Abstract: An electronic camera includes an image sensor having an imaging surface for capturing an object scene through a focus lens. When the object scene captured by the imaging surface includes a face portion of a human, a CPU designates, as a focal-point search area a first imaging area for covering an outline of the face portion. The CPU also designates, as a frequency-component detection area, a second imaging area that is smaller than the first imaging area and is for capturing an inner side of the outline of the face portion. Subsequently, the CPU obtains a high-frequency AF evaluation value and a mid-frequency AF evaluation value detected corresponding to the frequency-component detection area, and designates, as a lens moving range, a range different depending upon a relative ratio between the high-frequency AF evaluation value and the mid-frequency AF evaluation value.

Abstract: A camera includes an image sensor, and a plurality of metering areas are assigned to an object scene captured by the image sensor. A CPU evaluates a luminance of the object scene for each metering area, and binarizes each of the plurality of obtained luminance evaluated values. Furthermore, on the basis of the plurality of binarized luminance evaluated values, a width of a high luminance area included in the object scene is calculated while a width of an adjacent area adjacent to the high luminance area out of a low luminance area included in the object scene is calculated. Then, each of the plurality of luminance evaluated values is corrected on the basis of a ratio between the width of the calculated adjacent area and the width of the calculated high luminance area. An exposure amount to the image sensor is adjusted on the basis of the luminance evaluated values thus corrected.

Abstract: A digital camera includes a CCD imager. If brightness of an object is not enough, a frame rate of the CCD imager at a time of a focus adjustment is changed from 30 fps to 15 fps. This also lowers a reading speed of a camera signal, and reduces noise included in the camera signal. An AF evaluation value is acquired by integrating a high frequency component of a Y signal generated on the basis of the camera signal, and therefore, high noise causes an error in the AF evaluation value and fails to correctly adjust focus. This is the reason why the driving speed of the CCD imager is lowered when the brightness of the object is not enough.

Abstract: A digital camera includes a CCD imager. When a display-use UYV signal is generated on the basis of an RGB signal of an object image photographed by the CCD imager, a CPU detects a color saturation degree of the RGB signal and reduces dynamic range of a U signal and a V signal on the basis of the detected color saturation degree. Thus, a color on the basis of the U signal and the V signal is aboundingly included within a color reproducing range of a monitor.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes an imaging device. The imaging device carries out an exposing operation for exposing an object scene and an amplifying operation for amplifying a raw image signal generated by the exposing operation, according to a set imaging parameter. A CPU selects one program chart satisfying a parameter condition, from a plurality of program charts stored in a flash memory, and extracts three imaging parameters from the selected program chart. The extracted imaging parameters are set to the imaging device. The imaging parameter here includes exposure time, amount of aperture, and AGC gain as parameter elements. In addition, the parameter condition includes an AGC gain condition in that each of three AGC gains defining respectively the three imaging parameters is equal to or less than a predetermined value and an exposure time condition in that three exposure times defining respectively the three imaging parameters are shorter.

Abstract: A digital camera includes a timing generator. The timing generator reads shutter speed data out of a register in response to a vertical synchronizing signal outputted from a signal generator, and controls exposure by a CCD imager according to this shutter speed data. The data in the register is updated in predetermined timing based on a vertical synchronizing signal. As a result, continuous shots of a subject are performed with different exposures.

Abstract: A digital camera (10) includes a CCD imager (16). A long-time exposure image signal obtained by a long-time exposure of the CCD imager (16) is applied to a terminal (S1) of a switch (SW1), and a short-time exposure image signal obtained by a short-time exposure of the CCD imager (16) and a gain adjustment is applied to a terminal (S2) of a switch (SW2). A CPU (44) controls the switch (SW1) by comparing a Y level of the long-time exposure image signal with a reference value Ys so as to generate a combined image signal. More specifically, the CPU (44) connects the switch (SW1) with the terminal (S1) when a condition of Y level≦Ys is satisfied, and connects the switch (SW1) with the terminal (S2) when a condition of Y level>Ys is satisfied. The CPU (44) detects a color deviation degree of an object prior to generation of the combined image signal and reduces the reference value Ys on the basis of a detection result.

Abstract: A rotational movement in the horizontal direction of a lens unit is detected by a horizontal angular velocity sensor, amplified by an amplifier and converted to a digital signal by an A/D converter for input to a focus controlling circuit. When a value obtained by multiplying a focal length detected by a zoom lens reference position sensor by a detected amount of change in angular velocity exceeds a predetermined threshold value, focus controlling circuit stops the focusing operation by a focus motor driver and a focus motor.

Abstract: Based on a video signal from a CCD (3), an exposure evaluation value producing circuit (8) produces an exposure evaluation value for automatic exposure, a focus evaluation value producing circuit (9) produces a focus evaluation value for autofocus, a prescribed value is set as a threshold value if the aperture area of an iris detected by a diaphragm amount detecting circuit (11) is equal to or higher than a prescribed value, and a threshold value is set according to the aperture area of the iris if the area is equal to or smaller than the prescribed value. If a luminance signal is larger than the reference value, integration of the high frequency component of a region having a luminance level equal to or higher than the threshold value is excluded.

Abstract: A digital camera includes a CCD imager. If brightness of an object is not enough, a frame rate of the CCD imager at a time of a focus adjustment is changed from 30 fps to 15 fps. This also lowers a reading speed of a camera signal, and reduces noise included in the camera signal. An AF evaluation value is acquired by integrating a high frequency component of a Y signal generated on the basis of the camera signal, and therefore, high noise causes an error in the AF evaluation value and fails to correctly adjust focus. This is the reason why the driving speed of the CCD imager is lowered when the brightness of the object is not enough.

Abstract: A digital camera includes a CCD imager. When a display-use UYV signal is generated on the basis of an RGB signal of an object image photographed by the CCD imager, a CPU detects a color saturation degree of the RGB signal and reduces dynamic range of a U signal and a V signal on the basis of the detected color saturation degree. Thus, a color on the basis of the U signal and the V signal is aboundingly included within a color reproducing range of a monitor.

Abstract: A battery charging apparatus includes a charger to which a battery to be charged is loaded and a charge controller which controls a charge in the charger. A terminal voltage of the battery loaded in the charger is sampled and A/D converted by a microcomputer of the charge controller at time intervals. At every timing when a new sampled value is stored in a memory, the new sampled value is compared with a maximum sampled value which has been stored in the memory before that time. When the new sampled value is smaller than the maximum sampled value by a predetermined value (.DELTA.V), a full-charge signal is outputted. In addition, when a state where the new sampled value is larger than the maximum sampled value continues for a predetermined time period or more, the maximum sampled value is updated.

Abstract: A battery charging device including a series transistor inserted between a source circuit and a battery, and a comparison circuit which compares the voltage at the terminal of the battery and the voltage of an output of the source circuit so as to turn off the series transistor when the terminal voltage is higher than the output voltage, whereby, when the terminal voltage of the battery becomes higher than the output voltage of the source circuit at the time of an interruption of supply of power, the series transistor is brought into the off-state to prevent the battery from being discharged.