Abstract: A cellular phone set comprises a control device, a display device, a speaker, a microphone, a camera, a storage device, a power supply section, a communication device, an opened and closed state detector, and an acceleration sensor for detecting a state in which a second case has been started to be opened with respect to a first case, a state in which the second case has been started to be superimposed (closed) with respect to the first case, or an acceleration in a state in which the second case is completely superimposed (closed).

Abstract: An image processing apparatus is disclosed which includes: an imaging unit for taking a picture of an object using an image pickup device; a picture storing unit for storing the picture taken; a vibration detecting unit for detecting an amount of vibration applied to the imaging unit and outputting the detected amount of vibration; a compensation amount calculating unit for calculating an amount of compensation necessary for offsetting effects of the vibration on the imaging unit in accordance with the amount of vibration; a change amount calculating unit for calculating an amount of change in the amount of compensation between predetermined positions; a compensation limit determining unit for determining whether a limit of the compensation available for the picture stored in the picture storing unit is exceeded by the amount of change; a compensation amount adjusting unit for adjusting the amount of compensation depending on whether the limit of the compensation is exceeded, before outputting the adjusted am

Abstract: A new adaptive pixel architecture, folded-multiple-capture (FMC), integrates synchronous self-reset and multiple capture schemes and advantageously eliminates the requirement of a high-frame-rate sensor array, which is essential for conventional image sensors with high dynamic range. The FMC comprises a per-pixel analog-front-end (AFE), a fine analog-digital convertor (ADC) stage, and a digital-signal-processor/controller (DSPC) stage. The AFE performs programmable gain control, synchronous self-reset, sample-and-hold, and enables disturbance detection. In the AFE, a comparator compares an integrator output with a threshold voltage and produces a binary sequence accordingly. The ADC utilizes the binary sequence and the folded multiple capture signals to estimate photocurrent.

Abstract: An CMOS active pixel sensor (APS) imaging system include circuitry to compensate for different analog offset levels from the CMOS pixel array. More specifically, the compensation is performed in the analog (charge) domain. A digital correction value, which may be measured as part of the operation or testing of the CMOS APS system, is provided to a offset correction block circuit, to generate an analog electrical signal. The analog electrical signal is supplied to a sample-and-hold circuit including a charge amplifier. The signal read from the pixel array, after conditioning through an analog signal chain, is also supplied to the charge amplifier, which has a linear transfer function and outputs the compensated signal.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a substrate; a plurality of pixels on the substrate, one or more of the pixels comprises (i) first and second charge-storage regions having at least one photosensitive area; (ii) a lateral overflow drain; (iii) a first lateral overflow gate adjacent the first charge-storage regions that passes substantially all charges from the first charge-storage region to the lateral overflow drain; and (iv) a second lateral gate adjacent the second charge-storage region that passes excess photo-generated charge into the lateral overflow drain for blooming control.

Abstract: A digital image processing apparatus and a method thereof. The apparatus includes a CCD to photoelectrically transform an optical image which is imaged through a lens part, using a mosaic color filter array pattern, a buffer to store a color data output from the CCD by a pixel, in a predetermined unit, and an ADSE logic to color-interpolate a spatially missing color data by adaptively applying a luminance significance element value to a certain color interpolation method, the luminance significance element value indicating contribution of each color to an entire luminance with respect to each pixel color data stored in the buffer.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup apparatus includes a low-sensitivity decision section made up of an arithmetic circuit and a data decision circuit. During RAW mode recording operation, the arithmetic circuit executes sensitivity correction on low-sensitivity pixel data. The data decision circuit compares the low-sensitivity pixel data thus corrected with high-sensitivity pixel data to thereby produce map data pixel by pixel. Subsequently, pixel data are omitted on the basis of an embedding condition assigned to basic data set beforehand and the map data, whereby recording data a regenerated. The recording data are then recorded in a recording medium together with the map data and high-sensitivity pixel data.

Abstract: There is provided a lens adapter easily detachable to and from a case, with an optical component such as a filter, a conversion lens etc. attached without a dedicated member on a camera side for attaching. The lens adapter has an attachment section attached to the case of the camera, and a lens barrel housing section provided at the attachment section for housing a lens barrel. The attachment section has first and second members swingably engaging in a detachable manner and is attached to the case in a state that the first and second members sandwich the case in a direction from front to rear of the case. A metallic ring is embedded on a front end of a cylindrical wall section forming a lens barrel housing section. A female screw for attaching an optical component such as a filter, a conversion lens etc. is formed on an inner peripheral surface of the ring.

Abstract: Disclosed is a light sensor circuit which works by producing in a photoelectric converting element a photo current proportional to a quantity of incident light falling thereon, converting the photo current into a voltage signal by using a threshold region characteristic of a transistor with a logarithmic output characteristic in a weak inverse state and producing a sensor output corresponding to the voltage signal. The light sensor circuit is provided with an initializing means for removing an electric charge remaining in a parasite capacitor of the photoelectric converting element before detecting light by the same element, thereby achieving a wide dynamic range and obtaining a sensor signal with no afterglow even if it works with a small quantity of incident light.

