44th week of 2012 patent applcation highlights part 24 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120274727 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SHARING CONTENT VIA A COLLABORATION SCREEN - Video conferencing methods and systems that enable shared content to be displayed in a separate window within a screen or in a separate display are described. In one aspect, a method for establishing a video conference with shared content using a computing device includes capturing images of a first participant through a screen using a camera. The screen is located between the first participant and the camera. The method also includes projecting images of a second participant on the screen to be viewed by the first participant using a projector, and displaying shared content separate from the images of the second participant. The shared content is to be presented in different format than the images of the second participant presented on the screen. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274728 | Video Conference Apparatus, Method, and Storage Medium - An aspect of the present disclosure provides for connection to a video conference apparatus at a remote site. A method includes initiating transmission of an image of shared content to the video conference apparatus at the remote site, the image of the shared content representing data shared with the video conference apparatus; determining, when the transmission of the image is initiated, a first region and a second region in an output image; monitoring the shared content which is being transmitted; determining whether an instruction for full-screen display is issued regarding the monitored shared content; and causing the full-screen display of the image of the shared content to fit in the first region when the instruction for full-screen display is issued. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274729 | Method for Creating a Videoconferencing Displayed Image - A user can design their own custom composed view for a videoconference depending on the users' individualized needs. The view can include segments (windows) in which participating conferees' video images are presented and accessory elements such as window borders, text, icons, and the like. The content of the accessory elements can be linked to events within the conference or the content of other objects within the view. A custom composed view for a video conference can be designed off-line by a user, loaded into a videoconferencing device, and executed to generate the custom composed view. The videoconferencing device can synchronize the content of accessory elements with the content of other objects presented in the view. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274730 | Distributed Recording of a Videoconference in Multiple Formats - A videoconference may be initiated between a plurality of endpoints. At least one of the endpoints may be coupled to a recording server, which may be configured to record the videoconference. A configuration may be selected (e.g., automatically or manually) for performing the recording. The endpoint (e.g., acting as an MCU) may transmit information to endpoints and may transmit recording information to the recording server. The recording information may be different from the videoconference information. For example, it may be in a “streaming friendly” format, at a different bit rate, encoded differently, have different inputs, etc. The manner in which the videoconference is stored and/or recorded may be based on the selected configuration. Clients may be configured to receive and display the videoconference from the recording server and may be configured to change the provided layout to different layouts, e.g., based on user input. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274731 | Collaborative Recording of a Videoconference Using a Recording Server - A videoconference may be initiated between a plurality of endpoints. At least one of the endpoints may be coupled to a recording server, which may be configured to record the videoconference. A configuration may be selected (e.g., automatically or manually) for performing the recording. The endpoint (e.g., acting as an MCU) may transmit information to endpoints and may transmit recording information to the recording server. The recording information may be different from the videoconference information. For example, it may be in a “streaming friendly” format, at a different bit rate, encoded differently, have different inputs, etc. The manner in which the videoconference is stored and/or recorded may be based on the selected configuration. Clients may be configured to receive and display the videoconference from the recording server and may be configured to change the provided layout to different layouts, e.g., based on user input. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274732 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REDUCING VIDEO CROSSTALK - Methods and systems that reduce video crosstalk in video streams sent between participants in a video conference are disclosed. In one aspect, a method for reducing video crosstalk in a video stream sent from a local site to a remote site includes projecting a video stream of the remote site onto a screen at the local site. Each image in the video stream is dimmed according to a dimming factor of a dimming sequence. Crosstalk images of the local site are captured through the screen. Each crosstalk image is a blending of the image of the local site captured through the screen with a dimmed image of the remote site projected onto the screen. Images of the local site with reduced crosstalk are computed based on the dimming sequence. A video stream composed of the images of the local site with reduced crosstalk are sent to the remote site. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274733 | CONFERENCE DEVICE - A conference device receives and transmits at least one of images and voice via a communication network. The conference device includes a housing having an upper wall; and an operating unit installed on the upper wall. The operating unit includes a first operating member group made up of a plurality of operating members, and at least one different operating member that has a lower frequency of usage as compared to each of the plurality of operating members of the first operating member group. The plurality of operating members of the first operating member group are arranged in a first direction along a top face of the upper wall. The at least one different operating member is disposed, along with one of the plurality of operating members of the first operating member group, in a second direction that runs along the top face and that intersects with the first direction. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274734 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ENHANCED EYE GAZE IN A VIDEO CONFERENCING ENVIRONMENT - An apparatus is provided in one example and includes first and second cameras configured to capture image data associated with an end user involved in a video session. The can further include a display configured to interface with the cameras, and a shaft coupled to a rotor. The cameras are secured to the shaft, and the shaft receives a rotational force such that during rotation of the shaft, the cameras pass over the display in order to capture particular image data associated with the end user's face in such a way as to improve eye gaze alignment. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274735 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ENHANCED EYE GAZE IN A VIDEO CONFERENCING ENVIRONMENT - An apparatus is provided in one example and includes an eye gaze module configured to interact with a processor and a memory element such that the apparatus is configured for: receiving first video data from a first camera; receiving second video data from a second camera; determining which of the first and second video data captured by the cameras is to be selected for transmission to a counterparty engaged in a video session; determining a tilt characteristic associated with at least one of the cameras; and modifying image data based on the tilt characteristic in order to orient objects for rendering on a display associated with the video session. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274736 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR COMMUNICATING FOCUS OF ATTENTION IN A VIDEO CONFERENCE - Methods and systems for communicating each participant's focus of attention in a video conference are described. In one aspect, a method for communicating where each participant's attention is focused in a video conference includes receiving each remote participant's video and audio streams and focus of attention data, based on the remote participant's head location. The at least one remote participant's video streams are presented in separate viewing areas of the local participant's display. The viewing areas presenting the remote participants are modified to indicate to the local participant each remote participant's focus of attention, based on the focus of attention data. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274737 | VEHICLE PERIPHERY MONITORING DEVICE - Wide-angle imaging data obtained by capturing a view of a vehicle periphery can be converted into wide-angle display data for displaying the view in the same field of view on a display device, and into enlarged display data for enlarging and displaying a portion of the wide-angle imaging data. When the image on the screen of the display is switched between wide-angle display and enlarged display, the target region corresponding to the post-switching display data is set, highlighted, and displayed as the highlighted region (E) on the screen on the pre-switching display data (V | 2012-11-01 |
