Abstract: A video camera includes a light collection array including a plurality of light collection cells configured to collect light from a scene and a processor coupled to the light collection array. The processor is configured determine a brightness of the scene based on the light collected by the light collection array from the scene. Based on the determined brightness, the processor is configured to determine if the brightness of the scene requires a light collection time of each cell to be less than a flicker on time of a light source lighting the scene so that the light collection array collects a sufficient amount of light so that a brightness of a video stream or a still image is substantially at a predetermined level.

Abstract: An image-capturing device and associated method for selective exposure adjustment of an image, wherein, image data of a scene is acquired, the scene is displayed on d display unit, the scene is divided into a plurality of regions, and a level of exposure is chosen for at least one region from the plurality of regions.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: an image sensor outputting at least long and short accumulation images with longer and shorter exposure times, respectively, in one field; first and second long accumulation evaluation value computation units computing first and second long accumulation evaluation values from the long accumulation image; a short accumulation evaluation value computation unit computing a short accumulation evaluation value from the short accumulation image; a short accumulation exposure control unit acquiring a short accumulation target exposure time and short accumulation exposure control information from the short accumulation evaluation value and a first target level; a long accumulation evaluation value synthesis unit acquiring a long accumulation evaluation value by synthesizing the first long accumulation evaluation value and the second long accumulation evaluation value; a long accumulation exposure control unit acquiring long accumulation exposure control information from the lon

Abstract: A method for storing a video summary for a digital video sequence captured with a digital video capture device, comprising: capturing a digital video sequence with the digital video capture device, wherein the digital video sequence includes a plurality of video frames; storing the digital video sequence in a processor-accessible memory; identifying one or more key video snippets, each key video snippet corresponding to a set of video frames from the stored digital video sequence; assembling the key video snippets to form a video summary; and storing the video summary in a processor-accessible memory by storing metadata associated with the stored digital video sequence, wherein the metadata provides an indication of the video frames corresponding to the video summary.

Abstract: A digital video capture system for capturing a digital video sequence and for producing a corresponding video summary, comprising: an image sensor; an optical system; a processor, a softcopy display and a means for providing a user with an option to view either a stored digital video sequence or a video summary on the softcopy display. The processor performs the steps of: capturing a digital video sequence; automatically analyzing the digital video sequence at the time the digital video sequence is captured to determine one or more feature values; compressing the digital video sequence; storing the compressed digital video sequence; automatically analyzing the feature values to identify one or more key video snippets, assembling the key video snippets to form a video summary; and storing a representation of the video summary.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, computer useable medium, and processor programmed to automatically generate tone mapping curves in a digital camera based on image metadata are described. Rather than having a static tone mapping curve for all images, the curve can be varied automatically based on, e.g., the brightness histogram of the image. In one embodiment, a certain percentage of the least bright pixels and a certain percentage of the brightest pixels can be disregarded, while the remaining pixels can be linearly stretched to encompass the original range of brightness values. Based on the distribution of the resultant stretched brightness histogram, slopes for the low end (S0) and high end (S1) of the tone mapping curve can be independently determined, and the tone mapping curve can be automatically generated. The improved, automatically generated tone mapping curve may be able to lift shadows more aggressively and/or increase the dynamic range of the image.

Abstract: An image compression method with random access capability. The method includes intracoding of digital images. The image is partitioned into small blocks and each block is coded independently of other blocks in the image. The encoder generates a fixed and predetermined number of bits for each block. The decoding of each image block is able to be done independently of any other image block.

Abstract: A database of user preferences for a high quality picture is maintained. Preferences may be generated over time by tracking attributes of pictures that the user has deleted or failed to select for storage. When the camera is in preview mode, the camera may automatically capture image data for one or more pictures as a background operation. When the user commands the taking of a picture, the camera will capture image data for a user photo. A comparison may be made to determine which one of the automatically taken picture or the user photo has a higher correlation to user preferences for a quality photo. If the user photo has higher correlation, it may be retained in the customary manner for digital pictures. If the automatically taken photo has higher correlation, the user may be given the option to select the user photo or the automatically taken photo for retention.

