Dependent Upon Operation Or Characteristic Of Iris, Flash, Lens, Or Filter) Patents (Class 348/224.1)
  • Publication number: 20140192224
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for capturing or generating images using multiple optical chains operating in parallel are described. Pixel values captured by individual optical chains corresponding to the same scene area are combined to provide an image with at least some of the benefits which would have been provided by capturing an image of the scene using a larger lens than that of the individual lenses of the optical chain modules. By using multiple optical chains in parallel at least some benefits normally obtained from using a large lens can be obtained without the need for a large lens. Furthermore in at least some embodiments, a wide dynamic range can be supported through the use of multiple sensors with the overall supported dynamic range being potentially larger than that of the individual sensors. Some lens and/or optical chain configurations are designed for use in small handheld devices, e.g., cell phones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: Tinz Optics, Inc.
    Inventor: Rajiv Laroia
  • Patent number: 8767089
    Abstract: Provided are a digital image processing apparatus, and a method of controlling the same, the method including inputting a setup image having a first region input via a filter; extracting first color information from the first region; retrieving a stored image; generating a display image by changing colors of the stored image based on the first color information; and displaying the display image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hun-young Ryu
  • Publication number: 20140176759
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a flash ratio calculator calculating a flash ratio based on a flash image and a non-flash image, a main subject flash ratio selector selecting a flash ratio of an area of a main subject, a preliminary white balance coefficient determination unit determining a preliminary white balance coefficient used in adjusting a white balance, a flash ratio range calculator calculating an upper limit value and a lower limit value of a range of the flash ratio based on the flash ratio of the main subject and the preliminary white balance coefficient, a flash ratio processor altering the flash ratio so that the flash ratio is in the calculated range, and a white balance coefficient calculator calculating a white balance coefficient based on the altered flash ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shuichi GOTO
  • Publication number: 20140176760
    Abstract: According to an image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit, a storage unit, and a convolution unit. The acquisition unit is configured to acquire an input image captured via an optical system. The storage unit is configured to store therein a coefficient designed through learning for each of positions of respective pixel sets referred to in a convolution such that a result of the convolution of a second image with the coefficient is brought nearer to a first image, the second image being obtained by deteriorating the first image through a predetermined deterioration process. The convolution unit is configured to read the coefficient from the storage unit correspondingly to a position of a pixel set referred to in the input image, and generate an output image by convoluting the pixel set with the coefficient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yasunori TAGUCHI, Toshimitsu Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20140168467
    Abstract: A focus adjustment apparatus comprises: a focus adjustment unit configured to execute focus adjustment processing by driving a focus lens based on focus evaluation values calculated respectively for periodically sensed images while scanning the focus lens within a predetermined scan range; a first processing unit configured to execute processing, an operation of which is affected by driving of the focus lens; a second processing unit configured to execute processing, an operation of which is not affected by driving of the focus lens; a determination unit configured to determine a start position of the scan range; and a control unit configured to control the first processing unit to execute the processing before the focus lens is scanned to the start position, and controls the second processing unit to execute the processing during the scan of the focus lens to the start position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masaaki Uenishi
  • Publication number: 20140168466
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes an exposure difference value calculator that calculates an exposure difference between a flash turned-off image and a flash turned-on image, a flash mixture ratio calculator that calculates first flash mixture ratio in blocks, a subject area selector that selects a block having maximum first flash mixture ratio and selects an area including the selected block and a block having first flash mixture ratio ranging between the maximum value and a threshold value, a flash light color balance calculator that calculates color balance of the selected area from the flash turned-on image, a flash mixture ratio correction unit that calculates second flash mixture ratio by multiplying the first flash mixture ratio by a coefficient, and a white balance gain calculator that calculates white balance gain in the blocks based on the second flash mixture ratio, the calculated color balance, and a color balance of normal light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takahiko Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8749635
    Abstract: Systems and methods disclosed herein provide for infrared camera systems and methods for dual sensor applications. For example, in one embodiment, an enhanced vision system comprises an image capture component having a visible light sensor to capture visible light images and an infrared sensor to capture infrared images. The system comprises a first control component adapted to provide a plurality of selectable processing modes to a user, receive a user input corresponding to a user selected processing mode, and generate a control signal indicative of the user selected processing mode, wherein the plurality of selectable processing modes includes a visible light only mode, infrared only mode, and a combined visible-infrared mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: FLIR Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Högasten, Jeffrey S. Scott, Patrick B. Richardson, Jeffrey D. Frank, Austin A. Richards, James T. Woolaway
  • Patent number: 8749580
