6307results about "Printers" patented technology

An imaging system for a vehicle includes a camera module positionable at the vehicle and a control. The camera module includes a plastic housing that houses an image sensor, which is operable to capture images of a scene occurring exteriorly of the vehicle. The control is operable to process images captured by the image sensor. The portions of the housing may be laser welded or sonic welded together to substantially seal the image sensor and associated components within the plastic housing. The housing may include a ventilation portion that is at least partially permeable to water vapor to allow water vapor to pass therethrough while substantially precluding passage of water droplets and / or other contaminants. The housing may be movable at the vehicle between a stored position and an operational position, where the image sensor may be directed toward the exterior scene.

An imaging system for a vehicle includes a camera module positionable at the vehicle and a control. The camera module includes a plastic housing that houses an image sensor, which is operable to capture images of a scene occurring exteriorly of the vehicle. The control is operable to process images captured by the image sensor. The portions of the housing may be laser welded or sonic welded together to substantially seal the image sensor and associated components within the plastic housing. The housing may include a ventilation portion that is at least partially permeable to water vapor to allow water vapor to pass therethrough while substantially precluding passage of water droplets and / or other contaminants. The housing may be movable at the vehicle between a stored position and an operational position, where the image sensor may be directed toward the exterior scene.

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.

A “Panoramic Viewfinder” provides an intuitive interactive viewfinder display which operates on a digital camera display screen. This interactive viewfinder provides real-time assistance in capturing images for constructing panoramic image mosaics. The Panoramic Viewfinder “brushes” a panorama from images captured in any order, while providing visual feedback to the user for ensuring that desired scene elements will appear in the final panorama. This visual feedback presents real-time stitched previews of the panorama while capturing images. In one embodiment, the viewfinder display of the Panoramic Viewfinder includes a “mosaic preview” which presents a stitched mosaic preview of the captured images; a live display window representing a “current content” of the camera viewfinder, which is mapped to a matching location within the mosaic preview; and an optional panoramic “cropping frame” overlaid onto the mosaic preview which illustrates a section of the mosaic which will survive a rectangular cropping of the mosaic.

A computer-implemented system and method for automatically capturing a set of images with a camera-enabled mobile device and for uploading the set of images to a network server is disclosed. The present invention further includes creating an animation of two or more images of the set of images automatically captured by the camera-enabled mobile device.

A “Panoramic Viewfinder” provides an intuitive interactive viewfinder display which operates on a digital camera display screen. This interactive viewfinder provides real-time assistance in capturing images for constructing panoramic image mosaics. The Panoramic Viewfinder “brushes” a panorama from images captured in any order, while providing visual feedback to the user for ensuring that desired scene elements will appear in the final panorama. This visual feedback presents real-time stitched previews of the panorama while capturing images. In one embodiment, the viewfinder display of the Panoramic Viewfinder includes a “mosaic preview” which presents a stitched mosaic preview of the captured images; a live display window representing a “current content” of the camera viewfinder, which is mapped to a matching location within the mosaic preview; and an optional panoramic “cropping frame” overlaid onto the mosaic preview which illustrates a section of the mosaic which will survive a rectangular cropping of the mosaic.

The method and device help avoid traffic accidents and violations through significant enhancing safety and convenience of driving by providing a far better rear and side observation including in darkness, and reliably prevent, if an accident / violation occurs, from misjudging, owing to an unbeatable legal evidence through recording the objective pattern of the accident / violation . It is accomplished by positioning into a vehicle an onboard digital camera having at least one lens with a photo-receiver, shooting permanently the surroundings at an predetermined frequency, showing images captured on at least one onboard screen, and making the running sequence of images through digital memory so that a latest image captured is recorded and stored in digital memory expelling an oldest one and the overall amount of the images and, hence, duration of time recorded does not change. When responding to an accident / violation, at the instant of occurrence plus a predetermined delay, shooting stops (either automatically by an impact of a collision, or manually), and digital memory retains the congealed sequence of images just before, during, and shortly after the event.

A light source arrangement for a battery-powered light source unit of an endoscope comprises a cylindrical housing, a base disposed at one end of the housing, a plurality of LEDs connected to a flexible circuit board supported on the base and a focusing lens. A light guide for directing light emanating from the LEDs. The light guide comprises a reflective surface formed on an inner wall of the housing, a reflector having a concave reflective surface which is disposed at one end of the housing so as to surround the LEDs or a micro-lens array disposed in front of the LEDs with each micro lens aligned with the LED.

A computer-implemented system and method for notifying users on the occurrence of an event is disclosed. An embodiment further includes notifying selected users upon the occurrence of particular events in sessions using a variety of notification methods.

Some embodiments include an image sensor and a zoom lens assembly including a plurality of movable lens elements arranged to be moved independent of one another. In some embodiments, the plurality of movable lens elements share an optical axis. Some embodiments include a lens and mirror assembly for admitting light to the miniature camera. The lens and mirror assembly includes a folded optics arrangement such that light enters the lens and mirror assembly through a first lens with an optical axis of the first lens orthogonal to the plurality of moveable lens elements. The lens and mirror assembly includes a mirror for folding the path of light from the optical axis of the first lens to the optical axis of the plurality of movable lens elements, and the lens and mirror assembly further includes an actuator for tilting the mirror.

