Abstract: A long time optical recording and repeated reproduction of multimedia information is possible. Using a printer system or printing process system, on a recording medium such as a sheet, the so-caled multimedia information in the form of dot codes (36) together with images (32) and characters (34) is recorded. The multimedia information includes audio information such as voices, image information obtainable from a camera and others, and digitally coded data obtainable from a personal computer and other. A pen-like information reproducing device (40) is manually moved to scan the dot codes (36) and to take in the dot codes. The original sound is generated by a voice output device (42) such as an earphone, the original image information is outputted on a display such as a CRT, and the digitally coded original data to a page printer or the like.

Abstract: A long time optical recording and repeated reproduction of multimedia information is possible. Using a printer system or printing process system, on a recording medium such as a sheet, the so-called multimedia information in the form of dot codes (36) together with images (32) and characters (34) is recorded. The multimedia information includes audio information such as voices, image information obtainable from a camera and others, and digitally coded data obtainable from a personal computer and other. A pen-like information reproducing device (40) is manually moved to scan the dot codes (36) and to take in the dot codes. The original sound is generated by a voice output device (42) such as an earphone, the original image information is outputted on a display such as a CRT, and the digitally coded original data to a page printer or the like.

Abstract: An IC having an image pickup element for optically picking up a code to output an image signal, and an optical system for optically inputting the code to the image pickup element are provided to a reading section for optically reading a code from an information recording medium having a portion at which multimedia information is recorded as an optically readable code. The image pickup element and the optical system are integrally arranged. Further, an IC having an image memory for storing the image signal output from the image pickup element, and an IC for reconstituting the multimedia information from the image signal are provided. A defective element due to a semiconductor manufacturing method is used for at least one of these ICs.

Abstract: An image classification apparatus includes an image input device for inputting image data. A filing device stores the input image data and performs a read, retrieval, or edit operation on the data in accordance with a predetermined instruction. A normalizing unit corrects variations in various image input conditions or variations in image input devices to make the input conditions in execution agree with those in learning. A feature extracting unit extracts a feature amount effective for classification. A classification determination unit performs a classification determination operation on the basis of the feature amount obtained by the feature extracting unit. A display unit synthesizes a result of the classification determination operation with the input image, and displays the synthesized result. A learning control unit controls the feature extracting unit and the classification determination unit on the basis of the predetermined learning data.

Abstract: A method for foreign particles inspection includes illuminating an inspection surface of an inspection object with a beam which is, one of s-polarized and p-polarized relative to the inspection surface of the inspection object. The illumination utilizes an optical axis which is generally parallel to the inspection surface or which intersects the inspection surface at an angle that is greater than or equal to 1.degree. and less than 5.degree.. Reflected and scattered light is detected utilizing an optical axis which makes an acute angle with the inspection surface and which makes a differential angle of 30.degree. or less with the optical axis of the illumination beam. The detection of foreign particles is accomplished by detecting the component of the reflected and scattered light which is the other of s-polarized and p-polarized relative to the inspection surface.

Abstract: A foreign substance inspection apparatus having a good signal to noise ratio with optical detection accuracy capable of detecting infinitesimal foreign substances, comprising a lighting portion to irradiate with an S polarized laser light beam and having the optical axis parallel to the substrate to be inspected, a detecting portion having an optical axis located in a position set by rotating the optical axis of the lighting portion by 120.degree. to 160.degree. with the point of intersection of the optical axis of the lighting portion and the surface to be inspected as the center of rotation so as to have an angle made with the surface to be inspected of 45.degree.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus of an optical recording medium has a plurality of light sources. A plurality of light beams are radiated by a laser diode array to a track of the optical recording medium, and each of the plurality of light beams reflected by the track is detected by a photodiode and converted into an electrical signal. The laser diode array is arranged such that the beam spots of adjacent ones of the plurality of light beams cross a track direction of the optical recording medium and a track width direction perpendicular to the track direction. The signal detected by the photodiode is converted into an electrical signal and recorded in a frame memory as data corresponding to the signal. The digital data stored in the frame memory is read out by a two-dimensional decoder.

