Abstract: An image forming state detection device comprises a micro-lens array that is disposed at a position set apart from a predetermined focal plane of an image forming optical system by a specific distance and includes a plurality of micro-lenses arrayed with a predetermined pitch, a light-receiving portion array that includes a plurality of light-receiving portions each corresponding to one of the micro-lenses in the micro-lens array and receives an image on the predetermined focal plane via the individual micro-lenses, a signal string extracting means that extracts a pair of signal strings corresponding to images, formed with light fluxes having passed through different pupil areas of the image forming optical system, based upon light reception outputs obtained from the plurality of light-receiving portions, and an image forming state calculating means that calculates an image forming state at the image forming optical system by detecting an offset with regard to the phases of the pair of signal strings extracte

Abstract: A focus detection device for an image forming optical system comprises a micro-lens array constituted with a plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed micro-lenses, a light-receiving element array that includes a plurality of light-receiving elements receiving a light flux from the image forming optical system via the micro-lenses, the plurality of light-receiving elements being disposed in correspondence to each micro-lens, and a focus detection unit that generates image data representing an image formed by the image forming optical system and a focus detection signal, which corresponds to a focus adjustment state at the image forming optical system, based upon signals output from the light-receiving elements at the light-receiving element array, and that detects the focus adjustment state at the image forming optical system based upon the image data and the focus detection signal.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to record image data having a wide dynamic range is a file together with image data having a narrow dynamic range. First, an image recording apparatus separately gradation-converts image data to be recorded into primary data having a narrow dynamic range and secondary data having a wide dynamic range. Then, the image recording apparatus calculates data that determines correlation between the primary data and secondary data and employs the calculated data as tertiary data. The image recording apparatus records the primary data and the tertiary data in a file. On the other hand, an image reproducing apparatus reads out primary data and tertiary data that were recorded in the above manner and reproduces secondary data having a wide dynamic range based on the primary data and the tertiary data.

Abstract: An image sensor includes: image capturing pixels and focus detection pixels disposed together on a single substrate; and adjacent pixels that are not equipped with a photoelectric conversion unit and are disposed adjacent to the focus detection pixels.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to record image data having a wide dynamic range is a file together with image data having a narrow dynamic range. First, an image recording apparatus separately gradation-converts image data to be recorded into primary data having a narrow dynamic range and secondary data having a wide dynamic range. Then, the image recording apparatus calculates data that determines correlation between the primary data and secondary data and employs the calculated data as tertiary data. The image recording apparatus records the primary data and the tertiary data in a file. On the other hand, an image reproducing apparatus reads out primary data and tertiary data that were recorded in the above manner and reproduces secondary data having a wide dynamic range based on the primary data and the tertiary data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tone-conversion device for converting a tone of an image having an achromatic signal and a chromatic signal, and it includes the following components: a signal extracting unit defining an achromatic signal of a first pixel or a second pixel from plural pixels as an achromatic signal value, the second pixel being in an immediate neighborhood; a neighborhood processing unit generating a local signal of the first pixel according to the achromatic signal and the chromatic signal of a third pixel contained in the neighborhood area which is larger than the second pixel; a gain determining unit determining a conversion gain for the first pixel according to the achromatic signal value and the local signal; and a tone conversion unit performing tone conversion by multiplying the signal component of the first pixel by the conversion gain.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus of the present invention receives a luminance signal indicating luminance or an amount of brightness and input signals indicating a plurality of color differences, and it includes: a signal generator generating a signal Z depending on the input signals indicating the plural color differences; a gain generator generating a transformation gain k(Z) by using the signal Z; and a tone transformation unit which multiplies the luminance signal by the transformation gain k(Z) to calculate a luminance signal after tone transformation.

Abstract: A tone transformation apparatus of the present invention extracts or generates a signal Z[i, j] according to a pixel value of a pixel [i. j] of an original image or a pixel value of its immediate neighborhood. Further, it extracts or generates a signal ZL[i, j] according to a pixel value of a neighborhood area of the pixel [i, j]. A transformation gain k for the pixel [i. j] is determined according to these signals Z, ZL. For the tone transformation, a color component or the like of the pixel [i, j] is multiplied by the transformation gain k for the pixel [i. j].

Abstract: First similarity values along at least four directions are ascertained within a local area containing a target pixel and weighted averaging is performed by adding the pixel values of pixels around the target pixel value to the pixel value of the target pixel, adding weight along a direction having a small first similarity value (along a direction manifesting a high degree of similarity). By incorporating the pixel value level differences among a plurality of pixels on adjacent lines extending adjacent to the target pixel into the first similarity values, it becomes possible to effectively remove jaggies that are difficult to eliminate in the prior art. Furthermore, by making a judgment on degrees of similarity by incorporating color information such as characteristics differences among different color pixels, a more accurate judgment can be made with regard to the image structure to enable very accurate direction-dependent low-pass filtering.

Abstract: An interpolation processing apparatus that performs interpolation to obtain color information corresponding to a first color component of a pixel, in which the first color component is missing, of an image-capturing sensor having a plurality of pixels which are arranged in a two-dimensional array and output color information corresponding to different color components, which are first˜nth (n>2) color components, each of the plurality of pixels outputting color information corresponding to a single color component, includes: a similarity degree calculation unit that calculates each of similarity degrees along, at least, two directions relative to an interpolation target pixel to undergo interpolation processing by using a “different-color similarity component obtained by using color information corresponding to different color components” calculated with a “similarity degree element constituted of color information from three or fewer pixels”, based upon color information at a

Abstract: An imaging device of the present invention includes a plurality of photosensors arranged in matrix on a light-receiving surface and a readout section for adding up photo signals on the photosensors for external output in each pixel block set on the light-receiving surface. The pixel blocks each consists of N (N≧2) photosensors assembled in an array direction of the matrix and the pixel blocks in even number arrays and those in odd number arrays in the matrix are shifted from each other by half a phase in the array direction. With or without execution of the adding-up operation, it is able to switch a pattern of readout pixels from the imaging device between a grid pattern and a diagonal grid pattern.

