Abstract: Methods and systems for generating free viewpoint videos (FVVs) based on images captured in a sports arena. A method includes projecting, onto objects within a filming area within the sports arena, a predefined pattern including a large set of features; generating, based on signals captured by each of a plurality of depth cameras, a point cloud for each depth camera, wherein the plurality of depth cameras is deployed in proximity to the filming area, wherein the captured signals are reflected off of the objects within the filming area; creating, based on the plurality of point clouds, a unified point cloud; meshing points in the unified point cloud to generate a three-dimensional (3D) model of the objects; texturing the 3D model based on images captured by the plurality of depth cameras; and rendering the textured 3D model as a FVV including a series of video frames with respect to a viewpoint.

Abstract: An image capture method and apparatus obtains a preview image in a capture preview window, segments the preview image into N image blocks based on N objects included in the preview image, where N is a positive integer, determines M image blocks whose definitions do not meet a preset definition criterion from the N image blocks, where M is a positive integer less than or equal to N, adjusts an exposure parameter of each of the M image blocks, outputs prompt information when the definitions of the M image blocks meet the preset definition criterion. Prompt information prompts a user to capture the image, receives a capture instruction from the user, and captures the preview image in the capture preview window based on an adjusted exposure parameter.

Abstract: [Problem] To provide a solid imaging apparatus that is able to shorten the time from the detection of an object to the completion of imaging processing. [Solution] A solid imaging apparatus includes a control unit that controls a shutter operation for a pixel area having a plurality of pixels arranged in matrix, and a reading operation from the pixel area at a first reading speed and a second reading speed. The control unit starts the shutter operation for at least one row of the pixel area after the reading operation at the first reading speed is completed, and during execution of detection processing of an object read from the pixel area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a monitoring camera using a composite filtering method robust against a change in visibility status and a video monitoring system employing the same. The present invention comprises: a hardware filter for blocking one of a visible light band and an infrared light band and allowing the other thereof to pass therethrough; and a software filter for filtering a color image or a black-and-white image generated by an image signal processor (ISP) by removing, from the color image or the black-and-white image, a factor reducing a visibility distance at the front side of a lens part, wherein the filtering band of the hardware filter and whether to perform filtering by the software filter are controlled according to a filtering level corresponding to a current visibility status at the front side of the lens part among a plurality of filtering levels.

Abstract: A pixel array for use in a high dynamic range image sensor includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a plurality of rows and columns in the pixel array. Each one of the pixels includes a linear subpixel and a log subpixel disposed in a semiconductor material. The linear subpixel is coupled to generate a linear output signal having a linear response, and the log subpixel is coupled to generate a log output signal having a logarithmic response in response to the incident light. A bitline is coupled to the linear subpixel and to the log subpixel to receive the linear output signal and the log output signal. The bitline is one of a plurality of bitlines coupled to the plurality of pixels. Each one of the plurality of bitlines is coupled to a corresponding grouping of the plurality of pixels.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for generating a digital image. The method comprises receiving a shutter release command and causing a camera module to sample a first image of a photographic scene based on a first set of sampling parameters in response to the shutter release command. Next, the first image within an image set is stored and a camera module is caused to sample a second image of the photographic scene based on a second set of sampling parameters in response to the shutter release command. Additionally, the second image within the image set is stored, and a strobe intensity value is specified based on a measured exposure for images in the image set. Lastly, a strobe unit is configured based on the strobe intensity value, and in response to configuring the strobe unit, the camera module is caused to sample a final image.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of operating an image sensor. A first integration is performed on a first photodiode of a pixel circuit to obtain at least one first image signal. A second integration is performed on a second photodiode of the pixel circuit to obtain a second image signal, the first photodiode having a photodiode area larger than the second photodiode. A third integration is performed by collecting blooming charge overflowing from the first photodiode to obtain an overflow image signal. The first integration has longest integration time and the third integration has shortest integration time among the first integration, the second integration and the third integration.

Abstract: A television demonstration method involves providing a television display and a camera; at a computer processor, receiving a video image from the camera, the computer processor capturing the video image from the camera to determine if the viewer makes a predetermined gesture; and retrieving and playing a specified video segment on the display associated with the gesture in response to determining that the viewer has made the predetermined gesture. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.

