Abstract: An image sensing apparatus such as digital still camera and video camera having a lens barrel which is driven to extended-out and retracted-in positions. The apparatus comprises an external operation device externally operated by a user. When the image sensing apparatus is released from a disabled mode, the user is allowed to make a selection between cases where the optical system is positioned in the extended-out position and retracted-in position, through the operation device.

Abstract: A CCD is driven by a drive circuit, whereby an independent readout drive of all pixels is carried out. Data of 4 lines are input in parallel to a two-dimensional register array by 4 scanning line delay devices. Interpolation is carried out for every color signal of green, magenta, cyan and yellow by an interpolation processing circuit according to data corresponding to pixels of 4 rows and 6 columns. A color difference signal generation circuit carries out a color separation process on the basis of the color signal subjected to an interpolation process.

Abstract: In an image pick-up mode, when a piece of image information is picked-up by an image information acquisition unit, pieces of position information acquired by a position measurement unit are stored in a storage unit together with the pieces of image information in association with each other. In a playback mode, when the scroll key of a key input unit is kept pressed for a predetermined time or more, pieces of position information stored in the storage unit in association with pieces of image information are sequentially read out. An arithmetic unit sequentially calculates the distance between pick-up points of two pieces of image information, and a search unit determines whether the calculated distance is equal to or longer than a predetermined distance acquired by a condition acquisition unit. When the search unit searches for a calculated distance equal to or longer than the predetermined distance, a display control unit displays, on a display unit, a searched item of image information, i.e.

Abstract: An electronic still camera includes an imaging device imaging an object. A release section puts the imaging operation of said imaging device into effect. A camera shake detection circuit detects the quantity of camera shake during the imaging operation of said imaging device. A sequence control circuit evaluates the quantity of camera shake during the imaging operation detected by camera shake detection circuit in response to the release operation by said release section and reads out an imaging signal when the result of camera shake detection is below a predetermined value.

Abstract: A double-slope MOS active pixel sensor disposed on a semiconductor substrate has a first light-to-output-voltage transfer gain up to a first charge accumulation threshold, has a second light-to-output-voltage transfer gain lower than the first light-to-output-voltage transfer gain above the light accumulation threshold, and comprises first and second photodiodes each having a first terminal coupled to a fixed potential and a second terminal. The second photodiode is smaller than the first photodiode. First and second semiconductor reset switches each have a first terminal coupled respectively to the second terminal of the first and second photodiodes and a second terminal coupled respectively to first and second reset potentials that reverse bias the photodiodes. First and second semiconductor amplifiers each have an input coupled respectively to the second terminals of the first and second photodiodes and have their outputs coupled together.

Abstract: A digital camera including a CCD imager and a complementary color filter mounted on a light receiving surface thereof. The complementary color filter has color blocks each having 8 rows×4 columns while the CCD imager has, at its light receiving surface, pixel blocks corresponding to those color blocks. The color block is assigned in its each row, with all the kinds of color components, i.e., G, Mg, Ye and Cy, at least one in number per kind. A timing generator reads, from respective columns, pixel signals including all the kinds, of color components at least one in number per kind. A timing generator reads from respective rows pixel signals including all tile kinds of color components at least one in number per kind, and transfers the read pixel signals in vertical direction. The timing generator also transfers the pixel signals in a horizontal direction each time vertical transfer by 8 rows has been completed.

Abstract: To eliminate after-image due to residual charges to provide an output form that is easy to obtain effective on-light output. The outputs of photo-diodes 1 are read out as sequential signal outputs on a common signal line 15 through connected amplifiers 3, and two states of before and after resetting the photo-diodes 1 are outputted in order for each light receiving element.

Abstract: In a digital video camera unit wherein its CCD outputs an image pickup signal with an odd line and an even line in the 1HD period to convert the image pickup signal to luminance signal and color signal, a line memory portion for separating each line of two image pickup signals existing in the 1HD period to two lines, an address controller and a control circuit for controlling write/read into the line memory portion are provided. At the time of write to the line memory portion, an analog delay amount is absorbed in order to output signals at the same timing as design time upon reading. By changing the write/read frequency with respect to the line memory portion, signals of different frequencies can be processed in a single circuit.

Abstract: An image pick-up device for producing a synthesized image signal having a wide dynamic range by partially exchanging a plurality of image signals from a solid state image sensing element in an image synthesizing unit (41), said image signals being obtained by picking-up a subject moving on a bright background with different exposure amounts, including a synthetic unsuitable portion detecting unit (42, 44) for detecting a synthetic unsuitable portion by comparing said plurality of image signals picked-up with different exposure amounts, a synthetic unsuitable portion correcting unit (46, 48) for correcting a pixel signal of said synthesizing unsuitable portion to derived a corrected synthesized image signal, and a low pass filter (47) for combining said corrected synthesized image signal from said synthetic unsuitable portion correcting unit with said synthesized image signal from said image synthesizing unit to derive a corrected synthesized image signal.

