Abstract: A lens barrel that is capable of decreasing a barrel length under a retracted condition by simplifying a configuration. The lens barrel changes a focal length by moving first and second lens groups in an optical axis direction. A light-amount adjusting member is located between the first and second lens groups. First, second, third holding frames hold the first lens group, the second lens group, and the light-amount adjusting member, respectively. A cam mechanism moves the first, second, and third holding frames in the optical axis direction so that a part of the second lens group is inserted into the aperture of the light-amount adjusting member and concave and convex surfaces of the first and second lens groups are overlapped in the optical axis direction under a retracted condition. The aperture diameter of the light-amount adjusting member is enlarged when shifting to the retracted condition from a shooting condition.

Abstract: A pattern identification apparatus for identifying one of a plurality of classes defined in advance, to which data of a pattern identification target belongs, comprises a read unit adapted to read out, from a storage unit in correspondence with each of the plurality of classes, a projection rule to a hyperplane which approximates a manifold corresponding to the class in a feature space an input unit adapted to input identification target data; a calculation unit adapted to calculate, for each class, a projection result obtained by projecting the input identification target data to the hyperplane which approximates the manifold corresponding to each of the plurality of classes, on the basis of the projection rule; and an identification unit adapted to identify, on the basis of the projection result of each classes calculated by said calculation unit, one of the plurality of classes to which the identification target data belongs.

Abstract: A dual stack fuel cell system comprising a first fuel cell stack comprising a first anode side, adapted to receive fuel and to output a first anode exhaust, and a first cathode side, a second fuel cell stack comprising a second anode side, adapted to receive processed anode exhaust derived from the first anode exhaust and to output a second anode exhaust, and a second cathode side, adapted to receive oxidant gas and to output a first cathode exhaust, wherein the first cathode side receives at least the first cathode exhaust outputted from the second cathode side; and wherein the first fuel cell stack includes indirect internal reforming and the second fuel cell stack may not include any indirect internal reforming.

Abstract: A peripheral device acquires the processing load of a display apparatus to which the peripheral device is connected via an interface. In accordance with the processing load acquired, the peripheral device generates a data command for adjusting the load of processing for rendering display data. The display apparatus alters the display data based upon the data command, renders the display data after the alteration thereof and displays the rendered data. As a result, when the peripheral device instructs the display apparatus to subject the display data to rendering process, an increase in length of time it takes to obtain the result of rendering is reduced.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to eliminate the influences of the leakage etc. of charges from a photodiode to a storage part during the electronic shutter operation. To achieve this object, the present invention includes: a photodiode which generates and accumulates a signal charge according to the amount of light from an object; an amplification part which amplifies a signal charge outputted from the photodiode and outputs the amplified signal to the outside; a storage part which temporarily stores the signal charge; and a transfer device which transfers the signal outputted from the photo-electric conversion device to the storage part via the amplification part.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a spectrum estimation unit for estimating a spectrum for each pixel from multiband image data comprising image data in multiple different wavelength ranges; a memory for storing spectral data suitable for each of multiple different shooting modes; and a conversion unit for determining a shooting mode of the multiband image data and converting the spectrum into band data with different spectral characteristics using the spectral data stored in the memory, the spectral data suitable for the determined shooting mode.

Abstract: A viewpoint information calculation unit (710) calculates a difference value (?) between reference position and orientation information and position and orientation information held by a camera viewpoint storage unit (207), and a difference value (?) between the reference position and orientation information and position and orientation information held by a CG viewpoint storage unit (208). If |?|?|?|, a physical space image is shifted by a shift amount calculated in accordance with the resolution of a display unit (213), a difference amount, and the angle of view of a camera (203), and is composited with a virtual space image. If |?|<|?|, the virtual space image is shifted by the shift amount, and is composited with the physical space image.

Abstract: Provided is an image shake correction apparatus including: an image taking optical system for taking an image of a subject; an angular velocity detection unit for detecting an angular velocity applied to the apparatus and outputting a first signal; an acceleration detection unit for detecting an acceleration applied to the apparatus and outputting a second signal; an axial rotation angular velocity calculation unit for calculating an axial rotation angular velocity component about a principal point of the image taking optical system based on the first signal; a revolution angular velocity calculation unit for calculating a revolution angular velocity component about the subject based on the second signal and a result of the calculating by the axial rotation angular velocity calculation unit; and a control unit for performing image shake correction control based on a difference between the axial rotation angular velocity component and the revolution angular velocity component.

Abstract: The invention provides an image encoding apparatus which can improve image quality of an output image while further reduce the amount of attribute. A determination unit determines an area including a character/line drawing as a foreground image area based on an input multi-valued image. A foreground image generator generates foreground image in binary representation so that a first encoder performs MMR encoding on the foreground image. A background image generator generates multi-valued background image data by replacing the value of a multi-valued pixel in a position of the character/line drawing in the foreground image area with a replacement value calculated from the pixel values in a position of the non-character/line drawing pixel. A second encoder performs JPEG encoding on the background image. A mask unit masks attribute for pixels within the foreground image area with a predetermined value to output the masked data to a third encoder.

