31st week of 2010 patent applcation highlights part 27 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20100194872 | BODY SCAN - A depth image of a scene may be received, observed, or captured by a device. The depth image may then be analyzed to determine whether the depth image includes a human target. For example, the depth image may include one or more targets including a human target and non-human targets. Each of the targets may be flood filled and compared to a pattern to determine whether the target may be a human target. If one or more of the targets in the depth image includes a human target, the human target may be scanned. A skeletal model of the human target may then be generated based on the scan. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194873 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MICROSCOPICALLY EXAMINING A SAMPLE, COMPUTER PROGRAM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT - The invention relates to a method for microscopically examining a sample, wherein, in an overview mode, first an overview image of the sample composed of a large number of individual images is recorded through a microscope ( | 2010-08-05 |
20100194874 | User Interface for an Electron Microscope - A user interface for operation of a scanning electron microscope device that combines lower magnification reference images and higher magnification images on the same screen to make it easier for a user who is not used to the high magnification of electron microscopes to readily determine where on the sample an image is being obtained and to understand the relationship between that image and the rest of the sample. Additionally, other screens, such as, for example, an archive screen and a settings screen allow the user to compare saved images and adjust the settings of the system, respectively. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194875 | MICRO PARTICLE IMAGE VELOCIMETRY, AND PARTICLE IMAGE-CAPTURING METHOD THEREOF - A particle image-capturing method includes controlling a light-emitting diode unit to emit light so as to illuminate a fluid through an annular condenser, particles in which scattering the light, and controlling an image-capturing unit to capture images of the scattered light through a microscope. A micro particle image velocimetry that performs the method is also disclosed. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194876 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR VISUAL INSPECTION - In the case of die-to-die comparison, threshold processing units process the differential image between the image of a sample chip and the images of left and right adjacent chips using a second threshold value lower than a first threshold value thereby to determine a defect candidate for the sample chip. Further, threshold processing units process the differential image using the first threshold value. The defect candidates which develops a signal not smaller than the first threshold is detected as a defect. Also in the cell-to-cell comparison, the differential image is first processed by the second threshold value to determine a defect candidate, and the differential image is further processed by the first threshold value. The defect candidates which develops a signal not smaller than the first threshold value is detected as a defect. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194877 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMAGING AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT - A system and a method for imaging an electrical circuit, the method includes: selectively activating an image sensor and introducing a mechanical movement between the electrical circuit and the image sensor so as to acquire multiple mutually parallel strips of elongated irregular hexagonal frames of portions of the electrical circuit; wherein two elongated edges of each elongated irregular hexagonal frame are substantially longer than other edges of the elongated irregular hexagonal frame. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194878 | Machine For Inspecting Glass Containers - A machine for distinguishing blisters from checks on the finish of a glass container. The captured objects are located in a band to define a cluster. The cluster is evaluated to determine whether it is a multiple cluster and each defined cluster is evaluated to distinguish a check from a blister. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194879 | OBJECT MOTION CAPTURING SYSTEM AND METHOD - In a system and method of capturing movement of an object, a tracking device is used having an optical marker and a motion sensor providing motion data representative of the position and orientation of the tracking device. The tracking device is connected to the object, and motion of the optical marker is registered by a camera to thereby provide video data representative of the position of the tracking device. The motion data and the video data are processed in combination to determine the position and orientation of the tracking device in space over time. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194880 | IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS AND CONTROL PROGRAM - An image photographing apparatus is provided, which includes a camera section having a zoom function for changing a photographing field angle, a transmissive display section including a display surface that allows sides facing each other to be transmissively viewed from both directions of a housing front side and a housing back side, a distance detection section that detects a distance from a point of view of a photographer to the display surface of the display section, and a control section. The control section controls the display surface of the transmissive display section in a transmissively viewable state when in photographing mode so as to perform photographing by the camera section, and determines a photographing field angle using the zoom function of the camera section in response to the distance detected by the distance detection section. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194881 | SPEAKER DETECTION AND TRACKING USING AUDIOVISUAL DATA - Object tracking includes an audio model that receives at least two audio input signals and a video model that receives a video input. The audio model and the video model employ probabilistic generative models which are combined to facilitate object tracking. Expectation maximization can be employed to modify trainable parameters of the audio model and the video model. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194882 | Method and apparatus for monitoring using a movable video device - Methods, devices, and systems for monitoring using a movable video device. The video device is movable to a plurality of positions definable by three dimensions. In an example method, the video device is moved to one of the plurality of positions. Within the video device, video data is acquired at the one of the plurality of positions. Further, within the video device, the acquired video data is processed using a processing algorithm that is configured according to a predetermined profile associated with the one of the plurality of positions. The result of the processing is sent to an external receiving device. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194883 | CONFIGURATION MODULE FOR A SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM, SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM, METHOD FOR CONFIGURING THE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM - The invention relates to surveillance systems, for example, video surveillance systems, used to observe at least one region to be monitored, surveillance cameras being oriented towards the areas to be monitored. The video images recorded by the surveillance cameras are frequently transmitted to a central unit, for example a central surveillance station, and evaluated by surveillance personnel or in an automated manner. The invention also relates to a configuration module ( | 2010-08-05 |
20100194884 | DRIVER OBSERVATION AND SECURITY SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREFOR - A driver observation and security system has at least one sensor located on a vehicle. The sensor is used to indicate unauthorized entry into the vehicle. At least one interior camera module is mounted in an interior of the vehicle. The interior camera module provides real time images of the interior of the vehicle when the at least one sensor indicates unauthorized entry into the vehicle. A transmitter is used for transmitting the real time video images for viewing at a remote location. A location unit is located on the vehicle for sending a signal indicating a present location of the vehicle. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194885 | MOTORCYCLE SECURITY SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREFOR - A security system for an open compartment vehicle has at least one sensor located on the open compartment vehicle. The at least one sensor indicates one of movement of the open compartment vehicle or an object being within a predetermined distance of the open compartment vehicle. At least one camera module is mounted on the open compartment vehicle and positioned to provides real time images of a sitting area of the open compartment vehicle. A transmitter is provided for transmitting the real time video images for viewing at a remote location. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194886 | Camera Calibration Device And Method, And Vehicle - A camera calibration device performs camera calibration for projecting a plurality of camera images from a plurality of cameras onto a predetermined surface to combine them on the basis of the results after calibration patterns to be arranged in a common photographing area of the cameras are photographed by each of the cameras. The camera calibration device judges where or not the calibration patterns are observed by the cameras on the basis of the photographed results. If judging that the calibration patterns are not observed, the camera calibration device creates the content of an instruction to contain the calibration patterns in the common photographing area to allow the cameras to observe the contained calibration patterns on the basis of the photographed results and notifies the instruction content to an operator who is in charge of the arrangement operation of the calibration patterns. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194887 | METHOD FOR DISPLAYING VEHICLE DRIVING CONDITIONS - An object of the invention is to provide a method for displaying vehicle driving conditions wherein provisions are made to identify, when playing back video information acquired by a drive recorder showing the actual field of vision of a driver, thereby making it possible to investigate, for example, how an accident or the like has occurred. More particularly, the invention provides a method for displaying vehicle driving conditions, including the steps of acquiring vehicle speed information and video information captured by a vehicle-mounted image capturing device, obtaining a field of vision angle based on the speed information, and displaying the video information along with a field of vision corresponding to the field of vision angle. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194888 | REAR ILLUMINATION SYSTEM - In a first aspect, the invention is directed to an illumination system for rearward illumination for a first vehicle. The illumination system includes a tail lamp assembly, a sensor and a controller for controlling the operation of the tail lamp assembly. If the controller determines that there are any oncoming second vehicles behind the first vehicle that are sufficiently close to the first vehicle, then the controller operates the tail lamp assembly in one mode. If the controller determines that there are no oncoming second vehicles behind the first vehicle that are sufficiently close to the first vehicle, then the controller permits the operation of the tail lamp assembly in another mode. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194889 | WIDE ANGLE IMAGING SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AN IMAGE OF THE SURROUNDINGS OF A VEHICLE, IN PARTICULAR A MOTOR VEHICLE - An imaging system includes a digital camera having a sensor (such as a charge coupled device), a first lens directing a first image onto a first region of the sensor, a second lens directing a second image onto a second region of the sensor, and a third lens directing a third image onto a third region of the sensor. A display screen displays to a driver of the vehicle the first image, and a processing unit performs stereoscopic image analysis on data originating from the second and third regions. A fourth lens may be used to direct a fourth image onto a fourth region of the sensor, and the processing unit performs calculations on data from the fourth region for the detection of movement of the vehicle. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194890 | VIDEO MIRROR SYSTEM SUITABLE FOR USE IN A VEHICLE - A vehicular video mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly having a transflective reflective element. The mirror system includes a video display device at a casing of the mirror assembly rearward of the transflective reflective element, with the video display device having a video screen and a plurality of individual white light emitting light sources operable for backlighting the video screen. The intensity of light emitted by the white light emitting light sources is variable responsive to detection of light by at least one photosensor. The video screen may be operable to display video images captured by a rear back-up camera of the equipped vehicle during a reversing maneuver of the equipped vehicle. Light emanating from the white light emitting light emitting diodes may pass through a brightness enhancement film and a light diffuser to be incident at a transflective reflector of a second substrate of the mirror assembly. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194891 | Video processing device, video processing method, and program - A video processing device includes a video obtaining unit configured to obtain video data by capturing video of a specific area, a video accumulating unit configured to accumulate the video data obtained by the video obtaining unit, a data input unit configured to input event occurrence data indicating an event that has occurred in a video image corresponding to the video data obtained by the video obtaining unit and object specifying data for specifying an object relating to the event, and an addition processing unit configured to add the event occurrence data and object specifying data input by the data input unit to the video data accumulated in the video accumulating unit using a predetermined format through provision of link data for linking the video data to the event occurrence data and the object specifying data. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194892 | Video processing device, video processing method, and program - A video processing device includes a video accumulating unit configured to accumulate video data obtained by capturing video of a specific area, event occurrence data indicating an event that has occurred in a video image corresponding to the video data, and object specifying data for specifying an object relating to the event, a video processing unit configured to apply a predetermined effect to the video data accumulated in the video accumulating unit in accordance with the event occurrence data and the object specifying data that are added to the video data accumulated in the video accumulating unit to produce a modified video image, and a video output unit configured to output the modified video image to which the effect has been applied by the video processing unit. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194893 | Process For Monitoring Territories In Order To Recognise Forest And Surface Fires - The monitoring of territories in order to recognize forest and surface fires requires complex automatic and human-assisted processes, which ultimately must include the control of intervention forces. Disclosed are processes for the centralised monitoring of territories. A swiveling and tiltable camera installed at a monitoring site supplies images of overlapping observation sectors. In each observation sector a sequence of images comprising a plurality of images is taken, at an interval which corresponds to fire and smoke dynamics. An on-site image-processing software supplies event warnings with indication of the position of the event site in the analysed image. A total image and an image sequence with image sections of the vent site are then transmitted to a central station and reproduced at the central station as an endless sequence in quick-motion mode. Event warnings with all relevant data can be blended into electronic maps at the central station. Cross-bearing is made possible by blending event warnings from adjacent monitoring sites. False alarms are minimized in that known false alarm sources are marked as exclusion zones in reference images. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194894 | DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL DEVICE - A transmit-side transmission control device for sending data generated by a data generator device to a data utilization point receives and retains notification of the allowable data transmission quantity from a receive-side transmission control device, and adjusts the data quantity sent from the data generator device so as to fit within that allowable data transmission quantity range, and/or when a request is issued to change that data transmission quantity, the receive-side transmission control device is notified of that allowable data transmission quantity change request. The receive-side transmission control device retains the respective allowable data transmission quantities for transmit-side transmission control device, and when a change request is issued, reallocates the allowable data transmission quantities for all transmit-side transmission control devices to fit within the data processing load range stored beforehand within the data utilization point, and notifies the corresponding transmit-side transmission control device of these reallocated allowable data transmission quantities. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194895 | Digital Image Acquisition Device with Built in Dust and Sensor Mapping Capability - A digital image acquisition device has an image acquisition sensor, a shutter, an aperture and optical elements for focusing an image on the sensor. The device includes a light source located in the body of the device. The light source is periodically activated with one of the aperture or shutter closed, and the device derives a map of defects on the surface of the sensor from a calibration image acquired by the sensor when illuminated by the light source. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194896 | AUTOMATICALLY TAGGING IMAGES WITH NEARBY SHORT RANGE COMMUNICATION DEVICE INFORMATION - Digital cameras are enabled to tag pictures with short range transmitter information from nearby devices. After uploading to a personal computer, a photo application further tags a user profile identifier matching the short range transmitter information. Tagged pictures are stored in a server for presentation. Any user with nearby device identifier or the nearby device itself can authenticate themselves to the server for automated access to tagged pictures. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194897 | DIGITAL SINGLE-LENS REFLEX CAMERA - A digital single-lens reflex camera is configured for making it possible to reduce deterioration in image quality due to a camera shake or an object movement and to easily pick up an image with a good image quality. In a digital single-lens reflex camera ( | 2010-08-05 |