Abstract: An interpolation device performs interpolation of an image in which grid points that output a predetermined color and empty grid points that do not output the predetermined color are arrayed in a checkered configuration. A recording medium stores an image interpolation processing program. A first similarity calculator calculates a first vertical direction similarity and a first horizontal direction similarity. A second similarity calculator calculates a second vertical direction similarity and a second horizontal direction similarity. A similarity calculator determines the similarity in the vertical direction of an empty grid point based on the first vertical similarity and the second horizontal similarity and determines the similarity in the horizontal direction of the empty grid point based on the first horizontal similarity and the second horizontal similarity.

Abstract: The image reading-out apparatus is capable of always obtaining a good image irrespective of a luminance difference. A control unit controls storage times of a pair of image pickup devices through a timing generator independently, thus controlling these storage times to optimized values. Outputs of both of the image pickup devices are subjected to an AD conversion for a digital data processing, and then a synthesis of luminance is performed by a synthesizer. When an automatic mode is selected, a ratio of storage times of both of the image pickup devices is set so that a synthesized image with a suitable dynamic range is obtained in accordance with an object luminance range detected by a luminance range detection section.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to record image data having a wide dynamic range is a file together with image data having a narrow dynamic range. First, an image recording apparatus separately gradation-converts image data to be recorded into primary data having a narrow dynamic range and secondary data having a wide dynamic range. Then, the image recording apparatus calculates data that determines correlation between the primary data and secondary data and employs the calculated data as tertiary data. The image recording apparatus records the primary data and the tertiary data in a file. On the other hand, an image reproducing apparatus reads out primary data and tertiary data that were recorded in the above manner and reproduces secondary data having a wide dynamic range based on the primary data and the tertiary data.

Abstract: An interpolation processing apparatus that performs interpolation to obtain color information corresponding to a first color component of a pixel, in which the first color component is missing, of an image-capturing sensor having a plurality of pixels which are arranged in a two-dimensional array and output color information corresponding to different color components, which are first-nth (n>2) color components, each of the plurality of pixels outputting color information corresponding to a single color component, includes: a similarity degree calculation unit that calculates each of similarity degrees along, at least, two directions relative to an interpolation target pixel to undergo interpolation processing by using a “different-color similarity component obtained by using color information corresponding to different color components” calculated with a “similarity degree element constituted of color information from three or fewer pixels”, based upon color information at a plural

Abstract: A camera that has the ability to direct the object light simultaneously to the imaging position and a first light receiving device and a second light receiving device that are arranged in places other than the imaging position (for example, an optical focus detection system and a monitor device of the object image) is disclosed. A first light dividing device is positioned in the light optical path of the light that is transmitted through the optical image forming system and reflects a portion of the light received and transmits another portion. A second light dividing device reflects a portion of the light that is reflected at the first light dividing device and transmits another portion. The light that is transmitted through the first light dividing device is directed to a primary imaging position. One of either the reflected light or the transmitted light of the second light dividing device is directed to the optical focus detection system, while the other one is directed to the monitor device.

Abstract: A distance measuring device has a first projecting unit for projecting a first light beam in a direction substantially parallel to a distance measurement axis that connects a distance measuring portion in the angle of view of photograph of a camera, and the object-side principal point of a photograph optical system, a second projecting unit for projecting a second light beam in a direction crossing the distance measurement axis within a predetermined object distance range, a receiving unit arranged to be separated from the first and second projecting units by a given interval to receive light reflected by an object, and a distance detecting circuit for detecting the distance to the object on the basis of the receiving angle or receiving position of the reflected light received by the receiving unit, and the light beam cross section of the second light beam is smaller than that of the first light beam within the object distance range.

Abstract: A focus adjustment device for a camera includes a focus detection system, a controller including a drive amount calculation section that calculates the amount of lens movement required to focus on a photographic object based on a detected defocus amount, a memory section that stores the detected defocus amount, and an adjusted drive amount calculation section that statistically processes a plurality of stored defocus amounts. The adjusted drive amount calculation section calculates the adjusted drive amount required to properly focus the photographic lens on the subject and prevents unstable movements of the photographic lens in the vicinity of the focus position. The controller drives the photographic lens according to the adjusted drive amount after the commencement of a shutter release operation and before film exposure.

Abstract: In a camera and an autofocus controlling method thereof, displacement amounts between intensity distributions of light at corresponding first and second areas of an image sensing device are detected, and a plurality of displacement detection signals are generated. A high contrast area of an object to be photographed is also detected, and a contrast detection signal corresponding to that area is produced. A focus detection signal is produced based on one of the plurality of displacement detection signals corresponding to the contrast detection signal.

Abstract: A focus detecting device for detecting the focus adjusted state of an imaging optical system with respect to an object body comprises first and second photoelectric element arrays each including a plurality of photoelectric elements arranged in one direction, a focus detecting optical system for forming first and second optical images of the body on or near the first and second arrays by first and second light beams passed through different first and second areas, respectively, of the exit pupil of the imaging optical system, the first array producing a series of first output signals having a distribution pattern associated with the illumination intensity distribution pattern of the first image, the second array producing a series of second output signals having a distribution pattern associated with the illumination intensity distribution pattern of the second image, focus detection means for producing a focus detection signal representative of the focus adjusted state of the imaging optical system, on the b