Abstract: In this image sensor, a first spring member is so arranged that the urging direction of the first spring member is inclined with respect to the axis of a first rotating shaft of a first driving source thereby inclining a transmission member urged by the first spring member with respect to the axis of the first rotating shaft and bringing the transmission member into contact with a first pressing member engaging with the first rotating shaft, so that the first pressing member engages with the first rotating shaft while the axis of the first pressing member is inclined with respect to the axis of the first rotating shaft.

Abstract: An actuator element comprises at least two actuator arms. Each of the at least two actuator arms is fixed to a first mount part at a first end of the actuator arm and to a second mount part at a second end of the actuator arm. The at least two actuator arms are configured to cause moving of the first mount part and the second mount part in respect of each other by application of an electric field to the at least two actuator arms. A lens element may comprise the actuator element and a lens mounted on the first mount part. An electronic device may comprise the actuator element or the lens element.

Abstract: A system for monitoring performance of a machine for detection of visible signs of failure, the system including: a machine enclosure housing a plurality of machine parts; a visual conduit for providing a view of an interior of the machine; an interface to the machine configured to receive images from the visual conduit; and a repair network for linking the interface to a monitoring center that provides for the repair of problems with the machine.

Abstract: A digital camera includes a memory, and pixel data cut out from the memory is subjected to ½ horizontal thinning processing by a ½ horizontal thinning circuit when a zooming magnification is equal to or larger than “2”, and the thinned pixel data is written to an image buffer. A zooming circuit performs zooming processing on the thinned pixel data stored in the image buffer. Here, when the zooming magnification is smaller than “2”, the zooming circuit performs the zooming processing on original pixel data being read from the memory and then stored in the image buffer.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device prevents a pseudo signal caused by the parasitic capacitance of a transfer switch from being input to an amplifier. A photoelectric conversion device (50) includes a pixel (10) which outputs a signal to a signal line (107), an amplifier which amplifies the signal supplied via the signal line (107), and an isolation switch (121) inserted between a signal line (108) and the input node of the amplifier. The pixel (10) includes a photodiode, a floating diffusion (FD), a transfer switch which transfers the charge of the photodiode to the FD, and an amplification transistor which outputs a signal to a signal line (109) in accordance with the potential of the FD. The isolation switch (121) is turned off at least in a period when a transfer pulse for controlling the transfer switch of the pixel (10) transits.

Abstract: Rules “learn” what is typical or expected for a certain attribute of device data for a given location, premises, time period, etc. Using a rule for a standard deviation the variance between newly collected data and the data stored in a fact table is either ignored or an alert (or some action) is generated. Data in the fact table is sampled for a specific time, or time period. Newly collected data may be used to update the fact table or discarded.

Abstract: In a case where a thinning operation is implemented at the point when signal charges are read out from each of pixels to thin out pixel information by lines (row), the thinning may be performed only in the vertical direction, but not in the horizontal direction. In an all-pixel-read-out type CCD image pickup element, a discharge controlling section is provided in each of VH transfer stage sections transferring signal charges from vertical CCDs to a horizontal CCD, and where a thinning mode is selected, among those signal charges transferred from a plurality of the vertical CCDs, those of a given set of columns are stopped and discharged at the respective discharge controlling sections, and those of the rest of columns are transferred to the horizontal CCD, and at the same time, those of a given set of lines (rows) are stopped and discharged for all columns, thereby performing the thinning operation over the pixel information in both the vertical and horizontal directions at the VH transfer stage.

Abstract: Charging of a camera 100 and backup of data are concurrently executed to enable picking up an image regardless of a remaining available memory. As the camera 100 is attached to a cradle 200, image data for the image picked up by a camera module 110 of the camera 100 is directly transferred to and recorded in a HDD 220 of the cradle 200. Image data, already recorded in the flash memory 133 of the camera 100, is backed up by the HDD 220 of the cradle 200. Further, the cradle 200 allows a charging circuit 204 to charge a rechargeable battery of the camera 100 using electric power supplied via an AC cord 280. Also, the cradle 200 has a tripod bore 270 through which the camera is fixed to a tripod for picking up the image.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensing device comprises: a light receiving unit for receiving light; a microlens formed above the light receiving unit; a fluorine-containing resin material layer formed on the microlens; and a transparent substrate provided over the fluorine-containing resin material layer. A resin layer adheres the fluorine-containing resin material layer and the transparent substrate.

