of photographs of the photographing object when the photographing object is determined to be the specific photographing object that is likely to move.

Abstract: An image capture device of the present invention includes: a plurality of image sensors (310a, 310b); an optical element (light entrance section) 315 which is configured to allow incoming light to sequentially impinge on the respective image sensors (310a, 310b) according to a time-coded pattern during the exposure time; a camera shake detection section 345 for detecting camera shake which occurs during the exposure time to generate camera shake information that represents a trajectory of the camera shake; and an image processing section 220 for processing the plurality of images obtained by the plurality of image sensors (310a, 310b).

Abstract: In certain low-light or other poor image capture conditions, the camera capture settings may create noise fitting a known profile, including certain specific color ranges and signal frequencies, in the captured image. A pre-processor may identify frequency bands and DC offsets that may indicate noise in an image captured with known settings. Then the areas of the image containing the identified frequencies and offsets may be analyzed spatially and temporally to confirm that the identified regions are noise and not part of the scene and an appropriate filter defined.

Abstract: An image capture device according to the present disclosure includes: an image capturing section configured to generate an image by shooting; an acceleration detector configured to detect acceleration and output a first signal; an angular velocity detector configured to detect angular velocity and output a second signal; and a controller configured to determine an angle of rotation of the image based on at least a result of comparison between the first and second signals' DC components and a result of comparison between the first and second signals' AC components.

Abstract: Techniques are described for identifying blurred images and recognizing text. One or more images of text may be captured. A change of movement associated with each image of the one or more images may be calculated. The change of movement associated with an image of the one or more images represents a change in an amount of acceleration of the device used to capture the image while the image was being captured. A steady image may be selected from the one or more images to use for text recognition. The steady image can be selected using the variances of acceleration associated with each image of the one or more images.

Abstract: Provided is an imaging device capable of accurately and rapidly selecting a main image from a plurality of continuously captured images and simplifying handling of image files recorded on a memory card. With one operation, it is possible to capture a plurality of continuous images at a predetermined time interval. A main image is selected from the captured images and the image data on the main image and the image data on sub images other than the main image are recorded as one image file on a recording medium (220).

Abstract: A first high-pass filter comprising a low-pass filter which allows only a frequency component of an input signal less than or equal to a first frequency to pass, a latch unit which latches an output of a low-pass filter according to a control signal, and a calculating unit which outputs a difference between an input signal and an output of the latch unit are provided on an image stabilization circuit. When latching in the latch unit is released, a held value of the latch unit is stepwise changed to the output value of the low-pass filter. Such a first high-pass filter is used in a centering process of an optical element.

Abstract: Provided is an image capture apparatus that can perform focus detection based on a focus evaluation value indicating contrast of a subject image included in a focus detection area using an image signal output from an image sensor. In accordance with the extent of a blur amount of the subject image, the image capture apparatus determines how to use a method for performing focus detection through a reciprocating motion of a focus lens and a method for performing focus detection by moving the focus lens in a direction toward which the focus evaluation value increases. Focus detection is performed based on the determination.

Abstract: In a display apparatus connected to an image processing apparatus which detects the change amount in an input image and stores, as a detected image, an image during a period with a change amount equal to or more than a predetermined amount, the change log of the change amount and the detected image are received, the change log is displayed by using a graph, and information related to the detected image is displayed on the graph in a superposed manner.

Abstract: An adaptive motion estimation and deblurring technique for acquired digital images includes acquiring multiple digital images with a moving digital image acquisition device that includes an image sensor, including a relatively sharp, underexposed reference image and a blurred image. Anb initial approximate point spread function (PSF) is estimated corresponding to the moving of the device. A different DC offset point is determined and a second PSF is calculated based on the different DC offset point.

Abstract: A weighting coefficient sequence defining unit generates an array in which weighting coefficients are held at positions defined by the directional components of blur vectors, and adjusts the weighting coefficients to increase the sum of the frequency components of the array or reduce variations of the frequency components. A weighting unit multiplies respective captured images by corresponding weighting coefficients, generating L weighted captured images. The weighting unit then generates the synthesized image of the L weighted captured images. A corrected image generation unit performs deconvolution processing using the frequency component of the array in which the weighting coefficients are held at positions defined by the directional components of blur vectors, and the frequency component of the synthesized image. The corrected image generation unit performs an inverse frequency transform for the deconvolution processing result, generating an output image.

Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling a digital photographing device, the method including: removing high-frequency components from a first input image and a second input image; calculating a differential image between the first input image and the second input image from which the high-frequency components are removed; calculating the frequency of each of the pixel values of the differential image; determining at lease one pixel value of the differential image having a frequency greater than a frequency threshold as a target motion range among the pixel values of the differential image greater than a motion threshold; and determining photographing settings corresponding to the target motion range.

Abstract: An image search device includes: a shooting unit configured to photographically shoot a subject; a display unit; a control unit configured to display a search key for image search on the display unit according to a shooting situation at the time of a shooting mode whereby the subject can photographically be shot by the shooting unit; a specifying unit which is used for specifying the search key displayed on the display unit; and a searching unit configured to search, in the event of the search key being specified via the specifying unit, an image based on the search key thus specified; with the control unit displaying, in the event of the image being searched by the searching unit, this search result on the display unit.

Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an imaging device having a small form factor.

Abstract: When a displacement between a reference frame of a plurality of images acquired by continuous image pickup and a target frame is less than a first threshold indicating that such a frame is not likely to be affected by occlusion, smoothing is performed on an object area through a morphological operation with a normal process amount. Conversely, when a displacement between the reference frame of the plurality of images acquired by continuous image pickup and a target frame is larger than or equal to the first threshold, smoothing is performed with the process amount of morphological operation being increased with respect to the normal process amount.

Abstract: An image processor detects an on-screen motion of a photographic subject in video image data generated by an image sensor provided in a camera body and outputs a photographic subject motion information. A sensor detects a motion of the camera body and outputs the detected motion as a camera body motion information. A scene decision encoding controller decides an image pickup condition of the video image data based on the photographic subject motion information and the camera body motion information, and performs an encoding amount regulation control suitable for the decided image pickup condition to an image compression processor.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for processing image data captured by a device. In one implementation, a system is provided to process primary image data based on motion of the device during generation of the image data, as detected by a secondary image sensor. In another implementation, a method is provided for processing image data by generating primary image data, generating secondary image data, calculating, using the secondary image data, at least one motion vector based on motion of the device during generation of the primary image data, processing the primary image data based on the at least one motion vector, and outputting the processed primary image data.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and computer-readable medium for motion sensor-based video stabilization. A motion sensor may capture motion data of a video sequence. A controller may compute instantaneous motion of the camera for a current frame of the video sequence and accumulated motion of the camera corresponding to motion of a plurality of frames of the video sequence. The controller may compare the instantaneous motion to a first threshold value, compare the accumulated motion to a second threshold value, and set a video stabilization strength parameter for the current frame based on the results of the comparison. A video stabilization unit may perform video stabilization on the current frame according to the frame's strength parameter.

Abstract: Image data captured by a capturing unit is inputted. Exposure information of the captured image data is inputted. Rotary-vibration information, which indicates rotary vibration of the capturing unit at the time of image capture, is inputted. A blur, which is caused by the rotary vibration, of the captured image data is corrected based on the exposure information and an angle of rotation of the capturing unit, which is indicated by the rotary-vibration information.

Abstract: An image processing device includes: a motion-vector computation unit that computes a motion vector between a base image and a reference image; a motion compensation unit that performs a motion compensation to align the reference image with the base image based on the motion vector; a contrast computation unit that computes a contrast value of a target pixel of the base image based on one of the base image and the reference image; a synthetic ratio computation unit that computes a synthetic ratio between: the target pixel for a synthesis processing in the base image; and a corresponding pixel corresponding to the target pixel in the reference image processed by the motion compensation, in response to the contrast value of the target pixel; and a synthesizing unit that synthesizes the target pixel of the base image and the corresponding pixel of the reference image based on the synthetic ratio.