20100194898 | Image Correction Processing Apparatus and Method - A motion vector detecting unit detects a motion vector of each block in a shot image, which is divided into a plurality of blocks, during an optical zooming operation. A linear function calculating unit calculates for each block a linear function that represents a straight line, the slope of which is the same as that of a line passing through the center of the shot image and a representative point and which passes through a vector detection point. A hand-movement motion vector calculating unit selects at least two blocks that have the calculated linear functions, the slope of which are different from each other, and obtains an intersection of graphs of the linear functions of the selected blocks so as to calculate a motion vector caused by hand movement. A hand-movement correcting unit corrects the hand movement in the shot image based on the calculated motion vector caused by the hand movement. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194899 | MIXED FORMAT MEDIA TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for operating cameras are described. An image signal received from an image sensor can be processed as a plurality of video signals representative of the image signal. An encoder may combine baseband and digital video signals in an output signal for transmission over a cable. The video signals may include substantially isochronous baseband and digital video signals. The baseband video signal can comprise a standard definition analog video signal and the digital video signal may be modulated before combining with the baseband video signal and/or transmitting wirelessly. The digital video signal may be a compressed high definition digital video signal. A decoder demodulates an upstream signal to obtain a control signal for controlling the position and orientation of the camera and content of the baseband and digital video signals. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194900 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image sensing apparatus that is capable of communicating with an external apparatus, comprising: an image sensing unit configured to sense an object and generate image data; an identification data generation unit configured to generate, from the image data, identification data for identifying a feature of the object; a storage unit configured to store the identification data; a display unit configured to display the image data; a communication unit configured to receive identification data for identifying a feature of an object captured by another image sensing apparatus during communication with the other image sensing apparatus; a determination unit configured to determine the image capture status of each object based on the identification data received by the communication unit; and a control unit configured to control the display unit to identifiably display the image capture status of each object determined by the determination unit. | 2010-08-05 |
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. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194902 | Method for high dynamic range imaging - A method for high dynamic range imaging includes the steps of arranging at least two cameras parallel and meanwhile capturing a plurality of images of one scene with different exposures by the at least two cameras; adjusting the captured images for the same exposure thereof subject to the response functions of the cameras respectively and then defining a plurality of characteristic spots in each of the images; combining the characteristic spots corresponding to the images respectively to get a displacement of the corresponding characteristic spot in each image and to further get a disparity map; and applying the displacement between the two corresponding characteristic spots in the corresponding images and synthesizing the images to form a synthetic image. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194903 | MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICE HAVING CAMERA - A mobile electronic device including: a camera unit configured to capture a subject image and generate an image signal; a display unit configured to receive the image signal and display a captured image based on the image signal; an acquisition unit configured to acquire detection area information as information about a focusable area that is an area excluding, from the captured image, areas regarded as unfocusable for the camera unit to focus on; a face detection unit configured to detect face-including regions, each of which including face image of the subject and existing in the focusable area from the image signal, based on the detection area information; and a display control unit configured to control the display unit to display face regions on the captured image based on the face-including regions detected by the face detection unit. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194904 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SIGNAL PROCESSING IN IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus including an image pickup device having a plurality of photodiodes regularly disposed, a reference voltage signal generation section which generates a reference voltage signal in a nonlinear pattern, and an AD conversion section which converts an analog signal output from each of the photodiodes into a digital signal on the basis of the reference voltage signal from the reference voltage signal generation section. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194905 | System and method for non-invasive conversion of film cameras into digital cameras - A system and method for converting a film camera into a digital camera uses an electronic device placed in a space of the camera that normally contains film. The device includes an image sensing array arranged in optical communication with a lens of the camera when a shutter is open. An audio sensor is used to detect sounds within the camera, and an acoustic pattern recognizer with a built-in training mode is used to determine if the detected sounds correspond with the shutter operation. The image sensing array is switched into an image capture mode when the acoustic pattern recognizer determines that the shutter is being opened. When the shutter is opened, a read-out circuit captures multiple image frames from the image sensing array. An image processor associated with the image sensing array processes the captured images using advanced image processing algorithms. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194906 | DISPLAY APPARATUS AND IMAGING APPARATUS - A display apparatus includes an input section inputting an image of subject obtained by imaging a person who is a subject, a display section displaying the image of subject being input, a viewer imaging section imaging a viewer viewing the image of subject and generating an image of viewer, a viewer face-detection section detecting a face of the viewer by using the image of viewer, a viewer face-recognition section performing facial recognition based on individual parts of the face of the viewer being detected, an image processing section performing image correction on the image of subject based on a result of the facial recognition performed on the viewer, and a control section switching a display from the image of subject to the image of subject on which the image correction is performed. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194907 | IMAGE PROCESSING DEVICE AND IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM - An image processing device that rotates an image according to the inclination of a line segment included in the image, includes an evaluation unit | 2010-08-05 |
