Abstract: An information card includes two display panels as a user interface, which constitute a card body, and display visible information constituted by a portrait image and ID information. An internal memory is incorporated in a card body, for storing verification information of that the visible information has been verified externally. Furthermore, a mode selector selectively sets an employee ID card mode or driver license mode. The display panels change over the visible information according to the employee ID card mode or driver license mode. Also, an interface is accessed by a rewriting digital still camera to rewrite the portrait image. The interface receives an encrypted form of the image data from the digital still camera. A microcomputer decrypts the image data.

Abstract: A first ranging apparatus includes a light emitter for emitting a modulated light which is intensity-modulated, a light detector for detecting a reflected light from an object that is irradiated with the modulated light, a distance calculator for calculating the distance up to the object based on the phase difference between the modulated light and the reflected light, and a gate controller. The gate controller outputs gate pulses to control a light emission controller to intermittently emit the modulated light to the object and also control an electrooptical shutter or an electronic shutter of an image capturing device to intermittently detect the reflected light from the object based on the intermittent emission of the modulated light.

Abstract: A mounting board of a camera module of a mobile phone is screwed to an outer cover through cushions formed of rubber, sponge or the like. A solid state imaging device and an optical unit of the camera module are contained in an opening formed in the outer cover and do not contact the outer cover. The mounting board is connected to a main substrate through a flexible board. Accordingly, even if the mobile phone is dropped down, the camera module is prevented from breakage by the vibration or the shock applied to the mobile phone, because the vibration and the shock are not transmitted to the camera module directly.

Abstract: A photographing interval of a digital camera that generates an intermediate image having a resolution between an original image and a thumbnail image is adjusted. Preset intermediate image generation parameters are referenced, and it is determined whether or not generation of an intermediate image is to be carried out. When it is determined that generation of the intermediate image is to be carried out, the intermediate image is generated in a signal processing unit on the basis of the size of the intermediate image set in the intermediate image generation parameters. When it is determined that generation of the intermediate image is not to be carried out, the intermediate image is not generated. Compressed data of the thumbnail image, the original image, and the intermediate image, as well as a header section and a tag section, are stored in a medium such as a memory card.

Abstract: A file generation apparatus comprises three-dimensional data acquisition means for obtaining a three-dimensional data set comprising distance data representing a three-dimensional shape of a subject, data conversion means for generating a converted three-dimensional data set by arranging the distance data according to distance, and generation means for identifying the distance data at a boundary in the case where the converted three-dimensional data set is divided at predetermined distance intervals and for generating a three-dimensional data file storing the converted three-dimensional data set and storage location information representing a storage location of the identified distance data in the file.

Abstract: A distance image processing apparatus including a distance image obtaining unit for obtaining distance values that include depth information and position information, and represent a three-dimensional shape of a subject obtained by photographing the subject, a conversion unit for converting the depth information with a quantization number such that the smaller the depth information the larger the quantization number, and an image file generation unit for generating an image file of a distance image with distance values that include the converted depth information as the pixel value of each pixel, the image file including information related to the conversion attached thereto.

Abstract: In the digital camera that can be used in connection to a mobile phone or other mobile electronic devices and the system thereof, a battery mounted in each device is shared to allow power to be supplied between the devices, and allow both devices to be used for longer hours. The digital camera and the mobile phone are electrically connectable by a connection cable. Generally, a power supply selection switch is set to A, and a power supply selection switch is set to D. The digital camera receives power supplied from a battery, and the mobile phone receives power supplied form a battery. From this state, when the power supply selection switch is switched to C, power is supplied from the battery to the mobile phone. On the other hand, when the power supply selection switch is set to B, and the power supply selection switch is set to D, power is supplied from the battery of the mobile phone to the digital camera.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wiring board including a first board provided with a first wiring pattern and a second board provided with a second wiring pattern while the first wiring pattern and the second wiring pattern are electrically connected, wherein the first board includes: a board insertion opening in which the second board is inserted; and a first connection pattern provided inside the board insertion opening and electrically connected to the first wiring pattern, and the second board includes: an inserting portion to be inserted into the board insertion opening of the first board; and a second connection pattern provided at a position opposed to the first connection pattern and electrically connected to the second wiring pattern in the case where the inserting portion of the second board is inserted into the board insertion opening of the first board, and further comprising: solder or brazing filler metal applied at least to a surface of one of the first connection pattern and second connection

Abstract: A digital still camera includes a pickup lens, which focuses object light on a focal plane. An externally operable focus adjusting ring adjusts focusing of the pickup lens. A CCD image sensor is disposed on the focal plane, for receiving the object light to produce image data. A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel displays an image according to the image data. An EEPROM stores information of an area split pattern having 36 partial areas in which the LCD panel is split. A CPU displays a focus adjusting state of the 36 partial areas distinctly during adjustment of the focus adjusting ring. CPU compares a focus evaluation value fna with a preceding evaluation value fnb, and extracts at least one of the 36 partial areas where the focus adjusting state is in-focus according to a result of comparison.

Abstract: A first ranging apparatus includes a synchronizing signal generator for generating a synchronizing signal at a constant interval, a light-emitting unit for emitting an intensity-modulated light in response to the synchronizing signal input thereto, a light-detecting unit for detecting a reflected light from an object irradiated with the modulated light, in response to the synchronizing signal input thereto, a calculating unit for calculating the distance up to the object based on the phase difference between the modulated light and the reflected light, and a synchronizing signal control unit for changing an arrival time of the synchronizing signal from the synchronizing signal generator at the light-detecting unit, depending on the number of times that the synchronizing signal is generated. The light-detecting unit samples the amount of the reflected light in exposure periods established at a constant cycle length with reference to a time at which the synchronizing signal is input thereto.

