Abstract: The present invention is related to providing, in association with an image, information related to the image capture device used to capture the image. In one embodiment, information related to a first static camera characteristic and camera setting information related to a first captured digitized image is embedded in the first captured digitized image using a watermark. The watermarked information may be used to identify the source or owner of the picture, and/or to aid in the more accurate reproduction of the image.

Abstract: An electronic device includes: a data transfer unit that transfers data between a first recording medium and a second recording medium; an indication unit that indicates a communication protocol and a data transfer rate to be used in data transfer to the transfer unit; a judgment unit that judges whether or not the data transfer is successful; a control unit that controls the indication unit to indicate a communication protocol and a data transfer rate to be used in data transfer, after the judgment whether or not the data transfer is successful, based on the communication protocol used in the data transfer, the data transfer rate used in the data transfer, and the judgment whether or not the data transfer is successful.

Abstract: An in-camera two-stage compression implementation is described that reduces the latency between snapshots to a fraction of that otherwise required by other systems that either process complete compression following each snapshot or that incorporate heavy, bulky, and expensive RAM hardware capable of maintaining several raw luminosity records (unprocessed file containing a digital image). In the 1st stage compression the raw luminosity record is quickly, yet partially, compressed to available RAM buffer space to allow a user to expeditiously capture a succeeding image. When the higher-priority processes, the user shooting pictures, and stage one compression subside, a 2nd stage compression, which is slower but more effective, decompresses the earlier partially-compressed images, and re-compresses them for saving in flash memory until they are distributed to a remote platform to be finally converted to the JPEG2000 format.

Abstract: Selection candidates for number of imaging pixels and for an image compression rate are displayed in a two-dimensional arrangement on a setting screen for setting an image quality, and combinations of selectable number of image pixels and a compression rate can be presented to a user. An instruction for moving a cursor which displays a selected position on the screen is received, and a setting can be changed to a number of pixels and a compression rate which are pointed by the cursor after a position of the cursor is designated. More specifically, numbers of pixels to be selected are 2400×1800, 1280×960, and 640×480, and compression rates to be selected are Fine, Normal, and Basic. When the user selects the number of pixels, candidates of the selectable compression rate for the number of pixels are displayed.

Abstract: An image editing apparatus includes a subject information extracting unit configured to extract subject information of a subject from an image, and a subject frame setting unit configured to set a subject frame based on the subject information extracted by the subject information extracting unit. The image editing apparatus also includes a region instructions detecting unit configured to detect a user's instructions as to a region of the subject frame set by the subject frame setting unit, and a region instructions frame setting unit configured to set a region instructions frame based on the user's instructions detected by the region instructions detecting unit. The image editing apparatus further includes a storage processing unit configured to store the subject frame set by the subject frame setting unit, and the region instructions frame set by the region instructions frame setting unit, in a correlated manner.

Abstract: In response to a print instruction of a specified print object image, the print control apparatus of the invention corrects print object image data representing the specified print object image with a preset correction parameter set for improving picture quality of the specified print object image and prints the specified print object image according to corrected print object image data. A print object image specification module of the print control apparatus specifies the print object image as a printing object. A preprocessing execution module of the print control apparatus performs predetermined preprocessing of the print object image data representing the specified print object image to set the correction parameter used for correcting the specified print object image.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus processing a video signal and an audio signal in synchronization with the video signal includes generating means for generating information indicating a probability of a certain subject appearing in the image on the basis of the video signal that is input; determining means for determining whether the certain subject appears in the image on the basis of the information generated by the generating means; and directional characteristic varying means for, if the determining means determines that the certain subject appears in the image, varying a directional characteristic of the audio signal so as to increase the level of the audio signal collected from the direction of the subject and/or to decrease the levels of the audio signals collected from directions other than the direction of the subject.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an operation receiving unit; and a control unit configured to perform a normal mode display process of displaying icon images of kinds corresponding to an operation status of the apparatus in a display unit and an icon description display process of displaying an icon selection image for selecting an icon image that is being displayed in the display unit upon reception of an operation input to activate an icon description mode by the operation receiving unit during the normal mode display process in the display unit and displaying a description image for an icon image selected upon reception of an operation input by the operation receiving unit while the icon selection image is being displayed in the display unit.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides an image processing apparatus and method capable of reducing power consumption by controlling supply of a clock to a memory when correction is performed on image data. The image processing apparatus includes an image correction unit including a plurality of line memories to maintain image data line-by-line and perform correction on the image data, a number-of-line-memories determination unit for determining the number of line memories necessary for the correction performed by the image correction unit line-by-line, and a line memory control unit for controlling supply of a clock to the plurality of line memories based on the number of line memories determined by the number-of-line-memories determination unit to supply a clock to the line memories used for the correction performed by the image correction unit line-by-line and stop supply of the clock to line memories not used for the correction.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is disclosed. The imaging apparatus includes: an imaging part; and an imaging control unit for instructing a user to take a predetermined target subject to store a resulted image taken by the imaging part in accordance with the instruction on a recording medium.

