Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080225129 | Electronic Equipment and Method in Electronic Equipment for Forming Image Information and a Program Product for Implementation of the Method - The invention relates to electronic equipment. The equipment includes camera means for forming data from an object located in the imaging direction, in which case the said camera means include at least two camera units (CAM | 09-18-2008 |
20080246849 | Optical Wavefront Control Pattern Generating Apparatus and Optical Wavefront Control Pattern Generating Method - An optical wavefront control pattern generating apparatus ( | 10-09-2008 |
20080259172 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP METHOD, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - Images are photographed by focus bracket photography at an in-focus position of a main subject and at focal positions followed and preceded by the in-focus position. The images are synthesized so as to obtain a blur-emphasized image in which areas desired to be blurred are appropriately blurred. | 10-23-2008 |
20080266408 | Apparatus and method for generating panorama image and computer readable medium stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing the method - The present invention relates to apparatus and method for generating a panorama image, and a computer readable medium stored thereon computer executable instructions for performing the method. | 10-30-2008 |
20080297612 | IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE - An image pickup device includes a plurality of image pickup unit configured to pick up images of a plurality of respective subject segments divided from a subject in a wide range; and a processing unit configured to combine the images picked up by the image pickup unit into a single image. | 12-04-2008 |
20080303911 | Method for Capturing, Measuring and Analyzing Motion - A system and method for capturing, measuring and analyzing motion in real-time is provided which operates with or without markers. A threshold image is based on a background image and is created to minimize noise during the motion capture. A captured image is compared to the threshold image to identify collections of hot pixels or globs. The globs are compared to expected characteristics of the markers or the subject and are tracked between frames. Glob information is used to determine the location of the markers or subject in each frame. | 12-11-2008 |
20080309774 | Multiple sensor input data synthesis - New systems and methods are hereby provided that inherently and naturally resolve the challenges of synthesizing coordinated inputs from multiple cameras. For example, a multi-sensor mediator may collect the input data from multiple sensors, and generate a composite signal that encodes the combined data from the different sensors. The multi-sensor mediator may then relay the composite signal to a sensor controller, as if the signal were coming from a single sensor. A computing device that receives the input from the sensor controller may then generate an output based on the composite signal, which may include processing the composite signal to combine the separate signals from the different sensors, such as to provide a stereo image output, for example. The multi-sensor mediator makes such an output possible by ensuring coordinated input and processing of the input from the multiple sensors, for example. | 12-18-2008 |
20090002504 | IMAGE ACQUISITION APPARATUS, RESOLUTION ENHANCING METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - An image sensor acquires images with resolutions being switched. A resolution switching unit switches the resolutions of the images to be output from the image sensor. An image selecting unit selects a basic image from a plurality of output images which are output from the image sensor, having different resolutions of two or more types switched by the resolution switching unit, at least including an image having a first resolution and an image having a second resolution higher than the first resolution. An image displacement estimating unit estimates a displacement between the basic image and another image. A resolution converting unit converts the resolution of any image in the plurality of output images output from the image sensor using the image having the first resolution and the image having the second resolution acquired by the image sensor and the displacement between images obtained by the image displacement estimating unit. | 01-01-2009 |
20090002505 | Imaging Device - The generation of a false color at the periphery is prevented in an imaging device including a compound eye optical system in which parallax occurs for each color information. An imaging device that includes a plurality of lens portions, a plurality of imaging regions each including a light receiving surface that is substantially perpendicular to the optical axis direction of each of the lens portions, and outputting an imaging signal, and a parallax computing portion that uses any one of the plurality of imaging signal as a reference imaging signal (G | 01-01-2009 |
20090040322 | ENHANCING DIGITAL IMAGES USING SECONDARY OPTICAL SYSTEMS - Apparatuses and methods for enhancing a “primary” large format, digital, macro-image with “secondary” image data are provided. The secondary image data is collected utilizing one or more secondary optical systems having at least one electro-optical detector array (e.g., a CCD array) and a specific set of optical mirrors or optical prisms, arranged in such a way that the secondary optical systems extend the angular angle-of-view of the primary optical system and the resultant digital image in at least two opposing directions, for instance, in the left and right and/or fore and aft directions. The primary image data and the secondary image data may be distinct and/or may include portions that overlap with one another. Further, the primary image data and the secondary image data may be collected at the same or different resolutions. The collected primary image data and secondary image data are utilized to generate a single output image. | 02-12-2009 |
20090040323 | ENHANCING DIGITAL IMAGES USING SECONDARY OPTICAL SYSTEMS - Apparatuses and methods for enhancing a “primary” large format, digital, macro-image with “secondary” image data are provided. The secondary image data is collected utilizing one or more secondary optical systems having at least one electro-optical detector array (e.g., a CCD array) and a specific set of optical mirrors or optical prisms, arranged in such a way that the secondary optical systems extend the angular field-of-view of the primary optical system and the resultant digital image in at least two opposing directions, for instance, in the left and right and/or fore and aft directions. The primary image data and the secondary image data may be distinct and/or may include portions that overlap with one another. Further, the primary image data and the secondary image data may be collected at the same or different resolutions. The collected primary image data and secondary image data are utilized to generate a single output image. | 02-12-2009 |
20090046163 | Volumetric imaging using "virtual" lenslets - A system constructs an image using virtual lenslets. | 02-19-2009 |
20090051778 | Advanced dynamic stitching method for multi-lens camera system - An advanced dynamic stitching method for multi-lens camera system is disclosed. This invention aims to address the parallax phenomenon which exists in a multi-lens camera system. Stitching points vary with the object distance. In a video stitching system, a fast search engine to update the stitching points dynamically is needed. This invention provides an advanced method to reduce the high computation power required for the traditional block matching method of finding stitching points. As a result, the stitching points can be adjusted dynamically with the method of this invention. | 02-26-2009 |
20090059018 | NAVIGATION ASSISTED MOSAIC PHOTOGRAPHY - An imaging apparatus for producing a mosaic image of a scene, including: an imager operable to capture a plurality of images of the scene; a motion sensor coupled to the imager; a transformation processor electrically coupled to the imager and the motion sensor and a mosaic processor electrically coupled to the transformation processor. The motion sensor is adapted to determine a pitch parameter and a yaw parameter of the imager associated with each captured image of the scene. The transformation processor is adapted to transform each captured image into a mosaic coordinate system using the associated pitch parameter and yaw parameter of the imager. The mosaic processor is adapted to produce a mosaic image of the scene from the transformed images. | 03-05-2009 |
20090079839 | VEHICLE DIAGNOSTICS BASED ON INFORMATION COMMUNICATED BETWEEN VEHICLES - A system and method for controlling a convoy of vehicles. The convoy of vehicles including a leader vehicle in communication with a plurality of autonomous follower vehicles. The leader vehicle is configured to receive a first autonomous follower vehicle data and compare the first autonomous follower vehicle data to at least one of a leader vehicle data, a second autonomous follower vehicle data and/or a threshold value. The first autonomous follower vehicle data, the leader vehicle data, the second autonomous follower vehicle data and the threshold value relate to a vehicle performance characteristic. | 03-26-2009 |
20090122148 | DISJOINT LIGHT SENSING ARRANGEMENTS AND METHODS THEREFOR - Imaging is carried out using multiple views (e.g., from a single monolithic device) to generate an image. According to an example embodiment, a scene is imaged using disjoint sensors beyond a designated focal plane to obtain multiple views of common points in the focal plane. For the common points, the multiple views are processed to compute a depth of field, and the computed depth of field to generate an image. | 05-14-2009 |
20090128643 | Image Pickup Apparatus, Method for Capturing Image, and Method for Designing Image Pickup Apparatus - The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus, a method for capturing an image, and a method for designing the image pickup apparatus capable of realising a fixed focal length image pickup apparatus of high resolution and fine resolution at a low cost by disposing a plurality of image pickup elements therein. An image pickup device | 05-21-2009 |
20090128644 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING A PHOTOGRAPH - Generating a photograph with a digital camera may include capturing a first image of a scene with a first zoom setting and capturing a second image of the scene with a second zoom setting, where the second zoom setting corresponds to higher magnification than the first zoom setting. The second image may be stitched into the first image in place of a removed portion of the first image that corresponds to a portion of the scene represented by the second image. The result is the photograph, which has a region corresponding to image data of the second image and a region corresponding to image data of the first image. | 05-21-2009 |
20090135263 | Method and Apparatus for Expanded Dynamic Range Imaging - A method and apparatus for enabling wide intensity range in digital imaging using a small amount of memory beyond the memory required for storing the relevant image. The methods and apparatus disclose exposing few-line segments within an image using two different exposure times before continuing with other segments of the image. In alternative configurations, sensors are sampled such that neighboring sensors having the same colors are sampled after being exposed for different durations. | 05-28-2009 |
20090167880 | Method for obtaining sharp pictures - A method of obtaining sharp pictures by calibrating blurred picture generated due to vibration while a photograph is taken is disclosed. First, a first picture is captured. The flash is judged to see if it is switched on. If the first picture is captured when the flash is switched off, then a second picture is captured when the flash is switched on. The first picture is calibrated based on the second picture, and stored after calibration. | 07-02-2009 |
20090185044 | Image Sensor and Method with Multiple Scanning Modes - Multiple scanning modes are provided for an array of electromagnetic radiation sensors. In the preferred implementation both selectable subarrays and the overall array can be read out and reset in any desired order, including interrupting a full array scan for a subarray scan and then resuming the full array scan. | 07-23-2009 |
20090195666 | MULTI-FOCUS CAMERA APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND PROGRAM USED THEREIN - In a multi-focus camera apparatus that photographs the same region with cameras having different focal lengths, detection means for detecting a specified target in images obtained by the cameras, region acquisition means for obtaining in the images regions comprising pixels having substantially the same relationships between blurriness degrees as relationships between blurriness degrees of the specified target having been detected in the respective images, and image processing means for carrying out image processing to display the obtained regions differently from other regions are included. | 08-06-2009 |
20090244303 | IMAGER, IMAGING CIRCUIT, AND IMAGE PROCESSING CIRCUIT - The number of channels is changed in accordance with an operation mode in an image pickup apparatus. An image-pickup control unit | 10-01-2009 |
20090244304 | IMAGE DATA GENERATING DEVICE - An image data generating device for generating image data pertaining to a target includes a transparent plate, a light radiation unit, a plurality of digital camera units, which are provided on a side close to a second surface of the transparent plate, and which are offset from each other and overlap the transparent plate as viewed from a direction perpendicular to a plane in which the transparent plate extends, and a photography data composition unit. The light radiated by the light radiation unit and reflected from the target directly enters the plurality of digital camera units, each of the digital camera units generating photography data pertaining to the target. The photography data composition unit combines a plural sets of photography data generated by the plurality of digital camera units and generates image data pertaining to the target. Two adjacent digital camera units generate partially-overlapping photography data. | 10-01-2009 |
20090262206 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING IMMERSIVE DISPLAYS OF VIDEO CAMERA INFORMATION FROM A PLURALITY OF CAMERAS - A system for providing stitched video from a first camera and a second camera to an electronic display system includes a processing circuit configured to associate a view a first camera with an approximate location. The processing circuit is further configured to build relationship data between the first camera and a second camera using the approximate location. The processing circuit is further configured to transform video from the first camera relative to video from the second camera, the transformation based on the relationship data. The processing circuit is further configured to use the transformed video to cause the stitched video to be provided to the electronic display system. | 10-22-2009 |
20090268043 | LARGE DYNAMIC RANGE CAMERAS - A digital camera includes a plurality of channels and a processing component operatively coupled to the plurality of channels. Each channel of the plurality of channels includes an optics component and a sensor that includes an array of photo-detectors. The processing component is configured to separately control an integration time of each channel, where a first integration time of a first channel is less than a second integration time of a second channel. The processing component is also configured to combine data from the plurality of channels to generate an image. | 10-29-2009 |
20090278947 | Imager and Imaging Method for Digital Cinematography - The invention provides an imager and imaging method for forming, on a plurality of photo-elements, an optical image of an object lying in a viewing plane defined by horizontal and vertical viewing axes. The imager comprises at least first, second and third video image sensors. Each video image sensor comprises a corresponding array of photoelements. The photoelements are arranged in rows and columns to define a first pixel resolution for each array. A lens is configured to focus at least a portion of light from the object onto the arrays. The arrays are arranged with respect to the lens such that the rows are aligned along avertical axis of the viewing plane. The columns are aligned along a horizontal axis of the viewing plane. An optical image of the object is formed. The image comprises a second pixel resolution higher than the first pixel resolution. | 11-12-2009 |
20090278948 | INFORMATION PRESENTATION APPARATUS, INFORMATION PRESENTATION METHOD, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - A method of presenting information, capable of displaying an image including one or more objects being in the vicinity of the ground, the method including the steps of: acquiring viewpoint information; acquiring visual line information; acquiring posture information; acquiring additional information related to the object position information; calculating horizon line information in the image; determining a reference line on the image on the basis of the horizon line information and the posture information; calculating distance information from the viewpoint position to the object; determining a display attribute of the additional information including a display mode of the additional information and a display position of the additional information in the image with respect to the reference line; and presenting the additional information on the basis of the display mode so as to reveal a relationship between the additional information and the object when displaying the image on the display unit. | 11-12-2009 |
