Abstract: A video image pickup apparatus (10) includes an image sensor (120), a knee processor (132) for performing a compression in a high-luminance characteristic interval of a picture signal based on an output signal of the image sensor, a block luminance calculator (151) for dividing a frame of image based on the output signal of the solid-state image pickup device into a set of blocks, calculating a set of luminance indices of respective blocks, an extreme extractor (152) for extracting a block having a highest luminance index, together with the luminance index, a display information generator (153) for generating a set of pieces of image information for exposure guide display including an image representing a region of the extracted block and an image representing the luminance index, an image superposer (160) for superposing the set of pieces of image information for exposure guide display on a frame of image based on the compressed picture signal to generate a frame of superposed image, and a view finder (170)

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an obtaining section, a detection section, a first identification section and a second identification section. The obtaining section obtains image data of a first picked-up image and a second picked-up image picked up by an image pickup section. The detection section detects a brightness change region where brightness changes at predetermined time intervals in the first picked-up image on the basis of the obtained image data of the first picked-up image. The first identification section performs straight line detection processing on the obtained image data of the second picked-up image to detect a straight line, so as to identify a candidate straight line in a corresponding region corresponding to the brightness change region. The second identification section identifies a quadrilateral region including the candidate straight line as an extraction candidate region in the second picked-up image.

Abstract: An imaging system may include an image sensor array and circuitry that rotates and encodes images from the image sensor array. The circuitry may encode images from the image sensor into an image format such as a Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) format. The circuitry may perform rotations of the images during encoding into Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) format. Image rotations during encoding and compression may include redefining minimum coded units of the encoded image such that minimum coded units of a rotated image are processed in the same order as minimum coded units in a non-rotated image. Redefinition of minimum coded units may include rewriting of parameters in a start of frame segment of an image data stream such that the height and width of minimum coded units are reversed during rotation.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a gamma transforming unit that performs gamma transformation on an image signal based on a luminance component of the image signal and so as to maintain an RGB ratio of the image signal; a correction-target-value calculating unit that calculates a correction target value as a target value for performing tone correction on the luminance component of the image signal, based on a structure of RGB components contained in an image signal obtained by the gamma transforming unit through the gamma transformation; and a tone correcting unit that performs tone correction on a value of the image signal based on the luminance component of the image signal and the correction target value.

Abstract: A blurring process is performed on an addition area including a point light source area detected in an image to be processed so that the nearer to the circumference of the addition area, the higher the luminance value while an addition coefficient is being increased according to a distance from the center.

Abstract: To be capable of correcting a captured image to an image desirable to a user only by using a digital still camera. An RAM 15 storing the image data of an image for which tone correction is to be performed in a standard color space format and a tone correction circuit 35 are provided. The image data is read out from the RAM 15, and the tone correction is performed for the readout image data in the tone correction circuit 35. In automatic tone correction, luminance signals of the image are statistically analyzed to categorize the image, and an appropriate correction curve is used to correct the image.

Abstract: Effects due to user operation are reduced in scene discrimination. In an image pickup apparatus, when performing scene discrimination based on information that includes detected movement of a subject and vibration of the image pickup apparatus, and an picked up image, the degree to which one of the movement of the subject and the vibration of the image pickup apparatus while an operating instruction is being received from a user contributes to scene discrimination is restricted.

Abstract: A gradation conversion processor performs gradation conversion processing on image data on the basis of a predetermined gradation conversion characteristic, and a noise reduction processor performs noise reduction processing on the image data. Subsequently, a combining-ratio calculator calculates a combining ratio between the image data before the noise reduction processing performed by the noise reduction processor and the image data after the noise reduction processing on the basis of the gradation conversion characteristic, and a combiner combines the image data before the noise reduction processing performed by the noise reduction processor and the image data after the noise reduction processing on the basis of the combining ratio.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a luminance value calculation unit configured to calculate a luminance average value and a luminance peak value from an image obtained by image-capturing for each of frames formed by dividing one screen, a first calculation unit configured to combine the luminance average value and the luminance peak value obtained for each of the frames, a second calculation unit configured to calculate an average value of composite values equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value among composite values obtained by the first calculation unit, and a setting unit configured to set knee strength based on the average value of the composite values obtained by the second calculation unit.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus determines a scene of a captured image, and, depending on the scene determination result, performs image capture with an expanded dynamic range, or performs a dynamic range contraction process based on the captured image. In the case of executing the dynamic range expansion process, the image capturing apparatus performs image capture at a decreased ISO speed, and performs tone correction for compensating the decrease in ISO speed with respect to the captured image. The image capturing apparatus is thereby capable of performing image capture with a dynamic range that takes into consideration the subject and the scene.

