Abstract: An electronic blurring correction apparatus in the present invention includes a solid-state image-capturing device, which has an image-capturing section with photodiodes and vertical transfer CCD and an accumulation section with a vertical transfer CCD and a horizontal transfer CCD, wherein a first image transferred from the image-capturing section is accumulated in the vertical transfer CCD, relative blurring between the first image and a second image which is already accumulated in the horizontal transfer CCD is corrected by shifting the first image within the vertical transfer CCD and shifting the second image within the horizontal transfer CCD, and thereafter a composite image, which is obtained by combining the first image and the second image, is accumulated as a new second image in the horizontal transfer CCD.

Abstract: A device, method and a computer program product are shown for correcting the focus error in an optical device, wherein in a first position of the optical device at least one focus detector is focused onto a given image plane of the target subject and the distance (d1) between the optical device and the given image plane is locked and wherein in a second position of the optical device following a reorientation of the optical device for achieving the desired framing of the image the shutter is released, the method comprising sensing a distance vector parallel to the focus plane after reorientation between the first position and the second position after reorientation, calculating a focus correction value (de) from the sensed distance vector and adding the focus correction value (de) as a corrective to the locked focus distance (d1).

Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic blurring correction apparatus, comprising: a solid-state image-capturing device having a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix form; an angular speed sensor which detects blurring of an optical image formed on the solid-state image-capturing device; and a CPU which computes an optimum exposure time, time-divides this exposure time so that the time-divided exposure time becomes equal to or shorter than limit exposure time which is determined according to the focal distance for a shooting lens and in which blurring does not occur, and causes the solid-state image-capturing device to perform exposure a plurality of times, wherein the solid-state image-capturing device uses a horizontal transfer register and a vertical transfer register provided therein to shift and correct relative blurring among a plurality of images obtained in time-shared shooting, adds up the plurality of images after the blurring is corrected, and thereafter outputs the corrected images.

Abstract: Disclosed are digital imaging devices that embody a method or algorithm for transitioning from a displayable focus process to a high speed focus process which can be displayed, and wherein the transition is accomplished in a seamless fashion. In addition, the digital imaging devices may embody a method for quickly verifying the focus quality of the image. If the focus quality is acceptable, the device indicates that focus is good and avoids a long auto-focus time.

Abstract: Provided is an unintentional hand movement canceling device, comprising: swing detecting means detecting a swing of an image; and a correction quantity generating means generating a correction quantity to calculate a correction position based on a swing quantity detected by the swing detection means, a damping coefficient of a swing quantity for controlling a characteristic of a non-corrected residue percent at a swing frequency and a damping center for controlling a centering velocity at which a correction position is caused to move to an initial position before correction, the correction quantity having a variable characteristic of a non-corrected residue percent at a frequency of the swing and a variable centering velocity at which a correction position is caused to move to an initial position before correction, wherein the correction quantity generating means includes means updating the damping center based on a preset damping coefficient of the damping center.

Abstract: An image capture apparatus shifts an image sensor at each shooting initiation time in the continuous-shoot mode in the event of a camera-shake in response to a control signal which reflects an offset signal indicating pixel shifting information in a compensating signal indicating shake compensating information. Thereby, a change in the shooting range of the image sensor due to the camera-shake is mostly compensated for and the shooting range is changed by one pixel at each shooting. Thus, even in the event of a camera-shake, the distance between a feature portion of a main subject and a fixed pattern noise can be made different for each of continuously shot images. As a result, even in the event of the camera-shake, a composite image having fixed pattern noises scattered can be obtained by combining continuously shot images with reference to the feature portion.

