Eastman-kodak Company

Apple Inc.

Omnivision Technologies, Inc.

Intellectual Ventures Fund 83 LLC

Monument Peak Ventures, LLC

Russell J Palum

Bruce Harold Pillman

John N Border

John E Greivenkamp, Jr

John F Hamilton, Jr

James E Adams, Jr

Martin C Kaplan

Lynn Schilling-Benz

Keith A Jacoby

Kenneth Alan Parulski

David D Kessler

Andrew Frederick Kurtz

Andrew Charles Gallagher

Aaron Thomas Deever

John D Griffith

Scott C Cahall

Wilbert F Janson, Jr

Amy D Enge

Thomas F Powers

Heidi Leising Hall

Efrain Orlando Morales

Dan Harel

David W Gruszczynski

Robert B Bilhorn

H Galen Parker

Alan C G Nutt

Andrew D Thompson

Lynn V Larsen

Kevin G Sullivan

Richard A Bierma

Sarah R Welch

Bruce H Pillman

A method of processing a digital image having a predetermined color pattern, includes converting the predetermined color pattern of the digital image into a converted digital image having a different desired color pattern; and using algorithms adapted for use with the desired color pattern for processing the converted digital image.

Pattern conversion for interpolation

Imaging systems and methods for calibrating imaging systems are provided. The imaging system has a body, a scene image capture system that captures images using a taking lens system that can be set to a plurality of different focus distances, and a rangefinder that is capable of determining a distance between the imaging system and at least one portion of a field of view of the talking lens system. The method comprises: automatically capturing a first calibration image of a first field of view through the taking lens system with the taking lens system set to a first focus distance setting; identifying a portion of the first calibration image having a predetermined degree of focus; using the rangefinder to determine a first calibration distance from the imaging device to the identified portion. A focus correlation is determined based upon the first calibration distance and the first focus distance setting.

Automatic focus system calibration for image capture systems

A sensor module for an image capture device including an image sensor and a filter system, the image capture device having a high resolution mode of operation and one or more lower resolution modes of operation; the filter system includes an adjustable spatial filter associated with the optical path of the image capture device having an adjustable optical structure which in response to a first signal causes the adjustable spatial filter to be effective in a high resolution mode of operation and in response to a second signal causes the adjustable spatial filter to be effective in a lower resolution mode of operation.

Anti-aliasing spatial filter system

A method of modifying a CFA image or full-color image having a plurality of color channels and a panchromatic channel, includes capturing the panchromatic channel at a different exposure time than at least one of the color image channels with the CFA sensor within one image; producing a panchromatic edge map and a color edge map from the CFA image; using the panchromatic edge map and the color edge map to provide motion estimates; and using the motion estimates to modify at least one of the channels of the CFA image or full-color image.

Modifying color and panchromatic channel CFA image

An autofocus system is provided for image capture that includes a liquid crystal focus lens which includes a dual range liquid crystal lens with a thinner liquid crystal lens () and a thicker liquid crystal lens () separated by a single shared electrode (). Wherein the thinner liquid crystal lens () has a smaller optical power and a faster response time and the thicker liquid crystal lens () has a larger optical power and a slower response time. The autofocus system has a focusing effect that is produced by the combined optical power of the thinner liquid crystal lens and the thicker liquid crystal lens. A method for focusing an image capture device and an image capture device are also described.

Dual range focus element

A focus detection device includes an image sensor and a plurality of lenslets. Each of the plurality of lenslets has a distinct conjugate length and is associated with a distinct portion of the image sensor.

Lens array assisted focus detection

An electronic camera for producing an output image of a scene from a captured image signal includes a first imaging stage comprising a first image sensor for generating a first sensor output and a first lens for forming a first image of the scene on the first image sensor, and a second imaging stage comprising a second image sensor for generating a second sensor output and a second lens for forming a second image of the scene on the second image sensor, where the lenses have different focal lengths. A processing stage uses the sensor output from one of the imaging stages as the captured image signal and uses the images from both imaging stages to generate a range map identifying distances to the different portions of the scene.

Camera using multiple lenses and image sensors in a rangefinder configuration to provide a range map

An electronic camera includes: (a) a first imaging stage comprising a first image sensor; a first lens for forming a first image on the first image sensor; and a first lens focus adjuster for adjusting focus of the first lens responsive to a first focus detection signal; and (b) a second imaging stage comprising a second image sensor; a second lens for forming a second image on the second image sensor; and a second lens focus adjuster for adjusting focus of the second lens responsive to a second focus detection signal. A processing stage (a) selects the sensor output from the first imaging stage and uses the sensor output from the second imaging stage to generate the first focus detection signal, (b) selects the sensor output from the second imaging stage and uses the sensor output from the first imaging stage to generate the second focus detection signal.

Camera using multiple lenses and image sensors to provide improved focusing capability

A method for correcting for hue artifacts captured by an imager associated with a color filter array including first, second and third color pixels and optical system spaced from the imager, wherein a first group of second pixels are primarily influenced by adjacent first pixels and a second group of second pixels are primarily influenced by adjacent third pixels, includes separately blurring or smoothing the first and third pixels and the first and second group of second pixels; based on the difference between adjacent pixels of the first and second group of second pixels, correcting for hue in the second group of second pixels; and correcting for adjacent third pixels based on the correction for adjacent second group second pixels.

Hue correction for electronic imagers

Imaging systems and methods for calibrating imaging systems are provided. The imaging system has a body, a scene image capture system that captures images using a taking lens system that can be set to a plurality of different focus distances, and a rangefinder that is capable of determining a distance between the imaging system and at least one portion of a field of view of the taking lens system. The method comprises: automatically capturing a first calibration image of a first field of view through the taking lens system with the taking lens system set to a first focus distance setting; identifying a portion of the first calibration image having a predetermined degree of focus; using the rangefinder to determine a first calibration distance from the imaging device to the identified portion. A focus correlation is determined based upon the first calibration distance and the first focus distance setting.

In a parallax correction method and system, corresponding regions of first and second digital images of the same subject are upsampled to provide a pair of upsampled regions. The corresponding regions have parallax. The upsampled regions are statistically compared at a plurality of relative subpixel offsets to provide a corresponding plurality of similarity values. The similarity values define a peak similarity value and a corresponding peak subpixel offset among the plurality of relative subpixel offsets. The second digital image is shifted relative to the first digital image by the peak subpixel offset.

Alignment of lens array images using autocorrelation

A method for correcting colored fringe artifacts in a region of an image around saturated pixels captured by an electronic imager associated with a color filter array, includes providing a threshold map of the image based on thresholding one or more color channels with a common or separate threshold value for each color channel; providing a first edge map by dilating the threshold map as a function of the color fringe width, producing a first dilated threshold map and subtracting the threshold map from the first dilated threshold map; and color-desaturating image pixels that correspond to the first edge map.

Color fringe desaturation for electronic imagers

A method for operating an autofocus system for focusing an image on an electronic imager includes providing an adjustable lens system defining an optical path for scene light and having at least one movable lens to focus an image of the scene onto the electronic imager; and causing a first portion of the scene light to be obscured so that the electronic imager captures a first autofocus image and causing a second different portion of the scene light to be obscured so that the electronic imager captures a second autofocus image wherein portions of the first and second autofocus images are offset. The method further includes moving the movable lens to a position so that an image to be captured will be in focus.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, NY, United States of America

Russell J Palum