Patents Issued in October 2, 2008
  • Publication number: 20080239092
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing apparatus that includes a sightline detection unit that detects the line of sight of a subject directed toward an imaging device in a captured image captured by the imaging device and containing at least one subject and a sightline indicating unit that clearly indicates, in correspondence to each subject, whether or not the line of sight of the subject directed toward the imaging device has been detected based upon sightline detection results provided by the sightline detection unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akinobu Sugino, Masaaki Tsuruta, Nazomu Ozaki, Masamichi Asukai, Taiji Ito, Hidehiko Sekizawa, Akane Sano, Yoichiro Sako
  • Publication number: 20080239093
    Abstract: An in-camera two-stage compression implementation is described that reduces the latency between snapshots to a fraction of that otherwise required by other systems that either process complete compression following each snapshot or that incorporate heavy, bulky, and expensive RAM hardware capable of maintaining several raw luminosity records (unprocessed file containing a digital image). In the 1st stage compression the raw luminosity record is quickly, yet partially, compressed to available RAM buffer space to allow a user to expeditiously capture a succeeding image. When the higher-priority processes, the user shooting pictures, and stage one compression subside, a 2nd stage compression, which is slower but more effective, decompresses the earlier partially-compressed images, and re-compresses them for saving in flash memory until they are distributed to a remote platform to be finally converted to the JPEG2000 format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Venkat V. Easwar, Eric O. Bodnar
  • Publication number: 20080239094
    Abstract: An image denoising system and method of implementing the image denoising system is described herein. Noise is decomposed within each channel into frequency bands, and sub-band noise is propagated. Denoising is then able to occur at any node in a camera pipeline after accurately predicting noise that is signal level-dependent, frequency dependent and has inter-channel correlation. A methodology is included for estimating image noise in each color channel at a sensor output based on average image level and camera noise parameters. A scheme is implemented for detecting a peak-white image level for each color channel and predicting image level values for representative colors. Based on a noise model and camera parameters, noise levels are predicted for each color channel for each color patch and these noise levels are propagated to the denoising node. A three dimentional LUT correlates signal level to noise level. Then, a denoising threshold is adaptively controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Farhan A. Baqai, Akira Matsui, Kenichi Nishio
  • Publication number: 20080239095
    Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for controlling operation of a photosensor array in a portable electronic device to reduce flicker resulting from fluorescent light having a periodic intensity. The method comprises selecting a time zone in which the device is to be operated, correlating the time zone with a corresponding frequency of the fluorescent light, and signaling the photosensor array to operate in accordance with a mode optimized to reduce flicker based on the selected time zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Matthew Lee, Tom Nagy, David Noel Vanden Heuvel
  • Publication number: 20080239096
    Abstract: A source electronic device, system and method that is configured to associate a digital image with the source electronic device that generated the digital image is described. The source electronic device comprises a camera, a source identification module, a processor and a memory module. The camera captures at least one unprocessed image. The source identification module identifies the source electronic device with one or more source identification information. The processor processes the captured unprocessed image, and generates a processed digital image. The processed digital image comprises an image header having the source identification information. The memory module stores the processed digital images having the source identification information in the image header. The system comprises a network server and the source electronic device, which further comprises an encryption module configured to encrypt the source identification information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Shaheen Shasa
  • Publication number: 20080239097
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing technology for detecting the motion vector of an image pickup target with increased accuracy. Disclosed is an image processing apparatus that includes: an image processing buffer for storing images that are input from a plurality of image pickup devices; a distance image calculation image processing section for acquiring a disparity image between a first image, which is picked up by an image pickup device and stored in the image processing buffer, and a second image, which is simultaneously picked up by another image pickup device that corresponds to the image pickup device used to pick up the first image; and a motion vector calculation image processing section for acquiring a motion vector image between the first image and a third image, which is picked up with a time lag by the image pickup device used to pick up the first image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Muneto IZUHARA, Soichiro Yokota, Tatsuhiko Monji, Isao Furusawa
  • Publication number: 20080239098
    Abstract: In the present invention, a second CPU is configured to include an image recognition function part, an image compression/expansion part as a reduced image generation part, a WUSB connection authentication Host image generation function as a list generation part, and a recording medium access part as an image record controlling part. The WUSB connection authentication Host image generation function is a function of generating a WUSB connection authentication Host image, which is a selection list including Host photographed image relating to WUSB connectable Hosts and equipment specification information for specifying the Hosts; and is adapted to allow easy selection of a desired connection destination from a plurality of connection destinations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Takeshi SUZUKI
