Abstract: An information communication method includes: setting an exposure time of an image sensor to less than or equal to 1/2000 second so that, in an image obtained by capturing a subject by the image sensor, a stripe bright line parallel to a plurality of exposure lines included in the image sensor appears according to a change in luminance of the subject; obtaining the image including the stripe bright line parallel to the plurality of exposure lines by, using the set exposure time, starting exposure sequentially for the plurality of exposure lines each at a different time; and obtaining information by demodulating data according to, in a pattern of the bright line included in the obtained image, a brightness change in a direction perpendicular to the plurality of exposure lines.

Abstract: A method of signal adjustment in an optical sensing device is provided. The optical sensing device includes a first optical sensor and a first reference optical sensor. The first optical sensor corresponds to a first specified ideal spectral response and generates a first output signal corresponding to light detected thereby. The first reference optical sensor generates a first reference signal corresponding to light detected thereby, and is disposed adjacent to the first optical sensor such that the light detected by the first reference optical sensor is substantially the light detected by the first optical sensor. The method includes the steps of: a) receiving the first output signal and the first reference signal; and b) generating a first adjusted output signal having a spectral response that approximates the first specified ideal spectral response, by adjusting the first output signal according to the first reference signal.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit, a calculation unit configured to calculate light amount variation characteristics of light from an object, a photometric value determination unit configured to determine a photometry value used for determination of an exposure condition based on the light amount variation characteristics calculated by the calculation unit, and an exposure condition determination unit configured to determine an exposure condition when performing exposure of the image capturing unit at a timing set based on the light amount variation characteristics calculated by the calculation unit, based on the photometry value determined by the photometric value determination unit.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing device including a first flicker component calculation unit that calculates a flicker component of a first exposure image which is a photographed image of a first exposure time, a second flicker component calculation unit that calculates a flicker component of a second exposure image which is a photographed image of a second exposure time different from the first exposure time, a first exposure image flicker correction unit that performs flicker correction on the first exposure image by applying the flicker component of the first exposure image calculated by the first flicker component calculation unit and generates a flicker-corrected first exposure image, and a second exposure image flicker correction unit that performs flicker correction on the second exposure image by applying the flicker component of the second exposure image calculated by the second flicker component calculation unit and generates a flicker-corrected second exposure image.

Abstract: A camera system, image processing method and computer program stored on a computer readable medium for image processing. Long and short accumulation images with longer and shorter exposure times are respectively obtained from one field. First and second long accumulation evaluation values are computed from the long accumulation image. A short accumulation evaluation value is computed from the short accumulation image. A short accumulation target exposure time and short accumulation exposure control information are acquired from the short accumulation evaluation value and a first target level. A long accumulation evaluation value is acquired by synthesizing the first and second long accumulation evaluation values. Long accumulation exposure control information is acquired from the long accumulation evaluation value and a second target level. An image is generated from the long accumulation image and the short accumulation image.

Abstract: There is provided an image capturing apparatus comprising an image capturing unit. A control unit controls the image capturing unit to capture a first image having exposure unevenness caused by flicker in a light source. A detection unit detects a timing at which there is a low change in a light amount caused by the flicker, based on the exposure unevenness in the first image. An accepting unit accepts an image capturing instruction. The control unit controls the image capturing unit to capture a second image at the detected timing in response to the image capturing instruction.

Abstract: Suppressing flicker in digital images includes deriving pixel values from a non-content area of a digital image, estimating flicker values within the non-content area, and suppressing flicker throughout the digital image based on the estimated flicker values of the non-content area.

Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus includes an image-pickup element including a plurality of image-pickup pixels configured to photoelectrically convert light from an image-pickup lens and to generate an image of an object, and a plurality of focus detection pixels each configured to receive light which has passed through an area of a part of an exit pupil of the image-pickup lens, a flicker correction value generator configured to generate a flicker correction value for correcting a flicker in an image signal output from the image-pickup pixels, and a flicker corrector configured to correct a flicker in a focus detection signal output from the focus detection pixels based on the flicker correction value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting flicker in a camera module is provided. The method including generating a first image frame and a second image frame, setting up a first sampling area in the first image frame and a second sampling area in the second image frame, sampling a plurality of horizontal lines from among all of the horizontal lines contained in each of the first sampling area and the second sampling area, accumulating brightness values of pixels located on each of the sampled horizontal lines to generate first accumulated brightness values for the first image frame and second accumulated brightness values for the second image frame, and detecting flicker based on the first accumulated values and the second accumulated values, wherein the first sampling area and the second sampling area have the same sizes and the same horizontal starting points but have different vertical starting points.

Abstract: An image acquisition device and a method for capturing image data is disclosed. The method comprises exposing an image sensor to light from a scene, selecting substantially all rows of sensor pixels in an image sensor in a substantially random order, starting an exposure period for each row of sensor pixels in the image sensor in the order the rows were selected, buffering the rows of sensor pixels comprised in an image frame until all rows of the image frame have registered image data for the presently captured image frame, and outputting image data representing the image frame by outputting image data from each row of sensor pixels.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided in which a flicker is prevented. The imaging apparatus includes an imaging part that includes an optical system to form an image of a subject and an imaging element to generate an image signal by photoelectrically converting an optical image of the subject formed by the optical system, an image processing part to perform an image processing on the image signal, a display part/operation part having at least display and setting functions, a luminance change detection part to detect change of luminance of the subject, a signal processing part to calculate flicker amounts at respective frequencies based on signal intensities with respect to luminance change information acquired by the luminance change detection part, and a control unit to cause the display part/operation part to display the flicker amounts at the respective frequencies calculated by the signal processing part.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a flicker detection method and a flicker detection apparatus. The method includes: calculating the mean values of selected rows of image frames to constitute a mean value vector; calculating a differential vector between the mean value vectors of a current frame and a previous frame; calculating a DC-free difference vector; building a first square wave and a second square wave, and a third square wave and a fourth square wave; calculating a first frequency reference value; calculating a second frequency reference value; and if the difference between the first and second frequency reference values is above a threshold, then it is determined that flicker is present in the current frame; otherwise, it is determined that no flicker is present.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a flicker detection method and a flicker detection apparatus. The method includes: calculating the mean values of selected rows of image frames to constitute a mean value vector; calculating a differential vector between the mean value vectors of a current frame and a previous frame; calculating a DC-free difference vector by subtracting a direct current component from respective elements of the differential vector; calculating a power spectrum corresponding to the DC-free difference vector; obtaining a first frequency reference value; obtaining a second frequency reference value; and if the difference between the first and second frequency reference values is above a threshold, then it is determined that flicker is present in the current frame; otherwise, it is determined that no flicker is present.

Abstract: Suppressing flicker in digital images includes deriving pixel values from a non-content area of a digital image, estimating flicker values within the non-content area, and suppressing flicker throughout the digital image based on the estimated flicker values of the non-content area.

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.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit configured to capture an object image, a flicker detection unit configured to detect a flicker, a generation unit configured to generate a flicker image which is affected by the flicker or appears to be affected by the flicker from an image captured by the image capturing unit when the flicker detection unit detects the flicker, a display unit configured to display an image, and a control unit configured to control the display unit to display an image which is not affected by the flicker and the flicker image.

