Abstract: A method and system for locally processing a predetermined microstructure formed on a substrate without causing undesirable changes in electrical or physical characteristics of the substrate or other structures formed on the substrate are provided. The method includes providing information based on a model of laser pulse interactions with the predetermined microstructure, the substrate and the other structures. At least one characteristic of at least one pulse is determined based on the information. A pulsed laser beam is generated including the at least one pulse. The method further includes irradiating the at least one pulse having the at least one determined characteristic into a spot on the predetermined microstructure. The at least one determined characteristic and other characteristics of the at least one pulse are sufficient to locally process the predetermined microstructure without causing the undesirable changes.

Abstract: An optical scan apparatus which deflects a plurality of light beams to scan a write region on a scan surface in a main scan direction is configured to include a light source which has a plurality of emission portions emitting the plurality of light beams arranged two-dimensionally on a plane in parallel to the main scan direction and a sub scan direction perpendicular to the main scan direction; a deflector which deflects the plurality of light beams from the plurality of emission portions; a light receiving element which receives the light beams and outputs a synchronous detection signal in accordance with the received light beams; and a control unit which selectively controls any one of the emission portions to emit a light beam upon each scanning and allows the light beam from the selected emission portion to be incident on the light receiving element via the deflector.

Abstract: A line head, includes: a head substrate that includes a plurality of light emitting element groups as groups of light emitting elements; a lens array that includes a plurality of lenses each of which faces the corresponding light emitting element group in a first direction; and a light shielding member that is disposed between the head substrate and the lens array and includes a plurality of light shielding plates which are arranged side by side in the first direction while defining a space layer therebetween, wherein each of the plurality of light shielding plates is provided with a plurality of light guide holes penetrating in the first direction and facing the plurality of light emitting element groups in the first direction respectively, the plurality of light guide holes facing each of the light emitting element groups are arranged in the first direction respectively to form a plurality of light guide portions, and lights from the plurality of light emitting element groups are incident on the plurality o

Abstract: A system that provides video signal communication between a source of video signals and a plurality of units that include destinations of the video signals, the system including an interface coupled to the source and to conductive paths, each of which serves at least one of the units and carries voice signals to and from one or more telephone devices at said unit. The interface receives video signals from the source, and also receives voice signals. The interface transmits voice and video signals onto the conductive path. Receivers at each destination of information connected to the conductive path recover the video signal and apply it to one or more of the destinations at the unit. The receivers also recover the voice signal from the telephone line and apply it to a telephone device. Signals also transmit in the reverse direction, from the units back to the interface and the source of information.

Abstract: Methods, media, and devices for providing visual resources of video conference participants are provided. In some embodiments, methods for providing a visual resource of a participant to a video conference comprise: determining that the participant is joining or departing the video conference; accessing a visual resource that identifies the participant; and presenting the visual resource to at least one other participant to the video conference.

Abstract: A stereo video shooting and viewing device includes: a body, having two groups of eyepieces spaced apart from each other by a certain distance corresponding to a distance between two human eyes; two micro display screens, disposed on front ends of the eyepieces; two digital camera lenses, disposed on an outer side of the body, spaced apart from each other by a certain distance corresponding to the distance between two human eyes, and used for synchronously capturing images with a visual angle difference corresponding to that of the human eyes; and a main control unit (MCU), connected to the two micro display screens and the two digital camera lenses, and used for processing the images synchronously captured by the two digital camera lenses and image signals received from exterior, and displaying the images on the two micro display screens separately.

Abstract: A three-dimensional image display method, includes: displaying a three-dimensional image including a left eye image signal and a right eye image signal displayed at a display focus angle; determining whether to change a viewing focus angle with respect to the display focus angle; calculating a pixel distance between the left eye image signal and the right eye image signal if it is determined to change the viewing focus angle; and displaying indicator marks at positions spaced as much as a half of the pixel distance from a center of a screen in leftward and rightward directions.