Abstract: A camera which can accurately inform a photographer of the number of times image taking is possible is disclosed. The camera comprises an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image to an electric signal, an image processing circuit which applies image processing to the image data obtained by using the image-pickup device and generates processed image data, a recording circuit which records the processed image data in a recording medium, a control circuit which causes the image processing circuit to perform image processing on the image data obtained through one-time image taking under a plurality of different conditions to generate a plurality of the processed image data, and an information output unit which outputs information on the remaining number of times image taking is possible.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically categorizing images in a digital camera is provided. In one aspect, image data is captured by a digital camera. Image data analysis is performed on the captured image data by the digital camera to automatically generate a category tag to which the captured image data may relate. The generated category tag is stored in association with the captured image data for categorizing the captured image data.

Abstract: Determining, applying and storing model spectral response parameters used to correct colors in a digital image. The model spectral response parameters may be estimated through a recursive error analysis and applied or stored to all digital imaging devices of a particular type, thereby occupying minimal firmware storage space and permitting on the fly correction of images.

Abstract: An electronic camera, includes an image sensor, a rangefinding means, an arithmetic operation means for calculating a characteristic quantities based upon at least either pixel density in an image obtained via the image sensor or rangefinding information obtained via the rangefinding means, a judgment means for judging a photographic scene based upon characteristic quantities calculated by the arithmetic operation means, and a control means for selecting camera settings in correspondence to the photographic scene having been judged.

Abstract: A solid-state image capturing device includes: a pixel array including a plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed pixels; a row scanning circuit that performs row scanning to sequentially select a row; a column ADC circuit that simultaneously converts analog pixel signals output from the plurality of pixels belonging to a row selected by the row scanning circuit into pieces of digital pixel data; a column digital memory that stores pixel data of one row therein; and a one-line compression circuit that sequentially performs compression coding to pixel data output from the column digital memory. In the solid-state image capturing device, when performing the compression coding to the pixel data, the one-line compression circuit refers to pixel data belonging to a row identical to that of the pixel data in question while not referring to pixel data belonging to a row different from that of the pixel data in question.

Abstract: An automated RAW image processing method and system are disclosed. A RAW image and metadata related to the RAW image are obtained from a digital camera or other source. The RAW image and the related metadata are automatically processed using an Operating System service of a processing device to produce a resulting image in an absolute color space. The resulting image is then made available to an application program executing on the processing device through an application program interface with the Operating System service.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a capturing apparatus and a capturing method for the capturing apparatus. The method includes steps: controlling the capturing unit to capture an image; performing an image processing function in relation to the captured image to obtain pixels of the captured image; comparing the pixels of the captured image with the pixels of the pre-stored standard images and determining whether a percentage of the pixels of the image is similar to the pixels of one of the standard images. If the percentage of the pixels of the image reaches a threshold of similarity to the pixels of one standard image, acquiring the parameters associated with the standard image; and controlling the capturing unit to capture subsequent images according to the parameters associated with the standard image.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus has an image capture unit to capture an object image, an acquisition unit to acquire a developing parameter for image data captured by the image capture unit, an analysis unit to analyze RAW image data generated by the image capture unit, an image composition unit to compose a plurality of RAW image data generated by the image capture unit and generate composite RAW image data, a composition ratio determination unit to determine a composition ratio for a plurality of developing parameters respectively for development of the plurality of RAW image data acquired by the acquisition unit, a parameter composition unit to compose the plurality of developing parameters and generate one composite developing parameter, and a development unit to develop the composite RAW image data using the composite developing parameter.

Abstract: A computer device for a digital picture taking application includes a camera having an optical system, an electronic image sensor providing raw image data, and an image data compressor, a display, a computing subsystem and a data bus interfacing the computing subsystem with the image data compressor. The image data compressor generates a compressed picture data stream from the raw image data using a variable and externally controllable compression rate. A CPU and bus bandwidth manager monitors the available CPU utilization and bus bandwidth depending on activities of the computer program applications and allocates bus bandwidth to active computer program applications.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is provided which includes an imaging data acquisition unit for obtaining imaging data obtained by imaging an imaging object which is asymmetric in at least one of vertical direction and horizontal direction, an orientation detection unit for detecting the orientation of the imaging object with respect to the top, bottom, left, and right of the imaging data obtained by the imaging data acquisition unit, and a related information selection unit for selecting one or more related information, from among a plurality of related information prepared in advance, according to the orientation of the imaging object detected by the orientation detection unit.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are provided by which image line data of an image frame is compressed before being stored to image line memory used in multiple image line processing.

