Abstract: A motion video camera that removes the need for mechanical pan, tilt, and zoom apparatus is disclosed. The video camera includes the following. A wide-angle optical system is configured to receive an optical image. An image sensor is coupled to the optical system and is configured to convert the optical image to an electronic image. An image processing circuit is coupled to the image sensor and is configured to receive the electronic image and to execute movement and zoom operations by correcting distortions in the electronic image introduced by the wide-angle optical system and image sensor.

Abstract: The sizes of images obtained by electronic zoom processing are rendered constant to a certain degree. To accomplish this, an image within a zoom area is enlarged or reduced to the size of a super-extended graphics array (SXGA), and the resulting image data is recorded on a memory card, if the zoom area has a size near that of the SXGA. The image within the zoom area is recorded on the memory card upon being enlarged or reduced to the size of a super VGA (SVGA) if the zoom area has a size near that of the SVGA. The image within the zoom area is recorded on the memory card upon being enlarged or reduced to the size of a VGA if the zoom area has a size near that of the VGA. Thus, when Images represented by image data recorded on the memory card are zoomed, the sizes of the zoomed images are limited.

Abstract: A method and wireless terminal for zooming an image in a wireless terminal are provided, in which information of a selected image is analyzed, when a predetermined image is selected in an image edit mode; control is authorized to a second controller, if the selected image is a high resolution image; the selected image is displayed on a first screen and a zoom box used to select a partial image to be zoomed is displayed on a second screen, under the control of the second controller; a zoom function is performed while displaying the partial image selected by the zoom box on the first screen, if a zoom mode is selected; and a partial image selected by the moved zoom box is displayed on the first screen, when moving the zoom box.

Abstract: A digital camera for capturing and processing images of different resolutions and a corresponding method for down-scaling a digital image are provided. The method includes forming an image of a real scene on an image sensor that is made up of a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix. The method further includes addressing and reading pixels in the matrix to obtain analog quantities related to the pixels luminance values, converting the analog quantities from the pixels matrix into digital values, and processing the digital values to obtain a data file representing the image of the real scene. To reduce computation time and power consumption, the addressing and reading of the pixels includes selecting a group of pixels from the matrix, and storing the analog quantities related to the pixels of the selected group of pixels into an analog storing circuit. The stored analog quantities are averaged to obtain an analog quantity corresponding to an average pixel luminance value.

Abstract: The sizes of images obtained by electronic zoom processing are rendered constant to a certain degree. To accomplish this, an image within a zoom area is enlarged or reduced to the size of a super-extended graphics array (SXGA), and the resulting image data is recorded on a memory card, if the zoom area has a size near that of the SXGA. The image within the zoom area is recorded on the memory card upon being enlarged or reduced to the size of a super VGA (SVGA) if the zoom area has a size near that of the SVGA. The image within the zoom area is recorded on the memory card upon being enlarged or reduced to the size of a VGA if the zoom area has a size near that of the VGA. Thus, when images represented by image data recorded on the memory card are zoomed, the sizes of the zoomed images are limited.

Abstract: A camera installed in a wireless terminal comprises a first electronic zooming means to operate by hardware and a second electronic zooming means to operate by software. The first electronic zooming means quickly select one of several pictures with predetermined scale factor. The second electronic zooming means zoom in or out a picture in small steps. An operator can quickly display a picture of desired scale factor by these two means. Further, in a foldable type terminal with a magnetic sensor, a picture with desired scale factor can be displayed by adjusting an angle between a first housing and a second housing.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging device to photograph an object and to convert an image of the object into an electronic image signal, a feature detection device to conduct a feature detection for a white balance control in accordance with the image signal, a white balance control device to conduct the white balance control by using a result of the feature detection device, a zoom area selection device to select the zoom area of the image signal in accordance with the imaging device, a display device to display the image signal of the area selected by the zoom area selection device, and a feature detection area selection device for a selecting area to conduct the feature detection for the white balance control.

Abstract: Image capture systems and methods are described. In one aspect, an image capture system includes an image sensor, an image frame generator, and an image region selector. The image sensor is operable to generate raw image data from a viewed scene. The image frame generator is operable to generate image frames from the raw image data. The image region selector is operable to cause a user-selected portion of an image frame to be captured as a still image in response to user input.