Abstract: A display apparatus has a switchable birefringent lens array. The display apparatus produces a substantially linearly polarised output. The lens array comprises birefringent material arranged between a planar surface of a first substrate and a relief substrate of a second substrate defining an array of cylindrical lenses. The lens array has electrodes for applying a control voltage across the birefringent material for electrically switching the birefringent material between a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode the lens array modifies the directional distribution of incident light polarised in a predetermined direction. In the second mode the lens array has substantially no effect on incident light polarised in said predetermined direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method improving the images in an image processing unit (5) receiving images from an electronic color video camera (3) of a medical endoscope (1) and then transmitting them to an image display unit (7), and to an endoscope operating on the basis of the said method, where first the pixels of the color components (RGB) are individually mapped into a color space (HSL) wherein the color saturation (S) is independent of the other components (H, L), thereupon the saturation component (S) of each pixel to be mapped is converted by means of a nonlinear mapping function (11) which amplifies the color saturation differential between an upper zone (b->1) and a lower zone (0-b) of the color saturation, lastly the pixels being remapped into an (RGB) color space suitable for image display.

Abstract: A device for inspecting the underside of a vehicle includes a carriage supported by four swivable wheels and a forwardly extending arm with a light source and upwardly extending camera on a forward portion thereof. A second arm extends rearwardly and upwardly from a rear portion of the carriage and includes a video monitor for viewing an image generated by the video camera and a control unit. The device also includes a video transmitter for sending a picture from the camera to a remote location and three 12 volt batteries for powering the device.

Abstract: A digital microform imaging apparatus which includes an approximately monochromatic illumination source transmitting an incident light through a diffuse window along a first optical axis of the apparatus. A microform media support is configured to support a microform media after the diffuse window and along the first optical axis. An approximately 45 degree fold mirror reflects the incident light transmitted through the microform media approximately 90 degrees along a second optical axis. An imaging subsystem includes a lens connected to a first carriage which is linearly adjustable approximately parallel with the second optical axis, and an area sensor connected to a second carriage which is linearly adjustable approximately parallel with the second optical axis.

Abstract: A surveillance planning and analysis tool kit for planning and analysis at a region. The tool kit includes a computer system programmed with software adapted to simulate optical and imaging parameters at the region including a realistic geo-spatial map of the region, a number of surveillance cameras, camera specifications and lighting conditions. Preferred embodiments include computer software to permit planning and analysis of optical imaging technologies in the 400 nm-1700 nm spectrum that comprises the visible, near infrared, and short wave infrared where the primary signal is ambient light reflected from objects.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a monitoring system for use at roofing project sites and, in particular, roof installation, repair and replacement sites. The monitoring systems include image-capturing devices, such as cameras that are positioned at a roofing project site and associated transmitters and a transmission system to send the project images to a remote and centralized project management location. The project images are received and processed for review at the project management location. In addition, the monitoring system can include a reciprocal communications system that permits a project manager, in the project management location, to send command signals to the image-capturing devices and adjust the position and focus of these devices.

Abstract: A camera arrangement for a vehicle includes a camera and an electrical conductor structure. The camera is separated from a pane which divides an outside region from an inside region. The camera is in the inside region and is pointed at a portion of the pane such that the camera has a viewing detection region through the pane. The conductor structure forms a device and is on the portion of the pane within the viewing detection region of the camera whereby the camera and the device use the same portion of the pane for their operations.

Abstract: A handheld device in an audio and video system including a system for receiving and processing video and/or audio signals, a system for displaying a virtual image to a user, and a system for producing sounds audible to a user. The handheld device also incorporates a shroud to block ambient light when the handheld unit is engaged with the user's face. As a result, the user may hear sounds produced from the received audio signals. Further the user may see the virtual images produced from the received video signals when the handheld device is engaged with the users face.

Abstract: A video signal processing integrated circuit comprising: a test signal generation circuit configured to generate a test signal in conformity with video additional data superimposed on a video signal; a data slicer configured to binarize the test signal through comparison with a slice level, the test signal being supplied from the test signal generation circuit; and a data processing circuit configured to perform data processing of the video additional data binarized by the data slicer.

Abstract: According to the described method, interframe similarities s(i) are calculated for the frames of the video sequence, each interframe similarity s(i) being indicative of the similarity of two consecutive frames i—1, i. As it has been found, an analysis of the interframe similarities allows to determine various parameters that are characteristic for the mean opinion score MOS, such as the downsampling rate, pausing, or a noise-dependence of the interframe similarity at the keyframes. An objective mean opinion score MOSo being a value close to the mean opinion score is derived as a value linear in the pausing parameter, a keyframe distance parameter and further quality parameters measured in the spatial domain, corrected by a second value being an exponential model in the downsampling rate.

