Abstract: A semiconductor element comprises: two-dimensionally aligned pixels with a plurality of photoelectric conversion portions that photoelectrically converts incident light into a signal charge; a plurality of vertical transfer paths to which the signal charges are transferred from said plurality of photoelectric conversion portions; and read gates that amplify the signal charges read from the photoelectric conversion portions to transfer to said plurality of vertical transfer paths; wherein two or more of the read gates are formed for each of said plurality of photoelectric conversion portions, and amplification factors of the two or more of the read gates differ from each other.

Abstract: A digital camera 40 transmits to a printer 20 a command for transmitting RAW format compatibility information which is information of a RAW file format directly printable by the printer 20. Upon receipt of the RAW format compatibility information from the printer 20, the digital camera 40 determines, on the basis of the received RAW format compatibility information and the format of a RAW file stored in a flash memory 46 thereof, whether the RAW file can be directly printed by the printer 20. If the RAW file can be directly printed, the digital camera 40 transmits the RAW file to the printer 20. If the RAW file cannot be directly printed, the digital camera 40 transmits to the printer 20 the RAW file and a development enabling parameter which enables analysis of RAW data included in the RAW file as image data. The printer 20 prints the RAW file with the use of the development enabling parameter.

Abstract: An image correction apparatus comprises a sample image memory configured to store sample images corresponding to types of objects, a display unit configured to display the sample images stored in the sample image memory unit to make a user select one of the sample images, and a corrector configured to correct an image read from a storage based on a type of a sample image selected by the user.

Abstract: An imaging device including: an imaging element which comprises a plurality of pixels capable of switching between a linear conversion operation for linearly converting incident light into an electric signal and a logarithmic conversion operation for logarithmically converting the incident light into an electric signal, according to an incident light quantity; a monitor to display an image obtained by the imaging element; an operation section which is operated for specifying an arbitrary area of the image displayed on the monitor; and an inflection point changing section which evaluates an output signal of the imaging element in the specified area, and changes the inflection point which is a boundary between a linear region and a logarithmic region in the output signal of the imaging element, based on an evaluation result of the output signal.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus has a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix-like layout and containing photoelectric conversion devices reads signals in units of one line or a plurality of lines and is provide with an image sensing device 14 adapted to read a signal from a given block area. The apparatus has a flash read mode that, during flash operation, adjusts parameters relating to the readout of the image sensing device 14 so as to produce the same exposure period for all the plurality of lines that comprise a predetermined block area of the image sensing device 14, thus enabling accurate quantity of light detection even when performing strobe photography at high shutter speeds.

Abstract: An image storage system effectively stores image data captured by an image capture device in a plurality of image storage devices. Each of the image storage devices includes a storage unit for storing image data. An image storage device performing as a master among the image storage devices includes an image reception unit for receiving the image data captured by the image capture device. A storage unit provided in each of the image storage devices distributes the image data received by the image reception unit provided in the image storage device performing as the master to the respective image storage devices so as to be stored there.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope has a light source that radiates illuminating light, a movie-image processor, a still-image processor, an image-change processor, and provisional image displayer. The still-image processor that alternately reads odd-line image-pixel signals and even-line image-pixel signals over two field interval to generate a still image on the basis of one frame worth of image-pixel signals generated by a one-time still image exposure. The illuminating light being blocked for a latter filed interval in the two field interval. The image change processor switches between a performance of the movie-image processor for displaying the movie-image and a performance of the still-image processor for displaying the still-image.

Abstract: An image pickup device and an image recording apparatus are provided, each of which includes: a first selecting unit that selects an operational mode based on at least one of an image size and a frame rate; and a second selecting unit that selects, in accordance with the operational mode, at least one functional unit from a plurality of functional units, each of which is adapted to perform a function to process an image signal, so as to enable the at least one functional unit to actually perform the function.

Abstract: A charge-coupled device image sensor includes (a) a two-dimensional array of pixels having a plurality of rows and columns, the two-dimensional array includes: (i) a plurality of gates arranged as a charge-coupled device; wherein the array further includes a plurality of charge-coupled devices that are arranged to be clocked by one or more common timing signals; (ii) a transition region, electrically connected to the array, having a first and second row of gates in which the second row is electrically mated into a plurality of first and second pairs of gates in which first pairs of gates are clocked by a first common timing signal and second pairs of gates are clocked by a second common timing signal; wherein the first row of gates are all clocked with a third common timing signal; and (b) a horizontal shift register adjacent the second row of gates for receiving charge from the second row of gates.

