Abstract: A focal plane array sensor includes optics located along an optical path, for transmitting radiation. A focal plane array and integrated circuit, located along the optical path for receiving the transmitted radiation, responsively produces image signals from the transmitted radiation. The integrated circuit includes apparatus for converting the image signals into digital image data at digital image data outputs.

Abstract: In a video conferencing system, camera position means are used to point the camera to a speaking person. To find the correct direction for the camera, a system is required that determines the position from which the sound is transmitted. This can be done by using at least two microphones receiving the speech signal. By measuring the transmission delay between the signals received by the microphones, the position of the speaker can be determined. According to the present invention, the delay is determined by first determining the impulse responses (h1) and (h2) and subsequently calculating a cross correlation function between the impulse responses (h1) and (h2). From the main peak in the cross correlation function, the delay value is determined.

Abstract: Light rays emanating from an object are received by a first optical system, and converged to form intermediate images on a movable mirror to be driven to vibrate and at positions near the movable mirror. Light rays forming the intermediate images are converged to form a plurality of final images on the imaging surface of an imaging device by way of a second optical system. The resultant image data is added up and restored, whereby an image proving a large depth of field is produced and displayed on a monitor. Using this apparatus, even if an optical system suffering from a small depth of field is employed, an image providing a large depth of field can be produced.

Abstract: Apparatus for reducing exposing time of an image processing system is disclosed herein. The image processing system including a shift register coupled to a photo-sensing means, the photo-sensing device is used to convert an optical image from a lens to a plurality groups of charge to form an electrical signal. The apparatus includes control device (counter) and a reset gate. The control device generates the first reset signal and the second reset signal depending on whether the image processing system is in a first resolution mode or a second resolution mode. A first number of cells of the photo-sensing device are exposed to the light of the optical image during the first resolution mode, and a second number of cells of the photo-sensing device being exposed to the optical image during the second resolution mode. The first number of cells is greater than the second number of cells.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an image sensor that is attached to a circuit board via a mass reflow process. The image sensor captures image data and provides the image data at an output of the imaging system. In one embodiment, the image sensor uses a color filter array (CFA) material that is substantially stable through the mass reflow process.

Abstract: A video camera includes an abutment piece which is perpendicularly placed on the anterior side of the bottom of a stand portion and abuts on an attachment body to which the video camera is to be attached, a lever portion which is rotatably attached on the posterior side of the bottom of the stand portion, and bias means for biasing the lever potion toward the bottom of the stand portion. The lever portion includes an abutment portion formed such that it abuts on the abutment body. The lever portion holds the attachment body between the abutment portion and the abutment piece when it is used, and is housed in the stand portion such that it is pressurized to abut on the stand portion when it is not used. This structure enables the video camera to easily be attached to and detached from various attachment bodies such as flat display that are different from each other in thickness.

Abstract: A solid-state, two-dimensional image sensing device having a matrix of pixels each of which employs a photosensor that generates a photocurrent and a MOS circuit which outputs a signal proportional to the logarithm of the integral over time of the photocurrent. The sensor includes an integration control switching device so that all pixels in the array have equal integration time. The sensor integrates the signal for each pixel for a period of time and stores the integrated signal in a pixel signal storage location. To read out the stored signal each pixel includes an amplifier to increase the signal during read out. The sensor further accumulates signal in either a MOS transistor pn-junction or a secondary pixel storage location during a time that the integrated pixel signal is being read out so that image information can be collected continuously even while the integrated pixel signal for each pixel is being read.

Abstract: A video camera system capable of matching colors between configured video cameras by effectively reducing color differences therebetween. A red, a green and a blue signal from imaging devices are amplified by preamplifiers and video amplifiers before being fed to a color matching circuit. The color matching circuit performs color matching in accordance with the levels of the red, green and blue signals using variables of gains and DC offset values. The gains and DC offset values are determined by the color matching circuit executing predetermined operation expressions. With a plurality of colors imaged in advance by the video cameras to be matched in color with a reference video camera, necessary coefficients of the operation expressions are obtained by use of the level measurements (tristimulus values) of the red, green and blue signals from an integrating circuit of each camera.

Abstract: An image synthesis apparatus for use in, e.g., a digital camera or other image processing device which includes a control system. The control system includes image memory for storing said converted image data; and a CPU performing an image synthesize process by using the data of the images stored in the image memory, producing a blurred image from the original image, and performing an iterative search for the coincidence position by using the blurred image to detect the amount of deviation.

Abstract: In an image pickup apparatus, when the focal length of a zoom lens is caused to change while the apparatus is in a state of being AE locked to retain an exposure control state of an exposure control circuit which is arranged to control the state of exposure according to a video signal, the apparatus is capable of maintaining the state of exposure obtained when the AE lock is made by correcting any change in the state of exposure caused by a change in F number resulting from the change of the focal length.

Abstract: A gain characteristic correctable dynamic range enhancement system (DRES) receives input signals from an imager device connected to a correlated double sampling (CDS) circuit for receiving the video signal from the CCD imaging device. The dynamic range enhancement system includes a variable gain amplifier (VGA), and a limited bit-width analog-to-digital converter (ADC) which digitizes the analog signal received from the VGA. The output of the ADC is provided to an initial bit range position of a wider bit-width shifter connected to the output of the ADC. The DRES system correctably extends the dynamic range of the imager device, subject to offsets providing linearity corrections at predetermined trip points, subject to determined offset values, to ensure that there are no discontinuities in the system transfer function.