Abstract: Image stabilization devices, methods, and systems are described herein. One image stabilization device includes a sensor having an array of pixels, wherein the sensor is configured to track a moving object using a number of the pixels, wherein the number of the pixels track only a particular portion of the moving object, and form an image of the moving object using the number of the pixels and their neighboring pixels that were not used to track the moving object.

Abstract: A digital image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the digital image processing apparatus, the method including: generating a live view image; performing a preprocessing operation on the live view image; driving a vibration mode of a handshake correction module in response to a result of the preprocessing operation; and if a photographing signal is input, generating a photographing image after terminating the vibration mode of the handshake correction module.

Abstract: A digital image processing apparatus performs an image processing method which includes capturing a first image, a second image, and a third image, which are captured with different focuses for the same subject and background; setting a subject portion and a background portion by using the first and second images; and combining the first image for the subject portion and the third image for the background portion with each other to obtain an out-of-focus image.

Abstract: Some embodiments include incorporating detailed snapshots of targeted areas of interest into a video or digitized recording of an overall scene. In some embodiments, a single fixed high-resolution scene camera or a fixed standard resolution scene camera of analog or IP connected type is used. The scene camera can be co-located with at least one pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera or used in a mode where less than full resolution of the scene camera is used for video but full resolution snapshots of areas are captured by the same camera. The area of interest is selected by the object-tracking feature of an intelligent video system, operated without human intervention, by electronically-implemented identification of the existence of area-specific subjects or targets of interest in the scene image field.

Abstract: An SMA actuation apparatus comprises a support structure, a movable element movably supported on the support structure and an arrangement of three or more SMA actuator wires mechanically connected between the support structure and the movable element. The SMA actuator wires have an interconnection at the movable element that electrically connects the group of SMA actuator wires together. This avoids the need to make a separate electrical connection to the movable element.

Abstract: To provide a drive unit and a drive module which include a shape memory alloy as a drive source to move a driven member and are capable of the high-precision movement of the driven member to a reference position. A drive unit and a drive module can be provided by controlling, in the drive unit and the drive module which include the shape memory alloy as the drive source to move the driven member, the shape memory alloy so that the resistance of the shape memory alloy is equal to the resistance when the driven member is located at the reference position.

Abstract: A method of processing and device configure to process digital images to enhance image quality and correct motion blur. A number N of images of a scene are captured with an exposure time T. An order of sharpness of the images is determined and the sharpest image is used as a reference image for generating an output image.

Abstract: In an initial stage, using a global motion vector, a rough degree of image shaking is determined. After the image shaking is determined to have converged to some measure, using the difference values between frames, the finer degree of the image shaking is determined. And if it is determined to be free of image shaking, the recording photography is made to be done. Thereby, with certainty in the timing of no hand shaking and no image shaking, the photographing can be done.

Abstract: A semiconductor device with an anti-shake function includes a logic chip having a digital circuit which obtains a value for vibration of an apparatus based on a vibration detection signal supplied from a vibration detection element to generate a correction signal. The logic chip includes a correction signal processing unit which generates the correction signal, and a control signal output unit which outputs a vibration control signal in accordance with the correction signal to a vibration correction control unit which executes vibration correction control for an optical component in accordance with vibration.

Abstract: A camera which can obtain an image without image blur is disclosed. The camera which obtains a synthesized image whose exposure has been corrected by synthesizing a plurality of images obtained through successive image-taking, comprising: a detection unit which detects, with respect to a reference image, amounts of displacement on other images; a coordinate conversion unit which applies coordinate conversion to the other images based on the results of detection of the detection unit; and a synthesis unit which synthesizes the other images subjected to coordinate conversion and the reference image.

Abstract: An internet connected mobile security system for recording at least one audio and video on a removable semiconductor storage media in a continuous record loop for evidentiary documentation purposes inside an automotive vehicle or as a wearable video recording device is described.

Abstract: A difference degree evaluation device includes a signal acquisition unit which acquires at least two signals which are objects of matching, a memory unit which stores one of the two signals, which are acquired by the signal acquisition unit, as a reference signal, and stores the other of the two signals as an object signal, a sample extraction unit which extracts sample points in a predetermined block from the reference signal that is stored in the memory unit, and extracts sample points corresponding to the sample points of the reference signal from the object signal, and an arithmetic process unit which finds absolute difference values between the sample points of the reference signal and the sample points of the object signal, which are extracted by the sample extraction unit, and calculates a maximum value of the absolute difference values as an evaluation value.

