Eastman-kodak Company

Kyoichi Omata

Toshiki Miyano

Manabu Kiri

Craig M Smith

Masaki Izumi

Clay A Dunsmore

Thomas A Napoli

Eiichi Shimizu

Nobuhiko Matsui

Carolyn A Bussi

An electronic camera includes a sensor for capturing an image, an electronic image display for displaying the captured image, and a user interface for selectively enabling a quick view feature in which the image display is automatically turned on for a set period of time after an image is captured, and then automatically turned off, in order to quickly review the captured image. The camera further includes a processor for performing processing on the captured image and generating a processed image file therefrom, and a memory for storing the processed image file. When an erase command is provided to the processor, the processing of the image file is terminated and the partially completed image file is deleted from the second memory.

Electronic camera with quick view and quick erase features

A noise elimination apparatus and method enable effective elimination of noise on each line in an image captured by a CCD provided with a Bayer-type color filter. A graduation device obtains the quantity of graduation for a target picture element by obtaining the difference between the mean value of the value of the target pixel and the value of a pixel around the target pixel and the value of the target pixel. A high frequency component detector detects the high frequency component of the target pixel using Laplacian filter based upon the target pixel and each of the pixels immediately adjacent to said target pixel are input. A high frequency component can be detected without being influenced by noise on each line by using a filter based upon each of the pixels immediately adjacent to said target pixel. Noise on each line can be effectively eliminated by adding the optimum quantity of graduation based upon the absolute value of the high frequency component detected by the high frequency component detector to the value of the target pixel.

Apparatus and method for eliminating imaging sensor line noise

A focusing device includes a movable focusing lens adapted to be moved to different positions, a conversion element for converting light incident on and transmitted through the focusing lens into a signal, and a lens driving mechanism for moving the focusing lens. The focusing device further includes a focus evaluation value calculation unit for calculating a focus evaluation value for each position of the focusing lens based on the signal from the conversion element, and a lens position specifying unit for specifying a position of the focusing lens causing a maximum focus evaluation value as an in-focus lens position. The lens driving mechanism moves the focusing lens in response to the in-focus lens position specified by the lens position specifying unit. The focus evaluation value calculation unit, in response to a plurality of observation areas, calculates a focus evaluation value through addition of partial focus evaluation values obtained for the respective observation areas, and weights the partial focus evaluation value for at least one of the plurality of observation areas on the basis of said signal to position the focusing lens.

Focusing device

The focusing lens serves to focus an image on a CCD. The image is displayed in a view finder through a different optical axis. A focus evaluation area determining circuit establishes a plurality of preset focus evaluation areas for the respective object distances on the basis of the axis offset between the optical axes of the focusing lens and the view finder. The corresponding preset object distance is compared with the object distance measured for the focus evaluation area in an object detection circuit. The result of the comparison allows the detection of an object specified in the view finder.

Object detection mechanism for imaging devices with automatic focusing

A method obtains an electrical signal from the photoelectric detector, which signal corresponds to the illumination of the image formed by the focusing lens. The image screen is divided into a plurality of subdivision areas. The method then calculates for the respective subdivision areas a focus evaluation value representative of a high frequency component contained in the electrical signal and a brightness value representative of a brightness of the image. The subdivision areas are sorted in accordance with a object distance classification. The method weights with different weights the subdivision areas on the basis of the subdivision area to which a main object belongs. Variations in the focus evaluation and brightness values are calculated by comparing the values after a focus and the values for an in-focus image. Compositional changes are detected based on the weights and the variation in the focus evaluation and brightness values.

Detecting compositional change in image

An image is divided into a plurality of subdivision areas. A focus evaluation value representative of the high frequency component contained in the electrical signal from the CCD is calculated for each of the subdivision areas. The object distance is calculated for the respective subdivision areas based on the focus evaluation value. A target object is extracted based on the calculated object distance. The target object is focused. During the focusing operation, when a new object having an object distance smaller than that of the target object is detected in any of remote subdivision areas which have an object distance larger than that of the target object, the target object is re-selected.

Method of automatic object detection in image

An automatic focusing apparatus moves a focusing lens once over a full movement range from the nearest point or from the infinite point so as to cause a photoelectric detector to output an electrical signal at predetermined stepwise lens positions. A lens position range can be specified based on the output electrical signal. The lens position range contains a lens position allowing the maximum focus evaluation value. A lens position for the maximum evaluation value is searched within the lens position range. A reliable and fast focusing operation can be obtained for finding out the maximum focus evaluation value without the effect of a local extremum in the focus evaluation value.

Automatic focusing apparatus and method

An image capture apparatus optically scans a document as the document is being transported, and includes transporting means, a read section including first and second plates, detecting means, and actuator means. The transporting means moves documents along a predetermined path. The first and second plates face each other and guide a document received from the transporting means. At least one of the first and second plates defines an aperture therein through which light from a light source is directed onto a prescribed region of the document in motion therebetween. The detecting means detects the thickness of the document moving along the predetermined path, and generates an output drive control signal representative of the thickness of the document. The actuator means is responsive to the drive control signals from the drive control means for moving at least one of the aperture plates in a direction that is perpendicular to a document scanning surface. The movement of the actuator means provides a minimum space between the document and the first and second plates that still allows passage of the document therebetween without the document oscillating from side to side or becoming wrinkled. The permits documents to be scanned and produce images thereof without distortion or blurring.

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Tanashi, Japan

Kyoichi Omata