Abstract: An imaging device having a signal-processing section, an imaging section, and X- and Y-direction angle wire drivers. The imaging section sequentially form images of an object. The signal-processing section obtains X- and Y-direction displacements of the imaging section with respect to an object, from the positional relationship between the images formed by the imaging section. The angle wire drivers drive X- and Y-direction angle wires in accordance with the X- and Y-direction displacements obtained by the signal-processing section, thus moving the imaging section such that the imaging section tracks the object.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device comprises a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of pixels formed on the semiconductor substrate, an output amplifier circuit for converting a pixel signal generated in each of the pixels to an imaging signal, a plurality of horizontal selecting lines connected to the pixels, a plurality of vertical selecting lines connected to the pixels, and a pixel address circuit for addressing the pixels by applying a read-out signal to the horizontal and vertical selecting lines. The output amplifier circuit includes an output amplifier for converting the pixel signals input from the pixels via the vertical selecting lines, to an imaging signal, and a load resistance reducing circuit for reducing a load resistance of the switching portion in the pixels.

Abstract: In an imaging apparatus capable of expanding a dynamic range image signals of different levels are read simultaneously from a solid-state element whose light-receiving surface is divided. Read 1/2 frame image signals are switched by a changeover switch circuit at intervals of a 1/2 frame time. One of two image signals of different levels supplied from the two outputs of the changeover switch circuit is delayed at a delay circuit. Further, those image signals are separated into r, g, and b components, and then undergo logarithmic conversion into image signals of multiple desired levels. The signals are digitized at an A/D converter and undergo operations at an adder, which adds while keeping their logarithmic characteristic, and at an inverse logarithmic converter. A luminance signal is obtained at a matrix circuit, and is converted into a logarithm at a logarithmic circuit. The lighting irregularity components of the resulting signal are suppressed.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device electronically images at least a portion of an image of a subject formed on a film exposure surface through a potographic optical lens. This imaging device is driven at a high speed by an imaging device driver to repeatedly perform electronic imaging of the subject image. A frame memory stores a subject image signal initially imaged by the imaging device. A two-dimensional correlating circuit executes a two-dimensional correlation arithmetic operation between the subject image signal stored in the frame memory and subject image signals sequentially imaged during a film exposure period for the subject image, thereby calculating drift between the subject images formed on the film exposure surface in the x and y directions perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens. An actuator driver drives an actuator in accordance with the detected drift in the x and y directions to move lens in the x and y directions, thereby correcting the drifts.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus of an optical recording medium has a plurality of light sources. A plurality of light beams are radiated by a laser diode array to a track of the optical recording medium, and each of the plurality of light beams reflected by the track is detected by a photodiode and converted into an electrical signal. The laser diode array is arranged such that the beam spots of adjacent ones of the plurality of light beams cross a track direction of the optical recording medium and a track width direction perpendicular to the track direction. The signal detected by the photodiode is converted into an electrical signal and recorded in a frame memory as data corresponding to the signal. The digital data stored in the frame memory is read out by a two-dimensional decoder.

Abstract: In an electronic still camera system for forming one still frame image by synthesizing odd and even field images which are field-sequentially output from a CCD, an image compensation circuit is arranged to prevent a deterioration in quality of a still frame image due to an image shift between the two field images. The image compensation circuit includes an interpolation circuit for obtaining two pseudo frame images by performing field interpolation of the odd and even field images, a correlation arithmetic circuit for detecting an amount of image shift between the two field images on the basis of the correlation between the two pseudo frame images, and a shift compensation circuit for compensating the image shift by shifting one of the two field images in accordance with the detected amount of image shift. The correlation arithmetic circuit divides each field image into a plurality of blocks, and detects an amount of image shift in units of blocks.

