Abstract: A video camera system comprises a lens block and a camera block which are attachable and detachable through a block coupling mechanism to and from each other. The detachable lens block incorporates a focus lens drive mechanism for driving a focus lens and an autofocus control section for executing autofocus control. The autofocus control section receives a composite video signal obtained by processing a video signal from an image pickup device in a signal processing section of the camera block. The autofocus control section produces a focus control signal on the basis of the composite video signal to control the focus lens drive mechanism for the execution of the autofocus control. In addition, the detachable lens block is composed of an iris drive mechanism for optically adjusting an aperture of a lens and an autoiris control section for automatically controlling the iris drive mechanism, so that automatic iris control is executed on the basis of the composite video signal outputted from the camera block.

Abstract: An imaging device formed as a monolithic complementary metal oxide semiconductor integrated circuit in an industry standard complementary metal oxide semiconductor process, the integrated circuit including a focal plane array of pixel cells, each one of the cells including a photogate overlying the substrate for accumulating photo-generated charge in an underlying portion of the substrate and a charge coupled device section formed on the substrate adjacent the photogate having a sensing node and at least one charge coupled device stage for transferring charge from the underlying portion of the substrate to the sensing node. There is also a readout circuit, part of which can be disposed at the bottom of each column of cells and be common to all the cells in the column. A Simple Floating Gate (SFG) pixel structure could also be employed in the imager to provide a non-destructive readout and smaller pixel sizes.

Abstract: In an apex-angle variable prism comprising a combination of a planoconcave lens and a planoconvex lens, at least one lens is simply and stably rotated along the spherical surfaces of these lens by using a compact actuator. In order to rotate the planoconvex lens along the spherical surface of the planoconcave lens, the one end of the planoconvex lens is supported by a pivot bearing disposed on the rotational center line X.sub.2 which passes through the center O.sub.2 of the radius of curvature of the sphere of the planoconvex lens, and the other end of the planoconvex lens is rotated along the rotational reference plane Z perpendicular to the rotational center line X.sub.2 by using a compact DC motor.

Abstract: An electronic camera for producing a digital image and a multimode microfluidic printing device for printing such digital image including a parallel associative interface structure having an image sensor in the camera for producing digital images and a microfluidic printing device including a plurality of colored ink reservoirs including several reservoirs for containing different colorants and a plurality of colorant delivery chambers. Circuitry responds to digital image produced by the sensor for image processing the digital image produced by the image sensor for controlling the microfluidic printing device to deliver colorants from the delivery chambers to an image transfer position. An image receiving medium is delivered to such medium to produce a visual image of the digital image.

Abstract: A color filter device of a digital camera which comprises a luminance processor, a color processor, a control unit, and a color memory for storing color data. The color memory is controlled by the control unit so as to provide user-selected color data when the control unit terminates an output of the color processor to perform a color filtering, so that the user-selected color data is combined with luminance data output by the luminance processor.

Abstract: In a system including a server to which a camera is connected, and clients which can remote-control the image pickup conditions of the camera, the server generates a message indicating a state associated with the camera control authority, and issues it to the individual clients. When each client determines that the received message is the one indicating the state associated with the camera control, it acquires the control authority status and its remained time from the received message, counts the remained time, and displays the remained time.

Abstract: A video timing generator provides control and timing signals for a variety of different camera types by employing a circular buffer scanned rapidly before the occurrence of each potential control and timing signal. The circular buffer holds operation codes for generating the control and timing signal linked to target event signal times. An operation code having a target event signal time matching with the next event time is decoded and queued to be executed at that event time.

Abstract: A CCD bare chip 12 is disposed on a substrate 1. The CCD bare chip 12 converts condensed light by an image forming lens 4 disposed on a holder 2 into an electric signal and outputs an image signal. The image forming lens 4 is disposed on the holder 2. A housing of the holder 2 is a package 2A that has a diaphragm effect for shielding peripheral rays of light and that shield outer light. The package 2A has a circular hole 3 for allowing light emitted from an object to be entered. The holder 2 is disposed on the substrate 1. In such a structure, an image pickup apparatus is accomplished.

Abstract: A video camera with electronic monitor which prevents interference of an electronic monitor and a cassette holder by restricting the movement of the cassette holder based on the detection of opening and rotating angles of the electronic monitor with respect to a video camera body. The video camera with electronic monitor includes the video camera body, the electronic monitor openably attached to the video camera body in a rotatable fashion while it is opened, a fulcrum for supporting the electronic monitor against the video camera body in an openable and rotatable fashion, the cassette holder disposed on the video camera body close to the electronic monitor which projects from the video camera body, and a controller for restricting the movement of the cassette holder by detecting the opening and rotating angles of the electronic monitor with respect to the video camera body.

