Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging section; a moving-object detection processing section for detecting a moving object in a plurality of frame images captured by the imaging section; and a fluctuation-elimination processing section for masking a portion detected including the moving object by the moving-object detection processing section, and performing fluctuation elimination processing on an image of an area excluding the masked portion.

Abstract: A video transmission system typically includes a video server adapted to receive video data from one or more video cameras. In some instance, the video server may be operable to buffer the video data and transmit the video data across a network to various client computing devices. In an improved video transmission system of the present invention, the client computing devices may be further configured to retransmit video data across the network to other client computing devices, thereby reducing the bandwidth and computing load placed on the video server.

Abstract: When flash photography is performed, an exposure time at a time of a preliminary light emission of a flash is set as short as possible so that the appropriate amount of light required for a main light emission of the flash can be accurately computed. Before the main light emission of the flash, an exposure operation prior to preliminary light emission and an exposure operation at the time of preliminary light emission are performed. After each of these exposures, the pixel signals of individual pixels are intermittently read out at predetermined pixel intervals. The brightness levels of images captured in the exposure operation prior to preliminary light emission and the exposure operation at the time of preliminary light emission are individually detected based on the signals. The amount of light required for the main light emission of the flash is computed based on a difference between the brightness levels.

Abstract: With a digital camera 100, a photographed image 31 is displayed on a liquid crystal display and the user selects a desired image and specifies print specifications of the number of print sheets, a print paper size, a print color mode, etc., then print image data is prepared. The prepared print image data is transmitted from the digital camera 100 to a color printer of an output unit. An image is printed at the color printer in accordance with the print image data.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided with a power source, a power supply circuit connected to the power source and having power supply lines for supplying a positive voltage and a negative voltage, an image pickup element, plural drivers for generating multi-phase driving signals and applying the generated multi-phase driving signals to the image pickup element, a discharging circuit connected in parallel with the plural drivers, and a conducting circuit for allowing unnecessary charge accumulated in the power source to discharge through the power supply circuit for a negative voltage to the discharging circuit at the time when the power source is turned off, wherein the power supply circuit for a negative voltage is connected to the plural drivers.

Abstract: A frame shutter apparatus comprising a controller for controlling multiple groups of pixels and for reading out values corresponding to the charge collected by different groups of pixels at different times. A method of reading out multiple groups of pixels is provided wherein values corresponding to the charge collected by one group of pixels is readout at a different time than the values corresponding to the charge collected by another group of pixels.

Abstract: A pixel bias current supply for supplying a stable source of bias current to pixels of an imager includes a current bypass feature for improving stability when one or more pixels of an imager saturates. The pixel bias current supply also features voltage limiters to restrict the output voltage of a pixel in order to prevent reverse video from being output when very strong light is incident upon one or more pixels.

Abstract: An image sensor has at least two photodiodes in each unit pixel. A high dynamic range is achieved by selecting different exposure times for the photodiodes. Additionally, blooming is reduced. The readout timing cycle is chosen so that the short exposure time photodiodes act as drains for excess charge overflowing from the long exposure time photodiodes. To improve draining of excess charge, the arrangement of photodiodes may be further selected so that long exposure time photodiodes are neighbored along vertical and horizontal directions by short exposure time photodiodes. A micro-lens array may also be provided in which light is preferentially coupled to the long exposure time photodiodes to improve sensitivity.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a base an image sensor chip, and a cooling element. The base includes an opening disposed in the base. The image sensor chip is connected electrically to the base and covers the opening. The cooling element is received in the opening and is connected thermally to the image sensor chip. Heat produced by the image sensor chip can be dissipated in time by the cooling elements in the image sensor. The cooling elements maintain the image sensor chip works under a temperature no more than the rated working temperature of the image sensor chip and therefore extend the life of the image sensor, and improve the image quality of the image sensor chip.

Abstract: A remote image-pickup system includes a camera device including an image-pickup unit for capturing an image of a subject and generating picture signals and a card slot; and a plurality of types of card substrates which are selectively inserted into the card slot and which convert the format of the picture signals so as to output the converted signals to an external device. By inserting different card substrates into the card slot, a plurality of formats of picture signals can be output from the camera device. Accordingly, the format of the picture signals output from the camera device can be flexibly expanded. Further, since many circuits for converting the picture signals need not be incorporated into the camera device, an increase in the size and price of the camera device can be prevented.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus preferable for saving image data in folders as desired by a user for each scene or date of image-taking is disclosed. The image-taking apparatus of the present invention comprises an image processing circuit which creates image data files based on output from an image-pickup device, and a filing system which saves created image data files in a folder created on a recording medium with a different file number assigned to each image data file and performs a numbering process in which it assigns file numbers sequentially from an initial number. The filing system creates a new folder on the recording medium in accordance with operation of an operating member by a user and starts the numbering process on image data files to be saved in the new folder from the initial number.

