Abstract: A method of enhancing a digital image produced by a digital imaging device, includes using the digital imaging device to capture at least two original digital images of the same scene with each digital image being under two different lighting conditions and producing for each such digital images a plurality of pixels; using the pixel values of at least two of the captured digital images under different lighting conditions to produce difference values; and modifying the pixel values of the original digital image in response to the corresponding difference values.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a plurality of photoelectric converting units arrayed in the horizontal and vertical directions, and an adder for adding signals including the same color component from the a plurality of photoelectric converting units such that the centers of gravity of the signals after addition are at the same pitch for respective signals.

Abstract: The data of each pixel of a CCD, acquired from double pre-emissions performed in accordance with a shutter operation, is estimated to determine appropriate luminous energy for actual photography. Specifically, in each frame between the shutter operation and emission for actual photography, a CCD is driven so that only the data of the pixels corresponding to an estimation area is transferred, and the data of the other pixels is destroyed. The estimation area is included in the image pickup area of the CCD and used to determine the appropriate luminous energy. As a result, the time required to transfer pixel data unnecessary for estimation is omitted, thereby reducing the total processing time ranging from the pre-emissions to the emission for actual photography, and realizing prompt actual photography with appropriate luminous energy.

Abstract: An image scanning device divides an image scanning element group into a plurality of areas and an image signal is output for every area. The device includes a plurality of charge integrating units respective provided in each of the plurality of areas for integrating charges output from plural image scanning elements and outputting the charges thus integrated as an integrated charge, an integrated charge selecting unit for selecting any one or more integrated charges from the plural integrated charges and outputting the integrated charges thus selected, a charge accumulating unit for accumulating and combining any one or more integrated charges output from the integrated charge selecting unit; and an image signal outputting unit for converting the composite charge accumulated in the charge accumulating unit to an image signal and outputting the image signal.

Abstract: An image sensing device collects the speech and image of a person to be sensed and carries out recognition of the collected speech. When the image sensing device determines as the recognition result that the speech represents a predetermined sentence, the image sensing device performs recognition on an acquired image. When the image sensing device determines as a recognition result that the image is a human face showing a predetermined facial expression, the image sensing device records the image and audio information.

Abstract: A problem in that a color photographed at high color temperature such as a skin color is erroneously judged as a white color at low color temperature, and the skin having a chromatic color is colored with white color can be resolved. In an image pickup device a given chromatic color area on a photography screen is instructed; a color temperature of a light source is specified on the basis of an output signal within the instructed area; and white balance processing is conducted in accordance with a white balance coefficient that corresponds to the specified color temperature of the light source.

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: A digital camera system including a plurality of digital cameras, each including a plurality of interchangeable-lens barrels having the same specification, a first camera body allowing the interchangeable-lens barrel to be attached thereto, or a second camera body. The first camera body includes an image pickup element having a first pixel pitch and a first optical unit including an optical low-pass filter with a thickness based on the pixel pitch. The second camera body includes an image pickup element having a second pixel pitch smaller than the first pixel pitch, and a second optical unit including a second optical low-pass filter. The second optical low-pass filter includes a crystal plate as a depolarization plate of a thickness so that the optical path length of the second camera body is substantially equal to the optical path of the first optical low-pass filter.

Abstract: An object of this invention is to prevent an increase in image data while preventing degradation of the image quality caused by an image process in a digital image processing system. To achieve this object, a signal processing apparatus which quantizes pixel values within a pixel area having M (M is an integer of 2 or more) pixels into data of 2N steps by N bits (N is a positive integer) expresses a decimal part of data in the entire pixel area by increasing or decreasing by one a predetermined number of pixel values among the M pixels on the basis of the decimal part of the data in the entire pixel area.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device comprises a color decomposer that decomposes incident light into at least a color of a first wavelength and a color of a second wavelength that is shorter than the first wavelength, a light shielding film that is formed under the color decomposer and comprises first openings through which light decomposed to the color of the first wavelength is transmitted and second openings through which light decomposed to the color of the second wavelength is transmitted, the second openings being formed to be larger than the first openings, and a plurality of photo electric conversion elements that are arranged in lines and columns, each of the photo electric conversion elements generating signal electric charges corresponding to an amount of the incident light by receiving the incident light decomposed by the color decomposer and passed through the openings of the light shielding film.

Abstract: An improved non-uniform sensitivity correction algorithm for use in an imager device (e.g., a CMOS APS). The algorithm provides zones having flexible boundaries which can be reconfigured depending upon the type of lens being used in a given application. Each pixel within each zone is multiplied by a correction factor dependent upon the particular zone while the pixel is being read out from the array. The amount of sensitivity adjustment required for a given pixel depends on the type of lens being used, and the same correction unit can be used with multiple lenses where the zone boundaries and the correction factors are adjusted for each lens. In addition, the algorithm makes adjustments to the zone boundaries based upon a misalignment between the centers of the lens being used and the APS array.