Abstract: There is provided an image system including at least one image sensor, a light source and a processing unit. The at least one image sensor sequentially acquires at least two images within each of the brightness variation intervals of an ambient light source. The light source lights once within each of the brightness variation intervals and the lighting of the light source is synchronized to one of the images acquired by the at least one image sensor. The processing unit calculates an image difference between the image synchronizing to the lighting of the light source and the image not synchronizing to the lighting of the light source thereby eliminating interference from the ambient light source. There is further provided a denoising method for an image system.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a flicker correction unit for correcting a flicker component using a correction gain. The flicker correction unit includes an integrating unit for calculating a line integrated value from a video signal in one horizontal line in one vertical synchronization period, a normalization unit for normalizing the line integrated value for a plurality of the vertical synchronization periods so as to calculate a normalized line integrated value, an inter-frame DFT processing unit for performing Discrete Fourier Transform on the normalized line integrated value for the plurality of vertical synchronization periods, a flicker component calculation unit for calculating information of a flicker component based on a Fourier Transform processing result, and a correction gain calculation unit for calculating a correction gain based on the information of the flicker component in two or more horizontal lines.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging device configured to convert light into an electric signal and to output the electric signal; an exposure control section configured to variably control an exposure period of the imaging device with use of an electronic shutter; and a flicker detection section configured to detect a flicker based on variation in an output signal from the imaging device when speed of the electronic shutter is varied from relatively-high speed to relatively-low speed.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method which enable effective removal of flicker are provided. Under an illumination environment such as a fluorescent lamp with luminance variation, flicker that occurs in images shot with an X-Y address scanning type imaging device such as a CMOS is effectively removed or reduced. The integral value of the row-by-row signal intensity of an image to be corrected from which to remove flicker is calculated, and this integral value is used to detect flicker components contained in individual rows of an image frame. The detected flicker components represent data according to the actual flicker waveform of the illumination, and a correction process is executed using flicker correction coefficients formed by an anti-phase pattern of the flicker components. Effective flicker removal becomes possible through this process.

Abstract: In response to an image, a likelihood of flicker within the image is estimated. In response to the estimated likelihood, references are selected from among first and second sets of references. The first set of references are responsive to a first set of reference images captured under particular illumination. The second set of references are responsive to a second set of reference images captured under fluorescent illumination. In response to the selected references, one or more gains are generated for enhancing white balance of the image.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a first image generator 3 that generates a first unit image based on a signal read from the image pickup device with each read cycle of the signal, a detector 5 that detects a luminance of the first unit image and detects a luminance variation in a plurality of the first unit images, a second image generator 6 that amplifies the first unit image in accordance with the luminance to generate a second unit image if the luminance variation exists, and a controller 8 or 9 that generates a focus evaluation signal based on the second unit image to perform a focus control using the focus evaluation signal.

Abstract: A method of white balancing an image includes mapping pixels of the image to a color space diagram. Each of the pixels of the image include a red (“R”), a green (“G”), and a blue (“B”) subvalue. A first central tendency of each of the RGB subvalues of pixels mapped in a first pre-defined region of the color space diagram is determined and a second central tendency of each of the RGB subvalues of pixels mapped in a second pre-defined region of the color space diagram is determined. The first pre-defined region is associated with a first illuminating source and the second pre-defined region is associated with a second illuminating source. RGB values of a white pixel are generated based on the first and second central tendencies.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus and method operable to reduce flicker is disclosed. A power supply frequency is detected, and a shutter speed is changed. A changed shutter speed value is slower than a calculated shutter speed and that is an integral multiple of 1/(2f), where “f” represents the power supply frequency. One or more still images are captured at the changed shutter speed, and an electronic hand-shake correction is performed in accordance with the captured still images.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus and its control method for capturing a moving image. Plural movie capturing modes with different control parameters are set in accordance with an instruction from a user. One of selectable frame rates is selected in accordance with video output setting by the user. Moving image frames are generated based on the selected frame rate and a control parameter corresponding to the frame rate, and recorded as a moving image on a recording medium.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus 100 includes an image pickup element 101 that includes a plurality of pixels that function as both imaging pixels and focus detection pixels, which is configured so that an image pickup signal that is obtained by performing photoelectric conversion in a first direction, an evaluation value generating unit 107 that generates an evaluation value of the image pickup signal, a flicker detecting unit 108 that detects variation information of illumination intensity based on the evaluation value, a flicker correction value generating unit 109 that generates a flicker correction value for performing a flicker correction for the image pickup signal based on the variation information, a multiplier 105 that performs the flicker correction for the image pickup signal based on the flicker correction value, and a vertical correlation calculating unit 114 that performs a correlation calculation in the first direction after the flicker correction is performed.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit configured to repeatedly perform cyclic shooting operation including shooting with a first exposure condition and a second exposure condition different from the first exposure condition; and a correction unit configured to detect a first flicker among frames shot with the first exposure condition and perform flicker correction for a frame shot with the first exposure condition based on the first flicker and to detect a second flicker among frames shot with the second exposure condition and perform flicker correction for a frame shot with the second exposure condition based on the second flicker.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer-readable media for rejecting false positive detection and tracking of image objects are presented. According to one or more aspects, a computing device may implement embodiments of the invention to use the movement of the mobile device for distinguishing false positives from true movement of the mobile device depicted in the field of view of the camera. In one embodiment, the actual movement of the mobile device may be measured using multi-modal sensor data from inertial sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopes. In another embodiment, the actual movement of the device is calculated using the global movement of the mobile phone with reference to other objects in the field of view of the camera.

