Abstract: This invention provides an image input system capable of setting an arbitrary imaging inhibited area. This system displays a map showing the positions of cameras arranged in an office and the directions in which these cameras can be aimed, or displays the view angles of the cameras. An operator designates an imaging inhibited area on the map. In accordance with the designated imaging inhibited area, a limiting direction is calculated for each camera, and each camera is so controlled as not to point in that direction. Even when cameras are fixed, the system controls display so that an imaging inhibited area is not displayed.

Abstract: Provided are an information processing apparatus, method, program and storage medium whereby prescribed additional information such as a digital watermark can be embedded directly in encoded data, and later extracted, without decoding data that has been compressed and encoded by the JPEG scheme, etc. First, encoded data, which is information that has been encoded, is input from an encoded data input unit (101). An embed coefficient is selected in an embed coefficient selector (102) block by prescribed block, and a code transformation unit (103) replaces the encoded data by different encoded data, which corresponds to the input encoded data, input using a transformation table (104), whereby a digital watermark is embedded.

Abstract: It is desired to easily and effectively correct hue and saturation in a predetermined region, for an image which cannot be desirably corrected by conversion of the brightness or colors of the entire image. To this end, an image is loaded onto a RAM, and the contrast and color balance of the input image are corrected. A predetermined region is extracted from the corrected image, and it is checked if a predetermined region is set. If the predetermined region is set, a color correction process of the predetermined region is executed.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus of the present invention includes an image pickup unit, a recording unit for recording image data obtained by the image pickup unit, on a recording medium, a communication unit for exchanging data with an external equipment, a setting unit for setting a parameter relating to an image pickup operation of the image pickup unit, a generation unit for generating setting information based on the parameter set by the setting unit and a control unit for controlling the communication unit to transmit a command for instructing a start of an image reading and the setting information to an image scanner provided externally so that image data corresponding to the setting information are transmitted from the image scanner.

Abstract: The invention realizes an image display by wireless communication. There is provided an image display apparatus constituted by an image display unit including an arrangement of plural wireless image forming elements, and a wireless transmission unit. The wireless transmission unit is provided with a wireless transmission circuit, while the wireless image forming element is provided with an image forming element, a wireless element.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus is disclosed, which realizes both of vertical line detection and horizontal line detection over a wide area of an image-taking range in focus detection of a phase difference detection method. The focus detection apparatus includes an optical system, which divides a luminous flux from an image-taking optical system to form a first pair of optical images having an interval between them in a first direction and a second pair of optical images having an interval between them in a second direction, and a photoelectrical conversion device. The optical system includes an optical member, which provides a first optical action widening the interval between the first pair of the optical images in the first direction. The first optical action is different from a second optical action for the second pair of the optical images in the second direction.

Abstract: A multi-function input switch comprises a rotary dial, and a joint portion connected to a side edge portion of a body frame including a display panel, wherein the rotary dial is arranged so that each of a circumferential surface portion and a circular plane portion is exposed from the body frame.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for managing a memory device having a plurality of storage areas including a storage area storing out-of-use information and a free area storing no information, the image processing apparatus comprises memory control unit adapted to determine whether or not there is a storage area storing the out-of-use information based on a request for storing information and determining the storage area storing the out-of-use information as an area for storing the information, in a case where the storage area exists; and information writing unit adapted to overwrite generated information to the storage area determined by the memory control unit.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus having an auto focus function or an auto exposure function stores digital image data output from an A/D conversion unit as first image data directly or after performing predetermined processing, and stores the digital image data serving as a base of the first image data as second image data after performing predetermined processing for the digital image data. The apparatus then detects a face region from the second image data, and displays the image on the basis of the image data output from the A/D conversion unit while the face region is detected form the second image data. After completion of detection of the face region from the second image data, the apparatus extracts information for auto focus, auto exposure, or white balance by using, of the first image data, data at a portion corresponding to the face region that is detected by said face detection means, and performs auto focus control, auto exposure control, or white balance control.

Abstract: A lens barrel which is capable of attaining further reduction of thickness and size of a lens barrel by making effective use of accommodation spaces for barrier blades. In the lens barrel, barrier blades openably covers an image-taking by changing over its position between an image-taking position and a standby position. Accommodation spaces receive the barrier blades therein, respectively, when they are open. When the lens barrel is switched from the image-taking position to the standby position, a rectilinearly-moving restriction barrel relatively moves closer to the barrier blades in an optical axis direction, and at this time, arch-shaped portions of the rectilinearly-moving restriction barrel enter the accommodation spaces.