Abstract: An electronic camera includes an imager. An imager, having an imaging surface capturing a scene, outputs an image. A specific key is transitioned among a non-operated state, a first operated state and a second operated state. A sensor senses the specific key being transitioned from the non-operated state to another state. A setter sets a reference indicating a magnitude different depending on a state of the specific key, in response to a sensing of the sensor. An adjuster adjusts an imaging condition based on the image outputted from the imager. A controller determines whether or not a variation of the scene captured by the imaging surface exceeds the reference set by the setter, so as to permit an adjusting process of the adjuster corresponding to a positive determined result while restrict the adjusting process of the adjuster corresponding to a negative determined result.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus controls such that a plurality of additional information of image data are classified into a plurality of objects in accordance with update periods thereof and data of the additional ingenerateation corresponding to each of the classified objects is generated and output in accordance with the corresponding update period of each object, thereby multiplexing the data of the additional information corresponding to each object which is generated and output in accordance with update period thereof, to the input image data. The image processing apparatus demultiplexes the multiplexed data into the image data and the additional information, generates updated image data of the object to be updated from the demultiplexed additional information, and superimposes it to the video image corresponding to the image data.

Abstract: A camera includes light sources that illuminate a subject, a lens unit that receives image information of the subject, a controller that determines a shadow representation of the subject according to information regarding the light sources, and a display unit that displays the determined shadow representation. A method of displaying an image on a camera includes determining a shadow representation of a subject according to information regarding light sources that illuminate the subject, and displaying the determined shadow representation.

Abstract: In an image forming optical system which includes in order from an object side, a first lens group G1 having a positive refractive power, a second lens group G2 having a negative refractive power, an aperture stop, a third lens group G3 having a positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group G4 having a negative refractive power, and in which, at the time of zooming, air distances between lens groups are variable, and an air lens nearest to an image side in the third lens group G3 has a shape of a convex lens, the fourth lens group G4 includes one lens component, and is movable even at the time of focusing, and satisfies the following conditional expressions 0.5<(R4F+R4R)/(R4F?R4R)<8.0 ??(1) ?12.0<(R4LAF+R4LAR)/(R4LAF?R4LAR)<?2.

Abstract: An optical system including five lens units having, in order from the object side, positive, negative, positive, negative, positive refracting powers respectively. The distances between the lens units change during zooming. The first and third lens units are located closer to the object side at the telephoto end than at the wide angle end of the zoom range. The first lens unit includes a negative lens, a first positive lens, and a second positive lens. The second lens unit includes a plurality of negative lenses and at least one positive lens. The third lens unit includes a plurality of positive lenses and at least one negative lens. The fourth and fifth lens units each include two lenses or less. The refractive indices of the at least one negative lens in the first lens unit, the at least one positive lens in the second lens unit, and the at least one negative lens in the third lens unit are not lower than 1.9. The optical system satisfies a certain condition.

Abstract: Sensed image data obtained by controlling opening/closing of a shutter based on a signal for controlling the opening/closing timing of the shutter of an image sensing device is acquired. Exposure characteristic data indicating the exposure characteristic of the image sensing device in unit opening/closing of the shutter is acquired. A motion vector regarding an image represented by the sensed image data when acquiring the sensed image data is acquired. The image represented by the sensed image data is corrected based on the signal for controlling the opening/closing timing of the shutter, the exposure characteristic data, and the motion vector.

Abstract: A method and combined video display and camera system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the system comprises a first sheet and a second sheet oriented parallel to the first sheet, the second sheet including a light diffuser. A light source is placed along an edge of the second sheet, wherein the second sheet diffuses light generated by the light source. One or more cameras are placed behind the second sheet to capture an image through the second sheet and the first sheet.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a knee correction device includes a generator, a detector, a mixer, and a calculator. The generator generates a luminance signal from R, G, and B color signals. The detector detects a color signal having a maximum value among the R, G, and B color signals. The mixer mixes the luminance signal generated by the generator and the color signal detected by the detector, at a predetermined mixing ratio. The supply module supplies a coefficient for performing level compression on each of the R, C, and B color signals, based on an output of the mixer. The calculator performs level compression on the R, G, and B color signals by subjecting the coefficient supplied by the supply module and the R, G, and B color signals to a calculation.

