Abstract: A system and method for altering the characteristics of a display based on environmental data is disclosed. Exemplary embodiments provide a light sensor, an environmental processing unit which is adapted to receive electrical signals from the light sensor and generate an environmentally-reactive control signal (Sa), an image signal processor which accepts Sa and an encoded image signal (Se) and generates a pre-decoding image signal (Sp), and an image signal decoder which accepts Sp and generates a decoded image signal for the display. The environmentally-reactive control signal (Sa) may contain the instantaneous value of the desired display black level Sb. Alternatively or additionally, the environmentally-reactive control signal (Sa) may contain a signal linearity modification value.

Abstract: A rear view camera system for a motor vehicle includes a movable carrier assembly, a camera optical system, which is movable with the carrier assembly, and a drive unit coupled with the camera optical system. The camera optical system is pivoted in relation to the carrier assembly about an adjustable axis which is rotatably coupled with the drive unit and can be moved about the adjustable axis between a rest position and a recording position. These can be adjusted depending on the surrounding areas to be recorded. An eccentric component is coupled in movable fashion with the adjustable axis. A rotation of the eccentric component changes the distance between the adjustable axis and the support element so that the camera optical system can be moved to a recording position in which the camera optical system protrudes from the recess of the carrier assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for revising the time associated with a digital photograph. A digital photograph and data representing an initial time the photograph was taken may not correspond with identified temporal information. In response, a revised time may be generated based on the temporal information and associated with the digital photograph.

Abstract: In a second image sensor 200 which has a plurality of phase difference detection pixels which generate signals for performing adjusted focus decision by way of phase difference detection and a plurality of image generation pixels which generate signals for generating images, a first pixel group which is formed by arranging part of phase difference detection pixels of the plurality of phase difference detection pixels in a specific direction, and a second pixel group which is formed by arranging part of image generation pixels of the plurality of image generation pixels in the specific direction are alternately arranged in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the specific direction. Consequently, when an image capture element used to detect a phase difference and generate an image generates an image, it is possible to reduce a load of processing related to image generation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an imaging apparatus including imaging means configured to photograph an image of a scene that is in a direction in which a user sees, outside world information acquisition means configured to acquire outside world information, and control means configured to control an operation of the imaging means based on the outside world information acquired by the outside world information acquisition means.

Abstract: A device, system and method may enable the obtaining of in vivo images from within body lumens or cavities, such as images of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, where the data such as mosaic image data may be transmitted or otherwise sent to a receiving system in a compressed format.

Abstract: A photographic apparatus with supplemental light adjusting function and the supplemental light adjusting method used in the same are provided. The photographic apparatus comprises a light source and a photographic element. The method comprises steps of: photographing by the photographic element; illuminating by the light source once the operating condition of a default photographing mode is conformed, and reaching a first supplemental light intensity by the light source within a first length of time; completing photographing by the photographic element once the light source reaches a second supplemental light intensity which is greater than the first supplemental light intensity.

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 imaging control device for controlling a facial image taking apparatus which radiates light from a light source to a face and takes an image of the face is disclosed. The imaging control device determines an intensity of environmental light and a degree of reflection by a pair of eyeglasses. When it is determined that the intensity of the environmental light is greater than or equal to a predetermined determination value and the degree of the reflection by the eyeglasses is greater than or equal to a predetermined determination value, the imaging control device sets an intensity of the light radiated from the light source to a predetermined intensity that makes states of eyes in the facial image recognizable.

Abstract: A system for controlling ambient light effects comprises a receiving device including at least one processor programmed to parse incoming video content to detect at least one portion of the incoming video content and determine at least one ambient light effect to be associated with the portion of the video content. The system further comprises a home automation controller in communication with the processor and at least one lighting device in communication with the receiving device and the home automation controller. The processor of the receiving device is programmed to send a command to the home automation controller specifying the ambient light effect determined by the processor to be associated with the portion of the video content. The lighting device generates the ambient light effect specified in the command when the portion of the video content is displayed to a user.

Abstract: A system and method to control a camera application executed on a device are described. The system includes two or more ambient light sensors arranged at respective surface locations of the device, each of the two or more ambient light sensors measuring light intensity at the respective surface location. The system also includes a processor to determine an adjustment to the camera application based on information resulting from the light intensity measured at each of the respective surface locations.

