Abstract: The present invention is directed to a light sensitivity calibration method and an imaging device. An exposure step is performed to obtain a light sensitivity according to a predetermined time. A time adjustment step is performed to adjust the predetermined time according to the light sensitivity, thereby obtaining an adjusted time. The predetermined time is replaced with the adjusted time and the exposure and time adjustment steps are repeatedly performed, until the adjusted time converges within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A method of analyzing images captured using an imaging device is provided herein. The analysis provides suggestions for changing a parameter of the imaging device during subsequent image capture.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of not only detecting whiteout or blackout but also effectively achieving exposure control. In the image pickup apparatus, an entire-screen brightness frequency distribution is detected based on a picked-up image signal. The image pickup apparatus calculates a first exposure control value from the entire-screen brightness frequency distribution. The image signal is divided into a plurality of small areas, and the brightness of each of the small areas is detected. The image pickup apparatus calculates a second exposure control value from the brightness. The image pickup apparatus calculates an exposure correction value based on the first exposure control value and the second exposure control value. An exposure value is calculated using the exposure correction value and an exposure value of the image signal. The image pickup apparatus performs exposure control of the image pickup section based on the calculated exposure value.

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: A portable consumer electronics device has a handheld portable device housing, and an electronic camera module integrated in the housing. The module has a focusing lens to focus light from a scene, an imaging sensor to receive the focused light, and an electro-optic variable aperture to allow different amounts of the light from the scene to reach the imaging sensor. The aperture has a stack that includes a front transparent conductor medium, an electrolyte medium, an active electro-chromic medium, and a rear transparent conductor medium. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Abstract: An adjustable multimode lightfield imaging system. A non-homogeneous filter module is positioned at the pupil plane of the lightfield imaging system and provides the multimode capability. The filter module can be moved relative to the imaging system with the exposure conditions adjusted accordingly, thus allowing adjustment of the multimode capability.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for generating high-dynamic range image data is disclosed. The method includes the steps of receiving image sensor data from an interleaved image sensor. The interleaved the image sensor includes a first portion of pixels exposed for a first exposure time and a second portion of pixels exposed for a second exposure time that is shorter than the first exposure time. The method further includes the steps of identifying a first subset of pixels in the second portion having an intensity value above a first threshold value, identifying a second subset of pixels in the first portion having an intensity value below a second threshold value, and generating high-dynamic range (HDR) data based on the first subset and the second subset.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, or method is provided for imaging and for capturing visuals to provide image manipulation options for increasing resolution of subject images. A system, apparatus or method for increasing resolution of subject images using a camera to deliver unexposed photographic emulsion or a digital image and to generate images of greater resolution by modifying digital images or modifying digital and emulsion images.

Abstract: An image sensor that has a pixel array section in which pixels are arrayed in a two-dimensional manner in vertical and horizontal directions and that controls an exposure time of each pixel in a rolling shutter method is disclosed. The sensor includes control means for determining an electronic shutter occurrence number within one horizontal scanning period, which is the number of rows where electronic shutters are simultaneously performed in one horizontal scanning period, by an operation based on an address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN) when a vertical address movement amount of the pixel array section for every one horizontal scanning period in an exposure regulation shutter, which is an electronic shutter for regulating exposure, executed corresponding to electric charge reading in each pixel is expressed as repetition of the address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN).

Abstract: A projection unit projects light to a predetermined projection region in which a user's face is supposed to be located. An imaging unit images a region including the projection region projected with light from the projection unit. A proximity detection unit detects that the user's face approaches the projection unit. A first projection control unit causes the projection unit to stop or dim projection of light when the proximity detection unit detects the approach of the user's face.

Abstract: An image capturing unit outputs both a valid video signal (a primary video signal) and an unnecessary video signal (a secondary video signal) as an output signal; a flash detection unit detects white band interference caused by an external flash; and a flash correction unit delays the valid video signal using a first delay unit and delays the unnecessary video signal using a second delay unit. When white band interference has occurred, the outputs of the respective delay units are added together by an adding unit, generating a corrected signal. An output selection unit selects and outputs the signal from the first delay unit in normal times, and when interference caused by an external flash has occurred, selects and outputs the corrected signal.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises a capturing unit which captures an image; a detection unit which detects an object from the captured image; a generating unit which generates a luminance distribution of the captured image; a calculating unit which calculates, based on the luminance distribution, an exposure amount used when performing autoexposure bracketing that captures a plurality of images at different exposures; a determining unit which determines whether or not to perform the autoexposure bracketing using the calculated exposure amount; and a correcting unit which corrects the calculated exposure amount based on feature information of the object detected by the detection unit.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a casing, a camera module, a shielding plate, and an actuator. The casing includes a front plate and a sidewall extending from an outer periphery of the front plate. The front plate defines a through hole. The camera module is positioned on and received in the casing and aims at the through hole. The shielding plate is rotatably positioned on and received within the casing and located between the front plate and the camera module. The shielding plate defines an aperture. The actuator is positioned on and received in the casing for driving the shielding plate to rotate between a closed position, in which the through hole is shielded by the shielding plate, and an open position, in which the aperture is aligned with the through hole.

