Abstract: A specific target included in an image is detected by a specific target detection unit based on a specific target evaluation value representing likeliness of the specific target. Using a first white balance correction value calculation unit for obtaining a first white balance correction value for the region of the image other than the specific target, a second white balance correction value calculation unit for obtaining a second white balance correction value for the specific target region, and a white balance correction value comparison unit for making a comparison between the first and second white balance correction values, white balance in the region other than the specific target is corrected using the first white balance correction value, and white balance in the specific target region is corrected using the second white balance correction value, if the white balance correction values are different from each other.

Abstract: A sound is recorded when shooting a still image, an effect is applied on the still image in accordance with an analytical result of the recorded sound, and the sound and the effect-applied still image are recorded in association with each other, thereby allowing recording of the image having reality in addition to the sound. The still image and the sound are reproduced in association with each other, thereby allowing a viewer to feel an ambience and reality close to a memory that the photographer felt. Thus, image which easily reminds the situation and feeling during shooting can be recorded with a sound.

Abstract: Disclosed is a bone prosthetic material that is capable of preventing a plurality of members from being disconnected due to a difference in the coefficient of thermal expansion, and that is also capable of facilitating the work to insert them while ensuring the bone replacement capability. Provided is a bone prosthetic material comprising: a plurality of prosthetic material pieces and which include bioabsorbable materials having different absorption rates, and which are adjacent and connected to each other; and a joint which is provided in a connecting surface between these prosthetic material pieces and, and which is mutually combined to connect the prosthetic material pieces and while limiting displacement in directions along the connecting surface.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus displays and records any area in a synthesized image according to user's taste. The synthesized image is displayed based on the set display area and the record area is set to display the synthesized image, so that the display area is compared with the record area to enable easily confirming whether the actually acquired synthesized image satisfies the area desired by the user and assisting recording in an area where a better composition is provided even if the user is unfamiliar with the composition.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus, comprising: a storage device which stores an image for insertion; an image acquisition device which acquires a background image forming a background of the image for insertion; an object recognition device which recognizes at least one object from the acquired background image and acquires object information including a position of the object; an image processing device which image-processes the image for insertion based on the object information to appropriately combine the image for insertion into the background image; and an image synthesis device which combines the processed image for insertion into the background image.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image sensor in which main and auxiliary pixels are bidimensionally arranged for outputting a high and a low output signal, respectively. The user of the camera is allowed to select a desire image quality mode appearing on a monitor by operating a control panel. In a dynamic range priority mode, the high and low output signals are smoothly combined with each other to produce an image signal with a broadened dynamic range. In a resolution priority mode, the high and low output signals are not combined in order to guarantee resolution. In a sensitivity priority mode, the low output signal is added to the high output signal in order to raise the saturation point of the first output signal and therefore sensitivity. Further, in a color reproducibility priority mode, a white balance correcting method is changed depending upon the color temperature of a scene.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus displays and records any area in a synthesized image according to user's taste. The synthesized image is displayed based on the set display area and the record area is set to display the synthesized image, so that the display area is compared with the record area to enable easily confirming whether the actually acquired synthesized image satisfies the area desired by the user and assisting recording in an area where a better composition is provided even if the user is unfamiliar with the composition.

Abstract: An image display device has a function that displays plural frame images by high-speed frame advancing, and includes: an operation portion for a high-speed frame advancing display operation for carrying out high-speed frame advancing display, and a stopping operation for stopping high-speed frame advancing; and a controlling unit controlling a display unit such that, when the high-speed frame advancing display operation is carried out, plural frame images are displayed at the display unit in a predetermined frame advancing order. The controlling unit controls the display unit such that, when the stopping operation is carried out, the high-speed frame advancing is stopped and frame images that were displayed are displayed at the display unit again by frame advancing in a reverse order that is opposite the frame advancing order.

Abstract: Workpieces, which are conveyed by a conveying device along a conveying path, are heated by a heating and degreasing coil. Then, resin powder is downwardly sprayed from a nozzle of a coating device to each corresponding one of the workpieces, which are conveyed by the conveying device. The workpieces are thereafter heated by a heating and curing coil. At each of the heating coils, a dummy member, which is made of an electrically conductive material, is displaced from a retracted position to a forward position, which is located between the corresponding heating coil and a corresponding adjacent part of the conveying path of the conveying device, when an empty one of mount locations of the conveying device reaches the forward position of the dummy member.

Abstract: The matrix coefficient determining process of the present invention can determine linear matrix and color-difference matrix coefficients appropriate for a given type of light source at the same time. The coefficients can be used to perform color correction of RAW data to ensure good color reproduction. Furthermore, by performing the matrix coefficient determining process for a number of types of light sources, optimum color reproduction coefficients and for each of the light sources can be obtained.

Abstract: A digital camera has human extraction means, non-human extraction means, and composition judgment means. The human extraction means extracts a human figure region by analysis of image data. The non-human extraction means extracts a major subject other than a human figure by analysis of a region other than the human figure region having been extracted by the human extraction means. The composition judgment means evaluates arrangement of the human figure and the major subject according to results of the extraction, and judges whether composition is appropriate. Based on whether the composition is appropriate, timing to record the image data is determined. Preferably, recording means is controlled so as to record the image data at the determined timing, or the timing is notified to a user.

