Abstract: A zoom magnification calculation device associates a plurality of delay times with a plurality of zoom magnifications. The zoom magnification calculation device inputs, from the image-capturing device, i) an instruction for capturing the image of the object with one of the plurality of zoom magnifications, ii) a first relative distance from the object to the transportation vehicle at a time, iii) a moving speed of the transportation vehicle. The zoom magnification calculation device calculates, based on the inputting of the instruction using i) one of the plurality of the delay times associated with the one of the plurality of the zoom magnifications, ii) the first relative distance, and iii) the moving speed, a second relative distance in which the transportation vehicle becomes closer to the object than the first relative distance, and calculates an adjusted zoom magnification corresponding to the second relative distance.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image capturing technique for obtaining, at the same time, multiple images with parallax and an image that would cause no sensitivity problem even without mechanically operating any part of its image capturing system. The 3D image capture device of this invention includes: a light transmitting member 2 having a polarizing area A that transmits only a light ray polarized in a particular direction and a non-polarizing area C that transmits any light ray irrespective of its polarization direction; a solid-state image sensor 1 arranged to receive the light ray transmitted through the light transmitting member 2; an imaging section 3 for producing an image on the imaging area 1a of the solid-state image sensor 1; and an image generating section for generating images based on signals supplied from the image sensor 1, which includes a filter array including a polarization filter.

Abstract: A 3D image capture device includes: a light transmitting member 2 with polarizing areas and a non-polarizing area; a solid-state image sensor 1 for receiving the light transmitted through the member 2; an imaging section 3 for producing an image on the imaging area 1a of the sensor 1; and an image generating section. The member 2 has n polarizing areas P(1), P(2), . . . and P(n) (where n is an integer and n?2), each of which transmits only a light ray polarized in a particular direction, and a non-polarizing area P(n+1) that transmits any light ray irrespective of its polarization direction. Those n polarizing areas have mutually different transmission axis directions. The sensor 1 includes a pixel array, divided into pixel blocks each consisting of (n+1) pixels, and a filter array including n polarization filters arranged so as to face n out of the (n+1) pixels and having different transmission axis directions.

Abstract: An image capture device includes: an array of pixels 200 including a plurality of pixels 20 which are arranged two-dimensionally on an imaging area; a pixel signal reading section 30 for reading a pixel signal from each pixel 20; and an image generating section 32 for generating an image based on the pixel signals having been read by the pixel signal reading section 30. The array of pixels is divided into M unit pixel blocks 40 (where M is an integer of 2 or more) each containing N pixels (where N is an integer of 2 or more). The pixel signal reading section reads the pixel signals from the N pixels 20 contained in each unit pixel block 40 at every time interval T, with respectively different timings.

Abstract: A lens unit according to the present invention includes: a first lens group and a second lens group being disposed in series on the same optical axis to have a light-converging function, the first lens group and the second lens group each including at least one lens; a first lens barrel 1 retaining the first lens group; a second lens barrel 2 retaining the second lens group and encasing at least a portion of the first lens barrel; and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting relative positioning along an optical axis direction, tilt between respective optical axes, and mutual radial deviation, of the first lens barrel and the second lens barrel.

Abstract: A camera driving apparatus according to the present invention includes: a camera section with an imaging plane; a movable unit which houses the camera section inside and includes an attracting magnet and a convex partial sphere on its outer surface; a fixed unit which has a depressed portion in which a magnetic body and the movable unit are loosely fit, which brings the convex partial sphere of the movable unit into a point or line contact with the depressed portion under magnetic attractive force of the attracting magnet to the magnetic body, and which allows the movable unit to rotate freely on the spherical centroid of the first convex partial sphere; a panning driving section; a tilting driving section; a rolling driving section; a lens driving section; an image sensor driving section; a first detector which detects the tilt angles of the camera section in the panning and tilting directions with respect to the fixed unit; a second detector which detects the angle of rotation of the camera section that is

Abstract: A camera driving apparatus according to the present invention includes: a camera section with an imaging plane; a movable unit which houses the camera section inside and includes an attracting magnet and a convex partial sphere on its outer surface; a fixed unit which has a depressed portion in which a magnetic body and the movable unit are loosely fit, which brings the convex partial sphere of the movable unit into a point or line contact with the depressed portion under magnetic attractive force of the attracting magnet to the magnetic body, and which allows the movable unit to rotate freely on the spherical centroid of the first convex partial sphere; a panning driving section; a tilting driving section; a rolling driving section; a camera driving section which shifts an image sensor two-dimensionally in a plane that intersects with the optical axis at right angles and which rotates the image sensor on the optical axis; a first detector which detects the tilt angles of the camera section in the panning and

