Abstract: In disposing a display part, such as an LCD panel, on a side face of the body of a compact video camera of a rectangular parallelepiped shape extending longer in the direction of height for use as a viewfinder as well as for a reproduction display, an attempt to minimize the whole size of the video camera for improvement in portability severely limits the size of a major side of the display part, preventing the display image plane from having an easily viewable size. To solve this problem, an intermediate connection part disposed between the video camera body and the display part is arranged to enable the display part to rotate in opening and closing directions with respect to the video camera body and also to rotate in directions included in a plane at which the display part is connected to the video camera body.

Abstract: The state of exposure of a video zone corresponding to position information from a two-dimensional position selecting circuit that allows a photographer to select a desired video zone is detected, an exposure correction is performed by an exposure control circuit based upon a signal indicative of the detected state, and the state of exposure which prevails when optimum exposure has been attained is maintained. As a result, the state of exposure of a subject is corrected to an optimum exposure and the optimum exposure of the subject is maintained even if the state of exposure of the surroundings change owing to a change in zoom magnification or movement of the subject.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus provides optimum video not only during ordinary shooting but also when the photographer faces the camera to shoot video of him/herself. When the photographer performs such self-photography, the subject (i.e., the photographer) is situated at the center of the scene. Accordingly, in order to eliminate the effects of a peripheral spot-lighted subject or the like, a photometry area used for automatic exposure control or automatic focusing is narrowed to a central portion more at the time of self-photography than at the time of ordinary photography. This provides video having proper exposure without influence from peripheral brightness such as a spotlight. Further, when self-photography is sensed, the magnification of a sensed image by a zoom lens is controlled to the vicinity of a wide-angle limit and the distance to the subject, which is controlled by a focusing lens, is controlled to a short distance in front of the image sensing apparatus.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus, which detects the visual axis, can set a photometry area on the basis of the viewpoint of an operator in the screen, can set a plurality of photographing modes, and changes the setting data of the photometry area based on the visual axis detection and control characteristics in accordance with the selected photographing mode.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image pickup apparatus, which detects the visual axis, can set a photometry area on the basis of the viewpoint of an operator in the screen, can set a plurality of photographing modes, and changes the setting data of the photometry area based on the visual axis detection and control characteristics in accordance with the selected photographing mode.

Abstract: In an image pickup apparatus, when the focal length of a zoom lens is caused to change while the apparatus is in a state of being AE locked to retain an exposure control state of an exposure control circuit which is arranged to control the state of exposure according to a video signal, the apparatus is capable of maintaining the state of exposure obtained when the AE lock is made by correcting any change in the state of exposure caused by a change in F number resulting from the change of the focal length.

Abstract: In an image recording apparatus and method, when photographing images and recording the photographed images in a recording medium, by arranging so as to perform a plurality of different kinds of retrieval operations for the images recorded in the recording medium in accordance with respective operational modes of the apparatus, it is possible to promptly retrieve unnecessary recorded data during a photographing operation of recording moving images in a randomly accessible recording medium.

Abstract: An image pickup device capable of exposure control utilizing the iris aperture, shutter speed and gain as three control parameters, comprising means for setting a photometry area in the image frame; means for setting an input parameter as a reference for evaluation, based on the luminance information in an image signal obtained from the photometry means; means for determining the values of the three control parameters for exposure control, according to the value of the input parameter; switch means for switching, according to the phototaking mode, a program setting the control caharacteristics of each control parameter as a function of the input parameter; and photometry area switch means for switching the set state of the photometry area in the image frame, in linkage with the switching operation of the switch means, wherein the phototaking mode is switched according to the phototaking conditions, thereby controlling the parameters and the light metering area according to a program matching the phototaking m

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is capable of suppressing a sharp variation in the state of exposure due to a variation in a field of view or a subject image, by varying the response characteristics of an exposure control device, such as an iris, a shutter or a gain, in accordance with an image magnifying rate which becomes higher as an image is electronically magnified by the operation of an electronic zoom.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus having a display device mounted rotatable about an axis on a side of the image sensing apparatus for displaying a sensed image. When the display device is folded up by the side of the image sensing apparatus, a mirror reflects an image displayed on the display device toward a finder, so that the displayed image can be seen though the finder.

