Abstract: A method of printing a two-dimensional code using an ink jet printer includes ejecting ink within a predetermined ink ejecting area to form a colored cell constituting the two-dimensional code such that ink bleed adjusting portions are arranged along the outer edge of the ink ejecting area, each ink bleed adjusting portion being a portion where ink is not ejected or a smaller amount of ink than normal amount is ejected.

Abstract: A print head includes a first electrode layer including a plurality of generator electrodes, a second electrode layer including a plurality of discharge electrodes, and an insulating layer disposed between the generator electrodes of the first electrode layer and the discharge electrodes of the second electrode layer. The discharge electrodes include at least one discharge aperture extending therethrough. Each discharge aperture has an undercut region defining a discharge surface spaced from and substantially parallel to an opposed surface of the insulating layer.

Abstract: A disclosed thermal head driving circuit includes an inverter type drive circuit including a p-channel MOS transistor and a first n-channel MOS transistor, and configured to have a driving signal of a rectangular wave provided at gates of the p-channel MOS transistor and the first n-channel MOS transistor to invert the driving signal; a power MOS transistor configured to have provided, at its gate, the inverted drive signal output from the inverter type drive circuit to drive a thermal head connected to its drain; a first resistance connected between a drain of the p-channel MOS transistor and a drain of the first n-channel MOS transistor; and a second resistance connected between a junction point between the first resistance and the drain of the first n-channel MOS transistor, and the gate of the power MOS transistor.

Abstract: Provided is a thermal head driving IC for supplying voltage to a plurality of heating resistors each controlled by a driving MOS transistor, including a switch for making and breaking between a substrate and a source of the plurality of driving MOS transistors. In a case where the plurality of heating resistors are activated, the plurality of driving MOS transistors are turned on and the switch is turned off, a substrate is floated. As a result, a substrate potential is forward-biased against the source by a substrate current generated in a high-electric-field depletion region near the drain, and a parasitic bipolar transistor turns on, whereby both the plurality of driving MOS transistors and the parasitic bipolar transistor turn on. In a case where the plurality of heating resistors are not activated, a signal for turning off the plurality of driving NMOS transistors is given, and the switch is turned on.

Abstract: A device is provided for setting up, adjusting, and/or controlling an apparatus that cyclically processes printed products. The device includes a lighting unit having at least one light source directed toward a processing area of the apparatus. The light source is controllable to selectively generate a continuous light or a flashing light synchronized with a processing cycle of the apparatus.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus applies a shading correction to an image read from a white reference board 18, and determines presence or absence of stripe-like noise in the image read therefrom after applying the shading correction. The apparatus exposes an area at which there is no noise in the white reference board 18 to create a white reference value for a shading correction for reading a document after that time.

Abstract: A print head includes a plurality of light emitting elements grouped into a plurality of light emitting element groups and disposed by the light emitting group, a lens array having optical systems corresponding respectively to the light emitting element groups, each of the optical systems imaging a light beam emitted from the light emitting element group on a scan target surface, and a light shielding member provided with light guide holes corresponding respectively to the light emitting element groups, each of the light guide holes guiding the light beam emitted from the light emitting element group, wherein each of the light emitting element groups is provided with an aperture section disposed at a front focal position of the optical system and a center axis one of substantially identical and identical to an optical axis of the optical system.

Abstract: A MEMS mirror for a laser printing application includes providing a CMOS substrate including a pair of electrodes, and providing a reflecting mirror moveable over the substrate and the electrodes. Voltages applied to the electrodes create an electrostatic force causing an end of the mirror to be attracted to the substrate. A precise position of the mirror can be detected and controlled by sensing a change in capacitance between the mirror ends and the underlying electrodes.

