Abstract: There is provided an apparatus including a moving-image capturing apparatus including a clipping unit configured to clip an image signal according to an image size read from an image sensor based on zoom ratio information, and a size conversion unit configured to perform an image size conversion process as necessary on the image signal clipped by the clipping unit based on the zoom ratio information.

Abstract: When automatic exposure (AE) for AF is performed, an imaging apparatus sets a fastest speed or a predetermined fixed speed as a diaphragm driving speed to reduce the time to be spent for the AF. On the other hand, when an interchangeable lens in which the diaphragm driving speed can be changed is attached to the imaging apparatus, and AE is performed for moving image recording, the imaging apparatus slows down the diaphragm blade driving speed compared to the speed at the time of AE for AF in consideration of the quality of moving image recording and display.

Abstract: In an image capturing apparatus, a subject image is converted into an image signal, which undergoes automatic correction processing including white balance correction processing, and further undergoes image quality change processing. A first evaluation value indicating a largest value of an R signal, a G signal, and a B signal of the image signal undergone the image quality change processing and a second evaluation value indicating a luminance of the image signal undergone the image quality change processing are detected. A control evaluation value is calculated using weighted average of the first evaluation value and the second evaluation value according to at least one of an amount of image quality changing effect due to the image quality change processing and a reliability of the automatic correction processing, and exposure control is performed based on the control evaluation value.

Abstract: There is provide a control device including an imaging element in which, as a plurality of light sensing elements that perform photoelectric conversion to convert incident light entering via a light collecting unit into electric signals, first light sensing elements that sense the incident light in a first light sensing amount and second light sensing elements that sense the incident light in a second light sensing amount that is smaller than the first light sensing amount are provided, an exposure information generation unit that generates exposure information for controlling exposure during imaging of a subject based on electric signals obtained from photoelectric conversion performed by the second light sensing elements, and an exposure control unit that controls exposure based on the exposure information.

Abstract: A first state where an image is captured with a predetermined exposure in which an aperture of a diaphragm is a first aperture and a shutter speed is a first shutter speed is changed to a second state where an image is captured with the predetermined exposure in which the aperture of the diaphragm is a second aperture larger than the first aperture and the shutter speed is a second shutter speed higher than the first shutter speed, and a focal point is adjusted. The second aperture is set to be as large as possible within a range of maintaining the predetermined exposure.

Abstract: An imaging device performs control for changing evaluation values calculated for specific areas which are at least a portion of segment areas around a segment area where a brightness difference calculated by subtracting non-light emission image data from pre-light emission image data is negative or a segment area where a brightness difference calculated by subtracting the pre-light emission image data from the non-light emission image data is positive so that the evaluation values are reduced when the brightness difference is calculated by subtracting the non-light emission image data from the pre-light emission image data and an absolute value of the negative evaluation values are reduced when the brightness difference is calculated by subtracting the pre-light emission image data from the non-light emission image data, in a case where the brightness differences of all segment areas include negative and positive values together.

Abstract: A digital camera includes: a horizontal reduction (resizing) processor 301 for reducing a RAW image from single-sensor color imaging device to an image corresponding to a video recording size in an input line direction; a memory section 303 storing horizontally resized image data; a plurality of vertical reduction (resizing) processors 304, 306, and 308 reducing (resizing), in a vertical direction orthogonal to the input line direction, a plurality of pieces of reduced line data read out from the memory section 303; and horizontal reduction (resizing) processors 310 and 312 reducing a plurality of images reduced (resized) in the horizontal and vertical directions back into images of a display size and a face detection size in the input line direction.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that, when combining a plurality of images, improves image quality by reducing noise in a region in which movement is detected, wherein a noise in the moving region is reduced by replacing the region in which movement is detected, with a low-noise image.

Abstract: A portable electronic device with camera function and an image capture method with auto exposure control. The disclosed method comprises the following steps: obtaining a pre-view frame from a camera module; dividing the pre-view frame into a plurality of blocks and calculating representative brightness values of the blocks; assigning weight values to the blocks according to the representative brightness values; obtaining a weighted brightness value by performing a weighted operation on the representative brightness values based on the weight values of the blocks; setting an auto exposure parameter of the camera module based on the weighted brightness value; and controlling the camera module for capturing images based on the auto exposure parameter.

Abstract: A chart generation unit generates an adjustment chart, and a projection unit projects the adjustment chart onto a circular cylinder. A parameter acquiring unit acquires 12 parameters in total, relating to the positions of four corners and middle points of a top side and a bottom side of a chart and lateral expansion of the chart, the chart being input by a user through manipulations of an operation unit. A transform function determination unit calculates, from the total of 12 parameters, an accurate transform function for projecting an image onto the circular cylinder. An image conversion unit applies geometric transformation to the image based on the calculated transform function.

