Abstract: The invention illustrates a system and method of displaying a base image and an overlay image comprising: capturing a base image of a real event; receiving an instrumentation data based on the real event; identifying a visual segment within the base image based on the instrumentation data; and rendering an overlay image within the visual segment.

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: In an image pickup apparatus having a display unit that displays an image, an operation member to which a plurality of functions are assigned, and a detection unit that detects touching to the operation member, a display control for the display unit judges with use of the detection unit whether the operation member is touched, and controls, if touching to the operation member is detected, to display on the display unit the functions assigned to the operation member in an operational state of the image pickup apparatus when the touching to the operation member is detected.

Abstract: The focusing information visualization system of the invention extracts an edge having an edge intensity of not less than a first reference value Th1 and an edge width of not greater than a second reference value Th2 in a photographic image and displays the extracted edge in a preset color at a position of the edge extraction to be overlapped with the original photographic image on a screen. A focused area defined by the extracted edge is displayed as N divisional areas. In response to a user's operational specification of one divisional area among the N divisional areas, an enlarged photographic image corresponding to the specified divisional area at a desired magnification ratio is displayed on the screen. This arrangement adopts the automatic rough judgment and the user's final visual check to accurately recognize the focusing status of the photographic image.

Abstract: A digital camera comprises an image sensor for sensing an image; a card reader configured to read a removable data card carrying distortion information; a printer configured to print a distorted image on print media, the printer including a replaceable print roll carrying both the print media and ink to be printed upon the print media; and a controller for controlling the communication of the distorted images to the printer. The print roll includes an ink reservoir section and the ink reservoir section includes a plurality of bladder type containers for storing respective types of ink. A cavity is provided in the ink reservoir section for receiving an integrated circuit device storing information associated with the print roll.

Abstract: A digital imaging device comprises a screen so that a user can view a shot to be captured. One or more reference inclination lines are displayed on the viewing screen. The device also comprises an inclination sensor and displays on the screen one or more cursors mobile relative to the reference inclination line. The device further comprises a man-machine interface for controlling the movement of the reference inclination line. Thus the user can incline the imaging device to position the mobile cursor on one of the reference lines in order to orient his shot optimally. The reference inclination line(s) can also assist with framing the shot.

Abstract: A camera includes an image-capturing unit that captures an image of a subject; a generating unit that generates an image data based on the captured image; a loading unit capable of loading a recording medium for recording the image data generated by the generating unit; a recording control unit that records the generated image data in the recording medium loaded in the loading unit; a detection unit that detects a state of loading of the recording medium in the loading unit; and a display control unit that displays an icon that indicates the state of loading of the recording medium and information on the recording medium in association with the icon on a display device. In an embodiment, the loading unit includes a plurality of recording media.

Abstract: An digital camera includes a storage medium for connecting a storage medium having image information stored thereon and a display unit that displays the image information stored on the storage medium. The digital camera displays characteristic images symbolizing one or more pieces of the image information stored on the storage medium on the display unit. The characteristic images include key images, images extracted by retrieval, or images obtained by analyzing plural pieces of image information.

Abstract: An image processing device capable of executing adjustment of image quality of image data includes a feature amount obtainment unit which obtains an amount of feature indicative of a feature of image quality of the image data, a correction amount obtainment unit which obtains an amount of correction for adjusting the feature amount of the image data to a predetermined target value, and an image quality evaluation unit which evaluates an image quality based on the correction amount.

Abstract: According to the present invention, by providing operation members dedicated for an operation of switching on/of the face detection processing, a face image switching operation, and proceeding to the next image taking, operations related to the face detection processing can be simplified. Furthermore, by displaying a taken image and an face image at the same time, the operation of proceeding to the next image taking after confirming the condition of focus and exposure and the face expression of a subject person can be performed easily.

Abstract: A method and system for photographing in a terminal is provided. The method includes receiving an option for setting a face arrangement location on the viewfinder; detecting a face image on a screen of the viewfinder, determining whether the detected face image is located in the face arrangement location, and if the detected face image is not located in the face arrangement location, informing a user that the detected face image is not located in the face arrangement location. The photographing method and system can allow a user to easily adjust his/her face on the viewfinder and to take a photograph of himself/herself.

