Abstract: In an imaging apparatus, unevenness in brightness in screen due to flash is eliminated and video with secured continuity as a moving image can be obtained. In the imaging apparatus (1), signals of fields affected by flash among video signals acquired by imaging are treated with adding or adding and averaging to equalize effects of flash which appear unevenly on a screen.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for obtaining a properly exposed strobe-illuminated image are provided. One method for doing so may include, for example, gathering image capture statistics during a first period when a strobe is not emitting light and during a second period when the strobe emits a preflash. These image capture statistics may include distinct image capture control statistics and luma values associated with the periods. Final image capture control statistics then may be determined based at least in part on the first luma value normalized to the first image capture control statistics and the second luma value normalized to the second image capture control statistics. Thereafter, the final image capture control statistics may be used to capture a properly exposed strobe-illuminated image when the strobe emits a main flash.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for capturing an image on a mobile device having a flash comprising a red light source and a white light source is presented herein. A detection of a color spectrum of ambient light is made using image data sensed by an image sensor. Additionally, a determination of an intensity of red light when combined with an associated intensity of white light results in a color spectrum that substantially matches the color spectrum of the ambient light. The flash emits white light from the white light source of the flash and red light from the red light source of the flash. An image from a camera module is recorded during the emission of the white and red light.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus includes an imaging section which images a subject to obtain imaging data. An image quality information acquiring section acquires a plurality of sets of information concerning image quality. An image quality information converting section converts the plurality of sets of information concerning the image quality acquired in the image quality information acquiring section into image processing parameters used in image processing of the imaging data. An image processing section performs image processing with respect to the imaging data based on the image processing parameters converted by the image quality information converting section. A recording section records in a recording medium the imaging data subjected to image processing in the image processing section, or records in the recording medium the imaging data which is not yet subjected to image processing in the image processing section and the plurality of sets of information concerning the image quality.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus enabling use of a light source emitting a spectrum of light not following characteristics of a blackbody source of light with a camera module programmed for use with light sources following characteristics of blackbody sources of light, wherein a white-balance patch is transmitted to the camera module to cause the camera module to accept color coordinates representing a point on a chromaticity chart that partly defines a region of color coordinates on the chromaticity chart into which color coordinates of the light source fall and to which color coordinates of a reference white color derived by a white-balance routine of the camera module are constrained.

Abstract: An auto-exposure algorithm for controlling a camera flash uses image processing to identify important areas of the image affected by the flash, while disregarding highly reflective/illuminated areas and uses a ND filter to linearize the flash triggering with highly reflective scenes. The camera flash is controlled by the auto-exposure algorithm in two stages: a pre-flash stage followed by a main-flash stage. In the pre-flash stage, two images are captured under the same camera settings regarding the exposure time, gain, iris and resolution. One image is captured with flash and one without. From the difference between the two images, a reference pixel is used to determine the flash intensity in the main-flash stage.

Abstract: A digital still camera includes a lens system and an image sensor. The image sensor receives object light through the lens system to output an image signal of an object, wherein exposure control and autofocus control of the lens system are carried out according to the image signal. The image sensor photographs an image of the object after the exposure control and the autofocus control. Auxiliary light is applied to the object with an illumination light source for the autofocus control. A second exposure value is determined by use of a first exposure value determined according to object brightness measured while the illumination light source is inactive. Exposure is carried out to measure object brightness by use of the second exposure value while the auxiliary light is applied, for determining a third exposure value for use in the autofocus control with the auxiliary light.