  • Publication number: 20080239099
    Abstract: A camera according has an interchangeable lens unit removably attached to a camera body, and an image-generating processor that generates image data of a subject captured by the lens unit. A memory provided in the lens unit stores distortion data. The distortion data is associated with an approximation function, which represents the correspondence relationship between image height and distortion aberration. The distortion data includes at least one of: coefficient data of the approximation function, and sample data of the image height and the corresponding distortion aberration. Furthermore, the camera has an approximation function processor that defines an approximation function used to process the image data on the basis of the distortion data read from the memory, and a distortion correction processor that carries out distortion correction processing on the image data based on the aberration distortion calculated for each image point by the defined approximation function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: PENTAX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuaki ABE
  • Publication number: 20080239100
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus, an integrated circuit, a digital camera, and a method for automatically recording pictures on a digital camera. The digital camera, for example, configured to receive a user-defined prerequisite for recording a picture; capture a plurality of pictures; determine whether at least one picture of the plurality of captured pictures meets the user-defined prerequisite; and store the at least one picture which meets the user-defined prerequisite if at least one picture of the plurality of captured pictures meets the user-defined prerequisite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation
    Inventor: Nils Christensson
  • Publication number: 20080239101
    Abstract: A histogram detecting unit detects a distribution of numbers of pixels by luminance level of a picked-up image signal. A maximum luminance value calculating unit calculates a maximum luminance value of the inputted image signal. A high luminance proportion calculating unit calculates a proportion of a high luminance signal out of all of the pixels composing one or a plurality of frames based on the detected distribution of numbers of pixels by luminance level. A knee point calculating unit calculates a knee point based on the calculated maximum luminance value and proportion of the high luminance signal. A knee processing unit generates a knee slope with a predetermined inclination starting at the calculated knee point. The knee processing unit does not change the value of the predetermined inclination, regardless of the value of the calculated knee point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Tomoyoshi NATSUI
  • Publication number: 20080239102
    Abstract: Camera control apparatus enabling a user to intuitively understand a photographing direction and zoom magnification of a camera at the time of switching over an image, and enabling camera control to be started immediately. At camera control apparatus (120), camera image switching section (121) switches over images of cameras instructed to be switched over to by a user. Zoom magnification control sections (124, 125, 126) acquire zoom magnification of a camera instructed to be switched over to, set zoom magnification of a camera before switching of the camera image switching section (121) to a reference magnification lower than the acquired zoom magnification, and change zoom magnification of the camera after switching from the reference magnification to the acquired zoom magnification. Image display section (122) then displays the image of the camera image switching section (121) has switched over to.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Susumu Okada, Kensuke Maruya
  • Publication number: 20080239103
    Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for controlling the display of a portable electronic device having a user input device and a camera function; the portable electronic device including a photosensor chip having a sensor array of a predetermined number of rows and columns of pixels for converting radiant energy into electronic signals representing an image for display via a viewfinder. The method comprises selecting via the user input a zoom level and viewfinder resolution for the camera application, and in the event the zoom level is 1× then scaling the predetermined number of rows and columns of pixels to the selected viewfinder resolution and generating an image corresponding thereto; and in the event the zoom level is greater than 1× then cropping a region of interest of the predetermined number of rows and columns of pixels in accordance with the zoom level and then scaling the cropped region of interest in accordance with the viewfinder resolution and generating an image corresponding thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Andrew Bocking, Russell Andrade
  • Publication number: 20080239104
    Abstract: Provided is a method and apparatus for providing composition information in a digital image processing device whereby composition information of a target object displayed in a live-view screen is provided using auditory information or visual information during photographing in order to induce a composition of the target object to be matched to a predetermined composition for photographing. The apparatus includes a detection unit detecting a composition of an object from a live-view image to be captured, a comparison unit comparing the detected composition with a reference composition, and a control unit performing a control operation to output an auditory alert signal until the detected composition is matched to the reference composition and performing a control operation to output an auditory match signal when the detected composition is matched to the reference composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Techwin Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-shik Koh
