Abstract: An image stabilization control apparatus including a mechanism which causes a vibration when the mechanism moves is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a vibration correction unit configured to correct image shake occurring due to vibration applied to the image stabilization control apparatus. A correction value of an angular velocity of the vibration is calculated based on signals based on the angular velocity and an acceleration of the vibration, frequency bands of the signals are narrowed. During the mechanism is moving, the image shake is corrected by driving the vibration correction unit based on the angular velocity of the vibration which is corrected by the corrected value calculated before the mechanism moves.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of reducing camera-shake blur and rolling-caused distortion of image data obtained by shooting without including invalid data. An object obtained by shooting is stored in a memory area as first image data, and data having a smaller data size than the first image data is acquired as second image data by clipping from the memory area. A clipping position which enables correction of camera-shake blur is calculated according to an amount of movement due to a camera shake. Range information indicative of a range in the memory area and shift amounts used for correcting rolling-caused distortion are calculated. Rolling-caused distortion of the second image data is corrected based on the calculated shift amounts.

Abstract: A method for generating values for one or more camera calibration parameters is described. The camera calibration parameters may include focal length, lens distortion, and optical center of the lens. A plurality of photographs are captured from a camera on a device which includes an accelerometer. Common features are determined between the captured photographs. Accelerometer data is analyzed for each captured photograph. The values for the camera calibration parameters are generated based on the common features and the accelerometer data and stored for future use with various applications.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems, apparatus, devices, methods, computer program products, and other implementations, including a method that includes capturing an image of a scene by an image capturing unit of a device that includes an accelerometer, and determining orientation of the device based, at least in part, on determined location of a vanishing point (e.g., a single vanishing point) in the captured image of the scene and at least one measurement obtained from the accelerometer.

Abstract: An electronic device for reflecting a spatial motion to focus a subject and a method thereof. A method of operating an electronic device includes sensing a spatial motion of the electronic device, at the same time as sensing the spatial motion, determining the movement or non-movement of a subject being displayed, and reflecting the spatial motion of the electronic device and the movement or non-movement of the subject to focus the subject.

Abstract: This invention comprises an image sensor which captures a moving image of an object, the image of which is formed by an imaging lens, a first detection unit which detects vibration of an image capture apparatus, a second detection unit which detects movement of the object based on an image signal for each image capture period which is output by the image sensor, a distance detection unit which detects an object distance, which is a distance from the image capture apparatus to the object, a changing unit which changes an output of the second detection unit based on the object distance which is detected by the distance detection unit, and a driving unit which drives a vibration correction unit, which optically performs vibration correction, based on an output of the first detection unit and an output of the second detection unit which is changed by the changing unit.

Abstract: An image stabilization control apparatus including a mechanism which causes a vibration when the mechanism moves is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a vibration correction unit configured to correct image shake occurring due to vibration applied to the image stabilization control apparatus. A correction value of an angular velocity of the vibration is calculated based on signals based on the angular velocity and an acceleration of the vibration, frequency bands of the signals are narrowed. During the mechanism is moving, the image shake is corrected by driving the vibration correction unit based on the angular velocity of the vibration which is corrected by the corrected value calculated before the mechanism moves.

Abstract: Image capture methods and systems are provided. First, at least one preview image is captured via an image capture unit of an electronic device. It is determined whether an image capturing status is stable or not according to the preview image. When the image capturing status is stable, the electronic device is enabled to perform a photography process to obtain an image via the image capture unit.

Abstract: Performing data processing more effectively for camera shake correction is desirable. Movement of an image-capturing device is compensated on the basis of displacement velocity of the image-capturing device detected by a displacement velocity detector and position regarding a focus adjustment member of the image-capturing device detected by a position detector. An input data format converter converts the displacement velocity detected at the displacement velocity detector from fixed-point format to floating-point format and converts the detected position of the focus member to floating-point data. Furthermore, a gyro filter uses data processing in floating-point format to calculate displacement data for a required amount the image-capturing device is to be displaced and a Hall filter uses data processing in floating-point format to generate drive data for the focus adjustment member. Then, the drive data in floating-point format from the Hall filter is converted to drive data in fixed-point format.

