Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a robotic surgical system includes a master control console having a stereo viewer to view stereo images; a surgical manipulator having a stereo endoscopic camera coupled to a robotic arm to generate the stereo images of a surgical site; a stereo telestration device coupled between the stereo endoscopic camera and the stereo viewer to mix telestration graphics and the stereo images of the surgical site together for viewing by the stereo viewer; and a telestration generator coupled to the stereo telestration device to generate the telestration graphics for overlay on the stereo images of the surgical site.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes: an image pickup device in which photoelectric conversion elements corresponding to color components are arranged in a predetermined pattern; an acquisition unit that successively acquires a plurality of images by using the image pickup device; a detector that detects a positional deviation among the plurality of images; and a synthesis unit that compensates the positional deviation to synthesize the plurality of images by addition, wherein the synthesis unit adds the plurality of images in a state where the images have the same color layout as that of the photoelectric conversion elements in the image pickup device.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus and method is provided to generate a moving picture with a high resolution, a high frame rate and a high SNR by eliminating a decrease in SNR even if the intensity of incoming light has been halved by a half mirror. The apparatus generates a multi-color moving picture based on first and second moving pictures, which respectively have first and second frame rates (where the second rate is higher than the first rate) and are comprised of pictures representing a first color component and pictures representing a second color component different from the first color component. The resolution of the second moving picture is equal to or lower than that of the first moving picture.

Abstract: The present invention provides synchronization and control between the wavelength of a multi-wavelength illuminator and the image frames acquired by a video camera. In accordance with the present invention, the trailing edge of a camera expose-signal triggers a pre-loaded digital value to be output from a FIFO buffer. The digital value selects a particular illumination wavelength either directly or through a voltage from a digital to analog converter. The FIFO may be periodically refilled, or it may be a circular register.

Abstract: A pixel circuit having a shared control line for providing two control signals to the pixel array. One control line is used to provide a control signal to both a high dynamic range circuit and a dual conversion gain circuit to two pixel circuits. The pixel circuits each contain two pixel cells that have separate photo-conversion devices but share readout circuitry.

Abstract: An image noise reduction method based on an optimal primary-color signal is suitable for a digital camera to reduce noises in a digital image. The image noise reduction method mainly includes the following steps, taking out primary-color signals of a digital image, including taking out high-frequency and low-frequency signals of the optimal primary-color signal and high-frequency and low-frequency signals of the worst primary-color signal by using a high-pass filter and a low-pass filter; next, mixing the high-frequency signal of the optimal primary-color signal with that of the worst primary-color signal, and superposing the mixed signal to the low-frequency signal of the worst primary-color signal, so as to get a digital image signal after noise reduction.

Abstract: The present invention provides optical systems, devices and methods which utilize one or more electroactive polymer actuators to stabilize the image produced by the device or system.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes two subsets of photosensors, the two subsets being interleaved along a linear array. Each photosensor is connectable, by the operation of a shift register, to a reference line and a signal line, to permit double-sampling of signals therefrom. Each subset of photosensors is associated with its own reference line and signal line, and signals from the two subsets of photosensors can be read out largely simultaneously.

Abstract: A video recorder which can be mounted on a surface, such as a windshield, on a vehicle, such as an automobile, for creating and recording images in response to a triggering event, such as a sudden deceleration, includes a housing which can be fixedly mounted onto the surface of the vehicle and a printed circuit board mounted inside the housing for rotational movement freely about its longitudinal axis. A camera is fixedly mounted onto the printed circuit board at right angles thereto. An inertia switch also mounted on the printed circuit board activates the camera for a predetermined time period when deceleration of a predetermined value is sensed.

Abstract: A digital video camera may include a digital video image sensor for capturing digital video footage to be stored on an internal memory. The digital video image sensor and internal memory may be housed in a camera body. A retractable arm having a data connector may be attached to the camera body. The arm can be extended from and retracted into the camera body, while the data connector can be used to transfer digital video footage to an external device, such as a computer. The data connector may conform to a standard for connecting peripheral devices, such as the Universal Serial Bus (USB) standard or the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 1394 (IEEE 1394) standard.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus using a solid image pickup device includes a manual focus adjusting unit configured to control the position of a focus lens in response to a user's input operation; an edge detecting unit configured to detect edge components of each pixel from an image signal obtained by image pickup and to output detection levels of the detected edge components; a color signal replacement unit configured to replace a signal of a pixel corresponding to the detection level or signals of pixels in a predetermined range containing the corresponding pixel on the image signal with a predetermined color signal when the detection level is equal to or higher than a predetermined value; and a display unit configured to display an image based on an output image signal from the color signal replacement unit.

