Abstract: A viewfinder includes a main body detachably attached to a camera body, a display unit on which an image captured at the camera body is displayed, and an eyepiece unit detachably attached to the display unit. The eyepiece unit magnifies the image. The display unit includes a support connected to the main body in a rotatable manner, a display panel having a display surface on which the image is displayed, and a connecting mechanism that connects the display panel to the support in a rotatable manner. The support and the display panel can be set to a first folded state in which a rear surface of the display panel that is opposite to the display surface is placed on the support, a second folded state in which the display surface is placed on the support, and an unfolded state in which the display panel is raised from the support.

Abstract: A camera system 100 has an imaging optical system L, an imaging component 45, a liquid crystal monitor 16, a body microprocessor 12, an aperture setting component 29, and an image display controller 15. The body microprocessor 12 allows a target aperture value and a reference aperture value to be set as set conditions and determines the reference aperture value on the basis of the target aperture value. The aperture setting component 29 adjusts a photography condition on the basis of the set conditions. The image display controller 15 displays part of a reference image a1 acquired by the imaging component 45 at the reference aperture value as a reference display image A1 in a first display region R131 and displays part of a target image b1 acquired by the imaging component 45 at the target aperture value a1 as a target display image B1 in a second display region R132.

Abstract: In a solid-state imaging device, bus lines are provided at both sides of an imaging area vertically to send vertical-transfer clock pulses to shunt wires disposed on or over the imaging area at both ends of the signal lines of the shunt wires. Bus lines disposed closer to a horizontal transfer register are placed at a boundary area of the imaging area and the horizontal transfer register. Since the bus lines pass through an upper layer of the boundary area, imaging performed by light receiving elements is not performed but dummy pixels having almost the same structure as the light receiving sections are disposed and vertical transfer registers are provided in the boundary area to just transfer signal charges by the vertical transfer registers with a characteristic similar to that in the imaging area to the horizontal transfer register.

Abstract: A desktop electronic magnifier in a first embodiment includes a monitor and a control panel mounted to the monitor so that access to the control panel cannot be blocked by any position of the monitor. In a second embodiment, a monitor is positioned atop a flat platform that surmounts the camera so that access to the control panel cannot be blocked by any position of the monitor. In a third embodiment, the control panel is mounted to the camera and the monitor is supported by a support surface independent of the magnifier. Access to the control panel is blocked only if the user positions the monitor in blocking relation to the control panel.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes the following units. An image pickup unit captures an image and outputs an analog image signal. A conversion unit converts the analog image signal into a digital image signal. A synchronization signal generation unit generates a synchronization signal to be supplied to the image pickup unit and the conversion unit, and supplies the synchronization signal to the image pickup unit. An adjustment unit adjusts the timing at which the synchronization signal generated by the synchronization signal generation unit is supplied to the conversion unit, and supplies the synchronization signal to the conversion unit. The adjustment unit is disposed in a position such that the adjustment unit is affected by the self-heating of the image pickup unit.

Abstract: An image sensor having an array of pixel cells, each including a photo-conversion device. The array has first, second, and third groups of pixel cells. The first group of pixel cells receives light and the second and third groups are shielded from light. Each pixel cell of the second group is configured to output a black reference signal for determining a black level of the array. Each pixel cell of the third group has at least one first transistor coupled to the photo-conversion device, and each transistor coupled to the photo-conversion device has a gate coupled to a power supply voltage.

Abstract: A method for compensating pixel values of defective pixels in an image processing system is provided. First, a normal image is captured to obtain the pixel values of a plurality of pixels, and the pixel values of the defective pixels are then marked as a specific pixel value. When the pixel values are to be compensated, the locations of the defective pixels are determined by locating the specific pixel value, and the average values of the neighboring pixels of these defective pixels are calculated and used as the pixel values of these defective pixels, so as to complete a compensation procedure. Besides, the present invention further includes closing the shutter to capture a dark image with similar exposure condition as the normal image does. The compensation procedure is performed after subtracting the dark image from the normal image so that the noise caused by dark current can be eliminated.

Abstract: An image capturing element having an electric shutter function of controlling exposure time for each frame includes: a photoelectric converter that has a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a matrix each of which converts light into charge and stores the converted charge; a first reading unit that reads charge exposed for a predetermined exposure time from each pixel formed by the photoelectric conversion element in the entire exposure region of the photoelectric converter by a destructive readout method; and a second reading unit that reads charge from each pixel formed by the photoelectric conversion element in a specific region, which is a portion of the entire exposure region of the photoelectric converter, plural times by a non-destructive readout method in a period in which the first reading unit reads the charge from the entire exposure region.

Abstract: A integrated camera module (10, 10a) for capturing video images in very small digital cameras, cell phones, personal digital assistants, and the like. A lens assembly (24, 24a) is rigidly affixed in relation to a sensor array area (14) of a camera chip (12) by a molding (26). The molding (26) is formed on the camera chip (12), and optionally on a printed circuit board (16, 16a) on which the camera chip (12) is mounted. The lens assembly (24, 24a) is held in place in a recess (29) of the molding (26) by an adhesive (28). The molding (26) is formed such that a precise gap (30) exists between the lens assembly (24) and a sensor array area (14) of the camera chip (12).

