Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for performing gamma correction processing when there are a plurality of characteristic areas, each of which is characterized by the high frequency in a luminance histogram to improve the impression of contrast. According to the present invention, a luminance characteristic detector (4) detects the luminance of an input image signal and a microcomputer (5) calculates an APL and a luminance histogram of an input image signal. A gamma correction circuit (6) performs the gamma correction processing in response to the luminosity of the input image signal by use of the result of the calculation carried out by the microcomputer (5). Then, if there are a plurality of characteristic areas, each of which is characterized by the high frequency in the luminance histogram, a characteristic emphasis circuit (7) performs grayscale extension processing for the plurality of characteristic areas.

Abstract: An object detecting system, which is installed in a vehicle, uses a camera comprising an optical lens, a distance measuring image chip, and an illumination device to detect information about an object occupying a vehicle seat. The light emitting mode of a first illuminant and a second illuminant of the illumination device is controlled in such a manner that the quantity of incident light onto the distance measuring image chip is equalized to respective portions in the focusing area.

Abstract: The disclosed occupant detection system may include a photographing device, an information extracting device, a detection processing device, an integration processing device, and a determination processing device. The photographing device takes 3D images of a vehicle's driver. The information extracting device extracts information about at least one of a position or movement of the driver's head or hand. The detection processing device detects whether or not the at least one of the position or movement of the driver's head or hand is in a preset specified state. The integration processing device adds up the time in which the at least one of the position or movement of the driver's head or hand is not in the specified state. The determination processing device determines that the driver's attention is diminished when the time added up exceeds a preset reference value.

Abstract: A system is provided for detecting photographed images of a plurality of objects. In the object detection system, reflected lights reflected by a plurality of objects, i.e. an object A and an object B, are allowed to enter into a distance measuring imaging chip through an optical system, whereby produced images of the object A and the object B are entirely or partially superposed on each other on a predetermined imaging area of the distance measuring imaging chip. In addition, the object detection system is adapted to individually select between a state that only the object A is projected to the imaging area and a state that only the object B is projected to the imaging area by a shading filter.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an image display technology with which high contrast can be stably obtained. In order to achieve the above object, the present invention changes the gain of a digital luminance signal by feeding back information on maximum and average luminance levels of the luminance signal, adjusts image contrast, and in accordance with the average luminance level detected from the feedback system, controls the illuminance of the backlight applied to a display unit. The control increases the illuminance of the backlight when the detected average luminance level is higher than the upper-limit value of a previously set reference range, and reduces the illuminance when the detected average luminance level is lower than the lower-limit value of the reference range.

Abstract: A collision detecting device which is installed in a vehicle comprises a coil sensor provided with a plurality of detecting sections having different distances relative to a door outer panel, respectively, in a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the door outer panel.

Abstract: A collision detecting device which is installed in a vehicle comprises a metallic object to be detected having an extending surface which can be displaced toward a coil sensor according a vehicle collision and is arranged to face the sensor surface of the coil sensor.

Abstract: A technology is provided which is effective for precisely detecting information about a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat. In one form, an occupant restraint system to be installed in a vehicle is adapted to associate occupant surface profile information relating to a specific body region of a vehicle occupant, which is obtained by a camera for obtaining an image relating to a single view point, with previously stored body information so as to derive body information about the vehicle occupant and varies the occupant restraining mode of an occupant restraint device according to the derived body information.

Abstract: The disclosed vehicle occupant detecting system may comprise a three-dimensional surface profile detector, a digitizer, a storage device, a position detector, and a processor. The three-dimensional surface profile detector is may detect a three-dimensional surface profile of a vehicle occupant from a single view point. The digitizer may digitize the three-dimensional surface profile into a numerical coordinate system. The storage device may have previously stored information of features on a stored three-dimensional surface profile of a plurality of regions of a human body. The position detector detects information about one or more positions of the vehicle occupant by correlating the numerical coordinate system to the previously stored information of the features. The processor computes a distance between predetermined regions and derives a physique of the vehicle occupant, determines whether or not the vehicle occupant sits in the vehicle seat in a normal state, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A system is provided which is effective for precisely detecting the positional conditions of a vehicle seat. A vehicle seat detecting system which is installed in a vehicle employs a system for detecting a three-dimensional surface profile of a vehicle seat from a single view point by a camera to conduct a process for deriving information about a seat back shoulder region among respective regions of the vehicle seat and then to detect the positional conditions of the vehicle seat based on the derived information about the seat back shoulder region.

