Abstract: A thermal transfer printing machine 10 for thermally transferring image information on an information carrying medium to a printing medium is provided. The thermal transfer printing machine 10 includes a first platen roller 11 adapted so as to be rotatable, a second platen roller 12 adapted so as to be rotatable, the second platen roller 12 being separated from the first platen roller 11 and also paralleled thereto substantially, and a thermal print head 21 disposed between the first and second platen rollers 11, 12. The thermal print head 21 is adapted so as to be movable between a first transfer position to allow the thermal print head 21 to oppose the first platen roller 11 and a second transfer position to allow the thermal print head 21 to oppose the second platen roller 12.

Abstract: A thermal printer includes a first module having a motor and a thermal head support member to fix a thermal head, the thermal head support member having a fixed blade part working as a blade and an a second module being detachably coupled with the first module, the second module having a platen roller, a movable blade member and a movable blade member movement mechanism to move the movable blade member, wherein the movable blade member is disposed to face the fixed blade part and driving force of the motor is conveyed to the movable blade member movement mechanism, and thereby a cutter part is formed.

Abstract: A light scanning apparatus comprising a photosynthesis device having a first light source unit and a second light source unit with a plurality of light sources spaced at equal intervals side by side in one direction, respectively for emitting rays in parallel from the plurality of light sources, a photosynthesis device for synthesizing transmitted rays from the first light source unit and reflected rays from the second light source unit on a single light path, and a light receiving device for focusing first synthesized rays synthesized by the photosynthesis device through an imaging lens, and an optical deflecting device for deflecting and scanning second synthesized rays synthesized by the photosynthesis device, and the second synthesized rays passed through the optical deflecting device is being externally emitted, wherein the photosynthesis device and the light receiving device are displaced relative to the optic axis of the first synthesized rays so as to position focused spots of the first synthesized ra

Abstract: The present invention uses a pattern that enables image quality maintaining control to be performed at a resolution lower than that used for a normal image forming process. Thus, during an initial operation upon power-on, the image quality maintaining control is performed at the resolution lower than that used for the normal image forming process.

Abstract: An optical multi-beam scanning device has a plurality of pre-deflection optical units, an optical path synthesizing member and an excessive light processing member. The excessive light processing member processes excessive light emitted from an excessive light emitting surface with is not an incident surface nor an emitting surface of the optical path synthesizing member. The excessive light processing member has a multi-stage taper constitution with a plurality of taper surfaces having different tilt angles.

Abstract: A method for driving a self-scanning light-emitting element array is provided in which two light-emitting elements may be illuminated simultaneously in one chip. In a self-scanning light-emitting element array including a transfer element array and light-emitting element array, a magnitude of the write signal for illuminating adjacent two light-emitting elements simultaneously is two times that of the write signal for illuminating one light-emitting element. The self-scanning light-emitting element array is composed of a plurality of self-scanning light-emitting element array chips arranged in a linear manner, and the two-phase clock pulses are applied commonly to the plurality of self-scanning light-emitting element array chips.

Abstract: A data recording layer and an image drawing layer are disposed in an optical disk. Optical pickups are disposed on opposite sides of this optical disk, respectively. One of the optical pickups records data on the data recording layer. The other optical pickup forms a visible image on the image drawing layer. The one of the optical pickups detects a predetermined rotation reference position from the optical disk before an image drawing operation on the image drawing layer by the other optical pickup. An orientation of the visible image is set on the basis of the detected rotation reference position to form the visible image on the image drawing layer.

Abstract: A telephone establishes a content sharing community with users associated with other telephones. The telephone stores content that includes video, a podcast, a TV program, or a link to a video, a podcast or a TV program and shares the content with another telephone associated with one user of the community of users.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for projecting a spatial image is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes i) a monitor, which outputs the spatial image, ii) an image direction control unit, which controls the direction of the spatial image outputted from the monitor and controls a viewing angle, and iii) a half-mirror, which transflects the spatial image whose direction is adjusted by the image direction control unit. At least one embodiment of the present invention modifies the conventional barrier technology, which has been used to control 3D images or viewing angles, to enhance a sense of realism by adjusting the direction of light emitted from a display device.

