Abstract: An image pickup device comprises a motion detecting circuit for detecting the motion of the image from an image signal obtained from an image pickup element, a motion sensor for physically detecting the motion of the device, a memory for storing the image signal, a motion correcting circuit for correcting the motion by shifting the image readout position from the memory according to the motion detected by the motion detecting circuit, and a control circuit for controlling the function of the motion correcting circuit according to the output of the motion sensor.

Abstract: A system for enhancing the dynamic range of an imaging signal includes a sensor for viewing a scene having a wide dynamic range and generating a digital image signal of the scene which is received by an attenuator for selectively attenuating the digital image signal. A demultiplexer is included in the system for receiving the digital image signal into at least a first gain signal and a second gain signal wherein a combiner receives the first and second gain signals and produces a composite image signal with minimal saturation. A normalizer may also be provided for receiving the composite image signal and adjusting it to a viewable range dynamic video output signal.

Abstract: An image sensing system which includes an image sensing device, a driver, a timing controller, an analog signal processor, an A/D converter, a digital signal processor, a line memory circuit, and an interface controller. The image sensing device has a matrix of light-receiving pixels for receiving light reflected from a target object. The light-receiving pixels produce and retain information charges. The driver produces vertical and horizontal scan timings which cause the image sensing device to produce an analog image signal in proportion to an amount of information charges retained in the light-receiving pixels. The analog image signal is output from the image sensing device line-by-line. The line memory is connected to the digital signal processor for continuously storing the image data line-by-line. The components of the image sensing system are divided between a camera unit and the computer machinery.

Abstract: A video camera recorder comprises an imaging means receiving an optical image and generating an image representative video signal, and a viewfinder for viewing the optical image. A synchronizing signal generator is coupled to the imaging means and to a recording means which is coupled to the imaging means. A control means for optimizing power conservation has a first mode which enables operation of the synchronizing signal generator and inhibits operation of the imaging and recording means. In a second mode the control means enables the synchronizing signal generator and recording means for reproducing a recorded image representative video signal and inhibits operation of the imaging means. In a third mode the control means enables the imaging means, the synchronizing signal generator and the recording means for recording the image representative video signal from the imaging means.

Abstract: An image processing system is disclosed, wherein a demountable image pickup apparatus comprises operating means such as a keyboard, a portable computer having control means that is a CPU, image pickup means, and program storage means, which is a ROM or RAM, for storing programs to be run by the control means, and wherein imaging is effected with the image pickup apparatus mounted on an information processing apparatus.

Abstract: In order to realize a photoelectric conversion apparatus capable of easily switching a mode requiring a wide dynamic range in obtaining a motion image and a mode requiring a reduction in noise in obtaining a still image, a mode switching means is used, when a refresh operation is performed for each photoelectric conversion element, to switch between a mode of setting the potential of one electrode of the photoelectric conversion element to be higher than the potential of the other electrode, and a mode of setting the potential of one electrode of the photoelectric conversion element to be lower than the potential of the other electrode, thereby arbitrarily changing the refresh voltage. With this operation, desired photoelectric conversion signals for a motion image and a still image can be obtained.

Abstract: A pixel structure of an image sensor, the pixel structure for providing sensor signals in response to incident light is provided. The pixel structure includes light selective elements, the light selective elements having predetermined thicknesses to absorb only light having wavelengths corresponding to the visible region of the light spectrum.

Abstract: The present invention has an object of realizing highly reliable search with high precision by obtaining a clear view image over a wide view. In particular, a reflection mirror is formed so as to correspond to an image pick-up element at a focus surface of a converging lens of an image pick-up camera and the image pick-up camera is arranged to be capable of freely performing scanning by a scanning mechanism portion. As a result, with the image pick-up camera kept performing linear scanning, the reflection mirror performs triangular scanning in a direction opposite to the scanning direction of the image pick-up camera for every frame cycle T and a light wave taken in by the converging lens is introduced to the image pick-up element for every one frame, thereby to obtain a static view image. The desired object is thus achieved.

Abstract: An image input apparatus has a pan head for mounting an image pickup device thereon and for changing the image pickup direction of the image pickup device. The image pickup device has an engaging device, and control terminals capable of transmitting specification information about an operation of the pan head from the image pickup device to the pan head. The pan head has a holding device to be engaged with the engaging device so as to interchangeably hold the image pickup device, identifying terminals capable of receiving the specification information when the image pickup device is held by the holding device, and a selection circuit for selecting an operation of the pan head corresponding to the held image pickup device based on the received specification information.

Abstract: A digital camera has a sensor array which removes subject motion blur by monitoring the rate at which charge is collected by the individual sensors within the array during scene imaging. If the rate at which photons are striking the sensor varies, then the brightness of the image which the sensor is viewing must be changing. When a circuit built in to the sensor array detects that the image brightness is changing, the amount of charge collected is preserved and the time at which brightness change wag detected is recorded. Each pixel corresponding to each sensor where exposure was stopped is adjusted to the proper exposure by linearly extrapolating the exposure the sensor did receive so that the pixel corresponding to the sensor has an intensity corresponding to the dynamic range of the entire image. The image sensing array will preferably be implemented as active-pixel sensor CMOS image sensors.