  • Publication number: 20080239105
    Abstract: A CMOS image sensor includes a photodiode for receiving incident light that is converted to a charge signal; a transfer mechanism for transferring the charge to a sensing node that converts the charge signal to an image voltage signal; and a sample-and-hold circuit. The sample-and-hold circuit includes a capacitor that receives the image voltage signal; and only one buffer amplifier that passes the image voltage signal to a differential amplifier. The buffer amplifier also receives a reset signal that is passed to the differential amplifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Weize Xu
  • Publication number: 20080239106
    Abstract: A redundant-bit-added digital-analog converter has a first input terminal and a second input terminal and outputs a ramp voltage obtained by quantizing a voltage difference between a first voltage+?V and a second voltage??V with n+1/2q bits, when a voltage input to the first input terminal is the first voltage, a voltage input to the second input terminal is the second voltage, and ?V=(first voltage-second voltage)/2q+1 (where n is a natural number of 3 or more and q is a natural number of n?2 or less).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takafumi SANO
  • Publication number: 20080239107
    Abstract: A digital camera includes a distortion correction section, which is composed of a focal length determining section, a distortion evaluation section and a correction amount calculating section. The focal length determining section evaluates a focal length at the time of image capture. Based on the focal length, the distortion evaluation section evaluates the magnitude of wide-angle distortion and optical distortion in a captured image. Based on this evaluation, the distortion correction section selects an appropriate coefficient from an optical distortion correction coefficient table or a wide-angle distortion correction coefficient table. Using the selected coefficient, the correction amount calculating section applies a coordinate transform processing to cause positive or negative distortion to the captured image, and corrects the wide-angle distortion or the optical distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Michio Cho
  • Publication number: 20080239108
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus including: a pixel section with a plurality of pixels arranged into two dimensions, each having a photoelectric conversion section for effecting photoelectric conversion, an accumulation section for temporarily storing a signal generated at the photoelectric conversion section, a transfer means for transferring the signal of the photoelectric conversion section to the accumulation section, a reset means for resetting the accumulation section, an amplification means for amplifying and outputting an electric potential of the accumulation section, and a select means for selecting the amplification means; and a noise suppressing circuit for suppressing a variance of a signal at the time of reset of each pixel, having a switch section for switching a polarity of a difference between a first signal and a second signal that are different in a characteristic due to pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsuko Kume
  • Publication number: 20080239109
    Abstract: A method by means of mathematical mapping to remove distortions due to a camera lens, distortions due to image placement relative to the camera, and distortions due to affixing images on curved surfaces is disclosed. The invention provides a method for creating a mapping which, when applied to graphics or other images, will compensate for the effect of camera distortions and camera point of view, allowing the image to appear undistorted when viewed from the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: David John Jennings
  • Publication number: 20080239110
    Abstract: A fixed pattern noise removal circuit is provided for removing vertical streak fixed pattern noise from an output signal of an image sensor including an output system for every predetermined number of columns. The fixed pattern noise removal circuit includes a correction signal output unit configured to output a correction signal corresponding to the output system in accordance with an offset component and a light-intensity-dependent component of the fixed pattern noise occurring in the output system, and a signal correction unit configured to remove the fixed pattern noise from the output signal of the image sensor on the basis of the correction signal output from the correction signal output unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Manabu Hara
  • Publication number: 20080239111
    Abstract: Disclosed embodiments provide methods and apparatuses for dark current compensation of imager pixels signals. A row-wise dark offset is calculated and then subtracted from the imaging pixel signals, a row-wise dark offset for at least one row being different from a row-wise dark offset for at least another row.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Jutao Jiang
  • Publication number: 20080239112
    Abstract: An output signal of a CCD or other solid-state imaging device (101) is converted at an A/D converter (102) into a digital signal, which is in turn loaded in a latch (103). The latch (103) comprises a delay unit, a line memory, etc. to hold pixel data demanded by a defective pixel detection algorithm. A normal pixel detection block (104) is adapted to receive a signal from the A/D converter (102) to determine whether the pixel to be inspected is a normal one or a possibly defective one, and send out the result of determination to a defective pixel detection block (105). When the pixel to be inspected is determined as defective, a defective pixel correction block (106) is operable to implement correction processing, producing a correction output (107).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2005
