An image synthesis apparatus includes a right infrared camera and a left infrared camera; a right visible light camera and a left visible light camera; and a first image synthesis processing device for synthesizing data output from the right infrared camera and from the left infrared camera and data output from the right visible light camera and from the left visible light camera so that a three-dimensional thermal image and a three-dimensional visible light image are observed by an observer as overlapping each other.

A lane recognition apparatus for recognizing lane markers on a road surface based on a pair of stereo images of a scene in front of an own vehicle obtained from a stereoscopic camera, includes a stereo image processing means for calculating distance information of an image based on the pair of the images, a lane detecting means for detecting a lane marker of a lane in the image based on brightness information of the image and distance information calculated by the stereo image processing means and a lane position recognition means for recognizing a position of the lane marker in real space based on a position of the lane marker detected by the lane detecting means and distance information calculated by the stereo image processing means.

A blind spot monitoring system for a vehicle includes two pairs of stereo cameras, two displays and a controller. The stereo cameras monitor vehicle blind spots and generate a corresponding pair of digital signals. The display shows a rearward vehicle view and may replace, or work in tandem with, a side view mirror. The controller is located in the vehicle and receives two pairs of digital signals. The controller includes control logic operative to analyze a stereopsis effect between each pair of stereo cameras and the optical flow over time to control the displays. The displays will show an expanded rearward view when a hazard is detected in the vehicle blind spot and show a normal rearward view when no hazard is detected in the vehicle blind spot.

An equalization system for a multi-axis imaging system. A plurality of light detectors are arranged in a detector array and a plurality of light sources corresponding to detectors in the detector array are arranged in a source array so that light radiated from a point on the object illuminated by a given source is detected by a corresponding detector. A signal conditioning system is provided for receiving output signals from the plurality of detectors. An equalizer system, adapted to interact with said signal conditioning system, is provided for equalizing the output values for given amounts of optical power illuminating the respective fields of view of the imaging elements.

A scanner has a plurality of cameras positioned around an object to be scanned. The object is illuminated by unstructured light and the object is covered by a textured surface. The cameras can be arranged as pairs and each camera pair is supported on a single support. The scanned object can be a foot, among other things, and the scanner is positioned at a predetermined incline so that the foot is evenly supported. Method for attaching the camera pairs on the support, method for calibrating the camera pairs and method of scanning the foot to provide shoe sizes and shoe lasts are also disclosed.