Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device, a field sequential liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal panel having an upper substrate, a lower substrate and a liquid crystal layer therebetween; a backlight device under the liquid crystal panel for irradiating light to the liquid crystal panel and having three color light sources; and an image signal processor controlling a sequential lighting order and combination of the three color light sources.

Abstract: To achieve thinner liquid crystal display panels and to reduce the power consumption for turning on a backlight during an image display operation to a minimum amount, a controller controls display operations of a main display panel and a sub-display panel via a first driver and a second driver. Based on the controlling of the display operations, the controller performs lighting control of LEDs of a backlight corresponding to the dimensions and position of the display panel used for image display. Accordingly, the backlight can be turned on for the display panel used for image display by consuming a minimum amount of power. Furthermore, the backlight includes a light-guiding plate and multiple LEDs and can emit light from both sides of the backlight, thus achieving reduction in thickness.

Abstract: A display circuit of a display is provided to improve image quality of the display. The display circuit comprises a plurality of sections, a plurality of image input lines and a plurality of dummy extended data input lines. Each section comprises a plurality of data input lines for receiving data signals from the image input lines. A dummy extended data input line is formed by extending the data input line, expect for the longest data input line, so that the length of the dummy extended data input line is equal or smaller than that of the longest data input line. Thus, every image input lines will have the same or similar overlap capacities.

Abstract: An electrophoretic display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate disposed opposite each other, a dielectric liquid filled in a gap between the first substrate and the second substrate, a plurality of charged electrophoretic particles dispersed in the dielectric liquid, a first electrode and a second electrode disposed on the first substrate to define a pixel, a partition wall disposed on at least one of the first substrate and the second substrate between adjacent pixels to prevent migration of the charged electrophoretic particles between the adjacent pixels, and a third electrode disposed adjacent to the partition wall. The charged electrophoretic particles migrate at least between a surface of the first electrode and a surface of the second electrode, and between the surface of the first electrode and a side surface of the partition wall where the third electrode is disposed to thereby switch displays.

Abstract: A backplane for an electro-optic display comprises a pixel electrode (104), a voltage supply line (C) arranged to supply a voltage to the pixel electrode (104), and a micromechanical switch (106, 112) disposed between the voltage supply line (C) and the pixel electrode (104), the micromechanical switch (106, 112) having an open state, in which the voltage supply line (C) is not electrically connected to the pixel electrode (104), and a closed state, in which the voltage supply line (C) is electrically connected to the pixel electrode (104).

Abstract: The present invention addresses the above described problems by simplifying the assumptions on possible motions made by a user. This simplification process can take place by making an assumption that the motion of the device will travel along a certain preferential motion arc, which will be referred to herein as the “Javal arc.” Calculations of motions of the device can be made based on these Javal arcs. Additionally, the double integration of each accelerometer is now eliminated and the expensive accelerometers are replaced by two magnetic sensors.

Abstract: A motion controlled handheld device includes a display having a viewable surface and operable to generate a current image. The device includes a motion detection module operable to detect motion of the device within three dimensions and to identify components of the motion in relation to the viewable surface. The components comprise a first component parallel to the viewable surface, a second component parallel to the viewable surface and perpendicular to the first component, and a third component perpendicular to the viewable surface. The device also includes a display control module operable to display a cursor on the viewable surface, to determine a translation vector that is substantially opposite to the sum of the first component and the second component, and to translate the cursor across the viewable surface according to the translation vector in order to substantially maintain the position of the cursor in space with respect to the viewable surface.

Abstract: A motion controlled handheld device includes a display having a viewable surface and operable to generate an image and a gesture database maintaining a plurality of predefined gestures. Each gesture is defined by a motion of the device with respect to a first position of the device. The device includes an application having a plurality of predefined commands and a motion detection module operable to detect motion of the handheld device within three dimensions and to identify components of the motion in relation to the viewable surface. The device includes a user interface operable to receive user input associating selected ones of the gestures with corresponding ones of the commands and a gesture mapping database comprising a command map for the application. The command map comprises mappings of the selected gestures to the corresponding commands as indicated by the user input.

