Abstract: A camera system includes a lighting device and an imaging apparatus. The lighting device includes a movable unit including a flash unit, a detection unit to detect information indicating the position of the movable unit, and a transmission unit to transmit position information based on information detected by the detection unit to the imaging apparatus. The imaging apparatus includes a calculation unit to calculate amount of light emission of the flash unit, a correction unit to perform correction of the amount of the light emission calculated by the calculation unit, and a reception unit to receive the position information from the lighting device. According to the position information received by the reception unit, the correction unit switches whether to perform correction of the amount of the light emission calculated by the calculation unit.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products allow for the capturing of a high depth of field (DOF) image. A comprehensive depth map of the scene may be automatically determined. The scene may then be segmented, where each segment of the same corresponds to a respective depth of the depth map. A sequence of images may then be recorded, where each image in the sequence is focused at a respective depth of the depth map. The images of this sequence may then be interleaved to create a single composite image that includes the respective in-focus segments from these images.

Abstract: Approaches are described for managing the processing of image data via an electronic device. In particular, various embodiments enable a component, or combination of components, such as one or more camera interface components or other such interface components, to be integrated into a computing device (e.g., a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a wearable device, etc.) to manage the processing of image data captured by one or more cameras of the computing device. For example, one or more camera interface components, such as a camera interface circuit, can allow for coupling at least two cameras to a single input camera port of a processor component.

Abstract: A camera limits an EDOF range using F-DOF through user interactions without causing any discomfort, and includes: a user input unit for accepting input of a focal length; a range determination unit for determining a moving range of an in-focus position, based on the focal length; and an imaging unit for capturing an image in such a manner that the in-focus position moves in the moving range during a exposure time.

Abstract: In one embodiment, when an image is displayed on an electronic device, the image may be panned from one portion to another portion based on information associated with the image or a user viewing the image. In some embodiments, the image may pan starting from a leftmost user in the image and moving to the rightmost user in the image. In some embodiments, the image may pan starting from a specific user near the center of the image and zooming outward until the entire image is displayed. In some embodiments, the image may pan starting from a first user in the image having a highest affinity with the user viewing the image, and ending with a second user in the image having a lowest affinity with the user viewing the image.

Abstract: An image capturing device and a digital zoom display method are provided. The device includes two lens modules configured to respectively capture a first image and a second image, and their capturing view fields are substantially identical, a preview processing unit configured to generate a third image by down-sampling the first image according to a display unit's resolution, a feature extraction unit, an image zooming and distortion unit and an image fusing unit. The second image is trimmed for generating a fourth image according to the same size of the third image. A pixel offset feature corresponding with the third and fourth images is generated by the feature extraction unit. The image zooming and distortion unit generates a fifth image and a sixth image according to the pixel offset feature and zoom ratio to the image fusing unit to generate a combined image displayed on the display unit.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which is capable of performing stable and high-speed focusing on an object intended by a photographer. In a video camera as the image pickup apparatus, an image pickup element picks up an object image formed by a photographic optical system including a focus lens and thereby outputs a video signal. A face-detecting section detects a face detection area based on the video signal. An AF signal processing circuit generates an AF evaluation value signal. An external ranging unit generates object distance information. A microcomputer performs a TV-AF process using an AF evaluation value of the AF evaluation value signal and an external ranging AF process using the object distance information. The microcomputer controls execution of the two focus control processes according to a result of the detection by the face-detecting section.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus is disclosed. The photographing apparatus includes a determination unit which determines a scene category to which an input image belongs from a plurality of predetermined scene categories, a photographing unit which photographs the input image, a control unit which controls the photographing unit to generate an original image corresponding to the input image and an additional image where image processing corresponding to the determined scene category has been performed on the input image, and a display unit which displays the generated original image and additional image according to a predetermined event.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of using machine vision to recognize text and symbols, and more particularly traffic signs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling screen display in a touch screen terminal. The method includes determining a zoom-in region, zooming in contents belonging to the zoom-in region at a corresponding magnification, and expressing the zoomed-in contents.

