Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an exposure period setup part for generating a timing signal, an image pick up device control part for controlling an operation of image pick up device, a timing part for measuring an elapsed time from the exposure period timing signal, and an imaging apparatus control part for controlling the image pick up device control part and the exposure period setup part. The timing part measures the elapsed time from the exposure period timing signal right after a release operation to the beginning of exposure setup operation by the exposure period setup part, and if a time from the measured elapsed time to the generation of the calculated next exposure period timing signal is equal or greater than a predetermined time, the imaging apparatus control part shortens the time till the generation of the next exposure period timing signal from a regular exposure period.

Abstract: A digital still camera for facilitating selection of a result as most intended by a photographer from among one set of photographed image data photographed in autobracket (AB) photographing, including a reproduction device which reproduces an image to reflect the photographer's intention. When recording in a memory card one set of photographed image data photographed in the AB photographing mode, a microcomputer renders the image data photographed in the AB photographing mode distinguishable, while linking the one set of the photographed image data as a series of image data to render the link distinguishable.

Abstract: An image processing system is configured to include an imaging system which has a CCD to capture an image of a subject and outputs as pixel data an image signal of the subject output from the CCD, a conversion buffer memory which temporarily stores the pixel data according to each pixel position, a database which stores correction information for each pixel, and a corrector circuit which performs correction processing on each pixel data stored in the conversion buffer memory based on the correction information stored in the database, and sequentially outputs the corrected pixel data. In the image processing system, the correction information in the database is changed in accordance with a change in a magnification of the imaging system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photographing apparatus of interlace transferring type comprising a photographing device which carries out transfer of electrification of all pixels stored in the photographing device by dividing into a plurality of fields when transferring the electrification, which has a plurality of color filters and which includes a color signal of at least RGB or YeCyMgG in the transfer data of each field for transferring the electrification, an extraction unit for extracting characteristic data of an image from transferred data before processing for the image is started, a generating unit for generating control value carrying out correction of image based on the extracted characteristic data, and a photographing processing unit for processing the image by use of a control value formed by said characteristic data.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photographing apparatus of interlace transferring type comprising a photographing device which carries out transfer of electrification of all pixels stored in the photographing device by dividing into a plurality of fields when transferring the electrification, which has a plurality of color filters and which includes a color signal of at least RGB or YeCyMgG in the transfer data of each field for transferring the electrification, an extraction unit for extracting characteristic data of an image from transferred data before processing for the image is started, a generating unit for generating control value carrying out correction of image based on the extracted characteristic data, and a photographing processing unit for processing the image by use of a control value formed by said characteristic data.

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 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 photographing device and method of dividing data of electric charges stored in all pixels corresponding to an image focused on an photographing device having a color filter for resolving color into M(?3) fields, transferring the divided data in sequence until data of m(<M) fields of the M fields are transferred, the transferred data of the m fields including all types of color signals and pixels necessary to prepare a color image and preparing a color image using the transferred data.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging device to photograph an object and to convert an image of the object into an electronic image signal, a feature detection device to conduct a feature detection for a white balance control in accordance with the image signal, a white balance control device to conduct the white balance control by using a result of the feature detection device, a zoom area selection device to select the zoom area of the image signal in accordance with the imaging device, a display device to display the image signal of the area selected by the zoom area selection device, and a feature detection area selection device for a selecting area to conduct the feature detection for the white balance control.

Abstract: A photographing object image adjusting apparatus including a plurality of adjusting operation devices corresponding to a plurality of object image adjusting modes, respectively, and an object image adjusting device. Each of the plurality of adjusting operation devices is configured such that an adjusting operation giving an instruction of object image adjusting is performed by being manipulated. The object image adjusting device is configured to adjust an image of an object imaged on an imaging surface of a photographing element in an object image adjusting mode of the plurality of object image adjusting modes corresponding to an adjusting operation device of the plurality of adjusting operation devices in which the adjusting operation giving the instruction of object image adjusting has been performed.

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 including: an imaging device; a focusing operation control; and a decision control for comparing an evaluation value obtained from present image data with an evaluation value obtained from last image data obtained when the focus system leans was located at focal position in a last focusing operation and for deciding whether or not a focused state where the focus system lens is focused is maintained, according to a focusing instruction manipulation before performing the focusing operation and without driving the focus system lens.

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 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: There are provided an image memory which stores one image of a subject, an image fetch section which takes in an image from the image memory to another memory or register in a predetermined unit, a control section which takes charge of the overall control, a face characteristic storage section which stores a plurality of characteristics of a face, a recognition and judgment section which recognizes a face from the data from the image fetch section and the data from the face characteristic storage section and judges each portion, an edge detector which detects an edge detection value from the result data thereof, and an output section which outputs the final judgment result to the outside.

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: 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: A filtration portion 11 constituting a filter element 3 is composed of a first filtration material 9 wound around the outer periphery of an inner tube 8 and a second filtration material 10 wound tightly around the outer peripheral surface of the first filtration material 9, and gas comprising oil mist is passed inside the filtration portion 11 from the inner peripheral surface to the outer peripheral surface thereof. As a result, a filter with good oil mist separation efficiency can be provided in which oil mist can be trapped and caused to condensate into oil drops with the first filtration material 9 and the oil drops can be grown with the second filtration material 10 and separated from the gas.

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.

Abstract: A practically realizable semiconductor magnetic body having a flat-band structure is disclosed. The semiconductor magnetic body is formed by semiconductor quantum dots arranged on lattice points such that electrons can transfer between neighboring quantum dots and the electron energy band contains a flat-band structure, where each quantum dot is a structure in which electrons are confined inside a region which is surrounded by high energy potential regions, and the flat-band structure is a band structure in which energy dispersion of electrons has hardly any wave number dependency.