Abstract: An apparatus for determining a type of an illuminant including a spectrum diffraction unit and a sensor coupled to the spectrum diffraction unit. An illuminant discrimination unit is coupled to the sensor and configured to receive a set of signals representative of a set of spectral components in the illuminant and to determine the type.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus having an imaging element for accumulating signal charge corresponding to an incident scene light flux in a photo-electric converting element section and transferring the accumulated signal charge through a vertical shifter to a horizontal shifter so as to be read out there from, and a shutter for selectively blocking the scene light flux to be incident on the imaging element is moved. The operating condition of the imaging apparatus is judged and the operation timings of the shutter and/or the imaging element are/is controlled on the basis of the judged operating condition. The operating condition judging function judges as the operating condition of the imaging apparatus at least one of the ambient temperature, the posture of the imaging apparatus, the power supply voltage level and the number of times of operation of the shutter.

Abstract: In a television voice control system which controls voices obtained through a plurality of microphones (14a to 14n) coincidentally with an image pick up by a television camera (11) to be displayed as a scene on a screen, the television voice control system has a calculating unit 12 and a microphone control unit 13 which adjust and control the voices obtained through a plurality of microphones (14a to 14n) by interlocking an image pick up condition of the television camera (11) so that the voices be adapted to the scene.

Abstract: A method for automatically controlling an exposure time in image sensor having a pixel array includes the steps of producing total pixel value of the green pixels from the pixel array, producing a mean value of the green pixels dividing the total pixel value of the green pixels by the number of the green pixels, producing a deviation value, wherein the deviation value is an absolute value of a difference between the mean value and a predetermined reference value, comparing the deviation value with a predetermined boundary value, in case where the deviation value is smaller than the predetermined boundary value, capturing a next image according to a current exposure time, and in case where the deviation value is larger than the predetermined boundary value, calculating an exposure control rate and determining whether an automatic exposure control mode is enabled, and in case where the automatic exposure control mode is disabled, capturing the next image according to the current exposure time, and in case where

Abstract: Signal charges photo-excited and stored in photodiodes are read by two field read operations of interlace drive. At least during a period of reading a first field, a predetermined voltage is applied to the semiconductor substrate to set the potential barrier of a region between each photodiode and a corresponding overflow drain region higher than the channel potential barrier between the photodiode and a corresponding vertical transfer path. It is therefore possible to prevent signal charges to be read during the next field read operation from leaking to the overflow drain during the first field read operation.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus including: CCD image pickup device; a preprocess circuit for generating image signals based on output of the image pickup device; a CCD driver for controlling charge accumulation time at the image pickup device; a pickup image generating section for generating one pickup image signal by means of addition of a plurality of image signals obtained by rendering a plurality of times of consecutive exposure by controlling the CCD driver; a blur correcting section for, in generation of the pickup image, adding a plurality of image signals after compensated for relative motion among said plurality of image signals; and an image blur detecting section for detecting relative motion information among the plurality of image signals on the basis of said plurality of image signals, wherein compensation processing at the blur correcting section is performed on the detection result at the image blur detecting section.

Abstract: An optoelectronic camera comprises an objective system formed by a number of optical active structures (L), particularly refractive structures in the form of microlenses or lenslets provided in an array. A detector device (D) is assigned to the lens array and comprises detectors (Dn) formed by sensor elements (E) which define pixels in the optical image. Each detector (Dn) defines a sample of the optical image and optimally all samples are used to generate a digital image. The optoelectronic camera may be realized as a color image camera, particularly for recording images in an RGB system. In a method for digital electronic formatting of an image recorded with the optoelectronic camera, zoom and pan functions are implemented in the camera.

Abstract: A modular electronic image-capturing system comprises at least two detachable and interchangeable image-forming modules and an electronic image-capturing module. The image-forming modules include a film-scanning module with the lens designed for short conjugate distances and an image-forming lens designed for long conjugate distances for general photography. The film-scanning module has an illumination device for illuminating transparent film. The film-scanning module also includes a film carrier which accepts and places at least one piece of photographic films in correct location. The modular electronic image-capturing system further includes the control circuits and connecting interface in order to manipulate the image-forming modules.

Abstract: The electronic camera is provided with an image pickup device which picks up an image, an image processing device which outputs the picked up image to a recording medium and at the same time records the image in a memory capable of executing a writing process or reading process with a speed higher than that of the recording medium, and a display device which displays the image. In case of reproducing and displaying the image, the image recorded in the memory is read and displayed on the display device, and therefore it is possible to reproduce and display the image in a short time.

Abstract: A digital camera has an image sensor, and an optical system for focusing a scene on the image sensor. A zooming system is used for changing a zoom rate of the scene that is focused on the image sensor. By operating the zooming system during the recording of a series of images, each of the images has a different zoom rate and therefore a different level of detail and field of view. The images are combined to form one still image of super high resolution. The zoom rate between images is detected by using horizontal and vertical pixel intensity value projection distributions in both forward and backward prediction methods. Horizontal and vertical candidate projection distributions that are correlated to a range of possible zoom rates are compared with the horizontal and vertical projection distributions of the former and current images being processed to determine a least error match that is selected as the zoom rate between the adjacent images.