Abstract: Provides a system for detecting an intersection between more than one panoramic video sequence and detecting the orientation of the sequences forming the intersection. Video images and corresponding location data are received. If required, the images and location data is processed to ensure the images contain location data. An intersection between two paths is then derived from the video images by deriving a rough intersection between two images, determining a neighborhood for the two images, and dividing each image in the neighborhood into strips. An identifying value is derived from each strip to create a row of strip values which are then converted to the frequency domain. A distance measure is taken between strips in the frequency domain, and the intersection is determined from the images having the smallest distance measure between them.

Abstract: A display device includes a display panel for displaying a plurality of images, a viewing-zone generator for producing a plurality of viewing zones corresponding to the plurality of images and a first reflector at a first side of the display panel for reflecting a first image of the plurality of images to one of the plurality of viewing zones that corresponds to a second image of the plurality of images.

Abstract: The invention provides a complete system for three-dimensional (3D) (stereo) still photography in a digital format. This includes capturing the image or photo, viewing, printing and projecting it. Intermediate steps would include downloading images to a computer, editing, enhancing or modifying, saving, recording photo images to other storage medium, and the printing of still photos. This invention is a significant advancement of the traditional analog film stereo slides, in that the digital format will allow viewing of the image in the camera in 3D, prior to, during, immediately after exposure and at any other time after exposure. With significant computer processing capability after exposure in editing, enhancing, color correcting, adding text and art, the images are further improved. The system includes the ability to view images, in 3D (stereo), in the camera, in a hand held viewer, on a computer screen on a standard television set as well as printed pairs or in anaglyph formats.

Abstract: Apparatus for obtaining images of the wall of a borehole, comprises a tool body; a light source mounted on the tool body and arranged to illuminate the borehole wall; a camera mounted in the tool body; and a mirror moveably mounted on the tool body and spaced axially from the camera and arranged to reflect an image of the borehole wall at the camera, wherein the movement of the mirror allows images of different parts of the borehole wall to be reflected at the camera.

Abstract: Disclosed is a video signal processing apparatus including a telecine conversion signal detecting unit configured to detect whether or not an input video signal in an interlaced system is a telecine converted video signal; an IP converting unit configure to convert the input video signal into a signal in a progressive system according to a detected result obtained by the telecine conversion signal detecting unit; and a noise level detecting unit configured to detect a noise level of the input video signal. The video signal processing apparatus further includes a control unit configured to control a detection sensitivity of the telecine conversion signal detecting unit such that the input video signal is detected as the telecine converted video signal less easily if a noise level is increased based on the detected result obtained from the noise level detecting unit.

Abstract: A method for inspecting a slider having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape is provided. The method has: a lifting step of lifting said slider upward and stopping said slider at an inspecting position while supporting said slider at an undersurface of said slider, wherein said undersurface is a surface that is other than a first surface, said first surface being an air bearing surface or a surface that is to be formed in said air bearing surface; and an inspection step of simultaneously inspecting said first surface and a second surface of said slider, said second surface being a surface that is other than said first surface and said undersurface, wherein said first surface is inspected by a first camera and said second surface is inspected by a second camera, said first and second cameras being arranged in advance such that an optical axis thereof passes through said inspecting position.

Abstract: An intelligent monitor system is provided. The system includes a driver, an imaging device, a central processing unit, and a motion detection unit. The motion detection unit is used for setting a motion monitoring section in an image of a monitored area captured by the imaging device. If suspicious activity occurs in the motion monitoring section, the central processing unit controls the driver to drive the imaging device, the imaging device moves the motion monitoring section to the image center to be amplified. A related method is also provided.

Abstract: A process and camera system is provided for capturing and compressing video image information. The compressed data may be efficiently transmitted to another location, where cooperating decompression processes are used. The compression process first captures a background image, and transmits the background image to a receiver. For each subsequent image, the image is compared at the camera to the background image, and a change file is generated. The change file is then transmitted to the receiver, which uses the background image and the change file to decompress the image. These changes may be aggregated by both the camera and the receiver for even better compression. In some cases, the background may be removed from the displayed image at the receiver, thereby displaying only changing image information. In this way, a display is less cluttered, enabling more effective human or automated monitoring and assessment of the changing video information.

