Abstract: A computer-implemented method for automatically retrieving information regarding optical properties of a scattering medium including receiving a first digital image and a first image quality value associated with the first digital image and sharpness of an edge of the first digital image, producing an optimized image, transforming the optimized image into an optimized optical transfer function, receiving a second digital image and a second image quality value associated with the second digital image and sharpness of an edge of the second digital image, identifying either the first or second digital image as an optimized digital image, and transforming the optimized optical transfer function into an optimized value of the optical parameter.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus 1 includes an image region dividing portion 105 configured to divide a shot image into a plurality of image regions so that an amount of change of an image quality is within a predetermined range when the shot image is blurred using a blur kernel depending on an object distance and an angle of view of the shot image, a blur kernel generating portion 106 configured to calculate the blur kernel for each image region divided by the image region dividing portion 105, and an image processing calculating portion 107 configured to generate a blur-added image by performing a convolution calculation for the shot image using the blur kernel calculated by the blur kernel generating portion 106.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging unit; a focal range control unit configured to cause the imaging unit to capture a first image and a second image which have mutually different focal ranges, changing a focal position of the imaging unit; a reference image generation unit configured to generate, using the first image and the second image, a reference image to be used as a blur standard; and a distance measurement unit configured to measure a distance to the subject based on a difference in blur degrees between the reference image and each of the first image and the second image. The focal ranges of the first image and the second image are independent of each other, and an out-of-focus space is provided between the focal ranges.

Abstract: There is set forth herein an imaging terminal having an image sensor array and a variable lens assembly for focusing an image onto the image sensor array. In one embodiment, an imaging terminal can include one or more focusing configuration selected from the group comprising a full set focusing configuration, a truncated set focusing configuration and a fixed focusing configuration. When a full set focusing configuration is active, a full set of candidate focus settings can be active when the imaging terminal determines a focus setting of the terminal responsively to a trigger signal activation. When a truncated set focusing configuration is active, a truncated range of candidate focus settings can be active when the imaging terminal determines a focus setting of the terminal responsively to a trigger signal activation.

Abstract: An eyelid detection device that, based on first order differential values and second order differential values of vertical density change at an eyelid boundary in an eye image, shifts the second order differential values upwards by ¼ of the cycle of density change frequency of an eyelid boundary and combines the first order differential values and the second order differential values to compute upper eyelid feature amounts. The eyelid detection device detects a boundary between an upper eyelid and eyeball based on peak points in the vertical direction of the computed upper eyelid feature amounts. Consequently, the boundary between an eyelid and eyeball can be accurately detected even when the eyelid has been applied with makeup.

Abstract: A method for reducing blurring in a blurred image (14) of a scene (12) includes the steps of: (i) creating an edge mask (362) from the blurred image (14); (ii) extending the edge mask (362; (iii) forming an initial array (e.g. extending the blurred image (360); and (iv) performing Lucy-Richardson iterations, with masking. With the deblurring method disclosed herein, the reconstructed adjusted image (16) (i) does not have (or has significantly less) ringing artifacts around the edges (22) of the captured object(s) (20C), and (ii) does not have (or has significantly less) ringing artifacts around border (24). As a result thereof, the adjusted image (16) is more attractive and more accurately represents the scene (12).

Abstract: Based on a difference image of three temporally consecutive frame images, a moving object region where a moving object is displayed and a background region are extracted from a central frame image. A processing of becoming a clear image such as contrast enhancement is performed on an image of the moving object region. On the other hand, a blurring processing such as an averaging processing is performed on an image of the background region. The image of the background region is blurred in this blurring processing so that the degree of blurring increases as the ratio of the moving object region in the frame image is high.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and an apparatus for generating a photograph image. The method includes: measuring an illumination value, acquiring a plurality of source images used to generate one final image, generating a set final image either by selecting one source image with best quality among the plurality of acquired source images, or by combining the plurality of acquired source images, based on the measured illumination value. The present disclosure allows to acquire a clear and bright photograph image in a low-light environment.

