Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) for deployment of a sensor chip of an optical head of an endoscope is described. The PCB comprises at least one layer defined by a front surface, a rear surface and a recess provided on said front surface. The recess has a depth dimension and the sensor chip has a thickness corresponding to said depth dimension of the recess. The sensor chip is receivable within the recess so as to be essentially flush with the front surface of the PCB. The PCB comprises at least one bonding pad located at a predetermined distance from the sensor chip and is electrically connectable with the sensor chip.

Abstract: An in-vivo device may include an optical system, and a method for viewing in-vivo sites. A dome or cover may cover an end of the device, protecting optical elements such as illumination devices or imagers, which may be behind the dome. The dome may be forward projecting. The field of view of the imager may be for example forward looking. Illumination element(s) and a receiving unit or imager may be disposed behind a single optical window, which for example may enable obtaining of images free of backscatter and stray light.

Abstract: A microscope system and method is described for determining a position of an area of an object within the complete object, wherein the image of the area of the object is contained within a field of view of a microscope. Image data representing a low magnification image of the complete object is available for use in the method, and may be acquired using a low magnification image data source such as a scanner. The method comprises acquiring high magnification image data representing an image of the field of view of the microscope, typically from a digital camera attached to the microscope; processing the high magnification image data to reduce the resolution thereof; comparing the processed high magnification image data with portions of the low magnification image data, and, determining said position based on the results of said comparison.

Abstract: A microscope image pickup system is one having a microscope apparatus enabled to change an observation state by driving one or more optical members, which comprises: an image pickup unit for picking up an image of an observation object; an image process unit for applying an image process to an image picked up by the image pickup unit; an input unit for inputting a process factor of the image process unit, wherein an observation state of the microscope apparatus and/or an image pickup condition of the image pickup unit are set up and an image is picked up so as to pick up an image of an image quality being equal to, or better than, that of an image to which an image process is applied on the basis of the process factor input from the input unit.

Abstract: When images of vehicle surroundings are captured by cameras and are displayed together with an image of a vehicle, surrounding images within a predetermined distance from the vehicle are displayed at the same scale as the scale of the vehicle image, and surrounding images outside the predetermined distance are displayed at a larger scale than the scale of the vehicle image. The surrounding images may be displayed at a progressively larger scale as the distance from the vehicle increases.

Abstract: Method for avoiding unauthorized images of a proprietor's information from being transmitted outside the proprietor's control. A photographic image captured with a camera incorporated upon the wireless handheld communication device is wirelessly transmitted to a proprietor's server. The image is stored on the server after capture and transmission, preferably while the device is still in the photography-restricted geographical area that is under the control of the proprietor of the server. Once at the server, the photographic image is analyzed to determine whether or not the image is authorized for dissemination outside the proprietor's control. Local storage of the photographic image can be prevented on the device which assures that the transmission and storage of the photographic image on the proprietor's server is exclusive.

Abstract: A surveillance camera system capable of accepting any appropriate surveillance camera and video transmission option and is programmed to operate with a multitude of competitive communication protocols with minimal servicing required. The system can quickly convert and/or update the camera system to be able to transmit video data over coaxial cable, unshielded twisted-pair (UTP), fiber optics or IP. A conversion from UTP to IP can convert the camera assembly into a network server for TCP/IP communication enabling the camera to be controlled locally or from any location over the internet using any installed network video protocol. The camera assembly with the ability to quickly configure the communication video interface via switch selectable on-board communication protocols.

Abstract: A surveillance system uses a flash or other memory to store multiple data streams, each of which includes pre-start signal and post-start signal data. An area of the memory is preferably utilized as a circular buffer, in which a second data stream can be recorded without overwriting a first data stream. Buffers can have sufficient to capacity to capture up to an hour or more of image frames. All suitable methods and apparatus for initiating start and stop signals are contemplated, including for example using a button, toggle or other switch, a verbal or other human interface, and using motion, sound, light or other sensors. It is also contemplated that embodiments can include an interface for altering or otherwise designating a pre-signal size of the recently used segment.

