Abstract: A shakeproof camera includes an image pickup element whose exposure time and exposure period are set variable, a shake detection circuit for detecting a photographed image shake on the basis of an output from the image pickup element, a shake correction unit for correcting the image shake on the basis of an output from the shake detection circuit, and a control circuit for changing control parameters of the shake correction unit in accordance with the exposure time and the exposure period of the image pickup element.

Abstract: An auxiliary handle for portable video cameras. This device provides a removable structure which can be used by the operator to help hold the camera steady during recording. The handle is comprised of an extended portion which serves as the grip, a ball and socket lockable joint to orient the handle in a preferred ergonomic position and means for attaching the handle assembly to the camera. The extended length of the grip and its ability to be universally oriented allows the operator to hold the handle in multiple forms and positions below the camera. By limiting the amount that the assisting hand must be raised and by the fact that the camera's weight is supported by two hands, operator fatigue is reduced. This device also prevents the inadvertent operation of camera controls by placing the assisting hand away from their proximity.

Abstract: A charge-coupled device is exposed to a color portion of an image, thereby generating charge packets in the array of photosensitive storage regions. The charge packets stored in a first set of horizontal rows of photosensitive storage regions are then moved into a second set of horizontal rows of photosensitive storage regions, remaining in the array for subsequent exposures. These exposing and moving steps are repeated for each color exposure in excess of two. Charge packets from each successive exposure are combined in the array in a predetermined manner with charge packets from previous exposures. Finally, the charge-coupled device is exposed to a final color portion of the image, thereby generating final charge packets in the array. Selected ones of the final charge packets comprise charge from more than one photosensitive storage region and from more than one exposure stored in a single photosensitive storage region.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus which effects an electronic shutter operation comprises a solid-state imaging device made up of a plurality of photosensitive pixels arranged in a matrix on a semiconductor substrate, a driving circuit for driving the solid-state imaging device and also controlling the photoelectric conversion time of the photosensitive pixel, a vertical CCD for clipping a first signal obtained during a longer photoelectric conversion time in the solid-state imaging device, at a specified level or above, and then adding the clipped signal to a second signal obtained during a shorter photoelectric conversion time, and a signal processing circuit for amplifying and outputting the added signal, and setting an amplification degree for the second signal to a value larger than an amplification factor for the first signal.

Abstract: An aerial support platform is supported to extend below, and intermediate of, a pair of parallel cables mounted along respective opposite walls of a studio. A carriage rides on each of the parallel cables, and another pair of cables extends to connect the pair of carriages. A third carriage sits on the other pair of cables, and a series of further cables extend vertically from that carriage to the platform. The pair of carriages positioned on the opposite walls of the studio are controlled to move in tandem, and the third carriage has controlled movement between those carriages. The platform may be raised or lowered relative to the third carriage, and thus has three linear axes of motion. The platform has two additional axes of motion, both rotational. One is around a vertical axis and another is around an axis normal to the vertical axis. Cinematographic equipment may be fixed to the platform, which can then be oriented using a computer at a remote location.

Abstract: A detector with a non-uniform spatial sensitivity measuring an image. From the measured outputs, the image can be re-constructed by a signal processing scheme. In a preferred embodiment, an array of such detectors, each with an imaging surface and a non-uniform spatial sensitivity across the surface, is used to measure the image. In another preferred embodiment, the detector(s) measures the image more than once, each time with the relative position between the image and the detector(s) changed. The measured outputs are interlaced together and deconvolved by an inverted model of the detector(s) to re-construct the image.

Abstract: A high frame rate camera includes;a multi-channel sensor array for producing a plurality of parallel analog image signals representative of a sensed image;a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADC) for converting each of the parallel analog image signals to parallel digital image signals, wherein each of the ADCs has a fine gain parameter which is a function of a top ladder potential and also has a fine offset parameter which is a function of a bottom ladder potential; anda control for controlling the fine gain and offset parameters of each of the ADCs by means of fine gain and offset control signals which are a function of desired average output black and gray levels of the image signal.

Abstract: A camera with a VTR communicates with a camera station by means of an opto-electronic link. A first opto-electronic link operates when the camera is positioned away from the camera station, and a second opto-electronic link operates when the camera is positioned on the camera station. The first opto-electronic link operates only when the VTR is reproducing.

Abstract: A protective housing for surveillance video cameras has a tubular housing shell (1) which can be slid back and forth in a telescoping manner relative to an equipment carrier (2), which can be installed in a fixed position. The housing shell (1) and the equipment carrier (2) are connected by a sliding guide piece (4), which forms a pivot bearing (S-S) after the shell has been pulled out as far as it can go to allow the housing shell (1) to pivot around the end of the equipment carrier (2). To facilitate installation and to avoid corners from being cut off the viewing angle during installation and adjustment, both the housing shell (1) and the equipment carrier (2) are provided with guide grooves (11, 15), arranged in pairs; and the sliding guide piece (4) is guided by means of first and second projections (18, 19) so that it can slide relative to both the housing shell (1) and the equipment carrier (2) in their guide grooves (11, 15).