Abstract: To provide a method for producing a solid-state imaging device enabling an improvement of a light sensitivity characteristic in a light receiving unit, a solid-state imaging device in which the light sensitivity characteristic is improved, and a camera provided with the solid-state imaging device. A shield film projected around the light receiving unit is formed on a substrate in which the light receiving unit is formed; an transparent insulation film is formed on the shield film; a sidewall insulation film is formed by etch-back of the insulation film, in a side wall of the shield film; a mask layer having an aperture at a position corresponding to the light receiving unit is formed on the shield film; and the shield film is etched by using the sidewall insulation film and the mask layer as a mask to form an aperture portion exposing the light receiving unit.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprising: a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric converting element; a plurality of capacitor which receive signals from the plurality of pixels at first terminals; a plurality of clamping switches for setting a second terminal of each of the plurality of capacitor into a predetermined electric potential; a plurality of first storing units for storing signals from the second terminals of the plurality of capacitor; a plurality of second storing units for storing the signals from the second terminals of the plurality of capacitor; a first common output line to which the signals from the plurality of first storing units are sequentially output; a second common output line to which the signals from the plurality of second storing units are sequentially output; and a difference circuit for operating a difference between the signal from the first common output line and the signal from the second common output line.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses using four-way-shared readout circuits to increase pixel fill factor. Embodiments consolidate circuits from several pixels, reducing the number of components in each pixel and this increasing the fill factor of each pixel. Additionally, embodiments use “straight gate” transfer gates to increase the readout speed and symmetry of the smaller pixels.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus for carrying out signal processing on an input image signal and to output the result includes first correction processing means for carrying out correction processing dependent on pixels on the input image signal, second correction processing means for carrying out correction processing independent from pixels on a supplied image signal, synchronization processing means for generating RGB signals that represent a captured image and has matching spatial phases based on a supplied image signal, conversion means for carrying out at least processing for generating a luminance signal and a color signal based on a supplied image signal, and first resolution conversion means for converting a captured image into an image having the same resolution as an output image. The first resolution conversion means is provided downstream of the first correction processing means and upstream of the conversion means.

Abstract: A row scanner selects an arbitrary row in an pixel array unit. Per-column AD converters separately convert voltage signals respectively outputted from a column of a plurality of unit pixels in the selected arbitrary row into digital signals. A column scanner sequentially outputs the digital signals by a column-scanning operation thereof. An AD conversion result adjuster judges whether or not the digital signals reach a predetermined judgment value or the status equivalent to the digital signals reaching the predetermined judgment value is generated, and fixes the digital signals to digital pixel values set in accordance with the predetermined judgment value when a result of the judgment is positive.

Abstract: An analog/digital converter device associated with a detector of an image sensor, including: a comparator capable of receiving the analog signal and delivering a two-states output signal, able to adopt, depending on the analog signal, a first stable state or a second state, a charge injector capable of changing the analog signal by injection of at least one quantity of charges into the capacitor, and a mechanism for commanding the charge injector, capable of receiving the two-state signals and capable of triggering, depending on the two-state signals, plural injections of charges between at least two successive changes in state of the signal, from the first state to the second state and from the second state to the first state.

Abstract: A system and method for remotely controlling a camera may include a telephony device communicatively coupled to a data network. The telephony device comprises at least one module adapted to generate a control signal in response to receiving a user command associated with dialing of an emergency telephone number. A camera may be adapted to start capturing images in response of receiving the control signal.

Abstract: In a pixel unit, cells are arranged in rows and columns two-dimensionally. Each of the cells accumulates signal charge obtained by photoelectrically converting light incident on photoelectric conversion section and outputs a voltage corresponding to the accumulated signal charge. On the cells, W, R, G, and B color filters are provided. Analog signals output from the W pixel, R pixel, G pixel, and B pixel are converted into digital signals by an analog/digital converter circuit, which outputs a W signal, an R signal, a G signal, and a B signal separately. A W signal saturated signal quantity is controlled by a saturated signal quantity control circuit. Then, a signal generator circuit corrects the R signal, the G signal, and the B signal using the W signal, the R signal, the G signal, and B signal output from the analog/digital converter circuit and outputs the corrected R, G, and B signals.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit for generating an image signal from an optical subject image, a display having a display mode and a non-display mode, an electronic finder for displaying a preview image on the display, an optical finder for leading the subject image to a finder window, an eye proximity detecting unit for detecting proximity of the eye to the finder window, a shutter having a light-blocking mode and a non-light-blocking mode, a first control unit for switching the display to the non-display mode and switching the shutter to the non-light-blocking mode to lead the subject image to the finder window when the eye proximity detecting unit detects proximity of the eye, and a second control unit for switching the shutter to the light-blocking mode and the display to the display mode to display the preview image when proximity of the eye is not detected.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to suitably perform a zooming control operation in the case that a zoom ring is provided at a lens-side portion and zoom switches are provided at a camera-body-side portion of a lens-interchangeable video camera. To achieve this object, in the case-that no zoom lens stop request is provided from the camera-body-side portion, it is judged from information sent from the camera-body-side portion which of a tele direction and a wide direction the moving direction of the zoom lens group is. Moreover, when the zoom angle is not placed at a tele end or at a wide end, lenses are driven by calculating data for driving the lenses. Thereafter, tele information is set or cleared according to whether the zoom lens group is placed at the tele end. Subsequently, zoom-ring operating information is detected. The detected zoom-ring operating information is sent to the camera-body-side portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling noise caused by vibration in a camera module for a mobile device are provided. The method includes transmitting a vibration signal sensed by a vibration sensor to a Choice Coil Motor (VCM) driver based on the vibration signal, applying, by the VCM driver, a reverse bias to a VCM upon receiving, by the VCM driver, the vibration signal from the vibration sensor, and exerting, by the VCM to which the reverse bias is applied, an electromagnetic force in a reverse direction in order to fix and halt an actuator.