Abstract: An efficient and robust mechanism for static pattern removal from movies captured with a digital CCD camera. A correction map of malfunctioning underexposed CCD pixels is provided and applied to each image in the affected shot to correct the malfunctioning pixels. The correction map may be associated with the specific images in a given shot or with a particular CCD camera. The entire process, other than possibly the initial step of determining which shots to correct, is fully-automated on a computer workstation. The computer generates the correction map, applies it to each image and validates the correction. This is a considerably more efficient approach than one in which a technician must determine there is a problem of under exposure, identify the malfunctioning pixels in each frame and manually retouch the affected pixels.

Abstract: An electronic camera comprises a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with a computer or a printer, and a power save mode changeover unit that changes over a power save mode to either an ON or an OFF state according to the operational state of the electronic camera, if the power save mode is changed over to ON by the power save mode changeover unit, the wireless communication unit stops its operation when radio waves are not being transmitted, and if the power save mode is changed over to OFF, the wireless communication unit operates in a standby state when radio waves are not being transmitted.

Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus includes a first operating member, to which a predetermined function is fixedly allocated and a second operating member capable of customizing an allocated function, in which the second operating member is arranged on the right back-face region of the image-pickup apparatus in a standard position, and the predetermined function allocated to the first operating member can also be allocated to the second operating member.

Abstract: Even when a remaining amount of an image memory built in a digital camera is decreased, the photographing can be further continued while reserving a photographed image. An image which is obtained from an image input unit including image pickup means is accumulated into an image memory. When a remaining amount calculating unit detects that the remaining amount of the image memory is small, an image record discriminating unit compares it with an image size in a photograph mode at that time which is obtained from an image size table, thereby discriminating whether the continuation of the photographing can be performed or not. When the photographing is impossible, an image selecting unit selects an old image, an image in which the number of colors is small, or the like on the basis of management data regarding the photographed images in a memory managing table. The selected image is transmitted by a PHS communication by a data transmitting apparatus.

Abstract: In an initial stage, using a global motion vector, a rough degree of image shaking is determined. After the image shaking is determined to have converged to some measure, using the difference values between frames, the finer degree of the image shaking is determined. And if it is determined to be free of image shaking, the recording photography is made to be done. Thereby, with certainty in the timing of no hand shaking and no image shaking, the photographing can be done.

Abstract: An apparatus for digital image stabilization according to the present invention comprises an image signal processing module for receiving image signals generated under first and second exposure value conditions (first exposure value condition>second exposure value condition) from an image sensor, and outputting digital image signals of a first size and a second size (first size<second size) corresponding to the first exposure value condition and the second exposure value condition, respectively; and an applied image processing module for determining adaptively the second exposure value condition from the first exposure value condition, changing an exposure attribute of the image sensor from the first exposure value condition to the second exposure value condition, receiving the image signals of the first size and the second size, and correcting a property of the image signal of the second size based on the image signal of the first size.

Abstract: An image-stabilizing driving device is proposed, including a slidable block coupled to an image sensor, a flat surface acoustic wave actuator for contacting with and driving the slidable block to move on a surface contacted therewith, and a contactless force action unit having a first and a second contactless force action layers. The first contactless force action layer is formed between the slidable block and the image sensor and the second contactless force action layer is formed on a bottom surface of the flat surface acoustic wave actuator, thereby providing preload force for the slidable block to contact with flat surface ascoustic wave actuator so as to form a thin image-stabilizing driving device.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a still image frame with anti-vibration clearness includes the following steps. Multiple raw image frames are captured during a capturing period according to a capturing instruction. The raw image frames are compressed respectively, according to a predetermined compression rule, into multiple compressed image frames each of which has a data length after such compression. The compressed image frames are stored according to a predetermined sequence. The data lengths of the compressed image frames stored are compared according to the predetermined sequence. The desired still image frame is obtained through the compressed image frame of which the data length has a unique feature among all the compressed image frames.

Abstract: A camera (16) and a rotary base receiver (28) are connected to each other to be capable of transmitting a video signal. In the camera (16), a web server (50) sends out a video signal to the outside and receives a camera remote control signal and a rotary base remote control signal from the outside. A control unit (40) controls the camera (16) according to the camera remote control signal. The rotary base remote control signal is superimposed on a video signal to be transmitted to the rotary base receiver (28) by a video signal circuit (52). The rotary base receiver (28) extracts the rotary base remote control signal from the video signal, and controls a rotary base (14) according to the rotary base remote control signal. The configuration for a superimposed transmission can be utilized and both the camera and the rotary base can be controlled with ease through communications with the outside.