20090290033 | Systems and methods of creating a virtual window - The systems and methods described herein provide imaging systems with multiple imaging sensors arranged in an optical head that create a seamless panoramic view by reducing parallax distortion and adaptively adjusting exposure levels of the recorded images. In particular, an optical head is described with a stacked configuration of CCD imaging sensors in which charge is transferred from a sensor to a processor beginning with an array of photosensitive elements nearest another sensor. | 11-26-2009 |
20090290034 | IMAGE FORMATION FOR LARGE PHOTOSENSOR ARRAY SURFACES - The invention performs electronic image formation and refinement from overlapping measurement vignettes captured by an array of image sensors and associated micro-optics. The invention is directed to an alternate image formation system that combines readily-fabricated micro-optical structures, a two-dimensional image sensor array with electronic or digital image processing to actually construct the image. | 11-26-2009 |
20090303334 | CROWD PHOTOGRAPHY - The invention provides for an apparatus ( | 12-10-2009 |
20090309987 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE-CAPTURING SYSTEM, REPRODUCTION CONTROL METHOD, RECORDING CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM - An information processing apparatus includes a video obtaining unit configured to obtain a plurality of items of video data captured by a plurality of image-capturing devices; a position information obtaining unit configured to obtain position information including an orientation and an angle of view of each of the image-capturing devices; a reproduction position calculation unit configured to calculate a reproduction position of each item of the video data so that a projection direction and an angle of view of the item of the video data matches the orientation and the angle of view of a corresponding one of the image-capturing devices by using the position information; and a reproduction controller configured to reproduce each item of the video data at the corresponding reproduction position. | 12-17-2009 |
20090322891 | SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS, SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD, PROGRAM AND RECORDING MEDIUM - A signal processing apparatus includes: an input unit receiving a first image generated by a first camera and higher-resolution second images generated by a plurality of second cameras; a similar portion detecting unit detecting a similar portion between part of a subject included in the first image and a subject included in each of the second images; an image synthesizing unit pasting the second images at positions corresponding to the detected similar portions within the first image to generate a synthesized image; an imaging area detecting unit detecting an area, for which image information is insufficient in the first image and is difficult to complement by the second cameras, as a non-imageable area from the synthesized image; and a camera parameter calculation unit changing a camera parameter for controlling the second camera that captures the second image by which the image information insufficient in the first image is complemented. | 12-31-2009 |
20100020187 | PLENOPTIC CAMERA - One embodiment of the present invention provides a plenoptic camera which captures information about the direction distribution of light rays entering the camera. Like a conventional camera, this plenoptic camera includes a main lens which receives light from objects in an object field and directs the received light onto an image plane of the camera. It also includes a photodetector array located at the image plane of the camera, which captures the received light to produce an image. However, unlike a conventional camera, the plenoptic camera additionally includes an array of optical elements located between the object field and the main lens. Each optical element in this array receives light from the object field from a different angle than the other optical elements in the array, and consequently directs a different view of the object field into the main lens. In this way, the photodetector array receives a different view of the object field from each optical element in the array. | 01-28-2010 |
20100026822 | Multiplexing Imaging System for Area Coverage and Point Targets - A system for imaging a scene. The system includes a plurality of cameras, each camera including an image sensor and a field steering mirror. The system also includes a controller and a storage device. The controller is coupled to the cameras and the storage device and is configured to direct the field steering mirrors of the cameras to collect a plurality of image tiles of a scene. The is also configured to store the image tiles in the storage device with time stamps and location information. | 02-04-2010 |
20100053348 | IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE, IMAGE ANALYSIS DEVICE, EXTERNAL LIGHT INTENSITY CALCULATION METHOD, IMAGE ANALYSIS METHOD, IMAGE CAPTURE PROGRAM, IMAGE ANALYSIS PROGRAM, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A touch position detection device ( | 03-04-2010 |
20100066846 | SYNCHRONIZED MULTIPLE IMAGER SYSTEM AND METHOD - A synchronized multiple imager system includes a plurality of imagers having pixels arranged in rows and columns. The pixels generate pixel data responsive to light directed onto the imagers. One or more respective sensors are coupled to the imagers. The sensors sense the pixel data from the columns and output a vertical raster stream representative of the pixel data in the columns, thereby generating a plurality of vertical raster streams. A clock circuit synchronizes the sensors to sense selected columns in the imagers and to output the vertical raster streams from the selected columns. A processor circuit is configured to receive the vertical raster streams from the imagers and to process the vertical raster streams to generate a plurality of stitched raster streams. The processor circuit stitches seam vertical raster streams from adjacent pairs of imagers. | 03-18-2010 |
20100149358 | Method and apparatus for producing a panoramic plurality of partly overlapping unit images - A whole image showing the entire range of the object of shooting is generated by picking up unit images, each constituting a part of the scenic range to be imaged, by sequentially shifting the image pickup direction, cutting out image regions of a predetermined size, each constituting a part of each of the unit images picked up in the image pickup step, so as to produce overlapping areas and sequentially and partly superposing the image region. The noise components of the image regions are uniformized to improve the image quality by cutting out image regions as to make two or more than two image regions overlap each other in average for the position of each unit image of the whole image to be generated. | 06-17-2010 |
20100165134 | Arrayed Imaging Systems And Associated Methods - Arrayed imaging systems include an array of detectors formed with a common base and a first array of layered optical elements, each one of the layered optical elements being optically connected with a detector in the array of detectors. | 07-01-2010 |
20100194901 | Multi-Channel Imaging Devices - A multi-channel imaging device is provided. The multi-channel imaging device includes a focal plane array having an array of pixels configured to detect radiation in a predetermined wavelength band. Subsets of the array of pixels are arranged to define a plurality of unit cell image areas. The multi-channel imaging device also includes a lens array having a plurality of lens elements configured to image a scene onto the plurality of unit cell image areas. The lens elements and the unit cell image areas define a plurality of unit cells having at least one lens element and at least one unit cell image area. Each of the plurality of unit cells is configured to create a complete image of the scene. Additionally, a plurality of unit cell filters corresponding to the plurality of unit cells is configured to filter radiation such that each unit cell is dedicated to an image channel is also provided. | 08-05-2010 |
20100231734 | MULTIPLE RESOLUTION VIDEO NETWORK WITH CONTEXT BASED CONTROL - A system. The system includes a computing device configured for communication with a plurality of multiple resolution cameras and with a display device. The computing device includes a composite image module. The composite image module is configured for receiving composite information from at least one of the multiple resolution cameras, and for generating a composite image based on the composite information. | 09-16-2010 |
20100245607 | Video processing apparatus - The video processing apparatus includes: a pattern information storing unit that stores use part information and location information; a plurality of video inputting units that input each of a plurality of video data; a video data generating unit that generates a plurality of types of generated video data; a generated video pattern selecting unit that selects a pattern of generated video data to be generated; a process unit that stores the use part of each video data in a storing unit; and a video outputting unit that coordinate-converts the generated combined video data with coordinate conversion data, generates the generated video data, and outputs the generated video data to the display unit. The use part information indicates a use part of each video data used for the generated video data, and the location information includes reduction ratio information of the use part of the each video data. | 09-30-2010 |
20100265346 | CAMERA SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AMALGAMATING IMAGES TO CREATE AN OMNI-FOCUSED IMAGE - This invention relates to a system and method for creating an omni-focused image. Specifically, this invention relates to a system and method for electronically amalgamating images using real-time distance information to create an omni-focused image. The system of the invention comprises one or more video cameras aimed at a scene each generating a video output focused at a different distance, a distance mapping camera providing distance information for one or more objects in the scene, and a pixel selection utility wherein the pixel selection utility uses the distance information to select pixels from the video outputs to be used to generate a video display. The system is then operable to focus and amalgamate the video outputs to produce one image with multiple focal points or an omni-focused image. | 10-21-2010 |
20100309325 | DISPLAY DEVICE HAVING SCANNING FUNCTION - A display device includes a housing, a liquid crystal panel member, numerous camera modules, a light emitting device and a processing unit. The housing defines a slot configured for allowing an display medium to enter the display device. The liquid crystal panel member is received in the housing. The camera modules are positioned in the reflective housing and each is configured for capturing a sub-images of a corresponding portion of the display medium. The light emitting device is configured for emitting light to the display medium. The processing unit is configured for obtaining an image of the display medium by synthesizing the sub-images of the corresponding portions of the display medium. | 12-09-2010 |
20100321511 | Lenslet camera with rotated sensors - At a digital imaging system, a first set of samples of a scene are digitally captured with a first array of image sensing nodes while simultaneously a second set of samples of the scene are digitally captured with a second array of image sensing nodes. Image sensing nodes of the second array are oriented in a rotated position relative to the image sensing nodes of the first array. The first and second sets of samples are integrated with one another while correcting for the rotated orientation of the image sensing nodes of the second array relative to the image sensing nodes of the first array, and from that integration is output a high resolution image. In specific embodiments, there may be additional arrays of image sensing nodes, different arrays may sample different size portions of the scene, and be also rotated relative to other sensing node arrays. | 12-23-2010 |
20110025863 | SENSOR ARRAY WITH SELECTABLE RESOLUTION AND METHOD THEREOF - A sensor array, including: a plurality of pixels; first and second video lines; and a plurality of intermediate circuits. Each intermediate circuit is electrically connected to a respective pixel from the plurality of pixels and electrically connected to both the first and second video lines. A method for modifying resolution of a sensor array, the array including first and second video lines, a plurality of pixels, and a plurality of intermediate circuits; and, including: electrically connecting each intermediate circuit to a respective pixel and to the first and second video lines; for a first mode, transmitting a signal from a pixel in the plurality of pixels to the first video line via a respective intermediate circuit from the plurality of intermediate circuits; and for a second mode, transmitting a signal from the pixel to the second video line via the respective intermediate circuit from the plurality of intermediate circuits. | 02-03-2011 |
20110025864 | SYNTHETIC IMAGE FORMATION VIA SIGNAL PROCESSING FOR VIGNETTED OPTOELECTROINC ARRAYS, LENSLESS CAMERAS, AND INTEGRATED CAMERA-DISPLAYS - Algorithms and methods for performing electronic image formation and refinement from overlapping measurement vignettes captured by an array of image sensors and associated micro-optics are presented. The invention is directed to a new type of image formation system that combines readily-fabricated micro-optical structures, a two-dimensional image sensor array with electronic or digital image processing to actually construct the image. Image formation is performed without a conventional large shared lens and associated separation distance between lens and image sensor, resulting in a “lensless camera.” | 02-03-2011 |
20110032369 | VIGNETTED OPTOELECTRONIC ARRAY FOR USE IN SYNTHETIC IMAGE FORMATION VIA SIGNAL PROCESSING, LENSLESS CAMERAS, AND INTEGRATED CAMERA-DISPLAYS - A vignetted optoelectronic array for systems and methods performing electronic image formation and refinement from overlapping measurement vignettes captured by an array of image sensors and associated micro-optics. The invention is directed to a new type of image formation system that combines readily-fabricated micro-optical structures, a two-dimensional image sensor array, and electronic or digital image processing to construct an image. Image formation is performed without a conventional large shared lens and associated separation distance between lens and image sensor, resulting in a “lensless camera.” | 02-10-2011 |
20110032370 | SYNTHETIC IMAGE FORMATION SIGNAL PROCESSING HARDWARE FOR VIGNETTED OPTOELECTRONIC ARRAYS, LENSLESS CAMERAS, AND INTEGRATED CAMERA-DISPLAYS - Hardware arrangement performing electronic image formation and refinement from overlapping measurement vignettes captured by an array of image sensors and associated micro-optics are presented. The invention is directed to a new type of image formation system that combines readily-fabricated micro-optical structures, a two-dimensional image sensor array with electronic or digital image processing to actually construct the image. Image formation is performed without a conventional large shared lens and associated separation distance between lens and image sensor, resulting in a “lensless camera.” | 02-10-2011 |
20110043649 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD,AND IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - The present invention relates to generation of an appropriate high-resolution image with respect to a plurality of input images. | 02-24-2011 |
20110050928 | SELECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CAMERA - A selection system includes a sensor, a processing unit, and a driving unit. The sensor is mounted on an electronic device to measure changes in position of the electronic device and output measurement results correspondingly. The processing unit receives the measurement results to obtain an angle of inclination of the electronic device relative to a datum plane, outputs an angle control signal according to the angle of inclination, and selects one of a number of cameras according to the angle control signal. The electronic device displays images captured by the selected camera. | 03-03-2011 |
20110050929 | CAMERA ARRAY - A camera array includes a number of cameras. The number of cameras target a subject to be monitored, and capture images of the subject from different angles at one time to provide a composite image of the subject. The camera array can obtain more information about the subject. | 03-03-2011 |
