Abstract: A controlling method for a CCD camera in which a photographing area is divided into a number of cell regions, the illumination of each cell regions is detected, and the photographing mode of a camera is switched to a daytime or nighttime mode on the basis of the detected illumination so that an optimum image is photographed, even under conditions where the illumination of a certain position and the total illumination condition of what is photographed changes irregularly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of reading out the sensor elements of a sensor (1) with a matrix of light-sensitive or X-ray-sensitive sensor elements (S1,2; S1,2 . . . ) which are arranged in rows and columns and generate charges in dependence on the incident quantity of radiation, the switches (3) of the relevant sensor elements being activated via address lines (4, . . . , 8, . . . ) and the charges of the respective activated sensor elements being drained via read-out lines (9, 10, 11, . . . ) so as to be processed further by way of amplifiers (14, . . . , 18, . . . ) and transfer means (19). The invention also relates to a corresponding sensor as well as to an X-ray examination apparatus which includes an X-ray source for emitting an X-ray beam for irradiating an object in order to form an X-ray image, as well as a detector for generating an electrical image signal from said X-ray image.

Abstract: The invention describes systems and methods for calibrating a low-level light imaging system. Techniques described herein employ a light calibration device that is placed within a low level light imaging box to calibrate the system and its constituent components such as the camera and processing system. The calibration device comprises an array of low-power light supplies each having a known emission. By taking an image of each low-power light supply, and comparing the processed result with the known emission, the accuracy of the imaging system and its absolute imaging characteristics may be assessed and verified.

Abstract: A method for enhancing imaging in low light conditions, comprising: acquiring image data relating to a plurality of consecutive images; determining a local motion factor relating to the consecutive images by specifically processing the consecutive images in a predetermined manner in order to obtain an image mask that represents information about local motion; and processing the consecutive images, incorporating the image mask, to obtain final usable image information.

Abstract: A number of different elements are added together in a staggered way to avoid the total loss of resolution caused by the binning process. The circuit for doing this includes a variable gain. In a second circuit for carrying this out, to fixed pattern noise reduction circuits are used.

Abstract: The invention relates to the production of image data, wherein a scene is scanned with a detector (1) which has a large number of sensor elements for producing image signals. An overall value is formed (unit 12) for each of the sensor elements, which represents a totality of image signals obtained from that sensor element, so that an overall value profile is obtained at least over a part of the scanned scene. The overall values for adjacent sensor elements are used to determine whether differences between these overall values satisfy a predetermined magnitude criterion which indicates inhomogeneities in signal sensitivities of these sensor elements (unit 14). If the magnitude criterion is satisfied, the image signals are corrected (unit 15) such that the magnitude criterion is no longer satisfied. The image data is produced from the corrected image signals or from the image signals which do not satisfy the magnitude criterion and is displayed on a screen (4).

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electronic camera for generating an image having a wide dynamic range by synthesizing two image pickup signals of different exposure amount generated by using an electronic shutter function and means for shutting off light, shading of image pickup signals resulting from difference in charge accumulating time among the pixels of image pickup device due to operation from opened state to closed state of the means for shutting off light being corrected by a shading correction means to form a synthesized image without an occurrence of false color due to shading.

Abstract: In order to provide an imaging apparatus that uses an electron-bombarded multiplying tube with an internal solid imaging device with a long life, improved S/N ratio, high resolution, and moreover high sensitivity, an electron-bombarded multiplying tube with a photocathode 13 and a back-illuminated FT-CCD 11 sealed in a vacuum vessel is used as an imaging element. The vacuum vessel is made from a faceplate 12, a ceramic tube 16, and a ceramic stem 17. The photocathode 13 emits photo-electrons from a surface opposite from the incidence plane, in accordance with incident light. The FT-CCD 11 has an incidence plane disposed in the pathway of photo-electrons from the opposite surface. An imaging portion 11a of the FT-CCD 11 has pixels in the vertical direction in the same number as or in greater numbers than the number of output scan lines. A transfer electrode of the imaging portion 11a is constantly applied with a negative voltage during an image accumulation period.

Abstract: An imaging system according to the invention is to supply a sharper image while restraining the blooming even in the case of having a strong illuminant such as an oncoming headlamp at night. It includes an IR lamp for radiating an infrared ray forward, a CCD camera for taking an image in the forward direction and converting the image into an electric signal, and an image processing unit for varying the signal accumulating time of the CCD camera at a predetermined cycle and continuously and periodically supplying the images of different light exposure amount. The image processing unit sets a mask for adjusting the brightness level between the images of different light exposure amount in the ODD fields and the EVEN fields, on the image of the higher brightness level in the ODD fields.