Abstract: A time an ith row reset signal RSi is generated and sent out for electronic shuttering is shifted from a conventionally defined time. In this manner, it is possible to avoid overlapping between a period during which the reset signal RSi is provided and a period during which an nth pixel row is selected to perform a readout operation thereon (i.e., a period when a row select signal SLn is at “High” level). As a result, reset potentials, which could otherwise be variable depending on whether or not readout operation is being performed on any other row, can be equalized among all the rows, thus eliminating the cause of horizontal noise.

Abstract: An operating condition judging circuit judges at least one of consumed whether or not a mechanically driven part is being operated, the supply voltage level, the ambient temperature, whether or not the lens stop device is operative, whether or not the strobo device is being charged, and whether or not access operation of a recording device is being performed. A controller controls a frequency of sweep-out of unnecessary charge in the imaging element on the basis of the output of the operating condition judging circuit. Thus, it is possible to effectively reduce the peak consumed current through the entire imaging apparatus, reduce the power consumption and extend battery life.

Abstract: A portable display apparatus selectively operable in a still picture mode or a movie mode includes an operating section for allowing the user of the device to select either one of the two modes. In the movie mode, a synchronous movie processing section relates color data fed and color data to be output on an integral multiple basis and thereby synchronizes input color data and output color data. Void pixels where color data are absent are interpolated to generate a plurality of lines. Consequently, three colors R(red), G (green) and B (blue) are output at the same time in synchronism with a vertical timing as well. Therefore, the generated lines can adequately display a picture alone. Not all the color data are stored or processed, as customary with conventional two field memories, but only necessary lines are used for display. In the still picture mode, the color data fed are temporarily stored.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device comprises a plurality of unit cells formed in a surface region of a semiconductor substrate. Each of the unit cells comprises a photoelectric converter, an MOS-type read-out transistor for reading a signal from the photoelectric converter, an MOS-type amplifying transistor having a gate connected to a drain of the read-out transistor and for amplifying the signal read by the read-out transistor, a reset transistor having a source connected to the drain of the read-out transistor and for resetting a potential of a gate of the amplifying transistor, and an addressing element connected in series to the amplifying transistor and for selecting the unit cell. The read-out transistor is formed in a first device region in the semiconductor substrate. The reset transistor is formed in a second device region in the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A light-incorporated video camera incorporating a video light integrally in a video camera, includes: a video light input switch for instructing turn-on of the video light; and a timer; wherein the video light turned on by instruction from the video light input switch is automatically turned off after the elapse of a time set on the timer. If a switch key of the video camera is operated before the time set on the timer expires, the timer is initialized to continue the turn-on state of the video light. In this video camera, preferably, the switch key is a record/stop switch key of the video camera, the video light is a tungsten halogen lamp, and the timer is a five-minute timer.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus operated in mode-1 in which signal-charge that is charged in a CCD imaging device is read out as the output signal of the CCD imaging device once in each field of progressive-scanning, or in mode-2 in which the signal-charge is read out once (viz. during one field) in every two fields of progressive-scanning. And the output signal of the CCD imaging device is written into a memory according to a progressive-scanning synchronizing signal during the intervals when the signal-charge is read out. Then the signal written in the memory is read out, in the mode-1, according to the progressive-scanning synchronizing signal, and, in the mode-2, in such a manner that odd lines are read out in each odd field and even lines are read out in each even field according to an interlaced-scanning synchronizing signal. The above structure enables the image pickup apparatus to have simple circuit, good performance, and to be usable for at least the two modes of the 525/60P mode and the 525/30P mode.

Abstract: An image pick-up device including an image taking optical system, an image pick-up element for photoelectric conversion of an object image to be projected by the image taking optical system, a system conversion circuit for outputting the image pick-up signals output from the image pick-up element as video signals in accordance with a predetermined signal standard, and a focussing control circuit for controlling focussing adjustment of the image taking optical system by using the image pick-up signal before input to the system conversion circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for automatically establishing a user account and for configuring a hand-held electronic device for accessing a site on a public network using the user account. The method and system include establishing a connection to a website server, which is responsible for establishing and maintaining website accounts. The presence of account information on the electronic device camera is then checked, and if none are found, it is determined that this is a first-time connection and information uniquely identifying the electronic device is sent to the website server so that the server can set-up the account information based on the electronic device information. The server then sends user account information to the device, including an account ID and password.

Abstract: A communication device for interconnecting a digital camera to a communication network for downloading data to a remote computer. The device has a network communication port for establishing communication with a network via a pre-defined protocol and communication mode, and has a camera communication port such as a serial, parallel, SCSI, USB or Irda-port that imitates the back end application of a PC, for connection to a digital camera for sending and receiving data to and from the camera. The camera communication port is also used for input of programming and setup data to the communication device from a PC. The device can be programmed to operate on the data directly, such as in the case of data for storage or operational direction, and/or direct the data to the camera. The device may also have a Smart card socket into which a user can insert a card to input data, such as user and camera I.D., user authorization, image marking, camera operational parameter, remote computer/destination address, etc.