Abstract: A shake measurement system (1) is an apparatus for measuring the amount of shake of a camera (2), and comprises a first shake amount acquisition section, a second shake amount acquisition section, and a third shake amount acquisition section. The first shake amount acquisition section uses image processing to acquire the amount of shake of the camera (2) as a first shake amount. The second shake amount acquisition section acquires the amount of shake of the camera (2) as a second shake amount by a different method from that of the first shake amount acquisition section. The third shake amount acquisition section acquires the amount of translational shake of the camera (2) on the basis of the first shake amount and the second shake amount.

Abstract: An apparatus including one or more motion sensors, a first circuit, and a second circuit. The one or more motion sensors may be configured to generate motion samples representing motion of a camera. The first circuit may be configured to record a plurality of the motion samples from the one or more motion sensors while capturing image data with the camera. The second circuit may be configured to transfer information about the motion of the camera based on the plurality of motion samples. The information about the motion of the camera may be transferred within a bitstream carrying the image data captured by the camera.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a camera; an acceleration sensor that detects an acceleration applied to a housing; a posture determining unit that determines a posture of the housing based on a value detected by the acceleration sensor; and an activation control unit that activates the camera when the posture determining unit determines that the posture of the housing becomes an upright posture.

Abstract: The apparatus of the invention is characterized by executing radius-of-rotation calculation operation for calculating a radius of rotation from a velocity change found by time integration of acceleration, and an angular velocity; velocity calculation operation in which during a given time from a start of exposure, velocity is calculated based on the angular velocity and the radius of rotation calculated before the start of exposure, and after a lapse of the given time, the acceleration is cumulatively added to the velocity detected during the given time to calculate the velocity, and amount-of-movement calculation operation for time-integrating the velocity calculated in the velocity calculation operation to calculate the amount of movement.

Abstract: At the time of occurrence of camera shake, an angular velocity sensor detects an angular velocity. A rotation angle calculator integrates the angular velocity to calculate angle camera shake. A translational acceleration calculator subtracts an internal acceleration caused during operation of a lens unit from a first translational acceleration detected by an acceleration sensor, so as to calculate a second translational acceleration. A translational velocity calculator integrates the second translational acceleration to calculate a translational velocity. A rotation radius calculator calculates a rotation radius based on the angular velocity and the translational velocity. A shake amount calculator calculates a camera shake amount based on the angle camera shake and the rotation radius. An actuator drives a camera shake correction lens in a direction for canceling the camera shake amount.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus has a camera-shake correction mechanism which performs camera-shake correction by moving an image pickup element with respect to a lens unit. The image pickup apparatus includes a z-plate provided slidably in a z-direction, an actuator for moving the plate in the z-direction, a z-shaft which guides the movement of the z-plate, and a rotating ball sandwiched between a base plate and the z-plate in a rotatable state. In a y-z plan view, an opening portion is provided between the z-shaft and the rotating ball, and the rotating ball is arranged outside the opening portion between one end and the other end of the opening portion in the z-direction.

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 stabilizer has a shooting optical system shooting an object whose principal point moves between first and second principal points in an optical axis direction, an acceleration detector detecting acceleration applied to the image stabilizer and disposed between the first and second principal points in the optical axis direction.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating parameters for an application, such as an augmented reality application (AR app), using camera pose and gyroscope rotation is disclosed. The parameters are estimated based on pose from images and rotation from a gyroscope (e.g., using least-squares estimation with QR factorization or a Kalman filter). The parameters indicate rotation, scale and/or non-orthogonality parameters and optionally gyroscope bias errors. In addition, the scale and non-orthogonality parameters may be used for conditioning raw gyroscope measurements to compensate for scale and non-orthogonality.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing unit having a function for adjusting a focal length, a stillness determination unit which determines whether or not a motion of the image capturing apparatus is within a predetermined range, a focal length adjustment processing unit which performs first focal length adjustment processing which adjusts the focal length in a direction for close-up photography when the motion of the image capturing apparatus is within the predetermined range, and a code recognition processing unit which recognizes a code from an image captured by the image capturing unit while the first focal length adjustment processing is being performed.

