Abstract: Disclosed is a polyurethane resin containing a polyol component and an isocyanate component, wherein (1) the polyol component contains a polycarbonate diol component, and the isocyanate component contains a linear aliphatic isocyanate, (2) the polycarbonate diol component has a number-average molecular weight of 500 to 3000, and contains a diol-derived structure having 3 to 10 carbon atoms in the structure thereof, and (3) 10 mol % or more of the isocyanate component is a linear aliphatic isocyanate component having 4 to 10 carbon atoms.

Abstract: If a flash detector determines that a video signal generated by an imager is affected by a flash when an electronic shutter is used, the imager generates the video signal representing a preceding unit image determined to be affected by the flash, and then a video signal representing a succeeding unit image that is consecutively exposed from the previous unit image for the same exposure period as the preceding exposure period, by setting a next time of a read signal to be earlier than a preceding time. A flash corrector uses the video signal representing the preceding unit image determined to be affected by the flash, and the video signal representing the succeeding unit image following the preceding unit image to generate a video signal in which a bright portion having a band shape affected by the flash is corrected.

Abstract: Color correction of an image is implemented with a small circuit scale. A color correction section performs a color correction process on a pixel group-by-pixel group basis, and each pixel group is comprised of a plurality of adjoining pixels. A representative point generation section generates, e.g., a green (G) image signal of a representative point located as an imaginary point in the pixel group. A subtraction section subtracts the G-image signal of the representative point from an image signal of a G-pixel in the pixel group. A representative point color correction section performs the color correction process on the G-image signal of the representative point. An addition section adds the color-corrected G-image signal of the representative point to the output of the subtraction section.

Abstract: Color correction of an image is implemented with a small circuit scale. A color correction section performs a color correction process on a pixel group-by-pixel group basis, and each pixel group is comprised of a plurality of adjoining pixels. A representative point generation section generates, e.g., a green (G) image signal of a representative point located as an imaginary point in the pixel group. A subtraction section subtracts the G-image signal of the representative point from an image signal of a G-pixel in the pixel group. A representative point color correction section performs the color correction process on the G-image signal of the representative point. An addition section adds the color-corrected G-image signal of the representative point to the output of the subtraction section.

Abstract: In an imaging apparatus, unevenness in brightness in screen due to flash is eliminated and video with secured continuity as a moving image can be obtained. In the imaging apparatus (1), signals of fields affected by flash among video signals acquired by imaging are treated with adding or adding and averaging to equalize effects of flash which appear unevenly on a screen.

Abstract: If a flash detector determines that a video signal generated by an imager is affected by a flash when an electronic shutter is used, the imager generates the video signal representing a preceding unit image determined to be affected by the flash, and then a video signal representing a succeeding unit image that is consecutively exposed from the previous unit image for the same exposure period as the preceding exposure period, by setting a next time of a read signal to be earlier than a preceding time. A flash corrector uses the video signal representing the preceding unit image determined to be affected by the flash, and the video signal representing the succeeding unit image following the preceding unit image to generate a video signal in which a bright portion having a band shape affected by the flash is corrected.

Abstract: When capturing images of a subject with an imaging device that uses a CMOS image sensor, a white band-shaped artifact appears in the imaging signal due to the influence of a rolling shutter operation performed when an external flash has been emitted. Manipulating or removing images in which such an artifact appears requires specifying the frames in which the artifact appears. A line averaging unit (11) calculates the average luminance level of each line in the imaging signal, the average luminance levels are temporarily stored by a storage unit (12), and thereafter a frame difference calculation unit (13) calculates the difference between the line average luminance levels and the line average luminance levels of the next frame. These frame difference values are compared with a reference value, and it is determined that the influence of an external flash is present if a portion of interest with high values is continuous for one frame period.

