Abstract: An image signal generator generates an imaging signal having a frame rate that is controlled to be variable. A frame rate converter generates a monitor image signal. Upon receiving communication information from an external source, a controller controls the operations of the image signal generator and the frame rate converter on the basis of the communication information. When an instruction to specify the frame rate of the monitor image signal is given from a user interface, the controller controls the frame rate converter to generate a monitor image signal having a specified frame rate by giving priority to this instruction over the communication information.

Abstract: A camera system (1) is provided which includes an interchangeable lens (40) including a group of lenses (L1, L2, L3, L4) for imaging an object, and a camera (10) to which the interchangeable lens (40) is to be installed. The camera (10) includes a correction angle information calculating means (20) for calculating correction angle information as to the posture of the camera (10), and a first sending means (29) for sending calculated correction angle information to the interchangeable lens (40). The interchangeable lens (40) includes the lens (L2) which optically corrects angular shift on the basis of the correction angle information sent by the first sending means (29).

Abstract: An image shooting unit 21 generates an image signal Spa having an image shooting frame rate. A frame addition unit 41 performs frame addition on the image signal DVb having the image shooting frame rate. Control unit 61 controls drive unit 71 and the frame addition unit 41 based on a frame rate setting signal RSF from operation unit 62, and controls a variation of the image shooting frame rate in image shooting unit 21 and/or a switch of the number of additive frames in the frame addition unit 41, thus allowing an image signal DVj having a desired frame rate to be output from the frame addition unit 41. Thus, increasing the additive frame in number even without decreasing the image shooting frame rate at a low-speed shooting of the image allows such an image signal DVj shot at the low speed to be obtained.

Abstract: An imaging method is provided. The method includes the steps of: amplifying an imaging signal obtained from an image sensor for converting imaging light into an imaging signal; carrying out nonlinear processing on the amplified signal; adding a predetermined plurality of frames of the imaging signal subjected to the nonlinear processing per frame; and carrying out the variable setting of amplification gain of each frame on the basis of a signal accumulation period of each frame in the plurality of frames subjected to the addition.

Abstract: An imaging method is provided. The imaging method includes the steps of: carrying out a nonlinear correction on an imaging signal obtained from an image sensor where imaging light is converted into an imaging signal; adding a predetermined number of frames of the imaging signal with the nonlinear correction per frame; carrying out control for appropriately setting each of the correction characteristic of the nonlinear correction in the case of carrying out no frame addition and the correction characteristic of the nonlinear correction in the case of carrying out a frame addition; and selectively outputting either the imaging signal with the frame addition or the imaging signal without the frame addition.

Abstract: The invention provides a convenient way of generating image signals on a progressive scanning basis. Multiple image pickup devices used for an interlaced scanning drive and generate chrominance signal DGi on the interlaced scanning basis with an interlace field and chrominance signals DRi and DBi on the interlaced scanning basis with opposite interlace field. Scanning converter receives the chrominance signal Dgi, DRi and Dbi. The scanning converter then performs an interpolation based on the chrominance signals DGi, DRi, and DBi to generate corresponding chrominance signals DGp (DGp-E, DGp-O), DRp (DRp-E, DRp-O), and DBp (DBp-E, DBp-O) on a progressive scanning basis. Signal processor receives the resultant chrominance signals DGp, DRp, and DBp. The scanning converter sums the chrominance signals DGp, DRp, and DBp belonging to a predetermined number of frames to obtain a new set of chrominance signals.

Abstract: A camera system (1) is provided which includes an interchangeable lens (40) including a group of lenses (L1, L2, L3, L4) for imaging an object, and a camera (10) to which the interchangeable lens (40) is to be installed. The camera (10) includes a correction angle information calculating means (20) for calculating correction angle information as to the posture of the camera (10), and a first sending means (29) for sending calculated correction angle information to the interchangeable lens (40). The interchangeable lens (40) includes the lens (L2) which optically corrects angular shift on the basis of the correction angle information sent by the first sending means (29).

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to improve the quality of picture in the image.

Abstract: An image shooting unit 21 generates an image signal DVb having an image shooting frame rate. A main line image processing block 40 performs frame addition on the image signal DVb having the image shooting frame rate, and generates a main line image signal having a desired output frame rate. Based on the image signal DVb, a monitor image processing block 50 generates a monitor image signal having a frame rate independent of the frame rate of the main line image signal. Since the frame rate of the main line image signal and that of the monitor image signal are independent of each other, shooting an image while varying the frame rate of the main line image signal allows a monitor image at an image shooting time to be displayed at a predetermined frame rate using the monitor image signal DVr.

Abstract: A camera system is disclosed which allows different types of lens apparatuses to be used in combination with a single image-taking apparatus without requiring changes of focus control signals on the side of the image-taking apparatus depending on the type of a lens apparatus mounted on the image-taking apparatus. The camera system includes an image-taking apparatus which outputs a focus control signal and a lens apparatus which includes a focus lens and is mounted on the image-taking apparatus. The lens apparatus includes a controller which produces a drive signal according to a type of focus of the lens apparatus based on the focus control signal and controls drive of the focus lens based on the drive signal.

Abstract: An image signal generator generates an imaging signal having a frame rate that is controlled to be variable. A frame rate converter generates a monitor image signal. Upon receiving communication information from an external source, a controller controls the operations of the image signal generator and the frame rate converter on the basis of the communication information. When an instruction to specify the frame rate of the monitor image signal is given from a user interface, the controller controls the frame rate converter to generate a monitor image signal having a specified frame rate by giving priority to this instruction over the communication information.

