Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device includes image pickup means having at least two sensor arrays disposed so as to be adjacent to each other, and horizontal charge transfer means having at least two horizontal registers which are disposed so as to be adjacent to the image pickup means and provided in association with the at least two sensor arrays respectively. A method of driving the solid-state image pickup device transfers the charges picked up at the respective pixels of the sensor arrays to the corresponding horizontal registers. After all the charges picked up at the respective pixels of the sensor arrays are transferred to the horizontal registers, the charges are successively transferred in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: The digital camera and the image reproducing apparatus and method can reduce a waiting time when a compressed image recorded in a recording medium is reproduced and displayed on a display device, and allows the user to promptly check the reproduced image. Before the user inputs an instruction for sequential or reverse frame feeding, image data is beforehand read out from a recording medium, decompressed, and held in a memory inside the digital camera as prepared images for display. When the instruction for the frame feeding is given, the corresponding prepared image is read out from the memory and then output to the liquid crystal monitor, thereby reducing the reproduction time to achieve fast reproduction. A range of the image which is subjected to a preceding read is a frame image before or after the currently displayed frame, all thumbnail images stored in the recording medium, all main images stored in the recording medium, or all of main images and the thumbnail.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing special effects for wide-angle video images. The special effects include replacing a selected portion of a wide-angle video image with a predetermined image or an associated portion of a video image captured in a subsequent frame. Other special effects include image intensity scaling for wide-angle video images.

Abstract: In the case where an output signal of an image pickup device is compressed and is transmitted through a transmission path with band limitation, when a conventional compression and expansion technique is directly applied, there is a lot of waste and a circuit scale becomes large, so that the cost of the system is raised. In an image processing system or a camera system of the invention in which an output signal of an image pickup device is compressed and is transmitted, the output signal of the image pickup device is made to pass through a luminance signal forming portion and a contour correcting signal forming portion, so that the signal is divided into a luminance signal and a contour correcting signal. These signals are separately compressed by compression processing portions, and multiplexed by a multiplexing portion, and then transmitted through a transmission path with band limitation such as a USB.

Abstract: The invention concerns with an exposure control mechanism for use in an image pickup apparatus in which a diaphragm aperture formed by a plurality of diaphragm blades moving straightforward in opposite directions is covered by an ND filter, and intends to prevent deterioration of image quality caused by diffraction even in an image pickup device having a small picture size and a short pixel pitch. The image pickup apparatus comprises an exposure control mechanism for adjusting the quantity of light flux entering a shooting lens system. The exposure control mechanism comprises a diaphragm made up of diaphragm blades movable on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis in opposite directions to define a diaphragm aperture, and an ND filter made up of at least two ND filter elements having different transmittances.

Abstract: A subject selection device comprises a light source and an imaging device, such as a CCD, having a plurality of photo-diodes. The light source radiates a distance measuring light beam toward a plurality of objects. A reflected light beam, generated by the objects due to the distance measuring light beam, is received by the, photo-diodes. A signal charge is integrated in each of the photo-diodes, so that three-dimensional information, which includes distances from the camera to each point on a surface of the objects, is obtained. A histogram indicating a distribution of the distances is generated. Based on a peak value of the histogram, a subject to be photographed is selected from the objects. An in-focus portion indicating device indicates a portion of the subject, which is in focus, based on the peak value.

Abstract: A number of different elements are added together in a staggered way to avoid the total loss of resolution caused by the binning process. The circuit for doing this includes a variable gain. In a second circuit for carrying this out, to fixed pattern noise reduction circuits are used.

Abstract: An EFP lens device is attached to a mount frame of a lens supporter, and an adapter-type vibration isolator is fixed to the back face of the mount frame. An ENG camera is attached to the back of the vibration isolator. The vibration isolator automatically checks information about the focal length of the attached lens device, information about an extender, etc. and adjusts the amplitude of the correcting lens according to the vibrations of the lens. A lens information setting switch is provided at the vibration isolator so that a user can freely enter and change the lens inherent information through the lens information setting switch. A vibration ON/OFF switch and a sensitivity setting means are provided at a manual control part.

Abstract: A method and system provide for real-time compensation of an imaging system for variations in illumination intensity. An illumination system provides reflected illumination, and a charge coupled device system directly detects the reflected illumination from the illumination system. The CCD system then converts the reflected illumination into illumination data and a host processor converts the illumination data into adjusted control data and final image data. The adjusted control data is based on an illumination profile and a reference illumination intensity. The reference illumination intensity is measured before each document with a compensation reference, and is compared to the illumination profile to adjust control parameters in a real-time mode. Directly measuring the illumination intensity with the CCD system allows for a reduction in parts, manufacturing steps, and errors.