Abstract: A method for capturing an image, suitable for an image capturing apparatus with a flash lamp, is provided. In the invention, a pre-flash image is captured when a pre-flash is fired by the flash lamp. An intensity of a main flash is estimated. Whether the pre-flash image is overexposed is determined for calculating an overexposure number. A brightness comparison data is looked up according to the overexposure number and a brightness target value, so as to reduce a photosensitivity. A raw image is captured according to the reduced photosensitivity when the main flash is fired by the flash lamp.

Abstract: An image sensor, an image processing apparatus including the same and an interpolation method of the image processing apparatus are provided. The image sensor includes a plurality of pixels that include a low-luminance pixel including a first photoelectric conversion device that accumulates a charge less than a predetermined reference value and a high-luminance pixel including a second photoelectric conversion device that accumulates a charge more than the predetermined reference value. Interpolation is carried out giving more weight to the low-luminance pixel at low luminance and giving more weight to the high-luminance pixel at high luminance, so that a higher SNR is obtained.

Abstract: A mobile camera system is disclosed. The camera system connects plural camera apparatuses including at least first and second camera apparatuses mounted on a mobile body to one another and combines images photographed by the first and the second camera apparatuses, wherein reference data obtained by the first camera apparatus is transferred to the second camera apparatus via a camera control unit, signal processing is performed in the second camera apparatus on the basis of the reference data transferred to generate a corrected image, and an image from the first camera apparatus and the corrected image outputted from the second camera apparatus are combined to output a combined image.

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.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus, including a region setting unit for setting regions on a processing target image in which each pixel of the image is included according to a level of each pixel, a low frequency image generation unit for generating a low frequency image of the processing target image, a gain calculation unit for calculating a gain for each pixel of the processing target image such that the lower the level the greater the gain, wherein the unit calculates the gain such that pixels in each of the regions in which each pixel of the processing target image is included have substantially the same gain based on a region setting result and a level of each pixel of the low frequency image, and a processing unit for generating a processed image by performing dynamic range compression on the processing target image based on the gain.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of recognizing an object by using a camera includes detecting feature information from a first preview image; comparing the feature information with a threshold condition; changing a camera setting parameter, when the feature information does not satisfy the threshold condition; and performing an object recognition for a second preview image generated based on the changed camera setting parameter.

Abstract: Plural areas defined by contours in a through image (live view image) are previously set as object segments whose luminance levels are to be altered. When a user touches a point within an object segment seen in the through image displayed on a touch panel LCD 12, a gamma curve is changed to alter a luminance level of the object segment including the touched point. This arrangement allows the user to make more bright the whole of the object segment simply by touching a point within the object segment, and also to select any segment of an object as the object segment whose luminance level is to be altered.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus determines a scene of a captured image, and, depending on the scene determination result, performs image capture with an expanded dynamic range, or performs a dynamic range contraction process based on the captured image. In the case of executing the dynamic range expansion process, the image capturing apparatus performs image capture at a decreased ISO speed, and performs tone correction for compensating the decrease in ISO speed with respect to the captured image. The image capturing apparatus is thereby capable of performing image capture with a dynamic range that takes into consideration the subject and the scene.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media for removing noise from the luminance (luma) channel in a digital image represented in the YUV color space are described. In general, an element from the luma channel may be selected and a region about that element defined. Using a threshold that is based on the selected luma element's value, similar luma values within the defined region may be identified and combined to provide a substitute value. The substitute value may be blended with the value of the selected element within the image's luma channel. In another implementation, element values from both an image's luma and chroma channels may be used to identify similar luma values.