    Abstract: A method and system for applying photo texture acquired from a video resource to a 3D model operates within a 3D modeling system. The modeling system includes a modeling application operating on a workstation and a storage device containing a video resource. A 3D model is created or edited within the 3D modeling system. For a selected surface, the method and system allow selection of a video resource, selection of a video frame of the video resource, and selection of an area of the video frame to use as a photo texture to apply to the selected surface. The selected area of the video frame is copied and mapped to the selected surface of the 3D model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Lininger
  • Patent number: 8749662
    Abstract: A system and method for correcting image data. Embodiments of the present invention provide calibration and image correction to overcome various lens effects including lens shading and lens imperfections. In one embodiment, the correction of image data is performed via utilization of a spline surface (e.g., Bezier surface). The use of spline surfaces facilitates efficient hardware implementation. The image correction may be performed on a per channel and illumination type basis. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a method for determine a spline surface to be used for calibrating an image signal processor to be used in correcting image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Nvidia Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Cabral, Hu He, Elena Ing, Sohei Takemoto
  • Patent number: 8743213
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a digital video camera is provided. The method comprises acquiring video images of colored light, and measuring a light intensity response of the video camera to the colored light. The method further comprises comparing the intensity of the measured response to a desired colored light intensity for determining a color intensity bias and storing the intensity bias for the colored light in the camera so that the bias can be applied when the camera is operating at an arbitrary lighting condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Haitao Guo, Ting Chen, David Daming Kuo
  • Patent number: 8743239
    Abstract: Disclosed are an image processing apparatus which effectively corrects, by a simple method, color crosstalk that is generated in a captured image by light obliquely entering an image sensor, and a control method thereof. A white-detection area used in white balance processing for a captured image signal is set in accordance with an aperture value used in image capturing. The degree of color crosstalk depends on an aperture value used in image capturing, and the spectral sensitivity characteristic of the image sensor changes depending on the degree of color crosstalk. By setting a white-detection range to correct a change of the spectral sensitivity characteristic depending on the aperture value, color crosstalk can be simply, effectively corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeo Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8736710
    Abstract: A photographic flash unit comprises a direct flash unit and a bounce flash unit rotatably connected to the direct flash unit. Status and control lines coupled between a hot shoe and each flash unit enable independent triggering and control of each flash unit. The direct and bounce flash units may be a part of a digital camera adapted to make a first test exposure using direct flash illumination and second test exposure using bounce flash illumination, then computing an attenuation factor for compensating a selected flash exposure parameter by dividing the selected parameter by the attenuation factor. Steps in a method embodiment include making a first test image, making a second test image, selecting regions in the first and second test images, computing an attenuation factor from luminosity values for the first and second test images, and compensating settings for a final bounce flash image by the attenuation factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony C. Spielberg
  • Patent number: 8736709
    Abstract: Systems and methods for modifying a color image of a scene are provided. The systems and methods involve illuminating at least a portion of the scene with a light having a known spectral power distribution, and detecting a finite number of spectral components of light received from the scene under such illumination. The detected values of spectral components of light received from the scene are used to modify the color image or rendition of the scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Nathan P. Myhrvold, Clarence T. Tegreene
  • Publication number: 20140139702
    Abstract: An electronic camera having an electronic flash including a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit different wavelength light is disclosed. Electric energy is supplied to a capacitor to the LEDs. A system controller controls light emitting amounts of the LEDs so that a color temperature of the electronic flash light becomes a color temperature that has been manually set with a color temperature setting switch or a color temperature of a light source determined by color temperature sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chikuni KAWAKAMI
  • Patent number: 8730344
    Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus and method of using the digital photographing apparatus that can manually set a white balance gain. The digital photographing apparatus including a light-emitting device configured to emit light of a plurality of colors; a light-emitting device control unit configured to control light emission of the light-emitting device; an imaging device configured to capture light incident to a subject to generate a plurality of image signals; and a gain setting unit configured to set a white balance gain by using the generated image signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong-min Ko
  • Publication number: 20140132797
    Abstract: There is provided a television camera that can automatically adjust a detected video signal balance without using a grayscale chart in order to satisfactorily capture a subject. The television camera adjusts the detected video signal balance by using a white (achromatic) subject and without using the grayscale chart. The television camera firstly captures a white (achromatic) subject. The television camera detects a level of a G signal on a detection gate, and sequentially and automatically adjusts a lens iris in order that the level of the G signal becomes a predetermined signal level (level 71, level 72, level 73, level 74). For each signal level (level 71, level 72, level 73, level 74), the television camera aligns signal levels of R signal and B signal with respect to the G signal, thereby automatically adjusting the detected video signal balance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventor: Noriyasu Okada
