Abstract: A video camera apparatus for a video conference is arranged to detect the zoom level of a zoom lens by a zoom level detecting circuit and to control a motor control circuit according to the result of detection in such a way as to lower the speed of a panning or tilting operation on a video camera accordingly as the position of the zoom lens shifts from a wide-angle position to a telephoto position. In panning or tilting the video camera in a zoom-in state, this arrangement makes the panning or tilting speed lower than the speed of panning or tilting performed in a zoom-back state, so that the movement of objects on a picture displayed on a monitor can be effectively moderated to make the details of the display easily discernible without any unpleasant impression. The arrangement thus facilitates the operation on the video camera.

Abstract: A system and method for improving the signal to noise ratio of a CCD sensor within an optical scanner varies the exposure time of the CCD sensor. Exposure time is varied by clocking the CCD sensor a number of times equal to the number of pixels in the CCD sensor plus an additional number of clock cycles to create a delay. The additional exposure time maximizes the magnitudes of the charges produced by the CCD sensor. The required delay is computed during a pre-scan calibration step.

Abstract: In a film scanner for optically scanning a film for obtaining a picture signal, which film is moved at a constant speed, an image position correction which is as motion-independent as possible, is ensured in that the film scanner at least doubly scans at least parts of each film image and determines image position errors by comparing the two scanning signals of the same nominal image content, and corrects the picture signal in dependence upon the determined image position error.

Abstract: In an in-focus sensing device for a camera, an optical system directs the luminous flux from the subject. An optoelectric transducer section converts the optical distribution of the luminous fluxes with different optical path lengths passing through the optical system, into an electrical distribution. A frequency extracting section extracts specific frequency components from each output of the optoelectric transducer section. A frequency component ratio sensing section obtains the ratio of two frequency components with different optical path lengths based on the output of the frequency extracting section. A defocus amount computing section obtains the defocus amount for the optical system based on the frequency component ratio. A driving section drives the optical system based on the defocus amount obtained.

Abstract: Apparatus for generating video signals representing photographic images previously recorded in a frame on a photographic film-type medium includes an image pickup device which produces video signals in response to a light image of the projected photographic image, a digitizer which digitizes the produced video signals, a memory which stores a video frame interval of the digitized video signals, an enhancer which enhances digitized video signals read from the memory, and a digital signal processor which controls the image pickup device, the memory and the enhancer.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus comprises a memory to store an image signal generated from an image pickup device; a switching circuit to switch an output of the image pickup device and an output of the memory; a vibration sensor to detect the vibration of the apparatus main body; and a control circuit to allow the fetch of the image signal generated from the image pickup device into the memory when the vibration detected by the vibration sensor is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A ground driven delay line correlator circuit for removing noise from an image signal produced by a solid state imaging device such as a CCD sensor. The delay line is made up of a shielded inductor having a certain impedance and delay period.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a camcorder, and more particularly, to an automatic objects tracing device of a camcorder. When the camcorder operates with a self-timer function, motion vectors are detected on the image, and it is determined whether there is movement of an object or movement of the camcorder itself. When it is determined that there is movement of the object, the moving direction and quantity of the object are determined and the camera is made to turn in response to the moving of the object. In the case where the position of the camcorder's zoom lens is at the telephoto position, the turning speed of the camera is made to be faster, and in the case where the lens is at a WIDE angle position, it is made to be slower, so that the object is photographed by effectively following it.

Abstract: A camera having improved positioning of a variable aperture. A picture taking lens forms an image of a subject on an image forming plane. A picture taking optical system has a picture taking optical path which extends from the image forming plane to an image recording medium. The picture taking optical system receives the image formed on the image forming plane and projects the image to the image recording medium. A variable aperture is positioned in the picture taking optical path between the image forming plane and the image recording medium, and regulates light passing through the picture taking optical system without regulating light passing through a viewfinder optical system. Before an individual photograph is taken, the variable aperture is set to an aperture size which is approximately midway between the maximum aperture size and the minimum aperture size.

Abstract: A light source device for an image processor has a plurality of LEDs which are disposed below a television camera. A shelter plate is disposed above the light source so as to prevent light emitted from the light source from directly entering the television camera. A cylindrical light transmitting barrel is provided, extending from the television camera to a position sufficiently close to an object to be detected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for displaying information corresponding to effective keys for changing the operation mode of a camcorder on the screen of the camcorder. The apparatus of the present invention includes a control circuit which checks present key signals input to the camcorder, determines whether the key signal can be operated to change operation from a present operating mode to a next operating mode, and displays information representing all of the effective keys which may be operated to change the operation mode of the camcorder from the present play mode on an electronic viewfinder and/or a monitor when the input key signal corresponds to a function which cannot proceed the present operating mode. Accordingly, the present invention provides the convenience of user's operation by displaying effective keys capable of proceeding from a present operating mode to a next operating mode.