Abstract: Image-based movement tracking of a number of objects in a particular area. A number of image registration units repeatedly record data pertaining to multiple simultaneous representations of events occurring within the area. At least one stereo-pair of cameras repeatedly record stereo-image data based upon which a data processing unit repeatedly determines a respective position for each of the objects. A first camera and a second camera in the stereo-pair are separated by a base distance. Moreover, the cameras are essentially parallel and directed towards the area, such that a first image plane of the first camera registers a portion of the area, which substantially overlaps a portion of the area registered by a second image plane of the second camera.

Abstract: A multi-imaging system and method is provided for use by artists in which the subject (person) being drawn by the artist can simultaneously watch themselves and the image being drawn by the artist. The user friendly multi-imaging system and method can include video cameras, a screen for viewing by the subject, and another screen for viewing by the artist.

Abstract: This invention describes a video surveillance system which is composed of three key components 1—smart camera(s), 2—server(s), 3—client(s), connected through IP-networks in wired or wireless configurations. The system has been designed so as to protect the privacy of people and goods under surveillance. Smart cameras are based on JPEG 2000 compression where an analysis module allows for efficient use of security tools for the purpose of scrambling, and event detection. The analysis is also used in order to provide a better quality in regions of the interest in the scene. Compressed video streams leaving the camera(s) are scrambled and signed for the purpose of privacy and data integrity verification using JPSEC compliant methods. The same bit stream is also protected based on JPWL compliant methods for robustness to transmission errors.

Abstract: An audio/visual system comprises a display device (1) to display a plurality of different video signals (V1, V2) which have different video content. An audio processor (4) receives a plurality of audio input signals (AI1, AI2) representing corresponding different base-band audio content, wherein each one of the different audio input signals (AI1, AI2) corresponds to a corresponding one of the plurality of different video signals (V1, V2). The audio processor (4) modulates the audio input signals (AI1, AI2) on corresponding sets (Si) of a first and a second ultrasonic drive signal (S1i, S2i) which have a difference frequency which is the corresponding base-band audio content. A plurality of ultrasonic sources (5, 6), receives the corresponding sets (Si) of first and second ultrasonic drive signals (S1i, S2i), respectively, to supply a plurality of ultrasonic beams (Bi) conveying the plurality of different audio input signals (AI1, AI2).

Abstract: A camera is provided that includes a dust-proofing member that has a substantially circular or polygonal plate-shape and that includes a transparent portion at an area having at least a predetermined length in a radial direction from the center thereof, and that is opposed to the front of an optical device at a predetermined interval. A member for vibration is arranged at a peripheral portion of the dust-proofing member and applies vibrations to the dust-proofing member. A sealing structure is arranged outside a peripheral portion of the optical device or an adjacent portion thereof, and forms a substantially sealed space portion including an air gap portion formed by opposing the optical device and the dust-proofing member, and sealing the space portion at a peripheral side of the optical device and the dust-proofing member.

Abstract: A camera device (1) comprising a support structure (10), a primary camera (16) carried by the support structure, and a secondary camera (15) carried by the support structure. When the primary camera (16) is operated to capture an image of an object, the secondary camera (15) captures an image of a user of the camera device (1). An orientation detector (17) is connected to the secondary camera (15), configured to identify images features in the image captured by the secondary camera, such as the eyes and mouth of the user, and to determine rotation orientation of the image relative to a reference orientation. A data storing device (20, 21) is configured to store image data of images captured by the primary camera in an orientation dependent on determined rotation orientation. This way all images may be stored in a common orientation, regardless of which orientation the camera device was held in when the images were captured.

Abstract: A motion sensor is used to sense the movement of the camera during an exposure period. The camera has an image sensor to form one or more exposures. When the movement is within a certain range, the exposures are used to provide one or more frames so that an image can be constructed based on the frames. In one embodiment, the exposure period is divided into several short intervals in order to capture several image frames and only the image frames captured when the position of the camera is within a predetermined range are used to form the final image. The exposure time for each frame is small in order to reduce the motion blur degradation of the individual frames. If the camera is stable and substantially stationary relative to the scene, then all or many of the shorter frames are used to form the final image.

