Abstract: The present invention relates to an image-taking apparatus such as a digital camera which is equipped with a release button and shoots a still image when the release button is pressed. It can perform proper metering for still images and reduce a time lag between a half press and the time when it is ready to shoot a still image. The image-taking apparatus has a through image display section which displays a through image which is moving images for display before a half press, a metering section which performs both metering for a through image and metering for a still image before the half press, a distance measuring section which measures distance in response to a half press, and a shooting section which shoots a still image in response to a full press.

Abstract: A camera comprises a monitor which allows a composition of a subject to be confirmed, a backlight which illuminates at least one region on the monitor, an image pickup device and a distance measuring unit for detecting an image condition of the subject, and a backlight control unit which changes the region to be illuminated by the backlight, in accordance with a detection result from the image pickup device and the distance measuring unit.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to eliminate the influences of the leakage etc. of charges from a photodiode to a storage part during the electronic shutter operation. To achieve this object, the present invention includes: a photodiode which generates and accumulates a signal charge according to the amount of light from an object; an amplification part which amplifies a signal charge outputted from the photodiode and outputs the amplified signal to the outside; a storage part which temporarily stores the signal charge; and a transfer device which transfers the signal outputted from the photo-electric conversion device to the storage part via the amplification part.

Abstract: A multiaxial embedded camera module is described. The embedded camera module includes an exterior container, an interior container, and an image sensing module. The exterior container is embedded in a bezel of an electrical apparatus, e.g. a notebook computer, and is rotatable on the bezel. The interior container disposed the inside of the exterior container is rotatable therein. The rotations of the exterior container and the interior container construct a desired included angle, preferably a right angle. The image sensing module is fixed in the interior container so as to be rotatable on the bezel and the exterior container. The image sensing module further utilizes a flexible printed circuit board directly to connect an image sensing unit for transmitting image signals.

Abstract: A sensor mounting system for enabling image stabilization in a digital camera is described. An electronic array light sensor is moved in relation to other parts of the camera in response to camera motion. In one embodiment, the sensor is moved by at least one linear motor having a ferrofluid in a gap of the linear motor. Other aspects of the system are described, including methods of heat sinking the sensor, a suspension system, methods of compensating for an effect of temperature on the ferrofluid, and a compact magnet configuration for forming the linear motor and providing feedback as to the position of the sensor.

Abstract: A sensor mounting system for enabling image stabilization in a digital camera is described. An electronic array light sensor is moved in relation to other parts of the camera in response to camera motion. In one embodiment, the sensor is moved by at least one linear motor having a ferrofluid in a gap of the linear motor. Other aspects of the system are described, including methods of heat sinking the sensor, a suspension system, methods of compensating for an effect of temperature on the ferrofluid, and a compact magnet configuration for forming the linear motor and providing feedback as to the position of the sensor.

Abstract: A video signal processing apparatus includes two image display memory areas 22 and 24 which alternately repeat input and output operations by receiving a signal obtained by performing predetermined processing for an output image signal from an image sensor 12, an image display unit 28 for displaying an object image represented by image frames sequentially output from the two memory areas, a system controller 40 which, when an image frame is to be input to one of the two memory areas, causes the other one of the two memory areas to output a held image frame, and causes the two memory areas to alternately repeat the input and output operations, thereby switching inputting and outputting of the two memory areas, and a mode determination circuit 272 for determining whether the frame rate of the output image signal from the image sensor 12 is higher or lower than the image display rate of the image display unit 28.

Abstract: Video data of successive image frames are processed in a digital camera or other video image data acquisition device immediately after acquiring the video data, or during post-processing of the video data at some time after acquiring the video data, to reduce the effects of unintended motion (jitter) of the hand-held devices by stabilizing the images. A processing circuit used to calculate an estimate of motion between components of successive image frames as part of a MPEG-4 or other compression algorithm is also used to estimate motion upon which the video data are altered to stabilize the images. The individual images may be pre-stabilized by using the results of stabilizing a prior image in order to reduce the amount of processing necessary to stabilize a current image.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling a light source and optical input device using the same. The light source controlling method includes setting a shutter ON time of an image sensor using a statistical value of an image obtained through the image sensor, and setting a light source ON time in accordance with the shutter ON time and turning on/off the light source and the shutter in response to the set light source ON time and the set shutter ON time. Thus, undesired consumption of electric power of the light source is prevented to increase energy efficiency by actively setting an ON/OFF period of the light source consuming the maximum electric current in the optical input device according to a shutter ON/OFF period. Further, availability of the light source and its electric current is enhanced by controlling the light source for the shutter OFF period and by allowing the light source to be used as a source for the data transmission.