Abstract: A processor (30) of a mobile terminal (10) that is one example of a camera apparatus detects a face image of a person image (58) in an object image displayed on a display (14) prior to an imaging key (26) is operated, and displays a face mark (60) at a portion of the face of each person image. A user selects arbitrary one or more person image out of the person images onto each of which the face mark is displayed as a zoom processing target by operating an operating portion such as a GUI. A selection mark (62) is applied to a person image that the user selects. A zooming-up and/or down (zoom processing) is performed such that the object image including the person image onto which the selection mark is applied is rendered to a predetermined composition.

Abstract: A manual input via a manual input unit while automatically changing a zoom magnification via a zoom control unit is permitted, and after the manual input, the zoom magnification is automatically changed so that a size of an object output from an object extraction unit becomes a second size in relation to an angle of view.

Abstract: Provided is an image processing apparatus and method which allows high-speed image processing and prevents the field-of-view rate from being degraded due to pixel reduction by the number of ring pixels.

Abstract: An optical instrument of the present invention comprises a ring member which is arranged to be rotatable with respect to a lens barrel, and also to slide in an optical axis direction, a movement mechanism for slide movement of the ring member to a first position or a second position in the optical axis direction, an encoder that generates signals in accordance with a rotation operation of the ring member, a slide position determination section for determining positional change accompanying slide movement to the first position or the second position by the movement mechanism, and a control section for performing determination of the signals from the encoder to switch the display operation, and prohibiting switching of the display operation when the slide position determination section has determined a positional change accompanying the slide operation.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus includes an image sensing unit having an image sensor, an optical member which is arranged in front of the image sensor, a foreign substance detection unit which detects, from a foreign substance detection image including the image of a foreign substance adhered to the surface of the optical member, a recording unit which, when shooting a moving image, records moving image data generated based on image signals successively output from the image sensing unit, and records foreign substance information and lens information in addition to the moving image data, and a lens information obtaining unit which, when the lens information is updated by operating the imaging lens by a user during moving image shooting, obtains the updated lens information. When the lens information obtaining unit obtains the updated lens information, the recording unit records the updated lens information in addition to the moving image data.

Abstract: Provided is a lens barrel having, in order from an object side to an image side, a first to a third group lens, the lens barrel including: a fixed frame; a cam frame supported by the fixed frame so as to be rotationally movable in a optical axis direction between a forward and a backward movement ends; and a shutter frame which moves in the optical axis direction in a rotation restricted state, through the rotation of the cam frame, in which: a third group frame is fixed to the shutter frame so that the object side of the third group lens is arranged on an inner peripheral side of the shutter frame; and the second frame is configured so that the image side of the frame is stored on the inner peripheral side of the shutter frame when the cam frame is positioned at the backward movement end.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus, information processing method and computer program product cooperate in detecting a first target object contained in image information. Image information of an image is received through an interface. A processing circuit determines whether a first target object in the image information has not yet been detected. A determination is also made regarding whether a second target object in the image information has been detected. An image quality parameter of the image is modified to assist subsequent detection attempts in recognizing the first target object when the first target object has not yet been detected but the second target object has been detected.

Abstract: The optical system capable of performing zooming includes a first lens unit and a second lens unit and satisfies conditions of |(?TMyu+?TMyl)/(?WMyu+?WMyl)|<0.67 and 0.75<|(?WMyu+?WMyl)|/2P<16.0. ?WMyu represents a lateral aberration amount for a d-line of a 70 percent upper ray reaching an 80 percent image height at a wide-angle side middle focal length, ?WMyl represents a lateral aberration amount for the d-line of a 70 percent lower ray reaching the 80 percent image height at the wide-angle side middle focal length, ?TMyu represents a lateral aberration amount for the d-line of the 70 percent upper ray reaching the 80 percent image height at a telephoto side middle focal length, ?TMyl represents a lateral aberration amount for the d-line of the 70 percent lower ray reaching the 80 percent image height at the telephoto side middle focal length, and P represents a pixel pitch of the image sensor.