Abstract: A taking lens consists of first to third lens groups. The second lens group is held in a lens frame that is coupled through an arm to a supporting shaft, and is able to rotate about the supporting shaft, to move the second lens group in a circular direction in a plane perpendicular to an optical axis of the taking lens. As a movable lens barrel retreats into a camera body, the lens frame rotates to remove the second lens group from an inserted position inserted in an optical path of the taking lens to a removed position set out of the optical path. The arm is provided with an actuator that causes the lens frame to move in a lengthwise direction of the arm. Because the movement in the circular direction includes a component that is perpendicular to the lengthwise movement of the arm, it is possible to move the lens frame and thus the second lens group in any directions in the perpendicular plane to the optical axis, in order to cancel a deviation of an optical image that result from a camera shake.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a substantially de-blurred image of a scene from a motion blurred image of the scene are disclosed. An exemplary system includes a primary detector for sensing the motion blurred image and generating primary image information representing the blurred image, a secondary detector for sensing two or more secondary images of the scene and for generating secondary image information representing the two or more secondary images, and a processor for determining motion information from the secondary image information, estimating a point spread function for the motion blurred image from the motion information, and applying the estimated point spread function to the primary image information to generate information representing the substantially de-blurred image.

Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling a driver driving an optical element of an image pickup device to adjust a focus position of the image pickup device in the capturing of an image of a subject, includes a relative angle variation calculating unit for calculating a relative angle variation, a mode change detecting unit for detecting of a change of a mode of the relative angle variation through determining whether the mode of the relative angle variation, calculated by the relative angle variation calculating unit, is a stable mode involving a small amount of change or an unstable mode involving a large amount of change, and a focus position control process startup unit for managing a startup of a focus position control process controlling the focus position through controlling the driver in response to a pattern of the change of the mode detected by the mode change detecting unit.

Abstract: A lens apparatus is provided that is capable of more accurate Auto Focusing (AF) operating by representing a delay time in a camera unit using an AF evaluating value.

Abstract: Autofocus device has a lens-driving unit, a focal-point-position-detecting unit, and a distance measurement sensor that measures a distance to a subject. The device also has a control unit for controlling the lens-driving unit to drive the lens, thereby meeting the detected position of the focal point of the lens to an in-focus position. If a restart condition has not yet been satisfied after meeting the position of the focal point to the in-focus position to stop the focus operation, the control unit determines a switch of focusing on subjects based on the detected position of the focal point and a measured distance result by the distance measurement sensor and then restarts the focus operation based on a determination result thereof, thereby driving the lens to meet the position of the focal point to an in-focus position based on a measured distance result by the distance measurement sensor.

Abstract: A method and system for minimizing the effects of image motion in still cameras is provided. In one embodiment, a method of capturing an image in a digital camera is presented. The method includes calculating a sharpness value related to an image input. The method also includes evaluating the sharpness value to determine image motion. The method further includes capturing a next image input data from the image input responsive to evaluating the sharpness value.

Abstract: A digital camera is provided with a photographing lens, an image capturing element, which is configured to capture an optical image of an object formed by the photographing lens, a coarse movement control system configured to control a position of the photographing lens in a direction of an optical axis by a motor, and a fine movement control system configured to control a position of an image receiving area of the image capturing element in the direction of the optical axis is provided.

Abstract: A focusing technique detects motion vectors of a plurality of images, combines the images in accordance with the detected motion vectors, extracts a signal corresponding to a focusing state of a lens unit with respect to a subject, and controls the lens unit in accordance with the extracted signal to perform focusing.

Abstract: An image signal obtained by a CCD image sensor is amplified by an amplifier. A gain of the amplifier is changed according to an ISO sensitivity. An AE circuit measures light intensity of a subject. According to the measured light intensity, a correct exposure time of the CCD image sensor is calculated. The exposure time of the CCD image sensor is changed by a CCD driver. In the exposure adjustment, a system controller increases the gain by making the ISO sensitivity higher such that the calculated exposure time becomes shorter than a predetermined anti-camera shake exposure time.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electronic camera having self-detection function of foreign materials and a control program thereof. The electronic camera includes: an image sensor having an image pickup plane on an image plane of an optical system; a formation changing section changing a state of image formation of the optical system on the image pickup plane; and a control section driving and controlling the image sensor and formation changing section. The control section drives the formation changing section to set a plurality of states of image formation different from each other, and it drives the image sensor to obtain a plurality of images in each of the states and compares the plurality of images to find a part of the image which has not varied with a change in the state of image formation, and determines the found part as image of a foreign material.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus which is capable of optimizing the responsiveness of linear changes in focus to operations of a ring member without sacrificing the operability of the ring member, while using a small-sized, low-cost ring member for manual operations. The rotating operation state of a focus ring 600 is detected by ring rotation sensors 603, 604. A camera microcomputer 116 causes a focus lens 105 to be moved and stopped in an optical axis direction thereof based on results of the detection by the ring rotation sensors 603, 604. The camera microcomputer 116 controls the responsiveness of linear changes in focus to the rotating operation state of the ring member detected by the ring rotation sensors 603, 604 in accordance with at least the depth of focus.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for processing an on-screen display (OSD), wherein the OSD is displayed transparently or semi-transparently on a liquid crystal display panel (LCD) of a digital camera when the shutter button is half-pressed and shows information for the convenience of a user. The method of processing the OSD of the digital camera includes: determining the state of the shutter button, which adjusts focus and exposure of a subject in the digital camera, when the OSD is displayed on the LCD according to a photograph setting; changing color values of the OSD into a transparent or semi-transparent value and displaying the OSD on the LCD if the shutter button is half-pressed; and completely pressing the shutter button to perform photographing when the focus and exposure of the digital camera are fully adjusted when the OSD is transparent or semi-transparent.

