Abstract: A photographic device includes a body, and at least an optical assembly and multiple auxiliary light sources surrounding the optical assembly are disposed in the body. A front cover is disposed on a front end of the body, and a protecting mirror is disposed on the front cover. Light emitted by the auxiliary light sources passes through the protecting mirror and illuminates a photographic area. A light-blocking film is disposed on the protecting mirror corresponding to the optical assembly, so as to prevent the light emitted by the auxiliary light sources from entering the optical assembly after reflected by the protecting mirror.

Abstract: Techniques for reducing coloration artifacts visible in digital images acquired under flash lighting conditions are provided. The coloration artifact problem is addressed by capturing two images of the scene, a first image illuminated by a limited spectral bandwidth flash light source, and a second image illuminated by broad spectral bandwidth flash light source. Pixels of the second image are replaced with selected counterpart pixels from the first image that do not contain the coloration artifact.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes an image capture unit configured to capture an image of a subject to obtain image data, an image-capture control unit configured to allow the image capture unit to execute an image capture operation of capturing a plurality of frames of image data having continuity in time so that a frame rate of the image capture unit is changed in accordance with a change of a subject brightness level during the execution of the image capture operation, and a combination processing unit configured to perform a combination process using, as combination-use image data to be combined, the plurality of frames of image data having continuity in time captured by the image capture unit so as to generate combined-image data representing a still image.

Abstract: An image acquisition apparatus includes: an imaging device on which an image of a small area allocated to an area to be imaged is formed; a detection section detecting intensity of light irradiated on the small area from a light source; an integration section integrating the intensity of light detected by the detection section; if an integration value of the intensity of light integrated by the integration section from a point in time when light is emitted from the light source is greater than a predetermined threshold value, a light-source control section terminates light emission; an exposure control section starting exposure of the imaging device before light is emitted from the light source and terminating exposure of the imaging device after emission of light from the light source is terminated; and an image acquisition section acquiring the image of the small area as a divided image from the imaging device.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus includes an image capture unit having a plurality of exposure adjustment functions including an electronic shutter function for changing an exposure time within a frame period and configured to capture an image of a subject to obtain image data, and an image-capture control unit configured to allow the image capture unit to execute an image capture operation of capturing a plurality of frames of image data having continuity in time at a fixed frame rate and configured to perform exposure adjustment control in accordance with a subject brightness level obtained during the execution of the image capture operation, the exposure adjustment control being performed using preferentially an exposure adjustment function other than the electronic shutter function.

Abstract: A method and camera for electronic image capture provide an electronic image capture device, a scanning aperture shutter located to control light energy received by the image capture device, a flash unit oriented to illuminate an image scene, a photocell unit adapted for sensing visible spectrum energy and infrared spectrum energy received from the image scene, and an exposure control system responsive to the photocell unit and operatively connected to the scanning aperture shutter and the flash unit. The exposure control system is adapted to control an amount of fill flash energy received from the image scene in relation to visible ambient light energy received from the image scene during image capture by illuminating the flash unit once a predetermined amount of ambient visible spectrum energy is sensed by the photocell unit and by extinguishing the flash unit once a predetermined amount of infrared energy is sensed by the photocell unit.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a hot shoe to which one of a plurality of peripheral devices including an external strobe is selectively attachable. The imaging apparatus further includes a USB controller, a flash controller configured to output a flash control signal for controlling the external strobe, and a video signal controller configured to output a video signal. An apparatus-side connector to be electrically connected to a peripheral-side connector provided in a corresponding one of the peripheral devices upon attachment of the corresponding one of the peripheral devices to the hot shoe is provided in an inner region of the hot shoe or an adjacent region outside the hot shoe. The apparatus-side connector includes a USB terminal, a flash terminal, and a video terminal.

Abstract: Techniques are generally described for an image capture system that may include an image sensor, a flash for providing illumination, a data storage, and a processor operatively associated with the data storage. The processor may be adapted to execute computer implemented instructions to pre-store one or more image capture device characteristics in the data storage, acquire data in a pre-capture phase, model shadow effects based on either or both of the pre-stored data and the acquired data, modify one or more image capture device settings based on the modeled shadow effects, and record image data with the image sensor. Illumination may be provided substantially coincident with recording of the image data.

