Abstract: An electronic camera apparatus reads out, from an image sensing device, an image signal which represents a color image constructed by a number of pixels to which predetermined colors are assigned and has pieces of luminance information with analog values representing luminances of the pixels, the luminance information being discrete on a time axis, and generates a desired image from the image signal. The apparatus has a luminance correction section.

Abstract: According to a template matching method, a matching value representing matching between a process area image and a target image is calculated by using the process area image in an arbitrary process area acquired from the edge image of an input image and template data representing the shape feature of the target image. The area of the target image in the input image is specified on the basis of the matching value. The template data is formed from positive points representing positions at which the edge of the target image exists in the process area and negative points representing positions at which no edge exists in the process area. The matching value is calculated in accordance with the positional relationship between the positive points, the negative points, and each edge present within the process area image. A target image area extraction apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An image photographing apparatus for storing interleaved data having a number of discrete analog values which is output from an image sensing section and digitized by an A/D conversion section includes an analog semiconductor memory device and a control section. The analog semiconductor memory device stores the interleaved data from the image sensing section as analog data. The control section writes the interleaved data output from the image sensing section upon photographing in the analog semiconductor memory device, reads out the written interleaved data from the analog semiconductor memory device, and outputs the data to the A/D conversion section.

Abstract: In a card type semiconductor memory device, at least one memory chip for storing a still image and a connector having a number of signal lines for transferring various signals between the memory chip and a host device are mounted on a card-like substrate. The memory chip includes a memory section and a signal processing section. The memory section includes analog nonvolatile semiconductor memories for sequentially storing, as analog values, color interleaved analog image signals having analog luminance information of predetermined colors in units of pixels in synchronism with a predetermined clock signal. The signal processing section calculates, as analog values, the luminance information at a plurality of pixel positions, which are read out from the memory section, to convert the luminance information into color image data having analog luminance information of the respective colors in units of pixels and outputs the color image data.

Abstract: An electronic image sensing apparatus for photoeletrically converting an optical image in an image sensing unit, processing the resultant analog image sensing data, and recording, displaying, outputting, or externally outputting the processed image sensing data includes an analog semiconductor memory, a processor, and a luminance distribution adjustment unit. The analog semiconductor memory temporarily stores the image sensing data from the image sensing unit in the form of an analog value. The processor generates adjustment information for adjusting a luminance distribution of the entire image sensing data on the basis of luminance information of the image sensing data read out from the analog semiconductor memory. The luminance distribution adjustment unit adjusts the luminance distribution of the entire image sensing data from the analog semiconductor memory on the basis of the adjustment information generated by the processor.

Abstract: In a data compression method of sequentially sampling an analog input signal at discrete sample points, and classifying a plurality of obtained sample values into a plurality of sections, a sampling string made up of sample values included in each section is set as the first sampling string. A function which takes a sample value at a predetermined sample point included in the first sampling string and is approximated to the first sampling string is generated. A parameter defining the function is output as an element of compressed data. A second sampling string made up of sample values obtained at respective sample points by the function is generated. Predetermined calculation is performed between two sample values at identical sample points in the first and second sampling strings for each section to calculate a new sample value, thereby creating a third sampling string in which a new sample value at an arbitrary sample point is 0.

Abstract: In a card type semiconductor memory device, a plurality of memory chips each of which stores, as analog values, a still image formed from a color interleaved analog image signal using analog nonvolatile semiconductor memories for writing/reading color interleaved analog image signals having analog luminance information of predetermined colors in units of pixels, and a connector for connecting a number of signal lines for transferring various signals between the memory chips and a host device to the host device side are arranged on a card-like substrate. An analog signal line group from each memory chip is separated from a digital signal line group on the substrate via a separation strip formed from a wide conductive pattern, and concentratedly laid out at positions of the connector, which are separated from the digital signal line group. In each memory chip, terminals for analog signals are concentrated to a terminal array provided on a predetermined side of the chip package.