Abstract: An imaging device comprises pixels. The pixel includes first semiconductor regions of a first conductivity type provided in a surface part of a semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type provided in the surface part of the semiconductor substrate between the first semiconductor regions. The pixel includes: a light-receiving unit in which photodiodes each configured between the second semiconductor region and one of the first semiconductor regions; quenching circuits, each connected to a corresponding one of the first semiconductor regions; and a counter unit connected to each of connection nodes between the first semiconductor regions and the quenching circuits and counts a pulse generated in response to a photon being incident on the light-receiving unit. The second semiconductor region is provided across a deeper part of the semiconductor substrate than the first semiconductor regions.

Abstract: An imaging device comprises pixels. The pixel includes first semiconductor regions of a first conductivity type provided in a surface part of a semiconductor substrate and a second semiconductor region of a second conductivity type provided in the surface part of the semiconductor substrate between the first semiconductor regions. The pixel includes: a light-receiving unit in which photodiodes each configured between the second semiconductor region and one of the first semiconductor regions; quenching circuits, each connected to a corresponding one of the first semiconductor regions; and a counter unit connected to each of connection nodes between the first semiconductor regions and the quenching circuits and counts a pulse generated in response to a photon being incident on the light-receiving unit. The second semiconductor region is provided across a deeper part of the semiconductor substrate than the first semiconductor regions.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: a pixel region in which unit pixels corresponding to colors of color filters having a predetermined color arrangement are arranged in a matrix, each unit pixel having a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions; a first readout unit that performs a first readout operation of reading out a signal of at least one of the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions in each unit pixel, and that includes a merging unit for merging signals of a plurality of pixels corresponding to different colors in the predetermined color arrangement in the first readout operation; and a second readout unit that performs a second readout operation of reading out signals of all of the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions in each unit pixel.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: a pixel region in which unit pixels corresponding to colors of color filters having a predetermined color arrangement are arranged in a matrix, each unit pixel having a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions; a first readout unit that performs a first readout operation of reading out a signal of at least one of the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions in each unit pixel, and that includes a merging unit for merging signals of a plurality of pixels corresponding to different colors in the predetermined color arrangement in the first readout operation; and a second readout unit that performs a second readout operation of reading out signals of all of the plurality of photoelectric conversion portions in each unit pixel.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus including a photoelectric conversion element, first, a shutter speed for still-image pickup is set. Next, an image-pickup frame rate is set on the basis of the shutter speed for still-image pickup. Then, an operation of the photoelectric conversion element is controlled such that picked-up images are output at the set image-pickup frame rate. When the image-pickup frame rate that is set is higher than a moving-image-reproducing frame rate, a frame for use in a moving-image reproduction is generated from a plurality of frames of the picked-up images and reproduction is performed at the moving-image-reproduction frame rate.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of obtaining a sufficient resolution in a picture signal for zooming in on an output signal of an image pickup device by means of an electronic zoom process and a control method thereof. To attain this object, a timing generator generates a timing signal for controlling timing for reading charges to an image pickup device and the timing for mixing or transferring the charges. A zoom control portion determines a scaling factor for, by signal processing, expanding or reducing picture data generated based on the output signal of the image pickup device. The zoom control portion also determines the number of mixed pixels and a cutout range of the charges in the image pickup device. A vertical scaling factor control portion controls the timing generator so that mixture of the charges and charge transfer will be compliant with the number of mixed pixels and the cutout range respectively as determined by the zoom control portion.

Abstract: This invention relates to a video camera for inputting an image of an object as an electrical signal. This video camera includes a CCD, a clock selector for selecting a clock having a frequency corresponding to a read object region in which pixels are read out from the CCD, a CCD controller for driving the CCD in accordance with the clock having the selected frequency to read out pixels from the read object region, and a monitor for displaying an image on the basis of the pixels read out from the CCD.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus including a photoelectric conversion element, first, a shutter speed for still-image pickup is set. Next, an image-pickup frame rate is set on the basis of the shutter speed for still-image pickup. Then, an operation of the photoelectric conversion element is controlled such that picked-up images are output at the set image-pickup frame rate. When the image-pickup frame rate that is set is higher than a moving-image-reproducing frame rate, a frame for use in a moving-image reproduction is generated from a plurality of frames of the picked-up images and reproduction is performed at the moving-image-reproduction frame rate.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus processes an image signal outputted from an image sensing device which has a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements covered with a color filter and which can be driven in a first reading method of separately reading signals from the respective photoelectric conversion elements and a second reading method of adding signals generated by the photoelectric conversion elements by at least two signals corresponding to the photoelectric conversion elements of a same color then outputting the added signals. The signal processing apparatus comprises a switch that switches between the first reading method and the second reading method, and a correction unit that passes signals inputted from the image sensing device without correcting positions of barycenters of the inputted signals when the first reading method is set, and corrects positions of barycenters of the inputted signals when the second reading method is set.

