Abstract: In a video signal camera having a signal processor for generating a luminance signal Y and a chrominance signal components R-Y and B-Y, an electronic view finder having a color vector display for displaying a vector corresponding to white balance on a monochromatic electronic view finder includes an amplifier for amplifying the peak values R-Y.sub.pp and B-Y.sub.

Abstract: An improved forms recognition method and system are disclosed, that minimizes the time required to perform the forms recognition process, by adaptively changing the processing sequence. In accordance with the invention, when new master forms are defined in the system, a new processing template is also defined. The processing template includes tables and indexes that give the profile of all the master forms that have been defined in the system. The processing template is then referred to at the time of forms recognition processing, to adaptively choose which forms recognition operations to perform, to minimize the time required to finish processing a particular completed form.

Abstract: A lens control device for performing focusing during lens initialization includes an axially movable focusing lens, a lens position detector for detecting the position of the lens and a detector for detecting a focus state of the lens on an image pickup plane. The lens control device further includes an initializing circuit which effects an initialization of the lens position detector, a memory circuit which stores the position of the lens at the detection of a focused state on the image pickup plane by the detector during the functioning of the initializing circuit and a control circuit which moves the lens to the position stored in the memory circuit at the completion of the initialization.

Abstract: An automatic identification system for a car-plate which comprises a photographing apparatus and an image-processing CPU. The system disclosed in the present invention can be mounted in a car for automatically identifying a car-plate that is under a still or moving condition. The photographing apparatus is used for taking the image of a car-plate, and the image is then transmitted into the image-processing CPU, which accurately extracts the characters of a car-plate using a "Fuzzy inference" technique, and identifies the characters through a character structure analysis neural network. With the automatic identification system of the present invention, an incorrect identification can be avoided in the event the image of a car-plate is blurred, and the characters is deformed or smeared.

Abstract: When a visible image is reproduced from an image signal Sorg representing an image, a value of an unsharp mask signal Sus corresponding to each picture element in the image is calculated by carrying out an operation expressed asSus=.SIGMA.Sorg/(M.times.N)on values of image signal components of the image signal Sorg, which image signal components represent the picture elements falling within an area having a size corresponding to M.times.N number of picture elements surrounding each of the picture elements in the image. A formula is employed which is expressed asS=.gamma.(K1.times.Sorg+.beta.(Sorg).times.(K2.times.Sorg-D (Sus) ))wherein .gamma. (x) represents a function with respect to an arbitrary value x, .beta. (Sorg) represents a function of an emphasis coefficient with respect to the image signal Sorg, D (Sus) represents an arbitrary function with respect to the unsharp mask signal Sus, and K1 and K2 represent fixed numbers. In the formula, the functions .beta. (x), .beta.

Abstract: A p type well is formed on a silicon substrate. An n.sup.- type region forming a photo diode is formed in the p type well. A p type region is also formed in the p type well. The p type region is used for surrounding the n type region which becomes a vertical CCD register part. Generally, such a structure is called a Hi-C structure. A P.sup.+ type region for controlling the potential height when transferring is formed between the photo diode and the vertical CCD register part. A P.sup.+ type region is formed for electrical separation. A P.sup.++ type region is formed on the surface of a silicon substrate of the photo diode. On the silicon substrate, a gate oxide film is grown. A silicon nitride film is grown in a specified region on the gate oxide film. On the silicon nitride film, a polysilicon electrode which is a conductive electrode, acting as a driving electrode, is formed. On the surface of the polysilicon electrode, a polysilicon oxide film is grown by thermal oxidation.

