Systems and methods are described for generating restricted depth of field depth maps. In one embodiment, an image processing pipeline application configures a processor to: determine a desired focal plane distance and a range of distances corresponding to a restricted depth of field for an image rendered from a reference viewpoint; generate a restricted depth of field depth map from the reference viewpoint using the set of images captured from different viewpoints, where depth estimation precision is higher for pixels with depth estimates within the range of distances corresponding to the restricted depth of field and lower for pixels with depth estimates outside of the range of distances corresponding to the restricted depth of field; and render a restricted depth of field image from the reference viewpoint using the set of images captured from different viewpoints and the restricted depth of field depth map.

Systems and Methods for Synthesizing Images from Image Data Captured by an Array Camera Using Restricted Depth of Field Depth Maps in which Depth Estimation Precision Varies

An image sensing apparatus has an image sensing element which accumulates received light as a charge, a mechanical shutter which travels to shield the image sensing element, and a scan unit which makes a scan for starting charge accumulation. The image sensing apparatus executes the scan for starting charge accumulation prior to traveling of the mechanical shutter and controls the scan for starting charge accumulation and traveling of the shutter to serve as a front curtain and a rear curtain of a shutter. Note that a scan pattern setting unit (113b) sets the scan pattern of the charge accumulation start scan based on information associated with a mounted photographing lens.

Image sensing apparatus

A method, and digital capture apparatus for use therewith, is described for correcting a channel dependent color aberration in a digital image, where the digital image is composed of a plurality of color channels. The method includes capturing an image comprising the color channels, where one of the color channels is a blurred color channel due to a channel dependent color aberration affecting that channel. Then, one of the other color channels, other than the blurred color channel, is used as an indication of an aim sharpness, and the sharpness of the blurred color channel is adjusted, at least partially, toward the aim sharpness.

Method and apparatus for correcting a channel dependent color aberration in a digital image

Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention are configured to render images using light field image files containing an image synthesized from light field image data and metadata describing the image that includes a depth map. One embodiment of the invention includes a processor and memory containing a rendering application and a light field image file including an encoded image and metadata describing the encoded image, where the metadata comprises a depth map that specifies depths from the reference viewpoint for pixels in the encoded image. In addition, the rendering application configures the processor to: locate the encoded image within the light field image file; decode the encoded image; locate the metadata within the light field image file; and post process the decoded image by modifying the pixels based on the depths indicated within the depth map to create a rendered image.

Systems and methods for decoding light field image files

A variety of optical arrangements and methods of modifying or enhancing the optical characteristics and functionality of these optical arrangements are provided. The optical arrangements being specifically designed to operate with camera arrays that incorporate an imaging device that is formed of a plurality of imagers that each include a plurality of pixels. The plurality of imagers include a first imager having a first imaging characteristics and a second imager having a second imaging characteristics. The images generated by the plurality of imagers are processed to obtain an enhanced image compared to images captured by the imagers.

Optical arrangements for use with an array camera

CMOS imagers can possess higher levels of imager noise than their predecessors, CCDs. This noise can be of the form of temporal variation and fixed pattern. The fixed pattern component of this noise can be removed, which is known already in the art. The invention in this disclosure is that proper correction can be developed for all imager conditions (imager integration time and imager temperature) using a single FPN (fixed pattern noise) dark map, a single FPN PRNU (pixel response nonuniformity) map, imager integration time and imager temperature. Without this invention, a dark frame capture and a flat field capture (integrating sphere), are required before every image capture, a practical impossibility in typical picture taking. Further, the estimates of both FPN maps (dark and PRNU) in this invention are improved estimates relative to such captured directly preceding image capture since such have be formed with multiple frame averaging at calibration time, thus removing any temporal noise from these map estimates. These dark FPN and PRNU FPN maps are modified by a scaling and biasing functional with the measured values of integration time and of imager temperature. A second approach is to make the biasing and scaling functions dependant only on mean dark response taken from the imager's dark pixels, at time of capture.

Fixed pattern noise removal in CMOS imagers across various operational conditions

Images are sharpened and corrected for position dependent blur by providing a sharpening function which is adapted to operate upon signals corresponding to a selected number of pixels, providing a plurality of values which are a function of the position dependent blur; and applying the plurality of values to the sharpening function to modify the sharpening function so that after the modified sharpening function is applied to the image, a sharpened image will be provided which has been corrected for the position dependent blur.

Correction of position dependent blur in a digital image

The new Kodak KAI-11000CM image sensor-a 35-mm format, 11-Megapixel interline CCD-has been characterized to evaluate its performance in photography applications. Traditional sensor performance parameters, including quantum efficiency, charge capacity, dark current, and read noise are summarized. The impact of these performance parameters on image quality is discussed. A photographic evaluation of the sensor, including measurements of signal-to-noise and color fidelity, is described.

Photography with an 11-megapixel 35-mm format CCD

Noise is reduced in a digital image generated by an imaging device utilizing information which specifies noise level as a function of position for the digital image. A noise reducing algorithm is applied to the digital image while one or more parameters of the noise reducing algorithm are varied. The one or more parameters are varied as a function of field position in the digital image based on the obtained noise level as a function of field position. In this way, noise is substantially reduced and is spatially equalized in the digital image.

Sean C. Kelly

Papers

Method and apparatus for correcting a channel dependent color aberration in a digital image

Fixed pattern noise removal in CMOS imagers across various operational conditions

Correction of position dependent blur in a digital image

Photography with an 11-megapixel 35-mm format CCD

Reduction of position dependent noise in a digital image