Abstract: Disclosed therein is an external monitoring system, which includes cameras mounted at both sides of the front and rear of a vehicle and on side view mirrors, display devices for outputting images in a driver's front sight direction through the cameras, and controller for controlling the display devices. The display devices are mounted on a dash board of the upper portion of an instrument cluster or on the dash board of the upper portion of a steering wheel and are adjustable in their location laterally to allow the driver to gaze the front to the maximum.

Abstract: A surveillance camera system includes a first camera 5 having an angle of view ?1, a second camera 6 which is a combination of two camera modules 6a, 6b each having an angle of view ?2, a third camera 7 which is a combination of three camera modules 7a, 7b, 7c each having an angle of view ?3, and a local camera 8 having an angle of view ?s. The first to third cameras 5 to 7 act as area surveillance cameras to which the optimum shooting distance is set, respectively. The local camera 8 takes a shot of a local area, which is set in a shooting area of the third camera 7, at the narrowest angle of view ?s. The respective cameras take a shot individually under automatic exposure control.

Abstract: An automatic-tracking camera apparatus which is capable of realizing continuous and smooth driving and obtaining an image with little position variation of a tracking target from a target position within the image and with little blur. The position of a camera body is changed by a gimbal device. The speed of a tracking target object at the next-after-next start timing of image acquisition by the camera body is predicted. The gimbal device is controlled so that the camera body reaches the position indicated by a position instruction value generated for the next-after-next start timing of image acquisition by the camera body, at the next-after-next start timing, and the speed of the camera body at the next-after-next start timing of image acquisition by the camera body corresponds to the speed predicted for the next-after-next timing of image acquisition.

Abstract: For a television scanning element with a scanning area, a method of scanning a television image comprises the steps of: scanning the scanning area at a predetermined fine detail picture scanning rate; imaging a fine detail picture of the television image onto a portion of the scanning area; and imaging more than one coarse detail picture of the television image adjacent to the fine detail picture, each coarse detail picture having a size less than the fine detail picture; wherein the imaging combination produces a fine detail image with the fine detail scan rate and a coarse detail image with a coarse detail scan rate, the coarse detail scan rate being a multiple of the fine detail scan rate equal to the number of imaged coarse detail pictures.

Abstract: An image recording and reproducing apparatus includes a group management information file creation circuit for, in recording, grouping recorded images at predetermined time intervals and creating, for each group, a group management information file storing group management information including a start time indicating the time when a first recorded image in a group is recorded, an end time indicating the time when a last recorded image in the group is recorded, an address at which index information about the first recorded image in the group is stored, and channel distance information indicating, for each channel, a group interval from a group including a last recorded image of a channel to the current group.

Abstract: Upon outputting an image from a camera to an external device, a screen image (preparation screen image) for showing candidate images to be output to the external device is displayed on a display part of the camera. Then, an image selected from display images on this preparation screen is output to the external device. For example, the display images on the preparation screen image can consist of a monitor image and a plurality of recorded images.

Abstract: A handheld electronic device including a body and an image capturing module. A display is disposed on one surface of the body. The image capturing module is disposed at the body, and includes a lens and a filter unit. The lens is exposed from an opening on the body. Images captured by the lens are displayed on the display. The filter unit includes at least one first filter, one second filter, and a switch. Each of the first filter and the second filter transmits light with different wavelength. The switch is used to switch the first filter and the second filter so that one of the first filter and the second filter is on the light receiving path of the lens.

Abstract: A portable terminal apparatus includes a main body, a power key and a digital camera module. The power key is disposed on and exposed from the main body. The power key is pervious to light. The digital camera module is disposed inside the main body and has a lens device facing the power key.

