Abstract: A display device includes a display panel including a plurality of pixels, a gate driver configured to provide gate signals to the plurality of pixels, a data driver configured to provide data signals to the plurality of pixels, a correction data memory configured to store mura correction data, and a controller configured to control the gate driver and the data driver. The controller includes a pattern detection block configured to detect a set pattern in input image data, and a mura correction block configured to perform a mura correction operation that corrects the input image data based on the mura correction data in response to the set pattern not being detected, and to not perform the mura correction operation in accordance with the set pattern being detected.

Abstract: A system for automated microorganism identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing comprising a reagent cartridge, a reagent stage, a cassette, a cassette, stage, a pipettor assembly, an optical detection system, and a controller is disclosed. The system is designed to dynamically adjust motor idle torque to control heat load and employs a fast focus process for determining the true focus position of an individual microorganism. The system also may quantify the relative abundance of viable microorganisms in a sample using dynamic dilution, and facilitate growth of microorganisms in customized media for rapid, accurate antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

Abstract: Photographic lighting devices and systems having multiple electrical energy storage/discharge (EESD) elements and/or multiple light sources in a single photographic lighting device to perform one or more photographic lighting effects. In one exemplary aspect, independent control of one or more light sources connected to a first EESD bank and another one or more light sources connected to a second EESD bank, such as via control circuitry, may be utilized in producing various lighting effects.

Abstract: A focus adjustment device for carrying out focus adjustment by moving a focus lens, comprises a point light source determination section which determines a point-like light source subject based on the image signals, an orientation stability determination section which determines stability of orientation by detecting orientation of the focus adjustment device, a photometry section which outputs photometric values corresponding to subject brightness based on the image signals, and a focus adjustment section which carries out a focus adjustment operation using the image signals, based on a determination result of the point light source determination section, wherein the point light source determination section, in a state where a point-like light source subject is currently determined, when a determination result of the orientation stability determination section indicates unstable and a photometric value output from the photometry section does not indicate low brightness, determines that the subject is not a po

Abstract: Provided is a depth measurement apparatus that measures depth information on a subject by using a plurality of images taken under different imaging parameters and having different blurs, the depth measurement apparatus including a spatial frequency determination unit that determines a spatial frequency band from a spatial frequency present in at least one of the plurality of images, an image comparison unit that compares the plurality of images by using the component of the spatial frequency band of the plurality of images and outputs a depth dependence value dependent on the depth of the subject, and a depth calculation unit that calculates the depth from the depth dependence value and the spatial frequency band.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus measures a subject distance using a plurality of captured images acquired by capturing the same subject in a plurality of imaging states in succession of time. The image processing apparatus includes a target motion amount estimation unit that estimates a target motion amount representing an amount of shift in subject position between first and second images among the captured images. The first image is captured in a first imaging state and a second image is captured in a second imaging state different from the first imaging state. A corrected image generation unit generates a corrected image by performing motion compensation on the second image based on the target motion amount, and an image processing unit performs image processing such as measuring a subject distance or generating an HDR image, using the first image and the corrected image.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus includes an image sensor, which is adapted to generate an input image in response to optical radiation. A processing engine is configured to apply a digital filter, having a kernel width greater than five pixels, to the input image to generate a filtered image. An optical assembly is arranged to focus the optical radiation onto the image sensor with a point spread function such that no more than a first threshold percentage of energy emitted from a point object and focused by the optical assembly falls within a first region of the image sensor having a first width five times the pitch of the image sensor, while at least a second threshold percentage of the energy emitted from the point object and focused by the optical assembly falls within a second region, which contains the first region and has a second width corresponding to the kernel width.