Abstract: An imaging robot for automated digitizing of two-dimensional art is disclosed. The imaging robot includes three mutually orthogonal translation stages for positioning an imaging device at a plurality of shooting positions forming a two-dimensional grid of positions spaced from the art at a substantially same shooting distance. An image of a portion of the art is captured at each of these shooting positions. The images of the portion of the art are then combined, or stitched, forming a composite image of the art.

Abstract: Electronic devices may be provided with image sensors and light sources. The image sensors may include image pixels each having a photosensitive element, first and second storage nodes, and first and second transfer transistors coupled between the photosensitive element and the first and second storage nodes. The first and second transfer transistors may be synchronized with the light source so that charges generated by the photosensitive element of each image pixel when the light source is on are transferred to the first storage node of that pixel and charges generated by the photosensitive element of each image pixel when the light source is off are transferred to the second storage node of that pixel. The light source may be an oscillating light source that is configured to turn on and off multiple times during an image exposure. The generated charges may be used in flash-matting operations.

Abstract: A strobe device of the present invention includes a reflector having an opening on the subject side, a cylindrical flashtube disposed in the reflector, and a first trigger electrode disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the flashtube. The first trigger electrode is disposed on the subject side of the outer peripheral surface of the flashtube. Thus, a flash of light emitted from the flashtube is reflected in a large range, from the bottom side to the opening side of the reflector, and a strobe device having a large range of light distribution can be achieved.

Abstract: It is possible to provide a user-friendly camera. Provided is an illumination device for emitting illumination light for photographing by a camera including: a light emission unit which can emit lights of a plurality of different colors and/or a plurality of different light emission amounts as the illumination light; and a light emission control unit which controls the light emission unit so as to continuously emit the illumination light while changing the color and/or the light emission amount as the time elapses, independently of photographing by the camera.

Abstract: Device, system, and method of rapid image acquisition. For example, a device includes: an imager able to acquire one or more images; a light detector to detect, in response to a triggering event, a light level corresponding to at least a portion of a field-of-view of the imager; a controller to determine based on the detected light level one or more configurational values of the imager, to transfer the determined configurational values to the imager, and to command the imager to rapidly acquire one or more images utilizing the determined configurational values; and a triggering unit to perform an activation process of the apparatus.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of increasing the accuracy of detection of an outside flash of light. The imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit that sequentially captures images using a CMOS-type image sensor, and a flash determination unit that determines the presence/absence of a flash based on the images captured by the imaging unit. The flash determination unit monitors an amount of change in the average luminance level of a predetermined region in the lower area of the screen in the images captured by the imaging unit, and determines the presence/absence of a flash based on the amount of change in the average luminance level.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit, a light emission unit, an image acquisition unit configured to drive the image pickup unit and the light emission unit to acquire an image while the light emission unit is emitting light and acquire images while the light emission unit is emitting no light at substantially the same view angle, a difference acquisition unit configured to acquire a luminance difference between the image acquired while the light emission unit is emitting light and one of the images acquired while the light emission unit is emitting no light, and an image composing unit configured to compose a composite image from the images acquired while the light emission unit is emitting no light and the image acquired while the light emission unit is emitting light, using the luminance difference acquired by the difference acquisition unit as transmission intensity data.

Abstract: A digital image acquisition system having no photographic film, such as a digital camera, has a flash unit for providing illumination during image capture and a red-eye filter for detecting a region within a captured image indicative of a red-eye phenomenon, the detection being based upon a comparison of the captured image and a reference image of nominally the same scene taken without flash. In the embodiment the reference image is a preview image of lower pixel resolution than the captured image, the filter matching the pixel resolutions of the captured and reference images by up-sampling the preview image and/or sub-sampling the captured image. The filter also aligns at least portions of the captured image and reference image prior to comparison to allow for, e.g. movement in the subject.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided which includes a light emitting unit for emitting light, and a light detection unit which is irradiated with the light emitted by the light emitting unit and which includes an optical sensor for outputting an electric current corresponding to the brightness of the light. The light emitted by the light emitting unit is used for a purpose other than being irradiated to the light detection unit.

