Compact Digital Camera Research Articles

Uncalibrated Synthetic Aperture Photography for Defocus Control

Exaggerated defocus cannot be achieved with an ordinary compact digital camera because of its tiny sensor size, so taking pictures that draw the attention of a viewer to the subject is hard. Many methods are available for controlling the focus and defocus of previously taken pictures. However, most of these methods require custom-built equipment such as a camera array to take pictures. Therefore, in this paper, we describe a method for creating images focused at any depth with an arbitrarily blurred background from a set of images taken by a handheld compact digital camera that is moved at random. Our method can produce various aesthetic blurs by changing the size, shape, or density of the blur kernel. In addition, we demonstrate the potential of our method through a subjective evaluation of blurred images created by our system.

未較正合成開口法によるデフォーカスコントロール

Exaggerated defocus cannot be achieved with an ordinary compact digital camera because of its tiny sensor size, so taking pictures that draw the attention of a viewer to the subject is hard. Many methods are available for controlling the focus and defocus of previously taken pictures. However, most of these methods require custom-built equipment such as a camera array to take pictures. Therefore, in this paper, we describe a method for creating images focused at any depth with an arbitrarily blurred background from a set of images taken by a handheld compact digital camera that is moved at random. Our method can produce various aesthetic blurs by changing the size, shape, or density of the blur kernel. In addition, we demonstrate the potential of our method through a subjective evaluation of blurred images created by our system.

Low cost digital endoscopic photography

Endoscopic digital photography usually involves expensive and often cumbersome equipment. This study aimed to construct a low cost adaptor with which to connect a budget-priced digital camera to a nasal endoscope, in order to enable inexpensive, good quality otology photography. A method of making an adaptor from a simple plastic bottle top is described, and the photographic technique is outlined. The adaptor fitted well with commonly used endoscopes, and excellent results were obtained. High quality digital endoscopic photographs can be obtained using a low cost compact digital camera fitted with a simple adaptor made from a plastic bottle top. Such a method would make digital photography via a rigid endoscope easily affordable worldwide.

Taking Photographs with a Microscope

We describe a simple, economical, and highly practical technique for taking digital photographs of specimens visualized through a light microscope. Most models of light microscope and compact digital camera, and even some cameraphones, can be used. The technique is quick to learn and can easily be performed in a resource-poor setting. It can be used to assist with diagnosis in remote areas and can be extremely useful for teaching.

Optical Zoom System Design for Compact Digital Camera Using Lens Modules

By use of lens modules and third-order aberration theory, a new design approach can be applied to the three-group inner-focus zoom system. The optimum initial design satisfying the specific requirements and its real lens design from the lens modules are presented. An initial design with a focal length range of 4.3 to 12.9 mm is derived by assigning appropriate first-order quantities and third-order aberrations to each module along with the constraints required for the optimum solutions. By using an automatic design method rather than analytic approaches, we separately designed a real lens for each group at given conjugates and then combined them to establish an actual zoom system. The combination of the separately designed groups results in a system that satisfies the basic properties of the zoom system consisting of the original lens modules. When the aberrations are balanced, the finally designed three-group zoom lens is expected to fulfill all the requirements of a compact digital zoom camera.

Kindlin-1 Is a Phosphoprotein Involved in Regulation of Polarity, Proliferation, and Motility of Epidermal Keratinocytes

A novel family of focal adhesion proteins, the kindlins, is involved in attachment of the actin cytoskeleton to the plasma membrane and in integrin-mediated cellular processes. Deficiency of kindlin-1, as a result of loss-of-function mutations in the KIND1 gene, causes Kindler syndrome, an autosomal recessive genodermatosis characterized by skin blistering, progressive skin atrophy, photosensitivity and, occasionally, carcinogenesis. Here we characterized authentic and recombinantly expressed kindlin-1 and show that it is localized in basal epidermal keratinocytes in a polar fashion, close to the cell surface facing the basement membrane, in the areas between the hemidesmosomes. We identified two forms of kindlin-1 in keratinocytes, with apparent molecular masses of 78 and 74 kDa, corresponding to phosphorylated and desphosphorylated forms of the protein. In kindlin-1-deficient skin, basal keratinocytes show multiple abnormalities: cell polarity is lost, proliferation is strongly reduced, and several cells undergo apoptosis. In vitro, deficiency of kindlin-1 in keratinocytes leads to strongly reduced cell proliferation, decreased adhesion, undirected motility, and intense protrusion activity of the plasma membrane. Taken together, these results show that kindlin-1 plays a role in keratinocyte adhesion, polarization, proliferation, and migration. It is involved in organization and anchorage of the actin cytoskeleton to integrin-associated signaling platforms.