Abstract: A camera according to the present invention is equipped with an image sensor; an A/D converter that converts analog image-pixel signals read from the image sensor to digital image-pixel signals; an image stabilizer that comprises a coil and a movable member configured to move in a given direction while supporting the image sensor; an image stabilization controller that controls a position of the movable member at given time intervals by sending pulse drive signals through the coil; and a timing adjustment processor that shifts at least one of a rise timing and fall timing of the pulse drive signals from a signal-processing interval associated with an A/D conversion process.

Abstract: An image processing device that performs image processing on a composite image obtained by merging a first image and a second image having different exposure conditions. A data acquiring unit acquires the composite image and region data indicating a target region of the composite image. A image processing unit performs different image processes between the target region and a region other than the target region based on the region data. The images include a region on which a moving subject is rendered. In the region on which the moving subject is rendered, the composite image is generated by using a pixel value of one of the first image and the second image. The region data represents one or a plurality of regions generated based on the region of the composite image, on which the moving subject is rendered, as the target region.

Abstract: A method of measuring motion blur is disclosed comprising obtaining a moving edge temporal profile r1(k) of an image of a high-contrast moving edge, calculating the masked local contrast m1(k) for r1(k) and the masked local contrast m2(k) for an ideal step edge waveform r2(k) with the same amplitude as r1(k), and calculating the measure or motion blur ? as a difference function, ?=S(?x?k|m1(k)?m2(k)|?)1/?. The masked local contrasts are calculated using a set of convolution kernels scaled to simulate the performance of the human visual system, and ? is measured in units of just-noticeable differences.

Abstract: An image processing device includes: a determination unit determining whether each character included as a subject in a captured image is an unnoted non-main character; and a controller controlling an image-related process which is a process related to an image on the basis of a status of the character determined as a non-main character.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a correlation value map generation unit configured to generate a correlation value map by setting a target block, having a predetermined size and including a plurality of pixels, on a target image, and obtaining correlation values with a plurality of reference blocks corresponding to a target block set on a reference image different from the target image. The image processing apparatus also includes a detection unit configured to detect deviation between a reference block having a maximum correlation with the target block from the correlation value map, and the target block, as a motion vector of the target block, and a reliability evaluation unit configured to evaluate reliability of the motion vector by evaluating whether a distribution of correlation values whose correlation are local maximum is linear from the correlation value map.

Abstract: A robot system includes a robot having a movable section, an image capture unit provided on the movable section, an output unit that allows the image capture unit to capture a target object and a reference mark and outputs a captured image in which the reference mark is imaged as a locus image, an extraction unit that extracts the locus image from the captured image, an image acquisition unit that performs image transformation on the basis of the extracted locus image by using the point spread function so as to acquire an image after the transformation from the captured image, a computation unit that computes a position of the target object on the basis of the acquired image, and a control unit that controls the robot so as to move the movable section toward the target object in accordance with the computed position.

Abstract: A method of clustering and reducing hyperspectral image data having a plurality of spatial pixels, and a plurality of spectral dimensions associated with each spatial pixel, includes computing an initial basis vector associated with the hyperspectral image data, unmixing the initial basis vector with the hyperspectral image data to generate an initial set of coefficients and an associated set of residual vectors, generating a set of clusters based on the initial set of coefficients, and iteratively computing one or more additional basis vectors and updating the set of clusters. The iterative computing includes calculating a subsequent basis vector based on a residual vector associated with a prior unmixing, unmixing the subsequent basis vector with a prior set of residual vectors to generate additional coefficients associated with each pixel, and iteratively computing cluster centers and content including an additional dimension associated with the subsequent basis vector.

Abstract: Display devices and methods for operating a display device are provided. A display device has a source of an original image and a display. A user input system is adapted to generate a non-directional signal in response to a user input action. A controller is provided and is adapted to detect the non-directional signal and to successively designate a different one of a set of portions of the original image in response to each non-directional signal. The controller is further adapted to cause the display to present a portion evaluation image showing the currently designated portion of the original image and to determine and area of importance in the original image based upon the currently designated portion. At least one of the portions of the set of portions of the original image is non-central with respect to the original image.