Abstract: An image-capturing apparatus includes an insertion and removal unit configured to insert and remove the infrared light cut filter to and from an optical path of the image-capturing optical system. An adjustment command capable of describing a brightness value of a brightness of the subject and a delay time for determining the brightness and capable of separately describing the brightness value in each of the cases where the infrared light cut filter is inserted into or removed from the optical path is received from the external apparatus via a network. A determination is made as to whether a content of an adjustment command matches a content stored in advance, and the brightness value and the delay time included in the adjustment command are converted into values that can be set in a case where the determination unit determines that the content of the adjustment command matches the content stored.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for generating a digital image. The method comprises receiving a shutter release command and causing a camera module to sample a first image of a photographic scene based on a first set of sampling parameters in response to the shutter release command. Next, the first image within an image set is stored and a camera module is caused to sample a second image of the photographic scene based on a second set of sampling parameters in response to the shutter release command. Additionally, the second image within the image set is stored, and a strobe intensity value is specified based on a measured exposure for images in the image set. Lastly, a strobe unit is configured based on the strobe intensity value, and in response to configuring the strobe unit, the camera module is caused to sample a final image.

Abstract: Optical radiation from an area surrounding a vehicle is detected by a sensor in order to record an image sequence of the surrounding area. The sensor may be exposed continuously to the radiation which is incident on it while the image sequence is being recorded in order to detect a light pulse of an indefinitely short time duration.

Abstract: A plurality of specimens or a plurality of targets in a specimen are accurately examined. A microscope apparatus includes a light source; an image-generating unit generating an image of a specimen; a control unit controlling the light source and the image-generating unit depending on a predetermined irradiation condition or a predetermined image generation condition; an image-analyzing unit analyzing the image generated by the image-generating unit to extract targets; and a condition-changing unit changing the irradiation condition and/or the image generation condition based on a difference between an actual luminance of each of the extracted targets in the image and a desired luminance such that the actual luminance of the target in the image satisfies the desired luminance. If the irradiation condition and/or the image generation condition is changed, the control unit redrives the light source and the image-generating unit depending on the changed irradiation condition and/or image generation condition.

Abstract: A method for controlling an image capturing device includes: calculating luminance data of a first image to generate a plurality of first characteristic values, and calculating luminance data of a second image to generate a plurality of second characteristic values; calculating a plurality of motion values of a plurality of blocks of the second image according to the luminance data of the first image and the luminance data of the second image; determining a plurality of ratio parameters corresponding to the blocks of the second image according to the motion values; generating a plurality of adjusted second characteristic values according to the ratio parameters, the second characteristic values and the first characteristic values; and generating an adjustment signal for controlling the image capturing device according to the adjusted second characteristic values.

Abstract: In an information processing device configured to include an imaging unit, a display unit, and an illumination sensor, to capture image information by the imaging unit, and to perform processing on the captured image information, the display unit and the imaging unit are disposed on the same surface, the capture processing is performed in a normal mode when a detected value of the illumination sensor is a predetermined value or more, and the capture processing is performed in a dark-place mode when the detected value of the illumination sensor is a predetermined value or less.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for generating a digital image. The method comprises receiving a shutter release command and causing a camera module to sample a first image of a photographic scene based on a first set of sampling parameters in response to the shutter release command. Next, the first image within an image set is stored and a camera module is caused to sample a second image of the photographic scene based on a second set of sampling parameters in response to the shutter release command. Additionally, the second image within the image set is stored, and a strobe intensity value is specified based on a measured exposure for images in the image set. Lastly, a strobe unit is configured based on the strobe intensity value, and in response to configuring the strobe unit, the camera module is caused to sample a final image.

Abstract: To obtain an appropriate exposure condition even in second photographing when generating an image with an expanded dynamic range. An exposure control unit controls an imaging element including a normal pixel for generating an image signal and a low-sensitivity pixel for generating a low-sensitivity image signal and having lower photoelectric conversion sensitivity to visible light than the normal pixel under a predetermined exposure condition and causes the imaging element to output the image signal and the low-sensitivity image signal. A low-sensitivity histogram generating unit generates a low-sensitivity histogram indicating an appearance frequency distribution of the low-sensitivity image signal based on the low-sensitivity image signal. A short-time exposure condition calculating unit calculates a short-time exposure condition with an exposure time shorter than the exposure condition based on the generated low-sensitivity histogram.