Mammal Tracks and Sign —A Guide to North American Species

M Elbroch. 2003. Mammal Tracks and Sign—A Guide to North American Species. Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, 779 pp. ISBN 0-8117-2626-6, price (paper) $44.95. A sticker on the cover indicates that this book has been a winner of the National Outdoor Book Award, and it is easy to see why. With more than 1,000 high-quality color photographs, another 300+ well-drawn illustrations, and numerous detailed descriptions with painstaking measurements, it is unmatched in encyclopedic breadth by anything that has come before. That will be positive for some potential users, but a distinct liability for others. Although built like a field guide, with heavy paper and a tough cover, at 14 × 21 ×4 cm it is 2.5 times the volume of Murie (1954) original in the Peterson field guide series and, at 1.25 kg, is 3.5 times heavier. In practical terms, most users will probably want to take mammal “sign” to the book rather than the book to sign. With the advent and proliferation of compact digital cameras, that may now be easier to accomplish than it used to be. In a lengthy introduction and in Chapter 1 ( Getting Started ), the author makes clear his passion for tracking and offers a variety of perspectives on the physical, mental, and sometimes metaphysical aspects involved. Although he mentions and strongly advocates use of tracking in scientific study, examples provided are mostly from …

Biomechanics of Plant Roots: estimating Localised Deformation with Particle Image Velocimetry

It is very difficult to characterise the mechanical properties of biomaterials such as plant roots because of their heterogeneous properties, irregular shape and complex cellular structure. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) was evaluated as a novel approach to measure displacement fields along such materials being pulled in tension. PIV uses a cross-correlation technique to measure localised displacement between sequential digital images. The technique was applied to measure local surface strain rates from timelapse images taken during tensile loading. Load measured with a force transducer was converted to localised true tensile stress and strain along test specimens using data from PIV analysis. Tests using translation of a rigid wire were used to evaluate the effects of optical image distortion and assess the errors associated with using PIV for displacement measurements. Use of a digital single-lens reflex camera reduced systematic errors associated with lens distortion 6·5-fold compared to a compact digital camera system. Analysis using PIV gave rise to random errors in the strain calculated to be approximately ±0·5%. Two materials were subsequently characterised: a homogenous polymer (Vitron rubber) of constant diameter; and the primary root of maize, as a heterogeneous biomaterial. Axial strain and stress distributions along the materials were determined. The radial strains were measured by a separate image analysis method using thresholding. The maize root exhibited necking associated with failure of the stiffer outer sleeve of cortical tissue at axial strains of <5%. Continued extension transferred the stress to the inner vascular bundle (stele), which separate tests showed failed at strains of about 10%. Mechanical properties varied with age of the tissue, with older cortical tissue becoming 50% stiffer, probably associated with cell wall thickening and deposition of lignin. Poisson's ratios were 0·38 for the Vitron rubber specimen, and 0·63 for the intact root.

Photography in dentistry

Photography offers precious support in all areas of medicine and dentistry. Usage of photography in dentistry is an integral part of numerous diagnostic and therapeutic procedures and an important document of progression and outcome of subscribed therapy. Various types of cameras are available for intraoral and extraoral photography. Market offers different kinds of photographic equipment to dental practitioners such as cameras with films (Single Lens Reflex) SLR, digital SLR (DSLR) and compact digital cameras. However, majority of analyses emphasize advantages and relevancy of digital cameras, especially in taking macro photographs in dentistry. Introduction of digital cameras in dental practice is an important step toward the future. The aim of this study was to point out the importance of photography in dentistry, demonstrate basic technology of contemporary cameras and to analyze advantages and disadvantages of available cameras.