Abstract: A display device which performs a video telephony is provided. The display device includes a photographing unit which photographs an image, a video telephony unit which performs a video telephony using an image photographed by the photographing unit, and a control unit which controls at least one of an operation of the photographing unit and an operation of the video telephony unit if a status of the photographed image meets a preset condition. Accordingly, power efficiency of a display device may be improved.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provide a video communication apparatus including a first communication unit which conducts communication of management information with an external device through a cable at a first communication speed, an encryption unit which encrypts a video signal, a second communication unit which transmits the video signal encrypted by the encryption unit to the external device through the cable at a second communication speed faster than the first communication speed, a detecting unit which observes a communication situation to detect an error signal from the external device through the first communication unit, and a control unit which reduces the second communication speed of the second communication unit when the detecting unit detects the error signal.

Abstract: A communication system is disclosed that is under the control of a presenter for providing audio and visual information at a first site and a second remote site. Such system includes at least one image generation device for generating one or a plurality of images at the first site, a transmitter for transmitting the generated image to the second site, a display device at the second site for displaying the transmitted image, and a command capture device response responsive to a command of a presenter at the first site for controlling the transmission of a selected image by the transmitter.

Abstract: A system and method for variable-resolution image saving includes an image capturing member, a data saving member, and an image data processor. A first panoramic image data is captured by the image capturing member in high resolution. The image data is then analyzed and divided into target area and background area. The resolution of background area is lowered to reduce the size of image data. A second panoramic image is then formed with the target area in original high resolution and background area in lower resolution. In this way, memory size and time required for storing and transmitting the second panoramic image data are greatly reduced without loosing important features of the target area.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-view system containing a means for retaining multi-view system on a user's head. A frame support is pivotally connected to the means for retaining multi-view system. At least one display device, such as an LCD, is hingedly connected to the frame support. The display device is positioned away from the direct view of the user's eyes. In a preferred embodiment, the display device is positioned at least 3 degrees away from the direct view of the user's eyes. In operation, the user can see objects in direct view and the display device by moving the eyes to provide direct view and display device view capability.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing method and apparatus. The image processing apparatus includes an image capturing unit generating a plurality of images at different visual points and a three-dimensional image processing unit extracting depth information using the plurality of images.

Abstract: A simulation and control system for a machine is disclosed. The simulation and control system may have a user interface configured to display a simulated environment. The machine simulation and control system may also have a controller in communication with the user interface and a remotely located machine. The controller may be configured to receive from the machine real-time information related to operation of the machine at a worksite. The controller may also be configured to simulate the worksite, operation of the machine, and movement of a machine tool based on the received information. The controller may further be configured to provide to the user interface the simulated worksite, operation, and movement in the simulated environment.

Abstract: A remote monitoring control method of a network camera is provided. The network camera is connected to an internal network host through a heterogeneous interface, and environmental parameters of the internal network host are automatically imported, so as to set the network camera. After the network camera is enabled, a network-address reporting procedure is executed, and an E-mail with a referral link generated based on the environmental parameters is transferred to an external local area network (LAN). An external monitoring host is directly connected to the network camera through the E-mail, so as to perform remote monitoring. In other words, the network camera is set and a remote monitoring is performed through the heterogeneous interface and the E-mail, such that the network camera can be easily enabled, and it is convenient for a user of the external network to perform remote monitoring.

Abstract: Network equipment which is connected to other network equipment through a network is disclosed. The equipment includes: a detection unit processing picture data and detecting a moving object and a non-moving object; a metadata generation unit generating metadata including information indicating detection statuses of the detection unit and information concerning the moving object and the non-moving object detected in the detection unit; and a data transmission unit transmitting the picture data and the metadata generated in the metadata generation unit to the other network equipment.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for its use to assist an operator of a towing vehicle in backing the towing vehicle accurately into a position in which parts of a hitch can be mated to connect the towing vehicle with a trailer. A camera in a towing vehicle module provides the towing vehicle operator a video image of the trailer and a target mounted on it. A beam of light from the towing vehicle module and falling on the-target is visible in the video image to show when the towing vehicle approaches and reaches a position in which the hitch can be mated.

