51st week of 2014 patent applcation highlights part 25 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140368639 | HANDHELD CELLULAR APPARATUS FOR VOLUME ESTIMATION - What is disclosed is a wireless cellular device capable of determining a volume of an object in an image captured by a camera of that apparatus. In one embodiment, the present wireless cellular device comprises an illuminator for projecting a pattern of structured light with known spatial characteristics, and a camera for capturing images of an object for which a volume is to be estimated. The camera is sensitive to a wavelength range of the projected pattern of structured light. A spatial distortion is introduced by a reflection of the projected pattern off a surface of the object. And processor executing machine readable program instructions for performing the method of: receiving an image of the object from the camera; processing the image to generate a depth map; and estimating a volume of the object from the depth map. A method for using the present wireless cellular device is also provided. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368640 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING ALIGNMENT OF A PROJECTION IMAGE TO DETECTED INFRARED (IR) RADIATION INFORMATION - A method of presenting a visible representation of infrared (IR) radiation information onto an observed real world scene based on IR radiation emitted from said observed real world scene, using a thermography arrangement comprising an IR imaging system, a visible light imaging system, and a visible light projecting system. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368641 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROJECTING A VISIBLE REPRESENTATION OF INFRARED RADIATION - A method for enabling easier interpretation and analysis of an observed real world scene by presenting a visible representation of infrared (IR) radiation information, based on IR radiation emitted from said real world scene, and additional information onto said observed real world scene, using thermography arrangement comprising an IR imaging system, a visible light imaging system and a visible light projecting system. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368642 | LIGHTING AUDIT DOCKING STATION DEVICE AND METHOD THEREOF - A lighting audit system includes a lighting audit docking station in communication with the smart device and a database, where the lighting audit docking station includes a targeting unit and a camera. A lighting audit method includes providing a physical parameter to a lighting audit table for a space-under-study, representing the space-under-study on a virtual map presented on a display, adding surface characteristic data for the space-under-study into the lighting audit table, measuring the physical dimensions of the space-under-study using the targeting unit, the physical dimension measurements being stored in the lighting audit table, entering into the lighting audit table parameters for a luminaire located in the space-under-study, and calculating a lighting audit for the space-under-study based on data in the lighting audit table. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368643 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING AND TRACKING EMERGENCY EVENTS WITHIN A DEFINED AREA - The present invention provides a system, methods, and apparatus to provide surveillance, security, alerting, and tracking functionality. The security system comprises the necessary hardware and software to provide surveillance of a pre-determined area, using a central processing facility located off site to allow for an independent monitoring, information gathering, and decision making component. Such information is collected and the data can be converted into a tactical map. The tactical map includes useful information which can be supplied to responders in an easy to view and understand format. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368644 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRACKING DRIVER ATTENTIVENESS USING VECTOR - An apparatus and a method for tracking driver attentiveness using a vector are provided. The apparatus includes an imaging device that detects a driver's attentiveness and a controller that is configured to set an initial attentiveness area of the driver based on a motion of the driver's attentiveness detected by the imaging device. In addition, the controller is configured to set a current attentiveness area of the driver by calculating a vector value based on a change of the driver's attentiveness and set an inflection point based on the current attentiveness area. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368645 | ROBUST TRACKING USING POINT AND LINE FEATURES - Disclosed embodiments pertain to apparatus, systems, and methods for robust feature based tracking. In some embodiments, a score may be computed for a camera captured current image comprising a target object. The score may be based on one or more metrics determined from a comparison of features in the current image and a prior image captured by the camera. The comparison may be based on an estimated camera pose for the current image. In some embodiments, one of a point based, an edge based, or a combined point and edge based feature correspondence method may be selected based on a comparison of the score with a point threshold and/or a line threshold, the point and line thresholds being obtained from a model of the target. The camera pose may be refined by establishing feature correspondences using the selected method between the current image and a model image. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368646 | MONITORING METHOD AND CAMERA - A scene is monitored by receiving image data representing a thermal image captured by a thermal image sensor ( | 2014-12-18 |
20140368647 | Observation Instrument With A Symmetrical Image Field Given Use Of Asymmetric Image Sensors - An observation instrument has a hollow shaft in whose distal end region there is arranged an optoelectronic imaging system which has on the image entrance side a distal deflection prism whose deflection faces lead an image into an optical lens system which images the image onto the image plane of an image sensor arranged proximally from the lens system, the image sensor having an active region which is situated asymmetrically relative to the outer contour of the image sensor. A first plane, which is defined by the main beam and a first orthogonal on the image plane of the image sensor, and a second plane, which is defined by the main beam and a second orthogonal on the deflection faces of the distal deflection prism, being rotated relative to one another about the main beam in such a way that it is possible to produce a sight cone which is symmetrical relative to a midplane of the hollow shaft and whose image area is situated fully in the active region of the image sensor. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368648 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM MOTOR OVERCURRENT PROTECTION - The present invention provides a video surveillance system, having a video camera; a motor operable to move the video camera; and a processor monitoring a value of a signal provided to the motor, the processor terminating the signal to the motor when the monitored signal value exceeds a predetermined value for a predetermined period of time. A network may be coupled to the processor for communication of the signal termination. The processor may reinitiate a signal transmission to the motor sufficient to maintain a position of the motor after a predetermined period of time, and the processor may monitor the signal transmission and adjust at least one of a zoom setting and focus setting of the video camera based at least in part on the monitored signal. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368649 | Image Recognition System Controlled Illumination Device - An image recognition system controlled illumination device includes an imaging device that includes therein an imaging module for capturing an image so that an image recognition device recognizes the captured image with transmission thereof being made to a CPU microprocessor, so that the CPU microprocessor issues a signal to simultaneously activate an illumination module and a storage module connected thereto to perform operations of illumination and image recording and storage and with an image database and a comparison module, recognition of an image is made under additional constraints to achieve accuracy of recognition. Further included is an add-on function module including a sound effect module, a wireless module, and a WIFI module, which is connected to the CPU microprocessor, so as to increases the functions activated by the CPU microprocessor to achieve flexibility of use of the recorded image storage space and accomplishment of accuracy of image comparison. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368650 | INTEGRATED 3D AUDIOVISUAL THREAT CUEING SYSTEM - An integrated audiovisual threat warning system configured to detect a threat, estimate a relative location of origin of the threat with respect to a host platform with which the system is associated, and to warn an occupant of the host platform of the threat. The system includes an audio processor configured to receive a warning tone, geo-spatial coordinate data from the host platform, and the estimated relative location of origin of the threat, and to process the warning tone based on the geo-spatial coordinate data and the direction information to generate a directional audio warning signal. The system also includes a plurality of speakers configured to audibly project the directional audio warning signal to audibly identify the estimated relative location of origin of the threat, and a display control unit configured to display the estimated relative location of origin of the threat overlaid on a map. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368651 | MOBILE IMAGING PLATFORM CALIBRATION - Mobile platforms are used to capture an area using a variety of sensors (e.g., cameras and laser scanners) while traveling through the area, in order to create a representation (e.g., a navigable set of panoramic images, or a three-dimensional reconstruction). However, such sensors are often precisely calibrated in a controlled setting, and miscalibration during travel (e.g., due to a physical jolt) may result in a corruption of data and/or a recalibration that leaves the platform out of service for an extended duration. Presented herein are techniques for verifying sensor calibration during travel. Such techniques involve the identification of a sensor path for each sensor over time (e.g., a laser scanner path, a camera path, and a location sensor path) and a comparison of the paths, optionally after registration with a static coordinate system, to verify that the continued calibration of the sensors during the mobile operation of the platform. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368652 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR EFFICIENTLY MONITORING PARKING OCCUPANCY - A system and method for determining parking occupancy and maintaining a database of parking occupancy data by receiving video data for a parking area from multiple video cameras, determining parking occupancy data for the parking area using the video data for the parking area, generating textual data corresponding to the parking occupancy data for the parking area, and transmitting the textual data corresponding to the parking occupancy data for the parking area to a central server. The central server can receive textual data from multiple devices and maintain and update a database of parking occupancy data based on the textual data received. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368653 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING RESPONSIVENESS IN A VEHICLE COMPUTING PLATFORM - A method and system for improving responsiveness of a vehicle computing platform includes enabling a camera feature during the pre-boot phase of a computing device and using a special-purpose operating mode of the computing device to initiate the streaming of camera image data to a display. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368654 | CHROMATIC ABERRATION COMPENSATION FOR VEHICLE CAMERAS - A vision system of a vehicle includes a camera disposed at a vehicle and having a field of view exterior of the vehicle. The camera includes a lens and a pixelated imaging array having a plurality of photosensing elements. The camera is operable to sense color via color filters at respective photosensing elements. An image processor is operable to process image data captured by the camera. The vision system is operable to determine an aberration of colors in the captured image data and to correct the aberration of colors. The vision system determines the aberration based on parameters of the lens, and the vision system may corrects the aberration of colors by scaling the color channels according to a location of the respective pixels and the respective parameters of the lens for that location. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368655 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A DRIVER ASSIST SYSTEM FOR MANEUVERING AND/OR PARKING A MOTOR VEHICLE - A method for operating a driver assist system for supporting a driver during maneuvering and/or parking a motor vehicle includes recording with at least one environmental sensor three-dimensional environmental data of an environment of the motor vehicle; generating with the driver assist system a three-dimensional model based on the three-dimensional data recorded by the environmental sensor, said model describing at least a portion of the motor vehicle and at least a portion of the environment of the motor vehicle; generating with the driver assist system at least one image using the three-dimensional model, said image showing at least the at least one portion of the motor vehicle in relation to surrounding objects; and displaying the image on a display. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368656 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECT DETECTION DEVICE - A three-dimensional object detection device can enhance the accuracy in detecting a three-dimensional object regardless of the brightness in the detection environment. The device has an image capture means that captures an image of a predetermined area and an image conversion means that converts the image through a viewpoint conversion into birds-eye view image. A first three-dimensional object detection means aligns positions of bird's-eye view images at different times obtained by the image conversion means, counts the number of pixels that exhibit a predetermined difference on a differential image of the aligned bird's-eye view images to generate a frequency distribution thereby creating differential waveform information, and detects a three-dimensional object on the basis of the differential waveform information. A second three-dimensional object detection means detects edge information from the bird's-eye view image obtained by the image conversion means and detects a three-dimensional object on the basis of the edge information. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368657 | VEHICLE REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM, AND VEHICLE PROVIDED WITH SAID VEHICLE REARVIEW MIRROR SYSTEM - [Problem] To provide a vehicle rearview mirror system which is capable of eliminating a circumstance that a driver feel a sense that something is wrong, even in a case where a screen of a display device is caused to one-to-one correspond with an aspect ratio of the vehicle rearview mirror, and the ratio of the display screen of the display device is made different from an aspect ratio of an image which is acquired by a vehicle-mounted camera. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368658 | COMMUNICATION SYSTEM WITH IMPROVED SAFETY FEATURE - A communication system and method provide fight detection capability. Bodily parameters associated with fighting, such as limb movements, are pre-stored and individualized for a particular user. The characterization of a fight using limb movements allows for a system that can recognize a fight even when a user is unable to call for assistance. Other bodily parameters are further monitored and weighted to distinguish a fight from other activities. The automatic notification to a dispatch center or control center and notification to peer radios expedites the ability to bring aid to the user. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368659 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING AN IMAGE FROM A CAMERA - A method and apparatus for displaying video is provided herein. During operation, video is displayed on one of many displays in a geographically correct fashion. For example, in an embodiment involving two displays (e.g., on a firefighter's two wrists), each of which display a video feed, the video is displayed such that the video feed of the most appropriate scene (not necessarily the video feed of the closest camera) is shown on that display. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368660 | DISPLAY DEVICE FOR A PLUNGER MATRIX MATTRESS - A point-of-sale demonstration systems aids in marketing of plunger matrix mattresses, which include an array of independently movable foam padded plungers visible on the underside of the mattress. The demonstration system includes a display system for viewing the underside of the plunger matrix mattress allowing a person sitting or lying on the mattress to readily view the impression created by their body weight on the plungers. The display system includes a camera positioned to image the underside of the mattress and a monitor (display screen) positioned for viewing by a person lying on the mattress so that they can see the deflection in the bottom of the plungers caused by their own weight on the mattress. Seeing the image of the downwardly displaced plungers immediately conveys the operation of the plunger matrix mattress to the viewer. The system may also be configured to capture individual frames and video images, store the images, transmit the images, and edit as desired, for example by zooming, cropping, changing the speed of the video, and so forth. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368661 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DEPTH SELECTIVE SEGMENTATION OF OBJECT - A method and a system for depth selective segmentation of an object are provided. The method comprises the following steps. An image is captured in an invisible domain of the optical spectrum by illuminating a scene of interest under an illumination corresponding to said invisible domain of the optical spectrum by an invisible light illumination unit. A binary mask is obtained from the image according to a threshold. Part of the image is eliminated by applying the binary mask to the image, and resulting in another image. The threshold is changed and another binary mask is obtained. The latest obtained binary mask is applied to the latest captured image. The step of changing of the threshold, the step of obtaining a mask and the step of applying the latest obtained binary mask on the latest captured image are performed at least once. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368662 | Capturing and Processing of Near-IR Images Including Occlusions Using Camera Arrays Incorporating Near-IR Light Sources - 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. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368663 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAYING AN IMAGE FROM A CAMERA - A method and apparatus for displaying video is provided herein. During operation, video is displayed on one of many displays in a geographically correct fashion. For example, in an embodiment involving two displays (e.g., on a firefighter's two wrists), each of which display a video feed, the video is displayed such that the video feed of the most appropriate scene (not necessarily the video feed of the closest camera) is shown on that display. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368664 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING TRACKER SYSTEM ACCURACY - The present invention relates to a simple and effective system and method for measuring camera based tracker system accuracy, especially for a helmet-mounted tracker system, utilizing Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM). The method comprises the steps of; computing spatial relation between tracked object and calibration pattern using CMM; computing relation between reference camera and tracker camera; computing relation between reference camera and calibration pattern; computing ground truth relation between tracker camera and tracked object; obtaining actual tracker system results; comparing these results with the ground truth relations and finding accuracy of the tracker system; recording accuracy results; testing if the accuracy results is a new calculation required. The system comprises; a reference camera; a calibration pattern visible by reference camera; a camera spatial relation computation unit; a relative spatial relation computation unit a memory unit; a spatial relation comparison unit. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368665 | IPTV DIAGNOSTICS SYSTEM - A method of testing a video decoding device connected to an IPTV service, the IPTV service having a server, the method comprising tuning the video decoding device to a first channel of the IPTV service, the video decoding device receiving the first channel and decoding video from the first channel, the video decoding device collecting data concerning the decoded video and sending the data to the server, detuning the video decoding device from the first channel, the server analyzing the data to generate results; and the server displaying the results. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368666 | ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS MATRIX OF ENHANCED RELIABILITY AND METHOD FOR LOCATING A FAULT IN THE MATRIX - Enhancement of the reliability of an imaging device comprising several pixels is provided, each of the pixels comprising several first blocks of electronic components organized as a matrix and joined by links to row buses and column buses of the matrix allowing the powering and control of each of the first blocks for its nominal operation. Each of the pixels moreover comprises, associated with the first block, programmable means for disconnection of the first block from the at least one of the buses. Locating of a fault in a device is also provided, the fault occurring in one of the first blocks and leading to a generalized fault in several first blocks. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368667 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR N-PHASE DATA MAPPING - Apparatus, methods, and systems are herein described for providing a method for calibrating a channel by employing a training sequence during at least one blanking interval. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a first control logic to send a command to generate a predetermined data pattern during at least one blanking interval. In addition, the apparatus includes a second control logic to determine whether a received data pattern matches the predetermined data pattern. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368668 | FAILURE-DETERMINATION APPARATUS - A failure-determination apparatus is provided with: a radar device ( | 2014-12-18 |
20140368669 | GPU-ACCELERATED BACKGROUND REPLACEMENT - Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for real-time background replacement. Visual characteristics of a visual background, comprised of an image or series of images that make up a motion video, are identified. Frames of a real-time video are captured with a video camera. Foreground areas are distinguished from background areas in the frames of the real-time video by using the visual background. The visual background displays an area that overlaps with an area in the one or more captured frames. The modifying occurs in real-time with capturing the frames by the video camera. Video data is provided for display that superimposes images from the foreground areas over the visual background without superimposing the background areas. The identified visual characteristics of the visual background are used to modify visual characteristics of particular pixels in the obtained one or more frames of the real-time video. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368670 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING PEOPLE IN AN IMAGE - Described herein are methods and devices employing low power wireless features to identify persons in a captured image using signals emitted from such persons' personal computing devices. As described, signals emitted from personal computing devices commonly carried on a person, such as cell phones, enable an image capture device to wirelessly connect to the personal computing devices, both directly and through a mesh network, and to obtain information about the person carrying the device. Further, the image capture device may determine the location of the personal computing devices to tag locations of persons in a captured image. Some embodiments may allow the image capture device to automatically share the captured image, such as by email, text, or social networking websites and applications. It is also possible to create a local group of users who will be identified by the image capture device, or to operate in a publicly detectable mode. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368671 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE, SERVER, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - There is provided an image processing device including an extraction nit configured to extract an object from an image picked up by use of a certain imaging parameter, a ranging unit configured to acquire distance information indicating a distance between an image pickup unit that has picked up the image and the object that has been imaged, a communication unit having a first transmission function, a second transmission function, and a reception function, and a composition unit configured to combine the object candidate image received by the communication unit in a region of the object included in the second image. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368672 | Methods for Deploying Video Monitoring Applications and Services Across Heterogeneous Networks - Methods for the deployment of an image servicing platform over a mobile wireless network ate described. A mobile multimedia service controller (MMSC) includes a video gateway that is capable of transcoding among different video formats supported by an imaging service platform. The MMSC can be connected over a network to a download server that provides updates to a transcoder application and a video image application. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368673 | DIGITAL CAMERA - A digital camera includes a communicator that communicates with other digital camera, a receiver that receives a camera information of another digital camera and an imaging device that forms a digital image of an object. The digital camera further includes a processor that creates a digital image data from the digital image based upon the camera information. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368674 | Image Capture and Identification System and Process - A digital image of the object is captured and the object is recognized from plurality of objects in a database. An information address corresponding to the object is then used to access information and initiate communication pertinent to the object. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368675 | COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A communication apparatus includes a first communication unit configured to communicate in a bidirectional communication mode for performing bidirectional message communication with an apparatus at the other side and in another mode for accepting an access to a predetermined storage area from the apparatus at the other side, a control unit that has an active mode having a first power consumption and an inactive mode having a lower power consumption than the first power consumption, and a detection unit configured to detect that the control unit is in the inactive mode, wherein when the control unit is in the inactive mode, and the first communication unit performs the bidirectional communication mode with a communication partner, and a predetermined service is designated by the communication partner, the first communication unit communicates information according to the predetermined service designated by the communication partner while the control unit is in the inactive mode. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368676 | DRIVE CONTROL APPARATUS AND DRIVE CONTROL METHOD - A drive control apparatus includes a stepping motor, a position detection unit configured to detect a rotational position of a rotor of the stepping motor, a feedback drive unit configured to drive the stepping motor by a feedback control based on an output from the position detection unit, an open loop drive unit configured to drive the stepping motor by an open loop control, and a switching unit configured to switch the driving of the stepping motor between the driving of the stepping motor by the feedback control and the driving of the stepping motor by the open loop control, wherein the feedback drive unit and the open loop drive unit are both configured to drive the stepping motor by microstep driving. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368677 | ACTUATOR DRIVING DEVICE, CONTROL METHOD FOR SAME, AND IMAGING APPARATUS - An actuator driving device drives an actuator connected to an output terminal. The control unit of the actuator driving device includes a PWM delay time setting unit, a first duty ratio setting unit, and a second duty ratio setting unit. The PWM delay time setting unit sets a delay time of pulse width modulation control for a driving voltage to be applied to the output terminal and outputs setting information to the first and second duty ratio setting units. The first duty ratio setting unit sets the first duty ratio for a first PWM output unit, and the second duty ratio setting unit sets the second duty ratio for a second PWM output unit. When positive and negative energization is performed, the control unit controls to reduce the amount of change in current in the current peak of a PWM waveform by providing a short-circuit period in response to the energization amount. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368678 | REMOTE GUIDING SYSTEM, GUIDING TERMINAL AND SEEKING HELP TERMINAL - A guiding terminal to assist non-professionals at the scene of a disaster or other emergency includes a transmission module, a projecting module, a photo module and a photo identification module. The transmitting module communicates with a seeking help terminal. The projecting module projects pictures transmitted from the seeking help terminal to a displaying object. The photo module captures pictures of a guiding action. The photo identification module identifies the guiding action to obtain a position to which the guiding action is pointing and generates a guiding information according to the position. The transmission module further transmits the guiding information to the seeking help terminal. The invention also provides a remote guiding system and a seeking help terminal. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368679 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE, IMAGING DEVICE, IMAGE REPRODUCTION METHOD, IMAGE REPRODUCTION PROGRAM, RECORDING MEDIUM WITH IMAGE REPRODUCTION PROGRAM RECORDED THEREUPON, AND IMAGE REPRODUCTION DEVICE - An electronic device includes: a communication unit that performs communication with an external device; and a control unit that issues a command to the external device via the communication unit, on the basis of at least one of capacity of the external device, and capacity of the electronic device. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368680 | CONVERSION GAIN MODULATION USING CHARGE SHARING PIXEL - An image sensor including an array of pixel elements is operated according to two operation modes to modulate the conversion gain of the pixel to operate the image sensor based on the impinging light conditions. More specifically, an image sensor pixel element is operated in a high conversion gain mode for low light conditions and in a low conversion gain mode for bright light conditions. The low conversion gain mode implements charge sharing between the floating diffusion and the photodiode. The low conversion gain mode further implements partial reset where the photodiode and the floating diffusion are reset to the same potential and to a potential slightly less than the pinning voltage of the photodiode. | 2014-12-18 |
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. | 2014-12-18 |
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. | 2014-12-18 |
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. | 2014-12-18 |
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. | 2014-12-18 |
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. | 2014-12-18 |
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. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368687 | TERMINAL DEVICE AND LINE OF SIGHT DETECTION METHOD - A terminal device includes, a processor; and a memory which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to execute, obtaining information that indicates a state of an imaging unit when photographing a subject; determining whether an image photographed by the imaging unit includes blurriness due to shaking of the imaging unit based on the obtained information; and using an image determined as not including blurriness in the determining to detect a line of sight of the photographed subject. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368688 | COMPUTER VISION APPLICATION PROCESSING - Methods, systems, and techniques to enhance computer vision application processing are disclosed. In particular, the methods, systems, and techniques may reduce power consumption for computer vision applications and improve processing efficiency for computer vision applications. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368689 | IMAGE SIMILARITY DETERMINING DEVICE AND METHOD, AND AN IMAGE FEATURE ACQUIRING DEVICE AND METHOD - An image similarity determining device and method and an image feature acquiring device and method are provided. The image similarity determining device comprises a preprocessing unit for extracting feature points of each input image region of an input image and each image region to be matched of a data source image; a matched feature point set determining unit for determining one to one matched feature point pairs between input image regions and image regions to be matched to determine matched feature point sets; a geometry similarity determining unit for determining a geometry similarity between the input image region and the image region to be matched based on distribution of respective feature points in the matched feature point sets; and an image similarity determining unit for determining similarity between input image and data source image based on geometry similarities between input image regions and corresponding image regions to be matched. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368690 | IMAGE GENERATION METHOD, IMAGE GENERATION APPARATUS, PROGRAM, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image generation method is provided for generating an output image from an input image acquired by an image sensor that has an array of multiple pixels, each of which has arranged therein multiple sub-pixels that each receive a light beam that passes through a different pupil sub-area of an imaging optical system. The method includes a step of generating multiple parallax images that respectively correspond to the different pupil sub-areas; a step of generating multiple pixel shifted images by performing different shifting for each of the parallax images according to a virtual image forming plane of the imaging optical system; and a step of generating an output image that has a higher resolution than the resolution of the parallax images from the pixel shifted images through composition processing. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368691 | Object Information Derived From Object Images - Search terms are derived automatically from images captured by a camera equipped cell phone, PDA, or other image capturing device, submitted to a search engine to obtain information of interest, and at least a portion of the resulting information is transmitted back locally to, or nearby, the device that captured the image. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368692 | REAL-TIME CORRECTION/CALIBRATION SYSTEM FOR THE COLOR SPECTRUM CONTAINED ON AN IMAGE OUTPUT (TRANSMITTED) FROM AN IMAGE CAPTURE AND OUTPUT MACRO-SYSTEM, ACCORDING TO A PREVIOUSLY DEFINED COLOR SPECTRUM REFERENCE - A real-time correction/calibration system for the color spectrum contained on an image output (transmitted) from an image capture and output macro-system is provided. The system uses a reference of previously defined color spectrum, represented by an inventive solution preferentially in the electro-electronic or computing sectors. The invention is particularly useful when applied to “image capture and output macro-systems” which involve the use of equipment such as TV sets, projectors, data show, notebook, netbook, PDA, tablets, mobile telephone apparatus, film and photographic cameras, among others. The system of correction/calibration of color spectrum of an image captured from an object (Ob) and perceived by the observer (Ob) is provided with attributes such as flexibility, portability, agility, automation, low labor cost and economically viable. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368693 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, METHOD FOR PROCESSING IMAGE, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - An image processing apparatus includes a taken image data acquiring unit configured to acquire taken image data, a storage unit configured to store therein one or more pieces of interface data for designating a tag to be attached to the taken image data, an imaging situation information acquiring unit configured to acquire information on an imaging situation of the taken image data, an interface identifying unit configured to identify at least one piece of interface data from among the pieces of interface data stored in the storage unit based on the information on the imaging situation acquired by the imaging situation information acquiring unit, and a display image generating unit configured to generate interface image data from the interface data identified by the interface identifying unit and to generate image data for display from the generated interface image data and the taken image data. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368694 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR PROCESSING VIDEO DATA AND METHOD THEREOF - A method for processing video data in an electronic device is provided. The method includes connecting communication with an external storage, obtaining video data through an image sensor, and transmitting the video data to the external storage if an amount of the video data reaches a transmission capacity. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368695 | CONTROL DEVICE AND STORAGE MEDIUM - There is provided a control device including a focus control unit configured to perform control so as to sequentially bring multiple subjects within a captured image into focus, and a recording control unit configured to perform control in response to a trigger from a user so as to record, onto a storage medium, captured images of the multiple subjects sequentially brought into focus by the focus control unit. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368696 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM, SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element including a plurality of pixels corresponding to a plurality of respective micro lenses and the first photoelectric conversion portion and the second photoelectric conversion portion that are included in each of the pixels and share a corresponding one of the micro lenses, and a signal processing unit configured to correct an addition signal of outputs from the first photoelectric conversion portion and the second photoelectric conversion portion included in each of the pixels and a first signal generated from a plurality of signals of the first photoelectric conversion portions corresponding to the micro lenses, and the signal processing unit corrects the addition signal for each of the pixels and corrects the first signal for the first photoelectric conversion portions. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368697 | IMAGE PROCESSING INCLUDING IMAGE CORRECTION - Long and short exposure time pixel information are input to pixel information. A long exposure time image set with the pixel values assuming all of the pixels have been exposed for a long time and a short exposure time image set with the pixel values assuming all of the pixels have been exposed for a short time are generated. A point spread function corresponding to the long exposure time image is computed as a long exposure time image PSF. A corrected image is generated using the short exposure time image, the long exposure time image, and the long exposure time image PSF. The corrected image is generated as a wide dynamic range image utilizing the pixel information for the long and short exposure time image. Utilizing the pixel information for the short exposure time image with little blurring, makes the corrected image a high quality corrected image with little blurring. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368698 | DISPLAY CONTROL APPARATUS, DISPLAY CONTROL METHOD, PROGRAM, AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - There is provided a display control apparatus, including: a composition determining section configured to determine recommended composition of an input image; an image generating section configured to generate an image based on the recommended composition; and a display controller configured to control displaying the input image, the recommended composition, and the image based on the recommended composition, on a display section. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368699 | Zoom Lens and Image Pickup Apparatus Using the Same - A zoom lens comprising, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, a third lens unit having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens unit having a negative refractive power, and a fifth lens unit having a positive refractive power. Each distance between the first lens unit and the second lens unit, between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit, and between the fourth lens unit and the fourth lens unit at the telephoto end is longer than at the wide angle end, and a distance between the second lens unit and the third lens unit at the telephoto end is shorter than at the wide angle end, and the following conditional expressions are satisfied. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368700 | EXAMPLE-BASED CROSS-MODAL DENOISING - A method for cross-modal signal denoising, the method comprising using at least one hardware processor for: providing a first multi-modal signal comprising at least two relatively clear modalities; correlating features exhibited simultaneously in the at least two relatively clear modalities of the first multi-modal signal; providing a second multi-modal signal comprising at least one relatively noisy modality and at least one relatively clear modality; and denoising the at least one relatively noisy modality of the second multi-modal signal by associating between (a) features exhibited in the at least one relatively noisy modality of the second multi-modal signal and (b) the features of the first multi-modal signal. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368701 | CLONING IMAGE DATA PATCH IN HOLE OF PIXEL ARRAY (PATCH AND CLONE) - An imaging device includes a pixel array with a hole within its pixels, and an image signal processor configured to process data generated by the pixels. In a process hereby called “Patch-Clone”, holes in image data are repaired for the eventually rendered image. More particularly, a patch of the pixels can be selected on the basis of how well the data of pixels surrounding the patch match data of pixels surrounding the hole. Then the data of the patch can be cloned, and become rendered instead of the missing data of the hole. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368702 | PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE, PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR DRIVING PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE - Sum signals are generated in each region provided with a plurality of photoelectric converters. Furthermore, a second signal line is included to which signals based on the sum signals are output, in addition to a first signal line to which individual signals of a plurality of pixels are output. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368703 | DIGITAL DOMAIN ACCUMULATIVE CMOS-TDI IMAGE SENSOR WITH LOW POWER CONSUMPTION - The present invention relates to the field of design of analog digital hybrid integrated circuit. The object of the invention is to reduce ADC conversion rate thus further reducing power consumption of the sensor while not reducing line frequency of the CMOS-TDI. To this end, a digital domain accumulative CMOS-TDI image sensor with low power consumption is provided. It includes a pixel array of n+k lines multiplied m columns, a column parallel signal pre-processing circuit, a column parallel successive approximation (SAR) ADC, a column parallel digital domain accumulator, a column parallel divider, a timing control circuit and an output shift register, wherein n+k+1 coarse quantification memory units are provided to the column parallel digital domain accumulator for storage of coarse quantification results; and memory units for storage of n times of fine quantification results are also provided, thus realizing n stages of TDI signal accumulation after accumulation of n times of fine quantification results. The invention is generally used in hybrid integrated circuit design. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368704 | IMAGING DEVICE AND CAMERA SYSTEM INCLUDING SENSE CIRCUITS TO MAKE BINARY DECISION - An imaging device includes: a pixel array section having an array of pixels, each of which has a photoelectric converting device and outputs an electric signal according to an input photon; a sense circuit section having a plurality of sensor circuits each of which makes binary decision on whether there is a photon input to a pixel in a predetermined period upon reception of the electric signal therefrom; and a decision result IC section which integrates decision results from the sense circuits, pixel by pixel or for each group of pixels, multiple times to generate imaged data with a gradation, the decision result IC section including a count circuit which performs a count process to integrate the decision results from the sense circuits, and a memory for storing a counting result for each pixel from the count circuit, the sense circuits sharing the count circuit for integrating the decision results. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368705 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE AND CAMERA SYSTEM - A solid-state imaging device and a camera system are disclosed. The solid-state imaging device includes a pixel unit and a pixel signal readout circuit. The pixel signal readout circuit includes a plurality of comparators disposed to correspond to a pixel column array, and a plurality of counters. Each counter includes a first amplifier, a second amplifier, and a mirror circuit to from a current mirror in parallel with the second amplifier. The first amplifier includes differential transistors, initializing switches connected between gates and collectors of the differential transistors, and first and second capacitors connected to each of the gates of the differential transistors. The second amplifier includes an initializing switch and a third capacitor. The mirror circuit includes a gate input transistor whose gate is inputted with a voltage sampled by the first amplifier or a voltage sampled by the second amplifier. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368706 | PROGRAMMABLE GAIN AMPLIFIER AND DEVICES INCLUDING THE SAME - A programmable gain amplifier includes a sampling circuit, a source follower, a first capacitor and an error amplifier. The sampling circuit is configured to perform correlated double sampling on an input signal using a reference voltage. The first capacitor is connected between the sampling circuit and the source follower. The error amplifier is connected between an input terminal of the source follower and an output terminal of the source follower. The error amplifier is configured to reset a voltage of the output terminal of the source follower to the reference voltage during a source follower reset operation. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368707 | IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGING SYSTEM, METHOD FOR DRIVING IMAGING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR DRIVING IMAGING SYSTEM - Provided is an imaging apparatus that generates a signal based on the sum of signals output by a plurality of pixels, and a signal based on the difference between the signals output by the plurality of signals, and performs AD conversion on the generated signals. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368708 | IMAGE SENSOR, IMAGE SIGNAL PROCESSOR AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME - An image sensor is provided which includes a plurality of operation blocks configured to provide an image signal in response to an incident light, and a power supply block configured to supply a power to one or more operation blocks of the plurality of operation blocks based on a selected operation mode or operation interval. The operation mode is one of at least a first mode and a second mode, and a resolution of the image signal generated in the second mode is lower than that generated in the first mode. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368709 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, METHOD OF DRIVING THE SAME, AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEM INCLUDING THE DEVICE - A solid-state imaging device includes: a unit pixel including a photoelectric conversion section, an impurity-diffusion region capable of temporarily accumulating or holding electric charges generated by the photoelectric conversion section, and a reset transistor resetting the impurity-diffusion region by a voltage of a voltage-supply line, and having an impurity concentration such that at least the reset transistor side of the impurity-diffusion region becomes a depletion state; and a drive circuit changing the voltage of the voltage-supply line from a first voltage lower than a depletion potential of the reset transistor side of the impurity-diffusion region to a second voltage higher than the depletion potential while the reset transistor is on. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368710 | PIXEL SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS AND CMOS IMAGE SENSOR USING THE SAME - A CMOS image sensor may include an active pixel sensor suitable for generating a pixel signal corresponding to incident light, a reference pixel array suitable for shielding incident light and generate a reference value, a readout circuit suitable for comparing the pixel signal and the reference value with a ramp signal and for removing a first noise of the pixel signal in a common mode, and a pixel signal processing circuit suitable for performing a linear operation on an output signal from the readout circuit and the reference value, and for removing a second noise of the pixel signal in the common mode. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368711 | REDUCED HEIGHT CAMERA MODULE FOR SMALL FORM FACTOR APPLICATIONS - A camera module for a mobile device includes a cover, a base and a lens module. The cover has an outer side from which an annular axial extension protrudes. The axial extension defines a lens opening and a lens movement axis. The axial extension has an outer end surface defining an outer end of the camera module. The outer side of the cover laterally adjacent the axial extension defines a gasket sealing surface against which a gasket can be compressed for sealing. The base defines an inner end of the camera module opposite the outer end. The lens barrel is positioned within the module and driveable to extend and retract relative to the base and within the axial extension. The lens barrel at an outermost position is axially recessed from the end surface of the axial extension and is laterally separated from the gasket sealing surface by the axial extension. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368712 | IMAGE ADJUSTMENT APPARATUS AND IMAGE SENSOR FOR SYNCHRONOUS IMAGE AND ASYNCHRONOUS IMAGE - Disclosed is an image adjustment apparatus including a receiver which is configured to receive a first input image of an object which is time-synchronously captured and a second input image in which a motion event of the object is sensed time-asynchronously, and an adjuster which is configured to adjust the first input image and the second input image. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368713 | SOLID STATE IMAGING DEVICE AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A voltage limiting unit of a solid state imaging device limits a voltage of a signal line so as not to become a predetermined value or less. A signal processing unit to which a pixel signal is input via a signal line. A controlling unit is disposed between the voltage limiting unit and the signal processing unit on the signal line. Further, the controlling unit causes the voltage limiting unit and the signal processing unit to be non-conductive in a period in which a transfer unit of a pixel transfers the electric charge converted by a photoelectric conversion unit of the pixel to a floating diffusion region of the pixel. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368714 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, DRIVING METHOD OF SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - A solid-state imaging device includes a first chip including a plurality of pixels, each pixel including a light sensing unit generating a signal charge responsive to an amount of received light, and a plurality of MOS transistors reading the signal charge generated by the light sensing unit and outputting the read signal charge as a pixel signal, a second chip including a plurality of pixel drive circuits supplying desired drive pulses to pixels, the second chip being laminated beneath the first chip in a manner such that the pixel drive circuits are arranged beneath the pixels formed in the first chip to drive the pixels, and a connection unit for electrically connecting the pixels to the pixel drive circuits arranged beneath the pixels. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368715 | Turbulence-free camera system and related method of image enhancement - A turbulence-free CCD camera system with nonclassical imaging resolution, for applications in long- distance imaging, such as satellite and aircraft-to-ground based distant imaging, utilizing an intensity- fluctuation correlation measurement of thermal light. The proposed camera system has the following advantages over classic imaging technology: (1) it is turbulence-free; (2) its spatial resolution is mainly determined by the angular diameter of the light source. For example, using sun as the light source, this camera may achieve a spatial resolution of 200 micrometer for any object on Earth. 200-micrometer resolution is insignificant for short distance imaging, however, taking a picture of a target at 10-kilometer, a classic camera must have a lens of 90-meter diameter in order to achieve 200-micrometer resolution. Unlike a classic camera, the proposed turbulence-free CCD camera system has adequate spatial resolution zoom a long distance and still distinguish the objects within a small area, even with a small lens. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368716 | IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit, a sample acquisition unit, a photographing state determination unit, a guide display generation unit and a display unit. The imaging unit acquires a subject image which is an image of a subject. The sample acquisition unit acquires a sample image. The photographing state determination unit calculates position and posture information indicative of an inclination relative to a horizontal plane and a height of the imaging unit. The guide display generation unit creates a guide display showing a method for photographing for approximating a composition of the subject image to a composition of the sample image based on the position and posture information. The display unit displays the guide display. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368717 | PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF COMMUNICATION WITH EXTERNAL APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - A photographing apparatus capable of performing communication with an external apparatus and a method of controlling the photographing apparatus. The photographing apparatus can communicate with an external apparatus and store data received from the external apparatus together with a photographed image, even while photographing the image. Additionally, the data received from the external apparatus can be stored in a form of metadata to connect data to the image, and thus it is possible to play back the data received from the external apparatus in a more lifelike manner. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368718 | DISPLAY CONTROL DEVICE, DISPLAY CONTROL METHOD, PROGRAM, AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A display control device includes: a composition determining unit that determines a plurality of recommended compositions of an input image; and a display controller that controls one recommended composition to be displayed distinguishably from other recommended compositions among the plurality of recommended compositions. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368719 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS SYSTEM, AND IMAGE PICKUP CONTROL PROGRAM STORED IN STORAGE MEDIUM OF IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus that can easily perform electric fine zoom adjustment, includes an image pickup section that can change an image pickup parameter, a display section that visibly displays an image signal outputted from the image pickup section, a rotational operation member that performs a change operation to the image pickup parameter, a parameter control section that controls the image pickup parameter, and a display control section that displays an effect of the change of the image pickup parameter in accordance with the rotational operation of the rotational operation member on the display section, while superimposing the effect on the image signal outputted from the image pickup section. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368720 | IMAGING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF DETECTING AND DISPLAYING INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO AN INCLINE THEREOF - An imaging apparatus including an incline detection device configured to detect an incline of the imaging apparatus, an image display device configured to display an image based on the image information, an incline computation device configured to compute an incline information that corresponds to a magnitude of the incline, an information storage device configured to store the incline information that is computed by the incline computation device, and a display processing device configured to display the image and an incline guide display corresponding to the incline information upon a screen of the image display device. The display processing device is configured to change a display format of the incline guide display in accordance with the magnitude of the incline. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368721 | IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE AND METHOD - An image capture device includes a device body, a rotary support, a display, and a lens. The rotary support is rotatably connected to a bottom of the device body. The display is rotatably connected to the rotary support. The lens defines an optical axis, wherein the display lies on an imaginary plane when the display separates from the device body, and the optical axis extends in the imaginary plane. An image capturing method includes the steps of rotating a display of an image capture device; positioning the display with respect to a device body of the image capture device; adjusting a location and an orientation of the image capture device so that an imaginary plane on which the display lies can extend to a target object; and capturing an image of the target object by the image capture device. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368722 | IMAGE LENS ASSEMBLY - An image lens assembly includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has an object-side surface being convex in a paraxial. The second lens element with refractive power has an object-side surface being concave in a paraxial region. The third lens element with negative refractive power has an object-side surface being convex in a paraxial region and an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region. The fourth lens element with positive refractive power has an object-side surface being concave in a paraxial region and an image-side surface being convex in a paraxial region. The fifth lens element with negative refractive power has an image-side surface being concave in a paraxial region. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368723 | LENS MODULE AND CAMERA MODULE INCLUDING THE SAME - There is provided a lens module including: a plurality of lenses; and a plurality of interval maintaining members disposed between the plurality of lenses, respectively, and having light-shielding holes formed therein, respectively, so that light input through the plurality of lenses passes therethrough, wherein sizes of the respective light-shielding holes are increased in a downward optical axis direction, and at least one of the plurality of light-shielding holes has a rectangular shape. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368724 | METHODS FOR ENHANCING CAMERA FOCUSING PERFORMANCE USING CAMERA ORIENTATION - An electronic system for enhancing camera focusing on a portable electronic device is disclosed. The system comprises a body, a bus, and a camera module coupled to the bus and comprising a photosensitive substrate and a lens assembly wherein the lens assembly comprises a lens capable of being selectively moved to a distance from the photosensitive substrate for light focus thereon. Further, it comprises an accelerometer coupled to the bus and configured to generate orientation information, said orientation information indicating contemporaneous orientation of the body with respect to a predetermined reference. It also comprises a memory and a processor coupled to the bus. The memory comprises instructions that when executed implement an autofocus program configured to automatically determine the distance based on: 1) image data captured by said camera module; and 2) the orientation information generated by the accelerometer. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368725 | CONTINUOUS AUTOFOCUS MECHANISMS FOR IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICES - At least certain embodiments described herein provide a continuous autofocus mechanism for an image capturing device, The continuous autofocus mechanism can perform an autofocus scan for a lens of the image capturing device and obtain focus scores associated with the autofocus scan. The continuous autofocus mechanism can determine an acceptable band of focus scores based on the obtained focus scores. Next, the continuous autofocus mechanism can determine whether a current focus score is within the acceptable band of focus scores. A refocus scan may be performed if the current focus score is outside of the acceptable band of focus scores. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368726 | Machine Vision Inspection System and Method for Performing High-Speed Focus Height Measurement Operations - A machine vision inspection system comprising an illumination source and an imaging system and a method for performing high-speed focus height measurement operations. The method comprises: placing a workpiece in a field of view of the machine vision inspection system; determining a region of interest for focus height measurement operations; operating the illumination source to illuminate the workpiece with strobed illumination; periodically modulating a focus position of the imaging system along a Z-height direction proximate to the workpiece; collecting an image stack, wherein each image of the image stack corresponds to an instance of strobed illumination matched with a phase of the modulated focus position corresponding to an appropriate Z height within the image stack; and determining a Z-height measurement for at least one portion of the region of interest. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368727 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE APPARATUS - An image capturing apparatus and its control method for capturing a moving image. Plural movie capturing modes with different control parameters are set in accordance with an instruction from a user. One of selectable frame rates is selected in accordance with video output setting by the user. Moving image frames are generated based on the selected frame rate and a control parameter corresponding to the frame rate, and recorded as a moving image on a recording medium. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368728 | Methods and Apparatus for High Speed Camera - In exemplary implementations of this invention, a light source illuminates a scene and a light sensor captures data about light that scatters from the scene. The light source emits multiple modulation frequencies, either in a temporal sequence or as a superposition of modulation frequencies. Reference signals that differ in phase are applied to respective subregions of each respective pixel. The number of subregions per pixel, and the number of reference signals per pixel, is preferably greater than four. One or more processors calculate a full cross-correlation function for each respective pixel, by fitting light intensity measurements to a curve, the light intensity measurements being taken, respectively, by respective subregions of the respective pixel. The light sensor comprises M subregions. A lenslet is placed over each subregion, so that each subregion images the entire scene. At least one temporal sequence of frames is taken, one frame per subregion. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368729 | IMAGING APPARATUS, CAMERA SYSTEM, AND CONTROL METHOD - An imaging apparatus includes an operation unit and a control unit to perform photographing using an illumination apparatus capable of automatically driving a movable unit, including a light emitting unit, for changing an irradiation direction of the light emitting unit. The operation unit receives an instruction to start a photographing operation. The control unit performs control, in a case where the operation unit receives an instruction to start a photographing operation while the movable unit is being automatically driven to change the irradiation direction of the light emitting unit, not to perform flash photography in which the light emitting unit is caused to emit light. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368730 | Flashlamp Apparatus And Method - An apparatus including a flashlamp; a lens member connected to the flashlamp; and a reflector connected to the lens member. The lens member is located between the flashlamp and the reflector. A method includes connecting the lens member to the flashlamp, where the lens member substantially surrounds the flashlamp, and connecting the reflector around an exterior side of the lens member, where an exit side of the lens member is not covered by the reflector. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368731 | Magnetic Optical Adapter for Electronic Devices - The invention presented generally refers to an optical adapter device which magnetically attaches one or more optical elements or assemblies to a magnetic portion of an electronic device having a camera. In particular, the optical adapter is shaped to align a first opening in housing of the optical adapter with the camera of the electronic device. The novel device and method utilizes the inherently magnetic properties of the electronic device itself, instead of requiring a predetermined magnetic mate to be built into the electronic device. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368732 | Backwards-Compatible Delivery of Digital Cinema Content with Extended Dynamic Range - A digital cinema signal is encoded to produce a resulting coded digital cinema bitstream. Decoding the resulting coded digital cinema bitstream allows backwards-compatible delivery of digital cinema content. A digital image or video signal is preprocessed to produce two normalized digital image or video signals of differing quality levels and forward and inverse mapping parameters, which relate the normalized digital image or video signals. The preprocessing can be used prior to the encoding of a digital cinema signal to enable backwards-compatible delivery of digital cinema content. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368733 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONVERTING OPERATION MODE IN IMAGE DISPLAY COMPOUND DEVICE - An operation-mode conversion apparatus for an image display compound device includes a power-state detector which detects a power state of the compound device, an operation-mode determination unit which determines a present operation mode of the compound device, and an operation-mode controller which converts the operation mode of the compound device based on the power state, the present operation mode, and whether one of an optical storage medium and a movable memory is detected by the compound device, in response to a user input signal, regardless of the preset operation mode. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368734 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SWITCHING BETWEEN MEDIA STREAMS WHILE PROVIDING A SEAMLESS USER EXPERIENCE - An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display receives a first request to display a first video stream on the display. In response to receiving the first request, the electronic device displays the first video stream on the display. While displaying the first video stream on the display, the electronic device receives a second request to display a second video stream on the display. In response to receiving the second request, the electronic device displays at least a portion of the first video stream on the display concurrently with at least a portion of the second video stream, where the second video stream was received, at least in part, from a content source in response to a request from the electronic device to the content source for delivery of the second video stream from the content source. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368735 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SWITCHING BETWEEN AUDIO CONTENT WHILE NAVIGATING THROUGH VIDEO STREAMS - An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display receives a first request to display a first video stream and in response, displays the first video stream on the display in a first video tile and plays first audio content that corresponds to the first video stream. While displaying the first video stream, the device receives a second request to display a second video stream. In response to receiving the second request, the device slides the first video tile off of the display and slides a second video tile that corresponds to second video tile onto the display. The device also starts to play second audio content for the second video stream and increases an amplitude of the second audio content relative to an amplitude of the first audio content in accordance with an amount of the second video tile that is displayed on the display. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368736 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTING MEDIA TO BE PRELOADED FOR ADJACENT CHANNELS - An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display receives a first request to display a first video stream that corresponds to a first channel. In response to receiving the first request, the device starts to download the first video stream from a content source for the first video stream. After starting to download the first video stream, the device displays the first video stream and starts to preload one or more video streams including a second video stream that corresponds to a second channel that is adjacent to the first channel. While displaying the first video stream, the device receives a second request to display the second video stream. In response to receiving the second request, the device displays at least a portion of the second video stream using a preloaded portion of the second video stream. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368737 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PLAYING MEDIA DURING NAVIGATION BETWEEN MEDIA STREAMS - An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display receives a first request to display a first video stream on the display. In response to receiving the first request, the device displays the first video stream on the display. While displaying the first video stream on the display, the device receives a second request to display a second video stream on the display. In response to receiving the second request, the device displays at least a portion of the first video stream on the display concurrently with at least a portion of the second video stream and the device displays at least a portion of a third video stream on the display concurrently with at least the portion of the second video stream and the portion of the first video stream. | 2014-12-18 |
20140368738 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ALLOCATING BANDWIDTH BETWEEN MEDIA STREAMS - An electronic device with one or more processors, memory and a display receives a first request to display a first video stream and in response, displays the first video stream. The device allocates, in accordance with a bandwidth allocation, available bandwidth for receiving data at the device between receiving the first video stream and preloading one or more other, non-displayed, video streams. While displaying the first video stream on the display, the device preloads at least a portion of one or more non-displayed video streams based on the bandwidth allocation. After the preloading, the device receives a second request to display a second video stream. In response to receiving the second request, the device displays at least a portion of the second video stream on the display using a preloaded portion of the second video stream that was preloaded in accordance with the bandwidth allocation. | 2014-12-18 |