Abstract: A portable, self-contained telescoping camera tower system permits high angle imaging and rapid and smooth change of perspective. The camera tower is a stand-alone unit capable of being transported, set up and operated by a single individual and which provides steady advance and retreat of the tower over its full range of up and down movement.

Abstract: A de-shuffling circuit of a first audio processor 21 performs the following signal processing. When an audio signal is to be reproduced from a video tape 1 in which an audio signal having 4004 samples in consecutive 5 fields is recorded on a helical track, with the number of effective samples for one field equal to 800 or 801, all samples of at least one reproduction among audio signals produced by two or more reproductions of an image signal of the same field are outputted and samples of other reproductions are adaptively controlled in a variable speed reproduction mode for reproducing an arbitrary field twice or more with a dynamic tracking head 2A. Thus, the total number of samples for the 5 fields is limited to not more than 4004.

Abstract: In multiple-channel microwave transmitters and communications systems, such as multi-point video distribution systems operating at frequencies of around 29 GHz or 40 GHz, good frequency stability for each of the channel frequencies is achieved with a feed-back loop including an error detector circuit. The error detector circuit (39,29) is coupled between a sampler and an input circuit of the source. This detector circuit detects any drift or other error in the carrier frequency of the sample from the desired microwave frequency for that channel signal and provides a corrective signal to the input circuit. The part of the feed-back loop comprising at least a part of the detector circuit is common to a group of the channels. Switch means couple the common part of the feed-back loop between the sampler and the source input circuit of each channel, and so permit this common part to be time multiplexed between the respective feed-back loops of the group of channels.

Abstract: N pieces of quantized data are generated by quantizing video signals in quantizing widths proportional to N temporary quantizing parameters Q(i). N temporary coded bit streams S(i) are generated by variable length coding the N pieces of quantized data. A code quantity B(i, j) of the temporary coded bit streams S(i) is measured in a second specific period t(j) which is one of n periods divided from a first specific period T. A function f(q, j) is estimated by relating a quantizing parameter q having continuous values and a code quantity b(j) of coded bit streams in the second specific period t(j) with the function of b(j)=f(q, J), by using the temporary quantizing parameter Q(i) and the code quantity B(i, j). An assigned code quantity bt(j) to be assigned to the second specific period t(j) is determined so that a code quantity of the coded bit streams in the first specific period T may be equal to a specified assigned code quantity BT assigned in the first specific period T.

Abstract: An insertion and removal mechanism for recording media includes a door that can move between a closed position that covers a loading chamber by moving in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the recording medium is inserted and removed. In the open position, an opening is created, through which the recording medium can be inserted and removed, by the door separating from the loading chamber. A conversion mechanism converts the operating force of the door, acting in the direction of opening and closing of the door, into a force in the direction of inserting and removing the recording medium. A first driving unit is driven in the direction of insertion and removal of the recording medium through force converted by the conversion mechanism and engages with the recording medium when the door is closing so as to cause the recording medium to be moved toward the terminals of the information device.

Abstract: A device for controlling an imaging device, in which electric charges corresponding to an object are accumulated in photodiodes, and transferred through a vertical transfer CCD and a horizontal transfer CCD to be outputted from the imaging device. In a horizontal blanking period (an HD signal is "L"), V1 through V4 signals are changed in a predetermined order, so that the electric charges are transferred along the vertical transfer CCD. When the electric charges are transferred into the horizontal transfer CCD, the V1 signal and the V2 signal are set to "L". When an exposure is carried out, the V1 signal and the V2 signal are set to "H", and the V3 signal and the V4 signal are changed in the same order as the vertical transfer operation, so that a charge pumping operation is carried out.

Abstract: A color separation prism having four blocks which can be directly placed at a position, where a color separation prism is to be provided, within a currently-used camera by making the F-number of the color separation prism substantially equivalent to that of an image pick-up lens, and which can implement a dual green system while obtaining the same brightness for the overall optical system as it is obtained from a color separation prism having three blocks. The color separation prism is made up of two prism blocks for separating an incident ray into a green color, one prism block for separating the incident ray into a red color, one prism block for separating the incident ray into a blue color, and an F-number which is substantially the same as an F-number of an image pick-up lens used together with the color separation prism.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for generating a fully intra-coded video frame from a received progressive refresh bitstream representing a series of inter-coded video frames. Intra-coded macroblocks of received video frames are identified, selected, processed and stored to facilitate later combination into a single fully intra-coded composite video frame suitable for use during VTR trick play operation. As part of the intra-coded macroblock selection process, in various embodiments, the large sets of adjacent macroblocks are given priority over previously selected macroblocks that correspond to non-adjacent positions within a video frame or which correspond to a smaller set of adjacent video frames.

Abstract: An automatic light measuring device for an image pickup device includes a pair of line sensors suitable for an automatic focusing adjustment and disposed on a semiconductor chip at positions spaced apart by a predetermined distances, an integration time controller for generating an integration control signal for controlling the charge accumulation by incident light by detecting the amount of charges accumulated in the line sensors, a first exposure amount detector for calculating the intensity of incident light from the integration control signal, a second exposure amount detector inclusive of photoelectric conversion elements formed on the semiconductor chip, for detecting the amount of incident light, a pair of lenses mounted above the pair of line sensors for focusing the image of substantially the same subject within the central area of the field of view, and an optical system for applying light within the area broader than the central area of the field of view to the surface of the semiconductor chip inc

Abstract: A color separation prism in which are arranged, in the order according to the direction in which the light from the objective travels: a first prism which extracts a predetermined wavelength component; a first air gap; a second prism which extracts a predetermined wavelength component; a second air gap; and third and fourth prisms that are joined to each other, wherein, in particular, a light reflected by the joint plane is totally reflected by a surface adjacent the second air gap and guided to an image pickup device.