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Yukihiro Naito
  • Publication number: 20080239113
    Abstract: Systems and methods for camera sensor defect correction and noise reduction are disclosed. In an exemplary implementation, a method may include comparing a pixel in a digital image to neighboring pixels to identify an anomaly. The method may also include ignoring the anomaly if the anomaly occurs in at least one neighboring pixel, and marking the pixel as defective if the anomaly does not occur in any neighboring pixels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: John M. Baron
  • Publication number: 20080239114
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to detect a dead pixel in an image sensor having a pixel array to generate a plurality of image frames, and a method and apparatus to capture an image from the image sensor detect a dead pixel in the image sensor. A change of a scene of the image frames is sensed, and a detection operation to detect a dead pixel in the pixel array is performed if the change of the scene is sensed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Seung-gi Shin, Jae-seok Kim, Dong-wook Kim, Hyung-han Lee, Won-jae Lee, Jee-hoon An
  • Publication number: 20080239115
    Abstract: There is a provided an image processing device having: a storage section for storing defective pixel information expressing defective pixels of an image pickup element; a correction section that, on the basis of the defective pixel information, carries out correction of defective pixels on an image captured by the image pickup element; a point defect detector that, on the basis of a first image for defect detection which has not been subjected to defective pixel correction, detects point defects of the image pickup element in accordance with point defect detecting conditions; a line defect detector that, on the basis of a second image for defect detection which has not been subjected to defective pixel correction, detects line defects of the image pickup element in accordance with line defect detecting conditions; and a defective pixel information register storing the results of detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Makoto Sugizaki
  • Publication number: 20080239116
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting linear shift parallax error in multi-array image systems. Average pixel cell signal values for pixel cells within a summing window of each column or row of at least two sub-arrays are computed during read-out. The images of the sub-arrays are correlated based on the averages, then shifted based on a result of the correlation function to correct the exhibited parallax error. The summation, correlation, and shifting can be performed by a pixel pipeline processing circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Scott Smith
  • Publication number: 20080239117
    Abstract: An exemplary shading detecting method for a camera module is provided. In the method, a plurality of brightness values are measured from a plurality of predetermined regions of a stable rectangular image generated by the camera module. A plurality of brightness differences, each based on a comparison between a respective two of the brightness values, chosen from among the brightness values measured, are calculated. Each brightness difference is judged as to whether it exceeds a corresponding predetermined threshold. If at least one brightness difference is judged to exceed the corresponding threshold, the camera module is a rejected. A corresponding shading detecting apparatus, for facilitating the shading detecting method, is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: CHIUNG-SHENG WU, CHIH-WEI HUANG
  • Publication number: 20080239118
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an input section, an adjusting section, and a correcting section. The input section acquires image data and information about subject condition at the time of photographing the image data. The adjusting section determines a brightness enhancement amount of dark area gradation of the image data, depending on the subject condition at the time of photographing. The correcting section performs image correction of brightness enhancement on the dark area gradation of the image data according to the brightness enhancement amount determined by the adjusting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: NIKON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masaru Muramatsu
  • Publication number: 20080239119
    Abstract: An image-capturing device includes a lens, a grid of light-sensitive elements, a sampling mechanism, and an image generation module. The lens is configured to be triggerable to open for a given duration. The grid is positioned so that when the lens is open, light is cast onto the grid. Each element of the grid is configured to provide a charge response to light. The sampling mechanism is coupled to the grid to repeatedly sample the grid during the duration by detecting whether the charge response of individual elements that comprise the grid exceeds a designated threshold level. The sampling mechanism records information that is indicative of a time in the duration in which the charge response of individual elements exceeds the designated threshold level. The image creation module generates an image corresponding to the scene using the information recorded by the sampling mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Olivier Patrick Boireau
  • Publication number: 20080239120
    Abstract: An image-sensing module is provided. The image-sensing module includes a substrate, a plurality of image-sensing units, a plurality of micro lenses and a focusing unit. The image-sensing units are disposed on the substrate and the micro lenses are respectively disposed on one of the image-sensing units. The focusing unit is disposed on the substrate and covers the micro lenses. A top surface of the focusing unit is a curved surface. Furthermore, a method of manufacturing the image-sensing module and an image capture apparatus are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: UNITED MICROELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Min-Chih Hsuan, Tsung-Hsi Ko, Li-Che Chen
