Abstract: A method and apparatus for driving a solid state image pickup device. The method and apparatus include setting a first signal charging period and a second signal charging period for each one of a plurality of unit pixels. The second signal charging period is shorter than the first signal charging period. A first signal charge is produced during the first signal charging period and a second signal charge is produced during the second signal charging period. It is judged whether the first signal charge is saturated or not saturated. Then based on this judgment an input light amount is determined. The input light amount is determined using only the second signal charge when the first signal charge is saturated. The input light amount is determined using only the first signal charge when the first signal charge is not saturated.

Abstract: Digital pictures are taken by a digital camera. The digital camera provides picture data with a large dynamic range of, for example, 10 bit. Data processing and display devices operate with 8 bit only, i.e. do not take advantage of the high dynamic range of the camera. This is important in traffic monitoring installations, where, on one hand, the driver in a relatively dark passenger compartment of a vehicle and, on the other hand, the bright license plate have to be recognized to provide evidence in court. For this reason, a dark picture and a bright picture are derived from the picture data provided by the camera. This is done by reading, on one hand, the eight least significant digits and, on the other hand, the eight most significant digits of the camera output to provide the dark and bright pictures, respectively. The dark and bright pictures thus obtained are balanced against color, gray, contrast or brightness values of histograms derived from previous pictures.

Abstract: A recorded image can be automatically classified according to attached information by designating a name of each paper discharge tray, and determining the paper discharge tray of a paper on which an image is recorded based on an image data read by a storage unit according to the attached information read from the storage unit storing the image data and the attached information about the image data and the name designated by a designation unit.

Abstract: An external storage device is connected to an image pickup apparatus provided with a first image storage medium capable of storing plural taken images and image display means, and adapted for backup of image information stored in the first image storage medium. The device includes a second image storage medium, a connection detecting unit, a reception unit, a transfer means, a conversion unit, and a second transfer unit. The transfer unit writes predetermined taken image information read from the first image storage medium into the second image storage medium and erases the predetermined taken image information from the first image storage medium according to a detection output of the connection detecting unit and an output of the reception unit. The conversion unit converts the predetermined taken image information into an image matching a display ability of the image display means. The second transfer unit writes the converted image information in the first image storage medium.

Abstract: A video input apparatus and image pickup system having a camera section having a camera unit, and a video processing section for processing an image signal from the camera section so as to supply to a host terminal. The camera section outputs a multiplexed signal on which synchronizing signals of an image signal are multiplexed on the image signal, to the video processing section through a cable. The video processing section separates the image signal and the synchronizing signals from the multiplexed signal and processes the image signal to output a video signal. The camera unit in the camera section is exchangeable, and the video processing section detects the type of the camera unit based on the separated synchronizing signals and processes the image signal in accordance with the detected type of the camera unit.

Abstract: There is provided an image pickup apparatus including a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric conversion unit which converts incident light into an electrical signal and accumulates the electrical signal, an amplifier transistor which amplifies and outputs the signal from the photoelectric conversion unit, a transfer transistor which transfers the electrical signal accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit to the amplifier transistor, and a processing transistor which performs predetermined processing, and a control circuit which sets the signal level supplied to the control electrode of the transfer transistor in order to turn off the transfer transistor to be lower than the signal level supplied to the control electrode of the processing transistor in order to turn off the processing transistor.

Abstract: Featured is a digital data storage and transmitting (DDST) device, particularly suited for use with a digital camera, digital camcorder or other image/video capturing device, being configured and arranged so as to cable of downloading the digitized data representative of the images/pictures taken with the digital camera and to store this information in the DDST device. The DDST device also is configured and arranged so the DDST device can upload or transmit the downloaded picture information to a remote server using any of a number of communication protocols or techniques known to those skilled in that art including wireless or cellphone technologies. Also featured are systems embodying such a DDST device and methods related thereto.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which eliminates noise which occurs due to the influence of output from a parallel bus drive circuit added to an output final stage circuit of signal processor or the like. A delay circuit 110 which delays a video signal is inserted into a VTR signal processor such that a data transition point of particular bit in a bit array indicating horizontal-directional start and end positions of video signal data, added during a horizontal retrace period of a digital recording format video signal, does not overlap with a period for sampling a feedthrough period and a photoelectric conversion signal period in a correlated double sampling circuit.

Abstract: Even when a remaining amount of an image memory built in a digital camera is decreased, the photographing can be further continued while reserving a photographed image. An image which is obtained from an image input unit including image pickup means is accumulated into an image memory. When a remaining amount calculating unit detects that the remaining amount of the image memory is small, an image record discriminating unit compares it with an image size in a photograph mode at that time which is obtained from an image size table, thereby discriminating whether the continuation of the photographing can be performed or not. When the photographing is impossible, an image selecting unit selects an old image, an image in which the number of colors is small, or the like on the basis of management data regarding the photographed images in a memory managing table. The selected image is transmitted by a PHS communication by a data transmitting apparatus.