  • Publication number: 20140125838
    Abstract: An image sensor may have an array of image sensor pixels arranged in unit pixel cells each having at least one modified clear image pixel. Each modified clear image pixel may include a modified clear color filter element formed from a transparent material such as an oxide material that is modified with a colored pigment or colored dye such as yellow pigment. Each unit pixel cell may include one or more color pixels of other colors such as red pixels, blue pixels, and green pixels. Image signals such as yellow image signals from the modified clear pixels may be processed along with other color image signals such as red image signals and blue image signals to generate standard red, green, and blue image data. Image processing operations may include chroma demosaicing or point filtering of the image signals from the modified clear image pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey Mackey, Gershon Rosenblum, Alexandre G. Dokoutchaev
  • Patent number: 8717454
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit that acquires a first image without a flash and a second image with the flash; a down-sampling unit that generates a third image by down-sampling the second image; a brightness difference calculator that calculates a brightness difference between the first image and the third image; a flash reflection intensity calculator that calculates a first flash reflection intensity from the brightness difference; and a white balance gain calculator that calculates a white balance gain based on the first flash reflection intensity. An image pickup method includes acquiring a first image without a flash and a second image with the flash, generating a third image by down-sampling the second image, calculating a brightness difference between the first image and the third image, calculating a first flash reflection intensity from the brightness difference, and calculating a white balance gain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiko Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20140098258
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a color-distortion-correction method and device in an imaging system or an image output system. The method includes: capturing by the imaging system an object to be captured to generate the original image data of the object; based on the priori knowledge of color distortion previously stored in the imaging system, correcting color distortion of the original image data to generate the corrected image data. In embodiments of the present invention, since the priori knowledge of color distortion of the imaging system or the image output system is obtained in advance, that is, the characteristics of the color distortion in the imaging system or the image output system are known in advance, it is capable of correcting color distortion of the image data of captured images based on the priori knowledge of color distortion of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventor: Wei Jia
  • Patent number: 8692903
    Abstract: An imaging device includes an imaging element configured to convert light that has entered from an optical system into an electric signal, and to output the electric signal as an imaging signal, a macro shooting determination section configured to determine whether shooting is macro shooting or not, a low color temperature light source determination section configured to determine whether or not the shooting is performed in a lower color temperature light source based on color information, a first white balance correction coefficient calculator configured to calculate a white balance correction coefficient so as to obtain an image in which a color of the low color temperature light source is added, and a second white balance correction coefficient calculator configured to calculate a white balance correction coefficient so as to obtain an image in which the color of the low color temperature light source is not added in the lower color temperature light source and in the macro shooting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichiroh Nomura
  • Patent number: 8687080
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus a camera 100 includes an image pickup element 105 including a plurality of imaging pixels 106 which perform a photoelectric conversion of an image formed by a light beam from an image pickup optical system and a plurality of focus detection pixels 107 which perform a photoelectric conversion of an image formed by a divided light beam of the light beam, a focus detector 113 which performs a focus detection of the image pickup optical system based on an output of the focus detection pixels 107, an aperture controller 104 which performs a control so that an aperture value of the image pickup optical system is equal to or less than a predetermined value when the focus detector 113 perform the focus detection, and an exposure controller 110 which adjusts an exposure condition in accordance with the aperture value controlled by the aperture controller 104.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Kawarada
  • Patent number: 8681247
    Abstract: Systems and methods for flattening the image across the entire field by correcting the image for both the fluorescence and scatter spatial variations. Images of a stable fluorescence target and a scattering target are separately acquired in an imaging system. From these target images, a pixel remapping function, e.g., including two correcting pixel slopes, is calculated for subsequent image pixel remapping. An image of a sample under investigation is then acquired by the imaging system and the sample image is remapped based on the pixel remapping function for the imaging system to form a corrected (field flattened) image. Which correction pixel slope to be used is determined based on whether a sample image pixel value is higher or lower than a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Li-Cor, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean B. Pieper, Christopher J. Lesiak, Ahmed Bouzid
  • Patent number: 8681237