Abstract: An image sensing device comprising active pixels is disclosed, each pixel having a charge accumulation region for collecting charges generated by a photosensitive element such as a photodiode. A linear voltage to current converter, current mirrors, and a differential amplifier generate an output signal and minimize fixed pattern noise and improve the signal to noise ratio. Image quality is improved by reducing pixel blooming and image smearing through an improved method for resetting the pixels with a bias voltage reference which is less than Vdd. Active circuitry and physical device layout reduce the effects of IR voltage drops along the bus lines in a massive pixel array.

Abstract: An autofocus apparatus sets a portion of an image frame as an AF area. Then, in first image-pickup, acquires first image data for the AF area within the image frame according to a first light flux from an object passing through an aperture of the diaphragm when the diaphragm is not shifted. Further, in second image-pickup, acquires second image data for the AF area within the image frame according to a second light flux from the object passing through the aperture of the diaphragm when the diaphragm is shifted in one vertical direction with respect to the optical axis. A cross correlation between the first image data and the second image data is computed, and a distance up to a focus position of the focal lens as well as a direction thereof is computed according to the cross correlation. Then, the focal lens is driven to the focus position.

Abstract: Apparatus for the orthogonal (X,Y) movement which allows high-resolution color photography in both the X and Y directions, by micro-movement of the CCD sensor within a digital camera body is provided which can be used together with a rotatable mount for rotating the CCD sensor from portrait mode to landscape mode, without needing to rotate the camera base.

Abstract: It is difficult to simplify the structure of a video camera system having various adjusting functions. Therefore, the video camera system has an information-obtaining-region setting function for setting an information-obtaining region in a screen according to the output of an image pickup device, an information-obtaining-region moving function for moving an information-obtaining region in the screen every predetermined cycle of the output of the image pickup device, an information-obtaining function for obtaining predetermined information-obtaining-region information based on the output of the image pickup device in the information-obtaining region every predetermined cycle, and control information generating function for generating control information in accordance with the obtained-region information obtained by an information-obtaining means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for displaying an image generated by at least one detector of an imaging unit are disclosed herein. The method includes creating a pixel map identifying locations of bad pixels in an array of pixels in the image detected by the at least one detector, linking the pixel map to the image, and providing for selective display of the pixel map. Bad pixels behave from a group including pixels which do not respond electrically and pixels which are statistically different from surrounding pixels in the array of pixels. The apparatus includes an imaging unit for generating x-rays which pass through a body of interest, at least one detector unit for detecting the x-rays, and a processing unit for identifying bad pixels within the detected image.

Abstract: In a method of compensating an image signal (10) having a field frequency of substantially N times a mains frequency, in which N≧2, for AC light source induced fluctuations, the image signal (10) and an average signal representing an average image signal content over a given time period are arithmetically processed (14,16-20,8) to obtain a corrected signal (9), in which at least N−1 differences between at least N−1 respective phases of the corrected signal (9) on the one hand, and a selected phase (ph2) other than the N−1 phases of the corrected signal (9), or an average over N fields of the image signal (10), on the other hand, are integrated (14,16), and in which at least N−1 integrated differences are processed (20) to obtain a correction factor for the image signal (10).

Abstract: Disclosed is an adjustable fixing device of a CCD plate comprising at least a central supporter and a mask device. The central supporter is made of non-transparency material. The mask device and the central supporter are approximately combined by a supporting device. The mask device and the central supporter are moved with respect to one another in a traveling range. An adhesive agent is filled to the place between the mask device and the central supporter for combining the mask device and the central supporter in a fixing position in the traveling range. Thereby, the central supporter is made of non-transparency material without needing to be performed with light shield process or installed with light shield element for effectively reducing cost. A preferred guiding structure is formed between the central supporter and the mask device for guiding the central supporter and the mask device so that they may move steadily.

Abstract: A charge transfer device is disclosed wherein three pixel rows are arranged adjacently to each other. First to third pixel rows are arranged adjacently to each other, and the charge transfer device includes a first charge transfer element for reading out and transferring signal charges generated in the first pixel row and a second charge transfer element for reading out and transferring signal charges generated in the second and third pixel rows. Second readout electrodes for reading out signal charges generated in the second pixel row into the second charge transfer element are provided with one electrode placed between adjacent pixels of the third pixel row.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus and its method of operation eliminate complicated operations of a touch panel and simplify its operation. An image pickup apparatus has an electronic viewfinder provided on a video camera body so as to enable a user to watch a shooting subject image through an eyepiece. A liquid crystal display monitor externally provided on the video camera body includes a touch panel on a display screen thereof. A plurality of icons representing distinct operations of the image pickup apparatus are displayed at predetermined positions of a finder screen of the electronic viewfinder. Touch sensitive areas of the touch panel corresponding to the icon positions displayed on the finder screen can be touch-operated to select a desired operation.