Abstract: An image-data loading unit loads image data of an image requested to be displayed based on an input signal in an image memory. A display-image determining unit determines an image to be displayed on the display device based on a priority of the image after the image data is loaded in the image memory. An image-data output unit reads out the image data of the image determined to be displayed by the display-image determining unit from the image memory, and outputs read image data to a display device.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens type camera system includes a camera body and an interchangeable lens mountable to the camera body. An error detector detects whether a communication error occurs between a communication unit of the camera body and a communication unit of the interchangeable lens. A display unit displays a first error handling message when the error detector detects the communication error at a time of activation of the interchangeable lens, and displays a second error handling message when the error detector detects the communication error after activation of the interchangeable lens.

Abstract: A method for adjusting an orientation of a camera installed on a vehicle, comprising the following operations: installing the vehicle at a location provided with markings on the ground, detecting these markings, estimating a vanishing point based on these markings, and matching the vanishing point with a positioning point by angular displacement of the camera.

Abstract: A lens changeable digital camera has an imaging section, including an image sensor for capturing a subject image via the photographing lens, a display section capable of displaying image information and/or character information, a shielding section capable of being moved into and out of an imaging light path of the image sensor, a detection section for detecting an operation to remove the photographing lens, and a control section for, after the shielding section has been moved out of the imaging light path, causing execution of an exposure operation for a specified period in the imaging section, and causing display of a moving image on the display section based on image data acquired by the exposure operation.

Abstract: When an imaging device is set to a BS shooting mode, the imaging device goes into a through-image display state of an object being shot. When a user operates a SET-key, the imaging device is changed to a detailed-screen state in which a sample image, etc., corresponding to each shooting scene is singly displayed. When the user operates a Wide-key of the zoom key in the detailed-screen display state, the imaging device is changed to a multi-screen state of the sample image corresponding to each shooting scene. The user can select a sample image in the detailed-screen state and the multi-screen state. When the user selects a sample image and operates the SET-key, the parameters of the shooting scene corresponding to the selected sample image are set as shooting conditions and the imaging device returns to the through-image display state.

Abstract: A system and method to respond to detection of blurry regions of interest in an image are disclosed. One embodiment includes a region locator to locate one or more regions of interest in an image captured by a digital image capturing device. The embodiment also includes a blurry region detector for detecting whether a region of interest is blurry. A blurry region indicator indicates to a user when a blurry region has been detected. When a blurry region is detected, a display interface provides an enlarged image of the detected blurry region. Some embodiments provide recommendations on how to capture the scene again with improved results.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus (e.g., a hard disk and so on) comprises (a) a recording unit adapted to record moving image data from an external device (e.g., a video camera and so on) on a recording medium; (b) a detection unit adapted to detect an occurrence of a dropout which occurs when the moving image data is recorded onto the recording medium; and (c) a transmitting unit adapted to transmit control data for notifying the presence and absence of a dropout to the external device.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for capturing a digital image including two or more faces by using a face recognition function that aids in preventing overlap in the faces or a significant difference in the sizes of the faces. The apparatus for capturing a digital image by using a face recognition function comprises a digital signal processing means for guiding changing of a capturing composition when face recognition regions are adjacent or overlap with each other or when the sizes of face recognition regions differ from each other.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing distance-based distortion in a camera image of an object, where the distanced-based distortion is due to differences in distance from the camera to different parts of the object. In one approach, the distortion is reduced by estimating distances to different parts of the object and then generating a reprojected image of the object dependent upon the estimated distances and upon a virtual viewpoint that is more distant than the camera from the object. In a further approach, the image is warped such that points in the image match corresponding points in one or more stored templates. In a still further approach, if excessive distortion is present in the image, the camera zoom is increased and a magnified image is displayed, prompting a person to move farther from the camera thereby reducing the distortion.

Abstract: A method of controlling a digital photographing device for storing an image file obtained by taking a photograph in a storage medium, and reproducing an image file stored in the storage medium to display on a display unit, the method including: marking an image file corresponding to an image last displayed on the display unit when a playback mode for displaying an image on a display unit is terminated; and loading, when a playback mode is started, an image file corresponding to an image that has been last displayed on the display unit when a previous playback mode is terminated, to display on the display unit.

