Abstract: Wireless data communication method and apparatus using two electromagnetic signals having different polarizations. Codes related to relative values of the amplitudes of the two signals are generated in correspondence with data to be transmitted. The signals are modulated according to the codes using phase shift keying and amplitude shift keying. The amplitude shift keying modulates the two electromagnetic signals by changing the difference between their two amplitudes in accordance with data encodings. The two signals are transmitted to receiver, which decodes the phases and relative amplitudes to obtain the codes, and reproduces the data from the obtained codes.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording and reproducing digital data, which is capable of recording digital broadcast data while reproducing previously-recorded digital broadcast data is provided. An apparatus 10 for recording and reproducing digital data, which is capable of recording MPEG2-PES data 42 generated from record control means 16 in recording means 20 by controlling the record control means 16 and reproduction control means 22 by time division control means 18 while reading the MPEG2-PES data 42 recorded in the recording means 20 by reproduction control means 22.

Abstract: An image taking apparatus having a first sensor configured to photoelectrically convert a subject image for outputting an image data, a second sensor configured to photoelectrically convert the subject image formed on the first sensor for outputting a photoelectric conversion signal, said second sensor having at least two photoelectric conversion areas that output the photoelectric conversion signal, an image processor configured to process the image data from the first sensor with a predetermined input and output characteristic, and a controller configured to set the input and output characteristic of the image processor based on dispersion information of a subject luminance distribution obtained from the photoelectric conversion signal from the second sensor.

Abstract: Position information of a defect in a charge transfer line in an image capturing sensor, which causes a V-line blemish in an image is stored in a blemish information memory. A normal transfer is performed on signal charges in a defective portion in the signal charges corresponding to all of pixels of the image capturing sensor, and signal charges that are not related to the defective portion are transferred at high speed and discharged, thereby reading signal charges for detecting the level of a V-line blemish.

Abstract: An imaging device from which charge signals accumulated in a light receiving part having a pixel array divided into a plurality of fields can be read out is used. In a predetermined image capturing mode such as a MOVE mode, high-speed continuous-exposure mode or live view mode, a captured image is generated only by using charge signals read out from at least one field having a relatively small number of defective pixels.

Abstract: A plurality of photosensors are provided as light measuring elements at respectively different positions within a space between an optical unit and an image sensor so as to be outside the optical path of the direct light from a photographic subject entering through an optical unit. The plurality of photosensors detect the brightness of the image sensing surface of the image sensor during photoelectric conversion by the image sensor. For this reason a light adjusting controller is capable of performing light adjusting control simultaneously with a main photography operation by controlling the flash emission based on the amount of light detected by the plurality of photosensors during image sensing.

Abstract: A program display and selecting apparatus for displaying an electronic program guide (EPG) contained in a digital broadcast and for selecting a program to be monitored, a digital broadcast receiver for transmitting an EPG to the program display and selecting apparatus, and a digital broadcast receiving system comprising the program and selecting apparatus and the digital broadcast receiver.

Abstract: Apparatus for image capturing has preview function for monitor-outputting an image before capturing image to be recorded, image processing section including band correcting section for controlling frequency characteristic of color data constituting image data, gamma correcting section for controlling gradation characteristic of image data, pixel interpolating section for interpolating pixels with unknown data of each color data constituting image data, and exposure control section for controlling exposure setting value. Capture image size, image data compression rate or subject image recording mode can be met before capturing an image. Controller is selected according to capture image size, image data compression rate or image recording mode set before capturing the image.

Abstract: For a V-line noise occurring in an image due to a defect in a VCCD of an image sensor, a position where a V-line noise is expected to occur when an image capture apparatus is in an initial state (initial noise position) is previously stored in a noise address memory. Then, a V-line noise is corrected by either using information about the initial noise position or detecting a position of the V-line noise, depending factors responsible for a temperature of the image sensor (a temperature of a substrate of the image sensor, a time period which has elapsed since the image capture apparatus was activated, and establishment or non-establishment of a continuous photographing mode), in other words, depending on a state of the image capture apparatus.

Abstract: An image taking apparatus includes an image sensor which picks up an image of a photographic object and a selector which selects a first photographing mode or a second photographing mode and a controller. The second photographing mode is a mode for composing a plurality of picked-up images to create a composite image. The controller makes the image sensor pickup a photographic object image on the first photographing condition when the first photographing mode is selected by the selector, and makes the image sensor pick up a plurality of images of photographic objects on the second photographing condition different from said first photographing condition when the second photographing mode is selected by the selector.

Abstract: Two subject images shot by an imaging section before real exposure are captured, and the difference between data is obtained for each corresponding pixels of the subject images by an interframe difference calculation section. The difference is compared with a threshold value by a threshold value comparison section, the pixels of levels not less than the threshold value level are extracted as a non-correlated portion, and the ratio of the area of the non-correlated portion to all the detected pixels is obtained by a non-correlated portion area calculation section. When the ratio of the area of the non-correlated portion is high, it is determined that the subject movement is large, so that a speed priority program line is selected by an exposure calculation block and the exposure time is set to be shorter than the normal exposure time, thereby preventing subject image blur.

