Abstract: An adaptive device for separating a luminance signal and a color signal includes a spatiotemporal filter extracting a color signal from a composite television signal, the filter having a vertical direction pass band, a horizontal direction pass band and a time direction pass band. A variation in the composite television signal in a vertical direction is detected. A vertical variation signal represents the detected variation in the composite television signal in the vertical direction. A variation in the composite television signal in a horizontal direction is detected. A horizontal variation signal represents the detected variation in the composite television signal in the horizontal direction. The vertical and horizontal variation signals control the mixing rate between the composite television signal and an output from a time direction filter.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating video signals from a photographic image previously recorded on film (a cine-video system) which includes a film transport mechanism for advancing or rewinding the film in order to position a film frame at a film gate for projection, an image projector which detects when a film gate for projection, an image projector which detects when a film frame is positioned at the film gate and projects an illuminated image of that frame, a video pickup system which receives the image and generates a video signal which represents it, and an output circuit which produces a resultant output video signal.

Abstract: An automatic shutter speed control circuit for a video camera that includes a pulse generating circuit, a pulse processing circuit and a signal outputting circuit. The pulse generating circuit includes a signal detecting circuit, a first switch, a shaping circuit, a switching control circuit, a second switch, a pulse generating circuit and a combining circuit. The pulse processing circuit includes a signal processing circuit, an error correcting circuit and a third switch. The signal outputting circuit includes a fourth switch and a control signal generating circuit. The pulse generating circuit generates a single pulse train per field representative of the object's speed. The output circuit generates a control signal based on the pulse train to control shutter speed.

Abstract: The solid-state image sensing device comprises N-piece photodiodes (2.sub.i) for converting optical signals to electric signals; N-piece buffers (3.sub.i) for detecting the converted electric signals, respectively; a shift register having a plurality of series-connected transfer stages (8.sub.i) for generating a read pulse (9.sub.i) on the basis of a control pulse (8.sub.i) at a predetermined timing and transmitting another control pulse (8.sub.i+) to the succeeding stage at another predetermined timing, respectively; a dummy transfer stage (6.sub.0) of the same structure as the shift register transfer stages, for transmitting a control pulse (8.sub.1) to the first shift register transfer stage in response to an external control pulse (8.sub.0) at another predetermined timing; a common output line (10); and N-piece select gates (5.sub.i) for outputting a detection signal of the buffer (3.sub.i) to the common output line on the basis of the read pulse (9.sub.i), respectively. Since control pulses (8.sub.

Abstract: A focus detection signal is generated from the video signal produced by a video camera by deriving higher frequency components of that video signal, detecting when those higher frequency components exceed a minimum threshold level, sensing when the video signal exceeds a maximum threshold, and integrating those higher frequency components which exceed the minimum threshold, except during an interval when the video signal exceeds the maximum threshold, thereby producing the focus detection signal.

Abstract: A method of operating a solid state image sensing device having a plurality of electron transfer channels; first and second photodiodes; and first, second, third and fourth electrodes disposed on the electron transfer channels and surrounding the first and second photodiodes. The method includes the step of applying a first potential to the first electrode to transfer electrons from the second photodiode to an electron transfer channel and simultaneously applying a lower potential to the second, third and fourth electrodes to prohibit the electron transfer from the second photodiode to the transfer channel. The method also applies the first potential to the third electrode to transfer electrons from the first photodiode to the electron transfer channel and simultaneously applies the lower potential to the first, second and fourth electrodes to prohibit the electron transfer from the first photodiode to the electron transfer channel.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for detecting a shaking condition of a camcorder, and temporarily halting or suspending operation of the camcorder while the camcorder is shaking excessively. The present invention employs counters that are incremented by a mercury switch shaking detector mounted on the camcorder. The count is compared to a predetermined count limit. If the count exceeds the count limit, an excessive shaking condition is established. Recording of the camcorder is temporarily halted accordingly. Further, the counters are reset after predetermined time intervals.

