Abstract: A blur correction camera system includes a blur correction lens driven based upon the vibration detection signal detected by an angular velocity sensor, that corrects an image blur, a point-image function computing unit that computes a point spread function, and an image restoration computing unit that corrects an image blur by executing image restoration through image processing on a captured image by using the point spread function. The image blur that cannot be completely corrected by the blur correction lens is further corrected through image restoration so as to obtain a high quality image.

Abstract: A servo driving method of the present invention to drive a stepping motor driven by a predetermined driving pulse, by a servo control method, is comprising a setting step of setting a driving mode of the stepping motor switchable at least between a first driving mode, in which the stepping motor is driven with a relatively large current, and a second driving mode, in which the stepping motor is driven with a relatively small current, and a switching step of switching the driving mode between the first driving mode and the second driving mode when a predetermined mode switching information is given. Thereby, it becomes possible to reduce the power consumption by supplying power efficiently to the stepping motor.

Abstract: A method and system for minimizing the effects of image motion in still cameras is provided. In one embodiment, a method of capturing an image in a digital camera is presented. The method includes calculating a sharpness value related to an image input. The method also includes evaluating the sharpness value to determine image motion. The method further includes capturing a next image input data from the image input responsive to evaluating the sharpness value.

Abstract: The present invention has an object to provide an image correction apparatus which can correct image blur properly, a storage medium storing an image correction program which makes a computer operate as such an image correction apparatus, an image correction method for correcting the blur properly, and an image correction system which corrects the blur properly. The image correction apparatus which corrects image blur caused by movement of a photographic device shooting an image includes a trimming section which extracts a main subject area from the image, edge analyzing section which produces edge information about edges of the main subject area, blur analyzing section which produces blur information about blur of an input image based on multiple pieces of edge information passed by the edge analyzing section, and correction section which corrects the blur of the input image using the blur information passed by the blur analyzing section.

Abstract: A cellular phone body 10 includes a memory 12, a CPU 18, a camera 15, and a display 17. The CPU 18 displays on the display 17 a pointer P in a manner to overlap an image of an photographic subject photographed by the camera 15, and judges whether or not to save in an image data saving area 12f of the memory 12 the image of the photographic subject imaged by the camera 15 and buffered in a first buffer 12c of the memory 12, based on information of a move locus of the pointer P moving on the image of the photographic subject along a movement of the cellular phone body at a time of imaging the photographic subject with the camera 15.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus includes an imaging device and a shooting lens of variable foal length, and generates image signals by forming a subject image entering through the shooting lens on the imaging device. The apparatus includes an angular-velocity sensor that predicts a shake that will occur at shooting by detecting a shake before shooting. The apparatus also includes a main CPU that controls exposure by adopting a shutter speed within a maximum shutter speed. The maximum shutter speed can be changed according to a result of shake detection and a focal length of the shooting lens to be used at shooting.

Abstract: A camera-movement compensation device includes a first liquid-crystal cell with a pair of parallel transparent plates and a first voltage source coupled to the first liquid-crystal cell and able to apply and alter a first voltage gradient across the plates of the first liquid-crystal cell. The device also includes a second liquid-crystal cell having a pair of parallel transparent plates and disposed so that each of the plates of the second liquid-crystal cell is parallel to the plates of the first liquid-crystal cell and in light communication with at least one wave of light passing through the plates of the first liquid-crystal cell, a second voltage source coupled to the second liquid-crystal cell and able to apply and alter a second voltage gradient across the surfaces of the second liquid-crystal cell, and a movement detector coupled to the voltage sources to alter the slope of the voltage gradients in proportion to a movement.

Abstract: A method for processing an image sequence captured using an image capture device, wherein a captured sequence to be stabilized by estimating motion of the device, abstracting data from the image sequence, stabilizing the image sequence in response to the estimated motion of the device, and forming an output image sequence from the stabilized image sequence and the abstracted data.

