Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to image a region including a target on which an image is projected to acquire imaged data, a distance measuring unit configured to compute distance data associated with a distance between the target and the imaging unit based on the imaged data acquired from the imaging unit, a plane estimating unit configured to estimate a plane corresponding to the target based on the distance data, and a range specifying unit configured to generate image data associated with the region based on the imaged data and specify a projectable range to the target based on the image data and in formation associated with the plane.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store a relation between an aperture value and a shutter speed for image restoration, a control unit configured to set the aperture value and the shutter speed based on a shooting condition and the relation stored in the storage unit, and an image pickup unit configured to photoelectrically convert an optical image formed via an image pickup optical system with the set aperture value and shutter speed to output an image, and the image restoration is processing to reduce a deterioration of the image caused by an aberration of the image pickup optical system.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for photographing by a photographing device and the photographing device thereof. The method includes: determining whether camera shake is present in response to an operation of pressing a shutter of the photographing device; determining a target configuration parameter according to a current processing mode of the photographing device if camera shake is present; and adjusting the target configuration parameter. During photographing, according to the methods and devices provided in the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is determined whether camera shake is present, a target configuration parameter is determined according to a current processing mode of a photographing device if camera shake is present, and the target configuration parameter is adjusted. This prevents image blurring of photos due to camera shake, thereby improves image quality, and increases photographing success rate of the photographing device.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an acquisition unit acquiring a defocus amount for an optical image which is obtained by an imaging element, a recording unit recording a driving speed of lens with the defocus amount in response to an instruction from a user, wherein the lens is controlled, for adjusting a position at which the optical image is focused, by a lens driving unit, an information generating unit generating lens driving information specifying a relation between the defocus amount and the lens driving speed, and a control unit controlling the lens driving unit so as to move the lens to a position at which the optical image is in-focused to the object at a predetermined speed specified in the lens driving information as a driving speed corresponding to the defocus amount acquired by the acquisition unit.

Abstract: An image is compressed according to a compression ratio selected based on a compression metric. In one embodiment, the compression metric is based on image characteristics indicative of the amount of image noise in an image, such as gain and lux. Greater compression ratios are used for image having compression metrics indicating a higher degree of noise. Because an image with higher image noise levels already has a reduced visual quality, the impact of higher compression is less significant as compared to the impact of compression on images having low image noise. In an embodiment, an image is divided into a number of regions, for each of which a compression metric and corresponding compression ratio is determined, so that regions of the image having high image noise may be compressed more than regions having low image noise.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus control method includes acquiring an image signal by photoelectrically converting an object image and performing control in such a way as to execute a first continuous shooting mode and a second continuous shooting mode based on the image signal, wherein an image capturing condition in the first continuous shooting mode is different from an image capturing condition in the second continuous shooting mode.

Abstract: Provided are a digital photographing apparatus in which a read-out mode may be changed when capturing a moving image, and a method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus. The method includes capturing a moving image having a predetermined frame rate in a first read-out mode, estimating a brightness of surroundings and then determining a shutter speed of a frame to be currently captured based on the estimated brightness of the surroundings, determining whether or not an exposure time that is dependent on the shutter speed is longer than a predetermined time period, and changing the first read-out mode to a second read-out mode that has a shorter read-out time than the first read-out mode when the exposure time is longer than the predetermined time period.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus including a skeleton component separation unit configured to separate a skeleton component illustrating a perspective structure from a source image, a mist/fog correction unit configured to calculate, based on color information in each color channel of the skeleton component, a correction factor that lowers brightness of a pixel as the pixel is brighter and correct, based on the correction factor, brightness of each pixel of the source image, and a brightness restoration unit configured to restore brightness of the brightness-corrected source image to brightness of environmental light as target brightness.

