Abstract: Video signals representative of photographic images which are stored in a plurality of substantially equally dimensioned frames in horizontal and vertical positions are produced by picking up the images. A first signal indicative of a horizontal/vertical position and a top-bottom orientation of the photographic image stored in any of the frames is entered. The photographic image is rotated relatively in response to the first signal. For a vertically positioned image, a video signal is produced which is representative of the image with a magnification which is smaller than that of a horizontally positioned image. Such a procedure provides a video signal which represents an image in a non-inverted top-bottom orientation without any essential portions of the image being omitted.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a solid-state image pickup device having an array of photosensitive cells formed on a semiconductor substrate, and reading circuitry for sequentially reading out video signals from the cells. Each photosensitive cell has a junction portion formed on the substrate for storing photocarriers, a metal layer for collecting photocarriers to the junction portion, a photoconductive layer formed on the metal layer for generating photocarriers associated with an incident light, and a transparent electrode layer formed on the photoconductive layer and including an electrically conductive substance transparent with respect to light. The apparatus further includes a power supply unit for supplying a variable bias voltage to the transparent electrode layer. The value and polarity of the bias voltage is variable so that an output characteristic of the video signals can be adjusted.

Abstract: Photographic images are recorded by picking up a group of photographic images recorded in horizontal and vertical positions in substantially equally dimensioned frames to store in a storage medium video signals representative of the photographic images in the order of the group of photographic images. One of the many frame orientations, including the vertical and the horizontal positions, of the images recorded in the respective frames is selected. Then, out of the group of images, those which are in the selected orientation are selected. For the images in the vertical position, a magnification for forming a video signal which is smaller than that for the images in the horizontal position is set up. The selected photographic image is picked up to store a video signal representative of it in a store position of the storage medium assigned thereto. The selection, pickup and storage are performed on each of the photographic images which are in the selected frame orientation.

Abstract: A white balance correction circuit for negative-to-positive conversion of television signals includes an imaging device for picking up a negative picture to develop video signals which are respectively indicative of three separated colors. The three separated color signals are processed by three processing circuits which are assigned in one-to-one correspondence thereto. An encoder circuit combines output signals of the respective processing circuits to provide a color composite video signal representative of a positive picture associated with the negative picture. Each of the processing circuits comprises an inversion circuit for inverting one of the three separated video signals associated therewith, and a clamp circuit for maintaining extreme values of the video signal at a first predetermined value, whereby a positive picture having an adjusted luminance is reproduced.

Abstract: A two-dimensional solid-state image sensor device, comprising: a plurality of picture cells which are two-dimensionally arranged in column and row directions, and each of which comprises a static induction transistor having drain and source regions with one conductivity type which are disposed on opposite sides of a high resistance semiconductor channel region, and control and shielding gate regions with the other conductivity type which are adjacent to the channel region to control a current flowing between the drain and source regions, and a transparent electrode disposed via a capacitance on at least a portion of the control gate region, in a manner that light is incident through the transparent electrode to the control gate region in which the charge produced by the light excitation is stored to control the current; a plurality of selection lines, each of which connects the control gate regions in each column in common via the capacitances; and a plurality of signal readout lines, each of which connects t

Abstract: An automatic focusing apparatus for a video camera, comprising a photographic lens, a solid state image pickup device mounted movably along the optical axis of the photographic lens, a device for moving the image pickup device along the optical axis, and a focusing operation circuit for generating a focusing signal for moving the image pickup device to the focusing point by processing the output of the image pickup device, and feeding the focusing signal to the moving means. The moving device consists of a moving coil secured to the image pickup device, and a drive circuit for driving the moving coil. The focusing operation circuit is connected to the drive circuit directly or via an automatic-manual selecting switch. The image pickup device may be split to a section for taking a picture and a section for measuring the distance from the object, and the photographic lens may be a zoom lens having no mechanism for focusing.

Abstract: A two-dimensional solid-state image sensor device comprising a plurality of picture cells two-dimensionally arranged in column and row directions. Each cell has a static induction transistor having drain and source regions disposed on opposite sides of a high resistance semiconductor channel region, and control and shielding gate regions adjacent to the channel region to control a current flowing between the drain and source regions, and a transparent electrode disposed via a capacitance on at least a portion of the control gate region, in a manner that light is incident through the transparent electrode to the control gate region in which the charge produced by the light excitation is stored to control the current. Selection lines and signal readout lines are connected to the control gate regions in each column in common via the capacitances and to the drain or source regions in each row in common, respectively.

