Abstract: An imaging display system including: an imaging apparatus including an X-Y addressing type solid-state imaging device, a motion detector for specifying a partial area within the whole image area of the solid-state imaging device, a block scan driving signal generator for generating a driving signal used to scan the pixels in a block, that is, an area specified by the motion detector, a thinning-out scan driving signal generator for generating a driving signal used to scan the pixels in the whole image area of the solid-state imaging device while thinning them at a given thinning ratio, and a driving signal switching unit for switching the block scan driving signal and thinning-out scan driving signal; and a display apparatus including a memory for storing picture information transmitted from the imaging apparatus, and a display unit for displaying a picture corresponding to the picture information stored in the memory.

Abstract: In a solid-state imaging apparatus of the present invention, after an integration operation is started with an integration circuit by setting a reset instruction signal at logical zero, charges stored in a light receiving device are discharged by selecting this light receiving device. A value of an integration signal obtained by an integration operation of an integration circuit is compared with a reference value by a comparing circuit. A capacitance control section informs a capacitance instruction signal to a variable capacitor section of the integration circuit in response to a comparing result. A feedback loop is formed, which consists of the integration circuit, the comparing circuit, and a capacitance control circuit. When the value of the integration signal agrees finally with the reference value within resolution, the capacitance control section outputs a value in accordance with the capacitance instruction signal. This value is sequentially read out through a horizontal reading-out section.

Abstract: The present invention provides an active pixel sensor read-out channel that includes an active pixel. The active pixel drives an active pixel output to a signal voltage having an amplitude proportional to an intensity of light received by the active pixel. The active pixel drives the active pixel output to a reference voltage when the active pixel is not exposed to light. The active pixel output is connected to a sample and hold circuit. The sample and hold circuit samples and stores the signal voltage and samples and stores the reference voltage. A buffer amplifier generates a difference voltage between the sampled and stored signal voltage and the sampled and stored reference voltage.

Abstract: A camera head unit generates a digital video signal, a transmission unit transmits the digital video signal from the camera head unit, and a camera control unit processes the digital video signal transmitted from the camera head unit through the transmission unit. The camera head unit includes a replacing unit for replacing the least significant bit data of the digital video signal to be transmitted from the camera head unit to the camera control unit with another signal data to thereby produce a replacement video signal which is transmitted to the transmission unit. The camera control unit includes an extraction unit for extracting the least significant bit data from the replacement video signal transmitted from the camera head unit through the transmission unit to thereby produce the above-mentioned another signal data.

Abstract: Data on multiple stories or scenes are recorded on a recording medium so as to reduce the physical distance moved by a pickup at playback time and to suppress breaks or disturbances in reproduced video. A multi-scene program having a plurality of optionally selectable branch stories B0, B1, B2, B3, etc., is recorded between a branch point X and a connection point Y. The preceding main story of a video program, made up of video, sound, text and the like, branches off at branch point X to the branch stories, and at connection point Y connects to the succeeding main story in the video program. The recorded state between the branch point X and the connection point Y is such that the branch stories are each divided into multiple cells and the cells of the respective branch stories are recorded time-division multiplexed.

Abstract: An editing system and a video signal output system are disclosed. The inventive system comprises a server for reproducing video signals for a plurality of scenes from disk drives and for consecutively outputting these video signals through a single output port, a frame memory for storing one frame of video signals from the output port, a special effect processor for receiving both the output of the memory and the video signals from the output port, and a controller for controlling the writing and reading of data to and from the frame memory as well as the retaining operation of data in that memory. The controller controls the frame memory so that the latter will continuously supply the special effect processor with the video signal representing the last frame of a given scene for a predetermined period of time, thereby allowing the processor to output the video signal having undergone special effect processing. The video signals may be processed in units of fields instead of frames.

Abstract: An all-pixel reading image sensor or a noninterlaced output image sensor, in which an interlaced signal can selectively be output without the use of a frame memory or the like as an external circuit. For outputting an interlaced signal from a three-layer three-phase drive all-pixel reading CCD image sensor, vertical shift registers are supplied with first through third vertical transfer pulses to transfer signal charges in the pixels of an nth line, for example, to a horizontal shift register, and then the horizontal shift register is supplied with horizontal transfer pulses to transfer (shift) the signal charges of the nth line stored in the horizontal shift register by two pixels, for example, to an output unit.

Abstract: An image system captures, along with the images, information defining both the position and the orientation of a camera along with the distance to the subject. A video camera is attached to three accelerometers, two gyroscopes, and a rangefinder. Data gathered from these devices and defining the pitch, yaw, and roll of the camera, the camera's acceleration, and the camera's distance to the subject is captured and recorded along with the video images. The video images are later stored within a computer's database along with data defining the position and the orientation of the camera, and the distance to the subject for each image. The images may then be presented to a user in a three-dimensional display in which the user can navigate through the images using a joystick or a mouse.

Abstract: This invention relates to an associated video retrieving method and a method therefor which enable a user to freely and easily make associated video retrieval. Video display apparatus having a video display region for visualizing video, an index display region for displaying index information of the videos, point detection unit for detecting a point position for these display regions, object management unit for registering in advance matters or sound in an animation appearing in the video, and control unit for determining a condition of the video to be next playbacked from point information obtained by the point detection unit and from logical structure description of the video separately built up, are provided. Even when a desired scene cannot be specified from the index information, a scene in which any hints relating to the desired scene is found out and associated video retrieval is effected on the basis of such a scene so as to finally obtain the desired scene.

