Abstract: Audio regeneration data indicating where sound during audio regeneration is stored is recorded in a recording medium together with captured image data when image-capturing. The image data recorded in the recording medium and the audio regeneration data is read during image regeneration process. The image is displayed in accordance with the image data while the sound during the image-capturing is regenerated in accordance with the audio regeneration data. Therefore, the image and the sound can be easily appreciated simultaneously and the image regeneration can be effectively enjoyed.

Abstract: Effectively reducing a noise on the face region to improve the picture quality of the entire image A digital camera according to the invention includes: an digital signal processor for performing image processing including contour correction on a shot image; a face identifying section for analyzing an image after contour correction to generate face region information to identify the face region; a noise reducing section for performing noise reduction on the face region of the image after contour correction based on the face region information; a controller 106 for determining the photographing mode of the shot image and operating the face identifying section and the noise reducing section depending on the photographing mode.

Abstract: When a selected target color space for a digital camera is changed, the colors of a final image, i.e., the colors of an image in the changed target color space, are predicted from an image that is displayed on a display unit of the digital camera. For example, if the target color space is changed to an sRGB color space and the display unit has an AdobeRGB color space, then an image in the target color space (the sRGB color space), which is generated from a captured image by a signal processor, is converted by a matrix calculator into an image in the AdobeRGB color space, and then the image is supplied to the display unit. Hence, the colors of the final image can be predicted from the colors of the image displayed on the display unit.

Abstract: Audio regeneration data indicating where sound during audio regeneration is stored is recorded in a recording medium together with captured image data when image-capturing. The image data recorded in the recording medium and the audio regeneration data is read during image regeneration process. The image is displayed in accordance with the image data while the sound during the image-capturing is regenerated in accordance with the audio regeneration data. Therefore, the image and the sound can be easily appreciated simultaneously and the image regeneration can be effectively enjoyed.

Abstract: A monitoring system is provided, for monitoring a room in all directions and capturing a high quality image of a subject when a change in the subject is detected. The monitoring system according to the present invention includes: an image capturing section; a convex mirror section for reflecting a whole image to the direction of the image capturing section; a plane mirror section for reflecting the partial image to the direction of the image capturing section; and a control device for controlling to switch an image capturing target between the convex mirror section and the plane mirror section.

Abstract: Audio regeneration data indicating where sound during audio regeneration is stored is recorded in a recording medium together with captured image data when image-capturing. The image data recorded in the recording medium and the audio regeneration data is read during image regeneration process. The image is displayed in accordance with the image data while the sound during the image-capturing is regenerated in accordance with the audio regeneration data. Therefore, the image and the sound can be easily appreciated simultaneously and the image regeneration can be effectively enjoyed.

Abstract: An electronic camera is provided with a touchscreen. When a cameraman touches the touchscreen on a principal subject in a captured image shown on the touchscreen, the touched portion is determined and the focus and exposure are adjusted in conformity with the principal subject. When the image is designated to be stored, positional information on the principal subject as well as image information is stored into a built-in memory or a detachable external memory. For this reason, wherever the principal subject is located on the image, the image-capturing is performed with favorable results. The positional information on the principal subject is utilized for printing or reproducing the image so as to perform image tone corrections such as correction of brightness and skin pigmentation in an area including the principal subject, so that a high-quality image can be printed or reproduced.

Abstract: A digital camera and an imaging control method in which manual white balance adjustment and shading correction may be achieved simultaneously to enable a photographed image to be produced to a high accuracy. When the operating information commanding manual white balance adjustment is entered with an operating unit, the condition for shading correction and white balance adjustment of the image signal is formulated by a system controller and stored in a memory during calibration imaging. The image signal data produced by actual imaging are subjected by a digital signal processor to shading correction and white balance adjustment in accordance with the formulated correction condition.

Abstract: Effectively reducing a noise on the face region to improve the picture quality of the entire image

Abstract: A camera section photographs a camera test chart. A calibration controller of the camera section reads out image data of the camera test chart, and executes calibration of the camera section by use of characteristic values of obtained image data and standard data, which is stored in an internal memory. Next, a printer test chart, printed by a printer section, is photographed by the calibrated camera section. Image data of the printer test chart is sent to the printer section from the camera section. A calibration controller of the printer section performs calibration of the printer section by use of characteristic values of obtained image data and standard data, which is stored in an internal memory. By calibrating both the camera and the printer sections, it is possible to execute effective calibration of the apparatus.