    Abstract: A camera includes a bracketing logic module that varies, based on a previously-received user input and for each shot of a plurality of bracketed shots for a scene to be imaged, one or more of a plurality of different image-capture parameters, wherein, the bracketing logic module varies the one or more of the plurality of different image-capture parameters based on previously-input user selections of scene-bracketing for the scene to be imaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Amy E. Battles, Murray Dean Craig
  • Patent number: 8670041
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus enabling use of a light source emitting a light of changing intensity and changing spectrum as a flash with a camera module having a white-balance routine and an exposure routine, wherein an initial value representative of a color spectrum emitted by the light source is transmitted to the camera module, the light source is turned on, and the camera module is signaled to scan a plurality of images of the scene while the light source is turned on, allowing the white-balance and exposure algorithms to be employed with each image scanned to refine the first initial value to refine the degree of compensation employed in correcting a color and a light level in the last one of the images of the plurality of images scanned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Marc A. Drader, Ken Wu, Michael Lorne Purdy
  • Patent number: 8659675
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program that are capable of removing an influence due to illumination components from a plurality of images in which illumination environments are different and generating an image having high color reproducibility. A demosaic processing unit 221 performs a demosaic process on a reference image held in a reference mosaic image holding unit 111. A demosaic processing unit 222 performs a demosaic process on a processing target image that is held in a processing target mosaic image holding unit 112. A white balance calculation unit 230 calculates a white-balance value for each channel with respect to the reference image. A channel gain calculation unit 250 calculates a gain for each channel for converting illumination components on the basis of RGB values of the reference image and the processing target image, and the white balance of the reference image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroaki Takahashi, Tomoo Mitsunaga
  • Publication number: 20140043501
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for processing an image of an image signal projected through a digital camera lens. The apparatus includes an image sensor module to transform an optical signal projected through the digital camera lens into an electric signal, to generate and output an image signal. The apparatus includes a light receiving module to receive a light source, wherein the light receiving module is disposed close to the image sensor module. The apparatus also includes a light source characteristic detector to detect a frequency of the light source received by the light receiving module. The apparatus further includes an auto color adjustment controller to identify a kind of light source based on the frequency of the light source, and control a white balance gain of the image signal based on the kind of the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong-Gu LEE
  • Publication number: 20140036106
    Abstract: A white balance control circuit calculates a first white balance correction value based on image data captured at light-emission timing of a flash unit and calculate a second white balance correction value based on image data captured at non-emission timing of the flash unit. The white balance control circuit acquires an image capturing condition corresponding to the image data captured at the light-emission timing of the flash unit or scene information obtained from color information of the image data captured at the light-emission timing of the flash unit. The white balance control circuit corrects at least one of the first white balance correction value and the second white balance correction value based on the image capturing condition or the scene information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventor: Kenji Ouchi
  • Patent number: 8643770
    Abstract: Certain aspects of this disclosure relate to an image signal processing system that includes a flash controller that is configured to activate a flash device prior to the start of a target image frame by using a sensor timing signal. In one embodiment, the flash controller receives a delayed sensor timing signal and determines a flash activation start time by using the delayed sensor timing signal to identify a time corresponding to the end of the previous frame, increasing that time by a vertical blanking time, and then subtracting a first offset to compensate for delay between the sensor timing signal and the delayed sensor timing signal. Then, the flash controller subtracts a second offset to determine the flash activation time, thus ensuring that the flash is activated prior to receiving the first pixel of the target frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Guy Cote, Jeffrey E. Frederiksen
  • Patent number: 8643743
    Abstract: A first white balance correction amount is calculated according to similarity between image data acquired by an image pickup unit and past image data acquired in the past, and a first white balance correction is performed on the image data according to the first white balance correction amount. A luminance correction amount and a color correction amount are calculated according to similarity between the corrected image data and the past image data corrected in the first white balance correction. Using one of them, the first white balance correction amount is corrected thereby to obtain a second white balance correction amount. According to the obtained correction amount, a second white balance correction, a luminance correction, and a color correction are performed on the image data acquired by the image pickup unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20140022411
    Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus that corrects differences in the tints of captured images caused by differences in the color characteristics of lenses used to shoot the images, as well as a control method for such an apparatus. The type of an interchangeable lens used to shoot an image is determined from a plurality of types of interchangeable lenses having different color characteristics. The influence of differences in the color characteristics of the interchangeable lenses on the tint of the image is then reduced by setting at least one of white balance coefficients used in white balance adjustment of the image and conversion characteristics of a color space conversion process applied to the image to correspond to the type of the interchangeable lens used to shoot the image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventor: Akira Kano
