Abstract: Video camera which emphasizes an outline of a video signal produced thereby. A detail signal of a video image represented by the video signal is generated and which represents a vertical outline emphasis signal. Edges of the video image and burst-like portions of the video signal are detected, and an edge detection signal is generated that corresponds in one manner to the detected edges and that corresponds in another manner to the detected burst portions. The detail signal is adjusted by the edge detection signal or by a cross color suppression signal generated from the vertical outline emphasis signal. The video signal then is modified by the adjusted detail signal so as to produce the outline emphasized video signal. The detail signal may also be adjusted by a gain setting signal that corresponds to the vertical outline emphasis signal and which is compressed in level when the vertical outline emphasis signal is relatively low.

Abstract: In a time axis converting section 10, time axis conversion processing of 4/3 times is implemented to a digital picture signal of a first data rate indicating an image of a first aspect ratio (16:9) to thereby generate a digital picture signal of a second data rate indicating an image of a second aspect ratio (4:3). In a data rate converting section 20, data rate conversion processing of conversion ratio of 3:4 is implemented to the digital picture signal of the second data rate to thereby generate, from the digital picture signal of the first data rate indicating the image of the first aspect ratio (16:9), a digital picture signal of a first data rate indicating the image of the second aspect ratio (4:3).

Abstract: In a time axis converting section 10, time axis conversion processing of 4/3 times is implemented to a digital picture signal of a first data rate indicating an image of a first aspect ratio (16:9) to thereby generate a digital picture signal of a second data rate indicating an image of a second aspect ratio (4:3). In a data rate converting section 20, data rate conversion processing of conversion ratio of 3:4 is implemented to the digital picture signal of the second data rate to thereby generate, from the digital picture signal of the first data rate indicating the image of the first aspect ratio (16:9), a digital picture signal of a first data rate indicating the image of the second aspect ratio (4:3).

Abstract: A digital filter for picture data is disclosed which has a first low-pass filter having relatively steep cut-off characteristics for filtering input digital picture data, a second low-pass filter having relatively moderate cut-off characteristics for filtering input digital picture data, a mixing unit for mixing digital picture data filtered by the first and second low-pass filters, a step detecting unit for detecting changes in step-like values of the input picture data, and a control unit for controlling the mixing ratio of the digital picture data from the first and second low-pass filters by the mixing unit based on step detection outputs of the step detection unit. There is also provided a digital filter system for color picture data having the digital filter for each color.

Abstract: A solid-state image pickup apparatus for generating image pickup signals produced by a solid-state image sensor. The image sensor is driven at a data rate of f.sub.s1 with a predetermined phase. Digital luminance signal Y and two digital chrominance signals C.sub.R, C.sub.B are generated by a first digital processing unit, operated at a clock rate related to the data rate of f.sub.s1, from the digitized image pickup signals. These signals are then converted by a second digital processing unit into signals Y, C.sub.R and C.sub.B having a data rate related to f.sub.s2. The second digital processing unit performs bandwidth limitations on these signals by a half band filter having a passband f.sub.s2, f.sub.s2 /2 and f.sub.s2 /2 and performs data rate conversion of from 2f.sub.s1 to f.sub.s2, from f.sub.s1 to f.sub.s2 /2 or f.sub.s2 /4 and from f.sub.s1 to f.sub.s2 /2 or f.sub.

Abstract: A rate converter for converting data rate is adapted to hold, at an output clock rate, by using a plurality of latch circuits, respective signals from the output stages of a shift register operative at an input clock rate to multiply, at the output clock rate by using a plurality of multipliers, held signals from the latch circuits by filter coefficients that a plurality of coefficient generators sequentially generate to add the multiplied outputs by using an adder to provide a rate converted output signal. Thus, this rate converter makes it possible to carry out rate conversion by a single digital filter without necessity of digital filters operative at a clock rate of the least common multiple of the input clock rate and the output clock rate.

Abstract: In an image pick up device, signal level of red, green and blue color signals is coarsely adjusted in a signal processing circuit, and then a black level of video signal is finely adjusted in a digital signal processing circuit, thereby being capable of easily adjusting the black level and improving the accuracy of black level adjustment.

