Abstract: Disclosed is an analog processing element (APE) for the analog processing of charge packets present in an analog signal. The APE utilizes CCD-based elements in a semi-conductor device to move and process charge packets present in an analog signal. In one embodiment, the APE provides analog processing on dimensional signals such as audio or video signals. When the APE is embodied in a semi-conductor device, it may be provided as a chip for analog pre-processing of video or audio signals such as for compression of the signal prior to digitization and use by digital processing devices. In a particular embodiment, an array of APE's, along with related circuitry provides for a pipelined Pattern Recognition Processor (PRP). The PRP may perform analog video compression at rates substantially exceeding compression rates available with current digital processing technology.

Abstract: Fluctuations in an image quality of an active matrix type display device are reduced. The active matrix type display device is driven by a drive circuit constructed of a shift register, an analog memory constructed of an analog switch and a capacitor, and an analog buffer formed by a thin-film transistor. In this drive circuit, a channel length of the thin-film transistor for constituting said analog buffer is made longer than a channel length of a thin-film transistor for constituting either said analog switch, or said shift register.

Abstract: A general absolute value circuit for developing a true, symmetric or bipolar, absolute value output signal from an input charge signal, compact enough to be used on a sensor chip incorporated into (or used in combination with) a pixel processor of the type used in imaging and other systems that collect electromagnetic radiation as part of on-chip circuitry, includes a balanced differential amplifier combined with a merged dual shelf transistor structure. The balanced differential amplifier, in response to an input charge signal, drives the merged dual shelf transistor structure which in turn generates the desired true absolute value output signal. Such circuitry may be used in imaging systems to implement focal-plane processing algorithms or may be used for performing a single read true absolute value computation by a pixel processor located on a sensor chip. The merged dual shelf transistor structure enhances performance and speed of the processor in which it is incorporated.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image sensor of the charge transfer type which employs solid-state image pickup devices and a method of driving the image sensor. Gate electrodes to which pulse voltages can be applied and which preferably are transparent are disposed at a period distance shorter than the spatial arrangement period distance of pixels on light receiving faces of light receiving elements formed from photodiodes or like elements. Upon imaging using the image sensor, the combination of voltage to be applied to the gate electrodes is varied to vary sampling points of the light receiving faces in accordance with an environment or an object of use of the image sensor so that a fixed resolution and a fixed sensitivity can be obtained.

Abstract: A video camera with a VTR for recording/playback of images communicates with a camera/VTR station by means of an opto-electronic link. A first opto-electronic link operates when the camera is positioned away from the camera/VTR station, and a second opto-electronic link operates when the camera is positioned on the camera/VTR station. The first opto-electronic link operates when the video camera does not record.

Abstract: A digital image stabilization device receives correlation data generated from a plurality of local motion estimation areas and adaptively decides a motion vector according to irregular image environment. To do this, statistical variables and local motion vector are generated to check reliability by checking correlation values generated from each local motion estimation area. Then, it is determined that there is irregular image data deteriorating reliability of local motion vector, by analyzing statistical variables. Here, the irregular image environment can be in an image signal with low contrast, an image signal with a moving object, an image signal with repeated motion, etc. Also, isolativity and stability are obtained by analyzing local motion vector and a weight signal is generated with a predefined rate according to a computed result.

Abstract: A luminance signal obtained by negative-positive inverting and gamma-correcting a signal indicating an image on a negative film and a contour correction signal Y.sub.ap generated from the luminance signal Y are input, and a signal Y.sub.ap1 and a signal Y.sub.ap2 are obtained by an adder, a subtractor and an adder in accordance with following equations :Y.sub.ap1 =Y.sub.ap -kY, Y.sub.ap2 =Y.sub.ap +kY,where K is a damping coefficient.Next, a slice circuit picks out signals having a higher level than the maximum level of the noise element, from the signal Y.sub.ap1 generated as mentioned above and another slice circuit picks out signals having a lower level than the minimum level of the noise element, from the signal Y.sub.ap2. An adder adds up these picked-out signals to be used as the noise free contour correction signal.

Abstract: A security alarm system including multiple, zone distributed audio monitors and alarm sensors which report and verify detected alarms and communicate with a system controller and central station. Ambient audio is continuously and selectively recorded in a storage memory and is replayable to verify alarms detected at the alarm sensors. During pre-alarm conditions, all audio inputs are summed and recorded. During an alarm state, the audio input of the audio monitor physically closest to a reporting alarm sensor is automatically selected and the post-alarm audio activity is recorded only for that sensor. The central station is able to selectively communicate via a phone link with each audio controller and engage in half duplexed voice communication with the alarm site, remotely playback and listen to the locally recorded audio data, or program each audio controller. The monitored audio data is stored in RAM storage in discreet segments corresponding to predetermined periods of pre-alarm and post-alarm data.

Abstract: A device helps prevent contamination from reaching the inner workings of a computer trackball assembly, thereby prolonging intervals between maintenance. A circular ring attaches to the exposed surface of the panel through which the trackball protrudes for use, preferably to the retaining ring typically used to hold the ball in place. In cooperation with this ring, means are provided for preventing contamination from migrating below the panel surrounding the ball, thereby helping to keep clean the inner workings of the trackball assembly. In one embodiment, the means cooperating with the circular ring includes a second ring of material having an aperture with a diameter dimensionally configured to wipe against the outer surface of the trackball during use. In an alternative embodiment, the means cooperating with the circular ring includes a flexible dome of material entirely covering the externally exposed surface of the trackball.

