Abstract: A biaxially oriented laminated polypropylene film comprising a biaxially oriented polypropylene film substrate layer (B) made from a propylene-based polymer composition (A) in which an inorganic compound powder (a2) has been added to a propylene-based polymer (a1), the biaxially oriented polypropylene film substrate layer (B) has a front surface layer and a back surface layer on its both sides, both layers are made from the propylene-based polymer (a1), wherein the surface roughness (three-dimensional center-line roughness SRa) of the front and the back surface layers is less than 0.08 ?m and the gloss value (at an incidence angle of 60 degrees) is 114% or greater, and the total light transmittance of the laminated polypropylene film is 20% or less and the density is in the range of 0.40 to 0.65 g/cm3.

Abstract: A thermal transfer receiving sheet in which at least a low-density layer, barrier layer and image receiving layer are sequentially laminated on one side of a sheet-like support, wherein the low-density layer contains hollow particles, a hydrophobic resin adhesive and a hydrophilic resin adhesive, the hydrophobic resin adhesive is at least one type selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid ester-acrylonitrile copolymer, methacrylic acid ester-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer, styrene-butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer and polybutadiene, the glass transition temperature in accordance with JIS K 7121 is between ?90 and 10° C., and the weight ratio between the hydrophobic resin adhesive and the hydrophilic resin adhesive is between 95/5 and 65/35.

Abstract: Disclosed is a horizontal transfer line in which first horizontal transfer pulses are applied to transfer electrodes via a commonly connected electrode line, second horizontal transfer pulses are applied to transfer electrodes via a commonly connected electrode line, and final horizontal transfer pulses are applied to a final transfer electrode via an electrode line independent of the above-mentioned electrode lines. Since the independent electrode line is independent of the other electrode lines, amount of capacitance produced in equivalent terms is reduced. The final transfer pulses exhibit a steep characteristic, thereby improving transfer efficiency. The input/output characteristic of the horizontal transfer line is improved as a result.

Abstract: There is provided a thermal transfer receiving sheet comprising a sheet-like support and an image receiving layer formed on at least one side of the sheet-like support, wherein the image receiving layer contains a polyester resin with a branched structure obtained by polycondensation of a polyhydric carboxylic acid component and a polyhydric alcohol component, and 30-75 mol % of the polyhydric carboxylic acid component is an aromatic dicarboxylic acid while 15-60 mol % is an alicyclic dicarboxylic acid.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging element contains a plurality of photoelectric converting regions, vertical transfer portions, a horizontal transfer portion, and an output portion. These photoelectric converting regions are arranged on a surface of a semiconductor substrate along a row direction, and a column direction perpendicular to the row direction. The photoelectric converting regions are subdivided into main regions “m” having relatively wide light-receiving areas, and sub-regions “s” having relatively narrow light-receiving areas. These main areas “m” and sub-areas “s” produce signal electron charges corresponding to light having predetermined spectral sensitivities, and then store the produced signal electron charges. A partial photoelectric converting region within the photoelectric converting regions corresponds to different color light with respect to the main region “m” and the subregion “s.

Abstract: In a solid-state image pickup apparatus, a solid-state image sensor includes a color filter having filter segments arranged in a pattern, photosensitive cells for photoelectrically transducing light transmitted through the filter segments to generate corresponding signal charges, vertical transfer devices for vertically transferring the signal charges, a horizontal transfer device for transferring the signal charges input from the vertical transfer devices in the horizontal direction, and a charge holding circuit intervening between the vertical and horizontal transfer devices for temporarily storing the signal charges. A signal charge thinning circuit omits signal charges whose color pattern, which is generated by mixing signal charges having the same color attribute in the direction of row in the filter pattern to thereby horizontally thin the signal charges, is different in positional relation from the filter pattern.