Abstract: An electronic device, such as mobile terminal devices, with a photographing function, and in the case where a photographing target is a person, enhances its function for protecting the photographing target from being photographed without consent by such as spy shots.

Abstract: A method of auto-retracting a lens of an image capture apparatus and a control system using the same are applied to an image capture apparatus with a retractable lens. The method includes the following steps. A hardware circuit of the image capture apparatus detects whether an abnormal power failure event occurs or not. The hardware circuit performs a re-boot procedure when detects that the abnormal power failure event occurs. After the hardware circuit performs the re-boot procedure, software in the image capture apparatus utilizes residual power only to perform a control procedure of retracting the lens. After the retractable lens is detected to have been retracted into the image capture apparatus, the software controls the image capture apparatus to be powered off.

Abstract: The image pickup device of the present invention is capable of photographing still images during photography of a moving image, and is provided with a notifying means for visually notifying a subject that a photographic operation of a still image is to be performed when a release button 23 is pressed half-way down during photography of the moving image, and then performs the photographic operation when the release button 23 is fully pressed. The first notifying means may be a light emitting means 25 which lights up or flashes when the release button 23 is pressed half-way down, or maybe a flash lamp device in which a light source 27 pops up when the release button 23 is pressed half-way down.

Abstract: A digital single-lens reflex camera determines whether a predetermined time has passed since the start of display. If the predetermined time has not passed yet, the camera performs face detection to determine if a user is looking into an optical finder of the camera. When the face detection is performed, a system control circuit identifies the present content displayed. When the displayed content is an ordinary image, photographing information, or attention-seeking alert, display of the content is immediately stopped. When the displayed content is alert prohibiting imaging, it is checked whether a switch operation has been performed. If the switch operation has not been performed at all, or a switch operation for canceling the displayed alert has not been performed, timer counting is cleared before the timer counting is initiated again.

Abstract: Method and system for receiving an advance decision from a wireless communication device user to terminate a video sequence captured by the user at a limit length of a target use for the video sequence and enforcing the advance decision upon reaching the limit length. The method and system relieve the user of the burden to continuously monitor the length of video sequences and terminate video sequences at just the right time.

Abstract: When an UNREG voltage is equal to or less than a PREEND voltage, a notification for informing this state is sent from a lens-side CPU of a lens unit to a body-side CPU of a camera body by UART communication. At this time, the body-side CPU displays a warning, which informs that remaining battery is small, on an LCD. When the UNREG voltage is equal to or less than an END voltage, a notification for informing this state is sent to the body-side CPU 25 by the UART communication. At this time, the lens-side CPU waits until the body-side CPU turns off a power supply of the lens unit. The body-side CPU stops supplying electricity to the lens unit and displays a warning, which informs that the battery runs out, on the LCD. After that, the body-side CPU turns off a power supply of the camera body.

Abstract: Digital imaging system and method in which user operation of a digital zoom selection switch to increase digital zoom of a portion of an evaluation image is interrupted for at least an interval of time as a warning to the user that the digital zoom selection has reached a digital zoom ratio that corresponds to a predetermined minimum image resolution quality level in an image of a given size to be rendered from the portion of the evaluation image. The user can then resume increasing digital zoom selection only by opening and re-closing the zoom selection switch. A graphical indicator is used to show changes in zoom settings and the appearance of the indicator is changed when one or more predetermined digital zoom settings are reached to reinforce the visual warning to the user.

Abstract: A digital camera which has a plurality of modes including shooting mode and enables shooting, when the shooting mode is selected, in macro shooting mode or other shooting modes, comprising: a subject decision device which decides whether a shooting screen includes a subject which cannot be properly photographed in the macro shooting mode, a macro shooting mode decision device which decides whether the macro shooting mode is selected or not, and a macro shooting mode canceling device which cancels the macro shooting mode when the subject decision device decides that the shooting screen includes a subject which cannot be properly photographed in the macro shooting mode and the macro shooting mode decision device decides that the macro shooting mode is selected.

Abstract: A digital camera has a shutter release button. A mode selector sets a selected one of a regular photographing mode and a macro photographing mode adapted to image pickup at a nearer distance of close-up than the regular photographing mode. An LCD display panel as a user interface has an alarm generating region which outputs an alarm signal visually as an enlarged alarm icon, and/or a sound source as a user interface audibly outputs sound of alarm message voice. A controller is responsive to depression of the shutter release button, for mode discernment by checking a state of the mode selector. The LCD and/or sound source is driven if the macro photographing mode is set selectively.