Abstract: An image is obtained with reduced chromatic aberration as well as improved sharpness. An image processing apparatus includes image acquiring means configured to acquire an input image, and image restoration processing means configured to generate a restored image by calculating the input image and an image restoration filter that is based on a transfer function of an image pickup system that is used to form an object image as the input image, wherein the image restoration filter performs restoration so that when an object is a white point light source, a difference between spectra of two color components in the restored image is made smaller than a difference between spectra of the two color components in the input image.

Abstract: Two-array color imaging systems, image processing systems and related principles are disclosed. For example, a pixel from a first single-array color image sensor and a pixel from a second single-array color image sensor can define a pair of pixels. One pixel of the pair is configured to detect luminance information and the other pixel is configured to detect chrominance information. A plurality of such pixel pairs can be illuminated by an image and, in response to such illumination, emit one or more electrical output signals carrying the luminance and chrominance information. The output signals can be transformed into a displayable image. Related computing environments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A power supply circuit includes: a comparison unit that compares a reference voltage and an input voltage and outputs a voltage difference signal; an output voltage generating unit that generates an output voltage based on the voltage difference signal; an input voltage generating unit that generates the input voltage based on the output voltage; a current output unit that outputs a reference current; a resistor that generates the reference voltage in accordance with the reference current; and a capacitor that is connected to the resistor in parallel and is charged by the reference current, wherein the current output unit allows the reference current at the time of startup to be lower than the reference current during an operation.

Abstract: Provided are a data selection circuit, a data transmission circuit, a ramp wave generation circuit, and a solid-state imaging device. A delay section delays signals input to delay units of n (n is a natural number equal to or more than 3) stages that are connected to each other and have the same configuration and outputs delayed signals from the delay units. A delay control section controls a delay amount of the delay units. An output section performs a logical operation on signals output from i-th and j-th (i and j are natural numbers that are different from each other and equal to or more than 1 and equal to or less than n) delay units to generate a signal and outputs the signal to a k-th (k is a natural number equal to or more than 1 and equal to or less than m) first data selection pulse input terminal of a functional circuit having m (m is a natural number equal to or more than 2) first data selection pulse input terminals.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter including a comparator configured to compare a pixel signal received at a first input terminal of the comparator with a ramp signal received at a second input terminal of the comparator and generate a comparison signal as a result of the comparison; and a ramp signal supply circuit configured to provide the ramp signal to the comparator, wherein the ramp signal supply circuit generates a first signal as part of the ramp signal in response to the comparison signal and a first clock signal being received at the ramp signal supply circuit, wherein a slope of the first signal sequentially changes until the comparison signal makes a transition from one logic level to another and, after the transition, the ramp signal supply circuit generates a second signal as part of the ramp signal, wherein a slope of the second signal sequentially changes, wherein the slope of the second signal is opposite the slope of the first signal.

Abstract: A solid-state imaging device having a pixel array section in which pixels including photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a matrix form, and sweeping out unnecessary charges by setting a predetermined number, two or more, of adjacent rows or a predetermined number, two or more, of adjacent columns, in the pixel array section, to a single group, and by applying a shutter pulse in units of groups before storing signal charges, and sequentially reading the signal charges in the units of groups. In the solid-state imaging device, a pre-shutter pulse is applied to pixels belonging to at least a single row or a single column within a succeeding group and adjacent to a preceding group, prior to the shutter pulse, before a reading timing for the preceding group, to sweep out unnecessary charges stored in the pixels.

Abstract: In an auto-focusing (AF) sensor, it has been difficult to realize high-speed auto focusing and high-accuracy, auto focusing without increasing the scale of a circuit. In the present invention, a common buffer unit is provided for a plurality of memory cell units that are provided in each unit pixel.