Abstract: A motion controlled handheld device includes a display having a viewable surface and operable to generate an image and a gesture database maintaining a plurality of gestures. Each gesture is defined by a motion of the device with respect to a first position of the device. The device includes a motion detection module operable to detect motion of the handheld device within three dimensions and to identify components of the motion in relation to the viewable surface. The device also includes a control module operable to identify a base reference position of the device, track movement of the device, using the motion detection module, to identify a potential gesture, compare the potential gesture against the gestures in the gesture database, and determine whether the potential gesture matches to a compared one of the gestures based on whether a difference between the potential gesture and the compared gesture is within a precision threshold.

Abstract: A computer system aids user positioning of a pointing device by providing an animated post warp retro guide in conjunction with an eye tracking system, based on perceived user intent, to assist a user in maintaining continuity for pointer warps. An eye tracking apparatus monitors a user's eye orientation while the user views a video display, detects the eye orientation relative to the video display, and automatically moves the positioning device to the calculated eye orientation of the user, while providing an animated history of the first location of pointing device and a second location of the pointing device. To enable the user to maintain continuity while reading lines of text, a reading guide and visual indicator are also provided. Automated text scrolling and paging is provided to further accommodate a user to maintain continuity while reading large blocks of text.

Abstract: A computer mouse is provided which includes an elastic cover detachably secured upon a main body of the mouse, to enhance ease of operation and reduce muscle strain and soreness by repeatedly operating the computer mouse. The main body has left and right click knobs and optionally a scrolling wheel pivotally mounted thereon. The cover and main body can be complementary coupled together through respective mating convex and concave portions. A display surface is explicitly provided on the main body and/or cover to allow for labeling of instructional information and/or advertising. Additionally, the computer mouse, notably the detachably mounted cover member, can be provided in an attractive shape to encourage use by a child.

Abstract: A scroll wheel device with a thin film type command switch mainly replaces conventional optical grating switch during rotation of a wheel for outputting a signal. The thin film type command switch is a flexible circuit board, and is provided with a circuit arrangement corresponding to a rotating trajectory of the wheel. The wheel is provided with a pressing portion which is simultaneously driven during rotation of the wheel and pressing the thin film type command switch for outputting different command signals. The thin film type command switch of the present invention can decrease the manufacturing cost and save the installation space of the scroll wheel device.

Abstract: A system and method for navigation and selection in an information space at least partly displayed on a display screen at a mobile terminal device. The information space contains selectable information objects properties. The terminal device has motion-sensing means for control of the displayed information and of object selection. An information object may represent an information space whereby object properties determine display, navigation, and selection characteristics. In particular, a terminal device motion along a predefined axis affects a type of projection for mapping the information onto a display screen and, simultaneously, a scale factor.

Abstract: A light emitting display including data lines for applying data voltages corresponding to video signals, scan lines for transmitting select signals, and pixel circuits. Each pixel circuit includes a light emitting element for emitting light, and a transistor including first to third electrodes, for controlling a current output to the third electrode according to a voltage between the first and second electrodes. Each pixel circuit also includes a first switch for diode-connecting the transistor, a capacitor having a first electrode coupled to the first electrode of the transistor, a second switch for applying a corresponding said data voltage to the second electrode of the capacitor in response to a corresponding said select signal from a corresponding said scan line, and a third switch for substantially electrically decoupling the second electrode of the capacitor from a power supply voltage source.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, to rasterize an image by generating assignments and allocating the assignments among multiple processor threads such that no two processor threads are rasterizing concurrently into overlapping regions of a pixel array. Multiple assignments are generated. Each assignment specifies one or more graphics objects and a region of the pixel array into which the specified graphics objects are to be rasterized. Multiple processes are established for rasterizing objects into a pixel array. Each process is operable to receive an assignment and to rasterize the objects of the assignment into the region of the assignment. Assignments are selected for concurrent execution by processes so that no two selected assignments have overlapping regions. The selected assignments are concurrently executed by separate processes to rasterize the respective objects of the assignments into their respective regions.