20110058053 | MOBILE TERMINAL WITH MULTIPLE CAMERAS AND METHOD FOR IMAGE PROCESSING USING THE SAME - A mobile terminal includes: a first camera; a second camera; an image processor to process first image data generated by the first camera according to an interface format of a host processor; and a concurrent driver to process second image data generated by the second camera according to an output format of the image processor and to buffer the processed second image data to the host processor. A method for image processing of a mobile terminal includes, if both the first and second cameras operate in an ON state, the image processor processing the first image data of the first camera according to the interface format of the host processor, and the concurrent driver operating in an active mode to process the second image data of the second camera according to the output format of the image processor and buffering the arranged images to the host processor. | 03-10-2011 |
20110069189 | CAPTURING AND PROCESSING OF IMAGES USING MONOLITHIC CAMERA ARRAY WITH HETEROGENEOUS IMAGERS - A camera array, an imaging device and/or a method for capturing image that employ a plurality of imagers fabricated on a substrate is provided. Each imager includes a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers. Each imager may be associated with an optical element fabricated using a wafer level optics (WLO) technology. | 03-24-2011 |
20110074965 | VIDEO PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A video processing system includes a number of time-of-flight (TOF) cameras and a video card. The number of TOF cameras shoots different regions of a scene to obtain a number of images. The number of images includes distance data between the scene and the number of TOF cameras. The video card combines the number of images to obtain a full image of the scene. The full image of the scene has a larger size than that of each of the number of images, same resolution with that of each of the number of images, and distance data between the scene and the number of TOF cameras. | 03-31-2011 |
20110080487 | CAPTURING AND PROCESSING OF IMAGES USING MONOLITHIC CAMERA ARRAY WITH HETEROGENEOUS IMAGERS - Systems and methods for implementing array cameras configured to perform super-resolution processing to generate higher resolution super-resolved images using a plurality of captured images and lens stack arrays that can be utilized in array cameras are disclosed. An imaging device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes at least one imager array, and each imager in the array comprises a plurality of light sensing elements and a lens stack including at least one lens surface, where the lens stack is configured to form an image on the light sensing elements, control circuitry configured to capture images formed on the light sensing elements of each of the imagers, and a super-resolution processing module configured to generate at least one higher resolution super-resolved image using a plurality of the captured images. | 04-07-2011 |
20110128393 | DIGITAL IMAGING - An apparatus, method and computer program, in which there is provided an apparatus with a body, which apparatus has a set of camera modules mounted on the body, each camera module configured to take images with a first field of view and an adjustment mechanism configured to move the camera modules between a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, each camera module shares a substantially common field of view that covers a first view area. In the second configuration, the fields of view of the camera modules collectively form a second view area that is continuous and covers a second view area. A zoom-in image is formed in the first configuration using super-resolution combining of the images taken by the camera modules. | 06-02-2011 |
20110157387 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING IMAGE DATA - A method for generating image data includes adjusting an angle formed by each of a plurality of lenses attached to the imaging device relative to a reference plane based on a photography mode, obtaining at least one first image data using the plurality of adjusted lenses, and generating second image data corresponding to the photography mode using the at least one first image data. | 06-30-2011 |
20110176016 | IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device includes an image sensing device, a lens array, and a light-channel plate from the image side to the object side of the imaging device. The image sensing device includes a number of image sensors continuously arranged. The lens array includes a number of lenses. The light-channel plate defines a number of light channels. Each lens is received in a corresponding light channel and aligned with a corresponding image sensor. The imaging device also includes a storing device, a distance sensor and an image processor. The storing device stores a predetermined object distance. The distance sensor is configured for sensing a current object distance and controlling the imaging sensors to sense images if determining the current object distance is larger than the predetermined object distance. The image processor is connected with the image sensors and used for combing the images sensed by the image sensors. | 07-21-2011 |
20110187878 | Synchronization of projected illumination with rolling shutter of image sensor - Imaging apparatus includes an illumination assembly, including a plurality of radiation sources and projection optics, which are configured to project radiation from the radiation sources onto different, respective regions of a scene. An imaging assembly includes an image sensor and objective optics configured to form an optical image of the scene on the image sensor, which includes an array of sensor elements arranged in multiple groups, which are triggered by a rolling shutter to capture the radiation from the scene in successive, respective exposure periods from different, respective areas of the scene so as to form an electronic image of the scene. A controller is coupled to actuate the radiation sources sequentially in a pulsed mode so that the illumination assembly illuminates the different, respective areas of the scene in synchronization with the rolling shutter. | 08-04-2011 |
20110193979 | METHOD FOR COMPRESSING VIDEOS AND PLAYING COMPOSITE IMAGES OF THE VIDEOS - A method for compressing videos obtains videos from a storage device, selects a main frame from the videos at each time layer and each angle, and further selects a new main frame after each time interval and angle interval. Then, the method obtains frames between two adjacent main frames, and stores different pixels between each of the obtained frames and a previous main frame of the two adjacent main frames, so as to obtain composite images of the videos. | 08-11-2011 |
20110199496 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, IMAGE CAPTURING CONTROL METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image capturing apparatus | 08-18-2011 |
20110199497 | Display System, Method, and Computer Program Product for Capturing Images Using Multiple Integrated Image Sensors - A display system, method, and computer program product are provided for capturing images using multiple integrated image sensors. The display system includes a front panel for displaying an image. The display system further includes a matrix of image sensors situated behind the front panel. | 08-18-2011 |
20110211085 | BEARING DEVICE AND IMAGING SYSTEM USING THE SAME - An imaging system uses optical modules to capture images of a subject. The optical modules are fixed on a bearing plate of the imaging system by a fastening element of the imaging system. The fastening element is removable and fixed on the support plate. Each of the optical modules has an optical surface. The fastening element has a bevel attached to all the optical surfaces of the optical modules so that all the optical surfaces are coplanar. | 09-01-2011 |
20110242341 | Method and System for Generating High Temporal Resolution Video from Low Temporal Resolution Videos - Embodiments of the invention disclose a system and a method for generating an output video having a first temporal resolution from input videos acquired synchronously of a scene by at least three cameras, wherein each input video has a second temporal resolution, wherein the second temporal resolution is less than the first temporal resolution. The method obtains frames of each input video, wherein the frames are sampled according to a code selected such that an integration time of the corresponding camera is greater than a frame time of the output video. Next, the method combines intensities of pixels of corresponding frames in a linear system; and solves the linear system independently for each corresponding frame to generate the output video. | 10-06-2011 |
20110242342 | COMBINING DATA FROM MULTIPLE IMAGE SENSORS - A method of combining data from multiple sensors is disclosed. The method includes providing a common control signal to multiple image sensors to be synchronized. The method further includes receiving a first data line from a first image sensor of the multiple image sensors, receiving a second data line from a second image sensor of the multiple image sensors, and combining the first data line and the second data line to generate a synchronized data line. | 10-06-2011 |
20110267482 | MULTIPLEXED IMAGING - An imaging method comprises acquiring image data in which image components are spatially modulated at distinct spatial frequencies, transforming the image data into the Fourier domain and separating the image components in the Fourier domain. The image components may be transformed into the spatial domain. The image components may comprise different colors. In some embodiments saturated pixels are reconstructed by performing an optimization based on differences between image copies in the Fourier domain. Imaging apparatus may perform the imaging methods. | 11-03-2011 |
20110285866 | Multi-Channel Imager - An imaging system may include a multi-channel image sensor. In a multi-channel image sensor, multiple image streams from a common pixel array may be provided to a common interface transport for output on multiple logic channels. Image streams may include high-definition (HD) video and snapshot image data. Video image data may be resized using resize circuitry on the image sensors. Snapshot image data may be processed by the image sensor. Full-resolution portions of snapshot images may be output concurrently with resized HD video image data on multiple logic channels to an image signal processor. In an alternative embodiment, stack memory on the image sensor may be used to store full-resolution snapshot image data. Full-resolution snapshot image data may then be output concurrently with resized HD video image data at a slower data rate than the video image data. | 11-24-2011 |
20110292227 | IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGE CORRECTION METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM - An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging unit for acquiring a plurality of viewpoint images imaged from a plurality of view-points by a plurality of imaging optical systems each including a zoom lens; a storage unit for storing an error of the imaging optical system; an optical zoom magnification specifying unit for receiving specification instruction of an optical zoom magnification; a zoom lens driving unit for moving the zoom lens to a position corresponding to the instruction of the optical zoom magnification; and a correction unit for setting an electronic zoom magnification corresponding to the position of the zoom lens, magnifying a viewpoint image to be corrected from within the plurality of viewpoint images based on the electronic zoom magnification, and extracting a part of the magnified viewpoint image to eliminate an object point shift amount corresponding to the error from the magnified viewpoint image. | 12-01-2011 |
20120008000 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM, COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - An image processing apparatus includes a memory that memorizes a plurality of pickup images in which an object has been picked up by varying an irradiation direction of a light; an extracting portion that extracts an area image of an area indicated by a user from each of the pickup images memorized in the memory; a calculating portion that calculates at least one illumination parameter for each area image by one of calculating an amount of edges from each extracted area image, executing a clustering process to brightness of each extracted area image, and executing a totaling process of totaling differences in brightness between the extracted area images; and a generating portion that generates at least one synthetic image by synthesizing the extracted area images with the at least one illumination parameter. | 01-12-2012 |
20120044372 | DUAL IMAGE SENSOR IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEM AND METHOD - Various techniques are provided for processing image data acquired using a digital image sensor. In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, one such technique may relate to the processing of image data in a system that supports multiple image sensors. In one embodiment, the image processing system may include control circuitry configured to determine whether a device is operating in a single sensor mode (one active sensor) or a dual sensor mode (two active sensors). When operating in the single sensor mode, data may be provided directly to a front-end pixel processing unit from the sensor interface of the active sensor. When operating in a dual sensor mode, the image frames from the first and second sensors are provided to the front-end pixel processing unit in an interleaved manner. For instance, in one embodiment, the image frames from the first and second sensors are written to a memory, and then read out to the front-end pixel processing unit in an interleaved manner. | 02-23-2012 |
20120044373 | IMAGING SYSTEM AND IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - An imaging system for capturing images of the same object using a plurality of image capturing apparatuses that can communicate with each other is provided. At least one image capturing apparatus of the image capturing apparatuses transmits information of a distance to an in-focus position, or a captured image including the in-focus position, to another image capturing apparatus among the image capturing apparatuses, and each of the image capturing apparatuses determines each depth of field using the information of the distance to the in-focus position, or the captured image including the in-focus position. | 02-23-2012 |
20120062756 | Method and System for Processing Multiview Videos for View Synthesis Using Skip and Direct Modes - Multiview videos are acquired by overlapping cameras. Side information is used to synthesize multiview videos. A reference picture list is maintained for current frames of the multiview videos, the reference picture indexes temporal reference pictures and spatial reference pictures of the acquired multiview videos and the synthesized reference pictures of the synthesized multiview video. Each current frame of the multiview videos is predicted according to reference pictures indexed by the associated reference picture list with a skip mode and a direct mode, whereby the side information is inferred from the synthesized reference picture. Alternatively, the depth images corresponding to the multiview videos of the input data, and this data are encoded as part of the bitstream depending on a SKIP type. | 03-15-2012 |
20120147205 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SYNTHESIZING HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES USING SUPER-RESOLUTION PROCESSES - Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed that use super-resolution (SR) processes to use information from a plurality of low resolution (LR) images captured by an array camera to produce a synthesized higher resolution image. One embodiment includes obtaining input images using the plurality of imagers, using a microprocessor to determine an initial estimate of at least a portion of a high resolution image using a plurality of pixels from the input images, and using a microprocessor to determine a high resolution image that when mapped through the forward imaging transformation matches the input images to within at least one predetermined criterion using the initial estimate of at least a portion of the high resolution image. In addition, each forward imaging transformation corresponds to the manner in which each imager in the imaging array generate the input images, and the high resolution image synthesized by the microprocessor has a resolution that is greater than any of the input images. | 06-14-2012 |
20120188389 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PARALLAX CORRECTION IN FUSED ARRAY IMAGING SYSTEMS - Electronic devices may include camera modules. A camera module may include an array camera having an array of lenses and an array of corresponding image sensors. Parallax correction and depth mapping methods may be provided for array cameras. A parallax correction method may include a global and a local parallax correction. A global parallax correction may be determined based on one-dimensional horizontal and vertical projections of edge images. Local parallax corrections may be determined using a block matching procedure. Further improvements to local parallax corrections may be generated using a relative block color saturation test, a smoothing of parallax correction vectors and, if desired, using a cross-check between parallax correction vectors determined for multiple image sensors. Three dimensional depth maps may be generated based on parallax correction vectors. | 07-26-2012 |