  • Publication number: 20080239121
    Abstract: There is an imaging apparatus including a noise suppression circuit. The noise suppression circuit includes sorting of one signal of a central pixel and four signals of peripheral pixels having the same color which are close to the central pixel in the image signals in order of magnitude, calculating of an average value from the one signal of the central pixel and the four signals of the peripheral pixels, calculating of a difference value from a maximum value and a minimum value of the one signal of the central pixel and the four signals of the peripheral pixels, comparing of the difference value with an assumed noise level, and substituting of the one signal of the central pixel by an average value of two or more pixel values excluding the maximum or minimum values when the first difference value is larger than the noise level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Egawa
  • Publication number: 20080239122
    Abstract: A system and method for converting a film camera into a digital camera uses an electronic device placed in a space of the camera that normally contains film. The device includes an image sensing array arranged in optical communication with a lens of the camera when a shutter is open. An audio sensor is used to detect sounds within the camera, and an acoustic pattern recognizer with a built-in training mode is used to determine if the detected sounds correspond with the shutter operation. The image sensing array is switched into an image capture mode when the acoustic pattern recognizer determines that the shutter is being opened. When the shutter is opened, a read-out circuit captures multiple image frames from the image sensing array. An image processor associated with the image sensing array processes the captured images using advanced image processing algorithms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicants: Sony Corporation, Sony Electronic Inc.
    Inventors: Nikolaos Georgis, Djung Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20080239123
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes an imaging section having multiple pixels laid out in a matrix form for performing photoelectric conversion and multiple vertical transfer sections that vertically transfer signal charges of the multiple pixels in columns, a control section that controls the transfer, hold and addition of signal charges transferred from each of the vertical transfer sections, at least two horizontal transfer sections that horizontally transfer signal charges output from the control section, and a horizontal-horizontal transfer section that transfers the signal charges of one horizontal transfer section that has received the signal charges transferred from the control section to the other horizontal transfer section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isao Hirota
  • Publication number: 20080239124
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device is disclosed. The device includes: a pixel array unit in which unit pixels including photoelectric conversion elements are two-dimensionally arranged and a first signal and a second signal are outputted to a signal line as a pixel signal; a signal processing unit including a variable gain amplifier, and an analog/digital converter; a signal supply unit supplying a reference signal; plural memory units holds the reference signal passed through the signal processing unit so as to correspond to the plural gains respectively when the variable gain amplifier is set at the plural gains respectively; and a correction unit subtracting the reference signal held in the plural memory units from the pixel signal outputted from each unit pixel in an active pixel area of the pixel array unit and passed through the signal processing unit when the variable gain amplifier is set at the plural gains respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomonori Mori, Nobuo Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20080239125
    Abstract: “An image sensor suitable for operating in subresolution mode, including a plurality of pixels each formed of an elementary cell including a photodiode, and a reset transistor for connecting the photodiode to a reference voltage source, and a readout transistor connected to a column bus bar for acquiring the value of the charge of the photodiode, where the elementary cells are grouped in subsets forming macro-pixels, each subset having a common electrical connection, to which each elementary cell is able to connect by its reset transistor, in order to share the charges between the photodiodes of the elementary cells of said subset, said common electrical connection being suitable for connection to the reference voltage source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE
    Inventor: Arnaud VERDANT
  • Publication number: 20080239126
    Abstract: Basically, en electronic shutter function of a CMOS solid-state image pickup apparatus is implemented by a rolling shutter of which exposure timing sequentially shifts between pixel rows. The exposure period for one pixel row is from a time point when readout of the pixel row is started to a time point when next readout of the pixel row is started. Thus, in order to achieve exposure similar to that of a global shutter with the same exposure period applied to all of the pixel rows, there is set a blank period where no pixel signal is read out from any one of the pixel rows, and an LED is illuminated over a predetermined portion within the blank period. In this way, the CMOS solid-state image pickup apparatus having a rolling shutter function can achieve similar exposure to a global shutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuo WAKAMORI
  • Publication number: 20080239127