Abstract: A mechanism for efficiently and dynamically adjusting lighting conditions in a space through the use of existing video capture devices in the space or video capture devices on computing devices brought into the space is provided. Incident lighting levels, light composition, and similar aspects on the participants, displays, projectors, white boards, walls, and comparable objects may be calibrated and/or optimized based on captured image quality.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an extraction unit configured to extract a plurality of luminance low frequency components different in frequency band from a luminance component of image data, and a color adjustment unit configured to execute color adjustment of the image data using the image data or the luminance component of the image data and the plurality of luminance low frequency components, wherein, when an effect of color adjustment based on the luminance low frequency component having a relatively low frequency is larger than an effect of color adjustment based on the luminance low frequency component having a relatively high frequency among the plurality of luminance low frequency components, the color adjustment unit reduces the effect of color adjustment based on the luminance low frequency component having the relatively low frequency.

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.

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.

Abstract: An image processing device includes: a blurring correction processing unit configured to perform blurring correction processing on output signals of an imaging device having an RGBW array which includes RGB pixels and white (W) pixels, and generate blurring-corrected signals corresponding to each pixels; and a data conversion unit configured to convert the RGBW array into an RGB array; wherein the data conversion unit executes processing of generating blurring-corrected RGB signals (Rd, Gd, Bd) which are blurring-corrected signals corresponding to RGB that have been estimated from blurring-corrected signals generated by the blurring correction processing unit, and applying the blurring-corrected RGB signals (Rd, Gd, Bd) to determine RGB signals values configuring an RGB array.

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.

Abstract: Image overlay in a mobile device is described. In one embodiment an imaging system of a mobile communications device includes a first camera having a control interface to a controller and a data interface to the controller, a second camera having a data interface to the first camera, and a processor to combine an image from the second camera received through the second camera data interface with an image from the first camera and to send the combined image to the controller through the data interface.

Abstract: A luminance adjusting method of an electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes a light sensor, a control module, a memory and a light source module. The memory stores predetermined ambient luminance-light source luminance corresponding information. The luminance adjusting method includes following steps: obtaining an ambient luminance value by sensing ambient light via the light sensor; receiving an inputted adjusting value; adjusting the predetermined ambient luminance-light source luminance corresponding information according to the inputted adjusting value to generate first personalized ambient luminance-light source luminance corresponding information; generating an optimal luminance adjusting value by referring to the first personalized ambient luminance-light source luminance corresponding information and the ambient luminance value; and adjusting the luminance of the light source module according to the optimal luminance adjusting value.

Abstract: An image correction apparatus reduces an input image, for each area, at a reduction ratio corresponding to the area, generates a reduced luminance image, and extracts a low-frequency component image from the reduced luminance image. The image correction apparatus enlarges the extracted low-frequency component image, for each area, at an enlargement ratio corresponding to the area, generates correction data according to a size of the input image, and corrects the input image according to the correction data.

Abstract: The adaptive contrast enhancer uses an adaptive histogram equalization-based approach to improve contrast in a video signal. For each video frame, the histogram of the pixel luminance values is calculated. The calculated histogram is divided into three regions that are equalized independently of the other. The equalized values are averaged with the original pixel values with a weighting factor that depends on the shape of the histogram. The weighting factors can be also chosen differently for the three regions to enhance the darker regions more than the brighter ones. The statistics calculated from one frame are used to enhance the next frame such that frame buffers are not required. Many of the calculations are done in the inactive time between two frames.

Abstract: A method for increasing dynamic range of original image data representing an image comprises applying an expansion function to generate from the original image data expanded data having a dynamic range greater than that of the original image data and, obtaining an expand map comprising data indicative of a degree of luminance of regions associated with pixels in the image. The method then combines the original image data and the expanded data according to the expand map to yield enhanced image data. Apparatus for boosting the dynamic range of image data comprises a dynamic range expander that produces expanded data, a luminance analyzer that produces an expand map and a combiner that combines the original and expanded data according to a variable weighting provided by the expand map.

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: An apparatus including an event detection filter and a spatial event accumulator. The event detection filter receives at least one camera video output and generating a plurality of difference images from a time sequence. Each difference image is based on a time-subtraction of the current image from the previous image, the time sequence above an ambient pixel intensity level including at least one of at least one true flash event and at least one false positive. The spatial event accumulator receives the plurality of difference images from the event detection filter, merges a plurality of spatially proximate smaller flash events of the possible flash event to determine a shape of a single larger flash event, and measures pixel intensities of the plurality of spatially proximate smaller flash events to determine a varying brightness over the shape of the single larger flash event.