렌즈모듈을 이용한 컴팩트 디지털 카메라용 줌 렌즈 설계

본 논문은 3군 구성의 줌 광학계에 대해 렌즈모듈의 개념을 이용하여 1차량 및 3차 수차를 고려한 최적의 초기설계와 이로부터 실제 줌 광학계를 설계하는 방법을 제안 하였다. 각각의 렌즈모듈에 적절히 1차량과 3차 수차량을 설정함으로써 줌비 2배(f = 4.3∼8.6 mm)를 갖고, 시스템에서 요구하는 구속조건을 만족시키는 초기설계 줌 광학계를 얻었다. 각 군의 역할에 따라 적절히 선정된 각각의 렌즈군의 초점거리 및 1차량이 렌즈모듈의 값과 같도록 독립적으로 설계한 후, 군사이의 공기간격을 조정하므로써 줌궤적을 일치시켰다. 이러한 과정을 통해 설계된 줌 광학계는 렌즈모듈로 구성된 원래의 초기 설계된 줌 광학계와 동일한 1차 특성을 갖는다. 결과적으로 잔여수차 보정을 통해 후군초점조절방식을 이용하는 컴팩트 디지털 카메라 및 모바일 폰용 줌 렌즈로서 유용한 줌 광학계를 얻을 수 있었다. This paper presents the optimum initial design containing the first and third order properties of the three-group zoom system using lens modules, and the real lens design of the system. The optimum initial design with focal length range of 4.3 mm to 8.6 mm is derived by assigning appropriate first and third order quantities to each module along with the specific constraints required for the system. An initial real lens selected for each group has been designed to match its focal length and the first orders into those of the each lens modules, and then combined to establish an actual zoom system by adjusting the air space between the groups at all zoom positions. The combination of the separately designed groups results in a system which satisfies the first order properties of the zoom system composed of the original lens modules. As a result, by residual aberration correction, we could obtain a zoom system useful in compact digital zoom cameras and mobile phone cameras employing the rear focus method.

Professional imaging with the new compact digital camera DP12 from Olympus

Professional imaging with the new compact digital camera DP12 from Olympus

Professional imaging with the new compact digital camera 0P12 from Olympus

Professional imaging with the new compact digital camera 0P12 from Olympus

Quantitative measurement of protein S gene expression by reverse transcription‐competitive PCR method; determination of mRNA level in fractionated human peripheral blood cells and various cultured cell lines

AbstractWe developed the measurement system for human protein S mRNA (cDNA) by a reverse transcription‐competitive polymerase chain reaction (RT‐competitive PCR) method with a compact digital camera. The sensitivity of the method was 100,000 fold more sensitive than the traditional northern blot analysis. We confirmed the accuracy and usefulness of the system by measuring the absolute values of protein S mRNA in fractionated peripheral blood cells, namely platelets, mononuclear cells, granulocytes and red blood cell from healthy human and six different cultured disease cell lines tested, namely, lung carcinoma, stomach carcinoma, hepatoma, highly differentiated hepatoma, promyelocytic leukemia and monocytic leukemia. The amount of protein S mRNA in the platelet rich fraction (6.89×10‐19 mol/μg total RNA) was the largest of all fractions tested and that in the mononuclear cells was the second largest. In the fractions of granulocytes and red blood cells, no protein S mRNA was detected. The detected values in five cell lines ranged from approximately 5.6×10‐19 to 97.2×10‐19 mol/μg total RNA. The content was reduced in the order, highly differentiated hepatoma&gt;hepatoma&gt;lung carcinoma&gt;stomach carcinoma&gt;monocytic leukemia. Promyelocytic leukemia cell line had no expressed protein S mRNA. Thus, the assay system described here was sensitive, reproducible, simple and useful for the quantitative measurement of an infinitesimal level of protein S mRNA to characterize normal and/or patho‐physiological states of human blood and somatic cells.