Abstract: By utilizing scene metrics in an image processing system (such as night vision goggles or a camera), a setpoint controller can set a setpoint used by a gain controller. Using the setpoint and an average video level of a frame, the gain controller can set gain control signals sent to an image sensor and/or a high voltage power supply to adaptively adjust for higher and lower light scenarios. Scene metrics can include an amount of saturation in a frame, a number or percentage of pixels above a first threshold and a number or percentage of pixels below a second threshold.

Abstract: A system comprises a digital imaging system for capturing digital images. The system includes a controller that captures at least one digital image, determines a brightness level of at least one bright region of the digital image, and generates brightness data representing the brightness level of the at least one bright region. The brightness data is compared with compositional information for determining a maximum brightness level of the at least one bright region of the digital image. The maximum brightness level comprises a level of brightness where information about the at least one bright region remains. The controller then determines an exposure value of a final digital image, where at least one region of the final digital image has a brightness level equal to or less than the maximum brightness level. At least one final digital image is then captured.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: light receiving portions that accumulate signal charges corresponding to incident light; charge transfer portions that are formed to be adjacent to the light receiving portions so as to transfer the signal charges read out from the light receiving portions; readout electrodes to which a readout voltage for reading out the signal charges accumulated in the light receiving portions to the charge transfer portions is applied; and a controller that is configured to be able to apply the readout voltage to the readout electrodes corresponding to first predetermined light receiving portions which are part of the light receiving portions in an exposure period when the signal charges are accumulated in the light receiving portions.

Abstract: A video processing method includes: dividing a currently processed frame into a top field and a bottom field, and performing field exposure on the top field and the bottom field respectively to acquire an exposed top field and an exposed bottom field, where a field exposure time length of the top field and that of the bottom field are different; processing the exposed top field and the exposed bottom field by using a de-interlacing technique to acquire two reconstructed exposed frames; and performing image enhancement processing on the two reconstructed exposed frames to acquire an image of the currently processed frame.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a signal control section for receiving an input signal read-out from the imaging element in either of the interlace scheme or the progressive scheme, and for performing a different process on the input signal according to the read-out scheme to generate an output signal for a signal processing section; and a signal processing section for performing signal processing on the input signal from the signal control section and for generating an output image signal. When a read-out scheme from an imaging element is either an interlace scheme or a progressive scheme, the signal control section performs a control of generating a signal which includes the same color information to output the signal to the signal processing section.

Abstract: A feature amount is calculated from input image data, then a scene of the input image data is determined based on the feature amount and the reliability of the scene is calculated. Then correction processing is performed on the input image data that corresponds to the determined scene and the scene reliability of the scene.

Abstract: A row scanning unit activates a synchronous curtain shutter mode in which pixel reset scan is performed and exposure of the imaging area is started by the pixel reset scan and is ended by light shielding by a mechanical curtain shutter, the pixel reset scan meaning that scan on a row-by-row basis is performed on pixel reset in which the photodiodes are reset by turning on the transfer transistors and a corresponding reset transistor, wherein in the mechanical curtain synchronous shutter mode, the pixel reset scan according to the traveling characteristics of the mechanical curtain shutter is performed, and the pixel reset scan includes performing a pixel reset operation simultaneously on the unit cells of different rows.

Abstract: There is provided an image capturing apparatus, comprising an image capturing unit configured to acquire video data at a first frame rate or a second frame rate higher than the first frame rate; and a control unit configured to perform control of an aperture and an exposure time within a range in which the exposure time is shorter than or equal to a maximum exposure time that is a reciprocal of a frame rate of the image capturing unit, so that luminance of the image signal acquired by the image capturing unit is at a predetermined level, wherein when the image capturing unit is operating at the first frame rate, the control unit performs the control within a range in which the exposure time is shorter than a first time that is a reciprocal of the first frame rate.