Abstract: Provided is an image evaluation apparatus for evaluating each of a plurality of images, the images including objects that each belong to a cluster. The image evaluation apparatus calculates (i) a first value pertaining to an object appearing in an image (for instance, the first value indicates a frequency at which the object appears in the plurality of images) according to a cluster that the object belongs to and (ii) a second value pertaining to the object (for instance, the second value indicates an occupation degree of the object in the image) according to an appearance characteristic that the object exhibits in the image. The image evaluation apparatus further calculates, according to the first value and second value, an importance degree of the object and an importance degree of the image.

Abstract: A smart-focusing technique includes identifying an object of interest, such as a face, in a digital image. A focus-generic classifier chain is applied that is trained to match both focused and unfocused faces and/or data from a face tracking module is accepted. Multiple focus-specific classifier chains are applied, including a first chain trained to match substantially out of focus faces, and a second chain trained to match slightly out of focus faces. Focus position is rapidly adjusted using a MEMS component.

Abstract: Systems, methods and computer program products are disclosed for automatic image sharpening. Automatic image sharpening techniques are disclosed that automatically bring a blurred image into focus. Techniques for reducing edge ringing in sharpened images are also disclosed. According to implementations, a computer-implemented method includes determining a normalized entropy of a first image, calculating a correlation target based on the normalized entropy, automatically determining a blur radius of a de-convolution kernel that causes a cosine of a first radial power spectrum of the kernel and a second radial power spectrum of a reconstruction of the first image to approximate the correlation target and generating a second image based on the blur radius.

Abstract: An image correction apparatus includes a smoothing unit, a blurred area detection unit, a correction amount calculation unit, and a correction unit. The smoothing unit smoothes an input image. The blurred area detection unit detects, for each pixel of a smoothed image obtained by the smoothing unit, whether or not each of the pixels is included in a blurred area. The correction amount calculation unit calculates an amount of a correction for a pixel that belongs to the blurred area based on the smoothed image. The correction unit corrects the input image by using the amount of a correction calculated by the correction amount calculation unit.

Abstract: In a system for capturing a series of images of a scene comprising an image capture device having a matrix of flux detectors which is oriented along a sighting axis (z), comprising a stabilizing module which stabilizes the sighting axis of the captured images, the sighting axis being instilled with a defined, cyclic, motion, the following steps are applied to a series of successive images (N1?K) captured during a cycle. Steps /i/ and /ii/ are repeated from the first image captured up to the last image captured of the series and an intermediate image (IIntermediate) is obtained •?/i/ registering a subsequent image (Ni+i) on a preceding image (Ni) as a function of the defined motion; ?/ii/ correcting spatial noise relating to the flux detectors and affecting the common part of the images.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a face detecting unit detecting a face region from an input image input to the imaging apparatus and a control unit calculating a distance to a subject on the basis of the face size detected by the face detection unit and displaying distance identification information indicating a distance corresponding to the calculated distance in a display unit.

Abstract: A weighting coefficient sequence defining unit generates an array in which weighting coefficients are held at positions defined by the directional components of blur vectors, and adjusts the weighting coefficients to increase the sum of the frequency components of the array or reduce variations of the frequency components. A weighting unit multiplies respective captured images by corresponding weighting coefficients, generating L weighted captured images. The weighting unit then generates the synthesized image of the L weighted captured images. A corrected image generation unit performs deconvolution processing using the frequency component of the array in which the weighting coefficients are held at positions defined by the directional components of blur vectors, and the frequency component of the synthesized image. The corrected image generation unit performs an inverse frequency transform for the deconvolution processing result, generating an output image.