Abstract: According to one aspect, embodiments herein provide a digital pixel circuit comprising a detector configured to discharge a well capacitor when voltage across the well capacitor exceeds a threshold, a DROIC configured, in a first mode, to increment a reset counter when the well capacitor is discharged, and in a second mode, to ignore the discharging of the well capacitor, and a processing unit configured to monitor a count rate of the DROIC, transmit a signal at a first level when the count rate is less than a threshold, and transmit a signal at a second level when the count rate is greater than the threshold, wherein, the DROIC is further configured, in response to receiving the signal at the first level, to operate in the first mode, and in response to receiving the signal at the second level, to operate in the second mode.

Abstract: An image-based motion sensor includes a camera system and a processing system. The camera system is arranged for generating an image output including a plurality of captured images. The processing system is arranged for obtaining a motion sensor output by processing the image output, wherein the motion sensor output includes information indicative of at least one of a motion status and an orientation status of the image-based motion sensor. For example, information indicative of the orientation status of the image-based motion sensor may includes roll, pitch, and yaw related motion information, and information indicative of the motion status of the image-based motion sensor may includes speed, acceleration and displacement information.

Abstract: A camera system includes a body defining a cavity and a camera attached to the body within the cavity and including a lens and a ring surrounding the lens. The camera system includes a wiper assembly attached to the camera and configured for clearing debris from the lens. The wiper assembly includes a wiper configured for contacting and wiping the lens and having a first end and a second end spaced apart from the first end. The wiper is rotatable about a pivot axis between a stowed position in which the wiper contacts the ring and a deployed position in which the wiper contacts the lens. The wiper assembly also includes a counterweight attached to the second end and configured for disposing the wiper in the deployed position, and a resilient member disposed adjacent the ring and configured for disposing the wiper in the stowed position.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit; an image signal correcting unit that executes a signal level correction process on an image signal output by the imaging unit and outputs the level corrected image signal; and a gradation collapse suppression control unit that evaluates a degree of gradation collapse of a predetermined brightness range in the image signal output by the imaging unit and switches control of an exposure amount of the imaging unit and an input/output characteristic of the signal level correction process of the image signal correcting unit, when it is determined that the gradation collapse exists according to an evaluation result and when it is determined that the gradation collapse does not exist according to the evaluation result.

Abstract: A display control apparatus includes: a stability brightness calculation unit for calculating a stability brightness obtained by modifying a temporal change in a brightness of a subject to a slower temporal change on the basis of a change in the brightness of the subject detected by a brightness detection unit; and a display brightness control unit for controlling a following speed of the change in the brightness of a display image with respect to a change in the brightness of the subject on the basis of the calculated stability brightness so that an amount of a change in the brightness related to the display image can become longer than the amount of the change in the brightness of the subject.

Abstract: An image on which a noise reduction and a dynamic range expansion process have been performed is generated by a sequential synthesis process using continuous-photographed images of different exposure conditions. The continuous-photographed images of different exposure conditions are input, configuration pixels of an input image and an intermediate synthetic image are classified into a noise pixel, an effective pixel, or a saturation pixel, a synthesis processing method of a pixel unit is decided according to a combination of pixel classification results of the corresponding pixels, and the intermediate synthetic image is updated according to the decided method.

Abstract: To provide an image pickup apparatus which enables acquisition, by a simple configuration, of a natural image of a dark place or the like at the time of image pickup in a dark environment by eliminating an influence from the surrounding environmental light, an image pickup apparatus of the invention includes an image pickup section for picking up an image of an object and acquiring an image signal, an accumulation section for sequentially accumulating outputs from the image pickup section, a display section for visibly displaying an accumulated image signal of the accumulation section, a position identification section for identifying a position specified on an image displayed on the display section; and a correction section for performing an image correction process on the accumulated image signal of the accumulation section according to an identification result of the position identification section.