Abstract: An image processing system includes a plurality of active pixels and a plurality of flicker pixels. The active pixels output active pixel signals at a first readout frequency, and the flicker pixels output flicker pixel signals at a second readout frequency greater than the first readout frequency. A plurality of frequency detectors accumulate the flicker pixel signals and then perform frequency domain transformation of the accumulated flicker pixel signals. A frequency analyzer detects flicker by analyzing the flicker pixel signals which have been transformed into the frequency domain.

Abstract: Suppressing flicker in digital images includes deriving pixel values from a non-content area of a digital image, estimating flicker values within the non-content area, and suppressing flicker throughout the digital image based on the estimated flicker values of the non-content area.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for performing rolling shutter distortion corrections are described. A video clip captured by a user is received and each of a plurality of predefined affine transforms for rolling shutter distortion correction is applied to the received video clip. Further, a visual indication of results from each of the plurality of the predefined affine transforms is presented to the user and input is received from the user selecting one of the visual indications. Furthermore, the predefined affine transform corresponding to the selected visual indication is associated with a device that acquired the received video clip. Additionally, the association can be stored, and the stored association can be used later to automatically perform a rolling shutter distortion correction on another video clip upon detecting that the other video clip comes from same device that already went through a calibration sequence.

Abstract: A setting unit selects and sets one of a plurality of commercial power frequencies. A frame rate setting unit sets a frame rate corresponding to the commercial power frequency set by the setting unit. A control unit controls an imaging unit such that imaging is carried out at the frame rate set by the frame rate setting unit to thereby acquire image data successively. A detection unit detects a scanning line part at which luminance changes to differ between image data items successively acquired by the control unit. A changing unit changes the commercial power frequency set by the setting unit in accordance with a detection result obtained by the detection unit.

Abstract: Common electronic devices having imaging systems that use a rolling shutter scheme suffer from flicker due to the oscillating brightness of an illuminating light source. Some imaging systems use fast frame rates that result in less than two cycles of the illuminating light source occurring during a single frame capture. For devices that employ rolling shutter schemes and fast frame rates, a method of data collection and processing is provided that utilizes a combination of multiple sets of more than two image data frames to automatically detect flicker. Measured patterns of energy differences between various image frames and a reference image frame may be compared with an expected pattern of energy differences to determine a probability of flicker detection due to a given flicker frequency. This probability of flicker detection may be used to activate flicker avoidance procedures in an electronic device.