Abstract: An imaging device and a control method for an imaging device of the present invention comprise an imaging section for photoelectrically converting a subject image and outputting image data, and a display section for performing live view display of the subject image based on the image data, wherein, with respect to whether or not a main body is being held, by determining if the main body is in a portrait orientation, and is being held by a touch surface area or with both hands, if this determination is that the main body is not being held a shooting command is received using only a release button, while if it is determined that the main body is being held a shooting command is received by touching the display section.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a positive first lens unit, a negative second lens unit, a positive third lens unit, and a positive fourth lens unit. During zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens unit moves with a locus convex toward the image side, and the third lens unit moves toward the object side. The first lens unit includes, in order from the object side to the image side, a negative first lens, a positive second lens, and a positive third lens. A distance (d12) between the first lens and the second lens, a focal length (fw) of the entire zoom lens at the wide-angle end, and a refractive index (Np) of a positive lens having the lowest refractive index among the refractive indices of materials of all positive lenses included in the first lens unit are appropriately set based on predetermined mathematical conditions.

Abstract: An apparatus for capturing images. The apparatus includes a camera unit configured to capture images of target objects, and a processing unit configured to control the apparatus to detect close-up photography conditions, and to automatically zoom said camera unit in response to said detection.

Abstract: An apparatus having an electronic zoom function, comprising an image sensing element, a zoom magnification setting unit, a pixel signal readout unit, an image processor, and a controller which, when the zoom magnification is between first and second zoom magnifications, controls to read out pixel signals of a first pixel count, and to generate the image using pixel signals of a second pixel count, and when the zoom magnification is between third and fourth zoom magnifications, controls to read out pixel signals of a third pixel count, and to generate the image using pixel signals of a fourth pixel count, the second pixel count is not larger than the first pixel count, the fourth pixel count is not larger than the third pixel count.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a region clipping unit configured to clip an interest image of a region of interest from a captured image captured by an image capturing unit using a wide-angle lens, a distortion correcting unit configured to correct distortion, which is caused by image capture using the wide-angle lens, of the interest image by transforming coordinate data from captured image space to corrected image space, an image-capture control unit configured to control the image capturing unit so as to perform image capture at a zoom ratio, which makes number of coordinate data sets per unit area of the interest image equal to or larger than a predetermined value, of the wide-angle lens, and a distortion-correction control unit configured to control the distortion correcting unit so as to correct the distortion of the interest image captured at the zoom ratio.

Abstract: Provided is a lens optical unit, including at least one lens arranged at an object side of a solid-state image sensor. An imaging plane of the image sensor has a non-planar shape causing a sag amount in an optical axis direction to increase as a distance from an optical axis increases, and satisfies the expression: ?×Sag>0, where ? represents a Petzval curvature of an optical unit represented by ?: ? = ? k ? ? 1 r k · ( 1 n k ? - 1 n k ) , rk represents a curvature radius of a kth lens surface from the object side, nk represents a refractive index of a medium before being incident to the kth lens surface from the object side, n?k represents a refractive index of a medium after being emitted from the kth lens surface from the object side, and Sag represents a sag amount in the optical axis direction related to a given point other than the optical axis on the imaging plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for calibrating an optical instrument which comprises at least a motorized zoom system, an objective, an image sensor and an image processing unit. The method comprises the following steps: establishing calibration data DZRef of the zoom system with a reference objective and storing these in an internal memory of the zoom system; establishing calibration data DORef of the objective with a reference zoom system and storing these in an internal memory of the objective; reading the internal memories of the zoom system and of the objective and applying a digital-optical correction of an image acquired by an image sensor with the calibration data DZRef and DORef. The invention moreover relates to an optical instrument, in particular a digital microscope, to which the calibration method according to the invention can be applied.

Abstract: An input device includes a first operation part and a second operation part. The first operation part is used to adjust a parameter for photographing or content reproduction and is arranged on a first axis. The second operation part is used to adjust the parameter for photographing or content reproduction and is arranged on a second axis which has an inclination different from an inclination of the first axis. A parameter adjustment unit, which is assigned to an operation with regard to the first operation part, is different from a parameter adjustment unit, which is assigned to an operation with regard to the second operation part.

Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. The digital photographing apparatus includes a body unit and an exchangeable lens installed to the body unit, wherein the exchangeable lens includes: a power zoom performer for performing a power zoom operation; and an iris for adjusting an amount light penetrating through an imaging lens, the body unit includes: an image pickup device for generating an image signal by capturing the light; a shutter for controlling light exposure of the image pickup device; and a release controller for controlling operations of the shutter and the iris, and the power zoom operation is prohibited when the release controller starts to drive the shutter or the iris. Accordingly, the power zoom operation is stably controlled.

Abstract: A zoom lens has first through fourth lens groups from the object side to the image side, and changes the magnification by changing their intervals. The first and third lens groups and the second and fourth lens groups have negative and positive powers, respectively. When changing the magnification from the wide-angle end to the telescopic end, the interval between the first and the second lens groups is reduced. The first lens group includes a reflective optical element. The second lens group includes at least two lenses, and the lens nearest to the image is a single plastic positive lens. The third lens group is configured by a single plastic negative lens. When the focal length of the single lens nearest to the image in the second lens group is defined as f2L and the focal length of the third lens group is defined as f3, “0.60<|f2L/f3|<1.60” is satisfied.

Abstract: A mobile terminal and a method for controlling the operation of the same are provided. The mobile terminal includes a first camera including a first lens, a second camera including a second lens having a wider angle than the first lens, and a controller configured to generate a stereoscopic 3D image using disparity between images captured through the first and second cameras. It is possible to generate a stereoscopic 3D image having the same resolution as that of a 2D image that can be captured.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens includes a zoom lens, a driver configured to drive the zoom lens, an operation unit configured to receive a user's operation for changing a magnification of the zoom lens, and a controller configured to control the driver according to the operation of the operation unit. The controller controls the driver in either one of a first operation mode for enabling the zoom lens to stop at an arbitrary position according to the operation of the operation unit and a second operation mode for enabling the zoom lens to stop at one of discrete predetermined stop positions according to the operation of the operation unit.

Abstract: A method of automatically focusing a projector in a projection system is provided that includes projecting, by the projector, a binary pattern on a projection surface, capturing an image of the projected binary pattern by a camera synchronized with the projector, computing a depth map from the captured image, and adjusting focus of the projector based on the computed depth map.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an imaging apparatus configured to display a through image in a visible manner when it is assumed that a status of a focus is confirmed even if a multiple live view display suitable for composition adjustment is performed in multiple exposure photography. The imaging apparatus includes a generation unit configured to multiple-synthesize a through image and at least a captured image, and to generate a multiple-composite image, a display control unit configured to perform control to display the multiple-composite image on a display unit while sequentially updating the multiple-composite image, a magnification instruction receiving unit configured to receive an image magnification instruction, and a control unit configured to perform control to display a through image magnified without multiple-synthesizing, on the display unit when receiving the magnification instruction while displaying the multiple-composite image.

Abstract: In an embodiment, focusing an image-capture device such as, e.g., a camera including an optical system displaceable in opposite directions (A, B) via a focusing actuator, is controlled by evaluating a scale factor for the images acquired by the device. An accumulated value of the variations of the scale factor over a time interval (e.g., over a number of frames) is produced and the absolute value thereof is compared against a threshold. If the threshold is reached, which may be indicative of a zoom movement resulting in image de-focusing, a refocusing action is activated by displacing the optical system via the focusing actuator in the one or the other of the opposite focusing directions (A or B) as a function of whether the accumulated value exhibits an increase or a decrease (i.e., whether the accumulated value is positive or negative).

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit which captures image data of an object, a zoom image data generating unit which generates items of zoom image data having different zoom magnifications, a display control unit which displays through images on a display unit based on the items of the generated zoom image data, a selection unit which selects one of the zoom magnifications by selecting one of the through images displayed on the display unit, and a recording control unit which records image data corresponding to the selected zoom magnification in a storing medium.