Abstract: An image reader in which sensitivity fluctuations of a solid-state image pickup device are eliminated. The imaging rays of a picture to be read are applied with diffusion to the surface of the solid-state image pickup device. The diffusion may be supplied by the use of a diffused light source such as a fluorescent lamp, a number of spot light sources, or a tungsten light source with a diffusing plate. Otherwise, the incident light can be diffused immediately adjacent the surface of the solid-state image pickup device with a light-diffusing plate.

Abstract: A system for compensating for variations in an output consisting of many components that show variations, comprising a memory for storing the compensation value for each component, an analog-to-digital converter for converting the output into several bits of digital output, a multiplier for multiplying the value of the high order bits of the digital output by the compensation value, and a subtracter for subtracting the output of the multiplier from the value of the low order bits. Instead of using the multiplier, the order of the value of the high order bits can be lowered down to that of the value of the low order bits, and the obtained value can be subtracted from the low order bits the number of times indicated by the compensation value.

Abstract: An imaging system for use in an endoscope includes a vari-focal lens system provided in a viewing head to be inserted into a cavity or opening of a living body or machinery, a solid-state image sensor for imaging an image formed by the lens system to produce electrical signals representative of the image, a supporting unit for supporting the lens system and the image sensor thereon so as to change the spacing between the lens system and the image sensor on the optical axis of the lens system, and controller circuitry operable in response to magnification of the lens system for estimating the position of a focus of the lens system to control the supporting unit so as to position the image sensor substantially at the estimated position of the focus.

Abstract: In a hill-climbing method for detecting a peak of a contrast signal to detect the position to bring a taking lens to for automatic focus control, the taking lens is moved further from a first detected peak position by a predetermined distance for searching for a higher peak. When no higher peak is detected, the lens is brought to the first detected peak position. When a higher level is detected, the lens is further moved for searching another peak according to the hill-climbing method.

Abstract: In an automatic focus controlling device, a bilinear type CCD is driven in synchronization with pixell clock pulses having a predetermined frequency to generate time series electric signals corresponding to brightness of an image formed thereon. The time series electric signals are caused to pass through a low-pass filter and a band-stop filter. The low-pass filter cuts off signal components having a frequency higher than the predetermined frequency of the pixell clock pulses, and the band-stop filter cuts off components of the signals having a frequency near the half of the frequency of the pixell clock pulses. Contrast signals free from noises are obtained by differentiating the signals having passed through the filters, and focus is controlled based on the contrast signals.

Abstract: A stereoscopic camera for taking a stereoscopic picture of a three dimensional object on a photographic film carrying a lenticular film. The camera has a positive objective having a focal length as long as 1.0 to 4.0 m. An image inverting optical element consisting of a number of dove prisms arranged in parallel and light intercepting plates interposed between the dove prisms is located immediately behind the positive objective for right-left invertion of the image. A taking lens is located immediately behind the image inverting optical element for focusing an image in the camera in the vicinity of the photographic film. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a field lens of a focal length equal to or longer than that of the taking lens is located immediately in front of the photographic film.

Abstract: A recording medium such as a microfiche bearing graphic information like a map in a reduced scale is provided in a retrieval unit including an optical projection system connected with a television type display device. The recording medium is moved with respect to the optical projection system by an X-Y moving device which is operated by an electric position signal. The electric position signal is given by a position detecting device. The position detecting device has a graphic information similar to that recorded in the recording medium and a detecting pen to point a desired spot on the graphic information and a joy stick to give the position signal to the X-Y moving device.

Abstract: A coordinate detecting apparatus for detecting a coordinate position on a screen of an optical projector. The coordinate detecting apparatus includes coding means for spacially modulating, when actuated, a picture image on the screen of the optical projector; actuating means for actuating the coding means; detecting means for detecting the modulated signal produced on the screen; and circuit means responsive to the modulated signal, which is detected by the detecting means, for detecting the position of the detecting means on a coordinate with respect to the picture image on the screen to produce a coordinate signal.

Abstract: An optical projection apparatus including a projection screen on which a microimage is projected on an enlarged scale and adapted to be connected with an information processing system comprising;Microfilm feeding means which feeds and stops a microfilm on which a plurality of images are recorded, each image of the microfilm comprising an image frame portion and a code pattern portion recorded adjacent the image frame, each code in the code pattern portion representing information concerning a part of the image of the image frame portion positioned at a position corresponding to the code,An optical projection system for projecting an image of the image frame portion onto a transmission type projection screen and projecting an image of the code pattern portion onto a reflection type projection screen provided in a side by side relation with the transmission type projection screen,A light source device for illuminating a part of the image projected on the transmission type projection screen selectively from the