20120206616 | IMAGE SENSOR ARRAY FOR DETECTING IMAGE INFORMATION FOR AUTOMATIC IMAGE DATA PROCESSING - An image sensor array for capturing image information for automatic image data processing. The image sensor array includes a multiplicity of identical sensor cells. Each sensor cell respectively comprises at least one image sensor with a dedicated sensor optical system. A frame buffer is configured to store image information from the at least one image sensor. An evaluation unit is configured to process the image information. At least one data interface to a directly adjacent sensor cell. The sensor cells are arranged in at least one row so that a capture region of an image sensor of the directly adjacent sensor cell overlaps. The at least one data interface to the directly adjacent sensor cell is configured to access the image data of the capture region. The respective valuation unit of the sensor cells is configured to determine a correlation of items of the image data in the capture region | 08-16-2012 |
20120218431 | IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging apparatus includes a first and a second imaging unit, a clipping unit, an image processing control unit. The first imaging unit is provided on a front face of an apparatus main body. The second imaging unit is provided on a back face of the apparatus main body. The clipping unit clips image data of the second main subject from the second acquired image data. The image processing control unit combines the first acquired image data with the image data of the second main subject clipped by the clipping unit to meet combining conditions determined by the first image data. | 08-30-2012 |
20120257070 | Acquisition System for Images Having a High Dynamic Range - An image acquisition system comprises: a single set of focussing optics focussing an incident beam from a scene to be imaged on a first sensor and a second sensor exhibiting identical spectral response curves; followed by separation means separating the irradiance of the beam coming from the focussing optics into first and second predetermined fractions, the separation means orienting the first fraction towards the first sensor and the second fraction towards the second sensor; control means for controlling a first acquisition time of the scene to be imaged by the first sensor to obtain a first image and/or a second acquisition time of the scene to be imaged by the second sensor to obtain a second image; and merging means that merge the first image coming from the first sensor and the second image coming from the second sensor to generate a final image. | 10-11-2012 |
20120262594 | IMAGE-CAPTURING APPARATUS - In a motion picture capturing system for generating a virtual viewpoint image by a plurality of cameras, if image-capturing is performed with timing being shifted to improve frame rate performance, estimation accuracy is deteriorated due to an error in corresponding point detection between images or the presence of a moving subject. The image-capturing timing is controlled such that two or more of a plurality of image-capturing units perform simultaneous image-capturing, and motion of the whole of an image-capturing apparatus is estimated from a plurality of images captured by the simultaneous image-capturing. The virtual viewpoint image is synthesized from the images captured by the simultaneous image-capturing by the plurality of image-capturing units and the estimated motion. | 10-18-2012 |
20120307092 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image capturing apparatus and a control method thereof relate to an image capturing apparatus such as a camera array. The image capturing apparatus comprises a plurality of image capturing units. An image capturing unit to be activated out of a plurality of image capturing units is decided based on the capturing distance of an object included in a captured scene. Electricity is supplied to the image capturing unit decided to be activated. | 12-06-2012 |
20120307093 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND METHOD THEREOF - An image processing apparatus and method relate to an imaging process which is applied to image data captured by an image capturing apparatus such as a multi-eye camera, multi-view camera, and the like. The image processing apparatus and method generates synthetic image data which focused on a curved focus surface by compositing multi-view image data captured from multi-viewpoints. | 12-06-2012 |
20130010144 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING IMMERSIVE DISPLAYS OF VIDEO CAMERA INFORMATION FROM A PLURALITY OF CAMERAS - A system for providing stitched video from a first camera and a second camera to an electronic display system includes a processing circuit configured to associate a view a first camera with an approximate location. The processing circuit is further configured to build relationship data between the first camera and a second camera using the approximate location. The processing circuit is further configured to transform video from the first camera relative to video from the second camera, the transformation based on the relationship data. The processing circuit is further configured to use the transformed video to cause the stitched video to be provided to the electronic display system. | 01-10-2013 |
20130076928 | LARGE DYNAMIC RANGE CAMERAS - A digital camera includes a plurality of channels and a processing component operatively coupled to the plurality of channels. Each channel of the plurality of channels includes an optics component and a sensor that includes an array of photo-detectors. The processing component is configured to separately control an integration time of each channel, where a first integration time of a first channel is less than a second integration time of a second channel. The processing component is also configured to combine data from the plurality of channels to generate an image. | 03-28-2013 |
20130120602 | Taking Photos With Multiple Cameras - Various embodiments utilize multiple built-in cameras on a mobile device, e.g., a phone, to capture images, individuals of which include a portion from each of the cameras. The ratio and layout of the portions from different cameras can be adjusted before the image is captured and stored. In at least some embodiments, individual cameras face different directions, and images captured by one of the cameras can be incorporated into images captured by another of the cameras. For example, in at least some embodiments, particularly those in which a user's image is captured, the user's image can be extracted from the view of a first camera, such as a front-facing camera on a mobile device, and displayed to a user in the foreground of the image captured by a second camera, such as a landscape image captured by a back-facing camera on the mobile device. | 05-16-2013 |
20130147979 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EXTENDING DYNAMIC RANGE OF IMAGER ARRAYS BY CONTROLLING PIXEL ANALOG GAIN - Array cameras and imager arrays configured to capture high dynamic range light field image data and methods of capturing high dynamic range light field image data in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. Imager arrays in accordance with many embodiments of the invention include multiple focal planes with associated read out and sampling circuitry. The sampling circuitry controls the conversion of the analog image information into digital image data. In certain embodiments, the sampling circuitry includes an Analog Front End (AFE) and an Analog to Digital Converter (ADC). In several embodiments, the AFE is used to apply different amplification gains to analog image information read out from pixels in a given focal plane to provide increased dynamic range to digital image data generated by digitizing the amplified analog image information. The different amplifications gains can be applied in a predetermined manner or on a pixel by pixel basis. | 06-13-2013 |
20130188068 | Systems and methods for acquiring and processing image data produced by camera arrays - This disclosure is directed to camera systems including a camera array, data buses shared by the cameras, and one or more processors that process images captured by the camera array. In one aspect, a camera system ( | 07-25-2013 |
20130229540 | COMPOUND CAMERA SENSOR AND RELATED METHOD OF PROCESSING DIGITAL IMAGES - In one embodiment, a light sensor includes four cell arrays, one for each color of the Bayer pattern, and four lenses each focusing the light coming from the scene to be captured on a respective cell array. The lenses are oriented such that at least a second green image, commonly provided by the fourth cell array, is both horizontally and vertically shifted (spaced) apart by half a pixel pitch from a first (reference) green image. In a second embodiment, the four lenses are oriented such that the red and blue images are respectively shifted (spaced) apart by half a pixel pitch from the first or reference green image, one horizontally and the other vertically, and the second green image is shifted (spaced) apart by half a pixel pitch from the reference green image both horizontally and vertically. | 09-05-2013 |
20130235223 | COMPOSITE VIDEO SEQUENCE WITH INSERTED FACIAL REGION - A method for forming a composite video sequence, from a first digital video sequence captured of a scene by a photographer, and a second digital video sequence captured simultaneously with the first digital video sequence that includes the photographer. The first digital video sequence is analyzed to determine a low-interest spatial image region. A facial video sequence including the photographer's face is extracted from the second digital video sequence, and inserted into the low-interest spatial image region in the first digital video sequence to form the composite video sequence. | 09-12-2013 |
20130235224 | VIDEO CAMERA PROVIDING A COMPOSITE VIDEO SEQUENCE - A digital camera system including a first video capture unit for capturing a first digital video sequence of a scene and a second video capture unit that simultaneously captures a second digital video sequence that includes the photographer. A data processor automatically analyzes first digital video sequence to determine a low-interest spatial image region. A facial video sequence including the photographer's face is extracted from the second digital video sequence, and inserted into the low-interest spatial image region in the first digital video sequence to form the composite video sequence. | 09-12-2013 |
20130235225 | ARRAY-CAMERA MOTION PICTURE DEVICE, AND METHODS TO PRODUCE NEW VISUAL AND AURAL EFFECTS - A system and method for creating special effects comprising capturing an image of an object or objects in motion from each of a plurality of cameras aligned in an array, assembling the images from each camera into a series of images in a manner providing a simulation of motion from a perspective along the array with respect to the object or objects within the images when a series of images is displayed in sequence, wherein certain object or objects appear substantially stationary in time during the simulation of motion. | 09-12-2013 |
20130265459 | OPTICAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR USE WITH AN ARRAY CAMERA - A variety of optical arrangements and methods of modifying or enhancing the optical characteristics and functionality of these optical arrangements are provided. The optical arrangements being specifically designed to operate with camera arrays that incorporate an imaging device that is formed of a plurality of imagers that each include a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers. In many optical arrangements the MTF characteristics of the optics allow for contrast at spatial frequencies that are at least as great as the desired resolution of the high resolution images synthesized by the array camera, and significantly greater than the Nyquist frequency of the pixel pitch of the pixels on the focal plane, which in some cases may be 1.5, 2 or 3 times the Nyquist frequency. | 10-10-2013 |
20130278787 | IMAGING AND PROCESSING USING DUAL CLOCKS - A method for imaging includes capturing images of an object using a matrix of detector elements and performing a processing operation in the detector elements under control of a global clock. Results of the processing operation are read out under control of a rolling clock, which is unsynchronized with the global clock. | 10-24-2013 |
20130300887 | ELECTRONIC CAMERA HAVING MULTIPLE SENSORS FOR CAPTURING HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE IMAGES AND RELATED METHODS - A camera has two distinct image sensor arrays. The image sensor arrays are at least one of different types and different resolutions. The image sensor arrays have different dynamic ranges such that one of the image sensor arrays is a high dynamic range image sensor array configured to capture a wider range of light intensity than the other of the image sensor arrays. The camera has an imaging mechanism configured to combine information collected by each of the image sensor arrays to produce a high dynamic range image. The image sensor arrays include one low resolution image sensor array having a high dynamic range, and one high resolution image sensor array having a normal dynamic range smaller than the high dynamic range wherein luminance values within the normal dynamic range represent a subset of luminance values within the high dynamic range. | 11-14-2013 |
20130329068 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - In the case of a conventional image apparatus that generates refocus image on the occasion of image display, there is a waiting time because the image apparatus generates the refocus image in response to an operation of a user and requires the time to generate the refocus image. To address this situation, an image apparatus determines ranks of targets to be in focus based on history information indicating operation history, and generates sequentially combined image data from multi-viewpoint image data obtained by capturing images from multiple viewpoints, by focusing on the targets in accordance with the determined ranks. | 12-12-2013 |
20140049660 | LARGE DYNAMIC RANGE CAMERAS - A digital camera includes a plurality of channels and a processing component operatively coupled to the plurality of channels. Each channel of the plurality of channels includes an optics component and a sensor that includes an array of photo-detectors. The processing component is configured to separately control an integration time of each channel, where a first integration time of a first channel is less than a second integration time of a second channel. The processing component is also configured to combine data from the plurality of channels to generate an image. | 02-20-2014 |
20140055632 | FEATURE BASED HIGH RESOLUTION MOTION ESTIMATION FROM LOW RESOLUTION IMAGES CAPTURED USING AN ARRAY SOURCE - Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention enable feature based high resolution motion estimation from low resolution images captured using an array camera. One embodiment includes performing feature detection with respect to a sequence of low resolution images to identify initial locations for a plurality of detected features in the sequence of low resolution images, where the at least one sequence of low resolution images is part of a set of sequences of low resolution images captured from different perspectives. The method also includes synthesizing high resolution image portions, where the synthesized high resolution image portions contain the identified plurality of detected features from the sequence of low resolution images. The method further including performing feature detection within the high resolution image portions to identify high precision locations for the detected features, and estimating camera motion using the high precision locations for said plurality of detected features. | 02-27-2014 |
20140071305 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM, IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus ( | 03-13-2014 |
20140085497 | Systems And Methods For Sychronizing Multiple Video Sensors - A system and method for producing an image include a plurality of sensors detecting light from a subject being imaged, each sensor generating an associated video signal indicative of its detected light, each video signal comprising a predefined time interval. A decoder receives the video signals from their associated sensors, detects the predefined time intervals of the received video signals, generates a synchronization signal, and transmits the synchronization signal to each sensor during the predefined time interval of its associated video signal. | 03-27-2014 |
20140118569 | DUAL SENSOR CAMERA - A dual sensor camera that uses two aligned sensors each having a separate lens of different focal length but the same f-number. The wider FOV image from one sensor is combined with the narrower FOV image from the other sensor to form a combined image. Up-sampling of the wide FOV image and down-sampling of the narrow FOV image is performed. The longer focal length lens may have certain aberrations introduced so that Extended Depth of Field (EDoF) processing can be used to give the narrow FOV image approximately the same depth of field as the wide FOV image so that a noticeable difference in depth of field is not see in the combined image. | 05-01-2014 |