Abstract: A digital camera includes an image pickup device which converts incident light of an object image into an electrical signal during an exposure operation; a processor which captures the electrical signal, and thereafter generates a digital image from the electrical signal; a battery checking device which performs a battery check process for determining whether a battery voltage of the digital camera is lower than a predetermined voltage level; a controller which forcibly terminates the exposure operation when the battery checking device determines that the battery voltage drops below the predetermined voltage level during the exposure operation, and subsequently makes the processor start capturing the electrical signal in order to generate a backup digital image; and a warning device which warns a user that the exposure operation is forcibly terminated due to a shortage of the battery voltage and that the backup digital image is underexposed, in the case where the exposure is forcibly terminated.

Abstract: A digital camera is constituted of a camera body and a lens unit. The lens unit is removably attached to the camera body. When the lens unit is attached to the camera body, they are electrically connected through connection terminals. A nonvolatile memory in the lens unit previously stores a chart image that is obtained by capturing a resolving power chart representing image resolving power by a CCD. When an attachment detector of the camera body detects that the lens unit is attached to the camera body, the chart image is transferred into the camera body and is displayed on a LCD.

Abstract: A method for blurred image judgment is provided. Firstly, a focus value FV1 of an original image is calculated. By using a blur function, the original image is obfuscated to generate a blurred image, and then the focus value FV2 of the blurred image is calculated. A blur ratio FV1/FV2 is compared with a blur threshold value Tp, thereby discriminating whether the original image is blurred according to the comparing result. The method for blurred image judgment is applicable to a digital image capture device. If the original image is deemed blurred, a blur image signal is issued to notify the user whether the retaking operation is done.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus capable of performing bracketing image sensing operations for a plurality of different types of parameters is provided. The image sensing apparatus comprises a selection unit adapted to select a parameter for performing a bracketing image sensing operation, and a controller adapted to prohibit a bracketing image sensing operation for other types of parameters in a case where the parameter for performing the bracketing image sensing operation is selected by the selection unit.

Abstract: A digital camera comprising: a solid-state image pickup device having an image pickup region; a signal processing unit for generating a through-image on a basis of an image signal read from a region extracted from a through-image extraction frame of said image pickup region; a display unit for displaying said through-image generated by said signal processing unit; a camera shake detection unit for detecting an amount of camera shake; and a control unit for calculating an amount of displacement by amplifying said amount of camera shake detected by said camera shake detection unit and shifting said through-image extraction frame on a basis of said amount of displacement.

Abstract: In a digital camera including a digital signal processing portion processing a digital image and a display device displaying the image according to a digital signal from the digital signal processing portion, and a control portion controlling overall operation, after the user takes a picture, image data is analyzed by the digital signal processing portion to determine picture quality and, when it is determined that the picture quality is inadequate, the user is informed of information regarding the quality of the picture.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an electronic device such as mobile terminal devices with a photographing function, and in the case where a photographing target is a person, enhances its function for protecting the photographing target from being photographed without consent by such as spy shots.

Abstract: A digital imaging device automatically detects that a subject is too close to the device for acceptable focus to be achieved and informs the user, takes automatic corrective action, or both.

Abstract: In a digital camera including a digital signal processing portion processing a digital image and a display device displaying the image according to a digital signal from the digital signal processing portion, and a control portion controlling overall operation, after the user takes a picture, image data is analyzed by the digital signal processing portion to determine picture quality and, when it is determined that the picture quality is inadequate, the user is informed of information regarding the quality of the picture.

Abstract: In an image sensing apparatus having an electronic flash that illuminates an object and an image sensor that acquires an image of the object as an image signal, whether to perform a process regarding pink-eye correction for the image of the object acquired by the image sensor is selected before image sensing. The process regarding pink-eye correction is performed for the image of the object in accordance with the selection result. Process result regarding pink-eye correction is displayed together with the image of the object before pink-eye correction or the image of the object after pink-eye correction.