Abstract: A digital still camera includes an image pickup device for photographing a subject, and an image processor adapted to drive and control the image pickup device, to process photographic signals outputted from the image pickup device and to record the processed images in a recorder. The image processor includes digitally zooming unit for selected a part of a photographic image plane photographed by the image pickup device and digitally zooming said part of the image. The image pickup device possesses two or more driving modes having respectively different numbers of pixels to be read out from the image pickup device. The digital still camera enables at least either one of monitoring in which restricted pixels are read out from the image pickup device and moving image recording, wherein a driving mode of the image pickup device is so selected as to maintain a resolution obtainable at the number of pixels in monitoring or that in recording moving images.

Abstract: A lens-controlling device controls a first lens unit which moves for zooming and a second lens unit which moves for correcting the displacement of an image plane caused by zooming and for focusing. The lens-controlling device includes a memory which stores data for obtaining target-position information representing a target position to which the second lens unit is to be moved, the target position corresponding to a position to which the first lens unit is moved from a current position and a controller which generates the target-position information on the basis of the data and controls the movement of the second lens unit on the basis of position information of the first lens unit and the target-position information.

Abstract: This invention can appropriately control the relationship between the electronic zoom magnification and the resolution of a displayed image in electronic zoom. An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor which photo-electrically converts an image of an image sensing field formed by a photographing optical system, an extracting unit which extracts a part of the video image generated upon being photo-electrically converted by the image sensor, an adding unit which adds signals of respective pixels, the number of which corresponds to the luminance of the image sensing field, of a plurality of pixels of the image sensor, and a limiting unit which limits the extraction range of the video image extracted by the extracting unit, in accordance with the number of pixels added by the adding unit.

Abstract: In an CCD image sensor, when an image of a partial area is used, a frame rate is enhanced. Horizontal transfer of signal charges of an i-th line read out to a horizontal transfer portion is stopped at the time point when all or a part of a tail portion 74 subsequent to an extraction target portion 72. Under this state, the signal charges of an (i+1)-th line are transferred to the horizontal transfer portion. Thereafter, the horizontal transfer is started. Through this operation, unnecessary signal charges of the tail portion 74 of the i-th line and unnecessary signal charges of a head portion 82 of an (i+1)-th line are combined. By partially overlapping adjacent lines with each other, the cycle number of horizontal transfer clocks required for the horizontal transfer per line can be reduced as compared with a normal operation, thereby enhancing a frame rate.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens which can communicate with an associated camera body, the interchangeable lens including an interface logic IC; and a memory connected to the interface logic IC, and stores the data of the interchangeable lens. Fixed data of the interchangeable lens is allocated to a predetermined number of bytes of data sent from the interchangeable lens to the camera body so that terminals of the interface logic IC serve as at least one group of fixed data set-pins to which levels corresponding to the fixed data are set. In communication with the camera body for a predetermined number of bytes thereof, the interface logic IC reads the fixed data set by the group of fixed data set pins to send the read fixed data to the camera body, and sends data of the interchangeable lens which is read from the memory to the camera body.

Abstract: An imaging control unit specifies a scan region, including an effective pixel region and a blanking region, of an image based on a magnification for electronic zooming, and converts an input optical signal into an electrical signal by scanning the scan region. The imaging control unit reads the electrical signal stored and delivers the electrical signal to an image sensor unit as picture data. An RW control unit stores the picture data in a register based on the magnification for electronic zooming, and then reads the picture data at a predetermined frame rate. A resolution converter performs interpolation processing of the picture data based on the magnification for electronic zooming.

Abstract: Polyphase filtering, such as resampling for image resizing, on a processor with parallel output units is cast in terms of data access blocks and data coverage charts to increase processor efficiency. Automatic generation of implementations corresponding to input resampling factors by computation cost comparisons.

Abstract: When a high-frequency component of a video signal that is output from a CCD image sensor (1-2) can be extracted from band-pass filters (1-13, 1-14), the band-pass filters (1-13, 1-14) are changed in accordance with the number of pixels in the video signal. Even if the spatial sampling frequency (high-frequency component) of the video signal changes, a frequency component of an optimum band can be extracted.