Abstract: A first ranging apparatus includes a light emitter for emitting a modulated light which is intensity-modulated, a light detector for detecting a reflected light from an object that is irradiated with the modulated light, a distance calculator for calculating the distance up to the object based on the phase difference between the modulated light and the reflected light, and a gate controller. The gate controller outputs gate pulses to control a light emission controller to intermittently emit the modulated light to the object and also control an electrooptical shutter or an electronic shutter of an image capturing device to intermittently detect the reflected light from the object based on the intermittent emission of the modulated light.

Abstract: A first ranging apparatus includes a light-emitting unit for emitting a series of first through fourth modulated lights which have respective different start phases at which the first through fourth modulated lights start being emitted, a light-detecting unit for detecting reflected lights from an object that is irradiated with the first through fourth modulated lights, and a calculating unit for calculating the distance up to the object based on the phase difference between the first through fourth modulated lights and the reflected lights. The light-emitting unit comprises a start phase controller for controlling the start phases. The light-detecting units samples the amounts of the reflected lights in exposure periods established at a constant cycle length from the time when the modulated lights start being emitted.

Abstract: A first ranging apparatus includes a light-emitting unit for emitting a series of first through fourth modulated lights which have respective different time lengths from a reference time to respective time points at which the first through fourth modulated lights start being emitted, a light-detecting unit for detecting reflected lights from an object that is irradiated with the first through fourth modulated lights, and a calculating unit for calculating the distance up to the object based on the phase difference between the first through fourth modulated lights and the reflected lights. The light-emitting unit comprises a start time controller for controlling the time lengths. The light-detecting units samples the amounts of the reflected lights in exposure periods established at a constant cycle length from the reference time.

Abstract: A solid image taking apparatus includes a plurality of image taking portions which obtain a plurality of images at each sight point by taking a plurality of images of objects from different sight points, a distance measuring portion which measures object distances which are distances to the objects from the plurality of image taking portions, and a classifying portion which classifies the objects included in the images into a plurality of groups according to the object distances and outputs the result of classification.

Abstract: A digital camera receives position information from GPS satellites for detecting camera position when capturing an image. Additional information, which is composed of the camera position, camera azimuth and focal distance of the taking lens, is added to image data of the captured image as tag and recorded in an image file. When the captured image is reproduced, the map image generated according to the additional information is displayed below the captured image, covering an area from the image capture point toward the subject in the captured image. Field view lines and map symbols indicating the subjects are displayed in the map image. Further, the map image includes the extension line which passes the map symbol and is extended to the subject in the captured image for showing the correspondence between the map symbol and the subject.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a file comprises a three-dimensional information generating means, a displacement information storage means and a file generating means. The three-dimensional information generating means generates three-dimensional information representing each point obtained by an imaging system by an inherent coordinate system inherent to the imaging system. The displacement information storage means stores displacement information representing displacement of an origin of an universal coordinate system from an origin of the inherent coordinate system, as information of the universal coordinate system common to a plurality of imaging systems. The file generating means generates a file of a predetermined format including three-dimensional information generated by the three-dimensional information generating means and the displacement information stored by the displacement information storage means.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a file comprises a file obtaining means, image composing means and a file generating means. The file obtaining means obtains a main image file in which a main stereographic image is recorded and a sub-image file in which a sub-image is recorded. The image composing means generates a first synthetic stereographic image by synthesizing a sub-stereographic image reconstructed to conform to a main stereographic image with the main stereographic image and generates a second synthetic stereographic image by synthesizing a main stereographic image reconstructed to conform to a sub-stereographic image with the sub-stereographic image. The file generating means generates a file of a predetermined format including the synthetic first and second stereographic images.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, since two range images (first and second range images) are individually generated by a first range image generating device and a second range image generating device by different methods, and one range image (a third range image) is generated on the basis of those range images, highly accurate range images are generated. Furthermore, as the first range image generating device and the second range image generating device commonly use image sensors, the increase in hardware size and in cost due to the use of two devices for generating range images can be restrained.

Abstract: In the image taking method where images of an object are taken by a running image taking portion provided with a zoom lens, and at least one image taking portion for measuring a distance provided with a fixed focus lens equal to the wide-angle-side end of the zoom lens to generate image data, an image taking method includes the steps of simultaneously taking an image by each image taking system and detecting and storing a zoom position at an arbitrary angle of view of the zoom lens. A search space in a photographing field in the stored zoom position is set. When it is determined that no corresponding point is on one of the end faces of the set space, a running image is taken after the zoom lens is moved to the stored zoom position by the zoom lens drive means.

Abstract: An image processing device comprising: a plurality of image pickup sections that pick-up, from respectively different positions, a same object of sensing which carries out an instructing action, and outputting image information thereof; a position information sensing section which, by carrying out stereo matching on the plurality of image information outputted from the plurality of image pickup sections by using, as an object, two-dimensional regions, which correspond to a search space which is a three-dimensional space set in advance as a space in which the instructing action can be carried out, senses position information expressing matching positions which are positions of the object of sensing in the three-dimensional space at points corresponding to one another in the two-dimensional regions; and a specific position sensing section that senses, among the matching positions expressed by the position information, a specific position which is a matching position which matches predetermined conditions, is pr