1269 results about "Exposure control" patented technology

A multi-dimensional imaging device and method for automated exposure control that implement two distinct modules to control the exposure and gain settings in the imager so that processing can occur in a multi-tasking single CPU environment. The first module, referred to herein as the imager control module, controls the exposure and gain settings in the imager. The first module is typically implemented in a high priority routine, such as an interrupt service routine, to insure that module is executed on every captured frame. The second module, referred to herein as the histogram processing module, calculates a target contrast (the product of the targeted exposure and gain settings) based on feedback data from the first module and image data from memory. The second module is typically implemented in a low priority routine, such as a task level routine, to allow for the routine to be executed systematically in accordance with priority.

A method for constructing a final image using adaptive exposure control in multiple exposure photography, comprising: (a) capturing an exposure; (b) analyzing the exposure at least to determine deficiencies in the exposure; (c) setting exposure parameters for at least one next exposure adapted to construct the final image with ameliorated deficiencies; (d) capturing the at least one next exposure using the set exposure parameters; and, (e) constructing a final image utilizing portions of at least the two exposures.

A system and method are presented for use in imaging the patient's retina. A light source unit is provided including a light emitting diode (LED) arrangement comprising multiple LEDs of different wavelength ranges. A light guide arrangement is used with the LEDs arrangement and is configured for coupling light from the LEDs and providing output light beams of a desired shape. The illuminating light is directed towards a region on the retina, and light returned from the illuminated region is collected and directed to an image detector unit. The invention enables the use of LED light at high intensity as required in the eye retina imaging, while maintaining the required high-quality imaging. Also, the invention provides for simultaneous or quasi-simultaneous as well as high-speed imaging in FA and ICG imaging procedures, thereby satisfying a long felt need in ophthalmology. Also, the invention provides for automated illumination or light exposure control to optimize overall light exposure to the patient eye and best acquired image quality in terms of brightness, contrast and image signal-to-noise ratio.

A method for optimizing the radiogram image of a subject is provided. The method provides for showing the location of automatic exposure control sensors on the radiograms, along with alignment and targeting projections to optimize the radiation exposure of the subject. By displaying the location of the automatic exposure control sensors on the radiograms along with the image of the subject, the observers can determine whether the radiogram image was taken with appropriate subject alignment. This method also serves as an educational aid in training radiography technicians.

A mammography system using a tissue exposure control relying on estimates of the thickness of the compressed and immobilized breast and of breast density to automatically derive one or more technic factors. The system further uses a tomosynthesis arrangement that maintains the focus of an anti-scatter grid on the x-ray source and also maintains the field of view of the x-ray receptor. Finally, the system finds an outline that forms a reduced field of view that still encompasses the breast in the image, and uses for further processing, transmission or archival storage the data within said reduced field of view.

The invention relates to a laser facula measuring device and a measuring method thereof. The device consists of a DMD micro-mirror array, a digital camera, an exposure control unit and a picture digital processor. The exposure control unit is provided with two output ends which respectively output signals to control the DMD micro-mirror array and the digital camera; and the input end of the picture digital processor is connected with the video signal output end of the digital camera. In the method, DMD micro-mirror array components are utilized, so the characteristics of an incident light path can be changed at different times and in different regions so as to accurately control the exposure process and obtain a laser beam detection image with high dynamic range; and by means of data processing, diameter, ellipticity, position, center, three-dimensional outline, power, and other parameters of the facula can be obtained. As the whole process happens within a short time, the defect that the position and the energy state of the laser facula changes as time goes by can be avoided, and light beam quality of the laser beam can be more accurately measured.

An imaging apparatus appropriately captures a large dynamic range image of even a scene including a backlit person with a blue sky background in a manner that the person's face has an appropriate luminance level without saturating the background sky. In the imaging apparatus, an imaging unit obtains analogue image signals through exposure control that prevents a highlight from being saturated, an A/D converter converts the analogue image signals to digital image signals, and a signal processing unit linearly increases the dynamic range of the digital image signals. The image signals with the increased dynamic range are nonlinearly compressed to have a dynamic range of 100% or less through nonlinear dynamic range compression that intensively compresses a highlight portion. The imaging apparatus with this structure first increases the dynamic range of an image and efficiently compresses the increased large dynamic range of the image.

