Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus, a tracking method, and a recording medium having recorded thereon a program for executing the tracking method are provided which effectively determine a target image as a partial image corresponding to a reference image in a frame image. The digital photographing apparatus includes: an image pickup device; a mask preparer which prepares a mask having the same size as a reference image that is smaller than a current frame image; a matching data obtainer which obtains a plurality of pieces of matching data by applying the mask to a plurality of matching images having the same size as the reference image; and a target image determiner which determines one of the matching images as a target image by using the matching data.

Abstract: A lightweight, compact image projection module, especially for mounting in a housing having a light-transmissive window, is operative for causing selected pixels in a raster pattern of scan lines to be illuminated to produce an image of high resolution in color. The direction of scanning of the scan lines is switched between alternate frames, and the resulting image is the superposition of successive frames integrated for viewing by the human eye.

Abstract: A method of generating video and a video camera are disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating an input signal by sensing an optical signal using a plurality of first pixels, wherein (i) the sensing is capable of a pixel reduction by at least one of binning the first pixels and skipping some of the first pixels and (ii) a plurality of first spatial separations among the first pixels in the input signal are (a) uniform both horizontally and vertically while the pixel reduction is inactive and (b) non-uniform while the pixel reduction is active, (B) generating a plurality of second pixels in response to the first pixels such that a plurality of second spatial separations among the second pixels are uniform both horizontally and vertically while the pixel reduction is active and (C) generating an output signal carrying the second pixels.

Abstract: Mobile devices and methods of operating mobile devices are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a mobile device includes a rechargeable battery, a battery charger electrically coupled to the battery, and an image sensor operably coupled to the battery charger to selectively charge the battery. As such, the image sensor is configured to capture images and provide current to charge the battery. The image sensor can be a CMOS image sensor or a CCD image sensor. The mobile device may further include a housing, with the battery, battery charger, and image sensor contained within the housing.

Abstract: To provide a method for producing a solid-state imaging device enabling an improvement of a light sensitivity characteristic in a light receiving unit, a solid-state imaging device in which the light sensitivity characteristic is improved, and a camera provided with the solid-state imaging device. A shield film projected around the light receiving unit is formed on a substrate in which the light receiving unit is formed; an transparent insulation film is formed on the shield film; a sidewall insulation film is formed by etch-back of the insulation film, in a side wall of the shield film; a mask layer having an aperture at a position corresponding to the light receiving unit is formed on the shield film; and the shield film is etched by using the sidewall insulation film and the mask layer as a mask to form an aperture portion exposing the light receiving unit.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprising: a plurality of pixels each including a photoelectric converting element; a plurality of capacitor which receive signals from the plurality of pixels at first terminals; a plurality of clamping switches for setting a second terminal of each of the plurality of capacitor into a predetermined electric potential; a plurality of first storing units for storing signals from the second terminals of the plurality of capacitor; a plurality of second storing units for storing the signals from the second terminals of the plurality of capacitor; a first common output line to which the signals from the plurality of first storing units are sequentially output; a second common output line to which the signals from the plurality of second storing units are sequentially output; and a difference circuit for operating a difference between the signal from the first common output line and the signal from the second common output line.

Abstract: An analog/digital converter device associated with a detector of an image sensor, including: a comparator capable of receiving the analog signal and delivering a two-states output signal, able to adopt, depending on the analog signal, a first stable state or a second state, a charge injector capable of changing the analog signal by injection of at least one quantity of charges into the capacitor, and a mechanism for commanding the charge injector, capable of receiving the two-state signals and capable of triggering, depending on the two-state signals, plural injections of charges between at least two successive changes in state of the signal, from the first state to the second state and from the second state to the first state.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit for generating an image signal from an optical subject image, a display having a display mode and a non-display mode, an electronic finder for displaying a preview image on the display, an optical finder for leading the subject image to a finder window, an eye proximity detecting unit for detecting proximity of the eye to the finder window, a shutter having a light-blocking mode and a non-light-blocking mode, a first control unit for switching the display to the non-display mode and switching the shutter to the non-light-blocking mode to lead the subject image to the finder window when the eye proximity detecting unit detects proximity of the eye, and a second control unit for switching the shutter to the light-blocking mode and the display to the display mode to display the preview image when proximity of the eye is not detected.

Abstract: In an electric hand-vibration correction method of dividing each of frame images output from an effective pixel region of an imaging element in frame order into a plurality of segment images, calculating a movement vector of each segment image between the frame images, calculating a movement vector of each entire frame image (hereinafter, referred to as a hand-vibration vector), from the movement vectors for the respective segment images, and determining an image output region that is cut out from each frame image, based on the hand-vibration vector, an infinite point F is calculated based on an intersectional position among the calculated movement vectors of the respective segment images, and the image output region is determined using a vibration vector between the infinite points calculated for the respective frame images as the hand-vibration vector.

Abstract: An electronic camera apparatus includes an image pick-up unit for obtaining image data of a moving image every certain frame period, a recording unit for performing a data-writing process to successively write the image data onto a detachable recording medium, and a rate obtaining unit for obtaining information concerning a data-writing rate at which the recording unit writes the image data onto the recording medium. In addition, the electronic camera apparatus includes an adjusting unit for adjusting, based on the data-writing rate obtained by the rate obtaining unit, values of image recording parameters for determining an image data volume to be written onto the recording medium in a fixed period of time to restrict the image data volume to a level less than a data volume which can be written on the recording medium within the fixed period of time.