Abstract: A method of the invention includes the steps of selecting at least a portion of an image on which to superimpose a texture and segmenting that portion of the image into a plurality of clusters. Each of the clusters is then parameterized with texture coordinates, and texture is assigned to each of the clusters using the texture coordinates to result in a texture patch. The texture patches are then blended together. This exemplary method of the invention has the result of the texture patches appearing to adopt the surface undulations of the underlying surface.

Abstract: A method for transforming solid, three-dimensional image data into three-dimensional surface data first smoothes the surface of the solid image by removing extraneous voxels both attached to main surface of the solid image as well as extraneous voxels about the main image before the surface transformation. Once the solid image is transformed into a surface image, the method again cleans the surface by removing any significantly spiked structures that appear out of place when considered with respect to the surrounding topography. The amount of data required to render the surface image is reduced by removing surface facets that fall within a planar threshold of the surrounding topography. The topography is also compressed in local areas to bring the topography toward a median level. The method may further cycle to attempt to reduce additional surface facets that may fall now within the threshold limit.

Abstract: The invention is a novel display system, for signage and the like. An apparatus and process is provided for displaying a static source image in a manner that it is perceived as an animated sequence of images when viewed by an observer in relative motion to the apparatus. The source image is sliced or fractured to provide a plurality of image fractions of predetermined dimension. The fractions are redistributed in a predetermined sequence to provide an output image, which is placed in a preferably illuminated display apparatus provided with a mask. An observer in relative motion to the display apparatus, sequentially views a predetermined selection of image fractions through the mask, which are perceived by the observer as a changing sequence of images. Applying the concepts of persistence of vision, the observer perceives the reconstructed imagery as live action animation, a traveling singular image or a series of static images, or changing image sequences, from a plurality of lines of sight.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture consistent with the present invention allow a user operating on a data processing computer to view geometry of an object model produced by an image generator hosted on an image processing computer by allowing the user to define a zone associated with the object model, slices of each zone, and viewpoints associated with the slices, controlling the graphics image generator to produce geometric images of the object model in accordance with the zone, slices, and viewpoints, and selectively navigating the images in accordance with the zone, slices, and viewpoints.

Abstract: A method of presenting graphical images within a wireless terminal that includes receiving an original graphical image, having a source resolution, to be presented on a display screen. The native pixel resolution of the display screen may differ from that of the original graphical image. A complex decimation pattern when applied to the image allows the original graphical image to be resized from the source resolution of the original graphical image to a decimated resolution operable to be displayed within the native resolution of the display screen. Decimated pixels need not be further processed to reduce the processing requirements imposed on the system processor. Operations normally associated with the decimated portions of the image may be offloaded from the processing module to improve system efficiency.

Abstract: An animation wireframe is modified with three-dimensional (3D) range and color data having a corresponding shape surface. The animation wireframe is vertically scaled based on distances between consecutive features within the 3D range and color data and corresponding distances within the generic animation wireframe. For each animation wireframe point, the location of the animation wireframe point is adjusted to coincide with a point on the shape surface. The shape surface point lies along a scaling line connecting the animation wireframe point, the shape surface point and an origin point. The scaling line is within a horizontal point.

Abstract: It is an object to provide an user identity authentication system and an user identity authentication method with the Internet and a mobile information communication device. The mobile information communication device includes a liquid crystal device with a built-in image sensor. The image sensor reads individual information of a user, and user's identity is authenticated based on the individual information. A result of the authentication is unicast via the Internet. Alternatively, it is judged whether or not the result of the authentication is required to be unicast in accordance with a degree of requirement preset in the mobile information communication device or a destination terminal of communication, and the result is unicast via the Internet only when needed.

