Abstract: A color filter array having two color filter patterns of 2×2 pixels is employed. In one of the two color filter patterns, the transmittances of the R and B filters are lower than the transmittances of the G color filters. In the other color filter pattern, the transmittances of the G color filters are lower than the transmittances of the R and B color filters. As a result, when four adjacent pixels are binned in moving images, three or more different colors are generated, and when all pixels are separately read out in still images, the output of an imager is corrected, whereby outputs equivalent to those of the RGB Bayer filter can be generated.

Abstract: Color signals that have passed through a multilayer film filter and been photoelectrically converted are inputted into an image processing LSI. A color signal processing section of the image processing LSI corrects the color signals on a color matrix. The color matrix is divided into a plurality of regions corresponding to the color signals, and the correction is made for each of the regions.

Abstract: In a multilayer film filter formed of inorganic dielectric materials, a spacer layer has different thicknesses to form a plurality of color-transmissive filter elements having multiple different spectral characteristics on an image sensor.

Abstract: An imaging system according to the present inventions includes an image sensor in which a plurality of unit pixels are arranged on a chip and an image processing LSI for converting color components output from the image sensor to color signals. The imaging system is configured to select only color component which have passed through filters having similar spectral characteristics to spectral characteristics of the human eye from separation filter groups forming multi-layer film filters under white light and, on the other hand, combine color components which have passed through arbitrarily selected filters of the filters the separation filter groups to output the combined color components under illumination of low rendering lightning.

Abstract: A drive unit 120 sets a saturation amount in a read period in which charges generated in pixels are read to vertical CCDs to be lower in a combination mode than in an individual mode (see Vsub in count values 22 to 24 in FIG. 6). As a result, excess charges in the pixels are drained to an n-type substrate 11. The drive unit 120 also sets an accumulation period to be shorter in combination mode than in individual mode (see Vsub in each mode in FIG. 6).

Abstract: In relation to search positions within a search range determined with a reference image block located in the same position as a standard block of interest, correlation computation is performed by parallel processing under a pipeline method through use of a plurality of correlation computing units. A correlation extreme value is searched while the center position is sequentially moved on the basis of a predetermined search position setting standard according to the result of correlation computation. Further, sub-sampled image data for a plurality of channels corresponding to the search positions are retained in system memory for a plurality of channels, and correlation computation is performed in connection with search positions through parallel processing under a pipeline method through use of the plurality of correlation computing units.

Abstract: A moving image coding device for performing inter-frame prediction coding can prevent memory traffic for reference images from increasing due to increase of an image size. The moving image coding device comprises a multiple frame parallel processing inter-frame prediction coding unit 101 for generating a necessary reference image whenever needed in synchronization with coding, and a coding-linked perfect decoding reference image generating unit for coding plural frames in parallel. The moving image coding device thus technically characterized makes it unnecessary to store reference images as an image to be stored in a memory, thereby enabling large reductions in memory capacity and memory traffic. Further, the moving image coding device capable of decoding plural frames in parallel at a time can reduce a decoding volume of the coding-linked perfect decoding reference image generating unit and the memory traffic/.

Abstract: An imaging device free from discoloring under high temperature or high irradiation and having high color reproducibility is provided. Multilayer filters made of inorganic materials are provided above respective photoelectric conversion elements. The filters include red filters having predetermined spectra characteristics, green filters having predetermined spectral characteristics, and two kinds of blue filters having spectral characteristics different in peak wavelength.

Abstract: A motion vector detection section detects as a reference macroblock a reference pixel block with which a sum of differences in pixel data between a target macroblock and each pixel is equal to or smaller than a predetermined threshold among macroblocks in a reference frame. An intraframe time management section measures a detection time. If an allocated predetermined detection time has elapsed before detection of such a reference macroblock, the detection processing is stopped. In this case, a macroblock with which the previously-calculated sum is minimum is selected as a reference macroblock.

Abstract: A signal processing circuit generates an image signal by performing signal processing to an imaging signal obtained through a picked up optical system that includes a lens, a diaphragm, an image sensor, and a lens barrel. A main light source detector detects a main light source contained in a picked up image of the image signal. An estimated ghost generator generates an estimated ghost based on layout information of the main light source and the imaging optical system, and structural information of the lens barrel. A matching device extracts an estimated ghost image by searching the estimated ghost in the picked up image through pattern matching. A ghost subtractor subtracts the estimated ghost image from the picked up image.

Abstract: An image display apparatus that prevents a transfer of data of a main image from going into wait state when two or more types of image data, which are generated by different generators, are transferred in parallel. In the image display apparatus: a first image data generating unit generates first image data, divides it into a plurality of data pieces, and intermittently outputs the data pieces which each have a predetermined size smaller than a data size of one screen; a second image data generating unit generates and outputs second image data; an image display unit displays an image represented by the first and second image data; and a transfer arbitration unit transfers the data pieces to the image display unit, and transfers part or all of the second image data to the image display unit during a period in which any of the data pieces is not transferred.

