Abstract: A video processing and analysis system is coupled to a building management and control system. The video processing system provides traffic, occupancy, and other information derived from video images of sections of the building and its environs to the building management and control systems.

Abstract: The number of persons that appear in an image constituting a moving image is recorded on a recording medium together with data representing the moving image. Moving-image data is read from the recording medium. Images of persons contained in every third frame of an image among the images constituting the moving image are detected and the number image of persons detected is calculated. The calculated number of persons is stored in a number-of-persons table and the stored table is recorded on the recording medium. The invention can be utilized in finding the beginning of a moving-image segment by using the number-of-persons table.

Abstract: A monitoring system being capable of monitoring an important monitoring region at low cost is provided.

Abstract: A camera system for the supervision of at least one dead angle, including an electro-optical detector device, suitable to acquire images picked up from the exterior and at least one system for processing and analyzing the signals obtained by the camera and comprising two electrically interconnected and communicated modules comprising (a) a first module comprising an electro-optical detector device and processing devices, and (b) a second module, acting also as vehicle interface, distanced to the previous one, operating the components of the two modules at, at least, two different voltage levels, the division in two modules a distribution of the zones supplied to certain voltage levels and intercommunicated, and of the zones susceptible to generate heat, reducing the dissipation needs and screening the sensitive circuitry of first module.

Abstract: Indices are detected from a pattern image including a plurality of indices, and first positions of the detected indices on the captured image are calculated. Using parameters associated with an image capturing apparatus, second positions indicating the positions of the indices on the captured image are calculated. While a parameter of a radial distortion of a lens of the image capturing apparatus is fixed, the parameters other than the parameter of the radial distortion of the lens of the image capturing apparatus are corrected using the differences between the first positions and the second positions. Using the corrected parameters, third positions indicating the positions of the indices on the captured image are calculated. Using the differences between the first positions and the third positions, the parameter of the radial distortion is corrected.

Abstract: Imaging Parallel Interface Random Access Memory (IPIRAM). An integrated circuit imaging device presents to external circuitry as a static, parallel-interface RAM. Internally, a two-port RAM has access resolved by contention logic to permit access by external circuitry or internal imaging. The RAM is organized as one or more image buffers and a set of memory-mapped control and status registers. The imaging array, when active, automatically fills an image buffer with image data, which may be accessed by external circuitry in random-access fashion. Control and status registers may be used to start and stop the imaging process, set and interrogate imaging parameters. The IPIRAM may also include auxiliary processing circuitry to perform functions such as image compression, scaling, edge and feature extraction, and the like.

Abstract: Disclosed are digital cameras adapted to capturing whiteboard images, and methods. Embodiments of the cameras incorporate processing firmware to create clear whiteboard images from digital images. Embodiments may also include a specialized lens for correcting for perspective effects, an interface for connection to a computer network, and provisions to facilitate semi-permanent mounting. Embodiments may also omit features commonly found on conventional digital cameras, such as a viewfinder; a memory card slot; a wide range of focus and shutter speeds; and on-camera controls; such that the cost of the whiteboard camera is reduced and the camera is rendered unattractive to theft.

Abstract: In an actuator 11, which includes a driver 10 including: a substrate 1 having a predetermined width and a predetermined length when viewed from the direction of thickness of the substrate; a reinforcing member 2 provided on one of the thickness-wise faces of the substrate 1; and displacement means (a piezoelectric element 3), provided on the other thickness-wise face of the substrate 1, for displacing, with respect to one of the lengthwise ends of the substrate, the other lengthwise end in the direction of width of the substrate, the reinforcing member 2 is configured so that the flexural rigidity thereof in the substrate's width direction is lower than that in the substrate's thickness direction.

Abstract: An electronic blurring correction apparatus in the present invention includes a solid-state image-capturing device, which has an image-capturing section with photodiodes and vertical transfer CCD and an accumulation section with a vertical transfer CCD and a horizontal transfer CCD, wherein a first image transferred from the image-capturing section is accumulated in the vertical transfer CCD, relative blurring between the first image and a second image which is already accumulated in the horizontal transfer CCD is corrected by shifting the first image within the vertical transfer CCD and shifting the second image within the horizontal transfer CCD, and thereafter a composite image, which is obtained by combining the first image and the second image, is accumulated as a new second image in the horizontal transfer CCD.