Abstract: A signal processing device, which is more practical for restoring signals, includes a signal processing unit for processing a signal. The processing unit produces restored data that approaches the original signal data before fluctuating (before blurring) by repeating the following processing: generating comparison data Io? from arbitrary signal data Io by using information data G regarding fluctuation factors that triggers signal fluctuation; comparing the comparison data Io? with original signal data Img? as an object to be processed thereafter; producing restored data Io+n by allocating difference data ? to the arbitrary signal data Io while using the information data G regarding fluctuation factors; and substituting the restored data Io+n for the arbitrary signal data Io thereafter.

Abstract: An image projection apparatus in which a measuring unit measures a distance from the image projection apparatus to a projection surface. A generating unit generates a first operation image if the measured distance is less than a threshold value and generates a second operation image if the measured distance is not less than the threshold value. The first operation image is an image by which an operation can be input by pointing on the first operation image that is being projected with a body part of a user. The second operation image is an image by which an operation can be input by operating a cursor displayed in the second operation image that is being projected using a predetermined operating unit. A projecting unit projects an operation image generated by the generating unit onto the projection surface.

Abstract: A data recording apparatus includes a connection unit which is capable of connecting, as a recording medium, a first recording medium having a predetermined function and a second recording medium that does not have the predetermined function. The data recording apparatus detects a connection status of the recording medium to the connection unit, controls a menu concerning setting of the predetermined function. If the detection unit detects that the first recording medium is connected to the connection unit, the data recording apparatus makes the menu operable. If the detection unit detects that the first recording medium is removed and then detects that the second recording medium is connected to the connection unit, the data recording apparatus makes the menu inoperable, and maintains the menu in the operable state during a period from removal of the first recording medium to connection of the second recording medium to the connection unit.

Abstract: A printing system capable of increasing the working efficiency of an operator engaged in a post-process necessary after printing can be provided. For this purpose, the user interface unit can execute a display which allows the operator to explicitly input, for each job, instruction information in consideration of a post-process necessary after a printing process in a job requiring a printing process by a printing apparatus in a printing system capable of stacking, on a stacking unit, printed materials having undergone the printing process. When the job to be processed is a job for which the operator inputs the instruction information via the display, printed materials of the job for which the operator inputs the instruction information are stacked on the stacking unit while the printed materials are classified every printed materials on the basis of the instruction information input by the operator for the job.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which corrects image data containing an image of a foreign substance, and outputs the corrected image data that has undergone correction as a visible image includes an image pixel count acquisition unit which acquires the number of pixels of the image, an output resolution acquisition unit which acquires information about the resolution of the image to be output to the output device, a foreign substance correction level setting unit which sets the degree of foreign substance correction on the basis of at least the number of pixels acquired by the image pixel count acquisition unit and the information about the resolution acquired by the output resolution acquisition unit, and a foreign substance correction unit which corrects the image of the foreign substance contained in the image data on the basis of the foreign substance correction level set by the foreign substance correction level setting unit.

Abstract: There are provided an imaging apparatus and a video camera which allow an image being recorded and an image being reproduced to be easily discriminated from each other when an already recorded image signal is reproduced while a photographed image signal is being recorded. A recording section records an image signal obtained by an image pickup section on a randomly accessible recording medium, and a reproducing section is capable of reproducing an image signal recorded at a random location on the recording medium while the image signal is being recorded on the recording medium by the recording section. The recording section and the reproducing section are controlled such that the image signal recorded at a random location on the recording medium can be reproduced while the image signal obtained by the image pickup section is being recorded.

Abstract: An optical apparatus includes a lens frame 12 which holds a focus correction lens 11a and is movable in an optical axis direction, optical axis direction position detectors 19a to 19c which are arranged on one of the lens frame 12 and a supporting portion 13 inside a barrel and detect signals in accordance with a distance to the other one, driving portions 112a to 112c and coils 17a to 17c (driver) which drive the lens frame 12 in the optical axis direction, an optical axis direction movement limiting member of the lens frame, and a lens CPU 1204 (controller) which controls the driver so as to suppress a tilt of the focus correction lens 11a based on a signal detected by the optical axis direction position detectors 19a to 19c whose sensitivities have been calibrated in association with the driving portions and the optical axis direction movement limiting member.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an image capture unit which includes an image sensor in which pixels for photoelectrically converting an object image are two-dimensionally arrayed in correspondence with color filters of a plurality of colors, and generates an image signal, a reducing unit which reduces the image signal output from the image capture unit to generate a reduced image, an image processing unit which performs development processing for the reduced image to obtain a first developed image containing luminance components and color difference components and performs development for the image signal output from the image capture unit to obtain a second developed image containing luminance and color difference components, an enlargement unit which enlarges the first developed image to the same size as that of the second developed image, and a composition unit which performs composition of the second developed image and an enlarged image.

Abstract: A lens barrel includes a drive ring having a hollow cylindrical shape and configured to rotate around an optical axis, and a lens holder configured to move in an optical axis direction relative to the drive ring, the lens holder including a body located inside of the drive ring and configured to hold a lens, and an arm extending to outside of the drive ring. The drive ring has a notch, and the arm of the lens holder is configured to enter the notch of the drive ring.