Abstract: A solid state imager arrangement includes an image area, an output register which receives signal charge from the image area, a separate multiplication register into which signal charge from the output register is transferred, means for obtaining signal charge multiplication by transferring the charge through a sufficiently high field in elements of the multiplication register, and an additional register into which excess signal charge is transferred.

Abstract: An image sensor includes circuitry compensating for voltage drops in a VSS line. The image sensor includes a plurality of photoreceptors arranged in a pixel array having a number of column lines, and read-out circuitry on the column lines. The read-out circuitry provides substantially equal currents on each column line so as to compensate for voltage drops in the VSS line and provide more accurate pixel signals. The image sensor also includes circuitry for filtering noise from a voltage supply line, and for providing hard and/or soft reset operations.

Abstract: A camera system (2, 40, 50) including a sensor (12, 58) and a first optical system which includes a convex mirror (4, 42) and through which the image of a solid angle region (14) is producible on the sensor (12, 58) by way of a first beam path (18). In order, in addition to producing an image of a large solid angle region (14), to permit scanning or detailed representation of a smaller partial region (20, 66, 82) of the solid angle region (14), the camera system (2, 40, 50) includes a second optical system through which a partial region (20, 66, 82) of the solid angle region (14) is detectable by way of a second beam path (34, 60) on a detail sensor (68), wherein the detail region (20, 66, 82) is selectable by an optical element (28) which is movable relative to the sensors (12, 58, 68).

Abstract: A camera device comprises a movable optical system, a driving unit which drives the optical system, and a control unit which controls the driving unit to move the optical system to a predetermined state by an initialization processing based on a startup program which does not comprise an operating system and then controls the driving unit based on the control program comprising the operating system.

Abstract: For each current image output from a pixel matrix, the digital words relative to at least one masked line of the matrix are processed to generate a current correction digital code. From this code, a black level compensation signal is generated and applied as an offset control on pixel signal amplification. If the current correct digital code does not differ from the code calculated for a previous image output by a predetermined amount, then the code for the previous image is instead used to generate the black level compensation signal.

Abstract: A camera device comprises an optical system driven to a predetermined position upon initialization when a photographing mode has been set, a memory including an area for storing lens information inherent to the optical system, an area for storing a file management program, and a management area which is managed by using the file management program, the area for storing the lens information differing from the management area, and a controller which controls the initialization of the optical system based on the lens information stored in the memory.

Abstract: A combination camera and loudspeaker is described herein. The combination camera and loudspeaker includes a lens for selectively manipulating an image and a loudspeaker assembly disposed proximate the lens for projecting audible sounds. In one embodiment, a transparent piezo-electric aligned with at least a portion of the lens projects audible sound based on electrical signals applied to the piezo-electric diaphragm. In another embodiment, a speaker coil and magnet within the loudspeaker assembly encircles an outer perimeter of the lens, while a transparent diaphragm connected to the speaker coil and aligned with at least a portion of the lens projects audible sound based on the interaction between the speaker coil and magnet. The camera captures an image when light is transmitted through the transparent diaphragm to the camera lens. Further, the combination camera and loudspeaker may include a controller for selectively controlling optical properties of the transparent diaphragm.

Abstract: A camera device comprises a movable optical system, a driving unit which drives the optical system, and a control unit which makes the driving unit start driving of the optical system to a predetermined state by an initialization of the optical system by using an interrupt processing which is executed by setting an interrupt processing routine before the operating system is started, when the camera device is started up in a state in which an operation mode for photographing is set.

Abstract: A camera system is disclosed, which can obtain an accurate target driving amount when the target driving amount of a focusing lens is calculated while the focusing lens is driven. The camera system has a camera and a lens apparatus which has an image taking optical system including a focusing lens and is mounted on the camera. The camera has a photoelectric conversion element which photoelectrically converts an optical image, a focus information producing section which produces focus information based on the output of the photoelectric conversion element, and a communication unit which transmits timing information of the photoelectric conversion and the focus information to the lens apparatus. The lens apparatus has a memory which stores an optical information changing according to the position of the focusing lens, and a controller which controls the driving of the focusing lens.

Abstract: A mobile device with an integrated camera responsive to signals from a camera activator. The mobile device includes application programs capable of editing documents. The user triggers the device operating system to switch from an active application program in which the user is editing a document to a camera application by activating the camera activator. The user then captures an image by again triggering the camera activator, whereupon the active application is restored and the image data is inserted within the document. The captured image is directly inserted into an input field within the open document in the active application.