Abstract: The captured video will be compressed group by group and transmitted to the receiver through wireless transceiver. The mechanism of the wireless video communication includes the defining of whether or not to request resend when data loss or data damage happened. When the time of the data loss or data damage happened is more than the predetermined threshold, the video will be compressed by further lower bit rate. Areas of the captured image with more interest will be compressed by assigning more bit rate. The area of less interest will be compressed with less bit rate and transmitted. One of every predetermined amount of images will be shrunk and displayed in the smaller area of the display device to let the video shooter view the position the image is captured and decides whether the position results in good image quality.

Abstract: A system is used to remotely control camera positioning. A transformation model is used. By in putting image coordinates of the monitored position form camera, the object coordinates is obtained and displayed on a digital map. By inputting object coordinates on a digital map, image coordinates for the camera is obtained. After transferring parameters for camera positioning, the camera is moved to a desired position for monitoring an area and taking a photo.

Abstract: Apparatus, methods and systems for creating mosaics are described. A method is provided that includes identifying an image for presentation as a mosaic; dividing the identified image into a plurality of tiles; scoring each tile; identifying a matching image from an image dataset using the score for each tile; and rendering the mosaic using the matching images.

Abstract: To enable a prompt switching operation by a user. An image processing device connected to an image capturing section has a process execution section for executing any of a plurality of processes, obtains area specification data for specifying an area where the user is shown in the image, based on a difference between the images sequentially captured by the image capturing section images, and switches a process to be carried out by the process execution section, depending on the position of an edge of the area specified by the area specification data obtained.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus which images pictures using a solid-state imaging device includes a picture conversion unit converting pictures imaged at a high-speed screen rate by the solid-state imaging device into a picture in which n-pieces (“n” is an integer of 2 or more) of continuous imaged pictures are arranged in one screen and outputting the converted picture at a low-speed screen rate which is 1/n of the high-speed screen rate, a signal processing unit performing predetermined picture-quality compensation processing to the picture from the picture conversion unit, a display picture cutting unit cutting one of n-pieces of imaged pictures from pictures processed by the signal processing unit and outputting the picture at the low-speed screen rate, and a display processing unit generating picture signals for displaying the picture outputted from the display picture cutting unit at a display device.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a camera control unit constituting a head detachable camera includes plural drive signal generators generating a drive signal different by each format of an image pickup device, plural video signal generators generating a video signal different by each format of the image pickup device, and plural converters converting the video signal into an output format different by each format of the image pickup device. Besides, the camera control unit switches the drive signal generator, video signal generator, and converter to be activated in accordance with the format of the image pickup device from among the plural drive signal generators, video signal generators, and converters.

Abstract: An electronic imaging apparatus includes a color imaging device having several drive modes including at least first and second drive modes. A simultaneous shooting unit simultaneously or continuously executes an operation of acquiring a first image data by driving the color imaging device in the first drive mode and an operation of acquiring a second image data by driving the color imaging device in the second drive mode. A color conversion parameter calculator calculates color conversion parameters so that color reproduction of the first and second image data acquired by the simultaneous shooting unit becomes the same.

Abstract: The invention provides an imaging device, an imaging system and an image photography method which can construct an image having a higher resolution than a photographed image. The imaging device is constituted by an optical imaging unit 11 (an optical imaging means for imaging an image of a subject), an imaging unit 12 (a means for converting an image imaged optically into an image signal that is discretized spatially and is sampled), an image processing unit 15 (a means for generating a high-resolution image from image signals of multiple frames), a moving velocity detecting unit 13 (a means for detecting a status change of the imaging device itself), and an imaging timing deciding unit 14 (a means for deciding a imaging timing). The imaging device is constituted such as to construct the high-resolution image from an imaging element with a little number of the pixels.

Abstract: A camera has a body and an electronic capture unit mounted in the body. The electronic capture unit selectively captures and stores a scene image as a representational electronic image having a first array of pixels. A control system is mounted in the body. The control system provides a remapped electronic image having a second array of pixels. A memory unit is disposed in the body. The memory unit stores a data-set defining an non-uniform mapping between a plurality of primary input coordinates mappable on said first array of pixels and plurality of primary output coordinates mappable on said second array of pixels. The control system uses the data-set to remap the pixels of the input electronic image to provide the remapped electronic image.