Abstract: A drive apparatus includes a magnet rotor having a plurality of magnetic poles that are magnetized, a stator having a magnetic pole portion that opposes each pole of the magnet rotor, a coil configured to excite the magnetic pole portion, a position detector configured to detect a position of the magnet rotor, a first driver configured to switch an electrification state of the coil in accordance with a preset time interval, a second driver configured to switch an electrification state of the coil in accordance with an output of the position detector, and a controller configured to select the first driver when the output of the position detector is less than a first threshold, and to select the second driver when the output of the position detector is equal to or larger than the first threshold.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus that measures, in advance, and stores shading coefficients for light sources of different types, and in a focus detection operation, generates light source information for determining a light source that irradiates an object based on outputs from a plurality of photometry sensors with different spectral characteristics and switches the shading coefficient of a focus detection sensor among shading coefficients stored according to the light source information.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus includes an image sensor, which is adapted to generate an input image in response to optical radiation that is incident thereon. A processing engine is configured to apply a digital filter to the input image so as to generate a filtered image, the digital filter having a kernel, which has a kernel width that is greater than five pixels. An optical assembly is arranged to focus the optical radiation onto the image sensor with a point spread function (PSF) such that no more than a first threshold percentage of energy emitted from a point object and focused by the optical assembly falls within a first region of the image sensor having a first width that is five times the pitch of the image sensor, while at least a second threshold percentage of the energy emitted from the point object and focused by the optical assembly falls within a second region, which contains the first region and has a second width corresponding to the kernel width.

Abstract: A focal point detection device includes: a rate conversion section which converts a transmission rate of an image signal, which is associated with a subject image imaged via an imaging lens on a part of a receiving surface of an imaging device, such that the image signal input to the rate conversion section at a first transmission rate is output from the rate conversion section at a second transmission rate that is slower than the first transmission rate; a filter which extracts a frequency component from the image signal output at the second transmission rate from the rate conversion section; and an evaluation value calculation section which calculates an evaluation value of a focus state of the imaging lens, based on a signal of the frequency component that is extracted by the filter.

Abstract: Techniques are described for predictive focus value calculation within image capture devices. Image capture devices may include digital still cameras and digital video cameras. The techniques include performing an auto-focus process within an image capture device by predicting a focus value for a scene at a lens position of a lens included in the image capture device based on a corrupt focus value for the lens position calculated from a first frame directly after lens settlement. Therefore, the auto-focus process may determine size and direction of movement for the lens to a next lens position based on the predicted valid focus value, and move the lens to the next lens position during a second frame. In this way, the techniques may move the lens to another lens position during each frame, greatly reducing auto-focus latency by potentially doubling or tripling the speed of the auto-focus process.

Abstract: A focus area contains one or more areas, into which an image signal captured by an image sensor (14) is segmented by an image segmentation section (15). The focus area follows movement of an object in accordance with feature point positional information of an image extracted by a feature point extraction section (34) and a feature point positional calculation section (35). Further, after a low-pass filter (36) extracts a low frequency component of a time-series oscillation frequency using the feature point positional information, and a focus area selection section calculates a display position, the focus area is displayed on a display section (17). Therefore, an imaging device, which does not cause discomfort even when the focus area displayed on the display section (17) fluctuates by tracking movement of the object, is provided.

Abstract: An automatic focusing method and device in a high-noise environment are used for determining a focusing distance between a digital imaging device and an object to be photographed. The automatic focusing method includes the steps of capturing M pre-photographed images at different object distances respectively; loading the pre-photographed images; superposing every N (N<M) pre-photographed images to create (M?N+1) composite images; redefining the object distances corresponding to the (M?N+1) composite images; calculating high-frequency signals in the focusing regions of the (M?N+1) composite images; determining an optimum focusing object distance based on the relation between the high-frequency signals and corresponding object distances; and adjusting an automatic focusing lens to the optimum focusing object distance and accomplishing focusing.

