Nikon Corporation

Nikon Research Corporation of America

Nikon Corporation of America

Mark K Takita

Li Hong

W Thomas Novak

Radka Tezaur

Gazi Ali

Andrew J Hazelton

Michael R Sogard

Maki Suzuki

A detector () that detects light () includes a sensor array () having a plurality of pixels (). Each pixel () can include a first pixel layer (A), and a second pixel layer (B) stacked on top of the first pixel layer (A). The first pixel layer (A) can include a first, fast conductor electrode (A) and a plurality of first quantum dots (A) that absorb light () in a first range of wavelengths. The second pixel layer (B) can include a second, fast conductor electrode (B) and a plurality of second quantum dots (B) that absorb light () in a second range of wavelengths. The second range of wavelengths is higher energy than the first range of wavelengths.

Multi-wavelength detector

A group point spread function () for a blurry image () can be determined by dividing the blurry image () into a plurality of image regions (), estimating a region point spread function () for at least two of the image regions (); and utilizing at least two of the region point spread functions () to determine the group point spread function (). The group point spread function () can be determined by the decomposition of the estimated region point spread functions () into some basis function, and subsequently determining a representative coefficient from the basis functions of the region point spread functions () to generate the group point spread function ().

Globally dominant point spread function estimation

A method for classifying a test image () includes the steps of building a classifier (), and classifying the test image () with the classifier (). After the test image () is classified, the test image () can be subsequently processed (e.g. deblurred) with improved accuracy. The classifier () can classify and distinguish between PSF features associated with motion blurred images, and PSF features associate with defocus blurred images. The classifier () can be built using a plurality of training images (), and extracting one or more training features from each the training images (). The PSF features can include image moments of the point spread function, and/or geometric features of the point spread function.

Point spread function classification using structural properties

An image apparatus () includes an apparatus frame (), a capturing system (), a control feature, an inertial sensor assembly (), and a control system (). The control feature influences the image () captured by the capturing system (). The inertial sensor assembly senses motion of the image apparatus. The control system adjusts the control feature based on the sensed motion from the sensor assembly. Thus, the control feature can be easily controlled by the controlled movement of the image apparatus. For example, the inertial sensor assembly can include one or more angular inertial sensors; one or more gyroscopes; and/or one or more accelerometers.

Image apparatus with motion control

A system for providing an adjusted image of a scene includes an optical assembly, a capturing system coupled to the optical assembly, and a control system. The optical assembly is adjustable to alternatively be focused on a first focal area and a second focal area that is different than the first focal area. The capturing system captures a first frame of the scene when the optical assembly is focused at the first focal area, and a second frame of the scene when the optical assembly is focused at the second focal area. The first frame includes a plurality of first pixels and the second frame includes a plurality of second pixels. The control system analyzes the first frame and the second frame and utilizes graph cuts techniques to assign a depth label to at least a portion of the first frame.

Image segmentation from focus varied images using graph cuts

A recorder () for recording a scene () includes an apparatus frame (), an optical assembly (), an image system (), a position assembly (), an audio system (), and a compensation system (). The image system () captures an image () of the scene (). The position assembly () can be an autofocusing assembly () that focuses the optical assembly () on a subject () of the scene (). The position assembly () generates position information relating to the position of the subject () relative to the recorder (). The audio system () captures a captured sound from the scene (). The compensation system () evaluates the position information and the captured sound from the scene () and provides an adjusted sound track in view of the position information.

Recorder that creates stereophonic sound

An image capturing apparatus () for capturing an image () of a scene () includes an apparatus frame (), a capturing system (), and an illumination system (). The capturing system () captures the image (). The illumination system () can alternatively generate a first generated light beam (A) having a first color composition (A) and a second generated light beam (B) having a second color composition (B) that is different than the first color composition (A). The scene () can have a first lighting condition (A) or a second lighting condition (B) that is different than the first lighting condition (A). Further, the illumination system () generates the first generated light beam (A) when the scene () has the first lighting condition (A) and the illumination system () generates the second generated light beam (B) when the scene () has the second lighting condition (B). With this design, the color composition of the generated light beam (A) (B) can be tailored to suit the actual lighting condition (A) (B) of the scene ().

Image capturing apparatus with an adjustable illumination system

An image apparatus () for providing an adjusted image () of a scene () includes a capturing system () and a control system (). The capturing system () captures an underexposed first frame () that is defined by a plurality of pixels (A), including a first pixel and a second pixel. The first frame () includes at least one of a first texture region (S) and a second texture region (T). The control system () can analyze information from the pixels (A) and determine if the first pixel has captured a portion of the first texture region (S) or the second texture region (T). Further, the control system () can analyze information from the pixels (A) and to determine if the second pixel has captured a portion of the first texture region (S) or the second texture region (T). With this design, the control system () can reduce the noise in the first frame () to provide a well exposed adjusted image ().

