Abstract: Identification apparatus is capable of automatically performing processing for separation of objects from background to definitively extract objects to be identified. Backlighting is used to cause illumination from behind a tray on which pastry serving as object has been placed, and while in this state an image of the pastry and the tray are captured. The captured image is converted into an L image representing the L-axis component in Lab color space (S11). The L image is used to create a Canny edge image (S12), and contour extraction is carried out (S13). Pastry region(s) are extracted from background region(s), and a mask image is output (S14, S15). The extracted pastry region(s) are used to carry out identification of pastry type by comparison with registered characteristic quantities. Determination of pastry region(s) is carried out based on magnitude of chromatic dispersion and distance between colors in Lab color space.

Abstract: A method of depth imaging includes acquiring a depth image from a depth camera, identifying an environmental factor invalidating depth information in one or more portions of the depth image, and outputting an environmental modification to mitigate the environmental factor.

Abstract: A camera includes an image sensor, and a plurality of metering areas are assigned to an object scene captured by the image sensor. A CPU evaluates a luminance of the object scene for each metering area, and binarizes each of the plurality of obtained luminance evaluated values. Furthermore, on the basis of the plurality of binarized luminance evaluated values, a width of a high luminance area included in the object scene is calculated while a width of an adjacent area adjacent to the high luminance area out of a low luminance area included in the object scene is calculated. Then, each of the plurality of luminance evaluated values is corrected on the basis of a ratio between the width of the calculated adjacent area and the width of the calculated high luminance area. An exposure amount to the image sensor is adjusted on the basis of the luminance evaluated values thus corrected.

Abstract: The invention provides, according to its various embodiments, a method for secure communication that involves encoding and transmitting an optical communications signal that is encoded based on a multi-dimensional encoding technique. The multi-dimensional encoding technique includes multiple security layers and varies multiple physical characteristics of a communications signal. The multi-dimensional encoding technique may include at least one or more of encoding a phase of an optical communications signal, encoding a polarization of an optical communications signal, and encoding a frequency of an optical communications signal, or any combination thereof. According to embodiments of the invention, the encoding and/or any decoding of the optical communications signal may be carried out using one or more of an optical phase shift coding, a polarization multiplexing, and a multi-wavelength control. Multi-dimensional encoding and decoding keys are provided.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image photographing apparatus acquires an image that includes shape information and texture information of an object, and acquires a three-dimensional image of the object by utilizing the image that includes the shape information and the texture information. A three-dimensional measuring device measures the three-dimensional shape of the object. An illumination device is disposed fixed at a predetermined position relative to the object and comprises an illumination light source and an optical system to illuminate the object. A texture image photographing device photographs a texture image of the object illuminated by the illumination device from a plurality of viewpoints.

Abstract: A photographic image acquisition device is disclosed including a light source in the form of an LED chip array having a plurality of LED chips, a photographic medium positioning member for positioning a photographic medium at a predefined position, a projecting lens for projecting the image information on the photographic medium onto a detecting member and for exposing said detecting member, and a light transmitting and averaging member positioned between the LED chip array and the predefined position. The device provides faster image acquisition with a relatively simple mechanical construction.

Abstract: An autofocus control device to perform lens drive control with moving body tracking control. The autofocus control device includes a defocus amount computation device to determine a defocus amount representing an amount of deviation in the optical axis direction of an image formed by the lens and an image forming plane. A drive position computation device computes a position to which the photographic lens is to be driven based upon the defocus amount. A first drive direction computation device and a second drive direction computation device both determine a direction in which the lens is to be driven based upon different information. A field travel speed computation device computes a field travel speed for the subject based upon computed drive positions for the photographic lens.