Abstract: An image generation method in an imaging apparatus that includes a plurality of pixels, includes: performing a first imaging operation of capturing an image when each of the plurality of pixels is shielded from light, in a state in which a reference signal level in the first imaging operation is set to a first offset value; and generating first image data based on a first pixel signal obtained by the first imaging operation. The first offset value is higher than a second offset value that is a reference signal level in a second imaging operation of capturing an image in a state in which light is incident on each of the plurality of pixels.

Abstract: An image generation method in an imaging apparatus that includes a plurality of pixels, includes: performing a first imaging operation of capturing an image when each of the plurality of pixels is shielded from light, in a state in which a reference signal level in the first imaging operation is set to a first offset value; and generating first image data based on a first pixel signal obtained by the first imaging operation. The first offset value is higher than a second offset value that is a reference signal level in a second imaging operation of capturing an image in a state in which light is incident on each of the plurality of pixels.

Abstract: A imaging device (10) includes an imaging section (101) for imaging a subject at either one of a first period (high speed) and a second period (ordinary speed) of longer than the first period, an operating section (110) for setting the imaging period of the imaging section, a storing section (105) for storing the video signal imaged at the first period, a converting section (104) for converting the video signal of the first period imaged by the imaging section into a video signal of the second period, a recording section (107) for recording therein the video signal from the converting section or the storing section with the recorded video signal divided and managed in a plurality of reproducing regions, and a reproduction sequence generating section (112) for generating a reproduction sequence signal showing the reproduction sequence of each reproducing region of the video signal recorded in the recording section.

Abstract: An imaging device is provided that comprises a movement detection component configured to detect movement of the imaging device based on a force imparted to the imaging device, an imaging component configured to produce image data by capturing a subject image, a movement vector detection component configured to detect a movement vector based on a plurality of sets of image data produced by the imaging component, and a three-dimensional NR component configured to reduce a noise included in first image data produced by the imaging component, based on second image data produced earlier than the first image data, wherein the three-dimensional NR component is configured to decide whether to correct the second image data in response to the detection result of the movement vector detection component, based on both the detection result of the movement detection component and the detection result of the movement vector detection component.

Abstract: A stereoscopic shooting device includes: a first and second shooting sections that obtain a first and second images, respectively; and an angle of view matching section. The angle of view matching section performs: calculating a vertical image area of the second image that has the same vertical direction range as the first image by comparing ratios of the vertical coordinates of respective representative points in image blocks selected from the first and second images, respectively; adjusting the number of horizontal lines included in the vertical image area of the second image and the number of horizontal lines included in the first image; outputting a first and second horizontal line signals representing the horizontal lines included in the first image and the vertical image area of the second image, respectively; and carrying out stereo matching by comparing the first and second horizontal line signals to each other.

Abstract: The image capture device of this invention includes: an optical system for producing a subject image; an imager, which receives the subject image and outputs an image signal representing the subject image; and an image processing section for zooming in on, or out, a given image based on the image signal and in accordance with information about a zoom power specified, to generate a new image signal with the zoom power changed. Until the zoom power specified reaches a predetermined value, the processing section zooms in on the image by interpolating pixels so that degree of sharpness given to the image increases. If a value representing illuminance of the image is a predefined value or more and if the zoom power is the predetermined value or more, the processing section fixes the degree of sharpness given to the image.

Abstract: An imaging device is provided that comprises a movement detection component configured to detect movement of the imaging device based on a force imparted to the imaging device, an imaging component configured to produce image data by capturing a subject image, a movement vector detection component configured to detect a movement vector based on a plurality of sets of image data produced by the imaging component, and a three-dimensional NR component configured to reduce a noise included in first image data produced by the imaging component, based on second image data produced earlier than the first image data, wherein the three-dimensional NR component is configured to decide whether to correct the second image data in response to the detection result of the movement vector detection component, based on both the detection result of the movement detection component and the detection result of the movement vector detection component.

Abstract: The image capture device of this invention includes: an optical system for producing a subject image; an imager, which receives the subject image and outputs an image signal representing the subject image; and an image processing section for zooming in on, or out, a given image based on the image signal and in accordance with information about a zoom power specified, to generate a new image signal with the zoom power changed. Until the zoom power specified reaches a predetermined value, the processing section zooms in on the image by interpolating pixels so that degree of sharpness given to the image increases. If a value representing illuminance of the image is a predefined value or more and if the zoom power is the predetermined value or more, the processing section fixes the degree of sharpness given to the image.

Abstract: A imaging device (10) includes an imaging section (101) for imaging a subject at either one of a first period (high speed) and a second period (ordinary speed) of longer than the first period, an operating section (110) for setting the imaging period of the imaging section, a storing section (105) for storing the video signal imaged at the first period, a converting section (104) for converting the video signal of the first period iamged by the imaging section into a video signal of the second period, a recording section (107) for recording therein the video signal from the converting section or the storing section with the recorded video signal divided and managed in a plurality of reproducing regions, and a reproduction sequence generating section (112) for generating a reproduction sequence signal showing the reproduction sequence of each reproducing region of the video signal recorded in the recording section.

Abstract: A conventional three-dimensional noise reducing device is defective in that after-image degradation increases when effective noise reduction is performed on a signal whose noise level has been increased by signal amplification.