Abstract: Quantities of motion between images of an electronic camera are calculated and used to adjust the exposure time and one or more other exposure parameters used to capture an image in order to improve the quality of the image. Motion blur caused by movement of the camera or by movement of an object within the scene being photographed is reduced by selecting appropriate exposure parameters. Further, when there is little or no motion detected, the exposure parameters may be selected to improve the depth of field and reduce the noise in the captured image.

Abstract: An image-capturing apparatus includes a first image pickup element which picks up an actual image of a subject, a second image pickup element which detects a displacement and has sensitivity that is higher than that of the first image pickup element, an image pickup unit for picking up an image of the subject by driving the first image pickup element and the second image pickup element simultaneously, a displacement detecting unit for computing an amount of displacement between images due to a camera shake using image data obtained from the second image pickup element when the image of the subject is picked up by the image pickup unit, and a position correcting unit for correcting a position of image data obtained from the first image pickup element, based on the amount of displacement computed by the displacement detecting unit.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus includes a LED emission section that irradiates a subject with light by causing a LED to emit the light and a xenon-tube emission section that irradiates a subject with light by causing a xenon tube to emit the light. The light from the xenon-tube emission section has higher intensity than the light from the LED emission section. The image-taking apparatus also includes a shake detection section that predicts a shake that will occur at shooting by detecting a shake before shooting. The image-taking apparatus also includes an emission control section that causes the xenon-tube emission section to irradiate a subject with light when the detected shake is above a predetermined level, and causes the LED emission section to irradiate a subject with light when the detected shake is equal to or below the predetermined level.

Abstract: A hand shake blur signal reduction means for reducing the hand shake blur signal using given reduction ratio in the horizontal direction and reduction ratio in the vertical direction; an image restoration filter generating means for generating the image restoration filter based on the hand shake blur signal reduced by the hand shake blur signal reduction means; an image reduction means for reducing the hand shake blur image at the reduction ratio same as the reduction ratios in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction used in reducing the hand shake blur signal in the hand shake blur signal reduction means; an image restoration means for performing image restoration on the hand shake blur image reduced by the image reduction means using the image restoration filter generated by the image restoration filter generating means; and an image enlargement means for generating the restored image for the hand shake blur image by enlarging the restored image restored by the image restoration means are arrang

Abstract: An image stabilizer includes a guide device which guides an image-stabilizing optical element in a manner to allow the image-stabilizing optical element to move in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis, the guide device including at least one mechanical movement limit preventing movement of the image-stabilizing optical element in a guide direction; a driving device which moves the image-stabilizing optical element in the plane; and a drive controller which controls the driving device to move the image-stabilizing optical element within an image-stabilizing movement range so as not to reach the mechanical movement limit for correction of image shake during an image stabilizing operation, and which controls the driving device to move the image-stabilizing optical element to a standby position located outside of the image-stabilizing movement range in the guide direction, when the image stabilizer changes from an operating state to a non-operating state.

Abstract: A hand shake blur detecting apparatus for detecting hand shake blur of an imaging device based on an output signal of a hand shake blur sensor for detecting the hand shake blur of the imaging device is provided, the hand shake blur detecting apparatus including a high pass filter calculating part for removing low frequency component from the output signal of the hand shake blur sensor; an inverse high pass filter calculating part, having an inverse transfer function of a transfer function of the high pass filter calculating part, for filtering an output signal of the high pass filter calculating part; an offset value calculating part for calculating the offset value based on an output data of the inverse high pass filter calculating part; and an offset value subtracting part for subtracting the offset value calculated by the offset value calculating part from the output data of the inverse high pass filter calculating part.

Abstract: Rotations of a camera around two axes are detected by two gyro sensors. A color temperature of a photographing location is detected by an AWB sensor. One of a plurality of low-pass filters, the cut-off frequency component of which is different, can be connected to one gyro sensor. The low-pass filter which is connected to the gyro sensor, is changed by a transfer switch based on the output result of the AWB sensor, so that a frequency range which is retrieved from the output voltage of the gyro sensor is controlled. With respect to another gyro sensor, a similar operation is carried out. A hand-tremble correcting circuit calculates a driving amount of an image sensor, by which the tremble is canceled, based on the output voltages of the gyro sensors in which a predetermined frequency range was retrieved in accordance with the condition of the photographing location.