Abstract: A CCD sensor 3 generates video signals in response to an incident light representing an image of an image. In accordance with a video signal supplied from a focusing region of the CCD sensor, a first control section including a focusing control unit 9 generates a focus control signal. In response to the focus control signal, a drive circuit 10 and a motor 1 control an imaging lens 2 so as to focus the lens 2 on the image. Further, in response to a motion vector signal outputted from a motion vector detecting unit 6, a second control section including a distance measurement region control unit 7 controls a position of the focusing region so that the focusing region tracks motion of the image of the object. In addition, a view-finder 11 displays the video signals supplied from the CCD image sensor 3 and a cursor representing the focusing region.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device for imaging an object moving at a high speed using a solid-state image sensor having an electronic shutter function. A modulated horizontal synchronizing signal, modulated so as to have a frequency higher than the frequency of the normal horizontal synchronizing signal depending on the designated shutter speed, is supplied from a modulated synchronizing signal generator to a timing generator. The timing generator counts a predetermined number of the modulated horizontal synchronizing signal pulses since the timing of a vertical synchronizing signal to output a readout pulse at a more prompt timing than when the normal horizontal synchronizing signal pulses are counted. The readout pulse controls the function of the electronic shutter of the solid-state imaging device. This enables the CCD image sensor to perform imaging by a high-speed shutter operation.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device includes an image sensor having a two-dimensional matrix of picture elements. A first vertical scanning circuit provides a first vertical scanning signal, while a second vertical scanning circuit provides second and third vertical scanning signals. A switching circuit is coupled with horizonal lines of picture elements in the image sensor on one vertical side of the two-dimensional matrix and serves to switch either the first vertical scanning signal from the first vertical scanning circuit to the horizontal lines of picture elements, or in the alternative, the second and third vertical scanning signals from the second vertical scanning circuit thereto. When selected by the switching circuit, the first vertical scanning signal reads the picture elements in a respective horizontal line and a horizontal scanning circuit scans the picture elements in the selected horizontal line to read image signals from these picture elements.

Abstract: A suitable image is obtained of a subject in which the difference in luminance between a bright area and a dark area is very large. The dark area is properly exposed and first image data is obtained. The bright area is properly exposed, and second image data is obtained. The first image data pertaining to the bright area is replaced with the second image data, thereby obtaining composite image data. This is accomplished using an array of photodiodes comprising two sets of photodiodes, one set of the photodiodes comprising filters, and the respective sets of photodiodes output signals to respectively different transfer paths for signal processing.

Abstract: A stop-frame animation apparatus and method includes making a series of drawings representing the desired poses for the a three-dimensional object to be animated. The drawings are sequentially viewed by a first television camera which relays the image of the drawings onto a television monitor. The monitor simultaneously displays an image of the three-dimensional object to be animated from a second television camera. A semi-transparent mirror is used to divert a portion of the light from the three-dimensional object that is directed toward a motion picture camera to the second television camera. The two television cameras are synchronized by a common sync generator so that the two videos are properly mixed and the corresponding two images are superimposed in a proper spatial relationship. One then uses the mixing of the two images displayed simultaneously on the single monitor to position the object so that it conforms to the drawing seen on the television monitor.

Abstract: A video camera apparatus has an optical zoom and an electronic zoom which are both smoothly operated in a ganged relation while a zoom speed is maintained. The optical zoom means and electronic zoom means are respectively controlled by microcomputers. In that case, zoom information, such as a zoom magnification, is supplied to the two microcomputers via a serial communication, or a zoom magnification of the optical zoom means is constantly supplied to the microcomputer. When the optical zoom means reaches a wide angle lens end or telephoto lens end, a zoom speed thereof is not stopped rapidly but the zoom speed thereof is progressively decreased just before the optical zoom means reaches the wide angle lens end or telephoto lens end under the control of the microcomputer. When a zooming operation is started, the electronic zoom means do not immediately reach target zoom speeds but progressively increase their zoom speeds to reach the target zoom speeds.