Abstract: A video camera includes an LCD monitor. On the LCD monitor, an object scene image belonging to a camera-shake correction area out of the object scene image captured by an imaging surface is displayed. A CPU determines whether or not a movement of the object scene image captured by the imaging surface satisfies a pan/tilt condition or a camera-shake condition referring to a threshold value. The threshold value is set to a large numerical value as a zoom magnification is high. A camera-shake condition determining process is started in place of a pan/tilt condition determining process when the pan/tilt condition is satisfied. Also, the pan/tilt condition determining process is started in place of the camera-shake condition determining process when the camera-shake condition is satisfied. In addition, the camera-shake correction area is moved in such a direction as to cancel the movement of the object scene image captured by the imaging surface when the pan/tilt condition is not satisfied.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus includes an imaging device and a shooting lens of variable foal length, and generates image signals by forming a subject image entering through the shooting lens on the imaging device. The apparatus includes an angular-velocity sensor that predicts a shake that will occur at shooting by detecting a shake before shooting. The apparatus also includes a main CPU that controls exposure by adopting a shutter speed within a maximum shutter speed. The maximum shutter speed can be changed according to a result of shake detection and a focal length of the shooting lens to be used at shooting.

Abstract: The invention provides an image processing apparatus wherein, when an image of an imaging object is picked up and converted into image data and the image data is compressed, the data amount can be reduced without deteriorating the picture quality. The image processing apparatus includes an image pickup section for picking up an image of an imaging object and converting the image into image data, a compression section for compressing the image data and outputting the compressed data, a detection section for detecting a data amount of the compressed data, and a control section for controlling an optical condition for the image picked up by the image pickup section in response to the data amount of the compressed data detected by the detection section. The compression section compresses the image data obtained by the conversion of the image pickup section based on the optical condition controlled by the control section.

Abstract: The hand movement correction apparatus 10 which is capable of correcting hand movement includes: a position variation signal acquisition sections 13 and 17 that acquire a position variation signal; a gain controller 12 that controls the gain of the position variation signal; an exposure determination section 14 that determines whether exposure operation is in progress; a position variation signal switching section 14 that switches the position variation signal; and a hand movement amount calculation section 15 that calculates a hand movement correction amount based on the position variation signal.

Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus that is capable of detecting the shaking of the apparatus by using an autofocusing (AF) process and a method of controlling the digital photographing apparatus are provided. These involve calculating a first focal value while focusing on an object by performing the AF process and comparing the first focal value with a second focal value of a location on an image captured by actually photographing the object. This location corresponds to a location corresponding to the first focal value. As a result of these features, the shaking of the digital photographing apparatus can be detected.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus includes a LED emission section that irradiates a subject with light by causing a LED to emit the light and a xenon-tube emission section that irradiates a subject with light by causing a xenon tube to emit the light. The light from the xenon-tube emission section has higher intensity than the light from the LED emission section. The image-taking apparatus also includes a shake detection section that predicts a shake that will occur at shooting by detecting a shake before shooting. The image-taking apparatus also includes an emission control section that causes the xenon-tube emission section to irradiate a subject with light when the detected shake is above a predetermined level, and causes the LED emission section to irradiate a subject with light when the detected shake is equal to or below the predetermined level.