Abstract: A imaging device includes an imaging element; a memory unit configured to temporarily store pieces of image data captured individually at predetermined timings via the imaging element; a comparator configured to compare the image data recorded in the memory unit to detect whether an image change greater than or equal to a first threshold has occurred; a determining unit configured to determine whether the image change has converged to an amount less than or equal to a second threshold by comparing the image data recorded in the memory unit when an image change greater than or equal to the first threshold has been detected; and a controller configured to exercise control so that image data captured via the imaging element is recorded on a predetermined recording medium when it is determined that the image change has converged to an amount less than or equal to the second threshold.

Abstract: A control method for an imaging apparatus includes photoelectrically converting a photographic subject image formed by an imaging optical system, repetitively detecting a photographic subject region based on a signal obtained from the photoelectric conversion applied to the photographic subject image, storing photographic subject information of the detected photographic subject region, acquiring the stored photographic subject information, reading, from the stored photographic subject information, photographic subject information corresponding to a point in time when an operation for reading the photographic subject information is performed, and setting an imaging parameter based on the read photographic subject information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a distortion corrected video signal. A camera is directed toward a test pattern for producing a raw video signal. An image processor is operatively connected to the camera for receiving the raw video signal. The image processor is operable to capture at least one calibration image of the test pattern using the raw video signal from the camera, analyze the at least one calibration image to provide a calibration data table, and store the calibration data table within the image processor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing a blemish repair tool for digital photographs in a camera are disclosed. An exemplary method of repairing a blemish in a digital image on a camera may comprise selecting at least one candidate region including a blemish in the digital image. The method may also comprise cloning pixel values for repairing the blemish. The method may also comprise overlaying the cloned pixel values on the candidate region of the digital image.

Abstract: An electronic camera and method of operating an electronic camera which detects whether an external device such as a personal computer is properly connected to the camera and in a state which permits communication. The camera monitors a data terminal ready (DTR) signal of an RS-232 connection in order to determine that the external device is properly connected and in a state which permits communication. Once the proper connection is detected, the camera can either transmit or receive images and/or audio from the external device. Accordingly, a specific switch which places the camera in a communication mode can be eliminated. Further, a single switch may be utilized for both controlling whether the camera records or plays images when there is no device connected, and which controls whether the camera transmits or receives images and/or audio when an external device is determined to be connected.

Abstract: An imaging system having an imaging device for producing images of objects and picture signals and an imaging controller connected to the imaging device through a transmission line. The imaging device includes a vertical synchronizing signal-producing circuit to produce an internal vertical synchronizing signal for the production of images of objects. The imaging controller includes a delay-measuring circuit and a vertical-synchronization phase-advancing circuit. In the system, the imaging controller transmits a test signal to the imaging device and receives the test signal returned from the imaging device. The delay-measuring circuit measures a delay of a phase of the returned test signal relative to a phase of the transmitted test signal. The vertical-synchronization phase-advancing circuit then advances a phase of an external vertical synchronizing signal by the delay and transmits the external vertical synchronizing signal to the imaging device.

Abstract: An image processing system may include an imaging device for capturing an image and an image processing apparatus for processing the image. The imaging device may include an imaging unit for capturing the image, a first recording unit for recording information relating to the image, the information being associated with the image, and a first transmission control unit for controlling transmission of the image to the image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus may include a reception control unit for controlling reception of the image transmitted from the imaging device, a feature extracting unit for extracting a feature of the received image, a second recording unit for recording the feature, extracted from the image, the feature being associated with the image, and a second transmission control unit for controlling transmission of the feature to the imaging device.

Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus is disclosed onto which an accessory device is detachably attached and which is capable of recognizing that an output from a light-receiving sensor is influenced by an attachment of the accessory device. The image-pickup apparatus includes a first detector which is capable of outputting a signal corresponding to an object distance. The apparatus further includes a determining device which determines an attachment of the accessory device onto the image-pickup apparatus on the basis of a predetermined signal output from the first detector.

Abstract: An image capturing element having an electric shutter function of controlling exposure time for each frame includes: a photoelectric converter that has a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a matrix each of which converts light into charge and stores the converted charge; a first reading unit that reads charge exposed for a predetermined exposure time from each pixel formed by the photoelectric conversion element in the entire exposure region of the photoelectric converter by a destructive readout method; and a second reading unit that reads charge from each pixel formed by the photoelectric conversion element in a specific region, which is a portion of the entire exposure region of the photoelectric converter, plural times by a non-destructive readout method in a period in which the first reading unit reads the charge from the entire exposure region.