Abstract: A flicker band automated detection system and method are presented. In one embodiment an incidental motion mitigation exposure setting method includes receiving image input information; performing a motion mitigating flicker band automatic detection process; and implementing exposure settings based upon results of the motion mitigating flicker band automatic detection process. The auto flicker band detection process includes performing a motion mitigating process on an illumination intensity indication. Content impacts on an the motion mitigated illumination intensity indication are minimized. The motion mitigated illumination intensity indication is binarized. A correlation of the motion mitigated illumination intensity and a reference illumination intensity frequency is established.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a change unit configured to change a driving state of an image sensor for capturing an image signal in response to an operation for changing the driving state of the image sensor, and a flicker correction unit configured to correct an image signal based on a flicker component detected from image signals of a frame captured a predetermined number of frames before the frame of the image signal to be corrected, wherein the flicker correction unit is configured to change the predetermined number when the driving state of the image sensor is changed by the change unit.

Abstract: In order to stably detect a flicker under an illumination of a fluorescent lamp with an XY-addressed-scanning type image sensor used and to cancel the flicker, the present invention provides an image sensing device, wherein a video signal in any area on an imaging plane is first integrated per frame period, then an integrated value in a current frame is sequentially compared with a one-frame previously integrated value, next whether a variation pattern of the integrated value matches one of flicker patterns when the flicker occurs is determined, then an existence of the flicker is determined when an identical flicker pattern is seen more than two consecutive times.

Abstract: A flash detection unit is configured to detect whether or not each frame of image data includes a high luminance portion due to a flash. A holding unit is configured to hold a past frame of the image data. A correction processing unit is configured to, if it is detected by the flash detection unit that frames include high luminance portions, correct the image data so as to consolidate a first image data and a second image data into one frame. The first image data is included in a first portion in a first frame stored in the holding unit. The second image data is included in a second portion in a second frame which is adjacent to the first frame. The first and second portions are high luminance portions.

Abstract: Disclosed is an imaging apparatus with a flicker detector that restrains an increased calculation amount and image quality degradation. The apparatus includes a frame rate controller for setting a frame rate of an acquired image to a first frame rate or different second frame rate, a luminance calculator for calculating a first luminance difference between two images of a first group continuously acquired at the first frame rate and a second luminance difference between two images of a second group continuously acquired at the second frame rate, and a flicker detector for comparing the first and second luminance differences with first and second threshold, respectively, and determining whether flickers of a first frequency and a different second frequency are generated or not.

Abstract: In an image processing method according to an aspect of the presently disclosed subject matter, a captured image obtained by continuous imaging is acquired, the captured image is divided into a plurality of divided areas, a flicker that flashes is detected for each of the divided areas, it is detected, for each of the divided areas where the flicker has been detected, whether a divided area is an LED area including light from a light emitting diode (LED) based on a luminance difference between a luminance in a turn-on state and a luminance in an turn-off state, and LED area information is output.

Abstract: A camera and an image capturing method with anti-flicker capability. The camera has a camera sensor and an image signal processor. The camera sensor captures first and second image data separated by a time delay which depends on a flicker period of background illumination. The image signal processor differentiates the first and the second image data along rows to obtain first and second differentiated image data, respectively, normalizes the first and second image data to obtain for each column an oscillation amplitude, normalizes the first and second differentiated image data to obtain for each column an oscillation amplitude, and obtains flicker-eliminated image data based on the first and second image data, the first and second differentiated image data, and the oscillation amplitudes obtained from normalizing the first and second image data and the oscillation amplitudes obtained from normalizing the first and second differentiated image data.