Abstract: A memory write section 2 writes texture data in a number capable of being transferred at a time and written in one address, in one of first through fourth texture memories 1a through 1d in common by single write operation. If the V coordinate of texture data to be written is an even number, the texture data is written in the first, second, third and fourth texture memories 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d in this order. If the V coordinate is an odd number, the data is written in the third, fourth, first and second texture memories 1c, 1d, 1a and 1b in this order.

Abstract: A video and graphics system has an input for receiving compressed video data and an input for receiving graphics data. The compressed video data may include HDTV video and/or SDTV video, and may be included in compressed data streams such as an MPEG-2 Transport stream. The video and graphics system also includes a video decoder for processing the compressed video data to generate a video for displaying, a display engine for processing the graphics data to generate graphics for displaying, and an overlaying system for compositing the video and the graphics to generate an output video. The display engine includes a memory used during conversion of a graphics format from a first format to a second format to be in a format compatible with a video format The memory may be implemented in a single-port SRAM configured to simulate a dual-port SRAM. The system may be integrated on an integrated circuit chip.

Abstract: A mechanism for synchronizing state variables used by texture pipelines in a multi-pipeline graphics texture engine. The mechanism ensures that, as polygons are processed by a texture engine, the state variables associated with each polygon are distributed in parallel to each texture pipeline, regardless of whether the texture engine is processing a single texture or a blend of different textures. When the texture engine processes a blend of different textures, signals controlling the operation of multiple texture pipelines are asserted. However, when the texture engine processes a single texture for a polygon, an embodiment of the invention continues to distribute received state variables to each of the texture pipelines, but only triggers the processing portion of the texture pipeline performing the single texture operation. The processing portions of the remaining texture pipelines may not be not triggered.

Abstract: A system and method for image acquisition enables selective automated application of color management to color image data generated by an image-capturing device by the device driver for the device. In the image acquisition system, each image-capturing device has properties or operation parameters that can be set to control the operation of the device. During an image acquisition operation, color image data generated by the image-capturing device are transmitted to the device driver. If the operation parameters of the device are set to indicate that color management is to be performed, the device driver calls color management functions provided by the operating system to perform the desired color operation, such as a color space conversion, on the received color image data. The processed color image data are then sent to the image-processing application for further processing or editing.

Abstract: The present invention provides for gamut mapping between a source device and a destination device, the destination device having a destination device black point with a hue, and the source device and the destination device being respectively characterized by a source gamut shell and a destination gamut shell. A lightness compression is performed using the source gamut shell, the destination gamut shell and the destination device black point. A constant lightness transformation is performed, wherein the constant lightness transformation modifies the destination gamut shell so that a shell boundary of the destination gamut shell on the hue plane containing the destination device black point is shifted from an original position to align with a neutral axis of the destination gamut shell. A chroma compression is performed using the source gamut shell and the modified destination gamut shell.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for independent video and graphics scaling in a video graphics system is accomplished by receiving a video data stream, wherein the video data stream includes video data in a first format. A graphics data stream is also received, and the graphics data stream includes graphics data in a second format. The video data of the video data stream is scaled based on a ratio between the first format and a selected video format to produce a scaled video stream. Similarly, the graphics data of the graphics data stream is scaled based on a ratio between the second format and a selected graphics format in order to produce a scaled graphics stream. The scaled video stream and the scaled graphics stream are then merged to produce a video graphics output stream.

Abstract: A system and method is included for scaling blocks of data according to an optimal width to increase usability of the data when scaling the blocks of data to fit a screen on a mobile device. The optimal width provides a minimum width to which the block of data may be scaled, such that scaling the block of data to a level where usability of the data is compromised is avoided.

Abstract: A thermal print head is disclosed including plural driver circuits, each for driving plural heating elements; and a strobe signal generator for generating a plurality of strobe signals of different timings in which each strobe signal is coupled to a part of the plurality of driver circuits. The plural driver circuits operate simultaneously according to the plurality of strobe signals.