Abstract: In the case of a method for controlling the field view size of a video system with a video camera in a motor vehicle, and in the case of a video system for a motor vehicle, the invention provides that the field view size be controlled as a function of various functions of the video system. In this case, the field view size can also be controlled as a function of a driving situation, which is derived from at least one input variable.

Abstract: A preceding vehicle detection system includes an image capture module for capturing an image of surroundings of a subject vehicle, a preceding vehicle detection module for detecting a preceding vehicle from an image captured and a tail lamp detection module for detecting a pixel area having a luminance which is larger than or equal to a threshold value on a pixel line in the image and detecting the pixel area in each pixel line while scanning pixel lines on the image in leftward and rightward directions from the pixel line set as a reference to detect areas where tail lamps of the preceding vehicle are captured from the image.

Abstract: A vehicular video mirror system includes an interior rearview mirror assembly that includes a reflective element having a transflective mirror reflector that is at least about 15 percent transmitting to visible light incident at the rear of the reflective element, A video display is disposed to the rear of the reflective element and emits light when actuated that passes through the transflective mirror reflector of the reflective element to be visible to a driver of the vehicle viewing the front of the reflective element. The video display is back lit by at least one light source and is operable to exhibit a display intensity as viewed by the driver of at least about 400 candelas per square meter when the interior rearview mirror assembly equipped the reflective element is mounted and is viewed in the vehicle.

Abstract: An interactive display in which alternating illuminators are used to reduce or cancel specular reflections. The interactive display includes multiple illuminators and at least one camera placed behind one or more display layers. The interactive display uses a phase management mechanism that controls alternation of phases of the interactive display. When in the first phase, the first illuminator is controlled to dominate over the second illuminator. When in the second phase, the second illuminator is controlled to dominate over the first illuminator. A consolidated image is then formulated using a combination of the first and second images. The consolidated image has reduced or eliminated specular reflections as compared to the first and second images alone.

Abstract: An image recording system includes an image supply apparatus compatible with a first image recording service standard, an image recording apparatus compatible with a second image recording service standard, and a conversion apparatus connected, as a pseudo image recording apparatus compatible with the first standard, to the image supply apparatus via a communication medium compatible with the first standard and connected, as a pseudo image supply apparatus compatible with the second standard, to the image recording apparatus via a communication medium compatible with the second standard. The conversion apparatus converts a command received from the image supply apparatus into a command complying with the second standard before transmitting it to the image recording apparatus, and converts a command received from the image recording apparatus or event information relating to an image recording process into a message complying with the first standard before transmitting it to the image supply apparatus.

Abstract: An image manager includes a communicator that communicates with a server computer storing image data, a detector that detects a storage capacity of image data stored into the server computer by the communicator and a controller that controls download of image data stored into the server computer in response to a detection result of the detector.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for customizing a color palette on a digital camera. An exemplary method of customizing a color palette on a digital camera may comprise identifying for a user a color from a scene the digital camera is focused on. The method may also comprise capturing the color as a digital image on the digital camera. The method may also comprise adding the captured color to the color palette for the user to apply as a photo-editing effect to other digital images on the digital camera.

Abstract: Motion information about individual pixels is obtained. A semiconductor chip 13 provided with an XY address controlled image pickup device, and a semiconductor chip 16 provided with a motion detection circuit 17 for obtaining motion information about the individual pixels are stacked.

Abstract: [PROBLEM] To enable calculation of motion vectors with a high accuracy by a comparatively simple processing by using a small amount of data without applying a load onto a computer. [MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A motion vector calculation method includes: processing for calculating multi-resolution data up to a predetermined resolution level L from a plurality of inputted image data; and processing for estimating motion vectors per resolution executing a matching step for temporarily calculating motion vectors minimizing an energy function within a predetermined range of the input motion vectors and a smoothing step for finally calculating the motion vectors by averaging the surrounding data. By using the motion vectors of the resolution level L finally calculated as input motion vectors of a further higher resolution level L-1, the processing for estimating motion vectors per resolution is successively repeated on image data of a high resolution, thereby calculating the motion vectors.