    Abstract: An NchMOS transistor Q71 on the input side of a current mirror 70 is made function as a voltage operating-point setting portion so that a pixel signal line potential (voltage of a horizontal signal line 20) would be constantly stable nearly at the GND. Then, an amplification factor and linearity become good in an amplification transistor in the solid imaging device 3. A current copier 90 is made function as a current sampling portion so as to receive a signal current IIN of the solid imaging device 3 through the current mirror 70 to carry out sampling of a pixel signal in a resetting period in the shape of current component as the pixel signal is. Calculating differential between a current component in a detecting period and an offset current, which is the current component in a resetting period in sampling, allows an offset component included in the pixel signal to be removed and only pure signal Isig to be picked up at an output terminal Iout, so that the FPN restraining function can be fulfilled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Ken Koseki, Tsutomu Haruta, Yukihiro Yasui, Yasuaki Hisamatsu
  • Publication number: 20080239128
    Abstract: A drive control method for an image pickup device is disclosed. The image pickup device includes two-dimensionally arranged light receiving elements to photoelectrically convert incoming light, vertical transfer paths to transfer charges, which have been generated through the photoelectric conversion by the light receiving elements, in the vertical direction, and a horizontal transfer path to transfer the charges, which have been transferred by the vertical transfer path, row by row in the horizontal direction. In the method, the charges, which have been horizontally transferred by the horizontal transfer path, are directed and outputted in more than one directions, and the directed charges are respectively transferred and are added by temporarily stopping the transfer of the charges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Tomoyuki KAWAI
  • Publication number: 20080239129
    Abstract: A method for driving a solid-state imaging device including a plurality of pixels arranged in a two-dimensional array, each of the plurality of pixels accumulating a signal charge according to an amount of incident light, is provided. The method includes: performing electron multiplication of a first signal charge at a first multiplication factor to output a first image signal; and performing electron multiplication of a second signal charge at a second multiplication factor to output a second image signal, at least the first and second image signals being image signals of the same scene of a subject and being successively output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Hiroyuki OSHIMA, Hirokazu Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20080239130
    Abstract: A drive method of a CCD-type solid-state image pickup device, the image pickup device comprising vertical charge transfer path with vertical transfer electrodes, wherein the method transfers signal charges read from pixels of the image pickup device along the vertical charge transfer path, the method comprising a plurality of steps each of where transferring the signal charges along the vertical charge transfer path is stopped and the signal charges are retained in potential well(s) formed under given one(s) of the vertical transfer electrodes during the stopping of the transferring, wherein said plurality of steps comprises a given step in which the given one(s) of the vertical transfer electrodes are changed from those of the vertical transfer electrodes in another one of said plurality of steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Yoshinori FURUTA
  • Publication number: 20080239131
    Abstract: An electronic device, preferably in the form of a mobile phone, comprising a support structure and a camera carried by the support structure. An orientation detector is connected to the camera. The orientation detector is configured to identify images features in an image captured by the camera, such as the eyes and the mouth of the user, and to determine rotation orientation of the image relative to a reference orientation. A display carried by the support structure is configured to display a data representation, and further to display this data representation in an orientation dependent on the determined rotation orientation. This way a data presentation can e.g. be displayed in a portrait orientation or in a landscape orientation in dependence of which rotational orientation the device is currently held in when the data representation is viewed by a user of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Ola Thorn
  • Publication number: 20080239132
    Abstract: There is provided an image display unit having a main screen and one or more sub-screens, wherein two or more zoom areas are designated, and images of the designated zoom areas are displayed on the sub-screens. The image display unit includes: a first display section that displays images on the main screen; a designating section that designates a desired place on the main screen by an operation; and a second display section that displays on one of the sub-screens an image in a derived area including the place designated by the designating section, of the images displayed on the main screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Masaki Kohama
  • Publication number: 20080239133
    Abstract: A method and system for editing an image with a camera includes simultaneously displaying a first image and a second image separate from each other on a display screen of the camera and modifying the first image, via a user interface of the camera, using a portion of the second image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Robb P. Cazier, Murray Dean Craig
  • Publication number: 20080239134
    Abstract: A webcam with an optical lens that can manually be moved into a position in front of the camera lens. The lens may slide or be rotated to a position in front of the camera lens. The optical lens may be a zoom lens, such that, in combination with the lens of the camera, a fixed zoom or magnification function is provided. Alternately, at least a second lens may also be provided, such as to provide two fixed zoom positions. The two lenses could be moved together with a single mechanical structure, or separately with two different manual controls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Logitech Europe S.A.