Abstract: A method of processing a super resolution image using adaptive preprocessing filtering and/or postprocessing filtering is provided. A provided image processing apparatus may determine a preprocessing filter and a postprocessing filter based on frames included in a reference interval among a plurality of intervals in an input video, may perform filtering on the frames in the reference interval based on the preprocessing filter, may reconstruct a high frequency signal of each of the frames on which the filtering is performed, and may perform filtering on the frames, each having the reconstructed high frequency signal, based on the postprocessing filter.

Abstract: An electronic device is described. The electronic device includes a flash configured to generate a pre-flash and a regular flash and a camera. The electronic device also includes a processor communicatively coupled to the flash and the camera. The processor is configured to, in response to receiving a picture request: determine one or more high dynamic range (HDR) settings and configure an HDR mode of the camera with the determined HDR settings; cause the flash to generate a pre-flash while the HDR mode of the camera is configured with the determined HDR settings; obtain an HDR image from the camera after causing the flash to generate the pre-flash and while the camera is configured with the determined HDR setting; and determine one or more camera configuration settings based on the obtained HDR image.

Abstract: Techniques are described to combine image data from multiple images with different exposures into a relatively high dynamic range image. A first image of a scene may be generated with a first operational mode of an image processing system. A second image of the scene may be generated with a second different operational mode of the image processing system. The first image may be of a first spatial resolution, while the second image may be of a second spatial resolution. For example, the first spatial resolution may be higher than the second spatial resolution. The first image and the second image may be combined into an output image of the scene. The output image may be of a higher dynamic range than either of the first image and the second image and may be of a spatial resolution higher than the second spatial resolution.

Abstract: A circuit having a buffered direct injection (BDI) module is provided for image lag mitigation. The BDI module includes an optical detector coupled to a buffer. The buffer has a pixel amplifier which includes no more than two transistors. The BDI module includes a first current mirror coupled to the BDI module. The first current mirror generates a modulating current based on the output of the optical detector. The BDI module further includes a second current mirror coupled to the first current mirror. The second current mirror is configured to generate either an amplified or attenuated photocurrent operable to optimize an imaging time and scene brightness of the optical detector. The BDI module further includes a reset circuit, coupled to the second current mirror, and being configured to reset an integration capacitor which integrates an image signal based on the output of the optical detector.

Abstract: Embodiments are directed towards enabling digital cameras to digitally process a captured a Low Dynamic Range image sequence at a real time video rate, and to convert the image sequence into an High Dynamic Range (HDR) image sequence using a pipelined architecture. Two or more image frames are captured using different exposure settings and then combined to form a single HDR output frame in a video sequence. The pipelined architecture operate on adjacent image frames by performing an image alignment, an image mixing, and a tone mapping on the adjacent image frames to generate the HDR image sequence.

Abstract: A closed-loop system for auto-focusing in photography is used to capture better images of remote objects by generating and executing auto-focusing corrections in real time. The system includes an image collecting device, a focuser, a beam selector, an imaging camera, a second camera, and a computing unit. The image capturing device is typically a telescope that is used to capture the image of the remote object. The beam selector is used to split the captured image between the imager camera and the second camera. The imager camera is used to progressively create the image of a target. The second camera is used to create images of a reference object at regular intervals. The images of the reference object are analyzed by the computing unit and are used to generate auto-focusing corrections by the computing unit. Those corrections are then executed by the focuser.

Abstract: An automatic exposure control device includes an image acquisition section that acquires an image that has been captured by an imaging optical system that receives reflected light, and includes an image of an object, the reflected light being light that has been applied to the object, and reflected by the object, an angle-of-view information acquisition section that acquires angle-of-view information that indicates an angle of view of the imaging optical system when the image has been captured, and an automatic exposure control section that performs an automatic exposure control process based on the acquired angle-of-view information.

Abstract: A smart surgical glove is provided that includes sensors configured to detect one or more properties of a target tissue and indicators configured to indicate the detected one or more properties of the target tissue. In some embodiments, the indicators are configured to provide a sensation to a wearer of the smart surgical glove that is related to the detected one or more properties of the target tissue. In some embodiments, the indicators are configured to transmit a signal to another device, for example, a head-mounted display worn by the wearer of the smart surgical glove. In some embodiments, the smart surgical glove is configure to illuminate a fluorescent imaging agent in the target tissue and to detect one or more properties of the target tissue related to the presence of the imaging agent. Additionally included are methods of using such smart surgical gloves.