Abstract: To provide a solid-state imaging device and an imaging apparatus including the solid-state imaging device that are capable of reducing occurrence of vertical stripes on an image while suppressing a black level shift thereon. A clipping circuit operation change-over switch enables a clip transistor when a column comparison unit determines that the voltage of a pixel signal is lower than a reference voltage for determination, and disables the clip transistor when the column comparison unit determines that the voltage of the pixel signal is higher than or equal to the reference voltage for determination.

Abstract: An integrating A/D converter includes: a comparator comparing an input voltage to a reference voltage having a ramp waveform, a voltage value of which linearly varies with time; a higher-order bit counter starting operation or stopping operation triggered by inversion of an output signal of the comparator and outputting higher order bits by performing counting in a cycle of a clock signal; and a time-to-digital converter latching phase information of the clock signal corresponding to plural signals obtained by delaying an output signal of the comparator and decoding the latched values to output lower order bits having higher resolution than the clock cycle.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention provide dynamic focusing systems and dynamic zoom systems having no moving parts. The dynamic focusing systems can include an electro-active lens, a fixed focus lens in optical communication with the electro-active lens and a focal plane. The dynamic zoom systems can include a first electro-active lens, a second electro-active lens, a fixed focus lens, and a focal plane. The electro-active lenses of the present invention can have an adjustable optical power to provide variable focusing capability. The dynamic focusing systems and dynamic zoom systems can include a controller for altering the adjustable optical powers of the electro-active lenses. The dynamic focusing systems can focus on objects at various distances based on the controlled optical power of the included electro-active lenses. The dynamic zoom systems can provide magnification and de-magnification based on the controlled optical power of the included electro-active lenses.

Abstract: A solid-state image sensor includes: a transfer control section configured to control charge transfer from the vertical transfer section to the horizontal transfer section. The transfer control section has a plurality of unit control sections corresponding to the transfer packets. The unit control section has a vertical transfer channel and a plurality of control section electrodes formed over the vertical transfer channel. The control section electrodes include a signal charge accumulating electrode and a transfer inhibiting electrode, which are sequentially formed from a side of the vertical transfer section. The vertical transfer channels are independently connected to a horizontal transfer channel. When stopping the charge transfer from the vertical transfer section to the horizontal transfer section, a high-level voltage is applied to the signal charge accumulating electrode, and a low-level voltage is applied to the transfer inhibiting electrode.

Abstract: Techniques utilizing a multi-region touch panel are described for implementing user interfaces in various types of devices.

Abstract: A touch control image capturing and converting apparatus is provided. The touch control image capturing and converting apparatus includes a housing, an insertion slot, a touch control screen, and a start switch. The housing defines a substantially enclosed space. The insertion slot is configured extending through the housing from one side of the housing to an opposite side of the housing, and is adapted for allowing an external picture clip to be inserted therein. The touch control screen is provided on an upper surface of the housing. In operation, the touch control operational options of the touch control screen can be turned on by starting the start switch.

Abstract: An interchangeable lens includes an acquiring section that acquires an amount of supply power from an imaging apparatus to which the interchangeable lens is attached, and operation information related to an operation of the imaging apparatus in a period during which the supply power is supplied, and a determining section that determines power to be distributed to a plurality of driving sections that drive a plurality of optical members, for each of the driving sections, on the basis of the acquired amount of supply power and the acquired operation information.

Abstract: A camera module is disclosed. The camera module includes an imager sensor device comprising a microlens array. A lens set overlies the imager sensor device. A dry film type photoresist spacer is interposed between the imager sensor device and the lens set, wherein the dry film type photoresist spacer has an opening above the microlens array. A fabrication method of the camera module is also disclosed.

Abstract: In an imaging apparatus, an imager generates an imaged picture by converting incident light from a subject that is incident via a focus lens. A setting unit sets, as a movement range for the focus lens, a range of focus lens positions corresponding to imaging magnifications where the rate of change in the imaging magnification lies within a fixed range from a basis, the basis being an imaging magnification corresponding to the position of the focus lens. A focus controller configured to conduct focus control with respect to the subject by moving the focus lens in the set movement range.

