Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium for red eye detection are provided. In one aspect, a system includes an image acquisition device, first and second illuminators, and at least one processor. The first illuminator is arranged closer to the image acquisition device than the second illuminator. The image acquisition device is configured to capture a first facial image of a face of a subject with the first illuminator being on and the second illuminator being off and a second facial image of the face of the subject with the second illuminator being on and the first illuminator being off. The processor can process the first facial image based on the second facial image to determine whether at least one eye of the subject is live by determining that the first facial image includes a red eye reflection from the at least one eye.

A hand-held or otherwise portable or spatial or temporal performance-based image capture device includes one or more lenses, an aperture and a main sensor for capturing an original main image. A secondary sensor and optical system are for capturing a reference image that has temporal and spatial overlap with the original image. The device performs an image processing method including capturing the main image with the main sensor and the reference image with the secondary sensor, and utilizing information from the reference image to enhance the main image. The main and secondary sensors are contained together within a housing.

Techniques for capturing images are described. In one scenario, one or more processors of an imaging device can obtain geodata information and time information associated with the imaging device. The geodata and time information is obtained prior to capturing a first image. Next, one or more second images can be identified from a database of images based on the geodata information and the time information. The processor(s) can be communicatively coupled to the database via a communications network. Additionally, the one or more processors can determine one or more image capture conditions associated with the one or more second images; and automatically modify one or more settings of the imaging device to be used for capturing the first image. The settings can be modified based on at least one of the one or more image capture conditions associated with the one or more second images. Other embodiments are possible.

A photograph is processed real-time using image processing to determine whether it contains a common imaging problem. An alert is generated on the imaging device to inform the user that the image is OK, needs to be checked, has a common imaging problem, or has a problem that the camera is going to try to automatically fix by either taking a second photograph or fixing the first photograph through image processing.

A composite image is generated by capturing a sequence of images of a scene over a time interval; pulsing a flash to illuminate the scene multiple times within the time interval; and constructing the composite image from the captured images such that the composite image includes at least a first region constructed from a first subset of the images and a second region constructed from a second subset of the images, the first subset of the images captured sequentially after the second subset of the images.

Processing for judging whether a face is included in a frame is performed, in a predetermined interval, on each of frames included in a moving image of a subject, displayed on a monitor, until the judgment becomes positive. If it is judged that a face is included in a frame, the facial position is detected in the frame, and stored. Then, judgment is made as to whether a face is included in the next frame after predetermined time. If the judgment is positive, the facial position is detected. The previously stored facial position is replaced by the newly detected facial position, and the newly detected facial position is stored. These processes are repeated until photographing operation is performed by operating a release unit.

Example systems and methods for controlling an illumination source are described. An example apparatus for controlling an illumination source may include a memory and a processor implemented in circuitry and coupled to the memory. The processor may be configured to process a first frame captured by a video capture device when an illumination source is active, process a second frame captured by the video capture device when the illumination source is inactive, and compare the first frame and the second frame. The processor may also be configured to instruct the illumination source to be active or inactive, based on the comparison, for capture of a third frame by the video capture device.

Systems and methods are disclosed for correcting red-eye artifacts in a target image of a subject. Images, captured by a camera, including a raw image, are used to generate the target image. An eye region of the target image is modulated to correct for the red-eye artifacts, wherein correction is carried out based on information extracted from at least one of the raw image and the target image. Modulation comprises detecting landmarks associated with the eye region; estimating spectral response of the red eye artifacts; segmenting an image region of the eye based on the estimated spectral response of the red eye artifacts and the detected landmarks, forming a repair mask; and modifying an image region associated with the repair mask.

Processing for judging whether a face is included in a frame is performed, in a predetermined interval, on each of frames included in a moving image of a subject, displayed on a monitor, until the judgment becomes positive. If it is judged that a face is included in a frame, the facial position is detected in the frame, and stored. Then, judgment is made as to whether a face is included in the next frame after predetermined time. If the judgment is positive, the facial position is detected. The previously stored facial position is replaced by the newly detected facial position, and the newly detected facial position is stored. These processes are repeated until photographing operation is performed by operating a release unit.

A controller can selectively activate an illumination source. The controller includes a processor in communication with a memory configured to store video frames. The controller is configured to selectively activate an illumination source during capture of two successive video frames in a video capture session, so the illumination source illuminates a scene while a video capture device is capturing one of the successive video frames, and the illumination source does not illuminate the scene while the video capture device is capturing the other of the two successive video frames. The controller can determine whether a difference in image quality between the two successive video frames reaches at least a threshold difference. Based on the determination of whether the difference reaches the threshold difference, the controller can determine whether to activate or deactivate the illumination source while capturing subsequent video frames during the video capture session.