Abstract: In one embodiment of an enclosure device, a camera casing and light source casing are secured to a plate frame, and the enclosure device is configured to be mounted to an arm, such as a robotic welding arm. A shutter mounting arm may also be secured to the plate frame. A flap may be pivotally mounted to the distal end of the shutter mounting arm, such that the flap may be actuated between a first and second position by an actuator cooperatively engaged with the flap. The first position may be defined as to protect a camera lens positioned in the camera casing and a light source lens positioned in the light source casing. The second position may be defined as to not obscure a line-of-sight from either the light source and/or the camera to the work piece on the arm. A light source casing may be sandwiched between two side plates that are generally configured as mirror images of one another. The light source casing housing a light source may be configured as a laser designed to measure distances.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a control unit to perform insertion/retraction of an infrared cut filter into and from an optical path of an imaging optical system; a reception unit to receive a third command to cause the control unit to automatically control insertion/retraction of the infrared cut filter; and a determining unit configured to determine whether or not the third command includes additional information based on the output of the reception unit; wherein, in the event that the determining unit has determined that the third command includes additional information, the control unit controls insertion/retraction of the infrared cut filter based on the additional information, and in the event that the determining unit has determined that the third command does not include additional information, the control unit controls insertion/retraction of the infrared cut filter based on control information which the control unit has beforehand.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus having an image formation optical system having a lens for focus adjustment of an optical image of an object and an imaging unit for picking up the formed optical image and generating a pixel signal from which a refocus image can be generated includes: a calculation unit for obtaining information of the object the optical image of which is picked up by the imaging unit and calculating, based on the obtained object information, a range of a lens position at which the refocus image of the object being in-focus can be generated; a prediction unit for predicting, based on the lens position range, a change of the calculated lens position at which the refocus image of the object being in-focus can be generated; and a determination unit for determining a drive position of the lens based on a prediction result.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging lens, an image sensor to output an image signal in accordance with an image of a subject captured via the imaging lens, a lens driver to move the imaging lens, an autofocus detector to determine a focal point according to image data obtained from the image signal, a point source detector to determine whether or not a subject is a point source subject on the basis of a brightness component included in the image data, and a driving mode setter to change a driving condition of the image sensor when the subject is determined to be a point source subject.

Abstract: An image sensor including an array of pixel elements is operated according to two operation modes to modulate the conversion gain of the pixel to operate the image sensor based on the impinging light conditions. More specifically, an image sensor pixel element is operated in a high conversion gain mode for low light conditions and in a low conversion gain mode for bright light conditions. The low conversion gain mode implements charge sharing between the floating diffusion and the photodiode. The low conversion gain mode further implements partial reset where the photodiode and the floating diffusion are reset to the same potential and to a potential slightly less than the pinning voltage of the photodiode.

Abstract: A method for low-light imaging may include, but is not limited to: detecting one or more photons via the least one photon-counting sensor; determining an orientation of at least one photon-counting sensor; and correlating data associated with the at least one photon-counting sensor with the orientation of the at least one photon-counting sensor. A system for low-light imaging may include, but is not limited to: one or more photon-counting sensors configured for detecting one or more photons via the least one photon-counting sensor; one or more inertial sensors; and at least one processing unit configured for: determining an orientation of at least one photon-counting sensor and correlating data associated with the at least one photon-counting sensor with the orientation of the at least one photon-counting sensor.

Abstract: A brightness tracking system for an optical device includes a first imager for viewing a target of interest, a second imager for viewing the same target of interest, and a photodiode circuit. The photodiode circuit (a) measures brightness levels of the target of interest received from the first imager, and (b) controls output brightness of the second imager, based on the measured brightness levels received from the first imager.

Abstract: Disclosed are a ramp signal generator and an image sensor. The ramp signal generator includes: a comparator comparing a first bias voltage input to a first input terminal and a second bias voltage input to a second input terminal and outputting a ramp signal from an output terminal; a ramp signal adjustment unit including a plurality of switched capacitors made up of switches and capacitors connected in series, and connected in parallel between a first input terminal of the comparator and an output terminal of the comparator; and a controller switching the switches of the plurality of switched capacitors to adjust the ramp signal output from the comparator such that the ramp signal becomes nonlinear over time.

