Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a motion prediction processor configured to detect a motion vector that indicates inter-image motion between a current image and a reference image; a motion compensation processor configured to perform a motion compensation process for the reference image by using the motion vector and generate a motion compensated image; an addition processor configured to generate a noise reduced image in which noise of the current image is reduced by adding the current image and the motion compensated image; an addition determination unit configured to compute an addition weight in units of pixels of the motion compensated image; a down-sampling processor configured to perform a process for reducing the current image and the motion compensated image; and an up-sampling processor configured to perform a process for expanding an addition coefficient map that is an output of the addition determination unit.

Abstract: In a vibration correction control circuit mounted on an image pickup apparatus including an image pickup unit, provided with lenses, image pickup devices and vibration detecting element, and a driver element for adjusting the position of the image pickup unit, the equalizer generates a drive signal used to move the image pickup unit in a direction along which to reduce the vibration applied to the image pickup unit, based on the output signal of the vibration detecting element. A verifying-signal input circuit supplies a dummy vibration-component signal to the equalizer.

Abstract: An image sensor and digital gain compensation thereof. The image sensor includes a variable amplification device for amplifying an inputted analog image signal as a variable first gain value, an analog-to-digital conversion unit for converting the amplified analog image signal into a digital image signal, and a digital gain compensation device for comparing the first gain value with a reference gain value and compensating the digital image signal as a digital second gain value when the first gain value is less than the reference gain value.

Abstract: A merged image is generated by merging together a first image obtained by shooting with a reduced exposure time, a second image obtained by shooting with an increased exposure time, and a third image obtained by filtering out a high-frequency component from the first image. Here, a merging ratio at which the second and third images are merged together is determined by use of differential values obtained from the second and third images. Also, a merging ratio at which the first image and the second and third images (a fourth image) are merged together is determined by use of edge intensity values obtained from an image based on the first image.

Abstract: A data-processing circuit includes a distributor. Raw image data of horizontal 3840 pixels×vertical 2160 pixels that is periodically outputted from a CMOS-type imaging device is divided by the distributor into four blocks of partial image data. The divided four blocks of partial image data are subjected to a pre-process in parallel by first to fourth pre-processing blocks. On the other hand, raw image data of horizontal 1280 pixels×vertical 960 pixels that is periodically outputted from a CCD-type imaging device is serially subjected to a pre-process by a fifth pre-processing block. The number of pixels of the raw image data outputted from the CCD-type imaging device is equal to or less than ¼ the number of pixels of the raw image data outputted from the CMOS-type imaging device. A numerical value “4” is equivalent to the number of parallel pre-processes on the raw image data outputted from the CMOS imaging device.

Abstract: A hand shake correction apparatus and a digital photographing apparatus including the hand shake correction apparatus are provided. The hand shake correction apparatus includes: a correction lens module including a correction lens and a correction lens supporting plate; a base movably supporting the supporting plate; first and second driving units moving the supporting plate; and third and fourth driving units moving the supporting plate. The first and second driving units are arranged such that a driving force action line applied to the supporting plate by the first and second driving units passes through a center of mass of the correction lens module. The third and fourth driving units are arranged such that a driving force action line applied to the supporting plate by the third and fourth driving units passes through a center of mass of the correction lens module.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a digital video camera is provided. The method comprises acquiring video images of colored light, and measuring a light intensity response of the video camera to the colored light. The method further comprises comparing the intensity of the measured response to a desired colored light intensity for determining a color intensity bias and storing the intensity bias for the colored light in the camera so that the bias can be applied when the camera is operating at an arbitrary lighting condition.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus having an improved convenience of use of white sheet data for correcting the color of a picked-up image. Image pickup data is converted into files by an image filing unit and recorded by a medium-recording unit. Average value data of each color component data for part of the picked-up data is stored in an area different from the image pickup data recording area in each file.

Abstract: A pixel array architecture having multiple pixel cells arranged in a split trunk pixel layout and sharing common pixel cell components. The array architecture increases the fill factor, and in turn, the quantum efficiency of the pixel cells. The common pixel cell components may be shared by a number of pixels in the array, and may include several components that are associated with the storage and readout of a signal from the pixel cells.

Abstract: A video presenting system having outputs for dual images is provided. As a result, the video presenter, which is an optical image electronic device having mounted therein an embedded system dedicated to a device control, can respectively and simultaneously output any two different images to two different display units. These any two different images are from among an externally input image, a live image, and a document/multimedia image. The video presenting system having outputs for dual images includes a first display member; a second display member; a video presenting member generating a live image signal and outputting a dual-display signal after performing signal processing of a live image signal, an externally input image signal, and a document/multimedia image signal; and an embedded member performing periodic communication with the video presenting member, and thus transmitting the externally input image signal and the document/multimedia image signal to the video presenting member.