Abstract: In a device combination system of the present invention, END setting parameters are read from a main body. A power supply converter and END setting parameters are obtained from a camera head and a battery. An END setting value is set according to these END parameters. A CPU determines whether or not the battery being mounted is in an unusable state that it is exhausted to a dead level. With the above arrangement, there is provided a device combination system in which a battery check function provided in a power supply device works normally regardless of a type of a device mounted on the power supply device.

Abstract: An image capturing device and a blurring correction method in which an imaging unit or a blurring correction optical system is driven to correct blurring in response to an output of a vibration detecting sensor. In such blurring correction, when a driving mechanism has a frictionally connected section, the blurring correction impairs an image at a time when an impact is generated. Therefore, an impact detecting section is disposed, and the blurring correction is not performed when the impact detecting section detects the impact.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus is disclosed which is capable of performing accurate focusing even when a shake occurs. The image-taking apparatus comprises an image-pickup element which photoelectrically converts an optical image formed by an image-taking optical system; a controller which performs a first focusing control based on a phase difference of plural optical images formed of luminous fluxes not passing through the image-taking optical system, which plural optical images are detected by a light receiving sensor that photoelectrically converts the plural optical images, and a second focusing control based on an image signal generated by an output from the image-pickup element; and a shake detector which generates information on a shake. The controller preferentially performs one of the first focusing control and the second focusing control in accordance with the information on the shake.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and image capture device for limiting motion blur during capture of an image predetermines a relationship between movement of the image capture device, time and blur extent. A rate of movement of the image capture device is obtained and used in conjunction with the determined relationship and a blur extent limit as a basis for obtaining a maximum exposure time for the image capture device in order to limit blur extent. On the basis of the maximum exposure time obtained and a required image brightness, the image capture device is configured, and then an image is captured by the image capture device. Once the image has been captured, due to the possibility of under-exposure from having limited the exposure time, the image is processed as required to increase its intensity.

Abstract: A digital camera having a camera-shake compensation mechanism and a luminance compensation processor is provided. The camera-shake compensation mechanism compensates for a camera-shake by adjusting a relative relation between positions of an optical axis of a photographing optical system and a center of an image of an imaging device. The luminance compensation processor compensates for luminance information of pixels of the imaging device, which are outside an image circle of the photographing optical system during a camera-shake compensation operation performed by the camera-shake compensation mechanism.

Abstract: A portable apparatus, comprising a first detector, a second detector, and a controller, is provided. The portable apparatus has a photographing function. The first detector detects a movement in a first direction. The second detector detects a second direction. The second direction is different from the first direction. The controller switches the running and suspension of a first and second function according to the combination of movements in the first and second directions. The first and second functions are different from each other.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical image stabilizer having a low sliding load, a smooth operation, and a small thickness. When a lens holder and an X slider are moved in the X direction, small balls roll between the side surface of the lens holder and the inner surface of a frame of a Y slider, thereby reducing a sliding load therebetween. When the lens holder and the Y slider are moved in the X direction, small balls roll between the side surface of the lens holder and the inner surface of the frame of the X slider, thereby reducing a sliding load therebetween. Therefore, it is possible to achieve an optical image stabilizer having low power consumption, a smooth operation, and high responsibility. In addition, the thickness of the lens holder is equal to or smaller than the sum of the thicknesses of the X slider and the Y slider overlapped with each other. Therefore, it is possible to achieve an optical image stabilizer having a small thickness.

Abstract: An imaging unit, including: a lens housing section to accommodate a lens; a lens driving section, including: a moving member which supports the lens and moves the lens in an optical axial direction, and an electro-mechanical transduction element to drive the moving member in the optical axial direction; a camera-shake preventing section which drives the lens housing section to prevent camera-shake; and a rotation regulating section to prevent the lens from rotating around an optical axis.

