Abstract: If the final film frame is set to the image formation position, the winding on of the film from the cartridge is prohibited; and, if an operation member is operated to designate the winding on of the film from the cartridge, either by one film frame or by fast forwarding, a warning is emitted. Further, if the first film frame is set to the image formation position, the winding backward of the film into the cartridge is prohibited; and, if an operation member is operated to designate the winding backward of the film into the cartridge, either by one film frame or by fast rewinding, a warning is emitted.

Abstract: An image compression apparatus and method, and a carrier wave encoded with a computer readable control program having instructions for use by a computer, perform an image compression process. A compression level is determined for use in compressing a picture image to a predetermined target data amount by iteratively compressing a reduced version of the picture image in order to determine the compression level that is to be used to compress the picture image. First, a reduced-size picture image is created from the picture image that is to be compressed. A preliminary compression target data amount is then derived, for example, based on the target data amount, the data amount of the picture image and the data amount of the reduced-size picture image. The reduced-size picture image is then compressed using a compression level. The size of the resulting compressed reduced-size picture image is compared to the preliminary compression target data amount.

Abstract: A camera includes: a photographing control device that (1) performs flash photographing accompanied by light emission by an electronic flash unit with a shutter speed fixed when results of field brightness measurement performed by a photometering device which measures field brightness indicate a value equal to or lower than a predetermined first reference brightness, (2) performs flash photographing at a first shutter speed when the results of the field brightness measurement indicate a value equal to or lower than the first reference brightness and higher than a second reference brightness which is lower than the first reference brightness and (3) performs flash photographing at a second shutter speed higher than the first shutter speed when the results of the field brightness measurement indicate a value equal to or lower than the second reference brightness.

Abstract: A video apparatus includes a memory in which image information denoting a moving image is recorded and a thumbnail creator that creates thumbnail information denoting thumbnails upon completion of recording of the image information in the memory. The apparatus also includes various types of user interfaces by which a user can designate frames of the moving image information for thumbnail creation.

Abstract: A film image reading apparatus and method which more quickly reads images from a cartridge of developed film for production of thumbnail images which are displayed on a monitor. The apparatus reads a first image from the film cartridge using imaging condition values associated with each frame image. These imaging condition values include photographic information such as, exposure value, white balance value and focus adjustment. In the event that the first or current image being read by the apparatus is the start of a series of photographic images, the film image reading apparatus will set the exposure value, the white balance value and the focus adjustment only once for the entire series. The remaining images of the series are then read using the imaging condition values of the first image of the series. In this manner, these imaging condition values are not reset for each image and time is saved in reading the series of images from the film.

Abstract: A film picture image viewing apparatus minimizes the effects of noise by prohibiting operation of an illumination device whenever a reading or a playback device is operated. The film picture image viewing apparatus includes a support substrate. The illumination device includes a discharge tube and a reflector. The discharge tube provides light when energized. The reflector is anchored to the support substrate and has a pair of oppositely-disposed ends with a receiving hole formed in each end. Each of the receiving holes is sized to receive the discharge tube in a manner to minimize thermal conduction from the discharge tube to the reflector after the discharge tube becomes energized.

Abstract: An electronic camera with an image reproducing apparatus which starts concurrently reproducing a plurality of motion images at the same timing includes a display which displays on a screen a plurality of thumbnails (symbols) respectively corresponding to a plurality of motion images recorded on a recording medium, and a selector which selects some of the thumbnails displayed by the display in accordance with an external selecting operation. A reproducing device starts reproducing a plurality of motion images respectively corresponding to the thumbnails selected by the selector at the same timing in accordance with an external reproducing operation. The motion images reproduced by the reproducing device are displayed in the form of an array on the screen.

Abstract: A film image signal generation apparatus according to the present invention, includes: a film displacement device which displaces a developed film, which is first in a film cartridge, to an image area; an image signal conversion device which converts an image of a film frame, which is opposed to the image area, into a first image signal; a control information storage circuit which stores control information which specifies at least an order for film frame display; a display information storage circuit which stores display information related to the film frame display as a second image signal; and a control circuit which controls the film displacement device, the image signal conversion device, and the display information storage circuit so as selectively to output either the first image signal or the second image signal according to the control information stored in the control information storage circuit.

Abstract: A camera capable of operating in a red-eye prevention mode. The camera has an electronic flash device which is activated by a drive circuit in synchronization with the exposure. The electronic flash device also serve as a pre-light-emission device capable of performing pre-light-emission for the purpose of preventing red-eye effect. When it is judged from the photographing condition that red-eye effect may occur, a controller activates the electronic flash device to effect a pre-light-emission for reducing the size of pupils of eyes of a person to be photographed, before the main flashing which is executed in synchronization with the exposure.

Abstract: The thumbnail image signal output apparatus according to the present invention includes: an image input device which inputs an image; a storage device which stores a plurality of images each of which has been input via the image input device; an image processing device which processes the image which has been input; an update device which updates one of a plurality of images stored in the storage device which corresponds to the image processed by the image processing device to the image after such processing; an image conversion device which converts a plurality of images stored in the storage device into thumbnail images; and an output device which outputs an image signal for displaying converted thumbnail images upon a display device.

