Abstract: Video signals are recorded in such a manner that prints having a high picture quality can be obtained while not interfering with playback of images in the form of a movie. A CCD is controlled in such a manner that exposure is performed at a shutter speed of 1/250 of a second one time in exposures performed a plurality of times in succession and at a shutter speed of 1/60 of a second at other times. The video signal outputted by the CCD is applied to a combining circuit via a CDS, AGC and signal processing circuit for an image sensing system. A PI signal generating circuit outputs a PI signal, which represents inhibition of printing, in the case where exposure is carried out at the shutter speed of 1/60 of a second, and the combining circuit superposes the PI signal upon the video signal, which has been obtained by exposure at the shutter speed of 1/60 of a second, in the vertical blanking interval of this video signal.

Abstract: A method of preventing the occurrence of false colors produced at the edge of an image of interest when the image is displayed upon being read by a scanner. When image data representing an interpolation target pixel at which image data is missing is produced, the arithmetic mean of pixels (e.g. R.sub.1 and R.sub.5) neighboring the interpolation target pixel on both sides thereof is calculated [(R.sub.1 +R.sub.5)/2] and corrective data .DELTA..sub.3 is added to the data representing the arithmetic mean. This makes it possible to prevent the occurrence of false colors at the edge of the image.

Abstract: In a case frame image possessing an amount of data greater than a predetermined amount is recorded on a magnetic tape using a multiplicity of tracks, on which tracks the data has been recorded is made clear. Image data composed of 1,400,000 pixels, which is four times that of the conventional number of 350,000 pixels, is obtained. Since the image data has an amount of data that is four times that in a frame image when photography is performed using the conventional 350,000-pixel CCD, the image data is recorded in a video recording area one frame at a time on ten tracks per frame, for a total of 40 tracks. Auxiliary-area recording data representing on which tracks the recorded image data has been recorded and the manner in which the recorded image has been partitioned is recorded in an auxiliary recording area. One frame of a still picture is produced after reference is made to the auxiliary-area recording data that has been recorded in the auxiliary recording area.

Abstract: A reproduced still picture having a comparatively high picture quality is obtained irrespective of the luminance of the subject. In an interval photography mode, photography is performed one time in a plurality of fields at a relatively high shutter speed of 1/250 of a second to obtained a first video signal, and photography is performed at an ordinary shutter speed of 1/60 of a second in other fields to obtain a second video signal. These video signals are amplified at mutually different first and second amplification factors (6 dB and 18.4 dB, respectively) in conformity with the shutter speed, by an AGC. The first and second amplification factors are varied in dependence upon the illumination of the subject in such a manner that the average levels of the first and second video signals are maintained at a fixed level.

Abstract: The present invention provides a film cartridge which can be looked up easily and a film image input system which can obtain a high quality image by using the film cartridge. The image signal of each frame image, of which the image quality is adjusted, is recorded in the EEPROM of the image record unit to be mounted on the film cartridge, in which the photo film is stored in a roll, so as to correspond to the frame number while the developed photo film is printed. And, the film image input system controls the adding circuit, the multiplying circuit and the gamma correction circuit based on the respective R, G, B color signals, which are respectively outputted to the black level controller, the white level controller and the gradation controller from the EEPROM, and outputs an image signal, which has the same gradation characteristics as that of the image signal which is recorded in the EEPROM, to the encoder.

Abstract: Video signals include a first video signal and a second video signal. The second video signal, which represents an image of a subject photographed at a relatively high shutter speed, is inserted in a prescribed plurality of frames of the first video signal representing the image of the subject photographed at an ordinary shutter speed. The first video signal has a print inhibit signal, which inhibits printing of an image represented by the video signal, superposed thereon in a vertical blanking interval. The video signal which does not contain the print inhibit signal in its vertical blanking interval, is stored in a memory. The stored video signal is read out of the memory to be used for printing.