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: A digital camera, having a function for optically compensating for camera shake, comprises: a movement detector that detects a movement of the digital camera; a movement prediction unit that employs the movement detected by the movement detector to predict a movement of the digital camera after a predetermined period of time has elapsed; an optical system moving unit that moves an optical system of the digital camera so as to compensate for the movement of the digital camera predicted by the movement prediction unit; and an image data correction unit that corrects image data obtained while taking a photograph, based on a difference between an actual movement of the digital camera, which is detected by the movement detector while taking the photograph, and the movement of the digital camera that is predicted, by the movement prediction unit, to occur while taking the photograph, so that the image data will be the same as image data that are obtained when the optical system is moved while taking the photograph

Abstract: A camera casing 100 accommodates therein a shake correction unit 2 for oscillatingly supporting an image sensor 20, a control circuit board 6 loaded with electronic components such as ASIC 61 and a driving control circuit 62, and a viewfinder section 7 for allowing a user to confirm a field to be photographed. The shake correction unit 2, the control circuit board 6, and the viewfinder section 7 are arranged in proximity to each other on planes substantially identical to each other. The shake correction unit 2 has a first driving unit 3a arranged on the side of a side portion 20b of the image sensor 20 to apply an oscillating force to the image sensor 20 to oscillate the image sensor 20 in a first direction (pitch direction shown by the arrows p in FIG.

Abstract: The power consumption is reduced by efficiently using C-AF (continuous autofocus). An angular velocity detection circuit calculates angular velocity based on output from a yaw direction angular velocity sensor and a pitch direction angular velocity sensor. Based on the angular velocity, a shake width detection circuit 45 continuously detects the shake amount of the apparatus. If the maximum value of the shake amount during the latest Nms (N milli-seconds) is less than a pre-determined value, it is judged to be a time for shooting operation and the C-AF is operated. If the maximum value of the shake width during the latest Nms is the pre-determined amount or more, it is judged that shooting operation is not being performed and the C-AF is stopped. In this manner, the power consumption can be reduced by operating the C-AF only as needed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control method of a photographing apparatus, the photographing apparatus and a control program, which are capable of automatically determining a photographing mode capable of generating a sharper image. If a first exposure time is equal to or shorter than a first threshold value, a control circuit 18 makes a decision to take an input image in a first mode. The first exposure time is an exposure time required for taking one input image on the assumption that a photographing operation is carried out in the first mode for generating one output image by taking one input image. If the first exposure time is neither equal to nor shorter than the first threshold value, on the other hand, the control circuit 18 makes a decision to take a plurality of input images in a second mode provided that a second exposure time is equal to or shorter than a second threshold value.

Abstract: An optical apparatus is provided which uses image shake information generated by a shake correction unit to improve an image by reducing the amount of image shake.

Abstract: A stepper motor is controlled by a driver having a constant and maximum frequency input in order to correct for camera shake. The need for variable frequency devices is eliminated, thereby reducing the cost and complexity of the system.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for avoiding image artifacts caused by camera vibration. The taking of one or more photographic exposures is timed in relation to the vibration, so as to avoid motion blur, video jitter, or both. The vibration may be characterized by motion sensors, or by analysis of image data.

Abstract: In an initial stage, using a global motion vector, a rough degree of image shaking is determined. After the image shaking is determined to have converged to some measure, using the difference values between frames, the finer degree of the image shaking is determined. And if it is determined to be free of image shaking, the recording photography is made to be done. Thereby, with certainty in the timing of no hand shaking and no image shaking, the photographing can be done.

Abstract: In an electronically zoomable digital camera having a hand shake correction mechanism, when electronic zoom operates, pixel shift is carried out in such manner of capturing a reference image and then capturing a shifted image after moving an image capturing element from the reference image by a prescribed amount of shift by means of the hand shake correction mechanism and thereafter interpolating pixels of the shifted image between pixels of the reference image. The amount of shift is changed according to a magnification of the electronic zoom. The hand shake correction mechanism has a continuous mode in which the movement is effected by a continuous amount and a fixed amount mode in which movement is effected by only a fixed amount and is driven in the fixed amount mode when the pixel shift is carried out.

