Abstract: A camera and illuminator combination unit has a camera to generate images within a predetermined field of view, the field of view having a central axis, and an illuminator having an illumination axis, the illumination axis being non-parallel with the central axis. Alternately, a camera and illuminator combination unit has a camera to generate images within a predetermined field of view including areas of different distance from the unit and an illuminator having an illumination axis directed towards a distant portion of the field of view.

Abstract: In a camera having a gamma-correction circuit on an output signal processing path of a CCD, an incident light path leading to the CCD is kept opening in a state where nonlinear gamma-correction processing in the gamma-correction processing circuit is prohibited, first image data (CCD output data; DATA1) are generated based on electric signal output from the CCD, incident light path leading to the CCD is kept closing, second image data (CCD output data; DATA2) are generated based on electric signal output from the CCD and lastly, the second image data DATA2 are subtracted from the first image data DATA1, thereby correcting to eliminate dark voltage component included in the first image data DATA1.

Abstract: Noises are reduced in an image picked up in natural light without using lighting equipment that affect the picked up image. The present invention provides an image processing apparatus that includes an image acquisition unit that acquires a visible light image and an invisible light image corresponding to the visible light image, and a noise reduction unit that reduces noises of the visible light image by using the invisible light image.

Abstract: An energy ray sensitive region 11 is divided in its horizontal direction into m columns with the vertical direction as the longitudinal direction, divided in its vertical direction into n rows with the horizontal direction as the longitudinal direction, and is thereby provided with m×n photoelectric conversion portions 13 that are arrayed two-dimensionally. Each of these photoelectric conversion portions 13 generates charges in response to the incidence of energy rays. On the front surface side of energy ray sensitive region 11, a plurality of transfer electrodes 15 are disposed so as to cover energy ray sensitive region 11 . The plurality of transfer electrodes 15 are respectively disposed with the horizontal direction as the longitudinal direction and are aligned in the vertical direction. The respective transfer electrodes 15 are electrically connected by voltage dividing resistors 17.

Abstract: An image-recording device comprises a recording processor that records a common still image on a plurality of recording media, respectively, which are detachably mounted on the image-recording device. A common unique data is recorded together with the still image on the plurality of recording media in a photographing operation, respectively. In a displaying operation for the still image, the unique data is read out from the plurality of recording media. When the read-out unique data coincide with one another, the image-recording device displays record information indicating that the read-out unique data are identical.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensor device having an image sensing portion performing the photoelectric conversion and being able to correspond to both progressive mode in which all picture element signals obtained by the scanning of one time are output independently, and interlaced mode in which a plurality of interlaced scannings are performed and the picture element signals obtained by respective interlaced scannings are superposed, comprises a substrate-bias generation circuit for applying a bias voltage to the substrate of the image sensing portion, and for controlling the value of the bias voltage in the progressive mode to be smaller in comparison with that in the interlaced mode.

Abstract: When a signal output by a solid-state image sensing device is clamped to a predetermined reference potential, a high voltage generated in a transfer suspension period after the clamping as generally supplied to an A/D converter is generated. A sample/hold output Va is clamped to a clamp level Vref over a period of time between a halfway point of time of a signal of a picture element preceding ahead by one line and the end of an inhibit period of transfer clocks of a signal output by an empty transmission unit via a first clamp pulse and a sample/hold output for the second picture element, or a subsequent one of an OPB unit is clamped to the clamp level via a second clamp pulse to prevent a signal output from exceeding a reference voltage from being supplied to an A/D converter at a later stage.

Abstract: CCD-RAW data obtained by sensing the image of a subject is applied to a first noise reduction circuit via a offset correction circuit, a gain correction circuit, a linear matrix circuit and a gamma correction circuit. Uncorrelated noise is removed from the CCD-RAW data in the first noise reduction circuit. The CCD-RAW data is subjected to synchronization (color interpolation) in the synchronization processing circuit, and luminance data Y and color difference data C is generated by an RGB-YC conversion circuit. The generated luminance data Y and generated color difference data C is subjected to noise reduction processing on a per-frequency-component basis in the second noise reduction circuit. Suitable noise reduction processing conforming to the state of image data before and after synchronization processing is executed.

Abstract: Plural pieces of frame data compose a moving image. When a data writing process of writing previous frame data is in progress at the time when the latest frame data is written at a certain frame period while the plural pieces of frame data are being successively written on a recording medium, it is determined that a delay has occurred in the writing process of writing the frame data on the recording medium. When it is determined that a delay has occurred in the writing process, alternative frame data is written on the recording medium in place of the latest frame data, whereby a data amount to be recorded is reduced. When it is determined that no delay has occurred, the latest frame data is written on the recording medium.

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital camera which has a plurality of image capturing optical systems and quickly performs automatic focusing. A digital camera includes a first image capturing optical system formed from a lens 2 and a first image sensor, and a second image capturing optical system formed from a lens 3 and a second image sensor. An image processor detects a phase difference between an image of a single subject formed on the first image sensor and an image of the same formed on the second image sensor, in order to perform phase-difference AF. Since the lenses 2, 3 have different focal lengths, the image processor executes correlation operation after having performed conversion processing for causing a scaling factor of the image formed by the first image sensor to coincide with that of the image formed by the second image sensor, to thus detect a phase difference.