Abstract: An automatic focusing method in a high-noise environment and a digital imaging device using the same are used for determining an object distance. The method includes taking two digital images at a farthest object distance and taking two digital images at a nearest object distance, under a first exposure condition and a second exposure condition; capturing digital images under the first exposure condition at a plurality of different object distances other than the farthest and nearest object distances; selecting at least two images captured at adjacent object distances to create a composite image; calculating an object distance of the composite image; calculating high-frequency signals of the second farthest object distance image, the second nearest object distance image, and the composite image in the focusing frame; determining from the images an object distance corresponding to the maximum high-frequency signal; and moving an automatic focusing lens to the object distance.

Abstract: An optical apparatus is disclosed which can perform accurate focus control even when an image of an object at low contrast is picked up in high resolution. The optical apparatus includes a plurality of band-pass filters for different frequency bands and extracts a focus signal from the image signal through each of the band-pass filters, and a controller which performs focus control based on the extracted focus signal. In the focus control by the controller, the band-pass filters are selectively used to extract the focus signal depending on a resolution for recording the image signal.

Abstract: A focal point detection device includes: a rate conversion section which converts a transmission rate of an image signal, which is associated with a subject image imaged via an imaging lens on a part of a receiving surface of an imaging device, such that the image signal input to the rate conversion section at a first transmission rate is output from the rate conversion section at a second transmission rate that is slower than the first transmission rate; a filter which extracts a frequency component from the image signal output at the second transmission rate from the rate conversion section; and an evaluation value calculation section which calculates an evaluation value of a focus state of the imaging lens, based on a signal of the frequency component that is extracted by the filter.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a zoom optical system including a focusing lens unit, a first cam member that rotates around the optical axis and moves along the optical axis in a magnification-changing operation, the first cam member including a focus cam portion for driving the focusing lens unit, and a speed-changing mechanism that changes the relative rotational speed between the focusing lens unit and the first cam member in accordance with the focal length of the zoom optical system in the magnification-changing operation. The speed-changing mechanism moves along the optical axis in the magnification-changing operation. In addition, the speed-changing mechanism includes a transmission member that is rotatable around the optical axis with respect to the first cam member and that includes a speed-changing cam portion for changing at least one of the rotational speed and the rotational direction of the focusing lens unit.

Abstract: A CPU 11 in a digital camera 1 determines that the photography environment is dark and includes a spot light source, in the case where the number of pixels that have a higher luminosity than a first threshold to the total number of pixels in the focus area exceeds a first certain proportion and the number of pixels that have a lower luminosity than a second threshold to the total number of pixels in the focus area exceeds a second certain proportion, on the basis of a luminosity signal Y which has been acquired. Subsequently, the CPU 11 reads out a coefficient value of a cut-off frequency from a memory 110, inputs it to an HPF 9 thereby setting the cut-off frequency fc higher.

Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a driver driving an optical element of an image pickup device to adjust a focus position of the image pickup device in the capturing of an image of a subject, includes a focus position control process startup unit for managing a startup of a focus position control process, a focus position control process executing unit for executing the focus position control process that is started under the control of the focus position control process startup unit, and a startup condition adjusting unit for adjusting a startup condition of the focus position control process, based on a change in a saturated luminance count contained in the image captured in the focus position control process.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensor for automatic focus with highly precise automatic focus performance is realized at low cost. In the solid-state image sensor for automatic focus which has paired linear sensors (L1 to L10) respectively provided with linear sensors for standard portion (L1-B to L10-B) and linear sensors for reference portion (L1-R to L10-R) for performing phase difference detection type focus detection, a linear sensor for standard portion L6-B of paired linear sensors L6 is arranged between a linear sensor for standard portion L5-B and a linear sensor for reference portion L5-R of paired linear sensors L5, and a linear sensor for reference portion L5-R of paired linear sensors L5 is arranged between a linear sensor for standard portion L6-B and a linear sensor for reference portion L6-R of paired linear sensors L6.