Abstract: A programmable digital camera requiring a programming password to be entered to access the camera's programmability. The camera further includes programming so as to allow the camera to be operated only for a specified time interval, after which the camera becomes inoperable until the programming password is again entered and the camera is programmed to operate for another interval of time. An alternate embodiment of the invention includes a programmable digital camera as above described wherein the camera is programmed to only capture a set number of images, at which point the programming password must again be entered and the camera reset for another quantity of images. A further alternate embodiment includes a camera system with a separate transmitter for radiating a signal designed to cover a designated area, the signal being modulated with a camera operational code. The camera is equipped with a corresponding receiver and demodulator to receive the operational code.

Abstract: A digital camera includes a lens and a plurality of color filters adjacent the lens. An array of detectors such as CCDs each receive, through the lens and a corresponding one of the color filters, light reflected from a scene. Each detector outputs a signal representative of an amount of light it receives. Circuitry is connected to the array for processing the signals from the detectors and generating a set of digital image data including a chromaticity value and a luminance value of a plurality of pixels representing an uncorrected image of the scene. A control circuit maps a two-dimensional representation of the digital image data into a two-dimensional representation of a set of reference image data and adjusts selected ones of the values of the set of digital image data in accordance with a predetermined transform to white balance the uncorrected image of the scene and produce a modified set of digital image data representing a corrected image of the scene.

Abstract: An electronic camera for capturing an image of an object from both hand-held and stationary positions comprises an imaging module containing an image sensor for capturing the image, a camera body capable of serving as a stand for the camera, an elongated arm for supporting the imaging module at one end and terminating at the other end in a connecting member for connecting with the camera body, and means for pivotally attaching the connecting member to the camera body such that the elongated arm and the imaging module may be seated against the camera in a first position for hand-held imaging and swung away from the camera through an arcuate path relative to the camera body, which serves as a stand, to a second position for stationary imaging. In a further variation, the imaging module is attached to the elongated arm with a flexible support that provides a wide range of imaging module adjustments.

Abstract: A video information adjusting apparatus includes illuminance information acquiring part 511 for separately acquiring image information corresponding at least to two different kinds of illuminance ranges,from an identical shot on the basis of a prescribed imaging condition, transmitting part 504 for separately transmitting out the image information corresponding at least to the two kinds of illuminance ranges, and for receiving other image information corresponding at least to two different kinds of illuminance ranges-from outside, and illuminance information adjusting part 512 for generating brightness-adjusted image information on the basis of a prescribed illuminance range and by using all or part of the other image information corresponding at least to the two kinds of illuminance ranges. According to the video information adjusting apparatus, the image information which is transmitted out can be adjusted at each receiving side.

Abstract: Image blur prevention apparatus matching signal characteristics of a lens and a camera includes a vibration detecting sensor disposed in the camera for detecting vibration of the camera and providing a vibration signal corresponding thereto. An image blur prevention control circuit is disposed in the lens and controls an image blur prevention operation in accordance with the vibration signal output from the vibration detecting sensor. A determination device determines the relationship between the signal characteristic of the vibration signal and a control characteristic of the image blur prevention control circuit. For example, if the camera contains either an acceleration sensor or a velocity sensor, the output signal will be appropriately converted so that the image blur prevention control circuit can control the image blur prevention operation appropriately.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus having a solid-state image sensing device is provided with an optical modulation element, made of electrochromic element for R, G, and B layers, whose spectral transmission characteristics can be independently controlled. By controlling the spectral transmission characteristics of each layer of the optical modulation element, visible light in R, G and B wavelength ranges is controlled so as to incident on a photoelectric converter of the solid-state image sensing device at different times.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that includes a body on which an optical system is mounted for facing a subject for an image, a signal generator is rotatably provided for generating an image pickup signal in response to an image of the subject obtained through the optical system, and a rotary driver is mounted for rotating the signal generator in relation to the body on an axis of rotation that is substantially coincident with an optical axis of the optical system. An image pickup signal processor for producing a video signal that represents the subject according to the image pickup signal from the signal generator and a posture detector for detecting a posture of the image generator in relation to the subject.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for determining a focus value in an image, including selecting an area of interest in the image and a color plane of interest, is described. The color plane of interest within the area of interest is filtered to produce a filtered region. The mean absolute value of the filtered region is determined.

Abstract: In a video camera integrated with a still camera in which the still camera and the video camera are integrated into one camera body, while photography is not being performed by the video camera, an image immediately preceding an image to be recorded by the still camera and an image immediately following the image recorded by the still camera can be displayed on a monitor of the video camera. While photography is being performed by the video camera, the display of images before and after the execution of photography by the still camera is inhibited. When the camera is equipped with a flash device and still camera recording is accompanied by a flash emission, control is effected such that image information is stored for one field which is recorded by the video camera and which does not include image information for one field which does not contain an emission of the flash device is displayed.

Abstract: This invention provides an element having a skimming charge transfer function in an X-Y address type photoelectric conversion device using, e.g., a CMOS sensor, and a photoelectric conversion device, which accumulates photoelectric signal charges produced by a photoelectric conversion element in a control electrode (gate) of a MOS transistor so as to obtain a signal with a high S/N ratio by removing signal components produced by background radiation without using any CCD as an accumulation means of skimming charges, has a skimming electrode for transferring skimming charges of those produced by the photoelectric conversion element, an n+-type region for accumulating the transferred skimming charges, a MOS transistor for reading out potential changes caused by the skimming charges, and a circuit for automatically controlling the amount of skimming charges to be transferred.