System and method for improving the shaving experience by providing improved visibility of the skin shaving area. A digital camera is integrated with the electric shaver for close image capturing of shaving area, and displaying it on a display unit. The display unit can be integral part of the electric shaver casing, or housed in a separated device which receives the image via a communication channel. The communication channel can be wireless (using radio, audio or light) or wired, such as dedicated cabling or using powerline communication. A light source is used to better illuminate the shaving area. Video compression and digital image processing techniques are used for providing for improved shaving results. The wired communication medium can simultaneously be used also for carrying power from the electric shaver assembly to the display unit, or from the display unit to the electric shaver.

System and method for improving the shaving experience by providing improved visibility of the skin shaving area. A digital camera is integrated with the electric shaver for close image capturing of shaving area, and displaying it on a display unit. The display unit can be integral part of the electric shaver casing, or housed in a separated device which receives the image via a communication channel. The communication channel can be wireless (using radio, audio or light) or wired, such as dedicated cabling or using powerline communication. A light source is used to better illuminate the shaving area. Video compression and digital image processing techniques are used for providing for improved shaving results. The wired communication medium can simultaneously be used also for carrying power from the electric shaver assembly to the display unit, or from the display unit to the electric shaver.

Disclosed are a method of inspecting and evaluating a coating state of a steel structure, and a system therefor. A plurality of vision images and thermal images are acquired. While acquiring the thermal images, a desired region is heated. After the thermal images and the vision images in a dynamic state are reconstructed into a time-spatial-integrated thermal image and a time-spatial-integrated vision image in a static state, respectively, an overlay image is generated by overlaying the two images. A deterioration region of a coating is detected, and coating deterioration is classified by characteristics. A size of the coating deterioration region is quantified. A thickness of the coating is inspected by analyzing thermal energy measured from the time-spatial-integrated thermal image. A coating grade is calculated by comprehensively evaluating a coating deterioration inspection result and a coating thickness inspection result. A state evaluation report for the steel structure is automatically created.

Disclosed are a method of inspecting and evaluating a coating state of a steel structure, and a system therefor. A plurality of vision images and thermal images are acquired. While acquiring the thermal images, a desired region is heated. After the thermal images and the vision images in a dynamic state are reconstructed into a time-spatial-integrated thermal image and a time-spatial-integrated vision image in a static state, respectively, an overlay image is generated by overlaying the two images. A deterioration region of a coating is detected, and coating deterioration is classified by characteristics. A size of the coating deterioration region is quantified. A thickness of the coating is inspected by analyzing thermal energy measured from the time-spatial-integrated thermal image. A coating grade is calculated by comprehensively evaluating a coating deterioration inspection result and a coating thickness inspection result. A state evaluation report for the steel structure is automatically created.

A camera for introducing light pulses in an image stream, comprising an image sensor arranged to capture an image stream, the image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels arranged to capture light of a first wavelength range. The at least one of the plurality of pixels is covered by a first material which is arranged to transform light of a second wavelength range to light of the first wavelength range. Further the camera comprises a first light source arranged to emit light pulses of light of the second wavelength range onto the first material, thereby causing the image sensor to register light pulses in the at least one pixel covered by the first material.

There is provided with an image processing apparatus. An obtaining unit obtains a visible light image and an invisible light image of an imaging region. A first evaluation unit evaluates a brightness of the imaging region. A second evaluation unit evaluates noise in an object in the imaging region. A combining unit generates a combined image by combining the visible light image and the invisible light image. An output unit outputs either the combined image or the invisible light image in accordance with an evaluation result on the noise without outputting the visible light image in response to the brightness becoming lower than a first threshold during an operation of outputting the visible light image.

There is provided with an image processing apparatus. An obtaining unit obtains a visible light image and an invisible light image of an imaging region. A first evaluation unit evaluates a brightness of the imaging region. A second evaluation unit evaluates noise in an object in the imaging region. A combining unit generates a combined image by combining the visible light image and the invisible light image. An output unit outputs either the combined image or the invisible light image in accordance with an evaluation result on the noise without outputting the visible light image in response to the brightness becoming lower than a first threshold during an operation of outputting the visible light image.

A time-of-flight camera for generating a depth map indicating distance(s) to target(s) includes a processor and multi-pixel time-of-flight image sensor. The camera: (a) determines, at each pixel, a plurality of phase-correlation values associated with at least one exposure duration and at least one phase offset; (b) determines for each pixel an accumulated correlation in response to the plurality of phase-correlation values; and (c) generates the depth map in response to a plurality of the accumulated correlations. A set of accumulated correlations may be determined in response to a plurality of sets of phase-correlation values such that each accumulated correlation is associated with one unique phase offset in response to each set of phase-correlation values being associated with one exposure duration, the depth map being generated in response to a plurality of sets of accumulated correlations. A computer-implemented method of generating a depth map using a time-of-flight image sensor is provided.

A time-of-flight camera for generating a depth map indicating distance(s) to target(s) includes a processor and multi-pixel time-of-flight image sensor. The camera: (a) determines, at each pixel, a plurality of phase-correlation values associated with at least one exposure duration and at least one phase offset; (b) determines for each pixel an accumulated correlation in response to the plurality of phase-correlation values; and (c) generates the depth map in response to a plurality of the accumulated correlations. A set of accumulated correlations may be determined in response to a plurality of sets of phase-correlation values such that each accumulated correlation is associated with one unique phase offset in response to each set of phase-correlation values being associated with one exposure duration, the depth map being generated in response to a plurality of sets of accumulated correlations. A computer-implemented method of generating a depth map using a time-of-flight image sensor is provided.

An apparatus for obtaining an image of a retina has an optical relay that defines an optical path and is configured to relay an image of the iris along the optical path to a pupil; a shutter disposed at the pupil and configured to define at least a first shutter aperture for control of light transmission through the pupil position; a tube lens disposed to direct light from the shutter aperture to an image sensor; and a prismatic input port disposed between the shutter and the tube lens and configured to combine, onto the optical path, light from the relay with light conveyed along a second light path that is orthogonal to the optical path.