Abstract: An image pickup device electronically senses an object to be photographed and generates an electronic still image signal. An A/D converter converts the electronic still image signal generated by the image pickup device into a digital signal. An error correction coding section performs error correction coding for the digital signal obtained by the A/D converter. A recording modulation section performs recording modulation of an output from the error correction coding section so as to perform predetermined magnetic recording. A recording section records an output from the recording modulation section on a predetermined magnetic recording medium. Different recording media can be used, such as magnetic and semiconductor, provided on respective imaging sub-systems. A semiconductor imaging sub-system is provided with an I/O controller for establishing compatibility with signals of the magnetic imaging sub-system.

Abstract: An image signal processing device includes a logarithmic compression circuit, filtering circuit, filtering characteristic setting circuit and dynamic range/gain control circuit. The logarithmic compression circuit subjects an input image signal containing a color signal to the logarithmic compression. The filtering circuit serves to filter the input image signal. The filtering characteristic setting circuit adaptively sets the band pass characteristic of the filtering circuit according to the feature of the input image signal. The dynamic range/gain control circuit controls the dynamic range and gain of the filtered input image signal.

Abstract: In the exposure control circuit of an image input device according to the present invention, the rays of light from the subject pass through a diaphragm adjusting the amount of light and undergoes photoelectric conversion at a CCD imaging element. The image signal read from the CCD imaging element is accumulated more than once at an accumulating circuit. The luminance of the subject is detected at a luminance detector. Based on the detected luminance, a condition setting circuit sets the amount of incident light, exposure time, and the number of additions to suitable values. With those suitable settings, the amount of light through the diaphragm, the exposure time of the CCD imaging element, and the number of accumulations by the accumulating circuit are controlled so as to enable the subject to be photographed under the best condition.

Abstract: A field sequential imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit for imaging an object in units of colors by sequentially switching a plurality of color filters, and a correction unit for correcting color misregistrations on the basis of correlations among image signals from the imaging unit in units of colors.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device comprises a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of pixels formed on the semiconductor substrate and generating imaging signals, and an output amplifier converting a pixel signal generated from the pixel to an imaging signal, and outputting the image signal. The pixel includes a photoelectric converting portion generating a charge in accordance with the amount of received light, a capacitor storing a charge generated from the photoelectric converting portion, and a switching portion for reading out the charge stored in the capacitor as the pixel signal. The capacitor includes a storing region formed on at least one of a part or an adjacent portion of the photoelectric converting portion, a capacitor insulating film formed on the storing region, the capacitor insulating film being made of a high dielectric material having a high relative dielectric constant, and a capacitor electrode formed on the capacitor insulating film.

Abstract: The image data coding apparatus has an image pickup system for generating at least dynamic images. The apparatus further comprises a data processing section, two transforming sections, a quantizing section, and a coding section. The data processing section three-dimensionally arranges image data for several adjoining frames among the dynamic image data as three-dimensional image data, divides the three-dimensional image data into several three-dimensional blocks with a specified size, and outputs each three-dimensional block data. The first transforming section applies three-dimensional orthogonal transform to the three-dimensional block data and outputs three-dimensional transform coefficient data. The second transforming section transforms the three-dimensional transform coefficient data into one-dimensionally-arranged transform coefficient data. The quantizing section quantizes the one-dimensionally-arranged transform coefficient data with a specified quantization width and generates quantization output.

Abstract: In the exposure control circuit of an image input device according to the present invention, the rays of light from the subject pass through a diaphragm adjusting the amount of light and undergoes photoelectric conversion at a CCD imaging element. The image signal read from the CCD imaging element is accumulated more than once at an accumulating circuit. The luminance of the subject is detected at a luminance detector. Based on the detected luminance, a condition setting circuit sets the amount of incident light, exposure time, and the number of additions to suitable values. With those suitable settings, the amount of light through the diaphragm, the exposure time of the CCD imaging element, and the number of accumulations by the accumulating circuit are controlled so as to enable the subject to be photographed under the best condition.