Abstract: A system and method for zooming an image. In the illustrative embodiment, the system includes a memory for receiving first and second frames of image data; a motion detector for detecting motion in said first or said second frame of image data; and an intelligent zoom system for zooming said first or said second image using a first or a second zoom method based on a detection of motion by said motion detector on a pixel by pixel basis. In the illustrative embodiment, the invention is scene-based, it works on a pixel by pixel bases to determine if a pixel is in motion. It performs motion related zoom for pixels that are affected by motion and conducts cross-field zoom for steady pixels to reduce motion artifacts in zoom mode. Motion may be determined by comparing frame-to-frame pixel value variations to fixed motion threshold(s) or by other algorithms. Independent-field zoom refers to using information from one input field to form a zoomed picture in one associated output field.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus which records information, indicating a procedure of resolution conversion processing performed on the image, into image data and outputs the image and the information. The image capturing apparatus, which captures a subject, includes an image pick-up unit which captures an image, a resolution conversion unit which performs resolution conversion processing on the image, and a storing unit which stores the image resolution conversion information, which indicates a procedure of the resolution conversion processing by the resolution conversion unit, in association with the image.

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital camera that prevents photographing errors attributed to an increase in sensitivity effected by reducing the recordable image size. In a digital camera that allows a high sensitivity to be set by pixel mixture, a display is provided to prevent photographing errors caused by restrictions or the like resulting from setting of a high sensitivity.

Abstract: An optical apparatus has an imaging optical system provided with a deformable mirror and an electronic zoom function that an image recorded in an image sensor by the imaging optical system is magnified by image processing. A ray deflecting function of the deformable mirror is changed in accordance with a change of an object area corresponding to an image to be used, and aberration of the imaging optical system is optimized. The deformable mirror is controlled by an arithmetical unit connected to an image processor and a driving circuit. The electronic zoom is performed with respect to the image recorded in the image sensor through a signal processing circuit and the image processor, and when the image is displayed on a display device, the deformable mirror is deformed so that sharpness at nearly the center of an object image formed on the image sensor is improved.

Abstract: A system controller controls a solid-state image pickup device so as to read pixels at a predetermined pixel skip-reading-out rate. During pixel skip-reading-out, the system controller adds up, for example, four pixels to acquire a value representative of a unit area for pixel skip-reading-out. A space between adjoining ones of pixels to be added up is set to, for example, a half of an inter-sample space, whereby an MTF of an image signal representing added pixels, which is attained at the sample rate, is set to 0. Consequently, an aliasing noise can be eliminated and deterioration in image quality can be prevented. Moreover, since four pixels are added up irrespective of a pixel skip-reading-out rate, a sensitivity will not vary.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit configured to photoelectrically convert an object image projected on an imaging region and to output a photoelectrically converted electrical signal starting with a selected one of a plurality of predetermined reading start positions; an electronic zooming processing unit configured to perform an electronic zooming process based on an electrical signal output from the imaging unit; a focus adjustment processing unit configured to detect a signal for focus adjustment based on an electrical signal output from the imaging unit at timing different from that of outputting of the electrical signal used in the electronic zooming process; and a control unit configured to set at least one of the plurality of predetermined reading start positions as a reading start position common to the electrical signal used in the electronic zooming process and the electrical signal used in the focus adjustment.

Abstract: An information recording device capable of preventing a deterioration of quality of a display image. Pixel counts in each of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction of an image represented by digital image data generated by a CCD, are greater than in an image for which electronic zoom has been implemented. A zoom rate of the electronic zoom to be applied to the image during execution of dubbing of an image file and/or display by an LCD of an image represented by the image file, is limited to not more than a magnification rate upper limit value, which is determined on the basis of the horizontal and vertical direction pixel counts of the image represented by the digital image data generated by the CCD and pixel counts in the horizontal and vertical directions of the image for which the electron zoom has been implemented.