Abstract: A camera system apparatus that includes an image sensor unit and an AFE unit for digitizing an analog output signal output from the image sensor unit into an digital video signal. A front end camera DSP unit, including a camera signal data path for accepting the digital video signal, and a measure unit operably connected to the camera signal data path for measuring picture characteristics or extracting picture parameters. A DSP unit processes the picture characteristics measured by the measure unit as parameters for initial camera control, and a parameter register into which the parameters are set to control the camera signal data path. A back end processor unit to which a video signal output from the camera signal data path is input, the back end processor including a general application process unit for processing the video signal and a scene analyzer operably connected to the general application process unit for precise camera processing.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for providing an image, the method includes: exposing a first group of pixels located at a first location to light, during an intermediate exposure period, to provide analog signals representative of the light; and transferring the analog signals to a second group of pixels located at a second location; whereas a relationship between the first and second locations is responsive to an estimated inter-image shift; then further exposure of the second group of pixels etc.

Abstract: A system and method adaptively control sensitivity, on a pixel-by-pixel basis, of a digital imager. An illumination intensity level mapping controller determines a number of pixels of image data having illumination intensity levels within a first defined range of illumination intensity levels and determines an illumination intensity level mapping function based upon the determined number of pixels within the first defined range of illumination intensity levels. An exposure controller determines a number of pixels having illumination intensity levels within a second defined range of illumination intensity levels and determines an integration time based upon the determined number of pixels having illumination intensity levels within the second defined range of illumination intensity levels.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image capture device that can fine-tune the colors so that the image captured has appropriate colors. A digital camera 100 according to the present invention includes: a CCD image sensor 120 for capturing a subject image and generating image information; a light source estimating section 182 for calculating a white balance control value in order to adjust the white balance of the image information; a WB control section 183 for adjusting the white balance of the image information in accordance with the white balance control value; and a color tuning section 184 for changing a color corresponding to the white balance control value of the image information of which the white balance has been adjusted.

Abstract: The matrix coefficient determining process of the present invention can determine linear matrix and color-difference matrix coefficients appropriate for a given type of light source at the same time. The coefficients can be used to perform color correction of RAW data to ensure good color reproduction. Furthermore, by performing the matrix coefficient determining process for a number of types of light sources, optimum color reproduction coefficients and for each of the light sources can be obtained.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus having an image pickup device and an extracting range changing device. The changing device changes an extracting range of an image signal regarded as an achromatic signal, output from the image pickup device, based on a result of comparison with a current brightness and a stored brightness. A white balance control device of the image pickup apparatus controls on a basis of the gain correction signal obtained from the image signal extracted from the range changed by the extracting range changing device.

Abstract: A calculation method for calculating a white balance correction value is disclosed. When an image capture device utilizes an auxiliary light to capture an image, the weightings of the image color impacted by the color temperature of each light source are obtained by the brightness-rate which is provided by the environment light and the flash, and then the weightings of the color temperatures of the two light sources are balanced to obtain a white balance correction value. At last, the white balance correction value is applied to correct the white balance of the image.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus enabling use of a light source emitting a spectrum of light not following characteristics of a blackbody source of light with a camera module programmed for use with light sources following characteristics of blackbody sources of light, wherein a white-balance patch is transmitted to the camera module to cause the camera module to accept color coordinates representing a point on a chromaticity chart that partly defines a region of color coordinates on the chromaticity chart into which color coordinates of the light source fall and to which color coordinates of a reference white color derived by a white-balance routine of the camera module are constrained.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an image sensing apparatus capable of sensing an image in consideration of the influence of inserting/removing an optical filter, an image sensing method, a recording medium, and a program. To achieve this object, a brightness value calculation unit calculates the first brightness value representing the brightness of part or all of an object which is imaged on a CCD image sensing element. A brightness value correction unit calculates the second brightness value by correcting the first brightness value calculated by the brightness value calculation unit on the basis of the light reduction amount generated by inserting an ND filter. A system controller controls an optical system and signal processing in a DSP circuit by using the second brightness value calculated by the brightness value correction unit.