Abstract: To realize low noise and chip area reduction, a signal processing apparatus including a signal source, an arithmetic circuit for performing an arithmetic operation, and a non-inverting output circuit for outputting a signal from the arithmetic circuit which includes at least a transfer circuit for transferring a signal from the signal source to the non-inverting output circuit, and a difference signal formation circuit for forming a difference signal obtained by subtracting a signal from the non-inverting output circuit from the signal from the signal source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method, and it is applicable to a variety of kinds of image processing apparatus such as television receivers, video tape recorders, television cameras, printers, etc., and it makes it possible to correct the gradation of an image avoiding the lowering of partial contrast effectively. In this case, an excessive emphasis of an outline can be avoided.

Abstract: The invention provides a linear matrix circuit which can control linear conversion of color reproduction with a comparatively small number of parameters, which conform with a feeling of a human being, by means of a circuit of a comparatively small scale using a comparatively simple method. The linear matrix circuit performs linear conversion of color reproduction for use with an image processing apparatus which separates a video signal into three primary color components of red, green and blue, and includes a coefficient conversion section for introducing six coefficients required for the linear conversion of color reproduction from two control parameters.

Abstract: The invention provides an image processing apparatus and an image processing method and can be applied to an image information apparatus such as, for example, a television receiver, a video tape recorder, a television camera and a printer so that the gradation can be corrected while effectively preventing a finally obtained image from partial deterioration of the contrast. An area to which each of image data belongs is discriminated with reference to, for example, a low frequency component of a pixel value, and a correction coefficient is produced for the area. Such correction coefficients are smoothed between successive frames, and the pixel values of the image data are corrected with the smoothed correction coefficients.

Abstract: There is provided a method of driving a solid-state image sensor, including the steps, in sequence, of (a) converting a light into a plurality of electric charges, (b) selectively reading out the thus converted electric charges in every predetermined number of vertical pixel lines by a first number which is smaller than the predetermined number, into a vertical charge coupled device, (c) repeating the step (b) by the desired number of times, (d) vertically transferring the thus read out electric charges towards a horizontal charge coupled device, (e) adding one of the electric charges read out in the step (b) to associated one of the electric charges read out in the step (c) in the horizontal charge coupled device by vertically transferring electric charges by the predetermined number of vertical pixel lines in the vertical charge coupled device in a horizontal blanking period, and (f) horizontally transferring the thus added electrical charges through the horizontal charge coupled device.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus has a photographic optical system, an image sensing device for converting an optical image formed by the photographic optical system into electric signals, a main board and an image sensing board for processing the electric signals from the image sensing device into image signals for displaying, transmitting to an external device, or recording on a detachable recording medium, and a power supply board for supplying electric power to the image sensing apparatus, where the photographic optical system is arranged between the main and image sensing boards and the power supply board.

Abstract: An image sensor comprises a detector circuit (17) with detector diodes (3), which are reverse biased during image sensing. It is characterized in that the cathode voltage of the detector diodes is controlled by forward biasing detector circuit (17) diodes via the read circuit (20). The control diodes can be dedicated diodes or forward biased photodetector diodes. In the latter case, a picture is taken in several sequences.

Abstract: A focus point detecting apparatus comprises a HPF which extracts a high-frequency component from a picked-up image, and an ABS circuit which obtains an absolute value of the outputs of the HPF. A base clipping circuit removes a component equal to or less than a first threshold value from the output of the ABS circuit, and an another base clipping circuit removes a component equal to or less than a second threshold value which is larger than the first threshold value from the output of the ABS circuit. An integrator integrates the output of one of the base clipping circuits and an another integrator integrates the output of the other base clipping circuit. Finally, a computing circuit detects a focus point according to the integrated values in the two integrators. Therefore, focus point can be detected with higher precision.

Abstract: In order to provide a noise removal method for removing noise signals mixed into an image signal without deteriorating picture quality of the overall image, such zigzag noise signals that the difference between the output levels of two pixels adjacent to each other along a noise generation direction alternately takes positive and negative vales at least three times are detected from noise signals mixed into an image signal. Then, a specific pixel is noted among a plurality of pixels corresponding to the noise signals, for calculating a mean value of the output levels of the noise signals with reference to the specific pixel and correcting the output level of a noise signal corresponding to the said specific pixel with the said mean value.

Abstract: An image input apparatus. A detection section detects a change cycle of an intensity of an external light inputted to a camera. A timing control section synchronizes the change cycle of the intensity of the external light with a plurality of input timings of the camera by changing a phase difference in order. An evaluation section compares each storage quantity of the external light inputted to the camera at the plurality of input timings synchronized by the timing control section for each phase difference. A selection section selects the phase difference whose difference of the storage quantities of the external light is smallest from all phase difference changed by the timing control section.

Abstract: Based on an output from a CCD, a luminance signal Y1 is extracted from an MTX circuit, and R gain and B gain of white balance information are extracted from a white balance control circuit. A luminance color gain conversion circuit generates a control signal for controlling the color gains of a high-luminance part based on the luminance signal Y1, R gain and B gain and supplies the generated control to a color suppression circuit. The color gains are varied as a color temperature of the high luminance part increasingly deviates from a color temperature associated with ordinary white light. Accordingly, an excellent color suppression characteristic for the high-luminance part is obtained relative to change in color temperature.