Abstract: A small, low cost, solid state camera is achieved by the placement of the requisite molecular sieve in a chamber separate from the vacuum chamber which houses the solid state device (CCD). The sieve chamber is connected by a narrow tube to the vacuum chamber and functions as a passive pump. The sieve chamber has a removable cover which permits replacement of the sieve after manufacture.

Abstract: A drive circuit that produces an over-voltage signal and protects circuit components from the over-voltage signal (i.e., such that circuit components operate within process specification limits). A photosensitive pixel cell can be driven by the drive circuit. Use of the drive circuit increases dynamic range of the pixel cell and reduces “ghost images.” Control logic selectively passes an over-voltage signal to individual rows of a 2-D pixel array.

Abstract: In a method for generating color image signals derived from an array of color image pixels, the array of color pixels are subsampled in order to generate an array of subsampled color pixels. An array of new, evenly spaced color pixels are interpolated from the subsampled color pixels using surrounding pixels of the same color, and the color image signals derived from the array of new color pixels are subsequently processed, e.g., in a color filter array interpolation. By providing this correction in a preprocessing step, the rest of the normal image processing hardware or software may be used on the resultant subsampled CFA image without developing the characteristic blocky and wavy artifacts caused by an irregular subsampling pattern.

Abstract: An image blur prevention apparatus adapted to a camera having an exposure portion, includes a first image blur detecting device that detects an image blur state of the camera, a second image blur detecting device that detects an image blur state of an optical image of the camera, and outputs a detection signal, and a determining portion that determines a photographing operation state of the camera. A calculating device, having a first calculation program and a second calculation program, selects one calculation program from among the first and second calculating programs based on a determination result of the determining portion and based on the detection signal of the second image blur detection device, and calculates a predicted blur signal in accordance with the selected calculation program.

Abstract: For use in a low-power digital imaging devices, for example a low-power single CCD-based digital camera, particularly in a battery-operated camera, a method for implementing video signal processing is provided wherein a single amplifier is employed in switched but parallel and uncorrelated signal paths in a manner which avoids fixed pattern noise that would be introduced by mismatches in gain and offset in various paths. The desired effect is achieved through use of a controller that switches appropriate sets of capacitors in parallel paths to establish different gains for each pixel component. The invention achieves power savings and flexibility to independently control gain of each color component.

Abstract: An image-pixel signal processor is used to process image-pixel signals obtained from an image-sensing area, divided into a first section and a second section, of a solid-type image sensor. The processor has an image-pixel signal reader, which simultaneously and correspondingly reads two respective series of image-pixel signals line by line from the sections. A leading signal of the image-pixel signals, included in each line, is farthest away from a boundary between the sections, and a trailing signal of the image-pixel signals, included in each line, is nearest to the boundary. The processor has a regulator, which correspondingly regulates differences in level between the signals in each line derived from the first section, and the corresponding signals in each line derived from the second section, so that a gradual reduction occurs, resulting in both levels of the trailing signals, derived from the sections, being substantially coincident with each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for increasing the frame acquisition rate of an interline transfer CCD sensor by triggering the charge transfer signal TR, which controls the shift of the electrical charges from the light-sensitive cells into the vertical shift register, more than once per frame period, so that more than one image is acquired in the same frame, one above the other. The apparatus is used primarily for surface geometry inspection of high-speed moving objects, wherein acquired CCD images are thin, substantially horizontal profile lines.

Abstract: A mount for directional devices such as cameras, optical devices or laser devices, providing independent orthogonal adjustment of panning alignment of such devices in a horizontal plane in combination with independent adjustment of rotation alignment of such devices about a vertical axis parallel to the optical axis. In a preferred embodiment, a CCD camera is aligned over a Liquid Crystal Display under test. Threaded adjustment screws angularly separate opposing plates disposed along each of x-, y- and z-axes. This angular separation generates a moment about the axis of rotation, causing a corresponding shift in the camera's alignment. Structure is also provided to compensate for differential thermal behavior of opposing plates. The inventive mount is advantageously designed to be reversible so that left-handed and right-handed embodiments can be nested to facilitate a multi-camera deployment.

Abstract: A circuit is used with an imager that is capable of capturing an image. The circuit includes a memory that is configured to during a first time interval, store a first representation of a first subimage of the image from the imager and during a second time interval, receive an update from the imager and use the update and the first representation to store a second representation of a second subimage of the image. The first subimage partially overlaps the second subimage, and the update represents a portion of the second subimage that is not present in the first subimage. The circuit also has an output circuit that is configured to during the first time interval, use the first representation to generate output signals representative of the first subimage and during the second time interval, use the second representation to generate output signals representative of the second subimage.

Abstract: The apparatus for and method of estimating the illumination closely approximates an illumination of a corresponding image. This apparatus for and method of estimating the illumination utilizes appropriate linear models to represent the illumination spectral power distribution of the illumination and the spectral surface reflectance.