Abstract: An image reproduction device has a display interface, a data reading unit, an image processing section, a recording unit, and a control section. The display interface outputs to a monitor device including a display screen. The data reading unit reads data from an external recording device as well as including a connection section capable of electrically connecting the external recording device recording photographic image data. The image processing section generates monitor image data based on the photographic image data. The image size of the monitor image data corresponds to the image resolution of the monitor device. The recording unit records the monitor image data in a memory. The control section performs the reproduction mode in which a reproduction image based on the monitor image data is displayed on the monitor device. Besides, the control section is configured to produce a reproduction image when not connected with the external recording device.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus, comprising: a first recording module, which has a first initialization time from initialization to coming into a recordable condition; a second recording module which has a second initialization time from initialization to coming into a recordable condition, being longer than the first initialization time; a mode switching module, which is configure to switch over a power OFF mode, a mode for recording into the first recording module, and a mode for recording into the second recording module, wherein the mode exchange switch, which is configured to exchange the mode in an order from the power OFF mode to the mode for recording into the first recording module, and to the mode for recording into the second recording module, whereby shortening an apparent initializations time of the recording module having a long initialization time, while using a high-speed initialization characteristic of the recording module having a short initialization time effectively, thereby obtaining an improvement

Abstract: An image acquisition sensor of a digital image acquisition apparatus is coupled to imaging optics for acquiring a sequence of images. Images acquired by the sensor are stored. A motion detector causes the sensor to cease capture of an image when the degree of movement in acquiring the image exceeds a threshold. A controller selectively transfers acquired images for storage. A motion extractor determines motion parameters of a selected, stored image. An image re-constructor corrects the selected image with associated motion parameters. A selected plurality of images nominally of the same scene are merged and corrected by the image re-constructor to produce a high quality image of the scene.

Abstract: An electronic device includes an exterior casing and a flat hard disk drive with a thickness smaller than height and width. The exterior casing includes a hard disk accommodation unit which has a depth corresponding to the thickness and in which the hard disk drive is accommodated, an opening through which the hard disk drive is detachably mounted along the depth direction of the hard disk accommodation unit, and a cover for opening and closing the opening.

Abstract: Digital camera systems and methods are described that provide a color digital camera with direct luminance detection. The luminance signals are obtained directly from a broadband image sensor channel without interpolation of RGB data. The chrominance signals are obtained from one or more additional image sensor channels comprising red and/or blue color band detection capability. The red and blue signals are directly combined with the luminance image sensor channel signals. The digital camera generates and outputs an image in YCrCb color space by directly combining outputs of the broadband, red and blue sensors.

Abstract: An interconnected camera system includes a number of cameras interconnected via a data communications protocol. Each camera has an image sensor configured to capture an image. A card is configured to be inserted into each camera. The card has encoded thereon various instructions for the manipulation of the captured image. A processor is configured to manipulate the captured image in accordance with the encoded instructions.

Abstract: In an image sensing apparatus having an image sensing element that senses an object and outputs image data and an electronic zoom function, either a first processing mode or a second processing mode is set and an angle of view is designated. In the first processing mode, the image sensing element is driven by switching reading regions and reading methods of image data from the image sensing element based on the designated angle of view and the image data is read, processed, and the angle of view determined by the switched reading region is changed to the designated angle of view. In the second processing mode, the reading region and the reading method of the image data are fixed and the image data output from the image sensing element is processed, and the angle of view determined by the fixed reading region changed to the designated angle of view.

Abstract: A method for reducing the noise equivalent temperature difference associated with imaging devices having a detection array including micro-cantilevers and a charged-coupled device or a complementary metal oxide semiconductor imager is presented. The method includes calculating horizontal and vertical pixel ratios based upon the number of receptor pixels and micro-cantilever pixels, defining composite pseudo-pixels comprised of at least two receptor pixels, capturing at least one frame of an image, calculating the composite intensity for each composite pseudo-pixel based on the intensities of the receptor pixels therein, and reconstructing each frame so that receptor pixels within each composite pseudo-pixel are displayed with the appropriate composite intensity. While the present method lowers pixel resolution, the composite pseudo-pixels maintain image resolution within the reconstructed image.