Abstract: Rotations of a camera around two axes are detected by two gyro sensors. A color temperature of a photographing location is detected by an AWB sensor. One of a plurality of low-pass filters, the cut-off frequency component of which is different, can be connected to one gyro sensor. The low-pass filter which is connected to the gyro sensor, is changed by a transfer switch based on the output result of the AWB sensor, so that a frequency range which is retrieved from the output voltage of the gyro sensor is controlled. With respect to another gyro sensor, a similar operation is carried out. A hand-tremble correcting circuit calculates a driving amount of an image sensor, by which the tremble is canceled, based on the output voltages of the gyro sensors in which a predetermined frequency range was retrieved in accordance with the condition of the photographing location.

Abstract: A camera phone and method for automatically adjusting the exposure of a camera in order to improve image of an object is previewed with a current exposure, data is extracted from frames of the previewed image and analyzed to determine illumination of the previewed object, and an exposure is adjusted according to the analyzed result.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an imaging part that images a subject to generate image data, an image storage part that temporarily stores original image data that was imaged by the imaging part, an image data size reducing part that forms image data for display by reducing the size of image data stored in the image storage part, and an image display part that displays image data for display that was formed by the image data size reducing part; the imaging apparatus further comprising a camera shake state detection part that detects a camera shake occurrence state of the imaging part, a camera shake decision part that decides whether or not camera shake occurred for image data for display that was reduced by the image data size reducing part based on a camera shake state that was detected by the camera shake state detection part, and a camera shake correction part that, when a result decided by the camera shake decision part is that a camera shake occurrence state exists, subjects the image data for display to

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus is disclosed which is capable of performing accurate focusing even when a shake occurs. The image-taking apparatus comprises an image-pickup element which photoelectrically converts an optical image formed by an image-taking optical system; a controller which performs a first focusing control based on a phase difference of plural optical images formed of luminous fluxes not passing through the image-taking optical system, which plural optical images are detected by a light receiving sensor that photoelectrically converts the plural optical images, and a second focusing control based on an image signal generated by an output from the image-pickup element; and a shake detector which generates information on a shake. The controller preferentially performs one of the first focusing control and the second focusing control in accordance with the information on the shake.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an auto focusing apparatus and method for a camera. The auto focusing apparatus includes an image sensor unit, an Image Signal Processor (ISP) unit, a compression module, a focus value calculating unit, and an auto focus Digital Signal Processor (DSP).

Abstract: Provided is an unintentional hand movement canceling device including: a zoom detection means detecting a value corresponding to a zoom magnification; a swing detection means detecting a swing of an image; and a correction quantity generating means generating a correction quantity to correct the swing of an image based on a swing quantity detected by the swing detection means and a value corresponding to a zoom magnification detected by the zoom detection means, the correction quantity having a variable characteristic of a non-corrected residue percent at a frequency of the swing, wherein the correction quantity generating means varies a characteristic of the non-corrected residue percent at the frequency of the swing depending on a value corresponding to a zoom magnification detected by the zoom detection means.

Abstract: A camera assembly may include an autofocus assembly that selectively imparts a first displacement between a lens assembly and an imaging sensor and a second displacement between the lens assembly and the imaging sensor. The autofocus assembly includes at least one positioner and an actuator. The actuator is configured to move the positioner between a first position in which the positioner contacts a first surface that is in a first plane corresponding to the first displacement and second position in which the positioner contacts a second surface that is in a second plane corresponding to the second displacement. The first and second planes may be offset so that a distance between the first displacement and the second displacement directly corresponds to a distance between the first and second planes.

Abstract: In an image processing device such as an electronic camera having a detecting section which detects blurring of an image (movement of the image) picked up by an imaging element, a part of evaluation or calculation required for controls (AF, AE, AWB, etc.) is performed in parallel with the detection of the blurring of the image in order to speed up the controls. After completing the detection of the image blurring, an influence of the blurring is corrected to perform final calculation. In this case, an image area as a calculation object can be limited to raise a processing efficiency.