Abstract: There is provided a white balance control method. A color space coordinate expressing a color signal of each divided block is transformed into a white balance determination space coordinate. A light source estimation area and a high-saturation determination area are set in a white balance determination space to which the transformed white balance determination space coordinate belongs. A kind of the light source is estimated based on a white balance determination space coordinate distribution in the light source estimation area. A kind of the light source is determined based on the estimated kind of the light source and a white balance determination space coordinate distribution in the high-saturation determination area. White balance control information is calculated based on the determined kind of the light source. White balance control with respect to an image signal is carried out based on the calculated white balance control information.

Abstract: There is provided an imaging device capable of suppressing fluctuations in frame rate due to brightness of a subject's environment. The imaging device includes: imaging units (1, 2) for taking an image of a subject, to acquire image data; a compression unit (3) for compression in frame units the image data acquired by the imaging units (1, 2); a light quantity information calculation unit (2) for calculating light quantity information including a shutter speed and a gain value, based on the image data acquired by the imaging units (1, 2); and compression ratio determination units (5, 6) for determining a compression ratio for compression in frame units by the compression unit (3), based on the light quantity information calculated by the light quantity information calculation unit (2), characterized in that the compression unit (3) compresses the image data in frame units based on the compression ratio determined by the compression ratio determination units (5, 6).

Abstract: An image signal processing apparatus that includes a data path portion for processing a raw image signal and merging and concentrating with non-linear filtering portion. The apparatus also includes a color space transformation portion, geometry transformation portion, linear filtering portion and gain adjustment portion to output a processed signal. The apparatus also includes control and judgment portion for receiving the raw image and the processed signal from the data path portion and generating a plurality of adjustment signals for the non-linear filtering portion.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus has an enlargement processing function of displaying an image on an image display unit at a designated enlargement magnification, and a color conversion processing function of changing a designated conversion source color to a conversion destination color. This image processing apparatus determines at least one of the conversion source color and conversion destination color by acquiring color information from a predetermined area in the displayed image. Upon determining one of the conversion source color and conversion destination color, control according to the enlargement magnification of the enlargement processing function is made so as to assure an amount, which is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, of color information included in the predetermined area.

Abstract: The digital camera according to an embodiment executes image sensing processing first, if interruption processing occurs during transfer parameter setting processing. Thus, the user does not miss a photo opportunity.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for focus recovery of multi-channel images. Control circuitry of an imaging system can restore an image by removing image blurring introduced by the lens, sensor noise introduced by the sensor, and a signal offset between multiple channels of the image. In some embodiments, the control circuitry can calculate one or more estimates of a signal offset of multiple observed signals. Using statistics generated from offset-removed signals, the control circuitry can generate one or more recovery kernels which can be applied to offset-removed signals to generate recovered signals. In other embodiments, instead of explicitly removing a signal offset from each observed signal, the control circuitry can implicitly remove the signal offset when calculating the first and second order statistics of one or more observed signals.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus has a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix-like layout and containing photoelectric conversion devices reads signals in units of one line or a plurality of lines and is provide with an image sensing device 14 adapted to read a signal from a given block area. The apparatus has a flash read mode that, during flash operation, adjusts parameters relating to the readout of the image sensing device 14 so as to produce the same exposure period for all the plurality of lines that comprise a predetermined block area of the image sensing device 14, thus enabling accurate quantity of light detection even when performing strobe photography at high shutter speeds.