  • Patent number: 8614751
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus calculates a difference in color temperature between a first white balance (WB) correction value based on image data with flash and a second WB correction value based on image data without flash. The image forming apparatus calculates motion amounts of an object and the apparatus, and corrects the first and second WB correction values based on the difference in color temperature and the motion amounts. The image processing apparatus, based on the corrected first WB correction value, develops first image data from the image data with flash, and, based on the corrected second WB correction value, develops second image data from the image data without flash. The image processing apparatus calculates a signal component of external light and a signal component of flash and calculates a combination ratio of the first and second image data to combine the first and second image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shigeo Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20130314565
    Abstract: A photographic flash unit comprises a direct flash unit and a bounce flash unit rotatably connected to the direct flash unit. Status and control lines coupled between a hot shoe and each flash unit enable independent triggering and control of each flash unit. The direct and bounce flash units may be a part of a digital camera adapted to make a first test exposure using direct flash illumination and second test exposure using bounce flash illumination, then computing an attenuation factor for compensating a selected flash exposure parameter by dividing the selected parameter by the attenuation factor. Steps in a method embodiment include making a first test image, making a second test image, selecting regions in the first and second test images, computing an attenuation factor from luminosity values for the first and second test images, and compensating settings for a final bounce flash image by the attenuation factor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony C. Spielberg
  • Publication number: 20130308011
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus having an obtaining unit for obtaining a pixel signal of a first image and a pixel signal of a second image having a parallax to the first image performs a position adjustment to the first and second images having the parallax, subtracts the pixel signal of the second image from the pixel signal of the first image with respect to a corresponding pixel, and obtains a specular reflection light component, thereby specifying light source color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yohei Horikawa, Takeshi Ogawa
  • Publication number: 20130308010
    Abstract: In an image capturing apparatus, a subject image is converted into an image signal, which undergoes automatic correction processing including white balance correction processing, and further undergoes image quality change processing. A first evaluation value indicating a largest value of an R signal, a G signal, and a B signal of the image signal undergone the image quality change processing and a second evaluation value indicating a luminance of the image signal undergone the image quality change processing are detected. A control evaluation value is calculated using weighted average of the first evaluation value and the second evaluation value according to at least one of an amount of image quality changing effect due to the image quality change processing and a reliability of the automatic correction processing, and exposure control is performed based on the control evaluation value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventor: Shinya Urisaka
  • Patent number: 8582000
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for capturing an image on an electronic device having a flash comprising a first light source and a second light source is presented herein. A detection of a color spectrum of ambient light is made using image data sensed by an image sensor of a camera module. Additionally, a determination of an intensity of a first light when combined with an associated intensity of a second light results in a color spectrum that substantially matches the color spectrum of the ambient light. The flash emits a first light from the first light source of the flash and second light from the second light source of the flash. An image from a camera module is recorded during the emission of the first and second light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Yochanan Cliel Manoach Gilbert-Schachter, Marc A. Drader
  • Patent number: 8570433
    Abstract: Techniques for reducing coloration artifacts visible in digital images acquired under flash lighting conditions are provided. The coloration artifact problem is addressed by capturing two images of the scene, a first image illuminated by a limited spectral bandwidth flash light source, and a second image illuminated by broad spectral bandwidth flash light source. Pixels of the second image are replaced with selected counterpart pixels from the first image that do not contain the coloration artifact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: CSR Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul R. Goldberg
  • Patent number: 8564686
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus body on which a lens unit including an imaging optical system and an identification information storage unit that stores specific identification information can be removably mounted, comprising a shading correction unit that corrects, when the determination unit determines that the correction table corresponding to the identification information of the mounted lens unit is stored in the correction table storage unit, the shading in the set of viewpoint images according to the correction table, corresponding to the identification information of the mounted lens unit, stored in the correction table storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Kurahashi, Ryou Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8558944
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes an image capture unit configured to capture an image of a subject to obtain image data, an image-capture control unit configured to allow the image capture unit to execute an image capture operation of capturing a plurality of frames of image data having continuity in time so that a frame rate of the image capture unit is changed in accordance with a change of a subject brightness level during the execution of the image capture operation, and a combination processing unit configured to perform a combination process using, as combination-use image data to be combined, the plurality of frames of image data having continuity in time captured by the image capture unit so as to generate combined-image data representing a still image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuo Makii
