Embodiments of the present disclosure include apparatuses and methods for sensor blocking. In a number of embodiments, a method can include operating a sensor block of an apparatus in a first mode to allow a sensor to receive inputs, and operating the sensor block in a second mode to inhibit the sensor from receiving the inputs. A sensor block can be used to prevent a sensor, such as an image sensor, from receiving an input, such as a light source input, to capture image data. A sensor block can be used to prevent a sensor from capturing image data even when an application causing to the sensor to operate, such as when applications have access to the sensor, but the user of a device is unaware that an application is using the sensor. The sensor block can be used to prevent the sensor from capturing useful images and the sensor can only capture a black image of the sensor block and not the surroundings of the device.

The invention provides an image processing apparatus which comprises a controller which causes an image sensing device to execute either a first mode in which outputs image data of a first resolution, or a second mode in which outputs image data of a second resolution lower than the first resolution; and an evaluating circuit which, by outputting image data of the second resolution in relation to acquired image data, obtains an index value that relates to a spatial frequency of a frequency band in which a signal level decreases in image data of the second resolution more than in image data of the first resolution, wherein the evaluating circuit detects, by machine learning, the index value of image data of the second resolution, and the controller, based on the detected index value, selects either the first or second mode.

The invention provides an image processing apparatus which comprises a controller which causes an image sensing device to execute either a first mode in which outputs image data of a first resolution, or a second mode in which outputs image data of a second resolution lower than the first resolution; and an evaluating circuit which, by outputting image data of the second resolution in relation to acquired image data, obtains an index value that relates to a spatial frequency of a frequency band in which a signal level decreases in image data of the second resolution more than in image data of the first resolution, wherein the evaluating circuit detects, by machine learning, the index value of image data of the second resolution, and the controller, based on the detected index value, selects either the first or second mode.

An image capturing device includes a first controller operable to control image capturing; an operation section including a switch; a detector operable to detect a change to an image capturing mode and to send a signal representing the change; a second controller operable to monitor and process the sent signal, the second controller having a power consumption less than that of the first controller; and a power supply operable to supply power to the first controller, the second controller, and a functional section of the device. When the second controller receives the signal sent from the detecting section in a power saving state in which power is supplied from the power supply to the second controller, the power saving state is changed to a power supplying state capable of image capturing by supplying power from the power supply to portions of the device including the first controller.

A high content imaging system and a method of operating the high content imaging system are disclosed. A microscope has a first objective lens and a second objective lens, and an objective lens database has first and second transformation values associated with the first and the second objective lenses, respectively. A microscope controller operates the microscope with the first objective lens to develop first values of acquisition parameters. A configuration module automatically determines second values of the acquisition parameters using the first values of the acquisition parameters, first transformation values associated with the first objective lens, and second transformation values associated with the second objective lens. The microscope controller operates the microscope using the second objective lens and the second values of the acquisition parameters.

A distance measurement device includes an emission unit, a detection unit, a first reduction unit that reduces, based on a detection result of the detection unit, influence of variation of an optical axis of the image formation optical system on a subject image received as light by a light receiving section, a second reduction unit that reduces variation of an optical axis of the directional light with respect to the subject based on the detection result of the detection unit, and a control unit that, in the case of operating the first reduction unit and the second reduction unit at the same time, controls the first reduction unit and the second reduction unit to reduce variation of an irradiation position of the directional light in the subject image received as light by the light receiving section.

A distance measurement device includes a detection unit, an optical path forming unit, a first reduction unit, based on a detection result of the detection unit, influence of variation of the optical axis of the image formation optical system, a second reduction unit that is disposed in a different part from a common optical path and reduces variation of the optical axis of the directional light with respect to the subject based on the detection result of the detection unit, and a control unit that, in the case of operating the first reduction unit and the second reduction unit at the same time, controls the first reduction unit and the second reduction unit to reduce variation of an irradiation position of the directional light in the subject image received as light by the light receiving section.

A distance measurement device includes an emission unit, a detection unit, a first reduction unit that reduces, based on a detection result of the detection unit, influence of variation of an optical axis of the image formation optical system on the subject image received as light by the light receiving section, a second reduction unit that reduces variation of an optical axis of the directional light with respect to the subject based on the detection result of the detection unit, and a control unit that, in the case of operating the first reduction unit and the second reduction unit at the same time, controls the first reduction unit and the second reduction unit to reduce variation of an irradiation position of the directional light in the subject image received as light by the light receiving section.

An imaging device includes an optical system including a movable lens, an image capture unit configured to capture a subject image through the optical system, a sound-collecting microphone, and a control unit configured to control the optical system and the image capture unit and to receive an sound signal from the microphone. The imaging device has a first mode and a second mode as moving-image shooting modes. The control unit makes the movable lens move faster in the first mode than in the second mode when a moving image is captured. The control unit filters the sound signal with a narrower-band filter in the first mode than in the second mode.

Techniques to selectively capture media using a single user interface element are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a touch controller, a visual media capture component, and a storage component. The touch controller may be operative to receive a haptic engagement signal. The visual media capture component may be operative to be configured in a capture mode based on whether a haptic disengagement signal is received by the touch controller before expiration of a first timer, the capture mode one of a photo capture mode or video capture mode, the first timer started in response to receiving the haptic engagement signal, the first timer configured to expire after a first preset duration. The storage component may be operative to store visual media captured by the visual media capture component in the configured capture mode. Other embodiments are described and claimed.