Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an apparatus where a still image can be picked up during the recording of moving images, where still images are picked-up in a first state, in which part of a luminous flux is transmitted through a mirror unit to an image-capturing device, or a second state, where the entire luminous flux is introduced to the image-capturing device.

Abstract: A video/audio combo device includes a picture-taking element for taking pictures and a sound-generating element to output sound. It has a housing shell located in a portable electronic data processing device with the picture taking element and the sound-generating element jointly housed in the housing shell. While the picture-taking element can take pictures, the housing shell has a remained space to serve as a resonant space to enable the sound-generating element to achieve an improved audio output effect.

Abstract: In a camera unit, with respect to a relationship between an image height of respective image portion on an image formed on the pickup element and an image angle of the light lays made incident into the respective image portions, the lens system is configured so that an amount of change in the image height with respect to a change in the image angle is greater at a peripheral portion of the image than at a center part of the image. The lens system further includes an anomorphic lens system which enlarges in the vertical direction the image formed on the pickup element.

Abstract: An image sensor is configured to output transformed image data. The image sensor includes a set of pixel sensors that are sensitive to light and a set of filter elements positioned adjacent to the set of pixel sensors. The set of filter elements transforms light striking the set of pixel sensors to enable the image sensor to output transformed image data.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus is disclosed which enables the accuracy of re-performance determination of in-focus search control to reliably maintain an in-focus state in response to a condition change after focusing is achieved. The image-taking apparatus comprise a first detector which outputs a focus evaluation value signal and a second detector which outputs a detection signal different from the focus evaluation value signal. The image-taking apparatus comprises a controller which performs a first control for controlling drive of the focus lens such that an in-focus position of the focus lens is searched for on the basis of the focus evaluation value signal. The controller obtains shift information which represents a shift state from an in-focus state based on the detection signal from the second detector after the first control, and performs processing associated with the re-performance of the first control based on at least the shift information.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging element includes an imaging element area, a first horizontal transfer register, a second horizontal transfer register, a first transfer channel, a second transfer channel, and a channel stop region.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device has a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements two dimensionally arrayed in an imaging area, a light shielding film that regulates the amount of external light incident on the photoelectric conversion elements by a wiring pattern, a wiring layer placed between the light shielding film and the photoelectric conversion elements, and a plurality of contacts electrically connecting the light shielding film with the wiring layer in a lamination direction. The shape of the light shielding film is defined by a plurality of first figures overlapping with a second figure, each first figure being placed over a different contact in plan view, and the second figure having a plurality of apertures each corresponding to a different photoelectric conversion element.

Abstract: An interface for a graphics controller enabling communication with a camera module is provided. The interface includes a first port configured to receive serial image data from a camera module and a second port configured to receive a clock signal, wherein the clock signal is utilized to indicate both a horizontal synchronization and a vertical synchronization for frames of image data received from the camera module. An image capture device having the serial interface and methods for reducing a number of signals utilized for an interface receiving image data are also included.

Abstract: A method of focusing a digital camera module with an image sensor including capturing an image of a test target with the digital camera module, determining a focus quality of the image with the image sensor, outputting a signal related to the focus quality of the image from the digital camera module to a focusing station external to the digital camera module, and determining whether a position of a lens from the image sensor within the digital camera module should be altered to improve a focus quality of subsequently captured images.

Abstract: An image signal processing system and an electronic imaging device are provided in which a shading correcting circuit carries out shading correction by multiplying image data by a gain which is proportional to a distance from a center of an image; a noise reduction filter carries out noise reduction processing by using a value which varies inversely proportionately to the gain; and a contour correction processing circuit carries out substantially uniform contour correction at all regions of the image, independently of the shading correction and the noise reduction processing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solid-state imaging apparatus including: a pixel section having unit pixels disposed two-dimensionally in rows and columns, each pixel containing a photoelectric conversion section and an amplifying section for amplifying output of the photoelectric conversion section to output a pixel signal; a vertical scanning section for selecting a row to be read out of the pixel section; a noise suppressing section having a noise suppressing function where a noise suppression of the pixel signal is effected unit pixel by unit pixel and a signal mixing function where a plurality of the pixel signal are mixed along a predetermined direction; a horizontal scanning section for causing the pixel signals along a horizontal direction processed through the noise suppressing section to be sequentially outputted from a horizontal signal line; and a mode control section for effecting a control in accordance with each mode of a first mode where pixel signals after the noise suppression are outputted onto the h

Abstract: Random pollution of output signals with logic noise caused by video signal processing is prevented and a high quality image video signal with reduced random noise is output. A signal processor includes a digital signal processor (DSP) which processes a digital signal resulting from analog to digital conversion of an analog signal stored in a pixel unit, an output circuit which outputs a signal resulting from signal processing by the DSP, and line memory which is disposed between the output circuit and the DSP and stores a digital signal output from the DSP for a shorter period than the horizontal scanning period. The output circuit reads the signal stored in the line memory in sync with the beginning of a read-out timing in the horizontal scanning period.