Abstract: An image detection device includes: a subject detector that acquires image information in an image field of an imaging optics with an image sensor, and detects a position of a subject in the image field based upon reference information related to an image of the subject and the image information; and a magnification detector that detects a magnification of the imaging optics. And the subject detector starts operation to detect the position of the subject, when the magnification has become greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

Abstract: A handheld magnification device for displaying a magnified representation of an object in a see-through manner is provided. The handheld magnification device includes a casing and a first and a second camera both adapted to acquire an image of the object, and having respectively a first working range proximate the handheld magnification device and a second working range different from and extending beyond the first working range. The handheld magnification device also includes a distance-sensitive sensor for measuring a distance parameter representative of a distance between the object and the handheld magnification device, as well as a processing unit for automatically selecting, based on the distance parameter and the first and second working ranges, one of the first and second cameras as a selected camera. The handheld magnification device further includes a display for displaying the magnified representation of the object based on the image acquired by the selected camera.

Abstract: A mobile device, and a method and computer program product for displaying a streaming video image at the mobile device during a packet based video call via a channel established over a wireless communication network, the method includes receiving a speed indication of the mobile device and sending said indication to a communication client application; and responsive to receiving said indication, the communication client application is configured to limit the amount of information in the streaming video image that is supplied for display on a display of the mobile device during the video call when the speed of the mobile device is greater than, or equal to, a first predetermined speed threshold.

Abstract: A dual sensor camera that uses two aligned sensors each having a separate lens of different focal length but the same f-number. The wider FOV image from one sensor is combined with the narrower FOV image from the other sensor to form a combined image. Up-sampling of the wide FOV image and down-sampling of the narrow FOV image is performed. The longer focal length lens may have certain aberrations introduced so that Extended Depth of Field (EDoF) processing can be used to give the narrow FOV image approximately the same depth of field as the wide FOV image so that a noticeable difference in depth of field is not see in the combined image.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a zoom lens, an operation unit that receives an operation for changing a magnification of the zoom lens, an imaging unit that generates image data based on a subject image formed via the zoom lens, a driver that moves the zoom lens stepwise to one of predetermined stop positions corresponding to each of a plurality steps according to the operation received by the operation unit, and a controller that controls the driver. The controller changes the stop position of the zoom lens at each step according to a size of a region of the imaging unit on which the image data is generated so that a converted focal length at the stop position of the zoom lens at each step is the same regardless of the size of the region.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is disclosed which provides an appropriate inclination guide display in accordance with an aspect ratio of a picked-up image and the like. The image pickup apparatus includes an inclination detector which detects an inclination of the image pickup apparatus, a display device capable of superimposedly showing an inclination guide display corresponding to a detection output from the inclination detector, on a picked-up image, and an aspect ratio setter which sets the aspect ratio of a picked-up image. The apparatus includes a display controller which controls whether or not to show the inclination guide display on the display device on the basis of the aspect ratio set by the aspect ratio setter.

Abstract: Provided is an imaging apparatus including a lens unit having an optical zoom function of collecting light from a subject and optically changing an angle of view, an imaging unit that continuously generates electronic image data using the light collected by the lens unit, an electronic zoom unit that performs electronic zoom by sequentially trimming and enlarging an image corresponding to the image data, a setting unit that sets an enlargement area to be enlarged in the image, a lens manipulation unit that receives a manipulation signal for changing an angle of view, and a control unit that continuously controls, while switching between enlargement of a center of the image by the optical zoom of the lens unit and enlargement of the enlargement area by the electronic zoom of the electronic zoom unit, according to the manipulation signal received by the lens manipulation unit.

Abstract: A zoom lens system including: a first lens group having positive refractive power, a second lens group having negative refractive power, a third lens group and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power, wherein an interval between the first and second lens groups, an interval between the second and third lens groups, and an interval between the third and fourth lens groups change during zooming from a wide-mode to a tele-mode, wherein the first lens group comprises one negative lens and three positive lenses sequentially from the object to the image, wherein the zoom lens system satisfies an condition below: 0.8<f13/f14<1, and wherein f13 denotes a focal length of a positive lens of the first lens group disposed second from the image to the object, and f14 denotes a focal distance of a positive lens of the first lens group disposed closest to the image.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging portion that obtains an imaging video signal; an enlargement processing portion that extracts a partial range from a picture frame range of the imaging video signal and applies video enlargement processing; a first detection portion that obtains a detection value for an automatic processing capability of a first type using the picture frame range before enlargement as a subject; a second detection portion that obtains a detection value for an automatic processing capability of a second type using a picture frame range of the imaging video signal after enlargement by the enlargement processing portion as the subject; a control portion that controls operations of the automatic processing capabilities of the first and second types according to the detection values; and one or plural processing portions that execute the automatic processing capabilities of the first and second types under control of the control portion.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes: a first lens group having a positive refracting power; a second lens group having a negative refracting power; a third lens group having a positive refracting power; a fourth lens group having a positive refracting power; and a fifth lens group having a positive refracting power and configured of sub lens groups. The first, the second, the third, the fourth, and the fifth lens groups are arranged in this order from an object plane. The third lens group serves as a first compensation lens group, and one or more of the plurality of sub lens groups serves as a second compensation lens group. Each of the first compensation lens group and the second compensation lens group independently shifts in a direction perpendicular to a light axis to allow an image formed on an image plane to be shifted in the direction perpendicular to the light axis.