Abstract: Provided are a method for controlling a digital photographing apparatus that informs a user when a flash is set to go off when photographing, and photographs with the flash according to user manipulation, and a digital photographing apparatus utilizing the method. In one implementation of the method, the digital photographing apparatus stores an image file in a recording medium after photographing a subject, plays the image file stored in the recording medium, and displays the image file on a display panel. Various implementations of the method include: determining the on/off state of the flash when a shutter release button is pressed to a first step when a mode that protects the subject from the flash is set; and if it is determined that the flash is “on,” informing the user of the “on” state of the flash.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus, such as a digital camera or a digital still camera, is capable of easily capturing an optimal image by determining a state of a subject via image processing during capturing, and executing re-capturing or giving a warning to prompt re-capturing according to a result of the determination.

Abstract: A “Panoramic Viewfinder” provides an intuitive interactive viewfinder display which operates on a digital camera display screen. This interactive viewfinder provides real-time assistance in capturing images for constructing panoramic image mosaics. The Panoramic Viewfinder “brushes” a panorama from images captured in any order, while providing visual feedback to the user for ensuring that desired scene elements will appear in the final panorama. This visual feedback presents real-time stitched previews of the panorama while capturing images.

Abstract: An evaluation on image information is indicated before operating a shutter operating section. For example, a method of evaluating image information includes: (a) a step of converting an optical image of an object to be photographed into electrical image information; (b) a step of evaluating the image information that has not yet been stored in a non-volatile memory, wherein the image information is evaluated in a state in which a shutter operating section, on which a predetermined operation is performed when storing the image information in the non-volatile memory, is not being subjected to the predetermined operation; and (c) a step of outputting an evaluation result.

Abstract: A recording apparatus is able to suppress instances in which the user misses shutter opportunities or has to abort shooting due to insufficient remaining capacity on a recording medium. When the remaining capacity of the recording medium falls below a threshold, the user is allowed to set a desired recording duration. If it is determined that recording for the set desired recording duration at the target encoding data rate currently set is not possible, recording for the desired recording duration is enabled by automatically setting a recording mode that corresponds to a lower target encoding data rate, for example.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus comprises an image pickup unit, a recording unit for recording image data obtained by the image pickup unit on recording unit, a display unit for displaying images relating to the image data obtained by the image pickup unit, and a control unit for making different the luminance of images to be displayed on the display unit in standby mode during which the recording of image data by recording unit is stopped, from the luminance in recording mode during which the image data are being recorded by the recording unit.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to provide an autofocus method and apparatus capable of always performing proper focusing operation. To achieve this object, a control device drives a focus lens in accordance with the operation of an operation device, and stores the stop position of the focus lens. While the focus lens is driven within a predetermined range using the stop position as a reference, the control device stores an output from an extraction device in association with the position of the focus lens. The control device determines the focusing state of the focus lens from the output from the extraction device, and when determining from the determination result that the focus lens is incapable of focusing, drives the focus lens to the stop position.

Abstract: A method for assessing the photo quality of a captured image in a digital camera comprises the steps of checking in-camera the photo quality of the captured image to determine if the photo quality is acceptable, and providing a corresponding photo quality feedback to a camera user.

Abstract: A method of controlling a digital camera includes performing photographing of an object, determining whether the amount of exposure is appropriate and shakiness is present, and notifying a user of such information if the amount of exposure is not appropriate or shakiness is present. The determination step includes reading a focus value of the object, reading a lower limit value of a compressed file size set to correspond to the read focus value of the object at a compression rate and a resolution set by the user, and determining that the amount of exposure is not appropriate and shakiness is present if the size of a present compressed file of image data obtained from the photographing is smaller than the lower limit value of the compressed file size.

Abstract: The electronic camera, and image display method and image recording method applied thereto are capable of eliminating discontinuity in moving image caused by a camera control such as interruption by still image recording in moving image capturing and aperture switching. With respect to the period during which the capturing of the image data of moving image is interrupted, an image picked-up immediately before the interruption is repeatedly displayed or recorded. As to the moving image recording, supplementary recording for non-recording period may be performed afterward by utilizing an image immediately after resuming the reading of movie image. Moreover, display of non-image screen (“non-display”), recording of black screen (“black recording”) or display or recording of a special image can be inserted if necessary, thus giving an impression that the shutter is clicked.