20120274738 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHOOTING PANORAMA - The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for shooting a panorama, so as to solve the problems in the prior art that images with high quality cannot be obtained in the shooting process of a panorama and the shot images cannot be directly combined into a panorama without post-shooting processing. The method comprises the steps of: calculating, when previewing an image to be shot which is not the first shot image in a panorama, an overlapping degree of a joining region between the image to be shot and a shot image; and shooting the image to be shot when the overlapping degree reaches a set condition. The present invention also discloses an apparatus for shooting a panorama. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274739 | IMAGE SPLICING METHOD AND APPARATUS - The present invention discloses an image splicing method and apparatus, and relates to the field of image processing technologies. In embodiments of the present invention, first, a spatial relationship parameter between two scenes is determined; a spatial relationship parameter between two cameras that photograph the two scenes respectively, and internal parameters of the two cameras are obtained; and then, an operation is performed on the spatial relationship parameter between the two scenes, the spatial relationship parameter between the cameras, and the internal parameters of the cameras to obtain a homography matrix between photographed images; and according to the homography matrix, the images photographed by the two cameras are mapped to the same coordinate system to splice the images into one image. The embodiments of the present invention are mainly applied to calculation of a homography matrix between two images, especially to calculation of a homography matrix in image splicing process. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274740 | METHOD FOR PROCESSING VIDEO INPUT BY DETECTING IF PICTURE OF ONE VIEW IS CORRECTLY PAIRED WITH ANOTHER PICTURE OF ANOTHER VIEW FOR SPECIFIC PRESENTATION TIME AND RELATED PROCESSING APPARATUS THEREOF - A method of processing a video input which transmits pictures of a first view and pictures of a second view includes: checking the video input to detect if a first picture of one of the first and second views is correctly paired with a second picture of the other of the first and second views for a specific presentation time, and accordingly generating a detecting result; and referring to the detecting result for selectively performing a predetermined processing operation upon the video input. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274741 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING STEREOSCOPIC VIDEO - A method of receiving stereoscopic video according to the present invention includes receiving a bit stream including image information, extracting a base image stream corresponding to a base image and an additional image stream corresponding to an additional image from the bit stream, generating the base image and the additional image by decoding the base image stream and the additional image stream, respectively, and generating a left image and a right image by using at least one of the base image and the additional image. According to the present invention, | 2012-11-01 |
20120274742 | GENERATION INTERPOLATION FRAMES - The instant application describes a stereoscopic video processing system that includes a vector detector configured to detect a motion vector associated with frames of an input video signal; an output image generator configured to generate an output video signal by generating interpolation frames based on the frames of the input video signal and the motion vector, and arranging the frames of the input video signal and the interpolation frames along a time axis; and an output controller configured to control interpolation phases, in which the interpolation frames are generated, based on the motion vector. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274743 | IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE AND CAPSULE ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM - An image display device includes: a memory unit that stores internal body image data acquired via a receiver from a capsule endoscope taking internal body image of a subject and information that is associated with the internal body image data and related to a position of the capsule endoscope within the subject; a position information acquisition unit that performs a position estimation process based on the information related to the position to acquire position information of the capsule endoscope at imaging each of the internal body images; a preferential image determination unit that determines whether each of the internal body images meets a predetermined condition; and a preferential process control unit that controls the position information acquisition unit to perform the position estimation process preferentially on the internal body image determined to meet the predetermined condition by the preferential image determination unit. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274744 | STRUCTURED LIGHT IMAGING SYSTEM - Structured light imaging method and systems are described. An imaging method generates a stream of light pulses, converts the stream after reflection by a scene to charge, stores charge converted during the light pulses to a first storage element, and stores charge converted between light pulses to a second storage element. A structured light image system includes an illumination source that generates a stream of light pulses and an image sensor. The image sensor includes a photodiode, first and second storage elements, first and second switches, and a controller that synchronizes the image sensor to the illumination source and actuates the first and second switches to couple the first storage element to the photodiode to store charge converted during the light pulses and to couple the second storage element to the photodiode to store charge converted between the light pulses. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274745 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGER AND PROJECTION DEVICE - The systems and methods described herein include a device that can scan the surrounding environment and construct a 3D image, map, or representation of the surrounding environment using, for example, invisible light projected into the environment. In some implementations, the device can also project into the surrounding environment one or more visible radiation pattern patterns (e.g., a virtual object, text, graphics, images, symbols, color patterns, etc.) that are based at least in part on the 3D map of the surrounding environment. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274746 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING A SET OF OPTICAL IMAGING FUNCTIONS FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL FLOW MEASUREMENT - The invention relates to a method for determining a set of optical imaging functions that describe the imaging of a measuring volume onto each of a plurality of detector surfaces on which the measuring volume can be imaged at in each case a different observation angle by means of detection optics. In addition to the assignment of in each case one image position (x, y) to each volume position (X, Y, Z), the method according to the invention envisages that the shape of the image of a punctiform particle in the measuring volume be described by shape parameter values (a, b, 100 , I) and that the corresponding set of shape parameter values be assigned to each volume position (X, Y. Z) for each detector surface. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274747 | STEREOSCOPIC VIDEO DISPLAY DEVICE AND STEREOSCOPIC VIDEO DISPLAY METHOD - According to one embodiment, there is provided a stereoscopic video display device including a depth information generator, a depth controller, an image generator, and an image display unit. The depth controller creates a weighted histogram of the depth value by weighting a frequency of each depth value, and adjusts the depth value by using an accumulated weighted histogram obtained from the histogram. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274748 | Stereoscopic Image Display Device and Method for Driving the Same - A stereoscopic image display device and a method for driving the stereoscopic image display device. The stereoscopic image display device divides pixels of a display panel into first sub-divided pixels and second sub-divided pixels. The second sub-divided pixels are controlled to function as an active black stripe during a 3D mode to enhance the quality of a 3D mode. However, the second sub-divided pixels are controlled to display a 2D image during a 2D mode to prevent the reduction of luminance in the 2D mode. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274749 | STEREOSCOPIC VIDEO DISPLAY DEVICE - According to an embodiment, a stereoscopic video display device displays images for a plurality of view point directions on a displaying device while switching between the images at predetermined time intervals. The stereoscopic video display device includes a calculator configured to calculate a crosstalk amount of a first image for one view point direction, which is an image to be corrected, by using a pixel value of the first image, a pixel value of a second image for a view point direction different from that of the first image, the second image being an image to be displayed at a time before the first image, and characteristics data including response characteristics of the displaying device; and a corrector configured to correct the first image by using the crosstalk amount. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274750 | APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SHARED VIEWING EXPERIENCE USING HEAD MOUNTED DISPLAYS - Systems and methods are operable to share a viewing experience of a free viewpoint format media content event. An exemplary embodiment receives the free viewpoint format media content event, receives unique geometric orientation information from each one of a plurality of head mounted displays (HMDs), determines a unique viewpoint location for each one of the plurality of HMDs based upon the geometric orientation information received from each one of the plurality of HMDs, determines a unique viewpoint area for each one of the plurality of HMDs based upon the determined unique viewpoint location, and communicates each one of the unique viewpoint areas to the associated one of the plurality of HMDs. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274751 | INCLUSION DETECTION IN POLISHED GEMSTONES - A method and apparatus for generating a 3D model of and/or detecting inclusions in a polished gemstone such as diamond is described. The gemstone ( | 2012-11-01 |