Abstract: Operation situations of a plurality of functions of the camera can be checked from a front of the camera without adding any new hardware. A self-timer LED which is previously provided on a front of the camera is also used as an indicating device which indicates operation situations of other functions of the camera. That is, operation situations such as charging a rechargeable battery or communicating with a personal computer are indicated by lighting, blinking, or the like of the self-timer LED. Especially, when a digital camera is mounted to a cradle used in charging the battery or communicating with the personal computer, the operation situations such as charging or communicating can be effectively checked from the front of the camera. Further, for a digital camera which has a moving image-capturing function or a voice recording function, moving image recording or voice recording is indicated by lighting, blinking, or the like of the self-timer LED.

Abstract: There is provided a camera-shake correction mechanism by which camera shaking is corrected for by moving an imaging device on a plane that is orthogonal to an optical axis and in directions that are mutually orthogonal. The mechanism includes a heat dissipating mechanism that diffuses heat from the imaging device into atmosphere from a rear surface of the imaging device.

Abstract: A lens driving device having a simplified structure in which a holding member is moved relative to a stationary member with appropriate viscous damping is provided. The lens driving device includes the holding member configured to hold a compensation lens for image stabilization, the stationary member configured to support the holding member in a movable manner in a plane that is perpendicular to a light axis, a driving unit configured to change the position of the holding member relative to the stationary member, and a damping material disposed between the holding member and the stationary member. The damping material has a transition region in a frequency range between 0.3 Hz and 100 Hz.

Abstract: A shooting system which has an image sensing apparatus and a monitoring apparatus, distributes an image from the image sensing apparatus to the monitoring apparatus, and allows the monitoring apparatus to remote-control the image sensing apparatus, comprises: an unit adapted to set access permission information containing at least information on a user permitted to access, for each partial area contained in a shootable range of the image sensing apparatus; an unit adapted to set access restriction information with which the access-permitted user restricts access by other users to the access-permitted partial area; an unit adapted to generate an image having undergone an image process to restrict view of the partial area for the other access-restricted users; and an unit adapted to distribute the image having undergone the image process to the other access-restricted users.

Abstract: A system and method of security monitoring is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method includes determining a channel of a television system associated with video content from a security camera. In a particular embodiment, a method includes sending a first alert to a display device and sending a second alert to a remote control device.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems are disclosed for accelerating the operation of the automatic functions of an imager, e.g. a camera system. The automatic functions may, for example, include one or more of auto-focus, auto-exposure and auto-white balance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring device comprising an image sensor, an electrowetting lens that is arranged to focus an image on the image sensor, and a control unit. The control unit is operative to determine the distance to an object based on the state of the electrowetting lens and on focus information derived from an image signal supplied by the image sensor.

Abstract: A parameter of a digital camera or other digital image acquisition device is adjusted to maintain the resulting digital signal within a range carried by a digital processing path that carries a limited number of bits. The magnitude of the parameter is then also used to represent the image. Examples of the parameter include analog signal gain and exposure time. This is a cost effective way to increase the dynamic range of a digital camera, instead of increasing the width of its digital processing path. The digital data may be processed to obtain either tone mapped images, which are compatible with current cameras and other equipment, or to obtain images with a greater dynamic range for use with suitable displays and the like.

Abstract: A method of generating a video-based diary of a user's activities based on various information stored and/or collected by a mobile phone. More particularly, the invention provides a method of generating a video-based diary of a period of time based on information such as, for example, incoming, outgoing, and missed calls, voicemails, sent and received text messages, pictures, sound and/or video clips, location, emails, etc. The format and content included in the generated video-based diary can be predetermined by the user so that only desired stored information is included in the video-based summary. The generated video-based diary can be utilized by the user in the future as a reference for remembering past events. The generated video-based diary can also be uploaded via the phone to a blog, if so desired.