Abstract: A digital camera having a burst image capture mode, comprising: an image sensor; an optical system; a data processing system; an image memory; and a program memory storing instructions configured to implement a method for capturing a sequence of digital images in the burst image capture mode. The instructions include: capturing two or more evaluation digital images of a scene that includes a moving object; analyzing the evaluation digital images to determine a rate of motion for the moving object; determining a frame rate responsive to the rate of motion for the moving object; initiating an image capture sequence; capturing a sequence of digital images; and storing a set of captured digital images corresponding to the determined frame rate in the image memory.

Abstract: A non-transitory computer program product, photographing apparatus and a method of controlling the photographing apparatus, the method including obtaining sound information; calculating a shooting frequency based on the obtained sound information; and controlling a shutter of an imaging device to obtain image data according to the calculated shooting frequency.

Abstract: An image-capturing device includes: an instruction unit that issues a photographing instruction signal; an image sensor that obtains frame images over predetermined time intervals; a storage unit into which a plurality of frame images obtained via the image sensor are sequentially stored; a save candidate designation unit that designates a plurality of frame images obtained before and after an output of the photographing instruction signal among a plurality of frame images stored in the storage unit as save candidate images that may be saved into a recording medium; and a control unit that controls the save candidate designation unit so as to designate as the save candidates a plurality of frame images obtained before and after a second photographing instruction signal issued within a predetermined length of time following the output of the photographing instruction signal.

Abstract: A method of operating an image pickup system includes generating a first control signal in response to a long duration exposure mode selectively input by a user, setting circuits to process image data associated with modes other than long duration exposure mode to a standby mode in response to the first control signal, generating a second control signal when the standby mode has been established, opening a shutter in response to the second control signal, and performing a long duration exposure to accumulate a charge corresponding to an optical signal incident on an image sensor of the image pickup system when the shutter is open.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for obtaining a properly exposed strobe-illuminated image are provided. One method for doing so may include, for example, gathering image capture statistics during a first period when a strobe is not emitting light and during a second period when the strobe emits a preflash. These image capture statistics may include distinct image capture control statistics and luma values associated with the periods. Final image capture control statistics then may be determined based at least in part on the first luma value normalized to the first image capture control statistics and the second luma value normalized to the second image capture control statistics. Thereafter, the final image capture control statistics may be used to capture a properly exposed strobe-illuminated image when the strobe emits a main flash.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and a computer readable medium for performing auto exposure (AE) techniques that are beneficial in variable lighting conditions—and particularly applicable to handheld and/or mobile videoconferencing applications—are disclosed herein. Handheld and/or mobile videoconferencing applications—unlike their fixed camera counterparts—are often exposed to a wide variety of rapidly changing lighting and scene conditions, and thus face a difficult trade-off between adjusting exposure parameter values too frequently or not frequently enough. In personal electronic devices executing such handheld and/or mobile videoconferencing applications, it may be desirable to: use a small, centered, and center-weighted exposure metering region; set a relatively low brightness target value; and adjust the camera's exposure parameter values according to a distance-dependent convergence speed function.

Abstract: Methods, image processors and imaging devices for capturing a high dynamic range (HDR) image. Multiple images of a scene are captured at respectively different exposure settings. A further image of an object placed in the scene is captured at one exposure setting. A first radiance image is formed from the multiple images. A second radiance image is formed from the further image. The first radiance image and the second radiance image are merged to form the HDR image.

Abstract: An image capture device for capturing an image of an object includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements configured to output a signal corresponding to the image based on an amount of exposure between a first shutter operation for starting exposure and a second shutter operation for ending exposure, a controller configured to control the first shutter operation and the second shutter operation, and an image generation section configured to correct the signal, and to generate an output image corresponding to the signal after being corrected. The image generation section is configured to correct the signal based on variance in exposure duration among the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements between the first shutter operation and the second shutter operation.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a main subject detecting unit, and control unit. The imaging unit includes an imaging element. The imaging unit generates image data. The main subject detecting unit detects a main subject from the image data. The control unit compares an exposure value of the image data with a predetermined appropriate value and performs an exposure control so that the exposure value for the main subject part in the image data changes to the appropriate value and the exposure value for a part excluding the main subject part in the image data changes to a value larger than the appropriate value.

Abstract: An image sensor that has a pixel array section in which pixels are arrayed in a two-dimensional manner in vertical and horizontal directions and that controls an exposure time of each pixel in a rolling shutter method is disclosed. The sensor includes control means for determining an electronic shutter occurrence number within one horizontal scanning period, which is the number of rows where electronic shutters are simultaneously performed in one horizontal scanning period, by an operation based on an address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN) when a vertical address movement amount of the pixel array section for every one horizontal scanning period in an exposure regulation shutter, which is an electronic shutter for regulating exposure, executed corresponding to electric charge reading in each pixel is expressed as repetition of the address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN).

Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus includes an AF region setting unit for setting an AF region, a luminance detection area setting unit for setting a luminance detection area, a luminance calculation unit for calculating luminance values of the AF region and the luminance detection area, and a determination unit for calculating a luminance difference value that is a difference value between the luminance value of the AF region and the luminance value of the luminance detection area, and determining validity of an AF evaluation value with respect to the AF region according to the luminance difference value.

Abstract: A method for forming a final digital color image includes capturing an image using an image sensor having panchromatic pixels and color pixels corresponding to at least two color photoresponses; providing from the captured image a digital panchromatic image and an intermediate digital color image; and using the digital panchromatic image and the intermediate digital color image to provide the final digital color image.

Abstract: Techniques and tools for high dynamic range (“HDR”) image generation and rendering are described herein. In several described embodiments, images having distinct exposure levels are aligned. In particular embodiments, the alignment of a reference image to a non-reference image is based at least in part on motion vectors that are determined using covariance computations. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, saturated areas, underexposed areas, and/or moving objects are ignored or substantially ignored during the image alignment process. Moreover, in certain embodiments, a hierarchical pyramid block-based scheme is used to perform local motion estimation between the reference image and the non-reference image.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing images is provided. In the system and method, preview images are acquired and global local and local motion are estimated based on at least a portion of the preview images. If the local motion is less than or equal to the global motion, a final image is captured based at least on an exposure time based on the global motion. If the local motion is greater than the global motion, a first image is captured based on at least a first exposure time and at least a second image is captured based on at least one second exposure time less than the first exposure time. After capturing the first and second images, global motion regions are separated from local motion regions in the first and second images, and the final image is reconstructed at least based on the local motion regions.

Abstract: A mobile phone terminal with a camera function includes a camera hardware section having an image sensor and a camera lens, an instruction input section for inputting an instruction to start image capturing, an illumination sensor which is arranged on an outer surface of a housing and detects an ambient illumination value while a mobile phone function is activated, and an image capturing start control section. The image capturing start control section sets camera driver software into a standby state after starting it while the mobile phone function is activated. When an instruction to start image capturing is inputted from the instruction input section, the image capturing start control section determines an exposure value used for image capturing by using the detected illumination value, restores the camera driver software, and causes the camera hardware section to perform image capturing using the exposure value.

Abstract: Systems and methods for multi-exposure imaging are provided. Multiple images may be captured having different exposure times. The multiple images may be processed to produce an output image. Multi-exposure images may be summed prior to linearization. Pixel values in multi-exposure images may be summed to nonlinear pixel values. The nonlinear pixel values may be linearized using one or more knee points. Multi-exposure imaging may be used to motion-intensive application such as automotive applications.

Abstract: A method for capturing multiple sets of image data with an electronic camera having a shutter and an electronic shutter for selectively allowing light to reach an image sensor comprises opening the shutter and the electronic shutter, allowing light to reach the image sensor for a first exposure time, closing the electronic shutter, reading out pixel data captured during the first exposure time, allowing light to reach the image sensor for a second exposure time, and, reading out pixel data captured during the second exposure time. The method may be used to obtain multiple differently exposed images of a scene for combination into a high dynamic range image.

Abstract: Provided are a digital image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the apparatus, by which a setting item designated by a user and a setting status of a setting value for the setting item are displayed together, thereby allowing the user to efficiently set items necessary for a photographing operation and/or other operations. The apparatus includes a body and a display unit on the body where setting information is displayed, in which a display screen displayed on the display unit includes a selection region where at least one setting item is displayed and an adjustment region where a currently set current setting value is displayed together with candidate setting values that can be set for at least one of the at least one setting item, and in which the at least one setting item is designated as candidate items that can be displayed on the selection region and display items selected from among the candidate items are displayed on the selection region.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a solid-state image pickup device, an optical system, and a flash. The solid-state image pickup device has an electronic shutter function of outputting accumulated signal charges at a timing corresponding to a shutter speed. The optical system collects incident light to an image pickup area of the solid-state image pickup device. The flash irradiates light to an object to be photographed by the solid-state image pickup device. The solid-state image pickup device includes a pulse generator circuit for generating one or more of an electronic shutter pulse for controlling an accumulation time of signal charges by using the electronic shutter function, an optical system movement pulse for controlling movement of the optical system, and a flash pulse for controlling an emission timing of the flash.