Abstract: The levels of video signals obtained by photography at a relatively high shutter speed and photography at an ordinary shutter speed are made approximately equal at all times, irrespective of any change in the characteristics of an AGC. Photography performed at a relatively high shutter speed of one time in a plurality of fields and photography is performed at an ordinary speed at other times is repeated periodically. One field of a luminance signal obtained by photography at the relatively high shutter speed is integrated by a first integrating circuit, and one field of the luminance signal obtained by photography at the ordinary shutter speed is integrated by a second integrating circuit, wherein the luminance signals represent contiguous images. A signal representing the difference between these integrated values is produced by a difference detecting circuit. The difference signal serves as a gain correction signal.

Abstract: A movie camera having: a strobe light for illuminating a subject; a shutter speed switching circuit for changing speeds of a shutter for the charge coupled device (CCD); a white balance switching circuit for adjusting the balance between color signals; an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit for adjusting amplifying gain for an image signal; a control circuit for energizing the shutter speed switching circuit so that a flash of the strobe light is terminated within the storing time of the CCD by changing the shutter speed to a higher speed, for energizing the white balance switching circuit so that the white balance is adjusted to coincide with the color temperature of the strobe light, and for fixing the gain of the AGC circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a film cartridge which can be looked up easily and a film image input system which can obtain a high quality image by using the film cartridge. The image signal of each frame image, of which the image quality is adjusted, is recorded in the EEPROM of the image record unit to be mounted on the film cartridge, in which the photo film is stored in a roll, so as to correspond to the frame number while the developed photo film is printed. And, the film image input system controls the adding circuit, the multiplying circuit and the gamma correction circuit based on the respective R, G, B color signals, which are respectively outputted to the black level controller, the white level controller and the gradation controller from the EEPROM, and outputs an image signal, which has the same gradation characteristics as that of the image signal which is recorded in the EEPROM, to the encoder.

Abstract: Both a sharp print image and a natural reproduced move image can be obtained from a signal recorded on a recording medium. A recording signal, read from the recording medium, is converted into digital data and is delayed by one field. Data representing the current image in the n-th field and data representing an image in the (n-1)-th field one field ahead of the current image, are applied to a subtracting circuit, to extract a component representing moving image portions. An interpolated image for making movement correction is created from the extracted component representing the moving image portions by an interpolating circuit. Data representing the interpolated image and the data representing the current image in the n-th field are synthesized by a synthesizing circuit, to output composite data as data representing an image which has been subjected to movement correction.

Abstract: A film cartridge which can be looked up easily and a film image input system which can obtain a high quality image by using the film cartridge wherein the image signal of each frame image, of which the image quality is adjusted, is recorded in the EEPROM of the image record unit to be mounted on the film cartridge, in which the photo film is stored in a roll, so as to correspond to the frame number while the developed photo film is printed. And, the film image input system controls the adding circuit, the multiplying circuit and the gamma correction circuit based on the respective R, G, B color signals, which are respectively outputted to the black level controller, the white level controller and the gradation controller from the EEPROM, and outputs an image signal, which has the same gradation characteristics as that of the image signal which is recorded in the EEPROM, to the encoder.

Abstract: Video signals are recorded in such a manner that prints having a high picture quality can be obtained while not interfering with playback of images in the form of a movie. A CCD is controlled in such a manner that exposure is performed at a shutter speed of 1/250 of a second, one time in exposures performed a plurality of times in succession, and at a shutter speed of 1/60 of a second at other times. The video signal outputted by the CCD is applied to a combining circuit via a CDS, AGC and signal processing circuit for an image sensing system. A PI signal generating circuit outputs a PI signal, which represents inhibition of printing, in the case where exposure is carried out at the shutter speed of 1/60 of a second, and the combining circuit superposes the PI signal upon the video signal, which has been obtained by exposure at the shutter speed of 1/60 of a second, in the vertical blanking interval of this video signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a film unit with a lens in which data such as a taking date can be taken at a low price. The IC substrate is put together while the film unit with lens is assembled. The timer in the IC times the current date and time. The date mode selector outputs the information, which is selected by the mode select switch, to the memory. The release sensor switches in synchronous with the release of the shutter button and outputs the current frame number information, which is counted by the frame number counter, to the memory so as to increase the frame number of the frame number counter. Moreover, the release sensor writes the information outputted from the timer and the information outputted from the date mode selector in the addresses 1-36 so as to correspond to the frame number information from the frame number counter in interlocking with the release of the shutter. Therefore, the taking date and time information of the film are written in the addresses 1-36 of the memory in turn.