Abstract: A camera having an image stabilizer includes a focus adjusting system which captures images at different positions along an optical axis of a focusing lens group of a photographing optical system via an image pickup device while performing a searching operation in which the focusing lens group detects an in-focus position based on contrasts of the captured images; a vibration detector for detecting camera shake; a shake-reduction driving device which is driven to prevent an object image formed on the image pickup device from shaking relative thereto when the vibration detector detects camera shake; and a controller which controls the focus adjusting system so as to one of suspend and terminate the searching operation one of when the vibration detector detects the camera shake during the searching operation and when the camera shake lasts for more than a predetermined period of time during the searching operation.

Abstract: A system and method for providing visible indications of an area of interest for assisting the visual orientation of a user using a digital camera is provided. The system includes a digital camera having a built in illumination projector. The illumination projector optical axis is related to the camera optical axis. Typically the illumination projector is collimated with the camera. Images produced by the illumination projector are viewed by camera user and are used as a reference for understanding the camera orientation and for selecting the desirable direction and field of view (FOV) for the camera. The system and method is extremely useful for portable and wearable digital cameras as well as for setup of fixed camera applications.

Abstract: Embodiments include a system, a device, an apparatus, a method, and a computer program product. An embodiment provides a system that includes an imaging device operable to acquire an image of a subject. The system also includes an anonymizer circuit operable to generate an anonymized image that includes a decreased fidelity of a property of a subject of the acquired image in response to an anonymization policy. The system further includes a display operable to provide a human-perceivable indication of the anonymization policy.

Abstract: Embodiments include a system, a device an apparatus a method, and a computer program product. An embodiment provides a system that includes an imaging device operable to acquire an image of a subject. The system also includes an anonymizer circuit operable to generate an anonymized image that includes a decreased fidelity of a property of a subject of the acquired image in response to an anonymization policy. The system further includes a display operable to provide a human-perceivable indication of the anonymization policy.

Abstract: A CMOS image sensor includes digital signal processing on-chip within the CMOS image sensor before being transmitted to an ISP (image signal processor) within an image sensor system. An on-chip digital processing unit is formed on a same one integrated circuit die with a pixel array and performs the steps of: performing a first set of at least one correction operation on the original digital signal to generate a corrected digital signal; formatting the corrected digital signal for the standard interface to generate a processed digital signal; and sending the processed digital signal to the ISP (image signal processor) via the standard interface.

Abstract: Disclosed is an imaging apparatus including an imaging element photo-electrically converting light from a subject to generate an electric signal, an output unit generating an image signal based on the electric signal output from the imaging element, a timing generator generating a clock for image signal processing to drive the imaging element and the output unit based on a reference clock externally input, a control unit controlling the imaging element, the output unit, and the timing generator. The imaging apparatus further includes a phase delaying unit delaying a phase of the clock for the image signal processing output from the timing generator to supply the clock to the control unit.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes an image sensor, and an object scene image is repetitively output from the image sensor. A CPU repetitively determines whether or not the object scene image output from the image sensor has a face image turned to the imaging surface prior to a half depression of a shutter button. A face detection history including a determination result is produced on a face detection history table by the CPU. The CPU decides a face image position on the basis of the face detection history described in the face detection history table when the shutter button is half-depressed. An imaging condition such as a focus, etc. is adjusted by noting the determined face image position.

