Abstract: To provide a recording-reproducing apparatus capable of controlling recorded addresses in a highly-accurate minimum recording unit by using an existing time code in order for recording a signal. The present invention realizes the compatibility of the apparatus with the existing time code and controls the recorded addresses by slightly changing a linear time code signal and assigning a time code corresponding to the minimum recording unit.

Abstract: A digital camera and an image processing method in the digital camera, which make it possible to easily obtain interesting and unexpected images applied with special effects. An imaging system images a subject and converting a subject image into unaltered image data representing an unaltered image of the subject. Then, a special effect selector, which is provided with a random number generator generating a random number, selects one special effect from a plurality of special effects in accordance with the random number. A special effect image processor image-processes the unaltered image data under the special effect selected by the special effect selector so as to obtain special effect image data representing a special effect image. The special effect image data is recorded into an external memory, or sent to an external printer through a communication interface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compact and low-cost image pickup apparatus that is capable of photographing a high-quality image comparable to silver halide photographs even when the image is enlarged to 8×10″ size or larger and that enables the depth of field to be controlled with an aperture number exceeding F4. In the image pickup apparatus, an image of an object produced by an optical system (10) is formed on an electronic image pickup device (20), thereby obtaining image information concerning the object. The optical system (10) has a structure capable of obtaining an aperture number equal to or larger than F4 by reducing the beam diameter. Performance required for the optical system (10) is such that the size of the diameter of 90% encircled energy of the point spread function by amplitude is allowed to be up to about 8 times larger than the pixel pitch corresponding to the resolvable pixel unit. The pixel pitch of the image pickup device (20) is not larger than about 5 micrometers.

Abstract: A video signal recording/reproduction apparatus utilizes time division writing and reading to implement simultaneous recording and reproduction of different video signals to and from a common recording medium. In one operating mode, a first video signal being recorded and a second video signal being reproduced are simultaneously displayed in separate windows on a display. In other operating modes, two or more video signals are simultaneously recorded or reproduced to/from a common recording medium, and simultaneously displayed in separate windows.

Abstract: A real-image finder includes an objective optical system which forms an image of an object onto a primary image forming surface; an ocular optical system through which the object image formed on the primary image forming surface can be viewed; and an image erecting optical system which inverts the object image formed by the objective optical system, in the vertical and horizontal directions.

Abstract: A tracking control system is proposed for realizing a tracking control in a trick play reproduction mode in a helical scan reproduction apparatus. The tracking is based on the derivation of a tracking error control signal from the track numbers and the sync block numbers of the sync blocks read from the tracks in the trick play reproduction mode.

Abstract: A camera is provided which includes an exposure mechanism adapted to expose an image of an object onto film, and an image pickup element adapted to capture a digital image of the object. A memory stores digital image data captured by the image pickup element, and a mode setting switch enables setting of either a digital photographic mode which executes only operations to capture digital images, or a hybrid photographic mode which executes both operations to capture digital images and operations to expose object images onto the film. A CPU controls use of the memory so that in the digital photographic mode, old digital image data stored in the memory is overwritten with new digital image data when there is insufficient free space in the memory.

Abstract: This invention relates to a recording/reproduction system having a function of recording/reproducing video information with a GOP structure in the MPEG2 scheme on/from a disk. In this system, when a cut position designated by the user on the reproduction frame is set within the GOP, start picture data in the latter half of video data using the cut position as the reference position is set to I picture data. That is, when the picture data is of the B type, the CPU controls an encoder/decoder to change the picture data to I picture data. Accordingly, the latter half can be generated as reproducible video data.

Abstract: A data storage medium having stored thereon includes an audio sequence including at least one audio stream; at least one video stream; and reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of the at least one audio stream and the at least one video stream. The reproduction control information includes reproduction order information defining the order of at least one video stream, among the at least one video stream stored on the data storage medium, which is to be reproduced in synchronization with the audio sequence.

Abstract: This invention corrects of white spot noise in an imager. If the brightness value of a pixel is greater than the maximum brightness value of eight surrounding pixels, then the compensated output is this maximum brightness value. If the brightness value of the pixel is less than the maximum brightness value, then no compensation is applied. Alternatively the brightness value of the pixel may be compared with the maximum brightness value plus a threshold value. The invention stores correction values for a few pixels. If a particular pixel has a stored correction value, then this is subtracted from the brightness value of the particular pixel and the maximum brightness correction is applied to this difference. The stored correction value is replaced with the difference between the brightness value of the particular pixel and the maximum brightness value if this difference is greater than the stored correction value.

Abstract: A data storage medium having stored thereon includes an audio sequence including at least one audio stream; at least one video stream; and reproduction control information for controlling reproduction of the at least one audio stream and the at least one video stream. The reproduction control information includes reproduction order information defining the order of at least one video stream, among the at least one video stream stored on the data storage medium, which is to be reproduced in synchronization with the audio sequence.