An exposure control apparatus for controlling an exposure adjustment mechanism on the basis of a captured image signal includes the following elements. A face detecting unit detects a face of a person appearing in a captured image on the basis of the captured image signal. A histogram data determining unit determines histogram data by setting a face detection region in the captured image according to detection information and detecting at least a brightness value of the face detection region from the captured image signal. A target brightness setting unit sets a target brightness range for desired brightness of the face. An exposure control amount determining unit determines, when a face is detected, an amount of control for the exposure adjustment mechanism by comparing the target brightness range with a brightness value at a peak of the histogram data or a brightness region in the vicinity of the peak.

The invention provides an automatic exposure adjusting method and system. The method at least comprises the steps of obtaining a current image, and carrying out statistics on the pixels contained in a bright area of the image and the pixels contained in a dark area of the image and the brightness of the pixels; calculating the pixel proportion of the bright area and the pixel proportion of the dark area according to a statistical result; adjusting the exposure parameters of imaging equipment according to the brightness value of the current statistical pixels and a preset brightness threshold value if at least one of the pixel proportion of the bright area and the pixel proportion of the dark area is larger than or equal to a preset proportion; continuously carrying out statistic if the pixel proportion of the bright area and the pixel proportion of the dark area are both smaller than the preset proportion until the brightness values of the pixels reach the preset brightness threshold value. According to the automatic exposure adjusting method and system, operation complexity and operation amount are both low in the exposure state judging process, the exposure state of the image can be judged fast, and the instantaneity of exposure control over the image can be improved at the same time.

Two subject images shot by an imaging section before real exposure are captured, and the difference between data is obtained for each corresponding pixels of the subject images by an interframe difference calculation section. The difference is compared with a threshold value by a threshold value comparison section, the pixels of levels not less than the threshold value level are extracted as a non-correlated portion, and the ratio of the area of the non-correlated portion to all the detected pixels is obtained by a non-correlated portion area calculation section. When the ratio of the area of the non-correlated portion is high, it is determined that the subject movement is large, so that a speed priority program line is selected by an exposure calculation block and the exposure time is set to be shorter than the normal exposure time, thereby preventing subject image blur.

A rangefinder according to the present invention includes light source section, camera section, distance-measuring sensor, exposure controller and shutter. The light source section projects light onto an object for 3D imaging purposes. The camera section receives the light that was emitted from the light source section and then reflected from the object. The distance-measuring sensor estimates an approximate distance to the object. Based on the approximate distance, the exposure controller controls the optical output power of the light source section and/or the open/closed states of the shutter. The rangefinder can control the intensity of the projected light even if the object is on the move. As a result, the rangefinder can obtain highly precise information about the 3D location of the object.

When a selector button is pressed in optical viewfinder mode, a display in live view mode is started. If the metered light value, measured focus detection result, and position information stored in the optical viewfinder mode are set so as to be reflected in the live view mode, exposure control is performed based on the stored metered light value and position information, and focusing is performed based on the stored focus detection result and position information.

Provided is an image generation apparatus that generates a new video sequence from video sequences including image regions for which corresponding point detection and motion estimation cannot be performed correctly. The image generation apparatus includes: an exposure control unit (105) which controls an image capturing apparatus (10) to temporally change an exposure amount in a part of an exposure period; an image receiving unit (101) which receives the first video sequence and the second video sequence captured under the control of the exposure control unit (105); an image integration unit (104) which generates, from these video sequences, the new video sequence having a resolution equal to or higher than the second resolution, at a frame rate equal to or higher than the first video sequence, by reducing a difference between (i) a value of each frame in the second video sequence and (ii) a sum of values of frames in the new video sequence which correspond to the second exposure period for the each frame in the second video sequence. The second video sequence has higher resolution than the first video sequence, and the second video sequence has a frame exposure time period longer than the first video sequence.

In an imaging apparatus capable of selectively performing an imaging operation in normal imaging mode and that in composite imaging mode, auto exposure control is stopped after the auto exposure control for long-time exposure image signals and short-time exposure image signals is temporarily completed in composite imaging mode and if, after the auto exposure control is stopped, a predetermined brightness change in images is detected continuously for a predetermined time or longer based on brightness values detected from the images obtained from a composite image signal, the imaging mode of the imaging apparatus is switched from the composite imaging mode to the normal imaging mode.