Abstract: The present invention can provide solutions to many common imaging problems, such as, for example, unevenly distributed illumination, shadows, white balance adjustment, colored ambient light and high dynamic range imaging. Imaging systems and methods can be provided through a computer (e.g., laptop or desktop) such that the system or method can take advantage of the computer's processing power to provide functionality that goes beyond typical camera. Such an imaging system may include an imaging device, a camera, a light source and a user interface.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the effective contrast ratio and brightness yields for digital light valve image projectors using a variable luminance control mechanism (VLCM), associated with the projector optics, for modifying the light output and provide a correction thereto; and an adaptive luminance control module (ALCM) for receiving signals from the video input board, the adaptive luminance control module producing a signal on a VLCM bus connecting the variable luminance control mechanism and the adaptive luminance control module, the signal causing the variable luminance control mechanism to change the luminance of the light output and provide a corrected video signal for the projector.

Abstract: A chromaticity correction device corrects chromaticity of a video signal displayed on a display panel of a display device to correspond to a change in a luminance value of the display panel. The chromaticity correction device includes a luminance detection unit which detects the luminance value, a backlight driving level detection unit which detects a backlight driving level, a temperature detection unit which detects an internal device temperature or an ambient temperature, a reference luminance value calculation unit which estimates a reference luminance value in a characteristic of an initial state, a chromaticity calculation unit which obtains a chromaticity change amount of white point chromaticity and estimated white point chromaticity that is an estimated value of current white point chromaticity, a chromaticity correction value calculation unit which obtains a chromaticity correction value and a chromaticity correction circuit which corrects the chromaticity of the video signal.

Abstract: A patient monitoring/defibrillation instrument displays patient vital signs in numeric form or as graphical waveform traces. Under normal room lighting conditions the numeric and waveform information is displayed in color against a black or gray background. When the patient monitor is operated outside or in bright light, the user has the option to select a color map for display of the patient vital signs information in a highly contrasting manner such as black numeric or waveform information against a bright background such as yellow. The high contrast display, while being objectionable in most indoor settings, has been found to comfortably and effectively display the monitored information in sunlight without the need to increase power to the display.

Abstract: A portable digital television (DTV) comprises a processor, a channel and volume changing button arrangement, and a navigational button arrangement. Either or both button arrangements can be used in at least a bi-modal operation. In a first mode of operation, the button arrangements provide their normal functions, and in the second mode of operation, the button arrangements provide an interactive application interface to the user. Preferably, one of the two button arrangements is selected for the bi-modal operation. The selected button arrangement is associated with at least an optical element for lighting the button arrangement. The controller operates the optical element such that the selected button arrangement has one color in one mode of operation and has a different color in the other mode of operation.

Abstract: The present invention can provide solutions to many common imaging problems, such as, for example, unevenly distributed illumination, shadows, white balance adjustment, colored ambient light and high dynamic range imaging. Imaging systems and methods can be provided through a computer (e.g., laptop or desktop) such that the system or method can take advantage of the computer's processing power to provide functionality that goes beyond typical camera. Such an imaging system may include an imaging device, a camera, a light source and a user interface.

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: Information relating to object distances in a plurality of areas in an imaging plane is acquired, and a threshold value for an object luminance at which imaging is performed by flashing an illumination device according to a difference between an object distance in a reference area and the object distances in the plurality of areas.

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.

Abstract: A method, data processing system, and computer program product for managing a headlight on a vehicle are presented. An image of an area in front of the vehicle is received. A first set of features is identified in the received image. The first set of features in the received image is compared with a number of sets of features from a plurality of previous images. Each image in the plurality of previous images is associated with a headlight setting. A second set of features from a previous image in the plurality of previous images matching the first set of features in the received image is identified. A determination is made whether to change a setting for the headlight on the vehicle based on the headlight setting associated with the previous image.

Abstract: An image taking system including: (a) a CMOS or CCD image sensor; (b) an interest-region setter configured to set regions of interest within an image taking area of the image sensor; (c) an acquiring-condition determiner configured to determine an image-data acquiring condition required for acquiring at least two image data generated in at least two of the regions of interest; and (d) an image-data acquirer configured to acquire the at least two image data. The acquiring-condition determiner includes an exposure-time determining portion configured to determine, as the image-data acquiring conditions, at least two different exposure times required for acquiring the at least two image data generated in the at least two regions of interest. The image-data acquirer includes an exposure-time-based-image-data acquiring portion configured to acquire the at least two image data, such that the acquired at least two image data are based on the at least two different exposure times.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to techniques for calibration of an auto-focus process in an image capture device. The techniques may involve calibration of a lens actuator used to move a lens within a search range during an auto-focus process. For example, an image capture device may adjust reference positions for the search range based on lens positions selected for different focus conditions. The different focus conditions may include a far focus condition and a near focus condition. The focus conditions may be determined based on a detected environment in which the device is used. Detection of an indoor environment may indicate a likelihood of near object focus, while detection of an outdoor environment may indicate a likelihood of far object focus. An image capture device may detect indoor and outdoor environments based on lighting, exposure, or other conditions.

