Abstract: Image processing parameters for gradation correction of a digital image from a scene, which includes specular reflections may be seriously influenced by the presence of those specular reflections. Therefore, a method is developed to detect the presence of specular reflections in a scene, to modify the exposure time of the photo-sensitive means, which converts a luminous image to electronic image signals and to apply a gradation correction to the image data thus acquired. In one embodiment a digital camera is used to capture the image data, a cumulative histogram is built and two characteristic cumulative frequencies are used to determine via the histogram specular densities and highlight densities. The relative position of these density values indicates whether specular reflections are present, and give suitable parameters for setting an optimal exposure time and for computing a gradation correction curve.

Abstract: A device is described for a very low cost anti-aliasing filter to be used to suppress aliasing artifacts present in discretely sampled solid-state electronic imaging devices. This device includes a transparent substrate upon which a multiplicity of transparent phase spots are placed. The diameter and thickness of the transparent phase spots are designed in such a way to cause just the right amount of blurring to suppress the aliasing artifacts, yet render a reasonable sharp image for spatial frequencies below the sampling frequency of the imager. This suppression is further accomplished over a broad spectral range. The phase noise filter thus formed can be placed either in object space or in image space.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device has a storage section formed on a surface portion of a semiconductor substrate to receive and store signal charges, a discharge section formed on the surface portion of the substrate at a predetermined distance from the storage section, a reset section constituted by a depletion-type MOS transistor formed between the storage section and the discharge section, and reset voltage setting means for setting a voltage of a reset pulse to be applied to the reset section. The reset voltage setting section has first and second resistive elements series-connected between one end to which a predetermined voltage is applied and the other end which is grounded. A node which connects the first resistive element to the second resistive element is connected to a reset voltage application electrode.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a signal receiving apparatus and a signal receiving system, including a receive antenna for receiving plural high-frequency signals; first frequency converters each for down-converting a frequency of each of the plural high-frequency signals; second frequency converters each for further frequency-converting the signals converted by means of the first frequency converters; a frequency control information storage section for storing frequency control information used to perform a frequency conversion by the plural second frequency converters; a frequency-conversion control section for automatically controlling the frequency conversion by said plural second frequency converters based on the frequency control information; and a receiver for receiving only a signal of a desired frequency among signals frequency-converted by plural second frequency converters.

Abstract: A streak tube sweeping method in which a synchronization scan sweeping signal of a fixed repetition frequency is applied to vertical deflection plates in a streak tube, causing an electron beam, generated when a light to be measured is introduced to a photocathode in the streak tube, to sweep at the fixed repetition frequency across a phosphor screen in a first direction. At predetermined intervals that are multiples of the synchronization scan sweeping signal period, a horizontal blanking signal is applied to horizontal deflection plates in the streak tube, causing the electron beam to sweep a streak once every pulse across an output effective area of the phosphor screen. Hence, information of emitted light can be accurately measured even if the life of the light to be measured is longer than the period of the synchronization scan sweeping signal (or the period of the light pulse output from a laser light source, which is the source of the sweeping signal).

Abstract: A video transmission system and method including a technique for deriving clock information in a receiver from a transmitted analog video signal to decipher digital data encoded on the video signal. A phase-locked loop in the transmitter is used to phase-lock a color burst subcarrier in the video signal to a local oscillator in the phase-locked loop to phase-lock a data clock to the subcarrier. A phase-locked loop in the receiver is also used to phase-lock the subearrier of the transmitted video signal to a local oscillator in the phase-locked loop to again phase-lock a data clock to the subcarrier. By phase-locking a data clock to the subcarrier in both the transmitter and receiver, the data clock and the receiver can be synchronized to the data clock and the transmitter to provide for effective digital data recovery without the use of additional data bits for clock phase information.

Abstract: For activating or deactivating the comb filter function with pixel precision, a comb filter arrangement including a delay circuit (3) and a first matching circuit (1) having at least two storage cells, these circuits receive a picture signal, having a sequence of individual pixels applied to the comb filter arrangement. The output signals of the delay circuit and the first matching circuit are superposed by a superposition stage (4) supplying a filtered picture signal from its output. The matching circuit (1) is implemented in such a way that it gives the picture signal applied thereto substantially the same amplitude variations as the delay circuit (3), and that the difference between the delay of the output signals from the delay circuit (3) and the matching circuit (1) corresponds to a nominal value.