Abstract: A digital camera system has integrated accelerometers for determining static and dynamic accelerations of the digital camera system. Data relating to static and dynamic accelerations are stored with recorded image data for further processing, such as for correcting image data for roll, pitch and vibrations and for displaying recorded images with a predetermined orientation using information about, e.g., roll. Data may also be used on-the-fly for smear suppression caused by vibrations.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a shutterless single lens digital still camera includes an internal processor and auto exposure algorithm that automatically adjusts the exposure of the camera in high and low ambient lighting conditions. The auto exposure algorithm causes the camera to generate a signature of a current ambient luminance level and then in response to the signature to generate automatically an exposure setting.

Abstract: Consumption of power in a digital electronic still-video camera is reduced. Specifically, a digital electronic still-video camera includes a first memory module circuit and a second memory module circuit controlled by a memory module circuit so as to be placed in active and standby states. When one memory module circuit is in the active state, the other memory module circuit is placed in the standby state, thereby making it possible to reduce power consumption.

Abstract: An image stabilization system and method. The inventive system (100) includes an image sampling circuit (230) mounted on a platform (400) for sampling an image in response to timing control signals and outputting a plurality of imaging signals in response thereto. An azimuth resolver (310) detects vibration of the platform and providing a signal in response thereto. A microprocessor (540) adjusts the timing control signals to cause the image sampling circuit (230) to sample the image and thereby compensate for an effect of vibration on the image. In the illustrative embodiment, the microprocessor (540) includes software for compensating for vibration that causes image offset, compressed images, expanded images, and compression and expansion within a single field. The invention provides image stabilization in a purely electronic manner without the need for any moving parts that would typically require control hardware and a significant amount of space.

Abstract: A digital camera which allows voice annotations to be recorded for each picture, but which includes text annotations with each such picture when the picture is transmitted from the camera. The digital camera includes an image sensing apparatus operable to receive light comprising an image and output image data representing the image, a first memory operable to store the image data, a sound sensing apparatus operable to receive a sound and output sound data representing the sound, wherein the sound is speech and the sound data is voice data, a second memory operable to store the voice data, a third memory operable to store text data; and a voice recognition apparatus operable to access the second memory, translate the stored voice data into text data and store the text data in the third memory, when the digital camera is provided with external power.

Abstract: The optimum reproduction of high-contrast motifs in digital imaging technology is limited owing to the limited dynamic range of present-day image sensors. The reproduction of high-contrast motifs is intended to be improved using active pixel image sensors. The sensitivity of the sensor pixels is adapted, controlled in an analogous manner to the blurred brightness distribution in the motif, to ensure that the dark and bright image regions of the motif are also reproduced, well illuminated, without any loss of detailed contrast. This results in a particularly natural and balanced image impression. This method may be used in numerous fields for digital image processing.

Abstract: In a solid-state image pick-up device having a photoelectrical conversion element cell array with a matrix arrangement of cells, between either a first or second signal line and a prescribed selection circuit that drives the signal line are provided a multiple signal line received light amount value storage means that includes a amount of received light detection means that separately reads out the amount of received light data for a plurality of photoelectrical conversion element cells connected to a plurality of selected signal lines in the other signal group, and a switching means that selectively transmits this detected amount of received light information to an output means.

Abstract: A method of automatically focusing an object image to be captured, comprising storing temporarily a series of images transmitted through a primary lens system, said primary lens system having a stationary lens member and at least one moving lens member; determining a best focused image in said series of temporarily stored images; and moving said at least one moving lens to a determined focused position.

Abstract: An object is imaged continuously during a first exposure time and a second exposure time shorter than the first exposure time. Weights, one of which decreases monotonously and the other of which increases monotonously, are applied to first and second resultant image signals under the condition that the sum of the weights is 1. The first and second image signals that have been weighted are added up, thus producing a synthetic picture signal. When a luminance level is low, the ratio of the first image signal, which has been produced during the longer exposure time, to the second image signal is increased. This results in an image demonstrating a high signal-to-noise ratio. When the luminance level is high, the ratio of the second image signal, which has been produced during the shorter exposure time, to the first image signal is increased.

Abstract: A television camera apparatus for surveillance applications has a housing including a ball-shaped camera case which has a transparent front portion. An inlet for an electrical cable is provided at the rear end of the camera case. The housing has a rear holder which can be attached and tightened to a structural body such as a electrical box mounted to a surface of a wall or a ceiling and a front cover which can be also attached and tightening of the front cover to the rear holder. Each of the rear holder and front cover has a circular cutout with a curved rim. A curvature diameter of the curved rims of the cutouts is equal to the diameter of the ball-shaped camera case which can be locked between the circular cutouts of the rear holder and the front cover.