Abstract: Systems and related methods have been achieved to convert in an analog domain the output of color image sensors into another color space. A chosen implementation converts the output of red, green, blue and white image sensors to the YcrCb color space, wherein the white image sensors are either extended dynamic range (XDR) image sensors or are of the same type as the other image sensors but have a larger size. The output of the white pixels can be used without conversion directly for the luminance Y value, thus achieving a very simple method for a conversion to YCbCr color space. Analog amplifiers, assigned to each of the red, green, and blue image sensors, have a gain according to the matrix describing the conversion from RGB to CbCr. Analog adders, assigned to Cb and Cr are adding the coefficients required for the computation of Cb and Cr. Finally the values of Y, Cb and Cr are converted to digital values. White pixels are advantageous but not required using the present invention.

Abstract: Pixel signals are sequentially output from an image sensor in a reverse order to an order in which light sensing cells are arranged with respect to one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. In an image processor, first, a data reading part transfers the pixel signals in the same order as corresponding light sensing cells are arranged with respect to both of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, and a signal sequence of the pixel signals is changed. Then, the pixel signals which are output group by group are sequentially selected by a selector in accordance with a sequence of groups. As a result, the pixel signals can be supplied from the selector in an order conforming a two-dimensional array of the light sensing cells, to thereby facilitate color interpolation which is to be later performed by a color interpolator.

Abstract: In case there is no image file with an event name in a memory card when a digital camera is turned on the first time on the day, an asking sentence asks whether to create a new event name or not. When “Yes” is selected, event tag data showing “Event 1” is applied to an image file. When “No” is selected, event tag data showing “No event” is applied to an image file. In case there is an image file of “Event n” in the memory card, a selection screen is displayed to select one of options, which are to apply a new event name “Event n+1”, to apply the existing event name “Event n” and to apply no event name. In the second or later turn on of the digital camera, the event name selected in the first turn on is automatically applied to the event tag data.

Abstract: An auto white balance (AWB) method and an image photographing apparatus using the same. The AWB method includes selecting parts of a plurality of windows that form an image, and performing an AWB of the image, based on color difference signals of the selected windows, thereby reducing a time to transmit AWB data to calculate color difference integration, i.e., AWB data to be used to perform the AWB, to reduce the extent of calculation to calculate the color difference integration, and efficiently to perform the AWB of the image.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensing apparatus having output channels CH1 and CH2 has first and second driving modes in which pixel signals of pixels in the same image sensing area are read out. The number of output channels to be used is changed between the first driving mode and the second driving mode. In at least one of the two modes, the phase of the read timing of pixel signals of pixels adjacent in the horizontal direction is shifted by a predetermined amount.

Abstract: Included are embodiments for reducing undesirable motion in a video. At least one embodiment of a method includes receiving a plurality of video frames that comprise at least one segment of a video, the plurality of video frames being captured by a capture device and determining a maximum undesired movement of the capture device for the plurality of video frames during the at least one segment. Some embodiments include trimming at least a portion of the video frames according to the determined maximum undesired movement such that the undesirable movement in the video is reduced.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes: a luminance detection device that detects a luminance of a photographic field; an image sensor that captures an image of a photographic subject; a light reduction device that changes over between reducing an amount of light from the photographic subject that is conducted to the image sensor, and not performing such light amount reduction; and a calculation device that, when moving image photography is started with the image sensor, decides whether or not to perform the light amount reduction with the light reduction device according to the luminance detected by the luminance detection device, and then calculates a control exposure for this moving image photography.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus selects a correction method of a defective pixel in accordance with the type of the defective pixel. The image processing apparatus includes an imaging device consisting of a plurality of pixels, a storage device for storing a captured image output from the imaging device, a first correction processing device for correcting a defective pixel in the captured image based on first corrective data containing address information of a defective pixel in the imaging device in accordance with input of a signal output from the defective pixel in the imaging device, and a second correction processing device for correcting the defective pixel in the captured image stored in the storage device based on second corrective data containing address information of a defective pixel in the imaging device.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a CCD color image pickup element forms a right and left parallel object images and photoelectrically converts the object images into a object image signal. In this case, the object image signal is analyzed to calculate exposure information on a predetermined photometric area. Then, when an SPM synthesizing section generates a stereo image from the object image signal, a partition area setting section sets the luminance level of a partition are on the basis of the exposure information on the parallel object images, the partition area is a median strip used to arrange monocular images of the parallel object images away from each other.