Abstract: This invention has as its object to provide an image reading apparatus which can prevent color mixing even when a linear image sensor in which charge transfer units are arranged to sandwich light-receiving units of different colors therebetween is used.

Abstract: According to an image pickup apparatus of this invention, a light source illuminates an object, an image pickup unit picks up an image of the illuminated object, an amplifier circuit amplifies the output signal for the image pickup unit, and a control unit adjusts the light amount of the light source after setting the maximum gain of the amplifier circuit and controls the image pickup unit to pickup the image of the object. An image pickup operation can be performed by irradiating an object with a minimum amount of light that the circuitry is capable of coping with.

Abstract: It is an object to identify a failed portion in a circuit for image processing and notify a service center of the failed portion, thereby enabling the failed circuit to be promptly replaced. Circuit portions of image processing units are constructed on separate substrates. As processing routes of an image signal which is inputted from an A/D converting unit, a route in which the image signal passes through a given circuit portion and a route in which the image signal doesn't pass therethrough are set. Data of a predetermined pattern is processed by those processing routes. The presence or absence of a failure of each circuit portion is discriminated from the processing results. The discrimination result is transmitted to an external apparatus installed in a service center.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus, having RGB photoreceptors comprising a CCD line sensor, reduces influence of color mixture due to intrapixel transfer in which electric charges from a photoreceptor are transferred via another photoreceptor. The RGB photoreceptors are provided close to each other in parallel, between CCD shift units corresponding to the photoreceptors. The electric charges generated at the G photoreceptor and the B photoreceptor are directly transferred to the CCD shift units. The electric charges generated at the R photoreceptor are transferred to the CCD shift units via the B photoreceptor. That is, the electric charges generated at a photoreceptor having a larger electric charge-generating characteristic are transferred via a photoreceptor having a smaller electric charge-generating characteristic. Further, a transfer direction in which the electric charges are transferred and a subscanning direction in which an original is conveyed upon reading by the photoreceptors are in the same direction.

Abstract: A linear image sensor includes N arrays of photoelectric converting pixels, wherein N is an even integer at least equal to 2. Each array is formed by arranging, with a predetermined pixel pitch in a first direction of the array, a plurality of pixels, and each of the pixels is so shaped that the area per unit length of the pixel decreases progressively from the center of the pixel both in the first direction of the array and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The N arrays themselves are provided with a mutual distance from each other of M/2 times the pixel pitch in the second direction and are mutually displaced by 1/N of the pixel pitch in the first direction so as to form a mutually interpolating arrangement, wherein M is a positive integer equal to at least 1 and wherein M and N are independent of each other.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to provide an image processing apparatus and method, which can obtain high image quality by adjusting an image forming parameter or parameters in consideration of a variation in image forming condition. In order to achieve the object, the gradation characteristics of an image to be recorded are adjusted on the basis of information obtained by forming a gradation characteristic adjustment test pattern on a recording medium, and reading the formed test pattern. Subsequently, the color reproduction characteristics of an image to be recorded are adjusted on the basis of information obtained by forming a color reproduction characteristic adjustment test pattern on a recording medium, and reading the formed test pattern.

Abstract: In an image signal recording and reproducing system, a phase reference signal, the phase of which is synchronized with the phase of an image signal, is added to the image signal in a recording mode so as to be recorded on a recording medium, while the phase of a sampling signal for sampling a reproduced image signal is controlled by using the phase reference signal separated from the reproduced signal in a reproducing mode, whereby the image signal can be accurately sampled without an influence from a time variation change in the reproducing side.

Abstract: An image signal recording apparatus of this invention for recording an image signal on a recording medium, is arranged to divide an image signal corresponding to one picture into k field image signals (k=an integer not less than 3), then multiplex a first index signal indicating that frame reproduction is possible during reproduction with 2n field image signals (n=an integer not less than 1) from among the k field image signals thus formed, while multiplexing a second index signal indicating that no frame reproduction is possible during reproduction with m field image signals (m=a positive integer) from among the k field image signals; and then record the k field image signals, each of which is multiplexed with the first or second index signal, on k tracks of the recording medium, respectively. With this arrangement, it is possible to record on the recording medium an image signal with high image quality compared to conventional arrangements while retaining compatibility with them.

