Abstract: An organic electroluminescent display device in which display pixels containing organic electroluminescent elements are arranged in a matrix, comprising:

Abstract: An electronic still camera is provided with an electronic image sensor for generating an image signal corresponding to a still image of a subject and an orientation determination section for sensing the orientation of the camera relative to the subject. The orientation determination section provides an orientation signal recognizing either the vertical or the horizontal orientation of the camera relative to the subject. An image processor is responsive to the orientation signal for processing the image signal and correcting the orientation thereof so that the still image is output from the image processor in a predetermined orientation. In this way, the electronic still camera can be positioned in a variety of orientations relative to a subject, including both clockwise and counterclockwise vertical "portrait" orientations and a horizontal "landscape" orientation, without affecting the orientation of the images output by the camera.

Abstract: A flash quench controller for a camera having a flash unit includes a light detector for producing a signal, an integrator for integrating the signal from the detector and producing an integrated signal, a comparator for comparing the integrated signal to a reference value, and means for quenching the flash unit when the integrated signal reaches the reference value. By using a pulse signal having a variable pulse width to programmably set the reference value, many different quench time values can be easily established. The flash unit may also be quenched by setting a maximum flash time value. The flash is automatically quenched if this flash time value is reached before the integrated signal level reaches the programmed reference value.

Abstract: A technique for automatically focusing the lens of an electronic still camera employs a progressive scan image sensor 20 with a fast dump structure 62. The image sensor 20 itself is operated first in a "fast flush " mode to focus a lens 22, and then in a normal readout mode to obtain the final still image. To focus the lens 22, an image is integrated on the sensor 20. The average contrast of a central region 66 of the image is used to determine how well the image is focused. The portion of the image surrounding a central focusing area 66 is rapidly read out and discarded, using "fast flush" clocking where the vertical and horizontal registers are continuously clocked and lines of image charge are dumped to the substrate through the fast dump structure 62. In the central focusing area 66, a pattern of lines are eliminated through the fast dump structure 62, and the intervening lines are transferred out to generate a focus adjustment signal.

Abstract: A binary coding circuit that enables a clear image to be obtained by removing noise elements while retaining the target character and image information, improves image compression efficiency, reliably binarizes low-contrast characters and images and minimizes information loss, thereby providing clearer and more accurate binarized images of character and image information.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for collecting image data of a picture by sampling N points of picture signals N times on each of a plurality of scanning lines, and converting the signal obtained at each of the sample points into digital signals characterized by sequentially sampling K different frames or portions of the picture by sampling for each frame M points of each line such that no sample points overlap and the data for one picture is collected by scanning K frames.