Abstract: An apparatus to facilitate image stabilization with adaptive shutter control is described. An embodiment of the apparatus includes an image sensor, a movement detector, and a shutter controller. The movement detector is coupled to the image sensor. The shutter controller is coupled to the movement detector. The image sensor is configured to obtain image data. The movement detector is configured to obtain movement measurement information during a shutter period having a predetermined duration. The shutter controller is configured to adjust the shutter period of a shutter based on the movement measurement information. The shutter controls the time the image sensor is responsive to light incident on the image sensor. Embodiments of the apparatus provide a smaller and less costly implementation for image stabilization.

Abstract: An anti-vibration controller having an ON/OFF switch for the anti-vibration is arranged on the outer circumference of a fixed lens barrel where extender lenses are positioned. When to manipulate the ON/OFF switch, a cameraperson manually operates a focusing ring with the little and ring fingers, a zooming ring with the middle finger and an iris ring with the index finger, all of the left hand. Then he or she can manipulate the ON/OFF switch of the anti-vibration controller fitted to the outer circumference of the fixed lens barrel with the unengaged thumb without having to move the fingers away from manipulating rings.

Abstract: The present invention provides a camera system which is provided with signal processing control means for changing the filter characteristic of parallel vibration signal processing means in conformity with the output signal of rotation vibration signal processing means and thereby can photograph an image suffering little from blur even during macro-photographing.

Abstract: A digital camera has a pair of angular rate-sensing gyroscopic sensors with mutually perpendicular axes and an electronic circuit responsive to the sensor output signals to discriminate between voluntary and involuntary movements of the article as a function of the number of zero crossings per unit time of the signal and the average of the absolute amplitude of the signal.

Abstract: Auto-focus in a digital camera is improved by stabilizing successive images. Each auto-focus image is correlated to previous images so that scene movement or motion can be tracked. The area in the scene where focus figure-of-merit is computed is adjusted according to the amount of scene movement. Also, two separate focus frames may be compared to determine the direction and speed of the motion. This improves the accuracy of the focus figure-of-merit which results in fewer autofocus failures.

Abstract: A stage apparatus in which a movable stage is guided in first and second directions orthogonal to each other on a stationary member, includes a pair of first elongated holes formed on one of the movable stage and the stationary member and are elongated in the first direction; a pair of link members having two engaging pins at first ends thereof which are engaged in the pair of first elongated holes to be movable therein, respectively, one of second ends of the pair of link members being pivoted at the other of the movable stage and the stationary member, and the other of the second ends of the pair of link members being supported by the other of the movable stage and the stationary member; and a link-member support mechanism for moving the movable stage in the second direction while maintaining a symmetrical shape thereof.

Abstract: An anti-shake apparatus includes a movable unit supported by a fixed unit and movable in first and second directions as well as rotated on a movable plane. A first and second driving unit supply driving forces to the movable unit in a first direction. A third and fourth driving unit supply driving forces to the movable unit in a second direction. A first detector detects a direction of a gravitational force acting on the movable unit. A second detector detects a rotational movement around a straight line perpendicular to the movable plane. A control unit controls the third and fourth driving forces to correct the rotational movement when the gravitational direction is parallel to the first direction. The control unit controls the first and second driving forces to correct the rotational movement when the gravitational direction is parallel to the second direction.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and a portable imaging device for deblurring a blurred image recorded by said device comprising; an image recording arrangement for recording image representations of the environment surrounding the device, and a motion-indicator for sensing motions of the device. The method comprises the step of: recording an image representation by using the image recording arrangement; sensing the movements of the device during said recording by using the motion-indicator; and obtaining a blur function corresponding to possible motion blur in the recorded image representation by using the sensed movements.

Abstract: In an imaging device that generates a correction image by performing, on the basis of shake information on a target image, shake correction processing on the target image when a correction instruction is issued by a user while the target image is displayed on a display unit, and that displays the corrected image on the display unit, preceding correction performs the shake correction processing before the issuing of the correction instruction. To suppress an increase in power consumption, due to the preceding correction, however, the preceding correction is not performed when the amount of camera shake of a target image is determined to be too small by referring to the amount of shake of a target image. Moreover, the frequency of the issuing of correction instructions for a target image in the past is referenced, and in a case where the frequency is low, the preceding correction is not performed.

