Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080198244 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MEASURING NOISE CHARACTERISTICS - A noise characteristics measurement device that facilitates the measurement of noise characteristics in an imaging sensor. The noise characteristics measurement device has a classification circuit including a plurality of pixel value regions obtained by dividing a numerical range that can be taken by pixel values of the imaging sensor in accordance with the level of a pixel value. The classification circuit classifies pixel values of the imaging sensor into the plurality of pixel value regions. A calculation circuit calculates a value representing a dispersion degree of the pixel values classified into each pixel value region. | 08-21-2008 |
20080204577 | IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM PRODUCT - An image processing system including: a CCD which outputs an image signal; an edge extraction unit which extracts an edge signal from the image signal; a false edge estimation unit which estimates an edge signal that arises due to noise components based upon the image signal; an edge correction unit which corrects the edge signal by performing coring processing based upon the edge signal that arises due to noise components; and an edge enhancement unit which performs enhancement processing on the image signal based upon the edge signal thus corrected. | 08-28-2008 |
20080211936 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR FOR RELAXING A RED-EYE EFFECT - This invention makes it possible to execute photography with a sufficient red-eye relaxation effect. To do this, in this invention, the amount of a red eye is detected on the basis of a signal obtained by reading an object image under light projection by a light projection unit. The light projection by the light projection unit is controlled on the basis of the detection result. | 09-04-2008 |
20080211937 | RED-EYE FILTER METHOD AND APPARATUS - 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. | 09-04-2008 |
20080211938 | Red eye image correction device, electronic camera and red eye image correction program product - A red eye image correction device includes: a data size conversion unit that executes reduction processing on an image so as to retain color component information contained in the image and generates a sub image with a smaller data size than the image; a red eye detection unit that detects data corresponding to red eye portions in data constituting the sub image; a position information calculation unit that obtains through calculation second position information indicating positions of data corresponding to the red eye portions in data constituting the image by using first position information indicating positions of the detected data in the sub image data; and a red eye correction unit that executes red eye correction processing on the data of the image indicated by the second position information. | 09-04-2008 |
20080218606 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, CAMERA DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Disclosed herein is an image processing device capable of correcting distortion of au original image picked up bad a wide-angle lens using distortion correcting parameters formed in a form of a lattice. The image processing device includes a processing unit configured to sharably process distortion correcting parameters for at least one of an arbitrary pan angle and an arbitrary tilt angle on a basis of a fact that distortion of the wide-angle lens has symmetry from a central point of an optical axis. | 09-11-2008 |
20080218607 | DISTORTION CORRECTION FOR PHOTOGRAPHING DEVICE - A photographing device comprises a lens and a camera. The camera body has an imaging device and an image-processing unit that performs distortion correction on the basis of information regarding distortion quantity, as part of an image processing of an image signal obtained by the imaging device through the lens. The distortion quantity has at least one of first distortion quantity of the lens and second distortion quantity of the imaging device. The information has a coefficient of an approximation formula for the distortion correction on a two-dimensional coordinate system for the distortion correction. The two-dimensional coordinate system is set on an image obtained by the image processing of the image signal. | 09-11-2008 |
20080231732 | Streaking correction signal generating circuit, streaking correction signal generating method, program, streaking correcting circuit, and imaging device - A streaking correction signal generating circuit includes a light-shield waveform detecting unit configured to detect signal levels of respective lines in a horizontal light shield by using an output signal of the horizontal light shield of an image sensor; a black level detecting unit configured to detect a black level by using an output signal of a vertical light shield of the image sensor; and a subtracting unit configured to subtract the black level detected by the black level detecting unit from each of the signal levels of the respective lines in the horizontal light shield detected by the light-shield waveform detecting unit so as to generate streaking correction signals of the respective lines. | 09-25-2008 |
20080239105 | SAMPLE AND HOLD CIRCUITS FOR CMOS IMAGERS - A CMOS image sensor includes a photodiode for receiving incident light that is converted to a charge signal; a transfer mechanism for transferring the charge to a sensing node that converts the charge signal to an image voltage signal; and a sample-and-hold circuit. The sample-and-hold circuit includes a capacitor that receives the image voltage signal; and only one buffer amplifier that passes the image voltage signal to a differential amplifier. The buffer amplifier also receives a reset signal that is passed to the differential amplifier. | 10-02-2008 |
20080239106 | REDUNDANT-BIT-ADDED DIGITAL-ANALOG CONVERTER, ANALOG-DIGITAL CONVERTER, AND IMAGE SENSOR - A redundant-bit-added digital-analog converter has a first input terminal and a second input terminal and outputs a ramp voltage obtained by quantizing a voltage difference between a first voltage+ΔV and a second voltage−ΔV with n+1/2 | 10-02-2008 |
20080239107 | IMAGING APPARATUS - A digital camera includes a distortion correction section, which is composed of a focal length determining section, a distortion evaluation section and a correction amount calculating section. The focal length determining section evaluates a focal length at the time of image capture. Based on the focal length, the distortion evaluation section evaluates the magnitude of wide-angle distortion and optical distortion in a captured image. Based on this evaluation, the distortion correction section selects an appropriate coefficient from an optical distortion correction coefficient table or a wide-angle distortion correction coefficient table. Using the selected coefficient, the correction amount calculating section applies a coordinate transform processing to cause positive or negative distortion to the captured image, and corrects the wide-angle distortion or the optical distortion. | 10-02-2008 |
20080239108 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING APPARATUS - A solid-state imaging apparatus including: a pixel section with a plurality of pixels arranged into two dimensions, each having a photoelectric conversion section for effecting photoelectric conversion, an accumulation section for temporarily storing a signal generated at the photoelectric conversion section, a transfer means for transferring the signal of the photoelectric conversion section to the accumulation section, a reset means for resetting the accumulation section, an amplification means for amplifying and outputting an electric potential of the accumulation section, and a select means for selecting the amplification means; and a noise suppressing circuit for suppressing a variance of a signal at the time of reset of each pixel, having a switch section for switching a polarity of a difference between a first signal and a second signal that are different in a characteristic due to pixel. | 10-02-2008 |
20080239109 | Method and apparatus for correcting image distortion - A method by means of mathematical mapping to remove distortions due to a camera lens, distortions due to image placement relative to the camera, and distortions due to affixing images on curved surfaces is disclosed. The invention provides a method for creating a mapping which, when applied to graphics or other images, will compensate for the effect of camera distortions and camera point of view, allowing the image to appear undistorted when viewed from the camera. | 10-02-2008 |
20080239110 | Fixed pattern noise removal circuit, fixed pattern noise removal method, program, and image pickup apparatus - A fixed pattern noise removal circuit is provided for removing vertical streak fixed pattern noise from an output signal of an image sensor including an output system for every predetermined number of columns. The fixed pattern noise removal circuit includes a correction signal output unit configured to output a correction signal corresponding to the output system in accordance with an offset component and a light-intensity-dependent component of the fixed pattern noise occurring in the output system, and a signal correction unit configured to remove the fixed pattern noise from the output signal of the image sensor on the basis of the correction signal output from the correction signal output unit. | 10-02-2008 |
20080246860 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus corrects a shot image which is captured by an image capturing apparatus including an image sensor having a plurality of pixels arrayed two-dimensionally and on which a shadow of a foreign substance adhering to an optical element placed in front of the image sensor is captured. This apparatus includes an interpolation unit which performs interpolation processing of interpolating a signal of a pixel corresponding to the shadow of the foreign substance with a signal of a neighboring pixel, a designation unit which inputs an instruction to cause the interpolation unit to perform the interpolation processing, and a control unit which causes the interpolation unit to perform the interpolation processing, and when the interpolation unit has not performed the interpolation processing, causes the interpolation unit to re-execute the interpolation processing upon changing a parameter for the interpolation processing or an algorithm for the interpolation processing. | 10-09-2008 |
20080246861 | Imaging Apparatus, Signal Processing Circuit, Signal Processing Apparatus, Signal Processing Method, and Computer Program Product - A signal processing method is provided. The method includes: generating an output signal containing a high-precision component at a level not determined by quantization of an input digital signal by subjecting each of pixels constituting the input digital signal to a predetermined filter operation such that a set of predetermined number of pixels including a target pixel and surrounding pixels thereof is obtained, the operation is carried out on the surrounding pixels when a variation from the target pixel is within a predetermined threshold range, and the operation is carried out on the target pixel when a variation from the target pixel is out of the predetermined threshold range; separating the high precision component from the signal output from the edge-preserving smoothing filter; and adding the high precision component separated from the high-precision component separating part to the input digital signal. | 10-09-2008 |
20080252755 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING METHOD - An imaging method is provided. The imaging method includes the steps of: carrying out a nonlinear correction on an imaging signal obtained from an image sensor where imaging light is converted into an imaging signal; adding a predetermined number of frames of the imaging signal with the nonlinear correction per frame; carrying out control for appropriately setting each of the correction characteristic of the nonlinear correction in the case of carrying out no frame addition and the correction characteristic of the nonlinear correction in the case of carrying out a frame addition; and selectively outputting either the imaging signal with the frame addition or the imaging signal without the frame addition. | 10-16-2008 |
20080259187 | SYSTEM FOR AND METHOD OF IMAGE PROCESSING AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR CAUSING COMPUTER TO EXECUTE THE METHOD - An image processing apparatus includes an edge detecting portion which detects edges contained in a first image, out of first and second images representing the same object, one being obtained by photographing without the infrared ray cut filter, the other being obtained by photographing with the infrared ray cut filter, and a noise reduction portion which carries out noise reduction processing on the second image to avoid the edges and obtains a processed image. | 10-23-2008 |
20080266425 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENHANCED DIGITAL IMAGING - A method and digital imaging device, such as a digital camera module, is provided for digital imaging. The method includes the step of determining a signal-to-noise ratio associated with a first pixel location of a plurality of pixel locations and a signal-to-noise ratio associated with a second pixel location of the plurality of pixel locations, and the steps of assigning a first exposure time to the first pixel location in response to the signal-to-noise ratio associated with the first pixel location and assigning a second exposure time different from the first exposure time to the second pixel in response to the signal-to-noise ratio associated with the second pixel location. The method further includes the step of exposing the first pixel location for the first exposure time while exposing the second pixel location for the second exposure time to create a digital image. | 10-30-2008 |
20080266426 | DIGITAL CAMERA - To provide a digital camera which can correct a formed image within the digital camera immediately the image is formed and which utilizes easy calculation formulae and reduces the number of times of calculations for correction, so as to provide least load to be borne by not only the digital camera but also the photographer, there is provided a digital camera having an imaging unit, a display unit, a main control unit, a distortion correction unit, a main storage unit, and an auxiliary storage unit, the distortion correcting unit including a contour retrieval module, an image correction module and a correction control module, the contour retrieval module including a pixel number conversion module, a color space conversion module, a dividing module, a straight line retrieval module and a contour straight line selection module, the image correction module including an intersection point calculation module, a geometric projective conversion formula calculation module, a trimming module and a resize module, an integerizing module, a coordinate transformation module and a pixel interpolation module. | 10-30-2008 |
20080273099 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, IMAGE CAPTURING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - An image capturing apparatus includes an image pickup unit including an image pickup element that captures a plurality of colors in ranges of visible and invisible light incoming through an image capturing lens, a pixel value calculating unit that calculates a pixel value of each pixel regarding at least one of the captured colors, a contrast value calculating unit that calculates a contrast value for each color based on the calculated pixel values, a correction value calculating unit that calculates a focus correction value for a distance from a current position of the image capturing lens to a focus position based on a temporal change in the calculated contrast values of the at least one color, and an image capturing lens driving unit that drives the image capturing lens based on the calculated focus correction value. | 11-06-2008 |
20080273100 | NOISE REDUCTION APPARATUS, METHOD AND COMPUTER- READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - A noise-reduction apparatus includes an image-noise-reduction means having an operation means and a judgment means. The operation means shifts the level of the signal-value of a target-pixel so that an average of the signal-values of the target-pixel and pixels in a predetermined area in the vicinity of the target-pixel becomes a value at the origin of a color-space of each of a plurality of color-components, performs an operation for noise-reduction processing on the target-pixel and restores the level of the signal-value thereof based on the shifted level. The judgment means estimates a noise-amount of the target-pixel, calculates a statistic representing the noise of the target-pixel based on the signal-values of the target-pixel and the pixels in the predetermined area, compares the estimated noise-amount and the statistic, and determines, based on the result of comparison, which of the estimated noise-amount and the statistic to use for the operation of noise-reduction processing. | 11-06-2008 |
20080278607 | SCENE-BASED NON-UNIFORMITY CORRECTION METHOD USING LOCAL CONSTANT STATISTICS - A scene-based non-uniformity correction method employing local constant statistics for eliminating fixed pattern noise in a video comprising a plurality of images is disclosed, comprising the steps of providing an initial gain image, an initial offset image, a predetermined pyramid level, and a filter of a predetermined level; setting one of the plurality of input images to the current image; calculating a temporary true scene image for the current image based on the initial gain image and the initial offset image; accumulating a temporal mean image and a temporal standard deviation image based on the calculated temporary true scene image; setting another of the plurality of images to the current image and repeating the setting, calculating, and accumulating steps until substantially all of the images of the plurality of images have been processed, otherwise further perform the steps of calculating a Gaussian mean image based on the accumulated temporal mean and calculating a Gaussian gain image based on the accumulated temporal standard deviation image; spectrum shaping the Gaussian mean image and the Gaussian gain image based on the predetermined pyramid level and the filter of a predetermined level; multiplying the spectrum shaped Gaussian gain image by the initial gain image to obtain a final gain image; and multiplying the spectrum shaped Gaussian mean image by the initial gain image and add the initial offset image to obtain a final offset image. | 11-13-2008 |
20080284877 | Camera Color Noise Reduction Method and Circuit - Image color noise reduction circuit ( | 11-20-2008 |
20080284878 | Image Processing Apparatus, Method, and Program - The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, method, and program which compress images so as to improve contrast without losing sharpness. An adder | 11-20-2008 |
20080284879 | Methods and apparatuses for vignetting correction in image signals - Methods and apparatuses for vignetting correction of imager pixels signals. A polynomial correction surface is determined based on a pixel array center, height, and width, surface fitting parameters, and pixel coordinates. The pixel signal is then multiplied by the corresponding value from the polynomial correction surface to create a vignetting corrected signal. | 11-20-2008 |
20080284880 | Video input processor, imaging signal-processing circuit, and method of reducing noises in imaging signals - A video input processor is disclosed. The processor includes: an imaging signal-generating portion configured to image a subject and producing first imaging signals containing visible light components and a second imaging signal containing near-infrared light components; a gain adjustment portion configured to adjustably set a maximum gain value according to a relative magnitude between the visible light components and the near-infrared light components and adjust a gain for the first imaging signals at the set maximum gain value; and a noise reduction portion configured to reduce noises in the first imaging signals after the gain has been adjusted. | 11-20-2008 |
20080291298 | IMAGE NOISE REDUCTION APPARATUS AND METHOD - Provided is an image noise reduction method and apparatus in consideration of brightness of an image in a camera using an image pickup device such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS). The method includes: detecting a degree of image motion by using data from a plurality of frames which are picked up; detecting brightness of an image which is picked up; determining a ratio between current frame data and previous frame data according to the image motion degree and the brightness of the image; and combining the current frame data with the previous frame data according to the determined frame data ratio. | 11-27-2008 |
20080291299 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An imaging apparatus includes a diaphragm unit configured to adjust an amount of incident light on an image sensor, a correction unit configured to perform a correction of an image signal that corresponds to driving of the diaphragm unit, and a control unit configured to control the diaphragm unit and the correction unit. The correction unit includes at least a first state for performing a correction of the image signal when it can be determined that the diaphragm unit is not being driven by the control unit and a second state for not performing a correction of the image signal or for performing a correction of the image signal weaker than that performed in the first state when it can be determined that the diaphragm unit is being driven by the control unit. | 11-27-2008 |
20080291300 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - An image processing method is disclosed. The image processing method uses a first still image and a second still image which are chronologically successive and outputs an image from which noise has been reduced. A motion of the second still image is compensated block by block. Reliability of addition of the first still image and the motion-compensated second still image is determined pixel by pixel and a weighting factor is set corresponding thereto. The first still image and the motion-compensated second still image are added or averaged with the weighting factor and a processed image is obtained. | 11-27-2008 |
20080291301 | Analog front-end circuit and electronic instrument - An analog front-end circuit includes an analog processing circuit, an A/D converter, a calculation circuit, and a correction amount register in which a correction amount is set. The analog processing circuit includes an offset adjustment circuit that includes an offset adjustment register. The calculation circuit monitors an A/D-converted value output from the A/D converter, detects the change amount of the A/D-converted value when changing an offset adjustment value set in the offset adjustment register by 1 LSB as the correction amount, and sets the detected correction amount in the correction amount register. | 11-27-2008 |
20080303926 | Method and apparatus for image improvement - A method and an apparatus for improving the image quality. The method comprises steps of producing image correcting information to decrease errors in the image to be produced by a camera module ( | 12-11-2008 |
20080309800 | NOISE AND PARASITIC CAPACITANCE REDUCTION FOR 1T PIXEL CMOS IMAGE SENSORS - Methods and circuits for reducing noise for a passive pixel sensor (PPS) array of an image sensor are described. A noise reduction circuit includes a noise reduction integrator circuit configured to detect a potential voltage of a column line of the PPS array and generate a potential voltage substantially equal to the potential voltage of the column line. The noise reduction circuit also includes a conductor line oriented longitudinally along the column line and configured to receive the generated potential voltage from the noise reduction integrator circuit. The conductor line is placed at a potential voltage that is the same as the potential voltage of the column line. A parasitic capacitance formed between the conductor line and the column line is substantially reduced. | 12-18-2008 |
20090002525 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING DYNAMIC RANGE OF IMAGE - Provided are a method and apparatus for improving a dynamic range of an image. The method of improving a dynamic range of an image, which is obtained by a sensor unit of an image capture device, includes: creating an input image by using the sensor unit which has a plurality of lines and has different integration times for the individual lines; and creating an interpolated image by performing interpolation filtering on the input image by using neighboring lines of a current line which have different integration times. | 01-01-2009 |
20090002526 | Image processing device, image processing method, and image processing program - An image processing device that performs color shading correction on an image formed by a plurality of pixel signals with correction data includes: a correction execution decision unit that decides whether or not color shading correction is to be executed for each pixel signal in order to perform color shading correction for a part of the plurality of pixel signals and not to perform color shading correction for another part of the plurality of pixel signals; and a correction unit that performs correction of the pixel signal of which execution of correction is decided by the correction execution decision unit for each color component thereof. | 01-01-2009 |
20090009633 | Lens apparatus, image capture apparatus, and method for correcting image quality - An image capture apparatus on which a lens apparatus is detachably mounted, may include an image capture device, an image-signal processor, a communication unit, and a control unit. The image capture device may generate an image signal obtained by photoelectric conversion of subject light forming an image through a lens of the image capture apparatus. The image-signal processor may carry out image processing on the image signal photo-electrically converted by the image capture device. The communication unit may communicate with the lens apparatus. The control unit may carry out control to receive the correction information for lateral chromatic aberration and/or the correction information for light falloff at edges through the communication unit. The image-signal processor may correct image degradation caused by the aberration of the lens using the correction information for lateral chromatic aberration and/or the correction information for light falloff at edges, which are received through the communication unit. | 01-08-2009 |
20090009634 | Apparatus for correcting camera shake and image capturing apparatus - A digital camera | 01-08-2009 |
20090009635 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array unit configured by arranging plural unit pixels including charge generating units and output transistors that output processing object signals corresponding to charges generated by the charge generating units, an imaging-condition determining unit that determines whether a large light-amount imaging condition, when an amount of light larger than that of light representing a saturation level is made incident on the charge generating units, is satisfied, and a control unit that performs control, on condition that the imaging-condition determining unit determines that the large light-amount imaging condition is satisfied, to correct an output signal based on processing object signals outputted from the unit pixels such that a harmful effect due to the large light-amount imaging condition is suppressed in the output signal. | 01-08-2009 |
20090009636 | IMAGE TAKING APPARATUS - When a release button is pressed in the image adding mode and flash-on mode, a system control section instructs a timing generation section to continuously supply a timing signal to an imaging section, thereby causing the imaging section to perform high speed continuous shooting. A flash is caused to emit light in sync with taking the last one of images taken by the continuous shooting such that the amount of the emitted light results in underexposure for one image. The continuous images taken by the imaging section are sequentially output via a preprocessing section to a blurring correction section where the taken images are superimposed upon each other to obtain an image of appropriate exposure in which blurring has been corrected. | 01-08-2009 |
20090009637 | IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging apparatus includes an imaging device, a first luminance signal generating unit and a correcting unit. The imaging device includes at least three types of color detecting photoelectric converting elements and a luminance detecting photoelectric converting element. The first luminance signal generating unit generates a first luminance signal corresponding to the color detecting photoelectric converting element from a color signal obtained from each of the at least three types of color detecting photoelectric converting elements. The correcting unit corrects, based on the color signal, at least a second luminance signal corresponding to the luminance detecting photoelectric converting element which is obtained from the luminance detecting photoelectric converting element so as to generate a luminance signal which constitutes image data corresponding to each of the photoelectric converting elements. | 01-08-2009 |
20090015695 | SBI MOTION ARTIFACT REMOVAL APPARATUS AND METHOD - A system, method and apparatus for eliminating image tearing effects and other visual artifacts perceived when scanning moving subject matter with a scanned beam imaging device. The system, method and apparatus uses a motion detection means in conjunction with an image processor to alter the native image to one without image tearing or other visual artifacts. The image processor monitors the motion detection means and reduces the image resolution or translates portions of the imaged subject matter in response to the detected motion. | 01-15-2009 |
20090015696 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND ITS CONTROL METHOD - An imaging apparatus includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units configured to output an image signal obtained by executing photoelectric conversion and a noise signal; a clipping unit configured to clip the noise signal to a clipping level when the noise signal exceeds a preset clipping level; a control unit configured to calculate the clipping level based on a signal read from the plurality of photoelectric conversion units and set the calculated clipping level to the clipping unit as the preset clipping level; and a differential unit configured to execute differential processing of subtracting a noise signal read from the photoelectric conversion unit and clipped by the clipping unit, from an image signal read from the plurality of the photoelectric conversion units. | 01-15-2009 |
20090021609 | Method and apparatus for distortion correction and image enhancing of a vehicle rear viewing system - An image enhancing system ( | 01-22-2009 |
20090021610 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING NOISE CAUSED BY VIBRATION IN CAMERA MODULE FOR MOBILE DEVICE - An apparatus and method for controlling noise caused by vibration in a camera module for a mobile device are provided. The method includes transmitting a vibration signal sensed by a vibration sensor to a Choice Coil Motor (VCM) driver based on the vibration signal, applying, by the VCM driver, a reverse bias to a VCM upon receiving, by the VCM driver, the vibration signal from the vibration sensor, and exerting, by the VCM to which the reverse bias is applied, an electromagnetic force in a reverse direction in order to fix and halt an actuator. | 01-22-2009 |
20090021611 | Signal processing method, signal processing system, coefficient generating device, and digital camera - An estimated noise shape estimated to be included in the signal to be corrected is calculated based on a calibration signal including a noise correlating with the noise of the signal to be corrected so as to correct a noise of a signal to be corrected. A correction value of a noise shape is generated by attenuating an amplitude of the estimated noise shape, and the noise of the signal to be corrected is corrected by using the correction value of the noise shape thus generated. | 01-22-2009 |
20090027519 | NOISE REDUCTION DEVICE, NOISE REDUCTION METHOD AND VIDEO CAMERA - A noise reduction device to reduce noise of a video image including multiple input frame images is provided. The noise reduction device includes: a motion detector that detects a dynamic region and a static region other than the dynamic region within the video image; and a temporal smoothing processing unit that generates temporally-smoothed frame images by applying a temporal smoothing process to the multiple input frame images, the temporal smoothing process keeping number of color component contained in each pixel, the each pixel constituting an individual frame image of the multiple input frame images and containing only a part of a plurality of color components. A temporal smoothing level for a static region pixel belonging to the static region is set to be higher than the temporal smoothing level for a dynamic region pixel belonging to the dynamic region. | 01-29-2009 |
20090027520 | RED-EYE FILTER METHOD AND APPARATUS - 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. | 01-29-2009 |
20090027521 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE-TAKING SYSTEM, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus is disclosed which can provide a high-quality image by specifying an image corresponding to an image resulting from non-image forming light in image information obtained by taking an image of an object having a high brightness and conducting image processing to make the image difficult to recognize visually. The image processing apparatus processes image information which includes a first image component which was responsive to an image-forming light and a second image component which was responsive to a non-image forming light. The image processing apparatus has an image acquiring section which acquires the image information and an edge processing section which conducts edge processing with respect to the image information to distinguish the second image component with respect to the first image component. | 01-29-2009 |
20090033773 | Imaging apparatus, noise reduction apparatus, noise reduction method, and noise reduction program - Noise reduction is performed on the basis of characteristics of an image in a detection range. A noise reduction block | 02-05-2009 |
20090033774 | Imaging device - An imaging device includes an image pickup sensor that picks up subject light to output image pickup signals, the image pickup sensor having a boundary region generated due to the use of a divided exposure process in the manufacture of the image pickup sensor. In the imaging device, a display unit displays a through image based on image data produced from the image pickup signals, and a selection unit selects a magnification of the through image to be displayed on the display unit. Further, a correction unit performs a correction process on signal differences generated in the image data due to the boundary region of the image pickup sensor, and a control unit controls the correction unit to selectively perform the correction process based on the magnification selected by the selection unit. | 02-05-2009 |
20090040342 | Image Blurring - A method of blurring an image includes acquiring two images of nominally a same scene taken at a different light exposure levels. At least one region of one of the images includes pixels having saturated intensity values. For at least one of the saturated pixels, values are extrapolated from the other image. At least a portion of a third image is blurred and re-scaled including pixels having the extrapolated values. | 02-12-2009 |
20090046177 | Method and apparatus for canceling fixed pattern noise in CMOS image sensor - An apparatus for canceling a fixed pattern noise in a CMOS image sensor includes a storage device, a fixed pattern noise operation circuit, and a fixed pattern noise canceling circuit. The storage device stores first reference fixed pattern noises operated in a vertical blank section of an (n−1)th frame. The fixed pattern noise operation circuit calculates second reference fixed pattern noises based on the first reference fixed pattern noises stored in the storage device and blank fixed pattern noises output in a vertical blank section of an n-th frame and outputs the second reference fixed pattern noises to the storage device to update the first reference fixed pattern noises to the second reference fixed pattern noises. The fixed pattern noise canceling circuit cancels active fixed pattern noises in combination signals based on the combination signals output in an active section of an (n+1)th frame and including the active fixed pattern noises and pixel signals and the second reference fixed pattern noises output from the storage device. | 02-19-2009 |
20090046178 | CORRECTION CIRCUIT, CORRECTION METHOD AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - Aspects of an embodiment include providing a correction circuit that corrects image data in a piece of a frame, the correction circuit comprising: a weight processing unit which performs weighting on position data corresponding to a relative position in response to the relative position between a position of a pixel in the image data and a certain position in the frame; and a correction processing unit that corrects the image data based on a correction value corresponding to the weighted position data. | 02-19-2009 |
20090046179 | Image processing apparatus, image processing system and image processing method - An image processing apparatus, an image processing system and an image processing method can correct the distortion of an image at a low cost and can generate a high quality image in real time. An image processing apparatus is provided which is an image processing apparatus for correcting an original image having distortion. The apparatus includes a horizontal one-dimensional interpolating unit ( | 02-19-2009 |
20090051790 | De-parallax methods and apparatuses for lateral sensor arrays - An object perceived by a lateral sensor array effected by parallax is shifted to correct for parallax error. A void resulting from said shift is filled by examining and interpolating image and color content from other locations. | 02-26-2009 |
20090059039 | Method and apparatus for combining multi-exposure image data - A method and apparatus of combining multiple exposure images by applying a transfer function to pixel output signals from pixels in a pixel array, the pixel output signals from each pixel including at least a first pixel output signal generated in response to a first exposure time and a second pixel output signal generated in response to a second exposure time. | 03-05-2009 |
20090059040 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image processing device includes a corrector for performing an optical correction of correcting a distortion of an image by interpolating image data of the distorted picked-up image resulting from an optical characteristic of an image pickup section, and locally changing a resolution of the image; and a compressor for performing a dynamic range compression of compressing a dynamic range of the image data by extracting an illumination component from the image data based on a space frequency of the image, and compressing the extracted illumination component, wherein the compressor performs the dynamic range compression with respect to image data of an after-correction-image to be obtained after the optical correction is performed by the corrector. | 03-05-2009 |
20090059041 | METHOD OF CORRECTING IMAGE DISTORTION AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING IMAGE USING THE METHOD - A method of correcting image distortion and an apparatus for processing an image using the method are provided, where the method can overcome the disadvantages of the conventional methods of correcting lens distortion and can minimize image quality degradation at outer portions,. The method includes: receiving an image from a wide-angle lens; extracting a distortion coefficient of the distortion in the image caused by the wide-angle lens; correcting the distortion of the image by using the extracted distortion coefficient; and displaying a corrected image. The apparatus includes: a wide-angle lens for receiving an image; an image processing unit comprising a distortion coefficient extracting unit for extracting a distortion coefficient of distortion in the image caused by the wide-angle lens and a distortion correcting unit for correcting the distortion of the image using the extracted distortion coefficient; and a display unit for displaying a corrected image. | 03-05-2009 |
20090059042 | SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD AND SIGNAL PROCESSING CIRCUIT - A common high frequency component common to signals adjusted based on a local similarity of signal amplitudes thereof before sampling so that folding components therein are cancelled is generated, and the generated common high frequency component is adjusted to a ratio corresponding to the balance of the original signal. The adjusted high frequency component is added to a low frequency component of each signal. | 03-05-2009 |
20090073288 | IMAGING SYSTEM AND REPRODUCING SYSTEM - An image pickup system according to the present invention includes an extracting unit for extracting a block area with a predetermined size from a signal of an image pickup device, a transforming unit for transforming the signal in the extracted block area into a signal in a frequency space, an estimating unit for estimating the amount of noises of a frequency component except for a zero-order component based on the zero-order component in the transformed signal in the frequency space, a noise reducing unit for reducing noises of the frequency component except for the zero-order component based on the estimated amount of noises, and a compressing unit for compressing the zero-order component and the frequency component except for the zero-order component from which the noises are reduced. | 03-19-2009 |
20090079851 | Video signal compensation circuit assembly - A video signal compensation circuit assembly is disclosed to include a video signal compensator electrically connected to a computer through a standard VGA cable to compensate for the video signal outputted from the computer, a video signal amplifier electrically connected in series between the video signal compensator and a display monitor for amplifying the compensated video signal outputted from the video signal compensator for display through the display monitor, and a synchronous signal processor electrically connected in parallel to the output end of the video signal compensator to make correction of the video signal outputted from the computer into the video signal compensator. | 03-26-2009 |
20090079852 | Image Processing Device, Image Processing Method and Image Processing - An image processing device capable of executing adjustment of image quality of image data includes a feature amount obtainment unit which obtains an amount of feature indicative of a feature of image quality of the image data, a correction amount obtainment unit which obtains an amount of correction for adjusting the feature amount of the image data to a predetermined target value, and an image quality evaluation unit which evaluates an image quality based on the correction amount. | 03-26-2009 |
20090086061 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP METHOD, AND PROGRAM THEREFOR - An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit selectively performing an image capturing operation in a normal image capturing mode where an exposure image signal is output in a unit period and a combined image capturing mode where long- and short-exposure image signals are output in the unit period; a signal processing unit generating a combined image signal with a dynamic range wider than that of the long-exposure image signal or the short-exposure image signal by combining the long-exposure image signal and the short-exposure image signal; a detection unit generating a luminance integrated value of the combined image signal; and a control unit performing exposure correction control using the luminance integrated value. The control unit initializes a correction value used in the exposure correction control when the mode is switched from the normal image capturing mode to the combined image capturing mode. | 04-02-2009 |
20090086062 | IMAGING SYSTEM AND REPRODUCING SYSTEM - An image pickup system according to the present invention includes an extracting unit for extracting a block area with a predetermined size from a signal of an image pickup device, a transforming unit for transforming the signal in the extracted block area into a signal in a frequency space, an estimating unit for estimating the amount of noises of a frequency component except for a zero-order component based on the zero-order component in the transformed signal in the frequency space, a noise reducing unit for reducing noises of the frequency component except for the zero-order component based on the estimated amount of noises, and a compressing unit for compressing the zero-order component and the frequency component except for the zero-order component from which the noises are reduced. | 04-02-2009 |
20090086063 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE AND IMAGING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - Providing a solid-state imaging device having a degree of freedom capable of changing which of the pixels functions as a pixel having a photoelectric converter portion bisected in which direction. When a gate electrode | 04-02-2009 |
20090091641 | Solid-state image capturing apparatus and electronic information device - A solid-state image capturing apparatus is provided, the apparatus including: a pixel section having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix therein; an A/D conversion circuit for performing A/D conversion of pixel signals that are read out from pixels of the pixel section to output digital pixel values; and a correcting logic circuit for receiving the digital pixel values outputted from the A/D conversion circuit and correcting the digital pixel value of effective pixels on each of horizontal pixel lines based on an average horizontal optical black value, which is an average digital pixel value of a plurality of shaded pixels in a corresponding horizontal pixel line. | 04-09-2009 |
20090096897 | Imaging Device, Image Processing Device, and Program - An imaging device includes an imaging section, an image segmenting section, and a blur enhancement section. The imaging section images a field to generate photographic image data. The image segmenting section partitions an image of the photographic image data into a first region that is a main subject region and a second region where the main subject is not included. The blur detecting section detects degree of blur of an image of the second region of the image of the photographic image data. The blur enhancement section performs blur enhancement processing on the image of the second region to enlarge the degree of blur of the image after image processing in proportion to the magnitude of the detected degree of blur of the image. | 04-16-2009 |
20090122165 | Image Pickup Apparatus, Method of Correcting Captured Image Data, and Program - An image pickup apparatus includes a solid-state image pickup device sharing a circuit necessary for a pixel structure between multiple pixels composing each set including a certain number of pixels having the same arrangement pattern; a pixel mixture correcting unit correcting leakage of light that should be incident on each pixel of the solid-state image pickup device from the pixel into adjacent pixels and/or leakage of light that should be incident on the adjacent pixels into the pixel in accordance with a correction parameter; a correction parameter generating unit generating multiple correction parameters corresponding to the multiple pixels composing the set; and a correction parameter selecting unit selecting the correction parameter from the multiple correction parameters in accordance with which pixel in the multiple pixels composing the set a pixel to be corrected corresponds to and supplying the selected correction parameter to the pixel mixture correcting unit. | 05-14-2009 |
20090128666 | IMAGE ENHANCEMENT USING HARDWARE-BASED DECONVOLUTION - An image enhancement circuit ( | 05-21-2009 |
20090128667 | LINE REMOVAL AND OBJECT DETECTION IN AN IMAGE - In one aspect, lines in image data of an event are automatically found and repaired. For example, the event may be a sporting event which is played on a field, and the line segment is a field line on the field which may be obscured by a player, game ball or other object. The line segment is automatically detected in a mask image, and a portion of the line segment which is occluded by the object is automatically determined, and the object is automatically removed. The line segment can also be repaired. Optionally, a virtual viewpoint of the event is provided from the image, with the line repaired and the object removed. In another aspect, an object in an image of an event is automatically located by detecting blobs in the image which meet at least one specified criterion, such as size, aspect ratio, density or color profile. | 05-21-2009 |
20090128668 | IMAGING SYSTEM, IMAGING APPARATUS, PORTABLE TERMINAL APPARATUS, ONBOARD APPARATUS, AND MEDICAL APPARATUS - There is provided an imaging system configured to include an imaging lens and an imaging device such that the maximum diameter of an effective region of a point image is a size covering three or more pixels of light receiving pixels, the point image being projected onto a light receiving surface through the imaging lens from an intended position. A signal processing unit executes restoration processing on first image data output from the imaging device that images an optical image of a subject through the imaging lens, the restoration processing being executed to generate second image data equivalent to the first image data output from the imaging device when the resolving power of the imaging lens is higher. The imaging lens includes a first lens group, which includes at least one lens and has a positive power, and a second lens group, which includes at least one lens and in which a lens positioned closest to the image side has a negative power, in order from the object side. | 05-21-2009 |
20090128669 | CORRECTION OF OPTICAL ABERRATIONS - Digital images are computed using an approach for correcting lens aberration. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a digital imaging arrangement implements microlenses to direct light to photosensors that detect the light and generate data corresponding to the detected light. The generated data is used to compute an output image, where each output image pixel value corresponds to a selective weighting and summation of a subset of the detected photosensor values. The weighting is a function of characteristics of the imaging arrangement. In some applications, the weighting reduces the contribution of data from photosensors that contribute higher amounts of optical aberration to the corresponding output image pixel. | 05-21-2009 |
20090128670 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COMPENSATING COLOR, AND IMAGE PROCESSOR, DIGITAL PROCESSING APPARATUS, RECORDING MEDIUM USING IT - An aspect of the present invention features an apparatus for compensating color deviation of an image that has uneven color deviation. The apparatus can comprises: a color deviation analyzing module that analyzes luminance of each color component of each pixel composing the image and determines a color component having the highest or lowest rate of luminance change as an object color component, wherein the rate of luminance change is analyzed in the direction from a central pixel to a corner pixel of the image; a compensation table generating module that creates a plurality of sections from a beginning point, depending on a distance from the central pixel, and generates a compensation table for boundary pixels of each section with compensation values that are produced based on the luminance of the object color component; a compensation image generating module that generates a compensation image for the whole image, using the compensation table; and a compensating module that compensates the color deviation by applying the compensation image to the image. | 05-21-2009 |
20090135276 | FLICKER CORRECTION APPARATUS, FLICKER CORRECTION METHOD, AND IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS - A flicker detection region in which an image signal has values relating to luminance and colors within predetermined ranges is extracted from a plurality of flicker detection regions allocated in the vertical and horizontal directions of an image. A flicker component is detected using the luminance information of the image signal in the extracted flicker detection region. A correction value to correct the flicker component is generated from the detected flicker component. This makes it possible to accurately correct, using a simple arrangement, a flicker component contained in an image sensed under a light source whose brightness periodically changes even when the object or the image sensing apparatus moves. | 05-28-2009 |
20090141148 | DISTORTION-CORRECTED IMAGE GENERATION UNIT AND DISTORTION-CORRECTED IMAGE GENERATION METHOD - An internal parameter storage unit stores, in advance, a plurality of sets of internal parameters each of which can be applied to correct a pixel position in a direction from an image principal point, i.e., a plurality of sets of internal parameters for accommodating errors of different magnitudes that occur in individual directions from an image principal point. An internal parameter selection unit selects a set of internal parameters from the plurality of sets of internal parameters stored in advance on the basis of the direction of a pixel position to be corrected from the image principal point, and a distortion-corrected image generator corrects distortion on the basis of the selected set of internal parameters, so that, even when a surface of a lens is not exactly parallel to a surface of an image pickup device, distortion is corrected more accurately. | 06-04-2009 |
20090141149 | Image processing apparatus and image processing method - An image processing apparatus includes a gradation correction unit configured to multiply input image data by a gradation correction value appropriate for the input image data so as to obtain gradation corrected image data; and a noise suppression unit configured to suppress noise of the gradation corrected image data on the basis of a noise model of the input image data so as to obtain output image data. The noise suppression unit includes a parameter generator configured to generate a noise suppression parameter in accordance with the gradation corrected image data by using the noise model; a parameter correction unit configured to multiply the noise suppression parameter by the gradation correction value so as to correct the noise suppression parameter; and a low-pass filter configured to vary characteristics thereof in accordance with the noise suppression parameter corrected by the parameter correction unit and to suppress noise of the gradation corrected image data. | 06-04-2009 |
20090160978 | DATA PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR OPERATING LENS CORRECTION AND METHOD FOR COMPRESSING AND RESTORING LOOKUP TABLE VALUES - A data processing apparatus having a small hardware size and performing tens correction includes a seed memory, a gain memory, and a decoder. The seed memory stores a plurality of encoded gain values forming an A*B seed matrix; the gain memory stores a plurality of decoded gain values forming an M*N grid matrix. The decoder is connected between the seed memory and the gain memory and performs vertical recursive rear polynomial (RNP) decoding before performing horizontal RNP decoding after a second time. Accordingly, the decoder may decode the M*N grid matrix from the A*B seed matrix by performing the row directional RNP decoding and the column directional RNP decoding by turns. | 06-25-2009 |
20090167901 | IMAGE-ACQUISITION APPARATUS - The object is to provide a uniform impression of noise for an entire image signal by performing grayscale conversion and noise reduction in a balanced manner. The signal processing unit performs first signal conversion on an image signal from an image-acquisition device and transfers the processed image signal to a correction-coefficient calculation unit. The correction-coefficient calculation unit calculates, on the basis of the image signal from the signal processing unit, an area correction coefficient for each area used for grayscale conversion of each area. A noise reducing unit uses the area correction coefficients calculated by the correction-coefficient calculation unit to perform noise reduction on the image signal from the image-acquisition device and transfers the processed signal to the signal processing unit. The signal processing unit performs grayscale conversion on the areas of the noise-reduced image signal and transfers the signal to the compressing unit using the area correction coefficients. | 07-02-2009 |
20090167902 | IMAGE NOISE REDUCTION METHOD BASED ON OPTIMAL PRIMARY-COLOR SIGNAL - An image noise reduction method based on an optimal primary-color signal is suitable for a digital camera to reduce noises in a digital image. The image noise reduction method mainly includes the following steps, taking out primary-color signals of a digital image, including taking out high-frequency and low-frequency signals of the optimal primary-color signal and high-frequency and low-frequency signals of the worst primary-color signal by using a high-pass filter and a low-pass filter; next, mixing the high-frequency signal of the optimal primary-color signal with that of the worst primary-color signal, and superposing the mixed signal to the low-frequency signal of the worst primary-color signal, so as to get a digital image signal after noise reduction. | 07-02-2009 |