Abstract: A data thinning unit prepares thinned images by extracting only one component in raw data of each of a standard image and reference image, a block extracting unit extracts a search block and a template block for finding residual differences, a luminance difference comparing unit obtains a difference between the maximum value and the minimum value of luminance values of each block, and, when smaller than a threshold value, excludes this from a scope of acquisition of residual differences. The residual difference acquiring unit acquires residual differences from blocks which were not excluded, a block selecting unit selects a predetermined number of blocks having small residual differences, and a hand shake (blur or unintentional movement) acquiring unit finds a position of the template block at which the residual difference becomes the minimum, calculates a center value of all positions, and defines the same as the amount of hand shake.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an acceleration sensor having a first measurement axis and a second measurement axis that intersect each other, and arranged on a plane that intersects the imaging optical axis of the image capturing apparatus while inclining the first and second measurement axes by about 45° in the vertical direction, and a calculation unit that calculates the arc tangent of the ratio of the detection result of an acceleration due to gravity by the first measurement axis and the detection result of an acceleration due to gravity by the second measurement axis, thereby obtaining the inclination degree of the image capturing apparatus in the rolling direction.

Abstract: In an imaging system, intentional scene motion across the image detector from frame-to-frame, and more particularly the rate of intentional scene motion is “decoupled” from smearing of the scene in the detected image by applying the intentional scene motion in the interval between frames to produce the intentional scene motion in a discrete step across the image detector from frame-to-frame. The intentional scene motion may be quantized or provided as a sub-pixel dither signal to control the sub-pixel phase frame-to-frame. In register/sum applications, this substantially eliminates misregistration of the images and may allow for super-sampling of the images onto a higher resolution grid. The ability to decouple intentional scene motion from smearing and to control the sub-pixel phase defines a new trade space that relaxes the limitations on intentional scene motion across the image detector.

Abstract: A method for detecting a temporally oscillating source in digital video signals includes: using an imaging device to capture a sequence of input images of a scene; generating digital video signals from the sequence of input images; and processing the digital video signals using a recursive Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filter technique based on a differentiated version of Goertzel's Algorithm to detect a temporally oscillating source in the digital video signals. In various embodiments, the method also includes generating a visual display of the scene including one or more graphical elements at least one of which pertains to a detected temporally oscillating source.

Abstract: Provided is an image sensor having a pixel includes a photoelectric conversion element; a capacitor which is connected between the photoelectric conversion element; a reset circuit which resets a potential of a node between the photoelectric conversion element and the capacitor; an amplifier circuit which outputs a signal corresponding to the potential of the node; and a switch which controls electrical conduction between the amplifier circuit and a vertical signal line. When the node is brought into an electrically floating state, the potential of the optical signal is stored in the node in a state of being inverted. When an optical signal is detected while the potential is stored in the node, the potential of the node increases in accordance with an output potential of the photoelectric conversion element, and thus the potential of the node corresponds to a difference in potential between the optical signals in different light-receiving periods.

Abstract: An electronic device and methods for image stabilization for use in an electronic device are provided. The method includes the steps of: receiving a plurality of motion data, at least a portion of the plurality of motion data corresponding to a first image frame, determining a motion value corresponding to the first image frame according to the portion of motion data, determining a display offset between the first image frame to a reference image frame according to the motion value and providing a portion of the first image frame for display according to the display offset. The reference image frame is displayed prior to the first image frame and is stored in a storage unit.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a high dynamic range synthesizing circuit includes an interpolation processing unit, a blur detection unit and a mix processing unit. The interpolation processing unit generates an interpolation signal. The blur detection unit uses a first image signal and a second image signal a signal level of which is adjusted for detecting the amount of blur. The mix processing unit performs processing of mixing the second image signal into the interpolation signal. The mix processing unit applies a weight of the second image signal depending on the amount of blur to the interpolation signal by the mix processing.