Abstract: A telecine can be adapted to write video signals onto film. The film gate and flying spot scanner are enclosed in a light-tight shield and a four-segment (R, G, B, and clear) color filter wheel is interposed in the optical path between the scanner and the imaging optics. The CRT grid is modulated sequentially by R, G, and B components of the video signals which are preprocessed for shading and color errors. The film may be scanned a number of times under the modulation of each component, and displaced in both X and Y directions to increase resolution. In a preferred embodiment, the scan is displaced by 1/4-pixel for each of four scans to increase horizontal resolution and, for each horizontal displacement, four scans are performed, spaced 1/4-line apart, to increase vertical resolution. Thus, each frame is scanned 16 times per color component, and 48 times in all.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device including light receiving change Modulation Device as pixels arranged in the form of a matrix, including a horizontal scanning circuit to output video signal current, and vertical scanning circuit for sequentially selecting successive rows by applying a pixel readout driving signal to each row line-by-line. A signal is applied to the non-selected rows forming an integrating voltage during a horizontal blanking period and forming an overflow voltage during a horizontal video effective period. The pixel readout driving signal is applied to the selected row and consists of a readout voltage, followed by a reset voltage during the horizontal blanking period. A signal forming an overflow voltage during the horizontal video effective period is then applied to the selected row. The video signal currents for each column line are simultaneously stored in a storage means, which is operated to sequentially output the video signal currents simultaneously stored for each of the column lines.

Abstract: A video image capture apparatus including an image sensor for sensing light at a plurality of pixel positions received via an optical system, picture storage means for temporarily storing pixels derived from the image sensor, address generation means for applying differing write and read addresses to the picture storage to effect mapping of input pixels from the image sensor to provide output pixels compensating for the effects of imperfections of the optical system is described. A video camera producing high quality output images for instance can thereby be produced.

Abstract: An imaging assembly, which is particularly useful for a video camera unit, comprising a set of lenses, some of which have a non-refractive surface, and an image sensor. A holder is provided for holding both the set of lenses and the image sensor to be aligned with one another. Circuitry is also provided so that the sensitivity of the image sensor can be electrically varied.

Abstract: A solid state image sensing device is formed of a plurality of photo-sensing sections arranged in a two-dimensional fashion at a pixel unit in the horizontal and vertical directions. In this case, each of the plurality of photo-sensing sections is formed of a feedback gate transistor whose gate electrode and source electrode are both connected to a vertical signal line, a vertical selection transistor which is connected in series to the feedback gate transistor and whose gate electrode is connected to a horizontal selection line, and a photoelectric conversion element provided under a channel region of each of the feedback gate transistor and the vertical selection transistor, whereby the sensitivity of the solid state image sensing device is increased and the smear thereof can be lowered.

Abstract: A digital electronic still camera wherein additional information such as an operation characteristic of the camera can be recorded into and reproduced from a removable record medium. A pickup image signal is picked up by a CCD image sensor and converted into a digital signal by an analog to digital converter. The digital signal is temporarily stored into a digital memory and written onto a removable optical disk apparatus. The digital electronic still camera further comprises an additional information recording and reproducing circuit for recording and reproducing additional information such as an operation characteristic of the camera onto or from the optical disk apparatus.

Abstract: In a solid state imaging device, a horizontal transfer unit has first and second transfer paths which are disposed in parallel and in which the transfer direction of image signals is changed according to the mode of a driving signal applied to the paths. One end of the first transfer paths is connected to one end of the second transfer path through a third transfer path. When a driving signal of a first mode is applied, the first path transfers image signals from the one end to the other end to output normal image signals. When a driving signal of a second mode is applied, the first path transfers image signals from the other end to the one end to transfer the image signals to the second transfer path via the third transfer path, and the second transfer path transfers image signals from the one end to the other end to output mirror image signals.

Abstract: An exposure correcting loop detects an image pickup signal level and controls a gain of an AGC amplifier and/or an opening of an iris in accordance with the image pickup signal level. A flicker cancelling loop has a flicker detector and detects a flicker component level in the image pickup signal and controls the gain of the AGC amplifier and/or the opening of the iris so that the flicker component level is cancelled. The exposure correcting loop and flicker detector are independent systems.

Abstract: An image sensor and image sensor chip therefor which generates a reference level for the dark output during the blanking period of the sensor and which provides internal switching for removing residual charge from a waveform shaping capacitor. In one embodiment, image sensor chips are arranged in a line and cascaded to form an image sensor and a dummy photocell is provided which is configured similarly to the image sensor photocells and which has its windows shielded from light. A dummy select switch selectively makes connections with a signal line to which the signals from the image sensor photocells are outputted. The dummy select switch remains closed after completion of the drive period of the photocells at the last image sensor chip and the output of the dummy photocell is used as the reference level for the dark output during the blanking period. In another aspect of the invention, a switch is provided within the chip to remove residual charge from the waveform shaping capacitor.

Abstract: An auto focus apparatus for a camera comprising a group of lenses which include a focus lens and a zoom lens. The auto focus apparatus also comprises a focus detector, a motor and a controller. The focus detector detects whether the camera is in focus or not. The motor drives the focus lens and zoom lens. The controller controls the motor for driving the zoom lens and the focus lens. When the focus detector does not detect a focused image through the focus lens, the zoom lens is then driven to focus the camera. A method of auto focusing comprises the step of driving a focus lens so as to obtain a focusing point. The method of auto focusing also comprises the steps of detecting whether the camera is in focus or not, and driving the zoom lens when a focusing point is not achieved by the focus lens.

