Abstract: An image generation device includes a first color signal generation unit that generates three or more types of first color signals Rl, Gl, and Bl by combining two or more types of near-infrared light signals SIR1 and SIR2 with three or more types of visible light signals SR, SG, and SB in arbitrary proportions. The visible light signals SR, SG, and SB are outputted from a solid-state imaging element, and the near-infrared light signals SIR1 and SIR2 are acquired simultaneously with the visible light signals SR, SG, and SB. The near-infrared light signals SIR1 and SIR2 are a signal based on near-infrared light and a signal based on near-infrared light. The first color signal generation unit 1 changes combining proportions of the visible light signals SR, SG, and SB and the near-infrared light signals SIR1 and SIR2 according to quality and/or strengths of each light signal.

Abstract: An image generation device includes a first color signal generation unit that generates three or more types of first color signals Rl, Gl, and Bl by combining two or more types of near-infrared light signals SIR1 and SIR2 with three or more types of visible light signals SR, SG, and SB in arbitrary proportions. The visible light signals SR, SG, and SB are outputted from a solid-state imaging element, and the near-infrared light signals SIR1 and SIR2 are acquired simultaneously with the visible light signals SR, SG, and SB. The near-infrared light signals SIR1 and SIR2 are a signal based on near-infrared light and a signal based on near-infrared light. The first color signal generation unit 1 changes combining proportions of the visible light signals SR, SG, and SB and the near-infrared light signals SIR1 and SIR2 according to quality and/or strengths of each light signal.

Abstract: A solid-state image capture device and an image capture system capable of photographing a color image with high sensitivity in a wide illuminance environment from normal illuminance to darkness. A solid-state image capture device is provided with a first detection portion in which a first visible light pixel receiving first visible light and a first near-infrared pixel receiving first near-infrared light are provided adjacent to each other, a second detection portion in which a second visible light pixel receiving second visible light different in wavelength from the first visible light and a second near-infrared pixel receiving second near-infrared light are provided adjacent to each other, and a third detection portion in which a third visible light pixel receiving third visible light different in wavelength from the first visible light and the second visible light and a third near-infrared pixel receiving third near-infrared light are provided adjacent to each other.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging element comprising a visible light detection area including a first visible light pixel for receiving first visible light, a second visible light pixel for receiving second visible light having a wavelength different from a wavelength of the first visible light, and a third visible light pixel for receiving third visible light having a wavelength different from the wavelengths of the first visible light and the second visible light; and a near infrared light detection area including a first near infrared pixel for receiving first near infrared light, a second near infrared light pixel for receiving second near infrared light having a wavelength different from a wavelength of the first near infrared light, and a third near infrared light pixel for receiving third near infrared light having a wavelength different from the wavelengths of the first near infrared light and the second near infrared light.

Abstract: A solid-state image capture device and an image capture system capable of photographing a color image with high sensitivity in a wide illuminance environment from normal illuminance to darkness. A solid-state image capture device is provided with a first detection portion in which a first visible light pixel receiving first visible light and a first near-infrared pixel receiving first near-infrared light are provided adjacent to each other, a second detection portion in which a second visible light pixel receiving second visible light different in wavelength from the first visible light and a second near-infrared pixel receiving second near-infrared light are provided adjacent to each other, and a third detection portion in which a third visible light pixel receiving third visible light different in wavelength from the first visible light and the second visible light and a third near-infrared pixel receiving third near-infrared light are provided adjacent to each other.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging element comprising a visible light detection area including a first visible light pixel for receiving first visible light, a second visible light pixel for receiving second visible light having a wavelength different from a wavelength of the first visible light, and a third visible light pixel for receiving third visible light having a wavelength different from the wavelengths of the first visible light and the second visible light; and a near infrared light detection area including a first near infrared pixel for receiving first near infrared light, a second near infrared light pixel for receiving second near infrared light having a wavelength different from a wavelength of the first near infrared light, and a third near infrared light pixel for receiving third near infrared light having a wavelength different from the wavelengths of the first near infrared light and the second near infrared light.