Abstract: A camera system 100 has an imaging optical system L, an imaging component 45, a liquid crystal monitor 16, and an image display controller 15. The liquid crystal monitor 16 allows a plurality of images acquired by the imaging component 45 to be displayed. The image display controller 15 controls the display component to display an image A1, which is part of the image acquired by the imaging component 45, as a reference image A on the liquid crystal monitor 16, and to display part of the image acquired by the imaging component 45 at a different timing from that of the image A1 as a comparative image B on the liquid crystal monitor 16. The image display controller 15 controls the display component to display the image A1 as a reference image A in a state of being inverted around a symmetry axis 51a.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for enhancing a “primary” large format, digital, macro-image with “secondary” image data are provided. The secondary image data is collected utilizing one or more secondary optical systems having at least one electro-optical detector array (e.g., a CCD array) and a specific set of optical mirrors or optical prisms, arranged in such a way that the secondary optical systems extend the angular angle-of-view of the primary optical system and the resultant digital image in at least two opposing directions, for instance, in the left and right and/or fore and aft directions. The primary image data and the secondary image data may be distinct and/or may include portions that overlap with one another. Further, the primary image data and the secondary image data may be collected at the same or different resolutions. The collected primary image data and secondary image data are utilized to generate a single output image.

Abstract: In an image sensing device having an effective pixel area and an optical black area, a vertical line of the optical black area corresponding to a vertical line, which has a defect in the effective pixel area, is selected from among vertical lines of the image sensing device, and a signal, which has been produced by the defect, is calculated based upon result of selection and a defect correction is performed.

Abstract: A pre-amplifier (column region unit) of a solid-state imaging device includes a pixel-signal controller. The pixel-signal controller, for each vertical signal line, detects the level of each pixel signal independently by a pixel-signal detector on the output side of a pixel-signal amplifier, and sets a gain independently to the pixel-signal amplifier according to the level of the signal. At a subsequent stage of the solid-state imaging device, an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter and a signal extending unit are provided. The A/D converter digitizes a pixel signal, and the digitized pixel signal is corrected by a gain set to the pixel-signal amplifier with reference to a classification signal from the pixel-signal detector, so that the dynamic range of signals of one screen is extended.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus enabling use of a light source emitting a light of changing intensity and changing spectrum as a flash with a camera module having a white-balance routine and an exposure routine, wherein an initial value representative of a color spectrum emitted by the light source is transmitted to the camera module, the light source is turned on, and the camera module is signaled to scan a plurality of images of the scene while the light source is turned on, allowing the white-balance and exposure algorithms to be employed with each image scanned to refine the first initial value to refine the degree of compensation employed in correcting a color and a light level in the last one of the images of the plurality of images scanned.

Abstract: A video imaging system that minimizes the effect of EMI on the image data, provides a small, lightweight easy to use camera head, permitting interchangeable use of a variety of intelligent camera heads with a single camera control unit, and allows the utilization of new camera heads with new functions as they become available without having to replace the existing CCU.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable terminal provided with a camera to take a picture of a subject comprised of a lens, and an image pickup device. The invention is aimed to provide a portable terminal in which a mirror image or information about photographing status is displayed on a first display which can be seen from the object side when an object is photographed using the portable terminal, and the image is displayed on a second display which can be seen from the to-be-taken subject so that a person to be photographed can easily check his/her image or photographing status. To this end, the first display is provided on the surface on which the lens is provided and the second display is provided on a side different from the side on which the lens is provided. Provision is made of a display unit that displays the image, photographed by directing the lens to the subject, on the first and the second displays.

Abstract: A system and method for capturing and storing digital images. Instead of processing images on the fly or storing images in a raw format, the present invention involves the compression of captured images before the images are stored. When it is desirable to display an image, the particular image can be decoded and processed as necessary. The present invention reduces the amount of storage space necessary for each image. A variety of compression algorithms and systems can be used in conjunction with the present invention.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device with a multi-pixel sharing structure, wherein the area of each photoelectric conversion element can be secured independent of a reduction in area of each pixel. A solid-state imaging device including photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a two-dimensional array and voltage conversion elements for converting charge produced by photoelectric conversion through the corresponding photoelectric conversion elements into voltage.

Abstract: An electronic camera comprises an image-capturing element; a recording device that records image data constituted of image capturing signals output from the image-capturing element into a data recording medium; a frame number calculating device that calculates a number of frames of image data that have been recorded or can be recorded into the data recording medium; a display device at which the number of frames is displayed; and a control device that controls the display device so as to display at least the number of frames when a main switch is in an OFF state.

Abstract: In a portable terminal having a photographic function for receiving photographic light from a camera subject and obtaining image data, the portable terminal comprises an optical member receiving photographic light from the camera subject, and a cover member mounted on a slidable basis. The cover member selectively opens and shuts to cover said optical member in accordance with a sliding operation. The cover member has a mirror on a surface of the cover member.