Abstract: An image pickup device provided with an automatic exposure function includes an image pickup unit configured to input image data corresponding to a subject, a face detection unit configured to detect a human face from the image data input from the image pickup unit, a photometric unit configured to measure optical intensity, designating the human face detected by the face detection unit as a photometric area, and an exposure control unit configured to calculate the exposure based on the photometric result of the human face by the photometric unit, and to perform exposure control based on the calculated exposure.

Abstract: In an electronic image pickup apparatus, if a mode used and some of setting values of additional functions are changed, a camera control microprocessor computes the number of images that can be captured on the basis of a current consumption integrated value that has been computed by a current integrating unit and stored in a storage unit, updates data of the number of images that can be captured using the computation result, and performs control processing so as to cause a display unit to display the updated data.

Abstract: The digital camera according to an embodiment executes image sensing processing first, if interruption processing occurs during transfer parameter setting processing. Thus, the user does not miss a photo opportunity.

Abstract: When a signal is read from a CCD solid-state image pickup element, the CCD solid-state image pickup element is driven with at least two driving voltages so that high-speed reading is performed with generation of noise due to interference between the driving voltages reduced. The CCD solid-state image includes a charge storage section between a vertical transfer register and a horizontal transfer register. By performing the transfer of charge in the direction of columns during an effective transfer period of the transfer in the direction of rows, signal charge of one row generated by a light receiving sensor is transferred to the charge storage section, and by performing the transfer outside the effective transfer period in the transfer in the direction of the row, the signal charge of one row transferred to the charge storage section is transferred to the horizontal transfer register.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a first part and a second part separable from each other. If the first part and the second part are in a united state, the imaging apparatus stores image data into a storage medium of the first part or a storage medium of the second part. If the first part and the second part are in a separated state, the imaging apparatus stores image data into a storage medium of the first part and transmits the image data stored in its storage medium to the second part.

Abstract: In a multilayer film filter formed of inorganic dielectric materials, a spacer layer has different thicknesses to form a plurality of color-transmissive filter elements having multiple different spectral characteristics on an image sensor.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus includes an image sensing unit that performs image sensing by converting incoming light into electrical signals, a control unit that controls driving of the image sensing unit so as to read out the electrical signals by each area of a plurality of areas of the image sensing unit, and a signal processing unit that processes the electrical signals read out by each of the plurality of areas. The control unit varies a horizontal cycle that drives the image sensing unit for each of the plurality of areas.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention comprise methods and systems for input device to television networking.

Abstract: An image pickup device includes an image pickup unit configured to convert an optical image of a subject to image data and to output the image data, a face image recognition unit configured to recognize face image from the image data, and a face portion judgment unit configured to judge each portion in the face image recognized by the face image recognition unit. When every portion in the face image can be judged by the face portion judgment unit, a release button for executing photographing of the subject is automatically pressed, or the photographing operation is executed.

Abstract: A digital image process for a digital camera contains a preprocessor and a postprocessor. The preprocessor can include, for example, a uniformity corrector, a sampling filter, a modulation transformer, and a ditherer. The postprocessor can include a color interpolator, an RGB reconstruction block, a digital compressor, and a color pattern data buffer. The digital image process is programmable to operate one or more of the processing blocks of one or both the preprocessor and the postprocessor for flexible programming that can adapt to the requirements of various digital camera designs or users.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprises an image pickup element that includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, and is operable in a first drive mode for reading a low resolution image based on an output of the photoelectric conversion elements or a second drive mode for reading a higher resolution image than the low resolution image, a drive unit that drives the image pickup element, a frame memory that stores image data read by the image pickup element in the first drive mode, an image enlarging portion that enlarges an image size of the image data stored in the frame memory, and a noise reduction unit that performs noise reduction on image data read by the image pickup element in the second drive mode, based on the image data enlarged by the image enlarging portion. This configuration enables high frame rate moving images to be obtained. Further, degradation of image resolution can be prevented, and random noise contained in images can be suppressed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for computing focus information prior to scanning digital microscope slides with a line scan camera. The methods include a point-focus procedure that works by moving the slide to the desired measurement location, moving the objective lens through a predefined set of height values, acquiring imagery data at each height, and determining the height of maximum contrast. The methods also include a ribbon-focus procedure whereby imagery data are acquired continuously, while the slide and objective lens are in motion. Both methods may be applied with either a static or a dynamic implementation.

