Abstract

Geographical maps, orthomosaics, 2D/3D models and other photogrammetry products are typically generated from RGB image data. This requires a conversion step from the captured raw format image to RGB. Such conversion can result in image artifacts, blurring and reduction of image resolution, loss of dynamic range, increase in image data size etc. A method is disclosed to avoid conversion into standard RGB image formats at the time of capture and to preserve the full data integrity and image quality all the way through the photogrammetry workflow. Having the raw format image data available at all stages in the workflow will make it possible to extract exactly the data needed at any step in this workflow without compromising the data for other steps. This leads to significant savings in terms of storage space, data transfer bandwidth and processing resource requirements.

IPC Classes  ?

• G01C 11/08 - Interpretation of pictures by comparison of two or more pictures of the same area the pictures not being supported in the same relative position as when they were taken

Abstract

A method of carrying out methodical aerial photography from an aircraft over a region involves obtaining a flight plan to methodically photograph the region, the plan including scan lines to scan the region. A current location of the aircraft is considered and if the aircraft is within a scan line, then a scan line trajectory is calculated to adhere to the current scan line. If however, the aircraft is at an end of a scan line, then a transition path is provided to transition to the next scan line. A transition path trajectory is then provided to allow the aircraft to adhere to the transition path. Operational inputs are provided to the pilot to follow the scan line or transition path; the pilot controls the aircraft using the operational inputs, typically pitch and roll, thereby to photograph the region using the flight plan.

IPC Classes  ?

• G08G 5/00 - Traffic control systems for aircraft
• B64D 43/00 - Arrangements or adaptations of instruments
• G01C 23/00 - Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraftCombined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration

Abstract

In global shutter image sensors, the light shields are often not completely lightproof and incoming light causes continued exposure even after the global shutter is shut. This ‘parasitic light’ degrades the recorded image. Disclosed is a method, performed by an imaging device with a global shutter image sensor, for recording an image with reduced degrading effects from parasitic light in the image sensor. The disclosed device and related method combine the global shutter functionality of the global shutter image sensor with a shutter such as a mechanical shutter. A precise synchronization of the closing of the shutter means that the shutter can block all incoming light—and thus stop parasitic light in the image sensor—shortly after the exposure is stopped by the global shutter image sensor. This allows the imaging device to record very short exposure images without the detrimental effects of parasitic light.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 25/532 - Control of the integration time by controlling global shutters in CMOS SSIS
• H04N 25/78 - Readout circuits for addressed sensors, e.g. output amplifiers or A/D converters

Goods & Services

Photographic and cinematographic apparatus and instruments; apparatus and instruments for microscopy; apparatus for recording, transmitting, reproduction or processing images; digital cameras and digital camera systems; camera lenses; parts and fittings for all of the aforementioned goods; computer hardware and software for photo editing and image processing.

Goods & Services

Photographic and cinematographic apparatus and instruments, namely, digital cameras and digital video cameras; apparatus and instruments for microscopy, namely, microscopes; apparatus for recording, transmitting, reproduction or processing images; digital cameras and digital camera systems comprised of camera lenses, camera bodies and camera backs being digital backs for adapting film cameras; camera lenses; parts and fittings for all of the aforementioned goods, namely, battery charging cables, clamps for mounting cameras on tripods, clamps for holding recording equipment; computer hardware and downloadable software for photo editing and image processing

Goods & Services

Photographic and cinematographic apparatus and instruments; apparatus and instruments for microscopy; apparatus for automation, processing, transmission or reproduction of images; digital cameras and digital camera systems; camera lenses; parts and fittings for all of the aforementioned goods; computer hardware and software for photo editing and image processing.