A simple quantitative measurement of mRNA of human beta-actin by reverse transcription competitive PCR with a compact digital camera.

Reverse transcription (RT) competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a sensitive and useful technique for the absolute quantitation of mRNA level. We developed a competitive PCR method with a compact digital camera DC 40 (Eastman Kodak Company, NY, U.S.A.) for the measurement of human beta-actin cDNA (mRNA), a reference gene in an analysis for target gene expression. The devised method, compared with currently used methods, was easy, safe, sensitive, and highly reproducible to assay an infinitesimal level of cDNA (mRNA).

Development of low power MPEG1/JPEG encode/decode IC

We have developed a low power MPEG1 (Moving Picture Expert Group)/JPEG (Joint Photographic Expert Group) encode/decode single chip IC (codec). Using compact ME (motion estimation) process and a power management function we realize a low power consumption. Total power consumption of the codec is 500 mW. Using this chip, we have also developed a compact digital camera for the MPEG1 stream.

Brave new media

Time was when scientists didn't need to track many media to know how science was being presented to the public. True science buffs read magazines like Science News or Scientific American, or watched Jacques Cousteau specials on TV. But the average person heard only about sensational discoveries and was rarely exposed to how research was done or what day-to-day science was like. Then, during the late 1970s and early 1980s, science and medical coverage boomed, and scientists realized the value of a widespread appreciation of research. Magazines like Discover and Science 80-something packaged research for lay readers; newspapers started science pages; science appeared on public radio; and new production companies thrived on making television shows and multi-part science series.Now, new technologies and new media promise to make the progress of scientific research even more accessible. Scientists can help the public understand the drama and the incremental nature of their work. Already, many institutions have web sites and send out press materials electronically. But as on-line media proliferate, researchers and their institutions — and even journalists — must make sure they stay in the driver's seat as they travel the information superhighway. It's a brave new media world with many unknowns. So far, those who put stories, data or images on the internet have little control over who uses that information and how. As news groups, web pages, and so forth bring research closer to the rest of the world, efforts to bring science to the public could backfire if it is not presented properly.At the 1996 meeting of the National Association of Science Writers, in Baltimore, about 700 science writers learned how on-line services are revolutionizing the dissemination of scientific news; in addition, the compact digital video camera has begun to change how all news is gathered.On-line, many newspapers, magazines, and publishing houses are setting up home pages with science ‘news’. One colorful web site is Discovery On-line, at http://www.discovery.com, a sample from which is illustrated. Although the content is similar to a newspaper's science section, the presentation alters how the stories are put together and what effect they have on the reader, says Steven W. Allison, an associate editor with Discovery On-line. The on-line reader does not have to go through the text sequentially: with a click of the mouse, “you can move around [the story] in many different ways,” he explains. Also, the communication can be on-going. For example, last fall Discovery On-line followed an undersea submersible during a month-long expedition in the Galapagos. Each day, the scientists on board sent digital photographs and provided updates on their progress.Such unfolding science stories may soon be commonplace, because a small-format digital video camera is changing how television news is gathered, says Peggy Girshman of Video News International, a Philadelphia-based company promoting this technology. The $ 5 000, 5 pound cameras are no more difficult to transport or use than a portable computer — quite a change from the $ 40 000, 35 pound cameras shouldered by today's TV production crews. Moreover, footage can be transmitted electronically, with no loss of quality.These differences mean that science journalists, and even scientists, can film experiments as they happen, or can quickly get to where the action is. News organizations will be more apt to devote a camera, and perhaps a person, to a two-month expedition or to follow scientists around the lab for weeks at a time. The alternative for TV has often been to stage parts of an experiment, in a feeble attempt to give viewers some inkling of what research is really like. Now the dynamism of research can begin to come through. As Allison says about “TV has been like a black box and we're opening up that box and stirring it around.”.Figure 1A sample page from Discovery On-line, reproduced with permission.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide