Abstract: The card attachment apparatus is provided such that, when a card-like recording medium is inserted or pulled out, the attachment unit is rotated a predetermined angle to project from the device and a blocking cover is simultaneously pulled in, thereby allowing memory card to be pinched and taken out in an easy manner. This attachment unit has top face cover on which operation button is provided, thereby eliminating a space in a main body of camcorder in which operation button is provided. When opening section is moved, the attachment unit is opened and the memory card can be inserted or pulled out.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a recording unit, a first detecting unit, a second detecting unit, and a control unit. The recording unit records taken images on a first recording medium. The first detecting unit detects the remaining available recording space of the first recording medium. The second detecting unit detects a plurality of external recording devices from a network. The control unit (a) determines a priority among the plurality of external recording devices, (b) automatically selects one of the plurality of external recording devices in accordance with the determined priority among the plurality of external recording devices, and ©) changes a recording medium for the taken images from the first recording medium to the selected external recording device so that the selected external recording device records the taken images on a second recording medium.

Abstract: Single substrate device is formed to have an image acquisition device and a controller. The controller on the substrate controls the system operation.

Abstract: An input library and input attribute corresponding to input processing for image data from each of a plurality of types of image input devices are stored in a ROM. The image input device connected to an image processing apparatus is designated with a keyboard. The input library and input attribute corresponding to the designated image input device are acquired from the ROM. Input processing for image data from the image input device is executed on the basis of the input library and input attribute.

Abstract: Photography can be assisted at the time of photography with a digital camera. A base station stores photography assistance information such as a map around the base station, a sightseeing spot or an event site, a photography point therein, and an explanation of the photography point. Communication means of the digital camera accesses the base station and receives photography information comprising the various kinds of photography assistance information. The photography information is displayed on a liquid crystal display monitor and a photographer carries out photography by selecting a desired kind of the photography assistance information representing the sightseeing spot or the event site around the base station from the photography information. The selected photography assistance information is added to image data obtained by photography and recorded in a memory card.

Abstract: In a divisional process for determining which of a camera mode, an OFF mode, and an audio mode is set by a mode setting switch, a process to close a lens cover of a taking lens is performed when the audio mode is set for achieving an audio play function that is unrelated to functions of a camera.

Abstract: A camera and method for the creation of texturing effects in output images. The camera includes a sensor for sensing an image and a texture mapper for adding texturing effects to the sensed image to produce a textured image. The camera also includes a display for displaying the textured image. In one form, the display is a printer for printing out immediate photos by the camera.

Abstract: Bayer data is captured by a CCD and is stored in a memory. Image data is read out from the memory in units of nine lines starting with (4n+1)-th (n: integer) line. YUV data of one pixel is formed based on 5×5 pixels in the read Bayer data. Thus, the YUV data is formed in units of five lines. The YUV data is enlarged by a pixel number converting unit.

Abstract: An automatic video enhancement system and method for automatically enhancing video. The automated video enhancement method uses frame-to-frame motion estimation as the basis of the video enhancement. Motion estimation includes the computation of global motion (such as camera motion) and the computation of local motion (such as pixel motion). The automated video enhancement method includes generating global alignment transforms, generating optic flow vectors, and using these global alignment transforms and optic flow vectors to enhance the video. The invention also includes video processing and enhancement techniques that use the frame-to-frame motion estimation. These techniques include a deinterlace process, a denoise process, and a warp stabilization process that performs both damped and locked stabilization.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus with operation modes including a normal-resolution mode and a high-resolution mode has the capability of automatically adjusting the focus by driving a part of an imaging optical system wherein the minimum amount of movement in driving the part of the imaging optical system is set to a value which differs between the normal-resolution mode and the high-resolution mode.

Abstract: In a computerized image processing system, a camera acquires a set of images of a scene while rotating the camera about an axis passing through an optical center of the camera. The images of the set overlap each other. An initial estimate of the focal length of the camera is made. The initial focal length can be any reasonable focal length. Using the initial estimate of the focal length, the set of images are composited in a memory to determine an estimated initial composited length. A next best estimate of the focal length is derived from the initial estimated composited length. The set of images are recomposed using the next best focal length estimate. This process is iterated until the absolute difference between the successive estimates of the focal length is less than a predetermined threshold to calibrate the camera.