Abstract: Certain aspects of this disclosure relate to an image signal processing system that includes a flash controller that is configured to activate a flash device prior to the start of a target image frame by using a sensor timing signal. In one embodiment, the flash controller receives a delayed sensor timing signal and determines a flash activation start time by using the delayed sensor timing signal to identify a time corresponding to the end of the previous frame, increasing that time by a vertical blanking time, and then subtracting a first offset to compensate for delay between the sensor timing signal and the delayed sensor timing signal. Then, the flash controller subtracts a second offset to determine the flash activation time, thus ensuring that the flash is activated prior to receiving the first pixel of the target frame.

Abstract: A light-emitting diode array is disclosed which has two light-emitting diodes which are connected in antiparallel with one another, and a power supply which is suitable for energizing the light-emitting diodes independently of one another in the forward direction. In addition, an optical recording apparatus and a method for the pulsed operation of a light-emitting diode are disclosed.

Abstract: An image processing device for detecting a skin region representing a skin of a subject from a pickup image obtained by imaging said subject, the image processing device includes: a first irradiating section; a second irradiating section; an image pickup section; an adjusting section; and a skin detecting section.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus, which can communicate with a light emitting apparatus via a radio wave communication unit using radio waves, is configured to control timing at which the imaging apparatus starts an operation corresponding to a light emission performed according to a light emission start instruction based on a first light emission delay time that the light emitting apparatus requires for the processing from completion of reception of data indicating the light emission start instruction issued from the radio wave communication unit to a start of the light emission, and a second light emission delay time required for the processing from an output of the light emission start instruction issued from a light emission start instruction unit to completion of transmission of the data indicating the light emission start instruction issued from the radio wave communication unit.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus for wireless-communicating with a camera accessory which periodically transits to a sleep state, transmits a change signal for changing the setting of a power saving state in an accessory apparatus, to the accessory apparatus in accordance with a first operation for instructing an image pickup preparation to decide an setting for image pickup or a second operation for instructing the image pickup based on the image pickup preparation operation being accepted by an operation unit of the image pickup apparatus, thereby efficiently suppressing stand-by electricity consumption and preventing a delay from occurring in timing when a predetermined process is executed between apparatuses.

Abstract: An appropriate white balance coefficient is calculated using an evaluation value of a specific chromaticity or an imaging condition, in addition to face area detection information, in the following manner. A first white balance coefficient is calculated by a first white balance coefficient calculation unit based on a color image, and a second white balance coefficient is calculated by a second white balance coefficient calculation unit based on a specific subject of the color image. Then, a third white balance coefficient is calculated by a white balance combining unit by weighting the first white balance coefficient and the second white balance coefficient based on an evaluation result of a specific chromaticity evaluation unit or an imaging condition of an imaging condition control unit.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a display unit configured to display a setting item screen for displaying setting items regarding a photographic condition, and a setting value screen configured to display setting values regarding the setting item selected on the setting item screen; an operation unit configured to select one of the setting items on the setting item screen and to select one of the setting values on the setting value screen; and a control unit configured to set a setting item regarding the photographic condition according to the setting value selected on the setting value screen, wherein if a state of the image pickup apparatus is changed from a state in which the selected setting item is active to non-active, the display unit continuously displays information indicating that the selected setting item is currently selected even when the selected setting item is non-active.

Abstract: A communication device capable of preventing a failure in light emission control caused due to communication with a lighting device such as the master and the slave. The communication device is capable of connecting to an image pickup device and transmits a lighting instruction from the image pickup device to a lighting device through a communication unit capable of performing bidirectional communication. It is determined whether or not the lighting device is ready for lighting. The lighting device is prevented from transmitting information to the communication unit when the lighting device is ready for lighting.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of performing shooting with flash light emitted by a flash device includes an imaging unit configured to capture an image of an object to output image data, and a charging control unit configured to perform charging control of a capacitor configured to accumulate energy for performing flash emission by the flash device. The charging control unit, in a case where shooting with flash light emitted by the flash device is performed, among a plurality of shooting operations for acquiring a plurality of pieces of image data to be used for image combining processing, performs the charging control so that charging of the capacitor is not performed until the last shooting of the plurality of shooting operations for acquiring a plurality of pieces of image data to be used for the image combining processing is finished.