Abstract: From horizontal and vertical coordinate values HC and VC of a pixel, a distance operation unit calculates a distance value RV indicating the distance from an optical-axis position to the pixel. A correction-data operation unit receives the distance value RV, and calculates correction data CD for the pixel by referring to an approximation function indicating relation between distance values and correction data. The approximation function is divided into a plurality of segments, and in each segment represented by a quadratic function defined by a predetermined number of sample points.

Abstract: Color signals that have passed through a multilayer film filter and been photoelectrically converted are inputted into an image processing LSI. A color signal processing section of the image processing LSI corrects the color signals on a color matrix. The color matrix is divided into a plurality of regions corresponding to the color signals, and the correction is made for each of the regions.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging element includes photoelectric conversion elements having a complementary or Bayer color filter array. The solid-state imaging element adds together electric charges stored in nine photoelectric conversion elements having color filters of one of multiple colors in each portion of six rows and six columns, to obtain a resulting electric charge, and outputs the resulting electric charge as one pixel. A portion for one of the colors deviates from a portion for each of the other colors by three rows and/or three columns. This pixel-addition operation produces an effect of a spatial low pass filter, thereby reducing signal components exceeding a Nyquist frequency corresponding to a target resolution. Consequently, aliasing noise in an image with the target resolution is reduced, and therefore higher image quality can be achieved, when compared with a conventional resolution reduction technique.

Abstract: To enable the recording of a high-quality motion image and enable the recording of a still image which is focused with high precision even when the still image is recorded during the recording of the motion image, a mixed image signal obtained by mixing image signals in a one-to-one correspondence with individual pixels is outputted from an image sensor when a specified operation for starting the recording of the motion image is performed so that relatively high-speed automatic focusing is performed based on the mixed image signal and a high-quality motion image is recorded. When a shutter switch is half-pressed, a thinned image signal for an image from which pixels in vertical directions have been thinned out is outputted from the image sensor so that relatively high-precision and high-speed automatic focusing is performed based on the thinned image signal. When the shutter switch is full-pressed, image signals for all the pixels are outputted from the image sensor so that a still image is recorded.

Abstract: A signal processing circuit generates an image signal by performing signal processing to an imaging signal obtained through a picked up optical system that includes a lens, a diaphragm, an image sensor, and a lens barrel. A main light source detector detects a main light source contained in a picked up image of the image signal. An estimated ghost generator generates an estimated ghost based on layout information of the main light source and the imaging optical system, and structural information of the lens barrel. A matching device extracts an estimated ghost image by searching the estimated ghost in the picked up image through pattern matching. A ghost subtractor subtracts the estimated ghost image from the picked up image.

Abstract: An imaging system according to the present inventions includes an image sensor in which a plurality of unit pixels are arranged on a chip and an image processing LSI for converting color components output from the image sensor to color signals. The imaging system is configured to select only color component which have passed through filters having similar spectral characteristics to spectral characteristics of the human eye from separation filter groups forming multi-layer film filters under white light and, on the other hand, combine color components which have passed through arbitrarily selected filters of the filters the separation filter groups to output the combined color components under illumination of low rendering lightning.

Abstract: An imaging device free from discoloring under high temperature or high irradiation and having high color reproducibility is provided. Multilayer filters made of inorganic materials are provided above respective photoelectric conversion elements. The filters include red filters having predetermined spectra characteristics, green filters having predetermined spectral characteristics, and two kinds of blue filters having spectral characteristics different in peak wavelength.

Abstract: An imaging device chip set includes an imaging chip provided for obtaining an electric signal by photoelectric conversion of incident light, and a DSP chip provided for carrying out digital signal processing with respect to the electric signal obtained by the imaging chip. The imaging chip includes a plurality of unit pixels for generating the electric signal by the photoelectric conversion of incident light, a horizontal scanning circuit for selecting the unit pixels in a horizontal direction, and a vertical scanning circuit for selecting the unit pixels in a vertical direction. The DSP chip includes a timing generating circuit for generating timing pulses necessary for operations of the horizontal scanning circuit and the vertical scanning circuit, and a digital signal processing circuit for carrying out digital signal processing with respect to the electric signal generated by the plurality of unit pixels.

Abstract: A memory controller controls so that the number of maximum macro blocks for which inter coding is performed in one image frame is set to a smaller value than the number of macro blocks configuring the image frame, the capacity of the reference image memory is reduced to capacity for the maximum macro blocks for which inter coding is performed, macro block positions for which intra coding and inter coding are performed in the next frame are determined based upon image information and the quantity of codes in the coding of a present image and reference image macro blocks equivalent to only macro block positions for which inter coding is determined to be performed in the next frame are stored in the reference image memory.