Abstract: A camera includes: a taking lens forming an image of a subject; an image pickup unit; a subject brightness acquisition unit acquiring the brightness information of the subject on the basis of the output of the image pickup unit; a control unit controlling the exposure according to the brightness information acquired by the subject brightness acquisition unit; and a storage unit storing the information indicating the optical state of the taking lens before the subject brightness acquisition unit acquires the brightness information. The control unit determines whether or not the brightness information is acquired again by the subject brightness acquisition unit according to the information about the optical state of the taking lens stored in the storage unit when the subject brightness acquisition unit previously acquired the brightness information, and the information about the optical state of the taking lens when the latest brightness information is acquired.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for dynamic range estimation of imaged scenes for automatic exposure control. For a given exposure time setting, certain areas of a scene may be brighter than what a camera can capture. In cameras, including those experiencing substantial lens vignetting, a gain stage may be used to extend dynamic range and extract auto-exposure data from the extended dynamic range. Alternatively, dynamic range can be extended using pre-capture image information taken under reduced exposure conditions.

Abstract: An exposure control apparatus which is capable of making a backlight judgment with accuracy using image data on a main subject and image data on a photographer and controlling exposure according to the judgment result. First image data is generated according to a main subject image formed by light from the main subject via a first shooting optical system, and second image data is generated according to a photographer image formed by light from a photographer via a second shooting optical system. First luminance information is obtained based on the first image data, and second luminance information is obtained based on the second image data. According to the first luminance information and the second luminance information, whether or not the main subject is in backlight scene is judged, and based on a result of the judgment, exposure for the main subject is controlled.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that is capable of reducing the load of the process required to combine images with different exposures to generate a composite image. An image pickup unit performs continuous image pickup that shoots a subject continuously under different exposure conditions. A control unit controls the image pickup unit so that the exposure condition for the first shot in a current set, which is a second or later set, is coincident with the exposure condition for the last shot in the previous set when a plurality of sets of the continuous image pickup are performed. A composing unit composes the images acquired by one set of the continuous image pickup by the image pickup unit to generate one output image.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing unit which captures an image of an object and outputs an image, a switching unit which switches modes between a first mode in which the image capturing unit outputs a first image and then outputs a second image having an exposure value different from the first image, and a second mode in which the image capturing unit continuously outputs an image not used for compositing, an exposure control unit which controls an exposure value for capturing an image of an object, following change in object luminance, when a parameter related to change in object luminance exceeds a predetermined range in which an exposure value for capturing an image of the object is not controlled to follow the change in object luminance, and a setting unit which sets the predetermined range.

Abstract: A light intensity control device includes a fixed opening 261, an aperture stop part 26 for controlling a light flux of incident light, a light intensity aperture part 24 for changing the size of an opening by moving a plurality of aperture blades to limit a light intensity of transmitted light and a ND filter 25 having a transparent area 253 and a light blocking area 254, which is arranged to be movable between a first light blocking state where the transparent area 253 faces the fixed opening 261 of the aperture stop part 26 and a second light blocking state where the light blocking area 254 faces the fixed opening. The moving of the ND filter 25 is carried out when the opening area of the light intensity aperture part 24 is a maximum.

Abstract: A display apparatus and a control method thereof are provided The display apparatus includes: an image processor configured to process an image of content; a display configured to display the processed image of the content; a camera configured to capture an image of a remote controller; a storage configured to store information regarding a plurality of appearance states of the remote controller corresponding to user commands; and a controller configured to determine an appearance state from among the plurality of appearance states of the remote controller based on the image of remote controller captured by the camera, and control the display section to display the image of the content according to a user command corresponding to the determined appearance state of the remote controller.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an electronic apparatus, an image capturing apparatus and a method thereof. The image capturing method comprises the following steps of: capturing a plurality of temporal images by an image capturing module, and setting one of the temporal images as a base image by a processing module; dividing each temporal image into a plurality of temporal image blocks, and dividing the base image into a plurality of base image blocks by the processing module; determining whether the difference between each temporal image block and the corresponding base image block is lower than a threshold value by the processing module; integrating the temporal image block and the corresponding base image block to generate a final image by the processing module when the difference between the temporal image block and the corresponding base image block is lower than the threshold value.

Abstract: An exposure level determination unit (33) determines, for a region of interest in an original image captured by a camera (2) using a first exposure level in a control cycle at a predetermined time point, a second exposure level which is an exposure level for the next control cycle, by calculating a transparent pixel saturation rate which is a ratio of transparent pixels having a saturated gradation value among transparent pixels in the region of interest, and changing the first exposure level according to the transparent pixel saturation rate.