Abstract: A two-step auto focus lens system for a digital camera so that the digital camera can switch between a near focal point and a far focal point. The two-step auto focus lens system includes a coil base, a sensor, and a lens barrel. The coil base has two ends and a coil around the coil base. The sensor is disposed corresponding to one end of the coil base to drives the coil base to switch polarities of the two ends of the coil base. The lens barrel is movably installed inside the coil base and has a magnetic component corresponding to the other end of the coil base. When the coil base is driven by the sensor to switch polarities of ends of coil base, lens barrel moves relative to the coil base to the near and far focal points.

Abstract: An image stabilizer for stabilizing an image against unexpected vibrations or shaking of a zoom lens includes a diaphragm arranged to vary its full-open-aperture diameter according to a magnification varying (zooming) action from a wide-angle end position to a telephoto end position of the zoom lens for the purpose of preventing variations in light quantity which more conspicuously take place in the peripheral part than in the central part of an image plane when an image stabilizing action is performed.

Abstract: A device may include logic to capture an image, logic to detect a plurality of faces in the image, logic to calculate a distance associated with each face, logic to calculate a depth of field based on the distance associated with each face, and logic to calculate focus and exposure settings to capture the image based on the depth of field associated with the plurality of faces.

Abstract: A solid-state electronic image sensing device senses the image of a subject repeatedly for an exposure time over which camera shake is thought not to occur, and repeatedly outputs image data representing the image of the subject. A combining device generates one frame of a combined image obtained by combining the image of the subject represented by image data that has been output from the solid-state electronic image sensing device with the image of the subject represented by image data that was output from the solid-state electronic image sensing device by an immediately preceding image sensing operation, in such a manner that the images of the subject coincide.

Abstract: It is an object of this invention to efficiently correct, with a small calculation amount, the unbalance caused between the first and second image signals when limitation is imposed by vignetting in a photographing optical system.

Abstract: A digital camera, having a function for optically compensating for camera shake, comprises: a movement detector that detects a movement of the digital camera; a movement prediction unit that employs the movement detected by the movement detector to predict a movement of the digital camera after a predetermined period of time has elapsed; an optical system moving unit that moves an optical system of the digital camera so as to compensate for the movement of the digital camera predicted by the movement prediction unit; and an image data correction unit that corrects image data obtained while taking a photograph, based on a difference between an actual movement of the digital camera, which is detected by the movement detector while taking the photograph, and the movement of the digital camera that is predicted, by the movement prediction unit, to occur while taking the photograph, so that the image data will be the same as image data that are obtained when the optical system is moved while taking the photograph

Abstract: In a digital camera including a digital signal processing portion processing a digital image and a display device displaying the image according to a digital signal from the digital signal processing portion, and a control portion controlling overall operation, after the user takes a picture, image data is analyzed by the digital signal processing portion to determine picture quality and, when it is determined that the picture quality is inadequate, the user is informed of information regarding the quality of the picture.

Abstract: There is provided an image-taking apparatus which sets a proper exposure time with repressing camera shake in accordance with a situation of an object. This image-taking apparatus comprises an image-pickup element which converts an object image into an image signal and a controller which determines an exposure time of the image-pickup element, wherein the controller sets a maximum value of an exposure time of the image-pickup element in accordance with a size of an area which satisfies a predetermined condition for a distance of the object.

Abstract: In an image sensing apparatus which has a camera shake correction function of performing a camera shake correction on a plurality of images sensed by an image sensing unit by extracting a partial image from each of the sensed images on the basis of correlation between the sensed images, a camera shake amount of said image sensing apparatus is detected, and said image sensing unit is exposed for a first exposure time period when the camera shake amount is equal to or less than a predetermined amount. When the camera shake amount is greater than the predetermined amount, said image sensing unit is exposed for a second exposure time period which is shorter than the first exposure time period, image signals of a plurality of images which undergo the camera shake correction are added, and the added image signals is output as one image.

Abstract: Methods, devices and computer program products for identifying a target subject for auto-focusing a digital camera include selecting a target subject at a first position in a first image and identifying the target subject on a display. The target subject is identified at a second position in a second image based on the first image. A digital camera lens is automatically focused on the target subject at the second position.