Abstract: In a solid-state image pickup apparatus, a solid-state image sensor includes a color filter having filter segments arranged in a pattern, photosensitive cells for photoelectrically transducing light transmitted through the filter segments to generate corresponding signal charges, vertical transfer devices for vertically transferring the signal charges, a horizontal transfer device for transferring the signal charges input from the vertical transfer devices in the horizontal direction, and a charge holding circuit intervening between the vertical and horizontal transfer devices for temporarily storing the signal charges. A signal charge thinning circuit omits signal charges whose color pattern, which is generated by mixing signal charges having the same color attribute in the direction of row in the filter pattern to thereby horizontally thin the signal charges, is different in positional relation from the filter pattern.

Abstract: A digital camera that captures object light by a CCD to create an image signal includes a read controller that controls reading of light signals from at least two fields of the CCD, in which a field, from which a light signal received by an R-sensor sensitive to red light is read, is separated from a field from which a light signal received by a B-sensor sensitive to blue light is read. The read controller includes: a color temperature discriminating section that discriminates a color temperature based on the light signals received from the CCD; and a read sequence controller that causes a light signal to be read first from the R-sensor when a color temperature is low and causes a light signal to be read first from the B-sensor when the color temperature is high according to a result of discrimination of the color temperature discriminating section.

Abstract: Voltage signals outputted from a CCD are subjected to correlated double sampling processing by a correlated double sampling circuit (CDS), after which digital gain processing is carried out at a gain control amplifier (GCA). A gain difference between G color signals and R/B color signals outputted from the CCD is caused by a difference between a G exposure duration tG and an R/B exposure duration tR/B. When the value of a ratio between the tG and the tR/B falls below a predetermined value, the GCA applies digital gain for compensating for the gain difference by multiplying respective signal values of R, G and B by gain correction coefficients as follows: (gain compensation coefficient ?)=(G exposure duration tG)/(R/B exposure duration tR/B)=(G exposure duration tG)/((G exposure duration tG)+(exposure duration difference ?t)).

Abstract: An electronic flash device and a camera which can smoothly display a video even though preliminary emission for red-eye reduction in photographing the video are obtained. A timing generator generates a preliminary emission signal such that preliminary emission for red-eye reduction by a light emitting tube is performed in a period of operation of an electronic shutter arranged in an interline CCD to input the preliminary emission signal to a trigger circuit. The timing generator sets a period in which the preliminary emission signal is set at an active level as a period corresponding to a cycle between the edge of a pulse of a transfer gate signal serving as for transferring signal charges from a light-receiving element of the CCD to a vertical transfer path and the edge of a pulse of an overflow drain signal representing a timing at which excess charges are drained by an overflow drain of the CCD.

Abstract: The electronic camera, and image display method and image recording method applied thereto are capable of eliminating discontinuity in moving image caused by a camera control such as interruption by still image recording in moving image capturing and aperture switching. With respect to the period during which the capturing of the image data of moving image is interrupted, an image picked-up immediately before the interruption is repeatedly displayed or recorded. As to the moving image recording, supplementary recording for non-recording period may be performed afterward by utilizing an image immediately after resuming the reading of movie image. Moreover, display of non-image screen (“non-display”), recording of black screen (“black recording”) or display or recording of a special image can be inserted if necessary, thus giving an impression that the shutter is clicked.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging element that can prevent misappropriation by a third party, an imaging device disposed with the imaging element, and a method of deterring misappropriation of the imaging element. In a CCD (imaging element) disposed with plural photodiodes for breaking down an image into plural pixels to generate image information representing the image and an OB portion (optical black portion) that shields a partial region of a light-receiving region corresponding to the plural photodiodes in order to determine an output level when the image is black, an opening for guiding light to the photodiodes is disposed at a predetermined position in the OB portion.

Abstract: A thermal transfer receiving sheet comprising a sheet-form substrate and a receiving layer having as a main component thereof a dye-dyeable resin formed on at least one side of said sheet-form substrate; wherein the receiving layer contains cellulose acetate butyrate and polyester resin having a number average molecular weight up to 10,000.