Abstract: An approach is provided to adjust illumination color temperature at a flash unit of a camera. Data that corresponds to the ambient light of a physical environment is collected, such as at a color temperature meter included in the camera. The ambient light has a distribution of color temperatures that cycle over a fixed time period. When a flash request is received, a time is calculated at which the flash unit will flash. One of the color temperatures is identified from the distribution of color temperatures with the identified color temperature being the predicted color of the ambient light that will be present in the physical environment when the flash unit flashes. The color temperature of the flash unit is set to the identified color temperature.

Abstract: A method for assisting in focal length detection is applicable to a digital camera having the flash. The method includes the following steps. First, the flash of the digital camera is actuated and a first image is captured. Afterwards, a characteristic exposure value of the first image is calculated. A focus range comparison table is looked up according to the characteristic exposure value to obtain an initial focus position. Then, a focus procedure is performed according to the initial focus position to obtain a target focal length.

Abstract: R, G and B LEDs are used as a light source of an electronic flash. Electric energy is supplied to a capacitor to the LEDs. A system controller controls light emitting amounts of the LEDs so that a color temperature of the electronic flash light becomes a color temperature that has been manually set with a color temperature setting switch or a color temperature of a light source determined by color temperature sensors.

Abstract: On a drive ring, a first cam and a second cam are formed. The first cam engages with a slider when a light emitting unit is in a stored state. The second cam releases engagement between the slider and the first cam to engage with the slider when the light emitting unit in the stored state is brought into the in-use state by a manual operation. When the light emitting unit is moved from the stored state to the in-use state by the manual operation, a gap is formed between the light emitting unit that becomes the stored state and the slider so that the light emitting unit moves from the stored state to the first state with a state in which the slider is in engagement with the first cam without moving.

Abstract: On a drive ring, a first flash lamp cam and a second flash lamp cam are formed. The first flash lamp cam engages with a flash unit to bring the flash unit into an in-use state when an imaging apparatus becomes a imaging state, and to bring the flash unit into a stored state when the imaging apparatus becomes a non-imaging state. If the flash unit is moved from the in-use state to the stored state by a manual operation, when the imaging apparatus is in the imaging state, the second flash lamp cam releases engagement between the flash unit and the first flash lamp cam to engage with the flash unit, and brings the imaging apparatus into the non-imaging state from the imaging state while maintaining the flash unit in the stored state.

Abstract: A solid state image pickup device which can prevent color mixture by using a layout of a capacitor region provided separately from a floating diffusion region and a camera using such a device are provided. A photodiode region is a rectangular region including a photodiode. A capacitor region includes a carrier holding unit and is arranged on one side of the rectangle of the photodiode region as a region having a side longer than the one side. In a MOS unit region, an output unit region including an output unit having a side longer than the other side which crosses the one side of the rectangle of the photodiode region is arranged on the other side. A gate region and the FD region are arranged between the photodiode region and the capacitor region.

Abstract: A mobile device comprising a processor, a camera module, and a flash configured to generate at least one of a reduced pre-flash, a standard pre-flash and a flash. The processor, in response to receiving an image capture request, is configured to receive a brightness value and determine a flash status based on a flash setting with the flash status being one of an off mode, on mode, and auto mode. In the event the flash status is one of the on mode and auto mode, determine whether there is sufficient light to capture an image based at least in part on a comparison of the brightness value and a flash threshold. In the event the brightness value is greater than the flash threshold, cause the flash to generate a shortened pre-flash and obtain only a white balance measurement and an auto-exposure measurement during the shortened pre-flash.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining a maximum sustained flash current over the whole length of a flash using a programmable current drive in a handheld portable device powered by a battery. The method involves measuring the battery voltage before and after a flash is initiated and calculating the equivalent series resistance (ESR) of the battery. The calculated ESR is then used to adjust the flash current. The process may be repeated to correct for errors in the flash current.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus and method for balancing the color of a flashed image using depth estimation. The apparatus includes a depth value measurement unit, a region identification unit, a color impression estimation unit, and a color balancing unit. The depth value measurement unit measures the depth values of the respective regions of an image to be captured using a camera preview image. The region identification unit identifies the regions of the preview image as a region influenced by camera flash or a region not influenced by camera flash using the depth values measured by the depth value measurement unit. The color impression estimation unit estimates the color impression of actual illumination in the region not influenced by camera flash. The color balancing unit corrects the color of the region influenced by camera flash.