Abstract: This camera driving apparatus includes: a camera section with an imaging plane; a movable unit which houses the camera section inside and includes an attracting magnet and a convex partial sphere on its outer surface; a fixed unit which has a depressed portion in which a magnetic body and the movable unit are loosely fit, which brings the convex partial sphere of the movable unit into a point or line contact with the depressed portion under magnetic attractive force of the attracting magnet to the magnetic body, and which allows the movable unit to rotate freely on the spherical centroid of the first convex partial sphere; a panning driving section; a tilting driving section; a rolling driving section; a camera driving section which shifts either the entire camera section or just its lens or image sensor in an optical axis direction with respect to the movable unit; a first detector which detects the tilt angles of the camera section in the panning and tilting directions with respect to the fixed unit; a seco

Abstract: The 3D image capture device of this invention includes: a light-transmitting section 2 with light-transmitting areas C1, C2 and C3 that have mutually different transmission wavelength ranges; a solid-state image sensor 1 arranged to receive the light that has been transmitted through the light-transmitting section 2; and an optical system 3 configured to produce an image on an imaging area of the solid-state image sensor 1, which includes a photosensitive cell array and a color filter array on the imaging area. The transmission wavelength ranges of the light-transmitting areas and the color filters are defined such that the light that has been transmitted through at least one of the light-transmitting areas C1, C2 and C3 is transmissible through at least two of the color filters.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensor according to the present invention includes: a semiconductor layer (100 with first and second surfaces (100a, 100b), the second surface (100b) being opposite to the first surface (100a); a plurality of photosensitive cells (1a, 1b, etc.), which are arranged two-dimensionally in the semiconductor layer (100) between the first and second surfaces thereof (100a, 100b); a first array (200) of micro condenser lenses, which are arranged on the same side as the first surface (100a) to focus incoming light onto a first group of photosensitive cells that are included in those photosensitive cells; and a second array (300) of micro condenser lenses, which are arranged on the same side as the second surface (100b) to focus incoming light onto a second group of photosensitive cells that are also included in those photosensitive cells but that are different from the first group of photosensitive cells.

Abstract: A camera driving apparatus according to the present invention includes a camera section 100; a fixed unit including a protrusion section 202 at least partially formed of a magnetic member and has a shape of at least a part of a spherical face; a movable unit, the movable unit including an attracting magnet 404 for generating a magnetic attracting force, and a conical contact face with which the protrusion section of the fixed unit is loosely engageable and contactable by the magnetic attracting force, the movable unit being freely pivotable with respect to a sphere center of the spherical face of the protrusion section; a panning driving section; a tilting driving section; a rolling driving section; a detector; and a line 310? spirally wound around the protrusion section 202 for connecting the camera section and an external circuit provided on the fixed unit to each other.

Abstract: A camera driving apparatus according to the present invention includes: a camera portion having an imaging plane; a movable unit incorporating the camera portion, including an attracting magnet, and having an outer shape formed as a convex partial spherical surface; a fixing unit which includes a magnetic body and a concave portion to which the movable unit is loosely fitted, and in which a magnetic attraction force of the attracting magnet with respect to the magnetic body causes the convex partial spherical surface of the movable unit and the concave portion to be held in point contact or linear contact with each other, thereby enabling the movable unit to freely rotate about a spherical center of the first convex partial spherical surface; a panning drive portion; a tilting drive portion; a rolling drive portion; and a detector for detecting a tilt angle of the camera portion in a panning direction with respect to the fixing unit, a tilt angle of the camera portion in a tilting direction with respect to th

Abstract: A camera driving apparatus includes a camera section including an imaging plane; a movable unit having the camera section built therein, having an attracting magnet therein, and having a convex partial spherical surface along an outer surface thereof; a fixed unit having a magnetic member therein and having a recess loosely fitted with the movable unit, wherein a magnetic attracting force of the attracting magnet with respect to the magnetic member puts the convex partial spherical surface of the movable unit into point or line contact with the recess and thus the movable unit is freely rotatable around a sphere center of the first convex partial spherical surface; a panning driving section; a tilting driving section; a rolling driving section; a first detector for detecting a tilt angle of the camera section in the panning and tilting directions with respect to the fixed unit; and a second detector for detecting a rotation angle of the camera section in the rolling direction.