Abstract: A digital image process for a digital camera contains a preprocessor and a postprocessor. The preprocessor can include, for example, a uniformity corrector, a sampling filter, a modulation transformer, and a ditherer. The postprocessor can include a color interpolator, an RGB reconstruction block, a digital compressor, and a color pattern data buffer. The digital image process is programmable to operate one or more of the processing blocks of one or both the preprocessor and the postprocessor for flexible programming that can adapt to the requirements of various digital camera designs or users.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided, which includes an image capturing unit, an adjusting unit and a display unit. The adjusting unit adjusts a clipped area for an image captured by the image capturing unit on photographing mode. The display unit displays a first number of pixels of the clipped area adjusted by the adjusting unit.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems which correct values generated by pixels in a pixel array. From a row value and from stored polynomial coefficients, a polynomial correction function associated with a pixel location is generated. From the correction function and a column value associated with the pixel, a correction factor is calculated for the pixel. The stored polynomial coefficients are generated before correction using a calibration process.

Abstract: The specification and drawings present a new method, apparatus and software product for a dark frame subtraction using multiple dark frames by storing only one frame at a time, i.e., using only one frame storage so that the amount of memory can be minimized. Divisional and multiplication algorithms can be used for the dark frame subtraction.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensor includes a pixel array unit including a plurality of pixels arranged in the form of an array, column signal lines adapted to transmit pixel signals output from pixels in respective columns, a noise adding unit adapted to add temporally constant and two-dimensional spatially random noise to the pixel signals transmitted via the column signal lines, and an analog-to-digital converter adapted to convert a signal level and a reference level of each pixel signal including the noise added thereto by the noise adding unit.

Abstract: A method automatically corrects dust artifact within images acquired by a system including a digital acquisition device including a lens assembly and a translucent lens cap. Multiple original digital images are acquired with the digital acquisition device. Probabilities that certain pixels correspond to dust artifact regions within the images are determined based at least in part on a comparison of suspected dust artifact regions within two or more of the images. Probable dust artifact regions are associated with extracted parameter values relating to the lens assembly when the images were acquired. A statistical dust map is formed including mapped dust regions based on the determining and associating. Pixels corresponding to correlated dust artifact regions are corrected within further digitally-acquired images based on the associated statistical dust map.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein may operate to image a scene with an imaging system using an image blurring technique. An image sensor array (ISA) element may be identified as a dark defect element if a first ratio of an average of a set of illuminance signal magnitudes from a set of surrounding ISA elements to a magnitude of an illuminance signal from the ISA element is greater than a threshold sharpness value. The image sensor array element may be identified as a bright defect element if a second ratio of the magnitude of the illuminance signal from the ISA element to the average of the set of illuminance signal magnitudes from the set of surrounding ISA elements is greater than the threshold sharpness value.

Abstract: A viewfinder configured to display a captured image includes: an edge correction signal generation unit configured to generate a peaking signal corresponding to an edge enhancement correction target hue that is a hue for which edge enhancement correction will be performed from three primary color signals generated from an input video signal; a signal adding unit configured to add the peaking signal generated by the edge correction signal generation unit to each of the three primary color signals generated from the input video signal; and a driving signal generation unit configured to generate a driving signal for a display device from the three primary color signals to each of which the peaking signal has been added by the signal adding unit.

Abstract: A pixel array, composed of rows and columns, has a first row which includes pixels of a first color alternating with pixels of a second color. A second row of the array adjacent to the first row includes alternating pixels of the first color and second colors aligned in a column direction with the colors in the first row. A third row of the array is adjacent to the second row and includes pixels of a third color alternating with pixels of a fourth color. A fourth row of the array is adjacent to the third row and includes alternating pixels of the third and fourth colors aligned in a column direction with the colors of the third row. A readout circuit is connected to the array and reads out the pixel signals contained in each row in an odd/even interlaced fashion.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device is provided and has; three photoelectric conversion layers stacked above a semiconductor substrate 1, each detecting a different color; three signal charge accumulators in a semiconductor substrate for accumulating signal charges generated in each of the three photoelectric conversion layers: and a signal readout circuit in the semiconductor substrate for reading out signals corresponding to the signal charges accumulated in the signal charge accumulators. The three signal charge accumulators are arranged in a direction in the surface of the semiconductor substrate as a pixel and a plurality of the pixels are arranged in a square lattice pattern both in the direction and a direction perpendicular thereto. The three signal charge accumulators arranged in each pixel in an odd row are arranged such that an array of the signal charge accumulators in the first sub-row of each pixel has all of the three signal charge accumulators.