Abstract: An image processing device includes: an image probability model generation unit calculating a feature amount in units of local regions as division regions of a captured image of an imaging apparatus and generating an image probability model configured by the calculated feature amount, the image probability model indicating the generation probability of each noiseless pixel value; a memory storing a noise probability model generated from imaging element-dependent noise characteristic information, the noise probability model indicating the conditional probability of a given noised pixel value being generated in a case where a given noiseless pixel value is generated; and a Bayesian estimation unit generating a noise reduced image in which the noise of the captured image is reduced through a Bayesian estimation process in which the image probability model and the noise probability model are applied.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that enables to prevent waste of electric power, memory or the like by selecting image data that is highly significant for image processing from multiple pieces of image data contained in a single file and subjecting the image processing to image data. A reception section receives a file that contains multiple pieces of image data with attribute information added. A determination section determines whether or not a corresponding one of the pieces of image data is to be subjected to image processing based on the attribute information contained in the file received by the reception section.

Abstract: A photographic processing system in which subject and other data is stored in a database and such data is automatically linked to photographs taken using either a film or digital camera.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus including a parameter storage that stores, in association with a plurality of attributes, a plurality of image processing parameters for respectively rendering subject images of different attributes from each other, into high image quality; and an image generating section that generates a high quality image of a subject image included in an input image, using the plurality of image processing parameters stored in the parameter storage. The image generating section may select at least one image from high quality images of the subject image included in the input image using respectively different combinations of the plurality of image processing parameters, based on comparison with the input image, and generate the selected image as the high quality image.

Abstract: An electronic device that is accessible to a first storage medium that has no communication function and a second storage medium that has a communication function and is detachable to the device, including: an input unit configured to input image data; a designation unit configured to designate at least one of the first storage medium and the second storage medium as a storage medium serving as a storage destination of the image data input by the input unit; and a control unit configured to, if the first storage medium is designated as the storage destination of the image data and the second storage medium is not designated, store the image data in the first storage medium and store the image data in the second storage medium as well so as to transmit the image data to an external apparatus by the communication function of the second storage medium.

Abstract: A user interface (UI) is provided which displays a process in which photographing setting values change correspondingly, so that a user can easily recognize the changes of the photographing setting values. A UI is also provided through which a user can adjust all photographing setting values.

Abstract: Image data (still image data) is encoded to create video data. When an interval recording mode is set, a plurality of video data created by an encoder (image compressor 42) are merged, and the merged video data is recorded as a single interval video data. In the interval recording mode, power supply to the encoder is stopped every time an encoding process of the image data is completed. After the stop of the power supply to the encoder, the power supply to the encoder is resumed when an encoding process of the next image data needs to be performed. Continuity information is managed during the stop of the power supply to the encoder. The continuity information is necessary for creating the plurality of video data so that the interval video data constitutes a stream that can be reproduced continuously.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus has an image capture unit to capture an object image, an acquisition unit to acquire a developing parameter for image data captured by the image capture unit, an analysis unit to analyze RAW image data generated by the image capture unit, an image composition unit to compose a plurality of RAW image data generated by the image capture unit and generate composite RAW image data, a composition ratio determination unit to determine a composition ratio for a plurality of developing parameters respectively for development of the plurality of RAW image data acquired by the acquisition unit, a parameter composition unit to compose the plurality of developing parameters and generate one composite developing parameter, and a development unit to develop the composite RAW image data using the composite developing parameter.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus has an image sensing unit that outputs an image signal in accordance with incident light through an optical system including a zoom lens. The apparatus performs photographing by exposing the image sensing unit while driving the zoom lens, and stores attached information relating to photography at a predetermined timing after driving of the zoom lens has started during photographing. After the end of exposure of the image sensing unit, an image signal output from the image sensing unit is recorded in association with the stored attached information.