A device operable with a camera is disclosed which includes a display screen, remote from the camera, and a processor for receiving an image signal of the field of view of the camera and for displaying an image of the field of view of the camera on the display screen. The device communicates with and controls certain camera functions to allow a photographic or video image to be framed and taken from a location remote from the camera.

A camera mount is configured to attach a camera to a sports board. A camera is secured to the mount, which is secured to a sports board. The mount can secure to the sports board via an attachment device such as an embedded plug. The mount can be placed at the front or rear of the sports board. Furthermore, the mount can be configured to face either forwards or backwards to capture images and / or video from different viewpoints while participating in the board activity. Moreover, the mount includes a pivoting joint to allow a user to rotate the camera either upward or downward and then secure the camera at a fixed angle to capture images and / or video from different angles.

A light source device includes a first light source, a second light source having an emission wavelength that is different from the first light source, and a phosphor that is disposed to be distant from the first light source and the second light source and absorbs light in a predetermined excitation wavelength band to emit fluorescence. The phosphor is disposed on an emission light optical path that is shared by the first light source and the second light source. The emission wavelength of the first light source is in the predetermined excitation wavelength band. The emission wavelength of the second light source is outside of the predetermined excitation wavelength band.

A surveillance window including at least one set of linear polarizer and quarter-waveplate and a reflecting surface. The surveillance window appears dull and opaque to a subject, while allowing a relatively high percentage of light to be transmitted to an observer. Various enhancements including an illuminator and detector, camouflaging, fire resistance, and improvements to the opacity are also described.

An outdoor, battery powered digital camera includes a passive infrared motion detector that allows the camera to be left unattended, as the detector automatically triggers the camera to take a picture upon sensing the presence of a moving animal. To prolong the life of the battery, the camera goes into a power-saving sleep mode between pictures. To enable the camera to instantly take a picture upon suddenly being awakened by the motion detector, the exposure setting of the camera is periodically checked, adjusted and stored so that the camera can use that fairly recent exposure setting, or one near it, to take an instant picture rather than wasting excessive time adjusting the exposure when the animal first appears. In some cases, the camera is used in conjunction with picture management software.

A method and a handheld device for stabilizing an image captured by an optical lens of a micro camera integral with the handheld device, which may, for example, be a mobile phone. Motion sensors sense motion of the device and are used to cause movement of the micro camera to substantially compensate for the sensed movement so as to maintain a steady, focussed image to be displayed by a display on the handheld device or elsewhere, such as a remote display. The micro camera is moved by one or more motion actuators which move the camera in a horizontal plane substantially perpendicular to an axis of the lens of the camera and / or move the camera so as to pivot the lens axis.

An electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing including a first surface facing a first direction, a second surface facing a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a side surface extending between and along a perimeter of the first surface and the second surface, a cover glass corresponding to at least the first surface, a display panel disposed under the cover glass and including an active area exposed through the cover glass, an inactive area surrounding the active area, and a printed circuit board connection portion connected to one end of the inactive area, wherein at least one opening or at least one cutaway portion is formed in the display panel, and a camera module disposed in a space formed by the at least one opening or the at least one cutaway portion and exposed through the cover glass.

An optical image stabilizer is used to compensate for an unwanted movement of an imaging system, such as a camera. The camera has a folded optics system using a triangular prism to fold the optical axis. Two actuators are used to rotate the prism around two axes in order to compensate for the yaw motion and pitch motion of the camera. The prism can be mounted on a gimballed system or joint and two actuators are operatively connected to the gimballed system in order to rotate the prism. Alternatively, the folded optics system uses a mirror to fold the optical axis, and two motors are used to rotate the prism.

An LED based light source unit for an endoscopic imaging system produces illumination for a camera through an endoscope. The light source unit includes an array of LEDs mounted to a thermally conductive substrate. The light source unit is integrated into the proximal end of an endoscope and coupled directly to the optical fibers running to the tip of the endoscope. A plurality of such light source units may be integrated into the housing of an endoscope. Light emitted from each light source unit is directed to a distinctive section of the endoscope's tip and a doctor may control light output of each individual light source unit during a surgery.

A portable medical diagnostic instrument includes an instrument head and a handle portion having an open-ended receiving cavity. A compact illuminator defined by a housing retaining a miniature light source and a power supply is releasably fitted within the open-ended receiving cavity of the handle portion wherein the light source of the illuminator is optically coupled with the instrument on assembly therewith. The handle portion can be integral with the instrument or releasably attached. The handle portion according to at least one version is made from a plastic or other suitable material, permitting disposability and / or single patient use. In one version, the handle portion is flexibly deformable, at least partially, to facilitate release of the portable illuminator.