Abstract: A movie camera having: a strobe light for illuminating a subject; a shutter speed switching circuit for changing speeds of a shutter for the charge coupled device (CCD); a white balance switching circuit for adjusting the balance between color signals; an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit for adjusting amplifying gain for an image signal; a control circuit for energizing the shutter speed switching circuit so that a flash of the strobe light is terminated within the storing time of the CCD by changing the shutter speed to a higher speed, for energizing the white balance switching circuit so that the white balance is adjusted to coincide with the color temperature of the strobe light, and for fixing the gain of the AGC circuit.

Abstract: Both a sharp print image and a natural reproduced move image can be obtained from a signal recorded on a recording medium. A recording signal, read from the recording medium, is converted into digital data and is delayed by one field. Data representing the current image in the n-th field and data representing an image in the (n-1)-th field one field ahead of the current image, are applied to a subtracting circuit, to extract a component representing moving image portions. An interpolated image for making movement correction is created from the extracted component representing the moving image portions by an interpolating circuit. Data representing the interpolated image and the data representing the current image in the n-th field are synthesized by a synthesizing circuit, to output composite data as data representing an image which has been subjected to movement correction.

Abstract: A suitable image is obtained of a subject in which the difference in luminance between a bright area and a dark area is very large. The dark area is properly exposed and first image data is obtained. The bright area is properly exposed, and second image data is obtained. The first image data pertaining to the bright area is replaced with the second image data, thereby obtaining composite image data. This is accomplished using an array of photodiodes comprising two sets of photodiodes, one set of the photodiodes comprising filters, and the respective sets of photodiodes output signals to respectively different transfer paths for signal processing.

Abstract: A solid-state electronic imaging device is provided that is capable of a transfer and a reverse transfer of signal electric charge. When conducting the reverse transfer of the signal electric charge, a reverse transfer signal is supplied to each set of a predetermined number of consecutive electrodes so that the reverse transfer will be produced at a high speed.

Abstract: In an imaging device having an electronic shutter, a shooting operation is achieved by the use of a CCD sensor, and a pre-shooting operation is conducted which accumulates signal electric charge such that the signal electric charge is discharged through a reverse transfer. In response to the amount of the signal electric charge thus discharged, the amount of exposure is determined (namely, the shutter speed and the iris value). By measuring the amount of the signal electric charge thus discharged for each predetermined range of a light receiving area, a multi-light measurement is achieved. The light receiving area has a plurality of photoelectric converter elements of the MOS capacitor type disposed therein and is subdivided into a plurality of areas which are insulated from each other. The pre-shooting operation is conducted which accumulates signal electric charge in the photoelectric converter elements such that the signal electric charge is discharged to the side of the substrate for each subdivided area.

Abstract: A system is provided for producing image signals of a photographed subject image by a solid state image sensing device and for producing a brightness signal and line sequential color difference signals from the image signal. The subject image is sensed by the image sensing device which has a color filter formed thereon. First and second horizontal scanning lines of picture elements are alternately arranged and the picture elements are opposed to filter elements of the color filter. The first horizontal scanning lines separately transmit at least red light and green light and the second horizontal scanning lines transmit at least blue light and green light, to thereby obtain color image signals. The image signal thus obtained are signal processed to produce the line sequential color difference signals R-Y and B-Y. With this signal processing, the system can produce the image signals including the line sequential color difference signals by a simplified arrangement without impairing the color productivity.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a solid-state image pickup device having an array of photosensitive cells formed in a photoconductive layer on a semiconductor substrate, an optical system for focusing an image of an object on the cell array, an optical shutter for introducing light incident to the optical system to the cell array for a desired exposure time period, a read circuit for sequentially reading out video signals from the photosensitive cells, a storage unit for temporarily storing the video signals read out by the read circuit, an operational unit for reading out the stored picture element signals from the storage unit to form color-separated component video signals, and a control unit for controlling the read circuit, the storage unit, and the operational unit in response to the shutter.