Abstract: A photographic processing system is disclosed in which subject and other data is stored in a database and such data is automatically linked to photographs taken using either a film or digital camera.

Abstract: An IR cut-filter is fitted into a support portion within the optical-system containing portion of a ceramic board and a lens 11 is mounted in the ceramic board by screwing the lens. In an imaging-device containing portion, an imaging device with a light receiving portion arranged therein is mounted outside the support portion by flip-chip packaging. Further, the vicinity of the flip-chip packaging portion is sealed with resin. Additionally, on the base of the imaging-device containing portion of a ceramic package, the lands of an imaging device are so positioned as to correspond to the respective land positions of a ceramic package and patterns are electrically connected by melting a gold bump, whereby the imaging device is mounted by bare-chip packaging. The land portion is filled with an underfill agent and then sheet glass is mounted on a through-hole 5b and sealed with a sealing agent, so that the through-hole 5b for containing a light receiving portion is sealed up.

Abstract: A method for determining the presence of a face from image data utilizes at least first and second algorithms. The first algorithm prescreens the image data, by determining a plurality of face candidates utilizing a pattern matching technique that identifies image windows likely to contain faces based on color and shape information. The second algorithm processes the face candidates determined by the first algorithm, and uses a posterior probability function classifier to determine the presence of the face.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus which is thin in thickness and has enough strength to be able to be accommodated in the breast pocket of one's shirt or back pocket of one's pants or in a handbag without bothered by a feeling of strangeness is provided. The imaging apparatus is composed of an imaging unit and an operation unit, both units being connected rotatably relative to each other by a hinge mechanism and formed into a low-profile, rectangular shape in the normal state in which the units are positioned parallel to each other.

Abstract: A metal structure (101) having a substantially U-letter shape is provided in a chassis. Tripod screw attaching portions (102a) are provided to the upper and lower portions of the metal structure. A casing is arranged to cover the front surface of the front portion and the lower surface of the rear portion of the metal structure (101). A metal chassis panel (105, 106) is attached to cover at least the left and right surfaces of the metal structure. The casing portion of the front surface of the metal structure is substantially curved to enable tally lamp light to be recognized at the casing portion of the front surface.

Abstract: An image signal processing unit comprising an image signal receiver, a first addition block, a compression block, and a determination block, is provided. The image signal receiver receives an image signal. The image signal is generated by an imaging device. The imaging device has a plurality of pixels generating pixel signal. A receiving surface of the imaging device is divided into a number of pixel blocks. A number of pixels are arranged in the pixel block. The first addition block generates high-sensitivity signal by adding up the pixel signals generated by some pixels arranged at a predetermined position in the pixel block. The compression block generates low-sensitivity signal by compressing the high-sensitivity signal so that the low-sensitivity signal is lower than the maximum signal level of the pixel signal.

Abstract: A position adjustment of the camera body 2 to a reference position can be performed by the position adjustment mechanism 4 with reference to a position relation between the mark 5 provided in the bottom portion 2a of the camera body 2 and the slit 6 formed in the bottom portion 3a of the bracket 3. Therefore, it is not required that the vehicular image pickup device is connected to the monitor to perform the position adjustment by confirming the pickup image of each one, thus allowing reduction of hours and labors required for reference position adjustment of the camera body 2. Further, since the vehicular image pickup device can be shipped in a state where the camera body 2 is still adjusted to the reference position, hours and labors required for the reference position adjustment of the camera body 2 after the image pickup device is mounted to the vehicle can be reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a movement decision method for determining direction and distance of one-dimensional movement of image capturing object or image capturing element for capturing two-dimensional sub-pixel motion image suitable for super-resolution processing, and an image capturing device using this movement decision method.

Abstract: It is aimed to provide a small and lightweight digital still camera capable of reducing the possibility of moving the digital still camera while an image is taken due to an operation for pressing a shutter switch by a user. Thus, a single-stage switch which is turned on when the user presses up to a predetermined stroke with his/her finger and is turned off when the user takes his/her finger off is used as the shutter switch. In the normal imaging mode, in a state where the shutter switch is turned on by the user, an image for monitoring is taken at a predetermined interval and the image is displayed on the display device as an electronic view finder using image data output from the imaging device. When the shutter switch is turned off, an image for recording is taken, the obtained image data is recorded in the memory card and the taken image is displayed on the display device using the image data.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus including: a pixel section having two-dimensionally arrayed pixels each having a first photoelectric conversion device and a second photoelectric conversion device located at positions regarded as the same position at which image is formed by an imaging optical system and a means for independently resetting each of signals accumulated at the first photoelectric conversion device and the second photoelectric conversion device; a reset control means for executing a resetting of the signal of all first photoelectric conversion devices of the pixel section as a first resetting operation, and executing, after a desired exposure time subsequent to the first resetting operation, a resetting of the signal of all second photoelectric conversion devices of said pixel section as a second resetting operation; a read means for reading simultaneously or almost simultaneously signals of the first photoelectric conversion device and the second photoelectric conversion device of each pixel star