Abstract: An automatic focusing method includes the following steps: providing a digital camera module, which includes a lens member, an image sensor member, a distance-measuring member, a signal-processing member, a drive control member, and a drive member; measuring an object distance using the distance-measuring member, and transmitting the object distance to the signal-processing member for generating a control signal; the drive control member driving the drive member according to the control signal; and the drive member driving the image sensor member or the lens member to a position determined by the control signal. The step of providing the digital camera module includes: providing the lens member, the image sensor member and the distance-measuring member; measuring a depth of focus of the lens member; establishing a range of error of movement of the drive member; and selecting a suitable signal-processing member, drive control member, and drive member.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to execute an optimal automatic focusing operation in both a case that attaches an importance on the focusing precision, and a case that attaches an importance on quick photographing. To this end, an apparatus includes a focus lens used to make focus adjustment of an object image, a motor and focus lens drive circuit for driving the focus lens, and an image sensing element for converting an object image formed by the focus lens into an electrical signal, and extracts a signal that represents the high-frequency component of a luminance signal of an object from the output signal of the image sensing element.

Abstract: An autofocusing apparatus and method which prevents erroneously detecting a focus position due to a contrast pseudo peak. The system extracts an image component from an image signal and computes a contrast value. On the basis of the number of edges and the edge width center of gravity value the system determines whether the focusing lens is positioned close to the focus position or not. Even if the contrast value peaks, if the focusing lens is not close to the focus position, the lens position is not employed as a focus position.

Abstract: A correlation value calculation is performed by using AF data arranged at predetermined intervals in the AF data in a pair of window ranges, so that a frequency of calculation can be reduced. On the other hand, a correlation value calculation is performed by using all the AF data in the pair of window ranges only in predetermined ranges before and after the shift amount of the pair of window ranges when the highest correlation value in the correlation values is obtained, thereby suppressing a reduction in measurement precision. For example, in a pair of the AF data obtained from a pair of window ranges, the correlation value calculation is performed by using every third piece of the AF data.

Abstract: The present invention, employing a method of obtaining a final focus position by re-driving a lens before an actual image sensing operation in the vicinity of a focus position which has been obtained by the hill-climbing focusing method, has as its object to enable accurate focusing even in a case where a focus position is not yet obtained by the hill-climbing focusing method. To achieve this object, the driving range of the focus lens at the time of actual exposure is changed in accordance with whether or not AF operation in the hill-climbing mode has been completed and a peak position has been detected. Furthermore, a focus evaluation value is compared with a predetermined value, and the driving range of the focus lens at the time of actual exposure is changed in accordance with the comparison result.

Abstract: A photographing apparatus is provided that comprises a photographing lens capable of moving a focal plane of a subject image, a CCD for receiving the subject image and outputting a signal into which the subject image is photo-electrically transferred, as image output, a motor section for driving the photographing lens, and a CPU for controlling an operation of the motor section. This CPU divides a range for enabling driving of the photographing lens 1 into a minimum number of or more sections which are capable of being interpolated, drives the photographing lens to each divided section in sequence, figures out a focus signal based on a photographing signal obtained from the photographing device at the each driving position, and performs interpolation processing of an evaluation value obtained from the focus signal. Further, by the interpolation processing, the CPU derives a focus position of the photographing lens which position causes the focal plane to coincide with the photographing plane.

Abstract: An electron-beam controller (EBC) capable of controlling the power in an electron-beam is disclosed. The EBC can be implemented with an emitter, an extractor, a current mirror, and an input current having a magnitude responsive to the desired electron beam current. An EBC suited for low-efficiency emitters is also disclosed. A method for controlling the power intensity of an electron-beam over time is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of: (1) providing an emitter at a first voltage, (2) providing a target at a second voltage, (3) introducing an extractor at a controllable third voltage, (4) estimating the actual electron beam energy by sensing the emitter current; and (5) adjusting the third voltage in response to the sensed emitter current.