20090167903 | IMAGING DEVICE - To improve sensitivity by adding pixels, and improve precision of pixel interpolation in an imaging device. | 07-02-2009 |
20090167904 | Image processing circuit, imaging apparatus, method and program - An image processing circuit includes a plurality of memories for storing line pixels of a frame constituting an image, a specific pixel detecting unit for obtaining a luminance difference value, detecting a first minimum pixel (1), detecting a second minimum pixel (1), and detecting a second minimum pixel (2) and a pixel interpolating unit for applying filter coefficients to the observation pixel and specific pixels, obtaining a total sum of results of applying each filter coefficient to each pixel, and dividing the total sum by a total sum of filter coefficients of N×N pixels to obtain an interpolated value for the observation pixel. | 07-02-2009 |
20090167905 | Imaging apparatus - An imaging apparatus includes:
| 07-02-2009 |
20090185057 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING SIGNAL-DEPENDENT NOISE IN A CAMERA MODULE - A method and apparatus for estimating signal-dependent noise in a camera module are provided, in which an image is decomposed into high frequency components and low frequency components, a variance of noise in the image is estimated using the low frequency components, noise is eliminated from the high frequency components using the estimated noise variance, and the image is recovered using the noise-eliminated high frequency components and the low frequency components. | 07-23-2009 |
20090185058 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR NOISE REDUCTION WITH 3D LUT - A device for noise reduction is provided. The device includes a noise reduction three-dimensional look-up table (LUT) and a noise reduction unit. The noise reduction LUT transforms an input image into a noise reduction factor and noise reduction threshold for each color component of each pixel of the input image. The noise reduction unit performs noise reduction on the input image based on the noise reduction factors and noise reduction thresholds determined from the noise reduction LUT. | 07-23-2009 |
20090190005 | Method and apparatus providing pixel-wise noise correction - Methods and apparatuses providing pixel-wise noise correction using pixels to provide reference values during pixel readout operations. | 07-30-2009 |
20090190006 | Methods, systems and apparatuses for pixel signal correction using elliptical hyperbolic cosines - Methods, systems and apparatuses for correcting the sensitivity of pixel signals, the pixel signal correction values being determined based on an elliptical hyperbolic cosine function. The function may further be a rotated elliptical hyperbolic cosine function or a polynomial derived from the rotated elliptical hyperbolic cosine function. Using these functions to represent the correction values in memory allows for on-chip storage of the means to determine the correction values. | 07-30-2009 |
20090190007 | Adaptive Neighborhood Filtering (ANF) System and Method for 3D Time of Flight Cameras - A method for filtering distance information from a 3D-measurement camera system comprises comparing amplitude and/or distance information for pixels to adjacent pixels and averaging distance information for the pixels with the adjacent pixels when amplitude and/or distance information for the pixels is within a range of the amplitudes and/or distances for the adjacent pixels. In addition to that the range of distances may or may not be defined as a function depending on the amplitudes. | 07-30-2009 |
20090201392 | NOISE REDUCTION APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - A noise reduction apparatus, in which an occurrence of overcorrection attributed to an erroneous detection is prevented. A storage unit stores a pseudo noise signal generating characteristic. A pseudo noise generating unit sets a signal which may become a source of a noise superimposed on a video signal as a reference input signal and generates a pseudo noise signal corresponding to the superimposed noise using the pseudo noise signal generating characteristic which is stored in the storage unit and which corresponds to the reference input signal. A subtraction unit subtracts the pseudo noise signal from the video signal. | 08-13-2009 |
20090207284 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ANTI-BLOOMING TIMING TO REDUCE EFFECTS OF DARK CURRENT - An electronic imager includes a plurality of pixels having photosensors for accumulating charge corresponding to individual pixel values of a sensed image. Each of the pixels includes an anti-blooming function which allows charge in excess of a predetermined amount to be drained from the photosensor thus reducing the charge from the pixel that migrates to adjacent pixels. The imager also includes circuitry which controls the anti-blooming function in response to image intensity to reduce dark current in the imager caused by the anti-blooming function. | 08-20-2009 |
20090213248 | Image Sensor Capable of Reducing Noises - An image sensor capable of reducing noises includes a pixel array, a control circuit and a correlation double sampling (CDS) circuit array. The CDS circuit array is coupled between the pixel array and the control circuit, and includes a plurality of CDS circuit units, of which each CDS circuit unit includes a silicon substrate, a MOS device formed on the silicon substrate and connected to a voltage floating node of the CDS circuit unit, and a plurality of metal layers placed on the MOS device for providing electrical connection for the CDS circuit unit and for blocking light illumination on the MOS device. | 08-27-2009 |
20090213249 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND PROGRAM - An image capturing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit which has an image sensor, a storage unit which stores foreign substance information of a foreign substance adhering to an optical element arranged in front of the image sensor, a buffer unit which temporarily stores the image signal output from the image capturing unit, a correction unit which corrects, based on the foreign substance information, an image signal corresponding to a shadow of the foreign substance among image signals output from the buffer unit and outputs a corrected image signal, and a control unit which controls the buffer unit and the correction unit to change, in accordance with a free area of the buffer unit, an amount of the image signal corresponding to the shadow of the foreign substance that is to be corrected among image signals output from the image capturing unit. | 08-27-2009 |
20090219416 | IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND RECORDING MEDIUM RECORDING IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - An image processing system includes a frequency decomposition unit adapted to decompose an image signal into a high frequency component and a low frequency component, a high frequency separation unit adapted to separate the high frequency component into an invalid component caused by noise and other valid component, a conversion characteristic calculation unit adapted to calculate a conversion characteristic on the basis of the low frequency component, a gradation processing unit adapted to perform a gradation processing on the low frequency component and the valid component on the basis of the calculated conversion characteristic, and a frequency synthesis unit adapted to generate an image signal on which a gradation conversion has been performed by synthesizing the low frequency component on which the gradation conversion has been performed, the valid component on which a gradation conversion has been performed and the invalid component. | 09-03-2009 |
20090219417 | IMAGE CAPTURING SYSTEM AND COMPUTER READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM FOR RECORDING IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - An image capturing system includes: a first noise reduction unit which roughly removes the effects of an edge component by performing edge-preserving adaptive noise reduction processing on a target pixel within a local region including the target pixel and the neighboring pixels extracted from an image signal acquired from a CCD; a noise estimation unit which dynamically estimates the noise amount with respect to the target pixel based upon the target pixel value thus subjected to the noise reduction processing by the first noise reduction unit; and a second noise reduction unit which performs noise reduction processing on the target pixel based upon the target pixel value thus subjected to the noise reduction processing by the first noise reduction unit and the noise amount thus estimated by the noise estimation unit. | 09-03-2009 |
20090231471 | CORRECTION APPROXIMATING STRAIGHT LINE GROUP INFORMATION GENERATING METHOD OF MULTI-DIVIDED READING CCD, AND CORRECTION PROCESSING DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD OF MULTI-DIVIDED READING CCD - To make it possible to cope with an error in a hue or the like in the case of using such a CCD of lower quality or an analog circuit of lower quality as might otherwise raise a problem in the hue, a correction approximating straight line group information creating method/apparatus of a multi-divided reading CCD and a correction processing device manufacturing method/apparatus of a multi-divided reading CCD generate correction approximating straight line group information for one real shot optimum for corrections, at an adjusting stage from a plurality of pieces of primary correction approximating straight line group information generated in advance. At the shooting time, therefore, all pixels can be corrected for their individual kinds by making use of the correction approximating straight line group information for one real shot. | 09-17-2009 |
20090231472 | Image processing method, image processing device, and image capturing device - There is provided an image processing method configured to process an image captured by using an optical system with a wide view angle and a large magnification chromatic aberration, wherein a magnification chromatic aberration correction is conducted by conducting no coordinate transformation for an image of a particular color component while conducting a coordinate transformation for only an image of a color component except the particular color component. There is also provided an image processing device configured to process an image captured by using an optical system with a wide view angle and a magnification chromatic aberration, including a magnification chromatic aberration correction device configured to conduct a magnification chromatic aberration correction by conducting no coordinate transformation for an image of a particular color component while conducting a coordinate transformation for only an image of a color component except the particular color component. | 09-17-2009 |
20090237531 | PHOTOGRAPHIC DOCUMENT IMAGING SYSTEM - An apparatus and method for processing a captured image and, more particularly, for processing a captured image comprising a document. In one embodiment, an apparatus comprising a camera to capture documents is described. In another embodiment, a method for processing a captured image that includes a document comprises the steps of distinguishing an imaged document from its background, adjusting the captured image to reduce distortions created from use of a camera and properly orienting the document is described. | 09-24-2009 |
20090244328 | IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE AND SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD THEREOF - An image pickup device is provided, capable of complete correction with data of once analog-to-digital conversion, and prevention of excess use of switches and analog devices and/or erroneous correction, including: an image sensor having a plurality of analog-to-digital converters determining conversion results from a digital signal of higher order bit through separate steps of two or more times; a first correction unit which has a correction factor for correcting nonlinear errors of the plurality of analog-to-digital converters so as to adapt to the analog-to-digital converters and corrects a nonlinear error of a digital signal output from respective analog-to-digital converters based on a correction factor corresponding to respective analog-to-digital converters, characterized in that the first correction unit corrects the nonlinear errors after converting the digital signals from the plurality of analog-to-digital converters into a serial output. | 10-01-2009 |
20090244329 | DIGITAL CAMERA AND IMAGE PROCESSING COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - A digital camera includes: a photometering unit that measures brightness of a photographic field by dividing the field into a plurality of areas; a reference value calculation unit that calculates, a first value to be used to determine exposure conditions for a photographing operation based upon photometering results provided by the photometering unit and also calculates a second value to be used to set gradation conversion characteristics in conformance to which gradation correction is to be executed on a photographic image photographed based upon the results; an exposure condition determining unit that determines the conditions for the operation based upon the first value; a gradation conversion characteristics setting unit that sets the characteristics based upon the second reference value; and an image processing unit that executes image processing including gradation conversion executed by using the gradation conversion characteristics on the photographic image obtained under the conditions via an imaging unit. | 10-01-2009 |
20090244330 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus and an image processing method, enabling achievement of both an effect of improvement of motion-picture response and a reduction of flicker even in a case of a low frame rate, are provided. The apparatus has a processing region detection portion | 10-01-2009 |
20090251570 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR NOISE REDUCTION - Apparatus and method for noise reduction are disclosed. Noise and edge of luma component of a pixel are detected, and noise of chroma component of the pixel is also detected. Subsequently, the noise is removed from the luma and the chroma components according to the detected noise and the detected edge. | 10-08-2009 |
20090251571 | IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging device ( | 10-08-2009 |
20090256934 | IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM - An SSG circuit section is composed of: a memory storing correction information for correcting a transmission characteristic of an image pickup signal in a transmission path; a readout circuit for reading out the correction information stored in the memory; and an SSG for generating a drive signal to be outputted from a driving circuit and a sampling pulse to be used in a CDS circuit, and for specifying an amplification factor of an amplifier circuit. | 10-15-2009 |
20090262222 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing device for performing color conversion processing on a VS (video signal obtained from a color CCD) includes a region defining section, which estimates an amount of noise of the VS, according to an ISO-sensitivity and a white-balance-coefficient, and, based on the estimated amount of noise, defines an AR (achromatic region) of a color space to which the video signal belongs as a region centered on an achromatic axis where saturation is 0, and a color conversion section, which determines whether or not the VS belongs to the AR, and does not perform color conversion processing or performs projection of the video signal onto the achromatic axis if the video signal does not belong to the AR, or performs color conversion processing so that the numerical error between a target color signal and a color signal after color conversion processing is minimized if the video signal belongs to the AR. | 10-22-2009 |
20090262223 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING IMAGE QUALITY OF IMAGE SENSOR - Provided are an apparatus and method for improving an image quality of an image sensor, capable of adaptively removing noise occurring in a de-mosaicking that is performed for generating three-channel data of R, G and B from a single channel pixel structure based on a bayer pattern. The apparatus includes a first converting unit for converting RGB color data into a YCbCr color data, the RGB color data being obtained from bayer data through a de-mosaicking, a noise removal unit for removing noise from a Cb and a Cr color data outputted from the first converting unit, and a second converting unit for converting the Cb and the Cr color data from the noise removal unit and a Y data from the first converting unit into the RGB color data. | 10-22-2009 |
20090268062 | RADIOMETRIC CALIBRATION FROM NOISE DISTRIBUTIONS - Technologies that enable correcting for the non-linear relationship between scene irradiance and digital pixel intensity values of an image of the scene produced by a camera. Imaging noise is used as a signal from which a corrective function is derived. Noise distributions from the image are evaluated to determine the radiometric response function of the camera, from which an inverse response function is computed and used for calibration. | 10-29-2009 |
20090278961 | METHOD FOR DIGITAL NOISE REDUCTION IN LOW LIGHT VIDEO - A system and method for filtering video noise is provided. Video generated under low lighting conditions is susceptible to increased noise and graininess, which increases the required storage space required for recording the noisy video. The provided system and method for filtering video noise reduces noise in low-light video by estimating the noise profile associated with at least one video frame; discriminating between chrominance noise and luminance noise in said noise profile; applying predetermined filter criteria to said chrominance noise to estimate the parameters for luminance noise filtering; applying said luminance noise filtering parameters to filter the luminance noise; and generating a first filtered output of a frame by logical combination of outputs obtained from luminance noise filter and chrominance noise filter. | 11-12-2009 |
20090278962 | Method for fixed pattern noise (FPN) correction - A method for correcting column Fixed Pattern Noise (FPN) in an image sensor offers a compromise between speed and precision for calculating column FPN offsets. The present correction technique is digital, and is applied after the pixel signal voltages have been digitized by an ADC. A first Optical Black (OB) pixel is sampled and compared to a target level. An offset is stored, and an appropriate push-size is determined. Additional OB pixels are sampled and the offset is applied. The push-size is increased or decreased depending upon whether the pixel signal with the applied offset is above or below a target value. This new offset value is written to memory, and the push-size is reduced, and the process is repeated until the last OB pixel has been processed. The resulting offset is applied to the signal pixels in a column. The primary advantage of this approach is that within a single frame, a good estimate of the column offset is made which is not as affected by outlier pixels (such as “hot” or “flashing” pixels). | 11-12-2009 |
20090278963 | Apparatus and method for column fixed pattern noise (FPN) correction - An apparatus and method for fixed pattern noise (FPN) correction in an image sensor utilizes at least one row of test pixels. An external voltage is applied to each pixel circuit in the at least one row. Thus, the output of the test pixels does not depend on the photo or dark current signals. The applied voltage is used to determine a column offset error for each column in the image sensor. | 11-12-2009 |
20090290048 | PUPIL COLOR CORRECTION DEVICE AND PROGRAM - An iris color correction apparatus has a skin color identification section which identifies the skin color of a photographed person in an inputted image, a skin correction color calculation section which obtains a skin correction color that is an iris color of said person that should be shown in said image based on the skin color identified by said skin color identification section, an original iris color calculation section which obtains an original iris color that is a representative color of a peripheral region of the iris of said photographed person from the color of pixels included in the peripheral region, a correction reference color setting section which acquires said obtained skin correction color and original iris color, and sets one of the skin correction color and the original iris color to be a correction reference color when correction is carried out, and a correction section which corrects the iris color of said photographed person based on said correction reference color. | 11-26-2009 |
20090295950 | IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device has an image sensor with a mosaic color filter array comprising at least four color elements. The color elements are arrayed such that each color element opposite a pixel in the image sensor. The imaging device also has a color-transform processor that generates at least one color-transform signal in each pixel while interpolating missing color signals on the basis of color signals from surrounding pixels; and a color-interpolation processor that generates at least one color-transform signal that does not correspond to an opposing color element in each pixel on the basis of color-transform signals, which are generated over surrounding pixels and correspond to opposing color elements of that surrounding pixel respectively. The color filter array is configured such that al least two color elements that have a correlation with each other with respect to spectrum transmittance characteristics are arrayed alternately in diagonal direction of pixel array. | 12-03-2009 |
20090303355 | Imaging Device and Image Processing Method - An imaging device able to simplify an optical system, able to reduce costs, and in addition capable of giving a restored image having a suitable quality in accordance with stop control and having a small influence of noise, and an image processing method of same, including an optical system | 12-10-2009 |
20090303356 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REMOVING BLOOMING OF CAMERA IMAGE - An apparatus and a method for removing blooming of a camera image are provided. When a lane marking is not normally detected from an image obtained by photographing a front view or a rear view of a car, it is determined whether the blooming is generated in the image. When it is determined that the blooming is generated, a mask for removing the blooming is generated and superposed on the image. Accordingly, a situation that the lane marking is not normally detected due to the blooming caused by a head light of a car can be reduced or prevented in advance. | 12-10-2009 |
20090309998 | ELECTRONIC IMAGE CAPTURE WITH REDUCED NOISE - The present invention relates to an electronic image capture system for capturing an electronic image having reduced noise, and a method for capturing an electronic image having reduced noise, for example from a digital camera device. An electronic image capture system ( | 12-17-2009 |
20090309999 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE SENSOR AND SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD OF SAME - A signal processing method of a solid-state image sensor includes comparing a high-sensitivity-pixel output signal and a first threshold value to determine whether or not the high-sensitivity-pixel output signal reaches a level of a saturated-high-sensitivity-pixel output signal. If the high-sensitivity-pixel output signal does not reach the level of the saturated-high-sensitivity-pixel output signal, a difference value between the high-sensitivity-pixel output signal and an amplified low-sensitivity-pixel output signal is calculated. The amplified low-sensitivity-pixel output signal is obtained by multiplying a low-sensitivity-pixel output signal by a sensitivity ratio, which is obtained by dividing a sensitivity value of a high sensitivity pixel by a sensitivity value of a low sensitivity pixel. A first or second image signal is output according to whether an absolute value of the difference value is smaller than a second threshold value or not. | 12-17-2009 |
20090310000 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE - An analog signal photo-electrically converted in a pixel of a light receiving area is converted to a digital signal by an ADC. The digital signal is processed by a digital signal processing circuit, and then, successively output as a digital video signal. The digital signal processing circuit has a first signal processing block for detecting and correcting a pixel defect and preventing a noise, and a second signal processing block for restoring apparent resolution lost by the processing by the first signal processing block. | 12-17-2009 |
20090316023 | NOISE REDUCTION METHOD AND NOISE REDUCTION APPARATUS - The present invention provides a noise reduction method and apparatus for use in reducing noise of a digital image. The noise reduction apparatus comprises a threshold value generating unit, a determining unit, and an adjusting unit. The threshold value generating unit generates a noise threshold value according to a target window and a first chrominance value and a second chrominance value of an input pixel of the image. The determining unit determines whether the input pixel needs to be adjusted according to the noise threshold value and pixel values of neighboring pixels of the input pixel. The adjusting unit adjusts the pixel value of the input pixel when the input pixel is determined as needing to be adjusted. Using the noise reduction apparatus of the present invention, not only noise of a digital image can be identified, but also the degradation caused by the noise can be reduced and thus the overall picture quality can be improved. | 12-24-2009 |
20090322911 | PIXEL OR COLUMN FIXED PATTERN NOISE MITIGATION USING PARTIAL OR FULL FRAME CORRECTION - Systems and methods are provided that facilitate mitigating pixel or column fixed pattern noise in a CMOS imaging System-on-Chip (iSoC) sensor. Pixel or column fixed pattern noise can be recognized by gating a pixel array without firing a transfer signal (TX). Inhibiting the transfer signal can cause zero input to be provided to pixels in the pixel array; thus, the sampled output from the pixels under such conditions can be a function of noise. Calibration and correction can thereafter be effectuated. Additionally or alternatively, pixel or column fixed pattern noise can be managed by controlling a frame rate; thus, the frame rate can be reduced under low light conditions to enable integrating incident light for longer periods of time as well as providing reference frames of pixels generated from zero input that can be utilized for calibration and correction of pixel or column fixed pattern noise associated with other frames. | 12-31-2009 |
20090322912 | PIXEL OR COLUMN FIXED PATTERN NOISE MITIGATION USING PARTIAL OR FULL FRAME CORRECTION WITH UNIFORM FRAME RATES - Systems and methods are provided that facilitate mitigating pixel or column fixed pattern noise in a CMOS imaging System-on-Chip (iSoC) sensor. For instance, pixel or column fixed pattern noise can be recognized by gating a pixel array without firing a transfer signal (TX). Inhibiting the transfer signal can cause zero input to be provided to pixels in the pixel array; thus, the sampled output from the pixels under such conditions can be a function of noise. Calibration and correction can thereafter be effectuated. Moreover, uniform frame rates for outputted frames can be yielded irrespective of use of a subset of read out frames for calibration. For example, frames employed for calibration can be replaced in a sequence of outputted frames by copies of stored frames. Further, signal levels can be balanced to account for differences in light integration time, which can result from blocking and unblocking firing of transfer signals. | 12-31-2009 |
20100002102 | System and method for efficiently performing image processing operations - A system and method for efficiently performing image processing operations includes a camera device that is configured to automatically capture an image sequence of related offset images that correspond to a particular selected photographic target. The camera device then transmits the captured image sequence to an image processing server through an electronic network. The image processing server perform one or more processing-intensive operations upon the received image sequence to thereby produce an enhanced image that may then be transmitted to any appropriate image destination. | 01-07-2010 |
20100007775 | Areal Active Pixel Image Sensor with Programmable Row-specific Gain for Hyper-Spectral Imaging - An areal active pixel image sensor (AAPS) with programmable row-specific gain is disclosed for converting hyper-spectral light image into video output signal (VOS). The AAPS includes:
| 01-14-2010 |
20100007776 | IMAGE CORRECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD - An image correction apparatus reduces an input image, for each area, at a reduction ratio corresponding to the area, generates a reduced luminance image, and extracts a low-frequency component image from the reduced luminance image. The image correction apparatus enlarges the extracted low-frequency component image, for each area, at an enlargement ratio corresponding to the area, generates correction data according to a size of the input image, and corrects the input image according to the correction data. | 01-14-2010 |
20100013961 | Pixel sensor array and image sensor for reducing resolution degradation - There are provided a pixel sensor array and an image sensor including the pixel sensor. The pixel sensor array includes: a first sensor pixel group disposed in a predetermined central portion and including a plurality of pixel sensors sensing incident light; and a second pixel sensor group disposed in a peripheral portion around the central portion and including a plurality of pixel sensors sensing the incident light, the peripheral portion includes a greater number of pixels per unit area than the central portion. | 01-21-2010 |
20100013962 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND PROGRAM - This invention makes shot image data match dust correction data as much as possible even when the dust adhesion state changes. An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing unit which photo-electrically converts, by an image sensor, an object image formed by a photographing lens to generate an image signal, a foreign substance information detection unit which detects, based on the image signal, foreign substance information serving as information on at least the position of a foreign substance adhering to an optical element placed in front of the image sensor, and an association unit which associates an image signal with foreign substance information, and associates foreign substance information detected by the foreign substance information detection unit not only with an image signal obtained after detecting the foreign substance information, but also with even an image signal obtained before detecting the foreign substance information. | 01-21-2010 |
20100020204 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NONLINEAR SELF-FILTERING VIA DYNAMICAL STOCHASTIC RESONANCE - A system and method for filtering and enhancing signals from a noise background based on the nonlinear interaction of waves. The system and method amplify low-level signals, hide information in the signals, and then nonlinearly recover the signals. With the present invention, this can be performed for both spatial beams and temporal pulses. The signal self-filters and self-amplifies at the expense of the surrounding noise via the nonlinear medium. | 01-28-2010 |
20100020205 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An image processing apparatus ( | 01-28-2010 |
20100020206 | IMAGE SENSING SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - An image sensing system comprises a solid-state image sensor including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix and vertical output lines connected by column to each pixel, with signals in accordance with voltages of the vertical output lines each output to a horizontal output line via column circuits provided for each vertical output line. Electrical charges in photoelectric conversion elements included in the pixels are not output to the vertical output lines, while signals corresponding to voltages of the vertical output lines and output to the horizontal output line via the column circuits are averaged by column to acquire a correction value. Then, electrical charges in the photoelectric conversion elements are output by row to the vertical output lines, and signals corresponding to voltages of the vertical output lines and output to the horizontal output line via the column circuits are corrected using the correction value. | 01-28-2010 |
20100026856 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND APPARATUS, AND A RECORDING MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM TO EXECUTE THE METHOD - An image processing method, apparatus and program for reducing noise in an image. The apparatus includes a low-frequency component extraction unit extracting a first low-frequency component from first image data, a noise reduction unit obtaining a second low-frequency component by applying a noise reduction filter to the first low-frequency component or data obtained by processing the first low-frequency component, a high-frequency component extraction unit extracting a first high-frequency component from the first images data and either one of the second low-frequency component and data obtained by processing the second low-frequency component, and the first image data, a high-frequency component tuning unit obtaining a second high-frequency component by tuning the first high-frequency component, and an image synthesis unit obtaining second image data by combining either one of the second low-frequency component and the data obtained by processing the second low-frequency component with the second high-frequency component. | 02-04-2010 |
20100026857 | IMAGING DEVICE, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE IMAGING DEVICE, AND RECORDING MEDIUM RECORDING THE METHOD - An imaging device includes a photographing device configured to photograph an object and generate an image signal, a gain storage register configured to store a gain determined for the photographing device, a gain adjustment unit configured to adjust the image signal using the gain, and a noise reduction unit configured to reduce noise of the image signal using a noise filter selected based on the gain. | 02-04-2010 |
20100026858 | NOISE EXTRACTION DEVICE USING MICROPHONE - A noise extraction device of the present invention includes: first and second microphone units ( | 02-04-2010 |
20100026859 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM WHICH STORES IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus includes a noise reduction unit which performs noise reduction processing to image signals, a first noise presumption unit which presumes a first noise amount from a present image signal among the image signals, and a second noise presumption unit which presumes a second noise amount based on the first noise amount, the present image signal, and the image signal of the past which underwent the noise reduction processing. The noise reduction unit performs the noise reduction processing to the present image signal based on the second noise amount. | 02-04-2010 |
20100033601 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE WITH A SENSOR CORE UNIT AND METHOD OF DRIVING THE SAME - A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of pixel units, a reference voltage generator circuit, a cancellation unit, an analog-to-digital converter unit, a latch circuit, and a video processing unit. The plurality of pixel units output a reset signal serving as a first reference level of a video signal and the video signal, the video signal being output in units of two or more of the pixel units simultaneously to two or more of the signal lines. The reference voltage generator circuit generates a clamp voltage. The cancellation unit calculates the difference between a first addition and a second addition. The analog-to-digital converter unit digitizes the subtraction result. A latch circuit latches the result obtained at the analog-to-digital converter unit. The video processing unit terminates and starts the signal process in units of the pixel unit in a period when the clamp voltage is not generated. | 02-11-2010 |
20100033602 | Image-Shooting Apparatus - A super-resolution processing portion has a high-resolution image generation portion that fuses a plurality of first input images together to generate a high-resolution image. The first input images are shot at a shutter speed equal to or faster than the super-resolution limit shutter speed, which is the lower-limit shutter speed that enables super-resolution processing to make the resolution of the output image equal to or higher than that of the input images. According to the amount of exposure, one of the following different methods for super-resolution processing is selected: a first method that yields as the output image the high-resolution image; a second method that yields as the output image a weighted added image resulting from weighted addition of the high-resolution image and an image based on an averaged image; and a third method that yields as the output image a weighted added image resulting from weighted addition of the high-resolution image and an image based on a second input image. | 02-11-2010 |
20100033603 | METHOD FOR EXTRACTING RAW DATA FROM AN IMAGE RESULTING FROM A CAMERA SHOT - The method according the invention allows the extracting raw data from an image resulting from a camera shot. | 02-11-2010 |
20100033604 | Digital imaging system for correcting image aberrations - A system is disclosed for the automated correction of optical and digital aberrations in a digital imaging system. The system includes (a) digital filters, (b) hardware modifications and (c) digital system corrections. The system solves numerous problems in still and video photography that are presented in the digital imaging environment. | 02-11-2010 |
20100039537 | METHOD FOR REDUCING ROW NOISE WITH DARK PIXEL DATA - A method for reducing the row noise from complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor by using average values from sub-regions of the shielded pixels. The method operates on sensor with and without a Color Filter Array (CFA) before any interpolation is applied and estimates the local offset by subtracting out outliers and averaging the averages of sub-regions in the shielded pixels. The method also reduces the pixel-to-pixel noise while reducing the row noise. | 02-18-2010 |
20100039538 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing device is comprised of: a frequency component resolution section for resolving an image obtained from an image sensor having a light-shielded pixel area and a non-light-shielded pixel area into two or more frequency components; a noise amount calculation section for calculating a noise amount for the frequency component based on the frequency component in the light-shielded pixel area; a noise suppression section for suppressing the noise component for the frequency component in the non-light-shielded pixel area according to the noise amount that has been calculated by the noise amount calculation section; and a frequency component synthesis section for synthesizing the frequency component that has been resolved by the frequency component resolution section to thereby form an image. | 02-18-2010 |
20100045825 | Image Apparatus and Image Processing Method - An imaging apparatus and an image processing method able to simplify an optical system, able to reduce costs, able to obtain an image blurred only in a background by a single imaging operation, and able to obtain a restored images with little influence of noise, wherein a signal processing portion formed by an image processing device | 02-25-2010 |
20100045826 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, CAMERA DEVICE AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - Provided are an image processing apparatus and method in which, when there is a change in a subject, a picture in which a changing part thereof is enlarged makes it possible to easily confirm whether or not the subject is changing and contents of the changing part. The image processing apparatus ( | 02-25-2010 |
20100045827 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus is provided that is capable of obtaining a correction value effective for horizontal noise correction, while suppressing increase in chip area of an image pickup device. The image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup device ( | 02-25-2010 |
20100045828 | IMAGE PROCESSING BASED ON AMBIENT AIR ATTRIBUTES - A method of processing a digital image captured by a camera includes providing an ambient air measuring device associated with the camera; using the ambient air measuring device to measure air attributes at substantially the time the digital image was captured; determining a transform for modifying the digital image from the measured air attributes; and applying the transform to the digital image to produce an improved digital image. | 02-25-2010 |
20100053379 | Suppression of Row-Wise Noise in CMOS Image Sensors - Embodiments of circuits and methods for suppressing row-wise noise in the analog domain in an image sensing device. In one embodiment, a pixel sampling circuit includes a readout circuit that is connected to a plurality of pixels to receive analog signals from the pixels. The pixel sampling circuit also includes a noise correction circuit that provides a reference signal to remove at least a portion of the noise in the analog signals received from the pixels before the analog signals are converted into digital signals. | 03-04-2010 |
20100053380 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - A period of periodical noise caused by a period of a drive signal of a CMOS sensor and a period of a signal generated by driving of a circuit other than the CMOS sensor is acquired, and a length of a horizontal blanking period is adjusted so that one horizontal period of a drive signal of the CMOS sensor becomes an integer multiple of the periodical noise period. Then, column noise is detected from an image signal read out by driving the CMOS sensor with a drive signal based on one horizontal period after the adjustment and the detected column noise is subtracted from the image signal. | 03-04-2010 |
20100053381 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREOF - A white point of a shooting condition corresponding to image data is acquired, and information of a local white point corresponding to a pixel of interest of the image data is calculated using surrounding pixels of the pixel of interest. An adapting white point corresponding to the pixel of interest is calculated based on the white point of the shooting condition and the information of the local white point. Image data of the pixel of interest is corrected using the adapting white point. | 03-04-2010 |
20100060753 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS - An image sensing apparatus comprises: a pixel array; a plurality of column signal lines; a readout unit; a driving unit that, in a transferring period for the readout unit to transfer pixel signals of columns in a first row to the output line, supplies to the pixel array and/or the readout unit a driving pulse for reading out the pixel signals from a second row, in a transferring period for the readout unit to transfer the pixel signals of the columns in the first row to the output line; and a correction unit that corrects a pixel signal of a first column in the first row that was transferred by the readout unit at a timing at which a level of the driving pulse transitions in the transferring period, according to at least a level of a pixel signal of the first column in the second row. | 03-11-2010 |
20100060754 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGING SYSTEM AND DRIVING METHOD FOR SOLID-STATE IMAGING APPARATUS - A solid-state imaging apparatus, an imaging system and a driving method for the solid-state imaging apparatus that can reduce jaggy while increasing speed of operation for reading out signals are provided. The driving method includes a first step of storing one or more signals from the plurality of pixels in each of the plurality of first holding units; a second step of adding the signals from the plurality of pixels stored in the plurality of first holding units; and a third step of outputting the signal stored in the second holding unit, such that at least a part of a period of the first step is overlapped with a period of the third step. | 03-11-2010 |
20100066866 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REDUCING POPPING ARTIFACTS FOR MULTI-LEVEL LEVEL-OF-DETAIL TERRAINS - Provided are an apparatus and method for reducing the popping artifacts of level-of-detail terrain images. The apparatus includes a terrain patch constructor, a level-of-detail deciding unit, a controller, and a tapering unit. The terrain patch constructor forms terrain patches from multi-level level-of-detail patches. The level-of-detail deciding unit receives the generated terrain patches from the terrain patch constructor and decides a level-of-detail for each of the received terrain patches according to the camera distance. The controller determines whether adjacent terrain patches exist or not. The tapering unit receives terrain patches together with neighboring patches of adjacent level-of-detail from the level-of-detail deciding unit in response to the control of the controller and smoothly connects two terrain patches by applying the tapering technique. | 03-18-2010 |
20100066867 | IMAGING SYSTEM AND SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - An imaging system includes a solid-state imaging device ( | 03-18-2010 |
20100066868 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PROCESSING IMAGE - An image processing apparatus calculates a smoothed value obtained by smoothing signal levels of a plurality of pixels including a processing target pixel in a local area of an input image and a feature amount representing an edge degree of the processing target pixel using a pre-noise reduction image obtained by reducing an impulse noise of the input image. The image processing apparatus weighted-adds a signal level of the processing target pixel and the smoothed value at a ratio corresponding to the feature amount and outputs the weighted-addition result as a signal level after noise reduction processing. | 03-18-2010 |
20100066869 | VIDEO SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, DISPLAY APPARATUS, AND VIDEO SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD - A video signal processing apparatus includes: a level detection unit configured to detect a level of a high-frequency component extracted from an input video signal to determine whether or not the detected level is in excess of a preset predetermined threshold value; and a signal output unit configured to output, as a color video signal, an input video signal in a section in which the level of the high-frequency component has been determined by the level detection unit to be in excess of the predetermined threshold value and, as a monochromatic video signal, an input video signal in a section in which the level of the high-frequency component has been determined to be lower than the predetermined threshold value. | 03-18-2010 |
20100066870 | IMAGING DEVICE, DISPLAY CONTROLLER, AND DISPLAY APPARATUS - An imaging device includes a display unit for displaying an image, an imaging optical system, an imaging unit, a posture detector for detecting a posture of the imaging device in shooting, a recording unit for recording a reduced image of a shot image, and posture information on a posture of the imaging device corresponding to the reduced image, an image extracting unit for extracting reduced images including the same posture information among said reduced images recorded on the recording unit, and an image display controller for displaying the reduced images extracted by the image extracting unit on the display unit, wherein the image display controller reconstructs, on the basis of the posture information, a horizontal and vertical direction of the reduced images extracted by the image extracting unit to the posture of the imaging device in shooting, and displays the reduced image being reconstructed on the display unit. Thereby, that makes it possible to display a comfortable reduced image. | 03-18-2010 |
20100073522 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REDUCING NOISE IN IMAGE DATA - The present invention relates to a method for reducing noise in image data, comprising the steps of performing (S | 03-25-2010 |
20100079624 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGING APPARATUS - An image processing apparatus includes a motion vector detecting unit configured to detect, for each field of a signal, a motion vector in each of a plurality of vector detection areas within the field, a determining unit configured to determine, for each field, a group area obtained by grouping the motion vector detection areas based on the motion vector detected by the motion vector detecting unit, a geometric center calculation unit configured to obtain, for each field, a geometric center of the group area, a determination unit configured to determine group areas that correspond to each other in fields that are in consecutive relation in terms of time by comparing the geometric centers of the group areas obtained for each field in consecutive relation. | 04-01-2010 |
20100079625 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND PROGRAM - An image sensing apparatus includes an image sensor, an optical element disposed in front of the image sensor, and a foreign substance information generation unit that generates foreign substance information for a still image from a foreign substance image obtained by sensing a foreign substance that adheres to the optical element with the image sensor, and generates foreign substance information for a moving image by performing reduction processing on the foreign substance image in accordance with the driving method of the image sensor when shooting a moving image. | 04-01-2010 |
20100079626 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - The image processing method includes a step of acquiring an image generated by image pickup through an optical system, and a step of performing image restoration processing on the image using an image restoration filter created such that its filter values have a two-dimensional distribution based on aberration information of the optical system. The image restoration filter is a filter in which a position of a cell having a maximum absolute value among the filter values is shifted with respect to a position of a center cell of the image restoration filter by a shift amount according to one of an amount of distortion of the optical system and an amount of chromatic aberration of magnification of the optical system, and which reduces a blur component of the image and at least one of a component of distortion and a component of chromatic aberration of magnification of the image. | 04-01-2010 |
20100079627 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, IMAGE CAPTURING METHOD, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - Provided is an image processing apparatus comprising an image acquiring section that acquires an image captured through an optical system having an optical transfer function that depends at least on distance to an object point, the optical system holding spread of light from the object point substantially constant regardless of the distance to the object point; an image processing section that applies a correction process for correcting the spread of light to the image, based on the optical transfer function of the optical system; and an image generating section that generates a composite image by superimposing, onto each other, a plurality of corrected images generated by the image processing section applying, to the image, different correction processes corresponding to different optical transfer functions. | 04-01-2010 |
20100085447 | NOISE CANCELING CIRCUIT, NOISE CANCELING METHOD, AND SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE - A noise canceling circuit that includes a sharp/flat-part determining unit that determines whether a neighborhood of a target pixel in a digital video signal is a sharp part or a flat part by calculating a sharpness value indicating sharpness and an approximate noise value approximately indicating a noise value included in the target pixel based on pixel values of the target pixel and a predetermined number of pixels inputted immediately before and after the target pixel, and comparing the sharpness value and the approximate noise value, a noise extracting unit that extracts the noise value of the target pixel by performing a noise extraction corresponding to a result of the determination performed by the sharp/flat-part determining unit, and a correcting unit that corrects the pixel value of the target pixel by using the extracted noise value of the target pixel. | 04-08-2010 |
20100085448 | SOLID STATE IMAGING DEVICE - A solid state imaging device includes at least a plurality of first pixels, a plurality of second pixels, a signal line, and a fixing portion. The plurality of first pixels includes a photoelectric conversion portion which converts incident light into a signal charge and accumulates the converted signal charge. The plurality of second pixels includes the photoelectric conversion portion and is shaded so that the incident light is not incident on the photoelectric conversion portion. The signal line is electrically connected to the first or second pixel and is used to transmit a pixel signal, which corresponds to the signal charge and is output from the first or second pixel. The fixing portion fixes the level of the signal line so that the level of the signal line connected to the second pixel does not become equal to or more than a predetermined level or does not become equal to or less than the predetermined level. | 04-08-2010 |
20100091143 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - A digital camera first carries out R component and B component interpolation processing on image data. Then, magnification chromatic aberration correction processing is carried out on the image data that has undergone R component and B component interpolation processing. Then, G component interpolation processing is carried out on the image data that has undergone magnification chromatic aberration correction processing. In carrying out G component interpolation processing, a determination is made as to the G components of which pixels to use in the interpolation processing based on R components or B components of the image data that has undergone magnification chromatic aberration correction processing. | 04-15-2010 |
20100097501 | Imaging Array with Modulated Pixels - An imaging array and a method for operating the same are disclosed. The imaging array includes a plurality of light pixels and a sense amplifier. Each light pixel includes a photodetector that generates and couples a signal indicative of a light exposure to a light pixel node, a readout circuit, and a mixer that mixes a signal on the light pixel node with a pixel oscillator signal. The sense amplifier includes an input node that receives a signal from each light pixel, one light pixel at a time. The sense amplifier also includes a high pass filter that attenuates signals with frequencies less than a cutoff frequency and a mixer that demodulates the signal from the filter to provide a signal that is related to the potential on the light pixel node of the light pixel connected to the first input node. | 04-22-2010 |
20100097502 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE DISTORTION CORRECTION METHOD - An image processing apparatus for correcting image distortion includes a storage which stores before-correction coordinates in a coordinate system of a before-correction image, corresponding to each pixel in a coordinate system of a corrected image; a coordinate output section which reads from the storage and outputs the before-correction coordinates corresponding to coordinates input to select each pixel of the corrected image; a pixel data output section which outputs the data of the before-correction image, corresponding to the before-correction coordinates, as the data of the pixel of the corrected image, corresponding to the before-correction coordinates; and a pixel data calculator which calculates, when the before-correction coordinates include a value after the decimal point, a weighted average based on the data of a plurality of pixels close to the before-correction coordinates in the before-correction image to output the weighted average as the data of the pixel of the corrected image. | 04-22-2010 |
20100097503 | IMAGE ACQUISITION APPARATUS AND PROGRAM RECORDING MEDIUM - An image acquisition apparatus includes a plurality of pupil-division lenses configured to pupil-divide a light flux of the object image light passed through an optical imaging system in an area on a surface of an image sensor, a coordinate recording unit configured to record coordinate information to specify the area on the surface of the image sensor, a correction unit configured to execute, based on an optical characteristic of the plurality of pupil-division lenses corresponding to the area and characteristics of the image sensor, a process of correcting the image signal obtained by the image acquisition operation of the image sensor, according to the recorded coordinate information, and a focus detection unit configured to detect a focal point based on selected one of the image signal before the correction process and the image signal after the correction process. | 04-22-2010 |
