Abstract: A method for removing color noise on a slowly varying component contained in color difference component image data of image data which is imported from an image sensor and converted to brightness and the color difference component image data, includes the steps of: sampling pixels of said color difference component image data by thinning out according to a first defined sampling format when not performing a color noise removal process on the slowly varying component; determining if the color noise removal process is necessary to be performed or not; producing the color difference component image data, corresponding to a compressed image data size smaller than an image data size without said color noise removal process, by thinning out according to a second defined sampling format when performing said color noise removal process; and recording the color difference and brightness component image data.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus, includes: an image sensor having a light receiving surface with a plurality of pixels and a plurality-of-color separation filter, which receives light from a photographic subject which is incident via an optical system on the surface via the filter, outputs a pixel output of each pixel, and images an image of the subject; a pixel output judging section which judges if each pixel output reaches each predetermined saturation level or not; a pixel output compensation processor which compensates a pixel output of a specific color filter based on a pixel output of another color separation filter in the vicinity which is less than its predetermined saturation level; and a bit compression convertor.

Abstract: A timing signals generator, a frequency divider, an oscillator, and a signals processing IC generates driving signals and transfer signals of a CCD. When the CCD is exposed through a long time exposure in which exposure is performed for not less than a predetermined time, each of a clock frequency of driving signals during an exposure period and a clock frequency of each of driving signals and transferring signals during a transferring period is adjusted to be lower than a clock frequency of thereof in an exposure state in which exposure is performed for less than the predetermined time period.

Abstract: A method for removing color noise on a slowly varying component contained in color difference component image data of image data which is imported from an image sensor and converted to brightness and the color difference component image data, includes the steps of: sampling pixels of said color difference component image data by thinning out according to a first defined sampling format when not performing a color noise removal process on the slowly varying component; determining if the color noise removal process is necessary to be performed or not; producing the color difference component image data, corresponding to a compressed image data size smaller than an image data size without said color noise removal process, by thinning out according to a second defined sampling format when performing said color noise removal process; and recording the color difference and brightness component image data.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an autofocusing section, which moves at least a part of an imaging lens as a focusing lens, and focuses the imaging device on a subject, a photographing distance range setting section, which sets a predetermined distance range including a subject distance to the subject obtained by the autofocusing section as a photographing distance range for photographing, a continuous shooting section, which continuously photographs at a plurality of focused positions in the photographing distance range while moving and stopping the focusing lens according to input of a photographing instruction, and a display section, which displays an image of the subject focused by the autofocusing section and the photographing distance range set by the photographing distance range setting section.

Abstract: An image pickup device provided with an electronic flash function including an image pickup unit configured to input image data corresponding to a subject, a face detection unit configured to detect a human face from the image data input from the image pickup unit, an electronic flashing unit configured to emit electronic flash light, and an electronic flash control unit configured to control the electronic flashing unit based on the detection result of the human face by the face detection unit.

Abstract: An imaging system includes: a body unit; at least one type of interchangeable lens unit; and at least one type of external unit, wherein in the case where the body unit and one of the at least one type of interchangeable lens unit are connected integrally, the imaging system becomes an imaging device capable of shooting a photographic subject, and in the case where the body unit and one of the at least one type of external unit are connected integrally, the imaging system becomes a device having a specific function of the external unit connected to the body unit, and wherein when the interchangeable lens unit or the external unit is connected to the body unit, the body unit obtains information on the type of unit connected to the body unit, and is capable of changing control of an entire device including the body unit and the unit connected to the body unit based on the type of unit connected to the body unit.

Abstract: An image pickup device includes an image pickup unit configured to convert an optical image of a subject to image data and to output the image data, a face image recognition unit configured to recognize face image from the image data, and a face portion judgment unit configured to judge each portion in the face image recognized by the face image recognition unit. When every portion in the face image can be judged by the face portion judgment unit, a release button for executing photographing of the subject is automatically pressed, or the photographing operation is executed.

Abstract: First YUV data produced from a pixel output in which one RAW-RGB data is read out from an SDRAM and is compensated in a dynamic range expansion compensating section of a YUV converting section and second YUV data produced from a pixel output which is equal to or more than a predetermined saturation level without performing a compensation process in the dynamic range expansion compensating section are loaded in a YUV compositing section, and then third YUV data is produced by compositing brightness data taken out from the first YUV data and color difference data taken out from the second YUV data.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus and an imaging method which can obtain an image in which a dynamic range is expanded at one shooting are provided. In a case where a pixel output of a pixel where a specific color separation filter is placed is equal to or more than a predetermined saturation level, based on a pixel output of a pixel which is placed in the vicinity of the pixel where the specific color separation filter is placed, a pixel output for brightness, where the pixel output becomes equal to or more than the predetermined saturation level, of the pixel where the color separation filter of the specific color is placed and the pixel output is equal to or more than the predetermined saturation level is compensated, and thereby a dynamic range of an image sensor is expanded.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an autofocusing section, which moves at least a part of an imaging lens as a focusing lens, and focuses the imaging device on a subject, a photographing distance range setting section, which sets a predetermined distance range including a subject distance to the subject obtained by the autofocusing section as a photographing distance range for photographing, a continuous shooting section, which continuously photographs at a plurality of focused positions in the photographing distance range while moving and stopping the focusing lens according to input of a photographing instruction, and a display section, which displays an image of the subject focused by the autofocusing section and the photographing distance range set by the photographing distance range setting section.