20140132788 | Systems and Methods for Generating Spherical Images - An imaging system comprises four image sensors each pointing outwardly from the vertices of a notional tetrahedron with the optical axes of the image sensors substantially collinear with respective medians of the notional tetrahedron, with the focal plane array of each image sensor positioned between the lens system of its respective image sensor and the centroid of the notional tetrahedron. The imaging system and can be used to obtain image data for generating a spherical image of the space surrounding the imaging system. A method for generating a spherical image from this image data assigns spherical coordinates to the pixels in the images according to a cylindrical projection that is individually aligned with the image plane of each image, and blends overlapping pixels and fills blank pixel spaces. The method can be applied to image data representing outward views from the vertices or centroids of faces of any Platonic solid. | 05-15-2014 |
20140132789 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND PROGRAM - According to an illustrative embodiment, an image processing device is provided. The image processing device includes a foreground selection processing circuit to select at least one foreground image that has been separated from a source image; a background selection circuit to select at least two display background images from at least one background image that has been separated from the source image; and a combination circuit to combine the at least one selected foreground image with the at least two display background images to generate a plurality of combined images, wherein at least one of the plurality of combined images does not appear in the source image. | 05-15-2014 |
20140184841 | PHOTOGRAPHING DEVICE FOR PRODUCING COMPOSITE IMAGE AND METHOD USING THE SAME - A photographing device includes a photographing unit, an image processor which separates an object from a first photographing image obtained by the photographing unit, a display which displays a background live view obtained by superimposing the separated object on a live view of a background, and a controller which obtains a second photographing image corresponding to the live view of the background when a command to shoot the background is input and generates a composite image based on the separated object and the second photographing image. | 07-03-2014 |
20140192213 | VIDEO GENERATING SYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE IMAGE SENSORS AND RELATED METHOD THEREOF - A video generating system and a video generating method, which combine images generated by a plurality of different image sensors to generate output images, are provided. In the inventive video generating system and method, the image sensors share a signal transmission interface to transmit image data and synchronization signals in a time-shared manner to reduce the complexity of the signal transmission interface. | 07-10-2014 |
20140192214 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR USING MULTIPLE OPTICAL CHAINS IN PARALELL - Methods and apparatus for capturing or generating images using multiple optical chains operating in parallel are described. Pixel values captured by individual optical chains corresponding to the same scene area are combined to provide an image with at least some of the benefits which would have been provided by capturing an image of the scene using a larger lens than that of the individual lenses of the optical chain modules. By using multiple optical chains in parallel at least some benefits normally obtained from using a large lens can be obtained without the need for a large lens. Furthermore in at least some embodiments, a wide dynamic range can be supported through the use of multiple sensors with the overall supported dynamic range being potentially larger than that of the individual sensors. Some lens and/or optical chain configurations are designed for use in small handheld devices, e.g., cell phones. | 07-10-2014 |
20140198230 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - By the conventional method, it is not possible to check whether or not a target subject is included in a range in which refocus can be performed at the time of image capturing or at the time of editing a captured image. An image processing apparatus includes a subject of interest specification unit configured to specify a subject of interest within a parallax image obtained by performing image capturing from a plurality of different viewpoints, and a notification unit configured to notify a user of a focused state of the specified subject of interest in an image to be generated by performing image combination processing using the parallax image. | 07-17-2014 |
20140211033 | MULTIPLE SPECTRAL SINGLE IMAGE SIGHTING SYSTEM USING SINGLE OBJECTIVE LENS SET - A sighting system is disclosed, comprising a housing with small upper minor mounted in its upper center, redirecting light from a single objective lens set, and a larger lower mirror mounted coaxially relative to the lens set and upper minor, both mirrors set at 45° and redirecting light at 90° angles to the lens set. The smaller mirror is positioned closer than the lower minor to the lens set. A night camera system is used for receiving an image through the lens set redirected by the lower mirror and amplified through an intensifier before transmission to a video display monitor(s). A day camera system receiving the image from the lens set redirected by the smaller minor transmits the image to the monitor(s) for separate display of the image, enabling simultaneous capture of the optimum amount of light by each camera, maximizing the housing's diametrical space to receive incoming light. | 07-31-2014 |
20140211034 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD - When a blurring process is performed for an image, noise is reduced according to the characteristics of a blurring process filter in a target region of the blurring process. Accordingly, a difference occurs in noise amount with a non-target region of the blurring process. In view of such situations, an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention adds noise to the blurring target region. Accordingly, the difference in noise amount can be reduced, and a blurring-emphasized image with a natural texture can be created. Furthermore, the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention determines the noise amount according to the blurring amount by the blurring process filter while considering that, the larger the blurring amount is, the more greatly the noise is reduced by the blurring process, and adds the noise. | 07-31-2014 |
20140218552 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND IMAGE COMPOSITION METHOD THEREOF - An electronic device and an image composition method thereof are provided. The electronic device selects a plurality of key images from a plurality of images corresponding to a scene according to a first image characteristic, and selects at least two portions from the plurality of key images according to a second image characteristic. Each of the at least two portions corresponds to different regions of the scene. Then, the electronic device generates a composite image corresponding to the scene by combining the at least two portions and provide the composite image and at least two of the key images from which the at least two portions are selected to a user. | 08-07-2014 |
20140218553 | USING CAPTURED HIGH AND LOW RESOLUTION IMAGES - A method for producing an improved high resolution image is disclosed including capturing low resolution images and a high resolution image; combining the low resolution images to provide an aggregate low resolution image; reducing the resolution of the high resolution image to provide an image representative of a low resolution image that could have been captured by the image capture device; interpolating the representative low resolution image to provide an interpolated high resolution image; calculating a residual image from the high resolution image and the interpolated high resolution image; combining the representative low resolution image and the aggregate low resolution image to provide a final low resolution image; and using the final low resolution image and the residual image to provide the improved high resolution image. | 08-07-2014 |
20140240528 | Thin Form Factor Computational Array Cameras and Modular Array Cameras - Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement one-dimensional array cameras, as well as modular array cameras using sub-array modules. In one embodiment, a 1×N array camera module includes: a 1×N arrangement of focal planes, where N is greater than or equal to 2, each focal plane includes a plurality of rows of pixels that also form a plurality of columns of pixels, and each focal plane not including pixels from another focal plane; and a 1×N arrangement of lens stacks, the arrangement of lens stacks being disposed relative to the arrangement of focal planes so as to form a 1×N arrangement of cameras, each configured to independently capture an image of a scene, where each lens stack has a field of view that is shifted with respect to that of each other lens stack so that each shift includes a sub-pixel shifted view of the scene. | 08-28-2014 |
20140240529 | THIN FORM FACTOR COMPUTATIONAL ARRAY CAMERAS AND MODULAR ARRAY CAMERAS - Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement modular array cameras using sub-array modules. In one embodiment, an X×Y sub-array module includes: an X×Y arrangement of focal planes, where X and Y are each greater than or equal to 1; and an X×Y arrangement of lens stacks, the X×Y arrangement of lens stacks being disposed relative to the X×Y arrangement of focal planes so as to form an X×Y arrangement of cameras, where each lens stack has a field of view that is shifted with respect to the field-of-views of each other lens stack so that each shift includes a sub-pixel shifted view of the scene; and image data output circuitry that is configured to output image data from the X×Y sub-array module that can be aggregated with image data from other sub-array modules so that an image of the scene can be constructed. | 08-28-2014 |
20140267815 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image capturing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit configured to repeatedly perform cyclic shooting operation including shooting with a first exposure condition and a second exposure condition different from the first exposure condition; and a correction unit configured to detect a first flicker among frames shot with the first exposure condition and perform flicker correction for a frame shot with the first exposure condition based on the first flicker and to detect a second flicker among frames shot with the second exposure condition and perform flicker correction for a frame shot with the second exposure condition based on the second flicker. | 09-18-2014 |
20140267816 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING IMAGE - An electronic device includes a first image sensor generating first image data, a second image sensor generating second image data, at least one processor processing the first image data and the second image data, and a display displaying at least one image of the first image data and the second image data processed by the at least one processor, wherein the electronic device is configured to set each time stamp on the first image data and the second image data and the display is configured to display at least one image data on the basis of the time stamps. An operating method of an electronic device includes generating first image data and second image data by using a first image sensor and a second image sensor, respectively, and displaying at least one image data on a display on the basis of the time stamp. | 09-18-2014 |
20140285681 | MULTI-VIEW IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF SENDING IMAGE DATA - A multi-view imaging apparatus of an embodiment includes a plurality of imaging units each including an image sensor and a memory configured to store therein image data taken by the image sensor, the imaging units being daisy-chain connected to each other in order to send the image data, and also includes an interface unit connected to a lowermost imaging unit, the interface unit being configured to output pieces of image data taken by the plurality of imaging units to an outside. The imaging units each add own-stage data to data outputted from an upper-stage imaging unit, and output the resultant data to a lower-stage imaging unit. | 09-25-2014 |
20140307117 | AUTOMATIC EXPOSURE CONTROL FOR SEQUENTIAL IMAGES - An exposure control method and an image processing system are provided. The image processing system comprises: an image sensor module, configured to provide at least two types of source images in parallel, each type of the source images has different exposure setting; a pre-processing unit, configured to determine luminance distribution of the source images on block basis, perform a first exposure control according to the luminance distribution of the two types of source images, and generate output images according to the source images in RAW image domain, and a post-processing unit, configured to determine luminance distribution of the output images, and perform a second exposure control according to the luminance distribution of the output images in normal image domain; wherein exposure settings of the image sensor module is adjusted according to the first exposure control and the second exposure control. | 10-16-2014 |
20140313359 | CAMERA ASSEMBLY AND IMAGE ACQUISITION METHOD USING THE SAME - Disclosed is a camera assembly having a wide viewing angle using a variable mirror. The camera assembly includes a variable mirror located in front of an image sensor, a variable mirror controller to switch a mode of the variable mirror to one of a reflection mode to reflect light incident upon the variable mirror and a transmission mode to transmit light incident upon the variable mirror, an image sensor to sense the light reflected by the variable mirror to acquire first image data and to sense the light transmitted through the variable mirror to acquire second image data, and an image processing unit to register the first image data and the second image data acquired by the image sensor to generate a third image. | 10-23-2014 |
20140313360 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME - A method for processing image captured by an image sensor is provided. The operation method of an electronic device according to the present disclosure includes receiving a sensing image having a sensor pattern of an image sensor and meta-information including sensing image information related to the sensing image and storing the sensing image and the sensing image information including the meta-information. | 10-23-2014 |
20140320685 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING SYSTEM - An imaging apparatus, comprising a sensor array in which a plurality of sensors are arrayed, a first readout unit configured to read out, from each of the plurality of sensors, a first signal corresponding to an amount of one of an electron and a hole of each of electron-hole pairs generated in the sensor array in response to irradiation with radiation or light, and a second readout unit configured to read out, from each of the plurality of sensors, a second signal corresponding to an amount of the other of the electron and the hole of the electron-hole pairs. | 10-30-2014 |
20140320686 | METHOD, LENS ASSEMBLY AND CAMERA FOR REDUCING STRAY LIGHT - The present invention relates to a method ( | 10-30-2014 |
20140327793 | Imaging Apparatus and Method Comprising Imager and Optics Actuator Means - An imaging device and method of providing an increased depth-of-field of an electronic image. The image sensor and the optical lens assembly are selectively repositionable along the optical axis of the lens using electronic actuator elements such as piezo-electric actuator elements, A plurality of images of a scene are captured while the image sensor, the optical lens assembly, or both are positioned at predetermined locations along the optical axis. Selected elements of each of the images captured using different focal planes are electronically combined to define a final image having an increased depth-of-field. | 11-06-2014 |
20140333787 | Systems and Methods for Parallax Measurement Using Camera Arrays Incorporating 3 x 3 Camera Configurations - A camera array, an imaging device and/or a method for capturing image that employ a plurality of imagers fabricated on a substrate is provided. Each imager includes a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers. Each imager may be associated with an optical element fabricated using a wafer level optics (WLO) technology. | 11-13-2014 |
20140340538 | Method and Apparatus for Digital Image Capture - A method, apparatus and computer program are disclosed for: receiving from an image sensor image data; obtaining from the image data a source image and a user image so that the user image corresponds to a user set portion of the source image; wherein the source image and the user image are obtained on receiving the image data from the image sensor. | 11-20-2014 |
20140340539 | Capturing and Processing of Images Captured by Arrays Including Polychromatic Cameras - A camera array, an imaging device and/or a method for capturing image that employ a plurality of imagers fabricated on a substrate is provided. Each imager includes a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers. Each imager may be associated with an optical element fabricated using a wafer level optics (WLO) technology. | 11-20-2014 |