20100110234 | IMAGE SYNTHESIS APPARATUS AND IMAGE SYNTHESIS METHOD - An image synthesis apparatus includes an image obtainer obtaining a plurality of images taken by a plurality of cameras; a pixel value corrector which, with respect to each of the images, calculates a correction factor of an average pixel value in overlap regions located at the both ends of an image and, in the adjacent direction of the images, calculates the correction factor of a pixel value in a region other than the overlap regions by a predetermined continuous function connecting the correction factors in the overlap regions and corrects the entire image based on the calculated correction factor; a synthetic image generator synthesizing the images corrected by the pixel value corrector to generate one synthetic image; and an image output outputting the synthetic image to an external apparatus. | 05-06-2010 |
20100110235 | APPARATUS, METHOD AND SOFTWARE STORED ON A COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM, FOR REDUCING NOISE IN AN IMAGE - An apparatus, method, and software stored on a computer-readable storage medium, for correctly reduce noise included in image data regardless of the characteristics of the image data. The noise reduction apparatus and method employ a determinator for determining whether a target pixel of image data corresponds to a flat portion, an edge portion, or a gradation portion based on a pixel value of the target pixel and pixel values of neighboring pixels of the target pixel; and a noise reduction unit for reducing noise included in the image data based on a result of the determining by the determinator. | 05-06-2010 |
20100110236 | Autofocus apparatus - An autofocus apparatus with a photographic optical system having a movably disposed focus adjusting lens, an optical element to split light beams received from an object, a plurality of image forming lenses to form images from portions of the split light beams, a plurality of focusing estimating portions to create focusing data for focusing the image of the object on the corresponding image forming lenses, a data detecting device to detect data for focusing the image, a data creating device to correct the detected focusing data, a selecting portion to select from among the focusing estimating portions, and a moving device to move the focus adjusting lens. | 05-06-2010 |
20100110237 | ARRANGEMENT OF CIRCUITS IN PIXELS, EACH CIRCUIT SHARED BY A PLURALITY OF PIXELS, IN IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS - In an image sensing apparatus having a plurality of unit cells, each including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements and a common circuit shared by the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, arranged in either one or two dimensions, the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged at a predetermined interval. | 05-06-2010 |
20100118166 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXCESS SIGNAL CORRECTION IN AN IMAGER - A method and apparatus for excess signal compensation in an imaging system is described. In one particular embodiment, the invention provides for non-linear background, offset (due to time dependent dark current) and/or lag (including constant, linear and non-linear terms, due to image persistence) corrections of large area, flat panel imaging sensors. | 05-13-2010 |
20100123806 | IMAGE COMPENSATION METHOD AND IMAGE ACQUISITION DEVICE USING THE SAME - An image compensation method adapted to reduce noise of a first image captured by an image acquisition device at a high ISO mode. The image compensation method includes the following steps. A Bayer pattern is obtained from the first image. A green pixel signal, a low-resolution binned original luminance signal, and an original chrominance signal are respectively generated according to the Bayer pattern. A high-resolution analog luminance signal is generated by using the green pixel signal. The high-resolution analog luminance signal and the low-resolution binned original luminance signal are combined, and a compensated high-resolution luminance signal is output. A second image is generated by combining the compensated high-resolution luminance signal and the original low-noise chrominance signal. | 05-20-2010 |
20100123807 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An image processing apparatus and method are provided. The image processing apparatus includes a blur kernel estimator and an image restorer. The blur kernel estimator is configured to estimate a blur kernel of a first image using the first image and a second image, wherein the first image includes multi-channel color image data and the second image includes single-channel image data and is obtained with a shorter exposure time than the first image. The image restorer is configured to generate a blurred image of the second image using the blur kernel, and restore an image using residual images between images for respective channels of the first image and the blurred image of the second image, the second image, and the blur kernel. | 05-20-2010 |
20100123808 | PICTURE SIGNAL PROCESSING CIRCUIT, SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGING APPARATUS, DISPLAY DEVICE, AND CAMERA SYSTEM - A picture signal processing circuit includes: a filter unit, when, based on first picture signals supplied from an image sensing device that images a subject in a first picture size determined by a first number of pixels, a first or second display mode for display of a picture on a display unit having a picture size determined by a second number of pixels smaller than the first number of pixels is set, that outputs second picture signals obtained by performing filter processing of removing high-frequency components from the first picture signals in the first display mode and outputs the first picture signals without change in the second display mode; a memory control unit that allows a memory to store the first or second picture signals supplied from the filter unit, and reads out the second picture signals from the memory, performs processing of reducing from the first picture size to the second picture size on the second picture signals, and output the signals to the display unit in the first display mode, and reads out the first picture signals corresponding to a picture clipped in the second picture size from the picture in the first picture size from the memory and outputs the signals to the display unit in the second display mode; and a main control unit that controls switching between the first and second picture signals filter-processed or read out from the memory by the memory control unit according to a command of switching between the first and second display modes provided by a display mode switching unit that provides the command of switching between the first and second display modes. | 05-20-2010 |
20100128147 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REDUCING NOISE IN AN IMAGE - An image processing method and apparatus may effectively reduce noise in an image which represents an object photographed by a photographing apparatus. The method may include extracting a first low-frequency component and a first high-frequency component from first image data, and applying a noise reduction filter to the first low-frequency component and to the first high-frequency component to obtain a second low-frequency component and a second high-frequency component, respectively. The method may also include obtaining edge data from the second low-frequency component, and amplifying a portion of the second high-frequency component that corresponds to the edge data to obtain a third high-frequency component. The method may further include combining the second low-frequency component with the third high-frequency component to obtain second image data, and controlling the second image data representing the photographed object to be output to at least one of a storage medium and a display unit. | 05-27-2010 |
20100128148 | IMAGE PICKUP SENSOR, DRIVING METHOD THEREFOR, AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup sensor that can properly carry out correction processing on noise components at high speed without bringing about an increase in cost. In an effective pixel region, pixels for obtaining image pickup signals used as a picked-up image are arranged. A plurality of reference pixel regions in which pixels for obtaining reference signals for the image pickup signals are arranged are disposed adjacent to opposing sides of the effective pixel region. A holding unit holds the image pickup signals obtained from the effective pixel region and the reference signals obtained from the plurality of reference pixel regions, the image pickup signals and the reference signals vertically scanned on a row-by-row basis. A horizontal scanning unit that horizontally scans the image pickup signals and the reference signals held by the holding unit horizontally scans the reference signals held by the holding unit before the image pickup signals. | 05-27-2010 |
20100141804 | Image data processing method by reducing image noise, and camera integrating means for implementing said method - The invention concerns image data processing, through noise reduction comprising the following steps: associating a learning zone (ZA) with a reference point (Pref) of the image (IM); for each variable point (PC, PC′,) of the learning zone, evaluating a distance (d, d′,) between: values of points in a first window (f | 06-10-2010 |
20100141805 | Image correcting system and image capturing device using the same and image correcting method thereof - An image correcting system, an image capturing device using the same and an image correcting method thereof are provided. The image correcting system of the image capturing device comprises an image sensor which comprises a plurality of photo-sensing cells, each of which generates a pixel signal. The image correcting system comprises a storing unit, a decompressing unit and a correcting unit. The storing unit stores a compressed gain signal for each of the photo-sensing cells. The decompressing unit receives the compressed gain signals and then decompresses the compressed gain signals to obtain a plurality of gain signals. The correcting unit receives the pixel signals and the gain signals, and then corrects each of the pixel signals with the respective gain signal for the corresponding photo-sensing cell to obtain and output a corrected pixel signal. | 06-10-2010 |
20100141806 | Moving Object Noise Elimination Processing Device and Moving Object Noise Elimination Processing Program - A moving object noise elimination processing device and a moving object noise elimination processing program are provided for making it possible to effectively eliminate a noise due to a moving object in front of a photographing object with a relatively simple method. A moving object noise elimination process involves first photographing an image every predetermined sampling interval Δt and the photographed images are stored in association with time (S | 06-10-2010 |
20100141807 | CAMERA WITH IMAGE ENHANCEMENT FUNCTIONS - Imaging apparatus ( | 06-10-2010 |
20100141808 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE - A solid-state image pickup device includes a pixel array, a gain adjusting unit that adjusts a gain of a pixel signal, an A/D conversion unit that performs A/D conversion on an image pickup signal, a plurality of fixed pattern noise detection units that detect a fixed pattern noise from a digital image pickup signal, a selecting unit that selects one output from outputs of the plurality of fixed pattern noise detection units, a fixed pattern noise correction unit that corrects the fixed pattern noise included in the digital image pickup signal, and a control unit that controls the gain adjusting unit setting a plurality of gain values, the control unit controlling the plurality of fixed pattern noise detection units detecting the plurality of fixed pattern noise based on the plurality of gain values and storing a plurality of correction values. | 06-10-2010 |
20100141809 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, STORAGE MEDIUM FOR STORING IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus including a noise reducing portion for applying noise reduction to RGB Bayer array image data for each of RGB channels with a noise reduction amount H, and calculating R | 06-10-2010 |
20100149384 | Image Processing Apparatus And Image Sensing Apparatus - An image processing apparatus outputs an output image by synthesizing a first image obtained by shooting, a second image obtained by shooting with an exposure time longer than the exposure time of the first image, and a third image obtained by reducing noise in the first image. The image processing apparatus has a noise reduction processing control portion which controls the contents of image processing for obtaining the third image from the first image according to the noise level in the first image. | 06-17-2010 |
20100149385 | NOISE-CANCELLING IMAGE SENSORS - An image sensor that has a plurality of pixels within a pixel array coupled to a control circuit and to one or more subtraction circuits. The control circuit may cause an output transistor coupled to a pixel to provide a first reference output signal, a common reset output signal, and a first sense-node reset output signal, between which a subtraction circuit may form a weighted difference to create a noise signal. The control circuit may cause the output transistor to provide a second sense-node reset output signal, a light response output signal and a second reference output signal, between which a subtraction circuit may form a weighted difference to create a normalized light response signal. The light response output signal corresponds to the image that is to be captured by the sensor. The noise signal may be subtracted from the normalized light response signal to generate a denoised signal. | 06-17-2010 |
20100157109 | DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - Provided are a digital photographing apparatus which provides the benefit of distorting an image of an object display on an electronic viewfinder so that the object does not appear to be distorted to a user with astigmatism, and a method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus. The digital photographing apparatus includes an image capture device configured to generate data from light incident to an object to generate preview images of the object; and an electronic viewfinder configured to display preview images, wherein the digital photographing apparatus is configured to distort the preview image to correct for the vision of a user and to control the electronic viewfinder to display the distorted preview image. | 06-24-2010 |
20100157110 | Image Sensing Apparatus - An image sensing apparatus that includes an image sensing portion outputting the image data of an image by shooting and that generates an output image based on the output data of the image sensing portion obtained in response to a predetermined shooting command has: a first correction portion which, based on the image data of a first image shot by the image sensing portion and the image data of a second image shot by the image sensing portion with an exposure time longer than the exposure time of the first image, performs position adjustment between the first and second images and then synthesizes the first and second images to generate the output image; a second correction portion which generates the output image by reducing noise in the first image without using the second image; and a correction control portion which executes selection processing to alternatively select one of the first and second correction portions based on a shooting condition set for shooting of the second image or based on the output data of the image sensing portion, and which makes the so selected correction portion generate the output image. | 06-24-2010 |
20100165153 | IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE, IMAGE PICKUP METHOD AND INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - It is to reduce a recording capacity required for recording image data acquired by composition bracket photographing. In order to attain the object mentioned above, an image processing section designates a plurality of subject trimming images generated by respectively clipping out a plurality of subject images included in the picked-up image obtained by the correction circuit so as to set the plurality of designated subject trimming images as a first trimming image, sets an image encompassing the plurality of subject trimming images as a second trimming image, calculates a data size of the first trimming image with a data size of the second trimming image so as to compare the data sizes of the first trimming image and the second trimming image with each other, and selects one of the first trimming image and the second trimming image to be recorded in a recording section, whose data size is smaller than that of the other one. | 07-01-2010 |
20100165154 | NOISE ELIMINATION METHOD OF IMAGE SEQUENCE - A noise elimination method of an image sequence is described. During a color separation of a raw image data captured by an image capturing element, 3D filtering is integrated. First, the raw image data is converted into a gray-scaled full luma image, an interframe filtering process is performed to eliminate possible noises in the gray-scaled full luma image, and an interpolation process is performed with the raw image data. During the implementation, an adaptive frame average filtering process is also performed to obtain a preferred image filtering result through an appropriate filtering manner. Therefore, an adaptive interframe interpolation for eliminating noises is to prevent noises or artifacts generated by the noises from affecting the subsequent image processing. | 07-01-2010 |
20100177219 | Image distortion correcting method, carrier medium carrying distortion correcting program, and optical apparatus - A proposition is to provide a distortion correcting method, a carrier medium carrying distortion correcting program and an optical apparatus which can perform reliable and good distortion correction while suppressing the quantity of information in distortion correcting information. The distortion correcting method includes a preparing operation which expresses distortion aberration of an optical system for shooting in a function of a lens position thereof, optimizes coefficients of the function so that residual aberrations in two or more lens positions are controlled appropriately respectively, and prepares, in advance, information of optimized coefficients thereof as distortion correcting information of the optical system, and a correcting operation which performs a correction of distortion of an image picked up by the optical system based on the lens position at shooting time and the distortion correcting information prepared. | 07-15-2010 |
20100177220 | Image sensor for reducing kick-back noise and image pick-up device having the same - An image sensor comprises a plurality of pixel units connected to a column line, a signal process circuit configured to process a signal output from the column line according to a switching operation, and a kick-back noise blocking circuit configured to reduce kick-back noise caused by the switching operation. Each of the pixel units includes a photoelectric conversion element. The kick-back noise blocking circuit is connected between the column line and the signal process circuit. | 07-15-2010 |
20100182461 | Image-signal processing device and image signal processing program - It is an object to reduce subjective noise. Provided is an image-signal processing device including an area dividing unit that divides image signals acquired by an image capturing element and subjected to predetermined image processing into a plurality of areas on the basis of color information and a noise reducing unit that performs different noise reduction processing on the individual areas of the image signals divided by the area dividing unit. | 07-22-2010 |
20100182462 | Image processing equipment and digital camera - In order to perform a pipeline processing on a noise filtering processing, which uses a multi-resolution noise filtering, with a few line memories, the way to select an area of a reduced image which is used by the extraction of the low-frequency noise component from the reduced image is modified. By extracting the low-frequency noise component from the area being selected by the modified way, it is possible to suppress a volume of image data which needs to be read prior to the noise filtering object pixel. | 07-22-2010 |
20100188535 | Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and imaging apparatus - An image processing apparatus includes an image adding unit to perform noise reduction processing in the spatial direction by adding multiple images while performing motion compensation, an intra-screen noise reducing unit to perform noise reduction processing in the spatial direction within one image for each of the multiple images before adding with the image adding unit, and a control unit to vary the noise reduction strength in the spatial direction by the intra-screen noise reduction unit as to the multiple images to be added with the image adding unit. | 07-29-2010 |
20100194932 | Image processing device, image processing method, and capturing device - An image processing device, an image processing method, and a capturing device are disclosed to correct image distortion, such as distortion aberration or chromatic aberration, produced on a captured image by an optical pickup system, with respect to an image captured by a capturing element. The image processing device includes a process output image generation means generating one sheet of a process output image by performing a process using plural sheets of captured images sequentially output from a pickup device in consideration of one of the plural sheets of captured images as a reference image, and a correction means correcting image distortion occurring in the captured images by an optical pickup system including a pickup lens, with respect to the captured images produced in the process output image generation means, when the plural sheets of the captured images. | 08-05-2010 |
20100194933 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - The image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a pixel extraction section that extracts an extraction region made up of a target pixel and a plurality of pixels included in a region peripheral to the target pixel, a similitude calculation section that calculates similitude of each pixel value in the peripheral region with respect to a pixel value of the target pixel, a similitude filter processing section that performs filter processing on the similitude, a first filter determining section that determines a first filter used in the filter processing of the similitude filter processing section, a second filter determining section that determines a second filter used for the extraction region based on the similitude subjected to the filter processing by the similitude filter processing section, and a noise reduction processing section that performs noise reduction processing on the target pixel based on the second filter determined by the second filter determining section. | 08-05-2010 |
20100220221 | Highlight suppression image pickup apparatus - A highlight suppression image pickup apparatus includes a camera part provided with a lens optical system, an active filter part which is disposed in the vicinity of a focal plane of the camera part and which can control the amount of transmitted light, a light sensing device which senses a light transmission amount of the active filter part, and highlight suppression signal producing parts which produce a highlight suppression signal which controls the light transmission amount of the active filter part such that the amount of light sensed by the light sensing device becomes a predetermined reference value. The highlight suppression signal which controls the light transmission amount of the active filter part is output an image signal. | 09-02-2010 |
20100220222 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM STORING IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - A noise-level determining unit estimates the noise level of each pixel or each predetermined region formed of multiple pixels in at least one image among multiple images; a combining ratio determining unit determines, for each pixel or each region, a combining ratio on the basis of the noise level; and a weighted-averaging processing unit generates a combined image from the multiple images on the basis of the combining ratio. | 09-02-2010 |
20100225788 | CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING IMAGE ABNORMALITY CAUSED BY POWER SUPPLY - A method for processing an image abnormality caused by power supply is provided, which is used in a digital image-capturing apparatus. The method can be described as follows. First, power of the digital image-capturing apparatus is turned on. Next, a line data of an image being captured is started to be transmitted, wherein the line data has a dummy pixel region and an effective pixel region, and the dummy pixel region is first transmitted, and then a plurality of pixel data of the effective pixel region is transmitted. Next, a horizontal driving current to be input to a horizontal driver is processed, so that the horizontal driving current substantially approaches a stable state before the effective pixel region is output. Finally, the above steps are repeated for continually transmitting a next line data of the image being captured until the image of the digital image-capturing apparatus is completely transmitted. | 09-09-2010 |
20100225789 | IMAGE NOISE FILTER AND METHOD - An image noise filter includes a wavelet transform module and an edge based adaptive filter module. The dual tree wavelet transform module provides low frequency wavelet information and high frequency wavelet information in response to image information. The edge based adaptive filter module provides filtered high frequency wavelet information in response to the high frequency wavelet information and edge information that is based on the low frequency wavelet information. | 09-09-2010 |
20100225790 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus includes a region extracting section that extracts a first predetermined region including a target pixel in a current frame and a second predetermined region including a pixel located at the same position as the target pixel in a previous frame, a motion vector calculating section that calculates a motion vector of the first predetermined region with respect to the previous frame based on part or all of the pixels in the first predetermined region and part of the pixels in the second predetermined region, a filter coefficient determining section that determines a filter coefficient for a plurality of pixels in the second predetermined region based on the motion vector, and a noise reducing section that reduces noise in the target pixel based on the plurality of pixels in the second predetermined region and the filter coefficient. | 09-09-2010 |
20100231756 | Method for Correcting the Spatial Noise of a Matrix Image Sensor - The invention relates to matrix image sensors, and it relates more particularly to a method for correcting the spatial noise generated by the dispersion of the physical properties of the different individual sensitive dots, or pixels, of the matrix. For each pixel, in an individual electronic circuit associated with the pixel, a recursively digital method is used to determine an approximate value (M | 09-16-2010 |
20100231757 | IMAGE ACQUISITION APPARATUS AND IMAGE ACQUISITION PROGRAM - A plurality of preliminary image signals is acquired by carrying out preliminary image acquisition of a subject, before actual image acquisition, with different amounts of light received by an image acquisition device. Subsequently, a dynamic range and an amount of noise, or an S/N ratio, for a case in which the plurality of preliminary image signals is combined is calculated, and a received-light-level difference of the image acquisition device among a plurality of actual image signals acquired through the actual image acquisition is calculated on the basis of the dynamic range and the amount of noise, or the S/N ratio. Then, by carrying out the actual image acquisition on the basis of the calculated received-light-level difference, a plurality of actual image signals with different received light level is acquired. These actual image signals are combined to acquire a combined image. | 09-16-2010 |
20100238328 | ANTI-ALIASING SPATIAL FILTER SYSTEM - A sensor module for an image capture device including an image sensor and a filter system, the image capture device having a high resolution mode of operation and one or more lower resolution modes of operation; the filter system includes an adjustable spatial filter associated with the optical path of the image capture device having an adjustable optical structure which in response to a first signal causes the adjustable spatial filter to be effective in a high resolution mode of operation and in response to a second signal causes the adjustable spatial filter to be effective in a lower resolution mode of operation. | 09-23-2010 |
20100245631 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor | 09-30-2010 |
20100245632 | NOISE REDUCTION METHOD FOR VIDEO SIGNAL AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - A noise reduction method for a video signal including a shooting step of shooting a subject by a CCD and outputting a video signal, a distance information acquisition step of calculating a shooting distance between the subject and the CCD, a specific distance information acquisition step of calculating a specific distance which is a shooting distance between one subject of the subject and the CCD on the basis of focus information of the one subject, a relative distance calculation step of calculating a relative distance corresponding to the video signal on the basis of the shooting distance and the specific distance, and a noise reduction step, including a smoothing step of performing smoothing processing on the video signal on the basis of the relative distance, of performing noise reduction processing on the video signal on the basis of the relative distance. | 09-30-2010 |
20100253811 | MOVING IMAGE NOISE REDUCTION PROCESSING APPARATUS, COMPUTER- READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM ON WHICH MOVING IMAGE NOISE REDUCTION PROCESSING PROGRAM IS RECORDED, AND MOVING IMAGE NOISE REDUCTION PROCESSING METHOD - There is provided a moving image noise reduction processing apparatus for reducing noise in a digitalized time-series image signal, including: a spatial noise reduction unit applying spatial noise reduction processing to the image signal; a previous buffer unit storing an image signal to which at least the spatial noise reduction processing has been applied; and a temporal noise reduction unit performing temporal noise reduction processing based on an image signal to be processed to which the spatial noise reduction processing has been applied in the spatial noise reduction unit and an image signal which is stored in the previous buffer unit and is earlier than the image signal to be processed. | 10-07-2010 |
20100259648 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND SEMICONDUCTOR CIRCUIT ELEMENT - An image pickup apparatus of the present invention includes: a lens array having a plurality of lenses; a plurality of image pickup regions ( | 10-14-2010 |
20100259649 | PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS AND METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A photographing apparatus is provided, which includes: a correction data acquiring section that acquires correction data for image correction; a recording section that records the correction data acquired by the correction data acquiring section; a photographing condition acquiring section that acquires image photographing conditions; a retrieving section that retrieves the correction data, corresponding to the photographing conditions acquired by the photographing condition acquiring section, from the correction data recorded in the recording section; and a photographing section that photographs an image on the basis of the correction data retrieved by the retrieving section. | 10-14-2010 |
20100259650 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM STORING IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - An image processing device includes an image data input unit that receives image data; a pixel extracting unit that extracts a pixel area including a pixel of interest to be processed and peripheral pixels located around the pixel of interest from the image data; a pixel group generator that generates a plurality of pixel groups by dividing pixels in the pixel area in accordance with a pixel value distribution in the pixel area; a pixel group similarity calculator that calculates a similarity between a pixel group and a pixel group including the pixel of interest for each pixel group as a pixel group similarity to be defined for pixels belonging to the pixel group in the pixel area; a pixel value similarity calculator that calculates a pixel value similarity of each pixel in the pixel area on the basis of a pixel value of the pixel of interest; a filter coefficient calculator that calculates filter coefficients to be applied to pixels in the pixel area on the basis of the pixel group similarity and the pixel value similarity; and a smoothing processing unit that performs a smoothing process on the pixel value of the pixel of interest on the basis of pixel values in the pixel area and the filter coefficients. | 10-14-2010 |
20100259651 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR SINGLE IMAGE DE-HAZING - A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for recovering a haze-free image given a single input image. The method may include receiving a single input image I, wherein the input image is made up of a plurality of pixels. A surface radiance vector J of the input image I may be modeled as a product of a surface albedo coefficient R and a shading factor l. The method may further include determining, for each of the plurality of pixels, a value of a transmission t of the pixel, such that a covariance C | 10-14-2010 |
20100265364 | SELF-CORRECTING ADAPTIVE LONG-STARE ELECTRO-OPTICAL SYSTEM - An imaging platform minimizes image distortion when there is relative motion of the imaging platform with respect to the scene being imaged where the imaging platform may be particularly susceptible to distortion when it is configured with a wide field of view or high angular rate of movement, or when performing long-stares at a given scene (e.g., for nighttime and low-light imaging.) Distortion correction may be performed by predicting distortion due to the relative motion of the imaging platform, determining optical transformations to prevent the distortion, dynamically adjusting the optics of the imaging platform during exposure, and performing digital image correction. | 10-21-2010 |
20100265365 | CAMERA HAVING IMAGE CORRECTION FUNCTION, APPARATUS AND IMAGE CORRECTION METHOD | 10-21-2010 |
20100277622 | Image sensor including noise removing unit, image pickup device having the image sensor, and image sensing method performed in the image sensor - An image sensor including a noise removing unit may sense images accurately by measuring the amount of noise generated when the image sensor does not perform a sensing operation, storing information about the measured noise amount in each pixel, and removing photocharge corresponding to the information about the measured noise amount during image sensing. | 11-04-2010 |
20100277623 | IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE - This invention is an image pickup device that realizes a wide dynamic range while minimizing circuit area using a pixel array that can pick up a low-sensitivity image and a high-sensitivity image. This invention obtains information (S | 11-04-2010 |
20100283871 | Unnecessary Light Identification Method, Unnecessary Light Identification Device, and Imaging Device - It is possible to provide an image capturing device which can identify a ghost image within a captured image, and obtain an image by excluding the identified ghost image. The image capturing device includes: an image capturing optical system which is configured to be rotatable around a nodal point on an image side of a lens; an image capturing element which conducts a photo-electric conversion concerning an image of a subject formed by the image capturing optical system; and an image processing section which conducts predetermined processes on data obtained by the image capturing element. The image processing section determines whether unwanted light is present according to a first image, captured by directing the image capturing optical system to a first direction, and a second image, captured by rotating the image capturing optical system around the nodal point of the image side, thereby creating an image by excluding an unwanted light. | 11-11-2010 |
20100283872 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATION OF REINFORCEMENT PATTERN AND SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR ARTIFACT EVALUATION - Descriptions are provided of various implementations of an automated tuning process configured to optimize a procedure for post-processing images captured by a camera sensor. | 11-11-2010 |
20100283873 | METHOD OF PROCESSING NOISE IN IMAGE DATA, NOISE REDUCTION UNIT, AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A method of processing noise in image data by an image processor having a signal-processing portion converting an image signal from an image sensor into a digital signal and outputting the converted signal as image data for each frame, the image data indicating sets of pixel values each having a brightness at a corresponding one of coordinate points arranged in directions of rows and columns is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: extracting pixel values; deciding pixel value; finding autocorrelation coefficients of pixel values which are less than a first threshold value; and deciding random noise in the image. | 11-11-2010 |
20100289927 | IMAGE CAPTURING ELECTRONIC DEVICE - An image capturing electronic device is utilized for improving the quality of the recorded video data affected by initializing the photograph lens. The image capturing electronic device includes a video capturing module, a video effect module, two Smart Tee modules, a timestamp module, a snapshot module, an AVI de-compressor module, a VMR module, an audio capture module, an ACM wrapping module, a media pipe module, and an encoder. The image capturing electronic device utilizes the snapshot module and the media pipe module to control the flow of video/audio data entering the encoder for switching between the preview mode and the record mode. Therefore, the image capturing electronic device does not require initializing the photograph lens when switching modes, consequently preventing the initialization of the photograph lens from impacting the quality of recorded video data. | 11-18-2010 |
20100289928 | Video Signal Processing Unit and Display Unit - The video signal processing unit includes: a detecting section detecting, in each predetermined unit period, a characteristic value from an input video signal, the input video signal being obtained by an image pick-up operation with an image pick-up device, the characteristic value showing a characteristic of an image pick-up blur occurring in the image pick-up operation; and a correcting section making a sequential correction, in the each unit period, for every pixel value of an input video image with use of the characteristic value, thereby suppressing the image pick-up blur to generate an output video signal free from the image pick-up blur. The correcting section makes a correction to a target pixel value in the input video image within a current unit period by utilizing a correction result in a corrected pixel in the input video image within the current unit period. | 11-18-2010 |
20100289929 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - An image pickup apparatus arranged so that an optical image of an object obtained by emitting a flash is converted into an electric signal to obtain a first image regarding photographing of the object, the same optical image of the object is converted into an electric signal to obtain a second image, a distance from the object is measured for each image area of the first image on the basis of the second image, and the first image is corrected on the basis of the distance from the object measured for each image area and light distribution characteristic data of a flash stored beforehand corresponding to the distance of the object. | 11-18-2010 |
20100295972 | Ocular Motor Controller Using Principle of Vestibulo-ocular Reflex - An ocular motor controller for preventing an image blur by using the principle of vestibulo-ocular reflex in response to translational movement. The ocular motor controller comprises an image pickup section ( | 11-25-2010 |
20100295973 | DETERMINATE AND INDETERMINATE OPTICAL SYSTEMS - An optical system ( | 11-25-2010 |
20100295974 | Electronic image pickup apparatus - An electronic image pickup apparatus comprising a zoom lens system and an image pickup device disposed on an image side of the zoom lens system and which converts an image formed by the zoom lens system into an electric signal, the zoom lens system having, in order from an object side, a negative first lens unit, a positive second lens unit, a negative third lens unit, and a positive fourth lens unit, the first lens unit having, in order from the object side, a negative lens and a reflective optical element which reflects an optical path, and during zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, each space between the lens units which are adjacent with each other being changed, the first lens unit being arranged in a fixed position to the image pickup device, and at least the second lens unit and the third lens unit being moved. | 11-25-2010 |
20100302412 | Imaging Apparatus and Electronic Device - An imaging apparatus includes an aberration control optical system having an aberration control function to intentionally generate an aberration and an imaging device; and an image processing device which forms a first image into a highly accurate final image. An aberration control optical system makes the PSF to cover two or more pixels by using the aberration control optical system containing an aberration control element having an aberration control function to intentionally generate an aberration or an aberration control plane having the aberration control function. The aberration control optical system is formed as a depth extension optical system having two or more peaks of the MTF characteristic for defocus in a main image plane shift region not causing a false resolution in a predetermined frequency. | 12-02-2010 |
20100302413 | FILTER CIRCUIT, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - A filter circuit includes: a first weight-coefficient calculating unit calculating first weight coefficients concerning pixel levels in a first pixel and second pixels surrounding the first pixel; a first weight-coefficient adjusting unit replacing, when the first weight coefficients of a pair of the second pixels symmetrically arranged across the first pixel are different from each other, the first weight coefficient of the second pixel having a larger one of the first weight coefficients of the pair of the second pixels with the first weight coefficient of the second pixel having a smaller one of the first weight coefficients; a third weight-coefficient calculating unit integrating the first weight coefficients and second weight coefficients concerning positions of the pixels to calculate third weight coefficients of the pixels; and a correction processing unit correcting the pixel level of the first pixel using the third weight coefficients and the pixel levels of the pixels. | 12-02-2010 |
20100302414 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PROCESSING SUBSTRATE CONTAINING MARK AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING DEVICE - An apparatus which processes a substrate including a mark to be detected for positioning the substrate, comprises an illuminator configured to illuminate the mark, the illuminator including a shutter which opens and closes an optical path thereof, an image pickup device configured to pick up an image of the mark illuminated by the illuminator, and a storage configured to store correction data for correcting an output of the image pickup device with respect to each of a plurality of illumination periods that depend on operations of the shutter. The apparatus is configured to obtain the correction data from the storage in accordance with the illumination period, and to correct the output of the image pickup device using the obtained correction data. | 12-02-2010 |
20100309340 | IMAGE SENSOR HAVING GLOBAL AND ROLLING SHUTTER PROCESSES FOR RESPECTIVE SETS OF PIXELS OF A PIXEL ARRAY - A CMOS image sensor or other type of image sensor includes a pixel array comprising at least first and second sets of pixels. Image sensor circuitry is coupled to the pixel array and comprises a signal generator for controlling capture of image data from the first set of pixels of the pixel array using a global shutter process and for controlling capture of image data from the second set of pixels of the pixel array using a rolling shutter process, with the pixels of the second set being different than the pixels of the first set The image sensor may be implemented in a digital camera or other type of digital imaging device. | 12-09-2010 |
20100309341 | Black Level Compensation Circuit - A black level compensation (BLC) circuit is disclosed. The BLC circuit includes a switched-capacitor (SC) integrator configured to compensate a readout amplifier of an image sensor. An output of the readout amplifier is clamped to a reference voltage at which a black level of the image sensor is defined. According to one aspect, a bad pixel detector is used to detect a bad pixel or pixels and disconnect the BLC loop when the bad pixel or pixels are detected. | 12-09-2010 |
20100309342 | LENS APPARATUS AND CAMERA SYSTEM - The interchangeable lens apparatus is attachable to a camera and selectively uses at least one of a plurality of accessories. The apparatus includes an aberration data memory configured to store optical aberration data for each of the plurality of accessories, an order data memory configured to store sending order data for determining a sending order of the optical aberration data to the camera, a determining means configured to determine particular optical aberration data, from the optical aberration data stored in the aberration data memory, to be sent to the camera based on information indicating which of the plurality of accessories have been selected for use and to determine the sending order of the particular aberration data based on the sending order data stored in the order data memory, and a transmitting means configured to send the particular optical aberration data, determined by the determining means, to the camera in the sending order determined by the determining means. | 12-09-2010 |
20100309343 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING DUST ON AN IMAGE SENSOR - A system and method for detecting dust ( | 12-09-2010 |
20100321537 | Image Defect Map Creation Using Batches of Digital Images - A method of automatically determining a need to service a digital image acquisition system including a digital camera with a lens assembly includes analyzing pixels within one or more acquired digital images according to probability determinations that such pixels correspond to blemish artifacts. It is automatically determined whether a threshold distribution of blemish artifacts is present within one or more of the digital images. A need for service is indicated when at least the threshold distribution is determined to be present. | 12-23-2010 |
20100321538 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGING APPARATUS - An image processing apparatus includes a distortion correction unit, a distortion correction range calculation unit, a control unit, a storage control unit, and a margin storage memory. The distortion correction unit performs a distortion correction processing on image data stored in a frame memory. The distortion correction range calculation unit calculates distortion correction ranges. The control unit determines an input image range from present distortion correction range and next distortion correction range. The storage control unit calculates a range for a part of the image data corresponding to the input image range from the present distortion correction range and the next distortion correction range. The margin storage memory stores the image data of the range calculated by the storage control unit. The image data input to the distortion correction unit includes both the image data from the frame memory and the image data from the margin storage memory. | 12-23-2010 |
20100321539 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - A plurality of images captured in different exposure times are aligned in order of exposure time, and pairs each of two images adjacent on the line are set. Common regions in long- and short-time images contained in a pair of interest are specified based on the pixel value distributions of the respective images. A location error correction amount for the long-time image is calculated to make the common regions match each other when the long- and short-time images are composited with each other. The long-time image undergoes image processing based on the location error correction amount. A composite image is generated by compositing a plurality of images obtained by performing image processing for each pair. The generated composite image is output. | 12-23-2010 |
20100321540 | USER-RESPONSIVE, ENHANCED-IMAGE GENERATION METHOD AND SYSTEM - The present invention concerns an enhanced-image generation system and method which responds adaptively to changes in conditions in real space or virtual space. The enhanced-image generation system according to the present invention comprises: a conditions-judging unit for judging conditions on the basis of conditions data associated with actual objects and conditions data associated with virtual objects; an operational-parameter generating unit for generating operational parameters for a responsive agent in accordance with the judged conditions; and an enhanced-image generating unit for generating an enhanced image through the use of agent operational parameters and an image relating to an actual object. The present invention makes it possible to generate enhanced images which respond actively to changes in conditions and which are relatively realistic, and also makes it possible to generate enhanced images which are matched to the user and which are made to reflect the user's individual preferences and experiences. | 12-23-2010 |
20110001848 | TWO-DIMENSIONAL LENS SHADING CORRECTION - In one embodiment of the invention, there is provided a method of correcting a captured image for lens shading artifacts, comprising for a given lens determining a function L(x,y) being a lens shading correction function to be applied to images captured by the lens in order to correct for lens shading artifacts; applying a sampling technique to sample the function L(x,y) at selected points; and storing the sampled function L(x,y) in memory. | 01-06-2011 |
20110001849 | IMAGING APPARATUS, FLASH DETERMINATION METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - An imaging apparatus capable of increasing the accuracy of detection of an outside flash of light. | 01-06-2011 |
20110001850 | Automatic Redeye Detection - Candidate redeye areas ( | 01-06-2011 |
20110001851 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE INPUT APPARATUS - Provided are a first communication circuit for communicating with an AFE, an image noise detecting circuit for detecting whether or not an image noise is superposed on a digital image signal, and a communication control circuit for outputting a communication forbidding signal when the image noise detecting circuit detects that the image noise is superposed on the digital image signal. The first communication circuit arrests the communication when the communication forbidding signal is detected. | 01-06-2011 |
20110013050 | Solid-state imaging device, control method therefor, and camera system - A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel section having pixels performing photoelectric conversion arranged in a matrix form; a pixel signal reading unit including an AD converting part that reads pixel signals in a unit of pixels, and compares a reference signal as a ramp waveform with the pixel signals to perform AD conversion; a clamp unit clamping the signal line with a clamp voltage such that the pixel signals are held at or greater than a set voltage; a correction bias circuit generating a clamp voltage according to a clamp voltage set value supplied and supplies the clamp voltage to the clamp unit; and a correction bias selecting unit selecting the clamp voltage set value such that the clamp voltage is generated in association with slope determining information for determining a slope of the reference signal, and supplies the clamp voltage set value to the correction bias circuit. | 01-20-2011 |
20110013051 | INFORMATION SUPPLYING APPARATUS, LENS APPARATUS, CAMERA APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM - The information supplying apparatus ( | 01-20-2011 |
20110019034 | METHOD FOR ELIMINATING IMAGE NOISE AND APPARATUS USING THE METHOD - Provided are method and apparatus for eliminating image noise caused by variation between the imaging pixels on an image sensor. Preferably, a uniform light source is provided firstly, and the image sensor records exposure values taken from the source. Method is to sum the exposure values in each channel of each line, and calculate channel's average of sum for each channel and sum for adjacent lines' channels. A channel compensation value is then obtained by subtracting the average from the sum of one channel in one line, and divided by the pixel number in one channel. A compensation average constituted of a first part and a second part for each pixel is further calculated. A pixel compensation value for each pixel is obtained by suitably allotting the two parts. The pixel compensation value is finally recorded in memory and being a reference for future photographing. | 01-27-2011 |
20110019035 | IMAGE PICK-UP APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image pick-up apparatus includes an image pick-up device, a noise reduction processing portion, and a level difference correction portion. The image pick-up device includes at least three kinds of color filters and photoelectric conversion elements formed under the color filters respectively. The noise reduction processing portion applies noise reduction processing to image pick-up signals output from the image pick-up device. The level difference correction portion executes correction to reduce a level difference between first and second ones of the noise reduction-processed image pick-up signals obtained from the photoelectric conversion elements formed under two color filters which are of the same kind but different in arrangement pattern of color filters arranged around the two color filters. The level difference correction portion changes correction strength in accordance with strength of noise reduction processing executed by the noise reduction processing portion. | 01-27-2011 |
20110025887 | CORRECTION METHOD - A correction value for luminance correction is determined by: measuring a luminance value of each of display elements by displaying a first image including luminance unevenness caused by characteristic differences among the display elements and characteristic differences among modulation circuits, and calculating a first luminance value serving as a representative luminance value of the display elements for each of the modulation circuits; measuring the luminance value of each of the display elements by displaying a second image in which the luminance unevenness caused by characteristic differences among the modulation circuits is smaller than that of the first image, and calculating a second luminance value serving as a representative luminance value of the display elements for each of the modulation circuits; and calculating a correction value corresponding to each modulation circuit using a value obtained by dividing the first luminance value by the second luminance value. | 02-03-2011 |
20110032391 | Image Sensor with Peripheral Dummy Pixels - An image sensor with an active pixel array and peripheral dummy pixels is disclosed. The dummy pixels are located between (a) at least a portion of the active pixel array and (b) undesired or potentially interfering noise from a noise source. Outputs of the dummy pixels are coupled to float with respect to the active pixel array, thereby blocking the noise from being coupled into the active pixel array. | 02-10-2011 |
20110032392 | Image Restoration With Enhanced Filtering - A method for imaging includes receiving an input image that includes a matrix of pixels ( | 02-10-2011 |
20110037881 | LENS APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM - The lens apparatus is detachably attachable to a camera apparatus. The lens apparatus includes an image taking optical system, a memory configured to store aberration correction data being used for image correction processing corresponding to aberration of the image taking optical system, the image correction processing being performed on an image captured by the camera apparatus through the image taking optical system, and a data sending part configured to send the aberration correction data to the camera apparatus. The data sending part is configured to select partial data that is part of the aberration correction data depending on one of a position and a state of an optical adjustment member included in the image taking optical system and information on an image pickup element provided in the camera apparatus, and to send the partial data to the camera apparatus. | 02-17-2011 |
