Abstract: A workload on a user for selecting and arranging images used for album generation is reduced. Images necessary for generating an album are photographed and image data sets representing the images and accompanying information thereof are recorded in a recording medium. Data reading means reads the image data sets and the accompanying information. A template to be used for album generation is also read from template storing means. The images can be inserted in image insertion areas of the template in photographing order. With reference to the accompanying information, the images are inserted in the image insertion areas in photographing order and composite image data are generated. A printer prints the composite image data as the album.

Abstract: A cellular phone having a plurality of cameras and being able to switch display of a picture without interrupting display for the camera is provided. Processes executed by a control unit of the cellular phone include the steps of measuring a holddown time when holddown of a button is detected; sending the video signal sent from the camera corresponding to a numeric button to a main monitor when a first function button is held down for a holddown time shorter than a predetermined time and the numeric button is held down; and sending the video signal sent from the camera set as a next source to the main monitor when the numeric button is not held down. The processes further includes the step of sending the video signal sent from a main camera to main monitor when the holddown time is longer than the predetermined time.

Abstract: A photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus is in communication with an array of image photo-sensors that are organized in columns and rows and have multiple sensor types arranged in a pattern such as a Bayer pattern to detect light. The photo-sensor image resolution adjustment apparatus has a photo-sensor array decimation circuit to partition the array of image photo-sensors into a plurality of sub-groups. A column averaging circuit averages the light conversion electrical signals from common color photo-sensors within the sub-groups. A row averaging circuit averages the common color adjacent light conversion electrical signals from color adjacent rows within the sub-groups in high light intensity condition. In low light conditions, a row binning circuit integrates the common color adjacent light conversion electrical signals from color adjacent rows within the sub-groups.

Abstract: Provided are a lens apparatus and an optical apparatus having the same, the lens apparatus including a lens holding member holding a lens, a supporting member for supporting the lens holding member movably in the direction of the optical axis of the lens, a first drive mechanism for moving the supporting member in the direction of the optical axis, and a second drive mechanism for moving the lens holding member in the direction of the optical axis, wherein a focusing lens can be moved to an in-focus position within a short time and highly accurately by an AF system.

Abstract: Image processing reflecting image processing that was carried out on image data is carried out on the image data. Image data sets S1 obtained by a digital camera 1 have been subjected to image processing and image processing information G representing the type of image processing is added to the image data sets S1. In an image output apparatus 2, setting means 24 sets the content of image processing to be carried out on the image data sets S1 according to the image processing information G added thereto. For example, if the image processing information G indicates tone processing, the image processing is set so as not to carry out tone processing. Output image processing means 22 carries out the image processing on the image data sets S1 according to the content, and print output means 25 prints processed image data sets S2 as prints P.

Abstract: A portable camera with an inbuilt printer device is disclosed. The camera includes a digital image capture device, an inbuilt programming language interpreter internally connected to the digital image capture device for the manipulation of the digital image captured by the capture device and a script input means for inputting a self documenting program script for the manipulation and filtering of the captured digital image to produce visual alterations of the image. A card reader optically reads the script printed as an array of dots on one surface of a portable card, which has a visual example of the likely effect of the script on a second surface of the card. The script is interpreted and executed by the interpreter to modify the captured digital image in accordance with the script to produce a modified digital image. The modification is visually exemplified on the second surface of the card. The modified digital image is then printed out on the inbuilt printer device.

Abstract: For the purpose of noise correction for an x-ray flat-panel detector (2) it is firstly provided that in the dark image—without radiation impinging on the detector panel (4)—the noise is recorded for the subareas of an active area (8) and from this, subarea-specific correction factors are determined by means of which the respective signal value of the respective subarea is corrected in imaging operation. A dark area correction factor (DF1, DF2) is also determined in each case from the noise of two dark areas (6) that are spaced apart with respect to each other. In order to determine subarea-specific signal correction factors (SK), each of the DA correction factors (DF1, DF2) is weighted with a subarea-specific weighting factor (g1, g2), in particular a distance factor (a). By means of said measure improved noise correction is achieved.

Abstract: A camcorder mounted on a binocular includes a periscope that receives incident light on the effective line-of-sight of the binocular and reflects the light onto the line-of-sight of the camcorder into image processing elements of the camcorder, the camcorder being operable in telephoto mode and the binocular having a wide angle field of view, whereby the binocular serves as the target acquisition and maintenance of centering means for the camcorder, thereby enabling easiest acquisition of a target and enabling distant subjects of particular interest to be recorded in largest image without loss of sight of the target when the camcorder is operated in telephoto mode.

Abstract: A method for capturing a sequence of images, the method includes the steps of capturing a first image on an image sensor having a plurality of photosensitive areas having a first portion of photosensitive areas and a second portion of photosensitive areas; transferring the first portion of the first captured image to a first plurality of storage mechanisms; capturing a second image on the image sensor; transferring the second portion of the second captured image to a second plurality of the storage mechanisms; capturing a third image on the image sensor; reading out the first portion of the first captured image from the first plurality of storage mechanisms and reading out the second portion of the second captured image from the second plurality of storage mechanisms; and reading out the third image.