Abstract: A solid state imager is comprised of an imager unit composed of a plurality of sensitive units arrayed in the unit of pixels in a two-dimensional manner in the horizontal and vertical directions and vertical transfer units for transferring electric charges read-out from the sensitive units in the vertical direction at every vertical column, and a horizontal transfer unit formed of charge transfer unit group (8.sub.1, 8.sub.2, 8.sub.3, . . . ) of a plurality of bits in which a clock voltage (.phi..sub.H1) is applied to a first charge transfer unit group (8.sub.1, 8.sub.3. . . ) at every other bit including the charge transfer unit (8.sub.1) of a final bit and a clock voltage (.phi..sub.H2) is applied to a second charge transfer unit group (8.sub.2, 8.sub.4, . . . ) at every other bit of the remaining bit to transfer the electric charges supplied from the image unit in the horizontal direction, wherein a cross point between a leading edge of the clock voltage (.phi..sub.

Abstract: A still video apparatus is disclosed which has a device for interfacing with an external image data processing device. The still video apparatus comprises a signal output device for outputting an electrical image signal and a signal converter for converting the image signal to an image data signal which can be processed by the external image data processing device. The apparatus is provided with an interface which outputs the image data signal to the external image data processing device. The still video apparatus may be provided with a playback device and/or a recording device, whereby a signal converting device converts an image signal, which is read from a recording medium by the playback device, to an image data signal which can be processed by the external image data processing device.

Abstract: An image sensor apparatus includes a matrix array of optical/electrical conversion elements, switching elements for taking out electric charge stored on the conversion elements, and drive circuits for driving the switching elements thereby to take out image signals from the conversion elements in parallel. A matrix array of noise signal retaining circuits is provided on output sides of the conversion elements for temporarily retaining in parallel, as noise signals, signals produced while the optical/electrical conversion elements are not being driven. Subtracting circuits are provided for subtracting from the parallel image signals in parallel the noise signals retained in the noise signal retaining circuits. A multiplexer converts the parallel output signals from the subtracting circuits into a serial signal in a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: Improved apparatus and methods of image information processing are disclosed which extend the operational coverage of an image system to higher velocity to height ratio scenarios while optimizing image resolution. The invention typically is implemented by a time delay and integrate charge-coupled device. In conjunction with an image variable row scan rate, a novel method of clocking the device is used to adjust the number of cycles of clocking performed in one row read out time, and to simultaneously transfer pixel information located in a plurality of rows of an imaging array having a predetermined row relationship. The relationship between the variable row scan rate, the predetermined row relationship and the number of cycles of clocking is adjusted so that the scan rate can increase above a maximum base scan rate by a factor of (AB)/(B-1), where A is the number of cycles of clocking performed and B is an integer corresponding to the predetermined row relationship.

Abstract: A solid state imaging apparatus includes a solid state imager of an interline charge transfer device type, including a number of photoelectric conversion cells arranged in the form of matrix, and a reading gate provided between each of photoelectric conversion cells in each one column and one adjacent vertical transfer register and controlled for reading an electric charge stored in one of each N photoelectric conversion cells to the adjacent vertical transfer register. A memory is connected to receive an image signal sequentially outputted from the solid state imager, and has a capacity corresponding to a double of the number of the photoelectric conversion cells of the solid state imager.

Abstract: The amount of slant of an entire video camera in the vertical direction is detected by a slant detector by detecting a horizontal and vertical signal quantity or by a mechanical vertical direction detector and a memory controller reads out the video signal while controlling the address of the memory so as to correct the slant of the video signal stored in the memory depending on the slant amount, and since the memory is composed of two memory systems the slant may be always corrected for a real time in moving picture, thereby presenting a stable video output.

Abstract: An image sensing device uses photodiodes arranged in a matrix. Each photodiode is connected to one of p serially-coupled input gate and transfer gate combinations, were p is an integer greater than or equal to 2. Channel terminals of the p transfer gates are commonly-coupled to a serially-coupled storage gate and output switch combination. The serially-coupled storage gate and output switch combination and its associated p input gate and transfer gate combinations can be repeatedly provided in rows and columns, and addressed so that pixels determined by the photodiodes can be serially output from the image sensing device. Among other advantages, by using serially-coupled input gate and transfer gate combinations, the area provided for a storage gate can be increased so that the sensitivity, dynamic range and/or signal-to-noise ratio is increased relative to conventional devices.