20120274752 | IMPEDANCE MATCHING APPARATUS AND ENDOSCOPE INCLUDING THE SAME - An impedance matching apparatus includes: a cable that transmits a rectangular wave outputted from a solid image pickup device; a correlated double sampling circuit that performs scanning of the rectangular wave by sampling the rectangular wave with a timing of a signal clamp pulse being changed, based on a timing of the feed-through sampling pulse fixed at a timing at which the rectangular wave by the cable indicates a high value; a variable resistance provided at a tail end side of the cable; and a resistance value varying unit that, that performs the scanning with a resistance value of the variable resistance being changed, based on a signal outputted from the correlated double sampling circuit, changes a resistance value of the variable resistance so as to match a characteristic impedance of the cable. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274753 | ELECTRONIC ENDOSCOPE SIGNAL-PROCESSING DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM - An electronic endoscope signal-processing device is provided that includes a gradation compensation processor. The gradation compensation processor compensates for R, G and B gradations by controlling R, G and B tone curves defining relationship between input values and output values of each of the R, G and B signals. The R tone curve is shaped so as to squash the output values of the R signal when the R signal input values are in a relatively low range and to expand the output values when the input values are in a relatively high range. The G and B tone curves are shaped so squash the output value of the respective signals when the input signals are in high or low ranges, and the G tone curve and the B tone curve are identical. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274754 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM, INFORMATION STORAGE DEVICE, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing device has a first image acquisition section acquiring a first image which is an image that has information within a wavelength band of white light, a second image acquisition section acquiring a second image which is an image that has information within a specific wavelength band, an attention area detection section detecting an attention area within the second image based on a feature quantity of each pixel within the second image, a display state setting section performing a display state setting process that sets a display state of a display image generated based on the first image, and a designated elapsed time setting section performing a designated elapsed time setting process that sets a designated elapsed time based on a detection result for the attention area. The display state setting section performs the display state setting process based on the designated elapsed time. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274755 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HUMAN DETECTION AND COUNTING USING BACKGROUND MODELING, HOG AND HAAR FEATURES - A system for adaptive learning based human detection for channel input of captured human image signals, the system comprising: a sensor for tracking real-time images of an environment of interest; a feature extraction and classifiers generation processor for extracting a plurality of features and classifying the features associated with time-space descriptors of image comprising background modeling, Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) and Haar like wavelet; a processor configured to process extracted feature classifiers associated with plurality of real-time images; combine the plurality of feature classifiers of time-space descriptors; evaluate a linear probability of human detection based on a predetermined threshold value of the feature classifiers in a time window having at least one image frame; a counter for counting the number of humans in the real-time images; and a transmission device configured to send the final human detection decision and number thereof to a storage device. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274756 | METHOD OF CAPTURING IMAGE DATA FOR IRIS CODE BASED IDENTIFICATION OF VERTEBRATES - A method of capturing image data for iris code based identification of vertebrates, including humans, comprises the steps of:
| 2012-11-01 |
20120274757 | CHARGED PARTICLE BEAM DEVICE AND A METHOD OF IMPROVING IMAGE QUALITY OF THE SAME - The invention relates to a technique of improving a contrast of a lower-layer pattern in a multi layer by synthesizing detected signals from a plurality of detectors by using an appropriate allocation ratio in accordance with pattern arrangement. In a charged particle beam device capable of improving image quality by using detected images obtained from a plurality of detectors and in a method of improving the image quality, a method of generating one or more output images from detected images corresponding to respective outputs of the detectors that are arranged at different locations is controlled by using information of a pattern direction, an edge strength, or others calculated from a design data or the detected image. In this manner, a detection area of the detected signals can be expanded by using the plurality of detectors, and the image quality such as the contrast can be improved by synthesizing the detected signals by using the pattern direction or the edge strength calculated from the design data or the detected images. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274758 | OPTICAL INSPECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD - An optical apparatus and method for simultaneously scanning the profile of at least two adjacent surfaces of an article such as a wooden board moving along a travel path axis passing through an inspection area located at a central plane transverse to the travel path axis, involve first and second scanning zones sufficiently spaced one with another along the travel path axis to substantially prevent mutual scanning interference between the profile sensors used, while providing a compact arrangement of profile sensors. For so doing, one the first sensing field and the first laser beam of the first profile sensor is crossing the central plane toward the other one of the first sensing field and the first laser beam, and one the second sensing field and the second laser beam of the second profile sensor is crossing the central plane toward the other one of the second sensing field and the second laser beam. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274759 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR MONITORING CURRENT COLLECTORS AND HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL CONTACT WIRE POSITION ON VEHICLE COMBINATIONS - A method and a device for monitoring a train set include at least one lateral camera and at least two upper cameras. The cameras are fixedly disposed on a track section laterally and above the train set. A region of the contact wire having a carrier device and at least one current collector can be detected by the at least one lateral camera and flanks of the train set can be detected by the at least two upper cameras. An evaluation unit is provided for determining the state of the at least one current collector, at least one clearance dimension of the train set and at least one actual position of the contact wire, or a combination thereof. Detected deviations from standards are indicated and allocated to individual cars. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274760 | METHOD AND PARTICLE ANALYZER FOR DETERMINING A BROAD PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION - A method and a particle analyzer are provided for determining a particle size distribution of a liquid sample including particles of a lower size range, particles of an intermediate size range, and particles of an upper size range. A dark-field image frame is captured in which the particles of the lower size range and the particles of the intermediate size range are resolved, and a bright-field image frame is captured in which the particles of the intermediate size range and the particles of the upper size range are resolved. Absolute sizes of the particles of the intermediate size range and the particles of the upper size range are determined from the bright-field image frame. Calibrated sizes of the particles of the lower size range are determined from the dark-field image frame by using the particles of the intermediate size range as internal calibration standards. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274761 | Vision System and Method of Operation - In an exemplary embodiment, a system includes a first camera, a second camera, and a processor wherein the second camera has a higher resolution than the first camera. The processor is communicatively coupled to the first camera and the second camera and is operable to determine a center coordinate of an udder of a dairy livestock based at least in part upon visual data captured by the first camera. The processor is also operable to determine a position of a teat of the dairy livestock based at least in part upon the center coordinate and visual data captured by the second camera. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274762 | OBTAINING DISTANCE BETWEEN DIFFERENT POINTS ON AN IMAGED OBJECT - The present invention discloses an image capturing apparatus and a method for obtaining the distances between different points of an object to be shot during image capturing of said object. The method comprises: determining a pair of specified points on the object for distance measurement; focusing on each specified point respectively, and obtaining a focal length for obtaining a clear image of the specified point on an imaging device of an image capturing apparatus, a distance between the clear image point of the specified point and a longitudinal axis of a convex lens of the image capturing apparatus, and a distance between the convex lens and the imaging device of the image capturing apparatus during said focusing; and calculating a distance between the specified points in the pair on the object. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274763 | DEVICE AND METHOD OF FOCUSING ON POINTS OF OBJECTS - A measuring device and method is used to select focusing points on an object. A CCD of the measuring device is positioned at the top of an initial focusing range, then moves to the bottom of the initial focusing range at a first speed to capture first images of the object. Image points corresponding to each focusing point in the first images are identified to compute coordinates of a first focal point of each focusing point. The initial focusing range is updated according to Z-coordinates of the first focal points. The CCD is positioned at the bottom of the updated focusing range, then, moves to the top of the updated focusing range at a second speed to capture second images of the object. Image points corresponding to each focusing point in the second images are identified to compute coordinates of a second focal point of each focusing point. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274764 | MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STORING VIDEO - A monitoring system for monitoring an area, includes an image capturing module, a storage unit, and a processor. The processor controls the image capturing module to capture images within the monitored area to obtain video signal as a series of frames, and compares every two neighboring frames to determine whether the neighboring frames are the similar according to a preset reference level, and stores one of the neighboring frames in the storage unit with the number of the stored frame increased by one if the neighboring frames is determined to be similar, and stores both the neighboring frames in the storage unit if the neighboring frames are determined to be different. A method for storing video obtained by the monitoring system is also provided. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274765 | APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE LOCATION OF A POINTER WITHIN A REGION OF INTEREST - An apparatus for detecting a pointer within a region of interest comprises a first reflective element extending along a first side of the region of interest and reflecting light towards the region of interest. The first reflective element comprises at least two generally parallel bands thereon, the bands at least comprising a retro-reflective band and a reflective band. A second reflective element extends along a second side of the region of interest and reflects light towards the region of interest, the second side being joined to the first side to define a first corner. The second reflecting element comprises at least two generally parallel bands thereon, the bands at least comprising a retro-reflective band and a reflective band. At least one imaging device captures images of the region of interest including reflections from the reflective and retro-reflective bands of the first and second reflective elements. At least one illumination source is positioned adjacent to the at least one imaging device and directs light across the region of interest towards the first and second reflective elements. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274766 | METHOD FOR CLASSIFYING OBJECTS IN AN IMAGING SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM - A method for formulating a knowledge database of object images acquired by an imaging device furnished with a sensor, including defining N classes each including a set of objects represented by a label and a set of characteristics, learning decision rules associated with these classes, definition of K contextual information cues regarding image background f | 2012-11-01 |
20120274767 | CEILING FAN ACCESSORY UNIT - A ceiling fan accessory unit of the present invention is constructed in a manner in which the accessories can be attached and supplied with electric power by mounting the ceiling fan accessory unit to an existing ceiling fan. The ceiling fan includes a fan unit that houses a fan motor that rotates a plurality of fan blades. The fan unit includes a bottom portion having electric power wires and a connection portion adapted to receive a connector. The ceiling fan accessory unit communicates with a wireless transmitter that transmits audio signals. The ceiling fan accessory unit includes a housing, a wireless receiver and at least one speaker. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274768 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CALIBRATING LASER PROFILING SYSTEMS - A laser profiling calibration system includes a light emitting device, a light-reflecting target, and an optical receiver. The light emitting device is configured to project a light and define a light plane. The light-reflecting target is configured to be positioned at multiple positions within the light plane, and has a plurality of non-reflective regions. The optical receiver is oriented to receive light reflected from the target, and further configured to capture a plurality of images, comprising at least one image at each of the target's multiple positions. The system is configured to use the plurality of images to calibrate the optical receiver within the light plane. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274769 | IMAGE RECORDING SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE AND REFLECTION UNIT - There are provided an image recording system for a vehicle and a reflection unit thereof. The image recording system includes a vehicle in which a storage space is provided, a camera that is installed in the storage space, and a reflection unit that is installed on a window or a ceiling of the vehicle to reflect image information from a forward or rearward direction of the vehicle into the camera. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274770 | VEHICLE IMAGE RECORDING SYSTEM - There is provided a vehicle image recording system including: a vehicle having a receiving space provided therein; a camera installed in the receiving space; a reflective device installed on a window of the vehicle or a ceiling of the vehicle to reflect image information captured from the front or the rear of the vehicle, to the camera; and a fixing member fixing the reflective device to the window or the ceiling. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274771 | IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE, VISIBILITY SUPPORT APPARATUS, NIGHT VISION DEVICE, NAVIGATION SUPPORT APPARATUS, AND MONITORING DEVICE - An image pickup device, a visibility support apparatus, a night vision device, a navigation support apparatus, and a monitoring device are provided in which noise and dark current are suppressed to thereby provide clear images regardless of whether it is day or night. The device includes a light-receiving layer | 2012-11-01 |
20120274772 | Railway Track Monitoring - Novel tools and techniques for monitoring railway track geometry. In one aspect, some such tools and techniques can determine a location of a platform along a railway, capture one or more images of the railway, and/or analyze the rail configuration at that point. In another aspect, some solutions might employ photogrammetric techniques to analyze the rail configuration and thereafter store data about the rail configuration, perhaps correlated with the location of the images, in a data store. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274773 | GOLF GAME AND REALITY TELEVISION SHOW - A method for conducting a reality golf television show, comprising conducting a selection process, wherein the selection process comprise: a first component based on participants' driving range ability, oral skills, attitude, and golf knowledge; a second component based on participants' golf course performance, wherein, the selection is performed by collecting votes from viewers via a communications network, conducting a team-play golf tournament, and following each of the television show's participants with a camera and recording their everyday lives throughout the television show. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274774 | MULTIFUNCTION FLASHLIGHT - A multifunction flashlight includes an audio recorder, a video recorder and a flashlight having one or more operating modes. The flashlight includes an audio microphone secured within a water-tight interior compartment in the body of the flashlight. A storage compartment is provided in a rear portion of the flashlight for removably storing one or more light diffuser caps which are selectively mountable over the flashlight lens. A port in the wall of the flashlight can be opened to improve audio reception and sensitivity of a microphone housed within the flashlight. A resilient switch cover is provided with two or more differently textured surface portions to allow an operator to identify an audio, video or lighting function by tactile feel or touch. A delay circuit can be provided to protect the audio and/or video functions from in advertent or unintentional actuation. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274775 | Imager-based code-locating, reading and response methods and apparatus - In one form, an audience participation method and apparatus whereby mass audience members who are physically present in a venue can, upon being cued, convey quantitative data regarding their personal real-time individual and collective preferences, choices, opinions, and other personal responses concerning events taking place in the venue or otherwise, to digital image data processing systems, data bases and data transmission media by the act of posing passive, user-manipulated personal data-source devices, a multiplicity of such devices being visible within the Field of View (FOV) of one or more venue-associated digital imagers which can collect images of the devices and pass said images to image analysis computer programs with the analysis results being promptly available for uses by other venue systems such as those used for announcements and displays to the venue audiences as well as optionally being made available to information systems addressing audiences not within the venue. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274776 | FAULT TOLERANT BACKGROUND MODELLING - Disclosed herein are a system and method for detecting tampering of a first camera in a camera network system, wherein the first camera is adapted to capture a portion of a scene in a field of view of the first camera. The method detects an occlusion of the scene in the field of view of the first camera and changes a field of view of a second camera to overlap with the field of view of the first camera. The method determines a difference between an image captured by the second camera of the changed field of view and a set of reference images relating to the field of view of the first camera. The method then detects tampering of the first camera based on the difference exceeding a predefined threshold. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274777 | METHOD OF TRACKING AN OBJECT CAPTURED BY A CAMERA SYSTEM - A camera system comprises an image capturing device, object detection module, object tracking module, and match classifier. The object detection module receives image data and detects objects appearing in one or more of the images. The object tracking module temporally associates instances of a first object detected in a first group of the images. The first object has a first signature representing features of the first object. The match classifier matches object instances by analyzing data derived from the first signature of the first object and a second signature of a second object detected in a second image. The second signature represents features of the second object derived from the second image. The match classifier determine whether the second signature matches the first signature. A training process automatically configures the match classifier using a set of possible object features. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274778 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THERMOGRAPHIC INSPECTION - A method for thermographic imaging is described. The method captures a plurality of thermal images of a surface of an object, at non-linear intervals over a period of time, each of the thermal images being associated with temporal data. The method then processes the plurality of thermal images and the temporal data, and identifies features within the object based on the processing. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274779 | Image Capture Device, Method for Generating Image, Infrared Camera System, and Interchangeable Lens System - Problem: To generate images with precise luminance gradation regardless of variability in output levels between pixels. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274780 | IMAGE APPARATUS, IMAGE DISPLAY APPARATUS AND IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD - An image apparatus, comprising a image capture device that captures an image, a display device that displays the image, a display control block that enlarges and displays a first area, included in a first image, on the display device, a target setting block that sets an object in the first area as a target for tracking and a detecting block that detects a second area, including the object, in a second image which is specified to be displayed next on the display device in place of the first image, the display control block enlarging and displaying the second area on the display device. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274781 | MARGINAL SPACE LEARNING FOR MULTI-PERSON TRACKING OVER MEGA PIXEL IMAGERY - A method for tracking pedestrians in a video sequence, where each image frame of the video sequence corresponds to a time step, includes using marginal space learning to sample a prior probability distribution p(x | 2012-11-01 |
20120274782 | Object Recognition Method and Recognition Apparatus - A target fish-eye image for object recognition is split into regions in accordance with the distortion direction. An object recognition portion performs object recognition by using databases prepared in accordance with the regions respectively. The same process is applied to a plurality of target fish-eye images created by rotation of the target fish-eye image. A detected coordinate transformation portion restores the obtained position of an object into the original position by inverse rotation, and outputs a thus obtained result as a detection result. Detection accuracy in object recognition is improved, and the quality of data in databases is reduced. Rotated object images required for database creation are used for creation of databases for object recognition for the fish-eye image. Thus, a distorted fish-eye image for object recognition is directly used without projective conversion or image conversion based on corrective operation to the fish-eye image. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274783 | IMAGING WITH REAL-TIME TRACKING USING OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY - An optical coherence tomography system is provided. The system includes an OCT imager; a two-dimensional transverse scanner coupled to the OCT imager, the two-dimensional transverse scanner receiving light from the light source and coupling reflected light from a sample into the OCT imager; optics that couple light between the two-dimensional transverse scanner and the sample; a video camera coupled to the optics and acquiring images of the sample; and a computer coupled to receive images of the sample from the video camera, the computer processing the images and providing a motion offset signal based on the images to the two-dimensional transverse scanner. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274784 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RECOGNIZING A UNIT LOAD DEVICE (ULD) NUMBER MARKED ON AN AIR CARGO UNIT - The present invention provides a system and method for recognizing a Unit Load Device (ULD) number marked on an air cargo unit. The system includes at least one camera configured to acquire images of the ULD number. It includes also a presence sensing module configured to detect a presence status of the air cargo unit in a scanning zone of the system, the presence status can have a value being one of present and absent, and a recognition processor coupled to the presence sensing module and to the at least one camera. The recognition processor is configured to obtain from the presence sensing module information relating to the presence status of said air cargo unit, to trigger the at least one camera to acquire the images upon a change in the value of the presence status, and to process the images for recognizing the ULD number. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274785 | SUBJECT TRACKING APPARATUS, CAMERA HAVING THE SUBJECT TRACKING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR TRACKING SUBJECT - A subject tracking apparatus includes a light detector, a focus detector, and a tracking controller. The focus detector is configured to detect focus information at a plurality of focus detection regions in a view of an image. The focus information includes at least focus information detected at a subject region of a subject in the view. The tracking controller is configured to determine at least one first region having substantially same light information as light information detected at the subject region from among a plurality of light measurement regions, to determine at least one second region having substantially same focus information as the focus information detected at the subject region from among the plurality of focus detection regions, and to determine reference information for tracking the subject in the view based on the at least one first region and the at least one second region. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274786 | CALIBRATING IMAGE SENSORS - In one implementation, an image sensor is calibrated by determining a spectral characterization for each image window of an image sensor, correlating the spectral characterization for each image window of the image sensor with a spectral property of a target illuminant, and generating a scale factor for each image window of the image sensor. The scale factor for each image window of the image sensor is generated based on the correlating. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274787 | Circuits and Methods for Calibrating Actuator Displacement - Embodiments of the present invention include circuits and methods for calibrating position displacement in a voltage controlled actuator. In one embodiment, a calibration circuit comprises an actuator having a control terminal for receiving a programmable control voltage to set a displacement, a switch that selectively decouples said programmable voltage from said control terminal and couples a reference current to said control terminal when the control terminal is decoupled from said control voltage, a comparator that senses a voltage difference between said control voltage and said control terminal, and a timer coupled to an output of the comparator. The timer measures a time period required to increase the control terminal voltage. The capacitance of the actuator may be determined and used to calibrate the position of the actuator. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274788 | RESOLUTION TEST DEVICE AND METHOD THEREOF - A resolution test device and a method thereof are provided. The resolution test method is adapted for testing a resolution of a camera device. The resolution test method includes providing a graph to the camera device, capturing a test image shot by the camera device, shifting an analyzing window a specific distance in a first direction from a static area to a first area on the test image, analyzing the first area to generate a first high-pass element, shifting the analyzing window back to the static area, shifting the analyzing window the specific distance in a second direction from the static area to a second area on the test image, analyzing the second area to generate a second high-pass element, generating a third high-pass element according to the first and the second high-pass element, and defining the resolution of the camera device according to the third high-pass element. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274789 | SIGNAL IMAGE EXTRACTION - An apparatus for eliminating background noise from a security marker authenticating system including a first sensor for capturing an image of a background of the security marker; a light source for illuminating the security marker; the first sensor or a second sensor or both captures a plurality images of the optical response of the security marker; a computer which averages the plurality of optical response images; the computer smoothes the background image; and the computer subtracts the smoothed background image from the average of the plurality of optical response images. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274790 | IMAGE SHARING SYSTEM, IMAGE MANAGING SERVER, AND CONTROL METHOD AND PROGRAM THEREOF - An image processing apparatus determines categories for classifying image data based on shooting information of the image data, generates an update information file for each category, and uploads the update information file along with the image data to an image managing server. A client terminal registers, in advance, the address of a desired update information file, and periodically checks the update information file in the image managing server. If the update information file indicates that new image data has been added to the image managing server, the image data is downloaded in accordance with the file path described in the update information file. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274791 | METHODS FOR PROCESSING NOTIFICATIONS TO HAND HELD COMPUTING DEVICES FOR A CONNECTED HOME - A computer-implemented method for providing notifications to wireless hand held devices concerning status conditions of a remote location is provided. The method associates the remote location to a user account, and the user account is configurable with settings of a user having the user account. The server receives the settings over the Internet from a graphical user interface of an application rendered on the hand held personal computer. The method includes receiving, at the server, information from the controller for a change in status condition in at least one of the devices. The method determines that the change in status condition requires a notification and sends the notification to the application of the of the hand held personal computer. The notification is rendered as an icon displayable on a screen of the application. The icon is indicative of one or more notifications for the devices associated with the user account. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274792 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RESTORING DEAD PIXEL USING LIGHT INTENSITY MAP IN A TIME-OF-FLIGHT CAMERA - Disclosed herein is an image display apparatus including a display unit; a camera unit configured to capture a subject, and to acquire a depth image from the captured subject; and a controller operatively connected to the display unit and the camera unit, the controller configured to control the camera unit to restore an interest region based on depth information and light intensity information when the interest region exists in the acquired depth image. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274793 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SYNCHRONIZING VIDEO AND SENSOR SIGNALS - A system synchronizing video and sensor signals includes: a camera with first synchronization clock, acquiring the video signal, adding acquisition time of first synchronization clock to the video signal; a sensor with second synchronization clock, generating the sensor signal corresponding to the video signal according to sensing operation, adding acquisition time of second synchronization clock to the sensor signal; a controller controlling to receive the sensor signal added with the acquisition time from the sensor and transmit the sensor signal to a computer; a synchronizer with reference clock, transmitting reference time for synchronizing the first and second synchronization clocks to the camera and the sensor; and a computer receiving the sensor signal added with the acquisition time from the controller, receiving the video signal added with the acquisition time from the camera, confirming the acquisition time of the signals, reconfiguring the signals in the same time zone, synchronizing the signals. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274794 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - This invention is directed to easily set the image sensing conditions of an image sensing apparatus. The image sensing apparatus includes a first control means for controlling to change the image sensing conditions, an image sensing means to sense an image sensing target at every first time interval, and to calculate the evaluation value of the sensed image, and a second control means for controlling to change the image sensing conditions within the range where the evaluation value obtained by the first control means changes from increase to decrease, the image sensing means to sense the image sensing target at every second time interval smaller than the first time interval, and to calculate the evaluation value of the sensed image. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274795 | SHAKE CORRECTION DEVICE, SHAKE CORRECTION METHOD, AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A shake correction device includes a shake detection unit detecting shake so as to generate a shake detection signal, a driving unit displacing a relative positional relationship between a lens unit and an imaging device with respect to an optical axis so as to displace the position on the imaging surface of an optical image formed on an imaging surface of the imaging device, a displacement detection unit detecting a displacement state of the correction lens unit or the imaging device, a filter processing unit performing a filter process of the shake detection signal, and a correction control unit displacing the relative positional relationship between the lens unit and the imaging device according to the filter-processed shake detection signal so as to correct the shake of the optical image on the imaging surface generated by the shake detected by the shake detection unit. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274796 | DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - Embodiments of the invention provide a digital photographing apparatus including a user interface provider for providing a user interface including: a display region for displaying a live-view image or a reproduced image; a first region for providing at least one pre-set menu; and a second region for providing at least one user set menu set by a user. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274797 | IMAGE SIGNAL RECORDING/REPRODUCTION APPARATUS, METHOD EMPLOYED THEREIN, AND IMAGE SIGNAL RECORDING APPARATUS - An image signal recording/reproduction apparatus having a generating apparatus that generates a dynamic image signal or a still image signal of a subject captured by an imaging apparatus; an operation apparatus that starts recording of the dynamic image signal or the still image signal generated by the generating apparatus; a recording apparatus that records the dynamic image signal or the still image signal into a recording medium through mechanical drive; a reproduction apparatus that reproduces the dynamic image signal or the still image signal recorded at the recording medium through mechanical drive; and a control apparatus that implements control so that the mechanical drive is sustained if the operation apparatus is operated while the dynamic image signal or the still image signal is being reproduced by the reproduction apparatus and so that the recording apparatus records the dynamic image signal or the still image signal in the recording medium. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274798 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program that are capable of removing an influence due to illumination components from a plurality of images in which illumination environments are different and generating an image having high color reproducibility. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274799 | CALIBRATING IMAGE SENSORS - In one implementation, an image sensor is calibrated by generating a plurality of spectral characterizations for the image sensor and defining a plurality of color corrections for the image sensor based on the plurality of spectral characterizations and a reference spectral characterization. Each spectral characterization from the plurality of spectral characterizations is associated with an image window of the image sensor. Each color correction from the plurality of color corrections is associated with an image window of the image sensor. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274800 | MULTI-MEDIA DEVICE CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICES - A multi-media device and a method for manufacturing the multi-media device is described herein. The multi-media device includes a first and second substrate coupled to each other. Both the first and second substrates have a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The multi-media device further includes a first camera coupled to the first side of the first substrate and a second camera coupled to the first side of the second substrate. The first camera includes a first lens housing, which houses one or more first lenses. The second camera includes a second lens housing, which houses one or more second lenses. The second substrate is coupled to the first substrate in a manner such that the one or more first lenses and the one or more second lenses receive light from opposite directions. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274801 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - The present invention provides an imaging apparatus capable of offering a wider range of expressions with use of a plurality of shooting modes during multiple exposure shooting and also performing effective multiple exposure shooting. The imaging apparatus can perform control to change a shooting mode to a first shooting mode while maintaining a multiple exposure shooting mode upon receiving an instruction to change the shooting mode to the first shooting mode in a case where the imaging apparatus is set in the multiple exposure shooting mode, and perform control to change the shooting mode to a second shooting mode while canceling the multiple exposure shooting mode upon receiving an instruction to change the shooting mode to the second shooting mode in a case where the imaging apparatus is set in the multiple exposure shooting mode. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274802 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An imaging apparatus includes a control unit configured to perform control to record an uncombined image captured in a multiple exposure shooting mode on a recording medium, and, if the number of images to be combined to generate a multiple combined image is one when the multiple exposure shooting mode ends, to prevent the multiple combined image from being generated or recorded. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274803 | INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE - Provided is an information processing device that is capable of recognizing characters in an image quickly. The portable phone according to the present invention is a device that recognizes words and phrases from an image. The portable phone includes: an image capturing section that captures a moving image; a character string obtaining section, a character string collation section, and a word and phrase ID obtaining section, which successively obtains consecutive images that constitute the captured moving image and obtains an ID indicative of a word or a phrase at a predetermined position of the image; a FIFO buffer for storing the obtained ID; and a recognition determination section that determines, as a recognition result, an ID that is stored in the FIFO buffer by the most number. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274804 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image capturing apparatus including an image capturing unit configured to obtain an image by image capturing includes a first storage unit configured to store face information of an owner of the image capturing apparatus, an estimation unit configured to estimate a photographer of the image capturing apparatus based on a relationship between an object included in the image obtained by the image capturing unit and the face information of the owner stored in the first storage unit, and a change unit configured to change a photographing mode to a simple photographing mode according to the estimated photographer. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274805 | Color Correction for Static Cameras - Methods and apparatus are provided for color correction of images. One or more colors in an image obtained from a static video camera are corrected by obtaining one or more historical background models from one or more prior images obtained from the static video camera; obtaining a live background model and a live foreground model from one or more current images obtained from the static video camera; generating a reference image from the one or more historical background models; and processing the reference image, the live background model, and the live foreground model to generate a set of color corrected foreground objects in the image. The set of color corrected foreground objects is optionally processed to classify a color of at least one of the foreground objects. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274806 | IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image capture apparatus capable of auto bracketing. When a capture count for the auto bracketing is N (N is an integer of not less than three), a total of N−1 correction values are set by at least one on each of a positive side and negative side with respect to a reference value, and the apparatus sequentially expands or narrows a correction width serving as a difference between the reference value and each of the N−1 correction values in accordance with user's operation. When the capture count is two, the reference value and one correction value are set, and the apparatus sequentially increases or decreases the one correction value within the predetermined range in accordance with user's operation. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274807 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ORGANIC ELECTROLUMINESCENCE DISPLAY DEVICE - Provided is a method of manufacturing an organic electroluminescence display device including: an organic compound layer-forming step of forming an organic compound layer on a first electrode; a release layer-forming step of forming a release layer on the organic compound layer; a first processing step for the release layer of patterning the release layer; an organic compound layer-processing step of removing the organic compound layer in a region not covered with the release layer processed in the first processing step for the release layer; and a second processing step for the release layer of removing a part of the release layer, in which the release layer is a deposited film formed of a charge-transportable organic compound and is dissolved by a solvent containing an organic solvent miscible with water. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274808 | IMAGE OVERLAY IN A MOBILE DEVICE - Image overlay in a mobile device is described. In one embodiment an imaging system of a mobile communications device includes a first camera having a control interface to a controller and a data interface to the controller, a second camera having a data interface to the first camera, and a processor to combine an image from the second camera received through the second camera data interface with an image from the first camera and to send the combined image to the controller through the data interface. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274809 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND LUMINANCE ADJUSTING METHOD THEREOF - A luminance adjusting method of an electronic device is disclosed. The electronic device includes a light sensor, a control module, a memory and a light source module. The memory stores predetermined ambient luminance-light source luminance corresponding information. The luminance adjusting method includes following steps: obtaining an ambient luminance value by sensing ambient light via the light sensor; receiving an inputted adjusting value; adjusting the predetermined ambient luminance-light source luminance corresponding information according to the inputted adjusting value to generate first personalized ambient luminance-light source luminance corresponding information; generating an optimal luminance adjusting value by referring to the first personalized ambient luminance-light source luminance corresponding information and the ambient luminance value; and adjusting the luminance of the light source module according to the optimal luminance adjusting value. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274810 | INVERSE STAR TRACKER USING PSUEDO-RANDOM OVERLAPPING CIRCLES - A system comprises a rotatable object having a pseudo-random pattern of overlapping rounded shapes on an outer surface of the rotatable object and an image sensor configured to capture an image of a portion of the pseudo-random pattern on the outer surface. The system also comprises a memory configured to store a pattern map corresponding to the pseudo-random pattern on the outer surface of the rotatable object; and a processing unit configured to correlate the portion of the pseudo-random pattern in the captured image with a corresponding portion of the pattern map stored on the memory. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274811 | IMAGING DEVICES HAVING ARRAYS OF IMAGE SENSORS AND PRECISION OFFSET LENSES - Electronic devices may include array cameras having lens arrays, an corresponding color filter arrays, and corresponding image sensor arrays. Lenses in lens arrays may be aligned with positions on associated image sensors other than the centers of the associated image sensors. Lens arrays may include one or more layers of lenses formed by compression molding of transparent materials such as plastic. Lens arrays may be mounted directly onto integrated circuit dies on which the image sensor arrays are formed. Color filter arrays may include one or more red filters, one or more green filters and one or more blue filters. Offsetting the centers of lenses with respect to the centers of associated image sensors may allow capture of spatially offset single-color images by the image sensors. Spatially offset single-color images may be combined into super-resolution images using the processing circuitry. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274812 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - The present invention provides an imaging apparatus capable of facilitating a user's check of a focus adjustment state at the time of multiple exposure shooting, and also allowing a user to easily check in what kind of composition an image to be shot now will be combined with an already captured image immediately before shooting. The imaging apparatus includes a display control unit configured to perform control to display a through-the-lens image captured by an imaging unit on a display unit while sequentially updating the through-the-lens image during a focus adjustment, and display a multiple image combination result image generated by combining the through-the-lens image captured by the imaging unit and at least one already captured image on the display unit while sequentially updating the multiple image combination result image after completion of the focus adjustment. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274813 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - The present invention provides an imaging apparatus capable of performing a live view display showing a multiple image combination result image generated by combining a through-the-lens image with an already captured image at a more suitable combination ratio according to a user's intended operation during multiple exposure shooting. The imaging apparatus switches a multiple image combination result image displayed as a live view from a multiple image combination result image combined at a first combination ratio to a multiple image combination result image combined at a second combination ratio allowing a user to preliminarily check a combination ratio for generating a multiple image combination result image to be recorded into a recording medium, according to a user's operation. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274814 | METHOD OF FORMING AN IMAGE BASED ON A PLURALITY OF IMAGE FRAMES, IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND DIGITAL CAMERA - Image fusion based on a modified method of frame averaging for noise removal by partly averaging over images having a smaller resolution than the desired resolution of the de-noised image. The set of images which are summed for averaging out noise consists of two subsets. The first set of images has a resolution (in terms of number of pixels) being smaller than the resolution of the images in the second set. The resolution of the images in the second set is the resolution of the ‘high-definition’ de-noised output image. The lower resolution images are up-sampled by scaling their pixel numbers to that desired output image. The gradation of the first set images is also adapted to avoid intensity saturation (flare) due to sommation. Image fusing is also done in fourier space using the high frequency components from the higher resolution images and the lower ones from the lower resolution images. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274815 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - The present invention is directed to an imaging apparatus configured to display a through image in a visible manner when it is assumed that a status of a focus is confirmed even if a multiple live view display suitable for composition adjustment is performed in multiple exposure photography. The imaging apparatus includes a generation unit configured to multiple-synthesize a through image and at least a captured image, and to generate a multiple-composite image, a display control unit configured to perform control to display the multiple-composite image on a display unit while sequentially updating the multiple-composite image, a magnification instruction receiving unit configured to receive an image magnification instruction, and a control unit configured to perform control to display a through image magnified without multiple-synthesizing, on the display unit when receiving the magnification instruction while displaying the multiple-composite image. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274816 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING IMAGE IN DIGITAL CAMERA - An apparatus for processing an image in a digital camera Includes an image signal collection unit configured to process an image collected from a lens into image information using a CMOS image sensor (CIS), and an image correction unit configured to compensate for an intensity in response to a compensation curve corresponding to the image information collected by the image signal collection unit and output an image signal compensated depending on the intensity. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274817 | METHOD OF SELECTIVE APERTURE SHARPENING AND HALO SUPPRESSION USING CHROMA ZONES IN CMOS IMAGERS - A method of suppressing a dark halo in an imager includes the steps of: extracting an edge value from an image; determining a chroma zone associated with the edge value extracted from the image; and modifying the edge value based on the chroma zone associated with the extracted edge value. The modified edge value from the imager is then provided to a user. The step of determining the chroma zone includes determining a chroma value of Cr and Cb in a Y-Cr-Cb color space; and modifying the edge value includes multiplying the edge value by a predetermined gain value, k, depending on the chroma value of Cr and Cb. If the value of Cr is greater than zero, then the gain value k is set close to zero, in order to suppress the dark halo in the modified edge value. On the other hand, if the value of Cr is less than zero, then the gain value k is set close to one, in order to sharpen the modified edge value in the image. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274818 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes, a calculation module configured to find the correspondence between an arbitrary pixel of a first image input as a first image signal and an arbitrary pixel of a second image input as a second image signal acquired at the same time as the first image signal about the same subject, a determination module configured to compare the arbitrary pixel of the first image with the arbitrary pixel of the second image based on the calculation result of the calculation module and to determine whether the individual pixels are noise pixels or non-noise pixels differing from noise pixels, and a noise removal module configured to correct noise pixels based on the determination result of the determination module. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274819 | SIGNAL IMAGE EXTRACTION - A method of eliminating background noise from a system for authenticating security markers includes capturing an image of a background of the security marker; illuminating the security marker; capturing a plurality of images of the optical response of the security marker; averaging the plurality of optical response images; smoothing the background image; and subtracting the smoothed background image from the average of the plurality of optical response images. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274820 | COMPACT LABEL FREE IMAGING SYSTEM - A compact microplate imaging system, including: a tunable light source; a lens ensemble to collimate the light source onto the microplate and to transmit light that is reflected from the microplate; a beam splitter to divert a portion of the reflected light; an imaging lens to collect diverted light and to produce an optical image of the at least one sensor of the microplate; and an image sensor for receiving the optical image of the at least one sensor of the microplate. A method for interrogating a sensor using the compact microplate imaging system, as further defined herein, is also disclosed. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274821 | IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging apparatus for performing efficient signal processing depending on the operational mode. In the finder mode, a CCD interface | 2012-11-01 |
20120274822 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CAPTURING HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE IMAGES USING MULTI-FRAME INTERLACED EXPOSURE IMAGES - An imager includes an array of pixels arranged in rows and a control circuit for sequentially capturing first and second image frames from the array of pixels. The control circuit is configured to sequentially capture first and second pairs of adjacent rows of pixels during first and second exposure times, respectively, when capturing the first image frame. The control circuit is also configured to sequentially capture first and second pairs of adjacent rows of pixels during second and first exposure times, respectively, when capturing the second image frame. The first exposure times during the first and second frames are of similar duration; and the second exposure times during the first and second frames are of similar duration. The control circuit is configured to detect motion of an object upon combining the first and second image frames and, then, correct for the motion of the object. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274823 | IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device includes a pixel array in which pixels each including a photoelectric conversion part generating and storing a signal charge in accordance with incident light are disposed in a two-dimensional matrix state, and a vertical scanning circuit performing a reset of the photoelectric conversion part by each selected row, and performing a reading of a signal of the pixel by each selected row. During a read period performing the reading, the vertical scanning circuit performs the reset for the photoelectric conversion part at an arbitrary row of which reading ends in accordance with a change of the number of rows to which the resets for the photoelectric conversion parts before exposure are performed to make the number of rows to which the resets of the photoelectric conversion parts are performed constant within the read period of each row. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274824 | CCD IMAGE SENSORS AND METHODS - In various embodiments, image sensors include photosensitive pixels, associated vertical CCDs, sense nodes each accepting charge from one or more of the vertical CCDs, and readout circuitry accepting signals from the sense nodes. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274825 | IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging apparatus includes a display unit configured to display an image based on the image information output from the imaging unit, and a controller configured to control a display operation of the display unit. When the operation section receives the instruction to perform the focus operation while the display unit is displaying an image, the controller controls the display unit to switch the display on the display unit from an image currently displayed to an enlarged image of a focus area in the image currently displayed. When a predetermined condition is satisfied after completion of the focus operation, the controller further controls the display unit to switch the display on the display unit from the enlarged image to an image with the same angle of view as that of the image displayed before the enlarged image. | 2012-11-01 |
20120274826 | DISPLAY CONTROL APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - When the display start instruction is received before an elapsed time since the immediately preceding display operation of the object was ended reaches a predetermined time, a range based on a display range, which was displayed on the display area at an end timing of the display operation, is decided as an initial display range. When the display start instruction is received after the elapsed time is the predetermined time or longer, a display range, which is decided based on predetermined criteria, is decided as an initial display range irrespective of the display range, which was displayed on the display area at the end timing of the display operation. | 2012-11-01 |