Abstract: A first LUT composed of table values of brightness of N subjects determined in such a manner that the integrated value is made to be constant and a second LUT composed of table values of N charge storage time periods corresponding to the table values of the brightness of the N subjects are provided. When an image has been picked up with charge storage time at an n-th address in the second LUT, integrated value &Sgr; obtained by the calculating means 6 is divided by the n-th charge storage time S so that the brightness L of the subject is calculated. The charge storage time S corresponding to the calculated brightness L of the subject is selected from the first and second LUT so that exposure is controlled.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a solid-state imaging device, an accumulating section, first and second imaging parameter setting sections, a calculating section, a flicker detecting section, and a switching section. The accumulating section calculates a projection output value of a predetermined line in a frame. The calculating section calculates inter-frame variations of the projection output values, and calculates a flicker index from the variations of a predetermined number of frames. The flicker detecting section detects the flicker from the index, and controls the switching section in response to the detection result of the flicker, so that the switching section selects either the setting signals from the first imaging parameter setting section or the setting signals from the second imaging parameter setting section.

Abstract: A process is provided for developing and converting a lookup table (hereinafter called a “LUT”) composed of only characteristic points of the characteristic of a color device and having a volume smaller than that of a multidimensional LUT into a multidimensional LUT by a table development process. Image data converting means uses the multidimensional LUT to convert input image data into output image data. Thus, an effect can be obtained in that a color management apparatus can be operated with only the LUT composed of only characteristic points of the characteristic of the device and having a small volume.

Abstract: A reproducible color gamut compression apparatus includes: a target reproducible color gamut computing unit for computing a target reproducible color gamut; a compression ratio computing unit for computing a compression ratio, based on reproducible color gamuts of display devices and on the target reproducible color gamut; a compression method determination information acquiring unit for acquiring information used to determine a compression method; a compression method determining unit for determining a method of compressing a source reproducible color gamut, based on the compression method determination information; and a reproducible color gamut compressing means for converting the source reproducible color gamut into the target reproducible color gamut, using the determined compression method.

Abstract: A process is provided for developing and converting a lookup table (hereinafter called a “LUT”) composed of only characteristic points of the characteristic of a color device and having a volume smaller than that of a multidimensional LUT into a multidimensional LUT by a table development process. Image data converting means uses the multidimensional LUT to convert input image data into output image data. Thus, an effect can be obtained in that a color management apparatus can be operated with only the LUT composed of only characteristic points of the characteristic of the device and having a small volume.

Abstract: Encoding efficiency is enhanced by actively combining a plurality of encoding methods. A picture element memory receives and stores picture elements within a predetermined range. A mode determinator selects an encoding mode based upon a reference picture element. A first encoding section and a second encoding section predicts the value of the encoded picture element, determines whether the prediction is correct, and then encodes the value of the encoding picture element based on the determination result and outputs a codeword for the encoding picture element. An encoding controller selectively operates the first encoding section and the second encoding section based upon one of the specific encoding modes and the other encoding mode other than the specific encoding mode selected by the mode determinator.

Abstract: Output signals of a predetermined number of pixels composed of a plurality of color components intermixed are rearranged into a set of unit blocks, each composed of output signal components of the same color, then the thus rearranged image signals are encoded into fixed-length codes for each unit block, then the image signals thus encoded into fixed-length codes are stored in a coded image memory, then the image signals stored therein are read out and decoded into fixed-length form for each unit block, and the decoded image signals are reversely rearranged to restore the original signals, which are stored in a frame memory.

Abstract: A line buffer device temporarily stores a predetermined area of original image data which are divided into small blocks, each having a small area, so as to encode the image data for each block into data having a fixed length by a compression processor. The line buffer device is composed of a first-stage line buffer group and a second-stage line buffer group. The number of line buffers in the first-stage line buffer group is smaller by one than the number of lines constituting one block and the number of line buffers in the second-stage line buffer group is the same as the number of lines constituting one block. Encoding processing time is shortened and the circuit structure is simplified.

Abstract: In an image display device for receiving and displaying image data, color converter converts the image data on the basis of conversion characteristics data stored in a conversion characteristics storage. The conversion characteristics designation means including means for designating the hue of the colors outputs the conversion characteristics designation data, and conversion characteristics setting means calculates the conversion characteristics data on the basis of the conversion characteristics designation data, and sets the conversion characteristics data in the conversion characteristics storage. The color converter comprises a calculation term generator for receiving the first image data, and outputting calculation terms which are effective just for the specific hues; and a matrix calculator performing matrix calculation using the calculation terms effective just for the specific hues. The user can adjust just the hue of the desired color.

Abstract: In an image display device for receiving and displaying image data, color converter converts the image data on the basis of conversion characteristics data stored in a conversion characteristics storage. The conversion characteristics designation means including means for designating the chroma of the colors outputs the conversion characteristics designation data, and conversion characteristics setting means calculates the conversion characteristics data on the basis of the conversion characteristics designation data, and sets the conversion characteristics data in the conversion characteristics storage. The color converter comprises a calculation term generator for receiving the first image data, and outputting calculation terms which are effective just for the specific hues; and a matrix calculator performing matrix calculation using the calculation terms effective just for the specific hues. The user can adjust just the chroma of the desired color.