Abstract: An image pickup device capable of exposure control utilizing the iris aperture, shutter speed and gain as three control parameters, comprising means for setting a photometry area in the image frame; means for setting an input parameter as a reference for evaluation, based on the luminance information in an image signal obtained from the photometry means; means for determining the values of the three control parameters for exposure control, according to the value of the input parameter; switch means for switching, according to the phototaking mode, a program setting the control caharacteristics of each control parameter as a function of the input parameter; and photometry area switch means for switching the set state of the photometry area in the image frame, in linkage with the switching operation of the switch means, wherein the phototaking mode is switched according to the phototaking conditions, thereby controlling the parameters and the light metering area according to a program matching the phototaking m

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor arranged to photoelectrically convert an image light coming from an object, an iris arranged to adjust the quantity of image light incident on the image sensor, a detection circuit for detecting the state of the iris, a correction circuit to correct the output of the detection circuit so as to correct a change of the iris caused by a change in the mode of shooting, and a focus adjusting device. The correction circuit is arranged such that, when an aperture value is caused to change by a change in the shooting mode, the correction circuit offsets the change of the aperture value by correcting aperture value information before the aperture value information is supplied to the focus adjusting device.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup element for picking up an image of a subject and outputting a picked-up image signal, an electronic image magnification enlarging circuit for enlarging an image magnification of the subject by intermittently reading out the picked-up image signal outputted from the image pickup element and varying an image read-out area of an image plane, an exposure control circuit for executing exposure control on the basis of a result obtained by comparing a level of the picked-up image signal with a predetermined reference level, and a correcting circuit for correcting, according to the image magnification of the electronic image magnification enlarging circuit, a no-signal-containing portion produced by an operation of the electronic image magnification enlarging circuit and contained in the picked-up image signal to be supplied to the exposure control circuit.

Abstract: A video camera having a plurality of photographing modes each having different control characteristics in accordance with the photographing condition, comprising:mode selection means for selecting arbitrary photographing mode from said plurality of photographing modes; andcontrol means for transferring said photographing mode via a neutral mode having control characteristics intermediate to control characteristics of each photographing mode when the photographing mode is switched by said mode selection means,whereby abrupt change in the characteristics of control parameters or set values is avoided, and any disorder or unnatural change in the image or unstable transient control state caused by the switching can be prevented, so that the optimal photographing can be performed without respect to photographing situation or photographing environment, when the photographing mode is switched.

Abstract: An image pickup device capable of exposure control utilizing the iris aperture, shutter speed and gain as three control parameters, comprising means for setting a photometry area in the image frame; means for setting an input parameter as a reference for evaluation, based on the luminance information in an image signal obtained from the photometry means; means for determining the values of the three control parameters for exposure control, according to the value of the input parameter; switch means for switching, according to the phototaking mode, a program setting the control caharacteristics of each control parameter as a function of the input parameter; and photometry area switch means for switching the set state of the photometry area in the image frame, in linkage with the switching operation of the switch means, wherein the phototaking mode is switched according to the phototaking conditions, thereby controlling the parameters and the light metering area according to a program matching the phototaking m

Abstract: In an image pickup device capable of effecting the exposure control with plural control parameters such as the iris aperture, shutter speed and gain, the set range of the control parameters is divided into plural areas according to the phototaking condition, and the exposure control information is operated by varying one of the plural control parameters while fixing other control parameters in each of the plural divided areas. Thus optimum exposure control is rendered always possible according to the phototaking situation or condition. Also since the variable parameter is selected according to the phototaking situation, the magnitude of calculation required in the control circuit does not increase in each situation, and compact and rapid control can be realized.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus makes it possible to precisely focus on an object to be photographed in each photographic mode by controlling the focusing of the object in accordance with the photographic mode.

Abstract: An image pickup device and a drive method for the device, controls the exposure by controlling a charge accumulation time of the device without using an iris. The accumulation time T is approached from near zero to a proper accumulation time at the power-on of the image pickup device.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus photoelectrically converts image light from an object. The image light incident on the photosensing plane of the image pickup apparatus is optically controlled by a zoom lens and a focus lens. A controller drives the zoom lens to its telephoto position and drives the focus lens to its closest position so that bright image light is prevented from being focused on the photosensing plane.

Abstract: A video signal processing device displaying both image and process information includes multiplexing circuitry for multiplexing a second video signal with a first video signal. Control circuitry is provided for controlling a multiplexing ratio of the first and second video signals in the multiplexing circuitry. A display is provided for simultaneously displaying at least a part of a video image which corresponds to the first video signal, and also for displaying a state of the multiplexing operation being performed by the multiplexing circuitry under the control of the control circuitry. Preferably, only a peripheral portion of the image is faded in the view finder. Alternatively, a bar graph on the side of the image in the view finder indicates the degree of fading the image is subjected to.