Abstract: An image processing device includes an initialization module, an optical black detection module, a calculation module, an image capturing module, a gain-value acquiring module, a gain adjusting module, and a pixel value adjusting module. The calculation module is configured for calculating the gain-coefficient. The image capturing module is configured for capturing an image of an object and acquiring the pixel value of each pixel of the image. The gain-value acquiring module is configured for acquiring a gain value according to the pixel values of the image. The gain adjusting module is configured for multiplying the gain value by the gain-coefficient to obtain an adjusted-gain value. The pixel value adjusting module is configured for multiplying the pixel values by the adjusted-gain value to adjust the pixel values.

Abstract: In a head detachable camera comprising a camera head and an image processing unit which does not have an exclusive line for notifying the type of image sensing device used in the camera head, when the power switch is turned on, vertical interval data signal processing units of the camera head and the image processing unit are set to a predetermined communication mode, such as one conforming to the NTSC video mode. Under this situation, identification information showing the number of pixels and the video rate used in the image sensing device is transmitted from the camera head by multiplexing the identification information in a blanking period of an image signal, and the communication mode of the camera head is changed in accordance with the number of pixels and the video rate of the image sensing device, if necessary.

Abstract: A handheld camera comprising a sensor adapted to sense an image, a camera manager for controlling the sensing of the image, an image processing manager for manipulating the image, a print manager for controlling printing of the manipulated image, and a guillotine adapted to cut a print media on which the manipulated image is printed from a print roll. The print manager is operable to activate the guillotine upon receipt of a signal indicative of a manual attempt to pull the print media from the camera.

Abstract: The anti-blooming structure of an image sensor is supplied with varying voltages during different integration periods such that charges generated in response to low level light are fully captured, whereas charges generated in response to a bright light spill over in a controlled manner. Accordingly, sensor's response may be generated to result in higher gains at low light levels and progressively lower gains at the higher light levels.

Abstract: In some implementations, a portable imaging system includes a host computer, a docking station connected to the host computer, and a portable imaging device intermittently attached to the docking station and configured to communicate data with the host computer through a wired connection when the portable imaging device is attached to the docking station, and through a wireless connection when detached from the docking station. In some implementations, a method for communicating data between a portable imaging device and a computer is also provided. In some implementations, the method includes determining whether a wired connection is established between the portable imaging device and the computer. In some implementations, if established, the wired connection is used to communicate data between the portable imaging device and the computer.

Abstract: An auto focus unit, comprising a pursuit block, a scanning area setting block, a change area setting block, a permission block, and a lens driver, is provided. The pursuit block pursues the movements of a target object. The scanning area setting block designates a part of an object-area as a scanning area at first timing. After first timing, the scanning area setting block is able to reset the scanning area to the now location where the targeted object has moved. The change area setting block defines an area of a predetermined range as a change area at the first timing. The permission block orders the scanning area setting block to reset the scanning area when the location where the targeted object moved is outside of the change area. The lens driver orders a focus lens to move so that an optical image of the scanning area is focused on.

Abstract: A method of operating a handheld camera comprises causing a sensor to sense an image, supplying predetermined data to an input of the camera via a card on which the predetermined data is disposed, and causing a processing system to obtain the image from the sensor, determine a card image in accordance with signals received from the input, rotate the card image in accordance with a skew of the card with respect to the input, and manipulate the image in accordance with the predetermined data to thereby generate a manipulated image.

Abstract: An anti-shake apparatus for image stabilizing comprises a movable unit and a controller. The movable unit is movable for an anti-shake operation. The controller stops the anti-shake operation after an exposure time and moves the movable unit to a first position after the anti-shake operation. The first position is a position of the movable unit before the exposure time and before the anti-shake operation. The controller moves the movable unit at a decelerated, low rate of speed before finishing its movement to the first position.

Abstract: A handheld camera comprises a sensor adapted to sense an image, a camera manager for controlling the sensing of the image, an image processing manager for manipulating the image, a print manager for controlling printing of the manipulated image, and a guillotine adapted to cut a print media on which the manipulated image is printed from a print roll. The print manager is operable to activate the guillotine upon receipt of a signal indicative of an attempt to dispense the print media at a rate greater than that of a print roll drive system for dispensing the print media.

Abstract: Group keys and image group names of image groups to which the owner of a digital camera belongs are transmitted from a server to the digital camera. The image group names are displayed in list form and an image group name is selected from the list. The group key of the selected image group is transmitted from the digital camera to the server. The server sends the digital camera access information for accessing the user computer of another user who belongs to the image group identified by the received group key. The digital camera accesses the user computer based upon the access information and receives the image file desired.

