Abstract: Systems and methods for previewing newly captured image content and reviewing previously stored image content using an electronic device are provided. The previously stored image content may include an individual distinct image or at least two consecutive video frame images.

Abstract: When a horizontal skipping operation is performed in a solid-state imaging apparatus that includes an A/D converting circuit in each column and that applies an arithmetic operation process to a digitalized signal and an arithmetic operation is performed with signals held by a plurality of register circuits, A/D converters and register circuits in columns in which signals are skipped, or not read out, are not involved in the operations. A more consideration is needed in terms of the use efficiency of circuits. A unit for connecting a register circuit of a certain column and a register circuit of a different column is arranged.

Abstract: A photographing lens unit, a photographing apparatus, and a photographing system are capable of always reproducing good stereoscopic images. Information regarding the focal length of a photographing optical system, a base line length, which is the interval between the incident optical axes of a first photographing optical axis and a second photographing optical axis for left eye and right eye, respectively, and information regarding the angle of convergence, which is the angle formed by the incident optical axes of the first photographing optical axis and the second photographing optical axis, are transmitted from a controller of the photographing lens unit to a camera main unit in the form of digital values.

Abstract: A portable moving picture recording device includes switching control to enable multiple data flow configurations. Two output encoders receive either composite or component digital video signals. The component video signals can come from one of three sources: decoded composite video, component video, and a random-access storage device. Inputs to a composite video analog-to-digital converter and a genlock decoder may be switched between at least two outputs, including a camera video and external video sources. The digital component signal may also be recorded onto the random access recording medium. These data paths are provided in a portable moving picture recording device, in combination with some editing capability.

Abstract: A system controller of a digital still camera turns off power supply of an LCD regardless of on/off position of an LCD switch, when the camera is connected to a personal computer and, hence, an LCD is unnecessary. Therefore, wasteful power consumption can be reduced, and the camera can be driven for a long period of time even by a battery or cell.

Abstract: In a CMOS image sensor, current leakage after a series of noise removing operations has been completed is suppressed in a read operation for each horizontal line, thereby suppressing image noise occurring on the output display screen of the image sensor. There are provided signal storage regions for storing the signals read from the unit cells in the same row selected in the imaging area onto vertical signal lines and horizontal select transistors for sequentially selecting and reading the signals stored in the individual signal storage regions and transferring them to read horizontal signal lines. At least in the period during which the signals are read from the signal storage regions, one of the drain and source of the transistor electrically connected to the signal path between the vertical signal line and horizontal signal line is biased in the reverse direction with respect to the substrate region. Two adjacent ones of the horizontal select transistors form a pair.

Abstract: At least a solid-state imaging device and one or a plurality of bare ICs that are disposed on the back face or on the back face side of the solid-state imaging apparatus and serve as peripheral circuits are provided. The bare ICs are sealed by a resin. A circuit board may be interposed between the solid-state imaging device and the bare ICs, or the solid-state imaging device and the ICs are directly bonded together. According to another aspect, IC chips and other parts as peripheral circuits of a solid-state imaging device are disposed on the inner surface, mainly the ceiling surface, of a light-shielding case.

Abstract: There is provided a solid-state image sensor including a photoelectric transfer section and a CMOS circuit section both formed on a common semiconductor substrate in accordance with a common process, the solid-state image sensor outputting a signal indicative of a variation in potential caused by electric charges generated in the photoelectric transfer section, the solid-state image sensor including (a) a semiconductor substrate having a first electrical conductivity, a first voltage being applied to the semiconductor substrate, (b) a first well layer formed in the semiconductor substrate, the first well layer having a second electrical conductivity and defining a photoelectric transfer section, a second voltage being applied to the first well layer in such a manner that the first well layer is inversely biased relative to the semiconductor substrate, (c) a second well layer formed in the semiconductor substrate, the second well layer having a first electrical conductivity and partially defining a CMOS circui

Abstract: An image recording system typically having a fixed lens system for easily recording a focused image of an object. The image recording system includes light beam sources directed such that when the projections of their light beams onto the object overlay each other, the object is positioned at the correct distance from the image recording system to project a focused image onto the image recording medium. Additional pairs of light beam sources are added to the image recording system to provide for rotational alignment of the image recording system with the object. The system can be fabricated as an inexpensive document recording system.

Abstract: An integrated active pixel sensor array arranged in a plurality of rows and columns comprises a saturation level line coupled to a source of saturation level control voltage, a global current-summing node.