Abstract: A video imaging system with a camera coupled to a camera control unit, the camera having a program stored thereon and the camera control unit comparing the program version stored on the camera with another version of the program such that the newer version of the program is loaded onto the camera control unit and camera control unit is programmed with the newer version of the program to enable the camera control unit to process image data received from the camera.

Abstract: An image capturing device includes an image sensor and an image processor is provided. The image sensor is used for sensing and converting a light source into an image. The image is composed of a number of pixels. Each pixel corresponds to a color data, respectively. The image processor adjusts the corresponding color data of a pixel according to the position of the corresponding pixel in the image and then outputs an adjusted image.

Abstract: For computing a plurality of white balance gains with regard to a single image data item, a target image is first divided into a plurality of blocks. Then, a representative value of each block is computed, and a value representing the relative contribution of each light source type to a whole image is calculated based on the representative value which is obtained. Once the representative value of each block and the contribution level of each type of light source are obtained, a MWB gain and an AWB gain are computed using these results. Because the computation of the representative value of each block, which is a calculation operation performed for each pixel, is performed only once, the computation time can be greatly reduced.

Abstract: An image taking apparatus has a light emitting section, a color temperature circuit and a system control circuit. The light emitting section includes LEDs respectively emitting each color of red, green and blue. In response to the result of color temperature measurement in the color temperature circuit, the system control circuit instructs the light emitting section to emit fill-in light, by controlling light intensity of the LEDs to be combined, according to any one of the four color temperatures of sunny weather, cloudy weather, tungsten light and fluorescent light.

Abstract: A method and apparatus compensates for improperly exposed areas in a first digital image taken with a first aperture setting by rapidly and automatically capturing a second digital image of the same scene using a second aperture setting. If a portion of the first image is properly exposed, then image information for the portion is used in a third adjusted image. If the portion is improperly exposed, then image information for the portion is combined with image information for a corresponding portion in the second image, thereby generating a composite portion used in the adjusted image. The manner of combining can be based on the luminance of the portion in the first image. In another example, one image is captured. Improperly exposed portions are adjusted using a screening process. The adjusted image is stored as a file with an indication in the file header that the image has been adjusted.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus is disclosed which includes: an allocation device configured to allocate each of a plurality of picture display areas to each of a plurality of picture groups each made up of a plurality of pictures, the picture display areas being arrayed in a first direction on a screen for displaying pictures; and a display control device configured to display each of the pictures constituting each of the picture groups in screen locations which correspond to the picture display areas allocated to the picture groups and which are arrayed in a second direction different from the first direction and are determined by times associated with the pictures.

Abstract: Object recognition is executed by using, of feature data classified into a plurality of groups, only feature data belonging to a selected group. Hence, it is unnecessary to compare and refer to all feature data so that object recognition processing can be speeded up.

Abstract: A gain control method for setting the gain control channels of a camera such that it enables the support of multiple conflicting applications which camera is performing concurrently, including using one channel, for example the Green channel, for B&W image applications, and the other two channels for color image applications or any other multiple application. The gain control method of the present invention is also applicable to color cameras and also to B&W cameras that have more than one gain control channel.

Abstract: An optical system enables images of a wide range of natural subjects to be well reproduced with their colors, and provides an image pickup system including, at least, an image pickup optical system, an electronic image pickup device having three or more different spectral characteristics to obtain a color image, and a controller for implementing signal processing or image processing on the basis of an output from the electronic image pickup device. The optical element that takes part in the determination of a focal length in said image pickup system includes an optical element making use of a refraction phenomenon alone.

