Abstract: An improved visual user interface enables control of the interaction of a device with a spatial region. The visual user interface includes a display of a control space and a display of a target space. The content of the displayed target space can be a representation of some or all of the spatial region. The content of the displayed control space and displayed target space can also be established such that the displayed target space provides context for the displayed control space. The device is operated in accordance with the state of the displayed control space. The visual user interface enables a user to change the display of the control space, thereby controlling the operation of the device.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is capable of suppressing a sharp variation in the state of exposure due to a variation in a field of view or a subject image, by varying the response characteristics of an exposure control device, such as an iris, a shutter or a gain, in accordance with an image magnifying rate which becomes higher as an image is electronically magnified by the operation of an electronic zoom.

Abstract: The present invention is an automatic focusing apparatus for automatically focusing on a subject in an image plane. The automatic focusing apparatus includes a focus lens for focusing on the subject, drive means for moving the focus lens, an image element for picking up image data from the subject through the focus lens, an image processor for extracting luminance signals of each pixel from the image data picked up by the image element, and a controller for computing contrast value under the luminance signals of each pixel extracted by the image processor, for computing moving quantity of the focus lens by using inverse number of the contrast value, and for controlling the drive means according to the moving quantity.

Abstract: To avoid the overexposure and underexposure of pixels which occurs with high image contrasts, each pixel contains a local autoadaptive control. With the help of this control, each pixel automatically ends its integration period as soon as it has integrated enough photoelectric current. An analog signal represents the length of the integration period selected by the pixel. Together with the integrated pixel signal, it represents brightness information with high dynamics and with low requirements regarding the dynamics of the individual signals. Because of their local adaptivity, the image sensors are suitable for all applications where high brightness contrasts must be processed, such as guiding a motor vehicle in highway traffic, nature films and astronomy.

Abstract: A shutter for use as an objective for improving the depth of focus in a camera is disclosed. The shutter has, in a central area, a radially uniform transmission function averaged over the circumferential angle. The radial transmission function first drops off toward zero in a radial transition area which is a continuation of the central area and which has a quantity n of cutouts which extend toward the radial outside and are spaced apart from one another at equal angles 360°/n in the circumferential direction. The quantity n of cutouts has the value 5, 6 or 7.

Abstract: During the exposure of an image sensing device, the optical image of a subject is rotated by one revolution or a plurality of revolutions relative to the sensing surface of the image sensing device along a plane perpendicular to the plane of the image sensing device while the orientation of the image is maintained substantially horizontally and vertically with respect to the sensing surface. The radius r of this rotation is set so as to satisfy the equation r = ω 0 2 ⁢ π ⁢   ⁢ ρ where &rgr; represents trap frequency and &ohgr;0 the initial zero point of a Bessel function of the first kind of order zero.

Abstract: An apparatus for displaying an image captured by a video camera displays a window of the captured image, buttons displayed about the window for scrolling the image, and a sizing button displayed adjacent the window for enlarging/reducing the size of the window. If an operator wishes to pan, tilt or zoom the video camera, the operator manipulates the scroll buttons and sizing button for scrolling the image horizontally or vertically and sizing the window. The apparatus causes the camera to tilt or pan in accordance with the scrolling of the window by the scrolling operation and causes the camera to zoom in or out in accordance with the sizing operation. The apparatus is adapted to display an icon which is a miniature image of the image captured by the video camera. When this icon is selected, the application using the video camera is started. The icon is not displayed if the video camera is operating abnormally.

Abstract: In a vibration correction apparatus for attaining vibration correction on the basis of motion information obtained by adding vibrations detected by an angular velocity sensor and vibrations detected from an image signal, the motion correction period based on the vibration information detected from the image signal is set to be shorter than the vibration detection period.

Abstract: A digital camera includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) for viewing images captured from an image sensor and stored on a removable memory card. The LCD also presents a user interface (UI) that allows the user to create a print order “utilization file”. As individual images are viewed, the user can decide how many (if any) prints to make of the image, the print size, and the, print quality (low cost ink jet versus high quality thermal prints, for example). The memory card can then be inserted in a home printer, walk-up kiosk, or dropped off/mailed to a photofinisher, or the camera itself can be connected to the printer or kiosk via a wired or wireless (e.g., IrDA) link. The print order can then be automatically produced without any additional user intervention.

Abstract: A ergonomically designed apparatus for selectively actuating remote robotics cameras. The present invention enables an operator to leave his hand on the robotics controller while selecting any one of several remote robotics cameras. In one embodiment, a selector unit comprises twelve buttons each corresponding to one remote robotics cameras arranged in two columns. The robotics controller, comprising a joystick having a rotatable knob on a top end, is juxtaposed adjacent to a vertical side of the columns of buttons such that an operator may adjust the robotics controller while simultaneously selecting the remote robotics cameras. The camera selector may include a first circuit board containing passive electronics perpendicularly coupled to a second circuit board containing active electronics. The first circuit board and the buttons may be mounted to the face panel by closely placed screws and heavy spacers designed to withstand physical shock.