Abstract: An image pickup device provided with an electronic image vibration compensating circuit, comprising an electronic zooming device for electronically varying the magnification of a designated portion of a taken image, a zoom lens constituting a phototaking lens, a zoom position detector for detecting the zoom position of the zoom lens, a driving circuit for zooming the zoom lens, and a control circuit for controlling the zoom lens and the electronic zooming device in mutually correlated manner, so as to maintain the image angle, determined by the zoom lens and the electronic zooming device at a predetermined value.

Abstract: A recording apparatus including an image compressor for compressing image information to be recorded; an audio compressor for compressing audio information to be recorded; a compression mode designator for designating an information compression mode; and a controller for setting the image compressor and the audio compressor at a compression operation in a relation of a predetermined correspondence therebetween according to the designation by the compression mode designator.

Abstract: An analog signal sampler with improved correlated double sampling (CDS) performance for imaging systems includes a dual mode input amplifier, a switched capacitor network and a differential amplifier. The dual mode input amplifier has a high input impedance and allows for receiving either positive-going contact image sensor (CIS) or negative-going charge couple device (CCD) image signals as desired. The switched capacitor network and differential amplifier together perform an improved CDS of the image signal and convert the unipolar input image signal to a bipolar differential output signal with an improved dynamic signal range. The CDS technique used relies upon simultaneous charging of the coupling and sample and hold capacitances with charge transfer from the coupling capacitance to the sample and hold capacitance. The gain of the sampler can be programmed by appropriate selection of the ratio of the coupling capacitance to the sample and hold capacitance.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device of the present invention includes a photoelectric convert part, a vertical charge transfer part, a horizontal charge transfer part, an unnecessary charge expelling region. A channel region of the horizontal charge transfer part and the unnecessary charge expelling region have an identical impurity profile. The channel region of the horizontal charge transfer part is applied to a first voltage to be depleted and the unnecessary charge expelling region is applied to a second voltage to be in non-depleted state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for generating video signals representative of color images of a scene. An embodiment of the method includes the following steps: deriving a luminance signal representative of the scene at a first frame rate; deriving color component signals representative of the scene at a first line rate; generating, from the luminance signal, a converted luminance signal comprising the high spatial frequency portion of the luminance signal at a second frame rate higher than the first frame rate; generating, from the color component signals, converted color component signals at a second line rate higher than the first line rate; and combining the converted luminance component signal and at least one of the converted color component signals.

Abstract: A method and system for correcting the aspect ratio of an image captured by a digital camera is disclosed. In one aspect, the method and system include determining if the image requires cropping, decompressing the image, and cropping the image if the image required cropping. The image is then provided to a display. In another aspect, the method and system include cropping an image to a predetermined shape and providing the data to a display buffer.

Abstract: A method for reducing smear in video images generated by a frame transfer CCD imaging system having an array of charge coupled devices. The video images comprise successive image frames, each frame including an array of image pixels corresponding to the array of charge coupled devices. The pixel array has a plurality of rows and columns. Each frame is temporally separated from a next successive frame by an integration time interval during which light falling upon the array of charge coupled devices is integrated to produce integrated charge samples representative of image frame pixel values, and by a transfer interval during which the charge samples are transferred from an imaging area to a storage area.

Abstract: A video camera capable of controlling white balance according to the color temperature of an object comprises an image pickup device, an edge detecting means for detecting a vertical edge in a signal provided by the image pickup device, a primary color generating means for generating three primary color signals from the signal provided by the image pickup device, and a color temperature calculating means for calculating the color temperature of the object from three primary color signals provided by the primary color generating circuit. The color temperature calculating means reduces the effect of the three primary color signals given thereto by the primary color generating means on calculation when the level of a vertical edge signal is high.

Abstract: An image pickup device including: a solid state image pickup element; a memory; an image pickup data generating unit for generating image pickup data through an image pickup operation of reading data from the solid state image pickup element and A/D converting the data; a first processing unit for storing the image pickup data in the memory; a noise data generating unit for generating noise data through an operation, similar to the image pickup operation in a non-exposure state, of reading data from the solid state image pickup element and A/D converting the data; and a second processing unit for generating a desired image pickup data by subtracting an average data of a plurality of noise data obtained by a plurality of repetitive operations of the noise data generating unit, from the image pickup data stored in the memory means.