Abstract: A surveillance camera system including a base plate, a truncated cone, a rotation ring spaced from the base of the truncated cone, a camera mounting assembly which readily mounts within the rotation ring, and a dome which rotates with the camera assembly and is easily engaged into position against spring-biased rollers. The system is a unique and novel combination of electrical and electromechanical components providing for ready access of all components in the event of servicing. The system will accept any suitable surveillance camera, and is readily adaptable with any surveillance camera of the appropriate size. An alternative embodiment illustrates a completely rotatable surveillance camera system which can be suspended from a standard.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus for an electronic endoscope capable of realizing a compact size and improved optical characteristics simultaneously. In the apparatus, the imaging element is mounted on the rigid circuit substrate such that the substrate connection pads of the rigid circuit substrate and the element connection pads of the imaging element are electrically connected by a mutual compression bonding between the rigid circuit substrate and the imaging element, by a face-down bonding such that the imaging surface of the imaging element is facing toward the window of the rigid circuit substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for processing the output signals of a charge transfer device having at least one row of photoelectric elements. The charge transfer device produces output signals with charge levels that are provided to a shift register having a plurality of elements. The successive charge levels from each photoelectric element are provided to respective shift register elements, and the charge levels are transferred within the shift register to a readout terminal. Some of the charge is retained by each element as the charge is transferred. The retained charge is added to the next charge transferred into the element. This adding of residual charges averages the charges transferred, producing undesirable noise. A sample and hold device removes sampling artifacts inherent in the signal provided by the CCD, to produce a signal representing successive image pixel values.

Abstract: A method is provided for encoding an image in an iterated transformation image compression system. The image, represented by an array of pixels, is partitioned into ranges and domains. A transformation is generated for each domain such that no transformation is constrained to be contractive. Each domain's transformation is optimized in terms of the intensity scaling and offset coefficients. A domain and corresponding optimized transformation is selected that minimizes transformation error data. These steps are repeated for a chosen plurality of the ranges that form a non-overlapping tiling of the image and such that the corresponding optimized transformations associated with the chosen plurality form an eventually contractive map. Information that identifies each of the chosen plurality of the ranges and the selected domains and corresponding optimized transformations is then stored in an addressable memory as an encoding of the image.

Abstract: A method an apparatus for automatically focusing cameras. An auto focus circuit detects highly bright objects contained within an image frame of a scene. If highly bright objects are not detected, an auto focus processor adjusts the focus of the camera to maximize high spatial frequency components of the image frame. The auto focus processor focuses on the highly bright objects by minimizing a count function that indicates the number of pixels having greater magnitude than a threshold reference.

Abstract: There is provided an image pickup apparatus with zooming function, which is equipped with a photoelectric converter for converting an image of an object to be taken by an optical system into an electric signal. The optical system and photoelectric converter are provided as separately slidable on an optical axis. A high frequency component of the electric signal is extracted to determine if the image is in focus by means of level of the high frequency component. Responding to the result of the judgement, the optical system and photoelectric converter are respectively slid to click stop points on the optical axis where the image is in focus.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving an image pick-up device is provided with arrays of photoelectric elements, and vertical transfer portions are located adjacent to the arrays of photoelectric elements. A photographing lens for forming a focused image of an object to be photographed on the light receiving surface of the image pick-up device, a release device for performing a release operation, and a diaphragm device having a diaphragm for adjusting the quantity of light incident upon said light-receiving surface of the image pick-up device are provided. The diaphragm is normally fully closed but when a release operation is commenced, the diaphragm device opens the diaphragm to a predetermined diaphragm value, and fully closes the diaphragm in accordance with a predetermined stop-down speed after a completion of the exposure.

Abstract: In an illumination system for a film telecine scanner of the type adapted to provide a line of illumination on the image frames of a film which is supported for rapid movement in a film gate of the scanner, an improved light control system for adjusting the amount of light that is delivered from a light source to an integrating cylinder to take into account fluctuations in intensity of the light source and desired intensity changes in the line of illumination upon a change of scene in the image frames of the film as the film is being scanned. The light control system includes aperture defining apparatus for selectively adjusting the amount of light entering said integrating cylinder in response to the commanded light intensity signal within the time span of scanning a single image frame of the film.