Abstract: Disclosed are a digital display camera in a changing environment and an associated method of digital control. The method can be applied more particularly to digital cameras for endoscopy. It enables a user to access a very large number of parameters of settings while at the same time using only a limited number of data inputs. The camera is constituted by an optoelectrical detection head (DH) and a processing unit (PU) connected to the detection head. The processing unit is provided with a keyboard (FFK) and is connected to a remote control unit (RC). The processing unit (PU) contains pre-recorded digital functions, each enabling the setting of at least one parameter of the camera, as well as options that are characteristic of a given environment, grouping together a set of said functions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for throughput compression for use in a videophone camera wherein an array of photosensitive cells is divided into odd and even lines and the cells of these cells are interlaced with each other and then the interlaced lines are coupled together such that during a first time interval the electric charges stored in the cells of the even lines are transferred to a plurality of first storage cells, then transferred to a plurality of corresponding second storage cells during a succeeding time interval and finally added in the second storage cells to the electrical charges in the corresponding cells of the odd lines of the cell array during a third time interval.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of photodetection for a panoramic camera and to a system for implementation of such a method. A panoramic camera can incorporate a photodetector system of the charge transfer type, an optical system for focusing on a sector of the field of observation and a mechanical rotational drive system for the support having a vertical axis of the assembly. The camera incorporates a photodetection system including at least one module constituted by contiguous arrays (b.sub.1 to b.sub.n) arranged vertically, structure permitting the integration of the charges in synchronism with the rotation of the support, structure for varying the number of activated arrays and for comparing the luminance levels received successively by the elementary cells of the various arrays situated at the same height. The invention also applies to target seeking and to the rapid detection of false alarms due to noise peaks.

Abstract: A projection display device is provided with a negative feedback chain designed to correct all the faults of the projected image, said faults resulting as much from the projection tubes and from their optic systems (geometrical or focusing faults) as from the differences between these tubes (faults in convergence, colorimetry or uniformity of brilliance). The negative feedback chain comprises a test chart generating means, a means to retake the entire projected image and means for the comparision of the signals coming from the test image and from the retaken image. Correction signals are prepared on the basis of this comparison and are applied to the different control circuits defining the projection characteristics. The disclosed device can also be used for the real-time follow-up of the adjustments obtained in a phase prior to the projection of the sequence of useful video images. The invention can be applied notably to video projectors, retro-projection display devices or beam-index tubes.

Abstract: An automatic defect correction drive utilizing feedback in an image display device. According to the present invention, during an acquisition phase, a test image constituted of bright points of known positions distributed on a screen is displayed. This displayed image is then analyzed via an image acquisition device, to deduce from it the scanning, focusing and amplitude corrections to be applied to the display, so that the test pixels displayed on the screen have their expected positions and characteristics. These corrections are then interpolated for the intermediate pixels between test points, and then, during a continuation phase, these corrections are updated.

Abstract: The line transfer imager includes a matrix containing m lines of p photosites. The selection of the lines of this matrix for the readout of stored charges corresponding to an image is controlled by two shift registers for the selection of odd and even lines of the matrix respectively. The photosites of the odd lines of a single column have their charges transferred into a first line memory associated with a first charge transfer output register having p stages, while the photosites of the same column of the even lines have their charges transferred into a second line memory associated with a second charge transfer output register also having p stages, by means of two conducting columns C.sub.i and C'.sub.i which can be read simultaneously or successively.

Abstract: The protection device for a laser diode supplied by the superimposition of a DC biasing current and a variable information-carrying current, through an opto-electronic feedback system, comprises a variable resistor connected upstream of the laser diode and of the feedback system so as to form a closed loop with the information-carrying current source and so as to ensure that the laser diode is biased before any injection of information-carrying current into this diode.