Abstract: A method for controlling a masking block in a monitoring camera. The method adjusts the masking block to precisely hide an image of a subject with its position and size changed when a zoom magnification is changed under a state where the masking block is set. In addition, the method adjusts a masking block to precisely hide a changed image of a subject when the monitoring camera is rotated to change the position of the image of the subject. In addition, the method measures and corrects a distance between a center axis of a CCD and an optical axis of a lens if the two axes are not coincident with each other. In addition, the method corrects an offset occurring due to an incorrect coupling between the monitor camera and a pan/tilter. Furthermore, a method for setting a masking block when a remotely uncontrollable monitoring camera is used is disclosed.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus. such as a digital camera, includes comprises a barrel, an optical viewfinder, an audio output unit, such as a speaker, and a light emitting unit, such as a strobe light. The barrel includes an image pickup element and a lens. The audio output unit is arranged in a space surrounded by the barrel, the optical viewfinder, and the light emitting unit.

Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of flicker in video images includes obtaining luminance data from sampled image fields and analyzing the luminance data to obtain a digital number characterizing the brightness of the luminance data. Frequency analysis is performed on a time-series of digital numbers collected over multiple sampled image fields to provide a signal indicative of the spectral energy at a flicker frequency band and a signal indicative of the spectral energy at a non-flicker frequency band. A ratio of the two spectral energy signals is computed as the flicker detect indicator. Multiple flicker detect indicators are accumulated to generate a flicker present signal. In one embodiment, the flicker detect indicator is accumulated only when the ratio has a value greater than a first threshold and the flicker present signal is asserted only when the number of flicker detect indicator signals accumulated exceeds an entry value.

Abstract: An anti-shake apparatus of a photographing apparatus comprises a movable unit and a fixed unit. The movable unit has an imaging device and is movable in first and second directions. The fixed unit slidably supports the movable unit in both the first and second directions. The movable unit has a hall-element unit. The magnetic-field change-detecting unit has a horizontal hall-element which is used for detecting a position of the movable unit in the first direction as a first location, and a vertical hall-element which is used for detecting a position of the movable unit in the second direction as a second location. Application of voltage to input terminals of the horizontal hall-element and the vertical hall-element is performed during a position detecting operation of the movable unit, and is stopped at a time other than that for the position detecting operation.

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 minimized camcorder including a knob for a mode-changing device. The camcorder includes a knob rotatably installed on a case. A knob holder is provided for holding the knob on the inside of the case to prevent the knob from separating from the case. A plate spring is installed inside the case and has locking swells to provide tactile feedback. A ring plate rotates together with the knob holder and has locking parts formed with a plurality of holes into which the locking swells are locked.

Abstract: A sensor such as a CCD image pickup device is equipped with a color filter of RGB Bayer array. An image is read from such a sensor (S1) and inputted to a color interpolation device as raw data (S2). The color interpolation device calculates additional values DH and DV of differential absolute values of pixel values in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction by using pixels of all colors in a peripheral area of a specified pixel (S3 and S4). The additional values DH and DV are compared with each other (S5) and when it is judged that there is a tendency of pixel drift in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction, S6 is executed. In S6, when a correlation in the vertical direction is strong, an interpolation using vertical adjacent pixels is performed and when a correlation in the horizontal direction is strong, an interpolation using horizontal adjacent pixels is performed. By this method, it is possible to improve the accuracy of color interpolation.

Abstract: A user by halfway depressing (S12) a shutter button acquires (S13, S14) the output OR and the output OL of a sensor array. Subsequently, an operation judges whether or not the absolute value of the difference between the output OR and the output OL is greater than a threshold value (S15). When judged greater than a threshold value, an operation initiates a warning notification to the user (S17, S18) and AF processing by a contrast detection method is performed. Meanwhile, when judged less than a threshold value, the focus lens is moved so focus can be performed toward the distance to an object with a phase difference detection method (S20). Then, the focus lens is moved from the existing focus lens position by a narrow range and the focus lens is moved to the lens position constituting the highest contrast value (S21).

Abstract: An imaging system includes a plurality of pixels and a control circuit. Each pixel includes a photoelectric transducer converting an optical signal into signal charge, a charge transfer device transferring the signal charge converted by the photoelectric transducer, an amplifying device amplifying the signal charge transferred from the photoelectric transducer by the charge transfer device and outputting the amplified signal charge to an output line, and a reset switch used for resetting the voltage of an input terminal of the amplifying device. The control circuit switches a reset voltage supplied through the reset switch in accordance with a sensitivity set in the imaging system.

Abstract: A white balance method for an image formed by a digital still camera is provided. The white balance method comprises steps of: removing a color cast over a white object of the image; detecting a reference white point from the image by extracting an a pixel information of the white object; and adjusting a white balance of the white object by determining a scale factor based on the color cast and the pixel information.

Abstract: Improved camera calibration techniques, including an improved up look angle and an improved method for calibrating a virtual center of projection. By using a view camera technique for the up look angle, the image sensors can be mounted flat to a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). By using a sub-region of the image sensor for the active area of the camera it is possible to calibrate the virtual center of projection (C?).