Abstract: A driving device is adapted to drive a driven member, and includes a driving member, and a linear shape memory alloy (SMA) actuator. The driving member has a displacement output portion which is movable in a first axis direction, and a displacement input portion for moving the displacement output portion in the first axis direction in response to an application of a moving force in a second axis direction orthogonal to the first axis direction. The driving member is engaged with the driven member at the displacement output portion. The SMA actuator is disposed in contact with the driving member at least at the displacement input portion to apply the moving force to the displacement input portion.

Abstract: Intentionally defective pixels, whose number exceeds a storage capacity of a memory for defect correction, are formed in a predetermined pattern in an image pickup device. There is a plurality of patterns of the defective pixels, each being unique to each camera (image pickup device). An ID of the camera for specifying the pattern is read and defect pattern data corresponding to the ID of the camera is retrieved. Image data is read and the intentionally defective pixels are corrected based on the retrieved defect pattern data. Since the number of the intentionally defective pixels exceeds the storage capacity of the memory for defect correction, the image data cannot be reproduced in a normal manner when the defect pattern data corresponding to the pattern of the intentionally defective pixels cannot be retrieved. Thus, the image pickup device of the camera cannot be used in another image pickup apparatus by a third party.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus with a timing generator supplying an imaging device with drive pulses. The timing generator has registers for independently storing information required for generating a pulse pattern for the imaging device. A selector selects one of the registers to connect it to a pulse generator. Based on the information stored in the selected register, the pulse generator generates pulses of a pulse pattern for the imaging device. External control circuitry rewrites the information stored in an unselected register from the outside of the timing generator. By repeating the steps of selecting one of the registers and rewriting the information stored in the unselected register, drive pulses with various pulse patterns can be supplied to the imaging device.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup apparatus includes a timing signal generator for generating timing signals. Particular gates formed in each of photosensitive cells arranged in an image pickup section are driven independently or simultaneously in response to the timing signals. In an independent drive mode, outputs each having particular sensitivity are obtained from the different photosensitive regions of the individual cell by one time of exposure, covering a range of sensitivity as broad as one achievable with repeated photometry. This reduces the number of times of photometry for determining adequate exposure. In a simultaneous drive mode, outputs are produced in the usual manner. An exposure value calculator converts the resulting image signals to values having a predetermined format while an exposure parameter determining section determines exposure parameters if those values are adequate.

Abstract: An image processing part performs image processing for processing signals outputted from an imaging device, and the image processing includes deficient pixel correction, optical black and white balance. Image data obtained at one of middle stages of the image processing is stored in an external storage medium. At this time, information indicating which middle stage the one is (image processing information) is stored in the external storage medium with the image data. The image processing information is stored in a file in which the image data is stored, or it is stored in another file.

Abstract: A first frame has a U-shaped cross section and includes first and second bent portions, and an X-axis actuator is mounted at a specified position of the outer surface of the first bent portion. A second frame has a U-shaped cross section and includes first and second bent portions, and a Y-axis actuator is mounted at a specified position of the outer surface of the first bent portion. A Z-axis actuator is mounted at a suitable position of one end surface of an image pickup unit with respect to X-axis direction. The second frame is disposed between the first and second bent portions of the first frame, and the image pickup unit is disposed between the first and second bent portions of the second frame. The image pickup unit is made movable along three axial directions by the respective actuators.

Abstract: An image pickup device wherein the range in the amount of incident light (dynamic range) for obtaining an appropriate image can be expanded, and shutter and aperture functions are provided. A light shielding element for light shielding a photoelectric conversion section and an actuator for driving the light shielding element are provided on the pixel of the image pickup device using the MEMS technology, and the amount of light shielding is controlled for each pixel, whereby the dynamic range is expanded, and shutter and aperture functions are also provided.