    Inventor: T. J. Hsu
  • Publication number: 20080239135
    Abstract: A stereo camera comprises a camera body, a lens barrel rotatably attached to the camera body, and a converter lens barrel 14 detachably attached to the camera body. The lens barrel contains a pair of a first imaging optical system and a first CCD, and a pair of a second imaging optical system and a second CCD. When the lens barrel is at an ordinary position, a wide image capturing mode with only the first CCD being activated or a normal image capturing mode with only the second CCD being activated is set. When the lens barrel is at a first rotational position, a panoramic image capturing mode is set. When the lens barrel is at a second rotational position, a stereoscopic image capturing mode is set.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshio Tamura
  • Publication number: 20080239136
    Abstract: A device detects focal length using image data and an optical system is driven. Image data are acquired while changing focal length to lens. For each image data, high frequency contrast component evaluated values VH, and low frequency contrast component evaluated values VL, are acquired. If there is no moire, an image focal length D1 is determined using a peak value of the high frequency component evaluated values VH. If there is moire, in a range of high frequency component evaluated values adopting values less than or equal to a reference evaluated value VL2 calculated based on low frequency component evaluated values and photographing conditions, image capture focal lengths Da and Db are determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventors: Kunihiko Kanai, Minoru Yajima
  • Publication number: 20080239137
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided and includes: an imaging optical system; an imaging device; a drive section that relatively moves the imaging optical system and the imaging device; and a control section that controls the drive section so as to repeatedly drive and stop the drive section during a period between successive times of confirming a relative moving amount of the imaging optical system and the imaging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Hideo YOSHIDA
  • Publication number: 20080239138
    Abstract: An image pickup lens includes, in order from an object side thereof: a aperture stop; a first lens having a positive refractive power; a second lens having a negative refractive power; a third lens having a positive refractive power; and a fourth lens having a negative refractive power and having a biconcave shape including an aspheric surface. The image pickup lens satisfies the predetermined conditions according to focal lengths of the first lens and the third lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventor: Eigo Sano
  • Publication number: 20080239139
    Abstract: A portable terminal and a method for displaying an image using focus information are disclosed. An interested area of the captured subject image can be rapidly displayed on the display. The captured subject image can be displayed on the display, according to the features of an interested area image. At least one interested area is extracted from the captured subject image. When one of the extracted interested areas is selected, image information of the captured subject, which includes focus information of the selected interested area, is generated. When requesting that the captured subject image is displayed, an interested area image of the captured subject image is displayed according to focus information of the generated image information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Young Keun Choi
  • Publication number: 20080239140
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for focusing an image of a target object. The apparatus comprises imaging circuitry for analyzing an image reflected from a target object that is projected onto an imaging sensor coupled to the imaging circuitry. A fixed imaging lens having an optical axis in alignment with the imaging sensor focuses the reflected image onto the imaging sensor. One of a plurality of apertures located within a selectable aperture of varying sizes is selected for optically enhancing the fixed imaging lens. An actuator is coupled to the selectable aperture for selectively selecting the one of the plurality of apertures in a direction transverse to optical axis for optically enhancing the fixed imaging lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Igor Vinogradov
  • Publication number: 20080239141
    Abstract: The present invention provides a digital camera structure structured from a rotating portion and a fixed portion. The rotating portion is configured with a lens used to capture desired images being filmed. Moreover, a magnetic flux device, attracted to a magnetic flux body of the fixed portion, is held within a housing of the rotating portion. The rotating portion and the fixed portion are made to effectively mutually attract by means of a magnetic force. Moreover, disposition of a retaining cavity on the fixed portion is used to enable the rotating portion to permit multidirectional and large-scale adjustment of the filming angle. The rotating portion can be independently joined to a magnetic piece, magnetism of which enables the rotating portion and the magnetic piece to be attracted to a magnetically attracting device, which better benefits the general user in the convenient use of the lens on the rotating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Inventor: Yan Yang