Abstract: Electronic devices may include image sensors. Image sensors may be used to capture images having rows of long-exposure image pixel values that are interleaved with rows of short-exposure image pixel values. The long-exposure and short-exposure values in each interleaved image frame may be interpolated to form interpolated values. A combined long-exposure image and a combined short-exposure image may be generated using the long-exposure and the short-exposure values from the interleaved image frames and the interpolated values from a selected one of the interleaved image frames. The combined long-exposure and short-exposure images may each include image pixel values from either of the interleaved image frames in a non-motion edge region and image pixel values based only on the image pixel values or the interpolated values from the selected one of the interleaved images in a motion or non-edge region. High-dynamic-range images may be generated using the combined long-exposure and short-exposure images.

Abstract: Receiving an instruction from a user to start sensing a still image, an image sensing apparatus performs scene determination based on an evaluation value of scene determination from an image sensed immediately after the luminance of the image converges to a predetermined range of a target luminance. The image sensing apparatus can accurately determine a scene of the image even the image sensor with a narrow dynamic range.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is arranged to perform live view to display enlarged image by deciding a Tv value, an Av value, and an ISO value based on a program diagram for deciding an exposure amount from brightness of an object, when a change instruction of an AF adjustment value used for a live view is provided, while when an operation to start the live view is provided and the change instruction of the AF adjustment value used for the live view is not provided, the apparatus performs live view by deciding the Tv value, Av value, and ISO value based on the program diagram if a photographing mode is not a manual mode, but performs the live view by using the Tv value, Av value, and ISO value set by the user, if the photographing mode is the manual mode.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes: an image pickup unit configured to generate a long-exposure image signal and a short-exposure image signal from incident light and output the generated signals as image pickup signals, the long-exposure image signal being generated by exposure for a relatively long period and the short-exposure image signal being generated by exposure for a relatively short period; a signal processing unit configured to generate a combined image signal by combining the long-exposure image signal and the short-exposure image signal, the combined image signal having a dynamic range that is relatively wider than that of at least any one of the long-exposure image signal and the short-exposure image signal; a detection unit configured to obtain a luminance integrated value and a luminance histogram of the combined image signal; and a control unit configured to perform exposure correction control using the luminance integrated value and the luminance histogram.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for automatically adjusting an exposure time to improve or otherwise optimize a dynamic range of a digital image. The system includes a camera configured to capture an image of a subject within the field of view at a first exposure time. The captured image is composed of multiple pixels, with each pixel having a respective intensity value. The system further includes a shutter or suitable control configured to control an exposure time of the camera. A controller configured to carryout the following steps including: (a) querying a frequency distribution of pixel intensity values; (b) determining an effective “center of mass” of such a distribution, or histogram, to determine an adjusted exposure time; and (c) capturing a second image of the subject at the adjusted exposure time thereby obtaining an image with an improved or optimal dynamic range.

Abstract: Provided is an action control device, including a variable-transmittance ND filter configured to have transmittance that varies according to an applied voltage, an applied voltage control unit configured to control a voltage to be applied to the variable-transmittance ND filter, and a diaphragm control unit configured to control illuminance through a diaphragm. At a time of monitoring, the illuminance is controlled such that the applied voltage control unit applies a substantially minimum voltage to the variable-transmittance ND filter, and the diaphragm control unit opens or closes the diaphragm, and at a time of imaging preparation or imaging, the illuminance is controlled such that the applied voltage control unit applies a certain applied voltage to the variable-transmittance ND filter in a state of the substantially minimum voltage, and controls transmittance, and the diaphragm control unit performs control such that the diaphragm enters a fully opened state or substantially fully opened state.

Abstract: An imaging device for recognition (100) includes an image pickup unit (101) that sequentially generates a plurality of images by shooting an object, a face recognition unit (105) that recognizes, in each of the plurality of images, an object region in which the object is located in the image, a face tracking unit (106) that tracks the object region across the plurality of images, an area calculation unit (109) that calculates an area of the object region, and an exposure control unit (102) that sets a first exposure time for the image pickup unit (101) in the case where the area is smaller than a first threshold, and sets a second exposure time longer than the first exposure time in the case where the area is equal to or larger than the first threshold.

Abstract: A device for compressing an image for an image sensor, including a module for analog decorrelation of an image for providing low-frequency coefficients and high-frequency coefficients from the image, an analog-digital coefficient converter, and a module for a differentiated analog amplification of the low-frequency coefficients and of the high-frequency coefficients, provided by the analog decorrelation module to provide modified coefficients to the converter.