Abstract: Systems and methods for calibrating a 360 degree camera system include imaging reference strips, analyzing the imaged data to correct for pitch, roll, and yaw of cameras of the 360 degree camera system, and analyzing the image data to correct for zoom and shifting of the cameras. Each of the reference strips may include a bullseye component and a dots component to aid in the analyzing and correcting.

Abstract: An image processing method applicable to images captured by a wide-angle zoomable lens is provided. Said method comprising steps of: A. utilizing the wide-angle zoomable lens to photograph a calibration pattern under a predetermined focal length to obtain a distorted image corresponding to the calibration pattern; B. calculating a distortion parameter for the wide-angle zoomable lens at the predetermined focal length; C. utilizing the wide-angle zoomable lens to photograph an object under another focal length to obtain another distorted image corresponding thereto; D. calculating a new distortion parameter by using the distortion parameter obtained from Step B and a multiple relation between said another focal length and the predetermined focal length; and E. using the new distortion parameter to perform distortion correction on said anther distorted image corresponding to the object. The present invention can perform distortion correction for real-time images captured by the wide-angle zoomable lens.

Abstract: A camera module includes a lens system, an image sensor, and an actuator. The actuator is fixed relative to the image sensor, and the actuator moves the lens system relative to the image sensor to achieve focus. Components that move relative to each other result in gaps or spaces between the components, an in particular there is a gap between the lens system and the actuator. Such a gap provides a traveling path for foreign material, or particulates, to enter the camera module and reach the image sensor, or other intermediate optical components between the lens system and the image sensor. A camera contamination reduction apparatus is implemented as a protective membrane that prevents foreign material from reaching the internal optical components through the traveling path.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an optical system of electrical equipment includes an imaging optical system and an optical function complementary processing circuit. The imaging optical system captures light from a subject. The imaging optical system forms a subject image. The electrical equipment includes the imaging optical system, a solid state imaging device, and an image signal processing circuit. The solid state imaging device images the subject image. The solid state imaging device outputs an image signal. The image signal processing circuit executes processing of the image signal. The optical function complementary processing circuit is provided in a processing path between the solid state imaging device and the image signal processing circuit. The optical function complementary processing circuit executes processing for complementing functions of the imaging optical system regarding formation of the subject image.

Abstract: To provide a mobile terminal, a method for adjusting the magnification of a camera and a program that enable a photographer, who shoots an image using a display screen, to easily see an image displayed on the display screen. A mobile terminal including a camera and a display screen comprises: a display control section that displays an image of an object picked up by the camera on the display screen; a detecting section that detects a photographer's eye position with respect to the display screen and measures a distance from the eye position to the display screen; a measuring section that measures a distance from the camera to the object; and an adjusting section that adjusts a magnification of the camera on the basis of the distance measured by the detecting section and the distance measured by the measuring section.

Abstract: The disclosure herein aims to provide an electronic device that makes a sound recording, which gives a realistic sensation. An electronic device disclosed herein includes an imaging unit that captures an image of a subject; an acquiring unit that acquires a parameter having a constant relation with a subject distance that is a distance from the subject to the device; a sound collecting unit that collects sound and generates sound data; a zooming unit that adjusts a magnification of an image of the subject; and a sound processing unit that changes a degree of changing a volume indicated by the sound data with respect to the change in the magnification, according to the parameter.