Abstract: The image sensor package includes: an image sensor chip including an image sensing unit which is positioned in an upper central portion thereof and including a plurality of chip bonding pads formed around the image sensing; a transparent board including a lower surface on which a first line electrically connected to the chip bonding pads is formed and the transparent board being arranged with the image sensor chip so that the lower surface faces the image sensing unit; and a plurality of second lines connected to the first line and extending along sidewalls of the image sensor chip to be exposed under a lower surface of the image sensor chip.

Abstract: A physical quantity detecting device includes a pixel array and a vertical driving circuit. In the pixel array, pixels each for converting a physical quantity supplied from the outside into an electric signal and storing the electric signal are two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix. The vertical driving circuit scans a plurality of sets of read rows so that a storage time for each of the electric signals differs from one another and performs a shutter operation on a shutter row in synchronization with a readout operation performed on the corresponding set of read rows out of the plurality of sets of read rows during 1H period that is a unit of time of scanning.

Abstract: An image capture system is presented where the dynamic range of photo imaging devices, such as a still or video camera, is increased by varying sensor exposure time on a pixel-by-pixel basis under digital camera processor control. The systems photo sensors are continuously illuminated without reset over the exposure interval. In addition to being interrogated at the end of the exposure interval, the pixels are also non-destructively interrogated at one or more intermediate times during the interval. At each interrogation, the image capture system determines individually whether the pixels have saturated and if not, the parameter value is recorded; if the pixel has saturated, the previously stored value from the preceding interval is maintained. To produce the final sensor value for the whole exposure interval, the data for pixels that reached the saturation level are adjusted to compensate for their shortened exposure.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system are described providing a high dynamic range pixel. An integration period has multiple sub-integration periods during which charges are accumulated in a photosensor and repeatedly transferred to a storage node, where the charges are accumulated for later transfer to another storage node for output.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel array unit formed of pixels two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix, each having a photoelectric converter, and outputs the signals read from the pixels in the pixel array unit in parallel on a multiple-column basis; control means for performing window cutting in which signals are read from the pixels in a specific area in the pixel array unit; and selection means for, when window cutting is performed by the control means on a column-address basis such that the window overlaps with the multiple-column unit, holding the signals read from the pixels in the present column-address unit and the signals read from the pixels in the preceding column-address unit, selecting consecutive signals on the multiple-column basis from the thus held signals of the present column-address unit and the preceding column-address unit and outputting the selected signals.

Abstract: An image pickup device has a transparent insulation film formed on the primary surface of a semiconductor substrate and a solar cell formed on the insulation film. The solar cell has a transparent electrode film, a p-type conductive film, an n-type conductive film and a transparent electrode film stacked in this order from the bottom. Three photoelectric conversion films are stacked on the solar cell for sensing red, green and blue components, respectively. The solar cell is sensitive to infrared wavelengths. The image pickup device thus allows a battery cell to be reduced in volume.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus has an image pickup device including an imaging section, in which signal charges read out from plural photosensitive cells are vertically transferred over vertical transfer paths and the transferred signal charges are in turn horizontally transferred over a horizontal transfer path, which has a branching section for assigning the transferred signal charges to plural output channels, i.e. plural horizontal transfer paths provided at the end of the horizontal transfer path. A temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the image pickup device is provided on the imaging section, and a temperature-induced drift compensator corrects a transfer error of signal charges in the image pickup device. The compensator modifies transfer error correction based on the detected temperature. The image pickup apparatus can thus substantially reduce an assignment error even when the temperature of the image pickup device changes.