20110043665 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, AND CAMERA MODULE - According to one embodiment, an image processing device includes a shading correcting unit, a distortion correcting unit, a lens-characteristic estimating unit, and a resolution restoring unit. The shading correcting unit, the distortion correcting unit, the lens-characteristic estimating unit, the resolution restoring unit carry out signal processing for each of image data obtained by a plurality of sub-camera modules. | 02-24-2011 |
20110043666 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM STORAGE MEDIUM - An image processing apparatus includes an input unit configured to input image data representing a captured image photographed by a photographing unit, a region specifying unit configured to specify a region of an in-focus object in the captured image, a filter acquisition unit configured to acquire a correction filter for correcting blur in the captured image according to information about a distance to the in-focus object, and a correction unit configured (a) to perform blur correction processing on the captured image by applying the correction filter to the region specified by the region specifying unit, and (b) not to perform the blur correction processing performed on the region specified by the region specifying unit on a region other than the region specified by the region specifying unit. | 02-24-2011 |
20110043667 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus for generating corrected image data from a plurality of input image data by performing an iterative calculation process includes an input unit configured to input the plurality of input image data, an acquisition unit configured to acquire a photographing parameter used for photographing to acquire the input image data, a setting unit configured to set for each image area a number of iterations for generating the corrected image data based on the photographing parameter, and a generation unit configured to generate correction data from the plurality of image data by performing an iterative calculation process on each image area based on the number of iterations set for each image area. | 02-24-2011 |
20110050965 | IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - First light receiving elements are exposed for a long exposure time TL, and second light receiving elements are exposed for a short exposure time TS. Just before an end of TS, high-speed idle transfer operation is carried out to output first and second noise charges accumulated during TS in first and second VCCDs as first and second noise signals, respectively. Then, by multiplying the second noise signal by a coefficient based on the ratio between TL and TS, a correction signal that corresponds to the amount of noise charges accumulated in the second VCCDs until an end of TL is calculated. The calculated correction signal is subtracted from a second image signal. A first image signal is merged with the corrected second image signal, and image data having a wide dynamic range is obtained. | 03-03-2011 |
20110058069 | Detecting Red Eye Filter and Apparatus Using Meta-Data - A method of filtering a red-eye phenomenon from an acquired digital image including a multiplicity of pixels indicative of color, the pixels forming various shapes of the image, includes analyzing meta-data information, determining one or more regions within the digital image suspected as including red eye artifact, and determining, based at least in part on the meta-data analysis, whether the regions are actual red eye artifact. The meta-data information may include information describing conditions under which the image was acquired, captured and/or digitized, acquisition device-specific information, and/film information. | 03-10-2011 |
20110058070 | MAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus includes: an imaging lens; an image pickup element including pixels of a first and second group, the pixels of the second group including pixels for phase difference detection, the image pickup element configured to be capable of independently reading out first and second image signals from the pixels of the first and second group, respectively; a defocus amount calculation device configured to calculate an amount of defocus of the imaging lens based on image signals read out from the pixels for phase difference detection; a focus control device configured to perform a focus adjustment to make the amount of defocus “0”; an image processing device configured to read out the first and second image signals after the focus adjustment and generate an image for recording based on the first and second image signals; and a recording device configured to record the generated image. | 03-10-2011 |
20110058071 | Detecting Red Eye Filter and Apparatus Using Meta-Data - A method of filtering a red-eye phenomenon from an acquired digital image including a multiplicity of pixels indicative of color, the pixels forming various shapes of the image, includes analyzing meta-data information, determining one or more regions within the digital image suspected as including red eye artifact, and determining, based at least in part on the meta-data analysis, whether the regions are actual red eye artifact. The meta-data information may include information describing conditions under which the image was acquired, captured and/or digitized, acquisition device-specific information, and/film information. | 03-10-2011 |
20110069207 | Method of Determining PSF Using Multiple Instances of a Nominally Similar Scene - A digital image acquisition system includes a portable apparatus for capturing digital images and a digital processing component for detecting, analyzing and informing the photographer regarding motion blur, and for reducing camera motion blur in an image captured by the apparatus. The digital processing component operates by comparing the image with at least one other image, for example a preview image, of nominally the same scene taken outside the exposure period of the main image. In one embodiment the digital processing component identifies at least one feature in a single preview image which is relatively less blurred than the corresponding feature in the main image, calculates a point spread function (PSF) in respect of such feature, and de-convolves the main image using the PSF. In another embodiment, the digital processing component calculates a trajectory of at least one feature in a plurality of preview images, extrapolates such feature on to the main image, calculates a PSF in respect of the feature, and de-convolves the main image using the PSF. In another embodiment the digital processing unit after determining the degree of blur notifies the photographer of the existing blur or automatically invokes consecutive captures. | 03-24-2011 |
20110074980 | METHODS FOR CAPTURING AND READING OUT IMAGES FROM AN IMAGE SENSOR - Multiple images are captured where the exposure times for some of the images overlap and the images are spatially overlapped. Charge packets are transferred from one or more portions of pixels after particular integration periods, thereby enabling the portion or portions of pixels to begin another integration period while one or more other portions of pixels continue to integrate charge. Charge packets may be binned during readout of the images from the image sensor. Comparison of two or more images having different lengths of overlapping or non-overlapping exposure periods provides motion information. The multiple images can then be aligned to compensate for motion between the images and assembled into a combined image with an improved signal to noise ratio and reduced motion blur. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074981 | METHODS FOR CAPTURING AND READING OUT IMAGES FROM AN IMAGE SENSOR - Multiple images are captured where the exposure times for some of the images overlap and the images are spatially overlapped. Charge packets are transferred from one or more portions of pixels after particular integration periods, thereby enabling the portion or portions of pixels to begin another integration period while one or more other portions of pixels continue to integrate charge. Charge packets may be binned during readout of the images from the image sensor. Comparison of two or more images having different lengths of overlapping or non-overlapping exposure periods provides motion information. The multiple images can then be aligned to compensate for motion between the images and assembled into a combined image with an improved signal to noise ratio and reduced motion blur. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074982 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHING - A digital photographing apparatus is provided that includes: a lens unit through which image light is transmitted; an image capturing unit for converting the image light transmitted through the lens unit into an image signal; a subject detection unit for detecting a subject from the image signal of the image capturing unit to designate a subject area; a distortion correction unit for converting the image signal into a correction image signal for correcting distortion of the image light caused due to the lens unit, after the subject detection unit has detected the subject; and a subject area converting unit for designating a corrected subject area corresponding to the subject area from the correction image signal. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074983 | Dual site imaging camera - An imaging system or camera having an array of elements switchable between two states for measuring of light received by the imaging system on a pixel by pixel basis to form two separate images simultaneously over a common integration time in which switching takes place faster than the integration time of the camera. Optical switching may be provided by a spatial light modulator along one of two paths each associated with a detector for one of the images, or each path being associated with one of two non-overlapping regions of the same detector, where each region provides one of the images. Electronic switching may be provided in which for each pixel a photodetector provide an electrical signal onto a switching element which switches the signal onto one of two sites for integrating the signal and providing a pixel value, where the two sites are each associated with a different one of the images. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074984 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE DATA CORRECTION METHOD - In an image sensing apparatus, an image sensing unit generates image data formed via an optical member, a storage unit stores correction information for correcting deterioration of image quality of the image data, a reading unit reads correction information corresponding to a plurality of setting values close to a parameter used to control the optical member from the correction information stored in the storage unit, a conversion unit converts a pixel position of the image data to polar coordinates, a generation unit generates correction information by interpolating the read correction information, and a correction unit corrects the image data at the pixel position at the polar coordinates using the correction information. The storage unit stores correction information corresponding to more polar angles in a range having a greater degree of change in the deterioration of image quality in an angular direction centered on the optical axis of the optical member. | 03-31-2011 |
20110090374 | SUB-FRAME TAPERED RESET - Systems and methods are provided that facilitate employing a plurality of independent reset buses for a column of pixels in a pixel array of a CMOS sensor imager. Utilization of the plurality of independent reset buses for the column of pixels can enable independent reset to be effectuated when employing sub-frame integration. For example, rows to be read and reset during a given readout time interval can be selected based upon one or more criteria. Further, each of the rows selected during the given readout time interval can be associated with a respective distinct reset bus. By leveraging the plurality of independent reset buses, uniformity in pixel operation can be maintained whether operating in full frame integration mode or sub-frame integration mode. Thus, noise resultant from changing between integration modes can be mitigated by using the plurality of independent reset buses. | 04-21-2011 |
20110090375 | PHOTOMETRIC DEVICE, IMAGING DEVICE, AND CAMERA - A photometric device includes: an imaging unit that captures an image formed by an optical system, with a marker capable of switching between display and non-display disposed in a light path of the optical system; and a correction unit that, based upon a difference between a first image captured by the imaging unit in a state where the marker is displayed and a second image captured by the imaging unit in a state where the marker is not displayed, performs a correction of a third image that is different from the first image and the second image. | 04-21-2011 |
20110090376 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - Edge enhancement processing is implemented on an image data, and distortion correction processing is implemented on the image data subjected to the edge enhancement processing to correct a distortion by executing local enlargement processing or reduction processing corresponding to an optical distortion characteristic of a lens employed during an image pickup operation. At this time, the edge enhancement processing performed on the image data to be subjected to the distortion correction processing is modified in accordance with the local enlargement processing or reduction processing. | 04-21-2011 |
20110090377 | VIDEO CAMERA SYSTEM - A video camera system includes: a video sensor providing image data; a low power imminent event detector coupled to the sensor which receives the image data from the video sensor and processes the received image data to detect changes in the image data and thereby detect an imminent event and produces an event signal on detection of an imminent event; and a main event processor also coupled to the video sensor to receive the image data, the main event processor being a higher power device than the imminent event detector, the main event detector having a dormant mode in which the main event detector consumes little or no power and a fully active powered up mode, wherein: the main event processor switches from the dormant mode to the fully active mode in response to the event signal. | 04-21-2011 |
20110096205 | REDUCING SIGNAL-DEPENDENT NOISE IN DIGITAL CAMERAS - A method for producing a noise-reduced digital image captured using a digital imaging system having signal-dependent noise characteristics, comprising: capturing one or more noisy digital images of a scene, wherein said at least one noisy digital image has signal-dependent noise characteristics; defining a functional relationship to relate the noisy digital images to a noise-reduced digital image, wherein the functional relationship includes at least two sets of unknown parameters, and wherein at least one of the sets of unknown parameters relates to the signal-dependent noise characteristics; defining an energy function responsive to the functional relationship which includes at least a data fidelity term to enforce similarities between the noisy digital images and the noise-reduced digital image, and a spatial fidelity term to encourage sharp edges in the noise-reduced digital image; and using an optimization process to determine a noise-reduced image responsive to the energy function. | 04-28-2011 |
20110096206 | Image Pickup Apparatus - An image pickup apparatus includes: a first sound-collection unit that detects an ambient sound and outputs first sound information; a second sound-collection unit other than the first sound-collection unit that detects the sound and outputs second sound information; and a signal processing unit that generates a sound signal corresponding to the sound by eliminating a common noise signal included in the first sound information and the second sound information based on the first sound information and the second sound information. | 04-28-2011 |
20110096207 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME - Light transmitted through the imaging lens | 04-28-2011 |
20110102642 | IMAGE DEBLURRING USING A COMBINED DIFFERENTIAL IMAGE - A method for determining a deblurred image comprising: receiving a blurred image of a scene; receiving a blur kernel; initializing a candidate deblurred image; determining a plurality of differential images representing differences between neighboring pixels in the candidate deblurred image; determining a combined differential image by combining the differential images; repeatedly updating the candidate deblurred image responsive to the blurred image, the blur kernel, the candidate deblurred image and the combined differential image until a convergence criterion is satisfied; and storing the final candidate deblurred image in a processor-accessible memory system. | 05-05-2011 |
20110102643 | Partial Face Detector Red-Eye Filter Method and Apparatus - A digital camera has an integral flash and stores and displays a digital image. Under certain conditions, a flash photograph taken with the camera may result in a red-eye phenomenon due to a reflection within an eye of a subject of the photograph. A digital apparatus has a red-eye filter which analyzes at least one partial face region identified within the digital image for the red-eye phenomenon and modifies the image to eliminate the red-eye phenomenon by changing the red area to black. The modification of the image is enabled when a photograph is taken under conditions indicative of the red-eye phenomenon. The modification is subject to anti-falsing analysis which further examines the area around the red-eye area for indicia of the eye of the subject. The detection and correction can be optimized for performance and quality by operating on subsample versions of the image when appropriate. | 05-05-2011 |
20110102644 | NOISE REDUCTION IN ACTIVE PIXEL SENSOR ARRAYS - A system for detecting high speed noise in active pixel sensors includes a photodiode for receiving low levels of light, a reset transistor, an amplifier transistor, a row select transistor, and a high-speed analog-to-digital converter. The reset transistor gate receives a reset signal, and the reset transistor drain receives a reset voltage. The amplifier transistor gate is connected to the photodiode and the reset transistor's source. The amplifier transistor receives a supply voltage at the drain terminal. The row select transistor gate terminal receives a row select signal. The row select drain terminal is connected to the amplifier transistor source terminal. The high-speed analog-to-digital converter includes an analog input port connected to the row select transistor source and a digital output port capable of resolving high-speed excitation events received by the photodiode. | 05-05-2011 |
20110102645 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ELIMINATING ARTIFACTS IN ACTIVE PIXEL SENSOR (APS) IMAGERS - An active pixel sensor (APS) that includes circuitry to eliminate artifacts in digital images. The APS includes a comparator for comparing a signal level from a pixel to an adjusted saturation voltage to determine if the pixel is saturated. If the pixel is saturated, the signal output from the pixel is replaced with an analog voltage having a maximum value corresponding to a brightest pixel in the image. | 05-05-2011 |
20110109773 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADAPTIVE NONLINEAR COMPRESSED VISUAL SENSING - A novel and useful system and method for adaptive nonlinear compressed visual sensing. The adaptive nonlinear compressed sensing mechanism provides a modified DMD sensing architecture incorporating a nonlinear optical intensifier coupled with a nonlinear acquisition process. The modified DMD sensing architecture and related circuitry and software are operative to perform nonlinear image acquisition by computing both linear and nonlinear functionals. These computations are performed recursively to approximate the image to achieve any desired target image quality. | 05-12-2011 |
20110109774 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING METHOD - An imaging apparatus includes an imaging section, an imaging acquisition range control section, a distortion information obtaining section, and a display section. The imaging section includes a lens and obtains an image data by imaging a subject image. The imaging acquisition range control section controls an acquisition range of the image data such that a part of the subject image is read out. The distortion information obtaining section obtains distortion information of the lens. The distortion correction section corrects distortion of the image data in accordance with the distortion information. The display section performs enlarged live-view display operation to display an enlarged image of the corrected image data in the acquisition range. The imaging acquisition range control section updates the acquisition range, when the distortion information is changed while the enlarged live-view display operation is performed, in accordance with the changed distortion information. | 05-12-2011 |
20110109775 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image pickup apparatus capable of capturing a still image while a high sharpness is being maintained and a reduction in image quality due to the existence of a focus detecting pixel is being suppressed. An image pickup device includes an image pickup pixel group and a focus detecting pixel group. A calculation unit calculates a singular value in the signal values of pixels existing around the focus detecting pixel group. An adjustment unit adjusts a gain of signal values in the focus detecting pixel group. A correction unit corrects an image data corresponding to the position of the focus detecting pixel group based on the signal values in the image pickup pixel group. A determination unit determines the amount of adjusting the gain of signal values in the focus detecting pixel group and the amount of correction based on the results calculated by the calculation unit. | 05-12-2011 |
20110115949 | Two Stage Detection for Photographic Eye Artifacts - An image acquisition device includes a first speed-optimized filter for producing a first set of candidate red-eye regions for an acquired image; and a second analysis-optimized filter for operating on the first set of candidate red eye regions and the acquired image. | 05-19-2011 |
20110115950 | Advanced Imaging Systems And Methods Utilizing Nonlinear and/Or Spatially Varying Image Processing - A method, associated systems, and apparatus are described for imaging a scene to produce electronic image data representing the scene and having at least one improved characteristic. Encoding optics image and encode electromagnetic energy radiated or reflected from a scene, including its objects and features, and a detector receives the encoded electromagnetic energy to produce electronic image data which is at least partially decoded by a pre-processing operation to produce pre-processed electronic image data, having at least one improved characteristic as a result of cooperation between the encoding and decoding. A subset of the pre-processed image data may include artifacts as a result of the encoding and decoding; the artifacts are further processed by applying a nonlinear post-processing operation that identifies the artifacts in the pre-processed imaged data and compensates the associated image data values while retaining the improved image characteristics in the balance of the pre-processed image data. | 05-19-2011 |
20110115951 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR IMAGE NOISE COMPENSATION WITH IMAGE ENHANCEMENT | 05-19-2011 |
20110122296 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DEBLURRING MOTION BLURRED IMAGES - An image deblurring system deblurs motion blurred images of a video stream captured from a moving object. An image deblurring method selects a blurred image from the video stream, selects blurred pixels from the blurred image, and calculates a movement offset for each of the blurred pixels according to coordinates of the blurred pixel in a frequency domain during the movement of the moving object. The method generates a point spread function according to the movement offset, and generates an image conversion formula according to the point spread function. The method converts each of the blurred pixels into a sharp pixel according to the image conversion formula, and generates a sharp image based on all of the sharp pixels. | 05-26-2011 |
20110122297 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTION AND CORRECTION OF FLASH-INDUCED EYE DEFECTS WITHIN DIGITAL IMAGES USING PREVIEW OR OTHER REFERENCE IMAGES - A method for red-eye detection in an acquired digital image acquiring one or more preview or other reference images without a flash. Any red regions that exist within the one or more reference images are determined. A main image is acquired with a flash of approximately a same scene as the one or more reference images. The main image is analyzed to determine any candidate red eye defect regions that exist within the main image. Any red regions determined to exist within the one or more reference images are compared with any candidate red eye defect regions determined to exist within the main image. Any candidate red eye defect regions within the main image corresponding to red regions determined also to exist within the one or more reference images are removed as candidate red eye defect regions. | 05-26-2011 |
20110122298 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF OPERATING AN IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - An image processing apparatus includes: a relative coordinate acquisition part acquiring a corresponding position on an input image with respect to a predetermined pixel on an output image; a first storage part storing position information of the corresponding position; a reading control part causing pixel values of input pixels on the input image to be sequentially read; an organization part organizing a set of grid points formed of input pixels among input pixels read by the reading control part; a judgment part judging, based on the position information, whether or not pixel values of pixels in the vicinity of the corresponding position used in calculating a pixel value of the predetermined pixel have been read; a local memory storing, in a case where judgment is made that pixels in the vicinity of the corresponding position have been read, pixel values of pixels forming the set of grid points as pixel values of surrounding pixels regarding the predetermined pixel; and a pixel value calculation part calculating a pixel value of the predetermined pixel by interpolation using the pixel values of the surrounding pixels. | 05-26-2011 |
20110128419 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR X-DROOP CORRECTION IN SOLID STATE IMAGE SENSOR - A method and system is for limiting the x-droop effect in the digital image captured with solid state image sensors with a correction mechanism which instead of using only correction values from the same column to which the correction is applied, also takes the neighboring pixels into account to provide an averaged value to aid in the reduction of temporal and fixed noise contributions associated with the readout of a single pixel. | 06-02-2011 |
20110128420 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REPEATED FIXED PATTERN NOISE CORRECTION - Repeated Fixed Pattern Noise (FPN) in solid state image sensors for a digitally encoded image captured with a sensor is corrected by exploits the periodicity of FPN pattern. In this way FPN is compensated by using a repeating pattern that is associated with repeating blocks of layout. | 06-02-2011 |
20110128421 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image capturing apparatus includes an image obtaining unit adapted to obtain a captured image of an object captured by an imaging optical system, a parameter value setting unit adapted to set a value of a parameter indicating a factor determining optical characteristics of the imaging optical system, an optical characteristics obtaining unit adapted to obtain optical characteristics of the imaging optical system during capture of the captured image, a recovery filter deciding unit adapted to decide a recovery filter for correcting deterioration of the image quality of the captured image due to optical characteristics of the imaging optical system, based on the obtained optical characteristics and the value of the parameter, and an image recovery unit adapted to perform recovery processing applying the recovery filter, on the captured image. The factor determining optical characteristics cannot be decided based on only an optical design parameter of the imaging optical system. | 06-02-2011 |
20110128422 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image capturing apparatus calculates the frequency component of each pixel of a captured image and divides the pixels into pixels in a recovery region, whose frequency components are equal to or more than a predetermined threshold, and other pixels in a non-recovery region. A recovery unit performs recovery processing for each pixel in the recovery region to correct the degradation of image quality caused by the optical characteristics of the image capturing unit. The recovery processing unit does not perform recovery processing for the pixels in the non-recovery region. The image capturing apparatus reconstructs the captured image by combining the pixels in the recovery region for which the recovery processing has been performed with the pixels in the non-recovery region. This makes it possible to suppress degradation of image quality in a region which does not match a recovery filter in terms of focal length. | 06-02-2011 |
20110134286 | PHOTOELECTRIC-CONVERSION DEVICE, FOCUS DETECTION APPARATUS, AND IMAGE-PICKUP SYSTEM - A photoelectric-conversion device that allows for both of widening the dynamic range and performing an operation to monitor the amount of received light is achieved. A sensor-cell unit that can operate in low-sensitivity mode and high-sensitivity mode, a transfer unit transferring a signal outputted from a unit pixel, and a monitoring unit monitoring a signal transmitted from the sensor-cell unit, the signal being output from the transfer unit, are provided. | 06-09-2011 |
20110134287 | RED-EYE FILTER METHOD AND APPARATUS - 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. | 06-09-2011 |
20110134288 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - Correction processing of crosstalk amount is adaptively performed even under conditions where optical conditions, such as a lens to be used, are unknown. | 06-09-2011 |
20110141322 | Image restoration device and image restoration method - An image restoration method includes receiving an externally input image signal, generating a filtered image signal by filtering the input image signal, and generating a restored image signal by calculating a weighted average of the input image signal and the filtered image signal. Such a method may be implemented using an image restoration device including an image filtering unit adapted generated the filtered image signal, and an image mixing unit adapted to generate the restored image signal. More particularly, the restored image signal may be generated using weighting factors calculated based on the input image signal, by calculating a local variance of pixels in the input image signal, and calculating the weighting factor for each of the pixels based on the local variance of each of the pixels. | 06-16-2011 |
20110141323 | LENS SHADING CORRECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD IN AUTO FOCUS CAMERA MODULE - Provided is a lens shading correction method, the lens shading correction method including, obtaining optical axis coordinates and a center-contrasted surrounding gain according to a lens position of a predefined long-distance focusing and short-distance focusing to a sample image input in which each pixel has an uniform brightness value, obtaining image data using the auto focus function, obtaining a modified optic coordinate and center-contrasted surrounding gain according to a lens position used in the acquisition of the image data, and lens shading correcting the image data using the modified optic axis coordinate and center-contrasted surrounding gain. | 06-16-2011 |
20110141324 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE SENSOR AND IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - A solid-state image sensor includes a pixel array unit including a plurality of pixels arranged in the form of an array, column signal lines adapted to transmit pixel signals output from pixels in respective columns, a noise adding unit adapted to add temporally constant and two-dimensional spatially random noise to the pixel signals transmitted via the column signal lines, and an analog-to-digital converter adapted to convert a signal level and a reference level of each pixel signal including the noise added thereto by the noise adding unit. | 06-16-2011 |
20110157432 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REMOVING LENS DISTORTION AND CHROMATIC ABERRATION, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM STORING COMPUTER PROGRAM TO EXECUTE THE IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus for processing an input image generated by an image pick-up device from an optical signal passing through a lens includes a first module comprising a plurality of chromatic aberration correction units that correct chromatic aberration in the input image; a second module, configured independently of the first module in terms of hardware, comprising a lens distortion correction unit that corrects lens distortion in the input image; a memory that stores data; and a bus connected to the first module, the second module, and the memory, and that transfers data between the first module, the second module, and the memory. The data is transferred in an on-the-fly method between the plurality of chromatic aberration correction units of the first module. The first module outputs data processed in units of blocks that are units for processing the data of the input image in the first module. The second module performs lens distortion correction when the data of the input image of a block is output from the first module. | 06-30-2011 |
20110164154 | CAMERA BODY AND IMAGING DEVICE - A camera body ( | 07-07-2011 |
20110169985 | Method of Generating Seamless Mosaic Images from Multi-Axis and Multi-Focus Photographic Data - A system and method for generating seamless mosaic images from multi-axis and multi-focus photographic data of at least one subject is disclosed. The system is for capturing photographic data from at least one subject and to provide an array of photographic data in at least three dimensions. The method comprises the steps of performing axial capture of a plurality of images of the at least one subject, sorting the plurality of images into a plurality of folders for easier processing of the plurality of images, performing focus stacking process for analysis of images, performing depth calculations, extracting data and rendering a focus stacked image, performing post processing of the focus stacked images to enhance the images, performing photo mosaic stitching process for rendering a seamless image and performing post processing of the seamless image to correct errors of the seamless image and to add any desired enhancements to the seamless image. | 07-14-2011 |
20110169986 | PERSPECTIVE IMPROVEMENT FOR IMAGE AND VIDEO APPLICATIONS - A system and method for reducing distance-based distortion in a camera image of an object, where the distanced-based distortion is due to differences in distance from the camera to different parts of the object. In one approach, the distortion is reduced by estimating distances to different parts of the object and then generating a reprojected image of the object dependent upon the estimated distances and upon a virtual viewpoint that is more distant than the camera from the object. In a further approach, the image is warped such that points in the image match corresponding points in one or more stored templates. In a still further approach, if excessive distortion is present in the image, the camera zoom is increased and a magnified image is displayed, prompting a person to move farther from the camera thereby reducing the distortion. | 07-14-2011 |
20110176035 | TILT AND SHIFT ADAPTOR, CAMERA AND IMAGE CORRECTION METHOD - The present invention relates to a device comprising a frame having a first part defining a first plane and a second part defining a second plane. The first part configured to be mounted to a camera body and the second part configured to be mounted to a lens, the second part being movable relative to the first part. Also a sensor configured to detect the position of the second plane relative to the first plane, the sensor configured to transmit position information in electronic form to a processor. Further more the present invention relates to a digital camera including a digital image sensor in a camera housing, an image plane defined in the housing at the digital image sensor, the digital camera further comprising a lens mount for receiving a lens, the lens configured to be movable relative to the housing, and a sensor configured to detect the position of the lens relative to the housing, the sensor configured to transmit position information in electronic form to a processor. Still further the present invention relates to a digital camera including a digital image sensor in a camera housing, the digital image sensor being movably mounted in the camera housing, an image plane defined in the housing by the digital image sensor, the digital camera further comprising a lens mount for receiving a lens, the lens mount fixing the lens to the camera housing, and a sensor configured to detect the position of the digital image sensor relative to the housing, the sensor configured to transmit position information in electronic form to a processor. Even till further the present invention relates to a method of performing correction of digital images comprising the steps of obtaining a digital image using a digital camera having digital image sensor in a camera housing, an image plane defined in the housing at the digital image sensor, the digital camera further comprising a lens, the lens configured to be movable relative to the housing, and a sensor configured to detect the position of the lens relative to the housing, the sensor configured to transmit position information in electronic form to a processor, and performing image correction using position data from the sensor. | 07-21-2011 |
20110181759 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND CORRECTION METHOD OF IMAGE DATA - An imaging apparatus is provided for reducing noise which is derived from random noise contained in a correction signal used for correcting an image data and is newly generated on correction of the image data. The imaging apparatus drives vertical transfer registers with no signal charge from photoelectric transducers read out to the vertical transfer registers to obtain and store a correction signal into a field memory. The apparatus subtracts the correction signal from the image data by a subtractor. | 07-28-2011 |
20110187902 | DENOISING CFA IMAGES USING WEIGHTED PIXEL DIFFERENCES - A method for reducing noise in an image captured using a digital image sensor having pixels being arranged in a rectangular minimal repeating unit, comprising: computing first weighted pixel differences by combining first pixel differences between the pixel value of a central pixel and pixel values for nearby pixels of the first channel in a plurality of directions with corresponding local edge-responsive weighting values; computing second weighted pixel differences by combining second pixel differences between pixel values for pixels of at least one different channel in the plurality of directions with corresponding local edge-responsive weighting values; and computing a noise-reduced pixel value for the central pixel by combining the first and second weighted pixel differences with the pixel value for the central pixel. | 08-04-2011 |
20110187903 | DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS FOR CORRECTING IMAGE DISTORTION AND IMAGE DISTORTION CORRECTING METHOD THEREOF - A digital photographing apparatus for correcting image distortion performs an image distortion correcting method. The image distortion correcting method includes receiving an image signal through a lens, extracting image data having distortion in a block form from the received image signal, correcting the distortion by dividing the extracted image data, and generating and displaying an output image by combining the corrected image data. | 08-04-2011 |
20110193997 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - The image processing method processes an image generated by image pickup using an optical system ( | 08-11-2011 |
20110205403 | IMAGING DEVICE AND AUTOMATIC FOCUS ADJUSTMENT METHOD - An imaging device of the present invention comprises an imaging section for forming a subject image using a photographing lens and generating image data, a contrast detection section for detecting contrast values corresponding to contrast of the subject image, for every position of the photographing lens, based on the image data, a subject brightness detection section for detecting brightness evaluation values corresponding to subject brightness of the subject image for every position of the photographing lens, based on the image data, a correction section for correcting the contrast values depending on a brightness evaluation value for a corresponding position of the photographing lens and calculating corrected contrast value, and a focus detection section for detecting a focus position of the photographing lens based on the corrected contrast values that have been corrected by the correction section. | 08-25-2011 |
20110205404 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An output value calculating unit | 08-25-2011 |
20110211095 | Two Stage Detection For Photographic Eye Artifacts - A digital image acquisition device is for acquiring digital images including one or more preview images. A face detector analyzes the one or more preview images to ascertain information relating to candidate face regions therein. A speed-optimized filter produces a first set of candidate red-eye regions based on the candidate face region information provided by the face detector. | 09-01-2011 |
20110216227 | METHOD FOR ADJUSTING IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE AND IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE - Provided is a method for adjusting an image pickup device, wherein a position of an image pickup element is set to an initial position, a uniform luminance surface is picked up, a luminance distribution on an image pickup surface is calculated, whether data of the luminance distribution on the four corners of the image pickup surface substantially agree with each other or not is judged, and such operations are repeated until the data substantially agree with each other by moving the position of the image pickup element by a predetermined value. By using the position of the image pickup element obtained when the data substantially agree with each other as information of the center position, the center position of the image pickup element can be adjusted in a short time and an image having a natural luminance distribution can be obtained. | 09-08-2011 |
20110221935 | IMAGE PICK-UP APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICK-UP SYSTEM - An image pick-up apparatus comprising an area sensor in which detecting elements are two-dimensionally arranged on a substrate, and a reference supply circuit, for supplying a reference voltage to the detecting elements, which comprises a regulator for regulating the reference voltage. A low-pass filter is arranged between the regulator and the detecting elements. The reference voltage is supplied through the low-pass filter from the reference supply circuit. | 09-15-2011 |
20110221936 | Method and Apparatus for Detection and Correction of Multiple Image Defects Within Digital Images Using Preview or Other Reference Images - A method for red-eye detection in an acquired digital image acquiring one or more preview or other reference images without a flash. Any red regions that exist within the one or more reference images are determined. A main image is acquired with a flash of approximately a same scene as the one or more reference images. The main image is analyzed to determine any candidate red eye defect regions that exist within the main image. Any red regions determined to exist within the one or more reference images are compared with any candidate red eye defect regions determined to exist within the main image. Any candidate red eye defect regions within the main image corresponding to red regions determined also to exist within the one or more reference images are removed as candidate red eye defect regions. | 09-15-2011 |
20110228141 | DISTANCE ACQUISITION DEVICE, LENS CORRECTING SYSTEM AND METHOD APPLYING THE DISTANCE ACQUISITION DEVICE - A distance acquisition device is for acquiring a first rounded distance from a reference point to a basis point, and for subsequently acquiring a second rounded distance from an adjacent point to the basis point. The reference, adjacent, and basis points are disposed on a plane. The adjacent point is adjacent to the reference point. The distance acquisition device includes: a reference distance acquisition unit for acquiring a precise distance from the reference point to the basis point, and for subsequently performing rounding upon the precise distance so as to obtain the first rounded distance; a reference error acquisition unit for obtaining a first reference error corresponding to a difference between the precise distance and the first rounded distance; and a distance estimating unit for setting the second rounded distance based on the first rounded distance and the first reference error. | 09-22-2011 |
20110228142 | DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPTICAL IMAGING - An optical device for imaging is disclosed having at least one micro lens field with at least two micro lenses and one image sensor with at least two image detector matrices. The at least two image detector matrices each include a plurality of image detectors and there is an allocation between the image detector matrices and the micro lenses, so that each micro lens together with an image detector matrix forms an optical channel. The center points of the image detector matrices are shifted laterally by different distances, with respect to centroids, projected onto the image detector matrices, of the micro lens apertures of the associated optical channels, so that the optical channels have different partially overlapping detection areas and so that an overlapping area of the detection areas of two channels is imaged onto the image detector matrices offset with respect to an image detector raster of the image detector matrices. Further, an image processing device and a method for optical imaging are described. | 09-22-2011 |
20110234860 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE - According to one embodiment, a correction-parameter storing unit corrects a position of a captured image captured by an image sensor, and an image-position correcting unit corrects the position of the captured image for each pixel based on the correction parameter. | 09-29-2011 |
20110242370 | CAMERA SYSTEM, VIDEO PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND CAMERA APPARATUS - Disclosed herein is a camera system including, a camera apparatus having, an image sensor, a correction section, a first transmission processing section, and a synchronization processing section, and a video processing apparatus having a second transmission processing section and a conversion section, wherein the video processing apparatus outputs the video data obtained by the conversion by the conversion section. | 10-06-2011 |
20110242371 | ADVANCED NOISE REDUCTION IN DIGITAL CAMERAS - A noise reduction apparatus is presented that includes groups of one or more serially connected non-linear filter units. Each of the filter unit groups are driven by decimated input image data at a different level of decimation and the output of at least one of these groups serves as one of a plurality of inputs to another group driven at a different decimation level. | 10-06-2011 |
20110249151 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - An image processing apparatus of the present application includes a reduced image generation section generating a first reduced image obtained by reducing at least a target image being a noise reduction target, out of the target image and a reference image to be a reference of a noise reduction processing, a noise extraction section extracting a noise component in a frequency band corresponding to a reduction ratio of the first reduced image by using at least the first reduced image, and a noise reduction section reducing the noise component in the frequency band from a pixel value of each pixel of the target image based on the noise component in the frequency band being extracted. | 10-13-2011 |
20110249152 | Camera Pose Correction - The invention concerns correcting an error in an estimated pose of a moveable camera. The camera is at least a part of a camera system that generates an output image on the basis of the camera pose. Incremental pose measurements for the camera are taken over time and a pose of the camera using the incremental pose measurements is estimated, the estimated camera pose having an error. A pose correction is determined on the basis of the difference between an absolute pose measurement for the camera and the estimated camera pose. A rate of change in the camera image caused by a change in the camera is monitored. A parameter of the camera system is periodically adjusted based on the incremental pose measurements. The adjustment is further set in order to effect the pose correction so as to correct for the estimated camera pose error and the pose correction is effected at a rate based on the monitored rate of change in the camera image. | 10-13-2011 |
20110249153 | OBSTACLE DETECTION DISPLAY DEVICE - An obstacle detection display device, for enabling to display the information of a result of image recognition at high accuracy, at high speed and without position error of shift, even for an image photographed by a wide-angle camera, is constructed with: an image pickup means; an image correcting means for executing geometrical correction upon a video signal outputted from the image pickup means through image processing, and thereby outputting it; an image recognizing means for detecting object information by executing image processing on the video signal outputted from the image correcting means; a display information producing means for determining display information and display position in the video signal, to be presented to a user, being superimposed on the video signal, which is outputted by the image pickup means, upon basis of the object information detected by the image recognizing means, and thereby outputting them; and a display information superimposing means for superimposing the display information outputted by the display information producing means upon the video signal outputted from the image pickup means, upon basis of the display information outputted by the display information producing means. The display information producing means executes correction calculation upon the display position, by taking an error of positions on the video signal, between the video signal outputted by the image correcting means and the video signal outputted from the image pickup means, into the consideration thereof, when determining the display position of the display information to be superimposed on the video signal outputted by the image pickup means. | 10-13-2011 |
20110254983 | DIGITAL CAMERA AND METHOD FOR CAPTURING AND DEBLURRING IMAGES - The present invention proposes a digital camera and a corresponding method for capturing and deblurring images which remove several disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, the hardware limitation as well as the motion restriction of the known conventional MIP approach have been overcome. According to the proposed approach, image frames are electronically moved by an electronic frame shifting means. This allows a frame shifting in any type or fashion, wherein no complicated hardware arrangement is needed, as this has been required according to the known conventional MIP approach. The proposed deblurring approach is not limited to any type of frame shifting pattern, and it is furthermore not limited to a one-dimensional motion of the frames, as it also works for the case of a two-dimensional frame motion. Similar as in the conventional Motion Invariant Photography approach, the frame shifting results in a motion-invariant blurred image which can be deconvoluted by a single deconvolution. | 10-20-2011 |
20110261233 | IMAGING SENSOR HAVING REDUCED COLUMN FIXED PATTERN NOISE - An imaging sensor having reduced column fixed pattern noise includes a plurality of imaging pixels and a column sampling circuit. The plurality of imaging pixels are arranged in a column the column sampling circuit is coupled to the column. A plurality of sampling channels are included in the column sampling circuit, where the column sampling circuit randomly selects a first sampling channel from among the plurality of sampling channels to sample a first data signal from a pixel included in the plurality of imaging pixels and where the column sampling circuit randomly selects a second sampling channel from among the plurality of sampling channels to sample a second data signal from the pixel. | 10-27-2011 |
20110261234 | Image pickup system, image pickup apparatus and sensitivity control method - An image pickup system includes a plurality of electron multiplication image pickup apparatuses; and a correction coefficient calculating device. The correction coefficient calculating device measures electron multiplication properties of image signals output from the electron multiplication image pickup apparatuses on a regular basis, calculates correction coefficients that are used to adjust the sensitivity of image signals from the electron multiplication apparatus, and sets the calculated correction coefficients in the electron multiplication image pickup apparatuses. | 10-27-2011 |
20110261235 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND ITS CONTROL METHOD - An imaging apparatus includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion units configured to output an image signal obtained by executing photoelectric conversion and a noise signal; a clipping unit configured to clip the noise signal to a clipping level when the noise signal exceeds a preset clipping level; a control unit configured to calculate the clipping level based on a signal read from the plurality of photoelectric conversion units and set the calculated clipping level to the clipping unit as the preset clipping level; and a differential unit configured to execute differential processing of subtracting a noise signal read from the photoelectric conversion unit and clipped by the clipping unit, from an image signal read from the plurality of the photoelectric conversion units. | 10-27-2011 |
20110267505 | PIXEL WITH REDUCED 1/F NOISE - A pixel is provided, comprising at least one transistor, the pixel being arranged for cycling the at least one transistor between two or more bias states, e.g. inversion and accumulation, during a readout phase. Due to the cycling between the at least two bias states, the correlation over time of the 1/f noise of the readout signals is broken, thus taking multiple samples and applying an operator onto the samples can reduce the effect of the 1/f noise to arbitrary low levels. | 11-03-2011 |
20110267506 | METHOD FOR PROCESSING AN IMAGE SIGNAL FOR DOUBLE OR MULTIPLE EXPOSURE CAMERAS - Methods are described for processing an image signal for double or multiple exposure cameras in order to reduce fluorescent artifact effects. | 11-03-2011 |
20110267507 | RANGE MEASUREMENT USING A ZOOM CAMERA - A method of using an image capture device to identify range information for objects in a scene, includes providing an image capture device having at least one image sensor, a lens and a coded aperture, storing in a memory a set of blur kernels derived from range calibration data for the coded aperture, capturing a first and second image of the scene having a plurality of objects, corresponding to first and second optical magnifications, respectively. The method further includes providing a set of deblurred images using the capture images from each magnification and each of the blur kernels from the stored set, and using the set of deblurred images to determine the range information for the objects in the scene. | 11-03-2011 |
20110267508 | DIGITAL CAMERA WITH CODED APERTURE RANGEFINDER - Method of using an image capture device to identify range information for objects in a scene includes providing an image capture device at least one image sensor, a coded aperture, a first optical path including the coded aperture and a second optical path not including the coded aperture; storing in a memory a set of blur parameters derived from range calibration data for the coded aperture; capturing a first and second image of the scene, corresponding to the first and second optical paths, the second image having equal or higher resolution than the first; providing a set of deblurred images using the first capture image and each of the blur parameters from the stored set; using the set of deblurred images to determine the range information for the objects captured by the first optical path; and using the range information to control the image capture or processing of second image. | 11-03-2011 |