Abstract: A camera module is disclosed. The camera module in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a lens, an actuator that moves the lens in a direction of optical axis, and an image sensor that converts an image incident through the lens to an electrical signal and has extended depth of field.

Abstract: An image detection device includes: a subject detector that acquires image information in an image field of an imaging optics with an image sensor, and detects a position of a subject in the image field based upon reference information related to an image of the subject and the image information; and a magnification detector that detects a magnification of the imaging optics. And the subject detector starts operation to detect the position of the subject, when the magnification has become greater than or equal to a predetermined value.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus (100) of the present invention includes a shift control unit (22) shifting an object-space focal point of the imaging apparatus (100) by shifting an image-space distance; and a shift pattern determining unit (21) determining a shift pattern of the image-space distance shifted by the shift control unit (22) in a frame period. The shift pattern determining unit (21) determine the shift pattern such that: a shift speed of the image-space distance increases from zero during an acceleration period included in the frame period; the image-space distance shifts at a constant speed during a constant speed period; and the shift speed of the image-space distance decreases to zero during a deceleration period, and each of the acceleration period and the deceleration period has a duration equal to or longer than one-tenth of the frame period.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus is provided which includes an imaging section which converts incident light which is incident from a subject via a lens and generates an imaging image; a selection section which, in regard to each of a plurality of ranging areas arranged in the generated imaging image, obtains a subject distance which is a distance from the lens to a subject included in the ranging area and an MTF for each of the ranging areas in relation to the lens, and selects a ranging area which includes a subject to be a focusing target as a focusing target area based on the obtained subject distance and MTF; and a focus control section which performs focus control so as to focus on a subject included in the selected focusing target area.

Abstract: An external photoflash assembly is composed of a back cover, a control circuit, an illuminant, a battery, and an illuminant switch. The back cover is fixed to a mobile phone. The control circuit, the illuminant, the battery, and the illuminant switch are mounted onto the back cover and electrically connected with one another. The illuminant and the shutter button of the mobile phone are located at two sides of the mobile phone separately and correspond to each other in position. When the shutter button is pushed, the illuminant switch can be pushed at the same time to activate the illuminant for illumination to further improve the photographing quality.

Abstract: An electronic equipment includes a main body, a mounting portion that is provided in the main body and on which an accessory can be mounted, a battery that is stored in the main body, a battery voltage detection portion that detects an output voltage of the battery, an external power source supply portion which supplies the electric power from the battery to the accessory mounted on the mounting portion, and a control portion which determines the remaining capacity of the battery on the basis of the threshold value to be set based on accessory information on the accessory and a detection result of the battery voltage detection portion.

Abstract: A camera module includes a lens of heat-resistant material, a barrel receiving the lens, a baseboard mounted on the barrel by surface mounted technology, an image sensor mounted on the baseboard receiving optical signals from the lens and converting the optical signals into electrical signals, and a transmitting member transmitting the electrical signals to the circuit board.

Abstract: In some implementations, closed captioning streams of textual data are extracted from video signals received by a client device. The closed captioning streams may be searched for occurrences of textual data in the closed captioning streams that match one or more search terms. When the number of matches between the search terms and a particular closed captioning stream exceeds a threshold number, a notification may be sent indicating that content programming determined to be of interest to a viewer has been located and/or the content programming may be recorded.

Abstract: A method and system for airing broadcast signals is disclosed. Preferably, the system includes a production truck interface panel receiving a broadcast signal. A transmission relay circuit relays the signal from the interface panel to a broadcast network, and preferably including a broadcast signal detection circuit, and a signal processing circuit. The detection circuit determines a signal type of the broadcast signal, and the signal processing circuit processes the determined signal type. The system preferably further includes an operations control station displaying the determined type of broadcast signal.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling devices. The method comprises receiving user input indicating a request to connect to a controllable device. The method further comprises transmitting information to a plurality of controllable devices having indicators, the transmitted information including a command for causing the controllable devices to display, on the indicators, identifiers corresponding to the controllable devices.

