Abstract: There is provided a solid-state imaging device, which includes: a comparator for sequentially comparing a predetermined level of an analog pixel signal obtained from a plurality of pixels with a reference signal which is gradually changed and used for converting the predetermined level into digital data; a counter for performing a count processing in parallel with a comparison processing for the predetermined level in the comparator, and holding a count value at a time of completing the comparison processing to obtain digital data indicative of a value obtained by adding the plurality of pixel signals; and an addition spatial position adjusting unit for controlling a selection operation for selecting spatial positions of the plurality of pixels to be processed in the comparator and a ratio of a weight value during the addition to adjust spatial positions of pixels after addition.

Abstract: Upon correcting blur of image capture data of an image capturing device by coded exposure processing, an exposure time and aperture value, which are set by a photometry unit of the image capturing device according to an object, are input, and the exposure time or aperture value is adjusted based on a ratio of shutter open periods in an opening and closing pattern of a shutter used in the coded exposure processing. Then, a gain adjustment value of the image capture data corresponding to a deficiency of an exposure amount by the adjusted exposure time or aperture value is set, image capture by an image capturing unit of the image capturing device is controlled based on the opening and closing pattern, exposure time, and aperture value.

Abstract: When the user sets an AF frame such that an object tracked as an AF target is in the AF frame, an auto-tracking process starts to detect a face image from the image captured by a television camera. Then, it is determined whether the face image is detected from the peripheral range of the AF frame. If it is determined that the face image is detected from the peripheral range of the AF frame, the position of the AF frame is changed on the basis of the position of the face image. On the other hand, if it is determined that the face image is not detected from the peripheral range of the AF frame, a pattern matching process is performed. The position of the AF frame is changed to the position of the object, which is a tracking target, detected by the pattern matching process.

Abstract: A frequency component comparing unit performs frequency component comparison for each of the image signals corresponding to the wavelength components subjected to resolution reconstruction. An image synthesizing unit performs image synthesis with an image signal that is selected according to a comparison result of the frequency component comparing unit as a component. The wavelength component that is subjected to frequency component comparison by frequency component comparing unit is selected according to the modulation transfer function characteristic of the optical system.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus includes a zoom lens, a solid-state image sensor which photoelectrically converts an image formed by the zoom lens, a processing unit which processes image data obtained by the solid-state image sensor, and a correction units which processes the image data from the processing unit to correct distortion aberration of the image formed by the zoom lens, and outputs the corrected image data. The lens arrangement of the zoom lens, and the length of the diagonal line of the image capturing area in correcting distortion aberration are appropriately set.

Abstract: To allow much better user control of how a camera output image captures an original scene, the imaging camera unit (401), arranged to form part of a image-capturing camera system (400), includes a user-interface (420), allowing a user to specify at least one indication (gp) of a geometric position of an object (101) of his preference in a captured image (Io) received from an imaging sensor (406) via an input (403), a user-adaptable object segmentation unit (410), arranged to determine a set of pixels (sg) being part of the object (101), on the basis of the indication (gp), and a color composition monitor unit (412), arranged to determine at least one statistic (ST) on the basis of at least one color property of pixels in the set of pixels (sg).

Abstract: A scenery imaging apparatus includes a dividing unit that divides, into plural cells, a scenery image captured in an arbitrary direction, as an initial scenery image, by an image capturing unit; a calculating unit that calculates respective distances to portions of initial scenery respectively corresponding to the cells; a determining unit that determines an image capturing direction based on the distances calculated by the calculating unit; and a judging unit that judges, based on the distances calculated by the calculating unit, whether a portion of the initial scenery corresponding to a cell is a distant view. The determining unit further determines the image capturing direction based on a portion judged to be a distant view.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus capable of preventing photographing sensitivity from being increased more than necessary, reducing image quality degradation caused by camera shake or object shake and easily photographing images in good image quality.

Abstract: A real-size preview system in a terminal having a digital camera function and a control method thereof are provided. The real-size preview system includes a display unit for displaying an image provided through a camera module to a user and an image processor for designating a first display area in the display unit and displaying an image, designating a second display area in the display unit and changing an image size of a region of an image previewed through the first display area to a different size to be displayed. The system enables a user to confirm the real size of a photographed object to enhance image readability.

Abstract: A camera, and a method and apparatus for providing photographing guide information are provided. The camera extracts first scene information expressing features of a first scene that a user intends to photograph when a user input requesting scene setup is received. The camera extracts second scene information expressing features of a second scene that is captured in a photographing standby state. The camera uses the first scene information and the second scene information to generate guide information for guiding a photographer capturing the second scene to photograph the first scene, and providing the guide information to the display.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for applying lens shading correction to image data captured by an image sensor are provided. In one embodiment, multiple lens shading adaptation functions, each modeled based on the response of a color channel to a reference illuminant, are provided. An image frame from the image data may be analyzed to select a lens shading adaptation function corresponding to a reference illuminant that most closely matches a current illuminant. The selected lens shading function may then be used to adjust a set of lens shading parameters.

