Abstract: An imaging apparatus that removes horizontal bands of high-luminance noise caused by incoming flash light and outputs an image whose continuity as a moving picture is maintained. The imaging apparatus includes: an imaging unit that drives an image sensor at a frame rate n times a predetermined video format and outputs an n time-speed image signal; a flashing light detection unit; an average computation unit; and a speed conversion unit. When flashing light is detected, frames containing flashing light are removed from the image signal outputted by the imaging unit, and the average of the remaining frames is calculated, thereby obtaining an average image signal. When flashing light has not been detected, the average of n frames is calculated without removing frames, thereby obtaining an average image signal. The average image signal is converted to 1/n speed and outputted in the predetermined video format.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit having a discrete pixel structure that outputs directly signals of respective M sample points corresponding to M pixels per single frame for normal imaging and imaging at a first frame rate. The imaging unit adds signals of respective N pixels out of M pixels per single frame and outputs signals of M/N sample points (M and N are integers equal to or greater than 2) at each frame for high-speed imaging and imaging at a second frame rate greater than the first frame rate. An operation unit outputs directly output signals from the imaging unit for normal imaging and performs interpolation operations on the output signals from the imaging unit for interpolating signals of the (N?1) sample points between respective sample points to output interpolated signals of the M sample points for high-speed imaging.

Abstract: An image production device includes a flash determination section, a frame information adder and an addition controller. The flash determination section is configured to determine whether or not image data included in an image data group are affected by flash. The frame information adder is configured to add frame information used for identifying the image data affected by flash to the image data. The addition controller is configured to control the frame information adder to add the frame information to the image data affected by flash, on the basis of the determination result of the flash determination section.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes an imaging unit having a discrete pixel structure and being adapted to output directly signals of respective M sample points corresponding to M pixels per single frame in normal imaging for imaging at a first frame rate and to add signals of respective N pixels out of M pixels per single frame and output signals of M/N sample points (M and N are integers equal to or greater than 2) at each frame in high-speed imaging for imaging at a second frame rate greater than the first frame rate; and an operation unit being adapted to output directly output signals from the imaging unit in the normal imaging and to perform interpolation operations on the output signals from the imaging unit for interpolating signals of the (N?1) sample points between respective sample points to output interpolated signals of the M sample points in the high-speed imaging.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus that removes horizontal bands of high-luminance noise caused by incoming flash light and outputs an image whose continuity as a moving picture is maintained. The imaging apparatus includes: an imaging unit that drives an image sensor at a frame rate n times (where n is an integer of 3 or more) a predetermined video format and outputs an n time-speed image signal; a flashing light detection unit; an average computation unit; and a speed conversion unit. When flashing light is detected, frames containing flashing light are removed from the image signal outputted by the imaging unit, and the average of the remaining frames is calculated, thereby obtaining an average image signal. When flashing light has not been detected, the average of n frames is calculated without removing frames, thereby obtaining an average image signal. The average image signal is converted to 1/n speed and outputted in the predetermined video format.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus requiring a large dynamic range captures an image including a moving image with an increased dynamic range without degrading resolution. In an imaging apparatus 100, an L/S separation unit 3 generates a long-signal and a short-signal based on a video signal output from an imaging unit 1, which includes an image sensor having a first group of pixels that accumulate charge for a first charge accumulation time and a second group of pixels that accumulate charge for a second charge accumulation time. A saturation detection unit 4 detects whether the long-signal is saturated. A saturated part of the long-signal is replaced with an interpolated long-signal, which is a signal having the same signal level as the long-signal obtained by interpolation using the short-signal. A selector unit 8 outputs the resulting long-signal as a corrected long signal.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus reduces flicker occurring under fluorescent lamp illumination in real time and also effectively reduces noise of a captured image generated by low-sensitive pixel areas fixed on an imaging surface. The imaging apparatus obtains a first image signal including no flicker element and a second image signal including a flicker element for each frame, and calculates a gain correction coefficient for eliminating the flicker element in the second image signal based on the first and second image signals, eliminates the flicker element from the second image signal based on the gain correction coefficient, and combines the first and second image signals to generate an image signal from which the flicker element has been eliminated. The imaging apparatus also effectively reduces noise of a captured image generated by low-sensitive pixel areas fixed on an imaging surface by changing the charge accumulation time of pixels depending on each frame.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus enables flicker correction with small errors even when illumination changes in the image capturing environment or when the imaging apparatus is moved. In an imaging apparatus 100, an imaging unit 1 obtains an image-A signal including no flicker element and an image-B signal including a flicker element for each frame, an image-B gain calculation unit 3 calculates a correction coefficient for eliminating the flicker element included in the image-B signal based on the image-A signal and the image-B signal, an image-B gain correction unit 5 eliminates the flicker element from the image-B signal based on the correction coefficient, and an image A/B combining unit 6 combines the image-A signal and the image-B signal. In this manner, the imaging apparatus 100 generates an image signal from which the flicker element has been eliminated.

Abstract: A stable charge coupled device (CCD) imaging apparatus operable in multiple frame rates for displaying a signal having a low frame rate in a viewfinder (VF), and also a recorder built-in type imaging apparatus using the CCD imaging apparatus are presented. The imaging apparatus includes a drive pulse switching circuit for multiplying a CCD drive pulse other than a CCD read pulse by (n/2) (where n is an arbitrary integer) when the multi-frame rate is low, a frame memory for storing an output signal of the CCD of one frame right after pulse output. The signal is read at every (n/2) frames. The frame memory repeats to read out the stored signal in one frame (n/2) times. The imaging apparatus further includes a camera signal processing circuit for performing a camera process to an output signal of the frame memory, and a recorder unit for recording an output signal of the camera signal processing circuit at the frame rate of the set mode.

Abstract: A noise reduction circuit with high noise reduction effect and low power consumption for a high resolution charge coupled device (CCD) as well as for a usual resolution CCD is provided. A delay circuit delays an CCD output signal, and a pulse generator outputs a pulse signal having the same period that the CCD output signal has. A part of period during which the pulse signal is at a high level overlaps with a signal-level period oh the CCD output signal. A first non-additive mixing (NAM) circuit selects and output a lower level signal between the CCD output signal and the pulse signal. A second NAM circuit selects and outputs a lower level signal between the output signal from the delay circuit and the pulse signal. A difference circuit calculates difference between an output signal of the first NAM circuit and an output signal of the second NAM circuit.

Abstract: A stable charge coupled device (CCD) imaging apparatus operable in multiple frame rates for displaying a signal having a low frame rate in a viewfinder (VF), and also a recorder built-in type imaging apparatus using the CCD imaging apparatus are presented. The imaging apparatus includes a drive pulse switching circuit for multiplying a CCD drive pulse other than a CCD read pulse by (n/2) (where n is an arbitrary integer) when the multi-frame rate is low, a frame memory for storing an output signal of the CCD of one frame right after pulse output. The signal is read at every (n/2) frames. The frame memory repeats to read out the stored signal in one frame (n/2) times. The imaging apparatus further includes a camera signal processing circuit for performing a camera process to an output signal of the frame memory, and a recorder unit for recording an output signal of the camera signal processing circuit at the frame rate of the set mode.