Abstract: An XY address scanning-type imaging apparatus, such as a CMOS imaging apparatus, having a high-speed shutter which is capable of reducing fluorescent-lamp flicker components and which enhances electronic camera-shake correction. When the vertical synchronization frequency is denoted as fv (Hz) and N is a positive integer, the shutter is set to N/120 seconds when 120/fv is an integer, and the shutter is set to N/100 seconds when 100/fv is an integer. In the NTSC system, when camera-shake correction is ON, the shutter speed is set to fraction ( 1/120) seconds, and when camera-shake correction is OFF, the shutter speed is set to fraction ( 1/60) seconds. In the PAL system, when camera-shake correction is ON, the shutter speed is set to fraction ( 1/100) seconds, and when camera-shake correction is OFF, the shutter speed is set to fraction ( 1/50) seconds.

Abstract: In a solid-state image pickup apparatus, a preliminary pickup circuit performs, during preliminary pickup, divided photometry on a photometry signal outputted from the primary cells of photo-sensors, determines an exposure condition in which photometry data in all divided blocks do not exceed the saturation maximum value of the primary cells, and calculates the individual photometry data tints under the above exposure condition. During actual pickup, a shading corrector included in an image processing circuit divides subsidiary image data in the same manner as during the divided photometry, calculates shading correction gains in accordance with the photometry data tints and those of the subsidiary image data, and interpolates the shading correction gains in accordance with the pixel for thereby executing color shading correction on the subsidiary image data.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices related to detection and transmitting images. Imaging systems and devices, as well as methods of using such that are provided herein include flicker detection and/or correction; and/or built-in self test associated with various analog circuitry in the imaging devices; and/or power reduction ability; and/or pixels with charge evacuation functionality; and/or a parallel to serial conversion unit and associated serial output interface; and/or other advanced functionality.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image pickup apparatus having a liquid crystal light controlling device in front of an image pickup device. A liquid crystal light controlling device has a rear face facing an image pickup device and has input terminals disposed at the circumferential positions of the rear face. An image pickup device has a package and a sensor portion held in the package for picking up an image of a subject. At positions of the package facing the liquid crystal light controlling device, there are disposed output terminals for supplying driving voltage to each of the input terminals of the liquid crystal light controlling device. The driving voltage is supplied from the output terminals on the package to the input terminals through a conducting portion of a holding member.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup device including a solid-state image pickup element which is curved in a light incident direction and a curvature changing portion which changes a curvature of the solid-state image pickup element, and an optical instrument including a lens unit and a solid-state image pickup element which is curved toward the lens unit and picks up taking an image focused by the lens unit wherein the curvature changing portion changes a curvature radius of the solid-state image pickup element so that the solid-state image pickup element is curved at a first curvature in a telephoto mode and the solid-state image pickup element is curved at a second curvature larger than the first curvature in a wide-angle mode.

Abstract: An optical structure is disposed on a surface of a device substrate, and a lens system for introducing external light into a solid-state image pickup device is placed in the center of the optical structure. The outer shape of the optical structure seen from the light incident side of the lens system is rectangular, and its plane shape forms a rectangular frame section. An intermediate structure is disposed between the device substrate and the optical structure. The intermediate structure has a fitting section for fitting the optical structure in a part of side faces of the frame section.

Abstract: To effective increase the dynamic range of a pixel array, a plurality of brightness groups is set. The pixels of a pixel array are then distributed among the groups according with their likely brightness. Each image frame is scanned in the order of brightness, with the pixels in the group likely to be the brightest being scanned first and the pixels in the group likely to be the darkest being scanned last. The brightness groups are adjusted at the boundary of the frame scan.

Abstract: Each of a pair of power supply electric lines (11 and 12) connected to power supply pads of a solid state image sensor (1) and a pair of power supply electric lines (13 and 14) connected to power supply pads of an integrated circuit chip (2) is arranged so that the power supply electric lines included in each power supply electric line pair are in parallel with each other and has a very small gap between them. The power supply electric lines (11 to 14) have a certain width and bend portions that are curved smoothly with a predetermined curvature or less and are formed on a flexible wiring board (3). In each of the solid state image sensor (1) and the integrated circuit chip (2), the high-potential and low-potential power supply pads are arranged side by side.