20110273595 | Noise reduction device for reducing noise in image using blackout image, electronic camera, program, and method - The noise reduction device includes an image storage unit, a blackout image processing unit, and a noise processing unit. The image storage unit captures image data obtained by imaging a field with an image sensor, and stores the image data therein. The blackout image processing unit captures blackout image data obtained by imaging by the image sensor that is shaded, and extracts a specific noise component of the blackout image data. The noise processing unit reduces a noise in the image data based on the specific noise component of the blackout image data. | 11-10-2011 |
20110273596 | IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE AND CAMERA MODULE USING THE SAME - An image pickup device includes a signal processing unit which processes a signal generated by separating a luminous signal into wavelength components of two or more colors by use of a sensor unit including two-dimensionally arranged pixels to which a wavelength separating unit for separating light wavelengths is arranged at a front face of a photoelectric converting element which converts the luminous signal condensed by an optical lens unit into electric signals, wherein the optical lens unit includes at least one optical lens having different focusing positions in accordance with the wavelengths of the luminous signal, and the signal processing unit includes an outline signal generating unit which extracts an outline signal from an output signal of the sensor unit. | 11-10-2011 |
20110279714 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image processing device includes a corrector for performing an optical correction of correcting a distortion of an image by interpolating image data of the distorted picked-up image resulting from an optical characteristic of an image pickup section, and locally changing a resolution of the image; and a compressor for performing a dynamic range compression of compressing a dynamic range of the image data by extracting an illumination component from the image data based on a space frequency of the image, and compressing the extracted illumination component, wherein the compressor performs the dynamic range compression with respect to image data of an after-correction-image to be obtained after the optical correction is performed by the corrector. | 11-17-2011 |
20110285879 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE USING THE SAME - An image processing device capable of obtaining a high precision image while aberration asymmetry is corrected. | 11-24-2011 |
20110292253 | Image forming optical system and image pickup apparatus equipped with same - An optical system including five lens units having, in order from the object side, positive, negative, positive, negative, positive refracting powers respectively. The distances between the lens units change during zooming. The first and third lens units are located closer to the object side at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end of the zoom range. The first lens unit includes a negative lens, a first positive lens, and a second positive lens. The second lens unit includes a plurality of negative lenses and at least one positive lens. The third lens unit includes a plurality of positive lenses and at least one negative lens. The fourth and fifth lens units each include two lenses or less. The refractive indices of the at least one negative lens in the first lens unit, the at least one positive lens in the second lens unit, and the at least one negative lens in the third lens unit are not lower than 1.9. The optical system satisfies a certain condition. | 12-01-2011 |
20110292254 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - Sensed image data obtained by controlling opening/closing of a shutter based on a signal for controlling the opening/closing timing of the shutter of an image sensing device is acquired. Exposure characteristic data indicating the exposure characteristic of the image sensing device in unit opening/closing of the shutter is acquired. A motion vector regarding an image represented by the sensed image data when acquiring the sensed image data is acquired. The image represented by the sensed image data is corrected based on the signal for controlling the opening/closing timing of the shutter, the exposure characteristic data, and the motion vector. | 12-01-2011 |
20110292255 | CAMERA PLACED BEHIND A DISPLAY WITH A TRANSPARENT BACKLIGHT - A method and combined video display and camera system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises a first sheet and a second sheet oriented parallel to the first sheet, the second sheet including a light diffuser. A light source is placed along an edge of the second sheet, wherein the second sheet diffuses light generated by the light source. One or more cameras are placed behind the second sheet to capture an image through the second sheet and the first sheet. | 12-01-2011 |
20110298953 | Image display apparatus, electronic apparatus, image display system, image acquisition method and program - Disclosed herein is an image display apparatus, including: an image display section including a plurality of pixels arrayed therein and each including a display element, the image display section allowing an image pickup section for image pickup to be arranged on the rear face side thereof, the image display section further including a light transmitting part provided in a region thereof corresponding to the image pickup section; and a noise suppression processing unit adapted to carry out, for image information acquired by the image pickup section through the light transmitting part, a reflection noise suppression process for suppressing a reflection component of a display image on the image display section to the picked up image. | 12-08-2011 |
20110317042 | Image Pickup System - An image pickup system includes an image pickup apparatus in which, photoelectric conversion cells are arranged two-dimensionally, and at least some of the photoelectric conversion cells are arranged to output a signal for detecting an amount of defocus. The photoelectric conversion cells which output the signal for detecting the amount defocus form at least two photoelectric conversion cell groups, each receiving a light beam from a pupil area having different area. Each photoelectric conversion cell group has a plurality of photoelectric conversion cell columns. The image pickup system includes a calculating section which has an AF mode which generates a defocus signal by comparing mutually the signals for detecting the amount of defocus which have been output from the two photoelectric conversion cell groups, and a correction section which corrects the signal for detecting the amount of defocus, from information related to distortion of the taking lens. | 12-29-2011 |
20110317043 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND INFORMATION STORAGE MEDIUM - An image processing device includes a normal light image acquisition section that acquires a normal light image, the normal light image being an image that includes information within a wavelength band of white light, a special light image acquisition section that acquires a special light image, the special light image being an image that includes information within a specific wavelength band, a normal light motion vector information calculation section that calculates normal light motion vector information based on a feature quantity included in the normal light image, the normal light motion vector information indicating a motion vector between a plurality of normal light images, and a noise reduction section that reduces an amount of noise included in the special light image based on the normal light motion vector information calculated by the normal light motion vector information calculation section. | 12-29-2011 |
20110317044 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGING DEVICE, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing device ( | 12-29-2011 |
20120002085 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - A recovery processing unit performs an image quality recovery processing of reducing a blur in an image using a filter to reduce a blur at an image height position for each image height on a line from the center position of the image to an end of the image. | 01-05-2012 |
20120008016 | LENS-INTERCHANGEABLE DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - Provided are a lens-interchangeable digital photographing apparatus that can use a suitable lens according to a photographing circumstance, a method of controlling the lens-interchangeable digital photographing apparatus, and a recording medium having recorded therein a program for the method. The lens-interchangeable digital photographing apparatus includes a photographing circumstance analysis unit, a lens suitability determination unit for determining whether a lens installed in the digital photographing apparatus is suitable for a photographing circumstance, a lens search unit for searching for lenses suitable for a photographing circumstance, and a display unit. If the lens suitability determination unit determines that the installed lens is not suitable for the photographing circumstance, lenses suitable for the photographing circumstance analyzed by the photographing circumstance analysis unit from among lenses searched by the lens search unit are displayed on the display unit to be recommended. | 01-12-2012 |
20120013772 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus includes: an image obtaining unit that obtains a photographic image captured with an image sensor; a flat portion extraction unit that extracts a flat portion area within the photographic image having been obtained; and a defect information generating unit that generates defect information corresponding to the extracted flat portion area. | 01-19-2012 |
20120013773 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGING APPARATUS, COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus includes a motion vector calculator and an alignment processing unit. The motion vector calculator calculates motion vector information between a fluorescence image of an observed region based on fluorescence generated from the observed region irradiated with excitation light, and a reflected-light image of the observed region based on reflected light from the observed region. The alignment processing unit corrects misalignment of an object between the fluorescence image and the reflected-light image of the observed region based on the motion vector information. | 01-19-2012 |
20120019690 | ACTIVE IMAGING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SPECKLE NOISE REDUCTION - The present invention relates to an active imaging device and a corresponding device for imaging a scene, in particular for effectively reducing speckle noise. The proposed device comprises an illuminator that illuminates said scene with radiation, a radiation detector that detects radiation received from said scene in response to said illumination and that generates detection data from said detected radiation, an image constructor that constructs an image of said scene or one or more parts of said scene from the detection data, a noise reduction unit that processes said image by applying a one- or multi-dimensional transform to the complete image, to one or more parts of the image or to selected features in said image, and a transform selector that selects for the complete image, for one or more parts of the image or for selected features in said image a selected transform for application by said noise reduction unit resulting in the minimum speckle noise in the image, the respective part or the respective feature of the image. | 01-26-2012 |
20120033107 | Electronic image pickup apparatus - An electronic image pickup apparatus includes a plurality of lens units, an image forming optical system, and an image pickup element. The image forming optical system includes at least a lens unit nearest to object side which is disposed nearest to an object side, an aperture stop which is disposed on an image side than the lens unit nearest to object side, and an image-side lens unit which is disposed on the image side than the aperture stop. The lens unit nearest to object side includes a lens having a mark formed on an effective area of a lens surface thereof. At least any one of the lens in the image forming optical system is held such that, a shifting or a tilting of the lens can be adjusted. The electronic image pickup apparatus further includes a correction parameter storage section which stores correction parameters for correcting an unevenness of brightness due to the mark, and a signal processing section which corrects the unevenness of brightness due to the mark of which, an image has been picked up by the image pickup element, based on the correction parameter stored in the correction parameter storage section. | 02-09-2012 |
20120033108 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM HAVING IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM RECORDED THEREON - An object is to improve noise reduction. Provided are an image-capturing-mode selecting portion ( | 02-09-2012 |
20120038797 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - An image processing apparatus and an image processing method, the method including: providing one or more low dynamic range images having different exposure levels; classifying each of the one of more low dynamic range images as a saturation region, an under-saturation region, and a non-saturation region with respect to an intensity value; generating feature maps indicating a similarity between patterns of the non-saturation regions; generating final feature maps converting pixels included in the feature maps into moving pixels and non-moving pixels; defining moving regions and non-moving regions included in the one or more low dynamic range images; removing noise from the moving regions and the non-moving regions by using a first noise reduction filter for the moving regions and a second noise reduction filter for the non-moving regions; and generating a radiance map corresponding to the one or more low dynamic range images. | 02-16-2012 |
20120038798 | Techniques for Removing Noise in a Compressive Imaging Device - A compressive imaging (CI) device for attenuating noise. The CI device may acquire samples during steady state portions of pattern modulation periods, avoiding the disturbing effect of transients that occur at pattern transitions. A CI device may acquire and then average multiple samples per spatial pattern to reduce (deterministic and/or random) zero-mean noise. A CI device may apply a filter to the photodetector signal in the analog domain and/or in the digital domain to attenuate noise components, e.g., noise due to electromagnetic interference. | 02-16-2012 |
20120044389 | METHOD FOR GENERATING SUPER RESOLUTION IMAGE - A method generates a super resolution (SR) image by the steps of receiving a plurality of images corresponding to the same shot target; selecting one of the images as a basic image, and using the images except the basic image as a plurality of reference images; processing the reference images by using a geometric coordinate correction procedure according to the basic image, so as to generate a plurality of corrected images respectively corresponding to the reference images; and performing a resolution enhancement procedure on the basic image and the corrected images, so as to generate the SR image. | 02-23-2012 |
20120044390 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor having an effective pixel area composed of effective pixels that photoelectrically convert an object image and a reference pixel area composed of reference pixels that output pixel signals to be a reference; a first calculation unit that calculates a standard deviation of the pixel signals output from the reference pixel area; a second calculation unit that calculates an integrated value of the pixel signals output from the reference pixel area; a third calculation unit that calculates a correction value for correcting pixel signals output from the effective pixel area, with use of the integrated value; a correction unit that corrects the pixel signals output from the effective pixel area, based on the correction value; and a determination unit that determines whether correction is to be performed by the correction unit, according to the standard deviation. | 02-23-2012 |
20120057053 | METHOD FOR HIGH PRECISION LENS DISTORTION CALIBRATION AND REMOVAL - The present application relates to a high precision method for calibrating and removing distortion from a lens, and more particularly, a method for calibrating and removing distortion by arranging sensor readings to compensate for its presence and simultaneously optimize the resulting image magnification for best image quality. | 03-08-2012 |
20120069225 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR CAPTURING AN IMAGE OF A MOVING OBJECT - Methods and systems for capturing an image of a moving subject employ a camera image sensor that captures a blurred image of a moving subject. In-capture positions of the moving object are also determined using a high frame rate camera or other motion sensing device. The PSF for controlling modulation of the light hitting the camera image is successively updated by selecting, from among a plurality of pre-computed invertible PSFs, a pre-computed invertible PSFs for each estimated motion of the moving object. Light hitting the camera image sensor is modulated in capture phase according to one or more of the updated pre-computed invertible PSFs such that the captured blurred image is invertible. The resulting invertible blurred image can be de-blurred using the selected known PSFs to provide a substantially sharp image. | 03-22-2012 |
20120075505 | CAMERA NOISE REDUCTION FOR MACHINE VISION SYSTEMS - A method for reducing noise in an image from an image capture device includes filter the image using both an offset fixed pattern noise filter and a gain fixed pattern noise filter. Thereafter, the image is filtered using a remnant fixed pattern noise filter to reduce remnant fixed pattern noise. | 03-29-2012 |
20120075506 | NOISE REDUCTION FOR MACHINE VISION SYSTEMS - A method for reducing noise in an image from an image capture device includes filter the image using both an offset fixed pattern noise filter and a gain fixed pattern noise filter. Thereafter, the image is filtered using a remnant fixed pattern noise filter to reduce remnant fixed pattern noise. | 03-29-2012 |
20120075507 | RADIATION IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR RADIATION IMAGING APPARATUS - A radiation imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit and an imaging control unit. The imaging control unit causes a switch unit, a accumulation unit, a removal unit, a holding unit, and an addition unit, which constitute a pixel circuit of the imaging unit, to operate at a timing before imaging operation by the imaging unit so as to fix unstable voltages of the accumulation unit, the removal unit, the holding unit, and the addition unit to a predetermined voltage of a power supply connected via a switch unit. | 03-29-2012 |
20120086836 | Electronic Apparatus, Image Capturing Apparatus, and Method Thereof - The present invention discloses an electronic apparatus, an image capturing apparatus and a method thereof. The image capturing method comprises the following steps of: capturing a plurality of temporal images by an image capturing module, and setting one of the temporal images as a base image by a processing module; dividing each temporal image into a plurality of temporal image blocks, and dividing the base image into a plurality of base image blocks by the processing module; determining whether the difference between each temporal image block and the corresponding base image block is lower than a threshold value by the processing module; integrating the temporal image block and the corresponding base image block to generate a final image by the processing module when the difference between the temporal image block and the corresponding base image block is lower than the threshold value. | 04-12-2012 |
20120086837 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus comprises plural pixels each including a photoelectric converting element; plural capacitors which receive signals from the plural pixels at first terminals; plural clamping switches for setting a second terminal of each of the plural capacitors into a predetermined electric potential; plural first storing units for storing signals from the second terminals of the plural capacitors; plural second storing units for storing the signals from the second terminals of the plural capacitors; a first common output line to which the signals from the plural first storing units are sequentially output; a second common output line to which the signals from the plural second storing units are sequentially output; and a difference circuit for operating a difference between the signal from the first common output line and the signal from the second common output line. | 04-12-2012 |
20120092532 | IMAGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A SWITCHABLE IMPEDANCE TO GROUND - This is generally directed to a switchable impedance to ground. In particular, a pixel array can be coupled to and surrounded by a ground ring. The ground ring can be coupled to a switchable impedance to ground. During a correlated double sampling (“CDS”) phase of the pixel array, the switchable impedance can be set to a high resistance value. For example, the switchable impedance can be set to 500 ohms. During an analog-to-digital conversion (“ADC”) readout phase of the pixel array, however, the switchable impedance can be set to a low resistance value. For example, the switchable impedance can be set to 1-10 ohms. Setting the switchable impedance to the high impedance value during the CDS phase can prevent imaging errors such as black hole artifacts. Setting the switchable impedance to the low impedance value during the ADC readout phase can, for example, prevent errors due to ground drift. | 04-19-2012 |
20120099006 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus,includes a computing section which computes a defocus amount which has been estimated,a calculating section which calculates an accuracy of defocus detection, a setting section which sets a correction value from a result of the calculating section, a correcting section which corrects the correction value obtained from the result of the setting section, to reduce an absolute value of the defocus amount which has been estimated, a lens-drive amount calculating section which calculates a lens-drive amount based on a result from the correcting section, and a control section which, at the time of video photography, carries out focusing successively by using the defocus amount and the lens drive amount obtained from the computing section, the calculating section, the setting section, and the correcting section. | 04-26-2012 |
20120105687 | Methods and Apparatuses for Using Image Acquisition Data to Detect and Correct Image Defects - A method and device for detecting a potential defect in an image comprises acquiring a digital image at a time; storing image acquisition data, wherein the image acquisition data includes at least one of a position of a source of light relative to a lens, a distance from the source of light to the lens, a focal length of the lens, a distance from a point on a digital image acquisition device to a subject, an amount of ambient light, or flash intensity; determining dynamic anthropometric data, wherein the dynamic anthropometric data includes one or more dynamically changing human body measurements, of one or more humans represented in the image, captured at the time; and determining a course of corrective action based, at least in part, on the image acquisition data and the dynamic anthropometric data. | 05-03-2012 |
20120113299 | FIRST-IN-FIRST-OUT (FIFO) BUFFERED MEDIAN SCENE NON-UNIFORMITY CORRECTION METHOD - A buffered scene-based non-uniformity correction method includes receiving a plurality of frames of video image data from an image detector; determining relative movement of a current image frame with respect to a previous image frame and responsive to a determination of substantial movement, adding the current image frame to a buffer memory sized to store a predetermined number of video frames; averaging pixel values of the frames in the buffer to determine a mean (or weighted mean) value for each pixel of a reference image; determining correction terms for each pixel of the current image frame by determining the difference between the current image frame pixel values and the corresponding reference image pixels; and correcting the current image frame using the correction terms. A scene-based non-uniformity correction system is also disclosed. | 05-10-2012 |
20120113300 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - In order to effectively accomplish blur restoration in a short time, an image processing apparatus includes a blur restoration unit configured to perform blur restoration processing on image data according to an object distance and a blur restoration distance correction unit configured to correct a blur restoration distance that represents an object distance at which the blur restoration processing is performed by the blur restoration unit. The blur restoration distance correction unit is configured to set an interval of the blur restoration distance according to a difference between a reference object distance and another object distance. | 05-10-2012 |
20120120283 | RAPID AUTO-FOCUS USING CLASSIFIER CHAINS, MEMS AND/OR MULTIPLE OBJECT FOCUSING - 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. | 05-17-2012 |
20120120284 | Electronic Apparatus, Image Capturing Apparatus and Method Thereof - The present invention discloses an electronic apparatus, an image capturing apparatus and a method thereof. The image capturing method comprises the steps of: capturing a plurality of temporal images by an image capturing module; setting one of the temporal images as a base image by a processing module; determining whether the difference between the temporal images and the base image is over a predetermined range by the processing module; if yes, deleting the temporal image by the processing module; combining the else temporal images and the base image and correspondingly generating an output image. | 05-17-2012 |
20120120285 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECONFIGURING TIME OF FLIGHT SHOT MODE - A method and apparatus for configuring Time Of Flight sensor and data transfer for dynamically reconfigurable sensor mode change depending on scene characteristics. The method includes configuring the sensor configuration set on normal shot mode, performing scene analysis on at least one captured scenes, when dynamic motion is detected and the automatic shot mode sensor change is enabled, configuring the sensor to fast shot mode, and when in normal shot mode, capturing and transferring the full size TOF raw pixels for each phase, and when in fast shot mode, capturing and transferring less than all the size of the Time Of Flight raw pixels for each phase. | 05-17-2012 |
20120127350 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DE-NOISING A DIGITAL VIDEO SIGNAL, AND CORRESPONDING COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - A method may denoise a digital video signal produced by a photoelectric sensor as a matrix of pixel signals affected by both thermal noise and impulsive noise. The method may include estimating the noise level associated to the pixel signals, and filtering the pixel signals with an attenuation factor that is a function of the estimated noise level. | 05-24-2012 |
20120133799 | RADIATION SENSOR - A radiation sensor includes first and second pixels with a radiation absorption filter positioned over the first pixel and an interference filter positioned over both the first and second pixels. The combined spectral response of the absorption filter and the first pixel has a first pixel pass-band and a first pixel stop-band. The interference filter has a first interference filter pass-band substantially within the first pixel pass-band and a second interference filter pass-band substantially within the first pixel stop-band. | 05-31-2012 |
20120133800 | Offset Canceling Circuit, Sampling Circuit and Image Sensor - An offset canceling circuit stores charge corresponding to a voltage difference between a reset voltage received from a unit pixel and a reference voltage, thereby canceling an offset of the unit pixel. | 05-31-2012 |
20120133801 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An image processing method, for correcting a blur a due to an optical system of an image capturing apparatus, the image processing method including, storing a plurality of representative filters in a memory, selecting a subset of representative filters from the plurality of representative filters based on a pixel position of a pixel of interest in an image, applying each of the selected representative filter to a pixel value of the pixel of interest, and correcting the pixel value of the pixel of interest based on (a) a result of the application of filters, and (b) the pixel position of the pixel of interest. | 05-31-2012 |
20120133802 | IMAGING OPTICAL SYSTEM AND IMAGE-ACQUISTION APPARATUS - Provided is an imaging optical system and an image acquisition apparatus that can be suitably used in a small-diameter endoscope while having an ultra-wide angle of view. | 05-31-2012 |
20120140096 | Timing Solution for Projector Camera Devices and Systems - An imaging system includes an integrated projector that projects images on to an external display surface and a digital camera that records gestures and/or other objects that are in or illuminated by the projected images. The camera and/or the projector generate a timing signal to synchronize a refresh rate of the projector with an exposure time of the digital camera. The synchronization reduces or eliminates interference patterns that may be caused by gestures in or illuminated by the projected image, and allows the digital camera to more accurately detect the gestures. | 06-07-2012 |
20120140097 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMAGE CAPTURING CAPABLE OF EFFECTIVELY REPRODUCING QUALITY IMAGE AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS USING THE SAME - An image capturing apparatus includes an imaging lens, an image pickup device, and a correcting circuit. The imaging lens is configured to focus light from an object to form an image. The image pickup device is configured to pick up the image formed by the imaging lens. The correcting circuit is configured to execute computations for correcting image degradation of the image caused by the imaging lens. The imaging lens is also a single lens having a finite gain of optical transfer function and exhibiting a minute difference in the gain between different angles of view of the imaging lens. | 06-07-2012 |
20120140098 | STUDIO BOOTH CONFIGURED TO PRODUCE ILLUSION THAT CUSTOMER IS PHOTOGRAPHED IN DIFFERENT LOCALE - A method of producing a performance in an enclosure including: providing an audio and video system for recording the performance, providing a computer system for displaying a performance backdrop on a chroma key screen, and providing a transmitter for sending the recording to a selected location outside the enclosure for personal use or submission to friends, family, or an authorized contest. The method further includes minimizing perspective distortion and subject distortion on the recording, and providing a final recording that presents the illusion that the individual is located in an area larger than the enclosure in which the performance was produced. | 06-07-2012 |
20120147224 | IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging apparatus has image sensors, an imaging optical system of which relative position with the image sensors is fixed, and a merging unit which connects images obtained by imaging while changing the relative position between the image sensors and the imaging optical system. Aberration of the imaging optical system in an image obtained by each image sensor is predetermined based on the relative position between the imaging optical system and the image sensor. The merging unit smoothes seams of the two images by setting a correction area in an overlapped area where the two images to be connected overlap with each other, and performing correction processing on pixels in the correction area. A size of the correction area is determined according to the difference in aberrations of the two images, which is determined by a combination of image sensors which have imaged the two images. | 06-14-2012 |
20120154641 | TUNABLE GAUSSIAN FILTERS - Tunable Gaussian filters enable imaging effects to be applied to images and videos in orientations other than standard symmetric, 0 degree orientations and 90 degree orientations. The tunable Gaussian filters are able to be applied in any orientation such as 45 degrees, slightly less than 45 degrees and slightly more than 0 degrees. | 06-21-2012 |
20120154642 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM STORING IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus includes a noise reduction intensity control unit that controls a noise reduction intensity, which indicates a degree to which noise reduction is applied to image data, on the basis of a luminance variation ratio, which indicates a variation amount by which a luminance of the image data gradually varies, and a noise reduction unit that reduces a noise in the image data on the basis of the noise reduction intensity controlled by the noise reduction intensity control unit. | 06-21-2012 |
20120154643 | IMAGE GENERATING APPARATUS, IMAGE GENERATING METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - An image generating apparatus which generates a second image that is an image converted from a first image captured by an imaging apparatus placed to be oriented downward at an angle of depression with respect to a horizontal direction includes: a specifying unit which specifies a straight line included in the first image and passing through an intersection between an imaging plane and a vertical vector; and an image extension processing unit which generates the second image by sampling pixels of the first image along the specified straight line. | 06-21-2012 |
20120154644 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS - An object of this invention is to obtain a high-quality image free from any variation between image sensing regions. To achieve this object, an image sensing apparatus according to this invention includes an image sensing element which is formed on a semiconductor substrate on which at least one of a semiconductor layer, a color filter layer, and a microlens layer is formed by a plurality of divisional exposure operations, and a correction device which corrects variations in a signal output from the image sensing element between a plurality of partial image sensing regions formed by the plurality of divisional exposure operations. | 06-21-2012 |
20120162484 | Reducing noise in image sensors by concurrently reading reset and image signal levels from active and reference pixels - A method of one aspect includes reading a reset level of an active pixel, and concurrently, reading a reset level of a reference pixel. The method also includes reading an image signal level of the active pixel, and concurrently, reading an image signal level of the reference pixel. A reduced noise image signal level of the active pixel is generated based on the reset levels and the image signal levels of the active and reference pixels. Other methods are disclosed as well as apparatus and systems. | 06-28-2012 |
20120162485 | IMAGE PROCESSING APAPRATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM, AND IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM - An image processing apparatus including an image restoration unit configured to acquire classification information indicating classifying variations in optical performance of an image pickup apparatus which picks up image data into a plurality of patterns, and generate restored image data by using a restoration filter generated based on the classification information is provided. | 06-28-2012 |
20120162486 | OPTICAL DEVICE AND IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE AND IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM USING THE SAME - An optical device where an image of an object is formed on an image pickup element and where an image restoration process is performed on the image obtained by the image pickup element, comprising
| 06-28-2012 |
20120176518 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE - A solid state image pickup device may include a pixel unit that includes a plurality of pixels; a pulse delay unit that includes a plurality of delay elements, each of the plurality of delay elements including a power supply terminal; a stop control unit; a stop signal delay unit; a lower bit latch unit; a counter unit; a first upper bit latch unit; a second upper bit latch unit; and a correcting unit that compares an output signal of the first upper bit latch unit with an output signal of the second upper bit latch unit, and corrects a count value, which is a count result of the counter unit, based on a comparison result and an output signal of the lower bit latch unit. | 07-12-2012 |
20120176519 | IMAGE PROCESSING CIRCUIT FOR PROCESSING IMAGE ABNORMALITY CAUSED BY POWER SUPPLY - An image processing circuit includes an analogue front-end (AFE) processing unit, comprising a horizontal driver, an image-capturing unit, a voltage current regulation unit, and a dummy loading device. The image-capturing unit is driven by the horizontal driver. The voltage current regulation unit at least provides a voltage and a current to the AFE processing unit. The dummy loading device bears an inrush current noise of the current, connected to an output terminal of the voltage current regulation unit. During a predetermined time section just before a start of transmitting a horizontal shift clock by the AFE processing unit to the image-capturing unit, the dummy loading device is set at a turned-on state within the predetermined time section, and set at a turned-off state other than the predetermined time section. | 07-12-2012 |
20120182450 | SOLID STATE IMAGING DEVICE - According to one embodiment, a solid state imaging device includes an image CDS processing unit that outputs a pixel signal based on a difference between a pixel voltage read from a pixel during a reset period and a pixel voltage read from the pixel during a signal read period, a temperature sensor that outputs a diode voltage when a diode current is changed, a temperature CDS processing unit that outputs a temperature measurement value based on a difference of the diode voltage at the time when the diode current is changed, and a timing generator that controls the reset period, the signal read period, and timing of changing the diode current of the temperature sensor. | 07-19-2012 |
20120182451 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR NOISE REMOVAL IN A DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPH - A method and an apparatus are provided for eliminating noise in a digital image. An ambient image and at least one flash image are captured in succession of a given location. At least one image alignment technique is applied for the ambient image and the at least one flash image. Joint mean shift filtering is applied to the at least one flash image to obtain filter weights. The filter weights are applied to the ambient image to eliminate noise in the ambient image. | 07-19-2012 |
20120188414 | Adaptive Gain Control Image Processing System and Method - By utilizing scene metrics in an image processing system (such as night vision goggles or a camera), a setpoint controller can set a setpoint used by a gain controller. Using the setpoint and an average video level of a frame, the gain controller can set gain control signals sent to an image sensor and/or a high voltage power supply to adaptively adjust for higher and lower light scenarios. Scene metrics can include an amount of saturation in a frame, a number or percentage of pixels above a first threshold and a number or percentage of pixels below a second threshold. | 07-26-2012 |
20120188415 | DIGITALLY GRADED NEUTRAL DENSITY FILTER - Apparatus and a method for performing neutral density filtering in a digital camera. The camera includes a pixel array having rows and columns of pixels. The pixels in the array may be reset and read with variable timing between the reset operation and the read operation. The timing between the reset and read operations is controlled to implement a neutral density filtering operation. | 07-26-2012 |
20120188416 | IMAGE SYSTEM AND INTERFERENCE REMOVING METHOD THEREOF - There is provided an interference removing method of an image system including the steps of: respectively acquiring different numbers of images within two brightness intervals having different brightness variations using an image sensor having a sampling frequency; lighting a light source with a lighting frequency, which is a half of the sampling frequency, and synchronizing to the sampling frequency; and subtracting a first image, which is associated with the lighting of the light source, acquired in a later brightness interval of two adjacent brightness intervals having identical brightness variations by a second image, which is associated with a sampling time of the first image, acquired in an earlier brightness interval of the two adjacent brightness intervals. The present disclosure further provides an image system. | 07-26-2012 |
20120188417 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING LENS DISTORTIONS - A method for determining optical distortions of a video recording unit is provided. The method includes positioning and orienting a light source such 5 that it directs a light plane to hit a non-flat scenery generating a bright shape thereon. The method also includes modulating, with a first frequency, the orientation of the light source, such that the bright shape periodically sweeps over the scenery in a sweeping direction non-parallel to a direction of main extension of the bright 10 shape. Further, the method includes modulating, with a second frequency different from the first frequency, the position of the light source relative to the video recording unit in the sweeping direction, and recording, with the video recording unit and while the orientation and the position of the light source are being modulated, sequences of images capturing at least parts of the bright 15 shape. | 07-26-2012 |
20120188418 | TEXTURE DETECTION IN IMAGE PROCESSING - An embodiment relates to a method for the detection of texture of a digital image, including providing a raw data image of the image by means of Bayer image sensors, determining noise in at least a region of the raw data image and determining the texture based on the determined noise without using a high pass or low pass filter. | 07-26-2012 |
20120194710 | IMAGING DEVICE AND IMAGING METHOD AND PROGRAM - An imaging device includes a display on which a captured image of a subject is displayed, a first corrector to correct a first parameter related to shooting of the subject, a second corrector to correct a second parameter related to image processing to the captured image, and an automatic correction controller to determine a correction amount for the second parameter on the basis of a correction amount for the first parameter corrected by the first corrector, and control the second corrector to correct the second parameter by the determined correction amount. | 08-02-2012 |
20120194711 | System And Method For Improving The Quality Of Thermal Images - An image improvement system and method are disclosed that compensates for effects of optical scattering and pixel cross-talk on image quality in an imager employing a focal plane array. The method characterizes these effects on a test image, presents them as a set of stored numerical coefficients, and applies the coefficients during image processing. | 08-02-2012 |
20120200747 | IMAGE SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD - An image signal processing apparatus that performs a noise reduction process on an image signal of an image captured by an imaging device is provided. By performing a first smoothing process on an input signal of an image signal that is received from an imaging unit and that is subjected to a first image processing, a first smoothed signal creating unit creates a first smoothed signal in which noise is reduced. By performing a second smoothing process that is different from the first smoothing process on the input signal, the second smoothed signal creating unit creates a second smoothed signal in which noise is reduced. A mixing processing unit mixes the first smoothed signal and the second smoothed signal in accordance with a mixing ratio according to a value of the input signal. | 08-09-2012 |
20120200748 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, ELECTRONIC CAMERA, AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus includes an image importing unit importing an image, a storage unit storing pixel values of a plurality of pixels included in a predetermined range of the image, a first noise removal processing unit carrying out first noise removal processing for a pixel value of a target pixel which is a target of noise removal, with reference to the pixel values of the pixels stored in the storage unit, and a second noise removal processing unit carrying out second noise removal processing for a pixel value of the target pixel which is subjected to the first noise removal processing, successively immediately after the first noise removal processing by the first noise removal processing unit, with reference to the pixel values of the pixels stored in the storage unit. | 08-09-2012 |
20120206628 | NOISE SUPPRESSION - A method and apparatus apply one of a plurality of different levels of noise suppression to a pixel based on a difference between illuminance values for the pixel in the presence of (a) both a flash and ambient light and (b) without the flash. | 08-16-2012 |
20120206629 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - An image capturing apparatus includes: an image pickup section for converting, into image data, pixel signals obtained by picking up an image of an object; and an image processing section for performing predetermined image processing on the image data obtained as a result of conversion by the image pickup section. The image pickup section includes: an X-Y addressable image sensor for accumulating, in an image pickup area thereof, pixel signals of an object obtained by image pickup; and a conversion means for sequentially reading out pixel signals contained in each of processing units, converting the pixel signals into image data, and outputting the image data, the processing units each being an area of a predetermined size defined by dividing the image pickup area of the image sensor into rectangular blocks of a predetermined size and adding a predetermined number of pixels to each rectangular block in vertical and horizontal directions of the rectangular block. The image processing section includes: a memory for sequentially receiving and storing image data of each processing unit; and an image processing means for sequentially performing the predetermined image processing on the image data stored in the memory that is contained in the range of the rectangular block, and outputting the resultant image data. | 08-16-2012 |
20120206630 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - The present invention has an object to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method capable of, when reducing a blur in an input image, (i) reducing noise included in the input image and (ii) restraining degradation of the image caused by noise processing from being emphasized by image restoration processing. An image processing apparatus ( | 08-16-2012 |
20120212651 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD ADN STORAGE MEDIUM - There is provided an image processing apparatus comprising: an acquisition unit configured to acquire captured images captured by a plurality of image capturing units for capturing an object from different viewpoints; a specifying unit configured to specify a defective image from the plurality of captured images; a determination unit configured to determine a weight for each captured image based on a position of the image capturing unit that has captured the defective image specified by the specifying unit; and a synthesis unit configured to generate a synthesized image by weighting and synthesizing the plurality of captured images based on the weights determined by the determination unit. | 08-23-2012 |
20120212652 | IMAGE SYSTEM AND DENOISING METHOD THEREOF - There is provided a denoising method of an image system that detects a brightness variation cycle of ambient light sources, records a brightness variation of at least one noise area within the brightness variation cycle and compensates the brightness variation from current images thereby removing interference from the ambient light sources. There is further provided an image system. | 08-23-2012 |
20120218444 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DEALING WITH PERSPECTIVE DISTORTION IN CONNECTION WITH SMARTPHONE CAMERAS - Arrangements are detailed to aid a user in positioning a camera-equipped device (e.g., a smartphone) at a particular viewing position relative to an object being imaged. Other embodiments discern the device's viewing position, and then undertake image or other processing that is dependent on such viewpoint. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed. | 08-30-2012 |
20120218445 | IMAGER READOUT ARCHITECTURE UTILIZING A/D CONVERTERS (ADC) - The invention provides an imager readout architecture utilizing analog-to-digital converters (ADC), the architecture comprising a band-limited sigma delta modulator (SDM) ADC; and a serpentine readout, which can be configured to allow the band-limited SDM to multiplex between multiple columns by avoiding discontinuities at the edges of a row. SDM ADC image reconstruction artifacts are minimized using a modified serpentine read out methodology, the methodology comprising using primary and redundant slices with the serpentine read out in opposite directions and averaging the slices. Advantageously, the invention can be used to develop a read out integrated circuit (ROIC) for strained layer superlattice imagers (SLS) using sigma delta modulator (SDM) based analog to digital converters (SDM ADC). | 08-30-2012 |
20120218446 | Imaging Object - The present invention provides an imaging technology having high reproducibility of a document and making image correction possible, without being influenced by a way of placing the document or a position of a camera, and irrespective of paper color and despite of damage of a corner portion. By printing positioning symbols on document paper in advance when the document is photographed by a digital camera or a portable phone with a camera, such as a smart phone, and by processing the image based on these positioning symbols, image processing having high reproducibility of the document and making image correction (keystone correction) possible can be implemented irrespective of paper color and despite of damage of a corner portion. | 08-30-2012 |
20120229681 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC FLASH REMOVAL FROM IMAGES - A system, method, computer program product, and business method for automatic image glare removal. Glare is often caused by direct reflection of a photographic flash. Images are acquired from at least two different locations, possibly simultaneously, and from one or more cameras, and digitized if necessary. A glare pattern is identified, typically by recognition of a fully overexposed area or known test glare patterns. The images are processed to remove the glare pattern by subtraction of the glare pattern from at least one image and substitution of corresponding data from a related image not identically impacted. The substituted data typically comprises chrominance data, which may be from a luminance-adjusted exposure-bracketed image. The processing may be performed by a camera, a pc, or a networked server, and the processed image is output. The business method includes automated image glare removal via a fee-based per-transaction or subscription service. | 09-13-2012 |
20120229682 | Correction of Optical Abberations - Digital images are computed using an approach for correcting lens aberration. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a digital imaging arrangement implements microlenses to direct light to photosensors that detect the light and generate data corresponding to the detected light. The generated data is used to compute an output image, where each output image pixel value corresponds to a selective weighting and summation of a subset of the detected photosensor values. The weighting is a function of characteristics of the imaging arrangement. In some applications, the weighting reduces the contribution of data from photosensors that contribute higher amounts of optical aberration to the corresponding output image pixel. | 09-13-2012 |
20120236183 | IMAGE TRANSFER SYSTEM, IMAGE TRANSFER METHOD, IMAGE RECEPTION APPARATUS, IMAGE TRANSMISSION APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - In order to transfer an image encoded at a high compression rate and suitably increase the resolution of the transferred image, it is provided an image transfer system, comprising: an image transmission unit that transmits an image; and an image reception unit that receives the image transmitted from the image transmission unit. The image transmission unit scales down the image, and transmits the scaled-down image to the image reception unit. The image reception unit calculates an angle between a line displayed in the image transmitted from the image transmission unit and a horizontal direction of the image in correspondence with pixels included in the image, scales up the image transmitted from the image transmission unit, and removes an aliasing component of the scaled-up image based on the calculated angle. | 09-20-2012 |
20120236184 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VIDEO-QUALITY ENHANCEMENT - A video enhancement system provides automatic enhancement to video data that includes the presence of obscurations. The system provides near-field enhancement of the video data by detecting the presence of near-field obscurations such as snowflakes/raindrops and determining whether the detected obscurations are located over background pixels or foreground objects. The detected obscuration pixels are filled-in depending on whether they are located over the background or foreground to create an enhanced image. The system may also provide local/global adaptive contrast enhancement to enhance video in the presence of far-field obscurations. | 09-20-2012 |
20120242869 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an image processing device includes a motion vector generator, a correction amount generator, and a correcting module. The motion vector generator is configured to generate a horizontal direction motion vector and a vertical direction motion vector of an input video signal photographed in an order of scanning lines. The correction amount generator is configured to generate a horizontal direction correction amount based on the horizontal direction motion vector and the vertical direction motion vector by each scanning line, and generate a vertical direction correction amount based on the vertical direction motion vector by a scanning line. The correcting module is configured to correct the input video signal to generate an output video signal based on the horizontal direction correction amount and the vertical direction correction amount. | 09-27-2012 |
20120242870 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - Capturing units acquire, from an object, image data having characteristics different from each other. An image generator calculates a deviation amount indicating the position deviation between images represented by the image data acquired by the capturing units, and generates image data of a multi-channel image in which the position deviation between the images represented by the image data acquired by the capturing units has been corrected using the deviation amount. Each of the capturing units comprises capturing elements having capturing characteristics specific to the capturing unit, and capturing elements having capturing characteristics common to a plurality of capturing units. The image generator calculates the deviation amount from image data acquired by the capturing elements having the common capturing characteristics. | 09-27-2012 |
20120242871 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THEM - In an image pickup apparatus, a calculation unit calculates an amount of noise and an amount of afterimage that can be included in an electric signal or image data in an image pickup operation, based on output characteristic information indicating a manner in which the amount of noise and the amount of after image change as a function of an elapsed time since a voltage is applied to a detection unit, a temperature of the detection unit detected by a temperature detection unit, the voltage supplied to the conversion elements from a power supply unit, and an image pickup operation start time indicating a time elapsed since the supplying of the voltage to the detection unit is started until the image pickup operation is started to output the electric signal corresponding to an electric charge generated by the conversion element in the detection unit. | 09-27-2012 |
20120242872 | OPTICAL-IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - The present invention relates to an optical-image pickup apparatus including a setting unit configured to set the effective region or the resolution of a correction unit configured to correct the aberration of a subject; an aberration measuring unit configured to measure an aberration generated at the subject; and a control unit configured to control the correction unit on the basis of the measured aberration and the set effective region or the measured aberration and the set resolution. | 09-27-2012 |
