Abstract: A solid-state image-pickup device signal processing apparatus includes a solid-state image-pickup device, an amplifier for amplifying an output signal of the solid-state image-pickup device, an A/D conversion circuit for converting an analog output signal of the amplifier to a digital signal, a digital correlated double sampling circuit for removing noises, and a device for supplying an optional-value direct current signal to a video signal portion of a digital output signal of the A/D conversion circuit. The digital correlated double sampling circuit subtracts a field-through portion of the digital output signal from the video signal portion including the optional-value direct current signal added thereto so that the optional-value direct current signal remains after subtracting the field-through portion from the video signal portion including the optional-value direct current signal when the solid-state image-pickup device image-picks up a dark space.

Abstract: According to the invention, rotating cylinders (1) are provided in at least two locations. Stripes (3) comprising light emitting elements and stripes (2) comprising a recording system resembling a scanner strip are mounted on the rotating cylinders (1) such that the surroundings of one cylinder can be represented on the other cylinder, visual contact being possible. The inventive system can also be configured in a planar manner, e.g. on a revolving band or a plate that is moved back and forth. Said system can also be configured for three-dimensional representation.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided for reducing noise which is derived from random noise contained in a correction signal used for correcting an image data and is newly generated on correction of the image data. The imaging apparatus drives vertical transfer registers with no signal charge from photoelectric transducers read out to the vertical transfer registers to obtain and store a correction signal into a field memory. The apparatus subtracts the correction signal from the image data by a subtractor.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for processing a three-dimensional (3D) video signal which corrects first and second video signals to prevent a reduction in a 3D effect and a disparity estimation error due to a difference between the first and second video signals. The method includes: a video signal detection unit detecting a difference between respective characteristics of received first and second video signals; and a video signal correction unit correcting the first video signal or the second video signal to equalize the characteristics of the first and second video signals. When the apparatus and the method are used, a reduction in the 3D effect and the disparity estimation error due to the difference between the first and second video signals can be prevented.

Abstract: On the basis of an image taken by a right image taking unit and/or an image taken by a left image taking unit, an imaging parameter common to the right and left image taking units is calculated. The calculated imaging parameter is set in the right and left image taking units.

Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus is disclosed which has a small size while it is capable of driving its image-pickup optical system in at least one of tilting and panning directions. The image-pickup apparatus includes an image-pickup unit which houses an image-pickup optical system and an image-pickup element that photoelectrically coverts an object image formed by the image-pickup optical system thereinside, a support member which rotatably supports the image-pickup unit, and an actuator which is housed inside the image-pickup unit and rotationally drives the image-pickup unit relative to the support member.

Abstract: An image processor for lowering data transfer speed. A JPEG compression circuit performs two-dimensional compression process on data output from a YCbCr conversion circuit to generate compressed image data. A timing signal generator changes the frequency of a transfer clock signal in accordance with the compressed image data. An output circuit outputs the compressed image data in accordance with the transfer clock signal.

Abstract: An optical mouse and image capture chip thereof. The image capture chip comprises an image sensor, a calculating logic circuit, and a refreshing logic circuit. The image sensor has a plurality of sensor units, capturing an image according to an exposure parameter to provide a plurality of exposure values. The calculating logic circuit provides an average exposure value by calculating the exposure values. If the exposure sample is within a first exposure range, the refreshing logic circuit maintains the exposure parameter and accordingly drives the image sensor to capture a next image. If the average exposure value is within a second exposure range, the refreshing logic circuit adjusts the exposure parameter with a first exposure extreme and accordingly drives the image sensor to capture a next image.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device which can, in response to the problem of black-crush occurring in an image when strong light is enters the device, positively detect black-crush in a state in which a variance margin has been secured.

Abstract: In a solid-state imaging device, bus lines are provided at both sides of an imaging area vertically to send vertical-transfer clock pulses to shunt wires disposed on or over the imaging area at both ends of the signal lines of the shunt wires. Bus lines disposed closer to a horizontal transfer register are placed at a boundary area of the imaging area and the horizontal transfer register. Since the bus lines pass through an upper layer of the boundary area, imaging performed by light receiving elements is not performed but dummy pixels having almost the same structure as the light receiving sections are disposed and vertical transfer registers are provided in the boundary area to just transfer signal charges by the vertical transfer registers with a characteristic similar to that in the imaging area to the horizontal transfer register.