Abstract: A flicker band automated detection system and method are presented. In one embodiment an incidental motion mitigation exposure setting method includes receiving image input information; performing a motion mitigating flicker band automatic detection process; and implementing exposure settings based upon results of the motion mitigating flicker band automatic detection process. The auto flicker band detection process includes performing a motion mitigating process on an illumination intensity indication. Content impacts on an the motion mitigated illumination intensity indication are minimized. The motion mitigated illumination intensity indication is binarized. A correlation of the motion mitigated illumination intensity and a reference illumination intensity frequency is established.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a pixel unit in which pixels are arranged in a matrix form; an electronic shutter scanning circuit controlling an accumulation time of the pixels for each line of the pixel unit; a flicker correction circuit correcting flicker generated in a signal imaged in the pixel unit for each line based on a signal of the pixels of each of the lines in which the accumulation times are different from each other.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus of the present invention includes an image pickup element having imaging pixels and focus detection pixels, and configured to read a signal for which a photoelectric conversion has been performed in a first direction, a focus detector capable of detecting a focus state using a phase difference of a pair of images in the first direction and a pair of images in a second direction based on outputs of the focus detecting pixels, a flicker reduction portion configured to reduce the flicker, and a controller configured to control a focal point in accordance with the focus state obtained from a phase difference of the pair of images in the first direction before an operation of the flicker reduction portion.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a matrix and converting light into electric carriers; a transfer gate for transferring the electric carriers generated by the conversion to a floating node; a first transistor for amplifying a signal based on a voltage of the floating node and for outputting the amplified signal to a column signal line; and a second transistor for resetting the voltage of the floating node, wherein the solid-state imaging apparatus includes a transfer unit for combining signals from the column signal lines, based on the voltage of the floating nodes after the reset of the floating nodes by the second transistor, wherein outputting a signal based on the combined signals from the column signal lines based on the voltage of the floating nodes, for detecting a flicker of an imaging light source.

Abstract: A flicker detecting apparatus for a camera module includes a processor. The processor includes a brightness values reading module, a calculating module, and a determining module. The brightness values reading module reads out a number of brightness values from a number of pixels of pictures captured by the camera module. The calculating module calculates out brightness values differences between the pixels. The determining module compares the brightness values differences with a preset value to determine whether the camera module is acceptable.

Abstract: Techniques for detecting and addressing image flicker are disclosed. An imaging device that senses a distorted image and subsequently removes the distortion during processing can utilize an analysis module that obtains statistics indicative of image flicker prior to removing the distortion. An imaging device that features a diode for illuminating a field of view can utilize the diode as a photosensor to determine one or more flicker statistics to determine whether ambient lighting conditions are of the type that cause image flicker.

Abstract: An image acquisition device and a method for capturing image data is disclosed. The method comprises exposing an image sensor to light from a scene, selecting substantially all rows of sensor pixels in an image sensor in a substantially random order, starting an exposure period for each row of sensor pixels in the image sensor in the order the rows were selected, buffering the rows of sensor pixels comprised in an image frame until all rows of the image frame have registered image data for the presently captured image frame, and outputting image data representing the image frame by outputting image data from each row of sensor pixels.

Abstract: An imager is provided having an image-capturing sensor, a focusing detector, and a flicker detector. The image-capturing sensor captures a subject image with a rolling shutter and outputs image data. The focusing detector determines whether a subject image is in focus of the image-capturing sensor using the output image data. The flicker detector detects a flicker in the output image data. The focusing detector uses horizontal data without vertical data from the image data so as to determine whether a subject image is in focus, when the flicker detector detects a flicker.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging section that captures an image of a subject; a detection section that detects flicker of a through-the-lens image as a moving image of the subject which is obtained by image capturing of the imaging section; and a control section that, when the detection section detects the flicker, controls an aperture, a shutter speed, and a gain on the basis of through-the-lens image control values as control values for controlling the aperture, the shutter speed, and the gain so as to preferentially suppress occurrence of flicker in the through-the-lens image.

Abstract: A blinking-signal device 1 includes a light receiving section 10, a row selecting section 20, a readout section 30, a detecting section 40, and a control section 50. By the row selecting section 20, charge generated in its photodiode of each pixel unit P2i-1,n of the (2i?1)-th row in the light receiving section 10 is accumulated in its charge accumulating section during a first period, and charge generated in its photodiode of each pixel unit P2i,n of the 2i-th row in the light receiving section 10 is accumulated in its charge accumulating section during a second period. With the detecting section 40, it is detected whether or not light reaching the pixel units P2i-1,n and P2i,n is a blinking signal on the basis of a difference between data D2i-1,n and D2i,n of the pixel units P2i-1,n and P2i output from the readout section 30.