Abstract: A recording head is provided with an element substrate and a circuit board fixed to a head substrate having heat radiation property. Plural heating elements are formed linearly in the element substrate, and plural driver ICs are attached to the element substrate. A temperature sensor is disposed between the driver ICs. The temperature sensor measures average temperature of the plural heating elements, and adjusts a heat quantity of each heating element in accordance with the average temperature. In the preferred embodiment, the plural temperature sensors and a heating element array are arranged on both sides of the element substrate such that the plural temperature sensors are disposed underneath the heating element array. The plural temperature sensors are accommodated in a concave portion of the head substrate.

Abstract: A thermal printer having an improved arrangement of memory card sockets on a main board and capable of printing an image on a print medium by applying heat to both surfaces of the print medium is provided. The thermal printer includes: a rotating unit rotatably installed within a frame and including a recording head and a support member; a main board installed on the frame and connected to the recording head via a cable, applying power to and providing image data to the recording head; and a memory card socket into and from which a memory card providing the image data is inserted and removed, the memory card mounted on the main board. The recording head forms an image on the print medium by heating a surface or an opposite surface of the print medium according to a location to which the recording head is rotated. The support member is installed opposite to the recording head and supports the print medium. The image data provided from the memory card can be printed.

Abstract: A thermal printing head comprises a guide member made in a single-piece and designed as a jumper comprising two superimposed walls, covering, at least partly, respectively and jointly both surfaces of a flexible printed circuit board and providing between them a space for the passage of the support guide wing, enclosed by the flexible printed circuit board, such that the guide member can be elastically nested on the guide wing of the support and provides protection for the flexible printed circuit board in the zone of its junction with the support, and such that, one of the walls of the guide member comprising fingers producing localized elastic pressure on the flexible printed circuit board, an electric contact is provided between the flexible printed circuit board and the support for grounding the printing head via the flexible printed circuit.

Abstract: A thermal activation apparatus includes a thermal head for thermal activation, a platen roller for thermal activation pressed against the thermal head, and an air cooling mechanism. The air cooling mechanism includes partitions for separating the thermal activation apparatus from the outside, an air outlet in a lower part thereof, first and second air inlets in an upper part thereof, and a fan for exhausting air through the air outlet. While a heat-sensitive adhesive agent layer of the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet is heated by the platen roller and the thermal head to be thermally activated during transporting the heat-sensitive adhesive sheet, the fan is actuated to generate airflow from the first and second air inlets and around the platen roller, the thermal head, and a heat sink, in this order, to be discharged to the outside from the air outlet.

Abstract: A scanning optical apparatus includes a light source capable of being modulated, a deflecting element for deflecting and scanning a beam emitted from the light source, a scanning optical element for imaging the deflected beam into a spot shape on a scanned surface, and an optical element for synchronous detection for directing the deflected beam from the deflecting element to a sensor to take the timing of image writing beginning. The scanning optical apparatus further inclueds a scanning position detecting device for making the optical axis of the optical element for synchronous detection and the principal ray of the beam from the deflecting element for taking the timing of image writing beginning coincident with each other, and detecting the position of the beam at a point having at least one image height separate from the optical axis of the scanning optical element.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an image is disclosed which includes a scanner motor rotatably driving a polygon mirror; a laser light emitter emitting laser light; a generator detecting the laser light reflected off from the polygon mirror, thereby generating a first periodic signal; a generator detecting rotation of the scanner motor, thereby generating a second periodic signal; and a controller performing speed control of the scanner motor, based on at least one of the first and the second periodic signal. The controller makes a first determination as to whether a pre-selected one of the first and the second periodic signal is abnormal. Upon the pre-selected signal being abnormal, the controller makes a second determination as to whether a remaining one of the first and the second periodic signal is normal, and based on a result of the second determination, the controller identifies at least one failed element of the apparatus.