Abstract: A video camera comprising a taking lens, an image taking circuit which generates a video signal by receiving a light having passed through the taking lens, a knee correction circuit which compresses a video signal generated by the image taking circuit and having a level as high as or higher than a predetermined level, a detection circuit which detects a luminance distribution condition of a field, a pedestal adjusting circuit which adjusts a black level of the video signal generated by the image taking circuit and a control circuit which changes a compression method of a video signal in the knee correction circuit and an adjusting method of the black level in the pedestal adjusting circuit according to a luminance distribution condition of a field detected by the detection circuit. According to the present invention, it is possible to perform various controls in response to a luminance condition of a field.

Abstract: An imaging system includes an image pick-up device with an image sensor having a rectangular detection face which is subdivided into discrete detection sub-faces for converting a radiation intensity distribution on the detection face into an electric signal, the detection sub-faces being arranged in a matrix of n rows and p columns respectively dividing short and long sides of the detection face, an object plane and an optical system which images a radiation intensity distribution in a circle situated in the object plane onto an ellipse situated on the detection face in accordance with a compression factor m. The compression factor may be chosen so that the ellipse spans no more than p/2 columns of the detection face so that video images can be formed at twice the conventional rate. In the case of non-square detection sub-faces, the compression rate may be chosen so that the ellipse spans an equal number of rows and columns, thereby making each detection sub-face correspond to a square in the object plane.

Abstract: A driving apparatus for imparting motion to an image sensor is disclosed that includes a frame structure, a support spring coupled to the frame structure, a support structure coupled to the support spring and a foundation structure, wherein the support structure keeps the support spring suspended above the foundation structure, a first drive solenoid coupled to a first side of the frame structure, and a second drive solenoid coupled to a second side of the frame structure that is adjacent to the first side of the frame structure wherein at least one drive solenoid includes a solenoid body, a magnetic coil, and a magnetically deflectable solenoid beam.

Abstract: A low cost system for efficiently doubling the data readout rate from a high resolution CCD video sensor having two line outputs includes a pair of analog to digital converters, a separate pair of first-in first-out line stores for each of the analog to digital converters, and a digital to analog converter. Successive lines from the video sensor are fed into alternate ones of the analog to digital converters in sequence at the normal pixel clock frequency used with other than high resolution sensors. The contents of successive lines in each of the analog to digital converters are written into alternate ones of its respective pair of line stores in sequence. The contents of successive lines from all of the line stores are fed into the digital to analog converter. Finally, analog data is read out of the digital to analog converter to the single analog input of a high resolution video monitor at twice the pixel clock frequency.

Abstract: A video camera control apparatus (10') includes a respective remote control panel (14) and a respective camera control unit (16) for each of several video cameras (12) to be controlled by the apparatus. Each remote control panel (14) is connected to the associated camera control unit (16) by a respective bus (18) whereby technical operational control of each camera can be effected at the associated remote control panel (14). A respective interface unit (30) is connected in the bus (18) between each remote control panel (14) and the associated camera control unit (16). A master control unit (34) connected to all of the interface units (30) is capable of communicating with any selected one of the camera control units (16) via the associated interface unit (30) to enable technical operational control of any selected one of the cameras (12) to be effected at the master control unit.

Abstract: A circuit for separating the luminance signal and chrominance signal from a composite video signal in a digital signal processing system using adaptive 2H comb filters. The circuit according to the present invention generates luminance difference signals, and chrominance difference signals from the horizontal scanning lines of a composite video signal for the purpose of detecting the correlation of the chrominance difference signals as well as the correlation of the luminance difference signals to generate a correlation coefficient. The chrominance signal is accurately separated from a composite video signal in response to the generated correlation coefficient.