Abstract: Device comprising a camera module with automatic focusing itself comprising an optical chip (8) and an optical block (7), the optical block (7) integrating at least an objective (3), at least a focusing means (11) for adjusting the focus of the objective (3), the optical chip (8) integrating at least an image sensor (14) placed on a first face of a substrate of the optical chip (8). This optical chip (8) also includes a microprocessor (4) placed on the same substrate, receiving image signals originating from the image sensor (14) and generating a control signal based on the said image signals, that is applied to the said focusing means (11) to focus the objective (3).

Abstract: Automatic white balancing of a digital image. In one example embodiment, a method for automatic white balancing of a full-color input image includes several acts. First, pixels of the input image are selected according to one or more predetermined criteria. Next, global gain values for R and B components of the input image are determined using the selected pixels. Then, local gain values for the R and B components of each individual pixel of the input image are determined based on characteristics of each individual pixel. Next, a final gain value for the R and B components of each individual pixel of the input image is determined based on contributions of the local and global gain values. Finally, a white-balanced output image is produced by adjusting the R and B components of each pixel in the input image using the corresponding final gain value.

Abstract: A method and digital imaging device, such as a digital camera module, is provided for digital imaging. The method includes the step of determining a signal-to-noise ratio associated with a first pixel location of a plurality of pixel locations and a signal-to-noise ratio associated with a second pixel location of the plurality of pixel locations, and the steps of assigning a first exposure time to the first pixel location in response to the signal-to-noise ratio associated with the first pixel location and assigning a second exposure time different from the first exposure time to the second pixel in response to the signal-to-noise ratio associated with the second pixel location. The method further includes the step of exposing the first pixel location for the first exposure time while exposing the second pixel location for the second exposure time to create a digital image.

Abstract: A shutter arrangement for covering a camera lens includes a camera lens cover that is movable in a plane along a first direction between a first closed position and a second opened position. In the first closed position, the camera lens cover substantially covers the camera lens and in the second opened position, the camera lens is substantially uncovered. The shutter arrangement also includes a movable cover that moves between a first position and a second position which displaces the movable cover from the plane.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion apparatus is disclosed. A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes a pixel array in which pixels including photoelectric conversion units are arrayed in a row direction and a column direction, a plurality of first column signal lines which are electrically connected to the pixels arrayed in the pixel array in the column direction, respectively, a plurality of column amplification units which amplify signals provided via the plurality of the first column signal lines, respectively, a power supply line which provides a power supply voltage to the plurality of column amplification units, and a plurality of second column signal lines which are electrically connected to output sides of the plurality of column amplification units, respectively. Each column amplification unit includes a current limiting unit which limits the flow of an excessive current to each of the plurality of second column signal lines.

Abstract: A histogram detecting unit detects a distribution of numbers of pixels by luminance level of a picked-up image signal. A maximum luminance value calculating unit calculates a maximum luminance value of the inputted image signal. A high luminance proportion calculating unit calculates a proportion of a high luminance signal out of all of the pixels composing one or a plurality of frames based on the detected distribution of numbers of pixels by luminance level. A knee point calculating unit calculates a knee point based on the calculated maximum luminance value and proportion of the high luminance signal. A knee processing unit generates a knee slope with a predetermined inclination starting at the calculated knee point. The knee processing unit does not change the value of the predetermined inclination, regardless of the value of the calculated knee point.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging section configured to approximate one of color matching functions representing sensitivity of the human eye to color by a spectral sensitivity that is obtained as a difference in output between, from among mutually adjacent photoelectric conversion elements, the photoelectric conversion elements arranged at predetermined positions, the imaging section having the photoelectric conversion elements arranged at the predetermined positions; and a signal processing section configured to apply to an output of the imaging section signal processing for converting an output of a photoelectric conversion element into a signal of a color image.

Abstract: A method of implementing high-performance color filter mosaic arrays (CFA) using luminance pixels. The introduction of luminance pixels greatly improves the accuracy of the image acquisition process for a given pixel and image sensor size.