20120249841 | SCENE ENHANCEMENTS IN OFF-CENTER PERIPHERAL REGIONS FOR NONLINEAR LENS GEOMETRIES - A technique of enhancing a scene containing one or more off-center peripheral regions within an initial distorted image captured with a large field of view includes determining and extracting an off-center region of interest (hereinafter “ROI”) within the image. Geometric correction is applied to reconstruct the off-center ROI into a rectangular or otherwise undistorted or less distorted frame of reference as a reconstructed ROI. A quality of reconstructed pixels is determined within the constructed ROI. Image analysis is selectively applied to the reconstructed ROI based on the quality of the reconstructed pixels. | 10-04-2012 |
20120249842 | CMOS IMAGE SENSOR WITH BUILT IN CORRECTION FOR COLUMN FAILURE - A system for correcting a column line failure in an imager includes a pixel selection circuit configured to receive three adjacent pixel output signals, P(n−1), P(n) and P(n+1), respectively, from three adjacent column lines, (n−1) | 10-04-2012 |
20120249843 | IMAGING APPARATUS, PHOTOGRAPHIC LENS UNIT, AND IMAGING UNIT - An imaging apparatus comprises an optical imaging system | 10-04-2012 |
20120257087 | DIFFERENTIAL SCAN IMAGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for producing background-reduced fluorescence imaging signals include an illumination system that provides illumination light from an illumination source to a targeted area on the sample platform, a sensor adapted to detect light and having an array of sensing locations, and collection optics arranged and configured to project light emanating from the sample platform onto the sensor. In typical operation, light from the targeted area is projected onto a first portion of the sensor comprising a first plurality of the sensing locations and light from proximal to the targeted area on the platform is projected onto a second portion of the sensor comprising a second plurality of the sensing locations, and a second signal detected by the second portion of the sensor is subtracted from a first signal detected by the first portion of the sensor to produce a background-reduced signal, e.g., a signal with reduced background related noise. | 10-11-2012 |
20120257088 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREOF - A plurality of image data obtained by divided-capturing an object and correction image data obtained by capturing a correction chart at an angle of view wider than that in the divided capturing are input. Heterogeneity of luminance in the plurality of image data is corrected based on the correction image data. Joined image data representing the entire image of the object is generated by joining the plurality of image data in which the heterogeneity of luminance has been corrected. | 10-11-2012 |
20120257089 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PROCESSING IMAGE - An image processing apparatus calculates a smoothed value obtained by smoothing signal levels of a plurality of pixels including a processing target pixel in a local area of an input image and a feature amount representing an edge degree of the processing target pixel using a pre-noise reduction image obtained by reducing an impulse noise of the input image. The image processing apparatus weighted-adds a signal level of the processing target pixel and the smoothed value at a ratio corresponding to the feature amount and outputs the weighted-addition result as a signal level after noise reduction processing. | 10-11-2012 |
20120268626 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ELIMINATING GLARE - An apparatus and a method for eliminating glare are disclosed, wherein this method includes steps as follow. First, a first image is captured from an object when a first light source radiates light and a second light source is turned off, and a second image is captured from the object when the first light source is turned off and the second light source radiates light, wherein the first and second light sources are separate from each other. Then, a first glaring area is removed from the first image to create a first modified image, and a second glaring area is removed from the second image to create a second modified image. Then, the first and second modified images are merged to create a merged image. | 10-25-2012 |
20120268627 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, SIGNAL PROCESSING DEVICE AND SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD FOR SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array unit in which unit pixels are arranged in a matrix shape and a signal processing circuit that obtains a first video signal and performs processing for combining the first and second video signals. The signal processing circuit includes judging means that judges whether a pixel of interest in the pixel array unit is a pixel to be saturated during an exposure period, calculating means that sets the pixel of interest as a correction pixel and calculates a correction amount on the basis of a luminance value of the second video signal of a peripheral pixel of the correction pixel, and correcting means that applies the correction amount to a luminance value of the first video signal of the correction pixel to thereby correct a noise signal amount due to photo-charges leaking from the peripheral pixel into the correction pixel. | 10-25-2012 |
20120268628 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus which corrects input image data on the basis of the image data and foreign substance information including information associated with a position and a size of a foreign substance adhering near an image sensor in an image capturing apparatus which has captured the image data includes a correction unit which corrects the image data on the basis of the image data and the foreign substance information so as to reduce an influence of a shadow of the foreign substance cast in the image data, a uniformity determination unit which determines uniformity of an image in a region surrounding the foreign substance in the image data, and a control unit which, when the uniformity determination unit determines that the uniformity is lower than a predetermined value, prevents the correction unit from correcting the image data. | 10-25-2012 |
20120281120 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - An image processing method and an image processing apparatus are provided. In the image processing method, each of a plurality of original images is divided into K bands, where K is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1. A plurality of local motions of each band in any two adjacent of the original images are calculated, and a global motion of each band is calculated according to the local motions of the band. A horizontal component velocity and a vertical component velocity of each band are generated according to the global motion and a capturing time difference. A plurality of transformation matrixes corresponding to the bands are generated according to the horizontal component velocities, the vertical component velocities, a row readout time, and the width of a valid area. One of the two adjacent original images is transformed according to the transformation matrixes to generate a compensated image. | 11-08-2012 |
20120281121 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SELECTIVE PIXEL BINNING - An output level of a pixel is determined using a reflected light reflected against an object. Pixel binning is selectively performed according to the output level of the pixel. | 11-08-2012 |
20120293691 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING METHOD - An imaging apparatus of an embodiment includes a captured video signal outputting unit, a data outputting unit, a supplement processing unit, and a video processing unit. The captured video signal outputting unit outputs a captured video signal related to video captured using an image capturing element. The data outputting unit outputs part of data related to the image capturing elements stored in a storage unit. The supplement processing unit receives the outputted part of the data related to the image capturing elements and uses the received part of the data related to the image capturing elements to perform supplement processing of the data. The video processing unit performs video processing of the outputted captured video signal using the supplement processed data and outputs a video signal. | 11-22-2012 |
20120293692 | APPARATUS, METHOD, AND SYSTEM OF IMAGE PROCESSING, AND RECORDING MEDIUM STORING IMAGE PROCESSING CONTROL PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus includes a camera, a support body, and an arm section including an arm that is rotatably attached to the support body and to a camera housing incorporating therein the camera. The image processing apparatus calculates a height of the camera measured from a set surface, using dimensional information of the image processing apparatus and inclination information indicating an inclination of the camera and an inclination of the arm. The image processing apparatus specifies a type of an object subjected for capturing by the camera using at least the height of the camera, and applies image processing specific to the specified type of the object to a captured image captured by the camera. | 11-22-2012 |
20120314104 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - In accordance with an object desired to be brought into focus, aliasing is canceled, and the resolution of an output image data is increased. When a plurality of pieces of image data captured at multiple viewpoints is synthesized at a predetermined focus position, a weight for the synthesis is determined so as to reduce aliasings included in frequency characteristics of the plurality of pieces of image data. | 12-13-2012 |
20120314105 | Adapted Digital Device and Adapter for a Digital Device - A digital device having an image-handling function, adapted to be held at a level between a user's shoulder level and the user's hip level and directed toward a scene, comprising: a display located on a first surface of the device; an image capture component comprising a lens locatable adjacent a second surface, the lens being adapted to capture a field of view having a center lying on an axis substantially parallel to the first surface; a spatial attitude detector for detecting a current attitude of the device relative to a baseline attitude; a selector for selecting a portion of the field of view according to the baseline attitude; a distortion corrector for correcting distortion of the view caused by an angular difference between the current attitude and the baseline attitude; and a renderer for rendering a corrected image by the distortion corrector on the display. | 12-13-2012 |
20120320240 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Provided is an image processing apparatus that reduces over recovery of image data by image recovery processing. An image processing unit selects an image recovery filter corresponding to an imaging condition and performs image recovery processing on captured image data using the image recovery filter. Further, the image processing unit limits a change amount of a pixel signal value of the image data by the image recovery processing based on a change amount limit value determined according to characteristics of a gamma correction processing that is applied after the image recovery processing. | 12-20-2012 |
20130021504 | MULTIPLE IMAGE PROCESSING - Embodiments of the present application automatically utilize parallel image captures in an image processing pipeline. In one embodiment, image processing circuitry concurrently receives first image data to be processed and second image data to be processed, wherein the second image data is processed to aid in enhancement of the first image data. | 01-24-2013 |
20130021505 | MULTIPLE IMAGE PROCESSING - Embodiments of the present application automatically utilize parallel image captures in an image processing pipeline. In one embodiment, image processing circuitry concurrently receives first image data to be processed and second image data to be processed, wherein the second image data is processed to aid in enhancement of the first image data. | 01-24-2013 |
20130021506 | COMPACT CAMERA OPTICS - “Imaging apparatus includes an image sensor, which is adapted to generate an input image in response to optical radiation. A processing engine is configured to apply a digital filter, having a kernel width greater than five pixels, to the input image to generate a filtered image. An optical assembly is arranged to focus the optical radiation onto the image sensor with a point spread function such that no more than a first threshold percentage of energy emitted from a point object and focused by the optical assembly falls within a first region of the image sensor having a first width five times the pitch of the image sensor, while at least a second threshold percentage of the energy emitted from the point object and focused by the optical assembly falls within a second region, which contains the first region and has a second width corresponding to the kernel width.” | 01-24-2013 |
20130027587 | SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGING APPARATUS, SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD AND PROGRAM - Provided is a signal processing apparatus, including an input unit into which first image data and second image data are input, the first image data and the second image data being obtained by capturing a predetermined subject with an imaging unit and having mutually different states of blurring; a distance information calculation unit that calculates first distance information in accordance with a position in a depth direction of the subject based on the first image data and the second image data; and a distance information correction unit that calculates second distance information by performing, on the first distance information, processing to correct a deviation of the blurring caused by a mismatch between an image-forming plane of the subject and an imaging plane of the imaging unit. | 01-31-2013 |
20130027588 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND PROGRAM - There is provided an image processing apparatus including a distortion component calculation unit calculating a distortion component in a time series, based on an image signal indicating a moving image composed of a frame image, for each of a first region corresponding to the whole frame image, a second region corresponding to one region obtained by dividing the frame image, and a third region corresponding to the other region obtained by dividing the frame image, and a decision unit deciding a scanning pattern of an imaging device having captured the moving image, which the image signal indicates, based on a combination of a correlation of distortion between the second region and the first region and a correlation of distortion between the second region and the third region. | 01-31-2013 |
20130027589 | METHOD AND CAMERA FOR PROVIDING AN ESTIMATION OF A MEAN SIGNAL TO NOISE RATIO VALUE FOR AN IMAGE - A method and a camera provide an estimation of a mean signal to noise ratio value for an output image comprising a number of pixels, wherein each pixel of the output image has a pixel value. An image histogram divided into bins, the image histogram having information regarding the distribution of pixel values among the pixels of the output image. Each bin has a set of pixels having pixel values within a predetermined range. For each bin of the image histogram, a signal to noise ratio value of that bin may be attributed and weighted with the number of pixels in the set of pixels of that bin. The weighted signal to noise ratio values of the bins are summed, and the sum may then be divided by the total number of pixels of the output image or the total number of pixels in the bins of the image histogram. | 01-31-2013 |
20130027590 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REMOVING NOISE GENERATED FROM IMAGE SENSOR - The present invention provides a method for efficiently removing noise of an image sensor. To this end, the present invention enables: an area to be divided into an edge area, a sensitivity difference generation area, and a pattern area relative to an input image of a Bayer pattern; and different noise removing methods to be applied according to each of the divided areas. By doing this, noise can be removed efficiently since the noise is adaptively removed in each area. Further, sensitivity differences between Gr and Gb are considered in such a manner that resolution can be improved. | 01-31-2013 |
20130033622 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOTION ARTIFACT CORRECTION IN HDR VIDEO - A method and system of correcting motion artifacts are provided for video captured from interlaced multiple exposure sensors. The following are included: (a) motion artifacts detection of a pixel area, (b) smoothing of the detected pixel area, and (c) motion artifacts correction. The motion artifacts pixels are detected by comparing the luma difference between a current image frame and a previous image frame; the pixels of the surrounding area are also checked. A smoothing operation is applied to the detected artifacts area, in order to remove isolated pixels and enlarge the detected area. Corrections are then provided using a multistage filter for the luma channel and a mean filter for the chroma channel. | 02-07-2013 |
20130033623 | IMAGING APPARATUS FOR CORRECTING DISTORTION IN IMAGE CAPTURED USING ROLLING SHUTTER METHOD AND DISTORTION CORRECTION METHOD - An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to capture an image by using a rolling shutter method, a movement detection unit configured to detect a movement amount of the imaging apparatus relative to an object, an in-focus detection unit configured to detect an in-focus degree to the object, a distortion correction unit configured to correct a distortion in the image generated due to the rolling shutter method by changing a reading position of each line in the image, and a control unit configured to determine a correction amount of the distortion generated due to the rolling shutter method from the movement amount detected by the movement detection unit and the in-focus degree detected by the in-focus detection unit. | 02-07-2013 |
20130033624 | Red-Eye Filter Method and Apparatus - 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. | 02-07-2013 |
20130038760 | FRONT-END PIXEL FIXED PATTERN NOISE CORRECTION IN IMAGING ARRAYS HAVING WIDE DYNAMIC RANGE - Aspects describe front-end pixel fixed pattern noise correction in imaging arrays having wide dynamic range. A photosensor of a first pixel in a first row of an array is reset and a first reset level of the first pixel is measured. The array comprises a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns. In response to a result of the first reset level, a reset bus is altered. A feed-forward adjustment of the photosensor of the first pixel is performed to substantially remove fixed-pattern noise. An external readout from the photosensor can occur with substantially all the fixed-pattern noise removed. In some aspects, the adjustment is performed by a switched capacitor block. | 02-14-2013 |
20130044241 | Rolling Shutter Reduction Based on Motion Sensors - This disclosure pertains to devices, methods, and computer readable media for reducing rolling shutter distortion effects in captured video frames based on timestamped positional information obtained from positional sensors in communication with an image capture device. In general, rolling shutter reduction techniques are described for generating and applying image segment-specific perspective transforms to already-captured segments (i.e., portions) of images in a video sequence, so as to counter or compensate for unwanted distortions that occurred during the read out of the image sensor. Such distortions may be due to, for example, the use of CMOS sensors combined with the rapid movement of the image capture device. In contrast to the prior art, rolling shutter reduction techniques described herein may be applied to captured images in real-time or near real-time using positional sensor information and without intensive image processing that would require an analysis of the content of the underlying image data. | 02-21-2013 |
20130044242 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - A capturing parameter and a capturing image are obtained by an image capturing device which uses the capturing parameter. Correction data, which corresponds to an optical transfer function of the image capturing device derived from the capturing parameter, and a noise amount of the capturing image dependent on the capturing parameter, is acquired to correct a blur of the capturing image. A first degree of correction by the correction data for a high noise amount is less than a second degree of correction by the correction data for a low noise amount. | 02-21-2013 |
20130050539 | IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores a process for causing a computer to execute a method including the steps of acquiring optical transfer function information corresponding to an image pickup condition of a picked-up image (S | 02-28-2013 |
20130050540 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus which enables to suppress coloring in an image after image recovery processing, and a control method for the image processing apparatus are disclosed. After the chromatic difference of magnification of an optical imaging system is corrected, a first value relating to coloring is obtained before application of an image recovery filter. Then, an image recovery filter which, preferably, does not correct a chromatic difference of magnification and is based on a function indicating the aberrations of the optical imaging system is applied. A second value associated with coloring is obtained from the image after application of the image recovery filter. According to the difference between the first and second values obtained before and after application of the image recovery filter respectively, pixel value correction for correcting coloring is performed. | 02-28-2013 |
20130050543 | IMAGE PICKUP UNIT AND IMAGE PROCESSING UNIT - An image pickup unit and an image processing unit are provided, each inexpensively achieving both of far distance photographing and near distance photographing in a simple configuration. In an image processing section | 02-28-2013 |
20130057733 | Method of Image Noise Reduction - A method of noise reduction in an image obtained with the use of TV camera comprising a generation of a frame video flow out of frame groups, having timing interdependency; a generation of an image out of output frame series obtained by means of processing of the said frame groups by the use of averaging closely adjacent pixel values in at least one group of frames; and the use of average values considering weight coefficients to form an output frame. | 03-07-2013 |
20130063627 | IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging apparatus includes: a pixel generating a photoelectric conversion signal; a comparator comparing a base signal based on the pixel at a reset state with a time-changing first reference signal, and comparing an effective signal based on the pixel at a non-reset state with a time-changing second reference signal, the second reference signal having a larger time-changing ratio than that of the second reference signal; a counter counting a first count value until an inversion of a magnitude relation between the base signal and the first reference signal, and counting a second count value until an inversion of a magnitude relation between the effective signal and the second reference signal; and a correcting unit configured to correct the difference of resolutions of the first and second count values, and configured to correct the difference between the corrected first and second count values. | 03-14-2013 |
20130063628 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR AND RECORDING MEDIUM - A low-frequency region of an output target image is specified. Luminance correction is performed with the target amount decided in advance for a pixel, among pixels included in the target image, which is included in the low-frequency region and has a luminance value equal to or smaller than a predetermined value, and the target image after the correction is output. Then, an effective correction amount is obtained based on the luminance distribution of the target image before the correction and the luminance distribution of the target image after the correction, which has been corrected with the target amount decided in advance. A luminance correction target amount for the next correction target image is decided based on the luminance distribution of the target image and the ratio of the effective correction amount to the target amount decided in advance. | 03-14-2013 |
20130070125 | Registration of Distorted Images - An image registration method involves computing horizontal and vertical integral projection vectors for first and second distorted or partially distorted images or distortion-corrected images, or both. The images are registered by applying a translation, rotation and/or scale factor estimation between the first and second images on the horizontal and vertical integral projection vectors. | 03-21-2013 |
20130070126 | Registration of Differently Scaled Images - An image registration method involves computing horizontal and vertical integral projection vectors for first and second distorted or partially distorted images. The images are registered by applying a scale factor estimation between the first and second images on the horizontal and vertical integral projection vectors. | 03-21-2013 |
20130070127 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus that can reduce power consumption of the image pickup apparatus, and take high-definition moving images at high speed without bringing about decreases in recordable time and the number of still images taken. An image pickup processing unit is operated in a plurality of operation modes, and has an image pickup device and a plurality of processing units that process image pickup signals outputted from the image pickup device. An interval control circuit causes the image pickup processing unit to switch between a standby ON state and a standby OFF state in predetermined timing. A control signal is outputted to the interval control unit according to an operation mode of the image pickup processing unit. When the image pickup processing unit lies in a predetermined operation mode, a control signal for causing the interval control circuit to perform the switching is outputted to the interval control circuit. | 03-21-2013 |
20130093926 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an image processing system includes a pickup apparatus, a motion vector generator, a motion vector converter, a motion vector interpolator, a correction amount generator, and a correcting module. The pickup apparatus is configured to capture an image per scanning line and to generate an input video signal from the captured image. The motion vector generator is configured to generate a first horizontal direction motion vector and a first vertical direction motion vector indicative of a horizontal direction moving distance and a vertical direction moving distance respectively between frames in the input video signal. | 04-18-2013 |
20130093927 | IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE AND IMAGE PICKUP DISPLAY SYSTEM - An image pickup device includes: an image pickup section including a plurality of pixels, the pixels each including a photoelectric conversion element; a drive section performing a readout operation and a reset operation of a signal electric charge, the signal electric charge being accumulated in the pixel; and a correction section correcting a timing of performing the reset operation to allow an afterimage in an image output from the image pickup section to be reduced. | 04-18-2013 |
20130107081 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE USING THE SAME | 05-02-2013 |
20130107082 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND CAMERA SYSTEM | 05-02-2013 |
20130113963 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing method includes a restore step of performing blur restoration for image data, an acquisition step of acquiring image-related information stored together with the image data, and an extraction step of extracting the range of object distances at which the blur restoration is performed, based on the image-related information. In the restore step, blur restoration is performed for the image data in the range of object distances extracted in the extraction step. | 05-09-2013 |
20130155296 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND DISTORTION COMPENSATION METHOD - An imaging apparatus for maintaining the frequency of access to a memory for storing an object image for distortion compensation and processing speed of the distortion compensation, while reducing the size of the memory, is provided. | 06-20-2013 |
20130155297 | RADIOMETRIC CALIBRATION FROM NOISE DISTRIBUTIONS - Technologies that enable correcting for the non-linear relationship between scene irradiance and digital pixel intensity values of an image of the scene produced by a camera. Imaging noise is used as a signal from which a corrective function is derived. Noise distributions from the image are evaluated to determine the radiometric response function of the camera, from which an inverse response function is computed and used for calibration. | 06-20-2013 |
20130155298 | Detecting Red Eye Filter and Apparatus Using Meta-Data - A method of filtering a red-eye phenomenon from an acquired digital image including a multiplicity of pixels indicative of color, the pixels forming various shapes of the image, includes analyzing meta-data information, determining one or more regions within the digital image suspected as including red eye artifact, and determining, based at least in part on the meta-data analysis, whether the regions are actual red eye artifact. The meta-data information may include information describing conditions under which the image was acquired, captured and/or digitized, acquisition device-specific information, and film information. | 06-20-2013 |
20130162869 | Detecting Red Eye Filter and Apparatus Using Meta-Data - A method of filtering a red-eye phenomenon from an acquired digital image including a multiplicity of pixels indicative of color, the pixels forming various shapes of the image, includes analyzing meta-data information, determining one or more regions within the digital image suspected as including red eye artifact, and determining, based at least in part on the meta-data analysis, whether the regions are actual red eye artifact. The meta-data information may include information describing conditions under which the image was acquired, captured and/or digitized, acquisition device-specific information, and/film information. | 06-27-2013 |
20130162870 | IMAGE SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE SCANNING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING IMAGE SIGNAL - A signal processing circuit | 06-27-2013 |
20130176464 | Image Processing Method - This invention provides an image processing method which for noise reduction and sensitization for an ordinary video camera. The noise reduction processing locates a bright pixel and averages brightness by adding the pixel accumulated by ratio in accordance with the geometric series, and to a dark pixel, carrying out the processing of noise reduction which averages brightness by adding the pixel accumulated by ratio in accordance with the geometric series and the processing of sensitization in the condition that a magnification of intensification is greater than 1, determine that the pixel moves or not, if the pixel is moving, it is used to carry out processing of sensitization only, and if the pixel is still, choose it is used to carry out the processing of sensitization and noise reduction. | 07-11-2013 |
20130176465 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND METHOD OF FORMING IMAGE DATA - An image pickup apparatus of the present invention includes an image pickup element for imaging a subject, and an image forming section for forming image data based on image-pickup data acquired from the image pickup element. The image pickup apparatus has a first image-pickup mode of acquiring first image-pickup data in a non-emission state of light from an illuminating section to the subject, and a second image-pickup mode of acquiring second image-pickup data in an emission state of light from the illuminating section to the subject. The image forming section forms the image data by using, as a correction value for the second image-pickup data, multiplication data that is acquired by multiplying differential data calculated based on the first image-pickup data and the second image-pickup data by light-distribution correction data for smoothing the light distribution characteristic of the illuminating section. | 07-11-2013 |
20130182152 | CAMERA AUTOFOCUS ADAPTIVE BLUR MATCHING MODEL FITTING - Autofocusing is performed in response to a weighted sum of previous blur difference depth estimates after being adaptively fitted at each focus adjustment iteration. Variance is also determined across both past and present estimations providing a confidence measure on the present focus position for the given picture. In one embodiment focus adjustment are repeated until the variance is sufficiently low as to indicate confidence that a proper focus has been attained. The method increases accuracy and speed of focusing by utilizing previous depth estimates while adapting the matching data to overcome distortion, such as due to saturation, cut-off and noise. | 07-18-2013 |
20130194458 | Systems, Methods, and Media for Recording an Image Using an Optical Diffuser - Systems, methods, and media for recording an image of a scene ate provided. In accordance with some embodiments, systems for recording an image of a scene are provided. comprising. a diffuser {hat diffuses light representing the scene and that has a scattering function that is independent of aperture coordinates, a sensor that receives diffused light representing the scene and generates data representing an image; and a hardware processes that uses a point spread function to deblur the image. | 08-01-2013 |
20130194459 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND CAMERA MODULE - According to one embodiment, an image processing device includes an edge enhancement unit and a brightness level determination unit. The edge enhancement unit performs an edge enhancement process by adding extraction data which has been subjected to a noise cancellation process and an amplitude limitation process to a brightness signal. The brightness level determination unit determines a height of the signal level of the brightness signal. The edge enhancement unit adjusts the signal level of the extraction data added to the brightness signal depending on a determination result of the brightness level determination unit. | 08-01-2013 |
20130194460 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGING DEVICE - Provided is an image processing device including: a 3D-NR unit that performs, using first image data and second image data obtained by capturing images at temporally different times, 3D noise reduction (NR) processing for reducing noise in the first image data; an edge detection unit that detects an edge strength in an image indicated by the 3D-NR processed image data; and a synthesization unit that determines, based on the detected edge strength obtained by the edge detection unit, a synthesis ratio of the first image data and the 3D-NR processed image data, synthesizes the first image data and the 3D-NR processed image data, using the determined synthesis ratio, and outputs synthesized image data obtained by synthesizing the first image data and the 3D-NR processed image data. | 08-01-2013 |
20130194461 | Methods and Apparatuses for Using Image Acquisition Data to Detect and Correct Image Defects - A method and device for detecting a potential defect in an image comprises acquiring a digital image at a time; storing image acquisition data, wherein the image acquisition data includes at least one of a position of a source of light relative to a lens, a distance from the source of light to the lens, a focal length of the lens, a distance from a point on a digital image acquisition device to a subject, an amount of ambient light, or flash intensity; determining dynamic anthropometric data, wherein the dynamic anthropometric data includes one or more dynamically changing human body measurements, of one or more humans represented in the image, captured at the time; and determining a course of corrective action based, at least in part, on the image acquisition data and the dynamic anthropometric data. | 08-01-2013 |
20130208149 | FLASH BAND CORRECTION APPARATUS, FLASH BAND CORRECTION METHOD, AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - A flash band correction apparatus includes a flash band detection unit and a frame rate conversion unit. The flash band detection unit is configured to detect a start line and an end line of a flash band in a frame on the basis of a difference in an exposure period for each line of an image signal output for each frame at a predetermined frame rate by an image pickup element with a rolling shutter system. The flash band is an unevenness in brightness level for each line which is generated in the frame due to flash light. The frame rate conversion unit is configured to determine a combination of the frames of the image signal before a frame rate is converted on the basis of the start line and the end line and convert the frame rate to 1/n thereof. | 08-15-2013 |
20130208150 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE USING THE SAME - It is an object to provide an image processing device capable of obtaining a high precise image while aberration asymmetry is corrected. | 08-15-2013 |
20130215296 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY RECORDING MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus includes an image obtaining portion | 08-22-2013 |
20130215297 | Image Processing System and Imaging Object Used for Same - An imaging technology having high reproducibility of a document and making image correction possible, without being influenced by a way of placing the document or a position of a camera, and irrespective of paper color and despite of damage of a corner portion. By printing positioning symbols on document paper in advance when the document is photographed by a digital camera or a portable phone with a camera, such as a smart phone, and by processing the image based on these positioning symbols, image processing having high reproducibility of the document and making image correction (keystone correction) possible can be implemented irrespective of paper color and despite damage to a corner portion. | 08-22-2013 |
20130215298 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - An image processing method, an image processing apparatus and an image capturing apparatus are provided, which are capable of obtaining an output image exhibiting high visual recognizability while reducing the processing time with a circuit on a comparatively small scale. Datum plane system coordinates x | 08-22-2013 |
20130222652 | COMPENSATING FOR SENSOR SATURATION AND MICROLENS MODULATION DURING LIGHT-FIELD IMAGE PROCESSING - According to various embodiments, the system and method of the present invention process light-field image data so as to reduce color artifacts, reduce projection artifacts, and/or increase dynamic range. These techniques operate, for example, on image data affected by sensor saturation and/or microlens modulation. Flat-field images are captured and converted to modulation images, and then applied on a per-pixel basis, according to techniques described herein. | 08-29-2013 |
20130222653 | NOISE-CANCELLING IMAGE SENSORS - An image sensor that has a plurality of pixels within a pixel array coupled to a control circuit and to one or more subtraction circuits. The control circuit may cause an output transistor coupled to a pixel to provide a first reference output signal, a common reset output signal, and a first sense-node reset output signal, between which a subtraction circuit may form a weighted difference to create a noise signal. The control circuit may cause the output transistor to provide a second sense-node reset output signal, a light response output signal and a second reference output signal, between which a subtraction circuit may form a weighted difference to create a normalized light response signal. The light response output signal corresponds to the image that is to be captured by the sensor. The noise signal may be subtracted from the normalized light response signal to generate a de-noised signal. | 08-29-2013 |
20130222654 | Image Processing System and Imaging Object Used for Same - An imaging technology having high reproducibility of a document and making image correction possible, without being influenced by a way of placing the document or a position of a camera, and irrespective of paper color and despite of damage of a corner portion. By printing positioning symbols on document paper in advance when the document is photographed by a digital camera or a portable phone with a camera, such as a smart phone, and by processing the image based on these positioning symbols, image processing having high reproducibility of the document and making image correction (keystone correction) possible can be implemented irrespective of paper color and despite damage to a corner portion. | 08-29-2013 |
20130242143 | CAMERA WITH ANTI-FLICKER CAPABILITY AND IMAGE CAPTURING METHOD WITH ANTI-FLICKER CAPABILITY - A camera and an image capturing method with anti-flicker capability. The camera has a camera sensor and an image signal processor. The camera sensor captures first and second image data separated by a time delay which depends on a flicker period of background illumination. The image signal processor differentiates the first and the second image data along rows to obtain first and second differentiated image data, respectively, normalizes the first and second image data to obtain for each column an oscillation amplitude, normalizes the first and second differentiated image data to obtain for each column an oscillation amplitude, and obtains flicker-eliminated image data based on the first and second image data, the first and second differentiated image data, and the oscillation amplitudes obtained from normalizing the first and second image data and the oscillation amplitudes obtained from normalizing the first and second differentiated image data. | 09-19-2013 |
20130242144 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMAGE NOISE REDUCTION USING NOISE MODELS - A method and apparatus for processing imager pixel signals to reduce noise. The processing includes receiving a target pixel signal, receiving at least one neighboring pixel signal, formulating a dynamic noise signal based at least in part on a value of the target pixel signal, and controlling a noise reduction operation using the dynamic noise signal. | 09-19-2013 |
20130242145 | VIDEO ACQUISITION WITH INTEGRATED GPU PROCESSING - Systems and techniques for processing sequences of video images involve receiving, on a computer, data corresponding to a sequence of video images detected by an image sensor. The received data is processed using a graphics processor to adjust one or more visual characteristics of the video images corresponding to the received data. The received data can include video data defining pixel values and ancillary data relating to settings on the image sensor. The video data can be processed in accordance with ancillary data to adjust the visual characteristics, which can include filtering the images, blending images, and/or other processing operations. | 09-19-2013 |
20130250147 | CAMERA DEVICE FOR REDUCING SENSOR NOISE - A camera device and a method therefor are provided. The camera comprises: a sensor for acquiring electronic images; a heat generating device; an apparatus for determining a temperature-associated property of the sensor; and a processor in communication with the apparatus. The processor is enabled to: switch the heat generating device to a low power mode when the temperature-associated property meets a threshold value. | 09-26-2013 |
20130250148 | IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE AND SIGNAL COMPENSATING METHOD OF IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE - The signal compensating method includes receiving sensing signals from an image sensor pixel array; converting the sensing signals into digital signals using a plurality of analog-to-digital converters, respectively; and compensating the digital signals using offset values corresponding to the plurality of analog-to-digital converters, respectively. | 09-26-2013 |
20130250149 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - The image capturing apparatus ( | 09-26-2013 |
20130258141 | METHOD TO REJECT FALSE POSITIVES DETECTING AND TRACKING IMAGE OBJECTS - Methods, apparatuses, systems, and computer-readable media for rejecting false positive detection and tracking of image objects are presented. According to one or more aspects, a computing device may implement embodiments of the invention to use the movement of the mobile device for distinguishing false positives from true movement of the mobile device depicted in the field of view of the camera. In one embodiment, the actual movement of the mobile device may be measured using multi-modal sensor data from inertial sensors such as accelerometers and gyroscopes. In another embodiment, the actual movement of the device is calculated using the global movement of the mobile phone with reference to other objects in the field of view of the camera. | 10-03-2013 |
20130258142 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR REDUCING NOISE IN BIOMETRIC DATA ACQUISITION - A system and method for reducing noise in biometric sensor image data may comprise: capturing a first frame of biometric image data and a second frame of biometric image data; selecting one of the first frame and the second frame as a reference frame; filtering one of the reference frame and the other frame of the first frame and the second frame, with the other frame or the reference frame, and culling one of the other frame and the reference frame and selecting the un-culled one of the other frame and the reference frame as a new reference frame; and repeating the capturing, filtering and culling one of a new first frame and a new reference frame and selecting the un-culled one of the new first frame and the new reference frame as a further new reference frame. | 10-03-2013 |
20130271626 | METHOD OF REDUCING COLUMN FIXED PATTERN NOISE - A method of reducing column fixed pattern noise including calibrating a readout circuit, wherein the readout circuit is electrically connected to at least one programmable gain amplifier and an analog-to-digital converter. Calibrating the readout circuit includes electrically disconnecting the readout circuit from a pixel output and electrically connecting a pixel reset input of the readout circuit to a pixel output signal input of the readout circuit. Calibrating the readout circuit further includes comparing a measured output of the readout circuit to a predetermined value and storing the comparison result in a non-transitory computer readable medium. The method further includes operating the readout circuit, the operating the readout circuit includes receiving a pixel sample signal and outputting a calibrated output based on an operating output and the stored comparison result. | 10-17-2013 |
20130271627 | CAMERA WITH RED-EYE CORRECTION FUNCTION - An electronic camera comprises an image generation unit that generates a plurality of images for red-eye detection based upon an image obtained by capturing an image of a subject with an image-capturing element, a setting unit that sets a specific mode among a plurality of modes related to electronic camera functions, a selection unit that selects a specific type of red-eye detection processing among a plurality of types of red-eye detection processing different from one another, based upon the mode set via the setting unit; and a red-eye detection unit that detects a red-eye area based upon the images for red-eye detection by executing the red-eye detection processing selected by the selection unit. | 10-17-2013 |
20130286258 | CAMERA SYSTEM, VIDEO PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND CAMERA APPARATUS - Disclosed herein is a camera system including, a camera apparatus having, an image sensor, a correction section, a first transmission processing section, and a synchronization processing section, and a video processing apparatus having a second transmission processing section and a conversion section, wherein the video processing apparatus outputs the video data obtained by the conversion by the conversion section. | 10-31-2013 |
20130286259 | IMAGING DEVICE, METHOD AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - An imaging device includes an imaging unit that acquires plural images including an image in which a main subject is in focus, by discretely moving a focus position and successively capturing the images; an image processing unit that executes image processing to at least one of a reference image and a non-reference image to bring degrees of blur thereof closer to one another, the reference image being an image in which the main subject is in focus; a detection unit that detects corresponding points of subjects in the image-processed reference image and non-reference image, a deformation unit that deforms the non-reference image before the image processing such that the positions of the corresponding points coincide, a generation unit that generates a blur-adjusted image on the basis of the reference image and the deformed non-reference image; and a recording unit that stores the blur-adjusted image at a recording medium. | 10-31-2013 |
20130293747 | IMAGING DEVICE, PROGRAM, MEMORY MEDIUM, AND NOISE REDUCTION METHOD - Provided are an imaging device, program, memory medium, and noise reduction method capable of appropriately reducing noise without causing degradation in a target sound such as voice. The imaging device of the present invention has: a video imaging unit for capturing video; a signal converter for converting a sound generated during video capture to a sound signal; subject determination units that predict or recognize a specific subject; a noise detector for detecting noise included in the sound generated during video capture; a noise reduction unit for reducing the noise signal from the sound signal; a voice detector for detecting non-noise signals in the sound signal; and a noise reduction performance change unit that lowers the noise signal reduction performance of the noise reduction unit when the subject determination units predict or recognize the specific subject. | 11-07-2013 |
20130321671 | SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR REDUCING FIXED PATTERN NOISE IN IMAGE DATA - The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for image data processing. In certain embodiments, an image processing pipeline may be configured to receive a frame of the image data having a plurality of pixels acquired using a digital image sensor. The image processing pipeline may then be configured to determine a first plurality of correction factors that may correct each pixel in the plurality of pixels for fixed pattern noise. The first plurality of correction factors may be determined based at least in part on fixed pattern noise statistics that correspond to the frame of the image data. After determining the first plurality of correction factors, the image processing pipeline may be configured to configured to apply the first plurality of correction factors to the plurality of pixels, thereby reducing the fixed pattern noise present in the plurality of pixels. | 12-05-2013 |
20130321672 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COLLECTING FIXED PATTERN NOISE STATISTICS OF IMAGE DATA - The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for image data processing. In certain embodiments, an image processing pipeline may collect statistics associated with fixed pattern noise of image data by receiving a first frame of the image data comprising a plurality of pixels. The image processing pipeline may then determine a sum of a first plurality of pixel values that correspond to at least a first portion of the plurality of pixels such that each pixel in at least the first portion of the plurality of pixels is disposed along a first axis within the frame of the image data. After determining the sum of the first plurality of pixel values, the image processing pipeline may store the sum of the first plurality of pixel values in a memory such that the sum of the first plurality of pixel values represent the statistics. | 12-05-2013 |
20130321673 | Systems and Methods for Determining Noise Statistics of Image Data - The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for image data processing. In certain embodiments, an image processing pipeline may compute noise statistics associated with image data by receiving a frame of the image data having a plurality of pixels. The image processing pipeline may then identify a plurality of portions of the frame of the image data such that each portion of the plurality of portions has a flat surface. The image processing pipeline may then calculate a plurality of gradients for each portion of the plurality of portions, determine one or more dominant gradient orientations for each portion of the plurality of portions, and generate a histogram that represents a plurality of dominant gradient orientations that corresponds to the plurality of portions. After generating the histogram, the image processing pipeline may store the histogram, which may represent the noise statistics, in a memory. | 12-05-2013 |
20130329092 | Intelligent Auto-Exposure Bracketing - Techniques to adaptively select bracket settings during auto-exposure bracket (AEB) operations are described. In general, AEB settings for a current image may be based on the evaluation of prior bracketed images. For example, the current exposure setting established by an auto-exposure mechanism (EV0) may be compared with a prior EV0 image. If the two are consistent, the prior image's lower and upper f-stop setting images (EV− and EV+) may be used to adaptively change the bracket settings for the current image's EV− and EV+ images. In another implementation, the most recently obtained EV− and EV+ images may be used to adaptively change the bracket settings for the current image—no prior capture being necessary. | 12-12-2013 |
20130329093 | Nosie-Constrained Tone Curve Generation - Methods to generate, and devices to use, an adaptive tone curve generation operation are disclosed. Tone curves so generated have been found to produce stable tone mapping in a wide range of operational environments, including during multi-exposure fused images (e.g., during high dynamic range image fusion). In general, techniques are disclosed that use a content-load histogram in combination with image capture device noise information to adaptively bound a tone curve's slope and, therefore, the resulting tone curve. As used here, a content-load histogram is a histogram that captures spatial, color or other information carried by an image's pixels at various gray levels. | 12-12-2013 |
20130329094 | COMPUTATIONAL IMAGING USING VARIABLE OPTICAL TRANSFER FUNCTION - In selected embodiments, improved image restoration is realized using extensions of Wiener filtering combined with multiple image captures acquired after simple, fast reconfigurations of an optical imaging system. These reconfigurations may yield distinct OTF responses for each capture. The optical imaging system may reduce fabrication cost, power consumption, and/or system weight/volume by correcting significant optical aberrations. The system may be configured to perform independent correction of fields within the total field-of-regard. The system may also be configured to perform independent correction of different spectral bands. | 12-12-2013 |
20130329095 | IMAGING DEVICE AND FOCUSING CONTROL METHOD - An imaging device includes an image pick-up device including phase difference detection pixel pairs, each formed from a pair of phase difference detection pixels respectively having their openings eccentrically formed on opposite sides of a main axis of an imaging lens, and imaging pixel pairs; a reading section that reads out signals from the pixels arrayed in the image pick-up device using a rolling shutter method; a first correlation computation section that performs correlation computation on the signals from the phase difference detection pixel pairs; a second correlation computation section that performs correlation computation on the signals from the imaging pixel pairs; a correction section that corrects a result from the first correlation computation section using a result from the second correlation computation section; and a focusing section that performs focus control using the corrected result. | 12-12-2013 |
20130342735 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING DEFOCUS OPERATION ACCORDING TO IMAGE ALIGNMENT RELATED INFORMATION - An image processing method includes: receiving a plurality of input images; deriving an image alignment related information from performing an image alignment upon the input images; and generating a processed image by performing a defocus operation upon a selected image selected from the input images according to the image alignment related information. For example, the image processing method may be employed by an electronic device such as a mobile device. Thus, the mobile device may capture two or more images to generate the defocus visual effect, which is similar to professional long-focus lens. | 12-26-2013 |
20130342736 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus includes: a noise-removed image generation unit which, on the basis of an input image and a reduced image obtained by reducing the input image at predetermined magnification, generates a noise-removed image with noise in the input image removed; and a corrected image generation unit which generates, from the noise-removed image, a high-frequency component image primarily having a frequency component of the noise-removed image in the same band as a frequency component to be removed by band limitation in the reduction at the predetermined magnification and generates an edge-corrected image on the basis of the noise-removed image and the high-frequency component image. | 12-26-2013 |
