Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes an operation member which can be rotated and operated in two directions from a neutral position, a holding member configured to rotatably hold the operation member, a rotation limiting member configured to limit a rotational range of the operation member by abutting the operation member, an elastic member having a first portion which is fixed to the holding member and a second portion which engages with a part of the operation member and configured to elastically deform by rotating the operation member from the neutral position, and an abutment member configured to abut the second portion of the elastic member before the rotation limiting member limits the rotational range of the operation member.

Abstract: A circuit board is arranged on an end face of a lens barrel on a lens mount side and installed with an electronic circuit device, a plurality of connection terminals which are arranged in an electrically insulating state in the lens mount and serve to connect the electronic circuit device on the circuit board with an electronic circuit device inside a camera body, and a wiring member is for connecting the plurality of connection terminals with the circuit board, where the wiring member is provided with a ground connection section which is connected to a ground pattern of the circuit board and also electrically connected to a connection terminal that is to be a ground terminal among the plurality of connection terminals, and an extended wiring pattern is for electrically grounding the ground connection section on a metal portion of the lens mount.

Abstract: A switcher control device includes: a superimposition determining unit that determines whether a superimposition image is superimposed on an image taken by a camera based on angle information and zoom value information about the camera in selecting a camera image when an effects switcher selects the image taken by the camera as a background image; and a switcher instructing unit that instructs the effects switcher to superimpose the superimposition image based on a determined result of the superimposition determining unit.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing apparatus including a first storage unit for storing a first correction data for correcting a defective pixel signal outputted from a defective pixel of an image sensor, a detecting unit for detecting a defective pixel signal outputted from a defective pixel of the image sensor in accordance with a designation set by a user, a creating unit for creating a second correction data based on the defective pixel signal detected by the detecting unit, a determination unit for determining whether the second correction data is used with the first correction data, in accordance with a designation set by a user; and a correction unit for correcting a pixel signal output from the image sensor in accordance with a determination result of the determination unit.

Abstract: In a digital camera having a wireless communicator with a server, a storage controller treats full size image data and display size image data unequally if the full size image data has been already sent to the server. For example, the display size image data is not allowed to be replaced by new digital image data unless the digital camera is not in use over a prescribed time. Own image data and other's image data are treated equally. Image data received from outside and retrieved from inside memory are treated equally. Search key for own image data and related search keys existing in the outside are indicated in a comparable manner. The digital camera receives search key from neighboring advertiser to send it for Internet search of advertisement. Search key received from neighboring notable site is sent for Internet search of photographs of the notable site taken by others.

Abstract: An image stabilization system includes a fixed unit having a first receiving cavity therein, a movable unit received in the first receiving cavity, a pivot member located between the fixed unit and the movable unit, a magnetic motion sensor, and a magnetic driving module. The pivot member is received in and between the fixed unit and the movable unit. The magnetic motion sensor is disposed on the fixed unit for detecting a movement of the image stabilization system. The magnetic driving module is configured for rotating the movable unit around the pivot member to compensate for movement of the image stabilization system based on the motion detection result of the motion sensor.

Abstract: A camera system includes a camera assembly and a base. A mounting assembly rotatably mounts the camera assembly on the base. The camera assembly is rotatable through a range of 360 degrees relative to the base about an axis of rotation. The mounting assembly provides electrical communication between the camera assembly and the base. A first emitter and a first detector wirelessly communicate signals therebetween. One of the first emitter and the first detector is mounted on the camera assembly and the other of the first emitter and the first detector is mounted on the base. A second emitter and a second detector wirelessly communicate signals therebetween. One of the second emitter and the second detector is mounted on the camera assembly and the other of the second emitter and the second detector is mounted on the base.

Abstract: An image sensor includes multiple output channels, a non-destructive charge sensing output channel having an associated gain value of G1 and a charge multiplying output channel having an associated gain value G3. The image sensor can also include a charge bypass output channel having an associated gain value G2. For each charge packet, a pixel signal produced by either the charge sensing output channel, the charge multiplying output channel or the charge bypass output channel is selected. If the pixel signal produced by the charge sensing output channel is selected, a gain factor (G3/G1) is applied to each pixel signal selected from the charge bypass output channel. If the pixel signal produced by the charge bypass output channel is selected, a gain factor (G3/G2) is applied to each pixel signal selected from the charge bypass output channel. The pixel signals are combined to produce an image.

Abstract: A digital still camera has a cylindrical image pick up portion with a lens, a strobe unit, and a display. The image pick up unit is cylindrical and is rotatably held at each end, so that the lens and strobe unit move in concert. The image pick up unit can be rotated to face the rear of the camera, where the display is located, so that the user can do self-images.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus enabling use of a light source emitting a spectrum of light not following characteristics of a blackbody source of light with a camera module programmed for use with light sources following characteristics of blackbody sources of light, wherein a white-balance patch is transmitted to the camera module to cause the camera module to accept color coordinates representing a point on a chromaticity chart that partly defines a region of color coordinates on the chromaticity chart into which color coordinates of the light source fall and to which color coordinates of a reference white color derived by a white-balance routine of the camera module are constrained.

Abstract: Various techniques are provided for processing image data acquired using a digital image sensor. In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, one such technique may relate to the processing of image data in a system that supports multiple image sensors. In one embodiment, the image processing system may include control circuitry configured to determine whether a device is operating in a single sensor mode (one active sensor) or a dual sensor mode (two active sensors). When operating in the single sensor mode, data may be provided directly to a front-end pixel processing unit from the sensor interface of the active sensor. When operating in a dual sensor mode, the image frames from the first and second sensors are provided to the front-end pixel processing unit in an interleaved manner. For instance, in one embodiment, the image frames from the first and second sensors are written to a memory, and then read out to the front-end pixel processing unit in an interleaved manner.