Image apparatus with image noise compensation

An image apparatus () for providing an adjusted image () of a scene () that includes an photo-emissive object () includes an apparatus frame (), a capturing system (), and a control system (). The capturing system () captures a raw captured image () of the scene (). The control system () identifies a captured photo-emissive object () in the raw captured image (). Further, the control system () can perform a different level of image compensation on the captured photo-emissive object () than on other portions of the captured image (). Stated in another fashion, the control system () can perform a first level of white balance correction on at a first region (A) of the captured image () and can perform a second level of white balance correction on a second region (B) of the captured image (). With this design, the control system () can provide the adjusted image () having a more uniform and acceptable white balance correction.

Image apparatus with selective image compensation

An image capturing apparatus () for capturing an image () of a scene () that is within a fluid () includes an apparatus frame (), a capturing system (), and a control system (). The capturing system () captures the image (). The control system () adjusts a color content of the captured image () based on at least one of a separation distance (SDist) between the image capturing apparatus () and a subject () of the scene (); an apparatus depth (AD) of the image capturing apparatus () below a fluid surface (); a subject depth (SDep) of the subject () below the fluid surface (); or a fluid type of the fluid (). Additionally, the image capturing apparatus () can include a depth sensor () that provides an apparatus depth signal that corresponds to the apparatus depth (AD) of the image capturing apparatus (). Moreover, the image capturing apparatus () can include an illumination system () that generates a generated light beam () that can adjusted to compensate for the light that is attenuated by the fluid ().

Image capturing apparatus with underwater image compensation and underwater flash compensation

A camera () for providing an adjusted image () of a scene () includes an apparatus frame (), an optical assembly (), a capturing system (), and a control system (). The optical assembly () is adjustable to alternatively be focused on a first focal area (A) and a second focal area (B) that is different than the first focal area (A). The capturing system () captures a first captured image (A) when the optical assembly () is focused at the first focal area (A) and captures a second captured image (B) when the optical assembly () is focused at the second focal area (B). The control system () provides the adjusted image () of the scene () based upon the first captured image (A) and the second captured image (B). Additionally, the control system () can perform object depth extraction of one or more objects () () () in the scene (). Alternatively, the multiple captured images (A) (B) can be adjusted by a separate adjustment system ().

Depth layer extraction and image synthesis from focus varied multiple images

An image capturing apparatus () for providing an image () of a scene () that is within a fluid () includes an apparatus frame (), a capturing system (), and a control system (). The capturing system () captures a captured image (A). The control system () adjusts a color content of the captured image (A) based on a clarity of the fluid (). The image capturing apparatus () can include a clarity sensor () that provides a clarity signal that corresponds to the clarity of the fluid () near the image capturing apparatus (). Moreover, the image capturing apparatus () can include an illumination system () that generates a generated light beam () that can be adjusted to compensate for the light that is attenuated by the fluid ().

Image capturing apparatus with clarity sensor, underwater image compensation and underwater flash compensation

An image capturing apparatus () for providing an adjusted image () of a scene () includes an apparatus frame (), a flash system (), a capturing system (), and a control system (). The flash system () generates a flash of light () to illuminate the scene (). The capturing system () captures an original image () when the scene () is illuminated and a non-flash image () when the scene () is not illuminated. The original image () has an original color composition (A) and the non-flash image () has a non-flash color composition (A) that is different than the original color composition (A). The control system () evaluates the non-flash image () and the original image (). In one embodiment, the control system () provides the adjusted image () that is based on the non-flash image () and the original image (). A selected color composition () can be input into the control system () to adjust the color composition of the adjusted image ().

Image capturing apparatus with color compensation

A heating assembly () for heating a cathode () of an electron gun () of an exposure apparatus () includes a radiation source () and a beam shaper (). The radiation source () generates a source beam (). The beam shaper () receives the source beam () and selectively shapes the source beam () into a shaped beam () that is directed to the cathode (). In certain embodiments, the beam shaper () can readily change the shape and intensity profile of the shaped beam () to achieve a desired electron beam () from the electron gun (). In one embodiment, the radiation source () generates a pulsed source beam ().

Radiantly heated cathode for an electron gun and heating assembly

An apparatus () for positioning a device () includes a stage assembly () and a first transfer device (A). The stage assembly () positions the device () and includes a device stage () that retains the device (). The stage assembly () positions the device () in a work area () and a transfer area (). The transfer device (A) transfers a first utility to or from the device stage () in a non-contact fashion when the device stage () is in the transfer area () and does not transfer the first utility to or from the device stage () when the device stage () is in the work area (). The first utility can be electrical power and/or electrical signals. Additionally, the apparatus () can include a loader () that loads the device () onto the device stage () when the device stage () is in the transfer area ().

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Palo Alto, CA, United States of America

Mark K Takita