Abstract: A method of measuring a shutter time lag of a camera includes: a first step of switching a display pattern of a display unit including i (i is a natural number greater than 2) display elements to a different display pattern at every time TP, and in the first step, the number of j (j is a natural number, and 1<j<i) display elements to be brought into a first display state among i display elements is switched at every time TP; a second step of capturing an image of the display unit in response to a shutter operation of the camera performed in synchronization with the switching operation; and a third step of deducing a shutter time lag taken from the shutter operation to the imaging of the display unit from the image captured by the camera.

Abstract: A camera according to the present invention comprises an operation member provided on an outer periphery of a photographing lens of the camera, a mode determination section for determining an adjustment mode in accordance with a first operation of the operation member, a numerical adjustment section capable of numerical adjustment of shooting parameters in accordance with the determined mode, in accordance with a second operation of the operation member, and a switching section for switching the first operation and the second operation.

Abstract: Wide dynamic range depth imaging in a structured light device is provided that improves depth maps for scenes with a wide range of albedo values under varying light conditions. A structured light pattern, e.g., a time-multiplexed structured light pattern, is projected into a scene at various projection times and a camera captures images of the scene for at least the same exposure times as the projection times. A depth image is computed for each of the projection/exposure times and the resulting depth images are combined to generate a composite depth image.

Abstract: Shielding device for web cameras built into mobile devices such as smart-phones, tablets, netbooks and laptop computers providing such web cameras with a security cover to prevent unintentional or malicious recording of video or images. This security cover or lid allows for parental control through its activation via a driving elements which only the administrator or owner of the device possesses.

Abstract: A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication; a main body having first and second cameras facing in different directions; a display unit configured to display an image captured by the first camera; and a controller configured to activate the second camera when an image compensation mode is set on the mobile terminal, compensate the image using an amount of light entering the first and second cameras, and display the compensated image on the display unit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dual aperture camera which includes a dual band filter and a CMOS image sensor (CIS). The dual band filter is adapted to filter light signals to receive a light signal of a first wavelength range and receive a light signal of a second wavelength range through a pin hole included therein. The CIS is adapted to process the light signal of the first wavelength range and the light signal of the second wavelength range received through the dual band filter.

Abstract: A photographic apparatus includes a photoelectric conversion element, an electrochromic element, and an image processor. The electrochromic element is disposed on a main path by which light travels to the photoelectric conversion element. The image processor is electrically connected to the electrochromic element for adjusting a transmittance of the electrochromic element.

Abstract: Cinematic motion blur and other cinematic effects are enabled during image capture through exposure timing manipulation. The resulting captured images and videos include one or more cinematic effects without the need for a user to impose the cinematic effects post-capture.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media to provide improved autofocus operations are described. In general, techniques are disclosed that show how to improve contrast-based autofocus operations by applying a novel threshold-and-select action to window-specific focus scores. More particularly, techniques disclosed herein may evaluate a multi-window autofocus area over a burst collected group of images. For each captured image, focus scores for each window within an autofocus area may be collected, aggregated and then consolidated to identify a single focus metric and its associated lens position for each window. The window-specific focus scores may be reviewed and selection of a “best” autofocus lens position made using a selection criteria. The specified criteria may be used to bias the selection to either a front-of-plane (macro) or back-of-plane (infinity) focus position.

Abstract: A substantially rectangular spectral representation is synthesized, which is adapted to produce image capture device sensor outputs if applied to an image capture device. The synthesized substantially rectangular spectral representation can be utilized in generating output color values of an output color space from image capture device sensor outputs, where the image capture device sensor outputs correspond to an image captured by an image capture device. The generated output color values correspond to colors perceived by the human visual system for the same image as that captured by the image capture device. Image capture device gamut is also determined.

Abstract: A camera includes a lens to receive an optical image from two viewing angles. A filter converts the optical image into two orthogonally polarized images, each orthogonally polarized image corresponding to a different one of the viewing angles. An image detector detects the two orthogonally polarized images in a single frame. An image processor decodes the two orthogonally polarized images in the single frame into two video signals corresponding to the two viewing angles. A method of imaging includes receiving an optical image from two viewing angles through a single lens, converting the optical image into two orthogonally polarized images, each polarized image corresponding to a different viewing angle, distinguishably detecting the two orthogonally polarized images in a single frame, and decoding the two orthogonally polarized images in the single frame into two video signals corresponding to the two viewing angles.