Abstract: A control circuit generates a control signal which is of a low level during a certain period of time after the power supply of a solid state imager has been turned on or a power save mode thereof has been canceled, and of a high level after elapse of the period of time. Based on the control signal, a timing generator generates transfer clock signals having a high frequency than when the solid state imager is in a normal transfer mode, and applies the transfer clock signals to a CCD shift register to remove or transfer excessive invalid charges at a high rate therefrom. After the power supply has been turned on or the power save mode has been canceled, therefore, the time required to bring the solid state imager into a condition capable of imaging a subject is shortened.

Abstract: Charges photoelectrically generated in reversely biased photodiodes are sequentially transferred through respective thin-film transistors to a driver IC. A plurality of capacitors are connected to the anodes of the respective photodiodes. During a charge reading period, a variable voltage generation circuit supplies the cathode of each photodiode with a first voltage that is higher than an anode voltage to reversely bias the photodiode. During a predetermined period after the charge reading period, the variable voltage generation circuit supplies the cathode of the photodiode with a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage and a gate pulse generation circuit supplies, through the associated capacitor, the anode of the photodiode with a third voltage that allows the photodiode to be forwardly biased.

Abstract: A portable radio receiver with a built-in antenna includes first and second housing sections made of a dielectric having a high dielectric constant, an antenna conductor disposed in an internal space between the two housing sections, and an apparatus board to be connected to the antenna conductor. The antenna conductor is formed as a loop antenna. A recessed portion is formed in the joint surface of the first housing section. A groove for accommodating the loop antenna is formed at a deep end in the inner wall of the recessed portion. A projecting portion to fit in the recessed portion is formed on the joint surface of the second housing section. When the recessed and projecting portions are fitted with each other, the two housing sections form one integral body, and the loop antenna is sandwiched between the recessed and projecting portions.

Abstract: A system for providing a printed output image including information from a data collection system onto a single print medium is disclosed. Data collection systems and methods are disclosed for collecting data from a plurality of spatially separated sources and for providing that data as a sequence of output signals. The data collection system includes a housing a selection element, one or more image paths and an image plane. The selection element selectively and alternatively couples visual images from separate object sources along the image paths and onto the image plane. The selection element may include optical shutters for selectively occluding or transmitting the visual images and may include illumination elements for providing a controlled sequence of illumination at selected ones of the object sources. The system can assemble the printed data in a format suitable for printing as an identification card.

Abstract: A video camera periscope device including a micro-video camera mounted above an arm of a chair. The camera has a bottom side with a coupling structure. Included is a monitor with a viewing screen, and is coupled to a forward end of the arm of the chair. The monitor has a mounting bracket securing it to the arm of the chair. Also, a telescoping arm is provided. The telescoping arm has a base member that is coupled to the arm of the chair. The telescoping arm is formed of three elongated tubular members. The three tubular members have an upper tubular member, a lower tubular member and a middle tubular member. The lower tubular member is coupled with the base member. The upper tubular member has an upper socket cup at one end and an external flange at another end. The socket cup, at the one end of the upper tubular member, receives the coupling structure of the video camera, and allows rotation thereof.

Abstract: In a solid-state image pickup device comprises a solid-state image pickup section (10) including a substrate and a plurality of photoelectric converting sections formed on the substrate, the photoelectric converting sections accumulates, in response to incident light, electric charges during a controllable accumulating time interval in each frame period as signal charges in synchronism with a frame rate. Connected to the substrate, electronic shutter means discards disused charges during a discarding time interval in the frame period from the photoelectric converting sections to the substrate. The discarding time interval is equal to a difference between the frame period and the controllable accumulating time interval. Connected to the solid-state image pickup section, a timing pulse generating section (20) controls the controllable accumulating time interval.

Abstract: In an electronic still camera, a mechanical shutter is opened in synchronizing with a synchronizing signal generated by a synchronizing signal generating circuit, a solid state electronic imaging device is exposed while the mechanical shutter is being opened, and a video signal outputted from the imaging device and representing an imaged subject is processed by a signal processing circuit. The synchronizing signal generating circuit starts the generation of the synchronizing signal in response to a shutter release by a shutter release button. The mechanical shutter is opened in synchronizing with a synchronizing signal which is generated after a predetermined constant time period elapses from the start of the operation of the synchronizing signal generating circuit, and is closed after time necessary for exposure elapses from the opening of the mechanical shutter.

Abstract: A multi-scene recording disk and a data reproducing apparatus, which enable a user to select and enjoy one of simultaneously proceeding scenes, and also enable a program editor to edit programs using a new concept and novel fashion. Related program movements, each consisting of program bars, are recorded on the disk 100. The data reproducing apparatus includes a data string processing section 203, a system control section 204, an operator panel 205, a video processing section 206, and audio processing sections 211 and 213. The sections 203 and 204 and the panel 205 select any one of the program movements, and switch one movement to another, and select any one of the program bars of the movement selected and switch one bar to another. The information thus selected is supplied to the video processing section 206 and the audio processing sections 211 and 213.

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 dual-deck VCR includes a delaying portion for delaying a color signal of 629 KHz reproduced from one deck by a horizontal scanning period, a color comb filter for removing crosstalk from the delayed color signal and a not-delayed color signal, a burst level processing portion for integrating the burst to output the integrated level of the burst and a color gain controller for controlling the amplitude of the color signal output from the color comb filter in response to the integrated level output from the burst level processing portion. The characteristics of the components of the dual-deck VCR are chosen so that crosstalk and a pickup noise generated from the non-uniformity of friction between head and tape are removed.