Abstract: In an electronically zoomable digital camera having a hand shake correction mechanism, when electronic zoom operates, pixel shift is carried out in such manner of capturing a reference image and then capturing a shifted image after moving an image capturing element from the reference image by a prescribed amount of shift by means of the hand shake correction mechanism and thereafter interpolating pixels of the shifted image between pixels of the reference image. The amount of shift is changed according to a magnification of the electronic zoom. The hand shake correction mechanism has a continuous mode in which the movement is effected by a continuous amount and a fixed amount mode in which movement is effected by only a fixed amount and is driven in the fixed amount mode when the pixel shift is carried out.

Abstract: An image blur correction apparatus which can be reduced in size is disclosed. The image blur correction apparatus has a base member which is moved in a direction of an optical axis with respect to a member extended in the direction of the optical axis and a lens hold member which is moved in a plane substantially orthogonal to the optical axis with respect to the base member. The base member has a concave portion on a periphery thereof through which the member extended in the direction of the optical axis passes and is provided with a support shaft closer to the optical axis than the concave portion, the support shaft supporting the lens hold member and the lens hold member has an engaging portion which engages with the support shaft to allow a movement of the lens hold member in the plane substantially orthogonal to the optical axis.

Abstract: An image-taking apparatus which improves accuracy of taken images by correcting image blurring is disclosed. The image-taking apparatus comprises an image pickup element which photoelectrically converts an object image formed by an image-taking optical system; a detection sensor which detects vibration; and a control circuit which controls driving of a correcting lens unit being disposed in the image-taking optical system and correcting image blurring by moving within a plane substantially orthogonal to the optical axis.

Abstract: There is provided an image-shake correcting device that is comprised of a detecting unit that detects shakes of the image-shake correcting device, a filter circuit that cuts off low frequency components of a detecting signal output from the detecting unit, a control circuit that controls the filter characteristic of the filter circuit such that the cutoff frequency of the filter circuit increases as the focal distance of the optical image forming unit becomes longer, and a signal processing circuit that executes signal processing for performing an image-shake correcting operation on an image signal output from the optical image forming unit, according to the detection signal having the low frequency components cut off by the filter circuit, to thereby improve the image stabilization characteristic, which is apt to be degraded on the telephoto side of the optical image forming system of the optical image forming unit.

Abstract: An image-pickup apparatus which improves the S/N ratio of an image-pickup system, prevents image blur and saturation of signals from an image-pickup device, and enables taking an excellent image, is disclosed. The camera of the invention which takes images through an image-taking optical system having a shake correction unit which drives a part of an image-taking optical system to correct image blur caused by camera shake and includes an image-pickup device which photoelectrically converts an object image formed by the image-taking optical system and a control circuit which controls operations of the camera, wherein the control circuit changes the sensitivity and the exposure time of the image-pickup device whether the shake correction unit is in operation or not.

Abstract: A digital photographing apparatus capable of precisely and immediately performing autofocusing on a person being photographed, and a method of controlling the same are provided. The digital photographing apparatus comprises a face detecting unit that detects a face, a body detecting unit that detects a body, which may or may not exclude the face, an autofocus information obtaining unit, and an autofocus object determining unit. The autofocus object determining unit analyzes face autofocus information obtained from the face by the autofocus information obtaining unit and body autofocus information obtained from the body, and then selects the face part and/or the body as an object of autofocusing.

Abstract: In an image pickup apparatus and method, and an image-pickup control computer program, a photographing optical system is driven, when a plurality of objects are present at different distances in a same detection field of view for identifying an object to be focused, so as to be focused on each of the plurality of objects, and a photographing operation is performed at each position of the photographing optical system driven so as to be focused on each of the plurality of objects.

Abstract: A still imaging apparatus includes an imaging device, a storage device, and a positional displacement correcting device. The imaging device continuously executes imaging of a plurality of times with exposure amounts different from each other. The storage device stores a plurality of original images acquired by the imaging of the plurality of times executed by the imaging device. The positional displacement detecting device detects positional displacements of common objects included in the plurality of original images stored in the storage device and stores a plurality of corrected original images whose positional displacements are corrected based on detected positional displacements in the storage device through updating.