Abstract: A method of capturing a color image includes steps of operating a first sensor of a camera to integrate a first charge over a first time interval, operating a second sensor of the camera to integrate a second charge over a second time interval and scanning the first and second sensors to readout the respective first and second charges during a third time interval. The first time interval overlaps the second time interval. The third time interval includes no overlapping time with the first time interval. The third time interval includes no overlapping time with the second time interval.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which is arranged so that a calculation portion calculates a first adjustment value for white balance adjustment from a first image obtained by capturing an image at first timing, a discrimination portion discriminates depending on objects conditions whether or not white balance of a second image obtained by capturing the image at second timing is subjected to white balance adjustment using the first adjustment value, and an adjustment portion performs the white balance adjustment on the second image using the first adjustment value on the basis of a discrimination result of the discrimination portion.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for obtaining high dynamic range images using a low dynamic range image sensor. The scene is exposed to the image sensor in a spatially varying manner. A variable-transmittance mask, which is interposed between the scene and the image sensor, imposes a spatially varying attenuation on the scene light incident on the image sensor. The mask includes light transmitting cells whose transmittance is controlled by application of suitable control signals. The mask is configured to generate a spatially varying light attenuation pattern across the image sensor. The image frame sensed by the image sensor is normalized with respect to the spatially varying light attenuation pattern. The normalized image data can be interpolated to account for image sensor pixels that are either under or over exposed to enhance the dynamic range of the image sensor.

Abstract: A digital image acquisition system having no photographic film, such as a digital camera, has a flash unit for providing illumination during image capture and a red-eye filter for detecting a region within a captured image indicative of a red-eye phenomenon, the detection being based upon a comparison of the captured image and a reference image of nominally the same scene taken without flash. In the embodiment the reference image is a preview image of lower pixel resolution than the captured image, the filter matching the pixel resolutions of the captured and reference images by up-sampling the preview image and/or sub-sampling the captured image. The filter also aligns at least portions of the captured image and reference image prior to comparison to allow for, e.g. movement in the subject.

Abstract: A method for activating a function by using a measurement taken from at least one digital image having at least two colors and originating from an image-capturing apparatus, wherein a relative sharpness is measured between at least two colors on at least one region of the digital image, and at least one function is activated depending on the measured relative sharpness.

Abstract: A method of filtering a red-eye phenomenon from an acquired digital image including a multiplicity of pixels indicative of color, the pixels forming various shapes of the image, includes analyzing meta-data information, determining one or more regions within the digital image suspected as including red eye artifact, and determining, based at least in part on the meta-data analysis, whether the regions are actual red eye artifact. The meta-data information may include information describing conditions under which the image was acquired, captured and/or digitized, acquisition device-specific information, and film information.

Abstract: If an image reproducing apparatus has a device-dependent color space conversion function that converts the color space of processing target image data to a device-dependent color space using a particular color space, (i) reproduction image data is generated by carrying out basic color space conversion to image data for which the color space specified by color space identification information is the standard color space, and (ii) reproduction image data is generated by carrying out device-dependent color space conversion to image data for which the specified color space is the particular color space.

Abstract: Apparatus includes a change operator for detecting change factor information which causes the deterioration in the image; an iterative processing operator which iterates a processing cycle comprising; a first processing step to apply a first calculation to a first image utilizing the change factor information to generate a second image, calculating difference data between the deteriorated image and the second image; a second processing step to apply a second calculation to the second image utilizing the difference data to generate a third image; and a replacing step to replace the first image with the third image; wherein the processing cycle further includes (a) detecting whether a coincidence exists between the sign of a first difference data and the sign of a second difference data or not, and (b) increasing an absolute value of the difference data utilized in the second processing step when the coincidence is detected in step (a).

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image pickup element to acquire a short-exposure-image data and a long-exposure-image data; a white balance evaluation value acquiring device to acquire white balance evaluation value for each of short-exposure-image data and long-exposure-image data; a white extraction range setting device to set a white extraction range for each of short-exposure-image data and long-exposure-image data; a white extraction device to extract white extraction result on the basis of the white balance evaluation value and the white extraction range for each of short-exposure-image data and long-exposure-image data; a correction factor calculating device to calculate corrected white extraction results from the white extraction result on the basis of the white extraction range and calculate correction factor for each of short-exposure-image data and long-exposure-image data; a white balance correcting device to correct the short-exposure-image data and the long-exposure-image data to form white bal

Abstract: An imaging device has an image sensor, and a color filter. The color filter is located on the image sensor and has at least four color elements that respectively have different spectral transmission properties. Further, the imaging device has a matrix-selection processor and a color conversion processor. The matrix-selection processor detects the spectral distribution properties of an object that are present in the series of color signals. Then, the matrix-selection processor selects one color matrix appropriate for the detected spectral distribution property from a plurality of color matrices according to the particular spectral distribution properties of a given object. The color-conversion processor generates R, G, and B primary color signals from the series of color signals by a color-conversion process using the selected color matrix.