Abstract: An adaptive motion estimation and deblurring technique for acquired digital images includes acquiring multiple digital images with a moving digital image acquisition device that includes an image sensor, including a relatively sharp, underexposed reference image and a blurred image. Anb initial approximate point spread function (PSF) is estimated corresponding to the moving of the device. A different DC offset point is determined and a second PSF is calculated based on the different DC offset point.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing image processing. For one embodiment of the invention, an image processing apparatus is arranged to process a first relatively underexposed and sharp image of a scene, and a second relatively well exposed and blurred image, nominally of the same scene, the first and second images being derived from respective image sources. The apparatus provides a portion of the relatively first underexposed image as an input signal to an adaptive filter; and a corresponding portion of the second relatively well exposed image as a desired signal to the adaptive filter. The adaptive filter produces an output signal from the input signal and the desired signal; and an image generator constructs a first filtered image from the output signal, relatively less blurred than the second image.

Abstract: A smart-focusing technique includes identifying an object of interest, such as a face, in a digital image. A focus-generic classifier chain is applied that is trained to match both focused and unfocused faces and/or data from a face tracking module is accepted. Multiple focus-specific classifier chains are applied, including a first chain trained to match substantially out of focus faces, and a second chain trained to match slightly out of focus faces. Focus position is rapidly adjusted using a MEMS component.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first halftone processor, a first filtering processor, a second filtering processor, and an evaluator. The first halftone processor generates first halftone image data from input image data using thresholds. The first filtering processor smoothes the first halftone image data using a first filter having a size corresponding to a cycle of the thresholds. The second filtering processor smoothes the input image data using a second filter having a characteristic corresponding to the first filter. The evaluator evaluates a moiré caused in the first halftone image data based on a difference between the first halftone image data smoothed by the first filtering processor and the image data smoothed by the second filtering processor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for obtaining a point spread function for deblurring image data captured by an imaging device comprising a motion sensor. First, motion path values indicating the motion of the imaging device during the exposure time are acquired. The motion path values of the imaging device are then projected onto the sensor plane and for each sensor pixel the projected motion path values are integrated over time. Said integrated value represents for each sensor pixel an initial estimate of the point spread function. Optionally, the size of the point spread function can also be estimated based on the distance of the focused object and taken into account during the projecting step.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an AF section that determines in-focus positions for subjects; a determination section that determines a main subject; a shifting section that, if a difference between an in-focus positions of the main subject and a non-main subject is a first threshold value or greater, shifts a focal position for the non-main subject from the in-focus position towards the main subject side; an imaging section that sequentially captures images at the in-focus position of the main subject and the shifted focal position of the non-main subject; a detection section that detects corresponding points of the subjects between a reference image and a non-reference image; an deformation section that deforms the non-reference image to match the corresponding points thereof with those of the reference image; and an generation section that generates a blur-adjusted image based on the reference image and the deformed non-reference image.

Abstract: An image stabilized digital image capture device, comprising an image sensor for capturing a digital image; an optical system for imaging a scene onto the image sensor; an image stabilization system; an exposure control system; a memory system; and a processor. The processor is used to perform the steps of determining exposure settings using the exposure control system; selectively engaging the image stabilization system responsive to whether the determined exposure settings satisfy a predefined condition; capturing a digital image of a scene using the image sensor and the selectively engaged image stabilization system; and storing the captured digital image in the memory system.

Abstract: A method for measuring lens quality includes receiving and transmitting an image's information to a location module through an image collecting module. A location module partitions the image's information into a plurality of measure areas. An image processing module computes the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) of each measure area. A comparing module compares the MTF with a predetermined MTF to determine quality of the lenses.

Abstract: An image processing method and an image processing apparatus, the method including: generating a blurry image by using a maximum telephoto image among N (where N is a natural number equal to or greater than 2) live view images; generating an alpha map by using two or more images of the N live view images; and generating a soft focus image by combining the maximum telephoto image and the blurry image by using the alpha map.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an acquiring unit that acquires image data expressing an image region included in an image with a first value and a background region included in the image with a second value; a segmenting unit that segments the image region into multiple segments arranged in a fast scanning direction; a converting unit that converts a value of at least one of the segments into the second value; an output unit that generates an image signal on the basis of the image data and outputs the image signal; an exposure unit that exposes a charged image bearing member to light according to the output image signal by scanning the light thereto in the fast scanning direction so as to form a latent image; and a developing unit that forms the image by developing the latent image using an invisible toner that absorbs infrared light or ultraviolet light.