Abstract: A moving image capture apparatus generates a data file to record, on a recording medium, an image signal output from an imaging unit, extracts character information from the image signal to be recorded on the recording medium, sets a parameter value used for selection as a file name according to a characteristic of appearance of the character information, calculates an evaluation value from the set parameter value, and sets character information based on the calculated evaluation value as a file name of the image signal. Furthermore, the moving image capture apparatus generates a thumbnail of the file based on an image signal from which character information for which the calculated evaluation value is relatively large has been extracted.

Abstract: In position and orientation measurement based on natural features, erroneous detection of the natural features is prevented when an observation target object is occluded by another object, and registration stability is improved. To this end, an occluding object that can occlude the observation target object is defined, and an occluding region where the occluding object occludes the observation target object is detected in an input captured image. Image features of the observation target object are detected in a region of the captured image other than the detected occluding region. Therefore, the position or orientation of an image pickup apparatus that captured the captured image, or the position or orientation of the observation target object in the captured image are calculated.

Abstract: A method of transferring a deferred vertical synchronous signal and an image signal processor executing the method thereof are disclosed. Once the vertical synchronous signal for an mth frame is inputted from an encoding unit, the method monitors whether image data columns in the quantity of n corresponding to a predetermined process block have been stored, using a count value inputted from the encoding unit, and outputs a corresponding vertical synchronous signal to a receiving part in case the image data columns in the quantity of n have been stored. Therefore, it becomes possible to increase the process efficiency of the back-end chip and to reduce the power consumption.

Abstract: A constant amount of new portion of image data as still images is always stored on a memory in an image taking operation. In response to a shutter release operation, the image data stored on the memory is recorded onto a recording medium. A next new portion of the image data generated subsequent to the shutter release operation is then recorded on the recording medium. A predetermined pixel count, smaller than a standard pixel count set in the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation, is set in the image data prior to the shutter release operation. Process time for multi-shot operation is shortened in order to prevent photo opportunity missing. The pixel count in the image data subsequent to the shutter release operation remains unchanged so that the image data of high image quality is acquired.

Abstract: A digital camera has a human face dictionary set 151 for storing information defining peculiarities of a human face and a mode selection key 142 for selecting a first mode or a second mode, wherein the first mode is for putting priority to a speed at which the human face is detected and the second mode is for putting priority to accuracy of detecting the human face. When the first mode has been selected with the mode selection key 142, a control unit 7 controls a face detecting unit 15 to read less information from the human face dictionary set 151 than information to be read from the human face dictionary set 151 when the second mode has been selected, and to use the less information to detect a face of a person to be photographed with CCD 2. When the face of the person is detected, the control unit 7 processes a photographed image of the person based on image information of the detected face and records the processed image in an external memory 13.

Abstract: Imaging elements are provided. An imaging element has a wireless communication circuit adapted to detect a wireless communication signal and to generate a control signal; an illumination circuit having an illumination element, the illumination circuit being adapted so that the illumination element generates light at an intensity that is based upon the control signal and a body containing the wireless communication circuit and the light source, wherein the body occupies a space that is less than about five cubic millimeters. The imaging element can also incorporate radiation sensors and can provide wireless signals indicative of sampled radiation.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image obtaining unit, a color shift detecting unit, a controlling unit, and a correction amount calculating unit. The image obtaining unit obtains image data. The color shift detecting unit detects color shifts of this image data. The controlling unit determines fitting reliability of the color shift detection result and selects a magnification chromatic aberration model suitable for color shift fitting according to the reliability. The correction amount calculating unit fits the magnification chromatic aberration model selected by the controlling unit to the color shift detection result and obtains correction amounts of the magnification chromatic aberration for the image data.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus capable of performing favorable focusing operation when image signals are read out from an image pickup device at a high speed while flickers are occurring. Flickers are detected from image signals outputted from the image pickup device, while the image signals outputted from the image pickup device is stored. The image signals outputted from the image pickup device and the image signals stored in a first memory are synthesized depending on the flicker detection result. A position of a focus lens is adjusted by selectively using any one of the image signals outputted from the image pickup device and the synthesized image signal. When the image pickup device performs reading images in a cycle longer than a flicker cycle, image synthesis is performed depending on the brightness of the image signals outputted from the image pickup device.