20130342737 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An image processing method, for correcting a blur a due to an optical system of an image capturing apparatus, the image processing method including, storing a plurality of representative filters in a memory, selecting a subset of representative filters from the plurality of representative filters based on a pixel position of a pixel of interest in an image, applying each of the selected representative filter to a pixel value of the pixel of interest, and correcting the pixel value of the pixel of interest based on (a) a result of the application of filters, and (b) the pixel position of the pixel of interest. | 12-26-2013 |
20140016004 | Abstract Camera Pipeline for Uniform Cross-Device Control of Image Capture and Processing - A system for acquiring digital images for a device having an integrated camera includes an Application Program Interface (API). The API is adapted to receive preprocessing and other instructions from a discrete application operating on the device. The API is also adapted to process multiple image capture requests using a pipeline configuration. | 01-16-2014 |
20140022418 | IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, AND LENS UNIT - A plurality of types of interchangeable lenses having mutually different optical parameters required for identifying the optical correction values can be attached to the image capture apparatus. First, predetermined optical parameters are obtained regardless of what type of interchangeable lens is attached. Furthermore, in the case where the type of the attached interchangeable lens is a type that requires different optical parameters than the predetermined optical parameters for identifying the optical correction value, the necessary optical parameters are obtained. The optical correction value is identified based on the type of the attached interchangeable lens using the predetermined optical parameters, other optical parameters, and so on, and optical correction is then carried out. | 01-23-2014 |
20140022419 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - The present invention provides an image processing apparatus that increases an effect of noise suppression processing and allows a visually excellent image to be obtained. This image processing apparatus divides an input image into bands to generate a high frequency image that does not include a direct current component. The image processing apparatus further generates reduced images each including the direct current component and having a different resolution from an image including the direct current component, and performs noise suppression processing on the high frequency image and the reduced images. The image processing apparatus then repeats enlargement and combining of the reduced images and adds a composite image and the high frequency image to finally obtain an output image. | 01-23-2014 |
20140022420 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR CORRECTING IMAGES - An information processing apparatus includes a first acquisition unit configured to acquire a first image generated based on light passing through a lens unit, a second acquisition unit configured to acquire information corresponding to a pupil distance of the lens unit when the first image is acquired, and a correction unit configured to generate a second image, which is generated by correcting optical characteristics of the lens unit based on a position of the lens unit at the time of acquisition of the first image, wherein the correction unit corrects the first image affected by the optical characteristics based on the lens position of the lens unit based on the information corresponding to the pupil distance acquired by the second acquisition unit. | 01-23-2014 |
20140028879 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE - According to an embodiment, an image processing device includes a vertical contour extraction unit, a horizontal contour extraction unit, an edge strength judgment unit, and a dynamic adjustment unit. The edge strength judgment unit outputs an edge strength signal by judgment of strength of an edge included in a pixel block. The dynamic adjustment unit performs dynamic adjustment on a vertical contour signal and a horizontal contour signal in accordance with the edge strength signal. | 01-30-2014 |
20140028880 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, PROGRAM, AND IMAGING APPARATUS - There is provided an image processing device including a noise reduction intensity setting unit that sets an intensity of noise reduction for removing a predetermined noise component, and a noise reduction intensity correcting unit that corrects the intensity of noise reduction based on corrected data obtained according to an edge rate. | 01-30-2014 |
20140071315 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD - A determination unit determines exposure control values for a light emission shooting operation and a non-light emission shooting operation based on information acquired by an acquisition unit about a brightness of an object a preliminary light emission is performed by the light emitting device. | 03-13-2014 |
20140078347 | Systems and Methods for Reducing Noise in Video Streams - Disclosed are apparatus and methods for denoising a video stream of a camera. A current frame of the video stream and a temporally adjacent frame of the video stream that has been previously spatially and temporally denoised are obtained. The current frame is first spatially denoised, while preserving edges in such current frame to generate a plurality of spatially denoised pixels for the current frame. A particular pixel of the current frame is then both spatially and temporally denoised based on a weighted averaging of the particular pixel's associated spatially denoised pixel from the current frame and a plurality of pixels from the temporally adjacent frame that have already been spatially and temporally denoised. | 03-20-2014 |
20140078348 | Fixed Pattern Noise Reduction - A method, including receiving signals, from a rectangular array of sensor elements arranged in rows and columns, corresponding to an image captured by the array. The method also includes analyzing the signals along a row or a column to identify one or more local turning points, and processing the signals at the identified local turning points to recognize fixed pattern noise in the captured image. The method further includes correcting values of the signals from the sensor elements at the identified local turning points so as to reduce the fixed pattern noise in the image. | 03-20-2014 |
20140078349 | IMAGING SYSTEMS WITH CROSSTALK CALIBRATION PIXELS - An image sensor may include crosstalk calibration pixels. Crosstalk calibration pixels may include exposed pixels and shielded pixels. Exposed pixels may be partially or completely surrounded by shielded pixels. Calibration pixels may be formed in a checkerboard pattern of alternating shielded and exposed pixels or a double checkerboard pattern of alternating pairs of shielded and exposed pixels. Exposed pixels may have apertures of various size in a shielding layer that shields the shielded pixels from light. Signals generated by exposed and shielded pixels may be used in assessing pixel optical and electrical crosstalk and indirectly deducing the spectral composition of incoming light for particular locations in a pixel array. Information about local crosstalk across the array may be used in coordinate dependent color correction matrices, white balance algorithms, luminance and chroma noise cancellation, edge sharpening, assessment of pixel implantation depth, and measuring a modulation transfer function. | 03-20-2014 |
20140078350 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND INTERCHANGEABLE LENS - A camera includes a ferromagnetic member, which is formed of a ferromagnetic material into one of a plate shape and a film shape, and arranged between a coil and an imaging element so that a part of a flat surface is opposed to the coil. The ferromagnetic member has a thickness that is less than a skin depth, which is determined by a drive frequency of a coil, magnetic permeability of the ferromagnetic material, and electric conductivity of the ferromagnetic material. Accordingly, with the ferromagnetic member having a smaller thickness than before, an amount of arrival by which magnetic flux generated at the coil arrives at the imaging element may be reduced. | 03-20-2014 |
20140078351 | SIGNAL PROCESSING DEVICE, SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - There is provided a signal processing device which is capable of suppressing the influence of a digital data process on an analog signal process without completely stopping a digital data processing circuit. A signal, processing device includes an analog signal processing circuit, a digital data processing circuit, a determination section configured to determine an influence of the digital data processing circuit on the analog signal processing circuit, and a control section configured to stop a partial circuit of the digital data processing circuit or lower processing capability thereof in response to a determination result of the determination section. | 03-20-2014 |
20140078352 | IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device includes an illumination unit that irradiates a moving object with light A, an optical system that focuses into an image of the object, a detection unit having a light receiving plane on which the image of the object by this optical system is formed, and an analysis unit. The detection unit includes a plurality of light receiving cells d | 03-20-2014 |
20140078353 | METHOD FOR DETECTING EXISTENCE OF DUST SPOTS IN DIGITAL IMAGES BASED ON LOCALLY ADAPTIVE THRESHOLDING - A method for detecting a dust spot ( | 03-20-2014 |
20140085514 | METHODS FOR IMAGE PROCESSING OF FACE REGIONS AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES USING THE SAME - An embodiment of the invention discloses a face-slimming method applied to a series of images captured by an electronic device. The process begins to receive a current image from the series of captured images and detects at least one face landmark corresponding to a face region of the current image. The face landmark of the current image is compared with a reference landmark and a distortion mask is adjusted accordingly. And then, a size of the face region within the current image is then adjusted according to the distortion mask, where the distortion mask corresponds to positions of the face landmark. | 03-27-2014 |
20140104461 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus which corrects input image data on the basis of the image data and foreign substance information including information associated with a position and a size of a foreign substance adhering near an image sensor in an image capturing apparatus which has captured the image data includes a correction unit which corrects the image data on the basis of the image data and the foreign substance information so as to reduce an influence of a shadow of the foreign substance cast in the image data, a uniformity determination unit which determines uniformity of an image in a region surrounding the foreign substance in the image data, and a control unit which, when the uniformity determination unit determines that the uniformity is lower than a predetermined value, prevents the correction unit from correcting the image data. | 04-17-2014 |
20140104462 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging section that captures an image of a subject; a detection section that detects flicker of a through-the-lens image as a moving image of the subject which is obtained by image capturing of the imaging section; and a control section that, when the detection section detects the flicker, controls an aperture, a shutter speed, and a gain on the basis of through-the-lens image control values as control values for controlling the aperture, the shutter speed, and the gain so as to preferentially suppress occurrence of flicker in the through-the-lens image. | 04-17-2014 |
20140111671 | Systems and Methods for Imaging Using a Random Laser - Systems and methods are provided for imaging using complex lasers. In general, a complex laser may be used as an electromagnetic source for an imaging application. The use of a lower spatial coherence configured complex laser in imaging applications may advantageously mitigate coherent artifacts in imaging such as cross-talk and speckle and improve overall image quality. Imaging applications where a complex laser may be useful include both incoherent imaging applications, such as digital light projectors and traditional microscopy, and coherent imaging applications, such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) and holography. The systems and methods provided also enable controlling the degree of spatial coherence of a complex laser. | 04-24-2014 |
20140118578 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - Adaptive noise reduction processing for an image including both an edge area and a smooth area produces different noise reduction effects depending on the areas. Multiple different noise reduction processing parameters are inputted, multiple pieces of corrected image data are generated for the respective noise reduction processing parameters, and correction parameters are generated corresponding to each piece of the corrected image data. Then, the multiple pieces of the corrected image data are combined based on the generated correction parameters. | 05-01-2014 |
20140132806 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND PROGRAM - There is provided an image processing apparatus including a horizontal distortion correction processing part configured to perform a distortion correction processing in a horizontal direction on an input image depending on a synchronization signal that is supplied, a memory configured to sequentially store results of the distortion correction processing in the horizontal direction by the horizontal distortion correction processing part, and a vertical distortion correction processing part configured to, after starting the distortion correction processing in the horizontal direction by the horizontal distortion correction processing part, sequentially read out the results of the distortion correction processing in the horizontal direction from the memory with a delay of a predetermined time period less than one frame to start a distortion correction processing in a vertical direction. | 05-15-2014 |
20140139706 | IMAGE SIGNAL PROCESSOR AND MOBILE DEVICE INCLUDING IMAGE SIGNAL PROCESSOR - An image signal processor receives a Bayer image signal from an image sensor and converts the Bayer image signal into a normal image signal. The image signal processor includes a memory configured to store a table including reference brightness values and variation values according to the reference brightness values; a shot noise cancelation unit configured to calculate a reference brightness value of the Bayer image signal, select a variation value in the table of the memory according to the calculated reference brightness value, and perform shot noise cancelling on the Bayer image signal based on the selected variation value to generate a modified Bayer image signal; and an interpolation unit configured to generate the normal image signal by performing interpolation based on the modified Bayer image signal. | 05-22-2014 |
20140139707 | AUTO-FOCUS IMAGE SYSTEM - 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. | 05-22-2014 |
20140168479 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - At least either of a location and a size of a subject area that is detected from an image by a first detection unit is corrected based on information about an area corresponding to the subject area detected by the first detection unit, the area being included in an area that is detected from the image by a second detection unit and in which the subject area can be estimated. A particular subject area can be detected in an image with higher accuracy. | 06-19-2014 |
20140168480 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM RECORDING IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus includes a first pixel output variation detecting section, a second pixel output variation detecting section, and a pixel correcting section. The first pixel output variation detecting section detects a variation between pixel outputs of the phase difference detecting pixel and the imaging pixel of the same color as the phase difference detecting pixel. The second pixel output variation detecting section detects a variation in pixel output between imaging pixels positioned in vicinities of the phase difference detecting pixel and the imaging pixel used by the first pixel output variation detecting section. The pixel correcting section corrects the pixel output of each phase difference detecting pixel based on results of the first and second pixel output variation detecting sections. | 06-19-2014 |
20140168481 | IMAGE PROCESSING UNIT, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND IMAGING DEVICE - An image processing unit includes a candidate pixel group determiner to specify each pixel of an image to be processed as pixel of interest, extract pixels having divergence in position in a certain range from the pixel of interest, and determine, from the extracted pixels, pixels having divergence in pixel value in a certain range from the pixel of interest as a candidate pixel group, an associator to associate the candidate pixel group with the pixel of interest, and an image processor to perform image processing on the candidate pixel group associated with the pixel of interest. The image processor selects, from the candidate pixel group, pixels having divergence in pixel value in a certain range from the pixel of interest as a pixel group to be processed, and smoothes the pixel value of the pixel of interest in accordance with each pixel value of the candidate pixel group. | 06-19-2014 |
20140168482 | OVERLAP PATTERNS AND IMAGE STITCHING FOR MULTIPLE-DETECTOR COMPRESSIVE-SENSING CAMERA - A mechanism for reconstructing sub-images based on measurement data acquired by an imaging system including an array of light modulating elements and an array of photodetectors. Each sub-image is reconstructed based on samples from a respective photodetector and a respective set of measurement patterns defined on a respective virtual sub-region on the modulating array. Each virtual sub-region is configured to include at least the light modulating elements that are able to send a non-trivial amount of light to the respective photodetector during a pattern application period. The virtual sub-regions overlap because many light modulating elements are capable of sending light to more than one photodetector. Whenever a measurement pattern of one virtual sub-region overlaps the measurement pattern of a neighboring virtual sub-region, the two measurement patterns agree by design. Thus, the measurement patterns for the collection of virtual sub-regions combine to form a pattern on the whole modulating array. | 06-19-2014 |
20140168483 | IMAGING DEVICE AND FOCUSING CONTROL METHOD - An imaging device includes an image pick-up device including phase difference detection pixel pairs, each formed from a pair of phase difference detection pixels respectively having their openings eccentrically formed on opposite sides of a main axis of an imaging lens, and imaging pixel pairs; a reading section that reads out signals from the pixels arrayed in the image pick-up device using a rolling shutter method; a first correlation computation section that performs correlation computation on the signals from the phase difference detection pixel pairs; a second correlation computation section that performs correlation computation on the signals from the imaging pixel pairs; a correction section that corrects a result from the first correlation computation section using a result from the second correlation computation section; and a focusing section that performs focus control using the corrected result. | 06-19-2014 |
20140176768 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, NON-TRANSITORY STORAGE MEDIUM STORING IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - The image processing apparatus includes a memory configured to store information on a specific image pickup condition under which a specific blur component is generated in an input image produced by image capturing using an optical system, the specific blur component being caused by the optical system;
| 06-26-2014 |
20140176769 | OPTICAL DEVICE AND IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE AND IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM USING THE SAME - An optical device where an image of an object is formed on an image pickup element and where an image restoration process is performed on the image obtained by the image pickup element, comprising
| 06-26-2014 |
20140184857 | Automatic Low Noise Sampling of Image and Timing Signals and Signal Delay Compensation - A system is provided that measures the delay time of a first timing signal transmitted from a control unit to an imager and back to a phase detector. The phase detector also receives a second timing signal that is used as a reference to measure against the received/delayed first timing signal. Based on the phase detection, the system will retard or advance the first timing signal to compensate for the phase shift. | 07-03-2014 |
20140184858 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PHOTOGRAPHING IMAGE IN CAMERA DEVICE AND PORTABLE TERMINAL HAVING CAMERA - A method for photographing an image and a portable terminal having a camera for photographing an image are provided. The method includes buffering a burst shot image and displaying a frame image, erasing an object having a movement in the displayed image, and generating and displaying a still image by replacing the displayed image including the object having the movement, at location where the object is erased, with a buffered image. | 07-03-2014 |
20140184859 | IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device includes an imaging element, a phase plate to modulate the optical transmission function of the optical image of the object, and an optical system for focusing the optical image modulated via the optical plate on the imaging surface of the imaging element, a spatial filter processing unit for image restoration processing to remove modulation by an optical phase filter by implementing two-dimensional spatial filtering processing on the image focused on the imaging surface of the imaging element. Modulation characteristics applied to the optical system by the phase plate are respectively different in the horizontal and vertical directions crossing at right angles along the flat surface of the imaging surface perpendicular to the optical axis. | 07-03-2014 |
20140192235 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND MEDIA FOR RECONSTRUCTING A SPACE-TIME VOLUME FROM A CODED IMAGE - Systems, methods, and media for reconstructing a space-time volume from a coded image are provided. In accordance with some embodiments, systems for reconstructing a space-time volume from a coded image are provided, the systems comprising: an image sensor that outputs image data; and at least one processor that: causes a projection of the space-time volume to be captured in a single image of the image data in accordance with a coded shutter function; receives the image data; and performs a reconstruction process on the image data to provide a space-time volume corresponding to the image data. | 07-10-2014 |
20140218569 | IMAGING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - There is provided an imaging apparatus capable of reducing a margin region required for rolling shutter distortion correction processing. The imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit employing a rolling shutter method, and a correction unit configured to perform correction processing for reducing a rolling shutter distortion on image data captured by the imaging unit. The correction unit adjusts readout positions of other lines relative to a readout position of a reference line in the image data, and sets the reference line so as to reduce a deviation amount between the readout position of the reference line and the readout positions of the other lines. | 08-07-2014 |
20140218570 | Signal Simulation Apparatus and Method - The present invention relates to a method of simulating an initial component of a signal to approximate a component of a reference signal, the method characterized by the steps of:
| 08-07-2014 |
20140232908 | IMAGE PROCESSOR - Disclosed is an image processor that reduces or eliminates the effects of a flash band regardless of performing a shutter operation or not. An imaging device includes a flash band detector configured to determine whether each image of the consecutive images shown by image signals output from an imager is a flash band image a part of which is affected by a flash, and a flash band compensator configured to, if a first image is determined as the flash band image, generate a third image which is supposed where the third image is fully affected by a flash by using a second image which is not determined as the flash band image, and output the third image instead of the first image. | 08-21-2014 |
20140240555 | NOISE SUPPRESSION DEVICES AND IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUSES HAVING THE SAME - A noise elimination device includes a low pass filter unit, a noise filtering unit and a signal synthesis unit. The low pass filter unit generates a low frequency image signal by separating low frequency elements from an input image signal. The noise filtering unit generates a filtered image signal by suppressing noise in the low frequency image signal in horizontal and vertical directions. The signal synthesis unit generates an output image signal by combining the high frequency image signal and the filtered image signal. | 08-28-2014 |
20140240556 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - In a case where a weighted mean value is calculated by calculating weights according to a degree of similarity based on a target pixel, the mean value is affected by noise included in the target pixel. The mean value thereby converges at a value different from a true pixel value without noise and this appears as a remaining noise. To solve this problem, an output value of the target pixel is determined based on a correlation established among a weighted mean value of multiple reference pixels, a pixel value of the target pixel, and the true value of the target pixel. | 08-28-2014 |
20140247376 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, EXPOSURE CONTROL METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing module and a controller that controls exposure of the image capturing module by dividing a captured image by the image capturing module into a plurality of image areas, weighting brightness of a predetermined pixel in each of the image areas, and being based on the weighted brightness of the predetermined pixel in each image area. The controller performs a weighting correction process that increases weighting to the brightness of the predetermined pixel in each image area when the size of the image area after a correction process in which distortion aberration of the captured image is corrected is larger than the size of the before-corrected image area, and decreases the weighting to the brightness of the predetermined pixel in each image area when the size of the after-corrected image area is smaller than the size of the before-corrected image area. | 09-04-2014 |
20140267835 | REDUCING CROSSTALK - A method for reducing video crosstalk in a display-camera system includes capturing a first image of a local site while projecting an image of a remote site with a first intensity gain; capturing a second image of the local site while projecting the image with a second gain that is different from the first gain; capturing a first mixed image of the local site that includes the first image combined with the projected image having first gain and a second mixed image of the local site that includes the second image combined with the projected image having second gain; performing crosstalk reduction on the mixed images to create a reconstructed image of the local site, wherein performing crosstalk reduction of the mixed images includes determining whether a pixel value variation between the mixed images is affected by motion in the first and the second image of the local site. | 09-18-2014 |
20140267836 | IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS THAT CAN DISPLAY REVIEW IMAGE, IMAGE CAPTURE METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A live view image generation unit sequentially displays on a display screen a captured image that is sequentially outputted from an image capture unit as a live view image. In a case of photographing and recording being directed, a review image generation unit displays a captured image for recording outputted from the image capture unit as a first review image on a portion of a display screen in a state of displaying the live view image. A photographing result evaluation unit evaluates a photographing result based on a captured image for recording outputted from the image capture unit according to an direction for photographing and recording. The review image generation unit performs display control to make a display form of the first review image different according to the evaluation result by the photographing result evaluation unit. | 09-18-2014 |
20140267837 | CORRECTION IMAGE CREATION DEVICE, RADIOGRAPHIC IMAGING DEVICE, IMAGING DEVICE, COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM AND CORRECTION IMAGE CREATION METHOD - A correction image creation device includes: an acquisition unit that acquires at least one original image, which is a basis when creating a correction image used in offset correction with respect to an image that has been obtained by imaging; a determination unit that determines whether or not noise from the exterior is superimposed on the original image; and a cancellation unit that cancels creation of the correction image in a case in which it has been determined by the determination unit that noise from the exterior is superimposed on the original image. | 09-18-2014 |
20140285689 | IMAGING SYSTEM - An imaging system comprises: a plurality of pixels each for converting light, converted from radiation by a conversion unit, into an electrical signal; an extracting unit that extracts, based on an image formed based on output signals from the pixels, a pixel with noise generated by the radiation that has transmitted through the conversion unit to arrive at the pixels; and a correcting unit that performs correction to remove the noise with respect to an output signal from the extracted pixel, wherein the extracting unit extracts the pixel with the noise by performing division between first and second images, the first image being formed based on the output signals from the pixels in accordance with the radiation to the conversion unit during a first period, the second image being formed based on these output signals in accordance with that radiation during a second period after the first period. | 09-25-2014 |
20140285690 | IMAGE ACQUISITION METHOD - A method of acquiring images of an object arranged on a supporting surface includes providing at least one optical image acquisition apparatus of the object provided with an optical axis; in a work step of the optical apparatus an acquired image is processed to correct a possible perspective distortion of the image and at least one feature of the object is extracted from the processed image. The method further includes associating a known reference plane with the object and, in a configuration step of the optical apparatus preceding the work step, obtaining a corresponding inclination between the reference plane and the optical axis; processing the acquired image in fact comprises identifying a processing mode determined as a function of the corresponding inclination and applying this preset processing mode to correct the possible perspective distortion. | 09-25-2014 |
20140293094 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR GENERATING IMAGES COMPRISING MOTION BLUR - The invention relates to a method for processing video images comprising the steps for acquiring a plurality of video images during a time interval comprising a reference time t; associating a weighting factor with each of the video images, at least two of the video images having different weighting factors; memorising the video images; weighting each of the video images memorised with the associated weighting factor; generating an image called the reference image associated with the reference time t by averaging weighted video images. According to the invention, each video image is memorised with a resolution proportional to the weighting factor associated with said video image in order to reduce the memory space necessary for the storage of images and reduce the access time to the memorised images. | 10-02-2014 |
20140293095 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A signal processing apparatus reduces noise by generating an interpolated signal for a noise-containing period using audio signals in periods before and after the noise-containing period, and replacing an audio signal in the noise-containing period with the interpolated signal. Here, the signal processing apparatus determines whether a phoneme is the same or different between before and after the noise-containing period, and controls a method for generating the interpolated signal in accordance with a result of the determination. | 10-02-2014 |
20140293096 | Bilateral Denoising for Digital Camera Images - An apparatus comprising one or more processors configured to receive a digital image comprising a current pixel and a plurality of nearby pixels, determine a pixel intensity of the current pixel, wherein the pixel intensity comprises a noise component, and reduce the noise component by applying a bilateral filter as a combination of a domain filter and a range filter on the current pixel, wherein the domain filter is dependent on the pixel intensity and geometric closeness between the current pixel and the nearby pixels, and wherein the range filter is dependent on the pixel intensity and photometric similarity between the current pixel and the nearby pixels. | 10-02-2014 |
20140293097 | OPTICAL SYSTEM WITH SLAVED PUPIL ENCODING - In the field of optical systems comprising at least one optical objective, a photosensitive detector and an image processing unit, the optical objective comprising a pupil encoding filter, the image processing unit performing digital filtering of the images output by the photosensitive detector, a system has a processing unit comprising means arranged in such a way as to process at least one preset, the characteristics of the digital filtering applied to the image depending on this preset. The preset may come from external sensors of temperature and/or pressure or be one of the parameters of the optical objective such as the focal length value, the aperture of the iris, or the desired focal distance. The preset can also be different for different zones of the image, to better take into account the variations of the aberrations in the field of the focusing objective. | 10-02-2014 |
20140313375 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MITIGATING IMAGE SENSOR PIXEL VALUE CLIPPING - An imaging system may include image sensor pixels, converter circuitry, denoising circuitry, dark current subtraction circuitry, and storage and processing circuitry. The image sensor pixels may generate analog image signals and the converter circuitry may convert the analog image signals into digital pixel values. The denoising circuitry may generate denoised pixel values based on the digital pixel values. The dark current subtraction circuitry may subtract a dark current value from the denoised pixel values. The image sensor pixels and converter circuitry may generate pixel values in multiple color channels. The image sensor pixels may include clear color filter elements for generating clear pixel values. The storage and processing circuitry may determine different black pedestal values for each color channel and may add the black pedestal values to the pixel values from the corresponding color channel to mitigate pixel value clipping in a final image generated by the imaging system. | 10-23-2014 |
20140313376 | PROCESSING OF TIME-OF-FLIGHT SIGNALS - Described herein is a method and sensor of processing time-of-flight (TOF) signals in a TOF camera system including an illumination unit and an imaging sensor. The method comprises illuminating the scene with light at a first frequency, detecting reflected light from at least one object in the scene at the first frequency, and determining a phase measurement using I and Q values. In addition, the scene is illuminated with light at a second frequency, the second frequency being 2 | 10-23-2014 |
20140313377 | IN RELATION TO A LENS SYSTEM FOR A CAMERA - Disclosed is a lens system for removable connection to a portable programmable device which includes a camera. This lens system can be arranged in various embodiments to modify the field of view experienced by this camera, and in specific embodiments can modify the direction of this cameras field of view. The device can also be used to provide software capable of executing on a portable programmable device, in addition to providing a light pipe to redirects light used as a photographic flash in applications where it modifies the direction of view of a camera. | 10-23-2014 |
20140320704 | IMAGING APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND PROGRAM - An imaging apparatus includes a control unit. The control unit performs control to set a first mode or a second mode based on a predetermined condition. The first mode is the mode for performing an auto focus process by moving a focus lens based on the contrast in an image generated by an imaging unit. The second mode is the mode for performing an auto focus process by moving the focus lens based on the result of a matching process performed between a first image and a second image that are generated by the imaging unit with the focus lens being located in different positions. | 10-30-2014 |
20140333803 | NOISE-CANCELLING IMAGE SENSORS - An image sensor that has a plurality of pixels within a pixel array coupled to a control circuit and to one or more subtraction circuits. The control circuit causes an output transistor coupled to a pixel to provide a first reference output signal, a common reset output signal, and a first sense-node reset output signal, between which a subtraction circuit may form a weighted difference to create a noise signal. The control circuit causes the output transistor to provide a second sense-node reset output signal, a light response output signal and a second reference output signal, between which a subtraction circuit may form a weighted difference to create a normalized light response signal. The light response output signal corresponds to the image that is to be captured by the sensor. The noise signal is subtracted from the normalized light response signal to generate a de-noised signal. | 11-13-2014 |
20140333804 | DISPLAY CONTROL DEVICE - An imaging device includes a lens unit, an image sensor, a processing unit, and a display unit. The image sensor is configured to output a first data based on a subject image through the lens unit. The processing unit is configured to correct a distortion of the first data caused by an optical property of the lens unit and to output a second data. The display unit is configured to display based on the second data for each of predetermined lines in a display area. The first predetermined line is a line displayed at a first or last horizontal synchronization time. The second predetermined line is a line displayed at horizontal synchronization time other than the first or last horizontal synchronization time. The first or last horizontal synchronization time is longer than the horizontal synchronization time other than the first or last horizontal synchronization time. | 11-13-2014 |
20140347526 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - An image processing apparatus includes a decimating unit configured to decimate pixels in a target image to obtain a decimated image containing a smaller number of pixels than the target image; an extracting unit configured to extract similar pixels at each of which a similarity to a pixel of interest is a threshold or more, from a region containing the pixel of interest among pixels of the decimated image; a first calculating unit configured to calculate a correction candidate value based on pixel values of the similar pixels; a second calculating unit configured to calculate a correction candidate value for each decimated pixel, based on the correction candidate value calculated for each pixel of the decimated image; and a correcting unit configured to correct a target pixel value of a target pixel in the target image, based on the correction candidate value calculated by the first or second calculating unit. | 11-27-2014 |
20140354859 | AUTOMATIC BANDING CORRECTION IN AN IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE - Certain embodiments relate to banding detection and correction techniques to improve the quality of captured imagery, such as video or still images. In particular, this disclosure describes banding correction techniques that cycle between detection of rolling banding and static banding to determine the power line frequency of ambient light, for example 50 Hz or 60 Hz. The banding correction techniques may also compare different image frames to detect rolling banding. The banding correction techniques may compare row sum data of a plurality of image frames and apply a Fourier analysis to determine a periodic signal of static banding at a particular ambient light power line frequency. | 12-04-2014 |
20140354860 | BLUR CORRECTION APPARATUS - A blur correction apparatus includes a first fixing member, a moveable member and a second fixing member. A coil for generating a magnetic flux is arranged on the first fixing member. The movable member includes (1) a first magnet facing the coil, (2) a second magnet arranged adjacent to the first magnet, such that the first magnet is arranged between the second magnet and the coil arranged in the first fixing member, and (3) an optical element. The movable member can move in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical element relative to the first fixing member. The second fixing member includes a hall element that is arranged adjacent to the second magnet in the movable member. | 12-04-2014 |
20140362260 | PIXEL ARRAYS & IMAGING DEVICES WITH REDUCED BLOOMING, CONTROLLERS & METHODS - A pixel array includes regular pixels for imaging, and special pixel sites interspersed among the regular pixels. When the regular pixels become saturated from bright illumination, at least some of their excess charges are removed by the special pixel sites. The removal can reduce or eliminate blooming. In some embodiments, the special pixel sites include special pixels. For imaging, the regular pixels of a group such as a sub-array provide regular outputs that are combined into a composite signal. The special pixels provide a special output. The special output of the group may optionally be added to the composite signal, which can increase the dynamic range. | 12-11-2014 |
20140368700 | EXAMPLE-BASED CROSS-MODAL DENOISING - A method for cross-modal signal denoising, the method comprising using at least one hardware processor for: providing a first multi-modal signal comprising at least two relatively clear modalities; correlating features exhibited simultaneously in the at least two relatively clear modalities of the first multi-modal signal; providing a second multi-modal signal comprising at least one relatively noisy modality and at least one relatively clear modality; and denoising the at least one relatively noisy modality of the second multi-modal signal by associating between (a) features exhibited in the at least one relatively noisy modality of the second multi-modal signal and (b) the features of the first multi-modal signal. | 12-18-2014 |
20140375845 | METHODS FOR LENS CALIBRATION AND IMAGE RESTORATION - In one example embodiment, a lens calibration method includes generating a distorted image by distorting a pattern image that includes at least two reference points separated from a center of the pattern image by different distances. The method further includes generating lens calibration data by comparing the pattern image with the distorted image. | 12-25-2014 |
20140375846 | IMAGE CORRECTION APPARATUS AND IMAGING APPARATUS - An image correction apparatus includes a difference computing unit which computes an absolute difference value between corresponding pixels in a first and a second image, a combining ratio computing unit which computes a combining ratio of the second image to the first image so that the combining ratio decreases as the absolute difference value of each pixel contained in a filter region defined around an attention pixel on the first image increases, and a combining unit which produces a corrected image by combining the value of the attention pixel in the first image with the value of the corresponding pixel in the second image in accordance with the combining ratio computed for the attention pixel and by taking the combined value as the value of the corresponding pixel in the corrected image. | 12-25-2014 |
20140375847 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, IMAGE CAPTURING SYSTEM, AND IMAGE CAPTURING METHOD - An image capturing apparatus includes: an optical system that provides an aberration to incident light; an image capturing unit that transforms the light passing through the optical system into pixels to capture an image; and an inverse transform unit that performs inverse transform processing on the image captured by the image capturing unit in a predetermined range on an optical axis of the optical system using an inverse transform filter that causes frequency characteristics of pixels in an output image in two or more of defocus positions within the predetermined range to include at least one frequency characteristic with a larger value and at least one frequency characteristic with a smaller value with respect to frequency characteristic of pixels in an ideal image of a subject. | 12-25-2014 |
20140375848 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - An apparatus and a method capable of effectively eliminating flicker are provided. Flicker which occurs in a captured image captured under a lighting environment such as a fluorescent light having a luminance change is effectively eliminated or reduced. A short exposure image and a long exposure image, which are images captured with at least two different exposure periods, are input, a short exposure image row profile having integrated values of a row-by-row signal quantity of the short exposure image and a reference profile having integrated values of a row-by-row signal quantity of the long exposure image are generated, a flicker correction waveform is generated by a division process on the short exposure image row profile by the reference profile or the like, and a corrected image is generated whose flicker components have been eliminated by a process of multiplying pixel values of each of the rows of the short exposure image by a row-by-row coefficient defined by the flicker correction waveform. | 12-25-2014 |
20150015747 | ANTI-BLOOMING SHUTTER CONTROL IN IMAGE SENSORS - An image sensor includes a line driver, which further includes a transfer pulse generating circuit. The transfer pulse generating circuit is configured to determine an integration status of a first group of pixels, and to selectively apply the anti-blooming shutter to the first group of pixels based on the determined integration status of the first group of pixels. | 01-15-2015 |
20150022698 | REMOVING UNWANTED OBJECTS FROM PHOTOGRAPHED IMAGE - A device and method for processing an image in a device having a camera is disclosed. A motion vector of an unwanted object in preview frames of the desired image is identified. A photographing interval in accordance with the motion vector may be set. Continuous frames of the desired image may be photographed in accordance with the photographing interval. The unwanted object is removed from the desired image. | 01-22-2015 |
20150042847 | IMAGING DEVICE AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An imaging device includes an image sensor to convert an optical image of a subject into an electric signal, an image processor to generate an image according to the electric signal, an image synthesizer to synthesize, pixel-by-pixel, images generated by the image processor in a same composition under a same condition, a digital clamp processor to perform a digital clamp to remove an offset component from a synthesized image obtained by the image synthesizer, and a digital clamp controller to control a digital clamp amount of the digital clamp processor on the basis of a number of images synthesized by the image synthesizer. | 02-12-2015 |
20150049221 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRE-PROCESSING VIDEO FRAMES - A video device continuously monitors the current frame rate and the speed of its processor to determine how much pre-processing the device can carry out on each individual frame. Based on this knowledge, the device continuously adjusts the pre-processing methodology in order to ensure that processing is completed before the next frame is likely to arrive. The device may carry out these adjustments on raw video frames received from the video capture unit (e.g., the camera of a smartphone). | 02-19-2015 |
20150054990 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND METHOD, AND IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - An NR coefficient (Kf) is calculated on the basis of a representative value (Pm) of a pixel of interest and a low-pass filtered value (La-Ld) nearest to the representative value (Pm) of the pixel of interest among a plurality of low-pass filtered values filtered one-dimensionally in different directions in an input image, and the pixel value of the pixel of interest and a value output by a two-dimensional low-pass filter ( | 02-26-2015 |
20150062386 | IMAGING DEVICE AND SIGNAL CORRECTING METHOD - A digital signal processing unit | 03-05-2015 |
20150077595 | SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - A signal processing apparatus may comprise: a pixel array where a plurality of pixels for storing data values are arranged; and a noise removing unit suitable for reflecting a data value of an adjacent pixel that is adjacent to a selected pixel, and a gain value depending on a data value of the selected pixel, on the data value of the selected pixel, and outputting the reflected data value of the selected pixel. | 03-19-2015 |
20150077596 | DEPTH INFORMATION BASED OPTICAL DISTORTION CORRECTION CIRCUIT AND METHOD - Provided are a depth information based optical distortion correction (ODC) circuit and method. The ODC circuit includes a depth acquisition unit acquiring a depth of an image, a grid generation unit dynamically generating a correction grid corresponding to the depth of the image using depth information of the image and a projection matrix, and a distortion correction unit correcting optical distortion in the image using the correction grid. The corrected image can then be stored, transmitted, or otherwise output. The image can be a single static image or photograph or a frame in a video recording. | 03-19-2015 |
20150092086 | CMOS IMAGE SENSOR SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - A complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor system and method thereof produce a control signal to make a input terminal repeatedly switch between high potential and low potential, thereby modulating image signals at a specific frequency to prevent image quality from being affected by direct current (DC) voltage variations. The mechanism thus helps improving the image quality. | 04-02-2015 |
20150092087 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided an image processing apparatus including a detection unit, a strength determination unit, and a processor. The detection unit is configured to detect at least one area in an image. The strength determination unit is configured to determine strength of processing for a unit of processing of the image, based on a distance between a location of the area being detected by the detection unit and a location of the unit of processing of the image. The processor is configured to perform the processing on the image, per the unit of processing, at the strength being determined by the strength determination unit. | 04-02-2015 |
20150092088 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY STORAGE MEDIUM STORING AN IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus includes a gain correcting unit and a gain estimating unit. The gain correcting unit corrects a gain of a pixel output of a phase-difference detecting pixel. The gain estimating unit estimates the gain with which to correct the pixel output of the phase-difference detecting pixel. The gain estimating unit includes a provisional true-value calculating unit configured to calculate a pixel output of a provisional true-value calculating pixel, in accordance with a correlation of the pixel outputs between a base block including the phase-difference detecting pixel and a reference block set in a search area for which a block similar to the base block is searched. | 04-02-2015 |
20150097990 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE CAPTURING SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND MEDIUM - The present invention provides an image capturing apparatus capable of capturing an image with a desired perceived noise without requiring time and effort of a user. The present invention is an image capturing apparatus including a target noise amount specifying unit configured to acquire a target noise amount as a noise amount that is targeted and an image capturing parameter determination unit configured to determine image capturing conditions based on the target noise amount, wherein the image capturing conditions are specified by one or more image capturing parameters. | 04-09-2015 |
20150097991 | RANGING APPARATUS, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND RANGING METHOD - A ranging apparatus includes: an output ratio data calculation unit for calculating an output ratio data of first and second image data; a correction function calculation unit for calculating a correction function approximating the output ratio data by an N-order function (N is an integer equal to or greater than 1) having a pixel position as a variable; a correction unit for correcting at least one of the first and second image data on the basis of the correction function; and a ranging unit for calculating the defocus amount by using the picture image data corrected by the correction unit. | 04-09-2015 |
20150097992 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus is designed to process pixel outputs of an imaging element including imaging pixels and phase-difference detecting pixels. The apparatus includes a pixel mixing unit and an image processing unit. The pixel mixing unit mixes the pixel outputs. The image processing unit corrects the pixel outputs to prevent the phase-difference detecting pixels from degrading image quality, by using at least one of information selected from a group consisting of the number of mixed pixel outputs of phase-difference detecting pixels having the same opening direction and the number of mixed pixel outputs of imaging pixels having the same opening direction. | 04-09-2015 |
20150097993 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An image processor includes a correction signal generator configured to generate a correction signal by calculating a difference between an image and an image obtained by applying an unsharp mask generated based on a PSF corresponding to an image-pickup conditions of an image-pickup optical system to the image, and a correction signal applier configured to sharpen the image by multiplying the correction signal generated by the generator by a constant and by adding a multiplied correction signal to the image. | 04-09-2015 |
20150109486 | FILTERING EXTRANEOUS IMAGE DATA IN CAMERA SYSTEMS - In one embodiment of the present invention a camera system includes a frame screener that configures an image signal processor (ISP) to ignore pixel data that does not contribute to image quality. For each image frame, the frame screener processes packets of pixel data. If the pixel data included in a particular packet is associated with an overflow state, then the frame screener determines whether the image frame should be discarded based on the number of processed pixels associated with the image frame and a minimum pixel threshold. If the frame screener determines that the image frame should be discarded, then the frame screener configures the ISP to bypass any memory and computational operations associated with the packet of pixel data. Advantageously, because the ISP disregards extraneous pixel data, the ISP may perform fewer operations and consume less power than an ISP included in a conventional camera system. | 04-23-2015 |
20150109487 | IMAGE CORRECTION METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSON - Disclosed are an image correction method and apparatus for a visually impaired person, which are capable of dividing, enlarging, and photographing a subject to be photographed, correcting images photographed in a divided state, and providing one image. The image correction method includes: a dividing process of dividing a subject to be photographed into at least two zones; an individual photographing process of, by an image photographing unit, photographing each of the divided zones along an arbitrarily set course; an image correcting process of correcting skewness of an image of each of the photographed zones; and an image synthesizing process of synthesizing the corrected images into one image. Thus, the image is divided, enlarged, and photographed, and the photographed images are generated into one image. Thereby, a high-resolution image is provided along with a high character recognition rate and a still image is provided with a high resolution. | 04-23-2015 |