Abstract: A system and method utilize a digital camera-ready printer which can print directly from a variety of conventional digital cameras on the market. The digital camera-ready printer includes a camera interface that can link with a digital camera in different modes to transfer frames of digital image data from the digital cameras to the digital camera-ready printer. Preferably, the camera interface includes a hot shoe receptor to establish a convenient hot shoe link between the digital camera and the digital camera-ready printer. The digital camera-ready printer includes a processor that can identify the coupled digital camera in order to instruct the digital camera to transmit the frames of digital image data. The processor can also convert the format of the digital image data to a predetermined image file format.

Abstract: An image pick-up apparatus includes: an image sensing section which photoelectrically converts light from an object into an electrical output having a logarithmic function in relation to an amount of the light to produce image data regarding a light image of the object; an extracting section which extracts a particular portion having a specified luminance from the light image; a discriminating section which discriminates whether the particular portion has a light source; a data generating section which generates white balance adjustment data of the image data at a specified interval; and a changing section which changes the generation interval based on a result of the discriminating section. This apparatus can assure suitable and accurate color correction in accordance with a changed light source and for each of a variety of photographic scenes.

Abstract: An image of an optical target including dark and light monochromatic patches is captured. An average YUV value is calculated from a predetermined number of YUV values for each monochromatic patch. A white balance is performed using the averaged YUV values and a predetermined reference image. Each averaged YUV value is converted to an equivalent RGB value. A difference in RGB values between the light and the dark monochromatic patches produces a dynamic range for the RGB values. The dynamic range for the G value is adjusted to match the dynamic range for a G′ value of the predetermined reference image.

Abstract: An image display apparatus capable of selecting an arbitrary camera from a plurality of cameras connected via a network and displaying an image sensed by the selected camera. The image display apparatus includes a first memory unit for storing predetermined map data, a map display unit for displaying a map on a screen based on the map data stored in the first memory unit, a symbol display unit for superimposing a camera symbol indicative of the camera at an arbitrary position of the map displayed on the screen, and a second memory unit for storing the camera symbol in association with the position.

Abstract: A digital image processing method and apparatus corrects geometrical distortions in digital images. The method includes the calibration of the camera by choosing a test pattern and manually adjusting the distortion correction factor of the camera until the image appears to be undistorted. A real image is then captured by the camera grid. The camera grid is then distorted by the same distortion factor such that the image is corrected, but the image contour is deformed. Based on the distortion correction factor, a respective location in the camera grid is determined for each pixel in a display window. An intensity value to each pixel in the display window is assigned based on one or more pixels in the camera grid indicated by the location. The points for mapping camera values to the display window need to be determined only once for a given image size. All subsequent distorted images having the same size are corrected using interpolation and pre-compiled points.

Abstract: When an image scanner scans an image recorded on an advanced photo system™ film, it determines spectral transmittance of a portion of the film, which is not exposed but developed, then sets parameters, such as masking parameters and &ggr; correction parameters, to be used in image signal processes on the basis of the spectral characteristics. Thereafter, the image is read by a CCD and image data is outputted. The film scanner applies the image signal processes to the image data using the parameters set in accordance with the spectral transmittance.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a compensation circuit for reducing an effect of dark current generated during operation. The compensation circuit calculates an initial dark current offset value using optically dark regions of a photo sensitive array. The compensation circuit also automatically adjusts the initial dark current offset value as output signals from successive rows of the photo sensitive array are transferred. The compensation circuit can calculate the initial dark current offset value each time an image is captured, thereby compensating for variables such as temperature.

Abstract: An electronic equipment having the function of displaying the battery residual quantity for displaying the usable residual time of a battery pack used as a power source of the electronic equipment. The equipment is designed to cope with different types or future version of the battery cell. The residual usable time of the battery can be known with improved display accuracy. The video camera 60 carries a battery pack 1 outputting at least the information on the residual battery capacity, charging/discharging current detection information and the battery cell voltage detection information.

Abstract: A charge transfer device and a method of driving the charge transfer device are arranged to enable electric charge to be correctly transferred in a short time after starting. An initialization voltage is applied at the time of starting and a portion having a higher impurity concentration is formed below a channel.

Abstract: There is disclosed an integrated circuit for focus control, which is obtained by integrating, on a single chip, a filter circuit for extracting a predetermined signal component, which changes in accordance with a focusing state, from an image pickup signal, a gate circuit for extracting a focus signal, corresponding to a portion in a focus detection region in a photographing frame, from a focus signal extracted by the filter circuit, an arithmetic circuit for generating an evaluation signal of the focusing state by performing predetermined signal processing for the focus signal extracted by the gate circuit and corresponding to the portion in the focus detection region, a region setting circuit for controlling the positions or the number of focus detection regions in the photographing field by controlling the gate circuit, and an interface for connecting the respective circuits to an external circuit, and allowing the circuits to be controlled by a command from the control circuit.