Abstract: A false color suppression method for a digital image is described. The method is performed in a digital camera, for suppressing the false color of the digital image shot by the digital camera. The method includes separating a luminance part and a chrominance part of a digital image; extracting the chrominance part, and calculating a first color gamut component and a second color gamut component in the chrominance part; setting a critical value according to a photosensitivity during shooting by the digital camera; performing a corresponding pixel uniformization action on the pixel according to a relation between a difference between the pixel and adjacent neighboring pixels and the critical value respectively for the first color gamut component and the second color gamut component; and combining the uniformized chrominance part and the luminance part of the digital image to a suppressed image.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an image sensor; a pixel output judging processor which judges if a pixel output reaches a saturation level or not; a pixel output compensation processor which performs a compensating operation to compensate a pixel output of a pixel of a specific color which reaches the saturation level; a bit compression convertor which performs a bit compression such that pixel output data, which is once converted from a first bit number to a second bit number, is converted again to the first bit number; a histogram producer which produces a brightness histogram of a photographic subject image; and a calculator which calculates a ratio of the number of pixels of a maximum brightness area to the number of entire pixels from the brightness histogram, wherein the bit compression convertor performs the bit compression based on a bit compression characteristic set on the basis of the ratio of the number of pixels of the maximum brightness area.

Abstract: A system setting an image processing parameter in an imaging apparatus and an information processing apparatus, downloads a parameter file from an external apparatus, and sets in the imaging apparatus an image processing parameter included in the parameter file downloaded from the external apparatus. In the information processing apparatus, image data is processed using the image processing parameter included in the parameter file. Thus, the information processing apparatus and the imaging apparatus can perform image processing using an image processing parameter obtained from one downloaded parameter file.

Abstract: The present invention provides a white balance correcting method and image-pickup apparatus which are able to perform white balance correction on a main subject even if mixed light of flash light and ambient light is radiated on the main subject, as the method and the apparatus are adapted to correctly predict the amount of flash reached, which is the amount of light reached a main subject in the main emission, for performing white balance correction according to the predicted amount of light reached.

Abstract: A communication apparatus has: a communication unit for performing a wireless communication with an external device; a device for performing a predetermined operation; a drive unit for driving the device; and a control unit for putting restrictions on one of the wireless communication with the external device by the communication unit and the predetermined operation of the device driven by the drive unit, while the other is being performed.

Abstract: A sharpness processing method and system for a digital image are applied to an image capturing device for capturing a raw image. The method includes the steps. An image processing procedure is performed on the raw image to generate a registered image. A first sharpness enhancement table and a second sharpness enhancement table respectively sharpness attenuation at an outer-edge region and a central region of the registered image are loaded, and a range between the outer-edge region and the central region is defined as a plurality of critical regions. A sharpness enhancement weight table is loaded, and weight values of each critical region respectively corresponding to the first sharpness enhancement table and the second sharpness enhancement table are searched, for obtaining a sharpness enhanced value of each critical region. An image sharpness processing procedure is performed on the critical region, for correct the registered image into a digital image.