Retasking of one or more photographic exposure controls of a camera to give direct manual control of a power output level of a lighting device by mapping a dynamic range of a photographic exposure compensation control of the camera to a dynamic range of a power output level of the lighting device. In another example, mapping is used in automatic tracking of changes in ISO and/or aperture of a camera to a power output level of a lighting device. In one example, automatic tracking of power control can be provided to lighting devices (such as studio strobes) that do not usually have access to automated power control from a camera.

An image pickup apparatus a camera 100 includes an image pickup element 105 including a plurality of imaging pixels 106 which perform a photoelectric conversion of an image formed by a light beam from an image pickup optical system and a plurality of focus detection pixels 107 which perform a photoelectric conversion of an image formed by a divided light beam of the light beam, a focus detector 113 which performs a focus detection of the image pickup optical system based on an output of the focus detection pixels 107, an aperture controller 104 which performs a control so that an aperture value of the image pickup optical system is equal to or less than a predetermined value when the focus detector 113 perform the focus detection, and an exposure controller 110 which adjusts an exposure condition in accordance with the aperture value controlled by the aperture controller 104.

An image capturing apparatus having an auto focus function or an auto exposure function stores digital image data output from an A/D conversion unit as first image data directly or after performing predetermined processing, and stores the digital image data serving as a base of the first image data as second image data after performing predetermined processing for the digital image data. The apparatus then detects a face region from the second image data, and displays the image on the basis of the image data output from the A/D conversion unit while the face region is detected form the second image data. After completion of detection of the face region from the second image data, the apparatus extracts information for auto focus, auto exposure, or white balance by using, of the first image data, data at a portion corresponding to the face region that is detected by said face detection means, and performs auto focus control, auto exposure control, or white balance control.

A technique of acquiring a width obtaining an appropriate exposure with minimum restrictions, while accurately correcting flickering is provided. An exposure control method includes integrating a video signal obtained by shooting a subject by means of a CMOS imaging element as input video signal over not less than a horizontal period, normalizing the integral value or the difference value of the integral value between neighboring fields or frames, extracting the integral value or the difference value after the normalization as flicker spectrum, determining, based on the extracted flicker spectrum, the presence or absence of a flicker component contained in the video signal obtained by the imaging element and controlling the exposure value, using a program diagram for preferentially employing the shutter speed less liable to produce flickering when it is determined that the video signal contains a flicker component.

An image processing system includes an image sensor circuit. The image sensor circuit is configured to obtain an image using a type of shutter operation in which an exposure pattern of a pixel array is set according to exposure information that changes over time based at least partially on charge accumulated in at least a portion of the pixel array. An image sensor circuit includes a pixel array and one or more circuits. The one or more circuits are configured to update exposure information based at least partially on one or more signals output from the pixel array, and to control an exposure pattern of the pixel array based on the exposure information. A pixel circuit includes a first transistor connected between a photodiode and a sense node, and a second transistor connected between an exposure control signal line and a gate of the first transistor.

An image pickup apparatus which makes it possible to obtain a suitable exposure value even if the brightness of the subject changes just before photography preparations and is capable of achieving both of acceleration of photography preparations and high precision exposure control. A ranging control section 42 carries out focus detection control on a subject image in a plurality of control modes. An exposure control section 40 repeatedly carries out feedback exposure control of the subject image so as to maintain proper brightness of an image obtained from an image pickup device 14. A system control circuit 50 controls the exposure control section 40 so as to carry out the feedback exposure control before execution of the focus detection control according to a selected one of the control modes of the raging control section.

A device that analyzes an image. The device includes a circuit that receives an image that includes a plurality of pixels. The circuit creates a histogram of the image and analyzes the histogram to determine an acceptable exposure of the image. The histogram may include a plurality of bins versus a population of pixels associated with each bin. By way of example, the bins may be associated with an intensity of light. The images and histograms may include data defined by low dynamic range number of bits and/or an extended dynamic range number of bits. Certain features and criteria of the image may be determined and analyzed to determine whether the image has an acceptable exposure. If the image is unacceptable, an exposure characteristic can be changed and the process can be repeated until an acceptable image is obtained.