Abstract: Method and system to improve the performance of a video encoder. The method includes processing an initial video signal in a front-end image pre-processor to obtain a processed video signal and processor information respecting the signal, providing the processed video signal and the processor information to a video encoder, and encoding the video signal in the video encoder according to the processor information to provide an encoded video signal for storage. The system includes a video pre-processor connectable to receive an initial video signal. The video encoder in communication with the video pre-processor receives a processed video signal and a processor information. A storage medium in communication with the video encoder stores an encoded video signal.

Abstract: A focusing apparatus includes an image pickup element that includes a plurality of unit cells including a first pixel and a second pixel corresponding to a same microlens, a detector configured to detect a phase difference of an image signal of a first pixel group and an image signal of a second pixel group that correspond to a focus detection region, a focus controller configured to perform a focus control based on a detection result of the detector, an exposure controller configured to control an exposure value based on an output from the image pickup element, the detector detects the phase difference of an image signal generated by sequentially switching a plurality of focus detection regions, and the exposure controller controls the exposure value so as to be fixed until the detector completes a detection of the phase difference in the plurality of focus detection regions.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for image processing including a first low pass filter (LPF) which removes high-frequency components from selection information about image data selection between a long-exposure image and a short-exposure image, a movement detector which obtains movement detection information by detecting movement from at least one of the images, a second LPF which removes high-frequency components from the movement detection information, a selector which obtains selection results by selecting one of the selection information from which the high-frequency components are not removed by the first LPF and the selection information from which the high-frequency components are removed by the first LPF, for each pixel group based on the movement detection information from which the high-frequency components have been removed, and a composer which composes the long-exposure image and the short-exposure image based on the selection results.

Abstract: Electronic devices may include image sensors that capture interleaved images having rows of long-exposure pixel values interleaved with rows of short-exposure pixel values. Processing circuitry in the electronic device may (spatially) partition the interleaved images into multiple bins. The processing circuitry may generate a weighted long-exposure pixel value for each bin and a weighted short-exposure pixel value for each bin. The weighted long and short exposure values in each bin may be combined to generate a binned high-dynamic-range (HDR) pixel value for that bin. The processing circuitry may output a binned HDR image formed from the binned HDR pixel values to additional circuitry such as video processing circuitry for performing additional image processing operations. If desired, the image sensor and processing circuitry may be combined into an integrated structure that generates a single binned HDR pixel value and multiple integrated structures may be used.

Abstract: In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a method is disclosed. An image is provided. The image is transformed. A similarity score is determined. The similarity score corresponds to a comparison of the image and the transformed image. A camera setting is predicted based on the determined similarity score.

