Abstract: Disclosed is an image synthesizer including an image frames memory which memorizes a plurality of image frames which are produced by continuously taking pictures of a subject, an image synthesizer which synthesizes a plurality of image frames to a summation image, an image brightness adjuster which adjusts brightness of the summation image by synthesizing the image frames with the image synthesizer, and a display which displays the summation image which is being synthesized by the image synthesizing means in the image brightness adjusting processing.

Abstract: A digital camera 1 comprising a xenon strobe light device 15 and an LED strobe light device 16, wherein, when strobe light consecutive imaging is performed when the strobe light is set to “automatically-switched strobe light”, the digital camera 1 illuminates a xenon tube 27 by controlling the xenon strobe light device 15 synchronously with each instance of imaging for a predetermined number of frames, and when the number of consecutively-imaged frames exceeds a predetermined number of times, the digital camera 1 switches the strobe light to the LED strobe light, and illuminates the LED synchronously with each instance of imaging in the consecutive imaging by controlling the LED strobe light device 16.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing device capable of capturing an image of various objects and common scenes with ideal compositions and attractive compositions. The image processing device predicts an attention region 52 for a through image 51, based on a saliency map S having a plurality of feature quantity maps Fc, Fh, and Fs integrated therein (steps Sa to Sc). The image processing device extracts line components (e.g., edge SL) of an edge image 53 (step Se, Sf) corresponding to the through image 51. The image processing device uses the attention region 52, the line components (e.g., edge component SL), or the like and identifies, from among a plurality of model composition suggestions, a model composition suggestion that resembles the through image 51 in regard to a state of positioning of the principal object.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit, a first storage unit configured to store sample images and corresponding image capture frame rates, a display unit configured to display the sample images stored in the first storage unit at a predetermined frame rate, a detecting unit configured to detect a confirmation signal indicating an image capture frame rate corresponding to a sample image selected from the sample images, a driving unit configured to drive the image capturing unit at the image capture frame rate indicated by the confirmation signal, and a second storage unit configured to store image data captured by the image capturing unit.

Abstract: In an image searching system, a camera 100 stores plural pieces of image data including an object image, each data associated with a shooting orientation and feature information, and has a controller 42 for selecting specific image data from the plural pieces of image data and searching for similar image data based on the feature information associated with the selected data, and a communication unit 36 for sending a search engine server 300 the shooting orientation and feature information of one of the selected image data and similar image data. The search engine server 300 reconstructs a three-dimensional shape of the object image included in the image data based on the feature information and shooting orientation sent from the communication unit, and searches for through information disclosing networks based on the reconstructed shape, obtaining image data including the object image having a shooting orientation different from the sent shooting orientation.

Abstract: Plural areas defined by contours in a through image (live view image) are previously set as object segments whose luminance levels are to be altered. When a user touches a point within an object segment seen in the through image displayed on a touch panel LCD 12, a gamma curve is changed to alter a luminance level of the object segment including the touched point. This arrangement allows the user to make more bright the whole of the object segment simply by touching a point within the object segment, and also to select any segment of an object as the object segment whose luminance level is to be altered.

Abstract: Digital camera is provided with an image pick-up unit 24 and a best shot data memory, which stores plural sorts of shooting scenes each associated with one of a first file format and a second file format, wherein the first file format is used for an image file of a single image and the second file format is used for an image file of plural images, when the image file of images obtained in the shooting scenes is produced. When one of the shooting scenes is set, a shooting operation is performed in the set shooting scene to obtain image(s) and an image file of the image or an image file of the images is produced, wherein the image file has the file format corresponding to the set shooting scene.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: an imaging unit configured to capture an image of a subject and outputs image data containing the image; a display unit configured to display a live preview image of the subject based on the image data output from the imaging unit; a processor configured to set an image size of the image to be recorded and perform image processing on the live preview image to control a display range of the live preview image to be displayed on the display unit based on the image size to be recorded.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image synthesizer including an image frames memory which memorizes a plurality of image frames which are produced by continuously taking pictures of a subject, an image synthesizer which synthesizes a plurality of image frames to a summation image, an image brightness adjuster which adjusts brightness of the summation image by synthesizing the image frames with the image synthesizer, and a display which displays the summation image which is being synthesized by the image synthesizing means in the image brightness adjusting processing.

Abstract: An electronic camera comprises a light-emitting unit 38 for emitting light, color components of which can be changed; a color-component measuring unit 51 for obtaining color components involved in any one of light from a light source for illuminating an object and light reflected by the object; an input-image processing unit 52 for determining color components of light to be emitted based on the color components calculated by the color-component measuring unit; and a light-emitting member driving unit 39 for making the light-emitting unit emit light involving the color components determined by the input-image processing unit in response to an instruction of photographing given by a user.

Abstract: A group of optical elements of a zoom lens unit has variable-focal-length lenses whose optical properties can be adjusted. A camera having this zoom lens unit incorporated therein includes a control unit into which control information, with respect to any of a plurality of variable design parameters for the zoom lens unit, is inputted by the user. The camera also has a processing unit for obtaining an optical parameter of the zoom lens unit through a simulation operation when the variable design parameters are controlled based on the control information, a display unit which displays the results of the simulation operation that is carried out by the processing unit, and a photographing control unit for controlling the variable design parameters based on the control information, so that a desired optical property can easily be obtained.