Abstract: In a packing unit (PU) composed of five sync blocks, Discrete Cosign Transform (DCT) blocks of compressed and encoded data are packed to a sync block. When same DCT blocks are not placed in a sync block, the remaining DCT blocks are temporarily placed in another sync block. In a high speed reproducing mode, a detecting portion detects whether or not the current PU mixes with data of another PU. The detected result is supplied as a flag to an unpacking portion along with a sync block. The unpacking portion removes a sync block that mixes with data of another PU. The unpacked data is supplied to a Bit Rate Reduction (BRR) decoder. The BRR decoder performs a decompressing process.

Abstract: A method for backward reproduction in a video tape recorder, includes the steps of detecting a position on a magnetic video tape where a video head contacts with the tape at the time when a backward reproduction instruction is inputted by the user, moving the tape in the reverse direction from the detected position, stopping the reverse movement of the tape immediately after a set amount of the tape, reproducing the video signal recorded on the tape while moving the tape in the forward direction, storing the reproduced video signal in the field memory after digitization, and generating a video signal by reading out stored video data from the field memory in the reverse sequence in which they have been stored as soon as the field memory becomes full. The present method allows review of high-quality images in backward reproduction of the recorded video signals using a simple servo control.

Abstract: Input terminals to which two types of serial data with similar formats are sent are disposed. Video data sent to the normal dubbing input terminal is data that has not been compressed/encoded. Data sent to the straight dubbing input terminal is data that has been compressed and encoded. Data received from the input terminal includes a sync error flag (error flag for each sync block) that is OR output data of data added by a reproducing VTR and transmission error information. The sync error flag is sent to an ECC encoder through a format converter not through an BRR encoder. An output signal of an ECC encoder is recorded to a magnetic tape by recording heads through a recording driver.

Abstract: When an initialization switch of the TV lens is turned on, an iris is opened and a zoom lens group is moved to a telephoto end automatically. An AF function moves a focus lens group to focus the TV lens according to a focus evaluation value obtained from a video signal. Then, the zoom lens group is moved to a wide end, and the AF function moves a master lens group to focus the TV lens according to the focus evaluation value. The focusing with the focus lens group while the zoom lens group is placed at the telephoto end and the focusing with the master lens group while the zoom lens group is placed at the wide end are repeated alternately several times. Thus, the flange back length of the TV lens can be adjusted automatically.

Abstract: In an image sensing apparatus, by forming a signal processing unit which processes a signal from an image sensing unit on an expansion board of a computer or a PCMCIA card, it is possible to easily control the image sensing unit, process a signal from the computer, and by taking an image signal into an image processing unit immediately, reduces deterioration of the signal. Further, the image sensing unit is separated from the signal processing unit, and data specific to the image sensing unit is processed by the signal processing unit, thereby various types of image sensing units can be controlled.

Abstract: A filter for removing block deformation that occurs in an image signal is disclosed. Detected are a plurality of differentials each between at least two pixel signal levels on block boundaries between pixel blocks and in the vicinity of the block boundaries in response to pixel signals included in a plurality of pixel blocks that form an image. The differentials are compared with each other to obtain the maximum differential absolute value. The maximum differential absolute value is compared with a reference value to determine whether block deformation occurs in a pixel signal in the vicinity of a position on the pixel blocks where the maximum differential absolute value is obtained. The block deformation is removed when it is determined that the block deformation occurs in the pixel signal in the vicinity of the position on the pixel blocks where the maximum differential absolute value is obtained.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling remote reproduction of an information-stored medium in a reproduction apparatus including a reproduction unit for reproducing the information-stored medium in which an identification (ID) information is recorded in constant angular velocity (CAV) drive mode, and an external device for communicating with a remote server for playback permission of the information-stored medium. CAV rotating speed information is transmitted from external device to the reproduction unit. ID information is read while servo-controlling the rotation of the information-stored medium based on the transmitted CAV rotating speed information.

Abstract: A CCD imaging system is provided, including a short focal length lens for accepting light from the scene to be imaged and a charge storage medium having a charge storage substrate that is curved in a selected nonplanar focal surface profile and located a selected distance from the lens with the focal surface facing the lens, the focal surface profile and the lens-to-substrate distance selected such that the light accepted by the lens is in focus at the position of the substrate. There is provided a support substrate on which the nonplanar charge storage substrate is supported to maintain the selected surface profile of the charge storage substrate.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for recording a picture sequence on a disk-shaped recording medium at least on a picture by picture basis make it possible to record a picture sequence in a manner that allow picture management and time code allocation to be realized accurately and reliably when editing a picture sequence according MPEG, for example, by utilizing techniques such as cutting out (or erasing) a scene, inserting a scene (in the proper sense of the word) without overlaying the picture sequence with a scene and/or moving part of the picture sequence.