20150109488 | Frame Manipulation to Reduce Rolling Shutter Artifacts - An image sensor of a camera system captures an image over an image capture interval of time, and waits a blanking interval of time before capturing an additional image. The captured image is provided to a frame controller, and is buffered until an image signal processor accesses the captured image. The image signal processor processes the accessed image over an image processing interval of time, producing a processed image. The image processing interval of time is selected to be greater than the image capture interval of time, but less than the sum of the image capture interval of time and the blanking interval of time. By reducing the image capture interval of time but maintaining an image processing interval of time, rolling shutter artifacts are beneficially reduced without increasing the processing resources or power required by the image signal processor to process the image. | 04-23-2015 |
20150109489 | COMPUTATIONAL IMAGING USING VARIABLE OPTICAL TRANSFER FUNCTION - In selected embodiments, improved image restoration is realized using extensions of Wiener filtering combined with multiple image captures acquired after simple, fast reconfigurations of an optical imaging system. These reconfigurations may yield distinct OTF responses for each capture. The optical imaging system may reduce fabrication cost, power consumption, and/or system weight/volume by correcting significant optical aberrations. The system may be configured to perform independent correction of fields within the total field-of-regard. The system may also be configured to perform independent correction of different spectral bands. | 04-23-2015 |
20150116548 | MAXIMIZING PERCEPTUAL QUALITY AND NATURALNESS OF CAPTURED IMAGES - A method, system and computer program product for improving the perceptual quality and naturalness of an image captured by an image acquisition device (e.g., digital camera). Statistical features of a scene being imaged by the image acquisition device are derived from models of natural images. These statistical features are measured and mapped onto the control parameters (e.g., exposure, ISO) of the digital acquisition device. By mapping these statistical features onto the control parameters, the perceptual quality and naturalness of the scene being imaged may be based on the values of these control parameters. As a result, these control parameters are modified to maximize the perceptual quality and naturalness of the scene being imaged. After modification of these control parameters, the image is captured by the image acquisition device. In this manner, the perceptual quality and naturalness of the image captured by the image acquisition device is improved. | 04-30-2015 |
20150116549 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An image processing apparatus acquires an evaluation value concerning noise for each region of an image frame corresponding to the image data, and controls image processing of each region of the image frame corresponding to image data in accordance with the evaluation value. | 04-30-2015 |
20150116550 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO CORRECT BLUR IN ALL OR PART OF A DIGITAL IMAGE BY COMBINING PLURALITY OF IMAGES - A method and apparatus for use in a digital imaging device for correcting image blur in digital images by combining plurality of images. The plurality of images that are combined include a main subject that can be selected by user input or automatically by the digital imaging device. Blur correction can be performed to make the main subject blur-free while the rest of the image is blurred. All of the image may be made blur-free or the main subject can be made blur-free at the expense of the rest of the image. Result is a blur corrected image that is recorded in a memory. | 04-30-2015 |
20150116551 | PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS, PHOTOGRAPHING METHOD AND RECORDING MEDIUM ON WHICH PHOTOGRAPHING/DISPLAY PROGRAM IS RECORDED - A photographing apparatus includes: a reference contrast judging section acquiring, for each of parts of a first picked-up image obtained by an image pickup section performing image pickup at a first timing, a reference contrast; a recorded-image contrast judging section determining a contrast of each of parts of a second picked-up image obtained by the image pickup section performing image pickup for recording at a second timing later than the first timing; a focus judging section judging, for each of the parts, a state of focus of the second picked-up image by comparing the reference contrast and the contrast determined by the recorded-image contrast judging section; and a display control section displaying a judgment result together with the second picked-up image on a display section. | 04-30-2015 |
20150130971 | SIGNAL PROCESSING DEVICE AND METHOD, IMAGING ELEMENT, AND IMAGING DEVICE - A signal processing device and signal processing method are described herein. By way of example, the signal processing method includes a selection unit configured to select, based on a first comparison of an analog signal with a determination voltage, a selected reference voltage to be compared with the analog signal, the selected reference voltage being selected from a plurality of reference voltages. The plurality of reference voltages include at least a first reference voltage and a second reference voltage. | 05-14-2015 |
20150138403 | MULTI-WINDOW IMAGE PROCESSING AND MOTION COMPENSATION - An image processing system receives a sequence of frames including a current input frame and a next input frame (the next input frame is captured subsequent in time with respect to capturing of the current input frame). The image processing system stores a previously outputted output frame. The previously outputted output frame is derived from previously processed input frames in the sequence. The image processing modifies the current input frame based on detected first motion and second motion. The first motion is detected based on an analysis of the current input frame with respect to the next input frame. The second motion is detected based on an analysis of the current input frame with respect to the previously outputted output frame. According to one configuration, the image processing system implements multi-sized analyzer windows to more precisely detect the first motion and second motion. | 05-21-2015 |
20150138404 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - An image capturing apparatus including a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix and a signal processing unit configured to process signals read out from the pixels. In a first mode, a charge accumulation is controlled by an electronic shutter. In a second mode, the charge accumulation is controlled by a mechanical shutter. The signal processing unit corrects image data obtained from the plurality of pixels based on a signal obtained by the charge accumulation in the second mode. | 05-21-2015 |
20150146046 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, DIGITAL CAMERA, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, a solid-state imaging device includes an image sensor and a resolution reconstruction circuit. The image sensor captures an object image. The resolution reconstruction circuit performs a resolution reconstruction process on the object image. The resolution reconstruction circuit performs a filtering process as the resolution reconstruction process. A filter has a filter property of reducing a modulation transfer function relative to an ideal modulation transfer function in a frequency range of a frequency higher than a frequency set in advance. | 05-28-2015 |
20150146047 | IMAGE PROJECTION APPARATUS, IMAGE PROJECTION METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An image projection apparatus includes a projection unit that projects a pattern image on a projection surface; an image capturing unit that captures the projected pattern image; and a corrector that corrects the captured image so that an imaging distortion caused due to image capturing and a projection distortion caused due to projection are corrected. The projection unit projects the corrected captured image at a predetermined position on the projection surface. | 05-28-2015 |
20150146048 | RADIAL DISTORTION PARAMETER ACQUIRING METHOD AND APPARATUS - Embodiments of the present invention disclose a radial distortion parameter acquiring method and apparatus. The method includes: randomly selecting a plane as a first plane; making an optical axis of a digital image capture device perpendicular to the first plane, and photographing the first plane to obtain a distorted image of the first plane; acquiring n arcs from the distorted image; and obtaining, by calculation, a radial distortion parameter of the digital image capture device according to the arcs. The apparatus includes: a selecting unit, a photographing unit, an acquiring unit, and a calculating unit. By applying the embodiments of the present invention, only one distorted image needs to be photographed to acquire a radial distortion parameter of a digital image capture device, and the distorted image can be acquired depending on a natural environment. | 05-28-2015 |
20150296138 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element which obtains an original image, a storage unit which stores a first optical transfer function different depending on an image pickup condition and on a position in the original image and an image restoration filter or a function designed to generate a second optical transfer function, a data obtaining unit which obtains the first optical transfer function when the aperture value is less than a predetermined value, and the image restoration filter or the second optical transfer function generated based on the function designed to generate the second optical transfer function when the aperture value is not less than the predetermined value, a filter generating unit which generates an image restoration filter based on the first or second optical transfer function, and an image processing unit which generates the restored image by using the image restoration filter. | 10-15-2015 |
20150296152 | SENSOR DATA FILTERING - Filtering sensor data is described, for example, where filters conditioned on a local appearance of the signal are predicted by a machine learning system, and used to filter the sensor data. In various examples the sensor data is a stream of noisy video image data and the filtering process denoises the video stream. In various examples the sensor data is a depth image and the filtering process refines the depth image which may then be used for gesture recognition or other purposes. In various examples the sensor data is one dimensional measurement data from an electric motor and the filtering process denoises the measurements. In examples the machine learning system comprises a random decision forest where trees of the forest store filters at their leaves. In examples, the random decision forest is trained using a training objective with a data dependent regularization term. | 10-15-2015 |
20150312495 | Wavelet denoising of fringe image - Disclosed is an image de-noising processing method which is particularly suited to X-ray Talbot images. The method captures a fringe pattern from an energy source, the captured fringe pattern having a carrier frequency component dependent on settings of the energy source. Wavelet coefficients are obtained for the captured fringe pattern by applying a wavelet transform to the captured fringe pattern. The method establishes a wavelet coefficients mapping function having a rate of change that varies depending at least on the carrier frequency component of the captured fringe pattern, and transforms the obtained wavelet coefficients using the established wavelet coefficients mapping function. The captured fringe pattern is then processed by applying inverse wavelet transform to the transformed wavelet coefficients to form a denoised fringe pattern. | 10-29-2015 |
20150317776 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE - An image processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention obtains recovery image data by performing restoration processing using a restoration filter based on a point spread function of an optical system, on original image data obtained from an imaging element by imaging using the optical system. The restoration filter used in this restoration processing (a combination filter and realization filter Fr) is generated by combining multiple base filters Fb. Base filter Fb may be arbitrarily selected from filters that are confirmed beforehand to be effective to prevent image quality degradation. | 11-05-2015 |
20150319373 | METHOD AND DEVICE TO COMPOSE AN IMAGE BY ELIMINATING ONE OR MORE MOVING OBJECTS - A method and a device to compose an image by eliminating one or more moving objects in a scene being captured are provided. The method includes capturing plurality of images, generating a background image with a plurality of stationary objects after aligning the plurality of captured images, selecting a base image from a plurality of the aligned images, wherein the base image is selected based on a highest similarity measure with the background image, identifying the at least one moving object in the base image, and eliminating said identified at least one moving object in the base image to compose said image. | 11-05-2015 |
20150323761 | SMALL FORM FACTOR HIGH-RESOLUTION CAMERA - A camera including a spherically curved photosensor and a lens system. Effective focal length f of the lens system is within about 20% of the radius of curvature of the photosensor. An image is formed by the lens system at a spherically curved image plane that substantially matches the concave surface of the photosensor. The camera is diffraction-limited with small spot size, allowing small pixels to be used in the photosensor. F/number may be 1.8 or less. The spherically curved image plane formed by the lens system at the photosensor follows f*θ image height law. Chief rays of the lens system are substantially normal to the concave surface of the photosensor. Total axial length of the camera may be 2.0 mm or less. The camera may be implemented in a small package size while still capturing sharp, high-resolution images, making the camera suitable for use in small devices. | 11-12-2015 |
20150326758 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An information processing apparatus having first and second cases ( | 11-12-2015 |
20150326781 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An information processing apparatus and an information processing method in which each piece of data included in light field data including a plurality of pieces of data indicating an incidence position, an incidence direction, and an intensity of a ray incident on an imaging apparatus from an object is projected based on a plurality of pieces of data corresponding to an object that is the same as the object corresponding to the data in a light field space defined by the incidence position and the incidence direction of the ray. Thus, light field data with an amount of information increased in a predetermined space in the light field space. | 11-12-2015 |
20150326801 | RECTIFICATION TECHNIQUES FOR HETEROGENEOUS CAMERA ARRAYS - Rectification techniques for heterogeneous camera arrays are described. In one embodiment, for example, an apparatus may comprise logic, at least a portion of which is in hardware, the logic to receive a captured image array captured by a heterogeneous camera array, select a rectification process for application to the captured image array, identify a set of rectification maps for the selected rectification process, and apply the identified set of rectification maps to the captured image array to obtain a rectified image array. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 11-12-2015 |
20150334319 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING IMAGE - An image processing apparatus includes a memory unit configured to store original image data, a read unit configured to read, from the memory unit, image data of a rectangular area that is part of the original image data, to set pixel values to a flanking area that is added to the rectangular area in a surrounding space thereof, and to output extended image data inclusive of the image data of the rectangular area and image data of the flanking area to which the pixel values are set, and a first filtering process unit configured to apply a filtering process to the extended image data. | 11-19-2015 |
20150341529 | RADIOMETRIC CALIBRATION FROM NOISE DISTRIBUTIONS - Technologies that enable correcting for the non-linear relationship between scene irradiance and digital pixel intensity values of an image of the scene produced by a camera. Imaging noise is used as a signal from which a corrective function is derived. Noise distributions from the image are evaluated to determine the radiometric response function of the camera, from which an inverse response function is computed and used for calibration. | 11-26-2015 |
20150348240 | METHOD FOR REDUCING ROW AND COLUMN NOISE IN IMAGING SYSTEMS - A method for the reduction of noise in an image including identifying neighboring pixel values in pixels proximate to a subject pixel; comparing the neighboring pixel values to a preset tolerance range; using neighboring pixel values within the tolerance range to calculate a pixel intensity correction value; and applying the pixel intensity value to the subject pixel. | 12-03-2015 |
20150348242 | Scene Motion Correction In Fused Image Systems - Techniques to capture and fuse short- and long-exposure images of a scene from a stabilized image capture device are disclosed. More particularly, the disclosed techniques use not only individual pixel differences between co-captured short- and long-exposure images, but also the spatial structure of occluded regions in the long-exposure images (e.g., areas of the long-exposure image(s) exhibiting blur due to scene object motion). A novel device used to represent this feature of the long-exposure image is a “spatial difference map.” Spatial difference maps may be used to identify pixels in the short- and long-exposure images for fusion and, in one embodiment, may be used to identify pixels from the short-exposure image(s) to filter post-fusion so as to reduce visual discontinuities in the output image. | 12-03-2015 |
20150350573 | IMAGE ACQUISITION DEVICE, AND IMAGING DEVICE - An image acquisition system | 12-03-2015 |
20150363920 | METHOD, ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM FOR PROCESSING REFLECTION IN IMAGE - A method, an electronic apparatus, and a computer readable medium for processing reflection in an image are proposed. In the method, a first image and a second image are obtained. A plurality of objects in the first image and the second image are recognized and a plurality of lighting regions having a brightness higher than a first threshold in the first image and the second image are detected. Then, a plurality of displacements between corresponding objects and corresponding lighting regions in the first image and the second image are calculated. It is determined whether a ratio of the displacement of the object nearby one of the lighting regions to the displacement of the lighting region is over a second threshold. Finally, the lighting region is determined as a reflection if the ratio is over the second threshold. | 12-17-2015 |
20150363921 | LENS DISTORTION CORRECTION DEVICE AND APPLICATION PROCESSOR HAVING THE SAME - A lens distortion correction device and an application processor having the same include a distortion correction unit configured to correct a distorted image into an undistorted image and an image enhancement unit configured to improve the undistorted image using a high-frequency component of the distorted image. | 12-17-2015 |
20150373235 | DE-NOISING METHOD AND IMAGE SYSTEM - A decryption engine includes an update circuit, a key generator, a decryption circuit and a detection circuit. The update circuit generates a first updating information based on a premise of that a currently received frame is encrypted, and generates a second updating information based on a premise of that the currently received frame is non-encrypted. The key generator produces a first key according to the first updating information, and produces a second key according to the second updating information. The decryption circuit generates a first decrypted frame according to the first key and the currently received frame, and generates a second decrypted frame according to the second key and the currently received frame. The detection circuit detects whether the currently received frame is decrypted according to the first decrypted frame and the second decrypted frame, to generate an encryption detection result. | 12-24-2015 |
20150373248 | Intelligent Auto-Exposure Bracketing - Techniques to adaptively select bracket settings during auto-exposure bracket (AEB) operations are described. In general, AEB settings for a current image may be based on the evaluation of prior bracketed images. For example, the current exposure setting established by an auto-exposure mechanism (EV0) may be compared with a prior EV0 image. If the two are consistent, the prior image's lower and upper f-stop setting images (EV− and EV+) may be used to adaptively change the bracket settings for the current image's EV− and EV+ images. In another implementation, the most recently obtained EV− and EV+ images may be used to adaptively change the bracket settings for the current image—no prior capture being necessary. | 12-24-2015 |
20150381878 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - According to one embodiment, an image processing device includes an imaging element, a lens and an image processor. Light passes through the lens toward the imaging element. A relative position of the imaging element and the lens is changeable. The image processor acquires a first image and a second image. The image processor derives a first stored image by adding at least a portion of the second image to the first image. The first image is captured by the imaging element when the relative position is in a first range. The second image is captured by the imaging element when the relative position is in a second range different from the first range. | 12-31-2015 |
20150381890 | FLASH COLLISION DETECTION, COMPENSATION, AND PREVENTION - Certain aspects relate to systems and techniques for flash collision detection, compensation, and prevention. For example, the flash of another camera or other sudden increases in ambient lighting of an image scene can introduce unwanted quality degradations into captured images, for example over-exposure of part or all of the captured image. Flash collision can be detected through a row sum calculation and comparison process in some examples. In some examples, flash collision can be compensated for by analysis of row sum data from a number of preview frames. In other examples, flash collision can be mitigated or prevented through use of a flash traffic control protocol. | 12-31-2015 |
20150381911 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIGITAL CORRELATED DOUBLE SAMPLING IN AN IMAGE SENSOR - A system for performing digital correlated double sampling in an image sensor includes a memory for storing most significant bits of the digital image data and reset data produced by an analog-to-digital convertor. The system further includes least significant bit latches for each of the digital image data and reset data. The most significant bits are recombined with the least significant bits in respective recombined latches for each of the digital image data and reset data. A correlated double sampling stage then performs correlated double sampling and stores the correlated double sampled data in memory. | 12-31-2015 |
20160005151 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element which obtains an original image, a storage unit which stores a first optical transfer function different depending on an image pickup condition and on a position in the original image and an image restoration filter or a function designed to generate a second optical transfer function, a data obtaining unit which obtains the first optical transfer function when the aperture value is less than a predetermined value, and the image restoration filter or the second optical transfer function generated based on the function designed to generate the second optical transfer function when the aperture value is not less than the predetermined value, a filter generating unit which generates an image restoration filter based on the first or second optical transfer function, and an image processing unit which generates the restored image by using the image restoration filter. | 01-07-2016 |
20160006905 | IMAGE SENSOR, IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, AND CONTROL METHOD OF IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - An image sensor comprises: a pixel array having image forming pixels and phase-difference detecting pixels; and an outputting unit configured to add correction processing information, and position information of the phase-difference detecting pixels to image data obtained from the pixel array and to output the image data. | 01-07-2016 |
20160028978 | IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging apparatus includes a pixel unit and an analog-to-digital (AD) converter unit which are divided into a first cluster and a second cluster. The first cluster includes a plurality of pixel columns including a first pixel column, and a plurality of AD converters corresponding to the respective pixel columns. The second cluster includes a plurality of pixel columns, a plurality of AD converters corresponding to the respective pixel columns, and an additional AD converter. The pixels of the first pixel column are coupled with both the AD converter and the additional AD converter. | 01-28-2016 |
20160028981 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME - An image processing device includes a switch signal generator, an amplifier, a ramp generator, and an attenuation control circuit. The switch signal generator generates switch control signals based on a level of an image signal that corresponds to a pixel signal output from a pixel. The amplifier includes a first input terminal and a second input terminal. The ramp generator generates a ramp signal. The attenuation control circuit adjusts an arrangement of capacitors according to the switch control signals to control whether to attenuate each of the pixel signal and the ramp signal, and transmits signals generated as a result of the adjusted arrangement to the first input terminal and the second input terminal. | 01-28-2016 |
20160035779 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING SYSTEM - Provided is an imaging apparatus includes: a substrate; a photoelectric conversion unit configured to generate a signal charge by photoelectric conversion; a contact wiring of a conductor electrically connected to the photoelectric conversion unit; a transistor including a control electrode, a first main electrode electrically connected to the contact wiring, and a second main electrode; a charge accumulating unit provided in the substrate and electrically connected to the second main electrode of the transistor; and a first switching unit configured to switch connection and disconnection between the control electrode and the first main electrode of the transistor. | 02-04-2016 |
20160037024 | LIQUID CRYSTAL LENS IMAGING METHOD AND APPARATUS - The present invention provides a liquid crystal lens imaging apparatus and method. Wherein, the imaging apparatus comprises a lens group including at least a liquid crystal lens, a drive circuit, an image collecting unit and an image processing unit. The drive circuit is connected to the liquid crystal lens to drive the liquid crystal lens respectively into an in-focus state or into an out-of-focus state. The image collecting unit is configured to collect light signal passing through the liquid crystal lens to generate an image. When the liquid crystal lens is in the in-focus state, the image collecting unit generates an in-focus image of the light signal and, when the liquid crystal lens is in the out-of-focus state, the image collecting unit generates an out-of-focus image of the light signal as a reference image. Further, the image processing unit is connected to the image collecting unit to receive both the in-focus image and the reference image, to process the in-focus image using the reference image to generate a processed image, and to deconvolute the processed image to generate a final image. | 02-04-2016 |
20160037058 | PROVIDING FRAME DELAY USING A TEMPORAL FILTER - A temporal filter in an image processing pipeline may insert a frame delay when filtering an image frame. A given pixel of a current image frame may be received and a filtered version of the given pixel may be generated, blending the given pixel and a corresponding pixel of a reference image frame to store as part of a filtered version of the current image frame. If a frame delay setting is enabled, the corresponding pixel of the reference image frame may be provided as output for subsequent image processing inserting a frame delay for the current image frame. During the frame delay programming instructions may be received and image processing pipeline components may be configured according to the programming instructions. If the frame delay setting is disabled, then the filtered version of the given pixel may be provided as output for subsequent image processing. | 02-04-2016 |
20160037059 | TEMPORAL FILTERING FOR IMAGE DATA USING SPATIAL FILTERING AND NOISE HISTORY - A temporal filter in an image processing pipeline may perform filtering using spatial filtering and noise history. A given pixel of a current image frame may be received for filtering at a temporal filter. A filtering weight may be determined for blending the given pixel with a corresponding pixel of a reference image frame that was previously filtered at the temporal filter. The filtering weight may be determined based on neighboring pixels of the given pixel in the current image frame and corresponding pixels in the reference image frame. The filtering weight may be adjusted according to a quality score indicating noise history for the corresponding pixel in the reference image frame. Based on the filtering weight, a filtered version of the given pixel may be generated, blending the given pixel and the corresponding pixel to store as part of a filtered version of the current image frame. | 02-04-2016 |
20160037060 | GENERATING A HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE IMAGE USING A TEMPORAL FILTER - A temporal filter in an image processing pipeline may be configured to generate a high dynamic range (HDR) image. Image frames captured to generate an HDR image frame be blended together at a temporal filter. An image frame that is part of a group of image frames capture to generate the HDR image may be received for filtering at the temporal filter module. A reference image frame, which may be a previously filtered image frame or an unfiltered image frame may be obtained. A filtered version of the image frame may then be generated according to an HDR blending scheme that blends the reference image frame with the image frame. If the image frame is the last image frame of the group of image frames to be filtered, then the filtered version of the image frame may be provided as the HDR image frame. | 02-04-2016 |
20160037061 | DYNAMIC MOTION ESTIMATION AND COMPENSATION FOR TEMPORAL FILTERING - A temporal filter may perform dynamic motion estimation and compensation for filtering an image frame. A row of pixels in an image frame received for processing at the temporal filter may be received. A motion estimate may be dynamically determined that registers a previously filtered reference image frame with respect to the row of pixels in the image frame. The reference image frame may be aligned according to the determined motion estimate, and pixels in the row of the image frame may be blended with corresponding pixels in the aligned reference image frame to generate a filtered version of the image frame. Motion statistics may be collected for subsequent processing based on the motion estimation and alignment for the row of pixels in the image frame. | 02-04-2016 |
20160037062 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus includes an acquisition unit configured to acquire a plurality of divided filters being configured such that a calculation result becomes a target filter to be applied to an input image, a filter processing unit configured to apply the plurality of divided filters to the input image to generate intermediate images for the plurality of respective divided filters, and an addition unit configured to add the intermediate images generated for the plurality of respective divided filters while shifting positions of the respective intermediate images so that positions of focused pixels of the plurality of respective divided filters align with a position of a focused pixel of the target filter to generate an output image, wherein the filter processing unit generates the intermediate images while changing an area to be used for performing calculation, for each of the plurality of divided filters. | 02-04-2016 |
20160037095 | ACTIVE PIXEL SENSOR DEVICE AND OPERATING METHOD OF THE SAME - An active pixel sensor device and the method thereof include an active pixel sensing array and a synchronous reading circuit. The active pixel sensing array is formed by a plurality of sensing pixels disposed in a form of an array. Each sensing pixel has a power terminal. The synchronous reading circuit connects to the power terminals of all sensing pixels, detects a summation of currents flowing through all sensing pixels, converts the summation of currents to an output signal, and outputs the output signal that represents the optical sensing information. In addition to reading each sensing pixel, the active pixel sensor device further controls the synchronous reading circuit to read the output signal corresponding to the summation of currents of all sensing pixels. The active pixel sensor device using the same active pixel sensing array can be applied to large-area sensing. | 02-04-2016 |
20160037096 | IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An image processing method includes the steps of acquiring a first image shot by using a compound eye image pickup apparatus, acquiring image capturing condition information of the first image, acquiring, depending on the image capturing condition information, optical characteristic information of a plurality of optical systems having a plurality of focal lengths different from each other in the compound eye image pickup apparatus, correcting a deterioration of the first image caused by shooting the first image based on the optical characteristic information, and generating a second image based on information of a position and an angle of a ray obtained from the first image whose deterioration is corrected, and the optical characteristic information contains at least one of information related to aberrations and information related to peripheral illumination of the optical systems. | 02-04-2016 |
20160037097 | Array Camera Architecture Implementing Quantum Film Image Sensors - Array cameras incorporating quantum film imagers are disclosed. One embodiment includes: a plurality of focal planes, where each focal plane comprises a plurality of rows of pixels that also form a plurality of columns of pixels and each focal plane is contained within a region of the imager array that does not contain pixels from another focal plane; at least one quantum film located on the surface of the imager array, where each quantum film comprises a plurality of quantum dots; control circuitry configured to control the capture of image information by the pixels within the focal planes, where the control circuitry is configured so that the capture of image information by the pixels in at least two of the focal planes is separately controllable; and sampling circuitry configured to convert pixel outputs into digital pixel data. | 02-04-2016 |
20160037099 | IMAGE SENSORS WITH NOISE REDUCTION - In various embodiments, image sensors and methods of operating the image sensors are disclosed. In an example embodiment, a pixel circuit having a first electrode is coupled to a reset transistor and to a first region of an optically sensitive layer, and a second electrode is coupled to a pixel sense node and to a second region of an optically sensitive layer. The electrical path from the first electrode, through the optically sensitive layer, and into the second electrode functions as a variable resistor. Other devices and methods of operating the devices are disclosed. | 02-04-2016 |
20160037100 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor having a plurality of pixels and being capable of outputting a plurality of image signals read out using different methods for individually reading out the signals of the plurality of pixels and correction signals for correcting the plurality of image signals, a processing unit for processing the correction signals so as to handle the reading methods for the plurality of image signals, and a correction unit for correcting the plurality of image signals using the correction signals processed by the processing unit. | 02-04-2016 |
20160037101 | Apparatus and Method for Capturing Images - An apparatus and a method for capturing images are disclosed. The apparatus for capturing images includes an active pixel sensor (APS) array including a plurality of active pixels each including a photo diode and a storage diode, the plurality of active pixels being arranged in an array of N rows and M columns (where N and M are natural numbers of 2 or more), and an image signal processor that corrects an image signal output by the APS array. The APS array includes N pixel sensor rows, and the image signal processor removes noise from the image signal by using image signals that are sequentially output from non-adjacent ones of the pixel sensor rows. | 02-04-2016 |
20160043884 | SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD AND APPARATUS - In an embodiment a method of estimating a sparse signal from a measured signal using a transform matrix is disclosed. The method comprises determining a partial contribution to the sparse signal; determining a residual by subtracting the partial contribution from the measured signal; and iteratively determining further contributions to the sparse signal. An iteration comprises: identifying a first candidate column of the transform matrix, the first candidate column being the column of the transform matrix which is most correlated with the residual at the start of the iteration; calculating a condition indicator, the condition indicator being an indication of the condition of a matrix formed by columns of the transform matrix selected in previous iterations and the first candidate column; comparing the condition indicator with a threshold; if the condition indicator is above the threshold selecting the first candidate column as a selected candidate column; if the condition indicator is below the threshold, identifying a second column of the transform matrix as a second candidate column and selecting the second candidate column as the selected candidate column; determining a contribution to the sparse signal for the iteration from the selected candidate column; and calculating a new residual by subtracting contribution to the sparse signal for the iteration the from the residual at the start of the iteration. | 02-11-2016 |
20160044255 | TECHNIQUES FOR PROCESSING IMAGING DATA HAVING SENSOR-DEPENDENT NOISE - Techniques for processing imaging data contaminated by sensor-dependent noise. An imaging method is described. In the imaging method, imaging data corresponding to an imaged region and acquired by at least first and second sensor elements is obtained. A parameterized model is fitted to the imaging data. The parameterized model includes a first sensor-dependent model of noise generated by the first sensor element in a first portion of the imaging data acquired by the first sensor element, and a second sensor-dependent model of noise generated by a second sensor element in a second portion of the imaging data acquired by the second sensor element. The first sensor-dependent noise model differs, at least in part, from the second sensor-dependent noise model. | 02-11-2016 |
20160050350 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An apparatus comprises an integrated circuit and at least one lens. The integrated circuit comprises an image sensor having a light sensing region. The light sensing region is partitioned into sub-regions. The integrated circuit also comprises a processor coupled with and beneath the image sensor. The processor is configured to generate a first processed image based on an image captured by one sub-region, and a second processed image based on another image captured by another sub-region. The first processed image and the second processed image are generated based on a pixel correction process executed by the processor which corrects one or more of the image or the another image based on a predefined light reception factor associated with the sub-regions. The image sensor is configured to receive light via the light sensing region through the at least one lens. | 02-18-2016 |
20160063684 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR REMOVING HAZE IN SINGLE IMAGE - The present invention provides a method for removing a haze in a single image. In the present invention, a transmission is estimated by using a dark channel prior obtained from a hazy input image. The estimated transmission includes a block artifact. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in order to preserve an edge and remove the block artifact, a refined transmission value is obtained by performing WLS filtering by using an estimated transmission value and a morphologically-processed input image, the image is restored based on the refined transmission value, and then multi-scale tone manipulation image processing is performed. | 03-03-2016 |
20160065794 | Multi-Band YCbCr Noise Modeling And Noise Reduction Based On Scene Metadata - Image enhancement is achieved by separating image signals, e.g. YCbCr image signals, into a series of frequency bands and performing noise reduction on bands below a given frequency but not on bands above that frequency. The bands are summed to develop the image enhanced signals. The YCbCr, multi-band approach to denoising is able to operate independently—and in an optimized fashion—on both luma and chroma channels. Noise reduction is done based on models developed for both luma and chroma channels by measurements taken for multiple frequency bands, in multiple patches on the ColorChecker chart, and at multiple gain levels, in order to develop a simple yet robust set of models that may be tuned off-line a single time for each camera and then applied to images taken by such cameras in real-time without excessive processing requirements and with satisfactory results across illuminant types and lighting conditions. | 03-03-2016 |
20160065795 | Multi-Band YCbCr Locally-Adaptive Noise Modeling And Noise Reduction Based On Scene Metadata - Image enhancement is achieved by separating image signals, e.g. YCbCr image signals, into a series of frequency bands and performing locally-adaptive noise reduction on bands below a given frequency but not on bands above that frequency. The bands are summed to develop the image enhanced signals. The YCbCr, multi-band locally-adaptive approach to denoising is able to operate independently—and in an optimized fashion—on both luma and chroma channels. Noise reduction is done based on models developed for both luma and chroma channels by measurements taken for multiple frequency bands, in multiple patches on the ColorChecker chart, and at multiple gain levels, in order to develop a simple yet robust set of models that may be tuned off-line a single time for each camera and then applied to images taken by such cameras in real-time without excessive processing requirements and with satisfactory results across illuminant types and lighting conditions. | 03-03-2016 |
20160065868 | ANTI-ECLIPSE CIRCUITRY WITH TRACKING OF FLOATING DIFFUSION RESET LEVEL - Imagers and associated devices and systems are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an imager includes a pixel array and control circuitry operably coupled to the pixel array. The pixel array includes an imaging pixel configured to produce a reset signal and a non-imaging pixel configured to produce a nominal reset signal. The control circuity is configured to produce an output signal based at least in part on one of (a) the nominal reset signal when distortion at the imaging pixel exceeds a threshold and (b) the reset signal when distortion does not exceed the threshold. | 03-03-2016 |
20160065924 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, CAMERA SYSTEM, AND IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus includes a controller configured to adjust a position of an image pickup plane from a position of a focal plane by correcting amounts based on image pickup environmental information, an image pickup element configured to capture an image on an adjusted position of the image pickup plane, and an image processor configured to restore the captured image utilizing an image restoration filter corresponding to the position of the image pickup plane. | 03-03-2016 |
20160080613 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Noise is sufficiently reduced in a moving image. | 03-17-2016 |
20160080646 | DISPLAY CONTROL DEVICE - A signal processor includes a processing unit configured to correct a distortion of a first data caused by an optical property of lens and to output a second data obtained by correcting the first data. The processing unit is configured to output the second data for each of predetermined data units. The predetermined data units are outputted at intervals in accordance with a width of the distortion of the first data. | 03-17-2016 |
20160110843 | SENSOR DATA RESCALER FOR IMAGE SIGNAL PROCESSING - An input rescale module that performs cross-color correlated downscaling of sensor data in the horizontal and vertical dimensions. The module may perform a first-pass demosaic of sensor data, apply horizontal and vertical scalers to resample and downsize the data in the horizontal and vertical dimensions, and then remosaic the data to provide horizontally and vertically downscaled sensor data as output for additional image processing. The module may, for example, act as a front end scaler for an image signal processor (ISP). The demosaic performed by the module may be a relatively simple demosaic, for example a demosaic function that works on 3×3 blocks of pixels. The front end of module may receive and process sensor data at two pixels per clock (ppc); the horizontal filter component reduces the sensor data down to one ppc for downstream components of the input rescale module and for the ISP pipeline. | 04-21-2016 |
20160110851 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND STORAGE MEDIUM STORING IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - The image processing apparatus performs an image process on a first image produced by image capturing. The apparatus includes: a memory storing coefficient data containing coefficients to be used in an approximation function to approximate a PSF of an image capturing optical system, and a processor performs the image process. The processor produces an approximated point spread function by using the coefficient of the coefficient data corresponding to an optical state of the optical system in the image capturing and two of a pixel pitch of an image sensor, a kernel size of a filter to be used for a sharpening process on the first image and number of taps of the filter; produce the filter by using the approximated PSF; and produce a second image that is a sharpened image by applying the filter to the first image. | 04-21-2016 |
20160110853 | Image Processing Method and Electronic Device - An image processing method and an electronic device are disclosed. The image processing method includes obtaining distance information of at least one portion of pixels in an image acquired by the image acquiring unit, the distance information indicating a distance from the image acquiring unit to a shot object to which each pixel among the at least one portion of pixels corresponds; determining magnifications of the at least one portion of pixels based on the distance information and optical characteristics of the image acquiring unit; and adjusting the image based on the magnifications of the at least one portion of pixels. | 04-21-2016 |
20160117804 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ENHANCING EDGE OF IMAGE AND DIGITAL CAMERA - A method and a device for enhancing an edge of an image are provided. The method includes: obtaining a first gradient value of a pixel; determining whether the pixel is at a rough edge according to the first gradient value; if yes, obtaining a first edge enhancement value of the pixel and obtaining a first edge enhancement result of the pixel according to the first edge enhancement value; if no, obtaining a second gradient value of the pixel; determining whether the pixel is at a tiny edge according to the second gradient value; if yes, obtaining a second edge enhancement value of the pixel and obtaining a second edge enhancement result of the pixel according to the second edge enhancement value; if no, obtaining the pixel value of the pixel as the edge enhancement result of the pixel; and repeating above steps until each pixel of the image is processed. | 04-28-2016 |
20160119560 | IMAGING DEVICE, IMAGING METHOD, AND IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE - An imaging device | 04-28-2016 |
20160127616 | GLOBAL MATCHING OF MULTIPLE IMAGES - Global matching of pixel data across multiple images. Pixel values of an input image are modified to better match a reference image with a slope thresholded histogram matching function. Visual artifacts are reduced by avoiding large pixel value modifications. For large intensity variations across the input and reference image, the slope of the mapping function is thresholded. Modification to the input image is therefore limited and a corresponding modification to the reference image is made to improve the image matching. More than two images may be matched by iteratively modifying a cumulative mass function of a reference image to accommodate thresholded modification of multiple input images. A device may include logic to match pixel values across a plurality of image frames generated from a plurality of image sensors on the device. Once matched, image frames may be reliably processed further for pixel correspondence, or otherwise. | 05-05-2016 |
20160127665 | LOCAL TONE MAPPING CIRCUITS AND MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICES INCLUDING THE SAME - A local tone mapping circuit may include: a noise extractor configured to divide an image signal into a first noise signal and a noise-free signal; an intermediate tone mapping signal generator configured to calculate a tone mapping gain corresponding to the noise-free signal, and configured to generate an intermediate tone mapping signal by multiplying the noise-free signal by the tone mapping gain; and/or an adder configured to generate a final tone mapping signal by adding a second noise signal related with the first noise signal to the intermediate tone mapping signal. | 05-05-2016 |
20160140697 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Disclosed are an image processing device, an imaging device, an image processing method, and a program capable of acquiring a moving image with excellent image quality while maintaining continuity of a restoration process between frames even if there is a rapid change of a photographing environment in a moving image. An image processing device includes a restoration control processing unit | 05-19-2016 |
20160142661 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE AND CAMERA - The solid-state imaging device includes a D/A converting circuit generating a reference voltage to be used for an A/D conversion. The D/A converting circuit includes: a voltage generating circuit generating an analog voltage according to a digital signal; a buffer circuit (a resistor ladder upper voltage supplying buffer circuit) which buffers the generated analog voltage, the buffer circuit sampling and holding a bias voltage generated inside the buffer circuit, and outputting the buffered analog voltage using the held bias voltage; an analog signal outputting unit (a resistor ladder unit) outputting the reference voltage according to the inputted digital signal, by receiving an output from the buffer circuit; and a pre-charge amplifier which charges a noise-reducing capacitor in conjunction with the sampling and holding by the buffer circuit, the noise-reducing capacitor being connected to the analog signal outputting unit. | 05-19-2016 |
20160150146 | NOISE LEVEL CONTROL DEVICE FOR A WIDE DYNAMIC RANGE IMAGE AND AN IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME - An image processing device includes a first wide dynamic range (WDR) image generation block, a control signal generator, and a second WDR image generation block. The first WDR image generation block processes a long-exposure image signal to generate a first image signal, processes a short-exposure image signal using a second weight value to generates a second image signal, and to synthesize the first image signal and the second image signal to generate a first WDR image signal. The control signal generator calculates a difference between the second weight value and a reference weight value and generates control signals according to a result of the calculation. The second WDR image generation block adjusts a noise level of the first WDR image signal using the control signals and generates a second WDR image signal according to a result of the adjustment. | 05-26-2016 |
20160150166 | FOCUS DETECTION APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - A detection unit detects a defocus value, a correction value for shifting an in-focus position that is based on the defocus value is obtained by first or second method and stored in a memory. A controller controls to move a focus position to a lens position obtained from the defocus value and the stored correction value. The first mode is to make a user select an amount for shifting the focus position, and the correction value is obtained according to the selection. In the second mode, imaging and detection of the defocus value are performed at each of different focus positions, and the correction value is obtained from a defocus value corresponding to selected one of obtained images. A minimum unit of the correction value in the second mode is larger than that in the first mode. | 05-26-2016 |
20160150167 | METHOD FOR REDUCING BLOOMING IN IMAGE SENSOR DURING IDLE PERIOD - Among other things, techniques and systems are provided for identifying when a pixel of an image sensor is in an idle period. A flag is utilized to differentiate when the pixel is in an idle period and when the pixel is in an integration period. When the flag indicates that the pixel is in an idle period, a blooming operation is performed on the pixel to reduce an amount of electrical charge that has accumulated at the pixel or to mitigate electrical charge from accumulating at the pixel. In this way, the blooming operation reduces a probability that the photosensitive sensor becomes saturated during an idle period of the pixel, and thus reduces the likelihood of electrical charge from a pixel that is not intended contribute to an image from spilling over and potentially contaminating a pixel that is intended to contribute to the image. | 05-26-2016 |
20160155214 | CONTROL APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, LENS APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM FOR CORRECTING DETERIORATED IMAGE | 06-02-2016 |
20160156858 | IMAGE ADJUSTMENT BASED ON LOCALLY FLAT SCENES | 06-02-2016 |
20160172401 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, CAMERA MODULE, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE | 06-16-2016 |
20160180504 | IMAGE DE-NOISING USING AN EQUALIZED GRADIENT SPACE | 06-23-2016 |
20160198075 | IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE, IMAGE CORRECTION METHOD, AND IMAGE CORRECTION PROGRAM | 07-07-2016 |
20160205332 | IMAGE SENSOR AND IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM | 07-14-2016 |
20160253789 | Temporal Noise Reduction Method for Noisy Image and Related Apparatus | 09-01-2016 |
20160253791 | OPTICAL DISTORTION COMPENSATION | 09-01-2016 |
20160255266 | FOCUS POSITION DETECTION DEVICE AND FOCUS POSITION DETECTION METHOD | 09-01-2016 |
20170237914 | READ-OUT CIRCUITS OF IMAGE SENSORS AND IMAGE SENSORS INCLUDING THE SAME | 08-17-2017 |
20180025475 | IMAGE GENERATING APPARATUS AND IMAGE GENERATING METHOD | 01-25-2018 |
20180027193 | QUANTUM FILM PIXELS WITH LOW READOUT NOISE | 01-25-2018 |
20180027198 | IMAGING DEVICE WITH SHUTTER PROVIDING PARTIAL ATTENUATION | 01-25-2018 |
20190149756 | IMAGING DEVICE | 05-16-2019 |
20220141405 | DIGITAL PIXEL SENSOR WITH ADAPTIVE NOISE REDUCTION - In some examples, a sensor apparatus comprises: a pixel cell configured to generate a voltage, the pixel cell including one or more photodiodes configured to generate a charge in response to light and a charge storage device to convert the charge to a voltage; an integrated circuit comprising a plurality of integrated memory circuits and configured to: generate, based on a first voltage obtained from the charge storage device of the pixel cell, a first voltage value during a first time period; and generate, based on a second voltage generated by fixed pattern noise from the pixel cell and the integrated circuit, a second voltage value occurring a second time period; and one or more analog-to-digital converters (ADC) configured the convert the first voltage value to a first digital pixel value and the second voltage value to a second digital pixel value; and a processor configured to generate a first altered digital pixel value based on the first digital pixel value and the second digital pixel value. | 05-05-2022 |