Abstract: A method for calculating an image quality metric for evaluating the quality of a digital image including the steps of denoising the data of the image, identifying edges in the denoised data, determining an edge profile of the edges, determining a grayscale angle for each identified edge in the edge profile that is associated with the edge, and calculating the image quality metric based on a weighted average of the grayscale angles for all the edges.

Abstract: The inversion algorithm based on the maximum entropy method (MEM) removes unwanted effects in high energy imaging which result from an uncollimated source interacting with a finitely thick scintillator. The algorithm takes as an input the image from the thick scintillator (TS) and the radiography setup geometry. The algorithm then outputs a restored image which appears as if taken with an infinitesimally thin scintillator (ITS). Inversion is accomplished by numerically generating a probabilistic model relating the ITS image to the TS image and then inverting this model on the TS image through MEM. This reconstruction technique can reduce the exposure time or the required source intensity without undesirable object blurring on the image by allowing the use of both thicker scintillators with higher efficiencies and closer source-to-detector distances to maximize incident radiation flux.

Abstract: A method for providing location determination includes generating digital images using an imaging device in a headset configured to provide hands-free communication with a mobile device where the digital images are indicative of at least a scene in a direction of a user's gaze. The digital images are filtered and transmitted to the mobile device. The mobile device processes the filtered digital images to generate location information associated with the user's gaze. The headset may be a wired or wireless headset.

Abstract: Systems and methods for rolling shutter artifact repair are disclosed.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an image obtaining unit which obtains an image signal; an extraction position information obtaining unit which obtains information about an extraction position, where an image is extracted, from the image signal; a correction target value calculating unit which calculates a correction target value for correcting the image signal in accordance with the position information from an image center based on the extraction position information; an image correcting unit which corrects the image signal based on the correction target value; and an image extracting unit which extracts the image based on the extraction position information.

Abstract: An auto-focus image system includes a focus signal generator and a pixel array coupled thereto that captures an image that includes a plurality of edges. The generator computes a focus signal from a plurality of edge-sharpness measures, each measured from and contributed by a different edge as a quantity with a unit that is a power of a unit of length. The generator reduces a relative weight of the contribution of an edge depending on a shape of a normalized gradient profile of the edge as identified by an n-tuple of values of n different shape measures (n?2). Each shape measure varies across normalized gradient profiles of different shapes. One shape measure may be the edge-sharpness measure itself. The weight may be zero if the n-tuple falls outside a predetermined region. At least one symmetrical shape that has perfect reflection symmetry receives reduced weight.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image processing apparatus including: a depth-information extraction section; a luminance extraction section; a contrast extraction section; a gain generation section; and a correlation estimation section.

Abstract: In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, a system, a method, and computer readable medium having instructions for processing images is disclosed. For example, the method includes receiving an input datacube from which an input image is derived. The input datacube is transformed into a residual datacube by projecting out basis vectors from each spatial pixel in the input datacube, the residual datacube being used to derive a residual image. A statistical parameter value for samples of each focal plane pixel in the residual image is determined. Anomalous focal plane pixels are identified based upon a comparison of the determined statistical parameter value with the respective determined statistical parameter values of remaining focal plane pixels. Another comparison of residual values for each scanned sample of the identified anomalous focal plane pixels with values of corresponding scanned samples in the input datacube is performed.

Abstract: A method is performed to refocus a digital photographic image comprising a plurality of pixels. In the method, a set of images is computed corresponding to the digital photographic image and focused at different depths. Refocus depths for at least a subset of the pixels are identified and stored in a look-up table. At least a portion of the digital photographic image is refocused at a desired refocus depth determined from the look-up table.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for constructing a virtual microscope slide. The method encompasses the construction of a data structure by digitally scanning a specimen and acquiring digital image data of a series of digitized adjacent image segments of the specimen. The image segments are useable to provide an overall magnified image of the specimen as well as higher magnification images of selected points on the specimen. The scanned digital image data can be stored and transferred over an Internet or intranet communication channel. A control program is provided for the data structure for viewing the overall magnified image and higher magnification images of selected points on the specimen. The control program allows for the selection of a point on the overall magnified image, and display from the stored digital image data a corresponding higher magnification image of the selected point.

