Abstract: An solid state image pickup device including a plurality of photoelectric conversion regions (PD1, PD2) for generating carriers by photoelectric conversions to accumulate the generated carriers, an amplifying unit for amplifying the carriers, being commonly provided to at least two photoelectric conversion regions, a first and a second transfer units (Tx-MOS1, Tx-MOS2) for transferring the carriers accumulated in the first and the second photoelectric conversion regions, respectively, a first and a second carrier accumulating units (Cs1, Cs2) for accumulating the carriers flowing out from the first and the second photoelectric conversion regions through a first and a second fixed potential barriers, respectively, and a third and a fourth transfer units (Cs-MOS1, Cs-MOS2) for transferring the carriers accumulated in the first and the second carrier accumulating units to the amplifying unit, respectively.

Abstract: An image capture device has a first image transfer method for storing a captured digital image on a storage medium and transferring the digital image to a communication device, and a second image transfer method for storing the digital image on the storage medium, reading the digital image from the storage medium and then transferring the digital image to the communication device. The first image transfer method or the second image transfer method is manually or automatically set.

Abstract: A table is allocated indexes corresponding to display positions on a monitor screen, respectively, and data indicating an unexposed part at each of the display positions is stored in each index of the table. Focal position information is acquired from Exif header information on image data of an image, and a location of one of the indexes in the table at which no image data is registered is searched in an ascending order of the indexes. According to the table, the images are arranged so that the focal position of each image differs from the unexposed part at the display position of the image.

Abstract: A digital still camera includes a lens system and an image sensor. The image sensor receives object light through the lens system to output an image signal of an object, wherein exposure control and autofocus control of the lens system are carried out according to the image signal. The image sensor photographs an image of the object after the exposure control and the autofocus control. Auxiliary light is applied to the object with an illumination light source for the autofocus control. A second exposure value is determined by use of a first exposure value determined according to object brightness measured while the illumination light source is inactive. Exposure is carried out to measure object brightness by use of the second exposure value while the auxiliary light is applied, for determining a third exposure value for use in the autofocus control with the auxiliary light.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a substantially de-blurred image of a scene from a motion blurred image of the scene are disclosed. An exemplary system includes a primary detector for sensing the motion blurred image and generating primary image information representing the blurred image, a secondary detector for sensing two or more secondary images of the scene and for generating secondary image information representing the two or more secondary images, and a processor for determining motion information from the secondary image information, estimating a point spread function for the motion blurred image from the motion information, and applying the estimated point spread function to the primary image information to generate information representing the substantially de-blurred image.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a still image frame with anti-vibration clearness includes the following steps. Multiple raw image frames are captured during a capturing period according to a capturing instruction. The raw image frames are compressed respectively, according to a predetermined compression rule, into multiple compressed image frames each of which has a data length after such compression. The compressed image frames are stored according to a predetermined sequence. The data lengths of the compressed image frames stored are compared according to the predetermined sequence. The desired still image frame is obtained through the compressed image frame of which the data length has a unique feature among all the compressed image frames.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for reducing noise from an image sensor are provided. The apparatus includes a noise-estimation unit which estimates a noise level representing an image frame expressed as a component in a color space, a filter-strength-calculation unit which determines filter strength based on the estimated noise level, and a filter-application unit which filters pixels constituting the image frame according to the determined filter strength.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging section configured to output a first set of digital images; a section generating a plurality of sets of one-dimensional data from each of digital images respectively based on an object movement direction representing a movement direction of a moving object; a section configured to detect object regions for each of the digital images respectively based on the respective sets of the one-dimensional data; a section configured to select a second set of digital images from among the first set based on the object regions; a section configured to generate a background image from the second set of digital images; and a section configured to generate a stroboscopic image by combining the background image and a plurality of object images corresponding to the object regions of the second set of digital images.

Abstract: For color correction in an image sensor, an image sensor processing block generates a plurality of color correction parameters corresponding to a plurality of selected pixels of the image sensor for defining a plurality of areas of a sample image. In addition, a color correction value calculation block generates a respective color correction value corresponding to a given pixel from bilinear interpolation of a respective subset of the color correction parameters corresponding to a respective one of the areas including a respective location of the given pixel.

Abstract: The invention relates to an image pickup apparatus (70) comprising an image pickup means (700) for forming a plurality of image signals (S,L) having different exposure conditions, combining means for combining said plurality of image signals (L,S) to form a combined image signal having an extended dynamic range, further comprising display and/or recording means (701) for displaying and/or recording said combined image signal, further comprising a function module (79) correcting at least one of the image signals (L,S) in order to achieve a smooth transition between the image signals (S, L) at a transition point.