Abstract: An automatic exposure control device includes an image acquisition section that acquires an image that has been captured by an imaging optical system that receives reflected light, and includes an image of an object, the reflected light being light that has been applied to the object, and reflected by the object, an angle-of-view information acquisition section that acquires angle-of-view information that indicates an angle of view of the imaging optical system when the image has been captured, and an automatic exposure control section that performs an automatic exposure control process based on the acquired angle-of-view information.

Abstract: A mobile phone apparatus 10 is equipped with a camera module 36 including an image sensor (52), an AE evaluation circuit (60), etc. When a camera function is executed, an exposure is adjusted such that an exposure evaluated value is equal to an exposure target value, whereby, an AF controlling processing is executed. For example, when a shutter key is operated, the exposure target value is changed to an exposure target value for AF control being smaller than an exposure target value for normal photographing. Furthermore, a frame rate is increased such that the exposure evaluated value having a correlation to the frame rate is smaller than the exposure target value in response to the change of the exposure target value. Then, the AF controlling processing is executed on the basis of the image data every frame output from the image sensor (52) at the increased frame rate.

Abstract: An imaging system includes: an imaging apparatus including a first communication section performing communication with an interchangeable lens, and a first control section making a transmission request of prediction information being state information on a state of a member included in the interchangeable lens and being the state information related to a state of the member after a predetermined time period to the interchangeable lens; and an interchangeable lens including a second communication section performing communication with the imaging apparatus, a calculation section obtaining the state information from the member and calculating the prediction information on the basis of the obtained state information and the predetermined time period, and a second control section controlling transmission of the calculated prediction information to the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: A shutter control device performs photography by operating a shutter housed in a lens barrel, and comprises a communication port, a shutter control unit and a memory. The communication port transmits and receives signals between the camera body and the lens barrel. The shutter control unit is provided in the camera body to output a shutter control signal. The memory is provided in the lens barrel to store shutter delay information regarding a time delay from when the shutter control signal is input to the lens barrel until when the shutter is closed. The shutter control unit receives the shutter delay information from the lens barrel and transmits the shutter control signal to the lens barrel through the communication port, ahead of an exposure time as determined by photometry, by an amount of time equal to the time delay.

Abstract: A camera apparatus includes a photogrammetric range sensor, small aperture lens and a processor configured to carry out a method for simulating a large aperture lens. The method includes capturing a photographic image data of a scene using the camera with the lens set to a small aperture size. Simultaneously or near-simultaneously with capturing the image, the camera captures photogrammetric range data pertaining to depth of objects in a field of view of the camera, using the range sensor. The processor then processes the photographic image data using the photogrammetric range data to obtain second photographic data simulating an image captured using a lens set to an aperture size larger than the small aperture size.

Abstract: A digital camera described herein includes an analyzer component that analyzes a histogram of a first image, wherein the first image has a first resolution. The digital camera also includes a setter component that sets an exposure time for capturing a second image based at least in part upon the analysis of the histogram of the first image, wherein the second image has a second resolution, and wherein the first resolution of the first image is less than the second resolution of the second image.

Abstract: A system (100) for the adaptive imaging of a scene includes a digital light processing apparatus (150) adapted for controllably reflecting an image of the scene in at least a first direction to thereby reflect an intensity modulated image of the scene along at least the first direction, an image detector (140) for detecting the intensity modulated image of the scene and generating corresponding image data, and an image data processor (154) for processing the image data into control data and providing the control data to the digital light processing (150) apparatus for control thereof.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of performing proper image evaluation in photographing a moving image by changing the exposure condition. An image pickup unit picks up an image of an object and a driving unit drives a focus lens in an optical axis direction. A control circuit controls a focus state of the object by causing the driving unit to move the focus lens in the optical axis direction. A focus evaluation value is acquired from each image. The control circuit causes the image pickup unit to pick up images of a multistage exposure image group by changing exposure time, selects an image according to exposure time, updates a direction of driving the focus lens using the focus evaluation value acquired from the selected image, and causes the driving unit to move the focus lens in the updated driving direction.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an image capturing element which photoelectrically converts a subject image into electrical charge information, a driving device which drives a driving part related to image capturing, and a controlling unit which changes a driving frequency of the driving device at a timing to read the electrical charge information from the image capturing element.

Abstract: A method for adjusting parameters in a video capture device using motion information is disclosed. Motion information that indicates motion of a video capture device is determined. The motion information is compared to an upper bound and a lower bound. An aggressiveness level that indicates a change in a white balance gain for the video capture device is determined based on the comparison. A new white balance gain for the video capture device is determined based on the aggressiveness level. An exposure convergence holding time is adjusted based on the motion information. An exposure step size is increased based on the motion information. A brightness level of the video capture device is adjusted based on the convergence step size.