Abstract: An image processing system and method thereof for a digital camera are disclosed. The image processing system comprises a sweep control unit, a line extend control unit and a WOI control unit. When the output time of a digital image needs to be prolonged, the line extend control unit will be triggered in order to extend the processing time of the digital image.

Abstract: Zoomed sequential images including a first image at a first magnification, a later image at a second magnification, and at least one intermediate image at a magnification between the first and second magnifications are processed by applying an electronic zoom to each of the intermediate images to magnify each of the intermediate images to the same size as the image size at the higher magnification level of the first and second magnifications.

Abstract: Bayer data is captured by a CCD and is stored in a memory. Image data is read out from the memory in units of nine lines starting with (4n+1)-th (n: integer) line. YUV data of one pixel is formed based on 5×5 pixels in the read Bayer data. Thus, the YUV data is formed in units of five lines. The YUV data is enlarged by a pixel number converting unit.

Abstract: An electronic imaging device produces higher quality digitally zoomed images than can be obtained by simple cropping and resealing. An array of imaging sensors that places more resolution near the center of the image than at the edges combined with geometrical distortion correction achieves the increase in image quality.

Abstract: Bayer data is captured by a CCD and is store in a memory. Image data is read out from the memory in units of nine lines starting with (4n+1)-th (n: integer) line. YUV data of one pixel is formed based on 5×5 pixels in the read Bayer data. Thus, the YUV data is formed in units of five lines. The YUV data is enlarged by a pixel number converting unit.

Abstract: A reproduction apparatus includes: an enlarging processing unit for enlarging a desired area of an image displayed on a screen; and a control unit for changing operation characteristics of the enlarging processing means in accordance with whether the image is a moving image or a still image. The reproduction enlarging range can be quickly shifted during moving image reproduction, and can be finely shifted during moving image reproduction stop.

Abstract: A device for outputting video signal includes a magnification alteration processing section that alters the magnification of image data expanded in frame memory in such a manner that the number of pixels in the frame memory and the number of pixels of the display area of a display section are equal. The device further includes a control section for deciding whether or not the magnification alteration processing of the image data by the magnification alteration processing section is to be executed when the image data is being converted into video signals.

Abstract: A digital camera includes an image control processing section in which a memory controller controls a video memory, a bus arbitrator, a display sequencer, and a timing adjusting section. Image data are read out of the video memory and fed to a data corrector. The display sequencer adjusts a sampling order in accordance with the combination of luminance data and color data constituting the image data, while varying a packet size. The bus arbitrator arbitrates access requests in accordance with priority to thereby reduce the occupation ratio of a bus. The data corrector restores and processes the image data and then delivers them to a buffer memory included in the timing adjusting section.

Abstract: An optical apparatus including an imaging apparatus and a lens apparatus each having a communicating portion performing communications is disclosed. The optical apparatus is provided with: an imaging optical unit; a memory in which information of an optical performance of the imaging optical unit is stored; an image pickup device imaging a subject image from the imaging optical unit; an imaging controller changing an information size of image information from the image pickup device; and a lens controller connected to the imaging controller through the communicating portions and performing communications with the imaging controller. The lens controller takes out the information of the optical performance from the memory in response to an instruction from the imaging controller, and transmits the information to the imaging controller through the communicating portions.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus uses an imaging device to generate an image signal corresponding to an image having an arbitrary number of H pixels by W pixels which is not greater than a predetermined number of P pixels by Q pixels in vertical and horizontal directions. The apparatus converts the generated image signal into an image signal corresponding to an image having a predetermined number of P pixels by Q pixels. In the imaging apparatus, an enlarged image signal corresponding to an enlarged image having the number of P pixels by Q pixels is generated by performing enlargement processing on the image signal generated using the imaging device, and an image signal corresponding to an image having the number of M pixels by N pixels is generated by performing reduction processing on the generated enlarged image signal corresponding to the image having the P pixels by Q pixels.

Abstract: A lens-controlling device controls a first lens unit which moves for zooming and a second lens unit which moves for correcting the displacement of an image plane caused by zooming and for focusing. The lens-controlling device includes a memory which stores data for obtaining target-position information representing a target position to which the second lens unit is to be moved, the target position corresponding to a position to which the first lens unit is moved from a current position and a controller which generates the target-position information on the basis of the data and controls the movement of the second lens unit on the basis of position information of the first lens unit and the target-position information.