Abstract: Bi-directional rate converting apparatus up-converts a digital signal having a clock rate f.sub.B to a digital signal having a clock rate f.sub.A and also down-converts a digital signal having a clock rate f.sub.A to a digital signal having the clock rate f.sub.B. The digital signal having the clock rate f.sub.B is interpolated to produce a signal having the clock rate f.sub.A which is supplied to a filter during up-conversion. The digital signal having the clock rate f.sub.A is supplied to the filter during down-conversion, which after being filtered is thinned to produce a digital signal having the clock rate f.sub.B. The digital signal supplied to the filter is filtered in accordance with a frequency characteristic which has "0" points at frequencies of (f.sub.C /M)*x, where x equals an integer value from 1 to (M-1), and which also has "0" points at frequencies of (f.sub.C /L)*y, where y equals an integer value from 1 to (L-1). The value f.sub.C being the least common multiple of f.sub.A and f.sub.

Abstract: In a video camera having three image pickup devices in which a pixel of one channel of channels forming three primary colors is spatially displaced from other pixels of two channels by 1/2 pixel, when three primary color signals output from the three image pickup devices are converted into digital three primary color signals, an aperture signal is formed from the digital three primary color signals, the aperture signal output is added to the digital three primary color signals and a digital video signal of a predetermined format is formed from the added signal, a clock frequency of an aperture signal forming circuit is set to be twice the clock frequencies of the image pickup devices, an A/D converting circuit and a video signal forming circuit.

Abstract: A portable video camera and recording apparatus is comprised of a video camera section and a recording section. The video camera section is comprised of a CCD, analogue-to-digital converters for converting signals from the CCD into digital form. The digital signals are then processed, converted into analogue form, processed in analog form, and then output as the composite video signal. A digital luminance signal and either a digital composite color signal or a plurality of digital color difference signals are received as inputs into the recording section. If the digital composite color signal is received, then the signals are time-base-compressed, converted into analogue form, the composite color signal is frequency converted and filtered and the luminance signal is frequency modulated and filtered. Next, the signals are added together and recorded onto a recording medium.

Abstract: A portable video camera and recording apparatus is comprised of a video camera section and a recording section. The video camera section is comprised of a CCD, analogue-to-digital converters for converting signals from the CCD into digital form. The digital signals are then processed, converted into analogue form, processed in analog form, and then output as the composite video signal. A digital luminance signal and either a digital composite color signal or a plurality of digital color difference signals are received as inputs into the recording section. If the digital composite color signal is received, then the signals are time-base-compressed, converted into analogue form, the composite color signal is frequency converted and filtered and the luminance signal is frequency modulated and filtered. Next, the signals are added together and recorded onto a recording medium.

Abstract: A dark current correction apparatus eliminates a dark current signal component or components from an output signal of an imaging device having an array of pixels. The apparatus includes an A/D converter for digitizing the output signal, and a memory for storing level data of the digitized signal while exposure of the imaging device is controlled to be at a zero level or a uniformly illuminated level, according to whether dark current correction or white current correction, respectively, is to be performed. A dark current correction signal former generates a dark current correction signal or signals from data read out from the memory. The dark current correction signal or signals are applied to a correction circuit which processes an output signal produced by the imaging device during normal imaging operation in accordance with the correction signal or signals in order to eliminate the dark current signal component or components from that output signal.

Abstract: A solid state camera apparatus converts image signals read from a solid state image-sensing device at a reading clock rate of a first frequency f.sub.CCD to digital video signals at the reading clock rate, converts the resulting digital video signal using a clock signal of a second frequency f.sub.STD [f.sub.STD =f.sub.CCD *n/m (where m and n are positive integers and m>n)] to form digital video signals with a transmission clock rate of the second frequency f.sub.STD, and applies image processing to the digital video signals at the reading clock rate of the first frequency f.sub.CCD so as to form output video signals.