Abstract: A technique of achieving optimal noise suppression with respect to a video signal whose noise amount differs according to brightness is disclosed, and according to the technique, a low-luminance detecting section 18 detects a video signal of a relatively low luminance, a suppression amount setting section 19 generates a noise suppression amount which becomes larger as the luminance of the video signal becomes lower, and a noise suppressing circuit 17 suppresses noise with the noise suppression amount generated by the suppression amount setting section with respect to the video signal of a relatively low luminance detected by the low-luminance detecting section.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a solid-state imaging device that outputs a captured image signal in current mode, which in turn is subjected to CDS processing in current mode by a current signal detector, thus suppressing FPN noise. A captured image signal output by the current signal detector is amplified by a programmable gain amplifier to a certain level, and the amplified signal is converted by a current-to-voltage transducer into a voltage signal. In a clamp circuit including a current-output differential amplifier and a current adder, the differential amplifier compares the voltage signal with a reference voltage from a reference voltage source and feeds back a clamp current to the current adder so that the difference between the voltage signal and the reference voltage becomes substantially zero. The current adder is required to simply add a signal current and the clamp current.

Abstract: A digital camera apparatus of the present invention comprises an image inputting device for inputting an image to be photographed; an image processing device for carrying out a processing of the image inputted by the image inputting device; a recognizing device which automatically recognizes a printed code included in the image; a displaying device for displaying a result of the recognition of the recognizing device; and a recording device for recording data of the recognition automatically recognized by the recognizing device. The recognizing device automatically recognizes the printed code of the image scanned by triggering a first release by the image inputting device before determining and recording the image in a second release by the image inputting device.

Abstract: Provided is a digital camera in which a memory card is inserted and image files are stored on the memory card. When a recording capacity of the memory card is insufficient, image files already stored in the memory card are recompressed at a relatively higher compression rate at the request of a user.

Abstract: A monitoring video camera has a mounting bracket, a lens assembly, a light assembly and a transparent shell. The mounting bracket has a bottom surface. The lens assembly is mounted on the bottom surface of the mounting bracket and has a primary bracket and a lens. The primary bracket is rotatably mounted on the mounting bracket. The lens is mounted on the bracket. The light assembly is mounted on the primary bracket and has multiple springs, a light control PCB and a lens shade sleeve. The springs are connected between the light control PCB and the primary bracket. The light control PCB has multiple LEDs. The springs maintain a tight contact between the inner surface of the transparent shell and the bottom surface of the lens shade sleeve to prevent over-exposure.

Abstract: An image of a subject is taken by a solid image taking device including a first image taking element having a plurality of pixels and a second image taking element having a plurality of pixels smaller than those of the first image taking element. First and second evaluations on contrast obtained by integrating high-frequency components of first and second image signals representing an image of the subject taken by the first and second image taking elements are calculated. The focus is adjusted on the basis of the first and second evaluations on contrast so that the subject is imaged on the solid image taking device.

Abstract: In a solid-state image pick-up device comprising photoelectric converting devices 3r, 3g and 3b formed at a predetermined array interval in row and column directions on a semiconductor substrate, vertical transfer paths 4a, 4b, 4c, . . . provided in the column direction of the photoelectric converting device and serving to read and transfer a signal charge obtained by the photoelectric converting device, and a shielding film for covering an upper part of the vertical transfer path, a pore 7 is provided in a place corresponding to an imaginary pixel point position in the shielding film. Consequently, an actual signal (an imaginary pixel point charge) corresponding to the amount of a received light on the imaginary pixel point through the pore 7 is stored in the vertical transfer path.

Abstract: An auto focusing apparatus comprises a contrast AF (auto focusing) means (10), an outside light AF means (20), a release button (30), a focusing accurate priority button (40) and control means (50). The control means controls the contrast AF (10) and outside light AF (20) to select a contrast AF operation when the focusing accurate priority button (40) is pressed before the release button (40) is pressed and to select an outside light AF operation when focusing accurate priority button (40) is not pressed before the release button (40) is pressed.

Abstract: An image-sensing device has pixel areas for outputting CCD signals of plural channels, and an adjusting portion for adjusting a level of each channel of the CCD signals outputted from the pixel area. A first channel CCD signal is provided from a pixel area 11a, a horizontal OB area 15a, a slide shift area 12a, and an HCCD 13a. A second channel CCD signal is provided from a pixel area 11b, a horizontal OB area 15b, a slide shift area 12b, and an HCCD 13b. Both of the first and second CCD signals are supplied to the adjusting portion with a reference signal added. The adjusting portion controls CCD signal of each channel by making the level of reference signal the same. The variation of the shift efficiency of electric charge in the border of pixel areas 11a and 11b for each channel, and in the slide shift areas 13a and 13b can be compensated.

Abstract: An image sensor has an array of pixels read by column circuits to provide reset and read samples on a pair of sample capacitors. To alleviate the effects of parasitic capacitance in the region of the sample capacitors, a modified timing arrangement is used. Both sample switches are operated simultaneously to pre-charge both sample capacitors with a pixel signal value. One sample switch is operated after reset to apply a reset value to one of the pre-charged sample capacitors.