Abstract: A solid state imaging device able to make noise from a nonselected row small, able to suppress occurrence of vertical stripes in a bright scene, not requiring charging including a floating node capacity via a reset transistor, able to prevent an increase of a driver size of a drain line, and able to secure high speed operation and a camera system using this as the imaging device are provided. An MOS type solid state imaging device in which unit pixels 10 each having a photodiode 11, a transfer transistor 12 for transferring the signal of the photodiode 11 to a floating node N11, an amplifier transistor 13 for outputting the signal of the floating node N11 to a vertical signal line 22, and a reset transistor 14 for resetting the floating node N11 are arrayed in a matrix and in which a gate voltage of the reset transistor 14 is controlled by three values of a power source potential (for example 3V), a ground potential (0V), and a negative power source potential (for example ?1V).

Abstract: An active pixel sensor includes mixed analog and digital signal integration on the same substrate. The analog part of the array forms the active pixel sensor, and the digital part of the array does digital integration of the signal.

Abstract: A column analog-to-digital converter having a voltage comparator and a counter is arranged for each a vertical signal line. The voltage comparator compares a pixel signal inputted via the vertical signal line at each row control signal line with a reference voltage, thereby generating a pulse signal having a length in time axis corresponding to the magnitude of a reset component and a signal component. The counter counts a clock to measure the width of the pulse signal until the end of the comparison operation of the comparator, and stores a count at the end of the comparison. A communication and timing controller controls the voltage comparator and the counter so that, in a first process, the voltage comparator performs a comparison operation on a reset component with the counter performing a down-counting operation, and so that, in a second process, the voltage controller performs the comparison operation on a signal component with the counter performing an up-counting operation.

Abstract: A column analog-to-digital converter having a voltage comparator and a counter is arranged for each a vertical signal line. The voltage comparator compares a pixel signal inputted via the vertical signal line at each row control signal line with a reference voltage, thereby generating a pulse signal having a length in time axis corresponding to the magnitude of a reset component and a signal component. The counter counts a clock to measure the width of the pulse signal until the end of the comparison operation of the comparator, and stores a count at the end of the comparison. A communication and timing controller controls the voltage comparator and the counter so that, in a first process, the voltage comparator performs a comparison operation on a reset component with the counter performing a down-counting operation, and so that, in a second process, the voltage controller performs the comparison operation on a signal component with the counter performing an up-counting operation.

Abstract: A column analog-to-digital converter having a voltage comparator and a counter is arranged for each a vertical signal line. The voltage comparator compares a pixel signal inputted via the vertical signal line at each row control signal line with a reference voltage, thereby generating a pulse signal having a length in time axis corresponding to the magnitude of a reset component and a signal component. The counter counts a clock to measure the width of the pulse signal until the end of the comparison operation of the comparator, and stores a count at the end of the comparison. A communication and timing controller controls the voltage comparator and the counter so that, in a first process, the voltage comparator performs a comparison operation on a reset component with the counter performing a down-counting operation, and so that, in a second process, the voltage controller performs the comparison operation on a signal component with the counter performing an up-counting operation.

Abstract: A column analog-to-digital converter having a voltage comparator and a counter is arranged for each a vertical signal line. The voltage comparator compares a pixel signal inputted via the vertical signal line at each row control signal line with a reference voltage, thereby generating a pulse signal having a length in time axis corresponding to the magnitude of a reset component and a signal component. The counter counts a clock to measure the width of the pulse signal until the end of the comparison operation of the comparator, and stores a count at the end of the comparison. A communication and timing controller controls the voltage comparator and the counter so that, in a first process, the voltage comparator performs a comparison operation on a reset component with the counter performing a down-counting operation, and so that, in a second process, the voltage controller performs the comparison operation on a signal component with the counter performing an up-counting operation.

Abstract: In a solid state imaging element in which a plurality of bits are provided for storing information charges, during transfer of an information charge, a transfer electrode corresponding to a bit storing the information charge to be transferred is set to an OFF state and at least one transfer electrode corresponding to at least one of bits at a later stage along a transfer direction which is adjacent to the bit is set to a potential lower than that in the ON state.