Abstract: There is described a method for providing audio and visual communication between a speaker and at least one hearing impaired person. The method comprises the steps of providing the speaker with a headset frame having a camera attached thereto and positioned to capture images of the speaker's mouth; providing the hearing impaired person with a display; capturing continuous video images of the speaker's mouth using the camera; and transmitting the images in the real-time to the display for the hearing impaired person to view such that movement of the speaker's mouth coincides with sound emitted by the speaker.

Abstract: An apparatus for driving a plasma display panel and a method for processing pictures of a plasma display panel. An input video signal is converted into sub-field data. It is determined whether address consumption power of the sub-field data is high. When the address consumption power is high, interlaced scanning is carried out. It is determined whether lines having sub-field data items identical or similar in a row direction exist using the sub-field data. The lines are sequentially scanned. Accordingly, the number of times of switching address electrodes is reduced and thus the address consumption power is decreased.

Abstract: An endoscope includes an insert section, a CCD is mounted at the end of the insert section, and a CCU for producing a video signal is arranged in a control unit connected to a proximal end of the insert unit. The CCU includes a general-purpose DSP board having the function of producing a standard video signal, and a function adjustment/expansion circuit board for correcting a signal delay due to the length of a signal line connected to the CCD. The DSP boards and the function adjustment/expansion circuit boards, respectively remaining the same in circuit arrangement, are used for a plurality of types of endoscopes having insert sections having different insertion lengths.

Abstract: Any presence of brake light emissions of another vehicle to the forward of a subject vehicle is sensed in a color camera and microprocessor system that detects (i) red light(s) illuminations in excess of other colors, that are any of (ii) appropriately sized, (iii) appropriately located, (iv) simultaneously occurring, (v) spaced apart in separation, (vi) substantially horizontal, and/or (vii) of approximately of equal intensity, as would be appropriate to a single brake light, or to a pair of brake lights, as the case may be. The brake lights of the subject vehicle are preferably applied either during (i) the persistence of any detection of the brake light(s) of any other vehicle(s) to the forward, or (ii) normal application of the subject vehicle's own brakes. The forward-sensed rearward-propagated brake light signal is preferably delayed in propagation, limiting any propagation of minor perturbations in traffic.

Abstract: The present invention reduces a burden on an observer. A video signal level display device includes setting sections (24, 25, 26) for setting maximum effective values corresponding to R, G, and B components, respectively, of an RGB component signal, calculating sections (21, 22, 23) for calculating respective coordinates of the R, G, and B components so that the maximum effective values concentrate at one point, generating section (27) for generating straight scale data corresponding to the R, G, and B components, respectively, so that the maximum effective values concentrate at one point, and display section (29) for displaying the respective coordinates of the R, G, and B components and the respective straight scale date (61, 62, 63, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 75) on the R, G, and B components.

Abstract: A digital camera derives an infrared and visible signals from IR and visible sensors. The sensor fields of view overlap or share a common field of view. An analyzer of the IR signal provides the location of and information from an active or passive IR target. The analyzer responds to the location and information signals for visible image composition control (pan/tilt/zoom/timing) and selection of visible image pictures for storage to provide ancillary information, such as personal details of a target wearer. The visible and infrared image signals are combined to correct for sensitivity of the visible and/or IR sensors to IR and visible wavelengths, respectively.

Abstract: A monitoring camera system including a plurality of monitoring cameras, a plurality of monitors, a multiplexer for switching a connection between the monitoring camera and the monitor, and a plurality of controllers for remotely controlling the monitoring cameras through a communication control line. Each of the controllers remotely control the monitoring cameras by sending to the communication control line a command including an address assigned to the monitoring camera which is a control object and the contents of control. In controlling a monitoring camera providing video to a predetermined monitor, a controller sends a number of the predetermined monitor to the multiplexer, and inquires of the multiplexer about the address assigned to the monitoring camera providing the video to the predetermined monitor. The multiplexer transmits the address assigned to the monitoring camera providing the video to the predetermined monitor to the controller that is a source of the inquiry.

