Abstract: A mounting board of a camera module of a mobile phone is screwed to an outer cover through cushions formed of rubber, sponge or the like. A solid state imaging device and an optical unit of the camera module are contained in an opening formed in the outer cover and do not contact the outer cover. The mounting board is connected to a main substrate through a flexible board. Accordingly, even if the mobile phone is dropped down, the camera module is prevented from breakage by the vibration or the shock applied to the mobile phone, because the vibration and the shock are not transmitted to the camera module directly.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to integrate and simplify a communication interface, and to attain a size reduction of a camera housing and a cost reduction. To accomplish this, a digital camera transfers a control signal that controls the operation of at least one strobe device, and an image signal output from an image sensing means via a single USB cable. Upon making an image sensing operation that requires strobe emission of the strobe device, transfer of the image signal is suspended, and a control signal for the strobe device is preferentially transferred.

Abstract: An image sensor includes the following: a sensor unit being made up of a plurality of pixels; a scanning circuit having a dynamic logic circuit which outputs selection signals that select pixels from among the plurality of pixels in the sensor unit; and a bootstrap circuit that is placed between the scanning circuit and the sensor unit. The bootstrap circuit holds the selection signal outputted from the scanning circuit during one horizontal scanning period, and outputs, to the sensor unit, an AND signal obtained by operating a logical AND between the held selection signal and a drive signal that specifies a timing to output the AND signal to the sensor unit.

Abstract: A video camera, building in a hard disk drive and an optical disk drive within the same housing, for dissolving a problem of increasing the temperature of hard disk drive due to heats generated within an inside of the main body thereof, comprises: an image pickup portion, which is configured to make photographing; a display portion 6, which is configured to display an image photographed; a hard disk drive 1 which is configured to record the image photographed therein; and an optical disk drive 9, which is configured to drive an optical disk being attached/detached, wherein the display portion 6, the optical disk drive 1, the hard disk 9 are disposed in that order, and the hard disk drive 1 is disposed on a cover portion to be opened when taking out the optical disk from the optical disk drive 9.

Abstract: Systems and methods for capturing images of opposing pages in a bound document at high speed using multiple cameras are disclosed. The system generally includes a cradle preferably tilted toward an operator for holding a bound document having two opposing sides, and two cameras each positioned to capture an image of a corresponding side, each camera having an image capture size approximately the size of each side. The cameras may be high definition and store images via direct high speed data communication interfaces, e.g., firewire. A controller and/or foot pedal may provide control of the cameras. The controller may control flashes to selectively light each side simultaneous with each camera capturing the image of the corresponding side. A positioner may position a light-absorbing page between opposing sides.

Abstract: At a controller 5, pixel values that a CCD 3 outputs are evaluated. On the basis of the evaluation result, exposure times with respect to a light receiving surface of the CCD 3 in a shutter 2 constituted with, e.g., DMD (Digital Micromirror Device), etc. are set in pixel units. Further, image pick-up of object is carried out by exposure times set in pixel units in that way. As a result, even in the case of object of high contrast, picture image of which detail is not injured can be obtained.

Abstract: When a photo album for an event such as a wedding ceremony is generated, images to be inserted in image insertion areas in a template can be selected easily. A professional photographer photographs a bride and groom on the wedding day and obtains a plurality of images. Characteristic quantities of scenes represented by the images are calculated, and the images are classified in image groups of respective scenes. The scenes, image groups and image insertion areas of the template for album are related to each other. An event bar is displayed on an editing screen. When a desired scene button is selected, a catalog of images of an image group corresponding to the scene represented by the selected scene button, and the image insertion areas of the template are displayed on the editing screen.

Abstract: In an image capturing system, such as a digital still camera, different types of color spaces are set, and, in response to one image-capturing instruction from a user, identification information identifying different types of color spaces is stored in a form associated with the image data, which is automatically input. Based on the identification information for the image data, the image data is displayed for each type of color space.

Abstract: An image pick-up element 1 is mounted on an element mounting part 7 formed with a member whose thermal conductivity is higher than that of an element storing part 3. Inputting and outputting pins 5 for electrically connecting the image pick-up element to a control circuit board 13 for controlling the image pick-up element are provided in a direction that does not interfere with the contact part of the element mounting part 7 and a heat absorbing mechanism 8. Thus, the thermal conductivity of the image pick-up element and the heat absorbing mechanism can be improved and the area of a heat absorbing part can be increased. As a result, the cooling capability of the element is increased so that the image pick-up element can be driven under a condition at higher speed than usual.