Abstract: An apparatus, a control method, and a control program which permit a first change operation of optically changing magnifications of a taken image and a second change operation of changing the magnifications by signal processing and in which a predetermined restriction that is not imposed on transition from the second change operation to the first change operation is imposed on transition from the first change operation to the second change operation.

Abstract: Light (22) is projected from an image projector (20), in response to an image information signal (18) and is controllably refracted in response to a first control signal (26), for projecting refracted light (27) onto a screen (28). The screened light is for providing viewable images of varying size occupying all or part of the screen. The viewable images are refracted in response to a second control signal (64) for viewing the images of increasingly smaller size with correspondingly increasing magnification.

Abstract: A portable electronic imaging device, in performing digital zoom, exploits barrel distortion in the original digital image to produce higher quality digitally zoomed images than can be obtained by simple cropping and rescaling. Such a portable electronic imaging device may be implemented using a moderately wide-angle lens of fixed focal length.

Abstract: Provide an electronic still camera using a color filter array (CFA) and a single CCD making it possible to simultaneously execute the processing for color signal interpolation and the processing for resizing. In the electronic still camera according to the present invention, an R signal, a G signal, and a B signal are output from each pixel of an image sensor 12 having a CFA. A processor 16 simultaneously executes processing for interpolation and processing for resizing by computing (R, G, B) values at a given pixel position according to the color signals. Low frequency components Rlow, Glow, Blow of the color signal at the given pixel position are computed from signals from adjoining pixels, and the high frequency component Shigh is computed from a brightness value Y. The image data interpolated and changed to a desired size is stored in a memory 18, or is output via an interface I/F 20 to an external device such as a computer or a printer.

Abstract: In a digital camera, when a motion image reducing mode is set, a pointer is displayed on a monitor. When the operator operates on cursor key, the pointer moves, and when the operator operates a determination key at two different pointer positions, a rectangular frame is formed. Namely, the two pointer positions represent upper left and lower right coordinates of the frame. The picked up real time motion image is displayed in the rectangular frame. The displayed motion image is reduced to a magnification corresponding to the ratio of the rectangular frame with respect to the monitor frame. When the operator operates a shutter button at this time, the image in the motion image frame is recorded on a memory card.

Abstract: A lens-controlling device controls a first lens unit which moves for zooming and a second lens unit which moves for correcting the displacement of an image plane caused by zooming and for focusing. The lens-controlling device includes a memory which stores data for obtaining target-position information representing a target position to which the second lens unit is to be moved, the target position corresponding to a position to which the first lens unit is moved from a current position and a controller which generates the target-position information on the basis of the data and controls the movement of the second lens unit on the basis of position information of the first lens unit and the target-position information.

Abstract: The zoom speed of a zoom function is detected by a zoom lever detection circuit. A sensed image is displayed on a monitor, and a desired partial region in that sensed image is designated using a region designation lever. A compression circuit compresses the designated region and a non-designated region using different characteristics. A region detector controls the designated region on the basis of the detected zoom speed. In another arrangement, enlargement/reduction zoom operation by a zoom function is executed by a zoom lever. A sensed image is displayed on a monitor, and a desired partial region in that sensed image is designated using a region designation lever. A compression circuit compresses the designated region and a non-designated region using different characteristics. A region detector controls the designated region on the basis of the zoom operation.

Abstract: A system controller controls a solid-state image sensor, and performs read-out at a predetermined subsampling ratio. In the event that the size of the image-taking area and the subsampling ratio do not agree, the system controller executes image size conversion processing with a digital processing unit, and converts the image size to an image size corresponding to a request from a peripheral device unit. Also, the system controller performs changing of the image-taking area following ending of the reading out from the solid-state image sensor, thereby obtaining normal frame signals. Accordingly, even in the event that zooming is performed by changing the subsampling ratio, zooming operations can be performed with an arbitrary zooming ratio, and reading out of the image-taking information is made to be suitable.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus is disclosed to prevent recording of a degraded image by restricting setting of an electronic zoom function when a recording mode is set to a low-compression ratio mode or non-compression mode. The image pickup apparatus comprises a processing device for electronically enlarging an image picked up by an image pickup unit, a setting device for setting compressing operation for the image picked up by the image pickup unit, and a control device to restrict operation of the processing device in accordance with the compressing operation for the image which is set by the setting device. When a compression ratio equal to or less than a predetermined value is set by the recording mode setting unit or the non-compression mode is set, a system control circuit inhibits the electronic zoom function that tends to cause a deterioration in image quality from being turned on.