Abstract: An image sensor includes a pixel having a protection circuit connected to a charge multiplying photoconversion layer. The protection circuit prevents the pixel circuit from breaking down when the voltage in the pixel circuit reaches the operating voltage applied to the charge multiplying photoconversion layer in response to the image sensor being exposed to a strong light. The protection circuit causes additional voltage entering the pixel circuit from the charge multiplying photoconversion layer over a predetermined threshold voltage level to be dissipated from the storage node and any downstream components.

Abstract: A device for positioning camera modules includes a frame, at least two camera modules, and an orientor adapted for orienting the central optical axis of each camera module with respect to the frame. The orientor is adapted for orienting at least the central optical axes of the camera modules so as to ensure overlapping fields of view, whereby the orientor is detachably mounted with respect to the frame, while the camera modules are detachably mounted with respect to the orientor.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for displaying and recording image data can be smoothly performed in characteristic methods by computing a quantization parameter for use in compression of image data, obtaining a difference in the amount of processes between the display of image data and the recording of image data, and managing memory of temporarily stored image data for regeneration of recorded image data.

Abstract: The present invention provides an imaging apparatus for converting a 24p imaging signal generated with a frame frequency of 24 Hz according to a progressive scanning system into a 60i signal with a field frequency of 60 Hz by 2:3 pull-down processing according to an interlace scanning system which is a standard television system. The imaging apparatus prevents occurrence of a horizontal stripe and the like at the center of a screen and prevents degradation in picture quality. According to this inventive imaging apparatus, when the output timing of the 24p imaging signal from an imaging section 2 is not equal to the phase of a 60i vertical synchronizing signal, the 24p imaging signal is inputted to a memory section 3 after being delayed by a delay section 8 by a time during which the 60i signal is subjected to (½) field scanning, and the 24p imaging signal is written in the memory section 3 in synchronization with the 60i vertical synchronizing signal.

Abstract: First to third processors are arranged in a digital camera, one image (one frame) obtained by one photographing operation is divided into three regions (assigned regions), and photographing signal processing is shared by the first to third processors. Digital image signals of one image are divided and captured by the first to third processors while setting overlapping regions as regions required for photographing signal processing for the assigned regions. For this reason, the processors can also perform the photographing signal processing including an interpolating process to pixels near joined portions between the assigned regions. More specifically, since the photographing signal processing for the digital image data of one image can be shared by the plurality of processors and performed as parallel processing without causing an image breakage, an image capture interval can be shortened.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic camera and a white balance correction circuit both capable of setting white balance correction values properly at stroboscope imaging by relatively simple processing. The electronic camera has a stroboscope unit or a connection terminal to a stroboscope unit; an imaging unit for capturing an image of a subject; a calculating unit for calculating, from the image captured with double illumination of both field light and strobe light emitted by the stroboscope unit, the color temperature of the double illumination; and a reflection unit for allowing the calculated color temperature to be reflected in white balance correction values to be applied to the image. When the calculated color temperature is in a predetermined range, the reflection unit decreases the degree of the reflection.

Abstract: The invention provides an image processing apparatus that can reduce the memory capacity of a memory forming part of the image processing apparatus and can correct the optical axis misalignment of a video camera in a simple manner. The image processing apparatus 10, which comprises a video camera 11, a memory 13 for storing an image signal supplied from the video camera, and a CPU 14 for performing prescribed processing on the image signal read out of the memory, includes a selective writing means 12 for selecting only a designated portion of the image signal in accordance with a select command C from the CPU, and for writing only the selected portion as a selected image signal S? into the memory 13. The image processing apparatus further includes a switching means for selecting the pixel data to be stored in the memory by switching between high-density pixel data covering a designated range centralized in a horizontal direction of the image and relatively low-density pixel data covering a full image range.