Abstract: A night vision device and method for filtering a series of image frames that depict a moving subject, which thereby improves the signal-to-noise ratio of each image frame, is provided. A composite image is formed for each image frame by combining pixel values in a current image frame with pixel values in composite images corresponding to image frames acquired before the current image frame. Additionally, pixels values in image frames acquired subsequent to the acquisition of the current image frame are included when forming the composite image. A bi-directional recursive filter is used to weight the contributions from the previous composite images and subsequent image frames with a decay constant. Motion of the imaging system is optionally compensated for by establishing a moving reference frame and shifting the image frames to account for this motion; thus, registering the image frames before filtering the current image frame.

Abstract: An exposure adjustment method for night-vision camera includes the following steps. A first image and a second image are shot with an infrared light source of different intensity; the shot first image and second image are divided into a plurality of image blocks, in which positions of the image blocks in the first image are respectively corresponding to those in the second image; a light reflectivity of the image blocks of the first image is compared with a light reflectivity of the image blocks of the second image, and object distances of image objects are determined; the image object having greater object distance obtains a lower light measuring weight, and the image object having smaller object distance obtains a higher light measuring weight; and an exposure parameter of image images is adjusted according to the image weights of the two images and light measuring weights of the blocks.

Abstract: A single photon counting image sensor and method is provided. In one aspect, the method of an image sensor includes counting through a counter circuit a number of photons detected through a photodiode when a light is incident on the photodiode. The method also includes storing in a memory circuit a time a count of the number of photons take to match a reference count of the number of photons. In another aspect, an image sensor device includes a pixel circuit. The image sensor device also includes a photodiode circuit of the pixel circuit to detect photons when a light is incident on the photodiode circuit. The image sensor device further includes a counter circuit of the pixel circuit coupled to the photodiode circuit to count a number of photons detected when a light is incident on the avalanche photo diode.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for a Curvilinear Sensor System are disclosed. The present invention includes a wide variety of generally curved, aspheric or non-planar arrangement of sensors and their equivalents. The curvilinear surfaces, edges or boundaries that define the geometry of the present invention may be continuous, or may be collections or aggregations of many small linear, planar or other segments which are able to approximate a curved line or surface.

Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus may include a display unit and a controller electronically coupled to the display unit. The controller may be configured to adjust a moving picture or an image displayed on the display unit based on ambient brightness.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes: an image capturing unit; a first image capture controller configured to control the image capturing unit to capture a set of a plurality of images while changing exposure time for each of the images; a second image capture controller configured to obtain a plurality of sets of the images; an addition combination section configured to perform image alignment on the images contained in each of the sets and to perform addition combination on the aligned images to generate a combined image; a combination controller configured to control the addition combination section to perform the image alignment and the addition combination for each of the sets to obtain a plurality of combined images; a selector configured to evaluate the combined images and to select one of the combined images most highly evaluated as a selected image; and a storage configured to store the selected image.

Abstract: A photography control method, apparatus, and computer readable medium for prohibiting the use of a flash. The method includes recognizing a sensitive face from an obtained image and prohibiting the use of the flash when the recognized face is a sensitive face. The method may include determining whether or not the image is taken from a dark environment and if the image is taken from a dark environment, then increasing the optical sensitivity and optionally performing advanced shake reduction.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a histogram shape determination unit that acquires a histogram of luminance values from video captured by an image capturing unit and determines whether or not the captured video is a night scene from the shape of the histogram. The imaging apparatus also includes a point light source determination unit that acquires the maximum value of contrast for each horizontal line in the video as a line evaluation value and determines whether the captured video is a night scene based on whether or not the line evaluation value has a characteristic of an object as a point light source. If the histogram shape determination unit and the point light source determination unit determine that the captured video is a night scene, the imaging apparatus determines that the scene captured by the image capturing unit is a night scene.