Abstract: An imaging device includes: a movable lens unit including at least one lens for converging light from a subject and a lens holder supporting the at least one lens; a body base supporting the movable lens unit so as to be capable of moving along a first direction and a second direction which are orthogonal to each other on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the at least one lens and along a third direction which is parallel to the optical axis of the at least one lens; an imager being supported by the body base for converting light transmitted through the movable lens unit to an electrical signal; a driving mechanism being provided on the movable unit and/or body base for driving the movable lens unit along the first, second, and third directions; and a plurality of strain detectors provided between the movable unit and the body base.

Abstract: A camera driving apparatus according to the present invention includes a camera section; a fixed unit including a protrusion section formed of a magnetic member at least partially and having a shape of at least a part of a spherical face; a movable unit for supporting the camera section, and a conical contact face with which the protrusion section of the fixed unit is loosely engageable and contactable by the magnetic attracting force, the movable unit being freely pivotable with respect to a sphere center of the spherical face of the protrusion section; and a fall preventive member including a fall preventive regulation section distanced from the movable unit by a prescribed gap in a direction of the optical axis, the fall preventive member being fixed to the fixed unit.

Abstract: The solid-state image sensor of this invention includes an array of pixels and light-transmitting portions 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d. The array is divided into unit pixel blocks, each of which is made up of N pixels (where N is an integer that is equal to or greater than two). The light-transmitting portions are arranged so that each light-transmitting portion faces an associated one of the pixels. Each of the light-transmitting portions is divided into M striped areas (where M is an integer that is equal to or greater than two). The respective areas have had their optical transmittances set independently of each other. The arrangement pattern of the optical transmittances of the light-transmitting portions 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d vary from one block to another.

Abstract: A lens unit according to the present invention includes: a first lens group and a second lens group being disposed in series on the same optical axis to have a light-converging function, the first lens group and the second lens group each including at least one lens; a first lens barrel 1 retaining the first lens group; a second lens barrel 2 retaining the second lens group and encasing at least a portion of the first lens barrel; and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting relative positioning along an optical axis direction, tilt between respective optical axes, and mutual radial deviation, of the first lens barrel and the second lens barrel.

Abstract: A lens unit according to the present invention includes: a barrel, which has first and second openings and an inner space defined along a center axis between the first and second openings; and lenses held in the inner space. In each pair of adjacent lenses, when projected parallel to their optical axis, one lens located closer to the second opening has a greater projection than the other lens located closer to the first opening. The barrel has inner side surface portions, which are arranged parallel to the center axis to define cross sections corresponding to the respective projections of the lenses. In each pair of adjacent inner side surface portions, one portion located closer to the second opening has a greater cross section than the other portion located closer to the first opening. The barrel has main grooves cut on the inner side surface portions to run from the first opening toward the second opening.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device according to the present invention includes, on an imaging surface, a plurality of unit pixel regions being arrayed at a first pixel pitch along a Y direction and at a second pixel pitch along an X direction. One of two adjoining unit pixel regions 1 along the Y first direction includes a first photodetecting portion 1a having a first opening ratio, and the other includes a second photodetecting portion 1b having a second opening ratio which is lower than the first opening ratio. When the first photodetecting portion 1a is moved imaginarily by a first pixel pitch along the Y direction, the first photodetecting portion 1a covers the entire second photodetecting portion 1b. At this time, a portion of the first photodetecting portion 1a that does not cover the second photodetecting portion 1b functions as an imaginary third photodetecting portion.

Abstract: A camera driving apparatus according to the present invention includes: a camera portion having an imaging plane; a movable unit incorporating the camera portion, including an attracting magnet, and having an outer shape formed as a convex partial spherical surface; a fixing unit which includes a magnetic body and a concave portion to which the movable unit is loosely fitted, and in which a magnetic attraction force of the attracting magnet with respect to the magnetic body causes the convex partial spherical surface of the movable unit and the concave portion to be held in point contact or linear contact with each other, thereby enabling the movable unit to freely rotate about a spherical center of the first convex partial spherical surface; a panning drive portion; a tilting drive portion; a rolling drive portion; and a detector for detecting a tilt angle of the camera portion in a panning direction with respect to the fixing unit, a tilt angle of the camera portion in a tilting direction with respect to th