Sony Corporation

Sony Electronics Inc

Soroj Triteyaprasert

Hidenori Kushida

Earl Quong Wong

Pingshan Li

Yoshihiro Murakami

Makibi Nakamura

Mamoru Sugiura

Eric D Edwards

Takashi Kawai

Fumihiro Kumagai

Tatsuya Ibuka

Maikibi Nakamura

A super-resolution image is generated from a sequence of low resolution images. In one embodiment, the image shift information is measured for each of the low resolution images using an image stabilization component of an imaging device. The shift information is used to generate the super-resolution image. In another embodiment, the blurs are calculated for each of the low resolution images and are used to generate the super-resolution image.

Method and apparatus for super-resolution imaging using digital imaging devices

An imaging system generates a picture depth map from a pair of reduced resolution images. The system captures two full resolution images, receives image reduction image information and creates two reduced resolution images. The system computes a blur difference between the two reduced resolution images at different image locations. The system calculates the depth map based on the blur difference between the two reduced resolution images at different image locations.

Reduced hardware implementation for a two-picture depth map algorithm

A two picture matching curve information is able to be used to determine precise object distance or relative object distance in a scene. Acquiring two images with different blur information in addition to the curve information enables a device to determine distance information of objects in a scene. The distance information is able to be used in image processing including generating a depth map which is then able to be used in many imaging applications.

Algorithms for estimating precise and relative object distances in a scene

Apparatus and method for electronically estimating focusing distance between a camera (still and/or video camera) and a subject. Images at different focal positions of a calibration target are collected with distances between subject positions. In one aspect, histogram matching is performed to reduce noise error. A focus matching model is then generated in response to detected blur differences between successive images of the calibration target. The focus matching model is preferably converted to a polynomial equation of a desired order to smooth out image collection noise. The focus matching model is stored for access during operation. In use, the distance to subject is estimated in response to capturing images, detecting blur differences between the images and entering the blur difference information into the matching model.

Two-dimensional polynomial model for depth estimation based on two-picture matching

A camera auto-focuses using computed blur differences between images of a three-dimensional scene. The camera computes the blur difference between two images of the scene acquired at two different picture numbers. The camera uses the computed blur difference to predict a third picture number, where the camera uses the third picture number to auto-focus a camera lens on the scene.

Fast camera auto-focus

A data processing device includes: a face-detecting unit to detect a face region from an input image input from an imaging unit which images a subject including a face; a setting unit to calculate subject distance based on the face size of the face detected by the face-detecting unit, and set limits as a focus lens operation range before and after a focus lens position with the calculated subject distance as focal distance; a detecting unit to move a focus lens within the limits set by the setting unit, and detect a focal point where a detection value corresponding to the contrast intensity obtained from a face frame including the face detected by the face-detecting unit is not smaller than a threshold; and a control unit to determine, in a case wherein a focal point has been detected within predetermined set time, the focal point thereof as a focus position.

Face recognition auto focus apparatus for a moving image

A method of and an apparatus for determining a depth map utilizing a movable lens and an image sensor are described herein. The depth information is acquired by moving the lens a short distance and acquiring multiple images with different blur quantities. An improved method of simulating gaussian blur and an approximation equation that relates a known gaussian blur quantity to a known pillbox quantity are used in conjunction with a non-linear blur difference equation. The blur quantity difference is able to be calculated and then used to determine the depth map. Many applications are possible using the method and system described herein, such as autofocusing, surveillance, robot/computer vision, autonomous vehicle navigation, multi-dimensional imaging and data compression.

Method of and apparatus for generating a depth map utilized in autofocusing

When focus is to be achieved in manual focus, accurate and quick focus is attained when switched from a telemacro mode to a normal mode. An image pickup apparatus includes: a shooting mode determining module; a zoom lens drive module; a focus lens drive module; a storing module; and a control module wherein a combination point of a position of a focus lens with a position of a zoom lens is moved along a path of a combination point of a position of the focus lens with a position of the zoom lens that is focused at the shooting distance stored by the storing module in response to manipulation to change a focal length by a user, when it is determined that the shooting mode determining module has switched from the telemacro mode to the normal mode.

Image pickup apparatus and method and program

An image pickup device having an auto-focus feature of adjusting a focus lens to focus on a picked-up image of an object, a zoom feature of changing a focus distance, and a telemacro-mode shooting feature of obtaining generally-difficult close-range focus by fixing the focus distance to a telescope end. The image pickup device switches between an auto-focus mode and a manual mode. Likewise the device switches between a telemacro mode and a normal mode. The zoom lens is driven to adjust the focus distance and the focus lens is driven to adjust the shooting distance. A controller drives the zoom lens drive unit to move the zoom lens to a telescope end when the normal mode is switched to the telemacro mode; and drives the focus lens drive unit to move the focus lens to an object-closest end when in the telemacro mode.

Image pickup device and method, and program

An image capturing apparatus includes: a focal position adjusting device operable to adjust a focal position of an optical system to a predetermined position in a first image capture period and change the focal position of the optical system in a second image capture period; a display operable to display an image captured in the first image capture period; a distribution generator operable to generate a distribution of sharpness corresponding to focal positions based on an image captured in the second image capture period; and a focused position detector operable to detect the focal position of the optical system, at which an image of a subject is in focus, based on the generated distribution of sharpness.

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Bangkok, Thailand

Soroj Triteyaprasert