Abstract: A night vision device and method for filtering a series of image frames that depict a moving subject, which thereby improves the signal-to-noise ratio of each image frame, is provided. A composite image is formed for each image frame by combining pixel values in a current image frame with pixel values in composite images corresponding to image frames acquired before the current image frame. Additionally, pixels values in image frames acquired subsequent to the acquisition of the current image frame are included when forming the composite image. A bi-directional recursive filter is used to weight the contributions from the previous composite images and subsequent image frames with a decay constant. Motion of the imaging system is optionally compensated for by establishing a moving reference frame and shifting the image frames to account for this motion; thus, registering the image frames before filtering the current image frame.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit, a light emission unit, an image acquisition unit configured to drive the image pickup unit and the light emission unit to acquire an image while the light emission unit is emitting light and acquire images while the light emission unit is emitting no light at substantially the same view angle, a difference acquisition unit configured to acquire a luminance difference between the image acquired while the light emission unit is emitting light and one of the images acquired while the light emission unit is emitting no light, and an image composing unit configured to compose a composite image from the images acquired while the light emission unit is emitting no light and the image acquired while the light emission unit is emitting light, using the luminance difference acquired by the difference acquisition unit as transmission intensity data.

Abstract: An image correction apparatus includes a dark-pixel-region extracting unit that extracts a dark pixel region of image data photographed by a photographing unit, a dark-pixel-area calculating unit that calculates an area of the dark pixel region extracted by the dark-pixel-region extracting unit, a luminance-value-variance calculating unit that calculates variance of luminance values of pixels in the dark pixel region extracted by the dark-pixel-region extracting unit, and an image correction unit that corrects brightness of the image data in accordance with the area calculated by the dark-pixel-area calculating unit and in accordance with the variance of the luminance values calculated by the luminance-value-variance calculating unit.

Abstract: The night vision camera system includes a light, a night vision camera, and a linkage. The night vision camera is attached to the light such that the light and camera maintain a fixed orientation with respect to each other. The light is attached to the linkage and is configured to manipulate the light and night vision camera concurrently. The linkage is attached to the vehicle and extends into the vehicle interior where a handle is provided allowing the user to aim the light and night vision camera from the interior of the vehicle.

Abstract: An endoscope system of the invention includes: a first endoscope capable of picking up an image of a subject; a first illuminating section capable of emitting first illuminating light; a second endoscope capable of picking up an image of the subject illuminated by the first light from a direction different from the first endoscope; a second illuminating section capable of emitting second illuminating light; a video signal processing section for generating a video signal based on a signal picked-up by the second endoscope; a display section for displaying an image of the subject obtained by the video signal processing section; an emphasis instructing section for instructing an emphasis on an image obtained based on the first light; and an emphasis control section for controlling to emphasize the subject image obtained based on the first light according to an operation of the emphasis instructing section.

Abstract: Method and apparatuses processing pixel values from a captured image include receiving an array of digital pixel values corresponding to a captured image, and computing a rolling sum of the array of pixel values. Computing a rolling sum includes selecting successive groupings of the pixel values, each grouping comprising N×M pixel values, summing pixel values in each of the successive groupings, and forming an output image using the summed pixel values.

Abstract: An exposure adjustment method for night-vision camera includes the following steps. A first image and a second image are shot with an infrared light source of different intensity; the shot first image and second image are divided into a plurality of image blocks, in which positions of the image blocks in the first image are respectively corresponding to those in the second image; a light reflectivity of the image blocks of the first image is compared with a light reflectivity of the image blocks of the second image, and object distances of image objects are determined; the image object having greater object distance obtains a lower light measuring weight, and the image object having smaller object distance obtains a higher light measuring weight; and an exposure parameter of image images is adjusted according to the image weights of the two images and light measuring weights of the blocks.

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

Abstract: A method and apparatus subsampling a plurality of signals from one frame of a pixel array, pixels within the pixel array belonging to one of at least two sets, each set configured to sense values of a same image parameter, includes controlling integration times for first and second signals for each set output from the pixel array, controlling including using a first integration time for the first signal of the set and using a second integration time, different than the first integration time, for the second signal of the set, and calculating a synthesized value for each set using the first and second signals having different integration times.

Abstract: A plurality of images is captured, and a positional displacement between the images is determined. The images may be captured as still images or as moving images. Moving images may include, for example, images that are captured as part of the recording of a video or as live image data that is played back in real time. Different positional displacement techniques are be used to determine the positional displacement between the images, based on how the images are captured. For example, a first positional displacement technique may be used if the images are still images and a second positional displacement technique if the images are moving images. The images may then be synthesized images based on the determined positional displacement of the images to generate a synthesized image. The images may be synthesized using a weighted synthesis technique, a simple synthesis technique, or other appropriate synthesis technique.