Abstract: In a noise reducer, a first subtractor 101 generates a difference N1 between an input video signal Ynow and a delayed video signal Ypre output from a frame memory 104 and obtained by delaying an output video signal Yout by a time corresponding to one screen. An amplitude adjuster 102 adjusts the amplitude of an output signal of the first subtractor 101 based on a motion signal MV. A second subtractor 103 subtracts an output N2 of the amplitude adjuster 102 from the input video signal Ynow. A motion detector 2 calculates the amount of change in the input video signal Ynow with respect to the delayed video signal Ypre for each of pixels constituting one screen, and generates, as the motion signal MV, a signal determining, as “moving,” a predetermined proportion of pixels for which the amount of change is smaller than a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: In a noise reducer, a first subtractor 101 generates a difference N1 between an input video signal Ynow and a delayed video signal Ypre output from a frame memory 104 and obtained by delaying an output video signal Yout by a time corresponding to one screen. An amplitude adjuster 102 adjusts the amplitude of an output signal of the first subtractor 101 based on a motion signal MV. A second subtractor 103 subtracts an output N2 of the amplitude adjuster 102 from the input video signal Ynow. A motion detector 2 calculates the amount of change in the input video signal Ynow with respect to the delayed video signal Ypre for each of pixels constituting one screen, and generates, as the motion signal MV, a signal determining, as “moving,” a predetermined proportion of pixels for which the amount of change is smaller than a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: When capturing images of a subject with an imaging device that uses a CMOS image sensor, a white band-shaped artifact appears in the imaging signal due to the influence of a rolling shutter operation performed when an external flash has been emitted. Manipulating or removing images in which such an artifact appears requires specifying the frames in which the artifact appears. A line averaging unit (11) calculates the average luminance level of each line in the imaging signal, the average luminance levels are temporarily stored by a storage unit (12), and thereafter a frame difference calculation unit (13) calculates the difference between the line average luminance levels and the line average luminance levels of the next frame. These frame difference values are compared with a reference value, and it is determined that the influence of an external flash is present if a portion of interest with high values is continuous for one frame period.

Abstract: In an imaging apparatus, unevenness in brightness in screen due to flash is eliminated and video with secured continuity as a moving image can be obtained. In the imaging apparatus (1), signals of fields affected by flash among video signals acquired by imaging are treated with adding or adding and averaging to equalize effects of flash which appear unevenly on a screen.

Abstract: Signal levels of input three, R, G, and B, color video signals are examined by a level examining circuit. After a knee-compression is performed to the video signals, a selector selects the maximum knee-compressed color signal and the minimum knee-compressed color signal. A compression coefficient calculator calculates a compression coefficient of each color signal before and after the knee-compression. A medium color signal calculator determines a medium color signal. Another selector turns the compressed video signals back to three, R, B, and G, color signal outputs and releases them. Because the difference between any two of the R, G, and B color signals is equally compressed before and after the high-brightness compression, any change in a hue can successfully be avoided.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording sheet is provided with at least one ink-receiving layer on at least one side of a base material sheet. A resin component which constitutes the ink-receiving layer comprises a hydrophilic resin containing tertiary amino groups in a molecule thereof or a hydrophilic resin containing tertiary amino groups and polysiloxane segments in a molecule thereof. A coating formulation suitable in use for the production of the ink-jet recording sheet is also disclosed.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording sheet is provided with at least one ink-receiving layer on at least one side of a base material sheet. A resin component which constitutes the ink-receiving layer comprises a hydrophilic polyurethane resin, hydrophilic polyurea resin, hydrophilic polyurethane-polyurea resin or hydrophilic polyamide resin having siloxane segments in a molecule thereof. As an alternative, the ink-receiving layer comprises a porous hydrophilic polyurethane resin, a porous hydrophilic polyurea resin or a porous hydrophilic polyurethane-polyurea resin.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording sheet is provided with at least one ink-receiving layer on at least one side of a base material sheet. A resin component which constitutes the ink-receiving layer comprises a hydrophilic resin containing tertiary amino groups in a molecule thereof or a hydrophilic resin containing tertiary amino groups and polysiloxane segments in a molecule thereof. A coating formulation suitable in use for the production of the ink-jet recording sheet is also disclosed.

Abstract: An ink-jet recording sheet is provided with at least one ink-receiving layer on at least one side of a base material sheet. A resin component which constitutes the ink-receiving layer comprises a hydrophilic resin containing hydrolyzable silyl groups in a molecule thereof, a hydrophilic resin containing hydrolyzable silyl groups and tertiary amino groups in a molecule thereof, or a hydrophilic resin containing hydrolyzable silyl groups, tertiary amino groups and polysiloxane segments in a molecule thereof. A coating formulation suitable in use for the production of the ink-jet recording sheet is also disclosed.