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 line of sight stabilization system using two mirrors pivotally mounted to a fixed platform that can be used with existing imaging systems to provide pitch, roll, and yaw compensation while maintaining image orientation. By deflecting only the photons, the inventive system avoids the need to stabilize the entire imaging sensor and optics system. The only mass to move is that of the two imaging system mirrors. By monitoring attitude changes via an inertial measurement system, proceeding platform positions can be estimated for subsequent image acquisitions, and efficient mirror positioning can provide optimal image orientation and stabilization. This approach requires small motors with low torque, providing a less expensive, lightweight, and small image orientation and stabilization system.

Abstract: An electronic still camera includes a finder optical system for viewing a subject image. An imaging section obtains the subject image. A display section displays the subject image based on image data associated with the subject image obtained by the imaging section. A mode selecting section selects either a first mode in which the electronic still camera performs imaging operation using the imaging section while a user views the subject image through the finder optical system or a second mode in which the electronic still camera performs imaging operation using the imaging section while the user views the subject image on the display section. A first focus detection circuit performs a first focus detecting operation when the first mode is selected by the mode selecting section. A second focus detection circuit performs a second focus detecting operation when the second mode is selected by the mode selecting section.

Abstract: An anti-shake apparatus of a photographing apparatus comprises a movable unit, a fixed unit, and a signal-processing 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 horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element for detecting a first location, and a vertical magnetic-field change-detecting element for detecting a second location. The signal-processing unit outputs a first detected-position signal, which specifies the first location on the basis of output signals of the horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element, and outputs a second detected-position signal, which specifies the second location on the basis of output signals of the vertical magnetic-field change-detecting element.

Abstract: In a method for forming an image of a subject on a solid-state imaging device, a first time period for splitting a light beam from a subject into a plurality of light beams that have different polarization directions and then combining the plurality of light beams to form a single subject image on the solid-state imaging device and a second time period for splitting the light beam from the subject into the plurality of light beams that have different polarization directions and forming a plurality of subject images that overlap each other partially on the solid-state imaging device are switched time-wise. A first image information on the single subject image is obtained based on pieces of signal information in the first time period, and a second image information on one of the plurality of subject images is calculated by using and computing pieces of signal information in the second time period.