Abstract: An apparatus equipped with an electronic camera, lensed optics, and a visual display in communication with the optics. An analog or digital video signal is conveyed to an operator of the apparatus through the visual display. The apparatus includes an embedded processor to track the orientation and position of the apparatus. Orientation and position information of the apparatus is used to dynamically recalculate display information. In addition, the apparatus may be in communication with a remote device having digital camera optics. Orientation and position information of the apparatus may be conveyed to the remote device to alter the orientation and position of the associated electronic camera optics. Accordingly, data conveyed to the operator of the apparatus is in relation to the orientation and position of the apparatus and/or the associated orientation and position of the remote device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a solid-state image sensing device that can reduce at least the number of pixels arranged in the horizontal direction and can output high quality picture signals at high speed without generating moire or alias.

Abstract: An imaging unit reads a signal out of an image pickup device to generate an image signal based on captured image. Signal processor generates image data from the image signal. Sampling analog audio signal allows audio data to be generated. Controller controls operations of the imaging unit and signal processor to alter a frame rate of the image data to a predetermined set frame rate and to generate associated information for indicating the set frame rate or the like. Transmitter combines the associated information with the image data and the audio data to transmit the combined ones as material data.

Abstract: Camera information corresponding to the position at which the target to be searched for in the captured image is detected is identified, another camera specified by the identified camera information receives a notification that the target has been detected (S209), and when a notification is received from another camera, the posture of the own camera is controlled so that the area associated with the camera information specifying another camera can be observed (S211).

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus, having an image sensor for sensing an image of an object and an analog-digital converter which operates at a predetermined frequency and converts an analog signal read from the image sensor to a digital signal, controls the relationship between a phase of the analog signal read from the image sensor and a phase of a timing signal for operating the analog-digital converter in accordance with the peripheral condition.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which is capable of accurately detecting a blur of a shot image. AF evaluation values are calculated before and after shooting for recording an image representing the subject image in a recording medium is performed. The correlation between the AF evaluation values calculated before the shooting and the signal indicative of the focus generated after the shooting is determined. It is determined whether the correlation is lower than a first threshold value and higher than a second threshold value.

Abstract: The present invention provides a movement mechanism, in which a liquid arranged between a first structural member and a second structural member, wherein the interval between the first structural member and the second structural member is adjusted by changing the shape of the liquid due to an electro-wetting effect, by applying a voltage to the liquid. Accordingly, a position movement mechanism that is easily miniaturized and that can be driven with a low voltage can be provided, and moreover, a miniature camera, for example that uses the moving mechanism also can be provided. Furthermore, the movement mechanism also can be utilized as a position movement mechanism for micro-machines.

Abstract: The integration time for an imager is adjusted to be an integer multiple of the light intensity received by the imager to reduce or eliminate flickering.

Abstract: A portable terminal apparatus includes a camera, loudspeaker, determination unit, and control unit. The camera senses an image. The loudspeaker outputs a notification sound. The determination unit determines whether it is bright around the portable terminal apparatus, at a predetermined time interval on the basis of a video signal from the camera. The control unit controls to increase/decrease the output volume of the loudspeaker by a predetermined value in accordance with the determination result every time the determination unit performs determination. A portable terminal apparatus control method and a recording medium which records a program are also disclosed.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus includes a lens drive mechanism for moving a focusing lens group, and a controller for detecting a contrast value of the object image and moving the focusing lens group. The controller calculates a difference between maximum and minimum contrast values detected at the different positions of the focusing lens group; compares contrast values at two adjacent lens positions to determine whether the contrast value increases successively and subsequently decreases successively; detects a maximum contrast value, if the contrast value increases successively and subsequently decreases successively; calculates the maximum contrast value via a point of intersection between straight lines of two linear approximation expressions if the difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value; calculates the maximum contrast value from a quadratic approximation expression, if the difference is smaller than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A focus detection apparatus includes a focusing lens group, and a controller. The controller establishes a first predetermined number and a first criterial value if a maximum contrast value and/or minimum contrast value is outside a predetermined range, and a second predetermined number and second criterial value if the maximum and minimum contrast values are within the predetermined range; compares contrast values detected at adjacent positions to determine whether the contrast value of the object image increases once and subsequently decreases by the first or second predetermined number of times; detects a maximum contrast value if the contrast value of the object image increases once and subsequently decreases by the first or second predetermined number of times; determines a difference between the maximum contrast value and a detected contrast value; and selects the maximum contrast value if the difference exceeds the first/second criterial value.