Abstract: An image display apparatus having a screen on which a plurality of images are one by one displayed and sequentially switched to another at a time interval. The apparatus includes an image storing portion and a display control portion. The image storing portion stores data of an actual image and data of a thumbnail image of the actual image such that the data of the actual image and the data of the thumbnail image are associated with each other. The display control portion selectively operates in one of a first mode and a second mode depending on information on the data of the actual image stored in the image storing portion. The display controlling portion controls to display, on the screen, an image based on the data of the actual image in the first mode, and an image based on the data of the thumbnail image in the second mode.

Abstract: A camera system is provided to record experiences, as moving or still images, directly into devices that may have various and sundry other functions. The camera system is intended to allow users to instantly view and share recorded images with others without any processing requirements. Users may view and share a recorded image anywhere and without any additional devices such as televisions or computers, and users may personalize items such as key chains, charms and other gift items. The camera system has two components: an imaging unit for capturing images and a viewing device. The imaging unit contains an imager that converts light into electrical signals, and an electrical connector.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes an image pickup unit adapted to pickup a moving image, a shooting condition storage unit adapted to store shooting conditions to be used in the image pickup unit, an instruction unit adapted to issue a shooting condition read instruction during moving image shooting by the image pickup unit, a display unit adapted to, when the read instruction has been issued from the instruction unit, display information associated with the shooting conditions stored in the shooting condition storage unit, a selection unit adapted to select a desired shooting condition from information associated with the shooting conditions displayed on the display unit, and a setting unit adapted to set the shooting condition selected by the selection unit.

Abstract: A rear side of an electronic camera is provided with an LCD to display a taken image. When a user does not touch the LCD, the taken image is displayed on an entire screen of the LCD. When the user touches the LCD, a contact position is detected by a touch sensor. A display area of the taken image is determined so as to evade the contact position. Under a first display mode, the display area is determined so as to have an aspect ratio identical with that of the taken image and so as to be maximized. The taken image to be displayed is reduced in a size corresponding to the display area. Under a second display mode, the display area is determined so as to have a maximum rectangular shape. The taken image of which a region protruding from the display area is cropped is displayed.

Abstract: In a digital camera having multiple optical systems, multiple image capturing elements are effectively driven to reduce power consumption. A digital camera has a first image capturing optical system having a lens and a first image sensor and a second image capturing optical system having a lens and a second image sensor. A controller and timing generator selects the image signal from the first image capturing optical system while controlling an operation or power of the second image sensor and a clock driver to be OFF when the zoom position falls within a first zoom range. When the zoom position falls within a second zoom range, the image signal from the second image capturing optical system is selected while an operation or power of the first image sensor and a clock driver is controlled to be OFF. An operation or power of the image capturing optical system which is not selected is stopped so that power consumption is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital camera which has a plurality of image capturing optical systems and quickly performs automatic focusing. A digital camera includes a first image capturing optical system formed from a lens 2 and a first image sensor, and a second image capturing optical system formed from a lens 3 and a second image sensor. An image processor detects a phase difference between an image of a single subject formed on the first image sensor and an image of the same formed on the second image sensor, in order to perform phase-difference AF. Since the lenses 2, 3 have different focal lengths, the image processor executes correlation operation after having performed conversion processing for causing a scaling factor of the image formed by the first image sensor to coincide with that of the image formed by the second image sensor, to thus detect a phase difference.

Abstract: The present invention provides image pickup optical systems capable of suppressing the degradation of the image quality due to unnecessary light beams while attaining compaction by optimizing the shapes of the emission surfaces of reflection prisms. The image pickup optical system includes an incidence-side prism for reflecting incident light while folding it by about 90 degree and an image-surface side prism. An image pickup device is placed near the emission surface of the image-surface side prism. The incidence-side prism is formed to have a convex emission surface. This can reduce the amount of the unnecessary light beams (stray light) reflected by the aforementioned reflection surface and also causes the unnecessary light beams reflected by the emission surface and the reflection surface to be diffused, thereby significantly reducing the amount of unnecessary light beams directed to the light receiving surface of the image pickup device.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to photography, including both still photography and video photography. One aspect of the invention is directed toward a lens system that includes a lens, a fitting mountable to a camera, and a flexible body extending between the lens and the fitting. The fitting can be the sole support for the body relative to the camera. The body can be configured to position the lens among at least two operative positions relative to the camera when the fitting is mounted to the camera. Another aspect of the invention is directed toward a method for adjusting focus of a camera using a lens assembly including manually moving a portion of a flexible body of the lens assembly to place a lens in one of at least two operative positions relative to the camera.