Abstract: In a color television camera apparatus, a 2fs-rate luminance signal and fs-rate chrominance signals are selectively generated by a matrix circuit 8, in conformity with a plurality of standard systems, from 2fs-rate three-color image pick-up signals generated by an image signal pick-up unit. The fs-rate chrominance signals are modulated by a modulating circuit 12 into fs-rate modulated chrominance signals which are converted by a rate converter 13 into 2fs-rate modulated chrominance signals. The 2fs-rate luminance signals and the 2fs-rate modulated chrominance signals are combined by an adder 14 into 2fs-rate digital composite video signals which are converted by a D/A converter 15 into analog composite video signals. In this manner, analog composite video signals, in which the bandwidth of the luminance signals has been enhanced up to the sampling frequency fs, may be selectively outputted in conformity with a plurality of standard systems.

Abstract: Digital color television camera apparatus including an encoder for selectively producing either a digital component video signal or a digital composite video signal in accordance with first or second television standards (e.g. NTSC or PAL) by encoding digital primary color image signals in a first mode to produce digital component video signals and in a second mode to produce digital composite video signals. The encoder includes a matrix for producing digital color difference signals at a clock rate equal to the digital sampling clock rate 2f.sub.s and a down sampler for downsampling the digital color difference signals to reduce the clock rate. A digital low pass filter limits the frequency band of a down-sampled color difference signal by providing predetermined selected attenuation at preestablished frequencies of the down-sampled digital color difference signal.

Abstract: A video camera having a camera head unit connected to a camera control unit converts the outputs of solid-state imaging devices into digital signals, and supplies digital three-color signals and a digital composite video signal, as well as analog three-color signals, an analog composite video signal, and analog component video signals, to respective output terminals.

Abstract: An image defect correcting circuit for a solid state imager arranged such that levels of output signals form respective pixels of a solid state image pickup element illuminated on its whole surface a light of uniform brightness are compared with a predetermined level, data indicative of a position of a pixel which outputs a signal of peculiar level is generated on the basis of a compared result, a video signal output from at least the pixel located at the position indicated by the position data is interpolated by using output signals of other pixels according to an interpolation processing and the output signals of the respective pixels and the video signal generated by the interpolation processing are selectively output on the basis of the position data.

Abstract: A signal processing apparatus for a solid-state imaging device in which an imaging output signal from a solid-state image sensor of an imaging section in the imaging device having a spatial offset is digitized and formed into a detail signal utilized for image enhancement by digital signal processing. More specifically, a first delay circuit having at least one delay unit which imposes a dealy time of approximately one horizontal scanning period receives a digitized green color imaging signal having the spatial offset. Signal synthesis is then performed in a first synthesis circuit so as to limit the bandwidth of the green color imaging signal in a perpendicular direction. A second delay circuit having at least one digital delay unit which imposes a delay time of approximately one horizontal scanning period receives one of a digitized red or blue color imaging signal or a combined red and blue digitized color imaging signal.

Abstract: A color television camera having an image pickup unit for providing three-color image pickup signals at a predetermined rate fs includes an analog/digital converting unit for digitizing an output signal of the image pickup unit at a clock rate equal to the rate fs, a first rate converting unit for interpolating and converting the rate of the digitized image pickup signals into three-color digital image signals having a rate 2fs, a signal processing unit supplied with the rate-converted three-color digital image signals for forming a digital compositive video signal at the 2fs rate, a digital low-pass filter supplied with the digital composite video signal from the signal processing unit for limiting the frequency range of the digital composite video signal to less than about fs/2, and a second rate converting unit coupled to the digital low-pass filter for converting the rate of the frequency limited digital composite video signal to fs.

Abstract: A signal processing circuit of a solid-state imaging device has an image pickup section formed by plural solid-state image sensors including a discrete pixel array. The solid state image sensor for green-color image pickup is arrayed in the image pickup section with a spatial shift equal to one half the pixel pitch from the solid-state image sensors for red-color image pickup and the solid-state image sensors for blue-color image pickup in accordance with the spatial pixel shifting method. An optical low-pass filter having a cut-off frequency equal to fs is provided on the front surfaces of these solid-state image sensors.