20100194908 | IMAGE INPUT DEVICE, IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE, AND IMAGE DISPLAY SYSTEM - An image input device includes: an image capture unit which captures an image of a predetermined image capture range to produce image information; an image analysis unit which, when a range specifier for specifying a partial range within the image capture range enters the image capture range of the image capture unit, detects the range specifier based on the image information, and determines the range specified by the range specifier; an expansion processing unit which performs expansion process for expanding the determined range of the image information produced by the image capture unit when the range is determined by the image analysis unit; and an image information output unit which outputs the image information subjected to the expansion process to the outside. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194909 | COMPUTER-READABLE COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT CONTAINING IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAM AND DIGITAL CAMERA - A computer-readable computer program product contains an image processing program which includes: an instruction for displaying a sample image and a correction object image on a display device; an instruction for setting a sample area in an area of the sample image; an instruction for receiving an operation signal which is output by an input device in response to an operation in which the sample area is dragged and dropped into an area of the correction object image; an instruction for setting correction coordinates in the area of the correction object image based upon the operation signal and for associating the sample area with the correction coordinates; an instruction for setting a correction area in the area of the correction object image based upon the correction coordinates; and an instruction for performing a color correction to an image of the correction area based upon the sample area. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194910 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING INTRA-FRAME PREDICTIVE CODING ON PICTURES TO BE CODED AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH THE IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS - A motion vector detector detect a motion vector of each macroblock in an I frame. A control unit controls a quantization unit in such manner that the quantization scale in a quantization table referenced in the quantization processing is adaptively varied for a first macroblock whose motion vector detected is smaller than a prescribed threshold value. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194911 | IMAGE DATA GENERATING APPARATUS, METHOD AND PROGRAM - The shooting, recording and playback system | 2010-08-05 |
20100194912 | IMAGING APPARATUS, IMAGING APPARATUS CONTROL METHOD, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT, WITH EYE BLINK DETECTION FEATURES - An imaging apparatus includes a focus control unit that sets an image area including eyes, which is included in an input image inputted in the imaging apparatus, as a range finding area for calculation of a subject distance and acquires an evaluation value based on contrast of the range finding area to detect a focus position and a blink detecting unit that detects presence or absence of a blink on the basis of image analysis in the range finding area. The focus control unit inputs blink detection information in the blink detection unit, identifies evaluation value data in a blink period and a non-blink period, and executes processing for detecting a focus position on the basis of only an evaluation value in a period judged as the non-blink period. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194913 | IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING METHOD - An image forming apparatus and method capable of decompressing and compressing image data. More specifically, the apparatus and method include decompressing first compressed image data, processing the decompressed image data, selecting from among a plurality of quantization tables a quantization table providing a compression ratio lower than a compression ratio of the first compressed image data, and compressing the processed image data. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194914 | Self-Balancing Remote Sensing Device And Remote Sensing System Comprising Same - A self-balancing remote sensing device, and a system comprised of the remote sensing devices and one or more base stations, is provided for remotely monitoring both terrestrial and maritime environments. Specifically, a spherically-shaped self-balancing remote sensing device having one or more cameras and various sensors is provided, which may ascend and descend within the water column as desired, by altering its buoyancy, while maintaining proper orientation of the camera and sensors. Further, the remote sensing system comprised of the devices and base stations is provided, wherein the devices and base stations may form an ad hoc network, thereby greatly extending the range and coverage of the system. The devices, due to their small size, may be quickly and easily deployed using various vehicles, including flight vehicles, land-based vehicles, water craft, and subsurface water vehicles. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194915 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING COLOR VALUES PROVIDED BY A CAMERA SENSOR - In a method suitable for processing colour values provided by a camera sensor comprising pixels of different colours, values of a first colour at positions of pixels of a second and a third colour are interpolated ( | 2010-08-05 |
20100194916 | IMAGE CAPTURE APPARATUS, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND PROGRAM - An apparatus includes an image capture unit which includes an image sensor in which pixels for photoelectrically converting an object image are two-dimensionally arrayed in correspondence with color filters of a plurality of colors, and generates an image signal, a reducing unit which reduces the image signal output from the image capture unit to generate a reduced image, an image processing unit which performs development processing for the reduced image to obtain a first developed image containing luminance components and color difference components and performs development for the image signal output from the image capture unit to obtain a second developed image containing luminance and color difference components, an enlargement unit which enlarges the first developed image to the same size as that of the second developed image, and a composition unit which performs composition of the second developed image and an enlarged image. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194917 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND LIVE-VIEW IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD THEREOF - A digital camera has a live-view image shooting mode in which a process of shooting a subject, generating image data from imaging signals acquired by the shooting, and displaying a live-view image based on the image data on a display section is repeatedly performed. The digital camera includes a solid-state imaging device | 2010-08-05 |
20100194918 | Methods and Systems for Automatic White Balance - A method for calibrating automatic white balance (AWB) is provided that includes using a plurality of references for AWB that include color temperature references, wherein an AWB failure is detected in an image, generating a scene prototype reference based on the image, and adding the generated scene prototype reference to the references for AWB. A method for calibrating AWB is provided that includes selecting an image as a scene prototype, wherein the selected image was captured by a second imaging sensor different from a first imaging sensor, transforming the selected image into a scene prototype image for the first imaging sensor, generating a scene prototype reference using the scene prototype image for the first imaging sensor, and adding the generated scene prototype reference to references for AWB that include color temperature references. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194919 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING METHOD - Acquiring enough brightness with flash and obtaining an image having a color close to a color which a human senses. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194920 | BEHAVIORALLY-BASED SOFTWARE ACCELERATION FOR DIGITAL CAMERA OPERATIONS - The perceived speed of a digital camera is greatly depended on the actual speed of the processor as well as the size of the captured image. Behaviorally-based software techniques can improve the speed of the image captures and post-capture actions perceived by the end user without the need for any hardware changes. This is made possible by prioritizing the processing queue to deliver the most important user feedback first, then processing the less time-critical information at a later time. Overall this technique delivers better performance with minimal added processing, and no need of additional hardware. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194921 | Image pickup apparatus - An image pickup apparatus includes: an image pickup lens; an image pickup device; a microlens array; an image processing section; and a data storage section, in which the image processing section produces a plurality of arbitrary viewpoint images based on image pickup data obtained by the image pickup device by synthesizing pixel data extracted from pixels located at the same position in image regions each of which corresponds to each of microlenses included in the microlens array, and the arbitrary viewpoint images are stored in the data storage section, and a plurality of pixel data recorded at pixel positions adjacent to one another are collectively read out as a read-out unit from each of the arbitrary viewpoint images stored in the data storage section, and a predetermined sorting process and a predetermined integration process are performed on the pixel data read out, thereby the refocus image is produced. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194922 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP METHOD - The present invention is an image pickup apparatus provided with a pixel section in which pixels each including a photoelectric conversion section and a signal storage section that temporarily stores a signal charge of the photoelectric conversion section are two-dimensionally arrayed, that resets the signal storage sections before exposing a still image and reads reset data used to remove reset noise of a still image, configured to divide the pixel section into a plurality of pixel groups and sequentially reset the signal storage sections of the respective pixel groups by a transistor, sequentially read reset signals by a selection transistor and cause the selection transistor to read one or more times an LV signal charge generated by exposure of a predetermined pixel group within a time segment during which the signal storage sections are sequentially reset before the signal storage sections of the predetermined pixel group are reset. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194923 | DIGITAL CAMERA HAVING INTERCONNECTED IMAGE PROCESSING UNITS - A digital camera is provided having a memory for digitally storing an image captured by the camera, and a plurality of substantially identical processing elements functionally interconnected to each other via a crossbar switch for processing the stored image. The processing elements are connected to the memory via a bus external to the crossbar switch. The crossbar switch is selectively configurable to pass data of the stored image directly between the processing elements. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194924 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - Effects due to user operation are reduced in scene discrimination. In an image pickup apparatus, when performing scene discrimination based on information that includes detected movement of a subject and vibration of the image pickup apparatus, and an picked up image, the degree to which one of the movement of the subject and the vibration of the image pickup apparatus while an operating instruction is being received from a user contributes to scene discrimination is restricted. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194925 | IMAGE SENSING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - Receiving an instruction from a user to start sensing a still image, an image sensing apparatus performs scene determination based on an evaluation value of scene determination from an image sensed immediately after the luminance of the image converges to a predetermined range of a target luminance. The image sensing apparatus can accurately determine a scene of the image even the image sensor with a narrow dynamic range. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194926 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ACQUIRING LIGHT FIELD DATA USING VARIABLE MODULATOR - Disclosed are an apparatus and method for acquiring light field data using a variable modulator. The apparatus varies a modulator located between an optical system and a sensor adaptively according to objects to be captured or a peripheral environment. Accordingly, 4-dimensional (4D) light field data optimized according to objects to be captured or according to changes in focal distance may be acquired. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194927 | IMAGE TAKING APPARATUS - According to an aspect of the present invention, once the mode setting device sets the person photographing mode, and the face zooming instruction device instructs zooming to the face of the person, the detection device detects the size of the face of the person captured by the image pickup device. The zooming device is then controlled so as to capture the face of the person in a certain size based on the detection result. Subsequently, the photographer instructs zooming in the telephoto direction or the wide direction using the zooming instruction device as necessary to thereby allow fine adjustment of the composition. This enables to easily and quickly photograph an image in a user's desired composition. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194928 | ZOOMING OPTICAL SYSTEM AND ELECTRONIC IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A zooming optical system having six lens groups includes in order from an object side, a first lens group having a positive refracting power, which is fixed at the time of zooming, a second lens group having a negative refracting power, which is movable at the time of zooming, a third lens group having a positive refracting power, which is fixed at the time of zooming, a fourth lens group having a positive refracting power, which is movable at the time of zooming, a fifth lens group having a negative refracting power, which is movable at the time of zooming, and a sixth lens group having a positive refracting power, which is fixed at the time of zooming, and the first lens group includes a reflecting optical element for folding an optical path, and the third lens group includes an aperture stop, and the fifth lens group includes a single lens, and the zooming optical system satisfies the following conditional expression | 2010-08-05 |
20100194929 | ZOOM LENS SYSTEM, IMAGING DEVICE AND CAMERA - A zoom lens system according to the present invention, from an object side to an image side, comprises a first lens unit having positive optical power, a second lens unit having negative optical power, a third lens unit having positive optical power, and a fourth lens unit having positive optical power. In zooming, the first to the fourth lens units all move along the optical axis. The conditions (1): 0<√(f | 2010-08-05 |
20100194930 | ZOOM LENS SYSTEM, INTERCHANGEABLE LENS APPARATUS AND CAMERA SYSTEM - Provided is a zoom lens system including a compact focusing lens unit and having a suppressed change in image magnification at the time of movement of the focusing lens unit. The zoom lens system of the present invention includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit G | 2010-08-05 |
20100194931 | IMAGING DEVICE - The imaging device of the present invention includes an image generator that generates an electric image from optical information inputted thereto; an operation portion that receives an instruction for a shooting preparation operation or a shooting operation from a user; a scene discriminator that discriminates a shooting scene on the basis of the image generated by the image generator and a picture quality adjuster that adjusts the picture quality of the image generated by the image generator on the basis of a result of discrimination performed by the scene discriminator. Due to this configuration, it is possible to discriminate an optimum shooting scene on the basis of an image to be captured, and consequently the operability can be improved. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194932 | Image processing device, image processing method, and capturing device - An image processing device, an image processing method, and a capturing device are disclosed to correct image distortion, such as distortion aberration or chromatic aberration, produced on a captured image by an optical pickup system, with respect to an image captured by a capturing element. The image processing device includes a process output image generation means generating one sheet of a process output image by performing a process using plural sheets of captured images sequentially output from a pickup device in consideration of one of the plural sheets of captured images as a reference image, and a correction means correcting image distortion occurring in the captured images by an optical pickup system including a pickup lens, with respect to the captured images produced in the process output image generation means, when the plural sheets of the captured images. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194933 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD - The image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a pixel extraction section that extracts an extraction region made up of a target pixel and a plurality of pixels included in a region peripheral to the target pixel, a similitude calculation section that calculates similitude of each pixel value in the peripheral region with respect to a pixel value of the target pixel, a similitude filter processing section that performs filter processing on the similitude, a first filter determining section that determines a first filter used in the filter processing of the similitude filter processing section, a second filter determining section that determines a second filter used for the extraction region based on the similitude subjected to the filter processing by the similitude filter processing section, and a noise reduction processing section that performs noise reduction processing on the target pixel based on the second filter determined by the second filter determining section. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194934 | IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, PROGRAM, METHOD AND IMAGE CAPTURING SYSTEM - An image processing apparatus with extended dynamic range includes a first gradation-conversion-characteristics calculating unit that calculates first gradation conversion characteristics for each of a plurality of areas of input image signals; and a gradation conversion unit that performs gradation conversion on each of the areas of the image signals by using the first gradation conversion characteristics. A filter processing and reduction processing unit generates a plurality of band signals having mutually different frequency bands by multi-resolution conversion processing from the image signals subjected to the gradation conversion. A second gradation-conversion-characteristics calculating unit calculates second gradation conversion characteristics associated with the individual band signals from the first gradation conversion characteristics An NR processing unit performs processing for noise reduction on the individual band signals by using the second gradation conversion characteristics; and an adding unit combines the band signals subjected to the processing for noise reduction. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194935 | IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR AND PROGRAM - An image capturing apparatus comprises: an image sensor having an effective pixel area where plural pixels not shield from light are two-dimensionally arranged, and a first optical black area and a second optical black area including pixels shielded from light provided on the both sides of the effective pixel area; and a correction unit to, upon incident of high luminance light on the image sensor, correct an output signal of a pixel between a high luminance portion as a pixel part on which the high luminance light is incident in the effective pixel area and the first optical black area using an output signal of the first optical black area, and correct an output signal of a pixel between the high luminance portion and the second optical black area, using an output signal of the second optical black area. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194936 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SOLID-STATE IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE, METHOD OF DRIVING SOLID-STATE IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - A solid-state image capturing device includes: a substrate; a substrate voltage source which applies a first potential to the substrate during a light reception period and applies a second potential to the substrate during a non-light reception period; and a plurality of pixels which each includes a light receiver which is formed on a front surface of the substrate and generates signal charges in accordance with received light, a storage capacitor which is formed adjacent to the light receiver and accumulates and stores signal charges generated by the light receiver, dark-current suppressors which are formed in the light receiver and the storage capacitor, an electronic shutter adjusting layer which is formed in an area facing the light receiver in the substrate and distant from the storage capacitor and which adjusts potential distribution, and a floating diffusion portion to which the signal charges accumulated in the storage capacitor are transmitted. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194937 | SOLID STATE IMAGING DEVICE - A solid state imaging device | 2010-08-05 |
20100194938 | Imaging apparatus and imaging method - An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging section receiving color light and interpolation light including at least a part of a wavelength range of the color light in order to interpolate the brightness of the color light and converting the received color light and interpolation light into a signal; a control section controlling a first exposure time of the color light and a second exposure time of the interpolation light separately according to the brightness of an object to be imaged; and an image creating section creating an image on the basis of a color signal, which is output when the imaging section receives the color light, during the first exposure time controlled by the control section and on the basis of an interpolation signal, which is output when the imaging section receives the interpolation light, during the second exposure time controlled by the control section. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194939 | IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device includes an imagine lens, an imaging sensor having a color filter array with color filters of a plurality of colors having a plurality of pixels which are arranged on a light-receiving surface, a computing section obtaining a pixel value of an objective pixel by adding pixel values of a plurality of adjacent pixels which are adjacent to the objective pixel and which have one of the color filters of same color as the objective pixel among pixel values output from the imaging sensor, and a control section making the computing section compute, while shifting the objective pixel one by one in one direction, a pixel row formed of pixel values of the objective pixel in the one direction with respect to each predetermined pixel width in other direction, and generating an image thinned out at the predetermined pixel width in the other direction. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194940 | SOLID STATE IMAGING DEVICE - In a solid-state imaging device, a primary-color Bayer color filter is provided on an imaging pixel area defined by pixels having different structures. Color-component filters for the same color in the color filter are disposed correspondingly to pixels having the same structure. More specifically, pixels are arranged in consideration of the arrangement of color-component filters of the color filter, or the color-component filters are arranged in consideration of the arrangement of the pixels. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194941 | LIGHT/ELECTRIC POWER CONVERTER AND SOLID STATE IMAGING DEVICE - A semiconductor substrate has an active pixel area comprising a stack of lower electrodes, an intermediate layer of an organic photoelectric conversion material, an upper electrode, a transparent insulating layer and first to third color layers. Disposed outside the active pixel area is a polish stop layer having a high resistance to polishing. In planarizing the first to third color layers, the polishing operation is ended upon reaching the polish stop layer. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194942 | LIGHT SPOT POSITION DETECTION DEVICE, OPTICAL DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME, AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT INCLUDING THE OPTICAL DEVICE - In a light spot position detection device, in one frame of operation, under control of a control unit, pixel data obtained in a pixel section in exposure of a solid-state image sensor in synchronization with light emission of a light emitting element are added to corresponding storage portions in a memory unit, and pixel data obtained in exposure of the image sensor asynchronous to the light emission of the light emitting element are subtracted from the corresponding storage portions, to store pixel data of only signal light in the storage portions. A given number of frames of operation are repetitively performed to accumulate pixel data of only the signal light in the storage portions. The position of a light spot on the pixel section is calculated based on the pixel data of only the signal light and outputted whether the storage portions are saturated or not with the pixel data. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194943 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE - In a rear surface incidence type CMOS image sensor having a wiring layer | 2010-08-05 |
20100194944 | Binning Circuit and Method for an Image Sensor - A binning circuit and method for an image sensor is disclosed. A column amplifier (CA) is first reset, and thus generates a CA reset signal. A capacitor and a switch network are coupled between an output of the image sensor and an input of the column amplifier. A correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit controllably receives the output of the column amplifier. The switch network is controlled in a way such that an image signal of a first group of the image sensor is transmitted and stored in the CDS circuit, and an image signal of a second group is then added to the stored image signal of the first group. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194945 | Readout Circuit for an Image Sensor - A readout circuit for an image sensor is disclosed. At least one column amplifier (CA) generates a CA reset signal when the column amplifier is reset. A capacitor and a switch are configured to receive a column of the image sensor. A multiplexer is coupled between (a) the capacitor and the switch and (b) an input of the column amplifier. A correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit is used for controllably receiving an output of the column amplifier. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194946 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND CAMERA - The invention provides a solid-state image pickup apparatus which comprises a pixel area in which pixels each having at least a photoelectric conversion unit and an amplification transistor for amplifying and outputting a signal of the photoelectric conversion unit are two-dimensionally arranged in horizontal and vertical directions, wherein a power supply wiring, which extends in a vertical direction along pixel boundaries of horizontal and vertical directions while meandering, is arranged on one of two pixel lines adjoining to each other in the horizontal direction in the pixel area, and the power supply wiring is connected to one of a source and a drain of the amplification transistor on each of the two pixel lines. Thus, it is possible to provide a high-sensitivity and high-image-quality amplified solid-state image pickup apparatus in which a difference of sensitivities at one-line intervals is small. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194947 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING APPARATUS - Provided is a solid-state imaging apparatus that is capable of preventing a harmful influence due to noise generated in a control line. The solid-state imaging apparatus includes: a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion unit for photoelectric converting to generate a signal; control lines for supplying control signals for driving the pixels; driving buffers for driving the control lines; and switching units for switching between a first path for supplying power source voltages from power source circuits to power source terminals of the driving buffers and a second path for supplying power source voltages from capacitors to the power source terminals of the driving buffers. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194948 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, DRIVING METHOD OF THE SAME, AND CAMERA INCLUDING THE SAME - The solid-state imaging device according to the present invention includes: pixel units arranged two-dimensionally in rows and columns; signal holding units each holding an analog signal outputted from one of the pixel units in a corresponding one of the columns; and column AD circuits each converting, into a digital signal, the analog signal held by a corresponding one of said signal holding units. The signal holding units and the column AD circuits are respectively provided for the columns of the pixel units. Each of the signal holding units includes: a switching element connected to a column signal line through which the analog signal outputted from the one of the pixel units is transmitted; and a capacitor element holding the analog signal and being connected to the column signal line through the switching element. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194949 | A/D CONVERSION CIRCUIT, SOLID-STATE IMAGE SENSOR, AND CAMERA SYSTEM - There are provided an A/D conversion circuit in which a counter is made to be capable of performing counting at both edges of a clock, up/down count values can be switched while the up/down count values are held, and the duty of the counting operation is difficult to be distorted even with the both-edge counting, a solid-state image sensor, and a camera system. An ADC | 2010-08-05 |
20100194950 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE PICKUP DEVICE - In a rear surface incidence type CMOS image sensor having a wiring layer | 2010-08-05 |
20100194951 | IMAGE SENSING MICROELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH ASYNCHRONOUS ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER - An analog/digital converter device associated with a detector of an image sensor, including: a comparator capable of receiving the analog signal and delivering a two-states output signal, able to adopt, depending on the analog signal, a first stable state or a second state, a charge injector capable of changing the analog signal by injection of at least one quantity of charges into the capacitor, and a mechanism for commanding the charge injector, capable of receiving the two-state signals and capable of triggering, depending on the two-state signals, plural injections of charges between at least two successive changes in state of the signal, from the first state to the second state and from the second state to the first state. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194952 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A REFERENCE SIGNAL - A device that includes: a pixel array and a sample and hold circuit configured to provide sampled current to the pixel array;
| 2010-08-05 |
20100194953 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING A REFERENCE SIGNAL - A device that includes a pixel array, an interfacing circuit and a sample and hold circuit. The interfacing circuit directs to at least one pixel of the pixel array a sampled voltage that is outputted from the sample and hold circuit. The sample and hold circuit includes an NMOS transistor, a bootstrap circuit, a capacitor, sample phase switches and hold phase switches. During the sample phase the source of the NMOS transistor receives the input voltage; the gate of the NMOS transistor receives, from the bootstrap circuit a gate voltage that exceeds a supply voltage and a capacitor of the sample and hold circuit is charged to the input voltage to provide the sampled voltage. During a hold phase the capacitor stores the sampled voltage; the gate, source and drain of the NMOS transistor are maintained at the same potential and the source of the NMOS transistor is disconnected from an input port through which the input voltage was provided. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194954 | Multiplexed Read-out Architecture for CMOS Image Sensors - This invention targets improvement in CMOS sensors using a multiplexed read-out architecture in which pixels are output at the pixel V | 2010-08-05 |
20100194955 | CMOS IMAGE SENSOR - A pixel of a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor includes a plurality of photodiodes for sensing light to thereby generate photoelectric charges in different regions; a plurality of transfer transistors for transferring photoelectric charges of corresponding photodiodes in response to a first control signal; a floating diffusion region for receiving photoelectric charges transferred by the plurality of transfer transistors; a rest transistor connected between a power supply voltage and the floating diffusion region for resetting the floating diffusion region by controlling a voltage loaded on the floating diffusion region in response to a second control signal; a drive transistor connected between the power supply voltage and the floating diffusion region to serve as a source follower buffer amplifier; and a select transistor connected between the drive transistor and a pixel output terminal for performing an addressing operation in response to a third control signal. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194956 | Apparatus and method for improving dynamic range and linearity of CMOS image sensor - Described herein is a circuit and related method for improving the dynamic range and the linearity characteristic of a CMOS image sensor. In various embodiments of the CMOS image sensor, a current sampler, a comparator, and a 1-bit memory are incorporated in each pixel circuit. In the image sensor, pixels are arranged in columns and a column slice is used to read the digital and analog singles from each column. In addition, a calibration circuit is incorporated in the sensor circuit for providing calibration current, which is used to generate calibration parameter. The image sensor operates in three non-overlapping modes: the difference mode, the WDR mode, and the calibration mode. The image sensor is switched among the three modes by control signals, which are provided to the image sensor by various control circuits. The image sensor normally operates in the difference mode and switches to the WDR mode when the difference between consecutive frames is over a threshold. The calibration mode allows the image sensor generate calibration parameters which are used to improve the linearity of the sensor through a interpolation method. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194957 | COMPLEMENTARY METAL-OXIDE SEMICONDUCTOR (CMOS) IMAGE SENSOR - A CMOS image sensor includes a unit pixel including controlled by a high voltage; a reference high voltage generator for generating a reference high voltage; and a high voltage output unit for generating the high voltage by using the reference high voltage as an operating voltage to thereby output the high voltage to the unit pixel, wherein a level of the high voltage is stably maintained regardless of a variations of the reference high voltage level. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194958 | IMAGING PICKUP APPARATUS AND IMAGE PICKUP METHOD - The present invention is an image pickup apparatus including a pixel section in which pixels each including a photoelectric conversion section are two-dimensionally arrayed, a transistor that collectively resets the photoelectric conversion sections, an exposure control section that performs control so as to perform exposure for a predetermined time after reset, a signal charge storage section that is light-shielded and stores signal charge generated by the photoelectric conversion sections, a transistor that collectively transfers signal charge from the photoelectric conversion sections to the signal storage section, and a selection transistor that reads still image signal charge for an LV pixel group before signal charge of other pixel groups, then reads signal charge for a live view generated by the LV pixel group one or more times within a time segment during which the still image signal charge of the other pixel groups is read. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194959 | SOLID-STATE IMAGING DEVICE, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME, METHOD FOR DRIVING THE SAME, AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - A solid-state imaging device including: a substrate; a substrate voltage supply that applies a first potential to the substrate during a light receiving period and applies a second potential to the substrate during a no-light receiving period; and a plurality of pixels including a light receiving portion that generates signal charges in response to received light, a storage capacitor that stores and holds the signal charges, a dark current suppressing portion, an electronic shutter adjusting layer that adjusts potential distribution in a substrate so that the signal charges are swept to the rear surface side of the substrate, a readout gate portion that reads out the signal charges stored in the storage capacitor, and a vertical transfer register that transfers the signal charges read out by the readout gate portion in a vertical direction. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194960 | CHARGE INCREASER - This charge increaser includes a charge supplying portion having a signal source formed by a measurement object other than visible light and supplying signal charges corresponding to the signal source and a charge increasing portion for increasing the amount of charges corresponding to the signal charges stored in the charge supplying portion by measuring the measurement object other than visible light. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194961 | Subject Illumination for Image Capture on a Mobile Device - A device to capture an image includes a camera oriented to capture a first image of a subject and a display oriented to display a second image that is viewable by the subject. A backlight is coupled to the display to provide light that passes through the display toward the subject. An image processor is coupled to the camera and the backlight to adjust an amount of light provided by the backlight responsive to a quality of the first image. The light provided by the backlight may illuminate the subject and thereby improve the quality of the first image. The image processor may further adjust the amount of light provided by the backlight responsive to an ambient light level sensed by an ambient light sensor. The image processor may further adjust the second image to adjust an amount of light that passes through the display. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194962 | Digital camera - A digital camera includes: an image processing unit that creates first display image data and second display image data; a display device that displays a first screen image and a second screen image so as to allow a user to observe the first screen image when viewed along a first direction with respect to a display face and so as to allow the user to observe the second screen image when viewed along a second direction that differs from the first direction; and a control unit that instructs the display device to display the first display image data as the first screen image, and the second display image data as the second screen image. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194963 | DISPLAY CONTROL APPARATUS, IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, DISPLAY CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A user-preferred image is easily displayed for a plurality of images generated by bracketing capture. A recording control unit | 2010-08-05 |
20100194964 | ZOOM LENS SYSTEM, INTERCHANGEABLE LENS APPARATUS AND CAMERA SYSTEM - Provided is a zoom lens system including a compact focusing lens unit and having a suppressed change in image magnification at the time of movement of the focusing lens unit. The zoom lens system of the present invention, in order from an object side to an image side, includes, a first lens unit G | 2010-08-05 |
20100194965 | Solid-state image pickup apparatus and electronic apparatus - Disclosed is a solid-state image pickup apparatus including a plurality of pixels. The plurality of pixels each including a lens, a photoelectric converter to convert incident light that passes through the lens into an electrical signal, and a waveguide provided between the lens and the photoelectric converter. The waveguide is disposed so that a center of at least a part of the waveguide on a light exit side is shifted from a main light beam that passes a center of the lens in a direction in which an area where an end portion of the waveguide on the light exit side is overlapped with the photoelectric converter is increased. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194966 | INTERCHANGEABLE LENS CAMERA SYSTEM HAVING AUTOFOCUSING FUNCTION - To provide an interchangeable lens camera system for shooting with the best in-focus position, no matter how a group of two or more interchangeable lenses to produce different degrees of spherical aberrations and a group of cameras of different types with different evaluated autofocus frequencies are combined. The camera system of this invention includes a lens unit and a camera body to be removable and attachable from/to each other. The lens unit includes a first computing section for acquiring shooting parameters during a focusing operation and a storage section that stores reference data for changing focus positions according to the contrast of image. The camera body includes an imaging device to output a video signal representing subject's image and a second computing section for measuring the contrast of the image based on its own predetermined evaluated AF frequency during the focusing operation and calculating a correction value based on the shooting parameter and the reference data associated with the highest contrast, thereby changing the focus positions according to the correction value calculated. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194967 | IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging apparatus includes an image pickup device that includes a first pixel group configured to photoelectrically convert an object image formed by a luminous flux from an imaging optical system, and a second pixel group which includes a plurality of pixels configured to photoelectrically convert a split pair of the luminous flux from the imaging optical system and a detecting unit configured to implement a first detection control that changes an imaging state of the image pickup device while detecting a contrast of the object image based on an output of the second pixel group, and then a second detection control that changes the imaging state of the image pickup device while detecting the contrast of the object image based on an output of the first pixel group. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194968 | IMAGE PICKUP OPTICAL SYSTEM AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup optical system including: a first prism including: a first incident surface where subject beam enters; a division surface for dividing the beam from the first incident surface into image-pickup beam and focus-detection beam; and a first exit surface from which reflection beam reflected on the division surface, the image-pickup beam or the focus-detection beam, exits; and a second prism including: a second incident surface on which transmission beam passing through the division surface, the image-pickup beam or focus-detection beam, enters; and a second exit surface from which the transmission beam exits, wherein the reflection beam is reflected on the division surface, reflected on the first incident surface, and reflected on the division surface to reach the first exit surface, and satisfying 0.12010-08-05 | |
20100194969 | ZOOM LENS SYSTEM AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A zoom lens system having a high zoom ratio and excellently correcting various aberrations over an entire zoom range between a wide angle end and a telephoto end to obtain high optical performance in the entire zoom range, includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit having a negative refractive power, a third lens unit, and a fourth lens unit. The fourth lens unit includes a front subunit and a rear subunit, the rear subunit being constituted by two negative lenses and at least three positive lenses. The rear subunit includes a first rear-subunit and a second rear-subunit. Each of the first rear-subunit and the second rear-subunit includes a negative lens and at least one positive lens. Lens materials are suitably set for the first rear-subunit and the rear second-subunit. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194970 | Automatic focusing apparatus and optical device - The present invention is directed to the provision of an automatic focusing apparatus that can detect a focusing point at a sufficiently high speed for practical use and can achieve a lens condition having good focusing performance. The automatic focusing apparatus of the present invention includes a liquid crystal lens which forms a refractive index profile, an optical-to-electrical conversion unit which converts an optical image focused through the liquid crystal lens into an electrical signal and outputs the electrical signal as an image signal, a focus signal extracting unit which causes the refractive index profile to change by applying a first range of voltage to the liquid crystal lens, and extracts a plurality of focus signals based on the image signal, a focusing point identifying unit which identifies a focus signal corresponding to a focusing point from among the plurality of extracted focus signals, and a focusing point adjusting unit which adjusts the focusing point by applying to the liquid crystal lens a second voltage that is capable of generating the refractive index profile corresponding to the focus signal identified by the focusing point identifying unit and that is smaller than the first range of voltage applied to the liquid crystal lens in order to obtain the focus signal identified by the focusing point identifying unit. | 2010-08-05 |
20100194971 | TWO-DIMENSIONAL POLYNOMIAL MODEL FOR DEPTH ESTIMATION BASED ON TWO-PICTURE MATCHING - Apparatus and method for electronically estimating focusing distance between a camera (still and/or video camera) and a subject. Images at different focal positions of a calibration target are collected with distances between subject positions. In one aspect, histogram matching is performed to reduce noise error. A focus matching model is then generated in response to detected blur differences between successive images of the calibration target. The focus matching model is preferably converted to a polynomial equation of a desired order to smooth out image collection noise. The focus matching model is stored for access during operation. In use, the distance to subject is estimated in response to capturing images, detecting blur differences between the images and entering the blur difference information into the matching model. | 2010-08-05 |