Abstract: An image signal recording and reproducing system for recording an image signal on a recording medium and for reproducing the image signal recorded on the recording medium is arranged to perform a reproducing action on the recording medium on which a sampled image signal formed by sampling the image signal is recorded to sample a reproduced signal reproduced from the recording medium and, in outputting a sampled reproduced signal, the level of the reproduced signal to be sampled is controlled according to the sampling phase of the reproduced signal. This arrangement enables the system to record the image signal on the recording medium and to reproduce the image signal without deteriorating the image signal.

Abstract: A still image recording apparatus comprises an image sensing part arranged to photoelectrically convert a sensed image light and to output two pairs of color signals and luminance signals which have different sampling patterns, subtraction circuits of two channels arranged to form color-difference signals from the two pairs of color signals and luminance signals obtained from the image sensing part, and a mixing circuit arranged to obtain mixed signals by mixing together signals obtained by multiplying the two luminance signals respectively by constants which differently correspond to a difference between the two luminance signals and to supply the mixed signals respectively to the subtraction circuits as luminance signals.

Abstract: An image signal recording and reproducing system which records on a recording medium one picture amount of high definition image signal composed of a plurality of different field image signals and is arranged as follows: in recording the field image signals in different areas on the recording medium respectively, a modulated carrier signal modulated with an information signal other than an image signal is recorded in a state of being multiplexed with one part of the field image signals; and a pilot signal for correcting time base variations is recorded in a state of being multiplexed with the other part of the field image signals. This arrangement enables the system to record and reproduce information other than the image signal and to reproduce an image with a high degree of fineness by accurately correcting time base variations occurring during recording and reproduction.

Abstract: An image information transmission system according to the present invention is a system for transmitting image information. The system is arranged to receive a transmitted analog image signal and form digital image data by sampling the received analog image signal, then set a transmission-path characteristic by performing discrete Fourier transform operations on data which constitute a predetermined part of the formed digital image data, and then apply waveform equalization correction processing to the formed digital image data in accordance with the set transmission-path characteristic. Accordingly, the system is capable of transmitting image information accurately without being influenced by time base variations which occur on a transmission path.

Abstract: An information signal recording/reproducing apparatus includes a recording apparatus and a reproducing apparatus. The recording apparatus is arranged to record on a recording medium an information signal after angle-modulating the signal in such a way as to cause a signal corresponding to a timewise portion of the angle-modulated information signal to be in a given relation to a reference signal. The reproducing apparatus is arranged to angle-demodulate the angle-modulated information signal when it is reproduced from the recording medium, and to perform time base correction on the basis of the signal part of the angle-modulated information signal. Time base variations occurring during the reproduction can be accurately carried out by the arrangement without having any special signal added to the information signal during recording.

Abstract: An image signal recording and reproducing system of this invention includes an apparatus for reproducing an image signal from a recording medium on which the image signal is recorded in a recording format selected between a first recording format for recording a reference signal for time base correction together with the image signal and a second recording format for recording the image signal without the reference signal for time base correction. The apparatus is arranged to detect whether or not the reference signal for time base correction is present in a signal reproduced from the recording medium and then to process and reproduce the signal reproduced from the recording medium on the basis of a reproduction format selected between a first reproduction format corresponding to the first recording format and a second reproduction format corresponding to the second recording format in accordance with the detection result.

Abstract: A video signal processing device comprises a pulse generating circuit arranged to produce reading pulses for a given first period of time within one horizontal scanning period and to be in repose for the remaining second period of time; a signal processing circuit arranged to introduce a video signal read out from an image sensor according to the reading pulses and to form first and second video signals; a memory arranged to store the second video signal; and a change-over circuit for producing the first video signal from the signal processing circuit during the first period and the second video signal from the memory during the second period.