Abstract: A recording system that includes a creating unit for creating an index file including a plurality of areas to each of which a unique identifier is assigned, and a recording unit for recording the index file on the recording medium. The creating unit divides file attribute information into first attribute information of a fixed data length and second attribute information of a variable data length, stores separately a plurality pieces of first attribute information associated with a plurality of files, respectively, and a plurality pieces of second attribute information associated with the plurality of first attribute information.

Abstract: In a camera unit, with respect to a relationship between an image height of respective image portion on an image formed on the pickup element and an image angle of the light lays made incident into the respective image portions, the lens system is configured so that an amount of change in the image height with respect to a change in the image angle is greater at a peripheral portion of the image than at a center part of the image. The lens system further includes an anomorphic lens system which enlarges in the vertical direction the image formed on the pickup element.

Abstract: A video/audio combo device includes a picture-taking element for taking pictures and a sound-generating element to output sound. It has a housing shell located in a portable electronic data processing device with the picture taking element and the sound-generating element jointly housed in the housing shell. While the picture-taking element can take pictures, the housing shell has a remained space to serve as a resonant space to enable the sound-generating element to achieve an improved audio output effect.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus is disclosed which enables the accuracy of re-performance determination of in-focus search control to reliably maintain an in-focus state in response to a condition change after focusing is achieved. The image-taking apparatus comprise a first detector which outputs a focus evaluation value signal and a second detector which outputs a detection signal different from the focus evaluation value signal. The image-taking apparatus comprises a controller which performs a first control for controlling drive of the focus lens such that an in-focus position of the focus lens is searched for on the basis of the focus evaluation value signal. The controller obtains shift information which represents a shift state from an in-focus state based on the detection signal from the second detector after the first control, and performs processing associated with the re-performance of the first control based on at least the shift information.

Abstract: The drive controlling apparatus has a memory of storing preset drive information of each of the optical adjusting members, and a controller for performing a preset drive control for controlling the drive of each of the optical adjusting members on the basis of the preset drive information. The controller performs the preset drive control so as to include the state in which the plurality of optical adjusting members are simultaneously driven. Furthermore, the drive controlling apparatus has a selection member being operated for selecting a set condition of the drive speed of the plurality of optical adjusting members out of a plurality of set conditions. The controller sets the drive speed in the preset drive control in accordance with the set conditions selected with the selection member.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope is provided with a CCD control system which can prevent CCD breakage caused by a latchup, etc. by detecting a Vsub output error and a Vsub supply error without placing any device near the CCD. The endoscope system has a scope including a CCD placed at the scope's distal end, a driving section that supplies a drive signal to a CCD and drives the CCD and a bias voltage generation that generates a substrate bias voltage, a processor, a voltage monitoring section that monitors the voltage value of the substrate bias voltage, a current consumption monitoring section that monitors the current consumption corresponding to the substrate bias voltage, a drive stopping section that stops supplying the drive signal to the CCD when the voltage monitoring section or the current consumption section determines an error occurs.

Abstract: Plural pieces of frame data compose a moving image. When a data writing process of writing previous frame data is in progress at the time when the latest frame data is written at a certain frame period while the plural pieces of frame data are being successively written on a recording medium, it is determined that a delay has occurred in the writing process of writing the frame data on the recording medium. When it is determined that a delay has occurred in the writing process, alternative frame data is written on the recording medium in place of the latest frame data, whereby a data amount to be recorded is reduced. When it is determined that no delay has occurred, the latest frame data is written on the recording medium.

Abstract: The invention applies wavefront coding to the front of an electro-optic/infrared device to minimize the amount of light which is retroreflected by systems, such as Fowarding Looking Infrared systems, back to its source. The invention (unlike conventional reduction methods) does not rely on reducing the laser power leaving the interrogated sensor, but primarily on controlling its direction. A sensor according to the present invention, which has been wavefront coded for reduction of reflected light, will also effect the direction of the scattered light, thereby significantly reducing that which returns to the zero bistatic angle position. In contrast, a limitation of conventional methods is that once specular reflections are addressed, the remaining retroreflected signal typically results from scattered light at the focal plane which is largely collected and recollimated by the system optics.

Abstract: A cover glass covers only light-receiving elements formed on a semiconductor substrate of a solid-state imaging device. The other area of the substrate except the light-receiving elements is exposed. An FPC interposed between an optical unit and the solid-state imaging device is formed with an opening for exposing the cover glass and an assembly reference surface of the solid-state imaging device. When the solid-state imaging device is attached to the optical unit, the center of the light-receiving elements is determined as a reference position. The optical unit is directly attached to the assembly reference surface so as to make the reference position coincide with a photographic optical axis of the optical unit.