20140347509 | Capturing and Processing of Images Including Occlusions Captured by Arrays of Luma and Chroma Cameras - Systems and methods for implementing array cameras configured to perform super-resolution processing to generate higher resolution super-resolved images using a plurality of captured images and lens stack arrays that can be utilized in array cameras are disclosed. An imaging device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes at least one imager array, and each imager in the array comprises a plurality of light sensing elements and a lens stack including at least one lens surface, where the lens stack is configured to form an image on the light sensing elements, control circuitry configured to capture images formed on the light sensing elements of each of the imagers, and a super-resolution processing module configured to generate at least one higher resolution super-resolved image using a plurality of the captured images. | 11-27-2014 |
20140354842 | Interleaving Image Processing and Image Capture Operations - Systems, methods, and computer readable media to improve image stabilization operations and other image processing operations are described. A novel combination of interleaved image capture and image processing operations, e.g., image registration operations, may be employed on a bracketed capture of still images. Such techniques may result in improved camera performance and processing efficiency, as well as decreased shot-to-shot time intervals. In another embodiment, an image fusion portion of an image post-processing pipeline may also be performed in an interleaved fashion, such that each image in the sequence of obtained bracketed images may be incrementally added to an output composite image after it has been aligned with the preceding image or images from the sequence. | 12-04-2014 |
20140354843 | Camera Arrays Incorporating 3 x 3 Imager Configurations - Systems and methods for implementing array cameras configured to perform super-resolution processing to generate higher resolution super-resolved images using a plurality of captured images and lens stack arrays that can be utilized in array cameras are disclosed. An imaging device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes at least one imager array, and each imager in the array comprises a plurality of light sensing elements and a lens stack including at least one lens surface, where the lens stack is configured to form an image on the light sensing elements, control circuitry configured to capture images formed on the light sensing elements of each of the imagers, and a super-resolution processing module configured to generate at least one higher resolution super-resolved image using a plurality of the captured images. | 12-04-2014 |
20140354844 | Systems and Methods for Measuring Depth Using Images Captured by Camera Arrays - A camera array, an imaging device and/or a method for capturing image that employ a plurality of imagers fabricated on a substrate is provided. Each imager includes a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers. Each imager may be associated with an optical element fabricated using a wafer level optics (WLO) technology. | 12-04-2014 |
20140368681 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PARALLAX ELIMINATION - Devices and methods for reducing parallax in graphic content captured by a camera array include identifying color fringes that correspond to the parallax in the captured graphic content, determining an amount of displacement of the color fringes and adjusting the parallax in the captured graphic content based on the amount of displacement. The camera array may comprise a two-dimensional array of cameras. | 12-18-2014 |
20140368682 | REAL-TIME IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD AND DEVICE - Disclosed herein are a method and a device of real-time image processing. The method comprises capturing three images, enhancing a resolution of the images to obtain for each image a high-resolution image (HRI), obtaining two displacement vectors using the HRIs, obtaining a superimposed HRI based on the HRIs and the displacement vectors, obtaining a compensatory vector based on the displacement vectors, and generating a super-resolution image based on the superimposed HRI and the compensatory vector. | 12-18-2014 |
20140368683 | Capturing and Processing of Images Using Non-Monolithic Camera Arrays - A camera array, an imaging device and/or a method for capturing image that employ a plurality of imagers fabricated on a substrate is provided. Each imager includes a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers. Each imager may be associated with an optical element fabricated using a wafer level optics (WLO) technology. | 12-18-2014 |
20140368684 | Capturing and Processing of Images Captured by Camera Arrays Including Heterogeneous Optics - A camera array, an imaging device and/or a method for capturing image that employ a plurality of imagers fabricated on a substrate is provided. Each imager includes a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers. Each imager may be associated with an optical element fabricated using a wafer level optics (WLO) technology. | 12-18-2014 |
20140368685 | Capturing and Processing of High Dynamic Range Images Using Camera Arrays - A camera array, an imaging device and/or a method for capturing image that employ a plurality of imagers fabricated on a substrate is provided. Each imager includes a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers. Each imager may be associated with an optical element fabricated using a wafer level optics (WLO) technology. | 12-18-2014 |
20140368686 | Capturing and Processing of Images Including Occlusions Captured by Heterogeneous Camera Arrays - Systems and methods for implementing array cameras configured to perform super-resolution processing to generate higher resolution super-resolved images using a plurality of captured images and lens stack arrays that can be utilized in array cameras are disclosed. Lens stack arrays in accordance with many embodiments of the invention include lens elements formed on substrates separated by spacers, where the lens elements, substrates and spacers are configured to form a plurality of optical channels, at least one aperture located within each optical channel, at least one spectral filter located within each optical channel, where each spectral filter is configured to pass a specific spectral band of light, and light blocking materials located within the lens stack array to optically isolate the optical channels. | 12-18-2014 |
20150009349 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PREVIEWING A DUAL-SHOT IMAGE - A dual-shot image preview method and apparatus is disclosed. An electronic device with dual image sensors provides a preview screen combining in real-time a partial image captured from a first image sensor and a rear image captured from a second image sensor. The partial image is a portion of a front image that includes a desired portion of the user, such as the user's face based on algorithmic detection. The electronic device displays a dual-shot preview screen by overlaying the partial image on the rear image. | 01-08-2015 |
20150009350 | Multi-Imager Video Camera with Frame-by-Frame View Switching - One embodiment relates to a method of outputting multiple views from a networked camera. Each imager of an array of imagers in the camera captures image frames and transmits the captured image frames to an associated image flow processor. Each image flow processor processes the captured image frames and transmits the processed image frames to a multi-imager video processor. An updating of parameters for said processing by each image flow processor is performed on a frame-by-frame basis. Another embodiment relates to a video camera including a plurality of imagers, a plurality of image flow processors, a multi-imager video processor, and a plurality of update queues. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed. | 01-08-2015 |
20150009351 | IMAGE ACQUISITION APPARATUS - A stable combined image is generated from a plurality of image signals having parallax and obtained at different focal positions. An image acquisition apparatus includes an image-acquisition optical system that collects light from a subject; an image acquisition element that acquires an image of the light collected by the image-acquisition optical system; a micro-lens array having an array of multiple micro-lenses arranged such that each micro-lens covers multiple pixels of the image acquisition element; and a focal-length changing section that is disposed at a pupil position of the image-acquisition optical system and that spatially changes a focal length so as to focus light passing therethrough at a plurality of different focal positions. | 01-08-2015 |
20150009352 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An imaging apparatus for improving the detection accuracy of in-focus positions of an imaging optical system when a composite image is acquired and a method for controlling the same are provided. The imaging apparatus detects in-focus positions of the imaging optical system respectively corresponding to a plurality of images with different exposures used to generate the composite image, and selects the in-focus position used to control an operation of the imaging apparatus out of the detected plurality of in-focus positions based on a predetermined condition. | 01-08-2015 |
20150009353 | Systems and Methods for Measuring Depth Using Images Captured by Monolithic Camera Arrays Including at Least One Bayer Camera - A camera array, an imaging device and/or a method for capturing image that employ a plurality of imagers fabricated on a substrate is provided. Each imager includes a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers. Each imager may be associated with an optical element fabricated using a wafer level optics (WLO) technology. | 01-08-2015 |
20150009354 | Capturing and Processing of Images Captured by Non-Grid Camera Arrays - A camera array, an imaging device and/or a method for capturing image that employ a plurality of imagers fabricated on a substrate is provided. Each imager includes a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers. Each imager may be associated with an optical element fabricated using a wafer level optics (WLO) technology. | 01-08-2015 |
20150036014 | Systems and Methods for Synthesizing High Resolution Images Using Images Captured by an Array of Independently Controllable Imagers - Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed that use super-resolution (SR) processes to use information from a plurality of low resolution (LR) images captured by an array camera to produce a synthesized higher resolution image. One embodiment includes obtaining input images, determining an initial estimate of at least a portion of a high resolution image using a plurality of pixels from the input images, and determining a high resolution image that when mapped through the forward imaging transformation matches the input images to within at least one predetermined criterion using the initial estimate of at least a portion of the high resolution image. In addition, each forward imaging transformation corresponds to the manner in which each imager generates the input images, and the high resolution image has a resolution that is greater than any of the input images. | 02-05-2015 |
20150036015 | Systems and Methods for Dynamic Refocusing of High Resolution Images Generated Using Images Captured by a Plurality of Imagers - Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed that use super-resolution (SR) processes to use information from a plurality of low resolution (LR) images captured by an array camera to produce a synthesized higher resolution image. One embodiment includes obtaining input images determining an initial estimate of at least a portion of a high resolution image using a plurality of pixels from the input images, and determining a high resolution image that when mapped through the forward imaging transformation matches the input images to within at least one predetermined criterion using the initial estimate of at least a portion of the high resolution image. In addition, each forward imaging transformation corresponds to the manner in which each imager generates the input images, and the high resolution image has a resolution that is greater than any of the input images. | 02-05-2015 |
20150042831 | ARRAY CAMERA DESIGN WITH DEDICATED BAYER CAMERA - The invention is directed to systems, methods and computer program products for capturing an image using an array camera. A method comprises determining an application associated with capturing an image using an array camera, wherein the array camera comprises a first sensor and at least one second sensor, wherein the first sensor comprises a red filter, a green filter, and a blue filter, and wherein each second sensor comprises a red filter, a green filter, or a blue filter; determining whether the application requires the image to have a first resolution equal to or greater than a predetermined resolution; determining whether the application requires depth information associated with the image; and in response to determining the application does not require the image to have the first resolution and does not require depth information, activating the first sensor, and capturing the image using the first sensor. | 02-12-2015 |
20150042832 | LIGHTPAINTING LIVE VIEW - Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for a light painting live view. A method includes, in a device comprising at least a processor, a memory, a display and a camera device having an on-screen viewfinder, accessing the camera, capturing individual frames of footage, each of the captured frames being displayed through the on-screen viewfinder in cumulative succession, rendering the captured frames on a graphical processing unit (GPU), sending the captured frames through a shader program, generating at least two images, a first image saved to the memory and a second image displayed on the display, and rendering the first image into the second image to generate a final image. | 02-12-2015 |
20150042833 | Systems and Methods for Synthesizing High Resolution Images Using a Set of Geometrically Registered Images - Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed that use super-resolution (SR) processes to use information from a plurality of low resolution (LR) images captured by an array camera to produce a synthesized higher resolution image. One embodiment includes obtaining input images, determining an initial estimate of at least a portion of a high resolution image using a plurality of pixels from the input images, and determining a high resolution image that when mapped through the forward imaging transformation matches the input images to within at least one predetermined criterion using the initial estimate of at least a portion of the high resolution image. In addition, each forward imaging transformation corresponds to the manner in which each imager generates the input images, and the high resolution image has a resolution that is greater than any of the input images. | 02-12-2015 |
20150042834 | SINGLE PIXEL CAMERA - A camera system includes a single pixel photo-sensor disposed in or on a substrate to acquire image data. A micro-lens is adjustably positioned above the single pixel photo-sensor to focus external scene light onto the single pixel photo-sensor. An actuator is coupled to the micro-lens to adjust a position of the micro-lens relative to the single pixel photo-sensor to reposition the micro-lens to focus the external scene light incident from different angles onto the single pixel photo-sensor. Readout circuitry is coupled to readout the image data associated with each of the different angles from the single pixel photo-sensor. | 02-12-2015 |
20150049213 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR GENERATING HDR IMAGES - Methods and systems for generating HDR (High Dynamic Range) images are provided. First, frames are continuously captured, wherein the respective frames are captured with a same exposure time. At least one intermediary frame is then generated according to at least one of the frames. The at least one intermediary frame is composed using a HDR composition algorithm to generate a HDR image. | 02-19-2015 |
20150054973 | IMAGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PERFORMING COLUMN-BASED IMAGE SENSOR PIXEL GAIN ADJUSTMENTS - An imaging system may include an array of image pixels arranged in rows and columns that includes first and second pixels in two different columns and a common row. A first column readout circuit may control the first pixel to exhibit a first gain and a second column readout circuit may control the second pixel to exhibit a second gain. The first and second readout circuits may determine whether to adjust the gain of the first and second pixels based on image signals that are captured by the first and second pixels. For example, the first readout circuit may selectively activate a dual conversion gain transistor in the first pixel based on an image signal received from the first pixel and the second readout circuit may independently and selectively activate a dual conversion gain transistor in the second pixel based on an image signal received from the second pixel. | 02-26-2015 |