Abstract: In an imaging apparatus, a function whose value increases in time is used as a threshold electric-signal level, and an electric-signal level of a photoreceptor element is compared with the threshold electric-signal level. Even if a light received by the photoreceptor element has a low luminance, the electric-signal level of the photoreceptor element crosses the threshold electric-signal level in a short time, allowing calculation of the amount of optical energy received by the photoreceptor element. Furthermore, when an object having a region where brightness changes in time and also having a region with a low luminance is imaged, imaging interval is changed in accordance with luminance. Accordingly, information regarding how the brightness of the object is rapidly changing in time can be obtained more precisely, and an image can be output without making a projection image of the dark region completely black.

Abstract: A high sensitivity, single chip, low light level imaging device is provided. The imaging device of the present invention utilizes sparse color sampling, to maximize the luminance information gathered. In particular, color information is gathered by a small proportion of the pixels included in an image sensor, while the remaining pixels operate at full spectrum sensitivity. The present invention allows the correct hue of objects to be determined, while providing high sensitivity to available luminance information in a scene. In addition, the present invention allows hue information to be ascribed to objects in a scene, even in combination with luminance data collected over a spectrum that includes the near infrared and infrared wavelengths.

Abstract: When the brightness of an object is low, a sum output mode is set in causing a CCD to output pixel values accumulated therein. When the sum output mode is set, the CCD outputs the pixel values by adding up each odd number of pixel values distributed consecutively in a specified direction. As a result, a large signal component from which color information has not been lost completely can be obtained without increasing a noise component when the brightness is low. By reproducing the color information based on pixel sum values each obtained by adding up an odd number of pixel values in an overall controller, a proper color image can be obtained even if the brightness of the object is low.

Abstract: A smart camera with modular expansion capabilities, including a housing, a camera directly attached to the housing for acquiring an image of an object, a functional unit comprised in the housing and coupled to the camera, where the functional unit is configurable to implement an image processing function, a backplane comprised in the housing and coupled to the functional unit to provide electrical communication, and one or more slots comprised in the housing, where each slot includes a connector that is electrically coupled to the backplane, and where each slot is adapted for receiving a function module. An inserted function module provides modular functionality to the smart camera, such as dedicated image processing functionality, pattern recognition, analysis, communication, sensor, sensor I/O, signal conditioning and/or conversion, control, measurement, and synchronization, among others. The function module may communicate a protocol to the functional unit which may be configured to implement the protocol.

Abstract: A viewing system for use in connection with vehicles includes a camera (70), which may include night vision functionality, mounted in a side view mirror assembly (20). A forward facing aperture (24) is formed in a mirror housing (22) to provide an unobstructed opening for the camera. The camera is suitably positioned so as not to interfere with power adjustment features associated with the mirrors and to provide a perspective view substantially similar to that of the driver looking directly through the windshield. In addition, the camera is easily accessible for cleaning and aesthetically blends in with the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle vicinity-monitoring apparatus 1 includes a casing 15 having vicinity-monitoring window portions 15L and 15R and a night-vision window port 15F, a single image pickup device 17 which is contained within the casing 15, and has an image pickup surface 17a which is divided into a vicinity-monitoring image pickup region 17L, 17R and a night-vision image pickup region, an optical system 19 and 21 which is contained within the casing 15.

Abstract: To reduce power consumption of an image pick-up device in which an object to be photographed is illuminated, during a period until a release switch is operated, a control part controls a light emitting part to emit a smaller quantity of light than that necessary for photographing the object. When a photographing instruction is output by the release switch, the control part controls the light emitting part to emit light with the quantity of light necessary for photographing the object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus, which is equipped in a vehicle and is used for obtaining an image of the surrounding area by performing the image pickup.

Abstract: A video camera and imaging system having signal processing circuitry configured to change the black level (pedestal) of a video signal in response to comparing an overall system gain (for instance, a gain value and the electronic exposure time of the image sensor) to a threshold value. The change helps to automatically obtain brighter and more detailed images, particularly with imaging systems which are optimized for intraoral (dental) imaging but are also used to capture a headshot of the patent's smile or face.

Abstract: Provided is an image sensing system for receiving a light having a visible ray reflected from the object and for sensing color image or a black and white image of the object, comprising: an infrared ray source for irradiating an infrared ray to the object; an infrared ray source control unit detecting an intensity of a visible ray reflected from the object, and controlling the infrared ray source to be turned on when the intensity of the visible ray reflected from the object is lower than a predetermined level; a light guiding unit for guiding a light reflected from the object; and a color image sensor for receiving the light reflected from the object through the light guiding unit to detect a color image or a black and white image.

Abstract: An optical image pickup device applicable to composite picture without the use of chromakey composition technique is presented.

Abstract: A video camera and method therefore for use in a low light environment. A video image capturing element captures an image in the low light environment and generates a low light image signal corresponding to the captured image. A video processing unit is electrically coupled to the video image capturing element. The video processing unit has a memory for storing a raw digitized version of the low light image signal and a signal processing device electrically coupled to the memory. The signal processing device reads the raw digitized version of the low light image signal from the memory at a rate corresponding to a full rate signal and converts the raw digitized version of the low light image signal into a displayable video signal. The camera and method of the invention are well suited for use in a closed circuit television surveillance environment.