Abstract: An image processing device for automatically setting the accumulation time (exposure time) in accordance with the illuminance even in a dark environment and smoothly following the motion of an object. The image processing device includes: gain control means (7) for performing gain control of a video signal from an imaging element (6) which focuses a signal from an iris (2) controlling the light quantity of the optical signal coming from outside and outputs a video signal; signal processing means (9) for signal-processing an output signal from the gain control means (7); and imaging control means (25) for controlling the opening degree of the iris (2), the exposure time of the imaging element (6), and the gain amount of the gain control means according to the video signal from the signal processing means (9).

Abstract: A method and system generate an enhanced output image. A first image is acquired of a scene illuminated by a first illumination condition. A second image is acquired of the scene illuminated by a second illumination condition. First and second gradient images are determined from the first and second images. Orientations of gradients in the first and second gradient images are compared to produce a combined gradient image, and an enhanced output image is constructed from the combined gradient image.

Abstract: A camera apparatus includes a base; an outer case assembled on the base; an inner case assembled in the outer case; a supporting member assembled in the inner case; a camera and a board assembled in the supporting member; a cooling fan for cooling the board, and so forth. The cooling fan is provided in the inner case to blow cooling air over the board. An air inlet is located on an air intake side of the cooling fan, whereas an air outlet is located in an extension of an air discharge side of the cooling fan along the board.

Abstract: An electronic device having a video circuit for driving a display (100), the video circuit comprising one or more working registers (240) and a reset circuit (220, 230). The working register or registers (240) store video parameters of the display (100) and, optionally, the video circuit may be associated with one or more video synchronization signal (210). The reset circuit (220, 230) receives a periodic signal, such as the video synchronization signal or signals (210), and provides predetermined video parameters to the working register or registers (240) of the video circuit in response to receiving the periodic signal.

Abstract: A video processing apparatus and method are provided where deinterlacing units perform a deinterlacing process for an interlaced video signal, the deinterlacing process corresponding to a video changing rate for time lapse. Downsampling unit performs a downsampling process for the video signal. Video evaluation unit evaluates the video changing rate for time lapse shown by the downsampled video signal, and control unit controls at least one of the deinterlacing units to perform an operation corresponding to the evaluated video changing rate. Accordingly, a video processing apparatus and a video processing method for performing deinterlacing with a small amount of data are provided, thereby improving processing speed and reducing operation load.

Abstract: A video delay stabilization system configured for multiple types of video input signals, includes a plurality of video processing modules, and a variable delay module. The plurality of video processing modules include at least one module that is selectively actuable depending upon the type of input signal, each module adding an incremental time delay to a video output signal. The variable delay module is configured to insert into the video output signal a programmed time delay equal to a difference between a maximum possible time delay added by the plurality of video processing modules, and an actual total time delay added by the modules.

Abstract: A video processing apparatus and method are disclosed. The video processing apparatus includes a first de-interlacer to de-interlace standard definition (SD)-level interlaced video signal into an SD-level progressive video signal by using spatial-temporal interpolation and output the SD-level progressive video signal, a scaler to convert the SD-level progressive video signal into a high definition (HD)-level interlaced video signal and output the HD-level interlaced video signal, and a second de-interlacer to de-interlace the HD-level interlaced video signal into a HD-level progressive video signal by using spatial interpolation and output the HD-level progressive video signal. Accordingly, an artifact ca be prevented from appearing at a vertical edge of an image.