Abstract: A digital imaging device provides for different exposure times for each of a set of color components, the exposure time of each color component being inversely related to its strength relative to the other color components in a pre-exposure frame. By compensating for color imbalance in the scene during exposure, the digital imaging device improves the signal-to-noise ratio and, hence, the quality of the resulting digital image.

Abstract: An objective is to provide a solid-state image sensor which can reduce the pixel rate while restraining the reduction in the angle of view and the deterioration in image quality when image data is output from the image sensor, and an imaging apparatus using the image sensor. A solid-state image sensor includes: plural photoelectric conversion elements which respectively have color filters being divided into plural groups each including color filters of plural colors, the groups being cyclically provided; and an signal output unit which mixes up digital signals, which are output via the A/D converter, at predetermined sampling positions and at predetermined different rates, and outputs signals which are smaller in number than the photoelectric conversion elements, and sampling gravity centers of the signals output from the signal output unit are at equal intervals.

Abstract: A camera control system having a terminal device connected to a plurality of cameras via a network is provided. In response to an operation that exceeds a maximum control value (maximum control angle) of the PTZ of a camera that is the target of control, the terminal device displays peripheral camera information, which corresponds to a shooting direction in which the operation has been requested, together with video shot by the camera being controlled. The peripheral camera information includes installation camera position information, viewable angle information, control status information and peripheral map information as well as at least one item of captured video from a camera other than the camera being controlled.

Abstract: The present invention provides a signal readout method of solid-state imaging device which can simultaneously readouts the signals having different properties that can generate multiple images obtained by capturing the same subject under different capturing conditions from one solid-state imaging device. A signal readout method of solid-state imaging device that is applied to a solid-state imaging device with a color filter array (CFA) and multiple pixels, the method characterized in that a pixel mixture of a different number of pixels is performed for every readout signal in the solid-state imaging device, and a signal after the pixel mixture is readout.

Abstract: A face image capture apparatus for a vehicle repeatedly performs an output of a difference image to an image ECU. When the number of times of outputs reaches a predetermined number of times, a bright face image from which an influence of disturbance light is not removed is outputted to the image ECU. Thereby, the image ECU can determine an environment (daytime, nighttime, etc.) outside the vehicle based on the bright face image outputted in addition to the difference image.

Abstract: A driving method for a solid-state image pick up device that includes the steps of capturing an image with the pixel array, sharing at least two color pixel cells with a floating diffusion unit, adding an output signal of a first color pixel cell to an output signal of a second color pixel cell having the same color as the first color pixel cell with the floating diffusion unit in order to create a virtual pixel center, and controlling a ratio of integration time of the color pixel cells to the same colors based on pitches between virtual pixel centers with a control unit.

Abstract: In a period of time during which an image effect is being selected, a synthesized image in which the selected image effect is synthesized to an input image is generated and the operation of the image effect of the synthesized image is automatically and repeatedly displayed, thereby allowing the user to check what kind of operation the currently-selected fade function is before recording.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel array unit including unit pixels arranged in a matrix, each of the unit pixels having a photoelectric conversion element that converts a light signal to a signal charge, an amplifying transistor that amplifies and outputs the signal charge as a signal voltage, and a capacitive element whose one end is connected to a control electrode of the amplifying transistor; a driving means for selectively supplying a predetermined voltage to the other end of the capacitive element; and a signal processing circuit that performs a predetermined signal processing with respect to a signal output from each pixel of the pixel array unit.

Abstract: In an imaging device according to one aspect of the invention, an amplitude demand Ac is specified according to a wobbling amplitude Ai required for detection of a hill-climbing direction based on an F value and a wobbling amplitude Ag required for detection of the hill-climbing direction based on an AGC gain. An allowable amplitude Am set for preventing a potential image shake caused by a magnification change with a position shift of a compensator lens in wobbling is specified corresponding to a zoom position and an object distance. When Ac>Am, the control procedure restricts the wobbling amplitude to Am and increases a sampling number of AF evaluation values to be detected at respective positions in wobbling, in order to ensure the sufficient detection performance of the hill-climbing direction. When Ac?Am on the other hand, the control procedure sets Ac to the wobbling amplitude.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for applying a slimming effect to a subject in a digital image on a camera. An exemplary method may comprise compressing the digital image in one dimension so that a subject appears thinner. The method may also comprise selecting a portion of the compressed image on both sides of the subject. The method may also comprise stretching only the selected portion of the compressed image to retain an aspect ratio of the original digital image.