Abstract: The present invention is for sensing camera shake and moving a lens toward a direction to correct the camera shake when photographing an object so that the object may be clearly photographed. A coil and a magnet are included in the invention, and the coil moves in a direction perpendicular to the optical-axis of the lens as a result of magnetic fields generated by the magnet and the coil when electric power is applied to the coil.

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: An image pickup apparatus which changes focal point adjustment by a focal point adjusting unit in accordance with the panning state detected by a panning detecting unit and a focal point state detected by a focal point detecting unit.

Abstract: An image acquisition sensor of a digital image acquisition apparatus is coupled to imaging optics for acquiring a sequence of images. Images acquired by the sensor are stored. A motion detector causes the sensor to cease capture of an image when the degree of movement in acquiring the image exceeds a threshold. A controller selectively transfers acquired images for storage. A motion extractor determines motion parameters of a selected, stored image. An image re-constructor corrects the selected image with associated motion parameters. A selected plurality of images nominally of the same scene are merged and corrected by the image re-constructor to produce a high quality image of the scene.

Abstract: A movement detection apparatus that detects a shake added by an operator to execute a function of a device, the apparatus comprises an acceleration detection unit configured to detect accelerations caused by a shake in at least three-axis directions; a determination unit configured to determine an axis with a minimum value of acceleration and an axis with a maximum value of acceleration among the accelerations in at least three-axis directions detected by the acceleration detection unit; a decision unit configured to decide a direction of the shake added by the operator based on the axis with the minimum value and the axis with the maximum value determined by the determination unit; and a selection unit configured to select a predetermined function based on the result of the decision unit.

Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus includes an image-pickup section that picks up images to obtain picked-up-image-data items, a temporarily retaining section that temporarily retains the picked-up-image-data items, a storage-process section that performs a storage process on the picked-up-image-data items, a movement-detecting section that detects a movement of the image-pickup apparatus, an operation section that performs a shutter operation, and a control section that causes the temporarily retaining section to retain picked-up-image-data items in a shutter-operation period, that selects, on the basis of detection results obtained by the movement-detecting section in the shutter-operation period, a picked-up-image-data item from among the retained picked-up-image-data items, and that causes the storage-process section to perform the storage process on the selected picked-up-image-data item.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a camera module including a fixture; a moving part centrally coupled with a lens and arranged to move relative to the fixture; three or more magnets arranged at a periphery of the moving part; and three or more coils arranged from an inner surface of the fixture to areas opposite to the three or more magnets, where each of the coils independently receives a control signal so that the moving part moves to a height direction and tilted relative to a central axis of the moving part, whereby a lens can be axially moved and tilted at the same time using arrangement of a single set of coils and magnets.

Abstract: Disclosed is a handshake correction apparatus of a photographing apparatus. The handshake correction apparatus includes a lens support plate that supports a correction lens and operates in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis; a base that supports the lens support plate to be movable; and magnets and driving coils which are assembled on the lens support plate and the base to face each other, wherein the magnets are tight-fitted in assembly grooves of the lens support plate or the base, and wherein one or more protrusions that protrude from internal walls of the assembly grooves toward the magnets and elastically press the magnets are formed in the assembly grooves. Control performance of a correction operation of the handshake correction apparatus may be improved by ensuring alignment between assembly structures of assembly parts including magnets and yokes.

Abstract: An image capture device includes: an image capturing section which captures a subject image and generates an image; an acceleration sensor which detects acceleration; an angular velocity sensor which detects angular velocity; a controller which determines, according to a result of detection obtained by the angular velocity sensor, a first correction angle that is based on a result of detection obtained by the acceleration sensor and a second correction angle that is based on a result of detection obtained by the angular velocity sensor; and an image processing section which rotates the generated image based on an angle obtained by adding together the first and second correction angles.