Abstract: Disclosed is a digital broadcast receiving apparatus for informing a user that multi-channel broadcasting of a plurality of programs is scheduled to start, prior to the start of the multi-channel broadcasting. The digital broadcast receiving apparatus receives and executes an application that a broadcast station transmits a predetermined time period (five minutes, for example) before the start of multi-channel broadcasting. In accordance with the application, the digital broadcast receiving apparatus displays a listing of preview images of the programs.

Abstract: In a camera module of a so-called multi-chip type, an imaging device and a semiconductor element for processing are mounted. The semiconductor element is encapsulated by a mold resin. Protruding parts are formed by the mold resin on a mounting surface of the mold resin. A metal film forming a pattern wiring is formed on the mounting surface of the mold resin. The metal film is also formed on the protruding parts so as to constitute external connection terminals together with the protruding parts. Electrodes of the semiconductor element are electrically connected to the pattern wiring. The protruding parts include first protruding parts positioned around the semiconductor element and second protruding parts formed in a mounting area of the semiconductor element on the mounting surface.

Abstract: An object detecting system for detecting information about objects on vehicle seats utilizes a camera having a single view point, which is effective for conducting a rationalized setting for the viewing field of the camera. According to the setting for the viewing field of the camera in an object detecting system which is installed in a vehicle, respective halves of the object on the driver seat and the object on the front passenger seat are covered by the viewing field of the camera.

Abstract: An object detecting system for detecting information about objects on vehicle seats utilizes a camera having a single view point, which is effective for conducting a rationalized setting for the viewing field of the camera. According to the setting for the viewing field of a camera in an object detecting system which is installed in a vehicle, an object on a front passenger seat is all covered by the viewing field of the camera while an object on a driver seat is completely covered by the viewing field of the camera.

Abstract: An object detecting system includes a plurality of photographing mechanisms that are used to detect information about objects inside and outside a vehicle. An object detecting system is installed in a vehicle and comprises a first camera and a second camera to obtain information about objects inside and outside the vehicle. They system further includes a controller for conducting controls to detect information about an object and an electrical power unit to supply electrical power from a vehicle battery to the respective cameras. At least one of the controller and the electrical power unit is shared by the first camera and the second camera.

Abstract: A system provides an image displaying technique that provides stable high contrast even in an area having high brightness. Based on information about an average brightness level of a digital luminance signal, black-correction processing which decreases a brightness level by offsetting the brightness level to the minus side, and increase processing which increases a contrast gain within a dynamic range, are performed for an analog luminance signal or a digital luminance signal, enabling improvement in contrast even where brightness is intense.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a video display technique with which a stable video with a high contrast can be obtained according to brightness of a screen. In one embodiment, a video signal processing system for a video display apparatus which performs display on the basis of a video signal comprises a gain control module configured to provide a feedback signal based upon maximum luminance level information and average luminance level information of a luminance signal corresponding to the video signal, the feedback signal being used to control a gain of the luminance signal; and a correction module configured to apply a gamma correction based upon the average luminance level information to the video signal after the gain of the luminance signal has been controlled by the gain control module.

Abstract: An object detecting system, which is installed in a vehicle, uses a camera comprising an optical lens, a distance measuring image chip, and an illumination device to detect information about an object occupying a vehicle seat. The light emitting mode of a first illuminant and a second illuminant of the illumination device is controlled in such a manner that the quantity of incident light onto the distance measuring image chip is equalized to respective portions in the focusing area.

Abstract: An object detecting system, which is installed in a vehicle, uses a camera comprising an optical lens, a distance measuring image chip, and an illumination device to detect information about an object occupying a vehicle seat. The illumination device is sectioned into a plurality of illuminants, such as a first illuminant and a second illuminant, so that the light emitting modes of the illuminants are controlled to be changed individually.