Abstract: The present invention provides a grease composition for automobile wheel bearings, which contains (a) an urea thickener represented by general formula (1); R1—NHCONH—R2—NHCONH—R3 (wherein R1 and R3 may be the same or different from each other and are each independently an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and R2 represents an aromatic hydrocarbon group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms); (b) an organic molybdenum compound; and (c) a base oil. The composition of the present invention can extend the flaking life and lubrication life, and reduce the fretting wear.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is equipped with: imaging means, for obtaining images of a subject; imaging control means, for controlling the imaging means to sequentially obtain a plurality of images; reference image selecting means, for selecting a single reference image from among the plurality of images; moving object region specifying means, for specifying moving object regions within corresponding images, which are the plurality of images other than the selected reference image; positioning means, for positioning the plurality of corresponding images with respect to the reference image in the case that the plurality of images have been imaged by flow shooting, the positioning being performed such that the amount of positioning is greater at the specified moving object regions than at non moving object regions; and combining means, for combining the plurality of corresponding images, which have been positioned by the positioning means, with the reference image.

Abstract: A sound is recorded when shooting a still image, an effect is applied on the still image in accordance with an analytical result of the recorded sound, and the sound and the effect-applied still image are recorded in association with each other, thereby allowing recording of the image having reality in addition to the sound. The still image and the sound are reproduced in association with each other, thereby allowing a viewer to feel an ambience and reality close to a memory that the photographer felt. Thus, image which easily reminds the situation and feeling during shooting can be recorded with a sound.

Abstract: There are disclosed: an image display device including a storage unit in which a plurality of items of image information are stored; a display unit that performs sequential display, in a predetermined order, of a plurality images represented by the plurality of items of image information; a reception unit that receives a stop instruction for stopping the sequential display; and a controller that controls the display unit such that, when the stop instruction is received by the reception unit during performance of the sequential display, the display unit performs a list display of images within a predetermined range using as a reference an image that is being displayed at a time when the stop instruction is received.

Abstract: An image display device has a function that displays plural frame images by high-speed frame advancing, and includes: an operation portion for a high-speed frame advancing display operation for carrying out high-speed frame advancing display, and a stopping operation for stopping high-speed frame advancing; and a controlling unit controlling a display unit such that, when the high-speed frame advancing display operation is carried out, plural frame images are displayed at the display unit in a predetermined frame advancing order. The controlling unit controls the display unit such that, when the stopping operation is carried out, the high-speed frame advancing is stopped and frame images that were displayed are displayed at the display unit again by frame advancing in a reverse order that is opposite the frame advancing order.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus, comprising: a storage device which stores an image for insertion; an image acquisition device which acquires a background image forming a background of the image for insertion; an object recognition device which recognizes at least one object from the acquired background image and acquires object information including a position of the object; an image processing device which image-processes the image for insertion based on the object information to appropriately combine the image for insertion into the background image; and an image synthesis device which combines the processed image for insertion into the background image.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus, such as a digital camera, provided with a scene recognition function is disclosed, in which images photographed according to a photographing mode or color candidate corresponding to a recognized scene are played back according to a predetermined classification. Live view data and actually-photographed image data representing a subject are acquired, and the live view data is analyzed to recognize at least one scene representing the subject. Then, a photographing mode or a color candidate corresponding to the scene is selected. The photographing mode or color candidate selected for each actually-photographed image data is recorded together with the actually-photographed image data acquired according to the selected photographing mode or color candidate. A photographing mode or color candidate for playing back the actually-photographed image data is specified to play back all the actually-photographed image data acquired according to the specified photographing mode or color candidate.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus including: a first noise reduction processing means that performs first noise reduction processing on an image, in which each of multitudes of pixels has one of a plurality of color components and the color components are distributed regularly, based only on pixel arrangement to obtain a first processed image; a color component separation means that separates the first processed image into each of the color components to obtain a plurality of color component images; and a signal classification means that compares a signal value of a target pixel for processing with a signal value of each pixel included in a predetermined range of area around the target pixel and classifies each pixel within the predetermined range of area into one of a plurality of groups based on the comparison result.

Abstract: A noise-reduction apparatus includes an image-noise-reduction means having an operation means and a judgment means. The operation means shifts the level of the signal-value of a target-pixel so that an average of the signal-values of the target-pixel and pixels in a predetermined area in the vicinity of the target-pixel becomes a value at the origin of a color-space of each of a plurality of color-components, performs an operation for noise-reduction processing on the target-pixel and restores the level of the signal-value thereof based on the shifted level. The judgment means estimates a noise-amount of the target-pixel, calculates a statistic representing the noise of the target-pixel based on the signal-values of the target-pixel and the pixels in the predetermined area, compares the estimated noise-amount and the statistic, and determines, based on the result of comparison, which of the estimated noise-amount and the statistic to use for the operation of noise-reduction processing.