Details Of Luminance Signal Formation In Color Camera Patents (Class 348/234)
  • Patent number: 8854501
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus for processing spectral image data of an object includes a normalization unit configured to normalize spectral data in each pixel of the spectral image data with respect to luminance level, a deviation amount calculation unit configured to calculate a deviation amount between the spectral data of a reference pixel and the spectral data of a target pixel to be clustered, which are normalized by the normalization unit, among each of the pixels of the spectral image data, and a segment determination unit configured to determine an affiliated segment of target pixel in the object of the spectral image data based on the deviation amount calculated by the deviation amount calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toru Nagata
  • Publication number: 20140293091
    Abstract: A smartphone is adapted for use as an imaging spectrometer, by synchronized pulsing of different LED light sources as different image frames are captured by the phone's CMOS image sensor. A particular implementation employs the CIE color matching functions, and/or their orthogonally transformed functions, to enable direct chromaticity capture. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventors: Geoffrey B. Rhoads, Hugh L. Brunk, John D. Lord
  • Patent number: 8836762
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optronic system for identifying an object including a photosensitive sensor, communication means and a computerized processing means making it possible to reconstruct the object in three dimensions on the basis of the images captured by the sensor and to identify the object on the basis of the reconstruction. The photosensitive sensor is able to record images of the object representing the intensity levels of an electromagnetic radiation reflected by the surface of the object captured from several observation angles around the object and the communication means are able to transmit the said images to the computerized processing means to reconstruct the object in three dimensions by means of a tomography function configured to process the images of the object representing the intensity levels of an electromagnetic radiation reflected by the surface of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Gérard Berginc, Michel Jouffroy
  • Patent number: 8836816
    Abstract: A method for adjusting the brightness of a captured image from a digital camera includes calculating a reference exposure value using the capture parameters and calculating an actual exposure value as a function of ambient illumination parameters. The reference exposure and actual exposure values are compared to determine an actual image saturation value. The actual image saturation value is compared with the saturation value of the image sensor to determine a brightness adjustment factor, and the captured image is adjusted to compensate for overexposure or underexposure in response to the brightness adjustment factor. The image is scaled up or down using the brightness adjustment factor if the actual image saturation value is less than or more than the saturation value of the image sensor used to capture the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Foveon, Inc.
    Inventor: Rastislav Lukac
  • Patent number: 8831345
    Abstract: The present invention is an image processing device which has tone mapping curve generation means for local tone correction, which generates a tone mapping curve for local tone correction using the luminance of peripheral areas for each pixel of interest within an input image; prediction means which predicts the overall luminance and/or the contrast of the image after the local tone correction on the basis of the average luminance of partial areas into which the input image has been partitioned; tone mapping curve generation means for global tone correction, which generates a tone mapping curve for global tone correction on the basis of the prediction; and correction means which integrates the tone mapping curve for local tone correction and the tone mapping curve for global tone correction so as to simultaneously execute the local tone correction and the global tone correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Masato Toda
  • Publication number: 20140240533
    Abstract: Enhancing the image quality by suitable color noise correction is realized without depending on a subject, a photographing scene, and photographing conditions by determining and correcting a color noise component according to photographing conditions of a camera. The present invention is configured of an imaging device that has: an imaging unit; a signal processing unit that performs signal processing on an image signal inputted from the imaging unit and outputs a luminance signal and a chrominance signal; a camera controlling unit that controls at least one of photographing conditions of optical conditions and exposure of the photographing unit and a signal processing condition of the signal processing unit; and a color noise correction unit that extracts and corrects a color noise component from the chrominance signal inputted from the signal processing unit. The camera control unit controls the color noise correction unit using information of the photographing conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichiro Hirooka, Manabu Katsuki, Junji Shiokawa, Yuichi Nonaka
  • Patent number: 8810710
    Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus including an imaging unit that performs imaging with an image sensor having pixels of first, second, and third colors, a luminance ratio calculation unit that integrates luminance of each of the first, second, and third colors within a focus determination region of an imaging signal output by the imaging unit and calculates a ratio of the luminance between the integrated values of the colors, a luminance normalization unit that normalizes the integrated value of the luminance of the first color within the focus determination region of the imaging signal output by the imaging unit at the ratio of the luminance between the integrated values calculated by the luminance ratio calculation unit, and a display processing unit that performs display corresponding to the integrated value of the luminance normalized by the luminance normalization unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Yuuji Ooba
  • Patent number: 8810675
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided which offers higher versatility than conventional image processing apparatuses. When an input signal to a spatial filtering block is a monochrome signal that contains Y component only, a selector selects its input terminal and a selector selects its input terminal. Then, a low-pass filter output signal of a programmable spatial filter is inputted to a spatial filter, and a low-pass filter output signal of the spatial filer is inputted to a spatial filter. That is, the programmable spatial filter and the spatial filters are connected in series (in cascade), and the cascade-connected three spatial filters perform filtering operation. In this example, low-pass filters with 5×5 taps are connected in cascade in three stages, which enables low-pass filtering with 13×13 taps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: MegaChips Corporation
    Inventor: Gen Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8781242
    Abstract: A method for processing an image includes acquiring a low frequency component of a luminance component of an image, correcting the luminance component of the image using the acquired low frequency component, determining a level correction amount of each pixel of the corrected image using a frequency distribution of low frequency components of the acquired image and a low frequency component of each pixel of the image, and performing level correction using the determined level correction amount and a luminance distribution of the corrected image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masato Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8767101
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus and system for demosaicing. The image processing apparatus comprises an edge determination module configured to determine whether a target pixel is an edge pixel and a direction of an image edge if the target pixel is an edge pixel; and a demosaicing module configured to extract a luminance component value of the target pixel using a Bayer image pattern having the target pixel in a central portion of the Bayer image pattern, wherein the demosaicing module is configured to extract the luminance component value of the target pixel using the Bayer image pattern by a weighting process if the target pixel is determined as an edge pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: SK Hynix Inc.
    Inventor: Min Seok Kim
  • Patent number: 8760538
    Abstract: By utilizing scene metrics in an image processing system (such as night vision goggles or a camera), a setpoint controller can set a setpoint used by a gain controller. Using the setpoint and an average video level of a frame, the gain controller can set gain control signals sent to an image sensor and/or a high voltage power supply to adaptively adjust for higher and lower light scenarios. Scene metrics can include an amount of saturation in a frame, a number or percentage of pixels above a first threshold and a number or percentage of pixels below a second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Exelis, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Cleveland Ross
  • Patent number: 8760537
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a mobile device that captures and produces images with high dynamic ranges. To capture and produce a high dynamic range image, the mobile device of some embodiments includes novel image capture and processing modules. In some embodiments, the mobile device produces a high dynamic range (HDR) image by (1) having its image capture module rapidly capture a succession of images at different image exposure durations, and (2) having its image processing module composite these images to produce the HDR image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Garrett M. Johnson, Guy Cote, James Edmund Orr, IV
  • Publication number: 20140168444
    Abstract: Provided is a method of merging or fusing a visible image captured by a visible camera and an infrared (IR) image captured by an IR camera. The method includes: providing a first image of a subject captured by a first camera and a second image of the subject captured by a second camera; converting brightness of the second image based on brightness of the first image; and merging the first image and the second image having the converted brightness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicants: KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION, SAMSUNG TECHWIN CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jeong-min BAE, Han-Seok KO, Bon-Hwa KU, Du-Bok PARK, Min-Jae KIM, Jae-Yong JU
  • Patent number: 8754960