Abstract: An automatic focus adjusting device for automatically adjusting focus by using a predetermined signal component of a picked-up image signal outputted from an image sensor is arranged to find the state of an object from information on the distribution of frequencies within a DCT block and to control a focus adjusting action according to the state of the object found, so that focus adjustment can be stably performed without any erroneous operation.

Abstract: A multi-point object distance measuring device which includes a plurality of object distance measuring areas, and a detecting device for detecting the amounts of defocus or distances of objects in the plurality of object distance measuring areas. The plurality of object distance measuring areas are disposed in a manner such that at least two object distance measuring areas of the plurality of object distance measuring areas partially overlap each other.

Abstract: An automatic focusing apparatus moves a focusing lens once over a full movement range from the nearest point or from the infinite point so as to cause a photoelectric detector to output an electrical signal at predetermined stepwise lens positions. A lens position range can be specified based on the output electrical signal. The lens position range contains a lens position allowing the maximum focus evaluation value. A lens position for the maximum evaluation value is searched within the lens position range. A reliable and fast focusing operation can be obtained for finding out the maximum focus evaluation value without the effect of a local extremum in the focus evaluation value.

Abstract: A focus detection device to improve the level of confidence of focus detection results of an object image by determining the defocus amount based on the filter processing data computed by a filter processing circuit for high frequencies of the subject image is disclosed. Computations may be repeated related to successively lower frequencies until a high level of confidence of the computed defocus amount is achieved.

Abstract: An automatic focusing system comprises a focus detecting circuit arranged to detect the state of focus on the basis of a signal component which is extracted from an image signal and varies with the state of focus, a speed control circuit arranged to collate detected information on the signal component with preset conditions and to set a focus adjusting speed on the basis of a degree to which the detected information conforms with the conditions, and a circuit arranged to vary the setting of the conditions according to the level of the signal component of the image signal.

Abstract: A fixed lens camera comprises a fixed focus lens, an infrared filter, and an optical low pass filter, all disposed in succession within a housing, coaxial with an optical axis. Light from a target passes through an aperture in the housing, and then through the lenses and filters. An image sensor receives the filtered light, and outputs a two-dimensional array signal of corresponding voltages proportional to the incident light striking each sensing element. The voltage signal from the image sensor is filtered using a high pass filter, and the high frequency components of the signal are measured to determine the relative focus of the light from the target. The signal measurement is displayed on a bar LCD to enable focusing of the lens by moving the camera along the optical axis while observing the LCD output.

Abstract: In a focal controller of a camera, two brightness components in different frequency bands are obtained by two band pass filters from a video signal obtained by image pickup. Integral values a and b of the respective brightness components are detected by integrating circuits. When both a ratio a/b and a value a calculated by an arithmetic circuit are increased, a CPU judges this increase as an unfocusing position of a focusing lens. In contrast to this, when an increasing degree of the ratio a/b is decreased or tends to be decreased, the CPU judges this decrease as a position near a focusing position of the focusing lens. Thus, the driving speed of a focusing motor is set to a high speed in the unfocusing position and is set to a low speed in the position near the focusing position. For example, a microcomputer obtains a focal evaluation value at an interval of three fields (k+2 after k-1) in the vicinity of a focusing position and compares this focal evaluation value with reference data.

Abstract: A manual focusing circuit of a camera comprising a rotation ring having a plurality of projections, wherein the ring is manually rotated forward and rearward by a user. The manual focusing circuit further comprises a first sensing element, which is coupled to one of the projections of the rotation ring, for producing a first signal; a second sensing element, which is coupled to another of the projections of the rotation ring, for producing a second signal having a phase difference of 90 degrees against the first signal; a signal stabilizer, which is coupled to the second sensing element, for removing a noise from the second signal to produce a stabilized signal representing a rotation number of the rotation ring; and circuitry, which is coupled to the first sensing element and the signal stabilizer, for producing an output signal representing a rotation direction of the rotation ring based on the first signal and the stabilized signal.