Abstract: A camera includes: an information creation device that creates association information for associating a plurality of image files created by the first image file creation device based on a plurality of image data acquired by the image device as a set of image data and recorded in the recording medium, with each other as a set of individual image files when the camera is set to a first photography mode in which data of a plurality of image files are combined to create one integrated image file; a second image file creation device that combines a plurality of the individual image files based on the association information in response to an instruction by a user to create one integrated image file; and a second recording control device that records the integrated image file created by the second image file creation device in a recording medium.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: a display unit for displaying color image data acquired by the imaging unit; a colorimetric position acquisition unit for acquiring colorimetric position data corresponding to a colorimetric part selected by a user in the image data displayed on the display unit; a colorimetric position data record unit for recording the colorimetric position data; a light source; a colorimetric unit, provided near the light source, for performing a colorimetric process at a colorimetric instruction from the user, and acquiring colorimetric data as a result of the colorimetric process; a colorimetric data record unit for recording the colorimetric data; and a storage unit for associating the image data displayed on the display unit, the colorimetric position data recorded on the colorimetric position data record unit, and the colorimetric data recorded on the colorimetric data record unit, and storing the data.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus obtains image data included in an image file stored in a storage medium of the digital camera and the updated time of the image file stored in the storage medium of the digital camera, and reads out the shooting time of the image data included in the header of the image file stored in the storage medium of the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus displays a first view that displays the image data in an order based on the obtained updated time, and a second view that displays the image data included in the image file stored in the storage medium of the information processing apparatus in an order based on the read out shooting time.

Abstract: An electronic camera including an imaging device photoelectrically converting a formed image of a subject to generate an image signal, a manipulation section accepting an input instructing a release, a face detecting section detecting a face area in a shooting image plane based on the image signal during a standby period for the release, a controlling section photographing the subject in response to the release to generate shooting image data from the image signal, a face recognizing data generating section which extracts a feature point of a person's face corresponding to the face area based on the image signal and generates face recognizing data of the photographed person based on the feature point when the release takes place while the face area is detected, and a recording section recording the face recognizing data.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus sets a trimming area for an image file obtained by image sensing. An image processing apparatus acquires the image file to which the trimming area has been added, and displays the acquired image file on a display unit. The image processing apparatus then sets a new trimming area for the displayed image file, and distinguishably displays the trimming area set by the image sensing apparatus and the trimming area set by the image processing apparatus on the display unit.

Abstract: A digital camera system that implements a method for providing image processing customized according to an identified person. The method includes: capturing an input digital image of a scene; identifying at least one particular person in the input digital image by analyzing signals received from an electronic device associated with the particular person; retrieving image processing preferences, wherein the retrieved image processing preferences are associated with one of the identified particular persons; processing the input digital image to form a modified digital image according to retrieved image processing preferences; and storing the modified digital image in a storage memory.

Abstract: An image replay system includes a digital camera and an image replay device. The image replay device includes an image recording unit that acquires image information from the digital camera and records it upon a recording medium, a replay unit that replays the image information recorded upon the recording medium, and a transmission unit that transmits to the digital camera usage condition data related to the usage conditions of the image replay device. The digital camera includes a data acquisition unit that acquires the usage condition data from the image replay device, and a control unit that controls the digital camera on the basis of the usage condition data that has been acquired by the data acquisition unit.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a memory configured to store information of an OTF or a PSF of an optical system for at least one of capturing conditions, and an image processor configured to generate secondary and higher components of a phase of an OTF or a shape component of a PSF corresponding to a capturing condition of a captured image through an interpolation based on at least two OTFs or PSF in the memory, while center-of-gravity positions or maximum intensity positions are accorded with each other or differential root-mean-square values of the point spread functions are minimum, and to restore the image utilizing the generated OTF or an OTF derived from the generated PSF.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically categorizing images in a digital camera is provided. In one aspect, image data is captured by a digital camera. Image data analysis is performed on the captured image data by the digital camera to automatically generate a category tag to which the captured image data may relate. The generated category tag is stored in association with the captured image data for categorizing the captured image data.

Abstract: This invention is applied to a system applied to an electronic still camera, for instance. According to the invention, thumbnail image data DT obtained by thinning RAW data is recorded along with the RAW data DR, and image correction information DS at the time of imaging-result capturing which is used in presentation.

Abstract: In an imaging evaluation method, camera, and system, a scene is imaged with a camera. User inputs to the camera are received concurrent with the imaging. The inputs each define a setting of one of a plurality of operational functions of the camera. The inputs are valued to provide a set of input values. An image value index is calculated using the input values.

Abstract: A digital camera of the present invention comprises a control circuit executing an initialization processing of a recording medium mounted thereon and a series of photographing processings. The control circuit starts the initialization processing of the recording medium when a power of a camera body is turned on, and thereafter, determines presence/absence of an image recording operation regardless of whether or not the initialization processing has been completed. The control circuit starts the series of photographing processings when it is determined that the image recording operation has been performed, then, when either the exposure processing or one or more steps of signal processing is completed, suspends the series of photographing processings to determine whether or not the initialization processing of the recording medium has been completed, and resumes the series of photographing processings when it is determined that the initialization processing of the recording medium has been completed.

Abstract: A computer peripheral that operates either as a computer mouse or as a scanner. The peripheral includes navigation sensors that generate information on motion of the device and an image array that captures successive image frames of an object being scanned. In a mouse mode, the peripheral periodically transfers readings from the navigation sensors to a computing device so that the computing device can track a position of the device. In a scanner mode, in addition to obtaining navigation information from the navigation sensors, the peripheral also captures image frames as it is moved across the object. Operation of the navigation sensors and image array may be synchronized such that an association between the image data and the navigation information may be generated and maintained as image frames are transferred to the computing device, even if some of the frames are dropped in transmission between the scanner-mouse and a computer.

Abstract: Various embodiments are disclosed for setting a depth camera light source operating temperature in a thermal tuning mode executed during a depth camera manufacturing process. One embodiment of a method includes illuminating a target with light from a light source at a plurality of light source temperatures; for each light source temperature, sensing an intensity of reflected light received at a light sensor through a light filter positioned intermediate the target and the light sensor; approximating a frequency response relationship between a light filter cutoff frequency and a light source emission wavelength based on a comparison of the sensed intensities and stored reference data; generating a temperature set point so that the light source emission wavelength does not overlap the light filter cutoff frequency by more than a predetermined overlap threshold; and programming a temperature controller to control the light source to the temperature set point during depth camera operation.

Abstract: An image capture device is provided that can playback and output a desirable file of multiple files accumulated in an external storage device. The image capture device of the present invention has a camera body including: a memory controller for writing an image file obtained by image shooting to an external memory card, or for reading a file from the external memory card; a USB interface for making connection to an external hard disk drive; a USB host controller for controlling transmission and receipt of data through the interface; and a CPU for controlling the operations of the memory controller and the USB host controller in order to transmit data between the external memory card and the external hard disk drive.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image search apparatus including a control unit configured to, when a search key image is set, perform an obtaining process of obtaining at least either of feature amounts of the search key image, a generation process of generating a plurality of search conditions different from each other from the at least either of the feature amounts and the image capturing conditions, a search process of searching the plurality of images except the search key image for an image matching or similar to the search condition for each of the plurality of search conditions, the display control process of displaying a plurality of images that are images found for the plurality of search conditions, a selection process of selecting one image from the plurality of images, and a setting process of setting, as a new search key image, the image selected.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a camera includes a multi-chip system in a package (MCSiP). The MCSiP comprising a set of electronics, an encapsulate, and a plurality of interconnects. The set of electronics includes a plurality of bare integrated circuit dies and other passive or active electronic components. Each die is operable to provide a functional component of a computing system operable to receive a signal describing electromagnetic radiation detected by an imaging sensor and facilitate generating an image according to the signal. The encapsulate comprises an adhesive molding compound deposited outwardly from the set of electronics in order to hold the set of electronics in position. The interconnects communicatively couple each die to other dies, the other electronic components, or components external to the MCSiP.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus 100 comprising a built-in memory 8 which stores a plurality of images captured by an image capturing unit 1 and a system file F2 that registers reproduction control information involving a position where reproduction of each of the images by a display 5 is permitted or prohibited, a GPS unit 2 to position the current position of the image capturing apparatus, and a CPU 9 which compares the positioned current position of the image capturing apparatus with the reproduction control information registered in the system file to control reproduction of the image by the display.

Abstract: The electronic camera has an imaging device that images a subject with subject reflectance R (%) with a dynamic range wider than that at displaying or printing to acquire image data and a recording device that converts the image data acquired by the imaging device with a predetermined function and records the converted image data and the information on the function as digital values (digit). Therefore, a printed image with an automatically or manually corrected density can be obtained at the displaying or the printing.

Abstract: An image shooting apparatus records video information obtained by shooting a subject, and transfers the video information to an external appliance by communication conforming to the HDMI standards. The image shooting apparatus also records rotation information representing how, when a video based on the video information is displayed on the external appliance, the video is to be rotated, and, when transferring the video information, transmits the rotation information to the external appliance by use of CEC conforming to the HDMI standards. Thus, an image shooting apparatus that transmits a shot video to an external appliance also transmits rotation information by use of CEC so as to be capable of making the external appliance display the shot image in a rotated state.