Abstract: The present invention is applied to an image pickup apparatus for which, for example, a CMOS solid-state image pickup element is used. One screen image is divided into a plurality of blocks, and a motion is detected for each of the blocks to control the exposure time of the block.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes: an image pickup unit configured to generate a long-exposure image signal and a short-exposure image signal from incident light and output the generated signals as image pickup signals, the long-exposure image signal being generated by exposure for a relatively long period and the short-exposure image signal being generated by exposure for a relatively short period; a signal processing unit configured to generate a combined image signal by combining the long-exposure image signal and the short-exposure image signal, the combined image signal having a dynamic range that is relatively wider than that of at least any one of the long-exposure image signal and the short-exposure image signal; a detection unit configured to obtain a luminance integrated value and a luminance histogram of the combined image signal; and a control unit configured to perform exposure correction control using the luminance integrated value and the luminance histogram.

Abstract: The image capture apparatus changes a time from the commencement of the operation of the accumulation of the electrical charge to the shuttering, by the shutter blade unit, of the pixel within the image capture element by way of the reset operation in a state of retracting the shutter blade unit from the light path of the image capture element.

Abstract: An image capturing apparatus performs photographing multiple times and composing these multiple images to obtain one image of a correct exposure. The apparatus includes an image capturing unit, an illumination unit and an image composition unit. The image capturing unit captures an optical image of an object as an electrical signal. The illumination unit performs illumination on photographing by the image capturing unit. The image composition unit composes multiple images obtained by multiple times of photographing by the image capturing unit. All of the multiple images are the images shot by performing illumination with the illumination unit. A light amount of each photographing in multiple times of photographing by performing illumination with the illumination unit is obtained by dividing light amount required for the correct exposure based on the number of photos taken of an image to be composed.

Abstract: A constant amount of new portion of image data as still images is always stored on a memory in an image taking operation. In response to a shutter release operation, the image data stored on the memory is recorded onto a recording medium. A next new portion of the image data generated subsequent to the shutter release operation is then recorded on the recording medium to provide a photo opportunity slip prevention function. An operation is performed to modify a pixel count of the image data to be recorded in the photo opportunity slip prevention function. A user can multi-shot photograph with a pixel count of images captured within a unit time increased or with a higher priority placed on image quality.

Abstract: An image sensor that supplies a control signal together with an address specifying each of a plurality of pixels arrayed in a pixel array with predetermined rows and columns to thereby perform an electronic shutter operation on a pixel corresponding to the address or perform reading of a pixel signal of a pixel corresponding to the address, is disclosed. The sensor includes: address generating means for generating a shutter row address specifying a row of pixels, on which an electronic shutter operation is to be performed within one horizontal period, among the pixels arrayed in the pixel array and a read row address specifying a row of pixels on which reading of a pixel signal is to be performed within the same one horizontal period; first storage means for storing the shutter row address; and second storage means for storing the read row address.

Abstract: Image color noise reduction circuit (20) and image processing method for processing a digital image having primary color signals (R; G; B). A determination circuit (27) determines a maximum signal value (Signaltype) from the primary color signals. A calculation circuit (29) connected to the determination circuit (27) reduces a color saturation of the digital image by modifying the primary color signals or signals related thereto depending on the maximum signal value. The color saturation is reduced at least for low values of the primary color signals or signals related thereto.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, method, and program which compress images so as to improve contrast without losing sharpness. An adder 33 calculates an illumination-component addition/subtraction remaining amount T (L) by an adder 25 to a multiplier 32. An adder 34 adds T (L) to an original illumination component, and calculates a gain-optimum illumination component T (L)?. An aperture controller 23 performs aperture correction which is dependent on an illumination-component level on the basis of an adaptation area determined by a reflectance-gain coefficient calculation section 35. An adder 37 adds T (L)? to the texture component after the aperture correction. Thus, a luminance signal Y2 after dynamic-range compression is obtained. An HPF 41 to an adder 43 perform LPF processing on a chroma signal of a low-band level portion. Thus, a chroma signal C2 after the dynamic-range compression is obtained. The present invention can be applied to a digital video camera.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for vignetting correction of imager pixels signals. A polynomial correction surface is determined based on a pixel array center, height, and width, surface fitting parameters, and pixel coordinates. The pixel signal is then multiplied by the corresponding value from the polynomial correction surface to create a vignetting corrected signal.