20150054974 | TEMPORALLY COHERENT SEGMENTATION OF RGBt VOLUMES WITH AID OF NOISY OR INCOMPLETE AUXILIARY DATA - An apparatus for performing video segmentation, including image sensors of a first type, auxiliary sensors of a second type, and a processor executing computer-executable instructions stored in memory. The instructions include capturing RGB image video data from a plurality of first image sensors; capturing second video data from a plurality of second, auxiliary sensors; for a reference frame, determining an initial segmentation map by segmenting a first object-of-interest from a background from said second video data; determining a history of segmentation information on a pixel-by-pixel basis, wherein a length of said history is based on motion data for the object-of-interest; generating a refined segmentation map by refining on a pixel-by-pixel basis a corresponding value of said initial segmentation map based on said history of segmentation information; and performing RGB segmentation on a corresponding reference frame of said RGB image video based on said refined segmentation map. | 02-26-2015 |
20150062363 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, IMAGE CAPTURE SYSTEM, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An image capturing apparatus includes a tilt detection unit that detects a tilt in the vertical direction, conversion data used for transforming plane coordinates into spherical coordinates, a correction unit that corrects the conversion data according to the tilt, a plurality of image capturing units, a coordinate transformation unit that transforms plane coordinates of a plurality of pixels included in images captured by the image capturing units into spherical coordinates according to the conversion data corrected by the correction unit, and a combining unit that combines the images including the pixels transformed into spherical coordinates by the coordinate transformation unit. | 03-05-2015 |
20150062364 | Imaging Systems and Methods for Image Signal Gain Adjustment - An imaging system may include image processing circuitry and an image sensor having a pixel, readout circuitry, and control circuitry. The pixel may have a dual conversion gain gate for switching between a high conversion gain mode and a low conversion gain mode. The pixel may capture a first image signal while the dual conversion gain gate is turned of and a second image signal subsequent to capturing the first image signal while the dual conversion gain gate is turned on. The readout circuitry may identify a selected one of the first and second image signals to output to the image processing circuitry based on the first image signal. In this way, the readout circuitry may output a low conversion gain signal when saturating charge is stored on the charge storage region and may output a high conversion gain signal when insufficient charge is stored on the charge storage region. | 03-05-2015 |
20150070523 | INTERACTIVE IMAGE COMPOSITION - Certain embodiments relate to systems and methods for generating a single group image from multiple captured images. A first image and a second image may be captured, the first image including a first part of a group and the second image including a second part of the group. A user interface may be provided, in some embodiments, for capture of the second image that enables a photographer to provide input regarding the relative positioning of the first and second image as well as providing input on the relative positioning of the first and second parts of the group and the image scene background. In some embodiments, a lowest energy seam line may be determined for an overlapping portion of the first and second images, and the lowest energy seam line may be used for generating a final stitched image including both the first and second parts of the group. | 03-12-2015 |
20150077581 | CAMERA AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - A camera system and method provide a trailing motion blur effect without the use of a flash. In one embodiment, a variable light-transmissive filter is positioned in front of an image sensor. While the light-transmissive property of the filter is lower, the blurred image of the object in motion is produced. The light-transmissive property of the filter is increased during the exposure in order to produce a clearer image of the object. In a method, a plurality of images taken in rapid succession are combined to produce a clear image of the object with a trailing blurred image of the object. | 03-19-2015 |
20150085151 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FUSING IMAGES FROM AN ARRAY OF CAMERAS - An image fusing method, apparatus and system for fusing images from an array of cameras, method includes selecting a camera from the array of cameras as a reference camera, estimating misalignment between the retrieved input images from the reference camera and the retrieved input images from the other cameras, estimating misalignment parameters between the reference camera and the other cameras, estimating local disparity between the reference camera image data and the other cameras based on the estimated misalignment parameters, using the estimated misalignment parameters and the estimated disparity values, mapping the image data into a reference camera grid, the retrieved input image data from the other cameras in the array of cameras is fused in the reference camera grid utilizing fractional offsets from integer coordinates, and producing an output image grid on the reference camera grid and interpolate output pixels using processed data for producing a high resolution image. | 03-26-2015 |
20150085152 | Data Acquisition Method And Electronic Device - A data acquisition method and an electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a first image capturing unit and a second image capturing unit. The first image capturing unit and the second image capturing unit utilize different imaging modes during image capturing. The method includes: acquiring first image data of a current scene captured by the first image capturing unit and second image data of the current scene captured by the second image capturing unit respectively, where the first image data includes first sub-image data and second sub-image data, the second image data includes third sub-image data, an image dimension of the third sub-image data is the same as the image dimension of the first sub-image data, and a resolution of the third sub-image data is higher than a resolution of the first sub-image data; and synthesizing the third sub-image data with the first sub-image data. | 03-26-2015 |
20150092071 | COLOR FILTER MODULES FOR PLENOPTIC XYZ IMAGING SYSTEMS - A method for designing a color filter module used in a plenoptic XYZ imaging system. In one approach, the color filter module is spatially partitioned into filter cells, and the spatial partition is designed by considering data captured at the sensor in light of variations in ΔE. | 04-02-2015 |
20150092072 | Data Acquiring Method And Electronic Device Thereof - The disclosure discloses a data acquiring method and an electronic device thereof. The electronic device comprises an image acquisition unit, the image acquisition unit comprises a light-transparent module and a sensing module, and there is a first position relationship between the light-transparent module and the sensing module. The method comprises: obtaining a first image of a target scene acquired by the image acquisition unit, wherein an image resolution of the first image is first resolution; adjusting the image acquisition unit based on preset moving parameters; obtaining a second image of the target scene acquired by the image acquisition unit; obtaining a third image by processing the first image and the second image based on the moving parameters, wherein image resolution of the third image is third resolution and the third resolution is greater than the first resolution. | 04-02-2015 |
20150092073 | MOBILE TERMINAL AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A mobile terminal including a wireless communication unit configured to provide wireless communication; a camera; a flash; and a controller configured to capture, via the camera, a first image while controlling the flash to emit a first flash, capture, via the camera, a second image while controlling the flash to emit a second flash, and generate a third image by combining a first area of the first image and a second area of the second image. | 04-02-2015 |
20150097981 | Dual Sensor Camera - A dual sensor camera that uses two aligned sensors each having a separate lens of different focal length but the same f-number. The wider FOV image from one sensor is combined with the narrower FOV image from the other sensor to form a combined image. Up-sampling of the wide FOV image and down-sampling of the narrow FOV image is performed. The longer focal length lens may have certain aberrations introduced so that Extended Depth of Field (EDoF) processing can be used to give the narrow FOV image approximately the same depth of field as the wide FOV image so that a noticeable difference in depth of field is not see in the combined image. | 04-09-2015 |
20150103197 | TECHNIQUE FOR VIEW SYNTHESIS - A technique for computing an image of a virtual view based on a plurality of camera views is presented. One or more cameras provide the plurality of camera views. As to a method aspect of the technique, two or three camera views that at least partially overlap and that at least partially overlap with the virtual view are selected among the plurality of camera views. The image of the virtual view is computed based on objects in the selected camera views using a multilinear relation that relates the selected camera views and the virtual view. | 04-16-2015 |
20150116525 | METHOD FOR GENERATING HIGH DYNAMIC RANGE IMAGES - The present disclosure provides a method for generating HDR images. Steps of the method include capturing a spatially varying exposure image data of a scene by an image sensing array using a first exposure value and a second exposure value, wherein the first exposure value is larger than the second exposure value; re-sampling the spatially varying exposure image data to obtain a first image data corresponding to the first exposure value and second image data corresponding to the second exposure value; determining a motion index of each pixel of a HDR image data according to the first image data and the second image data; determining a pixel value of each pixel of the HDR image data according to a corresponding first pixel value of the first image data, a corresponding second pixel value of the second image data and the motion index; and outputting the HDR image data. | 04-30-2015 |
20150116526 | Plenoptic Color Imaging System with Enhanced Resolution - Color plenoptic images captured by a spectrally-coded plenoptic imaging system are combined with higher resolution higher resolution images captured by a conventional imaging system, resulting in color images with higher resolution than those captured by the plenoptic imaging system alone. | 04-30-2015 |
20150116527 | COMPACT ARRAY CAMERA MODULES HAVING AN EXTENDED FIELD OF VIEW FROM WHICH DEPTH INFORMATION CAN BE EXTRACTED - A compact camera module includes an image sensor including photosensitive areas, and an array of lenses optically aligned with sub-groups of the photosensitive areas. The array of lenses includes a first array of lenses and one or more groups of lenses disposed around the periphery of the first array of lenses. Each lens in the first array has a respective central optical axis that is substantially perpendicular to a plane of the image sensor and each of which has field of view. Each of the lenses in the one or more groups disposed around the periphery of the first array of lenses has a field of view that is centered about an optical axis that is tilted with respect to the optical axes of the lenses in the central array. | 04-30-2015 |
20150116528 | Scanning Light Field Camera - A light field camera device comprising an array of light field camera elements, each camera element comprising: a scanner for scanning an input beam across a two-dimensional angular field; an input focus modulator for modulating the focus of the input beam; a radiance sensor for sensing the radiance of the input beam over time; and a radiance sampler for sampling the radiance of the input beam at discrete times. | 04-30-2015 |
20150124113 | Array Cameras Incorporating Independently Aligned Lens Stacks - Array cameras, and array camera modules incorporating independently aligned lens stacks are disclosed. Processes for manufacturing array camera modules including independently aligned lens stacks can include: forming at least one hole in at least one carrier; mounting the at least one carrier relative to at least one sensor so that light passing through the at least one hole in the at least one carrier is incident on a plurality of focal planes formed by arrays of pixels on the at least one sensor; and independently mounting a plurality of lens barrels to the at least one carrier, so that a lens stack in each lens barrel directs light through the at least one hole in the at least one carrier and focuses the light onto one of the plurality of focal planes. | 05-07-2015 |
20150130959 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND EXPOSURE CONTROL METHOD - An image processing device is provided. The image processing device includes a sensor array having a plurality of light sensors, configured to receive reflected light of a scene and generate an image array; an exposure controller, configured to receive the image array from the sensor array, and segment the image array into at least one regions; at least two timing controllers, wherein each timing controller is configured to receive pixel data of one of the at least one regions, respectively, and apply an individual exposure setting to the corresponding region; and an image processor, configured to generate an exposed image by organizing the exposed regions from the timing controllers. | 05-14-2015 |
20150146029 | Array Camera Configurations Incorporating Multiple Constituent Array Cameras - Systems and methods for implementing array camera configurations that include a plurality of constituent array cameras, where each constituent array camera provides a distinct field of view and/or a distinct viewing direction, are described. In several embodiments, image data captured by the constituent array cameras is used to synthesize multiple images that are subsequently blended. In a number of embodiments, the blended images include a foveated region. In certain embodiments, the blended images possess a wider field of view than the fields of view of the multiple images. | 05-28-2015 |
20150146030 | Array Camera Configurations Incorporating Constituent Array Cameras and Constituent Cameras - Systems and methods for implementing array camera configurations that include a plurality of constituent array cameras, where each constituent array camera provides a distinct field of view and/or a distinct viewing direction, are described. In several embodiments, image data captured by the constituent array cameras is used to synthesize multiple images that are subsequently blended. In a number of embodiments, the blended images include a foveated region. In certain embodiments, the blended images possess a wider field of view than the fields of view of the multiple images. | 05-28-2015 |
20150304557 | ARRAY CAMERA, MOBILE TERMINAL, AND METHODS FOR OPERATING THE SAME - An array camera, a mobile terminal, and methods for operating the same are disclosed. The method for operating an array camera having a plurality of camera modules includes acquiring images through the plurality of camera modules, grouping the acquired images into a first group and a second group by comparing the acquired images, and generating a composite image using images of the first group. | 10-22-2015 |
20150317522 | APPEARANCE PRESENTATION SYSTEM, METHOD, AND PROGRAM - An appearance presentation system is provided. The appearance presentation system can present the appearance of an object to be monitored at a position that the user designates in an image such that the user can previously grasp the extent to which the image to be captured with a camera is suitable for an image recognition process. A display control unit | 11-05-2015 |
20150334300 | MEMS-Released Curved Image Sensor - This document describes MEMS-released curved image sensors capable of sensing light from a monocentric lens. This MEMS-released curved image sensor receives light focused on a curved focal surface by releasing a photodetector side of a computing and sensing wafer, such as a Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) sensor. This releasing is effective to allow the photodetector side to conform to the curved focal surface of the monocentric lens. By so doing, the wider field of view, smaller size, and often smaller weight of monocentric lenses can be gained while using generally high-quality, low-cost computing and sensing wafers by processing these wafers to give them a curved surface at which to sense light from a monocentric lens. | 11-19-2015 |
20150350540 | IMAGE SENSORS WITH METALLIC NANOPARTICLE OPTICAL FILTERS - An imaging system may include one or more optical filters that include metallic nanoparticles in a matrix. The metallic nanoparticle optical filters may form a color filter array for an imager in the imaging system. Different metallic nanoparticle optical filters may be formed for each desired color. Properties of the metallic nanoparticles and matrices may be varied to achieve the desired optical filtering properties and pass the desired wavelength bands to the imager. As examples, the type of metal, the size of the nanoparticles, the shape of the nanoparticles, and the type of matrix in which the nanoparticles are formed may all influence the optical properties of the resulting metallic nanoparticle optical film. | 12-03-2015 |