Abstract: A dust removal apparatus of a photographing apparatus comprises a movable unit and a controller. The movable unit has an imaging device and is movable. The controller strikes the movable unit against a boundary of a range of movement of the movable unit as a dust removal operation. The controller counts the number of times of the dust removal operation, measures an elapsed time from the point when counting the number of times of the dust removal operation commences. When the elapsed time is less than or equal to a time period and the number of times of the dust removal operation is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of times, the controller halts the dust removal operation until a predetermined time period has elapsed.

Abstract: An imaging device outputs brightness information according to an amount of incident light and includes: an imaging unit that includes a plurality of unit cells arranged one dimensionally or two-dimensionally, each unit cell including a photoelectric conversion part that generates a first output voltage in a reset state and a second output voltage according to an amount of incident light, and each unit cell generating a reset voltage that corresponds to the first output voltage and a read voltage that corresponds to the second output voltage; and an output unit operable to output, in relation to each unit cell, brightness information indicating a difference between the reset voltage and the read voltage when normal light is incident to the imaging device and the read voltage is in a predetermined range, and brightness information indicating high brightness when strong light is incident to the imaging device and the read voltage is not in the predetermined range.

Abstract: A method of generating video and a video camera are disclosed. The method generally includes the steps of (A) generating an input signal by sensing an optical signal using a plurality of first pixels, wherein (i) the sensing is capable of a pixel reduction by at least one of binning the first pixels and skipping some of the first pixels and (ii) a plurality of first spatial separations among the first pixels in the input signal are (a) uniform both horizontally and vertically while the pixel reduction is inactive and (b) non-uniform while the pixel reduction is active, (B) generating a plurality of second pixels in response to the first pixels such that a plurality of second spatial separations among the second pixels are uniform both horizontally and vertically while the pixel reduction is active and (C) generating an output signal carrying the second pixels.

Abstract: An imaging device has an image sensor, and a color filter that is located on said image sensor and has at least four color elements, a signal reading processor that reads at least four series of color signals corresponding to the at least four color elements from said image sensor, and a signal processor that generates primary color signals on the basis of at least one predetermined series of color signals and an adopted series of color signals that is obtained from the remaining series of color signals. The signal processor defines a series of color signals that corresponds to a spectral response distribution curve over wavelength range for which spectral values in the spectral distribution of the object are relatively large, as the adopted series of color signals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a video recording apparatus comprising: a microprocessor (130), a memory means (120) for storing program for generating a set of calibration parameters related to a device having at least two video cameras which are arranged in a predetermined relationship to each other, said parameters being unique for the at least two cameras and their current location as related to the object being recorded; said memory means (120) also storing program for recording of wide image video sequences; read and write memory means (140) for storing data relating to recorded video sequences from at least two video cameras; input means (300) for input of manual input of parameters, input of recorded video sequences, output means (300) for output of a wide image video sequence.

Abstract: A video signal processing circuit converting a color image represented using a plurality of primary color signals into a monocolor image is provided. The video signal processing circuit includes: a chroma adjustment unit adjusting the chroma of the plurality of input primary color signals; a gain correction unit provided for each of the primary color signals, correcting gain on the primary color signals whose chroma is adjusted in the chroma adjustment unit; and a control unit instructing the chroma adjustment unit to adjust the chroma and instructing each of the gain correction units to correct the gain.

Abstract: A lightweight, compact image projection module, especially for mounting in a housing having a light-transmissive window, is operative for causing selected pixels in a raster pattern of scan lines to be illuminated to produce an image of high resolution in color. The direction of scanning of the scan lines is switched between alternate frames, and the resulting image is the superposition of successive frames integrated for viewing by the human eye.

Abstract: An apparatus and method that can maintain the number of photographed images obtained per second (frame rate) while ensuring sufficient exposure of a subject. The photographing apparatus and method can include an exposure portion for repeatedly performing an exposure at intervals of a predetermined unit exposure time, an image data storing portion temporarily storing unit image data generated by the exposure of the exposure portion, and an image combiner reading and combining a group of unit image data corresponding to a predetermined exposure time from the image data storing portion in synchronization with a photographing start timing of a continuous photographing period that is set in advance, to generate a combined image.

Abstract: When flash photography is performed, an exposure time at a time of a preliminary light emission of a flash is set as short as possible so that the appropriate amount of light required for a main light emission of the flash can be accurately computed. Before the main light emission of the flash, an exposure operation prior to preliminary light emission and an exposure operation at the time of preliminary light emission are performed. After each of these exposures, the pixel signals of individual pixels are intermittently read out at predetermined pixel intervals. The brightness levels of images captured in the exposure operation prior to preliminary light emission and the exposure operation at the time of preliminary light emission are individually detected based on the signals. The amount of light required for the main light emission of the flash is computed based on a difference between the brightness levels.

Abstract: A video transmission system typically includes a video server adapted to receive video data from one or more video cameras. In some instance, the video server may be operable to buffer the video data and transmit the video data across a network to various client computing devices. In an improved video transmission system of the present invention, the client computing devices may be further configured to retransmit video data across the network to other client computing devices, thereby reducing the bandwidth and computing load placed on the video server.