Abstract: An imaging device comprises: an imaging element that comprises (i) at least three types of color detection photoelectric conversion elements that detect different color components of light and (ii) brightness detection photoelectric conversion elements that detect brightness components of light; a level adjustment section that adjust levels of color signals acquired respectively from at least said three types of color detection photoelectric conversion elements and levels of brightness signals acquired from the brightness detection photoelectric conversion elements; a composite signal generation section that generates, from ones of the color signals undergone level adjustment, at least three different color signals in correspondence with each of the color detection photoelectric conversion elements and subjects at least said three color signals to weighting and addition, so as to generate composite signals respectively corresponding to the color detection photoelectric conversion elements; and a brightness si

Abstract: An exemplary image generator includes: an image quality improvement processing section configured to receive signals representing first, second, and third moving pictures, obtained by shooting the same subject, and configured to generate a new moving picture representing that subject; and an output terminal that outputs a signal representing the new moving picture. The second moving picture has a different color component from the first moving picture and each frame of the second moving picture has been obtained by performing an exposure process for a longer time than one frame period of the first moving picture. The third moving picture has the same color component as the second moving picture and each frame of the third moving picture has been obtained by performing an exposure process for a shorter time than one frame period of the second moving picture.

Abstract: An image sensor apparatus is disclosed. The image sensor apparatus includes an image sensor for generating pixel data corresponding to a scene under a scene illuminant and a processor. The processor includes an illuminant estimation module for receiving a subset of the pixel data associated with a subset of a color space and finding a chromaticity trend in the pixel data subset to estimate the scene illuminant. A white balance and color correction module in the processor applies white balance and color correction coefficients to the pixel data according to the estimated scene illuminant.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for achieving monochromatic response from a low-cost color imager are presented. In this method and apparatus, the out-of-band response to infrared (IR) light by solid state sensors is exploited to produce a monochrome image. The monochrome image is produced by omitting the IR blocking filter from the sensor of the color imager and illuminating the scene to be imaged including IR radiation from an LED. The wavelength emitted from the LED is matched to the wavelength or wavelengths that correspond to a region where the sensor's response to IR light is relatively even, despite the color-mosaic filter permanently attached to the sensor.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for processing sequences of video images involve receiving, on a computer, data corresponding to a sequence of video images detected by an image sensor. The received data is processed using a graphics processor to adjust one or more visual characteristics of the video images corresponding to the received data. The received data can include video data defining pixel values and ancillary data relating to settings on the image sensor. The video data can be processed in accordance with ancillary data to adjust the visual characteristics, which can include filtering the images, blending images, and/or other processing operations.

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.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a luminance value calculation unit configured to calculate a luminance average value and a luminance peak value from an image obtained by image-capturing for each of frames formed by dividing one screen, a first calculation unit configured to combine the luminance average value and the luminance peak value obtained for each of the frames, a second calculation unit configured to calculate an average value of composite values equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value among composite values obtained by the first calculation unit, and a setting unit configured to set knee strength based on the average value of the composite values obtained by the second calculation unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a three dimensional image projection systems comprised of the projection of two different portions of the image in light beams of differing spectral properties by automated luminairs which can be remotely positioned and can reverse roles during repositioning.

Abstract: A brightness adjusting system for an image of an object captured by a camera includes a plurality of light sources configured for emitting light to the object, a driving device driving the light sources to emit the light, and an adjustment device electrically connected to the camera and the driving device. The adjustment device pre-stores a plurality of standard brightness value ranges, analyzes a brightness distribution of the image, compares the brightness distribution of the image with the standard brightness value ranges, determines required adjustment of the brightness distribution of the image according to the comparison, and directs the driving device to drive the light sources to emit the light with a required intensity according to the required adjustment of the brightness distribution of the image.

Abstract: Techniques for creating a High Dynamic Range (HDR) image within a consumer grade digital camera from a series of images of a scene captured at different exposure levels, and displaying the HDR image on the camera's built-in display, are provided. The approach employs mixing images of the series to incorporate both scene shadow and highlight details, and the removing of “ghost” image artifacts appearing in the mixed HDR image resulting from movement in the scene over the time the series images are captured. The low computational resource utilization of the present invention's image mixing and ghost removal processing operations, along with the present invention's ability to commence image mixing and ghost removal prior to the acquisition of all series images, can significantly reduce the time required to generate and display a tone mapped HDR image.