Abstract: This invention relates to a video camera for inputting an image of an object as an electrical signal. This video camera includes a CCD, a clock selector for selecting a clock having a frequency corresponding to a read object region in which pixels are read out from the CCD, a CCD controller for driving the CCD in accordance with the clock having the selected frequency to read out pixels from the read object region, and a monitor for displaying an image on the basis of the pixels read out from the CCD.

Abstract: This invention relates to a video camera for inputting an image of an object as an electrical signal. This video camera includes a CCD, a clock selector for selecting a clock having a frequency corresponding to a read object region in which pixels are read out from the CCD, a CCD controller for driving the CCD in accordance with the clock having the selected frequency to read out pixels from the read object region, and a monitor for displaying an image on the basis of the pixels read out from the CCD.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus capable of obtaining a sufficient resolution in a picture signal for zooming in on an output signal of an image pickup device by means of an electronic zoom process and a control method thereof. To attain this object, a timing generator generates a timing signal for controlling timing for reading charges to an image pickup device and the timing for mixing or transferring the charges. A zoom control portion determines a scaling factor for, by signal processing, expanding or reducing picture data generated based on the output signal of the image pickup device. The zoom control portion also determines the number of mixed pixels and a cutout range of the charges in the image pickup device. A vertical scaling factor control portion controls the timing generator so that mixture of the charges and charge transfer will be compliant with the number of mixed pixels and the cutout range respectively as determined by the zoom control portion.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus processes an image signal outputted from an image sensing device which has a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements covered with a color filter and which can be driven in a first reading method of separately reading signals from the respective photoelectric conversion elements and a second reading method of adding signals generated by the photoelectric conversion elements by at least two signals corresponding to the photoelectric conversion elements of a same color then outputting the added signals. The signal processing apparatus comprises a switch that switches between the first reading method and the second reading method, and a correction unit that passes signals inputted from the image sensing device without correcting positions of barycenters of the inputted signals when the first reading method is set, and corrects positions of barycenters of the inputted signals when the second reading method is set.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises a first input part for inputting a video signal, a second input part for inputting a control signal indicative of a special effect mode to be applied to the video signal, a compressing part for compressing the video signal inputted by the first input part, a memory part for storing the video signal, and a memory control part for, according to the control signal, causing the memory part to selectively store the video signal compressed by the compressing part and a video signal not compressed by the compressing part.

Abstract: A video memory device is provided with a memory circuit, a write control circuit for controlling writing to the memory circuit by utilizing the horizontal synchronizing signal of a video signal input to the memory circuit, and a read control circuit for controlling reading from the memory circuit by utilizing the horizontal synchronizing of a video signal output from the memory circuit.

Abstract: The amount of edge enhancement outputted from an amount-of-edge-enhancement computing circuit is determined on the basis of the degree of sharpness of the edge independently of a zoom magnification. In the meantime, in an enhancement coefficient computing circuit, an enhancement coefficient according to the zoom magnification is computed. In a multiplier, the output from the amount-of-edge-enhancement computing circuit (the amount of edge enhancement) is multiplied by the output from the enhancement coefficient computing circuit (the enhancement coefficient). The resultant amount of edge correction is outputted from the multiplier. Accordingly, the amount of edge correction outputted from the multiplier takes a value according to the zoom magnification. According to this arrangement, enhancement processing which does not bring about overcorrection or unprocessing can be applied to the edge portion of an image enlarged by electronic zoom.

Abstract: An apparatus including an image sensing system which receives light from an object and further outputs a video signal; a reproducing system which reproduces a video signal recorded on a recording medium; a selection circuit which selectively outputs either the video signal provided by the image sensing system or the video signal provided by the reproducing system; and a vibration compensation circuit which compensates picture vibrations of the video signal selected by the selection circuit. With this arrangement, it is possible to effectively avoid picture vibrations associated with video signals provided by the reproducing system and by the image sensing system, and thus it is possible to obtain excellent quality of pictures.

Abstract: In the image signal processing apparatus in this invention, control is carried out in such a manner that an enlarged image signal based on an image signal stored in a memory is produced a predetermined period of time after the image signal was written into the memory, a blanking signal is generated at a predetermined period of time after a further blanking signal included in the image signal applied into the memory occurs, so that during the blanking period occurring in the image signal, the blanking signal is produced, and during periods outside this blanking period, the output is changed over for the enlarged image signal produced from the memory so that the image signal may be enlarged in a stable manner, and the construction and work involved in circuit adjustment may be simple.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording a video signal while forming a multiplicity of recording tracks in parallel on a tape-shaped recording medium, wherein camera information representing the operating state of a camera when shooting each picture is recorded in a position corresponding to the recorded track of that picture so that the operating state of the camera at the time of taking the video signal which has already been recorded can reappear. Therefore, in a case where a video signal is recorded in continuity with this recorded portion, the camera operating state is controlled in a joint portion of these to improve the continuity in this joint portion.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus, for processing a compressed image signal corresponding to an image obtained by optically compressing an object image with a predetermined compression rate, receives the compressed image signal, effects an expansion process on the compressed image signal according to the compression rate thereof, and extracts and releases an image signal corresponding to a part of the image represented by the image signal formed by the expansion, thereby enabling to display a distortion-free image on a monitor.