    Abstract: Lighting control systems are disclosed that enable a combination of functions comprising natural illumination based lighting control, occupancy-based lighting control, and security control. One or more processors are used in conjunction with one or more cameras and a plurality of luminaires, to perform a combination of functions comprising natural illumination based lighting control, occupancy-based lighting control, and security control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Ian Edward Ashdown
  • Publication number: 20140160318
    Abstract: The disclosure extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for producing an image in light deficient environments with luminance and chrominance emitted from a controlled light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Olive Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Laurent Blanquart, John Richardson
  • Publication number: 20140160317
    Abstract: Provided is a photographing apparatus including: first and second light sources that respectively transmit a first light having a first spectral radiant characteristic and a second light having a second spectral radiant characteristic; an image device that captures an image of a subject by using the transmitted lights sources; a storage unit that stores a first reference output ratio corresponding to the first light and a second reference output ratio corresponding to the second light; and a determiner that determines a regular reflection area of the light sources by using a first captured image acquired by capturing an image of the subject by using the first light, a second captured image acquired by capturing an image of the subject by using the second light, the first reference output ratio, and the second reference output ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun Komada
  • Patent number: 8750609
    Abstract: An amount of color correction of a facial region is modified based on changes caused in face average values by white balance correction. Also, the amount of color correction of the facial region is modified according to luminance of pixels of interest to perform optimum color correction on the facial region and a highlight region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryosuke Iguchi, Kiyoshi Umeda
  • Patent number: 8749673
    Abstract: The image generation device generates a new moving picture of a subject based on first and second moving pictures shot with a single-chip color image sensor, which detects two light rays including first and second color components, respectively, to represent the first and second color components of the subject. As the first moving picture has been shot in a longer exposure time than the second moving picture, the first picture has a lower frame rate than the second picture. The image generation device includes: a getting section which gets video signals representing the first and second moving pictures, respectively; a processing section which generates a new moving picture with as high a frame rate as the second moving picture based on the respective video signals representing the first and second moving pictures gotten; and an output section which outputs the new moving picture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Taro Imagawa, Takeo Azuma, Sanzo Ugawa, Yusuke Okada
  • Patent number: 8736696
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a computing unit which determines a first difference value between brightness of a first image data and brightness of a second image data in an overlap area of the first image data including a first brightness characteristic with the second image data having a peripheral area at the center of the first image data and including a second brightness characteristic; and a generating unit which generates a brightness correction parameter for the first image data corresponding to the first difference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited
    Inventors: Akira Kumagai, Nobuyasu Akaizawa
  • Publication number: 20140139705
    Abstract: The image processing method includes acquiring an input image produced by an image pickup system including at least one imaging optical system and causing light rays from a same point in an object space to respectively enter different image pickup pixels depending on light ray passing areas of a pupil through which the respective light rays pass, performing a shaping process including at least one of an image restoration process to restore a degraded image and a luminance estimation process to estimate a luminance of a saturated area, a reconstruction process to reconstruct a new image different from the input image, and performing a blur addition process to add an image blur component to an addition target image. The method performs the shaping process before the reconstruction process and the blur addition process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroki Ebe
  • Publication number: 20140139702
    Abstract: An electronic camera having an electronic flash including a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit different wavelength light is disclosed. Electric energy is supplied to a capacitor to the LEDs. A system controller controls light emitting amounts of the LEDs so that a color temperature of the electronic flash light becomes a color temperature that has been manually set with a color temperature setting switch or a color temperature of a light source determined by color temperature sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chikuni KAWAKAMI
  • Patent number: 8730353
    Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling adaptive auto exposure. In the method, a digital photograph captured from an object and a background is divided into an object region where the object is mainly located and a background region where the background is mainly located. Average luminances of the object and background regions are calculated, and a luminance difference between the average luminances of the object and background regions is calculated. If the luminance difference is within a predetermined range, an average luminance of the entire photograph is calculated by applying a weight to the average luminance of the object region, and exposure is controlled based on the calculated average luminance of the entire photograph so as to emphasize the object region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soo Jin Park, Deepak Chandra Bijalwan
  • Patent number: 8730384
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Haitao Guo, David Daming Kuo
  • Patent number: 8730341
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus capable of suppressing color fringing in a color image further effectively by image processing. A determination unit determines a region in which signal levels for a color plane in a color image produced by photoelectric conversion of an optical image of a subject exhibit a monotonic increase or a monotonic decrease, as a color fringing region in which color fringing occurs. An estimation unit estimates an intensity of the color fringing in the color fringing region determined by the determination unit. A removal unit deducts an estimate value of the intensity of the color fringing estimated by the estimation unit from the intensity of the color fringing in the color fringing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroaki Nashizawa
  • Patent number: 8730352
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus and an image processing method that enable suitable contrast adjustment are provided. The image processing apparatus includes a region detection unit configured to detect predetermined first luminance level detection region and second luminance level detection region in a human face as a target to be photographed, a luminance amount calculation unit configured to calculate an absolute value of a difference between a luminance level of the first luminance level detection region and a certain reference luminance level as a high luminance amount and calculate an absolute value of a difference between a luminance level of the second luminance level detection region and the reference luminance level as a low luminance amount, and a determination unit configured to determine whether a difference or a ratio between the high luminance amount and the low luminance amount falls within a certain range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Kubota
  • Patent number: 8723995
    Abstract: A digital color imager providing an extended luminance range, an improved color implementation and enabling a method for an easy transformation into another color space having luminance as a component has been achieved. Key of the invention is the addition of white pixels to red, green and blue pixels. These white pixels have either an extended dynamic rang as described by U.S. patent (U.S. Pat. No. 6,441,852 to Levine et al.) or have a larger size than the red, green, or blue pixels used. The output of said white pixels can be directly used for the luminance values Y of the destination color space. Therefore only the color values and have to be calculated from the RGB values, leading to an easier and faster calculation. As an example chosen by the inventor the conversion to YCbCr color space has been shown in detail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Youliza, Gehts B.V. Limited Liability Company
    Inventors: Detlef Schweng, Taner Dosluoglu, Horst Knoedgen
  • Patent number: 8723978
    Abstract: Provided are an image fusion apparatus and method for combining multi-exposure images. The image fusion apparatus and method may generate a sharp high-resolution high dynamic image while fully representing detail in an over-exposed region and an under-exposed region of the image without contrast degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Hyun Kwon, Hyun-Hwa Oh, Won-Hee Choe, Sung-Chan Park, Seong-Deok Lee
  • Publication number: 20140125845
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image-capture device including an image-capture module, a display device, an input device, and a processing unit. The image-capture module is arranged to capture a preview image. The display device is arranged to display the preview image. The input device is arranged to receive at least one first selection signal and at least one second selection signal, wherein the first selection signal corresponds to a first area of the preview image, and the second selection signal corresponds to a second area of the preview image. The processing unit is arranged to calculate a light-metering value according to the first selection signal and the second selection signal, and force the image-capture module to capture an image according to the light-metering value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: WISTRON CORP.
    Inventor: Tsung-Shang Huang
  • Patent number: 8717462
    Abstract: An apparatus having a circuit is disclosed. The circuit may be configured to (i) receive a digital image from an electro-optical sensor, (ii) convert the digital image from a red-green-blue representation to a luminance-and-chrominance representation, (iii) generate a reduced noise representation of the digital image by reducing noise in the luminance-and-chrominance representation and (iv) generate a color corrected representation of the digital image by color correcting the reduced noise representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Ambarella, Inc.