Abstract: This invention discloses a photoelectric conversion device. The photoelectric conversion device includes a pixel array in which a plurality of pixels are arrayed in a row direction and a column direction, a plurality of readout circuits which read out signals from pixels for respective columns in the pixel array, and a control unit which controls the plurality of readout circuits, wherein each of the plurality of readout circuits includes a holding unit which holds a reference voltage supplied from an external power source, an operational amplification unit which amplifies the signals from the pixels for each column based on the reference voltage held in the holding unit, and a disconnection unit which electrically disconnects the external power source and the holding unit, and the control unit controls the disconnection unit to electrically disconnect the external power source and the holding unit when the operational amplification unit amplifies the signals from the pixels for each column.

Abstract: Surface generation and positional gain adjustment techniques for an imager are described. Embodiments of the techniques use zones having flexible boundaries which can be reconfigured depending upon the type of lens being used in a given application. Each pixel within each zone is multiplied by a correction factor dependent upon the particular zone while the pixel is being read out from the array. The correction factors comprise coefficients that are different for each color channel and in some instances different for each corner of each color channel.

Abstract: A circuit for processing an analog signal having a time sequence of discrete signal levels, each of which lies in a time interval and represents an information-bearing segment of the interval while the rest of the time interval is a non-information-bearing segment, comprises a transistor in emitter-follower or source-follower configuration, a high emitter or source resistance or, instead, a high-ohm constant current source, and a device for applying a voltage supply, as well as a switch which is connected between the emitter and a reference potential to prevent a current from flowing via the high-ohm resistance or the high-ohm voltage source for charge reversal of an output capacitance of the circuit in one direction, whereas for charge reversal in the other direction the dynamic current boosting effect of the transistor is exploited. This results in a fast emitter-follower or source-follower circuit which is particularly suitable as the output stage for image sensors.

Abstract: An image sensor and an image pickup apparatus using the same, of this invention, has switching gates for coupling a plurality of storage/vertical transfer CCD cells together between a plurality of different photodiodes. Between a photodiode engaged in measurement by the photodiode, and a photodiode not engaged in the above measurement, a switching gate among the switching gates couples together the storage/vertical transfer CCD cells corresponding to the respective photodiodes. And signal charges of the photodiode are stored and memorized in the storage CCD cells corresponding thereto, and the storage CCD cells corresponding to the photodiode.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device comprises: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements formed in a surface portion of the semiconductor substrate in the form of a two-dimensional array so as to comprise a plurality of sets, each comprising a subset of the photoelectric conversion elements arranged in one direction; charge transfer paths each formed at a side portion of the subset of the photoelectric conversion elements to cause a signal charge of the photoelectric conversion elements be read out when a readout pulse is applied and cause the signal charge which has been read out to be transferred when a transfer pulse is applied; and an electrically conductive light shielding film which is laminated on a surface of the semiconductor substrate through an insulating layer and has openings immediately above each of the photoelectric conversion elements.

Abstract: A multi-plate solid-state imaging element module comprising a plurality of solid-state imaging devices identical in structure, each comprising a set of pixels, wherein said plurality of solid-state imaging devices are arranged so that the sets of pixels of said plurality of solid-state imaging devices are effectively deviated to each other, so as to effectively arrange all the pixels of the plurality of solid-state imaging devices in a checkered form.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a signal charge detection unit converting signal charges into voltage to be outputted, which have been obtained by photoelectrically converting incident light, and in which the signal charge detection unit arranges a drive transistor having a carbon nanotube channel over a channel region between an output gate and a reset gate of a solid-state imaging device through an insulating film.

Abstract: A remote video monitoring and control system for use in cinematography includes an ergonometrically balanced display device of sufficient size and resolution to display images useful in cinematography. A handgrip base is secured to the display device, and a power source is secured to the base. A video signal receiving mechanism is operatively connected to the display device, and receives video signals from a remote camera. A camera control arrangement is operatively connected to the display device to generate camera control signals from an operator of the camera control arrangement. A camera control signal transmitting mechanism transmits camera control signals from the camera control arrangement to the remote camera.