Abstract: Compensation of ambient illumination. A visible image of an object with ambient illumination is captured. Image brightness of at least a portion of said object of said visible image is sampled. A difference between sampled image brightness of at least said portion of said object and a target brightness profile is determined. The difference is compensated for by projecting additional illumination onto said object.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an image pickup element to acquire a short-exposure-image data and a long-exposure-image data; a white balance evaluation value acquiring device to acquire white balance evaluation value for each of short-exposure-image data and long-exposure-image data; a white extraction range setting device to set a white extraction range for each of short-exposure-image data and long-exposure-image data; a white extraction device to extract white extraction result on the basis of the white balance evaluation value and the white extraction range for each of short-exposure-image data and long-exposure-image data; a correction factor calculating device to calculate corrected white extraction results from the white extraction result on the basis of the white extraction range and calculate correction factor for each of short-exposure-image data and long-exposure-image data; a white balance correcting device to correct the short-exposure-image data and the long-exposure-image data to form white bal

Abstract: A method of dynamically changing a parameter of a frame is disclosed. An input frame is determined as a special scene or a general scene. A subsequent frame is predicted by changing the parameter of the subsequent frame according to a special-scene operation when the input frame is the special scene, and by changing the parameter of the subsequent frame according to a general-scene operation when the input frame is not the special scene. The predicted frame is determined whether to be a special scene. Accordingly, the parameter of the input frame is changed according to the special-scene operation when both the input frame and the predicted frame are the special scenes; the parameter of the input frame is changed according to the general-scene operation when both the input frame and the predicted frame are not the special scenes; and the parameter of the input frame is maintained without change when only one of the input frame and the predicted frame is the special scene.

Abstract: An adjusting method for adjusting shooting parameters is applied to adjust the shooting parameters according to stability of a camera. In the method, an image is captured first, and an edge-detection procedure is performed on the image to obtain a still value corresponding to a stable state of the camera. Then, shooting parameters, such as a photosensitivity value, an exposure time, or an aperture value, of the camera are adjusted according to the still value.

Abstract: An apparatus, and an associated method, for a device containing a camera module. An ambient light sensor senses ambient light conditions and provides an indication of the sensed conditions to an exposure setter. The exposure setter utilizes the indication of the ambient light conditions in the selection of the initial exposure. Convergence procedures are utilized to converge the exposure settings to a final exposure setting.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for processing images are disclosed. The method includes: generating an image histogram of an image to be processed; judging whether the image to be processed requires backlight compensation according to the image histogram; if the image to be processed requires backlight compensation, determining a first luminance boundary value A used for deciding whether to perform backlight compensation and a second luminance boundary value C used for deciding whether to perform positive or negative backlight compensation; and performing backlight compensation for the image to be processed according to the first luminance boundary value A and the second luminance boundary value C. The method is simple and universally applicable. After backlight compensation, the contrast of the image is high, and the image is free from background overexposure and image layering. The image photographed in a backlight environment is processed properly.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a light beam division element for dividing an incident light beam into first and second light beams, a light reception unit on which the first beam is incident, for acquiring an intensity of a P or S-polarized component for the first beam, an irradiated body on which the second beam is incident, a signal processing unit for outputting a predicted value of an intensity of a P or S-polarized component for the second beam from the intensity of the P or S component acquired by the light reception unit, a shutter for switching incidence and blocking of the second beam on and to the body, and an iris for adjusting an amount of the second beam reaching the body. At least one of a speed of the shutter or an opening of the iris is adjusted according to an output from the processing unit.