Abstract: A level compression and/or gradation conversion of a video signal are performed without causing any change in the hue of a picture represented by that video signal. The knee compression and/or gradation conversion are carried out by multiplying red, green and blue primary color signals by a luminance gain, while the hue and saturation remain unaffected. If the level of any of the primary color signals still exceeds a predetermined threshold level, the saturation conversion is executed by using the saturation gain and the luminance component supplied from a controller. In the saturation conversion operation, the maximum level of at least one of the red, green and blue primary color signals is made coincident with the predetermined threshold level while the hue and luminance of the picture represented by the video signal are maintained unchanged.

Abstract: In a digital camera, a gain for a variable gain amplifier is controlled by a controller so that when a signal level of an image signal for a CCD is corrected by the variable gain amplifier, a quantization error or an exposure error generated when a shutter speed is set by a unit of CCD electric charge sweep-away pulse will be offset.

Abstract: An anti-color aliasing filter for a digital imaging system is includes a first filtering region that allows any color to pass through. The filter also includes a second filtering region adjacent to the first filtering region to allow a particular color or colors to pass through in order to adjust the color frequency response of the digital imaging system to the remaining colors without affecting the frequency response of the digital imaging system to the colors passing through the second filtering region, such that color aliasing is minimized in the digital imaging system.

Abstract: A clamping circuit for use in a video camera varies a level of an image signal utilizing an analog feedback control signal, converts the varied image signal to a digital image signal, generates a digital zone value signal that corresponds to a level of a reference zone of the digital image signal, digitally detects an amount of error between the digital zone value signal and a predetermined zone value having a non-zero fractional portion, generates from the detected amount of error a digital error signal that has a predetermined number of data bits, switches between a coarse adjustment mode and a fine adjustment mode of the clamping circuit in accordance with a level of the digital error signal, generates, in the coarse adjustment mode, a pulse width modulated signal from the most significant bits of the digital error signal, generates, in the fine adjustment mode, the pulse width modulated signal from the least significant bits of the digital error signal, and generates from the generated pulse width modulat

Abstract: A camera provided with a housing having a plurality of entrance windows through each of which extraneous light rays are taken in, an image pickup device mounted in this housing, an optical element that is disposed in the housing and is operative to form images obtained from extraneous light rays taken in through the plurality of entrance windows on the imaging plane of the image pickup device, a light Shielding member that is provided in such a way as to be upright on the imaging plane of the image pickup device and to divide the imaging plane of the image pickup device into imaging fields on which images are respectively formed from the extraneous light rays taken in through the plurality of entrance windows, an aperture limitation remember that is placed in a stage preceding the light shielding member and has an aperture to limit the size of an incidence optical path of each of extraneous light rays from which images are formed on the imaging plane of the image pickup device, a diaphragm member that is disp

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for timelapse capture in an image capture unit. A system and method for timelapse capture according to the present invention comprises capturing a first image automatically; initiating a sleep mode after capturing the first image; and transitioning from the sleep mode into a wake mode prior to capturing a second image. According to the present invention, a system and method is provided which provides a digital camera with the ability to automatically place the digital camera in a sleep mode during the interval when the camera is inactive. The sleep mode minimizes power consumption during inactive periods of a timelapse capture sequence, thus allowing automation of timelapse sequences. The sleep mode can be initiated if a predetermined time interval is greater than a setup time required prior to initiating the next image capture.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device of the present invention includes: a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; a transfer section for transferring charges generated by the photoelectric conversion elements; a floating diode for converting the charges transferred by the transfer section to voltage signals; and an amplification section including a plurality of source follower circuits, each amplifying the voltage signals generated by the floating diode, wherein different power supply voltages are supplied to the respective source follower circuits, and the power supply voltages are reduced as the DC current flowing through each of the respective source follower circuits increases.

Abstract: A thresholding method and improved light sensor that reduce the processing requirements of processors used to control the shutter, gain, and pedestal settings of license plate cameras employed in a toll road revenue collection system. The thresholding method and light sensor reduce the amount of data transmitted from the light sensor to the processor which controls the shutter, gain, and pedestal settings of license plate cameras of the toll road collection system. To minimize the redundant transmission and processing of data by the processor, a threshold comparator is used in the light sensor that only transmits data when the light level changes enough to exceed or fall below a programmable threshold. The threshold is programmed by the processor using a microprocessor. Thus, data is only transmitted when lighting conditions change, and transmission of redundant data is therefore eliminated.