Abstract: A video camera including a zoom-up lens assembly magnifying an image, a charge coupled device picking up the magnified image, a recording medium for storage of the magnified image and a viewfinder having a display panel and a liquid crystal device for determining a partial area of the display panel on which the magnified image to be recorded is displayed. The liquid crystal device is controlled by a microcomputer so as to form an opaque frame-like line surrounding the partial area of the display panel.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus comprises a fast driving means that drives a solid-state imaging device at a high speed for the preservation time for one screen in a solid-state imaging device; that is, for one of time intervals corresponding to a plurality of divisions of a one-field period in a television signal mode, a fast transfer circuit for transferring pixel outputs of the solid-state imaging device at a high speed, field memories in which image signals sent from the fast transfer circuit are stored screen by screen, a selection output control circuit that reads the image signals stored screen by screen in the field memories by converting the time bases into the one for the one-field period in the television signal mode, and selectively outputs the plurality of read image signals depending on the state of a subject, and an adder for adding up the image signals selected by the selection output control circuit and providing an output image signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a color selecting mechanism for a cathode ray tube in which an enough area of an effective screen area of a color selecting electrode can be ensured. A frame (1) is constituted by a pair of opposite long-side frames (3) and a pair of opposite short-side frames (4). A color selecting electrode (2) is stretched over the upper surfaces (3b) of the long-side frames (3). The frame (1) is formed by the integral molding. The end portions of the upper surfaces (3b) side of the long-side frames (3) are formed into a straight line as if they were cut down. The lower surfaces of connection portions between the long-side frames (3) and the short-side frames (4) are disposed on the same plane. The height of the long-side frames (3) from this plane is formed so as to be higher than the height of the short-side frames (4).

Abstract: A video module including a video sensor having a sensor video signal output terminal, a timing signal terminal, and an image field of pixel elements responsive to incident light to generate sensor video signals; a processor having a sensor video signal input terminal coupled to the output terminal, a host signal input terminal for accepting a host signal, a timing signal terminal, video pixel signal combining means responsive to the sensor video signal and the host signals simultaneously to develop display video signals where each of the pixel elements is individually manipulated and controlled, and a display video signal output terminal for outputting the display video signals; a video display having a thin screen disposed along an axis passing through the center of and perpendicular to the image field and facing oppositely from the image field, a display video signal input terminal, and a timing signal terminal, wherein the video signals generate video images on the screen; and a timer for providing timing

Abstract: A clamping circuit for applying clamping to a signal having a plurality of components includes a frequency divider which frequency-divides a main clock signal of the clamping circuit by an even number when the plurality of components of the signal are odd in number and another frequency divider which frequency-divides the main clock signal of the clamping circuit by an odd number when the plurality of components of the signal are even in number. Manual adjustment of an optical black correction is provided which permits verification of an accurate optical black correction by monitoring color difference vectors on a vector scope.

Abstract: A photosensitive apparatus comprising a plurality of sets of photodiodes and a plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier being operatively connected to one set of photodiodes. A transfer circuit is associated with each photodiode for loading a charge from the photodiode to a storage node associated therewith. Readout means sequentially unload charges from each storage node in the set of transfer circuits through the amplifier, so that multiple photodiodes may operate through a single amplifier.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a photoelectric conversion element, a first MOS transistor having having a gate connected to the photoelectric conversion element, a second MOS transistor connected in series with the first transistor, and a third MOS transistor connected in series with the photoelectric conversion element, wherein the threshold voltage of the third MOS transistor is set higher than that of the second MOS transistor. In one embodiment, each of the pixels included in a second group of rows includes a photoelectric conversion element but without the first, second and third MOS transistors. A fourth MOS transistor connects a photoelectric conversion element of the second group to a photoelectric conversion element of a first group, the photoelectric conversion elements of the first group being part of pixels which contain first, second and third MOS transistors.

Abstract: A camera apparatus comprising focusing means for optically focusing a beam of light from an object, imaging means for converting an optical image produced by the focusing means into electrical or physicochemical information and issuing or recording the information as an image, means for detecting fluctuations of the apparatus to issue a fluctuation detecting signal, means responsive to the fluctuation detecting signal for issuing an image fluctuation control signal, and means responsive to the image fluctuation control signal for suppressing fluctuations of the image due to the fluctuations of the apparatus.

Abstract: A self-organizing circuit providing improved performance and reduction in costs. The improvements are of two basic types: those that apply to improved circuit design and those that apply to improved "teaching" of the circuit. A method to allow the circuit elements to learn new patterns quickly is provided. Also, a mechanism by which serial or sequential information can be learned is disclosed. Finally, the invention includes mechanisms by which the circuits can be simplified by reducing the number of interconnections within the circuit. Improved teaching of the circuit includes ways by which the self-organizing circuit can be quickly taught new patterns. First by making each input to a subcircuit compete against the many other inputs to that subcircuit, by weighting each input according to simple Boolean functions, and lastly by incorporating a method by which information can be added to the circuit after the circuit has already learned some information.

Abstract: An auto-focusing apparatus which obtains an evaluation value from a contrast component of a video signal and performs focus adjustment so that the evaluation value will be maximum, comprises: measurement frame setting means for setting a first frame and a second frame on the screen to obtain the evaluation value; and evaluation value generating means for obtaining a first evaluation value and a second evaluation value from the first frame and the second frame. Focus adjustment is performed by selecting the first frame or the second frame according to changes of the first evaluation value and the second evaluation value when a focus lens is moved in a very small amount.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a solid state imager device in which an electronic shutter function is provided and charges never overflow a light receiving portion even when the light with a high intensity enters thereinto and to provide the driving method thereof. In the solid state imager device and the driving method, an electronic shutter operation is conducted by sweeping out the charges in the light receiving portion by applying a predetermined voltage to a substrate, and the voltage application period is within a horizontal blanking period when an effective exposure period of the electronic shutter exceeds a vertical blanking period and the voltage application period covers an effective horizontal scanning period when the effective exposure period is within the vertical blanking period.