Goods & Services

Photographic and cinematographic apparatus and instruments; digital cameras and digital camera systems; apparatus and instruments for digital imaging and optical measurement and registration within conservation; apparatus and instruments for microscopy; aerial, nautical, terrestrial surveying and scientific apparatus and instruments; measuring, signalling, checking (supervision), teaching apparatus and instruments; apparatus for automation, processing, recording, transmission or reproduction of images; machine-readable digital and analogous recording carriers (with or without recordings), recording disks; parts and fittings for all of the aforementioned goods; computer hardware and software for photo editing and image processing. Repair and maintenance of apparatus and instruments for processing, recording, transmission or reproduction of images, including photographic and cinematographic apparatus and instruments and digital cameras and camera systems. Education and providing of training in connection with apparatus and instruments for processing, recording, transmission or reproduction of images, including photographic and cinematographic apparatus and instruments and digital cameras and camera systems.

Goods & Services

PHOTOGRAPHIC AND CINEMATOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND INSTRUMENTS, NAMELY, DIGITAL CAMERAS AND DIGITAL VIDEO CAMERAS; DIGITAL CAMERA SYSTEMS COMPRISED OF CAMERA LENSES, CAMERA BODIES, CAMERA BACKS; APPARATUS AND INSTRUMENTS FOR DIGITAL IMAGING AND OPTICAL MEASUREMENT AND REGISTRATION WITHIN CONSERVATION; APPARATUS AND INSTRUMENTS FOR MICROSCOPY, NAMELY, MICROSCOPES; AERIAL, NAUTICAL, TERRESTRIAL SURVEYING AND SCIENTIFIC APPARATUS AND INSTRUMENTS, NAMELY, DIGITAL SURVEY CAMERAS AND LENSES USE IN AERIAL MAPPING, INDUSTRIAL SURVEYING, AND NATIONAL AND INDUSTRIAL SECURITY; MEASURING, SIGNALLING, CHECKING OR SUPERVISION, TEACHING APPARATUS AND INSTRUMENTS, NAMELY, DOWNLOADABLE FORWARD MOTION IMAGING SOFTWARE; APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATION, PROCESSING, RECORDING, TRANSMISSION OR REPRODUCTION OF IMAGES, NAMELY, DOWNLOADABLE MACHINE VISION SOFTWARE; MACHINE-READABLE DIGITAL AND ANALOGOUS RECORDING CARRIERS THAT ARE BLANK OR FEATURE RECORDED DATA RELATED TO PHOTOGRAPHY, RECORDING DISKS FEATURING IMAGES OR THAT ARE BLANK FOR VIDEO STORAGE; PARTS AND FITTINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ALL OF THE AFOREMENTIONED GOODS, NAMELY, CABLES, CLAMPS AND RECORDING EQUIPMENT HOLDERS; COMPUTER HARDWARE AND DOWNLOADABLE SOFTWARE FOR DIGITAL PHOTO EDITING AND IMAGE PROCESSING Repair and maintenance of apparatus and instruments for processing, recording, transmission or reproduction of images, including photographic and cinematographic apparatus and instruments and digital cameras and camera systems EDUCATIONAL SERVICE, NAMELY, PROVIDING CLASSES AND SEMINARS FEATURING TRAINING IN CONNECTION WITH APPARATUS AND INSTRUMENTS FOR PROCESSING, RECORDING, TRANSMISSION OR REPRODUCTION OF IMAGES, INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHIC AND CINEMATOGRAPHIC APPARATUS AND INSTRUMENTS AND DIGITAL CAMERAS AND CAMERA SYSTEMS

Goods & Services

Photographic and cinematographic apparatus and instruments; digital cameras and digital camera systems; apparatus and instruments for digital imaging and optical measurement and registration within conservation; apparatus and instruments for microscopy; aerial, nautical, terrestrial surveying and scientific apparatus and instruments; measuring, signalling, checking (supervision), teaching apparatus and instruments; apparatus for automation, processing, recording, transmission or reproduction of images; machine-readable digital and analogous recording carriers (with or without recordings), recording disks; parts and fittings for all of the aforementioned goods; computer hardware and software for photo editing and image processing. Repair and maintenance of apparatus and instruments for processing, recording, transmission or reproduction of images, including photographic and cinematographic apparatus and instruments and digital cameras and camera systems. Education and providing of training in connection with apparatus and instruments for processing, recording, transmission or reproduction of images, including photographic and cinematographic apparatus and instruments and digital cameras and camera systems.

