48th week of 2012 patent applcation highlights part 26 |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20120300014 | LOCAL PARTICIPANT IDENTIFICATION IN A WEB CONFERENCING SYSTEM - An event computer receives video in which one or more local participants of a conferencing event are viewable. The event computer receives head detection information of the local participants and assigns contextual data to the head detection information for each of the local participants for which head detection information is received. The event computer then sends the video, the head detection information, and the contextual data to one or more remote participant computer systems by which one or more remote participants can view the local participants and their corresponding contextual data within the video. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300015 | TWO-WAY AUDIO AND VIDEO COMMUNICATION UTILIZING SEGMENT-BASED ADAPTIVE STREAMING TECHNIQUES - A participation device in a multiparty conference call may act as a server device and/or a client device for two-way audio and video (AV) streaming. A server device may encode a requested AV stream into a set of different encoding profiles that may be dynamically determined based on the varying channel conditions and device capacities of the client devices. At least a portion of differently encoded AV streams is selected and dynamically communicated to the client devices for display. Session parameters are determined according to the varying channel conditions and the device capacities of the client devices to create intended sessions. The selected encoded AV streams are communicated utilizing segment-based adaptive streaming techniques such as HTTP. A client device may access to a HTTP session to download an expected AV stream from the server device. The downloaded AV stream may be decoded into different decoding profiles for display as needed. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300016 | INTEGRATED MEDIA GATEWAY PROCESSING AND CONTROL TO REDUCE LATENCY FOR 2-WAY VIDEO CONFERENCE APPLICATIONS - In a media gateway (MG) that enables communication with a plurality of client devices, at least a portion of video conferencing (VC) processing during a VC call between at least one of said plurality of client devices and at least one other VC client may be handled by the media gateway. The portion of the VC processing handled by said media is offloaded from a centralized VC multipoint control unit (MCU). The MG may handle one or more VC MCU functions, which may comprise video conferencing call control and/or management and/or audio/video (A/V) transcoding. The MG may adaptively control and/or configure latency associated with handling and/or communication of data by the media gateway's client device during the video conference call. The adaptive latency control and/or configuration may be based on determination of end-to-end latency associated with exchange of data during the video conference call. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300017 | DISTRIBUTED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FOR A PLURALITY OF LOCAL MEDIA GATEWAYS TO PROVIDE VIDEO CONFERENCING - Media gateways (MGs), grouped into a hierarchy, are operable to provide a multiparty conferencing among client devices. Gateway resources such as processors, Codecs and network interfaces are aggregated at each MG to establish distributed connection sessions based on resource management metrics such as minimizing total network. The distributed connection sessions are utilized to provide the multiparty conferencing. Each MG may aggregate the gateway resources, which may be determined utilizing a look-up table, from other MGs for sharing among the MGs. Each MG may be activated to provide the media gateway controller (MGC) processing utilizing the shared aggregated gateway resources. A MG may be de-activated from the MGC processing when needed and the associated connection sessions may be subsequently released. Gateway resources are managed at each MG based on the resource management metrics in order to establish distributed connection sessions to support the multiparty conferencing among the client devices. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300018 | USING DISTRIBUTED LOCAL QOS OPTIMIZATION TO ACHIEVE GLOBAL QOS OPTIMIZATION FOR VIDEO CONFERENCING SERVICES - A media gateway (MG) that services a plurality of client devices, may be handled at least a portion of video conferencing (VC) processing during a VC call between at least one of said plurality of client devices and at least one other VC client. The portion of the VC processing handled by the media gateway may be offloaded from a centralized VC multipoint control unit (MCU). The MG may handle one or more VC MCU functions, which may comprise video conferencing call control and/or management and/or audio/video (AV) transcoding. The MG may perform localized quality of service (QoS) management, to select, and adaptively control and/or configure resources and/or local links used in the MG and/or in VC clients or neighboring MGs connected to the MG, during VC operations, such as in generating, handling, and/or communicating data or content exchanged during VC calls. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300019 | ORIENTATION-BASED GENERATION OF PANORAMIC FIELDS - A field sensor may be capable of generating a panoramic field, e.g., by instructing the user to capture a sequence of fields of the panorama, performing a field evaluation to identify one or more landmarks depicted in overlapping areas of two contiguous fields, performing a field registration therebetween, and stitching together the panoramic field. However, panoramic field stitching based on field evaluation may fail to register two fields accurately or at all. Rather, panoramic field stitching may be performed using a device having an orientation sensor that detects the orientation of the device while capturing each field with a field sensor. The detected orientation may be used to orient the fields within a projection, from which a panoramic field may be accurately stitched. Additional variations include stitching together projections of the panorama captured at different times and utilizing fields captured at a distance from the root location of the panorama. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300020 | REAL-TIME SELF-LOCALIZATION FROM PANORAMIC IMAGES - Real-time localization is performed using at least a portion of a panoramic image captured by a camera on a mobile device. A panoramic cylindrical map is generated using images captured by the camera, e.g., as the camera rotates. Extracted features from the panoramic cylindrical map are compared to features from a pre-generated three-dimensional model of the environment. The resulting set of corresponding features may be used to determine the pose of the camera. For example, the set of corresponding features may be converted into rays between the panoramic cylindrical map and the three-dimensional model, where the intersection of the rays is used to determine the pose. The relative orientation of the camera may also be tracked by comparing features from each new image to the panoramic cylindrical map, and the tracked orientation may be fused with the pose. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300021 | ON-BOARD CAMERA SYSTEM - An on-board camera system includes an imaging unit configured to capture an image around a vehicle, a wide-angle image generation unit configured to generate a wide-angle image of a desired size by performing reduction processing of the image obtained by the imaging unit, a standard image generation unit configured to generate a standard image of the desired size by extracting an image of a predetermined region from the image obtained by the imaging unit such that an optical axis of the image and the image size are the same as those of the wide-angle image, and an application processing unit configured to execute application processing using each of the wide-angle image and the standard image. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300022 | SOUND DETECTION APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - A specific sound is detected from sounds input by a sound input unit, using thresholds for detecting sounds. Images captured by an image capturing unit are recorded. A difference between a recorded image and a current image is calculated, and a location of a moving object is detected from the current image. A correspondence between information indicating a specific position in an image and information indicating sounds that could occur in the specific position is managed. In the case where a moving object is detected, the threshold for detecting a sound is changed, and the specific sound is detected from sounds, using the changed threshold, with reference to the correspondence managed in the position/sound correspondence information management unit. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300023 | IMAGE PHOTOGRAPHING DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An image photographing device displays a preview panoramic image and data regarding moving velocity and direction of the image photographing device during panorama photographing in real time. The image photographing device includes a photographing unit to photograph a plurality of images, an image processing unit to convert the images photographed by the photographing unit into preview image data and to generate preview panorama data using the preview image data, and a display unit to simultaneously output a screen to display the preview image data, a screen to display a process of synthesizing the preview panorama data, a moving direction display screen indicating a relative difference between the moving direction of the image photographing device and a predetermined reference direction, and a moving velocity display screen indicating a relative difference between the moving velocity of the image photographing device and a predetermined reference velocity. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300024 | IMAGING SYSTEM - A three-dimensional imaging system to reduce detected ambient light comprises a wavelength stabilized laser diode to project imaging light onto a scene, an optical bandpass filter, and a camera to receive imaging light reflected from the scene and through the optical bandpass filter, the camera configured to use the received imaging light for generating a depth map of the scene. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300025 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTIMAL MOTION REPRODUCTION IN STEREOSCOPIC DIGITAL CINEMA - A method and apparatus are described including determining an inter-frame object displacement for each object in a left eye image frame pair, determining an inter-frame object displacement for each object in a right eye image frame pair, determining a convergence shifting field between each object in the left eye image and the right eye image pair, determining an amount of motion blur responsive to the inter-frame object displacement for each object in the left eye image frame pair, the inter-frame object displacement for each object in the right eye image frame pair, and the convergence shifting field between each object in the left eye image and the right eye image pair and adjusting the motion blur by the amount of motion blur. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300026 | Audio-Video Signal Processing - A method for processing audio/video signals. The method includes determining if the video signals are in two dimensional or three dimensional format. If the video signals are in two dimensional format, the method includes providing a first delay to be applied to the audio signals. If the video signals are in three dimensional format, the method includes providing a second delay, longer than the first delay, to be applied to the audio signals. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300027 | STEREOSCOPIC IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE - The present invention discloses a stereoscopic image display device includes a 3D output processing unit, a format matching judging unit and a time out unit. The 3D output processing unit receives a selection of a 3D (3-Dimensional) mode as an output format, and changes an output mode to the 3D mode and starts outputting a 3D (3-Dimensional) image based on the selected output format if the selection of the 3D mode is received while an image is output in a 2D (2-Dimensional) mode. The format matching judging unit judges a matching between the output format and a format of the image input to the stereoscopic image display device. The time out unit stops outputting the image in the 3D mode to return the output mode to the 2D mode if the format matching judging unit detects a mismatching of the format. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300028 | IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE - An image display device which includes a parallax adjustment unit, a display unit, a parallax detector, and a maximum parallax detector. The parallax adjustment unit is configured to obtain a right-eye image signal and a left-eye image signal. The parallax adjustment unit is configured to adjust a parallax between the right-eye image signal and left-eye image signal and output an adjusted image signal that includes an adjusted left-eye and adjusted right-eye signal. The parallax detector is configured to detect an amount of parallax between the right-eye and left-eye image signals. The maximum parallax detector is configured to detect a maximum value. The display unit is configured to display a right-eye image and a left-eye image and to display an augmented image including the right-eye image and the left-eye image as well as a monitor image indicating the amount of parallax detected and the maximum value. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300029 | VIDEO PROCESSING DEVICE, TRANSMISSION DEVICE, STEREOSCOPIC VIDEO VIEWING SYSTEM, VIDEO PROCESSING METHOD, VIDEO PROCESSING PROGRAM AND INTEGRATED CIRCUIT - A video processing device | 2012-11-29 |
20120300030 | DIGITAL VIDEO SIGNAL, A METHOD FOR ENCODING OF A DIGITAL VIDEO SIGNAL AND A DIGITAL VIDEO SIGNAL ENCODER - One object of the invention is a digital video signal comprising a sequence of frames, wherein each video frame in the sequence differs with respect to the previous frame in the sequence by a number of pixels which is not higher than a predetermined pixels maximum threshold amount. Another object of the invention is a method for encoding of a digital source video signal, comprising the steps of receiving a reference frame, receiving a source frame of the source video signal, generating an encoded frame based on the differences between the source frame and the reference frame, wherein the generating of the encoded frame comprises the steps of determining a pixels maximum threshold amount, comparing the reference frame with the source frame and selecting a number of pixels from the pixels which differ between the reference frame and the source frame, the number of selected pixels being not higher than the pixels maximum threshold amount, changing the values of the selected pixels of the reference frame to the values of corresponding pixels of the source frame to provide a reference frame for the next source frame and providing an encoded frame defining pixels changed in the reference frame. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300031 | Apparatus and Method for Processing Video Content - Systems and low bandwidth methods to encode and broadcast a video multiplex that allows a receiving device, e.g., a set-top box, to select and decode half resolution split screen stereo video, full resolution two-dimensional video and full resolution stereo video is provided. The systems and methods provide for receiving a data signal, the data signal including a first video signal representing a two-dimensional image at a first video resolution and a second video signal representing a three-dimensional image at a second resolution; decoding the first video signal if an output display type is a two-dimensional display type; decoding the second video signal if the output display type is a first three-dimensional display type; and decoding the first video signal and second video signal simultaneously if the output display type is a second three-dimensional display type. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300032 | ENDOSCOPE - An endoscope includes a treatment tool, a right eye image capturing unit, and a left eye image capturing unit. The right eye image capturing unit and the left eye image capturing unit capture images which are to be displayed as a stereoscopic image of an image capturing target. The maximum convergence angle of arbitrary point in movable range of the treatment tool which exists in both visual fields of the right eye image capturing unit and the left eye image capturing unit is 30 degrees or less. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300033 | 3D IMAGE SHOOTING APPARATUS AND ENDOSCOPE - An exemplary 3D image shooting apparatus comprises: a polarized light source; an image capturing section that sequentially captures an image of the object that is being illuminated with each of plane polarized light rays, and an image processor. The image capturing section includes: a lens; an image sensor; and an incoming light transmitting section which has a transparent area and a plurality of polarization filter areas. The polarization filter areas are arranged outside of the transparent area, generally have a concentric ring shape, and include left and right filter areas so that their polarization transmission axis directions define an angle α (0<α<90 degrees). The image processing section generates a plurality of images from light that has been transmitted through the transparent area and light that has been transmitted through the plurality of polarization filter areas. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300034 | INTERACTIVE USER INTERFACE FOR STEREOSCOPIC EFFECT ADJUSTMENT - Present embodiments contemplate systems, apparatus, and methods to determine a user's preference for depicting a stereoscopic effect. Particularly, certain of the embodiments contemplate receiving user input while displaying a stereoscopic video sequence. The user's preferences may be determined based upon the input. These preferences may then be applied to future stereoscopic depictions. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300035 | ELECTRONIC CAMERA - An electronic camera includes an imager. An imager captures a scene through an optical system. A distance adjuster adjusts an object distance to a designated distance. A depth adjuster adjusts a depth of field to a predetermined depth, corresponding to completion of an adjustment of the distance adjuster. An acceptor accepts a changing operation for changing a length of the designated distance. A changer changes the depth of field to an enlarged depth greater than the predetermined depth, in response to the changing operation. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300036 | Optimizing Stereo Video Display - System and method for video processing. First video levels for pixels for a left image of a stereo image pair are received from a GPU. Gamma corrected video levels (g-levels) are generated via a gamma look-up table (LUT) based on the first video levels. Outputs of the gamma LUT are constrained by minimum and/or maximum values, thereby excluding values for which corresponding post-OD display luminance values differ from static display luminance values by more than a specified error. Overdriven video levels are generated via a left OD LUT based on the g-levels. The overdriven video levels correspond to display luminance values that differ from corresponding static display luminance values by less than the error threshold, and are provided to a display device for display of the left image. This process is repeated for second video levels for a right image of the stereo image pair, using a right OD LUT. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300037 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGING SYSTEM USING A SINGLE LENS SYSTEM - The passive imaging system of the present application includes first and second input polarizers on the light receiving side of a light receiving lens. A first half of the split polarizer performs vertical polarization of incoming light while the second half of the split polarizer performs horizontal polarization of the incoming light. The input polarizing structure provides parallax to accomplish 3D imaging. A third or interleaving polarizer is provided between the lens and an imaging device and is adjacent to and closely spaced from (<10 microns) the image plane of the device. The interleaving polarizer is sectional so that alternating sections, along the direction of parallax created by the input polarizer(s), pass vertically and horizontally polarized light. The resulting image frame formed at the image plane of the imager is similarly sectional so that sections of the image alternate between vertically polarized light and horizontally polarized light, e.g., for example the odd sections of the image are images of vertical polarized light (received from the left side) and even sections of the image are images of horizontally polarized light (received from the right side). Once an image frame has been captured, it is divided into two parallactic image frames, one of vertically polarized light imaged from the left side and one of horizontally polarized light imaged from the right side. The two resulting frames are combined to form a 3D image. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300038 | PHOTONIC CRYSTAL TYPE LIGHT MODULATOR AND 3D IMAGE ACQUISITION APPARATUS EMPLOYING THE SAME - A photonic crystal type light modulator is provided. The photonic crystal type light modulator includes: a substrate; a first electrode disposed on the substrate; an active layer disposed on the first electrode, where an optical characteristic of the active layer changes according to application of an electric field; a second electrode disposed on the active layer; and a photonic crystal layer disposed on the second electrode and comprising a 2D grating. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300039 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THREE DIMENSIONAL INSPECTION OF WAFER SAW MARKS - An apparatus ( | 2012-11-29 |
20120300040 | IMAGING SYSTEM - A three-dimensional imaging system to reduce detected ambient light comprises a wavelength stabilized laser diode to project imaging light onto a scene, an optical bandpass filter, and a camera to receive imaging light reflected from the scene and through the optical bandpass filter, the camera configured to use the received imaging light for generating a depth map of the scene. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300041 | IMAGE CAPTURING DEVICE - An image capture device includes: a plurality of microlenses; an image capture element in which a plurality of element groups including a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements that receive light fluxes and that output image signals are arranged; a generation unit that extracts a plurality of region image signals respectively corresponding to a plurality of different partial regions upon the pupil surface of the photographic optical system, and that generates a plurality of sets of image data corresponding to the partial regions as a plurality of sets of viewpoint image data whose viewpoint positions are different with each other; and a reception unit that receives a viewpoint number selection operation to select a number of viewpoints; wherein the generation unit generates the sets of viewpoint image data by extracting the region image signals whose number is equal to a number of selected viewpoints. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300042 | LENS MODULE AND DISPLAY APPARATUS HAVING THE SAME - A lens module includes a lens panel and a lens driving part. The lens panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a liquid crystal layer. The first substrate includes first electrodes and second electrodes alternately disposed thereon that partially overlap each other and are electrically insulated from each other. The second substrate is opposite to the first substrate. The liquid crystal layer is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The lens driving part provides a substantially equal voltage to both ends of each of the first and second electrodes. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300043 | STEREOSCOPIC IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE - The present invention discloses a stereoscopic image display device includes a first image processing chip, a second image processing chip and a format reception unit. The first image processing chip carries out image processing on a 3D image including a frame image in which an image for left eye and an image for right eye are combined. The second image processing chip reproduces the image for left eye and the image for right eye from the 3D image. The first image processing chip has an OSD section that superimposes an OSD image to the frame image. The second image processing chip reproduces the image for left eye by using an image acquired from a combined area of the image for left eye that is defined in the output format received by a format reception unit and reproduces the image for right eye by using an image acquired from a combined area of the image for right eye that is defined in the output format received by the format reception unit. The OSD section superimposes the OSD image to a position according to the output format received by the format reception unit. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300044 | Systems and Methods for Alignment, Calibration and Rendering for an Angular Slice True-3D Display - Systems and methods for calibrating a 3D display system. In one embodiment, a system includes a display screen, 2D image projectors that project 2D projection images onto the screen and a camera that captures calibration images of the screen. A computer generates the 2D projection images, which include calibration patterns, and processes the captured calibration images. The computer uses the calibration images to calculate corrections based upon the calibration images. The computer can then generate corrected 2D projection images that are projected by the 2D image projectors onto the screen to produce a substantially visually correct 3D image with continuous viewing, true horizontal parallax, and a different view for each eye within a valid viewing zone. The corrections to the images may include corrections to the geometry (including distortion, alignment, etc.) color (including intensity and related parameters). | 2012-11-29 |
20120300045 | PROJECTION APPARATUS, DECODER, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD FOR THE PROJECTION APPARATUS - A projection apparatus, decoder, and an image processing method for the projection apparatus are provided therein. The projection apparatus includes a projection module, a decoder, and an optical device. The projection module is used for alternately projecting first projected images and second projected images according to a three-dimensional video signal. The decoder is coupled to the projection module, and used for receiving and decoding the three-dimensional video signal to generate and wirelessly transmit a status signal. The optical device is used for receiving a frame switching control signal outputted from the projection module, used for receiving the status signal from the decoder, and use for receiving the first projected images and the second projected images in an image receiving status. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300046 | Method and System for Directed Light Stereo Display - A plurality of perception directions associated with a viewer may be determined in a video device, and display of video content via the video device may be controlled based on the determined plurality of perception directions. Controlling display of the video content may comprise adaptively and/or separately configuring display of the content in each of the plurality of perception directions. The plurality of perception directions may be determined based on positioning information associated with the viewer. The positioning information may be determined using one or more sensors. The positioning information may comprise information pertaining to location and/or angle of perception associated with each of left eye and right eye of the viewer relative to the location and/or orientation of video device relative to the video device. The plurality of perception directions may comprise perception directions corresponding to each of right eye and left eye of the viewer. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300047 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SYNCHRONIZING A 3D VIDEO PROJECTOR - A system and method for improving stereoscopic images produced by a projecting device containing a single chip DMD, seen through an eye-switching device, such as a pair of liquid crystal (LC) shutter glasses. The system and method are used with a video projector used with a multiple-color, color switching device The color switching device produces Blue, Red and Green lights and at least one non-critical segment. A color sequencing firmware resident in the video projector is used to align a non-critical segment in front of the projector's main light source during the eye-switching device's unstable transition phase. If the non-critical segment is transmissive, the firmware controls the DMD so light is discontinued. If the non-critical segment is non-transmissive, light is physically blocked. If the non-critical segment is electronically defined, the firmware directly controls the DMD to discontinue the transmission of light for the duration of device's unstable transition phase. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300048 | Imaging Device and Method for Video Data Transmission Optimization - A device and method for the acquisition, processing and optimized transmission of video image data. The display output of an electronic viewing device is split by means of a beam-splitting element. A split portion of the image is detected by a detector and its output digitized. Regions of interest in the split image may be identified by eye-tracking or image saliency processing means to define salient regions in the split image. The salient regions in the split image are transmitted to a remote receiver at a higher resolution than the non-salient regions in the scene whereby video transmission bandwidth is reduced and optimized. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300049 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING AGE, AND AGE-DEPENDENT SELECTION OF COSMETIC PRODUCTS - A method for determining the skin age of consumers and a device suitable for implementing the method. The skin age is determined by capturing a predetermined skin area optoelectronically. The image data obtained during capturing the skin area are stored in an intermediate memory. Thereafter the color distribution and/or the color space are determined by means of image analysis. The determination is performed integratively, the result also being stored in an intermediate memory. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300050 | METHOD FOR CHARACTERIZING THE TONE OF THE SKIN AND INTEGUMENTS - A method and apparatus for characterizing the tone of the skin or integuments uses an apparatus capturing a digital image of a skin zone. The image is defined by a multiplicity of pixels (N) and transmitted to a digital image processing device for splitting the digital image into R, G and B colour planes. The apparatus includes means for extracting each of these planes R, G, B; and on each plane, calculation means for logging the grey level value for each of the pixels, i.e. N values, which are optionally processed to obtain a value characteristic of the grey levels for each plane, corresponding to a value characteristic of the colour; as well as the luminosity value L*. The apparatus also characterizes the tone of the skin or integuments on the basis of the combination of the value characteristic of the colour and of the Luminosity value L*. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300051 | IMAGING APPARATUS, AND DISPLAY METHOD USING THE SAME - An imaging apparatus includes: a first imaging optical system that obtains a first photographic subject image; a second imaging optical system that is capable of obtaining a second photographic subject image which is more telephoto than the first photographic subject image obtained by the first imaging optical system; a first imaging section that converts an image signal of the first photographic subject image into first image data; a second imaging section that converts an image signal of the second photographic subject image into second image data; a display that displays the first photographic subject image by the first image data and the second photographic subject image by the second image data; and a controller that controls the display such that an indicator frame that indicates an imaging range of the second photographic subject image is displayed in the first photographic subject image displayed on the display. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300052 | METHODS FOR PERFORMING BIOMETRIC RECOGNITION OF A HUMAN EYE AND CORROBORATION OF SAME - A method of biometric recognition is provided. Multiple images of the face or other non-iris image and iris of an individual are acquired. If the multiple images are determined to form an expected sequence of images, the face and iris images are associated together. A single camera preferably acquires both the iris and face images by changing at least one of the zoom, position, or dynamic range of the camera. The dynamic range can be adjusted by at least one of adjusting the gain settings of the camera, adjusting the exposure time, and/or adjusting the illuminator brightness. The expected sequence determination can be made by determining if the accumulated motion vectors of the multiple images is consistent with an expected set of motion vectors and/or ensuring that the iris remains in the field of view of all of the multiple images. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300053 | IMAGE ACQUISITION DEVICE - Provided is a camera including a housing; an intermediate plate that divides the interior of the housing into first and second chambers; image acquisition elements disposed in the first chamber within the housing; a motor disposed in the second chamber within the housing; a pivot shaft that extends through the intermediate plate and transmits a driving force from the motor; a bearing that is provided in a through-hole area for the pivot shaft extending through the intermediate plate and seals a gap formed around the pivot shaft; and a prism that is connected to the pivot shaft in the first chamber and is moved by the driving force transmitted by the pivot shaft so as to switchably guide light from a sample to at least one of the image acquisition elements. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300054 | Method of Extracting Contour Lines of Image Data Obtained By Means of Charged Particle Beam Device, and Contour Line Extraction Device - The present invention is intended to provide a contour extraction method and a contour extraction device with an objective of either suppression of unnecessary contouring processings or selective contouring of necessary portions. To attain the objective, provided are a contour extraction method, and a device, with which contours of pattern edges on an image formed based on charged particles emitted from a sample are extracted and, when contouring of a pattern located in an overlapping region provided in connecting images of plural image-capturing regions to form a synthesized image is performed, either areas of the pattern in the plurality of image-capturing regions, or a pre-set measurement portion is found, and selective contour extraction of the pattern with respect to an image of an image-capturing region is carried out either on a side where the area is large, or on a side where a measurement portion regarding the pattern is located. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300055 | INTEGRATED CALIBRATION SAMPLE BAY FOR FLUORESCENCE READERS - A stage assembly, an imaging system that uses the stage assembly, and methods for using the stage assembly in a high content screening system. The stage assembly includes a stage having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface and an opening extending between the top and bottom surfaces to receive a specimen plate. The stage assembly also includes a calibration sample bay formed in the stage. A calibration sample can also be secured within the calibration sample bay. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300056 | OBSERVATION METHOD AND OBSERVATION DEVICE - With respect to a charged particle beam device, the step size of focal point measure for executing autofocusing is optimized to a value that is optimal with respect to the spread of an approximation curve for a focal point measure distribution. The step size of focal point measure for executing autofocusing is corrected using an image feature obtained based on a layout image derived from an image obtained at a first magnification or from design data. Autofocusing is executed based on the obtained step size to carry out observation, measurement, or to image the sample under inspection. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300057 | SELF-CONTAINED SIGNAL CARRIER FOR PLUMBING & METHODS OF USE THEREOF - A device is provided for remotely locating an obstruction in a plumbing system. The spring assembly may include (i) a connector having a sewer cable connection portion at a proximal end and a retaining collar portion at a distal end; (ii) a spring having a proximal end, a medial portion and a distal end, the proximal end of the spring connected to the distal end of the connector; (iii) an end cap connected to a distal end of the spring. A signal transmitter may be removably housed within the spring. A cable may be connected to the connector at the proximal end of the connector to push or drive the spring assembly through a pipe system. A receiver may be used to detect wireless signals from the signal transmitter, thereby determine a location of an obstruction in the pipe system. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300058 | CONTROL COMPUTER AND METHOD FOR REGULATING MECHANICAL ARM USING THE SAME - In a method for regulating a mechanical arm using a control computer. The method obtains a first position and a second position of a center of an image plane of an image capturing device on the mechanical arm by controlling movements of the mechanical arm, and calculates a movement vector from the first position to the second position. The method further calculates a regulating angle according to the movement vector and an axial vector of the mechanical arm, and moves the mechanical arm according to the regulating angle such that the axial vector is perpendicular to a measurement plane determined by the first object and the second object. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300059 | Method to inspect components of a wind turbine - An unmanned aerial vehicle is guided to the component for the inspection. A certain predefined distance between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the component is chosen in a way that high resolution images of the component are gathered by the unmanned aerial vehicle. The images are gathered by an image acquisition system. The inspection is done remote controlled and based on the images, which are gathered by the unmanned aerial vehicle. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300060 | VISION SYSTEM FOR IMAGING AND MEASURING RAIL DEFLECTION - Devices, systems, and methods for imaging and measuring deflections in structures such as railroad rail are disclosed. An example vision system comprises a high-speed, visible-light imaging camera and an evaluation unit configured for analyzing images from the camera to detect geometric variations in the structure. In analyzing structures such as railroad track rail, the imaging camera can be coupled to a moving rail vehicle and configured for generating images of the rail as the vehicle moves along the track. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300061 | Eye Gaze to Alter Device Behavior - Methods, devices, and computer programs for controlling behavior of an electronic device are presented. A method includes an operation for operating the electronic device in a first mode of operation, and an operation for tracking the gaze of a user interfacing with the electronic device. The electronic device is maintained in a first mode of operation as long as the gaze is directed towards a predetermined target. In another operation, when the gaze is not detected to be directed towards the predetermined target, the electronic device is operated in a second mode of operation, which is different from the first mode of operation. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300062 | Methods and apparatus for estimation of motion and size of non-line-of-sight objects - In exemplary implementations of this invention, a time of flight camera (ToF camera) can estimate the location, motion and size of a hidden moving object, even though (a) the hidden object cannot be seen directly (or through mirrors) from the vantage point of the ToF camera (including the camera's illumination source and sensor), and (b) the object is in a visually cluttered environment. The hidden object is a NLOS (non-line-of-sight) object. The time of flight camera comprises a streak camera and a laser. In these exemplary implementations, the motion and absolute locations of NLOS moving objects in cluttered environments can be estimated through tertiary reflections of pulsed illumination, using relative time differences of arrival at an array of receivers. Also, the size of NLOS moving objects can be estimated by backprojecting extremas of NLOS moving object time responses. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300063 | Droop Tester Apparatus and Method - The invention relates to a system for testing heart valve leaflets. The system includes a leaflet support assembly with a support post for receiving and supporting a leaflet to be tested, the post being disposed in a target region of the support assembly. The system also has a transmitter assembly that includes a light source and is configured and arranged to direct light from the light source onto the target region. The system further includes a receiver assembly that has an image sensor configured and arranged to sense an image of the target region and generate image information indicative of the sensed image, such as leaflet droop. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300064 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OVERHEAD IMAGING AND VIDEO - Examples of an imaging sensor include a two-dimensional staring sensor with spectral filter strips for multispectral overhead imaging. The sensor may also include a panchromatic sensor with block or strip filters. The sensor may be used to collect multispectral color image data at a sampling resolution from overhead imaging platforms such as airplanes or satellites. The sensor can be used to provide video images. If a panchromatic sensor is included, the sensor may be used to collect panchromatic image data. Examples of methods for processing the image date include using the panchromatic image data to perform multi-frame enhancement or panchromatic sharpening on spectral images to improve their quality and resolution. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300065 | OPTICAL DEVICE FOR MEASURING AND IDENTIFYING CYLINDRICAL SURFACES BY DEFLECTOMETRY APPLIED TO BALLISTIC IDENTIFICATION - Optical Device for Measuring and Identifying Cylindrical Surfaces by Means of Deflectometry, Applied for Ballistic Identification” describes an optical device that uses a configuration of the technique known as “deflectometry”, said device is built with a conical mirror for identifying and measuring fully or partly reflective cylindrical surfaces, and its configuration is particularly applied to ballistic identification. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300066 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING USER INTENTION USING CAPTURED IMAGE - A method and apparatus for transmitting a user's intention using a captured image, the method including: if a signal for selecting an article category is received from a terminal, capturing articles belonging to the article category and transmitting the captured image of the articles to the terminal; receiving from the terminal tag information indicating user's intention generated based on the captured image; and mapping the received tag information to a predetermined position on the captured image and transmitting the captured image with the mapped tag information to the terminal. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300067 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OBJECT/MATERIAL DETECTION - Methods and apparatus to compare the size of a target from the first sensor information with the size of the target from the second sensor information to determine whether an anomaly exists based upon the size comparison. In one embodiment, the size of the target from the first sensor information is affected by dielectric constants for at least one material of interest associated with the target. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300068 | Method and System for Cooperative Diversity Visual Cognition in Wireless Video Sensor Networks - A method and system for cooperative diversity visual cognition in a wireless sensor network is disclosed. The method and system are capable of solving distributed visual cognition tasks (for example, online simultaneous reconstruction of 3D models of a large area) by using multiple video streams and exploiting cooperative diversity video sensing information while ensuring an optimal tradeoff between energy consumption and video quality of images received from said multiple video streams. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300069 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING METHOD - Disclosed herein is an imaging apparatus including imaging means configured to photograph an image of a scene that is in a direction in which a user sees, outside world information acquisition means configured to acquire outside world information, and control means configured to control an operation of the imaging means based on the outside world information acquired by the outside world information acquisition means. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300070 | Aerial Photograph Image Pickup Method And Aerial Photograph Image Pickup Apparatus - An aerial photographing image pickup method comprises a step of making a flying object fly meanderingly, a step of taking the image at each vertex where a direction is changed in the meandering flight, a step of extracting feature points from a common overlay portion of the images taken from at least three adjacent vertices, a step of determining two images of two vertices in the images as one set and acquiring positional information of the two vertices by a GPS device for each set regarding at least two sets, a step of performing photogrammetry of the measuring points corresponding to the feature points based on positional information and based on the feature points of the two images and a step of determining the feature points when the surveying results of the measuring points coincide with each other in at least the two sets as tie points for image combination. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300071 | INTEGRATED ANTENNA SYSTEM FOR IMAGING MICROSATELLITES - Examples of imaging microsatellites are described that have an imaging system and antenna system disposed within the microsatellite body when the microsatellite is in a non-deployed state. The properties of the antenna system can be adjusted such that the antenna system does not impact, contact, or displace the imaging system when the microsatellite is in the non-deployed state. The properties of the antenna system can be adjusted such that the antenna system does not contact or impact the body of the microsatellite or any other structure when the microsatellite transitions to a deployed state. The antenna system can be configured to achieve a desired gain and/or data transmission rate by adjusting properties of the antenna system based on the radiation pattern of an antenna feed and geometric constraints imposed by the imaging system. Examples of methods for designing such imaging microsatellites are provided. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300072 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTION AND PREVENTION OF MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS - A device and method for vehicle collision avoidance and mitigation employing a video camera providing a frontal view of a roadway to a video display. A plurality of generally trapezoidal windows formed in front of and rearward of an iconic vehicle are employed to ascertain objects in front of and rearward of the vehicle. Using software, a pixel movement determined closing rate of any object is continually calculated. Thereafter warnings or evasive actions are taken if a collision is calculated. The device can differentiate between shadows and objects through a filtering method requiring pixel changes in two or more windows concurrently for an object to be determined. Speed of the vehicles and trajectory can be calculated ahead in virtual depictions to predict a collision and take evasive action. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300073 | APPLICATION SERVER AND METHOD FOR FINDING PARKING SPACE - An application server device and a method for finding parking space receives images of parking lots captured by cameras of the parking lot. The images are analyzed to obtain parking information of each of the parking lots. Location information of the parking lots, in which empty parking space exists, is sent to data receivers of cars, and location information of empty parking space of a parking lot is then sent to a data receiver of a car, when the car enters into the parking lot. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300074 | DETECTION APPARATUS AND DETECTION METHOD - A detection apparatus includes a control unit configured to switch an exposure time of an imaging device at a predetermined time, an image acquiring unit configured to acquire image data captured under different exposure times, and an object detecting unit configured to detect objects from the image data of the different exposure times acquired by the image acquiring unit. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300075 | IMAGE DISPLAY SYSTEM, IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE DISPLAY METHOD - An image display system is configured to display an image. An obtaining unit is configured to obtain a surrounding image indicating surroundings of a vehicle. A plurality of detecting units are disposed on the vehicle at different positions and configured to detect an object existing around the vehicle, respectively. If one of the detecting units detects the object, the one of the detecting units is referred to as specific detecting unit. An overlapping unit is configured to overlap an indicator represented in the form of a frame with the surrounding image. The indicator indicates the object and the specific detecting unit which has detected the object. A display unit is configured to display the surrounding image with which the indicator is overlapped. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300076 | VEHICLE PERIPHERY MONITORING DEVICE - A vehicle periphery monitoring device is provided with a symmetrical image portion extraction unit ( | 2012-11-29 |