Abstract: A display apparatus that has a display screen visible from a back face or a side face of an image forming apparatus is disposed on at least one side face of an image forming apparatus case.

Abstract: A method of controlling a flash output for capturing an image in a portable electronic device having a digital camera includes receiving light at an image sensor, determining a flash output adjusted for color and brightness based on the light received at the image sensor, providing the flash output, and capturing a resultant image at a digital image processor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system comprising a flashlight and continuous light reflector arm (9, 12) for fixing to a photographic apparatus (2) and a flashlight and continuous light unit (3). The invention can also be used in the case of film and video cameras. Carefully chosen illumination of an object is a basic prerequisite for successful photographs. For this purpose, various flash units and reflectors can be set up in the area. This is comparatively laborious. Therefore, flash units are often mounted centrally onto a camera. This causes the flashlight to come from the same direction from which the photograph is taken, too.

Abstract: A camera body allows the mounting of a lens unit configured to form an optical image of a subject, and includes a body mount, an imaging element, a shutter, a shutter drive device, and an electronic viewfinder. The body mount allows a lens unit to be mounted. The imaging element includes a light receiving face arranged to receive light passing through the lens unit, and converts an optical image of the subject into an electrical signal. The shutter is disposed between the body mount and the imaging element, and arranged to block light passing through the lens unit. The shutter drive device controls the exposure time of the imaging element by driving the shutter. The electronic viewfinder includes an eyepiece, a viewfinder image display unit configured to electronically display an image of the subject, and a viewfinder optical system arranged to guide the subject image displayed by the viewfinder image display unit to the eyepiece.

Abstract: An image shooting device includes an image shooting component, a brightness detector, a flash component, a shift detector, a controller, and a flash amount determining component. The shift detector detects a shift amount of a subject position in a set of image data that has arisen due to shaking of the image shooting device. The controller corrects, on the basis of the detected shift amount, at least one of two sets of image data acquired within non-flash state and flash-emitting state, such that positions of a detection target region with respect to the subject position of the respective sets of image data are substantially matched. The flash amount determining component determines a flash amount of the flash component on the basis of the detected brightness level.

Abstract: A mobile communication device includes a wireless communication interface arranged to transmit and receive data with a wireless data network; a microprocessor in operable connection with memory storing one or more computer applications that include a digital image capture application; a housing at least partially surrounding the wireless communication interface and the microprocessor and defining an outer surface for the mobile communication device; a camera lens in an aperture in the housing and arranged on a first side of the wireless communication device and located at least partially in the housing, and serving as a centerpoint for an intersection of a pair of axes that define four quadrants; and a plurality of flash generating devices on the first side of, and on the outer surface of, the wireless communication device, two of the flash generating devices located in quadrants that are positioned opposite of, and not adjacent to, each other.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting assembly for an image capturing system. The lighting assembly includes at least one lighting element for generating light and a control system arranged to control the at least one lighting element and to interface with at least one camera of the image capturing system. The control system is arranged for controlling an intensity and a spectrum of the at least one lighting element. The control system is arranged to provide a control for emitting a constant light or a pulsed light with the at least one lighting element. The at least one lighting element includes at least one LED being at least one high CRI white LED.

Abstract: The invention refers to a flash light compensation system and corresponding method for digital camera systems, wherein a luminance compensation is carried out on an image of a scene (3) picked-up by an image sensor (1), on the basis of a respective intensity field measured by a plurality of sensors (4, 5), when the scene is illuminated by flash light emitted by a flash device (2). Depending upon the output signals of the plurality of sensors a depth field of the scene is estimated, and this estimation provides a basis for the luminance adjustment on the scene picked up as an image while illuminated by the flash device. The system and method is suitable for effectively reducing the problem of unevenly distributed lighting on a picked-up image of the scene.

