System and Method for Imaging and Image Processing

Abstract

One or more objects of interest from a scene are selected. Depth information of the one or more objects is calculated. Additionally, depth information of the scene is calculated. The calculated depth information of the one or more objects is compared with calculated depth information of the scene. Based on the comparison a blur is applied to an image that includes the scene.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for creating an image comprising:
 selecting one or more objects of interest from a scene;   calculating first depth information of the one or more objects of interest;   calculating second depth information of the scene;   comparing the first depth information with the second depth information; and   creating an image having at least one blurred area and at least one non-blurred area based on the comparison.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first depth information is calculated using a multi aperture digital camera having a plurality of imaging channels. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of imaging channels includes filters with identical chromatic transmission properties. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of imaging channels each includes a filter with proportional chromatic transmission properties. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first depth information is calculated by comparing a plurality of respective images from the plurality of imaging channels. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first depth information is calculated using a time-of-flight system. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first depth information is calculated by comparing two or more images captured by a differently positioned digital camera. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the image having at least one blurred area and at least one non-blurred area has a low depth of field appearance. 
     
     
         24 . A method for creating an image having blurred and non blurred areas, the method comprising:
 capturing an image;   calculating a depth map;   selecting one or more objects of interest from the image;   comparing the calculated depth map with depth information of the selected one or more objects; and   applying a blur to the image based on the comparison.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein responsive to applying the blur, the image has a low depth of field appearance. 
     
     
         26 . A method for creating an image having blurred and non blurred areas, the method comprising:
 capturing an image sequence comprising sequential images;   calculating differences between the sequential images;   selecting one or more pixel areas of interest from the sequential images based on the calculated differences; and   applying a blur to the image sequence based on the selection of the one or more pixel areas.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein responsive to applying the blur, the differences between the sequential images are highlighted in the image sequence.