    Inventor: Elliot N. Linzer
  • Patent number: 8711256
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus including an image acquisition unit that obtains color image data composed of wavelength components in a visible light region only, and monochrome image data which does not contain the wavelength components in the visible light region and which is composed of wavelength components in other than visible light region only, a color information extraction unit that extracts color information from the color image data, a luminance information extraction unit that extracts luminance information from the monochrome image data, and a synthesis unit that synthesizes the extracted color information and the extracted luminance information to generate composite image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Koichi Yoshikawa
  • Publication number: 20140098263
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes a scattered light acquisition unit, a control information acquisition unit and a control unit. The scattered light acquisition unit acquires an amount of scattered light included in each pixel of an input image. The control information acquisition unit acquires control information determining an amount of scattered light included in each pixel of an output image. The control unit generates the output image by controlling the amount of the scattered light included in each pixel of the input image based on the control information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kyoka KOBUNA, Toshiyuki ONO, Yasunori TAGUCHI, Toshimitsu KANEKO, Nobuyuki MATSUMOTO
  • Patent number: 8692906
    Abstract: A luminance signal generation apparatus capable of suppressing an occurrence of aliasing at near horizontal and vertical Nyquist regions in the case of an achromatic object. An OG signal is generated by interpolating a green signal on pixels other than green pixels, and an SWY signal is generated as luminance signals at positions of pixels for respective colors. An angle determination signal is generated according to a direction of an edge of an image signal, and hierarchical image signals having different frequencies are generated from the image signal. Based on results of determination of false color region in the hierarchical image signals, one of the hierarchical image signals is selected. According to an angle determination signal and a chroma signal obtained from the selected hierarchical image signal, the OG signal and the SWY signal are mixed to generate a final luminance signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Kiyosawa, Eiichiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8693777
    Abstract: There are provided an apparatus and a method for estimating edge areas of pixels in a digital image to thereby prevent an edge sharpening algorithm from being applied to non-edge area of the digital image. Therefore, the apparatus can accurately determine whether each pixel is in an edge area or in a non-edge area, by generating a binary mask obtained by using a luminance difference average between each pixel and each of neighboring pixels in the digital image. Moreover, the determination of an edge-area or a non-edge area may be applied to various digital images, by adjusting a level of edge-area determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignees: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd., Dong-A University Research Foundation for Industry-Academy Cooperation
    Inventors: Joo Young Ha, Won Tae Choi, Byung Hyun Kim, Bong Soon Kang, Won Woo Jang, Kyung Rin Kim, Jung Joo Yang, Gi Dong Lee, Kang Joo Kim
  • Publication number: 20140092279
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein may operate to image a scene with an imaging system using an image blurring technique. An image sensor array (ISA) element may be identified as a dark defect element if a first ratio of an average of a set of illuminance signal magnitudes from a set of surrounding ISA elements to a magnitude of an illuminance signal from the ISA element is greater than a threshold sharpness value. The image sensor array element may be identified as a bright defect element if a second ratio of the magnitude of the illuminance signal from the ISA element to the average of the set of illuminance signal magnitudes from the set of surrounding ISA elements is greater than the threshold sharpness value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Ilia Ovsiannikov
  • Patent number: 8681244
    Abstract: An image processing method and a photography apparatus using the same are provided. The image processing method includes inputting at least one image; selecting a specific region of the at least one image input; extracting a luminance value of the selected specific region; and determining a blurring degree based on the extracted luminance value and performing image processing by blurring the selected specific region using the determined blurring degree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jin-Kyung Lee, Tae-Kyung Kim, Taek-Seong Jeong
  • Publication number: 20140078346
    Abstract: The image conversion section calculates luminance values and color difference values based on pixel values of the captured image that respectively correspond to a plurality of colors, and outputs a luminance image formed by the calculated luminance values and a color difference image formed by the calculated color difference values. The estimation calculation section calculates an estimated luminance value of each pixel of a high-resolution image based on the luminance image, and calculates an estimated color difference value of each pixel of the high-resolution image based on the color difference image. The pixel value conversion section converts the estimated luminance value and the estimated color difference value into RGB pixel values of each pixel of the high-resolution image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinichi IMADE
  • Publication number: 20140071314
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus, a reduced image in which an input image having a color pattern of a plurality of colors of different pixel densities is reduced is generated. A luminance signal is generated from the reduced image. A contour compensation signal is generated from weighted color signals of the reduced image. The luminance signal and the contour compensation signal are combined. If a reduction ratio of the reduced image is greater than a threshold, a weighting used for a color signal for which a pixel density is high in the input image is increased in comparison to a case where the reduction ratio is not greater to the threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinya Hirai
  • Publication number: 20140063286
    Abstract: There is provided an imaging device including an imaging element that acquires a captured image of a subject, a light emission unit that emits light to the subject, and a control unit that is capable of controlling a timing of exposure performed by the imaging element and a timing of light emission performed by the light emission unit. In a mode in which imaging is performed with a plurality of times of consecutive light emission by the light emission unit, the control unit controls at least one of a timing of the exposure and a timing of the light emission so that light amounts effective for exposure in each imaging are substantially the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shunji OKADA, Kazuaki Iguchi, Satoshi Shinohara, Yoshitsugu Nomiyama, Naoya Katoh, Yukio Isobe, Yuuji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8665347
    Abstract: An image processing device comprises: a brilliance gradient computation unit computing a brilliance gradient within an image based on an image information; a color phase value computation unit computing a first color phase value and a second color phase value, the first color phase value representing a color phase inside a candidate region determined based on the brilliance gradient computed by the brilliance gradient computation unit, the second color phase value representing a color phase in a region surrounding the candidate region; and a region extraction unit extracting a region from the candidate region such that a difference between the first color phase value and the second color phase value is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Yu Miyawaki, Tsuyoshi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8654214
    Abstract: Multi-spectral imaging technique embodiments are presented which involve an active imaging approach that uses wide band illumination of known spectral distributions to obtain multi-spectral reflectance information in the presence of unknown ambient illumination. In general, a reflectance spectral distribution of a captured scene is computed by selecting a number of different illumination spectra and capturing multiple images of the scene. Each of these images is captured when the scene is illuminated by a different one of the selected illumination spectra in addition to the ambient light. The reflectance spectral distribution of the scene is computed for each pixel location based on the relative response between pairs of the radiometric responses of the corresponding pixels in the captured images, given a set of parameters including the added illumination spectra used to capture each of the images and the response function and spectral sensitivity of the camera used to capture the images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Moshe Benezra, Chi Cui
  • Publication number: 20140036109
    Abstract: A method of generating one or more new spatial and chromatic variation digital images uses an original digitally-acquired image which including a face or portions of a face. A group of pixels that correspond to a face within the original digitally-acquired image is identified. A portion of the original image is selected to include the group of pixels. Values of pixels of one or more new images based on the selected portion are automatically generated, or an option to generate them is provided, in a manner which always includes the face within the one or more new images. Such method may be implemented to automatically establish the correct orientation and color balance of an image. Such method can be implemented as an automated method or a semi automatic method to guide users in viewing, capturing or printing of images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: DigitalOptics Corporation Europe Limited
    Inventors: Eran Steinberg, Yury Prilutsky, Peter Corcoran, Petronel Bigioi
  • Patent number: 8643710
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes first and second irradiation units that emit first light and second light, respectively, an image pickup unit that outputs, as pixel information, an electrical signal after photoelectric conversion from a pixel arbitrarily designated as a read target among pixels, a setting unit that arbitrarily sets a pixel as the read target and a read order in the image pickup unit, a control unit that controls irradiation processes in the first and second irradiation units and changes the pixel as the read target and the read order according to a type of an irradiation unit that emits light, a reading unit that reads the pixel information by causing the pixel information to be output from the pixel set as the read target, in accordance with the read order, and an image processing unit that generates an image from the pixel information read by the reading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Wataru Ono, Hidenori Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8634019
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a distribution detection unit configured to detect whether a luminance distribution on the screen changes to a hill-shaped form, based on a result of adding photometric values of each of divided photometry areas by rows and by columns, a difference calculation unit configured to calculate a luminance value difference between one portion of the screen and the peripheral portion thereof, a ratio calculating unit configured to calculate a ratio of pixels having a luminance value higher than or equal to a threshold value in the one portion, and a spotlight determination unit configured to determine whether a scene of the captured image is a spotlight scene according to a detection result of the distribution detection unit, calculation result of the difference calculation unit, and a calculation result of the ratio calculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8629919
    Abstract: Image capture of a scene in which there is an identification of an imaging property of the scene, such as the illuminant or dynamic range of the scene. An imaging assembly has a spectral response which is tunable in accordance with a capture parameter, and first and second different capture parameters are applied to the image sensor. Respective first and second images of the scene are captured. The first and second images of the scene are compared to identify an imaging property of the scene, such as the illuminant or multiple illuminants in respective ones of multiple regions in the scene. In accordance with the property identified for the scene, a third capture parameter is derived, such as to obtain color correction or white balance in accordance with each identified illuminant. The third capture parameter is applied to the image sensor, and a final image of the scene is captured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Francisco Imai
  • Publication number: 20130342733
    Abstract: An optoelectronic device (10) is provided having an image sensor (20) for generating pixel images of a detection area (12) and a brightness correction unit (28) configured to modify brightness values of the pixels with a correction factor (Hmul) to obtain a more homogeneously illuminated image. A respective correction factor (Hmul) is calculated for individual pixels or groups of pixels from a perspective transformation (M) which converts geometries of an object plane (34) in the detection area (12) into geometries of the image plane (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Sascha BURGHARDT, Dietram RINKLIN, Pascal SCHULER, Stephan Walter
  • Publication number: 20130335598
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosed technology relate to an imaging system and method in which an array camera is employed along with an image processor to make use of parallax convergence differences in color and luminance between different cameras or groups of cameras within an array camera to provide improved super resolution performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: Sony Mobile Communications AB
    Inventors: Jonas Gustavsson, Henrik Heringslack, Daniel Linaker, Mats Wernersson
  • Patent number: 8610797
    Abstract: An image processing device includes: a luminance saturation position detection unit which detects a luminance saturation position that is a position in a captured image at which a luminance value is greater than a predetermined value; a luminance gradient detection unit which detects a luminance gradient around the luminance saturation position; a light source image estimation unit which estimates a luminance distribution on an imaging surface, based on (i) an image at the luminance saturation position, (ii) a point spread function image which corresponds to the luminance saturation position, and (iii) the luminance gradient, such that the luminance value increases as the luminance gradient increases, the luminance distribution being formed by an object whose image is captured at the luminance saturation position; and an unnecessary light subtraction unit which subtracts a luminance value of unnecessary light from the captured image by using the luminance distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Ichiro Oyama
  • Patent number: 8610789
    Abstract: The application provides techniques for obtaining a relatively high dynamic range image of a scene using a relatively low dynamic range image sensor exposed to incident light from the scene for capturing an image. The image sensor has a multiplicity of light-sensing elements in an array and each light sensing element has a particular one of a plurality of sensitivity levels to incident light in accordance with a predetermined sensitivity pattern for the array of light-sensing elements and has a response function. Each light sensing element is responsive to incident light from the scene for producing a captured image brightness value at a corresponding one of a multiplicity of pixel positions of a pixel position array. Each one of the multiplicity of pixel positions corresponds to a particular one of the plurality of sensitivity levels of the light sensing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignees: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shree K. Nayar, Tomoo Mitsunaga
  • Publication number: 20130321666
    Abstract: In an image capture apparatus and a method of controlling the apparatus which can apply image correction processing which influences the contrast of a shot image, image quality degradation of an image shot by using input-output characteristics where an output value logarithmically increases with a linear increase in input value is suppressed. When using input-output characteristics where an output value logarithmically increases with a linear increase in input value (S101), internal functional blocks are controlled to invalidate image correction functions which influence the tone characteristics or contrast of an image (S103).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hironori Aokage
  • Patent number: 8593327
    Abstract: In an A/D conversion circuit and an imaging device, an upper counter acquires a first upper count value by performing counting using one output signal, which constitutes a first lower phase signal output from a delay circuit, as a count clock. After values of bits constituting the first upper count value are inverted, the upper counter acquires a second upper count value by performing counting using one output signal, which constitutes a second lower phase signal output from the delay circuit, as a count clock, and further performing counting based on an upper count clock output from a lower counter. A modification unit modifies a logic state of a count clock to a predetermined state when the count clock of the upper counter is switched.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshio Hagihara