Abstract: A digital camera (10a) is placed in any of three photographing modes labeled a “narrow mode”, a “normal mode”, and a “wide mode”. An operating point setter (903) variably sets an operating point of a CCD (26) defining a brightness range of a subject which falls within a dynamic range of an image sensor, based on a photographing mode as set. A LUT setter (902) variably sets a gradation correction LUT which is a concrete representation of gradation correction characteristics in gradation correction performed by a ? correction circuit (55) (characteristics in ? correction), based on the photographing mode as set. The operating point set by the operating point setter (903) and the gradation correction LUT set by the LUT setter (902) are changed in synchronism with each other in accordance with change in the photographing mode.

Abstract: A digital camera reduces the possibility that a user's release operation is disabled and performs photographing operations at the appropriate times. The digital camera (1) can load a memory card (40a) and a magnetic disk card (40b) as a plurality of recording media, wherein a CPU (17) can independently make accesses to the memory card (40a) and the magnetic disk card (40b). The CPU (17) performs a plurality of tasks in parallel, whereby a captured image is recorded on either one of the memory card (40a) and the magnetic disk card (40b) while predetermined processing is performed on the other. In such a configuration, a captured image which is stored in image memory (21) through a photographing operation can be recorded at an early stage on one of the recording media. This enables continuous photographing and the like even in such a condition that recording on a recording medium which is selected as a subject of recording is not allowed.

Abstract: A driving device for a memory card with a liquid crystal display which uses a material with a memory effect. A digital camera is an example of such a driving device. When the driving device receives data of a photographed image from a camera body, the image data are recorded to a flash memory of the memory card, and simultaneously a thumbnail image of the image data is displayed on the liquid crystal display.

Abstract: Digital camera techniques improve the convenience of a live view display and the like. Image processing in a digital camera includes image processing (i.e., live view processing) for real-time display of a subject on a liquid crystal monitor and image processing performed on image signals followed by image capture for recording. Both the image processing is performed by a single common image processor. In image capture for recording, high-priority live view processing (Pc) is performed between writing (Pa) of image signals outputted from a CCD into memory and captured image processing (Pb). This shortens the time of not displaying a live view image, thereby preventing a shutter release opportunity from being missed and improving the convenience of a live view display.

Abstract: A digital camera capable of photography using a flash exposure to illuminate a photographic subject is provided with an image sensor having a plurality of photoreceptor elements and capable of independently reading the electrical load of a specific photoreceptor element among the plurality of photoreceptor elements, and a detector for detecting the amount of load accumulation due to light exposure of a specific photoreceptor element when using a flash exposure. A controller stops the flash emission when the detection result of the detector reaches a predetermined level. In this way, light adjusting control is accomplished in real time.

Abstract: When an instruction to record an image is provided while a live view is being displayed, the image shot immediately before the provision of the instruction is displayed while a half mirror is moving to retract from the optical path, and the image to be recorded shot immediately therebefore is displayed while the half mirror is moving to advance onto the optical path. To indicate that shooting, preparations and recording of the image to be recorded are in progress, the brightness of the displayed image is gradually changed.

Abstract: A digital camera has a half mirror that splits the optical path from a taking lens to the image-sensing device and an optical viewfinder that offers the light reflected from the half mirror as a visible image. Inside the optical viewfinder, a photometric device is disposed. The amount of light measured by the photometric device is used for exposure control in ambient-light shooting and for automatic light adjustment in flash shooting.

Abstract: The CPU 17 accesses multiple slots 41a and 41b in a digital camera 1 at regular intervals to detect whether or not memory cards 40a and 40b are mounted in the slots 41a and 41b, respectively. Based on whether or not memory cards 40a and 40b are mounted in the slots 41a and 41b, respectively, the CPU 17 selects one slot as the slot to be accessed. There are three modes available as the mode from which to perform this selection, i.e., a fixed mode, a priority mode and a manual operation mode.

Abstract: The image capturing apparatus can remove noise by a circulating filter process in capture of a moving picture and also by multiframe exposure. In the case where an AGC gain is higher than a threshold Ref1, that is, at the time of low illuminance, whether the focal length of a taking lens is set to the tele-side or not is determined. If the focal length is set to the tele-side on which a camera-shake often occurs, noise is removed by the circulating filter process which is relatively resistive to a camera-shake. On the other hand, if the focal length is not set to the tele-side, noise is removed by the multiframe exposure by which a relatively high-quality image can be captured. As a result, since switching is made between the circulating filter process and the multiframe exposure in accordance with situations, the proper noise removing process can be performed in capture of a moving picture at the time of low illuminance.