Abstract: A solid state image pickup device includes light-receiving circuitry having a plurality of light-receiving cells arranged in a matrix. Apparatus is provided for reading and storing electrical signals output by the light-receiving circuitry, and includes (1) a first memory for reading bright signals out of the light-receiving cells arranged in a row for storing the bright signals for a horizontal scanning period, (2) a second memory for reading dark signals out of the light-receiving cells arranged in the row for storing the dark signal for the horizontal scanning period, and (3) a readout circuit for reading the bright and dark signals stored in the first and second memories simultaneously. A removing circuit is provided for removing fixed pattern noise by simultaneously processing the bright and dark current signals read out from the first and second memories. Preferably, this removing circuit comprises a differential amplifier.

Abstract: This electronic photographing device is designed to synthesize a calendar and an image with each other by a simple operation so as to record the synthesized image on a recording medium.

Abstract: An imaging system with brightness control includes an image capture subsystem and an image control block and is adapted for use in conjunction with an image processing application. The image capture subsystem receives an image and converts this image into digital image data. The digital signal is then stored in a video buffer for access by the image control block. The image control block provides brightness control of an image sensor in the image control subsystem to optimize the brightness of the desired area of interest in the image relative to the background. In one application, the imaging system is used in conjunction with a lane tracking system image processing application to detect roadway lane markings from a moving vehicle.

Abstract: A method of processing a digital image comprising: capturing the image utilizing an adjustable focusing technique; utilizing the focusing settings as an indicator of the position of structures within the image; and processing the image, utilizing the said focus settings to produce effects specific to said focus settings.

Abstract: A lens unit is attached to a body of a TV camera, and a main power supply of the camera body supplies power to motors that drive movable lenses of the lens unit. When the lens unit becomes unused, specifically, when the main power supply is turned off, or when the lens unit becomes detached from the camera body, a power supply switching part of the lens unit switches the power supply to an auxiliary power supply provided in the lens unit to allow the lens unit to operate. Then, a control circuit moves a focus lens and a zoom lens to an infinity end and a wide angle end, respectively, or to predetermined security positions, so as to prevent the deterioration of the operability and optical performance of the lens unit due to vibrations and shocks during transportation of the lens unit. Thereafter, the auxiliary power supply is turned off.

Abstract: A semiconductor based image sensor comprising a plurality of pixels formed upon a major surface of a semiconductor substrate, a majority of the pixels having a photodetector with a plurality of color filters of at least two different colors arranged over a second majority of the pixels a sense node formed within each of the pixels and operatively connected to CMOS control circuitry a plurality of busses arranged such that there is at least one unique bus operatively connected to the pixels for each color and interface means for providing an electrical connection to a timing circuit, the interface means having individual connections to each of the busses and capable of providing the predetermined voltage on the busses at a desired time.

Abstract: A system utilizes the camera control server of the CPU to transfer the camera control command, received through the network, to the camera control device to control the camera in order to vary the audio input/output characteristics in linkage with the camera operation and to thereby improve the realistic feeling. In more details, the camera control server also sends control commands to the audio input control device, the audio output device and the video display control device according to the camera control thereby controlling the input characteristics (spreading, direction and sensitivity) of the microphone and the output characteristics (spreading, direction and depth) of the speaker and varying the image displayed on the monitor. The system also includes technology for displaying, on the monitor, the information on the operator of the camera and on the receiver of the image, and for varying the direction of the monitor according to the panning or tilting operation of the camera.

Abstract: An autofocusing system is comprised of an image pickup device which performs a photoelectric conversion of an image of a subject, formed through an imaging optical system, to produce an electric image signal. An image pickup unit, including the imaging optical system, produces the subject image. A driving device drives the image pickup unit through one of a first range and a second range the second range being smaller than the first range. A high-frequency component detecting device detects a high-frequency component in an image signal obtained while at least a portion of the image pickup device is shifted by a predetermined quantity through the use of the driving device. A focusing drive device adjusts a focal condition of an image by an image signal on the basis of an output of the high-frequency component detecting device.

Abstract: A camera control system for selecting one camera from among a plurality of controllable cameras connected in a network and for making it possible to display video from the camera and to control the camera is adapted to display a map. One or more camera symbols representing cameras are displayed on the map and the user designates a desired camera symbol to control the camera corresponding to the symbol designated. It is also possible for the user to change the display magnification of the map displayed.

Abstract: A hand held stabilizer holder for hand held cameras comprises a first frame having a hand grip and a pivot mount spaced from the hand grip; a second frame pivotally mounted to the first frame at the pivot mount, and a camera mount on the second frame disposed below the pivot mount so that the camera remains in its orientation upon pivoting of the holder.