Abstract: A method of representing online discussions in conjunction with primary visual content is presented. In the method, the primary visual content is transmitted to a visual display for presentation to a user. A statement of an online discussion is received. In response to receiving the statement, a representation of the statement and an icon representing a source of the statement are transmitted in conjunction with the primary visual content for presentation on the visual display. The icon and the statement are coupled graphically on the visual display, and are placed near a periphery of the visual display. After a period of time while the icon and statement are presented on the display, presuming a second statement is not received from the source, the icon and the statement are removed from the display while the primary visual content is maintained on the display.

Abstract: A display device according to the proposed embodiment includes a broadcasting signal receiving unit that receives a broadcasting signal; a broadcasting signal) separation unit that separates the broadcasting signal received through the broadcasting signal receiving unit into video, audio, and data signals; a controller that analyzes the data signal separated through the broadcasting signal separation unit to comprehend whether data broadcasting is serviced and the kind of the data broadcasting; and a memory that stores information on a channel on which the data broadcasting is serviced according to a control signal of the controller and information on the kind of the serviced data broadcasting, wherein the broadcasting receiving unit sequentially receives and outputs broadcasting signals of an entire channel according to the control signal of the controller.

Abstract: This image receiving apparatus includes a communication portion capable of receiving content through a network, and a control portion controlling a menu display region on which a menu of the content is displayed and a content display region on which information of the content is displayed independently from each other and controlling a display portion to display the menu display region and the content display region.

Abstract: A broadcasting system is provided, which includes an input unit including a character set button, and a broadcasting reception device. The broadcasting reception device includes a broadcasting information storing unit storing a PSIP, a broadcasting station title loading unit loading a broadcasting channel corresponding to a title information of a broadcasting station set by the character set buttons using the PSIP stored in the broadcasting information storing unit, and a broadcasting title data displaying unit displaying a broadcasting channel loading the broadcasting station title loading unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the processing of images over bandwidth-limited transmission interfaces, such as processing of high resolution video images over standard analog video interfaces, using multi-stream and/or multi-resolution analog methodology. The disclosed systems and methods may also be implemented to provide video resolutions across standard analog video interfaces in a manner that supports digital capture and imaging techniques to obtain useful information from digitally zoomed and enhanced video.

Abstract: A method for determining key video frames for a digital video having a time sequence of video frames, comprising using a processor to perform the steps of: analyzing the digital video to determine an importance value as a function of time; forming a warped time representation by temporal relocation of the video frames responsive to the importance value as a function of time; subdividing the warped time digital video sequence representation into a set of equal intervals; selecting a key video frame for each interval by analyzing the video frames within each interval; and storing an indication of the key video frames in a processor-accessible memory.

Abstract: A spatial maximum value filter generates a low frequency video signal in an intermittent frame by removing high frequency components from a video signal in the intermittent frame. A division signal extraction unit calculates a ratio of a signal value of a video signal in an acquired frame to a signal value of a low frequency video signal in an intermittent frame closest to the acquired frame, and generates a high frequency video signal having the calculated ratio as a signal value. A signal adjustment unit calculates a ratio of a signal value of the video signal in the intermittent frame to a signal value of a high frequency video signal in the intermittent frame, and generates an adjusted low frequency video signal having the calculated ratio as a signal value.

Abstract: A frequency conversion circuit includes: a phase shifter that generates a first signal and a second signal having a phase difference of 90 degrees from the first signal; a first mixer that multiplies the first signal by a local oscillation signal; a second mixer that multiplies the second signal by the local oscillation signal; a first filter that extracts a signal component of an intermediate frequency from the output signal of the first mixer; a second filter that extracts a signal component of the intermediate frequency from the output signal of the second mixer; an image signal remover that removes an image signal from the output signals of the first and second filters; and a phase shift quantity adjuster that adjusts a phase shift quantity of the signal in the phase shifter based on the output signal of the image signal remover at a predetermined time.