Abstract: A method for automatically detecting and adjusting grayscale/white balance of a display comprises the steps of: detecting a chromaticity coordinate and a brightness of a present white color of the display by a detector; selecting a chromaticity coordinate of three primary colors of red, green, and blue in a known chromaticity space for automatically calculating a present mixing ratio of the three primary colors of red, green, and blue of the present white color of the display according to Grassman's Law of color mixture in colormetry; calculating a desired mixing ratio of three primary colors of red, green, and blue of an ideal white color under a predetermined color temperature; and comparing the present mixing ratio with the desired mixing ratio to obtain a proportion therebetween which is used as a set of gain values of the three primary colors of red, green of the display.

Abstract: A method for capturing an improved archival image using an electronic image capture device having a flash, comprising: capturing at least two preview images of a scene at different capture times using the image capture device; determining a scene brightness; using a processor to analyze the captured preview images to determine a motion velocity for the scene; determining a flash exposure setting and an ambient exposure setting responsive to a ratio between the determined scene brightness and the determined motion velocity; and capturing an archival image using the determined flash exposure setting and the determined ambient exposure setting.

Abstract: A video traffic system comprises a dual-slope, high dynamic range CMOS camera. Shutter, gain, and pedestal control and set-points for the dual-slope integration knee threshold and trigger time are computed from an operational model of the camera response using an input from a wireless light sensor. Darker pixels can integrate over the full shutter period, but bright pixels that are integrating too quickly and will saturate are reset to an adjustable level around 78% of maximum. Such reset occurs at an adjustable time about 93% of the full shutter period. The bright pixels are released to integrate from that point until the shutter closes.

Abstract: In an imaging apparatus capable of selectively performing an imaging operation in normal imaging mode and that in composite imaging mode, auto exposure control is stopped after the auto exposure control for long-time exposure image signals and short-time exposure image signals is temporarily completed in composite imaging mode and if, after the auto exposure control is stopped, a predetermined brightness change in images is detected continuously for a predetermined time or longer based on brightness values detected from the images obtained from a composite image signal, the imaging mode of the imaging apparatus is switched from the composite imaging mode to the normal imaging mode.

Abstract: Several methods and apparatuses for implementing automatic exposure mechanisms for image capturing devices are described. In one embodiment, an automatic exposure mechanism can use data from a light meter of an image capturing device to determine a metered exposure value associated with incident light. The automatic exposure mechanism can determine a rule based exposure value based on a predetermined rule and exposure settings (e.g., a predetermined light sensitivity of a capture media and a predetermined f-number of the image capturing device). The automatic exposure mechanisms can select either the metered exposure value or the rule based exposure value to set an exposure setting for the image capturing device.

Abstract: It is determined whether or not flicker has occurred in an image signal obtained on the basis of an output signal of an image pickup element. If it is determined that flicker has occurred, a flicker correction method is selected according to a gain value set in the image signal.

Abstract: Some embodiments comprise at least one array that includes microelectromechanical systems (“MEMS”)-based light-modulating devices. Elements of the array(s) may be configured to absorb and/or reflect light when in a first configuration and to transmit light when in a second position. Such an array may be controlled to function as a camera aperture and/or as a camera shutter. For example, a controller may cause the array to function as a shutter by causing the MEMS devices to open for a predetermined period of time. The predetermined period of time may be based, at least in part, on input received from a user, the intensity of ambient light, the intensity of a flash, the size of the camera aperture, etc. Some embodiments provide a variable aperture device that does not add significant thickness or cost to a camera module. Such embodiments may enable a camera to function well in both bright and dark light, to control depth of field, etc.

Abstract: Appropriate gray level processing is applied to various image data. A digital camera having a grayscale correction function is provided. An AE control section generates a brightness histogram of a preview image which is obtained by a CCD. An exposure correction amount calculation section, based on the brightness histogram which is generated, sets an exposure value which is under an appropriate exposure value in consideration of grayscale correction to be performed by a grayscale correction section. The grayscale correction section applies grayscale correction to each partial region of image data of an image which is captured. The exposure correction amount calculation section varies the exposure value between when a face is included in a subject and when a face is not included in the subject.

Abstract: A camera capable of compensating for facial field of a person to a proper brightness, and maintaining the luminance scale of the background, comprising an imaging portion for generating the picture data of the person; a gamma compensator for performing gamma compensation for the picture data; a facial field detecting portion for detecting a facial field from the picture data; a photometric portion for exposure metering value of the facial field detected by the facial field detecting portion; an exposure controlling portion for calculating a target exposure amount in response to the output of the photometric portion and controlling exposure depending on the target exposure amount; and a gamma compensation controlling portion for determining a luminance scale characteristic in accordance with the target exposure amount, wherein the gamma compensating portion is controlled on the basis of the luminance scale characteristic determined by the gamma compensation controlling portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying exposure compensation to an image. Exposure correction limits inclusion of, but does not ignore, image highlights and lowlights.

