Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for creating interactive virtual tours. In one embodiment, panoramic imaging systems characterized by a 360-degree lateral field of view and a vertical field of view that is usually less than 180 degrees are utilized and polynomial-based interpolation algorithms are used to correct distortions in the input panoramic images, video or rendered scenes, permitting the use of an arbitrary panoramic imaging system characterized by the ability to generate a seamless 360-degree panoramic view of the imaged scene in each single image frame.

Abstract: A video presenter includes a table, a supporting base disposed at one side of the table, a support arm formed in a generally arch shape and rotatably coupled to the supporting base, a camera head rotatably coupled at an upper end of the support arm, a lamp holder attached to an inwardly facing surface of the support arm, and a lamp unit rotatably coupled to the lamp holder and including a lamp cover having a curved inner surface with a varying radius of curvature. The lamp cover may have a plurality of prisms at its inner surface.

Abstract: A method for operating a digital photographing apparatus having a touch screen is provided. The method includes: detecting if a menu button for changing shooting information of a digital photographing apparatus has been pressed by a user; displaying icons on a display panel to illustrate which operating modes are currently set; detecting when a user has touched one of the displayed icons and, in response thereto, displaying menu icons that correspond to the touched icon; and, if a menu icon that is desired to be changed is touched among the displayed menu icons, performing a relevant function to change shooting information. According to the above method, shooting information of the camera can be simply changed by operating only the icons displayed on the touch screen. Thus, a unique camera operating method is provided whereby a user can easily and conveniently change and operate shooting information and images.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical apparatus which can avoid the movement of an unnatural image by an image-shake correction function. An optical apparatus comprises a controller which performs an image-shake correcting control based on a signal generated by using an output of a shake detector which detects a shake. The controller performs filtering processing and integrating processing to the signal. The controller changes a cutoff frequency in the filtering processing and the integration constant according to the information on a focal length of an image-taking optical system which forms an object image and information on the object distance.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device comprises a substrate, a photoelectric conversion element, an accumulation well, a modulation well, a modulation transistor, a transfer control element, and an unwanted electric charge discharging control element. The photoelectric conversion element generates photo-generated electric charges corresponding to incident light, which are accumulated in the accumulation well. The transfer control element changes a potential barrier between the accumulation well and the modulation well. The modulation transistor has a channel threshold voltage controlled by the electric charges stored in the modulation well and outputs a pixel signal corresponding to the electric charges. The unwanted electric charge discharging control element discharges the electric charges that overflow from the accumulation well through the unwanted electric charge discharging channel.

Abstract: A print system comprises a digital camera and a printer. The digital camera photographs a subject and produces image data. Print data including print-setting data and printing data is produced from the image data and print setting information. The digital camera is provided with a high-speed radio I/F and a low-speed radio I/F. The printer is also provided with a high-speed radio I/F and a low-speed radio I/F. The setting data is transferred from the digital camera to the printer through the low-speed radio I/F. The printing data is transferred from the digital camera to the printer through the high-speed radio I/F. The printer prints an image of the subject on the basis of the print data transferred from the digital camera to the printer.

Abstract: In a state deciding apparatus, an information acquiring unit acquires pieces of information of different types related to a state of an image forming apparatus. An index value calculating unit calculates an index value based on the pieces of information acquired. A state change deciding unit decides a change in a subsequent state of the image forming apparatus, based on a temporal change in the index value calculated.

Abstract: A method and circuit for performing Correlated Double Sub-Sampling (CDSS) of pixels in an active pixel sensor (APS) array. The method and the apparatus subsamples a plurality (L2) of pixels by: storing L2 analog reset charges output from the L2 pixels into a first set of (N2) storage capacitors, and combining the (L2) reset charges; storing L2 analog image signal charges output from the L2 pixels into a second set of (N2) storage capacitors, and combining the (L2) image charges; and then obtaining a differential voltage (VS-VR) by subtracting (in the analog-domain) the voltage (VR) represented by the combined (L2) reset charges from the voltage (VS) represented by the combined (L2) image signal charges. When L equals one, the circuit performs conventional Correlated Double Sampling CDS upon the one pixel.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for creating a higher resolution still image from a multiple video frames having a lower resolution. The system includes a sampling mechanism for extracting multiple video frames captured by a video recording device and an output mechanism for outputting a single high resolution still image from the multiple extracted video frames. The system may include an analysis module for performing an analysis to determine if the selected lower resolution video frames can be combined into a single higher resolution still image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is provided which includes: an image obtaining unit for obtaining a mosaic image by an image sensor having at least four kinds of filters with different spectral sensitivities, one of the at least four kinds of filters being used for each pixel; and an image processing unit for generating a color image such that intensity information at a position of each pixel, the intensity information corresponding to a number of colors determined by the spectral sensitivities of the filters, is computed for all pixels, from the mosaic image obtained by the image obtaining unit. In a color filter arrangement of the image sensor of the image obtaining unit, filters possessed by pixels arranged in a checkered manner in half of all the pixels have at least some spectral characteristics having a strong correlation with the spectral characteristic of luminance.

