Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a processor that detects regions of interest for each of plural of observation images acquired by performing image pickup of an object, sequentially records the plurality of observation images as record images in either one of a first period from a first detection start at which a first region of interest starts to be detected to a first detection cessation at which detection of the first region of interest ceases and a second period from the first detection start to a second detection cessation at which detection of a second region of interest ceases, calculates a display timing at which the plurality of record images start to be reproduced, and performs processing for displaying at least one of the record images on a display screen of a display apparatus while sequentially displaying the plurality of observation images on the display screen at the display timing.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a processor. The processor is configured to: perform a process for detecting an area of interest for each of a plurality of observation images that are sequentially inputted; record the plurality of observation images as one or more recorded images during a period until detection of the area of interest is interrupted/ceased after the detection is started; and perform a process for, while causing the plurality of observation images to be sequentially displayed, causing at least one recorded image to be displayed at a first timing when a predetermined time period elapses after the detection of the area of interest is started or at a second timing when the detection of the area of interest is interrupted/ceased.

Abstract: A feature amount generation device includes a feature point detecting unit which detects a feature point from an input image, a pixel information generating unit which generates pixel information from pixel values of the surroundings of the feature point in the input image, a feature point pixel information distribution generating unit which generates a first distribution of pixel information of a first region including the feature point, a sub-feature point detecting unit which detects sub-feature points that are feature points in the surroundings of the feature point, a sub-feature point pixel information distribution generating unit which generates second distributions of pixel information of second regions including the sub-feature points, and a feature amount generating unit which generates a feature amount at the feature point based on the first distribution and the second distributions.

Abstract: A feature amount generation device includes a feature point detecting unit which detects a feature point from an input image, a pixel information generating unit which generates pixel information from pixel values of the surroundings of the feature point in the input image, a feature point pixel information distribution generating unit which generates a first distribution of pixel information of a first region including the feature point, a sub-feature point detecting unit which detects sub-feature points that are feature points in the surroundings of the feature point, a sub-feature point pixel information distribution generating unit which generates second distributions of pixel information of second regions including the sub-feature points, and a feature amount generating unit which generates a feature amount at the feature point based on the first distribution mid the second distributions.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus that enables the formation of high-quality multi-level images by ensuring that the size of blocks into which the image is to be divided is specified in accordance with the resolution of the image to be recorded. The apparatus divides input image gradation level data into a plurality of blocks and performs graduated recording by converting the divided image gradation level data into multi-level recording data in accordance with gradation conversion characteristics determined as keyed to relative positions in each of the blocks; the blocks are typically set to a size satisfying the following relation: (55/n)<X/p<(65/n), provided p is an integral multiple of 10; where X is the resolution of the image to be recorded in a given direction and expressed in dpi, p is the length of each block in said given direction and expressed in dots, and n is a natural number.

Abstract: It is one objective of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus that increases the printing stability for a highlighted portion, and that can form a high quality image without causing a barrier due to the application of excessive energy to a shadow portion. In an image forming apparatus that, when gray level image data are input, divides the data into a plurality of blocks and, for gray level recording, converts the gray level image data into multi-valued data, in accordance with a gray level transformation characteristic determined in accordance with relative pixel positions in each of the blocks, the gray level transformation characteristic is so set that B<0.

Abstract: A reproduced still picture having a comparatively high picture quality is obtained irrespective of the luminance of the subject. In an interval photography mode, photography is performed one time in a plurality of fields at a relatively high shutter speed of 1/250 of a second to obtained a first video signal, and photography is performed at an ordinary shutter speed of 1/60 of a second in other fields to obtain a second video signal. These video signals are amplified at mutually different first and second amplification factors (6 dB and 18.4 dB, respectively) in conformity with the shutter speed, by an AGC. The first and second amplification factors are varied in dependence upon the illumination of the subject in such a manner that the average levels of the first and second video signals are maintained at a fixed level.

Abstract: Video signals are recorded in such a manner that prints having a high picture quality can be obtained while not interfering with playback of images in the form of a movie. A CCD is controlled in such a manner that exposure is performed at a shutter speed of 1/250 of a second one time in exposures performed a plurality of times in succession and at a shutter speed of 1/60 of a second at other times. The video signal outputted by the CCD is applied to a combining circuit via a CDS, AGC and signal processing circuit for an image sensing system. A PI signal generating circuit outputs a PI signal, which represents inhibition of printing, in the case where exposure is carried out at the shutter speed of 1/60 of a second, and the combining circuit superposes the PI signal upon the video signal, which has been obtained by exposure at the shutter speed of 1/60 of a second, in the vertical blanking interval of this video signal.

Abstract: A reproduced still picture having a comparatively high picture quality is obtained irrespective of the luminance of the subject. In an interval photography mode, photography is performed one time in a plurality of fields at a relatively high shutter speed of 1/250 of a second to obtained a first video signal, and photography is performed at an ordinary shutter speed of 1/60 of a second in other fields to obtain a second video signal. These video signals are amplified at mutually different first and second amplification factors (6 dB and 18.4 dB, respectively) in conformity with the shutter speed, by an AGC. The first and second amplification factors are varied in dependence upon the illumination of the subject in such a manner that the average levels of the first and second video signals are maintained at a fixed level.

Abstract: Video signals include a first video signal and a second video signal. The second video signal, which represents an image of a subject photographed at a relatively high shutter speed, is inserted in a prescribed plurality of frames of the first video signal representing the image of the subject photographed at an ordinary shutter speed. The first video signal has a print inhibit signal, which inhibits printing of an image represented by the video signal, superposed thereon in a vertical blanking interval. The video signal which does not contain the print inhibit signal in its vertical blanking interval, is stored in a memory. The stored video signal is read out of the memory to be used for printing.

Abstract: Video signals are recorded in such a manner that prints having a high picture quality can be obtained while not interfering with playback of images in the form of a movie. A CCD is controlled in such a manner that exposure is performed at a shutter speed of 1/250 of a second, one time in exposures performed a plurality of times in succession, and at a shutter speed of 1/60 of a second at other times. The video signal outputted by the CCD is applied to a combining circuit via a CDS, AGC and signal processing circuit for an image sensing system. A PI signal generating circuit outputs a PI signal, which represents inhibition of printing, in the case where exposure is carried out at the shutter speed of 1/60 of a second, and the combining circuit superposes the PI signal upon the video signal, which has been obtained by exposure at the shutter speed of 1/60 of a second, in the vertical blanking interval of this video signal.

Abstract: A half tone color image recording method is provided in which picture cells of a same main scanning line are staggered such that every second picture cell is shifted in a sub scan direction orthogonal to the main scan direction in one or two of three colors. Simultaneously, in the other two colors or in a remaining one color, every second picture cell group consisting of two adjacent picture cells of the same main scanning line is shifted in the sub scan direction. The amount of staggering or shifting corresponds to a half length of the picture cells in the sub scan direction.

Abstract: A thermal head is moved in a sub scan direction relatively to a recording paper, the thermal head having a plurality of heating elements disposed along a main scan direction. The length of each heating element along the main scan direction is longer than its length along the sub scan direction. While the thermal head moves by a distance corresponding to the width of a picture cell, drive time of each heating element, in which each heating element is driven continuously or intermittently, is controlled to change the recording area of wax type ink dot transferred to the recording paper. Adjacent ink dots in the main scan direction are displaced by a predetermined distance in the sub scan direction. If a thermal head is intermittently moved by a unit movement amount, the unit movement amount is set smaller than the width of the heating element in order to achieve a high gradation.