Abstract: By combining a plurality of encoding methods actively, an encoding efficiency is enhanced. The first encoder encodes a result of determination whether a prediction error is zero or not. The second encoder encodes the prediction error unless the prediction error is zero. The third encoder encodes the prediction error regardless of whether the prediction error is zero or not. The mode determinator determines the encoding mode, and the encoding controller selectively operates the first encoder, the second encoder, and the third encoder according to the encoding mode determined.

Abstract: In an electronic still camera, a compression coefficient estimating unit performs preencoding using only an LA component of FBTC compressed data read from an image memory, and estimates an optimal compression ratio based on the result of preencoding. Thereafter, JPEG encoder performs JPEG compression on the image data applied from FBTC decoder with the estimated compression coefficient, and transfers the result to a recording apparatus. As compared with the prior art in which image data is directly preencoded, the time for preencoding can be significantly reduced and image memory requires smaller capacity.

Abstract: When image data of the first line is input, compressor 102 compresses the input image data by every prescribed number of pixels corresponding to the number of pixels included in column direction of one block, and the compressed data is stored in the corresponding region of a memory 104, under the control of control circuit 108. For the second and following lines, the compressed data of the last line which has been compressed and stored in the memory 104 and the input data are received by the compressor 102, and the compressor 102 integrates and compresses the received data, and the compressed result is stored in the corresponding memory region of the memory 104.

Abstract: A power source circuit includes switch for connecting and disconnecting a power source to and from a circuit proper; stabilizing means for suppressing a variation of an input voltage to stabilize the input voltage; voltage increasing means for increasing the input voltage in amplitude; switching means for controlling a voltage increasing operation; rectifying means for rectifying a switching waveform; smoothing means for smoothing a rectified waveform; and control means for controlling an output voltage to be constant in amplitude. In the power source circuit, the start of operating the power source circuit is delayed behind the start of supplying electric power. Therefore, it is prevent a power source circuit from failing to operate under the condition that a power source of a large internal resistance is coupled thereto, and the rush current, for example, causes the power source voltage drop.

Abstract: A line buffer device temporarily stores a predetermined area of original image data which are divided into small blocks, each having a small area, so as to encode the image data for each block into data having a fixed length by a compression processor. The line buffer device is composed of a first-stage line buffer group and a second-stage line buffer group. The number of line buffers in the first-stage line buffer group is smaller by one than the number of lines constituting one block and the number of line buffers in the second-stage line buffer group is the same as the number of lines constituting one block. Encoding processing time is shortened and the circuit structure is simplified.

Abstract: A line buffer device temporarily stores a predetermined area of original image data which are divided into small blocks, each having a small area, so as to encode the image data for each block into data having a fixed length by a compression processor. The line buffer device is composed of a first-stage line buffer group and a second-stage line buffer group. The number of line buffers in the first-stage line buffer group is smaller by one than the number of lines constituting one block and the number of line buffers in the second-stage line buffer group is the same as the number of lines constituting one block. Encoding processing time is shortened and the circuit structure is simplified.

Abstract: In an image processor using image data compression coding of a fixed compression rate, the data of one color of image data is stored in a coding memory without coding, if compression coding is not necessary. If the compression coding is necessary, the data is coded by an encoder by compression coding with a compression rate of 4, and the coded data of four colors, i.e. cyan, magenta, yellow and black, are stored in the coding memory. Since the image data is compressed by a fixed compression rate, it is possible to estimate the quantity of data after compression. As a result, the coding memory can be used effectively, without using a fixed disc unit.

Abstract: An image processing device comprises an encoder for encoding inputted image data in the form of fixed length compression. The encoded data encoded in the form of the fixed length compression by the encoder is stored in a hard disk through an encoded data buffer which is a toggle buffer. Accordingly, the image data can be stored in the hard disk at a constant speed, and a capacity of the encoded data buffer can be minimized since the data amount after data compression is decided. As a result, it is not necessary to provide a semiconductor memory corresponding to storage of one screen, so that a low cost image processing device is obtained.

Abstract: A rewritable recording/display apparatus using a rewritable recording medium in which color development reaction occurs by thermal energy at a predetermined temperature, and in which a color extinguishing reaction occurs by thermal energy at a temperature lower than the color development temperature, and which is capable of repeatingly performing recording and erasing of images. The apparatus also has a color developing heating device for recording an image on the rewritable recording medium by heating the rewritable recording medium, and an erasing heating device for erasing the image after the image has been recorded. Thus, the apparatus is designed so as to have a recording section simplified and reduced in size, and to reduce the maintenance and running cost. A method of erasing a rewritable record enables images to be erased completely or suitably in terms of practice and enables formation of high-quality image after erasing of the previous image.