  • Patent number: 8553138
    Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes an image capture unit having a plurality of exposure adjustment functions including an electronic shutter function for changing an exposure time within a frame period and configured to capture an image of a subject to obtain image data, and an image-capture control unit configured to allow the image capture unit to execute an image capture operation of capturing a plurality of frames of image data having continuity in time at a fixed frame rate and configured to perform exposure adjustment control in accordance with a subject brightness level obtained during the execution of the image capture operation, the exposure adjustment control being performed using preferentially an exposure adjustment function other than the electronic shutter function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuo Makii
  • Patent number: 8520092
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus such as a video camera has the capability of automatic white balance control whereby the white balance is quickly adjusted for any object even just after an operator has turned on a power supply. An image pickup element converts an optical image of an object into an electrical image signal. The image signal is applied to a signal processing circuit and separated into a luminance signal and color signals. The separated color signals or the R and B signals are amplified by gain control circuits under the control of the correction signals supplied by a correction signal computing part, and then applied to a color-difference signal forming circuit which in turn produces color-difference signals (R-Y) and (B-Y). An encoder circuit generates a television signal in the standard form from the above color-difference signals and the luminance signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakayama, Hiromi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 8520093
    Abstract: An image acquisition device includes a flash and optical system for capturing digital images. A face tracker identifies face regions within a series of one or more relatively low resolution reference images, and predicts face regions within a main digital image. A face analyzer determines one or more partial face regions within the one or more face regions each including at least one eye. A red-eye filter modifies an area within the main digital image indicative of a red-eye phenomenon based on an analysis of one or more partial face regions within the one or more face regions identified and predicted by the face tracker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Florin Nanu, Eran Steinberg, Peter Corcoran, Alexei Pososin, Petronel Bigioi, Alexandru Drimbarean, Stefan Petrescu, Mihnea Gangea, Adrian Capata, Mihai Ciuc, Adrian Zamfir
  • Patent number: 8508596
    Abstract: A sensor system detection device for detecting quality of a sensor system includes a first connector electrically connected to the sensor system, a second connector; a display unit, a controller and an encoder. A first terminal of the encoder is connected to the first connector to receive first image data from the sensor system. A second terminal of the encoder is connected to the display unit via the second connector. A third terminal of the encoder is connected to the controller. The controller controls the encoder to transform the first image into second image data matching with the display unit. The second image data is transferred to the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Chih Hsieh
  • Patent number: 8508634
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state image pickup element, including: a semiconductor layer in which a photodiode for carrying out photoelectric conversion is formed; a first film containing negative fixed charges and formed on the semiconductor layer in a region in which at least the photodiode is formed by utilizing either an atomic layer deposition method or a metal organic chemical vapor deposition method; a second film containing the negative fixed charges and formed on the first film containing therein the negative fixed charges by utilizing a physical vapor deposition method; and a third film containing the negative fixed charges and formed on the second film containing therein the negative fixed charges by utilizing either the atomic layer deposition method or the metal organic chemical vapor deposition method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Itaru Oshiyama, Eiji Miyata
  • Patent number: 8508618
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus according to one aspect of the invention includes: an imaging lens configured to perform a phase modulation function to extend a depth of field; a color image pickup element configured to convert an optical image which passes through the imaging lens and is formed on the image pickup element into an electric signal, the image pickup element having primary filters of three primary colors arranged for respective pixels in a predetermined pattern; and a restoration processing device configured to perform filtering processing using a single restoration filter on color signals corresponding to the primary filters of the three primary colors outputted from the color image pickup element, the restoration filter being an inverse function of a point spread function obtained when the phase modulation is performed by the imaging lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Yasunobu Kishine
  • Patent number: 8502883
    Abstract: When an interchangeable lens in which a memory that records image data is provided is mounted to a camera main body including a display section that displays an image, a signal processing and control section of the camera main body reads in a sample image that is previously stored in the memory. The sample image serves as a model with respect to an image that can be photographed by the interchangeable lens. The sample image is displayed by the display section for a predetermined time. Thereafter, the signal processing and control section performs display control that switches the display of the display section so as to display an image in which a subject is picked up by the interchangeable lens and the image pickup section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Imaging Corp.