Abstract: Provided is an image process apparatus for processing a color image signal, including: an integration unit integrating at least one of each of color signals of the color image signal or a brightness signal obtained from the color image signal over at least one horizontal period; a normalization unit normalizing an integration value obtained by the integration unit and a difference between the integration values of adjacent fields or frames obtained by the integration unit; a frequency analysis unit extracting spectrum of output values of the normalization unit; a flicker component estimating unit estimating a flicker component from the spectrum extracted by the frequency analysis unit; an index generating unit calculating an index representing a degree that a photographing light source is estimated to a fluorescent lamp, based on an estimated result of the flicker component estimating unit; and a color balance control unit calculating a color balance control value of the color image signal according to the in

Abstract: An amplifier gain setting section estimates a light source parameter which relies upon a spectral distribution of an image pickup light source based on an image signal. Then, a first adjustment control value for each color signal when adjustment is to be performed so as to establish a white balance based on the estimated parameter is modulated by an amount corresponding to a follow-up sensitivity toward a second adjustment control value when adjustment is to be performed so that an achromatic subject under a particular reference light source is reproduced as an achromatic subject. The modulated adjustment control value is set to a white balance amplifier. The follow-up sensitivity is set to the amplifier gain setting section in response to an illuminance level estimated from a detection value of the brightness.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging device and a method of processing an imaging result in an imaging device, and is applied to e.g. an electronic still camera to thereby allow the camera to correct image quality readily and flexibly with avoiding the deterioration of the image quality effectively. In the present invention, a three-dimensional look-up table is provided and an imaging result (Y2, Cb2, Cr2) is corrected by use of the three-dimensional look-up table.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus whose lens unit can be attached to and detached from a camera body section includes: an image-capturing signal processing section that generates an image signal by performing an image capturing process of subject light introduced via the lens unit; an attachment detecting section that generates a detection signal indicating whether or not the lens unit is attached to the camera body section; and a control section that determines whether or not the lens unit has been interchanged or detached and attached by using the detection signal, and performs a process of forming index data with respect to the image signal on the basis of a result of the determination.

Abstract: An amplifier gain setting section estimates a light source parameter which relies upon a spectral distribution of an image pickup light source based on an image signal. Then, a first adjustment control value for each color signal when adjustment is to be performed so as to establish a white balance based on the estimated parameter is modulated by an amount corresponding to a follow-up sensitivity toward a second adjustment control value when adjustment is to be performed so that an achromatic subject under a particular reference light source is reproduced as an achromatic subject. The modulated adjustment control value is set to a white balance amplifier. The follow-up sensitivity is set to the amplifier gain setting section in response to an illuminance level estimated from a detection value of the brightness.

Abstract: An amplifier gain setting section estimates a light source parameter which relies upon a spectral distribution of an image pickup light source based on an image signal. Then, a first adjustment control value for each color signal when adjustment is to be performed so as to establish a white balance based on the estimated parameter is modulated by an amount corresponding to a follow-up sensitivity toward a second adjustment control value when adjustment is to be performed so that an achromatic subject under a particular reference light source is reproduced as an achromatic subject. The modulated adjustment control value is set to a white balance amplifier. The follow-up sensitivity is set to the amplifier gain setting section in response to an illuminance level estimated from a detection value of the brightness.

Abstract: Disclosed is a picture signal processing method for outputting a color picture. In encoding input picture data YCbCr into picture data for printing in a YCC picture formulating unit (2), chromaticity Cb, Cr are processed non-linear conversion processing by a non-linear function f(c), with the luminance Y remaining unaffected, to generate picture data for printing Ycb?Cr?. In a cmyk converter 3, the picture data for printing Ycb?Cr?, generated by the YCC picture formulating unit (2), are processed non-linear conversion processing by an inverse function f?(c) of the non-linear function f(c) to perform color space conversion processing matched to the color space of an output device. This converts the picture data for printing Ycb?Cr? into picture data for output printing cmyk to improve color reproducing quality by controlling the encoding density locally in a wide color gamut.