Abstract

The invention relates to a phase-detection autofocus system using a single two-dimensional (2D) image sensor as an autofocus sensor. This allows for a number of novel functionalities such as calibration by adaptive selection of pixels for the autofocus collection zone, dynamically optimization of the collection zone for various scene and lightning conditions, as well as the use of 2D phase signals in the cross-correlation. This freedom in selecting which pixels to use gives rise to an equivalent freedom for the focus points presented to the user, which can be created, moved and scaled according to the conditions and the scene.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 5/232 - Devices for controlling television cameras, e.g. remote control
• G02B 7/34 - Systems for automatic generation of focusing signals using different areas in a pupil plane
• G03B 13/36 - Autofocus systems
• H04N 5/369 - SSIS architecture; Circuitry associated therewith
• H04N 5/374 - Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• H04N 17/00 - Diagnosis, testing or measuring for television systems or their details
• G02B 7/36 - Systems for automatic generation of focusing signals using image sharpness techniques

Goods & Services

Digital cameras, lenses for cameras, camera bodies and digital camera backs and parts and accessories thereto; computer hardware and computer software for image processing. Repair and maintenance of cameras and camera systems. Instruction and education regarding use of cameras and camera systems.

Goods & Services

Digital cameras and digital camera systems as well as their parts and equipment; computer hardware and software for photo editing. Repair and maintenance of digital cameras and camera systems. Education and providing of training in connection with cameras and camera systems.

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for reducing the pixel resolution of a digital image by binning pixels together to form macro pixels. The digital image comprises pixels arranged in a color mask of at least three different colors. The color mask can be a Bayer mask comprising one red pixel, two green pixels and one blue pixel. The pixel binning method comprises selecting a number of pixels of each color. For example, in order to obtain a factor two resolution reduction, four red pixels can be binned for generating a red macro pixel and eight green pixels can be binned for generating two green macro pixels. By selecting for example only one blue pixel and using that pixel for generating a blue macro pixel the optical centers of the macro pixels will be evenly distributed over the image.

IPC Classes  ?

• G06K 9/32 - Aligning or centering of the image pick-up or image-field

Goods & Services

Digital cameras, digital camera systems comprised of camera lenses, camera bodies, digital backs, software for digital image processing and for training about digital image processing; and digital camera and photography accessories, namely, camera cases, waterproof camera cases, camera tripods, lenses, filters, lens adapters, batteries, rechargeable batteries, flashes, memory cards, memory card readers Repair and maintenance of digital cameras and camera systems Educational services, namely, providing classes and seminars featuring training regarding usage of software for image enhancement and reproduction, usage of digital cameras and camera backs as well as their parts and equipment

Abstract

The invention relates to an image sensor system which includes an image sensor (CCD). The image from the image sensor is read out as a video signal. In addition to image values, the video signal also contains electrical and optical black noise. Such noises should be removed from the video signal. A value corresponding to the electrical black noise can be obtained from the image sensor by reading out same additional pixel values which does not originate from image pixels. By subtracting this value from the video signal, a clamped video signal is obtained in which the electrical black noise has been reduced or removed. Additionally, by subtracting the electric block noise value, it is achieved that the clamped video signal is not clipped in the analogue-to-digital converter. The optical black noise may be removed from the signal outputted by the ADC.

IPC Classes  ?

• H04N 5/18 - Circuitry for reinsertion of DC and slowly varying components of signalCircuitry for preservation of black or white level by means of "clamp" circuit operated by switching circuit
• H04N 5/243 - Circuitry for compensating for variation in the brightness of the object by influencing the picture signal
• H04N 5/357 - Noise processing, e.g. detecting, correcting, reducing or removing noise
• H04N 5/361 - Noise processing, e.g. detecting, correcting, reducing or removing noise applied to dark current

Goods & Services

Digital cameras and digital camera systems as well as their parts and equipment; computer hardware and software for photo editing. Repair and maintenance of digital cameras and camera systems. Education and providing of training in connection with cameras and camera systems.