Abstract: An image processing apparatus (5) that corrects an input image signal (Xin) pixel by pixel to generate a corrected image signal (Xout), having a filtering means (2) that determines a luminance distribution of a pixel to be corrected and pixels neighboring the pixel to be corrected, a correction gain calculation means (3) that determines the correction gain of the pixel to be corrected, and an operation means (4) that uses the correction gain determined by the correction gain calculation means to perform an operation on the input image signal pixel by pixel. With this simple configuration, the dynamic range of the input image can be appropriately improved.

Abstract: In a high-efficiency encoder which performs motion-compensation prediction, an intra-field is set every n fields. The presence of a scene change is detected. When a scene change occurs, a reference picture of motion-compensation prediction is switched, or the field immediately after the scene change is set as an intra-field.

Abstract: The present invention provides a control device capable of improving hysteresis characteristics of a voice coil motor (31) and attaining a suitable lens position without complicating the structure of the control device. As solving means of the invention, a voice coil motor control device (30) includes a driving current control part (34) that controls a driving current supplied to the voice coil motor (31) in accordance with a driving pulse subjected to pulse width modulation, and a driving pulse control part (32) that divides a drive period of the voice coil motor (31) into a movement period and a holding period, and controls the driving pulse by changing the duty ratio of the driving pulse during the movement period in accordance with a duty setting value and fixing the duty ratio of the driving pulse during the holding period to the duty setting value.

Abstract: In a high-efficiency encoder which performs motion-compensation prediction, an intra-field is set every n fields. The presence of a scene change is detected. When a scene change occurs, a reference picture of motion-compensation prediction is switched, or the field immediately after the scene change is set as an intra-field.

Abstract: A regression analysis is carried out (8) using pixel signals having a K-th spectral characteristic as the explanatory variable and pixel signals having an L-th spectral characteristic as the purpose variable in a plurality of pixel positions in an area neighboring a pixel of interest to obtain a pixel signal having the L-th spectral characteristic (9). Pixel signals obtained by low-pass filtering (7a-7c) of the output signals of an imaging device may be used as the explanatory variable and the purpose variable. The occurrence of false colors is thereby reduced when, in a group of pixel signals from pixels arrayed on a two-dimensional plane, each pixel having one of a plurality of spectral characteristics, the missing colors at each pixel position are obtained by interpolation.

Abstract: In a high-efficiency encoder which performs motion-compensation prediction, an intra-field is set every n fields. The presence of a scene change is detected. When a scene change occurs, a reference picture of motion-compensation prediction is switched, or the field immediately after the scene change is set as an intra-field.

Abstract: An imaging device has color signal generating means (20) for outputting first color signals (R5, G5, B5) corresponding to incident light, and matrix operation means (67) for performing a matrix calculation including multiplication of the first color signals, color signals obtained by raising the first color signals to a power with a first constant (i) as an exponent, color signals obtained by raising the first color signals to a power with a second constant (j) as an exponent, and corresponding matrix coefficients to obtain second color signals (R6, G6, B6). The first and second constants and the matrix coefficients are determined so that the total characteristics of the color signal generating means and the spectral sensitivity characteristic correction means (6) approximate human chromatic curves or spectral sensitivity curves obtained by a linear transformation thereof.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus (5) that corrects an input image signal (Xin) pixel by pixel to generate a corrected image signal (Xout), having a filtering means (2) that determines a luminance distribution of a pixel to be corrected and pixels neighboring the pixel to be corrected, a correction gain calculation means (3) that determines the correction gain of the pixel to be corrected, and an operation means (4) that uses the correction gain determined by the correction gain calculation means to perform an operation on the input image signal pixel by pixel. With this simple configuration, the dynamic range of the input image can be appropriately improved.

Abstract: An imaging device has color signal generating means (20) for outputting first color signals (R5, G5, B5) corresponding to incident light, and matrix operation means (67) for performing a matrix calculation including multiplication of the first color signals, color signals obtained by raising the first color signals to a power with a first constant (i) as an exponent, color signals obtained by raising the first color signals to a power with a second constant (j) as an exponent, and corresponding matrix coefficients to obtain second color signals (R6, G6, B6). The first and second constants and the matrix coefficients are determined so that the total characteristics of the color signal generating means and the spectral sensitivity characteristic correction means (6) approximate human chromatic curves or spectral sensitivity curves obtained by a linear transformation thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a control device capable of improving hysteresis characteristics of a voice coil motor (31) and attaining a suitable lens position without complicating the structure of the control device. As solving means of the invention, a voice coil motor control device (30) includes a driving current control part (34) that controls a driving current supplied to the voice coil motor (31) in accordance with a driving pulse subjected to pulse width modulation, and a driving pulse control part (32) that divides a drive period of the voice coil motor (31) into a movement period and a holding period, and controls the driving pulse by changing the duty ratio of the driving pulse during the movement period in accordance with a duty setting value and fixing the duty ratio of the driving pulse during the holding period to the duty setting value.

