Abstract: A method of setting an internal parameter or an external parameter of a camera is provided. In this method, there is acquired a picked-up image obtained by picking up a calibration pattern in which black pattern elements and black-and-white pattern elements are arranged on a plane using the camera. Then, a black continuation area and a white continuation area are obtained by quantizing the picked-up image, the black pattern elements and the black-and-white pattern elements in the picked-up image are judged from each other based on the obtained black area and white area, the pattern elements in the picked-up image are associated with the pattern elements in a space based on an arrangement relationship between the judged black pattern elements and black-and-white pattern elements, and the internal parameter or the external parameter is set.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compact and low-cost image pickup apparatus that is capable of photographing a high-quality image comparable to silver halide photographs even when the image is enlarged to 8×10? size or larger and that enables the depth of field to be controlled with an aperture number exceeding F4. In the image pickup apparatus, an image of an object produced by an optical system (10) is formed on an electronic image pickup device (20), thereby obtaining image information concerning the object. The optical system (10) has a structure capable of obtaining an aperture number equal to or larger than F4 by reducing the beam diameter. Performance required for the optical system (10) is such that the size of the diameter of 90% encircled energy of the point spread function by amplitude is allowed to be up to about 8 times larger than the pixel pitch corresponding to the resolvable pixel unit. The pixel pitch of the image pickup device (20) is not larger than about 5 micrometers.

Abstract: An image pickup element drive control method can outputs a sharp image effectively without producing any overlapped images when it is driven for a high rate image pickup operation.

Abstract: A method for achieving flickerless operation of imagers using a rolling shutter, including the steps of detecting flicker in an image frame and adjusting an integration time such that the integration time is an integer multiple of a light intensity period, is described. The method reduces the task of detecting flicker to detecting a spatial sine wave in the image frame by subtracting two image frames from each other. The subtraction reduces or eliminates image content from the image frames and makes the detection process independent of image content. This method can be practiced based on a very short sequence of image frames (as few as two image frames) and is virtually insusceptible to motion of the image content. Adjustments to the integration time are made by changing the horizontal blanking time of the imager and, thereby extending the duration time of each row of said image frame.

Abstract: An imager circuit includes an array of pixels, each pixel including a sensor (photodiode) connected to an input terminal of a comparator. The comparators of each pixel row have output terminals connected to a latch. A counter generates a sequence of digital values that are transmitted to a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and to the latch of each row. The DAC generates a ramp voltage that is transmitted to a second input terminal of each pixel's comparator. The comparators of a selected pixel column are enabled to generate output signals when the ramp voltage equals each pixel's voltage, causing the associated latches to capture the current digital values. The comparators are formed such that each pixel row shares a cascode mirror circuit that detects differential currents in data line pairs connected to each pixel in that row.

Abstract: A camera is provided with a mechanism for supporting a user-controlled exposure mode in which a user can control the exposure time for the picture. A user first places the camera into the user-controlled exposure mode. Then, a user initiates the picture taking process, for example, by depressing a shutter button. The user then reviews the picture on a display as the picture develops. When the picture has the desired exposure, the user terminates the picture taking process by, for example, releasing the shutter button. In this manner, the user obtains a picture with the desired exposure without the delay, additional equipment, and guesswork involved in prior art approaches.

Abstract: A semiconductor device equipped with an area sensor 2 including a plurality of image sensors S11–Smn outputting analog image signals corresponding to the amount of received light; an A/D conversion section 4 including a signal latch section 3 latching the analog image signals, a counter 6 that successively increments integer values and outputs the same, a sweep signal generation section 7 outputting sweep signals whose potential rises in a polygonal line with respect to the integer values, comparators C1–Cn comparing the analog image signals and the sweep signals, and outputting high level signals when the sweep signals are greater than the analog image signals, and latches L1–Ln latching and outputting integer values when signals output from the comparators C1–Cn become a high level; and a signal latch section 5 latching digital image data output from the A/D conversion section 4 and outputting the same.

Abstract: An image signal processing circuit is provided that can narrow the bus width of a bus that outputs data. The circuit is equipped with resistances R1˜R511 that are serially connected between a first power supply potential VT and a second power supply potential VB, comparators C1˜C511 having first inputs in which potentials V1˜V511 on terminal sections of the resistances R1˜R511 are input, respectively, and second inputs in which an analog image signal is input, and an encoder 42 that encodes output signals of the comparators C1˜C511 into unsigned integer numbers of 9-bit width and outputs the same as digital image data.

Abstract: A digital camera has both image capture and audio capture modes. The digital camera has: a control member moveable from an initial position to a first position for effecting audio capture and to a second position for effecting image capture. A releasable latch means latches the camera in the audio capture mode upon entry of the control member into the first position.

Abstract: A solid state imaging apparatus having a plurality of unit pixels, each pixel including a photodiode and a first readout transistor connected to the photodiode, a monitor including a monitor resistor, configured to measure a depletion potential of the monitor resistor, and a readout voltage generator configured to generate a readout voltage to be applied to a first control electrode of the first readout transistor based on the depletion potential. The monitor resistor has the same impurity concentration distribution as that of the photodiode.

Abstract: A digital information/imaging system comprising: a first display for selectively displaying images and information; a second display for selectively displaying system information; and a control for controlling the first and second displays in one or more modes in which the content displayed by each of the displays mutually support each other; wherein the control includes a user interface including at least a first switch and a second navigation switch; wherein when the first switch is not activated the second switch is operable to select items displayed on the first display and the second display displays information in support of items selected on the first display; and wherein when the first switch is activated the second switch is operable to select items displayed on the second display and the first display displays information in support of items selected on the second display.

Abstract: A flash device is provided which causes a plurality of light emitting elements to emit desired white strobe light independent of possible uneven brightnesses of light being emitted by light emitting used. Red, green and blue light emitting elements are driven to emit corresponding colored rays of light to thereby provide white strobe light. Percentages of respective total light emission times of the light emitting elements are determined depending on the percentage data of light being emitted by those light emitting elements and stored in memory.

Abstract: An imaging architecture is provided employing CMOS imaging sensors. The imaging architecture utilizes time domain sampling techniques to extract image data from a photodiode (PD) pixel array. The CMOS imaging architecture associates time index values with firing of CMOS imaging sensors in response to a capture of an image. The time index values correspond to the brightness of the illumination received by the CMOS imaging sensor. The time index value associated with the firing of the CMOS imaging sensor can be stored and employed in reconstruction of the image. The imaging architecture includes systems and methods for reading and compressing imaging data extracted from the PD pixel array.

Abstract: Automated camera apparatus comprises a head mounted electronic camera 1 for providing a video signal 3 representative of an image 2 viewed by the wearer, video signal processor 51 arranged to receive said video signal for judging the degree of interest shown by the wearer in a feature in the scene and for providing a related saliency signal 12, the means 51 including image analyser 5 for identifying the presence of features and their locations relative to a reference position (e.g. the center) in the frame within each of a series of frames in a time window of the video signal, and track analysis means 7 coupled to the output of said image analyser for analysing the movement of at least one said feature over said series of frames to provide the saliency signal.