Abstract: A camera computes an image stability measure by measuring the variability of an edge-detect figure of merit evaluated from several immediate past photographs.

Abstract: Disclosed is an imaging apparatus capable of realizing a camera shake correction function while reducing the size and power consumption of the apparatus without deteriorating the use efficiency of an image sensor thereof. An imaging device has photoelectric conversion elements arranged two-dimensionally and a transfer path for transferring electric charge converted by the photoelectric conversion element. A motion detection unit detects motion of the apparatus according to timing pulses generated by a time management circuit at shorter intervals than exposure time. A drive circuit transfers the electric charge previously read onto the transfer path for a predetermined distance according to the detected motion. Electric charge newly read out and converted by the photoelectric conversion elements at the intervals of the timing pulses is added to the previous electric charge which has been transferred on transfer path.

Abstract: An image capturing system capable of providing an optimal exposure setting and method of operating the same are disclosed. The image capturing system includes a CMOS image sensor having photosensitive cells; a lens module having a mechanical shutter; a memory having a program for exposure analysis and a program for detecting motion stored therein; and a controller having a processor. The processor is configured to execute the program for exposure analysis and the program for detecting motion. The exposure analysis includes determining the exposure time for capturing an image of a scene based on the brightness of the scene and comparing the exposure time with the closing time of the mechanical shutter. The controller is operable to set the image capturing system to either a “Global-Reset mode” or an “Electronic-Rolling-Shutter” (ERS) mode based on the output of the exposure analysis and motion detection.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an actuator capable of locking a movable member without additional purpose-made components such as a lock ring, and another actuator used to drive them. The actuator (10) of the present invention is used to translate a photographing lens and prevent an image from shaking, and the actuator comprises a fixed member (12), a movable member (14) holding the photographing lens, a supporting means (18) movably supporting the movable member, a driving means (20, 22) translating and rotating the movable member, at least three engaging portions (17) disposed in the movable member, at least three receiving portions (15) that are to catch the engaging portions upon rotating the movable member to a predetermined locking position, magnetic attracting means (22, 23) disposed separately in both the fixed member and the movable member.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus performs focus control based upon image data of a region corresponding to a focus control region, the image data being a part of one screen of image data. The apparatus includes a camera-shake detector for detecting camera shake, and a focus detection zone designating unit for changing the focus control region with respect to the screen.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique capable of changing the image capturing direction of a camera at high speed while suppressing noise generated by resonance. At the time of changing the angle of the image capturing direction of a surveillance camera from a base angle to a first angle, if driving of both of a motor for panning and a motor for tilting is simply started simultaneously and completed simultaneously, there is a case such that the motor for panning generates resonance with the body of the surveillance camera or the like and noise becomes too loud. In such a case, the drive speed of the motor for panning, that is, the pulse rate is shifted to a high speed side on which resonance does not generate and the panning is finished first. Specifically, the angle of the image capturing direction is changed from the base angle to a second angle and, after that, changed from the second angle to the first angle.

Abstract: Operating a camera by detecting a motion of a camera, capturing an image of an object at a first shutter speed determined by the camera if camera motion is not detected, and capturing the image of the object at a second shutter speed determined by the camera if camera motion is detected, the second shutter speed being higher than the first shutter speed. Image data corresponding to the captured image are stored in a storage device.

Abstract: An image stabilizing apparatus of the present invention includes a laminated substrate 19 that has a coil pattern, a hall element 21 fixed to the laminated substrate 19, a magnet 20, a back yoke 22, an opposing yoke 23, and a flexible printed circuit board for wiring the coil pattern on the laminated substrate and the hall element 21, the opposing yoke 23 being stepped (recesses 23a, 23b) in a portion opposing the hall element 21. Reduction in size, weight and cost are thereby realized in a lens-shift image stabilizing apparatus.