Abstract: A focus detecting apparatus includes a splitter for splitting a light from an image pickup lens to form at least a pair of images, a photoelectric conversion element for photoelectrically converting at least the pair of images, the focus detecting apparatus detecting a focusing status of the image pickup lens based on a signal from the photoelectric conversion element, and a light blocking mask for blocking the light from entering the photoelectric conversion element, the light blocking mask having a curve shape in a moving direction of the image that varies according to an image height.

Abstract: A CMOS color image sensor, which is a solid-state image pickup device, includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix having a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, each of the plurality of pixels converting the incident light intensity into an electrical signal; a pixel array including the plurality of pixels; row-selection lines; and column-reading lines. Two column-reading lines are provided for each column of the pixel array. Pixels in even rows of each column are connected to one column-reading line and pixels in odd rows of each column are connected to the other column-reading line.

Abstract: Provided is a camera module that includes: an image sensing device; a first signal transmitting element on which there are formed a device coupling portion that is coupled to the image sensing device, and an external coupling portion that extends from one end of the device coupling portion to protrude from the image sensing device and is coupled to an external substrate; an auto-focus (AF) module including: an AF device, and a second signal transmitting element coupled to the first signal transmitting element to electrically connect the AF device and the external substrate; a lens module including a plurality of lens which focuses light onto the image sensing device; and a coupling element that couples the first and second signal transmitting elements so that they are electrically connected.

Abstract: A dual-purpose camera cap functions as a camera lens protector and a white balance filter. The camera cap includes a camera cap body having a locking mechanism or a flexible member to engage with or fitted over a camera lens housing. The camera cap body also includes a ring-shaped area to be placed in front of a camera lens to partially cover the camera lens. The ring-shaped area defines a center cut-out region. A translucent piece is fitted into the center cut-out area of the camera cap body to protect the camera lens and provide the white balance filtering function.

Abstract: An image capturing system includes a first camera, a second camera and a first rotating device. The first camera is configured to capture a first image. The second camera is configured to capture a second image whose scope is narrower than a scope of the first image. The first rotating device connects the first camera and the second camera. The first rotating device is configured to rotate the first camera and the second camera around a first rotational axis which is on the first rotating device.

Abstract: A rotatable camera has a lens unit comprising a photographing head and an oblique driving shaft arranged in oblique position with the photographing head, a bearing support for pivotally mounting the photographing head inside, a motor and a driving gear set driven by the motor to in turn drive the oblique driving shaft to generate rotating motion, when the oblique shaft is in rotating motion, the photographing head of the lens unit immediately rotates and changes the angle of photographing so that the rotatable camera employs only a single motor to drive the photographing head of the lens unit to rapidly move to the direction to be monitored, particularly, due to no time delay any corners shall be monitored by the rotatable camera.

Abstract: A monitor control apparatus is provided in an optical device, such as a digital camera. A brightness control processor controls a brightness of a monitor of the optical device. A detecting processor detects an amount of change of an image sensed by an imaging sensor mounted in the optical device. The brightness control processor has an economy mode, in which the brightness is decreased when the amount of change is greater than a threshold value.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an access unit, a setting unit and an image generation unit. The access unit accesses RAW data representing a tone level of one channel for each pixel and attribute data attached to the RAW data. The setting unit sets generation condition to generate an image from the RAW data. The image generation unit generates an output image from the RAW data on the basis of the generation condition, attaches attaching the attribute data to the output image for an item of which generation condition matches the attribute data, and attaches the attribute data to the output image for an item of which generation condition does not match the attribute data.

Abstract: An imaging device according to the present invention includes a registration unit, an imaging unit, a searching unit, and a color adjustment unit. The registration unit registers a reference subject. The imaging unit shoots a subject and outputs image data. The searching unit searches a specific area matching with the reference subject from an image area of the image data. The color adjustment unit performs color adjustment such that color information of the specific area approximates to the color information of the registered reference subject.

Abstract: A CMOS image sensor having two ASPs can reduce increasing design difficulty as arising from a pixel array becoming larger and larger. The image sensor includes a selection circuit for transmitting outputs of CDS circuits through four divided buses to reduce parasitic loading and achieve high-speed operation. Then, the selecting circuit transmits red and blue pixels to a first ASP, and transmits green pixels to a second ASP, so as to relax the specification requirements of the ASP.

Abstract: A rotatable camera has a motor, a lens unit comprising a photographing head and a driving rod coupled to the photographing head, a spherical bearing support for pivotally mounting the photographing head, and a rotatable disc driven in rotation motion by the motor to drive the driving rod of the lens unit move along a spiral shaped locus, and, when the motor is driven, the photographing head is at the same time driven by the driving rod to rotate and change its angular position, so that the rotatable camera employs only a single motor to drive the photographing head of the lens unit to rapidly move to the direction to be monitored, particularly, due to no time delay any corners shall be monitored by the rotatable camera.