An apparatus includes at least one memory configured to store instructions, and at least one processor in communication with the at least one memory and configured to execute the instructions to detect a feature amount from each of a plurality of images different in in-focus position in an optical axis direction, and align the plurality of images by using the feature amount. The at least one processor further executes instructions to detect the feature amount by preferentially using a focusing area of each of the plurality of images.

A head-mounted device can be automatically calibrated using an image sensor and at least one sensor system for detecting translation and rotation of the head-mounted device. Parameters under which the image sensor operates can be automatically calibrated when a detected translation remains below a predetermined translational threshold and a detected rotation remains below a predetermined rotational threshold for at least a predetermined period of time. The head-mounted device can be used by a medical professional in a surgical procedure.

A camera device for detecting a stream of objects moved relative to the camera device is provided that has an image sensor for recording image data of the objects, a geometry detection sensor for measuring the objects, and a control and evaluation unit that is configured to determine at least one region of interest using measured data of the geometry detection sensor to restrict the evaluation of the image data to the region of interest. In this respect, the image sensor has a configuration unit to enable the reading of only a settable portion of the respectively recorded image data; and the control and evaluation unit is configured only to read a portion of the image data from the image sensor that is determined with reference to the region of interest.

A method for determining whether or not a transparent protective cover of a video camera comprising a lens-based optical imaging system is partly covered by a foreign object is disclosed. The method comprises: obtaining (402) a first captured image frame captured by the video camera with a first depth of field; obtaining (404) a second captured image frame captured by the video camera with a second depth of field which differs from the first depth of field; and determining (406) whether or not the protective cover is partly covered by the foreign object by analysing whether or not the first and second captured image frames are affected by presence of the foreign object on the protective cover such that the difference between the first depth of field and the second depth of field results in a difference in a luminance pattern of corresponding pixels of a first image frame and a second image frame. The first image frame is based on the first captured image frame and the second image frame is based on the second captured image frame.

Methods, devices, systems and computer software/program code products include techniques for creating a deep frame buffer, such techniques being implementable in conjunction with an apparatus comprising a main camera and an array of buddy cameras, the main camera and the buddy cameras being operable to capture images; and techniques for creating at least one depth buffer, such techniques being implementable in conjunction with an apparatus comprising at least two cameras.

There is provided a depth information generating apparatus. A first generating unit generates first depth information on the basis of a plurality of viewpoint images which are obtained from first shooting and which have mutually-different viewpoints. A second generating unit generates second depth information for a captured image obtained from second shooting by correcting the first depth information so as to reflect a change in depth caused by a difference in a focal distance of the second shooting relative to the first shooting.

An image sensing device includes an image sensor suitable for correcting depth information based on a control signal, and for generating image data according to the depth information, and a controller suitable for analyzing an error of the depth information, and for generating the control signal, based on first and second cycle signals provided from the image sensor.

Various embodiments include synchronization of camera focus movement control with frame capture. In some embodiments, such synchronization may comprise synchronized focus movement control that is based at least in part on integration timing and/or region of interest (ROI) timing. According to some examples, an actuator of a camera module may be controlled such that a lens group and/or an image sensor of the camera module move towards a focus position during one or more time periods (e.g., a non-integration time period in which the image sensor is not being exposed, a non-ROI time period in which a ROI of the image sensor is not being exposed for image capture, and/or a blanking interval, etc.). Additionally, or alternatively, the actuator may be controlled such that the lens group and the image sensor do not move relative to each other in a focus direction during one or more other time periods (e.g., an integration time period in which the image sensor is being exposed, a ROI time period in which the ROI of the image sensor is being exposed, etc.).

An image capturing apparatus includes a first interchangeable lens and a second interchangeable lens different from the first interchangeable lens. The second interchangeable lens includes a first optical unit and a second optical unit guiding a light flux from a subject to an image capturing unit through respective optical paths. The image capturing apparatus includes a photometry unit and a control unit configured to perform control to display an enlargement frame on a display unit. In a state where the second interchangeable lens is mounted on the image capturing apparatus, the control unit performs control to superimpose the enlargement frame on a live view display from a start of the live view display, and the photometry unit is capable of increasing a degree of photometric weighting in the range corresponding to the enlargement frame relative to a degree of photometric weighting in another range and performing photometry of the subject.

An image capturing apparatus includes a first interchangeable lens and a second interchangeable lens different from the first interchangeable lens. The second interchangeable lens includes a first optical unit and a second optical unit guiding a light flux from a subject to an image capturing unit through respective optical paths. The image capturing apparatus includes a photometry unit and a control unit configured to perform control to display an enlargement frame on a display unit. In a state where the second interchangeable lens is mounted on the image capturing apparatus, the control unit performs control to superimpose the enlargement frame on a live view display from a start of the live view display, and the photometry unit is capable of increasing a degree of photometric weighting in the range corresponding to the enlargement frame relative to a degree of photometric weighting in another range and performing photometry of the subject.