Abstract: An intended-usage judger judges an intended usage of an inputted digital imaging signal. A selector selects one or a plurality of signals to be inspected from a group of signals constituting the digital imaging signal based on a result of the judgment by the intended-usage judger. A phase adjuster adjusts a phase of a pulse used when the digital imaging signal is picked up based on an output state of the signal to be inspected.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system that allows for the identification of defective pixels, for example, defective pixel clusters, in an imager device. The method, apparatus and system determine, during use of the imager device, that a pixel defect, e.g., cluster defect, exists and accurately maps the location of the defective pixel. By analyzing more than one frame of an image, the method increases the accuracy of the defect mapping, which is used to improve the quality of the resulting image data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a feedback unit configured to perform first nonlinear conversion of a signal obtained by subtracting a value of a subtraction image signal from that of a current-frame image signal, and to obtain the next subtraction signal by subtracting a signal obtained by performing the first nonlinearly conversion from the current-frame image signal, and a noise reduction unit configured to perform second nonlinear conversion of a signal obtained by subtracting a value of the subtraction image signal from that of the current-frame image signal, and to obtain an output image signal by subtracting a signal obtained by performing the second nonlinear from the current-frame image signal.

Abstract: In a camera device having a function for converting an image formed by a lens and captured by an imaging element into image data and correcting distortion of the image data caused by distortion aberration of the lens, the camera device includes a first storage unit for storing first distortion correction parameters for correcting the distortion of the image data in a first state, a second storage unit for storing second distortion correction parameters for correcting the distortion of the image data in a second state, and a distortion-correction-parameter interpolator for generating distortion correction parameters through interpolation when transition of the image data from the first state to the second state is performed. The distortion correction parameters indicate states of the image data during the transition of the image data and correct the distortion of the image data caused by the distortion aberration of the lens.

Abstract: An image pickup device that picks up an image of an object with an image pickup element, consisting of: a lens connecting portion that connects an interchangeable lens that can be attached and detached; a lens distinguishing portion that distinguishes the type of the interchangeable lens that is connected to the lens connecting portion; a plurality of optical filters that are capable of being disposed to the optical rear side of the interchangeable lens in the image pickup optical path when picking up an image of an object on an image pickup element with the interchangeable lens; and a moving portion that moves at least any of the plurality of optical filters to a position that corresponds to the type of the interchangeable lens that the lens distinguishing portion has distinguished.

Abstract: A desktop electronic magnifier in a first embodiment includes a monitor and a control panel mounted to the monitor so that access to the control panel cannot be blocked by any position of the monitor. In a second embodiment, a monitor is positioned atop a flat platform that surmounts the camera so that access to the control panel cannot be blocked by any position of the monitor. In a third embodiment, the control panel is mounted to the camera and the monitor is supported by a support surface independent of the magnifier. Access to the control panel is blocked only if the user positions the monitor in blocking relation to the control panel.

Abstract: A switch for changing the mode of a device main body accompanied with the rotation of an image capture unit and an operation section provided in the device main body and performing inputting or outputting operations of the external information are included, and the external information outputting unit and the operation section change a plurality of modes controlled according to the mode change of the device main body by the switch.

Abstract: An autofocus searching method includes the following procedures. First, focus values of images, which are acquired during the movement of the object lens, are calculated, in which the focus value includes at least the intensity value of the image derived from the intensities of the pixels of the image. Next, focus searching is based on a first focus-searching step constant and a first focus-searching direction, in which the first focus-searching step constant is a function, e.g., the multiplication, of the focus value and a focus-searching step size. If the focus searching position moves across a peak of the focus values, it is then amended to be based on a second focus-searching direction and a second focus-searching step constant, in which the second focus-searching step constant is smaller than the first focus-searching step constant, and the second focus-searching direction is opposite to the first focus-searching direction.

Abstract: When a release button is pressed in the image adding mode and flash-on mode, a system control section instructs a timing generation section to continuously supply a timing signal to an imaging section, thereby causing the imaging section to perform high speed continuous shooting. A flash is caused to emit light in sync with taking the last one of images taken by the continuous shooting such that the amount of the emitted light results in underexposure for one image. The continuous images taken by the imaging section are sequentially output via a preprocessing section to a blurring correction section where the taken images are superimposed upon each other to obtain an image of appropriate exposure in which blurring has been corrected.

Abstract: An image apparatus, including: a recording unit configured to record therein as an image file an image data generated through conversion from an optical image representing a photographed subject into an electrical signal; an interface for connecting the imaging apparatus to an external device; and a displaying unit configured to display an operation screen according to information about a capability processable by the external device transmitted from the external device.