Abstract: Charge packets are transferred from a pixel array in an image sensor to a horizontal shift register. Each charge packet is shifted to a non-destructive sense node. Each charge packet is non-destructively sensed and a signal representative of a number of charge carriers in the charge packet is produced. Respective charge packets are directed to a charge multiplying output channel when the signal representative of the number of charge carriers in each charge packet indicates the charge packet will not saturate the charge multiplying horizontal shift register. Respective charge packets are directed to a charge bypass output channel or an amplifier when the signal representative of the number of charge carriers in each charge packet indicates the charge packet will saturate the charge multiplying horizontal shift register.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an imaging device, a recognition device, a focus detector, a correcting device, and a selecting device. The imaging device is configured to capture an image formed by an imaging optics. The recognition device is configured to recognize a target object candidate in the image captured by the imaging device. The focus detector is configured to detect a focus adjustment state of the imaging optics. The correcting device is configured to obtain a magnification of an image of the target object candidate and configured to correct the magnification based on the focus adjustment state with respect to the target object candidate detected by the focus detector. The selecting device is configured to select a target object from the target object candidate based on the corrected magnification corrected by the correcting device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that facilitate employing a plurality of independent reset buses for a column of pixels in a pixel array of a CMOS sensor imager. Utilization of the plurality of independent reset buses for the column of pixels can enable independent reset to be effectuated when employing sub-frame integration. For example, rows to be read and reset during a given readout time interval can be selected based upon one or more criteria. Further, each of the rows selected during the given readout time interval can be associated with a respective distinct reset bus. By leveraging the plurality of independent reset buses, uniformity in pixel operation can be maintained whether operating in full frame integration mode or sub-frame integration mode. Thus, noise resultant from changing between integration modes can be mitigated by using the plurality of independent reset buses.

Abstract: An independent pixel output line (14) is provided for each of two-dimensionally arranged pixels (10) within a pixel area (2a). A plurality of memory sections are connected to each pixel output line (14). In a continuous reading mode, photocharge storage is simultaneously performed at all the pixels, and signals are collectively transferred from the pixels (10) through the pixel output lines (14) to the memory sections, after which the signals held in the memory sections are sequentially read and outputted. In a burst reading mode, the operations of simultaneously storing photocharges at all the pixels and collectively transferring signals from each pixel (10) through the pixel output line (14) to the memory sections are sequentially performed for each of the memory sections to hold signals corresponding to a plurality of frames.

Abstract: In a digital camera having a wireless communicator with a server, a storage controller treats full size image data and display size image data unequally if the full size image data has been already sent to the server. For example, the display size image data is not allowed to be replaced by new digital image data unless the digital camera is not in use over a prescribed time. Own image data and other's image data are treated equally. Image data received from outside and retrieved from inside memory are treated equally. Search key for own image data and related search keys existing in the outside are indicated in a comparable manner. The digital camera receives search key from neighboring advertiser to send it for Internet search of advertisement. Search key received from neighboring notable site is sent for Internet search of photographs of the notable site taken by others.

Abstract: A vibration control equalizer for generating a vibration signal for determining a driving amount for an optical component on the basis of an output signal of a vibration detector for detecting vibration of an imaging apparatus, a position control equalizer for calculating a position signal for determining a driving amount for the optical component on the basis of an output signal of a position detector for detecting position of the optical component, and an internal CPU for controlling the vibration control equalizer and the position control equalizer are provided, and compensation for the output signal of the position detector is performed by the internal CPU.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device is capable of simplifying the pixel structure to reduce the pixel size and capable of suppressing the variation in the characteristics between the pixels when a plurality of output systems is provided. A unit cell (30) includes two pixels (31) and (32). Upper and lower photoelectric converters (33) and (34), transfer transistors (35) and (36) connected to the upper and lower photoelectric converters, respectively, a reset transistor (37), and an amplifying transistor (38) form the two pixels (31) and (32). A full-face signal line 39 is connected to the respective drains of the reset transistor (37) and the amplifying transistor (38). Controlling the full-face signal line (39), along with transfer signal lines (42) and (43) and a reset signal line (41), to read out signals realizes the simplification of the wiring in the pixel, the reduction of the pixel size, and so on.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus that facilitates checking of the tilt thereof by changing a display position of a horizontal guide. A digital camera (image pickup apparatus) includes a tilt sensor for detecting a tilt of the camera. A system controller determines the display position of the horizontal guide based on the tilt of the camera detected by the tilt sensor such that it is displayed in an upper portion of the screen when an angle formed between the optical axis of the camera and a gravity direction is smaller than when the angle is equal to a predetermined angle. The system controller causes the horizontal guide to be displayed on the screen at the determined position, together with an image picked up by an image pickup device.

Abstract: A integrated camera module (10, 10a) for capturing video images in very small digital cameras, cell phones, personal digital assistants, and the like. A lens assembly (24, 24a) is rigidly affixed in relation to a sensor array area (14) of a camera chip (12) by a molding (26). The molding (26) is formed on the camera chip (12), and optionally on a printed circuit board (16, 16a) on which the camera chip (12) is mounted. The lens assembly (24, 24a) is held in place in a recess (29) of the molding (26) by an adhesive (28). The molding (26) is formed such that a precise gap (30) exists between the lens assembly (24) and a sensor array area (14) of the camera chip (12).