Abstract: A measuring camera has a camera housing fixed to a rigid frame providing a reference surface against which an objective lens unit is held so that for a plurality of such units, all can have their respective projection centrums located at a fixed position within the housing. The frame has guides on which a sensor, e.g. of the CCD type, is mounted for movement parallel to the optical axis without play.

Abstract: A camera having an image plane which is adjustable with respect to the optical axis is used to determine range information from focus. This imaging geometry eliminates the usual focusing need of image plane movement by replacing the two standard mechanical actions of focusing and panning by panning alone. Range estimation or generation of a focused image of a scene can therefore be performed substantially at the speed of panning.

Abstract: In an automatic focusing device for an imaging apparatus, a band-pass filter separates high frequency components from a luminance signal. A window processing section extracts a part of the output of the band-pass filter which lies in a predetermined focus area. In a slice circuit, a first and a second high level priority circuit slice respectively positive components and negative components, which constitute the extracted signal, on the basis of a reference voltage generated by a reference voltage source. A differential amplifier amplifies a difference between the outputs of the two high level priority circuits. An absolute value circuit regulates the amplified signal to a predetermined polarity. A peak hold circuit transforms the output of the absolute value circuit to a sampled peak value signal. An integrating circuit integrates the peak values of the peak value signals every predetermined period of time so as to calculate an evaluation value for focusing.

Abstract: A dual mode high frequency output structure for a CCD image sensor has a differencing mode for determining a difference between a charge of successive charge packets of a first pulse train outputted from a shift register of the CCD image sensor and a non-differencing mode for outputting a video signal from the shift register of the CCD image sensor.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for converting different television standard signals includes an image pickup apparatus for selectively outputting an image signal of one of (i) a first television scheme and (ii) a second television scheme having a larger number of pixels than the first television scheme. An image pickup device is provided having a number of pixels corresponding to the first television scheme. A memory is provided for storing an output image signal from the image pickup device at a frequency corresponding to the first television scheme. An interpolation signal generating circuit is provided for generating an interpolation signal by adding a constant signal to a television signal corresponding to the second television scheme for compensating for an output of the second television signal. Video signal forming circuitry is also provided for forming a video signal by combining the signal read out from the memory and the interpolation signal generated by the interpolation signal generating circuitry.

Abstract: A camera in which a T lens and a wide lens are respectively mounted on their respective lens holders which can be freely rotated and the T and W lenses are rotated to thereby switch over the T and w lenses to each other. The T and W lenses are supported such that they are freely rotatable. A CCD reference plate, on which a CCD can be mounted, is inserted over a lens support shaft and the mutual positional accuracy between the lenses and CCD can be enhanced through the lens support shaft. Also, the switching of the T and W lenses is executed in link with the movement of a plate cam, which is movable in a direction perpendicular to the lens support shaft for the T and W lenses, and a cam portion provided in the plate cam is used to move the T and W lenses in the axial direction of the lens support shaft to thereby adjust the focusing of the lenses.

Abstract: An electric power consumption and a quantity of generated heat can be reduced and hence a temperature characteristic can be maintained satisfactorily. A timing generator generates a smear gate pulse and a storage section driving pulse. The smear gate pulse is supplied to a smear gate region, whereby the smear gate region is opened during a vertical blanking period. The smear gate pulse and the storage section driving pulse are input to a gate circuit and an image section driving pulse is output from the gate circuit. The image section driving pulse has a waveform corresponding to a waveform which results from eliminating a line shift pulse from the storage section driving pulse. In the present invention, since the line shift pulse is not contained in the image section driving pulse, an electric power consumed by an image section is reduced considerably as compared with the prior art.

Abstract: An amount-of-light-emission control data for controlling the amount of light-emission is corrected so that the amount of strobe light-emission becomes proper. In the adjustment process after manufacturing a digital still camera, a subject is placed in a predetermined position, and is photographed by determining a predetermined guide number GN. A guide number GN corresponding to the amount of light-emission of a strobe 45 is calculated from a video signal obtained by the photography. The predetermined actual guide number GN and the guide number GN corresponding to the actual amount of light-emission are compared with each other, to correct the value of control data for determining the amount of light-emission so that there is no difference therebetween. The corrected or updated value of control data in which the predetermined updated corrected guide number GN and the guide number GN corresponding to the actual amount of light-emission are approximately equal to each other is stored in a memory 6.

Abstract: A lens control device for performing focusing during lens initialization includes an axially movable focusing lens, a lens position detector for detecting the position of the lens and a detector for detecting a focus state of the lens on an image pickup plane. The lens control device further includes an initializing circuit which effects an initialization of the lens position detector, a memory circuit which stores the position of the lens at the detection of a focused state on the image pickup plane by the detector during the functioning of the initializing circuit and a control circuit which moves the lens to the position stored in the memory circuit at the completion of the initialization.