Abstract: An information-processing apparatus processes information obtained by shooting an image of a subject and by collecting ambient sound of the subject. The apparatus contains an image-and-sound-recording unit that shoots the image of the subject to output image information on the image and collects the ambient sound of the subject to output sound information on the ambient sound and an information output unit that detects living-body information showing emotion of living-body of an operator who operates the image-and-sound-recording unit to output the living-body information. The apparatus also contains an information-processing unit that establishes correspondence between the living-body information outputted from the information output unit and at least one of the image information of the subject and the sound information of the ambient sound of the subject, the image information and the sound information being outputted from the image-and-sound-recording unit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling auto exposure (AE) that is used in digital imaging devices. The apparatus controlling the luminance of an image being outputted from an image sensor by controlling exposure time and analog gain of the image sensor includes: a luminance operation unit operating and outputting a mean luminance of the image outputted from the image sensor; a shutter index determination unit comparing a predetermined target luminance with the mean luminance of the outputted image and determining a shutter index in different manners according to the magnitude of the difference between the target luminance and the mean luminance of the outputted image; and an exposure time/analog gain determination unit generating exposure time and analog gain corresponding to the shutter index determined in the shutter index determination unit and applying the generated exposure time and analog gain to the image sensor.

Abstract: Imaging apparatus includes a mosaic image sensor (24), which is configured to generate a stream of input pixel values belonging to a plurality of input sub-images, each sub-image responsive to light of a different, respective color that is incident on the mosaic image sensor. An image restoration circuit (26) is coupled to receive and digitally filter the input pixel values in each of the input sub-images so as to generate a corresponding plurality of enhanced output sub-images. An image signal processor (ISP) (28) is coupled to receive and combine the plurality of the output sub-images in order to generate a color video output image.

Abstract: An imaging device including an image pickup device which converts an optical image of a photographic subject received through an imaging lens into an image signal; a displaying device which displays a through-the-lens image based on the image signal; a person detecting device which detects one or more persons from the image signal; a distance calculating device which calculates a distance between a plurality of the detected persons; and a composition assisting device which displays on the displaying device information as to whether the distance between the detected persons is proper or not based on the calculated distance between the detected persons. Thereby, it is possible to obtain an image with a proper composition in a case when there are a plurality of persons being the photographic subjects.

Abstract: In an image pickup apparatus of the present invention, an image of an object is picked up and an image signal representing the object is continuously captured so that a through-the-lens image is displayed based on the captured image signal, and then a display area for displaying focusing information is composited into the through-the-lens image of a displaying device. In addition, based on the captured image signal, an automatic focus adjustment is performed to maximize the contrast of the object, and the result of the focus adjustment is detected. Based on the detected focusing condition, focusing information which is composited into the display area is changed. The focusing information includes at least focusing information of an unfocused condition and focusing information of a focused condition. This enables information that a desired area of an object became focused to be displayed to a user in a manner easy to understand.

Abstract: An image processing device comprising a synchronization unit (25) for generating a luminance (Y?) from the sum of pixel signals R, Gr, Gb, B, for subtracting the R pixel signal and the B pixel signal from the sum of the Gr pixel signal and Gb pixel signal so as to generate a first color difference (C1), and for calculating a difference between the R pixel signal and the B pixel signal to generate a second color difference (C2), a pseudo-color suppression unit (31) for performing pseudo-color suppression of the first color difference (C1) and/or the second color difference (C2), a color space conversion unit (37) for converting the luminance Y?, the first color difference (C1), the second color difference (C2), into a predetermined color space to generate YUV color information.

Abstract: An image pickup circuit includes a plurality of circuit blocks. Each of the plurality of circuit blocks includes a plurality of comparing elements, a single counter, and a plurality of storage units. Each of the comparing elements compares a pixel signal supplied through a vertical signal line connected to vertically aligned pixels in a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, and a slope signal whose voltage is changed from an initial voltage at a constant slope. The counter counts an elapsed time since a voltage of the slope signal starts to change from the initial voltage. Each of the storage units stores a count value obtained by the counter in accordance with a comparison result of the comparator, the count value corresponding to an elapsed time until the voltage of the slope signal is changed from the initial voltage to a voltage coinciding with the pixel signal.

Abstract: A measuring device includes an actuator which holds a lens unit and moves the lens unit in the direction of the optical axis thereof. A test chart is photographed, with the lens unit being opposed to a reference image pickup device, and the lens unit is positioned at a just-focus position. The gap between the reference image pickup device and the lens unit at this time is reproduced, and an image pickup device, which is to be integrated, and the lens unit are opposed with this gap, and are fixed.

Abstract: A camera system having a camera body and an interchangeable lens is made more convenient to use. A camera system 1 includes an interchangeable lens unit 2 and a camera body 3. A body microcomputer 10 of the camera body 3 decides whether or not the interchangeable lens unit 2 is compatible with moving picture mode on the basis of lens information about the interchangeable lens unit 2. If the interchangeable lens unit 2 is not compatible with moving picture mode, the body microcomputer 10 prevents the operation of an imaging sensor 11 from being set to moving picture mode.

Abstract: The color signal processing circuit includes a first calculation unit generating an R/G value, a second calculation unit generating a B/G value, and a position specifying unit specifying, based on the R/G and B/G values, a position expressed as a color temperature of the light of a light source in a color coordinate system defined by R/G and B/G coordinate axes as the position of the light source. The color signal processing circuit further includes a pull determining unit determining a displacement amount between the light source position specified and a position of a target point on a blackbody radiation curve defined in the color coordinate system, sets gain values for the R, G, B color signals for achieving a white balance based on the displacement amount, and supplies the gain values to white balance amps amplifying the R, G, B color signals, and carries out white balance processing.