Abstract: Noise components involved in a video signal are detected as follows: Extracted from the video signal are a first high-frequency component involved during each blanking interval, a second high-frequency component involved in a horizontal direction for each of pixels constituting each image carried by the video signal during each image-carrying period located between adjacent blanking intervals, a third high-frequency component involved in a vertical direction for each pixel by using the video signal and a 1-line delayed video signal generated by delaying the video signal by one line in the vertical direction, and a fourth high-frequency component involved in a time direction for each pixel by using the video signal and a 1-frame delayed video signal generated by delaying the video signal by one frame in the time direction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a video processing method and apparatus capable of performing a proper video process corresponding to various color systems. A decoder extracts color information from a received video signal including vertical synchronous information for a vertical scanning frequency of a picture, color information of the picture, and frequency information corresponding to the color information. A frequency evaluator evaluates the received vertical scanning frequency and the received frequency of the video signal color information on the basis of the vertical synchronous information and the frequency information of the color information.

Abstract: Systems and methods which can shift video to the edge of the display screen. The user can electrically and mechanically roll up or down the projection screen to fit the opposite edge. Further, the electrically shifted position can be memorized in memory, which will be easily recalled during future use. Also, to avoid displaying visible noise near the top edge of the video, the video may be shifted to avoid such noise being visible. The shifted position may be stored in memory to be recalled for future use.

Abstract: The invention aims at providing a digital broadcasting-receiving apparatus which is not connected to a network, especially, a method of transmitting a program easy to receive, and a digital broadcasting-receiving apparatus which readily makes program update. A receiving apparatus (1) of the invention down loads an update program common to a plurality of receiving apparatuses using different control programs, and selects only a necessary module among a plurality of modules contained in the update program to rewrite the necessary module thus selected.

Abstract: A system determines available system resources along with the complexity of video clips in order to initiate and adapt automatic video clip playback. A method automatically concurrently plays multiple video clips in at least one composite video image by automatically determining available processing resources based on a number of available processors and associated corresponding individual processor operational speed. The method involves automatically determining a number of video clips that may be concurrently played and displayed in a composite video image by the determined available processing resources based on a number of the multiple video clips and associated corresponding individual video clip compression type. The method also includes initiating concurrent play and display of the determined number of video clips in the composite video image.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus that can display a predetermined content as a predetermined main screen or predetermined sub-screens includes a displaying unit operable to display a main-content on the main screen and sub-contents on the sub-screens; a detecting unit operable to detect characteristic amounts of the sub-contents displayed on the sub-screens; and a control unit operable to switch the display on the main screen based on the characteristic amounts of the sub-contents detected by the detecting unit.

Abstract: A control system for controlling video and audio parameters of a display device and a play device is provided. An OSD system of the play device and an OSD system of the display device receive OSD signals respectively. The OSD signals are transmitted between the play device and the display device through a bus. Therefore, the video and audio parameters are controlled synchronously by the OSD signals. Furthermore, displayed images and sound are controlled as well.

Abstract: A broadcasting receiver of the present invention includes a tuning section and a control section. The tuning section receives a broadcasting signal corresponding to a selected channel. The control section selects a channel selected when the power was turned off most recently when the power is turned on, and displays a plurality of measures to be taken when there is no broadcasting signal on the selected channel.

Abstract: A method extracts an alpha matte from a video acquired of a scene. A set of pinhole or narrow aperture images IP is acquired of the scene with a camera aperture set to a relatively large depth-of-field. The scene includes a background B and a foreground F. A corresponding set of wide aperture images IF is acquired of the scene with the camera aperture set to a relatively small depth-of-field. The respective pinhole and wide aperture images are combined to extract an alpha matte according to ?=1+(IF?IP)/(B?BF).

Abstract: In a television set, image quality is adjusted in accordance with parameters calculated on the basis of adjustment values used in the past, depending on a feature of an image and an environmental status. A weight calculator determines a weight depending on the manner in which a user performs a volume control operation. A cumulative weight memory outputs a cumulative weight corresponding to the feature value. Output volume values used in past are stored in a volume value generator. The volume value generator calculates output volume values corresponding to a feature value on the basis of parameters indicating final adjustment values, the feature value, the weight, and the cumulative weight. The calculated volume values are stored in the volume value generator. Under the control of a system controller, the volume values stored in the volume value generator are output to a coefficient generator.