Abstract: For each image data, face information indicating the number of faces of subjects included in an image is added. Further, the percentage of images in which there exist faces is calculated. When the percentage exceeds a face detecting flag threshold, the face detecting flag is set ON. When the percentage does not exceed the face detecting flag threshold, the face detecting flag is set OFF. The face detecting flag is stored in the flash memory portion of the memory. The face detecting flag is read from the flash memory portion of the memory in the shooting mode at the next time. When the face detecting flag is set ON, an image display device displays instructions on prompting a user to make the face detecting function effective.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus enabling use of a light source emitting a light of changing intensity and changing spectrum as a flash with a camera module having a white-balance routine and an exposure routine, wherein an initial value representative of a color spectrum emitted by the light source is transmitted to the camera module, the light source is turned on, and the camera module is signaled to scan a plurality of images of the scene while the light source is turned on, allowing the white-balance and exposure algorithms to be employed with each image scanned to refine the first initial value to refine the degree of compensation employed in correcting a color and a light level in the last one of the images of the plurality of images scanned.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus enabling use of a light source emitting a spectrum of light not following characteristics of a blackbody source of light with a camera module programmed for use with light sources following characteristics of blackbody sources of light, wherein a white-balance patch is transmitted to the camera module to cause the camera module to accept color coordinates representing a point on a chromaticity chart that partly defines a region of color coordinates on the chromaticity chart into which color coordinates of the light source fall and to which color coordinates of a reference white color derived by a white-balance routine of the camera module are constrained.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing amplified image data may include an image sensor including a number of pixel light sensing elements. Circuitry may output pixel exposure signals and a dark level signal. The differences between the pixel exposure signals and the dark level signal are uni-polar signals. A variable gain amplifier may shift the uni-polar signals to bipolar signals centered around zero, and may also amplify the bipolar signals. In this manner, a full scale output range of the variable gain amplifier may be substantially utilized.

Abstract: An image pickup device which makes it possible to expand the dynamic range of photometry. The image pickup device comprises a pixel array, a pixel reader, a row selector, a column selector, a gain circuit, a gain selector. The pixel array comprises a plurality of pixels including photoelectric conversion elements and arranged in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction. The pixel reader reads out selected pixel signals from the pixel array. The gain circuit is capable of having at least two gains set therein, and amplifies and outputs the pixel signals read out from the pixel array by the pixel reader. The gain selector sets different gains in the gain circuit such that pixel signals amplified by the different gains can be obtained for one-time read-out from the pixel array by the pixel reader.

Abstract: In an electronic image pickup apparatus, if a mode used and some of setting values of additional functions are changed, a camera control microprocessor computes the number of images that can be captured on the basis of a current consumption integrated value that has been computed by a current integrating unit and stored in a storage unit, updates data of the number of images that can be captured using the computation result, and performs control processing so as to cause a display unit to display the updated data.

Abstract: A multifunctional video apparatus and a method of providing a user interface (UI) thereof. The multifunctional video apparatus has diverse functions such as image capturing, image reproduction, image editing, image input/output from/to an external device, etc., and provides a UI capable of performing the above-described functions more conveniently.

Abstract: A sequence of images is captured by an imaging device and stored in a digital format. After having captured and stored at least one image, a user is guided to move the device so that an image that can be stitched to the stored image can be captured. Positional information indicating the current orientation of the device is provided; positional information indicating the orientation of the device at the time of capturing each captured image is stored; and the current positional information and the positional information stored for the stored image is utilized for guiding the user to move the device to an orientation where an image that can be stitched to the stored image can be captured.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus operates in a normal power-consumption mode in the period after reception of an image-transfer request command from a digital television set until completion of an operation for transferring still image data in accordance with the image-transfer request command, and operates in a low power-consumption mode in the period after the completion of the operation for transferring the still image data in accordance with the image-transfer request command until reception of another image-transfer request command from the digital television set.

Abstract: A digital image storage system includes a digital camera having a memory capable of storing digital images and an adapter on which the digital camera is to be laid down=for informing the adapter of the digital images in the memory. The digital image storage system further includes a data storage having a storage medium that stores the digital images informed through the adapter. The data storage is in cooperation with the digital camera by way of the adapter to delete a digital image from the memory of the digital camera in case of the digital image completely informed and stored in the storage medium.