Abstract: A digital camera capable of photography using a flash exposure to illuminate a photographic subject is provided with an image sensor having a plurality of photoreceptor elements and capable of independently reading the electrical load of a specific photoreceptor element among the plurality of photoreceptor elements, and a detector for detecting the amount of load accumulation due to light exposure of a specific photoreceptor element when using a flash exposure. A controller stops the flash emission when the detection result of the detector reaches a predetermined level. In this way, light adjusting control is accomplished in real time.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus comprising: a CCD, optical system for forming an image on the CCD; A/D converter for converting an image signal outputted by the CCD to a digital signal; color interpolator for performing color interpolation on the digital signal converted by the A/D converter and generating image data on R, G and B color planes; color space converter for converting RGB color space to YUV colorimetric system; and median filter for reducing pseudo color components, generated by the color interpolator, by controlling color difference signals U and V. By cutting high frequency components of the signal, filtered by the median filter, then thinning out YUV signals and performing JPEG compression, pseudo color components generated by color interpolation can be reduced.

Abstract: A projection apparatus projects a pattern image onto an object so as to detect, by a phase difference scheme, a focus state of a phototaking system or observation system. The projection apparatus includes a first projecting system for projecting a first pattern extending in a first direction to a plurality of positions arranged in the first direction and including a central focus detection region on the object and a second projecting system for projecting a second pattern extending in a second direction to a plurality of positions arranged in the second direction and including the central focus detection region on the object.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for using a wearable computer in collaborative applications that uses a general inspection camera, a detailed inspection camera, a display, a computer adapted to use wireless communication and to facilitate collaborative applications, a battery, an audio communication device, and a harness for securing these components to a person's body.

Abstract: An image capturing device includes a focusable lens apparatus, an image sensor comprising a plurality of pixel elements, and an electronically actuatable shutter device including a plurality of individually addressable and actuatable shutter elements. A shutter element substantially corresponds to one or more pixel elements. A processor controls a focus depth of the lens apparatus and selectively actuates particular shutter elements associated with each of a plurality of focus depths during image capture.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for improving object trackability via parametric camera tuning. According to one embodiment the improving of object trackability comprises loading prior camera settings if any stored prior camera settings are available. If no stored prior camera settings are available, loading one of a plurality of predetermined camera settings. A determination is made whether the camera settings loaded cause saturation of the image and hue differences between objects and between the objects and a background of the video image. If the saturation and hue differences do not exceed the threshold, a search of camera settings is performed to increase saturation and hue differences between objects and between the objects and a background of the video image.

Abstract: The invention provides a digital camera having a viewfinder with an adjustable length. The digital camera includes a first viewfinder member, a second viewfinder member, a first resilient member, a first engagement member, and a second engagement member. In this invention, the first viewfinder member is mounted in the digital camera. The second viewfinder member is mounted in the first viewfinder member and is capable of sliding relative to the first viewfinder member. The first resilient member is connected to the second viewfinder member and capable of pushing the second viewfinder member from a ready position to an ejected position. The first engagement member is mounted on the second viewfinder member.

Abstract: In an image processing method for carrying out image processing on digital image signals, which have been acquired with digital cameras, image processing is carried out on the digital image signals and under different image processing conditions in accordance with kinds of the digital cameras. The image processing is thereby carried out such that reproduced images having good image quality may be obtained regardless of the kinds of the digital cameras. An apparatus for carrying out the image processing method comprises an input device for inputting pieces of information, which represent kinds of the digital cameras, and an image processing unit for carrying out image processing on the digital image signals and under different image processing conditions in accordance with the kinds of the digital cameras, which are represented by the pieces of information inputted from the input device.

Abstract: A camera is provided with a photographing element for converting photoelectrically image information of a object into electrical signals and for outputting first image data; first image processor for converting the first image data into second image data in first format; second image processor for converting third image data in second format different from the first format into fourth image data in third format different from the first format and the second format; and third image processor for converting the first image data into fifth image data in the third format.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention provides a one-time-use camera. The one-time-use camera includes an electronic digital camera system for generating digital image data representative of a captured image. A non-volatile memory is provided in communication with the electronic digital camera system for storing the digital image data. The non-volatile memory component includes a memory matrix component, the matrix memory component including a first layer of parallel conductors, a second layer of parallel conductors oriented mutually orthogonal to the first set of parallel conductors, and a functional medium disposed between the first layer and the second layer. An addressable cell in the functional medium is defined at an intersection of each first layer parallel conductor and second layer parallel conductor.

Abstract: An integrated noise reduction circuit for a charge coupled imaging device having a floating diffusion type amplifier which converts signal electric charges obtained by photoelectric conversion into a voltage signal. The noise reduction circuit has a biasing circuit which is coupled to an input terminal for receiving an output signal of the charge coupled imaging device via a coupling capacitor and which supplies a predetermined bias potential to the first input terminal, a clamping circuit which clamps each of reset potential output portions of a signal that is supplied from the biasing circuit via a clamping capacitor and that has the predetermined bias potential applied by the biasing circuit to a predetermined reference potential, and a sample and hold circuit which samples and holds signal potential output portions of a signal outputted from the clamping circuit by using sampling pulses.