Abstract: An imaging device comprises a photoelectric conversion element; first, second, and third capacitors; first, second, third, and fourth charge transfer elements; a reset element; and an amplifier element. The photoelectric conversion element generates an electrical charge according to the amount of received light. The first and second capacitors receive and store the electrical charge. The electrostatic capacity of the second capacitor is lower than that of the first capacitor. The first and second charge transfer elements transfer the electrical charge to the first and second capacitors simultaneously. The third capacitor receives the electrical charge stored in the first or second capacitor. The electrical potential of the third capacitor varies according to the received electrical charge. The third and fourth charge transfer elements transfer the electrical charge stored in the first and second capacitors to the third capacitor separately.

Abstract: An image pickup system includes a color noise estimation section, which has a local region extraction section that extracts luminance and color difference signals in units of 4×4 pixels from signals of a CCD with a color filter, an average luminance calculation section that calculates an average luminance value from the luminance signals, a temperature estimation section that estimates a temperature T of the CCD from a signal of an OB region, a gain calculation section that calculates a gain G of the signals based on information from a control section, a coefficient and a function calculation sections for estimating a color noise amount from the average luminance value based on a formulation using the temperature and the gain, and a color noise reducing section that reduces color noise in the color difference signals in units of 4×4 pixels based on the estimated color noise amount.

Abstract: During a first horizontal blanking period, signal charges on a first row are transferred from a vertical transfer channel to a line memory. During a second horizontal blanking period, the transferred signal charges are partly transferred from the line memory to a horizontal transfer channel. During a third horizontal blanking period, the remaining signal charges on the first row are transferred from the line memory to the horizontal transfer channel. Thereafter, the signal charges on the second row next to the first row are transferred from the vertical transfer channel to a line memory that is vacant.

Abstract: There provided are a layout configuration in which fluctuation in pixel sensitivity characteristics is reduced and a solid-state image pickup device which attains high yield and high sensitivity. Respective sections included in pixels 2a and 2b, such as light receiving regions 20a and 20b of PDs 3a and 3b, transfer gate electrodes 4a and 4b, and FD 5, have outer shapes comprising lines extending in row directions and lines extending in column directions. The light receiving regions 20a and 20b, the transfer gate electrodes 4a and 4b, and FD 5 which the pixel pair includes are disposed in an axisymmetrical manner with respect to a straight line extending between the 2 pixels of the pixel pair. And FD 5 and source regions and drain regions of a reset transistor 6 and an amplifier transistor 12 are disposed in a straight line extending in a column direction.

Abstract: In the pixel portions of the CMOS image sensor, a plurality of unit cells are arranged in the row and column directions at a predetermined pitch respectively in a two-dimensional plain forming a matrix. Each unit cell includes the first and second photodiodes PDa and PDb, the first and second transfer transistors Ta and Tb for transferring the stored charges of the photodiodes to their common floating junctions FJ, the reset transistors R for resetting the potential of the floating junctions FJ, the driver transistors D whose output potential is controlled by the potential of the floating junctions FJ, and the address transistors A for selectively driving the driver transistors D. With the arrangement of the elements and wires in the pixel portions, the integration can be increased and the resolution in the horizontal and vertical directions can be improved.

Abstract: In a connection check mode, a camera main body sends an electromagnetic wave signal to a lens unit to enable radio communication between the camera main body and the lens unit. Then the camera main body sends its own specification data to the lens unit through the radio communication, and the lens unit judges based on the specification data as to whether the lens unit is compatible with the camera main body or not. If the answer is yes, the lens unit derives from the specification data of the camera main body data on performances of the lens unit achievable in connection to the camera main body. The judgment and the performance data are sent through the radio communication to the camera main body, and are displayed as connection data on an LCD of the camera main body.

Abstract: An electronic endoscope is provided with a CCD control system which can prevent CCD breakage caused by a latchup, etc. by detecting a Vsub output error and a Vsub supply error without placing any device near the CCD. The endoscope system has a scope including a CCD placed at the scope's distal end, a driving section that supplies a drive signal to a CCD and drives the CCD and a bias voltage generation that generates a substrate bias voltage, a processor, a voltage monitoring section that monitors the voltage value of the substrate bias voltage, a current consumption monitoring section that monitors the current consumption corresponding to the substrate bias voltage, a drive stopping section that stops supplying the drive signal to the CCD when the voltage monitoring section or the current consumption section determines an error occurs.

Abstract: A focusing apparatus including a focus signal detection circuit that generates a focus signal indicating the degree of focusing, an in-focus direction decision circuit that generates an in-focus direction signal indicating whether a focusing lens moved for focusing is on a far side or near side viewed from the in-focus position using the generated focus signal at predetermined time intervals, in-focus direction memory for storing the in-focus direction signal generated at predetermined time intervals, and a lens control amount calculation circuit and an in-focus vicinity decision circuit that controls the movement of the focusing lens based on a stored immediately preceding predetermined number of in-focus direction signals according to a predetermined rule.