Abstract: An imaging device includes an autofocusing section, which moves at least a part of an imaging lens as a focusing lens, and focuses the imaging device on a subject, a photographing distance range setting section, which sets a predetermined distance range including a subject distance to the subject obtained by the autofocusing section as a photographing distance range for photographing, a continuous shooting section, which continuously photographs at a plurality of focused positions in the photographing distance range while moving and stopping the focusing lens according to input of a photographing instruction, and a display section, which displays an image of the subject focused by the autofocusing section and the photographing distance range set by the photographing distance range setting section.

Abstract: A digital still camera having a photographing lens system set in a lens tube, a CCD solid image-capturing device, and a mechanical shutter. The mechanical shutter is set on a light path between the photographing lens system and the CCD solid image capturing device. The CCD solid image-capturing device divides a frame of an image into a plurality of fields and transmits the fields serially. The camera compares at least two fields of them, and detects abnormality caused by, for example, abnormal operation of the mechanical shutter or light leakage of the lens body. The camera also displays or announces the abnormality to a user.

Abstract: An AF controlling unit (83) starts an outside light AF operation controlled by an outside AF unit (81) by a half-pressing of a shutter release button (61), and a change over between the outside AF operation and a CCDAF operation controlled by a CCDAF unit (82) is controlled corresponding to an elapsed time t (timer 84) from a starting of the operation of the outside light AF operation and a pressing condition (a detection of the half-pressing by a half-pressed detecting unit (62), the detection of a full-pressing by a full-pressed detecting unit (63) or a press-in releasing) of a shutter release button (61) after the starting of the outside light AF operation controlled by the outside AF unit (81) by the half-pressing of the shutter release button (61).

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes: an image sensor; a pixel output judging processor which judges that at least one of a pixel output of a pixel of a specific color and a pixel output of a pixel of a color other than the specific color in the vicinity of the pixel of the specific color reaches a predetermined judging level; a pixel output compensation processor which compensates the pixel output of the pixel of the specific color; and a bit compression convertor which performs a bit compression such that pixel output data which is once converted from a first bit number to a second bit number is converted into the first bit number, wherein the bit compression convertor performs the bit compression on the pixel output data per segment based on a bit compression characteristic respectively set in accordance with the calculated pixel output distribution per segment.

Abstract: TG (22) (timing signals generator), a frequency divider (28), an oscillator (27) and a signals processing IC (30) generates driving signals and transferring signals of CCD (21), and when CCD (21) is exposed through a long time exposure in which exposure is performed for not less than a predetermined time, each of a clock frequency of driving signals during an exposure period and a clock frequency of each of driving signals and transferring signals during a transferring period is adjusted to be lower than a clock frequency of thereof in an exposure state in which exposure is performed for less than the predetermined time period.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus, includes: an image sensor having a light receiving surface with a plurality of pixels and a plurality-of-color separation filter, which receives light from a photographic subject which is incident via an optical system on the surface via the filter, outputs a pixel output of each pixel, and images an image of the subject; a pixel output judging section which judges if each pixel output reaches each predetermined saturation level or not; a pixel output compensation processor which compensates a pixel output of a specific color filter based on a pixel output of another color separation filter in the vicinity which is less than its predetermined saturation level; and a bit compression convertor.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus of the present invention includes an optical lens unit of a photographic optical system; an imaging device for converting light received through the optical lens to electrical signals; a zooming device for changing a focal length of the photographic optical system; a zooming position detector for detecting a current zooming position; an A/D converter for converting analog image signals outputted from the imaging device to digital image signals; and a gradation sequence converter which converts a gradation sequence characteristic of the digital image signals by referring to a gradation sequence conversion table for converting the gradation sequence characteristic, wherein converting amounts of the gradation sequence conversion table are changed based on a current zooming position detected by the zooming position detector.

Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus provided with an auto-focus capability. A first unit is configured to input a first trigger signal to initiate a distance measuring operation. A second unit is configured to input a second trigger signal to initiate a photographing operation. A setting unit is configured to set a substrate bias voltage applied to an imaging device included in the image-pickup apparatus. The setting unit is configured to set the substrate bias voltage one of during and after an auto-focus operation when the second trigger signal is input before expiration of a predetermined period of time after inputting the first trigger signal.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus achieves a high-speed automatic focus operation and a reduction in power consumption and prevents a miss focus due to an erroneous determination. The imaging apparatus has an automatic focus function, which detects a current position of a focal lens. A limited range near the detected current position of the focal lens is designated as a focus range. A movable range of the focal lens is changed in accordance with the designated focus range.