Abstract: The present invention is applicable to, for example, a camera-integrated video tape recorder, displaying a marker M so that a luminance level, converted into a specific pattern by zebra display, can be specified on a histogram 80.

Abstract: A method of processing data from a CCD 1 having a line of light sensitive CCD elements is provided. The method comprises the steps of receiving measured illumination data readout from the CCD corresponding to measurements of charge associated with each element of the line of light sensitive CCD elements and removing from the measured illumination data in respect of each CCD element a component dependent upon illumination recorded by each of the other CCD elements through which the charge from the CCD element passed during the readout process.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus includes: an image sensing section for sensing an image of a subject; a detector for detecting a luminance of the subject; a compressor for compressing a dynamic range of the subject image; and a controller for controlling a compression characteristic to be used in compressing the dynamic range based on a detection result of the detector.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that performs noise reduction processing to image signals comprises a separation and extraction unit that separates a present image signal into a luminance signal and a color signal and extracts regions having a predetermined size sequentially, a representative luminance calculation unit that calculates a representative luminance value, a representative hue calculation unit that calculates a representative hue value of the region, a color noise estimation unit that estimates a color noise amount based upon the representative luminance value and the representative hue value, a differential color signal calculation unit that calculates a differential color signal from the color signal of the region and a color signal of a past region after noise reduction processing and a color noise reduction unit that performs color noise reduction processing to the color signal of the region based upon the color noise amount and the differential color signal.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus (1) performs matching processing with respect to a first video signal and a second video signal obtained from two imaging devices (3). The matching processing minimizes a disparity amount between the first video signal and the second video signal. A third video signal obtained from one of the imaging devices (3) is shifted by a minimum disparity amount obtained as a result of the matching processing, and is added to a fourth video signal obtained from the other imaging device (3). Non-linear processing and/or contour correction processing is performed on the video signal obtained by adding the two video signals, and a monitoring image is generated. Thus, an image processing apparatus is provided that can obtain a monitoring image of high image quality by adding two video signals and utilizing the resulting video signal as a monitoring image.

Abstract: An imaging device (100) includes: an imaging element (103) obtained by repeatedly arranging a pixel W for entire wavelength band, a W-R pixel for R, a W-G pixel for G, and a W-B pixel for B; a filter (102) configured such that a portion corresponding to the pixel W allows the entire wavelength band of a wavelength band within a certain range to pass and portions corresponding to the W-R pixel, the W-G pixel, and the W-B pixel reflect wavelength bands of corresponding colors, respectively; a reflection amount calculating unit (113) for calculating signal values of R, G, and B by subtracting a value of an image reading signal of each of the W-R pixel, the W-G pixel, and the W-B pixel from a value of an image reading signal of the pixel W.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an image capture unit which includes an image sensor in which pixels for photoelectrically converting an object image are two-dimensionally arrayed in correspondence with color filters of a plurality of colors, and generates an image signal, a reducing unit which reduces the image signal output from the image capture unit to generate a reduced image, an image processing unit which performs development processing for the reduced image to obtain a first developed image containing luminance components and color difference components and performs development for the image signal output from the image capture unit to obtain a second developed image containing luminance and color difference components, an enlargement unit which enlarges the first developed image to the same size as that of the second developed image, and a composition unit which performs composition of the second developed image and an enlarged image.

Abstract: A digital imaging system is described that provides techniques for reducing the amount of processing power required by a given digital camera device and for reducing the bandwidth required for transmitting image information to a target platform. The system defers and/or distributes the processing between the digital imager (i.e., digital camera itself) and the target platform that the digital imager will ultimately be connected to. In this manner, the system is able to decrease the actual computation that occurs at the digital imager. Instead, the system only performs a partial computation at the digital imager device and completes the computation somewhere else, such as at a target computing device (e.g., desktop computer) where time and size are not an issue (relative to the imager). By deferring resource-intensive computations, the present invention substantially reduces the processor requirements and concomitant battery requirements for digital cameras.