Abstract: A sigma-delta modulation sensing circuit and an analog-to-digital converter for an imager that do not rely on the ratio of the reset and pixel voltage levels being sensed. The sensing circuit includes a regulation branch based on a reference voltage common across multiple columns of the imager. The regulation branch has an adjustable resistance that is modulated during the sensing operation, which creates an adjustment current that is applied during the sensing operation to a current associated with one of the reset and pixel signals. The sensing circuit and analog-to-digital converter can generate a digital code based on the difference between the reset and pixel signal voltage levels, which substantially mitigates noise associated with the pixel and reset signal voltages. The reference voltage can also be used as a gain control for the imager as well.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a video apparatus and a method for controlling the same, wherein a video signal and an audio signal are synchronized. The method comprises receiving a video signal and an audio signal, detecting an internal delay time and/or external delay time associated with the video signal, and delaying the audio signal on the basis of the detected internal delay time and/or external delay time to synchronize the video signal and the audio signal with each other.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package for an image sensor chip includes an integrated heater element. In one embodiment, the integrated circuit package includes a substrate including a first surface disposed to receive an image sensor chip and a second surface having an array of contact terminals formed thereon and a heater element. The heater element has a first terminal and a second terminal coupled to a first contact terminal and a second contact terminal. The heater element is positioned on the first surface of the substrate and underneath the sensor area of the image sensor chip to be assembled in the package. The heater element provides heating of the sensor area of the image sensor chip when a first voltage is applied across the first contact terminal and the second contact terminal. An ESD protection resistor can be coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal of the heater element.

Abstract: The photo-detecting device includes of a photodetector for detecting incident light, an input J FET for reading the sensing signal from the photodetector, an amplifier for amplifying the signal detected by the input J FET, a feed-back circuit for feeding the output of the amplifier back to the gate of the input J FET through a feed-back capacitor, a reset circuit for resetting the feed-back capacitor by discharging it with a reset MOS FET, and a circuit of a switch and resistor. The same level voltage as the gate voltage of the input J FET is applied to its source through a resistor, and the circuit of the switch and the resistor is connected between the source of the reset MOS FET and the feed-back capacitor. The reset MOS FET and switch are controlled so that the reset MOS FET is turned “on” and “off” while the switch is “on”.

Abstract: A cellular phone provided with a camera that comprises an imaging optical system, a lens barrel, a drive mechanism, and a reception informing processor, is provided. The lens barrel holds the imaging optical system. The drive mechanism drives the lens barrel in order to carry out one of a focusing operation and a zooming operation of the imaging optical system. The reception informing processor informs of a reception of a communication when the reception is detected. The reception informing processor comprises a mechanism to inform of the reception by actuating the lens barrel by using the drive mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention provides an adapter device to which a small video camera can easily be attached.

Abstract: A digital camera capable of selectively taking still images and moving images, includes a camera body including a photographing optical system; a grip mounted to the camera body to be rotatable relative to the camera body; a first manual operational member adopted for making the digital camera take the still images; and a second manual operational member adopted for making the digital camera take the moving images. The grip includes two adjacent non-parallel surfaces, neither of which faces the camera body, the first manual operational member and the second manual operational member being provided on one and the other of the two adjacent non-parallel surfaces, respectively.

Abstract: In a color-noise reduction circuit in which a color-difference signal of a target pixel is substituted in a random substitution circuit 104 by a color-difference signal of another pixel within an area including the target pixel, a pixel-substitution color-difference signal that is the substituted signal whose high-frequency components are removed in an LPF 106 and the color-difference signal of the target pixel are added together in a summation circuit 108 at a predetermined ratio obtained by a pixel-substitution utilization rate calculation circuit 107, and is outputted as a noise-reduced color-difference signal of the target pixel. Therefore, efficient color-noise reduction and suppression of occurrence of color jitters can be realized.

Abstract: A pivot shaft mechanism includes a rotation support cylinder; an inner shaft provided in the rotation support cylinder to be relatively rotatable; an annular space formed between an inner peripheral surface of the rotation support cylinder and an outer peripheral surface of the inner shaft; engaging recesses formed on the outer peripheral surface of the inner shaft; and a resilient ring member which includes an arc-shaped arm portion which is formed as a partial annular ring, and a pair of bent end portions. The resilient ring member is installed between the rotation support cylinder and the inner shaft with the arc-shaped arm portion installed in the annular space in a resiliently deformed state and the pair of bent end portions installed in the engaging recesses in a resiliently deformed state to apply a frictional resistance between the rotation support cylinder and the inner shaft.

Abstract: An anti-eclipse circuit of an image pixel includes a clamping circuit for pulling up a voltage of a reset signal output by the pixel and an eclipse detection circuit for controllably coupling the clamping circuit output to the output of the pixel. The clamping circuit includes a source follower transistor and a switching transistor. The eclipse detection circuit includes a comparator that is operated to detect an eclipse condition. The eclipse detection circuit outputs a control signal to cause the switching transistor to conduct only when a eclipse condition is detected while the pixel is outputting a reset signal.

Abstract: An image processing device is provided. The image processing device includes a first shift register connected to a line for reading out an image signal that selects a line where a signal in response to carriers accumulated in an accumulation state for generating carriers in the photo diode in response to received light is read out, regarding each line of the matrix by scanning a plurality of lines in a direction that is perpendicular to each line of a matrix and is designated, a second shift register connected to a line for clearing an image signal where the residual carriers in the solid-state image-pickup element are discharged from the solid-state image-pickup element, and an output circuit that outputs a reset signal to the first shift register when a direction of scanning lines of the matrix is changed.