Abstract: An image stabilization system applies a “pinned-edge” or “soft pinned edge” image stabilization technique to digital video to compensate for unwanted camera motion in a captured video. In these stabilization techniques, a warping function is applied to an image frame to achieve a non-uniform shifting of depicted points in the image frame such that a reference point is stabilized with respect to a reference frame. In pinned-edge image stabilization, the final stabilized output video has the same dimensions as the pre-stabilized input video captured by the image sensor. In soft pinned-edge image stabilization, the pre-stabilized input video has slightly larger dimensions than the stabilized output video but these larger dimensions are still reduced compared to traditional electronic image stabilization.

Abstract: A motion blur control device uses inter-frame movement computation means to compute an inter-frame movement direction and an inter-frame movement amount from plural frame images acquired at a specific time interval. Motion blur correction means then generates a corrected frame image by correcting motion blur in a specific frame image in plural frame images based on the blur amount set within a range not exceeding the inter-frame movement amount and based on the inter-frame movement direction. Evaluation means evaluates the corrected frame image using a motion blur evaluation function. The motion blur control device controls the blur amount such that the motion blur evaluation function satisfies a specific condition.

Abstract: A method for deriving a blur kernel from a blurred image is provided herein. The method may include the following steps: obtaining a blurred image B, being a product of a blur kernel k applied to an original image I; calculating f?(x)=Rd*P?(B)(x) for every angle ?, wherein R denotes an autocorrelation operator, P? denotes a projection operator of based on angle ?, and d denotes a one dimensional differentiation filter; estimating spectral power of the blur kernel based on a given support parameter; estimating the blur kernel k using a phase retrieval algorithm, based on the estimated spectral power of the blur kernel; updating the support parameters; and repeating the estimating of the spectral power, the estimating of the kernel and the updating of the support parameters in an iterative, to yield the blur kernel.

Abstract: Systems and methods are directed to acquiring, generating, manipulating and/or editing video data/frames. The video frames may be light field video frames having virtual aperture parameters that may be adjusted after acquisition or recording of such video frames. In one aspect, a method comprises: selecting a first key frame, wherein the first key frame corresponds to one of a plurality of light field video frames; selecting a second key frame, wherein the second key frame corresponds to one of the plurality of light field video frames which is temporally spaced apart from the first key frame such that a plurality of light field video frames are temporally disposed between the first and the second key frames; determining virtual aperture parameters for the first key frame and the second key frame; and generating video data.

Abstract: Method and apparatuses for compensating for perceived blur due to inter-frame motion in a sequence of digital video frames are disclosed. One example method includes blurring a current frame using first and second blurring filters to generate first and second blurred frames, respectively. A first weighted combination of the current frame, the first blurred frame, and the second blurred frame is then blurred with the first blurring filter to generate a third blurred frame. The current frame is combined with the third blurred frame in a second weighted combination to generate a blur-compensated frame.

Abstract: An auto-focusing camera module includes a lens module, an image sensor, a color separation unit, a controller, and a shape memory alloy. The lens module captures light signal of an object. The image sensor senses the light and forms an image. The color separation unit separates the image into red image, green image and blue image. The controller calculates MTF values of the image and determines a shooting distance between the lens module and the object. When the shooting distance is greater than a predetermined distance value, the controller processes the image according to the MTF values to compensate blurs of the image caused by out of focus; when the shooting distance is equal to or less than the predetermined distance value, the controller controls the shape memory alloy drive the lens module to an optimum focusing position for focus according to the MTF values.

Abstract: An auto-focusing apparatus controls backlash compensation driving of a focus lens during exposure preparation when focusing is performed by moving the focus lens to a target position of the focus lens. A shutter release time lag can be reduced, and in particular, the auto-focusing apparatus can be usefully applied to the case where a moving subject is photographed.