Abstract: A group of optical elements of a zoom lens unit has variable-focal-length lenses whose optical properties can be adjusted. A camera having this zoom lens unit incorporated therein includes a program memory which stores therein a plurality of mocking design data with respect to a group of parameters having any of a plurality of variable design parameters for the zoom lens unit. The camera also has a control unit into which designation information is inputted by the user which designates any one of the plurality of mocking design data and a control unit which controls the variable design parameters based on the mocking design data designated by the designation information, so that a desired optical property can easily be obtained.

Abstract: It is judged whether or not a human face detecting mode is set (S31). When it is determined that the human face detecting mode is set, a two-dimensional face detecting process is performed to detect a human face (S32). When it is determined that a human face has not been detected in the two-dimensional face detecting process, a third-dimensional face detecting process is performed to detect a human face (S35, S36). Meanwhile, an animal face detecting mode is set, a three-dimensional face detecting process is performed to detect a face of an animal corresponding to the set detecting mode (S36). Accuracy of recognizing a face is enhanced.

Abstract: An image pick-up apparatus comprises a filter whose transmitting wavelength band is changed depending on an input drive signal, a spectral control unit for inputting the drive signal to the filter, thereby changing the transmitting wavelength band of the filter in plural steps, a single image pick-up unit disposed at rear side of the filter, for obtaining image data every time the transmitting wavelength band of the filter is changed, and a record control unit for recording plural pieces of image data obtained by the image pick-up unit.

Abstract: A digital camera 1 comprising a xenon strobe light device 15 and an LED strobe light device 16, wherein, when strobe light consecutive imaging is performed when the strobe light is set to “automatically-switched strobe light”, the digital camera 1 illuminates a xenon tube 27 by controlling the xenon strobe light device 15 synchronously with each instance of imaging for a predetermined number of frames, and when the number of consecutively-imaged frames exceeds a predetermined number of times, the digital camera 1 switches the strobe light to the LED strobe light, and illuminates the LED synchronously with each instance of imaging in the consecutive imaging by controlling the LED strobe light device 16.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus comprises an image capturing unit, a first storage unit configured to store sample images and corresponding image capture frame rates, a display unit configured to display the sample images stored in the first storage unit at a predetermined frame rate, a detecting unit configured to detect a confirmation signal indicating an image capture frame rate corresponding to a sample image selected from the sample images, a driving unit configured to drive the image capturing unit at the image capture frame rate indicated by the confirmation signal, and a second storage unit configured to store image data captured by the image capturing unit.

Abstract: A card type device is mounted on a card slot of an electronic appliance. A transparent cylindrical-shaped roller is provided at an edge portion of a housing such that an outer peripheral plane of the roller is projected from the edge portion. A one-dimensional image sensor is provided inside the roller, which acquires one-dimensional fingerprint data of a finger of a user, and this fingerabuts against the outer peripheral plane of the roller. Since the finger abutting against the outer peripheral plane of the roller is moved, the roller is rotated, so that one-dimensional fingerprint data which are continuously acquired by the one-dimensional image sensor are synthesized with each other to produce fingerprint data as a two-dimensional image. The synthesized fingerprint data is transmitted to the electronic appliance which carries out fingerprint identification.

Abstract: An electronic camera comprises a light-emitting unit 38 for emitting light, color components of which can be changed; a color-component measuring unit 51 for obtaining color components involved in any one of light from a light source for illuminating an object and light reflected by the object; an input-image processing unit 52 for determining color components of light to be emitted based on the color components calculated by the color-component measuring unit; and a light-emitting member driving unit 39 for making the light-emitting unit emit light involving the color components determined by the input-image processing unit in response to an instruction of photographing given by a user.

Abstract: A group of optical elements of a zoom lens unit 2 has variable-focal-length lenses 3a, 3b whose optical properties can be adjusted. A camera 1 having this zoom lens unit 2 incorporated therein includes a program memory 66 which stores therein a plurality of mocking design data 66f with respect to a group of parameters having any of a plurality of variable design parameters for the zoom lens unit 2, a control unit 4 into which designation information is inputted by the user which designates any one of the plurality of mocking design data 66 and a control unit 5 which controls the variable design parameters based on the mocking design data designated by the designation information, and according to this configuration, a desired optical property can easily be obtained.

Abstract: Equipment of the invention is for effectively obtaining images under desired photographing condition and also for shortening a time of photographing operation in continuous shooting. The equipment is provided with a light-emitting control unit for generating an electric signal for controlling a flash light-emitting operation for each photographing operation in plural operations of bracket photographing, a light-emitting unit including plural flash light tubes disposed at different positions respectively, and main capacitors provided for the flash light tubes respectively, and a light-emitting member driving unit for making the plural flash light-emitting tubes separately to emit light or cease emitting light.