Abstract: A film image signal generation apparatus, includes: a film displacement device which displaces a developed film which has a magnetic recording layer to an image area; an image signal conversion device which converts an image of a film frame which is opposed to the image area into a first image signal; a magnetic writing device which rewrites old data written in the magnetic recording layer of the film into new data; a data storage circuit which stores the old data and the new data; an image signal generation circuit which generates a second image signal which shows data change information, based upon the old data and the new data which are stored by the data storage circuit; and a control circuit which controls the magnetic writing device, the data storage circuit, and the film displacement device so as to rewrite the old data which is recorded upon the magnetic recording layer into the new data which is stored in the storage circuit, and controls the image signal conversion device and the image signal genera

Abstract: A film image signal generation apparatus according to the present invention, includes: a film displacement device which displaces a developed film, which is first in a film cartridge, to an image area; an image signal conversion device which converts an image of a film frame, which is currently opposed to the image area, into a first image signal; an image signal generation circuit which generates a second image signal for displaying a display which is not a film frame which is currently opposed to the image area; and a control circuit which controls the image signal conversion device and the image signal generation circuit so as to output the second image signal without outputting the first image signal, when a predetermined film frame is not opposed to the image area.

Abstract: A magnetic data recording apparatus magnetically records various items of data on a film in accordance with a feed of the film by a PPM Pulse Position Modulation (PPM) recording method. The apparatus includes a PPM signal converting circuit for converting the data to be recorded into a PPM signal and outputting the PPM signal, a magnetic head and a head driving circuit for driving the magnetic head on the PPM signal outputted from the PPM signal converting circuit. The apparatus further includes a data quantity calculating circuit for calculating a quantity of the data to be recorded during a feed of the film. The PPM signal converting circuit determines a change-of-signal position of the PPM signal within one period on the data quantity calculated by the data quantity calculating circuit.

Abstract: The film image signal outputting apparatus of the present invention includes: an imaging section which forms an image of a developed film; a display condition setting section which sets a display condition for a film image which is displayed; and an image display signal output section which outputs a signal for displaying the image of the film which is formed by the imaging section, according to the display condition, wherein the display condition setting section cancels a display condition which was set for a film frame before outputting a signal to display an image of a next film frame.

Abstract: A film image processing apparatus that is capable of displaying a correct screen image at all times by taking into consideration aspect ratios of a print and the monitor screen is provided. In order to achieve this, the film image processing apparatus comprises a CCD that picks up a photographic image formed on developed film, a screen image signal output circuit that outputs a screen image signal so that an image thus picked up can be displayed as a screen image on a monitor screen, a zoom lens that changes the magnification of a screen image to be displayed on the monitor screen, a read magnetic head that reads information related to the aspect ratio of a print when a photographic image is printed and a control circuit that controls the zoom lens to change the magnification of the screen image of the photographic frame in correspondence to the aspect ratio of the print that has been read.

Abstract: The film feed control apparatus performs frame feed operation in which a photographic film is fed in a specific direction when a given photographic frame of the photographic film is being set at a specific position, and the photographic film is stopped when a next photographic frame is set at the specific position. The film feed control apparatus is provided with a feed device that feeds the film, and a control device that controls the feed device in such a manner that, when an unfinished film, which includes exposed frames and unexposed frames, is loaded, stops the film if an unexposed frame is set at the specific position while the unfinished film is being fed in the specific direction, which is the same as the direction of film feed during the frame feed operation.

Abstract: A film image reproduction signal output apparatus is provided which picks up an image on a developed film by a CCD, and produces an image reproduction signal by an image pickup circuit so that the image is displayed on a monitor. The present output apparatus detects whether the film contained in a cartridge loaded in the apparatus is a negative film or a positive film. If the negative film is detected, the image pickup circuit produces the image reproduction signal by reversing an image signal received from the CCD, for display on the monitor.

Abstract: A film image processing apparatus comprises an image pickup device that picks up a photographic image formed on developed film, a screen image signal output device that outputs a screen image signal to display the image that has been picked up on a monitor screen as a screen image, a reading device that reads information related to the photographic image from an information recording area provided on the film, an input device that inputs external information from an external device connected to the film image processing apparatus, a display device that outputs a display signal to display text information related to the photographic image on the monitor screen and a control device that controls the display device so that at least either the read information read by the reading device or the external information input from the external device is displayed on the monitor screen as text information together with a screen image of the photographic image corresponding to the information.

Abstract: An information magnetic recording apparatus according to the present invention has: a magnetic recording head that magnetically records on a film; a magnetic recording signal conversion device that converts information to a magnetic recording signal; a head driving circuit that drives the magnetic recording head based on the magnetic recording signal that is outputted from the magnetic recording signal conversion device; and a temperature detection circuit that detects a temperature around the head driving circuit and determines whether or not the temperature is abnormal. And the magnetic recording signal conversion device stops outputting the magnetic recording signal if the temperature detection circuit detects that the temperature is abnormal.

Abstract: An information processing device configured to conserve power consumption of the battery. The device uses a recording medium with a magnetic recording unit. A power source supplies power to at least one assembly, which retrieves and/or records information on the recording medium. The power is supplied to retrieve and/or record information only when the respective assembly is in operation. The device can be a camera using film as the magnetic recording medium.