Abstract: Videoconferencing images captured by a video camera in suboptimal lighting conditions are enhanced by analyzing light associated with a portion of the video camera field of view and applying that analysis for white balance of the entire field of view. For example, the face or silhouette of a videoconference participant is detected within the camera field of view so that light within a perimeter of the face or silhouette is analyzed to determine a white balance correction for application to the entire field of view. To reduce the impact of the white balance correction factor based upon the area within a silhouette participant, the image outside the perimeter may be subdued, such as with blurring or dimming.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging member; a specifying member to specify a change in an imaging environment when the imaging member performs imaging; a setting member to perform setting to determine whether an exposure condition is to be fixed or to be subjected to tracking, depending on the change in the imaging environment specified by the specifying member; and a control member to control the imaging member to image a still image according to a content set by the setting member, at a regular interval, during a predetermined time period.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes: a dimming device configured to adjust light quantity of incident image pickup light; an image pickup device configured to obtain an image pickup signal based on image pickup light emitted from the dimming device; and a color correction processing section configured to perform color correction on the image pickup signal that is obtained by the image pickup device, based on information relating to light quantity of the image pickup light emitted from the dimming device. The color correction processing section performs the color correction to allow a color balance value of the image pickup signal to be substantially constant independent of the light quantity of the image pickup light emitted from the dimming device.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging device that includes a plurality of pixels; a first curtain that travels to block incidence of light on the imaging device; a second curtain that permits the incidence of light on the imaging device earlier than the traveling of the first curtain; a reset unit that sequentially reset-scans lines of the pixels earlier than the traveling of the first curtain; and an operation selecting unit that selects one of a mechanical shutter operation performed by the traveling of the first curtain and the second curtain and an electronic shutter operation performed by the first curtain and the reset unit depending on a slit width formed by the first curtain and the second curtain or a slit width formed by the first curtain and the reset-scanning of the reset unit.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus including an electric charge accumulation unit configured to accumulate electric charge in accordance with an incident light quantity; a tracking unit configured to perform tracking; and an exposure control unit configured to perform exposure control, wherein the electric charge accumulation unit performs a first accumulation, and then performs a second accumulation after the first accumulation, wherein the tracking unit performs the tracking based on an image signal obtained through the first accumulation, and wherein the exposure control unit computes a control value for the exposure control based on at least the image signal obtained through the second accumulation of the image signal obtained through the first accumulation and an image signal obtained through the second accumulation.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a touch detection unit configured to detect a touch operation on a display unit, a display control unit configured to control display of an indicator indicating a reference value in an autobracketing shooting and an indicator indicating a bracketing value in the autobracketing shooting, a control unit configured to perform control to increase a width between the reference value and the bracketing value to be set when the touch detection unit detects a touch operation moving in a first direction while keeping touching a setting area for setting the bracketing value on the display unit and to decrease the width when the touch detection unit detects a touch operation moving in a second direction opposite the first direction while keeping touching the setting area, and a bracketing value setting unit configured to set the bracketing value based on the width.

Abstract: An exposure control method and an image processing system are provided. The image processing system comprises: an image sensor module, configured to provide at least two types of source images in parallel, each type of the source images has different exposure setting; a pre-processing unit, configured to determine luminance distribution of the source images on block basis, perform a first exposure control according to the luminance distribution of the two types of source images, and generate output images according to the source images in RAW image domain, and a post-processing unit, configured to determine luminance distribution of the output images, and perform a second exposure control according to the luminance distribution of the output images in normal image domain; wherein exposure settings of the image sensor module is adjusted according to the first exposure control and the second exposure control.

Abstract: An image generating method of an image generating apparatus is provided. The method includes displaying a live view image on a screen of an image generating apparatus, comparing a shutter speed with a frame rate of the live view image when there is a command to image a still image during the displaying of the live view image, adding current frame data of the live view image to next frame data of the live view image to generate added next frame data when the shutter speed is smaller than the frame rate of the live view image, and reading out the added next frame data of the live view image to generate the still image.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises: a sensor that photoelectrically converts incidence light and outputs an image signal; a focus control unit that performs focus control based on a contrast of the image signal corresponding to each of a plurality of focus control areas set within an image capturing area; a counting unit that detects and counts, from among the plurality of focus control areas, high luminance focus control areas indicating a luminance of at least a predetermined luminance; and an exposure control unit that performs exposure control, in a case where the counted number is a first number, so as to reduce an exposure amount of the sensor to less than when the counted number is a second number that is smaller than the first number, the exposure control being performed before the focus control by the focus control unit.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a region based shutter adaptation method for image exposure. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing an image which is non-uniformly illuminated; (b) segmenting the image into two or more non-overlapping regions; (c) identifying brightness values for each of the regions when more than one brightness value has been produced for each of the regions; (d) applying the whole image with different shutters for different regions; and (e) exposing different regions for different exposure durations according to the brightness values respectively assigned to the regions, so that the present invention is capable of enabling different regions within the whole image which is non-uniformly illuminated to have different shutter adaptions.