    Inventors: Osamu Nonaka, Yoshinori Matsuzawa
  • Patent number: 8488055
    Abstract: Certain aspects of this disclosure relate to an image signal processing system that includes a flash controller that is configured to activate a flash device prior to the start of a target image frame by using a sensor timing signal. In one embodiment, the flash controller receives a delayed sensor timing signal and determines a flash activation start time by using the delayed sensor timing signal to identify a time corresponding to the end of the previous frame, increasing that time by a vertical blanking time, and then subtracting a first offset to compensate for delay between the sensor timing signal and the delayed sensor timing signal. Then, the flash controller subtracts a second offset to determine the flash activation time, thus ensuring that the flash is activated prior to receiving the first pixel of the target frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Guy Côté, Jeffrey E. Frederiksen
  • Patent number: 8466984
    Abstract: Calibrating color (such as adjusting color balance) for an image may include capturing a set of calibration images of a calibration target. The calibration target includes at least one color reference region illuminated by a light source having a distribution of frequencies that cycles over a fixed time period. The calibration images are captured over a calibration period that is greater than or equal to the fixed time period over which the distribution of frequencies cycles. Each of the calibration images is associated to a time identifier. A color balance adjustment is calculated for each of the calibration images, for forming a time-dependent color spectrum model of the color balance adjustments. The color spectrum model models changes in the light source over the fixed time period. In one embodiment, a subject image of a subject is captured for a determined exposure time. In the subject image, the subject is illuminated by the light source. Exposure time data is associated to the subject image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony C. Spielberg
  • Patent number: 8462228
    Abstract: An appropriate white balance coefficient is calculated using an evaluation value of a specific chromaticity or an imaging condition, in addition to face area detection information, in the following manner. A first white balance coefficient is calculated by a first white balance coefficient calculation unit based on a color image, and a second white balance coefficient is calculated by a second white balance coefficient calculation unit based on a specific subject of the color image. Then, a third white balance coefficient is calculated by a white balance combining unit by weighting the first white balance coefficient and the second white balance coefficient based on an evaluation result of a specific chromaticity evaluation unit or an imaging condition of an imaging condition control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tomokazu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8451339
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for the automated correction of optical and digital aberrations in a digital imaging system. The system includes (a) digital filters, (b) hardware modifications and (c) digital system corrections. The system solves numerous problems in still and video photography that are presented in the digital imaging environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Inventor: Neal Solomon
  • Patent number: 8441552
    Abstract: A photographing apparatus and method and a recording medium, the photographing apparatus including: an exposure control value calculator for calculating a first exposure control value for a first image obtained by performing non-flash photographing and a second exposure control value for a second image by performing flash photographing based on light received from a subject; a photographing unit for acquiring the first image by performing photographing based on the first exposure control value and acquiring the second image by performing photographing based on the second exposure control value; an exposure control value difference calculator for calculating an exposure control value difference that is a difference between the first exposure control value and the second exposure control value; and a subject brightness calculator for calculating a first subject brightness of the first image and calculating a second subject brightness of the second image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takahiko Yoshida