Abstract: A three-color backlight type display device according to the present invention is provided for reproducing a full color image with no use of color filters. In use, a composite signal is separated by a RGB decoder into R, G, and B color components which are sampled on a frame-by-frame basis and stored as a serial RGB data into a RAM. The color components of the serial data are read from the RAM with a delay of one frame after the write time and within a shorter duration for data compression. The color components of compressed form are transmitted to an LCD where each of them is allocated to form a dot pattern during a blanking period. In synchronization with the allocation of the color component, a corresponding one of the three backlights is irradiated. This action is repeated for all the R, G, and B components in a succession. Accordingly, a clear color image can be reproduced having less unwanted artifacts, e.g.

Abstract: The charge coupled device (CCD) charge detection system includes a first CCD register having N non-destructive charge readouts where N is an integer greater than one, and N second CCD registers coupled to the N non-destructive charge readouts where each of the N second CCD registers is coupled to a corresponding one of the N non-destructive charge readouts.

Abstract: A control device includes a control mechanism for eliminating a dark current effect generated in a CCD. The control mechanism carries out a charge pumping operation in the CCD during a time after an object is photographed up until the time when an aperture is closed. The control mechanism obtains a dark current component generated when the aperture is closed after a photographing operation, based on a dark current component outputted by the CCD during a predetermined period, and then subtracts the dark current component from data outputted by the CCD in accordance with an image signal corresponding to the subject.

Abstract: A solid state imager device such as a CCD imager device includes a timing generator which generates and supplies a clamping circuit with, a clamping pulse for clamping a first signal, corresponding to one pixel, from a through region of a CCD shift register, and a clamping pulse for clamping a second signal, corresponding to one pixel, from an optical black region of a sensor array. Specifically, the clamping pulse for clamping the first signal clamps a signal, corresponding to a first pixel, from the through region, and the clamping pulse for clamping the second signal clamps a signal, corresponding to a second or following pixel, from the optical black region. An output signal from the clamping circuit is supplied to an A/D converter which converts the supplied signal at such timing as not to sample the signal, corresponding to the first pixel, from the through region.

Abstract: An output circuit of a solid-state imaging device has been improved. The output circuit receives a plurality of pixel signals in a dummy bit portion, an optical black portion and an effective pixel portion from a charge transfer device of the solid-state imaging device.

Abstract: A solid-state camera device of the present invention includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of charge storage regions formed on the semiconductor substrate, a charge transfer region formed on the semiconductor substrate, for transferring charges read from the plurality of charge storage regions, a bias charge injection diode formed on the semiconductor substrate, for injecting a bias charge into the charge storage region, and sweeping out section for sweeping at least part of the charge remaining in the charge transfer region before resetting part of the bias charge injected into the charge storage region to emit part of the bias charge into the charge transfer region. That is, the present invention has a feature that the residual charge lying in the charge transfer region below the transfer gate specified for reading is swept before resetting the bias charge after injecting the bias charge into the charge storage region.

Abstract: Output device command information and color description information are identified in a source image description and encoded into a pixel description packet. The source image description is converted into an arrangement of pixel data with each pixel location in the arrangement having a pixel description packet associated therewith. The pixel description packet is then decoded to determine output device command information and color information which is provided to an output device on a pixel-by-pixel basis for forming output pixels representative of source images.

Abstract: An image sensor of charge storage type and a driving method of the image sensor. A light signal from a photosensitive element is read by an amplifier and the read signal is held in a sample hold circuit of a signal detector. Next, a voltage is given from a variable power source to the amplifier and a signal output from the amplifier is compared with the previously held signal in a comparator in the signal detector. The voltage of the variable power source at an equal point where the two signals are coincident with each other in the comparison is read as a true value. Hence, irrespective of dispersion of characteristics of amplifiers, the correct value can be always detected. The influences of the dispersion of the amplifiers, a temperature change and a time-drift of TFT characteristics are removed to improve S/N.

Abstract: A circuit 100 for determining the polarity of an input sequence of pulses 200 or 300 applied to input 102 by digitally determining the polarity of a predetermined number of pulses of the input sequence of pulses using the digital polarity determinator 130 and, dependent on the output of the digital polarity determinator 130, routing the input sequence of pulses by the polarity switch 120 to the output 135 when the polarity of the input sequence of pulses is a predetermined polarity, and routing the input sequence of pulses to the output 135 via the inverter 125 when the polarity of the input sequence of pulses is not the predetermined polarity, thereby providing an output sequence of pulses having only the predetermined polarity.

Abstract: A color linear image sensor apparatus includes a wiring conductor formed of a first level polysilicon film which is provided on a channel stopper in photocell arrays and which is connected to a first transfer gate electrode of a CCD register. The first transfer gate electrode is also connected to a second transfer gate electrode through a contact hole. Thus, even if the wiring conductor is formed on the channel stopper in the photocell array, a dead zone for locating a wiring conductor for the driving clocks becomes unnecessary, and accordingly, the distance between photocell arrays can be shortened to two thirds to a half of the distance in the conventional examples.

Abstract: The present invention teaches how to maintain temporally the increased collection region (depletion depth) of detectors within a solid-state image sensor. A novel clocking method is used to control charge transfer within charge coupled devices to reduce cross talk with a resulting improvement in the MTF and quantum efficiency. Specifically, the present invention employs a pulsing type of clocking technique wherein the duty cycle is adjusted to maximize the depletion region. These pulses are spaced equally from phase to phase within the multiphase clocking scheme. The present invention is specifically designed for high speed CCD devices in which improvements in the MTF and QE are desired. Time Delay Integration (TDI) image sensors are such devices that have high speed characteristics as a common requirement and the application of the present invention to these devices is discussed.