Abstract: An imaging device of the present invention includes a solid-state image sensing device; a vertical transfer drive circuit for feeding a subpulse to the solid-state image sensing device; and a control circuit, and repeats a series of photographing operations in a cycle same as or longer than a period during which the series of photographing operations are performed, the series of photographing operations including an exposure operation for exposing an imaging area after the subpulse is fed to the solid-state image sensing device to sweep out electric charges accumulated in pixels. The control circuit stops the subpulse from being fed from the vertical transfer drive circuit to the solid-state image sensing device during a period during which the exposure operation included in the series of photographing operations is not performed.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging section which captures an object to obtain a first image signal of interlace scan type, a motion vector detection section which detects a motion vector by use of the first image signal, a vibration correction section which corrects, according to the motion vector detected by the motion vector detection section, vibration of an object image included in the first image signal, and a conversion section which converts, according to the motion vector detected by the motion vector detection section, the first image signal to a second image signal of progressive scan type.

Abstract: The object of this invention is to attain accurate control by correcting any deviation of a cam locus due to manufacturing errors and the like upon controlling a zoom lens and focus lens along a theoretical cam locus. To attain this object, a differential locus between the theoretical cam locus (stored cam locus) and a true cam locus due to an error obtained by a measurement is obtained, and is stored as cam correction data. The lens control is made while correcting the theoretical cam locus by the correction data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for auto white balance in a portable terminal is provided. The method includes analyzing a captured image with histograms of red, green, and blue channels and a histogram of a gray channel; determining whether the histogram of the RGB channels and the histogram of the gray channel overlap over a predetermined percentage; measuring each color distribution average value of the RGB channels when the histogram of the RGB channels and the histogram of the gray channel overlap over a predetermined percentage; and performing color temperature correction using the color distribution average value measured in each of the RGB channels.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus control unit, comprising a calculation block, a first control block, an output block, and a second control block, is provided. The calculation block calculates the number of possible photographs. The number of possible photographs is set as the sequential-photographing number. The first control block carries out imaging control for either sequential-photographing or single-photographing. The output block outputs the compressed image signal to the memory. The second control block either repeatedly carries out the sequential control for sequential-photographing, or stops carrying out the sequential control for sequential-photographing and begins carrying out the sequential control for single-photographing when the sequential-photographing number is below a first predetermined number.

Abstract: A device mounting apparatus that allows the orientation of a device to be easily adjusted alone. The device mounting apparatus is mounted with a device. A mount includes a seat fixed to a base, and a rotation mechanism portion that is supported by the seat and can change the orientation of the device relative to the seat. An adjustment jig is attachable to and detachable from the mount and includes a driving unit driven by operation. The rotation mechanism includes a supporting unit that supports the device, a changing unit that changes the orientation of the rotation mechanism according to driving of the adjustment jig when the adjustment jig is mounted to the mount, and brakes that fix the orientation of the rotation mechanism when the adjustment jig is detached from the mount.

Abstract: First to fourth lenses are aligned in an optical axis direction by a lens-barrel of a camera, an O-ring is disposed between the first lens and the lens-barrel, an O-ring is disposed between the fourth lens and the lens-barrel, a space is formed between the first and second lenses, a space is formed between the second and fourth lenses, a space is formed between the third and fourth lenses, and flow of air between the spaces is precluded. The camera thus configured is free of dewing on the lens or a protective plate exposed to the exterior, even when the inside temperature is raised due to heat generation in a CCD or a mounting substrate on which the CCD is mounted.

Abstract: A scan conversion device includes a first buffer unit, a pixel packing unit, a second buffer unit, and a scan output unit. The first buffer unit stores therein pixel signals of the input image on every line in a main scanning direction thereof. The pixel packing unit groups N (N?2) pixel signals on each line into pixel signal packs according to a predetermined pixel combination rule, and outputs them sequentially. The second buffer unit stores therein the pixel signal packs and aligns them in a second main scanning direction different from the main scanning direction. The scan output unit sequentially outputs the pixel signal packs aligned in the second main scanning direction. According to this configuration, a scan pattern of the input image is changed into a scan pattern of outputting every N output lines in the second main scanning direction.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus that includes a device for discharging charge or F/E-IC for discharging charge accumulated in an imaging device or CCD and for canceling exposure in a discharging term of the charge. The imaging apparatus also includes a light shielding device or mechanical shutter unit for a mechanical shutter, which shields light by the mechanical shutter, and a control device or CPU block for hastening by a predetermined time the charge discharging term of the CCD in the discharging device and a light shielding timing of the mechanical shutter in the light shielding device, when a shutter speed for recording a subject is more than a predetermined time.

Abstract: In a package including a base fixed with a solid image pickup element, a side wall rising up along the periphery of the base, and internal terminals arranged on a step of the side wall, a plurality of recesses are formed at certain intervals in a lower part of the step to prevent bleeding of an adhesive fixing the solid image pickup element from creeping up over the internal terminals. When the adhesive and bleeding thereof spread around the solid image pickup element during die bonding, they flow into the recesses, making even fast-flowing bleeding hardly creep up an inner surface of the side wall including the step, and enabling prevention of the adhesive from adhering to the internal terminal. Strength, questioned by the presence of the recesses upon wire bonding, can be secured by residual parts between the recesses, and defective wire bonding is less likely to occur.