20150365578 | Method For Obtaining Images With Exposure Compensation And Imaging Apparatus With Exposure Compensation - Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for obtaining images with exposure compensation image. Images of different levels of exposures are captured and obtained, and then the captured images are combined directly into a combined image which is an image with exposure correction. The method includes the steps of providing a prism set, performing an image capturing step and performing an image combining step. In the step of providing a prism set, the prism set has a light incident plane and three light exit planes. In the image capturing step, images are captured by an imaging apparatus installed separately at the three light exit planes, and a filter is installed before at least two of the imaging apparatuses separately. In the image combining step, the images captured by the imaging apparatuses are combined into a combined image which is an image with exposure compensation. | 12-17-2015 |
20150365606 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING VISUAL REPRESENTATIONS OF OBJECTS - A system for producing a visual representation of an object includes a structure for at least partially circumscribing the object, a plurality of still cameras mounted in fixed relation to each other, and at least one computer processor. The one or more computer processors trigger the plurality of still cameras to capture a plurality of still, images of the object, create the visual representation of the object by, at least in part, arranging at least some of the plurality of still images in an order, and transmit a digital file that includes the visual representation of the object to a storage medium accessible by a user device. The visual representation of the object is user manipulable to permit presenting the visual representation in more than one way. | 12-17-2015 |
20150370040 | FOLDED OPTIC ARRAY CAMERA USING REFRACTIVE PRISMS - Aspects relate to a prism array camera having a wide field of view. For example, the prism array camera can use a central refractive prism, for example with multiple surfaces or facets, to split incoming light comprising the target image into multiple portions for capture by the sensors in the array. The prism can have a refractive index of approximately 1.5 or higher, and can be shaped and positioned to reduce chromatic aberration artifacts and increase the FOV of a sensor. In some examples a negative lens can be incorporated into or attached to a camera-facing surface of the prism to further increase the FOV. | 12-24-2015 |
20150373261 | Array Cameras and Array Camera Modules including Spectral Filters Disposed Outside of a Constituent Image Sensor - Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement array cameras and array camera modules that have spectral filters disposed outside of constituent image sensors. In one embodiment, an array camera module includes: a lens stack array including lens elements arranged to form a plurality of optical channels, each optical channel including a field-of-view that is shifted with respect to the fields-of-views of each other optical channel so that each shift includes a sub-pixel shifted view of the scene, a glass substrate located within an optical channel, and a spectral filter disposed within, or else proximate to, a glass substrate within the lens stack array; and an imager array including a plurality of focal planes, where each focal plane includes a plurality of rows of pixels that also form a plurality of columns of pixels, and where each focal plane does not include pixels from another focal plane. | 12-24-2015 |
20150373262 | MULTI-CAMERA SYSTEM USING FOLDED OPTICS FREE FROM PARALLAX AND TILT ARTIFACTS - Aspects relate to an array camera exhibiting little or no parallax artifacts in captured images. For example, the planes of the central mirror prism of the array camera can intersect at an apex defining the vertical axis of symmetry of the system. The apex can serve as a point of intersection for the optical axes of the sensors in the array. Each sensor in the array “sees” a portion of the image scene using a corresponding facet of the central mirror prism, and accordingly each individual sensor/mirror pair represents only a sub-aperture of the total array camera. The complete array camera has a synthetic aperture generated based on the sum of all individual aperture rays. | 12-24-2015 |
20150373263 | MULTI-CAMERA SYSTEM USING FOLDED OPTICS FREE FROM PARALLAX ARTIFACTS - Aspects relate to an array camera exhibiting little or no parallax artifacts in captured images. For example, the planes of the central mirror surfaces of the array camera can be located at a midpoint along, and orthogonally to, a line between the corresponding camera location and the virtual camera location. Accordingly, the cones of all of the cameras in the array appear as if coming from the virtual camera location after folding by the mirrors. Each sensor in the array “sees” a portion of the image scene using a corresponding facet of the central mirror prism, and accordingly each individual sensor/mirror pair represents only a sub-aperture of the total array camera. The complete array camera has a synthetic aperture generated based on the sum of all individual aperture rays. | 12-24-2015 |
20150373265 | Phase Gratings with Odd Symmetry for High-Resolution Lensed and Lensless Optical Sensing - A sensing device with an odd-symmetry grating projects near-field spatial modulations onto a closely spaced photodetector array. The grating includes upper and lower features that define boundaries of odd symmetry. The features include upper and lower segments of various widths on opposite sides of each boundary, the upper segments at a height sufficient to induce one half wavelength of retardation in the band of interest relative to the lower segments. The resultant interference produces the spatial modulations for capture by the array. Photographs and other image information can be extracted from the captured data. | 12-24-2015 |
20160003994 | PHASE GRATINGS WITH ODD SYMMETRY FOR HIGH-RESOLUTION LENSLESS OPTICAL SENSING - Image-sensing devices include odd-symmetry gratings that cast interference patterns over a photodetector array. Grating features offer considerable insensitivity to the wavelength of incident light, and also to the manufactured distance between the grating and the photodetector array. Photographs and other image information can be extracted from interference patterns captured by the photodetector array. Images can be captured without a lens, and cameras can be made smaller than those that are reliant on lenses and ray-optical focusing. | 01-07-2016 |
20160028949 | IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHING METHOD - An image photographing apparatus and an image photographing method are provided. The image photographing apparatus includes: a plurality of image capturers respectively comprising lenses having different focal distances and respectively configured to capture a plurality of images having different resolutions; a storage configured to store the plurality of images captured by the plurality of image capturers; an image processor configured to adjust properties of the plurality of images to correspond to each other; a controller configured to, in response to a magnification change command being input, control the image processor to synthesize the plurality of images of which the properties are adjusted and generate a synthesis image of a magnification changed according to the magnification change command; and a display configured to display the synthesis image. | 01-28-2016 |
20160042493 | Image Sensor Read Window Adjustment for Multi-Camera Array Tolerance - Multiple cameras are arranged in an array at a pitch, roll, and yaw that allow the cameras to have adjacent fields of view such that each camera is pointed inward relative to the array. The read window of an image sensor of each camera in a multi-camera array can be adjusted to minimize the overlap between adjacent fields of view, to maximize the correlation within the overlapping portions of the fields of view, and to correct for manufacturing and assembly tolerances. Images from cameras in a multi-camera array with adjacent fields of view can be manipulated using low-power warping and cropping techniques, and can be taped together to form a final image. | 02-11-2016 |
20160057332 | Systems and Methods for High Dynamic Range Imaging Using Array Cameras - Systems and methods for high dynamic range imaging using array cameras in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a method of generating a high dynamic range image using an array camera includes defining at least two subsets of active cameras, determining image capture settings for each subset of active cameras, where the image capture settings include at least two exposure settings, configuring the active cameras using the determined image capture settings for each subset, capturing image data using the active cameras, synthesizing an image for each of the at least two subset of active cameras using the captured image data, and generating a high dynamic range image using the synthesized images. | 02-25-2016 |
20160080626 | Computational Camera Using Fusion of Image Sensors - A camera device includes monochromatic and color image sensors that capture an image as a clear image in monochrome and as a Bayer image. The camera device implements image processing algorithms to produce an enhanced, high-resolution HDR color image. The Bayer image is demosaiced to generate an initial color image, and a disparity map is generated to establish correspondence between pixels of the initial color image and clear image. A mapped color image is generated to map the initial color image onto the clear image. A denoised clear image is applied as a guide image of a guided filter that filters the mapped color image to generate a filtered color image. The filtered color image and the denoised clear image are then fused to produce an enhanced, high-resolution HDR color image, and the disparity map and the mapped color image are updated based on the enhanced, high-resolution HDR color image. | 03-17-2016 |
20160100110 | Apparatus, Method And Computer Program Product For Scene Synthesis - There is provided methods, apparatuses and computer program products for obtaining a media presentation as a seed media; and obtaining one or more criteria for content extraction. Information relating to media presentations among a set of media presentations is examined to find out relevance information regarding the context and/or content of the media presentations by using the seed media and the one or more criteria. On the basis of the examination, one or more media presentations among the set of media presentations corresponding with the one or more criteria are extracted. | 04-07-2016 |
20160112634 | Multi-Camera Array With Shared Spherical Lens - Multiple cameras are arranged in an array at a pitch, roll, and yaw that allow the cameras to have adjacent fields of view such that each camera is pointed inward relative to the array. The read window of an image sensor of each camera in a multi-camera array can be adjusted to minimize the overlap between adjacent fields of view, to maximize the correlation within the overlapping portions of the fields of view, and to correct for manufacturing and assembly tolerances. Images from cameras in a multi-camera array with adjacent fields of view can be manipulated using low-power warping and cropping techniques, and can be taped together to form a final image. | 04-21-2016 |
20160112657 | LARGE DYNAMIC RANGE CAMERAS - A digital camera includes a plurality of channels and a processing component operatively coupled to the plurality of channels. Each channel of the plurality of channels includes an optics component and a sensor that includes an array of photo-detectors. The processing component is configured to separately control an integration time of each channel, where a first integration time of a first channel is less than a second integration time of a second channel. The processing component is also configured to combine data from the plurality of channels to generate an image. | 04-21-2016 |
20160125570 | Image Taping in a Multi-camera Array - Multiple cameras are arranged in an array at a pitch, roll, and yaw that allow the cameras to have adjacent fields of view such that each camera is pointed inward relative to the array. The read window of an image sensor of each camera in a multi-camera array can be adjusted to minimize the overlap between adjacent fields of view, to maximize the correlation within the overlapping portions of the fields of view, and to correct for manufacturing and assembly tolerances. Images from cameras in a multi-camera array with adjacent fields of view can be manipulated using low-power warping and cropping techniques, and can be taped together to form a final image. | 05-05-2016 |
20160142629 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMAGE PROCESSING - An electronic device comprising: a memory; and at least one processor operatively coupled to the memory, the processor being configured to: acquire a first and a second image, identify a first feature in the first image, and a second feature in the second image, generate a first relation information item based on the first feature and the second feature, and generate image data comprising at least a part of the first image or at least a part of the second image, based on the first relation information item. | 05-19-2016 |
20160142645 | ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRONIC APPARATUS, AND CONTROL PROGRAM - To generate multiple types of images of the same subject. An electronic apparatus includes a drive control unit that controls the drive of an image sensor, a division unit that divides an image capture region of the image sensor into at least first and second regions, and an image generation unit that generates a first image by capturing an image of the same subject in the first region and generates a second image by capturing an image of the same subject in the second region. | 05-19-2016 |
20160142646 | Monocentric Lens-based Multi-scale Optical Systems and Methods of Use - A monocentric lens-based multi-scale imaging system is disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention comprise a monocentric lens as an objective lens that collects light from a scene. Monocentric lenses in accordance with the present invention include a spherical central lens element and a plurality of lens shell sections that collectively reduce at least one of spherical and chromatic aberration from the magnitude introduced by the spherical lens element itself. A plurality of secondary lenses image the scene through the objective lens and further reduce the magnitude of aberrations introduced by the objective lens. A plurality of sensor arrays converts optical sub-images of the scene into a plurality of digital images, which can then be used to form a composite image of the scene. | 05-19-2016 |
20160156831 | SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING A LENS POSITION | 06-02-2016 |
20160156842 | COLLABORATIVE IMAGE CAPTURING | 06-02-2016 |
20160165134 | Feature Based High Resolution Motion Estimation from Low Resolution Images Captured Using an Array Source - Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention enable feature based high resolution motion estimation from low resolution images captured using an array camera. One embodiment includes performing feature detection with respect to a sequence of low resolution images to identify initial locations for a plurality of detected features in the sequence of low resolution images, where the at least one sequence of low resolution images is part of a set of sequences of low resolution images captured from different perspectives. The method also includes synthesizing high resolution image portions, where the synthesized high resolution image portions contain the identified plurality of detected features from the sequence of low resolution images. The method further including performing feature detection within the high resolution image portions to identify high precision locations for the detected features, and estimating camera motion using the high precision locations for said plurality of detected features. | 06-09-2016 |
20160165146 | DEVICES, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS FOR VISUAL IMAGING ARRAYS - Computationally implemented methods and systems include capturing a scene that includes one or more images, through use of an array of more than one image sensor, selecting a particular portion of the scene that includes at least one image, wherein the selected particular portion is smaller than the scene, transmitting only the selected particular portion from the scene to a remote location, and de-emphasizing pixels from the scene that are not part of the selected particular portion of the scene. In addition to the foregoing, other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text. | 06-09-2016 |
20160173771 | HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGING DEVICES USING LOW-RESOLUTION SENSORS AND COMPRESSIVE SENSING EXPLOITING JOINT SPARSITY | 06-16-2016 |