Methods, devices, and systems related to generating a three-dimensional (3-D) image using an array of infrared (IR) illuminators are described. In an example, a method can include projecting a number of IR dots on a user using a dot projector configured on a surface of a mobile device and an array of IR illuminators configured on the surface of the mobile device, capturing an IR image of the number of IR dots using an IR camera configured on the surface of the mobile device, and displaying a 3-D image of the user on a display or graphical user interface of the mobile device at least partially based on the captured IR image using a processing resource.

Disclosed in the present disclosure are an exposure control method, an exposure control device and an electronic device. The exposure control method includes the following. Scene data is processed to obtain a foreground part of a cached main image. A reference exposure is determined according to brightness information of the foreground part. A first exposure for a first image and a second exposure for a second image are determined according to the reference exposure. An imaging device is controlled to expose according to the reference exposure, the first exposure and the second exposure.

A stereoscopic vision system captures stereoscopic images. The stereoscopic images are processed to rapidly discriminate between portions of the images that are on a ground-plane and those that are off the ground plane. The discrimination is based on comparing locations within the images using an expected disparity shift.

A stereoscopic vision system captures stereoscopic images. The stereoscopic images are processed to rapidly discriminate between portions of the images that are on a ground-plane and those that are off the ground plane. The discrimination is based on comparing locations within the images using an expected disparity shift.

In one embodiment, a method for a stereo endoscope includes receiving electromagnetic radiation through an inner protective window; focusing the electromagnetic radiation with a left optical component toward a left pixel array of a stereo image sensor along an optical axis of the left optical component parallel with but offset from a center axis of the left pixel array; and focusing the electromagnetic radiation with a right optical component toward a right pixel array of the stereo image sensor along an optical axis of the right optical component parallel with but offset from a center axis of the right pixel array. The left pixel array and the right pixel array are offset from the center optical axis of the stereo endoscope to provide stereo image convergence.

A semiconductor-based sensor to detect light angle of incidence includes a semiconductor light sensor element and a patterned spatially inhomogeneous dielectric layer disposed over the semiconductor light sensor element. Characteristically, spatial inhomogeneity of the patterned spatially inhomogeneous dielectric layer is optimized to provide a maximized electric field in the semiconductor light sensor element such that the semiconductor-based sensor is operable to detect one or more incident angles of light at a predefined wavelength or wavelengths of light.

Detecting material properties such reflectivity, true color and other properties of surfaces in a real world environment is described in various examples using a single hand-held device. For example, the detected material properties are calculated using a photometric stereo system which exploits known relationships between lighting conditions, surface normals, true color and image intensity. In examples, a user moves around in an environment capturing color images of surfaces in the scene from different orientations under known lighting conditions. In various examples, surfaces normals of patches of surfaces are calculated using the captured data to enable fine detail such as human hair, netting, textured surfaces to be modeled. In examples, the modeled data is used to render images depicting the scene with realism or to superimpose virtual graphics on the real world in a realistic manner.

Detecting material properties such reflectivity, true color and other properties of surfaces in a real world environment is described in various examples using a single hand-held device. For example, the detected material properties are calculated using a photometric stereo system which exploits known relationships between lighting conditions, surface normals, true color and image intensity. In examples, a user moves around in an environment capturing color images of surfaces in the scene from different orientations under known lighting conditions. In various examples, surfaces normals of patches of surfaces are calculated using the captured data to enable fine detail such as human hair, netting, textured surfaces to be modeled. In examples, the modeled data is used to render images depicting the scene with realism or to superimpose virtual graphics on the real world in a realistic manner.

Encoded content is accessed. The encoded content includes an encoded first centrally located tile corresponding to a first centrally located tile of a first image, an encoded first peripherally located tile of the first image, and an encoded second peripherally located tile of a second image. The encoded first peripherally located tile is decoded to obtain a decoded first peripherally located tile. The encoded second peripherally located tile is decoded to obtain a decoded second peripherally located tile. The decoded first peripherally located tile and the decoded second peripherally located tile are stitched to obtain a stitched image portion. The stitched image portion is encoded to obtain an encoded stitched image portion. An encoded stitched image of the first image and the second image is obtained by combining the encoded first centrally located tile, and the encoded stitched image portion.

It is an object to improve usability at the time of photographing or reproducing in an imaging apparatus including a plurality of imaging units. In order to achieve the above object, an imaging apparatus including a plurality of imaging units includes a setting unit that sets a plurality of photographing modes which are settable in advance, a unit that controls a plurality of imaging units in accordance with a set photographing mode, and a manipulation unit. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus with excellent usability capable of controlling a plurality of imaging units independently or simultaneously such that imaging is performed with a simple manipulation when a desired photographing mode is selected by a user.