Abstract: A printer and a digital camera are respectively provided with a radio interface. The printer loads identification information of the digital camera upon receiving radio transmission of the digital camera. The printer checks the identification information with communication admission information stored in advance. When the identification information is coincident with the communication admission information, the printer automatically changes a normal print mode to a radio communication mode. After that, the printer directly loads image data stored in a memory card of the digital camera to perform printing out thereof.

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: An image processing apparatus comprises an image display unit for displaying a desired image in accordance with an image signal, and image pickup units disposed respectively on the left and right sides of the image display unit. An image picked up from the left side and an image picked up from the right side are displayed together to be synthesized as the desired image in an image display unit of, e.g., a terminal of a conversation partner. Display in eye-to-eye matching with the conversation partner is thereby realized. An image processing apparatus, such as a portable communication terminal, capable of realizing conversation in a natural eye-to-eye matching state with the conversation partner can be provided.

Abstract: Camera includes a first, second and third exterior members for covering an inner assembly. The first and second exterior members cover a front face, a rear face, a top face, a bottom face and a side face of the inner assembly. The side face is closer to a center of gravity of the inner assembly. The third exterior member extends along the top face, the bottom face and the side face to cover mated portions of the first and second exterior members and does not cover another side of the inner assembly, away from the center of gravity.

Abstract: An image capture device includes a light source, an image capture unit, a brightness detector, an object distance obtaining unit which obtains an object distance to the object, first and second controllers, and an amplifier which amplifies an image signal output from the image capture unit by an amplifying factor according to a sensitivity set by one of the first and second controllers. The first controller disables the light source and sets a sensitivity which is in accordance with the brightness of the object and which is lower than a predetermined sensitivity. The second controller enables the light source and sets a sensitivity which is lower than the predetermined sensitivity. The second controller includes a sensitivity obtaining unit which obtains a sensitivity according to the object distance and a maximum amount of light emitted from the light source, and a setting unit which sets the obtained sensitivity.

Abstract: An electronic equipment is disclosed, which includes screen means for showing an image by using the set show zoom ratio and processor means for performing zooming of the image in a selected zooming direction in order to show the image on the screen means, in which zooming operation a such of fit-to-screen zoom ratio is arranged to be determined by using of which the image is to be fitted on the screen means and in which part of the possible show zoom ratios are arranged to form default zoom ratios changing in a set manner in order to deal out successive zooming operations in the selected zooming direction. By the processor means is arranged to be determined the difference between the fit-to-screen zoom ratio and the next default zoom ratio in the selected zooming direction and based on the difference and the zooming direction is arranged to be set the said show zoom ratio.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image pickup device including a zoom function not using any optical means and capable of correcting a signal from a defective pixel based on positional information for the defective pixel previously stored therein.

Abstract: A horizontal charge coupled device (CCD) driving circuit, a solid-state image-sensing device having the same, and a method of driving the solid-state image-sensing device, transmits image signals using horizontal driving signals having a middle voltage during rising and falling of the horizontal signals. The middle voltage of the horizontal driving signals is generated when an equipotential switch is turned “on” while the output nodes of buffer circuits are in a floating state.

Abstract: A CCD control system is provided which can prevent CCD breakage caused by a latchup, etc. by having a function to detect two kinds of errors, Vsub error and power voltage error to prevent a latchup, etc. with placing the switching circuit in the CCD section, and the Vout signal monitoring circuit, without laying additional wiring to the CCD or making the diameter of the insertion tube larger. An electronic endoscope adopting the CCD control system is also provided which can prevent CCD breakage caused by a latchup, etc.

Abstract: A video frame is part of an isochronous stream of video data transmitted over an IEEE 1394-1995 network. The desired frame rate is determined by the receiving device. The source device determines a ratio of data packets versus video frames in response to the frame rate and a cycle time. This ratio rarely computes to an integer result. Accordingly, the source device generates two groups of frames. A first group contains an integer value of packets nearest to and above the ratio. A second group contains an integer value of packets nearest to and below the ratio. To achieve the frame rate, the source device serially generates each of the frames in an order including a combination of the first group of frames and the second group of frames to achieve the ratio. The source device then transmits the resulting isochronous video stream of data to the receiving device.