Abstract: This invention provides a technique of stably focusing on a major object without any sense of discomfort regardless of differences in lens unit type in a camera body on which a lens unit can be detachably mounted. For this purpose, the type of lens unit connected to the camera is determined. Cutoff frequencies are then set for a low-pass filter and high-pass filter on the basis of the determination result. With regard to frequency component data in predetermined area of an image sensor, a peak hold circuit, integrator, and difference peak hold circuit each generate evaluate value information. A camera microcomputer transmits the obtained evaluate value information to a lens microcomputer in the lens unit.

Abstract: A light quantity control device includes a diaphragm for controlling an incident light quantity and an ND filter insertable into and retractable from an effective ray in a plane approximately perpendicular to an optical axis, and inserts the ND filter into the effective ray before small-aperture diffraction occurs, and also controls the amount of relative movement between the diaphragm and the ND filter to prevent occurrence of shading due to an edge of the ND filter and a variation in brightness during the insertion of the ND filter.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing fly fishing lines with very low specific gravities entail adding polymer microspheres to a base coating and coating a core with the base coating containing the added polymer microspheres. To manufacture fly lines having multiple coatings, a second coating, which may contain polymer or glass microspheres, is disposed around a first coating that contains polymer microspheres.

Abstract: It enables to construct a flexible device environment in consideration of POD, office and various use environments. To do so, a job processing method is applied to a system including an image processing device capable of executing printing of data of a job of a storage unit capable of storing data of plural jobs including at least one of first job of first processing condition, second job of first processing condition and third job of second processing condition. In the method, it causes the image processing device to finish the printing of the third job after both the printings of first and second jobs are executed, when the image processing device is operated in first sequence, and it causes the image processing device to start the printing of third job before at least the printing of second job is finished, when the image processing device is operated in second sequence.

Abstract: The attitude of an image sensing apparatus is detected, and optimum filter processing is selected based on the result of detection for extracting feature information of a subject, thus processing is simplified. While a shutter button is half-depressed, it is determined whether the image sensing apparatus is performing landscape image sensing or portrait image sensing based on attitude information obtained from an attitude sensor (S105). Then based on the result of determination, one of two filter processings in different scan directions is performed thereby a person's face in an image is detected. Then image sensing conditions at the next timing are determined based on the area of the person's face in the image. When the shutter button is full-depressed, image sensing is performed in accordance with the latest image sensing conditions, and an obtained image is stored into a storage medium such as a memory card.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus is disclosed, which attachment/removal of a memory medium can be facilitated without increasing the size of the apparatus body. The electronic apparatus comprises an apparatus body which accommodates first and second members each having a curved surface portion so that the central axes of curvature of the curved surface portions extend parallel to each other, and a medium attachment part to which a memory medium is removably attached. In a state in which the two members are accommodated inside the apparatus body, the medium attachment part is placed between the two members, and an attachment/removal space through which the memory medium is attached to and removed from the medium attachment part is formed so as to widen towards the outside of the apparatus body along the curved surface portions of the two members.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus senses light from an object and outputs electrical image data. The apparatus stores a predetermined volume of the image data and records the recorded image data on a recording medium. During the recording, the apparatus simultaneously displays an image of image data currently being sensed in a main display area of a display unit and displays an image of the image data being recorded on the recording medium in a sub-display area.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor, a switching unit which switches between the first read mode in which pixel signals within the first range are read out by decreasing the number of pixel signals at the first reduction ratio, and the second read mode in which pixel signals within the second range narrower than the first range are read out without reducing the pixel signals or by decreasing the number of pixel signals at the second reduction ratio lower than the first reduction ratio, and a control unit which controls the switching unit to switch between the first read mode and the second read mode in accordance with the enlargement ratio of the electronic zoom. The control unit controls to change, in accordance with whether the electronic zoom operates toward the telephoto side or wide-angled side, the zoom enlargement ratio for switching a read mode.

Abstract: The image sensing/playback apparatus has an image sensing device that senses an image of an object and obtains electrical image data, an input/output I/F that inputs/outputs image data from/to an external storage medium, and a system controller that sequentially performs a plurality of tasks, exclusively controlling the input/output I/F and having respective priorities decided in advance, while giving an opportunity to switch between the plurality of tasks after processing of one unit data amount of data. The one unit data amount is one of the first unit data amount that is large and the second unit data amount that is smaller than the first unit data amount.

Abstract: A light transmitting operating member includes a first member having a first transmittance, a second member having a second transmittance greater than the first transmittance, wherein the first member has such a shape that the second member can be inserted into the first member, and the first member includes a compression member for pressing a switch member, and wherein the second member is inserted into the first member.