Abstract: A method for decreasing integration time of saturated paxels within an imager; wherein the method includes decreasing the integration time of the saturated paxels within an imager according to scene data from a captured image.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus of the present invention includes an image pickup unit, a recording unit for recording image data obtained by the image pickup unit, on a recording medium, a communication unit for exchanging data with an external equipment, a setting unit for setting a parameter relating to an image pickup operation of the image pickup unit, a generation unit for generating setting information based on the parameter set by the setting unit and a control unit for controlling the communication unit to transmit a command for instructing a start of an image reading and the setting information to an image scanner provided externally so that image data corresponding to the setting information are transmitted from the image scanner.

Abstract: Commands regarding printing of a plurality of types are stored in a non-volatile memory of a digital still camera and in a non-volatile memory of a printer. Print processing is executed by a command-based model with regard to types of printing for which commands are held in common by the digital still camera and printer. With regard to print processing for which the digital still camera does not possess the command, the digital still camera is made to function as a client and the printer as a server, whereby the print processing is executed by a user-interface export model.

Abstract: In cases where at least one item of sound information has been associated with at least image, at least one desired item of sound information is selected and the sound information is played back in a prescribed order. According, in an information processing apparatus, a playback sequence decision unit (103) reads in image data as well as sound data, which has been assigned within the image data, from a image/sound data storage unit (107), generates a still image in which the positions at which sound data has been recorded is denoted on the image, and displays the generated still image on a image display unit (106). A sound data specifying unit (102) searches the image/sound data storage unit (107) for sound data that has been associated with the interior of an image area specified by an input from a user. When applicable sound data is found to exist, the playback sequence decision unit (103) decides the order in which the applicable sound data is to be played back.

Abstract: Digital imaging system and method in which user operation of a digital zoom selection switch to increase digital zoom of a portion of an evaluation image is interrupted for at least an interval of time as a warning to the user that the digital zoom selection has reached a digital zoom ratio that corresponds to a predetermined minimum image resolution quality level in an image of a given size to be rendered from the portion of the evaluation image. The user can then resume increasing digital zoom selection only by opening and re-closing the zoom selection switch. A graphical indicator is used to show changes in zoom settings and the appearance of the indicator is changed when one or more predetermined digital zoom settings are reached to reinforce the visual warning to the user.

Abstract: A digital camera (10) includes an SDRAM (26). When 40 frames of image signals are accumulated in the SDRAM (26), a combined file including the 40 frames of image signals is created in a data area of a magnetooptical disk (36), and FAT information of the combined file is written into an FAT area of the magnetooptical disk (36). When a predetermined condition is satisfied, image data of the combined file is read out by each 1 frame, and an image file including the read image data is created in the data area of the magnetooptical disk (36), and the FAT information of the image file is written into the FAT area of the magnetooptical disk (36). Such the process is repeated for 40 times, and the combined file is later deleted.

Abstract: Upon continuously displaying a plurality of image data read from a recording medium, printing setting information including trimming information is set for the image data recorded to the recording medium with a corresponding relation to the image data. The displaying of the image data is controlled based on the determination of whether or not the printing setting information is set for each image data read from the recording medium.

Abstract: The peak of a histogram in a first flash preemission and the peak of a histogram in a second flash preemission performed with a light emission amount different from that of the first flash preemission are obtained, and the change ratio of the histogram peak value with respect to a change in flash light emission amount is calculated. By taking this change ratio into consideration, a flash light emission amount for image sensing is calculated. Image sensing is performed by causing the flash to emit light with this image sensing light emission amount.

Abstract: A movement signal generation apparatus is disclosed which can convert an analog position signal of an optical adjustment unit into digital signals representing a movement amount and a movement direction of the optical adjustment unit and output the digital signals. The movement signal generation apparatus includes an analog signal output section which outputs an analog signal in accordance with the position of the optical adjustment unit, and a digital signal generation section which generates two digital signals in accordance with a movement amount and a movement direction of the optical adjustment unit based on the analog signal.

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: 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 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.