Abstract: The hand movement correction apparatus 10 which is capable of correcting hand movement includes: a position variation signal acquisition sections 13 and 17 that acquire a position variation signal; a gain controller 12 that controls the gain of the position variation signal; an exposure determination section 14 that determines whether exposure operation is in progress; a position variation signal switching section 14 that switches the position variation signal; and a hand movement amount calculation section 15 that calculates a hand movement correction amount based on the position variation signal.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an image capture unit which includes an image sensor in which pixels for photoelectrically converting an object image are two-dimensionally arrayed in correspondence with color filters of a plurality of colors, and generates an image signal, a reducing unit which reduces the image signal output from the image capture unit to generate a reduced image, an image processing unit which performs development processing for the reduced image to obtain a first developed image containing luminance components and color difference components and performs development for the image signal output from the image capture unit to obtain a second developed image containing luminance and color difference components, an enlargement unit which enlarges the first developed image to the same size as that of the second developed image, and a composition unit which performs composition of the second developed image and an enlarged image.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image taking apparatus including an image taking device, a gain adjustment circuit, and a correction circuit. The image taking device operates with timings based on a frame rate determined in advance and the total number of horizontal lines, has an electronic shutter allowing a shutter speed to be adjusted, receives light in a period equal to the shutter speed of the electronic shutter and carries out an opto-electrical conversion process on the light for every horizontal line in order to generate a predetermined signal. The gain adjustment circuit adjusts the gain of the electrical signal received from the image taking device. The correction circuit compares an image taking video signal with a reference video signal to compute a flicker component as a component oriented in the vertical direction of an image represented by the image taking video signal in a flicker correction process of eliminating flickers.

Abstract: By feeding an appropriate voltage as a signal ?TX to a transfer gate TG, a MOS transistor T1 , is operated in a threshold region. A potential linearly or natural logarithmically converted by a buried photodiode PD is transferred to an N-type floating diffusion layer FD so as to be fed out, as an image signal, via MOS transistors T3 and T4.

Abstract: An image recognition device includes; an image sensor that captures an image via an image forming optical system and outputs image information repeatedly; a detector that detects differences between reference image information related to a reference image and a plurality of sets of partial information included in the image information; a recognition circuit that includes a microprocessor and recognizes a set of partial information, for which a smallest difference value among a plurality of differences detected in correspondence to the plurality of sets of partial information is calculated, as information matching the reference image information if the smallest value is smaller than a threshold value; and a controller that includes a microprocessor and sets the threshold value in correspondence to a color indicated in the reference image information.

Abstract: A plurality of imaging regions are provided in one-to-one correspondence with a plurality of optical systems and are disposed on optical axes of the respective optical systems. Each imaging region has a plurality of pixels. The imaging apparatus further comprises an origin detecting means for detecting an origin of each imaging region, a pixel position specifying means for specifying positions of a plurality of pixels included in each imaging region using the origin as a reference, and a combination means for combining a plurality of images captured by the respective imaging regions. Thereby, it is possible to make a thin imaging apparatus capable of being easily assembled.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: a captured image data generation unit generating captured image data by capturing a subject; a positional information acquisition unit acquiring positional information indicating a position at which the captured image data are generated; an area determination unit determining whether the position indicated by the acquired positional information is included in a positional information conversion area for converting the acquired positional information; a positional information conversion unit, when the area determination unit determines that the position indicated by the acquired positional information is included in the positional information conversion area, converting the acquired positional information into positional information indicating a position different from the position indicated by the acquired positional information; and a record control unit, when recording the generated captured image data, carrying out control to record the generated captured image data in associ

Abstract: A currently captured image R of an object is displayed nearly at a center portion of a display frame SC on a display screen ST1 that is a shooting mode. When a time dial 22 is rotated for one step in the counterclockwise direction, the currently captured image R is moved rightward. A reproduced image P1 captured before the currently captured image R is displayed on the left thereof. A reproduced image P2 captured before the reproduced image P1 is displayed on the left thereof. The currently captured image R and the reproduced images P1 and P2 are displayed at the same time on a display screen ST2 as a co-existent state of a shooting mode and a reproducing mode. When the time dial 22 is rotated for one step in the counterclockwise direction, only the reproduced images P1 to P4 are displayed on a display screen ST3 that is a reproducing mode. As a plurality of reproduced images, the reproduced images P1 to P4 are displayed along a time axis.

Abstract: A digital camera 10 has a pair of angular rate-sensing gyroscopic sensors 130 with mutually perpendicular axes and an electronic circuit 120 responsive to the sensor output signals to discriminate between voluntary and involuntary movements of the article as a function of the number of zero crossings per unit time of the signal and the average of the absolute amplitude of the signal.