Abstract: An image pickup device includes a horizontal inversion section 6 for horizontally inverting at least a third one of first to third pixels signals to be outputted from individual CCD units 2a to 2c corresponding to R, G, and B, and a CCD actuation control section 9 capable of controlling the first to third CCD units 2a to 2c so that pixels, 2n+1 (n=0, 1, 2, . . . ) in each set, in a horizontal direction are subjected to the pixels addition set by set. The CCD actuation control section 9 performs control such that the second pixel signal is subjected to the pixel addition at timings delayed by n pixels with respect to timings for the first pixel signal, and the third pixel signal is subjected to the pixel addition at timings delayed by n pixels with respect to the timings for the second pixel signal. With this image pickup device, a high-sensitivity image can be obtained with the resolution impairment being suppressed.

Abstract: A noise reduction apparatus with simultaneous processing for allowing Simultaneous processing of image signals of a portion containing a noise processing object pixel to be inputted, wherein the image signals are existing at Spatially different locations or the image signals are contained in fields or frames at different times. A filtering is performed by low pass filter. A noise component extractor extracts noise components based upon outputs of the filter operation and noise attenuation means of attenuating noise using outputs of the noise components extraction means with respect to the noise processing object pixel within the outputs of the simultaneous processing means.

Abstract: An image sensing device free from change in the angle of view between taking moving picture and taking still picture, small in power consumption in moving picture taking, and small in sensitivity drop if the size of the optical system is the same. The image sensing means has exclusive image sensing elements for red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and the three image sensing elements are disposed by shifting the pixels obliquely. Luminance signal generating means generates a first luminance signal of which number of pixels in the horizontal direction is 2 times that of the image sensing device for G, and generates a second luminance signal of which number of pixels in the horizontal direction is 2 times that of the image sensing device for G. Sampling frequency converting means decreases the sampling frequency at a specific ratio, and generates as a third luminance signal. Second memory means stores the first luminance signal and second luminance signal, and issues them alternately in every line.

Abstract: A conventional three-dimensional noise reducing device is defective in that after-image degradation increases when effective noise reduction is performed on a signal whose noise level has been increased by signal amplification.

Abstract: A vehicle rental managing device, a vehicle rental reservation terminal, a vehicle rental managing system, and a vehicle rental managing method for managing vehicles to be lent to users, which are suitable for enhancing the use of vehicles from a port having an excess number to a port having a deficient number of the vehicles in order to eliminate maldistribution of the vehicles. The vehicle rental managing unit includes a vehicle excess-deficiency determination unit which determines an excess or deficient number of the vehicles at the ports by accessing rental circumstances of the vehicles, and a fee setting unit which sets a fee smaller than a normal for a use of the vehicles being lent from a port determined to have an excess number of the vehicles, or for a use of the vehicles to be returned to a port determined to have a deficient number.

Abstract: A noise reduction apparatus, has

Abstract: A light guide plate which can achieve improvement of back-lighting or front-lighting luminance without increase of luminance of a light source, and a liquid crystal display device using such a light guide plate. A large number of concave small dots are formed in a surface of the light guide plate opposite to a light emitting surface of the light guide plate which emits light to a liquid crystal cell array so that light incident on the light guide plate from the light source is reflected at the concave small dots in the direction toward the light emitting surface of the light guide plate.

Abstract: A reflection type liquid-crystal in which a light guide plate is in tight contact with a liquid-crystal display element having a reflecting layer through a bonding layer with refractive index in a range of from 1.40 to 1.55 and whole light transmittivity in a range of not less than 90%, the light guide plate being designed so that incident light from an incidence side surface is emitted from a lower surface through prismatic irregularities formed on an upper surface, and the light emitted from the lower surface takes maximum intensity at an angle of 30 degrees or less with respect to a normal to a plane of the lower surface, while maximum intensity of leakage light from the upper surface at that angle is not larger than ⅕ of the maximum intensity in the lower surface, and incident light from the lower surface is transmitted from the upper surface.

Abstract: An image sensing device free from change in the angle of view between taking moving picture and taking still picture, small in power consumption in moving picture taking, and small in sensitivity drop if the size of the optical system is the same. The image sensing means has exclusive image sensing elements for red (R), green (G), and blue (B), and the three image sensing elements are disposed by shifting the pixels obliquely. Luminance signal generating means generates a first luminance signal of which number of pixels in the horizontal direction is 2 times that of the image sensing device for G, and generates a second luminance signal of which number of pixels in the horizontal direction is 2 times that of the image sensing device for G. Sampling frequency converting means decreases the sampling frequency at a specific ratio, and generates as a third luminance signal. Second memory means stores the first luminance signal and second luminance signal, and issues them alternately in every line.

Abstract: A light guide plate in which the light incident on an entrance end surface is allowed to emerge from a bottom surface view a light issuing means formed on a top surface, with the direction of maximum intensity of the emerging light as measured in a plane perpendicular to the two reference planes defined by said entrance end surface and said bottom surface being within 30 degrees from the line normal to said bottom surface and wherein when the direction toward the entrance end surface away from said normal line taken as the reference is assumed to be negative, the intensity of the light leaking from the top surface at the same angle as the direction of said maximum intensity is no more than a tenth of said maximum intensity, with the incident light from the bottom surface being transmitted through the top surface; a planer light source unit having a light source adjacent the entrance end surface of the light guide plate; and a reflection-type liquid-crystal display device having a reflective layer furnished, l