Abstract: A method for adaptive spectral image capture that may be performed via an image capture device is disclosed. A default capture parameter is applied to an imaging assembly and a sample image of a scene is captured by an image capture device. The sample image is analyzed to identify transition zones between multiple different regions. An initial guess as to which spectral regions a filter mode might work best is obtained based on dominant transition region spectrum and a first iterated step in which numerical values for the filter mode are calculated. A second iterated step in which each such filter mode is evaluated for effectiveness against other filter modes. The regions in which a specific filter mode works best becomes associated with the filer mode and these regions become the guess for the next iteration.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media for performing auto-exposure operations in a digital image capture device. An image capture device's auto-exposure settings may be automatically adjusted by generating and then combining, in a dynamically weighted fashion, two sets of exposure values. One set of exposure values may be based on detected faces while the other set may be based on the image as a whole. Each set of exposure values may include a “measured” value and a “target” value, wherein each of these values may, in turn, be based on one or more (different) aspects of the image. Illustrative digital image capture devices in which the disclosed technology may be used include, but are not limited, to portable digital cameras, mobile telephones, personal digital assistants, mobile music and video devices, and portable computer platforms such as notebook and tablet computers.

Abstract: Multiple uncompressed digital images, each at a different exposure, may be captured automatically in response to an image capture request. The set of uncompressed digital images may be stored as a single data object and manipulated to produce a final digital image.

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: 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: An example image capture device determines a region of interest using a first image captured while a light source is powered off and a second image captured while a light source is powered on and uses the region of interest to automatically set configurations. In one example, an image capture device includes a controlled light source, an image sensor configured to capture images, and a processing unit configured to cause the image sensor to capture a first image of a scene while the controlled light source is powered off, cause the image sensor to capture a second image of the scene while the controlled light source is powered on, calculate luminance differences between a plurality of regions in the first image and a plurality of collocated regions in the second image, and determine that a region of interest includes those regions for which the luminance differences exceed a threshold.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a mobile device that captures and produces images with high dynamic ranges. To capture and produce a high dynamic range image, the mobile device of some embodiments includes novel image capture and processing modules. In some embodiments, the mobile device produces a high dynamic range (HDR) image by (1) having its image capture module rapidly capture a succession of images at different image exposure durations, and (2) having its image processing module composite these images to produce the HDR image.

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 chart generation unit generates an adjustment chart, and a projection unit projects the adjustment chart onto a circular cylinder. A parameter acquiring unit acquires 12 parameters in total, relating to the positions of four corners and middle points of a top side and a bottom side of a chart and lateral expansion of the chart, the chart being input by a user through manipulations of an operation unit. A transform function determination unit calculates, from the total of 12 parameters, an accurate transform function for projecting an image onto the circular cylinder. An image conversion unit applies geometric transformation to the image based on the calculated transform function.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes: an image pickup unit configured to generate a long-exposure image signal and a short-exposure image signal from incident light and output the generated signals as image pickup signals, the long-exposure image signal being generated by exposure for a relatively long period and the short-exposure image signal being generated by exposure for a relatively short period; a signal processing unit configured to generate a combined image signal by combining the long-exposure image signal and the short-exposure image signal, the combined image signal having a dynamic range that is relatively wider than that of at least any one of the long-exposure image signal and the short-exposure image signal; a detection unit configured to obtain a luminance integrated value and a luminance histogram of the combined image signal; and a control unit configured to perform exposure correction control using the luminance integrated value and the luminance histogram.

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: An image pickup apparatus includes an object detection unit configured to detect an object, a brightness value acquisition unit configured to obtain a brightness value of each division region of an object field, an object photometric-value generation unit configured to generate a photometric value of the object from information of the object and a brightness value of each division region, a region selection unit configured to select a high brightness region, and an exposure-control photometric-value generation unit configured to generate a photometric value used for an exposure control from a photometric value of the object and a photometric value of the high brightness region.

Abstract: The present invention is applied to an image pickup apparatus for which, for example, a CMOS solid-state image pickup element is used. One screen image is divided into a plurality of blocks, and a motion is detected for each of the blocks to control the exposure time of the block.

Abstract: An imaging system or camera having an array of elements switchable between two states for measuring of light received by the imaging system on a pixel by pixel basis to form two separate images simultaneously over a common integration time in which switching takes place faster than the integration time of the camera. Optical switching may be provided by a spatial light modulator along one of two paths each associated with a detector for one of the images, or each path being associated with one of two non-overlapping regions of the same detector, where each region provides one of the images. Electronic switching may be provided in which for each pixel a photodetector provide an electrical signal onto a switching element which switches the signal onto one of two sites for integrating the signal and providing a pixel value, where the two sites are each associated with a different one of the images.