Abstract: In recording an object image by the image pickup device body, the position detection means detects the present location of the image pickup device body to record the resulting position data at the same time when the object image is recorded onto the image recording medium by the recording means.

Abstract: An electronic camera has sensors for detecting an image of an object, the three dimensional position and azimuth of the camera, the focusing amount and the zoom amount. The image is recorded on a recording medium together with information concerning the three dimensional position and azimuth, the focusing amount and the zoom amount. An image reproducing device for the camera reproduces the recorded image on the basis of the information so that an interrelationship between a plurality of the recorded images is clearly reproduced. Accordingly, the camera and the reproducing device are suitable for combining the recorded images so as to prepare a panoramic image, or to locate a desired article within an image of several different articles.

Abstract: Monitoring apparatus and method for a CCTV monitoring camera, whereby an operation of a zoom lens and upward, downward, left and right rotating operations of the monitoring camera can readily be monitored while the monitoring camera performs a monitoring function.

Abstract: A CCD imager includes a plurality of photoresponsive elements producing signal charges in response to light, a plurality of scanning charge transfer elements, each having a gate electrode, for receiving signal charges from the photoresponsive elements and for transferring the signal charges, and a plurality of serially connected inverter circuits, the outputs of respective inverter circuits being connected to corresponding gate electrodes of the charge transfer elements. The charge transfer is completed within the delay times of the inverters so that the charge transfer for all scanning elements can be completed without the mixing of charges from potential wells beneath adjacent gate electrodes.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensor driving device comprises a sensing part which accumulates information by photoelectrically converting a light signal, a first storage part which reads the information from the sensing part and stores it, a second storage part which stores the information obtained from the first storage part, and a removing part which removes the information from the sensing part. The driving device is arranged to have the information intermittently removed by the removing part at least twice in one field period, to cause the first storage part to store the information obtained at the sensing part immediately before the removal by the removing part, and to cause the information stored at the first storage part to be shifted to the second storage part once in one field period.

Abstract: A video camera apparatus with an image-projecting function comprises a recording/reproduction device for recording an image picked up by a pickup lens and an image pickup element on a recording medium, such as a magnetic tape, and reproduces the recorded image from the recording medium. This apparatus is also equipped with a liquid crystal display panel for displaying the image reproduced by the recording/reproduction device or the picked-up image. When light from a light source is irradiated on the liquid crystal display panel, the image thereon can be projected, enlarged by a projection lens. The pickup lens may also serve as the projection lens.

Abstract: The solid state, image pickup device of the present invention includes a set of vertical registers. Each of the vertical registers includes a transfer channel and a group of transfer electrodes driven by a vertical driving pulse and formed by crossing the transfer channel, and the group of transfer electrodes includes at least one first transfer electrode and at least one second transfer electrode. Each of the vertical registers includes first contacts which electrically connect the group of transfer electrodes to the intermediate layer of polysilicon and second contacts which electrically connect the intermediate layer of polysilicon to the aluminum wiring layer. The first contacts and the second contacts are respectively formed over the group of transfer electrodes.

Abstract: An electronic image stabilization method and apparatus has application for use in hand-held video camcorders. The electronic image stabilization apparatus, contained within the camcorder, comprises a definition television (HDTV) image sensor with photosensitive cells, a gimbaled lens configuration and signal processing circuitry. The lens configuration projects a subject image upon only a portion of the image sensor. As the hand-held camcorder is physically jittered, the lens configuration projects the subject image on a different portion of HDTV image sensor. A scanner circuit reads values from the cells, and a threshold circuit compares the values to a pre-determined threshold value. If the photosensitive cell value is greater, the the projected subject image in the larger HDTV image array is determined, only the photosensitive cells illuminated by the projected subject image extracted from the HDTV image sensor. As a result, jitter in the output image, caused by hand-held shakes, is reduce or eliminated.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a CCD solid state imager in which a utilization efficiency of light and a sensitivity of a sensitive unit (pixel) can be increased and a smear can be reduced by improving a shape of a micro-condenser lens formed on the sensitive unit. In the CCD solid state imager of this invention, of four corner portions of the condenser lens, shapes of the three corner portions are round-cornered similarly to corner portions of a sensitive unit opening and the remaining corner portion of the condenser lens is cut along the direction inclined relative to a central line of the condenser lens (i.e., in the direction having an inclined angle of substantially 45 degrees).

Abstract: A high definition camera for photographing still pictures using a high resolution charge coupled solid-state imaging device. The imaging device includes a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in rows and columns, wherein each column is divided into repeating sequences of four photoelectric elements, each element corresponding to a pixel and one of four fields. A plurality of vertical charge transfer paths are formed between each column of the photoelectric elements and a horizontal charge transfer path is connected to a terminal portion of each of the vertical charge transfer paths. The horizontal charge transfer path includes first and second horizontal registers. Pixel signals generated at photoelectric elements corresponding to one of four fields are transferred to transfer elements in a field shift period corresponding to the one field.