Abstract: An image input processing apparatus includes: an optical band separating filter; a color filter of a four-color arrangement having an equivalence in which the sum of two colors is equivalent to one other color in the visible light region or the sum of three colors is equivalent to once or twice one other color in the visible light region; an optical sensor section that generates an imaging signal; a data separating section that separates the pixel data of the imaging signal into pieces of pixel data of four colors; an infrared separating section that performs infrared separation by a subtraction using the equivalence among the pieces of pixel data of the four colors after the separation; a first and second integration sections; a camera control processing section that determines which of the integration values from the first and second integrating sections is used.

Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image pickup apparatus that has an external sensor for detecting brightness separately from an image sensor for obtaining an image pickup signal and controls the insertion and removal of a filter into and from an image pickup optical system in accordance with the brightness of the subject, using brightness information obtained from the external sensor and the image pickup signal.

Abstract: A scanning device includes a scanning mechanism and logic to control the scanning mechanism. A digital color representation of a hardcopy image is generated that has color channel color space values for each of a number of logical lines of the image, without all the color channel color space values being directly detected for each line of the image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus causes an illuminating unit and an imaging unit to equally split a predetermined exposure time into a plurality of split exposure times, and acquire an image with illumination and an image without illumination in each of the split exposure time. A luminance difference image for a particular split exposure time is calculated by subtracting the image without illumination from the image with illumination of the exposure time. The luminance difference images of all the split exposure times are integrated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a digital image to be displayed on a display panel illuminated with a backlight module. The backlight module is set to a specific backlight duty according to a luminance statistic of the digital image. The digital image is remapped through a tone mapping function formed according to the specific backlight duty and the luminance statistic.

Abstract: Image processing parameters of an imaging chip in a vision-based occupant sensing system are adjusted for each frame based on ambient illumination responsive information obtained in the idle period preceding that frame. The same sensing data is also used to determine if active illumination is needed to supplement existent ambient illumination during the ensuing image acquisition interval. The inter-frame ambient illumination is detected with an external light sensor or with selected pixels of the imaging chip, and the information is used to calculate and set the gain and integration time of the imaging chip. In applications where the resolution of the imaging chip significantly exceeds the resolution required for occupant sensing, intensity data from one or more otherwise inactive pixels is averaged with the intensity data from the normally active pixels to adapt the sensitivity of the imaging chip to changing ambient illumination.

Abstract: This invention allows executing proper photometry within a short time even when a single-lens reflex type image capturing apparatus performs flash photography using an electronic viewfinder. When performing photography from a live view display state using a flash unit which illuminates an object, a shutter front curtain is closed, and a quick return mirror is driven into a photographing optical path. After a photometry sensor near an optical viewfinder temporarily measures reflected light from the object, photography is executed.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes determining at least one ambient exposure parameter using an ambient illumination, the at least one ambient exposure parameter including a first sensitivity parameter of an autoexposure controller using the ambient illumination. The method includes determining at least one low-illumination parameter using a first lamp level, the at least one low-illumination parameter including a second sensitivity parameter of the autoexposure controller using the first lamp level, where the autoexposure controller is configured to operate according to at least one high-illumination parameter based on the at least one ambient exposure parameter and the at least one low-illumination parameter. The method further includes performing an image capture operation using a second lamp level that is brighter than the first lamp level, where the at least one high-illumination parameter includes a third sensitivity parameter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image-taking apparatus such as a digital camera which is equipped with a release button and shoots a still image when the release button is pressed. It can perform proper metering for still images and reduce a time lag between a half press and the time when it is ready to shoot a still image. The image-taking apparatus has a through image display section which displays a through image which is moving images for display before a half press, a metering section which performs both metering for a through image and metering for a still image before the half press, a distance measuring section which measures distance in response to a half press, and a shooting section which shoots a still image in response to a full press.

Abstract: The specification and drawings present a new method, apparatus and software product for using a flash light with, e.g., light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or other light sources of a camera of an electronic device for improving quality of images provided by the camera. The flash related parameters comprising a white balance setting and/or exposure settings can be determined using, e.g., an ambient light level and an estimate of the flash light reflected from said object.