Abstract: A display control system for a videoconference terminal capable of displaying proper images of participants. A video camera captures wide-angle source pictures including the images of participants. The source pictures are sent to a participant position detector and image clipping unit. The participant position detector detects a participant position by examining the source pictures. Depending on the on-screen movement observed in the participant position detected by the participant position detector, the image clipping unit determines an appropriate clipping window. It clips the desired image out of the source pictures as defined by the clipping window. A screen adjustment unit adjusts the image size so that it will fit to the actual screen size.

Abstract: A motion image processing system applies special effects to a motion image recorded on a motion storage medium by utilizing other data that is also recorded on the motion storage medium. In particular, the motion image processing system includes a structure for generating a digital image signal stream; an arrangement for accessing the other data recorded on the motion storage medium, where the other data comprises prerecorded information for generating at least one special effect in conjunction with the recorded images; a signal processing section for applying the special effect to the digital image signal stream; and a structure for loading the signal processing section with the prerecorded information on the motion recording medium in order to generate the special effect.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus including a solid-state image pickup device for photoelectrically converting incident light from an object into an electrical signal and outputting the electrical signal, an electronic flash tube for irradiating light onto the object, and a system controller for controlling the light emission timing of the electronic flash tube. The electronic flash tube is caused to emit light in the vertical blanking period of the solid-state image pickup device. The invention is to also provide an image pickup apparatus having a solid-state image pickup device capable of performing photoelectric conversion and reading out the charges accumulated for an arbitrary time, a field memory for storing image data obtained by performing predetermined processing for the readout signal, an image synthesizing unit for synthesizing an immediately preceding field image and a new image from the image pickup device, and an electronic flash unit.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a solid-state imaging element having a matrix of pixels thereon, an optical series for entering a subject image into the solid-state imaging element, and an image shifting mechanism for relatively shifting the subject image in 2-D with respect to the solid-state imaging element. A control circuit is further included for controlling an operation of the image shifting mechanism. Still further, an image synthesizing circuit is included for synthesizing a plurality of images shifted by the image shifting mechanism, along with a moving amount detecting unit for detecting a moving amount of the subject image on the solid-state imaging element. Finally, the imaging apparatus includes a shift amount generating unit for generating an image shift amount for the subject image first, and thence a correction image shift amount based on the image shift amount and moving amount, based on which the image shifting mechanism shifts the subject image.

Abstract: A zoom finder which changes a magnification of a finder image by moving two movable lenses in a variable magnification optical system of the zoom finder in a certain relation. Each movable lens is provided with a guide hole and a cam follower at an end and a engaging part at the opposite end. A guide shaft is inserted in the guide holes of the movable lenses. A rotation preventive member engages with the engaging parts of the movable lenses. The cam followers of the movable lenses are pressed against two cam faces of a finder cam. At least one of the two cam faces inclines over the whole area for use to one side with respect to a direction in which a pressing force of the pressing member is applied to the cam follower which is in contact with the cam face.

Abstract: A motion image and a still image are selectively recorded onto a recording medium. When the recording of the still image is instructed during the recording of the motion image, one picture plane in the motion image is extracted and stored into a memory. After completion of the recording of the motion image, the image data of one picture plane stored in the memory is repeatedly read out and recorded as a still image. A continuity of motion images to be reproduced is held and a reproduction image of a high picture quality is obtained.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus and method for controlling an exposure so as to maintain proper brightness for a target or desired object regardless of the background brightness. Such image pickup apparatus may include a level sensing unit having a number of level sensing or detecting devices including a first level sensing device for sensing an imaging output level of a specific luminance level area on an imaged screen and a second level sensing device for sensing an imaging output level of a skin tone area on the imaged screen. The image pickup apparatus may further include a control device for controlling the quantity of light received in an image pickup unit in accordance with the sensed or detected output levels. Additionally, the present color image pickup apparatus may be operable in a plurality of exposure modes in accordance with the imaging condition. As a result, an imaging output may be provided which has relatively high or excellent image quality.

Abstract: An addressing circuit designed for implementation within the device being addressed that uses less silicon space by selecting the desired address with shift register outputs. A fast shift register is coupled to a slow shift register by a combinatorial circuit having inputs from the fast shift register and the slow shift register to providing the selected address. A timing circuit is electrically coupled to each the fast shift register and the slow shift register. A mode select circuit that is operatively coupled to at least one of either the fast shift register or the slow shift register. The mode select circuit comprises a Boolean logic circuit that is operatively coupled to at least one of either the slow shift register or the fast shift register, the Boolean logic circuit having at least one logical input that determine a first portion of at least one of the shift registers to be used and a second portion of at least one of the shift registers to be discarded.

Abstract: A lens having color correction data includes a memory in which the color correction data necessary to make the color of an image of an object to be recorded, formed by the lens, coincident with the color of the object perceived through the naked eye is stored.

Abstract: A color linear image sensor includes first, second and third photosensitive pixel trains disposed in parallel in a manner close to each other, wherein an interpixel transfer section (10) for holding signal charges produced at the second photosensitive pixel train is provided between the second and third photosensitive pixel trains (12, 13). Since read-out operation from the second photosensitive pixel train is carried out by CCD register via the third photosensitive pixel train in the state where holding time is controlled by the interpixel transfer section, it is possible to freely adjust the integral time and the read-out timing.