Abstract: When a subject is imaged for the purpose of deciding the angle of view, the full image that is capable of being sensed by a CCD is displayed on an LCD. The user designates the position of a cropping area in the image being displayed. Only image data representing the image within the border of the designated area is recorded on a memory card. Since the amount of image data to be recorded on the memory card is thus reduced, image data representing images of a greater number of frames can be recorded on the memory card.

Abstract: A digital zoom-out processing apparatus for accomplishing a digital zoom-out function by synthesizing a plurality of field or frame image information using motion information, is provided. The apparatus includes an image signal storage unit, a motion information detector, and a record and control unit. The image signal storage unit stores a plurality of frames or field image signals. The motion information detector detects the motion information between two image signals. The record and control unit zooms out received frame or field image signals in accordance with the given magnification and recording zoomed-out image signals in the image signal storage unit, and controls the location in the image signal storage at which the zoomed-out image signals are to be recorded. The digital zoom-out apparatus accomplishes a digital zoom-out function which enables processing of a large image in units of one screen.

Abstract: On a screen G1 of a liquid crystal display, a digital camera displays an AF cursor for use as a focusing point. Thus, a shooter shifts the AF cursor to the portion of a subject to be focused, so as to carry out the setting. Here, when the subject is zoomed up to an enlarged screen G2 through an optical zooming operation, the AF cursor is displayed on the enlarged screen G2, following the subject. Moreover, in the case when the subject is electronically zoomed up to an enlarged screen G3, the AF cursor is also displayed on the enlarged screen G3, following the subject. Thus, even when a zooming process is carried out, it is not necessary to adjust the position of the AF cursor; thus, it becomes possible to improve the operability of the digital camera.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes: an image-capturing unit that creates an image by capturing an image of a subject; an enlarged image generating unit that creates an enlarged image by enlarging a portion of the image created by the image-capturing unit; an optical viewfinder that enables verification of a subject range corresponding to a range of the image created by the image-capturing unit; and a warning output unit that issues a warning when the enlarged image generating unit is in operation.

Abstract: A drive recorder attains scenic images surrounding a vehicle or images inside a vehicle chamber in a specific direction, as being useful for verifying a cause of an accident. As an impact sensor detects an occurrence of an accident, a control unit displays an image by an on-vehicle camera on a screen of a display. Accordingly, a user is able to quickly record target objects that supposedly help to verify the cause of the accident, such as the vehicle running into from behind and running away, a traffic light, a traffic marking and so forth, by simply turning a photographic direction of the on-vehicle camera toward the target objects, with a simple operation on a touch panel, even in an emergency.

Abstract: A digital still camera includes an image pickup device for photographing a subject, and an image processor adapted to drive and control the image pickup device, to process photographic signals outputted from the image pickup device and to record the processed images in a recorder. The image processor includes digitally zooming unit for selected a part of a photographic image plane photographed by the image pickup device and digitally zooming said part of the image. The image pickup device possesses two or more driving modes having respectively different numbers of pixels to be read out from the image pickup device. The digital still camera enables at least either one of monitoring in which restricted pixels are read out from the image pickup device and moving image recording, wherein a driving mode of the image pickup device is so selected as to maintain a resolution obtainable at the number of pixels in monitoring or that in recording moving images.

Abstract: To solve the problems on camera control such as control of the zoom lens of a camera, caused by the delay time from the time when camera control is performed up to the time when a camera-controlled image arrives, the electronic zoom processing for a displayed image is executed in accordance with the zoom control command, when a zoom control command for the camera is input.