Abstract: An improved handheld electronic device and camera apparatus upon which can be executed an improved method enable a modular camera to be used in conjunction with a flash. In one implementation, compensation parameters that are intended for use in a non-flash situation are overwritten with compensation parameters that are configured to compensate for the combined effects of the camera and the flash and are used by an embedded compensation routine executed on the camera. In another implementation, an image signal is processed by the embedded compensation routine using the original compensation parameters, but if it is determined that the image signal is a flash image signal, the image signal is further processed by the embedded compensation routine employing an additional set of parameters which compensate the image signal for the effect of the flash.

Abstract: Light reflected by glasses etc. worn by a driver picked up in a facial image of the driver is reduced. With a vehicle-mounted camera (1) equipped with a first LED illuminating device (12) and a second LED illuminating device (13), each illuminating device is lit up alternately in synchronism with times of photographing facial images and facial images of the driver are taken at each lighting time. The vehicle-mounted camera then compares brightness for each pixel positioned at the same relative positions on each photographed facial image and extracts pixels of low brightness. The vehicle-mounted camera then generates new facial images for transmission to an ECU by synthesizing each of the extracted pixels. The ECU on the receiving side then detects inattentive driving etc. by the driver based on the facial images.

Abstract: A digital camera includes a first frame formed of a thermal conductive material; an imaging unit disposed in front of the first frame; an optical system including lenses and focusing image light on the imaging unit; a first display unit disposed on a rear portion of the first frame; a first heat generator that located at a side surface of the optical system and disposed on a front portion of the first frame; a second heat generator disposed on a front portion of the first heat generator; a second frame formed of a thermal conductive material, and disposed between the first heat generator and the second heat generator; a third frame formed of a thermal conductive material, and disposed on a front portion of the second heat generator; and a second display unit disposed on a front portion of the third frame.

Abstract: An accessory is supplied with power from a camera, and includes an accessory control section that controls a process executed in the accessory in accordance with an image capture mode of the camera.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes: an image-capturing unit with variable image-capturing sensitivity, which captures an image of a subject through a photographic lens; a brightness detection unit that detects subject brightness; an exposure calculation unit that executes an exposure calculation by using, at least, the image-capturing sensitivity set at the image-capturing unit and the subject brightness having been detected; a flash quantity calculation unit that calculates a main flash quantity for a flash unit that illuminates the subject when capturing an image thereof; and a sensitivity adjusting unit that adjusts the image-capturing sensitivity so as to achieve optimal exposure with a main flash quantity within a flash quantity control range of the flash unit when the main flash quantity having been calculated by the flash quantity calculation unit is outside the flash quantity control range.

Abstract: A flash device includes a stationary frame, a light emitting portion, a driving unit and a resilient plate. The light emitting portion is moveably received in the stationary frame and is spaced from the stationary frame. The driving unit includes a first magnetic assembly and a second magnetic assembly. The first magnetic assembly is positioned on the stationary frame. The second magnetic assembly is positioned on the light emitting portion and faces the first magnetic assembly. The driving unit is configured for driving the light emitting portion to move relative to the stationary frame through magnetical interaction between the first magnetic assembly and the second magnetic assembly. The resilient plate interconnects the stationary frame and the light emitting portion. The resilient plate is configured for moving the light emitting portion relative to the stationary frame.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus 10 includes a solid-state imaging device 40, and a color filter 16 constituted of a first color filter 16a (first filter) and a second color filter 16b (second filter). The solid-state imaging device 40 photoelectrically converts light incident to a face S1 (first face) thereof to thereby capture an image of an object to be imaged. Arranged on the face S1 of the solid-state imaging device 40 is the first color filter 16a and second color filter 16b. The first color filter 16a is a filter that allows first wavelength band light to be selectively transmitted therethrough; the second color filter 16b is a filter that allows second wavelength band light in the longer wavelength side relative to the first wavelength band to be selectively transmitted therethrough.