Abstract: A digital camera includes a flash lamp and a CCD imager. A microcomputer first exposes the CCD imager without a light-emission of the flash lamp. Therefore, a luminance evaluation value is calculated by a calculator on the basis of a luminance signal included in a camera signal generated by the CCD imager. The microcomputer succeedingly makes the flash lamp perform a preliminary light-emission, and exposes the CCD imager by {fraction (1/1500)} seconds. The calculator evaluates the luminance evaluation value on the basis of the luminance signal included in the camera signal obtained at this time. Then, the microcomputer calculates a major light-emission amount of the flash lamp on the basis of the two luminance evaluation values obtained in such a manner.

Abstract: There is provided an apparatus in which scenario data indicative of a reproducing procedure of image data is reproduced and when the image data is reproduced on the basis of the reproduced scenario data, the contents of the reproduced scenario data are changed, and the images are reproduced on the basis of the scenario data whose contents were changed, so that a special reproduction such as a fast forward reproduction or the like can be performed. An image reproducing apparatus in which the whole reproduction images based on the scenario data can be easily recognized and a use efficiency is good is provided.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus has a plurality of image sensing modes each of which performs image sensing operation using different pixel shifting method. One of these image sensing modes is selected through a selection unit in accordance with an object to be sensed, and a plurality of images of the object are sensed in image sensing position arrays on the basis of the selected image sensing mode. A combining unit combines the plurality of sensed images to obtain a single still image of high resolution.

Abstract: A video signal processing apparatus and method for use with an electronic still camera or the like. An image memory is utilized which has a luminance data region for storing luminance data, a chromatic data region for storing chromatic data, a character data region for storing character data, and pattern data region(s) for storing pattern data. Character data and pattern data stored in the character data region and the pattern data regions may be combined with and/or incorporated into luminance data and chromatic data stored in the luminance data region and the chromatic data region. As a result, a dedicated ROM is not needed and information pertaining to an image photographed may be prevented from being loss. A video signal based on an image of an original photograph may be stored in original form when characters and patterns are incorporated into the image of the photograph.

Abstract: An apparatus for powering one or more television cameras through an information signal transmission line wherein the television camera is operated by a constant DC current and outputs multiplexed electrical information signals is provided with a constant current supply unit and a rechargeable battery for powering the television camera when the constant DC current is cut off. A transmission line connects the television camera with the constant current supply means for feeding the television camera with the constant DC current and feeding the current supply unit with the multiplexed electrical information signals. The constant DC current provided by the constant DC current supply unit is equal to the sum of a constant current required for operating the television camera and a constant current required to charge the rechargeable battery.

Abstract: Picture-taking apparatus having viewpoint detecting structure includes viewed-point detecting circuitry for detecting a viewed-point of an operator on a display screen. Area setting circuitry is provided for setting a predetermined processing area at the viewed-point detected by the view-point detecting circuitry. Display circuitry is provided for displaying a mark at a predetermined position on the display screen. Processing circuitry is provided for performing a predetermined function corresponding to the mark in response to a detection of the viewed-point being on a predetermined area including the display position of the mark. Control circuitry is provided for causing the area setting circuitry to inhibit displacement of the predetermined area and to freeze the predetermined area at a fixed position on the screen in the case that the display circuitry displays the mark on the display screen.

Abstract: A data recording method is provided in which video data and plural channels of language data are divided into packets as units, and the video data and the plural channels of language data are recorded on a record medium along with the control information containing a flag designating a reproducing channel of the language data matched to a reproducing pattern of the video data. Thus it becomes possible to record video data and plural channels of language data on a record medium so that a reproducing channel for the language data matched to the reproducing pattern of the video data will be selected and the plural channels of language data matched to the reproducing pattern and the video data will be reproduced by a reproducing system.

Abstract: The invention relates to an interface circuit FE intended to receive a pseudo-periodical input signal Vin having a reference level and a video level, and to supply a signal Vs having a level which is representative of the difference between the reference level and the video level, said interface circuit comprising: two sampling branches BR1 and BR2 simultaneously supplying the reference level and the video level, and a subtracter SUB having inputs which receive the outputs of the branches BR1 and BR2. According to the invention, the inputs of the branches BR1 and BR2 are jointly connected via a first capacitance C1 to the input of the interface circuit FE, which comprises control means CM allowing adjustment of the values of the signals at the inputs of the subtracter SUB so that they are equal when they are representative of one and the same reference level.

Abstract: A tape indexing arrangement for video recorders records the index on the tape using standard broadcast teletext codes. When a tape is inserted, the contents list it contains is written onto an index RAM in the recorder (200). When a new program is recorded, a program identification is generated from PDC or EPG data (202). At a suitable later time, the contents of the index RAM are recorded on the tape (204).

Abstract: An information processing apparatus can display an object image and a line drawing overlapping each other. An area of the object image can be zoomed (enlarged or reduced) while the line drawing is left the same size, or optionally the line drawing can be zoomed in proportion to the object image zooming, so that the information displayed by the relative positional relationship between the object image and the line drawing is maintained.

Abstract: A video signal is modified so that a television/receiver still produces a normal picture from the modified signal, whereas videotape recording of this signal produces generally unacceptable pictures. Videotape recorders have an automatic gain control circuit (FIG. 2) which measures the sync pulse level in a video signal and develops a gain control correction signal for keeping the video applied to an FM modulator in the videotape recording system at a fixed predetermined level. A portion of the back porch intervals following the trailing edges of a substantial number of sync pulses are significantly raised and lowered to improve the playability of the original signal without reducing the effectiveness of the copy protection of the copied signal.