Abstract: A camera section photographs a camera test chart. A calibration controller of the camera section reads out image data of the camera test chart, and executes calibration of the camera section by use of characteristic values of obtained image data and standard data, which is stored in an internal memory. Next, a printer test chart, printed by a printer section, is photographed by the calibrated camera section. Image data of the printer test chart is sent to the printer section from the camera section. A calibration controller of the printer section performs calibration of the printer section by use of characteristic values of obtained image data and standard data, which is stored in an internal memory. By calibrating both the camera and the printer sections, it is possible to execute effective calibration of the apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide satisfactory color reproduction without causing color mixing when a color image is formed on a direct heat-sensitive color recording medium. To input values of R, G and B, matrix calculation is performed to intensify chroma. To the output at a matrix calculation unit 10, contrast is decreased with respect to a predetermined color component of a predetermined color, and selective color correction processing is performed to exclude color mixing. Then, colors are converted to Y, M and C respectively. As a result, when an image of M color is formed or when an image of M component is formed during the formation of an image in red color, higher contrast is obtained compared with the case where an image in gray color is formed until the value of M reaches a certain value, and density of said color is made lower than the density during the formation of the image in gray color when the signal value exceeds said value, and color mixing does not occur.

Abstract: A suitable image is obtained of a subject in which the difference in luminance between a bright area and a dark area is very large. The dark area is properly exposed and first image data is obtained. The bright area is properly exposed, and second image data is obtained. The first image data pertaining to the bright area is replaced with the second image data, thereby obtaining composite image data. This is accomplished using an array of photodiodes comprising two sets of photodiodes, one set of the photodiodes comprising filters, and the respective sets of photodiodes output signals to respectively different transfer paths for signal processing.

Abstract: A suitable image signal is obtained even with regard to a subject exhibiting a very large difference in luminance between bright and dark areas. A video signal obtained from a CCD by imaging the subject is amplified by a first amplifier, converted into digital image data A by a first A/D converter and then stored in a first memory. The video signal from the CCD is also amplified by first and second amplifiers, converted into image data B by a second A/D converter and then stored in a second memory. The amplification factor of the first second amplifier is set such that a comparatively dark area of the image of the subject will assume a level having an appropriate brightness. A multiplexer selects data representing a comparatively bright area of the image of the subject from image data read out of the first memory as well as data representing a comparatively dark area of the image of the subject from image data read out of the second memory.

Abstract: A movie camera and a method of photographing a still with the movie camera is provided wherein the movie camera is of a type wherein a motionless picture or still can be photographed during a movie photography operation and when the illumination falling on an object is a predetermined value or less at the start in the photography of the still during the movie photography operation, stroboscopic flashes of light are produced from a strobe device to enable still photography.

Abstract: A white balance control device used in an electronic image forming device having a color image sensor for providing color image signals includes a color balance correcting circuit that is provided to detect a color temperature of the light based on an output from a visible light sensor and to provide a correction signal according to the determined color temperature. Thereby the image signals may be corrected in white balance. The color balance correcting circuit may be operated in a fluorescent light mode or a natural light mode. A light source determining circuit cooperates with the color balance correcting circuit to determine whether the light source is a fluorescent light source in response to an output from an infrared light sensor and an actuating signal is provided that causes the white balance correcting circuit to operate in the fluorescent light mode when the light source is a fluorescent light source.

Abstract: A white balance adjusting device is disclosed for use in a camera which picks up an image of a field and creates a video signal representing the field. In the white balance adjusting device, the white balance of the video signal can be adjusted by control device in accordance with the color temperature signal that is detected by a color temperature detecting device and the light measurement signal that is obtained from a light measuring device. The control device judges that the weather is fine when the brightness of the field is equal to or greater than a given value and a color temperature detected is higher than the color temperature of the direct light of the sun, and performs a control operation so that the white balance adjustment can be achieved in accordance with the color temperature that corresponds to the fine weather.

Abstract: A color hard copy of a picture displayed on, for example, a screen of a color television set is obtained by a signal converter in which an inclination of brightness with respect to the saturation of a color of the hard copy is modified by a signal converting circuit so as to be in accord with an inclination of brightness with respect to the saturation of the displayed color picture, a signal level of a signal regarding the specific color designated by a color setter is changed, and the color development density of the specific color element designated by a dye amount setter is also changed, whereby a color hard copy in which the specific color is maximumly corrected can be obtained.