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: A camera apparatus capable of providing optical image stabilisation 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. A sensor arrangement, whose output is used as the basis for generating drive signals, is mounted on the camera unit. A control circuit generates drive signals for the SMA actuators, by deriving closed-loop control signals representative of a desired degree of variation in the power of the drive signals from the output signals of the sensor arrangement without dependence on any measurement of the resistance of the SMA actuators, and generating the drive signals with powers that varies from a set-point power in correspondence with the closed-loop control signal.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus selects and extracts a longest straight line from a captured image, and superimposes the straight line on the captured image to display it by a display device. An orientation detection unit including an acceleration sensor detects a roll angle. An X axis indicating a roll angle 0° and a Y axis indicating a roll angle 90° of the acceleration sensor are superimposed on the captured image, and an original point of the X and Y axes is matched with a center value of the extracted straight line to be displayed by the display device. A user rotates, by a predetermined operation, the image until the X and Y axes match the gradient of the extracted straight line. Thus, a system control unit corrects a roll angle output value of the orientation detection unit by an amount equal to a corrected rotational angle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for obtaining a point spread function for deblurring image data captured by an imaging device comprising a motion sensor. First, motion path values indicating the motion of the imaging device during the exposure time are acquired. The motion path values of the imaging device are then projected onto the sensor plane and for each sensor pixel the projected motion path values are integrated over time. Said integrated value represents for each sensor pixel an initial estimate of the point spread function. Optionally, the size of the point spread function can also be estimated based on the distance of the focused object and taken into account during the projecting step.

Abstract: This invention provides an electromagnetically driven device applicable to a lens driving device with an anti-shake function by a simple structure that enables the movable member to swing around an axis thereof. A flat spring for swinging connects to a stationary frame body provided with a permanent magnet set and a coil set for swinging is mounted on an outer circumference of a movable frame body. When an axial direction of the movable frame body is designated as the Z axis, the coil set for swinging including a first through fourth coils arranged around the Z axis and spaced at uniform intervals with each winding around an axis perpendicular to the Z axis and opposite to the permanent magnet set respectively. The permanent magnet set includes a first through fourth magnets, wherein each magnet is arranged between two adjacent coils among the first through fourth coils.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an electronic device, an image capturing device and a control method thereof. The image capturing device comprises a vibration sensing unit, a storage unit and a processing unit. The vibration sensing unit detects the vibration of the image capturing device to generate the vibration information correspondingly. The storage unit stores a plurality personal setting files. The processing unit is electronically connected to the vibration sensing unit and the storage unit. Also, the processing unit, based on the vibration information, generates an analysis result automatically or upon receipt of the trigger signal, and stores the analysis result in one of the plurality of personal setting files.

Abstract: Devices, methods, and computer readable media for performing image orientation detection using image processing techniques are described. In one implementation, an image processing method is disclosed that obtains image data from a first image captured by an image sensor (e.g., from any image capture electronic device). Positional sensor data captured by the device and corresponding to the image data may also be acquired (e.g., through an accelerometer). If the orientation of the device is not reliably discernible from the positional sensor data, the method may attempt to use rotationally invariant character detection metrics to determine the most likely orientation of the image, e.g., by using a decision forest algorithm. Face detection information may be used in conjunction with, or as a substitute for, the character detection data based on one or more priority parameters. Image orientation information may then be included within the image's metadata.

Abstract: An image processing method and apparatus for automatically rotating an image and a display unit, and an information storage medium storing image information. The apparatus including a photographing unit which generates image data and a rotation sensing unit which generates rotational information of a rotation state of the photographing unit. When an object is photographed, the rotation information of the image is obtained and stored together, and when the image is displayed, the rotation is analyzed and the image and display unit are automatically rotated. When an image including moving picture information is watched, an image always optimized to be horizontal without additional work by a user can be seen.

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. The controller may compare the instantaneous motion to a threshold value representing a still condition and reduce a video stabilization strength parameter for the current frame if the instantaneous motion is less than the threshold value. A video stabilization unit may perform video stabilization on the current frame according to the frame's strength parameter.

Abstract: A wireless video camera system including a single or dual HDTV digital camera; a system for the wireless transmission of uncompressed single or multiple SMPTE 292M, HDSDI data streams over an RF band; and automatic self-pointing transmitting and receiving antennas.

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 information device includes: an angle detector which outputs data for obtaining a roll angle and a pitch angle of an object; and a corrector which corrects the roll angle based on the pitch angle obtained from the data outputted by the angle detector.

Abstract: Disclosed is a handshake correction apparatus of a photographing apparatus. The handshake correction apparatus includes a lens support plate that supports a correction lens and operates in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis; a base that supports the lens support plate to be movable; and magnets and driving coils which are assembled on the lens support plate and the base to face each other, wherein the magnets are tight-fitted in assembly grooves of the lens support plate or the base, and wherein one or more protrusions that protrude from internal walls of the assembly grooves toward the magnets and elastically press the magnets are formed in the assembly grooves. Control performance of a correction operation of the handshake correction apparatus may be improved by ensuring alignment between assembly structures of assembly parts including magnets and yokes.

Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a camera and a display switchable between a portrait mode and a landscape mode in response to an inertial sensor. When it is determined that the display mode should be switched in response to movement of the device, a feature of a user of the device, such as the user's face, is imaged with the camera. If the imaged feature changes orientation with respect to the display by less than a threshold amount, then the switch in display mode is disabled and the display remains in its current mode. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: A method of motion compensation in a camera may include deriving a motion signal representative of a motion of the camera, processing video frames of a video signal from an image sensor of the camera during a viewfinder mode to derive motion vectors between pairs of frames, and processing the motion signal with a number of combinations of gain and offset factors during the viewfinder mode. The method may also include determining combinations for producing threshold motion vectors, and applying the combination producing the threshold motion vectors for processing the motion signal during a still capture mode to produce a control signal for a motion compensating element for optics of the camera.

Abstract: An image stabilization control apparatus including a mechanism which causes a vibration when the mechanism moves is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a vibration correction unit configured to correct image shake occurring due to vibration applied to the image stabilization control apparatus. A correction value of an angular velocity of the vibration is calculated based on signals based on the angular velocity and an acceleration of the vibration, frequency bands of the signals are narrowed. During the mechanism is moving, the image shake is corrected by driving the vibration correction unit based on the angular velocity of the vibration which is corrected by the corrected value calculated before the mechanism moves.

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: 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 shake correction apparatus comprises a shake detection unit which detects a shake of an image capture apparatus, a calculation unit which calculates a shake correction amount for correcting an image blur based on an output from the shake detection unit, a shake correction unit which corrects the image blur based on the shake correction amount, a shake level determination unit which determines a shake level of the image capture apparatus based on an output from the shake detection unit, an offset determination unit which determines an offset value based on the shake correction amount and the shake level, and a subtraction unit which subtracts the offset value from the output from the shake detection unit.

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: The present invention comprises: an analog/digital conversion means for converting vibration detection signals output from a vibration detection element that detects vibrations of an imaging device into digital signals; a gyro filter that obtains the amount of movement of the imaging device based on the vibration detection signals digitalized by the analog/digital conversion means; a rotation control means for generating an amount of rotary drive in a stepping motor based on both the current position and amount of movement of an optical component or an imaging element; and a stepping control means for generating and outputting pulse signals that drive the rotation of the stepping motor in each phase according to the amount of rotary drive, wherein the stepping control means enables pulse-width modulation of the ratio between the periods in which high-level pulse signals and low-level pulse signals are respectively applied to the same phase of the stepping motor.

Abstract: An image system which captures, along with the images, information defining both the position and the orientation of the camera along with the distance to the subject. A video camera is attached to three accelerometers, two gyroscopes, and a rangefinder. Data gathered from these devices and defining the pitch, yaw, and roll of the camera, the camera's acceleration, and the distance to the subject is captured and recorded along with video images. The video images are later stored within a computer's data base along with data defining the position and orientation of the camera and the distance to the subject for each image, this latter data being computed from the captured data. The images may then be presented to the user in a three-dimensional display in which the user can navigate through the images using a joystick device, with the images located in positions corresponding to the positions in space of the objects that were imaged.