Abstract: The solid-state image pickup device of the invention includes: a plurality of optoelectronic transducers arranged in an array; a plurality of vertical transfer sections each for reading charges from optoelectronic transducers and vertically transferring the read charges; a horizontal transfer section; a charge detection section for converting the horizontally transferred charges to signal voltages and the like; and a control section. The control section outputs signals so as to obtain either a signal corresponding to the sum of charges from an optoelectronic transducer belonging to one column and belonging to one of alternately selected rows and an optoelectronic transducer belonging to a column adjacent to the one column and belonging to a row other than the alternately selected rows, or a signal corresponding to the sum of charges from optoelectronic transducers belonging to a same column, every predetermined even number of continuous rows of optoelectronic transducers.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus is disclosed which allows a selection of a type of image stabilization to be used from optical image stabilization and electronic image stabilization as required to provide an excellent output image. The image-taking apparatus has an image generator which is operable in a first mode in which it performs electronic image stabilization processing based on a plurality of images sequentially taken with an image-pickup device to generate an output image and a second mode in which it generates an output image without performing the electronic image stabilization processing on an image taken with the image-pickup device. The image-taking apparatus also has a controller which causes image stabilization operation to be performed through driving of an optical system in both of the first and second modes and selects one of the first mode and the second mode.

Abstract: In an image display system which has a management station for saving, in a server, management data that contains at least names, identification numbers, and connection numbers of image sensing devices, and is described in the data description language, and the display style of the management data, and a display device, and which displays a video obtained from an arbitrary one or more image sensing devices connected, the management data of the image sensing devices is read out from the server, the display style of the readout management data is read out from the server, and an image is generated and displayed by applying the management data to the display style.

Abstract: A sensor mounting system for enabling image stabilization in a digital camera is described. An electronic array light sensor is moved in relation to other parts of the camera in response to camera motion. In one embodiment, the sensor is moved by at least one linear motor having a ferrofluid in a gap of the linear motor. Other aspects of the system are described, including methods of heat sinking the sensor, a suspension system, methods of compensating for an effect of temperature on the ferrofluid, and a compact magnet configuration for forming the linear motor and providing feedback as to the position of the sensor.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, a plurality of vertical signal lines VL arranged to correspond to columns of the pixels, respectively, such that each of them is connected to the pixels in each column and a column amplifier including a plurality of amplifiers AP. Each of the amplifiers AP includes a current source MOS transistor T1, an amplifying MOS transistor T2 for amplifying an image signal and a cascode MOS transistor T3 which is cascode-connected to the amplifying MOS transistor and outputs an amplified image signal between the cascode MOS transistor T3 and the current source MOS transistor T1. Gate terminals of the cascode MOS transistors T3 of the amplifiers AP are connected to each other.

Abstract: In one aspect of the present application, provided is a charge gain imaging system and a method of operating the charge gain imaging system. The method includes collecting a pixel charge. The collected pixel charge being stored by a pixel capacitance (Cp). Thereafter the pixel having the stored pixel charge is selected via a pixel select switch, and the pixel voltage is transferred and stored by data line capacitance (Cd) of a data line of the imager. An amplifier select switch is activated connecting the data line to a charge amplifier, and a charge gain defined by a relationship Cd/Cp, is sensed by a charge amplifier.

Abstract: A method and a storage medium for auto exposure control are provided. A desired image is divided into a plurality of sample blocks, each includes red, green, and blue subpixels. A maximum exposure ratio and an average exposure ratio are obtained according to the maximum and average values of each red, green, and blue subpixel retrieved from each sample block and a predetermined desired maximum brightness and a predetermined desired average brightness. It is determined whether the maximum exposure ratio is smaller than the average exposure ratio. If it is, a strobe of the storage medium shines a flashlight based on the average exposure ratio, and, if it is not, the strobe shines a flashlight based on the maximum exposure ratio.

Abstract: A signal processing unit subjects to signal processing first image signals, obtained as the output from a three-sensor-system sensor unit which uses CMOS sensors or the like, thereby obtaining high-image-quality second image signals. The three sensors are positioned at placement positions which are suitable for signal processing at the signal processing unit. The suitable placement positions have been obtained by learning performed beforehand. In one arrangement, the signal processing unit evaluates the second image signals, and controls the placement positions of the three sensors according to the evaluation results. In another arrangement, the first signals are evaluated in a predetermined region, and the capabilities of the sensors at the predetermined region are changed according to the evaluation results. In another arrangement, the sensor unit is controlled according to the level distribution of the first image signals. The present invention can be applied to still or video digital cameras.

Abstract: A camera system comprising an imaging unit scanned by means of an X-Y address method, horizontal and vertical scanning units for scanning the imaging unit by means of the X-Y address method, a main scanning direction control signal generating unit for generating a main scanning direction control signal for designating a main scanning direction of the imaging unit, a main scanning direction control unit for controlling the horizontal and vertical scanning units so that the main scanning direction coincides with a direction instructed by the main scanning direction control signal, and an output unit for outputting an image signal read in consequence of scanning the imaging unit using the horizontal and vertical scanning units.

Abstract: An outer body of ball shell type has an opening. A camera is located in the outer body and receives an image from outside of the outer body through the opening. A camera support unit is located in the outer body and rotationally supports the camera along a first axis and a second axis mutually crossed at a center of the outer body. A first camera actuator is located in the outer body and rotationally actuates the camera around the first axis. A second camera actuator is located in the outer body and rotationally actuates the camera around the second axis.