Abstract: An image signal processor comprising an image signal receiver and a white balance processing block is provided. The image signal receiver receives an image signal. The image signal is generated by an imaging device when the imaging device captures an optical image of an object. The imaging device captures the optical image of the object through a photographic optical system. The photographic optical system has a focus optical system. The focus optical system focuses the optical image on a light receiving surface of the imaging device. The photographic optical system is housed in a lens unit with a detector. The detector finds an object distance based on a location of the focus optical system in the photographic optical system. The white balance processing block carries out a white balance process for the image signal, based on a photographing magnification of the photographic optical system, the object distance, and the light intensity of the optical image as the image signal is generated.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image taking apparatus that has functions of performing plural types of corrections on a captured image, and can continuously execute the plural types of corrections on the image. The image taking apparatus can be configured in such a way that when image data recorded in a recording medium is read and is subjected to plural types of corrections, for example, the image data once read can be saved in the recording medium after completion of the plural corrections which are continuously executed. The plural types of corrections can be configured in such a way that the combination or the order thereof is determined based on information unique to the image data.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to allow quickly, reliably confirming an in-focus state with a simple arrangement. To achieve this object, an image sensing apparatus includes an image sensing element which photoelectrically converts an object image, a first image generation unit which generates a first image obtained from the image sensing element, a second image generation unit which generates a second image of a predetermined region from the image obtained by the image sensing element, and an exposure control unit which controls exposure so as to set the second image to appropriate brightness.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device that has high-sensitivity pixel devices receiving a relatively large amount of light and low-sensitivity pixel devices receiving a relatively small amount of light, an exposure control unit independently controlling exposure periods of the high-sensitivity pixel devices and the low-sensitivity pixel devices, and an image generation unit performing image generation on the basis of an output signal of the image pickup device.

Abstract: To determine a more appropriate WB gain. A first image data, which is obtained by way of photographing essentially the same subject as that of a main image intended by a user without firing a strobe light for preliminary illumination, and a second image data, which is obtained by way of photographing the same while firing the strobe light for preliminary illumination, are captured. Subsequently, a typical value of each of blocks constituting the first and second image data and the type of a light source of the same are acquired as block information. The thus-acquired pieces of block information about the first and second image data are compared with each other, to thus acquire the tendency of a color change in subject before and after preliminary illumination. An environment light source is estimated on the basis of the obtained tendency of a color change.

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.

Abstract: In a wireless communication terminal having a flashlight, the power consumption is decreased by means of enabling a transmitter to transmit during transmission periods, and disabling the transmitter outside the transmission periods. Moreover, a supply of voltage from a common power supply to a flashlight unit is disabled during the transmitting periods of the transmitter.

Abstract: A flash-based strategy is used to separate foreground information from background information within image information. In this strategy, a first image is taken without the use of flash. A second image is taken of the same subject matter with the use of flash. The foreground information in the flash image is illuminated by the flash to a much greater extent than the background information. Based on this property, the strategy applies processing to extract the foreground information from the background information. The strategy supplements the flash information by also taking into consideration motion information and color information.

Abstract: A digital still camera having a photographing lens system set in a lens tube, a CCD solid image-capturing device, and a mechanical shutter. The mechanical shutter is set on a light path between the photographing lens system and the CCD solid image capturing device. The CCD solid image-capturing device divides a frame of an image into a plurality of fields and transmits the fields serially. The camera compares at least two fields of them, and detects abnormality caused by, for example, abnormal operation of the mechanical shutter or light leakage of the lens body. The camera also displays or announces the abnormality to a user.

Abstract: A camera is provided that includes a face detection means, an AE&AWB detection circuit, and a processor. The face detection means detects a face from an input image signal and extracts a facial region comprising the face and an upper body region. The AE&AWB detection circuit calculates a brightness appraisal amount on the basis of brightness of the facial region and the upper body region extracted by the face detection circuit. The processor calculates an exposure amount on the basis of the brightness appraisal amount calculated by the AE&AWB detection circuit.

Abstract: When the quantity of light diagonally entering light-receiving portions of an image-capturing element in an electronic camera is large and thus an electrical charge is generated readily in an electrical charge transfer line, hue correction processing is executed to correct any change occurring in the hue induced by the charge generated in the electrical charge transfer line.