Abstract: CCD data is compressed by compression means and stored in a raw image data buffer (step 10). Then, the compressed data is expanded by expansion means, so that pixel data thereof is sequentially output to an RPU (step 11). The RPU executes real-time image processing on the pixel data, so that the processed data is stored in a processed data buffer in units of frames. Then, a CPU reads an image from the processed data buffer at a proper timing and performs software processing such as high-efficiency coding through a temporary storage data buffer, for storing and preserving the processed data in a storage medium (step 12). Thus provided is an image processing circuit capable of reducing the scale of buffer areas in a memory for remarkably reducing the cost for the memory as well as power consumption.

Abstract: A method detects activity within a fixed view by comparing first and second images. The first and second images respectively include a plurality of blocks, and each of the blocks having a plurality of pixels. The method including: calculating an average value A for each block of the second image, each of the average values A is equal to an average of differences between pixels of one of the blocks of the second image and pixels of a corresponding block of the first image; calculating a mean difference B between average pixel values of the first and second images; calculating a difference V between average value A and mean difference B for each block of the second image, and selecting blocks of the second image that have corresponding differences V greater than a threshold value; and determining whether there is any object moving within the fixed view according to the selected blocks.

Abstract: Conventionally, it is difficult to design the logic of a Gray code counter that can be used in interlaced counting. Even though interlaced counting is possible with a Gray code counter, the number of simultaneously changing bits increases greatly depending on the number of counts skipped at a time. To overcome these problems, a Gray code counter according to the present invention has a consecutively counting Gray code counter that counts in increments or decrements of one, and an output value converter circuit that converts the Gray code data output from the consecutively counting Gray code counter into a Gray code corresponding to decimal counts as obtained by counting with (2 raised to a particular power minus 1) counts skipped at a time.

Abstract: An image browsing user interface provides convenient viewing of both individual images and groups of images. The user interface provides a convenient way to view both individual images and a preferred image from each group of images. The individual and preferred images may be uploaded to an external device or selectively processed by the external device.

Abstract: A CMOS DPS image sensor architecture for improving SNR and dynamic range is presented. The CMOS DPS architecture includes self-reset digital pixels capable of collecting more charge than the physical well capacity. A method for improving SNR without reducing dynamic range in a CMOS video sensor system under low illumination is described, wherein the CMOS video sensor system employing self-reset DPS architecture includes pixel level A/D conversion and wherein each DPS pixels is capable of resetting itself whenever a corresponding diode reaches saturation during integration time.

Abstract: This invention provides a surveillance camera unit that is suited for secure placement in an upper corner of a room, abutting two walls and a ceiling, allowing the day or night surveillance of an entire room with a field of view that captures the scene of the entire floor and all four walls, under bright light conditions and under no-light. The upper corner placement is ideal for minimizing the risk of an observed person grabbing onto the unit or tying something to it, either for purposes of destroying himself, the unit, or the surveillance camera equipment within the unit. The unit is substantially a truncated tetrahedron, with each of the four corners truncated and sealed. A back angle of a few degrees greater than perpendicular of each of the rear walls with respect to each of the other walls of the unit allows it to be mounted snugly within a corner even where the angles of the walls of the room are not square angles.

Abstract: A method for determining if there is a temperature dependent hopping pixel defect in an image sensor, including the steps of providing an image sensor in a heated environment having a temperature selected such that hopping pixel defects can be detected; and operating the image sensor and analyzing the output of the pixels of the image sensor to determine if there are hopping pixel defects.

Abstract: A ranking-based automatic dark compensation circuit for efficiently estimating dark level in a CCD or CMOS image sensor. The ranking circuit comprises of k staggered comparators, each comparator having an associated temporary result register. Each comparator having two inputs, with the first input coupled to an output of the previous stage comparator and the second input coupled to its associated temporary result register. The temporary results are initialized to the largest possible dark value. At each stage, a comparison is made of a new input sample to a stored value of the temporary register. If the new sample is greater than the value of the associated temporary register, the value in temporary register is not changed and the new sample is passed to the next comparator. Conversely, if the new sample is smaller, then that new sample is stored into the temporary register, while the original temporary result is passed to the next comparator.

Abstract: A still camera utilizes a focus evaluation value based on an imaging video signal to execute an autofocus operation by a hill-climbing control method. A CPU divides a focus area into a plurality of regions to obtain a focus evaluation value from a digital integrator for each of the regions. When the autofocus operation is restarted from the state of a monitoring mode in accordance with a variation of the focus evaluation value, the CPU detects a further hill of the focus evaluation value while forcibly moving a focus lens position always toward a near side, and when a maximal value of the once detected focus evaluation value is less than a certain standard value, additionally executes the autofocus operation.