Abstract: When signal charges are read from light receiving pixels of each of CCD sensors, which are arrayed linearly such that end regions of CCD sensors adjacent to each other overlap with respect to a direction intersecting with the linear array direction of the CCD sensors, binning processing of the signal charges is performed, such that a position of one unit of light receiving pixels, which are to be subjected together to the binning processing, at the end region of one of the CCD sensors adjacent to each other and a position of one unit of light receiving pixels, which are to be subjected together to the binning processing, at the end region of the other CCD sensor coincide with each other with respect to the linear array direction of the CCD sensors.

Abstract: An imaging system according to the present inventions includes an image sensor in which a plurality of unit pixels are arranged on a chip and an image processing LSI for converting color components output from the image sensor to color signals. The imaging system is configured to select only color component which have passed through filters having similar spectral characteristics to spectral characteristics of the human eye from separation filter groups forming multi-layer film filters under white light and, on the other hand, combine color components which have passed through arbitrarily selected filters of the filters the separation filter groups to output the combined color components under illumination of low rendering lightning.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a color image pickup device including a pixel group in which a plurality of pixels each having a photoelectric conversion element and a color filter are arranged includes the steps of generating a random array pattern in which color filters of at least one color component are randomly arranged for an arbitrary pixel position, so that the occurrence frequency of color filters of a color component in a region having a predetermined size including the arbitrary pixel position is within a desired error range, generating a regular array pattern in which color filters of at least one color component are regularly arranged, and generating a color filter pattern by compositing in a regular manner the random array pattern generated in the random array generating step and the regular array pattern generated in the regular array generating step.

Abstract: An image capture system, having image elements arranged in a logarithmic spiral, which makes the information taken from the image for a particular object invariant with both the magnification and rotation of the object thus substantially simplifying both object alignment and the information processing necessary to achieve object recognition, identification, verification or classification.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a plurality of pixels arranged two-dimensionally. Each pixel includes a photoelectric converter (2) for converting incident light to a charge, and a gray filter (6a, 6b, 6c) having a visible light transmittance that is different depending on the photoelectric converter (2). According to this construction, the plurality of pixels have different sensitivities to incident light. By combining pixel signals obtained from three pixels having different sensitivities, a wider dynamic range can be achieved.

Abstract: The solid-state imaging device in the present invention is a solid-state imaging device that includes plural pixel cells arranged on a semi-conductor substrate, and a driving unit installed on the semi-conductor substrate in order to drive each pixel cell, wherein each pixel cell includes: a photodiode which converts incident light into a signal charge; a transfer transistor which transfers the signal charge of the photodiode to a floating diffusion unit; the floating diffusion unit accumulates the transferred signal charge; and a control implantation layer which is positioned under a gate of the transfer transistor, and becomes a charge transfer path when the charge is transferred from the photodiode to the control implementation layer, wherein an impurity concentration of the control implantation layer is denser toward the bottom of the substrate than toward the surface of the semi-conductor substrate.

Abstract: A magnifier-and-focus switching unit switches the focal distance of an image acquiring unit and an object from a focal distance for normal photography to a focal distance for close-up photography. As a result, the image acquiring unit acquires an image at the focal distance for the close-up photography. A zoom processing unit enlarges the image acquired by the image acquiring unit and a displaying unit displays the enlarged image.

Abstract: A camera system has a chassis carrying one or more cameras. Each camera has support member mounted to the chassis and an imaging chip mounted to the support member. An optical system for imaging onto the imaging chip may also be mounted to the chassis. The chassis and support members may have coefficients of thermal expansion that are substantially matched. In some embodiments the support members are located between the imaging chips and one or more circuit boards to which the imaging chips are electrically connected. In some embodiments the imaging chips are located over apertures or other channels through the chassis and light is incident on the imaging chips by way of the channels. The relative locations of the imaging chips can be maintained constant to preserve calibration for stereo imaging.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making an image capture unit, which includes the steps of: providing an image sensor; attaching a plate on the image sensor; providing at least one cavity on the plate aligned with the image sensor; mounting lenses in the cavity of the plate, and attaching a cover on the plate to shield a margin region of each of the lenses.