20120300077 | VEHICLE SURROUNDINGS MONITORING DEVICE - A vehicle surroundings monitoring device for clarifying the accuracy of detection results and providing notification so that a driver can intuitively ascertain the position in which an object exists, the vehicle surroundings monitoring device comprising: an object detection unit for detecting objects in the periphery of a vehicle; a vehicle image generation unit for generating an image of the vehicle with the point of view set above the vehicle; a periphery image generation unit for generating an image of the periphery of the vehicle including the image of the vehicle; a position-calculating unit for calculating a corresponding position in the image of the periphery on the basis of detection results of the object detection unit; and an indicator unit for indicating the corresponding position in the image of the periphery when the degree of confirmation of the detection results of the object detection unit meets or exceeds an assessment threshold, and for indicating the corresponding region in the image of the periphery when the degree of confirmation of the detection results is less than the assessment threshold. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300078 | ENVIRONMENT RECOGNIZING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE - There is provided an environment recognizing device for a vehicle capable of reducing false detections for an artificial object such as a utility pole, a guardrail and road paintings with smaller processing load, at the time of detecting a pedestrian by using a pattern matching method. The environment recognizing device for a vehicle includes an image acquisition unit ( | 2012-11-29 |
20120300079 | Object-oriented cable camera system - An object-oriented cable camera system that processes the sports ball's position and automatically follows the ball in play in lock step to the sports ball in the sporting arena. The invention is comprised of a cable camera, a computer control system controlling the position of the cable camera and the camera's settings, a tracking chip attached to the sports ball, and a sports ball. A tracking chip is attached to the sports ball. The computer control system monitors the position of the sports ball through this tracking chip and automatically adjusts the cable camera's relative position to the sports ball keeping the cable camera in lock step with the sports ball and therefore providing a superior viewing experience. When the sports ball moves, the computer control system recognizes this change of position and automatically moves the cable camera's position to mirror the sports ball's new position. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300080 | System and method of semi-autonomous multimedia presentation creation, recording, display, network streaming, website addition, and playback. - The invention disclosed is a software and hardware system that allows complex multimedia presentations to be created, performed, recorded, streamed over a network, and automatically added to a website, without the need of human input other than that of the presenter. It is the first system to combine the following technologies into a single system of interdependent hardware and software: presentation creation software, network communication, media syncing, multiple remotely controlled motorized camera apparatuses, motion tracking, voice recognition, media projection software, recording and streaming of both live and recorded media, and automated website management. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300081 | SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM - Provided is a surveillance system including a plurality of network cameras; and at least one server connected to the network cameras via a communication network, wherein each of the network cameras captures and stores video data, extracts metadata, which is a basis of event data, from the video data, transmits the metadata to the server, and wherein, if requested by the server, each of the network cameras transmits the stored video data to the server. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300082 | Automatic Device Alignment Mechanism - An alignment suite includes first and second targeting devices and an optical coupler. The first targeting device is configured to perform a positional determination regarding a downrange target. The first targeting device includes an image processor. The second targeting device is configured to perform a targeting function relative to the downrange target and is affixable to the first targeting device. The optical coupler enables the image processor to capture an image of a reference object at the second targeting device responsive to the first and second targeting devices being affixed together. The image processor employs processing circuitry that determines pose information indicative of an alignment relationship between the first and second targeting devices relative to the downrange target based on the image captured. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300083 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image pickup apparatus is provided which realizes an improvement in the accuracy of a subject tracking function of the image pickup apparatus during continuous shooting. This image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit configured to capture a plurality of auxiliary images during an interval between capturing of a main image and capturing of a next main image; a first subject tracking processing unit configured to detect a region where a subject that is the same as a main subject exists, from a first region that is a part of a first auxiliary image among the plurality of auxiliary images; and a second subject tracking processing unit configured to detect a region where a subject that is the same as the main subject exists, from a second region of a second auxiliary image among the plurality of auxiliary images, the second region being larger than the first region. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300084 | SOURCE DEVICE FOR PROVIDING CONTENTS TO SINK DEVICE AND COMMUNICATION METHOD THEREOF - A source device that provides contents to a sink device and a communication method thereof are provided. The communication method of the source device includes: transmitting a communication signal including a High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) signal to the sink device; determining a communication status with the sink device using an HDCP communication result received from the sink device; and adjusting the communication signal according to the determined communication status. Therefore, the communication method can provide a user with optimized contents. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300085 | ASYMMETRIC LINK FOR STREAMING APPLICATIONS - Systems and methods of supporting video streaming operations may involve transmitting a pulse width modulated (PWM) control signal to an imaging device, wherein the imaging devices identifies control data based on a duty cycle of the control signal. The imaging device can configure a video stream based on the control data and synchronize transmission of the video stream based on a frequency of the control signal. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300086 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, PROGRAM, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM - There is provided an information processing apparatus including: an image pickup unit photographing a subject; a movement detecting unit detecting changes in movement of a subject photographed by the image pickup unit; a data generating unit generating first timing data relating to change timing at which the movement detecting unit detected a change in the movement; a receiving unit receiving second timing data, which relates to change timing when movement of a subject photographed by another apparatus was detected, from the other apparatus during photographing by the image pickup unit; and a determining unit determining, based on the first timing data generated by the data generating unit and the second timing data received by the receiving unit, whether the subject photographed by the image pickup unit and the subject photographed by the other apparatus are the same or a similar subject. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300087 | System and method for receiving and publishing product interest - A system and method for receiving and publishing product interest data using social networking for marketing products to target audiences gathered at live events, theme parks, retail establishments where product sponsors provide kiosks for participants use. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300088 | Electromagnetically Driven Device - This invention provides an electromagnetically driven device applicable to a lens driving device with an anti-shake function by a simple structure that enables the movable member to swing around an axis thereof. A flat spring for swinging connects to a stationary frame body provided with a permanent magnet set and a coil set for swinging is mounted on an outer circumference of a movable frame body. When an axial direction of the movable frame body is designated as the Z axis, the coil set for swinging including a first through fourth coils arranged around the Z axis and spaced at uniform intervals with each winding around an axis perpendicular to the Z axis and opposite to the permanent magnet set respectively. The permanent magnet set includes a first through fourth magnets, wherein each magnet is arranged between two adjacent coils among the first through fourth coils. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300089 | IMAGE ANNOTATION ON PORTABLE DEVICES - A system for automated annotation of images and videos points a mobile device towards an object of interest, such as a building or landscape scenery, for the device to display an image of the scene with an annotation for the object. An annotation can include names, historical information, and links to databases of images, videos, and audio files. Different techniques can be used for determining positional placement of annotations, and, by using multiple techniques, positioning can be made more precise and reliable. The level of detail of annotation information can be adjusted according to the precision of the techniques used. A trade-off can be taken into account between precision of annotation and communication cost, delay and/or power consumption. An annotation database can be updated in a self-organizing way. Public information as available on the web can be converted to annotation data. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300090 | FAST FACE DETECTION TECHNIQUE - A processor includes a face recognition block and a face detection block. The face detection block includes a scan block and control logic. The scan block may divide an image into a plurality of rectangles, determine whether at least some pixel values in each of the plurality of rectangles is within an allowable skin tone range, reject one or more of the plurality of rectangles, which do not contain pixels having a value within the allowable skin tone range, and mark remaining of the plurality of rectangles as component rectangles of a human face. Further, the scan block is to determine variability of the component rectangles, compare the variability of the component rectangles with a variability threshold, reject one or more of the component rectangles whose variability is less than the variability threshold, and retain remaining component rectangles as features of the human face. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300091 | Focusing and Focus Metrics for a Plenoptic Imaging System - Metrics for characterizing the focusing of a plenoptic imaging system. In one aspect, the metric is based on the high frequency content and/or the blurring of the plenoptic image. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300092 | AUTOMATICALLY OPTIMIZING CAPTURE OF IMAGES OF ONE OR MORE SUBJECTS - Capturing and storing an optimized images of a subject are described herein. Images of the subject may be captured while in a live mode or burst mode. The photographer or user administering the photographs may wish to have an image with one or more optimized features. Within the plurality of images, the optimized feature for each subject is found and used to compose an optimized image, and the optimized image may be stored. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300093 | Method For Pointing A Plurality Of Predetermined Locations Inside A Structure And Corresponding Pointing System - According to the invention, the system ( | 2012-11-29 |
20120300094 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS THAT PERFORMS EXPOSURE CONTROL, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image pickup apparatus capable of not only detecting whiteout or blackout but also effectively achieving exposure control. In the image pickup apparatus, an entire-screen brightness frequency distribution is detected based on a picked-up image signal. The image pickup apparatus calculates a first exposure control value from the entire-screen brightness frequency distribution. The image signal is divided into a plurality of small areas, and the brightness of each of the small areas is detected. The image pickup apparatus calculates a second exposure control value from the brightness. The image pickup apparatus calculates an exposure correction value based on the first exposure control value and the second exposure control value. An exposure value is calculated using the exposure correction value and an exposure value of the image signal. The image pickup apparatus performs exposure control of the image pickup section based on the calculated exposure value. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300095 | IMAGING APPARATUS AND IMAGING METHOD - A super-resolution capability is enhanced when a distance to a principal object is set as a synthetic focal distance. The principal object is extracted from images imaged by a plurality of imaging units, and a super-resolution capability of the extracted principal object is calculated. An imaging parameter is adjusted according to the calculated super-resolution capability. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300096 | Zoom Lens and Image Pickup Apparatus Using the Same - A zoom lens comprises in order from an object side, a first lens unit, a second lens unit, a third lens unit, a fourth lens unit, and a fifth lens unit having, respectively, a positive, negative, positive, negative, and positive refractive power. At the time of zooming from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, the first, third, and fourth lens units move toward the object side. A distance between the first and second lens units increase, a distance between the second and third lens units decrease, a distance between the third lens unit and the fourth lens unit changes, and a distance between the fourth lens unit and the fifth lens unit increases. The zoom lens satisfies the following expressions: | 2012-11-29 |
20120300097 | VARIABLE IMAGING ARRANGEMENTS AND METHODS THEREFOR - Various approaches to imaging involve selecting directional and spatial resolution. According to an example embodiment, images are computed using an imaging arrangement to facilitate selective directional and spatial aspects of the detection and processing of light data. Light passed through a main lens is directed to photosensors via a plurality of microlenses. The separation between the microlenses and photosensors is set to facilitate directional and/or spatial resolution in recorded light data, and facilitating refocusing power and/or image resolution in images computed from the recorded light data. In one implementation, the separation is varied between zero and one focal length of the microlenses to respectively facilitate spatial and directional resolution (with increasing directional resolution, hence refocusing power, as the separation approaches one focal length). | 2012-11-29 |
20120300098 | IMAGE CODING METHOD, IMAGE CODING APPARATUS, AND IMAGING SYSTEM - The image coding method according to the present invention includes the following steps. At a histogram calculation step, a histogram of pixel values included in a block image is calculated. At a plane region detection step, a size of a plane region included in the block image is detected. At an orthogonal transformation size selection step, (i) a first processing size is selected as a processing size of orthogonal transformation for the block image when the histogram is bimodal and the size of the plane region is equal to or greater than the first threshold value, and (ii) a second processing size greater than the first processing size is selected as the processing size, when that the histogram is not bimodal or the size of the plane region is smaller than the first threshold value. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300099 | IMAGING DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device comprising an imaging section for repeatedly forming subject images at a set period, while performing a bulb exposure operation, and outputting image data; an adding processing section for performing adding processing of the image data and previously output image data; an added image storage section for sequentially storing a plurality of added images that have been determined by the adding processing section; and a selection section for selecting any of the plurality of added images that have been stored in the added image storage section, after completion of the bulb exposure operation. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300100 | NOISE REDUCTION PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGING APPARATUS, AND NOISE REDUCTION PROCESSING PROGRAM - A noise reduction processing apparatus includes a timing signal detection unit that detects an operation timing signal indicating a timing when an operation unit is operated, an audio signal acquisition unit that acquires an audio signal, and on the basis of the operation timing signal, a noise reduction processing unit that calculates first frequency spectra of an audio signal acquired during a time period which has high possibility that noise caused by an operation of the operation unit is generated and second frequency spectra of an audio signal acquired during a time period which has high possibility that the noise is not generated, and calculates a noise reduction audio signal obtained by performing noise reduction to the audio signal on the basis of frequency spectra in which at least a part of the calculated first frequency spectra are replaced with corresponding portions of the calculated second frequency spectra. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300101 | DEFECT PIXEL DETECTION APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING DEFECT PIXEL - A defect pixel detection apparatus includes an image sensor which includes an effective pixel configured to have a photoelectric conversion element and an output unit configured to output a pixel signal generated by the photoelectric conversion element, a first reference pixel configured to have the same pixel configuration as the effective pixel and be optically shielded, and a second reference pixel configured to have a pixel configuration different from that of the effective pixel, a defect level acquiring unit configured to acquire a defect level of a target pixel in the image sensor, and a defect pixel determination unit configured to determine whether the target pixel is a defect pixel by comparing a defect level of the target pixel with a defect detection threshold according to a type of the pixel. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300102 | PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION APPARATUS - In a photoelectric conversion apparatus including a plurality of focus detection pixels, each focus detection pixel including a photoelectric conversion element, the photoelectric conversion element having a light receiving surface, and a plurality of wiring layers to read a signal supplied by the photoelectric conversion element, the photoelectric conversion apparatus further includes a light shielding film covering a part of the photoelectric conversion element and having the lower surface positioned closer to a plane, which includes a light receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion element and which is parallel to the light receiving surface, than a lower surface of the lowermost one of the plurality of wiring layers. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300103 | Image Detecting Module and Lens Module - An image detecting module includes a socket, a circuit board, an image sensor, an elastic element, a filter and a holder. The socket comprises an inner circumference wall along a main axis for defining an inner space and a platform that extended from the inner circumference wall. Pluralities of mounting holes are provided on the holder and pluralities of protrusions are provided on the socket; thus the elastic element and the filter could be fixed between the platform and the holder by fitting the protrusions into the mounting holes. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300104 | IMAGE SENSOR AND IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS - An image sensor comprises a first imaging pixel and a second imaging pixel each of which detects an object image formed by a photographing optical system and generates a recording image. Each of the first imaging pixel and the second imaging pixel comprises a plurality of photoelectric conversion units segmented in a first direction, the plurality of photoelectric conversion units have an ability of photoelectrically converting images formed by split light beams out of a light beam from the photographing optical system and outputting focus detection signals to be used to detect a phase difference. A base-line length of photoelectric conversion units to be used to detect the phase difference included in the first imaging pixel is longer than that of photoelectric conversion units to be used to detect the phase difference included in the second imaging pixel. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300105 | EXPOSING PIXEL GROUPS IN PRODUCING DIGITAL IMAGES - An imaging system and method for producing a digital image from pixel signals captured by a pixel array is disclosed. First pixel signals, generated during a first exposure period, are read out from a first group of pixels of the pixel array. The first group of pixels is reset after reading out the first pixel signals. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300106 | SOLID-STATE IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PICKUP SYSTEM USING SOLID-STATE IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - A solid-state image pickup apparatus includes a photoelectric conversion unit, a charge storage unit, and a floating diffusion unit, all disposed on a semiconductor substrate. The solid-state image pickup apparatus further includes a first gate electrode disposed on the semiconductor substrate and extending between the photoelectric conversion unit and charge storage unit, and a second gate electrode disposed on the semiconductor substrate and extending between the charge storage unit and the floating diffusion unit. The solid-state image pickup apparatus further includes a light shielding member including a first part and a second part, wherein the first part is disposed over the charge storage unit and at least over the first gate electrode or the second gate electrode, and the second part is disposed between the first gate electrode and the second gate electrode such that the second part extends from the first part toward a surface of the semiconductor substrate. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300107 | MULTI-PURPOSE ARCHITECTURE FOR CCD IMAGE SENSORS - A charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor includes multiple vertical charge-coupled device (VCCD) shift registers and independently-controllable gate electrodes disposed over the VCCD shift registers and arranged into physically separate and distinct sections that are non-continuous across the plurality of VCCD shift registers. The CCD image sensor can be configured to operate in two or more operating modes, including a full resolution charge multiplication mode. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300108 | MULTI-PURPOSE ARCHITECTURE FOR CCD IMAGE SENSORS - A charge-coupled device (CCD) image sensor includes multiple vertical charge-coupled device (VCCD) shift registers and independently-controllable gate electrodes disposed over the VCCD shift registers and arranged into physically separate and distinct sections that are non-continuous across the plurality of VCCD shift registers. The CCD image sensor can be configured to operate in two or more operating modes, including a full resolution charge multiplication mode. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300109 | IMAGING DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device of the present invention comprises an imaging section, including an image sensor for imaging a subject, for generating image data based on output signals of the image sensor; a control section for casing repeated operation of the imaging section in accordance with a single release operation; an adding processing section for sequentially adding image data repeatedly output from the imaging section and generating added mage data; an image display section for displaying the added image data; and a setting section for setting a repeat period for the imaging section and instructing to the control section. Also, an imaging device of the present invention, comprises an imaging section for repeatedly forming an image of a subject at a set period, while performing a bulb exposure operation, and outputting image data; an adding processing section for performing adding processing of the image data and previously output image data; an added image storage section for respectively independently storing a plurality of added images that have been added by the adding processing section, and a display section for displaying, in a list, the plurality of added images that have been stored in the added image storage section after completion of the bulb exposure operation. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300110 | IMAGING DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD FOR IMAGING DEVICE - An imaging device comprises an imaging section for outputting image data every set time, in association with bulb exposure commencement; an adding processing section for generating an added image by adding images that were output after commencement of the bulb exposure; an image display section for displaying each generated added image; and a display illumination section for illuminating a display screen of the image display section, and if an update period for image display on the image display section is a predetermined time or longer, illuminates the display screen of the image display section for a time that is shorter than the update period, in response to update of image display on the image display section, while if the update period is less than the predetermined time, continuously carries out illumination. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300111 | VOICE COIL MOTOR AND CAMERA MODULE HAVING SAME - A voice coil motor includes an outer shell, a moveable frame, a coil of wire, a number of magnetic members and a first elastic member. The outer shell includes a number of sidewalls connected to each other end-to-end. The moveable frame is moveably received in the outer shell. The coil of wire is wrapped around the moveable frame and is received in the outer shell. Each of the magnetic members is attached to a corner formed by two inner surfaces of two adjacent sidewalls. The magnetic members and the coil of wire are configured for cooperating to drive the movable frame to move in the outer shell. The first elastic member is attached to the moveable frame and received in the outer shell. The first elastic member is configured for providing an elastic restoring force. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300112 | IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS HAVING ABERRATION CORRECTING FUNCTION AND ABERRATION CORRECTING METHOD FOR IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS - An image pickup apparatus includes a lens apparatus attached to a camera apparatus detachably, and a camera apparatus separating a beam into color beams of three colors and displays an image synthesizing first, second and third image signals, wherein the lens apparatus includes a memory unit storing correcting data in an image height direction of the second and third image signals on the first image signal for correcting aberration of the image taking optical system, and a lens controlling unit extracting the correcting data of the image taking optical system state, wherein the camera apparatus includes a camera controller moving the second and third image signals in the image height direction, and displaying an image obtained by superimposing the color image signals, wherein the image pickup apparatus includes a controller, and wherein the lens controlling unit adjusts the correcting data, and the memory unit stores the adjusted correcting data. | 2012-11-29 |
20120300113 | ZOOM LENS AND IMAGE PICKUP APPARATUS EQUIPPED WITH ZOOM LENS - A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit of a negative refractive power, a second lens unit of a positive refractive power, and a third lens unit of a positive refractive power, each lens unit being moved during zooming, wherein the second lens unit includes two positive lenses, a negative lens, a positive lens in order from the object side to the image side, and an average refractive index Nd | 2012-11-29 |