Abstract: Image capture with an image capture device including an imaging assembly having a spectral response which is tunable in accordance with a capture parameter. A first capture parameter is applied to the imaging assembly. A preview image of a scene is captured using the imaging assembly whose spectral response is tuned in accordance with the first capture parameter. A user interface is displayed by which first and second regions of the preview image are designated, and by which a target range is set for contrast between the first and second regions. A second capture parameter is derived for the imaging assembly, by implementing the target range for contrast between the first and second regions. The second capture parameter is applied to the imaging assembly. A second image of the scene is captured by using the imaging assembly whose spectral response is tuned in accordance with the second capture parameter.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus comprises an image capturing unit that captures an object image and outputs image data; a photometric value acquisition unit that acquires, from the image data, a first photometric value and a second photometric value different from the first photometric value; and an exposure change unit that changes exposure such that the first photometric value comes close to a target value, wherein the exposure change unit calculates a third photometric value based on the first photometric value, the target value, and the second photometric value and corrects the exposure in accordance with a difference between the third photometric value and a reference value.

Abstract: An image capture device includes an imaging assembly having a spectral sensitivity tunable in accordance with a spectral capture mask. A pre-capture captures a sample image of a scene using the imaging assembly tuned by a first spectral capture mask. A second spectral capture mask is constructed by calculations which use image data of the sample image. The second spectral capture mask is constructed to tune the spectral sensitivity of the imaging assembly so as to adjust respective capture parameters for different objects in the scene. The second spectral capture mask is applied to the imaging assembly. An image of the scene is captured with the second spectral capture mask applied to the imaging assembly.

Abstract: A camera system that can be utilized in robotic surgery is presented. In particular, a method of setting a light level in a camera in a robotic system includes determining a location of at least one instrument end effectors within a field-of-view of the camera; determining a region-of-interest in the field-of-view based on the location of the at least one instrument tip; gathering luminance statistics in the region-of-interest; computing a luminance value from the luminance statistics; and adjusting an exposure in response to a comparison of the luminance value with a target luminance value.

Abstract: Anti-flicker camera and image capture method are disclosed. According to the disclosed method, exposure integrals of different lines of an image sensed by a camera device are calculated. The exposure integrals are compared with reference exposure integrals of the plurality of lines, respectively, to calculate exposure integral offsets for the lines. The reference exposure integrals are estimated from at least one reference image. The positive and negative changes of the exposure integral offsets are statistically analyzed and, accordingly, it is determined whether there is light flicker from background illumination and an auto-exposure control module of the camera device is controlled based on the determination.

Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling a digital photographing device, the method including: removing high-frequency components from a first input image and a second input image; calculating a differential image between the first input image and the second input image from which the high-frequency components are removed; calculating the frequency of each of the pixel values of the differential image; determining at lease one pixel value of the differential image having a frequency greater than a frequency threshold as a target motion range among the pixel values of the differential image greater than a motion threshold; and determining photographing settings corresponding to the target motion range.

Abstract: An exemplary aspect of the invention is an image pickup apparatus including a sensor unit including a plurality of pixels; an exposure control unit that controls exposure by a feedback control based on image data acquired by the sensor unit; and a display unit that displays an image having undergone exposure control. During a time period from a point immediately after activation of the image pickup apparatus until a point when an image is displayed on the display unit, the sensor unit executes temporary loading of a part of the image data, and the exposure control unit sets an optimum exposure value based on the image data temporarily loaded.

Abstract: A network connected computer receives data from a wireless communication device including location data and user data. The computer is programmed to determine if the wireless communication device is in a vicinity of a preselected location, stored on the computer, based on the data for identifying the location of the wireless communication device. The computer transmits data to the communication device for notifying the user of the communication device that the user is in the vicinity of the preselected location. Directional information can then be sent to the communication device for the user to access in order to assist the user in finding the preselected location.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving video stutter in high resolution progressive video captured with fast exposure times. In a first approach, digital video is captured with fast shutter speeds that cause each frame of the video to be sharp. A motion blur is not captured for objects moving within the frame. The video codec generates motion information that may be utilized to add an artificial motion blur to each frame of the digital video during processing in a digital video pipeline. In a second approach, the lens assembly of the digital camera includes an electronically actuated filter that attenuates the light reaching an image sensor such that the shutter speeds may be decreased in order to capture motion blur. The electronically actuated filter may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) device that is set to a plurality of different transparency levels based on the voltage applied to the LCD device.