Abstract: A video imager may be used to measure the natural and/or artificial light levels in a space. The lighting estimates may be passed to a controller via a communication network. The lighting estimates may be in the form of actual radiance values, brightness, or other forms. The controller may determine if and which areas of the space require more light or if and which areas of the space have more light than required. Based on the lighting estimates, the controller may issue commands to turn on/off or dim/brighten the light from various ones or combinations of light sources in or around the space via actuators. The controller may also directly interface with the light sources.

Abstract: In a solid-state image sensor in which a large number of pixel cells each comprised of a combination of a main photosensitive pixel having a relatively large area and a subsidiary photosensitive pixel having a relatively small area are arranged, if the subsidiary photosensitive pixel has a defect for any pixel cell, division photometry data during AE processing is read, and the defective pixel is replaced with a value obtained by dividing the output value of the main photosensitive pixel at the same position by a sensitivity ratio only for a section for which it is determined that the main photosensitive pixel is not saturated. Thus, the pixel value of a defective pixel can be accurately corrected without causing a reduction in resolution sensitivity compared to a conventional method of correcting a defective pixel using surrounding pixel information.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel array unit wherein a unit pixel group with a portion of elements of a unit pixel being shared with a plurality of unit pixels is arrayed in a matrix form, the unit pixel having a detecting unit, a pixel signal generating unit, a transfer unit to transfer the charge, and an initializing unit to initialize the potential of the pixel signal generating unit; and a driving control unit; wherein the driving control unit controls blooming reduction potential which is the transfer control potential supplied to the transfer unit of the unit pixel to be thinned, so that the overflow charge at the detecting unit with the unit pixel to be thinned which has no shared relation with the unit pixel to be read transitions to a state readily transferable to the pixel signal generating unit side of the unit pixel to be thinned.

Abstract: A pixel section outputs R, G and B signals which are obtained by photoelectrically converting light incident on R, G and B pixels. An adding section determines a prescribed area in which a certain pixel is set as a central pixel, and adds the R, G and B signals from the central pixel and peripheral pixels arranged on the periphery of the central pixel in the prescribed area in order to produce an addition signal. A ratio calculating section calculates an average value of each of the R, G and B signals, and a ratio coefficient of the average value of each of the R, G and B signals to a total value of the average values. An RGB generating section generates a new R signal, G signal and B signal by using the addition signal and the ratio coefficients calculated by the ratio calculating section.

Abstract: In a pixel unit, W, R, G, and B pixels are arranged in rows and columns. The pixel unit output W, R, G, and B signals obtained by photoelectrically converting light incident on the W, R, G, and B pixels. An edge detection unit determines a specific area having a W pixel provided with a white filter as a central pixel in the pixel unit, divides the specific area into blocks including the central pixel, and detects edge information as to whether there is an edge of an image in each of the blocks. A block select unit selects a block with no edge from the edge information. A ratio calculating unit calculates the ratio coefficients of the R, G, and B signals from the selected block. An RGB signal generator generates new R, G, and B signals from the W signal of the central pixel using the ratio coefficients.

Abstract: An amplification-type solid-state image capturing apparatus according to the present invention, having a plurality of pixel sections each including a photoelectric conversion element for receiving light of a subject and performing a photoelectric conversion on the light of the subject and a transfer section capable of transferring signal charge from the photoelectric conversion element to a charge detection section, the plurality of pixel sections connected to each charge detection section, and the amplification-type solid-state image capturing apparatus amplifying and reading potential at the charge detection section as signal data for each of the pixel sections, includes: when one of the plurality of pixel sections which share the charge detection section performs an original shutter operation, a shutter control section for performing an additional shutter operation on the remaining pixel sections which share the charge detection section with the one pixel section and have not performed the original shutter