In a digital camera using an image pickup device such as CCD, a high resolution and properly exposed image is obtained by composition a plurality of image data of the same object taken by a plurality of image pickup operation when a luminance of the object is lower. Each image data is taken under a condition that an integration time (a charge storage time) of the image pickup device is shorter than a limit integration time causing a camera shake. A position of a frame on the image pickup device from which electric charges of the pixels are read out as the image data is corrected so as to cancel the movement of the camera between the image pickup operations.

An optical anti-shake apparatus with a switchable light path is furnished in an optical system having two light paths of different directions. The optical system also comprises a lens module, an image capturing module, an anti-shake device and a switching device. The lens module corresponds to the image capturing module in position. The switching device comprises a fixing member, a rotary member and a driving module. The rotary member is pivotal about the fixing member. The driving module is located between the rotary member and the fixing member. The anti-shake device is located on the rotary member such that the driving module can drive and rotate the rotary member together with the anti-shake device in order to perform switching operations, and thereby the light of either of the two light paths can be directed toward the lens module so as to focus at the image capturing module.

An imaging apparatus includes a front lens group, which constitutes part of an imaging optical system, at a fixed position with respect to an optical axis direction, wherein the front lens group includes a front lens element and a reflector and the reflector reflects light rays exiting from the front lens element; a movable lens group provided closer to the image plane side than the front lens group and movable along the optical axis; a support member which supports the reflector; a movable frame which supports the front lens element and is supported by the support member to be movable along a plane orthogonal to the optical axis of the front lens element; and a driver which drives the movable frame in the plane, in accordance with vibrations applied to the photographing optical system, to reduce image shake.

A camera system is disclosed having the ability to overcome the effects of motion blur. The camera system includes an image sensor; a velocity detection means such as a MEMS accelerometer for determining any motion of the image relative to an external environment; a processor means interconnected to the image sensor and the velocity detection means and adapted to process the sensed image so as to deblurr the image and to output the deblurred image to a printer means.

A focus state display apparatus comprising focus area extraction means for extracting the image signals of a predetermined area from photographed image signals, edge enhancement processing means for enhancing the edge of the extracted image signals, time integration value calculation means for calculating an integration value of the edge-enhanced image signals in a certain period of time, focus state determination means for determining the focus state of the photographed image signals on the basis of the calculated integration value, and focus state display means for displaying the determined focus state. A user is capable of readily determining the focus state of a camera and confirming and adjusting the focus thereof with accuracy even in a display apparatus of a camera-equipped portable terminal device, where the size and resolution thereof are limited.

A stabilizer for an optical device that forms part of an electronic device may include a platform that has an optical device mounted thereon. A gimbal mount may retain the platform so that the platform is pivotal about a first axis and the gimbal mount being further pivotal about a second axis so that the optical device is pivotal about both the first and second axes. A first actuator may be controlled to manage movement of the optical device about the first axis and a second actuator may be controlled to manage movement of the optical device about the second axis.

A camera body to which one of a plurality of interchangeable lenses is selectively attached is provided with: a shake detector 31; a shake compensation mechanism 32; and a controller 30 that compensates for the camera shake by driving the shake compensation mechanism based on the output from the shake detector. The controller 30 has a detector and a selector. The detector communicates with the attached interchangeable lens 20 and determines whether the interchangeable lens 20 itself has a shake compensation mechanism or not. The selector selects, when the detector determines that the interchangeable lens 20 has a shake compensation mechanism, both or one of the shake compensation mechanism of the camera body 10 and the shake compensation mechanism of the interchangeable lens 20 according to a predetermined condition as a compensation mechanism to be used for camera shake compensation.

The invention comprises an entertaining digital chroma-key video photography event (“photo event”) wherein at least one photo subject is placed in front of a green screen background. The participant is photographed while moving or speaking in response to verbal prompts or from viewing action in a simultaneously shown interactive composite of the participant with the substitute and moving background. The participant may be provided with a still photo produced from the video or photographed simultaneously with the video. The participant may view or retrieve the full video or additional still photos by logging onto an Internet website, intranet or other computer network utilizing a handheld device such as a mobile phone or personal digital assistant (PDA). The invention also comprises use of multiple substitute images wherein there may be at least a substitute background and a substitute foreground. The image of the participant appears in the resulting composite as variably being in an intermediate position, the foreground or background. The invention also comprises a method of surveying individuals. The individuals responding to survey questions may be participants of the photo event or others, e.g., the parents of adolescent children. The individual are prompted to respond in exchange for or at the time of receipt of the video or photo.

In order to perform adjustment of relative positions between an optical system and imaging devices, a plurality of the imaging devices, a plurality of solid lenses that form images of the imaging devices, and a plurality of optical-axis control units that control the direction of optical axes of light incident to the imaging devices are included.

A system of the present invention automatically controls electronic devices based on physiological conditions of a user. In this regard, the system includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor is positioned adjacent to an eye of a user and is configured to detect a physiological response of the user. The sensor is configured to transmit, in response to a detection of the physiological response, a signal indicative of the response. The controller is configured to receive the signal and to control an electronic device based on the signal.