A method for filtering noise of lens operation is applicable to a controller being communicably connected with a video recorder. The method includes: sending, by the controller, a recording instruction configured to control the video recorder to perform a video recording and an audio recording; sending, by the controller, a lens operation instruction configured to control a lens of the video recorder to perform an operation; reading, by the controller, an inverted noise signal associated with the operation receiving, by the controller, an audio recording signal generated by the video recorder when the video recorder performs the operation; and synthesizing, by the controller, the audio recording signal and the inverted noise signal to output a synthesized audio signal.

An image capturing apparatus includes an image capturing element, a fan, a foreign substance removal unit, and a control unit. The fan generates airflow for cooling the image capturing element. The foreign substance removal unit removes a foreign substance from an exposure surface of the image capturing element on an object side of an imaging plane. The control unit operates the foreign substance removal unit to remove a foreign substance adhered to the exposure surface after driving the fan.

A system for determining image capture degradation of a camera sensor is disclosed. The system is configured to capture a series of image frames by a camera of a vehicle over time. The system is configured to generate a latent image from a series of images captured by the camera. The system generates a plurality of frequency layers based on the latent image by, for example, performing a high frequency multiscale fusion transform. The system generates a plurality of frequency layers, each corresponding a spectral sub-band frequency, and each frequency layer includes the coefficients. The system generates a degradation map based on the processed activation map and generates an output based on the activation map. The output may be provided to an output system to wash the camera lens, notify a user or the vehicle of blockage, or modify image processing.

According to one embodiment, an image synthesis device for an electronic mirror includes a rear camera which obtains a first image from a first position, and a side camera which obtains a second image of the same direction with a view of the rear camera from a second position. The second image includes a view obstruction. When a part of the first image is connected as a complementary image to the view obstruction of the second image, an image processing device converts an image of the view obstruction into a translucent image, superimposes the complementary image on the translucent image, and obtains a third image which remains an outline of the complementary image.

Provided is an excellent robot device capable of preferably detecting difference between dirt and a scratch on a lens of a camera and difference between dirt and a scratch on a hand. A robot device detects a site in which there is the dirt or the scratch using an image of the hand taken by a camera as a reference image. Further, this determines whether the detected dirt or scratch is due to the lens of the camera or the hand by moving the hand. The robot device performs cleaning work assuming that the dirt is detected, and then this detects the difference between the dirt and the scratch depending on whether the dirt is removed.

The present teaching relates to method, system, and implementations for glare control. A sensor housing assembly is provided on an autonomous vehicle to house at least one sensor therein and protect the at least one sensor from negative impact from an environment including glare from the environment that prevents the at least one sensor from capturing accurate information regarding a field of view with respect to the environment to facilitate autonomous driving of the autonomous vehicle. The negative impact on the at least one sensor is determined by a controller, which then activates a glare blocking mechanism in response to the determined negative impact. The glare blocking mechanism being mounted on the sensor housing assembly and configured to assist in blocking glare with respect to the at least one sensor.

The present disclosure relates to contaminant detection systems and related optical systems and methods. An example contaminant detection system includes an optical coupler configured to couple light into and/or out of an optical element. The contaminant detection system also includes a plurality of light-emitter devices configured to emit emission light toward the optical coupler. The contaminant detection system additionally includes a plurality of detector devices configured to detect at least a portion of the emission light by way of the optical element and the optical coupler. The plurality of detector devices is also configured to provide detector signals indicative of a presence of a contaminant on the optical element.

Embodiments are described for detecting optical discrepancies associated with image capture analyzing pixels in multiple images corresponding to common points of reference in a physical environment. In an embodiment, photometric error values are averaged over time to compute the mean error at each pixel. Once the estimate of the mean error has a sufficient number of updates above a specified value, the estimate is thresholded to provide a mask of any optical discrepancies occurring in the stereo pair of images. Applications include detecting optical discrepancies in images captured for use by a visual navigation system in guiding an autonomous vehicle (e.g., an unmanned aerial vehicle).

Technology is described for methods and systems for imaging an object (110). The method can include an image sensor (116) exposed to light (114) from an object (110) without passing the light through an image modification element. Light intensity of the light (114) can be stored as data in a medium. The image data can be analyzed at a processor (902) as a reconstructed image of the object (110).

According to one embodiment, an image synthesis device for an electronic mirror includes a rear camera which obtains a first image from a first position, and a side camera which obtains a second image of the same direction with a view of the rear camera from a second position. The second image includes a view obstruction. When a part of the first image is connected as a complementary image to the view obstruction of the second image, an image processing device converts an image of the view obstruction into a translucent image, superimposes the complementary image on the translucent image, and obtains a third image which remains an outline of the complementary image.