Abstract: A method used in an optical mouse apparatus includes: generating and emitting a light signal which is emitted to a surface so as to reflect and generate a light reflected signal; generating sensed image(s) according to the light reflected signal wherein the sensed image(s) are used for estimating an offset of the optical mouse apparatus; dynamically adjusting photometric exposure for the sensed image(s) according to a quality parameter, a moving speed, or an output offset number per unit time of the sensed image(s).

Abstract: A method, system, and article provide robust automatic exposure control using embedded data.

Abstract: First image data obtained by capturing an image of a subject under a first light condition, and second image data obtained by capturing an image of the subject under a second light condition different from the first light condition are input. The sampling positions of colors used to generate correction parameters are acquired. First color signal values are sampled from the sampling positions in the first image data, and second color signal values are sampled from the sampling positions in the second image data. Correction parameters used to correct the first image data which depends on the first light condition into image data which depends on the second light condition are generated based on the first and second color signal values.

Abstract: A camera includes: a shooting section that outputs images of an object; a moving image shooting control section that controls the shooting section to repeat shooting under predetermined shooting conditions at a predetermined frame rate; a moving image generation section that generates moving images based on images shot under the predetermined shooting conditions, respectively; an image extraction section that extracts a first image and a second image based on a predetermined condition from each of the moving images; a display section; and a display control section that performs control to simultaneously multi-display the first image and the second image of each moving image on the display section.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging element, a correction value calculating unit, and a correction unit. The imaging element images an object through a photographing lens to generate an image signal. The correction value calculating unit calculates correction values for a plurality of frequency components of the image signal, the correction values corresponding to an aperture value acquired when the object is imaged through the photographing lens. The correction unit corrects frequency characteristics of the plurality of frequency components in accordance with the correction values calculated.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes continuous shooting means, position acquisition means, and direction acquisition means, wherein the continuous shooting means performs multiple shooting operations and obtains multiple images, the position acquisition means acquires position information, the direction acquisition means acquires direction information, and in the multiple shooting operations performed by the continuous shooting means, the position acquisition means does not acquire position information for each of the shooting operations performed by the continuous shooting means, and the direction acquisition means acquires direction information for each of the shooting operations performed by the continuous shooting means.

Abstract: A system for collecting data comprising a mobile terminal for capturing a plurality of frames of image data, the mobile terminal having a first imaging assembly and a second imaging assembly, the first imaging assembly for capturing a first frame of image data representing a first object and the second imaging assembly for capturing a second frame of image data representing a second object, wherein the system for use in collecting data is operative for associating first frame information and second frame information, the first frame information including one or more of image data of the first frame of image data and information derived utilizing the image data of the first frame of image data, the second frame information including one or more of image data of the second frame of image data and information derived utilizing the image data of the second frame of image data.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing an external flash and a global shutter for a device with an integrated rolling shutter camera entail synchronization of the external flash and shutter with the rolling shutter. Responsive to an indication from the device associated with the capture of one or more images, the external flash and shutter are controlled so that exposure is completed before the rolling shutter readout of the camera sensor begins. The disclosed methods and apparatus allow for high quality flash photography not previously possible with such cameras, commonly found in mobile devices, or the like.

Abstract: A dynamic expansion operation of an index value image is performed by specifying an index value range before correction (Gmin to Gmax) for one index value image, calculating magnification K for which to be expanded to an ideal index value range (0 to 1023), and correcting an index value before correction G by the magnification K. An effective magnification Kthre to expand a maximum effective index value range (215 to 747) that can be taken by the index value before correction G calculated from transmittance of a filter to the ideal index value range (0 to 1023) is stored, and in a case where the calculated magnification K is smaller than the effective magnification Kthre, the expansion operation is performed by use of the effective magnification Kthre.