Abstract: An image shooting unit 21 generates an image signal Spa having an image shooting frame rate. A frame addition unit 41 performs frame addition on the image signal DVb having the image shooting frame rate. Control unit 61 controls drive unit 71 and the frame addition unit 41 based on a frame rate setting signal RSF from operation unit 62, and controls a variation of the image shooting frame rate in image shooting unit 21 and/or a switch of the number of additive frames in the frame addition unit 41, thus allowing an image signal DVj having a desired frame rate to be output from the frame addition unit 41. Thus, increasing the additive frame in number even without decreasing the image shooting frame rate at a low-speed shooting of the image allows such an image signal DVj shot at the low speed to be obtained.

Abstract: The invention provides a convenient way of generating image signals on a progressive scanning basis. Multiple image pickup devices used for an interlaced scanning drive and generate chrominance signal DGi on the interlaced scanning basis with an interlace field and chrominance signals DRi and DBi on the interlaced scanning basis with opposite interlace field. Scanning converter receives the chrominance signal Dgi, DRi and Dbi. The scanning converter then performs an interpolation based on the chrominance signals DGi, DRi, and DBi to generate corresponding chrominance signals DGp (DGp-E, DGp-O), DRp (DRp-E, DRp-O), and DBp (DBp-E, DBp-O) on a progressive scanning basis. Signal processor receives the resultant chrominance signals DGp, DRp, and DBp. The scanning converter sums the chrominance signals DGp, DRp, and DBp belonging to a predetermined number of frames to obtain a new set of chrominance signals.

Abstract: A color spectrum detecting apparatus is provided which can correctly detect whether an input signal is within a selected color spectrum from color information that are insensitive to luminance.

Abstract: A level compression and/or gradation conversion of a video signal are performed without causing any change in the hue of a picture represented by that video signal. The knee compression and/or gradation conversion are carried out by multiplying red, green and blue primary color signals by a luminance gain, while the hue and saturation remain unaffected. If the level of any of the primary color signals still exceeds a predetermined threshold level, the saturation conversion is executed by using the saturation gain and the luminance component supplied from a controller. In the saturation conversion operation, the maximum level of at least one of the red, green and blue primary color signals is made coincident with the predetermined threshold level while the hue and luminance of the picture represented by the video signal are maintained unchanged.

Abstract: A clamping circuit for use in a video camera varies a level of an image signal utilizing an analog feedback control signal, converts the varied image signal to a digital image signal, generates a digital zone value signal that corresponds to a level of a reference zone of the digital image signal, digitally detects an amount of error between the digital zone value signal and a predetermined zone value having a non-zero fractional portion, generates from the detected amount of error a digital error signal that has a predetermined number of data bits, switches between a coarse adjustment mode and a fine adjustment mode of the clamping circuit in accordance with a level of the digital error signal, generates, in the coarse adjustment mode, a pulse width modulated signal from the most significant bits of the digital error signal, generates, in the fine adjustment mode, the pulse width modulated signal from the least significant bits of the digital error signal, and generates from the generated pulse width modulat

Abstract: Video camera which emphasizes an outline of a video signal produced thereby. A detail signal of a video image represented by the video signal is generated and which represents a vertical outline emphasis signal. Edges of the video image and burst-like portions of the video signal are detected, and an edge detection signal is generated that corresponds in one manner to the detected edges and that corresponds in another manner to the detected burst portions. The detail signal is adjusted by the edge detection signal or by a cross color suppression signal generated from the vertical outline emphasis signal. The video signal then is modified by the adjusted detail signal so as to produce the outline emphasized video signal. The detail signal may also be adjusted by a gain setting signal that corresponds to the vertical outline emphasis signal and which is compressed in level when the vertical outline emphasis signal is relatively low.

Abstract: In a time axis converting section 10, time axis conversion processing of 4/3 times is implemented to a digital picture signal of a first data rate indicating an image of a first aspect ratio (16:9) to thereby generate a digital picture signal of a second data rate indicating an image of a second aspect ratio (4:3). In a data rate converting section 20, data rate conversion processing of conversion ratio of 3:4 is implemented to the digital picture signal of the second data rate to thereby generate, from the digital picture signal of the first data rate indicating the image of the first aspect ratio (16:9), a digital picture signal of a first data rate indicating the image of the second aspect ratio (4:3).

Abstract: In a time axis converting section 10, time axis conversion processing of 4/3 times is implemented to a digital picture signal of a first data rate indicating an image of a first aspect ratio (16:9) to thereby generate a digital picture signal of a second data rate indicating an image of a second aspect ratio (4:3). In a data rate converting section 20, data rate conversion processing of conversion ratio of 3:4 is implemented to the digital picture signal of the second data rate to thereby generate, from the digital picture signal of the first data rate indicating the image of the first aspect ratio (16:9), a digital picture signal of a first data rate indicating the image of the second aspect ratio (4:3).

Abstract: A digital filter for picture data is disclosed which has a first low-pass filter having relatively steep cut-off characteristics for filtering input digital picture data, a second low-pass filter having relatively moderate cut-off characteristics for filtering input digital picture data, a mixing unit for mixing digital picture data filtered by the first and second low-pass filters, a step detecting unit for detecting changes in step-like values of the input picture data, and a control unit for controlling the mixing ratio of the digital picture data from the first and second low-pass filters by the mixing unit based on step detection outputs of the step detection unit. There is also provided a digital filter system for color picture data having the digital filter for each color.