Abstract: A video input processor is disclosed. The processor includes: an imaging signal-generating portion configured to image a subject and producing first imaging signals containing visible light components and a second imaging signal containing near-infrared light components; a gain adjustment portion configured to adjustably set a maximum gain value according to a relative magnitude between the visible light components and the near-infrared light components and adjust a gain for the first imaging signals at the set maximum gain value; and a noise reduction portion configured to reduce noises in the first imaging signals after the gain has been adjusted.

Abstract: A video frame may be divided into plurality of sub-frames to reduce motion blur in sample-and-hold display. The plurality of sub-frames may preserve, in their totality, the luminance and coloring of the original input frames. An input frame that is Y?CrCb encoded may be converted to R?G?B? to enable luminance conversion onto the plurality of sub-frame while preserving the coloring information of said input frame. The first of said plurality of sub-frames may comprise energy and/or luminance encoded into the original frame with remaining energy and/or luminance encoded into remaining sub-frames. Determining luminance encoding of said plurality of sub-frames may be performed dynamically or may be determined based on programmable look-up tables. Frame conversion may compensate for nonlinearity in sample-and-hold displays that may be utilized to display the output sub-frames, wherein said nonlinearity may be caused by the gamma characteristics of said displays.

Abstract: A solid state imaging apparatus includes: a plurality of photoelectric conversion cells each including a plurality of photoelectric sections arranged in an array of at least two rows and two columns; a plurality of floating diffusion sections each being connected to each of ones of the photoelectric sections which are included in the same row of each said photoelectric conversion cell via each of a plurality of transfer transistors, and being shared by said ones of the photoelectric sections; a plurality of read-out lines each being selectively connected to at least two of the transfer transistors; and a plurality of pixel amplifier transistors each detecting and outputting the potential of each said the floating diffusion section. Charges of the photoelectric conversion sections each being connected to one of the read-out lines and being read out by the transfer transistors are read out by different floating diffusion sections.

Abstract: An address generator that generates, in an image capturing device including a photoelectric conversion unit having arrayed therein in a matrix plural photoelectric conversion elements that convert received light into charges and accumulate the charges and a rolling shutter function, an address indicating a line position of each of the photoelectric conversion elements that are processing objects of readout processing and reset processing for accumulated charges includes address counters provided at least in a number same as a number of time divisions of the readout processing and the reset processing, a control unit that independently controls an operation of each of the address counters, a selecting circuit that sequentially selects each of the address counters in a time division manner and outputs a count value of the selected address counter to an address decode circuit as the address, and the address decode circuit that outputs a signal for changing the photoelectric conversion element in a line position

Abstract: An image sensor that has a pixel array section in which pixels are arrayed in a two-dimensional manner in vertical and horizontal directions and that controls an exposure time of each pixel in a rolling shutter method is disclosed. The sensor includes control means for determining an electronic shutter occurrence number within one horizontal scanning period, which is the number of rows where electronic shutters are simultaneously performed in one horizontal scanning period, by an operation based on an address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN) when a vertical address movement amount of the pixel array section for every one horizontal scanning period in an exposure regulation shutter, which is an electronic shutter for regulating exposure, executed corresponding to electric charge reading in each pixel is expressed as repetition of the address addition amount (P1, P2, P3, . . . , PN).

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel unit in which unit pixels are arrayed, a complementary-signal generating unit that generates two kinds of complementary signals having complementarity with each other on the basis of analog pixel signals read out from the respective unit pixels in the pixel unit, two kinds of complementary signal lines on which the two kinds of complementary signals are transmitted, a horizontal scanning unit that transfers each of the two kinds of complementary signals on the complementary signal lines, and a differential amplifying unit that receives the signals on the two kinds of complementary signal lines with differential inputs and compares the signals.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an image pickup circuit including: amplifying means for amplifying a charge corresponding to an amount of light received by a photodetector, and outputting a pixel signal; ramp signal generating means for generating a ramp signal whose voltage drops with a fixed slope from a predetermined initial voltage; and comparing means for comparing the pixel signal output by the amplifying means with the ramp signal output by the ramp signal generating means. A reference potential of the pixel signal output by the amplifying means and a reference potential of the ramp signal output by the ramp signal generating means are at a same level.