Abstract: A light source estimation method of this invention estimates from the sensor response the color characteristics of an unknown light source of an image-pickup scene, in order to improve white balance adjustment and other aspects of the quality of color reproduction; a projection conversion portion 6 projects sensor response values 5 into an image distribution 9 in an evaluation space not dependent on the image-pickup light source 2 using parameters obtained by operations which can be calorimetrically approximated from spectral sensitivity characteristics of image-pickup unit 4, which are known, and from spectral characteristics of an assumed test light source 1; an evaluation portion 10 evaluates the correctness of a plurality of the test light sources 1 based on the distribution state of sample values of the projected scene; and accordingly, the correct image-pickup light source 2 is estimated.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus whose lens unit can be attached to and detached from a camera body section includes: an image-capturing signal processing section that generates an image signal by performing an image capturing process of subject light introduced via the lens unit; an attachment detecting section that generates a detection signal indicating whether or not the lens unit is attached to the camera body section; and a control section that determines whether or not the lens unit has been interchanged or detached and attached by using the detection signal, and performs a process of forming index data with respect to the image signal on the basis of a result of the determination.

Abstract: Provided is an image process apparatus for processing a color image signal, including: an integration unit integrating at least one of each of color signals of the color image signal or a brightness signal obtained from the color image signal over at least one horizontal period; a normalization unit normalizing an integration value obtained by the integration unit and a difference between the integration values of adjacent fields or frames obtained by the integration unit; a frequency analysis unit extracting spectrum of output values of the normalization unit; a flicker component estimating unit estimating a flicker component from the spectrum extracted by the frequency analysis unit; an index generating unit calculating an index representing a degree that a photographing light source is estimated to a fluorescent lamp, based on an estimated result of the flicker component estimating unit; and a color balance control unit calculating a color balance control value of the color image signal according to the in

Abstract: An amplifier gain setting section estimates a light source parameter which relies upon a spectral distribution of an image pickup light source based on an image signal. Then, a first adjustment control value for each color signal when adjustment is to be performed so as to establish a white balance based on the estimated parameter is modulated by an amount corresponding to a follow-up sensitivity toward a second adjustment control value when adjustment is to be performed so that an achromatic subject under a particular reference light source is reproduced as an achromatic subject. The modulated adjustment control value is set to a white balance amplifier. The follow-up sensitivity is set to the amplifier gain setting section in response to an illuminance level estimated from a detection value of the brightness.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an imaging device and a method of processing an imaging result in an imaging device, and is applied to e.g. an electronic still camera to thereby allow the camera to correct image quality readily and flexibly with avoiding the deterioration of the image quality effectively. In the present invention, a three-dimensional look-up table is provided and an imaging result (Y2, Cb2, Cr2) is corrected by use of the three-dimensional look-up table.

Abstract: A printing system including printing equipment in which, even if the equipment are interconnected through an interface pursuant to the IEEE 1394 standard, the printing image may be set to effect printing. There is provided a CPU 23 for generating the printing control information containing the text printing image information indicating the picture processing contents for the text at the time of printing and the picture printing image information indicating the processing contents for a picture at the time of printing. There is also provided a data conversion unit 13 which manages control so that picture data and the printing control information will be contained in a packet consistent with the IEEE 1394 standard and sent as output to a printer device 5, and so that the picture data contained in the packet sent as output to the printer device 5 will be printed in accordance with the printing control information.

Abstract: A light source estimation method of this invention estimates from the sensor response the color characteristics of an unknown light source of an image-pickup scene, in order to improve white balance adjustment and other aspects of the quality of color reproduction; a projection conversion portion 6 projects sensor response values 5 into an image distribution 9 in an evaluation space not dependent on the image-pickup light source 2 using parameters obtained by operations which can be calorimetrically approximated from spectral sensitivity characteristics of image-pickup unit 4, which are known, and from spectral characteristics of an assumed test light source 1; an evaluation portion 10 evaluates the correctness of a plurality of the test light sources 1 based on the distribution state of sample values of the projected scene; and accordingly, the correct image-pickup light source 2 is estimated.