Abstract: In a high-efficiency encoder which performs motion-compensation prediction, an intra-field is set every n fields. The presence of a scene change is detected. When a scene change occurs, a reference picture of motion-compensation prediction is switched, or the field immediately after the scene change is set as an intra-field.

Abstract: In a high-efficiency encoder which performs motion-compensation prediction, an intra-field is set every n fields. The presence of a scene change is detected. When a scene change occurs, a reference picture of motion-compensation prediction is switched, or the field immediately after the scene change is set as an intra-field.

Abstract: In a high-efficiency encoder which performs motion-compensation prediction, an intra-field is set every n fields. The presence of a scene change is detected. When a scene change occurs, a reference picture of motion-compensation prediction is switched, or the field immediately after the scene change is set as an intra-field.

Abstract: In a high-efficiency encoder which performs motion-compensation prediction, an intra-field is set every n fields. The presence of a scene change is detected. When a scene change occurs, a reference picture of motion-compensation prediction is switched, or the field immediately after the scene change is set as an intra-field.

Abstract: In a high-efficiency encoder which performs motion-compensation prediction, an intra-field is set every n fields. The presence of a scene change is detected. When a scene change occurs, a reference picture of motion-compensation prediction is switched, or the field immediately after the scene change is set as an intra-field.

Abstract: In a high-efficiency encoder which performs motion-compensation prediction, an intra-field is set every n fields. The presence of a scene change is detected. When a scene change occurs, a reference picture of motion-compensation prediction is switched, or the field immediately after the scene change is set as an intra-field.

Abstract: In a high-efficiency encoder which performs motion-compensation prediction, an intra-field is set every n fields. The presence of a scene change is detected. When a scene change occurs, a reference picture of motion-compensation prediction is switched, or the field immediately after the scene change is set as an intra-field.

Abstract: An imaging system controller (5) outputs a control signal (VC). The control signal (VC) gives a command to output driving clocks (?Vn, ?Hm) of an imaging element (1) in a signal transmission period, and a command to suspend output of the clocks (?Vn, ?Hm) in an idle period subsequent to the signal transmission period. The length of the idle period is a multiple of the length of the signal transmission period by a natural number. The imaging system controller (5) periodically repeats output of the control signal (VC) giving these commands a number of times corresponding to the number of horizontal lines of the imaging element (1). In response to the commands of the control signal (VC), a timing generator (2) generates and outputs the clocks (?Vn, ?Hm), and suspends generation and output of the same. An imaging device (10) thereby intermittently drives the imaging element (1), to generate and output a picked-up image signal (V2).

Abstract: A regression analysis is carried out (8) using pixel signals having a K-th spectral characteristic as the explanatory variable and pixel signals having an L-th spectral characteristic as the purpose variable in a plurality of pixel positions in an area neighboring a pixel of interest to obtain a pixel signal having the L-th spectral characteristic (9). Pixel signals obtained by low-pass filtering (7a-7c) of the output signals of an imaging device may be used as the explanatory variable and the purpose variable. The occurrence of false colors is thereby reduced when, in a group of pixel signals from pixels arrayed on a two-dimensional plane, each pixel having one of a plurality of spectral characteristics, the missing colors at each pixel position are obtained by interpolation.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus which is compact and structurally simple and allows for prevention of a flicker noise, a method of capturing an image which allows for prevention of a flicker noise, and a mobile terminal using the apparatus and the method, are provided. In the image capture apparatus, a vertical cycle is adjusted so as to maintain 20 fps or 20/2m (m is an integer) fps, thereby to prevent a flicker noise in an image as obtained. To this end, in the image capture apparatus, a frequency of a horizontal transfer clock, a horizontal count level and a vertical line count level may be adjusted. Further, a fraction count is provided to adjust the length of one vertical cycle. Moreover, the image capture apparatus may be incorporated in a mobile terminal.